Green Township Board approves RFP to study send/receive relationship, moves several finance and personnel items

The Green Township Board of Education on Oct. 15 authorized a request for proposals to study whether to continue, alter or sever its send/receive relationship with the Newton School District, and approved a slate of finance, personnel and operations motions.

At the meeting, the board adopted a resolution directing the Business Administrator/Board Secretary to prepare and advertise an RFP for a feasibility study in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:38-13 and New Jersey Department of Education requirements. The study will analyze the district's current send/receive arrangements and alternatives, including the potential severance of the relationship; results are to be reported back to the board for consideration of next steps. The motion was made by Mrs. Ann Marie Cooke and seconded by Mrs. Marie Bilik.

In finance actions, the board approved a General Fund bills list totaling $1,392,736.59. The board accepted the Board Secretary's and Treasurer's monthly certifications for September and approved transfers and disbursements for student activities and petty cash, per standard procedure.

The board also approved multiple tuition contracts. A retroactive tuition contract for Student ID #2553 covering April 29–June 30, 2025 was approved with a reported total cost of $16,333.28; a new contract for the same student for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 shows a total projected cost of $93,511.00 (line items include tuition, a one-to-one paraprofessional, speech and occupational therapy). The board approved a contract for Student ID #2527 at a daily rate of $200 plus $160/day for extraordinary services (total estimated $32,400). These tuition contracts were described and approved by Board Finance Chair Mrs. Kristin Post.

Other approved finance and services items included:

• A school physician agreement with Dr. Joseph Casella at $6,000 for the 2025–26 school year to provide medical oversight and related duties; and

• An Agreement for Discretionary Police Services with the New Jersey State Police at $114.27 per hour for specified events where coverage is deemed necessary.

The board approved E-Z Wheels Driving School, Inc. to provide a CDL Class-C school bus course at $2,500 per person.

On personnel and operations, motions approved included rescinding and re-approving an ASL interpreter vendor with updated hourly rates, stipend appointments (athletic director and grade‑level advisors), acceptance of a resignation effective Oct. 17, 2025, multiple unpaid leave requests, and authorization of the Health and Safety Evaluation checklist for 2025–26. The board also approved an adult volleyball program to use school facilities on Friday nights through June 2026.

The meeting included a public hearing on rescinding the previous superintendent contract and adopting a new five‑year contract for Dr. Jennifer Cenatiempo covering July 1, 2025–June 30, 2030; the hearing drew no public comments and the motion to rescind and adopt was made by Mrs. Cooke and seconded by Dr. Melissa Vela. The board noted the contract had been reviewed by the county superintendent and legal counsel and that the vote was delayed until Board member Mrs. Alyssa Eisner arrived. (See meeting minutes for the formal roll-call record.)

The board moved into executive session at 9:34 p.m. to discuss confidential matters including personnel and anticipated litigation and reconvened at 10:26 p.m., then adjourned. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025.