At its latest meeting, the Cherry Hill Board of Education unanimously passed a four-point plan for improving academic achievement in district schools, as well as the superintendent’s recommendation of a mission statement to introduce the philosophy behind those goals.
The mission statement for the 2019-20 school year reads: “We shall provide all children with an education that develops open-minded thinkers with the strong academic and interpersonal skills to thrive in an ever-changing world and make it a better place for all.”
Goals the board will strive toward for the upcoming academic year, as laid out in the agenda, will include improving student achievement at all grade levels and decreasing achievement gaps; creating a cost-effective budget that allows for educational resources as well as preventive maintenance and physical plant upgrades in all schools; and enhancing communication and relationships with all concerned parties, along with the creation of an actionable plan that improves upon items included in the failed 2018 bond referendum.
“As far as the discussion at our last meeting, I think some of the things that were added on (to the current list of goals) give a little more clarification to how we are going to achieve the goals that we’ve set out. Without crossing that ever-so-delicate line of micromanaging what administration does, so I’d like to thank the administration for taking the suggestions we delivered last time, and adding them into this,” noted board member Carol Matlack just prior to voting on the issue.
Superintendent Joseph Meloche added a wide range of remarks on all things related to the district gearing up to begin the next school year, passing along some words of counsel to anyone whose spirits might be flagging in the summer heat.
“It’s nice to see everyone. School is getting ready to open, and I can see the excitement in all the board members’ faces. As we get ready to come back to school, you hear me say it at various meetings throughout the year or at different events, schools are much, much better places when there are children and teachers and staff that are excited to do so. It’s just much healthier,” he said.
Meloche added that special thanks are in order to the men and women who comprise the custodial staff, especially over the last couple of weeks.
“As you are all well aware, some of those schools are not air conditioned. If you see them when you’re out and about in the buildings, please make sure you let them know you recognize their efforts.”
Meloche also reminded students, whose minds may be on other, summery things at the moment, to keep their minds sharp and fulfill their vacation assignments as soon as possible.
“We’re about a month out from the start of school, and if you’ve not gotten very far in your summer reading, now’s a good time to start. There’s never a bad time to start. People who are still not sure about what’s required on summer reading can find out through the district page and through the individual school pages as well,” he advised.
In other news:
- Due to the demands placed on the power grid in recent days due to excessive heat and then blustery storms, the meeting was held in the media center of Carusi Middle School, rather than the Malberg Administration Building because it still faced power issues.
- The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27, exactly one week before the official first day of school for the district.
- Each of the four board subcommittees are scheduled to meet on Aug, 5-6.
