MINUTES OF THE PATERSON BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR ...

graduation trip to Aruba, we still don’t know where she is. And they had adults withthem. Where is she? Who were the responsible adults? We need to be very carefulwhen our people go out with our children. They are going to take a trip to the LadyVikings holiday classics. We have gone there before, but please watch over our youngwomen and the people who do all the things that go with them. Then we are going toDisney Baseball Spring Warm-Up and to the Disney Wide World of Sports Complex inKissimmee, Florida. That is from March 24-31. These are quite a number of days thatthe young people will be away. You have to be vigilant and make sure that the peoplewho go with them are responsible people and don’t just tell the kids they are mature andthey can go on their own. That won't work. We have another one going to Puerto Ricofrom April 20-25. We have another one going to the National Society of BlackEngineers in Stamford, Connecticut. We have people going to that one. It wasexplained to us that 20 students were interested in it but they were going to select themfrom a contest of some kind.Comm. Sayegh: Eight students.Comm. Taylor: Eight students from the 20 who are interested. But I am telling you thatthe people who go with them have to be responsible because if they are not responsibleand something happens to the youngsters this whole district is liable.Comm. Sayegh: Thank you, Comm. Taylor. Are there any further questions orcomments?Comm. Vergara: I just wanted to comment on A-1 and also on the field trips. On A-1with the early childhood program, I know Dr. Atallo mentioned the $42 million that aregoing to be allocated for this. It is time that we put the buck down. It is time that ourchildren receive all the help they can get. When my child was in his early childhood inour schools here in Paterson he did not have this opportunity. Now I feel that thesechildren are going to have an opportunity to achieve from this. As far as the field tripsare concerned, ever since the occurrences of 911 it is very important that we thinkabout the safety of our children. I would even suggest that on some of these field tripsthey should have parents come along as chaperons to have extra supervision ifpossible. Thank you.On roll call all members voted as follows:Comm. Atallo: Yes.Comm. Hodges: Yes.Comm. Moody: With the exception of the field trips I vote yes. I will only give consenton the field trips if Dr. Glascoe can tell me that he will personally just make sure thatthese folks who are taking these kids are responsible.Dr. Glascoe: You want me to go on these field trips?Comm. Hodges: Actually, he wants you to send me on a couple of them.Dr. Glascoe: I’m sorry. Am I out of order?Comm. Brown: Absolutely not.Page 28 11/9/05