Barbara Bracco

The meeting included a comprehensive Superintendent's report covering facility renovations at School #6, the introduction of the "Sunday Funday" student program, and updates on Parent Square notifications and registration processes. The Board addressed personnel matters including staff professional development approvals, appointments of various staff members, resignations, and staff transfers. Policies and procedures discussed involved the acceptance of nursing and fire drill reports, the approval of Violence and Vandalism reports, and the declaration of January 2026 as School Board Recognition Month. The Board also reviewed the upcoming 2026-2027 budget, approved various facility usage requests, authorized educational service contracts, and finalized financial reports and payments for payroll and vendors. Capital projects including the School #6 multi-purpose room renovation and High School gymnasium maintenance were discussed, and a new grant application for the Literacy Initiative for Families and Thriving Communities (LIFT) was approved.

The board discussed key operational and financial topics, including school calendar adjustments due to snow days, kindergarten registration, pre-k application timelines, and after-care expansion. Personnel actions included approvals for professional development, medical and unpaid leaves of absence, staff appointments, and resignations. The board also reviewed policies and procedures, field trip requests, and building usage permits. Finance agenda items covered various payroll approvals, bill lists, financial reports, and HVAC upgrade project applications. Further deliberations addressed capital projects, security assessments, facility project updates, budget planning, and food service program status.

The meeting addressed numerous personnel actions, including the approval of staff professional development reimbursements, rescinding one reimbursement, and approving several medical and unpaid leaves of absence for various staff members. Personnel items also included accepting resignations and retirements, revising appointments, and appointing new permanent substitute teachers and bus drivers. Furthermore, staff transfers, athletic coaching appointments, and the appointment of the Affirmative Action Officer for the next school year were approved. The Board also authorized a needs assessment and equity plan development. In Policies and Procedures, the Board accepted the January 2026 Nurses' and Fire Drill reports, reviewed the 2025-2026 school calendar, confirmed outcomes for multiple bullying incident investigations, and approved several revised and new policies regarding topics such as generative artificial intelligence use, student graduation requirements, and homeschooling regulations. Numerous field trips for various schools were also approved. Buildings and Grounds involved permitting facility usage for recruitment events, meetings, fundraisers, and instructional purposes across multiple school locations. Financial matters included approving agreements for educational services and assistant provision, approving two payrolls (January 30 and February 13), approving monetary transfers between accounts for health benefits, approving Athletic Association bills, approving NJ State Educators Health Benefits Program payments, approving the February 2026 bill list, accepting January 2026 financial reports, certifying that no budgetary line item exceeded appropriations, approving the Monthly Transfer Report, approving the Special Education Medicaid Initiative FY27-Corrective Action Plan, and approving four separate applications for HVAC upgrades at School #3 and School #4, and approving the implementation agreement for the Frontline Education Technologies Group, LLC Time and Attendance Solution.

Key discussions and resolutions centered on personnel matters, including approvals for staff professional development reimbursements, appointments of new staff (teacher aide, classroom teacher, substitute teachers), approval of spring and fall athletic coaching positions, and the approval of various medical leaves of absence and acceptance of several resignations. Policies and Procedures items included accepting the December 2025 Nurses' and Fire Drill reports, approving Violence and Vandalism Reports and Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying reports for the period ending December 31, 2025, scheduling an early dismissal for staff in-service on February 10, 2026, and approving several field trips. Finance resolutions involved approving contracts with Bergen County Special Services School District and Learn Well, approving December 2025 and January 2026 payrolls, approving various financial transfers related to health benefits, approving Athletic Association bills, approving the NJ State Educators Health Benefits Program for January 2026, approving the January 2026 bill list, and accepting the December 2025 financial reports. Finally, resolutions were passed to approve capital expenditure applications for the School #6 Multi-Purpose Room Renovation, approve a maintenance proposal for the High School Gymnasium HVAC system, approve costs for backboard installation at School #6, and approve the submission of the Literacy Initiative for Families and Thriving Communities (LIFT) Grant application. Buildings and Grounds focused on permitting facility use for various events including meetings, SAT practice tests, youth events, information sessions, movie nights, and facility maintenance.

Discussions covered several operational and financial areas. In the Superintendent's Report, recognition was given for organizing the Pajama Drive and Toy Drive, updates were provided on the Elementary Schools Lunch Program, plans for expanding Pre-K 3 & 4 classes, and upcoming Literacy and Math classes for parents. Personnel actions included approving professional development reimbursements, accepting retirements and resignations, approving staff transfers and appointments for various roles including Teacher Aides and Speech-Language Specialists, and appointing volunteer coaches. The Board addressed financial matters by approving multiple service agreements for individual students with LearnWell and N.A. Bleshman Regional Day School, contracting for student nursing services, approving payrolls, approving the December bill list, and accepting financial reports for November 2025. Capital project discussions included updates on the High School cafeteria renovation (completed), High School paving close-outs, and consideration of a formal physical needs assessment. Resolutions were passed to approve the Cliffside Park School District's harassment/discrimination complaint form, confirm outcomes of bullying investigations, and approve several building improvement applications for HVAC Upgrades at School #3 and School #4, and renovations at School #6. The Board also approved the contract for ParentSquare Inc., a unified communication platform, and authorized acceptance and submission of the Fiscal Year end June 2025 Audit and Corrective Action Plan.