First Day Of School In Bloomfield Nears: See Upgrades For 2023-2024

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — The first day of a new school year is just around the bend for students in Bloomfield, and there are plenty of changes that have been happening across the district this summer, officials say.

Superintendent Salvatore Goncalves recently released a back-to-school letter to the community, outlining some new programs and initiatives that parents and students should be aware of. They include several facility upgrades, which can be seen below. Read the full letter here.

The first day of school for students in the Bloomfield Public School District takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Read More: See Important Dates For 2023-2024 In Bloomfield Schools

Goncalves also gave an update about the new projects at the board of education meeting last week (watch the video here or view it below, at approximately the 29:50 mark).

Goncalves pointed out that there is a new visitor system this year that requires the use of state-issued identification:

“So when you come to our schools, you're going to have to show ID, parents, whether it's your driver's license or your ID. You're going to scan that, you're going to come in if it's the first time, we're going to have to take your picture, you're going to go into the system – it just stays in the system [and] doesn't go anywhere else – and then you'll receive a sticker and you'll be able to visit the school. And then upon leaving, you'll exit out.”

“It's another layer of security, to make sure who's going in and out of our schools,” Goncalves said.

UPGRADES

Here are some highlights about facility upgrades that have been taking place in the district, as per the superintendent.

Berkeley - New retaining wall out front of the school, a new column wall was fixed and painted outside the parking lot, and the fence project in the back of the building was completed.

Brookdale - New VCT tile installed outside media center, new glass backboards installed in the multi-purpose room, new netting outside for exterior basketball hoop, installed new basketball hoops in multi-purpose room, removed old fencing and installed new backstop and dug out fencing, repaired and leveled the soccer field, structured a baseball field on the far end of the soccer field, and leveled off the old field and planted grass.

Carteret - New glass backboards installed in the multi-purpose room, new flower boxes were installed in front of the building, and the start of the HVAC project.

Demarest - New hallway ceiling tiles and grid installed, new lights installed, and sidewalks fixed around the school.

Fairview - A new basement floor installed, new glass backboards installed in the multi-purpose room, bonding and fixing the front exterior wood of the school, removing of front trees, two renovated student bathrooms, painted the main office, and painted the front lobby.

Franklin - Painted the whole basement hallway, new VCT tile installed in classrooms, new glass backboards installed in the multi-purpose room.

ECC - HVAC window project.

BMS - HVAC window project, soccer fields renovated and leveled off, and a new spectator bleacher was installed and leveled off around the ball field.

Oakview - Four classrooms received new ceiling tile grids and track installed and new lights installed.

Bloomfield High School - Roof was fixed and repaired, new E-sports game room, the Robotics room was renovated, and the front sidewalk was fixed.

Watsessing - Stage column was repaired and fixed, HVAC window project, and sidewalk repaired around the school.

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