By Lois Staas
NEWS Correspondent
The Bellmawr Board of Education meeting at Bell Oaks Media Center was standing room only from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 20.
Prior to the meeting students, their teachers, and the curriculum coordinator gave a presentation of the 100 Book Challenge, sponsored by the American Book Company.
The pretend session demonstrated this reading process for Pre-K to 4th graders.
Students choose a book, are taught a skill (like fact vs. opinion) in a mini-lesson, get one-on-one student/teacher conferences.
Students read aloud and the class shares out.
Progress reports are kept with incremental rewards.
One student said, \”I like reading at school during the day and at home at night.\”
Board Member Mary Di-Mattesa presented 7tth gra-der Jenna Derrickson with the \”Leadership Award.\”
Superintendent Annette Castiglione said, \”I know Jenna from band, but I had no idea she is so involved.\”
During Board business, Councilman James D\’An-gelo said, \”I am here on behalf of Mayor and Council regarding the resignation of Business Administrator Dr. Ann Garcia, so quickly after her appointment. I ask you to carefully consider your vote (accepting her resignation).
\”If you need to hire a full time person, the salary will go up. Paying more money for a full-time Business Administrator seems as though the financial situation is not as dire as you made it sound,\” he said.
\”With regard to Dr. Garcia, years ago, many years ago, we appointed Mr. Bell, who stayed on for years as superintendent; Mr. Finkle, who stayed for about 20 years, as Business Administrator; and our former lawyer, who also stayed for about 20 years.
\”Comments were made about the next superintendent being a female. Well, now you have a female superintendent, a female business administrator, and a female Board president,\” D\’Angelo said. \”How does the administration go out of here like a revolving door? There must be some problem somewhere.
\”You run things like business in order to get people to come here. Your reputation follows you. You may not get the best people for the position. You have everything, and still they are not here,\” D\’Angelo said.
Board President Jody Mangus replied, \”I made an agreement with Mrs. Castiglione that we will work together. Dr. Garcia took positions in other districts.
\”She resigned. We are here for the community and for the children. We will take your comments under advisement.\”
D\’Angelo also asked about the possibilities of investing monies the district received last school year from the the food service, Nutri Serve.
\”If most of the money went to repair kitchen eq-uipment that keeps breaking down, could we invest in a maintenance agreement or purchase step by step a dish washer one year, a refrigerator the next?\” D\’Angelo asked.
Castiglione said that, indeed, they were considering just that since the money at the end of the year was designated to be returned for cafeteria use.
One major parental concern was the week long spring break. Some felt that one week created hardship for parents who needed to find child care.
Also, they said that time could have been used to prepare for state testing.
One parent, who did some research on her own, felt parents should have been included in finding out how the break would affect everyone. While child care issues were acknowledged, the students\’s spring break time was appreciated by many children.
Some had quality time visiting grandparents. Students returned back to school in better shape, either to take mandatory tests or to resume school work after recouping from the stress of mandated testing.
Some recharged after approximately seven months of being asked to be constantly creative.
This was also a time to clear the buildings during flu season as well as an opportunity to clean rugs, floors, water fountains and otherwise tend to disinfect the schools and sanitize the lavatories.
On another topic, one parent felt that the lack of a 6th grade pre-algebra class weakened the curriculum.
Castiglione said she, Bell Oaks Principle Anthony Farinelli, and the Black Horse Pike Mathematics Supervisor had met to determine how to best articulate the curriculum between the districts for the benefit of incoming freshmen.
It was decided that since 10 percent of the 8th grade class passed the algebra assessment to enroll in geometry, the 7th and 8th grades in the middle school would have the higher homogeneous grouping.
Another parent asked the superintendent to explain Genesis. She said it is an upgraded system for grades, lesson plans, parent communication, collection of student information for state required reports, and exchanges between the Bellmawr and Black Horse Pike school districts.
The superintendent was proud to display the banner and to announce that the 5th and 6th grades won first place in \”The Battle of the Books\” this year.
Of the Triton Regional High School students who had graduated from Bell Oaks and won the scholarship money, 10 of them were in the top 10 of the class of 2008, and one was the class valedictorian.
\”We will be busy teaching your children through the end of the year, adding to their social and emotional well being,\” she said.
Board Member Ron Henry reported, \”We are currently conducting custodian interviews, and are working with our custodian on a summer check list.\”
Board Member Jamie Casey said, \”Due to rising prices, lunch will increase 15 cents, an increase from $1.45 to $1.60.\”
\”We have negotiated with administration, and the secretaries at the front and board offices,\” said Board Member Betty Sheppard.
Board Member Mike \”Juice\” Williams said the emergency management team attended a presentation of security systems.
\”It is all about funds,\” reported Williams.