Board approves new calculus course, mentoring and expanded computer science grant application

The curriculum committee reported multiple instructional approvals that the board moved forward for adoption. The committee approved a new standard-level calculus course for Morristown High School estimated to serve about 25 students and budgeted for textbooks (committee cited an estimated $3,500 for materials). The approval creates a three-tiered calculus pathway alongside existing honors and AP offerings.

The committee also approved curriculum writing for the Structured Learning Experience (SLE) at MHS to reinforce pre-employment skills and postsecondary planning, and it approved the district's application to be the North Region recipient of an expansion grant to establish geographically distributed K–12 computer science professional-learning hubs to broaden teacher capacity and equitable access to computer science instruction.

Other approved items included the "Just Like Me" program, a male-student mentoring initiative pairing students with male MSD middle- and high-school teachers to build relationships and growth mindsets, and the appointments of a K–5 summer learning academy coordinator and an extended-school-year coordinator, each receiving a $7,000 stipend (Title I and local funding).

The committee set 2025 curriculum meeting dates and tabled comparative NJSLA data presentation until all members could attend. District staff and the curriculum chair said they will bring implementation timelines and materials-cost details back to the board as those items move from committee to full board action.