Paul Robeson Charter School

Minutes

Regular Board Meeting

Date and Time

Tuesday March 3, 2026 at 4:00 PM

Location

1289 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

Trenton, NJ 08063

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, K. Somberg (remote), T. Rebar (remote), V. Aggarwal

Trustees Absent

None

Guests Present

S. Spuhler

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 Mar 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM.

B.

Record Attendance

II. Discussion

A.

Dashboard and MOY Data Review

John and Kristen provided MOY Data

B.

2026-2027 School Calendar Review

John provided next fiscal year's calendar to the board. 

C.

Facility Update

Shelby and Tyler provided update 

D.

Development Committee / Fundraising Update

Ken provided fundraising goals and other narrative concerning the Development Committee.

John and Katherine also provided future materials for review

E.

Talent

Aniyah provides update to the Board. 

III. Updates

A.

Enrollment

John provided to Board

B.

Emergency Drill Log

discussion of Emergency Drill Log

C.

Talent and Certification

provided by Aniyah

D.

Special Education Files Audit Update

IEP Compliance provided

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 January 15, 2026 board meeting.

B. Englezos made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 01-15-26.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

V. Motions for Approval

A.

Finance

V. Aggarwal made a motion to approve the following Finance Motions: 1. To approve the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for January & February 2026 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 February 28, 2026, 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 January 7, 2026 through March 3, 2026 3. To approve the following payrolls: 1/15/26 Payroll $319,983.09 1/30/26 Payroll $328,817.81 2/15/26 Payroll $321,218.86 2/30/26 Payroll $320,794.89 4. To approve the acceptance of the FY25 ACFR and AMR and its submission to the NJDOE. 5. To ratify the Amended FY26 Budget and its submission to the NJDOE.
B. Blount seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

B.

Personnel

B. Englezos made a motion to approve the following Personnel motions: 1. To approve the following new hires: Employee- Marcia Williams Position- Kindergarten Teacher Pay Rate- see contract Position Duration (10/12)- 10-month 2. To approve the following staff resignations: Employee- Brenda Cochrane Position- Teacher Resignation Date- 2/6/2026 3. To approve the following staff stipends: Employee- Donte Jefferson, Madison Collabella Position- Softball Team Reason- Leading weekly practices for students, at least 3 days a week, plus attendance at all competitions Amount- Jefferson- $3,500, Collabella- $2,000 Employee- Joshua Saar, Frank Howard Position- Baseball Team Reason- Leading weekly practices for students, at least 3 days a week, plus attendance at all competitions. Splitting Head Coach + Assistant Coach due to Saar being on leave Amount- Saar- $2,500, Howard- $2,500 Employee- Ashanti Waters Position- Track and Field Reason- Leading weekly practices for students, at least 3 days a week, plus attendance at all competitions. Amount- $3,500 Employee- Nancy Gliem Position- K-4 Special Education Lead Teacher Reason- Support in K-4 special education 40% of time, and 60% instruction. Amount- $3,000 for remainder of year Employee- Kristen Cihanowyz Position- 6th Grade Math Planning and Teaching Reason- Teach daily class for 6th grade, and complete all planning for the class Amount- $300/week.
B. Blount seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

C.

Student Field Trips

V. Aggarwal made a motion to approve the following Field Trips: Location- Neshaminy Shore Park Type- 8th grade trip Costs- Bus- $1,000, Trip- $2,000, Funding- $10/student + culture budget # of Student Attending- 74 + chaperones Date- May 25th Purpose- 8th grade trip Location- Philadelphia Zoo Type- 5th Academic EOY trip Costs- Bus- $2,000, Trip- $100, Funding- $5/student + culture budget # of Students Attending- 76 + chaperones Date- June 11 Purpose- Tied into science content and curriculum Location- Edelman Fossil Park and Museum Type- 6th grade Academic EOY trip Costs- TBD # of Students Attending- 76 + chaperones Date- June 11 Purpose- Tied into science content and curriculum Location- iFly Edison Type- 7th grade Academic EOY trip Costs- Bus- $1,000, Trip- $3,500, Funding- $20/student + culture budget # of Students Attending- 76 + chaperones Date- June 12 Purpose- Tied into science content and curriculum Location- Six Flags Type- 8th grade Academic EOY trip Costs- Bus- $1,000, Trip- $3,000, Funding- $10/student + culture budget # of Students Attending- 74 + chaperones Date- June 12 Purpose- Tied into physics instruction Location- Ledi Holocaust Exhibit Type- 8th grade Academic trip Costs- Bus- $1,000, Trip- free, Funding- none # of Students Attending- 74 + chaperones Date- Feb 26th Purpose- Tied to reading and social studies content and curriculum Location- Universal Display Corp Type- Distinguished Honors Trip Q2 Costs- Bus- TBD, Trip- free, Funding- none # of Students Attending- Approx. 60 + chaperones Date- TBD Purpose- Science content for grades 5-8 Location- AT&T Labs Middletown Type- Science Honors Trip Costs- Bus- $650, Trip- free, Funding- none # of Students Attending- 50 + chaperones Date- Feb 19th Purpose- Science content for 10 students in each grade, 5-8 Location- Watershed Institute Type- Distinguished Honors Trip Q3 Costs- TBD # of Students Attending- Approx. 60 + chaperones Date- May 28th Purpose- Science content for grades 5-8 Location- Terhune Orchards Type- K-2 EOY ASPIRE Trip Costs- Bus- TBD, Trip- $3,000, Costs- $5/student + culture budget # of Students Attending- 225 + chaperones Date- May 29th Purpose- Science content for grades K-2 Location- iPlay Type- 3-4 EOY ASPIRE Trip Costs- Bus- TBD, Trip- $4,300, Costs- $5/student + culture budget # of Students Attending- 150 + chaperones Date- June 12 Purpose- Science content for grades 3-4.
T. Rebar seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Following Curriculum Purchases

B. Englezos made a motion to approve the following curriculum purchases • Orten Gilliam – Reading intervention for 2nd and 3rd grade • $825 - Kinder Pack (2) • $825 - First Grade • $150 – Consumable Pack (2) • Here is the link: https://imse.com/imse-og-curriculum-kits/.
J. Cassimatis seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

E.

Policy/Miscellaneous

J. Cassimatis made a motion to approve the following Policy Motions: 1. To approve the grant application submission to the NJDOE NJ High Impact Tutoring program. 2. To approve the 2026-2027 School Calendar 3. To approve TEACH - Paul Robeson Agreement 4. To approve Dr. Bennett Professional Development Agreement 5. To approve for the Finance Committee to review and approve the FY2027 budget.
B. Blount seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.

VI. Closing Items

A.

New Business

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 5:59 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
S. Spuhler