The Keynote Speaker, Edwina Lee, The Executive Director of the New Jersey School Boards, applauded the crowd of participants for choosing to be at the Forum. “Given the hectic lives we live today with multiple commitments at any given time on any given day, it is a testament to the Plainfield’s commitment to re-establishing itself as the Queen City with all of the rich history and tradition that Plainfield has known throughout its illustrious history. It is time to pull together as a Table of One and weave of new tapestry of what Plainfield wants to become inclusive of all the faces of the Community.”

Mrs. Lee asked the audience to think about the word Community and how the word can be divided into the parts Common and Unity. “We must look at what we all have in common here today. Our concerns, aspirations, visions, hopes, and the common question ‘What else can we do for our children in school’ ? With the word “unity” Mrs. Lee asked the audience to look beyond our differing opinions of what the needs are of the next generation and what we feel should be the priorities and find the “unifying factor that brings us together. Is it fear, so we get involved? Is it concern for the direction of our youth? Is it that we want our children’s dreams to be greater than ours? What unifies us all here today is our commitment. We would not be here if we did not care about all of these things. No one wants to be left out. It’s not easy work, but we must all listen and talk to each other. We all hold a piece to the puzzle that is the solution to make a thumbprint on the next generation. ”

Political leaders Assemblyman Jerry Green and City Councilman and Board of Education Liaison Dom Davis were present and took the opportunity to champion the need for dialogue with the Board of Education and the District Administration and pledged their support to Dr. Howard. Councilman Davis exclaimed: “Our Superintendent of Schools Paula Howard has done an excellent job and we must support her in any way we can.”

After the keynote address, the participants divided themselves into three discussion sessions facilitated by staff members of School Based Youth Services. These three sessions were full of lively dialogue. Community members volunteered concerns and insights about the Public Schools and the community at large. All of their comments and suggestions were documented and will serve as the basis for the development of a community needs assessment for the district.

Plainfield Board of Education President Lenny Cathcart enumerated the BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRICT GOALS 2006- 2007:  

Student Achievement:
Goal:      Improve test scores at the middle and high school level
Goal:      Improve AYP status for language arts at the elementary level

Safety and Security:
Goal:     Increase expectations and engagement of students in a productive classroom environment

Community Relations:
Goal:     Establish a community planning day.
Goal:     Expand key communicator program to include informal community leaders.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paula E. Howard presented an animated and informative slideshow presentation District Update 2006- 2007 which succinctly and factually outlined the major changes implemented throughout the district thus far in her tenure through the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, highlighting in particular the positive changes in student achievement levels. For example, in the 2004-2005 School Year, three Schools made AYP in Math, three schools made AYP in Language Arts Literacy and only two made AYP in Both. Last year, 2005-2006, nine schools made AYP in Math, three schools in Language Arts Literacy and three school made AYP in both. The presentation also highlighted the many outstanding individual accomplishments our students have made in academic, athletics, community service and extracurricular pursuits. Equally enumerated were the many community partners and financial grants that have been brought into the district in the last year which total almost $11.5 million dollars to supplement our district budget. The presentation ended with a clear message:

Knowledge = Power

At the Plainfield Public Schools

Knowledge is our Business.

Support the Plainfield Public Schools by spreading the facts !

The powerpoint presentation District Update 2006- 2007 will be available on the district website with full narration and Comcast Cable Channel 74 in March . A full list of areas highlighted and discussed in the break out sessions will be posted on the District Website once they have been organized into manageable categories.