The appointment of Richard Matthews as the school business administrator and board secretary for the academic term beginning September 23, 2024, through June 30, 2025, came with an annual salary of $221,400. This decision was among the key administrative actions taken by the board.

The board accepted generous donations from several community sources. The Somerville Home and School Association contributed $1,824.77 for student birthday books, and the Ridgewood High School student activity account donated $2,167.25 for the ski club summer trip. A significant donation of $10,000 from the Haws Home and School Association was allocated for curriculum-based field trips. The Ridgewood High School Band Association also contributed $2,200 to cover the nurse’s expenses at the 2024 band camp. These donations reflect the community’s investment in the enrichment of student experiences.

A presentation on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJ GPA) data, a mandatory report for junior class students, revealed a performance that surpassed state averages in both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. However, the board noted with concern the number of students, particularly in mathematics, who did not pass the test. Subgroup data presented a tight cluster of performance across different racial groups within the class of 2025 but showed a narrowing of the gap when economically disadvantaged students were excluded from the racial categories.

Potential modifications to test administration days were considered to improve participation rates. A analysis over three years emphasized the impact of cut scores on proficiency rates and highlighted the need for additional analysis of students who did not pass the NJ GPA.

The board recognized the increasing number of multilingual learners and the implications for resource allocation and staffing needs. They also underscored the importance of equitable outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds and the need for enhanced professional development in linguistics and language instruction.

The board’s self-evaluation, facilitated by a representative from The New Jersey School Boards Association, brought to light the importance of aligning board goals with district goals. The evaluation tool, which includes ratings for various aspects of board performance, showed the need for additional training in identified areas and the establishment of a new section dedicated to board goals in the evaluation instrument.

In the realm of facilities, the board reported on the resurfacing of tennis courts, dust collection in wood shops, boiler repairs, parking issues, and the installation of water filtration systems. A discussion on finding a new location for the 18 to 21 extended special education program highlighted the unsuitability of the current basement space due to the lack of natural lighting.

A debate unfolded over the choice of HVAC and ventilation systems for schools, weighing the merits of sustainable but complex systems against more efficient but less sustainable traditional systems. The board considered consulting with sustainability experts and obtaining estimates to make an informed decision. Additionally, they addressed discrepancies in window replacement estimates and noted the need to upgrade eventually.

The board also touched on policy changes mandated by the state, facility usage, and costs. An announcement of the upcoming school board elections was made, and a public comment raised concerns about the transparency of the self-evaluation process. The meeting concluded with an executive session focused on personnel matters.