BY JANE MEGGITT
Staff Writer

MILLSTONE — The Board of Education announced the resignation of a longtime physical education teacher last week.

During its Sept. 12 meeting, the board said Ken Adams’ retirement would take effect next July. Adams has served the district for 36 years.

“He was one of the staples in our district,” Superintendent William Setaro said of Adams. “Everyone knows Ken.”

Setaro said Adams had been the school’s athletic adviser for many years.

“He will be sorely missed,” Setaro said. “He’s looking forward to fishing rather than making out schedules and figuring out how many hockey sticks are needed.”

Setaro added that Adams was one of the district’s “most loyal and dedicated people.”

The board also announced the resignation of school nurse Joanne Braswell, whose resignation will take effect on Oct. 19.

Assistant Superintendent Mary Ann Donahue said Braswell is moving out of commuting distance to the district. According to Donahue, the board currently has five applicants for the position.

In addition, Donahue spoke about the first day back to school. She reported that there were 148 kindergarten students in attendance. Last year, according to Donahue, there were 126 kindergartners.

During the meeting, the board also approved a temporary classroom trailer for the kindergarten at a cost of $1,000 a month from September 2005 to August 2007, with an additional renewal rate of $410 for the first renewal term if the trailer is still needed due to construction.

Board Secretary Brian Boyle said the school replaced the old trailer when the lease was up because of a problem with mold.

While six Millstone Elementary School kindergarten rooms that have bathrooms were renovated this past year, Boyle said, they are being used by the first grade until the new middle school is completed and classes are reconfigured in the current school.