The meeting began with Superintendent Janet Ciarrocca addressing an issue: a power outage at the high school caused by storm damage that had knocked out two transformers on the roof. With only one of the three transformers operational, the school was seeking a temporary power solution through a large generator while awaiting replacement transformers. Despite the power issues, the school planned to continue extracurricular activities, including a Harlem Wizards fundraiser scheduled for March 2nd, which would now take place at South Brunswick High School. The Black Cultural Alliance gala, originally set for the upcoming Friday, was postponed to March 13th due to the auditorium’s unavailability.

Community engagement was a focal point of the meeting, with the introduction of several programs aimed at fostering a sense of belonging and involvement among students, parents, and staff. A notable initiative was a free CPR training program for parents, organized in collaboration with Pin Health. The training successfully attracted 20 to 25 participants and plans are underway to offer it again. Additionally, the shift to virtual PTO meetings was discussed as a means to increase accessibility for parents with busy schedules, with topics such as internet security being introduced to enrich discussions.

Efforts to collaborate with local businesses were highlighted, including a proposal from Big Blue Swim School to conduct water safety demonstrations at future PTO meetings. These initiatives underscore the school’s broader commitment to community service and engagement beyond fundraising.

The meeting also addressed the school’s strategic goals for the academic year, emphasizing the strengthening of professional learning communities and the improvement of language arts scores. The board discussed the steps taken to revamp the PLCs, which included training and data-driven instruction. The MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) scores were utilized to monitor student performance, with a specific focus on improving the scores of second and third graders. Strategies for student achievement included goal setting and tracking progress based on personal academic goals.

Another topic was the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) framework, designed to promote a positive learning environment. The “Jaguar Bucks” program was introduced as a system to reward positive behavior among students. Staff members recognize students’ positive actions, which are then rewarded with “Jaguar Bucks.” The program aims to reach a milestone of 31,000 bucks, encouraging students to engage in good choices. The initiative has been well-received, with a celebration called “Wrap the Snowman” organized as a reward for achieving previous goals.

This sense of belonging extends to staff and families, fostering an environment where educators feel supported, which in turn benefits student outcomes. Personal connections to John Adams School were mentioned.

The meeting also included a review of items for an upcoming public meeting, with the board discussing personnel matters, curriculum items, and finance policies. During the public comments portion, a community member raised concerns about the Spanish language program at Lynwood School, criticizing the current reliance on an online program as ineffective for language teaching.