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Superintendent's Monthly Newsletter
Fall 2023
Let's Talk-a-Latte: Registration is open!
Please join me for my next Talk-a-Latte Session on Wednesday, November 29. The topics will include preschool and a close look at curriculum. The session will be held at J.P. Case Middle School in the library from 6-7:30 p.m. To register, click here.
In September, I met with parents at Barley Sheaf School to provide updates on safety and security. More are planned in each building throughout the year. These sessions are designed to have an open dialogue with parents, staff, students, and community members about issues that are important and on-the-minds of Flemington-Raritan residents.
Please check the schedule below and click this link to sign up to attend:
- November 29 - Teaching & Learning: A Close Look at Preschool and Our Curriculum - J.P. Case Library
- January 31 - STEM Symposium - Francis A. Desmares STEM Lab
- February 28 - Mental Health Support for Students - Reading-Fleming Cafeteria - TIME CHANGE: This session will begin at 6:30 p.m.
- April 10 - Topic to be announced - Robert Hunter Cafeteria
- May 15 - Topic to be announced - Copper Hill Library
Call to Action: Rigorous Learning Ad Hoc Committee Members Needed
GOAL 1: Academic Excellence for All, Student Learning -- The District will provide a comprehensive and rigorous educational experience that connects and expands students’ knowledge while engaging and empowering all learners to synthesize and apply their skills and understandings in meaningful ways.
GOAL 2: Social-Emotional Health, including Mental Health Supports -- Strengthen our multi-tiered system of support within the district to target the social, emotional, and mental health needs of students.
GOAL 3: Unified Community Engagements and Outreach -- The district will create opportunities to foster unity between the community and the school district in order to strengthen partnerships and develop a shared responsibility for student success.
GOAL 4: Staff Recruitment & Retention -- Create an enticing and competitive work environment to attract and retain high-quality candidates representative of students’ diverse backgrounds in the Flemington Raritan Regional School District community.
GOAL 5: Finance and Facilities/Security -- Ensure the finance and facilities needs are budgeted to upkeep and meet the needs of the growing district.
Empathy, Support & Protection: Our Parents Are Our Partners
Recently, the NJ Commissioner of Education, Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan shared that there has been an increase in conflict arising in schools due to the tragic events taking place in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. State reports indicate that students are facing harassment at schools based on cultural or religious affiliation, including incidents involving racist and derogatory remarks, online bullying, and other harmful or threatening behaviors.
In Flemington-Raritan, we strive to create an environment where every individual is not only valued but also protected. Our commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and safety is unwavering. Our schools are more than just centers for academic learning; they are safe havens for our children's emotional and psychological well-being. Our schools provide a place for all of us to work and grow as educators, a place where we feel valued and safe.
In light of the current global situation, it is vital that we reiterate our commitment to nurturing a supportive and inclusive educational atmosphere. Here in the Flemington-Raritan School District, students, staff, and faculty can discuss fears, questions, and concerns in a constructive and empathetic manner. It is only through open dialogue that we can help our students and ourselves process emotions and develop a better understanding of our world.
By fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and support, we can help our children navigate the complexities of the world. Together, we can ensure that every individual in our school community is valued and protected. With parents as our partners, it is vital that we continue to foster a community of respect, empathy, and understanding within our schools and with one another.
Please reach out to your school’s guidance counselors if you need support in conversations within your family. All of our schools have exceptional counselors who can provide support systems for students who may be struggling with anxiety or trauma related to world events. Together, we are a strong and united team.
Preschool Survey Responses: Thank you for your feedback!
QSAC Review
A District Performance Review Committee made up of administrators, teachers and district representatives came together last week to review evidence gathered for indicators of each component. The review committee self-assessed our District's NJQSAC documents and materials and scored the District in each category. The scores must be presented to and approved by the Board of Education to be submitted to the state. Later this year, representatives of the state through the Hunter County Education Office will visit our district to complete the NJQSAC audit. I am grateful to the committee for their time in reviewing the work that was gathered by many staff members working in various departments across the district. Well done!
Raptor Reminder for Visitors
As shared with parents in my September 15 letter and August 28 letter, the district uses the Raptor Visitor Management System to strengthen safety procedures. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times; the Raptor system assists us in doing that. The Raptor system screens visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provides us with a safer environment for our students and staff.
Staff Challenges in Education
Staffing challenges in education continue to be significant. Read about this here and here. In Flemington-Raritan Regional School District, staffing shortages are reflected in multiple areas, especially in special education and science. Our district has openings in multiple positions. Among the shortages that have been reported in the local and national news, we’d like to add substitute teachers to the list. We are in desperate need for substitute teachers at all schools. Below are the requirements for obtaining substitute certification:
- Completion of 30 semester-hour credits;
- Applicant must be at least 18 years of age;
- Credential is valid for five (5) years from the date of issuance.
Now is an opportune time to apply for substitute certification. All certification and credentialing fees are waived for the period beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024 due to state budget and legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy. Learn more here: Fee Holiday Process; https://www.nj.gov/education/certification/.
The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District uses a program called Frontline/Applitrack for online applications. To apply to be a substitute, click here. To learn even more about substitute certification, please visit the New Jersey Department of Education’s website and learn How to apply for a substitute credential. All substitute credential applicants must now initiate their applications online through the New Jersey Teacher Certification Information System (TCIS).
Those that are interested can also contact Allison Pelletier at allison.pelletier@frsd.us.
Emergency Communications: The LENS System
Eastern DataComm, a safety and communications solution for schools, is a fully automated communication system that provides communication in the event of an emergency, such as a lockdown or building evacuation. Through the 2018 referendum, the district purchased a lockdown emergency notification system (LENS). The LENS technology system allows us to immediately alert everyone on and off school grounds of a lockdown active threat or other emergency events. How quickly we respond to an incident or active threat is what saves lives.
The LENS system is a communication system in all schools with the ability to provide emergency notification through a variety of systems. Our installed system notifies everyone in the vicinity with an emergency call to desk phones and dedicated cell phones, emergency emails, and text messages. The system integrates with our existing school and office communication systems and can scale with our facilities as we continue to grow.
You may have noticed on the perimeter of the entrances and exits to each school a metal pole with solar panels on the top. The Eastern Datacomm Lens system also includes emergency strobe lights that are installed on metal poles at the entrances off the main road turning onto the school property, alerting, for example, the school bus drivers and parents not to turn into the school property because an emergency is taking place. Also installed as part of the DataComm system are horns at the back of ballfields that are set back on the school property so that the students and staff can hear any emergency announcements taking place.
Facility Rentals: Space is available
Enrollment Update
Here's how our District's student enrollment has changed since the start of the school year:
- Barley Sheaf School: 362, down 5 students
- Copper Hill School: 606, up 13 students
- Robert Hunter School: 392, down 5 students
- Francis A Desmares School: 421, up 12 students
- Reading Fleming Intermediate School: 705, up 9 students
- J.P. Case Middle School: 684 up 3 students
- Out of District: 19, no change
Total Students: 3,189 (up 27 students)
Thank you, Barley Sheaf Kindergarteners, for my fun Superintendent Lunch Bunch in October!
Dr. Kari McGann
Flemington-Raritan Regional School District
Email: kari.mcgann@frsd.us
Website: www.frsd.k12.nj.us
Location: 50 Court Street, Flemington, NJ, USA
Phone: (908) 284-7561
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flemrarschools/
Twitter: @karimcgann