Deptford recently outlined changes in the school district – in both policy and physical improvements – that will take place when classes begin Thursday.
One major change will be implementation of the new off-and-away-during-the-school-day phone policy. It means students must have devices off and put away from the first school bell until the end of the day. Phones can still be used both before and after classes.
Also new are changes to the ELA curriculum for students from kindergarten to the second grade.
“Curriculum will include a new reading/ELA program, called ‘CKLA …'” explained Superintendent Kevin Kanauss. “A new literacy program is needed in district to align to the new New Jersey State Learning Standards for ELA.”
CKLA stands for Core Knowledge Language Arts, a program to build decoding and handwriting skills and provide background knowledge through read-aloud and discussion sessions.
“Lake Tract and the (Deptford) middle school will begin the New Jersey Positive Behavior Support in School (PBSIS) program for staff and students,” Kanauss noted. “The schools received a grant for staff professional development and program start-up.
“We’re adding six new pre-K classrooms (90 total students) to our pre-K program at Central Early Childhood Center, which reduces our large wait list for pre-K in Deptford.”
Because of recent state aid cuts that are affecting many schools in New Jersey, the township district’s budget has resulted in a loss of positions and the shifting of teachers and staff.
As for school buildings, Central students will see a new, rubber playing surface and new playground equipment, both added over the summer. Work on the Oak Valley Elementary School security vestibule is expected to be completed in November. That project was funded with money from the 2024-’25 school budget.
The high-school’s cafeteria got a major renovation that means a new layout, new furniture and new cooking equipment. Bus routes – which are impacted by school start and end times – have also changed.
“The dropoff and pick-up procedures for buses and parents at the high school and Shady Lane (Elementary) are being changed for the safety of the students and the surrounding roads at each school,” Kanauss said. “We’ve adjusted the school start and end times to allow for more smooth and efficient bus routes for students and families.”
