West Milford expands Highlander Pathways, CTE offerings and issues device upgrades

District leaders used the Highlander Highlights broadcast to detail curricular and technology investments for 2025–26. Assistant Superintendent Dan Novak described Highlander Pathways, a set of high‑school mini‑academies that students apply to and join; initial tracks include broadcasting and journalism, computer science, teaching, and digital arts and graphics, with a business pathway planned for 2026–27. Novak said pathways bundle dual‑enrollment options and workforce certifications (examples mentioned: Adobe Creative Suite, Amazon Web Services) to give students both postsecondary credit and industry credentials.

Novak also announced a new middle‑school eSports lab at MacKippin School. He positioned the program as more than gameplay: leaders said it supports language‑arts standards, team building and social‑emotional learning, and serves as a feeder into computer‑science and broadcasting pathways. A short student video featured multiple pathway participants describing why they chose their tracks.

On technology, Novak described a summer Highlander Tech Team of interns who helped service district devices; he reported the district inventories approximately 5,000 Chromebooks for roughly 3,000 students and that new Chromebooks are being distributed to grades 1, 2, 6 and 9 (freshmen and sixth‑grade devices were handed out at orientation). The district currently offers optional accidental‑damage coverage ($20 per individual device; $40 per family, covering up to two repairs) and said mandatory insurance may be considered in future school years. Novak urged families to treat devices carefully, noting replacement parts (keyboards or screens) can cost about $150.