CNBNews

Touching briefly on the recent passing of Board Vice President Betty Sheppard, the Superintendent stated that she will be greatly missed.

Also, Sheppard’s tenure as the 11th-longest serving BOE member in New Jersey will prompt the Board to move forward in her honor.

Castiglione described an expansive and detailed outline of the Board’s vision for 2009, including raising expectations for all students. Revamping the current Language Arts program is one of the top priorities.

Other measures include improving current technology, namely adding more “smart boards” (which resemble computer-generated chalkboards), adding laptop computer carts and implementing a “Tech Club” within the schools.

“We have smart boards in almost every classroom.” Castiglione said, adding that distance learning is also on the list of BOE plans for improvement.

Regarding the budget process, she said the School Board, along with a Budget Advisory Committee, are making every effort to work as closely as possible with the community.

These efforts, she added, include getting parents more involved, with the ultimate goal of building trust and communication with the public.

One stopgap measure to hold costs down will be to create a “paperless” system, reducing the amount of paper used for briefings, agendas and the like.

Castiglione outlined four major priorities for the Board, namely curriculum, which is upgraded and monitored constantly by a Teacher Committee, technology, communication and finance.

In comments regarding the recent budget reductions proposed by Governor Jon S. Corzine, she noted the possibility of not being able to operate a full-day Pre-School for three and four-year olds.

She said it is still too early to gauge how the cuts will alter the Board’s plans, although she does not anticipate any layoffs.

However, there is concern about the schools’ infrastructures being affected.

She conceded that some plans will have to go on a back burner, but that there are certain shared services measures in place which will not affect students or staff.

On the subject of school safety, she said the Board has a very active Emergency Management Committee, made up of school and municipal officials, with emergency plans in place at each school.

“These plans,” she said, “are refined and practiced all the time.”

Current safety measures include the numbering of every window, the addition of more security cameras to the existing system, as well as the installation of card-key access within the next month or so.

When asked about the District’s position on student bullying, the Superintendent stated there is a stringent policy in place to address such events, which exceeds the State minimum, and includes peer mediation supervised by Mrs. Carol Holt (a/k/a “Mom Holt”), along with Eighth Grade students trained as “peer mentors,” both of which convene to address and resolve any bullying incident.

Castiglione said there is a strict Student Code of Conduct enforced at all times

Mrs. Holt also provided information about Bell Oaks’ “Feel Safe Program.”

It identifies students new to the District and, working closely with the Bellmawr Police Department and the DARE Program, they, along with school officials, work to make these newcomers feel they are in a safe environment at all times while in school.

During a walking tour of the school, Castiglione pointed out the “Bullying Box,” which is located in the main corridor, near the Principal’s Office.

This lock box is available to any student when witnessing or confronted by a potential bullying incident. It is completely anonymous, so no student will be identified for reporting an event.

Castiglione said the Nutri Serve Company provides healthy lunch alternatives, including a rolling salad bar. According to the Cafeteria staff, this is a hit and meets the nutritional needs of students.

She said that all aspects of the school’s food service must meet and follow state and federal law, including nutritional requirements, along with any discounted meal programs.

In closing, Castiglione re-iterated the need for greater infrastructure within the schools, noting the possibility of expanding existing space for the current pre-school program, within the next five years.