School board maps years of construction work
District leaders said bond work is now in its fourth summer, with three to four years still ahead and major projects spread across elementary, middle, and high schools.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — construction update, opioid settlement funds school mental health, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The update was simple: some projects are done, some are close, and several of the biggest school renovations will keep going well past this school year.
Construction is now the district’s long game. The school board got a building-by-building update on bond work that stretches from playgrounds and handrails to auditoriums, locker rooms, and classroom renovations. District leaders said the work is in its fourth summer since the December 2022 bond passage, with three to four years still to go. At several elementary schools, site work was largely complete except for final handrails, fencing, and other punch list items. Main office security vestibules at Barton, Kingston, Johnson, and Sharp opened by the end of August.
Some of the clearest deadlines came with the projects still in motion. At High School East, storm pipe replacement at the rear of the building was underway with a September 30 target, including 60 linear feet of pipe replacement. Stockton’s playground was expected to be finished October 16. At Beck, locker rooms were expected to be available October 9, and new lockers were scheduled for September 28. At High School West, the lower level was anticipated to be complete October 5, with additional lower-level phasing set for October 30.
The auditorium schedule shows how far this work still reaches. The district said High School East’s auditorium is targeted to return January 1, while High School West’s auditorium will go offline in April and is not expected back until January 2028. Next steps include bids for remaining elementary security vestibules, media centers at High School East and High School West, more interior renovations, and planning for demolition and construction of a new wing at High School East starting next summer.
Opioid settlement funds school mental health clinician
A township official used public comment to announce opioid settlement funding for a school-based mental health clinician. Later in the meeting, the Superintendent thanked the township for backing the position, tying a one-time public comment moment to a concrete new support inside the schools.
That announcement stood out in a meeting otherwise filled with policy questions and procedural concerns. Public comments raised issues about policy updates, a culturally responsive practices contract, and employee agenda items with redacted names. The clinician funding was one of the few items that pointed directly to a new service residents could expect to see.
The discussion did not include more detail on when the clinician will start or how the role will be structured. What the meeting did make clear is that Cherry Hill plans to use settlement money for school mental health support, with township and district leaders publicly aligned on that step.
Superintendent defends back-to-school night rules
The Superintendent said SEPTA was not permitted to attend back-to-school nights because the district wants those events centered on classroom teachers and run consistently across schools. He said CPAG was added this year, said he did not understand friction between the groups, and said he remains open to continued communication.
Superintendent defended SEPTA exclusion from back-to-school nights, affecting parent-group access and school engagement districtwide.
District links absences to weaker outcomes
School staff said chronic absenteeism means missing 10 school days and showed lower grades, more course failures, and more discipline involvement among affected students. They said MTSS teams are using school-by-school and student-by-student interventions, with family outreach and outside partnerships to address barriers early.
Staff presented chronic absenteeism data and interventions tied to grades, discipline, and student success.
Board pushes turnout for funding forum
Board members said they will soon vote on annual goals and urged residents to attend the October 5 fair funding forum at Camden County College. They said the state is considering changes to the school funding formula and argued Cherry Hill needs a strong public presence in that process.
Board promoted Oct. 5 fair-funding forum where residents can testify on New Jersey school funding.
Board approves most personnel items
The board approved personnel items 14.1 through 14.5 and 14.8 through 14.11 in a unanimous vote. Items 14.6 and 14.7 were held from the consent agenda, and no public discussion was recorded on the items that moved forward.
Board approved multiple personnel items, though two were held, with no discussion of staffing impacts.
- Cherry Hill Township Board of Education. During the first public comment period, a township official announced opioid settlement funding for a school-based mental health clinician. Other speakers raised concerns about agenda item 16.2 policy updates, asked about a contract for culturally responsive practices (13.3), and questioned why employee items 14.6 and 14.7 no longer listed names.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Cherry Hill Township had 7 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEStudent Representative Reports: Cherry Hill High School West and Cherry Hill High School East. Student representatives from Cherry Hill High School West and East reported on academics, testing, college planning, activities, athletics, arts, and school events. Both highlighted SAT dates, college visits, club activity fairs, sports updates, and performing arts schedules.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Business/Finance Items (13.2–13.7) and Donation Acknowledgment. The board approved business agenda items 13.2 through 13.7. During discussion, a donation was highlighted: the Sharp PTA donated 80 folding chairs to Sharp Elementary School. The motion carried unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Governance/Policy Item 16.2 (Policy/Regulation/Bylaw Updates). The board approved governance agenda item 16.2. A board member noted a board member had obtained the Carol E. Larson Master Board Certification. No further discussion was recorded. The motion carried unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Curriculum & Instruction Items (12.1–12.3). The board approved Curriculum & Instruction agenda items 12.1 through 12.3 as presented. No questions or discussion were recorded. The motion carried unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEApproval of Special Services Items (15.2–15.4). The board approved special services agenda items 15.2 through 15.4 as presented. No questions or discussion were recorded. The motion carried unanimously.
- GOVERNANCEBoard Member Activity Reports: Back-to-School Nights. Board members reported attending multiple back-to-school nights across the district, describing strong family turnout, positive energy, and appreciation for staff. Members cited visits to several elementary schools, middle school grade-level nights, and both high schools, with comments on new facilities such as security vestibules and auditorium/wing navigation challenges.
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