Worksession - Tuesday, May 12, 2026 - 7:00 p.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Flag Salute

3. Mission Statement

4. Open Public Meetings Act Statement

5. Approval of Minutes:

    1.    April 14, 2026 – worksession
    2.    April 14, 2026 – executive session
    3.    April 30, 2026 – public hearing/regular meeting
    4.    April 30, 2026 – executive session #1 and #2

6. Communications:

Letters of Resignation:
LETTER OF RESIGNATION – PRATA
    Letter of resignation from Ashley Prata, special education teacher-Jefferson School, effective July 1, 2026.

Requests for Leave:
REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ELSHIEKH ABREU
    Request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Gihann Elshiekh Abreu, school counselor-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, September 1 2026-December 3, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – DELUCA
    Request for paid FMLA from Frank Deluca, social studies teacher-Union High School, May 4, 2026-June 22, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ESQUIVEL
    Request for paid FMLA from Carlos Esquivel, security-Union High School, May 5, 2026-June 10, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – BAKER
    Request for paid FMLA from Lynn Baker, paraprofessional-Union High School, April 13, 2026-June 22, 2026.

REQUEST FOR LEAVE – ALFANO
    Request for paid FMLA from Mary Rose Alfano, secretary-Union High School, May 14, 2026-June 30, 2026.

Requests for Leave Update:
REQUEST FOR LEAVE UPDATE – CRUZ
    Update to request for paid child rearing leave followed by unpaid FMLA/NJFLA from Stephanie Cruz, CST-Livingston Elementary School, May 8, 2026-December 7, 2026.

Requests for Intermittent Leave:
REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – GRILLIAS
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Maria Grillias, math teacher-Kawameeh Middle School, April 13, 2026-June 22, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – MURPHY
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Debbie Murphy, secretary-Jefferson Elementary School, April 22, 2026-May 26, 2026.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – ROTONDO
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from James Rotondo, custodian-Livingston Elementary School, May 1, 2026-April 30, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – CAPPIELLO
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Diane Cappiello, Executive Administrative Assistant-Business Office, July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT LEAVE – GUNDERSEN
    Request for paid intermittent FMLA from Jamie Gundersen, teacher-Connecticut Farms Elementary School, September 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

7. Comments from Public (on resolutions in bold and all other matters)

8. Superintendent’s Report:

    1.    Superintendent’s Report
    2.    Report on NJDOE – School Self-Assessment for Determining District Grades  (2024-2025) and School Grade Report

9. 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 May 1, 2026 to May 12, 2026, 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 April 15, 2026 to April 30, 2026, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-2.    APPROVE CONTINUATION OF SUSPENSION AND HOME INSTRUCTION
    Approve continuation of suspension and home instruction for students #266543, #285026, #285024 and #316008 from the general education program.

E-3.    APPROVE LONG-TERM SUSPENSION AND HOME INSTRUCTION
    Approve to continue long-term suspension and home instruction for student #266593 from the general education program.

E-4.    APPROVE UPDATED SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR PRESCHOOL PROVIDER YM-YWHA – 2026-2027
    Approve the updated school calendar (to make up snow days) for preschool provider YM-YWHA for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

E-5.    APPROVE KEAN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH STUDY
    Approve the request from Kean University and researchers (a) Chinwe Ononiwu and (b) Natalie Smith to conduct the research study entitled “Teacher Perspectives on Social Emotional Learning in Early Childhood”, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

10. 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 April 30, 2026 be accepted.

F-2.      SECRETARY’S REPORT
            That the Secretary’s Report dated April 30, 2026 be accepted.

F-4.    APPROVE APPROPRIATION TRANSFERS
    Approve appropriation transfers in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

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 May), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-11.    APPROVE TUITION RATES FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR
    Approve the following tuition rates for the 2026-2027 school year:
 

F-12.    APPROVE MEDIPRO SOLUTIONS – PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS
    Approve Ijeoma Hassan, M.D. of Medipro Solutions LLC to provide psychiatric evaluations in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:6-2(a) and N.J.A.C. 6A:32-6.1 through 6.3, for the 2026-2027 school year, at a rate of $1,200.00 per evaluation (not to exceed $7,500.00), in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #11-000-213-330-01-54-0060-7027].

F-13.    APPROVE PARTICIPATION IN NON-BINDING COOPERATIVE PURCHASE AGREEMENTS
    Approve the district’s participation in non-binding cooperative purchasing agreements for the 2026-2027 school year with the following:

1.    Educational Data Services, Inc., 236 Midland Avenue, Saddlebrook, NJ
2.    Hunterdon County ESC Cooperative Purchasing, 51 Sawmill Road, Lebanon, NJ
3.    Educational Services Commission of New Jersey, 1660 Stelton Road, Piscataway, NJ
4.    Somerset County Educational Services Commission, 568 Central Ave, Bridgewater, NJ
5.    Sussex County Educational Services, 10 Gail Court, Sparta, NJ
6.    Morris County Cooperative Pricing Council, 502 Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, NJ
7.    Region 4 ES Interlocal, 7145 West Tidwell, Houston, TX
8.    Sourcewell, 202 12th Street NE, P.O. Box 219, Staples, MN 56479
9.    Omnia Partner Member ID: 947046 utilizing Omnia Partner, Region 4 ESC Contract #R200401, Minneapolis, Minnesota for ESIP project.
10.    The Interlocal Purchasing System (TIPS), 4845 Highway 271 North, Pittsburg, TX 75686
11.    New Jersey Educational Computing Cooperative (NJECC)
12.    PEPPM Consortium membership, a national contract program for district purchasing agent
13.    NJ Edge Consortium membership, a non-profit technology services provider.
14.    New Jersey Cooperative Purchasing Alliance Cooperative Pricing Agreement with the County of Bergen (Lead Agency), One Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack, NJ 07601
15.    Cooperative Pricing System Agreement with Morris-Union Jointure Commission (MUJC) (Lead Agency), 340 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974

F-14.    APPROVE UCESC TUITION RATES AND OTHER SERVICES AGREEMENT
    Approve the Union County Educational Services Commission (UCESC) 2026-2027 tuition Rates and Other Services Agreement, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-15.    APPROVE LEARNWELL – BEDSIDE INSTRUCTION
    Approve teachers employed through LearnWell to provide bedside instruction for district students on an “as needed” basis for the school year 2026-2027 in an amount not to exceed $22,000.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7693-11-150-100-320-01-19.

F-16.    APPROVE SILVERGATE – BEDSIDE INSTRUCTION
    Approve teachers employed through Silvergate to provide bedside instruction for district students on an “as needed” basis for the school year 2026-2027, in an amount not to exceed $15,000.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7693-11-150-100-320-01-19].

F-17.    APPROVE REACH HEALTH SERVICES
    Approve Reach Health Services to provide (a) clinical counseling services and the wraparound program for the 2026-2027 school year and ESY in-district program at the cost of $45,087.00 and $2,128.00, respectively [Account #7043/11-000-219-320-01-19] and (b) individual student risk assessment at a rate of $225.00 per assessment (not to exceed $1,350.00) [Account # 7074/11-000-219-320-01-19], in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-18.    APPROVE GREAT BEGINNINGS – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Great Beginnings, Dr. Debora Buzinkai, for the following evaluations (not to exceed $6,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, (a) Dyslexia evaluation-$1,400.00, (b) Dysgraphia evaluation-$1,400.00, (c) Dyscalculia evaluation-$1,400.00, (d) any two evaluations listed-$2,200.00, (e) all three evaluations listed- $2,600.00, (f) Neuropsychological evaluation-$3,600.00 (base), (g) evaluation for Autism-$4,400.00, (h) placement-$4,200.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-19.    APPROVE SUMMIT SPEECH – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Summit Speech to provide acoustic evaluation for (a) K through 5th grade-$550.00 per evaluation, (b) 6th through 12th grade-$750.00 per evaluation, (c) audiological consultation at the rate of $250.00 per hour (not to exceed $1,500.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7074/11-000-216-320-01-19].

F-20.    APPROVE SPEECH AND HEARING ASSOCIATES – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Speech and Hearing Associates to provide central auditory processing evaluations with report (includes comprehensive peripheral audiological evaluation) at the rate of $750.00 per evaluation (not to exceed $2,250.00) for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-21.    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 2026-2027 school year at the following schools: (a) Burnet Middle School - $5,250.00; (b) Kawameeh Middle School - $2,800.00; (c) Union High School - $17,700.00.

F-22.    APPROVE ESTABLISHMENT OF PETTY CASH ACCOUNT – COMMUNITY BASED INSTRUCTION
    Approve establishment of a petty cash account for costs associated with students’ IEP driven Community Based Instruction (CBI) and Work Based Learning (WBL) at Battle Hill Elementary School – Extended School Year Program in the amount of $2,000.00 for the 2026-2027 school year.

F-23.    APPROVE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AGREEMENT – ERESC
    Approve Transportation Services Agreement with Essex Regional Educational Services Commission, on an as needed basis, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-24.    APPROVE MARILYN KUBICHEK, M.D. – EVALUATIONS
    Approve Marilyn Kubichek MD, FAAP to provide neurological evaluations and neurodevelopmental evaluations at the rate of $725.00 per evaluation for the 2026-2027 school year (not to exceed $40,000.00) [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-25.    APPROVE TECHABILITIES CONSULTING – EVALUATIONS
    Approve TechAbilities Consulting to provide the following evaluations for district students: (a) assistive technology evaluations at the rate of $1,000.00 per evaluation (b) augmentative communication evaluations at the rate of $1,000.00, (c) assistive technological or AAC consultation - $150.00/per hour, (d) speech language consult/speech language therapy - $125.00/per hour, and (e) assistive technology/AAC general training - $175.00/per hour for the 2026-2027 school year (not to exceed $25,000.00) [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-26.    APPROVE LEARNING TREE MULTICULTURAL/MULTILINGUAL EVALUATION AND CONSULTING
    Approve Learning Tree Multicultural/Multilingual Evaluation and Consulting to conduct educational, speech/language, social history and psychological evaluations for district students.  The cost of each evaluation is as follows: (a) evaluations conducted in Spanish - $830.00 per evaluation and (b) other languages - $880.00 per evaluation (not to exceed $4,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-27.    APPROVE USE OF YMCA – CBI
    Approve student use of the YMCA for Community Based Instruction (CBI) for the 2026-2027 school year student costs are not expected to exceed $6,500.00, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda [Account #7043/11-000-216-320-01-19].

F-28.    APPROVE COUNSELING CENTERS FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
    Approve Counseling Centers for Human Development for mental health screening (#90791-initial diagnostic interview) at the rate of $250.00 per screening (not to exceed $1,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year [Account #7074/11-000-219-320-01-19].

F-29.    APPROVE MOM AND DAD HOME HEALTH
    Approve Mom and Dad Home Health to provide nursing services at the rate of $107.00 per hour for RN/LPN weekdays and $117.00 per hour for RN/LPN weekends and holidays (not to exceed $100,000.00) for the 2026-2027 school year [Account #11-000-216-320-01-19].

F-30.    APPROVE THE FAMILY CENTER AT MONTCLAIR

            Approve The Family Center at Montclair for the following: (a) mental health screenings - $200 per screening and (b) psychiatric evaluation - $1,800 per evaluation for the 2026-2027 school year (not to exceed $30,000.00) [Account #7074/11-00-219-320-01-19].

F-31.    APPROVE BANKING SERVICES – CONNECT ONE BANK
    Approve Connect One Bank for banking services (general fund and healthcare fund accounts) for the 2026-2027 school year.

F-32.    APPROVE GENERAL COUNSEL AND SPECIAL EDUCATION COUNSEL – TAYLOR LAW GROUP
    Approve the law firm of Taylor Law Group as General Counsel and Special Education Counsel at an hourly rate of $190.00 (paralegals $100/hr.), for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-33.    APPROVE SPECIAL LABOR COUNSEL – APRUZZESE, McDERMOTT, MASTRO & MURPHY
    Approve the law firm of Apruzzese, McDermott, Mastro & Murphy as special labor and special project counsel at an hourly rate of $190.00, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-34.  APPROVE BOND COUNSEL – WILENTZ GOLDMAN & SPITZER
    Approve the law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, as bond counsel for the district, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-35.    APPROVE ARCHITECTS
    Approve the following architectural firms: (a) EI Associates, (b) Parette Somjen Architects LLC, (c) Spiezle Architectural Group Inc., and (d) Potter Architects, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-36.    APPROVE ENGINEERS
    Approve the following engineering firms: (a) Consulting & Municipal Engineers, (b) T&M Associates, and (c) Colliers Engineering, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-37.    APPROVE AUDITOR
    Approve the auditing firm of Suplee Clooney & Co. to audit the district’s financials, for the period ending June 30, 2026 (not to exceed $70,000).

F-38.    APPROVE FINANCIAL ADVISORS
    Approve Phoenix Advisors to manage secondary market disclosure obligations for continued compliance with disclosure requirements and Acacia Financial Group for year 2026.

F-39.    APPROVE INSURANCE BROKER - FAIRVIEW INSURANCE AGENCY
    Approve Fairview Insurance Agency as the property/casualty/workers’ compensation brokerage service for the district, for the period July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-40.    APPROVE HEALTHCARE BROKER
    Approve Fairview Insurance Agency, as healthcare brokers, for the period of July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-41.    APPROVE HEALTHCARE PLANS
    Approve healthcare providers, (a) AETNA/Meritain Health – healthcare insurance for medical and prescription, (b) Delta Dental – dental insurance and (c) VSP – vision benefits for the period of July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027.

F-42.    APPROVE FOOD SERVICE COMPANY – POMPTONIAN
    Approve renewal of Pomptonian Food Service as company for district food services for the 2026-2027 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

F-43.    APPROVE TRAVEL AND RELATED EXPENSES
   Approve travel and related expenses pursuant to the requirements of N.J.S.A. 18A:11-12, N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-5.8, 5.9 for the NJSBA Workshop Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey (October 20-23, 2026) for Board members and Central Office Administration: Gerry Benaquista, Superintendent, Marissa McKenzie and Jose Rodriguez, Assistant Superintendents, Kimberly Scott-Hayden, Board President, Michael Cohan, Board Vice President, Dicxiana Carbonell, Elsie Conteh-Mackey Guida Faria, Ronnie McDowell, Nancy Minneci, Greg Nasta and Chastity Santana (Board members) and Yolanda Koon, School Business Administrator/Board Secretary.

F-44.    APPROVE BEATS BY J – SPECIAL SERVICES CBI EVENT
   Approve Jalen Bryan Taylor, Beats By J, to donate disc jockey services during the Special Services CBI event (picnic at Rabkin Park) scheduled for May 14, 2026 (rain date May 19, 2026), at no cost to the district.

F-ATTY.  For informational purposes only – vote not required.  List of legal services paid as of March 31, 2026 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

11. Grievance/Negotiations Committee:

12. Operations/Technology 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 for the month of April 2026 and, if applicable, bus evacuation reports for the 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the non-public information appended to the agenda.

O-2.    APPROVE NEW LOCATION FOR CAMP INVENTION – LIVINGSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
    Approve new location for Camp Invention to be held at Livingston Elementary School, August 3-7, 2026 (8:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m.), for all students.

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

13. 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 (none at this time)
    Personnel Actions - Transfers be approved.

P-2.    APPROVE SUBSTITUTE LISTS  (none at this time)
    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 2025-2026 school year, in accordance with the information appended to the agenda.

P-5.    APPROVE ATTENDANCE AT ASBO INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND NJASBO ANNUAL CONFERENCE – KOON
    Approve Yolanda Koon to attend the ASBO International Conference in Pittsburg, PA (October 13-17, 2026) for a total cost not to exceed $3,200.00 and the Annual NJASBO Conference, Atlantic City, New Jersey (June 2-5, 2026) for a total cost not to exceed $1,200.00 per contract.

14. Policy Committee:

15. Residency Committee Resolutions:

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

    For informational purposes only (no vote required): The following totals are as of the April 30, 2026 Board meeting (2025-2026 school year):

16. 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.

17. Unfinished Business:

18. New Business:

19. Executive Session

20.  Adjournment

NEXT MEETING:

Executive Session/Regular Meeting - Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – 6:00 p.m.,

DMK Black Box Theater, 1980 Morris Avenue, Union, New Jersey