Haddonfield School Board Addresses Enrollment Surge and Curriculum Changes

The most recent Haddonfield School Board meeting focused on several issues facing the district, with discussion on the challenges and potential strategies to address the projected enrollment surge due to new housing developments. The meeting also delved into concerns over curriculum revisions, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA), and the financial implications of a new pilot program.

The board’s conversation on enrollment numbers and projections took center stage as members grappled with the reality of a decrease in high school enrollment contrasted by a significant projected increase at Central School. It was noted that the impending increase, partly due to the new housing developments, is expected to displace up to 82 students to other schools, surpassing Central School’s maximum capacity of 75. The board raised concerns about the new developments’ potential to add an influx of students and the subsequent need for additional classrooms and teachers. Furthermore, the board explored the ramifications of these changes on the district’s resources and walking routes, stressing the importance of maintaining the district’s walking district and neighborhood school ethos amidst the enrollment and facility constraints.

The board also discussed making boundary changes to manage the impact of the influx, with suggestions such as moving the line from Central School to Warwick. A proposal to engage a demographer was debated to gain a clearer picture of the impact of new developments on school enrollment. There was a divergence of opinion on the necessity and potential effectiveness of boundary changes and the decision to engage a demographer.

In addition to enrollment concerns, curriculum challenges were also a focus of the meeting. The English Language Arts audit presentation revealed issues at multiple education levels. At the elementary level, the alignment of programs with the science of reading and new standards was problematic. Middle school concerns centered on the seventh-grade curriculum and a decline in reading engagement and writing skills. High school discussions revolved around providing more accelerated English and AP English options. The board considered adopting a new word study program for grades four and five and emphasized the need for professional development, particularly in vocabulary instruction. The implementation of recommended changes came with a cost estimate of $39,395, with a recurring cost for an assessment to screen for dyslexia and assess early literacy skills in K-2.

Financial discussions at the meeting also centered on the pilot program, a payment in lieu of taxes arrangement that could allow a builder to make a payment to the borough, potentially bypassing the school district. Questions were raised about the equity of this arrangement, which could lead to the school district missing out on funding while the community bears the burden. The board debated the details of pilot program agreements and their impact on school funding and property taxes, with no consensus on whether to oppose the program or seek a shared benefit agreement with the borough.

Public comments during the meeting highlighted traffic safety concerns, the impact of non-affordable housing units on rental prices, and the growth of Central elementary school. A former School Board member and president of the Haddonfield Educational Trust urged the Board to revisit a 2019 statement regarding the proposed pilot and its impact on school funding and stressed the importance of accurate demographic studies for informed decision-making.

The meeting also covered the acceptance of various reports, approvals of academic calendars, job descriptions, and policies. The approval of a turf field, tax payment schedules, and a summer savings agency contract were among the items that received positive remarks from the board members.

In their comments for future consideration, board members discussed the necessity of a more useful demographic study that accurately reflects the local population. The feasibility of such a study in light of the no-knock registry and the potential need for more volunteers was also considered. There was a suggestion to draft a letter to address certain concerns, revealing a collective desire for proactive communication and decision-making within the board.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Superintendent:
Charles Klaus
School Board Officials:
Michael Catalano, Rachael Brown, Greg Esemplare, Megan Hollingworth, Stephanie Benecchi, Mike Nuckols, Gino Priolo (Assistant Superintendent), Nousheen Sadiq, Jaime Grookett (President), Chuck Klaus (Superintendent), Linda Hochgertel (Vice President), Jessica Drass

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording