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Stillwater board approves preliminary financials, hires business administrator and principal, authorizes IDEA grant submission
Summary
The Stillwater Township Board of Education on July 21 approved preliminary June financial reports, ratified employment contracts for a new business administrator and principal, advanced a staff salary guide step, and authorized submission of IDEA FY2026 grant applications totaling $86,514.
The Stillwater Township Board of Education on July 21 approved preliminary financial statements, ratified several personnel contracts and authorized the district to submit federal IDEA grant applications for fiscal year 2026.
At its 7 p.m. meeting in the Stillwater School library, President Krista Galante opened the session and the board approved the June 23, 2025 meeting minutes and the preliminary Board Secretary's and Treasurer's Reports for June 30, 2025, which balanced at $3,370,954.13. The motions passed on a recorded voice vote. Interim Superintendent Braden Hirsch provided a brief superintendent's report noting summer building work, the extended school year (ESY) program and a draft preschool admissions policy; he said, “we have a wonderful school, it is a great place with great people.” President Galante thanked Hirsch for serving as interim.
In personnel actions the board retroactively approved a one-hour Preschool Pops on the Playground event (Chelsea Qualliu), appointed substitute staff (Mary Balkau, pending background clearance; Caitlin Pittenger Zgola) and ratified employment contracts: René Metzgar as School Business Administrator/Board Secretary/Technology Manager (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) at $136,000 plus longevity, and Marissa Cramer as Principal/Supervisor of Child Study Team, Special Education/Basic Skills (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) at $117,955 plus longevity. The board also approved advancement on the salary guide for Christine Pagano to BA+15, Step L3 (salary $91,370). Those personnel motions were moved by Mr. DeGroat, seconded by Mrs. Frey and passed on roll call vote.
On finance measures, the board approved vendor checks for June 24–30, 2025 and July 1–21, 2025 (the latter totaling $274,338.26, including cafeteria checks of $10,580.75), lists of purchase orders over $1,000 for both the 2024–25 and 2025–26 years, monthly travel, and transfers. The board also authorized the Business Administrator/Board Secretary to bind property/casualty coverage with the New Jersey Schools Insurance Group for the 2025–26 policy year as recommended by the district’s risk management consultant.
The board adopted a resolution increasing the district's bid threshold to $53,000, reflecting that René Metzgar holds a Qualified Purchasing Agent certificate and aligning with state guidance effective July 1, 2025. The resolution specifies the district’s procurement thresholds and quotation requirements for purchases under the bid threshold.
Finally, the board authorized submission of the IDEA grant applications for FY2026 and indicated acceptance of award amounts upon approval: IDEA Basic for $80,656 and IDEA Preschool (IDEA PS) for $5,858 (total $86,514). The board recorded these approvals by roll call vote. The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
