Cliffside Park board reviews summer projects, hires 17 staff and accepts student petition on coaching policy

The Cliffside Park School District board met in July to review summer facilities projects, personnel moves and several resolutions as the district opens fiscal year 2026—27.

An administrator, speaking as superintendent, opened by thanking staff for recent middle- and high-school graduation ceremonies and welcomed new board member Mr. Nikaj. The superintendent reported the district hired 17 new employees across teaching and support roles and said seven positions remain open as the hiring process continues.

Board members described a number of summer capital and maintenance projects. A masonry and sidewalk effort at the high school will replace cracked sidewalks and original steps to reduce trip hazards on the route from the high school toward the Palisades and Lords. Custodial crews were reported to be repainting and refurbishing classrooms. The board said three major capital projects — a multipurpose-room renovation, a unit-ventilator upgrade (partially funded by a ROD grant) and a rooftop-unit (RTU) project — have been completed or are at final close-out, with total capital-reserve spending cited as nearly $3 million.

On budgets, the superintendent said while the district's gross budget is about $70 million, most salaries and contracts were encumbered, leaving an estimated $6—8 million in available surplus to start 2026—27. The speaker cautioned health-benefit costs came in higher than forecast this year by roughly $450,000 and said auditors will review incremental surplus in July and August.

Personnel and procurement items were on the agenda. Mr. Alfano announced that Jenny Orienti, who covered transportation duties in recent months, is being appointed transportation coordinator after managing routes, drivers and aides; the board accepted her appointment in the meeting discussion. The board also placed a grease-trap replacement at School Six on the agenda using a quote from DMN Plumbing because the cost exceeded the district's quote threshold, with work expected to start the following week.

During public comment, students presented a petition they said contained more than 200 signatures asking the board to reconsider or appeal a recently adopted coaching policy. The students said the policy limits opportunities and harms coaches and athletes; the board thanked them, accepted the petition, and said the matter will be added to the next work session for further discussion.

A motion was made and seconded on the agenda's final items and a roll-call vote followed. Multiple board members voted yes; the transcript records several abstentions on what was identified verbally as "Resolution number two." The spoken record does not attach each roll-call entry to a uniquely labeled motion in every instance, so the meeting minutes should be consulted for the official vote tallies tied to numbered resolutions.

The board announced summer meeting dates of July 29 and August 26 (work session 6:00 p.m.; public 7:00 p.m.) and adjourned.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting include: 17 hires with seven open positions remaining; about $3 million in recent capital spending; an estimated $6—8 million in available surplus after encumbrances; an approximate $450,000 health-benefit cost overrun; Project Graduation used six district buses and had about 240 attendees with roughly 20 chaperones. The board said the RTU project is at final payment/close-out and the grease-trap replacement will proceed under contract with DMN Plumbing.

The board did not read detailed statutory citations during the public remarks; state-mandated policy updates were noted as a second reading on the agenda but specific statutes or policy numbers were not specified in the spoken record. For precise vote counts and officially adopted resolutions, the district's posted minutes and resolution text should be referenced.