Montgomery Board of Education Approves Policies, Grants, and Technology Upgrades

December 1, 2025

Nicholas Mistretta

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP — At its November 18 business meeting, the Montgomery Township Board of Education approved a wide-ranging action agenda covering policy re-adoptions, school safety assurances, instructional resources, special education placements, grants, major technology upgrades, and personnel items.

All action items from sections 1.1 through 4.2 were approved, with two board members recusing themselves from selected items and one member abstaining on a travel reimbursement resolution.

1.0 Administrative Items and Policy Actions

Under the administrative section, the board accepted routine monthly reports, including the student control report, the fire and security drill report, and the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) report. The board re-adopted all existing policies, regulations and bylaws for the 2025–2026 school year, with the understanding that revisions can be made by board action at any time. Members also approved:

The district’s School Safety and Security Plan Statement of Assurance
The Nursing Services Plan for 2025–2026
The annual Memorandum of Agreement between the school district and law enforcement
The Annual Health and Safety Evaluation of School Buildings Checklist Statement of Assurance

In addition, the board accepted a first reading of updates to several policies and regulations, including items related to internal controls, professional services, administrative employment contracts, curriculum content, eligibility for resident/non-resident students, and the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) program.

2.0 Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services

On the curriculum and instruction agenda, the board:

Approved a pending field trip for the MHS Science Olympiad Team to attend the 2026 National Science Olympiad Tournament at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, contingent on qualification. The trip would take place May 19–25, 2026, at no cost to the district.
Approved the addition of the book Inside Out & Back Again as an instructional resource for 7th grade language arts at the Upper Middle School.
Authorized professional development contracts for two music education consultants to support orchestra and band faculty, funded through ESEA FY26 Title II:
- Nate White, for orchestra pedagogy and instructional practice, not to exceed $2,000
- Todd Nichols, for band pedagogy, rehearsal techniques and repertoire planning, not to exceed $4,000

The board also approved a series of out-of-district placements for students with specialized needs for the 2025–2026 school year, including tuition and related fees for placements at New Hope Academy, Mercer County Special Services School District, and a 1:1 aide arrangement through the South Brunswick Board of Education.

In support of inclusive athletics and unified programming, the board accepted Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) grants for Unified Champion Schools:

$2,000 for Montgomery High School
$3,000 for Montgomery Upper Middle School
$750 for Montgomery Lower Middle School

3.0 Operations, Facilities and Finance

On the operations and finance side, the board:

Accepted the Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for the month ending September 30, 2025, certifying that no budget line item had been over-expended.
Ratified budget transfers through September 30, 2025, to meet district needs while maintaining balanced accounts.
Approved a bill list totaling $15,886,159.44, including $15,677,768.99 from the general account and $208,390.45 from the food service account.

The board also approved:

A list of travel reimbursements for board members and staff for the 2025–2026 school year.
Acceptance of $111,645 in Capital Maintenance and Emergent Project Grant Funding.
An agreement with Penn Medicine for employee occupational health services, including substance abuse testing, with fees ranging from $68 to $175.
Acceptance of a $7,000 Bristol Myers Squibb “Cougar Robotics” grant to support the district’s robotics program.
Authorization for the district to purchase goods and services through the OMNIA Partners Government Purchasing Alliance National Co-op, as needed, at no cost to join.

Several significant technology and infrastructure contracts were also approved:

An agreement with Xtel Communications for a districtwide VoIP phone system upgrade, including 583 classroom and office phones, programming and installation, at a cost of $67,618.50.
An agreement with Pitt Bull Secure Technologies for three HPE network virtualization servers, associated software licensing and a five-year extended warranty, totaling $68,203.77.
An agreement with Comcast Business for a districtwide internet bandwidth upgrade to 7GB, at $2,195 per month for 60 months.
An agreement with Iron Mountain Information Management Services for document and records management services totaling $15,737.76.

In addition, the board approved the purchase of diesel fuel for district transportation through the Somerset County Cooperative Pricing Bid, using National Fuel Oil Inc. for both No. 2 Ultra Low Sulfur diesel and winter blend, at a fixed per-gallon upcharge.

4.0 Personnel Items

The board also approved a series of personnel resolutions (items 4.0 through 4.2) following discussion in executive session. These included resignations/retirements, leaves of absence, new appointments, transfers, grant-funded positions, mentor appointments, co-curricular and extracurricular assignments, and tuition reimbursement, among other standard personnel actions.

Specific names and positions were not publicly discussed in detail during the open session.

How Board Members Voted

The board took a roll-call vote on action items 1.1 through 4.2.

Board Member Ting Wang voted yes on all items.
Board Member Michelle Dowling voted yes on all items.
Board member Franco Herman voted yes on all items recusing herself from:
- Item 1.7 (Policy/Regulation first readings)
- Item 2.3 (consultant approvals for curriculum and instruction)
- Personnel items 4.0 through 4.2
Board member Christina Harris likewise voted yes on all other items and recused herself from:
- Item 1.7
- Item 2.3
- Personnel items 4.0 through 4.2
Board member Ania Wolecka-Jernigan voted yes on the agenda items but abstained on item 3.4, the travel reimbursement resolution.
Board member Vanita Nargund voted yes on all items.
Board member Maria Spina voted yes on all items.

With those recusals and the single abstention duly noted, the full action agenda passed.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/Headlinenewsmontgomery.com