Cheryl Hughes, a long-time health and physical education teacher, voiced her concerns about the treatment of coaching staff during the 2023-2024 season. Hughes detailed incidents where parents confronted and berated coaches without administrative support. She described an instance where a parent yelled at the athletic director and even physically confronted a golf cart occupied by staff members. Hughes criticized the lack of support from the administration and highlighted the resignation of Coach Don Panarella, emphasizing his contributions to the program. “We’re talking about a coach that had 55 girls go on to play college-level softball… It’s a crazy statistic,” Hughes stated, underscoring Panarella’s successful coaching record.

Another community member, Sally, echoed Hughes’ sentiments, claiming her previous concerns had gone unaddressed, contributing to Panarella’s resignation. She characterized the board’s inaction as shameful and expressed disappointment over the issues of harassment and bullying not being adequately dealt with. Sally called for accountability from the board, stating, “Harassment and bullying is not okay,” and lamented the loss of a dedicated coach. She expressed her hope that the board would recognize and honor Panarella for his contributions rather than allowing his resignation to pass without acknowledgment. “He is tireless and he loves this program; he loves this town,” Sally added, highlighting Panarella’s dedication over his 43-year career.

In response to these concerns, the board’s attorney addressed the limitations imposed on the board regarding discussions of confidential personnel matters. The attorney emphasized that, due to legal constraints, the board could not publicly comment on current or past employees unless there were signed releases allowing such discussions.

Besides the public outcry over the treatment of coaching staff, the meeting also included significant presentations on safety data and various student assessments. The safety data report outlined incidents across the South Plainfield district. South Plainfield High School recorded 71 incidents, with 60 resulting in removals and three instances of restraint. The middle school reported 13 incidents with no removals or restraints, while Kennedy school had two incidents, one restraint, and four alleged incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB). The report also included details on Franklin Elementary School and Roosevelt Elementary School, noting various training programs and alleged HIB cases.

Following the safety report, a data presentation elaborated on assessments such as the ACCESS for English Learners, the Dynamic Learning Map, and the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJ GPA). The ACCESS assessment determines multilingual learners’ English proficiency and is critical for placing students in appropriate language programs. The presentation highlighted that 28 kindergarteners were tested, with 23 at an entering level. For grades five through eight, the numbers remained relatively stable, while high school data reflected similar trends.

The Dynamic Learning Map, tailored for students with significant cognitive disabilities, was also discussed. The report stated that only a limited number of students took the assessment, making it challenging to draw broad conclusions. The New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, a key factor for high school students’ graduation eligibility, was described as requiring a score of 725 to pass. 6% of 11th graders were deemed graduation-ready, surpassing the state average for English Language Arts and mathematics. The mathematics scores showed improvement from the previous year, rising from 56.7% to 63.5%.

There was also a discussion about the NJ GPA and the possibility of employing a cohort model to track trends over time. A board member requested a longitudinal analysis to gain insight into the improving scores. Another inquiry addressed the ACCESS for ELS scale, questioning the absence of any students reaching the highest proficiency level.

Practical matters were also addressed during the meeting, such as the opening of the Genesis portal for parents to update contact information and complete necessary paperwork for the upcoming school year. The district’s re-registration campaign was mentioned, with specific grades set for re-registration to confirm residency. Open house events for kindergarten and preschool students were announced, alongside details about new teacher orientations and upcoming communications from principals regarding school-specific information.

Board member comments on the presentations acknowledged the positive trends in student performance, particularly concerning historically underperforming groups. The data was interpreted as evidence of effective targeted instruction. The conversation underscored the importance of utilizing multiple data points for assessing student progress and ensuring appropriate support systems are in place for students needing additional assistance.

Following the public comments and presentations, the board transitioned into an executive session to discuss confidential matters, including personnel and student issues. A motion was made to amend a previously discussed business item regarding the implementation of a process to cross-train district employees, emphasizing action rather than mere design. The board then moved through various approvals and resolutions concerning the school district’s operations, including curriculum and finance matters.