Mount Olive board hears $1M NJ Cool Grant for Tintz project, flags bus-driver shortfall and questions about co-teaching coach position

At the Mount Olive Township School District board meeting, trustees received committee updates that included a finance report announcing NJ Cool Grant approval that will support up to $1,000,000 for a project at Tintz, a review of budget-planning timelines for 2026'—27, and discussion of growing transportation needs connected to the Mount Olive Grove community.

"We got the NJ Cool Grant approval. So, that will support up to $1,000,000 for our project at Tintz," Miss Fitzgerald, who presented the finance committee report, told the board. The committee also reviewed the district's budget schedule and said budget-training sessions will be scheduled this month and that demographic and capacity studies are under consideration with quotes expected in December.

Board members raised transportation as a pressing operational and budget issue. With Mount Olive Grove bringing new students, trustees warned the district will need additional bus drivers and new runs rather than only adding students to existing routes. During discussion the board cited an estimated incremental transportation cost for the new community of roughly $85,000 to $100,000 (transportation and driving costs only). The finance committee said the district is exploring options — including hiring in-house drivers instead of contracting out — to contain costs.

The meeting also moved a personnel amendment to amend action item 8.19: the board proposed changing the per diem rate for Susan Pazessi, acting principal at Mount Olive High School, from $100 to $150 per day, effective Nov. 11, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2025, "as needed." (The meeting transcript included a typographical date; the board's stated intent was an amendment for the 2025 date range.)

During the public-comment period on action items, resident Parker questioned the need for a new co-teaching coach position and estimated the cost "at about $150,000 approximately between benefits and salary," arguing that principals and current supervisors could perform the oversight. "We need another person to deal with this," Parker said, asking what metrics would be used to determine the position's effectiveness. The resident also asked whether the board verifies data it receives from staff.

A board member responded that the co-teaching coach position is budget-neutral and is a repurposed position rather than a new line item. "That is not a new condition that's been added to our budget, so we don't have to budget for that," the board member said, adding that staff repurposed the assignment from existing allocations.

The board voted on bundled action items 7.1 through 11.1; roll-call voting included some abstentions. One trustee said they would abstain on any item mentioning Lisa Fenn; another said they would abstain on item 0.1; those abstentions were recorded during the roll call.

What's next: the board will continue budget-planning work, expects committee updates on demographic and capacity study quotes in December, and will implement any approved personnel amendments. The confidential session items (negotiations, personnel, attorney-client privileged matters, litigation and real-estate matters) were handled in closed session and will be released if and when confidentiality no longer applies.