Schools

Superintendent: Hillside Drama Club Actually Supported by Grants

Schilder corrects a previous statement concerning the intermediate school drama club.

Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder, at the March 1 Board of Education meeting, clarified a statement he had made at a previous meeting concerning the drama club.

At an earlier meeting, in response to a question about bringing back the drama club, Schilder mentioned that the reason the club, which had been eliminated with budget cuts in the previous year, was still around at .

Schilder had also said the PTO chose not to pay for insurance, which was an element keeping the Eisenhower Intermediate School PTO from reinstating the club.

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“But the Hillside PTO actually has nothing to do with the drama club,” he said in clarification.

Schilder said he had done some research after the meeting and just wanted to clarify exactly how the club is run for those still questioning bringing it back to Eisenhower.

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In fact, Schilder said, the Hillside club is actually funded through grants obtained by the teacher running the club.

The teacher, Schilder said, obtained grants from the New Jersey Education Association and Target to keep the club running.

“And her stipend is run through the aftercare program and they have liability insurance,” he said.

Schilder said he was only making the announcement to correct his previous statements.

The board has said there are several options to consider concerning bringing back other clubs that were eliminated with budget cuts, including the drama club at Eisenhower, and that it is planning to put together a committee to look into them—like pay to play and others—following the budget season.


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