4/16/13 - Barnegat Township School District

work too hard for the schools to run. The paperwork, the phone calls, etc. When I was at themiddle school there was a time that my hand was on the phone, the doorbell and trying to do thecomputer work and still watch who was walking in the door. It is overwhelming; observe in theschools what the secretaries do. They are the heart of the school and they help the administratorsrun the schools so they don’t have to worry about if something is getting mailed. Again, I knowI am on the bottom of the list, unfortunately. I love Barnegat. I moved down here in 2004 andthe schools were in the top ten. We have been slipping, it is very sad and I love working hereand wish that I could continue, but if you have to cut secretaries I understand, but not six.Felicia Massari: I am a bus aide for Barnegat Transportation. I wanted to tell you how honored Iam to be a part of Barnegat Transportation. I work with a wonderful bunch of people who get upearly in the morning before the sun is out in freezing cold weather and start up their buses, theaides come to work and they care for the children of this district. It might be only for an hour butthere is one-on-one attention for some children who really need it. There is care, bus drivers,aides, secretaries, they all care for these children. I am here but something I don’t understand.We were given Rice letters, all of us and then today what I witnessed I would not wish it onanybody. I saw good people that I work with that came in and for whatever reason did not knowthey had lost their jobs and found out by somebody else saying, I am really sorry. How do thesethings happen? It was posted on a website; I don’t understand how good people in a districtwhether they are here one month, one year or ten years cannot be given the dignity and respectthat they deserve. I know in this district that children are awarded for courage, respect,politeness, courteousness and that is wonderful but if we as adults can’t model this. What is it allfor? Thank you.Ms. Wood: Just for the interest of the public and Ms. Massari, it is important for the public tounderstand the process. Basically a Rice letter notifies an employee that they may be discussedby the Board of Education, it does not mean they will be - it means they may be discussed. ARice notice is necessary for anyone who shows up on a public agenda when there is a question ofemployment. As you all know, we are talking about reductions in force. However, nobody hasbeen reduced at this time because all of those motions on the public agenda which is in theaudience and on the website as we are required to do by law none of those items have been actedupon as yet which is one of the reasons we are listening to all of your comments. It is importantwe hear from you before we take action on the items on the agenda. Just a correction thatnobody has been cut as of this time, items are on the agenda for a vote by the Board of Educationlater this evening. Rice notices are necessary for employees if they may be discussed by theBoard of Education.Janice Guyman, 2 Adrift Ave.: I will confess this is probably the second Board of Educationmeeting I have been to. My child is in the fourth grade and shame on me. I would guess thereare a few other parents out here who could say the same, if not their first meeting so shame on allof us.So much emotion in this room right now but I have to say as voters we have a responsibility asparents we have a responsibility and as community members we have a responsibility to knowabout these things before the day it happens to become involved and more educated, to becomeaware and come to the meetings to help make these decisions, hopefully, as a communityBarnegat Township Board of Education Meeting MinutesApril 16, 2013 Page 21