Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Finance And Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wood-Ridge Board approves 60+ resolutions, joins insurance pool and authorizes van purchase to cut costs
Summary
In a single vote the Wood-Ridge Board approved dozens of finance, personnel and operational resolutions for 2026–27, authorized participation in the School Alliance Insurance Fund (SAFE) with projected insurance savings, and approved purchase of a second passenger van to reduce transportation costs.
The Wood-Ridge Board of Education approved a broad slate of more than 60 resolutions at its year-end meeting, authorizing contracts, renewals and budget transfers ahead of the 2026–27 school year and recording unanimous roll-call approval on the grouped items.
During the business-office report, the administrator highlighted a larger-than-usual bills list (covering three payroll cycles) and explained several near-term authorizations needed to close out the 2025–26 fiscal year. The board approved an audit engagement letter for the district’s auditors and authorized the business office to pay certain bills between board meetings during the summer.
On insurance, the board authorized participation in the South Bergen Region 7 workers’ compensation pool and consolidation of liability coverage under the School Alliance Insurance Fund (SAFE). The administrator said that bundling coverage under SAFE is projected to reduce insurance costs by roughly 3–3.5 percent, which he estimated would save about $15,000. He also said recent negotiated multi-year rates and benefit changes have yielded approximately $100,000 in savings to the district over the past two months.
The business office recommended purchase of a second passenger van to serve out-of-district transportation needs; the report noted that the previous van purchase had produced savings of nearly $35,000 and that a second vehicle is expected to produce similar efficiencies. The board then voted to approve the purchase and a long list of contract renewals for vendors used in the 2026–27 year, including renewals with Delta Dental of New Jersey, Turnitin LLC, PowerSchool Group LLC and other vendors announced on the agenda.
On motions and votes, the board recorded roll-call approvals from Mr. Fallon, Mr. Garvin, Mr. Milano, Mr. Biamonte and Mr. Neves on the minutes and on grouped resolutions. No public comments were offered during the hearing of citizens. The meeting concluded with the board adjourning after completing the listed approvals.
The board’s approvals include routine annual tasks — audit engagement, contract renewals and procedural authorizations — and an operational decision to join SAFE and add a passenger van to reduce transportation costs. Specific contract amounts and vendor invoices were not read into the public record during the meeting and are part of the board packet for further detail.
