The director of student services, serving also as the district’s anti-bullying coordinator, provided a detailed presentation on the student safety data, covering the period from September to December 2023. The report contained a breakdown of violence, vandalism, substance offenses, weapons offenses, and HIB cases, along with descriptions of the programs and trainings implemented. A notable point from the presentation was the district’s overall grade of 75 out of 78 for school official HIB scores for the 2022-2023 school year. Board members acknowledged the thoroughness of the report and inquired about the effects of the efforts on reducing HIB cases. The director confirmed a decrease, particularly at the middle school level, attributing the improvement to proactive measures and heightened awareness.

Further discussions related to student safety included queries about the HIPster software, which the district uses for reporting and investigating bullying incidents. Questions were raised concerning the accessibility of the software to parents and the number of cases recorded. A detailed explanation of the software’s functionality and purpose was provided in response to the board’s inquiries.

Recognition was given to a student, Sophia, for her accomplishments in the local and New Jersey teen Arts Festivals. Sophia discussed the inspiration behind her work and received commendation from the board. Additionally, the board recognized Mrs. Chester for her achievement in becoming a certified board member and Dr. Moore for her 35 years of service in education. Dr. Moore shared her intentions to stay connected to the district following her departure, and a special video presentation from the students at Roland Rogers was shown to honor her contributions.

The meeting also acknowledged the efforts of the Family School Association (FSA) members from the Reeds and Roland schools. FSA members described their roles and the events they organized, which included a variety of activities such as parent nights out and book fairs. The board showed gratitude for the FSA’s commitment and discussed a District FSA initiative to enhance collaboration across schools for community fundraisers.

In terms of district operations, the Youth Advocacy Committee provided updates, and reports were given on student enrollment and out-of-district suspensions. The Finance Committee reviewed the June bills list, with a specific focus on updates on the GTMS chiller and cooling tower. The Facilities Committee approved the purchase of a new chiller and discussed related expenditures. The Policy Department presented policies on curriculum development, counseling, special education, and student health, emphasizing provisions for excusing students from instruction that conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs.

The board proceeded to approve several policy items for second and final reading and introduced policy items for a first reading. Upcoming board calendar events, such as the “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” performance by the Once Upon Time Players and the GTMS Summer Pops concert, were discussed. Under old business, the board affirmed the HIB determination reports and the American Rescue Plan Safe Return Plan. New business included discussions on the stabilized school budget aid grant program and the protocol for hiring between board meetings. Public comments addressed a call to revisit the policy on transgender guidance, and board members shared experiences from attending school events. The meeting concluded with the board entering an executive session to address personnel matters.