December 14, 2023 at 6:00 PM - Regular Meeting

1. NOTIFICATION OF MEETING
This meeting was properly advertised according to the Open Public Meeting Act (P.L. 1975:31) in the Star Ledger on December 1, 2023 to begin at 6:00 PM to be held at the Alexandria Middle School New Gym, 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. ELECTION RESULTS
The November 7, 2023 election results are as follows:

Three (3)-Year Term
Renee Bagley (723)
Eric Joseph (712)
Marybeth Madlinger (761)
 

5. BOARD OF EDUCATION INTERVIEWS - VACANT SEAT
The Board members will conduct interviews for the vacated Board seat between 6 PM and 7 PM.
 

6. 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:

X  Confidential Matters by Law or Court Order
     Purchase Property
     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
__ Collective Bargaining
__ Pending, Ongoing or Anticipated Litigation

And be it 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 deliberate on the BOE seat vacancy.

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

8. ROLL CALL VOTE:
Motion to approve            to the vacated seat:
Ableman ____ Dobak _____  Joseph _____ Madlinger _____ Nardone _____ Prouty _____ Quinones _____ Small _____ Walker _____

9. PRESENTATIONS
 

10. CORRESPONDENCE
 

11. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT

11.A. Referendum Update

12. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
 

12.A. HIB

13. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMIN/BOARD SECRETARY REPORT
ROD Grant Schedule
Audit Corrective Action
Facilities Report
2024-2025 Budget
 

14. COMMITTEE REPORTS

15. 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.

16. OLD BUSINESS

17. NEW BUSINESS

18. 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___

18.A. Finance

18.A.1) Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board approve the transfers for the month ending November 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 November 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 over-expended 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 November 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.

18.A.2) Bill List
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Ed approve the following Bill Lists:
November 14, 2023 - December 13, 2023
Check #  A11793 - A11876
Check # B00235 - B00238
Total - $1,665,380.93

18.A.2)a. School Budget Calendar for 2024-2025
Motion to approve the attached School Budget Calendar for the 2024-2025 school year.

18.A.2)a.(1) Donation
Motion to approve a donation from VFW Post 7857 in the amount of $125.00.

18.A.3) ACFR/Financial Audit
Motion to approve the annual ACFR/Financial Audit for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, as prepared by Suplee Clooney and Company, and acknowledges that there were 3 audit recommendations which are addressed in the attached Corrective Action Plan.

18.A.4) Withdrawal from Maintenance Reserve
Motion to approve the withdrawal of funds from Maintenance Reserve to the General Fund, in the amount of $223,135, for the following projects:
Sewer line evaluation                                        $  8,500
Ballfield evaluation                                              28,500
Exhaust fan evaluation                                         7,500
Well/sewer plant evaluation                                48,750
Emergency sewer line repair                            129,885

18.B. Approval of Minutes
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes:
November 15, 2023 - Meeting Minutes
November 15, 2023 - Executive Session Minutes

18.C. Personnel
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following:

18.C.1) Board Member Resignation
Motion to approve the resignation of Board President, William Prouty, effective December 31, 2023.

18.C.2) Paraprofessional Leave Replacement
Motion to approve Mckayla Blazure as Leave Replacement Paraprofessional for preschool, from December 11, 2023 to April 8, 2024 at the regular substitute rate of $140/day.

18.C.3) Letters of Retirement
Motion to approve a letter of retirement from Lisa Pepe-Mroz, effective July 1, 2024.
Motion to approve a letter of retirement from Kim Breidt, effective July 1, 2024.

18.C.4) Schedule B Positions
Motion to approve the following Schedule B Positions:
Heather Fleischman as Assistant Director for the Spring Play
Kasey Semanchik as Choreographer for the Spring Play
Kelsey Nemeth as Set Designer for the Spring Play, taking over for Kasey Semanchik previously approved for this position.

18.C.5) Resignation of School Nurse
Motion to approve the resignation of Kim Breidt, School Nurse, effective June 30, 2024.

18.C.6) Education Facilities Manager
Motion to approve Marc Desrosiers as Education Facilities Manager for the 2023-24 school year, effective January 2, 2024 at a salary of $75,000, prorated.

18.C.7) Resignation of Special Education Teacher
Motion to accept the resignation of Autumn Terhune, Special Education Teacher, effective February 10, 2024.

18.D. 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.

 

18.E. Policy
 

18.E.1) Threat Assessment Policy/Regulation 

18.E.2) Sick Leave Regulation - Policy Alert #231

18.F. Finance and Facilities

18.F.1) Referendum Payment Applications
Motion to approve the following Payment Applications:
Santorini Pay App #19 - $6,270.95
Preferred Plumbing Pay App #20 - 3,496.00

18.F.2) Change Orders
Motion to approve the following Change Orders:

 

18.F.3) Candy Cane Lane
Motion to approve an ATS/PTO sponsored event, Candy Cane Lane, to be held December 15th, 6 - 8 PM in the ATS Parking Lot.

18.F.4) Health and Safety Evaluation of School Buildings Checklist 2023-2024
Motion to approve the Health and Safety Evaluation of School Buildings Checklist 2023-2024

18.F.5) APPROVE ROD GRANT AND TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Approve the ROD grant and BOE share to be transferred from Capital Reserve to fund the BOE share estimated to be $595,260.00.

18.G. Education

18.G.1) SEEDS Program
Motion to approve the Professional Services Agreement with Montclair State University for School-based Emotional Engagement and Development Services (SEEDS) in the amount of $29,324.00 for January 2024 - June 2024

18.G.2) Professional Development
Motion to approve the following staff to attend Professional Development Days:
Emily Lewis, The Great History Challenge (online), December 19, 2023, Registration $249.00
Nicole Spayd, NJ Maker's Day at Liberty Science Center, January 25, 2024, Fee $7.00
Kelsey Nemeth, NJ Maker's Day at Liberty Science Center, January 25, 2024, Fee $7.00

19. 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.

20. 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:

X  Confidential Matters by Law or Court Order
     Purchase Property
     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
__ 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 __________.

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

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