In a detailed assessment update, it was revealed that Fair Lawn students outperformed the state average in the NJPA administered to 11th graders, with an approximate 11 percentage point lead in ELA and an impressive 23.4 percentage point advantage in math. Despite these achievements, concerns were raised about the number of students who did not meet math proficiency. The discussion on math performance was robust, with board members debating the merits and drawbacks of the “Everyday Math” program and its impact on foundational math skills for grades K through 4. The effectiveness of co-taught math and ELA classes, as well as the potential for cross-curricular support for math in science courses, were also topics of conversation.

One board member advocated for a reassessment of the math curriculum. Another member countered by highlighting the positive sixth-grade scores and the program’s spiral approach that reinforces concepts. The debate further intensified when dissatisfaction was expressed over the high percentage of students not passing the math test.

The meeting also addressed the rebranding initiative undertaken by the district. Opinions on this were mixed, with some members expressing pride in student-designed logos and others questioning the cost and process associated with hiring a company for the new school logos.

Another point of contention involved the approval of textbooks without proper piloting and the absence of a job description for a Web Master position. A board member voted against these items and also raised issues regarding policy approval and the administration’s adherence to bylaw 0155, which pertains to the distribution of committee agendas. During public comments, a community member questioned the decision-making process behind reassigning a guidance counselor to a new position.

Additionally, community concerns were acknowledged, including the quality of school lunches, the use of video instruction and electronic devices, and the presence of smartphones in schools. The board recognized these issues and noted that feedback is continually reviewed for improvements. Members requested the education and finance committees to further examine the math curriculum and the use of technology in classrooms.