A regular meeting of the Glen Ridge Board of Education was held on Monday, February 12, 2007 at 7:01 pm in the auditorium at Ridgewood Avenue School.  (The location of this meeting was changed at the last minute due to a power issue at Glen Ridge High School.)

 

The meeting was held in accordance with applicable NJ Statutes governing public Board of Education meetings.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance and a Moment of Silence were observed.

Present:

Mr. Cable                 Mr. Salvatelli

Ms. Eisen                 Ms. Schoenfeld

Ms. O’Connor          Dr. Ward

Ms. Raskin               Ms. Ginsburg

 

Not Present:          

Mr. Agnew

 

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE

This is a scheduled meeting of the Glen Ridge Board of Education.  Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in that this Board notified the Glen Ridge Paper and the Star Ledger on May 3, 2006.  Said notice was published in the Glen Ridge Paper on May 11, 2006 and the Star Ledger on May 8, 2006.  The date, time, and location of this meeting were also emailed to all recipients of the annual schedule of the Board’s meetings.

 

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Peter R. Caprio, Business Administrator/Board Secretary

 

7:02-8:01 pm Executive Session - Room 23                           (Time)   7:02 pm

                              Moved:  Ms. Raskin                        Seconded:  Ms. Eisen

WHEREAS, a matter to be considered by the Board of Education deals with personnel, negotiations and/or possible litigation, and

WHEREAS, public disclosure of this matter may be prejudicial to the public good,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this matter be considered in a meeting closed to the public; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Minutes of this meeting be sealed until the matter is resolved.

 

Adjourn to closed session.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg

Not Present

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

PUBLIC SESSION

 

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

TO

BOE

FROM

Janice Loschiavo

RE

Thank you

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Ms. Ginsburg informed the Board that both Legislative houses passed the budget cap and tax rebate legislation and the “Super” Superintendent Bill also passed in both houses but was amended by the State Senate.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

During the Showcase of Success, Dr. Fishbein and the Board honored Ms. Janice Loschiavo, school nurse at Forest Avenue School, on her retirement from the Glen Ridge Public Schools.  They also honored the members of the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation for their hard work in fundraising for the Ridgewood Auditorium Renovation Project. 

 

Ms. Michelle Ross, the high school Student Council representative, spoke about fundraisers and discussed the upcoming Student Government Day.

 

Dr. Fishbein showed a PowerPoint presentation of the 2007-2008 preliminary school budget.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS (Agenda Items Only) - None

COMMITTEE REPORTS (First meeting of the month only)

Curriculum Committee - Dr. Ward reported that, at the January 23rd meeting, the following took place:

·          Ms. Gemza, Director of Student Services, presented the new special education code changes.

·          The CAPS program was presented by Ms. Fitzpatrick, Principal of Forest Avenue School.

·          Dr. Fishbein updated the committee on the AP course approval.

·          There was a discussion on Basic Skills and the waiver used.

 

And at the February 26th committee meeting, the following was discussed:

·          Gifted & Talented Program

·          Correspondence received regarding changing the start time of the school day.

·          Language Arts Program Initiative

 

Personnel and Policy Committee - None

 

Negotiations Committee - Ms. Eisen reported that the committee met with the Glen Ridge Education Association and the next meeting has been scheduled for March.

 

Finance and Facilities Committee - Mr. Salvatelli reported that the committee discussed the 2007-2008 school budget and facility use issues.

           

Ad Hoc Committee for Communication - Ms. O’Connor reported the following was discussed:

·          The format for the next “Coffee and Conversation” to be held on Friday, February 16th from 8:30-10:00 am.

·          Hosting a “Coffee and Conversation” at each of the schools in the spring.

·          Possibly changing the name of “Coffee and Conversation”.

·          Post for volunteers on the web.

 

Ad Hoc Committee on Alternative Funding - None

           

Ad Hoc Committee for Property Tax Community Action Plan - None     

 

LIAISON REPORTS (First meeting of the month only)

Home & School Associations

            High School Home & School - Ms. Ginsburg reported the following:

·          There was a presentation by Mr. Rota, Principal, on the “Pennies” fundraiser.

·          The Scholarship Committee made a presentation.

·          There was a presentation by MAC on their Safe Home Program.

·          The cafeteria air-condition project was discussed.

 

Ridgewood Avenue Home & School - Ms. Raskin reported that the following took place at the last meeting:

Mr. Phillips, Principal, reported on the following:

·          Drama Club

·          Band and Chorus Concert

·          Revision of the Mathematics Curriculum

·          Upcoming Enrichment Program

 

Ms. Hegarty, President of the Ridgewood Home & School, reported that there were funds left fomr the playground fundraiser and the possibility of donating Valentine baskets.

 

Forest Avenue Home & School - Dr. Ward reported the following was discussed:

·          “Sustain Our Schools” school funding situation.

·          Update on the Winter Carnival.

·          Purchase of new rugs for the classrooms.

·          Report on Well Being Week.

·          Ms. Fitzpatrick, Principal, discussed upcoming events at Forest Avenue School.

 

Glen Ridge Association for Special Education (GRASE) - Ms. Raskin reported that the organization discussed the upcoming presentation on adult ADHD and that the Scholarship Committee of GRASE was hard at work.

 

Glen Ridge Educational Foundation (GREF) - Mr. Salvatelli reported that the Foundation discussed the Auditorium Project and the next major project for the district.

 

Glen Ridge Athletic Association (GRAA) - Mr. Salvatelli reported that they discussed the failure of the town-wide referendum and that spring sports sign ups were going well.

 

Glen Ridge Arts Patrons Association (GRAPA) - None

 

Glen Ridge Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) - None

 

MINUTES

M-1      Board of Education Minutes

 

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Mr. Salvatelli

            Approve the regular and executive session minutes of the Glen Ridge Board of Education meetings of January 8, 2007 and January 22, 2007.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg

Not Present

Aye

Aye*

Aye

Aye

Aye*

Aye

Aye*

Aye

            *Ms. Eisen and Mr. Salvatelli abstained from the minutes of January 22, 2007 and Dr. Ward abstained from the minutes of January 8, 2007.

 

PERSONNEL

P-1       Resignation

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Dr. Ward

            Accept, with regret, the resignation of Cheryl Conklin, Social Studies Teacher at Glen Ridge High School, effective June 30, 2007.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg

Not Present

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

P-2       Appointment

 

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Dr. Ward

            Approve the appointment of Kristina Ellenbogen as a Special Education Aide at Forest Avenue School (replacing Charlene Reilly) on Aides Step 1 $19,089 (pro-rated) effective February 12, 2007 through June 30, 2007.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg

Not Present

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

P-3       Substitutes

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Dr. Ward

            Approve the addition of James O’Grady, Ronnie Sacco, Jonathan Greenstein and Heather Frank-Goffe to the substitute list for the remainder of the 2006/2007 school year.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg

Not Present

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

P-4       Coach

                              Moved:  Ms. Eisen                          Seconded:  Dr. Ward

Approve the appointment of Joel Pasternack as an Assistant Track Coach on Guide 3, Step 5, Year 10 ($6,426) for the Spring 2007 Season.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg

Not Present

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

Aye

 

CURRICULUM

C-1       Cooperative Sports Program - Ice Hockey

                              Moved:  Dr. Ward                           Seconded:  Ms. Raskin

Approve the application for the continuation of the Cooperative Sports Program in ice hockey between the Verona Board of Education and the Glen Ridge Board of Education for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

Agnew

Cable

Eisen

O’Connor

Raskin

Salvatelli

Schoenfeld

Ward

Ginsburg