Wednesday, April 17, 2013
STAR, Babe Ruth organizations donate to Jefferson High School baseball field for fencing, safety netting.
The Jefferson Township Stadium Turf for Athletics and Recreation (STAR) committee and Jefferson Township Babe Ruth organization are both donating money to improve safety at the high school baseball field, Superintendent Joseph Kraemer said. The STAR committee, which raises funds for turf fields and other local athletic facility amenities, is donating $1,000 for fencing to protect the press box behind the backstop. “If you’re in the press box, there’s no protection from foul balls,” Kraemer said. “They’re going to nail a cameraman, announcer or coach. So we wanted to get some fencing work up there.” Kraemer had announced during the March 25 meeting that the committee was donating about $800 but explained Monday that it had decided to kick …
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…
Monday, February 18, 2013
See what Jefferson Patch is working on in the coming days.
The midway point of February is now in the rearview mirror, and the last full week of the month is upon us. There’s plenty to keep in mind in the coming days. Let’s take a look at what’s going on. ‘Frustration Continues’: As was discussed at the most recent town council meeting, residents on New Jersey Avenue are still frustrated with the mess of homes being left by neighbors, creating eyesores and home value drops. Here’s the original story. We’re working on a follow-up as well this week, so keep an eye out. Board of Education Meets: The Jefferson Township Board of Education will meet Monday night for its regular meeting, and we’ll be there to cover the issues. At the last meeting, a parent came forward and asked why his step-daughter’s …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Man said there was a lack of response from administrators after step-daughter was allegedly bullied.
Racist and sexually-oriented remarks allegedly made toward a Jefferson Township High School student prompted the girl's step-father to approach the Board of Education demanding action last week. Tom Staron told the Board of Education on Jan. 21 that several students made inappropriate comments to his step-daughter—including calling her a racially deragatory name and making sexually lewd comments—dating back to October. “I’m a firm believer that there are three sides to every story,” he said. “Both sides and the truth.” But the man's concern was not only with the comments allegedly made to his step-daughter, but in the reaction, or lack thereof, in his opinion, on the part of the school district. “According to the bullying law, that falls …
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Superintendent Joseph Kraemer says all repairs are complete, and will be fully reimbused by insurance.
Superstorm Sandy caused an estimated $50,000 of damage to Jefferson schools last month, according to Superintendent Joseph Kraemer. He said the schools faired pretty well, considering there was no structural damage to any of the buildings or any flooding. The largest cost, he said, was from the food spoilage. "The bulk of our losses were in food, which was basically emptying, cleaning and restoring," he said. An estimated $23,000 of the damage was from the high school, which included the food and the boiler pump that needed to be replaced. The middle school had about $15,000 worth of damage, and the elementary schools each had about $3,000, Kraemer said. Kraemer said the middle school had its roof damaged, but it was replaced within a week…
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Ed Quigley appointed as the newest BOE member last week to fill one-year unexpired term.
The newest Jefferson Township Board of Education member says he's excited to serve on the board and help improve the district in any way he can. Resident Ed Quigley, who was appointed at last week's meeting, said he was inspired to join after he had several conversations last year with board members and District Superintendent Joseph Kraemer. "I've always had an interest in how the board works," he said. "I never really knew all that much about the comings and goings of it, and my children reached an age where I felt like it was my turn to pay back." Quigley, whose daughter, Kayla, is a senior at the high school, and son, Patrick, is a freshman, said he felt like this was his last opportunity to really try to make a difference in the …
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
1-year unexpired term is filled.
The one-year unexpired term on the Jefferson Board of Education has been filled. Resident Ed Quigley was sworn in as the newest board member at Monday night's BOE meeting, after receiving 85 write-in candidate votes in this year's election. The board congratulated and welcomed Quigley Monday night, and he thanked the members at the end of the meeting. "I'd like to thank everyone for your warm welcome and support to this point," Quigley said. "I look forward to working with you and hopefully making a difference." Board Secretary Dora E. Zeno said that the number of write-in votes are unofficial because there are absentee and individual ballots that still need to be counted. She said no other candidates have come forward with any votes. The…
Spring break also knocked down to four days due to lost days from Sandy.
Jefferson students will make up the lost days from Hurricane Sandy by attending school on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, and the Friday of spring break on April 5. Students will have shortened days on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 21 and on Presidents' Day on Feb. 18, according to a recommendation presented by District Superintendent Joeseph Kraemer at Monday night's BOE meeting. On April 5, he said students will have a full instructional day. Kraemer said there were five extra days built into the school calendar this year to use for snow days. The storm used eight of those days, so the board had to come up with a way to make up the extra three days. He said he met with the administration, the PTA, PTEA, BOE committee …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Township officials say they won't know results until next week.
Although three incumbents Melissa Senatore, Michael Stewart, and Jill VanNess retained their seats on the Jefferson Board of Education after running unopposed in this year's election, there is still a one-year unexpired term that needs to be filled. According to Deputy Clerk Maria Pivirotto, the results of the write-in campaigns haven't been tallied yet because the township hasn't received the provisional or mail-in ballots yet. She said the mail-in ballots were extended until Friday. "It could be enough to change the election," she said. "So we don't have any kind of results for that." Pivirotto said there has been an "extreme" amount of provisional and mail-in ballots. Although she said she is unsure of how many write-in campaigns there …
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
With the election coming up in less than two weeks, the BOE is still accepting write-in campaigns for a vacant seat.
The Jefferson Township Board of Education is still seeking write-in campaigns for a one-year unexpired term after board member Judy Castiglione abruptly resigned last month. At the Oct. 16 meeting, board president Ron Smith spoke about the vacant spot, and said all potential candidates should hand in a write-in campaign. "If anyone is interested they should act accordingly because the election comes up in two weeks," he said at the meeting. Resident Ed Quigley announced his own candidacy during the public portion of the meeting, explaining that he was inspired by a particular issue after speaking with Superintendent Joseph Kraemer. Castiglione was the third board member to leave in a year, following Bob Feldmann in March, and Nick Anzano …
Legsverdi
9:43 am on Saturday, March 30, 2013
If wishing that a tragedy like Newtown doesn't happen in the Jefferson schools, than consider me guilty. more ›