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
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
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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
John provided update to the board.