Immediate Release

April 25, 2023  

The Ewing Township Board of Education held its monthly meeting on April 24^th, in the Ewing High School auditorium. 

Board President Deborah Delutis opened the Board of Education meeting at 6:00PM.  The first action the Board took at that time was to move to a closed session where it reviewed a limited number of confidential items.  The Board then returned to the Ewing High School auditorium at 7:00PM for the public session of the Board of Education meeting.

Chief School Administrator, Dr. David Gentile introduced Ewing High School Ambassador to the Board of Education, Ms. Hazel Penner.  Ms. Penner shared that April is Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month.  She said last week at Ewing High School (EHS) it was Unified Respect week and the high school is looking forward to hosting the POAC Autism Walk for a Difference 2023 this Saturday, April 29^th.

Ms. Penner continued with her report stating, last week, the FMS and EHS Jazz Bands came together to perform Jazz: Throughout the Decades concert during Jazz Appreciation Month. This week will feature the EHS Spring Instrumental Music Concert on Tuesday and the Ring & Sing on Wednesday. Both performances will take place at 7:00PM in the EHS auditorium. The Drama Club’s Murder Mystery performance will take place on Thursday, May 4th at 7:00PM, and the Broadway Showcase performance will be on Friday, May 12th, also at 7:00PM.

Spring sports are in full swing.  Track and Field is coming off of a great performance at the Mercer County Championships!  The EHS Boys Sprint Medley Relay team of Tyler Seaton, Mekhi Stafford, Shane Jones and Kris Ewell took home the GOLD!  There were also a number of bronze place finishers,  seniors Sydney Smith and Sarah Ilesanmi in the triple jump; the boys’ 400m hurdle relay team of Jeremiah Marsalis, Stephen Johnson, and Calvin Kallie; and the boys’ shuttle hurdle team of Marsalis, Johnson, Kallie, and senior Sam Gaye. This week, the team will head to the Penn Relays starting on Thursday.

EHS baseball picked up their third win of the season over Trenton Central on Friday.  The team is in action this week against West Windsor Plainsboro-North and South on Tuesday and Thursday.  EHS Softball has won five games in a row and the team is hoping to continue its winning streak!  The team takes on West Windsor Plainsboro-South and Middletown later this week.  Boys’ tennis opened their season with a win -- the first program win in several seasons -- with a 4-1 victory over Steinert on April 3^rd.  Go Blue Devils!

Since the March Board meeting, EHS has sent out its final three college tours of the semester, visiting Penn State on March 29th, Kean University & Seton Hall University on April 12th, and Montclair State University on April 20th. All told, the college tour program has taken approximately 200 sophomores, juniors, and seniors on eight trips to visit 13 college campuses.  Over 90% of student participants reported that the college tours improved their understanding of the college application process and/or helped clarify what they’re looking for in an ideal college/university.

May 1^st is just around the corner, and it is almost time for seniors to make decisions about their post-high school plans!  Ewing High School will honor the traditional decision deadline with a College & Career Spirit Day next Monday in addition to the 2^nd annual Decision Day which is still in the works.  Last year over 160 seniors participated, and the Student Council is hoping to top that number this year!

Ms. Penner shared a few upcoming additional school events too.  The National Honor Society will hold its induction ceremony on Wednesday, May 17^th at 6:30PM in the Ewing High School auditorium and the Senior Prom is Friday, May 19th.

During the “Superintendent’s Report,” Chief School Administrator, Dr. Gentile, stated the approval of the 2023-2024 budget would be in the Finance and Operations section of the Board agenda. The budget is grounded in the belief that students must be at the center of all budget development decisions. Specifically, Dr. Gentile used this question to guide the process. How does this ultimately benefit our students or improve the educational environment? In the development of the 2023-2024 budget, there were four themes identified by Dr. Gentile in his Post-90 Day Report. He identified the need for a strategic plan, a multi-year curriculum and instruction renewal cycle plan to continuously improve teaching and learning, a cultural task force to positively impact the district climate, and a district administrative and leadership improvement plan designed to improve how the district is managed and led. 

The Board then moved into the “Superintendent Recommendations” section of the Agenda.  Some items of note:

Board of Education Annual Appointments, Designations, Approvals & Adoptions 

The Board of Education approved the resolution designating the legal depositories for the district for the 2023-2024 school year, Investors Bank/Citizens Bank (Note:  Investors Bank was acquired by Citizens Bank in FY 2022) and NJ Cash Management.

The Board of Education approved the resolution for Qualified Purchasing Agent Authorizations for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board approved the resolution approving the attendance of Board members at required Board Member Conferences and training sponsored by the New Jersey School Boards Association.

The Board of Education approved the resolution regarding to following procedures regarding the over-expenditure of funds.

The Board of Education approved the resolution to authorize the district to procure through State Contracts as needed for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the resolution approving petty cash funds for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the resolution to approve all existing Tax Shelter Annuity Programs under IRS Code Sections 403(b) and 457(b), offered to employees at their own expense currently in place, and their respective agents to be continued for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the resolution that all present handbooks to be continued to be in effect until modified upon the recommendation of the Superintendent.

The Board of Education approved the Superintendent or designee to approve such line item budget transfers as necessary between Board of Education meetings and that such transfers shall be reported to the Board of Education, ratified, and duly recorded in the minutes of the next regular meeting in accordance with N.J.A.C. 18A:22-8.1.

The Board of Education approved the resolution approving the collection and maintenance of student records in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:32-7.

The Board of Education approved the following resolution appointing a delegate and alternate delegate to the BCIP JIF.

WHEREAS, the Ewing Township Board of Education, hereinafter referred to as the "Board," is a member of the Burlington County Insurance Pool Joint Insurance Fund, hereinafter referred to as "Fund"; and 

WHEREAS, both the statutes regulating membership in the Fund and the Fund's Bylaws require the Board to appoint a Fund Delegate to act as the Board's representative to the Fund; and 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board appoints Dennis J. Nettleton as its Delegate to the Fund and empowers said Delegate to; exercise the voting rights provided in the Fund's Bylaws to Delegates in the manner which best protects the Board and the Fund, to implement and strengthen the Board's safety and risk management efforts, to participate full and with efficiency in the Fund, to comply with all conditions of membership as define in the Fund Bylaws and Risk Management Program, and to execute all agreements in compliance with membership by the Board in the Fund; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board appoints Heidi Caruso as its alternate Delegate to the fund. 

The Board of Education approved the resolution appointing a Fund Commissioner to the SHIF.

The Board of Education approved the Tort Claim Form Resolution and form.

The Board of Education approved the renewal of a contract with Hardenbergh Insurance Group for the 2023-2024 SPELLJIF Student Accident Group Policy.

The Board of Education approved the managerial responsibilities for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the district Chart of Accounts to be consistent with the State of New Jersey approved minimum Chart Accounts as published by the New Jersey Department of Education.

The Board of Education approved the resolution to re-adopt the educator evaluation systems for the 2023-2024 school year as follows:  Teachers:  Danielson Framework for Teaching 2007 and Principals/Vice-Principals/Assistant Principals:  Strong Principal Evaluation Rubric.

The Board of Education approved the educational assessments used by the Child Study Team and related services providers for use in the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the re-adoption of textbooks, course listings and curriculum guides for use in the 2023-2024 school year.  Curriculum Guides can be found on our website.

The Board of Education approved the authorization for the district to enter into a Cooperative Pricing Agreement with Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the authorization for the district to enter into a Cooperative Pricing Agreement with Educational Services Commission of New Jersey for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education acknowledged the receipt of the 2024-2025 budget calendar in accordance with the NJQSAC Fiscal Indicator No. 10, and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:22-7.

Finance and Operations 

The Board of Education approved the acknowledgement of the Fire and Security Drills held for the month of March 2023 in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18-A-41 and Policy P8420.

The Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 maximum public relations and professional services budget.

The Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 maximum travel amounts.

The Board of Education approved the 2023-2024 annual school budget.

The Board of Education approved several transportation contracts for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Board of Education approved the spring School Walker/School Car Rider bus evacuation drills.

The Board of Education approved the spring bus evacuation drills.

Student Curriculum and Instruction 

The Board of Education approved the amendment of the Perkins grant.

The Board of Education approved The College of New Jersey and Rider University students to observe at Fisher Middle School and Ewing High School for the spring semester.

Student Services and Technology 

The Board of Education approved the request for non-public school technology aid. The New Jersey Non-public School Technology Aid Initiative Program sets guidelines on allowable and non-allowable items such as equipment/hardware, software, professional development, etc. Each school is given $42.00 per pupil.

The Board of Education approved the request for non-public school security aid.  The New Jersey Non-public School Security Aid Initiative Program sets guidelines on allowable and non-allowable items such as equipment/hardware, software, professional development, etc. Each school is given $205.00 per pupil. 

Personnel 

The Ewing Public Schools Welcomes New Staff for the 2023-2024 School Year 

Mequel Fouratt is joining Antheil Elementary School as an Elementary Special Education Teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. Ms. Fouratt received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Multidisciplinary Studies from Rider University.

Karime Picos Barraza is joining Fisher Middle School as an English as a Second Language Teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. Ms. Barraza received a Bachelor’s degree in International Trade and a Master’s degree in Marketing from Monterrey Institute of Higher Education. 

The next meeting of the Board of Education will take place on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 6:00PM in the Ewing High School auditorium.  This is the last of the traveling Board meetings.  The public is invited to attend the meeting at 7:00PM.