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Kinnelon Board approves minutes and consent items, highlights student honors and safety drills
Summary
At its Oct. 15 meeting the Kinnelon Board of Education approved minutes and a block consent vote, heard student achievements and committee reports, and the superintendent outlined successful reunification drills and a planned cell-phone survey toward a phone-free school goal.
The Kinnelon Board of Education met Oct. 15, 2024, approved minutes from its Sept. 24 regular and executive sessions and passed a block vote to approve agenda items A–D, board members said.
The meeting opened with the board clerk calling the roll and the board approving the Sept. 24 minutes by roll call. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from all members present.
A student representative reviewed fall activities at the district’s elementary schools, including a Pete the Cat reading day, custodian appreciation events, a hands-on apple-cider lesson, a fire-safety visit and upcoming Halloween parades (K Cisco’s parade at 10:00 a.m. and Stony Brook’s at 11:15 a.m. on Oct. 31). The student also noted Stony Brook’s evacuation/reunification drill and a family engineering-design night scheduled for Oct. 16.
Districtwide academic recognitions were highlighted: Kinnelon High School announced National Merit semi-finalists and commended students and reported that 53 students qualified as AP Scholars. The high school also has PSAT testing scheduled for Oct. 23.
Superintendent’s report
The superintendent told the board that the district’s board had been recognized as a board-certified board by the New Jersey School Boards Association, a designation that reflects training and governance requirements. He summarized a Sept. 30 feasibility visit with Boonton Township officials to review Kinnelon High School and said further details from Boonton were expected in coming months. The superintendent also reviewed recent reunification drills conducted at multiple buildings, praising principals and staff and crediting Mr. Shivas and local police for coordinating the exercises.
On student-device policy, the superintendent said the board will distribute a cell-phone survey in November as part of a goal to move toward a phone-free school environment. He said staff and stakeholders will be engaged before any rollout.
Committee and board business
Carl, reporting for the finance, facilities and security committee, said the group discussed perimeter fence quotes, a proposed swipe-entrance system for the Snack Shack, roofing work nearing final inspection, the start of 2025–26 budget development and a comprehensive maintenance plan up for approval.
Board member Mike said the committee has been meeting on personnel negotiations and that the district held a positive first meeting with the KAA; he declined to discuss negotiation details in public.
Kelly, speaking for education and student activities, said funds from a recent Tricky Tray will support after-school enrichment at Keel and Stony Brook (theater, art and chess) and congratulated students and staff on the AP School honor roll recognition.
Votes and procedural notes
The clerk recorded the unanimous roll-call approval of the minutes and the block vote on agenda items A–D; one item required a correction in the agenda but was approved as amended. No petitions or hearings from citizens were submitted for non-agenda items.
Board members closed the meeting with congratulatory remarks to students and appreciation for staff work on safety procedures and extracurricular programming. A motion to adjourn was then passed.
The board did not take additional formal action on the cell-phone proposal at the meeting; the superintendent said a survey would precede any formal policy vote.
