By Leigh Anne Hubbs
NEWS Correspondent
There were watery eyes at Mount Ephraim’s November Board of Education (BOE) meeting, as Eighth Grade science teacher Mr. Stoops read aloud his resignation letter.
He will retire as of January 1, 2010 after 40 years of teaching.
Superintendent Joseph Rafferty, President Darlene Alexander and Board Member Rocco Vespe commented that Mr. Stoops has been a positive influence on so many students, his name carries a lot of respect in Mount Ephraim, and his service has been key in the level of quality education which students receive.
After teaching in the district for so many years, Mr. Stoops, on multiple occasions, has had students whose parents he taught and some of this former students even went on to become School Board members.
In other business, Rafferty said that Mary Bray and Kershaw students did a fantastic job when they successfully practiced their Lockdown and Shelter-in-Place drills October 22.
Teachers practiced with students one day prior to ensure the children were not frightened, and that they were aware of what they needed to do.
Principal Michael Hunter and Dawn Reilly are part of the Mount Ephraim Schools Crisis Team, which means that if needed, representatives from each district would go to the district in need of their services whether it be Mount Ephraim or a neighboring district.
Board Secretary/Admin-istrator Melissa Raywood said that finger scanners will be used in place of money or meal cards in the cafeteria in the near future.
This will enhance the amount of time the students have to eat their lunches.
Sanitation stations have been installed near the scanners to help prevent the spread of germs from one finger to the next, she said.
Rafferty said students will now have an academic portfolio which will follow them from third to eighth grade, this will allow students, parents and teachers to track progress and see what areas need improvement.
If students are already proficient, the next goal is to have that student reach advanced proficiency, he said.
Information on the December 8th H1N1 clinic has been sent home to parents, because this is a half day.
Shinning Star, the district’s child care program, will allow students who are not enrolled to attend on this day for a fee of $15. Care is available until 6 p.m.
Student of the Month winners for October are first grader Kayla Woodington, second grader Diellza Dabrova, third grader John West, fourth grader Rachel Baker, Allen Chase rep-resenting the fifth and sixth grades, and Lorianne Johanesen representing the seventh and eighth grades.
On October 26 the Community Relations Committee hosted its first open forum where the public was invited to suggest cost-cutting ideas for the district. The Committee’s head, Carl Ingram, plans to have more forums in the future.
Student Matthew Bonamassa will be running a race in Florida which benefits the National Multiple Sclerosis Society on behalf of fellow student Michael Gaglianone.
On November 5 and 6, a section of Kershaw’s roof was repaired. The contractor responsible for completing the Mary Bray playground has promised that rain or shine it will be finished by the end of the week ending November 14.
The district is very thankful for the donation of a drum set from the Arechavala family and a clarinet from Ann Granato and family.
Cheri Fuhs has been approved to be a substitute classroom teacher for the remainder of the 2009-10 school year at a rate of $95 per day.
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