Damon Englese

The meeting addressed several curriculum items, including the review and approval of the Spring 2024 NJSLA, NJSLA-S, DLM results, and WIDA ACCESS for ELL's Assessment Results. The Board also approved the Gifted and Talented curriculum and the Title I Extended-Day After School Program for the 2024-2025 school year, including setting the teacher salary at $50.00 an hour. Approvals were granted for the BCUA water cycle education program and the completion of the District Performance Review (DPR) for the QSAC comprehensive review. Personnel actions included approving a maternity leave extension, appointing two part-time aides pending background checks, and approving the suspension of one employee pending investigation. Policy matters involved approving the Monthly Nursing/Health Services Report for October 2024, the Emergency Management/Operations/All Hazards Plan, and various safety and incident reports, including SSDS reports for 2023-2024 and October 2024, and the October 2024 Suspension report. Financial actions included approving the opening of a new bank account with Spencer Savings Bank, approving the 2024/2025 Comprehensive Maintenance Plan and Health & Safety Evaluation, approving internal account transfers, the Requisition for Taxes, the Board Secretary's Report, Treasurer Report for September 2024, and the Bank Reconciliation of Statement for September 2024. During Old Business, results of the Spring 2024 state assessments were presented, and a statement of thanks from the family of the former Board Secretary/Business Administrator was read.

The Regular/Public Meeting agenda focused on several areas requiring Board approval. Curriculum items included approving the Extended-Day program curriculum for the 2024-2025 school year and revisions to the I&RS Manual. Personnel actions involved approving a school district physician for the 2024-2025 school year, a part-time aide pending background check, a Family Leave of Absence for an employee, and an advisor appointment. Policy and procedure matters included approving the Suspension Report, the SSDS (violence/vandalism/HIB) Report for December 2024, and certifying the completion of School Bus Emergency Evacuation Drills across multiple school locations for the 2024-2025 school year. Finance agenda items approved the designation of the Business Administrator as the Public Agency Compliance Officer (P.A.C.O) for 2024/2025, internal account transfers, the Requisition for Taxes, the Board Secretary's Report, the Monthly Treasurer Report for November 2024, and the Bank Reconciliation of Statement for November 2024. The Board also approved payment of claims totaling $1,891,092.17 for November 2024.

The agenda for the Reorganization Meeting covered several areas including Curriculum, Personnel, Policy and Procedure, and Finance. Curriculum items included approval for one-session days for grades Pre-K-8 near the end of the school year, approval for the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey to use school facilities, approval for the fifth grade field trip to Liberty Science Center, and approval for the Summer School Enrichment Program for grades K-4 and the Preschool Disability ESY Summer School Enrichment Program. Personnel actions involved approving re-appointments for non-tenured teachers and staff for the 2025-2026 school year, approving non-renewal notices for five employees, accepting the resignation of a Kindergarten teacher, approving the retirement of a teacher's aide, rescinding an appointment, and approving staffing for summer programs. Policy items included approving the Jewish Family & Children's Services of Northern NJ/ Club Ed After Care Program, conducting the annual superintendent's evaluation, approving College Dress Down Days, approving a single session day for the primary election, approving the use of a snow day for an extended Memorial Day weekend, and approving monthly reports including the HIB report (0 incidents for April 2025), Comprehensive Equity Plan submission, SSDS incident report, Suspension Report (2 suspensions in April 2025), Child Study Team Report, and Transportation Incident Report (no incidents in April 2025). Financial actions included approving the 2025 Safety Grant, transportation agreements, a service contract, renewal of Nu-Way Concessionaires for food service programs, approving transfers between accounts, approving the Requisition for Taxes, approving financial reports for March 2025, and approving bank reconciliations for March and April 2025.

The Board meeting addressed numerous agenda items including curriculum matters such as the approval of staff appointments to the School Improvement Panel (ScIP), I & RS Teams, and School Safety/Climate Teams for the 2025-26 school year, as well as approval for a seventh-grade field trip. Personnel actions included approving Anti-Bullying Coordinators, the McKinney Vento Liaison, several resignations, appointments for home instruction, the termination of one employee, the appointment of a part-time bus driver, teacher transfers, and the approval of contract submissions for the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction and School Business Administrator. Further personnel actions included approving several new hires for teaching and therapist positions, a title change, and approvals for summer school staff. Policy and Procedure items involved approving two 'Meet and Greet' programs for Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten, reviewing the HIB Grade Report, approving the Virtual Instruction Plan, approving the June 2025 Suspension Report, approving DMR Architecture as construction managers for the new Middle School, and approving the advertisement for bids for the New Middle School Project. Finance agenda items involved depositing surplus into reserve accounts, approving facility requests and contract renewals (Trane Service Agreement, ESY Tuition contracts, Student Accident Insurance Policy, NJSIG insurance carrier, and renewal for Summer Food Service Program and School Breakfast/Lunch Programs), and approving tuition contracts with other districts/schools. The Board also approved reports concerning HIB incidents and Transportation Incidents.

The Regular/Public Meeting covered several key agenda items. Curriculum matters included the review of the 2024-2025 Statewide Assessment Schedule and approval of the Biannual Statement of Assurance regarding paraprofessional staff use, placement results for the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, and the adoption of the McRel Evaluation Rubric Tool for both teachers and administrators. Personnel actions involved approving appointments for various teaching positions (Physical Education, Art, ELA, Special Education), an Administrative Services Liaison, and a P/T Aide, alongside approving resignations and rescinding a prior appointment. Other personnel items included approving home instruction assignments, approving student/doctoral program placements, and approving the return of an employee from administrative leave and paternity leave for another employee. Policy and Procedure items included approving reports on safety data (SSDS), suspensions, and transportation incidents for September 2024. Further approvals included the construction of a new playground at the Lincoln School Annex funded by a grant, the preschool education Memorandum of Understanding and contract with Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. (Head Start), the school clearance procedure, and projected preschool enrollment for the 25-26 school year. Extensive approvals were granted for Child Study Team (CST) evaluation services providers and associated costs. Finance items included approving $10,000,000 in state aid for Capital Construction, an annual salary increase resolution, tuition and transportation agreements with Cliffside Park Board of Education, and various monthly financial reports and reconciliations for August 2024. The meeting included a closed session to discuss confidential matters and attorney's report items.