Executive Session/Regular Meeting/Budget Hearing - April 29, 2025 6:00 p.m. - Town Hall, 1976 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ

1. Roll Call

2. Flag Salute

3. Mission Statement

4. Open Public Meetings Act Statement

5. Executive Session

6. Approval of Minutes:

    1.    March 11, 2025 – worksession
    2.    March 11, 2025 – executive session
    3.    March 18, 2025 – regular meeting
    4.    March 18, 2025 – executive session

7. Communications:

REQUEST FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VAUXHALL
    Request from First Baptist Church of Vauxhall to use the Jefferson School parking lot on Sunday, July 20, 2025 for an outside worship service from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Certificate of Insurance and Hold Harmless Agreement provided).

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – DECKER
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Sonia Decker, ESL teacher-Burnet Middle School, effective July 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – ERDMAN
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Nancy Erdman, 10-month secretary-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – GIANCASPRO
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Denise Giancaspro, 10-month secretary-Special Services Department, effective February 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – TAVARES
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Diane Tavares, preschool paraprofessional-Washington Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – JONES-ACEVEDO
    Letter of resignation from Miyoshi Jones-Acevedo, leave replacement School Social Worker-districtwide, effective May 1, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – LANGLEY
    Request for leave update from Brittany Langley, teacher-speech specialist-Kawameeh Middle School, new return date September 1, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – DUPLISSI
    Request for leave update from Kerri Duplissi, PE teacher-Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, new return date September 2, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – TSAGARIS
    Request for leave update from Lauren Tsagaris, ESL teacher-Jefferson School, new return date September 2, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – PLACCA
    Request for leave update from Nicole Placca, world language teacher-Union High School, new return date September 2, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – JOHNSON
    Request for paid FMLA from Jamie Johnson, 2nd grade teacher-Washington Elementary School, March 24, 2025-June 24, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – JONES
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Stephanie Jones, second grade teacher-Battle Hill Elementary School, June 9, 2025-January 2, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – SANTIAGO
    Request for unpaid FMLA from Delfin Santiago, Vice Principal-Burnet Middle School, May 1, 2025-June 30, 2025.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – PRATA
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Sarah Prata, secretary-Union High School, March 28, 2025-March 28, 2026.

REQUESTS FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – ALICEA
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Alyssa Alicea, speech specialist-Kawameeh Middle School, March 21, 2025-March 21, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – CRACO
    Request for paid intermittent NJFLA from Elizabeth Craco, teacher assistant-Kawameeh Middle School, May 25, 2025-May 25, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – MANOCHIO
    Request for paid intermittent NJFLA from Fernanda Manochio, accountant-Business Office, April 3, 2025-December 31, 2025.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – OSBORNE
    Request for paid intermittent NJFLA from Melissa Osborne, special education teacher-Burnet Middle School, March 19, 2025-March 19, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – MURPHY
    Request for paid medical leave rom Debra Murphy, secretary-Jefferson School, April 24, 2025-May 24, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – FOSTER
    Request for extension of unpaid FMLA leave from Pricilla Foster, new return date April 11, 2025.

8. Comments from Public (on resolutions):

9. Superintendent’s Report:

    1.    State of the Schools – Budget Hearing – Public Comment
    2.    Presentations – Union High School and Hannah Caldwell Elementary School
    3.    Student Liaison – Alan Mowle

10. Education/Student Discipline Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Education/Student Discipline Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

E-1.    Reported at April 8, 2025 worksession (Report of HIB-March 18-April 8, 2025).

E-1A.    Affirmed at April 8, 2025 worksession (Determination of HIB-March 12-18, 2025).

E-1-1.    SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT OF HIB
    Superintendent’s Report of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the period April 9 to April 29, 2025, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda (no vote required; for reporting purposes only).

E-1-1A. AFFIRM SUPERINTENDENT’S DETERMINATION OF HIB
    Affirm the Superintendent’s determination of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the periods March 18, 2025 to April 8, 2025, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-2.    Approved at April 8, 2025 worksession (Girls on the Run-Franklin).

E-3.    ACCEPT FUNDS FROM NJDOE – COMPUTER SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL COURSE GRANT AWARD
    Approve acceptance of funds in the amount of $40,500.00 for the Computer Science High School Course Grant Award from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) for the 2025-2056 school year.

E-4.    ACCEPT FUNDS FROM NJDOE – CLIMATE LITERACY FOR COMMUNITY RESILIENCY COMPETITIVE GRANT
    Approve acceptance of funds in the amount of $30,500.00 for the Climate Literacy for Community Resiliency Competitive Grant from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) for the 2025-2026 school year.

E-5.    APPROVE UHS – 2025 ESY PROGRAM
    Approve Union High School for the 2025 Extended School Year (ESY) program, ESY services, CST testing and home instruction, IEP Team meetings, and Work Based Learning/Community Based Instruction (Farmer’s Café, Farmer’s Crafty Corner and Print Shop, Copy That/Copy Room) from June 25-August 31, 2025.

E-6.    Agenda item approved at April 8, 2025 worksession (long-term suspension-home instruction-students #291068/#311079-BMS).

E-7.    Agenda item approved at April 8, 2025 worksession (continue long-term suspension-home instruction-students #266593 and #266641).

E-8.    APPROVE IMPLEMENTATION OF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT – RUTGERS UNIVERSITY/NEWARK
    Approve Kim Zieser to implement a quality improvement project  (asthma education program for students) as part of her studies toward earning a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Leadership from Rutgers University, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-9a.    APPROVE SCHOOL CALENDAR – 2025-2026
    Approve the 2025-2026 school calendar, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-9b.    APPROVE CENTRAL OFFICE PERSONNEL, 11/12-MONTH UTASA AND UTEA MEMBERS HOLIDAY CALENDAR
    Approve the Central Office Personnel, 11/12-month UTASA and UTEA Members Holiday Calendar for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-9c.    APPROVE CUSTODIAL-MAINTENANCE HOLIDAY CALENDAR
    Approve the Custodial-Maintenance Holiday Calendar for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

11. Fiscal and Planning Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Fiscal and Planning Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

F-1.      TREASURER’S REPORT
            That the Treasurer’s Report dated March 31, 2025 be accepted.

F-2.      SECRETARY’S REPORT
            That the Secretary’s Report dated March 31, 2025 be accepted.

F-3.      CERTIFY TREASURER’S AND SECRETARY’S REPORT

F-4.    APPROVE APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS
    Approve appropriation transfers in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-5.    APPROVE LIST OF CONTRACTS/PURCHASE ORDERS
    Approve the attached list of contracts and/or purchase orders (copyrighted materials and licenses) pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5 (bid exceptions to requirement for advertising) and 18A:18A-10(a) (purchase through State agency; procedure), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-6.    APPROVE DISTRICTWIDE TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES
    Approve districtwide travel and related expenses pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-7 and Board Policy File Code 6471 and in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-7.    Approved at April 8, 2025 worksession (student field trips).

F-7A.    APPROVE DISTRICTWIDE STUDENT FIELD TRIPS
    Approve districtwide student field trip destinations and purposes pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.8, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-8.    APPROVE LIST OF 2024-2025 STATE CONTRACT APPROVED VENDORS
    Approve the amended list of the 2024-2025 State Contract Approved Vendors pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-10(a) (purchase through State agency; procedure) to facilitate schools’ purchasing, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-9A.    APPROVED LIST OF CONTRACTS/PURCHASES (STUDENT ACTIVITY)
    Approve the attached list of contracts and/or purchases pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(21) (paid by funds raised by or collected by students), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda: 
 

F-9B.    APPROVE FUNDRAISERS
    Approve the following fundraisers, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda:
 

F-9C.    ACCEPT DONATIONS
    Accept the following donations:
 

F-10.    APPROVE 2024-2025 OUT-OF-DISTRICT STUDENT PLACEMENT LIST
    Approval be given to amend the 2024-2025 out-of-district student placement list (month of April 2025), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-11.    APPROVE PETTY CASH FUND FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR
    Approve the Board Secretary petty cash fund for the 2025-2026 school year: Fund-Board Secretary, Amount: $500.00 per month (not to exceed $6,000.00); Responsible Party: Board Secretary.

F-12.    APPROVE APPLICATION OF 2025 NJSIG SAFETY GRANT
    Approve application of the 2025 NJSIG Safety Grant in the amount of $17,193.00.

F-13.    APPROVE RESOLUTION/AGREEMENT – COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES – UCESC
    Approve the Resolution/Agreement for Participation in Coordinated Transportation Services between the district and the Union County Educational Services Commission (UCESC) for the period of July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, in connection with the information appended to the agenda.

F-ATTY.  For informational purposes only – vote not required.  List of legal services paid as of March 18, 2025 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

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Resolutions F-14 through F-21
Concern the Final Budget for the 2025-2026 School Year

    The Superintendent recommends approval to adopt the final budget for FY 2025-2026:

F-14.    APPROVE GENERAL FUND TAX LEVY – FINAL BUDGET
    Approve the General Fund tax levy of $110,248,892.00 in the 2025-2026 school year.

F-15.    APPROVE TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT
    Approve Travel and Related Expense Reimbursement (not to exceed $85,000.00) for the 2025-2026 school year.

F-16.    APPROVE ESTABLISHING A MAXIMUM DOLLAR LIMIT – PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 
    Approve establishing a maximum dollar limit for professional services $4,661,284.00 for the 2025-2026 school year.

F-17.    APPROVE USE OF EXCESS SURPLUS FUNDS/FUND BALANCE
    Approve the Board of Education to include in the General Fund Budget $2,491,688.00 of the Board of Education’s excess surplus funds $1,500,000.00 and additional fund balance $991,688.00 (@ 6/30/24 per audit) to help close budget gap.

F-18    APPROVE USE OF ENROLLMENT ADJUSTMENT
    Approve in the final budget the adjustment for enrollment in the amount of $39,645.00 in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-15.3.  The district has fully exhausted all eligible statutory spending authority.  The adjustment will be used for instructional supplies and will complete this by June 30, 2026, and acknowledges that it cannot be deferred or incrementally completed over a longer period of time.

F-19.    APPROVE ADJUSTMENT FOR HEALTH CARE COSTS
    Approve in the final budget the adjustment for increased costs of health benefits in the amount of $1,391,538.00.  The additional funds will be used to pay for the additional increases in health benefit premiums.

F-20.    APPROVE USE OF BANKED CAP
    Approve in the final budget the adjustment for banked cap, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-10.1(b). The district has fully exhausted all eligible statutory spending authority and must increase the base budget in the amount of $646,951.00 for the purpose of instructional supplies and materials.  The district intends to complete said purposes by June 2026.

F-21.    APPROVE EARLY CHILDHOOD PRESCHOOL BUDGET – 2025-2026
    Approve the resolution approving the early childhood preschool budget for the 2025-2026 school year in the amount of $10,321,831.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

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F-22.    APPROVE TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT AGREEMENTS
    Approve Transportation Contract Agreements with Ewing Board of Education for (a) the Extended School Year (ESY), July 8, 2024-August 16, 2024 at a cost of $77.05 per day (30 days) with a not to exceed amount of $2,311.50, and (b) the regular school year, September 4, 2024-October 18, 2024 at a cost of $186.46 per day (31 days), not to exceed $5,780.26, in accordance with the non-public information in the hands of each Board member.

F-23.    APPROVE PARENT/PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT – 2024-2025
    Approve parent/pupil transportation contract for a special education student attending DLC (New Providence) at the rate of $33.60 per day (not to exceed $4,200.00) for the period January 6, 2025-June 30, 2025, in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

F-24.    REPORT RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS AND APPROVE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES
    Report receipt of proposals for Construction Management Services from (a) Pinnacle, (b) EPIC, (c) Greyhawk and (d) M&M Construction and the Superintendent recommends to approve M&M Construction for pre-construction services for fiscal years 2025 and 2026.

12A. Grievance/Negotiations Committee:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Grievance/Negotiations Committee presents the following resolution for the Board’s consideration:

G-1.    Approved at April 8, 2025 worksession (MOA–UTASA-July 1, 2024-June 30, 2027).

G-2.    APPROVE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT – UTASA
    Approve Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the Union Township Association of School Administrators and the Township of Union Board of Education for the contract term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

G-3.    APPROVE SICK BANK AGREEMENT – UTTA
    Approve Union Township Transportation Association (UTTA) Sick Bank Agreement, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

12B. Legal Committee:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Legal Committee presents the following resolution for the Board’s consideration:

L-1.    APPROVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
    Approve Settlement Agreement in the matter of A.O. on behalf of K.A. v Township of Union Board of Education, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

13. Operations Committee/Technology Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Operations/Technology Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

O-1.    APPROVE SECURITY DRILL/BUS EVACUATION REPORTS
    Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:41-1 and P.L. 2009, Chapter 178, approve the following security drill and, if applicable, bus evacuation reports for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

O-2.    APPROVE REQUEST FROM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF VAUXHALL
    Approve request from First Baptist Church of Vauxhall to use the Jefferson School parking lot on Sunday, July 20, 2025 for an outside worship service from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Certificate of Insurance and Hold Harmless Agreement provided), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

O-3.    APPROVE TOWNSHIP OF UNION PUBLIC SCHOOL HALL OF FAME
   Approve the Township of Union Public School Hall of Fame, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

O-4.    APPROVE CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CORRECTION ACTION PLAN(S)
Approve the Chronic Absenteeism Correction Action Plan(s) for the following Township of Union Public Schools. Union High School, Burnet Middle School, Kawameeh Middle School, Jefferson Elementary School, Battle Hill Elementary School, Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School, Livingston Elementary School, and Washington Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

T-1.    APPROVE RECYCLING OF EQUIPMENT
    Approve list of equipment for recycling, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

T-2.    APPROVE ADVERTISEMENT FOR SALE - IT EQUIPMENT
Approve advertisement for sale of the following IT equipment: various Cisco switches which has been deemed no longer needed, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda. 

14. Personnel Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Personnel Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

P-1A.    Approved at April 8, 2025 worksession (Personnel-New Hires).

P-1A-1.  PERSONNEL ACTIONS – NEW HIRES
    Personnel Actions-New Hires be approved in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-1B    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – EXTRA PAY
    Personnel Actions-Extra Pay be approved in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-1C    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – TRANSFERS
    Personnel Actions- Transfers be approved in accordance with the information appended to the agenda

P-2.    APPROVE SUBSTITUTE LISTS 
    Approve Substitute Lists for the 2024-2025 school year.
 

P-3A.    ACCEPT LETTERS OF RESIGNATION/RETIREMENT
    Accept letters of resignation/retirement from the following staff, with regrets:
 

P-3B.    APPROVE LEAVES
    Approve leaves for the following staff: 
 

P-4.    APPROVE STUDENT TEACHERS AND INTERNSHIPS
    Approve student teachers and internships for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-5.    APPROVE VOLUNTEERS
    Approve volunteers to perform services within the district, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-6.    Agenda item removed prior to Board meeting (Central Office Resolution).

P-7.   Agenda item removed at April 29, 2025 regular meeting (termination of employee).

P-8.    APPROVE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE #12573
    Approve termination of Employee #12573, effective May 30, 2025.

P-9.    APPROVE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE #12363
    Approve termination of Employee #12363, effective May 30, 2025.

15. Policy Committee:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Policy Committee presents the following policy(ies) for the Board’s consideration: (FINAL READING/ADOPTION)

POL-1. POLICY 5460 – HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION (M)
    Approve Policy 5460-High School Graduation, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

POL-2. POLICY 5512 – HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION OR BULLYING (M)
    Approve Policy 5512-Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

POL-3. POLICY 5516 – USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES (NEW)
    Approve Policy 5516-Use of Electronic Communication Devices, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

POL-4. POLICY 5710 – STUDENT GRIEVANCES
    Approve Policy 5710-Student Grievances, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

POL-5. POLICY 7441 – ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE IN SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (M)
    Approve Policy 7441-Electronic Surveillance in School Buildings and on School Grounds, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda. 

POL-6. POLICY 8500 – FOOD SERVICES (M)
    Approve Policy 8500-Food Services, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

POL-7.  POLICY 9320 – COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (M)
    Approve Policy 9320-Cooperation With Law Enforcement Agencies, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

POL-8.  REGULATION 5533 – STUDENT SMOKING
    Approve Regulation 5533-Student Smoking, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

16. Residency Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Residency Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s information:

R-1.    REPORT OF STUDENTS VOLUNTARILY TRANSFERRED TO DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE
    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following residency investigations were completed and the listed students voluntarily transferred to the district of residence:
 

    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following totals are as of the March 18, 2025 Board meeting (2024-2025 school year):

17. Approval of Bills:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board concur with the bills listed in the permanent bound register appended to these minutes and be ordered for payment.

18. Unfinished Business:

19. New Business:

20.  Comments from Public:

21.  Executive Session (if necessary):

Return to Public Session:

APPROVE LONG-TERM SUSPENSION AND HOME INSTRUCTION

            Approve to start or continue long-term suspension and home instruction for the following students: (a) #291068, (b) #311079, (c) #266593, (d) #266641, (e) #250542, (f) #286048, (g) #280579, (h) #278202 and (i) #290275.

22. Adjournment: