Amboy Guardian 9_15_21

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The Amboy Guardian *September 15, 2021Gym Membership Reimbursement, Air Purifiers, New High School Groundbreaking,Covid Vaccine Mandate Topics of BOE Meeting8/31/21 Board of Education MeetingBy: Katherine MassopustPERTH AMBOY – The Boardof education meeting was calledto order at 4:08 p.m. The Boardimmediately went into a closedsession at 4:11 p.m. and returned4 hours and 1 minutelater at 8:12 p.m.There was a brief presentationby Yolanda Gomez, Director ofPersonnel on gym membershipreimbursement for teachers andstaff at a qualified health facility.“There is a membership fortwo family members who cango to a gym and a reimbursement,”stated Gomez.It was noted by SuperintendentDr. David Roman that thisprogram is at no cost to the staffor the district.Assistant SuperintendentDelves Rodriguez stated thatthere were three types of airpurifiers throughout the schooldepending on the needs of theroom or area: Aera Max, TrioPlus, and Carrier Opti Clean.Dr. David Roman stated thatthis was something that the districtdecided to do on its ownand it was not mandated by thestate.Dr. Delves Rodriguez also statedthat the state will have over30,000 disposable masks fordistribution to the students andstaff.Dr. Roman added, “The districthas gone above and beyondto make sure that filters are inplace. I think we have the bestcustodians in the state.” It wasalso noted by Dr. Roman thatanyone who comes to visit anybuilding in the district musthave an appointment and theirtemperature scanned. “We musthave qualified personnel to seewhat is going on.”Public Portion: There was onlyone public portion. The onlypeople who spoke was PerthAmboy American FederationPresident Pat Paradiso and DistrictRepresentative Lynn Audet.Here are their statements:Pat Paradiso: We are very concernedabout some of the largeclass sizes in the district. In theelementary schools, we havelarge bilingual classes, andsome empty classrooms available.We were wondering if youhad any plans to have any ofthe supervisors or instructionalleaders cover classes for thesafety of our students… at leastuntil we can hire more teachers.In a similar vein, we were finallyable to get a copy of thePerth Amboy CollaborativeMonitoring Report from May2021 that resulted in the districtbeing put on a CorrectiveAction Plan. One of the recommendationsfrom the Departmentof Education statedthat the district should “createpathways for paraprofessionalsto gain bilingual/biculturalcertification to address the bilingualteacher shortage, in coordinationwith Title II and TitleIV funds.” We were wonderingwhere the district is in planningfor that. We have always advocatedfor a pathway to certificationfor our paraprofessionalsand included language in ourlast negotiations regarding reimbursementof tuition. Toomany of our ELLS are beingtaught by non-Spanish speakingteachers, particularly at themiddle and high school level.It puts them in a difficult position.We have the best paraprofessionalsin New Jersey and anobvious great need for bilingualteachers. Let’s make this happen.On a final note, we are veryconcerned about assemblinglarge groups of staff memberson September 1 & 2 for professionaldevelopment. All lastyear professional developmentwas conducted remotely; Weknow that it can be done thatway safely and effectively. Weare requesting that you reevaluatethat decision. It does notmake sense to risk an outbreakbefore instruction even begins.Thank you.Lynn Audet: On August 31,2021, I addressed the Perth AmboyBoard of Education at theirmonthly meeting. I must beginIrish FestivalSeptember 25, 2021Press ReleaseSOUTH AMBOY - The City of South Amboy in partnershipwith the South Amboy Parade Committee will host an Irish Festivalon Saturday, September 25 th at the Raritan Bay WaterfrontPark. The festival, which will begin at 2pm, promises to be anexciting and family friendly event and will include music, foodand craft vendors, kid friendly activities, and will conclude witha firework display at dusk.There will be live entertainment throughout the event includingappearances by renowned Irish Musicians Willie Lynch andAndy Cooney, step dancers from the Lynn Academy of IrishDance, as well as our very own Colonel DB Kelly Pipes andDrums.Parade Co-Chairman Mickey Gross said, “Now that we arefinally beginning to emerge from the pandemic, we are excitedto hold this event as a preamble to the parade’s return in March2022.”The City of South Amboy has hosted an annual Saint Patrick’sParade for many years and the event has grown to one of thelargest in New Jersey. Mayor Fred A. Henry said, “I promiseyou that our dedicated Parade volunteers and our City employeeswill ensure that this is an event to remember.”South Amboy is conveniently located at the nexus of Route 9& 35 and is home to a convenient NJ Transit rail station that isonly a short walk to the Raritan Bay Waterfront Park. Rain datefor the event is September 26 th .by saying that the ExecutiveSession was four hours longthat night... I feel that the publicportion of the Board meetingsshould occur before ExecutiveSession. It is unacceptable tomake members of the publicwait that long to be heard. I feelit is a thinly veiled attempt todeter the public from participatingin and listening to the meeting.I began by wishing our studentsand staff the best of luckfor a safe and productive schoolyear. The past year and a halfhave definitely been a very difficulttime for all. Our entire staffhas been amazing throughoutthe pandemic! I just wanted tothank them for all that they doevery day for our students!I was very pleased to see ina letter sent out by Delvis Rodriguez,that the air purifiers atour schools without HVAC arebeing replaced with appropriateunits for the size of the classrooms.The issue of ventilationis something that Union Leadershiphad been very passionateabout being rectified since welearned that the units that werebeing used were not sufficient toensure the safety of our studentsand staff.Next, I made a formal requestfor the Board to adjust ourschool calendar for the 2021-2022 school year to include aday to observe Juneteenth.I also addressed GovernorMurphy’s mandate for all staffmembers to be vaccinated forCovid by October 18, or to betested at least once a week. It ismy understanding that a majorityof our staff members are vaccinated.We do, however, have alarge number of staff membersthat for various reasons are notvaccinated. These staff membersaccording to the Governor’smandate are going to berequired to be tested for Covidat least once a week beginningOctober 18. I requested that theBoard negotiate with the AFTas to how this testing will becarried out. We want to makeJoin theCub Scouts!FORDS – Pack 53 wants youto join the cub scouts! Forboys K thru 5. Our 70th year.Sign up now! Be ready to startup in September! Our 2021-2Plans are done and ready forthe Scouts to have lots of fun!These pictures are our scoutsand some of the numerous activitiesthey participated in lastyear. Fishing, hiking, BB guns,archery, service time (planting,Scouting for Food, Cleanups,and toy collections), parades,Pinewood Derby, RaingutterRegatta and much, much more.We are Pack 53 Fords ClaraBarton, but scouts are fromall over. We are Sponsored byFords Fire Department, OurRedeemer Lutheran Churchand Fords Middle School. Seeour website: pack53fordsnj.shutterfly.com for more information!Send me your email topack53cs@gmail.com for moreinformation.sure that the process of testingwill be as easy as possible forour staff members.I suggested for AFT Leadershipto be included in the decision-makingprocess whenit comes to all procedures andprotocols that will impact thestaff. All too often I feel as ifAFT Leadership is not includedin the planning stages, whichforces us to attempt to rectifyproblems that could have beenavoided in the first place afterdirectives are made public toour staff.I gave an example of AFTLeadership not being includedin the decision making whenwe found out “through thegrapevine” that there was aSafe Return Planning CommitteeMeeting scheduled for June22, 2021, to discuss plans forthe upcoming school year. AFTLeadership was not invited toparticipate in this meeting. Wehad to push Central Administrationto be included.This practice is not productiveand leads us to having tofile grievances to be heard. Thisis something that I have beenasking for since I took over asthe District Representative.I pointed out to the Board ofEducation that we are not theenemy. We want to work collaborativelyto help move the PerthAmboy Public Schools forward,as well as always making sureour members are safe and treatedfairly. We are the ones talkingto staff members daily andlistening to their concerns. Wewish to be proactive, not reactive.Board President Ken Pucciowished everyone good luck inthe upcoming school year. Itwas noted that Board MemberStephanie Márquez-Villafañelost her mother, Nilda Rivera,and former principal GeraldChismar has passed away.Dr. Roman received muchapplause when he announcedthat the groundbreaking of thenew high school will be onMonday, September 27, 2021.“Many people do not realize theamount of work that the Boarddoes. I’m grateful you volunteerfor us. We may not agree how toget there – we gave children anopportunity – your children aresafe. We will do what is best.We got you – Here we come!”Board Member Junior Iglesiastated, “The groundbreakingceremony – we would like everyonecan be a part of that moment.”Board President Puccio thensaid, “I thank two of the hardestworking people who keepthe district going: Maritza andMilagros. They are two of themost hardest working people Iknow.”It was noted by the Board thatall district employees must befully vaccinated for Covid-19 ortake a Covid Test once or twicea week. This will take effect onOctober 18, 2021. A copy ofthe policy was available at theBoard Meeting.Everyone voted yes during theroll call votes for the supervisorson the agenda.Board Vice President TashiVazquez stated, “I want to thankour school staff for the vaccinationclinic and thank the AFTfor distributing books.” Sheemphasized the importance thatparents should fill out the freelunch application. "Even thoughevery child will get a free lunch,there are other benefits that becomeavailable and we haveaccurate counts when the applicationis filled out. I encourageeveryone to get that completed.When you see the lines at thefood pantry, there is a need.”Vazquez then said, “I encouragestudents to get library cards.Thank you AFT for being there.Let’s have a safe school year.”Vazquez then added, “Uniformsare available at Kid City. It ismandatory for students to wearuniforms.”The meeting adjourned at 9:05p.m. All Board Members werepresent.Opening ofThomas Mundy Peterson ParkPERTH AMBOY – Celebrate the opening of Thomas MundyPeterson Park on Saturday, September 25, 2021, from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m. Entrance on High Street between Washington St. &Buckingham Ave. (across from Middlesex County VoTech – use457 High St. for GPS).This Park honors Thomas Mundy Peterson, a resident of theCity of Perth Amboy and the first African American to vote ina U.S. election after the 15th Amendment was ratified. Ribboncutting ceremony at 10 a.m. followed by: games, crafts, foodvendors, historic lectures, Vo-Tech and Middlesex College OpenHouses.Hardy Mum & Pumpkin SaleSOUTH AMBOY - The Sacred Heart Council of CatholicWomen will hold a hardy mum and pumpkin sale the weekendof September 17-19 in front of Memorial Hall, 529 WashingtonAvenue, South Amboy (across from Sacred Heart Church).Locally grown 8” hardy mums in assorted colors will be availablefor $6 each or 3 for $15. Pie pumpkins, also known as sugarpumpkins, which are used for cooking, baking and seasonal décor,will also be sold.Please come by Friday, September 17, 3 p.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday,September 18, 12 Noon-5 p.m.; and Sunday, September 19, 7:30a.m.-1 p.m., and support our group’s fundraising.
September 15, 2021 * The Amboy Guardian .7Law Office ofERALIDES E. CABRERAAbogadoSpecializing In• ImmigrationWe are bilingual and have offices at:708 Carson Ave., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861Phone: 732 - 826-5020; Fax: 732-826-46531201 E. Grand St., Unit 3A, Elizabeth, NJ 07201Phone: 908-351-0957; Fax: 908-351-0959Email: ecabrera52@hotmail.comStories From Perth AmboyPERTH AMBOY - Stories From Perth Amboy by KatherineMassopust is available from Katherine at 732-261-2610 orat the Barge Restaurant, 201 Front St., Perth Amboy - 732-442-3000 or at: www.amazon.com A Great Gift! Get it nowalong with Then & Now: Perth Amboy!2021 GreekFestivalPERTH AMBOY – GreekFestival, Saturday, September25 th from 12 noon to 11p.m. and Sunday, September26th from 12 noon to 7p.m. at St. Demetrios GreekOrthodox Church, 41-47Wisteria St., Perth Amboy.Delicious Food. To ordercall: 732-826-4466. Food!Music! Dancing! Opa!www.stdemetriosperthamboy.orgRaritan BayCruisersCar ShowWOODBRIDGE - TuesdaysMay 11th thru Oct. 5 th from 6p.m.-9 p.m. at Pizza Hut, Rte.9, Woodbridge (Wal-Mart ParkingLot). Weather permitting.Rock & Roll Music, Trophies,Kids Games - Just Family Fun!For more info, call 1-732-407-2396.South AmboySeniorsSOUTH AMBOY - The SouthAmboy Senior Citizens club islooking for new members. Anyone60+ years old that lives inSouth Amboy or has a 08879zip code is eligible to join. Themeetings are the 2 nd Wednesdayof every month at 12:00 Noonat the Senior Building on StevensAvenue. Come have funand join the members for lunchand see if you're interested injoining the club. If interestedor seeking more information,please call Gretchen at 732-721-2501 or Sandy at 732-721-6576.You’re Invited toSunday WorshipPERTH AMBOY - Please joinus on Sunday mornings: 9:00AM for English Worship andSunday School; 10:30 AM forHungarian Worship and SundaySchoolRev. András Szász – Pastor;Organ Prelude - Richard Russell,Organist. We Extend anOpen Invitation to All!Magyar Reformed Church,331 Kirkland Place, Perth Amboy,NJ - 732-442-7799; www.mrchurchnj.orgParking behind the church onthe Wilson Street side.Ads Sell! Call Carolyn!732-896-4446
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