Kravetsky, BOE Reach Agreement; Teacher to Continue in Westfield

Matt Kravetsky will continue teaching in Westfield, under an agreement struck between the Tamaques teacher and Board of Education during a meeting Tuesday morning.

Kravetsky, who was contesting his termination, will be granted tenure in the school system and will be teaching at another school in the district, according to sources. Kravetsky was terminated as a third grade teacher at Tamaques School earlier this year and was seeking to get his job back. A "Donaldson hearing" before the BOE scheduled for Wednesday night at Lincoln School has been canceled.

The agreement to retain Kravetsky in the district and cancel the Donaldson hearing, came about over the holiday weekend. Kravetsky was contacted by BOE officials Monday evening, while he was in the middle of a planning session with his key advisors for the Donaldson hearing. Sources confirmed that Tuesday morning's meeting was attended by Kravetsky, his NJEA supplied attorney and BOE Attorney Phil Stern.

Kravetsky's case rapidly grew from two parents, Danielle Bracco and Jennifer Silva, asking the BOE to retain Kravetsky during public comments on May 4 to a cause celebre, gaining 500 plus supporters on Facebook and the prospect of 200 supporters attending Wednesday's hearing. Kravetsky had over two dozen parents and teachers scheduled to speak on his side during the hearing. Kravetsky has been huddling with his inner circle, including Bracco and Silva and several teaching colleagues, in the days leading up to the vote.

It has not been determined which elementary school Kravetsky will be teaching at next year.

Kravetsky was terminated by Cullen, a decision affirmed by Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan, in April. In Dolan's early June letter, requested by Kravetsky as part of the state mandated process to oppose the termination, the superintendent said the popular third grade teacher has not been renewed because he has "failed to provide consistently effective instruction for your students."

The charge was vigorously denied by Kravetsky's supporters, who pointed to three annual evaluations by Cullen which graded the teacher as excellent. The Kravetsky camp also noted that the evaluation cited by Dolan in her June letter occurred on May 5, after he was informed by Cullen he would not be retained in the district.

Dolen and the BOE have not commented publicaly on the Kravetsky case, citing a state law preventing them from public comment on personnel matters. BOE President Julia Walker and Kravetsky both declined to comment on the specifics of the accord.