April 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting
| Agenda |
|---|
|
1. NOTIFICATION OF MEETING
Welcome to a public meeting of the Alexandria Township Public Schools under the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975, also known as the “Sunshine Law.” The District hopes that you will find this meeting informative and instructive, and that citizens are afforded an opportunity to better understand and appreciate the District’s operation and functions. Under the Sunshine Law, the District must provide notice of all open meetings to allow citizens to attend and observe the deliberations of the District. This meeting was properly advertised according to the Open Public Meeting Act (P.L. 1975:31) in the Star Ledger, April 17, 2025, and NJ.com, to begin at 7:00 PM at the Alexandria Middle School Media Center, 557 County Road 513, Pittstown, NJ. |
|
2. ROLL CALL
April Abelman Ann Marie Austin Renee Bagley Caterina Dobak Eric Joseph Marybeth Madlinger Wanda Quinones Michael Small Doug Walker |
|
3. FLAG SALUTE
|
|
4. PRESENTATIONS
|
|
5. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT
|
|
6. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
District Update HIB Public Hearing on School Budget - 2025-2026 School Year |
|
7. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT
|
|
8. PUBLIC INPUT - (Agenda Items Only)
The Alexandria Township Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters. Public participation at board meetings is intended to allow individuals of the public to address the Board on issues of public concern, and is not intended as a forum for extended conversation or two-way dialogue with the Board members and/or District officials. The Board has set aside a specific section of the agenda, titled Board Discussion of Public Comments, whereby the Board can discuss the public comment topics in open session. Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty-minute periods for public comment at each meeting. In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comments, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:
The Board President is responsible for maintaining a respectful environment during public participation, so that public comments can be heard and considered by the Board. The President, therefore, may interrupt or terminate any individual’s speaking privilege if the speaker’s comments are excessively loud, disruptive, obscene, or otherwise in violation of applicable law. Further, an individual may be cautioned that a personally directed statement may be slanderous or defaming and that the individual may be liable for his/her statement. Examples of unacceptable behavior that will not be permitted include, but are not limited to: naming District employees and engaging in personal attacks, racial slurs, excessive loudness, calling out, yelling, generally disruptive behavior, attempting to disrupt the meeting or inciting others to do the same. Any disregard for the rules of decorum stated above will not be tolerated and may subject the individual or group to removal from the meeting. If necessary, the board meeting will be adjourned temporarily or until the next scheduled meeting. |
|
9. OLD BUSINESS
Referendum |
|
10. NEW BUSINESS
Board discussion of Public Comments |
|
11. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Township Board of Education approve the Consent Agenda as follows: ROLL CALL VOTE: Abelman ____ Austin ____Bagley ____ Dobak ____ Joseph ____ Madlinger ____ Quinones ____ Small ____ Walker ____ |
|
11.A. Finance
|
|
11.A.1) 2025-2026 School Budget
WHEREAS, the 2025-2026 Alexandria Township School Budget includes sufficient funds to implement the proposed planning process as described in this district’s Annual Report pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7A -11 and WHEREAS sufficient funds will be available to provide curriculum and instruction which will enable all students to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards; WHEREAS, the 2025-2026 school budget is in compliance with the requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 18A and N.J.A.C. Title 6 and 6A; WHEREAS, the budget was approved by the Hunterdon County Executive Superintendent; THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Alexandria Township Board of Education adopts the 2025-2026 final budget and authorizes its submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for final approval as follows: General Fund Operating Budget: $11,422,491 Special Revenue Fund (Grants and Entitlements): $146,356 Debt Service: $952,575 Grand Total Budget: $12,521,422 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the school budget results in the following General Fund and Debt Service Tax Levy: $10,704,901 2025-2026 Budget Adjustment Options Adjustment for Health Care Costs: $167,400 BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education includes in the budget the adjustment for increased costs of health benefits in the amount of $167,400. The additional funds will be used to pay for the additional increases in health benefit premiums. Adjustment for Banked Cap: $200,652 BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education includes in the budget the adjustment for banked cap in the amount of $200,652. In accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-10.1(b), the district has fully exhausted all eligible statutory spending authority. The adjustment will be used to pay for higher than anticipated cost increases. The Board of Education will complete this by June 30, 2026 and acknowledges that it cannot be deferred or incrementally completed over a longer period of time. Maximum Travel Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-7.3, a board of education must establish a maximum dollar limit for travel expenditure, as defined in N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-7.1 et seq., BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Education includes in the budget a maximum travel expenditure in the amount of $20,000.00 for the 2025-2026 school year. The maximum travel expenditure amount for the 2024-2025 is $15,000.00, of which, $7,341.91 has been spent and $2,187.17 is encumbered to date. Travel and Related Expense Reimbursement The Board of Education recognizes school staff and Board members will incur travel expenses related to and within the scope of their current responsibilities and for travel that promotes the delivery of instruction or furthers the efficient operation of the school district; AND, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A Subchapter 7 requires Board members to receive approval of these expenses by a majority of the full voting membership of the Board and staff members to receive prior approval of these expenses by the Superintendent of Schools and a majority of the full voting membership of the Board; AND, a board of education may establish, for regular district business travel only, an annual school year threshold of $150 per staff member where prior Board approval shall not be required unless this annual threshold for a staff member is exceeded in a given school year (July 1 through June 30); AND, travel and related expenses not in compliance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A Subchapter 7 but deemed by the board of education to be necessary and unavoidable as noted on the approved Board of Education Out of District Travel and Reimbursement Forms; BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Education approves all travel not in compliance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A Subchapter 7 as being necessary and unavoidable as noted on the approved Board of Education Out of District Travel and Reimbursement Forms; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Board of Education includes in the budget travel and related expense reimbursements in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A Subchapter 7, to a maximum expenditure of $80,000.00 for all staff and board members for the 2025-2026 school year. The School Business Administrator/Board Secretary shall track and record these costs to ensure that the maximum amount is not exceeded.
Attachments:
()
|
|
11.A.2) Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board approve the transfers for the month ending February 28, 2025 as submitted by the Superintendent, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8-2. to accept the monthly financial reports of the Board Secretary and the Treasurer of School Moneys for the month ending February 28, 2025 and in compliance with N.J.A.C.6:20-2.13(3) that the Board of Education certify that no major account or fund has been over expended and that as of this report sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Board accept the certification of the School Business Administrator, as required by N.J.A.C.6:20-2.13(D), that no line item account has been over expended as of February 28, 2025, and that as of this date sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. |
|
11.A.3) Bill List
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Ed approve the following Bill List: March 20, 2025 - April 25, 2025 Check # A13052 - A13125 Check # B265 Total - $962,470.18 |
|
11.A.4) Withdrawal from Maintenance Reserve
Motion to approve the withdrawal of funds from Maintenance Reserve to the General Fund, in the amount of $137,000, for the following: Electrical Repairs and Upgrades - $10,000 Interior Painting - $40,000 Building and Grounds Equipment - $36,000 Landscaping and Turf Maintenance - $20,000 HVAC Repairs, Maintenance, and Monitoring - $31,000 |
|
11.B. Personnel
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following: |
|
11.B.1) New Hire
Motion to approve Amy McCormack as a 12-month Administrative Assistant, effective May 12, 2025 at a salary of $50,000 prorated for the 2024-25 school year pending completion of required documentation. |
|
11.B.2) Substitute Teacher
Motion to approve Lisa Mroz as Substitute Teacher, at a rate of $140/day, for the 2024-25 school year. |
|
11.C. Approval of Minutes
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes: Meeting Minutes March 20, 2025 Executive Session Minutes March 20, 2025 Work Session Minutes Aporil 10, 2025 Executive Session Minutes April 10, 2025 |
|
11.D. Finance and Facilities
|
|
11.D.1) Donation
Motion to accept a donation by the PPO of bus transportation for Music in the Parks with a value of $2,841.06. |
|
11.D.2) Coordinated Transportation
Motion to adopt the resolution for participation in coordinated transportation services with the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission for the 2025-2026 school year. |
|
11.D.3) Out of District Tuition Contract
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a 2024/2025 tuition contract with the Terranova Group, Inc, dba Chapel Hill Academy for tuition and related services for April 28, 2025 - June 2025 for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office. The total tuition for April 28, 2025 - June 2025 is $14,616.00. |
|
11.D.4) Regular Tuition Rates
Resolved, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the board approve the following regular tuition rates for the 2025-2026 school year: Pre-school: $6,500 Kindergarten: $22,516 Grades 1-5: $27,126 Grades 6-8: $26,517 *Actual rate for special education students shall be calculated individually based on their IEP |
|
11.D.5) Public Employer Trust Agreement Renewal and Addendum
Motion to approve the Public Employer Trust Agreement and Addendum establishing dental insurance rates for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. |
|
11.E. Education
|
|
11.E.1) Policy and Regulation Revisions
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the 1st reading of the following Policies and Regulations: P 2415 Every Student Succeeds Act P 2421 Career and Vocational Technical Education P 2422 Comprehensive Health and Physical Education P 2428.1 Standards-Based Instructional Priorities P 2520 Instructional Supplies P 5111 Eligibility of Resident/nonresident Students P 5512 Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying P 5541 Anti-Hazing P 8110 Attendance Areas R 2200 Curriculum Content R 2520 Instructional Supplies R 2622 Student Assessment R 4240 Employee Training R 5111 Eligibility of Resident/Nonresident Students R 7102 Site Selection and Acquisition |
|
11.E.2) Policy and Regulation Revisions
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the 2nd and final reading of the following Policy: P 7440.1 Immigrant Students |
|
11.E.3) Board Sponsored Commencement Awards
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approves the sponsoring of the following 8th Grade Awards: The Arthur Pfefferle Award - $50 Academic Excellence Award - $50 World Language Award - $50 |
|
11.E.4) Affirmative Action Team
Motion to authorize the Affirmative Action Team to conduct a needs assessment of policies and develop the Comprehensive Equity Plan for 2025-2026 through 2027-2028. |
|
11.E.5) Student Support Services
Motion to approve NJ4S Hunterdon to provide services to Alexandria Township School during the 2024-2025 school year based on student needs at no cost to the district. |
|
12. PUBLIC INPUT
The Alexandria Township Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters. Public participation at board meetings is intended to allow individuals of the public to address the Board on issues of public concern, and is not intended as a forum for extended conversation or two-way dialogue with the Board members and/or District officials. The Board has set aside a specific section of the agenda, titled Board Discussion of Public Comments, whereby the Board can discuss the public comment topics in open session. Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty-minute periods for public comment at each meeting. In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comments, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:
The Board President is responsible for maintaining a respectful environment during public participation, so that public comments can be heard and considered by the Board. The President, therefore, may interrupt or terminate any individual’s speaking privilege if the speaker’s comments are excessively loud, disruptive, obscene, or otherwise in violation of applicable law. Further, an individual may be cautioned that a personally directed statement may be slanderous or defaming and that the individual may be liable for his/her statement. Examples of unacceptable behavior that will not be permitted include, but are not limited to: naming District employees and engaging in personal attacks, racial slurs, excessive loudness, calling out, yelling, generally disruptive behavior, attempting to disrupt the meeting or inciting others to do the same. Any disregard for the rules of decorum stated above will not be tolerated and may subject the individual or group to removal from the meeting. If necessary, the board meeting will be adjourned temporarily or until the next scheduled meeting. |
|
13. EXECUTIVE SESSION
WHEREAS the "Open Public Meetings Act" (Chapter 231 Laws of 1975) authorizes a public body to exclude the public from that portion of a meeting at which specified topics are to be discussed under circumstances where the public consideration of such topics will clearly endanger the public or where the personal privacy or guaranteed rights of individuals whose activities or affairs are to be discussed would clearly in danger of unwarranted invasion; be it RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Township of Alexandria now adjourns its public session to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the following: ___Confidential Matters by Law or Court Order ____Purchase Property _X__Personnel Matters ____Invasion of Individual Privacy Employee or Student ____Investigation into Violations of Law ____Suspension, Civil Penalty or Loss of a License or Permit ____Disclosure would Impair District's Right to Receive Funding ____School/Public Security ____Collective Bargaining _X__Pending, Ongoing or Anticipated Litigation And be if further RESOLVED that the matters discussed in Executive Session will be made public when confidentiality is no longer required. Motion to Enter Executive Session Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools the Alexandria Board enter Executive Session at _____ to discuss __________. |
|
14. OPEN SESSION
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Board return to Open Session at __________. |
|
15. ADJOURN
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, to adjourn the meeting at __________ . |
