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Union Township Board approves major contracts, increases bid threshold; H2M LRFP amendment fails
Summary
At the Sept. 29 meeting the board certified fiscal reports, approved July and August bills, approved a $525,525 joint transportation agreement and multiple professional and tuition contracts, adopted a $53,000 bid threshold, and rejected a $11,500 H2M quote to amend the Long Range Facility Plan on a roll-call vote.
The Union Township Board of Education approved a slate of finance and facilities items at its Sept. 29 meeting while rejecting one facilities-related contract.
On consent the board certified the Board Secretary's and Treasurer's reports for July and August 2025 and approved vendor payments of $1,722,350.81 for July and $2,055,125.99 for August. The board also approved budget transfers as presented by the School Business Administrator.
Transportation and tuition: the board approved a Joint Transportation Agreement with the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission for the 2025'26 school year totaling $525,525 across listed district routes. The board approved multiple out-of-district tuition placements and associated extraordinary-services figures for several students (placements and amounts listed in the meeting materials).
Contracts and services: the board approved a series of 2025'26 professional service contracts including well-water compliance (McGowan LLC, listed costs for Middle and Elementary school testing), multiple therapy and evaluation providers for special-education services, homebound instruction and related providers; an awarded contract for potable and non-potable water testing with Eurofins Philadelphia LLC for $10,221 also received board approval as part of other-business items.
Procurement: the board adopted a resolution to set its bid threshold at $53,000 following state guidance because the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary holds Qualified Purchasing Agent credentials. The board also authorized the online sale of designated surplus property (laptop carts, map storage cabinet) via GovDeals.
Failed LRFP amendment: the board considered a quote from H2M Architects & Engineers for a Long Range Facility Plan major amendment, not to exceed $11,500. On the roll call the motion did not pass; the minutes record the vote as four yes, two no, one abstention and two absent, and the motion was not approved.
Other approvals: the board approved facilities requests (PTA events, drama, Girl Scouts, community nights) and a summer-camp facilities request; it also approved professional development items and shared-services contracts (part-time speech, physical therapy) with neighboring districts.
What this means: the approvals move forward the district's transportation services, special-education placements, and a range of vendor contracts for the coming year. The failure to approve the H2M LRFP amendment means the district will not proceed with that particular vendor quote for a major LRFP amendment at this time; the board may revisit the scope, vendor or funding in a future meeting.
Votes and procedure: motions were recorded on the consent agenda and in roll-call items as printed in the minutes. Where vote tallies were recorded in the minutes, they are reported as printed; individual roll-call names are available in the meeting record.
