District
supports pedophile statute
Ordinance up for vote on Nov.
1.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 • By PRECIOUS PETTY •
The Express-Times
PHILLIPSBURG -- Phillipsburg School
District officials learned more Monday night about a
proposed ordinance that would create "pedophile-free zones"
in town.
Council Vice President James Shelly
outlined provisions of the ordinance during a 15-minute
presentation at the board of education meeting.
The ordinance would prevent convicted
pedophiles from living within 1,000 feet of a town school,
and within 2,500 feet of a town park, day care center or
recreation center, he said.
Because there are so many schools and
parks in town, about 99.5 percent of Phillipsburg would be a
pedophile-free zone under the proposed ordinance, Shelly
said.
Superintendent Gordon Pethick praised
council for introducing the law. "That issue is paramount to
the safety of our children," he said.
If council approves the ordinance at a
Nov. 1 meeting, it would become law immediately, Shelly
said. Council President James Stettner said he intends to
ask council to waive the 20-day waiting period that usually
applies to new ordinances.
A convicted pedophile who moved into a
restricted zone after that date would have 60 days to
relocate once they receive a written notice of the
violation, he said.
Convicted pedophiles who currently live
in the affected areas would not have to leave their homes
under the law, Shelly said.
Phillipsburg's ordinance is based on a
similar law passed in Hamilton Township, N.J., the hometown
of Megan Kanka, he said. Kanka's 1994 rape and murder by a
previously convicted pedophile spawned nationwide movement
to create sex offender registrations.
Council is also discussing another
ordinance that would make it illegal for convicted
pedophiles to loiter in places where children congregate,
Shelly said.
In other business Monday, Director of
Secondary Education George Chando spoke about the district's
High School Proficiency Assessment and Grade Eight
Proficiency Assessment test results.
High school students scores are up 6.1
percent in language arts, and 15.1 percent in math from 2004
to 2005, he said. Juniors take the state-issued,
standardized test each March, Chando said.
Eighth-grade students scores are up 2.4
percent in language arts, 8.4 percent in math, and 12.3
percent in science from 2004 to 2005, he said. Students take
the test, which is issued by the state, in March, Chando
said.
Reporter Precious Petty can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by
e-mail at ppetty@express-times.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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