Last nights meeting about the high school...

[thomas]

I attended the meeting in Greenwich last night and I have to say that I was extremely proud to finally see a room full of people who were getting annoyed and willing to do what ever it take to get the high school built. There were ideas and thoughts tossed around and it looks like they would like the region to stay together and fight for the high school we were promised from the State. We really need to get organized and and it would be really great if Lopat's meeting was as emotional as the Greenwich meeting was. I know that their are people coming over to our meeting from Greenwich, please make it a priority to attend our meeting on March 7th.
Lopatcong Township PTA General Meeting

March 7th, 2007 at 7:00 PM

Lopatcong Middle School

Guest Speaker- Dr Gordon Pethick,

Superintendent of the Phillipsburg School District

Question and answer session for parents

Our mayor-Doug Steinhardt, Board President-Ernie Gallant and Super. Dr Rossi will be attending as well as the press.

[KouzJohn]

All,

I also attended the meeting last night. I was amazed how many cars were in the parking lot. There were many great ideas discussed in this meeting. The idea that stuck in my mind is to make this public as much as possible. I have already emailed Jim Gearhart of NJ 101.5 morning show regarding this matter. He did announce it on the air this morning.

Let's stick together.

[KouzJohn]

After sending the email, I called 101.5 and spoke to Jim Gearhart. He said that he did not have enough time to discuss this and for me to call back tomorrow morning at 7:10am to discuss more about this matter. Please if you want this HS as much as I do, please listen tomorrow morning and try to call (1-800-283-1015).

Thanks

[cynosure]

I had to leave the meeting early in order to pick up my kid. Was anything decided on what route to take? It seemed to me that the ideas presented by the residents mostly got a "Yup, we thought of that, but we can't do it." response by Brennan. I heard several people ask "What CAN we do?" but I didn't hear any answers.

[axsparks]

I think by the end of the meeting it became apparent that frustration was setting in and the wait and see approach was no longer going to work. The President of the Lopat school board was there and asked for a show of support and unity among all of the sending districts and Philipsburg. The Greenwich board collected contact info to follow-up with anyone interested in "the next step". It wasn't really clear what that is going to be, but it is obvious that there needs to be one.

It is clear that we need an organized approach to finding a solution. I will support any such effort. I plan to attend Lopat's meeting on March 7th and continue to make as much noise as humanly possible around this issue.

[KouzJohn]

axsparks,

Can you send me the information for the Lopatcong meeting on 3/7?

Time?
Where?

I will try to attend.

Thank you

[axsparks]

March 7th, 2007 at 7:00 PM

Lopatcong Middle School

I assume all are invited to attend. I will be there.

[Little Nicky]

How did the radio show go? I'm interested because I was in the first class to go to the brand new Lopatcong Elementary School on Rt. 57. I remember Mrs. Meirs our kindergarten teacher commenting by the time our class got out of eighth grade we would have a brand new high school. That was in 1972.Good luck, lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[axsparks]

Same ole, same ole. Sounds like there's work to be done. Jim Gearhart bought up a good point...the sending districts are not Abbott districts therefore the state will not see this as a crisis. I believe it is a travesty that this northwest corner of Warren County seems to be the forgotten child of NJ politicians.

I am a firm believer that Phillipsburg deserves what they were promised. However, I believe it is time for the sending districts to look at other options and maybe sever some of the 135 year old traditional ties. We send a majority of students in attendance to the high school, it sounds like that send/receive relationship is at the root of the overcrowding problem.

I am sure that is easier said than done, but it is obvious that the high school cannot accommodate the continued expected growth, so a time for action is NOW.

[Little Nicky]

Why isn’t anyone outraged over the fact that the land was purchased in Lopatcong which isn’t the Abbott district? That is what made the state withdraw the funds in the first place eight years ago. The legislation was written to give the money to the Abbott town , not any old nearby town. As for the BOE apologists with their ‘There’s no room in Phillipsburg’, that’s not true - there is tons of room in the Ingersoll Rand complex which is perfectly situated between 78 and 22. There was also room to add on to the old school. That spot they chose in Lopatcong has terrible access traffic wise.

[KouzJohn]

I believe it is time for the sending districts to look at other options and maybe sever some of the 135 year old traditional ties.


axsparks,
I agree with you, we have to take action NOW!!! However, eventhough the sending districts are non-abbott districts this relationship has been around for 135 years. We didn't become a sending district yesterday. It doesn't matter anymore. We need this high school with or without the state's help. If we keep the relationship with Pburg or not.

I did some research yesterday on the NJSCC (NJ School's Construction Corporation). I found a great document that the Inspector General wrote on the SCC. This is my favorite from the report: "The SCC as currently structured and constituted suffers from a wide range of internal weaknesses that not only threaten to defeat its core mission, but also make the agency vulnerable to mismangement, fiscal malfeasance, conflicts of interest and waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayers dollars."

Link: http://www.state.nj.us/oig/pdf/njscc_preliminary_report.pdf

What a bunch of crooks.

[axsparks]

Perhaps they should be...

...more of the reason that Phillipsburg should stand on its own Abbott status and the sending districts should look to sever ties or look at other options for it's HS students.

[axsparks]

Agreed. They are crooks...

...but the sending districts non-abbott status gives the state a leg to stand on when it comes to not giving Phillipsburg what it needs (or at least what the combination of the non-abbott sending districts and Phillipsburg students needs to have an ideal environment).

I understand the send/receive relationship is 135 years old, but I think that it is outdated and does all parties a disservice if it continues in its state. We have far too many students with expected growth to continue.

The sending districts are affecting Phillipsburg's ability to get what is due them under a Supreme Court mandate due to our non-abbott status. I personally know its mumbo jumbo, but it gives the state justification to nix the project.

[KouzJohn]

I agree, but this would be a difficult task to accomplish in a very long period of time. There is much more to it.

Thanks

[KouzJohn]

Little Nicky has a great point. Why would they purchase land in a non-abbott district for the new high school. Very Strange!!!!

[axsparks]

I agree with Little Nicky as well. I think that is the question that that residents of P'burg have. And I think its the state's defense to nix the project. So since it sounds like this project is a dead issue and is going nowhere, the sending districts should devise a new plan. This one doesn't work.

Will pressure on state government (or local government for that matter do any good)? With 52% of the students coming from non-abbott districts it’s going to be a tough sell when you have other true abbott districts in dire straits (Camden, Newark). It’s my belief that is why P-burg is NOT on the list of 59 projects.

The send/receive relationship is a double-edged sword.

[cynosure]

But was the IR tract for sale back when they were looking for a place to build a new school? I thought I remembered some murmuring of ground pollution at that site year ago, too.

While building our own high school might be an ideal solution, please remember that Brennan mentioned that in order for Greenwich to pull out of the sending district scenario, the commissioner of education would have to agree and we would have to prove that doing so would not harm our students' education, nor would it hurt Phillipsburg. If it's just us building the school, it WILL hurt our students since their access to honors and AP classes will be limited (I believe this point was made Monday night). If it's us and Alpha/Pohat/Lopat, it was mentioned that there are many legal issues including the assumption of all parties involved in each other's school debt (i.e. paying off our two bonds on building the elementary school).

One thing I had read in the paper a while ago was that if the state did not build a new PHS, that P'burg could build it and do a one-time assessment of costs to all sending districts - not exactly sure what it was, but something along those lines. Maybe Pethick will talk about that at the Lopat meeting tonight.

[KouzJohn]

And don't forget to mention the increase of taxes!!!!

[I ♥ Lopat]

The ground at IR is polluted, and there is nothing to be gained by pulling out of the PHS school district.

[Greenwich_Wizard]

If the ground at Ingersoll was so poluted, then why can they propose : TO BUILD A WEGMANS AND A GIANT SHOPPING CENTER THERE - YOU ASSCLOWN! :evil:

[axsparks]

So then my question is?

How do we get the school built?

I am new to the area, but I understand this is an issue that is a decade old.

By the way, my post never said anything about building a separate school, just finding additional options. The issue is that the P'burg HS is overcrowded and 52% of its students come from outside districts creating the overcrowding problem and affecting the abbott district status. It's a catch 22, and state government will use that to their advantage.

If your concern is a new building, reality is state government is not going to pay for it at this point, unless that changes the money to build does not exist.

I don't have a High schooler (yet) but my suggestion would be to take full advantage of the AP and honors courses that exist and make the best of a "not ideal" environment.

[I ♥ Lopat]

Not sure what an assclown is, but it's because of standards set for our CHILDREN. They play on the fields exposing them to harmful pollutants, drink the water from the fountains, they are in the school for long periods of time. They would have daily exposure or maybe none at all, but would you want to take a chance. It's not that hard to understand. :roll:

[Greenwich_Wizard]

OH!? So Wegmans would set a policy that the groceries purchased at the Ingersoll site wouldnt be consumed by children? Or maybe they could only remain in the persons home for so long....since according to you the site is contaminated. Newsflash for Ms. Asshat : THEY CLEARED UP THE BROWNFIELDS ISSUE YEARS AGO! THE WATER WOULD COME FROM AQUA WATER LIKE EVERYONE ELSES'S DOES! :evil:

[njspanteach]

Please focus your energies on finding a solution to this problem and not creating one. Name calling is not necessary or productive.

I venture to say most people do not want to separate from Phillipsburg. They just want a new school built, but generally feel like their students are not suffering in any way now. Status quo is working, and if it won't cost anything, a new school would be nice.


Many are frustrated and looking for another way. Separate if necessary, just do something. Is change for the sake of change reasonable?

We really need an assessment to see what the Greenwich public wants. Is anyone doing this?

[Dave (not the)]

Please focus your energies on finding a solution to this problem and not creating one. Name calling is not necessary or productive.

Good luck, njspanteach. If you've read his posts here before, you'll find that name calling is all Greenwich Wizard does. On at least three occasions, he's had to delete entire posts.

If memory serves, he has called people B**t**ds, Sc**b*gs, Fa**ots, A**hat, A**clown, and probably a few more that he picked up at the playground. Sometimes he'll quiet down for a few days, but now and then he'll forget to take his meds, and off he goes.
When he can't find intelligent wrods, he goes on the attack.

It's about time he was banned from the group.

[cynosure]

Did anyone go to the Lopat meeting last night? Was anything different/productive mentioned?

[Greenwich_Wizard]

Please focus your energies on finding a solution to this problem and not creating one. Name calling is not necessary or productive.

Good luck, njspanteach. If you've read his posts here before, you'll find that name calling is all Greenwich Wizard does. On at least three occasions, he's had to delete entire posts.

If memory serves, he has called people B**t**ds, Sc**b*gs, Fa**ots, A**hat, A**clown, and probably a few more that he picked up at the playground. Sometimes he'll quiet down for a few days, but now and then he'll forget to take his meds, and off he goes.
When he can't find intelligent wrods, he goes on the attack.

It's about time he was banned from the group.


Simmer down Scooter. Where did you grow up? On Sesame Street? People call each others names all day long. It's not like im really insulting anyone, the posters , in reality are just a bunch of 1's and 0's. Take a course in Boolean Algebra , maybe you would get the picture...

As for I wub Lopat , she's used to it from the Lopat board, she's ok I was just teasing. :D

[axsparks]

In an effort to get back to the real purpose of this post...

...I believe the Lopat meeting is on March 7th. I will attend although I have been skeptical because it seems like we are in a catch 22 with the possibility of having the new building built under the Supreme Court Abbott ruling.

But like I said, I will participate in any organized event to try and get it built.

[thomas]

This is who is invited to the March 7th PTA Meeting:

Only Assemblyman Doherty has confirmed attending at this point.
Assemblywoman Karrow is sending her aide
Sen. Lance and Gove Corzine never responded
Other invites include-
County Superintendent: Mr. William King
Lucille E. Davy, Commissioner of Education
Freeholder Dimaio
Freeholder Gardner
Freeholder Director-Chamberlain
Prosecutor-Ferguson
Congressman Scott Garrett

Media Invited-Express Times, Star Ledger, Morning Call, 69 News,
I think Others...

[UsThree96]

Please explain.......what does the county proscutor have to do with the new High School.............plus...........inviting local media......why not try inviting the Philadelphia News Networks.....Trenton reads and sees more coverage there than in our local papers

[Greenwich_Wizard]

Looks like Lopatcongs meeting yielded some answers. It turns out Phillipsburg doesn’t even have a long term facilities plan which is required by the state. Also, this district isn’t even on the list of 59 districts to receive any money at all.

Phillipsburg’s School Superintendent Gordon Pathetic said, “ we must build a coalition”.

http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-4/11733321943850.xml&coll=2

[KouzJohn]

I wrote an email to the NJSCC and this is what they repied with:



Thank you for taking the time to Contact Us at the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) website. I am providing you with a statement (below and attached) from Scott Weiner, chief executive officer of the SCC, regarding your inquiry.
_________________________________________________

The New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) appreciates the opportunity to respond to your concerns regarding the construction of Phillipsburg High School.

We agree wholeheartedly that no child or teacher should have to endure the conditions that exist at Phillipsburg High School and its dozens of temporary classroom units.

We would like to provide some historical perspective on the situation that currently exists in Phillipsburg: As you may know, while the original $6 billion allocation for school construction in the Abbott districts was significant, it was known from the very beginning - since the passage of the legislation that created the school construction program - that it would not be sufficient to complete all of the school facilities needed in the Abbott districts.

In May 2005, when the SCC had $1.4 billion uncommitted for Abbott school construction projects, the Corporation realized it had to implement a process to determine which projects could be completed with the remaining funds. Therefore, in July 2005, the prior SCC Management and Board of Directors approved a Capital Plan that included 59 projects to be completed with the remaining resources. Unfortunately, the construction of Phillipsburg High School was among 315 projects not selected to move forward. It is clear that additional funding will be needed to advance needed projects in Phillipsburg, as well as the other Abbott districts.

The need for additional funding was acknowledged by Governor Jon S. Corzine upon taking office in January 2006. However, due to the waste and mismanagement that existed in the past, he sought to expand upon the reform efforts - begun by his predecessor Acting Governor Richard J. Codey - to ensure that the school construction program had the internal controls, efficiencies and proper management in place before any additional funding was provided.

In September 2006, as a result of the progress the SCC made in instituting reforms and project controls, the Governor*s Interagency Working Group on School Construction recommended that an additional $3.25 billion be provided for school projects in Abbott and Regular Operating Districts. The Governor accepted and agreed with this recommendation.

It is our hope that, with reforms in place and the Governor*s commitment to providing the children of New Jersey with modern and safe schools, the Legislature will approve additional school construction funding soon because Phillipsburg*s projects are among several hundred school construction projects that could be built when resources are available. It is clear that the need becomes greater and greater with each day that passes and the situations at schools like Phillipsburg High School become more and more dire.

Again, thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and for continuing to convey the urgent needs of the Phillipsburg School District.

Sincerely,

Scott Weiner
Chief Executive Officer
NJ Schools Construction Corporation
__________________________________________________ ______________





Kevin McElroy
Senior Public Information Officer
New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation
609.943.4307
kmcelroy@njscc.com

[Demarn]

Looks like Lopatcongs meeting yielded some answers. It turns out Phillipsburg doesn’t even have a long term facilities plan which is required by the state. Also, this district isn’t even on the list of 59 districts to receive any money at all.

Phillipsburg’s School Superintendent Gordon Pathetic said, “ we must build a coalition”.


Wizboy,

Not that you care, but if you read more closely, or attended either meeting at Lopatcong or Greenwich, you would realize that Phillipsburg has already submitted a Long Range Facilities Plan, but the state is dragging its feet in accepting it. In addition to this, Phillipsburg has also conducted a recent demographics study and has met all four of the priority requirements to be on the list of 59, so in this way the state has no excuses. However, in my opinion, more powerful interests (areas with more votes for Corzine and the majority Democratic Legislature) have seen fit to make sure the SCC appointees don't make Phillipsburg a priority. Add to this the complicating factor of our sending/receiving relationship with Phillipsburg, the state has a different agenda. In short, Phillipsburg has done all they can at this juncture to acquire the state funding.

By the way, in response to one of your previous posts about building a school in Lopatcong: The land is currently owned by the SCC, and if the high school is built entirely by the SCC with the current sending/receiving districts relationship intact, Phillipsburg would control it financially and politically, making it a Phillipsburg school. This could change though, if the sending districts have a limited regionalization with Phillipsburg, and the state offered to pick up the funding it owes to Phillipsburg because of its Abbott status, then all sending districts would have partial financial and political control. This is easier said than done though. 1) Currently there is no mechanism in place for the state to partially fund Abbott districts in a limited regionalization scenario. 2) If all the districts regionalize, the state could always try and pull a fast one and claim regionalization undoes P-Burg's Abbott status, and therefore, won't fund any of it.

Bottom line, there will probably be a state-wide vote on the November ballot to fund Abbott districts. As a result, no one will probably make any serious moves until then.

[thomas]

Here is an email we sent to the Governor, if you all interested could do the same we are trying to get him to answer us.

Gov Corzine,
Please tell me, -and don't have the SCC answer questions that only you( the most powerful Govenor in the U.S.)
can answer. Are you doing a wait and see approach at the detriment of our kids???

As copied from a citizen on Stew. Message -Board-
"If you attended either meeting at Lopatcong or Greenwich, you would realize that Phillipsburg has already submitted a Long Range Facilities Plan, but the state is dragging its feet in accepting it. In addition to this, Phillipsburg has also conducted a recent demographics study and has met all four of the priority requirements to be on the list of 59, so in this way the state has no excuses. However, in my opinion, more powerful interests (areas with more votes for Corzine and the majority Democratic Legislature) have seen fit to make sure the SCC appointees don't make Phillipsburg a priority. Add to this the complicating factor of our sending/receiving relationship with Phillipsburg, the state has a different agenda. In short, Phillipsburg has done all they can at this juncture to acquire the state funding.
By the way, in response to one of your previous posts about building a school in Lopatcong: The land is currently owned by the SCC, and if the high school is built entirely by the SCC with the current sending/receiving districts relationship intact, Phillipsburg would control it financially and politically, making it a Phillipsburg school. This could change though, if the sending districts have a limited regionalization with Phillipsburg, and the state offered to pick up the funding it owes to Phillipsburg because of its Abbott status, then all sending districts would have partial financial and political control. This is easier said than done though. 1) Currently there is no mechanism in place for the state to partially fund Abbott districts in a limited regionalization scenario. 2) If all the districts regionalize, the state could always try and pull a fast one and claim regionalization undoes P-Burg's Abbott status, and therefore, won't fund any of it.
Bottom line, there will probably be a state-wide vote on the November ballot to fund Abbott districts. As a result, no one will probably make any serious moves until then"

Please respond to me on this. You owe us that
PS -I voted for you with hopes that you would keep your promises unlike the others.
You are proving me wrong thus far.
I plan to cc this to all media outfits possible!!!

[thomas]

Pressure builds to get Phillipsburg High built
Sunday, February 25, 2007
By DANIEL HAUSMANN
The Express-Times
Phillipsburg junior Amy Pawlowski likely won't step into the new Phillipsburg High School as a student, provided it's ever built.
That didn't stop Pawlowski and thousands of other students from Phillipsburg and its sending districts from writing to Gov. Jon Corzine.
Last month's letter-writing campaign was part of an effort to pressure state government to build the long-stalled high school.
"It's pretty obvious from the 31 trailers we're in need of a new school," Pawlowski said.
In the next two weeks, schools will take that message of need to residents. Lopatcong and Greenwich townships both have public forums scheduled to discuss the project.
"There's a lot of concern out there," Lopatcong school board member Bill Taggart said. "This has been dragging on for a long time."
Phillipsburg has been waiting for $88 million to complete the new high school along Roseberry Street for close to two years. The Schools Construction Corp., a state agency established to build schools in New Jersey, ran out of money in July 2005 after years of waste and mismanagement.
The SCC only had enough money to work on 59 out of 350 projects statewide. Attempts to resurrect the program haven't been successful.
"The SCC was supposed to have this resolved," Taggart said. "They kept putting it off and off and off."
Greenwich Superintendent Kevin Brennan will send 309 students to Phillipsburg High School next school year.
"The issue of overcrowding needs to be attended, too," Brennan said.
The high school population has increased to 1,696 from 1,523 in 2002.
Greenwich will host a forum Monday night on the high school project. Brennan called it a good time for residents to hear from the board and the board to hear resident concerns.
Brennan said the dilemma is getting a state system to move. Overcrowding is not getting any better with each passing day.
"If this issue is not attended to, what are we going to do in three, four, five years?" Brennan asked.
The Phillipsburg School Board has hinted more trailers might be needed to accommodate the growing student population, a move Taggart said would create "a security nightmare."
Pawlowski said walking outdoors in all elements to get to class is a problem.
"It's not that great of a learning environment," Pawlowski said.
With much at stake for his students, Brennan is looking to get behind Phillipsburg.
"We really want to be a strong ally with them to bring the message to Trenton," Brennan said.
Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com.

[thomas]

High school answers few
But the questions are many. Parents offer up ideas on how to get new P'burg High built.
Thursday, March 08, 2007
By DANIEL HAUSMANN
The Express-Times
LOPATCONG TWP. | Parents and administrators left a forum on the stalled Phillipsburg High School project with no clear answers on whether the plan will ever get off the ground.
The local Statehouse delegation of state Sen. Leonard Lance, Assemblyman Mike Doherty and Assemblywoman Marcia Karrow called on the 100 in attendance to continue the fight.
The meeting, hosted by the Lopatcong PTA, was similar to last week's forum hosted by Greenwich Township School District.
Phillipsburg has been waiting on $88 million to complete the new high school at the northern end of Roseberry Street for close to two years. The Schools Construction Corp., a state agency established to build schools in New Jersey, ran out of money in July 2005 after years of waste and mismanagement.
The SCC only had enough money to work on 59 out of 350 projects statewide. Attempts to resurrect the program haven't been successful.
Parents, frustrated with the delays, called out any number of ideas. One involved regionalizing the school district and abandoning Phillipsburg and the 136-year sending-district relationship altogether.
"To look at some of the issues of separating would be the worst thing," Phillipsburg Superintendent Gordon Pethick said. "We can do it, but we're not going to get it separate."
Pethick said his office crunched the numbers, and a secession move by the sending districts to start their own high school would add $600 to $800 to homeowners' property tax bills.
"We need to be a coalition," Pethick said.
It was a recurring theme throughout the two-and-a-half-hour forum.
Lopatcong Township Superintendent Mike Rossi spelled out a scenario in which his district pulls out of Phillipsburg and goes to North Hunterdon. Rossi said students would spend at least an hour on a school bus going to high school each day.
"There is absolutely no way a sending district is going to go somewhere else and it will benefit the children," Rossi said.
Lance spelled out the obstacles in front of Phillipsburg: The district has to get a long-range facilities plan approved by the state Department of Education, and Phillipsburg has to get on the list of 59.
At the same time, the dollars become an issue. The state may put a bond question on a November ballot to fund the school projects. Another option is the New Jersey Education Law Center could file a $3.25 billion lawsuit to make the state follow court-ordered financial parity for school districts.
Lance said he doesn't think voters statewide will support a bond initiative that doesn't fund suburban districts.
Meanwhile, the student population is going up and so is the number of trailers at the high school. Pethick said 40 percent of the 1,710 high-schoolers are in the 31 trailers.
The district's projections show the population will increase to 1,921 in 2010.
Lopatcong eighth-grade grade student Nick Mengucci will be a junior that year and likely will be walking through winter weather to get to a class in a trailer.
With construction scheduled to last about three years for the new building, there's a good chance the current 1927 building will be Mengucci's high school for all four years.
"It's not bad; it's just small," Mengucci said. "I want to see a new school for the community."
Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com.

[njspanteach]

Congratulations to you all for following up on the current situation. There will be no answers, however, until we decide what it is that we want. Who is driving an effort to determine this? The school? A public group?

I read where the Superintendent says that taxes would go up if we built our own regional high school. Is he guaranteeing they will not with a new Phillipsburg High School?
__________________________________________________ _______
"To look at some of the issues of separating would be the worst thing," Phillipsburg Superintendent Gordon Pethick said. "We can do it, but we're not going to get it separate."
Pethick said his office crunched the numbers, and a secession move by the sending districts to start their own high school would add $600 to $800 to homeowners' property tax bills.
"We need to be a coalition," Pethick said.
__________________________________________________ _________

And can anyone tell me if Greenwich even has a voting member of the Phillipsburg School Board?

Keep up the good work. Talk to your kids. See what would be best.

[thomas]

Phillipsburg School District Board of Education


The mission of the Phillipsburg School District is to provide those experiences that develop and maximize talents, skills and abilities, so that all of our youth become useful and productive members of society.






Mr. Paul Rummerfield, President






Mr. Thomas McGuire,
Vice President

Mr. Robert Brennan

Mr. Bernard Brotzman, Jr.

Mr. Kevin DeGerolamo

Mr. James Hanisak

Mr. Stanley Hughes

Mr. Frank Kish, Lopatcong

Ms. Karen Murray, Bloomsbury

Mr. Salvatore Patti

Mr. Christopher Wittman, Greenwich

Mr. Chafik (Steve) Zarbatany




Purpose of meetings: To conduct the official business of the district in public

Who may attend: Residents, parents and other interested parties of the community

When and where: 2nd and 4th Monday of each month during academic year and once during summer
Phillipsburg Middle School Commons, 525 Warren St., Phillipsburg, NJ - 7:30 PM

For more information, or to reach the Superintendent's office, call 908.213.2500.

[thomas]

Check out the Lopatcong message board to see what's up there, about the high school.

www.lopatcongnj.com

[njspanteach]

I see that we have a board member, I believe we always did. But do they get to vote? They didn't when I was in school.

And I see from the Lopat board that Greenwich has the school curriculum committee working on the action plan. Is this a curriculum issue? What will happen to to the curriculum work of the curriculum committee?

What about utilizing community members to help?

Thank you for your answers.

[KouzJohn]

All,

After attending the Greenwich Township meeting and reading some of the posts here and on the Lopatcong message board, it sounds like many residents are angry about the whole high school situation. However, is anyone doing anything?? If we care about our childrens' education, we need to attend the BOE meetings every month and get involved. The next meeting is on March 28th at 7:30 P.M. in the Cafeteria of the Greenwich School, 101 Wyndham Farm Boulevard, Stewartsville, NJ. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW!!!! Are you with me??

My friend's mother works for the Keensburg, NJ school system (also an Abbott school), they had similar problems. They had petitions with many signatures, they marched in Trenton several times, sent letters to Corzine every month, etc.... And guess what?? They received the funds to build the new school. We should do the same.

Who is willing to get involved? Please let me know. I would like to start a group outside the BOE who will start a petition, goto the media, etc.... Please let me know what you think. This is for our childrens' education.

Thanks,
John

[KouzJohn]

Does anyone know how the residents of Alpha, Pohatcong and Bloomsbury feel?? Are they having meetings to discuss this? Are they on the same page as us?

[sharon]

I see that we have a board member, I believe we always did. But do they get to vote? They didn't when I was in school.

And I see from the Lopat board that Greenwich has the school curriculum committee working on the action plan. Is this a curriculum issue? What will happen to to the curriculum work of the curriculum committee?

What about utilizing community members to help?

Thank you for your answers.

Actually, a letter went home with the kids last week outlining Greenwich plans and looking for community members to work with the curriculum committee. It said if you were interested to contact Dr. Brennan. They are planning the first meeting in the beginning of April.

[BillTaggart]

I see that we have a board member, I believe we always did. But do they get to vote? They didn't when I was in school.Yes, the sending district members of the P'burg School Board may vote on all agenda items that involve the High School.

[2qtpies]

I think we need to descend in masses on Trenton and let them know just how fed up we are with the lack of progress here. And we aren't going to put up with it! If they don't want to do what needs to be done, they can not be elected to their job for the next term.

[KouzJohn]

I agree with 2qtpies, we need to drive down to Trenton and make a lot of noise. Who will organize this?

[WHGags]

I agree with Kouz. At the next board meeting we should move to form a citizens committee to take necessary action. There have been other Abbott districts who have taken action in a similar way and have been successful. This problem will not go away until WE the citizens take action. We will need the Board, but should not rely on the Board to have sole responsibility to get the job done. We need the Board and the Board needs us. This committee should organize itself around the following sub-committees:
1) Petitions and Letter writing committee - organize petitions, sending petitions to Trenton, community and student letter writing campaign
2) Media Relations committe - committee should involve all facets of local and state media (press, radio, local TV and internet). Ensure a constant voice in the media.
3) Political Relations and Action committee - Pressure local politicians to get involved with the committee and to support the cause in Trenton. Organize local rally and rally in Trenton.
4) Community Outreach committee - recruit and organize citizens from Greenwich and work with the descending districts.
We need leadership to get this job done. At the meeting everyone was asking for an action plan, and no one was willing to provide one. The time is now! If you are interested attend the next meeting. Kouz and I will motion for the creation of a citizens action group. We can organize all volunteers and move to have a meeting that will create the structure.

GAGS

[KouzJohn]

Hey GAGS,

Great way to organize the committees!!!! I think this is a great idea. I don't think this would work if it's just us 2. We need more people to step forward and help us help your kids education. We need to recruit more people, not only in Greenwich but in the other towns as well. I believe we can receive support from people in Lopatcong. Not sure of the other sending districts??? IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN CREATING THESE COMMITTEES, PLEASE ATTEND THE NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING OR LET US KNOW ON HERE.

If someone has an account on the Lopatcong message board, please posts these messages on there.

Thanks

[KouzJohn]

I think we should add a 5th committe??

5) Recruiting Committee --> This committee will gather residents from all 6 towns (phillipsburg, lopatcong, greenwich, bloomsbury, pohatcong and alpha) to join the committees that were mentioned in GAGS post.

[2qtpies]

Why not get the PTO/PTA at the different schools involved with rallying the community to get something going as far as Trenton is concerned?

[KouzJohn]

Sorry GAGS you have this covered :(


I think we should add a 5th committe??

5) Recruiting Committee --> This committee will gather residents from all 6 towns (phillipsburg, lopatcong, greenwich, bloomsbury, pohatcong and alpha) to join the committees that were mentioned in GAGS post.

[WHGags]

Kouz,

I think we should create an independent post to advertise the meeting on March 28th. I just wonder if things get lost in the thread of replies. What do you think.

[thomas]

I found out that Corzine is holding a Community Meeting Tuesday March 20th...Please see web-site: www.nj.gov to see the details...some of us from Lopatcong are trying to go if anyone would like to join us please conatct me at Ruskevmac@hotmail.com Thanks keep up the good work!!

[UsThree96]

Mar-09-07 Press Advisory - Governor Corzine to Hold Community Dialogue in Piscataway.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: March 9, 2007 CONTACT: Anthony Coley
Brendan Gilfillan
PHONE: 609-777-2600



PRESS ADVISORY



GOVERNOR CORZINE TO HOLD COMMUNITY DIALOGUE
IN PISCATAWAY
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 7 P.M.




TRENTON – On Tuesday, March 20, Governor Jon S. Corzine will hold a Community Dialogue in Piscataway. The event will take place at the Quibbletown Middle School, 99 Academy Street, from 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Members of the public planning to attend are asked to call 609-777-0994 or send email to event.rsvp@gov.state.nj.us to confirm their attendance.

[UsThree96]

THURSDAY MARCH 15TH EDITION - EXPRESS TIMES

IT'S TIME P'BURG TEACHERS HAVE A REALTY CHECK in the OPINION section: Phillipsburg School District teachers, angered that the school board has refused to rubber-stamp their proposals for contributions to health care, have taken to displaying "Settle Now" visors in their cars. Taxpayers in Phillipsburg, who are shelling out more than $8 million a year to cover teachers' health insurance benefits, may want to respond on their sun visors. "Sanity Now" would be an appropriate rejoinder. In Thursday's Express-Times, an editorial argues educators should be paying a reasonable share of their health care premiums instead of continuing to stick it to taxpayers.

[njspanteach]

Considering this thread's topic, perhaps settling the teacher demands should be on a separate one?

This thread's focus has been on getting a new school built.

[Greenwich_Wizard]

I don’t think that persons post is out of context, because public school teachers greed is one of the main factors the public school system in failing at every turn. Even President Bush’s Secretary of Education likened public school teachers to terrorists, regarding their propensity toward racketeering and criminally illicit bargaining tactics. Public school teachers greed is leading to broken down facilities, outdated resources for students and stunted progress of building new facilities.

[Demarn]

I don’t think that persons post is out of context, because public school teachers greed is one of the main factors the public school system in failing at every turn. Even President Bush’s Secretary of Education likened public school teachers to terrorists, regarding their propensity toward racketeering and criminally illicit bargaining tactics. Public school teachers greed is leading to broken down facilities, outdated resources for students and stunted progress of building new facilities.

Although your post is somewhat related to this thread (seeing as how Phillipsburg's financial state may affect all sending districts and a future high school), you really need to come back to reality on some of the other stuff.

1) The school system is NOT failing at every turn. I don't know if you mean at the local or state level, primary or secondary level, but in any case, the school "system" is not failing. Are some schools failing? Sure, but in EVERY case of a failing school, we will also find a failing community. Since schools reflect their communities, it is completely unreasonable to place the entire blame at the feet of the teachers.

2) People who choose a career in education tend be be more concerned with stability than with pay potential. Thus, the teacher's union has successfully mantained tenure and full health benefits for many of its members. As far as pay goes, teachers in NJ get paid relatively well compared to other states. However, their pay really only provides for a comfortable middle class lifestyle. Therefore, your remark about "teacher greed" is just plain dopey.

3) Local NJ teacher contracts are negotiated fairly and legally. There is nothing that is "criminally illicit" about it. If there is, then why don't you provide some proof?

[UsThree96]

P'burg School District under federal investigation
Posted by Express-Times staff March 17, 2007 09:30AM
Categories: Breaking News
In 1972, President Nixon signed Title IX into law as part of a series of education amendments. The guiding principle of the legislation is that no one, on the basis of sex, should be subject to discrimination by any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

Athletics is one of 10 educational components covered under Title IX and it is spurring an investigation by the federal Office for Civil Rights about whether girls in the Phillipsburg School District are getting the same athletic opportunities as their male counterparts. U.S. Department of Education spokesman Jim Bradshaw confirmed through an e-mail with The Express-Times that the investigation centers on, "Specifically, locker rooms, practices and competitive facilities, training and coaching staff, medical and training facilities, financial assistance, publicity, athletic housing and dining facilities and support services."

[Greenwich_Wizard]

Demarn,

A thriving community will have a thriving school system because it is pouring money into it. Unfortunately, these communities never get any return on their investment. Bedroom communities, such as the ones we live in ,foot the bill for education and afterward the students disperse throughout the country or globe and all of that capital that was spent on them is lost. Since the technology has been available for so long, I believe in home schooling. The savings would be incredible. For starters, public school teachers could be fired and replaced with H-1B workers from India. With the Internet, the H-1B’s would work for $7.50 per hour, with no benefits and think it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. Using the internet, there could be much more diversity with subject matter and student classes from all over the country or the world. Security would be much better because the student would be in their own home. Tons of money would be saved on school construction, insuring the school, paying teachers salaries and benefits, heating/air conditioning schools - the list of savings goes on forever.

[biggeredtruck]

With what has gone on in Warren County and inflation there will be no
new money for our children and their education.

Governor Corzine has the right idea.

We need to know where all of the money went for the new High School.

If the current Tzar of Warren County is the Republican Chairman and
a partner in the law firm Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt, and Nader what
would we call the type of government in Warren County?

Government is no longer Democratic when you have a private company
and a private political entity controlling the Government.

A Republican running for President has called it Facism. It seems to fit.

The Town of Lopatcong is reaching out to us in Greenwich to join the
"Gang." Lopatcong presents it as saving money for the taxpayers.

It costs us money since Lopatcong is accountable to no one. They are
a law firm using the Police to rule and control.

Elections are going to be happening in Lopatcong in November. Right
now there are no term limits, cronyism, and corruption.BANKRUPTCY
of the Democracy called the United States of America.

[Demarn]

It costs us money since Lopatcong is accountable to no one.

Ultimately, they are accountable to the voters, and we get what we deserve every time we vote.