Franklin Lakes Board unanimously approves consent agenda covering budgets, payroll, policies and personnel

The Franklin Lakes Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday, Oct. 14, to approve a consent agenda of district business that included financial reports, payroll, personnel actions and revisions to multiple district policies.

The board approved Resolution Nos. 1960–1992 in a single motion moved by Robert Spiotti and seconded by Ryan Richman; the roll call recorded seven yes votes, zero no votes and zero abstentions. Items in the consent agenda included approval of minutes from Sept. 30, 2025; Board Secretary and Treasurer reports for September 2025; budget status certification under N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-16.10; and multiple policy second readings and abolishments.

Key financial approvals included the October 2025 bills list totaling $1,167,263.11 and the September 2025 check register totaling $5,546,405.77. The board also approved the actual payroll for September 2025 in the amount of $2,011,674.37 and an estimated payroll for October 2025 of $2,100,000.00.

On student supports, the board retroactively approved two one-to-one aides for out-of-district placements for the 2025–2026 school year: Student ID 4019 at BCSS Bleshman School and Student ID 4378 at BCSS Bleshman School, each with a listed 1:1 aide cost of $54,063.00. The board approved a parental transportation reimbursement contract for student #2236 to attend Windsor Bergen Academy in Ridgewood, N.J., estimated at $5,000 for the school year.

The board accepted modest donations: $100 from Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. to High Mountain Road School for STEM items and a bike rack donated by Meghan Holl to Woodside Avenue School valued at $1,100.00.

Operational items approved included authorization for the Superintendent to process invoices and payments between meetings, approval of line-item transfers for September, authorization of field trips listed on the attached document, and acceptance of the school bus emergency evacuation drill reports for multiple schools with dates and bus numbers recorded in the minutes.

Personnel actions approved by consent included horizontal movement for teachers who completed graduate work (effective Sept. 1, 2025), stipends for paraeducators to support morning band sessions, and additional pay for staff attending School Improvement Plan (ScIP) meetings outside the school day at the contractual hourly rate.

The board also advanced a slate of district policy items on second reading (or new/abolishment actions) including Policy 0173 (Duties of Public School Accountant), 0174 (Legal Services), 0177 (Professional Services), 1570 (Internal Controls), 1620 (Administrative Employment Contracts), 6111 (Special Education Medicaid Initiative), 6220 (Budget Preparation), 0143 (Board Member Election and Appointment), 1636.01 (Notification of Promotion/New Job/Transfer Opportunities), 2422 (Statutory Curricular Requirements), 5339.01 (Student Sun Protection), 9163 (Spectator Code of Conduct for Athletic Events) and the abolishment of Policy 1648.15 (Recordkeeping for Healthcare Settings in School Buildings—COVID-19). Where the minutes listed attachments or schedules, the board approved those documents as referenced.

During the public comment period the minutes record remarks from the Woodside Avenue School PTA vice president and from an individual identified as Mr. Maceri; the minutes do not include verbatim text of those comments. Separately, Mr. Maceri reported one in‑school suspension served at Franklin Avenue Middle School.

Board members used the BOE comment period to highlight upcoming events: the next board meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. with an NJSLA presentation and an Assistant Principal meet-and-greet is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2025, at FAMS. Board member Scott Loia also reminded the public that Election Day is Nov. 4 and that schools will be closed that day; Loia said, "Election Day is November 4th (School Closed)."

The board approved a resolution to recess into a private work session to discuss personnel and legal matters; the minutes state the public will be informed of private-session topics at a later, undetermined date. The meeting was then adjourned; minutes were respectfully submitted by Dina Messery, Business Administrator/Board Secretary.

The minutes record approvals, dollar amounts and named personnel as entered in the official resolution language or attached schedules; where the minutes reference attachments or schedules but do not print them verbatim, the article notes them as "referenced in the minutes."