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Board approves architect contract, grants and personnel amid debate over third‑party fundraisers
Summary
The Mountain Lakes board approved a package of business and personnel motions including architect services for security vestibules, Title II grant final amounts, and several fundraisers; members expressed strong concerns about third‑party vendors (Leading Edge) that take substantial percentages and may pressure families.
The Mountain Lakes Board of Education voted on Jan. 12 to approve a set of business and personnel motions that included presentment of bills, contracts for architect services related to planned security vestibules, acceptance of final Title II grant amounts, and a set of fundraisers and facility‑use requests. The motions were heard together and recorded by roll call.
During presentation of the business packet the superintendent described architect services needed to design security vestibules for the next budget cycle and noted the district would contract the architect this year to move planning forward. The board also reviewed two fundraisers for high school activities, including a Leading Edge online fundraiser that several trustees said raised timing, transparency and privacy concerns.
"I just want to make sure everybody understands… the fact that we're getting it for this price is insanely good," one trustee said in support of the vestibules. Other trustees pushed back sharply on online third‑party fundraisers, citing parental privacy and the portion retained by vendors. One board member characterized some vendor cut rates as "somewhere in the area between 15–20%," a figure others called high for small team needs and potentially coercive for families asked to provide contact information.
After extended debate about policy and timing — with several trustees urging a policy committee review before expanding the practice — the board held a roll call that recorded unanimous support for the motions as presented. The roll call as read in the public minutes recorded the following votes: Mr. Chang — yes; Mrs. Forman — yes; Dr. Hirschfeld — yes; Mr. Johnson — yes (on high school items); Mrs. Kulkarni — yes; Dr. Sheff — yes; Dr. Silva McIntyre — yes; Mrs. Barkhausen — yes. The motions passed.
The superintendent also updated the board on the BA/VA search and said the district had a pool of about 13 candidates and expected a recommendation (interim or full‑time) by the end of the month.
Next steps: the administration will carry out approved contracts and scheduled items; trustees asked the policy committee to revisit fundraising guidelines and the co‑curricular committee to consider athletics‑specific fundraising practices.
