June 5, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park The Midland Park and Waldwick school systems have agreed to explore potential areas of collaboration between the two districts following a recent meeting between officials of both districts. Midland Park had requested the meeting to discuss whether Midland Park could send its high school students to Waldwick High School. “Waldwick alluded to their own space constraints at Waldwick High School and indicated that it would be unlikely that they could house MPHS’s students,” Midland School districts to explore cooperative options Park Board President William Sullivan reported last week. He noted that any further send/receive discussions would require commissioning a formal study. The meeting, attended by Sullivan, board Vice President Sandra Criscenzo, trustee Robert Schiffer, Superintendent Dr. Marie Cirasella and Business Administrator Stacy Garvey from Midland Park, and Waldwick Superintendent Dr. Patricia Raupers and three Waldwick board members, bore fruit nevertheless. “Since we do co-op on some athletic programs, we did discuss other areas to collaborate on...specifically educational programs,” Sullivan said. He said both districts’ administrative teams would discuss other possibilities over the summer, and the board/administrator groups would meet again early next school year to reevaluate.” “Although there are contractual issues with staff, along with scheduling and transportation problems that could pose a problem, we did agree to explore certain courses that we could combine on to expand the offerings in each district. Waldwick does offer different electives than we do, so it makes sense to have the discussion,” Sullivan added. The two districts had a course sharing arrangement in the late 1970s. The board president said the main contractual issue is the amount of Midland Park instructional time required for the program vs. what has been negotiated in the contract. “Our schedules are different (continued on page 5) Long time math educator Florence Mahon was not able to make last week’s ceremony inducting her into the Midland Park Public Schools Education Hall of Fame, but she was praised for “setting high standards for students and serving as a role model for young women.” She was one of the first top female administrators in the district, serving as the head of the math and science departments in 1981. Mahon taught math, science and spelling at Highland School in 1955, moving to MPHS in 1957 when the school opened. She continued to teach 12th grade calculus until her retirement in 1993. She now resides in Florida. Also inducted into the Hall of Fame was speech therapist William Brady, who served in the district for over 30 years until his retirement in 2005. Brady was credited Brady, Mahon inducted into Education Hall of Fame with providing critical therapy services to young students, using real-world experiential pedagogy to elicit conversation and promote strong oral language skills. He was also praise for his integration of cooking, walking and kite flying into his lessons, thus making them “interesting and fun.” First grade teacher Heidi Cassels thanked him for having helped his colleagues cut through the red tape associated with state benefits. “He was great for the district. The kids enjoyed all the activities he provide,” said science teacher Nancy De Ritter, who said her son had been in Brady’s speech program. “It’s a great tribute to have been selected. It’s been a pleasure to serve the children of Midland Park. I hope they all speak better,” Hall of Fame inductee William Brady hold the framed photograph of fellow inductee Florence Mahon as Superintendent Dr. Marie Cirasella and Board President William Sullivan look on. Brady said. Established in 2008 to recognize the key contributions made by past staff members of the Midland Park School District, the hall of fame is open to all former Midland Park employees who have been retired at least three full years prior to their nominations and made significant contributions to the improvement of the school system in their own special ways over at least a fiveyear period of employment. Past recipients have included the late Jerry Thomas, the late Jack Cogger, Athletic Director Adolph “Sonny” Santorine, Music Director Gordon MacDonald, Ted Sawey and Don Nolan. All the inductees’ photographs hang in the Hall of Fame area of Midland Park High School.