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North Brunswick board approves settlement, teacher sidebars and renews Dr. Zakowski as interim superintendent
Summary
After moving into closed session, the North Brunswick Township Board of Education approved an attached settlement agreement, ratified sidebar agreements with the teachers' association (one abstention), and appointed Dr. Brian Zakowski as interim superintendent for July 1, 2026—6/30/2027 (one abstention).
The North Brunswick Township Board of Education approved three actions that were taken out of closed session at its May 6 meeting: adoption of a settlement agreement, approval of sidebar agreements with the North Brunswick Township Education Association, and appointment of Dr. Brian Zakowski as interim superintendent for the 2026-27 school year.
Settlement agreement: The board voted to adopt the terms of a settlement agreement referenced in the meeting materials and authorized the business administrator to execute the document. The motion was approved by roll-call vote; the transcript records the motion language but the agreement text was not read into the public record during the meeting.
Teacher sidebars: The board approved sidebar agreements between the district and the North Brunswick Township Education Association for the 2024-2027 contract relative to Article 16L and appendices D and E1. The motion passed with one abstention: board member Mr. Carter recorded an abstention citing a conflict; other members voted yes.
Superintendent appointment: The board moved to appoint Dr. Brian Zakowski as interim superintendent from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, and to submit the previously approved employment contract to the Middlesex County Executive Superintendent of Schools for review. The motion passed; Mr. Carter abstained from this vote as well. Vice President James praised Dr. Zakowski's work, saying the board was 'very pleased with the work that Dr. Zakowski has done.
What was said about process and disclosure: The board's closed-session resolution cited personnel, financial/legal matters, and attorney-client privileged matters as the basis for excluding the public and stated that the items would be made public once nondisclosure is no longer required. The settlement agreement and the sidebar details are recorded in the meeting materials but were not read aloud during the public portion.
Next steps: The business administrator was authorized to execute the settlement agreement. The superintendent's appointment will be forwarded to the Middlesex County Executive Superintendent for approval as required.
