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Schools

BOE Moves Forward with Bond Refinancing

The measure is expected to save $300,000.

The Haddonfield Board of Education unanimously approved a measure to refinance $9 million in bond debt at its last meeting. The arrangement is projected to save $300,000 over the next 13 years by lowering interest rates.

Local financial advisor Robbi Acampora of Capital Financial Advisors presented the proposal to the board and was also on had at the Jan. 12 meeting when the proposal was approved.

The board will meet again on Thursday and could approve a tentative agreement for a new contract with the Haddonfield Education Association, which represents teachers and some other district employees.

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Changes in the Works at High School

Also appearing before the board on Jan. 12 were Haddonfield Memorial High School principal Mike Wilson and Vice Principal Marc Mancinelli. The pair reviewed a handful of proposed policy changes at the school, including the elimination of homeroom, the establishment of a college readiness class for students, and a change to the physical education waiver.

By extending the first period of the day by two minutes, and eliminating the homeroom period, students and teachers would have more of an opportunity to meet before the school day begins.

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Homeroom was traditionally used to take attendance and deliver morning announcements, which Mancinelli now transmits electronically to the student body at 6:30 a.m. daily, Wilson explained. Attendance is recorded electronically in the classroom and cross-referenced administratively.

Homeroom classes would still exist as a meeting place for students in emergency situations, in keeping with district policies, and an eight-minute homeroom would be inserted between the fourth and fifth periods on days when students must be gathered for clerical matters.

The high school is already working out a plan to adjust its handling of one such matter typically completed in homeroom: student course selection. Instead, Wilson said, course selection information would be sent home with students so they can collaborate with their parents to discuss scheduling and planning. The process would become a more supervised discussion that involves the whole family instead of something completed independently by students in school.

Wilson reported strong support from the school faculty for the proposed change; he also said that without any buses in the district—and therefore no bus duties—the policy has a chance to be especially effective in Haddonfield. Ideally, he said, he would like to begin the new schedule at the start of the third quarter of 2012, which begins in early February.

The idea of a college readiness class was brought forth by Haddonfield students and developed in concert with the administration. Mancinelli likened the idea to a focused study hall period in which students would enroll for one quarter. Students would meet with a math teacher, an English teacher, and a guidance counselor each once per week to discuss issues related to transitioning to college.

The class would be student-driven with a loose curriculum that could cover things like the SAT, college course expectations, and other aspects of the post-high-school experience. Mancinelli said that creating such a class would “really give students ownership” of the idea and “validate their ability to get organized.”

Mancinelli also discussed streamlining the collection of physical education waivers for students who choose to fulfill those state requirements outside of school hours. The waiver policy has reduced enrollment in PE classes significantly, Mancinelli said.

Currently, students must submit a request quarterly to gain approval for activities like swimming, horseback riding, or other organized, prescribed fitness regimens. Students who participate in Haddonfield athletics also take advantage of this policy to gain a free period or take an extra academic class when in-season for their sports.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Heather Vaughn raised the issue of in-school advertising, citing a recent article weighing the pros and cons of bringing in issue-specific, non-product-related advertising into public schools. The board discussed the issue briefly, touching on a precedent established at Tatem School, at which the PTA was paid for month-long ads placed on the premises. Board members agreed that whether the issue would be considered further hinged on the amount of revenue generated by any such proposal.

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