Passaic County Vocational Technical School District

The meeting involved the President calling the meeting to order and a reading of the Sunshine Statement. Key discussion points included the Superintendent's written report, which contained comparative enrollment analysis, Adult Education highlights for November 2023, drill reports, suspension logs, and HIB logs for November 2023. The Superintendent also announced the upcoming Passaic County swearing-in ceremony in January 2024 and noted the success of the first apprenticeship signing day held in November 2023. The Business Administrator reported that the annual audit was complete and successful, and that the district experienced no damage from recent area flooding. The reports highlighted student achievements, including Athletes of the Month (Leah Ciabattoni and Joseph Stauss) and Students of the Month for PCTI and DCL STEM Academy. Principal reports covered campus tours yielding record applicants, Speech and Debate team progress, and the development of a peer tutoring program. Furthermore, curriculum-enhancing activities were detailed, such as participation in Conquer Mathematics PD, NASA Hunch Mentor conferences, and presentations on developing a Biomedical pre-apprenticeship program.

Key discussions and actions included the presentation of the Superintendent's report detailing enrollment analysis, club reports, and administrator reports, alongside recognitions for Students of the Month and Educators of the Year for both PCTI and DCL STEM Academy. The Athletics' report noted an exceptional winter season. The Board approved the Consent Agenda, which covered various financial, administrative, curriculum, and personnel matters. Significant financial actions included approving bills and claims totaling over $1.1 million, approving budget transfers, awarding a purchase through a State Contract vendor, accepting an NJSDA grant, revising an NJDOE Bond Act Grant approval, and approving professional services for psychiatric evaluations. The Board also approved the Youth Services Grant award, revised the 2023/2024 School Calendar, authorized administrator attendance at various professional workshops, and retained legal counsel for tuition and special education issues with Manchester Regional Board of Education. Curriculum and Instruction actions involved amending a STEM grant approval, authorizing I-Ready Testing, approving truancy prevention training, authorizing administrator attendance at an I&RS training, revising the Spring Saturday Academy, and approving numerous field trips and competitions for students across various subject areas and student organizations. Operations/Capital Improvements included approving progress payments for construction projects, acknowledging the cancellation of an E-Rate bid, awarding a 3-year Internet Access service agreement upgrade to Lightpath, authorizing the disposal of surplus technology equipment, accepting a significant donation from Bristol-Meyer Squibb for the Biomedical Life Sciences program, and approving facility use requests for various youth soccer programs and little league.

The agenda for the Regular Meeting included several key components: Administrator reports from the Superintendent, Business Administrator, and Athletics' representative; Communications updates highlighting Students of the Month for PCTI and DCL STEM Academy, and the Business Partner of the Year award to the Passaic County Sheriff's Motor Pool. The Board Secretary's Report covered the first reading of numerous revised Board Policies and Regulations concerning educational equity, curriculum, ethics, sportsmanship, and safety protocols. Subsequent sections involved approvals for transfers and modifications to the 2023/2024 Budget, awards of purchases through State Contracts, acceptance of an NJSDA grant, revision of the NJDOE Bond Act Grant approval, approval of professional services for psychiatric evaluations, approval of the Passaic County YOU Program grant, revisions to the 2023/2024 school calendar, authorization for administrators to attend various professional workshops, retention of legal counsel for tuition and special education matters, amendments regarding the FY2024 Teach STEM Classes in Nonpublic Schools Grant, authorization for I-Ready Testing, approval for truancy prevention training, authorization for I&RS Training, revision to the 2024 Spring PCTI Saturday Academy, approval for a college financing workshop, and authorization for faculty to attend numerous professional development conferences and field trips/competitions. Operations included approving bid progress payments, acknowledging the cancellation of an E-Rate bid, authorizing an E-Rate Category 1 Internet Access service agreement upgrade with Lightpath, authorizing the disposal of surplus technology, accepting a significant donation from Bristol-Meyer Squibb for the Biomedical Life Sciences program, and approving facility use requests from various community groups.

The meeting addressed several key operational and administrative matters. Administration and Finance actions included approving bills and claims, approving budget transfers and modifications, awarding purchases through State Contract vendors, and approving an increase to the minimum wage effective January 1, 2024. Board Policies/Regulations saw the first reading of a new/revised Americans With Disabilities Act policy. Curriculum and Instruction focused heavily on approving professional development, withdrawing previously approved items due to revisions or prior approval, and approving various field trips and articulation agreements, including new agreements with Berkley College and Passaic County Community College (PCCC). Operations/Capital Improvements involved approving bid progress payments for several construction projects, authorizing the use of facilities, approving the Annual Maintenance Budget and Comprehensive Maintenance Plan, authorizing entry into the ACES Cooperative Pricing System Agreement, and authorizing the sale/disposal of surplus lighting equipment. The Personnel section included accepting resignations and terminations, approving various medical and paternity leaves of absence, rescinding prior appointments, and approving numerous new appointments, stipend positions, and salary adjustments for staff, including security guards and school musical personnel.

The agenda for the regular meeting included reports from the Superintendent, Athletics, Communications, Business Administrator, and Principals of DCL STEM Academy and PCTI. Financial matters covered the approval of bills and claims totaling over $8.7 million, budget transfers and modifications, approval of state contract purchases, and approval of purchases exceeding the bid threshold from various vendors. Business items also involved approving a price increase for Faculty Cafeteria lunches and establishing tuition rates for Evening Adult Continuing Education programs with no increase. Approvals were sought for submitting the ERIC West Safety Grant application, engaging Behavior Therapy Associates for student psychological assessment, revising the Behavioral Threat Assessment Team membership, and authorizing administrator attendance at professional conferences and workshops. Curriculum items included adding AP Graphic Design and AP African American Studies elective courses, approving on-site SAT test dates, participation in the IATSE Youth Transition to Work program, approving a Yoga Watercolor wellness event, and applying to be a Summer Youth Work Experience worksite. Several field trips, competitions, fundraisers, community service events, and mini-grant funded activities were proposed for approval, along with revisions to certain field trips and summer programs. Operations included approving progress payments for capital improvements, announcing intent to award a contract under a National Cooperative Purchasing Agreement, and awarding the Managed Print Services bid to Toshiba Business Solutions. The Board was also asked to accept a donation for the Automotive Collision Repair instructors and approve the use of facilities for external events. Personnel actions involved accepting resignations (some effective upon retirement), approving various leaves of absence (medical, paternity, maternity), and appointing, reappointing, or revising appointments for educational staff, 10-month staff, evening substitutes, substitute custodians, security guards, transfers, mentors, test proctors, summer work instructors, attendance officers, school counselors, student success teachers, SAC/Crisis Counselors, School Nurses, and School to Careers Coordinators. Finally, the agenda covered the reappointment and employment of various staff categories for the 2024/2025 school year.