The July 19 Elizabeth Board of Education meeting at Donald Steward Early Childhood Center School No. 51 opened with a moment of silence for the passing of Alexander Hamilton Preparatory Academy 6 Hour General Worker Joseph C. Dering.

Prior to the official start of the meeting, students from the Elizabeth Public Schools summer English as a Second Language program performed acts celebrating Colombian and Puerto Rican Heritage. The performances included “Plena Criolla,” performed by Arianna Haydee Severino Reyes, Vanyelis Natalia Vega Diaz, Maria Paola Henao, and Carol Natalia Romero Lopez under the direction of Mrs. Diosa Alvelaez, “Columbian Intro,” performed by Valerie Del Pilar Mateus, Oscarsantiago Mateus, and Rodrigo Tello and “San Juanero,” performed by Jhosue Sabastian Mina Sanchez, Maria Paula Hernandez Martinez, Eilyn Nicolle Sanchez Cardona, and Jacob Vasco Sanchez under the direction of Mrs. Ximena Andrea Vanegas, “La Pollera,” performed by Sebastian Alfonso Castellanos Mata, Sherlyn Valeria Arboleda Hidalgo, Emmanuel Tamayo Arenas, and Sharik Johana Rengifo Martinez under the direction of Mrs. Monica Gabriela Luzardo, and “Cali Pachanguero,” performed by Erica Morales Caraballo and and Sophia Bermudez under the direction of Mrs. Evelyn S. Hernandez.