Most school construction projects completed

BRICK –– While Brick Township’s students were winding down their summer vacations, the Board of Education was gearing up for another school year at its final meeting before school opens on Sept. 3.

Among the first orders of business, the board completed the hiring process for new and substitute teachers for the 2003-04 school year.

All of the teaching positions on the elementary level have been filled, and on the secondary level, only four positions remain vacant, school officials said. The vacant positions are in the areas of industrial arts and special education.

In response to a question from John Talty, a former candidate who lost the bid for a seat on the board in April, Superintendent Thomas Seidenberger addressed the fact that a majority of the new teaching personnel are from outside the district.

"When I interview a candidate, I’m looking for the best candidate possible, not where they live. If all things are equal, then I would take into consideration where they live," Seidenberger said.

He said he did not know how many teachers who applied for positions were from Brick.

Seidenberger also updated the board and the public on the progress of the construction projects that have taken place over the summer. Most construction has been completed, and the board is awaiting final code inspections and certificates of occupancy.

Emma Havens Young Elementary School will have an elevator installed, making the classrooms and library on the second floor accessible to disabled students.

Herbertsville Elementary School received two new classrooms and a new media center/library. Both Midstreams and Osbornville elementary schools gained four new classrooms and had their libraries expanded. Six new classrooms, including two special education classrooms and an expanded kitchen, were added to Veterans Memorial Elementary School.

Lake Riviera Middle School and Veterans Memorial Middle School gained 10 new classrooms and two new science labs each. Lake Riviera also received a cafeteria expansion.

"Brick Memorial High School will open on time," Seidenberger said in response to rumors that the construction projects under way will delay the school’s opening.

Brick Memorial will gain four new science labs, 20 new classrooms and will have its cafeteria expanded.

The Brick Township High School gym addition has also been completed.

Seidenberger also noted that the district’s special education center, which is being built on the grounds of Veterans Memorial Elementary School and Veter­ans Memorial Middle School, is "moving along" and making "nice progress."

These projects were a part of the school district referendum project, ap­proved by voters in September 2001 by a 3-1 margin.

In other business, the board also adopted a harassment, intimidation and bullying policy, but said that other poli­cies, such as code of conduct and random drug testing, were still being reviewed by the policy committee.