It’s all about momentum for the Moorestown school district this year.
“We gained wonderful momentum in the planning process for programs for next year, for the excitement around a new superintendent and an immediate jump into a referendum,” said Superintendent Dr. Courtney McNeely, who assumed her role last January.
Voters approved a bond referendum for the schools last year, and more than $18 million in state aid will reduce the local cost of building improvements and expansions. Those projects fall into the following categories: space for students, addressing aging systems and infrastructure, parking expansion and traffic flow.
Most construction is expected to start this summer to minimize disruption to students and staff. McNeely predicted that this year is one in which the community will start to see tangible progress.
“I know it’s harder for our community to see into what we’re doing – sometimes even our students – to see into what’s happening behind the scenes,” she acknowledged, “but we have made a lot of wonderful shifts and changes.”
A top priority for 2026 is the students, and that means planning for strong academics, giving them more voice and a sense of belonging that comes with great facilities and great communication, McNeely added.
But what in particular can the community and parents expect to see? Continued communication, the superintendent promised.
“Our community and parents should know that we’re listening closely to the things that they have to say, and it’s reflected in all of the different items we see on board agendas and on all of our planning for the next year,” McNeely explained.
“We want families to feel informed and not like the processes that we have are mysterious or that they have to have gone through the system before to understand them,” she added. “I’m very confident in the direction that we’re going as far as that communication and trust goes.”
There are goals the district will concentrate on this year: Student experience and well-being; instruction, programs and strategic planning; facilities and long-term investments; and fiscal responsibility and staffing, something especially important this time of year.
“The idea – always – has been to make sure that the kids feel good about where they go to school, and that’s the best investment that we can make,” McNeely pointed out. “We’re focused on making sure that every student feels supported, challenged and heard … Referendum work in 2026 moves from vision to implementation and action …
“In 2026,” she added, “we have to have clear timelines for everything, and sharing that is something that I’m finding helpful … Our focus is doing the work and keeping the community informed.”
Moorestown has always been in a very strong place, McNeely emphasized, but sometimes there is a beautiful challenge in maintaining that, as well as making progress.
“We have a supportive community, we have dedicated staff, we have such talented students …” she related. “The good part is that we all have the shared belief that the kids are first … My biggest point of pride is that idea of momentum … Changing the way we communicate really (builds) momentum and excitement around our schools.
“So now, we get to watch that momentum go forward.”
