December 18, 2024 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting

1. NOTIFICATION OF MEETING
Welcome to a public meeting of the Alexandria Township Public Schools under the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975, also known as the “Sunshine Law.” The District hopes that you will find this meeting informative and instructive, and that citizens are afforded an opportunity to better understand and appreciate the District’s operation and functions.

Under the Sunshine Law, the District must provide notice of all open meetings to allow citizens to attend and observe the deliberations of the District.  This meeting was properly advertised according to the Open Public Meeting Act (P.L. 1975:31) in the Hunterdon Democrat, December 12, 2024, 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. ELECTION RESULTS
The November 5, 2024 election results are as follows:

Three (3)-Year Term
Caterina Dobak
Michael Small
Doug Walker

One (1) One-Year Unexpired Term
Ann Marie Austin
 

5. PRESENTATIONS

  

6. CORRESPONDENCE
 

7. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT

8. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
District Update
HIB
Proposed Board of Education Meeting Dates
2025-2026 School Calendar

9. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT
January Reorganization Meeting - January 2, 2025
Budget Process
 

10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
 

11. 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.  Public participation at board meetings is intended to allow individuals of the public to address the Board on issues of public concern, and is not intended as a forum for extended conversation or two-way dialogue with the Board members and/or District officials.  The Board has set aside a specific section of the agenda, titled Board Discussion of Public Comments, whereby the Board can discuss the public comment topics in open session.

Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty-minute periods for public comment at each meeting. In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comments, 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.
5. An individual cannot give his/her time to another individual.

The Board President is responsible for maintaining a respectful environment during public participation, so that public comments can be heard and considered by the Board. The President, therefore, may interrupt or terminate any individual’s speaking privilege if the speaker’s comments are excessively loud, disruptive, obscene, or otherwise in violation of applicable law. Further, an individual may be cautioned that a personally directed statement may be slanderous or defaming and that the individual may be liable for his/her statement.

Examples of unacceptable behavior that will not be permitted include, but are not limited to:  naming District employees and engaging in personal attacks, racial slurs, excessive loudness, calling out, yelling, generally disruptive behavior, attempting to disrupt the meeting or inciting others to do the same.  

Any disregard for the rules of decorum stated above will not be tolerated and may subject the individual or group to removal from the meeting.  If necessary, the board meeting will be adjourned temporarily or until the next scheduled meeting.

12. BOARD DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS

13. OLD BUSINESS
Referendum

 

14. NEW BUSINESS

 

15. 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____

15.A. Finance

15.A.1) Bill List
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Ed approve the following Bill List:
November 21,2024 - December 16, 2024
Check #   A12761 - A12832
Check #   B 00261
Total - $977,406.61

15.A.2) Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board approve the transfers for the month ending November 30, 2024 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, 2024 and 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, 2024, and that as of this date sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.

15.A.3) Alexandria Township Education Foundation (ATEF)
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board accept the following ATEF Grant:
Grant # 2025 - 10 Red Mill Museum Trip, 1st grade - $695

15.A.4)  School Budget Calendar for 2025-2026
Motion to approve the attached School Budget Calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.

15.A.5) Class of 2026 Fundraising
Motion to approve Gretchen Savacool to organize Class of 2026 fundraisers during the 24-25 and 25-26 school years to help reduce the student-paid portion of the Washington D.C. trip to take place in Spring 2026.
 

15.B. Approval of Minutes
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes:
Meeting Minutes November 21, 2024
Executive Meeting Minutes November 21, 2024

 

15.C. 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 $0.47.

15.C.1) Motion to approve Travel Expenditures December 12, 2024 in the amount of $1,512.50.

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

15.D.1) District Goals
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board of Education accept the District Goals for 2024-2025.
 

15.D.2) Letter of Retirement
Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Board accept the letter of retirement for Linda Finan, effective June 30, 2025.
 

15.D.2)a. Letter of Retirement
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the accept the letter of  retirement for Jennifer Myers, effective February 28, 2025.

15.E. Finance and Facilities

15.E.1)  Payment Applications
Motion to approve the following Payment Applications:
Sunnyfield Corp - Pay App #4 - $20,502.42

15.E.2) Change Orders:
Motion to approve the following change orders:
 

15.E.3) Donation - Ski Club
Motion to accept a donation of $65 from Gretchen Savacool to help defray the costs of Ski Club transportation.

15.E.4)  Out of District Tuition Contract
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a 2024/2025 tuition contract with Warren Glen Academy for tuition and related services for December 16, 2024 - June 2025 for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office.  The total tuition for December 16, 29024 - June 2025 is $36,260.00.

15.E.5)  Out of District Tuition Contract
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a 2024/2025 tuition contract with the High Bridge Board of Education for tuition and related services for January 2, 2025 - June 2025 for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office.  The total tuition for January 2, 2024 - June 2025 is $52,807.49.

15.F. Education

15.F.1)  Policy and Regulation Revisions
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the 1st reading of the following Policy:
P 2431 - Athletic Competition
P 2430 - Co-Curricular Activities
 

16. 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.  Public participation at board meetings is intended to allow individuals of the public to address the Board on issues of public concern, and is not intended as a forum for extended conversation or two-way dialogue with the Board members and/or District officials.  The Board has set aside a specific section of the agenda, titled Board Discussion of Public Comments, whereby the Board can discuss the public comment topics in open session.

Thus, the Board shall set aside two twenty-minute periods for public comment at each meeting. In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comments, 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.
5. An individual cannot give his/her time to another individual.

The Board President is responsible for maintaining a respectful environment during public participation, so that public comments can be heard and considered by the Board. The President, therefore, may interrupt or terminate any individual’s speaking privilege if the speaker’s comments are excessively loud, disruptive, obscene, or otherwise in violation of applicable law. Further, an individual may be cautioned that a personally directed statement may be slanderous or defaming and that the individual may be liable for his/her statement.

Examples of unacceptable behavior that will not be permitted include, but are not limited to:  naming District employees and engaging in personal attacks, racial slurs, excessive loudness, calling out, yelling, generally disruptive behavior, attempting to disrupt the meeting or inciting others to do the same.  

Any disregard for the rules of decorum stated above will not be tolerated and may subject the individual or group to removal from the meeting.  If necessary, the board meeting will be adjourned temporarily or until the next scheduled meeting.

17. BOARD DISCUSSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS

18. 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
_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
____Collective Bargaining
_X__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 __________.

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

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