Organization Meeting of the Township of Union Board of Education, Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Union High School Library, 2350 North 3rd Street, Union, New Jersey 07083.
TOWNSHIP OF UNION BOARD OF EDUCATION
ORGANIZATION MEETING AGENDA
JANUARY 4, 2024 – 7:00 p.m.
A. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY THE BOARD SECRETARY
B. FLAG SALUTE
C. ADMINISTER OATHS OF OFFICE
D. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEWLY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS:
1. Michael Cohan
2. Elsie Conteh-Mackey
3. Ronnie McDowell
E. ROLL CALL
F. MISSION STATEMENT
G. OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT STATEMENT
H. ORGANIZATION
PRESIDENT
The Board Secretary calls for nominations for the Office of President:
Moved by ___________ that ___________ be nominated for the Office of President.
ROLL CALL:
The President assumes the chair.
VICE PRESIDENT
The President calls for nominations for the Office of Vice President.
Moved by ____________ that ____________ be nominated for the Office of Vice President.
ROLL CALL:
I. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (on resolutions and all other matters):
ADOPT NJSBA CODE OF ETHICS
The Township of Union Board of Education adopts the School Code of Ethics for the 2024 Calendar Year.
WHEREAS, each School Board Member is responsible to read and become familiar with the Code of Ethics for School Board Members; the Code of Ethics became part of the School Ethics Act on July 26, 2001. Questions about the Policy should be directed to the District Board Secretary. If the Board Secretary is unable to answer the question, you may be directed to the School Ethics Commission from whom you may request an advisory opinion; and
WHEREAS, the following Code of Ethics for Board Members, pursuant to district Policy 0142, is set forth as a guide to conflict-of-interest situations and unethical activity for Board Members.
CODE OF ETHICS FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
- I will uphold and enforce all laws, state board rules and regulations, and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes should be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures;
- I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools which meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing;
- I will confine my board action to policymaking, planning and appraisal and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them;
- I will behave toward my fellow board members with the respect due their office--demonstrating courtesy, decorum and fair play at all public meetings and in all public statements;
- I will refrain from inappropriate conduct in public meetings and in making public statements, refraining from any disparagement of my fellow board members or others on a personal, social, racial or religious basis;
- I will carry out my responsibility, not to administer the schools, but, together with my fellow board members, to see that they are well run;
- I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action which may compromise the board;
- I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends;
- I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. But in all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its schools;
- I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the superintendent;
- I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties;
- I will refer all complaints to the superintendent and will act on such complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution.
The board shall see that all members of the board receive training in understanding and adhering to this code of ethics and shall discuss it annually at a regularly scheduled public meeting. Each member shall sign documentation that he/she has received a copy of it and has read and understood it.
ROLL CALL:
ADOPT ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER
Approve to adopt Roberts Rules of Order as the official procedure manual to be used to conduct meetings for the 2024 calendar year.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE MEETING NIGHTS
Approve the schedule of committee meetings, work sessions and regular meetings be adopted in accordance with the schedule, in the hands of each board member; and be it further moved that copies be posted in the Administration Building and with the Township Clerk and that copies be sent to the Star Ledger and the Union County Local Source for publication.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE POLICY MANUAL
Approve the Policy Manual of the Township of Union Board of Education presently in effect be hereby readopted.
ROLL CALL:
The following policies were added to the agenda for first reading at the request of the Superintendent of Schools:
POL-1. POLICY 0142 -BOARD MEMBER QUALIFICATIONS, PROIBITED ACTS AND CODE OF ETHICS (M)
Approve Policy 0142 - Board Member Qualifications, Prohibited Acts and Code of Ethics, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.
POL-2. POLICY 8454 – MANAGEMENT OF PEDICULOSIS
Approve Policy 8454 – Management of Pediculosis, in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.
APPROVE DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS
Approve adoption of the formal resolution in the hands of each board member designating (a) the Union County Local Source and the Star Ledger as newspapers to receive notice of meetings and (b) Tap Into Union as the electronic newspaper to receive notice of meetings and fixing charges for notices to the public meetings in the amount of $60 for 2024.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE DESIGNATION OF INTERNET WEBSITE FOR OFFICIAL NOTIFICATION
Approve the adoption of the formal resolution designating the Township of Union Board of Education's internet website (www.twpunionschools.org) for official notification pursuant to the New Jersey local unit pay-to-play law, in accordance with the information in the hands of each board member.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE DESIGNATION OF DEPOSITORIES FOR FUNDS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF UNION BOARD OF EDUCATION (School Activity Funds)
Approve designation of Connect One Bank, Citizens Bank, Wells Fargo Bank and Unity Bank as depositories for funds of the Township of Union Board of Education as currently maintained, in accordance with the list in the hands of each board member.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE AUTHORIZATION OF DEPOSITORY BANKS TO HONOR AND CHARGE ACCOUNTS OF TOWNSHIP OF UNION BOARD OF EDUCATION
Approve authorization of the following depository banks to honor and to charge the accounts of the Township of Union Board of Education and all Board of Education checks and drafts bearing the stamp or perforation commonly known as a facsimile signature of the Treasurer of School Monies and the President of the Board of Education and that checks and drafts of the various Board of Education accounts be signed by the designated officers, in accordance with the list in the hands of each board member.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE AUTHORIZATION TO SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF BILLS BETWEEN MEETINGS
Approve authorization to the School Business Administrator to approve payment of bill(s) between Board meetings on an as needed basis, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:19-4.1 for the 2024 calendar year.
ROLL CALL:
APPROVE LIST OF FINANCIAL VENDORS
Approve list of financial vendors (including flex-spending, 403(b) companies, etc.) doing business with the Township of Union Board of Education, in accordance with the list in the hands of each Board member.
ROLL CALL:
J. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
K. NEW BUSINESS
L. ADJOURNMENT
