CRANFORD — During Monday’s meeting of the Cranford Board of Education, Superintendent Scott Rubin, Ed.D. discussed the school district’s scores from the state’s monitoring system of education known as New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) as well as a new health regulation regarding food allergens.
The Union County Executive County Superintendent and team conducted a review of Cranford Public Schools’ compliance with the five areas of the NJQSAC: Instruction and Program, Fiscal Management, Governance, Operations and Personnel.
Cranford scored 87 percent on Instruction and Program, 100 percent on Fiscal Management, 100 percent on Governance, 94 percent on Operations and 100 percent on Personnel. Having satisfied at least 80 percent of the weighted indicators in each area, Cranford has been designated as a “high-performing” school district.
Instruction and Program is scored based upon factors such as student performance, graduation rates, curriculum alignment with New Jersey Student Learning Standards, continuous improvement of curriculum and instruction, tiered support to all students, and more.
Fiscal Management is scored based upon factors like producing monthly financial reports, filing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report audit and other supporting forms and collections, implementing projects consistent with approved long-range facility plans, conducting annual health and safety reviews according to regulations, and more.
Governance is assessed by overseeing the development of curriculum that is aligned with state standards, overseeing the budgeting process, implementing all district board of education-approved policies, ensuring transparency and ethical conduct of each member of the board of education, and more.
Operations are scored upon indicators such as implementation of school district policies regarding attendance, alcohol, tobacco, as well as other drugs, and harassment, intimidation and bullying, maintaining a positive school climate, providing school health services as well as transportation services, and more.
Personnel is scored based on providing support for novice teachers, staff being appropriately certified and meeting the qualifications of their positions, supervisory processes resulting in appropriate goal-setting and feedback procedures, and more.
“Our district has a lot to be proud of,” Superintendent Rubin said.
Later on at Monday’s meeting the board approved for adoption a regulation regarding anaphylaxis to food and other substances.
“This [regulation] came to us through the nurses, who shared concerns that district-wide the amount of students with severe allergies [is increasing]” Superintendent Rubin said. “We’re very concerned; it’s a lot to keep track of and it’s a very serious matter. Student safety is our numberone priority.”
Superintendent Rubin shared that there are about 105 elementary-school students with severe allergies, a number much higher than in years past.
The nurses requested that due to this increase that birthday and holiday celebrations take place without food being served. Currently, the elementary schools see about four food celebrations a year, but because of these concerns, the board agreed to cut food celebrations entirely. Superintendent Rubin assured that ways will still be found to celebrate these occasions in a fun and non-harmful manner, and said he will provide more information about this update in his beginning-of-the-year informational email sent to district families.
The next Cranford Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, July 22.
