Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Violence on Electronic Devices

 New Jersey Statutes, Title: 18A, EDUCATION

    Chapter 40: Employment of medical inspectors, optometrists and nurses; salaries; terms; rules

      Section: 18A:40-44: Information relative to child's exposure to violence on electronic devices.

1. a. The Department of Education shall prepare and make available on the department's Internet website, both in print and in an easily printable format, information on how a parent can limit a child's exposure to violence on television, cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. The department shall update this information whenever new information about a child's exposure to violence on television and other electronic devices becomes available. The information shall include, but not be limited to:

(1) research and statistics on how violent behavior increases after exposure to violent films, music, television, or video games;

(2) scientific findings that show children who play violent video games are more likely to be involved in physical altercations with classmates, perform poorly on academic tasks, and are unable to relate to adults in positions of authority;

(3) factors that increase the probability a child will be at risk of violent behavior, including, but not limited to, exposure or involvement in violence at critical stages of childhood development, poor socioeconomic conditions, and poor parenting skills;

(4) symptoms of a child's overexposure to violence, including, but not limited to, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression, feelings of hopelessness, truancy, and difficulty in school;

(5) predictors of violent behavior in children, including but not limited to, dishonesty, disobedience, favorable attitude toward violence, hostility toward police, substance abuse, aggressive or antisocial behavior, and involvement in nonviolent criminal offenses; and

(6) effective strategies, based on a child's age and stage of development, that will help a parent monitor or restrict a child's exposure to violence on television and other electronic devices, including, but not limited to, the use of screening software or other technologies that prevent a child from watching television programs a parent deems inappropriate, co-viewing and commenting on television programs that depict violence, and familiarization with video game advisory labels and rating systems that make it more difficult for children to purchase and play such games.

b. The department shall prepare an informational pamphlet that contains the information posted on its website pursuant to subsection a. of this section, and shall update the pamphlet as necessary. The department shall distribute the pamphlet, at no charge, to all school districts in the State, and shall make additional copies available to nonpublic schools upon request.

c. In the 2013-2014 school year and in each school year thereafter, each school district shall distribute the pamphlet to the parents or guardians of students attending the schools of the district.

L.2013, c.146, s.1.

This section added to the Rutgers Database: 2013-09-03 15:13:44.



Thursday, January 13, 2022

What is the Role of School Board Members?

 

School board members are state officials, empowered by state law to govern the public schools.

The laws, rules and regulations governing public schools pass through the legislature to the State Board of Education. 

The State Board’s staff, the Department of Education, has the authority to carry out the mandates created by those higher bodies. 

The board of education develops policies that govern school operation in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

The role of a board of education is to see that the school district is well run. 

The written policies of the board provide guidance and direction to the chief school administrator for making decisions and taking action. 

Well crafted policies minimize ambiguity between the board and its chief school administrator and promote the smooth operation of the school system.

Board members have no legal authority except when sitting with other board members in a legally constituted meeting. 

An individual board member cannot make decisions for the board, take action for the board or speak for the board unless the board has authorized them to do so. 

 Likewise, concerns of individuals in the community which are brought to the attention of a board member cannot be acted upon by that board member, but are referred through established channels, such as board president and/or the chief school administrator. 

When the chain-of-command is used properly by citizens and board members, communications are improved and the board of education can act as final arbiter on issues which have not been resolved at other steps in the chain.

Above all, board members are responsible for and to the district’s students. 

Every policy they approve and every action they take must be based on what is best for the education of those students

whodoeswhat2014.indd (core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com)

Monday, November 12, 2018

Are You In Compliance?

The Training history of Englewood Board of Education Members 2004 - present 2018
(A work in Progress)

Stephen Brown 
(2004 - 15.30 Credits in 4 terms)  (SEEK)

Glenn Garrison 
(2004 - 14 credits in 4 terms)  (SEEK)

Henry Pruitt 
(2006 -53.30 Credits in 4 terms
Achieved Certified Board Member status in 2015)  (SEEK)

(George Garrison III  
(2009 - 16 Credits in 3 terms)  (SEEK)

Molly Craig-Berry 
(2012 - 40 credits in 2 terms.
Achieved Certified Board Member status in 2017) (SEEK)

Howard Haughton 
(2012 - 32 Credits in 1 term)
Achieved Certified Board Member Status in 2015 
Started out in 2012 with SEEK, flipped after getting trained

Carol Feinstein 
(2013 - 20 Credits in 1 term)

Junius Carter  
(2013 - 31 Credits in 1 term)

Devry Pazant 
(2013 - 46 credits in 1 term)

Betty Griffin 
(2013 - 24 Credits in 1 term)

Angela Midgette-David  
(2017- 19 total credits)

Kim Donaldson 
(2017 - 18.50 credits)

Elizabeth Schwartz 
(1/2017 - 14 credits)

Dalia Lerner 
(2018 - 2 credits)
Did not get the New Board Member "in person" Orientation)
No in person training at all

Brent Watson 
(2018 - 10 Credits)
(Currently in charge of Teacher negotiations, yet has not taken negotiations training)

Michelle Marom 
(Jan. 2018 - 10 Credits)

Current Board Members 
  1. Molly Craig-Berry (newly elected to serve 3rd term) (Receptionist @Recreation ?)
  2. Angela Midgette-David  (in first term) (Teacher - Special Needs, Performance Artist)
  3. Elizabeth Schwartz   (in first term)  (?)
  4. Kim Donaldson  (in first term)  (?)
  5. Dalia Lerner   (in first term)  (Housewife, Social Work ?)
  6. Brent Watson  (in first term)  (Retired Educator)
  7. Michelle Marom (in first term)  (Housewife,  Social Work?)
  8. Juan Steven Berrios (newly elected)  (Banker)
  9. Donovan Rodrigues (newly elected)   (Entertainment Lawyer)