Cinnaminson School Board Celebrates Educator Excellence and Addresses Rising Healthcare Costs
- Meeting Overview:
The recent Cinnaminson School Board meeting celebrated the dedication of educators while addressing the issue of rising healthcare costs for public school employees. The board unanimously passed a resolution seeking relief from escalating healthcare premiums and recognized numerous educators for their outstanding contributions to the district.
In a recent session, board addressed the fiscal pressures caused by increasing healthcare costs for public school employees. Highlighting unsustainable healthcare premium growth impacting school budgets and local taxpayers, the board introduced and unanimously approved a resolution urging both short-term relief and long-term reforms. This resolution aims to manage the delivery of healthcare more effectively for public employees. The board emphasized the necessity of this resolution, as rising healthcare costs continue to affect fiscal planning and resource allocation within the district.
On a celebratory note, the meeting was filled with recognitions honoring educators and staff members who have made contributions to the Cinnaminson School District. Mrs. Jennifer Ogazali, a educator with 16 years of service at Rush School, was acknowledged as the 2026 ERS Governor’s Educator of the Year. Her commitment to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment has left a lasting impact on her students. Similarly, Mrs. Katarina Galvich was awarded the 2026 ERS Board of Education Achievement Award for her exceptional approach to teaching Spanish, fostering a lively and interactive classroom atmosphere.
The board also celebrated the achievements of Lauren Ever Clayton from Cinnaminson Middle School, who was named the Governor’s Educator of the Year. With 31 years of experience, Mrs. Clayton’s dedication to critical thinking in math and her hands-on teaching methods have been invaluable to her students. Her willingness to provide additional support outside of classroom hours has been described as unparalleled. In contrast, Mr. Luke Beccanis, a music teacher recognized for his contributions over four years, was awarded the Board of Education Achievement Award for his significant impact on the music program and his involvement in extracurricular activities.
At the high school level, Mrs. Mary Oranos was honored as the 2026 Governor’s Educator of the Year for her clear and engaging teaching in the world language department. Her inclusive strategies have reached students across all ability levels, enhancing their learning experiences. Meanwhile, Mrs. Colleen Feiner received the 2026 Board of Education Achievement Award, recognized for her strong connections with students and her impact on their academic and personal growth.
The meeting also featured presentations from student representatives, who highlighted the achievements of their peers. Miss Carly Trump, the high school representative, announced Mrs. Elizabeth Kilo as the recipient of the Golden Apple award for April and shared the May Students of the Month. She detailed the golf team’s impressive 13-1 record and the girls’ lacrosse team’s pursuit of a fourth straight championship. Additionally, she noted the success of the indoor drum line at the TIA Championships and announced upcoming concerts and the National Honor Society’s senior work day.
Middle school representative Colin Kohler recognized the April Students of the Month and reported on the achievements of middle school sports teams. He also highlighted the completion of the NJSLA assessment for ELA and math and the appreciation shown to teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.
The board meeting included reports from various committees, with focus on policy and curriculum developments. The policy committee, led by Mr. Kenny, discussed proposed changes to attendance and late policies for the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum committee considered international trips for high school students, reviewed a new evaluation tool for classroom support staff, and proposed a new Spanish club at New Albany School.
In the curriculum and instruction section, the board approved monthly professional development requests, field trips, and middle school course offerings for the next academic year. They also addressed HIP and suspension reports and approved the official high school and district-level grades for the 2024-2025 school year. The board also approved a pilot program for a Spanish club at New Albany School.
Additionally, the special education section saw contracts for professional services with the Educational Services Unit of Burlington County and the approval of an extended school year program with Interactive Kids. Consultant agreements for psychological evaluation and home instruction were also approved.
The business and finance section involved the acceptance of a focus grant and approval of staff mileage reimbursements. Revised tuition rates for the 2024-2025 school year and the maintenance and transportation calendar for 2026-2027 were also discussed. The board approved interlocal service agreements for transportation and mechanic services with surrounding school districts and various contracts and renewals for the upcoming school year.
As the meeting concluded, the board moved to the public comment section, reminding attendees to limit their comments to agenda items. With no public input, the board proceeded to personnel matters, approving various appointments, reappointments, resignations, and retirements.
Stephen Cappello
School Board Officials:
Laura Fitzwater, Ed Kenney, Katherine Bleistine, Michael Bramhall, Donna Marie Iacone, John Meeker, Christine Trampé
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Meeting Type:
School Board
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Committee:
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Meeting Date:
05/12/2026
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Recording Published:
05/12/2026
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Duration:
116 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Burlington County
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Towns:
Cinnaminson
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