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
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
John and Kristen provided MOY Data