Page 70 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Board of Education Meetings:

From Routine to Relevancy

By Scott Ridley, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Hazlet Twp., NJ

Board of Education meet- start the proceedings. This encour- arrives, four schools have held meet-
ings, much like exercise ages attendance, parental buy-in, and ings with four still to host. What follows
is an overview of the themes present-
invariably begins the evening favorably.
and dieting, regularly pro- Our District has a pre-K/K school, three ed and those still in the queue.
duce worthwhile results Grades 1-4 schools, two Grades 5 & In September, Beers Street School
6 schools, a middle (7th & 8th grades)
though are all too often school and a 9-12 high school. (5th & 6th grades) held a ribbon-
cutting ceremony for a new state of
avoided for less than com- As such, the opportunity for eclectic the art STEAM suite. Community
and varied presentations is plentiful members toured the modern facili-
pelling reasons. Depending on and built-out to emphasize the particu- ties and saw the district’s Tripod of
the district, such meetings are either lar curriculum, educational project, or Initiatives on display. Future Ready
poorly attended, agenda-heavy, or, at related learning activity of the young- instruction took center stage as
times contentious. Seldom are they sters presenting. The principal coor- students created housing models for
celebratory events where students, dinates the pace and sequence while the UN’s Global Goals for Sustain-
staff, and parents come together to various designated teachers (who able Development. Students in the
recognize the plethora of worthwhile volunteer their time and involvement) engineering lab demonstrated the
activities and undertakings continually oversee the specifics of the presenta- physics behind trebuchets. In the green
taking place in their area schools. tion. Our tech crew makes certain the screen collaboration studio, students
To counter this, in Hazlet, an eight attending PowerPoints and supporting posed with various land formations
school preK-12 District in Monmouth visuals are functioning properly. It is and regions of the United States for
County, we move our meetings monthly truly an infectious team effort that con- a social studies project. Elements of
from one building to the next and have sistently creates a welcoming, positive choice and authenticity flavored the
the student body of that particular school environment for all those on-hand. instruction, highlighting a personal-
present out on one of our Tripod of Ini- Parents, by nature, come out to watch ized learning approach. While in the
tiatives (Personalized Learning, Future their children in the spotlight, and we mindfulness space, students practiced
Ready, Social Emotional Learning) to don’t disappoint. As the new decade various yoga poses as a component

Educational Viewpoints -68- Spring 2020