Ridgefield Park Board approves grouped resolutions; personnel vote includes revote on volunteer appointment

The Ridgefield Park Board of Education on Nov. 20 approved a suite of grouped resolutions covering minutes, buildings and grounds, finance, consent items and personnel after discussion and a revote on a volunteer personnel appointment.

President Martinez opened the meeting and, after routine reports and committee updates, the board moved and approved the Oct. 15, 2025 minutes (resolution 3.01). Trustee motions advanced blocks of business: Faculty & Programs (FP 901–907, including a revised FP 903) passed; Buildings & Grounds resolutions 10.01–10.05 passed; Finance & Insurance resolutions 11.01–11.22 passed; consent agenda items 12.01–12.02 passed; and personnel items 13.01–13.16 passed following clarification and a revote on item 13.14.

Why it matters: the grouped approvals authorize routine and recurring district business, allow facility projects and equipment purchasing to proceed, and finalize personnel actions that affect staffing and volunteers. Finance approvals included audit review items and authorizations needed for year-end reporting and federal monitoring compliance.

Votes at a glance (as recorded by roll call in the public meeting): - Minutes (Resolution 3.01): motion to accept made by Mister Malue; second recorded; President Martinez announced, “Yes, and the minutes pass.” - Faculty & Programs FP 901–907 (incl. revised FP 903): moved and seconded; passed on roll call. - Buildings & Grounds 10.01–10.05: moved by Trustee Cooney; seconded and passed on roll call. - Finance & Insurance 11.01–11.22: moved by Trustee McNeil; seconded and passed on roll call. - Consent Agenda 12.01–12.02: moved by Trustee Schmidt; passed on roll call. - Personnel 13.01–13.16: moved by Trustee Velez; multiple members initially registered abstentions on item 13.14 due to confusion whether the position was a paid coach or a volunteer appointment; after counsel advised on policy and a revote was taken the board recorded updated votes. President Martinez stated he would abstain on 13.14; legal counsel confirmed the action passed under the board’s policy and voting rules.

Board procedure and legal note: the board read the New Jersey open public meetings law at the start of the meeting and conducted business with both in-person and Zoom participation. Legal counsel advised the board on the effect of abstentions in volunteer approvals during the personnel block.

The board heard superintendent and committee reports and adjourned with holiday wishes. The Buildings & Grounds committee scheduled a follow-up meeting for Dec. 8.