A Parent's Plea For Better Lunches Adds Drama To Monday Night's School Board Meeting

Abraham Dickerson, a parent of a Hillside Elementary School student, blasted the Montclair Public School District's food service, claiming they don't even have a sink — let alone a stove — at the Hillside cafeteria.

"We talk a lot about going green in this town ... let's talk about healthy eating for a change," he said. "I observe a lot of processed foods. I think through some education and some bargaining we can get some fresh foods."

Dickerson's comments to the Montclair Board of Education at its meeting Monday night served as a dramatic point on what was otherwise a fairly uneventful agenda.

Dickerson said he wouldn't allow his child to eat at Hillside, adding that his child even brings in her own pizza from home on pizza day at the school.

"I personally don't know how the cafeteria workers do it there," he said. "Surely we can wash some salads and have some grilled chicken."

Dickerson also emphasized the need for a crosswalk at the front of Hillside across Orange Road, between the elementary school and the Montclair Community Pre-K.

Shelly Lombard, school board president, agreed that parking and traffic around Hillside is a "dangerous situation."

She said that Dr. Frank Alvarez, the superintendent, would follow up on the issue with Township officials.

In other news at Monday night's meeting, Alvarez noted that this was the first year the district used the new student placement policy based on work with the Kirwan Institute. The new policy uses census data to create attendance zones in order to balance enrollment across schools. The aim is to yield a more balanced school community with regard to socio-economic and other variables.

"We think we're going to have a greater balance this year," he said.

Alvarez also noted that dialogue between middle school and high school administrators had begun on a connected mathemathics program.

"There's been lots of discussion regarding the flow from middle school to high school," he said. "We're going to get the teachers together to discuss this. We'll see if changes need to be made to the curriculum."

Alvarez also applauded the recent opening of the Charles H. Bullock Elementary School, noting that it's currently hosting more than 400 students but has the capacity to teach about 550 students.

Board member Robin Kulwin said that the district has revamped its Web site and that, for the first time, all members have board of education email addresses.

She also said there's been ongoing discussion about whether to televise live the school board meetings.

"It's something to look into," she said. "We want to talk to the PTAs. We want to hear from the parents."