Hainesport board approves 2025–26 QSAC improvement plan, federal grant submissions and multiple vendor contracts

The Hainesport Township Board of Education voted Aug. 19 to approve the district's 2025—6 District Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) District Improvement Plan and to authorize federal grant applications and a slate of contracts and personnel actions for the coming school year.

The board approved the QSAC District Improvement Plan as an addendum motion (A-1) "upon the recommendation of the Superintendent," entitling district officials to proceed with state-required improvement steps under N.J.A.C. 6A:30-5.4. The action followed presentation of QSAC results for 2023–24 included in the meeting packet.

The board also authorized the district to submit its IDEA grant application for $146,090 (Basic) and $9,446 (Preschool), and to submit the ESEA grant application for $88,244 for 2025—6, items the agenda identified for Finance committee approval. Those totals reflect the amounts recorded in the meeting materials and were listed explicitly during the Finance/Facilities/Technology section.

On purchasing and services, members approved contracts to provide special-education and support services: Let's Talk Speech, PC (speech therapy); ESS Northeast, LLC (substitute staffing); H.A. Wolfinger & Associates LLC (educational audiology); Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. (substitute nurses); Therapy Coaches in Motion (PT/OT/SLP services); and a contract with Asbury Park Board of Education to provide a budgetary accounting and payroll/personnel system. The Finance agenda also included authorization of the district's bid and quote thresholds pursuant to Qualified Purchasing Agent limits for the 2025—6 school year.

The board approved a contract with Tri Shield Security and Protection "to provide a licensed and trained armed security officer," as listed on the agenda, and ratified the Business Administrator Jake Bryson as district signatory on multiple bank accounts. The meeting packet and motions cite the Business Administrator's financial certifications pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-16.10.

Human Resources actions approved a range of hiring and personnel items: substitute custodians; paraprofessionals and new hires (examples listed in the agenda: Cheryl Daly, Shelby Santos, Mackenzie Tansey); ratified lateral salary guide movements; several resignations; and numerous extra-curricular appointments for 2025—6. Student Services actions approved the creation of a scrapbooking club and several out-of-district placements; the packet lists ESY placements with tuition entries shown at $4,588 and a Teacher Assistant line item at $6,614 for one placement.

The board also adopted required operational plans for 2025—6, including the Crisis Management Plan, School Safety and Security Plan, Indoor Air Quality Plan, and related procedures, and approved regular use-of-facilities requests for PTO events contingent on proof of insurance.

During the public comment period, Karen Tordy, a community member, thanked administrators, the PTO and board for their work and urged collaboration on installing a fence around the school playground. "Thanked Hainesport Administrators, PTO, and Board of Education for their hard work, and discussed collaborating on the building of a fence surrounding the school playground," the transcript reports.

The board left paid lunch and breakfast prices unchanged for 2025—6: paid lunch at $3.25 and paid breakfast at $2.25. The meeting concluded with the recording of recent drills and the adjournment of the public session at about 7:47 p.m.

What happens next: With QSAC DIP approval and grant authorizations in place, district staff may submit the IDEA and ESEA applications and execute the approved contracts; implementation and any required follow-up reports will be handled by district administration per the board's motions.