Foundation remains source of grants for K-8 teachers
BY REBECCA MORTON Staff Writer

MARLBORO - Representatives of the Marlboro Educational Foundation discussed the organization's success to date at the Sept. 18 meeting of the Board of Education.

Foundation Vice Chair Barbara Spilken described the organization's growth over the past seven years.

A breakdown of grants that have been awarded in the Marlboro K-8 School District was displayed. To date the foundation has delivered 120 grants totaling $186,607 to the district's schools.

In its first year the foundation awarded 11 grants and a total of $9,362. During the 2006-07 school year the foundation awarded 45 grants and a total of $55,061.

The foundation awards grants to help teachers bring special programs to their classrooms which are not covered by the district's operating budget.

The trustees who were present at the meeting described a Shakespearean puppet show that was put on by fourthgraders at the Marlboro Elementary School and a science experiment in which pupils watched caterpillars through their genesis into butterflies at the Frank J. Dugan Elementary School.

Board President Terry Spilken, whose wife is the foundation's vice chair, expressed the board's thanks to the foundation and to its chair, Teja Anderson, who could not make the Sept. 18 meeting. Spilken thanked Anderson for all the work she has done in Marlboro.

Barbara Spilken asked those present to get involved with the foundation. She referred people who would like to learn more about the foundation to the Web site at www.marlboroeducationalfoundation. org.

In other business, the board formally approved the newest additions to curriculum guides for kindergartners at the Marlboro Early Learning Center and in gym classes at both middle schools. Included within the curriculum changes is the addition of Dance Dance Revolution to the middle schools' physical education classes.

Resignations were accepted from Laura Allen, a school aide at the Marlboro Elementary School, Maria Maher, a clerk-typist at the Marlboro Middle School, Debra Braitsch, an instructional assistant at the Marlboro Middle School, and Anne Marie Pacucci, a speech language specialist at the Frank J. Dugan Elementary School and the Marlboro Elementary School.

The board approved a contract with Resnick Consultants, LLC, of Old Bridge, to provide speech consulting services. It was explained that Resnick's services are needed because a teacher will be going out on maternity leave. Resnick Consultants will be used to replace the teacher for a period starting Oct. 11 and extending no later than March 3, 2008. The cost stated in the contract is $433 per day for a total of 90 days. The cost is not to exceed $38,970.

During the final public session of the meeting a woman came forward with a request for the board. She asked that the board consider the implementation of milk-free classrooms due to allergies which may cause some children to have an anaphylactic (severe systemic) reaction.

The woman noted how there are classrooms at the Marlboro Early Learning Center that are deemed peanut-free. She asked that children with allergies to milk or eggs be allowed alternatives.

Superintendent of Schools David Abbott was asked by the board to follow up on the matter. The board members indicated that they would report back on their findings and asked for copies of the studies from which the woman read.

The board will hold a workshop meeting on Oct. 9 and a regular meeting on Oct. 16.