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Superintendent outlines summer initiatives: backpack drive, lunch-app push, middle-school upgrades and Aspiring Leaders Academy
Summary
Dr. Alfonso summarized summer leadership work including a vision retreat, legal briefing, national convening, a reallocated federal grant covering more than $30,000 of summer programs, a district-wide lunch-application drive at the Aug. 21 backpack event, new middle-school furniture and a new Aspiring Leaders Academy for staff.
Dr. Alfonso, the Belleville Public School District superintendent, told trustees the central office used the summer to plan for the upcoming school year and prepare several initiatives intended to support students and staff.
At a leadership retreat the district conducted vision-planning sessions, a legal briefing led by NJPSA lead counsel David Nash, and a two‑day “strength finders” workshop. The district team also attended a U.S. Department of Education convening in Washington, D.C., which Alfonso said provided a national perspective and helped “elevate Belleville.”
Alfonso said the district reallocated funds from an earlier federal Fostering Diverse Schools grant and used “over $30,000 of that funding” to cover summer programs, a move he described as saving district funds. He announced a community backpack and lunch-application drive on August 21, co‑sponsored with Assembly member Dr. Morales; the district will host bilingual staff to help families complete lunch applications, which Alfonso said “drive not only free reduced lunch, but our programs and our funding.”
He reported new classroom furniture and new doors have arrived at the middle school, and that the district is conducting a comprehensive audit of programs to “maximize efficiency” and prepare a community report on any savings. Alfonso also announced the Belleville Aspiring Leaders Academy, a “grow your own” initiative for staff with or working toward administrative certification; he encouraged interested staff to apply and said space is limited. He said the administration also recommended promoting an in-house substitute teacher to a middle-school math position.
Alfonso reminded the board that the first day of school is September 4 (pre-kindergarten begins September 5) and urged families to complete lunch applications at the Aug. 21 event. The superintendent said the administration will post policy changes and other notices to families before the school year begins.
