Listen to the Children: It is time to Stand Strong, not back away!

May 20, 2014

NEWARK STUDENT UNION OCCUPIES MEETING, STILL SITTING-IN! ‏ 

As of 11:55 tonight, there are 10 members of the Newark Student Union spending the night at 2 Cedar Street in the room where the Advisory Board holds its business meetings.  

After our small but successful rally this afternoon, the students went upstairs, issued their demands and sat down in the floor in the front of the room.  The demands were:

1)  The immediate resignation of Cami Anderson

2)  An immediate halt to One-Newark

3)  Implementation of Newark Promise (the community driven report created over months and presented Saturday)

4)  A meeting with Anderson and NJ Commissioner of Education David Hespe.  

When they were offered the meeting with Anderson and Hespe, but had the other demands refused, they remained seated and refused to leave.  The meeting was ended, the adults all left, and the students controlled the room.  And they still control the room right now.

This is an INSPIRING example of what human beings can do when they show solidarity with each other and work together to fight injustice imposed by the wealthy and powerful!  A small group of students are literally putting their bodies on the gears of power, and stopping those gears from functioning!  

For we adults - often too afraid to take action even when our own profession, reputations, livelihoods and callings are under attack - this action should show us that it is not acceptable to bury our heads in the sand as public education is destroyed!  We hope this will be a call to action for the many adults who have thus far refused to stand up for themselves, their schools, and their students!  

BUT, the students have not eaten much since 6 or 7 pm, and are hungry now.  And, they will be truly hungry in the morning.  AND, they need moral support.  So, if you are at all able and have time in the morning, please help and support these students in any way possible, either materially (food and beverages) or morally (going to 2 Cedar St to show support, or telling friends about their action).  

Please tell friends, family, and colleagues about their fight and their current situation.  They need all the support they can get.  

NEW Caucus stands in solidarity with the Newark Students Union!

How are the children?

Our Schools are In Crisis and They Are Going to Disney World!

A storm of anger was unleashed on March 27, 2014 when David Matthews led Academy Parents (mostly out of district - School Choice) on a destructive rampage of hate and propaganda. They do not want their children to pass yours and mine in the hallway.

Some people were so enraged that all concerned ignored actions that needed to be taken based on the high school Principal's presentation.

• Final Exam Dates, Schedule, Details were ignored and not recommended by the Superintendent          or approved by the Board.
• Senior Experience was ignored and no action was taken
• Graduation Date was ignored, no decision was made, no action was taken
• Keynote Speaker of Graduation was lost because action was not taken in time to secure the chosen speaker. Our Board and District Leader had taken no action on how the loss of instruction time, because of inclement weather, would be made up. (Did we need a "Think Tank" to take action on this also?

Residency Re-Registration - 

Attention was diverted to the task of re-registering students at Quarles and Grieco to weed out persons who are stealing Education from the Englewood Public School District. 3 families supposedly confessed that they do not live in Englewood and nothing happened. They are being allowed to finish out the year. 

Last year, we watched the Board bring a teacher employed by the Englewood Public School District to tears.  She does not live in Englewood, but had a diabetic son registered at and attending Quarles. They had the woman crying in public.  They gave this teacher and several others a tuition bill. Why are they allowing persons who confess to "stealing education" to finish out the year without paying anything? The 

Re-registration activity itself cost the District money.

The Budget - 
Why is there no reference to the amount paid by Englewood Cliffs? State Aid does not cover them since we are their high schools. In years past, there are amounts paid to the district for Englewood Cliffs students. 

Curriculum Development - 

Some things do not require a degree in education to see the problem. Compare the way
the curriculum as developed in the first 2 Englewood models to the ones following.

I suspect that the person who typed the Curriculum formation did not have a mastery of the software. The people who created the Curriculum need training in Curriculum Development. This was created by folks with Doctorate Degrees who do not teach. That is for sure. What are Essential Questions in the Common Core State Standards?
If a job is offered to a person of integrity and he/she is not able to do that job because of the skill set required, a person of integrity declines the position.
That person who typed these 2 Curriculum Guides should be required to perform a do over. Too much time is required on the part of the teacher, parent or state official to decipher that mish-mosh.

It is extremely difficult to even read the content. This should not be
posted so others may make the same comparison that this Educator has made. It is a bad
reflection on the district and demonstrates the shoddy work that our district accepts.

Acceptance of shoddy work is the basis of why we have a focus school.

Phase I Curriculum Alignment - 2013-2014 Created by EPSD Six figure Employees

http://www.epsd.org/www/epsd/site/hosting/BOARD%20MEETINGS%20-%202013-2014/TAB%2004%201st%20Grade%20Reading%20and%20Writing%20Curriculum.pdf

Grade 2 Reading and Writing Curriculum and Pacing Guide (Created by EPSD six figure employees)
http://www.epsd.org/www/epsd/site/hosting/BOARD%20MEETINGS%20-%202013-2014/TAB%2004%202nd%20Grade%20Literacy%20Curriculum%202012-2013%20CCSS.pdf

English Language Arts Curriculum: Grade Kindergarten
http://www.epsd.org/www/epsd/site/hosting/BOARD%20MEETINGS%20-%202013-2014/TAB%2004%20ELA%20Grade%20K.pdf

Mathematics Curriculum: Kindergarten
http://www.epsd.org/www/epsd/site/hosting/BOARD%20MEETINGS%20-%202013-2014/TAB%2004%20Math%20Curriculum%20-%20Kindergarten%20(1).pdf

EPSD six figure employees have just presented us perfect examples of curriculum that will never be used.

• The set up. What is up with those cells? Baffle and Befuddle before even reading content? Hire someone who is capable of using the software. There is enough confusion already.
• This model requires the teacher to;
•  Memorize each standard's number
• Consult the Common Core to identify the content of each individual standard constantly. CCSS Standards/Anchor Standards: RF 1.1, 1.3, 1.3b, 1.4,1.4a, 1.4b, 1.4c ,SL 1.1,1.1a, 1.1b, 1.1c, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 
• Or ignore it all and chance that no one else has learned or has come up with a way to minimize  referencing time.
• Our six figure employees have created a document in a way that was easy for them, but will be near impossible for a teacher to use effectively. (Turnaround Principle #7 = Effective Use of Time: Redesigning time to better meet student needs and increase teacher collaboration focused on improving teaching and learning; and)

When did we sell ourselves to Just Right Books? The names of vendors have no business within the

body and objectives of the Curriculum Guide.

Essential Question: How can readers read Just Right Books and use print strategies to
support conventional reading?

That is NOT an essential question. Click here for examples of Essential Questions. Essential Questions. What if this organization goes out of business? This implies that deals have been made even before the curriculum was written. Skills and Mastery shall take precedence over vendors. Just Right books should be listed with other resources that may be consulted by the Teacher. Are they under contract already?

What are running records? What percentage of the students' grade and the teachers'

evaluation depend on the results of Star Renaissance diagnostics?

The Field Trips - Purpose: The goal of HOSA is to experience the field of medicine in action.

You have got to be kidding. Is that the only rationale required for taking 9 children on a trip that costs the tax payers $4,100.00? How many of these 9 students are Englewood Residents? Chaperones should pay for themselves. Are you using the Title I status of our District to reduce the cost of sending non-Title I Students on a Field Trip to Disney World?

Are you trying to destroy what little positive climate and culture that remains intact at the high school? We all know that the majority of these children are School Choice. This is an example of why we/taxpayers have a problem with this Educational Model. At a Parent Partnership Association (PPA) meeting on March 27, one parent was adamant that Englewood taxpayers should NOT be allowed to speak, because it was a PPA Meeting and not a taxpayer meeting. 

On April 10, the Board President and Superintendent dismissed the "idea" presented by the HS Principal and did not look back to see that they were responsible to take action on other very important items listed on the same power point presentation as what they referred to as a "hair brained idea". After prefacing Privilege of the floor with the mandate that only one person per organization would be allowed to speak, our Board President engineered a situation where all members of the organization of PPA got to speak while only allowing 1 person to speak from the ETA. 

What exactly are the children expected to learn? HOW DO YOU EXPERIENCE THE FIELD OF MEDICINE AT A CONVENTION? Some of us have attended this type of convention.
Not one of you should vote for this. Shall we all chant "conflict of interest" 10 times, since 5 of you have
children in the Academy. This is not acceptable. A better rationale describing Learner Outcomes should be demanded for trips such as these if for no other reason but to keep the peace. You are fanning the flames now.

Were over 100 jobs sacrificed so you could cater to the few. The needs of the many far outweigh
the needs of the few.
http://www.epsd.org/www/epsd/site/hosting/BOARD%20MEETINGS%20-%202013-2014/TAB%2005%20-%20Field%20Trips.pdf

Graduation - 
The High School Graduation is at high noon. The hottest time of the day for an outside graduation.
Many Districts intentionally schedule graduation at 5:30 after the sun has gone down and it is cooler. Plus this allows parents to attend work most of the day.

Why are you subjecting everyone to the possibility of heat stroke? Old people, small children, individuals with health concerns. I am diabetic. Sitting outside in the heat of the sun at "high noon" would be enough to put me in the hospital.

The Tone of the Present Agenda -
Oh really, you are going there? Seems someone may be a tad upset, because due process was followed for the first time in a very long time. The more you ignore the obvious, the more the climate and culture of the entire district deteriorates.



                                         How are the Englewood Children?

Will We Survive!?

June 14, 2014 is a very special day. We are continuing the conversation that was started last year at the People's Town Hall on Education Issues and Solutions.

Did you know that your 3rd grade child will be expected to accomplish a 
task that most adults cannot accomplish without sufficient preparation?

3rd graders will be required to type with speed and accuracy in order to perform well in the completion of online standardized tests. 

Third grade. 
How many words per minute do you type (key in) without errors?

Are you able to type without looking at the keys?
Do you use the hunt and peck method?
Do you simply text on the keyboard?
Do you type with all 10 of your fingers?
How many words do you type in 1 minute without errors?

Hunt and peck is almost sufficient for multiple choice.
How will they fare when writing?

More time on task is needed. 
Find an online program and require your child to begin to practice now
even if you are planning to OptOut.
I once harbored ill feelings towards my high school guidance counselor 
She kept telling me that I would make the best secretary
I wanted to be a doctor.
Today, I am thankful that my strong feelings towards her forced me to 
learn to type without looking at the keys.
The computer is a tool. 
The keyboard must become an extension of one's fingers.
Dealing with the machine must NOT be allowed 
to come between your child and success.

Practice...Practice...Practice....

These tests will determine the way your child is treated in school for the rest of his or her life.

Typing Through Time: Keyboard Historyhttp://www.daskeyboard.com/blog/typing-through-time-the-history-of-the-keyboard/

http://plumwalk2-justsaywhen.blogspot.com/2013/02/it-is-time-to-stop-madness-and-revive.html

                      

Why Reorganize?: The Academies@Englewood is a Focus School

Have you wondered why there were no lawn signs, persuasive mailings, robo calls, door knob hangers and individuals at your doors urging you to get out and vote? Did you notice that you did not vote in the month of April?

There is no simple answer to that most important and burning question, because the School District gets the largest share of taxes collected in this town. While you were sleeping, 5 people made a monumental decision for you, without your consent.

School Board Elections have been moved to November 4, 2014. Click for details.
The residents of Englewood voted to move from an appointed School Board to an elected School Board so we would be able to vote on the School Budget. 

Earlier this year, 5 School Board Members deprived "We the People" of the right to vote on the budget by moving the School Board Elections to November. 

CITIZENS in 61 Bergen County towns need not concern themselves with voting for or against local school budgets this Wednesday. Their right to vote on school budgets, which consume two-thirds of property taxes, has been stripped from them by their boards of education or municipal governing bodies, with little public notice.  - See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-a-lesson-on-disenfranchisement-1.999324#sthash.6xMClBoW.dpuf

The residents of Englewood will not be able to vote on the budget again, unless we elect School Board Members who will vote to change back to an April School Board Election. 

Why? Because at least 5 Members of the School Board and the Special Interest Groups that they represent have other plans. We would like to see their plans. At least one of their plans, that has been in operation since 2002, has earned us the Focus School Designation.

April 10, 2014 Dr. Donald Carlisle and Howard Haughton suggested that we had a more serious problem than a "focus school" designation. They tried to turn our attention to an allegation that we have hundreds of people attending Englewood Schools in Quarles and Grieco who do not live in Englewood. They think that is a more important issue than dealing with the attempt to change our focus high school into a reward high school. 

That is a ridiculous smoke screen. We know about the "keep away from Quarles" and we will "keep away from the high school" agreement. Isn't that the real reason that it was so important to get rid Richard Segall? Read the documents in this post. You be the judge. If we are teaching children to multitask, then surely our elected officials must model that same behavior. That each may continue to learn while alive.

FACT: The Academy only exists, because of Dwight Morrow

High School? If Dwight Morrow High School did not exist, there would be no reason for the Academy Program. It was created to integrate Dwight Morrow High School. The A@E existence depends on the survival of Dwight Morrow High School.

FACT: Dwight Morrow High School/Academies@Englewood is a Focus School

FACT: When Dwight Morrow High School/Academies @ Englewood was designated a Focus School, by the Federal and State Governments, it was assigned a RAC. 

FACT: The former RAC for Dwight Morrow High School/Academies@Englewood is now Interim Executive County Superintendent for Bergen County.

1. What is a RAC? What does a RAC do?
2. RAC Job Titles
3. Meet the Ron Karsen, RAC for Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex and Warren Counties
4. What are the 8 Turnaround Principles that high school leaders must follow?
5. The RAC Mission, Guiding Principles and why you should care.
6. Regional Achievement Centers
7. RAC - What are Regional Achievement Centers?
8. RAC Mission Statement
9. The RAC Approach
10. Priority And Focus Schools
11. SIP School Improvement Plan Videos
12. Questions & Answers about the RAC Regional Achievement Centers
13. Other Schools in our area have also been designated as Focus or Priority Schools.
14. Reward Schools may be thought of as Focus Schools that improved the most.
15. RAC and PARCC: What is PARCC and how will it affect my child's education?
16. What is expected of my child and yours?

RAC Interventions... EXCERPT from njdoe Ouestions and Answers about Regional Achievement Centers

What is the Quality School Review (QSR)?

• The QSR is a baseline evaluation of Priority and Focus Schools with quality indicators aligned to the eight turnaround principles. The QSR replaces the CAPA Review.
• QSRs will be conducted this spring in Priority Schools. QSRs in Focus Schools will start this Fall. School Improvement Plans will incorporate the results of the QSRs.

What is the School Improvement Plan (SIP)?

• Based on the findings from the QSR, RAC teams will work in conjunction with school and district l eaders, educators, and families to develop comprehensive and individualized SIPs based on the 8 Turnaround Principles and the unique needs of each school. School and district leaders will commit to and be held accountable for the high quality implementation of the intervention strategies identified in the SIP with the support of the RAC team. Example intervention strategies include:

•  Implementation of NJDOE model curriculum and unit assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards;
• Redesign of instructional time to better meet student needs and increase teacher collaboration focused on improving teaching and learning;
• Use of current data to design and implement specific classroom strategies to improve teaching and learning;
• Required professional development focused on the 8 Turnaround Principles for school leaders and educators; 
•  Changes to the climate and culture of the school to ensure a quality learning environment with a culture of high expectations for every student;
• Development of new family and community engagement strategies that are specifically focused on academic achievement; and
• Hiring or reassigning full-time professionals specialists (e.g. culture and climate leader, data leader, literacy leader, mathematics leader) to be embedded in schools.  

School Improvement Plans will be reviewed and modified if necessary, at regular intervals of about 7 weeks. This activity will be based on the progress of interventions and student achievement.

Will the RAC Team work with the Priority and Focus School leadership in developing the School Improvement Plan? 

• Yes. Development of School Improvement Plan is is a collaborative process, which includes school and district leadership, teachers, and other key stakeholders. http://www.state.nj.us/education/modelcurriculum/

The EPSD did not acknowledge the Focus School Designation in August 2013 when they met at a

retreat  in order to create goals and objectives by which to evaluate the Superintendent. There were no goals articulated relating to the desire for Dwight Morrow High School to become a Reward School. Our Board and Dr. Carlisle did not discuss the 8 Turnaround Principles or the Rubric that must be utilized to turnaround the school.

David Matthews and others claim that they were not consulted about a plan that would reorganize the high school with no changes to A@E except the moving of physical classrooms. Do they mean that they were not asked?

Well, now you know how we feel. In June of 2002, DMHS students went home eager for summer fun. When they returned to DMHS in September of 2002, high school life had changed forever.  There is no way to measure all that they lost in just one summer. We were not consulted, asked or informed of these changes. We were not advised that our children would be chased out of the building by a man with a bullhorn at 3 pm.

For 12 years, you have taken care of your own children, now you must take care of all of them.

Has our Board of Education abandoned the children of Englewood Residents?

                                                      How are the children?

A Novel Idea?

Found by Laura Winston in a Brooklyn thrift shop. 

Perhaps the "idea" should find its way home.

Our Schools Are In Crisis: Evolve!

Posted on northjersey.com and reprinted here with additions...

There you go proving our point again. The real deal here is that the children from other towns are better

prepared educationally than Englewood children. That is the important point here. The needs of the many far outweigh the needs of the few. There are only 193 children from Englewood registered in the Academy. We, as taxpayers are supplementing the education of School Choice students to the tune of approximately 1.7 million dollars per year. That does not include litigation, which is an undisclosed amount. "Academic Segregation" is coming to an end in Englewood. It is not benefiting enough Englewood children It siphons off resources in order to survive in the state that it is in currently. Note how the entire school is described by the Department of Education.

"This school's academic performance lags in comparison to schools across the state. Additionally, its academic performance lags in comparison to its peers. This school's college and career readiness is about average when compared to schools across the state. Additionally, its college and career readiness is high when compared to its peers. This school's graduation and post-secondary performance lags in comparison to schools across the state. Additionally, its graduation and post-secondary readiness is about average when compared to its peers." New Jersey Department Of Education  (emphasis is theirs)       http://www.state.nj.us/education/pr/1213/03/031370040.pdf  

It should be noted again, that there is no plan now and there has been no discussion of changing the content

A 6th grade Science class from the Dwight Englewood
School participates in a STEM activity at the 3rd
Street Community  Garden

or makeup of Academy Program classes. There has been no discussion of changing the teachers that you love so much. None. The Propaganda that has your head spinning around is based on lies. Ultimately one must face the fact that the majority of the parents at the April 10th meeting do not reside in Englewood and do not vote here. We did not try to fill the room with children or parents from Englewood. We saw what the deal was and we did not take the bait. We did not want the riot that would have occurred after parents and students from Englewood listened to the remarks made at that meeting. Change will come. The Program must evolve. The entire school district must be reorganized for the sake of all students.

It is a low place to go when discussing this situation to blame a population of children who have been told since 3rd grade that they are not good enough, because of their Math scores. My 27 years in the classroom are not going to waste here. In the 3rd grade, one group of children is given an affectionate pat on the head, while the others are ignored. The situation that exists at the high school is exactly what happens when the district, teachers, administrators and Board members have "high" expectations for one group and "no" expectations for another. Every single parent in the district should sign that contract that is handed out to the IVY children. Englewood children must be better prepared from Pre-K up. It is a tragedy that you feel the way you do, but change must come in order for the entire district to survive.

The students are going to Achieve just as well regardless of the building in which they study. Parents need to

They got a little dirty as they turned the soil in their
chosen raised bed.

calm down and let the professionals do what has to be done. The School Board does not run the district. The parents certainly do not run the district. The parents from out of town come to one Board meeting and everyone goes "wow". I have missed only 2 Board meetings since February 2011. I have seen maybe 3 School Choice parents in attendance. Get a grip on reality. We are not slaves and there are many different types of intelligence. For the record, I prefer a STEAM building. Art cannot be separated from Architecture, Design and Engineering. It is shared by the disciplines.

Change should have come in 2008 when the Board realized that the Equity & Excellence millions were no longer available. It is not okay with me that my property taxes supplement students who heckle Englewood parents, "class Act Fatty". I heard that with my own ears and saw the mouth that it was coming from. I love the way the problems in the Academy are sanitized. Did students earn the right to be disrespectful when they scored higher on the test? Do students deserve the right to crack into the server in

They tested the soil  in the beds. 

order to collect tests and grades of all students in the district? That child/hacker was made a hero. Was he following in the footsteps of this guy who graduated from BA? Are they heroes when they commit the same infractions that north building children are demonized for even thinking about?  Let us just discuss how there are also problems in the Academy Program. Stop talking about an imperfect failed Educational Model as if there are no faults. David Matthews has been complaining about the stagnation for at least 3 years. Which one is it? Is it stagnant or perfect. Stagnant is not good. plagiarized or no.

Albert Koloff, northjersey.com did a comparison study of Englewood's School Choice and the Manchester school district's School Choice Program and concluded that our model is not sustainable. Other districts make a profit on School Choice, EPSD incurs a deficit. That deficit is shouldered by the taxpaying residents. These same residents are being discriminated against in too many ways to list here. Our children are being disenfranchised year after year. Taxpayers from all 4 Wards are losing out on having a successful School District, because our Board vilifies our professionals in public instead of giving them the support needed to educate all children. Learned and trained professionals have given excellent advice on how to raise test scores and overall Academic Achievement, but this Board cannot admit that it shot itself in the foot with a cannonball when this program was constructed this way. I was here and the residents of Englewood were not consulted about the establishment of this Educational Model.

                           

                                    How are the children? How are ALL of the children?

                                         

Duty to a collaborative and effective Board

Letter to the Englewood Board of Education from a parent.

Board members,

Yesterday's BOE was very disturbing, for everyone no doubt.

For 5 years now, I speak to every single one of you to find common ground and identify which pieces I can help you solve.

We're not friends, nor coworkers, I was not elected and have not sworn to do so, I am not occupying any seat of power, nor I am rewarded with any guarantee that the countless hours invested will lead to decisions and actions on your part, and YET I DO THIS EVERY DAY.

Three new board members were elected, broadly chosen by the community: we don't care that you don't like each other, you don't get to decide whether or not you will work together: YOU HAVE TAKEN THE OATH TO DO SO. 

The majority has now even chosen to do so until December so DO IT.

Whoever cannot work with newly elected Board

Members need to step down, and we can start over with elections! These faction wars will only gain you a Board vote of no confidence. How hard is it to all look in the same direction instead of facing off? Please serve ALL our students with honor and character.

The new Board Members were absolutely honest in their communications. They campaigned with full disclosure of their skills, experience, affiliations and were ELECTED. 

As residents, fellow Board Members only have 1 voice: YOU DON'T GET TO UNDO the elections – and your loyalty is CERTAINLY to the ALL the students, and certainly NOT to SEEK or our local (has been) politicians!

Particularly considering the state of our district, it was completely irresponsible for Howard and SEEK to block the new members from serving to their full potential to save this FOCUS, RAC district.

Jeff, Devry and Carol have the duty to restore justice and to regain their powers so they can be effective and meaningful Board Members, because that is the duty EACH OF YOU swore to uphold.

You were all voted in based on your skills and professional experience, and each of you should lead the committee best matching your expertise, and be productive in the others to serve the whole.

Carol was elected, not only as an EDUCATOR, but as knowing the EPSD inside and out, including when and why specific programs WORKED. Carol must not only be totally involved, but she should LEAD the Academic affairs Committee!

Jeff was elected BECAUSE of his BCSS experience, so he can help ensure that our 500 SpeEd students are also taught to the standards, and we can stop getting sued and making exceptions/favors that rob the whole and drag down the district.

Devry was elected for his financial acumen, and Lord knows we need SCRUTINY.

Right now you are being deceived and manipulated by the very ones who should serve you, and you don't even know what to do about it!?! You may want to hire Jim Olobardi as a consultant to train you. Each of you owe it to voters and to the students to do all you can so all 9 members can put their experience to the service of ALL OUR students.

Please, please, please get yourselves together and keep your eye on our precious prize!

Leen Mosley

What is Up with The Record Keeping?!

It has been over 2 years and Englewood residents are still asking School Board Members what purpose the buses below serve. Residents are wondering why we never see our children on them. There even exists a plan to spend over a million dollars to build what they called a SHED to house these buses inside. (We have a professional Bus Company right here in town. First Student. First Student buses are parked in an outdoor lot.) This 'proposed shed' has an office, a break room, 3 bathrooms, a loading bay and who knows what else. It would have been located less than the mandated 25 feet away from the brook that flows into Overpeck Creek where people fish. Sewer lines may not be located less than 50' away from the shoulder of a stream bed. One wonders what these folks are thinking. They paved over a beautiful grassy area anyway and this resident thinks they still plan to build the shed/office building.

Shirley Smith, a veteran and now retired Englewood School Board Member, who served close to 13 years, has been watching these buses sit. She wants to know why they never seem to move. We have seen only one item listed in the Board agenda to pay a bus driver. Why is payment to these bus drivers not listed regularly? No one seems to know how or even if the buses are used. Dr. Carlisle suggested that they are used to transport students to athletic events. Several residents have seen First Student buses transport the students to these same sporting events. 

Curtis Caviness is a marvel. He attends most sporting events. He also keeps everything. Below the buses, find the answer to the question that we have all been asking. Answering one question simply raises more. What are these shared services? Why are board members not privy to this information? 

The Business Administrator is in charge of purchasing and keeping record of all purchases. The Board Secretary is responsible to make sure the Board has this information readily available. In Englewood, the Business Administrator and the Board Secretary are the same person. This BA/BS is paid well with our tax dollars. The Board should have been able to answer this question long ago. What is wrong with this picture?

Instead of becoming upset with members of the community employees should make every effort to find the information. The Business Administrator/Board Secretary (our employee) should provide our Board with the answers to our questions without being forced to do so by angry taxpayers. 

The highly paid professionals must keep better records. Highly paid "professionals" should at least pretend to care what the public thinks about how proficient or effective they are at their jobs.

We, as taxpayers, parents, guardians and folks who care must begin to rate our professionals much the same as they rate our children. Are our employees far less than proficient, partially proficient, proficient or highly proficient?  Are we getting our monies worth? Whom do we blame?

Where is the resolution documenting Board Approval that was supposed to be sent to the Executive County Superintendent almost 4 years ago?

We have a sharing agreement regarding buses?

What other school districts are involved in this

sharing agreement?

                                                       How are the children?

17 Facts that Englewood VOTERS Should Remember!

1. Englewood's School Board Elections were changed to November 4, 2014. 
2. Voters will NOT be able to VOTE on the School Budget in November. 
3. Voters must begin at the bottom of the ballot in order to put children first. 
4. Voters will choose 3 NEW School Board Members. 
5. Voters will choose a 1st Ward Councilperson. 
6. Voters will choose a 3rd Ward Councilperson. 
7. Voters will choose 3 Freeholders. 
8. Voters will choose at least 1 Congressman. 
9. Voters will choose a US Senator. 
10. In Type I School Districts the Mayor appoints the School Board Members. 
11. In Type I School Districts the Board of School Estimates decides the School Budget. 
12. In Type II School Districts the School Board Members are elected by the VOTERS. 
13. Englewood VOTERS, voted to switch from an 'appointed' Board to an 'elected' Board. 
14. Englewood VOTERS wanted to be able to VOTE ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET. 
15. 5 Current School Board Members VOTED to move School Board Elections to November.
16. 5 Current School Board Members reversed the decision of the people. 
17. 5 Current School Board Members created a Type II School District that cannot VOTE ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET. 

                                                           How are the children?

Navigating Your School System: updated September 20, 2017

BOARD OF EDUCATION: 

•  The board of education hires the superintendent and approves other personnel. 
• The Board adopts by resolution all laws and regulations.
•  The board creates and sets the policies for the district based on the laws and regulations. 
•  The superintendent administers the policies for the board. 
•  If you have issues that you think would require a change of district policy or you have concerns about the general governance of the district, these matters should come to the board’s attention. 
•  You could write or e-mail the individual board members or speak about the issue at the public forum at a board meeting. 

http://nj.gov/education/parents/articles/nav/navigate.htm

Protocol

There are times when parents feel it is necessary to address an issue that affects them with the school or district.  The following will guide you to the person most able to assist you:

1. CLASSROOM:  If you have any concerns related to your child’s classroom such as poor academic performance, behavior issues, or difficulty interacting with peers, make an appointment with the teacher to discuss the matter.  Work with the teacher, but if the issue cannot be resolved, request a meeting with the principal.
   
2. SCHOOL:  If you have issues with administration of the school, such as quality of meals, condition of the facility, extra-curricular activities, receiving school information, obtaining Title I supplemental services, or getting a special education evaluation, make an appointment with the principal.
   
3. DISTRICT:  If you have issues related to the operation of your school district, such as unresponsiveness to your requests by the teacher or principal, hours of instruction, starting times, school attendance boundaries, transportation routes, etc., make an appointment with the superintendent.
   
4. BOARD OF EDUCATION:  The board of education hires the superintendent and approves other personnel.  The board sets the policies for the district.  The superintendent administers the policies for the board.  If you have issues that you think would require a change of district policy or you have concerns about the general governance of the district, these matters should come to the board’s attention.  You could write or e-mail the individual board members or speak about the issue at the public forum at a board meeting.

http://nj.gov/education/parents/articles/nav/navigate.htm

When Will Englewood Acknowledge The Blip of 2013?

The last official Englewood School Board Election took place in April of 2013. The results were a surprise to some and shook others to the core. Some called it a blip on the radar screen, because it was not supposed to happen that way. Some sore losers accused the Mayor of stacking the deck in favor of the 3 who won. That was an interesting suggestion since it was common knowledge that the Mayor and many of the city leaders supported the incumbents.

Why are the results of School Board Election 2013 so hard to accept? Why have those results caused people to behave in ways not representative of people who want harmony in the city?

1. Is that the reason that the City has still not changed the School Board Members on the City Site? It is nearly a year since the blip of an election. Voters made their choice. Voters pay the salary of the person who has the responsibility to change the status and membership of the website Boards. What is the problem here? The results may have been a shock, but the people spoke through their votes almost a year ago.

2. Is this also the reason that the President of the School Board started a campaign to neuter the newly elected Members immediately after they were elected? Mr. Haughton, admitted that he asked for an official Advisory Opinion from the School Ethics Commission. He says he wanted to make sure that there was no conflict of interest. Was there a conflict of interest when the ETA supported and helped to elect both Stephen Brown and Glenn Garrison? What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Is it only a problem if the elected members are NOT MEMBERS OF SEEK?

3. Is this the reason that Carol Feinstein and Jeff Carter are not allowed to vote on personnel issues? All over the state of NJ, union members also serve on School Boards. These 2 are not even allowed in on the discussion of personnel issues. They must excuse themselves from closed sessions and wait to be summoned back into the room. Yet Harley Ungar, (VP of the School Board) who is also a Teach 4 America employee* is allowed to vote and participate as she pleases. Henry Pruitt is allowed to chair the negotiations while his company is hired to handle confidential files of Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield. (Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield would be part of negotiations with employees because they are the insurance carrier that the district uses.) They are constantly put out of closed session meetings by school board employees.

4. How did they miss the fact that Mark Tabakin's very employment is a conflict of interest? He functions as the full time attorney. Is Mark an employee of State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak's law firm or is he an employee of the Englewoood Board of Education? (We pay him $147,000 yearly) Not only does the Board have a problem identifying his designation, but it seems that Mr. Tabakin himself is a bit confused. His 2011-12 Ethics Disclosure does not agree with his 2012-13 Disclosure Statement. Does Mr. Tabakin know for whom he works? Who writes the checks that pays the mortgage on that over a million dollar home?

5. Is this blip the reason that more effort has been put into neutralizing the 3 new members of the School Board than in trying to improve the Academic Achievement of the students in the district?

6. Is this the reason that the SEEK Board Members with terms expiring in April, 2014 voted themselves another year on the School Board? The Resolution to move School Board Elections to November was technically an official election and SEEK won. George Garrison III had the integrity to abstain from voting himself another year on the School Board. Howard Haughton voted himself anothere year as school board president. Someone should inform Mr. Haughton that it is far more prudent to please the people than it is to please the press. Besides, the school board and the people already pay the press, don't we? 

Check it out and make call. The City of Englewood Official Site

Board of Education -
City Clerk: Lauren Vande Vaarst, RMC
clerk@cityofenglewood.org

Department Phone: (201) 510-8213
2-10 North Van Brunt Street
Englewood, NJ 07631

Harley Ungar* claims to have quit working for Teach 4 America. The Advisory Opinion from the School Ethics Commission says that Jeff and Carol may not participate in those areas ever, even if they were to quit their jobs.  Equity has gone astray.

                                         How are the children?

Reverse - RoboCall

The time is always right for learning. 

"An investment in knowledge pays the best

interest." Benjamin Franklin

How are the children?

The School Board Election That YOU missed!

A Special School Board Election was held on January 16, 2014 at Grieco Elementary School.

SEEK won!

Two sitting board members, all SEEK, and 5 others with 1 abstention voted to move the School Board Elections to November. Page 14 of 20. 14-F-73 APPROVAL - ESTABLISHING THE ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE ENGLEWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION AS THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THE FIRST MONDAY IN NOVEMBER .

What does this mean?

• Voters will not be able to vote on the budget
• 3 sitting board members with terms expiring in April gave themselves nearly a year more on the board without input from the voters.
• The President just voted himself another year in charge. 
• According to Harley Ungar, a study conducted by David Popkin may have shown that many people will not vote in the school board election. She suggested that the supposed $45,000 saved is more important than voters.
• Taxation without representation - Your taxes pay the tab and you no longer have a say
• The campaign has begun. 
• The School Board Election must remain in November for at least 4 years.

Tuesday, January 28 is going to be a very special day.

Board of Education: Special Public Meeting
7:30 PM

Grieco cafeteria
Meeting will include questions from the public concerning the 2012-13 audit of the financial operations of the district

(Will there be answers?)

The City Council of Englewood is also having a meeting January 28, 2014.

Municipal Court 73 South Van Brunt St. (Courthouse)

• Fire house bond ordinance
• An ordinance amending chapter 8 Boards
• An ordinance amending chapter 425 tree codes of Englewood
• An ordinance amending chapter 191 fees code of Englewood
• An ordinance amending chapter 358 soil erosion
• City Board Appointments 

The State of the Union Address 2014 by the President 9:00pm

                                       How are the children?