Are Our Schools In Crisis: New and Improved or Recycled?

June 27, 2011

VIA EMAIL & CERTIFIED MAIL

EPSD President and Board Members
Englewood Board of Education
12 Tenafly Road
Englewood, NJ 07631

Dear EPSD President and Members of the Board,

I am writing to formally object to the assignment of Peter Elbert to the Dwight Morrow High School as principal for the upcoming school year in September 2011. This letter shall serve as my formal complaint. Peter Elbert was transferred to the Alternative High School at the Russell C. Major Liberty building in September 2010. The Englewood Board of Education made that decision because the Middle School was unable to reach the state mandated average yearly progress in the No Child Left Behind Act. Additionally, the 2010 New Jersey Assessment and Skills Knowledge test showed that the Janis Dismus Middle School failed to meet the state’s Adequate Yearly Progress in the same content for five consecutive years during Mr. Elbert’s assignment as principal there.

I would like to remind you that the New Jersey School Ethics Act (N.J.S.A 18A:12-23), Code of Ethics, paragraph (c) requires local board of education members to vote to appoint the best-qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer, and paragraph (h) which states that you will vote to appoint the best-qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. The selection of Peter Elbert violates both of those. There are other more qualified principals with better track records such as Dorian Militeer, Malva Wise-White, and Joseph Bell. I strongly believe that the shuffling around of principals is neither in the best interest of the District, nor its students.

We want changes that improve our school district, not break it apart. Englewood parents want to keep their kids in town, not send them to private schools in other districts. It is your responsibility to give the children of Englewood the schools and the programs they are looking for. Assigning a principal who has a record of spectacular failure to lead the same students which he failed in the Janis Dismus Middle School is disgraceful. In doing this you fail our children miserably. Please consider the consequences to the community and reconsider the assignment of Peter Elbert to principal of Dwight Morrow High School for the fall 2012 semester.

Thank you,

Donna Sumler
Concerned Parent/Englewood Resident

cc: Senator Frank Lautenberg
Senator Robert Menendez
Congressman Steven Rothman
Senator Loretta Weinberg
Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle
Governor Chris Christie
Chris Cerf, NJ Department of Education
Robert Gilmartin, Acting County Superintendent of Schools
Englewood Residents

Are Our Schools In Crisis?: Do you feel yourself being Erased?

Mr Garrison and other board Members who enforce the separation of students on campus should cease in the interference with the school. (ie. ethics code violation) The academy is a program, like any other program. Students from outside of Englewood attend Dwight Morrow High School, because it is an Official State Certified School of Choice. Which basically means that students from other towns may attend. When you read the description of School Choice the academy program does not come to mind, because it is a program. The School Choice option has been perverted into a tool to segregate the campus. School Choice Funds may never be used to construct buildings. School Choice is described as Voluntary not Exclusionary.  Perhaps you should really go read the description.

The controversy over the colors has come up many times. Curtis Caviness has questioned the board in open session about the colors. Mr. G. Hollander, the band director took credit for the change, but he could not have done it alone. More to the point, he would not have done it alone.

Mr. Hollander, the Band Director said he changed the colors to maroon and black for the band and the twirlers/color guard, because the kids didn't like the white. He said it was impossible to keep clean. I wrote an earlier article where I gave Mr. Hollander the benefit of the doubt and suggested that he might want to use the black for practice and that there was nothing wrong with having a choice of colors.

This was before I saw that:

• There were two sets of Home Coming King & Queens

A display of Memories

• There were two sets of Prom King & Queens
• There were 2 Valedictorians, one for DMHS and one for the academy program
• The words of the Alma Mater have been changed from the original EHS to DMAE. It had been EHS since the origin of the school.
• The gowns are maroon and black for academy program students who graduate from DMHS and maroon and white for DMHS students who acknowledge it as their school.
• The Board of Education President questioned why Dwight Morrow High School was named after Dwight W. Morrow. He suggested that the man was unimportant in the scheme of things.
• The Dwight Morrow High School Yearbook has been captured and held prisoner. The spine of the book reads Academies@Englewood, then Dwight Morrow High School. Check and Match. Our School is being erased.
• A board member's wife said to a principal, "do you know who he is?" when her son was not inducted into the National Honor Society. That Principal has been removed from the HS as principal.

• In most schools Honors Program
  Particpants are identified with a sash
  like the one shown here. Why isn't
  this enough for the Board of Ed.?

  There is no T in PTO - yes I'm going there also. What Teacher wants to be in an organization ran by the wives of the board members. Talk about ending up in a dusty closet with no pupil contact.. Pillow talk. What would we do in Englewood if there was no tenure? That my friend, is a scary thought. The Vice President of the Teacher's Union did not think that this was a conflict of interest. Okay, it may not be illegal, but it is certainly suspicious and the cards are totally stacked against anyone not in the click. Board Members and their wives are too much in the business of the school. Oh what a precious web we weave...once we practice to deceive.
• There are very few parents in the PTO's.  How many do we have anyway? Quarles, Grieco, Jan Dismus PTO, Jan Dismus Avid PTO, Jan Dismus Academy Prep PTO, PPA, DMHS PTO. The only time these organizations want to know us peons is during school board election time. They want to know us then. Well, we see you now. We know you now. How are the children?
• Principals are shuffled around so much that they are dizzy.
• Certain people are scared away from even registering in the Englewood School District, because they are treated badly in the registration office. Very poor customer service/public relations. I witnessed this first hand.
•  The wall plaques commemorating Dwight Morrow High School's rich sports history had been removed from the Gymnasium walls.
• An Athletic director who is NOT highly qualified called the basketball team together and announced that their hall of fame coach had been fired from the coaching position.
• A principal who failed miserably in the middle school and was removed to Liberty School was slated to move to the high school where he will be entrusted with the same children that he has already failed when they were younger.
• People are running away from the School District, because of the people at the top.
• The jerseys worn by former sports figures that have served to inspire pride in young athletes for years have been removed.
• The traditional school colors formerly on the gym floor have been repainted to maroon and black. The board suggests that others are treating students differently. Hah!
• When the students marched down Palisade Ave. in The Juneteenth Parade they chanted DMAE half heartedly. DMAE was explained to mean Dynamic Motivation Attitude & Excellence. There is only one thing wrong with that Mr. Hollander. It has no rhythm. A band director would not choose a mantra that cannot be chanted with conviction while high stepping. Try again.
• They were almost invisible. They Captured our Colors and Made our Children Invisible. The kids have better fashion sense so you can't blame this on them. The rationale was lame. 
• The Band Director however, did not paint over the white on the gym floor or the wall. That would be Mr. Hunkin.
• 8th graders must identify themselves on forms as Academy or Dwight Morrow students. When it is convenient for this board, they are DMHS students. Stop using the kids.
• My neighbor complained with good reason about AVID and her son was thrown out of the program in a very unprofessional manner. As a consolation prize, she was offered a place for her older son, who is enrolled in private school, in the academy program. Englewood's Elite few would have hissy fitted if she'd accepted that offer.
• A K- 3 Summer program was only posted on the walls of the Liberty School Building the same day that registration was over. This announcement was sent home to a select few. Did your child get one?
• There are too many bullies working in the Englewood School District.

William Walker Jr. points to a photo of
he and his track team members. Mr.
Walker still holds the record for the
100 yard dash.

• Historical plaques disappearing from walls. What is this with plaques being removed from walls? Mr, Hunkin would have been instructed to do so by a Mr. Glenn Garrison who would have been breaking his oath as a board member. Yes, I did name names, didn't I? Isn't freedom of speech a wonderful thing? I don't work for the board of Education. They can't fire me or move me to a dusty room where I will have no pupil contact while they must continue paying me six figures. This is also NOT the Wild Wild West where the newspaper editor's printing press would be burned.  The Ellen S. Bindman Dedication Plaque was also removed from the Dwight Morrow High School library wall.
• Our students do not know about FREEDOM, neither do our principals or teachers. They know only fear. Fear and apathy are constant companions to board of education employees.

The Juneteenth Parade and Carnival was a thoughtful gift given by some proud men and women who also have a historical connection to the roots of this town. Those children should have been chanting a mantra or slogan that demonstrates they understand what the parade was all about. The Jersey City Kids were stepping like they knew the importance of FREE. The cheerleaders were stepping high and looking rather prideful in the traditional colors of maroon, white and gold trim.

     

Business is Booming, Facilities are Beautiful, Profits are high, but how are the children?       

Are Our Schools In Crisis?: Why is the Board of Education at odds with the DMHS Alumni...

I attended the DMHS Alumni Educational Alliance's Annual Picnic today. I will begin this post by referring back to the board meeting of June 16th. Check out the video below. All participants deserve a PIE AWARD of some sort. The acting is exceptional.  I refer to it now, because I must. One board Member suggested that perhaps the DMHS Alumni Educational Alliance should not be allowed to use the premises during the picnic without payment, because they do not give scholarships to students from the Academy program. He also alleges that the DMHS Educational Alliance refuses membership to students from the academy. He and Dr. Segall allege that the Alliance treats the academy students differently. They also claim that the DMHS Educational Alliance has refused to comment on the situation. What a chuckle. Dwight Morrow High School is in serious need of a REVISED MASTER SCHEDULE.

I would like to go on record to say right now that Mr. Garrison, Dr. Segall, Dr. Carlisle and anyone else who supports the separation on the campus of DMHS is in fact supporting segregation. In so doing they are infringing upon the basic "Civil Rights of all the Students" that they are sworn to protect.  They are perpetrating a separation or division among the people of this town and this school district with the mere existence of the academy the way it stands." The DMHS Educational Alliance clearly states that the Scholarship goes to a Dwight Morrow High School Student. It was noted that the presentation of this award has gone to about 50-50 to Dwight Morrow High School Students on the North Side of Campus and to Dwight Morrow High School Students on the South Side of Campus. Why are we allowing this to go on? Does the North and South problem sound at all familiar to anyone?

We are not impressed. You know what you are doing is wrong. You are using the children to advance your own desires. You unite on the wrong things because you are feeling the pressure of your misdeeds.

"We see you. How are the children"

They Captured Our Colors...And we didn't even know we were at war.

The Jabari Society:
International Associaltion of Black Professional Firefighters

Lynn Algrant, Mayor,    Photo courtesy of Kenneth Walton

Mayor & City Officials. photo courtesy of Kenneth Walton

It was a good day.

Everyone seemed interested. Some were confused.

In the war stories of old, soldiers fought to the death to protect the man bearing the colors. The flag. The flag bearer did not even carry a rifle. His job was to keep the colors out of the dirt and mud, to raise the colors high in order to inspire the soldiers toward victory. Our board president has often commented on the lack of enthusiasm or spirit for sports. How shall I put it? You have killed it. These students do not know for whom or what they are cheering. They chant the diabolical DMAE mantra with no air of pride. The traditional colors worn by their Mothers, Fathers and Grandparents have been erased. The colors on the gym doors and floors have been changed to maroon and black.

Our flag, our colors have been captured and we did not even realize that we were at war. Where are the plagues of the sports heroes that tell the story of the school. A rich legacy has been erased. There is obviously a separation in belief systems since some of the participants in this parade still strut about proudly in the traditional colors. The maroon & white & gold still looks best here.

Where are the banners? Children who are 100% involved and invested would have made their own out of school pride. Who is the Student Activities Director? Does the Athletic Director hold that job also?

They Chanted DMAE with little enthusiasm. The attire was not formal enough.

Again the color choice. The Fire Fighters set the tone with formal attire.

The black flag is not working. Who  did this? They captured our colors.

Gary Dennis & Garry Hollander with Band and Color Guard

Is there anyone who cannot see the difference? This group is seen. They
wore their dress outfits.

They have a sleeker look. I still question why the colors were changed.
It seems unlikely that the children made the decison without coaching.

Where is this group's uniform? I've heard so much about it, I expected more.
Only one school board member was in attendance. He is a father today and
marches with his son. Kudos Mark! Where are the others that belong
in this group? Did they boycott the event?
It was a great Father's day celebration.

Jersey City's Chill Town Steppers had the spirit of Free...

Strutting the colors, upholding a tradition.

More cowboys. The horses danced.

The actual parade lasted only minutes. From behind.

Business was good.

The little kids had rides

Fried whiting (fish) was delicious

Families shared food and stories

Vendors

Thanks to the "Jabari Society" and other organizers the children were well on this day.

Thank You

We would like to thank the dedicated men and women of the “Jabari Society” for the Parade, the Concerts, the Sports and Carnival Activities celebrating the First Annual Juneteenth Parade. We appreciate you and all you do. We are proud to have been selected as the location for this celebration.  Firemen and their families from Newark, Jersey City, to name a few Joined those from Englewood to celebrate the decree. They were all splendid in their dress uniforms. As you can see, those collars were fully buttoned. I love watching men dress up and stand proud. It does not matter the age. Pride in themselves and pride in the uniform and what it represents is awe inspiring.

The Jabari Society: International Association of
Black Professional Fire Fighters

Attiring oneself in full dress uniform makes one feel wanted, and strengthens self-esteem. There was a real sense of comraderie in these men and their families. The children and adults enjoyed themselves. The Fathers stood proud on Father's Day and Juneteenth

The following is from a speech delivered at the Liberty Pole.

“Tuesday’s City Council Meeting, the Mayor and Council will designate June 19th as “Juneteenth Day” in the City of Englewood. Juneteenth was first observed over 130 years ago on June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free. Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration of the abolition of slavery in the United States, symbolizes freedom and reminds all Americans of the significant contributions African-Americans have made to our society. The first State to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday was Texas in 1980. In 2004, late Englewood resident and District 37 representative Senator Byron Baer sponsored Senate Bill No. 566 in the legislature designating the third Saturday in June of each year as “Juneteenth: Independence Day” in New Jersey “to commemorate the emancipation of African Americans and foster respect for all cultures.” The Jabari Society of Bergen County, in a partnership with the City of Englewood, is pleased to announce the City’s First Annual Juneteenth Independence Day Celebration and Festival, running from June 16 – 19th at Mackay Park. This celebration is a very special one for the City of Englewood as it will surely bring together the diversity of our City…”

To the Jabari Society, thank you.

We see you. How are the children?

 Photos courtesy of Kenneth Walton, Englewood Photographer and Resident