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South River district outlines facility upgrades, new pre-K space and four-year goals
Summary
Superintendent presented classroom assignments schedule, athletic-facility improvements at Denny Stadium, a three-classroom educational annex for pre-K due in October, and four district goals for 2025–26 focused on academics, arts, AI and safety.
South River Public School District Superintendent Dr. Zertjuk told the board on July 24 that classroom and teacher assignments for the 2025–26 school year will be posted in the parent portal on Aug. 15, and that families who have difficulty accessing the portal should contact their child’s school office.
The superintendent described multiple facilities and program changes ahead of the school year, including athletic upgrades at Denny Stadium and a three-classroom annex for pre-K at the board office building. “These assignments will be posted there, like I said, on August 15,” Dr. Zertjuk said.
Why it matters: the projects and timing affect families registering for school, spectators and users of district athletic fields, and the district’s capacity to offer universal pre-K ahead of a new state law with a multi-year implementation window.
Key facilities and schedule details provided by the superintendent include: - Denny Stadium: a new modular press box is planned with a sound system, Wi‑Fi capability, lighting and huddle cameras; additional bleacher seating will be installed in front of the press box. Construction will be scheduled around home games; the press box is expected to be operational by January 2026 and will not affect this fall’s home games. - Turf field and ballfields: new baseball dugouts are under construction and a perimeter fence will be installed to improve safety during recess; district officials reiterated that the turf field is for permit use only. - Primary School outdoor classroom: the last elementary site to receive an outdoor learning area, located in the triangular green-playground area. - Educational annex at board office: a three-classroom addition with a small nurse exam/treatment area and multipurpose room is under construction and on track for an Oct. 1 opening; the annex is intended to expand pre-K capacity so the district can serve all families interested in pre-K this year with no wait list, according to the superintendent.
The superintendent also reviewed four draft district goals to be activated with board approval: 1) improve academic performance in language arts and math using evidence-based instruction and targeted interventions; 2) promote and expand visual and performing arts access for all grade levels; 3) ensure safe and appropriate implementation of artificial intelligence tools in instruction while safeguarding student privacy; and 4) sustain safe, secure and welcoming school environments with attention to social-emotional learning.
Board members thanked staff for forward-planning work on the pre-K expansion and for the projects that aim to reduce scrambling if the state’s new universal pre-K and kindergarten law leads other districts to expand capacity.
Implementation and next steps: the board placed the superintendent’s items on the consent resolution for formal approval during the same meeting. Parents seeking assignment or residency information were advised to contact their child’s school if they cannot access the portal.
