Lopatcong board approves superintendent contract review, policy readings and consent agenda

The Lopatcong Township Board of Education on April 9, 2026 approved several formal actions at its workshop meeting, including forwarding the district superintendent renewal contract to the County Superintendent for review and adopting multiple personnel and policy items.

R-224-26 and R-225-26: By motion the board approved reconstructed open session minutes and, following an attorney review, resolved to send the superintendent renewal contract for the 2026–2030 period to the County Superintendent for review and approval. The motion was moved by Mrs. Bevin Nittel and seconded by Mr. Ernest Gallant; the board recorded the motion as passed on the roll call.

R-226-26: The board approved administrative leave for two employees with the dates listed in the resolution. The staffing update also listed projected 2026–27 hires (Rick Bonney and Dr. Krista Wayne were named in the staffing update). The administrative leave resolution was moved by Mrs. Judy Liptak and seconded by Mrs. Julia Jones-Jasper and recorded as passed by roll call.

R-227-26 and R-228-26: The board approved the first reading of P&R 4281 (Inappropriate Staff Conduct) and the second reading of P3351 (Healthy Workplace Environment) and P&R 3281 (Inappropriate Staff Conduct). The motion was moved by Mrs. Judy Liptak, seconded by Mrs. Bevin Nittel, and passed on roll call.

Consent agenda (R-229-26 through R-236-26): The board moved and approved a bundled consent agenda that included unpaid days, a Family Medical Leave Act absence, the volunteer list, an anonymous $500 donation to support student activities for families in need, approved field trips (including a middle school outing to Bell Pike Lanes), new hires (including substitute custodians), professional development approvals with associated fees and travel, and facility use requests for spring events. The consent motion was moved by Mrs. Julia Jones-Jasper and seconded by Mrs. Bevin Nittel; the roll call indicated the motion passed.

Procedural notes: Motions to go into executive session (to discuss personnel and pending/anticipated litigation) and to return to open session were shown on the agenda and were moved and seconded; the board entered executive session at 9:30 p.m. and returned at 10:14 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 10:14 p.m.

What happens next: The superintendent contract will proceed to the County Superintendent for review as noted in R-225-26. Many agenda items (software licensing approvals, facility timelines) were slated for future agendas or further committee work.

Sources: Meeting agenda and recorded motions and roll calls presented during the Lopatcong Township Board of Education workshop meeting on April 9, 2026.