The meeting began with the introduction of the new student representative, Salony Mattel, who provided updates on various school activities and events. Salony highlighted the successful start of the school year and upcoming events such as Johnny Appleseed Day and the Week of Respect. Schools within the district, including Stonybrook School, also celebrated the start of the year and participated in activities to raise awareness for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

One of the discussions was led by a representative regarding the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC). The representative explained the NJQSAC as a method to assess school districts across five key areas: instruction and program, fiscal management, governance, operations, and personnel. The self-assessment conducted by the district, followed by a county review, revealed scores that met or exceeded the required 80% in all areas. The district scored 88% for instruction and program, 100% in fiscal management and governance, 93% in operations, and 94% in personnel, showing strong performance despite transitional challenges.

Following this, Mrs. Thomas, the director of curriculum, presented the annual New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) report. She emphasized the district’s performance, which surpassed state averages in most areas for English Language Arts (ELA) and math assessments from grades three through nine. Specific mention was made of higher-level math courses, where students’ performance contributed to the district’s overall scores. Mrs. Thomas also highlighted the importance of these assessments as part of a broader strategy that includes various benchmarks throughout the school year.

The board also discussed student performance improvements, particularly in the context of assessments conducted before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, 64.5% of sixth graders met or exceeded expectations in math, up from 44%, and 80% met or exceeded expectations in ELA, up from 40%. The effectiveness of current educational strategies, such as the Response to Intervention (RTI) program and the Summer Learning Academy, was acknowledged as contributing to these positive outcomes.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on policy revisions, particularly Policy 5514 concerning student vehicle usage and Policy 2431 regarding athletic competition. The increase in students using e-bikes prompted the board to consider revising the vehicle usage policy to include e-bikes. Additionally, inconsistencies between the athletic policy and the student handbook regarding attendance requirements for athletes led to discussions about aligning these documents.

The board also touched on the maintenance responsibilities for Stony Brook Field and the introduction of entry fees for sporting events as a safety measure and a means to support the school’s budget. There was mention of the New Jersey School Boards Association’s upcoming convention, where the Kinnelon School Board will be recognized for achieving board certification.

During the public comment section, a resident raised concerns about the fee associated with Advanced Placement (AP) testing, arguing that it poses a financial burden on students taking multiple exams. The board acknowledged this concern and expressed a willingness to reconsider the fee.

The meeting concluded with scheduling future committee meetings and a suggestion to conduct a round-robin format to accommodate the busy calendar. The board invited attendees to reach out with any questions before moving into the executive session.