Tamaques Parents to BOE: Cut Class Sizes

Parents crowd BOE meeting to prevent repeat of 25-student first-grade classes.

With descriptions of classrooms crammed with students, Tamaques School parents petitioned the Board of Education Tuesday evening for an additional teacher for the incoming second grade class. A group of over 30 Tamaques supported speakers who discussed 73 students slated for three second grade sections in the elementary school, following a first grade year of 75 students spread over three sections. Last year’s dramatic state aid cuts were blamed for the situation, which parents said is repeated at the other two south side elementary schools, McKinley and Jefferson. “There was a big swell to get parents out to vote last year to raise taxes to keep classes smaller,” parent Beth Kirsch said. Parents questioned whether teachers would be able …

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Zat

8:07 pm on Thursday, June 30, 2011

Gary....have you ever considered running for the BOE...you seem to have an excellent grasp of the issues and I think you could do a good job.... Just as a side note, does anyone else find it strange that with the current financial problems/recession that were caused by the banking, housing and finance industry yet those are the people this town elects to then fix it on a smaller local level? And …   more ›

Tamaques Teacher Honored With Philhower Award

Eisen praised for work with special education students.

Being praised as a teacher who connects to her students and helps steer them to educational excellence, Tamaques School teacher Diane Eisen was honored last week with the Philhower Award. Eisen, a longtime special education teacher in Westfield, received the award based on nominations from parents and colleagues. The Philhower Award, presented annually by the Rotary Club, is considered the most prestigious award that can be given to an elementary school teacher in Westfield. “There are many great and deserving teachers in Westfield, Mrs. Eisen you are the crème de la crème,” Tamaques parent Margaret Chin said. The ceremony, which took place during the regular Board of Education meeting, proceeded as a near episode of “This is Your Life,” …

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Tamaques Parents Party to Improve the School

William and Kate were not the only ones celebrating Friday night.

While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka William and Kate) were partying into the late night hours Friday at Buckingham Palace, across the pond at the Westfield Armory, another group was kicking up their heels and enjoying a party themselves. The parents and staff of Tamaques School took over the Armory for some food, drinks and live music to support the school's TPO. The fundraiser, deemed Spring Fling, raised money for school improvement projects, including the computer system. Many parents were in attendance and enjoying the live band or bidding on the silent auction. All in attendance seemed to be having a good time, enjoying a nice Friday night without the children. PTO Co-President Danielle Bracco said of the event "We just want …

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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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