The Alternative Press

MAPLEWOOD, NJ – At Monday night's Board of Education meeting the Superintendent provided his monthly progress report on district goals. Four goals were addressed in-depth and satisfactory progress was reported on endeavors such as supporting intellectual growth of the district’s students, staff development programs, keeping contact information current between families and schools, and using resources and budget more efficiently.

The board then transitioned into the public hearing portion of the meeting. A woman from Maplewood spoke first, voicing her concerns over how recess activities were currently being overseen and what authority lunch aides, who supervise the children during recess, have over the children. Two other members of the public spoke.  One voiced a concern over money being used to create a parking lot instead of making use of a lot attached to a vacant building in the district. Another resident expressed concern that schools in the United States are not adequately preparing students to compete in the global economy.

In the discussion portion, a lengthy report on academic results and achievements from the previous school year (2011-2012) was provided, supplemented with a slideshow. A discussion on the Capital Plan update and the Guiding Change for that plan concluded the meeting.

Kean University and TheAlternativePress.com have a journalism partnership to cover Maplewood, New Jersey.  Keanu J. Austin is a student at Kean University who covered this meeting as part of that partnership.