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Linden City Board honors former member, recognizes staff and students, and hears plea to boost student enrollment in state workforce pipeline
Summary
At its regular May meeting the Linden City Board of Education honored the late former board member Nicholas Nigro, announced three upcoming retirements, and heard staff member Pramla Natarajan ask the board to help increase participation in a state-funded Youth Transition to Work program, which enrolled only 10–15 students out of nearly 500 seniors this year.
Board President Miss Thomas opened the Linden City Board of Education’s regular meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance before the board observed that adequate public notice had been provided under the Open Public Meetings Act.
Superintendent Dr. Perkins led a moment of silence for former board member Nicholas Nigro, who served from 1994 through 2007, and announced three staff retirements effective July 1: Janice Argenters (special-education teacher, 25 years), Paul Gorsby Gorski (social-studies teacher, 25 years), and Magdalene Tomco (family involvement specialist, 19 years). The superintendent also provided district metrics: current enrollment of 6,467 students (an increase of 19 from the previous month), a 92% daily attendance rate and a chronic absenteeism rate of 23% (compared with 22% last year). Dr. Perkins listed current vacancies, including openings for science teachers, paraprofessionals and special-education staff, and said those positions are posted on the district website.
The board presented a certificate to staff member Pramla Natarajan for her leadership of the Linden Youth Enjoy Science Club and the district’s fourth annual health and science fair. Natarajan described the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development Youth Transition to Work program, which she said provides one‑week post‑graduation training that can lead to paid employment in hospitals, yields approximately 13–15 college credits, and offers free tuition, uniforms and transportation. "This program has the power to truly change the lives of our students," Natarajan told the board, adding that it expands opportunities for students into healthcare careers.
Natarajan said the district was able to recruit only about 10 to 15 students into the program this year out of nearly 500 graduating seniors and asked the board for help to increase participation. She requested the district promote the opportunity on the district website, raise it at parent meetings and senior events, involve guidance staff in outreach, and consider arranging busing so students could travel together to Newark for entrance testing.
The board also recognized seventh grader Sori Nakanishi for a districtwide "pillar of kindness" initiative; Sori told the board the project grew from writing letters to staff and has expanded across schools. Student representative Anis Moss summarized recent student events, including Decision Day for seniors, prom, arts presentations and athletics highlights, and reminded seniors of deadlines for grad-bash tickets and optional laptop purchases.
The meeting proceeded to committee reports and routine business, with the board approving education, finance, buildings and personnel committee recommendations on roll-call votes.
