Hoboken board accepts $1 million SDA grant, approves consent agenda and advances policy readings

The Hoboken Board of Education on a routine vote approved its consent agenda and acknowledged receipt of a $1,000,000 grant from the New Jersey Schools Development Authority that the district says is tentatively earmarked for high-school boiler work, sidewalk repairs at Hoboken Middle School and other facility projects.

The consent agenda passed by roll call vote at the December meeting and included items the curriculum committee had recommended for approval, including the submission of Project Lead The Way expansion grant applications for elementary, middle and high school levels.

The board’s facilities report, delivered by board member Mister Dela Torre, named the SDA award and described tentative uses. “The district was granted a $1,000,000 grant from the SDA. Funds are tentatively allocated to 1, prepare the Hoboken High School boiler, redoing the sidewalks here at HMS, and other projects currently being determined by the facility departments,” Dela Torre said.

Business Administrator Miss Good told the board that health-benefits rates for the 2025–26 school year have come in at “over 20%,” and officials are preparing the 2025–26 budget amid projected enrollment growth. The finance committee also noted an extra payroll entry tied to a retroactive payment after ratification of the Hoboken School Employees Association contract earlier in the fall.

The curriculum committee reported it had reviewed and recommended several agenda items, including the Project Lead The Way expansion grant submissions, which the full board approved as part of the consent agenda. The facilities committee confirmed it is working with vendors on netting and scaffolding designs for gym facilities and remains finalizing the list of SDA-funded projects.

On wellness and safety, the board’s wellness committee reported two policies on the agenda: a first reading of policy 5337 on service animals and a second reading of a revised policy 5350 on suicide prevention. The wellness report also said NARCAN kits from the county have been received and training for principals, vice principals, nurses and selected staff has been completed.

Superintendent Dr. Johnson and Assistant Superintendent Sandra Rodriguez Gomez noted continuing district recognitions: all schools earned National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence Lighthouse Awards and the district recorded another year of enrollment growth. Administrators also reported ongoing planning for pre-K and kindergarten enrollment, expansion of a dual-language program through grade 2, and upcoming school events and concerts.

Before adjourning, the board moved into an executive session described as attorney–client privileged business; the board stated no actions would be taken during that closed session. The meeting later resumed and was then closed by unanimous voice vote.

Votes at a glance: The consent agenda was approved by roll call (all voting members present recorded “yes”); the board voted by roll call to enter executive session for attorney–client privileged matters and later voted by roll call to resume and to adjourn. Specific motions were moved and seconded but the transcript does not identify movers or seconders by name for those motions.

The meeting included routine committee reports and student- and school-recognition presentations; no ordinances, new contracts, nor formal bond or budget adoptions were decided at the session.