Paul Robeson Charter School

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday November 20, 2025 at 4:00 PM

Location

Virtual

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), J. Amenda (remote), K. Lamilla (remote), K. Tini (remote), S. Smith (remote), S. Spuhler (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

B.

Record Attendance

II. Discussion

A.

Dashboard

John provided update to the board.

B.

Development Committee / Fundraising Update

Ken provided update to board about Munshine.

C.

Enrollment Amendment

John provides update to board about the enrollment amendment.

D.

Operation Warm Coat

John updated the board concerning a project 'Operation Warm Coat'

III. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes

A.

Motion for Paul Robeson Charter School, Board of Trustees to accept the minutes from the September 30, 2025 board meeting.

T. Rebar made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 09-30-25.
B. Englezos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Motion for Paul Robeson Charter School, Board of Trustees to accept the minutes from the October 28, 2025 board meeting.

B. Blount made a motion to approve the minutes from Special Board Meeting on 10-28-25.
J. Cassimatis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

IV. Motions for Approval

A.

Finance

V. Aggarwal made a motion to 1. To approve the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for September & October 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 September & October 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 October 1, 2025 through November 20, 2025. 3. To approve the following payrolls: 10/15/25 Payroll $349,552.71 10/30/25 Payroll $332,859.56 11/15/25 Payroll $338,169.11 4. To approve the submission of the Annual Charter/Renaissance School Fiscal Questionnaire, as attached, to NJDOE.
B. Englezos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Bryant Blount left meeting early 4:31 pm

C.

Facility Update

Shelby provided update to the board on the facility.

D.

Personnel

B. Englezos made a motion to approve Personnel motions.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Englezos
Aye
V. Aggarwal
Aye
T. Rebar
Aye
K. Somberg
Aye
B. Blount
Absent
J. Cassimatis
Aye

E.

Curriculum

J. Cassimatis made a motion to approve Curriculum motion.
T. Rebar seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
T. Rebar
Aye
V. Aggarwal
Aye
K. Somberg
Aye
J. Cassimatis
Aye
B. Englezos
Aye
B. Blount
Absent

F.

Policy/Miscellaneous

V. Aggarwal made a motion to 1. Resolution to Authorize Application to Commissioner of Education to Amend Charter to Permit Expanded Enrollment. WHEREAS, the mission of the Paul Robeson Charter (“School”) is to provide a personalized education that challenges, inspires and prepares all students to passionately pursue their dreams and lead a life of civic engagement; and WHEREAS, the School is delivering high quality education services to its students, evidenced in part by its students’ performance on standardized tests and evaluative performance frameworks; and Powered by BoardOnTrack 4 of 6 Purpose Presenter Time WHEREAS, the current maximum approved enrollment of the School is 675 students in each of the grades K through 8; and WHEREAS, there is currently excess demand for enrollment at the School, to service more students in grades K-8 expanding enrollment to 28 students per section from 25 that will increase enrollment from 675 to 756, an addition of 81 students or 9 students per grade; WHEREAS, the School has capacity to serve additional students; and WHEREAS, the School desires to provide a high quality education to students earlier to accelerate their growth and achievement; and WHEREAS, an expansion of enrollment at the School, would advance the mission of the School and the policies of New Jersey Charter School Program Act, which includes improving student education outcomes, accountability, choices for students. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that 1. The School Administration be and hereby is authorized to file an application to the Commissioner of Education to amend the School’s charter to service students from grades K-8th grade and increase its maximum approved enrollment by 225 students, from 675 to 756 students effective the 2026-2027 school year; and 2. The School Administration be and hereby is directed to duly provide a copy of this application to the Trenton School District and take any and all actions in furtherance of this charter amendment application, including, but not limited to, the preparation and filing of a letter to the Commissioner in support of the amendment application.
T. Rebar seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
V. Aggarwal
Aye
T. Rebar
Aye
J. Cassimatis
Aye
B. Blount
Absent
B. Englezos
Aye
K. Somberg
Aye

V. Executive Session

A.

It is expected that the Board will go into Executive Session.

V. Aggarwal made a motion to adjourn public session and open executive session - 4:55 pm.
B. Englezos seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VI. Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Regular Session

A.

Adjourn Executive Session and Reconvene Regular Session

K. Somberg made a motion to adjourn executive session and open public session.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
K. Somberg
Aye
B. Englezos
Aye
V. Aggarwal
Aye
J. Cassimatis
Aye
T. Rebar
Aye
B. Blount
Absent

VII. Closing Items

A.

New Business

K. Somberg made a motion to approve the following: 1. Motion to approve the following bonuses: a. Freya Lund - $20,000 grossed up, totaling $34,793.08 b. Simone Rose - $10,000 grossed up, totaling $14,963.41 2. Motion to approve a contractual increase to Young Scholars in the amount of $65,000, grossed up by 25%, totaling $81,250.00.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
Roll Call
B. Englezos
Aye
V. Aggarwal
Aye
T. Rebar
Aye
K. Somberg
Aye
J. Cassimatis
Aye
B. Blount
Absent

B.

Public Comment

C.

Important Dates

D.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:40 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
K. Somberg