Acting Superintendent Dr. McCartney led the October 14, 2008 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. He started his report by talking about the full day pre-school expansion program mandated by the state for all A, B, and CD districts by the school year 2013/2014. EHT is a CD district and falls under this mandate. How the district plans to implement this program is due to the state by December of this year. Dr. McCartney is going to utilize the strategic planning committee to help achieve a plan and has appointed our newest assistant superintendent, Don Robertson, to oversee the project. The new program will bring approximately 350 three and four year old into the system as will only be available to families that qualify for the free and reduced lunch program. Dr. McCartney also stated that several area pre-schools have approached the district about outsourcing these 3 & 4 year olds which is one of the possibilities that the strategic planning committee and administration will be investigating.

            According to assistant superintendents Ms. Gruccio and Mr. Robertson, the teacher’s in-service day was a success with many different topics being discussed. The goal of the day was professional development and a lot of in-district personnel were used to lead the different seminars.  

            Dr. McCartney then went on to inform the public that Mr. Bob Zentmeyer, Director of Eagle Academy received the 23^rd Annual School Leader Award from the NJ School Boards Association for his program “No Child Left Inside”. He shared further good news by announcing that Ms. Lynne Kesselman, a computer workplace readiness and advance web design teacher at the High School, was awarded the American Star of Teaching Award for New Jersey by the US Department of Education. This award is given each year to just one teacher per state. Congratulation to both from the HSA!

            In the Public Portion:

            The BOE was presented with a petition requesting that the library of the Davenport Primary School be named in honor of Mr. Lou Della Barca. Mr. Galvin, BOE President, said there is also a petition to honor Mr. Dennis Burd by naming the Slaybaugh Primary School library after him and that both requests will be taken into consideration by the BOE.

            I then stood and reminded the BOE and members of the public that Project Graduation raffle tickets were on sell. The proceeds from these tickets go towards funding the all night drug and alcohol free party thrown for graduating seniors and their guests. If you have a student in the school district, please consider purchasing a ticket or getting a group together to go in on one in order to keep Project Graduation an option for our students. 1^st prize is $5000, 2^nd is $3000, and 3^rd is $2000 and only 200 tickets are sold, making your chances of winning 3 in 200. Each ticket is $100 which is why getting a group together maybe the way to go in today’s economy. What is $100, $25, $20 dollars when it comes to keeping your graduating senior and his or her friends safe for the night? Contact me at SRfromEHT@aol.com or 653-2009 for tickets.

            Under Finance/Operations:

            Approval for the Right of Way Easement for the High School Drive Extension to the township was given.

            Approval was given for grant funding from the House of Blues for the “Roots of Rhythm” at the Miller Elementary School. This is year 2 of a 3 year grant.

            The feasibility study for the re-design of the High School track and football field has been completed but a contract addendum is required in order to approve the engineering services for this project. Approval was given. The re-design is to include artificial turf and the BOE is looking at the cost effectiveness of the project as well as the feasibility of paying for the project before giving approval for the go ahead.

            Personnel:

·         Patrick Tomlin, 8^th grade science at the Alder Ave. Middle School, was hired to cover the maternity/child rearing leave of C.Logue until 3/10/08.

·         Nancy Wanner, Miller School Nurse, is replacing S. Lahey who is out on maternity/child rearing leave until 6/30/09.

·         Gina Shaw’s maternity/child rearing leave was revised from 9/25-11/12/08 to 9/22-11/12/08.

·         Andrea Nicholson, Kindergarten at Davenport Primary, will be on maternity/child rearing leave from 1/5-9/1/09.

·         Lisa Milstead, Learning Resource Center at Slaybaugh Primary, will be out on maternity/child rearing leave from 12/22/08-4/20/09.

·         Katherine Biel, grade 2 at Swift, will be on maternity/child rearing leave from 1/7-5/4/09.

·         Deborah Wallace, Miller School Learning Resource Center will be on medical leave for 6-8 weeks starting 10/8/08.

·         Michelle Lambert, High School Learning Resource Center revised her maternity/child rearing leave from 10/10-12/11/08 to 10/8-12/11/08.

·         Anna Willis, Self-Contained at Fernwood Middle, resigned, effective 11/3/08.

·         Ryan Smith, High School Spring Weight Room Supervisor, resigned as advisor 10/3/08.

·         Matthew Guenther, High School RADD advisor, resigned as advisor on 10/8/08.

·         Catherine Zeltman, Slaybaugh Primary and Davenport Primary Music, is to retire on 2/1/09.

The next BOE meeting will be Tuesday, October 28 at 8 PM in the BOE room of the Alder Ave. Middle School. There is a work session on the 21^st but it will primarily be closed session as the BOE will be interviewing for the Principal position at Fernwood and for a Director of Special Services.