Chatham board flags rising medical costs, approves Atlas curriculum software and routine finance items
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Summary
Finance and facilities reported rising medical expenses (cited about 17.2%), approved capital planning work and a contract for Atlas curriculum‑mapping software; the board also recorded several donations and approved finance and personnel agenda items by unanimous vote.
The School District of the Chathams’ finance and facilities committee told the board that medical insurance costs are increasing substantially as the district prepares budgets for 2026–27. A committee member cited an approximate 17.2% increase in medical expenses while noting district revenue growth is about 2%.
Committee members said they are refining capital improvement priorities and obtaining cost estimates to determine which projects will be included in next year’s capital program. The board approved a contract for an Atlas curriculum‑mapping and management system (described in the meeting as "Atlas or JF Atlas") designed to centralize curriculum documents currently housed in individual Google Docs. Presenters said the platform will improve transparency, archiving and curriculum continuity for teachers and administrators.
During the finance consent vote the board approved multiple donations, including $20,000 from the Chatham Education Foundation to support three programs (Dash robots at Southern, music at Milton, and a district‑wide New Jersey Symphony Day of Music), and several smaller community gifts tied to upcoming Chinese New Year activities.
The board moved and approved finance and personnel consent items (action items a1–a24; b1–b30 and addenda) on roll call votes recorded as 8‑0. The business administrator said project lists for the 2026–27 budget are still being evaluated and promised a follow up to the board.