MINUTES OF
KEY COMMUNICATORS MEETING
MONDAY, March 26, 2007

Present:      Joe Luongo, Josephine Ciocia, Connie Doheny, Lisa Hodulik, Kathy Iapelli, Donna Wipper, Linda Condal, Lynn Nilsson, Nancy Smith, Cathy Meseck, Lizz Nuzzo
 
Joe Luongo opened the meeting at 7:33 PM.

District:
2007 – 2008 Budget– If the 2007 – 2008 budget is defeated we will have major problems. It will possible threaten non-mandatory programs, which include athletics and extra curricular activities.  When the budget failed last year and the Mayor and Council cut $200,000 from our budget, it hurt us tremendously.  A parent asked if the special questions can be removed.  Parents concern were that people who wanted the budget to pass but wanted to vote no on the questions may get confused and just vote no across the board, thus defeating the budget.  Mr. Luongo feels that moving the offices is a priority and will continue to have that as a special question on the ballot as long as he is superintendent.

Depken Field–Mr. Luongo went to a meeting last week of the Depken Field committee.  The bids are going out shortly and should be able to be awarded by the end of April providing it comes in under $1.7 million.  If it comes in over, the committee will make a list of priorities.  Mr. Luongo stated that he will have the practice field lined so that Aviators and recreation soccer can use this field.  He felt that our children using Teterboro field was dangerous with the planes flying right over their heads.

High School & Middle School:

AP Calculus – Mid Term Grades- A parents concern was that the AP Calculus mid term was an official test for the AP course and only one student received a 72 everyone else was lower.  Mr. Luongo informed us that it was not an official AP test but questions from previous AP exams were on the mid term.  In order to receive college credit for the AP class you must receive a 3 or better.  The teacher translated the grades into AP grading system.  Yes, there was only one student who would have received AP college credit.  Mr. Luongo is not satisfied with the mid term grades and is exploring many different avenues as to why those mid term grades.

Physical Education – Hockey - A parent was concerned that there are so many accidents during hockey classes in the high school.  The girls are getting black and blued, someone cut his eye and another broke his collar bone.  Parent requested for hockey to be better supervised or to be removed from the curriculum.  Several parents stated that the physical education teachers need to supervise the gym classes closely instead of standing in a group.  Mr. Luongo stated that they can get shin guards and mask to prevent injuries and he will ask for more supervision during classes.

High school students took a mid term exam in physical education,  even after if was discussed that they should not have a mid term.  Many parents stated that there were items on the exam that their child was never taught.  Mr. Luongo stated that the entire physical education curriculum will be evaluated by the board.

NJ ASK – no science on test -  Parents signed up and paid for extra help for NJ ASK science and there was no science on the NJ ASK.  Mr. Luongo stated that by the time they found out that there would be no science parents already signed up and he felt it would not hurt the students.  The extra help would help them in taking the GEPA.

GEPA science -   Parents stated that they paid for the GEPA science review and most of all the GEPA was from 5th and 6th grade science which was not reviewed during the extra help days.  Mr. Luongo and Mrs. Ciocia stated that the science part of the GEPA is a major controversy with the state and possibly the state will revise the science testing to a different method.

Elementary Lincoln:

No soap dispenser in boys’ bathroom on 2nd floor -   The soap dispenser was ordered and a temporary one was installed.  We should be receiving the new soap dispenser any day.

March 23, 2007 – Virus -   Mr. Forte sent a letter home and it is also on the website stating exactly what is being done regarding the virus.  We are still awaiting results from the Bergen County Health Department.

A parent asked if the physical forms for sports can be put on the website.  It seems that there is difficulty in obtaining the forms from the high school nurse.

Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 16, at 7:30 PM.
Meeting adjourned at 8:33M.

Minutes submitted by Donna Wipper.