Palisades Park School District board meeting, Sep 16, 2026
1 h 04 min · 4 public speakers
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- Who spoke · first speaks at
- Jun YimBoard of Education Vice President
- Justin JeongBoard Member
- Sergio CalleBoard Member
- Sookyung ParkBoard Member
What happened
What happened at this meeting
Palisades Park district plans health insurance broker search amid possible increase of over 30%
- The board began a work session to discuss and review agenda items, including meeting minutes, building and grounds, finance and personnel.
- The superintendent reported that more than 95% of the junior/senior high school is air-conditioned, that 14 new staff members started on opening day and that enrollment is down about 4% district-wide.
- A speaker called for a motion to approve the July meeting minutes and all committee agendas, and another speaker said everything was fine except policy 1316; no result was announced.
- Speakers at public comment asked how the district makes sure non-English-speaking students get the same learning and resources, reported broken bathroom stall locks and missing soap at Lindbergh, and asked whether the gym was part of the air conditioner work.
Item by item (14)
- Opening and meeting minutes
- The meeting was called to order at 6:37 PM at the Early Child Center, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call.
- The presiding speaker stated that notice of the meeting was provided by a written notice dated January 15th, 2026, and asked for any corrections to the July 15th, 2026 regular and executive session minutes.
- Building and grounds facility use
- Sergio Calle read the building and grounds agenda, which included a Recreation Department cheer camp.
- A speaker said the items were requests for use of school facilities and grounds.
- Education field trips
- Justin Jeong read a resolution to approve 6 field trips upon recommendation of the superintendent.
- Finance consent agenda
- A speaker listed 20 finance consent items, including the August payroll, secretary's financial reports, approval to advertise for bidding and a proposal for stairwell door replacement.
- A staff member said the nursing services agreement would add a second independent nursing service for Notre Dame through the non-public nursing program, with all funding provided by the state.
- Health insurance broker
- A staff member said the state notified the district that health benefits could rise by over 30%, and that the district's experience rating put it in a favorable position to market its plans.
- The staff member said the district would bring on a health insurance broker through an RFP and that any new plans must be equal to or better than current plans.
- The staff member said family plan coverage could be close to $90,000 and that around 20 people are in the top tier plan.
- Personnel agenda
- Sookyung Park read 17 personnel items, including appointment of staff, abolishment of part-time cleaner positions and approval of a negotiated settlement.
- A staff member said teachers appointed as yearbook advisors over the summer decided not to serve, so new teachers were being appointed, and acknowledged an error in salary totals after employees moved from the night shift to the day shift.
- A staff member said the district has about fifteen part-time cleaners and restructured hours so total hours in the facilities department remain the same.
- Policy agenda
- Jun Yim introduced the second reading of policy 5131.8 on use of personal electronic devices, along with a policy on listing of signs or displays prohibited.
- A staff member said the junior high school uses secure boxes for phones and Lindbergh students keep phones in lockers, and that the procedure is not written into the policy so it can be adjusted without amending the policy.
- Board remarks and voting procedure
- A motion was made and seconded to close the work session and move to the regular session.
- The presiding speaker welcomed everyone back to school and asked board members to log into a new board platform.
- The presiding speaker proposed voting on all items at once, with members stating any items on which they would abstain or vote no.
- Superintendent report
- The superintendent said the district welcomed 14 new staff members, is fully staffed and that enrollment is down about 4% district-wide.
- The superintendent said more than 95% of the junior/senior high school is air-conditioned and the district is holding over $300,000 until the architects recommend closing out the project.
- A staff member said a link to the new board platform would be on the district site by the next meeting, and another staff member said it is not cheaper but may save about 100 hours a year.
- Mentor program question
- A staff member said the mentor program is a New Jersey state requirement for certification because the staff member is new to New Jersey.
- Vote on consent agendas
- A speaker asked for a motion to approve the July meeting minutes and the building and grounds, education, finance, personnel and policy agendas.
- A speaker said everything was fine except policy 1316.
- Public comment
- A speaker at public comment said the main walk-in refrigerator at a school was not working.
- Speakers at public comment asked how the district ensures non-English speaking students get the same resources and said bathroom stall locks at Lindbergh do not work and soap is missing.
- A speaker at public comment asked whether the gym was part of the air conditioning project.
- Responses to public comment
- A staff member said the district has probably more than 50% of its students receiving ESL services, and that ESL teachers sometimes push into classrooms or pull students out to small groups, and that the district also has bilingual programs.
- A staff member said the gym was not part of the air conditioning project and that air conditioning would likely come up in the long-range facilities plan.
- Closed session
- The presiding speaker said the board would go into closed session to discuss legal matters and expected to take action.
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