Cedar Grove School Board Reviews Progress, Sets Goals

The Cedar Grove Board of Education, administration and staff had a very busy summer working to pave the way for the new school year.  Activities included the development of goals for the 2011-12 school year, preparation for the multiple construction projects scheduled for summer 2012, completion of repair work at the high school, and concluding the search for new and replacement teaching staff.

This summer, as in years past, the Board of Education, the Superintendent, the Business Administrator and a representative of the New Jersey School Boards Association met to review accomplishments of the previous school year and to set district goals for the upcoming year. At our public meeting held on June 14, 2011, we reviewed the past year’s accomplishments. These included passing a Bond Referendum, passing the school budget, improving community communications, hiring a new Principal and a Vice Principal at Memorial Middle School, hiring a new district Business Administrator and successfully implementing a new dress code policy. The district also continued progress on curriculum development and maintained full Annual Yearly Progress under NCLB. In addition, Cedar Grove was designated a high performing school district by the N.J. Department of Education.

During the meeting, we also set district goals for the upcoming year. These goals include continued improvement in test scores, implementation of the construction projects authorized under the bond referendum, expansion of community support, and development of comprehensive plans to enhance programs such as Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Athletics, World Language, Math and student activities. 

Through the summer months, interviews were conducted for the various teaching openings throughout the district resulting from retirements, regular staff turnover and newly approved positions.  In June 2011, advertisements were placed in various educational publications resulting in more than 150 resumes.  Some of the new hires include, but are not limited to, an Athletic Director for the High School, math, science and social studies teachers, a new Learning Disabled kindergarten class and K-12 Supervisors of Language Arts and Mathematics/Science to enhance curriculum, teacher performance and evaluation. The school community enthusiastically welcomes the new staff to the district.

Our custodial and maintenance staff prepared and thoroughly cleaned the schools inside and out in anticipation of our students’ return in September. All gymnasiums floors were recoated and various painting projects were completed in each building.  In addition, work was completed in other areas including replacement of the water drainage system that operates from the varsity baseball field to Rugby Road, repairs of roof lintels on the auxiliary gym, preparation of a new weight room facility at the high school as well as a variety of grounds-keeping projects outside each of our buildings.

At this time, all construction documents are being finalized for the roof, window and door- replacement projects at the high school, North End and South End schools.  We anticipate the public bidding of these projects during the winter months and awarding bids sometime in early spring. The work will be scheduled to be completed during the summer of 2012.  The district is now eligible to receive State funding of 40% in the form of a grant totaling $4.5 million for all of these projects.

Lastly, the administration has recently organized a volunteer parent group whose mission is to help create a program to effectively communicate high school related programs, activities, services and transitional information to middle school parents and students.  Our vision for the Cedar Grove Schools is to continue a process that will enhance instruction, increase accountability at all levels, and improve student performance.  We all look forward to a very productive school year.  Please visit our web site at http://www.cedargrove.k12.nj.us for more information about each of our schools.

-Cedar Grove Board of Education