Ellis First African American to Head BHPRSD Board

In its first meeting since voters narrowly defeated the Black Horse Pike Regional School District (BHPRSD) budget, the board of education reorganized Thursday night at Timber Creek Regional High School under the leadership of its first-ever African-American board president. 

The nomination of Joyce Ellis was unanimously accepted by fellow BHPRSD board members, marking an occasion of historic significance in a district that continues to grow and diversify. 

“It honors me to serve as board president,” Ellis said in her first address with the gavel. “And I’ll try to make my family proud so next time they won’t sit in the back.” 

Ellis, of Sicklerville, was reelected last month along with Kevin Bucceroni and Benjamin Zanghi in an uncontested race. She enters her fourth year serving on the nine-member board, where she remains the only minority member. 

“I feel a deep sense of responsibility to all the children, no matter the race or background,” said Ellis, who is also part Native American. “But we need diversity in schools and on the board, so everyone's interests are served.” 

Superintendent John Golden noted that as a retired educator, Ellis will set the tone for the rest of the board in the coming year. Ellis, who attended Drake University and Temple University for her graduate studies, received a doctorate in educational administration. 

As a testament to her modesty, Thursday was the first time many of her colleagues even learned of her doctoral status.  

“She’s a former educator. And an educator is an educator for life,” Golden said. “Her heart and her agenda are purely for the students, for what’s best for the students. And it’s refreshing.” 

Ellis has become a fresh voice for a district that has had its share of hardships trying to convince voters of new expenses. Seven out of the last eight school budgets have failed, according to Golden. 

A 1.5 percent budget increase was struck down in April that would have cost the average taxpayer about $31 more for the year. 

The $67,417,382 appropriation was rejected with 2,305 voters opposed and 2,089 in support. It would have put average yearly taxes per household at just over $1,000. 

The budget is now in the hands of elected officials of Gloucester Township and fellow sending districts Runnemede and Bellmawr to decide what financial cuts, if any, should be made. 

Then it will go back to the school board to decide which line items to cut. 

Golden remained hopeful that council members of the respective towns will consider the necessity for capital improvements in the district in order to keep pace with the rest of the state and meet the students’ needs. 

Officials would not comment on the possibility of staff layoffs, but said they were working on a scenario where a number of retiring teachers would not be replaced. 

“Over the last few years the councils have been good to us,” Golden said. “They have been understanding of our needs as well as those of their own constituents.” 

Bucceroni, who was elected to the position of board vice president during Thursday‘s reorganization, explained that among the top priorities is the replacement of the Triton High School roof, which is original to the circa 1957 construction. 

The board voted in favor of going ahead and soliciting bids for the roof replacement during the meeting, along with several other classroom renovation projects. 

Bucceroni added the district also would have liked to implement technology upgrades, such as new computers and SMART boards, under the budget increase. 

“These are things that we need, we didn’t go out for any frivolous items,” he said. “We are a bare-bones group. We put our best budget forward and hope that we can pass it. It didn’t work, so we will just try again next time.”