A major topic of discussion was the suspension of the Family and Consumer Science program, formerly known as home economics, for the upcoming year. Superintendent Steven Forte detailed the extensive but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to find a replacement teacher after the retirement of the sole instructor. “We did a lot of things like we posted it on college job boards, we advertised it a few times in the newspaper, even on Indeed… we just didn’t find anyone,” Forte explained. Despite efforts that included consulting with a specialized organization, only two candidates applied, neither of whom met the necessary qualifications. This issue drew concern from the board. There was also mention of the potential to utilize existing staff, though the only candidate had experience with an enrichment cooking class but lacked the required degree.

Transportation was another issue, with the business administrator reporting an ongoing shortage of bus drivers. This led the board to add an additional bus following a recent resignation. The cost of this addition was deemed roughly equivalent to hiring a new driver with benefits. This measure aimed to address immediate transportation needs for the district’s 1,745 students, a number slightly higher than anticipated.

In building and grounds matters, several change orders for ongoing projects were approved. Notably, a $4,900 change order from DNL Paving Contractors for the Riverview parking lot and a $3,272 agreement with Confires Fire Protection Services for repairs to the fire sprinkler system at Lake View Elementary School were funded from maintenance reserves. Additionally, a $6,000 change order was approved for the redesign and rebid of the Riverview laboratory project, which includes the expansion of kindergarten and pre-K rooms by adding two additional rooms with bathrooms. Clarifications were sought on the significance of these changes, emphasizing the need to improve facilities.

Sustainability initiatives also featured in the discussions. A board member shared insights from a visit to Madrid, highlighting differences in recycling and composting practices, which led to a conversation about the challenges of composting in Denville. The discussion included the sustainability committee’s past initiatives and the potential to re-engage with the committee to explore educational composting opportunities in schools. The complexities involved in composting, such as maintaining the proper balance of carbon and organic materials, were noted, alongside previous unsuccessful composting efforts due to poor management.

The board also touched on upcoming events and recent sustainability efforts, including participation in a Farmers Market event on September 15 to promote the district’s green initiatives. The Denville Education Foundation’s events were also discussed, including a free outdoor movie night featuring “Hotel Transylvania” and a golf outing scheduled for October 22 at a new location.

In other updates, Dr. Forte confirmed that sixth-grade ELA and math placement letters had been distributed, and the portal for accessing homeroom assignments and schedules opened on August 16. Kindergarten enrollment totaled 178 students, with 106 at Lake View and 72 at Riverview. The new staff orientation was set to welcome 20 new teachers and other certificated staff, including nurses and psychologists.

The business administrator commended the transportation department’s performance over the summer, and the board approved various personnel resolutions, including hires, resignations, and leave requests. This included the job description for an instructional coach and approval for medical screenings without cost to the district. An unpaid leave request for an employee extending into the 2025-2026 school year was also approved.

The instructional program resolutions included the use of appliances for life skills instruction and a list of approved field trips for the 2024-2025 school year. The disposal of outdated curriculum materials was discussed, with items under ten years old available for other districts to claim, while older materials would be recycled.

Policy revisions were introduced, covering 16 policies and six regulations, including new guidelines on public meetings during emergencies, firearms, and curriculum regulations. These policies were approved without objection.

The finance section addressed various contracts for professional services, including speech-language therapy and behavioral services. A resolution for a communications consultant to assist in meeting district goals was presented. Transportation contracts for the upcoming school year were discussed, including shared services agreements with multiple districts and the approval of parent transportation contracts for individual students.