The Dual Language Kindergarten Class wore Red, White and Blue and sang “This is Your Land” in English and Spanish.
6/14/18 Board of Education Meeting
By: Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – There were several presentations at the 6/14/18 Board of Education Meeting. The first presentation was to honor Matthew Wechter of Wilentz School. Principal of Wilentz School R.L. Anderson stated, “Self-discipline, honesty, and integrity. After we leave secondary education, what we remember is values. Mr. Wechter represents all of that. Congratulations to Matthew Wechter for being the 2017-2018 Middlesex County Teacher of the Year!”
When Matthew Wechter came up to speak he said, “This award is not about me. It’s about everything going on since the past 7 years. I want to thank the Administration and my family for their support.”
Matthew Wechter (C) of Wilentz School was named 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year for Middlesex County *Photos by Katherine Massopust
Baseball Coach Alex Perez was honored as Coach of the Year. Also honored were two of the players.
The Hispanic American Achievement Award, Heroes and Cool Kids Club, Be the Change, and the Communication Academy Class of 2021 were honored.
There were three performances: the McGinnis School Band, Cadet and Color Guard won for the 2017-2018 Best Overall Band. They gave a brief performance at the meeting.
The Dual Language Kindergarten Class wore Red, White and Blue and sang “This is Your Land” in English and Spanish. Superintendent Dr. David Roman stated, “This precious commodity is from Perth Amboy. They have biliteracy on their diplomas. Children of this community speak two languages. This is the first Dual Language Academy in New Jersey. It’s going to go to the 6th Grade.”
PAHS Baseball Team Coach Alex Perez with two of the players. Perez was named Coach of the Year
The third performance was the Patten School Chorus. Dr. David Roman stated, “A group of amazing young children with young voices represented Perth Amboy wonderfully.” They sang, “The Power of One.”
Dr. David Roman then showed a short film on the success and improvements being made in the district. He stated that there is a 16% increase (in 4 years) in the graduation rate. It was 76% in 2017. The first standalone Dual Language Academy in New Jersey achieved the Seal of Biliteracy.
Board President Ken Puccio made the following comments, “This district is moving forward. For years we were the bottom of the barrel. No longer. We’re rocketing up!”
Dr. David Roman stated, “We’re committed to our children. We are collectively working together. The Board of Education – they sit with us at committee meetings. I want to acknowledge the Board’s commitment.”
No one spoke at the first public comments on agenda items only.
McGinnis School Marching Band
Board Member Junior Iglesia had some comments on the Code of Conduct. “I would like to make the following recommendations: The Code of Conduct is too long and the vocabulary use – we are mindful of students, parents, etc.)
1) I felt it was written for a police officer. Students, parents and families will find the language difficult.
2) The behavior expectancy needs to correlate with behavior. Such as cutting classes for the 6th Grade. I don’t see how these students have this behavior.
3) I recommend a list of expected behavior rather than stated in one sentence. We need to be more concrete than vague. We need to distinguish behavior for K-12 any disruptive behavior in the environment. I recommend dividing 6-12. Have a category and explicit lists that clearly lay every behavior, so we can all be on the same page.”
Board Vice President Milady Tejada stated, “I understand that will be between the parent and the student.”
Board Member Tashi Vasquez stated, “I want to thank the parents, teachers, and staff. Everyone recognizes we need to take a different approach. I hope we can continue to address this.”
Board Member Anton Massopust stated, “This is not written in stone. We can add to it. If we don’t pass it, we haven’t got anything. We’ve got to give it a try.”
Superintendent Dr. David Roman stated, “It would be available online the first day. This will continue to evolve.”
The Patten School Chorus sings: “The Power of One.”
Board Member Junior Iglesia then said, “I recommend we need to approve this code of conduct.”
On Page 36. No. 107 on the Agenda, there was an appointment to a new position of Physical Education & Health (PreK-8) Supervisor.
Board Member Junior Iglesia stated, “We are not in a financial position to have the funding for this position.” He stated that the Board has a responsibility to the taxpayers and that New Jersey pays the highest tax rate in the United States (2.94%). He then stated that there was $2 million added to the budget to balance the budget. “Voting for another supervisor position is voting to raise taxes.”
Dr. Roman then stated, “The allocation was Board approved months ago. This position has already been Board approved. We are statistically below in this district compared to other school systems in the state.”
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Richard Chromey stated, “As far as the needs of a poor urban district, we’re right there.”
During the public portion, Resident and Guardian Debra Foley came up to speak about the recent incident at Shull School involving active shooter threats in text messages. “I want to thank the Vice Principals, thank Mr. Massopust. My Great-Nephew was crying. He didn’t want to come back to school. I still have parents calling from that horrible day. My two nephews were sent to the high school in a bus without my permission. On that day, that morning I was scared. I was afraid some nut was going to shoot up our school. I heard you say if it was for safety that we weren’t told. When I met the principal there was chaos in Shull School. Every kid that goes there deserves safety and respect. I need that to be addressed.”
Resident Sharon Hubberman came up to speak, “I have received phone calls about this day. We have poll clerks starting at 5:15 a.m. to 8 p.m. There was no communication to the poll clerks or those voters who came to vote. All elections are at our schools. If there is an alert. I didn’t see a number or text to communicate. When will you have a protocol in place? There should be more effort in case this happens.”
Lorraine McCartney came up to speak next. “I am a Democratic Committeewoman from W6D10. I was working the polls that day at Shull School. Absolutely no one came to that room to let us know what’s going on. I walked out the door to see a swat team with guns drawn when I came out. When things are going on – I don’t have a kid in school, so I don’t know how to react. There was a shelter in place and none of us knew it. It’s all across America. Thank God it was a false alarm. What if you come in during your lunch break to vote and can’t leave the building? Some people were denied their right to vote.”
Parent Beatriz Fortes came up to speak. “No one was informed. No announcement – nothing. It was chaotic. No one has addressed this at all. No one was taken out of the building. Something has to be done. What I saw was really bad. Just to see the fear in the parent’s eyes. Security was alerted. Many people weren’t. We need to find out what happens next. No one wants to give you information. I saw everything. It was chaotic. The children, the fear – my fear.”
Board Member Jesus Martinez addressed some of the concerns, “I want to commend teachers in an active shooter situation. There is a clash between constitutional rights and security. I spent time in Israel. Security pertains to every single one of us. The first school attacks were in the 1500’s by rural American Indians. Because of what happened in 1999 Colorado it was brought to light. The Perth Amboy Police Department practices Active Shooter training each year. It’s unfortunate that it occurred. These things happen. In these instances, seek safety – get under a table. We are either going to e a victim or fight back. An AR-15 can fire 3500 ft/sec and spins. We must formulate in the future. There is no transparency with the police. Their job is to do a crime scene there. I will take the lead, and this will never happen again.”
Superintendent Dr. David Roman stated, “We had a meeting with the Police and Fire Department. I have 100% faith in Mayor Wilda Diaz and the Board of Education. It was chaos, but controlled chaos. The threat was being investigated. It was an external threat. Rumors going around in texts and email. Actively assessing the situation. We cannot give you answers all the time. There are things in place to allow us to address these issues to keep children safe.”
Board President Ken Puccio stated, “I was there that day. All of us go through active shooter training and lockdown training.”
Dr. David Roman said, “We will work with protocols. Safety is our number one measure. We take this very seriously. We are 100% united.”
Board Member Jesus Martinez stated, “This is a community agenda. You cannot assume that a threat has been contained. Don’t text – call 911 – describe vocally. Notice if a backpack is extremely heavy. Most active shooters carry 300-5000 rounds of ammo.”
Board Member Junior Iglesia asked how many drills they have.
Carmen Southward Director of Operations came up to speak, “Two each at each school. It is solidified by the State and mandated.”
The Board went into Executive Session at 9:28 p.m. to make a decision on what law firm will represent the Board for the 2018-2019 school year. The Machado Law Firm was chosen. All Board Members were present.
