School Board

A policy prohibiting discrimination against transgender students caused a minor controversy at the July 21 Board of Education meeting. Board member Pat Stanley failed to garner any support for her motion to table voting on the policy, a move she made after saying the board seemed in a rush to approve it.

A 19-year education veteran from the Irvington school district was named the new principal of Franklin High School at the April 28 Board of Education meeting. Cheryl A. Clark, most recently the principal of Irvington’s University Elementary School, was unanimously approved by the school board. The position carries a salary of about $130,000 per year, said board president Ed Potosnak.

The Board of Education April 28 went on record as opposing a charter school proposed for Cortelyous Lane. Alarmed by the steady increase in the amount of taxes needing to be diverted to the handful of charter schools attended by Franklin students – in 2016-17, that figure is estimated to be $9 million – the board approved a resolution stating that …

A group including the management team of Oak Crest Day Camp and a township resident who in 2005 won “The Apprentice” television program has submitted an application with the state to open a charter school in Franklin. If approved, the Ailanthus Charter School would be the third in the township. The school would be targeted to students in Franklin and …

The Franklin High School Class of 2016 will graduate this June at the high school. With one dissenting vote, the Board of Education Feb. 25 voted to move the graduation ceremony from Sun National Bank Center in Trenton to Warrior Stadium or, in the case of bad weather, the FHS gym.

Opponents of a proposal to move the Franklin High School graduation to the school rather than stay at a Trenton arena let their voices be heard at the Jan. 28 Board of Education meeting. All but one of more than a dozen people who spoke on the topic urged the board to keep the graduation ceremony at the Sun National …

The Board of Education on Jan. 7 voted to reduce the number of public meetings it holds in 2016, a move the school board president said  would streamline the decision-making process and allow staff to focus on things other than meetings. But one board member objected to the change, saying it may not allow for thorough discussions of policy issues.

The Board of Education voted to retain its top leadership, and the three winners in the November election were sworn in to their seats at the Jan. 7 reorganization meeting. Included in the swearing in was newest board member Laurie Merris, who won the seat vacated by former board member Betty Whalen. Also sworn in were returning board members Margaret …

The 2014-2015 school year violence and vandalism report contained a mixed bag of results. On the one hand, reported violence, weapon and drug infractions and harassment, intimidation and bullying by students decreased in the district as a whole.

Two incumbents and a newcomer won election to the Board of Education in the Nov. 3 election. Board members Richard Seamon and Margaret Steele and first-time member Laurie Merris will start their new terms in January 2016.