Twenty-seven educators were recognized for their cumulative 367.5 years of service to the students of South Brunswick at the Board of Education meeting on Monday night.
After serving the district for 10 years, outgoing Superintendent of Schools Gary P. McCartney was one of the retiring educators recognized.
Before the retirees were recognized, Crossroads North Vocal Ensemble, directed by Keith Watlington, serenated the assembly.
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To honor the retiring educators, fellow staff members spoke on their behalf, sharing kind words and anecdotes about how the retirees will be missed.
Each retiree received a picture frame with an engraved quote from their testimony as a token of appreciation from the Board of Education.
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As a gift to give back to the schools, books were dedicated in honor of each of the retirees. The books will be gifted to each school library as a gesture of gratitude for the members’ service.
Joanne Kerekes also complied a short video presentation of “Words of Wisdom” from students of Crossroads about what retirement means to them.
Marty Abschutz, president of the Education Foundation of South Brunswick, presented results of the 4th Annual Tour de South Brunswick, which occurred on Saturday. A record-breaking 729 riders participated in the bike ride.
Returning to the agenda, Student Representative Brandon Ng reported on South Brunswick High School’s latest accomplishments. These included collecting over 90 units of blood at the recent blood drive, the on-going troop collection for Mr. Ostrowski’s troops in Afghanistan, and the recent Student Council elections.
McCartney urged parents to enroll their eligible children in Kindergarten as soon as possible during the superintendent’s report.
He also told parents of rising sixth graders to look for an email from the district on June 9 or June 10. If that email is not received, McCartney said it is very important for parents to write their current email address on the rip-off slip of paper in the physical copy of the Friday Folder and have their student turn it in at school.
A current email address is very important for rising sixth graders because it is the best way for the school to contact parents about Family Connect.
McCartney also announced that the district helped raise $511 for the GI Go Fund by charging teachers $5 to wear jeans to work.
According to the organization’s website, the GI Go Fund provides assistance to all military veterans by helping them find employment, access housing, and secure their educational and health benefits.
During the opportunity for public comment, Monmouth Junction resident Melissa Katz shared her concerns about the growing involvement of standardized assessments in schools and the cost of implementing those reforms. McCartney, Daniel Boyle and Barry Nathanson responded to her comment.
The Board approved action items before adjourning the meeting at 9 p.m.
List of Retirees—Thank you for you dedicated years of service
Joan Bonk
Marilyn Breitbart
Maryanne Carrino
Thea Dahlberg
Louis DeToro
Ellen Dwyer
Susan Freeman
Carolyn Gerdes
Carol Goldberg
Allison Ingram
Ann Jahr
Mark Kraft
Chang Han Lee
Jennie Liamero
Gary McCartney
Judy McCormick
Stephen Miller
Patricia Olsen
Arleen Panson
Louis Pini
Melissa Pollard
Susan Rausch
Cheryl Reardon
Sonia Rial
Kathleen Schatz
Sharon Stryker
Sharon Suskin
