Cromwell said even if it never happens "students are our first priority. Every day we will give 120 percent. "we're just very proud to be here and we love working with the students here and we're proud of what we do everyday," Cromwell said.

What a BS story! That's why last night when students presented with awards for academic achievement the sea af green shirts left during the presentation of the awards. They only care about their wallets!

It's the same argument over and over. Bottom line is they are a union and are trying to get the MAX for their members, even at the expense of the kids and the town they serve. They are blessed not to have to deal with the "real world" of hiring/firing, no raises, massive health insurance payments, no pension (only your own money in 401k) etc. Of course they ask for more, but hopefully the administration stays strong and fights to control it.

Years ago the union was formed to get teachers great benefits when salaries were low. Salaries have risen through the work of the union, but the benefits remain the same. So now we have above average salaries, above average benefits, above average pension....

While I don't think anyone questions the contributions and effort the teachers make in the classroom, I do think that across the state non-teachers have finally reached the point where it is borderline offensive to hear the renewed demands while the taxpayers that have to foot the bill face being fired, rising healthcare costs and a sour economy.

Same old story, different year.

I've always held Kinnelon teachers with high regard. I guess I haven't been to many BOE meetings, but I was embarrassed and annoyed to see that the KEA chose to "show their presence" at this meeting in particular, when the kids were receiving awards. And yes, they did leave before the kids actually were presented with the awards! How demotivating-my respect for their "class" and decency has just been knocked down a few pegs.

Their behavior is just bad! Probably organized by the bozo English teacher that leads them.

I take no sides in this disagreement, however, the fact is that the teachers were not permitted to stay for the Board meeting and the awards ceremony. The Board asked them to leave when the meeting was going to begin.

That is a Lie! It is a public meeting open to everyone.Two teachers did say to see the kids get awards. I won't mention the teachers' names as they will probably be retaliated against by the union.

It is a public meeting however, as a group, they were asked to leave before the meeting. If a couple of teachers remained, those few would not cause consternation as a large group of green shirts would have.

Oh come on! Let's use some creative thinking! They could have either removed the t shirts (many of them were worn over another shirt) or put a rain coat over it. It appears they didn't WANT to stay and that was a poor representation of the KEA and exact opposite of what Cromwell stated. BTW, this wasn't the first BOE meeting where the kids received awards, the KEA was present, and most left before the awards were presented. A couple weeks ago there was a meeting for KHS where awards were distributed. There were a couple dedicated teachers who relocated in the auditorium and stayed to congratulate the kids, the rest, at first opportunity couldn't get out fast enough. Oh, and some of those teachers even had their students receiving awards!

I am a parent of a child that was awarded the other night at the BOE meeting. At first, I was upset, but I gathered information first before posting my opinions John Q. I spoke with two of my child's teachers who live in town. They were literally given a directive to not sit in this particular BOE meeting by the Administration and the BOE. Now, think about why both the Administration and the BOE might be politically motivated into having teachers not sit in. Come on Mr. Q - you seem like an intelligent person. You need to see the bigger picture from the BOE's point of view. My family and I literally live her because of the people in the community and the educational reputation Kinnelon. The Kinnelon teachers are second to none. Need stats to back that up my friend?

FACTS:

Stonybrook School - 92nd percentile in the state based on Math AND LA test scores! (Kiel does not have data). Ranked in top 8% completely based on test scores only! Reading scores 21% higher than the state average.

Comparable Elementary Schools ranked lower: Montville (in our DFG btw) - only top 12% Livingston (higher than our DFG) - only top 11%

Additional Districts (comparable to our DFG) also ranked lower than Stonybrook. These are specifically in Language Arts: Oakland, Franklin Lakes, and Livingston.

Data can be retrieved from the School Report Card on the district website as well as schooldigger.com

HS - Language Arts -46% Adv Proficient 99% Adv Proficient or Proficient

DFG- Language Arts - 34.5% Adv Proficient 96% Adv Proficient or Proficient

KHS - Math- 46% Adv. Proficient 94% Adv. Proficient or Proficient

DFG - Math - 43% Adv. Proficient 90% Adv. Proficient or Proficient

FACTS:-KHS Top 6% of 25,000 public high schools in the U.S. & top 16 in all High Schools in NJ!PRM - Top 9% of all middle schools in NJ. (Montville - same ranking. Franklin Lakes - lower.)

Unfortunately, the right thing to do in our society is to do what an employee's supervisor tells him or her to do. Otherwise there are consequences. FYI - I trust one of these two teachers without question. I have known her for a very long time. The other teacher I do not know as well. I completely see the teachers' points of view on this particular BOE meeting.

I am a proud parent of two children currently attending schools in the district. I am also personally close with a few board members, some I would call close friends. It is a fact that the teachers were asked to leave at the beginning of the meeting, because the board did not want to take away from the student achievement. There was a concern about seating in the auditorium, and that the night was supposed to be about the children. When the BOE asked the teachers to kindly leave, they did (as you should take a directive from a supervisor). I have loved and supported my children through their time so far in Kinnelon schools, and have grown to know and love their teachers as well. From conversations I’ve had with my friends on the board, it is obvious that some board members are self-serving and are only looking out for their own children- and trying to destroy the unity of the teachers. They don’t care one bit about the quality of education that the teachers are providing our children with, regardless of the amount of energy and effort each one puts into every day. The success of the district is due 100 percent to the efforts of the teachers, students, and parents. No credit should go to the specific school board members looking to destroy the education in this town.

I am married to a BOE member who was not aware of any instructions given to the KEA members not to stay for the meeting. In fact if KEA members were told to leave they must have been told by the KEA leadership and now choose to blame the BOE for leaving.

You are married to a horse's ass.