Superintendent highlights student achievements, AP pathways, NJDOE STEAM visit and instant decision day
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Summary
Superintendent reported multiple student- and program-level successes, outlined new pre-AP pathways and course approvals for 2026–27, confirmed completion of field testing for the New Jersey SLA adaptive assessment, and announced an NJ Department of Education visit to recognize district STEAM programs and an on-site college instant decision day.
Superintendent Dr. Sartore opened the Dec. 2 meeting by congratulating students districtwide on athletic and performing-arts achievements and then detailed instructional and program developments the district plans to pursue.
"It's wonderful to be around the table again," Dr. Sartore said in his opening remarks before listing accomplishments by the middle- and high-school athletic programs and the state-champion marching band. He told the board the administration is recommending a number of new courses for the 2026–27 school year and has created pre-AP coursework intended to increase AP enrollment and readiness at Roxbury High School.
Dr. Sartore noted partnerships with Morris County School of Technology (VOTEC) and said he welcomed that school's superintendent, Dr. Anita Champagne, to tour the district's on-site aviation and sports-medicine programs. He also announced that representatives from the New Jersey Department of Education would visit the district the following day as part of a recognition for STEAM education.
The superintendent confirmed the district completed field testing of the new New Jersey SLA adaptive assessment, which the district participated in to evaluate both item viability and the district's readiness to implement the test. "I'm very proud to say that all went just as planned," he said. "We are completely finished at this point and it is certainly a good feeling." The record shows the district will host an "instant decision day" at Roxbury High School in early December, where selected students will meet on-site with college representatives who may make admission decisions and offer academic awards on the spot.
Business Administrator Joe reported on facilities and grants in the same segment: the high school window replacement project is complete (frames painted blue), demo work started at Lincoln-Roosevelt to create three new classrooms, and the district received a Local Food for Schools grant of $5,300 used to buy produce from Orte Farms and Zone 7.
The superintendent invited families to a monthly superintendent coffee at Jefferson School at 7 p.m.; the transcript lists the event time and location but the exact date language in the record was not fully clear. Dr. Sartore encouraged parents to attend for discussion of assessment procedures and data collection.
Next steps noted in the meeting packet include implementing approved new courses for 2026–27 and continuing outreach with career-technical partners to expand student pathways into postsecondary and workforce options.