Flemington-Raritan Regional School District trustees used a June 3 retreat to frame board goals aimed at improving transparency and public engagement, including piloting livestreamed meetings, expanding communications channels and formalizing student representation and school recognition programs.

Board members said the changes are intended to reach beyond traditional parents and PTO channels and to make the district’s work more visible and accessible. The board discussed using the district app and Zoom, linking with borough and township websites, and asking PTOs and principals to push short, shareable highlights.

The retreat unfolded as an informal work session where board and staff traded ideas about what measurable steps would look like. Board President Ryan said livestreaming could “squash a lot of the false rumors” by showing what the board is discussing in real time. Superintendent Dr. McGahn told members she would provide implementation details and suggested a pilot period tied to the district’s busiest calendar months.

The board considered a stepped approach: test livestreaming during high-interest months (February–May), build two external distribution avenues beyond school email (for example, borough/township feeds and a local news partnership), and set an initial app-download/engagement target to measure uptake. Several members cited past procurement estimates for permanent audio-visual installations — “It would cost…like, $30,000,” one participant said — and pushed instead for lower-cost, incremental methods such as multiple Zoom cameras and using students in existing TV programs to help run streams.

Members also debated how livestreaming should handle sensitive items. One concern raised by Carrie, a district staff member, was that “you have to be careful when you're live streaming and there's difficult topics” because recordings remain available. The group discussed technical steps (waiting rooms, disabling live comments during the early rollout) and policy guardrails before expanding access.

Student involvement and regular positive publicity were other priorities. The board endorsed a plan to invite student representatives for short, structured appearances — examples included leading the Pledge of Allegiance or presenting a brief school highlight — and to restore a regular “school shout-out” segment where principals or PTOs provide a one-minute summary of recent successes. Trustees suggested coordination with PTOs to supply short content for district social feeds and possible partnership posting with local outlets such as the Chronicle.

Board members asked Superintendent McGahn and staff to return with concrete pilot plans and cost estimates: one to test livestreaming for a defined set of meetings, and one to operationalize a monthly recognition cadence that won’t overburden principals or PTO volunteers.

The retreat ended with agreement on the broad goals and a plan for staff to draft specific, measurable steps for board review ahead of the new school year.

The meeting closed with a routine motion to adjourn that carried without additional business.