14:52A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to the D9 Medicaid initiative, a topic introduced due to its potential impact on special education funding. Mr. Iell discussed the district’s current status, stating that they do not have the necessary number of students — fewer than 40 — to qualify for Medicaid reimbursements. He explained the criteria and implications: “If we had 40 or more students, it would be worthwhile to submit, and we would get monies towards the budget.” However, since the number of eligible students is currently zero, the effort required to secure funding would outweigh the benefits. This led to inquiries from board members about the lack of eligible students, despite the collection of health insurance information at the start of each year. The conversation revealed that no students were identified as free or reduced lunch recipients either, confirming the district’s ineligibility for Medicaid funding at this time. The discussion concluded with a unanimous roll call vote and no further questions.

0:06The board also took the opportunity to recognize two exemplary students, Kyle Crow and Jillian Kleene, for achieving perfect scores on the state English Language Arts (ELA) testing. The students were awarded certificates of achievement, and their accomplishments were met with applause from the audience.

In terms of administrative updates, the board reviewed the submission of the Professional Statement of Assurance, which informs the county about job descriptions and funding for aides. Another update was the school safety data report, outlining incidents from July to December, including one alleged but unfounded harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB) incident and four physical restraint incidents.

Another noteworthy topic was the approval of a new fourth-grade teacher, Meredith Carlin, an alumna of the Oradell Public Schools (OPS). This decision was part of the broader discussion regarding staffing and personnel changes. Additionally, the superintendent addressed concerns from previous meetings about the school’s water fountains. It was confirmed that the fountains are operational and that state-required lead testing returned with no issues. Plans to purchase an additional water filler and schedule a meeting with a landscaper to discuss backfield projects were also mentioned.

The board received a draft of the winter newsletter, which aims to solicit community feedback on the “profile of an OPS graduate.” This profile is intended to define the key attributes deemed essential by stakeholders for students, guiding curriculum and resource allocation. The newsletter will include a link for community input, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in shaping educational priorities.

Professional development for staff was also discussed, with a recent professional day deemed productive. Staff received training on new math resources and CPR instruction for aides. Additionally, staff members worked on a new Google site linked to the district’s website and app, with initial designs set for review in an upcoming meeting.

14:52The meeting also touched on upcoming events and initiatives. Mr. Walsh mentioned the “Odyssey to the Mind” event, soliciting volunteers and noting his need to attend a judges’ class on February 1st. There was also a discussion about leveraging e-rate funding for cybersecurity initiatives, with $10,000 available for hardware improvements. The finance committee’s meeting schedule was proposed for the following Wednesday after 5 PM, with further discussions to be held on public relations and policy matters once additional information is received from the attorney.

Infrastructure updates included the scheduling of bids for HVAC units at AES, with Mr. Del Greco coordinating with Mr. Iell and Mr. Darian on outstanding buildings and grounds issues. As the meeting progressed, it was necessary to enter a closed session to discuss negotiations and personnel matters, a motion that passed unanimously after being proposed by Mrs. Noran and seconded by Mrs. Walker.