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Heads up! Our parent watchdogs have scanned the upcoming agenda for Paramus Public School District. We found 9 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Health Policy Loophole May Allow Mental Health Services Without Parental Consent
The proposed Health Policy #5141 contains a loophole regarding mental health services. While it requires parental consent for an external referral, it also states this rule does not limit the district’s authority to provide “mental health assessments and services” directly, creating a pathway for in-school services without parental knowledge or consent.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: This is a final vote. Contact the Board (see Official Agenda link): ‘Vote NO on Item 6.12 unless the loophole is closed. Amend Policy 5141 to require explicit, written parental consent before ANY mental health assessment or service is provided to a student by school staff.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Mental Health Services Without Consent
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Over $880k Contract Funds ‘Wellness Coach’ and ‘Social Skills’ Training
The board is approving a contract for nearly $885,000 with Bergen County Special Services for non-public schools, funded by federal IDEA money. The list of services explicitly includes “Wellness Coach,” “Social Skills” training, and “Executive Functions Coach,” which are all delivery mechanisms for Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the Board (see Official Agenda link): ‘Pull Item 11.12 from the Consent Agenda. What curriculum will the ‘Wellness Coach’ and ‘Social Skills’ trainers be using? Parents deserve to know how federal special education funds are being used to implement SEL.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $884,833 for SEL Services
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District-Wide Student Behavior & Data Tracking System (MTSS)
The district is approving its professional development plan, which centers on implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). This framework establishes a system for tracking student academic, behavioral, and social-emotional data to assign “tiered interventions,” potentially without specific parental consent for each step.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the District Office (see the Official Agenda link): ‘Regarding Item 6.4, what specific data points will be collected on students under the MTSS framework? How will parents be notified and given the right to consent before their child is moved into a Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention?’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Student Data & Privacy
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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New Hiring Policy Prioritizes ‘Underrepresented Populations’
The board is adopting a revised hiring policy that explicitly requires “targeting underrepresented populations in every category of employment.” This language shifts the focus from hiring the most qualified candidate to fulfilling identity-based quotas, embedding DEI ideology into the district’s staffing.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a final vote on a policy that could prioritize a job candidate’s identity over their qualifications. Contact the Board (see Official Agenda link): ‘Vote NO on Item 6.8. Paramus schools must hire the most qualified person for the job, period. Stop embedding DEI quotas in district policy.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Hiring Based on Identity
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Federal Grant Accepted with Potential Strings Attached
The board is accepting nearly $300,000 in federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESEA/ESSA) funds. These grants frequently come with requirements for specific data collection on students and implementation of federal “equity” priorities, which can bypass local control.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Contact the District Office (see the Official Agenda link): ‘Regarding Item 6.5, please provide the full ESEA/ESSA grant application and any associated assurances the district signed. Parents have a right to know what conditions are attached to this federal money.’
💰 Taxpayer Impact: $299,430 (Federal Strings Attached)
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| ALERT (LEVEL 3) |
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Vague Title — Manual Review Required for Field Trips
The board is approving lists of co-curricular, curricular, and special event field trips for the entire school year, but the destinations are in attachments not included in this document. Parents should verify where their children are being taken.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: Open the files attached to Items 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm the destinations and ensure they are appropriate for students.
💰 Taxpayer Impact: Undisclosed Locations
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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WIN: District to Ban Student Cell Phone Use During School Day
The board is set to adopt Policy #5131.67, which prohibits student use of internet-enabled devices like smartphones “bell-to-bell.” This is a huge win for restoring academic focus, reducing distractions, and curbing cyberbullying during the school day.
How to Lock It In
PACK THE ROOM TO SUPPORT THIS! Show up and thank the Board for taking decisive action to get phones out of the classroom by approving Item 6.11. This is a model policy that protects the learning environment for all students.
✅ Why It Matters: Improved Academic Focus
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| Major Win (LEVEL 7) |
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WIN: District Increases Frequency of Lead Testing in Water
Revisions to Policy #3510 (Operation & Maintenance) and #3516 (Safety) shorten the required interval for testing lead in school drinking water from every six years to every three years. This is a fantastic move that increases student safety and holds the district to a higher standard.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THE WIN: Thank the Board for prioritizing student health by approving the policy revisions in Items 8.2 and 8.3. Public support reinforces good policy and makes it harder to reverse later.
✅ Why It Matters: Safer Drinking Water
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| Win (LEVEL 6) |
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WIN: District Increases Transparency for Special Education (IEP) Meetings
The revised Special Education Policy #6171.4 includes a new provision requiring the district to provide parents with key information, including who will be absent, at least two business days before an IEP meeting. This is a significant win that gives parents time to prepare and ensures they aren’t ambushed with last-minute changes.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THE WIN: Show up to thank the Board for this positive change in Item 6.14. Publicly praising this increased transparency for IEP meetings puts it on the record and makes it a model for other districts to follow.
✅ Why It Matters: Strengthened Parental Rights
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