MINUTES OF
KEY COMMUNICATORS MEETING
MONDAY, March 20, 2006

Present:            Joe Luongo, Donna Wipper, Connie Doheny, Lizz Nuzzo, Lynn Nilsson,Ana Mastropietro and Lisa Hodulik

Joe Luongo opened the meeting at 7:33 PM.

District:

Depken Field Project – Mr. Luongo attended the meetings.  Mr. Kistner, Councilman, announced that the Board of Education would retain ownership of the field and the town would pay for the improvements.  At that point, Mr. Luongo approved of the project.  There are still several other meetings and many areas to be worked out prior to the project actually taking place. 
Budget -  Mr. Luongo enclosed a copy of the proposed budget.  There was one public budget presentation so far with another way this week.  Mr. Luongo stated that the budget is really straight forward.  Some of the additions that are in this year’s budget:  additional special education teacher for speech, purchase of 51 replacement computers for MS/HS lab and media center, new textbooks for 6th grade social studies and AP History, additional world language teacher, additional language arts literacy teacher (MS/HS), implement tennis court maintenance program.  There will also be a special question in the amount of $196,000 to move the two school offices in the elementary schools to the middle floors and construction of classrooms in the vacated spaces.

High School:

Requirements for Honor Classes –   Changed the criteria for English honors 9th grade.  You have to score advanced proficient on the language arts/literacy section of the GEPA or the highest scoring 20 students on the Language Arts/Literacy section of the GEPA.  All honor class criteria’s were reviewed.
HSPA review session -  HSPA review classes are offered for a small amount of money twice a week.  Every parent of a child that was at risk was offered two extra days for free before school.  All letters were mailed and there have been no takers.

Middle School:

GEPA Review Sessions - Eighth period is for at risk students; they are pulled out of gym classes.  There is also a review class after school for a fee of $35.00 and approximately 20 students signed up for those classes.  In the GEPA in math, Heights is the 2nd highest in advanced proficient and 6th overall in our District Factor Group.  In LAL, Heights is 4th in passing and 8th highest overall.  In Science, Heights, is 2nd highest in Advanced Proficient and 4th highest overall in our District Factor Group.  Concerns are that we must improve in the number of students who pass in math and in language arts literacy must improve in the number of students across the board.
Honors Language Arts Literacy -    There has been an honor English/Literature class added to the schedule.  To qualify for this class you must be one of the highest 20 scoring students on the 5th grade standardized test and a final grade of A- or above in both 6 Language Arts, Literature courses.

7th and 8th Grade Field Trips -  Mr. Luongo spoke to the principal and reviewed the packets that were sent home to every parent.  If you still have questions after reviewing the packet, you should call the principal.  There will be no parents meeting for either of these trips; not unless a sufficient amount of parents request a meeting.

Enopi Pilot Program - This program was tried and it is not being recommended.  It is being looked into for a program for special education students at the elementary level.
NJASK 6 & 7 - Dates for testing will be April 4th, 5th and 6th.
Jewelry – NJSIAA & National Federation of HS Association Regulations - A parent had questioned the district ruling of no jewelry during gym if this was a law or just a district policy.  It is not a law.  However, we belong to two organizations and must abide by their regulations.  Mr. Luongo had attached copies of their policies regarding jewelry.  Also, a fax from Jerry Diehl, the Assistant Director of the National Federation of State High School Association, in which he states “Jewelry shall not be worn.  Religious and medical alert medals are not considered jewelry.  A religious medal must be taped and worn under the uniform.  A medical alert medal must be taped and may be visible.”

Elementary Schools:

Realignment of Schools - After having meetings with the elementary schools and having a straw poll, Mr. Luongo will not recommend to the board to realign the elementary schools.
NJASK Scores -  Mr. Luongo had a testing analysis of NJASK.  In the NJASK4 – LAL, Heights is the 1st in number of students that passed and the 3rd highest overall in our District Factor Group.  In the NJASK 4 – Math, Heights is the 1st in number of students in the Advanced Proficient range and the 1st in total proficiency in our District Factor Group.  In the NJASK 4 – Science – Heights is tied for 3rd in total proficiency in our District Factor Group.

A parent questioned the procedure for guidance in the middle school.  A parent or student is to contact the principal and the principal will redirect to whoever is the expert in that area.

Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 17, 2006 at 7:30 PM. 
Meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM.

Minutes submitted by Donna Wipper.