John’s Notes on the 04/16/2026 Summit BOE Agenda

Summit’s BOE Meeting is on 04/16/2026 and one red flag right from the start is the lack of attachments or back up documents connected to items for the public to review prior to the meeting within the online packet.  

Having the items available for review only at the meeting essentially means you expect families to read a massive amount of documentation as the meeting is happening as a basis for effective questions or feedback.  Summit isn’t the only District to operate this way.  Berkeley Heights posts all of its attachments (including policy revisions and bill lists) as part of its agenda packet- Summit families should demand the same.

Making them available online with the agenda could also work to reduce the OPRA burden on a District but, as we talked about earlier this week, Districts and Municipal governments are now incentivized to withhold documents under Scutari’s and Sarlo’s 2024 OPRA amendments because the more they withhold, the more you OPRA and if you OPRA too much -they can just use a tax funded attorney to sue you – like we are seeing in Cherry Hill..

Off the soap box and onto the agenda…

The bills list totals about $2.42M across with a March payroll of ~$5.48M – no actual bills list for the public to review before the meeting or  link to the document within the agenda packet.

The BOE will be asked to approve a $34,040 Systems 3000 (that’s an early 80’s throwback name if I ever heard one) software license.  The contract or their terms aren’t in the packet.

There’s an Amendment to a settlement agreement, and the terms are not included.

Policy action: first reading (Gifts, Grants and Donations) and second readings (Nepotism, Chief School Administrator employment) – the draft language/revision table/strikethrough copies (take your pick) aren’t included.  The former is also on the Berkeley Heights agenda given a recent controversy on fundraising activities involving athletic programs.

There are also a bunch of facilities items…

-$26,469.84 change order for video wall TV studio installation.
– Tatlock Field House change orders including $1,306.98 addition, -$5,866.54 credit, and -$21,270.25 net credit.
-EI Associates design work for Jefferson ES roof section “F” – this resolution has a blank dollar amount,
– $37,900 added for EI Associates roofing oversight across multiple schools.

There’s no detailed cost breakdown or back up to the  generator replacement and backup generator for LCJSMS (Capital Reserve) within the packet.

Some notable personnel items include Derek Jess, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, resigning effective June 30, 2026. and Wendy Donat retiring effective July 1, 2026.

The District also has the abolishment of a Middle School Office Secretary position on the agenda.

Source Document