May 4, 2023 at 7:00 PM - Budget Public Hearing / Work Session Meeting

1. NOTIFICATION OF MEETING
This meeting was properly advertised according to the Open Public Meeting Act (P.L. 1975:31) in the Hunterdon Democrat on April 27, 2023 to begin at 7:00 PM to be held at the Alexandria Middle School Media Center, 557 County Road 513, Pittstown, NJ   OR  via Zoom.  Link:  https://alexandriaschools.zoom.us/my/kevinmcpeek
or dial in by phone:  1-929-205-6099  Meeting ID # 851 804 0845

2. ROLL CALL
April Abelman
Caterina Dobak
Eric Joseph
Marybeth Madlinger 
Marci Nardone
William R. Prouty
Wanda Quinones
Michael Small
Doug Walker 

3. FLAG SALUTE

4. PRESENTATIONS

5. CORRESPONDENCE

6. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT

6.A. Referendum Update

7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

7.A. District Update

7.B. Bus Evacuation Drill - April 21, 2023

7.C. Budget Presentation

7.D. HIB Report

8. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMIN/BOARD SECRETARY REPORT

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS

10. PUBLIC INPUT (CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS ONLY)
The Alexandria Township Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters. Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty minute periods for public comment each meeting.  In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:

1.  A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by announcing his/her name, place of residence, and group affiliation, if appropriate.
2.  Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to 3 minutes in duration.
3.  No participant may speak on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
4.  All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no participant may address Board members individually.

11. OLD BUSINESS

12. NEW BUSINESS

13. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Township Board of Education approve the Consent Agenda as follows:

ROLL CALL VOTE:
Abelman____Joseph____Madlinger____Nardone_____Quinones____Small____Walker____Dobak____Prouty___

13.A. Finance

13.A.1) Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board approve the transfers for the months ending April 30, 2023 as submitted by the Superintendent, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-8-2.

to accept the monthly financial reports of the Board Secretary and the Treasurer of School Moneys for the month ending April 30, 2023  in compliance with N.J.A.C.6:20-2.13(3) that the Board of Education certify that no major account or fund has been overexpended and that as of this report sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Board accept the certification of the School Business Administrator, as required by N.J.A.C.6:20-2.13(D), that no line item account has been over expended as of April 30, 2023, and that as of this date sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

13.A.2) Bill List
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Ed approve the following Bill Lists:
April 20, 2023 - 
Check # A11218 - 
Total - $

13.B. Approval of Minutes
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes:
March 2, 2023 Regular and Executive Minutes
March 15, 2023 Regular and Executive Minutes
April 5, 2023 Regular and Executive Minutes
April 20, 2023 Regular and Executive Minutes

13.C. Travel and Related Expenses
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the following mileage reimbursement requests in accordance with the School District Accountability Act.  Only overnight stays are eligible for meal reimbursement.  Mileage, meals and lodging shall be in accordance with NJ Statues, Code, and NJ Department of Treasury Guidelines.  OMB Mileage Reimbursement Rate is $0.47.

13.D. Personnel
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following:

13.D.1) Interim Business Administrator
Motion to approve Ronald E. Bolandi as Interim Business Administrator at a rate of $600 per day, effective May 4, 2023. 

13.D.2) Board Secretary
Motion to approve Ronald E. Bolandi as the Board Secretary effective May 4, 2023.

13.D.3) Purchasing Agent
Motion to approve Ronald E. Bolandi as the Purchasing Agent effective May 4, 2023.

13.D.4) Public Agency Compliance
Motion to approve Ronald E. Bolandi as the Public Agency Compliance Officer effective May 4, 2023. 

13.D.5) Custodian of Records
Motion to approve Ronald E. Bolandi as the Custodian of Records effective May 4, 2023.

13.D.6) Reduction in Force
Due to personnel reorganization of the Alexandria Township School District, the following employee contracts will be terminated at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year.  This unfortunate action is based upon the Alexandria Township Board of Education's authority as set forth in N.J.S.A. 18A:28-9.

The following employees will be reduced in force:
 Sally Perini    
Tina Snyder
Douglas VanCamp

13.D.7) Tenured Staff
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve 2023-2024 employment contracts for the tenured employees attached hereto.

13.D.8) Non-tenured Staff
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve 2023-2024 employment contracts for the non-tenured employees attached hereto.

13.D.9) Long Term Substitute Teachers
Motion to approve Diane Plytnski, Long Term Sub - Step 1BA, at $293 per day, effective May 1, 2023 through May 30, 2023.
Motion to approve Deanna Valle, Long Term Sub, Step 1MA, at a salary of $63,855 prorated to March 16, 2023.

13.D.10) Medical Leave
Motion to approve Staff ID # 214 for Medical Leave effective April 17, 2023 with a tentative return of May 19, 2023.

13.D.11) Confidential Employee Contracts
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent the Board approve the following Administrative Contracts for 2023-2024 school year:

Administrative Contracts:
Erin Durborow - Assistant Principal - $113,575
Joy Dominic - Supervisor of Student Services - $131,541

Confidential Employee Contracts:
Patricia Aversa - Administrative Assistant for District Operations - $58,320
Ellen Kluber - Treasurer of School Moneys - $8,497
Jennifer Myers - Payroll and Benefits Specialist - $63,335
Doreen Penge - Data Collection Specialist - $58,004 

Non-tenured Confidential Employee Contracts
Jared Herbst - Computer Technician  -  $58,491

13.D.12) Motion to approve Corrine Mills, Language Arts Teacher, Step 1 BA at a salary of $60,455.

13.D.13) Motion to approve up to 10 additional days of summer employment for Andrea Damboise, CST Secretary, to be paid per diem, determined by the Superintendent.

13.E. Finance and Facilities

13.E.1) Bank Account Signers
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the updated Citizens Bank Account Signers as attached.

13.E.2) School District Budget

13.E.2)a. 2023-2024 School Budget
WHEREAS, the 2023-2024 Alexandria Township School Budget includes sufficient funds to implement the proposed planning process as described in this district’s Annual Report pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:7A -11 and

WHEREAS sufficient funds will be available to provide curriculum and instruction which will enable all students to achieve the Core Curriculum Content Standards;

WHEREAS, the 2023-2024 school budget is in compliance with the requirements set forth in N.J.S.A. 18A and N.J.A.C. Title 6 and 6A;

WHEREAS, the budget was approved by the Hunterdon County Executive School Business Administrator;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Alexandria Township Board of Education adopts the 2023-2024 final budget and authorizes its submission to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools for final approval as follows:

General Fund Operating Budget: $10,618,375
Special Revenue Fund (Grants and Entitlements): $163,123
Debt Service:  $728,769

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the school budget results in the following General Fund
Tax Levy: General Fund (Operating Budget): $9,495,209

13.E.2)b. Travel Allowance
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the maximum travel allowance for the 2023/2024 school year shall be established at $80,000.

13.E.3) Security Camera Upgrade
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a proposal from SHI Incorporated to upgrade the district's security cameras at a cost of $109,636.88.

13.E.4) Center for Collaborative Classroom
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a proposal from The Center for Collaborative Classroom for (6) Teacher Consulting Professional Developments.   This will include modeling lessons, observations and curriculum at a cost of $21,000.  

13.E.5) Referendum Change Order
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the following change order:
DC Building Systems, LLC - CO E-6 - $12,270.65, PCO7 ($6,567.20) provide labor/material to install addition exit signs per code.  PCO9 ($5,703.45) provide labor/material to provide temporary 225 Amp feed to addition.

13.F. Education

14. PUBLIC INPUT
The Alexandria Township Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters. Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty minute periods for public comment each meeting.  In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, public participation shall be governed by the following rules:

1.  A participant must be recognized by the presiding officer and must preface comments by announcing his/her name, place of residence, and group affiliation, if appropriate.
2.  Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to 3 minutes in duration.
3.  No participant may speak on the same topic until all others who wish to speak on that topic have been heard.
4.  All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer; no participant may address Board members individually.

15. EXECUTIVE SESSION
WHEREAS the "Open Public Meetings Act" (Chapter 231 Laws of 1975) authorizes a public body to exclude the public from that portion of a meeting at which specified topics are to be discussed under circumstances where the public consideration of such topics will clearly endanger the public or where the personal privacy or guaranteed rights of individuals whose activities or affairs are to be discussed would clearly in danger of unwarranted invasion; be it

RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Township of Alexandria now adjourns its public session to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing the following:

   Confidential Matters by Law or Court Order
X_Purchase Property
X_Personnel Matters
__Invasion of Individual Privacy Employee or Student
__Investigation into Violations of Law
__Suspension, Civil Penalty or Loss of a License or Permit
__Disclosure would Impair District's Right to Receive Funding
__School/Public Security
X_Collective Bargaining
__Pending, Ongoing or Anticipated Litigation

And be if further RESOLVED that the matters discussed in Executive Session will be made public when confidentiality is no longer required. 

Motion to Enter Executive Session
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools the Alexandria Board enter Executive Session at _____ to discuss __________.

16. OPEN SESSION
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Board return to Open Session at __________.

17. ADJOURN
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, to adjourn the meeting at __________ .