Board President Sam Lebreault with Interim Superintendent Dr. Vivian Rodriguez at the 6/18/15 Board of Education Meeting
By Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – (Correspondence No. 3) – A letter dated May 20, 2015 from Robert L. Bumpus, Assistant Commissioner, New Jersey Dept. of Education, Division of Field Services, certifying the results of the Perth Amboy School District Quality Single Accountability (QSAC) performance review, noted that the district did not satisfy 80 percent of the weighted indicators in the area of Instruction and Program.
During the first part of the Public Portion at the 6/18/15 Board of Education Meeting, parent Mel Knight asked why the School District did not pass the QSAC review in Instruction and Program. QSAC is either a pass or fail evaluation.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Vivian Rodriguez said it was a Re-mediate Plan, not a QSAC visit since that occurred. She went on to explain, “There is a 5 year cycle for curriculum writing. Every five years curriculum has to be rewritten. When Dr. Caffrey was the Superintendent, she felt it should be organic (to rewrite the curriculum). She wanted an organic time (teachers to sit and get together on their free time) to write the curriculum. When the County came, the Attis Rubicon was a fair 32 percent. The amount of writing that had to be done was massive. Phys Ed., Art, Music, etc. are still being written. Until the last curriculum is rewritten, we will have a score (that is non-passing). The county is coming back in November. That is the reason we have a 32 percent.”
Board President Sam Lebreault stated, “We are either within compliance or not. There is no half grade.”
Charles Simmons, husband to Bernice Marshall (whose job was eliminated when it was redefined to be in order to be within state compliance) came up to speak. “The public should be aware that only one section of the QSAC scoring is being shown. Perth Amboy received a 100% in personnel – the first time ever (when Bernice Marshall was head of HR). You got a 32 percent – you failed. The other 4 areas were not addressed. You have 2 resignations: Dr. Sheared (the new head of HR) resigned (after one year) and Mr. Wolff (security) resigned. You have interviews with no transparency. You conducted interviews without advertising.”
Simmons continued, “When is Dr. Roman’s (the newly hired Superintendent as of 7/1/15) – salary going to be revealed if he has no experience (as a superintendent)? Why is there no transparency?
Board of Education President Sam Lebreault answered Simmons’ question, “In 2014 the QSAC we received 100 percent placement in Personnel; 60%-62% placement in Governance; 92% in Operations; 98% in Fiscal Management.
