The most significant topic of the meeting was the discussion on mental health issues among school-age children, initiated by the book *The Anxious Generation* by Jonathan Haidt. This book highlights a marked increase in depression, anxiety, hospitalizations, and suicide attempts among youth since 2010, correlating this trend with the advent of smartphones. A speaker emphasized the book’s well-researched statistics and anecdotal evidence, revealing a decline in “free play,” where children engage in unsupervised activities and develop essential executive functioning skills. This decline has prompted the school district to set goals for fostering these skills among students.

The district has distributed copies of the book to counselors, administrators, and supervisors, and plans to develop a Parent Academy program to address the issues raised in the book. The speaker stressed the importance of parental involvement in mitigating the impact of smartphone usage, noting that many incidents of conflict and bullying occur during late-night hours on social media platforms. Although students are not permitted to use phones during school hours, the pervasive influence of smartphones outside school necessitates a collaborative effort with parents to address these challenges.

Following the discussion on mental health, the superintendent addressed the board, beginning with a commendation for the student representative, Sarah Ioria, on her first report. The superintendent proceeded to discuss the opening of the school year, stating that the initial days had a high energy level and engaging classroom activities, moving away from traditional first-day procedural announcements. He acknowledged the effective preparation by new personnel in key positions, contributing to a smooth start.

The superintendent also highlighted the upcoming commemoration of September 11, where a retired New York City firefighter, JD DeSantis, would present to the junior class at the high school, providing historical context and education about the events surrounding September 11. Additionally, community engagement activities were planned in the elementary schools, such as the “high five for Hometown Heroes” event, recognizing local first responders.

A significant agenda item was the presentation of the student safety data system incident report and harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) training from the previous school year. Specific figures included six incidents of physical alterations, one suspension related to vandalism, 14 incidents involving substances, two related to weapons (both pocket knives), and 132 confirmed HIB incidents deemed minor infractions.

In the finance section, no finance committee meetings had occurred since the last full board gathering. Five financial motions were introduced, including the routine approval of bills, a lease purchase financing agreement for network switches not exceeding $340,000, a lease agreement for a school vehicle capped at $882,000, acceptance of a landscaping services proposal at a cost not exceeding $94,400, and approval of the renewal of a custodial services agreement with Aramark for about $1.2 million. A board member elaborated on the network switch purchase, emphasizing its significance in updating the technology infrastructure to support devices like Chromebooks and the teacher Wi-Fi network. The purchase would be financed through a five-year lease to minimize budget impact.

The meeting also covered the approval of student placements at various educational institutions, with 84 students accepted into different programs. This information was presented alongside a motion that included a self-assessment regarding the district’s handling of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) cases, which resulted in a score of 74.6 out of a possible 78. This self-reflection is part of a regular reporting requirement to the state.

During new business, various motions were presented for approval, including the resignation of staff members, the hiring of an elementary teacher, a long-term substitute, and lunch monitors. The superintendent also mentioned the approval of Title One instructors and coaching assignments. Six motions were introduced, covering the establishment of board goals, district placements for students, speech-language services, field trips, and anti-bullying initiatives.

The meeting transitioned to public comments, where representatives from the Rutherford Special Education Parents Advisory Group introduced themselves, expressing gratitude for the board’s receptiveness and willingness to collaborate. They emphasized their goal to support both parents and students, particularly those with disabilities.