On Monday night, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognized student and staff achievements, observed anti-bullying district reports, and listened to residents’ concerns regarding midterm and final exams.
In March, the 2024 Terra North Jersey STEM Fair was held at Kean University, where numerous Hills students participated and won awards for their STEM-related projects that were judged by professional scientists and engineers. The Board recognized the following Hills students’ accomplishments and project topics:
- Zoe Green – Modulation of One Carbon Metabolism Influence on Histone 3 Lysine 4 Trimethylation Expression Project
- Animal Science Category – First Place
- Human Genetics Award – First Place
- Wonder Women in Science Award
- Olivia Ge and Suhani Mahale – Analysis of Plant Acoustic Sound Emissions Under Different Stresses Project
- Plant Science Category – First Place
- Prisha Mehta and Hyunjun (Fred) Lim – Testing Anesthetic Effects of Clove, Lavender, and Menthol Vapor on Plant Responses Project
- Plant Science Category – Second Place
BOE student representative Olivia Ge gave her final report of the 2023-24 school year. She discussed the World Culture Festival, Spring Graduation Concert, and Chemistry Olympics awards.
Ge also discussed sports-related updates. She congratulated the Boys’ Track new record, the Boys’ Tennis Division Championship, and the Future Bronco Day Softball win. In other sports-related news, Senior Hadyn Hopper was selected for the First Team All-County Girls Bowling.
President Gini Varghese made an additional message to the student BOE representatives.
“The Board of Education wishes Olivia Ge continued success in her education and her pursuit of other activities…I would personally like to thank both [student BOE representatives]. You have given us great jokes of the day but more than that, you have given us great information about both schools and we really appreciate the both of you,” she said.
Junior Reina Aliko, junior Sophia Padilla, sophomore Camilla Ambrocio, and sophomore Eva Friedman were congratulated by the Board for their 2025 All-State Treble Choir selections. Additionally, sophomore Colin Barry, sophomore Caitlin Buckley, sophomore Elijah Chen, sophomore Anderson Moss, and sophomore Ayan Swain were congratulated for their 2025 All-State Mixed Choir selections.
In honor of National School Communicators Day, District Public Relations Professionals Paul Zeller, Director of Technology & Communications; Michelle Ramirez, Confidential Secretary for Technology, Communications, & the Business Office; and interns Vincent Coglianese and Andrew Welsh were recognized for their commitment by the board.
The Hills and district staff members were awarded 2023-24 recognitions. In December, the annual recognition of Teacher of the Year and Educational Services Professional of the Year was announced. From Pascack Hills, Physical Business Teacher Corin Gamgort and Student Assistance Counselor Jennifer Zimmermann were selected for these awards, respectively. Both were recognized at the meeting.
Special Education Paraprofessional Paul Hildum was selected as the 2023-24 Outstanding Support Staff Member of the Year. He was also recognized at the meeting.
District Supervisor of Guidance Dr. Sean Struncis presented the district’s 2022-2023 Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights: Self-Assessment Report. He discussed the district score report, staff-centered HIB initiatives, and student-centered HIB initiatives.
“I am pleased to share that at both Pascack Hills and Pascack Valley High Schools not only did we meet but we exceeded expectations for the department of education in all…areas with the exception of a couple where we met the expectations, we did not exceed them. So, we are very proud of our ongoing efforts and the key there is that they are ongoing,” he said.
When the Board opened to take comments from the public, Hillsdale residents addressed the Board questioning midterms and final grade data and ethics. Considering that other surrounding districts do not administer midterms and finals, the PVRHSD requiring them for Math and Science creates a competitive barrier between students’ college acceptance chances, they said. The residents urged Superintendent Bilotti to pause these exams for the 2024-2025 school year.
The BOE entered executive session. Upon returning, they discussed midterms, finals, and course evaluations under old business. Superintendent Sarah Bilotti discussed a change in final exam schedules for both Hills and Valley compared to the 2022-23 school year.
“It’s a continuing conversation,” she said.
When the Board opened to take comments from the public, Pascack Hills History Teacher and Pascasck Valley Regional Education Association (PVREA) President Deborah Horn introduced the incoming PVREA president and vice president, respectively. She also expressed her gratitude for the district.
“Through it all, we treat each other with dignity and respect…The mutual trust and respect between the Board and the superintendent and the teachers [are] one of the hallmarks of this district,” she said.
