Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The annual event will be held on May 31.
The school board approved a resolution to spend $5,112 on a bus to prom, with no cost to the students, on Tuesday night. "It's a regular practice in Hudson County," said Ruth McAllister, one of the school board members. Because a high number of students in the district are on free and reduced lunch, they don't have cars, McAllister said. A bus from the school district is the best way to get the students back to Hoboken safely, she said. A district-sponsored bus is also supposed to prevent drunk driving among the teenagers. While some members questioned the cost on Tuesday and some parents asked why there is no busing of students in the district, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback explained that busing students inside Hoboken can't be done …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
The Hoboken Board of Education honored the group of High Schoolers who traveled to San Francisco for Harvard Model Congress.
After six days of participating in Harvard Model Congress in San Francisco, a group of Hoboken High school students returned inspired. On Tuesday night, the group told the school board about their experiences on the six day trip, which was supervised by teachers Erin Kubach and Steve D'Bernado. "It was an amazing experience," said Eimee Mendez, 16, "one that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life." She added that speaking to a room of hundreds of strangers was both exhilirating and nervewracking. "I didn't think it would change me as much as it did," Mendez said. Willie Allen, a freshman at the high school, felt the same way. For Allen, the trip was a good way to find out what life is like on the other side of the country and to …
The kitchen isn't fully open yet but students will be able to eat in the cafeteria again, the school board announced.
For the first time since Hurricane Sandy hit in late October, 2012, students at the Connors School, located at Second and Monroe, can have breakfast and lunch in their cafeteria. While there is still work being done on the kitchen — which is not yet in service — school board members said, the cafeteria is open. "The kids will be able to eat in the cafeteria," said board member Ruth McAllister. But, she said, the meals will be "buffet style, cooked in a different location." The Connors School sustained the most damage during Sandy, rendering much of the first floor — including the cafeteria, offices and multiple classrooms — useless. Much of the school has been out of service since the hurricane hit.
Monday, March 11, 2013
A meeting about the question will be held this week.
On Wednesday night, Hoboken's parents are invited to partake in an information session about the future of the school system. At 7 p.m., Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback will answer questions at the High School auditorium. The Board of Education and Toback are considering a plan in which Hoboken's seventh graders could move into the High School next school year. Rather than adopting a middle school model in the district — which was discussed last year — Toback said he is now looking into the option of a junior-senior high school. We want to know from you — what do you think? Answer our poll!
The Hudson School is presenting "girl's life" this upcoming weekend.
A group of Hudson School students is taking to the stage to talk about their own lives. On Friday and Saturday — at 8 p.m. on both nights — a group of young women will perform at The Hudson School Performance Space to share a glimpse into the life of teen girls today. The performance is based on the book I am an Emotional Creature by Eve Ensler. The show includes much of performers’ own poetry, music and dance. The performers aim to show and discuss issues with which many adolescent girls struggle. The students appearing on stage are: Seun Akande, Sereba Diakite and Joyelle Gaines of Newark, Grace Castillo of East Newark, Truce Jack of Jersey City, Aissa Maiga of Union City, Lily Johnson of West Orange, Maia Kamil, Erica Rivera, Tova …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
For the first time in 143, a woman will be the head of the board of trustees.
The Stevens Institute of Technology has named a woman to be the chairperson of the board of trustees for the first time in the school's history. Virginia Ruesterholz, a 1983 graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology, will be the board's top member starting in May, the school announced today. Ruesterholz had a nearly 30-year career at Verizon before retiring in 2012. She holds a degree in chemical engineering from Stevens and a master's degree in telecommunications management from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. “Now more than ever, the world is calling on innovators and entrepreneurs to address society’s most pressing challenges and drive economic growth," Ruesterholz said in a statement. "This is Stevens’ particular forte."
Friday, March 1, 2013
The number is an 8 percent increase compared to the 2012-2013 school year.
State aid to the Hoboken school district is up about $800,000 for the 2013-2014 school year, according to the numbers released by the New Jersey Department of Education. But, said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Toback, it's too soon to tell if that will have the desired effect on the budget, since it's still unclear how much of the budget will have to be allocated to the local charter schools. This year's state aid to the Hoboken school district is $10,527,645, an 8 percent increase compared to last year's $9,717,346. Last year, Toback said, the district saw a $400,000 increase in state aid, which was then off set by a roughly $800,000 allocation to the charter schools. How much has to be paid to the charter schools is mandated by the …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Toback said he will be holding meetings with his team to discuss a plan in case the cuts happen.
If the potential $85 billion in federal "sequestration" spending cuts are made on Friday, the Hoboken public school district stands to lose $600,000 for the remainder of the school year, Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback said. How to handle the loss of such funds is still being worked out, Toback said. The goal is to create "as little damage as possible to the academic program." Toback, who was scheduled to meet with his team on Tuesday and Wednesday, said it'd be a blow to the district. "School districts are only allowed a small surplus," Toback said. "We can’t completely absorb that kind of loss." New Jersey could lose nearly $12 million in funding for primary and secondary education if Congress fails to halt the “sequestration” by Friday, …
Sunday, February 17, 2013
State Department of Education to provide more comprehensive data with better snapshot of how districts performing.
Soon-to-be-released state Department of Education school report cards will be more comprehensive and detailed, providing parents a better snapshot of how their school districts are performing, according to an NJ.com report Sunday. The annual reports will detail the percentage of students who get college-ready scores on the SAT, the number of middle schoolers who pass algebra I and the percentage of students who are chronically absent, the report said. The report will also place each of the state’s roughly 2,400 schools in “peer groups” with 29 other districts with similar demographics, the report said. This will allow officials and others to see how their school stacks up with others across the state. For years, the state has issued school…
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Hoboken Board of Education is looking to move the seventh grade into the high school. A public meeting to discuss this with parents will be held.
The Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Mark Toback are considering a plan in which Hoboken's seventh graders could move into the High School next school year. Rather than adopting a middle school model in the district — which was discussed last year — Toback said he is now looking into the option of a junior-senior high school. The seventh graders would be able to use the high school's resources, but won't be in class with the high schoolers, Toback said. "It'd be like a school within a school," Toback said. There'd be electives and programs for the seventh graders. "At that age they're trying to learn about the world," Toback said. "It opens up a world of new learning opportunities." Before a decision will be made, parents will …
Outofcontrol
11:03 am on Friday, March 15, 2013
If it prevents one horrific accident, then the $5100 is well worth it. This is the time of year when we will undoubtedly hear or read about a terrible prom related tragedy somewhere. Thank God the board has the foresight to make a small investment in safety. more ›