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Stanhope Board adopts 2024–25 goals, approves curriculum, policies, contracts and personnel in unanimous votes
Summary
At its Sept. 18 meeting the Stanhope Board of Education unanimously adopted board and district goals, approved ELA curriculum and several policies, awarded an attorney contract, approved a shared-school-nurse agreement, and approved personnel appointments and travel contracts including the 8th‑grade Washington, D.C., trip.
The Stanhope Board of Education met Sept. 18 and, by unanimous roll-call or voice votes, adopted its 2024–25 Board and District goals, approved curriculum and policy updates, awarded a professional-services contract, and approved multiple personnel and financial items.
During a single set of administrative approvals, the board affirmed its Board Goals, which include heightened focus on middle-school achievement, creating more in-school elective choices for middle-school students, and pursuing additional board member certifications through New Jersey School Boards Association training. District goals adopted for 2024–25 include a district-wide Climate and Culture Survey and continued work on projects from the Dec. 13, 2022 referendum, including renovation of the middle-school science classroom and removal of an underground oil tank, according to the motion on the agenda. The motion was presented by Jennifer Herold and seconded by Yacoub Yaghnam; the roll-call vote was 7–0.
The board approved second readings of multiple policies and regulations, including P0141 (Board Member Number and Term), P2200 (Curriculum Content), P5350 (Student Suicide Prevention), P8420 (Emergency Crisis and Situations), and P8467 (Firearms and Weapons), among others. The motion to approve the policies was made by Carmen Pico, seconded by Thomas Valle, and passed 7–0.
On education items, the board adopted the English Language Arts curriculum aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards and approved the Group/Tour Program Agreement with A‑Z Travel, LLC for the 8th‑grade Washington, D.C., trip scheduled May 28–30, 2025. That motion, made by Gil Moscatello and seconded by Carmen Pico, passed by unanimous roll call. Board members discussed that the district will no longer make the 7th grade an overnight trip, citing cost considerations for families.
Business services approvals included line-item transfers and financial reports for July 2024 and three bill lists, totaling $514,238.13 across the documented lists ($8,633.75; $45,527.64; $460,076.74). The board also authorized delegation of business-administrator authority between meetings and approved a revised price list for adult lunches to comply with Department of Agriculture pricing requirements.
The board awarded RFP 2024‑2025‑002 for professional services to Douglas Sylvestro, Esq., of The Busch Law Group LLC, naming him attorney of record effective Sept. 18, 2024. The board also approved an Interlocal Shared Services Agreement for school nurse/LPN coverage with the Netcong Township, Byram Township, and Lenape Valley Regional High School districts, effective Aug. 28, 2024 through June 30, 2025; the resolution states the services will be provided on an as-needed/as-available basis at no cost to the participating districts.
Personnel items approved included student-teacher placements (Rachel Parisi; Madison Maniquis placement adjustments), retroactive FTE adjustments for a paraprofessional (Ashley Flood), appointment of a substitute teacher pending clearances (David McCarthy), acceptance of resignations (Mary Jo Iannotta; Phyllis Nemeth), and appointment of Viktoriia Zolotarova as a part-time paraprofessional pending required background checks. The personnel motion was presented by Jennifer Herold, seconded by Yacoub Yaghnam, and carried 7–0.
All roll-call and voice votes recorded in the minutes were unanimous in favor where noted. The board moved into executive session at 7:56 p.m. for personnel matters and returned to public session at 8:10 p.m.; the meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Votes at a glance: August 28, 2024 minutes approved (motion: Gil Moscatello; second: Carmen Pico; voice vote 7–0); Administrative items and Board Goals adopted (motion: Jennifer Herold; second: Yacoub Yaghnam; roll call 7–0); Policy second readings approved (motion: Carmen Pico; second: Thomas Valle; roll call 7–0); ELA curriculum and 8th‑grade DC trip contract approved (motion: Gil Moscatello; second: Carmen Pico; roll call 7–0); Personnel items approved (motion: Jennifer Herold; second: Yacoub Yaghnam; roll call 7–0); Business services items including RFP award and interlocal nurse agreement approved (motion: Carmen Pico; second: Thomas Valle; roll call 7–0).
