Wallkill Valley board approves budget transfers, contracts and $209,000 grant application for gym bleachers

The Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board of Education on Jan. 28 approved a series of routine financial and operational actions, including budget transfers, vendor contracts, and personnel appointments.

In roll call votes the board approved budget transfers totaling $172,054 for the period Dec. 14, 2024 through Jan. 24, 2025 and accepted the Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports showing a cash balance of $3,208,716.23 as of Dec. 31, 2024. The board also approved the manifest of bills for Dec. 14, 2024 through Jan. 24, 2025 totaling $1,662,825.31; the register is on file with the business administrator/board secretary.

Under the Finance agenda the board unanimously approved items 1–7, which included the December cafeteria account reconciliation, multiple joint transportation contracts with High Point Regional High School (combined Wallkill cost lines noted in the contract record), renewal of a homebound instruction contract at $42.00 per hour and a purchase contract with Tormach Inc. for a 770M Mill at a cost of $26,814.30 to support shop upgrades tied to the district referendum and buildings-and-grounds planning.

The board also authorized applying for a grant from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for an estimated $209,000 to replace the varsity gymnasium bleachers. The resolution authorizes district officials to accept a different award amount if offered and designates Superintendent/Principal David Carr and School Business Administrator/Board Secretary Joseph P. Hurley Jr. to sign any resulting grant agreement and related documents.

Policy committee items approved included first readings of revised policies and regulations (for example, student smoking and electronic surveillance policies), acceptance of the Student Safety Data System report for Sept. 1–Dec. 31, 2024, and authorization to establish a Girls Wrestling Team in the student activity account. The board accepted a $1,000 donation from Mindy and Derrick Schlereth for the girls wrestling program and approved a $7,500 grant from the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development for two certificate programs (a $5,000 GIS certificate and a $2,500 CDL owner-operator certificate program).

Personnel approvals included accepting the resignation of Assistant Boys Basketball Coach Jason Marrero and approving a slate of coaching and athletic appointments for the 2024–2025 school year; salary and stipend items were approved as presented, with stipends subject to proration if a season is not completed. The board also approved additions to the substitute teacher list, contingent on satisfactory criminal history background checks.

The board voted unanimously to enter executive session at 7:48 p.m. to discuss pending litigation and returned to open session at 8:00 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.