By jane meggitt
Staff Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — At the school board’s only July meeting, board officials heard the news that district must plan for the possibility that some facilities slated to be open for September may not be ready .
At last week’s meeting Upper Freehold Regional School District Superintendent Robert Connelly said that the contingency plans in case work on school buildings is not completed by September are being developed.
In a worst-case scenario, one grade would move into the annex, and three high school classes would still be maintained there, Connelly said.
"I hope it doesn’t happen," he said. "We’ll know by Aug. 1 if the whole road map will fall into line," he added.
He said the school project had been extended by about 30 days due to the weather.
In additional business, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maybeth Conway told the board that a committee has been working to redesign the teacher evaluation process.
This was initially done with nontenured teachers. In addition to the traditional methods of classroom observation and data collection, teachers also submit a portfolio to Conway demonstrating their skills in certain areas. The "first crop" of nontenured teachers using this method are now ready for tenure. Conway cited the older classroom observation model, in which an administrator sits in on the class for 45 minutes, "with the teacher on their best behavior, as a fairly punitive model."
The model UFRSD wants to use is a hybrid, wherein if newly tenured teachers get an outstanding or very good rating in their annual reviews, they will work on a customized professional development plan. They would meet with their supervisors and identify the areas they wanted to work with in depth for that school year. If a teacher receives an average rating, the administrators will help focus on the teacher’s goals, and give more overall help. Bressi asked, "In the typical tenure model, [the teacher] is here for life. This is more of a growth path for the teacher?" Conway replied that it was "much more professional and affirming, and I think we will get better results."
She added that they had some alternative-path teachers who were very strong in their subject matter but needed some additional classroom-management skills.
In other business, Connelly reported that a letter had been received from Monmouth County Engineer Ted Giannechini, asking that the board appoint a member for a special committee on the proposed westerly bypass. Representatives from Allentown Borough and Upper Freehold Township will also be appointed. Board member Howard Krieger agreed to be the board representative, with President Jeanette Bressi as the alternate.
The board also discussed ordering wireless laptops for board members, with the idea of going "paperless." Connelly said the cost would be under $2,000 per unit. Board member Jennifer DeMauro said, at about $20,000, she "could think of a lot of other things [the money] could be used for. I would like to compare it with other priorities in the districts."
Business Administrator Viola Yosifon said the laptops, if acquired, would be part of a lease/purchase arrangement.
At the previous meeting, several parents had voiced concerns about cleanliness in the schools, and the spread of strep infections.
Connelly said that Allentown High School nurse Kim Cocozello will meet with the parents and come back with recommendations.