September 23, 2026 Newsletter
FYI: Special BOE Meeting to Approve a Special Question for Voters in December
As announced at our Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, the Board of Education will be holding a brief special meeting on Monday, Sept. 28th to vote on the language that will be included in a Special Question that will be put to voters on Dec. 8, 2026.
The $7.8 million proposal we are preparing to be on the Dec. 8 ballot would give the community an opportunity to invest in the district to build a stronger financial future. Most notably, this plan would not change the amount Jackson residents currently pay on their property tax bills.
The special board meeting - which will be held Monday, Sept. 28 at 6 p.m. at Jackson Township Middle School - is a brief meeting for the board to vote to finalize the exact language for the special question, as required by law. Moving forward, we will also be talking about this question in the community, and at all of our upcoming meetings, which all feature public forums during which you can ask questions.
- Wednesday, Oct. 14th Regular Board Meeting - 6:30 p.m. @JTMS (Date corrected)
- Wednesday, Nov. 18th Regular Board Meeting - 6:30 p.m. @JTMS
You are also invited to take a look at the general information we have put together on our Dec. 8 Special Question Vote website. This site has an overview of why we are seeking voter approval on this proposal, and has a list of Frequently Asked Questions - which we will be adding to as they come in.
Jackson Students Honor and Remember 9-11
Our students once again made us proud as they helped our community honor the lives lost on September 11. Jackson’s AFJROTC cadets and JTHS choral student Ava Donegan participated in the 9/11 Memorial Service at Westlake Village. Through their service and music, they helped make this solemn remembrance especially meaningful. We are grateful for the care and respect they brought to the occasion. For more photos - see the district website or the JTHS website.
Meanwhile, inside our schools, students in our district participated in projects and age-appropriate discussions to honor the day.
National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students - And a LOT of AP Scholars!
Congratulations to JTHS Students (all STEM Academy Students) - Vansh Joshi, Sadie Hersh and Swayum Mehta, who have been named National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students!
This prestigious national distinction places them among the top 2% of the approximately 1.3 million students who entered the competition, which is an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects their exceptional academic ability, dedication and hard work. We are incredibly proud to have them representing Jackson Township High School!
And speaking of smart, dedicated students... In last spring’s Advanced Placement Exam, Jackson Township High School Had 103 AP Scholars! Check out a chart showing how well they did!
Congratulations to the JTHS Band! 1st Place at Their 1st Competition!
The JTHS Marching Band went out to their first competition this past weekend and earned a 1st Place victory with special awards for Best Overall Effect and Best Visual. There were a total of 12 performing bands and 5 of them were in our group size, meaning they had a similar number of students performing.
Check out a quick video/snapshot into the day sent to us by the band. Enjoy!
New Jersey families: Get $1,000 per child with a simple online tool
Did you know that the New Jersey Child Tax Credit is available to low or no income NJ
residents? Find out if you qualify for a $1,000 cash benefit and apply today.
Get the money you’re owed to benefit what matters most — your family. The New Jersey Child Tax Credit offers qualified residents a $1,000 cash benefit per child/dependent under 6.
Submitting the form couldn’t be easier, with a simple online tool that allows you to do it in 15 minutes or less. This benefit won’t impact your eligibility for most other benefits, like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, or TANF—and it’s available to low or no income residents, even if you’ve never filed taxes before. People with a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) may qualify. Get started now!
¿Hablas español?
¡Usa SimpleFile en español para recibir el dinero al que tiene derecho, incluso si normalmente no presenta una declaración de impuestos!
Back-to-School Forms are on the Parent Portal
REMINDER: You must log in to the Parent Portal to fill out your back to school forms!
These are important forms to ensure we have the proper emergency and health information.
We Must Be Able to Reach You
It is vital that all parent and guardian contact information is accurate and up to date. Please visit the CONTACTS section of the portal to review the phone numbers and email addresses currently on file for your student.
- Grades PreK-6 - Call the Front Office
- Grades 6-12 - Call the Guidance Office
REMINDER: Apply Now for Free Meals and Summer EBT Benefits - You Must Reapply Every Year!
2026-2027 Free and Reduced Meal Applications (which also qualify you for Summer EBT Benefits) are available now on our sites. YOU MUST APPLY EVERY YEAR. You can apply on paper or online through the Payschools app or site. See Free Meal Application page for:
- Videos to help
- Step-by-step instructions
Think you don't qualify? You May!
Income limits have changed and many more families are eligible. For example, a family of four with an annual income of $73,920 would qualify.
Don't Eat School Lunch? Still Apply!
If eligible, you may qualify for other benefits, discounts or grants, and you would automatically be enrolled in the Summer EBT program that provides funds for food for your children in summer.
Don't Think it Matters? It Does!
The district receives additional funding based on the number of eligible students and those funds support ALL students.
Archive of Superintendent's Messages
FYI: In case you miss one, this and previous messages will be archived on our Superintendent's Messages Page.