Good afternoon. Below please find a summary of the key highlights from our November Board of Education meeting:

• The auditing firm, Nisivoccia LLP, presented excellent audit results with no recommendations for improvements next year.
• Mr. Rutzky reviewed the draft 2014-2015 calendar and the Board discussed whether Martin Luther King day should be a holiday or a half day. Other sending districts will have 1/2 day. West Essex will be discussing at their upcoming Board meeting and our Board will continue discussion next month.
• Mr. Rutzky provided an update regarding routes for buses 1A and 30A. While the changes allow all children to arrive to school on time, the routes could be better optimized. He will work with the bus company over the summer to review all bus routes and adjust as necessary.
• Mr. Rutzky presented results of NJASK testing
  • Positive increases in 6th grade Language Arts and 4th & 5th grade Math
  • Decreases in 4th and 5th grade Language Arts and 6th grade Math
  • Positive increases in students scoring Advanced Proficient (>250) for every grade in Language Arts
  • Positive increases in students scoring Advanced Proficient in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Math
• Mr. Rutzky reviewed the instructional focus areas 2013-2014
• Dr. Cleary provided an update on the American Education week, play rehearsals, Veteran’s day, and issuance of report cards
• The Board approved:
  • Approval for district participation as a pilot for PARCC testing
• Mr. Mastrangelo discussed the new  Parent Connections  website provided by the NJSBA which will serve as a resource to parents so they can be better informed on educational policy debates such as school funding, testing, school choice and more.
• Thank you to Dr. Cleary for serving as our interim Principal – her last day will be Wednesday, November 27th as Mrs. DaCosta will return on Monday, December 2nd.
• The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th at 7:30pm in the Noecker Media Center