The meeting commenced with an inspiring presentation by Helena Kim, a senior at Wayne Hills High School. Kim shared her experiences as a participant in the Tech Girls program, a U.S. State Department initiative designed to empower young women in STEM fields. Her involvement in the program included coding workshops, leadership training, and cultural exchange, as she represented New Jersey among 13 U.S. finalists. Kim’s capstone project, aligned with her nonprofit organization Zooming Through Music, aims to teach technology and coding to individuals with a focus on special education students. Her presentation not only highlighted her achievements but also underscored the impact of supportive teachers on her educational journey.

Following Kim’s presentation, the board reviewed a report on incidents of violence, vandalism, substance abuse, and bullying, as mandated by New Jersey state law. The report disclosed 30 confirmed incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) out of 96 investigations. These incidents were based on race, ancestry, gender, orientation, and disability. The district employed remedial measures for offending students, including counseling and disciplinary actions according to the district’s code of conduct. Support for victims involved counseling and monitoring by adults, while the district implemented a “no place for hate” initiative to improve the school climate.

The meeting then shifted to a analysis of the district’s performance in student support and academic recovery. The district achieved a commendable average score of 75.9 out of 78 in its self-assessment of student support, with progress in reducing bullying complaints by nearly 49% over two years. Dr. Laura Kazmark, the assistant superintendent for instruction, presented data from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), noting improvements in language arts and math performance across various grade levels. The district was particularly proud of its performance in geometry, where students outperformed state averages.

The discussion also covered the recovery of students in algebra courses post-pandemic. The superintendent reported notable progress, with 44% of students achieving proficiency compared to a previous district average of 9%. The success was attributed to dedicated teachers and recovery strategies funded by pandemic relief resources, such as after-school programs and tutoring.

Public comments brought attention to the resignation of Officer Pablo Mandalo, a school resource officer at PRNIS. Resident Victoria Armis expressed concern over his departure, emphasizing his positive impact on students and the community. She criticized the police department’s handling of his resignation and urged the board to address her concerns. While a board member suggested that the shared services committee could discuss the circumstances, they acknowledged limitations in addressing personnel issues involving the police department directly.