FREEHOLD – A plan for basic math skills for pupils to learn in Freehold Borough’s elementary schools has been approved by the Board of Education.
The board approved the K-5 Math Basic Skills plan on Dec. 11. The plan was developed by a K-5 Math Committee and consists of a program overview, entrance/exit criteria, session outline, and forms and letters for various stakeholders.
The K-5 Math Committee was empaneled by the board in November to examine and identify needs to develop a plan for basic math skills. District staff members Peggy Earhart, Danielle Fekete, Dawn Fetterly, Jillian Lazaro and Alyssa Galasso were appointed as members of the committee.
Superintendent of Schools Rocco Tomazic said the committee was formed to engage teachers in the process of developing and implementing the plan, which will include the district’s goal for basic math skills, defining what those skills are, developing entrance/exit criteria for students, identifying additional materials and resources to support students in the program, and providing information and support for classroom teachers and parents.
“The overarching goal of the program is to help and support students in meeting grade level standards in math,” Tomazic said. “This is a logical step since the district added basic skills math teachers for the 2017-18 school year where previously we had none.”
In other business, the board awarded a $22,475 contract to the New Jersey Coalition for Inclusive Education for a middle school special education coach who will provide staff members at the Freehold Intermediate School with 15.5 days of coaching and consultation deemed necessary to support the achievement of all students in the district.
The board awarded a $10,200 contract to Staff Development Workshops for a middle school reading coach who will provide staff members with individualized literacy teacher coaching for a total of six days of onsite coaching.
Those two contracts were awarded because the Freehold Intermediate School has been identified as a focus school by the New Jersey Department of Education which, according to the department, is a school that has room for improvement.
And, the board entered into an agreement with U.S. Security Associates for a uniformed, unarmed, certified security officer to assist with traffic monitoring on school days at the Freehold Learning Center elementary school, Dutch Lane Road, while a construction project continues at the school. The security officer will work from 7:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. and U.S. Security Associates will be paid $16.17 per hour for up to 40 hours a week.
The board appointed Steven Mirabelli as a temporary security monitor, effective Dec. 4, to assist with security and traffic during the district’s current construction projects. The salary for the position is $18 per hour.
Finally, the board authorized the purchase of a 2017 plow truck at a cost of $36,532 and passed a resolution requesting a capital reserve withdrawal of up to $37,000.