School Board Eyes Change in Way Students Are Grouped in Classroom by BRIAN P
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Perfect Devils When autumn leaves Westfield boys soocer begin to fall- Rec Commission plans soars to 11-0 mark See this week's some big Halloween events. See Sports, page B-l Wbokcndl Story and photo page A-6 Vol. 2. No. 42 The^festfielThursday, October 17, 1991 d Record A Forbes Newspaper 15 cents Together again School board eyes change in way students are grouped in classroom By BRIAN P. DUNLEAVY with varying levels of ability within the gether," said Scheck. "They are doing RECORD STAFF WRITER classroom as a more effective way of some great things, especially in the areas The Board of Education has decided to teaching. Traditionally, teachers have of reading and writing." vote on a proposal to change the way grouped their students on the basis of abil- The task force recommends that, where Westfield students are grouped within the ity for subjects like reading and math- possible, students in kindergarten through classroom. ematics. ninth grade would be assigned to a hetero- The new policy proposal was submitted "The proposed policy and administrative geneous group(s) of students based on to the Board by a special task force com- regulations attempt to wed current re- their growth and achievement in the class- missioned to study the subject of instruc- search on grouping practices with the pro- room, rather than by ability. The groups tional grouping. At its monthly meeting on fessional experience of our staff and suc- would also be flexible so that the students Tuesday, the Board voted to give the pro- cessful practices in the district," said Dr. can move from group to group and be posal a first reading, meaning that mem- Mark Smith, Superintendent of Schools. exposed to different students. This would bers of the public will have a chance to Margaret Schcck, the principal at Wilson eliminate the possibility of students being comment on and question the recom- Elementary School, gave a presentation to in the same groups year after year, as they mendation before the item comes up for the Board based on her observations of tend to be under the ability-assigned sys- decision Nov. 19. heterogeneous gorups at work within the tem. The policy under consideration by the district. "The last thing we want is for the kids Board, rules out tracking in any form in "There arc some very exciting things to have their self-image based on the Singers in WHS Class of '51 teamed up for the first time In 40 years at the elementary schools and advocates a going on in the classrooms with students group that they are in," said Smith their reunion. "The Thirteen" (minus four) Include Russ Cole, Lee Hor- method of exposing children to groups of different ability levels working to- (Please turn to page A-10) ner. Rich LaRoza, John Culver, Bob Grant, Dave Din wood le, Frank Vltale, Walt Bennett, Ron Cooley. Photo by Joan Smith, See her report on the class on page A-6. Park, plaza and cartoonist's home Haulers, consumers tilt posed for historic landmark status By DONALD PIZZI JR. notified at least 10 days prior to the hear- recommend that the firehouse on North over by-the-bag trash RECORD STAFF WRITER ing. In the case of the memorial and the Avenue and the North and South Avenue The Historic Preservation Commission park, the owner is the town. Earl Frawley , train stations be considered as historic is gearing up to push three properties to- the present owner of 522 Elm Street, has landmarks. The Planning Board has yet to wards historical landmark status. already acknowledged that he will allow vote on the nominations. and garbage 'proofing' the childhood home of Addams to be con- Charles Addams was born in 1912, and The commission voted Tuesday to sub- sidered for historic status. graduated from Westfield High School in By DONALD PIZZI JR. dumping. ject the former Elm Street home of car- 1929. Some of his most famous cartoons RECORD STAFF WRITER George Vavoulis pointed out that some toonist Charles Addams, Mindowaskin If the commission votes to nominate the appeared in New Yorker magazine. His The Several residents, most of them senior residents do not generate much trash, and Park on East Broad Street and the World three properties, the recommendation Addams Family cartoons were made into citizens, attended last week's Town Coun- "double up" service with neighbors. That War I Memorial on South Avenue to a would then be passed on to the Planning a television sitcom in the 19C0s, and will cil solid waste committee meeting to hear practice is now "patently illegal" under the nominating hearing at its Nov. 12 meeting. Board. If approved by the board, the Town be the basis of a feature film scheduled about a possible per container system of new law, according to MacRitchie. The hearing will take place at 8 p.m. in the Council would then vote whether to in- for release in November. The famed The solid waste payment, and to voice their "(Under the law) the innocent are hurt council chambers of the Municipal Build- clude the structures as historic landmarks Adduvis Family house is reportedly a re- anger about a state-mandated proof of as well," Vavoulis said. ing. on the official town map. sult of the cartoonists memories of West- trash pickup ordinance. In response to comments that residents The owners of the properties must be The commission voted- in September to field architecture. Councilman Garland "Bud" Boothe said who generate less trash shouldn't be The commission hopes to have the he appreciated the discussion by residents, charged the same as those who generate home designated for historic status by but noted that "what started out as a com- large amounts, Cornell said that "Haulers January of 1992, to coincide with what mittee meeting has become a mini-public would gladly give senior citizens a break, Non-public schools will would have been the artist's 80th birthday, hearing." but they can't. We're a public utility. We according to commission member Parker Also on hand were several trash haulers must charge the same rate to him (your Nelson. Addams died two years ago. who operate in Westfield, representatives neighbor) as we do to you." get nursing service aid Nelson said that the first Mindowaskin from the Union County Utilities Authority New Jersey is the only state in the coun- Park commission was set up in 1907, and Ed Cornell, Executive Director of the try where garbage is considered a utility. By DONALD PIZZI JR. Christopher Academy. The funds are which is commonly acknowledged as the Waste Management Association. Cornell said garbage service should be RECORD STAFF WRITER based on State Department of Education start of Mindowaskin Park. Additional Participants repeatedly interrupted and thought of as a social service like the po- The Westfield Board of Education will enrollment figures for kindergarten lands were purchased in 1910. talked over each other, prompting chair- lice and fire departments. Residents who receive $32,000 in state aid to fund nursing through grade 12. In 1918, the park's formerly dedication man Kenneth MacRitchie to repeatedly don't require police and fire assistance still services in five non-public schools. Services will be contracted out to trained was attended by Governor Walter Edge, bang his hand on a table to restore order. pay the same amount in taxes, he said. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark nurses, according to Smith. Nelson said. Oak Trees were planned Several residents complained about the On the issue of per container solid waste Smith announced last week that the state "We will work very closely with repre- around Mindowaskin Pond, formerly proof of trash hauling law, which man- system, council candidate Norman Greco had put a dollar amount to its promise to sentatives of our non-public schools to Charles Lake, in memory of each West- dates that all businesses and homes con- said senior citizens would receive minimal provide $55' per student for services at provide these nursing services,..," Smith field resident killed during World War II. tract with a trash hauler. Cornell said the savings, while some residents could see Holy Trinity, Redeemer Lutheran, linn said. The first bandstand in Mindowaskin park law aims to control "midnight" or illegal (Please turn to page A-10) Hill, the Westfield Day Care Center and (Please turn to page A-10) (Please turn to page A-10) Recycling expansion will be Banged up delayed by relocation of site By DONALD PIZZI JR. floors and a 20-foot-high ceiling to allow RECORD STAFF WRITER for trucks to enter the building. Expansion of the county recycling pro- At present, glass, aluminum and news- gram will be delayed until the Union paper are included in recycling pick-up. County Utility Authority moves out of its The additional materials were first ex- current Plainficld site, authority officials pected to be included in July, but were said last week. delayed due to the authority's search for a Recycling director Joan Buhrendorf said new facility. at the Westfield Town Council's solid Buhrendorf said three types of plastics waste committee meeting that the author- will eventually be included: PET, which is ity may not move into the Linden facility used for dear plastic soda bottles; HDPE, it purchased in July. Local opposition to used for gallon milk or water jugs; and the facility has prompted the mayor of colored HDPE, such as used for laundry Linden and the Union County Board of detergent containers. Chosen Freeholders to ask the authority to begin looking for an alternative site.