Soaring Heights Charter School
Board of Trustees Minutes
September 15, 2025
Call to Order:
The Board President called the meeting to order at 6:50 p.m. 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 online and NJ.com.
Roll Call:
Present Absent
Lisa McConagly
Mary Golden
Joan Incognito
Stephanie Miller
Irene Roberts
Natasha Persaud
Jane Mercante
Motions:
1. Approval of Board Secretary’s Minutes:
Approval of Minutes: Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Minutes for
August 18, 2025.
Moved: M. Golden Second: S. Miller
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
2. Approval of 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 August 31, 2025, showing a cash balance of $9,900,104.52
general account and $126,209.28 payroll account be approved.
Moved: L. McConagly Second: J. IncognitoMotion carried by unanimous roll call.
3. Approval of the Emergent Hire of Renee Duva as Special Ed Teacher:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the emergent hiring of Renee Duva,
Special Education Teacher, at the salary of $71,695 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: J. Incognito Second: M. Golden
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
4. Approval of the Emergent Hire of Tejashree Wathore as Teacher Assistant:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the emergent hiring of Tejashree
Wathore, 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: L. McCongaly Second: S. Miller
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
5. Approval of the Hire of Kameela Mohsen as Substitute Nurse:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the hiring of Kameela Mohsen,
substitute nurse, at a rate of $200 per day, effective September 1, 2025. The Board
accepts the applicant’s attestation that she has not been convicted of any crime pursuant
to New Jersey Statutes.
Moved: J. Incognito Second: L. McCongaly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
6. Approval of the Profession Development Plan for the 2025-2026 School Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Professional Development Plan for
the 2025 - 2026 school year.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: J. Incognito
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
7. Approval of the Continuation of the Partnership between Soaring Heights Charter
School and “21st Century Grant Community Learning Center Programs” After
School Program through St. Peter’s University for the 2025-2026 School Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves continuation of the partnership
between Soaring Heights Charter School and “21st Century Grant Community Learning
Center Programs” after school program through St. Peter’s University for the 2025-2026
school year.
Moved: M. Golden Second: I. Roberts
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.8. Approval of the Pay for the 2nd Session of the Summer Learning Program as
attached:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the revised pay for Summer Learning
Program Session 2 for the staff as attached.
Moved: L. McCongaly Second: S. Miller
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
9. Approval of the Readoption of the Mentoring program for the 2025-2026 School
Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees readopts the Mentoring Plan for the 2025-2026
school year.
Moved: I. Roberts Second: J. Incognito
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
10. Approval of the Adoption of the Resolutions Below:
Pursuant to the by-laws of SOARING HEIGHTS CHARTER SCHOOL, INC., a New
Jersey not-for-profit corporation and public charter school (the “Charter School”), the
members of the Board of Trustees of the Charter School (the “Board”) hereby consent to
the adoption of the following resolutions and to the taking of the actions contemplated
thereby:
WHEREAS, in order to secure a long term school facility, in furtherance of its
mission, the Charter School has entered into a certain Agreement of Sale dated as of
September [ ], 2025 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “Agreement”),
pursuant to which the Charter School has agreed to purchase from Lew Realty
Investment Co., L.L.C. (the “Seller”), certain real property identified as 28402 Lot 13 on
the official tax maps of the City of Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey, together
with all improvements located thereon, and having a street address of 1 Romar Avenue,
Jersey City, New Jersey 07305 (the “Property”), which Agreement provides for a
purchase price in the amount of Five Million Two Hundred Thousand and 00/100
($5,200,000.00) Dollars; a copy of the Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the
Agreement, the Agreement provides that the Charter School will enter into financingarrangements (the “Loan”) with the Seller, as lender, consisting of a purchase money
mortgage note (the “Note”) in the amount of Two Million Two Hundred Thousand and
00/100 ($2,200,000.00) Dollars, with a repayment term of five (5) years and bearing an
interest rate of 7.25% per annum, the repayment of which will be secured by a purchase
money mortgage on the Property (the “Mortgage”) and an assignment of leases and rents
related thereto; the documents evidencing the Loan shall be substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Loan Documents”); and
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Charter
School (i) to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, including but
not limited to the acquisition of the Property, and (ii) to enter into the Loan Documents
and perform all obligations of the Charter School thereunder, including but not limited to
the granting of security interests in the Property for the benefit of the Seller and to secure
repayment of the Loan.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Board resolves as follows:
RESOLVED, that the acquisition of the Property as contemplated by the Agreement and
the grant of security interests in the Property as contemplated by the Loan Documents are
in the best interests of the Charter School, and such actions of the Charter School are
hereby, ratified, confirmed, approved and adopted in all respects; and be it
RESOLVED, that Jacqueline Quagliana or any other officer of the Charter School (each
an “Authorized Officer”) is authorized (i) to execute and deliver, and any other
Authorized Officer of the Charter School is authorized to attest to any such execution and
delivery, in the name and on behalf of the Charter School, all documents necessary or
convenient to the consummation of the transactions contemplated under the Agreement
and the Loan Documents, and (ii) to perform on behalf of the Charter School all of the
obligations and to exercise all rights on behalf of the Charter School under the Agreement
and the Loan Documents, including without limitation the granting of security interests in
the Property; and be itRESOLVED, all actions heretofore taken by the officers and trustees of the Charter
School prior to the date hereof in furtherance of the acquisition of the Property and the
financing thereof under the Loan Documents be, and they hereby are, ratified and
approved in all respects; and be it
RESOLVED, that the authority conferred upon the Authorized Officers of the Charter
School by these resolutions shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit, such other
authority as any such Authorized Officer may have with respect to the transactions
contemplated by these resolutions; and be it
RESOLVED, that these Resolutions of the Board of Trustees of Soaring Heights Charter
School, Inc., may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which counterparts
when taken together, shall constitute but one (1) instrument, and copies of any
counterparts of these Resolutions signed and transmitted by electronic means shall be
binding for all purposes.
Moved: J. Incognito Second: I. Roberts
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
11. Approval of the Pest Management Plan for the 2025-2026 School Year:
Be it resolved that the Board of Trustees approves the Pest Management Plan for the
2025-2026 school year.
Moved: M. Golden Second: L. McCongaly
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
Adjournment:
There being no further business for the Board of Trustees, the meeting was adjourned at
7:17 p.m.
Moved: L. McCongaly Second: J. Incognito
Motion carried by unanimous roll call.
Submitted by:
Irene Roberts Angelo Vilardi
Irene Roberts, Recording Secretary Angelo Vilardi, Board Secretary