A considerable portion of the meeting was devoted to public support for Dr. Raymond Payton, principal of Memorial Elementary School. Michael Walters, a community member, expressed strong backing for Dr. Payton, emphasizing his “unwavering standards, consistent efforts, and strong moral leadership” in the school community. Walters decried the accusations against Dr. Payton as “inflamed and baseless,” calling them a form of “character assassination.” He urged a swift resolution to the ongoing investigation to allow Dr. Payton to return to his duties. Walters also highlighted the notable achievement of Memorial Elementary being recognized as a national school of character under Dr. Payton’s leadership. The board acknowledged an oversight in not having Walters’ original email printed for the meeting, issuing an apology for the error.

The meeting then shifted to the multilingual (ML) student population, which has seen an increase from 215 students in the 2022-2023 school year to 260 in the 2024-2025 school year. The district’s diverse community was highlighted, and data showed that ML students’ performance in state assessments was commendable. Old Bridge students ranked first in Middlesex County for English Language Arts in several grades and performed well in mathematics. Despite this success, challenges remain, particularly in speaking and writing domains, which are generally more difficult for students. The district’s approval of a bilingual waiver for five languages—Arabic, Russian, Urdu, Ukrainian, and Spanish—allows for English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction due to difficulties in hiring qualified bilingual teachers.

Concerns were raised about parent refusals of ML services, as parental consent is required for student participation in the program. The district is addressing these concerns through new hires with ML certification, implementation of new schedules for at-risk students, and efforts to communicate with parents in their native languages. The introduction of the Seal of Biliteracy was celebrated as an indicator of student proficiency in two languages, with 57 seals awarded last year. This year, assessments will include additional languages like Tamil, Vietnamese, and Tagalog.

Technology procurement was another major topic, with the board discussing plans to purchase new devices for students in grades six and nine. A purchase order was set to be issued, facilitated by MRA, the vendor selected through a competitive bidding process. The goal is to distribute the devices within 30 days. The board confirmed that this procurement is part of a refresh cycle previously approved under the tax levy application.

The meeting also addressed the ongoing pedestrian bridge repairs at Old Bridge High School. The specification package for the project was made available, with bids to be opened in November. There was a sense of urgency to begin repairs, as the process had experienced delays, but the timeline suggested work could start shortly.

In correspondence, a letter from Michael Walters highlighted dissatisfaction with the lack of response regarding a character reference for Dr. Payton. Walters requested public reading of his correspondence, which praised Dr. Payton’s contributions and leadership at Memorial Elementary. The board acknowledged the importance of recognizing staff dedication and its impact on educational outcomes.