Our Montville

As PTA Groups Move Online, So Does Dissension

When Suzanne Weiss left the Parent Teacher Student Association of Cabin John Middle School, the school e-mail list went with her. Weiss said the list belonged to her. PTSA leaders said the CJCougarEmail list belonged to them. They started a rival mailing group, which competes with Weiss's for Cabin John parents.

Over the past few years, electronic mailing lists have become the main forum for parents across the region to talk about their schools. With just a few keystrokes, the lists offer parents unprecedented power to spread information, to ask a question or answer one, to praise or pillory for an audience of hundreds.

As school e-mail lists multiply in size and reach, they are increasingly becoming ensnared in contests for control of the medium and the message. Principals are accused of trying to silence their discussion-group critics. Parents have allegedly stolen or hijacked e-mail lists. Moderators who step in to halt vitriolic threads are sometimes accused of censorship.  See Washington Post.  Hat tip:  Lisa S.

Montville Schools Community Survey

The Superintendent of Schools has been working with a group of volunteers to develop a community survey. 

Please participate by logging on to the district website www.montville.net, look for the District Announcements in the first green bar and click on 2007-2008 Community Survey.

MTHS basketball coach let go after 23 years

For the better part of 23 years, Rich Vuyosevich has been coaching varsity boys basketball at Montville High School. This year, the only way he will be a part of the Mustangs basketball program is as a spectator. He's not happy about it.

Vuyosevich's contract to coach boys basketball was denied in a meeting of the Montville Board of Education in late October. The board has since hired a new coach, Paul Palek, to lead the varsity team, which began practices after Thanksgiving. Vuyosevich was not given a reason for why his contract wasn't approved.

The refusal for Vuyosevich's $8,000 coaching contract to be renewed is puzzling for a variety of reasons. The biggest may be that representatives of the Montville Coaches Association were told that Vuyosevich was recommended by the school's athletic director, principal and superintendent, but he was still not rehired.  See Daily Record.  Discuss on OurMontville.com blog.  See "Board preoccupied with coach".

"Death Valley" in Montville?

A committee has formed to raise funds to install artificial turf at Montville High School stadium.

Funding for turf was defeated by voters in 2005. "The committee of concerned Montville citizens has taken it upon themselves to start a fund raising campaign similar to what other districts have done to raise this money".  See Daily Record and Discuss on OurMontville blog.

Montville district's new guidance director to quit

Resigns after 4 months in post, citing unspecified health, personal reasons - The district's new guidance director announced last week he will resign for personal and health reasons on Nov. 12, four months after taking the post at Montville High School. James Hoeland, who began in Montville on Aug. 6, informed district officials of his decision in a resignation letter received last week, said Superintendent Gary Bowen.

Hoeland, who was appointed on July 10 and earns a salary of $103,000 per year, cited "personal and health reasons" in the letter, Bowen said.  See Daily Record.

Montville ex-principal awaits ruling on career

Educator accused of disabling fire alarm could lose teaching credentials - The former Montville High School principal who is battling to keep his state teaching credentials will find out his fate this fall. He had resigned last year amid allegations he deliberately disabled the school's fire alarm system.

With Monday's conclusion of an administrative law hearing before the state board of examiners, Steven Kramer faces the possible loss of his five separate teaching certificates, granted from 1976 to 1982 in the infancy of his 30-year career as an educator.  See Daily Record and earlier article.

Ex-Montville H.S. principal could lose certification

State panel looking at him after allegations of disabled fire alarm -  The former principal of Montville High School who resigned last year amid allegations he deliberately disabled the school's fire alarm system is now facing the possible loss of his certification to teach in the state.

Steven Kramer, 56, is appealing an order from the state board of examiners to "show cause" to keep his certification, according to the state Office of Administrative Law.

Friday Alice - School's Out!

Pennacchio: Slot machines could finance special ed

Assemblyman moves to allow them at state's car, horse racetracks - Assemblyman Joseph Pennacchio, R-Montville, is betting that slot machine wagering could pay the bill for special education.

The assemblyman, who is seeking the state Senate seat in the 26th District, introduced this week Assembly Concurrent Resolution 263. It would amend the state constitution to allow slot machine wagering at horse and/or motor vehicle racetracks and direct the state's revenues to pay for special-education needs.  But a gambling industry consultant said expanding New Jersey's industry beyond Atlantic City is not the way to combat out-of-state competition.  See Daily Record.

Montville pools talent to conserve its water

Innovative program cuts per capita use - The citizens of Montville have proven that turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, limiting your lawn sprinkling and capturing water in rain barrels pays off.

By conserving water in many small ways, the municipality of about 21,000 people has seen its water table at the Towaco Valley Aquifer rise 27 feet -- from 52 feet below ground to 25 feet since the drought of 2001.   Daily water consumption in Montville has dropped from 180 gallons per person to 142 gallons, while the population has risen about 6 percent in the last seven years and new office buildings and single-family homes continue to pop up.

"They know to stop and think before they use water," said Sue Marinello, the Montville resident who developed the school program "Every Drop Counts," which promotes water conservation in classroom, and ended up teaching the adults about it, too.

Way to go, Sue!  See Star Ledger.