By:Krzysztof Scibiorski
Following heated debate and forceful comments from the parents in attendance at Tuesday’s meeting, the board rejected three out of seven candidates applying for positions on the district’s substitute teacher list.
Theresa Schafer, a parent of children at ABIS and Roosevelt schools, voiced her concerns with the recommended list containing "a person that the school board had bad experiences with in the past."
Schools’ Superintendant Francis X. Heelan, attempted to explain the make-up of the list saying "If they applied, and they are qualified, we don’t discriminate in who is on the list. If there were problems we just don’t call them (to serve as substitutes)."
Board member Dorothy Bradley, questioned the superintendant’s decision to recommend a candidate who was, in Board President Frank Jurczak’s words, "essentially fired" by the district.
"Am I hearing that performance does not matter in this district? Is this what I’m hearing?" Ms. Bradley asked.
Stating that she was uncertain about who the controversial individual was, Ms. Bradley voted against or abstained in each of the individual votes on the candidates to the substitute list. In the end, the candidacies of Mary Ellen Zangara, and Paul Lebedz, both of Manville, received no ‘seconds’ and were defeated, while JoAnn Sackett, also of Manville, failed to receive the required five ‘yes’ votes.
Peter Coleman of Hillsborough, Jack Haiken of Bedminster, Lorraine McGinn and Chester Raczkowski, both of Manville, were added to the list of candidates.
Following the votes, Ms. Shaefer, indicated that "I was happy with how the board voted, and my concerns were addressed."
This week’s board meeting saw the district accept the resignations of four teachers, a special education instructional assistant and a lunchroom aide.
Among the resignations was Robert Zech, a high school English teacher. Parents present at the meeting expressed hope that a qualified replacement will be found expediciously to fill Mr. Zech’s position as an English teacher for the 11th graders preparing for the SAT and HSPT tests in the spring.
The board also accepted and recognized the donation of an additional musical instrument for the Manville High School Marching Band from the members of the Manville Music Organization.
The Organization, represented at the meeting by Doug Cortelyou and Mike Impellizeri, donated a New Blessing Marching Baritone saxophone to the band.
The saxophone, valued at over $1,200 was purchased with funds from the Music Organization’s various fundraising efforts, such as the on-going candle sale, Mr. Cortelyou said.
During Tuesday night’s meeting, the board accepted a donation a new American flag for the Roosevelt School from Manville’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2290.
Schools’ superintendant Francis X. Heelan, indicated that the VFW Post 2290 will also provide Manville High School with a new American flag in the immediate future.

