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Parents raise safety and curriculum concerns at Hillside meeting; board pledges confidential follow-up
Summary
Public commenters at the Hillside Public School District board meeting on Aug. 28 praised mentoring programs, asked about curriculum protections and raised a bullying complaint; the board directed staff to follow up privately with affected families.
Residents and community partners addressed the Hillside Public School District board during public comment on Aug. 28, raising praise and concerns that the board said staff would handle privately or by follow-up.
Reverend Dr. Dave Jefferson Jr., who leads mentoring and community programs, thanked the board and district staff for support and programming for at‑risk students. "We have been able to change lives," he said, and encouraged continued partnership.
Resident Angela Lawler asked whether the district would defend teachers and retain curriculum that addresses LGBTQ topics after national debate about such instruction. Superintendent Glover responded that New Jersey law and code require instruction on topics including Amistad, the Holocaust and LGBTQ subjects and that the district has no plans to remove required curriculum. "We don't have intentions of altering our curriculum," he said, adding that the district will use available funds to preserve required instruction.
The meeting included a detailed public complaint from Susan Richards, who said she represented the Ballella family and raised incidents involving a student identified as Diego Vallela. Richards said Diego was pursued home after a bullying incident during a summer program and alleged earlier physical assaults at school; she also raised concerns about the scope of a one‑to‑one aide and denied requests for an investigation. Because the complaint concerned an individual student, the board chair declined public discussion and directed Director Taylor, the director of student support services, and Principal Wilson to take the matter up privately with the family and report back to the superintendent.
Board procedure questions and motions were also recorded: the board opened and closed public comment, briefly returned to public comment at a member's request, and later voted to meet in closed (executive) session to discuss personnel, litigation and contracts. Doctor Howard seconded the motion to enter executive session.
