Glen Ridge Public Schools
Glen Ridge, New Jersey 07028
Quality
Assurance Annual Report
2006-2007 School
Year
I.
IMPLEMENTATION OF SCHOOL
LEVEL PLANS [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12-2]
A. The
2007-2008 school level objectives were developed at each school level and
submitted to the Superintendent of Schools. (See Attachment A) The Superintendent submitted them to the Essex
County Superintendent on August 13, 2007. The County
Superintendent of Schools approved
the objectives on August 27, 2007. (See Attachment B)
B. NOTE:
These objectives were approved by the Glen Ridge Board of
Education at their July 30, 2007 meeting.
C. All
schools begin the school level implementation process during the first official
faculty meeting of the school year which occurred on Wednesday, August 29,
2007. The Principals report monthly of their plan’s progress
through their monthly school level report submitted to the Superintendent’s
Office.
II.
ACHIEVEMENT OF PERFORMANCE
OBJECTIVES [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-12.2(a)3]
A. A
full report of the achievement for performance objectives for the 2006-2007
school year has been submitted to the County
Superintendent of Schools on August 13,
2007. (See Attachment A) NOTE: These objectives were
approved by the Glen Ridge Board of Education
at their July 30, 2007 meeting
and the County Superintendent
of Schools on August 27, 2007. (See Attachment B)
B. All
benchmarks and performance standards have been met in all buildings as outlined
in Attachment C.
III.
NEW JERSEY SCHOOL REPORT
CARD [N.J.A.C. 18A:7E-1 ET SEQ AND N.J.A.C. 32-12.2(a)1]
A. The
school report cards for the 2005-2006 school year are attached as required (See
Attachment D) The Report Cards are located on the district's web-site www.glenridge.org
and are e-mailed to students’ homes.
IV.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-4.4(e)2]
A: Professional
Development Links -The Glen Ridge School District
is committed to providing its staff with high quality staff development focused
on critical educational issues that are determined by yearly surveys of our
teaching staff. Teachers are partially reimbursed for approved graduate course
work. They are supported financially and with time in their participation in
workshops outside the district, as well as given the opportunity to participate
in state and national conferences. For the eleventh year, the Board of Education supported a team of teachers and administrators in their
attendance at the National Conference for the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development held in Orlando, Florida in March 2007.
During the 2006-2007 school year, the district
continued to provide its own Professional Development courses. (See
Attachment E) Courses are offered both during the school year and in the summer
in order to meet the expressed needs of teachers, the needs of our students,
and the goals of the district. District personnel (teachers, staff, and
administration) teach these courses. The administrative team participates in
professional development by attending workshops, conferences and teaching
programs on topics of need and interest throughout the school year. We also
conduct a new teacher orientation program that involves intense training prior
to the start of school and monthly programs during the school year. Our students
perform well above the state and national averages on all standardized tests as
noted in our District Report Card and evidenced in our high ranking in New
Jersey Monthly Magazine as well as all state comparisons including DFG.
B: Professional Development
Budget - Again, the district spent in excess
of $52,374 for staff development during the 2006-2007 school
year. This includes grant money in addition to district budgeted funding. A
detailed list of district workshops, out-of-district workshops, and graduate
courses taken during the 2006-2007 school year is attached. (See Attachment F)
All workshops are geared towards district goals, the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards, and/or the individual
Professional Improvement Plan of the staff.
Graduate Courses - $19,557.00
Workshops and
Conferences - $32,817.03
C: Professional Development
Plan Approval -The Essex County Professional Development
Board approved our 2006-2007 Professional Development Plan on February
28, 2006. (See Attachment G)
D:
Local Mentor Plan - The Glen Ridge Board of
Education implemented our existing mentoring plan which was
Board approved on June 19, 2006 and
continued its development to align it with the Professional Standards for
Teachers and the mentoring regulations found in N.J.A.C. 6A:9-8 and submitted it
to the County Superintendent on June 20,
2006. (See Attachment H). Our plan is fully implemented.
V.
CONDITIONS OF SCHOOL FACILITIES [N.J.A.C. 6A:26 &
26A]
A.
TEMPORARY SCHOOL FACILITIES APPROVAL [N.J.A.C. 6A:26-8]
The Glen Ridge Board
of Education does not have any temporary school facilities.
B.
COST OF MAJOR BUILDING PROJECTS/RENOVATIONS (2006-2007)
[N.J.A.C. 6A:26-5]
·
Installation of unit vents at the Ridgewood
Avenue School $50,150
·
Exterior door and window replacements at the
Forest Avenue School, Linden
Avenue School and
Ridgewood Avenue School $17,430
·
New wireless clock systems at the Forest Avenue
School,
Linden
Avenue School and Ridgewood Avenue School $19,795
·
Masonry repairs to exterior steps and brick
pointing at the
Linden
Avenue School and Ridgewood Avenue School $14,500
·
Fire systems - sprinkler and suppression systems
repairs/
upgrades
at the Ridgewood Avenue
School and Glen
Ridge
High
School $11,861
·
Flooring replacements at the Linden Avenue
School and
Ridgewood
Avenue School $28,187
·
Ridgewood Avenue School auditorium renovation
donated
by the Glen
Ridge Educational Foundation
Renovation
includes: new seating, new electrical service,
installation
of air-conditioning, new flooring, new sound
system,
new stage and window drapes, new light bar, etc. $639,059
·
Installation of air-conditioning in the Glen
Ridge High
School
cafeteria - materials and installation donated
by
the High School Home & School Association $33,800
·
Air-conditioning repairs and replacements at the
Linden
Avenue
School, Glen Ridge High School and the
Administration
Building $10,200
C.
COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE PLANS (CMP) [N.J.A.C. 6A:26A]
Attached are the Comprehensive
Maintenance Plans for the four school buildings in the district as approved by
the Glen Ridge Board of Education on November 5,
2007. (See Attachment
I)
D.
STATUS OF LONG
RANGE FACILITY PLAN
[N.J.A.C. 6A:2.2(a)-7 & N.J.A.C. 6A:26-2.1-2.3]
The most recent LRFP was approved by
the Board of Education on October 10, 2005 and currently awaiting approval by the Office of
School Facilities Financing. There are 22 projects totaling $5,750,000 in the
LRFP. Projects relating to Health and Safety/Capacity amount $3,064,000 and the
balance of $2,686,000 related to other local objectives. Of these 22 projects, the following five (5)
projects have been completed:
1. Security
systems (cameras) at the Linden Avenue School, Forest Avenue School, Ridgewood
Avenue School and Glen Ridge High School.
2. Exterior
stair repairs at the Linden Avenue School.
3. Cafeteria
HVAC upgrade at Glen Ridge High School.
4. Auditorium
renovations at the Ridgewood Avenue School.
5. Unit
ventilator installation in rooms 224 and 220 at the Ridgewood Avenue School.
E.
MAXIMUM CAPITAL RESERVE AMOUNT [N.J.S.A. 18A:7G-31, N.J.A.C.
6A:26-9.1 (d)]
Attached is the certified
resolution for the district’s maximum capital reserve amount. (See Attachment
J)
F.
STATUS OF REQUIRED ANNUAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REVIEW [N.J.A.C.
6A:26-6.1, 6.2, 12; 6A:19-10]
Building inspections were
conducted during the 2006-2007school year by the Supervisor of Buildings and
Grounds, the Building Principals, the Business Administrator, as well as
members of the Board of Education during their
yearly district-wide facility inspections. The checklist report, Indicator 7.6
“Evaluation of Buildings and Grounds”, was used as the inspection guide. This
served to help determine needs for the budget year 2007-2008, as well as serve
for a health and safety check. All areas were found to be in compliance at that
time. In addition, the Building Principals, the Supervisor of Buildings and
Grounds, and Head Custodians conduct monthly inspections. (See Attachment K)
VI.
STATUS OF MANDATED PROGRAM REVIEWS [N.J.A.C. 6A:32-14]
A.
COMPREHENSIVE EQUITY PLAN (CEP) [N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.9]
The Glen
Ridge School District’s
Comprehensive Equity Plan (CEP) for 2007-2010 was submitted and approved on May 23,
2007. It identified multi-cultural awareness as well as
sensitivity to issues of prejudice on the basis of race, color, creed,
religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or
socio-economic status as part of the district’s curricular objectives. The Comprehensive
Equity Plan General Information Statement of Assurances and Certification Form
was Board approved on March 5, 2007. The Board of
Education also appointed the district's Affirmative Action
Officer for the 2006-2007 school year on May 1, 2006 as per the Statement
of Assurance dated March 8, 2007. (See
Attachment L)
During the 2006-2007 school year,
the Glen Ridge Board of Education continued to
provide in-service training to its staff in the area of affirmative action regarding
their behavior and the curriculum.
B.
BILINGUAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
SERVICE [N.J.A.C. 6A:15]
The District’s 2005-2008
Bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL)/English
Language Services (ELS) Three-Year Program Plan was approved on September
26, 2005. (See Attachment M)
C.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM AID PLANS [N.J.A.C. 6A:24-3.4]
Not Applicable
D.
DEMONSTRABLY EFFECTIVE PROGRAM AID PLANS [N.J.A.C 6A:24]
Not Applicable
E.
SPECIAL EDUCATION [N.J.A.C. 6A:14]
·
Special Education Program Monitoring - January 27-29, 2003: The district was commended for “the
exceptionally comprehensive review conducted during the self-assessment
process. The district is further commended for the numerous areas determined
compliant by the district and verified by the Office of Special Education
Programs."
·
Improvement Plan Approval: May 6,
2003 (See Attachment N)
The district’s improvement plan
received final approval. The district will continue to implement the plan in
its entirety to meet goals as per plan timeline.
F.
DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY PLAN [N.J.A.C. 18A-7F-22]
The district’s three-year technology plan (2007-2010) was approved on May 11, 2007. (See Attachment O)
Status for the 2006-2007 School Year: During the 2006-2007 school year, the technology committee met to write
the 2007-2010 Glen Ridge Public School District Technology Plan. The
technology committee is comprised of administrators, teacher representatives
from every level, and technology technicians. The plan was approved by
the Glen Ridge Board of Education on April 9, 2007.
Education Technology Plan for New Jersey –
New Jersey Department of Education Goals:
All students,
no matter which district or school they attend, will be able to achieve the
Core Curriculum Content Standards because they will have unlimited access to
people, to a vast array of curriculum and instruction, and to information and
ideas -- no matter where they exist.
-- This Belief Statement is the ultimate goal of all
New Jersey Educational Technology programs and grants.
Goal 1: Students will attain the educational technology and
information literacy skills that will assist them in achieving the Core
Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace of the 21st
century.
Goal 2: Educators will attain the skills and knowledge necessary to
effectively use educational technology to assist students to achieve the Core
Curriculum Content Standards.
Goal 3: Students, teachers, and administrators will have access to
educational technology in all learning environments, including classrooms,
media centers, schools, and other educational settings, such as community
centers.
Goal 4: New Jersey school districts will establish and maintain the
technology infrastructure necessary for students and educators to access
electronic information and to communicate freely via technology.
The Glen Ridge Public Schools adopted the New Jersey Department of
Education Technology Goals for our own district.
The
status/evaluation/benefits/outcomes of these goals from 2004-2007:
Goal 1:
Students continue to learn educational technology and information
literacy skills across the curriculum in grades PreK-12. These skills will assist them in achieving
the Core Curriculum Content Standards and to succeed in the workplace. Technology grade level standards have been
implemented in grades 3 – 8 through building/course technology standards. This goal needs to continue for
2007-2010.
Goal 2:
Educators continue to use and learn educational technology skills to
assist their students to achieve. Many
technology staff development opportunities have been given to staff and will
continue in the upcoming years. This
goal should be continued for 2007-2010.
Goal 3:
Students, teachers, and administrators continue to have access to
educational technology in all learning environments. In the past three years, the Glen Ridge
School District has obtained 4 wireless computer laptop portable labs, a
telephone in every Glen Ridge school classroom, updated auditorium with
presentation capabilities, updated website to include teacher created classroom
web pages, and PDA technology for emergency database access for
administrators. This goal should be
continued and expanded where necessary.
Technology has been expanded in the area of guidance recently. We have purchased the Naviance software to
aid students, parents, and guidance counselors in the college process.
Goal 4:
Glen Ridge technology continues to be upgraded and replaced as
needed. The infrastructure has been
constantly updated (server replacement schedule) as necessary for students and
teachers to access electronic information.
A wireless connection between Glen Ridge High School and Ridgewood
Avenue School has provided the means to keep all servers housed at one
location, creating a more efficient WAN environment. Redundant DSL service is in place should a
global outage occur in an emergency.
This goal should be continued and research conducted to provide the best
bandwidth for the educational and administrative needs of the district.
G.
DISCRETIONARY AND
ENTITLEMENT GRANT PROGRAMS - FY 2007 [N.J.S.A. 18A:71-11]
·
NCLB
Federal funding, including the No
Child Left Behind (NCLB) grant for Fiscal Year 2007, was expended on
comprehensive professional development activities including, but not limited
to: in-service workshops, state sponsored workshops and conferences, national
conferences, and training for the implementation of the Kurzweil 3000 for
students in grades 7-8 with reading/writing deficits. Staff also utilized research based character
education teaching models to develop a district curriculum to enhance positive
behavior.
·
IDEA
Federal funding, including the
IDEA Basic and Pre-school grants for Fiscal Year 2007, was expended on direct
services to students including funding of a secondary special education
coordinator, tuition for out-of-district placements, instructional supplies,
comprehensive professional development, and educational consultants.
VII.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT [N.J.A.C. 6:32-12.1(d)]
A. Demographic Data:
The Board authorized updating our
demographic data in the 1998-1999 school year. Feitlowitz and Associates
conducted a full demographic study. This was presented to the Board and public
at a public Board meeting. A subsequent door-to-door census was taken with an
87% return rate, which validated the Feitlowitz study. In order to submit the Long-Range Facility
Plan, Lenny Elowitz, former Superintendent of Schools in Bloomfield,
New Jersey, conducted another census in the
fall of 2000. The next demographic study is scheduled to take place during the
2008-2009 school year. This information is contained in our Long-Range Facility
Plan which was submitted October 2005 and we are awaiting State approval.
B. Community Survey:
During the spring of 2005, the Board
of Education conducted an on-line community survey receiving close
to 600 responses. (We conducted the web-based community survey during the
2004-2005 school year.) The information gathered assisted the district to plan
for future needs of the community and school district. We anticipate conducting
another survey prior to 2012.
C. Resources and Links to Social Service
Agencies:
The Glen Ridge Board
of Education maintains a positive relationship with state,
county and local social service agencies. The borough maintains the athletic
and recreation fields, and has expanded program opportunities for the
community. The borough has a full-time recreation director who focuses on after-school
and summer programming for the youth of the borough. The school district has a
before and aftercare program for parents with children in grades PreK-6.
Community members have established the Glen Ridge Educational Foundation to
encourage and support innovative programs and services within the school
district, which includes the installation of a Synergistics Lab, a World
Language Lab, a CAD Lab, Communications Studio, Pathways Lab and Leveled
Reading Libraries, MIDI Lab as well as the recent renovation of the Ridgewood
Avenue School auditorium, to name a few items. In addition, the foundation also
provides all teachers with “innovation grant” opportunities for innovative
programs. The district is an active participant in the Glen Ridge Municipal Alliance
Committee (MAC), which fosters collaboration
between the district and the borough and provides a funding source for alcohol-free
activities and character education opportunities, such as Peer Leadership and
Social Decision Making curriculum at the elementary level. Local service clubs
and the Home and School Associations support instructional programs, donate
supplies and equipment, and provide scholarships to our graduating seniors.
Additionally, there is an Alternative Funding Committee that raises funds to
assist funding district maintenance projects that could not be included in the
district budget.
D. Community Environmental Conditions:
The Glen Ridge Board
of Education has identified reductions in the level of state
aid for education and demographic projections indicating dramatic increasing
trends in student enrollment and resource utilization as environmental factors
that could limit programs and services. Even with securing more grant money
than ever before, the funding of the Glen Ridge Schools continues to be an
increasingly difficult task for the taxpayers of this borough. This has a
direct impact on local property taxes and, despite active petitioning of local
and state lawmakers, the strategies have not dramatically changed the tax rate
even though alternative funding has increased. The continuation of a high
quality school system is going to be dependent on finding ways to reduce taxes,
while increasing the total amount of the budget due to increased enrollment.
E.
Barrier to Community Involvement:
Not applicable.
F.
Community Involvement:
The Glen Ridge Board
of Education is committed to involving the community at large
in the information and decision-making process of the school district. The
Superintendent distributes monthly post Board meeting FYIs to the community
stating what took place at the Board meetings, as well as quarterly newsletters
to the entire community, and special newsletters distributed at budget time. The
Board of Education conducts monthly “Coffee and Conversation” sessions at the Glen
Ridge train station/senior center for community members to drop by and discuss
issues with Board members. Additionally, we use e-mail distribution lists to
get information out to the public about school and community happenings. Throughout the school year, the public is
invited to participate in numerous school activities. These activities include,
but are not limited to, high school theatrical productions, inter-generational
activities at the school, monthly senior citizens’ luncheons, school
visitations, and discount tickets to sporting events for our senior citizens.
Regular meetings take place between the central administration of the district
and the Borough administration to assist in communication and support each
other in the pursuit of collaborative and individual projects. The Glen Ridge
Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC) meets monthly and is attended by the
Superintendent, the Building Principals, the Student Assistance Counselor, and
a student representative. These activities occurred during the 2006-2007 school
year and will continue during the 2007-2008 school year. The two local Glen
Ridge Papers give extensive coverage to the schools, allowing the community to
know what is being achieved by the students and the schools.
G.
Parental Involvement:
During the 2006-2007 school year,
planned activities for community involvement in the school community included
new parent activities, monthly Home and School Association meetings, Back-to-School
Nights, formal parent-teacher conferences in the evening and after school, a
special education advisory committee (Glen Ridge Association for Special
Education), the athletic Booster Club, the Band Parents Organization, the Art
Patrons Group, the Theater Parents Group, the Parents Supporting Parents Group
sponsored by MAC, grade level meetings,
monthly Board of Education meetings, public
budget presentations, student awards assemblies, Showcases of Success,
interscholastic athletics, band competitions, fundraisers, Project Graduation,
financial aid planning workshops, college planning workshops, Town Government
Day, Student Government Day, senior citizens’ luncheons, school exhibits, performances,
and a Borough Council/Board of Education construction committee. All of these
activities, events, and programs are heavily attended and show a high degree of
community participation.
It is through parent and community
involvement in our school system and borough that helps secure an outstanding
educational program for our students.
VIII.
ASSIGNMENT PLAN FOR
CERTIFIED AND NONCERTIFIED
NURSES [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-2.1(b) and N.J.A.C. 6:32-12.1(a)10]
All of our nurses are certified as
School Nurse/Health Educator. The high school nurse does not teach Health. The school
nurse assignments for 2007-2008 were approved by voice vote on April 30, 2007 at our annual re-organization
meeting of the Board of Education. The 2007-2008 Nursing Plan was approved at our
annual re-organization meeting of the Board of Education
on April 30, 2007. (See Attachment
P)
IX.
SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION PROGRAM [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-3]
All students learn the physical,
mental, emotional, and social effects of the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco,
and other drugs in health classes in grades Pre-K through 12 as well as during
special programs throughout the school year. The plan was approved by voice
vote on April 30, 2007 at our annual
re-organization meeting of the Board of Education.
The district has a low incidence level of in-school substance abuse as
indicated on the Violence and Vandalism Report. We continue to work with the
community to assist them in curbing the incidence rate that occurs after school
hours and off school grounds. (See Attachment Q)
X.
VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM
REPORTING [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-5.3]
A.
The 2006-2007 Violence and Vandalism Report was reported
to the public on October 15, 2007 and
submitted to the State using the Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting
System (EVVRS). (See Attachment R)
B.
Public hearing statement (See Attachment R)
C.
Violence and Vandalism Report was approved by the Board
of Education on October 15, 2007. (See Attachment
R)
XI.
EMERGENCY AND CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLANS [ N.J.A.C.
6A:16-5.1]
All school buildings within the
district have Emergency Response Plans as well as Inter-Agency Plans with the
Glen Ridge Police Department. These plans are reviewed yearly and district
employees are trained and re-trained yearly. During the 2006-2007 school year,
the plans were completely revised. The Board of Education
is kept informed of any changes and approves the Prosecutor’s Uniform Memorandum
of Agreement yearly at its re-organization meeting this year held on April 30, 2007. (See Attachment S)
XII.
ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS [N.J.A.C. 6A:16-9]
Not applicable.
XIII. STATEMENT OF
ASSURANCE
A.
Signed District Statement of Assurance by Chief School
Administrator [N.J.A.C. 6:8-2.2,
N.J.A.C. 6A:8-4.4(a), N.J.A.C. 6A:8-3.1, N.J.A.C. 6:29-6] (See Attachment
T)
B.
Signed Building Level Statement of Assurances for each
school building by each building principal [N.J.A.C.
6:8-2.2, N.J.A.C. 6A:8-4.4(b)] (See Attachment U)
