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Henry Hudson board approves $1.48 million in bills, warns of steep health-insurance spike ahead of 2026-27 budget
Summary
The board approved October bills and routine consent items, received a business administrator's warning of a projected 34% increase in health benefit premiums that will complicate the 2026-27 budget, and affirmed HIB reports that were determined —unfounded.'
The Henry Hudson Regional PK-12 Board of Education on Oct. 15 approved Bills & Claims totaling $1,484,620.01 and advanced multiple consent-agenda items while being warned by the Business Administrator that health insurance premiums are projected to rise sharply next year.
Business Administrator and Board Secretary Janet Sherlock told the board the district is in the middle of the combined 2024-2025 audit, expected to be completed in January, and that the 2026-2027 budgeting process begins this month with a March completion deadline. Sherlock told the board the next budget will be "particularly difficult due to the large increases in healthcare," and the agenda materials record an estimated 34% increase in health benefit premiums.
On routine approvals, the board approved prior meeting minutes (motion by Mr. Wingerter; seconded by Ms. Knox) on a roll-call vote of 8-0. The board approved a consent agenda (moved by Ms. Knox; seconded by Ms. Wells) covering statistics, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) reports, curriculum and personnel items. The HIB report for September listed several cases (by state case number) and recorded determinations as "Unfounded." District enrollment for September was listed as 723 students (710 in-district plus 13 out-of-district).
The board approved a slate of field trips, extracurricular stipends and professional development requests. It also approved the submission of the 2025-2026 M-1 and the three-year comprehensive maintenance plan to the New Jersey Department of Education. The board approved ESEA Title I allocations that list specific personnel allocations and dollar amounts for Highlands Elementary, Atlantic Highlands Elementary and Henry Hudson Regional.
Roll-call exceptions: agenda notes record that Ms. Melnyk voted "No" on Business Administrator Consent item "F" (item F on the Business Administrator's Consent Agenda as listed in the meeting materials). Mr. Colangelo recorded an abstention on the gymnasium use approval for Recreation Basketball. The minutes do not show any other dissenting votes on the major consent items.
Financial details noted this month include:
- Bills & Claims (Oct. 2025): $1,484,620.01 - September interest/earnings: TD Bank $3,436.86; NJ Cash Management Fund $17,711.18 - District enrollment (Sept. 2025): Total 723 (Subtotal 710; Out of District 13) - Projected health benefit premium increase: 34% (reported by Business Administrator)
Next steps: the district will continue the audit and formally begin the 2026-2027 budget process; the board will receive audit results in January and the tentative budget prior to the March submission deadline.
