Paul Robeson Charter School
Minutes
Regular Board Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday April 28, 2026 at 4:00 PM
Location
1289 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Trenton, NJ 08638
-or-
remote
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
Trustees Absent
None
Guests Present
A. Wright (remote), B. Falkowski (remote), C. Freyer, F. Lund, J. Amenda, K. Lamilla (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 Apr 28, 2026 at 4:02 PM.
B.
Record Attendance
II. Discussion
A.
Dashboard
B.
Strategic Planning
C.
Budget Overview - Finance
D.
Development Committee / Fundraising Update
E.
Facility Update
F.
Talent
G.
Thank You Cards
III. Acceptance of Meeting Minutes
A.
Motion for Paul Robeson Charter School, Board of Trustees to accept the minutes from the March 3, 2026 board meeting.
V. Aggarwal made a motion to approve the minutes from Regular Board Meeting on 03-03-26.
B. Blount seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
IV. Motions for Approval
A.
Finance
B. Englezos made a motion to the following Finance Motions:
1. To approve the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for March 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 March 31, 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 March 4, 2026 through April 24, 2026.
3. To approve the following payrolls:
3/15/26 Payroll $312,554.09
3/30/26 Payroll $329,778.34
4/15/26 Payroll $332,879.73
4. Vended Meals Renewal: BE IT RESOLVED: that Paul Robeson Charter School, upon the recommendation of the School Director, hereby approves the 1-year renewal of the Commercial Vendor Contract with Karson Food Service for the 2026-2027 school year. The total estimated cost of the contract is $246,456.00. Per meal prices listed below:
Breakfast = $2.14
Lunch = $3.34
Snack = $0.99
5. FY27 Budget: To approve the FY27 Budget and its submission to the NJDOE.
T. Rebar seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
B.
Personnel
J. Cassimatis made a motion to approve the following Personnel motions:
1. To approve the following new hires:
Employee- Pamela Cocosis
Position- Elementary Autistic Support Teacher
10/12 month position- 10-month
Pay- see contract
Employee- David Forster
Position- 2nd Grade MLL Teacher
10/12-month position- 10-month
Pay- see contract
Employee- Thembeka Amen
Position- 7th/8th Grade Reading Special Education Teacher
10/12-month position- 10-month
Pay- see contract
2. To approve the following staff resignations:
Employee- Lois Lambing
Position- Teacher
Resignation Date- 6/18/2026
Employee- Maya Hackett
Position- Teacher
Resignation Date- 6/18/2026
Employee- Ronja Dickerson
Position- Teaching Assistant
Resignation Date- 6/18/2026
Employee- Daniel Rohe
Position- Teacher
Resignation Date- 6/18/2026
3. To approve the following staff stipend:
Employee- Nancy Gliem
Stipend Reason- Teacher Lead and Liaison
Amount- $3,500
4. To approve the Staff Positions and Salaries as per attached.
V. Aggarwal seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
C.
Policy/Miscellaneous
B. Englezos made a motion to approve the following Policy/Misc motion:
1. To approve the grant application submission for the NJDOE BRIDGE Competitive Cohort 2.
B. Blount seconded the motion.
The board VOTED to approve the motion.
V. Closing Items
A.
New Business
B.
Public Comment
None
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 6:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
S. Spuhler
Dashboard highlights are presented by John to the Board