Glen Ridge Public Schools

Superintendent’s Highlights 

October  2003

Daniel Fishbein, Ed.D., Superintendent

 

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PLEASE NOTE - the week of November 17th is National Education week. Look for notifications from your individual schools.

 

Message from the Superintendent:

 

I hope everyone is enjoying our use of e-mail to distribute information about the schools and community groups. Remember, if you want to change your e-mail address or add an address, you need to send it to wboswell@glenridge.org.

 

Our website, www.glenridge.org, was honored at the annual New Jersey School Boards Association conference for receiving the Award of Excellence, the highest achievement in their 2003 School Communications Competition. Additionally, the Forest Avenue Home and School Newsletter, Forest Leaves, received Honorable Mention distinction in the newsletter category. Congratulations to both!

 

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:

Building Projects

·         High School – This project is still on schedule for a September 2004 opening. The interior and exterior construction continues. The outside block and brick work is complete except where the new construction will connect to the existing building. This should be completed by the middle of December with the windows and doors installed by the end of December. The interior work has moved along pretty quickly. Rooms have been built-out in block and currently, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors are working to “rough out” the work. As soon as the facility is completely weather-tight, interior finishes will begin.

·         Forest and Linden Avenue Schools – To date, the roofs and windows have been completed at both schools. The exterior doors for the wings are scheduled for installation during teachers’ convention.

 

Board Documentation:

·         The Board of Education approved regular and executive session minutes for September 8, 2003 & September 22, 2003.

 

Business/Financial Reports

The Board of Education approved the following financial reports:

·         Bills List through August 31, 2003 and October 24, 2003

·         Budget Transfers for July 2003 & August 2003

·         Certified Fund Balances for July 2003 & August 2003

·         Secretary’s Report for July 31, 2003 & August 31, 2003

·         Treasurer of School Moneys Report – July 2003 & August 2003

 

The Board approved the following business items:

·         Air quality air testing services from Environmental Remediation and Management Inc., of Trenton for testing at Forest Avenue School.

·         Bleacher safety improvements for the High School gymnasium to the Corby Associates Inc., of Ridgefield, NJ.

·         Donated an excess district school bus to the Borough of Glen Ridge. This bus has “aged-out” for public school use.

·         Rescinded the out-of-district placement for a student to attend the Essex County Vocational Schools.

·         A temporary transportation contract with Kevah Konner to transport a student to the Montclair Demonstration School.

·         Educational services for a student at the Four Winds Westchester Hospital.

·         The out-of-district placement of a student to attend Lakeview Learning Center.

·         In-school nursing services provided by the Pediatric Services of America.

·         Joint transportation agreement with the Belleville Board of Education.

·         Rescind out-of- district placement at the Montclair Demonstration School and transfer to the Montclair Public Schools.

·         Financing and lease purchase of two new 16 passenger school buses.

 

ADMINISTRATION

The Board of Education adopted the follow revised and/or new Policies/

Regulations:

·            Policy #3125 - Employment of Teaching Staff Members

·            Policy #3142 - Nonrenewal of Nontenured Teaching Staff Member

·            Policy #3439 - Jury Duty

·            Policy #4125 - Employment of Support Staff Members

·            Policy #4146 - Nonrenewal of Nontenured Support Staff Member

·            Policy #4434 - Holidays

·            Policy #4438 - Jury Duty

·            Policy #5620 - Expulsion

·            Policy #7422 - School Integrated Pest Management Plan

·            Regulation #R3142 - Nonrenewal of Nontenured Teaching Staff Member

·            Regulation #R4146 - Nonrenewal of Nontenured Support Staff Member

·            Regulation #R5620 - Expulsion Procedures 

·            Regulation #R7422 - School Integrated Pest Management Plan

The Board of Education approved the following administration items:

·         The Partnership Action Plan portion of the strategic plan.

·         The Annual District Report of Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse for the 2002/2003 school year.

 

CURRICULUM

The Board approved the following curriculum items:

·         An overnight high school field trip to England from April 23, 2004 to May 2, 2004.

·         An overnight high school field trip to the Disney Training Complex for the Girls’ Softball Team from March 19, 2004 to March 25, 2004.

 

PERSONNEL

The Board of Education approved the following:

·         The appointments of:

v        Shehnaz Tapal - LDT-C/District 

v       Arleen Zalewski - part-time Kindergarten Aide/Forest Avenue School

v       Rayshawn Brooks - Custodian/Ridgewood Avenue School

·         Extra teaching assignment for various teachers.

·         Various substitute teachers and custodians.

·         Maternity leaves for Lisa Jacobson, LDT-C/District effective January 12, 2004 and Kim Corbley, 6th Grade/Ridgewood Avenue School effective May 3, 2004.

·         A non-union stipend for Ed Bobinski, School Psychologist at the high school, as the Secondary Special Education Coordinator.

·         Accepted, with regret, the resignations of Tracie Thiele as Head Cheerleading Coach and Rich Kennedy as Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach for the winter 2003/2004 season.

·         The appointment of various coaches, advisors and childcare aides.

 

DONATIONS

The Board of Education accepted, with thanks, the following generous donations:

·         A cash donation of $900 from the Ashenfelter 8K towards transportation to meets for the Cross Country Club.

·         Cash donations from the Berry family, Elsa & Mike Flannery, and Larry Ambrose for the High School Locker Project.

 

KEY DATES

November 6th-7th - Schools Closed (Teachers Convention)

November 10th - BOE Meeting (High School)

November 17th-21st - National Education Week

November 24th - BOE Meeting (Forest Avenue School)

November 26th - Early Dismissal (Thanksgiving Recess)

November 27th-28th - Schools Closed (Thanksgiving Recess)