Dear Hackettstown and Great Meadows Regional School community members,

With autumn quickly approaching, it is a reminder of new beginnings for students and staff and a time to surpass all of the goals we achieved last school year. The commencement of the 2018-2019 school year will reflect positive, new changes in building level leadership, continued partnerships and other changes district-wide.

At this time last year, our districts were well underway with the much anticipated joint feasibility study results. While both Boards of Education have agreed that they are content with our current status and will not continue to move forward with the possibility of altering the send-receive agreement, the joint feasibility study will continue to be used as a vehicle to steer our districts going forward into the future. That said, at the Hackettstown March 21, 2018 public meeting, the Board of Education voted on re-districting our elementary schools for the 2019-2020 school year. In Great Meadows, the Board of Education will continue to monitor the fluctuation of student enrollment, coupled with a substantial loss in state aid.

Both school districts are nearing the end of the Strategic Plan. Hackettstown’s plan will expire and conclude in 2018, while Great Meadows will follow in 2019. Our community input and collaboration has been the single most important aspect of the process. As always, Central Office will update and communicate the results of the Strategic Plan at our respective December public meetings. Past presentations are posted on both district websites should you wish to review them. Going forward, as the districts face varying future concerns, a new Strategic Plan will come into place at future dates to be determined. I encourage all community members to be part of the solution in developing and crafting a vision for our school community.

During the month of August, both districts have placed a school security survey for parents, staff and community members to complete. The timetable for completion is September 30th. I encourage all members of our communities to be active participants as final results will be shared with the Boards of Education for potential future security enhancements. In that same vein, this coming school year, all students will be required to wear student identification cards. The building principals will provide further detail at their Back to School Night ceremonies. Last, in Great Meadows, all school visitors will be required to have identification on their person to access our facilities as the district will be implementing Lobby Guard. This is shared in advance and again, the building principals will discuss further as well. We have had great success in Hackettstown regarding this implementation and are happy to introduce it to Great Meadows.

Last, I would like to introduce new and familiar members of our administrative inter-district cabinet. Former Assistant Principal of Hackettstown Middle School, Mr. Jonathan Beyer, has been named Principal of the Willow Grove School. Mrs. Sheena Delgaizo has been named Principal of the Hackettstown Middle School. In Great Meadows, former Assistant Principal at Great Meadows Middle School, Mrs. Jessica McDonagh, has been named new Acting Principal of Liberty School. I congratulate them on their new leadership roles and ask that staff, students, and community members partner with them in making the 2018-2019 school year as productive as can be.

Below is a list of reminder dates that will keep you up-to-date with our Board of Education meetings and other school-related events:

•  September 19, 2018 – Hackettstown BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm.
   2017-2018 PARCC Assessment Review- Mrs. Grigoletti
• September 25, 2018 – Great Meadows BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm.
  2017-2018 PARCC Assessment Review- Mrs. Grigoletti
• October 16, 2018 – Great Meadows BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm
  Students of the Month Presentations Commence
• October 17, 2018 – Hackettstown BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm
  Students of the Month Presentations Commence
• November 14, 2018 – Hackettstown BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm
  Pre-K Design/Program – Mrs. Gesumaria
• November 20, 2018 – Great Meadows BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm
  Pre-K Design/Program – Mrs. Gesumaria
• December 12, 2018 – Hackettstown BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm
  Strategic Plan Year End Review – Mr. Mango
• December 18, 2018 – Great Meadows BOE Mtg. @ 7 pm
  Strategic Plan Year End Review – Mr. Mango

I look forward to seeing all members of our school communities at upcoming district events and wish everyone a successful, healthy and positive start of the school year.

Sincerely,


David C. Mango Superintendent of Schools
Great Meadows Regional and Hackettstown School Districts