Holmdel board approves high school program of studies; administration and public to continue honors waiver discussion

The Holmdel Township Board of Education approved the high school program of studies, the annual course catalog the administration said is needed to begin master scheduling for about 1,000 students this spring. Superintendent Dr. Cascone told the board that approving the catalog tonight is separate from honors placement and waiver procedures, which the administration said it will continue to discuss publicly.

“We are not voting on that because it does not need to be voted on,” Dr. Cascone said, distinguishing the catalog approval from the waiver and placement process. He told the board that delaying approval would disrupt a “carefully orchestrated and planned out master scheduling process” for nearly 1,000 students.

Board members and parents pressed for more clarity and more data. The superintendent said a parent information session is scheduled for Feb. 14 to provide comprehensive information for families, and the administration plans to present cohort and other data at the Feb. 19 Committee of the Whole meeting. Dr. Cascone said the district will publish answers in an FAQ and share data that community members have requested.

During public comment, Julie Roth described a recent waiver experience involving her son. Roth said the family initially received an incorrect letter about placement and later a corrected notice that allowed a waiver; she said her son “missed it by 0.7 decimal point” on one matrix metric and then had to do substantial summer computer work to prepare for honors. Roth said she trusts teacher judgment: “I wouldn't even go as far as waive without the teacher's approval.”

Dr. Cascone responded to parents’ concerns by inviting staff to review whether the district can give additional weight to a student’s class grade — the administration described the class grade as one component of a multi‑criteria placement matrix — and to reconsider how summer preparatory work is assigned so it does not dampen students’ motivation.

Board members asked the administration to produce historical and cohort data on honors placement and student outcomes; Dr. Cascone said supervisors have tracked cohort data and that the district will present relevant datasets at upcoming meetings. He also summarized that, in one example cited in the discussion, about 43% of a cohort moved from regular fifth‑grade math into sixth‑grade honors under the prior rules and that the district’s current matrix allows a waiver when a student attains roughly half the possible points on the matrix.

The board voted to approve the program of studies at the meeting; the board did not change the waiver process at this session and the administration said it will continue to accept community input and analyze outcomes.