Superintendent's Corner

Formation of the District Calendar

2012-02-04T10:20:00.002-05:00

You may have wondered how the district calendar is formed. This year, the Board solicited the input of several stakeholders using a committee approach to the calendar design process. The committee was composed of a secretary, a custodian, a teacher at each school, an administrator, a member of the SEA executive committee, a parent, a Board member and myself. The committee met with the task of designing a calendar that best meets the needs of all children. This 2012-2013 calendar can be seen by clicking on the link below. The calendar was officially adopted by the Board of Education at the January 24, 2012 meeting.

2012-2013 School Year Calendar-At-A-Glance

Principal Podcasts

2012-01-13T15:25:00.001-05:00

I asked each of our building principals to create a podcast that encapsulates their school. The principals presented the podcasts to their colleagues at a recent administrative council meeting. The podcasts can be seen below and will eventually be posted on each of the school homepages.

Somerville High School
created by Mr. Jones

Somerville Middle School
created by Ms. Boulegeris

Van Derveer Elementary School
created by Mrs. Haynes

DNA Club at SHS

2012-01-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

This year, we have a DNA Club at SHS for the purpose of performing authentic DNA Research. The club focuses on microbiology and bioinformatics and mirrors the efforts of the Rutgers University Waksman Institute. Students have an opportunity to extract DNA and use similar processes and software that are used in all major biotechnology organizations. Mr. George Mellors, a teaching fellow from the Waksman Institute and an engineering teacher at SHS, serves as the club advisor.

Caveat Lector - Graduation Rates and NJ

2011-12-17T10:04:00.003-05:00

In my July 2, 2009 blog post entitled Maryland is a POOR Example of Successful Consolidation, I referenced New Jersey as having the highest graduation-rate percentage. In fact, the EPE Research Center declared New Jersey 1st in the Nation with 86.9% in 2008. New Jersey's ranking and statistics may change this year.

Caveat Lector! This potential drop in percentage is not due to a cataclysmic failure of New Jersey's public schools, but rather a change in the graduation-rate percentage formula! The data will be EXTREMELY misleading to the average reader.

Why is New Jersey's formula changing? Outside of the fact that this is a Federal requirement for next year, the data would provide an equal, state-by-state comparison for grade-rate calculations. The new formula uses an adjusted cohort graduation calculation called a Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI). Previously, states, similar to New Jersey, self-reported the data. New Jersey used its own formula for this calculation.

What is New Jersey's new formula? According to NJ Spotlight, the CPI tracks "the students who enrolled as freshman through their graduation to determine actual graduation rates." In New Jersey, this "tracking" will occur through NJ SMART system. Additional information regarding NJ SMART can be found at http://www.nj.gov/education/njsmart/.

District Highlights

2011-12-09T10:54:00.001-05:00

I continue to host monthly conversation lunches with interested parents/community members (Please note that it is BYOL: Bring Your Own Lunch). I encourage you to attend. The scheduled meetings are posted on the district website.

Mr. Skomba hosted a visit by Senator Kip Bateman on November 30th as a part of the Legislators Back to School program. Senator Bateman spoke to students who are currently studying the legislative branch of US government. Several students were afforded the opportunity to ask the Senator questions regarding their course of study.

Many members of our school community had the opportunity to attend McVDV Night! The VDV staff served McDonald's customers and school families. The hard work and efforts raised $230 for the Staff Angel Tree, which provides holiday gifts for families in need.

The Ville Athletic Hall of Fame celebrated their 19th annual dinner on November 14, 2011. My opening remarks can be seen in the podcast below!

Lisa Conklin Wins President's Award for Secondary Teachers

2011-12-01T16:37:00.001-05:00

In addition to receiving the district Teacher of the Year Award, Lisa Conklin has also received the Art Educators of New Jersey President's Award for Secondary Teachers. The award recognizes Mrs. Conklin for exceptional teaching methodology in the area of visual arts. I was fortunate to have a few moments with Mrs. Conklin to discuss the awards and her background in the podcast below. Tune in to hear her advice to future educators!

Podcast Series: Highlighting Ms. Ambos

2011-11-30T16:49:00.001-05:00

In seventh grade, students have the opportunity to view the microscopic organisms that envelope our world! The students observe cultures of four different types of protists and work in groups to create models of the energy flow in each organism's environment. In the podcast below, students are gathering evidence of photosynthesis and behavior that indicates the food chain within the culture.

In addition to teaching seventh grade science, Ms. Ambos serves as the Professional Development Chair for the National Association of Biology Teachers.

Podcast Series: Walking Wednesday

2011-11-07T11:07:00.001-05:00

A school bus that walks? At Van Derveer, students take the walking school bus every Walking Wednesday and Foot-It Friday! All students and families are provided with a map that outlines the safest routes to school. The initiative started in 2004 in an attempt to promote healthy decision making and pedestrian safety (as well as easing traffic congestion).

Interested students and families should meet at the Skate Park on Wednesdays at 8 AM to join the walking group!

Podcast Series: The PreSchool Fall Fest

2011-10-20T21:02:00.001-04:00

Under the direction of Mrs. Neary and our outstanding preschool staff, our students were fortunate to celebrate in a day of excitement and learning. Students participated in Halloween themed activities to promote fine/gross motor skills, eye/hand coordination and artistic expression!

Tips from a Legend

2011-09-16T09:20:00.002-04:00

On Thursday, September 16, 2011, Coach Sabol, the Somerville baseball team, Mr. Jones, administrators, members of the Board of Education and Mayor Gallagher had the opportunity to meet Joe Torre. The legendary manager shared stories, emphasized teamwork and described the importance of character. It was a unique opportunity for our players to meet one of the greatest baseball managers of all time thanks to the efforts of Mr. Ken Bateman and Somerset Medical Center.

Somerville Ranks 2nd in DFG for Top Performing Public High Schools

2011-09-12T16:52:00.001-04:00

I am pleased to announce that out of 89 districts in the FG District Factor Group, Somerville was listed as the 2nd top performing public high school in New Jersey. This information was published in the most recent issue of Inside Jersey (The Star Ledger Magazine). The article entitled New Jersey's Top Performing Public High Schools lists the top 10 high schools in each DFG and a breakdown of county schools (enlarge by clicking on the images below). The entire article can be found at http://njsections.travidia.com/SS/Page.aspx?sstarg=&facing=false&secid=106348&pagenum=30&artid=1607906&a=New%20Jersey%27s%20Top%20Performing%20Public%20High%20Schools

CONGRATULATIONS SOMERVILLE!

SEPTEMBER 2011

Welcome Back!

2011-09-10T15:44:00.003-04:00

I hope you had a wonderful summer. I recognize that many members of our school community were affected by Hurricane Irene. If you need assistance, please speak to your child’s teacher or a Somerville Public School staff member. The school district would like to help and assist, as feasible.

Despite recent statewide criticism and negativism associated with public education, the Somerville Public Schools remains committed to what really matters most, developing the whole child. The district added personnel, reinstated sport offerings, and enhanced technology opportunities while decreasing taxes for the 2011-2012 school year. The Somerville Board of Education is committed to providing a quality educational experience for all children and a positive climate for all school community members.

Unfortunately, our recent AYP status reports suggest areas in need of improvement. Although difficult, we have to accept the fact that our society relies upon the one-dimensional, standardized testing to grade all school districts and all children using the same measuring stick, no matter how unreasonable or fair we consider them to be. As superintendent, I will not encourage “teaching to the test,” but rather ask that educators use the test to compass our discussions and guide our action plans for improvement. Coupled with the recent district-wide needs assessment, we will be formulating a strategic plan with the Board of Education in October aimed at improving these areas of deficiency.

The district has made significant advancements in the area of technology this summer under the direction of Mr. Jason Solomon. In addition to 95 new laptops and wireless access at the high school, we have increased our internet connection speed tenfold. Plans are underway to provide wireless access to the middle school and Van Derveer School by mid-year. The Board of Education purchased a private fiber optic network that will connect all schools and provide for instant district-wide video chat and streaming, instant file transfers and much more. Mr. Solomon is in the process of launching our new website interface which will provide each educator with his/her own web space to post homework, blog, podcast, host discussion groups, survey and disseminate information. Finally, the Board of Education added a help desk (see Mr. Solomon’s humorous video below) to provide staff members with a dedicated technician to assist remotely on a daily basis in order to minimize the loss of valuable instruction time.

The district continues to execute its capital improvement plan aimed at providing safe, efficient facilities. Capital projects completed over the summer at Van Derveer School include the replacement of interior lighting and data cabling. Somerville High School improvements include new floors in the auxiliary gym and Project Lead the Way classroom, track resurfacing, new HVAC units on the first floor and parking lot paving. All three schools had partial roof replacements projects as well as solar panels installed.

It is important to note several procedural changes with regards to Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB). The Board revised the HIB policy over the summer to fulfill requirements of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. As mandated, this policy was discussed with all staff and students at their respective opening day ceremonies. The Board has appointed school safety teams and an anti-bullying specialist in each building. If you hear of an incident, please contact the respective school’s anti-bullying specialist (contact information can be found on the district homepage). The specialist will determine if an incident is bullying and whether it will have a nexus to the school. All reports will be investigated and parents/guardians will be immediately notified by the building principal.

I am honored to serve as your superintendent and privileged to be an advocate for your school district. Successful schools are the product of an inclusive learning environment in which students, parents/guardians, staff members, administrators, and community members grow and learn together. One of the strongest research findings in the field of education is that a child’s academic success is related to the connection between the home and the school. I encourage you to get involved in your child’s education this year!

I look forward to working alongside of you this year and wish you all the best for an extremely successful 2011-2012 school year.

Teachers of the Year

2011-06-21T13:49:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday, June 14th, the Board of Education recognized three teachers for receiving Teacher of the Year! The teachers (pictured below) were Jennifer Osborn (Van Derveer School), Lindsey Kulis (Somerville Middle School) and Lisa Conklin (Somerville High School).

Here is what their principals said of their teaching pedagogy:

Jennifer Osborn (VDV): In her quiet, unassuming way, Jen Osborn is one of the finest educators. As a first grade teacher at Van Derveer, she provides the students not only the foundation for their academic success, but develops in each child a sense of pride and purpose. Jen celebrated her fifth Girls on the Run season where she coached fourth and fifth grade girls through this nationwide program promoting strong self-awareness and confidence-building skills, culminating in a 5K run, which was held last week. Jen Osborn is the committee chairperson for the annual Van Derveer Literacy Night celebration. Under Jen’s leadership, this evening has become a high point in the Van Derveer school community. To witness Jen Osborn in action is to witness best practice in education.

Lindsey Kulis (SMS): Ms. Kulis is a vital, committed professional whose contributions enrich the middle school culture on a daily basis. Her efforts to support and encourage students are not limited to those who are assigned to her in her classes but permeate throughout the school. As a teacher, her presence and delivery encourage her students to try their best and strive for excellence. As a coach, she uses the basketball court as a vehicle to support and teach her team members life lessons. She exudes a positive, “can do” philosophy which is contagious throughout the school. Ms. Kulis is a very worthy honoree and the entire middle school community congratulates her.

Lisa Conklin (SHS): Mrs. Conklin is an outstanding educator. She is a hardworking and dedicated teacher. Her love and passion for art is evident in everything that she does. Her students have achieved and received numerous awards in local, state and national competitions. More importantly, when you walk into her classroom, you find an environment where students are engaged, smiling and equally passionate about their art course. This is a tribute to Mrs. Lisa Conklin and her teaching. I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving than Mrs. Lisa Conklin to be named as this year’s Somerville High School Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to our three recipients. We are fortunate to have such talented educators as part of our Somerville family.

New Administrative Position Announcements

2011-05-25T23:12:00.003-04:00

I am very pleased to announce the new Somerville High School Principal and Somerville Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology. Please know that many individuals were involved in the search process to ensure that the right candidate was selected for the position. Both candidates were the unanimous choice by the Board of Education and involved stakeholders.

Thomas Conroy, who currently serves as the Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction/Building Administrator at Beechwood School at Mountainside School District, will serve as our Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Technology. Previous to this position, Mr. Conroy served as the principal of Stonybrook School (Kinnelon, 3-5 school), principal of Wilson School (West Caldwell, K-5) and Teacher/Vice Principal/Supervisor of Guidance of Saddle Brook Middle/High School (6-12).

Corey Jones, who currently serves as an Assistant Principal/Director of Athletics at Roosevelt Middle School in West Orange, will serve as our High School Principal. Previous to this position, Mr. Jones served as a Biology Resource/In-Class Support Teacher at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School and a Life Science and Pre-Algebra Resource/In-Class Support Teacher at Park Middle School (Scotch Plains-Fanwood).

Mr. Conroy and Mr. Jones have some big shoes to fill with the retirements of Dr. Rosenberg and Mr. O’Halloran. I am excited about their addition to the Somerville family and their leadership in the district. I plan to have them visit the schools in the upcoming days and I’d like to host a Welcome Reception for them at the June 21^st Board of Education meeting. More information will be forthcoming.

Energy Efficiency: Lighting Upgrades Podcast

2011-05-06T17:46:00.003-04:00

This podcast is part of Dr. Purnell's Podcast Series

THANK YOU!

2011-05-03T11:41:00.013-04:00

On Wednesday, April 27th, the 2011-2012 General Fund Tax Levy passed with a winning margin of 534-255. This was the second highest passing rate in the county! A review of school budget results since 2000 does not show any higher margin results (outside of the 2004 referendum). I would like to thank all Somerville residents for their support of our district and the countless number of individuals that assisted in the budget's formation and development!

My brown bag lunches have been growing significantly since the inception of the program (as you can see from the photos below). I'd like to encourage everyone to attend. The lunches afford me the opportunity to meet with various stakeholders and discuss district happenings. More information can be found on the district website.

High School Principal Search

2011-04-11T14:27:00.013-04:00

The purpose of this blog post is twofold: to update you on the search process for the new High School principal and to ask for your input into the qualities of a successful candidate.

We hope to have the entire process completed by the middle of August. The posting was advertised in several newspapers, Education Week, the American Educational Research Association and posted on several university websites. There will be two rounds of committee interviews. Each committee will consist of a different group of teachers, students, administrators and parents/community members. I hope to have 2-3 candidates following the second committee interviews. These candidates will be interviewed by the entire Board of Education.

I am excited about the process and about finding an excellent leader for Somerville High School although the candidate will have to fill some big shoes left by Mr. O'Halloran. I am currently soliciting input from our SHS faculty and would like to use this blog as a vessel for student, parent and community input. As always, my door is always open for your comments/thoughts if you would prefer a personal meeting.

What are the qualities/characteristics that YOU would like to see in the new Somerville High School Principal?

Somerville Public Schools

2011-02-23T13:02:00.002-05:00

I am honored to serve as your new superintendent and privileged to be an advocate for your school district. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me make the transition to Somerville very meaningful.

Previous to this post, I served as the superintendent of Harding Township School and continue to serve as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University. My educational experience includes a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware, a Master’s degree from Montclair State University and a Doctorate degree from Seton Hall University.

Throughout my years in education and coursework, I have learned that successful schools are the product of an inclusive learning environment, in which students, parents, staff members, administrators and community members grow and learn together. One of the strongest research findings in the field of education is that a child’s academic success is related to the connection between the home and the school, whether parents volunteer at the school or regularly help their child at home.

Somerville has an outstanding reputation and an excellent school district. It is my responsibility to continue this tradition and build upon it for further improvements, but I need your help in this process! I will be hosting my first brown bagged lunch on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from noon to 1 pm. The purpose of this program is to provide school community members with an opportunity to share their thoughts, opinions and feelings about the programs and services offered in Somerville. I will also disseminate a needs assessment survey in the upcoming weeks. I urge each of you to take the time to complete the survey.

Communication is essential to the success of any organization and extremely important to me. I plan to maintain this blog for community feedback and input into district happenings. I will also utilize a twitter account (@SchoolSup) to broadcast instant information and alerts.

I look forward to working with you, your children and the outstanding professional staff in the upcoming years in an effort to answer your questions and ultimately continue to improve the quality of education for EVERY child. Thank you for your time and continuing support of Somerville Public Schools.

Why does Harding need a Superintendent and Principal?

2011-01-14T07:49:00.007-05:00

SUPERINTENDENT
Budgeting/grants, personnel, state reporting and strategic planning are a large portion of the responsibilities associated with the superintendent position.

Budget/Grants: The Superintendent is responsible for preparing the budget, overseeing all purchases, coordinating district cuts and communicating the budget to the school community. The Superintendent also oversees all educational grants.

Personnel: The Superintendent is responsible for the recruitment of candidates, making personnel recommendations to the Board of Education, providing professional development/training, implementing corrective action plans and conducting criminal history and background checks.

State Reporting: Seeming the most tedious task, although it entails the most time allocation. There are 44 state reports that are required, regardless of the district’s size or grade composition. Although not annual, the QSAC monitoring process is the largest of these requirements.

Strategic Planning: The Superintendent is responsible for vision setting in cooperation with the Board of Education and the Vision Council. This process involves setting district short-term and long-term goals to identify areas in need of improvement and implementing their vision of learning. It also entails the allocation of financial and human resources to best meet the needs of every child. District goals are updated quarterly and relate directly to the district mission statement. The Superintendent also serves as a liaison to the school community and local media through various avenues including a district blog and Twitter and an advocate for the district’s needs during county and state meetings regarding educational issues.

PRINCIPALCurriculum, instructional leadership, safety/security and student programs are a large portion of the responsibilities associated with the principal position.

Curriculum: The Principal is responsible for the formation, implementation, assessment and revision of all curricular areas. The Principal also leads the District Curriculum Council and ensures articulation of curricular areas with Madison Public Schools.

Instructional Leadership: The Principal is responsible for providing instructional leadership in the classroom on a daily basis, mentoring all new staff members, monitoring Professional Development Plans, observing/evaluating all staff members and providing job-embedded professional growth opportunities. The Principal ensures that teachers use academic data to drive instructional decisions in the classroom with the implementation of individualized student learning plans.

Safety/Security: The Principal is responsible for the safety and security of all students/staff. This entails school security drills, character education, student discipline, bully prevention programs and the DARE program. The Principal also serves as a liaison to local law enforcement.

Student Programs: The Principal is responsible for developing and implementing a student schedule that best meets the instructional needs of each child. This scheduling involves all school related activities that occur outside of the purview of the regular school day, which include sports and extracurricular activities. The Principal also keeps and monitors student attendance, academic records, grades and transcripts.

Sharing Services is Cost Effective

2010-11-17T15:38:00.002-05:00

New Jersey School Boards Association defines shared service as a collaborative arrangement between school boards or a school board and one or more entities. Shared services are generally established as a cost savings measure.

In March of 2009, Township Committeeman Lanzerotti, Township Administrator Gail McKane, Superintendent Tim Purnell and Board of Education member Kim Macaulay met to discuss the notion of shared services in order for both the Township and HTS to realize efficiencies and reduce expenses. Although separate entities, the Township Committee and School District share equipment and space. The Township has assisted the school with various projects such as grading the stone lots, removal of large snow piles, core aerating the ball fields, operation of heavy equipment and fuel for vehicle/power equipment.

The school has provided a waste water manager for the Township and continues to provide facility usage for various organizations in town, including the first aid squad and police department.

The school district shares three staff members with local school districts in the area. Harding is fortunate to belong to a network of districts (over 100) that share insurance and cooperative purchasing abilities. A complete list of shared service arrangements can be found on the Superintendent’s homepage. The administration and BOE will continue to explore additional opportunities to reduce expenses through shared services.

Budget Update

2010-11-17T15:36:00.000-05:00

Every year, the Harding Township School District examines all expenditures and continues to employ fiscal responsibility. During the last school year, and upon the direction of former NJDOE commissioner Lucille Davy, the school district froze all non-essential and discretionary funds “given the uncertainty of the magnitude and impact of a prolonged national recession on our state’s fiscal situation.”

The district followed this directive, subsequently lost $572,179 (6.3% of the district’s overall budget) and was held flat to the prior year following a budget defeat. Combined with a 2% property tax cap, these fiscal events will hinder HTS short-term and long-term plans.

A pending special education situation will add another level of unanticipated expenditures to the already depleted budget. The district spends $1,015,593 in out-of-district placements and $1,832,564 in special education costs (9.4% of the entire budget). A current line-by-line analysis of the school budget yields a projected shortfall in June of $86,053.65.

Additional areas of concern include unexpected legal fees (tied to out-of-district placements), and building maintenance costs. Substantial repairs were required this summer to the existing ‘Mondo’ tiles in each building. The elementary school is built on a concrete slab and the excessive ground moisture is constantly pushing the rubber tiles up from below. Going forward, we will need to address a solution to this situation. Electrician expenses were also large over the summer. There are many varying voltages and amperes throughout the buildings and the gradual restoration of our heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems have demanded costly upgrades.

Construction Projects During a Struggling Economy?

2010-10-07T14:33:00.010-04:00

This summer, HTS completed two major construction projects in the middle school: the first floor bathrooms and the roof. The New Jersey Department of Education classified both renovations as Level 1 projects. Level 1 projects are classified as critical operation needs and program mandates. The middle school bathrooms were not compliant with ADA regulations and the roof was a safety hazard with shingles falling.

The school’s Business Administrator, Jim Minkewicz, met with the manager from the Church of Christ the King to discuss the color and manufacturer of the slate shingles. Matching the shingles with Christ the King is aesthetically pleasing and provides consistency with the Harding Township community.

These projects would not have been possible without Regular Operating District (ROD) Grants from the New Jersey School Development Authority for $139,000. This amount reflects 40% of the total costs of both projects.

Sustaining Programs During Challenging Times

2010-10-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

While only three weeks into the school year, the district can pinpoint several important fiscal projections for the upcoming year. The outlook is not optimal. Several categories of revenue will fall far short of expectations compounded by rising special education costs.

Tuition revenue will be lower than anticipated. Last year, the district had six tuition students. This year, the district does not have any K-8 tuition students.
Bank interest rates remain virtually nonexistent; therefore investment revenue will be less than forecasted. The total shortfall in regular tuition is estimated to be approximately $80,000.

Expense forecasts are expected to be less than favorable. Special Education costs continue to rise above projected amounts reaching a shortfall of nearly $200,000.
On a positive note, the district has received $12,840 in unanticipated federal stimulus funds and a $5,000 grant from the Amelior Foundation. In addition, the preschool program has served as a revenue source and a savings. The program allows us to keep out-of-district placements within the district. Out of district placements can cost up to $50,000 in tuition and transportation fees.
The initial total shortfalls for the year could total as much as $232,000, or 2.5% of the total budget. The district will be held to a 2% property tax cap for the 2011-2012 school year.

Without state aid to balance this deficiency, it will become increasingly difficult to sustain programs and opportunities. The Board of Education is committed to maintaining an optimal learning experience for every child and will continue to explore all funding sources and competitive educational grants.

Two Year Progress Report

2010-08-16T18:44:00.003-04:00

School/Community Relations:
During the summer of 2009 the district hosted a Reframing the Schoolhouse forum with several successful CEOs regarding the deficiencies of public education. The session was recorded and podcasted for the entire school community. A similar venue was used for the H1N1 Stakeholders forum, which was also posted on this blog. This blog has provided a wonderful format for community feedback. My Twitter account has provided opportunities for broadcasting instant information.

Our recent Principal/Director of Curriculum search included students, teachers, parents, administrators and the presidents of the Senior Citizens, HTEF, PTO and Vision Council. The Vision Council continues to serve as a sounding board for district administration and Board of Education policies. Our district continues to host a Senior Citizen breakfast every spring and is looking to provide computer classes taught by students.

The Observer Tribune has served to highlight several of our district happenings during the past two years. We also posted the HTS student newsletter in an online blog format (refer to the side toolbar). A successful student learning environment is synonymous with a community that is involved in the process of reflecting, discussing and articulating the shared vision of the school.

Fiscal Prudence/Shared Services:
The district possessed three SmartBoards upon my arrival in Harding. Thanks to a multitude of grants, we attained a SmartBoard for every classroom (including small Special Education resource rooms), Senteo clickers, document cameras and five SmartTables without a penny from the district’s budget. District professional development offerings have been geared towards technology integration. Turnkey presentations from district staff members have empowered even veteran teachers to use tools such as podcasting, blogs and wikis.

The district has gained tremendous ground in the area of shared services. Board Member Mrs. Macaulay and I launched a shared services agreement with the Township Committee in January 2009. During the QSAC monitoring process, the County Executive Superintendent recognized Harding as one of the leading public school districts in the area of shared services. The list of shared services includes maintenance of buildings and grounds, custodial services, snow removal, sharing teachers with three different school districts and technology.

The reduction in state aid and defeated budget presented quite a challenge this year. The implemented cuts minimized instructional impact and sustained the after school sports and extracurricular programs. Upon receiving the results of the budget, I volunteered to forgo my salary increase.

Professional Development:
Rather than providing a plethora of new initiatives, teachers registered for professional development strands related to technology integration. Submitted lesson plans, classroom observations, assessment portfolios and teacher Professional Development Plans highlighted technology integration. Feedback from professional development surveys has been extremely positive.

In regards to new staff, we match new teachers with model educators who believe in the district vision of education. I have the opportunity to meet with new staff members monthly throughout the course of the year for professional development and guidance. At the New Teacher Orientation, each new staff member writes themselves a letter, encloses it in a sealed envelope and submits the letter to me. Towards the end of the year, we send the letters back to the staff members with a note stressing the importance of reflection in education. This year the New Teacher Orientation will feature two new offerings; communicating effectively with parents (Lisa Werner) and recording lessons through the SmartBoard (Sandy D’Angio). The orientation will also include the school community treasure hunt.

Recognizing Student Achievement:
The Harding Township Board of Education has recognized student achievements through Board resolution. 2010 achievements included four Junior Solar Sprint awards, Model United Nations, a county gifted and talented consortium spelling bee champion and the Middle School Leadership Award. 2009 achievements included Art bookmarkers, Model United Nations, World of Free Enterprise awards and the Middle School Leadership Award. The recognitions were not solely focused on academic achievement, but rather highlighted the diversity of student abilities in Harding. We are extremely proud of our students!!!

District Curriculum Council/New Offerings:
Upon my arrival in Harding, we established a District Curriculum Council. The Council meets monthly to discuss student achievements, instructional concerns, curriculum and professional development. This year, the council finalized a new curricular format that includes 21st Century skills, essential questions, technology integration and cross-curricular connections.

To better meet the needs of our logical-mathematical learners, the district is implementing a new middle school STEM course as a graduation requirement. The course will be offered to all 7th and 8th graders as a cycle for the 2010-2011 school year. This year will also mark the inception of our new pre-school program. The formation of this program will meet the needs of our special education population in a fiscally prudent manner. The district has been sending students to pre-schools outside the district at extraordinarily high costs. Ms. Fraida Yavelberg has spearheaded the entire program that will meet the needs of our school community and better provide for our special education children through an education with similar peers.

District's Budget Recommendations

2010-06-08T15:37:00.011-04:00

On Monday evening the Board of Education voted unanimously to the following reductions to the 2010-2011 defeated school budget.

BUDGET CATEGORY (REDUCTION) REASON
(Township Recommendation = TR)

Instrc Services ($44,627.00) Sal Freeze/Reduc of Staff (TR)
Instrc Services ($3,166.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Undistributed Expenditures ($189.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Ed Media Serv/Sch. Library ($1,397.00) Hold to 2009/10 Level (TR)
Support Services-General Admin ($7,495.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Support Services-School Amin($4,500.00) Sal Freeze/Reduct (TR)
Central Services ($8,444.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Required Maint for School Facilities ($2,200.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Custodial Services ($6,102.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Social Security ($10,000.00) Hold to 2009/10 Level (TR)
Emp Benefits ($3,000.00) Reduce Estimated Increase (TR)
Emp Benefits ($32,400.00) Reduce Increase based on contrib (TR)
Staff Salaries ($14,986.75) Science Position Retirement Breakage
Staff Salaries ($35,599.90) Reduct of a MS teaching position
Regular Programs - Undistributed Instruct($573.00) Sal Freeze (TR)
Support Staff - Aides ($20,290.00) Reduction of aide
General Supplies - Tech ($4,000.00) Tech - Printers (8)
General Supplies - Tech ($6,250.00) Laptops (5)
General Supplies - Tech ($4,687.00) Server
General Supplies ($8,306.35) Teachers Reduction of supplies
Textbooks ($4,700.00) Reduction of Reading Street Order (TR)
Resource Room/Resource Center ($3,643.00) Sal Freeze
Revenue Transp Fee ($2750) Subsc Busing (Raise $50 for 1st Child)

TOTAL $229,306.00