January 18, 2024 at 7:00 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 Hunterdon County Democrat on January 11, 2023 to begin at 7:00 PM at the Alexandria Middle School Media Center, 557 County Road 513, Pittstown, NJ.

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

3. FLAG SALUTE

4. PRESENTATIONS

5. CORRESPONDENCE

5.A. Letter from J. Romanella, J. Blew and D. Hofmann regarding Pre-School Policy

5.B. Letter from James Kiernan, Alexandria Township Resident, regarding a School Officer.

6. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT

7. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT

7.A. HIB Bullying / Suspensions (see details attached)

7.B. District School Calendar 2024-2025 (Introduction/First Reading)

8. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT

8.A. ATS HVAC Upgrades Timeline

9. COMMITTEE REPORTS

10. PUBLIC INPUT - (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 5 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
School Security - Class lll SLEO

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____Bagley____Dobak____Joseph____Madlinger____Nardone____Quinones____Small____Walker____

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 December 31, 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 December 31, 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 December 31, 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 List:
December 14, 2023 - January 18, 2024
Check #  A11877 - A11943
Check # B00239
Total - $1,527,577.30

13.B. Approval of Minutes
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes:
Executive Session Minutes December 14, 2023
Regular Meeting Minutes December 14, 2023
Reorganization Executive Session Minutes January 4, 2024
Reorganization Meeting Minutes January 4, 2024

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

13.C.1) Special Education Teacher
Motion to approve Suzanne DeSaro as Special Education Teacher at a salary of 1-MA, 63,855, effective January 16, 2024.

13.C.2) Mentor
Motion to approve Caitlyn Semanchik as Mentor for Suzanne DeSaro.

13.C.3) Substitute Custodian
Motion to approve Oliver Wenger as substitute custodian for the 2023-24 school year at a rate of $18/hour, effective February 1, 2024, pending completion of required documents.

13.C.4) Resignation
Motion to accept the resignation of Hope Johnson, 10-month Administrative Assistant effective March 1, 2024.

13.C.5) Paraprofessional
Motion to approve McKayla Blazure as a full-time Paraprofessional effective February 1, 2024 at the rate of $28,479, prorated.

13.C.6) Facilities Manager
Motion to approve Jeffrey Munsey to the position of Facilities Manager at the rate of $70,000, prorated, pending completion of required documentation.

13.C.7) Employee Leave Approval
Motion to approve employee #ST076 for a medical leave from March 28, 2024 to June 4, 2024.

13.D. Travel and Related Expenses Reimbursed
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the attached list of requests for employee/Board Member travel in accordance with the School District Accountability Act. Only overnight stays are eligible for meal reimbursement. Mileage, meals, and lodging reimbursements shall be in accordance with NJ Statute, Code, and NJ Department of Treasury Guidelines. OMB Mileage Reimbursement Rate is $0.35.

13.D.1) Kim Breidt to attend Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, February 14, 2024, registration is $75.00.

13.D.2) Emily Lewis to attend Supporting Literacy Engagement with Older Students, TCNJ, March 8th, registration is $270.00.

13.D.3) Michele Petrie to attend Supporting Literacy Engagement with Older Students, March 8th, TCNJ, registration is $270.00.

13.D.4) Danielle Hofmann to attend Supporting Literacy Engagement with Older Students, March 8th, TCNJ, registration is $270.00.

13.E. Policy
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent the Board approve the       reading of the following policy:

13.F. Finance and Facilities

13.F.1) Change Orders
Motion to approve the following Change Orders:
Santorini Construction, Inc -  GC-16, add $2,035.80, provide and install LVT flooring at kitchen entrance and serving line
Santorini Construction, Inc. - GC-17, DEDUCT $15,750.00 for eliminating the south elevation portico
 

13.F.2) Rod Grant
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Alexandria Township Board of Education to approve the submission of the HVAC Upgrades at Alexandria Middle School to the New Jersey Department of Education, for review and Department approval of a “school facilities project” with Rod Grant state funding and amendment of the long-range facilities plan to be consistent with the project.

Further, the Board authorizes Spiezle Architectural Group Inc, to make the submission to the Department of Education on behalf of the district.

Be it further Resolved; the Board authorizes the School Business Administrator to solicit bids for the HVAC Upgrades.

13.F.2)a. BE IT RESOLVED, the Alexandria Township Board of Education is authorizing execution and delivery of the grant agreement, Project # 0020-005-23-R502; scope and description - Unit Ventilation Upgrades.

13.F.2)b. BE IT RESOLVED, the Alexandria Township Board of Education gives delegation of authority to the School Business Administrator for the supervision of the School Facilities Project; Project # 0020-005-23-R502; scope and description - Unit Ventilation Upgrades.

13.F.3) HVAC Controls
Motion to approve the Maintenance Agreement to provide services in accordance with ESCNJ Building Management Systems between A.M.E., Inc and Alexandria Township Board of Education in the amount of $4,410.00 for the time period 7/1/24-6/30/25. 

13.F.4) Pre-School Education Aid Grant
BE IT RESOLVED, the Alexandria Township Board of Education is proceeding with the submission of the Pre-School Education Aid Grant and accept the award upon the subsequent approval of the NJ State Department of Education.  

13.G. Education

13.G.1)  SEMI-WAIVER
WHEREAS, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A provides that a school district may request a waiver of compliance with respect to the district's participation in the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) Program for the 2023-2024 budget year; and

WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education desires to apply for this waiver due to the fact that it projects having fewer than 40 Medicaid eligible classified students for the 2023-2024 budget year:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Alexandria Township Board of Education hereby authorizes the Superintendent to submit to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools in the County of Hunterdon an appropriate waiver of requirements of NJAC 6A:23A-5.3 for the 2023-2024 school year.

13.G.2) Curriculum
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the existing curriculum as follows:
21st Century Life and Careers
Comprehensive Physical Education and Health
Enrichment
Guidance
Media
Science
Social Studies
Technology 
Visual and Performing Arts
World Language
Mathematics
Language Arts Literacy

13.H. Memorandum of Agreement
Motion to approve a Uniform State Memorandum of Agreement Between Alexandria Township Board of Education and Law Enforcement Officials for the 2023-2024 school year.

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. BOARD DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC COMMENTS

16. 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
__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 __________.

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

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