Reorganization meeting, Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 7:00 p.m. of the Township of Union Board of Education, at UHS/Library, 2350 North 3rd Street, Union, New Jersey 07083
TOWNSHIP OF UNION BOARD OF EDUCATION
ORGANIZATION MEETING AGENDA
JANUARY 7, 2025 – 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. Greg Nasta
2. Chastity Santana
3. Kimberly Scott-Hayden
REPORT ON OFFICIAL REPORT OF ANNUAL SCHOOL ELECTION
Report on the Official Report of the annual school election held on November 5, 2024 as follows (report only, no vote required):
Three-year term: Greg Nasta 12,504
Chastity Santana 12,327
Kimberly Scott-Hayden 12,895
Sol V. Antencio 4,400
Write-in 287
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
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.
I. COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC (on resolutions and all other matters):
J. REORGANIZATION RESOLUTIONS:
ADOPT NJSBA CODE OF ETHICS
The Township of Union Board of Education adopts the School Code of Ethics for the 2025 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.
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 2025 calendar year.
APPROVE MEETING NIGHTS
Approve the schedule of committee meetings, work sessions and regular meetings be adopted in accordance with the schedule, available to each Board member; and be it further moved that a copy be posted in the Administration Building and with the Township Clerk, that a copy be sent to the Star Ledger and the Union County Local Source for publication, and that a copy be sent to Tap Into Union to be placed in the events calendar.
APPROVE POLICY MANUAL
Approve the Policy Manual of the Township of Union Board of Education presently in effect be hereby readopted.
APPROVE DESIGNATION OF OFFICIAL NEWSPAPERS
Approve adoption of the formal resolution available to 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 2025.
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 available to each Board member.
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 available to each Board member.
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 available to each Board member.
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 2025 calendar year.
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 available to each Board member.
APPROVE GENERAL COUNSEL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNSEL – TAYLOR LAW GROUP
Approve the law firm of Taylor Law Group as General Counsel and Special Education Counsel at an hourly rate of $190.00 (paralegals $100/hr.).
APPROVE SPECIAL LABOR COUNSEL – APRUZZESE, McDERMOTT, MASTRO & MURPHY
Approve the law firm of Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy as special labor and special project counsel at an hourly rate of $190.00, on an as needed basis.
APPROVE BOND COUNSEL – WILENTZ GOLDMAN & SPITZER
Approve the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, as bond counsel for the district.
APPROVE ARCHITECTS
Approve the following architectural firms: (a) EI Associates, (b) Parette Somjen Architects LLC, (c) Spiezle Architectural Group Inc. and (d) Potter Architects.
APPROVE ENGINEERS
Approve the following engineering firms: (a) Consulting & Municipal Engineers, (b) T&M Associates and (c) Colliers Engineering..
APPROVE AUDITOR
Approve the auditing firm of Suplee Clooney & Co. to audit the district’s financials, not to exceed $70,000.
APPROVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS
Approve Phoenix Advisors to manage secondary market disclosure obligations for continued compliance with disclosure requirements for year 2025 and Acacia Financial Group for year 2025..
APPROVE INSURANCE BROKER - FAIRVIEW INSURANCE AGENCY
Approve Fairview Insurance Agency as the property/casualty/workers’ compensation brokerage service for the district.
APPROVE 504 COMMITTEE COORDINATOR - RETTINO
Approve Vincent Rettino, Director of Personnel, as the 504 Committee Coordinator for year 2025.
APPROVE PUBLIC AGENCY COMPLIANCE OFFICER – KOON
Approve Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator, as Public Agency Compliance Officer (PACO) for year 2025, at no cost to the district.
APPROVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER – AWARDING CONTRACTS - KOON
Approve Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator, as Affirmative Action Officer for awarding contracts for year 2025 under P.L. 1975, c. 127, at no cost to the district.
APPROVE CUSTODIAN OF RECORDS – KOON
Approve Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator, as Custodian of Records for year 2025, at no cost to the district.
APPROVE QUALIFIED PURCHASING AGENT – KOON
Approve Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator, as Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA) for year 2025, at no cost to the district.
APPROVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICERS
Approve Affirmative Action Officers for year 2025, at no cost to the district, as follows: Isabella Scocozza, as Affirmative Action Officer; Lauren Walker, as Assistant Affirmative Action Officer and Ben Kloc, as Affirmative Action Officer for classroom practices.
APPROVE DESIGNATED PERSON – ADA/FACILITY COORDINATOR, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR AND AHERA
Approve Anthony Cirella, Facility Manager, and Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator, as ADA/Facility Coordinator, IPM coordinator and AHERA designated person for year 2025, at no cost to the district.
APPROVE TREASURER OF SCHOOL MONIES – TED GEORGIOU
Approve Ted Georgiou as the Treasurer of School Monies for year 2025.
K. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
L. NEW BUSINESS
M. ADJOURNMENT
