By Amber Cox, Special Writer
SPRINGFIELD — The school board unanimously voted to terminate one board member’s position on April 17 following a number of missed meetings.
According to Superintendent Joseph Miller, the board discussed the issue of Jennifer Steele’s absences at board meeting.
”We really have attempted over and over again,” he said. “We sent her (a) certified letter with no response. I know she either has just or is soon getting married, which believe me I’m sure is taking her time, but she simply is not serving the office for which she was elected so the board will be replacing her.”
The board has 60 days to replace Ms. Steele’s position. If it is not able to do so, the executive county superintendent is required to appoint someone.
”I will be sending out an advertisement for interested candidates to be considered by the board in the future,” Mr. Miller said.
In other news the new chief school administrator contract has been approved by the executive county superintendent.
Mr. Miller said he has received the final approval for the chief school administrator position, which the board previously approved for Edith Conroy.
The district still is waiting on approval for the new business administrator’s contract.
Both contracts tentatively were approved by the board March 20.
Ms. Conroy will receive an initial salary of $122,500. Her contract will run from July 1 to June 30, 2015.
Charmette Long-Vernon was named business administrator and board secretary at an annual salary of $80,000. If the contract receives final approval, it would run from July 1 to June 30, 2013.
Ms. Conroy also visited the school for two days the week before Easter to begin her transition into the district.
”On Tuesday, she attended the faculty meeting and was formally introduced to the entire staff,” Mr. Miller said. “She is continuing to learn more and more about our district. The transition is definitely starting and looking good.”
The board also tentatively approved the 2012-13 Professional Development Plan, which was sent to the county for final approval.
Jared Fudurich, elementary supervisor, explained the plan at the meeting and said one of the first parts to the plan is developing a needs assessment.
”We looked at the district goals, which included taking full advantage of revised curriculum offerings, restructuring the basic skills program and (achieving) Adequate Yearly Progress on the NJASK for reading and math for spring 2013,” he said.
The plan also includes training for the new teacher evaluation method, which was mandated by the state.
The district will be working with the Danielson model being conducted by a company called Teachscape. According to Mr. Miller, there are four models of new teacher evaluations being piloted as part of the Excellent Educators for New Jersey program.
”We have purchased the program, which includes software licenses, access fees, training fees, everything associated with that,” Mr. Miller said. “We should be in good shape except for the actual training. There will be two training days for our administrators during the summer, and they will in turn come back and be able to turn-key train our teachers in the methodology that will be implemented next year.”
The board also unanimously set dates for meetings for the remainder of the year. Because the board moved the election date to November, dates needed to be made.
They are Tuesday, May 15; Tuesday, June 19; Tuesday, July 17; Tuesday, Sept., 18; Tuesday, Oct. 16; Tuesday, Nov. 20; and Tuesday, Dec. 18.
