Dr. Patricia McGeehan, who has served as superintendent of Bayonne schools since 1999, received official notice from the Bayonne Board of Education at its June 23 meeting that she will be offered a three-year extension when her contract expires on June 30, 2012. Under the terms of her current contract, the school board was required to notify her a year in advance of what they intended to do about her future.
While no details on the new contract are currently available, the state Department of Education report says her current salary is $230,330 annually.
“This will allow me to take on some of the additional duties.” — Leo Smith
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Meanwhile, the Board of Education is revamping its administration, eliminating positions as well as changing titles. With the retirement of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. Ellen O’Connor as of June 30, the board has decided not to fill her position, but to divide her duties among existing staff. This requires that the title of assistant superintendent of business be created so that Leo Smith, who serves as the district’s business administrator, can take on some of these duties. The new title must be approved by the county superintendent of schools and could come with a 2 percent increase in Smith’s salary. Smith currently earns $157,778 annually as business administrator.
“This will allow me to take on some of the additional duties,” Smith said.
In conjunction with cuts in state aid and budget cutting efforts, the Board of Education notified some secretaries that they would be shifted from a 12-month to a 10-month schedule effective July 1, 2012. The board also agreed to cut a secretary position and to other moves designed to cut costs.
Juliet Street garage on track
School officials said they will use the kitchen at the new Juliet Street facility to take the place of existing operations at Midtown Community School.
The schools didn’t seek new bids for the work to complete the kitchen, as the work was part of the original contract with USA Architectural Service.
Use of the kitchen facilities at Juliet could also be expanded to help with the city’s meal program for seniors and shut-ins, Smith said.
The Bayonne Board of Education has been constructing its new bus repair garage at Avenue A and Juliet Street for several years in order to have an internal location for its repairs, which are currently done outdoors, McGeehan said.
The board acquired the property three years ago in order to move its operations from its current location on West Ninth Street, bonding $1.9 million for the purchase and improvements of the new garage. The garage required about $200,000 in order to accommodate school buses.
The project was held up partly because it involved a land swap with the Ninth Street property, a portion of which was owned by the city. Members of the City Council had some questions about the work being done and would not agree to give up title until the questions were answered.
Meanwhile, Smith said, the Board of Education and the City of Bayonne are working in conjunction to convert the old firehouse on Hook Road into a fuel facility for school and municipal vehicles.
“This will allow us to buy fuel in bulk,” he said.
The system will require a swipe card, which will be assigned to each vehicle, and will allow both school and municipal officials to monitor fuel use.
The school district has also agreed to make school buses available to the city for some summer children’s functions.
State not ready for fingerprint program
Fingerprint checks on Board of Education members have been put on hold, partly because the state has yet to fully set up the procedures for handling the fingerprints.
Under Gov. Chris Christie, board members throughout the state must undergo a criminal background check, similar to those done for coaches and others adults who work with kids. Although the law was instituted earlier this year, giving board members up to 30 days to comply, the system was not yet ready to handle the information.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.