Sussex-Wantage school board responds to concerns

SUSSEX BOROUGH — The Sussex-Wantage school board addressed and referred, on Wednesday, Jan. 27, public and board-member concerns from past meetings to the newly formed committees.

President Robert Heiden announced the new school board committee chairs and members.

Vice President William Bolella will chair the Personnel and Policy Committee, members: Ryan Coyle and Steven VanNieuwland. School board member Kenneth Nuss will chair the Building and Grounds Committee, members: Walter Krynicky and Coyle. School board member Susan Langan will chair the Curriculum Committee, members: Susan Fields and Amber Simons. Bolella will chair the Finance and Transportation Committee, members: Simons and Langan. On an as needed basis, Coyle will chair the Community Outreach Committee, members Nuss and VanNieuwland.

Nuss and Fields asked for status regarding public concerns from past meetings. Nuss asked about amending the substitute teacher pay scale based on seniority. Fields asked about a parent-raised concern to change the bus drop-off point at the C.E. Lawrence School for safety reasons, training, and providing substitute teachers with an orientation. She also asked about the stalled solar project.

Superintendent Jeanne Apryasz said the district instituted a bonus for substitute teachers based on number of days teaching, and the issue could be discussed more in the new Personnel Committee. She also added that the subs will receive a certificate for completing a training program when hired, including watching training videos. The substitute handbook is being updated, and information from the teacher handbook will be used. The bus drop-off change has been discussed in the Policy Committee and will be further discussed in the next meeting.

Heiden, Langan, and Coyle all agreed with and discussed the need for more sub training.

Regarding the solar project, Business Administrator Christina Riker explained the supplier had ordered a transformer, which will take up to 50 days. Bolella further said it was a capacity issue, and the supplier needed to upgrade.

In order to serve the public better, Simons asked about placing the Executive Session at the end of meetings. Nuss agreed there must be a better way, so the meetings do not last so long for the public.

In addition, Nuss expressed concerns regarding the difficulty for the public to hear the meetings due to poor acoustics and microphones. He also discussed with Riker how the board will give input before the administration goes out to bid.

Earlier in the meeting, Riker gave the board an in depth presentation regarding the entire Bid Process and legal requirements.

Also, per public request, Board Attorney Yaacov Brisman cited the law as to why the discipline of the person buying the electronic sign without board approval could not be discussed in public. He cited: N.J. State law. N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 b. (8) prohibiting the BOE from discussing personnel matters in public.