BoE Recap: More Expensive Lunches, New People Hired, Hoboken Charter School Gets Space in Demarest

Meals at school will cost a little more this year. At the Board of Education meeting last night, members announced school breakfasts will increase by 20 cents, making the elementary school price $1.50 and at the high school, $2. Lunches will increase by 25 cents, making them $3 at elementary school and $3.50 at the high school. Reduced-price breakfasts and lunches, as well as the cost of half a pint of milk, will not change for the upcoming school year.

"We were hoping to hold the price on everything," said Robert Davis, the interim school business administrator. "However, in the final state budget, the state subsidy for lunches was cut in half." Davis explained the state subsidy for lunch decreased from 10 cents to five cents a lunch and for breakfast, it was totally eliminated. Federal subsidies, he said, are still frozen. The Board also welcomed new staff members. Interim Superintendent Peter Carter said, "this summer has been extremely busy as we work as quickly as possible to fill the spaces left by both our retirees as well as some moms-to-be."

Dr. John Anzul, the principal at Mt. Tabor Elementary School in the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, will begin his new position as director of curriculum, instruction, and personnel, with a salary of $127,612, on Oct. 1. The Board also announced Wallace Primary School Vice Principal Bartholomew Reilly would become principal in September. "I will help the Wallace School to the best of my ability and give it my 100 percent," said Reilly, who's been in his current position for 11 years. He will be paid a salary of $138,686.

The former principal Charles Tortorella's retirement will be effective Sept. 1. "Mr. Tortorella was an incredible principal for us," said Hoboken resident Felicia Drasheff, whose children have attended the elementary school. "He really turned Wallace School around." She added that she believes part of the reason Tortorella retired was because the Continuing Education Program, a night school for adults where he was also principal, would be suspended this fall.

Drasheff said the suspension had a ripple effect. "I am really disappointed that there wasn't anyone on the Board who actually asked the question of how it would impact not only the district but the school."

Board Member Ruth McAllister said the program was suspended due to low enrollment and that the night school could not afford to stay open in the fall. It is, however, expected to be available in the spring.

McAllister also announced that the curriculum and programs committee would hold a meeting to discuss how to attract more students to the program in the conference room at the Board of Education building on Wednesday, Aug. 25 at 4:30 p.m. The committee will also talk about the high school's AP program. The public is welcome to attend.

At last night's meeting, Carter also mentioned that the Hoboken Charter School has brought legal action against the Board. "We have chosen to take the high road by allowing the Hoboken Charter School to occupy the Demarest building for the entire month of July and the first part of August rent free," he said, "as a gesture of good will and class, as HCS awaits the certificate of occupancy of their new quarters." Carter also said he is willing to try to resolve the issue directly with charter school officials but he would not elaborate any further on what the issue is.

Officials from the Hoboken Charter School could not be reached before press time.