Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District on Wednesday, September 6.

The opening bell for the school year has not rung yet—--that sound will be heard all through the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District on Wednesday, September 6.

But for the administrators for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District, the kickoff for the school year was launched during the week of August 21 through 24.

It was during this week of the later stages of the summer vacation when the school district’s annual Admin Retreat was staged to place everyone on board to brace for the upcoming wave known as the 2023-2024 school year.

The week went off on Monday, August 21, when the four new administrators toured the Wade Administration Building, the headquarters for the school district that is located in Martinsville.

Dr. Dan Fonder, the Assistant Superintendent for Personnel, and Bruce Moran, the Webmaster/Communications Specialist, served as the tour guides to Lisa Lattarulo, who is the Supervisor of Counseling and Wellness Pre K-8, Dr. Tamara Jean-Jacques, who is the Supervisor of Special Services 5-8, LeighAnn Matthews, who is the Supervisor of English as a Second Language and World Languages K-12, and Matt McCarthy, the Supervisor of Fine and Performing Arts.

Administrators and officials gathered in meetings that day at school buildings in the district. The general meeting that brought all administrators to the Wade Building occurred on Tuesday, August 22, at noon time when Superintendent Bob Beers spearheaded the session with a presentation of district goals and expectations.

The message delivered by Superintendent Bob Beers was simple. “Let us keep it simple,” Superintendent Beers stated. “Just make sure that you align with what you are doing and collaborate with your colleagues.”

He was joined in the meeting by Dr. Fonder, who spoke of the new employees who will be starting, and Karen Jones, the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, who shared the school district’s goals and action plans.

Superintendent Beers spoke during the video presentation and reported on the capital improvements throughout the district all summer, the increase in communications as well as an expansion of the security team that now numbers 11 from the total of six from last year, and finally, the need for Referendum question to be approved don November 7 that will fund the operating costs of full-day kindergarten.

Below is the presentation that was shown at both the Admin Retreat general meeting and later at the Board of Education meeting, both on August 22. Board of Education Presentation August 2023. A review of the school district’s testing scheduling was led by Jason Mauriello, the Director of 21st Century Learning and Data, and Jaimee Kochis, the Director of IT, was held later on August 22.

The main conference room at Wade served as the venue once again on Wednesday, August 23, when administrators returned to listen while Doug Silvestro, the Board of Education Attorney and Dr. Fonder reviewed the many topics involved in Required Legal Training.

Meetings to review Observation and Evaluation with Dr. Fonder and Threat Assessment Team and Substance Abuse under Dr. Dan Silvia, the Assistant Superintendent for Special Services, were also held on August 23.

The final day of the week’s sessions on Thursday, August 24, included separate administration and principal meetings as well as a discussion on New Jersey Student Learning Assessments that was directed by Mr. Mauriello and the Coaching meeting, which was presented by Assistant Superintendent Jones. These gatherings were held at various school buildings.

“We are proud of the group we have and we ask to continue to collaborate and move the ship in the right direction,” Superintendent Beers said.

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