OLD BRIDGE BOARD BRIEFS
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
March 15, 2011
Superintendent’s Report
Simon M. Bosco
· recognized the administrators, teachers and staff retiring.
IN MEMORIAM
The Board
· acknowledged the deaths of Frances R. Calabria, retired kindergarten teacher at Voorhees Elementary School, and Sandy Lam, a sixth grade student at Jonas Salk Middle School and former student at William A. Miller School, and expressed its deepest sympathies to their families and friends.
Recognition
The Board
· commended the following OBHS students for winning the “6 Sounds in Search of an Author” contest sponsored by the NJ Association for Educational
Technology. They are: Sandra Gurchenkova, ninth grade; Cippy Okuzu, tenth grade; and Jessica Rivera-Rincon, ninth grade.
· commended Aparna Ayyangar, third grade student at Memorial School, for
winning the Gold Prize for Harp Performance at the music competition, MusicFest.
· commended Jasmine Jackson, senior at Old Bridge High School, for breaking
the all-time OBHS Basketball scoring record for both boys and girls with 1,854 points. Jasmine was named All Red Division, All Conference and is a McDonald’s All American nominee. Jasmine will be attending Georgetown University next year on a full scholarship.
· commended the Varsity and Junior Varsity Cheerleaders for their achievements at
the American Cheer and Dance Academy, “Reach the Beach” National Championships, February 25-26, 2011, Roland Powell Convention Center, Ocean City, Maryland. In the Team Competition, they are: Varsity Cheerleaders --
Gina Buscetta, Amanda Cucarese, Ashley Cullinane, Tiffany Dasilva, Kimberly Faragasso, Destiny Fitzpatrick, Alexa Genova, Cassidy Hughes, Tenley Lai, Stephanie Mamakas, Khadijah Mc Calla, Sydney Mok, Casey Raymond and Erin Walz. They took first place – Small Varsity Advanced Division, National Champions and second runner-up for Grand Championship (third highest score of 57 performances). They are: Junior Varsity Cheerleaders -- Kristen Adames, Brooke Cracchiolo, Danielle Cusanelli, Dawn De Marco, Samantha Gago, Lauren Goldman, Gina Innamorato, Chelsea Johns, Nicole Migliore, Taylor Mitchell, Michelle Navarro, Claudia Pereira, Heather Pizzulli, Alexis Todd-Tammerello and Ashley Yuen. They took second place - Junior Varsity Advanced Division. In the Stunt Group Competition, they are: Varsity Group A Cheerleaders -- Ashley Cullinane, Kimberly Faragasso, Alexa Genova, Tenley Lai and Stephanie Mamakas, first place - Varsity Division, National Champions and first runner-up for Grand Championship. They are: Varsity Group B Cheerleaders -- Tiffany Dasilva, Destiny Fitzpatrick, Alexa Genova, Sydney Mok and Casey Raymond, second place - Varsity Division /third runner-up for Grand Championship. They are: Junior Varsity Group Cheerleaders -- Kristen Adames, Brooke Cracchiolo, Danielle Cusanelli, Lauren Goldman and Taylor Mitchell, second place - Senior Prep Division. In the Individual Cheer Competition, Erin Walz took second place Varsity Division / and first runner-up for Grand Championship. In the Tumbling Competition, Ashley Cullinane took first place Varsity Division, National Champion. In the Jump Competition,Tenley Lai took first place Varsity Division, National Champion; Amanda Cucarese took second place Varsity Division; and Stephanie Mamakas took third place Varsity Division.
· recognized the winner of the Culinary Contest, John Salerno, fifth grade
student, Schirra Elementary School.
· recognized the following students of the Old Bridge High School Culinary
Arts Class for their assistance at the Culinary Contest. They are: David Crespo, Ashley Krutis, Rachel Denney, Juliana LoVaglio, Victoria Earl, Carmen Singleton, David Finley, Monica Steverson, Cynthia Hancock-Maldonado, Jacqueline Testino and Jessica Vega.
· recognized the following Junior Air Force ROTC cadets who presented the colors at the New York Rangers hockey game at Madison Square Garden on February 27, 2011. They are: Cadet Brian Alonso, Cadet Ryan Sambilay, Cadet Ariel Irizarry and Cadet Erik Wichaa.
· commended the following staff members who received grants from the
Old Bridge Education Foundation. They are: Agnes Strong, Madison Park School, Technology for Elementary Schools; Tricia Barrett, Schirra School, Up in the Air with Technology; Dionne Phillips, Schirra School, Up in the Air with Technology; Kristen Celentano, Carl Sandburg M.S., CSMS Science Fair; Victoria Mikrut-Billig, Jonas Salk M.S. Heroes Recognition; Claire Jorda, Jonas Salk M.S., Reading Club; and Jim Piccolo, Madison Park, School House Rock Theater Productions.
· commended Christian Boateng, twelfth grader at Old Bridge High School. Christian is the New Jersey Track and Field State Champion for 55 Meter High Hurdles.
· recognized Joel Goodman, Old Bridge High School teacher, for being
selected to receive a 2011 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Inspirational Teacher Award.
· recognized Patricia Alspach, Old Bridge High School Teacher, for being
awarded the 2011 Dance Teacher of the Year for the State of New Jersey by the New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD).
· recognized Jack Campbell, OBHS Boys’ Winter Track Coach for being
chosen to be inducted into the New Jersey Scholastic Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He will be inducted as a member of the class of 2011.
· recognized OBHS and Sodexo as recipients of the “Slam Dunk the Junk Award” for recycling, sponsored by NJ Clean Communities.
· commended the following staff/students for winning a national video contest sponsored by Universal Technical Institute. The high school auto shop won a $25,000 makeover. They are: Amber Nelson and Meghan Carey, OBHS seniors, producers of the video; Monica and Tara Schneider, OBHS seniors, singers of the re-written lyrics; and Robert McClure, Stephen Pasqua and John Meyer, OBHS teaching staff.
ATHLETICS
The Board
· approved the appointment of Damien LoNigro as assistant coach of the Girls’ Softball team at OBHS for the 2010-2011 school year, effective March 3. He replaced Tammy Heitmann.
CURRICULUM
The Board
· approved a Confucius Institute at Rutgers agreement to establish a Confucius Classroom in the Old Bridge School District. The Confucius Classroom is a global network of schools with exemplary Chinese language programs. The network promotes the study of Chinese language and culture, and provides resources and support while facilitating exchanges and partnerships among schools internationally. Old Bridge School District was selected as a recipient of this prestigious award based on its existing Mandarin Chinese program, the G.L.O.B.E. initiative and evidence of future program growth.
NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL OFFICE
The Board
· approved the retirements of the following staff members with deep appreciation for their years of dedicated service to the District. They are: Eileen Kennedy, Schirra, 25 years, effective August 1, 2011, and Janet Curnan, administration, 36 years, effective July 1, 2011.
NON-CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL – OPERATIONAL
The Board
· approved the retirement of George Munzing, maintenance, effective May 1, 2011, with deep appreciation for his 38 years of dedicated service to the District.
CERTIFICATED PERSONNEL
The Board
· approved the retirement of Dr. Elaine Bettencourt, Director of Basic Skills, ESL, and Testing, effective July 1, 2011, with 40 years of dedicated service to the District.
· approved the retirement of Eileen Vogel, Principal Miller Elementary School, effective July 1, 2011, with 35 years of dedicated service to the District.
· approved the retirement of the following staff members with deep appreciation for their years of dedicated service to the District. They are: Glen Lichtenstein, OBHS, Art, 38 years; Susan Bressler, Sandburg MS, Language Arts., 41 years; Mary Coppolecchia. OBHS, Special Education, 25.7 years; and Anne Chomko, Miller/Madison Park – Resource, 37 years, all effective July 1, 2011.
· granted a sabbatical leave to Colleen Montuori, Principal, for the 2011-2012 school year, effective July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 at half salary.
SUPPLIES EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES
The Board
· agreed to sell the Browntown School, Adult High School, to the Board of Fire commissioners, Fire District #2 for $600,000.
· approved the disposition by donation to Paulin Georges, on behalf of Institution Le H.E.R.O.S, who will arrange for transport of one 1997, 54-passenger bus to Haiti, at no cost to the Board of Education.
MISCELLANEOUS
The Board
· approved the following meetings: agenda session, 7:30 p.m., April 5, 2011, in the Patrick Torre Administration Building conference room; regular meeting, April 12, 2011, at 7:30 p.m., in the OBHS TV studio.
· approved the 2011-2012 School Year Calendar.
· approved the revised 2010-2011 School Year Calendar.
· authorized the presentation of graduate courses presented by Kean University regarding Holocaust and Prejudice Reduction. Courses will be offered at no cost to the board or to district staff. The board agrees to supply class space for course.
· accepted a donation of $1,000 to purchase Brain Pop Combo Compute Software to be used for all students with special needs and all special education teachers for one year and expressed its sincere appreciation to SEPTA (Special Education Parent-Teacher Association).