Statement from the Office of the Haledon School Board President

I wholeheartedly salute my fellow board members, Chief School Administrator Mr. Christopher Wacha and his cabinet, our school administration including School Business Administrator Lameka Blash Augustin and her predecessor John Serapiglia, the Haledon Education Association, and our technology, secretarial, nursing & custodial teams. Also, this could not be possible without the incredible support from our Mayor Domenick Stampone, Esq., Council President Mounir Almaita, and the entire Haledon Municipal Council. I also want to acknowledge Chief of Police Angelo J. Daniele, Business Administrator Allan Susen, and the Haledon Board of Health for their tremendous cooperation. Moreover, I deeply thank the Office of the 35th Legislative District, State Senator Nellie Pou, Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, and Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, who continue determinedly fighting for us in Trenton, NJ for the full-funding of our public schools! I would be remiss if I did not give a special shout-out to Anyelis Diaz and Liesl Fores Iza, who honorably and gracefully served as my Board Vice Presidents, respectively. Finally, I want to recognize my wife Edlyn Guzman, and my family for their unwavering support, backing, and understanding!

Here are a few of the highlights from our unyielding, team effort the past four (4) years:

Fiscal Responsibility:

• With an emphasis on fiscal responsibility, we passed a balanced budget with a zero percent (0%) increase to the tax levy, with no cuts in services and remaining debt free, for four (4) years in a row (and we’re going for year five (5));

• Tirelessly advocated for a state funding formula that has helped Haledon Public School students get the funds they deserve as each of the last four (4) years, we have seen increases in state funding grants awarded;

• We have saved the school district over $60,000.00 each year by creating a Chief School Administrator position and overseeing an unprecedented School Superintendent Search;

• We renewed our Shared Services Agreement with Manchester Regional High School and successfully hired a new School Business Administrator; and

• For the last four (4) years, the Haledon Public School District has successfully passed all mandated audits.

Building & Grounds:

• Remodeled the Haledon Public School Library and Media Center;

• Updated three (3) Science Labs;

• Installed a new HVAC System in the gymnasium;

• Obtained a state grant to install a new HVAC System in the Pre-K Wing;

• Convened an Exploratory Committee for the development of an Inclusive Playground (Due to breakground in July of 2023);

• In a committed effort to address overcrowding, we convened an Ad-Hoc Committee involving all stakeholders to explore a school expansion (Due to breakground on school expansion in July of 2023);

• Refurbished the Haledon Public School Garden, which was formally named the Fischer Garden by way of a board resolution I was proud to sponser in honor of former long-time Board Member Ellen Lockwood Fischer and the Fischer Family;

• Acquired new desks for every classroom;

• Updated all sound and technology equipment in the gymnasium; and

• Approved and funded projects to improve the school climate/culture by having art teachers beautify the walls and stairwells.

Technology Accomplishments:

• In 2020, completed our school district’s 1:1 Chromebook per Student initiative, assigning a Chromebook to each student;

• Installed a new smartboard in each classroom;

• Installed a phone in each classroom;

• Assigned each teacher a Chromebook; and

• No cyber-attacks breached our security measures.

Security Accomplishments:

• Partnered with the Borough of Haledon and hired an active-duty, full-time School Resource Officer;

• Updated security cameras indoors and outdoors;

• Approved a new security guard vendor;

• Established a great rapport between the Haledon Police Department and our students/staff;

• Updated our Emergency Operations Plan;

• Partnered with the Borough of Haledon to help make Lee Avenue a One Way Street for a safer drop-off and pick up for our school community; and

• Brought back Friday Night TGIF to connect police/teachers/students with positive experiences.

Academic Accomplishments:

• Maintained Haledon Public School entirely staffed despite all the challenges of a teacher shortage crisis;

• Approved a Teacher Recruiting Specialist stipend position;

• Began offering free Summer School Program to all Haledon Public School students;

• Instituted a free Academic Tutoring Extended Day Program, offered to all Haledon Public School students;

• Hired a Social-Emotional Counselor to help students with issues they may have faced during the pandemic and its aftermath;

• Hiring a Math Coach to work on improving our academic performances in mathematics;

• Hiring a Literacy Coach to work on improving our academic performances in Language Arts;

• Funded and approved the Maker Night Program that allows students to spend nights at school with their parents solving academic puzzles together; and

• Continued partnership with William Paterson University of New Jersey for Professor in Residence Programs at Haledon Public School and professional development training for Haledon Public School staff.

Pandemic Accomplishments:

• During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Haledon Public School offered the most in-person learning days and in-person learning hours in Passaic County during the pandemic;

• Staffed additional custodians to help support the extra duties required due to COVID-19;

• Successfully transitioned into online virtual learning when necessary due to our Chromebook 1:1 per Student initiative;

• Offered COVID-19 testing for all staff members free of charge once per week; and

• Partnered with the borough to allow our Health Nurse to serve as the borough’s health official.

Community Accomplishments:

• Implementation of the Certified Angels After-School academic option for students, which offers our students dance, photography, and arts;

• Free breakfast and free lunch are offered for all Haledon Public School students;

• HALAL and Kosher foods are provided for any student upon request. Some days up to 150 students select HALAL and Kosher food options;

• Information is now sent home to parents in English, Spanish, and Arabic;

• Approximately 40% of our new hires in the last four (4) years were minority candidates, which is well ahead of the statewide average of 16%;

• Worked with partners such as Yla Rose and “New” Laneve’s Banquets and initiated the Corrado La Rosa Memorial Wall dedication and ceremony in honor of our late Director of Facilities and Physical Plant Operations;

• Haledon Public School has collaborated with the Borough of Haledon for Holiday Parade Floats and Holiday Student Nights;

• 2nd Grade Student who sadly passed away (Caleb) Community Walk and Playground Bench Dedication; and

• Increased Recreation usage of Haledon Public School facilities when needed.

Communication Accomplishments:

• Parents can now receive text message alerts;

• Parents can now receive email alerts;

• Haledon Public School Facebook Page growth continues to trend upward at an accelerated pace;

• Board Policy translated to Spanish on the school website;

• Google Translation tool on the school website helps parents translate any part of our site to their preferred language;

• All Haledon Board of Education Meetings have been available to the public via ZOOM since we have returned to in-person board meetings;

• Video copies of all Board of Education Meetings are available for public review via our YouTube channel and school website; and

• Morning announcements that we provide to the student body/staff are available to the parents via our YouTube channel.

Environment and Sustainability Accomplishments:

• Maintained our robust solar panel system;

• Safe Routes to Schools Award Winner;

• Sustainable New Jersey Award Winner; and

• Increased usage of our Garden Area (Fischer Garden), especially by our Environmental Club.

Assorted Accomplishments:

• Approved purchase of new Wildcat Mascot costume that the students love;

• All Board of Education members have received their full training sessions within the appropriate timelines;

• Most recently, Haledon Board of Education Member Liesl Iza has accomplished Certified Board Member status honors by the New Jersey School Boards Association;

• Amicably reached a contractual agreement with the Haledon Education Association; and

• In an effort to bridge the gap between the parents and our school district, we created a Community Engagement and Extracurricular Activity Committee. In addition, the goal was also to ensure proper oversight of beneficial extracurricular activity offerings which is vital for a child’s social, emotional, and academic success!

It has been an absolute honor and a privilege to serve our school community as Board President and work shoulder to shoulder with our phenomenal team. Nevertheless, I look forward to continuing my service on the Haledon Board of Education, and collaborating with our Mayor-Elect Michael Johnson and the Haledon Governing Body, and all of our partners in education. I will also continue proudly serving our great borough as second-in-command of the Haledon Police Department as a Police Captain. Lastly, with so many highly qualified board members, rest assured that the Haledon Public School District remains in good hands!

May everyone have a safe, educational, and prosperous 2023!

Go Wildcats!

10-12 (Assignment Complete)

Most Sincerely,

George Guzman, Jr., President

Haledon Public School District

Board of Education

#UnitedHaledonforEducation #PartnersinEducation #PartnersinProgress #MovingHaledonForward