The start of the meeting saw the administration of the oath of office to newly elected members Kim Klaus and Dan Bell, followed by a roll call confirming their presence. The nomination process was swift, with Skip Peters being elected as board president with a majority vote, while Kim Klaus secured the vice president position shortly thereafter.

During the meeting, Mr. Padulla, the board’s attorney, conducted an ethics training session that is a requirement under the New Jersey School Ethics Act. He outlined the distinctions between the School Ethics Act and the code of conduct for school board members, detailing the legal obligations and the role of the School Ethics Commission. Mr. Padulla stressed the significance of confidentiality, the avoidance of conflicts of interest, adherence to the chain of command, and the imperative of maintaining open communication lines.

The board also unanimously approved Resolutions 1 through 5, though the specifics of these resolutions were not detailed in the summaries provided. The approval of these resolutions presumably included various operational decisions necessary for the running of the school district.

Committees were a focal point of the meeting, with appointments being made to critical areas. Kim Klaus was appointed chairperson of the finance and operations committee, with Jack Conaty, Salvatore Armato, and Superintendent Ph. D. joining her. The curriculum committee will be led by Linda Walker, with Cheryl Armato and Dan Bell serving alongside her. Additional appointments were made to the policy committee, the child study team negotiations committee, the referendum committee, the New Jersey School Boards Association board delegate, and the Ocean County School Boards Association delegate.

Superintendent Ph. D. underscored the significance of the referendum committee, which will address crucial infrastructure needs within the school district, such as air conditioning, security, and roofing upgrades. He voiced the urgency of the situation, saying, “We’re not going to make it up with a 2% Max on the tax game to try and repair those replace those so yes we are going for a referendum to bring the school up to date safety security and air conditioning heat and roofs is a big concern.”

The public comment segment of the meeting brought forward community concerns, particularly about the elementary schools’ performance in Lacey Township. A community member cited low math and reading scores and addressed the impact of the New Jersey Education Association. The member implored the board to allocate resources to improve test scores and assist children in recovering from setbacks due to COVID-19 lockdowns, stating, “Our children suffered with the covid lockdown which put them behind money is an issue and we understand that and we know that there’s a shortage and it’s hard to do things without money but I urge you to set aside money and figure out ways where we can increase these scores and help our children get through these tough times.”

Tthe board members then discussed the need to enter an executive session to deliberate on personnel matters. Following this, the board approved a walk-on motion for the resignation of two unnamed individuals.

Newly elected board member Dan Bell expressed his gratitude and dedication to the community, and the outgoing board president offered thanks to the members, also calling for a moment of silence for a recent tragedy in Iowa. Skip Peters, in his new role as board president, spoke to the budgetary challenges facing the district, calling for public support and state assistance to overcome the financial shortfall. Cheryl Armato extended a warm welcome to the newly elected members and reaffirmed her dedication to collaboration.