Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-January 13, 2010 Issue

Page 12 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • January 13, 2010 Midland Park Matters The Midland Park Board of Education has hired a consultant to evaluate the district’s mathematics department in grades four through 12th . Dr. Melkamu Zeleke, professor of mathematics and department chairman at William Paterson University in Wayne, will be paid $3,000 for the study. The ﬁnal report is by June 15. Mathematics is among the ﬁrst subject areas to be evaluated as part of a ﬁve-year curriculum review plan that the district has adopted. Funds are included in the current school budget, according to Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Heebink. Dr. Heebink explained that while the district scores in A Publication of the Midland Park Chamber of Commerce Consultant to evaluate school district’s math program mathematics standardized tests are ﬁne, they are still below what the board and the administration feel they should be, particularly in comparison with other subject matter outcomes in the district. “Retaining Professor Zeleke is a positive for several reasons,” said Dr. Heebink. “He has an expertise in the area and has already done a comparable study for another Bergen district, and he brings an outside pair of eyes to the situation.” Dr. Zeleke’s study will not be done in a vacuum, Dr. Heebink stressed. The consultant will examine the curriculum in comparison with the New Jersey core content standards, looking at the district’s objective data and securing valuable input from the mathematics instructors, Dr. Heebink said. The evaluation process will include visiting a random sample of classes and collecting sample lesson plans from mathematics teachers; conducting student focus group meetings to ﬁ nd out about their mathematics learning experiences; meeting with the teachers to listen to their views regarding the existing curriculum, resources, awareness of the state core curriculum standards, training, etc.; and comparing and contrasting the mathemat- BILL’S SHOE REPAIR Happy New Year from the Atchue Family Rated the “Best Shoe Repair Shop” by (201) Magazine • Expert Shoe Repair • Riding Boots, Cowboy Boots • Golf Shoes • Zippers and more.... 24 Years in Shoe Repair Authorized BIRKENSTOCK and VIBRAM Repair Center GO GREEN Re-sole - Re-heel Hours: Tues-Fri 8:30-5:30 • Sat 8:30-4:00 • Closed Sun & Mon 654 Godwin Ave, Midland Park • 201-493-1011 Robert T. Regan, Esq., who serves as borough attorney for Upper Saddle River, Midland Park, and Harrington Park, recently received the Fred G. Stickel Memorial Award for excellence in public sector and municipal law. “I was humbled and gratiﬁed to receive the award,” Regan said of the honor. Regan has been an attorney for over 30 years. He began his service to the Borough of Upper Saddle River in 1989 Attorney recognized for excellence ics curriculum to that of similar school districts in the state. The final report will address not only compliance to the state core curriculum standards, but also student success and learning consistent with national standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and similar professional organization that have a stake in the education of children. “Any curriculum standard that provides a clear and speciﬁc sequence of content for all grades helps teachers to see what is taught in the grades above and below theirs, and additional resources provided with these standards guide them in lesson planning and teaching. This curriculum evaluation is going to be conducted with these outcomes in mind,” Dr. Zeleke’s proposal states. “An attempt will also be made to provide concrete and pedagogically sound suggestions in the ﬁnal report to ensure that students in the Midland Park Public Schools will be getting appropriate and competitive mathematics education.” “Theﬁnalproductwillbearesourcetouseforshort-termand long-term improvements,” Dr. Heebink said “It is not intended to be an end-all nor a document to simply be ﬁled away.” and has been Midland Park’s attorney since 1994. He was recently named to the attorney’s post in Harrington Park. In addition to his service as a borough attorney in these municipalities, he serves as the planning board attorney in Montvale, Norwood, and Old Tappan. Regan has been a trustee of the New Jersey Institute of Local Government Attorneys for 10 years. He and his wife are Upper Saddle River residents. �� Does Your Child Want to Be a Designer? We can teach her the fundamentals of sewing to unleash her creativity. June. She can model the garments she’s made at our Annual Fashion Show in June Needlecraft School Classes for Children 4-18 �� Hair Care �� Enrollment is ongoing 216 Godwin Ave, Midland Park • 201-444-2976 Teaching Children and Adults Sewing and Designing Skills for Over 30 Years... Check our Website: www.needlecraftschool.org � �� 10-7-09----NeedlecraftDesigner(color)3x2(10-7-09) 3col x 2” Ester for PROOF... from Janine ��