Parents urge math curriculum reversal and raise accessibility concerns for Steps program

Multiple public commenters spoke during the meeting's public-comment period, focusing on math curriculum outcomes and special-program logistics.

Susan Madison, who identified herself during public comment, urged the district to reverse a nonstandard middle-school math curriculum sequence and to address what she called falling proficiency levels on the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA). "According to the 2023 NJSLA, 32 percent of our children are not proficient in Algebra 1," Madison said, adding that geometry proficiency was lower. She asked the superintendent what the district plans to do for students who have already completed the nonstandard sequence.

Superintendent Dr. Schwartz responded that the new performance reports are now available and the district will analyze the data before the State of the Schools address. In the meeting's curriculum discussion, a board member noted the curriculum committee and staff are creating new supports: the district plans to reintroduce a math 8 class and add a math applications quarter for eighth graders to address gaps identified by staff.

Other callers and in-person parents praised the Unified program and the Steps program but asked operational questions. A Steps parent said the program's basement classroom felt "dingy" and described bus staging problems (buses circling to avoid parking tickets), urging the district to work with the village on designated loading/unloading areas. The superintendent said he would look into drop-off logistics and agreed to follow up.

Board members and administrators pledged to analyze the performance data and to incorporate findings into the State of the Schools presentation; no policy change was voted on at the meeting.