BOE Statement – September 20, 2021

September 20, 2021

Hi, my name is Tessie Thomas and as President of the Montclair PTA Council, I am speaking today on behalf of PTAC 2021-22. I would like to reintroduce PTAC by sharing some of our collective thoughts and focus for this year. The elected officers of PTAC are – Brian Fleischer…

10 PTA Membership Myths & Truths

September 14, 2021

PTAC MPS101 Transition to Elementary / Middle Schools

September 14, 2021

New to Montclair Public Schools? Is your kid transitioning to elementary or middle schools? Starting kindergarten or 6th grade? On April 14, 2021, PTAC held two sessions over Zoom for incoming families. Superintendent Ponds kicked off the event and PTA Presidents from each school addressed school specific questions. These sessions…

PTAC Elects New Leadership 2021-22

September 14, 2021

The Montclair PTA Council elected a new executive board, which will take office July 1. Current president Deborah Villarreal-Hadley and treasurer Kristin Wood-Werner will be stepping down after four years of service as required by the Council’s by-laws. The new executive board consists of: Tessie Thomas, president (2021-2023) Reggie Valentine, vice president…

Opening Day – Montclair Schools Press Release

September 9, 2021

This morning Montclair Public Schools welcomed its students back to school for full-day, in-person instruction. “We have worked tirelessly to get to this moment and despite setbacks as a result of Hurricane Ida, our buildings were ready for our return,” said Superintendent Jonathan Ponds. The district was able to implement…

Montclair Schools Reaffirm: We’ll Open Thursday After Ida Damage

September 8, 2021

Montclair school officials say despite damage to multiple buildings in Ida, students will return today, Sept. 9, for full, five-day-a-week, in-person instruction for the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. “We will be open and ready for students on Thursday, Sept. 9,” schools superintendent Jonathan Ponds wrote in…

General membership meeting of 6/14/2021

July 14, 2021

In attendance: Tessie Thomas, Courtney Redfern, Obdulia  (Obie) Miranda-Woodley, Andrew Gideon, Nina DeRosa, Dr. Kalisha Morgan, Susan Zartman, Allison Silverstein, Brian Fleischer, Linda Kow, Amy Uhlfelder, Irene Rosenthal (Marco Pedersen), Jada Roman, Maelle Fonteneau, Betty Shvetz, Sarah Spagnola Young, Reggie Valentine, June Raegner, Kayla Crawley, Patty Gamcsik, Deborah Villarreal-Hadley, Norrinda…

EAROG Committee of the Montclair PTAC Statement on Whistleblower Report

June 6, 2021

Dear Dr. Ponds, Dr. Morgan and Montclair Board of Education Members, Thank you for your service to our community and our children. The Equity, Anti Racism and Opportunity Gap subcommittee within PTAC has been tasked with ensuring all students, families and individuals in our community are treated fairly and with…

BOE Statement 5/17/21 – Whistleblower Letter

May 17, 2021

Thank you Dr. Ponds for arranging such a thorough review of conditions in our buildings. Welcome to all of our new BOE members and congratulation to all of our schools’ educator of the year award winners. On such a celebratory night it pains me to have to contribute the following……

General Membership Meeting Minutes for May 9, 2021

May 9, 2021

In attendance: Tessie Thomas, Deborah Villarreal-Hadley, Kathryn Fogliano, A Gideon, Anna Kondic, Brian Fleischer, Susan Gardner, Courtney Redfern, Amira Williams, Jada Roman, Reggie Valentine, Diane Tehranian, Norrinda Hayat, Marci Clark,  Marco Pedersen, Patty Gamcsik, Mary Ann Vanco, arah Spagnola Young, Holly Lehr-Hahn, Natalie Sullivan, Linda Kow, Beth Calamia, Irene Rosenthal,…