Clinton Township Newsletter

1 2 F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 5 www.ClintonTwpNewsletter.com C L I N T O N T O W N S H I P S C H O O L N E W S www.ctsd.k12.nj.us Clinton Township Schl District Miion Statement: A L e t t e r f r o m Dr. Drucilla Clark, Superintendent of Schools January has already been busy for the Board of Education! It started with the Ad Hoc Full Day Kindergarten Committee making a presentation to the Board of Education on their recommendation at the January 5, 2015 meeting. They pre- sented information on research, facilities, some preliminary estimated costs and a community survey. They made a recommendation based on these findings for the Board to consider this option in the coming budget. At the end of the meeting I spoke and also made a recommendation to the Board that it was time to strongly consider this option. Hunterdon County has only two districts that do not have full day kindergarten and Clinton Town- ship is one of them. We should not be the have-nots when it comes to learning and opportunity. Concerns have been expressed about the advent of the Common Core as a game changer because it has dramatically impacted the depth and breadth of what children need to know and be able to do at earlier ages. It has been described as almost impossible to meet standards in a half-day program without creating the type of pressure cooker learning that may not be developmentally appropriate. We also have the start of online testing this spring and even our third graders told me they need more technol- ogy taught earlier in kindergarten and first grade. In the "old days" I only attended a half-day program and grew to complete a doctorate, but times have changed. Schools are different now and kindergarten has been completely transformed. The gift of time may be our young students greatest asset for the future. Cost is another one of the important factors in considering the addition of this program. It is impossible to give exact tax figures when the 2015-2016 budget has not been completed, but what we do know is that we have declining enrollment. This means we could cut staff and that would have a budget impact or we can keep them and realign them to add full day, which would have a different impact. This may be an opportunity to consider the program with minimal cost to the taxpayer. In the coming days, the Board will be analyzing, in the Finance and Facilities Committee, the consequences of this decision in a variety of areas. We will review cost in detail. Salaries and benefits must be considered, projected enrollment, retirements, busing, curriculum and other factors inclusive of budget impact. I understand this article may be published after the January 26, 2015 Board of Education meeting where more information will be discussed. The Board may decide to move forward with plac- ing the program in the budget or they may not. They will also be looking at the 2015-2016 budget carefully. They may choose to include full day kindergarten, but eliminate something else in the budget to mitigate the tax impact. It is not an easy decision, but the Board will have to balance its fiscal and academic responsibility to the community. If you were unable to join us on the 26th, please go to our website and review the audio. It is never too late to share an opinion with the Board or the Superintendent. You can email me at: dclark@ctsd.k12.nj.us. Happy New Year! Dr. Drucilla Clark, Superintendent of Schools Dear Parents and Community Members: We are happy to announce that Ms. Lina Staropoli and Mr. Alex Ruttenberg have been recognized as the Spruce Run School 2014-2015 Outstanding Educators of the Year, and we are so proud to have them recognize our amazing faculty at Spruce Run School! Ms. Lina Staropoli is being recognized as the Teacher of the Year at Spruce Run School. Ms. Staropoli is a caring, incredibly dedicated and creative special education teacher whose enthusiasm and positive energy make her shine! Each day, Ms. Staropoli strives for each child to feel successful as s/he grows in his/her individual abilities. She teaches from the heart and is a born educator! Throughout her time spent in education, she has worked as a preschool teacher and teacher as- sistant at a private school in Branchburg, New Jersey. She has also worked as a teacher's aide and job coach at The Midland School, a school that serves students with special needs, in North Branch, New Jersey, as well as a kindergarten and first grade teacher at a school in Balti- more, Maryland. Ms. Staropoli currently works as a first grade special educator at Spruce Run School in Clinton, New Jersey where she has taught for the past four years. Ms. Staropoli graduated from Loyola University Mary- land with a major in elementary education and minor in special education where she was named Maryland Teacher of Promise, as well as The Maryland Association of Teachers Distinguished Teacher Award. She was also awarded The Magis Scholar Leader Award, honoring students who complemented superior academic perfor- mance with co-curricular involvement. Throughout her time spent at Loyola University Maryland, she was president of the Kappa Delta Pi Educational Honor Society and president of the Council for Exceptional Children where she ran various charitable organiza- tions to raise money to provide elementary schools and students with special needs books for their classroom libraries. Following her education at Loyola University Maryland, Ms. Staropoli continued her education at The College of New Jersey in Trenton, New Jersey where she received her Masters Degree in Special Education. She was awarded The College of New Jersey School of Education Book Award, in recognition of academic excel- lence and service to the department and profession of special education. She also continued her education at The College of New Jersey in the School of Education Department of Early Childhood Education. Ms. Staropoli currently holds an Elementary School Teacher Standard Teaching Certificate, a Students' with Disabilities Stan- dard Teaching Certificate and Preschool through Grade 3 Standard Teaching Certificate. Ms. Staropoli's favorite part of teaching/working with the kids is seeing the "light bulb" go off. "There is nothing better than seeing their smiling faces and excitement when they have learned something new! The 'light bulb' moment one that is unique and noteworthy for all students, regardless of ability or disABIL- ITY, it is a moment all students experience and provides the clarification that school, and the world of education, is a special place. There is nothing else I would rather do." Mr. Alex Ruttenberg is being recognized as the Educational Services Professional at Spruce Run School. He's our school counselor and social worker. Mr. Ruttenberg is significant in all aspects of our school's functioning. Mr. Ruttenberg can be found on a daily basis with a smiling face and happy demeanor, greeting each and e v e r y c h i l d b y name. He is often the first to recog- nize that a child is having a problem and he's there to provide comfort, support and as- sistance. Children, families and staff often turn to Mr. Ruttenberg because of his knowledge, confidentiality and his kind and caring manner. It is evident in his actions every day that he loves what he does, and that he truly cares for the children, families and staff of Spruce Run School! Mr. Ruttenberg has a Bachelor's in Arts from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT, a Master's in Arts in psychology from Antioch College in Los Angeles and a Master's in Social Work from Rutgers. He also completed the school-counseling program at Rider University. Mr. Ruttenberg started in education by working as a school counselor intern at Venice High School in 2000 in Venice, CA. He also worked for four years as the school counselor at Abrams Hebrew Academy in Yardley, PA and spent a year in Trenton, NJ, as a school based coun- selor. "I love working with kids because almost all kids have the qualities that we hope for but don't always get to see in adults. Children are innately optimistic, good humored, curious and trusting. They also tend to be transparent, say- ing only what they mean. I also believe there is no work that is more important and that carries a greater responsibility than education. It is impossible to work with children and not have a positive outlook on life!" I N O U R S C H O O L S : SuR Scho " W h the wd opptity op, d't d the shade." – T• Pet•

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