South River board approves tentative 2025 budget submission, adopts broad consent resolution

The South River Board of Education voted March 17 to submit a tentative 2025 budget to the county and adopted a consent resolution that bundled routine contracts, grant-related purchases and personnel recommendations.

Superintendent Doctor Zurcher said the district balanced the budget despite reductions in state aid and cuts to federal and pre-K funding. “We did balance the budget, and we managed to do so without reducing staffing, without reducing any major programs,” Zurcher said during her report to the board.

The board approved the finance report certifying that no major account is over expended and that sufficient funds are available to meet the district’s obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. The board set a public hearing on the tentative budget for April 28.

Under the consent resolution the board approved multiple routine items by single roll-call vote. The items listed in the resolution included superintendent recommendations (items 3.1–3.2), a president’s item (5.1), finance items (8.1–8.27), instructional items (9.1–9.4), policy item 11.1 and human-resources items (12.1–12.7). The finance approvals referenced by the board included tentative budget submission, service agreements (nursing, physical therapy, transportation), Internet upgrades, tuition contracts, purchases tied to security and technology grants for nonpublic schools, transfers from capital reserve and several new contracts connected to a preschool expansion grant, a school food pantry donation, chatbot software and storage containers.

Board motions approved at the meeting included a motion to move the use-of-facilities item “in accordance with board policies” (moved by Vice President Nielsen and seconded by Mrs. Sadowski; approved by voice vote), approval of minutes for Feb. 24 and Feb. 27 (moved by Vice President Nielsen; seconded by Ms. Lell; approved by voice vote), certification of the January 2025 finance reports (moved by Mrs. Louth; seconded by Vice President Nielsen; approved), adoption of the consent resolution (moved by Vice President Nielsen; seconded by Mrs. Sadowski; roll-call vote recorded as yes by those present), and authorization to pay the bills as certified by the board secretary (moved by Mrs. Lehi; seconded by Vice President Nielsen; approved by voice vote).

The board also voted to enter closed executive session to discuss personnel matters; the motion to go into closed session was made by Vice President Nielsen and seconded by Mrs. Burn.

No budget line-item reductions to staffing or to major programs were announced during the meeting; the superintendent said the district prioritized maintaining staff, mental-health supports, classroom technology upgrades and instructional materials despite lower aid.

Votes at a glance

- Use of facilities (in accordance with board policies): motion passed (mover: Vice President Nielsen; second: Mrs. Sadowski) — voice vote. - Minutes (Feb. 24 and Feb. 27, 2025): motion passed (mover: Vice President Nielsen; second: Ms. Lell) — voice vote. - Finance certification (board secretary/treasurer reports, Jan. 2025): motion passed (mover: Mrs. Louth; second: Vice President Nielsen) — voice vote. - Consent resolution (items 3.1–3.2; 5.1; 8.1–8.27; 9.1–9.4; 11.1; 12.1–12.7): adopted by roll-call (mover: Vice President Nielsen; second: Mrs. Sadowski). Recorded yes votes in the roll call included members listed by name at the meeting. - Payment of bills: motion passed (mover: Mrs. Lehi; second: Vice President Nielsen) — voice vote. - Motion to enter closed executive session (personnel): motion passed (mover: Vice President Nielsen; second: Mrs. Burn) — voice vote.

The board’s formal agenda and minutes will contain the full roll-call details and the itemized list of contracts and vendor amounts approved under the consent resolution.