Hoboken Declares State Of Emergency- CDC Coronavirus Info

City Hall- Hoboken, NJ 

Hoboken officials announced Thursday afternoon that the city had declared a State of Emergency to continue preparations for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and will announce recommendations for the schools from the city's Health Department soon. The announcement also said the city will construct a medical tent outside of Hoboken University Medical Center to help manage the anticipated surge of patients given COVID-19.

The tent will likely be used for TESTING of the COVID-19 virus. This is done to minimize the likelihood that an infected individual will enter the hospital for a non-essential procedure (testing). 

Interactive and current map of where cases have been reported nationally 

To date, there are no confirmed cases so far in Hoboken — a mile-square city of 53,000 people, many of whom work across the river in Manhattan — but it is expected that this announcement will allow city services to take proactive action in the days and weeks ahead to protect the health and safety of the town. 

All non-essential city-run events and meetings have been canceled until further notice. This includes:

1. All city-run recreation activities and sports for children and adults, and closure of all city recreation fields and facilities
2. The Planning Board, Zoning Board, and all municipal volunteer board meetings
3. Public meetings including the Neumann Leathers and NJ Transit Records Buildings meetings scheduled for next week.

Perhaps the best and most reliable source for information about the coronavirus is the Center for Disease Control. Please click here for valuable information: 

For your home: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/home/index.html

For Pre-school and K-12 Children: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html

About the virus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

March 2020 Hoboken Board of Education Meeting - Payment for Superintendent's Merit Goals, February Payroll Surpasses $3,400,000, $350,000 Needed for Mental Health Services for Hoboken Middle School and Former Superintendent Randina Hired on Consent Agenda Item as a Consultant at an Undisclosed Rate to Assist the Failing Hoboken Middle School

Detailed agenda for the Hoboken Board of Education for March 10, 2020 where we learn "You may not address or question an administrator or other board members" and "The chairperson may interrupt, warn, or terminate a speaker’s statement if reasonable decorum is not observed." 

We also learn the superintendent gets a merit raise on top of her salary (9.13), total payroll for February was over $3,400,000 (10.04), a $350,000 contract was award to an outside company for mental health services at Hoboken Middle School (10.07)...and the district decides to quietly hire former Superintendent Cindy Randina at a rate not reported on the agenda. 

Subject 9.13 Approval of Payment for Superintendent's Merit Goals

Meeting Mar 10, 2020 - AGENDA Category 9. ACTION - GOVERNANCE AND PERSONNEL Type Action (Consent) Recommended Action RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves, per the Superintendent's Contract, payment for Qualitative Merit Goal #1 and Qualitative Merit Goal #2, pending receipt of approval from the Executive County Superintendent of Schools.

Subject 10.04 Approval of Payroll

Meeting Mar 10, 2020 - AGENDA Category 10. ACTION - FINANCE Type Action (Consent) Recommended Action RESOLVED, that the Hoboken Board of Education approves the payroll, employer’s share of social security and unemployment for the following pay dates:

Pay	Pay Date	Net Payroll	Employee Deductions	Taxes	Refunds and/or Net Pay Adjust	Gross Payroll	Employer Share SS and SUI	Total
15 of 24	02/15/20	$876,304.56	$335,524.14	$328,924.19	$100.00	$1,540,652.89	$112,774.94	$1,653,427.83
16 of 24	02/28/20	$838,362.96	$333,569.20	$314,204.28	$1,024.76	$1,484,668.88	$108,171.46	$1,592,840.34
					$(442.80)

10 MARCH 2020 / RESOLUTION NO. 10.07 

Contracts - School Year 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 

Over $350,000 to Effective school Solutions for Therapuetic mental health services at Hoboken Middle School. 

10.11 Approval of Appointment of Educational Consultant

Meeting Mar 10, 2020 - AGENDA Category 10. ACTION - FINANCE Type Action (Consent) Recommended Action BE IT RESOLVED that the Hoboken Board of Education does approve the appointment of Dr. Cindy Randina as an educational consultant for the Hoboken Middle School, at a rate to be determined, for the period from March 11, 2020 through June 30, 2020.

  Hboe March 2020 by Tony Petrosino on Scribd

Hoboken Employees put Administration and Council on Blast before Council Pushes for New Insurance Plan

Hudson County View reporting that Hoboken City Hall workers put the Mayor Ravi Bhalla administration on blast for around 90 minutes at last night's council meeting after 79 employees received layoff notices last week, prompting the council to approve a resolution that could prompt a switch to a new healthcare plan which boasts over $6.5 million in savings.



“We are being targeted because we are born and raised people and that is a fact! … Look at that list: that list was orchestrated, it was planned, it was devised, and in some cases, it was planned so the person doesn’t even have bumping rights!,” she exclaimed.

Furthermore, Chrys Cooper, an employee of the municipal court, said she is taking care of a disabled child and a mother who is on her third round of radiation treatment and was beside herself over the fact that the entire court staff had been noticed.

Full meeting

“When you issue tickets, who’s gonna handle it? What happens if we all just walk out one day, of the courtroom? What’s gonna happen? You’re gonna have no money coming in from those fines.”

Over a dozen employees expressed similar points of view, asking why employees of the mayor’s office were receiving stipends, why millions of dollars were being invested in parks, and why the administration hadn’t considered switching insurance plans sooner.

1st Ward Councilman Mike DeFusco pushed for a vote on the matter after blistering the city’s current provider, Fairview Insurance.

“Why is this administration holding onto Fairview so dearly? Because they’re the largest funder for this administration, that’s how this mayor gets elected,” he shouted to applause from the audience after a union rep said switching plans could save up to $10 million.

Corporation Counsel Brian Aloia suggested that the resolution should be amended, since although the change could save about $6.7 million, it could take up to 120 days for the plans to switch if the state becomes the sole insurance provider.

The Downward Spiral: Hoboken Public School Enrollment 2010 to 2020

Figure 1: 2010 vs 2020 Enrollment- Hoboken Public Schools
CLICK TO ENLARGE 

There is much discussion in Hoboken about the "growing" district (see figure 2)...how the enrollment is "going up" and how expansion or new schools will need to be built. According to an article by Marilyn Baer of the Hoboken Reporter (January 11, 2019) we read: 

"In the past (Superintendent) Johnson and Board of Education members have said they may need more seats for students in the coming years. “If enrollment continues to grow at the rate we’re seeing recently, we will surely face the need for additional space or buildings,” said then-school board president Thomas Kluepfel a year and a half ago at a school board meeting." -Hoboken Reporter (1/11/19)

Well, perhaps a new school should be built, I would not not argue against it at all. But if the reason for building a new school is to accommodate an increase in enrollment, there is no data to support such a claim. 

Let's look at one way to examine this question. Each year, the New Jersey Department of Education requires districts to fill out an Application for State School Aid (ASSA). There is a great deal of useful information from the ASSA report. One useful aspect is the report separates enrollment by grade and by traditional public and public charter. 

Figure 2: Claims of Growing Enrollment 

One can easily see that over the last decade there has been some slight increase in the Full Day Kindergarten enrollment (from 269 to 329) and in Grade One (from 207 to 246). There is also an increase of special Education students in the elementary grades (from 107 to 190). That being said, there has been a significant loss of enrollment from Grade Three to Twelve (see Figure 1). 

People say a lot of things on social media, in the park, and at public meetings....but the reality is that the Hoboken Public School system is not growing in any meaningful way and, in fact, it is losing enrollment- especially in the middle and high school grades. 

	2010-11	2020-21	NET
Full Day K	269	329		60
ONE	207	246		39
TWO	194	192		-2
THREE	176	163		-13
FOUR	147	145		-2
FIVE	134	118		-16
SIX	148	107		-41
SEVEN	116	122		6
EIGHT	122	68		-54
NINE	131	95		-36
TEN	127	106		-21
ELEVEN	133	96		-37
TWELVE	125	78		-47
SPED ELEM	107	190		83
SPED MIDDLE	49	58		9
SPED HIGH	111	78		-33

2010-2011 Hoboken City ASSA Report
CLICK TO ENLARGE

2010-2011 Hoboken City ASSA Report
CLICK TO ENLARGE

NJDOE Update on COVID-19 and New Jersey Schools

COVID-19 has also begun spreading in the United States, including in Washington State, Rhode Island, Florida, and New York. We are working with NJ / Hudson County school and health officials to establish protocols for schools in the event that coronavirus does spread to our area. More information will be shared as this plan develops. In the meantime, attached is the most current information and recommendations for schools from the New Jersey Department of Health.

Currently, preventive basic hygiene measures are deemed most important. Schools have instituted additional cleaning protocols, to ensure that commonly touched surfaces are cleaned throughout the day. In addition, teachers are incorporating handwashing breaks into the day, and reminding students about basic hygiene protocols, such as sneezing into their elbow, washing hands after coughing / sneezing or using the bathroom, and before eating. The nurse in each building has also scheduled a meeting with each class to provide a presentation about hygiene and preventing the spread of germs.

Please note that the New Jersey Department of Health does not recommend the use of face masks for general prevention, and has communicated that handwashing provides better protection from infectious diseases. (Masks may be used to help prevent the spread of disease once an individual is already infected.)

Covid19 Schools Final 3.2.20 by Tony Petrosino on Scribd

WOMAN: Documentary of Shirael Pollack’s Life & Work — Premiere Screening Thursday, February 27

WOMAN is a documentary about a first-generation Jewish-American immigrant who lives by a simple motto: a living is what you get, life is what you give. 

Despite cultural norms, societal expectations, entrepreneur successes, and personal
tragedies, Shirael Pollack‘s life and work is an ongoing story of resilience despite all odds.
Date: Thursday February 27, 2020

Time: The doors open at 6.30pm. There will be two screenings: 7pm and 8pm.

Location: 1001 Bloomfield St, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Contact: Other inquiries, email rms@trending50.com or call 904/310-5133

More details: http://hmag.com/woman-documentary-shirael-pollacks-life-work-premiere-screening-thursday-february-27/

All is Not Well in the "All Good News, All the Time" Hoboken School District - Especially If You Care About Poor, Black, and/or Latino/Latina Children

I encourage you to spend a few minutes to view this video centering on academic success in the Hoboken School District and the challenges that children from underrepresented populations face daily. 
This video is especially enlightening when one considers the failing Hoboken Middle School which has one of the highest minority demographics in the district and that this month the district changed principals in mid-year with no discussion or explanation to the community. 


CLICK TO WATCH 4:58 Video: https://tinyurl.com/ulwzo89


Comments are welcomed.

Hoboken Board of Education February 2020 Meeting- Change of Principal at Hoboken Middle School

Water Main Break at 14th and Willow Ave, Hoboken NJ-February 16, 2020
Photo Credit: Caren Lissner/Patch.com

The following is the detailed Hoboken Board of Education agenda for February 2020. A fair amount of interesting things in this meeting- perhaps the most noteworthy is a change in "assignment" at the Hoboken Middle School. Regular readers of this blog might remember this post about the Hoboken Middle School from a few months ago- where it was pointed out that Hoboken Middle School is *now* among the lowest 5% of all public school in New Jersey and lowest New Jersey Department of Education rated school in Hoboken. That being said, there is no evidence or reason to believe this reassignment has anything to do with test scores, NJDOE ratings, or academics in any manner...after all, as we are all told constantly, the Hoboken Public Schools are only wonderful and getting better everyday.  -Dr. Petrosino 

Click to Enlarge

  Hoboken BOE Detailed Agenda Feb 2020 by Tony Petrosino on Scribd

2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017

Graduation- Sadie F. Leinkaulf School (Circa 1915)

The comprehensive annual financial report of the Hoboken Board of Education (Board) for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 is hereby submitted. Responsibility for both the accuracy of the data and completeness and fairness of the presentation. including all disclosures. rests with the management of the Board. The data presented in this report is accurate in all material respects and is reported in a manner designed to present fairly the financial position and results of operations of the various funds of the Board. 

2017-18 Hoboken Financial R... by Tony Petrosino on Scribd

Water Main Break- Hoboken, NJ February 15-16, 2020 

Hoboken Parking Dude on the 3 TIME AWARD-WINNING Talk On The Hudson Show THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 12TH & LIVE AT 9:00PM

THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT FEBRUARY 12TH & LIVE AT 9:00PM




Welcome the Hoboken Parking Dude to the 3 TIME AWARD-WINNING Talk On The Hudson!




We will discuss the chaotic conditions concerning parking for residents, the current political climate in the Mile Square City and much more.

Tell your family and friends!

Don’t forget to share this!

Feel free to call in and chat with us during the program. 657-383-0296

It will be a very informative episode.

I want to thank the Town of Guttenberg, NJ, the Town of West New York, NJ and the Weehawken Township Government Page!

You can tune in that evening by clicking on the link below.

www.blogtalkradio.com/talkonthehudson/2020/02/13/talk-on-the-hudson-wednesday-february-12-2020

Looking Behind the Mirror of Endless Public Relations Spin- the Hoboken Public School District

Click to Enlarge 

VIDEO: Hoboken council votes to increase parking fees to help offset potential $14M budget deficit

The Hoboken council approved three different ordinances related to parking fees and fines, with some officials stating it's necessary to fix this year's budget gap that could approach $14 million.

The vote to authorize an increase of parking violations by $5 passed 5-4, with Council members Michael DeFusco, Vanessa Falco, Ruben Ramos and Russo voting no.

According to the ordinance, the city wants to increase residential permits depending upon the number of cars residents own. For example, it would go from about $.29 per week, or $15 per year, to $1 per week, or $52 per year, for the first car.

For families with more than one car, the rate will go from $.58 per week, or $30 per year, to $2 per week, or $104 per year, for the second car, and from $1.73 per week, or $90 per year, to $4 per week for the third car.

Parking Tickets and Revenue in Hoboken 2018 and 2019
CLICK TO ENLARGE 

Hoboken Resident Parking Permits Issued 2014-2019
CLICK TO ENLARGE