At the forefront of the meeting was the celebration of student achievements, prominently the recognition of Trevor Swall and Gia Patel. Trevor, serving as the vice president of the student body, was acknowledged for his exceptional fundraising efforts, raising over $2,500 through various events. His leadership roles extend to being co-president of DECA and competing nationally, further highlighted by his community service project that raised over $2,000 for charities such as the American Cancer Society. In addition to his extracurricular engagements, Trevor excels academically, having taken eight Advanced Placement (AP) classes and maintaining a GPA of 4.0, alongside his participation in sports and club activities.

Gia Patel also received high praise for her leadership as president of the Class of 2025 and her involvement in numerous student organizations. Notably, she led the first-ever spikeball tournament at Montville Township High School. Her academic achievements are remarkable, taking ten AP classes and earning a GPA exceeding 4.5. Gia is recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction and is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Her dedication to music as a violinist and her volunteer work at St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center further highlight her commitment to excellence.

The meeting also addressed budget adjustments. Mrs. Slint explained that increased costs in bids for summer projects necessitated changes to the 2025-26 tentative budget. Specifically, repairs to a sagging playground at William Mason required more extensive work than anticipated, prompting adjustments in capital reserve fund withdrawals. This was a focal point of the finance committee’s report, which confirmed the final touches on the budget were in line with these adjustments. Additionally, the curriculum committee discussed changes to the high school master schedule and highlighted a growing need for special education resources in kindergarten.

In a lighter segment, the meeting featured a report on recent and upcoming school events. The Montville Cultural Diversity Club is set to host the first Cultural Festival on April 2nd, promoting cultural understanding through free activities. The Michelle Sullivan game scheduled for April 26th promises to be a lively event with a bracket system format, generating enthusiasm among participants.

Superintendent Thomas Gorman expressed appreciation for the contributions of the school’s chamber band and highlighted the success of the middle school’s recent musical production, “Freaky Friday,” involving nearly 100 students.

The meeting concluded with a public participation session, where new teacher Lauren Danio was welcomed to the staff at Lazar Middle School. The board also acknowledged the retirements of several long-serving educators, including Sharon UAS and Rumain Chang, recognizing their contributions to the district. Discussions on curriculum updates, including cell phone usage policies and middle school sports, were touched upon, with plans for further updates from the administration.