The meeting opened with a presentation by Dr. Jarcho from Temple University about a research project on child and adolescent anxiety, followed by Terry Lewis from the New Jersey School Boards Association discussing ethics training for board members. The ethics presentation stressed the importance of maintaining community trust and detailed mandatory training, disclosure statements, and prohibited acts.

The conversation then shifted to the ethical use of social media by board members, with scenarios presented illustrating potential violations. This included discussions on how board members should conduct themselves online and the implications of their advocacy for specific groups or initiatives.

School business updates touched on reservation from a board member about remaining silent during certain discussions and the need for board members to connect with others. The policy committee reported that voting on policies would be delayed due to timing issues and detailed their process of reviewing policy language for clarity and potential changes.

On the topic of student discipline, the board discussed trends and practices, such as the introduction of Saturday detention and the removal of the open campus policy at the high school. Additionally, the possibility of applying for a grant for behavior management support was mentioned.

Updates from the PTA included monthly events, teacher appreciation, and the Middle School book fair, along with discussions on PTA turnover and the suggestion of two-year terms for board members to maintain institutional knowledge. Announcements were made about upcoming events like the senior trip, a golf outing, and a town dinner.

The board celebrated the high performance reports for Central School and the high school, with Central School notably ranked among the state’s top five performing schools. They also discussed a virtual learning day at Central School and the middle school, which saw attendance rates over 60% and 56.76%, respectively, and focused on enrichment and engagement.

However, a concern was raised by a community member about the hiring process for a new Middle School principal, who is married to the high school principal. Questions about potential conflicts of interest and the consideration of other candidates were brought to the board’s attention.

The denial of a request to change a student’s record was addressed, with a motion made and approved after board discussion. The board also reviewed the agenda for the next meeting, and some members expressed difficulties accessing certain documents, leading to discussions about the need for more detailed financial information, including budget comparisons and tax revenue sources.