Bernards Township Schools Set 3 Goals For 2026-27

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Bernards Township school district leaders presented three district goals for the 2026-27 school year.

Superintendent Kristen Fox presented the goals at the Monday night Board of Education meeting.

The goals center on community input around the district’s mission and vision, stronger districtwide student support systems and a long-range capital plan.

The first proposed goal would ask the district to "engage students, staff, parents, guardians, and the community in a collaborative process to reaffirm the values and aspirations that should define a Bernards Township education."

According to the presentation, the district sees its State of the Schools report as the start of that work, not the finish.

The process would include structured listening and dialogue about what is working, what should be preserved, what may need to change and what the community wants students to gain from a Bernards Township education.

"This is not just an exercise in rewriting words; it's an opportunity to establish a shared understanding of who we are, what we value, and what should guide our decisions in the years ahead," Fox said on Monday.

The district would then bring any recommendations from that feedback back to the Board of Education.

Fox said the work could include changes to the district’s mission or vision statement, or a decision to reaffirm the current language.

The second goal focuses on the district’s multi-tiered systems of support.

According to Fox, that effort is aimed at identifying student needs early, responding with appropriate supports and using data more effectively across the district.

A key priority is creating consistency in district language, data use, systems, structures and strategies used with students.

"Ultimately, our goal together is to make sure that every student is appropriately challenged, supported, and given the opportunity to grow academically and personally," Fox said.

The third proposed goal is to assess long-range capital needs and develop a plan to meet them over the next 10 years.

According to Business Administrator Jim Rollo, the district wants to invest in instructional spaces and address future needs "without increasing the debt service levy above today's level."

"Challenge accepted. We want to develop a sustainable funding strategy and continue to engage the board and the community in the aspects of that long-range plan," Rollo said.

District leaders also said they are beginning a listening tour with a BT Connect meeting during the second half of the board meeting on Sept. 28.

According to the presentation, that meeting is expected to start discussions about capital projects, financing over at least 10 years in what was described as a tax-neutral way, and broader community priorities for the district’s future.

The goals were unanimously approved by the BOE on Monday.

Following the vote, Board President Jennifer White said, "So those goals are adopted, and we can get to work on them. Thanks, everyone."

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