At the December Board meeting, I took the liberty of emphasizing the Board and administration’s commitment to student and school safety in light of the anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy and the month’s deadly shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin. At the time, the shooting marked the 83rd school shooting in 2024, surpassing the 2023 record, and the most since school shootings began being tracked in 2008. While nothing could absolutely assuage any parent’s concern about their child’s safety, I reiterate, and echo the voices of Township parents who have shared that they do feel their children are safe, they appreciate the full-time security guards dedicated to each school, the Woodbridge Police officers who routinely patrol the exteriors and the other layers of security before, during and after school. To all of the parents, students, staff, I hope you know that this board and administration will continue to prioritize your safety and we pledge to constantly reassess our preparedness with our employees and our law enforcement partners.
In January, the Board accepted a clean audit from our independent auditor. Enrollment has held steady. The Board has built a responsible capital and maintenance surplus to properly and adequately maintain our capital plant. The Board also approved the 2025-2026 Student Calendar which can be found on the district’s website. Here’s your chance to mark your calendars for the first day of school, Fall, Winter and Spring breaks, and so on.
The President’s Council, the district’s umbrella parent advocacy group is holding its next meeting on Wednesday, February 12 at 7:00 pm. The meeting will be virtual. The meetings serve as an opportunity to hear from district leaders such as Superintendent Massimino and myself as well as Mayor McCormac on programs, services and issues affecting your children. It’s also an opportunity to ask questions and offer thoughts in an informal way outside of an official School Board meeting. To sign up for the ZOOM link, please email PresidentCouncilWB@gmail.com. The final meeting of the year will be May 7th.
I have two housekeeping reminders. Please note that the district will be closed to observe the President’s Day holiday on Monday, February 17th. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 18th. Additionally, statewide, the June 2025 Primary Election date has changed from Tuesday, June 3 to Tuesday, June 10 so there will now be no classes held on June 10, instead of June 3, to accommodate voters and ensure student and staff safety at our school buildings.
As of September 2024, the State expanded the eligibility criteria for free school meals, which includes an additional 60,000 families eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school. Under the new law, the income eligibility level for free student meals is 224 percent of the federal poverty level, meaning the children of a family of four making an annual income of up to $69,888 would now be eligible. To verify your eligibility, families must complete the district’s School Meals application for the 2024-2025 school year which parents can find online on their Genesis portal or ask your school Principal’s office. Our students having a healthy breakfast and lunch before and during school hours is important to learning, concentration and retention. Please spread the word!
Parents of high school students, please be on the lookout for college or trade school scholarship opportunities. Now is the time of year when application deadlines are approaching. Remind your child to check up with their school counselors for opportunities. There are also online resources such as MyScholly.com or learn more through New Jersey’s Higher Education Student Assistance Authority for grants, loans and scholarships at www.hesaa.org. Many employers and trade unions offer scholarships to their employees’ children so be sure to check with your employer.
The Board will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, February 20th at 6:00 PM. The Board will meet in the gymnasium of the Ross Street Elementary School #11, 110 Ross Street, Woodbridge. The public is welcome to attend all meetings. As always, you can view live or read up on all previous Board meetings through the district’s website or Facebook page. This year’s Board meeting calendar is as follows: March 13, April 17, May 1 (Open Public Finance Meeting), May 8 (Budget adoption), June 12, July 17, August 14 and 28, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18, and January 6, 2026.
Should you ever require my assistance, I welcome your input at one of our monthly Board of Education meetings. You can also e-mail the full board at board@woodbridge.k12.nj.us or call the Board Secretary’s office at 732-602-8536. As always, Dr. Massimino welcomes any questions at Joseph.Massimino@woodbridge.K12.nj.us