SCOTCH PLAN'S PUBLIC ( 1927BARTLEAV2N',.' — Serving Scotch Plains and Fanwood Since 1959 — THE TIMESCOTCSH PLAINS, NJ. 0/076 SCOTCH FAtfWOOD Sc 5iilch Plains - Fanwood O .Nj © USPS 4S5200 Publish*) OIR 38th YEAR -ISSUE NO. 27-9 odical - Posuie Paid al Scotch Plains, N.J. Thursday, July 3,1997 Every Thursday 232-4407 RETIRED DIRECTOR TO RETURN ON INTERIM BASIS. Susan Tillis Leaving District As Head of Special Services Effective Friday, August 1 By JEANNE WHITNEY her "real interest" is special educa- price from $21.57 to $46.99 each Specially Wrinenfnr The Times tion. Every five years, parents as well as Director of Special Services for The Scotch Plains-Fanwood dis- faculty review proposed textbooks the Scotch Pluins-Fanwood School trict currently spends over $ 1.8 mil- as part of a general review of district District, Susan Tillis, will be leaving lion for special education alone out departments. Board members said her $88,769-a-year job by Friday, of a total budget of nearly $42 mil- they rely on the opinions of district August 1, to go to Bergen County, lion. Mrs. Tillis, a Morris County educators and residents when they where she will focus on special edu- resident, said Westwood is a smaller approve textbooks. Textbooks arc cation as the Director of Special district than Scotch Plains-Fanwood. usually available to residents in the Services for the Westwood Board of At Mrs. Tillis' recommendation, board offices, members added. Education. the Board of Education recently Newly-elected board member Tho- Retired Director of Special Ser- okayed an additional $180,000 pro- mas Russo said he reviewed portions vices Eleanor McClymont will re- gram for district 3-to-6-year-old of the approved textbooks. turn to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood children who show signs of being "I found the quality of the history district on an interim basis at $350- autistic. text, especially the course readings, a-day when Mrs. Tillis departs, ac- Mrs. Tillis added that Mrs. to be exceptional. I found them to be cording to a personnel appointments McClymont's interim role would comparable to college level text- report. provide "continuity" for the district. books that I'm familiar with,"he said. COOLING OFF... Karen Haiieck, Media Specialist at the McGinn Elementary School in Scotch Plains, gets her students' During her two-and-a-half years In other business, the board ap- summer off to a good start by distributing the district's summer reading lists to them along with an ice pop treat and a with the local district, Mrs. Tillis In a related matter, Superintendent proved eight district bus route bids reminder to "keep reading this summer." Miss Haiieck turned her "story well" into a temporary tidal basin decorated said her duties included supervising of Schools, Dr. Carol B. Choye asked for the coming year that total , with shells and sea creatures and added assorted beach paraphernalia along with the recorded sounds of sea gulls and attendance, guidance and nursing the board to approve over $18,000 $118,000. The cost for four of the the crashing surf, to dramatize her message that reading is a "cool way" to pass the time while school is out. Reading lists staffs in addition to the special edu- bus routes rose 33 percent from last were distributed to all district students and summer reading incentive programs have been planned and promoted for for summer school for special edu- every grade level. cation department. Mrs. Tillis said cation students. Mrs. Tillis said these year, according to officials, since are students who "might lose all the district had not changed contrac- they've learned over the year," if tors for six or seven years in a row. they took a two-month break. Offi- One route dropped 2 percent in cost,. Carolyn Sorge Making History as First Woman cials said 8 percent of the district's and three others decreased 5 per- special education students requires cent, officials said. the extended school year. "We haven't exceeded the budget To Join Scotch Plains Volunteer Fire Department In other business last Thursday, that was presented in March," dis- By JEANNE WHITNEY ing to Ms. Sorge. the board voted 9-0 to approve six trict spokesman Matthew Clarke said. Specially Wrinenfnr The Times Firefighter Sorge also works full- different textbooks for purchase af- In other business, the board voted "The best never rest," is the time as a secretary to Township ter district Social Studies Supervi- to approve, with changes, a lengthy Scotch Plains Township Volunteer Manager Thomas E. Atkins in an sor Pat Boland told members the list of employee salaries and status Fire Department motto. Newly-ap- office across the street from the need for new books did not signal a for the summer and coming school pointed firefighter Carolyn Sorge,, north side fire station. new curriculum but a change in em- year. For example, a district clerk 24, will spend the next year discov- Now, when an alarm conies over phasis in the subject. may earn $5.05 an hour while a ering what that company motto her electronic pager, Firefighter "I don't see any major content teacher earns $25 an hourand a thera- means for her. Sorge — No. 55 - hurries over to change," she said. However, "there is pist or psychologist earns $50 an Like the other 36 firefighters the firehose, steps into overalls, a very new emphasis on geography, hour, according to the report. under the direction of township Fire boots, jacket, gloves and hat and the humanities, fine arts and writing Officials said updated personnel Chief Jonathan P. Ellis, Ms. Sorge climbs aboard an engine. and thinking skills." data would probably be ready by the will be on call seven days a week, These days, firefighters ride in- . Mrs. Boland added, "We have done next meeting, Thursday, July 10. 24 hours a day. She is the only side hi-tech fire engines on seats an extensive curriculum review with On a separate issue, the board de- female firefighter in the with oxygen tanks for backs that every teacher in the department on bated whether a $23,000-a-year department's 128-year history. snap out onto the backs of this. I'd like public input next year." membership in the New Jersey How do you become a volunteer firefighters as they descend from She came to the district from the School Boards Association (NJSBA) firefighter? By volunteering, said the truck. They always team up Livingston Public Schools last year. should continue to be required of Ms. Sorge. using "the buddy system" and ev- The cost of 350 new sixth-grade local school boards by the state. A "1 grew up in a house where my ery firefighter wears a personal science textbooks will be $15,000, board resolution in support of the parents volunteered. My father was alarm that sounds after 30 seconds Jeanne Whitney lor The Times according to Assistant Supervisor NJSBA passed, 6-3. on the rescue squad for 15 years if no motion registers. ALWAYS ON CALL...Carolyn Sorge stands in front of a Scotch Plains fire for Instruction Dr. John R. Crews. The majority of board members and President for 13," she said. So far, Firefighter Sorge has an- . truck. Ms. Sorge was recently appointed as the first woman to join the Budget constraints will determine praised the NJSBA for collecting Ms. Sorge was only 16 years old ' swered two calls in the township department in its 128-year history. the number of high school Advanced information about contract negotia- when she herself trained as an that involved burning houses. But she has ended up with a pri- what's important. That's why you Placement government and history tions, legislation and trends that af- Emergency Medical Technician "I was working outside," she said. vate bathroom at the firehouse, at do these things, because you want textbooks to be bought, officials in- fect education and sharing it with and began non-stop volunteering One of the academy training re- least until another female joins the to help," she concluded. dicated. The approved books range in member school boards across the with the Scotch Plains Volunteer quirements, however, is fighting department. "There are no sleep- state. Rescue Squad, following the death an actual fire at the "burn build- ing quarters, since it's volunteer," "I have never worked with an orga- of her father. A younger brother is ing," according to Ms. Sorge. What she said, "but there is a lounge with Fireworks, Entertainment nization so professional," board also on the squad. is it like? "It's very hot," she said, a television. You need to unwind member Jessica D. Simpson said. "I like helping people and help- "and you get very close to the fire." after a call." On the other hand, board members ing the town," Ms. Sorge said. "I'm not afraid. But you think Does her family worry about her To Mark July 4th Holiday Edward J. Saridaki, Jr., Albert J. So earlier this year, Ms. Sorge about your first real fire and what's work as a firefighter? "They are Having a family barbecue this week- Mountainside's display will begin Syvertsen and Mr. Russo rejected approached Chief Ellis and told really going to happen. When ev- very supportive of what I do," she end but looking for some family en- at dusk outside Deerfield Elementary the notion that state law should re- him she was interested in volun- eryone is going out, we are going said. "I think I'm here to stay for tertainment? Eight municipalities in School on Central Avenue, located quire districts to spend money for teering as a firefighter.