Board Meeting Essential Takeaways (In Brief)

Meeting Date: September 16, 2025

2‑minute read

This official Board Meeting Essential Takeaways highlights the most important actions and updates from the meeting.

View agenda | Watch full meeting

Highlights & Celebrations

• Kindness Certificates: The district recognized Transportation team members and preschool educators Chelsea Russo and Skyla Rizzi after parent commendations for exceptional care and classroom excellence.
• Extended School Year (ESY) ran July 7–August 14 for 152 students (Pre-K–8) with academics plus PE, music, and science; appreciation to partners including the Robertsville Fire Department.
• The district earned a Certificate of Excellence in financial reporting (sixth consecutive year).

Student Impact

• Smooth opening of school: Buildings were ready, instruction began promptly, and transportation ran well overall.
• Asher Holmes and Robertsville jointly marked Constitution Day/Star-Spangled Banner, the first in a series of USA-250 activities this year.

Referendum Communications (Asher & Robertsville AC)

• Referendum information is centralized on the district site, “No Sweat, No Debt.”, which can be found here.
• October 14 meeting will be a workshop dedicated to the referendum with bond counsel, architect, engineer, and financial advisor on hand for Q&A; information tables and materials available.
• Community outreach plans include a digital “postcard,” township email blasts, school newsletter, social posts, and tables at Back-to-School Nights; a small targeted print run will be considered if needed for less tech-connected audiences.
• Communications will emphasize how and where to vote to reduce confusion ahead of Election Day (November 4).

Board Actions

• Approved the following: Transfers, Bills List, monthly financial certifications, HIB report, amended out-of-district placement, boiler maintenance contract, state contract purchases, Board goals (2025–26), District goals (2025–26), and updated facilities-use fee schedule.
• Personnel: Accepted retirements (including Jill O’Brien and Linda Winter), resignations, appointments, salary/leave adjustments, bus driver/attendant hours.

Committee Reports

• Advisory Committee (Referendum): Strong response from community volunteers; follow-ups underway.
• Buildings & Grounds: Summer projects included a second auxiliary gym floor abatement/replacement at MMS (phase 2 of 3), multiple flooring and asphalt upgrades, unit ventilator deep-clean at MMS, district painting, and progress on the Asher pump house (quoting/bid path). Facility-use is moving to an online system targeted for January; the township’s new softball turf field will be turned over to the district once ready.
• Communications: Launching a 2-minute Board recap on the district site to follow regular and workshop meetings.
• Curriculum / Special Services: Updated RTI manual to ensure districtwide consistency; ESL planning for enrollment growth; G&T FAQs available. The state announced a new assessment with a fall field test with more details pending. The U.S. DOE is ending the National Blue Ribbon Schools program; the district will watch for state-level recognition updates. Title I POWER now serves Defino, Robertsville, and Asher. Second-grade health standard 2.1.2.PGD.5: 64% opt-in / 36% opt-out (as of Sept 8).
• Policy: Ongoing collaboration with PTA/PTOs on policy updates; next committee meeting scheduled.

Key Dates

• Oct 14, 2025: Referendum Workshop (with professionals for Q&A)
• Oct 28, 2025: Regular Meeting
• Nov 18, 2025: Regular Meeting