Middlesex community school manager outlines after‑school upgrades, staff training and new partnerships

At a Middlesex Borough School District Board of Education meeting, Community School Manager Stephanie Carter presented a progress report on the district’s community school and after‑school programming, describing changes to enrollment systems, staff training and retention, grant awards and partnerships.

Carter said the program switched “from a paper based, registration system to [an] electronic registration process” and became a licensed childcare facility in 2022. She told the board the site moved its records and parent communications to ProCare so parents receive real‑time notices (sign‑in/out, photos and updates) and can make online payments and automated payments.

The presentation emphasized staff development and retention. Carter said supervisors must complete two fingerprint checks (one for the New Jersey Department of Education and one for the Department of Children and Families), a physical and a negative Mantoux test, first aid and CPR training, and 20 hours of annual professional development covering child growth and development, educational activities and special‑needs programming. She said staff who completed requirements received a $1,000 retention bonus in December 2022 distributed through the New Jersey department.

Carter described grant and partnership activity: the program received a higher retention wellness grant, participated in the 2023–24 NJSAC STEM cohort (which provided workshops and a $1,200 award for programming), and used resources from the New Jersey Audubon “Kids in Nature” curriculum. She said the program partnered with Learn Fresh to obtain NBA Math and MLB STEM board games and that a state targeted technical assistance program provided monthly coaching visits and required staff, parent and student surveys and an action plan.

Programming highlights included a STEM club, robotics, chess club, NBA Math Hoops, weekly field trips, summer‑camp STEM workshops and a BMX project that resulted in students building six bikes and receiving a safety assembly. Carter said the program arranges twice‑weekly swim lessons at a local YMCA during summer, offers “parent night out” events, family outings (theater and sporting events) often at no cost to families, and a family fun day that brought parents and students together.

Jacqueline Littlejohn, who identified herself as the community‑school principal, spoke during public comment to affirm Carter’s account and added that Carter eliminated onerous paperwork by moving to ProCare, increased field trips while removing cost barriers for families, and expanded access to swim lessons and other enrichment.

Carter closed by directing board members and families to the district website for program details and enrollment links: Mdschools.org → Family Resources → Community School.

Board discussion during the meeting asked administrative clarifying questions about billing and which line items would appear on the bills list; a community member asked whether some services (a production company that films presentations) were included in the program package and was told the production company work was separate from the district’s item.

The board did not take formal policy action on the presentation; Carter’s remarks served as an informational update.