Roselle Park superintendent highlights grants, curriculum updates and gains on state growth targets
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Gamas reported that the district met state growth targets in ELA and math, cited strong Algebra I results, and said grant funding (nearly $100,000) will buy high‑quality instructional materials and support expanded preschool services.
Dr. Gamas, Roselle Park Public School District superintendent, told the board the district met or exceeded New Jersey’s targeted growth scores in both English language arts and math and noted particular strength in Algebra I, where 62% of students met expectations compared with the state’s 31%.
The superintendent described grant-funded expansions at the preschool level, including a grant-funded school resource officer and a parent/community involvement specialist. He said the district integrated arts programming into preschool classrooms and extended the New Jersey inclusion project across preschool and elementary grades. "We were able to successfully integrate Pushin Art to all of our preschool," Dr. Gamas said.
Dr. Gamas also outlined facilities and technology updates: new HVAC work at Sherman School, installation of huddle cameras for athletics, and a planned digital agenda platform using Diligent to make materials and attachments easier to access.
On assessments, Gamas presented color-coded, multi‑year charts that compare district proficiency levels to state averages. He said the district ‘‘met or exceeded the state’s targeted scores’’ for the 2024/25 reporting window and highlighted that more than 60% of students in grades 3–6 scored level 3, 4, or 5 in math. He recommended focusing instruction on students who are approaching expectations to push them to the next proficiency level.
The superintendent said the district received nearly $100,000 in grants (including the NJ Impact Grant) that will be used to purchase high-quality instructional materials and support professional development. He said a revised district assessment calendar will be posted online, and a gifted-and-talented handbook for parents is expected to be posted for review next month.
The report closed with a district theme for the year — "living your dash" — and an invitation for board questions; none changed the district’s stated plan for rolling out curriculum purchases and assessment transparency.
The board did not take any formal action specific to the superintendent’s report; items tied to grants and curriculum purchases will move through standard approval processes.