On Monday, March 16, the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education (BOE) discussed the 2026-2027 budget, school rankings, and current trends regarding chronic absenteeism.
The meeting began with a superintendent report from Interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips. He opened by congratulating Hills Class of 2026 valedictorian Madison Espinosa and co-salutatorians Nina Indugula and Katherine Glass for Class of 2026. Phillips also discussed district events, such as NJGPA testing, the spring musical, and the end of the winter sports season.
The meeting continued with a series of committee reports. Board Member Kristin Martin’s report on the Governance and Personnel Committee identified recent issues the committee handled such as parental complaints and a new approach to attendance tracking for committee members.
Board Member Gini Varghese discussed the Finance and Facilities Committee’s tours of both district high schools to evaluate which facilities require renovation. Varghese’s notes were discussed in more detail during the 2026-2027 budget presentation.
Finally, Board Member Katie Keller presented the Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology Committee report, highlighting the district’s efforts to expose instructors to the available AI resources to maximize their teaching efficiency and quality.
Pascack Hills student representative Stephanie Yeung delivered her student report, showcasing a variety of projects and field trips. She brought up many recent field trips including the French Department’s recent trip to Quebec, a senior center visit by the Honors Ceramics class, and Model UN traveling to Princeton University.
She also presented on the philanthropic projects of a multitude of clubs, such as clubs providing fresh, clean water in Baso, and the TEEEM organization packing thousands of meals to distribute to people in need in partnership with Rise Against Hunger. Other co-curricular activities were the Black Student Union’s “Family Feud” event, the annual Model UN competition, the upcoming end to the debate season, and the STEM team’s recent victory in competition, before concluding with a recap of the successful winter sports season.
Board Secretary Cynthia Kirk delivered a presentation regarding the 2026-2027 tentative budget. Key additions to the upcoming school year include a new AP Microeconomics course, expanded use of technology (including Gemini), and increased funding for co-curricular programs. To balance these additions, the district has implemented minor staff reductions and other small adjustments.
The budget aims to prioritize supporting the district’s vision. “Our district vision is to create a culture of innovation, inquiry, and individuality that promotes achievement and choice by cultivating the skills needed to compete and collaborate as ethical and responsible global citizens,” Kirk stated.
Interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips and Head of Curriculum Dr. Mark Russo then presented an analysis of the district’s school rankings. They noted that while rankings from US News and World Report use objective measurements, they often fail to tell the “whole story.”
Dr. Russo compared the district’s scores to neighboring schools such as Northern Highlands and Park Ridge. “Mathematics and reading proficiency are right in line with our peers… Our science results, though lower than math and ELA, are also in line with our peers,” Russo stated.
Russo attributed the lower “grades” in the AP section of the grading to the district’s policy of giving students the choice of whether or not to take the AP exam, which sparked a board discussion regarding student mental health and the encouragement of rigorous coursework. Phillips concluded this section by stating, “I caution the district, as I always would, not to chase rankings.”
The presentation then shifted to the topic of chronic absenteeism. Russo and Phillips defined what constitutes chronic absenteeism and how often it occurs in the district.
Chronic absenteeism is when a student misses 10 percent of school days, not including excused absences, but notably, even with a doctor’s note, being sick is generally considered unexcused. Current attendance rates indicate that 15 percent of students are on track to reach chronic absenteeism by the end of the year.
A primary cause for chronic absenteeism can be mental health issues and stress. The Board emphasized the importance of having mental health resources and ensuring that school remains a “safe place” for all students. Phillips tied this into the recent school climate survey taken by students that will give them a better understanding of how students feel in school.
The meeting neared its end with comments from the public. Hills senior Ettie Egers promoted the Pascack Hills Musical, The Addams Family, which was performed this weekend, while other speakers discussed the rising expenses of flights and hotels for co-curricular competitions, which could not be purchased in advance due to New Jersey legislation constraints.
For a full viewing of the BOE meeting, click the link below:
