MONTVALE —MONTVALE — The Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education on Feb. 2 voted to withdraw from Region II, a shared-services special education consortium, and approved the closure of Park Academy, a district-sponsored public school therapeutic program for students in grades 5–8, effective at the end of the current school year.
In a statement issued by Interim Superintendent Dirk Phillips, the district said both Region II and Park Academy will continue operating through the end of the school year, with July 1 marking the official end date for services provided by those programs.
“We sincerely appreciate the services that Region II and Park Academy have provided over the years,” Phillips said, citing the “dedication and care” of staff and the positive impact the programs have had on hundreds of students.
Region II is a consortium of seven school districts that facilitates special education services including speech, occupational and physical therapy, behavior planning, parent coaching, student testing and transportation. According to Phillips, all seven member districts have withdrawn from the consortium.
Services currently provided through Region II will continue next school year, Phillips said, but will be organized and delivered by students’ home districts rather than through the shared-services model.
Park Academy currently enrolls nine students and serves students in grades 5–8. Phillips said none of the enrolled students are from the Pascack Valley Regional High School District, and that most are eighth-graders who would not return to the program next school year regardless. For students in younger grades, placement decisions will be made by their home districts, either within their district or through out-of-district placements.
After reviewing and analyzing both programs, Phillips told Pascack Press after we requested more information, the district determined that dissolving Region II and Park Academy would be more operationally efficient and have less financial impact, while still ensuring students receive the same services they currently receive.
On the district website, Park Academy is described as a separate public school program coordinated by the Region II Office of Special Education for students with behavioral disabilities. The website also states that the district operates five special education programs and serves approximately 352 classified students, with additional students placed out of district.
Change to meeting schedule; constriction project updates
In other business, Phillips told board members the district is transitioning to a calendar-year Board of Education meeting schedule, a change he said will allow new board members to provide input on meeting dates for the entire calendar year.
Phillips also provided updates on three construction projects. Work on the Milestones project has been slowed by extreme cold and snow, though footings have been poured and rebar installed for a ramp. Permits were issued for interior work and demolition has begun on the second floor, he said.
At Pascack Valley High School, Phillips said HVAC improvements and related work in the kitchen have been completed, with a fire inspection scheduled later this week. If that is approved, a final health inspection will follow.
For the PVHS auditorium, Phillips said carpet has been installed in the seating area and stage flooring is being installed this week. He said there is a delay with the new screen and some additional minor work, but the district’s goal is to have the auditorium partially operational when students return from Presidents’ Day break.
Cell phone ban
Phillips also referenced the recently signed “Bell to Bell” cell phone ban, signed in January and set to take effect in September 2026, saying the district will review current practices and develop procedures for the start of next school year.
Phillips said the Feb. 23 board meeting will include presentations on school rankings and student chronic absenteeism.
According to the meeting summary, the board approved the meeting calendar for the remainder of the year, appointed its 2026 committee members, and approved a first reading of policies and regulations concerning employment of the superintendent, nepotism and sexual harassment.
Head coaching appointments
The board also approved two head coaching appointments: Matthew Marini (Pascack Hills football) and Julia Abahazy (Pascack Hills spring track and field, girls).
Several donations were accepted for district groups and programs, including $2,000 from Nu Products Seasoning Co. for PH Robotics; $1,000 from Wegmans for PH Becca’s Closet; $1,000 from Robert Buccino for the PH Scholarships Coach Buccino Award; $4,000 from Paul Higgins TTEE of The Rita B. Higgins Trust for the PV Wellness Center; $500 from Wegmans for PH Robotics; and $800 from Make Our Schools Safe, Inc. for the PH Moss Club.
The district apologized that it was unable to livestream the Feb. 2 meeting due to technical difficulties, but said the meeting video is available online along with agendas and presentations.