The board announced the development and introduction of AP African American Studies, a course developed through a grant received by the district. This new offering will be available in two sections at each high school. In addition to AP African American Studies, a new course named Dance 3 was introduced, integrating dance with technology through video editing.

Professional development for educators was a significant agenda item, with a focus on summer opportunities designed to enhance teaching practices and support multilingual learners. An administrative retreat was highlighted, which emphasized fostering a sense of belonging and connection among educators. Topics covered included multi-tiered systems of support, human resources, crisis protocols, and dual immersion programming. Guest speakers contributed insights, particularly on partnerships with Southeast Asian families regarding special education.

A notable development was the induction of 72 new educators into the district, with an orientation that emphasized the district’s vision for student learning. This orientation included sessions on strategic goals, classroom culture, student relationships, and technology integration. For existing staff, a four-day training focused on best practices for teaching the 630 multilingual learners enrolled in the district’s dual language immersion program across five schools.

The meeting delved into curricular updates, particularly the extensive revisions made to 143 curricular documents driven by the new English language arts standards set to be implemented in September 2024. Although the state has allowed an additional year for mathematics standards, the district has proactively begun revising these documents. Teachers will have access to new curricular documents and resources through various professional development days and collaborative meetings throughout the school year.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing curriculum modifications for different grade levels in light of the new English Language Arts (ELA) standards. For grades 6-12, curriculum changes were primarily in form, while for K-5, particularly in the K-3 segment, substantial modifications were made to enhance foundational literacy skills. The district’s recent shift toward training teachers in the Orton-Gillingham approach was highlighted as a strategic move to align instruction with these new standards. Training is currently underway for kindergarten teachers, with plans to extend it to first and second grades.

The board also noted new legislation requiring the district to assess K-3 students in reading to identify and support those facing challenges. The district plans to expand its robust universal screening process to include a secondary screener. This expansion aims to address the needs of students impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those in fourth and fifth grades.

Efforts to connect with families of students with special needs were discussed, with positive feedback on recent experiences where speakers shared insights on effective communication strategies. The importance of early identification and collaboration between families and the district was emphasized.

The board reviewed and approved various professional development contracts, including a $7,600 contract with the Flemington-Raritan Regional School District for reading recovery training for eight teachers and a $26,000 contract with the Reading and Writing Project Network LLC for ten days of on-site professional development for first and second-grade teachers. Additionally, the disposal of obsolete instructional materials from several school media centers was approved.

Financial reports confirmed that no line item was overspent and that funds were sufficient to complete the year. The finance committee’s agenda included motions for various approvals, such as selecting a primary vendor for musical instrument repairs and continuing the Energy Savings Improvement Program. Dan Riggle from Snyder Electric presented the program, emphasizing the critical juncture of the project and the proposed rate lock with Green Sky Clean Energy.