Board approves consent agenda, recommends Catherine Hiramoto as business administrator
Summary
At its Sept. 17 meeting the Mahwah board approved consent agenda items including grant-funded boiler work for Betsy Ross School and routine approvals; the board received and voted on the minutes and consent packages and was introduced to the recommended business administrator, Catherine Hiramoto.
The Mahwah Township Public School District board approved routine minutes and multiple consent items during its Sept. 17 meeting and heard a recommendation to appoint Catherine Hiramoto as the district's business administrator.
A motion to approve the minutes from the previous meeting (agenda item 17a) was moved and seconded and passed by roll call; two members recorded abstentions. The board then moved to approve consent agenda items 18a through 18p (mover: Mister Kismarski; second: Mister Hughes). During the roll call on the consent agenda, Mr. Kismarski declared a recusal on checks numbered 120857 and 121102. The consent agenda covered donations, grants, payroll and other routine business.
In the finance report, the board learned an emergent partial boiler replacement at Betsy Ross School will cost $149,000. Mister Lamb said those costs will be covered by a New Jersey School Development Authority emergent and capital needs grant totaling about $200,000, leaving approximately $50,000 for other projects once the boiler work is funded. Mister Lamb also reported the district had spent much of its IDEA funds on out-of-district tuition and anticipated timely state reimbursements would help cash flow; Title I spending had likewise supported summer booster programs.
The board was introduced to Catherine Hiramoto, whom administrators recommended for appointment as business administrator after interviews. The administration said Hiramoto has experience as a district accountant, accounts payable specialist, payroll supervisor, assistant business administrator and recently served as acting VA for Fort Lee Public Schools. The board welcomed her and indicated the appointment would be considered as part of agenda items 19a through 19y.
Votes at a glance: - Minutes (17a): motion approved by roll call; two abstentions recorded. - Consent items (18a'p): motion moved by Mister Kismarski, seconded by Mister Hughes; roll call approved the package with one recusal on specific checks. - Consent items (19a'y): motion moved by Mister Copeland, seconded by Mister Hughes; roll call approved the package.
Why it matters: the consent approvals keep district operations moving (vendor payments, minor capital work, personnel introductions) and the recommended appointment of a business administrator would place an experienced finance official in a key operational role pending formal approval.
The meeting continued to public comment and a presentation on the 2025'2030 strategic plan.
