The meeting began with recognition of outstanding student achievements, including the Hills newspaper staff winning first place in a national competition. Student representatives provided updates on school events, such as the annual instrumental concert and spring Arts Festival, and highlighted student-led initiatives. Retiring staff members, including Greg Ross and Laura Goodson, were honored for their contributions, with Dr. Elizabeth C. Jewett reading Proclamations. Mike Delisandro’s 17 years of service were also acknowledged.

A central topic of debate was the proposed changes to attendance regulation 5200, which introduced a p fail grade for students with 30 or more absences. Public comments revealed concerns about the lack of exemptions for students with documented medical illnesses or chronic conditions. The policy was criticized for potentially discriminating against these students, with calls for the district to consider their unique circumstances. One resident detailed the challenges faced by students with disabilities, highlighting the need for the policy to reflect accommodations for these students.

The meeting also touched upon the district’s embrace of technology, with positive feedback from teachers on the use of AI in classrooms. A recommendation to form an AI committee for the 2024-2025 school year was discussed, emphasizing the need to involve interested staff members. Furthermore, administrators and a teacher visited Scarsdale High School to gain insights for the new steam lab at Watchung Hills.

The career day and internship program expansion were noted as successes, providing students with valuable opportunities to explore various career paths. Updates on the Flex day redesign were shared, detailing the implementation of home rooms for character education and emergency evacuation structure.

The Personnel committee discussed the PLC Fair, hiring updates, and reviewed equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination policies. The Operations committee provided updates on construction projects and recommended a 0% increase in rent for the Murray Hill Chinese school for the upcoming school year.

A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to a detailed critique of the school’s policy regarding students with disabilities. A speaker, claiming to have legal expertise, emphasized the need for the policy to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504. The speaker called for an evaluation process before denying course credit and accommodations for students with disabilities. The board did not engage in a direct response to these concerns during the meeting.

Additionally, the board discussed the approval of a four-year contract with the Watching Hills Regional Education Association and a memorandum of agreement, expressing gratitude for the negotiation process. The meeting also included a discussion about the evaluation process for Superintendent Elizabeth C. Jewett, with a reminder for board members to complete their evaluations by a specified date.

Finally, the meeting addressed the board’s responsibility to protect student privacy and included a statement denouncing accusations of discrimination against the district. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, following the Education Committee’s report on its May 29th meeting. Upcoming school events, such as graduation and the next meeting of the Shared Services Regionalization committee, were also announced.