Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Residents and staff can take an online survey to share their opinions with the Westwood Regional Board of Education.
Westwood and Washington Township residents can provide their opinions to the school board via an online survey about the next superintendent of Westwood Regional Schools. "The new Superintendent will need many skills and attributes that will make that person successful in the position, but we are asking that you identify for us the most important ones that in your opinion will be critical for that person to possess," board members wrote in an email announcing the survey. The survey is online here. It will stay up until June 7. The results of the survey will be compiled by R-Pat Solutions, LLC of Roselle Park, a firm which the school board approved during their meeting last week to assist them in the search for a new superintendent. Having …
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Current Interim Superintendent Rory McCourt is set to hold the position through June 30.
Westwood Regional Board of Education President Roberta Hanlon said she hopes the board will select a new interim superintendent at their May 9 meeting. The Board interviewed three finalists for the position during a closed session meeting last week, but members did not yet have a chance to discuss the candidates, according to Hanlon. A committee of four Board members started the search in late March, she previously said. The Board has also heard presentations from several firms offering services to assist in the search for a permanent superintendent. The new interim would fill the role until a candidate is hired. Current Interim Superintendent Rory McCourt has been filling the role since December. He previously said he would not be seeking…
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The New Jersey Department of Education released School Performance Reports comparing every school in the state.
Test scores at Westwood Regional Schools continued to rise last year, but the percentage of Westwood Regional High School students taking the SAT, PSAT and AP tests fell below state goals, according to the 2011-2012 School Performance Reports released by the Department of Education last week. Westwood Regional met all of its targets for academic achievement and graduation and post-secondary performance, but was "lagging" compared to its peers in terms of college and career readiness — measured by items like the number of students who take college readiness tests and courses — according to the report. A total of 79 percent of Westwood Regional students took the SAT, just shy of the state's 80 percent goal. Separately, 41 percent took the …
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
The Westwood Regional Board of Education is searching for a new interim superintendent and, eventually, a new superintendent.
A committee made up of school board members has begun searching for a new interim superintendent for the Westwood Regional School District, board President Roberta Hanlon said last week. Director of Elementary Education and Technology Rory McCourt has been filling the role since December, but previously said he will not be pursuing the permanent position. He is set to fill the role through June 30. Hanlon, along with Darlene Mandeville, Barbara Gregory and Lee-Ann Schaadt, will look at resumes and pass along their findings to the other board members, though all members will be able to look at all the resumes, she said. The board already posted an ad for the position and has received some applications, she said. The board also voted at …
Monday, April 1, 2013
A $1.17 million contract was awarded for the first project, a renovation of the high school upper gym's locker rooms.
Westwood Regional Schools are going to continue their facilities upgrades this year, starting with the upper gym locker rooms at the high school. The Westwood Regional Board of Education voted Thursday to award a $1.17 million contract to Stone Creek, Inc. for the locker room renovation project. The school completed renovations to its lower gym and locker rooms earlier this year. Business Administrator Keith Rosado said they plan to start the renovations while school is still in session. The area being worked on can be accessed from the outside, so it will be secluded and hopefully not disturb students, he said. The board also voted to amend the district's Long Range Facilities Plan to add new lights in the high school's Hurley Theater and…
Friday, March 29, 2013
The Westwood Regional Board of Education voted to accept Dr. Robert Cerco's resignation effective June 30.
Dr. Robert Cerco, Westwood Regional Schools' director of special services, has resigned effective June 30. The Westwood Regional Board of Education voted unanimously to accept Cerco's resignation and other personnel matters during their meeting Thursday night. Interim Superintendent Rory McCourt and board President Roberta Hanlon declined to comment because personnel matters are confidential by law. Cerco did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The board also voted to approve a stipend of $800 per month for the position of "supervisor of special services" during the same meeting for a staff member who was performing extra duties in the department, McCourt said. Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.…
The average Westwood resident will see a slight decrease in taxes, while the average Washington Township homeowner will see an increase of almost $20.
The Westwood Regional Board of Education unanimously approved a $52 million budget for the 2013-14 school year during their meeting Thursday night. The $52,600,772 budget includes a .5 percent tax levy increase for a total levy of $46,550,241. The amount of taxes paid by Westwood and Washington Township residents will shift slightly in the borough's favor, though they will still be paying about 53 percent of the levy. Taxes for the owner of the average Westwood home assessed at $397,000 will decrease about $2 while the owner of the average Washington Township home assessed at $533,000 will increase almost $20. The budget allows to the district to maintain their approximately 400 full- and part-time employees and add a second elementary …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
A team from Westwood Regional Middle School competed against students from 17 other middle schools at TCNJ.
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Thursday, March 28
Westwood Regional Middle School students won third place at an engineering competition at The College of New Jersey March 20. Seventh-graders Tommy Tedesco, Steven Santorelli, Nate Vele and Joey Cerasuolo and sixth-grader Ryan Fitzgerald invented the “Smart Locker.” The engineering students had to prototype and present their invention in a statewide competition with students from 17 other middle schools. Editor's note: This info was supplied by Erica Golle-Curioni on behalf of the Westwood Regional School District. Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The bears collected by Washington Elementary School third-graders will go to Valley Home Care patients.
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Tuesday, March 26
The third-grade classes at Washington Elementary School participated in a community service project for a “Beary” special event. The children collected 53 teddy bears, which were then donated to Valley Home Care. This year Valley Home Care’s 16th annual event will celebrate with a “Hollywood” themed party having the bears dressed their best in tuxedos and gowns. Each patient will have their own Hollywood Bear to keep. Editor's note: This info was supplied by Erica Golle-Curioni on behalf of the Westwood Regional School District. Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Seven local educators will be recognized with "Dedication to Excellence" awards by the Westwood-Washington Township Education Foundation.
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Thursday, March 7
The Westwood Washington Township Education Foundation has announced this year’s “Dedication to Excellence” award recipients. The seven staff honorees include: The winners are selected by a committee based on criteria which include promoting excellence in education and placing the needs of the school community first. This year, the WWTEF will hold an annual fundraiser, “Casino Royale” from 6 to 11 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 at Seasons Restaurant in Washington Township. Tickets are $100 per person, which includes food, cocktails and $100 in “play money” to participate in the games. The winners will be recognized during the fundraiser. At the fundraiser, participants can purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win "Dinner for Two" at the world…
CJandMMom
8:58 am on Thursday, May 16, 2013
tg my daughter graduates this year. have had enough with the revolving doors, the self aggrandizing and the mediocre education. more ›