Morris School District board hears curriculum, finance and policy updates; approves routine motions

The Morris School district Board of Education met for a regular session that opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and Thanksgiving remarks and then proceeded through student reports, committee updates and a series of grouped motions approving routine business.

Student liaison Daisy, representing Morristown High School, highlighted recent activity at the high school. “My name is Daisy, and I’m 1 of the board liaisons of Morristown High School,” she told the board, and reported that four students had signed to continue athletic careers at collegiate programs, the fall drama production placed among the district’s most‑attended since 2015, and student clubs had prepared roughly 150 emergency food bags for donation. She also said a no‑shave November fundraiser had raised “over 1,500” (transcript) for the Colonial Cancer Foundation.

Susan, reporting for the curriculum committee, said the committee met Nov. 12 and approved minutes, multiple field trips for grades K–12 and plans for summer curriculum writing for 2026 to allow HR to begin recruiting curriculum writers. The committee approved an on‑demand foundational module to support pre‑AP English courses and authorized the new Artisan Academy at Morristown High School, funded by a private grant to provide an arts‑to‑entrepreneurship pathway; Susan thanked presenting staff including Mark Manning, John Pollino, Liz Ostendorp and Jim Boothby.

Linda delivered the finance update, reporting that the finance committee reviewed referendum project recommendations for submission to the State Department of Education and looked at schematic drawings and preliminary cost summaries covering each of the district’s 10 buildings. The buildings and grounds team reported equipment and training updates, the main gym roof repairs were completed, and asbestos abatement work was finished at one site. Linda said transportation provided 244 supplemental trips plus 39 contracted trips for other local schools, yielding about $28,000 in additional revenue, and that food service year‑to‑date sales totaled $632,832 (transcript), with accounts receivable for meals down roughly $13,000–$14,000.

On policy and personnel issues, the HR/resources committee reported it had met Nov. 18 and is accelerating hiring to support an extended school year; the board reviewed proposed policy language on motorized e‑bikes and scooters (policies referenced as 5514 and 7480 in committee discussion), fundraising policies, and a proposed non‑punitive 6–12 support mode for students seeking help with drug and alcohol dependency. The board tabled further action on a dress and grooming policy for additional review and scheduled follow‑ups at future committee meetings.

The governance committee reported meeting Nov. 13 and setting a Dec. 8 retreat agenda focused on a board self‑evaluation and referendum updates; committee chairs will finalize role narratives and an orientation packet ahead of new members joining next year.

Before business matters, the board reminded the public that comments were recorded, limited remarks to three minutes per speaker and noted legal restrictions on discussing specific students or personnel matters. An appointed representative of the Sandy Morris Plains School District clarified that they would vote only on items applicable district‑wide or to grades 9–12 and would abstain on items affecting only preK–8 schools.

Votes at a glance - Minutes (Motions 1–2): Moved and seconded; approved by roll call. One abstention was recorded (Missus Petalino) on the motions as noted in the roll call. - Policy motions (Motions 1–2): Moved, seconded and approved by roll call. - Educational matters (Motions 1–9): Moved and seconded; approved by roll call. The roll call noted that Missus Petalino abstained on motion 1 and Missus Cole recorded abstentions on motions 8 and 9 (per the roll call comments). - Pupil services (Motions 1–3): Moved, seconded and approved by roll call. - Human resources (Motions 1–23): Moved, seconded and approved by roll call. - Business matters (Motions 1–15): Moved, seconded and approved; one abstention on item 5 was recorded by the roll caller.

The meeting closed after a motion to adjourn passed by voice vote. The board noted several follow‑up dates: the next curriculum committee meeting (Dec. 3), policy committee meeting (Dec. 5), finance meeting (Dec. 8) and the governance meeting (Dec. 4).