Lakewood board approves $14.7 million in warrants, adopts policies and clears extensive staffing and purchases

The Lakewood Board of Education met on Aug. 7, 2024 and voted to approve the district’s business and superintendent consent agendas, including a warrant list for $14,696,532.26 and a set of personnel and program authorizations for the 2024–25 school year. The motions to approve the business and superintendent agendas were moved by Heriberto Rodriguez and seconded by Shlomo Stern; the consent motions carried with the recorded ayes from Moshe Bender, Moshe Raitzik, Meir Grunhut, Chanina Nakdimen, Heriberto Rodriguez and Shlomo Stern. Kevin Campbell, the board secretary/ business administrator, presented the financial items and procedural notices.

The board certified that, as of June 30, 2024, no budget line items were over-expended and approved payroll and employer liabilities, health and dental benefit payments and the district bills lists. The meeting record lists the warrant amount as $14,696,532.26 and a cafeteria account bills list of $14,887.32. The business agenda also included detailed transportation line items and renewals for the district’s contractors.

The superintendent’s agenda carried multiple policy actions. The board approved second and final readings or adoptions of policies and regulations including Policy 0141 (Board Member Number and Term), Policy 2200 (Curriculum Content), Policy 3160/4160 (Physical Examination), Policy 5337 (Service Animals), Policy 5350 (Student Suicide Prevention), Policy 8420 (Emergency and Crisis Situations), Policy 8467 (Firearms and Weapons) and Regulation 5600 (Student Discipline/Code of Conduct), among others listed on the docket.

Administrators also obtained board approval for many operational purchases and cooperative contract awards listed on the agenda. Notable items include funding for abuse‑resistant ceiling tiles at Lakewood Middle School ($192,328.00), a Toro ride‑on mower ($16,624.21), three golf carts (not to exceed $12,000), lease renewals for mailing and folding/inserting equipment from Pitney Bowes and a Xerox copier lease. The agenda attached vendor quotes and contract references for these items.

The board approved extensive co‑curricular and after‑school staffing plans and stipends across district schools, with specific stipend schedules and attendance requirements for clubs, intramurals, morning duty and tutoring. The superintendent’s agenda included detailed rules for club operation (minimum enrollment, permitted days, attendance tracking) and stipend payment conditions.

In personnel actions the board approved resignations, transfers and a slate of new appointments for certified and non‑certified staff, including classroom teachers, nurses, social workers and coordinators. Several hires were expressly conditioned on completion of criminal‑history background checks and on submission of required new‑hire documentation. The board also approved multiple tuition and placement commitments for out‑of‑district special education placements (amounts and per‑diem rates appear on the agenda) and the district’s 2024–25 CCEIS plan with listed allocations for social‑emotional supports and consultants.

Kevin Campbell read the public notice required under the Open Public Meetings Act, stating that the district provided public notice at least 48 hours before the meeting by posting, emailing local media and filing the notice with the Board Secretary. "Notice of the date, time, location and agenda of this meeting, to the extent known, was provided at least forty‑eight (48) hours prior to the commencement of this meeting," the record states.

A single recorded dissent appears in the minutes related to a superintendent item: the minutes note that Mr. Raitzik voted "nay" on Superintendent Item #81 while voting aye on other items. The docket and supporting materials for the meeting are attached to the official minutes.

The meeting concluded with approval of the consent agenda and adjournment at 8:14 p.m. The board minutes were certified by Kevin Campbell, Business Administrator/Board Secretary.