This has been a busy summer,” said David Aderhold, presiding at his first West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education meeting since becoming superintendent. “There have been a total of 16 administrative changes out of a staff of 50 and numerous capital projects that have been completed or are underway. In addition, we have been exploring options for increasing school security. This has been a summer of transition.”
The Board appointed Jeffrey Santoro as the supervisor of fine and performing arts for K-12; Carl Cooper as the supervisor of social studies; Jeanine Bryde as the acting assistant principal at Town Center Elementary School; Guyler Tulp as the assistant principal at Community Middle School; and Sherry Sizemore as the supervisor of world languages.
At the July 23 meeting the Board also accepted the resignation of High School South assistant principal Robert Banks, retiring after 20 years of service, Olga Choquette, South language arts teacher, retiring after 24 years; and Eileen Kwis, South social studies teacher, retiring after 33 years.
Regarding security initiatives, the Board and the administration are considering expanding the Eyes on the Door security pilot program. “We plan to extend the program to the middle schools as well as Village and Millstone River, and we also wish to implement it for after-school activities,” said Board member Michele Kaish. “In addition, 42 security cameras have been purchased and will be installed in the schools.”
The district is also undertaking numerous capital programs, several at each school. Among the major items: Roof replacement at High School South; repaving of parking lots and driveways at South and at Grover Middle School; carpet replacement at High School North, Grover, and Village School; HVAC upgrades and/or replacements at Community Middle School, Wicoff Elementary School, Millstone River School, Grover, and Dutch Neck Elementary School; and security, electrical, and technology upgrades at each school.
Board member Richard Kaye discussed curriculum issues. “Over the summer we held a tutorial session for seventh graders who wished to move up from regular to honors math. Of the 26 GMS students and the 13 CMS students who participated and took the test, four qualified to be placed in honors math. That raises some issues: first, that perhaps the regular math curriculum needs to be more in line with the honors math curriculum; and second, that many of the children who are currently in regular math should be in regular math, for a variety of reasons, and are doing quite well there.”
In addition to the technology pilot program announced earlier this year, the fifth grade students will be undergoing another pilot program, in social studies. “It is called ‘living in a global community,’ and is designed around a series of 12 textbooks, rather than just one,” said Kaye. “That way, teachers and classrooms can share materials because they don’t all need to be using the same book at the same time, which cuts the cost of the books. They are $90 apiece, for 200 students, so it works out to $20,000.”
Board member Louisa Ho noted that the district transportation department will be evaluating bus routes in response to the road closure at Old Trenton Road, in an effort to ensure busing for the approximately 50 students affected by the closure.
Among the other personnel changes approved:
Carl Cooper, appointed supervisor of social studies; Jeffrey Santoro appointed supervisor of fine and performing arts, at salaries of $104,536.
Jeanine Bryde, from teacher to acting assistant principal of Town Center Elementary School, $109,436.
Teacher Guyler Tulp to replace Shauna Carter as assistant principal at Community Middle School, $106,170.
Fourth and fifth grade music teacher Gregory Boccuti as a leave replacement for Shannon Ferrara, $52,610.
High school language arts teacher Daniel Brack to replace Olga Choquette, $54,550.
Middle school Spanish teacher Maria DeLeon as a leave replacement for Ellen Blejwas, $50,700.
Middle school IRLA teacher Alison Eitel as leave replacement for Debra Baer, $52,160.
Middle school Chinese teacher Alison Lau to replace Sherry Sizemore, $52,500.
Fourth grade teacher Robyn Mallen to replace Danica Taylor, $50,700.
Middle school German teacher Jessica Nagle to replace Max Achtau, $50,500.
Fifth grade teacher Mariel Otis to replace Rachel Farrow, $52,610.
Middle and high school art teacher Nishan Patel to replace Jane Proulx, $52,500.
Lauren Petro appointed as second grade teacher, $51,000.
Christopher Pisano appointed as middle and high school Spanish teacher, $50,500.
Middle school science teacher Christian Rathbun to replace Deborah Cohen, $50,700.
Middle school IRLA teacher Peter Shaughnessy changed to leave replacement for Teresa Aakhus, $56,240.
Joshua Verb appointed teacher of high school social studies and consumer economics, $50,700.
Fifth grade teacher Karen Winterstein as leave replacement for Aurey Trapolsi, $50,700.
The next Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 20, at 7:30 p.m. at Grover Middle School.
