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Ho-Ho-Kus Board approves custodial hires, leave replacement, pilot program, small grant and routine finance items
Summary
At the Nov. 18 meeting the board approved the resignation and replacement of a night custodian, a leave replacement under NJ Statute 18A:16'—1.1, an AtlasMath pilot at no cost, acceptance of a $2,580 FOCUS grant, routine bills and payroll ratifications, and multiple facility use requests; all actions were approved by voice vote.
The Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education on Nov. 18, 2025 approved a series of routine personnel, finance and program actions, including the resignation and appointment of night custodial staff, a leave replacement hire, a curriculum pilot, a small state grant and multiple bills and payroll ratifications.
Personnel actions approved included the resignation of night custodian Brian Deane effective Nov. 21, 2025 and the appointment of Peter Kelly as night custodian from Dec. 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 at Step 1 salary $45,403 (prorated to $26,485 for the appointment period). The board also approved the appointment of Federico Velazquez as a leave replacement for employee #404 pursuant to New Jersey Statute 18A:16-1.1 from Dec. 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026 at an annual salary of $70,000. A leave of absence for Employee #541 was approved to use 20 sick days with FMLA concurrently from Jan. 5, 2026 to Feb. 27, 2026 and NJFLA from March 2, 2026 to May 29, 2026, with a return date of June 1, 2026.
On curriculum and program items, the board approved a pilot of AtlasMath professional development for teachers in grades 2 through 5 from Nov. 20, 2025 to Feb. 20, 2026 at no cost to the district. The board also accepted $2,580 in FOCUS grant funding awarded by the New Jersey Department of Education (Cohort 2) to purchase a universal literacy screener for FY26.
Finance votes included approval of an additional October 2025 bills list (Fund 20: $4,920.00) and the November 2025 bills list (Fund 11: $825,558.71; November 2025 Health Benefits: $198,526.10; Fund 20: $27,753.46). The board approved budget transfers for October 2025 and accepted the October 2025 Board Secretary and Treasurer reports as being in agreement. Payroll ratifications for the periods listed were approved: $382,502.71 (10/30/25) and $390,855.73 (11/15/25).
The board also approved a Special Education related service contract with the Cresskill Board of Education for $1,200; a joint transportation agreement with the Waldwick Board of Education effective Dec. 1, 2025 pending county approval; and multiple buildings-and-grounds facility use requests (including Girl Scout Troop #9880 meetings, an HSA Holiday Fair, a Class of 2026 poinsettia/wreath sale and recurring basketball practices).
Votes on these agenda items were recorded as "all in favor" during the public meeting. Where an item referenced statute or an external approval (for example, the leave replacement pursuant to NJ Statute 18A:16-1.1 and the Waldwick transportation agreement pending county approval), the board noted those dependencies during the motion. No roll-call vote tallies were listed in the published agenda; recorded outcomes in the minutes are indicated as affirmative voice votes.
Next steps: appointments and contract start dates as approved (custodial appointment Dec. 1, 2025; joint transportation pending county approval; grant funds to be used for FY26 screening purchase).
