Assistant superintendents report midyear progress on district goals: academics, special services, facilities and communications

Assistant Superintendent Jennifer McCann and Assistant Superintendent Kelly Bond presented a midyear update to the Wall Township Board of Education on Feb. 18, 2025, detailing progress on five district goals tied to the district’s three-year strategic plan.

“Back in August, the district approved, 5 goals that are aligned to our 3 year strategic plan,” McCann said, outlining goals that focus on academic excellence; student, parent, teacher and community wellness; strengthening engagement and inclusivity; fiscal responsibility and facilities; and communications. McCann described curriculum and assessment work including expansion of a science-of-reading approach (Magnetic Reading Portfolio) into grades 3–5, evaluation of secondary mathematics sequences, expanded K–12 multilingual learner supports, new K–12 universal screeners and the implementation of a data warehouse/assessment platform in grades 6–12.

McCann said district leaders are evaluating intermediate school scheduling, the high school grading policy and transcript practices, and the science and world language programs. She described monthly grade‑level leadership meetings and ongoing data‑analysis (“data chat”) structures to align instruction with state standards.

Bond summarized work under goals 2 and 3. “We’re implementing 7 mindsets for another year,” Bond said, and noted targeted professional development for counselors, administrators and staff responsible for lesson delivery. She described expansions to Unified Sports (including bowling and a dedicated high‑school PE period for Unified Sports) and growth in special services programs. Bond said the district continued an Orton‑Gillingham‑based intervention (Sonday System) for students with foundational literacy needs and expanded the RISE program — a restorative, individualized education program for students with significant school anxiety and mental‑health challenges — from four to seven students.

On facilities and fiscal responsibility, McCann said the district continued referendum projects, completed summer roofing, paving and bathroom work across multiple schools, and retained a consultant to conduct a demographic and capacity study. On communications, staff said the district uses its website and social media as primary channels, participates in school public relations associations, and issues regular administrative and curriculum updates; detailed goal documents will be posted on the district website.

Board members thanked administrators for the report. The presentation materials and a full list of objectives and activities were made available on the district website, McCann said.