During the meeting, the sense of community within Rockaway Township Public Schools was consistently underscored by various speakers, including educators and students. Birchwood Elementary was described as having a “family atmosphere,” with doors “always open” and students returning year after year. This sentiment was paralleled at Dwyer Elementary, where an open physical layout contributed to a “great sense of community.” The testimonials extended to Copeland Middle School, where a STEAM teacher underlined the importance of teamwork and comfort for students, and a guidance counselor emphasized social and emotional learning.

The district’s educators spoke about their dedication to creating a nurturing environment, highlighting the use of core values as guiding principles in the educational process. They discussed the implementation of a positive behavior system and the use of technology, such as interactive boards and Chromebooks, to enrich the learning experience. The involvement of the PTA and parents in academic and extracurricular activities was also noted, revealing a strong partnership between the schools and the broader community.

The Superintendent shared gratitude for the community’s support and reiterated the importance of a positive environment for students. Updates on various school projects, such as fence installation, roof repairs, and the introduction of summer programs, were provided. Additionally, the meeting moved to address the public’s concerns during a comments section, where individuals addressed the board with issues pertaining to the operation of the district.

The most pressing topic discussed was the district’s efforts to safeguard student access to data and enhance security measures. The Supervisor of Technology presented changes to Google accounts, web policies, and the way YouTube and other digital resources are accessed and monitored. New password requirements and separate web policies for in-school and at-home use were among the changes. The district is also implementing Gog Guardian’s parent app to allow greater parental control over student browsing.

Additionally, the meeting covered the procedures for managing device breakage at the middle school, eliminating the yearly maintenance fee, and introducing a three-stage system for handling unintentional and intentional damages. Snap-on cases were purchased for Chromebooks to allow personalization without defacement. The district’s dedication to securing student data was further emphasized through the use of COPPA-compliant software, upgraded network infrastructure, and security audits.

The Education Curriculum Committee reported on curriculum revisions, including the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, and presented a survey on chronic absenteeism. The Community Outreach Committee discussed efforts to address facility inequities and plans for engaging with the community.

The public comments section of the meeting brought forth community concerns, including questions about the accessibility of information regarding a board retreat meeting and the lack of live streaming. A community member affiliated with Moms for Liberty raised issues related to gender transitioning policies, teacher conduct, and sports participation. These concerns led to a revision of the wording of the district’s goals for the upcoming school year and sparked discussions on policy abolishment and the need for transparency with parents.

The meeting concluded with the approval of Personnel items and HIB determination, and the board moved to vote on education, special education, administration, finance, and policy recommendations. Adjustments were made to the wording of the district’s goals, and there was a dialogue about the necessity of certain policies.