My vision for the strategic planning process is clear, direct, and in line with what the community has been asking from the District for years: a clear and evidence-based plan to improve student aptitude in math and science. My hope is that this plan does not produce a product that will then be twisted to emphasize priorities that have little to do with the needs of students or families. The survey on the referendum was clear, the feedback received from the NJ21st BTC survey was clear, and the mission of our District is clear: educate students well.

Parents are still concerned that direct teaching methods are taking a back seat and that our approach to educating special needs students is ineffective.

The strategic plan should provide an evidence-based and clear roadmap, free of flowery language and strategies that do not connect to these concerns, with objectives that clearly spell out the expectations.

I agree with the referendum but I am concerned with the soft costs built into the budget. I would hold the Administration accountable for bringing these costs down. I also believe the District should issue plain-language breakdowns of the referendum, that seek to inform, not influence residents, and hold town halls solely dedicated to explaining (not marketing) the referendum.