A Special Thank You to the Wilson Avenue School Administration, Teachers, and Staff for getting their school ready for their students during this Labor Day Weekend! It was a Herculean task, but teamwork got the job done.
A big thank you to the custodial teams and staff across the district who are also making sure their schools and classrooms are ready for students.
On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, Newark Board of Education's Office of Early Childhood hosted their 2nd annual "Road Trip to Pre-K" Event at Belmont Runyon Elementary School, where over 200 families attended. The Road Trip to Pre-K Recruitment Event is a Head Start Community Resource initiative designed to showcase resources in the community and highlight essential milestones from conception to Pre-K and beyond. Upon arrival, families were greeted at the check-in table by helpful staff members who provided them with a welcome bag and passport book outlining the various stations they would encounter throughout the day.
The journey began with attendees having a unique opportunity to meet with social service technicians from the 14 Head Start locations in the city and discuss their programs and enrollment opportunities. District staff were also onsite from the Office of Early Childhood Conception to Cradle, Office of Enrollment, Parent Engagement, and Special Education to share information with families. The families then entered the "Community Partner Lane," where they had a chance to meet representatives from various organizations, such as Newark Public Library, SPAN, the Newark Department of Health and Wellness, Programs for Parents, and the Weequahic Family Success Center to learn more about the services they provide.
After loading up on information, families were able to let the good times roll by visiting the Fun Station, equipped with bounce houses and games, the Dance Station, where children were led through a creative movement experience, and the Safety Station, where families were led through a safety town exhibit from E-Z Ride Safe Kids. Children and families could engage in a "fire truck" experience, where they could climb into one of Newark's very own fire engines and EXPLORE!
Several Health Trucks were on site to provide health screenings, such as the WOW Van and the Mobile Screening Clinic. There was even a visit from Batman himself and his Batmobile. Families ended the day with a complimentary lunch and ice cream.
The Road Trip to Pre-K is the culminating event that brings the Newark Board of Education's Ten-Year Strategic Plan to life. Today's ongoing reciprocal partnerships represent the commitment to the community and the youngest learners. According to Executive
Director Yolanda Severe expressed, "The impact of this event will be seen by all when we welcome our students on the first day of school, September 5, healthy and ready to learn."
The Newark Board of Education is pleased to announce the launch of a partnership between Communities In Schools (CIS) and The Office of Attendance, effective from the 2023-2024 school year. This collaboration aims to provide intentional tiers of intervention to support students and encourage regular attendance, thereby enhancing their academic and personal achievements. Under the guidance of Assistant Superintendent Carolyn Granato, Director Edwin Mendez, and Program Manager Taisha Miranda, Attendance counselors will establish significant connections with students and families who are experiencing difficulties to determine their particular requirements and offer suitable resources.
The partnership will commence in six schools during the first year of the grant, namely Chancellor Avenue School, Luis Munoz Marin, Quitman Street School, South Street School, Speedway Avenue School, and West Side High School. The District is thrilled to have these schools as recipients of the grant and aims to expand the program to at least five additional schools each year for the next three years.
As CIS Founder Bill Milliken aptly stated, young people thrive when they feel cared for on a personal level and have a sense of belonging to a supportive community. The District is committed to modeling this approach throughout the City of Newark.
It is with great excitement to announce that the Newark Board of Education is the recipient of the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. This esteemed award, presented by the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO), has been bestowed upon the District for the 16th consecutive year. It is noteworthy that NBOE is one of only two districts in New Jersey to receive this award. More than 30 states and over 130 districts nationwide apply for this award annually. Each participating district's application is reviewed and evaluated by a committee of school business professionals from across the globe. The criteria for evaluation include organizational structure, detailed financial reporting on each fund, major sources of revenues and expenditures, long-range financial projections, enrollment data, and graduation rates and testing proficiency scores.
Furthermore, the District has been awarded ASBO International's Certificate of Excellence (COE) in Financial Reporting for its exceptional preparation and issuance of the fiscal year-end 2022 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. This marks the eighteenth consecutive year that the Certificate of Excellence has been awarded to the District. The finance team at NBOE is not only proud of this achievement, but also honored to be recognized for their excellence in financial reporting and school budgeting best practices. This award is a testament to Newark's unwavering commitment to financial excellence, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. School Business Administrator Valerie Wilson remarked, "The District's ability to continuously attain both of these international recognitions is a major achievement. The financial team is to be commended for their competence and their commitment to excellence."
The District will be recognized for both of these achievements at the ASBO International Annual Conference & Expo in October 2023.
The Office of Federal Programs & Grants remains committed to providing support to families during the summer season. Schools have implemented various programs and resources aimed at enhancing student academic progress. Parent Liaisons have played a pivotal role in promoting attendance and encouraging families to participate in a diverse range of academic enrichment activities, thereby fostering a lasting positive impact. Notably, the Abington Avenue summer program site partnered with Aspira to organize a Summer Showcase event, which served as a platform for families to witness firsthand how students can be empowered through engaging in hands-on activities, thereby strengthening the bond between home and school.
The Facilities Department has diligently worked throughout the summer to ensure that all buildings are thoroughly cleaned and repaired in anticipation of the return of students and staff in September 2023. This year, the department implemented a district-wide painting program, which marked a departure from the previous year's operations. The program was launched with plans for interior painting of six schools, namely Central High School, Quitman Street, Speedway Avenue, Belmont Runyon, First Avenue, and Park Elementary. The coordination of this initiative involved managing painting contractors, furniture manipulation, and teachers packing up items in their classrooms. The Facilities Department has successfully completed painting at the noted schools, leading to an enhanced classroom atmosphere for a total of 4,716 students!