Nutley students head back to school

By Roman J. Uschak, Staff Writer
The new school year opened in Belleville and Nutley this week as administrators and teachers have been preparing for the start since last month.
“Our teachers are enthusiastic about the start of the new year,” said Nutley Superintendent Joe Zarra early last week. “They’ve been in the classrooms, organizing and decorating.”
Orientation for new Nutley teachers was held last week while administrators gathered in meetings.
All Nutley staffers were due to report on Tuesday, with students following a day later.
The fall also marks the inauguration of Nutley’s full-day kindergarten program approved earlier this year by the Board of Education.
“We’re ready to go,” said Zarra, who will retire from his position at the end of the school year. “We’re ready to open the doors and welcome students back.”
In neighboring Belleville, Superintendent Joseph Picardo, who is beginning his first full school year in the district after being hired in the spring, said in late August that there were some maintenance and some hirings to be completed before the nine buildings opened to students this past Tuesday.
“It’s hard to believe summer is almost over,” said Picardo at a Board of Education meeting on Aug. 23. “We hope to have a great beginning of school.”

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