Richard E. Byrd

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Messages from
Dr. Verducci's office 

 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Superintendent of Schools David Verducci at verduccid@glenrocknj.org or call 201-445-7700,

ext. 8950

 

 

APRIL 20, 2010

 

 



ENVISIONING THE FUTURE 

Dr. Verducci presented his long-term strategic plan "for actualizing the full potential of the Glen Rock Public Schools" at the December 14 Board of Ed meeting.  See his presentation

 

 NEW! The public portion of BOE meetings  now begins at 7:30 p.m.  


November 21, 2009

 
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
 
Every day the economic news seems to be the same; the financial meltdown seems to continue on toward a bottom that never materializes. Reading the papers only seems to reinforce every negative emotion of which we are capable. As Thomas Paine put it a few centuries ago, "these are the times that try men’s souls."
 
But as the founding fathers also realized, times of great challenge must be met not with only great effort and courage, but with faith, with hope, and charity toward others.
 
All of which begins with family and friends.
 
So this Thanksgiving, I will not only offer up my thanks for the blessings of my family and friends, but I will remember to express my deep and abiding gratitude for having the privilege of spending time in a place like Glen Rock, with people who understand and share this great truth.
 
My best wishes to you and yours for a Thanksgiving spent in the presence of those you love, remembering all the things that really matter.
 
David C. Verducci


September 19, 2009

UPDATE:  NO DECISION YET ON MASS INOCULATION OF CHILDREN AGAINST H1N1

Please be advised of the following information as it relates to the distribution of flu vaccine to staff, students, and community members.

With regard to the mass inoculation of children against the H1N1 virus, you are advised that as of yesterday, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE by County and State Health Officials as to the distribution of any vaccines either to children, school employees, or community members. It is expected that these health officers will not release their coordinated plan of action until after September 23, 2009 at the earliest. Schools are being discussed as the likely venue for vaccine distribution, but the present thinking is that

a)      the inoculation of children will be voluntary;

b)      any program of vaccinating the young would likely be done on a Saturday as a parent or guardian would be required to be present and to sign appropriate release forms; and

c)       that school personnel (i.e., school nurses) would NOT be required to administer the shots due to the personal and professional liability issues surrounding such participation.

It thus appears that the question of exactly who would administer the vaccine is still a very open question. Further, final decisions have not been made as to a plan for the logistics of distribution as the tens of thousands of individual vaccine doses would have to be delivered, refrigerated, and stored at ‘drop sites’ that are yet to be determined.

This in formation was given to all Bergen County Superintendents of Schools at their regular monthly meeting on Friday, September 18, 2009, by the Executive County Superintendent of Schools and therefore may be considered to official. It was also confirmed by a colleague who last week attended a regional Board of Health meeting held to discuss this topic. It is also consistent with the information distributed to Chief School Administrators throughout the state at the Educators’ Pandemic Influenza Summit held on August 23, 2009.

All of this is however, based on the larger assumption that sufficient doses of the new H 1N1 vaccine will be available and deemed safe for distribution within the general population.

It was with this question in mind that Middle School nurse Stephanie Nerney spoke to our school physician, Dr. Fenkart, about the availability of both H1N1 and regular flu vaccines. Dr. Fenkart anticipated having a sufficient supply on hand as would most physicians, particularly pediatricians, and that most people would likely go to their regular health providers for inoculation. He also stated that he would stay in touch regarding any new developments.

You may also have heard a story that is currently circulating that Wyckoff already has plans in place to vacci nate every child. This is NOT the case. As some districts choose to do each year, the Wyckoff district is making available REGULAR flu shots (NOT the h1N1 vaccine) to its faculty and support staff only for a fee of $25 per per son. No plans have been made for any other distribution of any vaccine in line with the information described earlier in this message. This was confirmed by the receipt of the actual email distributed to Wyckoff employees by their superintendent of schools. I am asking principals to forward this email message to their school nurses as my request that they speak to local health officials to explore the viability, and staff interest, in such a voluntary program of employee flu shots (i.e., regular flu vaccine).

Finally, please be assured that we are, and have been, on top of this situation and will continue to keep everyone informed about new information as it comes through. We will utilize the most appropriate information delivery vehicles systems amongst those available to us (e.g., letters home, Honeywell Emergency Notification, district website, etc.) to ensure timely notification about the latest develop ments to all faculty, staff, parents, and community members. In the interim, please continue to refer to our website for the our most up-to-date information and health-related web links.

Thank you very much.

David C. Verducci


Glen Rock Board of Ed launches e-newsletter

The Community Relations committee of the Glen Rock Board of Education has begun a new communications plan to reach out to all community members. The goal of the program is to share timely, relevant information with anyone interested in staying informed about news and views from the board. The first initiative is an e-newsletter, to be published five times each year.

 

The fall issue of "Rock Talk" is available here. Become a subscriber! Receive "Rock Talk" via e-mail: Visit the district Web site and sign up. For more information, contact Communications committee chair Randi Blumberg at ranjb87@gmail.com.

 


 NEW  2009-2010 Board of Ed Meeting Schedule

Attendance rotation for Byrd HSA liaisons

 

The Board will commence all meetings at 7 p.m. in the Dr. Dario Valcarcel Media Center 
(high school library), 400 Hamilton Ave, for closed work sessions; the regular Board meetings reconvene at 7:30 p.m.  Please check the District Web site for any changes.

 

 

Glen Rock Board of Education liasons from Byrd School are responsible for attending their assigned meetings  and sending (within 24 hours please) a brief update to Martine Levine that describes the major highlights.  


If unable to attend on your designated night, please switch with another committee member and notify Martine of the change. 

Meeting Date                       Byrd Liaison

September 14, 2009

Gretchen Horwitz

October 5, 2009

Jessica Miele

October 19, 2009

TBD

November 9, 2009

Sharon Scarpelli

November 23, 2009

Horwitz

December 14, 2009

Miele

January 11, 2010

TBD 

January 25, 2010

Scarpelli

February 8, 2010

Horwitz

February 22, 2010

Miele

March 8, 2010

TBD 

March 22, 2010

Scarpelli

April 12, 2010

Horwitz

May 3, 2010

Miele

  


Gerald J. Vernotica, Ed.D.

Assistant Commissioner

Division of Field Services

 

 SWINE FLU UPDATE - MAY 3, 2009 

Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus  Information

 

DHSS Update of 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Cases in New Jersey

 

 

 SWINE FLU UPDATE - APRIL 27, 2009 

Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus  Information for School and Childcare Settings

 

No cases of swine influenza (H1N1), known as swine flu, have been detected in New Jersey as of April 26, 2009.

 

However, this is a rapidly evolving situation.   As more information becomes available and the situation unfolds, guidance is likely to change in the upcoming days and weeks. 

 

It is important for people to stay informed by monitoring information provided by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS). 

 

Guidance for School and Childcare Settings
At this time, New Jersey recommends that schools and childcare settings increase education on respiratory hygiene and monitor attendees for acute febrile respiratory illness.


Staff and children (as developmentally appropriate) should all be taught and asked to follow these steps that prevent the transmission of infections such as influenza: 

§         Cover your coughs and sneezes.

§         Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

§         Wash hands frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.

§         Stay home if you’re sick, especially with a fever.

 

School or childcare participants with acute febrile respiratory illness, regardless of travel history, should be sent home according to facilities-established procedures with instructions to stay at home until 24-48 hours after their symptoms resolve. 

 

Instructions should be given to seek medical care with worsening of symptoms.  At this time, exclusion is not recommended for school or childcare participants who have recently traveled to an affected area and who do not have symptoms. 

 

Disease Reporting and Consultation

To report suspected cases of swine influenza or outbreaks of influenza-like illness, please contact the local health department in the jurisdiction in which the school is located. 

We are interested in testing individuals presenting with influenza-like illness (fever, cough, sore throat), mild respiratory illness (nasal congestion, rhinorrhea) with or without fever, vomiting, diarrhea, myalgia, headache, chills, fatigue, dyspnea and conjunctivitis.  Has had at least one potential exposure within 10 days of symptom onset as listed below:

 

   A.)    History of travel to an area where swine influenza H1N1 documented in animals
         and/or humans (see http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm ); OR

   B.)    Close contact (within 6 feet) to an ill patient who was confirmed or suspected to have
         swine influenza; OR

   C.)    Close contact (within 6 feet) to an ill patient who has traveled to one of the areas above;
          OR

   D.)    Recent exposure to pigs; OR

   E.)    Works with live influenza virus in a laboratory.


FOR MORE INFORMATION

 

    U.S. CDC Swine Influenza Web site:  www.cdc.gov/flu/swine/       

 

    Infection control and treatmentwww.cdc.gov/

     

    NJ Dept of Health and Senior Services  www.state.nj.us/health

 

SCHOOL-SPECIFIC RESOURCES

Podcast: 

All you have to do is wash your hands

Teaches children how and when to wash their hands properly. 

http://www2a.cdc.gov/podcasts/player.asp?f=11072

Downloadable Flu Prevention Materials for Schools/Day Care facilities:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/

Preventing the Spread of Influenza (the Flu) in ChildCare Settings:

Recommendations for schools and child care providers http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/infectioncontrol/childcaresettings.htm

Fact sheet:

Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School 

http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm

Tips and streaming video

For parents and children about the steps and benefits of effective hand washing - "Ounce of Prevention"

http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/

Clean hands save lives:

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/

Recommendations to Reduce Disease Transmission from Animals in Public Settings   "Hand Washing to Reduce Disease"

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5605a4.htm

Teacher's Corner Activity (BAM! Body and Mind):

Students learn that "clean" hands may not be so clean after all, and the critical importance of washing their hands as a way to prevent the spread of disease.

http://www.bam.gov/teachers/epidemiology_hand_wash.html

Video:

CDC TV - Put Your Hands Together: Scientists estimate that people are not washing their hands often or well enough and may transmit up to 80% of all infections by their hands.

http://www.cdc.gov/CDCTV/HandsTogether/


Posters:

Cover your Cough: Stop the Spread of Germs that Make You and Others Sick!  Printable formats of "Cover Your Cough". Posters only available as PDF files. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm


Posters and Materials:

CDC - Be a Germ Stopper For Community and Public Settings Like Schools and Child Care Facilities).  Cover Your Cough also available for health care settings.

http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/materials.htm


Toolkit:

"It's a SNAP" materials help prevent school absenteeism Activities for administrators, teachers, students and others to help stop the spread of germs in schools.
www.itsasnap.org/snap/about.asp.

 

Scrub Club

Kids can learn about health and hygiene and become members of the Scrub Club.

The site features a fun and educational animated Webisode with seven "soaper-heros" who battle nasty villains who represent germs and bacteria. Kids learn the six key steps to proper hand-washing through a webisode, hand-washing song, interactive games, and activities for kids, and educational materials for teachers are also available to download.

http://www.scrubclub.org/

 

 

CONTACT THE BOARD  

 The e-mails for the Board of Ed trustees can be found on the Glen Rock Public Schools Web site at www.glenrocknj.org > Board of Education > Board Member Contact Information  


BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTE 

The new board members are:
  - Gene Calderon
  - Barbara Steuert
  - Anita Kalra
  - Sheldon Hirschberg