Schools

UPDATED: Galloway BOE Announces Formation of Superintendent's Advisory Team

The team will meet for the first time Feb. 7 at 7 p.m., in the Galloway Township Middle School's library.

Just about anyone interested in participating in the Galloway Township school system will now be afforded the opportunity to do so, and they will have the chance to do so on Feb. 7.

Galloway Superintendent of Schools Annette Giaquinto expressed her desire to put together an Advisory Team at the meeting Monday night, Jan. 23 at the

That team will meet for the first time on Feb. 7 in the middle school's library, 7 p.m.

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“My hope is that this group will give us a better perspective on what people are thinking,” Giaquinto said. “After the was defeated in December, I heard some of the reasons people voted against it. If we had heard some of their concerns ahead of time, maybe we could’ve fixed some of the problems.”

That referendum focused on roof replacement at , and elementary schools, fire alarm replacement for Smithville, Roland Rogers and , and drainage system and parking lot improvements for Arthur Rann. It was defeated by eight votes.

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The referendum will once again go before the voters on March 13.

At recent meetings, the Board of Education has expressed frustration at voter turnout and discussed ways to make voters more aware of upcoming elections and referendums. Attendance at the regular Board of Education meetings is nearly non-existent.

“The members of this group could encourage others to come to our meetings,” Giaquinto said. “They could give us some ideas we hadn’t already thought of.”

The intended makeup of the team is as follows:

* two parents/guardians from each elementary school and the middle school for a total of 10;

* one parent/guardian from the preschool;

* five members from the community-at-large;

* two representatives from Galloway Township Council;

* two representatives from business/nonprofit community groups;

* two Board of Education members;

* thee GTEA members;

* two GTPSA members;

* one central office staff member (not part of the GTEA or GTPSA); and

* two middle school students.

Board Vice President George Schwenger voiced his hope that community representation would come fron all areas of the township, and Board Member Beverly Evensen questioned when this team would meet.

Giaquinto said the first meeting will take place Feb. 7 and a steady time in which everyone involved would be able to meet would be selected from there. 

Those interested in joining the team should contact Marie Thomas at 609-748-1250, ext. 1016 or email her at thomasm@gtps.k12.nj.us.
When contacting Thomas, the school board asks those interested to provide their name, email, and phone number. Participants will be selected based on the aforementioned categories and level of interest, the school board says. If there are more interested individuals than openings, participants in that category will be selected at random.


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