Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The twist: The focus is on parents and making sure they don't allow their kids to drink.
Through the Morris County Department of Human Services, the Butler Municipal Alliance Committee is participating in the Drug Free Action Alliance's Parents Who Host, Lose The Most Campaign. The campaign was developed to teach parents about the risks associated with underage drinking—and the legal consequences of allowing teens to consume alcohol. It encourages parents to tell their kids no. The effort also sends a message from the community: that teen alcohol consumption is unhealthy, unsafe and unacceptable. The BMAC will post lawn signs throughout Butler, place campaign stickers on pizza boxes from a local pizzeria, put informational brochures in bags at a liquor and convenience stores. The group will also host an educational meeting …
Friday, April 12, 2013
Kinnelon, Butler superintendents disagree with choices of comparative 'peer' schools in newly released New Jersey Department of Education data.
In response to new data reports released by the state Department of Education this week, superintendents from the Kinnelon and Butler school districts said they found discrepancies in the data. Kinnelon Public Schools Interim Superintendent Diane DiGiuseppe said at a board of education meeting Thursday night the report for her district was "loaded with errors." She noted the change of format, the main difference being that school districts are compared to "peer" districts and schools instead of those in their District Factor Group (DFG), from previous school report cards now included in the NJ School Performance Report. In the new report (this week's released data was based on the 2011-12 school year), a "peer" district or school is …
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Vendors to help PTA in fundraising event.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Board discusses planning for snow days to be taken from mid-winter break.
The Butler Public Schools Board of Education decided March 5 to finalize the calendar for the 2013-14 school year. The only issue was whether the winter break would begin with a half day on Monday, December 23 or a full day on Friday, December 20. Superintendent of Schools Mario Cardinale said his draft of the calendar called for a half day on Dec. 23 because he wanted to make sure the calendar included five snow days. “We need that,” he said. But Board Member Cynthia Sokoloff said she could not see any “educational value” in having school on Dec. 20 because attendance might be low and student attention may be focused on the coming holidays. Sokoloff suggested, and her fellow board members concurred, that a day from the mid-winter break …
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Other Morris County school districts see increase in 2013-14 aid.
All three tri-boro school districts will see the same amount of state aid in the 2013-14 school year as the current year, according to figures presented by Gov. Chris Christie Thursday. The figures show Kinnelon will receive $1,439,528, Butler will receive $1,960,615 and Bloomingdale will receive the highest tri-boro amount, $1,977,915. The state Department of Education boasted that the 2013-14 aid package is the largest ever released by the state. Nearly $9 billion will go to public schools, an increase of about $97.3 million from the 2012-13 school year. Many districts in Morris County will see an increase in aid this year, including Lincoln Park, Dover and the largest increase in the county, 17.7 percent, for the Morris Hills Regional …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Federal cuts to education, healthcare, environmental organizations could be imposed if Congress does not stop $85 billion in reductions by Friday.
The Butler Public Schools district could be impacted by federal sequestration cuts should they be imposed beginning on Friday. Congress has a Friday deadline if members wish to act to stop the $85 billion in cuts, $12 million of which could directly affect primary and secondary education funding in New Jersey according to figures released by the White House. In Butler, this could mean cuts specifically to programs supported through the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), according to Superintendent Mario Cardinale, although it was not clear how much funding could be lost. NCLB grant funding supports the district's professional development training for teachers in special education and …
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Recreation Commission members presented concept for borough's first community pride event.
The Borough of Butler could join neighboring communities in offering a day of town pride should plans for the first ever Butler Day go through. Two members of the Butler Recreation Commission, Shelli Taggart and Robert Soules, approached the Butler Council Tuesday to talk about their preliminary plans for an event to be held on May 25 (rain date on May 26). Taggart explained that she envisions fireworks over one of the school fields with vendor booths, music, possibly rides and neighborly fun. "These were just ideas that were thrown out," Taggart said. Although without fireworks, Bloomingdale hosts its own Pride Day and Kinnelon has hosted K-Fest for the past two years. Some council members had concerns with the initial plans for Butler's …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Aaron Decker School surveying parents to schedule registration appointments for 2013-14 school year.
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Monday, February 4
Now that full-day kindergarten has been approved for the 2013-14 school year in the Butler Public Schools district, the Aaron Decker School administration is surveying interested parents to schedule registration appointments. The Butler Board of Education voted to approve implementing a full-day program for the first time last week. Principal Virginia Scala said the school will be hosting registration sessions on March 5, 6 and 7 and parents should fill out a survey (attached to this article) to make an appointment. The survey and other information about the full-day program is available on the school district's website. Questions should be directed to the administrators by calling the school at 973-492-2037.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Board voted to lengthen school day for kindergarten students.
The Butler Board of Education voted to move to a full-day kindergarten program after hearing a presentation about the anticipated benefits of the switch from Aaron Decker School Principal Virgina Scala. While the district has only had a partial-day kindergarten program in the past, with four sections being taught by two teachers, Superintendent Mario Cardinale said the transition is one the district has hoped to make for some time. "We've been trying to work things into the budget," he said. "We're hoping to see them reach fruition." Scala said the main reason the district considered moving to a full-day program now is so that the teachers can spend more instructional time with the children, which can help as the school works to conform to…
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
NJ League of Municipalities invites Butler, Kinnelon and Bloomingdale students to apply for $1,000 college scholarships.
Three students from throughout the state will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the New Jersey League of Municipalities and Butler, Kinnelon and Bloomingdale students will be have a chance now as well. Bloomingdale Mayor Jonathan Dunleavy, a member of the League, said he will be reaching out to the Butler and Bloomingdale school districts to explain the scholarship program, the Louis Bay 2nd Future Municipal Leaders Scholarship Competition. Through the competition, students are required to write essays about what their mayors and elected officials "do best." "These elected officials and appointed board members serve Bloomingdale and Butler. It is their altruistic desire to serve their community which compels them to public service," …
Cathy Gurbisz
7:41 pm on Saturday, April 13, 2013
Why all the hype on AP classes. Where are the days when High School was High School and College was College. AP classes are a taxpayer burden that can single out a certain population while ignoring general high school education. In the case of AP classes if you take them, say in a high level science or math, those credits often do not tranfer to a math or science in college. In certain … more ›