Principals outline student success amid planned retirements at Byram Hills
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Summary
Principals from Coleman Hill, Wampus and HC Crittendon highlighted student programs, high achievement (multiple grade-level percentiles above 90), civics and extracurricular expansions; board announced several upcoming retirements and recognized staff contributions.
The Byram Hills boards Jan. 26 meeting opened with building-level highlights from principals across the district and an announcement of multiple planned retirements. Coleman Hill principal Peggy McInerney described a new "Zen Den" funded by the district education foundation to provide four zones for students to self-regulate and named classroom outcomes that, she said, support high literacy and numeracy.
High school principal Chris Walsh and Wampus principal Dave Mack emphasized continuity of core programs despite a projected budget reduction. Mack said Wampus has strong outcomes, including state-test percentiles in the 90s for several early grades and an ongoing departmentalization model that has increased opportunities for deeper, cross-curricular learning. Walsh noted the high schools program breadth (more than 50 clubs) and said the learning commons has been "transformative," while acknowledging an enrollment dip that will lower high-school population in the next two years.
Before the principalspresentations, a board member announced the board had accepted retirements "for the purpose of retirement" for Jen Laden (social studies chair, grades 6-12), Leslie Goldfarb (Coleman Hill Elementary teacher), Sheila St. Onge (social studies teacher, HC Crittendon Middle School) and Julie Gallagher (high-school nurse), all effective at the end of the school year. The board praised their decades of service and said formal celebrations are planned.
Student government president Cam Silverstein gave a brief student report on winter spirit week, fundraising bake sales, athletic results and plans to reschedule a postponed winter dance. Board members thanked the principals and students for the updates and emphasized that, despite budget headwinds, leaders are working to preserve programs.
The district did not take formal action on staffing or programs at the Jan. 26 meeting beyond acknowledging retirements; board members said they will return to budget and staffing issues in subsequent meetings.