0:00The most notable portion of the meeting centered on budget deliberations for the 2025-2026 school year, which proposed a total of $59.9 million—a $2.5 million increase from the previous year. This increase was presented despite a $660,000 decrease in preschool aid. A notable budgetary concern involved the planned withdrawal of $4.5 million from the capital reserve to address ongoing HVAC issues at the middle school. This project has been an area of focus for three years, with previous work completed at Schools Five and Six. Discussions revealed that the high school faced challenges in the bidding process due to cost issues, and the board is working with two separate architect teams to expedite the HVAC upgrades.

48:37The board also tackled the necessity of Chromebooks for students in grades seven through twelve, with a need for 526 devices at the middle school and 925 at the high school, totaling an estimated cost of $450,000.

Another discussion involved the ramifications of changes within the Department of Education, with some board members expressing skepticism about future funding levels. The board was advised to budget 75% of the previous year’s grant amounts instead of the typical 85%, raising concerns about potential funding shortfalls.

The board further discussed committee recommendations from the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on March 6, 2025. One key recommendation addressed student misconduct, specifically the recording of incidents at school. It was emphasized that recordings of fights or misconduct should be considered serious enough to warrant disciplinary action. Another recommendation focused on teacher morale, suggesting that teachers should be allowed to use school buses for after-hours team-building activities, provided they fund these themselves. The complexities of liability and insurance were discussed, with administrators cautioning that any bus usage should align with existing policies.

The board also addressed the potential reinstatement of the JROTC program at the high school, clarifying that it was unlikely due to historically insufficient student interest. The Department of Defense’s funding requirements necessitate a sizable student body to sustain such a program.

The marketing committee proposed the creation of a social media club, informally called “The Breakfast Club,” to bolster district engagement through student-created multimedia content. This initiative aims to increase community interaction and highlight school events and successes.

1:08:45The meeting included a discussion about renaming the track field, with the committee formed to review applications last November. The board emphasized the importance of community input in the decision-making process.

In new business, the board announced that VFW Post 303 would host a Women’s Month movie day featuring a free screening of “Hidden Figures” on March 31. Additionally, the board commended the school choir’s performance at Rowan University.

Public comments allowed community members to share updates and concerns, with Debbie Murphy reporting successful competition results for the marching band and announcing the opening night dates for the musical “Mamma Mia.” The meeting concluded without further public comments, and the board adjourned with unanimous approval.