Hackensack Public Schools

This special public meeting focused primarily on the consideration of an amendment to the Superintendent's employment contract. The proposed amendment involved the elimination of merit goals and adjustments to the base salary amounts, which included a 2% increase in the remaining two years of the contract, aligning with comparable districts. A public comment period was held, limited to 15 minutes, focusing solely on the contract addendum. Concerns raised by the public pertained to the timing of the increase and the potential redirection of resources to the classroom. Formal action on the contract was deferred to the regular October 2020 public meeting.

The meeting included discussions and resolutions spanning multiple areas. Key topics involved personnel actions, including approvals for new hires, salary guide adjustments, and processing separations, as well as approving leaves of absence and contracts for Assistant Superintendents. The Board also addressed finance and budget matters, accepting reports, approving bill payments totaling over $6.9 million, approving budget transfers, authorizing the disposal of obsolete technology equipment, approving a contract for payroll and accounting services, and approving equipment leases and purchases for Ricoh copiers. Furthermore, significant attention was given to curriculum matters, such as travel expenses, accepting the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights self-assessment, approving internships and student teaching placements, approving the Career and Technical Education Health and Safety Plan, and approving revisions to the school calendar. Buildings and Grounds resolutions included amendments to the Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP) concerning modular classrooms and field turf installation, and authorizing agreements for engineering and architectural planning services for modular classroom projects. Lastly, the Board considered the Maywood Board of Education's petition to the Commissioner of Education regarding a sending-receiving relationship termination, consenting to the Commissioner's consideration without taking a position on the feasibility study.

Key discussions and actions during the meeting included accepting the resignation of Trustee Lara Rodriguez, determining the necessity for an Executive Session to discuss legal, personnel, and HIB reports, and accepting the Superintendent's report which contained enrollment data and a summary of Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) investigations. Personnel actions involved approving numerous appointments for Instructional, Non-Instructional Custodial/Maintenance, Part/Time Paraprofessional, and Non-Certificated staff for the 2020-2021 school year, as well as approving contracts for two Assistant Superintendents and the Business Administrator/Board Secretary. Other personnel matters included approving reimbursements for unused vacation days, summer staffing for various roles (Athletic Nurses, Guidance, Placement Testing, ESY, CST hours), approving transfers, accepting resignations and a retirement, and abolishing the In-School Suspension (ISS) Teacher position. The Board also addressed policy, approving the first reading of several revised and new policies and regulations. Curriculum items included approving professional development workshops, field trip locations, evaluation instruments, and various agreements for professional development in literacy and curriculum writing funded partially by ESEA Title I. Finance and Budget items involved approving payment of bills, approving fund raisers, retaining special counsel for affirmative action matters, accepting nutrition funding, and declaring intent to reimburse itself from tax-exempt financing proceeds for a technology lease purchase project concerning chromebooks.

The Personnel Committee meeting focused on personnel matters, specifically taking action on motions L.1 through L.2, which involved Superintendent recommendations for approval. Key actions included salary adjustments for the 2019-2020 school year and the appointment of numerous administrative staff members for tenure in the 2020-2021 school year. Additionally, a substantial list of instructional staff appointments for tenure for the 2020-2021 school year across various locations (ECDC, Fairmount, High, Hillers, Jackson, Middle) was presented for action.

The primary focus of this agenda was personnel actions, including the appointment and submission of emergent hiring applications for certificated staff, such as Physical Education Teachers, Special Education Teachers, ESL Teachers, and Psychologists, with specific details on salary, location, and effective dates. Additionally, actions were taken regarding non-certificated staff, including the appointment of Lunch Assistants and an Outreach Counselor, reclassification of a position, and updates to start dates. The agenda also covered the appointment of Substitute Teachers, Part/Time Paraprofessionals, staff transfers, and approvals/ratifications for resignations, leaves of absence (including FMLA), terminations, retirements, and rescinded actions. Further items included approvals for student supervision roles, home instruction and related services staff, Substitute Nurses, staff receiving Extra Compensation periods, High School Credit Recovery Program staff, reappointment of individuals previously on administrative leave, approval of the District Substitute hourly rate, approval for the Hackensack Middle School Gay-Straight Alliance Club advisor, terminal leave payments, approval of coaching staff for High School and Middle School sports (including volunteer coaches), and approval for Family Friendly positions at Jackson Avenue School.