Board adopts recommendations to formalize oversight of Family Resource Center

The East Windsor Board of Education voted to adopt a set of recommendations to strengthen oversight of the Family Resource Center, agreeing to act as an advisory/oversight body that will integrate FRC review into existing board subcommittees.

The package of recommendations, introduced by the superintendent and prepared in collaboration with FRC director Kate Naberly and staff member Laura, responds to a longstanding concern that the program has depended heavily on a single staff leader and lacked formal board-level systems. The board’s action covers governance steps — including finance and curriculum subcommittee engagement, an effort to recruit parent representatives, and an annual report to the full board.

"Most of the items outlined in the packet are things that I was doing with the advisory board," said Kate Naberly, the FRC director, describing how the recommendations reflect ongoing FRC practice and aim to add structure. Board members repeatedly stressed the need for checks and balances so the program could continue if staff turnover occurred.

A board member moved to adopt the superintendent’s recommendations and to have the Board of Education act as an advisory body for the FRC; Courtney seconded the motion and it carried by voice vote. The motion did not include a roll-call vote tally in the transcript; board members indicated support and no formal nay votes were recorded in the public record.

Board discussion noted next steps: staff (including the superintendent and FRC leadership) will draft the final recommendation language, identify how parent participation will be invited and documented, and add FRC items to the subcommittee rotation for review. Board members also discussed whether the board would ask the FRC advisory group to provide periodic feedback and recommended a future annual update to the full board similar to a school report.

The board also approved an updated FRC exemption verification form required by the Office of Early Childhood (Care4Kids) and authorized the superintendent to sign the form so the program remains license-exempt as described in state guidance.

The board’s decision shifts the program’s oversight model from an informal advisory structure to one that is explicitly tied to standing board processes; staff will return planned language and an implementation timeline to the board for formal adoption and tracking.