Board President Dr. Marlene Berghammer reflected on the achievements of the 2023-2024 academic year, highlighting an increase in scholarship awards from $12 million to $17 million and a graduation rate surpassing 90%. New key hires were announced, including Mr. Walker as the assistant superintendent and Ms. Annabelle Lewis for her support to Superintendent Perkins. Dr. Berghammer also emphasized the importance of a new publicist role aimed at enhancing community engagement and introduced Dr. Lot as the new personnel director to tackle staffing challenges within the district. Acknowledging the finance director, Mr. Sarella, for maintaining financial stability without raising taxes, Dr. Berghammer reiterated the administration’s dedication to high standards across the district.

Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins began her report by thanking the 12-month staff for their efforts during the summer to prepare the schools for the new academic year. She recognized the successful summer school programs and praised the support staff and building supervisors. Perkins also mentioned two upcoming presentations focusing on state-required assessments: ACCESS testing for English language learners (ELL) and the New Jersey Graduate Proficiency Assessment (NJ GPA).

The presentation on the ACCESS assessment detailed the academic language proficiency of ELL students across various subjects. Superintendent Perkins reported that 922 students participated in the test, with a majority from elementary grades. The data showed that 86% of students were emerging in language proficiency, with a significant contrast observed in ninth grade, where only 15% were in the emerging category. Initiatives to support these students included state-mandated sheltered instruction training for teachers, alternative assessments in different languages, and the introduction of a program known as SCYTHE to assist students with interrupted formal education.

In the discussion that followed, a board member raised the need for a dual model for ELL and second language learners, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that English-speaking students also graduate with proficiency in a second language. The district currently offers programs in multiple languages, including Mandarin, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, and is working to increase participation in these programs.

The meeting also included a comprehensive analysis of student performance in English Language Arts (ELA) and math across various demographics. For example, proficiency rates in ELA were detailed as 42.9% for Asian students, 25.5% for Black and African-American students, and 43.6% for White students. The data revealed that 73.1% of male students were proficient in ELA compared to 83.1% of female students. In math, the proficiency rates were close, with 29.4% for males and 28.6% for females. Students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) showed a math proficiency rate of 53.6%, while 82.6% of non-IEP students were proficient.

To address performance challenges, the district outlined three pathways for students to fulfill graduation assessment requirements, including retakes of the assessments, alternative assessments like the SAT or ACT, and portfolio assessments. Interventions for the upcoming school year will include targeted support for students retaking assessments in the fall, a multi-tiered system of support to address academic and social-emotional needs, and the establishment of attendance review teams at each school to address patterns of absenteeism.

During the public comment segment, Sharen Morgan, the PTA president for Linden High School, inquired about how parents could assist their teens in preparing for the NJ GPA exams. The board emphasized that parents receive individual student reports and recommended communication with teachers and guidance counselors for additional support.

The meeting also touched on staffing shortages in core subjects such as math and science, exacerbated by a nationwide teacher shortage. The district has partnered with firms to provide substitutes, particularly focusing on retired special education teachers. The board acknowledged ongoing efforts to recruit and retain qualified personnel.

Honoring Spanish Heritage Month was another point of discussion, with Superintendent Perkins encouraging community involvement. She noted the successful conclusion of summer programming, which included various educational support initiatives, and introduced a district vision and goals video titled “Lyndon Mission Possible,” featuring alumni and emphasizing themes of resilience, opportunity, achievement, and relationships.

The meeting concluded with the approval of the personnel report, including the promotion and appointment of new staff members. Among them, Frank Manti, the newly appointed vice principal at School Number Four, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and reflected on his career in the district. Jeffrey Wade, starting a new position as extracurricular activities advisor, shared his long history with sports in the district, while Rachel Mson, the new high school art teacher, and Marel Amji, the new ESL teacher, also introduced themselves and expressed enthusiasm for their roles.

The meeting transitioned to public comments, where topics such as school security cameras, transportation policies, and the shortage of qualified teachers and therapy support for special education programs were addressed. The board acknowledged these concerns and discussed ongoing initiatives to improve the district’s educational environment.