Mantua Township Board approves budget calendar, curriculum and multiple staffing actions

The Mantua Township School District Board of Education on Nov. 11 approved a package of operations, education and human-resources measures, including the 2025–26 budget calendar, a new science and social studies curriculum for grades 4–6, multiple staffing actions and student‑teacher placements.

The board voted to adopt the minutes from the Oct. 7, 2024 meeting (motion by Mrs. Gregg, seconded by Mr. Wilkinson); the motion carried and Ms. Atkinson was recorded as abstaining. On a motion by Ms. Leach, seconded by Mrs. Pedersen, the board approved a bundled package of Operations & Finance items (items 1–13) that included the bill list, September line‑item transfers and certifications, submission of a Corrective Action Plan for Food and Nutrition addressing net cash resources that exceeded the three‑month average for the school year ending June 30, 2023, submission of the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for 2023–24 through 2025–26, the 2025–26 budget calendar, use of the NJSBA Cooperative Pricing System #E-8801‑NJSBA‑ACES‑CPS for cooperative purchasing, and a Transportation Jointure with Delsea Regional High School District for 2024–25.

The Education committee presented and the board approved a revised Parent Handbook for the 2024–25 school year, the district’s Nursing Services Plans for 2023–24 and the monthly HIB (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying) report. The board approved student‑teacher placements from Rowan University, including Erin Miller (placement under Judy Wallen at Sewell School for Jan. 21–May 1, 2025 and Sept. 2–Dec. 17, 2025) and other district placements listed in the packet. The board also approved multiple field trips, and Pre‑K enrollment projections submitted to the NJDOE.

The board approved a new Science and Social Studies curriculum for grades 4–6 as part of the education motion; after the motion was recorded as passed one board member, Ms. Atkinson, verbally registered a No specifically on item #6 (the curriculum item). The minutes record the motion as approved and separately note Ms. Atkinson’s No on that item.

Human Resources items approved included mentor assignments, leaves of absence with specified dates and pay provisions, staff appointments, and salary adjustments. The minutes list specific salary changes: Samuel Berardi’s paraprofessional step change effective Nov. 4, 2024, and Catherine Deacon’s change from part‑time to full‑time custodian effective Dec. 6, 2024. The HR motion to approve items 1–5 passed on roll call, 9 YES, 0 NO, 0 ABSTAIN. The personnel section also listed retirements and resignations recommended for approval, including the retirement of Steven Friedrich (maintenance worker, effective Feb. 1, 2025) and resignations with effective dates for Felicia Emig (10/14/2024), Shannie Vaughn (10/31/2024), Maritza Wright (11/1/2024) and Patricia Cox (12/5/2024).

During the public‑comment period Stephen Houpt, identified in the minutes as a resident, said this was his family’s first year in the district and praised staff, saying the “staff are amazing.”

The board entered executive session at 7:43 p.m. and reconvened at 8:50 p.m.; the minutes state that no action occurred in executive session. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. The board secretary noted the next regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 9, 2024.

What’s next: Implementation steps recorded in the packet include submission of required maintenance and preschool plan documents to NJDOE and follow‑through on HR appointments and leaves; where dates or dollar amounts were left unspecified in the minutes, the board packet should be consulted for full accounting.