Freehold Regional High School District board meeting, Aug 27, 2026
54 min · 0 public speakers
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What happened
What happened at this meeting
Freehold Regional board approves superintendent contract running until June 30, 2030 3:44
- At a public hearing on the superintendent's proposed employment contract, a staff member said the proposed salary for the 2026-2027 school year would be $285,000 with a salary increase of 2.5% each year thereafter, and a speaker later announced the motion carried. 3:12
- The superintendent reported on summer facilities work, annual assessment reports, chronic absenteeism and the bell-to-bell cell phone policy that takes effect September 8th. 7:57
- Committee reports covered summer credit recovery, AP testing and several policies, including the policy on student use of internet-enabled devices. 29:58
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Item by item (12)
- Opening and approval of minutes 0:17
- Michael Messinger said the meeting notice was posted on the district website and sent to the Asbury Park Press on Thursday, July 2nd, 2026. 1:01
- A staff member said the board also discussed the bus depot lease, security issues and facility issues, and personnel matters. 1:54
- Michael Messinger called for a motion to approve the minutes of the July 9th, 2026 regular meeting, and a roll call followed. 2:38
- Superintendent contract public hearing 3:12
- A staff member said the proposed contract would be a 4-year contract starting on July 1st, 2026 and would run until June 30, 2030. 3:44
- The staff member said the proposed salary for 2026-2027 would be $285,000 with a 2.5% increase each year thereafter, and that the contract eliminates the prior annual car allowance. 3:44
- Michael Messinger said there were no comments from the public. 6:43
- A speaker announced that the motion carried. 7:42
- Superintendent's report 7:51
- The superintendent said the district will welcome 42 new staff members and about 9,500 students when schools open on Tuesday, September 8th. 7:57
- The superintendent said the district is on a corrective action plan for chronic absenteeism, which decreased to 19% in the '24-'25 school year, with estimates of about 16% for '25-'26. 7:57
- The superintendent said new tennis courts were completed at Colts Neck High School and Marlboro High School and air conditioning units were put in on the second floor in all 5 high schools. 10:11
- Curriculum and instruction committee report 29:47
- Elizabeth Higley said 31 students regained credit lost because of attendance, 185 students completed credit-bearing courses and 36 students completed credit recovery at the summer academies. 29:58
- Elizabeth Higley said the district had 3,717 AP tests given in the 2014-15 school year and 6,787 test scores this year. 32:48
- Policy committee report 34:31
- Diana Cappiello said students must turn off internet-enabled devices and place them in assigned lockers, with a first offense leading to confiscation until the end of the day and a second requiring a parent to pick up the device. 34:38
- Diana Cappiello said Freehold High School is designated a school-wide Title I school, Colts Neck High School a targeted Title I school, and Freehold Township is not eligible this coming year. 35:03
- Diana Cappiello said the use of school facilities policy was revised to include an updated fee structure to be reviewed and approved annually. 38:26
- Agenda changes and public participation 40:16
- A staff member said there were no changes to the agenda, and Michael Messinger said nobody signed up for public participation. 40:27
- Personnel items 40:31
- Michael Messinger said items G1 through G14 include resignations, retirements and appointments, and a roll call followed a motion and second. 40:31
- Programs and operations items 41:40
- Michael Messinger said items H1 through 8 include the bill payment schedule, and a roll call followed. 41:40
- Buildings, transportation and physical plant 42:21
- Michael Messinger said items I1 through 10 include the award of transportation routes and an expenditure for the structural upgrade of the scoreboard at Colts Neck. 42:21
- Michael Messinger asked what happens when a parent raises an issue about the location of a bus stop. 42:52
- A staff member said parents should first visit the transportation page on the district website and can then reach the department by phone or a contact us form. 43:31
- Educational programs items 45:58
- Michael Messinger said items J1 through 20 include curriculum guides, an articulation agreement with Seton Hall for multivariable calculus credit and out-of-district placement. 45:58
- Administration items and policy readings 47:14
- Michael Messinger said items K1 through 9 include meeting dates through January of 2028 and policy readings. 47:14
- Diana Cappiello said there was a question about the internet-enabled devices policy, and a speaker asked how students needing devices for health concerns would be able to access them. 48:05
- A speaker said the district created a form for students who need a phone for medical reasons and is working on an identifier on student ID cards. 48:25
- Old business, new business and adjournment 50:06
- Peter Bruno thanked people for supporting a 5K for Contact and said all proceeds went to the hotline. 50:10
- A speaker introduced the district's new administrator of finance, who was described as a certified public accountant with 18 years of experience. 51:50
- A speaker made a motion to adjourn, and another speaker seconded. 53:23
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Video: posted by the district as “FRHSD Board of Education Meeting - August 27, 2026”