August 14, 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 Hunterdon Democrat, January 9, 2025, 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 |
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7. SCHOOL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR/BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT
NJSBA Workshop |
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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: 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. |
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9. OLD BUSINESS
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10. NEW BUSINESS
Board discussion of public comments P 5200 Attendance R 5200 Attendance |
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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 month ending June 30, 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 month ending June 30, 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 June 30, 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: June 27, 2025 - August 14, 2025 Check # A13280 - A13400 Check # B Total - $2,135,759.91 |
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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.
Attachments:
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11.A.4) Resolution to Increase the Bid Threshold |
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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) Kindergarten Screening
Motion to approve Nancy Evans and Garth Ferrrante for Speed DIAL-4 Kindergarten screening for a total of 4 hours each at the professional rate of $65 per hour. |
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11.B.2) Curriculum Work
Motion to approve the following staff for curriculum work: Joe Olcott for 5 hours paid at the professional rate of $65 per hour. Danielle Hoffman for 8 hours to be paid at the professional rate of $65 per hour. Michele Petrie for 3 hours of G&T to be paid at the professional rate of $65 per hour. |
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11.B.3) New Teacher
Motion to approve Whitney Reynolds as Kindergarten Teacher as Step 1, $63,945 effective August 25, 2025. |
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11.B.4) Teacher Mentor
Motion to approve Tanya Drake as Mentor for new teacher, Whitney Reynolds, for the 2025-26 school year, at a rate of CE-$1,000. |
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11.B.5) Stronge Evaluation Model Rubrics
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board adopt the Stronge Teacher and Principal Evaluation Rubrics for the 2025-2026 school year. |
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11.B.6) Maternity Leave Replacement
Motion to approve Tara Werner as Maternity Leave Replacement beginning September 10, 2025 through March 4, 2026 as Step 2, $64,445 prorated. |
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11.B.7) PD Attendance
Motion to approve Tara Werner to attend ATS school opening staff Professional Development days August 25th and 26th at her per diem rate. |
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11.B.8) Lunch Aide
Motion to approve Kathleen Wilcox as part-time lunch aide $18/hr, 3 hours a day. |
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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: Meeting Minutes June 26, 2025 Executive Session Minutes June 26, 2025 |
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11.D. Finance and Facilities
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11.D.1) Payment Applications
Motion to approve the following Payment Applications: Diamond Construction - Pay App #1 - $113,097.50 Diamond Construction - Pay App #2 - $60,705.00 Sunnyfield Corporation - Pay App #6 - $12,962.75 |
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11.D.2) 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 August 14, 2025 until September 4, 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.D.3) Grant Application
Motion to approve the submission of the IDEA application for Fiscal Year 2026, and accept the grant award of these funds upon subsequent approval of the FY 2026 IDEA Application. IDEA Basic: $111,810 IDEA Preschool: $5,343 |
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11.D.4) Agreement with Hunterdon County ESC - Public School Services
Motion to approve the Agreement between Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission and ATS to provide Public School Services. |
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11.D.5) Agreement with Hunterdon County ESC - Paraprofessionals
Motion to approve the Agreement between Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission and ATS to provide Paraprofessionals to the District. |
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11.D.6) Itinerant Services Contract
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a Mainstream Support Program Itinerant Services contract with Mountain Lakes for the 2025-2026 school year for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office. The total is $1900.00. |
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11.D.7) Out of District Extended School Year Contract 2025
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve an Extended School Year contract with Flemington-Raritan Regional School District for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office for tuition and services from July 1, 2025 - July 31, 2025. The total tuition is $6,695. |
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11.D.8) Out of District Tuition Contract
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a 2025/2026 tuition contract with Flemington-Raritan Regional School District for tuition and related services for September 4, 2025 - June 19, 2026, for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office. The total tuition for September 4, 2025 - June 2026 is $66,630.00. |
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11.D.9) Disposals
Motion to approve the disposal of the attached items that are obsolete or beyond economic repair. |
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11.D.10) Donation
Motion to approve the donation of Chromebooks to 8th grade students, as attached, at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 school year. |
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11.D.11) Professional Services
Motion to approve the following professional service appointments for the 2025-2026 school year: Architect: Spiezle Architectural Group, Inc. |
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11.D.12) Out of District Tuition Contract
RESOLVED upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve a 2025/2026 tuition contract with Franklin Township Board of Education for tuition and related services for September 2, 2025 through June 30, 2026, for a student whose name is on file in the Business Office. The total tuition for September 2, 2025 - June 30, 2026 is $96,837. |
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11.D.13) 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.E. Education
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11.E.1) School Self-Assessment
Resolved upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, the Board approve the School Self- Assessment for Determining Grades under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. |
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11.E.2) Representative Assembly of the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey
Motion to accept the recommendation of the superintendent that the Board approve, pursuant to recently enacted legislation, P.L. 192-1989, Chapter 254, the Alexandria Township Board of Education will elect Kevin McPeek to the Representative Assembly of the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey from September 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. |
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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: 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. |
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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 __________ . |
