As they begin to look for someone new to head the school district, the Hoboken Board of Education eliminated a few positions and shortened the terms of others on Tuesday.
Outgoing Superintendent Jack Raslowsky’s resignation was accepted by the board effective Aug. 31, even though he officially took the reins at Xavier High School in Manhattan on Wednesday, July 1.
Curriculum project at 95 percent
A one-year extension for Dr. Anthony Petrosino, the assistant to the superintendent who is overseeing the curriculum project, was on the last few meeting agendas, but after Petrosino gave a status update on Monday to a board committee, the board decided to shorten the contract extension to two months. They did so based on his report that the district’s long, expensive curriculum overhaul is 95 percent complete.
The two-year project should give the district a cohesive curriculum with smoothed gaps between elementary school and middle school and between middle school and high school.
Beside Petrosino’s contract, the board was asked to approve $46,000 for a teachers’ committee to finalize the curriculum project over the summer.
Costs for the curriculm overhaul have exceeded $275,000, and board members Ruth McAllister and Maureen Sullivan were initially unwilling to approve another $46,000 for the Summer Curriculum Committee to work with Petrosino. They said Petrosino had accepted all 29 applications to sit on the committee, and they questioned whether the money was necessary. They said perhaps they would approve half now and half when the project was completed.
Petrosino was not at the meeting, but Raslowsky said the “committee was carefully constructed” and the summer session was an “all or nothing” situation.
Business administrator Brian Buckley is now without his assistant and his top accountant
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Cutting other positions
Just two weeks after non-renewal of the contracts for the Chief Information Officer and the HVAC specialist, the board eliminated four positions from the table of organization, one of which has serious consequences, according to some district administrators.
The position of assistant business administrator, which was being filled by Paul Stabile, was eliminated. At the same meeting, the board received a letter from the district’s senior accountant withdrawing his request for reappointment.
Business administrator Brian Buckley is now without his assistant and his top accountant, although the board is undergoing a search to fill the senior accountant position.
Buckley said he is left with little help, especially considering Hoboken has a myriad of different accountability requirements and Abbott district paperwork that needs attention. Abbott districts are “special needs” districts in New Jersey that can qualify for special aid.
County super to help with search
Hudson County Superintendent Timothy Brennan spoke at the meeting and offered his assistance to the board as they embark on their search for a new district head.
“Losing a man of Jack’s caliber is a setback,” he said, “but it can also be an opportunity.”
Brennan also discussed how the district will be affected as the Abbott district program is phased out.
The state was sending extra funding to Hoboken and 30 other Abbott districts, but now will attempt to have that extra funding follow students in need rather than districts in need.
Brennan said Hoboken has been “growing toward adequacy,” meaning the district’s reliance on the extra funding has been lessened.
District administrators have said that the only essential funding that Hoboken receives is for early childhood programs, and Brennan did say that that funding may be at risk.
“Preschool aid might be a target area,” he said.
Brennan also highlighted some differences between the outgoing federal education program “No Child Left Behind” and President Barack Obama’s new school program “Race to the Top.”
He said measurable improvements will justify new funding, so using the funding wisely is the key.
“Funding may be based on where the money has the most impact,” he said.
Timothy J. Carroll may be reached at tcarroll@hudsonreporter.com.