Several members of the Board of Education said at Tuesday night’s school board meeting that they are in the dark about a possible redistribution of state funds toward a partnership between the city and the Stevens Institute of Technology.
Last week the Reporter reported that Mayor David Roberts has met with representatives of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to discuss using the school districts’ $55 million in Abbott ("special needs" school) funds to create a new public technology magnet school in conjunction with Stevens Institute of Technology.
The $55 million is part of the state’s $8.6 billion school construction initiative to repair ailing buildings and facilities. Included in the plan is the full funding by the state of all renovation and construction projects in the 30 urban special needs districts known as the Abbott Districts, of which Hoboken is one. The EDA is the state agency that is saddled with the task of distributing that money.
While the board said it would be willing to hear the mayor’s plan, it was unanimous in its opinion that the city cannot redirect that money without its consent.
Currently, the money is part of a five-year plan developed by the EDA and the Board of Ed. to improve the Hoboken School District’s facilities. Phase one of the plan began over the summer when three of the areas schools installed new roofs on their buildings.
"That $55 million was given to us to improve the buildings that we already have, and not to build new ones," said board member Michele Russo. "I have a real problem with the city thinking they can take the $55 million to help Stevens."
President David Anthony said that he is not thrilled about taking money out of the five-year plan, although he supports the idea of more programs for the schools. "If they come up with money on top of the $55 million, then this program could be a real bonus," he said. "But for right now, I don’t think it would be prudent to take money out of the plan that we have already approved. Our position is that we have a plan that is approved and this money is set within this plan. [The Board of Ed.], in accordance with the EDA, is the only way that this money could be redirected. The city does not have the authority."
Thursday, Mayor David Roberts was still optimistic about the funds being used to subsidize his plan for the city to partner with Stevens.
"I want to see the Abbott Funds to be used as a catalyst to promote academic excellence and not just to maintain the status quo," said the mayor.
Superintendent of Schools Patrick Gagliardi said that he would not like to see any money taken away from the current five-year plan.
"I am content with the program as is," said the superintendent at Tuesday’s meeting.
The mayor’s spokesman, Michael Estevez, said Wednesday that with any new and groundbreaking plan, there will roadblocks. But he said that the mayor will reach out to the Board of Education, and the superintendent of schools and will continue to lobby the EDA for the Abbott Funds.
"With any new program, there are going to be bumps along the way," said Estevez. "But the mayor is committed to making this partnership with Stevens a success and will take the steps necessary to make sure that it is a success."
But several of the board members think the money is where it belongs now.
"We would like to improve the roofs over our children’s heads before we start thinking about doing anything else," said Board of Ed. Vice-President Theresa Burns.
Test Scores released for 2000-2001 school year
At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Patrick Gagliardi presented the Board of Education with the schools system’s test results for the 2000-2001.
All fourth grade students are given the Elementary School Proficiency Assessment Test (ESPA) which test children in the areas of literacy, mathematics and science. While in all three areas the scores are up from last year, Hoboken fourth graders are still below the state averages for performance on the ESPA.
On the literacy section, 77 percent of Hoboken students passed the state’s minimum requirements as compared to 85 percent statewide. But the Hoboken children did improve from its 48 percent performance during the 1999-2000 school year.
In math, 68 percent of Hoboken fourth graders passed compared to 71 percent of students statewide, but the Hoboken students did show an 8 percent increase from the year before.
In the area of science, 90 percent of Hoboken fourth graders passed, while the state average is 91 percent. Hoboken children did show an 7 percent increase from the year before.
All eighth graders are given the Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment Test (GEPA). This test is also broken down to language arts, math and science. Hoboken eighth graders did better than state average on math and language arts but are still lagging in science.
Eighty-five percent of Hoboken students for the 2000-2001 school year passed in math, far better than the state average of 70 percent. And 91 percent passed in language arts, with the state average at 82 percent.
In science, Hoboken eighth graders only scored 76 percent in contrast to the state average of 82 percent passing.
In the high school, all eleventh graders must take the High School Proficiency Test (HSPT). The areas that are tested are reading, math and writing. In all three areas, the state average of students passing is 85 percent. Hoboken students surpassed the state average in all three, with students passing at a rate of 92 percent in reading, 97 percent in math and 90 percent in writing.
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