0:02At the forefront of the meeting was the recognition of students’ extracurricular achievements. High school students Christian Dionio and Vince Lynch were honored for their selection to both the Bergen County Chorus and the North Region Chorus, with hopes of joining the state chorus. Middle school student Charles Gensler was also acknowledged for his selection to the Bergen County Band for his tuba performance. These accomplishments were celebrated with a board proclamation, emphasizing the importance of commitment and practice in the arts. The students were encouraged to express gratitude to their parents for their support.

21:39The recognition continued with a special commendation for a student named Ryan, who was praised for his community dedication and musical achievements, further highlighted by his recent acceptance into West Point. The board took pride in Ryan’s loyalty to New Milford, as noted in a related article. Meanwhile, the competitive cheer team was lauded for their undefeated status, and Lis Placo’s milestone of scoring his 1,000th point in basketball was celebrated, with a vibrant atmosphere at the game and his family present.

0:02The wrestling team maintained an undefeated record, with Devin Ryan securing the county title for two consecutive years. The boys’ swimming team also impressed with a 6-2 record and state qualification.

In the superintendent’s report, a review of the December and January HIV report was provided, noting an investigated case at New Milford High School. The report also covered student suspensions, with four at New Milford High School and three at the De Oliveira School. Personnel changes were addressed, including the retirement of Whitney Perau, director of special services, and the appointment of Eileen Horn as her successor, following interviews with nearly twenty candidates. During the interim, Mr. Watson would reprise his role as director, drawing on his previous district experience.

21:39Financial challenges were a significant topic, with the business administrator reporting a substantial increase in the district’s health benefits costs, which reached $685,000 in January. This rise prompted discussions on budget projections and the need for fiscal strategies moving forward. A facilities audit and a food service audit were highlighted, revealing declining sales at the elementary level due to a new meal selection platform. As a corrective measure, it was decided to revert to pre-selecting meals, allowing parents more involvement. The issue of outstanding balances among families was also discussed, with the administrator considering potential solutions to address “lunch shaming” and improve collection efforts.

The board reviewed audit findings, leading to recommendations for better management of excess funds in the food service account. Budget discussions involved meetings with administrators to assess their needs, with state aid projections remaining flat. Work was underway to finalize a balanced budget for the following board meeting.

0:02In addition to these reports, the meeting featured a student representative’s update on school activities, such as the National Honor Society inductions, spring musical preparations, and a benefit concert. Students’ participation in the Healthcare Occupations Students of America (HOSA) conference was noted, with awards won for medical terminology proficiency. The student council’s community engagement was exemplified by a peer leadership project, creating blankets for charity using funds from the homecoming dance.

The board expressed gratitude for donations received, including a trampoline for the Wings program and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from the New Milford Education Foundation, intended for sports emergencies. The superintendent praised the Education Foundation and the family who donated the trampoline.

21:39The assistant superintendent’s report outlined preparations for the April 1 PET, including curriculum review meetings with county specialists. High-impact tutoring for selected students in grades 3 and 4 was nearing completion, following previous board-approved funding. The importance of the elementary Parent Academy on literacy was highlighted, inviting all elementary families to participate. The report also mentioned the collaborative learning initiative “The Amazing Race” for Bergen County students, progress on winter benchmarking, and NJSLA testing preparations.