ANOTHER UNLOCKED VEHICLE IS RIPPED OFF

From Maplewood Police:

January 23, 2017; Theft from Auto; During the overnight hours a purse was removed from an unsecured vehicle on the 80 block of Jacoby St.

HOW TO SPONSOR A TEACHER'S PROJECT, AND SOON

The Achieve Foundation has been raising money for more than 20 years for school district programs and projects.

But in recent weeks, the non-profit organization's annual direct donation program has allowed residents to direct their money to a specific teacher project.  

But you only have a few days left.

"Throughout the year we get donations, but this is the one time of the year when people can actually make a donation to a specific grant request that a teacher has made," said Deborah Prinz, Achieve Foundation executive director. 

The direct funding program began weeks ago and ends on Feb. 6, Prinz said. Donations can still be made year-round, but they will go into the organizations' general funds for future grants.  

Achieve Foundation raises about $140,000 annually for district programs, which are funded with grants decided by a committee comprised of residents, teachers and others. 

See more on them HERE.

Prinz said each year there are always grant requests that cannot be fully funded or funded at all. Those are posted online and residents can donate directly to them for a period of time. 

See those grant requests and how to donate to them HERE.

"Once our committee has reviewed all of the grants under our criteria, we then publish the grants that still can take more funding so that people can make direct donations to those grans," she explained. "Our mission is to support innovation and excellence and equal access for all students through educational opportunities."

The listing is very detailed. For example, if you want to see programs at Tuscan School that need help, you click that box and the list pops up stating what the program is, and how much more money it needs.

See one example below:

TUS: Chomebooks for the LibraryTeacher: Popp, Amy
Provide all 650+ students access to Chromebooks in the library.
Amount Still Needed to Fund the Grant: $4,516

But hurry up because it ends on Monday!

"DIFFICULT BUDGET YEAR" EXPECTED FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT

After a year that saw more than 11 teachers cut and other spending reductions, the Board of Education is bracing for another tight fiscal year according to a budget report at this week's board meeting.

"This will be a difficult budget year," Superintendent John Ramos declared at Monday's meeting just before Business Administrator Paul Roth offered a first glimpse at the 2017-2018 budget picture that could see a 3% tax increase and likely continued enrollment growth.

"Class sizes have been pushed to limits in many cases," Roth said. "It is unreasonable to expect that our enrollment will level off, we are expecting another increase."

Roth's budget presentation included an expected enrollment jump from 6,959 this year to 6,969 in 2017-2018, with most of that coming from middle and elementary school grades. But he said that would likely be even higher given past estimates and actual numbers.

If the district increases the local tax portion of the budget by the state cap of 2%, that would mean going from $111.7 million in the current year to $113.9 million next year. With other revenues such as state aid and grants the total proposed budget would likely be $128.1 million, up from the total budget of $125.7 million.

But the district could enact a 3% tax increase due to what is known as "banked cap." That occurs when a district does not use the entire 2% tax increase it is allowed under state law in a certain year. It can also bank cap when health costs are increased or enrollment grows.

Because such banked cap was not used in some prior years the district could add another $1.1 million in spending and boost the tax increase by an additional 1% for next year. 

Among the additional spending items that will be considered are another library/media specialist for Columbia High School, additional arts teachers and guidance counselors for the middle schools, a new school safety and security director, an additional CHS assistant principal, and an undisclosed number of additional teachers to reduce some teacher workloads that currently carry six classes.

Roth also noted facility improvements are a need given that most schools are more than 100 years old: "We're starting to run out of space, we're going to have to start putting money into facilities."

The district is also considering hiring a person dedicated to writing grant requests, noting the district does not get as much grant funding as it could.

In positive news, Roth noted that the district's electrical costs have decreased, due in large part to the installation of more efficient LED lights in the high school and middle schools. He also said a CHS boiler improvement will decrease gas usage as well.

But the district is expected to see a 15% health insurance cost hike that cannot by law be passed on to staff, along with a 12% increase in tuition the district pays for students to attend outside schools.

See the entire budget presentation data package HERE.

The next board budget meeting is set for Feb. 27, with several community forums planned for mid-February.

HEART HEALTH EVENT TODAY

From Maplewood Township:

This is just a friendly reminder that the recreation department will be hosting a seminar on heart health at 106 Burnett Ave. today. 

Rebecca Kane, a nurse practitioner from the heart center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ will be conducting the seminar. The seminar will be held at 11:30 AM. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling Michelle Wesley at 973-763-0750. 

Food will be served. 

Please join us for a fun and informative session. 
We look forward to seeing you.
Best Regards,
The Maplewood Recreation Department"All for fun, and fun for all" 

PORTION OF RIDGEWOOD ROAD CLOSED FOR WORK

From Maplewood Police:

Ridgewood Rd closed between Collingwood Rd and Jefferson Ave due to construction

CHS ASSUALT VICTIM'S MOM SAYS BIASED MOB ATTACKED HER CHILD

The mother of a Columbia High School student who was assaulted two weeks ago just steps from the school slammed the school district and police this week for reporting that only two students attacked her child, claiming it was a mob of 15 and there is video evidence to prove it.

The woman, whose name we are withholding for her protection, spoke during Monday's school board meeting and accused the school of failing to report the incident to district officials in a timely manner. She also contends it was a biased hate crime that should be labeled as such.

"She is in shock, she is destroyed by this horrible incident," the mother said "We want to know what the school is gong to do, what the superintendent is going to do to help her."

See her full testimony and Board President Elizabeth Baker's response below:




We reported last week when police issued a press release on the incident that occurred Jan. 18. They stated that the victim was assaulted by two fellow students who were charged in the crime. It said nothing more about a large group involved or any bias element.

We reached out to District Spokeswoman Suzanne Turner for comment, but she declined, stating it was a confidential matter involving a student. Maplewood Police did not respond to a request for comment.

MAPLEWOOD DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE SEEKING TC CANDIDATES TO ENDORSE

The Maplewood Democratic Committee is seeking candidates to run for the Township Committee this spring, issuing a statement that asks those seeking the MDC endorsement to submit their names by Feb. 27. 

Maplewood Democratic Committee Chair Ian Grodman issued this notice on Tuesday:

The Maplewood Democratic Committee is seeking candidates interested in running for Township Committee with the MDC's endorsement in the June, 2017 Primary. The winners of the Primary will run in the November General Election for terms which begin on January 1, 2018. The seats are currently held by Vic DeLuca and India Larrier.

Those interested should submit a letter of interest and resume to Ian Grodman, Chair, Maplewood Democratic Committee, iangrodman@gmail.com, by February 27. The Maplewood Democratic Commitee will meet to interview interested candidates in early March. 

We reported weeks ago on the outlook for the TC election, noting Mayor Deluca has already begun to gather signatures for his nominating petition, but Larrier remains mum on her plans.

KIDS SPEAK OUT AT LIBRARY

From the Maplewood Library 

February 1 – February 28

All Day

Main Library ● All Ages ● Drop In 

Kids and families are invited to continue the conversation from the Kids Speak Out art display.  Throughout the month, feel free to share your thoughts, feelings, stories, and drawings.  Supplies will be available in the Children’s Room to create something that expresses your feelings about race, equality, and justice.  Your work will be displayed in the Children’s Room.
“You really can change the world if you care enough.” – Marian Wright Edelman