Superintendent details retirements, calendar and school programs; Compton Middle earns statewide redesignation

Superintendent Grande used the board meeting to summarize recent district actions and school-level activities.

"This evening, we approved a 2425 tentative budget, and I'd like to thank Mister Vizzuzzo, our finance committee... and the entire board for their support through the process," Grande said. He announced the acceptance of retirements for Miss Anne Marie Sharona, a fifth-grade teacher at Henley School with 22 years of service, and Mister Mike Mansella from the maintenance department with 27 years of service.

Grande said the 2425 school calendar was approved and will be distributed districtwide and posted on the district website. He outlined summer and extracurricular offerings including Camp Cougar (two sessions in August, fee $50) and an intramural track program at Carl H. Kempf (fee $50).

The superintendent thanked private donors — cited as P and G P and J Fuel Incorporated under the ExxonMobil Educational Alliance — for two donations of $500 each to support STEAM programming. He also highlighted student assessments and events: NJGPA testing for juniors, Read Across America activities, a Meet the Author event, National Honor Society induction, and an honors academy preview for incoming freshmen.

Grande announced that Compton Middle School was redesignated as a New Jersey Schools to Watch, one of only 14 middle schools statewide to hold that distinction; Compton was among six middle schools redesignated this year, the superintendent said. He thanked staff who led the application and site visit process and noted recognition events later in March and in June in Washington, D.C.

Abigail provided school-by-school updates that included upcoming musicals and plays, Science Olympiad competition dates, book fairs, skating nights, and other student activities. No members of the public spoke during the non-agenda public comment period.

The board moved to adjourn following these reports.