Author: atwiford

The Cherry Hill school district expects a 3% cut in state aid for the 2025-’26 school year that amounts to nearly $900,000.

State aid for fiscal year 2026 will be nearly $28.6 million, a decrease of $884,317 from last year. It marks the second consecutive cut for the district. The 3% figure is the maximum percentage cut currently allowed by state officials while creating a budget.

Last year, the district saw a cut in aid of $6.9 million, which was equivalent to almost 19% of that year’s budget. Following that decrease, the community advocated for a smaller reduction, and the state responded with $3.1 million in one-time supplemental aid. 

Board of education President Gina Winters and school Superintendent Dr. Kwame Morton Sr. released a statement to the community on the district’s website in the wake of the budget’s release.

“The unwavering advocacy of our community last spring ultimately led to the  restoration of $3.1 million in one-time supplemental aid,” the statement noted. “However, that money is not included in this year’s allocation .. This decrease poses undeniable challenges, and difficult decisions will need to be made.

“We want to reassure our community that, despite these challenges, we remain committed to meeting our students’ needs and maintaining the high-quality education Cherry Hill is known for.” 

The statement went on to assure the community that while the state-aid reductions will have an impact on the district’s budget, all projects planned and funded through the bond referendum approved in 2022 will not be affected.

“The successful bond will allow us to continue addressing critical improvements to our district facilities as planned,” the statement read.

Cherry Hill is one of 140 districts across the state preparing for aid decreases in the upcoming academic year. Another 280 are seeing increases of 6%, sometimes more, depending on what aid categories the district and individual schools fall into. 

“We will be working with state and local leaders in the coming weeks to advocate for our district and plan the next steps, and will explore every available option to uphold our mission and advocate for equitable funding,” read the statement from Morton and Winters. 

The township community is invited to a discussion of the aid cuts and their impact at the next board of education meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18. The session will be livestreamed, as was the first meeting about cuts on March 11.

The classic and beloved child’s tale, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” will be brought to the stage later this month in Cherry Hill High School West’s spring musical.

Originally published in 1964 by children’s book author Roald Dahl, it has been adapted as a 1971 movie musical – renamed “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” – and into the 2005 film, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

The latter follows an underprivileged boy named Charlie Bucket who finds a golden ticket inside the wrapper of a chocolate bar that enables him to tour the world-renowned and impossibly whimsical Wonka Chocolate Factory. He is joined by four other children who find golden tickets, too.

Carolyn Messias, who teaches theater and public speaking at West, is directing the project. 

“I always tried to do a family musical,” she said. “We had done ‘Rocky’ in the fall, and we always tried to do a musical that’s family oriented and that we can include middle- and some elementary-school children in … We have a large cast, and it’s a classic story, and everybody loves ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’”

Of the story’s adaptations, West’s production will mostly reflect the original book, but with several songs added from the 1971 film, including “(I’ve Got A) Golden Ticket,” “The Candy Man” and “Pure Imagination.”

“It’s very similar to the book, very much,” Messias explained. “So it’s kind of dark in some ways.”

The production will feature a cast of more than 60 students and a crew of about 40 for some of the most extensive tech work West’s theater department has ever done for a musical. Auditions were open to any student, regardless of whether they had been part of a previous show.

The role of Willy Wonka, the mischievous chocolate maker, went to senior Julian Dappolone.

“I am most excited to get to perform with a lot of my friends,” he enthused. “This is going to be my last show, so I’m really excited to perform with the people that I’ve gotten to perform with for four years, and just really make a great production and a great experience out of that.” 

Senior Tanayjiah Jackson plays Violet Beauregarde, a competitive gum chewer who receives a golden ticket shortly before Charlie. 

“I think something that I’m looking forward to is the tech behind this show,” Jackson noted. “Since this is also my last show here, I feel like the talk about the tech being the biggest that we’ve done is really interesting to me, and I’m just looking forward to seeing how it’s all gonna play out.”  

Others involved in the production expressed excitement about its sets and costumes, with Messias describing them as magical, colorful and fun. Junior Sydney Dunn- Kravs will don one of those outfits to play Augustus Gloop, a chocolate- and candy-loving German child who is the first to find a golden ticket.

“My character is a little bit different looking, so I’m gonna be padded, and I’m gonna be wearing a fun, fun outfit,” she said. “So I’m just really excited. And I think the character I play, I guess is really funny, so I’m just really excited to be able to play into the more comedic side of myself.” 

The production will run from Friday through Sunday, March 28 and 30, and Friday through Sunday, April 4 to 6, in West’s auditorium.

“The kids are very committed,” Messias pointed out. “I have a lot of talented kids, and I think what’s rewarding for me is to see them succeed. I’ve had kids go on to become professional actors and actresses, and knowing they got their start here, their dedication, all those things really give me a lot of joy.”