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Mays Landing resident urges continued social-emotional support after Oak Crest student's death; superintendent outlines graduation review and cell-phone policy
Summary
A Mays Landing resident asked the board to sustain social-emotional learning and adult connections after the June 4 death of an Oak Crest freshman. The superintendent reviewed graduation logistics, said an ESIP study is underway for solar production data, and signaled a cell-phone policy discussion at the July retreat.
Christine Miller of Mays Landing told the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District Board that a freshman from Oak Crest, identified as Anish, died by suicide on June 4 and asked the board to prioritize social-emotional learning and adult connections for students.
Miller thanked school staff — naming Mr. Reyna, Mr. Manning, counselors and teachers — for their crisis response on June 4 and in the weeks that followed. She told the board that “almost 40 teens were at my house the night of June 4” and that many students reported being approached by school staff for support. Miller said she appreciated the district’s organized crisis plan and urged the board to ensure every student is connected to at least one trusted adult.
Miller also addressed allegations circulating on social media about students who attended the funeral and then went to dinner, saying she was present at that dinner and that the restaurant had been paid and tipped; she called the social-media allegations incorrect.
Separately, during the superintendent’s report the district thanked staff and administrators for their work on graduation ceremonies. The superintendent said the district is reviewing graduation logistics — including start times and stage sizing — after weather and logistics affected events this year. The superintendent said Cedar Creek’s ceremony was moved earlier (to about 4:00 p.m.) this year and that the district will discuss timing and logistics at a July retreat; any changes would be communicated to staff, students and families by Aug. 15.
The superintendent also reported the district is “in the process of getting our ESIP study” and that the study will include data on solar production; no solar-production numbers were provided in the meeting excerpt. The superintendent said the district has begun discussions with union leaders and staff about cell-phone policy and will bring the issue to the July retreat for more detailed board-level discussion.
Why it matters: the public comment addresses a student death and community grief response, and the superintendent’s items affect district operations and student experience at large events.
Ending: The board heard public comment and the superintendent’s operational updates and then read a resolution to meet in executive session to discuss attorney–client privileged matters and a student issue. The transcript excerpt includes the reading of the executive-session resolution and a motion to go into executive session; the transcript does not include the outcome of that motion within the provided excerpt.
