I want to reassure those of you who read last week’s blog,   Please Read the Medical Warning Before Reading the New School District Fiscal Accountability Regulations, that I am calmer this week and not as apoplectic.  Obviously the medication is kicking in. 

I don’t know about you but I find reading government regulations (especially the new regulations) to be about as enjoyable as root canal.  There seems to be something wrong with our system of government when we are ruled by hundreds of pages of rules and regulations that only a few people have read and even fewer understand.  I don’t mean to disparage the writers of these or any government regulations but who ever dreams of being a writer of government regulations?  Seriously if you were looking at a high school yearbook and the caption under the picture of a smiling senior read “most likely to write government regulations” you would most assuredly feel sorry for that student. (more…)

As you may have heard, the N.J. Department of Education has posted the final Accountability Act regulations – all 178 pages of them. I am sure it was just an oversight on Commissioner Davy’s part but I thought that educators should be aware that there should be a medical warning that should be attached to the regulations and procedures that the NJDOE has promulgated.  Since I care about all of you, I have decided to help the NJDOE by writing my own warning which they may use if they please. (Rather magnanimous of me, isn’t it?)

“Warning: (more…)

All my friends are so small town
My parents live in the same small town
My job is so small town
Provides little opportunity

Educated in a small town
Taught the fear of Jesus in a small town
Used to daydream in that small town
Another boring romantic that’s me

John Mellencamp, Small Town, 1985

Like John Mellencamp, many people who grew up or now live in a small town are “romantic” about these places.  While the 1985 hit is a ballad for many “small town” residents, I suspect that it is not on Gov. Corzine’s or most legislators’ iPods.  I say that because in the recent push to regionalize and consolidate school districts (all in the name of property tax relief), small school districts are portrayed as the problem. (more…)

Today’s electronic version of School Board Notes will include the following Web Extra item:

Legislation that would extend tenure-like protections to teaching paraprofessionals in Title 1 school districts is expected to be released by the Assembly Education Committee today (Nov. 13).  The bill, A-420 (Handlin,Voss), is already posted for a vote by the full Assembly on Monday, Nov. 17.

In all, 513 New Jersey school districts (more…)

I will admit it: I am a political junkie.  I not only love to discuss public policy but I also enjoy the “soap opera” aspect of national and state politics.  In an earlier life, I was active politically, and election night was almost a holiday for both Democratic and Republican party loyalists.  While I no longer attend election night “victory” parties, I do like to stay up and watch the results come in.  This past Election Day, I found myself off from work so I felt a pull from the TV to hear what the pundits were saying.  I also felt a pull from my wife, who said that when I am off, some much needed household chores should be accomplished.  Now these may seem like competing pulls, but somehow I felt obligated to do both.  First, by all accounts this was a historical presidential election and I wanted to soak it in.  Second my wife has told me that there is nothing more attractive and sexier in her eyes than a man who cleans a house.  I suspect she is lying to me, but if I go from Don Knotts to Brad Pitt in her eyes by simply using a vacuum cleaner or a mop, who am I to argue?  (more…)