Board of Education Meeting Opens with Concert

The showed off their talents last night as they performed a holiday concert for the Board of Education and assembled audience in the media center of David E. Owens Middle School. 

The Choral Ensemble, which performed live on Good Day New York last January, wowed those present with their sublime vocal harmony, especially with their performance of "Love Potion No. 9," followed by a series of holiday melodies that put the audience into a festive mood.

After the performance, the board got down to business. Business Administrator Michael Sawicz reported on two bills that have passed full committees in the NJ legislature: Assembly bill 4360 and the Senate version, S3128. 

The bills establish procedures for districts to opt to move the annual school election from April to November, and eliminates taxpayer voting on school budgets for districts that remain at, or below, the 2% cap. However, there will still be a vote to elect, or re-elect, members to sit on the Board of Education. 

The Board of Education also announced that they are passing a resolution against two bills that are currently pending in the NJ legislature--.

These bills would effectively remove the Board of Education's authority to appoint or remove instructional staff and place this authority solely with the principal in each school in consultation with a "school improvement panel."

In support of the board's resolution, Board President Daniel Conner said, "We're volunteers here for one reason. To make sure the education in this town is the best it can be."

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on Monday, Jan. 9 for a work session followed by Monday, Jan. 23 for a regular meeting.