Mahwah board spotlights internship growth, readies referendum planning and facility work ahead of school year

At its Aug. 27 meeting, the Mahwah Township Public School District board heard an update on a summer internship and externship program that expanded to 60 student placements and reviewed district priorities ahead of the school year, including a five‑year strategic plan rollout, planned facility upgrades tied to a possible referendum, and several curriculum and staff evaluation changes.

The superintendent opened the meeting by highlighting the internship and externship program’s growth from three placements three years ago to 60 this summer (33 externships and 32 internships). Students completed placements across health care, finance, engineering, veterinary medicine and event management. Examples shared with the board included a student who shadowed medical procedures at Valley Health and another who observed marketing and ticket operations at Barclays Center; other placements cited were at Overpact Creek Animal Hospital; Rutgers Health Cancer Institute of New Jersey at University Hospital; Cisco; Leistritz Advanced Technologies Corp.; CLC Landscape Design; Wondermeets (finance); and the Bergen County Health Department. The district said it will hold a fall celebration and capstone presentations for interns and externs, with a date to be finalized in late October.

Board and administrative priorities for the coming year center on two stated goals: curriculum and instruction, and finance and facilities, tied to the district’s strategic planning process. The district’s five‑year strategic plan, titled “Flight of the Thunderbird,” is scheduled to be formally presented in September. Administrators said they will continue work on NJTSS (New Jersey Tiered System of Supports) interventions to identify proficiency levels and provide targeted supports across grade levels.

Facilities and a potential referendum featured in committee reports. The finance and facilities committee reported that the district has submitted an initial package of drawings and documents to the state as a first step in a referendum process and to seek state financing support; the committee said that state approval and financing remain parts of the process. The board was updated on summer facility work, including a roofing project at the high school and completion of a rooftop HVAC unit at Joyce Kilmer School. The district reported it expects to receive about $600,000 in grant funding from the state related to two projects.

Instructional updates included adoption of a new K–5 math program, expansion of a multi‑tiered system of support manual to secondary grades, a proposed monthly parent academy calendar (topics to include kindergarten readiness and college admissions), and full implementation of a reflective practice evaluation pilot for teachers that administrators said will be available for roughly 130 teachers who meet the program criteria.

Community engagement steps tied to facilities planning include a “state of the facility” meeting scheduled for Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m.; the district said the session will focus on facilities only and is intended to solicit community input ahead of any referendum action. Board members also spent time in public session on a board self‑evaluation and discussed improving committee communications and broader community outreach ahead of referendum outreach scheduled mainly between January and March, with a March vote mentioned as the projected timing if the referendum proceeds.

Votes at a glance: the board took roll‑call votes to approve minutes and routine new business, and to approve personnel items. A motion to approve the minutes was moved by Mr. Hughes and seconded by Mr. Gallo and passed by roll call. A motion on a listed new business item was moved by Mr. Denise and seconded by Mr. Copeland and passed by roll call. Personnel approvals (listed A through AA on the agenda) were moved by Ms. Janssen and seconded by Mr. Copeland and passed by roll call. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn moved by Mr. Hughes and seconded by Mr. Copeland.

Why this matters: the internship/externship expansion represents direct career exposure for students across multiple pathways; the facilities and referendum steps could lead to major capital work and bonding decisions that would be subject to a public vote. Curriculum changes and expanded intervention strategies affect classroom practice and teacher evaluation processes for the coming school year.

The board indicated ongoing work over the fall to finalize outreach and referendum materials, and administrators said more information on the internship celebration and the strategic plan rollout will be shared with the board when dates are set.