News

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Grab-n-Go Breakfast Cart unveiled at Newark School of Global Studies by Darius Slayton of the New York Giants
Grab-n-Go Breakfast Cart unveiled at Newark School of Global Studies by Darius Slayton of the New York Giants

In accordance with Priority 1: (Unified and Aligned Systems) and Strategy 1.2: (Adopt a sustainable fiscal strategy and operating budget that is aligned with the strategic plan and drives district priorities), the Budget and Finance Team managed the NBOE 2022-2023 budget process in a thorough, efficient, and effective fashion. The comprehensive effort benefited from an unprecedented level of collaboration with all stakeholders, a commitment to mutual respect, and a laser focus on centering the children of Newark. The advance planning efforts of the Budget Team, enhanced by the comprehensive preparation and instruction efforts of the Office of the Deputy Superintendent, and the Assistant Superintendents, enabled the Principals to remain aligned to the mission as they brought their vision to fruition in service of all students.

The Newark Board of Education also submitted several successful grant applications resulting in several competitive grants to assist in the service of our educational mission. The Food & Nutrition Department of NBOE received a grant from The New Jersey Department of Agriculture to assist families with greater access to benefits. Additionally, the Newark School of Global Studies received a grant for a new Grab-n-Go breakfast cart, courtesy of GENYOUth, a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating healthier school communities and presented by Darius Slayton of the New York Giants.The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs awarded a Local Recreation Improvement Grant of $100K to NBOE to assist in the renovation of the Malcolm X Shabazz High School’s track and football field. Finally, the School Development Authority awarded NBOE an Emergent Capital Needs Grant of $6.4M for various renovations at Sir Isaac Newton Elementary School, Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School, and West Side High School. The district is excited to have been awarded these grants and we continue to strengthen student achievement.

Streamlined Improvements

Boiler replacement at Belmont Runyon
Boiler replacement at Belmont Runyon

The Office of Facilities Management continues to follow through with the Energy Savings Improvement Plan (ESIP) that will provide approximately $140,000,000 of building infrastructure improvements. These improvements include replacing inefficient boilers, upgrading building management systems and installing solar panels district wide. The Office of Facilities has also prepared and submitted the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) to the Department of Education (DOE) and it is pending approval. The LRFP is aligned with the district’s strategic plan, The Next Decade 2020-30, and will allow the district to adopt an enrollment projection methodology to plan for growth, expansion and school construction. This plan, along with the Facilities Condition Assessment (FCA) of every NBOE owned or leased property, will allow the district to identify and address areas of need to ensure we continue to support academic programs along with the community’s needs.

The Office of Facilities Management, through the departments of Custodial Services & Project Control, continues to provide comprehensive cleaning, management of environmental services and remodeling for all district facilities. Daily cleaning is performed utilizing green products that are neutral disinfectants that sanitize all surfaces from harmful bacteria and viruses. Environmental services are managed to ensure indoor air quality, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Right To Know (RTK) and Asbestos Hazardous Emergency Response Act (AHERA) along with other mandatory compliance needs are satisfied district wide. Daily maintenance ensures building infrastructure systems continue to operate at optimal levels. In addition to this required maintenance, Project Control is also remodeling classrooms to address program needs and grade level expansion across the district. This work includes replacing floors, doors, ceilings, lighting, electrical receptacles and also making improvements to bathrooms, gymnasiums and auditoriums as needed. The Office of Facilities Management’s goal is to provide an optimal learning environment for the students, faculty and staff.

Novartis Establishes an Accelerated Learning Program for Students at Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology

Novartis is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world that uses innovative science and technology to address some of society’s most challenging health care issues.  They have established the Novartis Newark Data Science Acceleration Fund (NNDSAF) to prepare students of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology to acquire knowledge and skills to compete globally.

Starting this summer with the class of 2025, the NNDSAF will provide 50 students in each future graduating class with an opportunity to participate in a 5-week summer accelerated learning program.  The summer course content includes Information Technology and Microsoft Imagine Academy fundamentals which lead toward industry-valued certifications.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have partners like Novartis, who are aligned with our vision to provide our students with access to knowledge and resources that prepare them to compete in the global digital arena,” said Superintendent León.

Overall, this program would impact approximately 250 students over a five-year period.

The additional summer sessions will be a key strategy to allow students to access additional courses and prepare themselves for these certification programs.

The Novartis Newark partnership lends itself to opportunities that are mutually beneficial to students and Novartis employees.  The Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology will welcome Novartis associates who will provide workshops either during the summer or school year on topics that show the intersection between data science and public health.  Other opportunities include field trips to the Novartis data centers, laboratories, and executive offices.  By allowing students to have hands-on experiences, the idea of pursuing a degree in the field of data science becomes a reality.

“We are deeply excited about our partnership with Novartis and their support of our vision and mission to prepare our young people for the technology careers of the future,” stated Dr. Liana Summey, Principal of the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.  “This summer acceleration program is key to our commitment to inspiring the technology leaders and change agents of tomorrow.”

As a culminating event, there will be an end-of-summer showcase at the Newark School of Data Science and Information Technology.  It would be an event where Novartis employees are invited to engage with students about their profession so students are exposed to the many different areas of computer science.