The April 18 Elizabeth Board of Education business meeting at Donald Stewart Early Childhood Center School No. 51 opened with a moment of silence for retired Woodrow Wilson School No. 19 Personal Assistant Valeria Ivey and Elvira G. Milanes, the mother of Director of Plant, Property & Equipment Luis Milanes.

Elizabeth Public Schools Superintendent Olga Hugelmeyer presented the student representative to the Board for the April meeting, senior Ingrid Osorio of Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr. Healthy & Public Safety Academy. Over the past 3 years since transferring from New York, Osorio has remained diligent and worked hard to earn a very impressive 4.3 GPA. Along with her excellent academic record, she has been a member of the MCJROTC program for the past two years, earning many awards with her team. Osorio is president of the National Honor Society and is on the varsity swim team, earning the coveted captain role her senior year. Next year, Osorio will begin her journey at the college level, having earned a full tuition scholarship to Kean University.  She plans to study Education with the ultimate career goal of becoming a bilingual teacher.

After Osorio came forward to join the other members of the Board and the public participation segment of the meeting concluded, Hugelmeyer presented the community updates, which included an announcement about the Panorama Education Family Surveys. Families of Elizabeth Public Schools students are strongly encouraged to take the survey, offered in several languages, to help us provide the highest quality education and to ensure every child achieves excellence. The survey will be available until Friday, May 3.

The Panorama Education Family Surveys can be found at surveys.panoramaed.com/elizabeth/family

The superintendent also presented the 2022-2023 School Performance Reports that were released by the New Jersey Department of Education this month.

Following the presentation of the School Performance Reports, Board President Charlene Bathelus Dorgely presented a video spotlighting Board member Iliana Chevres who during the month of April is sponsoring the initiatives Autism Acceptance Month and Child and Teen Safety Matters through the district’s partnership with the Monique Burr Foundation and Goya Foods. Throughout the month of April, Elizabeth Public Schools will be promoting lessons and activities that support and celebrate our students with autism and their families. Additionally, throughout the year, we will be educating and empowering students with information and strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to situations that compromise personal safety.