Following these formalities, the board moved to elect its new leadership. After opening nominations, Ryan Haberthur and Dr. Michelle Panichi were put forward for the role of president. Haberthur received minimal support, while Dr. Panichi was unanimously elected with eight votes, solidifying her position as the new president. The board then turned to elect a vice president, with only one candidate nominated. This candidate also received unanimous support.

Attention soon shifted to committee assignments, with the board chair urging members to express their interest in various roles via email. Plans were made to distribute a list of committees, facilitating discussions among new members about their responsibilities. This organizational segment concluded with an ethics training session. Members were reminded of the New Jersey School Ethics Act and the School Board Member Code of Ethics, which are important for maintaining public trust. The training emphasized key ethical principles such as upholding laws, prioritizing educational welfare, and maintaining confidentiality. The session also included a review of the School Ethics Act, highlighting prohibitions against conflicts of interest and the misuse of positions for personal gain. The chair advised board members to seek legal counsel on ethical dilemmas, given the evolving interpretations of the act.

During the public comment period, Randy Levchuk, a community member, brought forward several issues. He began by acknowledging the construction of a new field and track for community use but expressed concern over the lack of lighting during evening hours. Levchuk questioned if budget constraints were indeed the reason for not activating the lights, as suggested by the athletic director. He stressed the importance of safety, particularly as the early fall darkness poses a risk to community members using the facilities.

Levchuk also raised concerns about parking at Harding School, where vehicles obstructed fire lanes during pickup times. He attributed this issue to community negligence rather than a lack of parking spaces, suggesting that previous enforcement measures, such as cones, had been effective but were no longer in place. He proposed repainting the fire lane markings to remind parents of parking regulations, emphasizing the potential dangers of such obstructions in emergencies.

Furthermore, Levchuk addressed confusion surrounding the construction plans related to a referendum promising the separation of middle and high school students. He expressed skepticism about the current layout, which seemed to prioritize administrative space over classroom use. He also mentioned that his comments on the district’s Facebook page had been hidden, not deleted, calling for greater transparency in addressing community concerns.

In response to Levchuk’s points, a board member assured that the visibility of social media comments would be investigated and clarified that ongoing discussions with parents aimed to ensure proper separation of school facilities for different grade levels. The board member acknowledged the need for improved communication and transparency with the community regarding the construction plans.

Following the public comments, the board turned to the approval of resolutions related to bylaws and procedures. Twenty resolutions were considered, focusing primarily on financial matters such as the appointment of legal counsel and insurance brokers, and the adoption of textbooks and curriculum. Questions about the adoption dates of textbooks were addressed, with assurances that a review process was in place to select appropriate educational materials. All resolutions were unanimously approved.