School Board Notes

Once again, social media is dominating the School Ethics Commission’s docket, as the body issued decisions Nov. 16 in two cases involving school board members’ actions on social media.

Voters will head to the polls for a special election Dec. 14 to decide various school construction proposals.

Dr. Christine Burton, superintendent of Millburn Township Public Schools, was recently featured on “Education Matters,” the New Jersey School Boards Association's popular video series.

Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, visited the New Jersey School Boards Association headquarters in Trenton Dec. 6, where she met with Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, the executive director of NJSBA.

The film/video showcase includes 17 student-produced short films/videos from 17 school districts that were included in the Garden State Film Festival in 2021, which is one of the largest and most prestigious film festivals in the United States.

The Institution of Education Sciences, an independent, nonpartisan statistics, research and evaluation arm of the U.S. Department of Education, recently published a study that reveals how text messaging can improve attendance at elementary schools.

Districts must complete and submit the report by Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, according to the memo from Kathy Ehling, assistant commissioner, NJDOE Division of Educational Services.

The New Jersey Department of Education has enhanced the portfolio appeals process to support fully electronic submissions, eliminating the exchange of paper portfolios between districts and the NJDOE, according to a memo.

The State Board of Education recognized a number of schools and individuals for their accomplishments at its December monthly meeting.

Dr. Alfred Davis Jr., a Montclair Board of Education member since May 2019 and a well-known chiropractor and community leader, has died.