Board accepts ESSA and IDEA grant amendments, signs special‑education placements and contract addendum

At the Nov. 14 meeting the New Providence Board approved several education items that affect federal funding and special‑education placements. The board accepted amendments to the district’s Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated Grant for FY2024/25 that add rollover funds: Title I ($33,277), Title IIA ($6,527), and Title III Immigrant ($1,551). The board also approved the amended IDEA‑B consolidated grant application for $550,584 for 7/1/24–6/30/25.

Under personnel/program approvals the board authorized a contract addendum for one‑to‑one services for student #11912 at the Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) of New Jersey at a rate of $28.69 per hour, effective Oct. 1. The board also authorized out‑of‑district placements with tuition amounts for Student #10824 at Hunterdon Preparatory School ($54,015.50), Student #12309 at The Shepard School ($47,345.40), and Student #13638 at First Children ($74,555.00).

Other education approvals included recommendations tied to Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) investigations under the Anti‑Bullying Bill of Rights Act and the addition of Universal Technical Institute (Bloomfield) as a field trip destination under N.J.A.C. 6A:23A‑5.8.

Why it matters: Grants and out‑of‑district placements affect programmatic capacity and the district’s special‑education budget. The IDEA‑B award of $550,584 is a significant federal funding line for special‑education services, and several out‑of‑district tuition amounts are material to individual student budgets and placements.

The motion to approve education items was moved by Mrs. Gunderman and seconded by Dr. Empson Hayden; the board voted unanimously in favor.