Paul Robeson Charter School
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday August 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Location
Zoom
This meeting is being held in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and is open to the public. Notices were duly posted and the meeting was advertised in The Trentonian and The Times of Trenton. Formal action will be taken.
Trustees Present
B. Blount (remote), B. Englezos (remote), J. Cassimatis (remote), K. Somberg (remote), T. Rebar (remote), V. Aggarwal (remote)
Trustees Absent
None
Guests Present
A. Wright (remote), B. Falkowski (remote), C. Freyer (remote), F. Lund (remote), J. Amenda (remote), K. Lamilla (remote), K. Tini (remote), S. Smith (remote), S. Spuhler (remote)
I. Opening Items
A.
Call the Meeting to Order
K. Somberg called a meeting of the board of trustees of Paul Robeson Charter School to order on Tuesday Aug 19, 2025 at 4:03 PM.
B.
Record Attendance
II. Discussion
A.
Goal Setting and Data Review
B.
Facility Update
Shelby provided update to the board on building development.
Tyler provided updates on financial standing concerning the building.
C.
Development Committee / Fundraising Update
Ken provided Board with an update on Fundraising
D.
School Start Date Communication
E.
Strategic Planning Update
Moved to after relocation.
III. Updates
A.
Enrollment
Full enrollment with extensive waitlist.
B.
Emergency Drill Log
C.
Talent and Certification
Aniyah provided Board update on personnel.
D.
Special Education Files Audit Update
E.
HIB Report- Elementary & Middle School
IV. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes
A.
Motion for Paul Robeson Charter School, Board of Trustees to accept the minutes from the June 3, 2025 board meeting.
V. Aggarwal made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 06-03-25.
B. Englezos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
V. Motions for Approval
A.
Finance
B. Englezos made a motion to 1. To approve the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for June 2025 as per the attached. Pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:232.11(a), the Paul Robeson Charter School Board of Trustees acknowledges receipt of the secretary’s certification, and after review of the monthly financial report (appropriations section) certifies that, to the best of its knowledge, as of June 2025, no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C. 6A:232.11(b), and that sufficient funds are available to meet the school’s financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year.
2. To approve the Bills/Check List from June 4, 2025 through August 19, 2025.
3. To approve the following payrolls:
6/15/25 Payroll $ 276,789.50
6/30/25 Payroll $ 283,067.41
7/15/25 Payroll $ 90,563.28
7/30/25 Payroll $ 105,210.40
4. Stale Check List: To approve the voiding of the below stale checks:
Check Number Check Date Amount Vendor
11607 3/27/2024 $44.98 Chrissy Sibley
11797 6/14/2024 $550.00 Relay/GSE
12202 11/20/2024 $99.48 Freya Lund
5. To approve FY26 IDEA Application:
i. Basic - $142,426.00
6. Resolved, that the Board of Trustees approves the submission of the request through Artemis to destory records that have exceeded their required retention period as per the attached.
B. Blount seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
B.
Personnel
T. Rebar made a motion to 1. To approve the following new hires:
Name: Paige Brower
Position: MS Resource Teacher
10/12-month: 10
Name: Tiffany Squire
Position: Assistant Kindergarten Teacher
10/12-month: 10
Name: Khileah Scott
Position: Assistant 1st Grade Teacher
10/12-month: 10
Name: Ronja Dickerson
Position: Assistant 1st Grade Teacher
10/12-month: 10
Name: Maria Vargas
Position: 2nd Grade Lead Teacher
10/12-month: 10-month
Name: Brenda Cochrane
Position: 6th Grade Math Teacher
10/12-month: 10-month
Name: Joseph Kelley
Position: K-8 Music Teacher
10/12-month: 10-month
Name: Michael Wade
Position: Building Substitute
10/12-month: 10-month
Name: Maria Rios-Soto
Position: Food and Cleaning Service Aide
10/12-month: 12-month
2. To approve the following resignations/terminations:
Name: Erica Haradon-Brooks
Position: Teacher
Date: 7/21/2025
Name: Keasia McCoy
Position: Food Service Aide
Date: 7/21/2025.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
C.
Student Field Trips
D.
Policy/Miscellaneous
J. Cassimatis made a motion to To approve the contract with New Jersey Public Charter Schools Association for Annual Membership Dues for the 2025-2026 school year, totaling $16,875.
2. To approve the 2025-2026 HR Handbook
3. To approve the updated 2025-2026 School Calendar
4. To approve the final reading of following policies:
P1140 Affirmative Action Program
P1530 Equal Employment and Anti-Discrimination
P2415 Academic Standards and Accountability
P2422 Physical Education
P3240 Professional Development for Teachers
P5111 Eligibility of Resident and Nonresident Students
P5750 Equitable Educational Opportunity
P5512 Harassment Intimidation and Bullying
P5751 Sexual Harassment of Students
P2260 Equity in School and Classroom Practices
P1510 Americans with Disabilities Act
P2460 Special Education
P2411 Guidance Counseling
P2423 Bilingual Education
5. To approve Paul Robeson Charter School entering into a Contract (“Contract”) with InSite Health without publicly advertising for bids pursuant to the Public School Contracts Law, utilizing the extraordinary unspecifiable services exemption to public bidding set forth in N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-5(a)2. The Contract has been approved for a term of one school year for the base amount of $157,200.00, with the award resolution and Contract available for public inspection at the School’s business office during school hours.
B. Englezos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
VI. Closing Items
A.
New Business
B.
Public Comment
C.
Important Dates
D.
Next Board Meeting - September 30, 2025 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - November 18th 9:30 am
K. Somberg made a motion to Adjourn the meeting.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
5:37
E.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:37 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Spuhler
John provided results of last school year to the Board and put it out to the Board for future discussion on PRCS Academic Goals.