GAS ODOR PROMPTS CHS EVACUATION

Columbia High School was evacuated for about 45 minutes this morning after an unusual odor was detected, according to students and other sources.

Police, fire and PSE&G responded to the Black Box Theater. It was contained quickly and classes resumed, but the utility company remained on scene.

The district issued this notice to parents:

Today, Columbia High School was evacuated at approximately 10:05AM when staff noticed a gas-like odor.  Students and staff were safely evacuated as a precaution while the fire department investigated.
 
Once the Maplewood Fire Department deemed the building safe, all students and staff returned, and the day is proceeding as normal.
 
As always, student safety remains a top priority in our district.  We are grateful to the Maplewood Fire Department for their quick response and assistance. 

TOWNSHIP TO EASE BAKER/VALLEY NO TURN ON RED

The often annoying, but apparently safer, No Turn On Red sign at the corner of Baker and Valley streets will soon be changed to allow such turns before 6 a.m. and after 7 p.m. if the Township Committee has its way.

The TC directed Township Attorney Roger Desiderio on Tuesday night to fashion a new ordinance that would alter the restriction after an engineer's study found those hours would not affect pedestrian safety.

TC member Nancy Adams raised the issue, noting that the delays back up cars along Baker Street and often contribute to pollution with exhaust fumes from the waiting vehicles.

See her comments below:




Mayor Deluca agreed: "I do think we should make the change because at night time there is not as much" pedestrian traffic.

After some discussion, in which the governing body considered different hours of operation, the TC settled on changing the restriction from 24-hours to 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Desiderio said he needed to receive a copy of the engineer's report before an ordinance could be created, but said it would be done as quickly as possible.

The restriction was first instituted in 2009 after concerns about pedestrian accidents at the corner. 

PACKAGE AND AUTO THEFTS MARK POLICE WEEK

From Maplewood Police: 

December 12, 2016: Motor Vehicle Theft: During the overnight hours, an unsecured vehicle with the keys in it and parked in the driveway of a home on Garthwaite Terrace was stolen.

December 13, 2016: Package Theft; Between 8 AM and 9 AM a package was stolen from a home on Wellesley St.

December 14, 2016: Motor Vehicle Theft: During the overnight hours, an unsecured vehicle with the keys in it and parked in the driveway of a home on Crestwood Dr was stolen.  It was recovered in Newark.

December 15, 2016: Package Theft; At approximately 2:45 PM a package was stolen from a home on Suffolk Ave.

December 18, 2016; Theft From Auto; During the overnight hours, an unsecured vehicle parked on Hillcrest Rd was entered and change removed.

OBAMACARE SIGN-UP HELP TODAY

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm 

Open enrollment is from Nov. 1, 2016 to Jan. 31, 2017. Trained in-person assisters will help you find a plan to fit your budget—one that covers emergencies, doctor visits, prescriptions, hospitalization and maternity care. Pre-existing conditions, too.

Main Library, 51 Baker St. 

Consultations are on a drop-in basis. No registration is required.
What to Bring

• Social Security Numbers for all household members (or immigration documents)
• Employer and income information for every member of your household who needs coverage (from pay stubs or W-2 forms)
• Current health insurance plan information for everyone in the household

Brought to you by the Oranges ACA Navigator Project under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE MEETING TONIGHT: FROM GREEN TEAM TO RED LIGHTS

The Township Committee meets tonight for the last time in 2017 with a somewhat light agenda.

See it HERE.

Among the items are new additions to the Green Team Advisory Committee, creation of a Senior Advisory Committee and a final hearing on legislation to make all municipal buildings ADA compliant.

There will also be updates on the dog leash ordinance, sanctuary city proposal and that No Right On Red at Baker and Valley streets.

And, as always, public comment where you can ask a question, give them a piece of your mind or just a pat on the back. 

Remember, they work for you!

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SHORTAGE AFFECTING COSTS, TIME AND STRESS

A recent shortage of substitute teachers, which has forced some teachers to split classes up and others to cover for absent teachers during their "prep" time, was center stage at Monday night's school board meeting.

Superintendent John Ramos revealed that the district is short on substitute teachers, but did not offer a specific reason other than to say the pool of such candidates is low. He even asked residents who might be experienced or legally available to serve to be in touch.

"We are well aware that there is a substitute problem," Ramos said. "It is a problem that is not unique to our district. The fact is that there is a lack of substitutes and we are trying our best to address this issue."

He said the district only has enough substitutes in its roster to cover 40 teacher absentees per day.

John Ramos

Records indicate that the shortage has had an effect, with the district using substitutes 7,691 times in the 2015-2016 school year, down from 9,189 just two years earlier and 9,807 times in the 2010-2011 school year.

The impact has been severe on many classes, teachers and parents who spoke at the meeting revealed. They said that when a substitute is not available there are two other options.

The first is to split the class without a teacher up into four or five smaller groups and add those groups to existing classes, thus increasing class size for the day.

The second option is for teachers to share the burden during their break or "prep" times. Each teacher is given that time during the day, but when they are called in to cover for a period they lose the time. They must also be paid $40 per period under the teachers' union contract. If five teachers are needed to cover during one day, that costs the district an additional $200.

The cost for a substitute is less, at $90 per day for those with a college degree and $70 per day for those without one.

Several parents and teachers spoke out during the meeting about the problem. See their views below:




Ramos said the first approach is always to use a sub, the second is to use teachers to cover during break time or "prep" time, then to split classes as "a last resort ... when there is simply no option. It is not optimal."

He said the district is taking steps to remedy the situation.

"We are working first with the provider, the agency that works with us to provide subs to make sure that all of the procedures are clear and there are no mistakes or missteps, that available subs are placed in classes," Ramos said, later adding he is also "working with local colleges to increase the pool, perhaps with college students who are eligible to substitute." State law does not require a college degree, only 60 semester-hour credits, to substitute. 

Finally, he put out "a call to the community because we are beginning to understand that there are people in our community who are eligible to sub. We have a problem and to the extent that people might be available to sub, we urge you to come and apply."

THREE DISTRICT SCHOOLS' PHONES STILL DOWN

The phone problem that had struck four district schools on Monday continues today at three of those schools: South Orange Middle School, Seth Boyden and Tuscan.

See the letter sent to parents this morning below:
 

Please be advised that three (3) of our schools are experiencing technical issues with our communications systems. As a result, the main telephone circuits serving South Orange Middle School, Seth Boyden and Tuscan Elementary Schools are not functioning. Please note that e-mail communications are functioning normally; however, staff may not be able to dial out on district phones.  Additionally, incoming calls are not getting through.

All of the emergency systems are working and all students and staff are safe. Normal dismissal procedures remain in place.

If you have an urgent need to reach your child’s school, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 973-762-5600 ext. 1820 or 1821. Please try to limit calls until the problem is resolved. Thank you for your patience.

PHONE PROBLEMS PLAGUE FOUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS

This email was sent to parents at the related schools Monday: 

Please be advised that four (4) of our schools are experiencing technical issues with our communications systems. As a result, the main telephone circuits serving South Orange Middle School, Marshall, Seth Boyden and Jefferson Elementary Schools are not functioning. Please note that e-mail communications are functioning normally; however, staff cannot call out of district -- only in-district. Additionally, incoming calls are not getting through. 

All of the emergency systems are working and all students and staff are safe. Normal dismissal procedures remain in place.

If you have an urgent need to reach your child’s school, please contact the Superintendent’s Office at 973-762-5600 ext. 1820 or 1821. Please try to limit calls until the problem is resolved. Thank you for your patience.

We are checking to see progress on the repairs.