By: Eileen Oldfield – Staff Writer
Seventeen new teachers will join the school district, and several new programs, including online course work, have been instituted for the 2010-2011 school year, set to start Friday.
"We’re opening the school beautifully," District Superintendent Johanna Ruberto said. "The entire district is very positive, and we are confident in the plans we have for the 2010-2011 school year."
The repairs slated for the district, which include new lighting in Weston School, a new boiler at Roosevelt School, and a $1 million dollar turf football field. While the district is paying for the lighting and boiler, the Somerset County Freeholders provided a $1 million grant for the turf field.
In addition to the new teachers, three district schools will have new principals, though the staff in the positions are not new to the district. An administrative shift earlier this year moved former Roosevelt School Principal Michael Magliacano to Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, and former Alexander Batcho Intermediate School Principal Jim Brunn to Manville High School. Former Manville High School Principal Donald Woodring left the district in June, and Dr. Ruberto will act as principal in Roosevelt School at no extra cost to the district. Don Frank will continue leading Weston School.
Several new programs will be instituted in the schools, too, including a language lab at Manville High School, an online financial literacy class at Manville High School, and several modifications to the school’s unit lunch. During the lunch periods, students will be able to complete online courses, meet with clubs, and other activities. Also, the school hopes to bring guest lecturers to the school during lunch periods, Dr. Ruberto said.
At Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, students will experience a team-based structure, where each grade level is its own team. The structure gives teachers common planning time, and allows teachers to tie topics from multiple subjects together – under the structure, a topic covered in social studies class could appear in English class.
Other new programs include additional literacy help for students in grades four to 12, Dr. Ruberto added.

