Tiger Talk
Welcome to Tiger Talk! This newsletter is intended to keep our community informed of important information and upcoming events in our schools. Highlights of this month's issue include the 2023-2024 calendar update, strategic planning, and the 2024-2025 Approved Budget.
Dr. Nicholas A. Diaz, Superintendent
Union Township Schools
The 2024-25 Budget was approved at the April Board of Education meeting. To view the slides from the meeting, please click here.
In response to the power outage incident that resulted in an instructional day not being counted, the 2023-2024 calendar underwent revisions during the April Board Meeting. These updates were made to adjust the student days from 182 to 181, ensuring that the last day of school remains consistent. As a result, the last day of school remains scheduled for June 10th. Click here to view the calendar.
We are pleased to provide an update on our strategic planning efforts. The process began with the formation of a committee comprising Board of Education members and administrators. We designed surveys to capture insights from students, staff, parents and community members. Additionally, two in-person sessions were held to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis and formulate themes, goals, and activities to enhance our strategic framework.
We have drafted a three-year strategic plan, entitled "The Bridge to Brilliance". A draft action plan outlining the identified themes, goals, objectives, and primary activities has been developed. The committee is in the final stages of reviewing this plan, and we anticipate presenting "The Bridge to Brilliance" at the May 28th Board Meeting for approval. Thank you to Mr. Kokoszka, Mr. Malone, Mrs. Piontek, Dr. Robitaille, and the leadership team for their invaluable insight and support.
Union, Franklin, and Bethlehem have received a grant from the Department of Community Affairs under the School Regionalization Efficiency Program to assess forming a PK-8 regional district. The study, led by Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, includes site visits and data collection to explore establishing either a Union/Franklin or a Union/Franklin/Bethlehem PK-8 district, and examining send-receive relationships for middle school students between the districts. A draft of the report is expected by the end of June. Additionally, should the study favor a merger, each district must pass a resolution to request a referendum from the Acting Commissioner of Education. Special elections could be held on designated dates, with the earliest possible in 2024, allowing for a potential operational start of a new district by July 1, 2025.
All meetings are held in the Union Township Elementary School Library, located at 149 Perryville Road, Hampton, NJ, and begin at 6:45 pm unless otherwise noted. Meetings are open to the public and formal action may/will be taken at all meetings. The Board reserves the right to go into Closed Executive Session during any/all of the above meetings.
- Tuesday , May 28, 2024
- Monday, June 24, 2024