MOUNT OLIVE (12/19/06) – Whether it’s the League of Municipalities Convention or the Teachers Convention or any kind of conference in an exciting or glamorous place there are always some residents who grouse about their officials going on some kind of Roman Holiday.

Most who have been there, see it another way…rather, as an opportunity to participate in seminars and workshops, meet and learn from others who are doing the same thing and perhaps even finding a way to do something they’re doing better. It’s also an occasion to see and hear about the latest innovations in fields of interest such as legislation, pending or needed, and an opportunity for ideas about solving local problems.

At last night’s Board of Education meeting four of the trustees who attended the NJ School Boards Convention in October gave in depth reports about what they did in Atlantic City.

Board President Anthony P. Strillacci reported that in addition to all of the pertinent activities and the information gleaned from conventions he had two very specific interests he wanted to learn about this year that Mount Olive has already implemented and is working on to improve: summer lesson assignments for students and the new school nutrition program.

He spoke with numerous people in districts where these activities are under way or are being considered and found that only about one third of the districts had summer programs and while most have gotten into nutrition programs he found that most recognize and respect the parents’ responsibility.

He participated in a Board Presidents work shop and sat in on two others, a "Project Based Entrepreneurial Experience," which offers help for students to develop and enhance entrepreneurial skills, explore career awareness, critical thinking, self management, problem solving and increasing their computer skills.

The other one was "Be a Sew and Sew." This was an innovative fourth grade program designed to improve their math and geometry skills.

He also brought back information concerning activities that ranged from food service companies to innovative identification tags for students, as well as a program presented by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on Internet Safety.

He pointed out that it was at an earlier convention he became acquainted with the Turner Construction Company and the Educational Research and Marketing Program. Turner is the construction management firm overseeing the building of the $47 million high school addition.

Trustee William Robinson had a similar experience. He said going to the convention each year was to him "like going to Disney World." He likened the "action labs" at the convention with the Magic Kingdom.

This year he found he could go to many of the dozens of work shops one at a time and stay for the ones he found most interesting.

One work shop underscored the need for boards to "communicate the positive activities and not think that because there are few criticisms that all is well."

He also found time to sit in on critical state issues workshops and to receive a State Legislature update. "Both were depressing," he said. "All the talk boils down to politics and money. It has nothing to do with education."

He pointed out the difference between receiving weekly and monthly updates from organizations and legislators is fine, but being at the convention and seeing and talking to legislators close up permits a true understanding of why we are in the present situation."

He too found the innovative identification security badges interesting. He talked about a bar coded badge that security personnel could scan and check a driver’s license to obtain information immediately if a question arose. The badge also indicated if a visitor needed an escort. There were badges that had moving lights to emphasize the person was a visitor or had an arrest record. It also did a data base check for visitors for children to determine if there was a possible threat from a non custodial parent and much more.

Trustee Daniel Amianda attended two seminars, one on fiscal responsibility and the other on cutting edge technology for teachers and students concerning shared services and best practices on combining schools. He sent many hand outs that he got at the convention to the other board members.

For the newest elected board member going to the conference was something she wasn’t too enthusiastic about at the outset, however after having attended conceded that she found it a wonderful opportunity to further her skills as a board member.

She said she really was intrigued in two work sessions she attended. One, "Good Instruction, Staff Evaluation and Staff Development" encouraged trustees to assess the merits of each of these programs as they exist in their districts.

The other, Character Education from the Inside out" focused on bringing thought provoking exercises into the classroom to enhance decision making skills. It also underscored the necessity of incorporating guidance, support staff and parent teacher groups into the school community.

"Although many people believe public schools trail private schools in this issue, in fact, public schools are ahead of the initiative to incorporate Character Education into curriculum. I was proud to represent Mt. Olive and explain first hand how by collaborative effort last year, Mountain View School and its PTA introduced a very well received program known as the "Six Pillars of Character."

She said going to the convention enabled her to meet and speak with neighboring school board members who share our concerns and dilemmas. It also allowed her to get a better vision into were Mount Olive is as a district and where it exceed other districts.