001Derek Galashaw, >> present. >> Wanda Garcia, present. Cameron Hudson, >> present. Danielle Jackson, Karen Merricks, Maria Perez Preston, Janette Alvarez as Nandi Nelson, and we have Corb. And uh we will now turn over the meeting to superintendent um Rockington the superintendent report some key topics to highlight during this August meeting and you can see the outline of topics. Next slide. So, we have some 2025 2026 calendar updates and you can see those updates on the slide. We noticed an error in the previously approved district calendar for the 2020 year June 16th 17 June 23rd now scheduled as emergency makeup days for staff and students if needed. The new calendar will be shared tomorrow. After our meeting, I to ask Miss Ebony Henson and Dr. Dali to go over our district assessment calendar, our HIP report,
002and our SSDs report. All right. Good evening, Superintendent Dr. Go Brochington. Also, our advisory board members, our president Nanand Nelson, Vice President Janette Alamez, our board members, all of our colleagues or families that are here today. Thank you for the opportunity to share tonight's update for our 2025 to 2026 state assessment calendar. This calendar is really important because it not only tells us what state assessments it will occur, but also helps schools, helps families and students prepare for them in advance. Our goal is to ensure clarity, consistency, and transparency around testing windows so that everyone knows exactly what to expect. As often this presentation, you will hear terms like legacy, adaptive, and field test. And I'm going to briefly explain those so we can all be on the same page. Legacy is our traditional fixed
003form test where every student sees the same version delivered through Pierce it. Adapted is a computer-based test that adjusts in real time to a student's responses. So when the student answers correctly, they may get a higher level question for the next question. If they answer incorrectly, they may get a lower level question and they those adapted tests they're already taking with tests like Il and I already then you may hear the word field test. It's a practice run that's not score reported and is designed to prepare for this adaptive system. So this presentation tonight is more than dates and tests. It's about ensuring that all of our Candon students from the youngest learners and family schools to our graduating seniors have a clear supported and equling to success. So our district's assessment calendar for 2526
004brings together the required state assessments, the new adaptive field tests and graduation safeguards. I'll also highlight the differences between our family schools uh which serve our early learners as well as our high schools students in grades 9 through 12. This context is important so we understand not just when testing occurs but who it affects and why. Next slide. Oh, you're already there. Okay. As you can see, this table organizes all required assessments for 2025 and 2026 school year in a color-coded format. The blue represents our legacy assessments. The green represents our adapted and the blue represents our legacy assessments. Orange represents the portfolio of fields and gray are assessments such as assets for English learners, SAT school day, DLM, and AP exams. The fall NJ GPA, which is the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment Legacy
005Exam, is in October and is strictly for our 12th graders who either did not pass the test or did I'm sorry, did not take the test or did not pass it in 11th grade. No current 11th graders will take the NJ GPA Legacy this year. The exam is for high school students in New Jersey and it serves as a graduation requirement assessing college and career readiness in English language arts and mathematics. Students must achieve a passing score to graduate. That is a 725 for both the English language arts and mathematics components of the assessment. and they have alternative options such as retesting or submitting a portfolio appeal if they do not meet the proficiency cut scores. In our family schools, the main assessments are NJSLA English language arts and math in grades 3 through 8,
006science in greens 5 through 85, Mandy, Access for Multilingual Learners, and the DLN. In the spring, high school students take the NJ GPA, adapt in grades 11 and 12, the NJSLA English for 9th to 10th, and math and of course exams, science in grade 11, and the portfolio appeals in grade 12, access the DL. And on March the 3rd, 2026, all 11th graders and any 12th graders that did not greatestly test will participate in the SAT school day. The fall field tests are clearly marked and the results, remember, will not necessarily be reported. Next slide. This visual shows how the assessments line up across the school year. In the fall, of course, I mentioned we will begin with the FJGPA legacy for 12th graders only. After that, the state could tuck spare field test for
007the NJGPA adaptive and NJSLA adaptive during the winter and spring. Portfolio appeals open in January and there were to run through May. Access for English learners runs through February from March. And on March the 3rd, all 11th and 12th graders not previously tested again. They will take that SAT t school day. Just a few weeks later in mid-March, grade 11 students will take operational NJ GPA and dacted. And in spring, family schools test the 3 through 8 grades 3 through eight in English language arts and math, while high schools test English 9, math, and of course, science in grades 5, 8, and 11. And the DM alternate assessments take place from April through May. Finally, somebody ought to say that's a lot of testing. Finally, in May, students enrolled in advanced placement courses will take
008AP exams between May 4th and May 15th. The legend on the slide, basic clear, blue for legacy, green for adaptive, orange for appeals, and gray for other assessments such as the essay, TESS, school day, and AP exams. Next slide. In addition, next slide. In addition to state testing, our students also participate in national college entrance exams, the SAT and the ACT. These are not district controlled. The states are set, the dates are set nationally by college board and act.bore. Next slide. Family engagement is one of the highest impact strategies we can use to improve both schools and student outcomes in Camden. We provide multilingual resources that you hopefully saw outside on the table. Uh every board member also has a packet here with these resources. Uh the board members you received an executive summary, a
009quick glance of our assessments. There's also newsletters and FAQs for families in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and also Haitian cre so families can clearly understand the testing requirements. Beyond brick communication, we offer parent university sessions. These are hands-on and interactive, giving families practical strategies they can use at home to support students. Families also get a chance to learn from one another by exchanging best practices. And importantly, we will be holding open office hours with our school counselors so families can break questions, seek guidance, and receive personalized support. This gives our families direct access to support on assessments, readiness, and graduation pathways. When families are informed, equipped, and connected, schools are stronger and student achievement rises. Our role as a district is to make sure families are aware of these test dates, to help with registration, to
010provide fee waiverss for eligible students, and to offer school day SAT testing to ensure equitical access for all. This combination of national test awareness, multilingual resources, parent university, and counselor support ensures that our students are not only prepared for state requirements, but they also have the tools to be successful in college admissions. And as I close, I want to bring us back to big picture. This calendar ensures every Candon school is aligned with state requirements and it ensures that every senior still has a graduation pathway while the state transitions to adapted testing. We have worked carefully to distinguish field tests from operational tests, legacy from adaptive and family schools from high schools. This clarity brings reduces confusion, protects our instructional time and supports principal, staff and families. Our goal symbol to protect that instructional time,
011reduce stress and guarantee that every senior has a pathway to graduation. And I'm going to leave with this closing promise that I began with the calendar base one promise. Every camp and student from our youngest learners in family schools to our graduating seniors will be prepared, supported, and given every opportunity to succeed. I'm going to turn this time to Dr. Damali who's going to share about our SSDs and HIV grades. >> Good evening. So, I'm first reporting about HIV self- assessment grades. Um, the NJ DOE requires each school and each district through its school safety, school climate teams to evaluate implementation of the ABR, which is the anti-bullying bill of rights um from July 1, 2024 through June 30th, 2025 by using the self assessment. The self assessment tool includes eight core elements that address
012the ABR requirements for schools. The school safety and school climate team must assign a rating for each indicator based on criteria available documentation. Samples of documentation that can be used to substantiate the ratings are provided for each indicator. It is essential for school staff to maintain sufficient documentation that will substantiate its that will substantiate its ratings on each indicator. The maximum grade a school may receive is a 78th. The due date for completing and certifying and submitting the self- assessment is October 31st. Next slide. What you're looking at now, these are our family schools and the self- assessment grades each school gave themselves. And again, the highest score is a sube. Next slide. These are the high school uh for five high school assessment scores. Um right now for the 2425 we are projected to
013have a district score of a 55 out of 78. What happens is once this is certified u by our acting superintendent uh the DOE will review what we submitted and then they will release the official scores in May of 2026 and we'll share all this again. uh but this is part of the process and then they will give us the final uh scores and that'll be presented in June of 2026. Next slide. I'm also reporting tonight on this student safety data system also known as SSDS. Uh to support our students academic social emotional growth from preK through 12th grade it is essential that they feel safe and fully included in their learning environment. As a school district, we are required to share SSDS reports with the public twice a year. The midyear report was presented
014in January and this evening, I will provide the report for the second half of the last full year as well as a full report for the 2425. You can go to the next slide. So, the SSDN collects two types of information from schools through the districts. incidents of violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation or bullying, also known as HIV, weapons offenses, substance offenses, restraint, seclusion, and any other incident leading to student removal from school. This also uh tracks all of our HIV trainings and programs in each school. So, you could see the listing of things that we're reporting on. Next slide, please. So this slide here is the second reporting period of the 2425. So this covered all reports from January 1st, 2025 through June 30th, 2025. So each school has to go in, they have to
015put all their trainings, all their programs, any um situations that arose with security uh regarding students, all this information goes in. And again, we reported the first report back in January, so this is the second. And then if you go to the next slide, this is the full year. So this was this is all the SSDS documentation for the 2425 school year for the Camden City School District. And as you can see, it goes down and it lists all the different numbers and all the different information. And this is certified and already submitted uh to the DOE. So we are you know on time with everything and all the information has been uh tracked as we are required to share. That's all I have. At this at this time, I'm going to go over a
016few district updates. As I began to look at how our district's uh central office was functioning, it became clear that the Washington building was simply too tight for our staff to work comfortably. At the same time, Morgan Village had space that wasn't being fully utilized. To make the best use of our facilities, we decided to shift some departments. So, at this time, the superintendent's office, the business office, data and enrollment, and DTLR will be located at the Morgan Village with Brise and uh Rise Innovator. Yes. And at the uh I'm sorry my spot here. Early childhood equity and engagement, the solutions center/welcome center, special services and student supports will remain at Washington. transportation, school nutrition and witson's had already start before July started the move over to the old rim or old rise building. This
017move, these moves will allow us to relieve the space issue at Washington as well as parking in that area and to be able to use our buildings more effectively and continue uh to serve our families without any interruptions. So, here are a few district highlights. So, east side, we know that the demo was taking place. many of the alumni, the mayor off other officials, congressman Norcross, our board members, uh city council. Uh many were there to see the first real demolition of East Side on August 12th. Uh there was a beautiful East Side High demo ceremony and some pictures all there. and we are very very excited to be moving into the next phase of East Side's construction. Another great highlight, our school leaders, and we need to celebrate our school leaders. They came together
018last week and had an amazing week of professional development which was focused on strengthening their leadership deepening uh their community connections and highly highlighted handson learning with upstream alliance. I don't know if many of you know well I'm sure you do uh upstream alliance at Wiggins Park. Beautiful. our our uh leaders were on the books seeing what our students are had opportunity during the school year to experience our math sup math and science supervisor Dr. Walkenshaw went out there before with many of our students so this was a great opportunity for our leaders to experience what our students were experiencing. So, we hope that more of our students will be able to experience this great opportunity and community members will begin to use uh go out to Williams Park and partake in it. It's absolutely
019uh a beautiful experience. So, our leaders had a great week. We went to Roppers Camden. Our leaders were treated like royalty at Boppers Canden and uh and were able to explore many of the different opportunities that Rupers offers. So it was a I think an inspirational, educational, and uh uplifting week for our school leaders. And thank you to everyone who helped make that such a successful week last week. So now I'm going to ask our board members and our central office staff to transition back to the stage. Lane professional in a way of service Mark Phillips athletic director 21 years and three months of service. And lastly, yet on the earth claws, custodian C 13 years and 10 months of service. Right, we're now going to turn over to the post portion section at Kim
020City School District welcome attendance and comments from all members of the colleague acts meetings. This public comment period is your time to present your comments to the board and the state district superintendent. Each person who signed up to comment will have three minutes to speak. You will be notified the three minutes are out and you do not yield your time to another person. When it is your turn to speak, please state their being and address for the record. And please address all your comments to state district superintendent or myself. Please be curious to your fellow PD members and keep your comments with the time allotted so that everyone has the opportunity to speak. At the end of the 3 minutes, the micro will be silenced and your comments will have concluded. Please conduct insult respectful
021man. The first amendment is not actually and the board can prohibit language that is inappropriate in ported war policy 1121. You may interrupt, warn or terminate your statement, question or inquiry when it is too late. If a member of the public speaks about a set number, interrupt should be bait necessary precautional speaker of endanger of slander. For anyone whose comments or actions harassment, hippie or thread the siky of any person, we will provide you with a corny or immediately enter comic time. We may request any person to need the meeting when that person does not assert racial decor. We may or may the assistance of law enforcement officers and approval of a disorderly person when that person prevents instructs a meeting with an act that shs or interferes with the meeting. And finally, he may
022call for a recess or termin interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. All right, we have five speakers tonight. We're gonna start off with Hen Rouse and then Karen Luke. >> Oh, I remember see No. So, good evening. This is Wow. where good evening caru worked at high school. I spoke class meeting with excited knowing that secondary was being represented for experienced leadership. Mike's idea has not changed. However dealership number one we were encouraged by the dealership that not only communication would be better but we teachers that are around level would be included for cake yesterday. Yes yesterday teachers were populated their scheduled roster a sites basically what bra content to be taught. It was not clear the bell stay. They found out that there is a split period for lunch. And what do
023I mean by that? For example, for P the SES will come for 45 means they change. They get into active duty. Then they have to change back to go to lunch and neither the teacher take some their lunch time to ray belly the equipment secure and lock it away and then take some of the teacher bend to come back unlock it and set it up to the students to come back to watch only to say to themselves that no I'm not going to change and get up like I lost the moment right now they're not going to do the experiences pulas that they will do nothing that's going to happen to make when they come back. Um so as he saw we faced similar challenges with that third block to this Vegas cray she knew
024the challenges and obstacles above Bix. She included us and she scheduled be a car department um to have proper and shmates. Our department right now bro has off the first walk. We should have to avoid sme for PE. It does work. Okay, we're clashing but not the phys. We also have to face the challenges of sharing PE space with other schools that do not have the same bell schedule. Also, Mr. Despar address the PE and healthcare reducers last year that were never corrected and those same concern gear on our department schedule this year which are the easy fixites also scheduling for the shared space along with the school or schools. Every school has given space to themselves except break. Everything should be fair and equable. Nobody has all the answers of course except Betto. We
025should work together to assure our students receive the best construction they'll be general offer. Please our experience and our expertise in our special delivery. Thank you. A s is the bot. Good. >> Anybody been asking questions? Good. See you. Anyway, uh I Monica every time I come to this meeting by you being open public that and open public means that says you're not a public body, but then you might public. So I wish that you would realize you're not a public eye. It said that in the very open public meeting that >> uh I first want to acknowledge I'm talking about the body dupon at the super uh I wanted to um acknowledge the read the superintendent it was very uh good me I get I apologize for Friday blake I know you got my
026my email today my reaction to the me I hope you found it worthwhile I look forward to more meetings news. Uh I think it both of us even though I thought I had a good handling. You and I are both uncovering uh a lot of issues and I think the good thing about you is you're acknowledging that that there are some serious issues that are negative negatively affecting the Israelers in our district and I know that we could establish relationship that will begin to address that and we have to expedite because every day that those children are in inappropriate class and places is a tragedy. Uh I also uh want to use the balance of my kind of uh by acknowledging the fact that we still have unequ kids in an elementary school. It should
027not be in that elementary school. It should never have put it uh that school got by the superintendent. And according to the superintendent herself, the department of education even said that they should not be. So when we celebrate the carrying down of a very perfectly good school and building a new school, every Friday is excited about it in five years time. Uh the fact is we up the case that they should not be. So I would take the last 30 some seconds of my kind and science be my ghost teachers in my case are doing inappropriate school and a lot here. I don't ever have you there. >> My little C >> now going to speak right then. My speaker is tomorrow running. Hello on Reddit say me. Okay. All right. Right. Um I'll just
028stand here as a crane car. Well, first of all, as a product of the Hamilton public school system, which you know very very dear to my heart, Yited had allowed my grandson to be a part of the public school system on the inner part. I had you know volunteer games and on community trying to continue to make sure our children had the best education without G disappointed in attending some of these reading con how things have went. you see how things feelings were inic I just had to take my grandson out of the school uh information that would be getting because I researched that we had the 9 to7 million or you know that's it and some of the the teachers were you know let go and security and the um parent support behind a
029little helps uh in education so uh my my day is to fight out or if we're going to address that like what was the number of students that were fighting. So I'm talking about um the the case said within the soul system that you're now want to eat it just going to be just when he was in the other didn't go up to the eighth grade. So the fair concerned upstream abuse open like because we had the elderly school kids with older kids on the lead to dead back and cats. Uh but things had kind of changed but um by then it's a band meer building another security door help and the um support services. So that was a question for me, how big the classroom sizes would be, what the safety would be, you
030know, for the younger children, and I just couldn't get any, you know, answer as to what the new school year would look like um in this school, you know, as a third grader, which were very concerning to me because, you know, Karen were asking questions and, you know, concern as see, you know, I know it's hardy. I know you guys already made the clan but a lot of cars that did not had the right tomation and so we had you know te for some children like you know the go gate breakers they during either different days and uh so that was just my concern that I went in um to see the other parents that didn't have opportunities for their joy out of school and making sure that they are safe you know answer some
031of those question Because you know people are concerned about the safety of their children and anger classroom size and all this has this one on and how going to get their best always cussy when the school size larger I don't know I just don't have question or answer so I stand as a the grandparent help you know a person did well in public school system I eat my warmer fascination unwelcome kissings and things like that, but it's still so slice of tin. Oh, sorry. >> I just want to begin by once again thank everyone who treated us for tonight's 4B. Your time, your voices, and your perspectives are what help us grow stronger as a district, and we appreciate all the gaining a thought partner and process educating our children. Last month, I shared everyone
032that I would be responded to public comments individually and emails within 24 to 48 hours. because I want to ensure that each concern is addressed thoroughly and thoughtfully and honestly. And sometimes just sitting here listening, I don't have all the facts. So I want to make sure that I have all the facts before I respond to your question. And it's not about shortening Lee. is about gay community the community the respect that you deserve. We've asked the question and I am going to continue that practice and I appreciate your patience as I follow up with you directly and everyone has my email. My email is not monitored by anyone and if you have a question, please feel free to reach out. As we move forward, please know the board and I remain committed to transparency,
033accountability, and collaboration. woke up and saw >> that in at this time any more I didn't say that they would like to share Kamacho. >> Yes. um at a three yard school year on the table. I want to thank the families, the educators, staff, the greeting members with continued partnership and commitment to the success of every student in our district. This year, let us move forward together of a renewed focus on unity, growth, and opportunity. Our shared goal was to create an environment for every child feel safe as indicated earlier, supported, inspired to reach their full potential. As a vivor board member, I shared committed to listening, learning, advocating for policies of practice to serve all students equally. That means prioritizing student achievements, supporting our teachers and staff, courage and open communication and stern collaboration
034between the school and communities that we serve. We know that we when we work together, family, schools, and community partners, we can overcome challenges and create meaningful projects. Let's keep our students in our arcs on every decision of continuing to build a district that reflects excellence, inclusion, and innovation. So here's your in productive, positive, and impactful year end. Together we can make a lasting difference. Thank you for our kamachin meds. So good evening everyone. I just want to take his time to welcome Oh, you're excited to tag you. I were excited to deliver you and sent you during I would just appreciate you also I agate to the board I'm actually understanding what it is that you're saying I'm so lude from Graham I saw she had concerns about communication uh between education staff you
035said need more prep time that does it cut into your lunch break and forth then to I guess the initi to revisit block schedule I know she says that is it means it's not called by but she said it was record from the meeting you also said that there are some issue that need to be addressed as far as learning school students um being in via schools but then you also said that there are some uh issue that are affecting Spanish that being addressed by Thank you for appreciate you. Miss Red, >> are we still here? Thank you so much for coming up. Uh red pills are so important and so thank you for coming at um and others for parents who are able to be here and speak in the space as well. So
036whatever you say the biggest and most important day I'll be able to say was child safety child safety child safety. Is that correct? So just making sure that our students to teach a ratio is well the course and that everything is well brought in the classroom with the mixing upgrades right and little store being the same as okay thank you all so much coming out thank you for giving us your concerns um and you guys will be hearing from the ais thank you >> thank you boomer >> first of all Good evening everyone. Thank you everyone for being here tonight and again I'd like to welcome the data rape like to asper to work with you and I transparency I'm looking forward teachers administration as always first take care. >> Thank you B here. Um
037so I would like to say um thank you uh we had opportunity to uh meet with the CA the bar union administration. Um thank you to those that were present and those that were represented uh you know I think it's an opportunity uh to have some conversations that normally we may get to have um as well as uh making sure our voices are being heard. Thank you to all the school board members that were able to be present. Um that information was shared uh with our other school board members. Um and it was a a brief conversation that I had uh with our superintendent. Um so some things that we will be following up on. Uh you know, one thing that was spoken about was transparency and we talk uh there's a lot of things
038that we do. All the things are always spoken about board meetings. So we want to make sure we do a damn job of that. uh some of the things that was spoken about and uh we would like to say publicly uh our superintendent Dr. Brock consider as the acting superintendent uh she has a lot of ideas a lot of great ideas thoughts suggestions and uh unfortunately as the acting superintendent she hasn't been able to implement some of those things. So we want people to be clear that there's things that she wants to build that she would like to be in government that she hasn't been able to um put in place um you know due to uh safe limitations. Uh so we just want to make that clear. uh and she has supported by the
039board. So, you know, thank you for your great ideas and hopefully uh we can't win that song. Thanks. Uh >> also uh just the importance of assuring a community is included um in decision making. Um so hopefully you know our community feels more included um and wasters are heard when we can have those conversations um you know everyone feels you know represented um so that's something that we'll continue to work on uh you know we've lost a lot of our our student supports um so one of the biggest thing the first day of school um so I know this is something that the board has practiced in a plat in the past wasn't able to participate last year uh but being present the first day of school is something that the school board members that
040will be available were able to hit themselves available would like to be a part of also I know our superintendent has spoken about u making it an inclusive process where we're not just identifying one or two schools um but we're trying to make sure we're including all schools so we'll be waiting for a schedule for the super from the superintendent u and try to be available in as many schools as possible as a board university that they we're there and support the students as well as the sad members. And one last thing that was mentioned u parent administration was truency and I believe we are all on the same page as far as the importance of truency. uh but just having continued conversations about how we address those issues and how we make sure that
041we're supportive of families at the same time. Um so again, thank you uh for that beat and thank you for sharing. Uh also, uh it was a community member who asked about our students being involved in a new construction of East Side High. And I know was something that he said was mentioned um you know by our previous um superintendent. Again, I just want to put it out there that a question was asked. Um I personally I'm not sure of that um that remark or that seed. Um but we are Muslim research just to see how our students can be involved and if that's something that's possible. So I wanted to stick that um just because I read that question come up. Um again I echo what my other board members said. I'm looking forward
042to a new school year. and just hum together making sure we're as supportive as possible before this. So, thank you. And at this time, I'll turn back over to this. Oh, okay. The floor is turned over to the gnarics. A good number of action pipes per purple up by the own superintendent and these uh actions include financial reports for the months for the year and the June 30 as well the July as well as uh numerous contracts and appointments of professional services and let's see and um grant applications applications and acceptances And personal action any questions it's not >> so I have the question this is stay uh I know sometimes change last minute it um the sooner that we can receive the information of the board so that we will review that information will
043be helping again I know it's not a lot of time but the more time you can get this way to do everything. >> Thank you. >> And accorded the power was bested in the state district superintendent according to NJSSA 18A735. I hereby all agenda if nothing more please call for a motion to adjourn the meeting to adjourn. Uh all in favor I this meeting is a journ. Thank you. Thanks. Stay here everyone.