Superintendent reports year‑two progress on Montgomery's five‑year strategic plan

District leaders gave the board a progress update on year two of the Montgomery Township School District's five‑year strategic plan, summarizing actions across four goals: student experience, communication and community engagement, culture and climate (SEL/well‑being), and technology/operations.

Goal 1 work focused on teaching and learning: the district is transitioning Universal Design for Learning coaching from an external consultant (IDE Corp) to internal leaders, collecting exemplar lessons via a UDL Google form and adding resources to the Rubicon Atlas. Curriculum teams are articulating stage‑3 teaching documents, reviewing comparable districts' program‑of‑study offerings, and scheduling math curriculum writing for 2026 to close skill gaps.

Goal 2 highlights included a new district website, a stakeholder MSPRA survey that informed communications preferences, and efforts to expand community partnerships (the Montgomery Business Association) and dual/concurrent enrollment with Seton Hall. The administration said the district will build processes to gather community experts, create alumni engagement and scale internship/mentorship opportunities for high school students.

Goal 3 actions emphasize student well‑being: the district piloted SEL assessments K‑5, launched Hope Squad suicide‑prevention at grades 5–12, and implemented new cell‑phone guidelines for grades 7–12 (administrators and staff reported improved focus and fewer mid‑class disruptions). The administration plans to administer the New Jersey School Climate Initiative survey to students, parents and staff this spring.

Goal 4 work addresses technology and AI: buildings are forming tech committees, the high school has drafted course‑level AI guidance to be incorporated in next year's handbook, and student advisory groups will provide input on ethical uses of AI. The administration also said it will continue peer coaching and leadership capacity building to sustain these initiatives.

Board members asked about timing, reporting cadence and how proposed K‑4 reconfiguration (feasibility study) and budget implications will be handled; administrators said facility, transportation and moving costs are under review and any structural changes would target a 2027–2028 implementation window.