Executive Session/Regular Meeting - 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2026

1. Roll Call

2. Flag Salute

3. Mission Statement

4. Open Public Meetings Act Statement

5. Executive Session

6. Approval of Minutes:

    1.    April 14, 2026 – worksession
    2.    April 14, 2026 – executive session
    3.    April 30, 2026 – public hearing/regular meeting
    4.    April 30, 2026 – executive session #1 and #2

7. Communications:

Use of Facilities:
REQUEST FROM TOWNSHIP OF UNION POLICE DEPARTMENT
    Request from the Township of Union Police Department to use two buses and two drivers for the Annual Junior Police Academy trip (U.S. Coast Guard Station, 61 Inlet Drive, Point Pleasant, NJ) on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Letters of Resignation:
LETTER OF RESIGNATION – PRATA
    Letter of resignation from Ashley Prata, special education teacher-Jefferson School, effective July 1, 2026.

Letters of Retirement:
None

Requests for Leave:
REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ELSHIEKH ABREU
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Gihann Elshiekh Abreu, school counselor-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, September 1 2026-December 3, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – DELUCA
    Request for paid FMLA from Frank Deluca, social studies teacher-Union High School, May 4, 2026-June 22, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ESQUIVEL
    Request for paid FMLA from Carlos Esquivel, security-Union High School, May 5, 2026-June 10, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – BAKER
    Request for paid FMLA from Lynn Baker, paraprofessional-Union High School, April 13, 2026-June 22, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ALFANO
    Request for paid FMLA from Mary Rose Alfano, secretary-Union High School, May 14, 2026-June 30, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – KOVACS
    Request for paid medical leave from Deanna Kovacs, teacher-Jefferson School, May 7, 2026-June 12, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – HUBBARD
    Request for paid medical leave from Donna Hubbard, administrative assistance-Central Office, April 30, 2026-December 31, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – BERZANSKIS
    Request for unpaid FMLA from Michael Berzanskis, teacher-Union High School, May 4, 2026-May 25, 2026.

Requests for Leave Update:
REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – CRUZ
    Update to request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Stephanie Cruz, CST-Livingston Elementary School, May 8, 2026-December 7, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – MANDERICHIO
    Update to request for unpaid FMLA from Stephanie Manderichio, teacher-Jefferson School, May 1, 2026-May 31, 2026.

Requests for Intermittent Leave:
REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – GRILLIAS
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Maria Grillias, math teacher-Kawameeh Middle School, April 13, 2026-June 22, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – MURPHY
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Debbie Murphy, secretary-Jefferson Elementary School, April 22, 2026-May 26, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – ROTONDO
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from James Rotondo, custodian-Livingston Elementary School, May 1, 2026-April 30, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – CAPPIELLO
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Diane Cappiello, Executive Administrative Assistant-Business Office, June 1, 2026-May 31, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – GUNDERSEN
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Jamie Gundersen, teacher-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, September 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – PIOTROWSKI
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Stephen Piotrowski, teacher-Union High School, May 12, 2026-May 11, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – DeBELLONIA
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Antonio DeBellonia, teacher-Union High School, May 7, 2026-May 6, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – BROWN
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Yvonne Brown, teacher-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, March 26, 2026-March 25, 2027.

8. Comments from Public (on resolutions):

9. Superintendent’s Report:

    1.    Superintendent’s Report
    2.    Student Liaison – Ava Soares
    3.    Report on NJDOE – School Self-Assessment for Determining District Grades (2024-2025) and School Grade Report

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.    Agenda item reported at May 12, 2026 worksession (Report of HIB-May 1-12, 2026).

E-1A.    Agenda item approved at May 12, 2026 worksession (Determination of HIB-April 15-April 30, 2026).

E-1-1.    SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT OF HIB
    Superintendent’s Report of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the period May 13, 2026 to May 19, 2026, no incidents to report (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 May 1, 2026 to May 12, 2026, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-2.    Agenda item approved at May 13, 2026 worksession (continuation of suspension students #266543, #285026, #285024 and #316008)

E-3.    APPROVE LONG-TERM SUSPENSION AND HOME INSTRUCTION
    Approve to continue long-term suspension and home instruction for student #266593 from the general education program.

E-4.    APPROVE UPDATED SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR PRESCHOOL PROVIDER YM-YWHA – 2026-2027
    Approve the updated school calendar (to make up snow days) for preschool provider YM-YWHA for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-5.    APPROVE KEAN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH STUDY
    Approve the request from Kean University and researcher (a) Chinwe Ononiwu and (b) Natalie Smith to conduct the research study entitled “Teacher Perspectives on Social Emotional Learning in Early Childhood”, 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 April 30, 2026 be accepted.

F-2.      SECRETARY’S REPORT
            That the Secretary’s Report dated April 30, 2026 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.    Agenda item approved at May 12, 2026 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 2025-2026 STATE CONTRACT APPROVED VENDORS
    Approve the amended list of the 2025-2026 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 2025-2026 OUT-OF-DISTRICT STUDENT PLACEMENT LIST
    Approval be given to amend the 2025-2026 out-of-district student placement list (month of April), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-11.    APPROVE TUITION RATES FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
    Approve the following tuition rates for the 2026-2027 school year:
 

F-12.    APPROVE MEDIPRO SOLUTIONS – PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS
    Approve Ijeoma Hassan, M.D. of Medipro Solutions LLC to provide psychiatric evaluations in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:6-2(a) and N.J.A.C. 6A:32-6.1 through 6.3, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a rate of $1,200.00 per evaluation (not to exceed $7,500.00), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #11-000-213-330-01-54-0060-7027].

F-13.    APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN NON-BINDING COOPERATIVE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS
    Approve the district’s participation in non-binding cooperative purchasing agreements for the 2026-2027 school year with the following:

1.    Educational Data Services, Inc., 236 Midland Avenue, Saddlebrook, NJ
2.    Hunterdon County ESC Cooperative Purchasing, 51 Sawmill Road, Lebanon, NJ
3.    Educational Services Commission of New Jersey, 1660 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ
4.    Somerset County Educational Services Commission, 568 Central Ave, Bridgewater, NJ
5.    Sussex County Educational Services, 10 Gail Court, Sparta, NJ
6.    Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council, 502 Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, NJ
7.    Region 4 ES Interlocal, 7145 West Tidwell, Houston, TX
8.    Sourcewell, 202 12th Street NE, P.O. Box 219, Staples, MN 56479
9.    Omnia Partner Member ID: 947046 utilizing Omnia Partner, Region 4 ESC Contract #R200401, Minneapolis, Minnesota for ESIP project.
10.    The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS), 4845 Highway 271 North, Pittsburg, TX 75686
11.    New Jersey Educational Computing Cooperative (NJECC)
12.    PEPPM Consortium membership, a national contract program for district purchasing agent
13.    NJ Edge Consortium membership, a non-profit technology services provider.
14.    New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Alliance Cooperative Pricing Agreement with the County of Bergen (Lead Agency), One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601
15.    Cooperative Pricing System Agreement with Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) (Lead Agency), 340 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974

F-14.    APPROVE UCESC TUITION RATES AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT
    Approve the Union County Educational Services Commission (UCESC) 2026-2027 tuition Rates and Other Services Agreement, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-15.    APPROVE LEARNWELL – BEDSIDE INSTRUCTION
    Approve teachers employed through LearnWell to provide bedside instruction for district students on an “as needed” basis for the school year 2026-2027 in an amount not to exceed $22,000.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7693-11-150-100-320-01-19.

F-16.    APPROVE SILVERGATE – BEDSIDE INSTRUCTION
    Approve teachers employed through Silvergate to provide bedside instruction for district students on an “as needed” basis for the school year 2026-2027, in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7693-11-150-100-320-01-19].

F-17.    APPROVE REACH HEALTH SERVICES
    Approve Reach Health Services to provide (a) clinical counseling services and the wraparound program for the 2026-2027 school year and ESY in-district program at the cost of $45,087.00 and $2,128.00, respectively [Account #7043/11-000-219-320-01-19] and (b) individual student risk assessment at a rate of $225.00 per assessment (not to exceed $1,350.00) [Account # 7074/11-000-219-320-01-19], in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-18.    APPROVE GREAT BEGINNINGS – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Great Beginnings, Dr. Debora Buzinkai, for the following evaluations (not to exceed $6,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, (a) Dyslexia evaluation-$1,400.00, (b) Dysgraphia evaluation-$1,400.00, (c) Dyscalculia evaluation-$1,400.00, (d) any two evaluations listed-$2,200.00, (e) all three evaluations listed- $2,600.00, (f) Neuropsychological evaluation-$3,600.00 (base), (g) evaluation for Autism-$4,400.00, (h) placement-$4,200.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-19.    APPROVE SUMMIT SPEECH – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Summit Speech to provide acoustic evaluation for (a) K through 5th grade-$550.00 per evaluation, (b) 6th through 12th grade-$750.00 per evaluation, (c) audiological consultation at the rate of $250.00 per hour (not to exceed $1,500.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-216-320-01-19].

F-20.    APPROVE SPEECH AND HEARING ASSOCIATES – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Speech and Hearing Associates to provide central auditory processing evaluations with report (includes comprehensive peripheral audiological evaluation) at the rate of $750.00 per evaluation (not to exceed $2,250.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-21.    APPROVE PETTY CASH ACCOUNT – COMMUNITY BASED INSTRUCTION
    Approve a petty cash account for costs associated with students’ IEP driven Community Based Instruction (CBI) for the 2026-2027 school year at the following schools: (a) Burnet Middle School - $5,250.00; (b) Kawameeh Middle School - $2,800.00; (c) Union High School - $17,700.00.

F-22.    APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF PETTY CASH ACCOUNT – COMMUNITY BASED INSTRUCTION
    Approve establishment of a petty cash account for costs associated with students’ IEP driven Community Based Instruction (CBI) and Work Based Learning (WBL) at Battle Hill Elementary School – Extended School Year Program in the amount of $2,000.00 for the 2026-2027 school year.

F-23.    APPROVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AGREEMENT – ERESC
    Approve Transportation Services Agreement with Essex Regional Educational Services Commission, on an as needed basis, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-24.    APPROVE MARILYN KUBICHEK, M.D. – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Marilyn Kubichek MD, FAAP to provide neurological evaluations and neurodevelopmental evaluations at the rate of $725.00 per evaluation for the 2026-2027 school year (not to exceed $40,000.00), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-25.    APPROVE TECHABILITIES CONSULTING – EVALUATIONS
    Approve TechAbilities Consulting to provide the following evaluations for district students: (a) assistive technology evaluations at the rate of $1,000.00 per evaluation (b) augmentative communication evaluations at the rate of $1,000.00, (c) assistive technological or AAC consultation - $150.00/per hour, (d) speech language consult/speech language therapy - $125.00/per hour, and (e) assistive technology/AAC general training - $175.00/per hour for the 2026-2027 school year (not to exceed $25,000.00), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-26.    APPROVE LEARNING TREE MULTICULTURAL/MULTILINGUAL EVALUATION AND CONSULTING
    Approve Learning Tree Multicultural/Multilingual Evaluation and Consulting to conduct educational, speech/language, social history and psychological evaluations for district students.  The cost of each evaluation is as follows: (a) evaluations conducted in Spanish - $830.00 per evaluation and (b) other languages - $880.00 per evaluation (not to exceed $4,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-27.    APPROVE USE OF YMCA – CBI
    Approve student use of the YMCA for Community Based Instruction (CBI) for the 2026-2027 school year student costs are not expected to exceed $6,500.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7043/11-000-216-320-01-19].

F-28.    APPROVE COUNSELING CENTERS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
    Approve Counseling Centers for Human Development for mental health screening (#90791-initial diagnostic interview) at the rate of $250.00 per screening (not to exceed $1,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-29.    APPROVE MOM AND DAD HOME HEALTH
    Approve Mom and Dad Home Health to provide nursing services at the rate of $107.00 per hour for RN/LPN weekdays and $117.00 per hour for RN/LPN weekends and holidays (not to exceed $100,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #11-000-216-320-01-19].

F-30.    APPROVE THE FAMILY CENTER AT MONTCLAIR
    Approve The Family Center at Montclair for the following: (a) mental health screenings - $200 per screening and (b) psychiatric evaluation - $1,800 per evaluation for the 2026-2027 school year (not to exceed $30,000.00), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-00-219-320-01-19].

F-31.    APPROVE BANKING SERVICES – CONNECT ONE BANK
    Approve Connect One Bank for banking services (general fund and healthcare fund accounts) for the 2026-2027 school year.

F-32.    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.), for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 (not to exceed $350,000.00).

F-33.    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, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 (not to exceed $50,000.00).

F-34.  APPROVE BOND COUNSEL – WILENTZ GOLDMAN & SPITZER
    Approve the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, as bond counsel for the district, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027, for compliance reporting (not to exceed $5,000.00).

F-35.    APPROVE ARCHITECTS
    Approve the following architectural firms: (a) EI Associates, (b) Parette Somjen Architects LLC, (c) Spiezle Architectural Group Inc., and (d) Potter Architects, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027, on an as needed basis (not to exceed $350,000.00).

F-36.    APPROVE ENGINEERS
    Approve the following engineering firms: (a) Consulting & Municipal Engineers, (b) T&M Associates, and (c) Colliers Engineering, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027, an as needed basis (not to exceed $200,000.00).

F-37.    APPROVE AUDITOR
    Approve the auditing firm of Suplee Clooney & Co. to audit the district’s financials, for the period ending June 30, 2026 (not to exceed $70,000).

F-38.    APPROVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS
    Approve Phoenix Advisors to manage secondary market disclosure obligations for continued compliance with disclosure requirements and Acacia Financial Group for year 2026 (not to exceed $5,000.00).

F-39.    APPROVE INSURANCE BROKER - FAIRVIEW INSURANCE AGENCY
    Approve Fairview Insurance Agency as the property/casualty/workers’ compensation brokerage service for the district, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-40.    APPROVE HEALTHCARE BROKER
    Approve Fairview Insurance Agency, as healthcare brokers, for the period of July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027 (not to exceed $100,000.00).

F-41.    APPROVE HEALTHCARE PLANS
    Approve healthcare providers, (a) AETNA/Meritain Health – healthcare insurance for medical and prescription, (b) Delta Dental – dental insurance and (c) VSP – vision benefits for the period of July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-42.    APPROVE FOOD SERVICE COMPANY – POMPTONIAN
    Approve renewal of Pomptonian Food Service as company for district food services for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-43.    APPROVE TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES
    Approve travel and related expenses pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.8, 5.9 for the NJSBA Workshop Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey (October 20-23, 2026) for Board members and Central Office Administration: Gerry Benaquista, Superintendent, Marissa McKenzie and Jose Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendents, Kimberly Scott-Hayden, Board President, Michael Cohan, Board Vice President, Dicxiana Carbonell, Elsie Conteh-Mackey Guida Faria, Ronnie McDowell, Nancy Minneci, Greg Nasta and Chastity Santana (Board members) and Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary.

F-44.    Agenda item approved at May 12, 2026 worksession (Beats by J-CBI event)

F-45.    APPROVE PETTY CASH FUND FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
    Approve the Board Secretary petty cash fund for the 2026-2027 school year: Fund-Board Secretary, Amount: $500.00 per month (not to exceed $6,000.00); responsible party: Board Secretary.

F-46.    APPROVE TO AMEND RESOLUTION – MUJC
    Approve to amend the resolution approved on May 20, 2025 for Morris Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) to provide related services in accordance with students IEPs for the 2025-2026 school year, not to exceed $640,000 (an increase of $255,000) [Account #11-000-216-320-01-19/7043], in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-47.    APPROVE RESOLUTION URGING RELIEF – HEALTHCARE COSTS
    Approve resolution urging relief from rising public school employee healthcare costs.

    WHEREAS, at a time of continued fiscal uncertainty and mounting challenges, local boards of education from across the state of New Jersey continue to suffer under the growing crisis posed by the rising cost of health benefits and are desperate for relief; and

    WHEREAS, despite record levels of state investments in public education, these school districts are facing fiscal pressures similar to those confronting the state budget, including the unsustainable growth in health-care premiums and the mounting insolvency of the state’s public employees health benefits programs; and

    WHEREAS, both within the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) and the private market (self-insured), year-over-year double-digit increases are placing tremendous strain on district budgets and local taxpayers alike; and

    WHEREAS, Governor Sherrill and legislative leadership have publicly acknowledged the urgent need to address rising health-care costs and the challenges facing the state’s health benefits plans and self-insured districts, including both the state and local portions of the State Health Benefits Program, the SEHBP and self-insured; and

    WHEREAS, the seriousness of this issue is underscored by the mid-year SEHBP analysis released by the Treasury Department in March 2026, which concluded that “based on these projected losses and building in future trends, active premium rate increases for 2027 are likely to be in the double digits;” and

    WHEREAS, these projected increases would follow the 31.9 percent premium increase that took effect in January 2026, further exacerbating an overall premium increase of nearly 74 percent in the preceding five years; and

    WHEREAS, this growth in health-care costs far exceeds inflation, state aid increases and the fiscal capacity of local communities; and

    WHEREAS, rising health-care premiums are consuming an ever-larger portion of already constrained school district budgets, forcing difficult decisions that directly affect students, staff and educational quality; and

    WHEREAS, these cost pressures also have significant consequences for taxpayers, as districts are often compelled to utilize the full extent of their available tax levy, even after which many districts remain unable to fully offset these increases due to the constraints of the property tax levy cap, despite the limited health-care exception; and

    WHEREAS, for the families and students these districts serve, the downstream consequences — including district deficits, program cuts and school closures — mean the loss of community stability, continuity of services, and in many cases, access to the specialized supports that our most vulnerable students depend on; and

    WHEREAS, these are also precisely the conditions that erode student achievement and weaken the family engagement that is central to strengthening New Jersey's public schools; and

    WHEREAS, implementing real, sustainable solutions to the rising cost of health benefits and reforming how benefits are delivered through the SEHBP and self-insured would demonstrate the Governor’s and Legislature’s leadership and continued commitment to New Jersey’s students, educators and families, which directly advances our shared goal of affordability and effective, efficient government for all New Jerseyans.

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Township of Union Board of Education, in the County of Union calls upon the Governor and State Legislature to provide immediate, short-term relief from the unsustainable increased health-care costs experienced by school districts in recent years; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Township of Union Board of Education, in the county of Union urges the Governor to engage in meaningful engagement with all affected stakeholders to develop and implement practical long-term reforms to the state’s system and assist the self-insured of delivering health care to its public employees in order to generate meaningful, long-term savings; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Mikie Sherrill, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senator Joseph Cryan, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, Assemblyman Ed Rodriguez and the New Jersey School Boards Association.  

F-ATTY.  For informational purposes only – vote not required.  List of legal services paid as of April 30, 2026 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

12. Grievance/Negotiations Committee:

13. Operations/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 for the month of April 2026 and, if applicable, bus evacuation reports for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

O-2.    APPROVE NEW LOCATION FOR CAMP INVENTION – LIVINGSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
    Approve new location for Camp Invention to be held at Livingston Elementary School, August 3-7, 2026 (8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.), for all students.

O-3.    APPROVE REQUEST FROM TOWNSHIP OF UNION POLICE DEPARTMENT
    Approve request from the Township of Union Police Department to use two buses and two drivers for the Annual Junior Police Academy trip (U.S. Coast Guard Station, 61 Inlet Drive, Point Pleasant, NJ) on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

T-1.    APPROVE RECYCLING OF EQUIPMENT
    Approve list of equipment for recycling, 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.    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 (none at this time)
    Personnel Actions- Transfers be approved.

P-2.    APPROVE SUBSTITUTE LISTS (none at this time)
    Approve Substitute Lists for the 2025-2026 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 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-5.    APPROVE ATTENDANCE AT ASBO INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND NJASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE – KOON
    Approve Yolanda Koon to attend the Annual NJASBO Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey (June 2-5, 2026) for a total cost not to exceed $1,000.00 (per contract).

15. Policy Committee:

16. Residency Committee Resolutions:

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

    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following totals are as of the March 24, 2026 Board meeting (2025-2026 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):

22. Adjournment:

NEXT MEETING:

Work Session Meeting - Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – 7:00 p.m.,

Administration Building, 2369 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey