Jersey City Public Schools public meetings in 2024
21 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Workshop Meeting, 5:00 pm / Regular Meeting, 6:00 pm
The Jersey City Board of Education will hold a workshop and regular meeting to vote on consent agenda items including a $55,500 SAVVAS professional development contract for science teachers, acceptance of donated classroom supplies and decodable books, and approval of a volunteer basketball coach. Committee reports and public comment are also scheduled.
- Approve SAVVAS Job-Embedded Professional Development Sessions at $55,500 (Acct. #11.190.100.500.355.14.0000)
- Accept donation of Just Right Reader decodable books for 100 students at no cost
- Accept DonorsChoose.org donation of classroom supplies for Academy I Middle School
- Approve volunteer basketball coach (details not provided in agenda)
- Committee reports from Student Life, Special Education, ELL/World Language, Policy/Legislative, and Finance/Facilities
Special Meeting / TOWN HALL, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education held a special town hall meeting to discuss and vote on a resolution authorizing the drafting of a new policy to ban or limit student use of electronic devices in schools. The board voted unanimously to direct staff to draft the policy.
- Resolution to draft policy banning student cell phone use
- Public comment period with 3-minute speaking limit
- Meeting held at Ezra L. Nolan Middle School #40
- Board members present: Barkouch, Jones-Watson, Patel, Tisdale, Velazquez, Blount, Morris
- Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Workshop Meeting, 5:00 pm / Regular Meeting, 6:00 pm
The Board of Education will hold a workshop and regular meeting to discuss committee reports and leadership updates. The body is deciding on the acceptance of a reading grant and a school field trip.
- Acceptance of NJTSS-ER Grant for early reading proficiency in the amount of $4,000
- Field trip for 47 students and 12 chaperones from PS#3 to Lifetown Shoppes in Livingston, NJ, at a cost not to exceed $1,200
- Proposed MOA between The Center for Prevention & Counseling and PS#34 for a Team Leader's stipend
Workshop Meeting, 5:00 pm / Regular Meeting, 6:00 pm
The Jersey City Board of Education will hold a workshop at 5:00 pm and a regular public meeting at 6:00 pm at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School (P.S.#11). The agenda includes committee reports, leadership updates, and the adoption of prior meeting minutes.
- Workshop and Regular Meeting at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School (P.S.#11)
- Adoption of Special Meeting minutes from September 18, 2024
- Adoption of Workshop/Regular Meeting minutes from September 25, 2024
- Resolution honoring Tremanye Gibson
- Committee reports for Policy & Legislative and Ed. Programs
BOARD RETREAT
The Board of Education is meeting for a retreat to discuss district goals and strategic planning. The session includes a finance update and a workshop on implicit bias and sensitivity.
- Discussion of District Goals/Strategic Plan
- Board Goal-Setting 2024
- Implicit Bias/Sensitivity Workshop
- Finance Update
Workshop Meeting 5:00 pm / Regular Meeting, 6:00 pm
The Board of Education is holding a workshop and regular meeting to discuss committee reports and district state testing. The body is deciding on the approval of the 2024/25 Non-Athletic Field Trip Directory and the purchase of music curriculum resources.
- Approval of 2024/25 District Non-Athletic Field Trip Directory and Guidelines
- Purchase of Quaver Music Curriculum Resource for 2024/25 not to exceed $65,400.00
- Review of District State Testing Report
- Adoption of minutes from August 26, 2024 Special and Regular meetings
Special Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will vote on a PILOT program to reschedule regular public meetings from Thursdays to Wednesdays at 6:00 pm at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School, and eliminate caucus meetings for September through December 2024. The program is to be revisited at the January 2025 reorganization meeting. Public comment periods and an executive session for confidential matters are also on the agenda.
- PILOT program to move regular meetings to Wednesdays and cancel caucus meetings through December 2024
- Public comment period with 3-minute speaking limit and procedure for sign-up
- Executive session to discuss confidential matters under Open Public Meetings Act
Special Meeting / PUBLIC HEARING, 5:00 pm
The Jersey City Board of Education held a public hearing and approved the employment contract for Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez, effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027. The contract includes a base salary of $311,472 in the first year plus a $10,800 longevity stipend.
- Public hearing on Superintendent Norma Fernandez's contract
- Contract approved effective July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027
- Base salary of $311,472 in Year 1 plus $10,800 longevity
- 3% annual salary increase in Years 2 and 3
- Meeting held at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (PS#11) School Auditorium
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will consider approving the purchase of Cengage Inside licenses for English Language Learners and a Career and Technical Education agreement with New Jersey City University. The meeting will also include the adoption of previous meeting minutes and a public comment period.
- Approve Cengage Inside Licenses (up to $55,860)
- Approve NJCU CTE Articulation Program (up to $66,000)
- Adopt minutes from June 24, 2024, and June 27, 2024
- Public comment period with 3-minute speaking rule
- Executive session to discuss confidential matters
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will vote to approve new math and law curricula for implementation in September 2024. The meeting also includes the adoption of previous meeting minutes and a report on facilities updates.
- Approve Introduction to Law Curriculum ($3,600)
- Approve Algebra II/Precalculus Curriculum ($2,700)
- Approve Algebra II Honors Curriculum ($2,700)
- Approve Algebra I Honors Curriculum ($2,700)
- Adopt minutes from May 6, 14, 20, and 22, 2024
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
This regular meeting includes voting on the proposed 2024-2025 district calendar, accepting the 2022/23 audit and corrective action plan, and approving contract renewals for communication systems totaling $39,737. Also on agenda are committee reports, public comment, and adoption of prior meeting minutes.
- Approve 2024-2025 Proposed District Calendar
- Accept 2022/23 audit and approve Corrective Action Plan
- Renew contract with Finalsite for $39,737 for Mass Communication System
- Approve 2024-2025 Integrated Communication Systems – Website and Design Services
- Public comment period with 3-minute speaking rule
Special Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education voted to suspend the B.I.T.E. organization's use of Lincoln High School facilities effective June 1, 2024, and indefinitely thereafter. The board also authorized the hiring of outside legal counsel to file ethics charges against Trustee Younass Barkouch.
- Suspends B.I.T.E. use of Lincoln High School effective June 1, 2024
- Authorizes hiring outside counsel to file ethics charges against Trustee Barkouch
- Directs Acting School Business Administrator to notify B.I.T.E. organization
- Requires removal of B.I.T.E. supplies and advertising from Lincoln High School
- Public comment period limited to 1.5 hours with 1-minute speaking time
Special Meeting / BOARD RETREAT, 6:00 p.m.
The Board of Education is holding a special meeting and board retreat. The primary purpose of the session is to conduct an ethics workshop.
- Board Retreat ethics workshop
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the final 2024-2025 school year budget, then vote to adopt it. The budget includes $667M in general current expenses, $22M capital outlay, $174.6M transfer to charter schools, and a tax levy of $443.5M, totaling $1,035,721,424 in appropriations.
- Public hearing and adoption of final 2024-2025 budget ($1,035,721,424 total)
- General fund tax levy of $443,468,009
- Transfer to charter schools of $174,565,730
- Committee recommendations for K-12 mathematics and K-8 social studies textbook adoptions starting SY2024
- National Arab American Heritage Month presentation
Special Board Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education voted to remove Vice President Younass Barkouch and nominate Trustee George Blount to replace him. The meeting also approved gifts and tuition payments for district schools.
- Motion to remove Vice President Younass Barkouch
- Motion to nominate Trustee George Blount as Vice President
- Approval of a $200 'Dreamer Bear' gift for P.S.#11
- Approval of tuition payment to Silvergate Prep (not to exceed $3,038)
- Approval of tuition payment to Public Schools of Edison Township
Virtual Board Meeting and Preliminary Budget Presentation, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will present and vote on the preliminary 2024/2025 school year budget, totaling $1.035 billion in appropriations. The board will also consider ratifying a collective bargaining agreement with the Educational Secretaries Association and a resolution on payroll tax efficiency to fund schools.
- Adopt preliminary 2024/2025 budget: $667M general expenses, $22M capital outlay, $174.6M charter school transfers, $183M special revenue — total $1.035B
- Approve General Fund tax levy of $443,468,009
- Ratify successor collective bargaining agreement with Jersey City Educational Secretaries Association (ESA) covering July 2023–June 2027
- Resolution on efficiency in collecting Jersey City payroll tax (estimated $86M/year for schools) amid state aid cuts
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education is asking the state legislature and governor for the power to enforce the city's payroll tax and conduct independent audits of businesses to fund schools. The meeting also includes the adoption of past meeting minutes and a presentation on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment.
- Request for state authority to enforce payroll tax
- Adoption of January 22, 2024 Caucus minutes
- Adoption of January 25, 2024 Regular minutes
- Presentation on NJ Graduation Proficiency Assessment
- Donation of decodable books from Just Right Reader
Special Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education convened a special meeting to discuss confidential personnel matters in executive session and to hear public comments.
- Executive session for confidential personnel matters
- Public comments period with three-minute speaking limit
- Meeting held at 346 Claremont Avenue
Regular Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education will ratify a collective bargaining agreement with the Paraprofessionals Association and approve a dual enrollment partnership with New Jersey City University. The meeting will also adopt previous meeting minutes and include a public comment period.
- Ratify collective bargaining agreement with Paraprofessionals Association (PPA)
- Approve NJCU dual enrollment agreement for 15 students, cost not to exceed $4,500
- Approve donation from DonorsChoose.org for Liberty High School
- Adopt minutes from December 11, 2023, December 14, 2023, and January 11, 2024 meetings
- Public comment period with a three-minute speaking limit
Special Meeting, 10:00 a.m.
This special meeting of the Jersey City Board of Education includes an executive session to discuss matters requiring confidentiality, followed by a consent vote on contractual matters. The agenda also includes public comments and procedural items.
- Executive session to discuss confidential matters
- Consent action on contractual matters (no details provided)
- Public comments period with three-minute speaking limit
- Roll call of board members
Reorganization Meeting In-Person, 6:00 p.m.
The Jersey City Board of Education held a reorganization meeting to administer oaths, take roll call, and adopt the School Board Member Code of Ethics. Trustees voted to elect Natalia Ioffe as President and Noemi Velazquez as Vice President for the 2024 term. The board also certified the November 7, 2023 election results and approved the 2024 calendar of regular and caucus meetings.
- Reaffirmed the School Board Member Code of Ethics (Bylaw 0142)
- Elected Natalia Ioffe as Board President (2024)
- Elected Noemi Velazquez as Board Vice President (2024)
- Certified 2023 Board election results with vote totals for each candidate
- Approved 2024 meeting calendar: regular meetings at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. School (PS#11) auditorium, caucus meetings virtual