Hillside superintendent credits tutoring, partnerships for modest gains in student outcomes

HILLSIDE, N.J. — Superintendent Garland told the Hillside Public School District board on Oct. 14 that the district has seen incremental academic gains after expanding bilingual supports and investing in small-group tutoring.

Garland said district enrollment is about 3,057–3,060 students and that roughly 16%—about 500 students—now receive ESL or bilingual services. "Students first," Garland said, summarizing the district's priorities for mental health and academic success.

Garland described a Department of Education high-impact tutoring grant of about $192,000 that the district supplemented with CARES funds. The district shifted to a small-group model this year—sessions up to 20 weeks, usually 20 minutes in focused bursts—and reported that many participating students showed measurable growth. "It will cost us a little over $200,000 to run this," Garland told the board when outlining a locally funded continuation of the program.

The superintendent said the district now pays tutors $25 an hour, has trained and integrated tutors into school teams to reduce turnover, and recorded high attendance (over 90%) for tutoring sessions. She said the tutoring model included comprehension, writing, fluency and test preparation and that, in one example, 26% of students who had been performing below grade level were performing on grade level following tutoring interventions.

Principal Willard also highlighted Hillside High School’s programs: career pathways in carpentry (a dual-enrollment partnership with local unions and a university), a growing band program and an expanding Decathlon curriculum. Willard noted the high school has approximately 915 students and singled out several students who are headed to Division I programs and other colleges.

Garland acknowledged that math remains a challenge but pointed to coordinated changes—piloting aligned science resources, targeted professional development, cohort analysis of growth and new tutoring investments—as the district’s corrective steps. She said the district is preparing a strategic-plan update for spring 2025 and will make data and slides available on the district website for parents and stakeholders who want more detail.

The board did not take a formal vote tied to the tutoring program during the public portion of the meeting; Garland said follow-up conversations and community forums would allow stakeholders to drill down into the data.

Funding and program details provided at the meeting: district enrollment (~3,060), ESL population (~500 students, 16% of enrollment), Department of Education tutoring grant (~$192,000) supplemented with CARES funds, district tutoring cost estimated "a little over $200,000," tutors paid $25/hour, and homebound instruction parameters discussed as part of ongoing student-support services. Officials said background checks and certification verifications are performed for hires and that homebound instruction continues for eligible students.