The West Windsor‑Plainsboro Regional School District Board of Education approved a set of administration, curriculum, finance and personnel items in a single consent vote at its July meeting, including a first reading of a new sunscreen policy, numerous job descriptions and contracts for curriculum and technology services, and updates on construction and the district’s energy savings program.

Superintendent Dr. Aderhold and committee chairs summarized items reviewed by committee. The administration recommended a first reading of a district sunscreen policy intended to allow students to use sunscreen and sun‑protective equipment "without requiring documentation from a physician or other licensed health care professional," while giving district administrators authority to restrict specific sunscreen types if they pose respirator or nuisance concerns for students with asthma or other conditions.

Highlights of approved items

- Policy first reading: Sundcreen/sun‑protective equipment — first reading approved to move forward for a second reading and final adoption later in the process. The proposed language removes the requirement for physician documentation and allows administrators to set restrictions on types of sunscreen for health or nuisance reasons.

- Sending path and enrollment: The administration recommended maintaining current sending paths for Maurice Hawk, Millstone River, Grover, South and Sending Path schools; the committee will revisit sending path matters during the school year and noted the district’s existing exemption process for caregiver requests.

- Job descriptions: Seven job descriptions were reviewed and recommended for approval, including director of data; community education program coordinator; supervisor of K–5 language arts; supervisor of K–5 mathematics; supervisor of curriculum and instruction; supervisor of accounts and payroll; and payroll supervisor.

- Technology and instructional contracts: The curriculum committee recommended and the board approved a one‑year WeVideo agreement for 6,000 licenses (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) not to exceed $21,000, and a one‑year BrainPOP school‑wide license (grades K–8) from Dec. 9, 2025–Dec. 8, 2026 not to exceed $27,084.

- Professional development and partnerships: The board approved multiple professional development agreements, including language and literacy associates for three days of PD (not to exceed $9,000) and a contract with American Institutes for Research (on MTSS) not to exceed $16,600. The district also renewed memberships in the TCNJ Professional Development School Network ($3,750) and Princeton Teachers as Scholars membership ($2,160).

- Field trips and travel: The board approved a planned trip for WWP United Cheerleaders to the national championship in Orlando Feb. 4–9, 2026, estimated at approximately $1,200 per student, and one administrator travel to Taipei, Taiwan, Nov. 1–8, 2025, at a total cost not to exceed $300.

- Finance items: The finance committee recommended increasing the local bid threshold from $44,000 to $53,000 in accordance with state guidance. The board approved cooperative purchases exceeding the bid limit for HVAC installation (capital reserve), a new combi oven (food services), new furniture (IDEA), and AV equipment (technology). The committee also approved disposal of obsolete equipment and corrections to previously approved transportation aid costs and quotes for summer activities transportation.

- Construction and ESIP updates: The board heard summer construction reports. Work under the district’s energy savings performance (ESIP) program is underway: existing classroom unit ventilators were removed at Morris Hawk and new units are being installed; the new boilers are staged for delivery to the village boiler room; and scheduling for rooftop crane work at Morris Hawk and Grover Middle School is under review. Flooring, cooler box installations and concrete work were reported as progressing in several buildings.

- Food service and other finance notes: The New Jersey Department of Agriculture approved the 2025–26 food service management contract. Monthly and annual meal counts were discussed; June 2025 included five more serving days than June 2024, and the district reported that 34% of lunches and 83% of breakfasts served were to students eligible for free, reduced or NJ income‑eligible programs.

- Solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs): The business office reported sale of 57 solar renewable energy certificates and 21 New Jersey class‑1 SRECs, generating a total reported amount of $11,459.25.

- Personnel and retirements: The personnel consent motion (which included green, pink and yellow addenda, and a verbal clarification that one yellow item included "no back pay") was approved. The board recognized two retirees: Donna Swern, district secretary (25½ years), and Beth Fitzpatrick, health and physical education teacher at High School South (26 years).

Votes and consent process

The board handled these items largely through bundled consent motions for administration, curriculum and finance items. Roll call votes were recorded for each bundle; recorded affirmative votes include board members listed on the roll calls called during the meeting and the consent motions passed.

Other district updates noted during opening remarks

Superintendent Aderhold also told the meeting that district construction will include solar parking installations in five school lots over the next year and that a county bridge closure on the high‑school north side could create significant traffic impacts for about 180 days beginning in July and possibly extending into 2025–26; he urged families to use bus transportation to reduce congestion.

What the board did not do

Most items were approved as committee‑recommended consent agenda motions; policy items such as the sunscreen policy were advanced as first readings and will return for a second reading and final vote if the policy process proceeds normally. The record shows approval of the items presented; agenda attachments and back‑up documents give detail for each motion but were not read into the record in full during the meeting.

Ending

The board approved the consent agenda items and closed the meeting after a second public comment period with no speakers.