Goal 1. To provide oversight of the district's facilities construction projects.

Despite the initial rejection of bids in July 2003, the district-wide facilities improvement projects are currently in construction. After the rejection, the superintendent, business administrator, architects and project managers met with the Board to revise both the project design and the bid format. The decision to separate the entire project into several smaller projects yielded a more attractive bid package. This resulted in the award of the contracts for Washington and Lincoln Schools in November 2003. Both projects are currently underway with the completion of excavation in December and the foundation work in progress. The bid documents for the Rutherford High School project were released on January 6, 2004, bids opened and contracts awarded in February.  These three projects are well underway and meeting significant construction milestones. The Board also approved submission to the state of designs for fire doors and fire suppression systems at district schools. State approvals are awaited. The district has received payment from the state for initial phases of the projects as well as total payments for earlier completed ADA and roofing projects. The next phase of the project is scheduled to go out to bid in the fall.

Goal 2. To complete the update of the district's critical policies.  

In April and May 2004, the Board completed its revisions of the last major part of the Policy Manual in the Series 6000. The Board will complete the process of revising the critical policies by approving the rescission or renumbering of existing policies and incorporating these renumbered policies into a new manual. This new manual will be prepared for publication on CD and for inclusion on the district website.

Goal 3. To develop strategies that promote communication with all of the district and schools' stakeholders

A review of all district communications vehicles was completed and presented to the Board. District and school websites were reviewed, updated, and enhanced. Additional training was done with staff to encourage individual teacher websites. A homework site was posted on the Special Services web page. A job description for a new position of Webmaster was prepared, approved and a person appointed to start on July 1, 2004. Updated district curriculum guides are being prepared for placement on the web page. The district web page was updated on a more frequent basis to keep residents apprised on on-going issues in the district.  The district has worked cooperatively with the Rutherford Education Foundation and accepted grants totaling over $6000 for project implementation in Spring 2004. These included a Renaissance Festival at Rutherford High School, a middle grades World Language Day, an individual class project on Web design, and an elementary Science-Reading integration project at grades 2-4.        

Goal 4. To evaluate current curriculum in the review cycle and the advanced placement programs focusing on fiscal implications.

Working within budget parameters established by the Board finance committee in September 2003, a presentation was made to the full Board in January which maintained no increase in instructional programs' budgets while acting on the Board's determination to equalize opportunities for students in advanced level class offerings. The high school staff reviewed the AP and Honors courses and made changes as required by ETS and by the Board. The Board approved these proposed changes. By the conclusion of the school year all updates and revisions in the curriculum needed to implement the changes in Honors and Advanced Placement were completed. The Board also reviewed changes in the middle grades math program. The expansion of enrollment in an accelerated math program of algebra and pre-algebra will occur in school year 2004-2005.  The Music Department Supervisor completed the instrumental inventory and proposed a multi-year instrument replacement program that has been included in the 2004-05 proposed budget.  Preliminary committee meetings were held regarding a school age childcare program that will be developed for the Sylvan School site for September 2005.   All district goals for this school year have been accomplished.