[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6150151,"mediaKeyId","5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c","parentId",5509408,"title","Board committee debate over auditor selection, audit findings surfaces during Washington Township meetings","audioSeconds",405,"startMs",4155000,"endMs",4560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c&start=4155&end=4560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c/thumbnail_4155000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6150151/New-Jersey/Board-committee-debate-over-auditor-selection-audit-findings-surfaces-during-Washington-Township-meetings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150151-3aa918cdc7b03db4bd280260ff9d98f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138685&Signature=IOseiskITRYR5OTEKj13gcSbfb6lx-b00GjSAPf-7P8E3oAWGqgNlgKzZPs3Rp66jLndMXvWLOKuuDeus0QIiZ49IBTWuzRJxTVnD14lhDERWb77hY88ScIHFPimD5yi7KypYet6Me7qz4ZjGoVoGkrzJP43YMeUGn5Vlqf~Kk-qGNRUprIHfBxRXIdKCr~VUBtwyTyJbAmqiOqgR0O-4dRZH1aDW0-xiEnD7-ibododSLOeKLvK3Kog~IovzGimvdy-3BK-IqNA6YSYZEKUwpBWxtNJQ2VvNW7DrSgiZczsGTDSiuaqB2s8~0ntibScrpaODXxpEBlPDZgtGCGeJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Township School District","date","2025-07-30T04:49:29Z","article","The Washington Township Board of Education’s business committee discussed recent responses to a request for proposals for auditing and engineering services and outlined a recommendation to change auditors for several core audit functions while retaining some services with incumbent firms.

Why it matters: Audit work underpins the district’s financial oversight and federal/state reporting. Committee members highlighted both a roughly 20% fee reduction on major audit tasks in one proposal and lingering concerns from board members and community speakers that prior audit findings had not been sufficiently addressed.

What the committee discussed: Janine Wechter, the district business administrator, told the committee the procurement process returned multiple proposals and that for the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and audits of financial records and state reports one respondent’s fees were about 20% lower than another’s. She said other services, such as ongoing consulting and section‑125 plan maintenance, would stay with the incumbent firm.

Board members repeatedly asked about whether the recommendation was driven by pricing alone and whether the district had factored continuity, handoff costs and the earlier auditor’s performance. Committee minutes and public remarks noted that the district conscientiously followed its request‑for‑proposal process and that business‑committee members participated in proposal review.

Concerns raised publicly and in committee: A board member and several citizens said they were troubled that issues reported in a recent audit had not been addressed by the administration or the board. One speaker said the board had “been asking for months” for follow‑up on audit findings; another said parts of the audit had been discussed in executive session. The district attorney reiterated that auditor selection is a professional services decision and that the board retains broad discretion, but that the board policy calls for competitive procurement every three years.

Outcome at the meeting: The board later approved a batch of finance agenda items. Committee and board discussion showed strong interest in preserving audit quality, documenting the procurement review, and ensuring time for an exit interview or follow‑up with the departing auditor. Administrators said they would provide high‑level information on any outstanding legal or investigative steps when permitted to do so.

What wasn’t resolved: Public commenters and several board members asked for clearer, earlier notice about vendor lists included in RFPs and for better publication of supporting financial documents. The board signaled an intention to increase transparency about vendor selection and to post procurement materials in business‑committee packets for review.

Quotes from the meeting: “The price that they quoted us, that’s all we’ll get billed for,” Janine Wechter said when asked whether transition costs were included in the lower fee proposals. One community member urged the board to publish supporting worksheets and the district’s annual comprehensive financial report to aid public oversight.

Next steps: Administrators said they would provide committee members with procurement documentation and would seek to post more supporting financial materials online; they also said they would attempt to provide a high‑level briefing on any ongoing legal matters when permitted by counsel.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Washington Township Public Schools Board of Education 7/29/25","oneSentenceSummary","The business committee discussed competitive proposals for auditing and engineering services, highlighting a recommendation that would reduce fees by about 20% for major audit tasks while prompting questions about whether prior audit findings had been addressed.","taxTitle","Washington Township School District, School Districts, New Jersey","taxId",38343,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6150155,"Students and parents press Washington Township board after FBLA, other extracurriculars put on hold amid budget cuts",3260,6340000,9600000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c&start=6340&end=9600","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c/thumbnail_6340000.jpg","/articles/6150155/New-Jersey/Students-and-parents-press-Washington-Township-board-after-FBLA-other-extracurriculars-put-on-hold-amid-budget-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150155-45439e8be6bba87332fa3e973c07ddb6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138685&Signature=c3q~WlW1yIM-ON35EnNcnE4z6YSK~Xvbojo5P32g1tnJ9fgi6Pgwig6zvsgMN4MhH7QHdR7ttVkIv3O0vEjidpSFh6c-yJeeCpjth-sePJ6MmMLIDwoptq9WrB53IOsD9uFxbPTsYqKzJIicB-RchhdlueS5fIoofXpEWwX9-6UPh8SKqH6GK4opjwI2ZhxhcWh9bnBjsl3TvYjt2BR5KvoSLCGFpcXqk5tBhO3YLEf966h9XpAGlt1du4nxKyxAZSfmJ7Z0S4mBQtqYzTldZUz3Lz1QOMRPQESG79tMg3l89ernKwV2ulVqBPKgQ6qhs~7VtO4EEtZqS-qYp1gf0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Students and parents pressed the Washington Township Board of Education on cuts or suspensions to extracurricular programs — chief among them Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and a high-school drama stipend — during a packed public-comment period, saying the changes remove opportunities that helped them win awards and qualify for state and national competitions.

The students’ appeals came as administrators and board leaders said the district faces budget constraints and that some stipends and activities will “not run” this year while the administration pursues alternative funding, volunteer oversight and donations. Janine Wechter, the district business administrator, said the high school’s co-curricular reduction totaled about $78,000.

Why it matters: Students and parents said FBLA and drama offer leadership, career exploration, competition and community that are not easily replaced by classroom instruction. Several students described national competition qualifications and growing chapter membership; parents and community members offered to volunteer or donate to preserve programs.

Students and parents told the board the cuts were announced with little notice. Callie, who identified herself as a recent student board representative and FBLA president-elect, said FBLA “gave me and so many others a voice, a path, and a purpose.” Emily McCray, another student, pointed to state learning standards requiring career awareness and said cutting FBLA runs counter to those objectives.

Parents and community volunteers urged alternative approaches. Dana Zillier, a parent, told the board the FBLA chapter grew from about 65 students in its first year to 120 paid members most recently, and that many student costs (travel, shirts, dues) had been self-funded. Multiple speakers offered to serve as unpaid advisors or to find local business sponsors. Joe Tarabarelli, a parent and Chamber of Commerce member, said community volunteers and business partners could provide oversight and funding if the district opens a volunteer application process.

Administrative response: High-school administrator Ray Anderson told the board those decisions were painful and collaborative. “We are not in a position that we want to cut anything,” he said, adding that principals, supervisors and central administrators participated in deliberations. Anderson said many cuts were tied to advisor stipends and to activities that had not been running in recent years.

Janine Wechter said administrators were still collecting lists of which activities will run and which will not. She confirmed the district is accepting donations under its established process and can apply funds to specific extracurricular positions if donors designate them. Nicole Linuity (Chamber representative) told the board the Chamber would donate $1,200 to support FBLA; Wechter said she had received the donation information and that the administration could apply it if approved through the district’s donation procedure.

Details discussed publicly: Mrs. Gerber (an administrator) told the board that the National Honor Society oversight for three middle schools would carry a quoted line item of $6,000; speakers noted a drama stipend historically listed at $8,000 that had at times been split between two staff members. Administrators explained not all stipends are renewed automatically: building leaders recommend stipend positions to the superintendent, who then forwards recommendations to the board for approval.

Next steps and public requests: Administrators said they will post the list of available clubs and stipends on the district website and will share the process for volunteers or donors to apply. Multiple speakers urged the board and administration to prioritize transparency and to explore volunteer or sponsor recruitment before permanently eliminating programs. The administration also asked for time to pursue short-term alternatives and said some programs may be restored if budgets or donations permit.

What wasn’t decided: No formal board motion to reinstate any program was made at the meeting. Board members and administrators repeatedly described the current changes as tied to this budget year and said they hoped to restore activities in future budgets but did not promise restorations.

Callie’s closing plea summarized the students’ position: “FBLA is still writing future leaders. We just need to keep turning the page.”","Students and parents pressed the Washington Township Board of Education on cuts or suspensions to extracurricular programs — chief among them Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and a high-school drama stipend — during a packed public-comment period, saying the changes remove opportunities that helped them win awards and qualify for state and national competitions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":44,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":50,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6150141,"Business committee reviews solar proposals; discusses timeline and investment tax-credit timing",225,4380000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c&start=4155&end=4380","/articles/6150141/New-Jersey/Business-committee-reviews-solar-proposals-discusses-timeline-and-investment-tax-credit-timing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150141-5f84045969c1a99b07bfdf6e4455e0eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138685&Signature=QDoRiIRMvrvJc3di2L0XFuk9BHECmYaIqqDYEQmL~hStLashMeyfM68tKQyENpuTqv6vgDXFqrE9cZeOKYC4ZRSCoSyknhOcze~79RbArr5JicMibRFz-HAouOX6MHMZ2NRIwbayew8qYyPgoMS6phg-QqELRrOKibZAoI5y~G~gn~dhvTOS-jGNWMp3a6cxSA2WSYT045Jd8y5nqS2Sa7VkLqGeID3Ps0UAsjzr-fv25nwLHm0A~q0Z7lz-7U7g~uwWtBNtEKGXQ1sHMZSM69kowzC5N~IK1hoKU1GNtI8MzW5noZskbfdCzqc35QfuGGuLqfWXyoBT~YojL4n-5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Engineers and an energy vendor briefed Washington Township’s business committee on proposals for a district solar project, with committee members and administrators discussing alternate system designs, projected savings and how federal tax incentives could affect the project timeline.

What was presented: During an extra business committee meeting held to advance the solar project, district staff said representatives from engineering firm Remington & Vernick and DCO Energy reviewed responses to the district’s request for proposals and discussed potential alternates that would change system scope or improve output. The committee also reviewed a process for scoring and selecting engineering and auditor services tied to procurement timelines.

Why it matters: The committee framed the solar project as a multi‑year investment that could produce ongoing operating savings for the district; federal investment tax credits and project timeline constraints were identified as factors that could affect the recommended award and funding schedule.

Key details: Committee members said engineers and the district’s energy company participated in expanded reviews that included administrators and engineering reviewers. The administration noted it had received alternate proposals and that the team would continue reviewing savings estimates and timelines; it also flagged upcoming purchasing items for remaining professional appointments such as engineering and auditor services.

Next steps: The committee indicated it would forward recommendations to the full board for approvals when procurement, scoring and the project timeline are finalized. Administrators said they would continue to brief the cabinet and the board on progress and would coordinate next steps with purchasing for any cooperative purchasing avenues.

","Engineers and an energy vendor briefed the business committee on proposals for a district solar project, with discussion focusing on alternate designs, projected savings and how the federal investment tax credit could affect the project timeline.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6150146,"Board advances first reading to revise policy barring solicitor from collective-bargaining role",365,5705000,6070000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c&start=5705&end=6070","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5509408-59852cc7ead88d10c38893f20c8c3e5c/thumbnail_5705000.jpg","/articles/6150146/New-Jersey/Board-advances-first-reading-to-revise-policy-barring-solicitor-from-collective-bargaining-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6150146-39f6bb9b90a71ca0cfb95922285daec8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771138685&Signature=oxTzOdaa~7BSle5Zx4JofiMG6ElHOLVGgF-YWrPaH5DT0tNxTmxGaXpZ1mwQEWq4adj1C8MVZSMvspLnhLTPIqo-KolJPYJzQHjmF79Mr4z6vfDA~LZjWC~97Fdyv2JimPe-Q5TO4CU77DQ2aUDpldKQfc~1nN14-Nqk3b57pQWJN-ksyMrDIw5NGY8SZM6DACqcb5YWc-vITTwDcXYqxqvGYjmaMMIz~WUIqkbPZQEJ8uWXQEYN9cuZxl1gdLpR~yVctMY7wIf3t5wJHq~WmqER1QkJoub9tgnNrB0Uycw8PcxF9wrNHOZ06aFuzK8xMA5zED5hDRsNV69FbbcQdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Township Board of Education voted to advance a proposed revision to policy 0176 on a first‑reading basis, a change that would remove a long‑standing restriction barring the board’s solicitor from acting as the board’s representative in collective‑bargaining negotiations.

What happened: Board member Connie Baker moved to amend policy 0176 by keeping the policy’s opening sentence and striking the rest of a paragraph that says the board solicitor “shall not serve as an attorney representing the board in collective bargaining.” The motion was seconded and, after discussion, the board agreed that the vote would serve as a first reading and the amendment would be returned for a second reading at the next meeting.

Why it matters: Policy 0176 governs the board’s use of legal counsel and seeks to separate roles in which a solicitor might represent the board but also be involved in other matters such as student discipline or special‑education hearings. Supporters of the revision argued the district should align with common practice and consider a more flexible approach; opponents cautioned about conflict concerns and urged adherence to best‑practice language from policy providers.

Board attorney guidance and debate: The board attorney recommended treating the meeting vote as a first reading consistent with the board’s policy on policy revisions (policy 131). He explained that a proposed bylaw/policy approved on first reading can be returned for adoption at a subsequent meeting and that revisions may be made prior to final adoption. Public commenters and a board member urged the board to seek outside or conflict counsel to review the change before a final vote, citing potential professional‑conduct considerations.

Vote and next steps: The roll call recorded a majority supporting the motion to move it forward as a first reading; the board scheduled the item for a second reading at the next public meeting. The board asked that the draft revision be circulated in committee materials to allow members and the public to compare the current policy with model language before the second reading.

","The Washington Township Board of Education voted to advance a proposed revision on first reading to policy 0176, which now contains a provision barring the board’s solicitor from representing the board in collective‑bargaining negotiations.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board committee debate over auditor selection, audit findings surfaces during Washington Township meetings

Students and parents press Washington Township board after FBLA, other extracurriculars put on hold amid budget cuts

Business committee reviews solar proposals; discusses timeline and investment tax-credit timing

Board advances first reading to revise policy barring solicitor from collective-bargaining role