Superintendent outlines preschool expansion, new academies and AI teams; Edison student unveils 'Portrait of a Graduate' poster

The Edison Township Board of Education heard a midyear state-of-the-schools report that outlined program growth, infrastructure priorities and new course offerings, followed by a student unveiling of the district's "Portrait of a Graduate" poster.

The superintendent opened with district priorities — student achievement, enrollment, wellness and fiscal responsibility — and detailed several measurable changes. He said the district added 17 new classrooms this year serving 213 students and reported the district had secured a roughly $1,500,000 grant to expand early childhood programming. "We added 17 new classrooms this year, 213 students," the superintendent said, and noted the preschool expansion had contributed to enrollment gains.

On operations, the superintendent reported that the district transported 9,852 students and that roughly 3,000 students used subscription busing (the transcript cited both 3,030 and 3,368 in different moments). He said the district has 52 bus drivers and recently added three school buses to the fleet.

Academics and pathways were a central focus. The superintendent said the district is expanding career and technical education (CTE) pathways and will add computer science and business academies next year, including pathways in cybersecurity, programming, web development and AP-level offerings. He described established programs — a biomedical academy and a STEM academy — and said more than 600 eighth-graders applied to academy pathways, representing about 45% of the eligible eighth-grade population.

The presentation also emphasized classroom innovation: the superintendent said each school has an "AI power team" of teachers focused on integrating artificial intelligence into instruction and assessment and noted district initiatives such as "Wonder Wednesdays," elementary exploratory activities, and an expanded wellness program that includes mindfulness and breathing techniques.

Student voice was featured when Edison High School student Selena Luang presented the poster that will represent the district's "Portrait of a Graduate." Introduced by the superintendent, Luang described the artwork's symbolism across elementary, middle and high school stages and said the piece "reflects my own journey and what I believe it means to be an Edison graduate." She credited art staff and a peer collaborator for helping to refine the design.

Why it matters: The report packages several resource and programming decisions that shape the next school year's course offerings and facilities planning (CTE expansion, preschool seats, bus fleet additions and proposed air-conditioning upgrades referenced in the meeting). The student-designed portrait is slated for district use on the website and as a visual anchor for the board's "portrait of a graduate" priorities.

What's next: Administration said bids for HVAC/air-conditioning projects for three elementary schools (listed on the agenda as JMI, GMP and Washington) were received and would be awarded as part of procurement work that evening; the minutes and ensuing votes approved routine personnel, curriculum and finance consent items, and further contract details were to follow in procurement documentation.