Thursday, February 14, 2013

TUSCAN SCHOOL DROP-OFF ZONE STILL RAGING DEBATE

Debate is raging over at Maplewoodonline and Tuscan School about the fallout from the end of volunteers at the school's controversial "drop-off" zone on Harvard.

For those not in the know, the township bars parents from dropping off students from vehicles directly in front of the school entrance, but allows parents to drop off children at the edge of school grounds, down the street near the teacher/staff parking lot.

A few weeks ago, according to sources, word went out from the principal, Malikah Majeed, that concerns had been raised about liability for the district and the school when students were let out of vehicles and helped by volunteers.

This change came about just months after Majeed, known for her arrogant and unhelpful attitude, urged parents to follow strict rules that students are not allowed to be dropped off before school without a parent. She also implemented a policy by which no students are allowed in the building before the 8:45 opening time.

This has led to students being forced to wait outside in freezing temperatures or rain and other bad weather.

Some parents, including former drop-off volunteer Marian Raab, have started efforts to bring in more volunteers, but at the moment the drop-off zone remains unmanned by volunteers. This has also prompted the police department to station a police vehicle at the school each morning, a move that had not been done in the past regularly.

Some parents are being urged to attend upcoming meetings of the Tuscan PTA, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 20 , and the school board, at its next office hours at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the South Orange Library. 

4 comments:

  1. "Majeed, known for her arrogant and unhelpful attitude"

    Saying that on MOL would get you banned, Joe. Which isn't to say it isn't true, or perhaps even generous...

    (There goes my chance of getting elected to the School Board.)

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  3. The mud pits. The giant mud pits at Tuscan that parents, children and their baby siblings are required to stand in while awaiting entry. Horrible. The paths grounds are unmaintained and washing away. The snow and ice clearing isn't finished before school starts. The fire in the shed next to the cafe. No word from the principal. No siting of her. No advocacy from her to improve outside conditions. Her blantant refusal to be outside during drop off and pick up. Her six figure salary. Our taxes. Our children. WE ARE BETTER THAN THIS. CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW PRINCIPAL AT TUSCAN.

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  4. I TOTALLY AGREE that Tuscan Principal Malikah Majeed has GOT OT GO!!! Tuscan parents, please e-mail school superintendent Brian Osborne if you have issues with how the school administration is handling (or should I say NOT HANDLING) the process of getting over 600 elementary school students in an out our school in a safe and timely manner, especially in bad weather. Do we need to have a child seriously injured -- or WORSE-- in front of the school before the District steps into fix this mess?

    Superintendent Osborne's e-mail is: bosborne@somsd.k12.nj.us

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