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Votes at a glance: Hibbs reinstatement fails; AI policy adopted; DeNovi contract recast; multiple HR and finance items approved
Summary
The Washington Township Board of Education handled a packed agenda in June, including a failed motion to reinstate the superintendent, adoption of an AI policy, ratification of a support‑staff MOA and a recast vote approving behavioral services with an outside contractor.
The Washington Township Board of Education concluded a lengthy June meeting with a series of formal votes on personnel, contracts and policy.
Major outcomes - Motion to reinstate Superintendent Dr. Hibbs: A board member moved to return Dr. Hibbs from leave as superintendent; the motion failed on roll call. - AI policy (second reading): The board approved a district policy governing artificial intelligence tools and use; administrators said a supporting regulation will be developed over the summer. - Support‑services MOA: The board ratified a five‑year memorandum of agreement with support staff (separate article covers the MOA debate and implementation steps). - Brett DeNovi Associates, LLC (behavioral services): After an initial vote and public discussion, the board revisited and recast a resolution to approve professional services with Brett DeNovi Associates; administrators said the contract covers behavior‑analytic services used to meet special‑education obligations and that they will explore options to build internal capacity so the district can rely less on outside agencies in future. - Human resources and finance approvals: The board approved several personnel items (hire, resignations, co‑curricular assignments) and finance warrants/bill lists; some individual items drew no votes or abstentions and several board members called for more line‑item review at an upcoming retreat.
Why it matters: The Hibbs vote, the MOA ratification and the DeNovi contract were the most consequential actions for district operations. The AI policy sets guardrails for software and training; finance approvals set the district's vendor roster and short‑term fiscal commitments. Public testimony focused heavily on special‑education coverage, use of outside contractors, and transparency in the budget.
Noted public comments and board responses - Parents, staff and union representatives urged the board to protect classroom services and criticized the timing of some cuts. Commenters also pressed for more transparent line‑item budget review and questioned past spending decisions related to one‑time state stabilization aid. - Several public speakers recommended the board convert contracted clinical services (BCBAs, RBTs) to district employees over time; administrators and union representatives signaled willingness to explore that path but said there are short‑term compliance reasons the district continues to use contracted specialists.
Next steps: The board scheduled a summer retreat and committee follow‑ups on line‑item budget review, special‑education staffing strategy, and policy regulation for AI.
