Pitman School Board Unveils Bold Plans for Future

The Pitman School district Board of Education recently held a public meeting to propose a series of significant changes for the upcoming school year and beyond. These include new initiatives, curriculum adjustments, and substantial budgetary changes. The meeting was well-attended and generated considerable discussion among the community.

Financial Planning

The proposed budget for the 2024-25 school year stands at $27,582,024. This represents an increase of approximately $1.5 million over the current year's budget and is largely fueled by rising costs and new initiatives.

The largest portion of the budget, $15,955,299, will be allocated to general expenditures, followed by $2,874,283 for special education needs and $824,931 for debt service. The district plans to rely on a combination of local taxes, state aid, and reserve funds to cover the total cost.

Exciting New Programs

Curriculum Revamp

In an effort to modernize the learning experience, the Board of Education plans to implement various curriculum updates. This includes an overhaul of the English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics standards across all grade levels.

The goal is to enhance the focus on real-world application, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Additionally, the district will be offering a new "STEAM Career Pathway" course designed to prepare students for future opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math-related fields.

Mental Health Focus

Recognizing the increasing significance of mental and emotional well-being, the district plans on implementing several initiatives focused on this area. This includes expanding the role of school counselors, providing additional training for educators on mental health awareness, and creating new peer support programs for students.

Safety First

With safety being a top priority, several new measures are being planned for implementation. This includes expanding the use of security cameras across all school buildings, conducting additional safety drills, and improving emergency communication protocols.

Investment in Faculty

The board also plans to prioritize the well-being and professional development of its faculty and staff. This includes offering additional training opportunities, providing resources for career advancement, and implementing a new mentoring program for new educators.

Community Outreach

The district recognizes the value of community involvement and plans to bolster communication channels with parents and residents. This includes establishing a dedicated platform for sharing updates and announcements, hosting regular community meetings to gather feedback, and increasing the visibility of school events and activities.

Overall, the Pitman School Board's proposed plans for the coming year reflect a commitment to innovation, excellence and creating a well-rounded educational experience for all students.

The Pitman School District Board of Education held a meeting on June 19, 2024. The meeting covered a variety of topics including but not limited to student performance, budget issues, and curriculum and instruction.

Some of the key points discussed at the meeting were:

• Student suspensions and reasons for suspension.

• The use of facilities

• Field trips

• Summer school programs

• Leaves of absence

• New hires

• Budget issues

• Curriculum and instruction

• Extracurricular activities

The meeting concluded with a resolution being passed to honor Stephen Hare for his 29 years of service to the Pitman School District.

Key points from the Pitman BOE Meeting

• H.I.B. (Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying):

  • 3 incidents reported in May 2024.

  • 3 incidents confirmed.

  • 0 suspensions issued.

• Curriculum and Instruction:

  • Student enrollment for the 2023-2024 school year is as follows:

    • Pre-K - 250

    • Kindergarten - 420

    • Elementary - 563

    • Middle - 487

    • High - 321

    • Out of district - 25

  • The Board will vote to retroactively approve Robert Finnamore as a replacement part-time computer technician effective on or about June 20, 2024 through on or about January 3, 2025 at any hourly rate of $18.41, 29.5 hours per week.

  • The Board will vote to approve Michael Finley for up to 65 hours to complete asynchronous training to be the Work Based Learning Coordinator for our CTE career pathways.

  • The Board will vote to accept the retirement resignation, with regret, of Rose Knowles, science teacher at Pitman Jr./Sr. High School, effective June 30, 2024.

  • The Board will vote to accept the retirement resignation, with regret, of Jody Miller, special education teacher at Pitman Elementary School, effective June 30, 2024.

  • The Board will vote to accept the resignation of Brad Spicer, special education teacher at Pitman Elementary School, effective June 15, 2024.

  • The Board will vote to accept the resignation of Cassandra Wright, school psychologist, effective June 30, 2024.

  • The Board will vote to accept the resignation of Aaron Hickman, part-time computer technician, effective June 30, 2024.

  • The Board will vote to accept the resignation of Terri Schultz, Account Specialist/Payroll, effective July 18, 2024.

  • The Board will vote to approve a contract for Robert Miles, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, at an annual salary of $139,500.

  • The Board will vote to approve the appointment of Ryan Caltabiano, as Director of Curriculum and Instruction, effective on or about July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, at an annual salary of $139,000.

  • The Board will vote to approve that the notice of continuation of employment is issued to tenured administrators for the 2024-2025 school year.

  • The Board will vote to approve that the notice of continuation of employment is issued to non-tenured administrators for the 2024-2025 school year.

  • The Board will vote to approve that notice of continuation of employment for the 2024-2025 school year is issued to non-tenured personnel.

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