Tuesday, May 14, 2013
An interim superintendent will be hired for the new school year.
The board of education is preparing its plans for hiring a new superintendent after Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder officially announced his retirement, effective Aug. 1. "I came to Bridgewater-Raritan over six years ago, and have never regretted that decision," Schilder said during his announcement at Tuesday's board of education meeting. "In fact, this position has been the highlight of my career thus far." "We have worked through many challenges and opportunities, and, while the district had always been strong, I think we've made many improvements that resulted in an even better school district," he added. Schilder said his retirement will be effective Aug. 1, although his last day will be some time before that because of …
Monday, May 6, 2013
Michael Schilder will make a formal announcement in the coming week.
UPDATE: Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder posted a note on the district website Monday afternoon concerning his retirement. In his note, Schilder said his retirement will be up for approval at the May 14 board of education meeting, and the board will also begin discussions then on transition plans. "It has been a privilege to have served in BRRSD and these past six years have been the highlight of my career," he said in his note. 9 a.m. Bridgewater-Raritan Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder will be retiring from the district this year, according to Board of Education President Patrick Breslin. The retirement will be effective Aug. 1. Breslin said Monday that Schilder has spent several days speaking with administrators, …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Board of Education discusses state's revised performance reports.
Absenteeism plays a large role in how schools are assessed in the state's revised performance reports, according to assistant superintendent Cheryl Dyer. Dyer made her presentation about the new report at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, citing the changes made, particularly in putting schools in peer groups, instead of grouping them by their district factor group, which was based on demographics. Now, Dyer said, the peer groups are based on those eligible for free and reduced lunches, as well as the percentage of students in special education and other similar factors. Each individual school in the district is in its own peer group, and many of the schools in the district are not actually in peer groups together. Dyer said that peer…
Friday, April 12, 2013
Percentiles are highest in the two intermediate schools.
The state recently released the school report cards for all districts, and Bridgewater schools are varied in how they rank. With changes in state testing, districts are now grouped based on performance, rather than socioeconomic levels, as they had been in the past. Those peer schools, according to the report, are classified based on schools with similar grade levels and students with similar demographic characteristics, like qualifying for Free/Reduced Lunch and special education programs. "They are much different from the old school report card," said Cheryl Dyer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, at Tuesday's board of education meeting. "There are 13 pages per school, and there is a lot of data, lot of comparisons…
Thursday, April 11, 2013
He will be remaining with Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder has withdrawn his name from consideration for a position in the Easton Area School District, according to an article on Palmer-Forks Patch. Schilder said he is happy to continue serving Bridgewater, according to an article on nj.com. The Easton Area School District is currently holding a superintendent search, and Schilder was reportedly one of the two final candidates, with Robert Culp, assistant executive director of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21. The Easton school board opted not to renew its current superintendent's contract, and the new superintendent will be starting July 1. A selection of a new superintendent is expected to be made at Easton school board's April 16 meeting. …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Reports say Michael Schilder is one of two candidates to lead Easton Area School District.
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder is one of two people being considered for a position at the Easton Area School District, according to an article on lehighvalleylive.com. The Easton Area School District, the article said, is currently holding a superintendent search, and Schilder is one of the two final candidates, with Robert Culp, assistant executive director of the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21. The article said the Easton school board president has not officially confirmed that there are only two candidates left, but has said they are close to that and are narrowing it down. The Easton school board opted not to renew its current superintendent's contract, and the new …
He said this has been happening since the absentee policy was changed.
Concerns from students that many of their peers are coming to school sick, and infecting others, rather than risking racking up absences has prompted the board of education to promise to take another look at its new absentee policy. The policy change was approved July 24, and says that anyone absent more than 16 days from a year-long course, 12 days from a physical education course, eight days from a semester course and four days in a single marking period course will be subjected to administrative action. This change was made in response to concerns that some students are racking up too many absences that are categorized as excused. Superintendent of Schools Michael Schilder has said that the policy change was done to send a stronger …
Monday, March 25, 2013
Award recipients will be honored at a gala in May.
Teachers and staff throughout the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District are being honored for their service to the schools. “These awards are developed for the purpose of acknowledging teachers,” said Cheryl Dyer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction. “I am happy to announce the recipients of the awards.” All the recipients will be honored at a gala in May, sponsored by the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association. The Bridgewater-Raritan Teacher of the Year Award was created to acknowledge teachers for outstanding performance in their schools. The honorees are: The Bridgewater-Raritan Distinguished Service Award is to honor all staff members, except administrators, who enhance the reputation of the school …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
And Raritan residents will see a decrease in their taxes.
The Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education approved its 2013-2014 school budget Thursday with a $32 increase in taxes for Bridgewater residents. The budget is set at $139,515,108, an increase of 2.79 percent over the 2012-2013 budget. The budget itself has a 1.86-percent tax levy increase. For Bridgewater residents with an average home assessment of $394,709, they will see an increase of about $32.19 on their school taxes. Raritan residents, with an average home assessment of $320,005, will see a decrease in their school taxes of $0.20. "Although the proposed budget tax levy is going up 1.86 percent, the impact of the tax rate has other variables, namely rateables of both communities," said business administrator Peter Starrs. In …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A public hearing on the budget will be held Thursday.
The board of education is planning a public hearing and possible adoption of a 2013-2014 school budget that includes a 1.86 percent tax levy increase. The budget, as introduced March 5, is set at $139,515,108. As for state aid, although the district will be receiving $9,087,358, the same it received in the previous school year, there is an increase in assessments on the district, eliminating $80,000 from its aid. The total budget itself has increase by 2.79 percent over the previous year because of additional surplus funds to be used. The budget includes several additions, including extra security at the high school and floating teachers. An additional $230,000 is still being used for an extra school resource officer and two more security …
Dr. Laura Lefand
11:39 am on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Is he retiring? Or leaviing the BR District? more ›