August 7, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Franklin Lakes School year to start with curriculum in place by Frank J. McMahon The 2013-14 school year in the Franklin Lakes K-8 School District is expected to begin with the curriculum in place despite the absence of a curriculum director. That sentiment was recently expressed by Superinten- dent Frank Romano who advised that the district’s curricu- lum is typically written by committees of teachers. He and his administrative team are handling a lot of the projects that were previously handled by the curriculum director. “Things are moving along,” Romano said, “and I have every confidence in the fact that we will open the school year successfully just as we do every year. In terms of the curriculum director, I am fully confident and hopeful that I will have the right person in place by the opening of the school year.” The district’s curriculum director, Cheryl Best, was not reappointed by the school board at the end of the last school year. At a public meeting of the Franklin Lakes Board of Edu- cation in April, the school trustees voted 5-4 not to accept Romano’s recommendation to renew Best’s contract. At that meeting, Romano also submitted his resignation effective at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Several board members indicated at the time that their reason for not renewing Best’s contract were the NJASK (New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge) test scores, which they claimed had seen a significant decline, especially in the middle school. They also complained about the number of hours teachers had to spend out of the classroom for professional development under Best’s direction. The board members who supported Best disagreed, claiming that the district did not have a curriculum director for two years before Best was hired, and she had “turned the ship around.” Not giving her tenure, the supporters said, will derail the district for years. Best also received the vocal support of many of the 200 members of the public who attended that meeting. Vicki Holst, a current school board candidate, provided the board with a petition that contained 198 signatures of par- ents who supported Best’s reappointment. In addition, the Parent Teacher Association presidents from the district’s four schools issued a joint statement of support for Best prior to the meeting. At the June 26 board meeting, a public hearing was listed on the agenda to provide an opportunity for Best to hear and discuss the board’s reasons for not renewing her contract. But, as explained in a statement read on Best’s behalf by Kathie Schwartz, former president of the school board, Best was unable to attend the meeting. Schwartz said she was extremely impressed with Best’s knowledge, strength, capabilities, and the success of her significant achievements in a relatively short time in the district. She claimed that Best achieved all of the goals that were set for her, including new report cards, success- ful Singapore Math implementation, K-5 alignment to the state’s Common Core Standards, and the achievement of greater consistency across the elementary schools. Schwartz asked the board to reconsider keeping Best in the district and she read a statement prepared by Best in lieu of her public hearing. In that statement, Best explained that she decided not to attend the public hearing because she felt the trustees’ minds were already made up in regard to her reappointment. However, she outlined her accom- plishments in the district and expressed her thanks to those with whom she has worked and those who supported her as curriculum director. The school board did not respond to the statements by Schwartz and Best and took no action to change its deci- sion not to renew Best’s contract. The school board did respond to a plea by Donna Luci- ano, president of the Franklin Lakes Education Associa- tion, which represents the district’s teachers, to reinstate High Mountain Road teacher Sheryl Birnhak, one of two teachers who were not reappointed at the April public meeting. Birnhak was reinstated by a 6-1 vote with two abstentions. Police investigate gift card scam (continued from page 4) obtained by the police. A warrant was obtained for her arrest and she was arrested at her home without incident and released under $500 bail. She will appear in munici- pal court. On July 28 at 1:50 a.m., Sgt. Michael Ragucci stopped a vehicle on Route 208 for traveling at 79 miles per hour. Following the traffic stop, it was determined that the driver was intoxicated. A Ringwood woman, 25, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated fol- lowing a breath test. She was additionally charged with speeding, failure to maintain a lane of travel, and reckless driving. She is scheduled to appear in municipal court on Aug.t 28. On July 29 at 12:12 p.m., a resident of Farview Avenue reported a burglary at her home. Entry into the house was gained by kicking open a side door. The house was left unoccupied for only about three hours, but the master bed- room was ransacked and jewelry was taken. Lieutenant David Murphy, Sergeant Jack McEwan, and Patrolman Mark Tagliareni investigated. At 1:19 a.m. that day, Sergeant Michael Ragucci was traveling on Route 208 when he observed a vehicle ahead that was serving. Following a traffic stop, it was deter- mined that the driver, a 19-year-old from Ridgefield, and the passenger, a 20-year-old Boonton resident, were in possession of marijuana and a marijuana smoking pipe. They were charged with the narcotics violations and the driver was charged with several traffic violations. They were released on their own recognizance.