Task Force Structure

In response to the feedback we have received through emails, we want to address the concerns of Mr. Earling, Mr. Caruso and Mr. Ross appearing on the task force website. The task force met this morning without any of the three gentlemen. This is a stand alone committee consisting of representatives from all unions and parent representatives. Mr. Brian Bovio is now reaching out to parents to solicit people who can donate time to this task force. These new members will be determined through a process outlined at the parent meeting on Friday. Mr. Bovio is reaching out to parents who have expressed interest in membership on the task force.

Mr. Earling, Mr. Caruso, and Mr. Ross appeared as part of the task force because we need access to the results of the inspections and cleanings. We also need access to district equipment and information we would normally not have access to. In addition, we need access to the district policies and procedures as well. This group can not change or modify any Board policies.

Moving forward, because he is the district’s Chief School Administrator, Mr. Earling is required legally to act on the task force as a liaison for the district and the Board of Education. He will serve as a member of the committee in this capacity. His job will be to relay information to the task force that the district is receiving. Our job is to organize that information, along with the information we receive, in preparation for release to the public. Any information we release that is communicated to the public through this task force needs to be viewed, by code, prior to release, by the Chief School Administrator. Because this committee has been established to ensure consistency of communication with the public and the media, Mr. Ross and Mr. Caruso will now be forwarding all requests for information to this group. This includes any media requests or interviews.

In addition, the Holly Glen representatives introduced at the Board meeting decided that there was enough representation from the teachers on the committee and are re-focusing their efforts to help their colleagues move. The email address that we provided and the Facebook page is managed by the union stakeholders and parent representatives of this task force.The task force created the website yesterday with information that we requested from Central Administration.

In addition, the task force now has access to TTI and All Risk directly. Please know that both companies are working together so you may see activity by both of them at the schools. Also, the NJEA, which is the state union representing the teachers and secretaries, will have access to an industrial hygienist and indoor air quality specialist. NJEA has partnered with the Healthy Schools Now Coalition to adopt the best practices of maintaining health schools. We also feel the need to address the fact that the task force did not have a second company in to do inspections of Holly Glen. The MTEA, MTAES, and the MTFT, with the health of our members in mind, hired an independent contractor. Their results were similar to TTI’s results. This was done side-by-side with TTI.

In addition, Brian Bovio, our parent representative, walked the buildings with TTI today. No other member of the task force or district administration was involved in this walk through. Finally, we would like to point out that this task force is made up of volunteers from all stakeholder groups. No member of this task force is receiving any pay from this district to act as a member of this group. We will meet daily in the afternoon to address concerns and issue updates to the public. We will make every effort to release information by 5PM each day. Please see our daily update below.

Thank You,

Monroe Township Air Quality Communications Task Force