Ms. Ohaus Wins National Award

The following article was written by Ronni Reich of the Star-Ledger and published on June 29, 2009. This is an amazing national honor for a woman who has given so much of her time and expertise to our district. -Dr. Petrosino

A Hoboken High school drama teacher was honored with a national award tonight at New York University.

Chosen from drama teachers across the country, Hoboken High's Paula Ohaus received the first National High School Musical Theater Award for Outstanding Arts Educator. The award, presented at NYU's Skirball Center, comes with a $5,000 prize.

Also known as the Jimmy Awards after theater icon James M. Nederlander, the ceremony featured 32 student performers -- including two high school students from northern New Jersey -- vying for "best actor" and "best actress" honors. Those awards went to Stephen Mark of Connecticut and Jenny Wine of Kansas.

Julia Knitel of Fair Lawn High School and Anthony Bruno of Bergen County Academies, both Rising Star Awards winners, represented New Jersey and the Paper Mill Playhouse.

Created to recognize individual artistry in high school students' vocal, dance and acting performances, the event was hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford and featured Tommy Tune as a presenter. A panel of industry experts judged the competition based on auditions, interviews and rehearsals.

Presentation to Board by Hudson County Executive Superintendent Tonight

Dr. Timothy C. Brennan  Jr., the Acting Hudson County Executive Superintendent of Schools will be giving  a presentation to the Board on Abbott Funding at the June 30, 2009 Board Meeting  at 7 PM.

Click HERE for more details about Abbott

World Language Update- Editing/Revising

We are writing to give you an update for the work that we have done during the month of June.

On Monday, June 22, 2009

• We set up a schedule for June and July.  We discussed and gave a tutorial on the new MYP planner format.  Also, we dicussed the vertical alignment maps for every area of interaction.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

• We decided to revise the enduring understandings and the essential questions for every unit in each grade first.
• We completed the revisions for grades 9, 9 Honors, 10 and 10 Honors. 

Thursday, June 25, 2009

• We completed the revisions for the essential questions and the enduring understandings for IB 11th SL and 11th HL, as well as grades 7 and 8.

Friday, June 26, 2009

• We completed the revisions for grade 6 and IB 11HL and 12HL.  We began to work on the 5th grade revisions.

We are hoping to complete as much of the revisions for the essential questions and the enduring understandings by June 30, 2009 as possible.  We are now going to concentrate on transferring the information into the MYP planner and as well as the UBD planner.  

Respectfully submitted: Geidy De La Rosa, Isabel Bruno, Tania Trinidad-Payamps, Tasha Leggard

Picture: Print collection of Maggie Land Blanck

SPECIAL SESSION- Board of Education June 30, 2009 (Draft version)

SPECIAL SESSION

HOBOKEN BOARD OF EDUCATION

JUNE 30, 2009

VERSION I

 

This meeting is being held in conformity to the Open Public Meetings Act N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et. seq.  Proper public notice of the meeting was published in the two local papers on June 27, 2009 and was delivered to those persons requesting that such notice be mailed to them.

If any Board member or member of the public in attendance believes that the meeting is in violation of the Open Public Meetings Act, the Hoboken Board of Education requests that they make a statement at this time.

The Board wishes to make those in attendance aware that this meeting is being            recorded on video and will be broadcast by the board at a later date on  CATV Channel 77.

 The Hoboken Board of Education is committed to preserving the decorum of the             public process and is mindful that we live in the electronic age of computers, cell phones and other electronic communications devices.  Nevertheless, we respectfully request that all meeting participants kindly silence their electronic devices during the course of the meeting, and if use of the device is necessary, we ask that you please leave the meeting room if you need to conduct personal business.     

SALUTE TO THE FLAG

ROLL CALL

I.                                 REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

II.                                REPORT OF THE BOARD PRESIDENT

III.                               COMMITTEE REPORTS

IV.                               PUBLIC DISCUSSION (Agenda items only)

V.                                Accept Resignation of Superintendent of Schools

 Accepting resignation of Jack Raslowsky, Superintendent of Schools, effective August 31, 2009.

 VI.                               Appoint Board Secretary

That David Anthony be reappointed as Board Secretary for the 2009-2010 school year at a salary of $43,134 per annum, subject to any increases, including any retroactive increases to July 1, 2008, pursuant to his employee contract.

VII.                              Appoint School Business Administrator

Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Brian Buckley, as the School Business Administrator, effective July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010, at an annual salary of $150,510.00, a 0% increase above his 2008- 2009 annual salary.

VIII.                            Appoint Payroll Services

Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend that RAA Services, LLC, Hoboken, New Jersey be appointed as Payroll Services Consultant for the Hoboken School District for the 2009-2010 school year.  This professional service contract was procured through a fair and open process pursuant to P.L. 2005, c. 271 for the period beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2010 at the rates set forth in the Statement of Qualifications, but not to exceed $42,000.00 except as expressly authorized by the Board through a subsequent duly adopted resolution.  The Board publicly advertised for Requests for Qualifications on May 14, 2009 in the Star-Ledger and Jersey Journal to be received by the District by May 27, 2009.  The District posted this notice on its website throughout this period under “Payroll Consulting Services”.  RAA Services, LLC, was the sole respondent.  Funding from line item 11-000-251-340-13-0259-000.

IX.                               Appoint Fixed Asset Appraisal Firm

Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend that American Appraisal Associates, Inc., Wrightstown, PA be appointed to provide Fixed Asset Appraisal Inventory Services for the Hoboken School District’s Land, Building, Improvements and Equipment as of June 30, 2009.  This professional service contract was procured through a fair and open process pursuant to P.L. 2009, c.271, at the specifications and rates set forth in the Statement of Qualifications, but not to exceed $11,500.00 except as expressly authorized by the Board through a subsequent duly adopted resolution.  The Board publicly advertised for Requests for Qualifications on April 14, 2009 in the Star Ledger and Jersey Journal, to be received by the District on May 5, 2009.  The District posted this notice on its Website throughout this period, under “Fixed Asset Appraisal”.  Statements of Qualifications were received from six respondents.  Funding from line item 11-000-251-330-13-0000-000.

X.                                Fee for Copies of Publication Documents

Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the following resolution regarding fee for copies of public documents be adopted.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby establishes a photocopy fee of six cents ($.06) per page for all pages of official Board minutes and other public documents requested.

XI.                               Designation of Superintendent or School Business Administrator: Transfer Authority

Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend that as provided by N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8.1 amended, the Superintendent or School Business Administrator be designated to approve such line item budget transfers as are necessary between Board of Education meetings, and that such transfers shall be reported to the Board of Education, ratified and duly recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting.

 COMMUNICATIONS

 

A.  Accept letter from Joseph J. Marra, Senior Accountant, requesting to be withdrawn from consideration for reappointment for the 2009-2010 year

David Anthony

            Board Secretary

 

1.  Submitting for review and approval, minutes from the following Board meeting:

 a. May 19, 2009         Stated Session

b. June 16,2009           Closed Session

            John R. Raslowsky II

            Superintendent of Schools

 

1.                                Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the following:

 

WHEREAS, the Hoboken Board of Education has professional staff serving in administrative and/or supervisory positions in unrecognized titles needed on a continuous basis and

 WHEREAS, the State Department of Education’s rules and regulations required adopted job description for said position and annual approval.

 NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the job description title attached herein listed is adopted by the Board of Education for the 2009-2010 school year.

 

            Assistant to the Superintendent 

2.   Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the re-appointment of Dr. Anthony J. Petrosino, as Assistant to the Superintendent, effective July 1, 2009 to August 31, 2009, at a salary of $24,450.00.  Funding from line item #11-000-221-102-13-0000-000

3.    Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Cheng-Yen Teh-Hillenbrand, Gifted and Talented teacher, MA step 4 of the HEA contract.  Funding from line item #15-120-100-101-09-1012-000.

4.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the re-appointment of Nellie Moyeno, as Early Childhood Program Community and Parent Involvement Specialist for the 2009-2010 school year at a salary of $53,000.00  This reflects no increase.  Funding from Abbott Pre-K funding.  Funding from line item #20-218-200-173-27-1028-000.

5.     Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the re-appointment of Joseph Davis, school Safety Officer at Hoboken High School for the 2009-2010 school year at a salary of $42,703.00.  This reflects no increase.  Funding from line item #15-000-266-100-07-0000-000.

6.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Mauro DeGennaro, Director of Athletics for summer employment during July and August not to exceed (20) days for a total of 120 hrs.  at a salary of $33.00 per hr. for a total of $3,960.00.  Funding from line item #15-402-100-100-07-0000-000.

            July 13^th, 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, 17^th, 20^th 21^st, 22^nd, 23^rd, 24^th

            August 4^th, 5^th, 6^th, 11^th, 12^th, 13^th, 17^th, 18^th, 19^th,20^th

7.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend communication   received from Karen Koerner, teacher at Hoboken High School requesting a one      year childcare leave for the 2009-2010 school year.  

8.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the re-appointment of    Carlos Roman and Jean Roman as band assistants for the 2009-2010 school year   at a salary of $15,000.00 per year.  Funding from line item #15-140-100-101-07-   1027-000

 

9.   Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Joseph D’Esposito as Culinary Arts teacher at A.J. Demarest High School effective August 31, 2009-June 30, 2010 salary BA step2 $46,462.000 as per the HEA contract. This is a shift from part-time to full-time. Funding from line item #15-140-100-101-05-1027-000

 

10.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend reinstating Wanda Vasquez, as a clerk, effective June 30, 2009, removing her from the RIF list of        April 28, 2009.

 

11.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the   following staff to the Saturday Behavior Modification Program for the 2009-2010             school year.  This program will begin December 5, 2009 – June 12, 2010 for 4hrs. per Saturday. Salary as per HEA contract.  Funding from line item #15-140-100-101-07-1903      

 One monitor per 25 students for each session from this pool.  One clerk per session

 

            Charles Matthews

            Ivan Ramos            Carmine Ronga

            Keeon Walker        Steve D’Bernado

            Nancy Lisa            Carolyn Pasculli      Brunilda Medina (Substitute)

12.  a. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of  the following to a pool of game personnel for the 2009-2010 winter and spring athletic seasons.  Salary as per HEA contract $33.00 per hour. Funding from line item #11-402-100-800-17-0729-001

 Jason Wanko                             Derek England

Janice Matthews                        Ivan Ramos

Melanie Alberto-Kolmer          Charles Matthews

Irene LaBruzza                            Christopher Munoz

Shaun Kolmer                              Patrick Ciriello

Carmine Ronga                                            

b. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following to a pool of game personnel for the 2009-2010 winter and spring athletic seasons.  Salary as per HEA contract $25.00 per hour. Funding from line item #11-402-100-800-17-0729-001

 John Madigan

Alicia Santiago

Ramon Vega

Brunilda Medina

Marisol Ocasio

 

13.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the         following staff to the strength training program for the 2009-2010 school year. Funding from line item #11-402-100-100-17-1901-000

 

Louis Taglieri                                    35 weeks                                    $6,125.00

Ivan Ramos                                    15 weeks                                    $2,625.00

Martin Shannon                        15 weeks                                    $2,625.00

Charles Matthews                        10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

Shaun Kolmer                                    10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

Joanne Deni                                    10 weeks                                     $1,750.00

Rachel Grygiel                        10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

Robin Piccapietra                        10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

John Peluso                                    10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

John Nataro                                    10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

Matthew Gallo                        10 weeks                                    $1,750.00

 

14.                               OMIT

 

15.                               Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the  appointment of        following Guidance Counselors for summer employment at Hoboken High             School for (10) days, 5 hrs. per day and Demarest High School for (5) days, 5 hrs.             per day.  Salary as per HEA contract $33.00 per hour.  Funding from line item       #15-000-218-104-07-      1027-000.

 

Evalee Batistich            Hoboken High School

Mary Pat Carroll            Hoboken High School

David White                        Hoboken High School

                                    Larry Avitabile           A. J. Demarest High School

 

16.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following staff to the Summer Curriculum Committee staff work schedule will vary in relation to their assignment within the project.  Total hrs. of work not to exceed 1400 hrs.  Salary as per HEA contract $33.00 per hr. not to exceed $46,200.00 for salary, plus $3,534.00 (FICA).  Funding from line item Title I #20-231-100-100-18-1012-000, 20-231-200-200-18-1812-000

Edward Barfield                                    Veronica Ramos

Bess Mitsakos                                                Elise Granovsky

Kathleen Kelly                                    Victoria Chodos

Geidy DeLaRosa                                    Anabel Gomez

Tania Trinidad-Payamps                        Robin Piccapietra

Fran Cohen                                                Lynn Fusco

Tara Donnelly                                                Louis Taglieri

Kevin Metcalfe                                    Marni Rosenblum

Kelly Sogluizzo                                    Gabriela Taglieri

Damien DeBenedetto                                    Jenissa Wilson

Christopher Munoz                                    Michelle McGreivey

Meghna Patel                                                Jared Ramos

Ryan Sorafine                                                Andrea Canonico

Martin Shannon                                    Derek England

Vincent Cassesa

 

17. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Damian DeBenedetto, Structural Learning Experience Coordinator for Demarest High School for the 2009-2010 school year.  Salary as per HEA contract $5,766.00.  Funding from line item #15-140-100-101-05-1086-000.

 

18. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following highly qualified teacher aides  assigned to the Reading First Summer Program  to be held at the Wallace school starting June 29, 2009 – July 31, 2009 for 3 ½ hrs. per day at a salary of $13.00 per hr.  Funding from line item #20-298-100-100-13-1012-001.

 

Katherine Cardino                                    effective July 1, 2009-July 31, 2009

Angela Selby

Michelle Torre

Charlotte Osei-Bonsu

 

19.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following Child Study Team members to complete the Special Education Summer evaluations and IEP’s beginning June 25, 2009 – July 24, 2009.  Cases will be assigned on an as needed basis.  Salary  for CST evaluations @$300.00 per case.  IEP’s meetings or documentation of meeting attempts @$200.00 per case.  Funding from line item #20-250-200-100-20-1010-000

Speech Correctionists

Kirsten Brown

Trisha Goodman

Jessica Sweeney

Psychologists

Cecilia D’Elia

Yesenia Flores

LDTC

Concetta Drew

Marni Rosenblum

Social Workers

Jennifer Dunst           

Stefanee Wolfsie

Carrie Ellis

Linda Fitzgibbons

 

20. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following staff for the Special Education Summer Enrichment Program.  This program will run for 19 days, Monday-Friday beginning July 7, 2009-July 31, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Funding from line item #20-250-100-100-20-1010-000

Teachers

Amy Casciano                                    76 hrs. $33.00 per hr.                        $2,508.00

John Casella                                    76 hrs. $33.00 per hr.                        $2,508.00

Rosemarie LoPresti                        76 hrs. $33.00 per hr.                        $2,508.00

Amanda Pra Sisto                        76 hrs. $33.00 per hr.                        $2,508.00

 Nurse

Helen Russotto                        76 hrs. $33.00 per hr.                        $2,508.00

 

Teacher Aides

      Damiana Binetti            76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Theresa Coari                  76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Renee Fause                  76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Maria Ficken                  76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Agneris Hernandez            76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Samuel Marcus            76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Maryke Morales            76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Zulma Ortiz                  76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Maria Pagan                  76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      Brenda Pineiro            76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

      MyrnaThelemaque             76 hrs. $13.00 per hr.            $988.00

 

      Funding from line item #20-250-200-200-20-1010-000

      Speech Therapists

 

      Kirsten Brown                  60 hrs. $33.00                  $1,980.00

      Trisha Goodman            60 hrs. $33.00                  $1,980.00

      Jessica Sweeney            60 hrs. $33.00                  $1,980.00

 

21.            Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following staff to a pool of teachers for the Senior HSPA/AHSA tutoring at Hoboken High School for the 2009-2010 school year.  Salary $33.00 per hr. for zero periods from September 8^th – September 30^th, 2009 7:45 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. and $38.00 per hr. for 3 Saturdays in September.  September 12^th, 19^th, 26^th, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

 

Paul Patrick Huggins                        Anabel Gomez

Fiona Stephens                                    Barbara Teller

Helene Flood                                    Mary Sifonios

Kirti Tank                                    Joanne Pepe 

 

Funding:

15-140-100-101-05-1086-000                        special education teachers at Demarest

15-140-100-101-07-1027-000               regular education teachers

15-213-100-101-07-1903-000                        special education teachers at HHS

           

22. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following staff to extra-curricular positions for the 2009-2010 school year at Hoboken High School.    Funding from line item #15-401-100-100-07-1903-000

                                                                                                                   

Geidy DeLaRosa                                    Hispanic Culture Club Advisor            $761.00

Elizabeth Pittman-Evans                        African American Club Advisor            $761.00

William Apicella                                    African American Club Advisor            $761.00

Barbara Teller                                    AHSA Coordinator                       $5,766.00

Sharon Malenda                                    Yearbook Advisor                       $2,176.00

Ruben Gonzalez                                    Student Council Advisor                       $2,284.00

Steve D’Bernado                                    Freshman Class Advisor                       $1,088.00

Jenissa Wilson                                    Freshman Class Advisor                       $1,088.00

Judith Burrell                                    Sophomore Class Advisor                       $1,305.00

Patrick Ciriello                                    Sophomore Class Advisor                       $1,305.00

Victoria Chodos                                    Junior Class Advisor                       $1,741.00

Stefanee Wolfsie                                    Junior Class Advisor                       $1,741.00

Yesmid Triana-Lisa                        Senior Class Advisor                       $1,958.00

Robin Piccapietra                                    Senior Class Advisor                       $1,958.00

Sharon Malenda                                    School Newspaper                       $1,305.00

Michelle McGreivey                        School Newsletter                       $1,200.00

Anabel Gomez                                    National Honor Society Advisor            $761.00

Rachel Grygiel                                    Harvard Model Congress                       $1,958.00

Steve D’Bernado                                    Harvard Model Congress                       $1,958.00

Kirti Tank                                    Math Club Advisor                        $761.00

Matteo Percontino                        Italian Club Advisor                        $761.00

Victoria Chodos                                    French Club Advisor                        $761.00

Manuel Perez                                    Environmental Science Club             $761.00

Judith Burrell                                    Entrepreneur Club Advisor            $761.00

Helene Flood                                    Ski Club Advisor                                    $761.00

Jared Ramos                                    Drama Club Advisor                        $761.00

Patrik Ciriello                                    CPO (Pool Operation & Safety)    $2,992.00

Fiona Stephens                                    Outdoor Club/Sierra Club Advisor            $761.00

Yesmid Triana-Lisa                        Activity Fund Trustee                        $2,502.00

Jessica Vega                                    Student Activity Banker                        $544.00

Edward Barfield                                    Chess Club Advisor                        $761.00

 

23.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following staff to the extra-curricular positions for the 2009-2010 school year at Demarest High School.

 

Charles Biancosino                        Hispanic Cultural Club                        $761.00

Kathleen Kelly-Ynoa                        Natural Helper (Liaison)                        $761.00

Chris Munoz                                    Chess Club                                    $761.00

Kathleen Kelly-Ynoa                        Student Council Advisor          $2,284.00

Chris Munoz                                    Newspaper                                    $1,305.00          

Cecilia D’Elia                                    Homework Clinic                                    $33.00 per hr.

Derek England                                    Behavior Modification                   $33.00 per hr.

Cecilia D’Elia                                    Behavior Modification                        $33.00 per hr.

Chris Munoz                                    Behavior Modification                        $33.00 per hr.

 

24.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the school calendar for 2009-2010 school year.

 

25.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend communication recrived from Auisha Ahmad, teacher at Hoboken High School notifying the Board of her resignation from the position of teacher for  summer school.

 

26.   Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend communication received from Thomas Settembre, teacher at Hoboken High School notifying the Board of his retirement effective July 1, 2009.

 

27.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend communication received from Mark Schartner, teacher at A.J. Demarest High School notifying the Board of his resignation effective July 1, 2009.

 

28.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following part-time custodian to work during July and August 2009 as needed.  Funding as per line item #11-000-262-100-13-1044-000.

 

Tirrell Ortiz                                    $7.50 per hr.

29. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of the following teacher for the Hoboken High School Summer School Program.  Salary as per HEA contract.  Classes offered as dictated by enrollment.   Funding from line item #15-140-100-101-07-1027-000.

 

Suzanne Carreno                  Math

 

30.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Sharon Keith, as a Kindergarten Teacher for the 2009-2010 school year.  Salary as per HEA contract MA, step 2, $52,873.00.  Funding from line item #15-110-100-101-02-1013-000 or #20-218-100-101-27-0000-000.

 

31.   Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the appointment of Lauren Brunt, as a Kindergarten Teacher for the 2009-2010 school year.  Salary as per HEA contract BA+30, step 4, $50,452.00.  Funding from line item #15-110-100-101-02-1013-000 or #20-218-100-101-27-0000-000.

 

32.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby request permission for Catapult Learning to offer Before/After care services to the Kindergarten students at Brandt School for the 2009-2010 School Year at no cost to the Board.

 

33.   Submitting for review and approval, I hereby request correction to a previously approved item, resolution #4 of the January 13, 2009 agenda, to include the previously omitted appointment of the following staff for the musical Guys and Dolls.  Funding from line item #11-401-200-100-07-1903-000.

     

                  Marleny Alonzo            Stage Manager            $1,000

 

34.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend for reasons of economy and efficiency, that the following positions(s) be eliminated as of June 30, 2009.

 

            Assistant Business Administrator

            Matrons

            Seven (7) hour General Workers

            Five (5) hour General workers

 

Be it further resolved, that the Superintendent of Schools is hereby directed to revise the table of organization of the Hoboken Public Schools to reflect the elimination of the above positions.

 

35.  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend increasing the contractual amount of Behavioral Consultant, Carolyn Gallagher’s contract from $12,000.00 to $12,925.00.  The difference of $925.00 is a result of extra student services and reports.  This should be deducted from line item #11-219-100-320-20-0257-000.

 

36. Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend placement of a special needs student in a thirty day extended school year program.  The program runs from July 6, 2009 to August 15, 2009, for 30 days @ $315.78 per day, for a total of $9,473.40.  This should be deducted from line item #20-250-100-500-20-000871.

            Brian A. Buckley

            School Business Administrator

 

1. SBA  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend claims for the month of             June, 2009 in the amount of $415,702.50.

 

2. SBA Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the payroll, employer’s share of social security and unemployment, pay dates from:

 

                            Pay            Net                       Employee          Gross           Employment

                                    Pay           Date          Payroll      Deductions        Payroll              Taxes               Total

                                   

                                    26 of 26    6/23/09     $703,404.52 $   546,646.99    $1,250,051.51   $   97,435.10   $1,347,486.61       

 

3. SBA Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend that the Board approve             the following resolution regarding the Temporary Classroom Units (TCU’s) located near 1100 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, NJ:

 

WHEREAS, the Board initially applied for and was approved for the construction of four temporary classroom units (TCU’s) through the NJ School Development Authority (SDA) [formerly, the NJ School Construction Corporation (SCC)],  originally under the Calabro School project, and

WHEREAS, the Board, on November 20, 2007, consented to and requested that the N.J. Department of Education and the SDA approve the re-assignment of the TCU’s to the Connors School project until such time as the Connors School project is completed, whereby such re-assignment was duly approved, and

WHEREAS, the SDA requires that the Board annually consent to the Temporary             Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) Renewal Application for temporary instructional space, and forward said application to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for approval, now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Hoboken Board of Education hereby consents to the TCO Renewal Application for Temporary Instructional Space – 2009-2010 school year for the four TCU’s located near 1100 Willow Avenue, Hoboken, under the SDA Connors School project and request that the Executive County Superintendent of Schools consider said application for approval.

4. SBA Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the adoption of the             following resolution to join the North Jersey Educational Insurance Fund, a subfund of the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group, for a three-year period, beginning July 1, 2009 and ending June 30, 2012. 

WHEREAS, the New Jersey School Boards insurance Act, Assembly 1373, enacted and signed by the Governor in 1983, enables school districts to cooperate with each other to make the most efficient use of their powers and resources on a basis of mutual advantage in the areas of insurance and self-insurance and related services; and

 WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Hoboken School District desires to secure protection, services, and savings relating to insurance and self-insurance for itself and its departments and employees; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the Hoboken School District finds that the best and most efficient way of securing this protection and services is by  cooperating with other school districts across the State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group and its bylaws provide a basis for securing this protection for member districts;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE HOBOKEN SCHOOL DISTRICT:

THAT the Board of Education of the Hoboken School District joins with other school districts in organizing and becoming members of the Subfund of the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group (North Jersey Educational Insurance Fund; and

THAT, by adoption and signing of this resolution, the Board of Education is hereby joining the Subfund of the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group (North Jersey Educational Insurance Fund); effective July 1, 2009, and for the duration of three consecutive years for the following coverage; ending June 30, 2012.           

 

                                    Property            EDP                        General Liability                        Umbrella

                                    Equipment            Crime                        Automobile Liability                        Errors & Omissions

                                    Breakdown            Bonds                        Auto Physical Damage            Workers Comp

Adopted by the Board of Education of the Hoboken School District, New Jersey,             for the 1^st day of July 2009 until the 30^th day of June 2012.

 5. SBA Submitting for review and approval the following workshop request, at no cost to             District:

  School/Department:                        Business Office/ Special Education

  Date:                                                July 1, 2009

 Staff:                                                Brian Buckley and Elizabeth Falco

  Purpose/Destination:                        IDEA 2010 and ARRA Application

                                                                                                Passaic, New Jersey

6. SBA  Submitting for review and approval, I hereby recommend the following general             fund appropriation transfers for 2008-2009:

 

                                    PUBLIC DISCUSSION

 

 

 

Social Studies Update- June 26

The following is an update from the Social Studies group on their end of the year activities. -Dr. Petrosino

We just wanted to give you the daily narrative of what we did today in Social Studies. Two members of our group worked from 10am-3pm at the Brandt Professional development Center today. We started restructuring the Essential and Big Idea questions for Grade 8. We plan to restructure grades 8 to 11 by June 30^th. We also started inputting the information in the new IB format sheet obtained from Kate Dominique today. 

 We started:

·        Reorganizing the sheets

·        Restructuring the questions

·        Planning the strategies to complete the Grade 8 to Grade 11 by June 30^th.

 

Parents of Special Education Students Can Be Reimbursed For Private School Tuition And Costs

The Supreme Court recently ruled that parents of special education students can be reimbursed for private school tuition and costs, even if their children never received special education services from a public school. The 6-3 ruling based on an Oregon case sent ripples of concern through public school districts across the nation at a time of budget cuts and layoffs. While the federal government pays a portion of a district's special education costs through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the majority of the costs, including tuition for private or residential school placement, are born by states and local governments. The Supreme Court ruling builds on the 1975 federal special education law's requirement for school districts to provide a free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities and whatever services are needed to obtain it. Each special-education student must have an individual education program, which spells out education goals and the supports and services needed by the students, which can range from extra instruction to a teaching assistant working with the student throughout the day. Therapies and other services also might be required. All are paid for by the district. If the district cannot provide what the student needs, the federal special-education law and several court rulings state the district must pay tuition and costs for private placement.

Editorial from the Dallas News:

Special-education students

In a game-changing ruling for special-education students, the court rightly decided that public school districts must pay for all special-ed students' private schooling, if the districts don't provide an adequate public alternative.

The majority was formed by the rare alliance of Chief Justice John Roberts, conservatives Anthony Kennedy and Samuel Alito and left-of-center members John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer. Equally fascinating, the more liberal David Souter joined true-blue conservatives Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas in dissent.

We side with the majority for a simple reason: Think what it would be like for a child with a learning problem to live in a school district that wouldn't qualify him as disabled or provide needed services. That child's either stuck or his parents must pay for private schooling.

The court previously found that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires districts to finance a disabled child's private schooling if the child attended a district's school but found the services inadequate. This ruling extends that law to students who don't get that far, entitling them to a remedy even though they never attended a public school.

Stevens had the most compelling argument:

"It would be strange for the act to provide a remedy, as all agree it does, where a school district offers a child inadequate special-education services, but to leave parents without relief in the more egregious situation in which the school district unreasonably denies a child access to such services altogether."

That said, this decision poses daunting fiscal challenges to Texas school districts. At a minimum, they must be more open to including special-ed students and creating better individual learning plans.

We hope the ruling doesn't stall existing cooperation between some parents of special-education students and fair-minded districts. Still, this game-changer was warranted.

For additional information click HERE

Technology Group Update- June 27, 2009

We have been working this week in the areas of phys ed, visual arts, performing arts and social studies. As you can see from the attached chart, we have made some progress. We planning to continue coming in to finish Math and Anabel is working on Music and performing arts. If we are approved for the summer, our plan will be to review the MYP units written last summer in technology (grades 6,7,8) for alignment according to UBD. We also need to show the documentation spreadsheets to the other groups and discuss where more needs to be added in terms of technology.

Picture: progress of technology Committee as of June 27, 2009 (click picture to enlarge)

 

Who was A. J. Demarest?

A. J. Demarest

Supt. Schools, Hoboken, N. J.

Born at River Edge, N. J. in 1858.  Graduated from New Jersey State Normal School and the New York University.  He had twenty-nine years' experience in the class-room; twenty-three years principal of grammar schools of Hoboken and Principal of the high school and ten years Superintendent.  Under his progressive, yet conservative management, the Hoboken schools grew in efficiency until they were looked upon as one of the leading schools of the state.  During Mr. Demarest's term as Superintendent, he has revolutionized the school system and has placed it upon a modern and up-to-date basis.  He enriched the curriculum by the introduction of drawing, sewing, cooking, modeling and joinery.

He was the joint-author of the New Education Readers, a series of readers based upon the synthetic, phonic word method.

Mr. Demarest was a popular lecturer on educational subjects, his list of subjects being varied and including the following:  The Aim of the New Education; This Profession of Ours; The art of Thinking; Teaching Beginners to Read; Creating a Taste for Good Books; A Little Journey Through Book-land;  A Study of the Novel; A Study of the Drama; a Study of Poetry; The Ideal School; This Country of Ours; Literature in the Grades; At the Rubicon; The Micawbers of Every Day Life; The Place of Industrial Work in Education; The Three C's in Education.
  

Source: "Brewer's Directory of School Superintendents and Normal Principals",  In cities with a population above two thousand  Revised to February, 1907  Published by the Orville Brewer Publishing Co.  The Auditorium, Chicago.

States Should Demand “Absolute, Unequivocal Accountability from Charter Schools" says Education Secretary

The following is a recent article from the NY Times reporter Sam Dillon concerning a recent report by a Stanford University think tank on charter schools around the country and reaction by the Obama administration, specifically, the Education Secretary Arne Duncan. A link to the article is provided at the end of this post. One key area is in a speech the secretary gave in which he says that states "should scrutinize plans for new charter schools to allow only high-quality ones to open. In exchange for the autonomy that states extend to charter schools, states should demand “absolute, unequivocal accountability and close charter schools that fail to lift student achievement". It will be interesting to see how this plays out nationally. -Dr. Petrosino

The Obama administration has made opening more charter schools a big part of its plans for improving the nation’s education system, but Education Secretary Arne Duncan will warn advocates of the schools on Monday that low-quality institutions are giving their movement a black eye. “The charter movement is putting itself at risk by allowing too many second-rate and third-rate schools to exist,” Mr. Duncan says in prepared remarks that he is scheduled to deliver in Washington at the annual gathering of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Mr. Duncan’s speech will come at a pivotal moment for the charter school movement. The Obama administration has been working to persuade state legislatures to lift caps on the number of charter schools.

At the same time, the movement is smarting from the release last week of a report byStanford University researchers that found that although some charter schools were doing an excellent job, many students in charter schools were not faring as well as students in traditional public schools.

“The charter movement is one of the most profound changes in American education, bringing tremendous new options to underserved communities,” Mr. Duncan is to say in the speech, the text of which was provided to The New York Times by his advisers.

But, the speech says, states should scrutinize plans for new charter schools to allow only high-quality ones to open. In exchange for the autonomy that states extend to charter schools, states should demand “absolute, unequivocal accountability,” the speech says, and close charter schools that fail to lift student achievement.

Mr. Duncan’s speech calls the Stanford report — which singles out Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio and Texas as states that have done little to hold poorly run charter schools accountable — “a wake-up call.”

Click here for the full Stanford Report on Charter Schools

High School Graduation Ceremonies

On the evening of June 23rd,  Hoboken High School and A. J. Demarest High School seniors participated in graduation ceremonies at John F. Kennedy Stadium. The Valedictorian was Stephanie Vallejo (Rutgers University) and the Salutatorian was Steven Barrett (Stevens Institute of Technology). The senior class voted on their own keynote speaker, HHS teacher Ms. Rachel Grygiel. The ceremony lasted a little over an hour. 

Tools of the Mind: Two Day workshop and Town Meeting

On June 22 and June 23, all Kindergarten teachers and most classroom aides attended a two day workshop on the Tools of the Mind curriculum that will be implemented this coming September in all Hoboken Public Schools (recall, Tools of the Mind is currently being implemented in all Pre-K classes this academic year). In addition to the teacher workshop, there was also a "town meeting" set up in Wallace School where parents and the public came to ask questions of Tools of the Mind representatives and District administration including Early Childhood Coordinator Ms. Jessica Peters and Dr. Petrosino. 

Here is the list of teachers who attended the "Tools of the Mind" workshop on June 22 & June 23, 2009.

 

 

Lea DiVincent                                                                Isabel Della Fave

Katrina Sturdivant                                                           Dolores Perkovic

Romy Marchesani                                                           Ms. Alt

Jackie Protopapas (Student Teacher)                                Michele Torre

Adriana Coppola                                                              Iris M Morrero

Denise Vallejo                                                                 Isabel Della Fave

Jill Littzi                                                                          Dolores Perkovic

Elizabeth Schwartz                                                          Felicia Sacci

Anna Maria Simone                                                         Sharon Cantone

Beth Tomlinson                                                               Concetta Drew

Sharon Keith                                                                   Myrna Telemoguz

Meaghan Alt                                                                    Michelle Fina

Michelle Leonardo

Lauren Brunt

Cecilia Vacca

Charlotte Osei-Bonsu

Louise Willis

Mariluz Murphy

Iris M. Marrero

Angel Selbey

Sol M. Rodriguez

Zukia Solima

Maryke Morales

Victoria Monaco

Maureen Heslin

Kate Dominique Talks to Content Discipline Leaders

On Tuesday, IB Coordinator Ms. Kate Dominique (second from left) led a meeting with 1 representative from each of the content disciplines of the curriculum committee. Dr. Petrosino was also in attendance. The purpose of the meeting was to present a vertical alignment format in order to help facilitate aspects of the implementation process. Ms. Dominique learned of this framework on one of her recent IB Workshops. In addition to the vertical framework, she also introduced the group to a modified version of the basic MYP (Middle Years Program) curriculum format. The group liked it and felt it was easy to read and understand. Some modifications may be made to the new curriculum but it is not practical at this point to reformat everything. Nonetheless, the reformat will likely be part of the first iteration.