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Woodland Park Board approves budget transfers, personnel hires and tuition rates ahead of school year
Summary
At its Aug. 5 meeting the Woodland Park Board of Education approved June budget transfers and a $432,000.47 bill list, multiple personnel actions and hires, contracts for substitute and itinerant services, a $27,663 playground-removal contract and preliminary tuition rates for 2024'1; the board also approved several policy revisions and a remote learning plan.
The Woodland Park Board of Education on Aug. 5 approved a package of routine finance, personnel and facilities actions designed to set the district up for the 2024'1 school year.
Superintendent Michele Pillari said re-registration will be completed this week and described consequences for families who have not completed the process: "Students who were not re-registered will not have a placement for September and parents will not have access to the portal," Pillari said. Adam Weiss added that "those who refuse to register their child will be reported to the proper authorities." The board heard a separate business report from Interim School Business Administrator Vincent Occhino about summer finance activity and building-and-grounds projects.
Why it matters: The board approved line-item transfers to close out June accounts, accepted the June Secretary and Treasurer's reports, and approved a bills list totaling $432,000.47, items the administration said are necessary to reconcile year-end finances and prepare for fall operations. The transfers moved funds across salary, special-education, speech services, purchased professional services and supplies accounts and included ARP/ESSER adjustments.
Major decisions and votes
- Consent and finance: The consent agenda (items 225-30 through 225-36) passed on a motion by Mark Salemi, seconded by MaryAnn Perro (roll call 6'0). The board then approved the bills list for $432,000.47, as presented by finance committee chairperson MaryAnn Perro.
- Personnel: By motion of MaryAnn Perro and second of Kim Galbraith (roll call 6'0), the board approved routine personnel items including the resignation of Emma Bernardo; a medical leave for Sabreen Assaf under the FMLA through Nov. 24, with an extended unpaid leave requested through June 30, 2025; ratification of ESY substitute nurse Sadie Link; and multiple new hires effective Sept. 1, 2024 (elementary teachers Daniella Arias [BA, Step 1, $60,560], Luisa Caiazza [MA, Step 1, $67,010], Melinda Simpson [BA, Step 1, $60,560], and others). The board also approved part-time aides, ESY staff and several staff class changes and stipends.
- Contracts and services: The board approved a contract with NRESC for substitute teacher services ($14,220) and an itinerant-services agreement with Mountain Lakes Board of Education to provide in-district services billed at $180 per hour for a specific student (5 hours per week, $30,600 per year). The board approved multiple ESY transportation contracts and estimated route costs with named vendors.
- Facilities and tuition: The board approved a contract with In-And-Out Junk Removal for demolition and removal of a damaged jungle gym and related debris at the ECC at a cost of $27,663 (price includes backfilling and compaction). The board established preliminary tuition rates for 2024'1: Preschool $11,659; Grades 1'5 $14,911; Grades 6'8 $16,883; LLD $25,440.
- Policy and waivers: The board approved the first reading of a mandated early-childhood education/preschool policy (P2001) and approved revisions or abolishment of several policies and regulations as listed on the agenda. It also approved a toilet-room facilities waiver for early-intervention/Pre-K/K classrooms and authorized a waiver application to the New Jersey Department of Education for classroom-size approvals at the ECC and School 1.
Other actions and process notes
- The board reaffirmed the superintendent's decision in HIB Investigation #2024-89 and said the reasons were provided to the student's parents.
- Administrative notes approved included appointments of Affirmative Action officers for the district and schools and the district's 2024'1 Remote Learning Plan.
- The board went into executive session at 7:26 p.m. to discuss personnel/contract or litigation matters and returned to open session at 8:06 p.m.; it adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
What's next: Most approvals were routine and procedural; the administration noted additional finance items will be brought to future meetings as year-end reconciliation continues. No public commenters addressed the agenda items during the meeting.
