Midland Park
June 6, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9
A recent policy vote on mandatory residence requirements for school employees drew the ire of Midland Park school board member Timothy Thomas, who not only objected to the policy on principle but also took exception to having to vote yes on something with which he does not agree, just because it is a state mandate. The measure was adopted at the board’s May 22 meeting. “It’s a silly policy. It will take two-thirds of our talent pool out,” said Thomas, who heads the policy committee and has been a board member since July. The policy in question, mandated by the state Department of Education as of Feb. 27, states that “every person holding an office, employment or position in a school district shall have his or her principal residence in New Jersey.” Principal residence is defined as the place “where the person spends the majority of his or her nonworking time, which is most clearly the center of his or her domestic life, and which is designated as his or her legal address and legal residence for voting.” Having
Trustee objects to residency requirement policy
a home in New Jersey is not significant enough by itself to meet the principal residence requirement of the law, according to the new policy. The policy exempts employees in office prior to Sept. 12, 2011 as long as they “continue to hold office, employment or position without a break in public service of greater than seven days.” Thomas said that while the state mandate will not affect the current district staff, it will adversely affect not only Midland Park but also all other New Jersey districts in the future. “For example, when Dr. Cirasella (the current school superintendent) retires, we will be limited to hiring her replacement from only qualified New Jersey residents. If the policy had been in effect as of 2008, Midland Park would not have been permitted to hire Dr. Heebink as he resides in New York,” Thomas pointed out. Superintendent Dr. Marie Cirasella explained that the state policy supersedes the local policy. The board also adopted revisions to its pupil discipline/code of conduct policy to specifically address date violence. The policy states that dating violence at school shall be handled consistent with the school’s pupil code of conduct and notes that the “the responsis shal be tiered with consideration given to the seriousness and the number of previous occurrences of acts or incidents in which both the victim and aggressor have been involved.” According to the new section, “consequences for acts or incidents of dating violence at school may range from admonishment to suspension or expulsion. Retal-
iation towards the victim of any act or incident of dating violence shall be considered when administering consequences to the aggressor based on the severity of the act or incident.” Remedial measures/interventions may include parent conferences, pupil counseling (all pupils involved in the act or incident), peer support groups, corrective instruction or other relevant learning or service experiences, supportive pupil interventions, behavioral management plans, and/or alternative placements, the revised policy states.
Nolan, Sawey named to Hall of Fame
The Midland Park Board of Education will induct retired high school educators Donald Nolan and Terrence Sawey into the Education Hall of Fame at the June 5 board meeting. The 8 p.m. meeting will be held in the August C. DePreker Media Center in the Highland School. During his 36-year career at Midland Park High School, Nolan was an English and social studies teacher, guidance counselor, and coach. He retired in 1994. Sawey was a social studies teacher at the high school for 33 years and served as department chairman; advisor to the National Honor Society, the yearbook, and the Student Government Organization; and as a basketball coach. Former students, colleagues, and sports fans are invited to attend and honor them. The two men, who were football and basketball game announcers for many years, will also be remembered as the voices of Midland Park sports.