For Sea Bright Students: Shared Services Back on Table for Shore Regional

The Shore Regional and West Long Branch school districts will continue discussions on possibly sharing a business administrator and superintendent.

After initially , the West Long Branch Board of Education will again explore the possibility at its next meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 28, said Herbert Massa, West Long Branch Interim Superintendent/Business Administrator

"I don't know what the game plan is, it's up to the board to come up with what they're going to do," Massa said this week.

Members of the Shore Regional school board as well as the county superintendent are expected to be in attendance.

Massa's contract as an interim superintendent and business administrator expires on Sept. 1. He said the latest he can remain at the school, under pension rules, is June, 2013 as a superintendent and January, 2013, as a business administrator.

Interim positions in local school districts can only be held for a maximum of two years.

"We will have a better idea of what my future is after the meeting," Massa said.

Shore Regional Board of Education President Ron O'Neill said the district recently rehired Renae LaPrete to be the school's superintendent for a second year.

He said the decision to rehire LaPrete does not change the board's stance on shared services.

"We are still willing to share a superintendent and business administrator with other districts, including West Long Branch," O'Neill said. "We are very happy to have (LaPrete's) services for another year, we are very happy with her.

"I can't say what they would like to do or not like to do," O'Neill said, of the West Long Branch board.

A feasibility study was recently completed that advised the schools to share a business administrator and superintendent. The study stated that the districts could save between $142,000 and $152,500 each year if they decided to share a superintendent.