Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The contract expired Tuesday, with negotiations not scheduled to begin until mid-May.
Contracts expired for Fort Lee teachers at the end of April with meetings yet to take place between union representatives and the board of education, setting the stage for a potentially long renegotiation to begin this month. The contract that expired Tuesday had been negotiated in 2010, a year before the then current collective agreement was set to expire. But, board of education business administrator Cheryl Balletto says, that process had taken place under unique circumstances. A $3 million state aid cut that year had brought the parties together to renegotiate health coverage, Balletto said, and move from a private plan to the NJ State Health Benefits Plan to save money and minimize staff cuts. But that unique scenario aside, both …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The board will explore possible updates to its current policy on hiring relatives of district employees.
The Board of Education, citing patterns across the country of nepotism in school hiring, discussed updates Monday night to its policy on hiring relatives of current district employees. “We have a large number of teaching positions that will be available,” Board President Yusang Park said, “and I think now is a good time for us to study the policy to make sure: Do we have the right policy in place? Is it strong enough to keep the integrity of the system in place?” The current policy on nepotism, which the district adopts as a precondition for obtaining state aid, bars the hiring of immediate and extended family members—including in-laws—of the superintendent and members of the board of education. The policy can be circumvented only with the…
Monday, April 15, 2013
Take a look at what's going on in Fort Lee this week.
The Fort Lee Board of Education will be meeting Monday in a Private Work Session from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Fort Lee High School Library/Media Center on the second floor. No action will be taken at the Private Work Session. The regular business meeting will begin at 8 pm in the High School Library/Media Center on the second floor. Official Action will be taken. On Wednesday, the Fort Lee Film Commission and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission is presenting a one-night film festival "Gangs in Fort Lee" at the Fort Lee Historic Park. This festival celebrates the origins of the gangster film genre that began in Fort Lee with D.W. Griffiths "Muskateers of Pig Alley." Fort Lee Film Commissioner, Tom Meyers, and Palisades Interstate Park …
40.851269
-73.962397
Fort Lee Historic Park Visitor Center
Hudson Terrace, Fort Lee, NY
/articles/gangs-of-fort-lee-meetings-and-more-this-week-in-fort-lee
1776205
/locations/9233992
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Fort Lee's administrative group publicly gives support to Dr. Sharon Amato, asking Board to appoint her Superintendent of Schools.
Speaking on behalf of Fort Lee's Administrative Group, Fort Lee High School Principal Priscilla Church and School No. 1 Principal Rosemary Giacomelli read a statement to the Board of Education placing unanimous support behind Acting Superintendent Dr. Sharon Amato in consideration for her appointment as Superintendent of Schools. Before an audience filled with teachers and administrators, Church stressed to the Board that the Fort Lee School district has been in transition since the departures of Dr. Alan Sugarman and Dr. John Richardson. Since they left the district, "Their long tenure in the district and steady course has not been recaptured," Church said. She emphasized that it was their personal investment in the community that …
40.85824
-73.965809
Fort Lee Borough High School
3000 Lemoine Ave, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/fort-lee-principals-throw-support-behind-amato-for-superintendent
1770838
/locations/9150135
Friday, March 29, 2013
Preliminary budget includes $1 million allocation towards potential property acquisition to appear on November ballot, if approved.
The Fort Lee Board of Education held its annual public budget presentation Thursday, detailing the roughly $61.9 million 2013-2014 school budget, which would raise taxes an estimated $82 on a home valued at $500,000. The proposed budget represents an increase of approximately $2.7 million over the 2012-2013 budget, or 4.65 percent. The school district highlighted the following details, among others, at its budget presentation Thursday: The roughly $2.5 million capital outlay, withdrawn from the Capital Reserve, would go in part toward security system upgrades, renovating the high school gym and the purchase of smart boards. According to the draft budget, 37 percent of general fund expenditures would go toward regular instruction under the …
40.85824
-73.965809
Fort Lee Borough High School
3000 Lemoine Ave, Fort Lee, NJ
/articles/proposed-school-budget-to-increase-taxes-82-annually-on-average
1770838
/locations/9124792
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Due to the absence of the former Superintendent, and inclement weather, the district's 2012-2013 goals will be a modified version.
At a recent Board of Education meeting, Alfred Annunziata, Field Service Representative from the New Jersey School Boards Association, met with the Board members to discuss their goals for the 2012-2013 school year. Board President Jimmy Park said that goal setting is usually done sooner in the school year with input from the Superintendent, but this school year "that hasn't been the case." Annunziata said that once the district goals are established they become the basis of the superintendent's evaluation. However, Superintendent Steven Engravalle submitted his resignation to the Board effective March 4. His time off to attend his wife's funeral this summer, along with his two-month leave of absence and inclement weather, played a role in…
Sunday, March 10, 2013
See all of Fort Lee's top news stories for last week here.
Fort Lee Board of Education accepts the resignation of Steven Engravalle as Superintendent of the Fort Lee School District. Tentative tax increase due to unforseen expenses brought on by Hurricane Sandy and a 20 percent increase from the BCUA. During emergency situations, such as Superstorm Sandy presented, special needs requires special preparedness. Fort Lee Police charge Bronx man with heroin and gun possession after a motor vehicle stop. Officials report that 7-year-old Ava Sangavaram lay bleeding for hours after mother stabbed her before taking her own life. The average home sold last year in Fort Lee went for $450,886 down 10.1 percent from 2011. Fort Lee on board to dedicate their own Comfort Women Memorial. Officials emphasize the …
Monday, March 4, 2013
Fort Lee Board of Education accepts the resignation of Steven Engravalle as Superintendent of the Fort Lee School District.
The Fort Lee Board of Education accepted the resignation of School Superintendent Steven Engravalle during Monday's special work session. When asked for a reason for the Board's decision to accept Engravalle's resignation, Board Attorney Dennis McKeever said, "The relationship between the Board and Mr. Engravalle has been irretrievably severed and broken." The Board voted on three resolutions regarding the separation: In response to a question posed by Paula Colbath regarding the terms of Engravalle's separation from the district, McKeever said that he was not able to divulge the strategy or the negotiations regarding the separation of services agreement. McKeever did say that the terms were arrived through mutual compromise between the …
See what's going on in Fort Lee this week.
The Fort Lee Board of Education will hold a Special Public Work Session and Special Private Work Session on Monday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Fort Lee High School. The purpose of this Special Public Work Session--to adjourn immediately into private session to discuss personnel matters. Official action will be taken at the Special Public Work Session. Purpose of this Special Private Work Session--to discuss personnel matters. No official action will be taken at the Special Private Work Session. Please take notice that the Fort Lee Board of Education will be returning to the Special Public Work Session immediately following the Special Private Work Session. Official action will be taken at the Special Public Work Session. The regular …
Sunday, March 3, 2013
See all of Fort Lee's top news stories from last week.
Parents outraged over Engravalle's continued absence from meetings; also at issue is continued absence of Board member Charlie Luppino. Through the Open Public Records Act (OPRA), Patch received a copy of Steven Engravalle's employment contract. Fort Lee podiatrist, Dr. Victoria Vovchik, found dead in Quarry Drive home, seven-year-old daughter hospitalized with lacerations. Seven-year-old daughter reported in stable condition after surgery. Fort Lee police charged two men with pot possession with intent to distribute after a motor vehicle stop. Bergen districts set to receive nearly $3 million more in funding over last year, Christie Administration says. Fort Lee sees increase of 1.2 percent. Fort Lee Girls Recreation Basketball League …
Abigail M
9:06 am on Monday, May 6, 2013
I think that you son will be successful and happy in what ever profession he chooses. Also, history is a great subject to study and won't lead to unemployment, so matter what anyone says. Good history teachers are hard to find. If your sons is a good teacher, he'll be fine. more ›