Plainfield Public School District

The meeting included a review of board procedures, outlining the schedule for committee and business meetings, and established public comment guidelines. Key organizational items involved the readoption of all existing Board of Education policies, designation of official bank depositories (PNC Bank, Bank of America, and City National Bank) for a specified period, and designation of official publications (Courier-News and Star Ledger). Further organizational resolutions concerned bank account signature authority, adoption of the 2018-2019 courses of study and textbook list, appointment of representatives for federal and state fund requests, adoption of Roberts Rules of Order for parliamentary procedure, designation of Affirmative Action Officers for the 2018-2019 school year, adoption of the Uniform Minimum Chart of Accounts for 2018-2019, approval of tax shelter annuity companies, establishment of a petty cash fund, designation of the Interim Superintendent for budget transfer authority, appointment of the 504 Committee Coordinator, approval of the maximum travel expenditure amount for 2018-2019, and adoption of the municipal tax payment schedule. The board also reviewed and approved various professional development activities, including training for Orton-Gillingham Reading, attendance at NJASA TECHSPO '19, an Anti-Bullying Conference, and other certification courses. Approvals were granted for the Cook Extended Day After School Program, curriculum writing phases for 6-12 Social Studies and Mathematics, Preschool Mass Registration for 2019-2020, after-school work for the Child Study Team reevaluation, and the 2019-2020 Academic Program of Studies for Plainfield High School. The submission of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Grant FY2019 application was authorized, and various consultant and service provider contracts for Special Education were approved. Additionally, a no-cost partnership between Hubbard Middle School and the Omicron Chi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. was approved. The Finance Committee also presented updates on the FY18 Audit and reports from the Board Secretary and Treasurer for November 2018.

The meeting included a session convened for Executive Session to discuss confidential matters, pending litigation, contract negotiations, and personnel issues. Subsequent discussions focused on the general conduct of Board of Education meetings, outlining the typical monthly schedule for various committees and business meetings, and establishing procedures for public comment. Key resolutions addressed the approval of facilitators for an upcoming Board of Education Retreat scheduled for October 2019. The Curriculum & Instruction Committee section involved numerous approvals, including field trips for the 2019-2020 school year, such as trips to New York City for the Hispanic Heritage Day Parade and Radio City Music Hall, and a visit to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Professional development approvals included services for Barlow staff on ELL and Special Education strategies, attendance at the NASU conference, the NJ Autism Conference, and the Rutgers Conference on Reading and Writing. Furthermore, several curriculum writing projects for Science (Phase II), ELA (Phase IV), and Social Studies (Phase III) were approved, along with the funding for the Perkins District Based Coordinator, PHS Mentors, a Perkins After School Tutoring Coordinator, and tutoring for readiness support. Other items included approval for the PAAAS After-School Tutorial Program, agreements for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program partners and collaborators, the purchase of Frontline Technologies Focus Observer Licenses, and the appointment of various Special Education Consultants and Service Providers for the 2019-2020 school year.

The Business Meeting covered extensive topics primarily within the Human Resources section. Key discussions involved provisional contractual appointments, substitute appointments, administrative assignments, leaves of absence, retirements, resignations, returns to payroll, salary advancements/adjustments, staff transfers/reassignments, longevity adjustments, compensation for athletic extra-curricular activities, approval for district-wide translation team hours, extra period compensation for Bilingual Academy staff, approval for the Cook Extended Day Program, consultant payment for Grants Administration (Testing), approval for the Title I After School Program, approval and compensation for Intramural Units, and compensation for class coverage. The Curriculum & Instruction Committee reported the February 2019 enrollment figures, noting a total enrollment of 7,846 students, and discussed a field trip for the PAAAS Jazz Orchestra.

This Work & Study Meeting agenda covered several significant areas for the Board of Education. Key discussions and resolutions included presenting financial reports for December 2018 and warrants for payment between January 18 and February 14, 2019 (to be presented at the next business meeting). The Organization section involved the readoption of all existing Board policies, designation of official bank depositories and publications for a defined period, and appointments to various committees and roles, such as Affirmative Action Officers and the Qualified Purchasing Agent. The Curriculum & Instruction Committee reported on the January 2019 enrollment figures and addressed several field trip approvals, including the PPS Debate Team attending the Junior Statesmen of America Winter Model Congress, the PHS Class of 2019 trip to Disney World (funded by fundraising), and a 4th-grade trip to the Statue of Liberty. Professional development items included training for a PHS CTE teacher under the Advance Science Grant, workshops on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and attendance at the NASW/NJ Conference. The committee also approved professional development for technology integration coaching and planning, authorized costs for an elementary school musical director, approved the 2019-2020 Kindergarten Mass Registration schedule, and approved an End of Year Carnival for Evergreen Elementary. Furthermore, the Board addressed the submission of Schematic Design documents for a New Elementary School to the NJDOE and authorized the submission of the FY2019 Title I Reallocation Grant.

The agenda for this Special Meeting included a call to order, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call, followed by a welcome to attendees. A significant portion of the meeting involved public remarks. The session transitioned into an Executive Session, during which the Board discussed candidates for the position of Superintendent of Schools.