ROXBURY RECEIVES A GRANT TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE MODEL FOR STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
By Danielle K. Lynch, Director of Community Relations and Community School

15 September 2003, Succasunna, NJ…The New Jersey Department of Education is in the process of developing a comprehensive model for student support services in New Jersey's public school districts. The Department, with the assistance of MGT of America, Inc, is working with New Jersey school districts to implement and pilot test the models during the 2003-04 school year.

Through a competitive grant awards process, the Department of Education selected thirteen districts that are participating in this pilot project.  The Roxbury Township Public School District was selected as a grant recipient.  Mrs. Audrey Wallock, Assistant Principal of Lincoln / Roosevelt School and Committee Chair of this particular grant, states that, “This opportunity will enable the district to design and implement an effective system for delivering and sustaining student support services for the K-12 population the district serves.” 

Project Team Members include: Audrey Wallock, Committee Chair, Carol Pellet - Guidance Counselor at Franklin Elementary School, Barbara Jupiter - Nurse at Roxbury High School, and Colleen White - Student Assistant/Substance Awareness Counselor (SAC) at Roxbury High School.  These members have made available to the community of Roxbury extensive information regarding District Support and Services, as well as Out of District Resources.

Dr. Ripatrazone, Superintendent of Roxbury Schools, reported at the September 8, 2003 Board of Education meeting that through the efforts of the above committee members, a wealth of information has been gathered regarding In and Out of District Support Services and is now available via the Roxbury District’s web site, www.roxbury.org.  According to Dr. Ripatrazone, “The site will be updated regularly with current information for students, staff, parents, administrators, and community members.”

This grant process also provides opportunities for input from the Board of Education, district administrators, faculty, staff, parents and students.  In June of 2003, a focus group met, comprised of individuals from the above-mentioned groups. This group began to discuss issues to include in a Student Support Services Action Plan.  During the week of September 28^th, another group will convene comprised of a representative of the Board of Education, district administrators, teachers, parents and community members.  This group will further discuss the action plans and possible goals for the up coming school year. 

In addition to the efforts of all of this work benefiting the Roxbury community as a whole, the Roxbury Support Services model will be shared with districts throughout the state via the New Jersey Department of Education along with the other twelve districts’, which have received the grant.

As mentioned above, the new Support Services section of our Roxbury District’s web site includes In and Out of District Support Services such as programs, groups and services like the:  Pupil Assistance Committee, Intervention and Referral Services, Guidance programs for the elementary, middle and high school levels, Core Team, and School Health Services.  Additionally, the Out of District resources link offers community members names, addresses and phone numbers that would be helpful with: Children’s Services, Family Services, Hotlines, Recreation, Bereavement, Hospitals / Rehabilitation, Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders / Weight Management, Diabetes Management, Parenting Information, and Women’s Issues.

CONTACT:  Mrs. Audrey Wallock  (973) 584-0801