Ad Populos, Non Aditus, Pervenimus USPS 680020 Published Every Thursday OUR 111th YEAR – ISSUE NO. 19-111 Periodical – Postage Paid at Westfield, N.J. Thursday, January 18, 2001 Since 1890 (908) 232-4407 FIFTY CENTS Overcrowding Issue at Roosevelt School Addressed During PTSO Meeting By MELISSA BETKOWSKI gered sessions, block scheduling or ized classes, such as electives. enrolled in Roosevelt would not be Specially Written for The Westfield Leader going to a third team. Questions were also posed about moved, calling that “inappropriate.” On Thursday night, Westfield Su- Dr. Foley said that the question of recent home construction on the south Another possible solution proposed perintendent of Schools Dr. William going to a third team is not a question side of town and how that might by a member of the community was J. Foley addressed members of the of staff numbers, but one of space affect enrollment at Edison. to create a magnet school at Edison. Roosevelt Intermediate School com- restrictions, noting that, “Edison In- Dr. Foley said that the construc- Dr. Foley again urged parents, staff munity at the school’s Parent Teacher termediate School is the bigger school tion has not produced significant and other members of the commu- Student Organization meeting on the in every respect.” enrollment. nity to join a committee to discuss issue of overcrowding at the school. He noted that Edison has bigger “I do not want to redistrict, but possible solutions. “I don’t have a plan,” Dr. Foley classrooms, a bigger cafeteria and is that’s a reality we need to face,” he Dr. Shulack also discussed how said, noting that he and the other an overall bigger building. said. the enrollment numbers affect the members of the board of education In 1998, Dr. Foley noted, the school Dr. Foley noted that if parents overall educational experience at have not committed to any one solu- went to five teachers on a team, would voluntarily move their chil- Roosevelt. tion to the problem at this point in which he said would work until a dren from the north side of town to Dr. Shulack recalled interviewing time. single grade enrollment reached 250. Edison, that would be more cost- for the job of Roosevelt’s principal at Dr. Foley said that he and Roosevelt If enrollment reached 250, he said, effective for the district, however, a time when the board of education Principal Dr. Ken Shulack have been there would become a problem. there is not usually luck with getting had performed a study on whether or in discussions. As the target number of 250 ap- parents to volunteer, he said. not to close Roosevelt. “If I knew the answer, we wouldn’t proaches, Dr. Foley said, a problem Dr. Foley said that he does not In 1992, he said, there were 425 stu- be having this meeting,” he said. with overcrowding is being felt. have a specific number of students dents in Roosevelt and teachers, on aver- “Redistricting may work,” Dr. The easy solution would be to outlined, he would like to bring the age, saw 80 students. Now, there are 684 Foley noted. build an addition at Roosevelt, but, schools’ enrollments closer together students, with teachers being respon- He said that no plan would be he said, it is difficult to justify con- than the current gap of about 100 sible for an average of 125 students. implemented hastily or immediately. struction at one school while there is students that exists. One possible This increase, Dr. Shulack said, Dr. Foley said that he would like to room at the other intermediate school. solution, he said, would be to take affects all aspects of the school envi- form a group of parents, teachers and The idea of using portable class- one fifth grade class from the north ronment, from support staff, curricu- others to look at the issue. rooms was raised due to the fact that side to Edison over a period of years lar offerings, use of facilities such as “This is something to talk about,” this problem of overcrowding may in an effort to close the gap. the cafeteria and gymnasium and he said. only be a temporary problem. How- He said that students currently student life in general. Dr. Foley said he would like to see ever, questions were raised over state discussions that would come up with legal restrictions over the use of por- creative alternatives to the current table classrooms for an extended situation. period of time. Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader Some suggestions provided by Staggered sessions, Dr. Foley A MINDOWASKIN WINTER…The winter months in Westfield’s Mindowaskin parents at Thursday’s meeting were noted, might help with scheduling Park are always picturesque and a pleasure to photograph. those of portable classrooms, stag- problems for gym and other special- Town Council Supports Legislation to Assist Widows of Two Firefighters and Their Children By PAUL J. PEYTON Council that the Senate Appropria- mer. With the elimination of the cilman Sullivan abstaining. Mr. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader tions Committee is set to vote on the quarterly permit cycle, he said he Sullivan said he would prefer that all The Westfield Town Council Tues- legislation this Monday. The As- had to pay $600 this year. compensation were paid in cash and day night passed a resolution aimed sembly Appropriations Committee, Third Ward Councilman Neil F. not in the transfer of town assets. at helping the widows of Firemen chaired by Assemblyman Richard Sullivan, who chairs the Transporta- The former Chief has also agreed John Fiorino and Scott Garber who H. Bagger of Westfield, passed the tion, Parking and Traffic Committee, to serve as a law enforcement advi- passed away over the past three legislation. said perhaps some sort of seasonal sor to the town on an uncompensated years. The Department of Treasury, Di- pass could be considered by the Coun- basis. Ironically it was Firemen Garber vision of Pensions, has estimated cil. The quarterly cycle was elimi- Chief Scutti will receive healthcare who learned following the sudden that benefits to beneficiaries would nated to reduce the administrative insurance until he is eligible for Ingrid McKinley for The Westfield Leader death of Firemen Fiorino in 1998 increase by an $22.9 million. burden on the Town Clerk’s office. Medicare and until his wife, Shaaron, TIME TO SAY GOODBYE…Sealfons Young World, a children’s clothing that spouses of deceased firemen “State costs, however, would not Mr. Shannon explained that the reaches the age of 65. store, recently announced that it will close in February after 20 years in town. would not receive pensions unless be affected. The availability of ex- new permit fees, raised from $30 to their husbands died in the line of cess PFRS assets, valued as of June $45 per month and payable annually duty per the Police and Firemen’s 30, 1999 at $464 million, are suffi- or semi-annually, along with the dou- Retirement System (PFRS). cient to offset this additional liabil- bling of meter fees to 50 cents an Although Captain Garber did not ity,” according to a fiscal analysis hour is aimed at generating suffi- Sealfons Closing in February see through fruition his efforts, the included in Assembly Bill 2273. cient revenue to support the con- state Legislation passed a widows Captain Dannevig said the cost would struction of a parking deck proposed pension bill in January 2000 that be a one-time expenditure borne on for municipal lots on Elm and Pros- ensures widows of active police and the pension system. pect Streets. He said the new fees After Over 20 Years in Westfield firefighters would receive at least a Town Administrator Thomas B. would generate $60 per parking space portion of the late husband’s pension Shannon commented, “Twenty mil- a month. By DEBORAH MADISON mit, Caldwell and Shrewsbury, Schwartz family, which owns the benefits. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader lion dollars in the mist of a nearly The revenue stream would also sup- which will remain open. building, could not be reached However, last year’s bill did not $400 million operation is not going port an overall parking management Sealfons Young World, a cover widows of firemen who died The Westfield Sealfons, however, for comment. to have a significant impact (on mu- system in the downtown. The adminis- children’s clothing store on East will not be relocating. Prior to becoming a Sealfons, before the bill was signed into nicipalities).” trator said the town’s goal is to create Broad Street in Westfield will be law. New legislation, Assembly Co-owner, Burt Modell told The there was a Young Folks Toggery It is estimated that 70 eligible sur- a revenue stream that will cover any going-out-of-business. The store Westfield Leader that they are clos- and then an Arthur Stevens in that Bill 2273 and its companion bill, viving spouses and three dependent costs associated with the construction announced last week that it will be Senate Bill 1180, is retroactive to ing because “their lease was not location, dating back more than children would be eligible for pen- and operation of a parking structure. closing sometime in February. The renewed due to the landlord get- 50 years. January 1, 1998, thus covering the sion benefits once the legislation is The Council also approved the store, owned by the Modell fam- families for Firemen Fiorino and ting a better deal from another re- Sealfons will be holding going- signed into law by the governor. transfer of the ownership of a vehicle ily, has been a fixture in the down- tailer.” Mr.