Patricia Calandro

The Work Session Meeting agenda included several discussions and actions. Key discussions encompassed student recognition (Spotlight Students and Seniors of the Month), staff recognition (New Staff and Spotlight Teacher of the Month), and the monthly Student Representative Report. Presentations included the Spring 2025 Assessment Results. Superintendent discussion items involved a litigation update, the craft show, residency hearing, Logan tuition, land donation, and the School Business Administrator (SBA) transition. The session included an executive session to discuss student matters and land donation. Actions taken outside the executive session involved approving the Superintendent's recommendation to deny an appeal regarding an Administrative Discipline Decision (Student #29232) and denying a parent's request to change a bus stop (Student #28160). Discussions covered personnel matters like resignations, appointments, and leaves of absence, as well as finance items such as budget transfers, payment of claims, and review of monthly reports. Curriculum and Instruction topics included professional development, education field trips, fundraiser review, and policy adoptions.

The Board received updates from the Superintendent on key district items including the Turf Project, Classroom Renovations, Land Donation, Demographic Study, Transportation Issue, and Sidewalk matters. New staff members and Teachers/Professional of the Year were introduced and recognized. Spotlight Students and Seniors of the Month were recognized. Personnel matters included appointments, resignations, and leaves of absence at district, high school, and middle school levels. Numerous field trips and assemblies for various student groups were approved. Fundraisers for Habitat for Humanity, Student Council, and Team Scholastics were detailed. The Board recommended several policies for first reading, including revisions to Nepotism and Sexual Harassment policies, and abolished several related policies. Professional Development plans and workshops were approved. The Board approved the SY26-27 Program of Studies and Student Planning Guide, the Charles Wells Memorial Service Award, and the 2024-2025 HIB Self-Assessments. Financial actions included approving the Board Secretary's Report and Bill List, accepting financial reports ending December 31, 2025, accepting a monetary donation for transportation, authorizing a Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, authorizing submission of the Turf Field Capital Project to the NJDOE, and approving the architect contract for High School 400 wing renovations, and approving the ESEA Consolidated Grant Amendment.

This strategic plan outlines the Team Scholastics program, a four-year initiative designed to provide students with essential skills, mindsets, and learning habits for competitive college and career paths. The program focuses on fostering successful work and study habits, promoting strong teacher-student and teacher-parent communications, and building student confidence for advanced coursework. Key components include a dedicated seminar elective, daily teacher collaboration, college campus tours, family nights, and community service opportunities, with the overarching goal of preparing students for success in high school and beyond.

The meeting commenced with student recognition, including Spotlight Students for various teams and the Seniors of the Month for December. Staff recognition followed, highlighting a new Bus Driver and the Spotlight Teacher of the Month. Key discussion items included the transition of the School Business Administrator. Consent agenda items involved approving numerous personnel actions such as resignations, retirements, new employment appointments, leaves of absence, and changes in status. Finance actions included the payment of claims, acceptance of financial reports (Board Secretary's, Student Activity, and Athletic Accounts), approval of transportation agreements with UCESC and Logan Township School District, approval of cooperative pricing agreements with Bergen County and Monmouth-Ocean Educational Services Commission, an interlocal services agreement for IT Management with Harrison Township, receipt of tuition agreements from Pennsauken and Lindenwold School Districts, authorization for submission of Other Capital Projects (Classroom Renovations High School 400 wing), approval of the Statement of Assurance for the Health and Safety Checklist, acceptance of the FY2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and corrective action plan, and approval of fundraiser requests. Curriculum items covered professional development attendance and learning opportunities. General Administration actions included accepting enrollment reports and emergency drills reports, accepting Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) reports, approving HIB Self-Assessments, approving educational field trips and assemblies, approving the CER Summer Camp Parent Handbook, and approving the second reading and adoption of several revised and new policies.

The Reorganization meeting included the reading of election results for board members. Key actions involved the appointment of the Board Secretary as Temporary Chairperson, the administration of the Oath of Office to newly elected and continuing members, and the election of the President and Vice President. The Board also appointed Kristen Lombardo as the Logan Township Board of Education Representative. Reorganization items included the adoption of the NJSBA Code of Ethics and associated training, adoption of parliamentary procedures based on Robert's Rules of Order, establishment of annual meeting dates, designation of official newspapers, readoption of all current policies and regulations, appointment of the Board Secretary, approval of official depositories and signors, and approval of an amendment to the minimum hourly wage, increasing it from $15.49 to $15.92 per hour.