John A. Gomez

The meeting commenced with adherence to the Open Public Meetings Act and a salute to the flag. The session recognized a departing board member for their dedicated service to the district over two full terms. The core activity involved certifying the results of the annual School Board election held on November 5, 2024, which confirmed the election of three members. New members were subsequently sworn into office, followed by the election of the Board President and Vice President. The board also addressed the appointment for the Reville Park Board of Education liaison. Following the reorganization, members recited the NJ State Board of Education Code of Ethics. Business included tabling the committee assignments and passing resolutions 1 through 29 related to the reorganization process. The meeting concluded after opening the floor for public comment, during which a former member offered well wishes and gratitude, and a current member acknowledged the support received for a prior referendum.

The meeting included a public budget hearing and the subsequent adoption of the 2025-2026 budget. Key budget discussions centered on maintaining a 2% tax level despite external factors like state aid reductions and significant increases in health benefit costs (19.87% increase in the first half). Capital projects planned for funding include a project starting July 1st, possible land acquisition, and bathroom renovations next to the gym, funded partly by $2,500,000 from capital reserve. Staffing changes include maintaining current instructional and support staff, adding an elementary guidance counselor, growing the ASD program, and adding a speech therapist and psychologist. Technology updates involve rolling out the Notebook LM administrative tool and replacing aging radios. The meeting also involved recognizing student awards for March (Valerie and Victoria) and approving minutes from previous meetings in March and April.

The meeting included recognition of student achievements, with students of the month being announced for the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The Superintendent provided a report highlighting the success of the annual Holiday Basketball Tournament, student participation in the holiday chorus at the senior center, the upcoming elementary holiday show, and the success of the media center's Santa's Workshop. Facility updates indicated that the building passed a QAC walkthrough with perfect scores, and demolition for expansion is proceeding on schedule, with exterior work anticipated to begin in January. The board also addressed personnel matters, including approving cheerleading coaches, adjusting an employee's return-to-work date, approving a new hire, approving musical advisors, and authorizing payment for teacher time used for family engagement nights. Financial reports detailed food service performance, noting an increase in breakfast program participation, and discussed the status of the budget preparation calendar, auditor visits, and a state legislative matter concerning due date extensions. Discussions also covered transportation expenses related to a vehicle repair and ongoing facility expansion demolition.

The meeting included the recognition of Students of the Month for November across grades five through eight, highlighting attributes such as integrity, leadership, positive attitude, hard work, and respect. The Superintendent provided a progress report on facility construction, noting significant milestones like the completion of the gym section at Liberty School and the expectation of a topping-off ceremony in mid-January. The Board Secretary reported on fiscal matters, including the completion of November financials, the commencement of the 2026-2027 budget process, and progress in reducing audit findings. The food service report indicated a profit for November and strong year-to-date pacing. Furthermore, the State Aid report (SASA) for 2026-2027 was submitted, showing an increase in total resident students compared to the prior year. The personnel report covered necessary staffing decisions for power professionals and updates on math professional development focusing on integrity and leadership. Policy discussions involved adopting procedures for curating and removing library materials in compliance with the Freedom to Read Act.

The meeting included recognition of October Students of the Month for grades six (Brianna Rosette) and eight (Ailia Fernand), followed by a comprehensive report on student activities, including Red Ribbon Week and a presentation on drug and alcohol awareness. The superintendent's report detailed the District Improvement Plan (DIP) focusing on raising proficiency in ELA, Math, and Science across all student subgroups, setting ambitious goals for increased passing rates by 2026. Significant discussion covered strategies for improving chronic absenteeism rates, which have seen a positive drop from 26% in 2023 to 7% for the district currently, utilizing methods like family engagement and a 'golden clock' incentive for best classroom attendance. Facility updates included preparing a bid for unit ventilators and exploring options for kitchen relocation. Finance reported a projected profit of over $200,000 from the Food Service department for the period and recommended returning $2.033 million to the capital reserve. The Personnel Committee announced plans to establish a new special education program for autism beginning September 2025, approval for updating a Data Specialist title, and the initiation of a search for a new Math Coach.