Director of Technology and Communications Paul Zeller said that he and Pascack Hills intern, Samantha Goldman, plan to use social media to improve communications between the Board of Education and the public during Monday night’s BOE meeting held virtually through Zoom. 

“Goal number one is to establish a Board of Education Communications Committee, which is already happening,” Zeller said. “Number two is to plan for more frequent communications from the board and number three is to implement a board-specific newsletter with regards to opening operations. We are going to focus primarily on goals two and three.”

Goldman said that the most “efficient” way to communicate with parents, educators, and students is through social media platforms, so she and Zeller have created a Facebook account to inform the public about events going on in the community. They intend on making an Instagram account, as well. 

“This change in communication and pushing out information rather than having to hunt it for on a website is a great first step [to bettering communication between the BOE and the public],” Hillsdale resident Anthony DeRosa said. 

During comments from the public, Hillsdale residents Kristin and Chris Martin enforced their complaint made against BOE member Arnold Schur, asking how the BOE handles behavioral complaints against other board members.

“I think we as the public deserve better treatment from the people we vote for that sit on the Board of Education [and] represent not only the students but the parents and the citizens of this town. You guys are held to a higher standard,” Chris Martin said.

The BOE accepted the resignations of PV Instructional Assistant Jane Rodes and District Assistant Payroll Secretary Diane Montemurro for the purposes of retirement. Both resignations will be effective Dec. 31. Lindsay Schels has been approved by the BOE to replace Montemurro as District Assistant Payroll Manager starting Nov. 1. 

“Jane has been a wonderful part of Pascack Valley High School – she provided great support to our students who need it most. She’s going to be sorely missed,” District Superintendent Erik Gundersen said. “Diane for years and years has been making sure that all [employee payments] are done accurately and in a timely manner so we also wish her all the best.” 

The BOE also approved Megan Alston as advisor to PV Marching Band Assistant Director, and Jonathan Melchiorre, and Melissa Gargiulo as split advisors to PV Drama Assistant Director. PV PV physical education teacher Dana Amato, Peter Bilash, and Kerry Dressel have all been approved as volunteers for PV’s Girls Basketball Team. 

The BOE also donated $500 to the Parent Faculty Association (PFA) of Pascack Hills and the Parent Faculty Organization (PFO) of PV. 

PV Italian teachers Francesca Silvano and Angie DeLima were each awarded $4,000 by the Italian American On Education Grant. The BOE also accepted the State of New Jersey Department of Education Corona Relief Fund Grant Allocation for the 2020-21 school year in the amount of $55,043.