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Union Township Board approves personnel slate, contracts, tax-levy schedule and affirms HIB finding
Summary
At its May 20 meeting the Union Township Board of Education approved a broad consent agenda that included personnel reappointments and hires, multiple professional services contracts including two Class III officers at $134,000, a camera/server replacement funded partly from emergency reserves, a food service renewal, and an $11.27 million tax levy schedule; the board also affirmed an unfounded HIB finding.
The Union Township Board of Education on May 20 approved a series of routine and substantive items during a regularly scheduled meeting at the Union Township Elementary School library.
President Cortney Dominianni called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m., and the board moved through consent agendas that included minutes, personnel, policy, and finance items.
Education and personnel: The board approved the Personnel consent agenda (P1–P20) on a motion by Board member Caitlin Piontek, seconded by Amelia Lamonde. The slate included maternity and extended-leave requests under FMLA/NJFLA, a reduction of one full-time speech teacher to a 0.6 position for 2025–26, creation and approval of new job descriptions (PIC/PIRS/CPIS; World Language/ML teacher), a lateral salary move for Lauren MacArthur effective Sept. 1, 2025, rehiring of tenured and non-tenured teachers and paraprofessionals, appointment of a full-time custodian (Dominick Colaluca, effective June 1, 2025, prorated salary $37,000), acceptance of the resignation of Michelle Leyesa effective May 30, 2025, and approval of the Business Administrator/Board Secretary employment contract for Eva Preuett (July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026) at an annual salary of $118,014.00. The personnel package passed on roll call, 8–0 (one absence).
Policy: The board approved PO1 to advance revised and new policies and regulations, including Policy 5841 (Secret Societies), Policy 8110 (Attendance Areas) and Policy/Regulation 5516 (Use of Electronic Communication Devices) as read.
Finance and contracts: Finance Committee Chair John Malone presented and the board approved the finance consent agenda (F1–F15). Highlights included certification of the Board Secretary's and Treasurer's reports for April 2025; approval of budget transfers and payment of district bills totaling $1,196,721.21; and multiple professional services contracts for 2025–2026. Notable contracts include behavioral consultation services (Catherine Taylor-Santa, Ph.D., BCBA-D, $115/hr.), alarm/fire inspection ($8,616.16), outside accounting/auditing services (Bedard, Kurowicki & Co., $24,400 plus extraordinary services), legal services (Schenck, Price, Smith & King LLP at stated hourly rates), payroll services (R & L Data Centers), wastewater management services, and two Class III law-enforcement officers contracted through the Hunterdon County Sheriff's Office at a total of $134,000 for the 2025–2026 school year.
Capital and operations: The board approved a camera and server replacement from New Era Technology at $51,171.34, with $50,000 to be paid from emergency reserves and the remainder from the general fund. A transportation routing services agreement with Delaware Valley Regional High School BOE was approved ($14,863 plus vehicle maintenance at hourly rates). The board also renewed the Maschio's Food Service management contract for 2025–2026 with a management fee of $12,300 and a total contract cost of $172,439.77.
Budget/tax levy: The board approved the 2025–2026 tax levy payment schedule (F13): six equal payments of $1,879,058.50 totaling $11,274,351.00 (includes Fund 10 and Fund 40 levy components).
Discipline/HIB: On other business the board voted to affirm the Superintendent's decision on HIB Case #292499 as unfounded (motion by Cortney Dominianni, seconded by Lou Palma). The motion passed 8–0.
Next steps and process: Several items approved were contracts for professional services that will be executed July 1, 2025, and personnel approvals are contingent on routine pre-employment checks where applicable. The board adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Votes at a glance: minutes (M1–M2) approved 8–0; Comprehensive Equity Plan needs assessment (E1) approved 8–0; Personnel consent (P1–P20) approved 8–0; Policy reads (PO1) approved 8–0; Finance consent (F1–F15) approved 8–0; Other Business OB1 and OB3 approved 8–0.
(Reported actions reflect roll-call tallies as recorded in the meeting minutes.)
