Board of Education reviews high school grades and AP growth
A high school presentation traced changes in grades, course access and scheduling, including 501 first-round waiver requests and 425 approvals.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — board reviews millburn high school grading, explore budget reflects possible district expansion, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The principal said students can reach advanced courses through more than one pathway, while the high school continues to review prerequisites and placement.
More students are taking AP exams at the high school. The Board of Education heard a presentation on grades, course access and assessment that reported 774 students took 2,494 AP exams last year. In 2020, 513 students took 1,342 exams. The principal said 87% of the more recent exams received scores of 4 or 5. He reported generally little year-to-year change in final grade distributions, though math and science differed from English and social studies.
The presentation examined how students get into courses, not just how they perform once there. In the first round of scheduling waivers, students submitted 501 requests and received 425 approvals; a second round brought 235 requests and 205 approvals. Students in grades 10–12 could submit multiple waivers, while rising ninth graders could submit one. The principal said the school is considering changes to that limit as it refines scheduling and coordinates teacher recommendations with the eighth-grade team. Board of Education members asked about prerequisites, staffing and space as AP participation grows.
The high school offered five dual-enrollment courses with 142 students registered. Each course carries three college credits, for a possible 15 credits across the current offerings. The principal said another proposed course could raise that total to 18, and two more courses were under discussion. For 2026–2027, he outlined plans to rename accelerated courses as honors courses, strengthen attendance rules and continue work on academic integrity. The presentation will be posted online for community review, with similar updates expected at midyear.
Explore Budget Reflects Possible District Expansion and Staffing Changes
The Explore Millburn-Short Hills board approved a preliminary 2027 budget while awaiting decisions that could change the district’s boundaries and staffing. Richard Wasserman said Township Committee discussions had left several questions unresolved, including whether the district would expand. The preliminary budget assumes larger boundaries and includes a $90,000 executive director line, with half the cost expected from the town and half from the district assessment.
The Explore Millburn-Short Hills board set sponsorship revenue at $20,000. During the discussion, members said sponsorships had been closer to $40,000 and stood at $34,000 for the year to date, but chose the lower estimate because future support was uncertain. They reviewed increases in non-staff costs, including audit services, technology and general operations. The projected assessment increase was described as marginal and remains subject to updated property-value information.
The vote advances the preliminary budget, not the final version. The Explore Millburn-Short Hills board scheduled its final reading for October 22. By then, decisions about district boundaries and the executive director’s role could give members a clearer basis for the figures.
Resident seeks Board of Education demographic update
A resident asked the Board of Education for a public presentation on demographic studies mentioned at its previous meeting. The resident also thanked the district for a book recommendation and described a town ceremony honoring people who died from illnesses linked to contaminated air following 9/11.
A presentation could explain demographic findings that the resident said had been raised at the previous meeting.
Board of Education reviews hiring and calendars
The Board of Education heard a Governance Committee report on hiring a permanent business administrator and board secretary, including a draft recruitment timeline. The report covered educational technology, strategic-plan outreach, proposed 2027 meeting dates and academic calendars through 2030; the Board of Education had not yet settled those dates.
The hiring timeline and calendar work will shape district administration and the dates families plan around.
Explore board plans fall and winter events
The Explore Millburn-Short Hills board heard plans for Halloween on October 30, a food tour on November 15 and Winter Villages on December 11–12. Staff discussed business participation, sponsorships and event timing, with Sunday reserved as a rain date for Winter Villages.
The dates give families and downtown businesses time to plan for three upcoming events.
Explore board advances November food tour
The Explore Millburn-Short Hills board agreed to pursue a three-hour walking food tour on November 15, with at least four stops and local history along the route. Members discussed a $500 stipend or subsidy to lower ticket prices; the tour operator said tickets generally cost about $90–$95 per person.
The proposed subsidy could make the tour less expensive while bringing participants to downtown food businesses.
- Millburn Township Board of Education. A resident urged the Board to review a filed legal complaint regarding the long-term tax exemption granted for the Essex Street development, raising Open Public Meetings Act notice and due process concerns and questioning the township’s authority and financial impacts, and asked the Board to review within 35 days.
- Millburn Township Board of Education. Community members associated with Rocktoberfest promoted the upcoming event, described expanded programming, emphasized its fundraising importance, and asked for volunteers and donations, while thanking board members and others for support and specific contributions.
- Millburn Special Improvement District (Explore Millburn-Short Hills). A business owner praised Explore’s proactive marketing assistance and responsiveness. The commenter also complained about downtown cleanliness, weeds, and construction cones left in front of a business for about a month, and asked for accountability regarding whether the town or another party is responsible for cleanup and removal.
- Millburn Special Improvement District (Explore Millburn-Short Hills). A public commenter raised issues related to ongoing litigation, requested distribution of a complaint and a hearing transcript, and asked for clarity on future meeting locations and agenda posting. The commenter also expressed concern about township committee proposals affecting the district’s structure and assessments.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Millburn had 24 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment: Litigation Materials, Meeting Location/Agenda Posting, and Concerns About Township Committee Structural Changes. A public commenter raised issues related to ongoing litigation, requested distribution of a complaint and a hearing transcript, and asked for clarity on future meeting locations and agenda posting. The commenter also expressed concern about township committee proposals affecting the district’s structure and assessments.
- GOVERNANCELegal Counsel Report: Bear Properties Matter and Other Litigation. Counsel reported on oral argument held August 21 in the Bear Properties case, stating the argument went well and that a final decision was pending. Counsel also noted new lawsuits filed by a party named Feld but did not provide analysis in public session.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment: Praise for 'Marketing 101' Support and Complaints About Downtown Cleanliness/Cones/Weeds. A business owner praised Explore’s proactive marketing assistance and responsiveness. The commenter also complained about downtown cleanliness, weeds, and construction cones left in front of a business for about a month, and asked for accountability regarding whether the town or another party is responsible for cleanup and removal.
- GOVERNANCERocktoberfest Promoted as September 26 Event at Taylor Park. Community members promoted Rocktoberfest, describing expanded programming and asking for volunteers and donations to support the event. The superintendent also announced the September 26 event at Taylor Park as part of the start-of-school report.
- GOVERNANCEPaper Mill Playhouse Grant Request Discussion ($1,875) and Proposed Deliverables. The board revisited a Paper Mill Playhouse request for a $1,875 grant and discussed conditions for partnership, including QR code handouts directing patrons to district businesses and a press release acknowledging Explore. The board emphasized ensuring local business representation and measurable marketing value.
- GOVERNANCEFinancial Report and Reimbursements (as of August 31 / September 14). Staff reported bank balances and pending reimbursements from the township related to World Cup expenses and street cleaning. The board discussed street cleaning/weeding responsibilities, vendor performance issues, and the status of payments and reimbursements.
- GOVERNANCEEssex County Public Art Grant: Postcard Mural Maintenance Proposal. The board discussed using a $7,500 Essex County grant for public art to preserve and maintain the 'postcard' mural on a downtown building, including sealing/glazing and potential touch-ups. Members emphasized the need to coordinate with the building’s new owner and to document permissions in writing.
- GOVERNANCEOld Business: Reminder of Policy Expanding Opportunity for Outside-School Organized Competitions/Extracurricular Activities. In old business, a board member highlighted a recently adopted policy expanding opportunities for outside-school organized competitions and extracurricular activities and encouraged parent and student awareness and participation, especially at the middle school level.
- GOVERNANCENegotiations Committee Update. The Board provided a brief negotiations committee update, stating the committee met on August 24 and September 11 to begin preparing for upcoming MEA contract negotiations, with limited details shared.
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