BOE Welcomes New Superintendent He Earned a Master of Arts, Educa- Tion/Counseling in 1992 and a Master of Arts, Administration in 2000 from Georgian Court University
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The Observer's special borough wide issue hits newsstands next Friday - March 23! C026~***CR LOT0025A"C026 17 1 ir -SP PUBLIC LIBRARY 2i*$H$AiNFiELD AVE South Plainfield S PLAltiFIELD , NJ 07080-3531 OBSERVEMember New Jersey Press Association R VOL. 15, NO. 28 60 CENTS MARCH 16, 2012 Showcase to Feature Local Talent Come out and support South Plainfield's local talent at the South Plain- field Cultural Arts Commission fourth annual Talent Showcase on Sund.n; March 25 at 2:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at Wesley SOUTH PUINFIEIO . , , ,. ,,, • , rnn r>i • r u A Cultural Arts Commissinn Methodist C .hureh, 11.00 Plainfield Ave. There will be an assortment of singers, dancers and musicians performing this year. Admission is free. BOE Welcomes New Superintendent He earned a master of arts, educa- tion/counseling in 1992 and a master of arts, administration in 2000 from Georgian Court University. Most re- cently, in 2010, he earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Rowan University. "It is an honor to have been se- South Plainfield High School Model UN Club delegation in Boston. lected for diis position. I am eager to learn more about the community of South Plainfield and lcx)k forward to developing strong relationships with Model UN Takes Students to Boston the faculty, staff, students and larger community," commented Genco. By Payal Sindha tlu students engaged in over 15 The SPMUN Club that went to He went on to say, "Through the hours of debate with Over 1,200 other Boston included 12 students: Tanya interview process, it became evident The South Plainfield High School delegates from all over the world for Joshi, Payal Sindha, Albert Vill, Shi- that the Board of Education cares Model United Nations (SPMUN) a weekend of debate and diplomacy.. vani Patel, Christine Geczy, Michael Dr. Stephen Genco deeply about creating educational op- Club embarked on a trip to Massa- With debate topics ranging from Grzenda, Rajath Kenath, Brian Nguy- portunities for all students. I believe chusetts on February 24 to attend the sustainable development and empow- en, Dcvang Patcl, Zach Goldberg, By Jane Domick that the doors open and close every eleventh annual Boston Invitational erment of women to cyber terrorism Kevin Belanger and Chris McNeil; day for our children and they should Model United Nations Conference and drone systems, the SPMUN Club and advisors (history teachers) Miten The South Plainfield Board ofEdu- always be the first ones considered hosted by the Boston University In- gained insight on global politics and Shall and Francis Flanncry. carion appointed Dr. Stephen Gcnco when making decisions. Moreover, it ternational Affairs Association. After gained" experience on how to be a After the debate, the students were superintendent of schools at a special has always been my belief that one of months of preparation and research, delegate in the United Nations. rewarded with a concert featuring meeting on March 5. Dr. GcQOO re- the most important characteristics of Boston University's a capella group places Dr. Gar)' R. Bowcn, who has an educational leader is to be open to ur_: Call for Entries: Women's History Month Essay Contest and a social dance for the hard work served as interim superintendent since all viewpoints and develop a collective the students put into the conference. October 2010. vision for the future. I am confident "Women's Education- The SPMUN Club also had the chance Genco received a bachelor of sci- that we will work together as a team to stroll in the Boston Common and ence degree in 1987 from West to achieve our goals on behalf of the Women's Empowerment" Public Garden, a beautiful public Virginia University and majored in students we serve." The Women's Committee, for its third straight park located near their hotel. There, applied sciences. He began his edu- Bowcn replaced former superinten- year, is sponsoring three events promoting Wom- they followed the Freedom Trail, a cational career as a science teacher in dent Jusc Negron, who was put on paid en's History Month in South Plainfield. Women's 2.5 mile brick trail di.u leads walkers Wall Township, which included ad- administrative leave in September 2016 History Month is a celebration of women's contri- to over 16 historical sites in Boston. vanced placement and honors chem- when his contract was not renewed. butions to history, culture and society. The theme The members also visited one of the istry and physics classes. He served in Genco resides in Point Pleasant of Women's History Month, "Women's Educa- oldest and most prestigious libraries various extra-curricular positions as with his wife, Susan, who is currently 9^((ltiOTUll'Women's doa-Womcn's Empowerment," is very fitting in America, the Cambridge library, a head coach and assistant coach for superintendent of schools in Cranbury. 'HistOTU ^Project f°l'ow'ng the release of a progress report from the and took a walk through Harvard the wrestling, softball and football He is expected to begin his new posi- (Continued on page 9) University's beautiful campus. • programs, and was inducted into the tion on Monday, April 16. Before returning to South Plain- Region Six Wrestling Hall of Fame field, the members were rewarded f< >r in 2011 for reestablishing the Wall their hard work and effort throughout wrestling program. the weekend. While all ofthc students From 2001-2008, Genco was did an exceptional job, a special con- the principal at both Wall Township gratulation goes out to Albert Vill and High School and Wall Township Zach Goldberg, who received the Best Intermediate School. In those roles Delegate award; Chris McNeil, who he facilitated the Middle States Ac- was presented with an Honorable- creditation process for the high school Delegate award; and I'ayal Sindha and and was closely involved in budget Kevin Belanger, who received a Verbal planning and developed a waiver Accommodation award. program for honors placement which allowed more students to have access When asked about the experience to advanced coursework. He also they gained at the conference, the served as assistant principal at Point students struggled to find words that Pleasant Borough High Schml from would accurately describe their week- 2000-2001. end. SPHS senior and first time Model Since 2008, .Genco served as as- UN delegate Tanya Joshi stated, "I've sistant superintendent for die Jackson always competed in sports, but never Township Sch(X)l District where he in such a prestigious academic compe- utilized his auricular expertise in tition. Boston Model UN showed me mathematics and science. During his what I am truly capable of doing." tenure, Genco directly administered Payal Sindha, also a senior at SPHS, the Human Resources Department, (Continued on page 9) including negotiations, litigation and K-12 professional development while . also managing student discipline mat- South Plainfield Girl Scouts marked the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting with a day-long celebration ters and policies of the district. last Sunday. See next week's issue for full story. 4 8 7 9 18848 •To subscribe to the South Plainfield Observer,call 908 668 OOIO • March 16,2O12 Want to stay informed about the business of your Council and BOE? Borough Council meetings air on Comcast Channel In My Opinion C~rv inrMI 96 Mondays at 7 p.m. BOE meetings air on FYI &BOE Thursdays at 7 p.m. Opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily Ihoss ol the publisher, nor do we guarantee accuracy. To purchase a complete copy of a council or BOE meeting, contact the Observer. To the Editor: and contentment that make her Submit Your Letters to the Editor (Check Comcast community bulletin board for last minute time changes.) On behalf of myself and my family, the dynamic person she truly is. In council' I would like to express our heartfelt April Joann will lose her job and her Send your letters to South Plainfield Observer, 1110 thanks and gratitude to the South medical coverage when the mayor and Hamilton Blvd., Suite 1B, South Plainfield, NJ Meets twice a month on Mondays, 'except where noted. 07080, or fax to 908-668-8819, or via email: Plainfield Police Department, Rescue council fire her. Their reason is simply Borough Hall Council Chambers • Questions? 908-226-7605 [email protected]. Deadline is Monday, because they can. Is this the way a Agenda Meeting Public Meeting Squad and EM'ls who responded to 5 p.m. Letters must be accompanied by a name March 19 March 19 loyal, dedicated resident should be my home on February 2. I would and telephone number for verification. Limit let- All Agenda Meetings begin at 7 p.m. followed immediately by the Public Meeting, unless particularly like to thank Officer treated? I know the answer; no! What ters to no more than 200 words. We reserve the otherwise noted. Meetings of the Governing Body are held in accordance with the N.J. Open Born and Officer G>urtney for their a shame to lose Joann because of her right to refuse a letter, to edit for clarity or length, Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.) in the Council Chambers at 2480 Plainfield Ave. support and kindness during that party affiliation. Who wins with this and to limit the number of letters submitted on planning difficult time. decision? No one! Who loses? Our the same subject. Submission is not a guarantee Meets second and fourth Tuesday of the month, 'except where noted. A special thanks to Ricky at Mc- community! of publication. We do not accept anonymous Borough Hall Council Chambers, 7 p.m.