Teachers union praises district collaboration; board hears multiple education program and grant proposals

A representative of the Penncrest Area Education Association told the board teachers appreciate collaboration with the administration on schedule changes and safety policies, and noted examples of curriculum expansion such as teacher‑led elective offerings (fly fishing, sign language, t-shirt graphic design) that have increased student engagement.

The education report included multiple program and grant proposals: Cambridge High School is applying for a $65,000 grant for sustainable-systems education and is pursuing a USDA grant opportunity of up to $500,000 toward an aquaponics lab that district staff said would support hands-on STEM learning and community produce projects. Staff also notified the board that the Maplewood High School band has a fundraising target of about $110,000 to attend a Pearl Harbor memorial parade in December 2026 and that several conferences, assemblies and prevention programs (vaping prevention, planetarium and forestry presentations) are being scheduled pending grant funding.

Administrators asked the board to consider a one‑year exemption for six students enrolled in the Pre‑K Counts program who are affected by a kindergarten start‑age adjustment and to approve a staff survey on AP-course availability at the high-school level. The board agreed to include the Latin honors item on the consent/resolution items discussed later in the meeting.