[{"_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",6630600,"mediaKeyId","2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f","parentId",2690527,"title","District reports SSDS incidents for period 1; most investigations not founded, officials say","audioSeconds",153,"startMs",2845000,"endMs",2998000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f&start=2845&end=2998","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f/thumbnail_2845000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6630600/New-Jersey/District-reports-SSDS-incidents-for-period-1-most-investigations-not-founded-officials-say","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630600-7867a760dc4f793c5264999179b035f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150941&Signature=hKO1FrfF5PKN~vhL-eRl9fVs26i10QoXDZFl8zfIrMC0u1z4w7mwoPtsmZfAICCTBK-zb6tjZ0Uquf-DDhYVRp9DxpWPY36ZMp767vXZ2bhBRf1HrKpwZ-QdFWo8n5morKvzYRiIdE6~Z3ZMdi5aJD-uLc~nrtXx4t3VJhLmQjq4GB8Nmkefy6Rxsgg6nrjWMvJZ9J4cIXOhtiH1Mjyv5FpehKr-amW7dMYHL-UdwoJczJGIU7NbwiQQO1iy3OBp-IsjCTIy~uO4DknQOYfklaLm3ew6aC0bZbBKQH09x5NZhlJ-GwmfzdjB8ERI7D55rZEARnMsXvkgf6y6Ktb7Gg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery Township School District","date","2025-03-19T16:12:58.727Z","article","Superintendent Mary McLaughlin and counseling staff presented the district’s Student Safety Data System (SSDS) report for report period 1 (September–December 2024) during the March 18 board meeting, and staff also summarized harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) investigations, trainings and programs.

The SSDS summary the district provided showed the following reported incidents in period 1: Montgomery High School — 19 total incidents (majority listed as HIB alleged, with some fighting and substances); Upper Middle School — 23 incidents (most categorized as HIB alleged and physical altercations); Lower Middle School — 27 incidents (majority HIB alleged); Village Elementary School — 8 incidents (all listed as HIB alleged); Orchard Hill Elementary School — 2 incidents (both HIB alleged). The superintendent said those totals complete the period‑1 filing.

District staff then gave an overview of investigations for period 1. Orchard Hill had five investigations; the district said none were founded. The district noted a policy change in November that added a “preliminary determination” column to investigation records; staff said this was used when reported incidents did not meet threshold criteria. Lower Middle School recorded 21 reported incidents with one founded investigation and two rejected investigations, the district said.

Corey Delgado (identified earlier in the meeting as Director of School Counseling and Student Wellness) presented HIB-related trainings and recognized guidance counselors as specialists who work on these sensitive issues. Delgado emphasized mandatory reporting and the district’s obligation to submit SSDS data to the New Jersey Department of Education.

Board members and administrators discussed programs the district delivers to students for prevention and intervention, and Delgado noted staff-provided training earlier in the year about nuances of the law. The district said it will continue to report investigation results and provide program and training updates to the board.

No specific disciplinary details for individual cases were disclosed at the public meeting, consistent with student-privacy and confidentiality rules.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 3-18-25","oneSentenceSummary","Montgomery Township School District presented its Student Safety Data System report for period 1 (Sept.–Dec. 2024) on March 18, listing incident counts at each school and reporting that most HIB investigations in that period were not founded.","taxTitle","Montgomery Township School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",64102,"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},6630604,"Parents and students urge Montgomery board to restore accelerated middle-school math pathways",3212,6138000,9350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f&start=6138&end=9350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f/thumbnail_6138000.jpg","/articles/6630604/New-Jersey/Parents-and-students-urge-Montgomery-board-to-restore-accelerated-middle-school-math-pathways","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630604-d026deabb3544d8f2bb9b6dcd82eed50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150941&Signature=hpwvjcKuS8fgGH-i-~U9bUh62f5TDY6~EwsaBHhUkSxbmUyZ96qNCleOhFnRE78V2SEiZ2d47UUt5QP-ScDGSE6eZz2CpRVrRHdlykZVCbnUsaMIlO6uYdFkFfUQPSBvLieBftG-l8PxaZ5JO9poznQXtPY7LPZe-QvhkrS1hSzsaa9YKjX2Mku9j6vCp9vQX~QsX1iVB5~b2ONSDmOoXWBesoZCTJ21QRVTdMKE~hE9MOnT-g1JOSqml84b6NF8Nh0n7wibDHaspvVtyuOiSw92kTvgUU0PDG9WJkAzyqnzndIjrarYaNS5wXh400bJTS9u9Fap0FQEzvN91~PTXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of parents, students and educators used the March 18 Montgomery Township Board of Education meeting to press the district to restore accelerated middle-school math pathways and to request clearer evidence that the recent math-program changes will preserve advanced-course access at the high school.

Multiple students and parents described personal experience in the district’s former accelerated pathway — a multi-year sequence that placed qualifying students into pre-algebra and algebra earlier than the standard track so they could reach Algebra II and advanced calculus in high school. Students said the pathway supports participation in math competitions and deepens problem-solving skills; a Rutgers business-school director who spoke to the board said colleges increasingly expect applicants to have advanced quantitative preparation.

“I would like to do pre-algebra in fifth grade…please, please do not be unfair to me,” said a fourth-grade student, who spoke during the public-comment period. Other students and parents described state competition placements and urged the board to ensure equitable access to acceleration rather than relying on expensive summer programs that create an equity gap.

Board and committee discussion: the district’s ACI (Administration/Curriculum and Instruction) committee presented background material to trustees earlier, and the director of curriculum cited multiple data points — including developmental readiness and student achievement data — as drivers for recent course-sequence adjustments. District presenters said the revised middle-school pathways were intended to maintain a pathway toward AP Calculus BC for high-achieving students who follow a particular sequence.

Several trustees and committee members asked for additional analyses before the board takes any policy action. One board member requested percentile-growth analysis across cohorts (for example, separate trend lines for the top and middle percentiles), and trustees asked the administration to provide clearer elementary-level data on differentiation and early identification. The ACI chair and the curriculum lead agreed to continue the discussion in committee and to present further detail at future meetings.

No formal vote or policy change occurred at the March 18 meeting. Trustees directed staff to bring more data to the ACI committee, including elementary-level evidence of differentiation and a clearer mapping of how middle-school pathways feed into high-school AP opportunities.

Why it matters: changes to middle-school math sequencing affect students seeking acceleration in STEM pathways, may change demand for summer remediation or acceleration courses, and can shape long-term enrollment in AP-level math courses that university admissions and STEM programs consider in selection and placement.

What the board will do next: the ACI committee will continue the analysis and present supplemental information to the full board, and administrators said they would provide cohort growth analysis and clarify how revised pathways affect high-school course access.","At the March 18 meeting, parents, students and higher-education faculty pressed the board to reinstate accelerated math pathways eliminated in recent curriculum changes, arguing the change reduces opportunities for advanced students and may affect college readiness and competitive outcomes.",{"_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},6630608,"Montgomery board approves tentative 2025–26 budget submission after debate over health-benefit waiver",1868,6257000,8125000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f&start=6257&end=8125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2690527-28ce618295d5f98844e63dc31c9fa29f/thumbnail_6257000.jpg","/articles/6630608/New-Jersey/Montgomery-board-approves-tentative-202526-budget-submission-after-debate-over-health-benefit-waiver","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6630608-a1e9d7ba7f930ff3af968d724baeb5db/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150941&Signature=JB06HErXfYQ59KfNFcUcyVxWS6zXwrgGeq9z2sUbWGRkXJyq4bALw41uasHOvthTSA0j5HHb8nqWHl5m64Yhea60NSHUn8xkcl2rm4ho8p-kFxCc7VzWeL7DQpScfLbSPygeSTYfSKYI25tf2BBadeF-jzSCkXorwIG7UA0IWsW0IMgowCFH3tdk4oJitEH8PASSYQVNyFNbKnk~hgEkT3SKTdQo4NisabMvucI35OPR~h8v3rGjysTYWjoTOjjWwIfH~JFyOjvx5Vi7r~xiudKGui8-P6i~hAh0AEUePLubZSjW49NIIZ-OALxqUha7mGna4YYFP~PXOOh9aCP3GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Montgomery Township Board of Education voted March 18 to submit its tentative 2025–26 budget to the county superintendent after a presentation from Business Administrator Andrew Italiano and discussion among board members, district staff and union leaders. The board’s action authorizes filing the preliminary budget required by statute; the budget can be amended before the final public hearing and adoption on April 29.

Business Administrator Andrew Italiano and Superintendent Mary McLaughlin presented a preliminary budget built around a 2 percent tax levy increase. Italiano said the district’s current tax levy is $89,042,150 and the board-supported 2 percent increase equals $1,780,843, producing a tentative levy of about $90,822,993. Italiano said the district could have a higher legal maximum levy under certain adjustments but that the administration formulated the budget around the 2 percent figure the board supported.

The presentation laid out major drivers and offsets: state aid fell about 3 percent (a reduction Italiano estimated at $255,980), the district plans to use some reserves and fund balance, and capital and maintenance needs are significant. Italiano highlighted four proposed capital items funded in part with one-time resources or ROD grant matches: an ADA-compliant walkway (about $450,000), a roof-top HVAC unit at the high school ($325,000), a UMS roof replacement (board share roughly $1,153,830) and a UMS chiller replacement (board share roughly $279,030). He also said proposed cuts total about $3.43 million across positions, facilities/equipment and other areas.

The health-benefit adjustment, commonly known as the health waiver, drew the most contentious discussion. Italiano told the board the waiver amount in the draft was about $779,882 and that including it in the levy would raise the district’s tax base and thereby reduce the scale of cuts needed. He quantified the household impact in approximate terms: adding the waiver would equal roughly $150–$170 per year for an $800,000 home in Montgomery in his initial estimate.

Union leaders and other speakers urged the board to include the waiver. Jen Bedell, Administrators Association president, told the board removing the waiver “will devastate the district” over several years by driving repeated rounds of staff reductions. “With those monies removed from the budget base … another 8 will be cut this year,” Bedell said, and she warned of cumulative cuts in coming years. Mike Rosoli, president of the Montgomery Township Education Association, urged the board to “budget to cap and utilize all of the funds,” saying not doing so was “short sighted” and would force higher class sizes and reduced programs.

Board members pressed for more detail before final adoption. Board member (reported in the meeting as) Miss Filak asked for clarification about which facility and consultant fees were in the cuts and whether professional development reductions were targeted. Italiano offered to walk through account-level details with trustees and administrators in the coming weeks and said the tentative filing is a statutory step: “This is preliminary tonight. Nothing is final,” he said.

The board approved the motion to submit the tentative budget by roll call and the administration will file the budget with the county superintendent by the March 19 deadline. The board may revisit items — including adding some or all of the health waiver — before the April 29 public hearing and final adoption. The transcript records at least one No vote during the roll call (Doctor White voted No); the motion passed overall by roll call.

What’s next: the tentative budget goes to the county superintendent for review tomorrow; the board and administration will continue committee- and staff-level work on cuts, potential restorations and account-level questions ahead of the April 29 final public hearing and vote.

Votes at a glance

- Tentative 2025–26 budget and submission to the county superintendent (agenda item 3.7): Approved (motion and roll call; Dr. White recorded as voting No). The motion’s mover and seconder were not specified on the record. The item is explicitly marked tentative; changes can be made before final adoption on April 29.","The Montgomery Township Board of Education voted March 18 to submit a tentative 2025–26 budget to the county superintendent, endorsing a 2% general fund tax levy while members and union leaders sparred over whether to include a health-benefit waiver worth roughly $780,000 that administrators say would reduce planned cuts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District reports SSDS incidents for period 1; most investigations not founded, officials say

Parents and students urge Montgomery board to restore accelerated middle-school math pathways

Montgomery board approves tentative 2025–26 budget submission after debate over health-benefit waiver