West Milford Board reviews budget timeline, conference plan and chronic-absenteeism outreach; student rep highlights fall achievements

The West Milford Township Board of Education on Nov. 18 received administration updates on the district budget process, scheduling for parent‑teacher conferences and steps to address chronic absenteeism, and a long student representative report celebrating fall athletics and arts.

Dr. Kitchen opened the administration report by congratulating fall programs across the district and noting a strong senior class. "We're not married to a specific conference structure," Dr. Kitchen said, describing plans to re-survey staff and families and to use shared data points to shape next year’s parent‑teacher conference format. Administrator Daniel told families middle- and high‑school conferences will be held Monday and Tuesday next week and that elementary conferences are scheduled for the first Monday and Tuesday in January; Daniel said families will receive a school-messenger message and SMART newsletter with i‑Ready diagnostic results and New Jersey universal screening and literacy/dyslexia screening updates.

On the budget, a district administrator (Bertagna) said the 2026–27 budget process has begun, the district’s budgeting system is open for administrators to enter needs and priorities, and meetings will start Dec. 1. Dr. Kitchen said the district may be able to use grant funding to purchase books for a pilot district book club and invited participation from staff and families.

Daniel also outlined the district’s approach to chronic absenteeism: the administration will provide K–5 families with comparative attendance data showing each child’s absences relative to grade‑level peers, intended as a tool for understanding patterns and encouraging improvement. Daniel said some schools have implemented action plans with measurable early results and that staff will continue to monitor and support students.

Student representative Marina delivered an extensive report on West Milford High School activities, starting with athletics: the boys soccer team won the North 1 Group 2 state sectional title for the first time in school history and later lost a close match; the marching band recorded a 96.25 overall score and earned captions for visual effect and percussion; field hockey won the Passaic County championship; the football team won the Patriot Red Super Football Conference; and the girls cross‑country team placed second in the county. Marina also announced fall student activities — a spooktacular estimated to have drawn over 2,000 attendees, a theater production Nov. 21–22, an on‑site college decision day Dec. 11 with about 32 visiting schools, and an Alex Shambhlin Memorial Toy Drive organized to support children in hospitals.

Board members publicly thanked volunteers and a donor: a board member recognized Jen Powell for donating batting cages to support baseball/softball programs. Several board members praised veterans’ events held at district schools and commended community partners, including local VFW posts, for their participation.

Looking ahead, administrators said they will gather conference feedback after this year’s meetings, continue the book‑club planning and grant exploration, and circulate attendance and screening information to families as scheduled.