North Hunterdon‑Voorhees board enters executive session to discuss superintendent evaluation after public questions on transparency

The North Hunterdon‑Voorhees Regional High School District Board of Education on June 19, 2025, voted to enter an executive session to discuss matters reflected in an attached resolution, including discussions relating to the superintendent’s evaluation, and announced no action would be taken when the board returned to public session.

The board convened a public comment period before the executive session. Greg Hodges, a Highbridge resident who said he is a member of the Highbridge Borough School Board but was not speaking on its behalf, asked for clarification about the purpose of the resolution and said, “Point number 9, matters involving quasi judicial deliberations,” raised questions for him about why the district was adopting the language if existing state guidance already covers executive sessions.

Brian Hodges, identified in the transcript as a resident, said he was “confused as to why you are bringing forth this resolution” and urged the board to consider how the change might be perceived, referencing past controversies mentioned by speakers.

Jennifer Cusack of Highbridge criticized the scheduling of a special meeting outside the district’s regular meeting times and said it appeared designed to reduce public attendance. “When you add meetings not in the regular time… it just speaks loud and clear that this is meant to try and confuse the public, to lower the number of people who attend these meetings,” she said, adding that the meeting drew a small crowd.

A participant identified as Dan, joining from the chat, asked whether the executive session topic included an evaluation of the superintendent. A board representative replied that the subject was personnel. Board staff member Kleinman noted the district website posted that the nature of the executive session was “to have discussions relating to the superintendent evaluation” and that “no action [would] be taken.”

After public comment, a motion to adopt Resolution 061925‑1 to move into executive session was made and seconded. The board stated it expected to be in executive session approximately one hour and that no action would be taken upon return to public session. The board then called for the vote; a voice vote was taken, with members answering “Aye.” The board chair asked for any nays or abstentions and none were voiced.

Members of the public who spoke also raised concerns about perceived leaks of information to social media accounts; one commenter handed out documents to the board during public comment and said a social‑media post on June 18 had identified the meeting’s subject matter as the superintendent evaluation. Board leaders said they would take the materials under advisement and respond to the public as appropriate.

No motions, directives, or formal actions affecting policy or personnel were taken in public at the meeting; the board’s action at the public session was the formal adoption of the executive‑session resolution and the return‑no‑action pledge recorded by staff.

The board’s public notice for the meeting states that adequate notice under the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4‑6) was given, including publication in the Hunterdon County Democrat and The Star‑Ledger on June 9, 2025, and postings at North Hunterdon High School and Voorhees High School and distribution to municipal clerks for affected towns. The board said it would respond to the public on matters raised during the comment period after the meeting.