Soaring Heights Charter School
Board of Trustees Minutes
August 18, 2025
Call to Order:
The Board President will call the meeting to order at 6:45 pm read the following statement: I submit that in compliance with Chapter 231 of the Laws of 1975, a notice for this meeting has been sent to the Jersey Journal online and NJ.com.
Roll Call:
Present Absent
Joann D’Auria
Mary Golden
Lisa McConagly
Jane Mercante
Stephanie Miller
Irene Roberts
Natasha Persaud
Joan Incognito
Motions:
1. Approval of Board Secretary Minutes:
Approval of Minutes: Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Minutes for July 21, 2025.
Moved: J.Mercante Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
2. Approval of the Board Secretary’s and Board Treasurer's Reports:
Approval of Board Secretary’s and Board Treasurer’s Reports for July 2025: Be it resolved by the Board of Trustees that the Board acknowledges receipt of certification from the Board Secretary that no line-item account has encumbrances and expenditures which in total exceed the line-item appropriation in violation of N.J.A.C.:6A:23-2.11(a). Further, the Board of Trustees, after review of the Board Secretary’s and Treasurer’s monthly financial reports, certifies that no major account or fund has been over expended in violation of N.J.A.C.:6A:23.2.11(b), and that sufficient funds are available to meet the Board of Trustees’ financial obligations for the remainder of the fiscal year. Therefore, it is recommended that the Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports for the month ending July 31, 2025, showing a cash balance of $9,577,483.15 for the general account and $125,703.64 for the payroll agency account be approved.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: M. Golden
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
3. Approval of the Resignation of Joann D’Auria to the Board of Trustees:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees accepts the resignation of Joann D’Auria, board member. The Board thanks Joann for her dedication to Soaring Heights.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
4. Approval of the Appointment of Joan Incognito as a Board Member:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves Joan Incognito as a member of the Board of Trustees for a three-year term from August 18, 2025 to August 30, 2028.
Moved: M. Golden Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
5. Approval of the Attached Revised Budget for 2025-2026 School Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the revised budget for the 2025-2026 school year as attached.
Moved: N. Persaud Second: J. Incognito
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
6. Approval of the Revised Teacher Assistant Salary Guide:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the revised Teacher Assistant
Salary Guide:
1st year - $38,000, 2nd year - $39,000, 3rd year - $40,000, 4th year - $41,000,
5th year - $42,000.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
7. Approval of the Attached Revised Salaries for 2025-2026 School Year;
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the attached revised salaries for the 2025 - 2026 school year.
Moved: J. Incognito Second: M. Golden
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
8. Approval of the Hiring of Christina Boyle as an ESL Consultant:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the hiring of Christina Boyle as an ESL consultant at a retainer of $4,000, and then $80 per hour thereafter effective September 1, 2025.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. Incognito
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
9. Approval of the Readoption of the ESL/ELL/ML Plan:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees readopts the ESL/ELL/ML Plan.
Moved: N. Persaud Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
10. Approval of the Contract with NJCU for 3 Interns:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the contract with NJCU to hire three interns at an hourly rate of $20 per hour for the 2025- 2026 school year effective September 2nd, 2025.
Moved: J. Incognito Second: M. Golden
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
11. Approval of the Emergent Hiring of Kerri Pappalardo as a Teacher
Assistant:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the emergent hiring of Kerri Pappalardo, Teacher Assistant at the salary of $38,000 effective September 1, 2025, for the 2025 - 2026 school year. The Board accepts the applicant’s attestation that she has not been convicted of any crime pursuant to New Jersey Statutes.
Moved: M. Golden Second: L. McConagly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
12. Approval of the Retention Stipend for Staff as Attached:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the retention stipend for the staff as attached.
Moved: J. Mercante Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
13. Approval of the Acceptance and Submission fo the ESEA Consolidation
Grant:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the acceptance and submission of the ESEA Consolidation grant (Entitlement grant) in the amounts of $200,603 for Title I, $16,679 for Title IIA and $12,874 for Title IVA for the 2025 -2026 school year.
Moved: J. Incognito Second: M. Golden
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
14. Approval of the Additional Pay for Second Half of Summer School:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the additional pay for the second half of summer school for the following staff members as attached.
Moved: J. Mercante Second: L. McConagly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
15. Approval of the Members of the Management Collaborative and
Consultants as listed:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees appoints the following Members of the Management Collaborative and Consultants as listed for the 2025 – 2026 school year:
Nicole Floyd and Eugenia Robinson – Gifted and Talented Coordinators
Lisa Dinallo – Homeless Education Liaison
Jacqueline Quagliana – ESEA Coordinator
Dr. Kia Grundy – School Pediatrician
Stephanie Vargas – ESL Point of Contact
Samantha Berman – Educational Stability Liaison
Barbara McGrath – Professional Learning Point of Contact
Jacqueline Quagliana – School Safety Specialist
Jacqueline Quagliana – Data Collection Coordinator
Hilary Bowden – Affirmative Action Coordinator
Stephanie Mastropaolo and Lisa Dinallo – Anti-Bullying Coordinators
Joanna D’Auria – Director of Special Education
Angelo Vilardi - School Business Administrator
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. Incognito
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
Adjournment:
There being no further business for the Board of Trustees, the meeting adjourned at
7:34 PM.
Moved: M. Golden Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
Submitted by:
Irene Roberts Angelo Vilardi
Irene Roberts, Board Secretary Angelo Vilardi, Board Secretary