The strategic plan, presented by Miss Kusalevich, is designed to serve as a guiding framework for the district over the next five years. It identifies five major goal areas: academic excellence and curriculum development, staff development and retention, student engagement and support, community and family involvement, and facilities and infrastructure. Kusalevich emphasized the collaborative nature of the planning process, which involved faculty, staff, parents, and community members in multiple stakeholder meetings. This inclusive approach aims to align district efforts with community expectations and educational standards.

In the area of academic excellence and curriculum development, the plan focuses on redesigning the curriculum from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to prepare students for 21st-century challenges. The specific objectives include enhancing academic skills with modern tools, strengthening social and emotional skills, and increasing student engagement through programs such as alternative education and university partnerships. The curriculum and counseling departments are tasked with leading this initiative.

Staff development and retention is another critical focus, with objectives aimed at recruiting highly qualified staff and fostering a positive work environment. This includes developing personalized professional development programs, enhancing support opportunities, expanding recruitment outreach, and prioritizing educator well-being. The human resources and counseling departments will oversee this area.

Student engagement and support initiatives aim to create an empowering environment for students, with objectives such as ensuring smooth transitions between grade levels, addressing chronic absenteeism with personalized support plans, and expanding extracurricular activities at the elementary level. The student services and counseling departments are responsible for implementing this goal.

The community and family involvement goal seeks to enhance Clifton’s brand, increase parental involvement, and improve resource availability. This will be managed by the communications and student services departments. Lastly, the facilities and infrastructure goal is focused on continuing upgrades resulting from past referendums, exploring space for preschool and specialized programming, and improving transportation options. The business office and maintenance departments are charged with this aspect.

Following the presentation, a board member suggested exploring the establishment of an adult evening school to further community engagement, a proposal directed to the education and finance committees for further consideration.

In other discussions, the meeting addressed the expansion of Career Technical Education (CTE) programs and recognized the success of tier 2 interventions at School 12. The board explored enhancing existing programs with CTE credentials and expanding trade-based options to facilitate quicker workforce entry for students. This initiative aims to strengthen hands-on STEM activities and create more CTE-endorsed programs without requiring extensive equipment.

Recognition was given to the tier 2 team at School 12 for their implementation of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBSIS) system. Approximately 15% of the student population benefited from these interventions, which fostered connections with school staff and reinforced positive behaviors.

Public comments were dominated by safety concerns and financial discussions. One long-time attendee, Keith Bassard, suggested changes regarding School Resource Officers (SROs) and emphasized the need for a full-time position to monitor school security cameras. He also highlighted financial discrepancies between the school board and the city council, noting a perceived imbalance that could burden taxpayers.

The meeting also featured acknowledgments and farewells. The Clifton Education Association (CEA) president, Lori La Lama, expressed gratitude as she announced her retirement after 41 years in education. She described the school community as a “beautiful and intricate puzzle” and acknowledged the collective effort in shaping a supportive educational environment. Dr. Robert, another board member, recognized La Lama’s contributions, noting their shared leadership journey and presenting her with a sunflower as a token of appreciation.

Superintendent Dr. Abertosi reported on the upcoming high school graduation, highlighting that 776 students would graduate, with substantial financial aid and scholarships awarded to the class. He emphasized the importance of Clifton’s diverse educational environment in preparing students for real-world challenges.