Multiple parents told the Pascack Valley board that the varsity football program suffered from leadership failures, missed required paperwork, inadequate conditioning and preparation, and safety risks; petition counts were cited (approximately 15 player names and nearly 200 community signatures) and parents urged prompt administrative action.
At its organizational meeting, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education swore in newly elected members, elected Deborah Stephens president and a vice president by roll call, read the district code of ethics under N.J.S.A. 18A, and approved routine consent items including minutes and multiple HR and finance items (one abstention).
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education formally recognized multiple student athletes for Bergen Record "Athlete of the Week" honors and all-county/all-region selections, citing season totals and leadership roles.
An auditor told the Pascack Valley Regional High School District board the general fund ended the year at $13.334 million and described reserve withdrawals; Interim Superintendent Phillips reported new visitor ID checks, a November power outage that canceled school for a day, and that the district is beginning the 2026–27 budget process. A 23-item finance consent agenda was announced but a motion was not recorded in the transcript.
Interim Superintendent Mr. Phillips told the Pascack Valley board on Dec. 15 that ramp and HVAC work is progressing, a visitor-management system requiring ID checks is now installed, and the board asked him to remain through April 30, 2027, while the superintendent search proceeds.
During public comment, residents urged people in the four sending towns to follow their local council negotiations with developers, saying density and affordable-housing set-asides (commonly 10–20%) affect school enrollment and tax revenue; transcript shows no board response or formal action recorded.
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board approved multiple consent agendas covering policy, education, human resources and finance, heard student and public comments about school theater productions and extracurriculars, received an update on the superintendent search, and voted to enter executive session with no return to public session announced.
Dr. Mark Russo told the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education the district’s approved professional development plan centers on 26 professional learning communities, targeted training for diverse learners and staff-wellness initiatives, and uses five delayed openings and selected full-day PDs to balance teacher learning with student seat time.
Interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips told the board Oct. 27 that district construction projects are facing routine permit-related delays and that the New Jersey Department of Education has allowed current seniors to use PSAT, SAT or ACT scores to meet graduation-assessment requirements for the class of 2026.
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education voted Oct. 27 to table approval of the proposed 2026–27 school calendar after several members said two added late-start mornings would cumulatively reduce classroom instructional time.
