Highland Park School Board Addresses Increase in Middle School Behavioral Incidents and Strategic Planning
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Meeting Type:
School Board
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Meeting Date:
09/23/2024
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Recording Published:
09/24/2024
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Duration:
116 Minutes
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Middlesex County
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Towns:
Highland Park
- Meeting Overview:
The Highland Park School Board convened on September 23rd, covering a diverse range of topics including an increase in middle school behavioral incidents, strategic planning updates, and equity and community engagement.
One notable items discussed was the sharp rise in behavioral incidents at the middle school. This represented a marked increase from the first half of the year, during which there were 32 incidents, to 78 in the second half. The Superintendent provided context, noting that while some numbers might appear alarming, they could reflect multiple students being involved in a single incident.
Board members expressed concerns about the consistency of reporting practices between the middle and high schools, particularly regarding incidents occurring off-campus. There was a philosophical debate on the school’s responsibility for addressing behaviors outside school hours and how these should be consistently documented. The inconsistency in reporting could pose issues if not uniformly managed across schools, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in disciplinary actions.
In response to these behavioral challenges, the board discussed various disciplinary strategies, including allowing teachers to have private discussions with students about minor infractions while another adult supervises the classroom. This approach aims to empower teachers to manage classroom behavior more effectively.
The strategic plan for 2024-2029 was another major focus, with the board discussing the need for a visual representation to communicate goals clearly. The strategic plan outlines four primary objectives: providing a safe and inclusive educational environment, improving communication between families and schools, enhancing academic rigor, and ensuring resource connectivity. These goals are designed to create a supportive atmosphere conducive to both student safety and academic achievement.
Equity was a significant theme throughout the meeting, although it had not evolved as a standalone goal in the strategic planning process. The board made adjustments to the strategic plan language to ensure equity considerations are integrated across various objectives. This included analyzing student demographic data to identify disparities in access and outcomes, with specific goals revised to reflect a commitment to inclusivity and addressing systemic barriers.
The equity and excellence committee presented an analysis of discipline data, highlighting that students classified as low socioeconomic status experienced the highest number of incidents, followed by students with disabilities. The importance of a systemic approach to address these disparities was emphasized, moving beyond routine data collection to resolve identified issues.
Community engagement also featured prominently, with discussions on increasing family participation in school events. Concerns were raised that childcare issues often hinder attendance at these events. Suggestions were made to provide childcare during meetings to enhance accessibility for parents, building on successful family engagement nights where resources like free books or educational materials were distributed.
The board reviewed various policy updates, including modifications to the service animal policy and student suicide prevention protocols. A notable change was the removal of language regarding “small horses” from the service animal policy. Updates to curriculum content were also discussed to ensure alignment with New Jersey student learning standards.
Additionally, the board approved several plans and agreements, such as the 2024-2025 mentoring plan, the 2024-2025 professional development plan, and a memorandum of understanding with Rutgers University for graduate student education. These programs were reported to incur no costs to the district.
The board also addressed the after-care program, which saw an increase in enrollment, now comprising 228 students compared to 191 the previous year. State licensing for the program was pending water testing results, which had since been completed. A parent focus group meeting on September 16th discussed snacks and kosher options, and a plan was introduced to allow parents to visit the aftercare program twice a month.
Financial concerns were raised about the funding for a bleacher walkway, with estimates around $2.9 million for in-kind replacement. The board explored alternative funding options to avoid depleting capital reserves, which could impact future projects, such as preschool construction grants.
Public comments included concerns from the Special Education Parents Advisory Group (CPAG) about an upcoming program evaluation. They emphasized the need for transparency and parental involvement in the evaluation process, questioning the choice of a law firm for the evaluation rather than a specialized educational consulting firm.
Finally, the board noted upcoming initiatives aimed at enhancing parent and student engagement concerning code of conduct revisions and the ongoing success of the school’s sports teams, with recent victories generating enthusiasm among board members.
Kristina Susca
School Board Officials:
Allison Casal-Dunn, Marilyn Pruce, Dr. Dan Battey, Dr. Monique Coleman, Nicole Longoria Stanio, Dr. Sara Pixley, Dr. Ethan Schoolman, Ann Vardeman, Jennifer Voorhees
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Meeting Type:
School Board
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Meeting Date:
09/23/2024
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Recording Published:
09/24/2024
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Duration:
116 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Middlesex County
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Towns:
Highland Park
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