[{"_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",6469280,"mediaKeyId","5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8","parentId",5780993,"title","Board debate over auditor RFP and enrollment decline spotlights finance committee concerns","audioSeconds",4317,"startMs",1284000,"endMs",5601000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8&start=1284&end=5601","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8/thumbnail_1284000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6469280/New-Jersey/Board-debate-over-auditor-RFP-and-enrollment-decline-spotlights-finance-committee-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469280-cb7e9721f0351000ac3bac628d96b825/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502837&Signature=HcpN0CMOzzHZC0~n8memfD9pehQwS44w1-HSpomvLBwOPAZdxiUADz-pslNlX4AXL-cvNhNrpyhygKj7axVhkxaK~vjv1w7G0-693fkxnB6~kgSneBMgLDTozEyxE2qrf2BuavdITddVf35R0Q3bR~BMqsC~KuWNzqTM4rjoB47120IVAkg6dByFZ9MFgtEuNM9ZPEqXrGf8Q6mS4wScFl9bEVgj3XYvkdYIVma7CJkzjgDiUN5hsy8Od68E6Mmixll6ux-q3l6xpYVIWsNjnS4MZx055-8PacgfrmfU63Zkj5uP7OKSIsEJW9zwY5bovewmX5i5OJMDSTLC5sQNcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery Township School District","date","2025-09-18T00:14:35.757Z","article","At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Montgomery Township Board of Education debated replacing the district’s long‑time auditing firm and spent extended time reviewing enrollment decline and retention concerns raised by board members and the public.

The operations, facilities and finance committee reported on planning for the 2026–27 budget, the upcoming audit schedule and corrective work at the high school pool after a failed electrical inspection. The committee emphasized food‑security priorities and requested multi‑year enrollment and free/reduced lunch participation reports to support budget planning.

A board member urged replacing the existing auditor with a firm that would provide a more robust review of internal controls and professional development for the business office. That board member argued the selected proposer would dedicate substantially more time to internal‑control reviews and could access resources through an affiliation with a larger accounting firm. The board considered a motion to amend the agenda to substitute a different auditor for agenda item 3.9; that motion failed to change the agenda on a roll call.

Board members also pressed the administration for longitudinal retention data after noting the district’s reported enrollment drop from 4,203 in 2016 to about 4,291 in the current year (figures discussed during the meeting). Board members and members of the public connected enrollment decline to potential budgetary pressures, noting that, in the board’s discussion, an approximate loss of four students was equated to one average teacher salary in illustrative remarks. District staff said a recent demographic study is available online and offered to present the district’s most recent demographic analysis and longitudinal enrollment reports at a future meeting. Staff cautioned that “retention rate” is not the same as the state’s published enrollment counts and that calculating year‑to‑year retention requires matching cohorts across years.

Why it matters: Board members said clearer longitudinal enrollment and retention data are necessary to inform budget decisions and program planning, and some urged that a fresh external audit could identify process weaknesses and provide training to improve internal controls in the business office.

Public comment reflected concern about governance and the possible consequences of board actions on staff retention. Several speakers, including teachers and principals, warned that public criticism of educators and public disputes at the board table risked discouraging applicants and increasing staff turnover.

Next steps: The administration said it will provide the board with the most recent demographic study, enrollment reports and a plan for follow‑up on audit recommendations and internal controls. The board did not finalize an auditor change during the meeting; the existing agenda item for auditor selection remained on the agenda and was carried as part of an omnibus approval of items 1.1–4.4.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 9-16-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board discussed replacing its long‑time auditor after the recent audit raised internal control recommendations and spent substantial time on enrollment declines and retention rates, linking those trends to potential budgetary impacts and staffing decisions.","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},6469284,"Board approves Hope Squad peer-support program after debate over timing and data",248,3052000,3300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8&start=3052&end=3300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8/thumbnail_3052000.jpg","/articles/6469284/New-Jersey/Board-approves-Hope-Squad-peer-support-program-after-debate-over-timing-and-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469284-9d0a67ccbe95017a38fc091157aabb9b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502837&Signature=O2kGb4dZtpZ3r10fR7bIFiz~O6TCTlRUn9uyY~s0gKgf6DjA~UE-TZNwPWPkkmYTcg0kBX0SWjy~Ft0sXNH2W9nl-7OirRJw77TVlyOQ8GpUkKTBAnDZ-Q~lBIRyfpAqK5LEyzEiWIfNhnahBdiipMPdov~n-MMEp-PGWwaWI2D~OHXdR-6ymmtK039sOh-cZx6jwpUzzdDGW5eESyQbBP5Bwr0~1kOdCUgDcK7RmqMBAYmA5QbTQVLSB09KY0L2hoBkzNcHQNuLqbX6XYD-1hd66ipq4nLRD6Z9DdPEfZC0OkL8y2l9SZpO06GD~QSRwYc3Yq3axSuLzpHeRcaqsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery Township Board of Education voted Sept. 16 to approve the Hope Squad peer-support program as part of an omnibus adoption of action items at the board’s regular meeting.

Administrators and community members told the board that Hope Squad is a research-informed, peer-support program that trains students to recognize signs of distress among classmates and to use the QPR model — question, persuade, refer — to connect peers to adult help. A family member whose niece died by suicide described Hope Squad as a program that “is not just suicide prevention. It is about total mental health,” and urged the board to approve it.

Why it matters: Board members split over whether to approve Hope Squad immediately or to table the item so new board members could review data and CDC guidance about peer-support programs. Supporters said the program aligns with the district strategic plan goal on student wellness and is fully funded for the first two years, giving the district time to evaluate fit and sustainability. Opponents and some newer board members sought more evidence about program selection, student selection for membership and monitoring of potential burdens on participating students.

Administrators said the program had been presented previously to the ACI (Assessing Curriculum and Instruction) committee and that the district plans training and local adaptation. “We have 2 years to ensure that it’s a fit, to customize it to fit our schools and our students,” a district representative said.

Board action and votes: A motion to table items 2.2 (a curriculum item) and 3.5 (Hope Squad) was moved and seconded but did not carry on roll call. Later the board approved an omnibus motion to adopt agenda items 1.1 through 4.4, which included the Hope Squad program. The omnibus approval drew several abstentions and recorded no votes on some individual items, but the board’s agenda motion carried and the program was authorized to proceed. The district said Hope Squad will be funded for two years without drawing on recurring local taxpayer funds in the initial period and that administrators will return with implementation details and monitoring plans.

Public comment during the meeting included both strong endorsements of Hope Squad from families and staff and calls for more data and safeguards from other board members and members of the community. Several board members said they wanted clear measures and an evaluation plan to report whether the program meets intended goals and to monitor potential burnout in student participants.

Next steps: District staff said they will provide implementation details to the board and community, including selection and training procedures for student members and evaluation metrics for year-one and year-two reviews.","Montgomery Township Board approved the Hope Squad peer-support program as part of an omnibus motion at its Sept. 16 meeting after several board members urged tabling for additional review. The program is funded for two years and district leaders said it supports the strategic goal for student wellness.",{"_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},6469288,"Board hears ACCESS test overview, district outlines 1:1 tutoring and Title III supports for multilingual learners",363,423000,786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8&start=423&end=786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5780993-a4c9c4f43639fbd2bdea0daf400d49c8/thumbnail_423000.jpg","/articles/6469288/New-Jersey/Board-hears-ACCESS-test-overview-district-outlines-11-tutoring-and-Title-III-supports-for-multilingual-learners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6469288-2b86436c2682f007c7c5d08b828cad44/orig.mp4?Expires=1770502837&Signature=kKWbDxUlcZUewAcMCjVOXpE7lheqzlfw2PlFwWDEPrqaeAxUHh2XZVbC8UMhIGkhmN~~hqrpWJx3EWfjv1xeuQ2KlcAMA1vn8wDqUU8ohdL-QCNaJnbXrfy9WdglwqZCOxYUFbOO20a4BxFk43YPIlongeQObPteWyDL3vpQOwgv9XbHNN~QPW2rBNEdCAVFZgljGWrUiP6odWeaZ7XElGWwVD8YVpldmSwW~qObIFLpcWkelA3bY2bq-vq-K-NshRAQ5UyfN2syDNyPnVby6Kpxt7AXWGYy-E~WCD10DfqG28-qKAhH6767renpfq3vkEiYWxq6EXX1uGAWuJlFog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery Township Board of Education on Sept. 16 heard a district presentation on ACCESS testing and the district’s supports for multilingual students, including 1:1 tutoring funded by Title III.

District staff described ACCESS as an annual, WIDA-based assessment that measures multilingual learners’ progress in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The presenter said the federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires an N-size minimum of 10 for reporting results by grade and that the district could therefore report detailed breakdowns for only two grade levels at this meeting.

The district’s multilingual education staff told the board that ACCESS measures language proficiency on a scale from entering, emerging, developing, expanding, bridging to reaching and is used to create an individual student profile to guide instruction. “This is the ACCESS 2. So the ACCESS 2 stands for that assessing comprehension and communication in English state to state for English language learners and is given annually to monitor our students’ progress in academic English,” the staff member said. The presenter explained the assessment administration window and that the next ACCESS administration will be February–March 2026.

Why it matters: Board members asked how the district is tracking trends in its multilingual population and whether multilingual learners are progressing year to year. District staff said trend data exist in school performance reports and in the district’s internal data systems but that a comprehensive, year‑to‑year retention analysis would require pulled reports and follow-up. Board members linked enrollment and subgroup trends to budgetary planning and asked for longitudinal figures to inform finance and staffing discussions.

Staff summarized district interventions for multilingual learners: sheltered English instruction, targeted lab periods, alignment of curriculum to WIDA and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards, STAR 360 screening to track academic skills, and Title III-funded one-to-one tutoring for eligible multilingual and immigrant students. The presenter said Title III funds “can only be used for our ELL multilingual learners and our immigrant population” and that one-to-one tutoring is one of the district’s most effective uses of that funding for supporting core content after school.

Board member questions and staff responses focused on three areas: (1) trend data and whether the multilingual population is increasing (staff said there appeared to be increases in some grades but that districtwide trend figures would need to be prepared), (2) the relationship between the district’s high-impact tutoring grants and Title III tutoring (staff said there may be overlap in eligibility but the grants were separate), and (3) how students are selected and monitored for individual tutoring and services (staff described use of ACCESS profiles, teacher collaboration and progress monitoring).

The presentation closed with an outline of instructional supports and next steps: ongoing teacher collaboration through professional learning communities, curricular modifications shared with teachers, and continued alignment to WIDA standards. The presenter reminded the board that the district reports only grades meeting the federal N-size threshold and said a fuller grade-by-grade proficiency report will be presented at a later meeting.","At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Montgomery Township Board of Education received an overview of district ACCESS test results and the supports the district uses for multilingual learners, including Title III-funded one-to-one tutoring and curriculum alignment to WIDA standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board debate over auditor RFP and enrollment decline spotlights finance committee concerns

Board approves Hope Squad peer-support program after debate over timing and data

Board hears ACCESS test overview, district outlines 1:1 tutoring and Title III supports for multilingual learners