Rochelle Park leaders outline back-to-school plans, new website and classroom tech

Superintendent Sue DeNobile told the Board she was "so eager to open the doors and greet everyone," and summarized summer work including renovations, a new district website, professional development and re-registration efforts to ensure students served live in town.

The superintendent thanked the PTO and township partners, including the school resource officer, and introduced new interim Supervisor of Special Services Jessica DiCori to the board. Dr. DeNobile said the district is "doing everything we can to make sure the students we are servicing live in town" and noted staff return and back-to-school events are scheduled in September.

Principal Dr. Courtney Carmichael outlined student orientations (including a sixth-grade event attended by about 80 people) and said new routines and handbook changes will require parental acknowledgment in some cases. She said handbooks now include tighter drop-off rules: items must be delivered by 9:30 a.m. and food deliveries during lunch are prohibited.

Director of Curriculum Cara Hurd reported 19 students are participating in ACCESS for ELLs (mostly grades K–4), described the state scoring requirement to exit the program (a 4.5 on the assessment), and summarized summer professional development on phonics (Fundations), co‑teaching and inclusion with follow-up coaching planned during the year.

Technology Coordinator Kevin Cox demonstrated a 75‑inch Reco interactive board that will be installed in classrooms and previewed the district’s redesigned website and free mobile app. "To look it up just type in Rochelle Park School District," Cox told attendees, and he showed how the site links to RealTime and PaySchools for news, alerts and calendars.

The board approved multiple administrative items that support these operational changes, including adoption of handbooks for the coming school year and professional-development plans.