MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Bernards Township School District is to provide a superior education which results in academic excellence, responsible behavior, good citizenship and fosters social-emotional development so that ultimately each student will be able to:

• Maximize his/her potential.
• Become a contributing member of society.
• Maintain a commitment to life-long learning.
• Achieve the New Jersey Student Learning Standards at all grade levels.

PHILOSOPHY
BERNARDS TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT BELIEVES:

• Education is our first priority.
• Intellectual, social, physical and emotional development are essential to a student's education.
• Children learn in different ways; we have a responsibility to help all students maximize their potential.
• Students will benefit from a challenging curriculum with high standards.
• Individual student achievement is maximized by high expectations.
• Co-curricular and community service activities are important components of effective education.
• Education provides a foundation for life-long learning, critical and analytical thinking, problem solving, decision-making and respect for the individual.

DISTRICT GOALS
2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR

Goal 1

Strengthen the district’s data entry, analysis, and reporting functions to enhance individual student and curricular recommendations for improvement.

Actions
1. Select a tool for academic data warehousing and reporting; train staff on its use.
2. Train administrative staff on nuances in academic data reporting and how academic data flows from district systems like Genesis to public systems like NJ Smart.
3. Expand elementary student data points to include screening data for grades 2 and 3; communicate same to stakeholders.

Strategic Plan connection to Strand 1 Academic Programs.

Goal 2

Continue to prioritize student wellness initiatives.

Actions
1. Clearly communicate expectations with respect to technology use (personal devices, AI, GAI) to all students, families and staff.
2. Review the balance of play time, screen time and instructional time during the school day for appropriateness.
3. Review school calendar, homework, and drug screening policies for possible improvements.

Strategic Plan connection to Strand 2 Student Wellness and Safety.

Goal 3

Maximize the efficiency of the staff development program and educate the staff about AI and GAI.

Actions
1. Prioritize the use of staff development time to teach the staff ways that AI and GAI can be used to improve their teaching and if/when/how it may be used directly with students to improve their learning.
2. Streamline the staff college program to deliver quality professional development opportunities in an efficient manner.

Strategic Plan connection to Strand 3 Staff Development, Wellness and Safety.

Goal 4

Achieve maximum financial and operational outcomes by targeting key action items.

Actions
1. Begin the 2026-2027 budget process early to explore all possible efficiency and revenue options.
2. Update the position control roster and other data in the conversion process to the district’s new business office/human resources software, CSI.
3. Institute monthly reviews of the health benefits program.

Strategic Plan connection to Strand 4 Facilities and Operations.