Cathy
Timpone
1.
Do any of your children attend (or have they attended Fair Lawn public
schools)?
Yes. I have lived in Fair Lawn for approximately twenty-five years. I have
three sons that have gone through the Fair Lawn School System. Currently,
their ages are 22, 23, and 26.
2.
Professional Background
I am a public school administrator. I am currently employed as the
Director of Curriculum/Technology in a K-12 Public School System.
3.
Do you think Fair Lawn Schools are better than they were a few years ago?
No. Based upon the following reasons, I believe that Fair Lawn Schools are
not better now than they were a few years ago.
-
Average scores on Standardized Tests have decreased.
-
This year, Fair Lawn High School ranked 92nd of 309 high
schools in the state, as evaluated by New Jersey Monthly’s survey of the
top public high schools in New Jersey. The year before they ranked 69.
-
Number of students taking AP exams are fewer than in the past.
4.
What issues does the Board of Education need to focus on?
-
Facilities and enrollment trends
-
Improving Standardized Test Scores
-
Infusing Technology into Curriculum
-
Continuing to seek out the best educators and academic experts.
5. Are you pleased with the recent results of standardized test scores?
No. Actually, I am concerned that the scores on standardized tests have
decreased. However, the issue is aligning the curriculum to the ESPA, GEPA,
HSPA tests. These test have been prepared by the State to show whether
school programs are succeeding and how students are performing.
Although
Fair Lawn students score well when compared nationally, I would like to
see our students perform at least as well as other students in communities
that are in the same socio-economic group.
6.
What
would you like to accomplish?
- A
long time solution to the space problems that have plagued the
district for years so that there will be enough classrooms in which to
give quality instruction at a time when there are so many fewer
choices to a good education. I believe that education is more critical
today than it ever was.
-
I
would like to have input with the hiring process to ensure that
administrators that we employ have the background, qualifications and
experience necessary for particular positions. I would also like to be
involved and have some input with the hiring of all educators so that
we can indeed have the very best teachers that are available.
-
To
ensure that more of our tax money goes directly into the classrooms
and, therefore, directly to our children.
-
Set
goals and objectives to improve test scores, improve curriculum and improve safety within our schools.
7. What
should the priorities be for fixing and expanding buildings and
facilities?
No substantial capital outlay funds should be expended for remodeling or
expanding unless such expenditures are part of a valid long-range plan.
When developing the plan it should be noted that State funds are available
to Fair Lawn at a 40% rate for construction. Therefore, those things that
draw the most State aid would be expansion of classroom space by
renovation or by new construction.
The
priorities should be as follows:
- The
Long Range Educational Plan
-
Finances
Available
-
Long
Range Facilities Plan (based upon enrollment trends, safety, health/comfort and planning for the unforeseeable).
Solutions would depend on the information obtained from the demographic
report, which is currently being developed. If the study indicated that
the enrollment growth trend was at a steady increase over the long term,
then a plan to build additions on to the schools would make sense. If
however, the study shows that there will be an increase in a particular
grade that would require more classroom space for only a year or two,
temporary measures such as portable trailers or reassigning classrooms and
educational spaces would be more appropriate.
8. Are
the schools preparing students for the new economy?
Yes
and No. Although we have incorporated technology into some of our
classrooms and we have begun the process of integrating technology into
the curriculum, we must better prepare our students for a workplace where
innovation is more important than mass production, where investments buy
new ideas and concepts, not new machines, and where many industries are
technology and service based.
We
must teach our children how to adapt to the rapid changes of technology.
We must teach them to develop problem-solving skills, creative thinking
skills and how to develop their talents. We must teach them how to work in
a globally competitive environment and motivate them to become life-long
learners.
9.
Anything
else you would like to say?
Although,
I am not currently a Board Member, I have held other leadership positions
in the community. I have been active in PTA/PTO organizations for 20
consecutive years. Some of the leadership roles in which I am currently
involved, as well as positions I have held in the past are listed below:
Currently:
-
Member
of Bergen County School Superintendent’s Distance Learning Steering
Committee
-
Member
of Ramapo College PT3 Steering Committee
-
Eucharist
Minister St. Anne’s Church.
I have also held positions in the following organizations:
- President PTA Council
- President Memorial Middle School
- President Lyncrest PTO
- Founder FLARE
- Member: Fair Lawn Youth Committee
- Teacher
St. Anne’s Religious Education
-
Principal
St Anne’s Pre-School CCD Program
-
Member St.
Anne’s Technology Committee
In addition, I was employed by Fair Lawn Public Schools for approximately
18 years.
If elected, I will represent the best interest of the children and the
community based upon input from both the educational staff and the
community, including both parents and concerned citizens.
