During the public comment section, a resident raised concerns about the multiple construction projects occurring in Little Ferry, including those near the new school, Echo Road, and the library. The resident expressed worries about the potential for traffic congestion affecting students’ ability to arrive at school on time. The board acknowledged these concerns, confirming that the project manager and borough officials are in communication to manage traffic patterns and minimize disruptions. They advised that traffic management would be a dynamic process, adapting as needed. The school staff is prepared to adjust tardiness policies based on traffic conditions to ensure fairness for students.

Additionally, the board reviewed the ACCESS scores report for multilingual learners, which assesses skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. While the passing rate for students was slightly below the previous year’s, the board highlighted ongoing efforts to train more staff in sheltered English instruction and increase collaboration between ESL and content area teachers. The report noted that 30% of multilingual learners were new to the district, with a portion arriving mid-year, which may have impacted overall scores.

The meeting also included updates on financial and operational matters, such as the completion of the first bond payment for the new school and the ongoing audit process. The board reassured the public that major noise disruptions from construction would be managed, and efforts would continue to mitigate their impact on school operations.