Rancocas Valley Regional High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rancocas Valley Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students in grades 9 through 12 from five communities in Burlington County, New Jersey. The district encompasses approximately 40 square miles and comprises the communities of Eastampton Township (371 students from a 2000 Census population of 6,202), Hainesport Township (206 students from 4,126 residents), Lumberton Township (597 students from 10,461 residents), Mount Holly Township (577 students from 10,728 residents) and Westampton Township (512 students from 7,217 residents). The current population of the district is approximately 2,250 students. The school is located in Mount Holly Township.
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[edit] Awards and recognition
For the 2000-01 school year, Rancocas Valley Regional High School was named a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve[1].
[edit] Board of Education
The district's Board of Education consists of nine members: two each from Eastampton, Lumberton, Mount Holly and Westampton, and one member from Hainesport.
[edit] The school
The school was built on the ruins of a private school for boys that was abandoned at the time of the Civil War. Originally named Mount Holly High, the school opened its doors in 1937. In the 1960s it was named Rancocas Valley High School.
Rancocas Valley High School offers a range of college prep, honors, Advanced Placement Program courses, business and industrial arts classes. New to the curriculum this year is the Virtual High School (VHS). VHS allows students access to over 150 courses online, including pre-veterinary medicine, DNA technology and AP Macroeconomics.
Rancocas Valley High School offers over 40 clubs and activities - including its award-winning dance team, robotics club, and its NJROTC unit. The drama and music classes offer top-notch musicals and performances. Students interested in exercising their athletic ability have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of sports, including volleyball and lacrosse. In 2004-05, the school's girls' softball team and boys' soccer team ended the season as state champions.
[edit] Teacher's contracts
The school board at RVRHS and the Teachers did not renew their contracts during Summer 2005. At the start of the 2005-06 school year, teachers were working without a contract. The Teacher's Union was trying to get the median of the payment in New Jersey, while the school board wanted to pay RVRHS teachers the average, which is considerabily lower due to low teaching saleries in Camden and Trenton.
The Union's President, Rich Morrell, enacted many silent protests to influence the school board. The union prohibited teachers from any volunteer work, such as staying after school to help students or to supervise school dances. The union threatened to strike, although this was unlikely, as New Jersey state law forbids teachers to strike. Some students at RVRHS who sided with the teachers started a School Walkout; students who did not respond to repeated admonishments to return to the building were suspended.
The contract issue was settled in April of 2006.
[edit] Administration
- Dr. Michael D. Moskalski - Chief School Administrator
- Mr. Robert Sapp - Assistant Superintendent for Business
- Ms. Marie Phillips - Assistant Principal Attendance, Scheduling and Discipline
- Ms. Sandy Symczyk - Student Activities Coordinator
- Mr. Tony Lotierzo - Athletic Director
- Mr. Craig Wigley - Assistant Principal Building Operations
- Mr. William Booth - Supervisor (Special Education)
- Ms. Tanya Y. Jackson - School / Community Public Relations
- Mr. Dana Paykos - Assistant to the Superintendent
- Mr. William Dent - Director Educational Facilities
[edit] Notable alumni
- Martha Alito, wife of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito
- Franco Harris, NFL Running back who spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he led the team to four Super Bowl victories.
- Pete Harris, football player and younger brother of Franco.
- Barbara (Tidswell) Park, Best-selling author of the "Junie B. Jones" series of children's books.
- Alonzo Spellman, former National Football League defensive tackle who was a 1st-round draft pick. Currently in Arena Football League.
- DeMya Walker, professional basketball player, who currently plays for the Sacramento Monarchs in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
