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Medford Lakes board approves personnel, curriculum and contracts after parents raise special-education and safety concerns
Summary
At its Sept. 18 meeting the Medford Lakes School District board approved new hires, curriculum actions including NJQSAC results, several contracts and facilities uses; public commenters urged better IEP support and asked about a student safety incident and anonymous reporting.
Medford Lakes, N.J. — The Medford Lakes School District Board of Education on Sept. 18 approved a slate of routine personnel, curriculum and financial actions while hearing public concerns about special-education support and a student-safety incident.
Board President Kim Bezanis called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and the board approved prior minutes, monthly reports and several personnel items by voice vote. The personnel approvals included two part-time instructional classroom assistants (Amanda Smith and Laura Tucker at $15.34 per hour) and the hire of Julia Udell as a special-education teacher with a salary listed at $56,604; resignations for two part-time staff members were also recorded.
The superintendent, Dr. Anthony V. Dent, told the board the district will post its Threat Assessment Plan and process to the district website and noted the Nokomis car line work and upcoming NJSLA reports to parents. The board also approved standing medical orders for the district physician, the 2023–24 NJQSAC results (Instruction and Program 79%; Fiscal Management 88%; Governance 100%; Operations 88%; Personnel 100%) and the District Improvement Plan.
Business Administrator Nikolas Vrettos presented finance items and certifications required under New Jersey administrative code; the board approved payment of bills, various travel and professional-development reimbursements and several contracts, including a Master Collaborative Service Agreement with the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey covering July 1, 2025–June 30, 2030. The board approved two out-of-district student placements: placement at Tabernacle Township at $17,733.60 and a tuition/placement contract of $3,500 for another student. Some budget-transfer items were tabled for later consideration.
During public comment, parent Kelly Koch said fifth-grade students with individualized education programs have experienced inconsistent support and unmet needs. Parent Al Kirk reported an alleged threat between students in his son’s grade, questioned whether district policies and law enforcement had been followed, asked whether the budget could support a Class III school resource officer and recommended the district use the anonymous reporting tool Stop It. Superintendent Dent said the Threat Assessment Team is being expanded and that the district will pursue an “aggressive” approach to attendance issues, including parental involvement and potential court action when warranted.
The board approved additions to the Threat Assessment Team for 2024–25 and the list of district mentors for the school year. Facilities use requests for local Girl Scout troop meetings and MLEF monthly meetings were approved. The board adopted a resolution to go into executive session under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 citing concerns about individual privacy and reconvened and adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
The board voted consistently on routine items during the meeting; motions were typically made by board member Kevin Kerfoot and seconded by Dana Schultz or Emily Connerly, with recorded votes of five ayes for carried motions. The items tabled for a future agenda included several policy second-readings and certain budget-transfer items. The board secretary, Nikolas Vrettos, certified the executive-session resolution and the minutes were signed and submitted as filed.
