The meeting began with a presentation by Mr. Dion Davis, the director of human resources, who presented the school safety data report for the period from January 1, 2024, to June 30, 2024. The report detailed statistics on harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) incidents, as well as other safety-related incidents across various schools in the district. School One reported nine HIB incidents, School Two had two, and School Three recorded three. School Four had one incident, and School Five reported none. In contrast, School Six had ten HIB incidents, and the middle school reported a total of 57 incidents, including 20 HIB incidents and several instances of violence and substance abuse. The high school reported nine HIB incidents along with multiple acts of violence and substance abuse. Mr. Davis noted the total number of incidents across the district was 114 for the reporting period.

Board members engaged in a discussion about the numbers presented. One member expressed concern over the apparent increase in total incidents compared to previous years and sought clarification on how the figures compared to national averages and past performance within the district. Mr. Davis responded that while national comparisons were not available, the previous reporting period had shown 89 incidents, with the year before reporting 156 incidents. This exchange underscored the need for accountability and transparency in communication between board members and the community. Another board member emphasized the importance of timely responses to board members’ requests.

In response to concerns about communication delays, Dr. H. Poteat provided context, explaining that the primary reason was the transitional period at the start of the school year. He confirmed that all home football games would be broadcasted but stated that further details were not yet available due to staffing and training issues. The board approved the school safety data report with no objections.

The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) reported on their recent meeting held on September 5, 2024, highlighting the need for better communication between the district and parents, particularly regarding new programs and technical issues. The CAC suggested using automated calls to enhance outreach to parents, especially during critical times like the start of the school year. They also discussed school safety in light of recent violent incidents across the nation. The board acknowledged the suggestions and emphasized the importance of implementing robust security measures.

The meeting also highlighted the grand opening of a daycare for three-year-olds, with acknowledgments directed towards the administration and the assistant superintendent for organizing the event. The CAC suggested implementing a mentorship program to assist students transitioning from upper elementary schools to middle school, facilitating smoother transitions for students entering new educational settings.

Another topic was the supervision of students attending home football games. Concerns were raised about the necessity for parents to pick up their children or arrange alternative transportation. Suggestions were made to address this issue through communication to parents via letters or community announcements, noting that the current situation was unsafe and unacceptable. The board discussed the need for a police officer and school staff member to ensure the safety of waiting students.

The topic of student enrollment was also addressed, with the district reporting a current enrollment of 5,200 students, an increase from the previous year’s 4,900. The official enrollment date was set for October 15th, and profiles of student performance from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment were to be distributed to building principals for communication with parents. Concerns about future capacity issues were raised, especially in light of ongoing construction in the township that might bring more families to the district. The administration emphasized the importance of community support for funding any future projects, given the historical difficulties in passing tax increases for school funding.

A staff member, Mr. Ingram, received recognition for his contributions to the TV production program, which recently won an award from the New Jersey School Public Relations Association. The specific award will be revealed at a ceremony on October 10th in Monmouth Township. Ingram has also been invited to participate in an event featuring “the world’s best short films” on October 17th at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, New Jersey.

Towards the end of the meeting, public comments included concerns about the timeliness of payments for sports officials and the omission of the girls’ soccer team from the athletic report. A resident pointed out that officials from other districts receive their payments faster, impacting Winslow’s reputation.