Awards, goals and uncertainty at Lenape Valley school board meeting

STANHOPE — On September 20 about two dozen teachers and supervisors came to the monthly board of education meeting at Lenape Valley Regional High School. Some were there to see veteran teachers Tom Lusto and Pete Corea receive the Governor’s Teacher Award and the Teacher of the Year Award, respectively. Superintendent Paul A. Palek, Jr. gave the honors. “Mr. Lusto has been a teacher at Lenape for 32 of the 36 years in his educational career,” said Palek. This year Lusto teaches chemistry, physics, bioethics, and advanced biology. “He is a true educator," said Palek. "He loves the interaction with the students in the classroom and his impact had truly been felt in creating and moving forward the advanced placement biology program. Our annual scores reflect that.” Lusto has also coached the varsity girls' basketball team, the freshmen boys' basketball team, and is the school’s golf coach. According to Palek, Corea was equally deserving to receive the Teacher of the Year Award. Corea is one of the school’s physical education teachers. “He is one of those faculty members that is the heart and soul of Lenape,” said Palek. “This is Corea’s 38th year here, and his last.” “He coached 34 of the 38 years. He was very successful as the head varsity girls' softball coach, has been involved in football as an assistant, as well as girls' basketball, baseball, and filled in for golf," said Palek. "He has also been the organizer for our very successful student volleyball tournament that is held in March.” Palek also received a prize that evening; the Superintendent of the Year Award, selected by the Sussex County Superintendents Roundtable Association. Palek is starting his eighth year at Lenape. “It’s been a pleasure,” he said. Three goals for 20121-12 school year School board President Douglas Stout announced there are three goals the regional high school will focus on through June 2012. The first goal is to negotiate and finalize the teacher’s contracts for the following year, 2012-13. The school has been in session since August 30 and the staff are currently working without contracts. Stout said the board doesn’t want to be in the same situation next year. The New Jersey Department of Education recently increased Lenape’s 2011-12 state school aid by $213,249. According to Robert Klinck, board secretary and assistant superintendent, $200,000 will be spent on maintenance. The second goal is to replace the windows in the downstairs classrooms, repave the asphalt roads and install new sidewalks. The money might also be used to continue repairing the seams on the roof. The remaining $13,249 will be put into the general fund budget. The third goal is to research the possibility of using alternative energy sources for the district, including solar panels. “We are going to bid to the county in another month,” said Klinck. “This is a joint project with about ten schools in Sussex County. Hopefully it was save us money and give us a greener building.” Teacher contracts still in limbo Board President Douglas Stout knew that the staff attended this month’s meeting for one other reason. Teacher contracts at Lenape have yet to be renewed for the 2011-12 academic year. Spanish teacher Sharon Mullen stood up on behalf of her colleagues and got right to the point. She said has been a teacher at Lenape for the past 38 years. “Lenape was one of 38 districts in the state to take a pay freeze,” said Mullen. “We did so in the spirit of Lenape Valley and to contribute in times of trouble. We ask that you negotiate and finalize a contract.” Stout explained that the BOE has had several meetings with the Lenape Valley Education Association (LVEA) and will continue to do so until they meet an agreement. The LVEA is comprised of teachers, secretaries and custodians, and is affiliated with the NJ Educators Association.