Riverside Township Board approves tuition contracts, maintenance plan, staffing changes and schedules mobile vaccination clinic

The Riverside Township Board of Education on Oct. 10 approved a slate of routine but consequential items for the 2024–25 school year, including multiple tuition contracts for homeless and foster-care students, a three-year Comprehensive Maintenance Plan required by the New Jersey Department of Education, personnel actions and a mobile vaccination clinic scheduled for Oct. 18.

The board met in the elementary cafeteria and carried every motion unanimously (roll-call ayes listed repeatedly as D. Graf, S. Parker, M. Pinho, S. Pinho, J. Sierra, B. Winering, R. Wrice and S. Wrice). Superintendent Michael Adams provided a brief overview of teacher coaching underway in the district and, with Mrs. Ruff, described a partnership with Resources for Independent Living.

Student Council Representative Emily Valverde reported that homecoming preparations are underway, saying the theme is “Sitcoms,” with floats and activities planned and a dance scheduled for the evening.

Votes at a glance - Tuition contracts: The board approved multiple interdistrict tuition contracts for the 2024–25 school year for homeless and foster-care students with neighboring districts. Examples recorded in the meeting record include Burlington Township ($18,852 for one middle-school student), Wayne ($16,448 elementary; $18,181 high school), Mount Holly, Pennsauken, Edgewater Park and Delanco (Delanco’s high-school rate listed as $17,000 plus resource-room charges; multiply disabled rate $37,728). Each tuition motion carried unanimously. - Out-of-district placement: The board approved an out-of-district placement for student ID# 260075 at Hampton Academy with an annual tuition of $71,654.40; another placement (ID# 310214 to Cinnaminson) was recorded as TBD. Motion carried unanimously. - Comprehensive Maintenance Plan: The board authorized submission of the district’s required three-year Comprehensive Maintenance Plan to the New Jersey Department of Education; motion carried unanimously. - COVID-19 Safety Coordinator: Robert O’Brien was appointed COVID-19 Safety Coordinator for 2024–25; motion carried unanimously. - Personnel and staffing: The board approved staff-development activities, rescinded several previously approved extracurricular contracts where employees changed positions, approved new hires (ambulatory aides, monitors, part-time aides) pending required background reviews when noted, approved coaching rosters for fall and spring seasons and a salary adjustment for Gregory Goss (HS chemistry teacher) from $79,039 to $81,039 retroactive to Sept. 12. All personnel motions carried unanimously. - Tutoring program: The board approved a list of potential High-Impact Tutors at $53.46 per hour using High-Impact Grant funds, with a 60-hour cap per hired tutor; motion carried unanimously. - Programs and health: The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Riverside High School and Rowan College at Burlington County for the College Accelerated Program (C.A.P.) and approved a mobile vaccination clinic to be held Oct. 18, 5–7 p.m. in the MS/HS cafeteria to offer mandated vaccinations for sixth-grade students; both motions carried unanimously. - Calendar and discipline policy revisions: The board adopted a calendar revision (Dec. 20 changed to an early dismissal for students) and approved revised Codes of Conduct for elementary, middle and high schools to include additional restorative practices; motions carried unanimously. - Policy housekeeping and facility use: The board approved first readings of policies and suspended Bylaw 0131 to adopt revised policies and regulations in one reading, and approved abolishment of a list of policies and several regulations as attached to the agenda. The board also approved facility-use requests for the 2024–25 year; motions carried unanimously.

Financial and safety items approved included acceptance of financial reports (Board Secretary, Treasurer, cafeteria and activity accounts) and authorization of payment of Oct. 10 bills; approval of budget transfers consistent with Department of Education rules; and acceptance of September fire- and security-drill reports submitted by the Fire Marshal and the School Safety Specialist.

The board acknowledged visitors Jim Caparelli and Bob McFadden, who provided additional information about insurance claims and property damage from the Aug. 16 flooding; Board Secretary Robert O’Brien responded. The meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.

Sources and quotes are drawn from the meeting record and roll-call votes included on the agenda. For items where contract or tuition details were listed in the board documents and are summarized above, the meeting record provides the per-pupil amounts cited; where the record listed “TBD,” the article notes that status rather than implying a finalized figure.