A substantial portion of the meeting was dedicated to the sewer line project, which has been a topic of concern for the past three years. The board had budgeted $250,000 for the sewer line installation, but the actual quote from the vendor came in at $613,000. The superintendent explained the reasons for this significant discrepancy, including the depth of the sewer line, utility conflicts, and location complexities. Additional factors included regulatory agency requests that increased the linear feeds into the project, compounding the overall costs. The superintendent noted that these requirements had a much larger impact than initially estimated. The project had also been delayed due to extensive coordination between professionals and agencies, leading to the appointment of a new architect in January 2023 to prioritize its advancement.

Student proficiency in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) was another critical focus. In ELA, the proficiency saw an increase in grade six, while level four proficiency rose in all grades except for grade four. The board acknowledged the achievement gap, which had been decreasing among various demographic groups, including racial subgroups and economically disadvantaged students. However, areas for growth were identified, particularly in grades four and seven.

The board discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student performance, noting that disruptions had affected critical learning years, particularly for current fourth graders. Despite this, some schools showed increases in proficiency when comparing the same cohort of students from one year to the next. For example, ET Hamilton’s third graders had a proficiency rate of 55% in 2023, which improved to 65% in fourth grade in 2024.

Adjustmentsttention was given to behavioral concerns at the middle school. To address this, several proactive measures were proposed, including an empowerment guest speaker series, teacher mentorship programs, Saturday reflection sessions for students who have not adhered to the code of conduct, and mandatory post-suspension meetings with parents. These initiatives aim to foster a supportive environment and build relationships, as emphasized by the superintendent.

The board also addressed the district’s approach to artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Plans were announced to train teachers in AI tools, with the goal of having all staff trained by the end of the year.

During the meeting, the Personnel Committee presented updates on hiring for preschool staff and the Middle School principal position. The committee recommended Miss In as the new principal of Voorhees Middle School, which received support and was expected to be voted on later. Additionally, the hiring of an interim assistant principal was discussed, with a compensation rate of $450 for participation in various school events.

The meeting included a analysis of student performance data, focusing on proficiency levels in ELA and mathematics. Concerns were raised about the significant drop in eighth-grade ELA proficiency, which decreased from 84% to 69%. The absence of two English teachers during the reporting period was noted as a possible factor. The need for targeted interventions was emphasized, particularly for grades four and seven.

The board also reviewed the annual Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) self-assessment report. The district scored 76.2 out of a possible 78 points, showing slight improvement from the previous year. Miss Donley shared that virtual presentations are conducted annually to educate parents about the HIB process, and a workshop on October 15 would include a comprehensive presentation on the topic.