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Swedesboro‑Woolwich board approves personnel slate, large bills and contracts; union leader urges grievance resolution
Summary
At its July 24 meeting the Swedesboro‑Woolwich Board of Education approved multiple personnel actions, authorized payment of more than $1.3 million in June bills and $1.1 million in July bills, submitted IDEA grant amounts and approved contracts including food service and 403(b) administration; SWEA president asked the board to resolve a grievance without litigation and parents raised concerns about teacher turnover.
The Swedesboro‑Woolwich Board of Education on July 24 approved a large personnel slate, certified monthly financial reports and voted to approve several contracts and grants during its regular meeting at Gov. Charles Stratton School.
Board President Gina Azzari called the meeting to order. The board recessed into executive session at 5:40 p.m. for personnel discussions and returned to open session at 7:21 p.m., where members voted on the evening’s business and adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
The board approved personnel actions that included resignations, leaves and new hires across the district. The record lists resignations including Tracey Gaidis (effective Aug. 31) and Samantha Regina (effective Sept. 20), multiple maternity and medical leaves with specified date ranges, and new hires for paraprofessionals, bus drivers and a school psychologist. The board also approved a guidance counselor appointment for Kevin Jolly (Step 12/MA, $69,784) and updated the contract for Facilities Supervisor Josh Stow effective July 1, 2024.
During public comment Eileen Healey, president of the Swedesboro‑Woolwich Education Association, requested a new‑member meeting during professional development time and asked the board that “the grievance be resolved and not to litigation.” Woolwich resident Wendy Dominik asked why teachers are leaving and whether workload is too high. Collette Montague of Woolwich asked whether open houses could be scheduled during professional development days.
On finance matters the board approved the Board Secretary’s and Reconciliation reports for May 2024 in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A and certified that no line‑item account was overexpended. It approved payment of June 2024 regular and addendum bills totaling $1,382,632.15, July 2024 regular and addendum bills totaling $1,136,061.13, and June 2024 payroll totaling $1,852,620.49, and it authorized a June line‑item transfer of $546,485.09.
The board approved submission of the IDEA grant application for 2024–25 listing Basic funding of $330,992 and PreK funding of $19,024. It also voted to revise the previously awarded food‑service contract to Nutri‑Serve Food Management, Inc.; the agenda lists a flat fee of $48,000 and shows a total contract price of $665,555.40 for 2024–25 (listed in the minutes as the base year cost‑reimbursable contract). The board approved the Schools Health Insurance Fund indemnity agreement and named Alvani & Associates to provide 403(b) professional services for 2024–25 (noting the provider had previously been listed as Lakeview Financial).
The record shows authorization of sick‑day payments for retirees with a not‑to‑exceed cap (for example, Vivian Gracie is listed with an $8,000 payment). The minutes record a roll‑call result that included an abstention by Alfred Beaver on certain items (A & B) while subsequent grouped items C–M were approved unanimously.
Curriculum and student‑services items approved included field trips (Harker School was approved; the Walter Hill FunPlex trip was tabled), service agreements with Gloucester County Special Services School District and Camden County Educational Services Commission for specified routes, several out‑of‑district placements, approval of summer professional development staffing and curriculum updates, and an Interlocal Services Agreement with Woolwich Township to provide Class II/III officers for the 2024–25 school year. The board also approved the district’s Virtual or Remote Instruction Plan for 2024–25.
Operations items approved included facility usage requests (subject to insurance and documentation), an ESY joint transportation agreement with Kingsway Regional School District, and the disposal of property for Walter Hill. The board named delegates to the New Jersey School Boards Association (Gina Azzari) and the Gloucester County School Boards Association (Natalie Baker).
The board’s next scheduled meeting is August 14, 2024. The minutes were prepared and signed by Board Secretary Korey Jeffries.
