Geeta Chadha

The meeting agenda included several key items. Discussions covered the Governor's Award for Outstanding Educator of the Year recipients, with formal recognition scheduled for May. Educational items involved the approval of Adult Student Handbooks for the 2025-2026 school year and the first reading of a revision to Policy 5115. Textbook adoptions for the Certified Medical Assisting Curriculum were also addressed. Personnel actions included approvals for resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, new hires (including substitutes and a custodian), transfers, salary corrections, and various extracurricular/extra pay assignments for athletic and non-athletic activities, as well as grant-funded program appointments. Financial matters included the presentation of the ACFR/Audit Report, approval of budgetary transfers, certification of financial reports, and approval for the payment of bills and payroll amounts totaling over $7.1 million for December 2025 expenses. Other business involved approving field trip requests, professional development/travel expenses, recognizing January 2026 as School Board Recognition Month, approving the sale of surplus property via online auction, authorizing facility use requests, approving the appointment of a Right to Know Consultant, approving a Memorandum of Agreement with Middlesex College for an Automotive Technology Program, purchasing live instructional services from Proximity Learning, awarding contracts for a Portable Training Unit HVAC, approving a budgetary exception for a Food Service Management Company position, awarding technology supply purchases to SHI and MRA International, awarding a contract for a district cyber security solution, and approving change orders for capital projects. The board also accepted fire/security drills and the Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying (HIB) Incident Report.

Key actions taken during the meeting included the approval of student internships for the 2025-2026 school year, and numerous personnel actions such as accepting resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, and approving new hires, transfers, and extracurricular assignments. The Board also approved a minimum wage increase for Student Performing Arts/Culinary Arts Technicians, established eligibility for the Paid Internship Program, and approved budgetary transfers and the Secretary and Treasurer reports, certifying that no line item accounts were over-encumbered. Financial approvals included bills and payroll payments totaling over $8.8 million, additional field trip requests, and professional development/travel expenses. Further resolutions involved authorizing participation in the Somerset County Cooperative Pricing System, approving the sale of surplus property via online auction, authorizing facility use by outside organizations, and awarding purchases for furniture, point of sale systems, and technology supplies. Additionally, the Board accepted the updated property appraisal report, approved technology maintenance services, and approved change orders for capital projects. The meeting concluded with the acceptance of Fire Drills/Security Drills reports and the acceptance/affirmation of Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying (HIB) Incident Reports.

The meeting covered several key areas including approvals for educational items, policy revisions, and personnel actions. Educationally, the Board approved the Future Farmers of America students to present at the May 10th meeting and approved revisions to the 2022-2023 and the final School Calendar for 2023-2024. Policy discussions included approving the second reading/revision of Policy P 2110 and the first reading/revisions of numerous other policies and regulations. Personnel actions involved approving several resignations and retirements, and appointing numerous new hires, substitutes, and stipends for summer employment and extracurricular activities. Business and finance items included approving budgetary transfers, certifying the monthly financial reports, authorizing payment for bills and several payrolls, approving field trip requests and amendments, approving tuition rates for adult programs for the 2023-2024 school year, authorizing facility use, accepting a donation of desks, and approving multiple large purchases for supplies, furniture, and technology, as well as approving an application for PACE Program funds. Other actions included approving an employee separation agreement, a sidebar agreement with the teachers' association, and accepting Fire Drills/Security Drills reports and the Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying Incident Report.

The meeting addressed several operational and financial matters. Key discussions included approving field observations for a Kean University student, revising curriculum across Social Studies, World Language, English Language Arts, and Science, and approving the creation of a new Academy eSports Club. Policy items involved the first and second readings/revisions of several policies, including Policy 0143.2 (High School Student Representative to the Board of Education) and Policy 2425 (Emergency Virtual or Remote Instruction Program). Personnel actions covered resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, appointments, transfers, and paid assignments, including the approval of Title I Instructors and Student Digital Arts Technicians. Finance items included approving budgetary transfers, accepting the Secretary and Treasurer's Report, authorizing payment for bills and payroll totaling over $3 million, approving field trip requests, approving professional development and travel expenses, accepting donations from Avenel Pharmacy and Middlesex County Fair Association, approving the sale of surplus property, and approving contracts for supplemental insurance, legal services, property appraisal, and various purchases/services such as furniture, technology supplies, vocational supplies, flooring installation, lawn care, and fencing services. The board also accepted fire/security drills reports, affirmed Harassment, Intimidation & Bullying incident reports, and approved the submission of Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act self-assessment outcomes.

The Board meeting addressed several key areas, including the approval of field observations for an undergraduate student at Kean University and the approval of the Nursing Services Plan for the 2022-2023 school year. The board also approved the NJQSAC District Performance Review self-assessment for submission. Several policy revisions were approved on second reading, including policies related to student representatives, quorum, website accessibility, student conduct (dress/grooming), and Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying (HIB). Personnel actions included the approval of resignations, retirements, new hires, and various extra-duty assignments. In finance, the Board approved budgetary transfers, accepted the Secretary and Treasurer reports, and authorized payment for bills and payroll totaling over $2.1 million for bills, and over $1.2 million for two separate payrolls. Field trip requests and amendments were approved, along with professional development and travel expenses for several staff members. The Board authorized the sale of surplus property via online auction, approved the updated School Safety and Security Plan, and submitted the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan to the Department of Education. The 2023-2024 Budget Calendar and Objectives were reviewed and approved. Other financial actions included awarding purchases for furniture and technology supplies, approving a maintenance agreement for the Building Management System, and approving charter bus services for athletic trips. Due to a lack of bids, the Board authorized the Business Administrator to negotiate agreements for snow plowing services and fall field trips. The Board also approved agreements and acceptance of funds for various programs, including Youth Transitions to Work agreements with the NCAF and a Safety Grant Program from the Education Risk Insurance Consortium, along with acceptance of Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education funds for FY 2023 (Post-Secondary and Secondary). The Board accepted fire/security drill reports, affirmed HIB cases, and approved contracted School Security Services through Middlesex College.