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Garfield board honors teachers and paraprofessionals, fields public concern about vendor billing
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Summary
At its April 27 meeting the Garfield Board of Education recognized teachers and paraprofessionals across the district, accepted several grouped resolutions, heard a Musicmakers International presentation on music therapy, and responded to a public comment alleging questionable vendor billing for orthotics — a claim the superintendent rejected as inaccurate.
The Garfield Board of Education on April 27 recognized dozens of teachers and paraprofessionals districtwide, accepted routine grouped resolutions, heard a presentation on school-based music therapy and addressed public concerns about a vendor program that provides orthotics and shoes to staff.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Tomko said the district has made "incredible" progress this year in academics, facilities and new programs and introduced the evening's staff recognitions, which included teacher and paraprofessional of the year awards from early childhood through high school. "We have had some really, really great events this month," he said, and urged board members and the public to continue offering questions and ideas.
Principals from individual schools then presented honorees. Jeff Wilson, principal of Washington Irving School No. 4, praised his teacher of the year and power professional for dependability and leadership. Presenters across the district highlighted long service, community engagement and extracurricular programs: School 7 noted a school garden project; School 8 described an after-school Zumba program; Garfield High School discussed a partnership that brings students from Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine into classrooms.
The board also presented Purple Star recognition to its middle and high schools for supporting military-connected students, calling the designation "an example of some of the things we do" to help children maintain continuity during moves.
Musicmakers International gave a short presentation on its in-district music-therapy work. Malcolm Pope, who said the group partners with schools and Montclair State to align goals with students' IEPs and to document progress, described clinical music therapy as distinct from standard music education: "Music therapy is not a music class ... it uses music as an intervention to help students improve communication, focus, behavior, and give them emotional regulation," he said.
The superintendent reported the district's Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying (HIB) self-assessment scores—"self-reporting" measures tied to policy and professional development rather than case counts—with a district score of 70 and school-level scores ranging from 67 to 72. He said the self-assessment is a tool for identifying where training and policy attention are needed.
On business matters, the board moved grouped resolutions by category. Consent resolutions (8.1) passed on roll call. Finance resolutions (10.1–10.17) were approved with a recorded abstention from one member on a specific check and a single No vote on one item. Education resolutions (12.1–12.23) carried but recorded recusals for item 12.7(#2) by multiple members. Facilities and policy resolutions on the agenda were approved by roll call.
During the public-comment period, Nathan Scovanny of Morris Avenue asked whether the district had approved a company identified as "Kinetic Solutions" to measure teachers' feet and provide orthotic footwear, alleging the vendor billed insurance and that checks were being endorsed and turned over to the company. "That's ripe for fraud," he said, asking who approved the program and where the money goes.
Dr. Tomko responded that the program was an approved countywide wellness program used across Bergen County; he described the usual billing process for co-pay checks and rejected the public claim of widespread fraud as rhetorical, saying: "I just wanna make that very clear, that none of that is happening. It's an approved program." He invited the speaker to forward the email he referenced so the administration could review it further.
Board members closed the meeting with congratulations to honorees and volunteers and a reminder of upcoming volunteer events with the local VFW. The meeting was adjourned following a motion and second.
Votes at a glance: - Resolutions 8.1 (consent): approved on roll call. - Finance 10.1–10.17: approved on roll call; one abstention recorded (check 021510) and at least one No vote recorded (member listed as "Mister Gaba" voted No on a finance item). - Education 12.1–12.23: approved on roll call; recorded recusals on item 12.7(#2) by Mister Rado, Missus Pateri and Mister Focarino; remaining items carried. - Facilities 14.1–14.2 and Policy 17.1: approved on roll call.
The board is expected to continue district business at future meetings; several presenters noted follow-ups and the next recognition presentation is scheduled in June.
