MOUNTAINSIDE — The Mountainside Board of Education recognized the efforts of some of the school district’s young mathematicians on Tuesday for their recent performances in this year’s Noetic Math Competition.
The contest, Superintendent Janet Walling explained, speaking during a regular meeting of the board, is a nationwide event open to all students in grades 2 to 8.
Eshan Pandya, Grade 3, and James D’Anna, Grade 5, were each presented with National Honor Roll medals. Eshan and James also won team awards for scoring the highest number of points on their teams.
“Just coming out to participate means you’re a winner,” Superintendent Walling said.
In addition to honoring the students for their achievements, the board passed a resolution based on the recommendation of the superintendent to approve a transfer from under-budgeted revenue from interest earned on investments in the amount of $120,000. This transfer will increase the 2024-2025 budget and will be used to cover increased costs in transportation. Board members also passed a resolution renewing the contract with Maschio’s Food Service with a fixed fee price of $10,712.05. The board spoke about a few options to combat the rising out-of-district transportation “We know we could also run short next year due to things out of our control,” district Business Administrator Dana Sullivan said. “We should know early in the year and we’ll plan accordingly, but we won’t have too much extra revenue next year.”
The district’s annual contract with its transportation company, Durham School Services, could increase by as much as 5.81 percent next year, Ms. Sullivan said.
“It doesn’t make a lot of sense because the state caps our budget at 2 percent, but then they won’t give us a waiver for the transportation costs,” Ms. Sullivan said, adding that the district is attempting to move away from its current reliance on Union County Educational Services Commission to coordinate transportation challenges.
“The problem I have with Union County Educational Services is that they are supposed to coordinate bus services but they tend to put a kid on a bus and send them on their way,” Ms. Sullivan said. “So one of the things we’re trying to do is to coordinate this by ourselves without depending on the county. Some of the other districts might also be able to transport for us.”
Beechwood School Principal Jessica Vierschilling presented the BeechwoodYear in Review, claiming it was difficult to capture an entire year in a 10-minute presentation. She mentioned that the school has streamlined all of its theme days since families love them but also want them to be a little more consistent.
“I feel like Beechwood has really hit its stride,” Ms. Vierschilling said, referencing recent student successes achieved through the help of a reading assistance program known as The 95 percent Through Phonics Program.
A comparison of data points revealed there were 23 students total inAIM (the district’s Academic Intervention for Mastery program) for language arts two years ago compared to 18 who will be participating in the program in the fall. Those numbers, Ms. Vierschilling said, mean the Phonics program is doing its job.
The district additionally is offering extra assistance to students whose reading or mathematics comprehension skills may need a boost.
“We have been inviting students who are on the border of needing extra help to these sessions as a preemptive measure,” Ms. Vierschilling said. “It has been a great addition.”
Ms.Vierschillingalsointroducedseveral new clubs that will be available at Beechwood this fall, including a Go Green Club and a Chess Club. Others, like the Art Club, will be returning next year as well. Beechwood also has partnered with the Parent Teacher Organization to create the BeechwoodARK, which stands for Acts of Restorative Kindness. The Beechwood ARK, Ms. Vierschilling said, will center around the maintenanceofanoutdoorlearningspace near the school’s back fields.
