PERTH AMBOY – At the 1/7/15 BOE Meeting, Interim Superintendent Dr. Vivian Rodriguez felt the need to explain FOCUS. “There are rumors that the State is taking over McGinnis School.  It’s sad that I heard these rumors from teachers. “Race to the Top Funding” which replaced “No Child Left Behind” classifies three groups of schools: PRIORITY – Worse; FOCUS – Below proficient; and REWARD – Excelling. In Perth Amboy we have two FOCUS schools – our two middle schools (McGinnis and Shull).  A percentage of money must be appropriated to them. A regional director comes and works together on a plan to improve instruction. It’s Year Three of FOCUS for both McGinnis and Shull. We are working to help the schools improve.”