Franklin Lakes Board approves broad consent agenda; separate HIB affirmation fails 2–5

The Franklin Lakes Board of Education on Nov. 19, 2024, at Franklin Avenue Middle School approved a broad consent agenda that included minutes, financial reports, service agreements and personnel items, while rejecting a separate resolution to affirm a non‑HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) investigation finding.

Board members voted 7–0 to approve the consent agenda covering Resolutions 1418–1423 and 1425–1457, the board secretary reported. The consent items included approval of the Board Secretary and Treasurer reports and a monthly budget certification covering October 2024; the board also approved the district’s QSAC health and safety evaluation and the annual school safety and security plan statement of assurance.

The consent agenda contained multiple contract and personnel actions: a bills list for November 2024 totaling $1,273,369.20 (with voided checks totaling $65,696.72) was approved; service agreements approved included a shared services agreement with the Borough of Franklin Lakes for vehicle and equipment lending (Nov. 2024–Dec. 31, 2025), a contract with Beyond the Spectrum for behavioral services evaluations, St. Joseph’s Medical Group PC for comprehensive special‑education evaluations at $650 per evaluation, and several therapy and home‑instruction arrangements for students with special needs. Payroll approvals included actual October payroll of $2,228,580.58 and estimated payroll for November of $2,200,000.00.

The board approved personnel and compensation items on the consent list, such as stipends and additional pay for staff who attended BLS/CPR training. The board also approved the appointment of Riley Layne as a non‑tenurable leave replacement elementary teacher at High Mountain Road School at a prorated annual salary of $57,632, effective on or about Jan. 20, 2025, and approved Isabella Hannah, a student clinical occupational therapy intern from NYU, to begin Jan. 6, 2025.

A separate, roll‑call vote on Resolution 1424—an affirmation of a superintendent’s finding of no HIB offense in Investigation No. 270920—failed on the floor, 2–5. The motion to approve that single resolution was moved by Board member Scott Loia and seconded by Board member Elisa Billis; the transcript records the final tally but does not include further deliberation or explanation of the board’s rationale in that vote.

During the superintendent’s report, board members discussed the district’s strategic goals for 2024–25 focusing on academic excellence, staff professional learning and community‑school partnerships. Board member Elisa Billis raised parent feedback about conferences at Franklin Avenue Middle School and questioned whether the first listed goal overly emphasized staff professional learning rather than direct student‑level outcomes; Superintendent Mr. Maceri responded that the goal language encompasses academic achievement, professional learning communities and the use of assessment data to ensure grade‑level rigor.

Public comment was waived for the meeting because no members of the public were in attendance. The board approved volunteer weekend time for construction of a Gaga Pit at Franklin Avenue Middle School at no cost to the district, funded by a FLEF grant; exact dates were to be determined.

The board recessed into a private work session to discuss personnel and legal matters under the Open Public Meetings Act and adjourned at approximately 8:56 p.m. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m.; its reorganization meeting is scheduled for Jan. 7, 2025.