Board member urges departmentalized extra-help days at high school

A Holmdel Township School District board member again raised concerns about the scheduling of extra-help days at the high school and asked administrators to explore departmentalizing the sessions so students would not have to choose between core classes.

The board member said this was the third time the request had been raised and suggested grouping support by department (for example, math and science on one set of days, English and social studies on another) or offering departmentalized sessions during lunch. The member said the current overlap forces some students to choose between equally important classes.

Superintendent Dr. Cascon (referred to in the meeting as Kim in several exchanges about the item) said he remembered the prior discussion, noted there were challenges to implementing such a change, and pledged to consult with high school administration and faculty. He said he would “be prepared to come back at the next meeting with some information I've gathered, what the challenges are and what we can potentially do.”

Why it matters: Board members said departmentalizing extra-help could make academic support more accessible and reduce scheduling conflicts for students who need help in multiple subjects.

What will happen next: District administrators will explore options and report back to the board at the next calendar meeting. The board made no formal policy change at this meeting.