The meeting’s primary focus was the regionalization feasibility study involving Warren and neighboring districts. The study, which was first circulated at the end of August, underwent significant revisions following feedback that highlighted issues such as factual inaccuracies, data inconsistencies, and unsupported conclusions about enrollment projections. The Warren School Board emphasized the importance of rectifying these errors to ensure that future discussions are grounded in accurate information. The board’s feedback pointed to unrealistic assumptions about class sizes and facility capacities used in the study, as well as an understatement of potential taxpayer savings, which failed to account for expenses related to aligning collective negotiation agreements and increased curriculum costs.

The board expressed a strong need to focus on student outcomes and long-term fiscal sustainability for taxpayers. During the meeting, board members were asked to comment on a resolution regarding the study, with one member voicing agreement. The resolution’s text was not included in the agenda and had to be read aloud.

The regionalization discussion also touched upon the unique situation of Greenbrook, which operates under a send-receive agreement with Watchung Hills Regional High School. Unlike Warren, Long Hill, and Watchung, which are part of a regional district, Greenbrook residents pay taxes to a single entity for local education. This structural difference necessitates different considerations for Greenbrook in the ongoing regionalization discussions. The board clarified that while Warren Township participated in the study to ensure accurate data representation, they do not endorse the concept of creating a regional district.

In tandem with these discussions, the board is working on its Planning for Growth initiative, which focuses on internal district planning to address enrollment patterns, preschool capacity, and facility usage. This initiative is separate from the regionalization study and aims to proactively manage future growth within Warren. The group involved in this initiative has been reviewing preschool options, analyzing special education space, and studying historical growth management. They plan to examine updated demographic data to project ongoing natural growth and future housing developments.

Beyond the regionalization study, the board reviewed a comprehensive presentation on student performance data, which covered state assessment results in math, English Language Arts (ELA), and science. The analysis highlighted performance trends and subgroup data, noting that male students generally outperformed female students in math, while female students excelled in ELA. The presentation also focused on economically disadvantaged students, those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and multilingual learners, emphasizing the importance of subgroup data in driving district goals and addressing performance disparities.

The math assessments showed a consistent upward trend in passing rates, though a drop in seventh-grade performance was noted, attributed to the introduction of a new teaching team. To address this, specialized training for the seventh-grade math team was planned. The district is also implementing a new program for K-5 language arts materials, which involved extensive professional development for teachers. This initiative aims to prepare students for the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA), with a particular focus on improving on-demand writing tasks.

Additionally, the meeting included updates on a $2,000 donation from Wineer Realy for a strategic plan video, scheduled for approval on the agenda. The board also recognized the impending retirement of two long-serving teachers, Vivian Plesid and Brenda Sasso, expressing appreciation for their contributions to the Warren community.