The meeting’s most contentious moments centered around board member Jennifer Pellet and George Nikonorov. Nikonorov accused Pellet of engaging in unethical behavior, specifically soliciting hateful and false comments about him on social media. Pellet defended her actions, stating she reposted comments from another page to highlight the negativity directed at her.

Kelly Mitchell, a former School Board member, conducted an ethics training session for the board, emphasizing the importance of adhering to laws and regulations and making decisions in the best interest of students. The training covered the responsibility to administer schools, avoid conflicts of interest, and maintain confidentiality. The board engaged in a detailed review of the code of ethics, discussing their responsibilities and the standards they must uphold.

Superintendent Russell Rogers extended the conversation on ethics, focusing particularly on the misuse of social media. He cited a case where a board member’s negative blog post about a faculty member resulted in a six-month removal from the board. Rogers stressed the importance of confidentiality during closed sessions and outlined the distinction between recusal and abstaining from votes. He also discussed the prohibition of hiring relatives of board members or the chief administrative officer, particularly how such relationships could affect collective bargaining negotiations.

In addition to ethical concerns, the meeting addressed the use of social media by board members. Rogers advised caution when expressing personal opinions online and the necessity of a disclaimer. The conversation touched on maintaining a clear line between personal and official capacities and consulting the board attorney on any ethical concerns related to social media use.

The board also reviewed potential cost savings for the district, including a transition to natural gas for school facilities and the Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP), which could address roofing issues. Other topics included updates on repairs, maintenance projects, and the budget process. Continuous updates to the business office’s website were mentioned as a measure to provide public access to documents and presentations.

Curriculum and instruction updates were provided by board member Melissa Brock. The board discussed changes to grade weighting, GPA calculations, scheduling adjustments, the possible movement of grades between buildings, and the development of a school policy around artificial intelligence. Updates on the Vex robotics club and technology were also shared, alongside concerns about substitutive teaching practices.

Raymond Zimmerman led the liaison committee’s discussion on shared services with the town, which could offer opportunities for cost savings and collaboration with Elizabeth Town Gas. The negotiations committee was preparing for contract discussions with the Vernon Township Education Association, while the partnership committee addressed mold concerns and events at the Sussex County Educational Services Commission.

Public comments brought forth concerns about the lack of news coverage of school district decisions, the discontinuation of the summer SAT prep courses, and the Robotics and STEM committee’s future. The board responded with a willingness to follow up on these issues.

In a broader context, the board expressed frustration over challenges in effectively communicating with the public and addressing misinformation. Joseph A. Sweeney and Melissa Brock highlighted the difficulty of discussing personnel and student-related decisions without breaching confidentiality. The decline in local news coverage was noted by Charles Cimaglia, and the board acknowledged the need to improve its public relations efforts.