12/12/2025
Superintendent’s Meeting Summary
This letter represents the superintendent's December 10, 2025 School Board meeting summary. For the complete agenda and the meeting video please visit the Gloucester Meeting Portal.
8th-grader Sutton Earwood, an 8th grade student at Peasley Middle School kicked off the school board meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Two Gloucester High School seniors, Deican O’Brien and Hannah Symonds, were celebrated as the December Seniors of the Month for their exceptional leadership, service, and academic accomplishments.
Mrs. Heather Earwood, PTA President at Peasley Middle School, was as the Community Volunteer of the Month, for her exceptional service to students and staff, including coordinating a dress closet for student events and leading supportive fundraising efforts.
Our Accent on Academics presentation focused on students’ use of algebra tiles to strengthen foundational skills in simplifying algebraic expressions, improving accuracy and confidence in preparation for advanced coursework. Thank you for demonstrating outstanding mathematics instruction.
We welcomed FFA Teacher Renae Hypes and students Lexi Spangler, Kara Willoughby, Delisha Minor, and Leland Webb-Dyson, who shared insights from the National FFA Convention in Indiana, demonstrating the impact of high-quality CTE experiences.
Our student representative, Erik Waters, provided updates on senior activities, including progress on the senior mural, recent state titles, and additional senior-year events.
The annual Program of Studies update included proposed new course offerings, including:
Grades 6–8 Career Investigations
Accelerated middle-school science
Criminal Justice II
Techniques of Dance Levels 1–4
AP African American Studies
Shifting Health & PE from 11th to 10th grade
Administering the W!SE Financial Literacy Assessment to all Economics & Personal Finance students
Staff were also asked to reconsider a standalone Unmanned Aircraft course outside the NJROTC licensing pathway and bring back the course proposals at the January school board meeting.
Division Updates:
Dr. Amy Stamm, Chief Human Resources Officer, provided a preview of teacher compensation discussions heading into budget season.
Mr. Duren, Chief Finance Officer, shared federal funding updates, noting uncertainty as U.S. Department of Education grants transition to new agency partnerships.
Calendar Approval:
The School Board approved the 178-day instructional calendar, selecting the preferred start date of August 24, 2026, with the school year concluding in the first week of June. This calendar also includes no school the week of Thanksgiving. Additionally, the Board approved a minor adjustment to the current academic year calendar: the Teacher Workday/Professional Day originally scheduled for March 27, 2026, will now occur on January 21, 2026, creating two non-student days between semesters. Second semester/third quarter will begin January 22, and March 27 will now serve as an early-release day, marking the end of third quarter. I want to extend my appreciation to the calendar committee for their time, thoughtful input, and work on the multi-year calendar models presented last night.
I also thanked School Board members for participating in VSBA Take Your Legislator to School Month, and we appreciate Delegate Keith Hodges and Senator Ryan McDougle for their engagement and commitment to Gloucester County Public Schools.
Additionally, I announced that February 4–5 will be Principal for a Day, giving community partners and elected officials an opportunity to learn more about school operations, funding, instruction, and the challenges and opportunities facing public education.
This is Mr. Fred Brewer, final school board meeting. We thank you for the dozens of hours he spent in our schools making connections with teachers, students and staff. The School Board thanked and recognized Mr. Fred Brewer for his excellent service and longstanding commitment to GCPS teachers, students, staff, and the community.