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Monday, dec 30
Schools
Hackensack BOE Pres Resigns, Cites Board Drama, Wasted Resources As Challenges (
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Hackensack Public Schools Board of Education President Scott James-Vickery announced his resignation during his final board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 18, using the occasion to highlight persistent challenges he believes are holding the district back from reaching its full potential. James-Vickery, who served six years on the board and held the role of president since 2019, listed several issues he said have hindered Hackensack Public Schools, including internal politics, wasted resources, and a lack of focus on students’ needs. “The students’ resources are being drained by the board,” h…
Schools
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline. This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue. As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Schools
Rutgers Student Charged With Lewdness, Sexual Contact In 12+ Incidents On Campus
A Rutgers University student is accused of committing lewd acts and criminal sexual contact in more than a dozen incidents at the university's Piscataway campus and in South Brunswick, prosecutors announced on Tuesday, Dec. 10. Jihad Goines, 21, of Monmouth Junction, was charged after investigations tied him to incidents at the Royal Oaks Apartment Complex and the Dickson Carr Library on the Rutgers campus, authorities said. The alleged acts occurred between November 2023 and December 2024, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayd…
Schools
These NJ Schools Topped Both US News, Niche Rankings: Here's Where They Stand
When it comes to New Jersey’s top elementary schools, a handful of schools earned recognition on both the US News & World Report and Niche rankings for 2024. Several New Jersey elementary schools appeared on both the US News & World Report and Niche lists of top elementary schools, showcasing their consistent excellence across different evaluation methods. Here's a breakdown of the overlapping schools and their rankings (scroll down for the complete rankings of best elementary schools in New Jersey by US News & World Report): Hartshorn Elementary School (Millburn To…
Schools
Watch: North Jersey Teacher Surprised With 'Oscars Of Teaching' Award
Students, teachers, and community leaders gathered at a New Jersey Middle School Thursday, Nov. 14, expecting a standard visit from New Jersey Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. But the assembly at Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School took an exciting twist when Dr. Jane Foley of the Milken Educator Awards took the stage to reveal that fifth-grade teacher Emily Litz was New Jersey’s only recipient of the 2024-25 Milken Educator Award, often referred to as the "Oscars of Teaching." Along with the honor, Litz received an unrestricted $25,000 prize and made hi…
Schools
These Are Passaic County's Top Public Elementary Schools, New Rankings Show
Some of the area's best public elementary schools are right here in Passaic County, according to fresh rankings from Niche.com that highlight top-performing schools across the nation. While Niche ranks schools nationwide, Daily Voice is diving deeper into what makes the area a standout for quality education. Niche’s rankings draw on a comprehensive analysis of academic performance and student life, combining U.S. Department of Education data with test scores, college data, and ratings from millions of Niche users. The meticulous process identifies the schools that excel in academic ri…
Schools
New Rankings Reveal NJ's Top Public Elementary Schools: See The Best Of The Best
Niche.com has released brand-new rankings putting New Jersey's public elementary schools on the map as some of the best in the country. The top school in New Jersey is Wyoming Elementary School in Millburn, which is No. 64 in the United States, according to Niche. The school received an A+ for both teachers and academics and an A for diversity. The top elementary schools in New Jersey, according to Niche, are: 1. Wyoming Elementary School (Millburn Township School District, K-4) 2. Alpine Elementary School (Alpine, K-8) 3. Hartshorn Elementary School (Millburn Township School D…
Schools
These Are New Jersey's Top Public Middle Schools: New Rankings Released
Niche has released brand-new rankings running down the best public middle schools in America. The first New Jersey school to crack the list was Alpine Middle School at No. 65, while The Davidson Academy in Reno, NV was ranked No. 1. ALSO SEE: These NJ Public High Schools Were Named Among Best In America Daily Voice broke Niche's rankings down even further to find the top public middle schools in New Jersey. They are: 10. L.C. Johnson Summit Middle School, Summit 9. Briarcliff Middle School, Mountain Lakes 8. Thomas R Grover Middle School, West Windsor 7. Sea Girt Elementary School, …
Schools
NJ, Meet Your Sup't Of The Year, AKA 'The Man Who Cancels School When It Snows'
New Jersey, meet your superintendent of the year. Rutherford Public Schools Superintendent Jack Hurley, who has spent nearly 50 years in education, was named the state's top superintendent on Monday, Oct. 28 by the New Jersey Association of School Administrators. The American Association of School Administrators will choose the National Superintendent of the Year from among the statewide winners in March. Hurley never doubted that he chose the right field. “Education is the greatest profession,” Hurley said. “We create the foundation for every occupation and help shape the future o…
Schools
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Released Of NJ Schools That Received Products
A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria. The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…
Schools
NJ School District Lays Off 90+ Teachers, Suddenly Schedules Half Day
A day after it laid off more than 90 teachers, the East Orange School District abruptly scheduled a half day for Thursday, Oct. 17. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, all schools will be on a half day schedule, today, October 17th," Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving said. "We apologize for the late notice. Again, all students will be on a half-day schedule." On Wednesday, at a packed meeting, filled with concerned parents, teachers and coaches, the school board approved the elimination of 93 positions. Irving, who started as superintendent in July, said the moves were necessary with the …
Schools
Clifton School Principal Dies: Remembering Jennifer Lucas
Jennifer Lucas, the principal of a Clifton elementary school, died on Monday, Oct. 7, school officials said. Acting Superintendent Mark Gengaro announced Lucas' death in a letter to families. Lucas, who helmed School Two, began working in the district as a music teacher at School 12 in 1995, where she continued to work as assistant principal. She later moved on to become principal of School Two, "where she made a lasting impact on all who knew her as a friend, colleague, and school leader," Gengaro said. "Her ability to inspire and motivate extended across Clifton as she brought our c…
Schools
These NJ Public High Schools Were Named Among Best In America
Niche has released its list of the best public high schools in America for 2025. Several schools in New Jersey made the top 50, all of which earned an A+ from Niche. They are: No. 20: Bergen Academies, Hackensack No. 21: The Academy for Math, Science, and Engineering, Rockaway No. 37: Union County Magnet High School, Scotch Plains No. 43: High Technology High School, Lincroft No. 49: Marine Academy of Technology, Middletown Niche also ranks New Jersey's top public high schools. The top 25 best are: 25. Chatham High School 24. High Tech HS (Hudson County) 23. Middlesex County Academy for…
Schools
Passaic County School District's Superintendent Leaving For Bergen County Regional District
The Westwood Regional Public School District has appointed a new superintendent. Dr. Patrick McQueeney, who has been serving as the leader of Wanaque schools since 2021, will helm the Westwood Regional School District (WWRSD) come November. The move was approved at the Thursday, Sept. 26 WWRSD Board of Ed (BoE) meeting. The nine-member board voted 8-0, with one abstention, to execute a contract with McQueeney, asking him to take the lead as soon as possible, but no later than Nov. 27. His five-year contract will begin on Nov. 1. McQueeney submitted his resignation to Wanaque on Friday…
Schools
New Jersey, Meet Your 'Top Educator Of The Year'
Stefanie Lachenauer always puts her students first. Lachenauer, a civics and mindfulness teacher at Montgomery Upper Middle School in the Montgomery Township School District, earned the 2024-2025 New Jersey State Teacher of the Year. She remains in the runnings for the national award. ALSO SEE: Top Educator In Each Of NJ's 21 Counties (Nominees) Lachenauer has taught at Montgomery Township for 18 years and her work has fostered socially conscious learners and has positively affected the health and well-being of both students and staff in the school district, the state Depart…
Schools
Girl Listed Targets Of NJ School Shooting 'To See How People Would React,' Police Say
A girl was taken into custody after police in New Jersey said she made a school shooting threat on social media "to see how people would react." Bridgeton police were made aware of the threat of a shooting at the Broad Street School on Thursday, Sept. 19, they said. "This threat was posted to Instagram and other social media applications," police said. "On the post there were many names listed as potential targets of the shooting." Following an investigation, police tracked down the girl who posted the threat and arrested her, they said. "It was learned during this investigation that the …
Schools
Custodian's Body Found At South Jersey Charter School, Classes Canceled
A South Jersey charter school was closed Wednesday, Sept. 18 after a custodian was found dead as staff arrived, according to authorities. The body was that of a woman maintenance worker at the Mastery High School on Erie Street in Camden, Dan Keashen, a spokesman for Camden County, said on Thursday, Sept. 19 as school reopened. Her body was discovered in the hallway around 7 a.m., he said. The woman's name and age have not been released pending an investigation by Camden County Police and toxicology reports, Keashen said. Her death is not considered suspicious, he said. Calls to the …
Schools
Some Details Released In Threats Made To Lakeland Regional HS, Parents Slam Superintendent
Authorities have released details in connection to threats made against a Passaic County high school that had left parents and students fearful. Wanaque and Ringwood officers were called to Lakeland Regional High School on Sept. 6, following reports that a student was overhead "making a threatening statement about another classmate," Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes and Wanaque Police Chief Ketih V. Spillane said Wednesday, Sept. 18. As a result, officers remained at the school for the day, as classes continued normally. Meanwhile, members of the Wanaque Police Departm…
Schools
Rutgers President To Resign At End Of School Year After Historic, Turbulent Tenure
Jonathan Holloway will resign as president of Rutgers University at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, the school announced. The university's 21st president will step down after finishing his fifth year in office on Monday, June 30, 2025, Rutgers said in a news release on Tuesday, Sept. 17. The U.S. historian plans to take a sabbatical during the 2025-26 year for research projects before joining the Rutgers faculty full time. In a letter to the Rutgers community, Holloway said he made the decision to resign on his own and believes it's how he can best help the university. "Serving as th…
Schools
Officer Will Be In Every Atlantic City School: Should All NJ Districts Have This? (
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Atlantic City has a police officer assigned to each school in its district, officials said. The city's government, police department, and school district agreed to put an officer in each K-8 school and two officers in Atlantic City High School throughout the 2024-25 academic year, the city said in a news release. The new officers were funded through a $3.75 million grant in the COPS Hiring Program. The school resource officers were assigned to their new schools on Tuesday, Sept. 10. "This is something city leaders discussed in the past, but none were able to get the job done until now," sa…
Schools
Camden Schools Superintendent Calls On Board President To Quit In Wake Of Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
The state-appointed superintendent for the Camden City School District is calling for the resignation of the advisory school board president amid sexual abuse allegations. Camden Superintendent Katrina T. McCombs, in a letter to the community, wrote: "In order to allow our community to heal and refocus on what truly matters—the education and future of our students— it would be in the best interest of the state-operated district of Camden City for Advisory Board President Wasim Muhammad to voluntarily relinquish his seat." "We are at the beginning of a new school year—a time that s…
Schools
Top Educators In Each Of NJ's 21 Counties Named
The New Jersey Department of Education has named the top 21 educators in the state. The department released the list of the 2024-25 New Jersey County Teachers of the Year on Tuesday, Aug. 6. They are: Atlantic County: Carly Broomhead, Visual Arts Teacher at Emma C. Attales Middle School in the Absecon School District Bergen County: Margarita Diakos, Special Education Teacher at Ramsey High School in the Ramsey School District Burlington County: Margaret Fanourgakis, Health & Physical Education Teacher at Shawnee High School in the Lenape Regional Hi…
Schools
'I Like The F— Out Of You:' NJ Teacher Has License Revoked After Lewd Comments, Officials Say
A New Jersey educator had his teaching license revoked on Thursday, June 27 after repeatedly making lewd comments to a student, officials announced. The State Board of Examiners revoked the license of East Orange English teacher Alim Hasan after he called a student "pretty", told her she smelled good, that she has a "grown woman scent" and that he "likes the f- out of her." The board said Hasan's comments "clearly demonstrate conduct that is unacceptable for a role model for a school children." "Such communications by a teacher to his student are completely inappropriate," the board w…
Schools
Update
: 'Inappropriate Comment' Temporarily Halts Distribution Of NJ School Yearbook
A graduating Ramapo Indian Hills High School student intended "no harm or offense" with an "inappropriate comment" in the senior yearbook, the district's acting chief said Thursday night. According to parents, a graduating senior included an untoward reference to a Jewish Holocaust victim under his portrait photo. In response, Ramapo Indian Hills High School District Acting Supt. Dr. Melissa Quackenbush said officials were halting the distribution of the remaining yearbooks and were talking with the distributor about reprints. "Additionally, we are consulting with the Jewish Federatio…
Schools
NJ Town BOE Member Threatened Sup't In Trying To Reverse Son's Suspension, Ethics Board Finds
A school board trustee in Warren County crossed the line in trying to have her child's bullying suspension revoked, according to a state ethics board. Lisa Moyer, a member of the board of education in Allamuchy Township, violated several sections of the school ethics board, after her child was suspended for harassment, intimidation and bullying in 2022, the School Ethics Commission ruled. The board recommended Moyer be reprimanded for her actions in a ruling released in April. Moyer, however, says she was just trying to defend her son. Paperwork obtained by Daily Voice shows Moyer's son, 1…
Schools
Bergen County District Suddenly Terminates Super, Hires New One With Double Doctorates
Ramapo-lndian Hills Regional High School has hired a new superintendent. In a unanimous vote on Tuesday, May 28, the RIH Board of Education voted 9-0 in favor of approving Dr. Ronnie Tarchichi's contract, which goes into effect July 1. The board also voted 7-0 with two abstentions to terminate the contract of interim superintendent Dr. James Baker. When asked about the sudden termination of Baker's contract, the BOE declined to comment on personnel matters. The board also voted 5-4 in favor of appointing Dr. Melissa Quackenbush, the district's director of curriculum, to acting su…
Schools
Parents Fighting To Save North Jersey Catholic School Slated For Closure After 65 Years
After nearly 65 years, the Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Wayne is closing its doors. But many of its families refuse to accept its fate, and are fighting to keep the school that has provided love and nurture to their children alive. "The school didn't need to close, and it didn't need to close in the manner that it did," said Judy Simon, who has three children at IHM, who opined that more could be done from a business and marketing perspective. "I feel that the Diocese of Paterson didn't do anything to stop it." Father Mateusz Jasniewicz shared details about the school's closing …
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