The school board’s recognition of student success began with the high school principal highlighting the students of the month. The principal also praised the cast and crew of the spring musical “Matilda” and acknowledged the students involved in the Esports program and Robotics team for their accomplishments. The DECA team’s success was particularly notable, with several students qualifying for the upcoming Nationals event in Anaheim. The logistics and fundraising efforts for the DECA trip were discussed by the advisors, emphasizing the support for the students’ competitive endeavors.

In addition to academic and extracurricular achievements, the board celebrated the athletic prowess of the student body. The wrestling team and the competition cheer team were recognized for their performances during the winter season. The cheerleading team, having secured the 2024 NJ CDCA Cheer and Dance Division Group One State Championship title, was lauded for their hard work and dedication. The school board took the opportunity to name and congratulate specific individuals on the team.

The financial health of the Cedar Grove School District was another focal point of the meeting. The auditors presented the results of the 2022-2023 audit, which included unmodified, clean opinions across the board’s financial statements, and noted that no deficiencies were found. The audit also covered the federal and state single audit, verifying compliance with grant requirements without any issues. The financial overview provided by the auditors revealed a net profit in the Food Service fund, a surplus in the general fund, and healthy fund balances. The introduction of the new governmental auditing standard, GASBY 96, which relates to subscription-based information technology services, was also mentioned. Board members expressed their satisfaction with the district’s financial status and confidence in the control processes in place.

The meeting continued with discussions on enhancing student performance in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). The district has been focused on improving math scores, with initiatives like the Edge elastic program to provide standard-based instruction and strategies to address classroom deficits. Teachers are encouraged to incorporate movement into math lessons, organize math competitions, and use interdisciplinary approaches to teaching mathematics. For ELA, the board is awaiting the results of the Linkit form C and NJSLA tests. They highlighted the focus on ELA standards and the use of various tools for test preparation, including professional development for teachers.

Student involvement and leadership development were also addressed. The board underscored initiatives like leadership forums, academic reflections, and student feedback mechanisms. The meeting also brought to light a grant obtained to support high-impact tutoring for targeted student groups in grades three and four.

The meeting not only focused on current achievements but also looked forward to upcoming events. Reports on the success of the recent lip sync event were shared, and future activities such as a spring pep rally, an Earth Day walk, and a senior citizen dance planned by peer leaders were announced.