MINUTES OF THE PATERSON BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR MEETING November 10, 2010 – 7:15 p.m. John F. Kennedy High School Presiding: Comm. Theodore Best, President Present: Dr. Donnie Evans, State District Superintendent Dr. Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard, Deputy Superintendent Sidney Sayovitz, Esq., General Counsel *Comm. Wendy Guzman, Vice President Comm. Alex Mendez Comm. Jonathan Hodges *Comm. Pedro Rodriguez Comm. Christopher Irving Comm. Willa Mae Taylor Comm. Errol Kerr Absent: Comm. Kenneth Simmons The Salute to the Flag was led by Comm. Best. Comm. Mendez 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 November 10, 2010 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 the Arab Voice, El Diario, the Italian Voice, the North Jersey Herald & News, and The Record. Comm. Best: Before we begin the meeting, I’m going to ask that everyone please silence their cell phones. Turn them off, if possible. It does interfere with the recording equipment. REPORT OF STATE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT Page 1 11/10/10 PUBLIC COMMENTS It was moved by Comm. Mendez, seconded by Comm. Rodriguez that the Public Comments portion of the meeting be opened. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried. There were ten (10) speakers from the public. It was moved by Comm. Taylor, seconded by Comm. Mendez that the Public Comments portion of the meeting be closed. On roll call all members voted in the affirmative. The motion carried. BOARD COMMENTS GENERAL BUSINESS Items Requiring a Vote PRESENTATION OF MINUTES Comm. Best presented the minutes of the October 5, 2010 Board Retreat, the October 6, 2010 Workshop Meeting, the October 20, 2010 Regular Meeting, and the October 20, 2010 Regular-Transcript Meeting, and asked if there were any questions or comments on the minutes. It was moved by Comm. Irving, seconded by Comm. Mendez that the minutes be accepted with any necessary corrections. On roll call all members voted as follows: Comm. Guzman: Yes. Comm. Hodges: No. Comm. Irving: No. Comm. Kerr: Absent. Comm. Mendez: Yes. Comm. Rodriguez: Yes. Comm. Taylor: No. Comm. Best: Yes. The motion carried. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE Comm. Best reported that the Curriculum and Instruction Committee met, reviewed and recommends approval for Resolution Nos. A-1 through A-54: Page 2 11/10/10 Resolution No. A-1 Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation, Inc. is committed to oral health education among New Jersey’s youth and is an avid supporter of National Children’s Dental Health Month in February. In an effort to reinforce the importance of oral health education all school year long, the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation is offering a grant opportunity to elementary schools in New Jersey’s Abbott school districts to initiate an Oral Health Education Program. Paterson Public Schools specifically Alexander Hamilton Academy was selected to receive a grant to offer the Oral Health Initiative Program. WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District wishes to provide comprehensive dental health education program for third-grade students attending Alexander Hamilton Academy that can be replicated; and WHEREAS, the $4,611.42 grant from the Foundation will solely be used for supplies as outlined in the project index; and WHEREAS, there is no additional cost to the District for the program; now THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education enter into an agreement to submit and accept the $4,611.42 grant from Delta Dental Foundation, Inc. to provide an Oral Health Education program to third grade students attending the Alexander Hamilton Academy. Resolution No. A-2 WHEREAS, Virginia Galizia, Principal of Alexander Hamilton Academy, requests to apply for Target Field Trip Online Grant; and WHEREAS, the purpose of the grant is to increase inner city students’ awareness of the environment, stress their relationship to it, and stimulate the development of sound environmental ethics; and WHEREAS, the grant will align the NJCCCS Standard 5.10 Environmental Studies; and WHEREAS, funding has been requested in the amount of $900.00; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that is the grant is received Paterson Board of Education will accept funding from Target Corp. Resolution No. A-3 Department of Early Childhood Program: Preschool Program Plan Annual Update and Preschool Enrollment and Budget Projections Workbook for the 2011-2012 School Year Introduction: Approval is being requested to submit the Early Childhood Program Plan Update and the District One Year Preschool Enrollment and Budget Projections Workbook for the 2011-2012 school year. WHEREAS, the Paterson Public School District is required by P.L.2007, c.260 and N.J.A.C. 6A:13A to offer a preschool program to eligible three- and four-year-old children; and Page 3 11/10/10 WHEREAS, the Supreme Court ordered the implementation of a full day, full year preschool services beginning September 1999 for resident three- and four-year-old children in districts formerly known as Abbott. The Paterson Early Childhood Preschool Program serves approximately 3,500 children at a ratio of 2 adults and 15 children for a 10 hour day consisting of six hours and fifty-five minutes of instruction and three and one half hours of wrap-around services. The collaborative consists of 33 Community Providers and five in-district sites: School #18, School #1, Dale Avenue, the Rutland Center at School #30 and the Madison K Center at the New Roberto Clemente School. The in-district sites serve our preschool disabled population; and WHEREAS, the Paterson Public Schools Early Childhood Department has a Board Approved Five-Year Preschool Program Plan (approved November 19, 2008, Resolution number A-2). The purpose of the plan is to provide a comprehensive description of how the school district will implement each component of a high-quality preschool plan for three and four year old children for the school years 2009-2010 through 2013-2014, as detailed in New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.6A:13A) and in the Preschool Program Implementation Guidelines; and WHEREAS, the District must submit a plan update to provide a detailed description of any changes to the second year (2010-2011) of the school’s five-year preschool program plan and the 2011-2012 Preschool Enrollment and Budget Projections Workbook; now THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the submission of the Early Childhood Program Plan Update for the third year (2011-2012) and the District 2011-2012 Preschool Enrollment and Budget Projections Workbook. The total budget is $48,240,506.00. Resolution No. A-4 HUD Hope Grant IV Paterson Housing Authority/ Paterson Public School District Collaborative Introduction: The Paterson Housing Authority and the Paterson Public School District are in agreement to combine efforts and develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the 2010 HOPE Revitalization Grants application. This partnership will enable Paterson Public Schools to further serve children and families in the proposed revitalized area. WHEREAS, the Housing Authority of the City of Paterson (the “Authority”) is submitting an application to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) for the FY 2010 HOPE VI Revitalization Program Grant; and WHEREAS, the purpose of said grant will be the revitalization of NJ 21-3 Alexander Hamilton Housing Development; and WHEREAS, as part of the revitalization of NJ 21-3 Alexander Hamilton Housing Development, the Authority desires to incorporate an early childhood preschool program for children residing in the Alexander Hamilton Housing Development and in the immediate vicinity; and WHEREAS, the Authority has requested that the Paterson Public School District locate a comprehensive, high-quality, results oriented local early childhood preschool center in Page 4 11/10/10 the Alexander Hamilton Housing Development, which is currently under-served in terms of early childhood preschool services; and WHEREAS, the Authority and the District have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement which sets forth their respective rights and responsibilities in connection with the FY 2010 HOPE VI Revitalization Grant Program and the location of an early childhood preschool center in the Alexander Hamilton Housing Development; and WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement are dependent upon receipt of adequate funding from HUD and project completion, and neither party will be responsible for meeting the obligations set forth in the Memorandum of Agreement if the project is not funded or completed; and WHEREAS, the District’s legal counsel has reviewed the Memorandum of Agreement and found the terms to be acceptable as written; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Paterson Board of Education approves entering into the Memorandum of Agreement between the Authority and the District for the 2010 HOPE Revitalization Grants Program. Resolution No. A-5 WHEREAS, current federal and state legislation requires school administrators to align instructional objectives, teaching methods, and local and state standards. To ensure student achievement in the area of literacy, it is also required that administrators provide school staff site-based professional development based on the needs of teachers and students. School 18 understands that each teacher, like each student, has individualized professional development needs.