Soaring Heights Charter School
Board of Trustees
Meeting Minutes
June 23, 2025
Call to Order: 6:42 PM
The Board President will call the meeting to order and 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 and the Newark Star Ledger.
Roll Call:
Present Absent
Joann D’Auria
Mary Golden
Lisa McConagly
Jane Mercante
Stephanie Miller
Irene Roberts
Natasha Persaud
Motions:
1. Approval of Minutes:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Minutes for May 19, 2025.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
2. Approval of the Secretary’s and Board Treasurer’s Reports:
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 May 31, 2025, showing a cash balance of $9,230,233.23 for the general
account and $306,451.76 for the payroll account be approved.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
3. Approval of the Line Transfers as follows:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the following line transfers:
to line 45 $4,000 from line 46, to line 67 $50,000 from line 43, to line 69
$120,000 from line 54.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. Mercate
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
4. Approval to amend the Affirmative Action Team Resolution as Stated Below:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees amends the resolution approving the
following staff to the Affirmative Action Team: Jacqueline Quagliana, Hilary
Bowden, Renata Bigbie, Stephanie Vargas, Frank Chelbian, and Joanna D’Auria
to read: Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the following staff to
the Affirmative Action Team: Jacqueline Quagliana, Hilary Bowden, Renata
Bigbie, Stephanie Vargas, Frank Chelbian, and Joanna D’Auria and authorizes
the Affirmative Action Team to conduct the needs assessment and develop a
Comprehensive Equity Plan.
Moved: J. Mercate Second: L. McConagly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
5. Approval of the First Reading of the Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion
Technique for Students with Disabilities:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the first reading of Use of Physical
Restraint and Seclusion Techniques for Students with Disabilities as attached.
Moved: N. Persaud Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
6. Approval of the First Reading of the Sunscreen Policy:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the first reading of the
Sunscreen Policy (chapter 37) as attached.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
7. Approval of the Additional Evaluation and Workshop Bonus for 2nd Half of Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the additional Evaluation and
Workload bonus for the second half of the year as attached.
Moved: J. Mercante Second: L. McConagly Recused: J. D’Auria
Motion carried by majority roll call
8. Approval of the Board Meeting Schedule for the 2025-2026 School Year;
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Board meeting schedule for the
2025-2026 school year as follows: July 21, 2025; August 18, 2025; September 15,
2025; October 20, 2025; November 17, 2025; December 8, 2025; January 26, 2026;
February 23, 2026; March 9, 2026; April 20, 2026; May 11 2026, and June 8, 2026.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
9. Approval of the Lead Person’s Job Description, Evaluation Policy, and Evaluation Rubric for 2024-2025:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Lead Person’s Job Description,
Evaluation of the Lead Person Policy, and the Lead Person’s Evaluation Rubric for the
2024-2025 school year.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
10. Approval of the Board to Recess this Public Meeting and enter into Closed Session at 7:15 PM:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees recesses this public meeting and enters into a
closed session where the public will be excluded for the purpose of discussing personnel
issues which come under the provision N.J.S.A. 10.4-12, Chapter 231 of P.L. 1975. The
matters discussed in closed session will be disclosed to the public when circumstances
permit.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: I. Roberts
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
11. Approval of the Board to Return to Public Meeting at 7:35 PM:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the return to public meeting.
Moved: J. Mercante Second: L. McConagly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
12. Approval of the reappointment of Jacqueline Quagliana as Lead Person:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees reappoints Jacqueline Quagliana as Lead
Person for the 2025-2026 school year.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
13. Approval of the reappointment of Barbara McGrath as Supervisor:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees reappoints Barbara McGrath as the school’s
Supervisor for the 2025-2026 school year.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
14. Approval of the readoption of the Guidance for Virtual and Remote Instruction for 2025-2026 School
Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees readopts the Guidance for Virtual and
Remote Instruction Plan for the 2025-2026 school year.
Moved: J. Mercante Second: I. Roberts
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
15. Approval of the resignation of Kasim Chandler:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees accepts the resignation of Kasim Chandler as a
teacher assistant effective June 1, 2025.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
16. Approval of the Reappointment of the Following Board Members:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees re-appoints Lisa McConagly as president for a
three -year term - June 30 , 2025 – June 30, 2028, Mary Golden as vice-president for a
three -year term - June 30 , 2025 – June 30, 2028, Jane Mercante for a three -year term
- June 30 , 2025 – June 30, 2028, Irene Guirguis-Roberts as secretary for a three -year
term - June 30 , 2025 – June 30, 2028, Joann D’Auria for a three -year term - June 30 ,
2025 – June 30, 2028, Natasha Persaud for a two -year term - June 30 , 2025 – June
30, 2027, and Stephanie Miller for a two -year term - June 30 , 2025 – June 30, 2027.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: I. Roberts
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
17. Approval of the following Administrators, Consultants and Service Providers:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees appoints the following administrators,
consultants and service providers as listed for the 2025-2026 school year:
Lisa Dinallo, Anti-Bullying Specialist
Stephanie Mastropaolo, Anti-Bullying Coordinator
Angelo Vilardi, Board Secretary/Business Administrator
Catarina Bilotta, Treasurer
Sensory Kids, Occupational Therapy Services
Good Talking People, Speech Therapy Services
Natalie Hopp, School Counselor
Elia Russo, Social Worker
Kia Grundy, M.D., School Physician
Miguel Ventura, School Psychologist
Nancy Dean, Learning Disability Teaching Consultant
Jacqueline Quagliana, School Safety Security Officer
Barre & Company, Auditors
Hudson Lawn Enforcement
Johnston Law Firm LLC, Legal Counsel
Jani-King Cleaning Service
Myra Ibarra, Certifying Officer - Pension
Jacqueline Quagliana, Supervisor Officer – Pension
Lisa Dinallo and Stephanie Mastropaolo, Title IX Officers
Hilary Bowden, Affirmative Action Officer
Moved: J. Mercate Second: L. McConagly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
18. Approval of the reappointment of the Following Board Members:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees reappoints Lisa McConagly as Board
President, Mary Golden as Vice President, Irene Guirguis-Roberts as Recording
Secretary, Angelo Vilardi as Board Secretary/Business Administrator, and Catarina
Bilotta as Treasurer. In addition to the Board officers listed here, the current Board
roster consists of Joann D’Auria, Stephanie Miller, Jane Mercante, and Natasha
Persaud.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: J. Mercante
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
Adjournment:
There being no further business for the Board of Trustees, the meeting adjourned at
7:52 PM.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: N. Persaud
Motion carried by unanimous roll call
Submitted by:
Irene Roberts Angelo Vilardi
Irene Roberts, Recording Secretary Angelo Vilardi, Board Secretary