PTA Invites Public to Address Board of Education About 2010 Priorities

The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education is set to sit down tonight with the PTA Council to discuss issues facing the school district in the coming year.

The meeting is part of an annual discussion between the two groups, sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Association as a way to get a discussion going about what the community feels are the top issues concerning students.

"Historically this has been a really good way to get the conversation started about what the hot button issues are for the public," said PTA Council Vice President Susan Johnson.

The meeting is an informal gathering, Johnson said, with the PTA posing several questions to the board and then the board asking several of their own questions. PTA presidents representing the district's different schools, along with the PTA Council leaders, will be among those participating. The public will also have the chance to address the board.

Johnson said last year, the Board of Education posed questions about issues such as implementing full-day kindergarten and adding courses at the high school.

"It's a good way for them to gauge the temperature," she said.

Johnson noted that the PTA has held several long meetings preparing their questions for tonight.

"We try to pick questions that can apply to the district for all of the schools," she said. "It's a good opportunity for people to ask questions of their Board of Education and see what it is people are talking about and what their priorities will be."

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Park Middle School media center. Parents and other members of the community are encouraged to attend and participate.