The financial health of the East Rutherford School District was a primary focus, as Alessandro Verace, the Business Administrator, highlighted key figures in the financial reports. The general fund bills totaled $11,249,250.18, and the State Health and prescription bill amounted to $224,000, with the Food Service fund requiring $649,500.95. In a related matter, the Food Services report indicated a prepaid balance of $771 and negative balances totaling nearly $18,000, which, although high, showed improvement from the previous year by approximately $10,000.

Board member Thomas Banca brought forward concerns regarding the lack of detailed backup information for the bills list, emphasizing the need for clarity before approving expenditures. Banca’s discomfort with signing off on vague descriptions echoed a broader call for transparency and accountability in financial management. He also questioned the district’s policies on tuition reimbursement and non-public transportation, seeking assurance on the validity of these processes.

The district’s budget allocation for curriculum revisions was scrutinized as well, with Verace reporting that out of the budgeted $50,000 for curriculum writing, $17,000 had already been spent on revisions to meet new standards and mandates. Superintendent Giancaspro addressed the board’s concerns, acknowledging the absence of specific answers and assuring that budget alignment with curricular needs was being actively addressed to adhere to evolving standards.

Mr. Bliss, the auditor, presented the audit report for the year ended June 30th, 2023, noting a $325,000 increase in the district’s fund balance, which now stood at $6,566,396. He outlined the fund balance allocation, including capital and maintenance reserves, excess surplus, year-end encumbrances, and unassigned funds designated for future budgets. Bliss also detailed the restrictions and rollover provisions for the reserves.

The audit resulted in three recommendations for the district, which included the timely submission of financial reports, improved documentation of cooperative purchasing contracts, and punctual submission of monthly meal reimbursement vouchers to the Department of Agriculture. The board committed to submitting corrective action plans to the county in response to these recommendations and expressed appreciation for the auditors’ support.

Superintendent Giancaspro informed the board of an upcoming New Jersey School Boards Association training session on board ethics, a step in response to a previous request for superintendent evaluation training. He also highlighted efforts to accelerate the evaluation process and thanked the auditors for their assistance.

In the realm of educational programming, the superintendent disclosed the ongoing review of the board’s goals, which would be accessible to members via a Google doc in April, ahead of the usual schedule. The administrative team’s dedication to instruction and test scores was emphasized, with Giancaspro expressing confidence in the district’s ability to sustain high performance levels. Updates on safety drills at Lincoln School and McKenzie were provided, as well as information regarding an alleged HIB incident, which led to the board discussing and approving resolutions related to the investigation.

Personnel management was also discussed, with clarification on the use of staff from Kelly Education in various school buildings. The board examined staff travel expenses for training purposes and reviewed a memorandum of understanding with the local police department regarding services to the district.

A public comment period allowed community members to engage with the board, with one individual inquiring about the upcoming ethics presentation and confirming its public availability.

The meeting concluded with the board entering an executive session to discuss legal, personnel, and negotiation matters before adjourning.