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Superintendent highlights seamless school openings, evacuation response, attendance rules and 2,674 lunch applications
Summary
Superintendent Eric Alfonso reported a smooth start to the school year, described an evacuation at School 5 after an accidentally discharged fire extinguisher, announced a biweekly district newsletter and urged families to complete lunch applications (2,674 submitted to date). He also presented staff and community recognitions.
Superintendent Eric Alfonso told the board on Sept. 15 that the district had a “seamless opening” across buildings and thanked buildings and grounds staff for preparing schools over the summer. He said revised morning drop‑off procedures at the high school, middle school and School 4 have improved arrival times and that many schools have held well‑attended back‑to‑school nights.
Alfonso briefed the board on a safety incident last Friday at School 5, when an accidental discharge of a fire extinguisher prompted an evacuation and reunification. He said the district moved about 370 students through reunification and praised School 5 staff and the Belleville Police Department for their response. “The evacuation reunification process went seamless,” Alfonso said, calling it a “model” of how the procedure should operate.
The superintendent also outlined attendance categories and cautioned families about state reporting rules: the New Jersey Department of Education recognizes two categories (verified and unverified). Alfonso noted that verified absences include medical appointments (with a provider note), religious observances, court appearances and college visits (for juniors and seniors), and he emphasized that a parent phone call alone does not convert an absence into a state‑verified absence. “If our students are not here, they can't learn,” he said.
On outreach, Alfonso introduced a biweekly newsletter the district will send on the second and fourth Mondays of each month. He urged families to complete lunch applications because the district’s state funding and program resources rely on the percentage of applications returned; he reported 2,674 lunch applications submitted after the first full week of school.
The superintendent recognized several community members and staff for service: Judge Joseph C. Angelo, an alumnus and municipal court judge, received an alumni recognition; Lisa Kisner, an administrative assistant at School 4, was honored for long service; and the district presented awards to Jerry Tapeta (director of buildings and grounds) and assistant director Frank Weldling for facilities leadership.
Alfonso closed by asking families to avoid sharing or acting on hearsay and said the district’s “sole purpose is to remain transparent” in serving students and families.
