The board commenced the meeting by recognizing the recent school board election outcomes, congratulating Apollo O’Brien and Sharon D. Sebastian for their victories. With an emphasis on community participation, the board also acknowledged Hanife Payak for engaging in the electoral process. Following this, representatives from High School South and High School North highlighted various student achievements and upcoming events.

High School South’s representatives expressed gratitude for the success of their recent events, including a spirited homecoming week. They noted Mr. Coburn’s recognition as an outstanding educator and Mr. Porter’s commendation from Ruggers University for his contributions. The school’s athletic teams were lauded for their performances, with the boys cross country team securing fourth place at sectionals and junior Risha Ralph advancing to further competitions. The girls’ soccer and field hockey teams were congratulated for winning their division championships. The representatives also announced the fall drama production, “She Kills Monsters,” scheduled for late November, and detailed upcoming musical events.

At High School North, the representatives recapped their own successful events, such as a neon-themed homecoming game and a fairy tale-themed dance. The girls tennis team reached the state finals, and the cross country team qualified for championships for the first time since 2021. The North marching band achieved third place at MetLife Stadium. Future activities include a volleyball tournament and a winter wonderland community gathering.

The board extended commendations to student athletes, athletic directors, and coaches, emphasizing the role of community support in student success. Notably, the North girls tennis team, led by coach Rich Arnold, was celebrated for winning the CBC tournament title for the second consecutive year and finishing as group three state runners-up. Individual accolades were given to Sarah Henderson for winning the CBC first singles championship. The girls cross country team also received praise for their strong season, finishing second at the CBC and sectionals and fourth at the group three state championship. Allison Lee was recognized for her performances. The South girls tennis team was highlighted for their impressive 17-4 season and being named NJ.com CBC Team of the Year.

Following these recognitions, a presentation on updates to the program of studies was delivered, focusing on curriculum changes for the 2026-2027 school year. Notable additions include courses in data science, commercial music ensemble, and advanced placement macroeconomics. The board discussed transitioning to a sheltered instruction model for multilingual learners, aimed at fostering a more inclusive educational environment. This model reduces the number of pull-out sections, integrating language support within classroom settings. Changes to AP course prerequisites were clarified, ensuring clear communication of requirements for courses such as AP Statistics, which now necessitates an 80% or higher in geometry honors or pre-calculus.

In the realm of world languages, a recommendation for a minimum 70% grade in 8th grade Spanish was added for placement in Spanish 3, aiding students in making informed decisions during the transition to high school. Course titles were updated to better reflect their content, such as “music technology” becoming “music production,” and AP studio art prerequisites were adjusted to allow broader access for students with prior art experience. The board affirmed the importance of evaluating new courses at the end of each academic year.

During the public comment periods, no community members opted to speak, allowing the board to proceed with committee reports. The administration and facilities committee highlighted fall sports achievements and discussed improvements to attendance policies. Preparations for shifting kindergarten registration to the Genesis system in January 2026 were also reviewed. The curriculum and instruction committee examined the district’s performance report and proposed social studies research focused on anthropocentrism and animal subjectivity. They recommended professional development sessions on healthy lifelong behaviors for high school seniors and outlined costs for proposed overnight field trips.

The finance committee detailed monthly financial reports, an ongoing property purchase, and construction projects, including the reconstruction of South High School’s tennis courts. Increases in food service participation were noted, with both breakfast and lunch servings rising compared to the previous year.

The board’s voting session saw unanimous approval of various administrative, curriculum, and finance motions. Acknowledgment was given to the approval of 30 student teachers, and gratitude was expressed towards retirees for their contributions to the district.