Rumson-Fair Haven board approves personnel moves, vendor contracts and policy second readings, then enters executive session

The Rumson‑Fair Haven Regional High School Board of Education voted March 5 to approve a package of routine minutes, personnel actions, vendor contracts and policy second readings before moving into executive session to discuss student matters and attorney/client privileged matters.

Board President Mrs. McGinty called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. in the school's Learning Commons. Superintendent Darren Groh and Business Administrator Sean Cranston were present; Cranston noted that the budget presentation would address Special Services and Personnel.

On the meeting's action agenda, the board unanimously approved the February 20, 2024 regular meeting minutes on a motion by Mrs. Whitehouse, seconded by Mrs. Kiley.

Personnel approvals included appointment of Stephanie Pennetti as the 2024 RFH Summer Academy Director at a $6,000 stipend; an unpaid leave of absence under the New Jersey Family Leave Act for an employee running from March 18 to June 14, 2024; retroactive sixth‑period assignments for several teachers with prorated stipends; and allocations for spring curriculum writing. The personnel package (Items 1–4) passed by unanimous roll-call vote after a motion from Mrs. Kiley and second from Mrs. McCabe.

The board also approved several finance items and contract awards. The board awarded a Built‑In Gutter Restoration and Slate Repair contract to Weatherproofing Technologies Inc. (Tremco) for $62,684.71 through the ESCNJ cooperative purchasing arrangement; approved a Core BTS contract for $122,129.05 to begin districtwide Wi‑Fi upgrades under the NASPO ValuePoint/Cisco agreement; and approved a $32,500 contract with Cifelli & Son General Construction Inc. to repoint brick and replace a loading dock through the Ed‑Data cooperative. The board designated certain listed equipment as surplus under N.J.S.A. 18A:18A‑45. Finance items (5–8) were approved on a motion by Mrs. Whitehouse, seconded by Mr. Page, by unanimous roll-call vote.

Education items approved included field trip requests (for example, a March 21 trip to Brookdale Community College and a June 13 pre‑graduation social at the Surfrider Beach Club), fundraising activities (including a Tower Players drive to benefit Lunch Break), and arrangements for home instruction with stated providers, hours and rates. Those items (9–11) passed unanimously on a motion by Mrs. Kiley and a second from Mr. Grant.

The board approved the second reading of several policies and regulations, notably Policy 2416.01 on postnatal accommodations for students; Policy 2460 and related regulations on special education (including identification and referral, in‑service training, instructional material for blind or print‑disabled students, and related provisions); Reg 5330.04 on administering an opioid antidote; Reg 5612 and Reg 5613 relating to assaults and removal for weapons offenses; and Reg 7425 on lead testing of water in schools. Policy Item 12 was approved unanimously on a motion by Mrs. Whitehouse and a second by Mrs. Kiley.

An addendum of personnel items (13–18) was approved later in the meeting on a motion by Mrs. Thompson, seconded by Mrs. McCabe. Those items included placing Employee #5456 on paid administrative leave effective Feb. 19–March 28, 2024, and accepting that employee's resignation effective March 29, 2024; several changes of employment and long‑term leave replacements (including Emily Boland as a social studies long‑term leave replacement, $61,795 prorated, April 12–June 30, 2024); additional sixth‑period stipends; and extracurricular coaching and advisor appointments (for example, Randy Kalman as flag football head coach).

After completing public‑session business, on a motion by Mrs. Whitehouse, seconded by Mr. Grant, the board moved into executive session at 7:25 p.m. to discuss student matters and attorney/client privileged matters as permitted by the Open Public Meetings Act. The board reconvened to open session at 7:49 p.m., and then adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

The official minutes were signed and submitted by Sean S. Cranston, Business Administrator/Board Secretary.