Wallkill Valley board approves $17.9 million tentative budget, joins insurance fund and fills vacant seat

The Wallkill Valley Regional High School Board of Education approved its 2026-2027 tentative budget and a package of contracts and personnel actions at a regular meeting on April 28 at Wallkill Valley Regional High School in Hardyston Township.

The board voted to submit a $17,892,422 tentative budget to the Sussex County Executive Superintendent, with anticipated revenues of $3,849,705 and taxes to be raised totaling $14,042,717. The board included a $110,607 adjustment in the budget for increased health-benefit costs and appropriated $148,545 from surplus to help offset the tax increase. The motion to approve the budget passed in a unanimous roll call vote. School Business Administrator and Board Secretary Joseph P. Hurley Jr. presented the budget; auditor John Mooney discussed municipal tax impacts.

As part of the budget package the board set a maximum travel-expenditure line of $29,725 for the 2026-2027 school year, consistent with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A Subchapter 7 reporting requirements. The board also approved a routine motion to transfer $160,526.35 for adjustments covering March 25 through April 24, 2026.

The Finance Committee's recommended contracts were approved, including a $67,959.01 contract with PSI Process to replace and install a new control panel, renewal of a J&B Therapy agreement (rates specified in the contract packet), a joint transportation contract (Wallkill's share listed at $73,390.55), and renewal of student accident insurance with Bollinger Specialty Group at $64,875. The board accepted the Special Education Medicaid Initiative corrective action plan after noting the district did not meet projected SEMI reimbursement revenue.

The board also resolved to join the School Alliance Insurance Fund for an initial three-year membership beginning July 1, 2026, authorizing the necessary indemnity and trust agreements and appointing Joseph P. Hurley Jr. as the district's Fund Commissioner. The membership resolution lists coverages to be provided and the district's membership obligations under the Fund's bylaws.

Separately, the board approved contracts with Brown and Brown Benefits Public Employer's Trust for dental, prescription and health coverage beginning July 1, 2026. The packet provided premium rates for multiple plan types (Direct Access, POS and EHP) showing increases from 2025-26 levels; the budget notes the added health-cost adjustment of $110,607.

On policy and calendar items the board voted to abolish Policy 3362 and related regulations (sexual harassment policy/regulations as listed in the packet) and approved the 2026-2027 school calendar and CASE committee field trips.

Personnel actions approved included sidebar agreement #3 to the collective bargaining agreement with the Wallkill Valley Education Association (term July 1, 2024'June 30, 2028), appointments of volunteer flag football coaches (stipend to be split between Alex Thompson and Jeffery Giordano), and acceptance with regret of the resignation of history teacher Reily Cavanaugh effective on or before May 28, 2026.

Following candidate interviews, the board unanimously appointed Christina Marks to fill the vacant board seat through Jan. 4, 2027. The roll call for that appointment was recorded in the minutes; one member, Virginia Jones, was absent for the meeting.

The board met twice in executive session during the evening: an earlier executive session on pending litigation and a later session focused on personnel. The meeting returned to open session and adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

The board packet and meeting minutes list the motion texts, contract amounts and rate tables approved; meeting materials are on file with the Board Secretary.