West Orange board approves personnel, curriculum and finance items; Hazel Elementary wins $10,000 grant

At its June 16 meeting the West Orange Board of Education approved a slate of personnel, curriculum and finance items and recognized recent donations and retirees.

The board approved personnel items A1–A12 by recorded roll-call vote (mover: Vice President Ifer; second: Mr. Stevenson). The board congratulated retirees named in the personnel resolution, including Vincent De Jesus (science teacher, Liberty Middle School), Connie Salamino (director of special education), and James Widen Borner (social studies teacher, West Orange High School). A para professional listed as "France" was also recognized in the transcript as retiring.

Curriculum and instruction items B1–B2 passed on a separate motion (mover: Dr. Bryant; second: Mr. Stevenson). Finance and business-office items, including addendum 37, were approved in a single motion (mover: Mr. Stevenson; second: Dr. Bryant). The board acknowledged donations disclosed during the finance discussion: $350 from the Black Ball Giving Foundation, $1,000 from Dr. Joanne Polaro to Kelly Elementary, and a $5,000 PSNG Foundation contribution associated with a previously announced grant.

In announcements, President Rock said Hazel Avenue Elementary School will receive a Sustainable Jersey grant funded by the PSEG Foundation in the amount of $10,000 to build a greenhouse learning space; Principal Castillo and the school PTA were congratulated. The board also advanced Policy 5460 (high school graduation policy) from first reading to a second reading scheduled for the July meeting.

Votes at a glance: minutes accepted (unanimous roll call); personnel A1–A12 (approved, unanimous); curriculum B1–B2 (approved, unanimous); finance and business items including addendum 37 (approved, unanimous); reports D1–D4 (approved, unanimous).

The meeting concluded without an executive session; the board adjourned after public comment and closing remarks.