Nora Aquino

This District Strategic Plan outlines goals, survey insights, and action plans focused on building trust, transparency, and accountability within the community. It is structured around three core pillars: Safety & Security, aiming to ensure safe, secure, and supportive learning environments through strengthened protocols and emergency preparedness; Student Achievement & Wellness, focusing on rigorous instruction, effective curriculum, multi-tiered support systems, and promoting student well-being; and Finance & Facilities, dedicated to developing fiscally thorough budgets, maintaining high-quality facilities, and ensuring budget transparency.

The meeting agenda included an Executive Session to discuss personnel, legal, and miscellaneous confidential matters, followed by a Public Session. Key discussion items involved the consideration of minutes from the February 2, 2026 meeting, the Superintendent's reports including an update on the 5-Year Strategic Plan and the HIB Report, and consideration of Board policies, including a first reading of Policy #2460 - Special Education and the adoption of several revised policies and regulations concerning employment opportunities, bilingual education, concussion protocols, physical examinations, and attendance. Personnel actions required Board approval, covering resignations, retirements, terminations, rescissions, appointments (certificated, non-certificated, additional teaching assignments, co-curricular assignments, and salary adjustments), leaves of absence for both certificated and non-certificated staff, and substitute appointments. Curriculum and Instruction items included approval of School Business requests, Field Trip Destinations for the 2025-2026 school year, and student teacher/intern assignments. Finance matters involved approval of the February 23, 2026 Bills List, December 2025 budget transfers, acceptance of the December 2025 financial reports from the Board Secretary and Treasurer of School Monies, designation of positions, approval of the Joint Transportation Agreement, service agreement for the Self-Insurance Program, awarding a contract for Electricity Supply Services, approval of the FY2026 amended IDEA application, approval of Non Public Technology Aid Program expenditures, and acceptance of an IT Asset Removal Agreement and donations. The Board also addressed the HIB Report ending February 23, 2026.

The meeting included a review of notice procedures under the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law and confirmation that the meeting was being recorded. Key discussion points included student liaison reports highlighting elementary school activities, student achievements in music (NJSMA region one choir), and performing arts (Winter Color Guard Invitational, Thesbian Festival). Faculty recognition was given to a science teacher for humane science education. Community recognition honored a long-serving president of the West Orange Scholarship Fund during a leadership transition. The Superintendent's report thanked personnel for snowstorm recovery efforts and presented the 2024-2025 fiscal year audit results, which yielded unmodified opinions across all reports, noting a healthy fund balance despite drawing down capital reserves. The audit summary also detailed eight recommendations for corrective action, with two deemed significant deficiencies related to month-to-month accounting reconciliation. Furthermore, the report covered the HIV, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying statistics. The Board President's report praised snow removal efforts, recognized a high school sports media club gallery opening, discussed the upcoming budget season noting increased costs versus revenue, and introduced the second reading and adoption of Policy Number 2365 regarding acceptable use of generative artificial intelligence.

The meeting agenda included initial discussions on the 5-Year Strategic Plan Update and the HIB Report. Key actions involved the first reading of Policy #2460 - Special Education, and the second reading and adoption of several revised policies and regulations concerning Equal Employment Opportunities, Bilingual Education, Sports-Related Concussions, Physical Examination, and Attendance. Personnel actions included approvals for certificated and non-certificated staff resignations, retirements, terminations, and appointments across various roles, alongside numerous leaves of absence for both certificated and non-certificated staff. Curriculum items included approvals for School Business requests, Field Trip Destinations, and Student Teacher/Intern assignments. Finance matters involved the approval of the February 23, 2026 Bills List, December 2025 budget transfers and financial reports, designation of positions, and approval for service agreements and contracts, including Electricity Supply Services and the FY2026 amended IDEA application. The Board also accepted donations and affirmed Superintendent decisions regarding HIB Incident Numbers 013 through 019 for the 2025-2026 school year.

The agenda for the Public Session included a Student Liaison Report and Superintendent/Board Committee Reports, featuring a presentation on the FY25 Audit and the HIB Report. Board Policy revisions were discussed, including the second reading and adoption of Policy #2365 regarding Acceptable Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the first reading of several revised mandated policies and regulations, such as Equal Employment Opportunities and policies related to student health records and concussions. Personnel matters involved approving numerous resignations, retirements, staff appointments (certificated and non-certificated), additional teaching assignments, negotiated co-curricular assignments, staff serving as Mentors to Provisional Teachers, and various leaves of absence for both certificated and non-certificated staff. Curriculum and Instruction agenda items included approvals for School Business requests, Field Trip Destinations, and Student Teacher/Intern assignments. Finance items addressed special services placements, contract amendments for speech language pathology, contract approvals for services, home instruction approvals, the January 26, 2026 Bills List, budget transfers, acceptance of monthly financial reports, approval of Non-Public Technology Aid Program expenditures, bank designations, acceptance of the 2024-2025 financial audit and corrective action plan, approval of the ESEA Consolidated Grant application, approval of the Health and Safety Evaluation of School Buildings Checklist/Statement of Assurance, approval of a Joint Transportation Agreement, acceptance of donations, and authorization to apply for a grant to repair the Project Adventure Challenge Course at West Orange High School. Reports accepted included the School Safety Data System (SSDS) Report and the HIB Report, with a resolution affirming the Superintendent's decision on specific HIB incidents. Miscellaneous action included approval of the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar.