Cherry Hill Township Board of Education reviews school renovations
One high school auditorium has a January 1 reopening target, while playground, locker room and security entrance work continues across the district.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — construction update, superintendent closing comments, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The district estimates another three to four years of bond construction, with more bids and summer projects still ahead.
New classrooms are open, but construction continues across the district. The Cherry Hill Township Board of Education heard an update on playgrounds, security entrances, locker rooms and auditoriums. At two elementary schools, site work was complete except for handrails; some schools still had temporary wooden rails. One playground had opened but was waiting for swings and a poured surface. Another was slated for completion October 16, with demolition begun and equipment delivery pending.
At one high school, the administrative parking lot was finished, while replacement of 60 linear feet of storm pipe behind the building was still underway at the time of the update. The district had targeted September 30 for that work. Its auditorium had a January 1 reopening target, with stage rigging on-site. At the other high school, air conditioning was running, and crews were finishing controls and lower-level locker rooms. The district expected the lower area to be ready October 5, with further work scheduled through October 30. Three classrooms damaged by summer flooding at a middle school reopened during the second week of school.
The bond work is in its fourth summer since the December 2022 vote, with an estimated three to four years remaining. Next are bids for more elementary security entrances and high school media centers, along with interior and HVAC work. The district plans to begin demolishing and rebuilding a wing at one high school next summer. The other high school's auditorium is scheduled to close in April, with a January 2028 return target. The Board of Education discussed an October 8 building tour.
Superintendent Closing Comments: Back-to-School Night Participation Policy and Response to Public Comments
In closing comments to the Cherry Hill Township Board of Education, the superintendent said SEPTA, the local special-education parent-teacher association, was not permitted to attend back-to-school nights. CPAG was added to the events this year. He said the main purpose is to let families meet classroom teachers and hear directly from them.
The superintendent said the district still wants to offer families resources at those events, but in an organized way. He tied that approach to a broader effort to make practices consistent across schools rather than let each school set its own course. He cited common language and practices, including MTSS, as part of that effort.
He said he did not understand friction between CPAG and SEPTA, which he described as groups trying to serve the community. He said he meets monthly with both parent groups and remains open to communication. Responding to public comments, he said he cares about students and the community after nearly 20 years in the district.
Board of Education discusses funding forum and goals
The Cherry Hill Township Board of Education discussed an October 5 public forum on proposed changes to state school funding and plans to vote on goals developed at its retreat. The forum begins at 6 PM; speakers get two minutes, and written testimony and virtual forums are available.
Families can weigh in on funding changes that could affect district resources and follow the Board of Education's goals.
Board of Education reviews attendance and grades
The Cherry Hill Township Board of Education heard how district staff are using individualized support teams to address chronic absenteeism, defined by the state as missing 10 school days while enrolled. In district data, chronically absent secondary students averaged an 80.6 course grade, compared with 87.0 for students who were not chronically absent.
Attendance teams are looking for barriers early, before missed school days add up to lost instruction.
Board of Education hears phone policy update
The Cherry Hill Township Board of Education heard the superintendent thank township leaders for funding a student mental health clinician with opioid settlement resources. He called implementation of the new cell phone policy a “truly non-issue” and thanked students for cooperating.
The clinician adds mental health support, while the policy update tells families how the school year has started.
Board of Education approves business items, acknowledges chairs
The Cherry Hill Township Board of Education unanimously approved business items 13.2 through 13.7 and acknowledged a parent-teacher association's donation of 80 folding chairs to an elementary school. The association purchased the chairs with donated funds.
The donation gives an elementary school 80 more chairs, purchased with funds raised outside the district.
- 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.
- GOVERNANCEFirst Public Comment Period (Pre-Action Items): Opioid Settlement-Funded School Clinician; Policy Update Concerns; Culturally Responsive Practices Contract; Agenda Clarifications. 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.
- 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 Personnel Items (14.1–14.5 and 14.8–14.11); Items 14.6–14.7 Held. The board approved personnel agenda items 14.1 through 14.5 and 14.8 through 14.11. Agenda items 14.6 and 14.7 were held from the consent agenda. No discussion was recorded on the approved items. 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 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.
- 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.
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