Counselors hired for elem. schools

Old Bridge kicks off program with a $333,000 grant

By sue m. morgan

Staff Writer

Students in kindergarten through fifth grade and their guardians will now have the option of seeking assistance from Old Bridge elementary school guidance counselors once school resumes in January.

Following up with the receipt of a $333,000 federal grant, the Board of Education officially hired five guidance counselors at its Dec. 18 meeting. Once the counselors begin working next month, a long-anticipated plan to provide counseling services at the district’s 12 elementary schools will be in place.

Three of the five counselors are new hires, effective Jan. 3, who will counsel at two schools each. Phyllis H. Bloom will cover the McDivitt and Carpenter schools; Jean Capuano-Youmans is assigned to the Cheesequake and Voorhees schools; and Kathleen Smagula has been assigned to the Memorial and Schirra schools. All three new hires hold master’s degrees.

The other two counseling positions are transfers, effective Jan. 2, from other positions and schools within the district. Both of those counselors will serve three schools each.

Marilyn Jaclin, currently a resource room teacher at McDivitt School, will be transferred to a counseling position covering the Cooper, Grissom and Madison Park schools. Sandra Griffin, presently a special education teacher at Jonas Salk Middle School, will provide counseling at the Miller, Shepard and Southwood schools.

The counselors will address both academic and social concerns of students and their parents or guardians.

The motions to hire and reassign the counselors were both passed unanimously.

Board Member Annette Hopman expressed her appreciation to her colleagues.

"I’m so glad this finally came to pass," said Hopman, who had actively pushed for hiring the elementary school counselors.

"Good luck to all of you," Hopman said. "Do what you do best. Help those children."

The $333,000 grant is renewable for an additional two years, according to Lori Luicci, public information officer for the district.

Starting next school year, the counselors will work from September through June and will report to the district’s director of guidance, Dr. Patrick Monahan, according to a job description released by the district.

In other action, the board voted to reassign Arthur Barnes from first vice principal of Old Bridge High School to principal of Carl Sandburg Middle School, effective July 1.

The vote drew some discussion as board member Robert Volkert stated that he did not agree with the way the transfer was being handled. He voted against Barnes’ transfer.

"I don’t like the process. I don’t think it’s [being done] right," Volkert said.

Board President Frank Weber did not cast a vote because of his own disagreement with the implementation date. He stressed that, while he believes Barnes is qualified for the principal’s position, the effective date should be changed.

Weber said he believes the transfer should take effect as early as Feb. 1, so that he can become familiar with the school and its staff and students.

"I won’t cast a vote because of the implementation date," Weber said.

Barnes will replace current Sandburg Principal Joseph Wydra, who is retiring at the end of the school year.