Jersey City Public Schools public meetings in 2023
20 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Board of Education is meeting to conduct regular business, including reports from leadership and public comments. The agenda includes a tabled item regarding a paraprofessionals' agreement and a resolution concerning cannabis facilities near schools.
- Proposed Collective Bargaining Successor Agreement with Jersey City Paraprofessionals Association (TABLED)
- Cannabis Resolution regarding licensed facilities within 1,000-foot drug-free school zones
- Review of 2023 Committee Assignments for Finance, Curriculum, Special Education, Personnel, Student Life, Policy, and Community Outreach
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will hold a regular meeting on November 16, 2023. The agenda includes leadership reports, committee updates, and the adoption of previous meeting minutes.
- Approval of Dickinson High School senior class trip to Washington D.C. not to exceed $3,000.00
- Adoption of October 16, 2023 Caucus Meeting minutes
- Adoption of October 19, 2023 Regular Meeting minutes
- COVID-19 Tracker Update (ESSER I, II, III)
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education holds its regular meeting, where it will vote on approving the 2023-2024 board goals, including holding quarterly town halls and supporting a long-range school facilities plan. The board will also hear a report on district NJSLA test results, consider approval of minutes from prior meetings, and receive committee reports and public comments.
- Approval of 2023-2024 Board Goals (quarterly town halls, superintendent evaluation, facilities plan)
- District NJSLA Results Report
- Approve Chapter One Online Reading Volunteer Program at Alexander D. Sullivan School
- COVID-19 Tracker (ESSER I, II, III) – marked as not updated
- Purchasing Manual 2023-2024 (information item)
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will consider a resolution supporting Vote@16, a nonprofit advocating for 16-year-olds to vote in local school board elections. The meeting will also include committee reports and public comments.
- Vote@16 resolution (Action)
- Jersey City Free Public Library resolution (Action)
- Committee reports (Report)
- Public comments (Discussion)
- Board member roll call (Action)
Special Meeting / BOARD RETREAT, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education met for a special retreat on September 11, 2023. The agenda included a preface, roll call, public comments limited to three minutes, and a goal‑setting workshop presented in the Board Goal‑Setting 2023 document. No formal actions or policy decisions were scheduled, and the meeting concluded with adjournment.
- Preface and roll call (information)
- Public comments with three‑minute speaking limit (discussion)
- Goal‑setting workshop – Board Goal‑Setting 2023 (information)
- Adjournment (action)
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will hold a regular meeting to discuss leadership reports and committee updates. The agenda includes the adoption of previous meeting minutes and a request to approve a book donation from First Book.
- Girls Who Code presentation
- New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) information
- Facilities Update/Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP)
- Adoption of June 3, June 12, and June 15 meeting minutes
- Approval of book donation from First Book
Special Meeting / BOARD RETREAT, 6:00 p.m.
This is a special board retreat meeting of the Jersey City Board of Education. The board will hold a goal-setting workshop and receive information on a symposium. Public comments will be taken before the leadership items.
- Goal Setting Workshop (discussion item)
- Symposium August 2023 (information item)
- Public comments period (three-minute speaking limit)
- Executive session (discussion item)
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education is meeting to adopt minutes from previous sessions and discuss district initiatives including COVID-19 funding, a strategic plan, and civil service updates. The meeting will be held at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School (P.S.#11).
- Adoption of minutes from Special, Caucus, and Regular meetings
- Presentation on COVID-19 ESSER grant balances
- Presentation on the district Strategic Plan
- Presentation on Civil Service
- Presentation on Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP)
Special Meeting / BOARD RETREAT, 10:00 a.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education is convening a special board retreat on June 3, 2023, to discuss leadership items and strategic planning. The meeting will include a public comment period and an executive session.
- Board Goals / Strategic Plan discussion
- CSA Evaluation discussion
- Board Self-Evaluation discussion
- Executive Session
- Adjournment
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will vote to approve the final 2023/24 school year budget and ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with the Jersey City Education Association. The meeting also includes the presentation of the 2021/22 audit and corrective action plan.
- Approve 2021/22 audit and Corrective Action Plan
- Adopt Final 2023/24 school year budget
- Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement with JCEA
- Committee assignments for 2023
- Public comments session
Special Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education held a special meeting on May 11, 2023, to discuss leadership items including legal matters, an all-girls school, department audits, payroll tax, and civil service matters. The meeting included a public comment period and adjournment.
- Discussion of All-Girls School (PS#39)
- Discussion of Jersey City Payroll Tax
- Discussion of Various Department Audits
- Discussion of Civil Service Matters
- Public comment period with 3-minute speaking rule
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education is scheduled to vote on adopting the final 2023-2024 school year budget, which includes a $434.7 million tax levy and $15 million for capital projects. The meeting also includes a public comment session focused on the budget.
- Adoption of Final 2023/24 School Year Budget ($828,765,266 total)
- Public Comment on 2023/24 Budget
- Acceptance of Supplemental Stabilization Aid ($33,701,019)
- Capital projects: Sidewalks ($3.5M), Bathroom Renovations ($7.5M)
- Capital projects: Window Replacements ($2M), Paving Work ($1M)
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will adopt minutes from several prior meetings, receive reports from committees and the superintendent, and consider a resolution to pay tuition to the New Hope Foundation for bedside instruction of hospitalized students. The agenda also includes a COVID‑19 tracker update on ESSER grant balances and a public comment period. All items are scheduled for the regular meeting on March 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
- Adoption of minutes from February 13, February 16, February 23, and March 4 meetings (Action – Consent)
- COVID‑19 Tracker – ESSER I, II, III grant balance report (Information)
- Ratification of tuition payment to New Hope Foundation for bedside instruction of hospitalized students (Action – Consent)
- Committee reports including Finance/Facilities, Curriculum/Instruction, Special Education, Personnel & Legal, Student Life, Policy & Legislative, and Community/Parent Outreach (Report)
- Public comments session with five‑minute speaking limit (Discussion)
Caucus Meeting to Adopt the 2023/24 preliminary school year budget, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will hold a caucus meeting to adopt the preliminary 2023/24 school year budget, with total expenditures of over $1 billion. The board will also vote on a preschool education aid budget of $83.4 million and a Regional Day budget of $4.96 million. Public comment is limited to the preliminary budget only before the vote.
- Adopt preliminary 2023/24 budget: $641,581,676 General Fund, $19,180,716 Capital Outlay, $168,002,874 Charter Schools transfer – total $828,765,266 combined with Special Revenue ($183,702,640) yields $1,001,537,924 total appropriations
- Approve $434,772,558 General Fund tax levy to support the budget
- Authorize $15,000,000 capital reserve for projects including sidewalk repairs ($3.5M), bathroom renovations ($7.5M), window replacements ($2M), fence replacements ($1M), and paving work ($1M) at multiple schools
- Approve submission of 2023/24 preschool education aid budget planning workbook in the amount of $83,416,590
- Approve 2023/24 Regional Day budget of $4,962,241 with a tuition rate of $59,791
Special Meeting / 2023-24 Preliminary School Budget, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will vote on the 2023-24 preliminary school budget at this special meeting. The budget is the main action item under consent agenda. Public comments will be heard before adjournment.
- Action on the 2023/2024 Preliminary School Budget
Special Meeting / BOARD RETREAT, 11:00 a.m.
This special meeting/board retreat of the Jersey City Board of Education is largely procedural, including pledge, roll call, public comments, and an executive session. The only substantive item is a discussion of a Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency, and Budgeting FAQ (information only). No votes or decisions are listed on the agenda.
- Fiscal Accountability, Efficiency, and Budgeting FAQ (information item)
- Public comments (up to 5 minutes per speaker)
- Executive session to discuss personnel and attorney-client privileged matters
- Roll call of board members
- Adjournment
Special Meeting / BOARD RETREAT, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education is conducting a special meeting and board retreat. The agenda includes discussions on ethics for school board members and foundations of board governance.
- Ethics for School Board Members
- Foundations of Board Governance
- Public Comments
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will consider approving a partnership with the George Street Playhouse to provide a literacy integrated enrichment program (P.E.N.) to students in grades 7 and 8. The board will also adopt minutes from previous meetings and receive reports on committee assignments and COVID-19 funding.
- Approve George Street Playhouse literacy program (P.E.N.)
- Adopt minutes from January 23, 2023, and January 26, 2023 meetings
- Review JCBOE 2023 committee assignments
- Receive COVID-19 tracker report (ESSER I, II, III)
- Receive presentation on athletic programs
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will consider approving a $46,066.98 venue rental and catering contract for the 24th Annual Parents As Partners Conference, funded by Title I. Other action items include approving a volunteer coach at Ferris High School and accepting a SEL grant. The meeting also includes adoption of prior minutes, committee reports, and informational updates on COVID-19 spending and district assessment results.
- Approve venue rental and catering for Parents As Partners Conference at NJCU on May 25, 2023, cost not to exceed $46,066.98 (Title I funds)
- Acceptance of the SEL In Action Grant 'Afro-Latinas Mentor: Inspiring Girls To Achieve'
- Approve Jonathan Rodriguez as volunteer baseball coach at Ferris High School (no cost)
- Adoption of minutes from December 2022 and January 2023 meetings
- COVID-19 Tracker report (ESSER I, II, III) and District Assessment Results Report
Reorganization Meeting In-Person, 6:00 p.m.
The Board of Education is meeting to swear in newly elected trustees and elect its leadership for the 2023 calendar year. The body will also establish its meeting schedule and operational rules for the year.
- Administration of the Oath of Office to Noemi Velazquez, Christopher Tisdale, and Afaf Muhammad
- Election of Natalia Ioffe as Board President for 2023
- Election of Noemi Velazquez as Board Vice President for 2023
- Approval of the 2023 Calendar of Board Meetings
- Adoption of Roberts' Rules of Order for board deliberations