Summit Scoop
A monthly District newsletter
Dear Summit Public Schools Community,
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! I hope you and your families enjoyed a summer filled with relaxation, fun experiences, and happy memories. If you have been a part of the Summit Public School District, we welcome you back for another fantastic school year. If you are new to the District, we are excited to have you join our special school community. It has been my privilege to serve as Superintendent of Summit Public Schools for the past five years, and I am excited and honored to begin another school year with all of you. We are all eager to welcome our students back to school on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Below are some updates and important information for parents and guardians. Please read through all of the items to ensure a smooth transition into the school year.
Investing In Our Future
I am excited to announce that through our Investing in our Future initiative, LCJSMS will enjoy air conditioning throughout the building on the first day of school! Additional completed projects within Investing in our Future include the High School Library Media Center, the drama/chorus room, Middle School cafeteria, two new instructional spaces at the Middle School, and the lower turf field. I want to thank everyone involved in making these visions possible, as well as everyone in our District community who remained flexible throughout the construction over the last two years. We hope you join us in our excitement as we continue to invest in the future of Summit students.
New Staff
At this time, we have around 40 new staff members joining Summit Public Schools for the upcoming school year. In addition to new teachers and support staff, we welcomed Ray Santana as Lincoln-Hubbard Principal, Dr. Nick Mellina as Supervisor of Mathematics, and Alison Caravano as Supervisor of Fine, Performing, and Practical Arts. In addition to new members of the team, some internal movement of administrators include Jenna Colineri as Franklin Principal, Dan Healy as Jefferson Principal, Eric Fontes as LCJSMS Assistant Principal, and Allison Flockhart as Athletic Director/Supervisor of Health and Physical Education.
Technology
The District will be sending out a test of our emergency alert system through School Messenger, our mass notification system, to all parents/guardians and staff within the first few weeks of school. If you do not receive a test message from the District by the end of September, please email problem@summit.k12.nj.us and a member of our Technology team will address the issue. Please ensure your contact information is up-to-date in Genesis, which syncs with School Messenger. You must opt-in to receive text message alerts from the District through School Messenger. Those who selected to opt-in last year will not have to provide consent again this year. Those who are new to the District, please click here for instructions on how to opt-in to receive text alerts through School Messenger.
Communication
We are proud to highlight our curriculum, programs, and events, as well as share student and staff achievement with our entire school community. District highlights can be found on our website, free mobile app available in the App Store and Google Play Store, as well as our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter). The District also sends out a monthly digital newsletter, Summit Scoop, on the last Thursday of every month. I want to thank all of the parents, guardians, and staff members who filled out our school-based communication survey back in the spring. The results of the survey can be found on the District website under the Communications page. The District’s Communications Officer reviewed all of the results with each principal and looked at our strengths, as well as what we can improve at the schools and from the district level. We will continue to strive for clear, concise, and transparent communication to ensure all stakeholders are well informed.
School Visitors
All of our schools utilize a visitor management system. When a visitor arrives at the school, they will be asked to provide identification, such as a driver's license or state-issued ID card. If the visitor does not have any means of identification on them, they will be asked to input their first name, last name, and date of birth into the system. The identification is then scanned into the system, and the visitor's information is checked against a database to ensure they are not on any prohibited lists. Once the visitor's information has been verified, a temporary badge will be printed and provided to them by the school security officer or school secretary. This badge must be worn at all times while the visitor is on school grounds and will be collected upon their departure. As a reminder, our schools do not allow unannounced visits. Appointments must be made in advance to see teachers, counselors, administrators, and other staff. Please be prepared to announce your name and purpose in order to be granted access into the building. In the event an emergency visit is necessary, please call the school’s main office ahead of your arrival so we are prepared to accommodate your needs. Drop-off items (lunch, instrument, Chromebook, etc.) may be dropped off at the main entrance vestibule. Please look for further information on visitor procedures from building principals.
Board of Education
For the 2025-2026 school year, Ms. Melanie Cohn is serving as President of the Board of Education and Ms. Eileen Kelly is serving as Vice President. To learn more about the Board and view the schedule of monthly meetings, please visit the District website.
Policies
We are required by state law to make the District’s policies accessible to you on an annual basis. You can review policies at any time on our website.
Use of Electronic Communication Devices
I want to draw your attention to Policy and Regulation 5516, Use of Electronic Communication Devices. After assessing our practices and procedures on students’ use of cell phones and electronic communication devices (ECD), the District has determined that moving forward, our schools will be making a more purposeful effort to enforce the rules regarding student use of electronic devices and cell phones. Elementary (Pre-K through Grade 5) students are prohibited from using an electronic communication device anywhere on school grounds during the school day to include, but not be limited to, during before and after school programs, during any co-curricular activity, and on a school bus. Middle School (Grades 6-8) students' use of ECD will be limited during the school day. Devices must be stored in lockers. High School (Grades 9-12) students' use of ECD will be limited during the school day. Devices must be stored while class is in session. High School students are permitted to use ECD during lunch time, study hall, at times approved by the teacher for instructional purposes. Further details can be found by clicking the buttons below. The Board of Education approved the first reading of the Policy and Regulation at our August 21 meeting, which means these rules will apply and be enforced across our schools at the start of this school year. Principals will be going into further detail at Back to School Night and in their communications. We ask for your partnership in reviewing these rules with your child. By working together, we can ensure that technology supports learning without disrupting the school day.
We look forward to welcoming all of our students on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of summer break and feels energized for the start of another wonderful school year!