Cedar Grove BOE Pays Bills, Discusses Grading System

It was a busy night for the Cedar Grove Board of Education.

Besides approving 21 bills and 13 contracts, the main topic of discussion was the high school moving from an alpha grading system to a numerical system. 

The Grade Report Committee, headed by principal Michael Fetherman, gave a board presentation on the benefits of moving to a numerical grading scale, mainly focusing on the accuracy of the new system in comparison with simple As or Bs.

"I personally love seeing this," President Frank Mandala said Tuesday night. "This is well overdue."

The minimum passing grade will also be raised to a 65 instead of a 60, which would affect all grades, not just freshman under the new grading system. Incoming freshman could pass a calss with a 55 for the first two marking periods to help them adjust to high school. 

"A student that earns a 92 and one that earns a 97 both receive an A," Fetherman said as he explained the inaccuracy of the current system. He also said he had conversations with a few school's admissions offices as research. 

The new system, which Fetherman said he wants to start with September's incoming freshman, was not disputed by the board, but welcomed instead.

The issue discussed was whether the school should go to a 100-point or a 5.0 scale. The committee asked the board to make a decision for them since they were undecided. 

"Which do colleges prefer when you spoke to them," Vice President Joe Cicala asked.

"They have their own formula they use to level the playing field," Fetherman responded. 

The board asked the committee to come back to the next meeting, June 4 with a recommendation.

"Tell us why and the board will be behind whatever way because it seems good for the district," said Mandala.

The board presented Michael Grabas with an recognition award for his help from 2007 to 2011 with organizing the students supporting American troops with care packages and letters. "I can't count how many supplies were sent," Grabas said. "But these schools sent over 40,000 letters."

The board also approved more than $3 million worth of bills before the end of the school year. Those bills included payment for certain construction projects including:

• Payment to Brockwell and Carrington Construction in the amount of $286,972.42 based on on-site observation and data provided to the district architect for work performed at Cedar Grove High School.
• A partial payment application with Vanas Construction for $404,300 in accordance with the contract documents for roof work completed at Leonard R. Parks School.
• A change order for Brockwell and Carrington, in the amount of $105,748.82,  to provide labor, material, and equipment necessary to remove and dispose existing gymnasium lighting and furnish and install new lighting at Cedar Grove High School. 
• A contract withNicholas Kramer and Son at a cost not to exceed $24,000 to repair, prime, sand, and paint 10 classrooms, the gymnasium/all purpose room, girl’s an boy’s bath room, hallways, display cases, classroom doors and closets (interior and doors) and bulletin boards located in hallways in south wing of LRP. 

The board approved Traci Dyer as the new principal of North End School starting July 1.