Shore Medical Center has announced a significant contribution of $35,000 to the Somers Point School District to enhance school security efforts, ensuring a safer environment for students and staff.
The donation comes at a critical time for the district, which, like many others across New Jersey, is facing serious budget constraints. Superintendent Ted Pugliese expressed deep gratitude for the support from Shore Medical Center.
“We’ve had to make some difficult decisions this year, including cutting 15 positions to balance our budget,” said Pugliese. “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.”
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 the donation, this essential responsibility would have had to be absorbed by other personnel, potentially impacting the district’s overall safety readiness.
“I’ve known Ted since his days as principal of St. Joseph Regional School, and I’ve always admired his dedication to our youth,” said Hughes. “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 long-standing commitment to the community it serves. As a nonprofit community hospital deeply engrained in Somers Point for generations, Shore has long held a mission of mutual care — where the community supports Shore, and Shore proudly supports the community in return.
“We are more than just a hospital — we are neighbors, family members, and friends,” said Hughes. “Supporting our schools is a natural extension of our mission of caring for our community.”
The Somers Point School District serves students from pre-K through 8th grade. The restored security officer position will be in place for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year. The donation was formally acknowledged at the Board of Education meeting on Thursday, May 15 at Jordan Road School.
Pugliese added that the district continues to work closely with the local police department, the county prosecutor’s office, and other partners to maximize all available 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. “We are blown away by Shore Medical Center’s generosity.”
