Belleville Official Gives Update As First Day Of School Nears (VIDEO)

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A new school year is just around the bend in Belleville, and there are plenty of new renovations and additions to look forward to, Superintendent Richard Tomko says.

On Thursday, Tomko released an update for the school community, highlighting some projects that have been happening this summer. The superintendent noted that the first day of class for students will take place on Sept. 7. Read More: First Day Of School In Belleville; See Important Dates For 2023-2024

Watch Tomko’s video online here, and read the transcript below.

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“Good morning, everyone. This is Richard Tomko, Superintendent of Schools, welcoming you to the 2023-2024 school year. I wanted to make some quick announcements for you as you enjoy the last few weeks of summer and we get ourselves ready for September.

“The first day of school for everyone is Thursday, September 7. Check your website of your building for times and different events that will be happening that day. But again, the first day of school this year is September 7, that will be a full day. There's a little change in schedule for preschool students, so please check the website – www.Bellevilleschools.org – which has a lot of information on there for you. It's an updated website this year. There's a nice Parent Portal section. And again, anything that you need you can find there, including supply lists for elementary students, and just other things regarding activities coming up.

“Which brings me to another reminder for you, for our community barbecue. This is our district-wide event that we started several years ago – [it’s] just a great time – it's a great way to bring in the new year or celebrate what we're expecting from our students, our teachers, our staff this year … a kickoff … so hopefully you can spend some time with us. That's on August 23. You will be receiving reminders for that and the times accordingly. Also please see that flyer on the website. So again, we're looking forward to barbecuing with you … [its] just a way to meet a lot of the teachers and for the community to come together.

“We've had some incredible projects happen over the summer, maybe you've seen it when you around town: almost all the elementary schools’ playgrounds are completed now. We have several left to complete. And that'll go into the new school year, we did as many as we could over the summer. So again, we're really excited. It was a promise that the board and the administration made a few years ago and we're delivering on that, so that's for the wellness and the physical accomplishments of our students. Also utilizing that as a recreational space and a way to socialize. So again, playgrounds are in.

“There have been HVAC projects in some of the schools, as we continue our promise for air quality and some air conditioning, air-conditioned areas. So stay tuned for more updates on that. But there's been a lot of work.

“And our one of our biggest projects has been at the high school. The high school small cafeteria has been completely renovated. That space is going to be phenomenal. And hopefully we will get that online and used for all the students at the high school [in] mid-to-late September, but it's looking great. And again, just incredible things happening here in Belleville.

“The Middle School annex – the annex side – which is the new portion of the board purchased to increase the footprint of the schools, enhance the program in the schools and class sizes … that annex is open. We'll be using those classrooms and those offices downstairs this year. So we're excited to see that fully open up in the 2023-2024 school year.

“And we're still working on the parking garage and the bridge breezeway going across from one building to the next, and possible open space campus at the middle school. So we're in the bid process there. So you'll see some work and some projects on that as well.

“Also a lot of beautification projects going around in the schools, different things inside … painting, you name it. We're keeping up with what our credo and our motto has always been here, and that's [to] make sure the buildings are maintained, but make sure that we also are presentable so that everyone knows that respect here is our number one priority when it comes to making sure that our buildings are safe, our buildings are well-staffed – like we know they are – and all those things we're doing over the summer that are going to come to fruition when you first see these buildings officially open up on September 7.

“We also are excited to talk about some of the new things and some of the curriculums. Our curriculum is posted online if you want to have some light beach reading … you could check that out as we get to the last few weeks of summer.

“And there will be new middle school and high school schedules. There are some different changes with periods so that we could expand instruction – allow our teachers to do more things within a period. And really kind of zone in on all those things that return to the basics, but also expand the intellectual prowess of our kids. And that's what we're doing as we definitely come post-COVID and out of this learning loss. And we just are really expecting great things from our kids, not only academically, but also socially and emotionally … all those things we are really working on in the summer, and we know it's going to be an incredible 2023-2024.

“So check out the website for more information, especially as we get closer, I'll see you all hopefully on [Aug. 22]. Even if it's for a little while, come by and grab a soda or a burger or whatever it is. And again, the first day school is September 7. We're excited to be coming back; we hope you are.”

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