The Advisory Board's central purpose will be to support the program in its mission to "provide a safe and comprehensive learning environment that offers opportunities for all students to achieve success through creative activities that honor the diversity and the integration of the NJ Student Learning Standards through the pathways of Visual and Performing Arts". Board members provide guidance regarding the implementation of academic, character education, health and wellness and enrichment activities. The board serves as a forum to discuss program successes and challenges and making suggestions for improvement. Board members are integral components in the program's sustainability plan, offering links to compatible community organizations and collaborators and assisting in finding new sources of funding and revenue.
Advisory Board Members:
District Personnel:
Mr. Timothy C. Zoyac, M.A.- Pathways Project Manager
Dr. Celeste L. Merriweather- Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Innovation
Mr. E. Deionne ThrBak- Director of Grants & Funded Programs
Ms. Rebecca Guess- Principal of Broad Street School
Mr. Derek Macchia- Principal of Buckshutem Road School
Mr. Terrence Spencer- Principal of Cherry Street School
Mr. Karl Brown- Principal of Indian Avenue School
Mrs. Reina Hernandez- Principal of Quarter Mile Lane School
Mr. Samuel C. Hull- Principal of West Avenue School
Mrs. Barbara Wilchensky- Director of Curriculum-Language Arts Literacy & Social Studies
Dr. Darlyne de Haan- Director of Curriculum- Math and Science
Mr. Warren DeShields- Food Service Director
Ms. Kerri Sullivan, Arts Supervisor K-12
Community Stakeholders:
Parents of ANY program participant
Mrs. Sue Bacon- NJCAP
Ms. Karen Barnett-Director of Bridgeton Municipal Alliance
Dr. Kellie Slade- Rowan College of South Jersey-Cumberland Campus
Dr. Elisabeth Hostetter- Rowan University
Mrs. Jennifer Henderson- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Mr. Rich Nichols- United Advocacy Group (UAG)
Ms. Erin Stafford-Hartigan & Stafford Grant Professionals
Mrs. Allison Bohn- Bridgeton Park & Zoo
The Advisory Board will be composed of district administration, school personnel, collaborating and partnering organizations, students and parents. Members will be selected based on their ability to provide fiscal insight, programmatic direction, their connection with population level needs as well as their experience within the community.
The Advisory Board will be chaired by the Project Director who will be responsible for scheduling meetings and maintaining communication with board members and collaborators. Active members of BPSD administration will include the Superintendent, Assistant Business Administrator, Director of Grants and Funded Programs, Directors of Curriculum - Math, Science, Language Arts and the Supervisor of Visual of Performing Arts. These individuals will ensure programmatic compliance with 21st CCLC grant policies and procedures, fiscal accountability, accessibility to secure transportation and aid in securing approvals required by the School Board. Curriculum chairs will also provide strong links to school day units of study and state level proficiency standards in Math, Science, Language Arts and Visual and Performing Arts. Board members will include participating school Principals from Broad Street, Buckshutem Road, Indian Avenue, Quarter Mile Lane and West Avenue Schools. Principals will coordinate student recruitment and provide over sight of building operations, ensuring access to shared school facilities. School attendance officers will be invited as board members to track and report on daily student attendance goals. Additional school personnel serving in an advisory capacity will be classroom teachers, guidance counselors, and school nurses.
Critical stakeholders will include representatives from stakeholder organizations such as Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, the United Advocacy Group, Rowan University, CASA/Rowan 1st Star, Bridgeton Municipal Alliance, NJ CAP, The Bridgeton Park & Zoo and Cumberland County College . The central responsibility of stakeholders as advisors will be to provide programmatic direction based on their experiences working directly with students delivering activities to include:
1. Implement visual and performing arts activities.
2. Resources and linkages to foster students in the middle school grades.
3. Implement character education curriculum and programming.
4. Program offerings that can decrease children's vulnerability to abuse, bullying and violence.
5. Links to college and career readiness components
Finally, Student Council officers and program parents will be formally invited to attend Advisory Board meetings along with the program's local level evaluator. These individuals will be core components in gathering student concerns, success and general feedback. Parents will provide links will be made to the student's home environment. All feedback voiced at Advisory Board meetings will be collected by the evaluator, transcribed into official meeting minutes and shared with all stakeholder agencies.