The meeting saw Dr. McBride, the newly appointed superintendent, address the audience, expressing his journey from humble beginnings to becoming an educator. He emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to improve the educational experience for students, with excellence being the standard expectation. Dr. McBride stressed the importance of equity in education, highlighting his belief that every child should have the opportunity to receive the highest quality education. He also spoke about his organization, the men of Alpha Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, and underscored his commitment to serving the community and working with teachers and students.

While several school board members expressed excitement about working with Dr. McBride, there were some initial concerns. For instance, Lissette Cordero-Outen voiced her apprehensions about Dr. McBride not being her top choice but expressed hope for his successful tenure. Christopher Coleman, on the other hand, commended Dr. McBride and voiced his confidence in the new superintendent’s ability to continue the positive trajectory of the school district. Superintendent Robert Sanchez and board president Scott James-Vickery also extended a warm welcome to Dr. McBride while praising his qualifications and the energy he brought to the interview process.

Some concern was raised about the transparency of Dr. McBride’s selection process. Scott James-Vickery sought to address these concerns by outlining the steps taken, which included a community survey and involvement in the interview process.

The meeting also saw other issues being highlighted. Anthony Ziza, a member of the public, expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and community involvement in the appointment of the new superintendent. Moreover, public frustrations about administrative responsiveness to public records requests were voiced by a member of the public named Bridget. Tony Jackson, a Hackensack teacher, raised concerns about testing fatigue among students, calling for a reduction in redundant assessments.