Board of Education
The members of the Hazlet Township Board of Education thank you for visiting the Hazlet Township Public Schools' website and invite you to spend some time with us to learn more about our students, staff, and community.
JOIN OUR MEETINGS
The Hazlet Township Board of Education welcomes residents, staff members, students, and other interested persons to its meetings. This information, which we believe you will find informative, has been proposed as another means of forging a partnership among schools, the staff, and the community. Decisions of your elected School Board affect the education of our children and the well being of our community. The Board can better represent its constituents when members of the community take the time to observe the Board in action, to express opinions, and to ask questions.
We are pleased to have you here and hope you can join us often.
FUNCTION OF THE BOARD
The New Jersey Constitution mandates, “The Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State.”
The Board of Education is created by statute to perform a state function at a local level. The Board, within the powers delegated to it by law, is charged with governing the School District and is the policy making, legislative branch of the School District.
GENERAL INFORMATION
WHAT IS A BOARD MEETING?
It is a meeting of your school district for the transaction of the business of the district. It must be conducted in a specified manner because laws and regulations require certain procedures. Board members, as elected State officials, must make sure that they take all the actions required of them at each meeting. Board of Education Meetings are regularly held on the third Monday of the month at 7:00 pm and executive session at 6:00 pm.
WHO ARE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEMBERS?
School Board members are unpaid officials elected by qualified voters. They are empowered by the state to govern the public schools at the local level. Board members have no legal status except when sitting with other board members in a legally constituted meeting. Board members are elected to three-year terms in annual school elections, which occur in November. The board president and vice president are elected annually by members of the Board of Education at the re-organization meeting in January.
WHO ARE THE OTHER OFFICIALS PRESENT?
The Superintendent of Schools, an ex-officio member of the board, and the School Business Administrator/Board Secretary are seated with members of the Board of Education at public meetings. These school officials advise the Board of Education members concerning school and educational issues. They do not vote on matters before the Board of Education.
WHAT IS THE AGENDA?
The agenda is the order of business for the meeting. Based on board policy and procedures, the agenda allows for the efficient conduct of the board’s business. It also provides for public information and general information on the issues, as well as progress and accomplishments within the district.
WHEN MAY THE PUBLIC SPEAK AT MEETINGS?
Comments from the public regarding action items may be addressed to the Board President at the beginning of the meeting as noted on the agenda. Comments on all other matters are reserved for later in the meeting at the second Hearing from the Public. When recognized by the Board President, one should come to the podium, state his/her name and address for the record, keep comments or statements to no more than three minutes. The Board of Education welcomes and encourages comments from members of the community within an appropriate time limit.
WHAT ARE OPEN AND CLOSED (PRIVATE) SESSIONS?
All meetings of the Board of Education will be open to the public unless the matter under consideration falls under one of the categories specifically exempted under statute, i.e., personnel, lawsuits, student matters or contract negotiations. Exempt matters may only be discussed in closed session, but final action must be taken at a public session.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WORK SESSION AND A REGULAR PUBLIC MEETING?
Work sessions are planning meetings where the Board receives reports and information regarding the management of the school district from the Superintendent. Agendas and supporting documents are sent to the Board Members in advance of the meeting dates to allow the Board to study and review the information. During work sessions Board members have the opportunity to study and discuss specific topics in depth. Work sessions are open to the public. Action may be taken at a work session. The Board votes at Regular Public Meetings. During the Public Meeting it may appear as if some items are being voted upon with little or no discussion. However, this is not usually the case, since items may have been discussed at length at a committee meeting, work or executive session.
HOW CAN YOU CONTACT THE HAZLET BOARD OF EDUCATION?
The School Board welcomes your opinions and communications. Correspondence may be addressed to:
Hazlet Township Board of Education
c/o Tracy Petrino, Board Secretary
421 Middle Road, Hazlet, NJ 07730
MEETING AGENDA
OPENING OF MEETING - Call to order by Board President, roll call, reading of the Open Public Meetings Law, comments by the Board President.
PRIVATE SESSION (if needed)
HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC - Comments from the public regarding items on the agenda are welcome at this time. When recognized by the Board President, one should rise, state his/her name and address for the record. Speak only to the action items before the board and keep statements to no more than three minutes. Comments on all other matters are reserved for later in the meeting.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES - For the previous meeting’s minutes to be placed on file and be considered official, a motion must be made and passed for their approval.
ACTION ITEMS – Motions are presented to the Board for decision. Many of these items were discussed and reviewed at the board’s work session and placed on the agenda.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT - Items presented to the board regarding programs, issues, updates or highlights about different aspects of the curriculum, program or school district in general.
INFORMATION ITEMS - These include reports of committees and other information that do not require action by the board in the form of a motion. The Board may choose to discuss particular items of correspondence, old business or new business.
HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC on non-agenda items.
ADJOURNMENT
New Jersey School Boards Association
http://www.njsba.org/
National School Boards Association
http://www.nsba.org/
New Jersey Department of Education
http://www.state.nj.us/education
Garden State Coalition of Schools
http://www.gscschools.org/gsc
Board Members
Student Board Member
Abbey Dieppa
Meetings
Upcoming...
Links
Board Ethics
2020-2021 Board Goals