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Morris School District reviews midyear progress, greenlights consent motions and readies Sept. 2026 referendum
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Summary
At its December meeting, the Morris School District board heard a midyear update on literacy, social-emotional and career-readiness programs, learned the district won the New Jersey Dreams mental-health grant, received a finance update that included a 3.42% bus financing rate, and approved a slate of consent and business motions; a September 2026 referendum was previewed.
The Morris School District Board of Education met in December to hear a midyear progress update from administration, receive committee reports and approve a slate of grouped motions covering minutes, policy, curriculum and business matters.
Daisy, a senior class representative, opened the substantive portion of the meeting with a student-government report on athletics, music and community service. "My name is Daisy, and I ... am one of the senior board reps," she said, noting the student holiday gift drive had collected more than 300 gifts and that the "Night in the Cold" fundraiser drew about 200 participants and raised over $2,500 for Homeless Solutions.
The superintendent’s midyear presentation centered on the district’s five-year strategic plan and the administration’s action steps to raise academic achievement and reduce subgroup achievement gaps. The presentation introduced targeted literacy work and assessment changes: the district is rolling out CKLA in K–2 classroom settings (monolingual and bilingual), piloting third-grade CKLA at Alexander Hamilton and Normandy Park, and shifting some literacy progress monitoring to DIBELS, with a midyear benchmark scheduled for January.
Director-level presenters described math and intervention goals, including a target that more than 80% of eighth-grade students will successfully complete Algebra 1. Officials said students who need additional time receive targeted support such as after-school homework clubs, in-day check-ins with advisors and a math applications class at the high school.
On student supports, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Diana Pinto Gomez said the district is the recipient of the New Jersey Dreams grant to expand mental-health capacity. "We are really excited to be the recipient of the New Jersey Dreams grant," she said, adding the grant will fund intensive training for three counselors that the district will cascade to other staff and parents and that the district is expanding SEL curricula and supports, including zones-of-regulation kits and a therapy-dog program.
The meeting also spotlighted arts and college partnerships. The board heard that Alexander Hamilton School received a Morris Arts residency grant for a fourth-grade production in collaboration with the New Jersey Shakespeare House, and that the Morristown College Promise provides a pathway for some high‑school students to earn a two-year associate degree at County College of Morris (CCM) at no cost.
Facilities planning featured prominently. Administration previewed a referendum expected to appear on the September 2026 ballot that would fund projects such as full building air-conditioning, replacement of the Morristown High School Olympic pool and auditorium renovations at FMS and MHS. Officials said schematic plans have been certified and were submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education for review; the administration and an ad hoc steering committee will continue outreach and messaging into the new year.
Finance committee briefings included several operational updates: new bus deliveries are ahead of schedule; the district accepted bus financing from Webster Bank at an interest rate of 3.42%; the district submitted a clean audit with no findings; and staff reported an estimated $2,000,000 reduction in excess surplus available for the 2026–27 budget compared with the prior year. Officials said the referendum and these budget pressures will be part of the budget conversation in March.
Committees reported routine business and policy work. The curriculum committee approved field trips, the 2026–27 Morristown High School program of studies and the federally required three‑year preschool operational plan under NJAC 6:13A. The policy committee continued work on e-bike and scooter use on school property (with an emphasis on high-school implementation) and deferred some policy revisions to the January meeting when new board members join. The governance committee decided to hold an annual student‑athlete recognition event in June to avoid scheduling conflicts across seasons.
During the consent and business portion of the meeting, the board moved and approved grouped motions: minutes (motions 1–3), policy (motions 1–2), educational matters (motions 1–6), pupil services (motion 1), human resources (motions 1–16) and business matters (motions 1–17). Roll-call votes were recorded for each grouped motion; most items passed with majority yes votes. The meeting record shows at least one abstention: a board member abstained on a pupil-services item and on business matter number 9. The clerk called the roll for each grouped motion and recorded individual votes.
The meeting adjourned after brief closing remarks and a photo opportunity with departing members. The administration said it will return in March with a budget update that will include midyear data points and further detail on referendum costs, anticipated state aid and potential budget adjustments.
What’s next: the steering committee for the referendum will continue preparing messaging and will meet with communications consultants in mid‑January; the administration will present budget details to the board during the March budget presentation.
Sources: meeting presentation and committee reports presented at the Morris School District Board of Education meeting (public session).
