School board eyes return to committee system in November

The reason given by the school board when it suspended the committee system in December 2007 was “a lack of trust among board members”

By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
   The Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education, which has been operating as a committee-of-the-whole since Dec. 10, 2007, has decided to go back to the committee system.
   It was decided in December 2007 that the committee-of-the-whole method of governance would be in place until at least the April reorganization meeting following the annual school board election.
   And in April, the board decided to continue to conduct all its business as a committee-of-the-whole, rather than going back to the committee system.
   However, a resolution adopted by the board Monday night states in part that “the board of education has concluded that its current form of operating under the committee-of-the-whole is not yielding the effectiveness the board desires.”
   ”The game plan,” board President Melvin Myers said, is that the standing committees will not bear the same titles or have the same duties as was the case before the switch was made to the committee-of-the-whole method of operation.
   Approval of four new committees is scheduled for introduction on Nov. 10 and adoption on Nov. 17. The four proposed new committees are: educational program, finance and facilities, communications and alternate resources.
   Before the switch to the committee-of-a-whole was made, the board had five standing committees: finance, facilities, personnel, curriculum and policy. Prior to December 2007, the committee system had been in use for decades. It is the method used by most boards in the state.
   Once the new committees are approved, President Myers can appoint several board members to each committee.
   Board members said consensus on going with the new committees was reached during their Oct. 7 board retreat.
   The reason given by the school board when it suspended the committee system in December 2007 was “a lack of trust among board members.” The implication was that without trust use of the committee system was not feasible.
   Since that time, the membership of the board has changed. Current members not in office in December 2007 are Armelle Daniels, Roy Dollard, Judy Lindenberger, Pennington’s Daniel O’Connor and Leigh Ann Peterson. These board members have replaced Carl Swanson (who resigned for health reasons in late 2007 and was replaced briefly by Bill Hills), Edward Gainsborg (who was defeated in the April 2008 election), Judy Karp (who did not seek re-election), Pennington’s Kevin Doran (who resigned because of business responsibilities) and Linda Mitchell (who resigned because of a move to North Carolina).
   OTHER BUSINESS — Natalie Rubin was appointed as an elementary school teacher at Toll Gate Grammar School for the 2008-2009 year at an annual salary of $47,574. This is a leave of absence appointment, effective Sept. 1 through Jan. 30, 2009. The appointment was approved unanimously by the school board Monday night.
   Other personnel actions, all approved unanimously, included:
   — Appointment of Valerie Sadwin as a data statistician consultant for the 2008-2009 school year at $50 per hour, with total payments not to exceed $1,500 during the year. The appointment was effective Sept. 1.
   — Appointment of Carmen Melendez as a bus driver for the 2008-2009 school year, effective Oct. 6. Ms. Melendez will be paid $18.50 per hour and is scheduled for six hours of work per day, yielding an annual salary of $20,202.
   — Granting of a family leave, effective Oct. 6, to Lindsay Hilsen, behavioral specialist at Timberlane Middle School.
   — Granting of a family leave, effective Sept. 22, to Lori Leopardi, social worker at Hopewell Elementary and Stony Brook Elementary.
   — Granting of a personal leave, for the 2008-2009 school year, to Hopewell Elementary teacher Frances Maguire.
   — Appointment of Denise Evans as a paraprofessional at Bear Tavern for 2008-2009, at a salary of $18,345, for 6.5 hours a day, effective Oct. 13.
   — Appointment of Jessica Wolff as a paraprofessional at Bear Tavern for 2008-2009 at a salary of $18,082, for 6.5 hours a day, effective Sept. 1.