Meeting is this Thursday (09/18/2025) @ 6:30pm

Agenda

~ $4.4 million in payroll, bills, and transfers.

-YMCA rental agreement, shared services for vehicle maintenance with the Town, use of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission pool, and transportation routes.

-Rotary/Aliver Foundation donation of a defibrillator package (AED, accessories, signage, cabinet) for Upper Columbia Park valued at over $2,400 and a CMS PTO contribution of $10,960.

-A bunch of new hires, reassignments, substitutes, and stipends.

-Columbia Middle School will officially add a Dungeons & Dragons Club (pending BHEA approval). Stipend of $1,815 split between two advisors. This. Is. Awesome.

-Ramapo University student teacher placements.

-New French textbooks for grades 7–8.

Policy Updates

Internal Controls (Policy 1570 & Regulation 1570-R) Changes allow for “alternative systems” for internal controls with Commissioner approval and third-party sign-off. This creates flexibility but may also weaken safeguards if used too loosely.

Legal Services (Policy 0174) Finally, only certain administrators and the BOE President will be able to contact attorneys. Legal bills require careful review, and tighter controls on when services can be used are included. A new step requires Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent approval before OPRA requests are sent to lawyers. This is a huge win for the District, as there’s been a long history of prior BAs sending over everything—even requests for minutes.

Other policies include adoption of a new Sun Protection policy and abolishing the Covid-19 Recordkeeping policy (1648.15).

New Business

What is not present on the agenda is a presentation by the Recreation Department to the BOE on the lease agreement. As reported, Ms. Varnerin agreed to provide an update at this week’s BOE meeting but, as of this article, the agenda does not reflect keeping with this commitment. Instead, the Council is set to move forward with approving a no-bid contract for Harbor Consultants to begin work despite concerns expressed by BOE representatives and community members on the legality of the lease agreement.

BOE representative Natasha Joly is listed under New Business as slated to discuss the Recreation Commission’s  email to the BOE on the Turf field.

Source Documents

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