Sunday, April 28, 2013
Jefferson Township Middle School team finished successful year strong.
The Jefferson Township Middle School MATHCOUNTS Team finished off a successful year that saw them placing in two major math competitions. At the Chapter Competition on Feb. 2, the school team consisting of Dan Zhao, Stefan Knapik, Shalin Mehta and Adi Bhatt placed third out of schools from Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Essex and Warren Counties. At the State Competition at Rutgers University on March 9, the JTMS MATHCOUNTS Team finished in the top 10% out of 139 participating schools in NJ. Other members of the MATHCOUNTS Team are Dan Zhao, Stefan Knapik, Shalin Mehta, Adi BhattKapil Bhavsar, Shaun Bishop, Tristen Deleshaw, Kalen Luciano, Liam Tedford, and Nikhil Thirunagari. Eighth grade math teacher, Mrs. Christina Hardin is the …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Jefferson Township Education Association and Municipal Organizations plans to use education to help reduce substance abuse.
Since America declared the "war on drugs" 40 years ago, it's racked up 45 million arrests, packed prisons, and cost the nation more than a trillion dollars. Teachers, parents, and members of community groups in Jefferson Township think they have a better idea. We call them, the JTEAM. "The Jefferson Twp. Education Association and Municipal Organizations (JTEAM) is a newly formed group in the community," said John Williams, NJEA Field Representative. "Which has been formed to help reduce substance abuse in Jefferson through education." Convinced that it's better to educate than incarcerate, the JTEAM has joined with school administrators and municipal organizations and pulled together a program that it hopes will help break the cycle of …
U.S. News & World Report releases 2013 national high school standings; no Morris County school crack top-10 in state.
Jefferson High School students have virtually the same test scores and college readiness as they did in 2012, but the school failed to make the top 50 institutions in New Jersey, according to the U.S. News & World Report. The magazine’s annual report ranks all high schools in the country and marks the top 50 in each state. New Jersey had many changes, including the top spot, which went to Biotechnology High School in Freehold, ousting this year’s number two, High Technology High School. Three main factors are calculated for the rankings, including college readiness, math proficiency and language proficiency. U.S. News & World Report ranked Jefferson Township High School as indicated in the chart: Jefferson High School’s student-to-faculty …
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Violinist Kathryn Chamberlain in the running for $1,000 music education scholarship.
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Thursday, April 11
Sparta resident and violinist Kathryn Chamberlain has made it to the final round in Don Bosco Prep’s Young Artists’ Scholarship Competition with two qualifying performances in the contest. The Scholarship Competition committee has selected thirteen finalists to perform the final concert of Chapel Concerts on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the music room of St. John’s Hall. The finalists include: Of these, one winner will be selected to receive a $1,000 scholarship to be used towards music education. These young artists, from high schools throughout the area, have made it through two rounds of auditions. They are judged by a panel of experts on talent, technique, musicianship, skill, interpretation, presentation, presence. The …
Friday, April 5, 2013
The Parsippany-based assemblywoman says violent conduct was tolerated by the university's athletic department for far too long.
District 26 Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, who was recently appointed to the state General Assembly's higher education committee, says Rutgers did the right thing by firing controversial former coach Michael Rice. “Rutgers Coach Michael Rice demonstrated a pattern of conduct with his players that is unbefitting an institution of higher learning," said DeCroce, a Parsippany resident. "There is no rational way to condone or explain the physical and verbal abuse that Mr. Rice heaped on his players. Coach Rice earned his dismissal, and I support his firing." She added that she is most upset that "Coach Rice's conduct was tolerated for so long by the university. "People in the athletic department knew for quite some time of Coach Rice’s …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Former Circle Systems Group principals overcharged districts, exchanged gifts for work, U.S. Attorney says.
Two former executives of an athletic equipment supply firm each face 20 years in prison after admitting their roles in a scheme to defraud schools. Mitchell Kurlander, 54, of Allentown, Pa., and his father-in-law, Alan Abeshaus, 81, of Highland Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty today in federal court to one count of mail and wire fraud conspiracy. Kurlander and Abeshaus served, respectively, as chief financial officer and chief executive officer of Circle Systems Group Inc., which had contracts with a number of New Jersey school districts. The athletic apparel and equipment firm systematically defrauded school districts from at least 1997 to 2007, according to a release by U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman, by keeping duplicate payments from schools …
Superintendent, board of education members describe coach as role model for players, coaches.
The Jefferson Township Board of Education congratulated Jim O’Connor on his retirement after 26 years as head coach of the Jefferson High School girls’ basketball team. Board member Frank Cuccio highlighted O’Connor’s many successes over the years, which he summed up as “quite a resume.” O’Connor ended his career at Jefferson with 490 wins to 191 losses with a 72 percent win rate. His overall head coaching record is 511-230. His teams have nabbed 10 conference titles since 1988, a Morris County Tournament championship, five Sussex County Interscholastic League championships, five state sectional titles, a state group title and three appearances in the state group final. Under his watch, 10 Lady Falcons have scored at least 1,000 points. “…
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Jefferson Township Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Kraemer said award was 'humbling' and 'a great honor.'
Jefferson Township Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Kraemer has been named the Morris County Superintendent of the Year by the Morris County Council of Education Associations. Kraemer received the honor at the organization’s annual Friends of Public Education award reception on March 20. During Monday’s board of education meeting, Kraemer described the award as “humbling” and “a great honor.” Board President H. Ronald Smith said the award reaffirms the board’s decision to appoint Kraemer, who had previously served as assistant superintendent, in March 2012. “It was a wonderful evening and a great honor for Jefferson,” Smith said.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Programs remain intact, new courses are being offered despite no additional state aid.
The Jefferson Township Board of Education unanimously approved the school district’s budget for 2013014 during its Monday meeting, following a presentation by Business Administrator Dora Zeno and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mary Thornton. Of the budget’s $58 million total, $39,254,712 will come from taxes. Zeno explained that, using the assessed average home value rate of $286,606, the average tax increase per homeowner will be $122.15 for the year, $10.18 monthly and $.33 daily. Although the district received no additional state aid this year, Zeno said the district has sustained all of its current programs. Additionally she said staffing is “almost a rollover,” with the only exception being two positions that were reduced at the central…
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Budget discussion likely the hot topic.
The Jefferson Board of Education is scheduled to meet Monday, March 25 to make up for a missed session from last week. A late day snow storm blanketed the area on Monday, March 18, forcing the board to postpone its meeting, which will be highlighted by budget talks. The meeting’s agenda is currently unavailable on the school district’s website. When Governor Chris Christie announced the largest schools state aid funding package in New Jersey history, Jefferson Township learned it would not see an increase or decrease, with its award coming in at $15,757,785. While the package was flat from 2012-13 to 2013-14, Jefferson received a 4.3-percent increase in the current year’s spending plan. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 7…
Ron Willis
6:50 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2013
Outstanding. Well done. BRAVO! more ›