by Mark Williams, NPCCR Co-Chair
I attended the regularly scheduled school board meeting held at the West End School Community Room on June 18.
Prior to the meeting there was a wonderful ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of teachers during this current school year. I attended a similar ceremony held at the Board’s first meeting of the this school year which recognized North Plainfield School District employees in areas such as educational accomplishments, years of service to the district and new hires/appointees.
Recognition for a job well done is always a good thing.
The regular Board meeting followed this special event and proceeded along with usual protocol until it arrived at Item #7 on the agenda, Public Hearing, P.L. 2007c. 53, Section 5-N.J.S.A. 18A:11-11.
Item #7 was basically an opportunity for the public to make comments with respect to the employment contracts of Marilyn Birnbaum, ED.D, Superintendent of Schools; Robert H. Rich, Ed. D, Assistant Superintendent of Schools; and Donald Sternberg, Business Administrator.
The press release as read by School Board President, Linda L. Bond-Nelson was indeed eerie, as was suggested in a blog submission on June 15, 2008.
I have to give the Board credit; they anticipated that this could be a highly-expressed, emotional issue for residents and planned for it. However, when it was time for the public to speak, no one rose to offer an opinion or observation on this issue, including myself.
In fact, there were only eight people in the audience.
The 50 to 75 people who attended the recognition ceremony just prior to the Board meeting had been long gone by this time.
Next came a presentation by the Community Adult School/Adult High School, followed by Committee and Delegates Report.
What happened next blew me away.
Board Member, Mr. David Branan gave his report from Finance and Facilities where he stated that the facilities use committee rejected a proposal to erect basketball court(s) on school property.
He gave as the committee’s reasons:
- Community opposition;
- Chief of Police William Parenti’s opposition;
- Insurance liability issues;and
- Presence of signs that prohibit use of school property without a permit from the School Board.
The following exchange between Mr. Branan and Board member Mr. Drew Elliott Smith was difficult to understand, because Mr. Smith spoke in a very low tone.
Mr. Smith questioned if Chief Parenti was actually in opposition to the installation of basketball courts on school property.
Mr. Smith reported that he is aware of a meeting between Chief Parenti and local clergy members during which the Chief said, in so many words, that he was not opposed to basketball hoops.
Mr. Smith then asked Mr. Branan to identify the people in the community who were opposed.
Mr. Branan responded that there was no current survey of community residents standing in opposition of putting basketball courts on school property.
Mr. Branan stated that the facilities use committee partially based their decision on information taken from an informal survey of people familiar with the problems associated with previous basketball hoops, particularly those that formerly stood in the back of East End School 10 years ago.
They relied on 10-year-old information.
Mr. Branan went on to say that the facilities use committee took no current survey to see if community feelings regarding outdoor public use basketball hoops on school property remained unchanged over the past 10 years.
Superintendent Birnbaum stated that there had been incidents of vandalism at the East End School and that the area was difficult for police surveillance because the basketball courts could not be seen from the road.
Next, Mr. Smith questioned the issue of increased insurance premiums associated with increased liability.
No one from the facilities use committee had inquired of the school district’s current insurance carrier what the actual increase in premiums would be.
In the end, the Board agreed to:
- Keep the matter open as an agenda item for their next meeting [July 23 at 7:30 at 33 Mountain Ave.];
- Ask Chief Parenti to attend the next Board meeting to clarify his postion on the issue;
- Check with the insurance carrier to determine how much premium would increase; and
- Ensure future community input on this issue.
During the last public comment section, I reminded the Board of the growing worldwide pandemic of obesity.
I pointed out that the World Health Organization reports that there are currently three hundred million people in the world who currently meet the criteria for being obese, that more then half of all New Jersey adults are obese or overweight and that New Jersey has the highest incidence of obesity in low-income children.
I noted that as the risk of obesity increases in children due to increased sedentary lifestyles and poor nutritional habits, it would be wise to have as many recreational opportunities as possible in our communities.
I am aware of all the current ways in which North Plainfield provides recreational programs for the community and I feel we do a good job.
It’s the process of how this decision was made that disturbs me.
If we are concerned about a rise in insurance premiums, then let’s explore how organizing basketball leagues where each member pays a use fee might defray any cost incurred.
Additionally, I am disturbed by the idea that if I want to play catch with one of my daughters at East End School, I need a permit to do so.
Finally, one last item that caught my eye.
The Board of Education approved the reimbursement of almost $38,000 to 16 administrators for unused vacation days earned during the 2007-08 school year as per negotiated agreements.
WOW!
I want to make this clear, I am not suggesting that anything is wrong with this.
A contract is a contract, but I still say WOW!
