EPSD Teachers of The Year

A Positive Touch

1 teacher from each of the Englewood Public School District's 5 schools was chosen as teacher of the year. Teachers were presented certificates and corsages by the Administrators.

It was a good, short meeting without a lot of filler bustering, brain deed talk. Even Stephen Brown said very little.

They did however keep the Superintendent overlong in the dark parking lot. One wonders what that was all about.

Left to right: Catherine Morrow (McCloud - retired in January)
Eric Alleyne (Janis E. Dismus Middle School)
Michael Hellegers ( Dwight Morrow High School)
Yolanda Salazar (Quarles)
Diocelina Rentas (Grieco Elementary School)

Teachers were presented a certificate and a corsage.
It is good to see these people smile.

Click here for the agenda of tonight's meeting.

What is a Qualified Zone Academy Bond?

Special Meeting of the Englewood Public School District held
at 7:30 am in Dizzy Gillespie Auditorium. 

A Special EPSD School Board meeting was called

 **to give the Superintendent of Schools permissionto apply for an "interest free loan" of $15, 580, 000.00 from QZAB.and to...

**eliminate the planned Tax Levy included in the present Budget.Click here for the Agenda.

Click here for IRS Compliance mandates. 

Specific wording changes were made on the spot.
Henry Pruitt III and Molly Craig-Berry were absent.

All voted yes, except for Stephen Brown who abstained.

Attended by 4 Residents............
*************************************************
What is a Qualified Zone Academy?

The term “qualified zone academy” means any public school (or academic program within a public school) which is established by and operated under the supervision of an eligible local education agency to provide education or training below the postsecondary level if—

(A)such public school or program (as the case may be) is designed in cooperation with business to enhance the academic curriculum, increase graduation and employment rates, and better prepare students for the rigors of college and the increasingly complex workforce,

(B)students in such public school or program (as the case may be) will be subject to the same academic standards and assessments as other students educated by the eligible local education agency,

What are Qualified Zone Academy Bonds?
http://www.qzab.org/

For Application instructions and conditions click here

Interesting tidbits..............
**Once the Qualified Zone Academy is established, determine projects’ scope (anything except new construction).

**Once the size and scope of school projects are determined, locate a “Qualified Contributor,” a business/nonprofit partner, to supply a 10% matching grant.

**Pearson must love this. Create a test designed to fail low income students in Urban areas and then create software that promises to fix the people who fail. I love it. Good, old fashioned American Business Sense. Good for Pearson. 

Let us hope that it is good for us as well.

What is Dual Enrollment and How Will It Help Englewood Students?

A number of people have expressed concerns regarding the new Superintendent's merit goals. These 5 goals are tied directly to student progress academically. If there is no progress, there is no payment for that particular goal.

Others are showing displeasure at the term "Dual Enrollment". They are not quite understanding how this is even possible. Please read this very informative document concerning the purpose of the Dual Enrollment Program as involving students from the Eagle Academy and other DMHS students who qualify.

Focus on: IMPROVING ACCESS TO POSTSECONDARYEDUCATION THROUGH EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOLS

"...Early college high schools are schools affiliated with two- or four-year postsecondary institutions that permit students to take college courses while simultaneously earning their high school
diplomas. The credits can be transferred to other colleges after the students finish high school.

The students accepted into early colleges are not always the most gifted students in the district. In fact, they seldom are. Most early college schools target populations that are underrepresented in higher education—those from low-income
families, racial and ethnic minorities, and first generation
college students. ..

***Two-thirds of the students enrolled in early college
high schools were African-American or Latino;
***Eight early college high schools served Native
Americans;
***Thirty-two schools served students who previously
had dropped out of high school or were at
risk of dropping out;
***The majority of students in early college high
schools were the first in their familes to enroll in
college; and
***Nearly 60 percent of early college students were
eligible for free or reduced-price lunch...." (Title I)

Dual Enrollment is leveling the playing field by increasing the number of doors on which OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

http://www.csg.org/know…/…/TIA_Focus_EarlyCollege_screen.pdf

THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT of 2015

Highlights --- March 17, 2016 - 
Englewood Public School  District School Board Meeting.

Someone asked the following question.
What is ESSA? The question may have arisen in response to District website tab for ESSA parents.  ESSA parents are Title I parents. The student population of EPSD is more than 70% Title I. Students who qualify for free and/or reduced lunch are Title I. 

Click here for a Parent Friendly explanation of what ESSA is.

"On December 10, 2015, President Barack Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law as Public Law Number 114-95. ESSA reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 “to ensure that every child achieves.”(1).." http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/essa-reauth/

Click here for a copy of the ESSA ACT (LAW)
Click here for a Summary of the changes made to ESEA and the Transformation into ESSA.
Click  here for Information on how ESSA Impacts Students with Disabilities
Click here for a great parent resource. Center for Parent Information Services - 

Click on tab 6 or 7 on this page. Substitute ESSA for ESEA wherever you see it.

The switch from ESEA to ESSA is a rather quick one for those who are not following Education Reformery News.

A Very Important Message from the Superintendent of Schools

Click the link below for 

A Voice Message from 
the Superintendent of the Englewood Public Schools

https://msg.schoolmessenger.com/m/?s=WmL2Hd_8H-A

Superintendent's State of the Englewood School District Report

The Burning Question About What is Right....

Paul Jayson ·

Butler University

I was under the impression that when a student attended one of the county's academies the sending district paid the bill. I guess in this case that wasn't so.

Like · Reply · 3 hrs

Lucy D. Walker · 

Montclair State University

You deserve a blue ribbon for that observation. Fact is, they may attend the County Academies for free. They just have to test in like all the other students. The Academy@Englewood is NOT a County School. It is merely a DMHS Academy program that was created under the guise of integrating Dwight Morrow High School. It did the opposite, after accepting and spending approximately 30 million dollars to supposedly integrate.

In the Englewood A@E Program the Englewood Cliffs students get priority over Englewood students before any test is given. In the beginning, entrance was supposedly based on Math Scores. Englewood students are not prepared to compete in Math or Literacy with Englewood Cliff's students or any of the other applicants. The cards are stacked in pre-school. School Choice is a Choice for students who do not live in Englewood. Englewood parents have begun to take advantage of this Choice by sending their children elsewhere. This has been a lose lose situation since the School Choice deal was struck.

Few would listen to those of us who know of the sending/recieving agreement. Englewood Residents were fed a line about how a great deal of money was coming into the District with students. That scenario ended circa 2008-09, when the Equity and Excellence millions stopped coming into EPSD. In reality, we have been supplementing the Education of students whose parents can pay the required tuition. There is also a discrepency in the actual amount that EPSD receives per School Choice student. This very publication has reported the amount as $10, 500. What iexactly is the correct amount?

It is time the smoke is blown away so we can all see what is actually in the mirror. Qualifying Englewood students/parents have been told that their children must wait until Englewood Cliffs students have been accepted into the Academy and counted. That does not nurture warm and fuzzy feelings from those of us who are keeping up with the charade.

Some of us have been demeaned in meetings by Englewood Cliffs parents who tell us that we do not belong in their PPA meetings. Right up in our faces, they have cried out for "Academic Segregation" on our dime. They were under the impression that they were paying tuition that covered buildings, heat, teachers and the right to have "Academic Segregation" and their own building with no chance of their children ever having to even walk the same halls as our children. They treated us like crap to our faces, and all the time their politicians were lying to them while ours lied to us. (30 million dollars spent to integrate, yeah right.)

Just yesterday, a friend told me that someone had suggested an answer to this problem.

The suggestion was that Englewood Cliffs and Englewood should merge School Districts.

Clearly that person has missed the point. The 2 school Districts merged long ago. I graduated DMHS in 1969 with more than a few Englewood Cliffs students in my class. DMHS was their high school. Back then, no one questioned that. What changed?

The burning question here is...Whom does Englewood's School Choice Program really benefit?

http://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-education-department-says-it-will-no-longer-pay-for-englewood-cliffs-students-to-go-to-englewood-s-high-school-1.1459935

Make History

Elect a School Board that is of the People

and that upholds the laws of the 

State of New Jersey

George Garrison III Colum 2

Henry Pruitt III, Colum 3

Howard Haughton, Column 4

2-3-4. Open The Door

Election Day November 3, 2015

Vote Columns 2 -3-4 and

Open the Door

to Change.

Englewood Has A New Superintendent of Schools

September 17, a new Superintendent was hired.

Mr. Kravitz was introduced to the public on Sept. 17. 2015

Robert Kravitz, who formerly served as Superintendent in Englewood Cliffs was hired on September 17, 2015 with a unanimousvote of approval. 

  

Mr. Kravitz has settled himself comfortably into his new surroundings and is ready to deal with the issues facing Englewood's Educational Community.

I found him both knowledgeable and engaging. Contrary to some opinions, he knows full well what he is getting into with his new responsibilities. He is not a stranger to Englewood. It was a pleasure to know that he chose us,  ON PURPOSE!

• Read his bio at Huffingpost

• His opinions on involving parents

• Huffington post describes our new Superintendent as an Educator, Entrepreneur, and Author. 
• Read his philosophy on what we are doing in education as published June 16, 2014

• Read  his book
  

Good Students

It is so great when someone we once had faith in reaches an epiphany and realizes that he has been on the path of least resistance, but that path leads to a place that does not help our children academically.

It is rather like the spy coming in from the cold. The Jedi Knight emerging from the dark side, scarred but ready to fight on the side of the light.

We should all welcome Howard Haughton, Henry Pruitt III and George Garrison III into the light.

Regardless of what group of people gets a Board Member elected, that Board Member is then responsible to the State of New Jersey and must uphold the laws of said state. One cannot do this if one does not take the time to educate themselves to the laws governing education. This is what GOVERNANCE is all about.

We, the taxpayers spend $26,000.00 per year to train and educate our Board Members.

Ask Molly Craig-Berry how many credits she has.

If we are going to raise the bar for our students so that they are able to compete beside students

educated anywhere else in the world, then our Board Members must also educate themselves.

Up to now, too many of them have been very poor students. We want excellent students creating policy and establishing goals and objectives for our Superintendent.

Anyone who is unwilling to take advantage of the training, for which we pay, should NOT be returned to the Board of Education.

An educated public is the best defense against an un-educated Board of Education.

The LAW is the great equalizer. The Board must learn to create policy that demonstrates they understand and uphold the law and are true to their Oath of Office.

Mandated Training

https://www.njsba.org/training/mandated-training.php?pn=71

Celebrate Harvest With The Community

More Unadorned Facts...

stig·ma  stiɡmə/  noun
1.
a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.
"the stigma of mental disorder"
synonyms:shame, disgrace, dishonor, ignominy, opprobrium, humiliation, (bad) reputation "the stigma of bankruptcy"
2.
(in Christian tradition) marks corresponding to those left on Jesus’ body by the Crucifixion, said to have been impressed by divine favor on the bodies of St. Francis of Assisi and others.

*****************************************************************
"As a public servant you should be out there tying to improve everyone's quality of life--not just your own..." Jack Drakeford
****************************************************************

Why does Molly Craig-Berry, who is already on our Board of Education, feel that a stigma will be created if EPSD becomes a Title I School Wide Model? In responding to a direct question, she made a point of saying that she was absent at the Board meeting in which the resolution was presented, but that she would have voted "no" because of the stigma.

Our entire High School Campus is already designated a FOCUS School by the United States Education Department and the New Jersey Department of Education. Why would we refuse the "coupon" that may be able to help us?

Englewood;s Identity Crisis is showing again. Englewood is NOT filled with rich people. It has never been filled with rich people. Last I heard, we are over 70% free and reduced lunch. How does a Mother of 3, who makes suggestions that we should favor her, because she is a female say that she would have voted against something that will help all children, because it is humiliating to her. Did she mean that the entire City will be humiliated. Rumor is that we also have approximately 50 homeless families. Where is the shame?

Who is to say that we have not been blessed with "divine favor" in that we have been chosen to be the stewards of those less fortunate?

Are we supposed to hide our faces in disgrace, because the media and those in power, call us the "working class". As far as I am concerned, anyone who works is the working class. So get over yourselves.

Title I — Improving The Academic Achievement Of The Disadvantaged
THERE ARE 2 MODELS FOR CONSIDERATION
*****TARGETED ASSISTANCE 
*****TITLE I SCHOOL WIDE MODEL

The Englewood Public School District is now a Targeted Assistance Model. That  means that we ALREADY ACCEPT TITLE I FUNDS. Every year, Title I funds earmarked for helping children Read, Write and do Math are returned to the Federal Government. Thousands of dollars go unspent when there are hundreds of children in need of help in READING, WRITING AND ARITHMETIC.  Check the past agendas and minutes if you are skeptical. Check out the reasons given by the law as to how Paraprofessionals should be trained and utilized in School Districts that accept Title I Funds.

The Title I School Wide Model helps ALL students who need the help academically. Where is the stigma in that? So if Parent A falls above the poverty line, the child will still qualify for the academic assistance needed. If anything, the STIGMA is eliminated.

George Garrison III, who is competing for a another term on the School Board, called it a coupon. You might even call it a "built in voucher" that allows students to remain in their own schools. It can be used to improve the entire school district. It might even bring help for our Professionals who seem to need assistance determining the most effective way to spend the funds to raise test scores.

Where is stigma in helping others? Where is the stigma in helping yourself?

Board Members are not required to be "educators" but they are required to read. They are required to learn more about the LAWS that protect our children and help them ALL to become successful "literate" additions to society. They are required to get the training required to accomplish this goal.

As taxpayers, we require the Board of Education to hire a Superintendent who will lead the professionals who are charged with the task of preparing Englewood children to compete in a global society. At the very least, they must be able to compete with the children from surrounding towns.

Listen to this 18 minute Webinar:
Title I School Wide Program: Transitioning from a Targeted Assistance to a School Wide

http://www.state.nj.us/education/title1/program/SchoolWideTransition.shtml

DELTA T IS OUT, OUTSOURCING STILL IN!

WHY WOULD ANY SCHOOL DISTRICT SIGN THIS CONVOLUTED CONTRACT?

JUST SAY NO!
http://www.epsd.org/www/epsd/site/hosting/BOARD%20MEETINGS%20-%202015-2016/Tab%2010%20-%20Mission%20One%20Contract.pdf

4.5 MILLION DOLLARS?

Where is the savings?

We are talking about real people who work with our children on a daily basis. REAL PEOPLE!!!

ENGLEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION
SAY NO
 TAKE BACK YOUR POWER.
TAKE BACK OUR POWER!

WE STILL DO NOT WANT STRANGERS!

RESIDENTS: READ THE CONTRACT
CAREFULLY!

WHY ARE WE STILL OUTSOURCING CLASSROOM PARAPROFESSIONALS?

PARAPROFESSIONAL LAW EFFECTIVE AS OF JANUARY 16, 2010.

"....Establishes measures to provide employment stability for teaching paraprofessionals employed in school districts that receive Federal funding under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act..."

How can we fill this out truthfully?