Always

Vote like the lives of your children depend on your doing so!

Thursday, December 13, 2018

IS The EPSD Warehousing Our Children?

*Substitutes have been outsourced. 
*Even long term subs have been outsourced. 
*Teacher Aides have been outsourced
*Secretaries have been outsourced.
*Lunch and Bus Aides have been outsourced.

At least 2 teachers are leaving every month for one reason or another.

So what does the Human Resource Manager/Director do again? 

Requirements for Substitutes changed in 2015. It is horrifying that Public Schools are leaving such a delicate area up to a "Referral Agency". This Referral Agency is a vendor. That means that the oversight for this program falls under the Business Administrator. Again, what is the Human Resource Director doing other than conducting the many exit interviews?

How do we know that the Substitutes hired by the "Referral Company" have completed the additional requirements set by the state? Who is the responsible Party employed by the Englewood Public School District to oversee this sensitive matter?
Changes to Substitute Teacher Requirements - N.J.A.C. 6A:9B-7
https://nj.gov/education/license/UpdatedSubChanges.pdf

Changes to Teacher Certification Requiremtnts (N.J.A.C. 6A:9B
https://www.nj.gov/.../edu.../license/UpdatedCertChanges.pdf

Memo to all Human Resource Directors
SUBJECT: Update to Proposed Changes to Teacher Preparation and Certification Requirements
https://www.nj.gov/.../pre.../060315Chapter9ProposalMemo.pdf

So whom do we blame for a teacher being subjected to having over 40 children per class, because of lack of Substitutes? Seems that Phantom Human Resource Director, the Business Administrator and the Outsource happy Superintendent need to put their heads together so they can STOP warehousing our children. Perhaps our School Board should also collectively wake up and begin to deal with our children as real boys and girls and their parents as real humans.

It would also be nice to read a breakdown of salary for Substitutes, Paraprofessionals & Secretaries (which the district abolished and never reinstated with a resolution) are paid like humans, which should be above minimum wage. Exactly how much of the amount indicated in the contract with ESS goes to the persons who actually work with our children.

It would also be nice to feel confident that there is an Aide on all school buses, since this is where much of the bullying is taking place.


1This document provides an overview of requirements for substitutes. For all official matters, such as issues brought before the Board of Examiners, concerned parties should rely on regulatory requirements at N.J.A.C. 6A:9, 9A, 9B, and 9C as the final authority.
https://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/

The last I heard Englewood Public School District was over 70% free and reduced lunch. That is considered high poverty. That is definitely a Title I School District. A School Board nor a Superintendent has the power to change the law listed below. 

Take note and ask any Attorney, when the word "shall" appears within the wording of the law, the Board has no choice but to comply. Reports are coming in from parents who have been asked to have their children count heads in their classes that the numbers have increased to over 30 in many classes. 

This writer attributes part of that increase to the fact that teachers are resigning, retiring and being fired at an alarming rate and they are not being replaced. This would cause Class size to increase.


N.J.A.C 6A:13-3.1  - Pages 8 and 9 of 15 - Not FAKE NEWS, NJ LAW

6A:13-3.1 Class size in high poverty districts

(a) A high poverty school district as used in this chapter means a district in which 40 percent or more of the students are “at-risk” as defined in P.L. 2007, c. 260. 8

(b) Class size in school districts in which 40 percent or more of the students are “at–risk” as defined in P.L. 2007, c. 260 shall not exceed 21 students in grades kindergarten through three, 23 in grades four and five and 24 students in grades six through 12; provided that if the district chooses to maintain lower class sizes in grades kindergarten through three, class sizes in grades four and five may equal but not exceed 25.

Exceptions to these class sizes are permitted for some physical education and performing arts classes, where appropriate. 

https://www.state.nj.us/.../code/current/title6a/chap13.pd

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Is Class Size Increasing in The Englewood Public School District?

The last I heard Englewood Public School District was over 70% free and reduced lunch. That is considered high poverty. That is definitely a Title I School District. A School Board nor a Superintendent has the power to change the law listed below. 

Take note and ask any Attorney, when the word "shall" appears within the wording of the law, the Board has no choice but to comply. Reports are coming in from parents who have been asked to have their children count heads in their classes that the numbers have increased to over 30 in many classes. 

This writer attributes part of that increase to the fact that teachers are resigning, retiring and being fired at an alarming rate and they are not being replaced. This would cause Class size to increase.


N.J.A.C 6A:13-3.1  - Pages 8 and 9 of 15 - Not FAKE NEWS, NJ LAW

6A:13-3.1 Class size in high poverty districts

(a) A high poverty school district as used in this chapter means a district in which 40 percent or more of the students are “at-risk” as defined in P.L. 2007, c. 260. 8

(b) Class size in school districts in which 40 percent or more of the students are “at–risk” as defined in P.L. 2007, c. 260 shall not exceed 21 students in grades kindergarten through three, 23 in grades four and five and 24 students in grades six through 12; provided that if the district chooses to maintain lower class sizes in grades kindergarten through three, class sizes in grades four and five may equal but not exceed 25.

Exceptions to these class sizes are permitted for some physical education and performing arts classes, where appropriate. 

https://www.state.nj.us/.../code/current/title6a/chap13.pd

Thursday, December 6, 2018

Introducing Deputy Police Chief Gregory Halstead

Image may contain: 1 person

Congratulations!
We are very proud of you.
Captain Gregory Halstead is sworn in as 
Deputy Police Chief
of Englewood, NJ
Image may contain: 1 person, standing


Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, people standing

Chief Suffern & Deputy Chief Halstead


Sunday, December 2, 2018

Galilee United Methodist Church Holiday Schedule



DECEMBER 2018
CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 1 - Free Market at  9:00 a.m. - 2:00p.m. - Still accepting donations. Office open today during business hours and 
all day tomorrow for drop offs. 

December 2 - Communion Sunday/First Day of Advent/Hanging of the Greens. Please bring a tree orgament symbolizing 
hope, love, joy or peace. [H-XI]

Sunday December 9 - Second Sunday of Advent/District Christmas Gathering for church leaders and families at 5:00 p.m.  
Grace UMC 555 Russell Ave, Wyckoff, NJ. [H-I]
December 16 - Third Sunday of Advent/Galilee's Christmas Sing- along Concert starts 4:00 p.m.  
G. F. Handel’s Messiah Part 1 with
guest artists and a live Orchestra. See Melissa Manning for details. [H-II]

December 23 - Fourth Sunday of Advent [H-IV)

December 24 - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at 6 pm.

December 30 - First Sunday after Christmas Day [VI] 

December 31 at 10:30 a.m.  - Watch Night Stay after service to enjoy 
finger food and drinks [juice, sparkling cider, etc.   
Members are invited to bring finger food and drinks
Galilee United Methodist Church