Just Say When...

Kevin Wilson endorsement

2024-11-01T16:02:00.005-07:00

The children are watching.

Who Is Amy Jones Bulluck?

2024-09-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

Amy Jones-Bulluck is the on the right page...

"As a public servant you should be out there trying to

improve everyone's quality of life--not just your own... Jack Drakeford

2024-09-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Best quote to begin the school year goes to, a 4th grade teacher in Hackensack, NJ.

"Put in your best effort and go for the A, but remember I want you to focus on

growth over grades,"

Toney Jackson

Have a great school year everyone!

Stop Fronting And Earn Those Dollars

2024-06-30T00:42:00.000-07:00

Today I received a letter from the Assistant Superintendent of Schools informing me that my granddaughter is "not graduation ready", because she failed the NJ State Proficiency Assessement in Math. Not long ago, this same Administrator gave a presentation to the Board of Education detailing the state of the 2024 Senior class. I remember that the Assistant Superintendent stated that there were over 80 seniors who had failed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment 4 times.

The letter that I received today was the exact same one we got in Spring. Word for Word. It does not acknowledge that many children have taken advantage of the 3 different pathways to graduation. The timelyness of this communication is appalling. The message "not" changing was "not" impressive either.

This old grandma and retired Teacher wants to know why our new 6 figure Administrators have not taken the time to review the data in order to learn which students have successfully chosen a Pathway. My granddaughter has a diploma signed by the President of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools. At the DMHS graduation on June 20th, in the blistering heat, she shook the hand of the HS Principal, the School Board President and the Superintendent of Schools.

Why then, did no one take the time to check to see how many and whom had satisfied graduation requirements? At least give the parents and other taxpayers the respect of updating the darned letter. Another thing, there was a category left out of the Assistant Superintendent's report. She did not include the children who dropped out of School, because they could not pass the test. So how did they pass the GED and not the NJGPA? I would like to know how many children chose to drop out rather than deal with this test again? I will say again, that perhaps the problem is with the test, and not our children.

I assume that letter was sent out to all 80 of the students who failed the assessement 4 times. Surely that 6 figure salary requires you to at least update the darn letter while covering your behind. Did you do anything else to help these children graduate other than send out this letter? Color this Old Lady not impressed.

Suggestion: Update Genesis so parents may upload Doctor and Hospital letters excusing student absences. It is extremely disconcerting to notice that a child has earned unexcused absences while in the hospital. I generally send these letters to the Principal and the Nurse, because I have not gotten an answer as to whether there is a human monitoring the Genesis Attendance Office. AI seems to be our Attendance Officer and it is not a Smart Hub. I have been told more than once that these proofs of excused absences must be submitted to the Attendance Office. Please fix that.

Our Schools Are "Still" In Crisis

2024-05-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Left to Right: Nicole Cartwright Murphy, Louis Sanchez (guidance Counselor), Joseph Armental (VP DMHS), Joseph Bell (Assistant Principal/Alternative Program), Venus Rose (Guidance Counselor), Peter Elbert (DMHS principal) Nicole Siperski (guidance counselor) and (Jamayla Scott are not pictured.)

Sometimes we must remind ourselves that the Englewood Public School District is in crisis.

Yes, I will say it again. The Englewood Public School District is in Crisis!

I followed the 2017 miss-fired "Tenure Charge" situation surrounding the suspended Guidance Counselors and Administrators closely. I have even read the transcripts of daily testimony given by the suspended employees who stayed to fight. These employees testified at the State government proceedings. A lot of time and money was wasted. Meanwhile, a valued program that would have been instrumental in facilitating a healing process, during and after the Covid 19 Pandemic, is gone, but the students who need it are still here. This was the Alternative School, also known as The Eagle Program.

Our Boards of Education must learn that a machine must be built that may not be taken apart by each new Superintendent, especially since Superintendents rarely last beyond 5 years.

The Superintendent must hold as his/her objective to create an Action Plan that satisfies the criteria set forth in the Board of Education's Goals and Objectives for the District. It is a Lay Board, therefore it is up to the Superintendent of Schools to "Develop and Present an Action Plan" designed to fulfill or accomplish the goals.

All Goals and Objectives shall hold Student Achievement, Health and Safety as Priority above all else.

All recommendations made by any Superintendent shall hold that as priority or he/she should find work elsewhere. Another thing, it is difficult to hold a Superintendent accountable, if said Superintendent is not being evaluated based on whether or not he/she has satisfied the criteria for accomplishing the District's Goals and Objectives.

Nicole Cartwright-Murphy

School Board training is paid for by the Residents, by you and I. If Board Members do not take advantage of the training, the bill is still paid. I take it personal when School Board Members do not take this training seriously. (As a matter of fact, I believe that my addressing the fact that a certain tall School Board Member had no training at all in a public forum got me theoretically placed in a room in which the air could be vacuumed There is an awful lot to learn. The children are back in school in person. It is time for School Board Members to resume in person training. Virtual Learning is supplemental in the Teaching Learning Process. It should never be allowed to take the place of the interaction between teacher and student.

I did not teach in the Dark Ages. We had computers when I left the classroom. I helped train others to maintain attendance, grade books, lesson plans and curriculum on the computer. I kept a paper version that I used to input the required Data. I hope all concerned have learned something from the recent data breach at EPSD.

I still prefer to check a notebook. It is easier for me to see progress chronologically in skill levels. I value handwriting. I am concerned that children are not making their letters even in manuscript. Allowing cursive to move onto the long list of hands on activities that students no longer participate in is unfortunate and detrimental to the overall learning process. We are graduating students who have not only never used a microscope, a ruler, or a screwdriver but who have no idea what is next. College or Career Ready?

David Matthews, Bd Member

It is unseemly and totally out of order for School Board Members to use their power in pushing their own agendas in setting up and prioritizing programs that force apartheid educational practices. The Superintendent develops Action Plans and all recommendations for programming should come from the Superintendent. It is hoped that all Englewood School Board Members are up to date in their training, especially where Tenure Law is concerned. That is the only way they may prevent unwanted harm to employees and unwanted embarrassment to themselves. Some Board Members should also do a bit of homework on Title monies and how it helps the District.

The process works in other districts and will work here when the "General Population" realizes that there is a

cycle and breaks it. School Board Members must learn to be better students. The children are watching and they are adept enough to understand when they are held accountable to following the rules, but the adults ordering them around are not.

Sometimes Superintendents actually sue School Boards because they did not warn

Robert Kravitz, former Supt.

him/them of the terrible state of the District upon hiring. His lawsuit suggests that he expected the District to divulge all about the problems in the District. Notwithstanding that reading the newspaper or googling key words would have explained that. It seems he felt that the BA, the Board Attorney and a few others whom he did not name had ruined his reputation, and blamed him for the bad publicity garnered by the grade change case. Notice that he does not name the Board Members that he accuses of working with the BA, the Board Attorney and others to discredit and ruin his reputation. He mentions that the BA and the Attorney worked together in Fort Lee. He neglects to mention that he, himself worked in Fort Lee, with Mckeever (the attorney), Ciofala (the one who supposedly found the irregularities and then took the job of the head of guidance based on his findings, and Cheryl Balletto (the Business Administrator.)

All four of them appear to have worked in Fort Lee at the same time.

I should also like to add that, in my opinion, as a retired teacher, the reported 3,000 grade changes

Joseph Armental

found by Mr. Ciofalo and his Pitbull Agency is basically a conservative number considering that there were more than 1,000 students enrolled at DMHS at the time. There are many and varied reasons for grade changes, one being students doing work to make up incompletes. One student might have numerous changes. Much of the news printed at the time concentrated overmuch on headline hype which the Superintendent claimed did his reputation irreparable harm.

Read the Englewood Board of Education's charges against suspended employees.

Final Decision of the Commissioner of Education signed December 30, 2019.

Re-instatement of Joseph Armental, Venus Rose, Louis Sanchez, Nicole Cartwright

Official State Re-instatement of Dr. Gordon - former Director of Guidance -

Dr. Noel Gordon
"...Severance is also not an option since the charges as written deprive respondents of their fundamental due process rights to a clear statement describing the precise nature of the charges against him or her, and a description of the evidence which allegedly supports the charges. In this matter as it currently stands, there are 750 paragraphs in thirty-three counts and each count realleges and incorporates the previous counts, such that the allegations against respondent Rose also include the allegations against respondent Cartwright; the allegations against respondent Scott also include the allegations against respondents Rose and Cartwright, etc.; the allegations against respondent Armenta[ therefore include the allegations against all seven of the other respondents. There is simply no way this matter may be determined sufficient to require that answers be filed; consequently, it must be dismissed as procedurally defective... "

In the comment section below this article, I challenge you to name and count all of the EPSD Superintendents chronologically, whether acting or county place holders, who have held the responsibility since the year 2000. All of this Superintendent discussion may end up being a mute point very soon. We shall see.

(Also keep in mind that there was one Superintendent who was never approved by the state which means that he was not ever legally our Superintendent. That complaint was filed against the then Englewood Board of Education by yours truly.)

Go on, surprise yourself. Then, communicate with your elected School Board Members.

Open Letter To EPSD

2024-05-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

I have been neglecting the Blog. I found this while realizing that I must publish something, so I am republishing a very thoughtful letter to the EPSD. So, as they say on Social Media, "Reposting".

Originally posted: Tuesday, September 1, 2020

My open letter to EPSD about The Zone.

Please share.

I am writing to urge you to take decisive action, to lead--and find a way to support The Zone for the 2020-2021 school year. Now is not a time to reduce the mental health and community supports for students and faculty.

I understand that Trenton is in crisis and has no good choices to make. However, Trenton does not know what we know, which is that Englewood Public Schools were in crisis before the pandemic. I know this because through the leadership of Mariam Gerges and Liz Corsini, along with Sanetta Ponton, I helped lead hours of workshops for DMHS faculty and administrators last year.
We heard first hand how difficult the conditions in the school were, their struggles in reaching students, and their desire to lead their colleagues in creating a better climate in which students, regardless of their traumas, could learn and thrive. We were having these conversations and workshops in August, September, January and February. What will those discussions sound like over Zoom this year?

I can assure you that the kind of professional development and coaching that your faculty and administrators received last year through these workshops would have cost EPSD thousands of dollars--but you got it "free" from Bergen Family Center, The Zone and the community members like Sanetta, Flat Rock Brook and me--who will do almost anything for Englewood's children. Most importantly, EPSD got all this expertise for "free" because the community knows the value that Bergen Family Center brings--and when called upon by them, we show up.

Now it is time for EPSD to show up for The Zone. I assure you that your students and faculty cannot survive, let alone thrive, without the support that The Zone and its committed staff provide. They pivoted seamlessly to the virtual world, and connected with students in a matter of days. In fact, there were moments on the weekly community calls that Sanetta organized, when it became obvious that Bergen Family Center knew more about some of EPSD students than the district did itself. You need The Zone, we all know you do.

Find the money--in the paper clip and toner budget, in the snacks for professional development budget--find the money.

Step up and lead. The times demand it.

Sincerely,

Lynne Algrant

Former Council at Large and Former President of the Englewood City Council

Medical Emergencies

2022-01-13T10:22:00.002-08:00

New Jersey Statutes, Title: 18A, EDUCATION

Chapter 40: Employment of medical inspectors, optometrists and nurses; salaries; terms; rules

Section: 18A:40-10: Exclusion of teachers and pupils exposed to disease

No teacher or pupil who is a member of a household in which a person is ill with smallpox, diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough, yellow fever, typhus fever, cholera, measles, or such other contagious or infectious disease as may be designated by the board of education, or of a household exposed to contagion as aforesaid, shall attend any public school during such illness, nor until the board of education has been furnished with a certificate from the board of health, or from the physician attending such person, or from a medical inspector, certifying that all danger of communicating the disease by the teacher or pupil has passed.

L.1967, c.271.

Chapter 40 and Virtual Learning in NJ

2022-01-13T10:09:00.002-08:00

New Jersey Statutes, Title: 18A, EDUCATION

Chapter 40: Employment of medical inspectors, optometrists and nurses; salaries; terms; rules

Section: 18A:40-44: Information relative to child's exposure to violence on electronic devices.

1. a. The Department of Education shall prepare and make available on the department's Internet website, both in print and in an easily printable format, information on how a parent can limit a child's exposure to violence on television, cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. The department shall update this information whenever new information about a child's exposure to violence on television and other electronic devices becomes available. The information shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) research and statistics on how violent behavior increases after exposure to violent films, music, television, or video games;

(2) scientific findings that show children who play violent video games are more likely to be involved in physical altercations with classmates, perform poorly on academic tasks, and are unable to relate to adults in positions of authority;

(3) factors that increase the probability a child will be at risk of violent behavior, including, but not limited to, exposure or involvement in violence at critical stages of childhood development, poor socioeconomic conditions, and poor parenting skills;

(4) symptoms of a child's overexposure to violence, including, but not limited to, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, feelings of hopelessness, truancy, and difficulty in school;

(5) predictors of violent behavior in children, including but not limited to, dishonesty, disobedience, favorable attitude toward violence, hostility toward police, substance abuse, aggressive or antisocial behavior, and involvement in nonviolent criminal offenses; and

(6) effective strategies, based on a child's age and stage of development, that will help a parent monitor or restrict a child's exposure to violence on television and other electronic devices, including, but not limited to, the use of screening software or other technologies that prevent a child from watching television programs a parent deems inappropriate, co-viewing and commenting on television programs that depict violence, and familiarization with video game advisory labels and rating systems that make it more difficult for children to purchase and play such games.

b. The department shall prepare an informational pamphlet that contains the information posted on its website pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and shall update the pamphlet as necessary. The department shall distribute the pamphlet, at no charge, to all school districts in the State, and shall make additional copies available to nonpublic schools upon request.

c. In the 2013-2014 school year and in each school year thereafter, each school district shall distribute the pamphlet to the parents or guardians of students attending the schools of the district.

L.2013, c.146, s.1.

This section added to the Rutgers Database: 2013-09-03 15:13:44.

Update: Did the Board of Education Organize?

2022-01-05T23:06:00.007-08:00

On January 6, 2022 @ 7 PM, the Englewood School Board will assemble and reorganize. The School Board will go through the motions of electing a new President and Vice President. This will probably be discussed and decided in the Closed Session Meeting taking place at 6 PM the same day. The formal vote will take place Publicly in the Zoom meeting at 7 PM.

Update: Well, I missed that one. It wasn't discussed in close session. We had to watch that. Dear Board of Education. Do that in closed session. I don't think we have a Vice President. I have not heard so many well-placed abstentions in a long time. We shall see what comes of it. While they figure that out, WE have to keep our attention on the important things.

Link to the Agenda containing Reorganization Meeting Zoom Link.

Link to the Text of the Oath of Office for School Board Members

There are other positions that the Board of Education should Appoint or Reappoint during this meeting. 2 of these positions are extremely important to Residents, Students, Teachers and Staff. These positions are Medical Inspector and Psychological Examiner. We should question whether or not these positions are filled and if these persons are working with the Health Staff of the District.

We are still in a Pandemic. Who are the members of our Pandemic Response Team? Do we have a centralized Pandemic Response Team or does a Team exist in each school building? Is our Medical Inspector involved in this team? Is our Psychological Examiner involved in plans to remediate Mental Health issues that may have arisen because of isolation, overuse of technology, or feelings of anxiety among students?

At the last School Board Meeting, the Interim Superintendent apologized to the Public for not being a Medical Professional. Okay, apology accepted. Now use the Policy below to support the Appointment of a Medical Professional who will work closely with the District Nurses and Administration while consulting with the local Health Department and reporting directly to you. We are in the middle of a Health Emergency. We need to see that more is being done. We want to be able to trust that the Board of Education and the Superintendent are willingly putting forth an effort to develop a centralized District Health Office that will make sure that protocols are created and followed consistently. We want assurances that previous existing acute illnesses, such as severe asthma are not being ignored, because our nursing staff is overwhelmed with covid responses. We want our nurses to feel confident that they have PPE that is comparable to that used in ICU across the country. We want our Health Professionals to feel confident that they are safe while working with our children.

Below is Policy including statutes pertaining to the appointment of District Health Professionals. More than ever, we must demand compliance in this area.

District Policy

0153 - ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS

Section: Bylaws

Date Created: February 2002
Date Edited: November 2019

The Board of Education may annually appoint the following positions:

1. A Board Secretary,
N.J.S.A. 18A:17-2, 17-5

17-3 Tenure of janitorial employees
17-4 Reduction in number of janitorial employees
17-5 Appointment of secretary of board of education; terms; compensation; vacancy.

2. A public school accountant,
N.J.S.A. 18A:23-1

3. A medical inspector,
N.J.S.A. 18A:40-1

18A:40-1. Employment of medical inspectors, optometrists and nurses; salaries; terms; rules
Every board of education shall employ one or more physicians, licensed to practice medicine and surgery within the state, to be known as the medical inspector or medical inspectors, and any board, not furnishing nursing services under a contract pursuant to section 18A:40-3.1 shall employ one or more school nurses, and it may also employ one or more optometrists, licensed to practice optometry within the state, to be known as the school vision examiner or school vision examiners, and the board shall fix their salaries and terms of office.
Every board of education shall adopt rules, subject to the approval of the state board, for the government of such employees.

4. A psychological examiner,

N.J.S.A. 18A:46-11

18A:46-11. Psychological and other examinations
Each board of education shall separately or jointly with one or more boards of education employ a psychological examiner, who acting jointly with special education personnel approved by the commissioner, shall administer the procedures for diagnosis and classification required in this chapter, or, in lieu of employing a psychological examiner, it or they may contract to use, with or without financial reimbursement, the psychological or other services of any clinic or agency approved by the commissioner.

5. A member to serve as delegate to the New Jersey School Boards Association,
N.J.S.A. 18A:6-46

6. An attendance officer(s),
N.J.S.A. 18A:38-32

18A:38-32. District and county vocational school attendance officers
For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this article, the board of education of each school district and the board of education of each county vocational school shall appoint a suitable number of qualified persons to be designated as attendance officers, and shall fix their compensation; except that if a county attendance officer or officers are appointed for any county, any district board of education of such county may be exempt from the appointment of a local attendance officer if such exemption is approved by the county superintendent. Each board shall make rules not inconsistent with the provisions of this article and subject to the approval of the commissioner, for the government of the attendance officers.

7. A Treasurer of School Moneys,
N.J.S.A. 18A:17-31

8. A member to serve as delegate to the Bergen County School Boards Association;

9. An attorney

10. An insurance broker(s)/agent(s).

Adopted: 28 February 2002
Revised: November 14, 2019

A lot of lip service has been given to the concept of isolation and mental health problems connected with children learning at home in Virtual. We must force them to do more in the District to protect our children's health since they have chosen to force them back into school while the Board of Education and all other City Boards, Committees and Commissions meet virtually. The Superintendent is running the District remotely. Put them to work creating the very best protocol possible for keeping everyone safe.

Additional Appointments or motions to be made during the Reorganization Meeting. How many of the following actions are included in the consent agenda of the current Jan. 6 reorganization agenda?

District Policy

0154 - ANNUAL MOTIONS AND DESIGNATIONS

Section: BylawsDate Created: February 2002Date Edited: February 2002

The Board of Education shall make the following designations at the organizational meeting:

Designate one (1) or more depositories for school funds;

Designate those persons authorized to sign school warrants;

Designate the official newspaper;

Designate a second newspaper for the publication of Board meeting announcements; and

Designate the day, place, and time for regular meetings of the Board.

The Board of Education shall adopt resolutions for the following issues at the organizational meeting:

Approve the curriculum for all grades;

Readopt existing bylaws and policies for the Board’s operation and the operation of the school system; and

Readopt any existing contracts and agreements to which the Board is a party and where continuation is not authorized by law.

N.J.S.A. 10:4-8;

N.J.S.A.17:9-9;

N.J.S.A 18A:14-19

N.J.S.A.18A:17-34

N.J.S.A 18A:19-1

N.J.S.A. 18A:22-11

N.J.S.A.18A:39-3

Adopted: 28 February 2002

"I Want Dwight Morrow High School to Gleam Academically"

2021-12-17T15:59:00.003-08:00

Friends, Raiders, and Englewoodians, please lend me your ears!

As many of you know by now, the Englewood elected BOE has selected Joseph Armental as principal of our flagship, my Alma Mater, Dwight Morrow High School. This measure did not pass on the first vote, but it has passed. Now we, as the beloved community who want our schools to live up to our real legacy of academic greatness, must be team players, with all oars rowing in the same direction.

The BOE has spoken. Joseph Armental and all of the administrators in our District need our support. It is unfair to expect that the normalization of mediocrity and failure that has pervaded, persisted, and plagued us for years is going to dissipate in an instant—and we need to be forthright in our admission we have developed a culture of mediocrity and failure. Instead, we need a change of ethos that is the result of a shared desire for revolutionary change in our District.

For this, we must create strategic, mission-centered, data-driven plans, with benchmarks and dates, because we have very serious issues before us. We urgently need strong academic leadership on all levels.

We must find a way to infuse Mathematics and Language Arts throughout our curricula with all deliberate speed. In this effort, we should note the immense connectivity between the Fine and Performing Arts and Mathematics, as well as all other disciplines.

The data that are before us beg our attention and concerted efforts. We need to question very seriously the veracity of labeling a program as “Gifted” when 90% and more of the students are in need of remediation. Instead of fancy labels and slick talk, we need to emphasize the basics. Sports is a great metaphor for this. No team wins without a firm mastery of the fundamentals.

The same is true with any subject matter. Acquisition of the foundational behaviors is critical to sustained success. Continuing with the metaphor, teams succeed when the members practice and perfect their crafts to the utmost of their abilities and work together for a common goal (pun intended).

In order for us as a school district to reroute from this unwelcome path, we need everyone to take ownership of tasks before us. We must admit readily that no one person has all the answers or abilities, and we must never be hesitant to seek the expertise of those who are knowledgeable and have proven track records.

Additionally, we must cease our uncritical acceptance of premises that are current falsehoods. The data show that some of our notions about the promise of the extant choice programs to elevate academic performance at the high school are, at best, inconclusive. This is not to suggest the elimination of choice programs, but to suggest a continuous review of their viability and purposes for our District and to develop data-driven benchmarks for them.

More than I can express here, I want THE Dwight Morrow High School to gleam academically. Together, we can make this happen. “Once A Raider, Always A Raider!”

Submitted With Much LOVE—Lynette Adrian Bickham

Start Strong?

2021-11-20T17:34:00.005-08:00

By now, many either have attended virtually, or have heard and seen the data from the 11/18/2021 Englewood, NJ BOE meeting. There is much to unpack and there are data not mentioned that need to be brought forward. As we view student performance, we must ask for connecting data, because it never is prudent to view student performance data in isolation. So, I have a few questions, if I may:

(1) What are the attendance data for each school?

(2) And for the high school, what are the period-by-period attendance data?

(3) What are the teacher observation data for each school--is there any correlation between the high marks that teachers earn and student performance? Are teachers receiving stellar marks while there are glaring student performance deficits?

(4) What are the demographic data for the teachers along the areas of student performance?

(5) What are the data that measure the effectiveness of In-Service / Professional Development--how has student achievement improved or stagnated as a result?

(6) What are the data for the frequency of principals visiting classroom--not for formal observations, but to get a sense of what actually is going on in the schools?

(7) What are the data for the time allocated for collaboration among teachers of the same subject to share in best practices? (

(8) What are the data for the methodology of choosing principals for our schools to ensure that they are academic leaders and that they have the opportunity to share best practices with one another?

(9) What is the ecumenical outreach? What are the data regarding partnerships with our local houses of worship fostering their assistance in community outreach?

(10) What are the data regarding the delivery of support to our students who still are displaced from Hurricane Ida?

(11) Do the curricula guides exist and what fidelity is there to implementation? How is this measured?

(12) What is the per capita student spending and what is the itemized list of deliverables?

(13) With these troubling levels of performance, are individualized strategies indicated for each student, teacher, and administer?

(14) What are the strategies between the feeder and the receiver schools to ensure readiness as students transition from one campus to another?

(15) What are the data on teacher-student ratios? Are smaller class sizes indicated?

As an alumna, and as a former Dwight Morrow High School teacher, I can attest that these are only a small fragment of the important introspective questions that educators ask with great regularity, and have been asking over the years. Because student performance does not occur in a vacuum, it is one of a myriad of components that need to be examined and addressed. The onus of responsibility for student performance does not reside solely with the students. This is a matter for all of us—parents, teachers, administrators, the Englewood community, as well as the students. We should ask pertinent questions. If no one has learned, then no one has taught. We cannot accept that everyone on the campuses, except the students, has stellar performance indicators. If the students have not acquired the knowledge in a manner that they own it and can synthesize it, then we have not taught them. This is a hard truth, but if we are finally going to be transparent and listen to the personnel on the frontlines, then we need to own up to this.

I submit this in all humility and with Much Love And Concern. L.A.B.

Lynette Adrian Peters-Bickham

Link to the full Report on the EPSD Website

Link to the full report on the EPSD website

Building Educational Excellence

2021-10-07T17:01:00.003-07:00

Englewood Moms Fighting For Educational Excellence

ENGLEWOOD Residents, I’ve known Collette Walker Thompson and Amy Jones Bulluck for several years. I have watched how involved they have become in the community. Some people don't know that their involvement in the ENGLEWOOD community and school system didn’t just start over the last few months.

Their involvement and concern for the welfare and fair treatment of the children of ENGLEWOOD spans over more than a decade. They have made it their mission to attend School Board meetings. They are looking for ways to become part of the solution to bring back equity in our school system.  In addition to attending School Board meetings, they have helped to establish the NAACP student Organization, in which they work as mentors for the youth.  

They were profoundly empathetic and helpful to Residents while organizing a "recovery mission" after our community was devastated by Hurricane Ida. They were on the front lines daily, making sure families were being cared for, with dignity and understanding. These ladies have demonstrated that they are "of" the Community in which they live.

Collette and Amy possess all of the qualities and qualifications we could ever hope for in school board members. These two women are mothers, community advocates, and leaders, who have never been afraid to speak up for what is right. They never back down when it comes to our children. When you pull the lever for Amy and Collette, you are pulling the lever for a better future for your children. We can be assured our children’s best interest is being fought for and protected.

Collette and Amy, thank you for taking up the CHALLENGE of bringing back Educational Excellence to the ENGLEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT!

VOTE COLUMNS 7 AND 8 ON YOUR BALLOT!

Debbie Bland Manning, EdD.

Assistant Dean of Adjunct Administration and Adjunct Professor Of Sociology @Bergen Community College

In Person Learning?

2021-01-29T09:37:00.015-08:00

Back to School?

Perhaps it is time that we all stop pretending that air quality in Schools was perfect pre-Covid. It was more than we teachers who referred to certain Schools as "sick buildings". Now we are forced to clean it all up, because it will not just be the children with existing respiratory problems who will suffer. Now "poor air quality and circulation" can cause illness and death in more people. Have we forgotten that we were forced to bring in the County Hazmat Team to force remediation in at least 2 buildings in the past? Some of us remember Legionnaires Disease and how it was nurtured in poorly maintained HVAC systems, in the elegant Bellevue-Stratford Hotel.

Has the Right to Know been made available to teachers and Community Members so they can check to see what has changed since March of 2020? Have ducts been cleaned, new filters installed, etc. All over the country big businesses, like Pritchard Industries, Inc. have been making millions of dollars per school District. I have never been impressed by their work. Do they test their employees? Things have certainly changed since we learned that the virus is aerosolized. Last I checked our agenda, they have not missed a check.

If the nexus of the virus is in the Community, the teachers need to be vaccinated and gradually moved back into the classrooms before adding students to the equation.  It makes little to no sense to say that children are not getting and spreading the virus. Most of the children have been "out of Community Circulation" since March of 2020. It is the adults who have been exposed. Will that scenario change once schools are open? Oh and, has it even been discussed that there is no vaccine for children under 16?

The Board of Education must also demonstrate that they, themselves, trust that the buildings are clean, sanitized and safe, by meeting in person for BOE meetings. Follow the CDC Guidelines and set the example.


NJ Right to Know
What We Do
The Community Right to Know program performs the following functions and supplies the following services:
Collects and stores chemical inventory information
Assists emergency planners and first responders by providing them with information about on-site chemical hazards 
Provides compliance assistance
Investigates complaints and notifications of unauthorized activities
Conducts inspections
Issues enforcement documents, both formal and informal, which may include assessed penalties
Find more information on submitting your annual CRTK Report. There are also links to various documents and reports you may find useful

Bill Feinstein Candidate for Board of Ed. Englewood, NJ

2020-09-17T21:59:00.002-07:00

Open Letter To EPSD

2020-09-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

My open letter to EPSD about The Zone.

Please share.

Find the money--in the paper clip and toner budget, in the snacks for professional development budget--find the money.

Step up and lead. The times demand it.

Sincerely,

Lynne Algrant

Former Council at Large and Former President of the Englewood City Council

The Great Equalizer

2019-11-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

The Key to a great Board of Education, that functions the same for

all children and upholds the Constitution and the laws of the state of New Jersey is an informed Community.

Our task is not an easy one.

Many people are intimidated by the process and the title these people share.

Remember that board members are just like the rest of us when they are not seated at that long table.

The Law is the great equalizer. It protects the rich, the moderately rich, the middle class and the folks who are struggling to make the ends meet. It protects the homeless and it protects the undocumented children. It is supposed to treat all the same regardless of the size of the bank account or the address.

Board Members Must follow the Law.

They Shall follow the Law.
Laws have been ignored.
Laws have been broken.
Too many have looked the other way.

An Englewood School board member entered directly into a contract with the Englewood Board of Education.

18A:12-2. Inconsistent interests or office prohibited

No member of any board of education shall be interested directly or indirectly in any contract with or claim against the board, nor, in the case of local and regional school districts, shall he hold office as mayor or as a member of the governing body of a municipality, nor, in the case of county special services school districts and county vocational school districts, shall he hold office as a member of the governing body of a county.

We the people have the power,
to call them out legally
when they refuse to comply
with the Laws of the state of New Jersey.

The next Englewood Board Meeting has been re-scheduled to

November 14, 2019 @ Grieco School

Click this link for the Agenda.

It is Almost Time to Get Out There and Vote

2019-10-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

Right to Left, William Feinstein, Suzanne Mullings & Samuel Trusty

"...As an alumnus of the Englewood School System, I have a vested interest in the welfare of Englewood’s educational condition.

I want the children of Englewood to find the same delight in their educational experience that I had the opportunity to experience. I will dedicate time to advocate for our children and their future by improving the educational foundation the district provides to ensure our children are viable participants in the national workforce..."

Suzanne Mullings - Candidate for Englewood Board Education

"...We need school board members who will work for all our children. I will fight to ensure that every child receives the highest quality education. I will work to create an environment and culture that is conducive to teaching and learning, creating a positive experience for all students, teachers, administrators and parents. We need change to restore competence and confidence to the Englewood Public School District..."

William Feinstein - Candidate for Englewood Board of Education

Bill Feinstein is not new to the City, the School District or the race for equity in our Schools.

https://plumwalk2-justsaywhen.blogspot.com/2016/11/just-in-case-missed-candidates-forum.

"... As a board member and policy maker my number one priority will be to ensure we are Providing EVERY child with the BEST education to prepare them for success.

While doing that, we must also balance the interests of all stakeholders including, Our Students & Parents, our Teachers & Administrators and The Englewood Taxpayer. I look forward to your questions and to discuss the future of the Englewood Public Schools..."

Claiming a future for our Children

https://plumwalk2-justsaywhen.blogspot.com/2017/10/claiming-future-for-our-children.html

I am very passionate and committed to the success of the Englewood Public Schools. I was fortunate to receive a great education that prepared me for the world outside of Englewood and I want every child today to receive that same great education and experience. As a community we have a responsibility, to ensure that each child is given that same opportunity from day one. We must put a very strong emphasis on early education. When a child falls behind in the early grades, it becomes extremely difficult, if not sometimes impossible, for that child to catch up.

Check Your Child's Summer Packet Now!

2019-06-20T09:07:00.003-07:00

Current 4th Grade Parents:

Make sure you check the books given to your children to read over the summer. I am truly at a loss as to why with all of the magnificent material out there, that these books were chosen.

My grandson shares my concern and actually tried to hide the books from me. Why? And who chose the reading material? It is difficult enough as it is to inspire children to do the summer reading. He informed me this morning that he will not even begin to read anything until the end of July. As I read these pages, I totally agree.

It appears to have come from the Superintendent's Office. Now, I ask you, who would be the most likely person to choose the Summer Reading Materials than the class room teachers, who know the children?

Please pray for the children, they are not well. We have trusted people with their Education, Health and Safety who do not have a clue.

Our Schools are In Crisis, and our Children are NOT WELL!

2019-06-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

Englewood Board of Education:

How many more families are we going to lose to Bergenfield and other School Districts, because our Superintendent does not have a clue in hell as to how a School District is ran?

Did he forget that his salary is based on student enrollment?

All 9 of you are required to remind him.

DRAMA AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR CHILD?

2019-06-19T14:52:00.003-07:00

Uniform Memorandum of Agreement between Boards Of Education and Law Enforcement Officials. (the MOA)

Article 1.10
STATIONHOUSE ADJUSTMENTS

*Alternative method to handle first-time juvenile offenders who committed minor juvenile offenses

*Provides a prompt resolution for the victim
*Immediate consequences issued (e.g., community services, restitution)

*Prevents creation of "juvenile delinquency record"

*All law enforcement agencies may utilize
stationhouse adjustment to handle minor offenses

*A school only needs to be notified if it if the victim of the crime (e.g., trespassing on school property, theft)

WERE STATIONHOUSE ADJUSTMENTS MADE IN THE RECENT INCIDENT SURROUNDING THE FIGHT AT DMHS? IF NOT, WHY?

Click here for 2019 Revisions to the MOA

Click here for frequently asked questions regarding the MOA

The complete 2019 Uniform Agreement between Education and Law Enforcement Officials. Neither Party is allowed to remove anything already included in the document.

The MOA is where School District Policy meets the Laws of the State of NJ. It is mandated by law, reviewed and signed by the NJ Attorney General and the NJ Commissioner of Education, after being signed by the Executive County Superintendent and the County Prosecutor.

SO WHAT IS UP WITH ALL OF THE DRAMA?

ARE OUR CHILDREN BEING USED TO KEEP CERTAIN FOLK IN THE SPOTLIGHT?

TAKE NOTE PARENTS.

THE CHARADE CONTINUES!

STOP THE OBVIOUS EXPLOITATION OF OUR CHILDREN BY EDUCATING YOURSELVES!

https://www.nj.gov/education/students/safety/behavior/law/moa/understanding.pdf?fbclid=IwAR06UhOUJPbeabN9vtsEjsCW383tRlWUWApOu5X6LQ0w0-NpzDu4AyPq6Iw

Is Your High School Child Headed To Jail?

2019-06-14T10:15:00.000-07:00

ATTENTION PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS:

Learn to recognize conflicts of interest and violations of the Code of Ethics for School Board Members, when you see them.

This knowledge is guaranteed to make your child's education in Englewood, New Jersey a lot more fulfilling. Get the Education that your children deserve.

How to use this booklet

"All students and their families should know their rights, whether or not they seek to challenge a disciplinary decision. Well-informed students, families, educators and community stakeholders can use this information to advocate for fair disciplinary practices in their school and district.

This booklet has a lot of internet links that you can and should use to improve your school’s approach to discipline, get connected to other families and organizations working on changing school discipline, and get more information about protecting your rights.

If you have any trouble accessing these links, please contact the Education Law Center for printed versions of each link.

Know that this booklet is based on New Jersey state law. While your school’s code of conduct can give you more rights than this, it cannot give you fewer.

Be sure to review your local code, and contact the Education Law Center if it does not comply with state law.

If you or your student is facing a suspension or expulsion, please turn to the Know Your Rights section on page 4 and the School Discipline Checklist on page 26 Table of contents."

https://edlawcenter.org/assets/files/pdfs/publications/Student_discipline_manual.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2lHLbBSBxitsI2ZA99-ZC6hfjrBKgTbc6f3Tcd70mRU-pWZAf-rdXZyUg

Make this your go to document when dealing with Boards of Education regarding your child's behavior in school.

School Discipline in New Jersey: A toolkit for students, families, and advocates

A Question of Ethics and Stability

2019-05-21T18:45:00.000-07:00

AFTERCARE QUESTIONS

First there are some questions pertaining to this after school program.

I would like to know;

What are the costs per child?

Will the superintendent/board be provided proof of background checks?

Will the people working in the after school program have experience with a Title I district that resembles the cultural and economic diversity of Englewood?

Will you look to hire people from Englewood who are familiar with the strengths and challenges of our children?

What is the staff turnover rate?

GENERAL STATEMENT

As elected officials you take an oath to abide by a Code of Ethics which is dictated by New Jersey law. I am very disturbed by the actions initiated by board members over the course of the past year. These actions clearly indicate that school board members

don’t know,

don’t understand,

don’t care about following the Code of Ethics or about the best interests of our school district.

Everything from questionable
business

relationships, to threats of

Too many substitutes in our

classrooms everyday.

potential violence toward community members, to most recently Ms. Lerner and Ms. Schwartz’ emails.

I find it very concerning that Ms. Lerner chose to empathize with Mr. Berrios and chastise Mr. Rodriques. There is never a justifiable reason for an elected official to shout obscenities or threaten

community members in front of their children.

And to

condemn Mr Rodriques for taking

a stand and holding the board to

Not enough Student

Support

Staff

to nurture our

children, or yours

task by asking that they abide by the oath that they took and the NJ Code of Ethics for School Board Members clearly indicates that you are not concerned about being the best board member, you can be.

Laws/guidelines/codes are created for a reason and the blatant disregard for these laws/guidelines/codes is disrespectful not only to our community and children but to yourselves.
Ms. Schwartz’ email to the board is also indicative of the mass confusion about the roles and responsibilities of board members. Posts on people’s personal FB pages are not the business of the board and while some may find issue with Mr. Whilby's posts, the constitution of the United States protects his freedom of speech. So, I am very curious to know, Ms.

Schwartz, why were you on Mr. Whilby’s FB page and why do you feel what he posts is considered BOE business? Some might consider that stalking.

Enough is enough. If you are not going to follow the law on policies and Code of Ethics, which is 18A for reference, and not attend trainings to improve your skill set and knowledge as board members, if

you are going to stalk and threaten community members

(and for the record, Mr Berrios is not the only board member to have confronted a community , member-video to come)

then please, for the sake of our children and our community step down. We will appreciate and respect you for acknowledging that maybe this isn’t the best role for you

Amy Jones Bulluck

Is Englewood Disenfranchising Her Children?

2019-05-10T17:33:00.001-07:00

I’m hearing a lot about the brawl having racial undertones behind it and the punishment that the CHILDREN should be and are facing. What I am not hearing is what role the district management (or lack there of) or the community has played in bringing this incident to fruition.

What has the district done to help children value each others differences?

What role has the district played in creating such an atmosphere? Yes fights happen, but what is being done to prevent them?

Are Englewood are teachers required to have any type of diversity training? Are they trained on how to promote equity & diversity in the classroom?

Many employers are now requiring employees to attend diversity training. They actually have employees for the very purpose of promoting the concept of valuing diversity in the work environment. Do we?

The next question is how is equity and diversity promoted in the classroom?

Are children given any guidance in valuing those who are different?
Are we teaching them how to appreciate their differences?
Are we teaching them how to identify commonalities?
How to show empathy?
How to negotiate through difficult situations?
How to agree to disagree?

My guess is the answers to theses questions are NOT! Why? Because we as a city are not exhibiting these behaviors and values. Everything in this damn city is a public fight. Hill vs valley, Black vs Jew, rich vs poor, resident vs non-resident, Hispanic vs white Hispanic, and on and on and on. And as evidenced by the April 11, 2019 some are resorting to vigilantism (I’ll share more about my thoughts on that in another post).

So really Englewood, what example are we setting for the children? What is the educational system doing to teach children to do and be better? Is the fight really the children’s fault or is it our fault for not equipping them with the tools they need to successfully navigate through a disagreement? This incident tells me that our children are frustrated.

They are telling us to do our jobs as adults, community members, city leaders, district leaders.

They are telling us they want to be heard.

They are crying out for help.

They are testing us and so far we are failing😓

Amy Jones Bulluck

Conduct Unbecoming.....!

2019-05-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

By now most of you have seen the video of the April 11 Board of
Education meeting showing the School Board member, Mr Berrios, confronting a community member. There have been calls for him to step down and quite honestly I think he should. Let’s think about the impact that his refusal to step down will have on the community and how he may have done so and maintained some level of respect from the community.

To be fair let’s review the reason, Mr Berrios, stayed is source of contention.

First, he clearly accuses a community member of threatening his 12 yr old daughter prior to the meeting. The community member did not make any statements containing Mr. Berrios’ name or reference his daughter at the meeting. While in my opinion, the community member did not threaten his daughter, as a parent, I am not going to judge his perception.

I, at the same meeting, had a woman, whom I do not know, scream erratically at me because my child is in the charter school. Not knowing this woman obviously gave me cause for concern that she knows my child was in a charter school. Now, I have not kept it a secret that my kid attends EPCS, but for someone I don’t know to be actively monitoring what I do with my child is concerning. So I get it.

But let’s be honest, if a parent really feels their child is in danger or has been threatened, wouldn’t a reasonable, mature, adult contact the authorities (police) immediately? As least that’s what I did right after the meeting. I Filed a police report. So I have to wonder, why didn’t Mr. Berrios contact the authorities? Why did he opt to confront the community member days after the alleged threat?

Now let’s fast forward to the meeting on May 1. The Board President offers an apology on behalf of the Board. Mr Berrios, offers an apology, with a justification, and a reference to the fact that he continued on with his normal routine (coordinating his science team and coaching baseball). First of all, an apology with a justification indicates to me that he is not really apologetic for his actions. He still feels his actions were justified, but he is sorry if he offended us. Why is this important? It tells us that he feels there is justification for threatening physical violence, which likely indicates that he either has done this before, or will do it again, or both.

His refusal to step down also gives us an indication of how he really feels about his role as a school Instead of the community being able to focus on what can enhance our district, we are now trying to figure out how to protect our children from those we elected to serve them.
board member. It’s about him and not the children. One would hope that as a school board member the children would be what is most important. His blatant disregard for the children on April 11 continued into the meeting on May 1. His behavior caused him to lose the confidence of the community. Quite frankly, I don’t appreciate him using the children to try and prove a point. Our kids are the point.

At this point, what chance there was of Mr. Berrios maintaining any semblance of dignity or respect the community has been lost. Had Mr, Berrios truly been sorry and really considered the children to be most important his response would have gone something like;

"As a school board member and an elected official, I am held to a higher standard on the night of April 11, I failed to meet that standard. The community placed not only their trust but the education of their children in my hands and I have failed them. For this I offer my sincerest apologies to all. My actions prevented the school board from conducting necessary business to keep our schools functioning. My actions redirected the focus away from the children which contradicts my whole purpose for being a board member. While I offer no excuses for my behavior the events over that last few weeks culminating in my irresponsible behavior has taught me that, while my intentions are to help children, being a school board member, an elected public position, may not be the best way for me to accomplish my intentions. It is apparent that I do not have the temperament or disposition to tolerate being an elected official. I thank the people who supported me. I am sorry that I let you down. I am officially stepping down from my position as a member of the Englewood Board of Education. I will look to understand more about myself and how I may be able to drive positive change for our children.

How might you have felt differently about Mr. Berrios if he had offered an apology such as this? We all make mistakes but "you got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, Know when to walk away and know when to run." This, Mr Berrios, was a time to fold ‘em and walk away.

Amy Jones Bulluck

Are You Tired of Being Dismissed?

2019-05-05T00:28:00.000-07:00

The events of this week have clearly shown us two things.

1. People are tired of being blatantly dismissed. People are feeling disengaged, disempowered, and ignored.

2. There are elected officials who have personal agendas and what the residents want is not important to them. They have shown to have an alliance with individuals versus the community.

So what do we do about it? How do we get people engaged and ensure that ALL of our elected officials are held accountable?

First, you must start attending meetings. BOE, Council, Planning Board, Board of Adjustment, etc... This is how you know what is being planned for your community. Of course we understand that it is extremely difficult to attend all these meetings because, after all, we have this thing called life, however we must start to work together. I am sure each one of us has at least 4 friends. Each person take a meeting and report back to the others.

Make sure you are informed on who your respective council person is so that based on the reports you can email your councilperson with your thoughts.

Secondly, we must educate ourselves about the candidates running for various positions. We obviously cannot afford to blindly elect people just because they are in the first column or just because they are our neighbor, or just because. We cannot afford to re-elect people simply because they are the incumbent. Having the position today does not mean you will be the best person for the job tomorrow. Know your candidates.

Now, knowing your candidate does not mean you may not end up supporting the “wrong” candidate. I am guilty of this. The person I supported turned out to be all the way wrong!! It’s okay though. Lesson learned. I certainly won’t vote for them next time.

Thirdly, thing we absolutely must do is actually vote. This is where our power lies. We literally have the power to hire and fire by pushing a button.

We have several officials up for re-election this year

Ward 2 Michael Cohen
Ward 4. Wayne Hamer

Board of Ed (should they chose to run)

Kim Donaldson
Angela Midgette David
Elisabeth Schwartz

Think about what these candidates have done for you during the last three years?

What changes have they supported in our city?
What impact have they made? If you don’t know you have every right to reach out to them and ask. They are applying for a job and you are the hiring manager. How else would you know who is the best candidate without interviewing them?

Now, are you ready for change? Are you ready to make a difference? Are you ready to take back the power that rightfully belongs to you? You should be. It’s your life that’s being impacted.

It’s your child’s life being affected.

If you’re not ready, why not?

What will it take for you to get ready?

How can we help?

Amy Jones Bulluck