Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The state released projected aid for NJ school districts on Feb. 28.
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood school district will receive a 3.3 percent increase of a little over $90,000 dollars in state aid, according to the state aid numbers released on Feb. 28. On the afternoon of Feb. 28 the state released the projected aid amounts for all school districts in New Jersey showing a 3.3 percent increase in aid for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District. Originally, the board had budgeted for the state aid to remain flat, but now they are projected to receive an additional $90,124, according to the government document. This goes back to what Board President Trip Whitehouse said at the last Board of Education meeting, when he pointed out to the public that although they are budgeting for aid to remain flat, it could go…
Thursday, February 21, 2013
The following items will be discussed at Thursday evening's Board of Education meeting.
- SCHOOLS
-
Thursday, February 21
The following information was provided by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education. SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION Regular Public Meeting February 21, 2013 7:30 p.m. Executive Session / 8:00 p.m. Public Session CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: p.m Regular Public Meeting Agenda February 21, 2013 BOARD PRESIDENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT: The New Jersey Open Public Meeting Law was enacted to insure the right of the public to have advance notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time and place …
Mathematics Supervisor John Veninger of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school district urged the board to renew the Everyday Math program as early as possible.
At the Feb. 14 Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education meeting, Mathematics Supervisor John Veninger made a presentation on the successes of the Everyday Math program and encouraged the board to renew the program to the 2012 version. Many of the board members found Veninger’s presentation informative and helpful and they seemed to agree that renewing the program would be in the best interest of the children. The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education will be voting on the renewal of the Everyday Math program at the Feb. 21 meeting. Veninger informed the board that last year’s goal of the mathematics department was to align the programs with the content standards of the common core standards put forth by the state. Now that the programs…
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Michael Lewis of Fanwood is hoping the Board of Ed will not "rush judgement" on updating the Math Curriculum with a new version of "Everyday Math."
(Letter to the Editor) To the Scotch Plains - Fanwood Board of Education: I am writing today in an attempt to forestall a "rush to judgment" on the merits of updating a Math Curriculum based on "Everyday Math". My personal disdain for the program is no secret. I have no doubt that is is both easier and less expensive to implement an update as to install a completely new program. Moreover, I have come to the conclusion that there is actually a certain amount of parental support for "Everyday Math". Finally, by all appearances our students are testing in a satisfactory manner. It is precisely because of these factors that the accompanying report by the Bridgewater-Raritan School District is so interesting. If one reads the first …
Thursday, November 29, 2012
The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education will hold an open public meeting on Nov. 29 at 8 p.m.
- SCHOOLS
-
Thursday, November 29, 2012
The following information was provided by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education. SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD BOARD OF EDUCATION Regular Public Meeting November 29, 2012 7:30 p.m. MOTION FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION: MOTION: WHEREAS, the Board of Education must discuss subjects concerning personnel, litigation and negotiations; and, WHEREAS, the aforesaid subjects are not appropriate subjects to be discussed in a public meeting; and, WHEREAS, the aforesaid subjects to be discussed are within the exemptions which are permitted to be discussed and acted upon in private session pursuant to P.L. 1975, Chapter 231, IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED that the aforesaid subjects shall be discussed in private recess by this Board and administrative staff, and …
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
At the Nov. 13 Board of Education meeting, the annual audit report was explained and ideas to make up the lost school days from Hurricane Sandy were discussed.
On Nov. 13 the Board of Education(BOE) held an open agenda meeting, the first since Sandy struck the township. The board discussed how Sandy impacted the school district, as well as the annual audit that was conducted for the BOE. Superintendent Dr. Margaret Hayes, informed the board of some her ideas on how to make up the lost school days from Hurricane Sandy. She noted that none of the ideas were concrete but would like to put them out there for the public to voice their opinions. Hayes said usually when the district goes over the three emergency days issued, they dip into spring break to make up those missed dates. However, she said she would rather look into alternate days. For example, she mentioned using both President's Day and …
Friday, October 19, 2012
Board member, Douglas Layne, provided the details of the agreement.
At the Oct. 18, Board of Education(BOE) meeting, the Board voted unanimously in favor of the teacher contract agreement between the BOE and the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Educaiton Association (SPFEA). Board member, Douglas Layne, provided the public with an outline of the major aspects of the labor agreement. Resident of Fanwood, Michael Lewis, asked if the contract made any changes to medical or insurance benefits, which Mr. Layne replied no. However, Superintendent Dr. Margaret Hayes, added that there was a change, but it was due to a change implemented by the state and was not part of the BOE and SPFEA's agreements specifically.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
At Thursday evening's meeting the memorandum will be voted on.
At the past Board of Education(BOE) meetings, negotiations between the Negotiations Committee of the BOE and the Scotch Plains Fanwood Education Association(SPFEA) have been creating a memorandum for teacher contracts. At the Oct. 11 BOE meeting, it was announced that the technical details have been worked out and a memorandum is in place. Last Thursday's meeting was the first time members of the board who are not on the Negotiations Committee read the agreement. On Oct. 18 the Board of Education will vote on this memorandum. Trip Whitehouse, President of the Board of Education, mentioned the agreement at the Oct. 17 BOE candidates forum. Although Whitehouse has to abstain from the Negotiations Committee due to his wife's involvement in …
Two of the three Board of Ed candidates commented on issues such as teacher contracts, school traffic safety, evaluations and more.
On Oct. 17, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood PTA held a candidates night for the Board of Education(BOE) at the Administration Building. The three candidates running for the BOE are incumbents who are all running uncontested. Trip Whitehouse, current Board of Education President and Karen Kulikowski and Betty Ann Woerner, current board members, will be on the ballot Nov. 6. Woerner was unable to attend the forum due to a prior engagement. This year the Board of Education elections have been moved from April to November. Whitehouse noted that he hoped the change was not the reason the candidates are running uncontested. He added that he would love anyone with an interest to be a part of the Board of Education. Several questions were submitted …
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Superintendent, Margaret W. Hayes, announced goals at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.
On Thursday, Oct. 11, Superintendent, Dr. Margaret W. Hayes, showed the board and attendees a presentation of goals the Board of Education is hoping to accomplish in the 2012-2013 school year. About seven concept and themes for goals were discussed. Here is a list of the goals: 1. Student Achievment 2. Technology 3. Service Learning - Board believes this is very imporant. 4. Global Awareness 5. Space/Facilities 6. World Language 7. Volunteer and Patronage The 2012-2013 goals will eventually be added to the Board of Education's website, spfk12.org.
Nicole Bitette
10:46 am on Monday, March 4, 2013
Hi March, The board is still awaiting the numbers on the federal grants which they budgeted 30 percent less than the 2012-2013 school year. Also, even though they received a little over 90k, once the debt service was accounted for it ended up only being a little over 34k. The next meeting (March 6) will be the budget they present to the county, but I'm not sure if the federal grant numbers will … more ›