Standing committees will

report to full h.s. board

Panels named in areas

of policies, personnel,

curriculum and finance

By dave benjamin

Staff Writer

ENGLISHTOWN — The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education has created four new standing committees which will be the first step in exploring a new format for the district’s school board.

The committee format was the primary subject of discussion at a board meeting held in June. At that time, Francine Case, a representative of the New Jersey School Boards Association, explained how the committee format operates. Case made suggestions to the board which would help the district make the change, if it so desired.

At the Aug. 27 meeting, board President Patricia Horvath of Manalapan announced the formation of four standing committees: Personnel; Properties, Finance and Transportation; Policy and Public Relations; and Curriculum and Instruction.

The committees will meet at Colts Neck High School on Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. before the board’s regular meeting at 8 p.m.

The personnel committee will be chaired by board member Marlene Caruso of Freehold Township and will be comprised of board members Diana Cappiello of Englishtown and Dr. Steven Mishkin of Marlboro. Frank Tanzini, the district’s assistant superintendent of personnel, is also a member of this committee.

Matters affecting employees of the district will be the concern of this committee. It will be responsible specifically for considering such things as the qualifications of employees, their remuneration, terms of service and other related matters.

The responsibilities of the committee will include reviewing policies and procedures for the evaluation of teachers and other employees; administrative structure; and management improvement.

The properties, finance and transportation committee will consist of board member Terry Kraft of Howell, chairman, Dr. Joan Nesenkar Saylor, the district’s business administrator, and board members Ron Lawson of Howell and Horvath.

This committee will provide oversight to all financial affairs, including custodial, maintenance, capital programs and pupil transportation.

The properties, finance and transportation committee will review the activities of the board secretary and report to the board. It will review programs and policies in its area of responsibility. This committee will also work in conjunction with the chief school administrator and the business administrator and provide oversight to the annual budget process.

The policy and public relations committee will be chaired by Mishkin and will be comprised of board members Bernice Hammer of Freehold Borough and Marlene Caruso of Freehold Township. Dr. Patricia Emmerman, the district’s assistant superintendent of special services, and Teresa Rafferty, public information coordinator, will be members of this panel.

The policy and public relations committee will keep the community informed about ongoing educational developments in the district. It will work toward promoting community awareness of and involvement in the educational process, familiarize the community with the budget development process and promote the achievements of the district’s students and staff.

Additionally, the committee will oversee the annual review and update of the board’s policy manual and the chief school administrator will refer policies requiring change to the appropriate committees.

The curriculum and instruction committee will be chaired by Hammer. It will be made up of board members Arlene Radman of Colts Neck and Colin Miller of Farmingdale, who will be joined by Dr. Louis Talarico, the district’s deputy superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

Together, committee members will concern themselves with oversight of the educational programs including curriculum; techniques of instruction; professional development; and co-curricular activities in the district. The committee will make recommendations within the areas of its responsibility to the board.

All standing committees will have the opportunity to make recommendations to the full board in the area of its responsibility using a yes; no; or no opinion recommendation, but the panels may not make decisions for the board.

Each committee will follow an agenda, keep minutes and report to the full board at least once each month.

The full board will evaluate the effectiveness of each standing committee prior to the annual reorganization meeting in April.