Executive Session/Regular Meeting - Monday, July 14, 2025 - 5:00 p.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Flag Salute

3. Mission Statement:  Empower and Inspire Every Student, Every Day

4. Open Public Meetings Act Statement

5. Executive Session/Donaldson Hearing:

6. Approval of Minutes:

    1.    June 10, 2025 – worksession 
    2.    June 10, 2025 – executive session
    3.    June 11, 2025 – special meeting
    4.    June 17, 2025 – executive session #1 and #2
    5.    June 17, 2025 – regular meeting

7. Communications:

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – ANTOLOVICH
    Letter of resignation from Melissa Antolovich, library media specialist-Jefferson School, effective June 25, 2025.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – BROWN
    Letter of resignation from  Steven Brown, math teacher-Burnet Middle School, effective August 21, 2025.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION – RAMIREZ
    Letter of resignation from Anaelisa Ramirez, school nurse-Hannah Caldwell Elementary School, effective July 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – NIOTIS
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Asimina Niotis, bus driver-Transportation Department, effective September 1, 2025.

LETTER OF RETIREMENT – SANTIAGO
    Letter of resignation, for the purpose of retirement, from Rosa Santiago, bus aide-Transportation Department, effective June 25, 2025.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – DALY
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Shannon Daly, English teacher-Union High School, September 2, 2025-February 2, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ZULUAGA POSADA
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Daniela Zuluaga Posada, paraprofessional-Kawameeh Middle School, September 1, 2025-January 20, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – BRUNS MEYERS
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Kathleen Bruns Meyers, PreK teacher-Livingston Elementary School, September 2, 2025-June 30, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – PACE
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Jo Ann Pace, speech teacher-Jefferson School, September 2, 2025-June 30, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – ZURKA
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Christine Zurka, paraprofessional-Battle Hill Elementary School, September 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – NAVARRETE
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Angel Navarrete, teacher-special services-Union High School, September 1, 2025-June 30, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – MATOS
    Request for leave update from Sara Matos, career ed teacher-Union High School, new return date October 1, 2025. 

REQUEST FROM UNION POLICE DEPARTMENT – UNION HIGH SCHOOL FACILITY
    Request from the Union Police Department to use the Union High School gym area and bathrooms for the Police Academy Program on July 11, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

8. Comments from Public (on resolutions):

9. Superintendent’s Report:

    1.    State of the Schools

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.    SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT OF HIB
    Superintendent’s Report of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the period June 18, 2025 to July 14, 2025, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda (no vote required; for reporting purposes only).

E-1A.    AFFIRM SUPERINTENDENT’S DETERMINATION OF HIB
    Affirm the Superintendent’s determination of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) for the periods June 11, 2025 to June 17, 2025, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-2.    APPROVE BI-ANNUAL REPORT – NJDOE – HIB
    Approve the Township of Union Public Schools bi-annual 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 January 2025 through June 2025, 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 GIRLS ON THE RUN PROGRAM – CONNECTICUT FARMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
    Approve Girls on the Run Program at Connecticut Farms Elementary School for grades 3-4 (September 15-November 18, 2025 (Mondays and Tuesdays), from 3:00-4:15 p.m.), at a cost of $25.00 per student.

E-4.    APPROVE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENTS – CENTRAL REACH (SILAS)
    Approve the subscription agreements for Central Reach (SILAS) for all district schools for the 2025-2026 school year in the amount of $8,500.02 for July-December 2025 and $8,500.02 for January through June 2026 (to be paid for using Mental Health Depression Screener funds, Account #20499).

E-5.    ACCEPT BOOK DONATION – BRIDGE OF BOOKS FOUNDATION
    Approve acceptance of a donation of 1500 books and reading cushions to the district for  Hannah Caldwell Elementary School from Bridge of Books Foundation (each student will receive two choice books and cushion to encourage reading).

E-6.    APPROVE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER – GIAN PAUL GONZALEZ
    Approve Gian Paul Gonzalez, motivational speaker, to present social emotional learning assemblies to Kawameeh Middle School students on October 9, 2025 at a cost of $3,143.25 (to be paid for using Mental Health Depression Screener funds, Account #20497).

E-7.    APPROVE REFUSAL OF PERKINS FUNDS
    Approve refusal of Perkins funds for the 2025-2026 school year based on the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) criteria.

E-8.    APPROVE PRE-K-3 PROVIDER SCHOOL CALENDAR – YM-YWHA
    Approve school calendar for Pre-K-3 provider YM-YWHA, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-9.    APPROVE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM AND PLAN - 2025-2026
      Approve Virtual Instruction Program and TUPS Virtual or Remote Instruction Plan and Checklist for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

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 (to be approved at August 2025 meeting)
            That the preliminary Treasurer’s Report dated June 30, 2025 be accepted.

F-2.      SECRETARY’S REPORT (to be approved at August 2025 meeting)
            That the preliminary Secretary’s Report dated June 30, 2025 be accepted.

F-3.      CERTIFY PRELIMINARY TREASURER’S AND SECRETARY’S REPORT (to be certified at August 2025 meeting)

F-4.    APPROVE APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS (to be approved at August 2025 meeting)
    Approve appropriation transfers.

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 appended to the agenda.

F-6.    APPROVE DISTRICTWIDE TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES
    Approve districtwide 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 appended to the agenda.

F-7.    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 appended to the agenda.

F-8.    APPROVE LIST OF 2025-2026 STATE CONTRACT APPROVED VENDORS
    Approve the amended list of the 2025-2026 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 appended to the agenda.

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 appended to the agenda: 
 

F-9B.    APPROVE FUNDRAISERS
    Approve the following fundraisers, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda:

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

F-10.    APPROVE 2025-2026 OUT-OF-DISTRICT STUDENT PLACEMENT LIST
    Approval be given to amend the 2025-2026 out-of-district student placement list (month of July), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-11.    APPROVE TO AMEND LIST OF STUDENT ACTIVITY ACCOUNTS
    Approve to amend the list of Student Activity Accounts to include the following: (a) Red Cross Club.

F-12.    APPROVE UHS SENIOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARD – MARGARET FEKETE FUND
    Approve the Senior Scholarship Award for Union High School graduates from the Margaret Fekete Fund, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-13.    APPROVE PETTY CASH ACCOUNT – UNION HIGH SCHOOL
    Approve a petty cash account at Union High School for the Farmer’s Café in the amount of $3,000.00 to be replenished as needed (not to exceed $5,000.00) for costs associated with students’ IEP driven Work Based Learning (WBL) for the 2025-2026 school year [Account Fund #11-212-100-610-01-19-CAFÉ-050/20471].

F-14.    APPROVE PETTY CASH ACCOUNT – COMMUNITY BASED INSTRUCTION
    Approve a petty cash account for costs associated with students’ IEP driven Community Based Instruction (CBI) for the 2025-2026 school year at the following schools: (a) Burnet Middle School - $4,250.00; (b) Kawameeh Middle School - $2,000.00; (c) Union High School - $11,750.00.

F-15.    APPROVE JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICES – VOCATIONAL EVALUATIONS
    Approve Jewish Vocational Services to provide vocational evaluations (2-3) days) at the rate of $1,200 per evaluation for the 2025-2026 school year (not to exceed $3,600.00) [Account Fund #11-000-219-320-01-19], in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-16a.  APPROVE PARENT/PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT – 2025-2026
    Approve parent/pupil transportation contract for special education student attending DLC Warren (Warren, NJ) at the rate of $49.00 per day (not to exceed $10,290.00) for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

F-16b.  APPROVE PARENT/PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT – 2025-2026
    Approve parent/pupil transportation contract for special education student attending Phoenix Center (Nutley, NJ) at the rate of $42.80 per day (not to exceed $8,988.00) for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

F-16c.  APPROVE PARENT/PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT – 2025-2026
    Approve parent/pupil transportation contract for special education student attending Capstone (Wayne, NJ) at the rate of $79.20 per day (not to exceed $16,632.00) for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

F-16d.  APPROVE PARENT/PUPIL TRANSPORTATION CONTRACT – 2025-2026
    Approve parent/pupil transportation contract for special education student attending DLC (New Providence, NJ) at the rate of $33.60 per day (not to exceed $7,056.00) for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

F-17.    APPROVE RESOLUTION TO INCREASE BID THRESHOLD
    Approve Resolution to increase bid threshold from $44,000 to $53,000, effective July 1, 2025, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:34-7 and N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-3(b), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-18.    REPORT RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS AND APPROVE ENGINEERING SERVICES
    Report receipt of proposals for engineering services from (a) T&M and (b) Morgan Municipal Engineering Services and the Superintendent recommends approving Morgan Municipal Engineering Services for pre and post referendum services, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.
 

F-ATTY.  For informational purposes only – vote not required.  List of legal services paid as of June 17, 2025 for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

12. Grievance/Negotiations Committee:

13. Operations Committee Resolutions:

Upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Operations/Technology 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 appended to the agenda.

O-2.    APPROVE SCHOOL SECURITY DRILL STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE
    Approve School Security Drill Statement of Assurance for the 2024-2025 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

O-3.  REQUEST FROM UNION POLICE DEPARTMENT – UNION HIGH SCHOOL FACILITY
   Request from the Union Police Department to use the Union High School gym area and bathrooms for the Police Academy Program on July 11, 2025 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

T-1.    APPROVE RECYCLING OF EQUIPMENT
    Approve list of equipment for recycling, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

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 appended to the agenda.

P-1B    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – EXTRA PAY
    Personnel Actions-Extra Pay be approved in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-1C    PERSONNEL ACTIONS – TRANSFERS
    Personnel Actions- Transfers be approved in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-2.    APPROVE SUBSTITUTE LISTS 
    Approve Substitute Lists for the 2025-2026 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 appended to the agenda.

P-5.    APPROVE CARE STATION – EMPLOYEE PHYSICALS
    Approve Care Station to perform employee physicals for the 2025-2026 school year [Account Fund #11-000-213-330-01-54-0060].

P-6.    APPROVE CITYMD URGENT CARE – EMPLOYEE PHYSICALS
    Approve CityMD Urgent Care to perform employee physicals for the 2025-2026 school year [Account Fund #11-000-213-330-01-54-0060].

P-7.    APPROVE ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS - MUJC
    Approve attendance at meetings at the Morris Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) at no cost to the district for the 2025-2026 school year for the following: (a) Kim Conti, Director of Special Services, (b) Joseph Seugling, Supervisor of Special Services, (c) Stefannie Buthorn, Supervisor of Special Services and (d) Christopher Carew, Supervisor of Special Services.

P-8.    APPROVE ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS – UCASE
    Approve Kim Conti, Director of Special Services, to attend meetings at Union County Administrators of Special Education (UCASE), at a cost not to exceed $75.00 for membership dues for the 2025-2026 school year [Account Fund #11-000-219-890-01-19].

P-9.    ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF EVALUATION - DR. BENAQUISTA
    Acknowledge receipt of Superintendent Evaluation from Board to Dr. Benaquista (finalized June 17, 2025) (no vote required; for informational purposes only).

15. Policy Committee:

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

POL-1.      POLICY 9130 – PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND GRIEVANCES
    Approve Policy 9130 – Public Complaints and Grievances, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

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
    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following residency investigations were completed and the listed students voluntarily transferred to the district of residence:

    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following totals are as of the June 17, 2025 Board meeting (2024-2025 school year):

17. 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.

18. Unfinished Business:

19. New Business:

20.  Comments from Public:

21.  Executive Session (if needed):

22. Adjournment: