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Piscataway board rewrites 2026 goals to stress well-being, communication and community
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Summary
After a multi-hour working session, the Piscataway Township Board of Education revised its 2026 board goals to focus on student and staff well-being, effective board communications, equitable opportunities under the "You I We Inspire" framework, and expanded community engagement.
The Piscataway Township Board of Education spent the bulk of its April 4 working session revising the district's board goals for 2026, settling on five priorities that emphasize well-being, communication, equity and community engagement.
President Sacagawea Cowan opened the discussion and led board members through successive edits to each draft goal. The board agreed to reframe Goal 1 as a focus on the "well-being of our students, their families, faculty, staff and community members," and to rename the communications objective to emphasize "effective and efficient board communications" and clearer public reporting on long-range projects.
Superintendent Glover told the board the changes should align with the district's strategic plan, noting that the draft language mirrors existing strategic priorities. "No matter what our budget constraints will be, we will never sacrifice academics," he said, urging that board and superintendent language remain consistent so the district speaks with a single voice.
The board also approved a new standalone goal, labeled "Community," committing to "creating inclusive opportunities for community members to participate in the growth and development of the district" through collaborative initiatives and shared resources.
Members merged recruitment and retention language into the "Inspire" goal to highlight support for hiring and keeping "diverse, highly qualified and appropriately credentialed teachers and staff." The board discussed how retention depends on pay, school culture and morale; Dr. Nelson and others urged that the district continue to monitor compensation comparisons and cultivate a positive work environment.
The board asked staff to circulate the revised goal language for final edits and to return the document for adoption at an upcoming meeting. President Cowan said members would review the circulated draft and finalize the goals at the next session.
The session concluded with the board agreeing to a short retreat-style review next year to allow more time for goal development.
