Pennsauken board approves large personnel slate, accepts $3.07M in federal ESSA funds and $931K in athletic stipends

The Pennsauken Township Board of Education on Sept. 16 approved a broad package of personnel appointments and administrative items, accepted federal ESSA/ESEA grant allocations totaling $3,073,622 for the 2025–26 school year and adopted the district—s co-curricular and athletic stipend schedules, which together list more than $1.28 million in position payments.

The actions were approved en bloc as agenda items 2–56. The grants accepted were listed on the agenda as Title I Part A ($2,423,070), Title I SIA Part A for Phifer Middle School ($86,244), Title II Part A ($289,493), Title III ($99,138), Title III Immigrant ($16,629) and Title IV Part A ($159,048). The agenda also included a detailed co-curricular stipend schedule (agenda subtotal $349,905) and an athletic Schedule "C" listing that the agenda shows totaled $931,242.

Board President Mrs. Young called the meeting to order, and the board moved into and returned from an executive session to discuss legal, contractual and personnel matters before taking public actions. The motion to approve the agenda items was moved by Board member Mr. McDevitt and seconded by Mr. Alves and was recorded as carried.

Personnel approvals on the agenda included ratifications and new hires across the district: classroom teachers, educational assistants, security staff, a supervisor of assessment/data and other certified and support staff. Several appointments are contingent on required pre-employment checks and approvals, such as fingerprint criminal-history review and medical clearances. The agenda lists specific hires by name, salary and account number, for example Lisa Corona as Supervisor of Assessment, Data & Accountability (Central Administration, $135,000) and numerous classroom appointments at PHS, HPMS, Delair, Carson and other schools.

The board approved contractual and facilities items including Payment Application #3 for the Baldwin ECLC partial roof replacement to Winchester Roofing in the amount of $87,795.25 (account 12-000-400-450-090-000-00). The agenda also recorded the award of a student-transportation quote to Holcomb Transportation LLC for service to Kingsway Learning Center as the lowest responsible bidder, with a route total listed at $24,030 and a not-to-exceed amount of $24,200, contingent on sufficient funds.

During the public comment period, Matt Sax, identified on the agenda as president of the Pennsauken Education Association (PEA), raised a grievance regarding stipends and later commented specifically about the head nurse stipend. The transcript records the public comments but does not show a board response beyond the opportunity to speak during the public-comment period.

The agenda included extensive listings of staff travel and professional-development items, out-of-district placements for students with disabilities (with tuition amounts noted for each placement), and a long schedule of facility uses and school activities through spring 2026 (fall-play rehearsals, concerts, fundraisers and other events). The board also recommended and approved providers for specialized services (for example, Hewitt Psychiatric for evaluations at $600 each) and consultant services (Life 369 for gifted-and-talented services, not to exceed $10,000).

The meeting closed with scheduling announcements for upcoming board meetings and a motion to adjourn, moved by Mr. McDevitt and seconded by Mr. Alves; the meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.

The board—s official agenda packet lists the full line-item amounts, account numbers, and the names of the staff and vendors involved in each recommendation. Where the agenda shows contingent conditions (for example, appointments subject to fingerprint checks) the board text notes those contingencies; the board approved the items as presented on the agenda.