School Board Threatened with Suit Charging Discrimination in Hiring
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THE Matawan Joint Free n d e p e n d e n t Public Library I 1 6 5 M a in S t . • ☆ * * ☆ The Weekly Newspaper w ^ > T Vol. 7 NO. 36 W ednesday, July 1 3 , 1 9 7 7 20 C e n t s School board threatened with suit charging discrimination in hiring By David Thaler four years, said “ nothing has changed” since opportunity for all and to prohibit discrimi stating that he has been the administrator have appointed Janeil Sarni to one of the Also tabled, by a 5-2 vote, was a resolution MATAWAN her term expired three years ago. nation...” responsible for hiring teachers for at least positions, a resource room teacher at the to hire four substitute secretaries and clerks. A group of black residents charged “ Your hiring practices are still discrimi The board also tabled several resolutions seven years. high school, and Patricia Pascale to the Two of the proposed employees are teachers Monday night that the Board of Education natory, as they were when I was on the authorizing the hiring of teachers and “When I was on the board,” she said, “he other, a special education teacher at the and would work during the summer only, has failed to comply with the requirements of board,” she said. substitute secretaries. In a related move, told me no (blacks) applied. That was Just a Matawan Avenue Middle School. according to Nuccio. the state’s affirmative action law in hiring Her comments were made as the board Ms. Hurley appointed a committee, which convenient excuse, handed to the board “It doesn’t satisfy me,” said board “ If we have additional Jobs," said Ms. teachers and administrators. prepared to vote on an amendment to its she said would meet with Acting Superin members so they will not know who member Marilyn Brenner, “to know this Hurley. "I would like to see an opportunity “ You have not adhered to the require affirmative action resolution. tendent of Schools Anthony Nuccio “to iron applied.” person was the first choice of ‘x’ number of given to people who do not already have ments,” former board member Felicia The original resolution, explained Board out the manner in which personnel is hired.” Ms. Hurley defended Nuccio, and later in supervisors. I want to know what their lull-time Jobs.” Peters told the board at its meeting Monday President Judith Hurley, “referred to Earlier in the meeting, Ms. Hurley had told the meeting, Ms. Peters said that the board reasons were.” Hosie Scott, 512 Laurel Lane, asked if the night, adding that if the board did not change employment in the ‘whereas’ clauses but not Ms. Peters that “the district’s hiring was ultimately responsible for the district’s Accepting the administrators’ recommen board had "given the community an oppor its hiring practices, “ the black community in the ‘resolved’ clause. practices are of concern to the board and to hiring practices. dations, said Ms. Hurley “ should not be Just tunity to apply for the Jobs." will have to file some kind of suit charging In the amended version, passed unani Mr. Nuccio. We are going to address the “ I don’t know how many other boards in a matter of confidence in the principals or "The Jobs were posted in every school discrimination.” mously, the board reaffirmed “ its policy to problem very, very soon.” the state have paid a salary to an affirmative supervisors. That would make the board Just building,” Nuccio said, adding that positions Ms. Peters, who served on the board for insure equal educational and employment Ms. Peters initially criticized Nuccio, action officer,” Ms. Hurley said. “ I do know a rubber stamp.” could also be advertised in local newspapers. there was at least enough concern (by this The resolution was tabled by a 5-3 vote. “They must be published, according to board) to pay a salary.” The votes to table it were cast by Ms. law.” said Scott, who is an administrator at "That’s all well and good on the surface,” Brenner, Dr. Richard Brown, Robert Hardie, Brookdale Community College. Ms. Peters responded, “but it makes no Ms. Hurley, and Kathleen Marshall. The Ms. Morbley accused the administration of difference if you pay her $20,000.” dissenting votes were cast by Lorraine posting “Jobs that are already committed.” Ms. Peters had criticized the board last Ayanian, John Comerford. and Michael When she applied for the position at the W'eek, because Erm a Morbley, an aide in the Kidzus. Matawan Avenue Middle School, she said, "I district for five years who obtained a The identical votes were cast on a was told, ‘Sorry, I've committed myself to bachelor’s degree and certification this year, resolution to transfer two teachers. Kidzus someone on that Job.' ” was not hired for any of three positions in her Joined the maJority on a vote to table a Ms. Pascale, who was recommended for area of specialization, special education. resolution to re-employ an eighth-grade the position, served as a substitute in the The board tabled a resolution which would teacher at Lloyd Road School. Steven Seidell. class for several months after the regular teacher took a maternity leave of absence, according to ms. Marshall. Ms. Sarni was recommended for the high H azlet parcels out school resource room before the Job was posted. Ms. Peters said. The board, she said, withdrew an earlier resolution to hire Ms. Sarni, posted the Job. and then prepared public w orks funds another resolution to hire her. “ Don't do that to us,” Ms. Peters said. HAZLET "In another passage, they set a 28-day "W ere more intelligent than that.” The Township Committee last night met deadline between receiving notification of "We would like to see an affirmative action with the Board of Education, the Hazlet the grant package and submitting an plan, not a policy.” Scott said. “We would Youth Athletic League, and the Hazlet Youth application. I think we’d better try to submit like to know the sources being used to recruit Soccer Assn. to hammer out a list of applications as readily as possible." minorities." priorities for proJects to be financed by a Weigand pointed out that the £747,000 total At tbe request of former Superintendent of w47,000 federal grant under the Public for the grant is "not necessarily a final Schools John F, Kegan, Scott said, he had Works Act. figure.” "referred people lo this school district and The four proJects finally placed on the list not one of them has been hired." The total will probably be reduced, he " 1 also have a list of people who applied.” will cost an estimated $751,000. explained, when the federal government The proJects, in order of priority: Ms. Peters said. One of them, she added, was corrects mistakes it made in distributing the a teacher who taught 10 years in Newark. —Expansion of the municipal garage, at a funds among the state’s municipalities. In cost of $260,000. “ Has the board given a directive to the several cases, he said, municipalities had principals?” she asked. “The principals —A soil erosion control proJect at the been wrongfully denied a share of the funds. Raritan High School football field, at initial rerhy do the hiring. Have you told them what cost of $175,000. “ Will our including the Board of Education vi. 4 want?” Atlantic Street. Keyport, was one of many local roads which thunderstorms flooded streets in several towns, stranding drivers —Expansion of HYAL facilities on Hazlet proJect so high on the list hurt our chances of "No.” Ms. Hurley replied. became an instant wading pool for youths yesterday. Severe temporarily. (Photo by James Atkins) Avenue, at a cost of $225,000. getting funds for the other proJects?” “ Don't you think that should be your next —And $91,000 for expansion and improve Committeeman Gilbert Bennett asked. step?” Ms. Peters said. "You are in violation ment of soccer facilities off Middle Road. “ I don’t know,” Weigand said. “ We'll Just of state law. It's the board's responsibility to Streets closed to traffic temporarily If there is any money remaining. Commit have to gamble.” do what’s right.” teeman Jack Pierce said, it will be used for recreation proJects and possibly to begin Three recreation com m issioners resign construction of an ice skating rink at Veterans Memorial Park. Severe storm s flood roads The committee last week offered the By l.ee Duigon Route 35, flooded at about 2 p.m., was were no inJuries. Further details were not school board a chance to submit a proJect at Council to give vote Severe thunderstorms yesterday caused closed by Matawan Township police for available. a cost of approximately $100,000. x flooding on several streets in Keyport, approximately 20 minutes until the water Marlboro police were forced to close The board authorized engineer Thomas Matawan Township, Union Beach, and subsided. There were no automobile acci Wynncrest Road for nearly one hour. Carr to prepare a cost estimate of the Marlboro, stranding some drivers tempor dents in the township during the storm, According to the traffic safety officer, erosion-control proJect. When Carr finished to health, rec liaisons arily and forcing police to close a number of police said. Wynncrest Road was flooded by almost three his estimate yesterday, the total cost stood at roads to traffic for an hour or more. In Union Beach, parts of Union, Poole, and feet of water and blocked by a stalled car. $352,680.