By John Ord
Roosevelt Board of Education
It has been 30 Years since I have had an involvement in the school, but I find I now have some time and inclination to be engaged in the town since I retired a few years ago. I volunteered to be on a committee to evaluate the school and consider its future; little did I know what I was getting into. The next step was to stumble into an open seat on the Board of Education.
What a pleasant surprise to meet new families who were engaged in the school, well new to me anyway. I then realized how disconnected I had become with the town since my work and family had taken me in a different direction. If it were not for my youngest daughter’s two young boys, I would have missed movie nights, school plays and visits to the pre-school.
I now find myself waiting outside with the other parents and grandparents waiting for the preschoolers-along with parents who grew up with my other grandkids-an interesting experience. As I continued this new adventure, I began to remember how much I appreciated the school when my children and other grandchildren kept me busy with their adventures, so I decided to check out the school to see what has changed in the last 30 years. I am pleased to report that not much has changed.
I found the school in great shape. The building was well maintained and showed a great atmosphere where the people care about the kids and the school. It was mid-summer during my walk thru and a lot of work was going on. However, the rooms looked like teachers had been there the same day setting up for the new year and the place was ready for kids. I had to ask which classes were in each room, as things had changed and been repurposed as the school evolved. I could see that the former Boards of Education and Administration and staff had done a great job in maintaining the school as a solid piece of the heart of the town. I find the school now in good hands of the current Board of Education and Administration as they prepare for another new school year.
I recalled the addition 30 years ago and the changes we had made in the facility and realized many of those changes worked and were being put to good use. As I got engaged with the Board of Ed, I learned that the school struggled with its size and limitations and yet it was getting awards and recognition for doing a good job with our kids meeting the demands of the new state requirements for standardized testing. I learned about the changes in the schools operation and the shared services with the Millstone School district while still part of the East Windsor District in a sending-receiving relationship. I learned that our high school students have access to Vocational-Technical schools in Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer counties. These were not available 30 years ago.
I have two daughters and four grandkids that attended the school during the course of the 40 years I've lived in town and I can say they were all well served. Now I see the new families with small children moving into town and I can only encourage them to get more involved in the school and the town. The school is a good place to start discovering the town. The PTA and the Board of Education need the young families to start participating in the enjoyment the small town life in Roosevelt has to offer. I look forward to another year of picking up a pre-schooler and watching happy children play around the school. I wish everyone a happy new school year and encourage the staff and parents to keep up the good work.
Roosevelt Board of Education
It has been 30 Years since I have had an involvement in the school, but I find I now have some time and inclination to be engaged in the town since I retired a few years ago. I volunteered to be on a committee to evaluate the school and consider its future; little did I know what I was getting into. The next step was to stumble into an open seat on the Board of Education.
What a pleasant surprise to meet new families who were engaged in the school, well new to me anyway. I then realized how disconnected I had become with the town since my work and family had taken me in a different direction. If it were not for my youngest daughter’s two young boys, I would have missed movie nights, school plays and visits to the pre-school.
I now find myself waiting outside with the other parents and grandparents waiting for the preschoolers-along with parents who grew up with my other grandkids-an interesting experience. As I continued this new adventure, I began to remember how much I appreciated the school when my children and other grandchildren kept me busy with their adventures, so I decided to check out the school to see what has changed in the last 30 years. I am pleased to report that not much has changed.
I found the school in great shape. The building was well maintained and showed a great atmosphere where the people care about the kids and the school. It was mid-summer during my walk thru and a lot of work was going on. However, the rooms looked like teachers had been there the same day setting up for the new year and the place was ready for kids. I had to ask which classes were in each room, as things had changed and been repurposed as the school evolved. I could see that the former Boards of Education and Administration and staff had done a great job in maintaining the school as a solid piece of the heart of the town. I find the school now in good hands of the current Board of Education and Administration as they prepare for another new school year.
I recalled the addition 30 years ago and the changes we had made in the facility and realized many of those changes worked and were being put to good use. As I got engaged with the Board of Ed, I learned that the school struggled with its size and limitations and yet it was getting awards and recognition for doing a good job with our kids meeting the demands of the new state requirements for standardized testing. I learned about the changes in the schools operation and the shared services with the Millstone School district while still part of the East Windsor District in a sending-receiving relationship. I learned that our high school students have access to Vocational-Technical schools in Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer counties. These were not available 30 years ago.
I have two daughters and four grandkids that attended the school during the course of the 40 years I've lived in town and I can say they were all well served. Now I see the new families with small children moving into town and I can only encourage them to get more involved in the school and the town. The school is a good place to start discovering the town. The PTA and the Board of Education need the young families to start participating in the enjoyment the small town life in Roosevelt has to offer. I look forward to another year of picking up a pre-schooler and watching happy children play around the school. I wish everyone a happy new school year and encourage the staff and parents to keep up the good work.