Rochelle Park Board approves HVAC local share, vendor contracts and personnel hires; tables $809,004.21 in payments

The Rochelle Park Board of Education at its Nov. 18, 2025 regular meeting approved a $37,236 transfer from the district’s Capital Reserve to cover the local share of an HVAC upgrade at Midland School, authorized several vendor and service contracts, and approved three staffing appointments, while postponing a vote on the list of payments and mandatory expenditures totaling $809,004.21.

The board’s action on the capital transfer (Project #4470-050-23-R50) was included in the consent finance package that carried by roll call vote during routine business. The transfer was described as necessary "in order to satisfy additional funding for the Local Share for Grant Agreement Project #4470-050-23-G5RH; DOE Project #4470-050-23-R50, for HVAC Systems upgrades at Midland School #1" and was approved as part of the F6–F14 motion that passed 5–0.

Board members also approved vendor status and purchases related to special services: Sonova USA, Inc. was added as an approved vendor and the board approved a purchase of hearing aids and related accessories for $2,740.31; the board approved Tobii Dynavox as an approved vendor and the purchase of Boardmaker for $99. The board further authorized additional audiological services for a specific student’s CST case not to exceed $12,000, and approved a home instruction contract for physical and occupational therapy services through South Bergen Jointure for CST #2410 through June 24, 2026.

While many finance items were approved as part of the F6–F14 consent motion, the board tabled items F1–F5 earlier in the meeting. Those tabled items included the Secretary & Treasurer’s reports for September and the motion to approve payment of bills identified as F2 (the warrant and mandatory payments) in the amount of $809,004.21 (General Fund $755,550.42; Grants $17,267.60; Foodservice $34,299.71; CARES $1,886.48). Payroll for October 2025 was listed in the record as $679,854.66 (Fund 11: $671,704.14; Fund 61: $8,150.52). The transcript records that F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 were tabled.

On curriculum oversight, the board acknowledged results from the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum (NJQSAC) interim placement (September 2025). The report showed Instruction and Program at 77%, below the 80% threshold; fiscal management, governance, operations and personnel scored between 98% and 100%. Because Instruction and Program did not meet the minimum 80% requirement, the previously board-approved District Improvement Plan (DIP) remains in effect for Instruction and Program indicators 1–7.

District administrators used the presentations portion of the meeting for operational updates. Superintendent Dr. Sue DeNobile thanked staff for handling statewide NJSLA field-testing issues and reminded families that "the day before Thanksgiving is a ½ day, Thanksgiving and the day after school is closed." Director of Curriculum Cara Hurd outlined upcoming in-house professional development (January–February) and Principal Dr. Courtney Carmichael highlighted school events and testing schedules, including upcoming CogAT assessment administration and holiday PTO activities.

Personnel appointments approved at the meeting included Samantha Guintu (paraprofessional, not to exceed 27.5 hours per week, start 11/17/2025), Seul Woo Lee (substitute teacher and paraprofessional, start 11/19/2025) and Vineeta Rao Kommukuri (substitute paraprofessional, start 11/1/2025). The personnel motion passed 5–0.

The board recorded no public comments during the public-comment periods. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 PM; the board announced its next regular meeting on Dec. 16, 2025 at 7:30 PM in the gymnasium (Executive Session at 6:00 PM).

Votes at a glance: R1–R5 (minutes, attendance, drills, HIB, safety assurance) — approved (roll call 5–0); A1 (LIEP Plan 2024–2027) — approved (5–0); C1–C4 (field trips, PD, QSAC acknowledgement, basketball schedule) — approved (5–0); F1–F5 (Secretary/Treasurer reports and payment of bills) — tabled; F6–F14 (home instruction, therapy, audiology, vendor approvals, capital reserve transfer, facility use) — approved (5–0); P1 (personnel appointments) — approved (5–0).