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Wallkill Valley board approves $1.96 million in bills, budget transfers and retreat contract amid objections
Summary
The Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board on Feb. 25 approved routine financial motions including $1.96 million in bills and $156,920.73 in budget transfers, and authorized a paid contract for a board retreat after objections from a member who called the hire a misuse of taxpayer funds.
Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board President Jacqueline Elmo presided over the Feb. 25 meeting in Hardyston Township where the board approved several financial motions, including the manifest of bills totaling $1,964,614.33 and budget transfers of $156,920.73.
The board voted unanimously to approve the Jan. 28 meeting minutes, certify compliance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-16.10 regarding line-item appropriations, and accept the Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports showing a cash balance of $2,778,497.60 as of Jan. 31, 2025. Robert Carlson and Virginia Jones moved and seconded the principal financial motions noted by the board.
During Finance Committee discussion, Board member Gina DeSino objected to hiring Kathleen Helewa Educational Consultants for a board retreat, saying the hire would be “a misuse of the taxpayer’s money.” President Elmo responded to the concern before the contract item was approved as part of Finance Items; the contract is listed at $100 per hour for services from Feb. 29 through June 30, 2025.
The board also approved several joint transportation contracts for the 2024–2025 school year with itemized per-diem costs and totals. Transportation detail included multiple route line items (examples in the approved register showed totals and per-diem amounts).
Finance Items 1–3 were approved by roll call; the record shows Gina DeSino and Traci Dressner voted “no” on item 3 while other members voted yes. Other financial motions in the meeting carried by unanimous roll call votes. The register and supporting documents were filed with the Office of the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary.
The board scheduled a board retreat under the contracted consultant and left the financial record on file; the action means the district will proceed with the retreat engagement unless superseded by further board action.
