Mayor Reina visits Holman School kindergartners

Jackson, NJ – Today was “Dogs for Dads” for Kindergartners of Mrs. Davenport’s class at the Lucy N. Holman Elementary School.    A day for kids to say thanks to dad in advance of Father’s Day, but it was also a special day for the kids and their fathers as they were treated with a special mystery guest, Jackson Township Mayor Mike Reina.   

Mayor Reina was presented with a tie made by parents and children which included stars, an American Flag, the words Mr. Mayor and of course a tree with a gypsy moth caterpiller on it, which the mayor graciously wore as he read Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches, a story about how one scrupulous business owner tries to take advantage of unsuspecting sneetches on the beaches by selling them status symbols they didn’t need.    In the end the Sneetches realized that it didn’t matter if they had something that made them different because regardless of their differences, they can all be friends in the end.

Today’s visit was the brainchild of six year old kindergarten student Erin Stilton who thought it would be a ‘cool’ idea to ask her dad if Mayor Reina would be her special mystery guest instead of himself.   “Of course when she wanted Mr. Reina instead of me, it was a blow, but I thought it would be a wonderful experience for the kids.  Besides, who wants to hear about an old IT guy talk about the differences between megabytes and gigabytes.  I agree the mayor is a bit more interesting” said Erin’s dad Phil “I’ve been told all along that parents should get involved in education in our town and it’s an opportunity these kids might never have had otherwise.   So much has been cut from our town’s education in the past 7 years and these kids stand to miss out on opportunities that were available just a few years ago.  It’s nice to have a mayor who so freely gives back to the community and it’s an experience the children will take with them and remember as the day the mayor came to class and read to them”.

The mayor, who is used to tough crowds down at town hall handled the children just fine and mingled with the group of  first year dads whose children have just finished their first full year in Jackson’s public school system.   After reading to the children the mayor was off to meet with county officials to continue brokering a deal for the Jackson Girls Recreation Softball League to find them a permanent new home over at the county owned Patriot’s Park to give the league much needed relief.

Why the Education System Is Broken

If you read the daily newspapers or tune in to the nightly news you may get a bad taste in your mouth. Worse, if you listen to your child after a long day at school you may also get an uncomfortable feeling. Yes, it does seem that the educational system is broken and, yes, it may be beyond repair.

There are many fractures in the fault line of the educational system. Ask parents, students, and yes, even teachers, and you will find plenty of examples. The disintegration of the educational system is due to a variety of factors. In recent years the spate of school shootings and other violence has irreparably tarnished public and private schools. Fighting in school is up and worse, it seems that laws to protect the educational rights of students who cause many of the problems in schools actually hurt the students who come to learn every day. In many schools students can get away with bullying, fighting, stealing, and disrupting the classroom environment. They may get suspended for a short time, but usually they return and pick up where they left off.

In order to save money on programs for children with special needs, schools have begun to widely mainstream students requiring special education needs into regular classrooms. While this effort is meant with good intentions, it does not always bear fruit. Oftentimes, this combination of students can do more harm than good.

When you think back to your time in school how many excellent teachers can you recall? Nearly everyone can think of one or two – if you can think of more than that you should consider yourself lucky. There are many excellent teachers in schools; however, there are even more unqualified teachers. Due to the need for teachers and the poor environment offered by many school districts, teachers who are unqualified are often hired. Many teachers are given second and third chances after they have proven to be inept at previous schools. The pay for teachers is notoriously low in many states and this does not lend itself to a highly motivated and highly qualified workforce.

The education system is indeed broken. Besides a lack of funding leading to the use of outdated books, few computers, the lack of opportunity for field trips and hands-on learning, it seems that the entire framework of education is coming apart at the seams. The only way the education system can be repaired is through massive funding and a strong dedication by society to make the system work. With treasury coffers fairly empty this does not look like it will happen anytime soon.

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Toms River Schools energy procurement saves district $250,000 per year

Here’s an article I came across this morning while researching the ways the district has led the charge in energy conservation and fiscal responsibilty, I came across this article, which has a somewhat ironic personal twist.   I lived in Toms River my whole life and worked for many years for a company based in Westboro, MA, not too far from Worcester (pronounced Wauh-stah by locals).  Here’s just another example the Jackson Schools can look to our neighbors for guidance and examples.  Enjoy.

Toms River, NJ and Worcester, MA – April 22, 2009 – Demonstrating the power of online energy procurement, World Energy Solutions, Inc. (TSX: XWE), an operator of online exchanges for energy and green commodities, today announced Toms River Regional Schools (TRRS) has successfully executed new electricity contracts through the World Energy Exchange®. By providing market intelligence, attracting multiple suppliers and running a series of competitive online auctions, World Energy helped TRRS beat the utility rate, securing over $250,000 in first year savings and budget certainty.

World Energy conducted the electricity auctions on April 7, 2009, providing TRRS price discovery for numerous scenarios, including various term lengths, meter groupings and mixes of green and traditional energy. Two suppliers were awarded contracts for 24 months for May 2009 delivery.

“At Toms River Regional Schools, we are always striving to deliver the best value to our constituents, the taxpayers of Toms River and the children of this community,” said Michael J. Ritacco, Superintendent of Schools, TRRS. “Engaging with World Energy has helped us fulfill this commitment, providing us a 21st century process for securing electricity contracts at rates we can take to the bank and that provide us valuable budget certainty. With more than a quarter million dollars in first year savings alone, I can’t tell you how happy I am we teamed with the professionals at World Energy on this strategic procurement.”

Added Phil Adams, President and COO of World Energy: “Kudos to Toms River Regional Schools for treating energy as a strategic asset rather than as an inevitable cost. By working with World Energy, TRRS took proactive measures to secure electricity contracts that were right for them. Their efforts have resulted in major savings for their schools and provide a great example to other institutions of the power of online energy procurement.”

About World Energy Solutions, Inc.
World Energy (TSX: XWE) operates online exchanges for energy and green commodities. For buyers and sellers of electricity, natural gas, capacity, and green- energy assets who are impacted by today’s volatile markets, World Energy’s proven approach has transformed the normally complex procurement process into a powerful, streamlined vehicle for cost savings. In addition to enabling customers to seek competitive pricing on traditional energy commodities, World Energy is taking a leadership position in the emerging environmental-commodities markets. Its award-winning World Green Exchange® supports the ground-breaking Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s (RGGI) cap and trade program for CO2 emissions. For more information, please visitwww.worldenergy.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: our revenue is dependent on actual future energy purchases pursuant to completed procurements; the demand for our services is affected by changes in regulated prices or cyclicality or volatility in competitive market prices for energy; we depend on a small number of key energy consumers, suppliers and channel partners; there are factors outside our control that affect transaction volume in the electricity market; and there are other factors identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Best Pizza in Jackson NJ

Communities throughout time have always grappled with tough decisions, but one of the toughest decisions a community can face is where the best pizza in town can be found.   Jackson has an abundance of pizzeria’s just like any town, but only one restaurant can truly claim the title of “Best Pizza in Jackson”.      There are some old time favorites and some pretty sizable newcomers in Jackson.  Thankfully, we are void of chain restaurants Sbarro’s, Dominos and Pizza Hut, so Jackson pizza has not yet been tainted by pre-made pre-packaged cookie cutter culninary yet.   

Out of towners often balk at Jackon’s pizza claiming there’s no competition to Grimaldi’s, Denino’s or Rays of NYC, but in my opinion, a pizzeria is only as good as the surroundings and the surroundings of those three aren’t even in Jackson’s league. I’ve been to all three and quite frankly, I never understood the fascination with them. 

Sometimes I hear people say the Jackson Schools pizza is in the top 10 and while yes, Ellio’s pizza does rank up there, is that really the best we have?  What’s your favorite three pizzerias in Jackson?  Use the comments to tell us why you think they are the best.

If there is a pizzeria not listed, mention it the comments and it will be added.

Remember you can vote for 3 favorites.

[poll id='14']

Fatal Accident on E. Veterans Highway another near miss

East Veteran’s Highway is a certified death trap.   In the 2008-2009 school year alone, nearly one dozen very serious accidents have occurred on this road, but the Jackson Township Board of Education and School District insist on keeping our children waiting on these roads.  Waiting to be the next statistic in a grisly scene that happens all too frequently.

In September, a woman was critically injured in an accident on Pitney Lane which left her in serverly critical condition.

In October, a vehicle veered off the road while a man was reaching for his cigarettes on a corner not unlike many where our children wait every day.

In December, the Don Connor Blvd. intersection was host to another gruesome scene that sent 5 people to Jersey Shore medical center, several in critical condition.

In February, a car veered off the highway into a telephone pole at the intersection of Whitesville Road and East Veteran’s Highway, crushing the telephone pole and cutting power to hundreds of residents for nearly two days.

In the beginning of April, one of our students remains in critical condition after her car veered off the road in an an accident on East Veterans Highway.

Just yesterday, another man was killed as his vehicle spun out of control on East Veteran’s highway and into a telephone pole at intersection not unlike many others around town that at times can be loaded with school children.

It’s time to demand that our School District and our Board of Education to take our children out of the line of fire of these dangerous drivers.

Please prevent the next accident from taking one of our children with it.  Please visit and sign our online petition to get kids off these 50mph highways!

http://www.jacksonnjonline.com/2009/04/22/jackson-township-parents-for-school-bus-safety-petition/

Jackson Schools to receive $2.2m in economic stimulus

You can call it a gift from the federal government to try to turn our economy around or you can call it a long term loan that will have you grandchildren paying for years, but the bottom line is Jackson schools will be eligible for  $2,249,913 in economic stimulus funds.    How will the district utilize this stimulus money?

Meanwhile, our neighbors in Toms River will be receiving over $6 million and Lakewood is slated for nearly $11 million.

Will it be used as a down payment, increasing administrative and staff salaries? Will it be used to create new jobs within the district?  Will it be used to create new activities for the children?  Will it be used to fix our ailing schools?  Will it be used to replace the shortfalls of our current budget and of those to come?

Unfortunately on a town our size, $2.2 million is barely a drop in the bucket, equaling roughly 3% of the district’s total yearly budget.    However, this money will be given to the districts with a hefty price, over $1 trillion being added to our national debt. 

Should the town refuse this money like so many other organizations are trying to do and say no thanks for another loan we can’t afford?

What are you thoughts on this economic stimulus package for Jackson’s schools?

Stop School “Stimulus” Budget Earmark Spending

Jackson Board of Education (BoE) incumbents Krakower and Spielman defend against the rising
firestorm of public outrage over the School Superintendent’s recent inappropriately generous
contract renewal terms by assuming their customary “victim ” stance intoning their theme
mantra:

“We believe that in these recessionary times, that we must continually strive to provide
quality education while keeping our taxes down. It is necessary to control our taxes
while achieving our educational objectives .”

Same old patented hogwash they have been dispensing since first taking office in 2003.

From 2004-05 , when the S1701 legislation was passed capping the growth in the net
GF (prior year appropriated, excluding rollovers) budget at the greater of 2.5 percent or CPI,
through 2007-08, when the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) putting a direct 4 percent cap
on the growth of the General Fund tax levy was passed, our School Board geniuses gave us
“controlled” 43.17 percent growth in final approved budget GF tax levy (four times CPI, which
had a cumulative growth of 11.01 percent).

The growth in the final approved (after town council cuts) net spending budget (total local revenues
plus non restricted state aid), which provides the basis for the Comparative Cost per Pupil (shown
in the Comparative Spending Guide issued in March each year) during that period was
18.28 percent .

The Max T&E (Thorough and Efficient) Cost per Pupil as determined each year by NJDoE
reflecting the cost of teaching the core curriculum in New Jersey grew 11.01 percent , same as
the CPI. .

The growth in average daily enrollment in Jackson’s schools over that period as
recorded by NJ DoE is 2.18 percent, one ninth the growth in the net spending budget..

Clearly the Jackson Board of Education is taxing the taxpayers far in excess of what is needed
for imparting a T&E education meeting core curriculum standards.. The hidden cost driver is the
annually compounding cost of “valuable programs” intended to deliver “quality education” over
and above the Max T&E education cost as determined by a board of recognized national and
state experts convened by NJDoE .

The Jackson school establishment never once claimed to have any representation on or input to
that board . When queried repeatedly in Budget work sessions if they had any disagreement with
the allocation. in the SFRA of the categorical (transportation aid, special education aid) funds,
no one on the administration or BoE ever seemed to have a clue.

At budget markup time, the “valuable programs” serve as earmarks to be used to try and build
sufficient support from single issue special interest voting groups to pass the always bloated
and ever growing budget (even when enrollment is actually decreasing).

Jackson BoE overriding “education quality” objective seems to be to ensure Jackson schools
are ranked in the top of the fifteen school districts in Ocean County (i. e., a “Big Frog
in Small Pond” vision of education quality).

These placements are based on the sliced and diced, aggregated weighted test scores on applicable
level state standardized tests taken from the State School Report Card issued each year for the
schools in Ocean County.

The raw test scores to begin with are simple Pass-Fail indicators. Students scoring in the .upper
“advanced proficient” range count the same as those who barely manage a score at the “proficient”
passing cutoff level. The resulting aggregated state standardized test score thus can hide an actual
net “dumbing down ” effect when “advanced proficient” students start sliding down into
“proficient” status. (this is the recent trend at Jackson Memorial HS)..

Jackson BoE incontinent spending on “valuable programs” to boost school
performance on state standardized tests has passed the point of diminishing return. .

Continued overspending on stimulus “earmarks” does not help the students. it only beggars
their parents and grandparents before the students even get to college – that is reverse
generational theft. After the recent revaluation, it’s escalated to Grand Larceny.