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Franklin Borough Board of Education approves hires and bank change, OKs 8th‑grade NYC trip and enters closed session on HIB
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting the Franklin Borough Board of Education approved personnel actions and substitute appointments, selected TD Bank as the district depository, approved an 8th‑grade trip to New York City (partially funded by the Franklin Education Foundation), accepted grant funds, and entered closed session to discuss HIB 24‑25‑01 and personnel.
The Franklin Borough Board of Education on Nov. 18 approved a slate of personnel and financial items, set its organization meeting date and entered a closed session to discuss an HIB matter and personnel.
Board Secretary Carlos Sarmiento told members the district received five additional purchase orders for student tuition and transportation totaling $102,644.12, bringing Fund 11 expenditures to $1,689,103.41; he also reported vendor payments the president signed totaled $2,134,356.88. Superintendent John R. Giacchi updated the board on school activities, including district safety drills and a clinical practicum placement for Brandie DiCarlo.
On personnel matters the board accepted the retirement notice of Elaine Tizzano, a health and physical education teacher, effective June 30, 2025, approved one unpaid day for Aurora Brown and authorized a $2-per-hour differential for paraprofessionals providing a higher level of care (applying to staff such as Jennifer Torres). The board also approved extra‑curricular appointments (including Laura Roberts as TREP$ Market Moderator), referee appointments at $65 per game, multiple substitute and long‑term substitute teacher and custodian appointments, and an amendment for additional compensation to a long‑term substitute who worked Oct. 25, 2024. Several personnel appointments were noted as contingent on required paperwork or other conditions when stated in the agenda.
The education committee’s agenda items were approved, including submission of the Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) and the 2025–26 three‑year preschool program plan and annual update to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Homeroom portal, a preschool projected enrollment report, and authorization of a psychological evaluation with Dr. Suckno on Nov. 20, 2024 for $1,000. The board also approved a revision to an out‑of‑district contract for a student attending Northern Hills Academy to add two weekly speech‑therapy sessions at an additional annual cost of $4,320.
The board approved an 8th‑grade field trip to New York City on May 28, 2025, with ticketing and transportation costs listed at $8,344.50 for the Gershwin Theatre plus $1,538.32 for Madame Tussauds and a Dallas BBQ meal cost not to exceed $2,100; the Franklin Education Foundation will defray some of those costs through donations. The board approved the first reading of regulation R2340 (Field Trips).
On finance and facilities actions, members approved vendor payments and accepted the Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports certifying no major account over‑expenditures as of September 2024. The board selected TD Bank as the district’s financial institution of record (regular checking interest rate listed at 4.00%), citing TD Bank’s response to the district’s banking services RFP as best meeting the district’s needs; Provident Bank and First Hope Bank were noted with lower interest rates in the agenda. The board accepted an ESEA Title I carryover of $32,533 and additional High Impact Tutoring grant funds of $6,175. It approved disposal/donation of obsolete or damaged instruments and library materials, amended the 2025 organization meeting to Jan. 2, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., approved the Three‑Year Comprehensive Maintenance Plan for 2024–25 for submission to the county superintendent, and authorized final payment application #6 to D&E Window and Door for $91,953.04 for the Window Project.
During the visitors portion, resident Angela Patterson drew the board’s attention to an incident that occurred Oct. 21, 2024; the board acknowledged her comment. The board then entered executive session at 7:46 p.m. to discuss matters rendered confidential by law, specifically HIB 24‑25‑01, and personnel. The board returned to public session at 8:28 p.m. and adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Votes at a glance: the Oct. 14 minutes passed (6–0, Mrs. Perna abstained). Multiple personnel, education and finance resolutions were approved by roll call votes as listed on the agenda; where the minutes record it, votes were unanimous. No public action or final decision was recorded in open session regarding the HIB matter discussed in closed session.
