New faces, technology in schools
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

HOLMDEL — It’s back-to-school time again, and this year the district will open with a few minor changes.

The main focus for this school year seems to be on improving technology throughout the district, Assistant Superintendent Karlheinz Haas said. The main thing was making sure that everything was modern and up-to-date, he said.

Haas said that the district has worked with Verizon to increase the technology bandwidth throughout all the schools. Each classroom is wired to get online with at least one computer, Haas said.

This year, the district also purchased roughly 100 new computers, all Macintosh and Dell, he said. The technology department is going to determine where the district needs upgrades and that is where the new computers will go, he said. The cyber center at the William R. Satz Middle School has all-new computers, he said. The older machines will get moved around accordingly, he said.

Haas credited the Holmdel Township Education Association (HTEA) with helping the district acquire new equipment. He said the HTEA assisted in adding a mobile computer lab to Satz. Haas said the district is trying to move toward more mobile equipment for the future.

The district will also be using a new software package called PowerSchool. The software will be used for student report cards, keeping medical and demographic data, etc.

The curriculum throughout the district has been adjusted, as per the five-year review plan that was approved by the Board of Education last year. The review plan states that, each year, one or two curriculum will be reviewed and adjusted, he said.

This year, science and math were reviewed. The district looked at 25-30 math courses, and significantly revised many to make them more current and in sync with state testing requirements, Haas said.

The elementary science curriculum was also revised to align with state testing requirements, he said.

The high school English and language arts curriculum was also revised, he said. Also, high school students are now being offered Advanced Placement (AP) Italian and forensic science, he said.

The high school physical education department also has some adjustments for this year. Students will now be given the opportunity to choose from a list of activities offered for the marking period, Haas said. the program was piloted last year with the sophomore class, and it proved that giving students an option resulted in higher grades, increased motivation, less absences and a decrease in behavioral problems.

Kindergarten registration was so high this year that another session had to be added, he said.

This year the district is welcoming roughly 35 new instructional staff

members.

“[The district had] a good number of retirements that we are replacing with a new group of qualified and enthusiastic professionals,” Haas said.

Also, Satz has a new assistant principal. Shana Nussbaum was appointed to the position in early July.

This will also be the first full year of service for Cheryl Swider as principal of the high school. Swider was appointed acting principal in January, and was permanently appointed to the position in June. The high school also has two new assistant principals, former English teacher William Loughran and Rick Coppola.

The district also hired Eric Swenson as the new director of Special Services.

This will also be the first full year for interim Assistant Superintendent James Riehman, who replaced Dominick Carrea after he retired at the end of the last school year.

The district is also currently using an interim, Bill Balicki, as the director of plans and operations.

Haas said that the district is currently seeking permanent hires for both positions.

One big personnel issue the district will face this year is finding a new superintendent. Maureen Flaherty has left the position to return to New York, and the school board is working hard to appoint an interim as soon as possible, and will work with a search firm to find a permanent replacement.

Also in store for this year is the renovation of the track and field at Roggy Stadium at the high school. The township and the board have chipped in to cover half the cost of the project, and the Holmdel Business Relations Committee began soliciting donations this week to come up with the other half of the $1.5 million. The township has bonded for the entire project. Renovations are expected to begin before the end of the year.