Parents raise questions about I-Ready testing and capital reserves; superintendent and staff respond

Parents at the March 17 Nutley Public School District Board of Education meeting pressed administrators for clarity on I-Ready diagnostic reports for early grades, asked about capital-reserve withdrawals on the upcoming budget and sought a status update on a previously requested forensic audit.

Why this matters: Parents and caregivers expressed concern about how early-grade diagnostic scores should be interpreted and how that data might influence supports and placement. The district indicated the I-Ready results are one diagnostic tool among several and encouraged parents to follow up with teachers; parents also sought transparency about reserve accounts and the forensic-audit request.

What parents asked and how staff replied

- I-Ready results and fidelity: At least two parents described confusion and concern after receiving I-Ready reports showing movement between earlier and recent diagnostics. Carla Curcio, a kindergarten parent, said her child scored higher on an October administration than on a later administration and asked what that meant for instruction and progress. Another commenter (identified in the record as Mrs. Callahan) described a grandson in a special-education class who has made strong gains and asked whether scores reflect in-class or at-home work.

- District response: Superintendent Mister Urbana and district staff said I-Ready is being piloted in early grades this year and that the diagnostic should be treated as "one tool in the toolbox" for teachers. Mister Urbana said the data can give teachers "very specific information to where each student in their class needs help, how to group those students, and even suggest different strategies they could use" and that the district will continue professional development for teachers and communication for parents. Staff clarified that the diagnostic score cited in the report comes from that single diagnostic administration and can be affected by a young student27s attention during testing.

- Special education praise: A parent praised a Washington School teacher, saying the special-education placement taken back under Nutley after a Bergen County oversight returned to strong results under teacher Mrs. Grant. District staff acknowledged the teacher and special-services staff involvement supporting that student's progress.

- Forensic audit request and capital reserves: A parent asked for a status update on an earlier request to the state for a forensic audit; administrative staff said the district has submitted a request to the state and is awaiting the state's decision. Another parent asked about capital-reserve withdrawals listed on the agenda; the business administrator responded that the resolutions on page 11 (items 20.1 and 22) relate to next year27s budget and that the audit from the prior year allowed the district to set aside money for reserves, but the public transcript did not state the exact withdrawal amounts.

Next steps and guidance

District leaders urged parents to use the diagnostic reports as conversation starters with classroom teachers. The district said students will be re-tested later in the year as part of the I-Ready schedule and encouraged parents seeking more detail to contact teachers and school administrators; staff also offered to provide recorded parent-academy resources explaining I-Ready and to push those materials out when next reports are sent home.

Ending: The public-comment period closed after the board invited parents to follow up with teachers and administrators; the board then moved on to the formal consent and resolution votes and later recessed to executive session for contracts and personnel.