11/18/21 Board of Education Meeting
By: Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – The Board Meeting began at 5:31 p.m. The Board went into closed session at 5:36 p.m. They returned from closed session at 7:05 p.m. and began the regular meeting.
There was a presentation on the Spring 2021 Statewide Assessment Results which include: Dynamic Learning Maps, Access and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs, NJQSAQ District Performance Review. The presentation was given by Dr. Vivian Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction.
Public Portion:
Three people spoke during the public portion: Pat Paradiso, President of the Perth Amboy Federation; Lynn Audet District Representative and Donna Tartza, former District Represetative for the Perth Amboy Federation. Each read from a written statement.
Pat Paradiso: We are very concerned about the injuries occurring to the paraprofessionals and teachers who work with our special education students who have severe behavior problems. Just last week I heard about a teacher who was punched in the head and given a concussion, and a paraprofessional who had to have a medical procedure performed due to the actions of a student. Some of our staff members are repeatedly injured, and no one seems to be really concerned about this. No one calls these staff members to check in on them. There are no follow up meetings or counseling services provided to these staff members after they are injured. I talked to one injured staff member recently who was sobbing on the phone as she told me of her experience. Afterward she thanked me and said it felt good just to be listened to. She also said that no one signs up to be abused every day at work, and that there is no support from administration.
We are requesting that we hold a meeting with central administration, the director of special services, and members of other stakeholder groups to discuss this problem.
We are further requesting that every administrator in the district spend a day in one of these classes, so they understand what it is like when they put people into these situations. We understand that these children have very special needs, but some students clearly need more that we can provide here.
Lynn Audet: At the November Board of Education meeting, I expressed my concerns about the dismantling of the Intervention Program, Reading Specialists, and Math Specialists throughout the District. I understand that the Leveled Literacy Instruction Program has been instituted to help mitigate the learning loss of our students due to the pandemic, but I feel, however, that the LLI program alone is not enough assistance for our struggling students.
We went from having Reading and Math Specialists in every school, in addition to having multiple Intervention Teachers in every school, to having a limited number of LLIs districtwide. Although I am not sure of the number of LLIs districtwide, it is not nearly the number of teachers that we used to have working with our at-risk students in the past.
At this crucial time following a pandemic when so many of our students are working below grade level, I believe it was the wrong time to strip our schools of Reading Specialists, Math Specialists, and the Intervention program. (And on a side note about Math… we currently have nothing in place to help our students who are struggling in Math.)
I am not in any way, shape, or form saying that our LLIs are not necessary, I am just saying that it is not enough. Our students are struggling. They need more help. They need Intervention and Reading and Math Specialists in addition to LLI.
I know there are After-School programs for struggling students, but I don’t feel this was the right approach for reaching our at-risk students. After-School programs are optional. Parents may opt not to send their children, or they may not send them consistently. Children (especially young children) are tired by the end of the day, so after school is not the time for mitigating learning loss. I also addressed that we are incredibly short-staffed districtwide for all positions. I know there are nationwide shortages, but if you look on the Human Resource pages for the other districts in Middlesex County, Perth Amboy leads the pack with open positions. We desperately need to hire more Staff, and Central Administration needs to work harder to retain the Staff that we currently have.
Lastly, I pointed out that on the agenda for the November Board meeting was the approval for almost 200 Staff Members to take CPI training on Saturdays beginning in December. This is a very important training for Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals and SLEOs to have, yet they are scheduled on Saturdays. I understand they will be compensated, but I asked to know what the backup plan is for those who cannot attend on Saturdays. I have not received a response about a backup plan, but it was stated that trainings need to be done on Saturdays because we are short-staffed, and we cannot have Staff taking the trainings during the workday. Again, we desperately need to hire more Staff, and CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION NEEDS TO WORK HARDER TO RETAIN THE STAFF THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.
Donna Tartza: My name is Donna Tartza. I am a former health and physical education teacher from Perth Amboy Public Schools where I taught for 38 years. I am also the former district representative for the Perth Amboy Federation/AFT. I was born and raised in Perth Amboy, and I am a graduate of Perth Amboy High School class of 1978. I was Shull School Teacher of the Year twice, and I was recognized for leadership in Health and Physical Education by the New Jersey Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education, I have a master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Physical Activities for the Handicapped as well as a Master’s in Administration. After I retired July 1, 2020, I spent the 2020-2021 school year assisting my handicapped niece with her remote learning and physical and occupational therapy. When she went back to school, I figured I would go back to my roots and give back to the community by being a substitute teacher.
I completed the hiring process with ESS and to my surprise they told me that I would not be able to substitute in Perth Amboy because they were informed that I was not a good fit. It’s common knowledge that many school districts are facing substitute shortages and Perth Amboy is among them.
Over my 38-year career, all my observation and evaluations have been effective or higher. I have never been in investigated by DCCP, and I am not a criminal. It makes me wonder why someone in this district would deem that I am not a good fit. I hate to think it is because of my leadership role in the Perth Amboy Federation.
How many other qualified people are being turned away, leaving building administrators scrambling to find class coverage and leaving staff members stressed and exhausted by the extra work?
The public portion was closed.
During the President’s report, Board President Ken Puccio stated, “We live in different times. People were caged up for 18 months. Kids are not used to being in school. It’s up to us. School is more than education. It is teaching children about life. Some students come from terrible situations (at home). Everybody has a chip on your shoulder. You reap what you sow. In order to get respect, you give respect. Some kid thinks a lot of you.”
Superintendent Dr. David Roman said, “We wish everyone a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving. There are a lot of things to address these issues. All the leaders in the district will welcome this district’s mindfulness of its issues. The importance of a video – we care about the community.
Bord Member Junior Iglesia said, “It is very important that we as a school district make every dollar spent fiscally responsible.” He asked about the need for an upgrade to the HVAC system in district buildings. Iglesia wanted to know why the HVAC system needed to be higher than SDA requirements.
President Ken Puccio answered, “For generators. Our schools act as shelters. We should have a type of live system so everything works.”
Vice President Tashi Vazquez added, “What the SDA gives is very basic. We need something that has enough power on the day of an emergency. These schools belong to the community and serve the community.” Vazquez later commented on a coat drive under the project Cathy’s Kids where 450 coats were collected from PAHS graduate Mr. Eladio Ruiz. Ruiz worked under the supervision of Mr. Michael Lobrace, Acting School Business Administrator and Mr. Francisco Velez, Assistant School. Business Administrator. Vazquez stated, “When asked what to do get to the community, I am grateful for these donations.”
Puccio added, “We have kids who come to school without coats. They don’t even have the basics.”
Toward the end of the meeting, Vice President Tashi Vazquez had a few comments about the three members of the PA Federation who spoke during the public portion. “It is important as Board Members to provide us with numbers. Overall, you give us this. Member of CPI training on Saturday can be an issue. I welcome suggestions – not just complaints. I am open to conversation.”
PA Federation President Pat Paradiso stated that Vazquez was embarrassing her.
Vazquez stated, “My mission is to serve the staff and the community.”
Board Member Marisol Gonzalez stated, “These kids (special needs) need a lot of compassion. These are students are not the same. They require a different kind of compassion.”
Paradiso emphasized that is why they requested a meeting with Board Representatives.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Board Members Stephanie Márquez-Villafañe, Dr. Danielle Brown, and Stacey Peralta were not present.
