Monday, April 29, 2013
The winners of this year's Judy and Josh Weston Award for Excellence in Teaching were recently announced.
Sixteen Montclair teachers were named and recognized for their continual efforts in the school system. The Judy and Josh Weston Award for Excellence in Teaching is given out annually to teachers in the Montclair public school system. The awards acknowledge teacher's for their creativity, high expectations, energy and concern for students. The awards come with a cash reward of $2,000. The administration of The Judy and Josh Weston Award for Excellence in Teaching is exclusively by parents. Nominations are solicited from students, parents and guardians of students currently attending the Montclair public schools. This year the committee received more than 400 nominations, of which 177 teachers being nominated. A selection committee of …
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
The union will now vote to ratify or reject the contract.
Montclair's teachers union agreed to a tentative contract agreement early Wednesday morning. The Montclair Board of Education and Superintendent Penny MacCormack released a statement announcing the district and Montclair Education Association have reached an agreement for a preliminary contract. The two sides worked through Tuesday night and found common ground on a contract around 4 a.m. that morning. "Both parties worked in good faith well into the night to reach a tentative agreement we all believe recognize the hard work and contributions of District staff and serve the educational needs of our students in a fiscally responsible manner," said a district press release. The union will now vote to ratify or reject the contract. The …
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Check out the top stories making headlines in Montclair last week.
Out with the old ways of teaching, in with the new. As Superintendent Penny MacCormack continues her first year leading the district, she unveiled Monday how she will reshape Montclair schools. Looking to next year, the superintendent wants to restructure central office and even rename it “Central Support.” Montclair's teachers union ended its "work to contract" effort Monday as the Montclair Board of Education and union resume contract negotiations. While the NCAA lifted a ban on New Jersey colleges from hosting tournament and championship games on Wednesday, it came too late for Montclair State University who missed out on several games on its home turf this year. When the Montclair Fire Department announced it had handful of openings…
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Eight new positions will be created to focus on teacher effectiveness and come with a price tag of more than $800,000 in 2013-14, but the overall school budget is down 3.3 percent from this year's.
Out with the old ways of teaching, in with the new. As Superintendent Penny MacCormack continues her first year leading the district, she unveiled Monday how she will reshape Montclair schools. Looking to next year, the superintendent wants to restructure central office and even rename it “Central Support.” The district will focus more on teacher effectiveness in the classroom, which MacCormack said will increase student achievement. To increase teacher effectiveness, the district will create a new academic support structure. “Teacher effectiveness is in,” said MacCormack. “The more effective the teacher, the more learning happens in the classroom.” The assistant superintendent position and academic support staff at Central Support …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Both sides also agreed to keep the talks out of the public.
Montclair's teachers union ended its "work to contract" effort Monday as the Montclair Board of Education and union resume contract negotiations. The board and Montclair Education Association issued a joint statement Monday saying the sides have returned to the negotiation table. Contract talks began again on Friday, March 1, the statement said, where the two sides scheduled "numerous dates" to negotiate this month in order to "settle the contract without proceeding to mediation." Union members also agreed to place a "moratorium" on a work to contract provision in which members did not volunteer any additional time with students they were not paid for in their contract. It was put into effect on Feb. 26. Both sides also agreed to keep …
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Here are the top stories in Montclair from this past week.
Montclair’s teachers union and school board are expected to resume contract negotiations Friday. The Board of Education accused the union of demanding excessive salary increases and an unsustainable contract for Montclair taxpayers Tuesday, the first day of a "work to contract" tactic in which teachers walked off school grounds at precisely 2:52 p.m., refusing to stay after hours. More than 250 Montclair teachers and other staffers packed into a tense and often raucous Board of Education meeting Monday night, as union officials said teachers would not perform any duties beyond the letter of their contract until a new deal is reached with the district. Montclair Police are looking for a 22-year-old resident who led officers on a car chase…
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Teachers and other members of the Montclair Education Association will not volunteer any additional time past their paid hours, including before and after school and during weekends, until they reach agreement on a new contract.
More than 250 Montclair teachers and other staffers packed into a tense and often raucous Board of Education meeting Monday night, as union officials said teachers would not perform any duties beyond the letter of their contract until a new deal is reached with the district. Board President Robin Kulwin said a mediator would likely enter in the negotiations, which would "expedite a settlement." "Despite best efforts," Kulwin said, "the parties were growing further apart in their settlement demands, not closer together. It became clear, we needed the assistance of a mediator." The union members packed the standing-room-only room with blue and red shirts and buttons supporting the MEA. Many cheered as parents and residents lined up to …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Union asks teachers to make show of force at meeting after contract negotiations stall.
The Montclair Board of Education meeting could be crowded on Monday. On its blog, the Montclair Education Association is calling on its 1,000-member union to come out in a show of unity after contract negotiations with the board stalled last week. The board will convene Monday at 7 p.m. in the George Inness Annex, at 141 Park St. The BOE filed an impasse on contract negotiations on Thursday, Feb. 21. The association is made up of district staff members, including teachers, librarians, secretaries and security personnel. The union immediately struck back at the board by calling on its members to begin "working to contract" starting Tuesday, where members work only the hours they are obligated by contract. The blog also asks members to …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Newark instructors to become first in state to get pay for student performance.
The membership of the Newark Teachers Union Wednesday night voted to accept a new contract that will make the city the first school district in the state to offer teachers bonus pay based on student performance. "The vote to ratify the Newark Teacher's Union contract is a win for teachers and unions. I salute my colleagues, all of whom had the courage to challenge the status quo and stand up for what's best for our profession -- and for our students,” Joe DelGrosso, the president of the NTU, said in a statement. “We are here to serve and I look forward to working with all of our teaching professionals on this historic contract as we embark upon a new era for public education in Newark." "Congratulations to the teachers, parent …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Erica DePalo, 33, of Montclair, was arrested in late August on multiple charges of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.
The case against a West Orange teacher from Montclair charged with a having sexual relationship with one of her students has been referred to a grand jury, according to the Essex County’s Prosecutor’s Office. Erica DePalo, 33, pleaded not guilty in September to charges that she had a sex with a 15-year-old student who attended her honors English class at West Orange High School. DePalo was originally scheduled to appear in court on Monday. However, it was canceled because she will have to appear before a grand jury, said prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Katherine Carter. DePalo, who was chosen as the 2011-12 County Teacher of the Year, is facing charges of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, and …
Walter P. Springer
4:36 pm on Monday, April 29, 2013
Congratulation to all nominated teachers and winners. more ›