Politics & Government
Middle School Principal Announces Retirement
John Calicchio announces retirement after 11 year as principal in Nutley at Monday night's Board of Education meeting.
At Monday night's board of education meeting Principal John Calicchio of John H. Walker Middle School in Nutley took the opportunity to officially announce his retirement. The end of this school year will mark his 11th and final year serving as principal.
“I have been an administrator in this district for 20 years,” said Calicchio. “I have come to school every day and have never felt like it was a job. I want to leave on a high note while I still love coming in every single day.”
Superintendent Russell Lazovick, members of the board and even members of the public all acknowledged Calicchio's accomplishments and wished him well in his retirement.
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“I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Calicchio numerous times in my 38 years with the police department,” said Board of Education member Steven Rogers. “I have traveled all over the country and I have never met a finer, more effective middle school principal. He is an excellent administrator and he will be missed.”
Other business presented by the board of education included the superintendent's report where Mr. Lazovick presented an update on student performance. “Now that we are past HSPA testing, our colleagues at the high school have built two internal HSPA-like assessments for the 9th grade and 10th grade,” he said. “We are able to run those assessments and as those assessments are scored we will have that data in our system.”
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The data from the assessments will help students improve their scores and bridge the gaps between grade 8 and grade 11 standardized testing.
A presentation on middle school program studies explained a program that helps sixth graders transition into seventh grade. The Program Studies will help children navigate through middle school while also creating one tool for scheduling decisions for students from all five elementary schools. Student assessments as well as teacher input will help determine where the incoming student will be placed in seventh grade.
The board approved the Calendar for the 2012-2013 School Year, student field trips and finances before the meeting was adjourned.
