Franklin Lakes board approves $1.8 million budget increase, adopts consent agenda

The Franklin Lakes Board of Education on Dec. 10 approved a $1,800,000 increase to the district’s 2024–25 budget and adopted a consent agenda containing resolutions 1457–1482.

The budget increase (Resolution 1461) was approved as part of the consent motion moved by Mr. Scott Loia and seconded by Ms. Kathryn D’Agostino; the roll-call vote was 8–0 in favor (Yes: Elisa Billis, Lisa Cardella, Kathryn D’Agostino, SeWhan Kim, Carolina Severino, Robert Spiotti, Scott Loia, Ari Donio). The Business Administrator, Dina Messery, presented the budget during the public work session earlier in the meeting.

The board resolution says the $1.8 million increase is intended to cover additional health care costs, salaries and special-education expenses. The funding sources listed in the resolution are: $950,043 from 2023–24 excess extraordinary aid revenue; $49,539 in 2023–24 nonpublic transportation reimbursements; $75,160 in unrealized deferred revenue from 2023–24; a $312,233 emergency reserve withdrawal; and $413,025 from the unassigned fund balance, totaling $1,800,000.

Votes at a glance

• Resolution 1461 — Budget increase for FY2024–2025: approved (part of consent agenda). Funding sources and amounts were specified in the resolution.

• Resolution 1458 — Revision to 2024–25 district calendar: approved. The resolution shifts delayed-opening reporting times (elementary: 10:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m.; middle: 10:05 a.m.–2:50 p.m.; Bright Horizons PreK: 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.).

• Resolutions 1462–1464 — Finance items: approved. Bills lists for the first half of December 2024 totaling $398,702.31 and payroll approvals for November (actual $2,167,881.58) and estimated December payroll ($2,200,000) were adopted.

• Personnel and service resolutions (1471–1482): approved. Actions included conference attendance, stipends for technology support at meetings, student-teacher placements, leaves of absence (including a maternity leave for Desarae Tanti), a long-term substitute appointment for Rachelle Filippone (March 3–June 30, 2025), a transfer of a paraeducator, the acceptance of a resignation (Spanish teacher Diana Hannah, last contractual date Jan. 24, 2025), and the acceptance of a retirement request (paraeducator Virginia Zackrone, last contractual date June 30, 2025).

The consent agenda also included approvals for student evaluations and vendor agreements for student services. Notable service approvals included a psychiatric evaluation for student #3364 at $850 and a service agreement with CarePlus New Jersey for school clearance assessments at $350 per assessment, with two such assessments paid at $700 total.

Board members used the public comments section to report committee activity and community engagement: the Finance, Facilities and Operations committee discussed the budget and a window project; the Curriculum & Instruction committee previewed draft NJSLA data and a 2025–26 professional development plan; and the Special Education committee reported on referral volume and paraprofessional professional development (Director of Special Services Ms. Voorhees indicated chronic student absenteeism appeared low). Ms. Elisa Billis thanked Superintendent Maceri for holding a parent forum on the window project, which more than 90 community members attended.

Procedural notes: the Board opened the public comment period but recorded no public speakers and moved to waive public comment. The meeting recessed into private work session to discuss personnel and legal matters; a reorganization meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

The board packet and resolutions list the specific financial amounts, effective dates, service-provider names, and employee identifiers where applicable; those details are recorded in the board resolutions and minutes.