Midland Park November 30, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Midland Park school administrators have been informed by New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) officials that Midland Park High School will not be identified as a Focus School when the official list is generated by the NJDOE next year. In a conference call held with the NJDOE on November 21, Midland Park’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marie Cirasella was informed that the NJDOE had provided an updated data file following the submission of the state’s No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Waiver application. The department’s waiver proposal is Gov. Chris Christie’s accountability plan offered as an alternative to the NCLB federal regulations. “Should the NCLB Waiver be approved, an official list of Priority, Focus, and Rewards Schools will be developed for next year, and I have been assured the updated data indicates MPHS will not be designated a Focus School,” Dr. Cirasella said. The state’s waiver application stated that MPHS would meet the Category H requirement for Focus Schools with graduation rates of less than 60 percent for a number of years. However, graduation rates for MPHS have been consistently high, much greater than less than 60 percent: for 2009: 96 percent; 2010: 93 percent, and 2011: 99 percent for all 12th grade students. (see chart below for additional information.) The NJDOE informed school superintendents on Nov. 18 that in developing the new accountability system for the NCLB Waiver application, the department intends to create three tiers of schools: Priority Schools: The lowest-performing 5 percent of Title I schools across the state; any non-Title I school that would meet the same criteria would also be designated a Priority School; Focus Schools: Ten percent of Title I schools will be identified based on achievement gaps between subgroups and low performance or graduation rates among particular subgroups; Reward Schools: Will be identified based on high proficiency levels or high levels of growth, including progress toward closing achievement gaps. The inten- Focus School designation to be removed for MPHS tion of these designations is to individualize state efforts to support student achievement gains,” Dr. Cirasella explained. As part of the NCLB Waiver application process, states were required to develop a list of which schools would fall into each category if the list were developed today. The state used several years of data to develop prelimi- nary lists, and these designations will have no rewards or consequences for schools. The official list of Priority, Focus, and Rewards Schools will be developed for next year using 2011-2012 data. “It is important that the most accurate data is used in making these determinations, and we are now confident this has occurred,” Dr. Cirasella stressed. Officers of the Midland Park Police Department were dispatched to a local business that reported a theft on Nov. 18. The owner reported that, while she was in the back of the business, someone entered through the front door and stole approximately $250 from her purse and a pair of designer corduroy pants valued at more than $40. Detective Sergeant John Gibbons and Officer Michael Canonico investigated. Also on Nov. 18, Sergeant Gregory Kasbarian arrested a 16-year-old male resident of Midland Park. In conducting a pat down of the juvenile, Kasbarian located a glass pipe used for smoking marijuana and a small plastic bag Borough police department report Atlantic Stewardship Bank is now collecting, new, unwrapped gifts for children at all of its branches through its Wish Tree program. The Bank’s BEACH (Bank Employees Assisting Charities) Club coordinates this annual gift drive, and each of the bank’s 13 branches displays a small Christmas tree decorated with ornaments and gifts tags for the collection. Both bank customers and associates are encouraged to take a tag and an ornament from the tree and return with a new, unwrapped gift suitable for a child under age 16. Bank hosts ‘Wish Tree’ collection containing marijuana. The youth was taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. No charges were filed against the male for the theft as most of the money was recovered. The juvenile was released into the custody of his parents. Officer Joseph Gaeta assisted. A Fairhaven Drive resident reported a burglary occurred at his residence on Nov. 19. He stated when he arrived home he found an open bedroom window. Bergen County crime scene technicians responded to scene and the area was dusted for fingerprints. Officer Kenneth Junta investigated. The case was referred to the detective bureau. This year’s gift collection will continue through Thursday, Dec. 15. The gifts will be presented to local charitable organizations, such as New City Kids, Westwood Cares, CUMAC, Harvest Outreach Ministries, and New Hope Ministries to distribute to needy and inner city children. Atlantic Stewardship Bank, a subsidiary of Stewardship Financial Corporation, maintains branches in Hawthorne, Midland Park, Montville, North Haledon, Pequannock, Ridgewood, Waldwick, Wayne, Westwood, and Wyckoff.