MINUTES of the PATERSON BOARD of EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING February 10, 2005 – 7:00 P.M. John F. Kennedy High School Presiding
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MINUTES OF THE PATERSON BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING February 10, 2005 – 7:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy High School Presiding: Comm. Jonathan Hodges, President Present: Dr. Dennis Clancy, Interim State District Superintendent Ms. Monica Peck, General Counsel Comm. Joseph Atallo Comm. Juan Santiago Comm. Chauncey Brown Comm. Andre Sayegh Comm. Alonzo Moody Comm. Willa Mae Taylor Absent: Comm. Daniel Vergara The Salute to the Flag was led by Miss Danielle Basu, 12th Grade, N.H.S. Comm. Sayegh read the Open Public Meetings Act: The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act was enacted to insure the right of the public to have advance notice of, and to attend the meetings of the Paterson Public School District, as well as other public bodies at which any business affecting the interest of the public is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this law, the Paterson Public School District has caused notice of this meeting: Regular Meeting February 10, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. John F. Kennedy High School 61-127 Preakness Avenue Paterson, New Jersey to be published by having the date, time and place posted in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Paterson, at the entrance of the Paterson Public School offices, and by sending notice of the meeting to Al Zaman, El Diario, the Italian Voice, the New Jersey Forum, the North Jersey Herald & News, and The Record. REPORT OF STATE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT Dr. Clancy: There is a written report available as people are coming in with important information. I really have no extensive report today. I just want to read a notice that I received from the Passaic County Division of Health relative to the water situation, which we dealt with today. The Passaic Valley Water Authority has notified the Passaic County Department of Health that the Boil Water Advisory has been lifted as of 3:00 p.m. today. So if anybody has any questions relative to that, they are to contact the Health Officer and Director Deborah Rucki-Drake at Passaic County. I know today in Page 1 2/10/05 the schools we had to shut off or at least tape up and not allow the children or anybody to drink any of the water. They were telling us it was 24 hours but it was through today so it has been lifted. We did send notices home so that the parents would have the notices. Again, it has been lifted as of 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. Thank you. REPORT OF BOARD PRESIDENT Comm. Hodges: The Paterson School District has the obligation of establishing a district-wide Facilities Advisory Board. Its purpose is to have ongoing discussions about school planning, design and construction. The Facilities Advisory Board will help ensure that a broad range of views are considered in the planning process, that the process itself is viewed with legitimacy and support, and that the final plan will be understood and championed by the community. The Board shall be comprised of representatives from the following groups: district administrators, including Board of Education representation; district instruction and curriculum program decision-makers and/or planners; school administrators and teachers for all program types; parents; community group representatives; municipal officials, meaning the Mayor, City Council members, planning board members, redevelopment agency members; and consultants retained by the district for completion of the Long Range Facility Plan, including a licensed architect and engineer. Those persons interested in serving on the Board should contact the Office of the Interim State Superintendent at 35 Church Street. An advertisement will be placed in the local newspapers as well. Please be aware that a considerable time commitment may be involved. The Mayor’s office and the municipal government will be contacted as to representatives that they may wish to send. We will be moving to seat that Board on or before March 1st. That concludes my report. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY It was moved by Comm. Sayegh, seconded by Comm. Taylor that the Public Comments on Agenda Items Only portion of the meeting be opened. Comm. Brown: Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the untimely death of an individual from Paterson. Comm. Sayegh: We have a motion on the floor. Comm. Hodges: We have a motion on the floor. Comm. Brown: No problem. Comm. Hodges: I’m sorry. You mentioned that before and we will do that after the roll call. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried. Comm. Hodges: First person, please. Seeing no one, can we have a motion to close? It was moved by Comm. Moody, seconded by Comm. Sayegh that the Public Comments on Agenda Items Only portion of the meeting be closed. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried. Comm. Hodges: At this time, Mr. Brown, I will entertain your motion. Page 2 2/10/05 Comm. Brown: Mr. Richard Sarjeant was a lifelong resident of the City of Paterson who passed away on Saturday. I want to have a moment of silence to recognize him for the work that he has done in the community with our children in education and recreation. Thank you very much, Mr. President. GENERAL BUSINESS Items Requiring a Vote PRESENTATION OF MINUTES Comm. Hodges presented the minutes of the January 5, 2005 Workshop Meeting, and the January 12, 2005 Regular Meeting, and asked if there were any questions or comments on the minutes. It was moved by Comm. Sayegh, seconded by Comm. Santiago that the minutes be accepted with any necessary corrections. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE Comm. Sayegh reported that the Curriculum and Instruction Committee met, reviewed and recommends approval for Resolution Nos. A-1 through A-21: Resolution No. A-1 WHEREAS, February is designated as African American Heritage Month; and WHEREAS, February 2005 celebrates the heritage and the richness, contributions and cultures of peoples of African ancestry throughout the nation; and WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is comprised of a great diversity of cultures which among them includes peoples of African ancestry; and WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District traditionally sponsors and supports a month-long celebration which features a series of events and programs, highlighting the history and culture of African decent; and WHEREAS, these special events and programs are open to both the Paterson Public Schools and other citizens of the larger community of Paterson; and now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Public School District joins in the celebration and observance of Black History Month during February 2005. Resolution No. A-2 WHEREAS, Classroom, Inc. simulations reinforce the entire Cross Content Workplace Readiness Skills and the Core Content Curriculum Standards; and WHEREAS, Classroom, Inc. simulations have been incorporated into the district’s annual Perkins Spending Plan and approved by the Department of Education in the amount of $20,000; and now therefore Page 3 2/10/05 BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves the continuation and expansion of the Classroom, Inc. program during the 2004-2005 academic year. Resolution No. A-3 WHEREAS, the Youth Consultation Services is the lead agency in the Paterson School-Based Youth Services Programs; and WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Human Services fully funds the Paterson School-Based Youth Services Program at Eastside High School; and WHEREAS, New Jersey Department of Human Services’ policies establish that resources donated by a public donor in the form of cash or In-Kind Contributions may, under certain conditions, be used as match in the provisions of social services; and WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District provides the facility and the collaborative services of the Guidance Counselors, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Substance Awareness Coordinator, and Health and Social Services Coordinator as in- kind support to the School-Based Youth Services Program at Eastside High School; and now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves continued support to the School-Based Youth Services Program at Eastside High School at no additional cost to the district. Resolution No. A-4 WHEREAS, the City of Paterson, acting by and through the Department of Human Resources, serves as the lead agency in the Paterson School-Based Youth Services Programs; and WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Human Services fully funds the Paterson School-Based Youth Services Program at John F. Kennedy High School; and WHEREAS, New Jersey Department of Human Services’ policies establish that resources donated by a public donor in the form of cash or In-Kind Contributions may, under certain conditions, be used as match in the provisions of social services; and WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District provides the facility and the collaborative services of the Guidance Counselors, Dropout Prevention Specialist, Substance Awareness Coordinator, and Health and Social Services Coordinator as in- kind support to the School-Based Youth Services Program at John F. Kennedy High School; and now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves continued support to the School-Based Youth Services Program at John F. Kennedy High School at no cost to the district. Resolution No. A-5 WHEREAS, the New Jersey Department of Education has requested permission to submit a Letter of Intent for Evening School for Foreign Born Residents; and Page 4 2/10/05 WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District wishes to grant permission to submit a Letter of Intent to sponsor an Evening School for Foreign Born Residents. This program is designed for adults whose native language is not English.