Welcome to Montvale
Public Schools

On Monday, May 7, the Board of Education named Mr. Larry Hughes as the Interim Superintendent to replace Bill Belluzzi, who will be retiring from the district on June 30.

Mr. Hughes served as a teacher and principal at all levels of public education in Bergen and Passaic Counties, and was Superintendent of the Demarest Schools prior to his retirement.

Since that time he has had a variety of interim positions, most recently as Principal at the Tisdale School in Ramsey, and previously as Superintendent in Allendale and Principal of Tenafly Middle School.

Most notably for Montvale, Mr. Hughes very capably served as the Interim Superintendent here in 2008 – 2009. His vast experience in New Jersey education and his familiarity with Montvale will make him a true asset as the district undertakes the search for its next Superintendent.

Mr. Belluzzi and Mr. Hughes will work together closely in the upcoming weeks to ensure the smoothest possible transition.

   The school district has just received an outstanding report from the New Jersey Department of Education QSAC visit in February. Montvale has been designated a high performing school district with impressive percentage scores in each of the following five categories that QSAC measures: Instruction and Program – 93%; Operations – 95%; Fiscal Management – 100%; Governance – 100%; Personnel – 100%. All of the students, teachers, staff, administrators, and Board members are commended for this outstanding achievement.

   Kudos to the Fieldstone Middle School Administration and Staff on a very successful administration of the NJ ASK. Everything went very smoothly. Students in Grades 3 and 4 will have their assessments beginning on May 7; we wish those students all the best as they demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

   The revised 2011-2012 and the adopted 2012-2013 school calendars have been distributed by e-mail and are available on the district website under “Calendars.”

   While Board Elections are still over five months away, the deadline for applying for a Board seat is much closer. This year there are seats for two three-year terms and one two-year term. Petitions for citizens wishing to run for open seats on the Board will need to be completed and submitted to the Bergen County Clerk’s Office by 4:00 p.m., on June 5. Petitions can be obtained from the Montvale Board of Education Office at the Fieldstone Middle School or from the County Clerk’s Office in Hackensack.

   The Board of Education and the Borough are now in contract to transfer ownership of School No. 2 back to the Borough. Due to a series of unplanned events, it seemed the most sensible option for the Board to dispose of the property in this manner, earning a little over $700,000 for the property. Plans are to use this money to complete the planned renovations at Fieldstone Middle School so that security can be increased with a better location of the main offices and needed additional instructional spaces. The project will include an additional classroom so that a special education self-contained program can be housed at the middle school, thereby saving considerable funds for the district. The good news for all Montvale residents is that neither the purchase of the building and land by the Borough nor the planned renovations will come from tax dollars.

   Although the official Kindergarten Registration dates have passed, the parent of any child who will turn five by October 1, 2012, should register him or her for Kindergarten. Please call the Memorial School Office to make arrangements (201)-391-2900.

Have a great month!