Sunday, May 19, 2013
Superintendent: Many parents prefer a later spring break.
The School District of the Chathams sent out a survey of four calendar choices for the 2014-2015 school year to parents over the past two weeks and plans to make its final decision in June. Superintendent Michael LaSusa explained during Monday’s board of education meeting that the big differentiation among the calendar choices is the placement of spring break. The calendar choice with the most first-place votes as of Monday was calendar No. 3, although calendar No. 4 had the best aggregate score with the second most first-place votes and most second-place votes. Much of the discussion centered around the suggested 2015 spring break for calendar No. 3., which would be April 13 to 17, following Easter break, a late opening the following …
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Team from applied physics and engineering club simulated its project during BOE meeting.
A team of students from Chatham High School’s applied physics and engineering club won second place, as well as $4,000 each, in the Panasonic Robotic Competition in April and simulated the project during Monday’s board of education meeting. Advised by physics teacher David Bandel, the trio of senior Drew Lilley and juniors Austin Barkhorn and Christopher Hartigan designed the project themselves using a pre-approved list of household items that included tongue depressors, popsicle sticks, toothpicks and paper clips. Teams were not allowed to use plywood or sheets of metal. “It was a bunch of things you’d have to be really creative with to do anything,” Lilley said. Bandel explained that only materials provided by the competition for the …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Board member: Recommendations are 80 percent 'procedural,' won't prove costly.
The School District of the Chathams conducted security assessments — led by a representative from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office — at all of its schools during the week of May 6. Describing the experience as “very informative” and a “worthwhile endeavor,” Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa explained during Monday’s Board of Education meeting that the assessment is currently going through the Department of Homeland Security and will result in a report the district will receive. “[The report] will help inform some of the decisions we make about the safety and security of our buildings,” LaSusa said. Board Vice President Jill Critchley Weber, who was present for most of the assessments, said 80 percent of the recommendations given …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
District will return one unused school day, will look into returning more in the future.
All Chatham public schools will have off May 24 due to a surplus of unused snow days, Superintendent Dr. Michael LaSusa said during Monday’s board of education meeting. LaSusa said he will have the schools’ principals officially announce the off day, which will immediately precede Memorial Day weekend, to parents and students this week. Although all of the district schools have at least two snow days left over, LaSusa said that the district usually only gives one day back. In response, board member Matthew Gilfillan asked if it is possible to give two back. LaSusa said it might be possible in the future but would be difficult for this year with short notice. “We can look in the future into putting two back, but that was not published in …
Monday, April 8, 2013
Meetings could shift to Wednesdays or Thursdays when the township committee doesn't meet.
The Board of Education of the School District of the Chathams discussed changing its meeting schedule for the 2013-14 school year so that its meetings would no longer conflict with those of the Chatham Borough Council. The meetings of the board, which usually meets at the Chatham Township Municipal Building, and of the council often occur at the same time, both semi-monthly on Mondays. Board member Richard Connors asked why the meeting night had never previously been moved from Mondays, stating that, despite occasional discussion, this has been an “ongoing issue” since he joined the board. “I honestly have no idea,” Superintendent Michael LaSusa said. “Since I’ve been in the district, it’s always been Monday night.” Connors said he …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
District considers adding security and guidance personnel, making facility improvements and altering procedures following Newtown shootings.
The School District of the Chathams is considering an array of measures to strengthen security at its schools following the Dec. 14 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Superintendent Michael LaSusa said during the board of education’s Monday meeting. Among the measures mentioned by the superintendent were adding security and guidance personnel, making facility improvements and altering security procedures. “We’ll take whatever precautions are reasonable and effective to try and strengthen the security of our buildings,” LaSusa said. Increasing Staffing The superintendent explained the functional responsibilities of a lot of the security systems that had been put into place over time in Chatham schools had fallen …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Parents say the team has been successful, is now considered a varsity sport.
Two parents representing the girl’s golf team at Chatham High School gave a presentation in front of the board of education Monday, requesting district funding for the first time. Representatives Mark Howard-Johnson and Larry McCann explained that the program’s chief funding sources during the previous two years had been the Chatham Athletic Foundation (CAF), Chatham Athletic Boosters and the parents. The boosters gave $5,000 both years; CAF donated $2,500 the first year and $3,500 the second year; and the parents paid the rest of the annual $12,000 program costs. McCann said the funding has been very helpful, but it’s “tough to keep going back to the well time after time. ... “What we asked them before was outside the scope of their …
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
For the fifth straight year, the School District of the Chathams has received a certificate for excellence in financial reporting.
The School District of the Chathams has received the Association of School Business Officials International’s (ASBO) Certificate of Excellence for Financial Reporting for the fifth consecutive year. Scott Clelland, of Wiss & Co. LLP, said Chatham is only one of about 20 districts statewide to receive the certificate during his presentation to the board of education Monday regarding his company’s audit for the district’s 2011-12 budget. Clelland said the official opinion of the district’s 2012 budget is “unqualified,” the highest level of opinion that can be placed on an audit. “This means the information provided to us was accurate and was sufficient to provide the work we need to do to give an opinion,” he said. Clelland said the district…
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Board of Education meets Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Chatham Township.
Staff training and field trips for the 2011-12 school year are among the items that the Board of Education of the School District of the Chathams will vote on at their meeting on Monday, July 18. Several teachers and administrative staff will travel to such locations as East Brunswick, East Hanover, Manville, Parsippany and New Providence for training and group meetings during the summer months. The funds allocated for staff to travel on 16 line-item trips amounts to $2,295. The board will also vote on a motion to rescind two contracts for long term substitutes and approve three other long term substitutes, and to approve the resignation of Dr. Carolyn Cottrill, who taught Chemistry and Anatomy & Physiology at Chatham High School. The …
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Board of Education: School District of the Chathams
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Friday, July 8, 2011
The hearing Thursday was adjourned after more than 75 minutes of questioning.
After an extensive round of questioning at the Madison Zoning Board meeting Thursday, Board President Gary Hall adjourned the remainder of the hearing to the board's next meeting in August. Madison Zoning Board officer Frank Russo was questioned by attorneys representing the Chatham Board of Education during the Madison Zoning Board meeting at the Hartley Dodge Memorial Building over the continued quest to put lights on Chatham's Cougar Field. As a zoning officer, Russo's job is to accept applications and decide issues such as area-bulk or sign variances. He is also responsible for interpreting any provision of zoning ordinances that determine the exact location of any district boundaries. When questioned by the attorneys—one representing …
Diane Toscano
1:27 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
Wow! This is inspiring and exciting! Congratulations! more ›