Middletown School Board Advances Facilities and Curriculum Development

In a recent Middletown School Board meeting, strides were made in the advancement of facilities and curriculum development, addressing the long-range facilities plan, and enhancing the educational program.

The master facilities assessment was a focal point of the meeting, with board members engaging in discussions about the progress and the necessity for substantial findings and community involvement. Updates were provided on the assessment work, which is important for identifying program needs and facilities issues at each school within the district. The long-range facilities plan is being updated based on this assessment, and a final report is expected by the end of the school year. Concerns were raised about the time and resources being allocated to the project.

Curricular advancements were also at the forefront of discussions, particularly the elimination of early release days for elementary schools in December and the restructuring of parent-teacher conferences based on feedback from a parent survey. The district is exploring ways to alter the Middle School elective structure.

In terms of infrastructure and technology, the board approved a contract for purchasing equipment for the Harmony playground, partially funded by a grant. The playground equipment’s condition sparked debate, with concerns about the timing of the grant application. Additionally, the board is working towards district certification under the Sustainable Jersey for Schools program and discussed the flat facilities budget for 2024-2025, which includes no significant maintenance or capital projects.

The development of social opportunities for special education students was underscored by the special services committee’s initiatives. These include expanding the UniFi cheer program and introducing the “Athlet Allies for Autism” club. The creation of a centralized landing page on the district website for all clubs and activities is a step towards curating and coordinating social opportunities for special students, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility.

Student achievements were celebrated, with Middletown South’s academic team and the film “Panic” being recognized for their accomplishments. The induction of 39 students into the South chapter of the Science National Honor Society and the successful winter sports season were also notable. Additionally, High School North students were acknowledged for their achievements in various competitions and programs, including the hockey team’s mayor’s cup victory and the boys basketball team’s conference tournament win.

The finance committee tackled the sale of Fort Monmouth Property and potential budget strategies for the upcoming year.

The co-curricular aspects of the meeting included the search for a football coach at High School South and the cancellation of the Ski Club trip due to low enrollment. The technology segment addressed cybersecurity initiatives, device replacement, and infrastructure improvements, including the implementation of Turnstile kiosks in secondary schools.

The meeting commenced with a note of appreciation from the superintendent for the school community’s cooperation during weather-related emergency days. The board proposed adding “floating emergency days” to the school calendar, which would be used as days off if not needed for emergencies. This proposal aims to avoid extending the school year unnecessarily.

The board’s meeting covered a range of other topics, from student achievements and extracurricular activities to committee reports and ongoing district projects. The discussion on the winter Benchmark assessment revealed that the district’s performance exceeded both state and national comparison groups. Moreover, the meeting also touched upon the need for long-term principal substitutes, upcoming school events, and a proposal to request proposals (RFPs) for district vendors. Public comments included announcements about school events and fundraisers.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.
Superintendent:
Jessica Alfone
School Board Officials:
Frank Capone, Jacqueline Tobacco, Leonora Caminiti, Kate Farley, Joseph Fitzgerald, Joan Minnuies, Caterina Skalaski, Gary Tulp, Deborah Wright

Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:

Trending meetings
across the country:

Meeting Date
Filter by bodytypes
Agricultural Advisory Committee
Airport Advisory Board
Art and Culture Board
Beach Committee
Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Board of Elections
Board of Health
Borough Council
Building Committee
Cannabis Control Board
Cemetery Commission
Charter Revision Commission
Child and Family Services Board
City Council
City Identity Committee
Code Enforcement Board
College Board of Trustees
Community Appearance Board
Community Preservation Committee
Community Redevelopment Agency
County Council
Disability Advisory Committee
Economic Development Board
Elderly Affairs Board
Electric Advisory Board
Environmental Commission
Financial Oversight Board
Historic Preservation Commission
Housing Authority
Human Relations Committee
Human Resources Committee
Insurance Fund
Land Use Board
Library Board
Licensing Board
Mental Health Commission
Municipal Alliance
Open Space Commission
Oversight and Review Committee
Parent Advisory Board
Parking Authority
Parks and Gardens Commission
Parks Commission
Pension Board
Planning Board
Police Review Board
Port Authority
Property Assessment Board
Public Safety Committee
Recreation Commission
Redevelopment Agency
Rent Control Board
Rent Leveling Board
School Board
Sewerage Authority
Shade Tree Commission
Special Magistrate
Taxation & Revenue Advisory Committee
Tourism Board
Trails Committee
Transportation Board
Utility Board
Value Adjustment Board
Veterans Committee
Water Control Board
Women's Advisory Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
Zoning Board
Filter by County
FL
Bay County
Bradford County
Brevard County
Broward County
Clay County
Duval County
Escambia County
Gulf County
Hendry County
Highlands County
Hillsborough County
Indian River County
Lake County
Lee County
Leon County
Levy County
Liberty County
Manatee County
Marion County
Martin County
Miami-Dade County
Monroe County
Okaloosa County
Orange County
Osceola County
Palm Beach County
Pasco County
Pinellas County
Polk County
Putnam County
Santa Rosa County
Sarasota County
Seminole County
St. Johns County
Taylor County
Volusia County
Walton County
MA
Barnstable County
Berkshire County
Bristol County
Essex County
Franklin County
Hampden County
Hampshire County
Middlesex County
Norfolk County
Plymouth County
Suffolk County
Worcester County
MN
Anoka County
Becker County
Beltrami County
Benton County
Blue Earth County
Brown County
Carver County
Cass County
Chippewa County
Chisago County
Clay County
Cook County
Crow Wing County
Dakota County
Freeborn County
Goodhue County
Grant County
Hennepin County
Isanti County
Itasca County
Kanabec County
Kandiyohi County
Koochiching County
Lac Qui Parle County
Lyon County
Mcleod County
Morrison County
Mower County
Nicollet County
Olmsted County
Pipestone County
Polk County
Ramsey County
Rice County
Scott County
Sherburne County
Sibley County
St Louis County
Stearns County
Steele County
Waseca County
Washington County
Wright County
NJ
Atlantic County
Bergen County
Burlington County
Camden County
Cape May County
Cumberland County
Essex County
Gloucester County
Hudson County
Hunterdon County
Mercer County
Middlesex County
Monmouth County
Morris County
Ocean County
Passaic County
Somerset County
Sussex County
Union County
Warren County
NY
Bronx County
Kings County
New York County
Queens County
Richmond County
TN
Shelby County
Filter by sourcetypes
Minutes
Recording