A monthly e-newsletter to keep you connected to your District
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"NEXT PHASE" 2.0
"NEXT PHASE" 2.0
We remain on track to implement our "Next Phase" plans to increase in-person learning opportunities for our students. By now, you've received information from your schools including a copy of the presentations, recordings, and FAQs from the recent virtual community forums. If you still have any questions that will help you in your decision-making, please don't hesitate to reach out to your school administration. You can also access all of our COVID-related planning documents, communication, and resources on our online resource portal by clicking HERE.
Given the continued COVID activity in our State, County, and community, we respectfully request that everyone continue to remain committed to mitigating the transmission of this disease by wearing masks, washing their hands, and maintaining appropriate social distance. Upon our return from Spring Break, please be sure to conduct your daily health screenings and reach out to your school if you are not feeling well, if someone in your home is not feeling well or tested positive, or if you traveled out of the State. Our school nurses will be able to assist you in determining an appropriate course of action.
District Restart Committee UPDATE
District Restart Committee UPDATE
On March 23, 2021, the District Restart Committee convened for its Spring update. Highlights of topics discussed during the meeting include:
SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE
SUPERINTENDENT UPDATE
Review of District COVID case counts (currently 175)
Presentation of the results of the Air Quality Study and CO2 Monitoring Report confirming that all sampled classrooms were within the recommended 1000 ppm limit which indicates ventilation/circulation of air.
Staff vaccinations are key to the decision to enact our Next Phase plans and efforts to increase opportunities are on-going.
Discussion of CDC updates prior to receiving guidance from the NJ Department of Health regarding the revisions to social distancing recommendations.
HEALTH OFFICE
HEALTH OFFICE
With the planned increase to our daily in-person attendance, we discussed the impact this will have on quarantine decisions when working with our local health department as it relates to close contact (6 feet or less for 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour timeframe) in a classroom with less than 3 feet between students and a clarification of the impact vaccination has on possible quarantine requirements and the multiple variables that are considered.
SCHOOL REPORTS
SCHOOL REPORTS
Elementary, Middle, and High School principals shared their "Next Phase" plans and the preparations underway to increase in-person learning in early April.
TECHNOLOGY
TECHNOLOGY
Reported that we have been setting up more and more streaming opportunities for clubs, groups, and extracurricular activities to allow people to view and/or participate remotely, either on YouTube or through Zoom. It is expected that this will continue to grow.
LUNCH DISTRIBUTION
LUNCH DISTRIBUTION
On April 12 the district will move to a new lunch distribution schedule. Students attending school 5 days a week will pick up lunches on Monday and Wednesday and the Full Remote students will pick up meals on Tuesday and Thursday. Students who attend the extended day programs will continue to receive hot meals daily.
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
End of year update: June 2021
While we await specific guidance from the NJDOE and NJDOH, school-based Pandemic Response Teams are tasked with monitoring the implementation of the "Next Phase" through June and discussing the possibilities of what a return to full days of instruction will look like in September.
march MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
march MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
MARCH 4, 2021 Special Meeting
MARCH 4, 2021 Special Meeting
The first public meeting of the month focused on two items carried over from the February 25, 2021 meeting. The first item was a Board vote to award the bid submitted by APS Contracting, Inc. to construct security vestibules in each of the four elementary schools and at the high school (a security vestibule was included in the Middle School expansion project). The second item was a discussion of the preliminary budget for the 2021-2022 school year. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Board tasked the administration to consider budgetary enhancements to further solidify our readiness to reopen for full-time instruction in September 2021.
MARCH 11, 2021 Special Meeting
MARCH 11, 2021 Special Meeting
The second public meeting continued the preliminary budget discussion with a report by the administration of the additional budgetary enhancements and proposed modifications to the preliminary budget.
MARCH 18, 2021 Regular Public Meeting
MARCH 18, 2021 Regular Public Meeting
In addition to our regular agenda and student recognitions, the Superintendent provided an update on the Reopening Plan with details on the next phase for WWRSD (click HERE to view the presentation).
Seal of Biliteracy Recognitions: The Seal of Biliteracy identifies students who have demonstrated proficiency in English and proficiency in at least one more world languages according to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency guidelines. This year the Westwood Regional Board of Education celebrated 62 students who earned this distinguished honor.
The meeting also included the approval of the preliminary budget for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year which represents a 0% tax levy increase that will allow us to continue our educational progress forward without any cuts to programs or decrease in services. The preliminary budget has since been submitted to the County Office of the Department of Education for review prior to a final vote for approval by the Board of Education at the public hearing on April 29, 2021.
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES REPORT
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES REPORT
Each month at our public meeting of the Board of Education, our HS student representatives, Isabelle Abou-Daoud and Maximilian Wang, report out on the exciting news and activity taking place at our High School. Here's what they reported this month:
NEXT BOARD MEETING
NEXT BOARD MEETING
APRIL 13 at 6:00 PM
APRIL 13 at 6:00 PM
Special Meeting: Board Retreat
APRIL 29 at 7:00 PM
APRIL 29 at 7:00 PM
Regular Meeting and Annual Budget Hearing
To watch previously streamed public meetings of the Board of Education, click HERE.
RECENTLY ADOPTED & ABOLISHED POLICIES
RECENTLY ADOPTED & ABOLISHED POLICIES
ADOPTED
ADOPTED
POLICIES
POLICIES
P0145 - Board Member Resignation and Removal (M)
P1643 - Family Leave (M)
P2415 - Every Student Succeeds Act (M)
P2415.02 - Title I - Fiscal Responsibilities (M)
P2415.05 - Student Surveys, and/or Evaluations (M)
P2415.20 - Every Student Succeeds Act Complaints (M)
P4125 - Employment of Support Staff Members (M)
P5330.01 - Administration of Medical Cannabis (M)
P6360 - Political Contributions (M)
P7425 - Lead Testing of Water in Schools (M)
P8330 - Students Records (M)
P9713 - Recruitment of Special Interest Groups (M)
REGULATIONS
REGULATIONS
R1642 - Earned Sick Leave (M)
R2415.20 - Every Student Succeeds Act (M)
R5330.01 - Administration of Medical Cannabis (M)
R7425 - Lead Testing of Water in Schools (M)
ABOLISHED
ABOLISHED
POLICIES
POLICIES
P2415.01 - Academic Standards, Academic Assessments & Accountability (M)
P2415.03 - Highly Qualified Teacher (M)
P3431.1 - Family Leave - Teaching Staff (M)
P4431.1 - Family Leave - Support Staff (M)
P7430 - School Security (M)
REGULATION
REGULATION
R7430 - School Security (M)
Any policies currently under review by the Board can found here and ALL final policies and regulations can be found on the district website under the Board of Education drop down menu.
2021 Statewide Assessments
2021 Statewide Assessments
On February 11, 2021, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) announced the postponement of the planned start dates of all spring statewide assessments. Since then, the USED has provided a pathway to waive accountability requirements. While the USED is currently maintaining the requirement that all states administer statewide assessments, the NJDOE is continuing to pursue additional assessment flexibility based on the specific circumstances within the State. For example, it submitted a detailed request for a complete waiver of the requirement to administer statewide assessments for the 2020-2021 school year. If the waiver is denied or is still pending as of the scheduled dates for administration, spring assessment administration will move forward as required by federal law. The testing window dates appear in the chart that corresponds with this article. Each school will announce its specific dates shortly.
IMPORTANT DATES
IMPORTANT DATES
2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR
2020-2021 SCHOOL CALENDAR
March
March
29-31: District Closed
April
April
1-2: District Closed
29: Board of Education Meeting (Annual Budget Hearing)
May
May
13: Board of Education Meeting (Annual Personnel Meeting)
31: District Closed
REVISED WRSD School Calendar 2020-2021 (approved 051420).pdf2021-2022 REVISED SCHOOL CALENDAR
2021-2022 REVISED SCHOOL CALENDAR
At the March 18, 2021 meeting, the Board approved the revised school calendar for 2021-2022. The calendar is attached for your reference and can be found on the district website, HERE, along with the NJ Department of Education list of religious holidays permitting student absence from school.
REVISED WRSD School Calendar 2021-2022 (revised 031821 - calendar only).pdfDon't forget to Follow and Like us on social media!
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TWITTER
FACEBOOK
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