Freehold Township School Board Faces Donovan Remediation Challenges and Staffing Shifts
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Meeting Type:
School Board
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Meeting Date:
09/24/2024
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Recording Published:
09/24/2024
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Duration:
31 Minutes
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Monmouth County
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Towns:
Freehold Township
- Meeting Overview:
The Freehold Township School Board meeting focused on issues including ongoing remediation efforts at Donovan, the introduction of new administrative support, and updates on transportation logistics. These topics were addressed extensively.
The most pressing discussion of the meeting revolved around the remediation efforts at Donovan. It was revealed that progress had been halted due to a recommendation from the insurance company’s engineer. This caused frustration among board members, who were eager to move forward. To continue, the board had to approve the engagement of a building envelope specialist. This approval would allow sampling and repairs to resume, highlighting the urgency of addressing air quality concerns within the school.
The administrative report detailed the involvement of various specialists, including an environmental air quality specialist and a building envelope specialist. The necessity of engaging specialized contractors for cleaning and sealing unit ventilators was emphasized, as the district lacked the proper equipment to manage these tasks internally. Regular updates were promised to maintain transparency with staff, students, and board members concerning the remediation process.
Another topic was the update on transportation logistics, particularly the reliance on the Freehold Regional High School District for transportation. Positive experiences with the drivers were noted, despite some challenges that were clarified to be unrelated to the transportation staff. Adjustments to bus runs were discussed. However, parents had raised concerns about delays, which were attributed to traffic and the ten-minute travel distance for certain routes.
Staffing updates were also a focal point of the meeting. The board acknowledged the departure of staff members and introduced Jim Quinn, a recently retired principal with 25 years of experience at Newberry School in Howell, who would provide administrative support at West Freehold. Additionally, Carolyn Kosac was identified as a candidate to complete announced observations at Baro and West Freehold. She committed to averaging three days a week for this purpose after completing the necessary training for the updated Danielson model.
During the discussion on personnel policies, 22 items were presented for consideration and received unanimous support from the board members present. This included the first reading of policy amendments and the second reading to abolish certain policies. Furthermore, the finance committee reported a total of $4,857,482.10 in claims. There were questions about the purpose of a social-emotional learning coach, which was clarified to be for training teachers, not students. The board discussed expanding restorative practices and involving a behavioral threat assessment team to enhance district support.
Public participation was invited twice during the meeting, but no significant comments or questions were raised by attendees. However, discussions during the meeting highlighted the ongoing collaborative efforts between the PTOs and the Donovan community. Board members expressed gratitude for the PTOs’ financial contributions throughout the year and mentioned upcoming events like a casino night fundraiser and the Eisenhower bolo Harman game.
Neal Dickstein
School Board Officials:
Michael S. Amoroso, Michelle Lambert, Renata Brand, Mary Cozzolino, Neil Garguilo, Elena O’Sullivan, Carmela Spieler, Kerri Vendittoli, Jeffrey Williams
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Meeting Type:
School Board
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Meeting Date:
09/24/2024
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Recording Published:
09/24/2024
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Duration:
31 Minutes
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Notability Score:
Routine
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State:
New Jersey
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County:
Monmouth County
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Towns:
Freehold Township
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