The Hillside Public School District board approved organization, finance, buildings & grounds, education, policy and labor bundles at a regular meeting, asked staff for specific construction timelines on a buildings item and clarified that an education item would support both general-education and special-education teachers districtwide.
The board said it has vetted acting-superintendent candidates but will make a final appointment at its next meeting and noted that county executive superintendent review is common practice; the board also announced a comprehensive search for a permanent superintendent beginning in early 2026.
The Hillside Public School District Board of Education approved two labor-relations motions to terminate the payroll manager and to appoint an acting payroll manager. Both actions were read aloud as motions 55 and 56, were seconded and were approved by roll call.
A Hillside High School student asked the Board of Education to allow phone use during lunch; the superintendent said he will check whether accepting a pre-awarded bell-to-bell grant affects that option.
Angela Lawler, president of the Hillside Education Association, told the Board of Education on Oct. 30 that many district employees did not receive their scheduled payroll deposits, and she filed a grievance.
Superintendent Erskine Glover used his final official Board of Education meeting on Oct. 30 to review district priorities, present the required HIB report and outline academic and operational goals.
Public commenters urged support for a community Trick-or-Trunk event, asked for clarity about a pending student suspension and offered condolences to a staff member who lost a relative. The board read public comment rules and closed the public comment period before moving on to committee reports.
Principal Daniella Alvarez and Herndon Looker Elementary students presented a student-produced newscast and highlighted STEM clubs, a greenhouse harvest, hydroponics gardening, performing arts partnerships and new teacher introductions.
Superintendent Glover announced a breast cancer awareness walk set for Saturday, Oct. 11, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Hillside High School and a Hispanic Heritage celebration to follow at the walk's conclusion venue.
