Hainesport Board of Education approves routine personnel, policy and finance items at Nov. 14 meeting

The Hainesport Township School District Board of Education on Nov. 14 approved an agenda addendum and a package of routine district business including personnel appointments, policy updates and finance reports.

Board President Jason Cardonick called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the board approved an addendum to the agenda on a motion from Kristin Jakubowski, seconded by Bianca Cuniglio. Superintendent Joseph R. Corn noted an upcoming HIB information session with Strauss Esmay on Nov. 21.

The board heard brief reports from the PTO (Ms. Bryner) about class parties, a fall book fair, a movie night and an upcoming winter-wonderland breakfast, and from Student Government representative Katelyn Haber about planned spirit activities including holiday lollipops and a Halloween dance. Superintendent Corn recognized Library Assistant Courtney Quinn for receiving an award to be presented at the New Jersey Association of School Librarians conference Dec. 4–5.

On committee business, the Student Services/Community Relations committee, chaired by Kristin Jakubowski, presented and the board approved a slate of policy and regulation revisions and adoptions covering transportation (P8600), sick leave (P1642.01), religion in schools (P2270), school threat assessment (P2419), examination-for-cause policies (P3161/P4161), attendance (P3212/P4212 and related regulations), student privacy (P3324/P4324) and nutrition and food-service policies (P8500, P8540, P8550). The superintendent’s recommended reports (including the Code of Conduct, enrollment and nurse’s report) were also approved and the board authorized the superintendent to hire staff to directly replace vacancies between meetings, contingent on criminal-history review and certification.

Human Resources Chair Jason Cardonick presented personnel items. The board ratified Angelique Wall as a one-to-one aide (up to 2.5 hours per day), approved professional-development registrations (examples: $150 for a K–2 BSI program; $625 for a behavior-management course; multiple $279 restorative-discipline sessions), approved leaves of absence including maternity/FMLA dates where noted, and approved the hiring of Karina McNulty as a preschool teacher pending fingerprint clearance. Extra-curricular coaching appointments and volunteer approvals were also recorded.

Finance/Facilities/Technology Chair Larry Brandolph presented financial reports for October (Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports, appropriation adjustments, monthly certification of funds and payment of bills). The board approved disposal of extra student desks, multiple field trips (examples include Grade 6 to the Penn Museum, Preschool to the NJ State Museum with costs listed on the agenda, a Six Flags safety trip at $41.99 per student, and SGA attendance at the College of New Jersey at $28 per student), use-of-facilities requests (contingent on insurance and availability), and ratified drills (fire drill on Nov. 7 and shelter-in-place on Nov. 13). The cafeteria report was tabled.

The board adopted Resolution 2023-24 #17 to submit the FY 2024–25 projected preschool enrollment. During the public comment period a resident (Beebe) noted plans for a 100-year Hainesport celebration. The board listed an executive-session option for matters exempt from the Open Public Meetings Act (N.J.S.A. 10:4-12(a)) and adjourned at approximately 7:29 p.m.

Votes recorded in the minutes were marked as approved or carried for the agenda addendum; minutes approval; superintendent and committee recommendations; HR items; finance and facility items; and Resolution 2023-24 #17. Where roll-call votes are summarized in the minutes the record marks members present and indicates motions carried; specific numeric tallies are not printed in the minutes provided.