HPPS Board Bulletin
Click here to view the board meeting
Superintendent’s Report: At last evening’s Board of Education meeting, we were proud to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of our students. Two Irving School students, Lev Benhamou and Vanessa Ribeiro, were honored for exemplifying the Dragon Way, serving as model representatives of our district’s values through their character, responsibility, and commitment to learning. We also recognized high school student-athlete Cooper Ballantine for his exceptional achievement in surpassing 1,000 career basketball points, a testament to his dedication, perseverance, and teamwork.
In addition, a preliminary budget presentation was shared with the Board and community, click here to view the presentation. As a reminder, this budget remains in draft form, and we encourage continued engagement and feedback as we move through the budget development process.
Curriculum and Instruction: The board reviewed and approved several items related to curriculum, student programs, and district operations. Highlights include the approval of a revised 2026–2027 school calendar, designating April 21, 2027 as an early dismissal day in observance of the Passover holiday; a sidebar agreement with the Highland Park Education Association to implement a Teacher Evaluation Pilot Program during the 2026–2027 school year using an updated Danielson framework; the adoption of an updated Danielson Teacher Evaluation Rubric to support professional growth and instructional improvement; and the approval of the 2026 S.T.A.R. Extended School Year Program, which will run from July 6 through August 6 to provide targeted summer instruction and support services for eligible students.
Finance and Facilities: The board approved action items related to the tentative 2026–2027 budget. The board also approved several contractors for professional development and programs, including The Art of Education University, LLC for resources for Art teachers, Lead Universe and Tova Friedman, a Holocaust survivor, for presentations at the middle school, the Brain Injury Alliance for a presentation on concussion safety, and Dr. Morit Blank for a parent engagement workshop. The committee also provided updates on several facilities projects including the baseball field, the pre-k classroom conversion, and the Bartle boys’ bathroom.
Personnel: Please join us in welcoming the following new staff:
Rasheeda Paige - Paraprofessional at Irving Primary School
President’s Report: Due to recent leadership changes at the state level, there was a delay in districts receiving official state aid figures. Consequently, we had to adjust the date of our preliminary budget hearing to ensure our planning is based on the most accurate data. We deeply value your perspective and want to ensure our community has a meaningful opportunity to participate in this process. Because your input is vital, we are holding a special Board Meeting on April 13, 2026 at 7:00 P.M. This session is dedicated to hearing your thoughts, questions, and feedback regarding the budget, and we encourage you to attend and share your voice.