When Adriana Birne began her career with the Union City Board of Education as a second-grade teacher at Sarah Gilmore Elementary School 20 years ago, she was often mistaken for one of the students herself.
Recently, Birne, who has since moved into the board’s central office as a director of language programs, was appointed director of the city’s Day Care program.
Adriana Birne was appointed as the acting director on April 30 and began her new position May 1.
Birne is replacing Wanda Santana-Alicea, who resigned as of April 27 to take a position in Paterson.
“Trying to find the right person is something that could have really set us back,” said chairman of the day care board of directors Michael Leggiero, explaining that finding someone right away was really imperative. “She is really ideal.”
According to Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who also sits on the Day Care Board of Directors, Birne was appointed at a savings to the financially strapped day care. Since half of the children attending the day care are sent from the Board of Education, and Birne is on a leave from her position with the board, the Board of Education has agreed to pay half of Birne’s salary.
The day care must cut costs because it will lose the tuition of an estimated 60 children this coming September. This is because the state has mandated that it provide full-day programs, which means that the morning students will stay all day and there will be no afternoon students.
Birne will be overseeing both the 47th Street and the 35th Street day care centers, with a total of 495 infants through kindergarten-age.
“What happens here will improve the future of [the children’s] education,” said Birne. “By giving them a jump start and the readiness skills they need, we will improve their success and expectations.”
“I am not only an educator,” said Birne, who is the mother of a 14-year old son and a 10-year old daughter. “But I am also a mom and a working mom. I strongly believe in these services for the community and to provide a safe environment for children.”
An ideal choice
Union City Day Care is one program that has its own board of directors and two different sites. It is funded through the students’ tuition and by the state Department of Human Services.
On her first day in her new position, Birne met with different staff members to find out what takes place on a daily basis at the center.
“Today it was just a matter of understanding and getting information about the program and the management,” said Birne.
Birne has been involved with early childhood education in Union City since the idea of providing it began three years ago.
Birne worked with Assistant Superintendent Stanley Sanger and program supervisor Ann Vaccarino in the development of the Early Childhood Program Aid plan for the city. This plan determined how the district would fulfill a state mandate to educate 3- and 4-year-olds.
“[This position] will give [Birne] a real insight into the program she has been working on,” said Leggiero. “This is a great career opportunity for her.”
In her new position, Birne will be getting a first hand look at how the program is developing throughout the state.
“This next year is going to be a very exciting year,” said Birne.
Temporary position
Technically, Birne can only hold the position for one year since she is on a sabbatical from her position on the Board of Education. However, if the day care’s 3- and 4-year-old classes are brought under the auspices of the Board of Education, as Brian Stack wants them to be, then Birne will be able to continue in the position, but as a Board of Education employee.
Stack introduced a resolution to place the day care under the auspices of the Board of Education at the last day care board meeting.
“Hopefully the Board of Education will be assuming responsibility [for the daycare program],” said Leggiero. He added that if this happens, the Board of Education will be responsible for funding the 3- and 4-year-olds, and the day care will still exist separately to service infant and toddlers.
“Hopefully by the end of [this year], [Birne] will be able to slide into a permanent position of some sort,” said Leggiero.