Somers Point School Superintendent Ted Pugliese, left, accepts the donation from Shore Medical Center President and CEO David Hughes. (Photo courtesy of Shore Medical Center)
Shore Medical Center has made a $35,000 donation to the Somers Point school district to pay for a security officer at the Jordan Road School.
The donation comes at a critical time for the district, which, like many others across New Jersey, is facing serious budget constraints.
School Superintendent Ted Pugliese expressed his gratitude to the Somers Point hospital for the donation.
“We’ve had to make some difficult decisions this year, including cutting 15 positions to balance our budget. Thanks to the generosity of Shore Medical Center, we are now able to retain one of our most critical positions – a school security officer at Jordan Road School, our middle school where the need is greatest,” Pugliese said in a news release announcing the donation.
The position being retained is not only a school security officer but also serves in the official state-designated role of school safety specialist, overseeing safety protocols and coordination across the entire district.
Without Shore’s donation, this essential responsibility would have had to be absorbed by other personnel, potentially impacting the district’s overall safety readiness, according to the release.
“I’ve known Ted since his days as principal of St. Joseph Regional School, and I’ve always admired his dedication to our youth,” Shore Medical Center President and CEO David Hughes said. “When he approached us about the loss of the school’s security officer, we immediately asked what was needed. We didn’t want to just help – we wanted to solve the problem entirely.”
This donation exemplifies Shore Medical Center’s commitment to the community it serves, Hughes said.
“We are more than just a hospital – we are neighbors, family members, and friends,” he said. “Supporting our schools is a natural extension of our mission of caring for our community.”
The Somers Point School District serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The restored security officer position will be in place for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Pugliese noted that the school district continues to work closely with the local police department, the county prosecutor’s office, and other partners to maximize resources and programs that promote school safety.
“This generous gift gives us peace of mind and allows us to focus on providing a strong, safe educational environment for our students,” he said.
