Michael Bessler

The Annual Reorganization Meeting included the administration of the Oath of Office to newly elected board members. Key reorganization actions involved the election of the Board President and Vice President, followed by the appointment of delegates and chairpersons for various associations and committees, including NJSBA, BCSBA, and negotiation committees for administrative, teachers, secretaries, custodial/maintenance, and maintenance associations. Resolutions approved established the Code of Ethics, designated professional services for the 2026-2027 school year (including risk management, board attorney, architect, bond counsel, auditor, and consultants), appointed various district officers, approved Tax Shelter Annuity plans, set bid and quote thresholds, authorized petty cash accounts, and approved several curricula and procedures, including the Five-Year Curriculum and Procedures for Development Revision and Evaluation Plan. The Board also established maximum travel reimbursement amounts for the 2026-2027 school year and approved attendance at the New Jersey School Boards Association Conference scheduled for October 2026.

Key discussions included a presentation on the Work-Based Learning program emphasizing student internships and job market readiness. The IT Director presented Genesis as the new Student Information System (SIS) for the 2026-2027 school year, detailing its functionality and student portal access. The Board also recognized a member for 20 years of dedicated service. Finance agenda items involved accepting the December 2025 bill list, approving an appropriation transfer report, certifying that no major accounts were over-expended as of November 30, 2025, accepting financial reports, approving the submission of amended ESSA grant applications, entering into Joint Transportation Agreements with neighboring districts, approving a significant change order for the High School HVAC Replacement Project, and accepting the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the prior fiscal year. Policy items included reviewing HIB violation reports, accepting district policies on resource materials and public complaints, and acknowledging a donation to the Consumer Science Department. Curriculum discussions covered potential new AP course offerings and an update on a teacher being featured on Jeopardy. The meeting concluded with an Executive Session to discuss Personnel and Legal Matters.

The meeting commenced with the reading of the Open Public Meeting Act. Key agenda items included a presentation and review of the Annual Audit for the period ending June 30, 2025, with subsequent questions regarding food service accounts. A comprehensive District Security update detailed improvements in door locks, entry points, student awareness cultivation, and the strategy for upgrading security cameras. The Finance agenda involved the acceptance of the November 2025 bill list, approval of the October 2025 Appropriation Transfer Report, certification that no major accounts were overspent as of October 31, 2025, acceptance of the October 2025 financial reports, approval for submitting the Health and Safety Evaluation of School Buildings Checklist Statement of Assurance for 2025-2026, and acceptance of an award from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association. An addendum to finance approved a withdrawal from the Capital Reserve to fund the replacement of the gymnasium floor following a water incident. The Policy and Public Relations segment covered HIB report reviews, the second reading and adoption of several policies including N.J.A.C. 6A:23A Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency, and Budget Procedures, updates on district goals progress, the Dog Therapy Program, and the transition to Genesis student management system. Personnel actions included accepting resignations, approving transfers, authorizing assignments for science class coverage, employing various personnel including replacement teachers, part-time special education instructional aides, and extracurricular advisors, and approving several Leaves of Absence. Curriculum discussions included a new course proposal for US History II Honors, and updates on board member convention attendance and upcoming high school productions.

The Reorganization Meeting agenda focused on essential annual organizational items. Key actions included administering the Oath of Office to new members, the nomination and election of the Board President and Vice-President for the term ending December 31, 2026. Resolutions addressed reaffirming several Collective Negotiation Agreements spanning 2023 through 2028. Furthermore, Capital One was designated as the official depository for school funds for the 2026-2027 school year across numerous accounts. The Board adopted the revised Board Policy and Job Description Manuals, designated official newspapers and media for public notices, and established the annual schedule for regular monthly meetings, including a Public Hearing for the 2026-2027 Annual School Budget. Resolutions also covered the adoption of the Code of Ethics, the employment of professional services (including risk management, board attorney, architect, bond counsel, auditor, and consultants), and various official appointments for the 2026-2027 school year, such as Board Secretary and Purchasing Agent. The Board approved Tax Shelter Annuity (403b Plans), set the bid and quote thresholds for the year, approved petty cash accounts and signatories, and approved various curriculum documents and programs for K-12 and specific grade levels. Finally, the Board established the maximum expenditure amount for employee travel and related expenses for the 2026-2027 school year at $32,500 and approved related expenses for Board member attendance at the New Jersey School Boards Association Conference scheduled for October 2026.

The meeting addressed district performance results for the 2024-25 school year, including data from NJSLA 2025 Student Learning Assessments and College Board Testing DLM. The board reviewed and approved finance agenda items, including the October 2025 bill list and the September 30, 2025 Appropriation Transfer Report. Policy and Public Relations agenda items were discussed, including reported cases and HIB policy violations, the 2024-25 NJ Department of Education School Self-Assessment, and the Student Safety Data System Report. New business included discussions on community participation and support, the DPW's role in supporting the school, legislative updates, and a DHS Student Representative Report. Personnel matters were also addressed, including resignations, adjustments of employment dates, and appointments for various positions.