Minutes for September 28, 2026
Archived Minutes
A regular business meeting of the Board of Education was held this day at the Warren Middle School, 100 Old Stirling Road. The public was welcome to attend in person or virtually through the online Zoom platform. The following is a record of that meeting.
I. CALL TO ORDER: The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Board President Patricia Zohn.
Re: Chapter 231 P.L. 1975: “The adequate notice of this regular meeting as required by the Open Public Meetings Act was provided on January 6, 2026. This notice was on that date posted on the bulletin board in the Township Office and the Board of Education Administrative Office, posted on the Board of Education district website, and filed with the Township Clerk of the Township of Warren, all in accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act.”
II. Pledge of Allegiance – Mrs. Zohn led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. Roll Call
Present: Kevin Brotspies, Nicole Dalton, Bridget Granholm, Laura Keller,
Stephen Toor, Todd Weinstein and Patricia Zohn
Absent: Ryan Valentino
Also Present: Dr. Matthew Mingle, Superintendent, Christopher Heagele, Board Secretary, and members of the public and press.
Richard Molfetta arrived at 6:32 p.m.
IV. Minutes
● Ms. Keller moved the following:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the public and private minutes of the August 28, 2026 Board Meeting.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Weinstein and approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote.
Mr. Molfetta arrived at 6:32 p.m.
V. Correspondence and Information
● Dr. Mingle reported on correspondence, HIB and suspension reports.
· HIB Information
|
Total # of Investigations: |
Total # of Determined Bullying Incidents: |
|||
|
0 |
0 |
· Suspension Report
|
In School: |
Out of School: |
|||
|
1 |
0 |
VI. President’s Remark - Mrs. Patricia Zohn
Mrs. Zohn:
● Offered gratitude and thanks to retiring staff members.
● Acknowledged one staff member advancing on the salary guide.
● Outlined a partnership that the district has with a local food bank.
● Reported that the community briefing will be on the Township Mobile App.
VII. Superintendent’s Remarks - Dr. Matthew Mingle
Dr. Mingle reported that:
● School for students has started. Thanks to all.
● Students participated in the 9/11 Ceremony at The Township Hall. Thanked Township Clerk Donna Hands for her help.
● Tricia Zohn and school administration attended a recent meeting of the Warren Senior Club.
VIII. Presentation
● NJACCESS Assessment Report - Mr. William Kimmick, Assistant Superintendent
○ Mr. Kimmick reported on the NJACCESS Assessment Report which measures the proficiency of ELL students in learning English.
IX. Committee Reports
● Curriculum and Technology Committee - No Meeting
○ Stephen Toor - Chair, Kevin Brotspies, Todd Weinstein, Bridget Granholm - Alternate
● Finance, Operations, and Security Committee - No Meeting
○ Patricia Zohn - Chair, Rich Molfetta, Ryan Valentino, Kevin Brotspies - Alternate
● Personnel, Negotiations, and Communication Committee - No Meeting
○ Laura Keller - Chair, Nicole Dalton, Bridget Granholm, Todd Weinstein - Alternate
● Planning for Growth Working Group - September 14, 2026
○ Laura Keller - Chair, Patricia Zohn, Kevin Brotspies
■ Ms. Keller reported that the committee met on September 14 to discuss the feasibility of moving forward with tonight’s board action. Ms. Keller thanked the working group and leadership team for their assistance in preparation for tonight’s meeting.
X. Discussion
● Planning for Growth Resolution
○ Dr. Mingle detailed the Planning For Growth Resolution in detail including the location of each school program and grade levels for the 2027-2028 school year. He also discussed what is not in the resolution including zones, student/staff assignments, or transportation routes. He also spoke about the IEP process and how that relates to the proposal Planning For Growth process.
○ Mrs. Dalton read a statement stating that she is in favor of the initiative, but recognized that this will be difficult for some district families.
○ Mr. Brotspies spoke about the process and the positive engagement that he has had with community members. He addressed the consistent feedback that he has received, to show that he (and the board) has listened to others. He sympathizes with the families that will be impacted by the changes. He also stated that there was no preordained solution and that the process was a good one. He supports the resolution.
○ Ms. Keller agreed with Mrs. Dalton and Mr. Brotspies, and stated that we can both have empathy on the impacts to families but also support the proposed Planning For Growth solution. She also believes that having the student consolidation occur 2 years earlier will be helpful for our students.
○ Mr. Molfetta stated that, as a finance committee member, he believes that we will have a strong financial plan to execute the proposed plan.
○ Mr. Weinstein stated that the one constant is change. He believes that the proposed change is necessary.
○ Mrs. Zohn thanked all the Board members for their hard work.
XI. Reports of Board Members Appointed to External Assignments -
➢ Mrs. Zohn reported that the Somerset County School Board Association meeting is October 8. All board members are invited to attend.
● New Jersey School Board Association Delegate Assembly
○ Stephen Toor, and Patricia Zohn - Alternate
● Somerset County Educational Services Commission
○ Nicole Dalton and Bridget Granholm - Alternate
● Watchung Hills Municipal Alliance Committee
○ Richard Molfetta and Ryan Valentino - Alternate
● Warren Township Opioid Advisory Committee
○ Kevin Brotspies
● Warren Township Mayor’s Wellness Committee
○ Laura Keller
XII. Public Commentary (any topic)
Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #0167, adopted on June 18, 2018, provides for public participation in Board of Education meetings. Such participation is governed by the following rules:
- A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name, address, and group affiliation, if applicable;
- Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration. If necessary, the public comment portion of the meeting may be extended fifteen minutes with Board approval;
- No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
- All statements, questions, or inquiries shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another Board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question, or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the Board;
The portion of the meeting during which participation of the public is invited shall be limited to fifteen minutes (limit may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer as circumstances dictate).
The Board of Education welcomes and encourages input from the public. Being mindful of privacy rights regarding students and board employees and to avoid any potential liability on the part of the speaker, the board discourages references to specific individuals. While directing your comments or questions to the board president, please understand that the public comment portions of the meeting are not structured as question and answer sessions but rather are offered as opportunities for you to share your thoughts with the board. The board president may need to refer an issue to the superintendent if the particular issue has not been handled through the appropriate chain of command with the school district. However, responses may be provided at the end of this session. There are times when comments and questions will require additional fact gathering before a response is provided.
● Katherine Sarmad, King George Road - Spoke regarding her support for a referendum. She stated her displeasure with the process and stated that she does not support the resolution.
● Neeki Patel, Busy Bee Lane - Quoted the code of ethics for board members and asked members to uphold these standards. She outlined her reasons for not supporting tonight’s resolutions; does not believe that the additional student transition will be helpful for students.
● Heather Trumpore, Old Farm Road - Thanked the board for including the high school on the Planning For Growth Working Group. Impressed with the quality of discussion in the working group sessions.
● Truc-Lan Vu, Hillcrest Road - Spoke in favor of the resolutions, and stated that the Planning For Growth work started in the strategic plan from 2024. She also stated that the group worked very hard and as a parent impacted by the plan, she supports the proposed resolution.
● Allison Krauss, Red Hill Road - Two students at Mt. Horeb. Member of the Planning For Growth Committee. Reiterated that she does not like the change as a parent but understands that the change is necessary. Overall, supports the change, but hopes that another change is not needed in 5 years.
● Nicolle Gameiro, King George Road - Felt that she was always in the loop. She is surprised by commenters that felt uninformed. I want to remind everyone that we are a community and should come together because “our kids are listening”.
On motion by Ms. Keller to close public commentary, seconded by Mrs. Dalton, the motion was approved by a 8-0 voice vote.
XIII. Items for Board Consideration/Action
On motion by Ms. Keller, seconded by Mr. Weinstein the consent items A.1., through A.4., B.1., through B.5., and C.1., through C.22., were approved by a 8-0 roll-call vote.
The Superintendent recommends that it be:
A. Education
A.1. HIB Report
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education accepts the HIB Report submitted by the Superintendent for the period ending on August 31, 2026.
A.2. Resolution Approving the Planning for Growth School Organization and
Implementation Framework
WHEREAS, the Warren Township Board of Education adopted Strategic Plan Goal 3.1, Plan for Enrollment Growth and Space Needs, reflecting the District’s responsibility to anticipate enrollment changes and develop proactive, sustainable responses that preserve educational quality and appropriate learning environments; and
WHEREAS, during the 2025–2026 school year, the District conducted a comprehensive Planning for Growth process examining enrollment and housing trends, facility utilization, preschool and special education programming, class size, staffing, transportation, finances, student experience, and alternative school-organization models; and
WHEREAS, the Planning for Growth process confirmed that enrollment growth is real, sustained, and uneven across the District, with particular long-term pressure on the elementary school system, and that the 2023–2024 elementary rezoning provided important short-term relief but did not create a permanent solution to projected growth and space needs; and
WHEREAS, the Planning for Growth Working Group reviewed a broad range of possible strategies and conducted detailed analysis of the Current Model, the Intermediate School Model, and the Parallel Banded Schools Model using common evaluation criteria addressing student experience, educational program quality, sustainability, facilities, transportation, preschool and special programs, organizational impact, and financial implications; and
WHEREAS, the Working Group determined that continuation of the Current Model would not provide a sustainable long-term response and would likely require repeated future adjustments involving attendance zones, program locations, support spaces, staffing, and other operational resources; and
WHEREAS, the Intermediate School Model and Parallel Banded Schools Model were both determined to be viable alternatives, and, following review of the Working Group analysis, the Board’s Ad Hoc Planning for Growth Committee recommended the Intermediate School Model as the preferred structural direction because it addresses the District’s long-term capacity needs while supporting more efficient use of existing facilities and resources and requiring less systemwide structural disruption than the Parallel Banded Schools Model; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has reviewed additional facility, programmatic, transportation, operational, and long-term planning analysis supporting Angelo L. Tomaso School as the District’s grades 4–5 upper elementary school; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has further reviewed the proposed 2027–2028 configuration providing for the District’s existing preschool program to remain centralized at Mt. Horeb School, the K–3 Autism program to be located at Central School, and the K–3 Emotional Regulation Impairment (ERI) and Learning and/or Language Disabilities (LLD) programs to be located at Woodland School; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Warren Township Board of Education hereby:
- Approves implementation of the Intermediate School Model beginning with the 2027–2028 school year, under which:
○ Angelo L. Tomaso School will serve students in grades 4–5;
○ Central School, Mt. Horeb School, and Woodland School will serve students in grades K–3; and
○ Warren Middle School will continue to serve students in grades 6–8.
- Approves Mt. Horeb School as the location of the District’s existing centralized preschool program for the 2027–2028 school year.
- Approves the following initial K–3 special-program locations for the 2027–2028 school year:
○ K–3 Autism Program — Central School;
○ K–3 Emotional Regulation Impairment (ERI) Program — Woodland School; and
○ K–3 Learning and/or Language Disabilities (LLD) Program — Woodland School.
- Directs the Superintendent to develop final K–3 attendance zones for Central School, Mt. Horeb School, and Woodland School and to present those attendance zones to the Board of Education for subsequent approval prior to implementation.
- Authorizes and directs the Superintendent to undertake the planning and actions reasonably necessary to implement the approved structure, including educational programming, staffing, transportation, school schedules, facilities, program implementation, technology, furniture and equipment, student and staff transition, communications, and other operational matters, subject to applicable law, Board policy, collective negotiations agreements, approved budgets, and matters otherwise requiring Board approval.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this action approves the school-organization and program-location framework described above but does not establish final K–3 attendance zones, individual student or staff assignments, transportation routes or school times, or other implementation-level details, which will be developed through the implementation process and, where required, presented to the Board for subsequent action.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that nothing in this resolution determines the placement of any individual student receiving special education services, which will continue to be determined in accordance with applicable law and each student’s individualized educational program.
A.3. Fieldwork Site
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following supervised clinical fieldwork at Warren Township BOE for the 2026-2027 School Year:
|
School |
Clinical Field |
|
Rutgers |
School of Nursing |
|
William Paterson University |
College of Education |
A.4. Out-of-District Placement
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following out-of-district tuition for 2026-2027 School Year:
|
School |
Student ID # |
Cost |
|
Future Foundations Academy |
7174510528 |
$64,620 |
B. Finance/Operations/Transportation
B.1. Payment of Bills
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the payment of bills for the month of September 2026 in the amount of $4,840,265.10.
B.2. Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Report
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the report of the secretary for the month of June 2026 - FINAL
WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on June 30, 2026
|
FUND |
CASH BALANCE |
APPROPRIATION BALANCE |
FUND BALANCE |
|
(10) General Current Expense Fund |
$1,660,409.37 |
$1,855,973.18 |
|
|
(10) General Current Expense |
$0.00 |
||
|
(11) Current Expense |
$952,553.71 |
||
|
(12) Capital Outlay |
$6.17 |
||
|
(13) Special Schools |
$5,754.15 |
||
|
(20) Special Revenue Fund |
$44,590.00 |
$106,803.00 |
$0.00 |
|
(30) Capital Projects Fund |
$41.99 |
($5,155,085.11) |
$3,254,607.12 |
|
(40) Debt Service Fund |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |
$82,668.17 |
|
TOTAL GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS |
$1,705,41.36 |
($4,089,968.08) |
$5,193,248.47 |
|
Wealth Mgmt - Capital Reserve |
$8,440,000.00 |
||
|
Wealth Mgmt - Operating |
$1,250,000.00 |
||
|
Wealth Mgmt - Capital Projects |
$7,003,101.00 |
||
|
Wealth Mgmt - Debt Service |
$82,668.17 |
||
|
TOTAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
$16,775,769.17 |
||
|
(62) Food Service Account |
$108,731.20 |
($409,765.00) |
$125,855.00 |
WHEREAS, in compliance with law and code the secretary has certified that, as of the date of the reports, no budgetary line item account has obligations and payments (contractual orders) which in total exceed the amount appropriated by the district board of education, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts the above reference reports and certifications and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, in compliance with law and code, the Board of Education certifies that, after review of the secretary's monthly financial report (appropriation section), to the best of its knowledge, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of law and code and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the year.
B.3. Budget Transfers for Month of July 2026
RESOLVED, the Board of Education ratifies the attached transfers between budget line items that have been approved by the Superintendent of Schools and that are now being reported to the Board pursuant to Policy 6422.
B.4. Travel Approval
Whereas, in accordance with State of New Jersey School District Accountability Act (A-5) and the Warren Township Schools’ Policy 6471-School District Travel, travel by school district employees and Board of Education members must be approved in advance.
Now Therefore Be It RESOLVED, the Warren Township Schools Board of Education approves the following expenses for faculty, staff, administrators, and board members for seminars, conferences and workshops. The expense includes travel costs, if applicable:
|
Name |
School |
Workshop/ Conference |
Location |
Month/Yr |
Cost |
|
Molly Lange |
District |
New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association |
Monroe Township |
Nov 2026 |
$202 |
|
Melissa Smolenski |
District |
New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association |
Monroe Township |
Nov 2026 |
$212 |
|
Celeste Ostry |
CS |
New Jersey International Dyslexia Association |
East Brunswick |
Oct 2026 |
$370 |
|
Catherine Lazas |
MS |
New Jersey International Dyslexia Association |
East Brunswick |
Oct 2026 |
$370 |
|
Kimberly Lopes |
CS |
New Jersey International Dyslexia Association |
East Brunswick |
Oct 2026 |
$270 |
|
Erin Allen |
CS |
New Jersey International Dyslexia Association |
East Brunswick |
Oct 2026 |
$270 |
|
Emily Netta |
MS |
Orton Gillingham Framing the Future |
East Brunswick |
Oct 2026 |
$370 |
|
Alexis Fabiano |
MS |
Conquer Math |
Pompton Plains |
Oct 2026 |
$233 |
|
Jamie Einiger |
MS |
Conquer Math |
Pompton Plains |
Oct 2026 |
$232 |
|
Thea Moore |
MTH |
American Occupational Therapy Association Specialty Conference |
New Orleans, LA |
Dec 2026 |
$395 |
|
Michelle Barbagallo |
MTH |
American Occupational Therapy Association Specialty Conference |
New Orleans, LA |
Dec 2026 |
$395 |
|
Simone Miller |
WMS |
The New Jersey Science Convention |
Princeton |
Oct 2026 |
$272 |
All of the above travel has been approved by the Superintendent. The School Business Administrator shall track and record these costs to ensure that the maximum amount is not exceeded.
B.5. Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Report
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has received the report of the secretary for the month of July 2026
WHEREAS, this report shows the following balances on July 31, 2026
|
FUND |
CASH BALANCE |
APPROPRIATION BALANCE |
FUND BALANCE |
|
(10) General Current Expense Fund |
$3,248,067.84 |
$1,268,973.18 |
|
|
(10) General Current Expense |
$0.00 |
||
|
(11) Current Expense |
$37,704,097.23 |
||
|
(12) Capital Outlay |
$1,769,902.04 |
||
|
(13) Special Schools |
$139,471.59 |
||
|
(20) Special Revenue Fund |
$54,621.27 |
($24,002.10) |
($18,411.00) |
|
(30) Capital Projects Fund |
$41.99 |
($176,248.79) |
$0.00 |
|
(40) Debt Service Fund |
($82,668.73) |
$0.87 |
$82,668.17 |
|
TOTAL GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS |
$3,220,062.37 |
$39,413,220.84 |
$1,333,230.35 |
|
Wealth Mgmt - Capital Reserve |
$8,440,000.00 |
||
|
Wealth Mgmt - Operating |
$1,250,000.00 |
||
|
Wealth Mgmt - Capital Projects |
$7,003,101.00 |
||
|
Wealth Mgmt - Debt Service |
$82,668.17 |
||
|
TOTAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT |
$16,775,769.17 |
WHEREAS, in compliance with law and code the secretary has certified that, as of the date of the reports, no budgetary line item account has obligations and payments (contractual orders) which in total exceed the amount appropriated by the district board of education, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, the Board of Education accepts the above reference reports and certifications and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, in compliance with law and code, the Board of Education certifies that, after review of the secretary's monthly financial report (appropriation section), to the best of its knowledge, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of law and code and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the year.
C. Personnel/Student Services
C.1. Employment for the 2026-2027 School Year
RESOLVED, upon recommendation from the Superintendent that the Board of Education approve the following Personnel items including the emergent employment of the following employees (indicated by *) conditional upon the final approval by the New Jersey Department of Education The Board further authorizes the submission of an application for emergency hiring pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:6-7.1, et. Seq., N.J.S.A. 18A:6.14.12, et. Seq., if applicable Staff members shall be paid in accordance with provisions in their collective bargaining agreement and/or in accordance with a schedule provided to all employees prior to the beginning of the contract or school year.
|
Name |
Position |
Location |
Degree |
Step |
Salary |
Stipend |
Total Salary |
Effective Date |
Tenure |
Discussion |
|
*Erin Hroncich |
School Psychologist |
ALT |
MA+30 |
6 |
$84,332 |
$0 |
$84,332 |
October 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
Yes |
Replacing Employee #3958 |
|
Gerardina Cordero |
Night Custodian |
ALT |
N/A |
N/A |
$47,840 |
$0 |
$47,840 |
On or about October 15, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
No |
Replacing Employee #4092 |
|
Nanci Tischler |
ELA / ASAP |
WMS |
MA |
1 |
$72,173 |
$0 |
$72,173 |
November 2, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
Yes |
Replacing Employee #1122 |
*(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on August 31, 2026)
C.2. Substitute Teachers
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following to be appointed as substitute teachers for the 2026-2027 school year.
|
Names |
|
|
Judith Mahlstadt |
Jaime Lippitt |
|
Isabella Lembo |
Matthew Golembeski |
|
Shamanveer Kaur |
*Erica Link |
|
Laura Lamson |
Lilia Naili |
|
Elisa Kominsky |
Michael Einiger |
*(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on August 31, 2026)
C.3. Long Term Substitutes
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Long Term Substitutes for 2026-2027 school year:
|
Name |
Dates |
Employee # |
|
*Erica Link |
August 31, 2026 through October 16, 2026 |
#2691 |
*(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on August 31, 2026)
C.4. Leave Request
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following leave requests:
|
Employee ID |
Paid/Unpaid |
|
#3587 |
FMLA - September 14, 2026 through September 25, 2026 (Paid) |
|
#3942 |
Intermittent FMLA/NJFLA - September 14, 2026 through June 30, 2027 (Paid) |
|
#2276 |
FMLA - August 31, 2026, through September 15, 2026 (Paid) NJFLA - September 16, 2026, through December 4, 2026 (Unpaid) Extended Leave - December 7, 2026, through January 1, 2027 (Unpaid) (This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on May 11, 2026) |
|
#2109 |
FMLA/NJFLA - August 31, 2026, through November 9, 2026 (Paid) FMLA/NJFLA - November 10, 2026, through November 20, 2026 (Unpaid) Extended Leave November 23, 2026 through June 30, 2027 (Unpaid/No Benefits) (This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on June 15, 2026) |
|
#0366 |
Intermittent FMLA - September 17, 2026 through October 29, 2027 (Paid) |
|
#2041 |
Intermittent FMLA - September 14, 2026 through May 19, 2027 (Paid) |
|
#2577 |
FMLA - January 4, 2027 through March 19, 2027 (Paid) NJFLA - March 22, 2027 through June 18, 2027 (Unpaid) Extended Leave June 22, 2027 through June 30, 2027 (Unpaid) |
C.5. Retirement/Resignation
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the retirement/resignations
of the following staff:
|
Name |
Position |
Location |
Retirement/ Resignation |
Dates of Service |
|
Alexis Miranda |
ELA / ASAP |
WMS |
Retirement |
September 1, 2000, through October 31, 2026 |
|
Nancy Duffy |
Multi-Duty Paraprofessional (30 Hours) |
MTH |
Retirement |
September 1, 2000 through February 26, 2027 |
C.6. Sidebar Agreement
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the sidebar agreement between the Warren Township Board of Education and the Warren Township Education Association regarding Advancement on the Salary Guide.
C.7. Multilingual Learners Parent Information Night- Staff
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following employees for their participation in the Virtual MLL Parent Information Night at the WTEA contractual rate of $50 per hour per employee, for a total cost not to exceed $150.00 fully funded using Federal Funds.
|
Names |
||
|
Minnelli De Matos |
Sandra Rama |
Rachel Tevlin |
C.8. Non-WTEA Stipend Positions 2026-2027
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Non-WTEA Stipend Positions for 2026-2027:
|
Names |
Position |
Amount |
|
Nicholas Bayachek |
After-School Activities Coordinator |
$3,200 |
C.9. RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following WTEA stipend positions per the contracted rate for the 2026-2027 school year:
|
Club/Activity |
Names |
|
Boys Basketball A |
Sean Mealey |
|
Boys Basketball B |
Joseph Majorczak |
(This motion supersedes the previous motion approved on August 31, 2026)
C.10. Advancement on the Salary Guide
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff for amended placements on the 2026-2027 salary guide:
|
Name |
From |
To |
Effective |
|
Tessa Peluso |
BA+15 |
MA |
09/01/2026 |
C.11. After School Activities/Club Advisors
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the 2026-2027 after school activities/clubs, and the instructors for each, at the negotiated stipend rate.
C.12. After-School Activities/Club Paraprofessional Support
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves all certificated staff, paraprofessionals, and substitutes to be appointed as After-School Activities/Clubs aides to any student with an IEP requiring additional supervision for the 2026-2027 school year. All employees who accompany a student at all after-school clubs and/or sports connected to a particular IEP shall be compensated at a rate of $30 per hour.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, this amount will not exceed $27,000 for the 2026-2027 school year.
C.13. Assignment Rescission
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education rescinds the appointment of Debbie Martin as a Long-Term Substitute for employee #3352, effective August 31, 2026.
C.14. Transfer/Change in Assignment
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the transfer/change in
assignment of the following district staff:
|
Name |
Effective Date |
From |
To |
Base Salary |
Stipend |
Total Salary |
Notes |
|
Rylee McKinney |
September 16, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
1:1 Paraprofessional (32.5 Hours) CS |
1:1 Paraprofessional (32.5 Hours) CS |
$30,576 |
$2,000 |
$32,576 |
Stipend Added |
|
Preeti Tyagi |
September 16, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
1:1 Paraprofessional (32.5 Hours) CS |
1:1 Paraprofessional (32.5 Hours) CS |
$31,096 |
$0 |
$31,096 |
Stipend Removed |
|
John MacNamara |
November 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 |
Data Manager (District) |
Systems Support Specialist (District) |
$82,025 |
$0 |
$82,025 |
N/A |
C.15. Handle With Care Building Teams
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff as
Handle With Care Building Team (formerly known as the CPI team) members. Each staff member will receive an annual amount of $500 stipend per the WTEA Collective Bargaining Agreement. The stipend will be rewarded at the conclusion of the 2026-2027 school year, for a total cost not to exceed $13,500.00.
|
Names |
||
|
Beth Alcaraz |
Jessica Decelle |
Parsad Gandhi |
|
Lauren Systo |
Timothy Fabiano |
Kelly Blessing-Maire |
|
Julie Costa |
Claire Vivenzio |
Sydney Lynn |
|
Sydney Fielding |
Isabella Lambo |
Alyssa Pech |
|
Erica Bell |
Marilyn Orejaula |
Eliana Wildridge |
|
Ashley Mohan |
Catia Bento |
Kelly Stankiewicz |
|
Katherine Feoli |
Sean Ulichny |
Sara Callahan |
|
Carlyn O'Regan |
Jackie Fattell |
John Tsihlas |
|
Joan Toth |
Jessica Mironski |
Nicole Mendez |
C.16. 2026-2027 Extended Day Instructors
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves all certificated teachers and paraprofessionals, to be appointed as extended day instructors for the 2026-2027 school year. Instructors to be paid at the contractual rate of $50 per hour. Total cost dependent upon needs of identified students in the district’s Extended Day Instructional Program. The total cost not to exceed $37,129 and to be fully funded by Federal Grants.
C.17. Extended Day Coordinators
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the appointment of the following staff member(s) as Extended Day Coordinator, to be paid a stipend commensurate with building program funding sources. The total cost not to exceed $7,000 and to be fully funded by Federal Grants.
|
Names |
School |
Stipend |
|
Kristen Stoyanov |
WS |
$3,500 |
|
Marianne Larson |
CS |
$3,500 |
C.18. Special Education Service Provider List
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following addition to the Service Provider List for the 2026-2027 school year:
|
Name |
Rate |
|
Stellar Speech NJ 1049 Estbrook Road Martinsville, NJ 08836 |
$100/hour - Monolingual Speech-Language Services $115/hour - Spanish-English Bilingual Speech-Language Services $100/hour - Speech-Language Consultation & Collaboration $100/hour - IEP / Eligibility / Team Meetings $115 - AAC Consultation & Support $125 - Staff Training / Professional Development $400/Evaluation - Comprehensive Monolingual Speech-Language Evaluation $500/Evaluation - Comprehensive Spanish-English Bilingual Speech-Language Evaluation |
C.19. Summer Fun Positions - 2027
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following Summer Fun/ESY 2026 positions.
|
Names |
Position |
Location |
Salary |
|
Jessica Decelle |
Summer Fun/ESY Principal/Supervisor |
District |
$16,391 |
|
Kristen Stoyanov |
Summer Fun/ESY Assistant Principal |
District |
$10,927 |
C.20. CPR/First Aid Instructor Stipends
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff as CPR/First Aid Instructors. Each instructor will be reimbursed at the WTEA contract rate $50 per hour. The total cost shall not exceed $1,600.00.
|
Names |
||
|
Lisa Lontai |
Christine Agresti |
Danielle Hionis |
C.21. October Inservice Facilitators
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education approves the following staff for their participation in the October Inservice as Course Facilitators at the WTEA contractual rate for prep per employee, for a total cost not to exceed $975.00.
|
Names |
||
|
Nancy Braunstein |
Laurie Green |
Christina Mancino |
|
Lyndsay Carroll |
Patricia Iannacone |
Catherine Murphy |
|
Cynthia Cassidy |
Marianne Larson |
Kristen Stoyanov |
|
Francesca Frosoni |
Lisa Lenci-Coppola |
|
|
MaryBeth Greco |
Kimberly Lopes |
|
C.22. Approval to Create Positions
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby approves the creation of the following positions for 2026-2027 school year:
|
Location |
Position |
Full-Time Equivalent |
|
CS |
1.1 Paraprofessional (32.5 Hours) |
1.0833 |
XIV. Unfinished Business
None
XV. New Business
None
XVI. Public Commentary (any topic)
Note on public input at BOE meetings: Board Policy #0167, adopted on June 18, 2018, provides for public participation in Board of Education meetings. Such participation is governed by the following rules:
- A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by an announcement of his/her name, address, and group affiliation, if applicable;
- Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes’ duration. If necessary, the public comment portion of the meeting may be extended fifteen minutes with Board approval;
- No participant may speak more than once on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard;
- All statements, questions, or inquiries shall be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another Board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question, or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the Board;
The portion of the meeting during which participation of the public is invited shall be limited to fifteen minutes (limit may be adjusted at the discretion of the presiding officer as circumstances dictate).
The Board of Education welcomes and encourages input from the public. Being mindful of privacy rights regarding students and board employees and to avoid any potential liability on the part of the speaker, the board discourages references to specific individuals. While directing your comments or questions to the board president, please understand that the public comment portions of the meeting are not structured as question and answer sessions but rather are offered as opportunities for you to share your thoughts with the board. The board president may need to refer an issue to the superintendent if the particular issue has not been handled through the appropriate chain of command with the school district. However, responses may be provided at the end of this session. There are times when comments and questions will require additional fact gathering before a response is provided.
● Katherine Sarmad, King George Road - Reiterated her comments on how the demographic study was wrong. She does not appreciate how her comments in email were responded to by placing the answers on the FAQs. She is disappointed in the way this initiative was communicated.
● Vanessa Kian, Overlook Drive - Speaking as a resident, parent, Planning For Growth member, PTO member and Township committee member. She has been extremely impacted by the changes, but still supports the changes that were approved tonight and the process.
On motion by Mr. Weinstein to close public commentary, seconded by Mr. Molfetta, the motion was approved by a 8-0 voice vote.
XVII. Adjourn
On motion by Ms. Keller, seconded by Mr. Weinstein the meeting was adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Minutes submitted by,
Christopher Heagele
Board Secretary