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Port Jervis board elects Jason Kamar president, Bill Harris vice president; approves reorganizational slate
Summary
At its July 8 reorganizational meeting, the Port Jervis City School District board elected Jason Kamar as president and Bill Harris as vice president and approved a package of routine reorganizational items, committee assignments and vendor/contract authorizations.
The Port Jervis City School District Board of Education elected Jason Kamar as board president and re-elected William (Bill) Harris as vice president during its reorganizational meeting on July 8, 2025. The board also approved a package of reorganizational consent items including designations of official depositories and newspapers, annual committee appointments, special-education procedural designations and several policy adoptions.
The board clerk, Kristen Lopez, opened the meeting and administered oaths of office to re-elected and newly elected board members. After nominations were made, the board voted by roll call to appoint Jason Kamar as president and Bill Harris as vice president for the 2025–26 school year. Board members present voted in favor; one member, Don Santiago, was not present and his oath will be administered at the district office.
The board approved a bundled reorganizational consent agenda that included designation of official newspapers and broadcast outlets; statutory public official bonds; designation of district depositories; establishment of petty cash funds; transfer authority for the superintendent; mileage reimbursement rates for the 2025–26 school year; annual appointments (including Section 504 and special-education committee members and impartial hearing officers); and adoption of the district code of conduct and policy manual for the 2025–26 year. The board also adopted or reaffirmed several district policies by number, as presented.
Board members appointed delegates to external organizations: Bill Harris was named delegate to the Orange County School Boards Association with Michael Witt serving as alternate, and Michael Witt was named the district’s delegate to the New York State School Boards Association.
Other reorganizational business approved included engagement of an independent external district auditor (Regent Mann Hausler, PC) and the CSC vendor list for the 2025–26 year. After completing reorganizational business the board adjourned the reorganizational portion of the meeting and convened the regular business meeting.
Votes at a glance - Election of board president (Jason Kamar): motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote approved; one member absent (Don Santiago). - Election of vice president (William “Bill” Harris): motion moved and seconded; roll-call vote approved. - Reorganizational consent agenda (official newspapers, depositories, bonds, petty cash, transfer authority, mileage, annual appointments, code of conduct, policy manual, Section 504 and CSE appointments, impartial hearing officers, investment policy numbers): motion carried. - Engagement of independent external auditors (Regent Mann Hausler, PC): motion carried. - CSC vendor list for 2025–26: motion carried.
Board members who spoke during the reorganizational portion included Kristen Lopez (board clerk), Jason Kamar (president, newly elected), William (Bill) Harris (vice president, re-elected), Joe Antioch, Michael Witt, Jeremy Shannon, Judy (last name not specified in transcript), Mark (last name not specified in transcript) and Don Santiago (absent). The board’s routine reorganizational votes were presented as standard motions with motions and seconds and were approved as recorded in the meeting minutes.
