Pequannock board frames 2025–26 goals around student profile, data teams and communications

Pequannock Township School District Superintendent Dr. Portis outlined the district's proposed goals for the 2025–26 school year on Sept. 2, focusing on a finished "profile of the Pequannock student," building teachers' ability to collect and use classroom data, and strengthening family and crisis communications.

The plan, developed during an administrative retreat this summer and described to the board as the third year of a multi-year effort, aims to finalize a profile of graduate (core competencies students should possess at graduation), expand teacher-led data teams, and produce public-facing and internal crisis communication plans. "The first goal is under the strategic goal category of ensuring student success ... This is year 3 of a 3 year project. Year 4 will be the actual implementation of it," Dr. Portis said.

Why it matters: district leaders said the effort is intended to align curriculum and instructional practice from kindergarten through high school so competencies build year to year and can be measured. Board members expressed support for a deliberate rollout and for making the profile actionable in classroom instruction.

Key points and details

- Profile of the graduate: Portis said the district will move from design to implementation, aiming to embed competencies across grades and to present a clear set of outcomes when students finish Pequannock schools. "When we roll out the actual profile of graduate for the 26–27 school year, everything in place will be ready to go," he said.

- Data and staff success: The second strategic thread will create teacher data teams, support peer observations and help teachers generate classroom-level learning data that can guide instruction. Portis tied the goal to replacing portions of the previous SGO process: "This is really what the SGO was supposed to be about, which was helping teachers really study their own classes and develop strategies based on the actual learning data."

- Family, community and crisis communications: Administrators described creating two communications products: a short public-facing crisis guide (2–3 pages) and a more detailed internal operational plan for administrators, including position-based contact lists and laminated field guides for evacuations. Staff will also develop brand guidelines (colors, logo usage and fonts) and examine website and app integration with the district messaging system.

Board response and timeline

Board members welcomed the measured approach and the emphasis on implementation. Portis said the goals align with the board's earlier work and the 2021 strategic plan and that the board will review a final draft at its Sept. 15 meeting. "We really want things to build on themselves," he said.

Ending

Portis asked for feedback ahead of the Sept. 15 vote and noted the district will continue administrative and staff work this fall to prepare materials and training that will support classroom implementation in 2026'27.