Letter To The Editor: Don't Eliminate Assistant Principal Position

On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. at the high school to discuss the budget and to hear from the public. At the most recent school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Frank Alvarez presented a budget that assumed the district would receive the same level of state aid this year as it did last year. School board members asked Alvarez to present a "Plan B" budget that assumes Montclair does not receive any state aid.

As a result, parents are worried about where Alvarez might make cuts with one parent—Sidney Simon—concerned that the assistant principal's position at her child's school, Nishuane, might be slashed.

Here is her letter to the editor:

"Did you know that some Board of Ed members have expressed interest in cutting the assistant principal position from Nishuane? Please support Nishuane by coming to the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night 7 PM @ 141 Park St. If you would like to know why this position is vitally important to the success of Nishuane and our entire district, please read below!

Why should parents in all our schools care if Nishuane has an Assistant Principal or not?

Today, our elementary kids are separated by the school of our preference but as they grow up, the school choices are reduced from 6 to 3 and eventually 1.  The population that Nishuane welcomes each year is 50% of the eventual senior class -- and the education at Nishuane is more than ABC's and 123's: 

·         Nishuane’s K-2 focus means that (1/3) one-third of all students are new to school each year.· 

        Nishuane’s large, young population allows for small learning communities to help teach and guide children both academically and behaviorally·         

        Positive school behaviors are taught from the ground-up at Nishuane to guarantee success through high school·

         22% or more of Nishuane’s students come from families that qualify as low-income, which qualifies the school as a Title I building ·    

         Nishuane is the district’s K-2 gifted and talented magnet, which takes a large, dedicated staff to provide children with nearly 80 CI/Aesthetic classes

·        Nishuane is the starting point for the Mandarin initiative that was awarded 1.4 million dollars in federal funding

Are you wondering what the Nishuane Assistant Principal does?

This position has multiple roles to help all children perform at their best for entry to Hillside and the ongoing population.  In a nutshell, the Assistant Principal is responsible for all levels of school-based early intervention programs -- academic and behavioral -- for all students· 

              Creating behavioral guidance programs and interventions between the student, teacher and families.·

              Developing positive classroom behaviors and appropriate interventions.·   

             Testing for placement in classrooms.·  

             Magnet Scheduling for all cycles (3x a year) including classes related to the Gifted and Talented Magnet.·          

             Coordinating all Title I services for economically disadvantaged students.

·           Supervising recess, lunch and drop off which was a significant problem at Nishuane  for many years requiring signficant parent participation and resentment.·        

            Supervising of all DRA (Diagnostic Reading Assessment) training (required) for the teachers.·      

            Chairing the 504 Committee which is comprised of teachers, school administrators, family/guardians and invitees to develop programs assisting students with a documented medical condition which adversely affects their education.·          

            I&RS (Intervention and Referral Services) assisting staff members (addressing day-to-day) and students who experience learning, behavior or health difficulties.

Without early intervention for academic and behavioral issues, the problems don’t go away.

They move up to Hillside, then the junior high and high school. By showing this large and concentrated K-2 population “the ropes” of how to be an engaged student at their best level, Nishuane moves up 50% of the eventual 2020 class -- prepared for school.  In addition to coordinating a wide variety of services for Nishuane’s disadvantaged entry population, eliminating the assistant principal will negatively impact the coordination of  the CI/Aesthetics and House Productions that are an integral part of our magnet theme along with guiding our young learners to be their best.
The Nishuane assistant principal is good for the school population it serves and the overall success of the future Montclair High School graduating classes."