LAMBERTVILLE: State: City’s school is doing very well

LPS received scores of 100 percent in three areas: operations management, personnel and governance

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — The Lambertville Public School has passed a state performance review with flying colors.
   As a result of the review, the school district recently learned it has been designated as “high performing” by the New Jersey Department of Education. It is the highest designation a district can receive.
   ”The staff and administration deserve a lot of credit,” Board of Education President Steven Wolock said.
   The designation is the result of a performance review known as QSAC, an acronym for Quality Single Accountability Continuum. QSAC is a monitoring and evaluation system for all public school districts.
   All schools in the state must undergo a QSAC review and must achieve scores of at least 80 percent in each of five areas to be considered successful. According to the Department of Education, the five areas are key factors in effective school districts.
   LPS received scores of 100 percent in three areas: operations management, personnel and governance. The school scored 98 percent in fiscal management and 92 percent in instruction and program.
   In some instances, but not at LPS, the evaluation and review can determine school districts need improvement. The state can intervene in any of the five key areas that are found to be lacking.
   Todd Fay, the superintendent shared by LPS and West Amwell Elementary School, said West Amwell achieved similar scores.
   ”It helped us a lot,” Dr. Fay said of the QSAC review. “It forced us to look at what we’re doing and make sure we’re doing what we need to, to be compliant.”
   A large part of the process is the self-evaluation all districts must perform. Then they have to back up their self-evaluations with documentation.
   ”Any kind of self-evaluation and self-reflection is good,” Dr. Fay said.
   Gerald Vernotica, executive county superintendent, reviewed all of the documentation last fall along with county Business Administrator Jeffrey Scott.
   LPS found out its scores April 26 via a letter from New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, Mr. Wolock said.