June 24, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 23 Park Windmill Teachers, students honored Three Midland Park teachers were selected for the 2009 Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award. The recipients are Suzanne Kelly of Godwin School, Kathleen Andrews of Highland School, and Donna Doherty of Midland Park High School. Midland Park Athletic Director Edward Salvi has been chosen to receive the 2009 Thomas L. Della Toree Award from the YMCA of Greater Bergen County at the annual sports awards banquet. The award is presented to a person who represents values, integrity, and sportsmanship. The American Association of Teachers of French has selected Allie Cichewicz to receive a 2008-2009 AATF Outstanding Senior Award. Samantha Weyant, a Midland Park High School junior, became the eighth athlete in Midland Park history to be recognized as Athlete of the Week. Weyant plays on the varsity softball team. Midland Park High School students Daniela Lissandrello and Andrew Giunta placed first and second, respectively, in the poetry portion of the Bergen Community College Annual High School Writing contest. There were over 200 submissions in this category. Midland Park eighth Grader Amanda Ehlers has achieved both high honors and distinction in the verbal category of the 2009 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Search. Fourth grader Starr Shapiro and third grader Katarina Fantulin have been awarded high honors in the verbal portion of the 2009 Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Talent Search. Schott named to Dean’s List Colleen Schott of Midland Park has been named to the Dean’s List at York College of Pennsylvania for the spring 2009 semester. Schott is a senior nursing major at the college. Soccer Association holds registration, sells clothing Midland Park Soccer Association reminds all parents and players to mail in their registration for the fall season. Registration is open to players entering kindergarten through grade 12. Forms are available at the Barn on Dairy Street, the Baseball Card Store, and the Midland Park Library. The association is now selling soccer clothing. Items include: sweatshirts, crew neck and hooded, sweat pants, long- and short-sleeve T-shirts, and shorts. Call Heather at (201) 445-4532. Friends offer program on stress management Dr. Alfred Fenelle will offer life strategies for managing stress on Wednesday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Franklin Lakes Public Library. Dr. Fenelle is a graduate of Palmer Chiropractic College and has been practicing for 20 years. His practice uses a holistic approach to improving health and is dedicated to educating the commu- nity on making lifestyle changes to reduce stress and eliminate poor habits. Dr. Fenelle serves on the board of directors for the Council of New Jersey Chiropractors and is a member of the International Chiropractic Association. He also serves on the board for the Rochelle Park Rotary. This program, sponsored by the Friends of the Franklin Lakes Library, is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Contact the Midland Park Library at (201) 444-2390. Parking is available at the library and at the adjacent municipal lot. Board of education to meet The Midland Park Board of Education will meet on Tuesday, June 23 at 8 p.m. The meeting will be held at the high school at 250 Prospect Street. Golf Outing planned The Midland Park High School Baseball Program will be hosting its Fourth Annual Golf Classic on June 29 at the Great Gorge Country Club in Vernon. The cost is $125 and includes green and cart fees, range balls, as well as breakfast and lunch. Hole sponsorships are also available for $100. Singles and foursomes are welcome. Send checks made payable to MPHS Baseball Program to: MPHS, 250 Prospect Street, Midland Park, NJ 07432, Attn: Lee Tracy. Call (201) 447-5542 for more information. All profits are used to benefit and improve the baseball program. Club’s season begins with concert The Friends of the Midland Park Memorial Library will celebrate the start of summer reading “Be Creative at Your Library” with Presley and Melody’s interactive concert on Tuesday, June 23. Presley and Melody perform with an interactive, upbeat, and dynamic musical style. The concert, which will run from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m., is suitable for all ages. Register by stopping in or calling the Midland Park Memorial Library at (201) 444-2390. Vacation Bible School offered Faith Reformed Church in Midland Park is planning this summer’s daily Vacation Bible School. The theme this summer is Camp Son Rock. Children from four years old through seventh grade are invited to be part of this free summer program. The program will run July 6 through 10, from 9 a.m. to noon. Register at www.growinggodspeople.com for this fast-paced week. Faith Reformed Church is located at 95 Prospect Street in Midland Park. Call the church office at (201) 445-1145. Tuesday Night Artists to exhibit The Midland Park Continuing Education announces the eighth fine art exhibit of the “Art of Tuesday Night.” The show is a collection of oil paintings in many styles created by the adult students of the Tuesday evening Midland Park Continuing Education oil painting class, led by Susan Marlett. The paintings will be on display through the beginning of August 2009. Marlett, a local artist and musician, resides in Waldwick. She holds a BFA from Parsons School of Design. She has taught oil painting for over eight years for the Midland Park Continuing Education program. Library hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The library is located at 250 Godwin Avenue, in Midland Park. More information about the Midland Park Continuing Education classes and the Tuesday evening oil painting class is available by calling (201) 444-2030 or visiting www.mpcedu.com. Teachers take vote (continued from page 3) Teacher Nancy Matero said the WEA had to demand a contractor cleanup of the newly opened school and that the air conditioning and heating left the schools cold in the winter and hot in the summer. “If a contractor did work like this in our homes, we’d be demanding a new system,” Matera said. Dr. Razze and the board members sat through the teachers’ speeches without commenting, and did not interrupt, even when a resident with a question on another matter, school redistricting, engaged another resident who emerged from the audience to rebut his objections. Razze said the redistricting was an administrative decision and the resident said the decision was subjective. The WEA had sent out a fax the Friday before the meeting telling the press about the no confidence vote. “Cost-effectiveness took priority over excellence in education,” said Bill Holzapple, a teacher who has won several awards for his contributions to the schools. “The staff has been stretched beyond acceptable limits…teacher input is disregarded. This shows a lack of respect for the staff.” Wyckoff School Board President Daniel Moynihan responded to the WEA with the following statement. “The (board) acknowledges your comments and will take them under advisement. The (board) unanimously supports Dr. Razze. We are not surprised by this action as the WEA leadership had threatened to go through with a vote of no confidence as a direct result of the (board’s) vote to privatize the custodial staff, and now you are simply following through on that threat. I am equally troubled that you tried to use the vote of no confidence, and the public reading of the document as an ultimatum to get the (board) to sever Dr. Razze’s contract immediately. Most shocking though is the fact that no grievances have been brought to the (board) concerning the leadership of Dr. Razze during her entire tenure, and no effort was made to request meetings with the (board) on educational leadership issues, in an effort to resolve the shortcomings the WEA perceives. “I want everyone in this room to understand that the (board) is the governing body of the school district, and not the WEA. The (board) has a responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education to all children in this district, and we strongly believe that we are doing so. We also have a fiscal responsibility to all taxpayers in the town, and must be responsive to them as well. “Since this is the first time we have heard the official reading of this document, we will not comment on its comments, but we know that there are two sides to every story. We believe that the Wyckoff school system has been strong, changing, and improving under the leadership of Dr. Razze.” In a brief statement to the press, Razze said, “I will continue to organize and direct the administrative, instructional, and support staff with a persistent orientation toward the goals of education as established by the board, as representatives of the community, in accordance with Department of Education guidelines while maintaining the overwhelming focus on the best interests of the children of Wyckoff to ensure that they are afforded the most appropriate and effective education. “I have an open door policy and the door has been and will continue to be open to the WEA.” 30 minutes of your time can save a life. It’s About Life! Your can make a difference in someone’s life by spending just 30 minutes donating blood. Call us today. Community Blood Services 970 Linwood Avenue, West Paramus, NJ 07652 Check our website: www.CommunityBloodServices.org 201-444-3900