School Construction, Calendar, Superintendent Highlight Month in Moorestown Schools

Like most summers, it is hard to believe how quick they go, and that school is fast approaching.

While school may not be in session, it has been a busy time in the school district, including a report on strategic planning, substantial progress on referendum projects, and the resignation of the district’s superintendent, among other items.

At its Aug. 11 meeting, the Board of Education approved two items to take note of in particular.

First, school lunch prices for the 2015-2016 school year will see a slight increase due to a mandate. The new prices include $2.35 for elementary school, $2.65 for Upper Elementary School, Middle School, and High School, and $3.25 for premium lunch at the Middle School and the High School.

Also, a school calendar change was made to reflect May 20, 2016 as a Teacher In-Service Day, and not May 13, 2016.

The Board received two reports at the August Board Meeting.

Consultant Judith Wilson presented three goals that emerged from the Strategic Planning Process. The goals include:

• Establishing a culture of innovation to facilitate authentic growth and development of engaged, dynamic and productive learners;
• Providing resources, targeted instruction and interventions tailored to learners’ foundational needs at all grade levels; and
• Designing opportunities that promote self-awareness, confidence, personal responsibility and social mindfulness to provide the foundation for competent local and global citizenship.

There was some concern voiced over the generic nature of these goals. It was noted that this is only the first step, and that the process will continue to develop actions steps and metrics to measure performance, including taking into account the input of staff, residents, parents, and students, among others.

Mr. Rob Notley of New Road Construction provided an update on the District’s Building Excellence Referendum Projects. Mr. Notley reported that all projects are on schedule, and that some are moving quicker than expected. It was noted that the high school stadium is expected to be complete by Mid-October of this year, and that all security vestibules will be complete by the start of the school year, along with many other projects. As a reminder, an updated schedule by school was recently posted on the district’s website.

As many have heard, on July 27, 2015, Superintendent Timothy Rehm submitted his letter of resignation due to personal reasons, which makes it necessary for him to relocate back to Ocean County. Mr. Rehm expressed regret in needing to leave, and thanked the community for their support during his 19-month tenure in Moorestown. Mr. Rehm’s last day is Aug. 31, 2015, and the Board is considering various options for the immediate future and long term.

For the Nov. 3, 2015 general elections, three candidates are running unopposed for the Moorestown Board of Education, which include Harry Faunce (taking the seat currently held by Sheryl Sawin), David Weinstein, and myself. I look forward to continuing to serve, and I encourage anyone wishing to learn more about my campaign to visit www.pughforboe.com.

The next regular monthly meeting of the Moorestown Board of Education is on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 at 7:30 pm in the William Allen Middle School Media Center. If you are able to attend we would love to have you. In the meantime, do not hesitate to reach out to the Board or myself if you need anything.

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The views and content in this column do not necessarily represent those of the Moorestown Board of Education as a whole or any other individual member.

About this column: In this column, Moorestown Board of Education Member Brandon Pugh provides monthly updates on what’s going on in the school district and on the BOE.