A Message from the Moorestown Board of Education….
Moorestown Township Public Schools are off to a solid start! All six of our District’s schools have many new building enhancements, such as security vestibules, new roofs, improved bathrooms, HVAC systems, wireless WIFI upgrades, security cameras within the schools and other improvements and additions, including a new high school athletic turf field to be completed by the end of October, in time for the 2015 Homecoming Game.
The District has been able to rollout stage three of our Five Year Technology Plan. In 2014–2015, the William Allen Middle School, initiated an exciting educational pilot with one-third of the eighth grade students receiving and utilizing laptops. The principal, supervisors, teachers and district administrators all felt these tools had significant educational benefits. The students spent more time involved in collaborative work, participated in further project-based instruction, gained increased access to information, produced improved research investigation and analysis, and were able to take charge of their own learning. Therefore, this year 963 Dell personal laptops have been distributed to each of the seventh, eighth and ninth grade students for their use at school, as well as at home. Additionally, 325 Lenovo brand laptops are being utilized in Language Arts classes of all sophomores, juniors and seniors. We are fortunate that our students will have this opportunity for advanced 21st century learning. This will help give our students an advantage as they go onto higher instructive learning and eventually, into the global workplace. There is substantial evidence that using technology as an instructional tool enhances student learning and academic outcomes. Our students are embracing this new approach and are eager to work in a technology-based environment. The students are equipped to convey their thoughts through this additional learning opportunity and collaborate and contribute to the remarkable projects they are engaged in creating.
The Moorestown Board of Education would like to thank all of those involved, including staff, parents, students and our township community for continued support with both the technology initiative as well as the referendum projects.
On Sept. 22, the Moorestown BOE went to market to refinance its outstanding 2005 Refunding School Bond Issue. The sale of the refunding bond issue was so successful that bond savings over the next 14 years is $2.5 million, which equates to $22 per year on the average assessed home. The district will spend $192,000 less per year. The Business Administrator and Acting Superintendent Lynn Shugars did an outstanding job in organizing and managing the refinancing of the 2005 Bonds.
On Oct. 9, applications for the Interim Superintendent position were due. The board is currently reviewing the applications for an Interim Superintendent and looks forward to beginning the interview process.
On Oct. 20, the BOE will have the monthly public meeting in the Media Center of the William Allen Middle School at 7:30 p.m. Aside from our regular business, Julie Colby, Mathematics Supervisor, will be presenting an overview of the mathematics curriculum. During the Nov. 17 BOE meeting, Gavin Quinn, Science Supervisor, will present an outline of the science curriculum from kindergarten through the senior year.
Please join us at our Board of Education monthly public meetings. If you have questions or ideas, come and share your thoughts during our meetings, or contact Ms. Kathy Goldenberg, Board President, kgoldenberg@mtps.com.
