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Manasquan board accepts donation, approves contracts and vendor pay apps; tables H&S payment application
Summary
At a Dec. 17 meeting, the Manasquan Board of Education accepted a $28,138.32 donation for new theater curtains, approved several vendor payments and construction contracts totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, heard that enrollment is down about 29 students for 2025–26, and tabled an H&S payment application pending architect certification.
MANASQUAN, N.J. — The Manasquan Board of Education on Dec. 17 approved a series of routine financial and facilities actions, accepted a charitable donation, and heard an enrollment update that district officials said will affect 2025–26 budget planning.
Chair Alexis Pollock called the Combined Committee of the Whole and Regular Board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Manasquan High School Charles Raffetto Media Center. After roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, the board heard updates from student representatives and recognized students and teachers of the month.
Business Administrator/Board Secretary Peter Crawley certified that, as of Nov. 30, 2024, no line item is over-expended and recommended routine financial approvals. The board accepted the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports and approved bills for December (Current Expense $2,531,003.85) and confirmed November bills ($3,677,959.44). The board also requested district taxes of $2,933,526.00 to meet obligations over the next eight weeks.
Dr. Crawley told the board that projected enrollment from sending districts is down by “approximately 29 fewer students,” with all sending towns reporting declines except for Brielle. That shortfall will be a consideration as administrators finalize the 2025–26 budget.
The board approved a donation of $28,138.32 from the Liv Morro Foundation to be appropriated for new stage and window curtains for the Jack Nicholson Theater at Manasquan High School. It approved several vendor payments and contract items on the agenda, including:
- Lilich Corporation Pay Application #1 for asbestos abatement: $126,300.00; - Gillespie Group contract for epoxy flooring (ESCNJ co-op): $287,617.76; - W.J. Gross Inc. upgrades and relocation of track and field events (CCESC co-op): $181,645.00; - Honeywell International Building Solutions Pay Application #7 for the ESIP project: $504,527.99; - Submission of Amendment #1 for ESEA and IDEA grants and a joint transportation agreement with the Spring Lake Board of Education for field-trip transportation.
Dr. Crawley also reported two change orders for the Manasquan High School and Elementary School renovations with H&S Construction: Change Order #003 for -$120,253.38 and Change Order #004 for -$266,617.76. Separately, he said Motion #30, the H&S payment application, was being tabled because the architect’s certification had not arrived in time for approval.
On routine governance items, the board approved the minutes of the Nov. 19 meeting (roll-call Ayes 7), accepted the Superintendent’s Report (Ayes 8), and approved Manasquan general items and sending-district items as listed on the agenda. Several student home-instruction placements and personnel recommendations were noted on the agenda; the board approved High School personnel listed in Document S after returning from executive session (Ayes 8).
The board entered executive session at 6:41 p.m. to discuss permitted matters under the Sen. Byron M. Baer Open Public Meetings Act, including a student matter, litigation/contract issues and personnel; it reconvened in public at 6:50 p.m. and carried the listed personnel action. The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Why this matters: the combination of construction pay apps, change orders, and a near-term drop in projected enrollment are budget drivers the district’s administration and board will need to balance as they finalize the 2025–26 spending plan. The board’s approval of grant amendments and vendor contracts moves multiple facility- and operations-related projects forward on the district’s timeline.
