HIGHTSTOWN: Tuberculosis case not discussed at BOE meeting

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   Despite the recent single tuberculosis case resulting in mandatory screenings for 18 students and six adults by the New Jersey Department of Health at Melvin H. Kreps Middle School — it was business as usual at the East Windsor Regional School District’s Board of Education meeting this past Monday.
   On April 16 the New Jersey Department of Health notified Kreps that one student was found to have a case of active tuberculosis, as reported last week in the Herald.
   The tuberculosis case was not mentioned throughout the duration of the Board of Education’s reorganization meeting.
   Said Kreps Principal Lori Stein on Thursday, “Based on the results, we do not need to do anymore testing now.” She said if that were to change the school would again notify parents.
   No parents were in attendance at Monday’s Board of Education meeting to address the tuberculosis case and subsequent mandatory testing of 24 people including Kreps students and faculty members.
   Parents of Kreps students received an e-mail from Principal Stein on April 19, informing them that a singular case of tuberculosis had been reported and that “at risk” students and staff would be required to be screened.
   "I was surprised it was sent by e-mail,” said Kreps parent Dave Bell of Hightstown on April 22. “It should have been a phone call, the automatic phone system could have been used, or a hard copy sent home with my daughter. I got an auto-call about extended Memorial Day weekend, but not about something this important. I don’t check my e-mail all the time and what about people who don’t have e-mail?”
   East Windsor resident Kerry Bellars, who is also a Kreps parent, concurred.
   "The district needs to come up with a standardized way of communicating all information to parents,” Ms. Bellars said on April 23. “As it is, Melvin H. Kreps understands that not every parent has access to a computer so we are told that hardcopies are available to those students — but is it really? Not to mention the fact that sometimes we don’t open every email immediately.”
   Ms. Bellars continued, “I think we are losing a personal touch regardless of the number of students in the district or in the school — we need to have verbal communication. E-mail only does not reflect tone or importance as well as a verbal conversation.”
   Principal Stein told the Herald on May 3, “I didn’t receive any complaints about how families were notified.”
   On April 25 the New Jersey Department of Health held a special meeting and tuberculosis information session for parents at Kreps.
   As for the Board of Education meeting, with school elections having been moved to November, the reorganization occurred a bit differently this year with positions appointed until Jan. 7, 2013.
   Kurt Stumbaugh was re-appointed as the district’s business administrator and to serve also in the position as board secretary. Thaddeus Thompson was re-appointed to serve as assistant board secretary.
   David Coats, on behalf of his firm, was re-appointed as board’s legal counsel.
   Board Member Bruce Ettman was not present at the meeting.
   The next Board of Education meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. May 14 at the Hightstown High School cafeteria.
   
— Jen Samuel, managing editor, contributed to this report.