Fair Lawn Public Schools

Fair Lawn Public Schools
Address
37-01 Fair Lawn Avenue Fair Lawn , Bergen County , New Jersey , 07410 United States
Coordinates	40°56′35″N74°06′24″W / 40.94307°N 74.10667°W / 40.94307; -74.10667
District information
Grades	PreK-12
Superintendent	Rui Dionisio
Business administrator	Danielle Mancuso
Schools	9
Students and staff
Enrollment	5,529 (as of 2022–23) [1]
Faculty	458.4 FTEs [1]
Student–teacher ratio	12.1:1 [1]
Other information
District Factor Group	GH
Website	www.fairlawnschools.org
Ind. Per pupil District spending Rank (*) K-12 average  %± vs. average 1A Total Spending $19,430 68 $18,891 2.9% 1 Budgetary Cost 15,866 77 14,783 7.3% 2 Classroom Instruction 9,329 76 8,763 6.5% 6 Support Services 2,541 69 2,392 6.2% 8 Administrative Cost 1,809 97 1,485 21.8% 10 Operations & Maintenance 1,729 59 1,783 −3.0% 13 Extracurricular Activities 330 84 268 23.1% 16 Median Teacher Salary 71,390 81 64,043 Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending. [2] *Of K-12 districts with more than 3,500 students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=103

The Fair Lawn Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district serving students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Fair Lawn in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. ^[3]

As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of nine schools, had an enrollment of 5,529 students and 458.4 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. ^[1]

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "GH", the third-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J. ^[4]

Awards and recognition

In both the 1990–91 and 1997-98 school years, Fair Lawn High School received the National Blue Ribbon Award of Excellence from the United States Department of Education, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. ^[5]

In 2016, Lyncrest Elementary School was one of ten schools in New Jersey recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics. ^{[6] [7]}

Henry B. Milnes Elementary School was one of nine schools in New Jersey honored in 2020 by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. ^{[8] [9]}

History

In December 2014, Fair Lawn voters approved by a greater than 2-to-1 margin a $12.8 million expansion and capital improvement referendum to be implemented by the district. The referendum funded the initiation within two years of a full-day kindergarten in the district, a program offered by most districts countywide, as well as a roof replacement program at six schools. The expenditures were covered by $2.2 million in state aid, with the remaining $10.6 million covered by bonds issued by the school system. ^[10] The full-day kindergarten program was slated to begin in September 2016. ^[11]

Schools

Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics. ^[12] ) are: ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Preschool

• Thomas Edison School ^[16] for preschool

Elementary schools

• John A. Forrest Elementary School ^[17] with 269 students in grades K-4
  • Damon Placenti, principal ^[18]
• Lyncrest Elementary School ^[19] with 207 students in grades K-4
  • Kelly Diee, principal ^[20]
• Henry B. Milnes Elementary School ^[21] with 428 students in grades K-4
  • Stephanie Primavera, principal ^[22]
• Radburn Elementary School ^[23] with 393 students in grades K-4
  • Jill Lindsay, principal ^[24]
• Warren Point Elementary School ^[25] with 392 students in grades K-4
  • Sue Gons, principal ^[26]
• Westmoreland Elementary School ^[27] with 393 students in grades PreK-4
  • Christine Dell'Aglio, principal ^[28]

Middle schools

• Memorial Middle School ^[29] with 626 students in grades 5-8
  • Nancy Schwindt, principal ^[30]
• Thomas Jefferson Middle School ^[31] with 1,134 students in grades 5-8
  • Michael Weaver, principal ^[32]

High school

• Fair Lawn High School ^[33] with 1,624 students in grades 9-12
  • Paul Gorski, principal ^[34]

Administration

Core members of the district's administration are: ^{[35] [36]}

• Rui Dionisio, superintendent ^[37]
• Danielle Mancuso, business administrator and board secretary ^[38]

Board of education

The district's board of education, comprised of nine members, sets policy and oversees the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district. ^{[39] [40]} As of 2024 ^[update] , the Board of Education members are Julie Mahan (president), Joseph Baldofsky (vice president), Eugene Banta, Edward Bertolini, Jeanne Browne, Rita Fayvelevich, Michael Rosenberg, Mark Spindel and Lisa Yourman. ^[41]

In August 2023, the district announced the hiring of Rui Dionisio, superintendent of the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District, who took office as Fair Lawn superintendent in November 2023. ^[42]

References

1. District information for Fair Lawn Public School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
2. Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
3. Fair Lawn Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Kindergarten through twelve in the Fair Lawn School District. Composition: The Fair Lawn School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Fair Lawn."
4. NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 17, 2014.
5. Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed March 29, 2011.
6. 2016 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non‐Public, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed November 13, 2016.
7. Clark, Adam. "These 10 N.J. schools earn Blue Ribbon honors", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 28, 2016. Accessed November 13, 2016. "The U.S. Department of Education on Wednesday announced that 10 New Jersey schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools, a recognition celebrating excellence in academics."
8. 2020 National Blue Ribbon Schools All Public and Non-Public Schools, National Blue Ribbon Schools Program. Accessed September 27, 2020.
9. Clark, Adam. "9 N.J. schools just won a huge national honor", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 24, 2020. Accessed September 27, 2020. "Nine New Jersey public schools have been awarded the national Blue Ribbon designation, one of the highest honors in education. The schools were recognized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education for high student achievement."
10. Diduch, Mary. "Fair Lawn voters approve $12.8M referendum", The Record , December 9, 2014, backed up by the Internet Archive as of June 2, 2016. Accessed September 16, 2017. "Borough voters approved a $12.8 million capital improvement project that will provide six schools with new roofs and expand an elementary school, paving the way for full-day kindergarten. The state through grants will pay for $2.19 million of the project, leaving the district to pay for the remaining $10.6 million with a bond."
11. Kindergarten Registration / Enrollment Process for 2016-2017, Fair Lawn Public Schools, backed up by the Internet Archive as of April 26, 2016. Accessed September 16, 2017. "Our records indicate that your child will be entering Kindergarten in September of 2016. We are pleased to announce that this will be a full day experience for your child."
12. School Data for the Fair Lawn Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
13. District Locations, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
14. School Performance Reports for the Fair Lawn Public School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 6, 2024.
15. New Jersey School Directory for the Fair Lawn Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
16. Thomas Edison School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
17. John A. Forrest Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
18. About Us, John A. Forrest Elementary. Accessed February 6, 2024.
19. Lyncrest Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
20. About Us, Lyncrest Elementary School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
21. Henry B. Milnes Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
22. Principal's Message, Henry B. Milnes Elementary School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
23. Radburn Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
24. Principal's Message, Radburn Elementary School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
25. Warren Point Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
26. Principal's Message, Warren Point Elementary School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
27. Westmoreland Elementary School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
28. Principal's Message, Westmoreland Elementary School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
29. Memorial Middle School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
30. About Us, Memorial Middle School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
31. Thomas Jefferson Middle School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
32. About Us, Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
33. Fair Lawn High School, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
34. Principal's Message, Fair Lawn High School. Accessed February 6, 2024.
35. Central Office Staff, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
36. New Jersey School Directory for Bergen County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
37. Superintendent, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed August 25, 2023. "The Fair Lawn Public Schools (FLPS) district comprises 10 schools: six elementary schools (K-5); two middle schools (6-8) and one high school (9-12) and Edison School, which serves more than 80 students with special needs."
38. Business Office, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed August 25, 2023.
39. New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
40. Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Fair Lawn School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed February 6, 2024. "Fair Lawn is comprised of several diverse neighborhoods. Most of the residential neighborhoods each surround one of the Borough’s six elementary schools.... The Board is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Board consists of elected officials and is responsible for the fiscal control of the District. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District."
41. Board of Education Members, Fair Lawn Public Schools. Accessed February 6, 2024.
42. Noda, Stephanie; and Stoltz, Marcia. "Fair Lawn hires Ramapo Indian Hills superintendent to lead its school district", The Record , August 16, 2023. Accessed August 25, 2023. "The Fair Lawn Board of Education has hired the current superintendent of the Ramapo Indian Hills school district to lead the district in the coming school year. The school board unanimously voted during a special Tuesday meeting to hire Rui Dionisio as the new superintendent. He will begin his term in Fair Lawn on Nov. 1 under a contract that lasts until June 30, 2028."

External links

• District website
• School Performance Reports for the Fair Lawn Public Schools , New Jersey Department of Education
• School Data for the Fair Lawn Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics