South Brunswick gets ready for the new school year
Technology, security, energy improvements are expected
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The South Brunswick School District's leadership team presented its annual goals and objectives for the 2008-2009 school year at a Board of Education meeting Aug. 18.

There were many important things to go over and a wide variety of changes to past goals and objectives for the year.

In curriculum and instruction, one important change is the fact that the curriculum review cycle is in its fifth year. This means that all 26 areas listed in the cycle will be under some sort of review this year.

"All the areas of our curriculum and programs are in the review cycle," said Joanne Kerekes, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "This is when they are revised and refreshed.

Kerekes also said that the schools will be distributing technology a little differently this year. Instead of having a few computers in each classroom, a teacher is now able to rent out teacher workstations, complete with a high-end, flat-screen desktop computer, a ceiling-mounted Hitachi projector facing the whiteboard or screen and a DVD/VCR combo.

"If a teacher has this, there can be a real opportunity to teach very easily and very naturally," Kerekes said. "It's an exciting change."

Kerekes also mentioned that the projector will add a lot to a teacher's repertoire, making his or her job easier.

Security at the school will also be improved with the use of proximity cards.

"Every door will be able to be locked," Kerekes said. "This will enhance security."

Security will also be improved at the cyber-safety level, according to Richard Chromey, director of program assessment and data management.

Cyber safety instruction is already used in grades three through five and grade nine. It will move more solidly into the middle school and the rest of the high school by the end of the year.

In terms of facilities at the schools, School Business Administrator Anthony Tonzini said there would be quite a few changes for this year. Members of the administration will complete an energy audit of all district facilities. They will then present the facilities committee with their findings.

"We'll be looking into alternate energy sources," Tonzini said. "Then, we'll incorporate some changes of what we do into the upcoming budget."

Why do the energy audit?

"Energy prices have gone through the roof," Tonzini said. "We're looking at ways to [put in] solar panels and if we can find a way to fund that."

Tonzini also said that the schools are looking at creating a more efficient work order process for the custodians and maintenance people at the school. He said that sometimes the preventative maintenance work, like changing air filters regularly, does not get done in an efficient enough manner.

The district will also be doing some shared services projects with the township, including building a new parking lot at Cambridge Elementary School.

"The township has a contract with the supplier," Tonzini said. "They charge us for the labor and material. We will be able to have some significant savings in that area."

In order to reduce utility bills and fuel costs, Tonzini said the school will look more closely at field trips, including cutting the amount of them.

Chris Murino can be contacted at

cmurino@gmnews.com