[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6641963,"mediaKeyId","3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee","parentId",3425063,"title","Parents and board debate middle‑school math pathways; board asks for growth data and clarity","audioSeconds",538,"startMs",4322000,"endMs",4860000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee&start=4322&end=4860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee/thumbnail_4322000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641963/New-Jersey/Parents-and-board-debate-middleschool-math-pathways-board-asks-for-growth-data-and-clarity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641963-534be10cc5678dafcd7d07e1615753a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168212&Signature=EjrtqEaWKzNJfUC9ToWKI89Dh4G6kR8V37uboCh3HDLNrTdElgmtULOB~3-73b4xOHZeGNiMW7JXkdG4p0S9DnNZJ6C5suT68-dzp5RsmMe9IADuc8ubx6sPXGwKGN3P5hqwQ~4hopQhSHbBp5s7D-RTx6ZqZRFzR3utN1tpF6qIckrRnzDSXW36QEf3veroXDN9pL98-KKerg3H0kbzPkKE4JvrK9kXE7FJ6RfUX-zEKandVaLZWFDi5TzkMLJWKbHo7nHspkjZff17cSatB37VU8qDP8WO2streZeBRiXUf7jkr1RhRum9t2HBMgQMTbIAfdCF8UbZYNWEB3qMNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery Township School District","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","Public comments and a lengthy board discussion at the meeting focused on middle‑school mathematics pathways, pathway equity and how course sequencing affects college and advanced-course opportunities.

Multiple members of the public urged the board to restore or preserve accelerated math pathways in the lower middle grades so students from all backgrounds can access geometry and Algebra II earlier without relying on paid summer tutoring. A public speaker framed the change as an equity issue, saying families with means can pay for summer acceleration while others cannot and that can create divergent academic tracks.

Board members and administrative staff described the district's current approach and asked for additional, local data to evaluate the claim that advanced students are not being sufficiently challenged. The district's counseling and curriculum representatives reported broader measures showing strong Montgomery student performance on national comparisons (e.g., SAT/AP participation and results were discussed elsewhere in the meeting), but several board members and commenters asked for cohort-based, local growth metrics (fall-to-spring, percentile-by-cohort) rather than national percentiles alone. They said local growth percentiles and cohort-level pre/post comparisons would better demonstrate whether students at different starting points are making appropriate progress under the current pathway model.

Specific points raised in the discussion included:
- Course availability vs. pathway timing: Board members clarified that the district still offers advanced courses (e.g., AP Calculus) and that multiple pathways exist, but parents remain concerned about whether younger cohorts have the same early-acceleration options previously available to older cohorts. Several board members asked administration to confirm which courses are available at which grade levels in the next program-of-studies publication.
- Equity concerns: Commenters urged the board to avoid a system where families must pay for private summer acceleration to keep academically advanced students on the same trajectory as their peers. Several board members asked administration to document whether opportunity differences exist between cohorts and, if so, why.
- Data requests and next steps: Board members asked administration to supply local, cohort-based growth data, details on enrollment and retention between grade 8 and 9, and clarity about how prerequisite performance will be used to place students. ACI (Assessment, Curriculum and Instruction) notes and prior presentations were cited as background; board members requested an updated presentation for full board review before any curriculum or program-of-studies vote.

No final policy change or vote on modifying math pathways was taken at the meeting. The board agreed to return to the issue with clearer, locally-normed growth data and a detailed presentation explaining the proposed pathway map as it will appear in forthcoming program-of-studies materials.

Ending: Board members asked for a full presentation and for administration to share cohort growth statistics and program-of-studies documentation ahead of any final decision.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 5-20-25","oneSentenceSummary","Public commenters and several board members raised concerns about changes to middle‑school math pathways and potential equity implications. Board and administration agreed to provide more detailed, locally normed growth data and additional explanation of how courses and pathways will be offered.","taxTitle","Montgomery Township School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",64102,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641967,"Board hears Macchio's food-service presentation; parents raise concerns over availability, portions and snacks",404,1256000,1660000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee&start=1256&end=1660","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee/thumbnail_1256000.jpg","/articles/6641967/New-Jersey/Board-hears-Macchios-food-service-presentation-parents-raise-concerns-over-availability-portions-and-snacks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641967-f4d7d23878f283d399ff408d1ca83539/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168212&Signature=oeq11Ngs2v~dCVQ~1HE6peQIePm7ZhhjBR9W4auGeJ0h3LHlfcLS3iW0BgT~eOA7qvMcFDZa5WDIrPgQBbMt8nhwxxcW1lRv9jYXFgtkuUA5eB21-vBdFc1YY-G-yl6eBKcEYbQ4~83DLPds89oEIHe-Gvl9xWnB1tGxhGzmZUiuRskCCfiFsmPQFHWvXbiQmz9QOqLEekjWybOGO8zJkkDtuRt4EFtT0DzXX0yAYh0d9A0NgLC7zmRePXldzhdYAGU8VxhZO5ecrtkFMQdTj5oZuS~NtcfR62hSQI4t~FcGqtyqcLg0KfhZ0TKD6YlMFJj-zAjtfUAS6U9zclkWlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Macchio's, the district's contracted food-service management company, presented a \"day in the life\" sampling event for board members, staff and parents and then took extended questions from the board and the public about menu availability, portioning and a la carte sales.

Patty Fradgetakis, director of operations with Macchio's, and other company staff introduced the menu setup and invited board members and parents to sample hot and cold options representing elementary, middle and high school service lines. Nutrition and operations staff from Macchio's explained that the company uses locally sourced produce when available and that procurement is seasonal. The company said it uses production records to track how much is prepared and how much is sold and that such data can be shared with the district on request.

Board members and parents raised several recurring concerns during Q&A:
- Availability and freshness: Parents said salads and some healthier options are sometimes unavailable by second lunch; Macchio's said production and demand patterns can leave some items depleted later in service and offered to adjust production and labeling (e.g., a Jersey Fresh logo) to encourage uptake of locally sourced items.
- Snack/a la carte sales: Parents asked who decides what snack items (cookies, ice cream) are sold; Macchio's staff said all a la carte snacks comply with federal Smart Snacks nutrition rules and that the district can limit a la carte availability by school level or by account controls. The vendor noted a la carte sales help district revenue and that any limits are a district decision.
- Food safety and expired products: A parent reported a past incident of items beyond expiry date; Macchio's staff said they reviewed in-house receiving and line-check processes and that steps were taken to strengthen checks on what is placed on serving lines.
- Product preparation and par-cooking: Macchio's explained that some items served in upper middle and high school are par-cooked for final on-site preparation, while elementary lines rely more on fully cooked items; the company said it is testing product changes and portioning for the next school year and invited more frequent food-advisory feedback sessions with students.

Macchio's and district staff agreed on several follow-ups: Macchio's will provide production/sales reporting on request, consider monthly food-advisory sessions by grade level, add clearer labeling for locally produced menu items, and discuss operational changes to better match midday demand. The district committee earlier reviewed a cafeteria financial analysis prompted by ongoing concerns over quality and quantity; the operations committee recommended extending the current contract through December while monitoring improvements under a newly appointed executive chef, per an earlier committee note.

Ending: Board members asked staff to return with additional data on production and sales patterns and said they would consider communications to families (monthly newsletter or updated menus by building) to set clearer expectations about daily offerings.","District food-service manager Macchio's presented samples and answered questions; parents and board members pressed for clearer communication on menu availability, vegetarian options, a la carte snack limits and tracking of sales and production.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6641972,"Montgomery High robotics team showcases season, outreach and upcoming sponsor night",667,348000,1015000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee&start=348&end=1015","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3425063-4cf151907993b582d7bd13ec1bd260ee/thumbnail_348000.jpg","/articles/6641972/New-Jersey/Montgomery-High-robotics-team-showcases-season-outreach-and-upcoming-sponsor-night","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641972-d4ce29502d97c0a001bdd29a3b828f7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771168212&Signature=kA0gI9relVBzV5UJGQzNUhKSlgGBrGFkadBnDZDSHnQgaLOmbl9ipmhFJVxoMf59c9u59L9gTlvk7Q8K-2uK-ITKFZxNtHml6-X3gl7j2I9k6nbBZ9JPvK3gI0HITrhWhjqMJrTLsShBvu4SYGGrN-N3g0xSzSkO9fXRv7KFBNbGTWUM0d3IsZFNIw6WcWQTuJTIo9Zsjqvqi5TyckPed7NF6-mRYhFsZZY-MttwdEU3~RzCpSutAuTkQcQEnhQn5nO7wBitsrphqWKP0oeTfOEsW~biY0zXM-0ZSw8WEfvCUQswmmWQ65aGhtpRc~F5Wz3fRvVD9XBqGBW4SyrMtw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students from Montgomery High School\u0000Cougar Robotics delivered a multi-part presentation to the Montgomery Township School District Board of Education highlighting competition results, awards and local outreach.

The presentation, given by student teammates and advisors, summarized the season: an engineering inspiration award at a district event, high rankings at district championship events and nominations for individual recognition such as the Dean's List semifinalist and the Woody Flowers mentor nomination. Students described the team's in-house manufacturing, coding and mentoring, and summarized community programs including a summer engineering and coding camp and mentoring for several FIRST LEGO League teams in the area.

The presentation emphasized local impact as well as regional and international reach: students said instructional materials and videos produced by the team have received more than 13,500 views and that manufactured parts have been shared with other teams in New Jersey. Team members described competitive results that placed the team in the top percentile among hundreds of entrants at district championship events and noted scoring efficiency and mechanical performance milestones achieved during the season.

Board members thanked students and advisors for their work; the board reiterated support for the program and accepted an invitation to the team's sponsor night on May 27 at Montgomery High School.

Supporting details from the presentation included:
- Team participation in multiple district events, with a ranking that placed the team among the top 30 out of 140 teams at one district championship, and mention of an eighth‑place alliance finish at an earlier competition.
- The team's Engineering Inspiration award, outreach to younger students through FIRST LEGO League mentorship, and student nominations for the Dean's List semifinalist award.
- Ongoing community work: a STEM summer camp, instructional materials (worksheets and videos), and collaboration with local and out-of-state teams to manufacture parts using a newly purchased CNC router.

Board comment and next steps: Board members expressed pride and reiterated continuing support for Cougar Robotics. The team invited district staff and board members to its sponsor night to build partnerships for the 2025-26 season.

Ending note: The team requested sponsorships for the coming season and left contact information for community members and businesses interested in attending or supporting the May 27 sponsor night.","Students from Montgomery High School\u0000Cougar Robotics presented season results, awards and community outreach work to the Board of Education and invited sponsors to a May 27 sponsor night at the high school.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and board debate middle‑school math pathways; board asks for growth data and clarity

Board hears Macchio's food-service presentation; parents raise concerns over availability, portions and snacks

Montgomery High robotics team showcases season, outreach and upcoming sponsor night