The meeting opened with a moment of silence to honor the recent losses within the school community, followed by updates on student and staff achievements. The spotlight then turned to the strategic plan’s first goal, which centers on student success and social-emotional wellness. The board underscored initiatives like partnerships with Effective School Solutions and the YMCA for counseling support, professional development on trauma-informed care, and parent sessions on social-emotional wellness. Superintendent Alfone highlighted the district’s therapy dog program and the implementation of tiered intervention models.

Alfone further detailed the district’s focus on personalized learning, which includes partnerships with Rutgers University and the implementation of early literacy and dyslexia screeners, as well as professional development through the I-Ready and U World programs. The upcoming freshman Frontiers program was also mentioned, which will assist freshmen in making informed decisions regarding their educational pathways.

Professional development for teachers, particularly in reading and writing, received positive feedback, as did plans for equity between the high schools through the Arts Pathways program. The board’s commitment to foundational literacy was evident in their goal to have all K-2 teachers trained in the Orton Gillingham program by the next school year. Community partnerships were also a focus, with successful collaboration between the district, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Community Alliance, and the Parent University Series.

Financial stability and infrastructure investment were topics, with the board discussing the impact of state aid reductions and the importance of securing additional funds. The board revealed plans for a districtwide master facilities assessment and a future facilities referendum. The replacement project of the Middletown High School North track and turf field was highlighted, with the board noting a cost reduction from $1,967,000 to $1,028,000.

The board also addressed the health insurance budget in light of rising healthcare costs and discussed the upcoming 2024-25 budget, with the intention to work through committees to finalize the proposal. They also touched on a random drug and alcohol policy, which was tabled for further discussion, and provided updates on litigation from the state regarding a policy amendment.

The meeting included a public comment period on gender items, which saw no participation, and recognized January as New Jersey School Board Recognition Month. The board also discussed the development of the school calendar for the 2024-25 year, special education forums, and the positive response to the elementary parent-teacher conference survey.

Additionally, the meeting featured updates from PTAs on community events and fundraisers, and student representatives discussed the impact of school closures on food access during snow days. A public comment was made regarding the sale of the former Port Monmouth Elementary School property, with a community member seeking further information.