A message from the superintendent, Missy Peretti
With Summer in sight, it’s been another great year at Harrison Township Elementary School. Here’s a message from Harrison Township School District Superintendent, Dr. Missy Peretti:
The Harrison Township School District held the public hearing of the 2018–2019 school budget on Monday, April 30. This budget includes many exciting changes and improvements for the children, staff and visitors of the Harrison Township School District. The most significant change to the overall academic program is the implementation of full day kindergarten program in September. Our youngest learners will be welcomed with open arms by our staff who are as excited about this change as so many in our community are. The full day experience will not only increase time and opportunity for academic development, but it will also provide opportunities for our children to learn and grow socially and emotionally through creative play and increased time for socialization and communication with peers.
The 2018–2019 school budget also makes school security a priority. The Harrison Township Board of Education worked together with Mayor Manzo, the Chief and Captain of our Police Department and various other township leaders to develop a shared services plan for two School Resource Officers to join our school community. These SROs will be trained, experienced and familiar with our school buildings, children and procedures. They will work together to strengthen the already strong relationship that exists between our police department and our schools and will assist in ensuring our students, staff and community members are as safe as possible when in our buildings. Also, plans have been developed and construction will soon begin on significant upgrades to our school lobbies in preparation for the new school year. These welcomed upgrades will significantly increase overall building security and procedures including an electronic scan in for all those visiting our buildings.
This current school budget meets the academic needs of our students as school budgets in the past have. What makes this budget noteworthy, however, is that it specifically addresses significant concerns that have been shared with the school administration recently and over time. School security, in particular, has been an even clearer focus this year than ever before. The school administration and staff have studied and learned from the far too many tragedies that have occurred throughout the country. They have also carefully considered all of the very helpful feedback that has been provided by parents and residents who share the same priorities when it comes to our children and their safety. These improvements that the 2018–2019 Harrison Township School budget provides have been developed through the dedication of an entire community working together to make and support decisions and changes for the better.
