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Good evening. We'd like That's okay. We'd like to open up the meeting and welcome everyone. >> Uh this meeting is being held in accordance with the schedule of meetings that they adopted at the organizational meeting held on January 5th, 2026. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Kenilworth Board of Education has been

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provided to the Home News Tribune, the Star-Ledger, and the Local Source on January 15th, 2026. A copy has been filed with the Kenilworth Borough Clerk clerk, posted in the board office, the Kenilworth Borough Hall, and all Harding schools as is provided by the Open Public Meetings

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Act. In addition, the notice of this public hearing has been advertised No, don't need that. Cross that out. Okay, that's it. >> Thank you, Mr. Giannella. Can we please rise for our salute to the flag? >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and [snorts] to

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the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [clears throat] >> Mr. Giannella, can we please have a roll call? >> Breiner? >> Here. >> Grinco? >> Here. >> Davis? >> Here. >> Haymether? >> Here. >> Heredia?

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>> Here. >> Leddy? Pinichi? >> Here. [clears throat] >> Tiers? Zimmerman? We have a quorum. >> Thank you. This time Superintendent's report and presentations. >> Thank you, Dr. Pinichi. Good evening, everybody. Um it's an exciting week uh

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in Kenilworth School District. Um as you know, our student rep Katie Lima delivered her final report to the board at our last meeting earlier this month. She and her fellow soon-to-be graduates will be assembling at Brearley to march out to their commencement ceremony in just a little bit um at the stadium field at 7:30. So, we're excited for

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them. I want to congratulate the David Brearley High School Class of 2026 and wish them all well as this door closes um their K-12 educational experience and they head off into new doors um uh for wherever they may go. So, congratulations to the David Brearley High School Class of 2026. Also, last

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night Miss Pavelchek held the eighth-grade ceremony in the auditorium. It was lovely, celebratory event. Um we had our 125 eighth-graders there. Um so, that was a fantastic evening. Uh congratulations to all of them. Also, want to congratulate the Harding fifth-graders. They celebrated their

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moving-up ceremony this morning on the track um and Miss Pavelchek also welcomed them to the middle school in our ceremony. So, that was lovely, gorgeous weather, too. Um thank you to Mr. Bubnowski and and Miss Carrera for all their work and as well the uh fifth-grade team for that ceremony.

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Also, um wanted to extend um my thanks to all of the the teachers and staff members of our school district. Today was our last day of school. Uh so, it was the last day for students, last day for teachers. So, uh summer has officially started. Um it's a very successful year in Kenilworth School

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District. Um a year of significant growth and transformation for our buildings, for our structure. Um and it really was um many marks of success throughout the course of this school year. So, I'm really proud of what we did as a district this year and thanks to the staff, thanks to the teachers. I

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just want to thank them for embracing all the changes and and providing all the energy to support our students throughout the course of the year. They deserve a nice break. So, I wish everyone a happy and healthy and relaxing summer. Um just in terms of the agenda, I want

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to draw the board's attention to resolution number 35. This is uh my request of your approval of next year's chronic absenteeism corrective action plan. Our absenteeism rate has gone down,

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which is good. It's gone down a little bit. We need to keep going in that direction, so we still remain on a corrective action plan and you're approving the 25-26 correct corrective action plan as we continue to work to get our absentee

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numbers down. The plan includes um a survey of parents that I had sent out to the community. We got good response to that survey and it also includes some um steps that we're taking to balance the

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needs of our school district for a safe and healthy school environment while also pushing for stronger attendance from our students. So, that's resolution number 35. Uh and my final point today is just another recognition of Mr. Ganella.

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He is completing his 38th year. >> Well, 37th. >> 37th year, excuse me. 37th. [laughter] >> And this is my 30th. >> 37th and a half. Um so, it's just this will be the last time he is at this seat. So, as he converts over to assistant

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business administrator and Ms. Alice, who is here as well, will be taking over as business administrator. This is a transition moment as well for our district, so I just want to again thank him for all of his service to the students of Kenilworth, the community of Kenilworth, and I think

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it's a momentous occasion that this is his final meeting in this chair. He's still with us, as you know, until the end of September to aid in the transition to our new BA. I'm really thankful for his continued mentorship and leadership, but I just

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wanted to call attention to this moment. This is his final moment in this chair. So, congratulations. >> [applause] >> Speech. >> Yeah, I'll save my formal comments to the October meeting when I'm a member of the public. I'll be back to tell you what I really think about it. >> Yeah, I know.

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>> Five minutes. >> Um, you have a five-minute limit though. >> Five-minute limit? >> Uh, but thank you. >> it to three. >> Yeah, but then that won't change it to three. Yeah. >> [laughter] >> Uh, but thank you very much, and that concludes my report. >> I have a a question. I'm just about the

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chronic absenteeism, yes. And I know this is the last day of school, so how did we do with um How did we do with the um staff and teachers and uh the professionals with the absenteeism? Did it get better or >> It did get better, yeah. Um, we've been monitoring that as well. Um, we we've

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made a we've made a big effort in the past few years just to to call attention to rates of absenteeism with staff. Um to to just note that that has an impact on students as well. I think that's an important note that people recognize.

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>> And uh as a parent I thought that this corrective action plan that we used in the past year was very clear. Very um the the the things that were kind of automatically set to go. I noticed my Personally, I had a student that was missed a little bit, and right away we

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we started getting the emails. It was really done really well with with that. >> Yeah, we're trying to use Genesis more to communicate as well as just general communications from building admins, counselors as well. >> Great success. >> Thank you. >> Great success. >> Thank you. Good.

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>> Anyone questions or comments for Mr. Davis? Okay, seeing none we will now move on to review of committees, resolutions and board discussion. Up first finance, facilities and negotiations. Mr. Davila, can you do that for Mr. Davis? >> Sure um

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the maintenance department is ready for a very busy summer with some projects starting and some wrapping up. The Burley pickleball courts and tennis courts are open and it's really amazing to see like after school literally every court is being used by the kids. It's it's a

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great thing to see. You know, you wish you could like take a speaking of social media say that no kids aren't always on their cell phones. These kids are actually using these things extensively. So it's very nice to see and some adults do.

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The alterations to the pre-pre-K classrooms will be start tomorrow. Tonight's graduation will be the the use the first use of our new low energy LED lighting system on War Field. So be pay attention that. I think it

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will be bright. Harding STEM lab will see a reimagination over this summer and Burley's fire alarm system will be state of the art hopefully by the end of this the end of the calendar year. By December.

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Just to review the resolutions, resolution number one authorizes a transfer for the first 2.5 million dollars of the 2025-2026 year end surplus to the general fund balance with any remaining excess moved to the maintenance reserve. As the board

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is aware, I've been discussing this for years and the importance of reserves and the impact on the operation and fiscal health of the board. I hope you all all had an opportunity to review my the attached uh attachment to this resolution this

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evening uh titled strategic use of the 25 26 year-end surplus. It's uh it's going to be very important as we move into next year to >> [clears throat] >> be able to explain to the public how our

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how to try to avert the fiscal cliff uh and not be in the position that some school districts were in this year. Not that it was fiscally an issue of bad management or it was just they got to that cliff a little quicker than we're going to get to that cliff. Um

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so it's important to be transparent, explain to the public that this could potentially happen to us as well. Um Uh so though while I said my thing, while it's highly unlikely that we will generate that much free balance uh this resolution establishes a

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proactive uh safety net to protect classrooms and maintain educational continuity. Uh in the past the board this resolution was a little inverted. Uh the board would allow the money to go directly into maintenance reserve um which enabled us to appropriate $2.5

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million when we did the referendum to reduce the tax levy. So this is a little bit different. This is saying, "Okay, we want to actually go into free balance to allow us to appropriate it if we need to need be cuz we don't know what the state is going to do with state aid. Uh we

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don't know what the situation's going to be with health benefits. So we want to be able to get as much free balance as we can. So if we do have to appropriate it we do, which we did this year. We appropriated $2.5 million to reduce the uh to to [clears throat]

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to balance the budget. Um it's like it's like stealing from your savings account to use your operating expenses. So very important that we manage that moving forward. Um resolution number two approves uh the first bill list of July of June. Uh

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there will be another one in that we are going to present at the July board meeting, but the July board meeting is so late this year that we wanted to not hold our vendors up. Uh, so we figured we'd take a one stab at it right now and then we'll take another stab at it, uh, in, uh,

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over the next week cuz we're still paying bills. Um, number three appoints myself as a purchasing agent, uh, until my retirement in September, which allows us to, uh, establish a $53,000 bid, uh, uh, threshold and the $7,900 quote

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threshold. Resolution number four authorizes, um, payments, uh, to, um, various contractors, uh, with the use of referendum funding. Resolution number five approves the compliance filing of the 25-28

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comprehensive equity plan. Uh, resolution number six approves the mandated security, uh, statement of assurance for the 25-26 school year. Uh, resolution number seven approves the safe drinking water lead testing compliance filing for the 25-26 school

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year. Number eight approves the compliance filing confirming high school voter registration, uh, material was distributed for the 25-26 school year. Resolution number nine approves the tuition agreement, uh, contract with the Union County Vocational

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Vocational School Vocational and Technical Schools for the upcoming school year. Number 10, uh, 11, and 12 are all, uh, contracts for non-public programs from Union County Ed Services, um, as well as number, I'm sorry, number

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14 is a, uh, provide Union County Ed Services provide state mandated environmental safety coordination and training for our district. Number 15, uh, formally, uh, states the intent to renew award and permit at

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expiration of the district contracts for the 25-26 school year. Um 20 I'm sorry, 26-27 school year. And 16 approves the district's insurance renewal with New Jersey Schools Insurance Group Group. Number 17

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approves the purchase and installation of an inclined wheelchair lift from Handy Lift for for Harding School. Number 18, the staff services the a before and aftercare program manager manager position

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>> [cough] >> sidebar agreement with the Kenilworth Education Association. Number 19 void stale-dated outstanding checks to clean up cash balances across district student activity accounts. And that is enough.

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Any questions? Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Up next person on management, Mr. David. >> Thank you. We have a number of resolutions this evening as always. Resolution number 20 accepts the resignation of Gianna LaRosa,

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paraprofessional aid, effective June 30th, 2026. Resolution 21 accepts the resignation of Michelle Lena, cafeteria playground aid, effective June 30th, 2026. Resolution 22 accepts the resignation of Danielle Martinez, paraprofessional aid,

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effective June 30th, 2026. Resolution 23 accepts the resignation of Michelle Rios, a middle school language arts teacher, effective June 30th, 2026. 24 approves the tenure track hire of Catherine Barrera for the 2026-2027

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school year as Harding's library media specialist. 25 approves the tenure track hire of Riley McGowan for the 2026- 2027 school year to teach middle school English at Brearley. 26 revises the 2026-2027

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employment contract for Estefani Pineda as a cafeteria playground aide. Resolution 27 approves the hire of Jewel Sabasinski as a non-tenure track leave replacement teacher at Harding School for the 2026-2027 school year.

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Resolution 28 approves the appointment of personnel to various fall, winter, and spring coaching and athletic stipend positions for the 2026-2027 school year. 29 approves the appointment of staff advisors to co-curricular clubs, student government, and music and drama

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productions across Harding, Beryl, middle, and Beryl high school for the 2026-2027 school year. 30 approves the hourly event and tier-based compensation schedule for certified teaching certified staff performing extra duties such as detention, tutoring, and

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curriculum writing >> [clears throat] >> during the upcoming school year. Resolution 31 approves individual administrative stipends for the district webmaster, bank statement preparer, and grant care program coordinators. 32 approves a revised list of 16 paraprofessional staff members for the

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2026 extended school year program. And resolution 33 approves a con- a contractual graduate course tuition reimbursement to Jeremy Davies for the spring 2026 semester. And that's all I have. >> [clears throat] >> Let me just add a note um

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to resolution 23, um Michelle Rios' resignation. Just a a a note of thanks and appreciation for um Michelle. She um served Beryl for 24 years um and due to a life change is moving out of state. Um and

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she she's had a wonderful time here and she was a blessing to our students and I just want to thank her for her service. Um we will miss her. >> Miss Rios. >> Excuse me. Miss Rios. >> Miss Miss Van Steenacker. Michelle Van Steenacker. >> Yes. Most people probably knew her >> Yes.

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>> Got you. >> Thank you. Anyone have any questions about any of those motion resolutions? No? Okay. Next up curriculum and instruction. I will read them through Mrs. Tiers. Resolution 34 is regarding

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the bilingual waiver state data submission and resolution 25 superintendent I'm sorry, 35. Superintendent Davis already mentioned that's a chronic absenteeism plan that's due to the county. Anyone have any questions about those resolutions?

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Okay. Seeing none, we will now move on to old business. Is there any old business? We'd like to remind the public, please continue to follow our social medias, check your emails and Friday folders. It has all the information about the district and anything that's happening

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over the summer and in the fall. Any new business? I think we all wish everyone a happy summer. We had a great year and we hope to have another great year next year. If no one else has any new business, we will now move on to public comment. Can I please have a motion to go into public

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comment? Motion made by Dr. Frankoli, seconded by Mr. Weiner. All those in favor of going into public comment or opening up for public comment, please say aye. [clears throat] >> Aye. >> Opposed? Eyes have motion carries. Mr. Ganal?

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>> Public comment will now be accepted to the Board of Education sets a limit for the public to speak to the board meeting to 5 minutes per person unless prior permission has been granted by the Board of Education for extended time pursuant to Board of Education Bylaw 0167.

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Please be reminded that while members of the public may speak on personnel matters during public comment, the Board of Education is legally prohibited from discussing individual personnel issues in public session unless the employee at issue has requested a public discussion.

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The board's role is to set policy and ensure the effective operation of our schools while personnel recommendations are exclusively exclusive responsibility of the superintendent of schools. The board reviews and acts on those recommendations in accordance with state

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law and district policy, but does not initiate or manage individual staffing decisions. >> [clears throat] >> Okay. At this time, is there any public that would like to comment? No? Okay. >> Motion to close. >> Seconded. I agree with that. Okay.

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Motion to close the meeting to the public made by Mr. Haveter, seconded by Mr. David. All those in favor of closing the meeting to the public, please say I. Opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carries. The meeting is now closed to the public for comment. Mr. Ganella, are we ready

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to vote on a roll call of resolution? >> yes, we are. We have 30 uh five four 35 resolutions on this evening's agenda. Do any of those need to be voted on separately? No? Okay. So, resolutions 1 through 35 on the agenda.

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Biner? >> Yes. >> Crinkley? >> Yes. >> David? >> Yes. >> Haveter? >> Yes. >> Ferdina? >> Yes. >> Tomeci? >> Yes. >> Did I miss anyone? Nope. I'm good, right? >> I'm good. >> That's it.

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Okay. Motion's approved. >> Okay. Thank you so much. Mr. Ganella, do we have a need to go into closed executive >> Yes, we do. >> Okay. Can I please have a motion to go into closed executive session? >> So moved. >> Second? >> Second. >> Motion made by Mr. David, seconded by Mr. Biner. All those in favor of going

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into closed executive session, please say I. Opposed? Eyes have it. Motion carries. Mr. Ganella. >> Uh be it resolved the board of education the board of education meet in private session which the public shall be excluded to discuss the topic of personnel specifically the

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superintendent's annual evaluation which private discussion is being held pursuant to section 7B and able meetings act. The matters under discussion will be disclosed to the public as soon as final decisions are made and voted upon. Biner >> Yes.

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>> Green Coley >> Yes. >> David >> Yes. >> Haberstroh >> Yes. >> Hurdina >> Yes. >> Pinici >> Yes. >> Motions carried. Okay. >> Thank you public. >> Close session.