Harmony School Principal Rehired After School Board Reverses Prior Decision

In the face of an outpouring of community support Tuesday night, the Middletown Township Board of Education reversed a prior decision and unanimously rehired Paulson citing "new information."

Harmony Elementary School Principal Erik Paulson will return to school next fall, following a unanimous decision Tuesday night by the Board of Education.  On May 13, the board had voted 5-4 to not offer a new contract to the popular admininstrator, who would have received tenure. But in a stunning turn of events very late at the May 21 meeting, the board effectively reversed its prior decision after meeting in closed session. When they emerged around 11:45 p.m., board attorney Christopher Parton made a statement saying that there was some new information brought forth during the closed door session, of which he did not elaborate. Superintendent William O. George announced he wished to amend his evaluation of Paulson to say that he "highly …

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Jerilyn Crimaldi

10:37 am on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Congratulations Harmony Community! Great principals are hard to come by and you fought for yours on behalf of your kids and won! Jerilyn Port Monmouth Elementary mom   more ›

Seraph Players Receive 11 Basie Nominations, Additional Awards

The spotlight shines on Mater Dei Prep's thespians.

High School Students Subjected to a 'Rude Awakening'

Through June 7, the community tries to impress on kids approaching the prom season the perils of unsafe driving.

This month in Middletown, a huge annual effort is underway at the high schools to impress on youth the serious consequences of a single bad decision.  The privately-funded "Rude Awakening" program is timed to be presented days before the prom season at the township's two public high schools, Christian Brothers Academy, Mater Dei and the county High Tech High School on the Brookdale campus.  "We try to express the dangers of drunk and drugged driving, and give the kids a different choice to make," said Sgt. Fred Deickmann, "and not to drive a car under the influence of alcohol." Ptl. Nick Caprio organizes the events, which employs outdoor accident response demonstrations, hands-on activities and speakers to educate students about the about …

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Middletown BOE Votes to Not Rehire Harmony School Principal

Decision 'shocks' PTO Board, which is holding an emergency meeting Wednesday to see what can be done to reverse last night's decision.

The Board of Education voted at a special meeting last night not to rehire an elementary school principal.  The board voted 5-4 to not offer Harmony School Principal Erik Paulson a new contract for the 2013-2014 school year, Board Secretary Amy Gallagher confirmed in an email.  Requests for comment about the vote were left early this morning at the office of Superintendent William O. George, and on the cellphones and email addresses for Board President Christopher Aveta and Board Vice President Joan Minniues, but have not been returned.  Board Attorney Christopher Parton said he could not comment on the vote.  Principal Paulson is at school today, but has not returned voice or email messages.  PTO Co-President Vita Gardiner said the school…

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Lincroft's High Tech HS Best in Northeast, Says Newsweek

The county career academy was also listed 16th in the country.

Newsweek ranked High Technology High School of Lincroft number one in the Northeast and number 16 in the country in a survey that considered 2,500 schools.  The Monmouth County Vocational School District career academy rose to the top of the 2013 list thanks to scoring well on several components in the 2011–12 school year. The average SAT score at High Tech was 2113, the average AP score was 4.5, and the rate of AP/IB tests per student was 1.4. Read more about the methodology on their site. The new principal of the school this year is Kevin Bals, who replaced Daniel Simon Sr., who left after a decade of leadership to be the Wall Township Superintendent of Schools. "I am not sure how valid or accurate the rankings are, but it is nice for …

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Congratulations to Middletown's Teachers of the Year

In Middletown, 17 teachers and educational service professionals earned the title for 2012-2013.

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day. Here is a list of teachers who were commended for going the extra mile for their students. They will be publicly thanked at the May 21 meeting of the Middletown Board of Education.   John Kerrigan, Math Teacher at HS North  Louise Baratta, Math Teacher at HS South  Donna Berg, Teacher Language Arts at Bayshore Middle School Tara Flynn, Special Education Teacher at Thompson Middle School  Susan Mosely, Alternate School Program Teacher at Thorne Middle School Maureen Massell, Kindergarten Teacher at Bayview Elementary Allyson Paterno, Co-Teacher Gr 1 & 2 at Fairview Elementary Ellen Balestriere, Co-Teacher Gr 1 & 2 at Harmony Elementary Michelle Perpinan, Grade 1 Teacher at Leonardo Elementary Devin McGraw…

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Former Wall Twp Admin Pleads Not Guilty to Charges She Failed to Report Possible Sex Abuse of 4-year-old

Former assistant superintendent of Wall Schools faces three-count criminal indictment

UPDATE 2:58 p.m.: Sandra Brower pleaded not guilty to the three charges brought against her during an appearance before Judge Francis J. Vernoia at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold on Monday afternoon. No bail was set and Brower was released. She is scheduled to appear in court again on June 10 at 1:30 p.m.  UPDATE 12:10 p.m.: The charges that a Wall Township teacher sexually abused a 4-year-old special needs student were unsustained following an investigation by the Wall Township Police, Christopher Gramiccioni, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor said Monday afternoon. Previously reported: The former assistant superintendent of Wall Township Schools was indicted Monday morning on charges she failed to immediately report a …

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Post Your Middletown North Prom Photos on Patch

Middletown North's junior prom is this week! Share your prom prep photos and prom pics with Patch readers.

Choosing the perfect prom gown takes a lot of patience. Finding the perfect prom date takes a lot of courage. Getting the perfect prom hairdo takes a lot of trust. But once everything comes together, getting that perfect prom picture is a piece of cake! Middletown Patch wants to see pictures of prom groups in all their gowns and glory!  Strike your best prom pose and upload pictures and videos from prom night here by clicking the button above that says "upload pics and clips." 

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