The proposal to honor Coach Ki became a central topic as board members and the community grappled with how best to recognize his contributions. Coach Ki, who led the district to a state football championship in 1993, has been a prominent figure, fostering school pride and identity. Suggestions included naming a facility, such as a weight room or stadium, after him, but this raised issues due to the absence of a formal naming policy.

Board members were divided on the appropriateness of renaming existing facilities, such as Carelli Field, with some advocating for interactive tributes like a victory bell or a touchstone rock. These would serve as daily reminders of Coach Ki’s influence. The board acknowledged the necessity of establishing a naming policy to handle future requests, but many felt that recognizing Coach Ki should not be delayed by policy discussions. Some members were in favor of allowing the administration to make a decision on the tribute. A motion was made to delegate this responsibility to the administration, with the board agreeing to table the discussion for further consideration.

In another significant part of the meeting, the superintendent provided updates on the district’s transition to a new website and the recent renovations at Ocean Township High School, which were completed in time for the homecoming dance. The school’s art students were also set to have their work displayed at an upcoming conference.

The district’s scores often surpassed state averages, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA), where third graders scored 68%, far above the state average of 45%. Despite this success, challenges remain, such as achievement gaps among certain subgroups. Targeted initiatives are being implemented to address these gaps, with a focus on evidence-based instructional practices and data-driven interventions.

The meeting also covered the introduction of a new math program designed to enhance problem-solving skills through meaningful discourse and open-ended problems. This shift comes as the district prepares for changes to the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA), which will transition to an adaptive format. The new assessments will adjust question difficulty based on student responses, providing a more accurate measure of abilities. A field test for the new assessments is scheduled, and families will be informed of the details.

Public comments reflected ongoing concerns about student performance and communication. One community member, Mrs. H, criticized the board for insufficient outreach to parents regarding student test score discussions. She emphasized the need for the board to engage more substantively on issues of educational disparity, specifically highlighting gaps in performance among Black and Latino students.

Additionally, Keith Chapman challenged the district’s cell phone policy, questioning liability for potential damages to phones stored in pouches during school hours. He also critiqued the lack of innovative solutions in recent presentations, pointing to frequent assessment changes as a hurdle to effective policy implementation.

The meeting concluded with several administrative matters, including personnel updates and financial approvals. The board also addressed policy updates, notably the abolition of a COVID-related policy.