The Cherry Hill Board of Education’s Oct. 27 meeting focused on student discipline, construction improvements throughout the district and the ongoing implementation of new technology policies, with administrators outlining progress and areas requiring additional attention.
Student discipline and support
A major portion of the meeting centered on a presentation examining student discipline trends, disparities and intervention strategies across the district.
Administrators reported that nearly 83% of students received no discipline referrals during the 2025-26 school year, while out-of-school suspensions have generally declined over the past three years. Approximately 60% of elementary schools recorded fewer than 10 suspensions last school year.
Beck Middle School was highlighted for its success implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), a program that reinforces behavioral expectations and emphasizes alternatives to exclusionary discipline.
Despite those improvements, officials identified several areas of concern, including increased behavioral dysregulation among younger students, inappropriate physical contact in third grade, fighting among fifth graders and attendance-related infractions at the high-school level.
The presentation also addressed disparities affecting African American students, Latino students, students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and economically disadvantaged students, all of whom experience discipline referrals at disproportionately high rates.
African American male students with IEPs were identified as a particularly affected group, averaging 2.3 days of out-of-school suspension.
Superintendent Dr. Kwame Morton emphasized the importance of confronting those disparities and ensuring that disciplinary consequences do not unnecessarily remove students from instructional time.
“It’s a matter of fairness, truly,” Morton said, explaining that his expectation is for Cherry Hill to eliminate the overrepresentation of historically marginalized student populations in its discipline data.
Board members questioned how successful practices at Beck and Cherry Hill High School West could be expanded to other schools, particularly after similar conversations in previous years.
Administrators outlined plans to strengthen restorative practices, provide culturally responsive professional development, expand social-emotional learning and improve coordination among counselors, administrators and student support teams.
They also emphasized the connection between chronic absenteeism, student engagement and school belonging.
Morton said the district will provide quarterly discipline data updates to the board to measure progress.
Bond referendum construction progress
The board also received an update on construction projects funded through the district’s 2022 bond referendum.
Business Administrator Jason Schimpf presented photographs of renovated locker rooms at Cherry Hill High School West and Beck Middle School, along with progress on the High School East auditorium.
The Beck locker rooms reopened to students on Oct. 26 following extensive renovations, including new flooring, plumbing, restrooms and showers.
At West, renovations to the lower-level locker rooms, weight room and associated spaces were approaching completion. Although the project was approximately one month behind schedule, officials anticipated reopening the spaces in early November.
Meanwhile, the East auditorium renovation remains on track for a Jan. 1, 2027, turnover, with upgrades including new lighting, stage improvements, seating and a two-story control room.
Additional projects planned for 2027 include:
- Renovations to the High School West auditorium beginning in April.
- Media center renovations at both high schools beginning in June.
- HVAC improvements at High School East.
- Continued work on security vestibules at six elementary schools.
- Interior renovations and HVAC improvements at Barton Elementary School.
- Parking lot and site improvements at several district buildings, including Kingston, Sharp and Johnson elementary schools.
Schimpf also discussed the possibility of using capital reserve funding to complete remaining parking lot improvements at Rosa Middle School, where interior renovations have been completed.
Cellphone policies and artificial intelligence
Technology remained another prominent topic as board members reflected on an Oct. 15 community conversation addressing artificial intelligence, digital learning and the district’s new bell-to-bell restrictions on personal internet-enabled devices.
Students from both high schools shared their experiences with the policies, acknowledging benefits such as increased productivity, fewer distractions and more face-to-face interaction.
However, students also raised concerns about maintaining access to phones during emergencies and preserving a balance between digital resources and traditional classroom instruction.
One student emphasized the importance of continuing to develop independent problem-solving skills rather than relying heavily on artificial intelligence.
“We really do want to strike a balance between the online and physical resources that we have,” shared one student.
Board members praised students for their thoughtful participation and acknowledged that additional conversations are necessary as the district evaluates the effectiveness of its technology policies.
The discussion followed a recent visit to East by Gov. Mike Sherrill and NJ education commissioner, who met with students about the statewide restrictions on personal internet-enabled devices.
Morton said Cherry Hill’s earlier implementation of smartphone restrictions in 2024 helped prepare students and staff for the expanded policies now in place.
Student achievements and district updates
Student representatives from East and West also shared academic, athletic and extracurricular accomplishments.
East celebrated 39 National Merit Commended Scholars and five semifinalists, while its student newspaper, Eastside, earned recognition as New Jersey’s top school newspaper for the 18th consecutive year.
East representatives also highlighted the school’s first Mid-Autumn Festival, which attracted more than 300 attendees.
At West, students celebrated the marching band’s second-place finish in its division at the Oct. 25 regional Tournament of Bands competition, earning its highest score since 2018.
Students also previewed upcoming theatrical productions, school spirit activities and opportunities for eighth graders to explore the high schools.
Additional board business
The board approved several action-agenda items covering curriculum, finance, personnel and policy.
Among the policy matters was a clarification to preschool open-enrollment procedures concerning transfer requests, waitlist placement and transportation.
During public comment, residents raised concerns about school funding, student treatment, proposed site improvements at Kingston Elementary School and the scheduling of a future budget hearing on a Jewish holiday.
Board President Gina Winters also discussed her participation in state-level conversations about school funding, emphasizing the need for a broader definition of student success that includes academics, athletics, arts, leadership and extracurricular involvement.
The meeting underscored the district’s continuing efforts to improve student experiences while balancing behavioral support, facility modernization, technology changes and financial challenges.
The next board of education work session will be held on Tuesday, November 10; the next public meeting will be held Tuesday, November 24. All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.
