Executive Session/Regular Meeting - Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 6 p.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Flag Salute

3. Mission Statement

4. Open Public Meetings Act Statement

5. Executive Session

6. Approval of Minutes:

    1.    December 10, 2024 – worksession
    2.    December 10, 2024 – executive session
    3.    December 17, 2024 – special meeting
    4.    December 18, 2024 – regular meeting
    5.    December 18, 2024 – executive session #1 and #2

7. Communications:

REQUEST FROM TOWNSHIP OF UNION EDUCATION FOUNDATION
    Request from Township of Union Education Foundation requesting the use Jefferson School gym and cafeteria for their spring reception on May 15, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Certificate of Insurance to be provided.  

UHS/NATIONAL SPANISH HONOR SOCIETY – INDUCTION OF STUDENTS
    Induction of students to the Union High School/National Spanish Honor Society – April 1, 2025 – May 31, 2025.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – BARNES
    Letter of resignation from Tyler Barnes, paraprofessional-Battle Hill Elementary School, effective January 27, 2025.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – MEERTENS
    Letter of resignation from Kirra Meertens, paraprofessional-Burnet Middle School, effective December 10, 2024.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – NARDONE-SCAFIDDI
    Letter of resignation from Lisa Nardone-Scafiddi, art teacher-Burnet Middle School, effective January 25, 2025.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – TEZNA
    Letter of resignation from Paola Tezna, 2nd shift custodian-Union High School, effective January 20, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – MATTHEWS
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Thomas Matthews, principal-Burnet Middle School, effective March 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – SUMNER
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Gayle Sumner, school nurse-Jefferson Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – GHIRETTI
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Robert Ghiretti, supervisor of social studies 6-12 and business 9-12, effective September 1, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – PAZDAN
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Nicole Pazdan, teacher-Kawameeh Middle School, February 24, 2025-June 25, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – DESROSIERS
    Request for unpaid FMLA from John Desrosiers, security-Burnet Middle School, January 2, 2025-June 25, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – McGRATH
    Request for unpaid FMLA from Brendan McGrath, English teacher-Burnet Middle School, March 31, 2025-June 13, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – BOYD
    Request for unpaid sick leave from Glen Boyd, head custodian-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, January 25, 2025-April 1, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – TRAMUTA
    Request for paid FMLA from Janette Tramuta, counselor-Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, January 29, 2025-June 25, 2025

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – THOMAS
    Request for unpaid medical leave update from Janelle Thomas, third grade teacher-Franklin Elementary School, new return date May 15, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – DiMAGGIO NODARSE
    Request for unpaid FMLA leave update from Carolina DiMaggio Nodarse, ESL teacher-Washington Elementary School, new return date January 6, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – KOLAS
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA leave update from Alyssa Kolas, nurse-Livingston Elementary School, January 27, 2025-June 24, 2025.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – SANTIAGO
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Delfin Santiago, Vice Principal-Burnet Middle School, January 1, 2025-June 30, 2025.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – NICKELS
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Nicole Nickles, supervisor-PreK-districtwide, January 2, 2025-June 30, 2025.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – SMITH
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Natalie Smith, teacher-PreK-Hannah Caldwell Elementary School/Franklin Elementary School, January 2, 2025-January 2, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – RIBEIRO
    Request for leave update from Maria Ribeiro, teacher assistant-Battle Hill Elementary School, new return date February 3, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – KARDOS
    Request for paid FMLA/unpaid FMLA from Lisa Kardos, chemistry teacher-Union High School, February 10, 2025-March 15, 2025.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – COSTLEIGH
    Request for intermittent paid FMLA/unpaid FMLA from Dale Costleigh, electrician-districtwide, January 23, 2025-January 23, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – HOYT
    Request for paid medical leave from Mark Hoyt, principal-Battle Hill Elementary School, January 3, 2025-February 24, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE CORRECTION – SOUSA
    Correction - Request for Air National Guard – Training Allocation paid leave from John Sousa, Chief Information & Technology Officer, January 21, 2025-March 6, 2025.

8. Comments from Public (on resolutions):

9. Superintendent’s Report:

    1.    Presentation by Auditors – Suplee, Clooney & Company
    2.    HIB Bi-Annual Report – September 2024-December 2024 (period 1)

APPROVE RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 2025 AS SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH
    Approve the resolution recognizing January 2025 as School Board Recognition Month, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

10. Education/Student Discipline Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Education/Student Discipline Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

E-1.    Agenda item reported at January 14, 2025 worksession (HIB Report-December 19, 2024-January 14, 2025)

E-1A.    Agenda item affirmed at January 14, 2025 worksession (Determination of HIB-December 11, 2024-December 18, 2024)

E-1-1.    SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT OF HIB
    Superintendent’s Report of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the period January 14, 2025 to January 21, 2025, in accordance with the information available to each Board member (no vote required; for reporting purposes only).

E-1-1A.  AFFIRM SUPERINTENDENT’S DETERMINATION OF HIB
    Affirm the Superintendent’s determination of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the periods December 19, 2024 to January 14, 2025, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

E-2.    APPROVE JANUARY REPORT – NJDOE – HIB
    Approve the Township of Union Public Schools January report presented by the Superintendent as required by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB).  The report provides the public with the information collected from September 2024 through December 2024, as well as the number of incidents per school building, status of investigations, HIB investigators, nature of the HIB reports and the discipline resulting from the report findings.  The HIB report also includes all training of school district personnel, building programs and assemblies during the time period.

E-3.    APPROVE CURRICULA
    Approve the following curricula: Science – Grade K, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ysi6jk_Djrg-m-bO_bv9oq3BLI3ZS4q2bFV…

E-4.    APPROVE ASSEMBLIES – FRANKLIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
    Approve the following assemblies at Franklin Elementary School: (a) SEL Presentation-Corey Shares a Secret, presented by Nettie, Nana & Friends – Ronnette Smith-Powell and staff, March 18, 2025, 9:30 a.m. in auditorium, grades 2-4 (cost: $1,299.00); (b) K-9 Public Safety Career Presentation, presented by NJ Department of Corrections, April 11, 2025, 9:30 a.m. in gym, grades K-4 (no cost).

E-5.    APPROVE/ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS
    Approve and accept the funds from the Mental Health Screening in Schools Grant for January 1, 2025-December 31, 2025, in the amount of $73,340.00.

E-6.    APPROVE/ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS
    Approve and accept the funds from the School Based Mental Health Grant for January 1, 2025-December 31, 2025, in the amount of $375,000.00.

E-7.    Agenda item adopted at January 14, 2025 worksession (Application NJDOE Grant Awards)

E-8.    APPROVE AND ACCEPT RESOLUTION FOR APPLICATION FOR LOCAL RECREATION IMPROVEMENT GRANT
    Approve and accept resolution for application to the Local Recreation Improvement Grant provided by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (NJDCA) for the fiscal year 2025 to be submitted with the grant application, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

E-9.    APPROVE UPDATED SCHOOL CALENDAR
    Approve the updated school calendar, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

E-10.    APPROVE TUITION, TRANSPORTATION, HOME INSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
    Approve Tuition, Transportation and Home Instruction Contracts with Burlington County Special Services (Burlington County Alternative High School) for student (Tuition $28,337.00; Transportation $7,500.00; Home Instruction, if needed, $65.00/hr.), in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

E-11.    APPROVE NJDOE EQUIVALENCY APPLICATION
    Approve the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) Equivalency Application for NJQSAC, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

11. Fiscal and Planning Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Fiscal and Planning Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

F-1.      TREASURER’S REPORT
            That the Treasurer’s Report dated December 31, 2024 be accepted.

F-2.      SECRETARY’S REPORT
            That the Secretary’s Report dated December 31, 2024 be accepted.

F-3.      CERTIFY TREASURER’S AND SECRETARY’S REPORT

F-4.    APPROVE APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS
    Approve appropriation transfers in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-5.    APPROVE LIST OF CONTRACTS/PURCHASE ORDERS
    Approve the attached list of contracts and/or purchase orders (copyrighted materials and licenses) pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5 (bid exceptions to requirement for advertising) and 18A:18A-10(a) (purchase through State agency; procedure), in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-6.    APPROVE DISTRICT WIDE TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES
    Approve district wide travel and related expenses pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-7 and Board Policy File Code 6471 and in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-7.    Agenda item adopted at January 14, 2025 worksession (Student Field Trips)

F-7A.    APPROVE DISTRICTWIDE STUDENT FIELD TRIPS
    Approve districtwide student field trip destinations and purposes pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.8, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-8.    APPROVE LIST OF 2024-2025 STATE CONTRACT APPROVED VENDORS
    Approve the amended list of the 2024-2025 State Contract Approved Vendors pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-10(a) (purchase through State agency; procedure) to facilitate schools’ purchasing, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-9A.    APPROVED LIST OF CONTRACTS/PURCHASES (STUDENT ACTIVITY)
    Approve the attached list of contracts and/or purchases pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(21) (paid by funds raised by or collected by students), in accordance with the information available to each Board member: 

F-9B.    APPROVE FUNDRAISERS
    Approve the following fundraisers, in accordance with the information available to each Board member:
 

F-9C.    ACCEPT DONATIONS
    Accept the following donations:
 

F-10.    APPROVE 2024-2025 OUT-OF-DISTRICT STUDENT PLACEMENT LIST
    Approval be given to amend the 2024-2025 out-of-district student placement list (month of January), in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-11.    APPROVE CONTRACTS – COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
    Approve School Contracts with the State of New Jersey, Department of Human Services, Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, for educational services for students in the district for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

F-12.    APPROVE NJDOE-JOINT TRANSPORTATION AGREEMENT
    Approve the State of New Jersey – Department of Education (NJDOE) Student Transportation Unit – Joint Transportation Agreement with Delsea Regional High School District (host district) for transportation services for student to Creative Achievement, for the 2024-2025 school year (not to exceed $19,768.00), in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

F-13.    APPROVE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT – DCF - STATE OF NEW JERSEY
    Approve Student Transportation Contracts with the State of New Jersey – Department of Children and Families for the 2024-2025 school year at a rate of $75.00 per day (23 students at DCF Regional School, Union Campus, Scotch Plains, NJ), in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

F-14.    APPROVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AGREEMENT
    Approve Transportation Services Agreement with Northern Region Educational Services Commission for the 2024-2025 school year for transportation for student to Essex Valley School (not to exceed $18,533.57), in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

F-15.    APPROVE ACCEPTANCE OF GRANTS
    Approve the acceptance of the following grant awards: (a) Child Assault Prevention – Grade 1 and Grade 5, grant awarded up to the amount of $6,381.90, district contribution of $2,735.10 (30% of projected cost for program – total cost $9,117.00); and (b) K-8 CAP’s (Child Assault Prevention) Bullying Prevention Program, for Burnet Middle School, at no cost to the district.

F-16.    ACCEPT ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT AND MANAGEMENT REPORT
    Accept the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the Auditor’s Management Report, in accordance with the information available to each Board member (auditors will present report to the public at the regular meeting on January 21, 2025).

F-17.    APPROVE CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN (CAP)
    Approve the Corrective Action Plan for Single Audit Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-18.    APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN COOPERATIVE PRICING SYSTEM
    Approve resolution and agreement authorizing the district to enter into the New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Alliance Cooperative Pricing Agreement with the County of Bergen (Lead Agency), in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

F-ATTY.  For informational purposes only – vote not required.  List of legal services paid as of December 18 2024 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

12. Grievance/Negotiations Committee:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Grievance/Negotiations Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

G-1.    APPROVE SIDEBAR AGREEMENT – UTEA
    Approve Sidebar Agreement between the Township of Union Board of Education and the Union Township Education Association, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

13. Operations Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Operations Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

O-1.    APPROVE SECURITY DRILL/BUS EVACUATION REPORTS
    Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:41-1 and P.L. 2009, Chapter 178, approve the following security drill and, if applicable, bus evacuation reports for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the non-public information available to each Board member.

O-2.    APPROVE SUBMISSION OF ANTICIPATED FACILITY REQUESTS
    Approve submission of the Anticipated Facility Requests for Alternate Method of Compliance in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:26-6.3 and/or 6.4 for toilet room facilities for early intervention, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms at Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, Franklin Elementary School and Washington Elementary School, for the 2024-2025 school year, to the New Jersey Department of Education (Union County office), in accordance with the information in the hands of each Board member.

Discussion Item:

O-3.    REQUEST FROM TOWNSHIP OF UNION EDUCATION FOUNDATION
    Request from Township of Union Education Foundation requesting the use of Jefferson School gym and cafeteria for their spring reception on May 15, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Certificate of Insurance to be provided (Agenda item tabled - not voted on).

14. Personnel Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Personnel Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

P-1A.    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – NEW HIRES
    Personnel Actions-New Hires be approved in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

P-1B    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – EXTRA PAY
    Personnel Actions-Extra Pay be approved in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

P-1C    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – TRANSFERS
    Personnel Actions- Transfers be approved in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

P-2.    APPROVE SUBSTITUTE LISTS 
    Approve Substitute Lists for the 2024-2025 school year.
 

P-3A.    ACCEPT LETTERS OF RESIGNATION/RETIREMENT
    Accept letters of resignation/retirement from the following staff, with regrets:
 

P-3B.    APPROVE LEAVES
    Approve leaves for the following staff: 
 

P-4.    APPROVE STUDENT TEACHERS AND INTERNSHIPS
    Approve student teachers and internships for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

P-5.    APPROVE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE
    Approve termination of Employee #8895, effective February 21, 2025.

P-6.    APPROVE TERMINATION OF EMPLOYEE
   Approve termination of Employee #13175, effective February 21, 2025.
 

15. Policy Committee:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Policy Committee presents the following policy(ies) for the Board’s consideration: (FINAL READING/ADOPTION)

POL-1.  POLICY 0164 – CONDUCT OF BOARD MEETING
    Approve Policy 0164 – Conduct of Board Meeting, in accordance with the information available to each Board member.

16. Residency Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Residency Committee presents the following resolutions for the Board’s information:

R-1.    REPORT OF STUDENTS VOLUNTARILY TRANSFERRED TO DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE – RESIDENCY INVESTIGATION
    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following residency investigations were completed and the listed student voluntarily transferred to the district of residence:

R-2.    REPORT OF STUDENTS VOLUNTARILY TRANSFERRED TO DISTRICT OF RESIDENCE – RESIDENCY HEARING
    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following residency investigation and hearing were completed and the listed student voluntarily transferred to the district of residence:
 

            For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following totals are as of the December 18, 2024 Board meeting (2024-2025 school year):

17. Technology Committee:

18. Approval of Bills:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, that the Board concur with the bills listed in the permanent bound register appended to these minutes and be ordered for payment.

19. Unfinished Business:

20. New Business:

21.  Comments from Public:

22. Executive Session:

23. Adjournment: