What’s New at Hopatcong Schools?

Changes have been in progress at Hopatcong Borough Schools all summer, and even earlier. From the facilities supervisor to the superintendent, people have been working with the goal of enhancing the educational experience for students.

Many changes will be obvious, like the shine on the gym floor at the high school. Others show up as cost and energy savings from maintenance and repairs. Some take place behind the doors, like new curriculum, while others are right up front, like facilities improvements. 

School Board President Clifford Lundin said the schools this year are brighter, cleaner and safer. He also said the work was done mostly in-house, using the district’s own labor at a much reduced cost over the summer. Money came from state aid that was received at the end of the year, plus bits and pieces from all accounts that weren’t expended. 

Here are some new things you will find in the district this fall: 

Academics:

• New vocational track for television and studio production, which dovetails with the digital imaging initiative. A small studio and curriculum have been designed for students interested in learning digital video imaging, as an enhancement to the digital video labs. 
• New language arts curriculum and mathematics curriculum for specific grade areas, to be adopted this month. This is the final phase of a three-year process of revamping and rewriting every curriculum at every grade level and subject area across the district, to align with new national and state standards. 
• New math and social studies textbooks and science materials to go with the new curriculum for specific grade levels and courses.  

Facilities:

High School

• New paved student courtyard installed between the high school and administration building, using funds made available from the solar project. The concrete will direct groundwater into storm drains to prevent water intrusion into the building. 
• Sidewalks and curbing upgraded. 
• Staff and visitor parking lots and front driveway paved.
• Both main gym floors refinished and repainted.
• Banners hanging in the gym updated.
• New windows installed in front, replacing old, fuel-inefficient ones.
• Central air installed in the main office, nurse’s office and guidance suites to replace old window units.
• Masonry repairs, waterproofing and caulking to reduce water intrusion and heat loss.
• New emergency generator installed to meet obligations as a Red Cross Emergency Shelter.
• Asbestos abatement completed.
• All doors replaced.

Middle School

• Major bathroom renovations, including new tiles.
• Complete exterior facelift, pressure washing and newly-painted doors.
• Parking lot repaved and striped.

Durban Avenue School

• Digitally controlled uni-vents replaced antiquated heating units for controlled fuel usage and conservation.
• Waterproofing and repairs.
• Grounds and brush cleanup.
• Parking lot repaved and striped.

Tulsa Trail

• Hallways tiled.
• Waterproofing and masonry repairs.
• New floor in computer lab room 12.

Hudson Maxim

• Gym floor replaced with floating liquid acrylic epoxy floor.
• Gym walls painted, new curtains to come.
• New roof installed.
• Boiler replaced.
• Stage floor refinished.
• Waterproofing.

Policies: 

Mandated changes in state statutes:

• Cheerleading is now covered by the concussion policy that the state requires for varsity sports.
• Smoking and nonsmoking policies now include electronic non-nicotine, non-tobacco, vapor cigarettes.