During the public comment segment, community members voiced their concerns about bullying in Vineland schools. Victoria Santos, a parent, highlighted the urgency of the issue, remarking, “Child suicide is the second leading cause of death in children today.” She criticized the board for what she perceived as mishandling of bullying incidents, citing a lack of accountability for staff and a failure to adhere to proper protocols. Santos emphasized the need for the board to move beyond “games of diminishing the student voice” and called for genuine collaboration with parents to address the issue effectively.

He pointed out that many parents are growing increasingly dissatisfied with public schooling due to what he described as inadequate support systems for bullying.

In response, board members and district representatives acknowledged the concerns and discussed the district’s comprehensive anti-bullying program, which involves specialists, counselors, and administrators trained to manage bullying effectively.

On the academic front, the board reviewed the 2024-2025 NJSLA (New Jersey Student Learning Assessment) scores with a focus on improving literacy and math proficiency. Presenters outlined significant gains in some grades, particularly noting a 27% increase in proficiency for kindergarteners and a 24% increase for first graders attributed to a new structured literacy curriculum. Elementary and middle school performance also showed improvement, especially a notable 20% increase in proficiency at one school, highlighting the district’s efforts to enhance student learning outcomes.

In mathematics, the district reported stability and improvement across various grade levels. Particularly noteworthy were the seventh-grade algebra students who outpaced the state average. The district plans to expand successful programs such as the Bridges intervention math system and a math fact fluency initiative to support middle school algebra and geometry students.

The meeting also addressed science assessment data, where improvements were noted in grades five and eight, with the district doubling its percentage of students achieving higher proficiency levels. However, grade eleven showed minimal progress, prompting plans to continue emphasizing inquiry-based instruction and hands-on laboratory experiences.

Facility updates took center stage as the board discussed the energy savings improvement plan, which includes upgrades like LED lighting and insulation, expected to be completed by spring 2026. Larger scale projects, such as HVAC system upgrades at VHS North and the South gym, were also highlighted. A fire code inspection identified a need for a fire suppression barrier in a stairwell, with an appeal scheduled for November 18th. The Facilities Committee reported a requirement of approximately $500,000 to replace inoperable equipment at Sabater Pool and noted the failure of the Cunningham School boiler, estimating a replacement cost of $30,000.

Additionally, the board considered the transfer of the Oaken Main building deed to the Vineland Community Foundation and discussed future use considerations for Cunningham School and a potential middle school addition. A grant of $1.5 million from the SDA was awarded to Vineland, prompting discussions on fund allocation and facility rental charges.

Technology advancements were reported, with nearly half the district now using smart fobs for two-factor authentication, expected to be fully implemented by the end of November. The successful implementation of the Verizon grant across middle schools was recognized, with operational device usage confirmed.

The recognition of Veterans Day was another key element of the meeting. The board planned to honor district employee Frank Rodriguez, a custodian and Army veteran who served in Desert Storm, although he was not present to receive his certificate. The board acknowledged his service with applause and invited further recognition of community veterans.