Schools
Notes from the Board of Education Meeting
Results of audit, two new appointments, a discussion to change the high school exam policy, and early steps towards a solar power purchase agreement.
- A comprehensive review of the Board of Education $52 million budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011 found no problems. "Everything is in good shape," said auditor Bob Allison, who complemented the district's finance office. He noted that the district has $1 million in reserves, and $700,000 in maintenance reserves, more than it needs to keep. In another part of the meeting, Board member Mike Sockol said the Budget and Finance Committee would explore spending some of the money on improving air quality at Indian Hill School, replacing the condemned Press Box at Roggi Field, or replacing the unusable catwalk behind the ceiling in the Holmdel High School auditorium used to replace lighting and check smoke alarms.
- The board approved the appointment of Alfred Longo as Interim Assistant Principal, High School, at a salary of $425 a day, effective May 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012. He will take the place of Richard Katz, who is retiring. It also approved the appointment of Alicia Killean as District Supervisor of Math/Science, at a salary of $97,000, prorated and effective immediately through June 30, 2012.
- The Curriculum and Instruction Committee has been discussing the high school exam policy. Midterms and finals account for just five percent of a student's grade. "They take a lot of time to prepare and administer," said member Ray Tai. While it may be a good experience for college, the downside is that the exams take away time for instruction, may not be consequential for high-achieving students, and can be a contributor to student stress, he said. The Committee is also researching the merits of numerical point scores vs. letter grades. "We are not making any changes for the next year," he said. "It's being mentioned, but not being considered," he said.
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- The district, in partnership with the township government, is preparing to issue Request for Proposals (RFPs) for a solar PPA that would put panels on four municipal properties and four school properties. A power purchase agreement is a long-term agreement to buy power from a company that uses it own money to build a solar energy facility on site. Solar power consultant/architect Kevin Settembrino said the RFPs would describe different scenarios of roof-only solar panels, or roof panels with canopy structures. "The RFP is a fluid document," he said.
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