Board approves personnel, curriculum and policy items; curriculum revisions aligned to state standards

The Clark Public Schools Board of Education approved a slate of routine personnel, curriculum and policy items during the meeting, with roll calls taken for each set of agenda items. The motion to carry personnel items passed (roll call recorded as carried); the curriculum slate (items 25 and 26) and policy items were also approved by roll call.

The district’s technology and curriculum committee reported that 26 curricular areas were developed or revised during the summer and written to align with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The committee listed areas including preschool (Tools of the Mind), elementary English language arts revisions for grades 3–5, middle-school science for grade 6 and other updated courses. The committee said the curricula were produced by certified teachers with subject expertise.

Board roll-call votes included at least two abstentions recorded in the meeting: one board member abstained on certain personnel items (abstentions were recorded on items noted during the roll call) and another board member abstained on a finance item ('37). Several roll calls concluded with the chair announcing “motion carried.”

The board also approved retirements and noted the first day for students and upcoming back-to-school nights; staff reported that nearly 80% of English language learners scored at a level 3 or above on a district assessment.

All formal approvals were recorded as carried in the meeting’s roll-call votes as read into the record.