At the recent public meeting held on June 13, 2023, the Board approved resolutions designed to foster an inclusive educational environment. Key among these decisions was the approval of new vendors that promise to enrich the educational landscape. One such vendor is Fairleigh Dickinson University, enlisted to provide Orton Gillingham science of reading training for teachers. This program is widely regarded for its effectiveness in teaching reading skills to students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties.

Simultaneously, the board approved the introduction of Edith C. Banks, dba Sunflower Nation, LLC, who will serve as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) speaker for Memorial Middle School grades 5-8.

Further underscoring its focus on future-forward education, the board has also accepted a School Climate Change Pilot Grant in the amount of $6,600. This grant supports locally focused climate awareness initiatives that connect the implications of climate change with students’ lives.

The Little Ferry Board of Education demonstrated its financial commitment to educational quality by authorizing the submission and acceptance of an ESEA application for fiscal year 2023-2024. The grant funds, totaling approximately $350,000 across four titles, will be used to support a range of initiatives, including improving basic programs offered to disadvantaged students and providing language instruction for English learners.

On a less academic note, the Board rejected all bids for the Washington School Demolition project. The decision to delay the project came after a realization that the specifications needed to be substantially revised to ensure all bidders have necessary information and are on equal footing. The Board is set to revisit the issue.

While the board’s future-oriented decisions dominated the meeting, they also took time to recognize and celebrate student achievements, announcing the students of the month for May and June. An 8th Grade Graduation is scheduled for June 15th at 6pm.