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Superintendent Dr. Perez spotlights student awards, programs and upcoming tests at Hillside Board of Education meeting
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Perez used the April 6 meeting to highlight recent student awards, international trips, a hydroponics program and upcoming NJSLS testing, and thanked staff and community partners. The board also heard student and partner reports and set a May 5 special meeting on the budget.
Superintendent Dr. Perez opened the April 6 Hillside Board of Education meeting with an extended report celebrating recent student and staff achievements and previewing near-term school events.
"I wanted to open the night as I generally do this, but I think it's important to really acknowledge and recognize all that our students and our staff...are achieving," Dr. Perez said, enumerating honors and programs across grade levels. She named a Hillside student who placed among seven winners in a regional stock-market challenge organized by a local Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, praised the Hillside High School student council for earning the National Gold Council of Excellence, and noted that several students were inducted into national honor societies.
Dr. Perez highlighted hands-on and extracurricular programs, including a hydroponics project led by staff at DGTA that supplies lettuce "from seed to harvest" for school lunches. She also thanked staff who led student trips to Italy and Spain during spring break and staff who helped students attend cultural and theater events. Dr. Perez praised teachers and support staff across the district for their role in those outcomes.
Student life items and arts achievements were also called out: she noted performing arts nominations that will be honored at Montclair State University and a student film selected for the Kent Place Film Festival. Dr. Perez said the district will share flyers and reminders for an array of May events, and she reminded the community that NJSLS testing begins soon.
Student representative Jada (Hillside High School student council representative) described recent student activities, including trips to New York and Europe, the school’s Multiculture Night, and the inaugural Hispanic Honor Society induction of 14 students. Jada also provided event details and ticket prices for upcoming performing-arts presentations (advance $5, $8 at the door).
The board observed a moment of silence for a staff member referred to in the meeting as Mr. Brown. In closing business, the board announced a special meeting on May 5 to discuss the budget and said members were awaiting state information that could affect upcoming decisions.
The meeting also included public comments and partner presentations (see separate item). The superintendent’s report was primarily informational; no formal board action was taken directly on the programs Dr. Perez described during this portion of the meeting.
