On August 5, at the Hammonton Board of Education meeting, several moves were made that impacted several entities, facilities and athletic teams.
The board approved (conditionally upon meeting with the Hammonton Hawks football organization and Hammonton Bulldogs basketball organization, which currently are using the facilities) St. Joseph Academy football team’s use of William T. Capella Field at Hammonton Middle School for up to four games and the St. Joseph Academy boys basketball team’s use of the gym at Hammonton Middle School for its home games.
Also at the school board meeting of August 5, the board approved St. Joseph Academy’s second annual lease payment of $77,250 as well as funding for security measures at St. Joseph Academy.
It was the most moves by the public school district at a public board meeting regarding a private school and public facilities since the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the board determined that the former Hammonton Middle School complex downtown should be sold as a school.
During the board meeting on August 5, former Hammonton Mayor Barbara Berenato, who is a member of the school board, voted against St. Joseph Academy’s use of the football field and questioned why there was not more information provided to all board members regarding the plan before the board meeting.
Last week, St. Joseph High School announced former Hammonton High School teacher and assistant principal Nick LoSasso, who also served as an administrator at other area schools, would begin his term as St. Joseph Academy’s principal on August 9.
In a separate announcement last week, St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish announced the new name of the former St. Joseph Regional Elementary School would be St. Joseph Community Center. A slate of the activities planned for the facility was also announced (see article, page 14 in the August 11, 2021 print edition).
These are all interesting moves. The Gazette will keep you informed about them in the coming weeks and months.