Superintendent Dr. Justin Smith announced at the recent Evesham Township board of ed meeting that the school district has been designated as “high performing” by the New Jersey Department of Education.
The board also commended two retiring staff members and acknowledged Smith’s own farewell to the district.
The New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) District Performance Review is the education department’s monitoring and district self-evaluation system for the public schools. That system focuses on monitoring and evaluating districts in five areas identified as key factors in effective schools: instruction and program, fiscal management, governance, operations and personnel.
The education department requires districts to conduct comprehensive self-assessments every three years to measure compliance and effectiveness in those areas. The review ensures that districts are providing a thorough and efficient education, and it holds school boards accountable to state standards, tracks student progress and identifies where state guidance or intervention may be needed.
The instruction and program category in the key factors focuses on curriculum, student performance on state assessments, graduation rates and services for special populations. Fiscal management evaluates budgeting, auditing, financial reporting and efficient use of resources. Governance assesses school board policies, adherence to legal requirements and district planning.
The operations category monitors safety, facilities maintenance, security procedures and transportation.
Personnel reviews certification requirements, professional development and staff evaluation systems.
The process starts when district completes the review self-evaluation and scores itself on each indicator. School systems that score 80% or higher are certified for three years. Districts below 80% must collaborate with the education department to create an improvement plan.
“We recently received notice from our county (education) office that our district has been designated as ‘high performing’ by the (department of education) in all five NJQSAC categories, including instruction and program,” Smith said at the board meeting.
“Congratulations first to our students for that achievement,” he added. “And of course to the staff in all roles – classroom teachers foremost – who support (students) in all their achievements, including state assessments, although that’s ultimately not what we’re about.
“The greatest achievement is (student) success beyond the walls of any school.”
Smith then commended the two district retirees: Gary Hoffman, principal at Marlton Middle School, and Gaeton Lucibello, vice principal of the Green House at DeMasi.
“I’ve known Mr. Hoffman since before I sat (on the board) for many, many years,” Smith noted, ” (and) I wish him health and happiness. And for Mr. Lucibello, I wish him very well. It’s been a pleasure to work with and get to know him.”
For the first time, Smith addressed his retirement publicly, after sending an email to district staff in April that said he would step down after this school year.
“For me, I’d just like to publicly thank our board, our administration and all our staff,” he related, “as well as our students and families for their work to make our community so wonderful and special. It is, has been, and continues to be the deepest honor to serve this community as superintendent.
“And thankfully, the happy distraction – the job – continues now, tomorrow and beyond.”
