Union Township Board approves 2026–27 calendar, key personnel moves and $100,000 grant application

The Union Township Board of Education met on Jan. 26, 2026, and approved the district’s 2026–27 school calendar, several personnel actions and a grant application to upgrade elementary outdoor recreational space.

President Lou Palma opened the meeting at 6:31 p.m. in the library of the Union Township Elementary School. Chief School Administrator Dr. Barbara Popp provided the superintendent’s report, noting January is School Board Appreciation Month and reviewing safety and fire drills conducted at the elementary and middle schools in late 2025 and January 2026.

The board approved the proposed 2026–27 Union Township School Calendar and several 2025–26 field trips, including a Grade 6 visit to the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and a Grade 7 iFly STEM trip. Education Committee Chair Dr. Nicole Rasavage reported the committee met on Jan. 22.

On personnel matters, the board accepted several resignations and personnel changes. It accepted resignations from teacher Brianna Creagh (effective Jan. 16), teacher Kyra Hebling (effective March 7) and MaryKate Willing (effective Feb. 3). The board approved appointments including the hiring of tenure‑track teachers Claire Rothstein (effective Jan. 16) and Michaela Wilcox (effective March 2) at the Step 1 BA salary of $56,275 (prorated), rescinded the resignation of paraprofessional Liza Creagh, rescinded the appointment of part‑time paraprofessional Blerina Leka, and approved the retirement of middle school teacher Leigh Richards effective July 1, 2026. In a separate vote the board appointed Natalia Chaillet as a full‑time paraprofessional with benefits at a prorated salary of $32,982 effective Jan. 1, 2026. The minutes also record approvals of leaves of absence, mentor stipend adjustments and substitute lists and rates (daily substitute $135; permanent substitute $150/day limited schedule).

Finance and facilities actions included certification of the Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports for November and December 2025, approval of budget transfers, and approval of district bills: $1,451,122.67 for November 2025 and $1,365,917.69 for December 2025. The board approved professional development, facilities requests and several professional contracts. Notable contract actions: authorization of a superintendent search service with the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) for $8,000 and approval of terms with Active for Life, LLC for physical therapy services (school‑based $122/hour; home‑based $138/visit; $475/evaluation). The board also approved termination of shared‑services physical therapist agreements with Franklin Township and Holland Township effective Jan. 31, 2026.

By resolution the board acknowledged receipt of one response to RFP #26‑01 and appointed CJMarano Consulting as the district’s Special Education Services Consultant for Feb. 1–Mar. 31, 2026. The board approved submitting a Local Recreational Grant application to the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs for approximately $100,000 to upgrade the elementary school outdoor recreational space and authorized execution of any resulting grant agreement. The board further approved filing a waiver of participation in the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) for 2026–27 due to projected enrollment of fewer than 40 Medicaid‑eligible students, per the Oct. 15, 2025 ASSA report (N.J.A.C. 6A:23‑A‑5.3(b)).

The board convened two executive sessions during the meeting. The first covered HIB matters, the superintendent search and personnel; the board returned to public session at 7:43 p.m. Later the board held a second executive session on negotiations and the superintendent search and reconvened before adjourning at 9:10 p.m.

In open session the board voted to affirm the Chief School Administrator’s decisions on multiple HIB investigations: it affirmed an unfounded determination for HIB Case #300730 and affirmed founded determinations for HIB Cases #301183, #301318, #301354 and #301770. The board tabled authorization for H2M Architects to submit a Water System Modifications Other Capital project to the New Jersey Department of Education and accepted the resignation of MaryKate Willing effective Feb. 3, 2026.

The board recorded standard roll‑call tallies on consent agenda votes. Where recorded, votes on many consent agenda groups were unanimous among eight voting members with one absence; earlier grouped minutes votes included recorded abstentions as shown in the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

What's next: the minutes state the board continues the superintendent search and expects any confidential details discussed in executive session to be made public only when confidentiality is no longer required.