June 26, 2025 at 7:00 PM - Regular Meeting
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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 Digital Edition of The Star Ledger on June 13, 2025, TAPinto and NJ.com, to begin at 7:00 PM at the Alexandria Middle School Media Center, 557 County Road 513, Pittstown, NJ. |
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2. ROLL CALL
April Abelman Ann Marie Austin Renee Bagley Caterina Dobak Eric Joseph Marybeth Madlinger Wanda Quinones Michael Small Doug Walker |
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3. FLAG SALUTE
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4. PRESENTATIONS
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5. BOARD PRESIDENT'S REPORT
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6. SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
District Update HIB Student Safety Data System Reporting |
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7. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT
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8. PUBLIC INPUT - (Agenda Items Only)
Description:
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:
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. |
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9. OLD BUSINESS
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10. NEW BUSINESS
Board discussion of public comments |
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11. 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 ____ Austin ____Bagley ____ Dobak ____ Joseph ____ Madlinger ____ Quinones ____ Small ____ Walker ____ |
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11.A. Finance
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11.A.1) Financial Reports
Upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Board approve the transfers for the months ending April 30, 2025 and May 31, 2025 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 months ending April 30, 2025 and May 31, 2025 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 May 31, 2025, and that as of this date sufficient funds are available to meet the District's financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. |
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11.A.2) Bill List
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Ed approve the following Bill List: May 22, 2025 - June 26, 2025 Check # A13195 - A13279 Check # B0266 - B0267 Total - $1,339,702.40 |
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11.A.3) 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. |
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11.A.4) Bill Payment
Motion to authorize the Business Administrator, in consultation with the Superintendent, to remit bill payments, including electronic bill payments from June 26, 2025 until August 14, 2025 without prior board approval. All such payments shall be reported to the Board of Education, ratified, and duly recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting. |
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11.A.5) Change Orders
Motion to authorize the Business Administrator, in consultation with the Superintendent, to approve change orders for the Exterior Site Improvements Project (Spiezle project number 24K058) up to a total of $50,000 from June 26, 2025 until August 14, 2025 without prior board approval. All such change orders shall be reported to the Board of Education, ratified, and duly recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting. |
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11.B. Personnel
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following: |
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11.B.1) Summer Hiring
Motion to authorize the Superintendent to appoint personnel to fill summer vacancies, subject to ratification of that action by the Board at the next Board meeting. |
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11.B.2) Salaries Paid by Federal Grants
Motion to approve the use of IDEA Grant funds to pay the partial or total amount of the following staff member's salaries: Brooke Bachman Mckayla Blazure Nadine Boetsch Isabel Braddock Joanne Glennon Leanne Levy |
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11.B.3) Approval of 2025-2026 Substitutes
Motion to approve the attached Substitutes for the 2025-2026 school year, at the following rates: Teachers/ Paraprofessionals $140/day Nurses $200/day Custodians $18/hour |
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11.B.4) Leave of Absence
Motion to approve a Leave of Absence for employee #ST322 from August 4, 2025 to August 29, 2025. |
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11.B.5) Leave of Absence - Family Medical Leave Act
Motion to approve a FMLA unpaid Leave of Absence for employee #ST019 from September 1, 2025 to November 21, 2025. |
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11.B.6) Leave of Absence - Family Medical Leave Act
Motion to approve a FMLA Leave of Absence for employee #ST166 as follows: 9/16/2025 - 10/31/2025 - sick time 11/2/25 - 1/31/26 - FMLA, 12 weeks 2/1/26 - 3/1/26 - unpaid |
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11.B.7) Move on the Guide
Motion to approve Sara Slack to move from Step 16-MA+15 at a salary of $93,805 plus longevity $1,000; Total salary $94,805 to Step 16 MA+30,at a salary of $95,505 plus longevity $1,000; Total Salary $96,505 effective 7/1/2025. |
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11.B.8)
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11.B.9) Summer Work
Motion to approve Christina Suydam up to 25 hours of summer work at the per diem hourly rate. |
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11.B.10) Kindergarten Orientation - August 14, 2025
Motion to approve the following staff members to host Kindergarten Orientation for a total of 90 minutes each at the professional rate of $45 per hour: Tanya Drake Michael Haughey Christina Suydam Kerrie Eisenhardt |
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11.B.11) Kindergarten Orientation - August 14, 2025
Motion to approve Nadine Boesch to participate in Kindergarten Orientation for a total of 1 hour at the professional rate of $45 per hour. |
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11.B.12) PreSchool Orientation-August 13, 2025
Motion to approve the following staff members to host Preschool Orientation for a total of 90 minutes at the professional rate of $45 per hour: Christina Salerno Sarah Kurcin |
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11.B.13) Summer Help
Motion to approve Kathleen Wilcox as Summer Technology Help at $18/h for July 1, 2025 through August 22, 2025. |
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11.C. Approval of Minutes
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approves the following meeting minutes: Regular Meeting Minutes May 22, 2025 Executive Session Minutes May 22, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes May 29, 2025 Executive Session - Special Meeting May 29, 2025 Work Session Minutes June 5, 2025 Executive Session Minutes June 5, 2025 |
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11.D. Finance and Facilities
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11.D.1) NJSIG Application and Receipt of Safety Grant Award
WHEREAS, the New Jersey Schools Insurance Group (“NJSIG”) is a school board insurance group authorized by N.J.S.A. 18A:18B-1, et seq. to provide insurance coverage and risk management services for its members; WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education, hereinafter referred to as the “Educational Institution,” is a member of NJSIG; and, WHEREAS, in accordance with NJSIG Policy 3710, the goal of the safety grant program is to provide members the necessary resources to complete risk reduction projects and improve the safety of the population NJSIG members serve. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that: 1)The Educational Institution applies for a safety grant through the NJSIG safety grant program for the 2025 fiscal year in the amount of $2,900 for the purposes set forth in their safety grant application, which is attached hereto; and, 2)The Business Administrator or their designee is hereby authorized to take all action necessary to apply for and receive a safety grant award. |
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11.D.2) Transfer of Current Year Surplus to Capital Reserve
WHEREAS, NJSA 18A:21-1 and NJSA 18A:7G-13 permit a Board of Education to establish and/or deposit into certain reserve accounts at year end, and, WHEREAS, the aforementioned statutes authorize procedures, under the authority of Commissioner of Education, which permit a board of education to transfer anticipated excess current revenue or unexpended appropriations into reserve accounts during the month of June by Board resolution, and WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education wishes to deposit anticipated current year surplus into a Capital Reserve account at year end, and WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education has determined that an amount not to exceed $750,000 may be available for such purpose to transfer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Alexandria Township Board of Education that it hereby authorizes the District’s School Business Administrator to make this transfer with all applicable laws and regulations. |
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11.D.3) Transfer of Current Year Surplus to Maintenance Reserve
WHEREAS, NJSA 18A:21-1 and NJSA 18A:7G-13 permit a Board of Education to establish and/or deposit into certain reserve accounts at year end, and, WHEREAS, the aforementioned statutes authorize procedures, under the authority of the Commissioner of Education, which permit a board of education to transfer anticipated excess current revenue or unexpended appropriations into reserve accounts during the month of June by Board resolution, and WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education wishes to deposit anticipated current year surplus into a Maintenance Reserve account at year end, and WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education has determined that an amount not to exceed $100,000 may be available for such purpose to transfer. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Alexandria Township Board of Education that it hereby authorizes the District’s School Business Administrator to make this transfer with all applicable laws and regulations. |
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11.D.4) Approval of Bank Accounts and Signers
Motion to approve the attached bank accounts and signers with Citizens Bank, for the 2025-2026 school year. |
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11.D.5) CBIZ Insurance Services
Motion to approve the appointment of CBIZ Insurance Services as broker of record for the 2025-2026 school year for the district’s property and casualty insurances as an extraordinary unspecifiable service. |
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11.D.6) Alternate Fund Commissioner
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Alexandria Township Board of Education that Marisa Preston be and is hereby appointed as Alternate FUND Commissioner to the School Health Insurance Fund to represent the Alexandria Township Board of Education, effective June 26, 2025. |
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11.D.7) Brown & Brown - Broker of Medical & Dental Services
Motion to approve the appointment of Brown and Brown Advisors as broker of record for the 2025-2026 school year for employee medical and dental benefit programs as an extraordinary unspecifiable service. |
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11.D.8) Payment Applications
Motion to approve the following Payment Applications: Preferred Plumbing - Pay App #24 - $3,784.21 - Final Mastercraft Iron - Pay App #7 - $5,158.18 - Final |
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11.D.9) Extended School Year Transportation (ESY) 2025-2026
Motion to approve a contract with Delaware Valley Regional High School for ESY Transportation from July 1, 2025 - August 15, 2026, in the amount of $22,517.99. |
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11.D.10) Toilet Room Facilities for Early Intervention, Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Classrooms - 2025-2026 School Year
Motion to approve submission of the Anticipated Facility Request stating that all Kindergarten and Pre-K classrooms being used in 2025-26 have their own toilet facility. |
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11.D.11) Agreement with Educational Data Services, Inc.
Motion to approve the Agreement between Educational Data Services, Inc and ATS to provide Time and Materials Bid Services, access to co-op time and materials, skilled trades and service bids to the District from April 2025 - March 2026. |
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11.D.12) Professional Services and Proprietary Software
WHEREAS, the Alexandria Township Board of Education has a need to award the attached list of service renewal contracts, and WHEREAS, the goods and services are of a proprietary nature, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Alexandria Township Board of Education renews service contracts with the attached list of Vendors. |
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11.D.13) Professional Services
Motion to approve the following professional services appointments for the 2025-2026 school year: Architect The Spiezle Group Chief Executive Officer $190/h Principal $190/h Associate Principal $175/h Director $170/h Senior Project Manager $165/h Project Manager $155/h Construction Administrator $155/h Mechanical Engineer $155/h Senior Mechanical Designer $155/h Senior Project Architect $145/h Senior Interior Designer $145/h Senior Landscape Architect $145/h Project Architect $135/h Landscape Project Architect $135/h Senior Landscape Designer $130/h Electrical Designer $125/h Senior Project Coordinator $125/h Project Coordinator $115/h Landscape Designer $110/h Interior Designer $105/h Architectural Designer $105/h Administrative Assistant $85/h Marketing Coordinator $85/h Attorney DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kuunzman, Davis, Lehrer & Flaum, P.C. Legal Services: $160/h Paralegal Services: $100/h Auditor BKC, CPAs, PC Audit Scope of Services: $25,100 Extraordinary Services: Partner/Shareholder $285/h Principal/Senior Manager $245/h Manager/Supervisor $155 - 185/h Senior Accountant $150/h Para-Professional/Client Accounting Services $115/h Administrative/Clerical $85/h Bond Council Wilentz, Goldman, and Spitzer Corporation Bond Referendum Prep $8,500 Permanent Bond Sale $9,500 plus $1.00 per thousand Temporary Financing $0.50 per thousand dollars of notes for the first $15,000,000 and $0.40 per thousand above $15,000,000 Attorney fees $215/h Financial Advisors Phoenix Advisors, LLC Continuing Disclosure Services Continuing Disclosure Services: $1,350 Physician Hunterdon Family Medicine at Delaware Valley - $3,150.00 Policy Management Strauss Esmay - $5,015 PT/OT Services Therapeutic Intervention, Inc. School-based Therapy (in district) - $106.00 per hour Home-based Therapy - $122.00 per visit Evaluations - $440 per evaluation Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator Yudichak Environmental Services, LLC - $31,200 |
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11.D.14) Parental Transportation Contracts
Motion to approve a parental transportation contract not to exceed $6440.00 for students whose names are on file in the Business Office for the 2025-2026 school year, pending approval of the Executive County Superintendent. |
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11.D.15) Class III Contract
Motion to approve the attached Interlocal Agreement with the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Office to provide services of a Class III Special Law Enforcement Officer for the 2025-2026 school year at a cost of $67,000. |
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11.D.16) Dual Use Application
Motion to approve the Dual Use application for room 11 at Alexandria Township School for the 2025-2026 school year, attached hereto. |
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11.D.17) Dual Use Application
Motion to approve the Dual Use application for room 16 at Alexandria Township School for the 2025-2026 school year, attached hereto |
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11.D.18) ESY Tuition Contract
Motion to approve an Extended School Year (ESY) contract with High Bridge Board of Education for a student whose name is on file with the Business Office in the amount of $2,614.65. |
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11.D.19) ATS Bus, Fire and Security Drills
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the monthly ATS Bus, Fire and Security Drills as indicated on the attached worksheet. |
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11.D.20) Recycle Equipment
Motion to recycle end-of-life 3D printers (asset tags 3191, 3192, and 3193) to receive a credit towards the purchase of new 3D printers. |
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11.E. Education
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11.E.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 $55,738.00 for 2025-26 School Year. |
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11.E.2) ATSD Professional Development Plan
Motion to approve the ATSD Professional Development Plan for 2025-2026. |
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11.E.3) Remote Action Plan Update
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Alexandria Township Board of Education approve the ATSD 2025-2026 Plan for Safe Return. |
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11.E.4) Professional Development
Motion to approve a Professional Services contract for Professional Development with Solution Tree for the 2025-2026 school year in the amount of $ $10,409.50. |
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12. PUBLIC INPUT
Description:
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:
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. |
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13. 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 __________. |
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14. OPEN SESSION
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools that the Alexandria Board return to Open Session at __________. |
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15. ADJOURN
Motion made by __________, seconded by __________, to adjourn the meeting at __________ . |