Dear Editor:
I would like to introduce myself to the citizens of Hoboken. I am a forty-one year old mother of two children in the Hoboken Public School System- one in the High School and one in primary school. Since 1991 I have taken an active role in supporting our schools. I served as the President of Calabro’s Parent Teacher Organization for four years and the Treasurer of the Brandt’s PTO for one year. I currently co-chair Hoboken High’s PTO. I have served on the School Planning and Management Team in Calabro and Brandt, and I am currently serving on the SPMT in the High School.
Mr. Carmelo Garcia and I are currently working on a carnival to be sponsored by the City and PTO’s of the public schools. I am also one of the volunteer parents who run the concession stand to raise funds for the Hoboken PAL Football League.
My husband Bill and I come from families with a long history in this town and have a deep sense of pride in this community. We also believe that Hoboken’s children should have the best education possible. For this reason I am seeking a seat on the Board of Education.
Each and every child in the City deserves to discover his or her self worth and have a feeling of accomplishment. Hoboken can afford to provide what it takes to create a nurturing environment in our schools.
I realize I can’t make changes by myself. But I am committed to working along with the Board to get things done. All children need the proper nutrition to perform to the best of their ability. I think we can improve our lunch program. I would like to see basic computer skills taught in the primary grades. We need to strengthen our technology curriculum at this level. We have the technology so let’s use it to it’s fullest capacity. We need to add more reading recovery teachers, not take them away. One-to-one instruction is crucial to students who are struggling with the basics. Let’s direct more of our budget into the classroom; teachers need more than just our support. Our high school students need a wider variety of electives. We want to send well-rounded, educated young adults into the world. We need to get more parents involved in their children’s education. Remember, children are our future and they are depending on us to guide them there.
Rose Marie Markle
Parent/Board of Education Candidate