A major portion of the meeting was devoted to a presentation by representatives from Smarter Cell 360, a company focused on mental health initiatives for students. The district has secured a three-year grant to pilot an app-based positive mental health support platform targeting secondary students and staff members. Nicole Forner, the chief strategist at Smarter Cell 360, and Pete Pasa, the founder and chairman, introduced their program, “Empowering Student Development with AI.” They discussed the shortage of 4.5 million Behavioral Health clinicians nationwide, highlighting the program as a preventive solution to educate students about emotional health and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

The initiative features personalized support where each student’s experience is unique based on their chosen curriculum. After obtaining parental consent, students would receive daily text messages prompting them to reflect on their feelings. These reflections would lead to AI-generated responses, including curriculum suggestions or therapeutic exercises. The content is tailored even for positive emotions to help sustain those feelings. The curriculum covers topics like bullying, emotional intelligence, grief management, and stress and anxiety management, making it scalable for the entire student body, parents, faculty, and guidance counselors. The program also allows parents to monitor their child’s engagement, fostering a collaborative approach to student wellness.

Concerns about confidentiality and handling sensitive information were addressed. The presenters assured that the platform encourages honesty among students while maintaining safeguards. For instance, if a student reveals a serious concern, the system notifies school principals while maintaining the student’s confidentiality. An anecdote was shared about a student whose SAT practice score improved after using a breathing exercise provided by the program.

The presentation also clarified that the program is accessible on school-issued devices and content can be downloaded for offline access. The presenters explained that while “artificial intelligence” might be a misleading term, sophisticated algorithms drive the program’s responses and engagement.

Following the presentation, the superintendent reported on the district’s curriculum revisions for the 2024-2025 school year, acknowledging the contributions of district supervisors and curriculum writers. Specific mention was made of efforts to organize science supplies, which resulted in cost savings for the district. The superintendent also expressed gratitude towards community members for assisting in resolving water drainage issues at the preschool center annex.

Finance Resolution number 12, which awarded the food service contract to Pomptonian, was also discussed. The district had undergone a re-bid process and received only one bid. Pomptonian has been working with the business office to enhance the food service program. The administration committed to soliciting feedback from parents, the Board of Education, and other stakeholders throughout the year.

Several donations to the district were highlighted under Finance Resolution number 14. These included nearly $3,000 from the Class of 2024 for new outdoor signage at Nutley High School, paint and labor for blacktop games from the Lincoln PTO, and a piano valued at $4,000 from former teacher Cheryl Holly. The Little Falls Board of Education also contributed numerous instructional supplies, which were transported to Nutley by the buildings and grounds department.

The appointment of Mrs. Jackie D’Or as the new principal of Lincoln School was announced, following a rigorous selection process. The administration expressed confidence in her experience and leadership skills.

During the public comment portion, concerns were raised about the availability of guidance counselors and special services for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). A parent expressed distress over the current lack of resources, noting that guidance counselors were handling two schools each and questioning how the district planned to support students in need. It was explained that shared counseling had been reassessed and that all IEPs would be followed with support arranged through the special services department, which is undergoing reorganization.

Another concern was the quality of lunches provided by the food service company, with reports that many elementary school students received cold lunches. The district had invited the food service provider to attend board meetings to hear parental concerns firsthand. Additionally, the provision of Chromebooks for students, especially those in the gifted and talented program, was questioned. The administration acknowledged the need for shared classroom resources and assured that there would be enough Chromebooks available to support fourth-grade students.