Summit BOE Briefs: Students Among Best Test Scorers in District

The Summit Board of Education convened for a regular meeting on Thursday, December 15, at Lawton C.Johnson Summit Middle School. Board President Michelle Stevenson presided.


ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS

Ms. Stevenson reported that the board of education’s Negotiations Committee and the negotiating committee of the met with a state-appointed mediator on December 13, but further discussions will be necessary. The two committees will again meet with the mediator on Jan. 11.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nathan Parker said that although the board of education has decided not to move forward with the full-day, tuition based kindergarten pilot program, a new committee is being formed to look at other alternatives for instituting an all-day kindergarten program.

Dr. Parker also congratulated the students and staff of ’s Music Department forthe outstanding holiday concert presented on December 14.


LAWTON C. JOHNSON SUMMIT MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTATION

LCJSMS physical education teachers Lisa Schmidt and Anne Marie Flynn introduced sixth graders RubyHodges, Emily Paytas, and David Sharpe (from left in photo above at right) who provided highlightsof the NFL’s Play 60 fitness program, which all the sixth graders were invited to participate in. NFL Play 60 is the National Football League's campaign to reduce childhood obesity.
Sponsored by the Jet's and the American Heart Association, the program required students to exercisefor 60 minutes a day throughout


October and November —an average of 35 minutes in physical education class and 25 minutes on their own. Among the students who successfully participated, 20 lucky winners were drawn from the sixthgrade class, who were guests of the Jets at the November 27 game against the Buffalo Bills. Thestudents participated in fitness events with Chatham Middle School and toured Met Life Stadium.

SEF GRANTS

Debra Trisler and Leah Griffith, representatives of the (SEF), presented an overview of the 26 grants, totaling $66,508, which the SEF provided to the schools in the fall grant cycle. The board approved acceptance of the grants, information on which can be found on the district’s website – www.summit.k12.nj.us ‐ among the main news articles.


AUDIT REPORT

Paul Lerch of Lerch, Vinci & Higgins made a report on the financial audit of the district, completed June 30, 2011. Mr. Lerch said he didn’t have much to discuss about the audit, making it “a very pleasant presentation.” Of the 375 hours spent in conducting the audit, Mr. Lerch said only two “benign” issues were revealed: one relative to a payment made from a wrong account and the other having to do with a late deposit.


ETHICS TRAINING

The Summit Board of Education’s attorney, Anthony Sciarrillo, conducted the board members’ annual mandated ethics training. Mr. Sciarrillo pointed out that ethics for board members can be summed up by the four “Cs” – Claims – a board member should have no financial claims or interest in any dealings of the district; no Conflicts of interest; respect the Confidentiality of many issues; and honor Commitment to do what is right as a board member.


DISTRICT ASSESSMENT REPORT

Assistant Superintendent of Schools Julie Glazer presented the annual assessment report outlining testing results from throughout the district for the 2010‐2011 school year.

This comprehensive, 50‐page report was distributed at the meeting, and Ms. Glazer gave an overview of its contents in a slidepresentation.

The report contains overall test results, disaggregated test results, and recommendations for each grade level. The report indicates that in almost every category of state‐sponsored test assessments from the third grade through high school, Summit students did better than their peers both in their District Factors
Groups and the state as a whole. The assessment report will soon be available on the district website.


COMMENDATIONS

Board member Ed Mokuvos commended the eight Summit High School students who were accepted for Region II instrumental or vocal groups through auditions conducted by the Central Jersey Music Educators Association. A number of the Summit students were also place‐ranked among the many musicians who auditioned. The selected Summit students are:

Jordyn Gallink, who received second place among all bassoonists auditioning and who will be performing for the second consecutive year with the Regional Wind Ensemble.

Claire McKenzie, selected to play bassoon in the Orchestra.

Will Grayeski will play trumpet in the Regional Wind Ensemble for the second consecutive year. He was selected as third place overall.

Also for the second consecutive year, Chris Pohl, was selected for the trumpet section of the Orchestra.

Chosen for third place overall, Philip Jahl will play French Horn in the Orchestra. This is the fourth time out of four years auditioning that Philip was selected for a Regional spot.

Alexander Kelser was chosen for the French Horn section of the Wind Ensemble.

Receiving fifth place overall, and chosen for the third consecutive year, Chris Chen will play violin in the Orchestra.

Rosemary Walter was selected for the Alto I section of the Women's Chorus.


SCHOOL BOARD OPERATION

Board members Michelle Stevenson and Ed Mokuvos were appointed to the Board of School Estimate for the 2012 calendar year, effective January 1, 2012.

The board approved:


•  a $13,728.68 donation from the Summit High School PTO for the high school auditorium restoration project


• a $13,320 gift from the Lincoln‐Hubbard School PTO to add equipment to the school’s existing playground


• the establishment of tuition rate of $3,200 for attendance of non‐handicapped students in the 2012‐2013 preschool program


PERSONNEL

The board approved the following substitute nurses: Patricia Glen and Barbara Vail, and substitute teachers: Erin Holdwright, Ayla Tektas, Megan Ryan, and Rachel Rosalsky


The board also approved the retirement of the following staff members: Carolyn Procaccini, secretary to the SHS assistant principal, effective July 1; Phyllis Harwood, SHS English teacher, effective July1; and Barbara Vail, Brayton School nurse, effective January 1


The board approved the appointment of the following staff members: Alexis Chestnut‐Andrews, Franklin School fourth grade teacher, effective December 12; Karen Nedo, Jefferson PC instructional aide, effective January 3; Teresa Denman, Franklin School special ed leave replacement teacher, effective January 3; Daniel Del Piana, Wilson PC instructional aide, effective December 16; Collin MarieBishop as Brayton School nurse, effective January 3.


The board also accepted the resignation of Michelle Cruz, Franklin School fourth grade teacher,effective December 15, and Katherine Paul, Jefferson School library secretary, effective December 15.


POLICIES

A second reading and vote was held on the following policies: 5519 and 5519R – Dating Violence atSchool; 9180, School Volunteers; 9181, Volunteer Athletic Coaches; and 9191, Community and Parental Support of the Summit Athletic Programs.

Read the rest of the details of this month's meeting on the Summit Public Schools website, Board of Education link.

The Summit Board of Education Board Briefs  Volume 33, Iss.4 December, 2011