The Board of Education meeting room was crowded with guest speakers and members of the Hopewell Valley community for a busy evening of presentations, recognitions, and updates.
Climate Action Plan
Students, Catherine Zeglarski and Benjamin Pollara, and advisors, art teacher Carolyn McGrath and Hopewell Elementary School principal Dr. Scott Brettell, presented the long-anticipated Climate Action Plan proposal on behalf of the Central Valley High School Youth Environmental Society.
The proposal is the result of years of research and is a follow up to the Climate Action Resolution approved and passed by the Board of Education on June 27, 2022.
Led by Dr. Brettell and McGrath, the Climate Action Committee kicked off their first meeting in January 2023.
The committee, with the assistance of consultants from various backgrounds including The Watershed Institute, Sustainable Princeton, Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute, Greener by Design,identified five areas of focus: education, transportation, food and waste, resilience, and facilities.
Although the committee already worked on many projects including the implementation of green spaces across the schools, promotion of eco-friendly reusable cups, and partnered with many institutions to support this plan, they hope to reach further and achieve the following goals:
- Implement comprehensive climate change and environmental education
- Eliminate carbon emissions and pollution caused by District transportation
- Work toward zero waste in school operations promoting climate-friendly foods in cafeterias
- Prepare students and schools to be resilient in an increasingly unstable world
- Decarbonize schools and prepare them to withstand worsening climate change impacts
To achieve the above goals, the committee provided the following recommendations:
- Create a Climate Action Coordinator position
- Provide ongoing training in climate action leadership for the Board of
- Education members and key administrators
- Include expertise in climate action, climate justice, and sustainability as a hiring lens for new staff in key positions
- Provide stipends for staff members who take on leadership roles in the Climate Action Committee
- Support participation in local, regional, and national school climate action and sustainability programs
- Publicize District climate action, climate justice, and sustainability efforts widely
One member of the public, who is the co-founder of the Eco PTO, Julie Cesari, mentioned that the recently formed PTO would like to become an organizational body to act as a liaison between all of the schools in the District.
“I am so excited by everything I heard and saw here tonight,” said Cesari.
The Eco PTO is currently looking for two parents and one teacher per school to act as representatives and help to facilitate conversations and activities. To learn more, reach out to the Eco PTO here.
The proposal caught the Board members’ attention and sparked a conversation about the District’s environmental needs, students involvement and education during the development of this project, gained community support, and talked about next steps to implement this action plan, which has not been approved yet.
Stay tuned for future updates.
Bond Referendum Update
MercerMe last covered the bond referendum update in the article Hopewell Valley Prepares for $87.5 Million School Upgrade Vote.
As the public vote date approaches, the Board unanimously approved the referendum plan authorizing the submission of a bond proposal question to the school district voters at a special school election to be held on September 17, 2024.
To learn more about the HVRSD Bond Referendum, upcoming special school election, and property tax impact, click here.
Special Olympics Recognition
The Board of Education celebrated nine District students who participated in the New Jersey Special Olympics in various sports including basketball, swimming, and track and field.
“The Special Olympics is more than just an event, it is a celebration of the human spirit. It shows what can be achieved when determination meets opportunity. These athletes embody resilience, courage, and unwavering self-belief. Their stories are about overcoming obstacles, pushing boundaries, and inspiring others,” said special educator and supervisor, George Needham.
The recognized students are Lee Burgos, Frank Chen, Kiera Fallon, Joontae Hwang, Lyna Kane, Charlie Mott, Nathaniel Posnicov, Samarth Rao, and Ravi Wetzel.
“You have made us incredibly proud!” said Needham.
Boy Scout Communication Merit Badge Recognition
Boy Scouts Charlie Mott and Harrison Maylowe reported on the Communication Merit Badge they earned after attending the Board of Education meeting in April.
One of the requirements to earn the badge was to attend a Board of Education meeting and report back on different points of view regarding a topic discussed during the meeting.
Mott and Maylowe reported to the Scouts on the Referendum because of its priorities, which includes transportation and special education, granting them the Communication Merit Badge.
Central High School Update
The Board of Education approved the abolition of the Random Testing for Student Alcohol or Other Drug Use policy and the Random Testing for Student Alcohol and Other Drug Use regulation.
As explained by the Board, this decision was based on societal changes including the legalization of recreational marijuana, recent years research showing the program’s ineffectiveness, and the American Academy of Pediatrics opposition to the program since 2015 due to lack of evidence supporting the program’s positive impact.
The student random testing was a requirement for highschool students to join athletics, extra curricular activities, and secure and maintain a parking permit.
According to the Board, the $15,000 spent annually to afford the program’s third party vendor can be redirected to different projects and concluded that over the years, the District has had more success identifying students who need support due to drug abuse through referrals than through the random testing program.
The HVRSD Board of Education meeting recording can be viewed here.
The next meeting will be on August 19, 2024.
