On June 29 2011, my daughter and I had the pleasure of attending the Penns Grove-Carneys Point School Board Meeting. The main agenda for that meeting, which it seems like its always on the agenda other than "QUALITY EDUCATION", was to address and finalize the particulars of Dr. Massare contract. Dr. Massare is the Penns Grove-Carneys Point School Superintendent. As the Salem County "Sunbeam" local newspaper published that, "Massare’s salary will hold steady at $157,500 a year, over the next three years as his new contract restricted any raises. This spring, Massare’s salary was cut from $167,500 to $157,500 due to new state regulations.
I believe that not only should the teachers face the elimination of tenure as signed into affect by Governor Christie in the state of New Jersey, also superintendents. Most parents as myself in the community posed a statement to what seem is the majority of the consensus is "Dr. Massare IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH THIS SCHOOL DISTRICT." Stem from several issues such as "QUALITY EDUCATION", "DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS" as well as the hiring of "TEACHERS" in which is left up to the principal of each school in the district. There are 5 schools in the district.
My question is the fact that 2009-2010 NJASK results show that 72% of the district's third graders and 70% of the district's fourth graders failed to reach key reading benchmarks on the language arts portion of the NJASK. In 2011 what has been the focal point of the school board agenda is Dr. Massare contract negotiations along with everything else that have nothing to do with an "UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOL" where there is no teacher nor administrations accountability.
The "Sunbeam Newspaper" published,"Massare has deep roots in the Penns Grove-Carneys Point School District. This upcoming school year will be his 14th year in the district and 9th as superintendent." Thats all fine and well but when is Dr.Massare and the Board of Education going to take leadership and accountability into addressing the issues of the Penns Grove-Carneys Point School District as well as devising a plan for "Quality Education Re-form"?. He is also the second longest serving superintendent in the county, behind Quinton Superintendent Dr. Donna Agnew. However, he is the longest serving superintendent in a K-12 district in Salem County.
The fact that many of the district's third and fourth graders SUB-GROUPS including MALE (75%/77%), AFRICAN-AMERICAN (79%-82%), HISPANIC (80%/78%), & ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGE (77%-81%) PERFORMED EVEN LOWER IN LANGUAGE ARTS.
THIS IS WHAT DR. MASSARE SAID, “I am very grateful to the new board Solicitor Mark Toscano and the negotiations committee for their strenuous work during these past few weeks,” said Massare. “I believe in the district, I believe in the community, and I believe in the students’ ability to succeed.” HOW CAN HE SAY THAT WHEN HE HAS YET TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES AS STATED IN THIS PREVIOUS TEXT? HOW CAN HE SAY THAT WHEN HE HAS YET TO DEVISE A PLAN OF ACTION TO IMPLEMENT QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THESE STUDENTS.
All Dr. Massare seem to be worried about is getting all his financial benefits that due to him, yet he has no concern, no compassion, for QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THESE STUDENTS yet he would lead you to believe that he is that way by saying superficial comments like, I believe in the district, I believe in the community, and I believe in the students’ ability to succeed.” - DR. Massare.
It would sound nice if in fact Dr. Massare had orchestrated a plan for "SCHOOL REFORM", each time we let time go by without addressing the problem it ends being a "SCHOOL DE-FORM", STATISTIC SHOW 30,000 KIDS DROP OUT EACH WEEK ACROSS AMERICA, CRIME RATE STEADILY RISING, MORE JAILS OR PRISONS BEING BUILT, 2MILLION BLACK MEN ARE IN JAIL. DO YOU SEE HOW THE CYCLE PERPETUATE ITSELF!
THIRD AND FOURTH GRADERS READING MASTERY IS THAT CRUCIAL POINT IN TIME WHEN INSTRUCTION MOVES FROM A FOCUS ON LEARNING TO READ TO READING TO LEARN!!
Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.
Barack Obama
Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela
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