[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6668896,"mediaKeyId","2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9","parentId",2216070,"title","Board approves personnel, finance, curriculum and policy items; CEF donates $47,000 to CMS library project","audioSeconds",115,"startMs",2067000,"endMs",2182000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9&start=2067&end=2182","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9/thumbnail_2067000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668896/New-Jersey/Board-approves-personnel-finance-curriculum-and-policy-items-CEF-donates-47000-to-CMS-library-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668896-3574fd386df5bc4389899af503dd39db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135668&Signature=F7yeZEmpKZo1OD-t3kDcZ1R4ZpsaXhF0QK7Gsh3KV4kDem4KzqXqMsUubFq8pep1OymYWw2fiwJUASOJQdKoswaPAgSssmZ~l58k7pQdeReRMs8gPBGSZs8fjohOOirHEPm7dptUxLsJW8yamBMpDZOEAesgRWgZyaSU9EbnoLsAVlRJMgIMV0WJnd2FIn3Letm7xJrxOMGrhGZ3iqudNrDBt9Kj~PDAYGBGvGXV9sgoCSpM9OZ1IeXuK6qIvsB5Sj8Xybde3XU-Ax19YYZydlNUopJyfznXfT4Y8DjJrJoCNlI9UfU69ig8NzGIsV9Ccj8RloF6AzXyYj4BDZ0QRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School District of the Chathams","date","2025-02-04T02:14:10.563Z","article","At its regular meeting, the School District of the Chathams Board of Education approved multiple agenda items across personnel, finance, curriculum and policy.

Personnel: The board approved agenda items A1–A18 and addendum modifications, including the special personnel item A2 appointing Dr. Emily Sortino as superintendent effective July 1, 2025. The personnel package passed 7-0.

Finance and donations: The board approved finance and facilities items B1 through B12 by recorded vote (7-0). During the finance discussion the board noted two donations: $47,000 from the Chatham Education Foundation (CEF) to provide partial funding for the implementation of Innovative Learning Space 1 and 2 at the CMS library media center, and a $500 donation from Miss Chen for the ESL program. The transcript indicates subsequent items (B13–B15) generated abstentions on some members; the board recorded B1–B12 as passed.

Curriculum: Curriculum items C1–C4 were approved by the board (vote recorded 7-0).

Policy: Policy item D1 was approved (vote recorded 7-0).

Other: The board approved minutes from the January 13 regular and executive sessions; the minutes motion passed and the agenda moved forward. No executive session occurred at the end of this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Chatham BOE 02/03/25","oneSentenceSummary","The School District of the Chathams Board of Education approved personnel, finance, curriculum and policy items at its meeting; the personnel agenda included the appointment of Dr. Emily Sortino as superintendent.","taxTitle","School District of the Chathams, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",65205,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6668900,"Chatham parents urge retention of ISL program as board cites compliance and liability concerns",1008,1585000,2593000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9&start=1585&end=2593","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9/thumbnail_1585000.jpg","/articles/6668900/New-Jersey/Chatham-parents-urge-retention-of-ISL-program-as-board-cites-compliance-and-liability-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668900-0249d903fae6ef4c4c89ce6247603118/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135668&Signature=TEeAtqzpgBv8K~UpYKR2Db3puhGjVBSx7nYnOt4mD6ttwAKcawNh9f~uIrhYzgrLSEA2E6kuMYUkEwVqQCrav1WEPwFRvab50Csbvf5EBMxgymrbm5Pzmbu7WjKjEoWasN7d5qM5vnN2T3dH690mGXfVb32oxstagDb-IJU0YUvKaCo4jf7Y8mUKNXbfo9TbimUWq4h5qrIwXuYKnK5gebPsFNLiBfHbeZOkxS5E7srSyeWYxiD3ZbUH2ZuO6s2HO98RdUgMXEuoz2jvSDhjU1o0lLdtEy~3TbJhpt54g8nQ3Sw-83JL6gQ3MgRf-gv89-lLBWszlX3j6nLanACt9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents, students and community members urged the School District of the Chathams Board of Education to retain the district’s Individual Student Learning (ISL) exemption that allows some students to substitute a study hall for physical education while participating in outside athletic or demanding extracurricular programs.

During two public-comment periods, multiple speakers said ISL enables students with heavy external commitments — such as dance or travel athletics — to balance academics and outside training without losing classes. Stephanie Lazarus, a parent of seventh- and ninth-grade students, asked the board for “more time as a community alongside the board to discuss this important topic” and warned that removing ISL would force some students “to drop another class from their schedule” or take summer classes. Chad Smith, a township resident and parent, said the program “affords the opportunity for students to enrich themselves, both academically and athletically.”

Board members and administrators said concerns prompting reconsideration of ISL go beyond recordkeeping. In a statement to the meeting, a board member said the original exemption and physical-education accommodations were created for a small cohort but the cohort “has grown into something much, much larger,” creating management challenges. The board member also highlighted that many programs linked to ISL are run by non-district advisors who are not employees and therefore do not receive the district’s required annual training on harassment, intimidation, bullying and other mandatory topics; the board said the district has no notification requirement when non-employee advisors change.

The board emphasized the district is concerned about supervision, training and liability when relying on non-employees to verify attendance or supervision for students in out-of-school activities. The board indicated the curriculum committee and high school administration will continue to examine options and compliance mechanisms; no formal policy change or vote to eliminate ISL was recorded at the meeting.

Speakers suggested possible fixes that would keep ISL while increasing accountability, such as stricter attestation requirements and shifting the burden of proof to students and parents. The board asked for continued committee-level discussion and did not adopt an immediate change to ISL during this meeting.","Parents, students and others asked the School District of the Chathams Board of Education to keep the Individual Student Learning (ISL) exemption for physical education. Board members and administration said compliance and supervision by non-employees are the main concerns and the curriculum committee will continue discussions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6668903,"School District of the Chathams names Dr. Emily Sortino superintendent, effective July 1, 2025",1711,385000,2096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9&start=385&end=2096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2216070-1d644b6a61ee74419e7dea03f933ada9/thumbnail_385000.jpg","/articles/6668903/New-Jersey/School-District-of-the-Chathams-names-Dr-Emily-Sortino-superintendent-effective-July-1-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668903-67ae5b9b69ec836c8db4c30dd3f4f1ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135668&Signature=oiTTRwqKN-J8OHZgjS8MP6JHlm8n8ZnurwqrD4Fu87f9hnPoe99GBWjctV6Jy1LelARltennSUnbUUBa3it52GreA7dwZDXASyo5cjGNhSZoysTx9DjQPImqaFBz2wf9~qlRIzv621dnEW4JySGF8YXvffCDCdQJZJe0GB-HEOQslKxEiVRfc5UoKUD8VKQxkE5RK8DGt0sXQB9W3XOT~7ZO-1a61J907PDCB6N7fVpNq-a7hLj39~9gY8kXYWZdktl9~5NWy1yufre4rx9d5X7L3g~vYQQItcq1W-AVoGwG-0yrHCbET4OqvD5JYmjoIUvUQv6cWo~z3s4nk9N7hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School District of the Chathams Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Emily Sortino as the district’s next superintendent effective July 1, 2025.

Board members approved personnel agenda items, including the special personnel item naming Dr. Sortino, during the board’s regular meeting. The vote on the personnel agenda items and the addendum passed 7-0, with several board members offering public endorsements for Sortino before the vote.

Board members and staff emphasized Sortino’s district experience during the meeting. In remarks introducing the appointment, a board representative said the district was “thrilled to recommend Doctor Emily Sortino as Superintendent of Schools for the School District of the Chathams effective 07/01/2025.” The board cited Sortino’s four years as assistant superintendent in Chatham and prior roles as a special-education teacher, a middle school principal in Demorest, an elementary principal in Livingston and director of secondary special education.

In brief remarks to the board, Dr. Sortino thanked trustees, district staff and her family and said she looked forward to “partnering with all of you to continue to move the district forward on its continued path of success.” Several staff members and parents spoke during public comment in favor of the appointment, pointing to Sortino’s work on programs including the district’s 18-to-21 program, the Aspire program, preschool expansion and the acquisition of a bus for Student Support Services. Kate DeSantis, supervisor of Student Support Services, said Sortino is “incredibly smart, forward thinking, and always puts the best interest of staff and students first.”

Outgoing Superintendent Dr. LaSouza addressed the board and audience, congratulated Sortino and said he would help with a transition so the district will be in “good hands.” The board did not specify further transitional steps or a formal transition timeline beyond the stated July 1 effective date.","The Board of Education approved the appointment of Dr. Emily Sortino as superintendent effective July 1, 2025. Board members, staff and members of the public offered endorsements; the vote on personnel items passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves personnel, finance, curriculum and policy items; CEF donates $47,000 to CMS library project

Chatham parents urge retention of ISL program as board cites compliance and liability concerns

School District of the Chathams names Dr. Emily Sortino superintendent, effective July 1, 2025