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Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus Published Every Thursday Since September 3, 1890 (908) 232-4407 USPS 680020 Thursday, August 30, 2007 OUR 117th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 35-2007 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. www.goleader.com [email protected] SIXTY CENTS Foley: No Dramatic Increase In Westfield Public-School Enrollment By CARALINE KOELLHOFFER would start to go down. “I suspect to call me at that time for any help,” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader that you will begin to see the numbers he said. WESTFIELD – Retiring superin- in the middle and lower 400s in the Ms. Dolan, who will assume her tendent of schools William Foley re- future,” he noted. new position effective this Saturday, ported to the board of education on At Roosevelt Intermediate School, September 1, reported to the board on Tuesday that the numbers for student class numbers range from 16 to 28 some of the tasks that the district has enrollment “look pretty good” for the students per class in Language Arts, undertaken over the summer, includ- 2007-2008 school year. and 22 to 29 in science and social ing professional training for teachers “There is no dramatic increase in studies. “We got stuck in the schedul- and year-round education for special enrollment this year. Second grade, ing,” Mr. Foley said in regards to the needs students. with 566 students, and fourth grade, higher numbers. Tom Kozlik, assistant superinten- with 499 students, are our biggest “In October, there will be a much dent for pupil services, said he wanted cohorts,” Mr. Foley said. more detailed account of the enroll- to stress the possibility of wealth- Mr. Foley said with a decline in ment status. Peg (incoming superin- based funding for special education birth rates in Westfield, class sizes tendent Margaret Dolan) is welcome recently proposed by the state would affect Westfield. “There is nothing in writing. For me, it is almost like people sending out trial balloons. What they are look- ing for is a new formula for categoriz- ing special education. I am just ask- ing that the board be vigilant on this topic as it could have a significant impact on our budget,” said Mr. Horace Corbin for The Westfield Leader Kozlik. CAMPAIGN ENTHUSIASM...Janet and George Sarkos of Fairmont Avenue in Westfield hold the campaign kickoff party “Just last week, the New Jersey Tuesday evening for Bruce Regenstreich, the Democratic second-ward town-council candidate, with special guest former commissioner of education made the New Jersey Governor and Senate President Richard Codey offering his support. Pictured, left to right, are: Matt Sontz, suggestion that the aid be wealth- third-ward Democratic candidate; Mr. Regenstreich; Mr. Codey; Mrs. and Mr. Sarkos; Merry Regenstreich and Kenneth based. We would be badly hurt by Rotter, chairman of the Westfield Democratic Committee. this,” said Ms. Dolan. “It is important for the community to be aware that we stand to lose four Dolan Becomes Westfield’s New million dollars in aid,” board member Richard Solomon said. The $4 million that Westfield cur- rently receives in state aid is used Superintendent September 1 solely for special education. BY KATIE NEWINGHAM tant superintendent of human re- thing I definitely wanted to do.” Specially Written for The Westfield Leader courtesy of Police Chief John Parizeau “What we need to focus on is raising sources for four years and then assis- After a dense online application LATER GATOR…The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, on Saturday consciousness in the community on WESTFIELD — Margaret Dolan tant superintendent of curriculum, and an interview with the consulting morning, caught a two-and-a-half foot alligator living in Gregory’s Pond. The the potential impact on services for will step into William Foley’s shoes instruction and programs, the posi- firm the board hired – Hazard, Young, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has custody of the animal special needs students as a result of as the superintendent of Westfield tion she will hold until September 1. Attea and Associates – as well as a and will look to find a home for it out of state. The Westfield Leader broke the story on the alligator’s whereabouts last week. See additional photos at goleader.com/ changing the funding formula for this Public Schools on September 1. “Dr. Foley had announced his re- three-hour interview with the board, photos. aid,” said board president Ginny Leiz. Ms. Dolan has been an educator for tirement and the board had announced she got the call. In other business, Ms. Dolan re- 29 years. She earned her master’s they were hiring [a search consult- “The entire board made a confer- ported that the review process for the degree and doctorate in educational ant]. At first I wasn’t sure if it was ence call to me at home that I had MS District Staff Favors New “Blue Devil News” is in place for the administration from the Graduate something I wanted and knew it was gotten the job and at the June 5 board new school year. School of Education at Rutgers Uni- not something to take lightly,” Ms. meeting they made the announce- This comes after Westfield High versity and received a bachelor of arts Dolan said of the superintendent po- ment to the public,” she said. 5th-Grade Writing Program School Interim Principal Dennis Fyffe degree from Douglass College at sition. “I thought hard about it and “This is one of my favorite stories By MARIA WOEHR the class will learn grammar, sentence invoked a prior review of all broad- Rutgers in music education. Ms. talked with my husband and only actually about the process. Normally Specially Written for The Westfield Leader structure and different genres of writ- cast material as a result of a student Dolan began her career teaching el- applied when I knew it was some- CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 MOUNTAINSIDE – The ing. Children are graded as beginning, making allegedly negative remarks ementary and intermediate music and Mountainside Board of Education dis- developing and secure writers. about the town council. moved on to work for the New Jersey cussed the addition of a new writing Teachers work with the students to “Over the summer, the moderator Department of Education as a school NJ Transit Addresses program to its 2007-2008 school year give them feedback on their improve- of ‘Blue Devil News’ and the depart- improvement coordinator before be- curriculum. The writing program, de- ment. The program was first imple- ment chair went over the review pro- coming the principal of Deerfield signed for fifth graders, will allow the mented in April and May and received cess and made some changes,” said Elementary School in Mountainside. ‘Undependable’ Railings school district to shrink its class size positive feedback from both parents Ms. Dolan. “When I was in high school we had By MICHAEL J. POLLACK question. down from 23 students to 18 per class. and children, according to Deerfield The moderator will oversee the a Saturday program where you can Specially Written for The Westfield Leader “From the curb line to the tracks on “We have been able to address a School Principal Jeanette Baubles. editing process and, “if necessary,” tutor kids, which was great experi- WESTFIELD – After town resi- both sides is operated by New Jersey problem with a long-term solution and “The course allows fifth graders to the department head will step in to ence – to be able to work with kids dent Bruce Phillips contacted both Transit, including the under path, el- improve the language-arts program. express themselves in their own words review the material, said Ms. Dolan. one on one,” Ms. Dolan told The The Westfield Leader and the Town of evator, train lines and ticket build- This program will gradually be moved in a social and emotional aspect, while “It will not require any prior review Westfield Leader. Westfield last week concerning the ing,” he said. into the middle school throughout all also monitoring the improvement of by the principal,” she stated. Ms. Dolan joined the Westfield condition of railings at the Westfield He said, “Because it’s a shared of the grades,” Chief School Adminis- their expressions and skills,” Ms. Ms. Leiz presented Mr. Foley with school district in July 1996 from train station, New Jer- service, we can help trator Richard O’Malley said. Baubles said. a resolution at the opening of the Deerfield. “[Mountainside] is a great sey Transit has re- them out if they can’t Officials said the class is designed Deerfield teacher Thomas Conroy meeting and stressed the board’s grati- district but at that time [Deerfield] placed them. [address the situation] to help fifth graders transition their added, “This is a student-driven pro- tude for his years of service. was the only school and I was the Mr. Phillips wrote so there’s no safety writing skills from an elementary level gram, and the key thing is that stu- “Dr. Foley is passionate about chil- only principal. I was attracted to to the paper, saying, hazard.” to a middle-school level. Children in dents will be reading the texts that dren. Tonight we celebrate his dedi- Westfield because it was a bigger “I’m concerned about After receiving word they find enjoyable while also learn- cation to the children of Westfield,” district,” she said. Ms. Dolan became a looming safety issue from Mr. Phillips, Mr. Fish and Wildlife ing the basics: that writing goes back said Ms. Leiz. the principal of Franklin Elementary at the Westfield train Gildea said the town to structure and grammar.” “Thank you for your willingness to School upon arriving in Westfield.

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