Mahwah February 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 3 Superintendent seeks input on future of schools by Frank J. McMahon Mahwah Superintendent of Schools Charles Montesano invites all township residents to take an active role in helping the school district shape the future by attending board of education meetings and Home and School Association meetings at the township’s six public schools. “By all measures, the Mahwah schools are providing an outstanding education for our children,” Montesano wrote in a letter on the school district’s website. “Students across all grade levels are achieving above their peers in similar districts on state assessments, our graduates are attending some of the most competitive colleges in the country, and the performances of our bands, orchestras, choruses, and athletic teams are impressive and noteworthy. “These accomplishments, however, are challenged by two significant trends, each causing us to reconsider some of our assumptions about the future direction of the Mahwah schools.” The first trend Montesano cited concerns changes in school funding, illustrated by the fact that, for the first time, the district’s budget for the current school year is less than the previous year. “Our state aid was reduced by over $1 million,” Montesano wrote, “leaving local property taxes to account for more than 96 percent of the total school budget. We coped with the reductions without drastic cutbacks to our programs, due in part to an unusually large number of retirements, as well as other cost reductions. “We are grateful for the cooperation of our paraprofessionals who agreed to a new labor contract, which sustained the level of staffing while significantly reducing health care costs.” Montesano emphasized that, beginning in fiscal year 2011, there will be a state mandated two percent cap on the amount that taxes can increase for school purposes, severely restricting revenue growth moving forward. “As we look to the immediate future, it is clear we simply will not be able to afford business as usual. Accordingly, we need to contemplate alternate methods of delivering our instructional and co-curricular programs,” the superintendent added. The second trend Montesano referred to concerns the knowledge and skills students will need for the future. “While this does not imply moving away from ensuring mastery of essential skills in core subjects such as language arts, math, and science, or preparing our students to meet the demands of state assessments and other forms of standardized testing,” Montesano said, “it does require that we reflect on the content of what we are teaching and how it is being taught. “The world is rapidly changing and the speed of that change is accelerating. We have already revised our program offerings as a result, adding programs such as e-commerce, technology as a tool, robotics, Web page development, and digital photography. We are continually seeking new ways to embed technology into core subjects. However, we must be persistent in asking, ‘What does it mean to be educated in the 21st century?’ and consider how well our programs and instructional practices align with those 21st century skills. “As we consider the future of the Mahwah schools and begin the budgeting process,” Montesano concluded, “we will think strategically and consider how to proactively manage these two emerging trends so our decisions are not simply confined to cutting programs and increasing class size.” ����������������������������� �������������������������� ✤ ����������������������������� ✤ �������������������� ✤ �������������������� ✤ ����������������� ✤ ������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ������������� ������������������ ����������� The Mahwah Schools Foundation will hold its annual Trustee Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 24 from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at Seasons in Washington Township. The event will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a dinner buffet, dancing to music provided by Elite Rhythms Entertainment, and prizes, including a cash giveaway. Prize items include a Massage Envy membership, XBox, iPad, 40” Sony HDTV, Foundation to host Trustee Dinner and more. Tickets are $125. For dinner tickets, prize tickets, or to make a donation, visit www.themsf.org or call Carol Gneiding at (201) 934-8730. All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit Mahwah’s six public schools, providing innovative programming, equipment, and technology. ������������������������� ������������������������������������ ��������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� New Jersey Pediatric Neurosurgical Associates welcomes ����������������������� Dr. Lauren Schwartz���������������������� to its new state-of-the-art facility in Hackensack Dr. Mazzola has published several peer – reviewed articles and has presented numerous posters and abstracts at national neuroscience conventions. She was responsible for the creation of the Neuromuscular and Movements Disorder Center for Children at Hackensack University Medical Center in 2001 and the Craniofacial and Cleft Lip and Palate Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital in 2006. She has authored and co-authored more than twenty-five papers, and has received grants from the Children’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and the N.J. State Cancer Commission. As the mother of five children, Dr. MazCatherine Mazzola, M.D. zola understands the responsibilities of parenthood and is able to empathize with parents who have children with special needs. As an active and concerned pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Mazzola gives several lectures a year for patients and their families, nursing organizations, pediatricians, and residents and has cared for thousands of children with neurosurgical disorders. Certifications: American Board of Pediatric Neurology; American Board of Neurological Surgeons. One of two board certified N.J. Pediatric Neurosurgeons and one of the few female neurosurgeons in N.J. Catherine Mazzola, M.D., Director Dr. Schwartz is committed to advancing neurosurgery both in the US and internationally. She has been an invited lecturer on topics in pediatric neurosurgery, neurotrauma, stroke, aneurysm surgery, spine surgery and the social and political issues affecting neurosurgery. She recently served as the 20th president of Women in Neurosurgery (WINS), a national neurosurgical association for which she currently remains a member of the Executive Board. Dr. Schwartz has written and co-authored multiple journal articles, textLauren Schwartz, M.D. book and web chapters and was featured on Lifetime TV’s “Women Heroes of 9/11” for her service at Ground Zero. Neurosurgical training: the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University in NY. Fellowship training: Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at Beth Israel Medical Center, NY; Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pa. Lauren Schwartz M.D. Comprehensive care for neurosurgical patients and their family. 385 Prospect Ave. • 2nd Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601 • 201-996-9300 131 Madison Ave. • Suite 140 • Morristown, NJ 07960 • 973-326-9000 Both offices open 5 days www.njpediatricneurosurgery.com 2-9-11 joan/janine