This looks like the PR firm's press release. Numbers can be played. Above average? Of what? Is Wayne in the top 5 or top 100 of the state? Above average means NOTHING.

District dependence on local taxes as revenue INCREASED in recent years!!Name a year that it has not INCREASED?????

It has been demonstrated time and time again that SAT scores are related to the general socio economic stratus of society as a whole. Wayne being above average in socio economic level should expect higher than average SAT scores. It is neither a validation , nor an indictment of the particular schools system. We are no Ridgewood or Franklin Lakes, but we should expect to have one or two kids accepted to Yale or perhaps Princeton every year.

We are remarkably similar to a similar town, Paramus in our SAT scores. What is really telling is to look at a town like Ridgewood and then look at Tenafly. Tenafly is a town that sends more kids into rocket science level positions in all areas of culture, music, theatre, arts, science than can be expected based upon its size. What ever Tenafly has should be bottled and sold throughout the country.

I am not as familiar with all of the above comments but I do feel that we are paying too much for education. The home owner should not be burdened with the total cost of education. Recently the BOE stated that they were going to charge for the use of school ball fields, etc. There was uproar. These are the same people that vote yes for the school budget but don't realize that the increase in the budget also is an increase in the cost of maintaining these fields.

Al 2% of 129 MILLION? The BOE (BETTER OVER EVERYONE) has the the taxpayers right where they want them.MO,MO,MO MONEY!!!

While it is nice to see that our high school scores are above the average state scores, how did we fare relative to other towns similar in size and socio-economic status? I would guess those stats are not readily available. How do we fare against counterpart towns? Is there a better way to quantify this? From a taxpayer standpoint, is it selfish to want the greatest bang for your buck? When the BOE tax is in excess of 50 percent of my tax bill,, I would certainly like to know it's worth it. While scores may not be the sole criteria that we measure quality education, it is certainly a component of it.

Colleges will tell you they could care-less about the essay score, and an avg. score of 1046 may just squeak your child into William Paterson, so let's not start raving about how prepared Wayne students are for college.
Our schools student portal is a POS, many courses offered are wasting valuable time that could be used studying subjects they will need over the next 4 years, Phys.Ed classes for those participating in after-school sports is a waste of time that could be spent taking other courses, or using the time being tutored in current courses, and their high-school class schedules are just that-"high-school" schedules that make the transition into college more difficult.
Maybe in Passaic County our township is above average, but it will when you can compare it to Kennedy, Eastside, Bloomingdale, Manchester... but not when we compare it to our surrounding schools in a 10 square mile radius in all directions. When we do, that's when reality sets in.

2010 Ranking of New Jersey High Schools by SAT Scores
School math verbal writing total

1 Princeton High 635 611 614 1860

2 Wwindsor-Plainsboro South 641 597 605 1843

3 Millburn Sr High 627 600 611 1838

4 Tenafly High 640 573 605 1818

5 Wwindsor-Plainsboro North 627 590 598 1815

6 Montgomery High 613 587 590 1790

7 Holmdel High School 618 585 585 1788

8 Ridgewood High 612 574 587 1773

9 Chatham High 598 577 595 1770

10 Ridge High 600 573 579 1752

11 Westfield Senior High 597 569 580 1746

12 N Valley Reg H Demarest 592 561 591 1744

13 Livingston Sr. High 596 561 584 1741

14 J P Stevens High 609 556 576 1741

15 Mountain Lakes High 584 573 584 1741

16 West Morris Mendham High 586 569 578 1733

17 New Providence High 595 564 574 1733

18 N Valley Reg H Old Tappan 592 554 582 1728

19 Glen Ridge High 584 571 571 1726

20 Haddonfield Memorial High 576 572 577 1725

21 Northern Highlands Reg H 581 554 582 1717

22 Cherry Hill High - East 592 552 570 1714

23 Summit Sr High 590 558 566 1714

24 Moorestown High 587 562 560 1709

25 Bernards High 580 561 564 1705

26 Central High 582 567 556 1705

27 Madison High 574 562 565 1701

28 Watchung Hills Reg H 582 554 564 1700

29 Rumson Fair Haven Reg H 572 555 572 1699

30 East Brunswick High 595 547 555 1697

Joe V....I'm sure you know more about this stuff than I. I would think that the essay portion of the SAT's would be of importance as it shows how a person collects and organizes his thoughts. It shows whether a person has command of the English language. Just a thought. Also today, when kids are required to write an essay as part of their college app, how many kids get that essay written by a professional. How do colleges really know that they wrote it themselves. In the SAT, their is no fabrication, at least, hopefully not.

Joe, Bloomingdale does not have a high school. The students are sent to Butler High School, which is in Morris County. I do agree with everything you stated.

Al, Joe and Sandy, many years ago, I had taught the review courses for the SAT's throughout this area. Without getting into to much detail, suffice it to say, that the best students were from the Bergen County suburbs of Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Wyckoff, Tenafly, etc. (you get the drift). Although the students from Wayne were exceptional and extremely talented, the decline had started and teaching them was becoming a challenge as they now had to be entertained in addition to being taught. Al, I am sure that your wife knows what I am saying. From what I could gather at that time, their energies and priorities were scattered and it was difficult to focus them back to scoring high on the SAT's. Whereas, all the sports, clubs and extra activities are important, the SAT's are a big determination of their future and they need to know that. My career was strong, mostly due to my degrees and the schools that I earned them from. One employer made their decision primarily on this basis. Poor SAT scores would not have gotten me into this university. SAT's continue to be highly prized due to the objective nature of the exams.

Sandy, thanks for posting the stats. Unfortunately, it is what I suspected.

Al I have two children who recently went through the college application process so I can tell you the colleges do tend to look at the first 2 sections of the SAT more so than the essay part. The essay section on the SAT has a predetermined topic (or it might be a choice of 2). Unlike the SAT essay, the college application topics are more general. Many times the applicant can choose to write on the topic of their choice. The average scores listed above for Wayne Hills and Wayne Valley are very disappointing if we only considered the amount of money that we spend on our public education system. As I am sure you agree, the amount of money spent does not directly affect the test scores, especially when we have a BOE that wastes money on things like PR firms. I wish my tax dollars would go directly to the line items that effect the students and not wasted on other things. My husband and I made many sacrifices so that our children can go to DePaul Catholic. I realize that is not an option or even a desire for many families. But I can tell you that DePaul spends spends significantly LESS per student and yet our test scores are significantly HIGHER. The main reason for the disparity, I believe, is that there is no waste. Its really a shame because all of the kids in this town deserve a good education and the tax payers deserve a return on their investment into the public school system.

Sandy,THANKS for posting.Will open a lot of eyes as to the money/education ratio for the kids in town.WHAT'S WRONG? Ask JUSTICE,he NOSE from experience and seems to be on the money (no pun intended).

Lorraine, it is unfortunate that you are paying tuition in addition to the high taxes in order for your children to get the best education that you can provide. There are many parents who have pulled their students from the school system and have either home schooled or placed their children in private schools.

Sandy
Thank-you so much for taking the time to post the performing schools in and around our area.
We just completed the process of enrolling our graduating senior in college. At any/all of the seminars we attended, the colleges all clarified that 'they' did not implement the SA portion of the S.A.T. and informed the audience that it was best to avoid any confusion and to drop the SA score.
Colleges want to only know the Math and Verbal score. To be competitive, our schools must produce an average math score of 575-585 and an average verbal score of 550-560. If not, we as a school system, are failing at giving our students the necessary education needed to be competent at the next level.
Wayne Schools fails to provide their students with such, so the majority has to reach out to other resources to provide them with the necessary education in order to qualify.
These resources such as tutors, on-line work/studies are supplied "in house" in many of the top qualifying schools on your list.

Placing 57 and 80 in 2010 is truly disgusting, for all the money that we pay. Let's see how the PR firm is going to spin this one? They will probably bill for more money. Hackensack didn't even make this list. Joe, the Wayne public schools have been over-rated for quite some time.

Al.You get the ATTABOY for today.Keep politics in town hall, NOT in our schools!!

NOSE why our superintendent left Hackensack ? People always told him that he was on their list, so now he's on one !!

Justice, When the state called and told him he was doing 80 and 57 in the state, his answer was I didn't NOSE I was speeding !!

Cathy,Look at Sandy's list above.A real eye opener. Wayne Hills And Wayne Valley are the only schools in Passaic County on the list.

Justice ,go on the article on patch about their web site. Go to Warrens post about our PR FIRM. Just when you thought you heard it all.

A Fundraiser??? I suppose she will be writing grants next, at an exorbitant fee of course. The fact that this "comfy" town is probably not eligible for any has no relevance whatsoever. The economy in Wayne has to keep RISING, one "INvolved" person at a time.

I agree with the disappointment, but think is is comical that of all of the things that could be done to improve the system, so much focus is placed on the PR Firm (which I agree is a waste of money).

In a school district our size with a budget in excess of $100 million, complaining about the PR Firm cost in every post and comment makes me laugh. It isnt even a drop in the bucket. I am waiting for Justice, Nose and Al to give us some serious, thoughtful plans that might possibly make a difference. If we all agree to cut the PR Firm and give every Wayne resident their 37 cents back...what is next? What do you propose? I hear lots of moaning, but not a lot of answers from the boo birds.

@Al Scala
I don't know if your "guess" re salaries at DePaul is correct, but I assume DePaul teachers and administrators make less than at Hills and Valley. However, as a result, they may have inferior quality of teaching, too. What makes DePaul a better bang for the buck has more to do with significantly reduced class size, which makes a HUGE difference to the educational experience.

Wayne parent I will give my 37 cents back and multiply that by the Wayne Tax payers and guess what the outdoor enviromental program that had been around for 40 years and was cut can be put back in. They cut Mr. Hawkins program he built for 40 years and then hired a P.R. firm for what reason.?? What does the P.R. firm do to help our children, Wayne Parent.? I can tell you what the outdoor lab does for our children!! Dump the P.R. firm and assistant superintendant and put our wonderful Enviromental program back in.

Now as to what can be done . Someone properly alluded to the high cost of special education . It can and in some instances does cost 100K per student. If each distinct BOE runs a local program the cost reductions available for shared services are lost. Gov. Christie early on suggested that each County form and operate a countywide special educational facility to reap the benefit of reduced cost. Well his proposal went over like his other educational proposals. The establishment operatives in the educational system and the home rule at all cost fans soundly attacked . But it does have some romance , for each special education program has transportation and aid cost , it has school psychologist elements, it has in class aids and specialized teaching. So there is a lot of potential for eliminating private special educational contractors and centralizing the programs.

WP, the PR Firm is the "tip of the iceberg", the "smoking gun" and where there is smoke, there is fire. That's right, it will be brought up again and again until something else concrete is uncovered. This school system is top heavy, to many administrators and clerks (although their salaries are pitiful) and too much waste. We will continue to speak and if you don't like it, don't read our comments. I detest Howard Stern; but I uphold his right to speak. I just don't listen to him, my choice, my freedoms. What war did you fight in?

Justice...I was pretty clear...I THINK THE PR FIRM IS A WASTE. Was that bold enough for you? But eliminating the PR firm isnt even the tip of the iceberg in fixing our school system. It is like one molecule of water on the iceberg. That is what I am saying. Do you have any concrete ideas to help our school system? Just saying eliminate the PR Firm, fire the school board and there is too much administration isnt a plan to fix the schools. What exactly do you propose?

And...I fully support your right to speak. Speak away. I have absolutely no problem with that. But I also have the freedom to question and criticize what you say...dont I?

Rex....I support your cause as well. It sounds like a worthy program that deserves funding. Some of the commenters on here know that I am strongly in favor of our town finally embracing full day kindergarten (like the vast majority of districts in the state) instead of starting our children off in first grade behind their peers in the state. Almost every study on this topic shows that we are starting our children off at a disadvantage and that the disadvantage matters.

In short...I am for rational cutting of waste...but cutting the budget isnt a plan. It is one element of a plan. A plan requires more thought and effort than just shouting "my taxes are too high" or "kick out the Rumanaites."

And Justice...I detest Howard Stern too (not sure why that is relevant here).

Wayne Parent.....you obviously missed the point. It doesn't matter what the amount is. Why waste it when other educational programs that are meaningful are being cut. The outdoor lab is a great program. Kids loved it.! It was a beneficial program. Without it, now our kids have to be bused to the Meadowlands, when we have the answer in our back yard. A science program which was implemented this year in the 6th grades, next year in the 6th and 7th and the following year in 8th, was cut. They are not rehiring 2 AD's and are replacing them with 3 people, a District AD, and 2 site based managers. how much will this cost us? By the way, I heard they are renewing the PR contract on an annual or a multi-year basis. is it still 37 cents.? You apparently are satisfied with the current BOE trustees. That' certainly your choice. I'm not, and I plan to do something about it, One of those things is to continue to expose things about what this group is all about. I can assure you there is much more to come! By the way, I post under my real name. I don 't cower under some call sign. Name calling can stop as well. Boo bird?
.

I appreciate this dialogue because it is becoming increasingly clear I will have to move from Wayne to get what I need from a school district. My kids are several years away from the school system but it's clear that Wayne has declined considerably since I went through the school system here. Perhaps the school curriculum is behind the times, and certainly the massive number of students doesn't help. Class sizes are too large. But test scores falling short, rankings dropping, etc. is endemic of a larger problem. The ONLY solace in these numbers is that a good proportion of kids are in AP classes, which tells me one of two things: Either AP standards have dropped (used to be limited to really advanced students) OR there is a real dichotomy of top students who would do well anywhere (top 25%) and those seriously lagging behind.

In my opinion, schools have been saddled with far too many legal burdens and it is impossible to be all things to all people. Sadly, I think the economic caliber of the Wayne resident has declined, and kids just are not getting the support at home that previous generations received. Wayne is not as affluent as it seemed to be just 15-20 years ago, and it certainly has fallen far behind similar Bergen and Morris County municipalities in that regard. It's unfortunate but it's probably the reality that may not be surmountable, regardless of the necessary reformation of the BOE and administration.

What's sad is that of my contemporaries, the final generation which seems to be doing better than their parents, not one of the high career achievers has decided to settle in Wayne. They are in the area but they have decided to settle in other towns. My sense of loyalty, my excellent childhood experience and the reputation of the school system is what made me come back. Ultimately, I think Wayne's best days may be behind us and that makes me sad, but also resigned to the fact that if I can't beat them, I'll have to join them.

Al...did you read my post RIGHT ABOVE YOURS. The one where I supported the outdoor lab. I am not satisfied with the Trustees. I think our schools are slipping. If you read either of my posts you would see that.

What I dont agree with is how a few of you post an infinite number of times on every article that the trustees stink, taxes are too high and something related to Rumana that i dont fully understand.

What I am asking is...what do any of you propose? If we fire the PR Firm and replace the Trustees...what should the new Trustees do? Just saying "cut the budget" isnt a proposal. It is the end result of having a plan that you think will improve the quality of our kids' education. So...I ask again...what do you propose? Because I have not heard anything yet.

Wayne's World...in Wayne's case, when you look at the numbers, for as much time and effort as we spend bashing the local administration (and they do deserve some of the bashing), we need to step back and realize that the real problem here is Trenton, not Wayne.

Wayne is the largest non-urban district in the state. We have 9 elementary schools, 3 middle schools and 2 high schools. A district our size has an enormous range of income levels. The way the school funding works in NJ, Wayne is considered a district that can "pay its own way" in terms of education and receives virtually no money from the state. We dont pay more per pupil than the state average...in fact, Wayne pays slightly less. Our problem lies in the fact that the people of this town pay double. We pay a lot to the state in terms of income tax and also have to foot the bill for our entire school budget. In a town like Franklin Lakes, Millburn, etc...it doesnt matter all that much given average incomes. But for a lot of people in our town...it matters.

It would be one thing if we were spending a crazy amount per pupil and not seeing returns. But we arent. We are just paying an average amount and also paying for school districts in Trenton, Camden and Newark.

Here is one question: How much does Wayne pay to administer its own bus system as opposed to outsourcing it like most other districts?

@Wayne's World
Salaries and benefits will always be your largest cost, no matter how much you reduce from the budget. What do you propose to cut, re staff, which will make a difference without too much of a detriment? How many teachers can you cut, when we already have about as many kids in a class as we want? With regard to administration, it is easy to say that it is bloated. Where do you cut? Is it so unreasonable for there to be an assistant superintendent, in the largest suburban school district in the state? How many more secretarys can be cut? Someone has to type and do whatever it is school secretarys do. No principals in the elementary schools? As for building Anthony Wayne, that is water under the damn, at this point. Many communities made the same mistake when demographics changed.

As for Wayne Parent's desire for full day kindergarten, that is an additional cost. Double the classroom space, and double the teachers. Maybe it's worth it, maybe the value of full day kindergarten is overrated; I don't know what the studies indicate. Maybe this has been considered by the current BOE, or past boards?

If so many people feel the writing is on the wall, and there is a better place to live, they will go. Where? Wyckoff? Ridgewood? Short Hills? Livingston? Maybe the schools are better, but I will be living in the gutter, because I can't afford a house in those towns.

Warts and all, Wayne is a good place to live, and a good place for our kids to get an education. Too many people are crying "the sky is falling!" (Isn't that my job?)

Can someone answer this question? I cannot get an answer from the BOE or maybe I just don't understand. How much does Wayne BOE actually keep out of our tax dollars paid? It is my understanding that Wayne BOE has to give a large portion to the Abbot school districts so the monies collected are not a real amount that they have to spend? Who knows the actual facts here and if there is a internet link please post it? I retired teacher from Valley explained that we give over 30% of our school tax collect away to the state for Abbot schools. True? if so maybe we should be fighting that instead of our BOE.

@Wayne's World
Yes, Wayne Parent is a breath of fresh air on this blog, as are you.
The thing about charter schools that many people do not realize is that some/many/a few fail. Also, for those who feel that uniions are the problem, there is nothing to prevent employees in charters or private schools from unionizing. In fact, there are such schools with unions. So, charter schools are not necessarily the cure for all that purportedly ails us.

Al...I see all of your suggestions and again...those are all ideas to save money. Saving money is a worthwhile goal and i support most of your ideas. But saving money will just put money back in our pockets, not improve the school system. How do you intend to use the savings for the betterment of our district? What reforms would you make? Or is this just a money grab?

As for unions...complain about them all you want, but take a look at the states without unionized teachers. Almost all of them rank at the very bottom of school performance nationwide. Are unions always right? No. But unions arent the "problem" with our schools.

@Al Scala
We are better than we were 4 years ago. We finally have a superintendent to drive the bus. We have a board that doesn't beat the crap out of one another. We have mostly very fine teachers, and we are going to get stronger, despite a 2% cap and other legal strictures. My kids are scoring advanced proficient on all of the standardized exams. I don't know how you can say we are worse off than 4 years ago.

I still don't get your problem with the trustees. They all have kids in the district. They are PTO moms, and Little League volunteers. Pavlack is a local police officer, with two kids in the district. Badiner used to be our district's special services guy, and now is in Bergen. I think he has kids in the district. Jane Hutchison has been a stalwarth for our kids for years. Mordoff has demonstrated a moral compass (he spoke out against the football fiasco early on, and spoke up for the outdoor lab), answers every email I send to him, and doesn't have an axe to grind.

I know you accuse past and current BOE members for using the BOE as a stepping stone, particularly Ceberio (who ran for freeholder but lost). But I know some of these people, past and current board members. They are good people, and are conscientious as BOE trustees, irrespective of political affiliation or ambition. I just don't get the degree of angst you have for them, like these are evil people trying to take down the school system.

I think what a lot of people are forgetting is that both Bergan and Morris Counties have great Technical High Schools. They have students attending the school from all towns in the county. Bergan Academy scored 2067 on the SAT. Morris Academy scored 2075. It is my understanding that the SAT scores that child receives is credited to their home district. Maybe what Pasaic County needs is a strong Technical High School. That offers a strong curriculum in both math and science.

CLUCK,CLUCK CLUCK, THE SUPERINTENDENT SHOULD GO TO THE REAR OF THE BUS!! NOT DRIVE IT!!

Al,CLUCK CLUCK MUST be in Rob's hen house. Just laid a BIG ONE !!

Sandy, Most of the kids that go to Passaic County Tech are from Paterson and Passaic.

Chicken little the board should have had a back bone and not let the outdoor lab be cut. I hold the board responsible for letting a program that was built over 40 years by Mr. Hawkins just disappear into the sunset. I also hold the board responsible for voting to bring in a P.R. firm that we don't need and does nothing for our kids.

Cathy Kazan, Are you aware of any links that will explain the Abbott situation in a clear manner? Obviously, there are some that believe that Wayne taxes for education leave Wayne. Thank you

I am not as familiar with the New York Education system; but I believe that their technical schools are for the advanced academic students. Passaic County Tech (had been located next door to Eastside High School in Paterson) used to be a high school for skilled occupations as opposed to academia. I am not certain from their website if that is still the case.
http://www.pcti.tec.nj.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=113&Itemid=0

The numbers posted by Sandy are from 2010. How many administrators and BOE were in their positions in 2010? I am not a fan of the BOE, but I grow weary of the BOE bashing for everything that goes on in the schools. How about personal responsibility? How about blaming the principals, teachers, parents, students? The teachers have all the latest gadgets in their rooms, Anthony Wayne is state of the art, so what is going on in the schools? My kids constantly bring home worksheets that are illegible and copied off the page. That's not the boards fault. That is the teacher not even caring enough to review what he/she hands out to the class. Not saying this is indicative of all teachers by any stretch. Wayne has some great teachers, emphasis on some. My kids do great in school because of a combination of the school system and my wife and I prioritize their education. They are involved in other activities, but homework comes first.

Justice, Top notch in SKILLED OCCUPATIONS. Hair salon,Auto body repair and painting,greenhouse,store. NOSE the school very well!!Teachers can have their car painted in the auto shop if they want to.OH,forgot the computerized olympic pool!!!

@Al Scala
It's not that I am so pro-board; it's just that you are so anti-board, about everything. If they discovered a cure for cancer, you would bitch that they should have done it years ago.

Maybe you are privy to inside information that I am not, and that is what drives your anti board sentiment. Maybe you have more insight than I do, because your wife is a teacher. But I feel a lot of paranoia in there, too

As for the Sico situation, only a few of the current board members were on the board when that was going down. What is your beef with the current board over the hiring of the current superintendent?

As for the way board meetings are conducted, new business/old business, committees, etc., I don't know whether this is good or bad. I do know that the agendas are very long compared to years past, and lenght of meetings probably factors in to the way the board does its business. My father was on a synagogue board years ago, and i went to a meeting that went for hours, past midnight. If that is what would happen each time the BOE meets, I don't know if that would be a good thing. (Knowing you from your blog posts, you would likely accuse the board of holding certain discussions until the end of the meeting, when the audience is likely to have left or gone to sleep).

As for Rex Miatkes's comment about the outdoor lab, I also share his dismay over the board's decision. I hope that whatever is set up to replace it is satisfactory. But I want to point out that if you are a Roger Hawkins fan (and anyone who has ever met him certainly must be), he wasn't going to be here much longer. I heard that his replacement during this past year wasn't a fraction of what Roger was.

Dan, why is the word xitch acceptable when chicken little uses it but Nose keeps getting censored? Sounds like discrimination to me.

If Satisfactory is for the town to pay 6.00 for every fourth grader to be bussed to the Meadowlands than the replacement is satisfactory. I tend to disagree that this is a satisfactory replacement.

Well as you can see C.L. this why some of us are upset. This is the replacement and the sky is falling on our science progams here in Wayne.

Kids were going to Meadowlands when Hawkins was still there. The sky is not falling. Enough with the dramatics. Any change is not a condemnation of years past. Is the sky falling for the chalk and eraser companies since they started putting in smart boards in the classrooms? The one change I cannot stand is how the 8th grade social studies classes as handled. Everything is web based with no textbook. Even other teachers laugh saying they want to retire to teach 8th grade SS. And before anyone starts questioning, I do not support the current BOE.

@Al Scala,
Well, you are probably right about our disagreement, particularly since it is apparent that in your eyes, the BOE can do no good.
Wayne Parent does an excellent job expressing her frustration, likely shared by many others who do not bother to post, over the rampant negativity.

As for your comment about my sarcasm, I am very very rarely sarcastic on these posts, and express myself directly and head on, with a minimum of extracurricular gruff. Not sure why you make your comment about my sacasm clearly demonstrating my frustration. Maybe you confuse me with Nose?