The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education approved optional Advanced Placement (AP) testing for students enrolled in an AP course and discussed the process of selecting a mascot logo for each school at their meeting on Monday night. 

While students may decide whether or not to take the AP exam, the district encourages them to take it. BOE member Debra Stephans proposed to “modify and combine paragraphs one and two” of the statement to make it clear. All members of the BOE voted in favor of the change, except for Michael Fronte, who abstained. 

The BOE also discussed the process of selecting the final version of the mascot logo for both schools. 

“If we are having students and faculty vote on it, I’m not sure if it’s a great move to have the BOE vote on it,” interim superintendent Daniel Fishbein said. BOE Vice President Joseph Blundo replied, “I’m not saying we would overrule the wishes of the students and faculty.” 

Members of the BOE agreed that they would prefer to see the final two mascot logo choices for each school before they are shown to the student body. They will not formally vote on approving them, but discuss any concerns they may have.

“If there are no objections, we will put it to [student and staff] vote,” Fishbein said.  

Fishbein gave his monthly report to the BOE. Key points included technology improvements, the completion of work on the parking lot stairs at Hills, and new hires for the district. 

“We’ve had a great first month, we’re back full time with all school activities happening,” he said. 

Student BOE representative Hilary Siegel gave her monthly report on Hills to the BOE. She highlighted the activities of clubs and sports, such as the Student Government Association (SGA) Olympics and Interact’s Fall Food Drive. 

An overnight trip to Belize in April was also discussed at the meeting. A concern for the BOE is the state of the Covid-19 pandemic that month, and how it could affect students and staff. 

If students and/or staff are exposed on the trip, Fishbein said that they will follow “whatever the rules are at the time” for quarantining. In terms of student safety, BOE member Yas Usami added, “a lot of these trips provide additional insurance as well.”

They decided to table the item for three to four months out to reevaluate. 

BOE member James Stankus gave a report on the Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology Committee meeting on Sept. 21. He explained that the district curriculum is following a five-year plan, which means that it will face revision again in the Fall of 2023. Members of the committee also discussed state testing scores, and considered the weight of SAT and AP tests from last year due to the pandemic, more of which will be discussed at their next meeting on Oct. 6.