BTW, I didn’t “assume”, I “wondered”….according to Mr. Webster, “to feel curiosity”. Closer to question than assume in my book!

Historically, the season flu subsides in May, June and July. This strain is increasing as the summer progresses. So there is one way it is not ‘just another flu’

When was the last time Jackson lost a child from the seasonal flu?

I also think that when the WHO declares a pandemic, it is the responsibility of parents to keep sick children home, but in reality, parents routinely send their sick children to school because of the burdens and costs associated with keeping a questionable illness home.

I think this is important enough to warrant an open forum with parents and the district and I also think it’s important enough to take extra measures to prevent widespread outbreak in our schools.

I also think openess and honesty today will prevent the district getting a black eye in the fall and winter. Nobody wants to admit they’re the ones with a problem until it’s too late.

Our schools claim 10% of the entire county’s confirmed cases, which according to experts who predict the actual rate of infection is sometimes 20-40% than confirmed, it is important for the district to release absenteeism reports so we, as parents can see the reality of the situation.

If the reality of the situation is positive, then perhaps you are right. There’s nothing to see here. If they are hiding the reality and there is a problem, then it is an awful game to play with parents.

Releasing the facts and being open is the only way to settle the matter.

Where can I get the district’s policy on containing viral outbreaks for the 2009-10 school year? Will there be any extra steps beyond “disinfecting after hours” in the fall?

IE: Will students be restricted from touching things like trays, silverware, etc in common areas? Will teachers be trained to identify symptoms and be given directives on how to handle chilren who are sent to school sick by parents who either don’t care or can’t take off work? Will bus drivers look for signs on the way to school? Will there be any routine disinfecting of common spread points such as door knobs, water fountains, bathrooms,etc?

Will there be any mandatory hand washing in the school? Will there be hand sanitizing stations in the school? Will the district ever release the figures on attendance they had thus far refused.

You always say ask questions.. There they are. I’ll be asking them all next week too.

We did have enough extra money to pick up the three “disenfranchised” football coaches from Brick, though. Wonder if teaching positions are coming with those coaching jobs………..

ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL • July 13, 2009

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It’s all well and good that the 2,400-student Central Regional School District’s leaders want to reduce the Ocean County district’s $776,000 annual electric expenses and its $250,000 yearly heating bills. And if the district wants to appoint an energy conservation specialist, fine.

But the school district is paying second-year chemistry teacher Curtis Kleier a stipend of $22,000 on top of his $44,300 teaching salary essentially to tell students and teachers to turn the lights off when they leave a room and to remind them that “Hey, we’re not heating (or cooling) the neighborhood here.”

Kleier will be trained throughout the summer by a Dallas-based outfit called Energy Education, whose approach to energy conservation focuses on changing human behavior. And Central Regional high school and middle school will be closed Fridays during the summer in an effort to save utility costs.

It doesn’t take a consulting firm to figure out that you’ll use less energy if you’re open four days a week rather than five.

The lights, heat and air-conditioning systems will be linked to a computer program that will regulate usage. Technology aside, Kleier says he will be focusing on changing the behavior of the students and staff.

But many common-sense tips for conserving energy are available for free from the federal government and even utilities. So, are there some secret methods of getting folks to wear sweaters in the winter and reminding them to turn the lights off at the end of the school day?

The district hopes to save between 20 percent and 30 percent in utility costs through the efforts of their new energy czar. That’s an admirable goal, achievable through common sense and inexpensive techniques.

It’s been said that it takes money to make money. The question is, how much do you have to spend to save money?

This appears in today’s paper. Imagine that – a district that’s anticipating saving money by turning off the lights and cutting down on heating/air conditioning usage. Wow, what a great idea!!! While I don’t agree with paying someone $22,000 a year to manage this program since we have people in high places making a nice sum of money that can take this on IMO, I do believe that the Central Regional school district is taking a step in the right direction; something that our district hasn’t thought of doing as of yet (hopefully this discussion has led to some type of iniative on the part of the JSD, I hope).

Looks like our ideas aren’t falling on deaf ears after all. LOL I think that we’re doing some forward thinking and hopefully the naysayer on this thread will look at these suggestions with an open mind and realize that they work “in other districts”. JSD should learn by example and at least TRY to implement programs that could (would) save the taxpayers a lot of money instead of instituting a tax on children. Look to SAVE instead of RAISE money. All of these other districts are on to something here – common sense. Try it!

I also need to come up with a way to allow all these other contributing articles (such as the ones from the Armed Forces network, State Department, etc to be show with the proper byline instead of “staff writer” without making myself go crazy creating an acocunt for each writer. This thing has grown a bit from my original idea to stick it to those who tried to insult me, into a pretty big publication, something I never expected (2,500 readers per day worldwide now).

I understand where you are coming from 100% and appreciate the feedback, but this is really just a blip on my business radar, but that may be changing soon.

This year we’re getting signs at the pop warner field and next year, I’ll be sponsoring a team in every youth sport and as you may know, I’m working hard on undoing the “seniors” comment, which never was what Joe claims it was, but I can assure you by March, he’ll be eating that claim out of my hand. I have come to understand .. by asking questions and engaging your peers.. as to why they do and think what they do, and I learned that perhaps I did jump the gun in my opinions and I realized certain seniors are not the mouthpiece of the communities (which I had suspected incorrectly).

I learned that like parents, seniors are also frustrated with the executive salaries, waste and refusals to conserve and reduce. While for them it is easier to just say no, and rightfully so while parents would rather say yes.. just this one time.. in hopes it can be fixed next time. It’s just two different ways of saying the same thing and hopefully we can unite both communities over the next two years to deliver that message loud and clear.

While I may not agree with you on several issues, the overall goal remains the same. To make this town a better place, drive out negative influences and make sure the taxpayers come first. Like i told Joe, I’m not running for anything any time soon. Maybe in 5-6 years when all 3 kids are in school, I may choose to do so, but until then, I’m going to continue doing what I do regardless of whose feathers get ruffled along the way.. I don’t need to be in it to win it..

Hopefully one day, we can all set aside our differences. My main concern is children.. and I’m honored to learn that I was selected for the Youth Advisory Council and can’t wait to get going on that and meeting many of you guys. I doubt however you will see me at township council meetings in any capacity other than as required by being on that committee. There are many more knowledgeable people when it comes to ordinances and laws and you all don’t need me. The children are the ones who need the help right now.

http://www.p-h-p-a.com/TomsRiver%20Intermediate%20south.pdf

It’s no wonder why the gated communities vote down budgets. Of course West wasn’t built with all the fixin’s either.

As stated on this web site, “Editors should provide content in a neutral manner. This website is not affiliated with any political parties, lobbyists or special interests and we want to keep it that way. Even if you are affiliated with a party, as an editor, it is expected that your articles are fair and honest. It is expected that your moderation is neutral.” As such, I think you need to more clearly differentiate when you acting as an editor in a neutral manner as opposed to a resident of jackson expressing their opinion. This line has been crossed more than once in the past.

If jacksonnjonline is to gain further traction, as well as advertising, it needs to further differentiate itself as more than just a very good blog and I mean that sincerely. Some of the dialogue found here has been more than scintilating and relevant.

thank you Phil.

When was the last time you were in one of our schools Joe? We’re blasting heat on 75 degree days whether you want to believe it or not. You use the excuse of “other towns are doing it” to push your agenda all the time, yet when it comes to the ideas proposed, guess what?

Other towns are doing it and they are saving upwards of $250,000 per year. And guess what elese? They have schools much older than most of Jackson’s schools.

They are using online energy procurement services to save additional $100,000 and more per year.

Other districts have old schools. Other districts have sun problems (they installed reflective shading on those windows to reduce the heat issue you explain.. not just open windows).

On sunny days lights can be turned off in hallways that have direct sun throughout the day in the fall and spring.

You sit here and defend what you assume is happening, but it is not. You are merely acting as an advisor to a rear officer who blindly discredits reports from young officers on the front lines.

By the way what I am campaigning for? I’ve made it clear I will not be running for anything any time soon. This isn’t the Lotto, you don’t have to be in it to win it. I have also stated publicly why I will not run for a BOE seat, but instead support who I feel are the right candidates. I have a newborn baby and hopefully we’ll be having another in the next 12 months, so I would not be able to devote the time I would towards reforming the poor habits we have grown accustomed too here in Jackson.

What WILL I be doing? I will continue working to meet members of the community, reaching out to the senior communities again and trying to bridge those gaps between gated communities and education (which our BOE should be doing.. not just in March) You see, my motivation is to make sure that when all my kids are in Jackson Schools we have competent leadership.. we have an entire community behind education and we are making the right decisions in education.

It’s not driven by any political allegiances.. parties or even my spouse’s political ambitions or interests. I work, as I always have.. for my children and now for the children of Jackson… there is no other higher calling. Maybe you would like to finally meet me and see the work that I do at tonight’s little league game and maybe you and Barbara could see first hand the children in our district and what they can accomplish outside of school and actually meet and hang out with the parents she serves outside of the board meeting and talk to them about their opinions.

Maybe you would like to help our local scouts find opportunities outside of schools to supplement lost opportunities in the schools. Maybe you want to become more involved in helping me get parents on board when it comes to being involved in education and our community? Maybe you want to lend a helping hand at the next benefit event held by our local sports organizations?

Sitting behind a desk with your nameplate on it is only a small part of the job. So when you say I’m campaigning. Yes. I’m campaigning for the children. My children and the children I see nearly every day at our parks, sporting events and other community functions. I see the faces associated with the agenda I’m pushing EVERY day. I know how important it is for them to make sure as parents we do anything and everything in our power to make sure everything is in order for them ad we’re doing the best possible job we can to provide for them, both as parents and as a community.

As for Liberty, they were taking the apps but not the money until the finalized price was told to them since they were hearing of the reduced price but it hadn’t been confirmed (a phone call by my friend Karen yesterday after I went to Memorial is where this info comes from. She has a son who attends Liberty. They are taking the apps and will accept payment when they pick the pass up in August, as per Liberty’s office YESTERDAY late in the morning/early afternoon).

Oh, and by the way, I am the parent who called Jeanne about this while I was on my way home from JMHS because nobody believed what I was saying. I emailed Barbara about this on Thursday and was going to bring her reply with me yesterday but she never responded. I am in no way blaming her for this mixup so don’t jump down my throat like you like to do. LOL I knew this was going to be a problem after speaking with the secretary on Thursday and that’s why I emailed Barb, thinking that the copy of the email would be proof enough. I tried to nip the problem in the bud before it became an issue but to no avail.

Communication is the key and there certainly was a lack of one here. Who is at fault, I don’t know and I don’t care but people have got to talk and not rely on emailed or interoffice memos. A phone call would have done the trick! Someone would have had to have answered the phone and actually taken a message; put it on the secretary’s phone/desk and there wouldn’t have been the confusion that there was in both schools. This is such an item of contention that I would think the BOE/Administration would want to get it out there that they do take what we, the taxpayers are concerned about, into consideration. But instead, the problem just continues to spiral out of control as is common here in Jackson at every turn (road to nowhere, gypsy moths, energy waste, contentious BOE elections, senior parking tax, politics).

Good news, however – I got a phone call from JMHS telling me that the fee was lowered and to pick up my $15 any time between 9 and 1 and when I did that today, the signs were changed with the new fee, which I still don’t agree with.

I’m a little bewildered that no one would review mail when a co-worker is on vacation. That is normal office procedure in the corporate world. The wheels of progress shouldn’t be expected to stop until people recover from an illness and/or return from vacation.

Why are lights still on 24/7 at ALL schools? Joe, I don’t need to read whatever policies or progams you might be referring to on paper because I see first hand, the reality of the situation.

Also why are parents being charged $25 for parking? Does the school board and the district even engage one another? It seems they are oblivous to any decisions made at the board level. Perhaps Principals and Vice Principals should be required to attend these meetings regularly as well.. yes yes.. i know. their contract doesn’t require it.

I thank her for not addressing the real issues in the district. It will make my job easier.