Westfield Votes 2011

The Race is On: Competitive BOE Election Takes Shape

One incumbent, five newcomers take out petitions for April election.

With at least one incumbent retiring, the field for April’s Board of Education election is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent history. Incumbent Ann Cary has been joined by newcomers Jessica Blessing, Karyn Hoems, Rosanne Kurstedt, Jennifer Silva and Lynn Spadaro in signing out petitions to seek three BOE seats in the April 27 election. Incumbent Gary McCready announced earlier this week that he will not seek a third term and incumbent Alice Hunnicutt has not announced her intentions. The election comes as the BOE is grappling with state education cuts, the state’s denial of Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan’s new contract, rising student populations and anger in the Washington School neighborhood over the board's …

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Patch Picks: Best of 2010

11 Most Interesting Westfielders of 2010

A look at those who made the town an interesting place in 2010.

All throughout town there are many interesting Westfielders who make a mark on our community. Patch has put together a list of the 11 most interesting Westfielders of 2010, along with a few who pulled in an honorable mention. Interesting means just that, that the person and their accomplishments are interesting. Lou Cerchio All Lou Cerchio wanted to do on Sept. 19 was go to the Shore. The firefighter was off-duty and he thought he'd spend the day with his family relaxing in the last days of the heat. As with all good plans, it ended very quickly. Cerchio quickly say two people, a mother and son, being pulled under the rough Point Pleasant surf. A former lifeguard on that very beach, Cerchio didn't think twice, rushing out to the water to …

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Kravetsky Granted Tenure, Submits June 2011 Tentative Resignation

Board of Education finalizes deal giving one more year to finalize popular teacher's status in district.

Matt Kravetsky will remain with the Westfield school system for at least one more year under an agreement formalized by the Board of Education Tuesday night. The BOE formally signed off on an agreement, which will formally award Kravetsky tenure once school starts on Sept. 2, but also accepted Kravetsky's resignation effective June 30, 2011. The plan, part of a settlement reached between the BOE and the elementary school teacher, will allow the district another year to review him before deciding whether or not to retain him permanently. "This is the culmination of the efforts between the Board of Education and Mr. Kravetsky to arrive at a mutually agreeable method for Mr. Kravetsky to have another year of teaching in Westfield," BOE …

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Kravetsky Hearing Moved to Lincoln School

Larger venue sought to accommodate crowds.

Next week's special Board of Education meeting to consider the appeal of terminated Tamaques teacher Matt Kravetsky is being moved to Lincoln School to accommodate the larger than anticipated crowds, Patch has learned. The move has been sought by Kravetsky and his supporters to handle what is expected to be over a hundred parents and teachers gathered to show their support. Kravetsky is contesting the decision by Tamaques Principal Michael Cullen to not renew his contract and grant him tenure after teaching for four years in Westfield. The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. on July 7. Kravetsky's case has been gaining public support with over 300 parents signing an online petition in favor of him and over 300 residents friending the "Save …

Kravetsky Meets With Union Rep, Supporters Prep for Hearing

Facebook page grows tenfold in week.

Terminated Tamaques teacher Matt Kravetsky has started consultations with a state union representative, as supporters have continued to encourage attendance at next week's Donaldson hearing. Kravetsky supporters posted a message on the "Save Matthew Kravetsky" Facebook page noting that he met with a Union County based field representative of the New Jersey Education Association on Monday morning. The meeting was to help plan strategy for the July 7 hearing date. The message said that Kravetsky is confident of his chances at the rare hearing, which has not occurred in Westfield in two decades. Kravetsky is a third grade teacher at Tamaques School who was informed in late April that principal Michael Cullen had decided to not award him …

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Kravetsky Supporters Set Up Facebook Site

Page in support of terminated Tamaques teacher.

Supporters of terminated Tamaques School teacher Matt Kravetsky have formed a Facebook page in support of his retention. The page, which was created on Monday, contains information advocating for Kravetsky's retention. It is unclear who created the page, which is a normal Facebook page in the name of Matthew Kravetsky, but the creator indicated on the page that it is not Kravetsky. Kravetsky does not appear as one of the Facebook friends of the Kravetsky supporter page. "Please know that this page has been created for Matt not by Matt," the creator wrote on the page's wall under the name of the fictional Kravetsky. "This is a public forum for supporters to find out what is going on and to help one another. We are a community. We have tried…

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Kravetsky Supporters Question Dolan About Evaluations

Past evaluations show positive reviews about terminated Tamaques teacher.

Supporters of terminated Tamaques teacher Matt Kravetsky questioned school officials on Tuesday evening regarding a string of positive evaluations they say the teacher has received in his first three years on the job. The evaluations, which Patch has obtained, point to positive ratings of the third grade teacher by Tamaques Principal Michael Cullen. Kravetsky was informed in April by Cullen that he would not be retained by the school district heading into the next school year and will not be granted tenure. Kravetsky is contesting the decision and the Board of Education is scheduled to hold a hearing on the case on July 7. "I have read every year and there is not one negative comment," Kravetsky supporter Amy Norton said to the BOE. Norton…

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Kravetsky Advocacy Continues at BOE Meeting

Cullen supporter addresses the board forllowed.

The debate over terminated Tamaques School teacher Matt Kravetsky centered on parents questioning the Board of Education's judgement Tuesday evening, as a supporter of the school's principal addressed the board for the first time. Kravetsky is currently battling the decision by Tamaques Principal Michael Cullen, and affirmed by Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan, to not renew Kravetsky's contract and grant him tenure. The popular third grade teacher has garnered the support from many parents and teachers in the school, with several dozen waiting till past 10 p.m. for the board to turn its attention to the Kravetsky issue. Kravetsky supporters addressing the board, centered their arguments on the popular third grade teacher's abilities, …

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Tamaques Parents Lobby BOE to Save Third Grade Teacher

Popular teacher not renewed.

Parents at Tamaques School are lobbying the Board of Education to save the job of a popular third grade teacher whose contract is not being renewed. Two parents came before the board on Tuesday evening regarding the non-renewal of Matthew Kravetsky. Parents Danielle Bracco and Jennifer Silva said they were there on behalf of multiple parent who were upset by the school district's decision to not retain Kravetsky. "Many of the parents in the Tamaques area are very upset," said Bracco, the co-vice president of the school's Parent Teacher Organization. Bracco and Silva told the board that Kravetsky has been a talented teacher who has worked hard for the children in the class. They noted that many students remembered him after he finished …

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