West Milford board gives preliminary OK to overnight trips, agrees to accept state phone‑free grant while debates conference timing

The West Milford Township Public School District Board of Education on Dec. 16 voted to advance several education items for final consideration and agreed to accept a state grant allocation tied to stricter student cell‑phone policies while continuing internal debate about marking periods and parent–teacher conference timing.

The board gave preliminary approval to investigate an overnight choir trip to Boston; the action allows administrators to develop itineraries and cost estimates but does not authorize final student solicitation or payment. "The approval that is on here this evening is the preliminary approval to investigate the trip," Dr. Kitchen said, adding that the district will return to the board for final approval before any fundraising or payments are made. Board members raised equity concerns after noting a roughly $2,000 per‑student estimate for the trip and asked that administrators pursue fundraising and cost‑reduction options so the excursion is more accessible.

The board also moved to accept a state phone‑free schools grant allocation to preserve the option of adopting a stricter "bell‑to‑bell" phone policy. Dr. Kitchen said the district's allotment was updated to $13,094.62 but cautioned that "that is still not enough to cover the cost of these Yonder bags," the phone‑locking product under consideration. He asked the board to accept the funds this calendar year so the district could decide later whether to adopt a full bell‑to‑bell policy, use alternative restrictions such as limiting phone use in nonacademic spaces, or pursue other implementation approaches.

Discussion about marking periods and parent–teacher conferences returned to the agenda following sustained feedback from principals and the public. Several board members questioned whether the current trimester system and January conference timing provide families with timely information about student progress. "There's truly too much of a gap of time from the start of school to the first end of the first trimester," one board member said, arguing that earlier reporting would let families intervene sooner. Public commenter Caitlin Babcock urged the board to consider returning conferences to November, saying earlier conferences give families "opportunities to identify academic or behavioral concerns sooner, partner with teachers while there is still time to intervene, or avoid surprises late in that trimester." The administration said the issue remains under active review with elementary principals.

The meeting opened with a student report by student representative Marina Petrucillo, who highlighted fall sports, concerts and college decision‑day outcomes. Petrucillo reported 87 students attended decision day and the district recorded 262 acceptances with about 30 decisions pending; she also said the district recorded 61 scholarship offers totaling more than $200,000. Dr. Swartz reported that West Milford High School hosted the Passaic County Special Olympics skills tournament and announced a free Wellness Family Festival set for April 18 from noon to 4 p.m.

On routine business, the board moved and approved consent agendas covering minutes, personnel and operations/finance items. During roll call, members recorded several required or recommended abstentions on specific items (for example, one member said she would abstain on items 11.4 and 11.5 while voting yes on the remaining items in that slate). The board then voted to enter executive session at 7:43 p.m. to discuss personnel, special education, litigation, negotiations and attorney‑client privileged matters; the board said no action would be taken before adjournment and executive session minutes will remain confidential while privilege applies.

What happens next: preliminary approvals for overnight trips return to the board with detailed itineraries, cost breakdowns and final staff recommendations before any payments or fundraising are allowed. The district will also continue its review of marking‑period structure and conference timing with principals and bring proposed calendar or policy adjustments to the board when available.