Plainfield Public Schools, NJ

Business Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will hold a business meeting on August 18, 2026, at Plainfield High School, where it will take action on several items, including the 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct and multiple memorandums of understanding with community partners. The board will also discuss reports from the board president and acting superintendent, and consider proclamations honoring local figures and organizations.

• Approval of the 2026-2027 Student Code of Conduct, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027
• Memorandum of Understanding with Greater Somerset County & Plainfield YMCA for student enrichment programs
• Memorandum of Understanding with Plainfield Community Outreach for student enrichment programs
• Memorandum of Agreement with ACCESS NJEA for Maxson Middle School professional growth
• Memorandum of Understanding with Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Mobile Dental Van for free oral health screenings

Business Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will approve the employment of several staff members and recognize two educators for their service. The meeting also includes committee reports and public comment.

• Resolution to honor Sheila L. Thorpe (23 years of service)
• Resolution to honor Sandra Joan Lindsay (35 years of service)
• Contractual appointments for teachers and staff with salaries ranging from $70,121 to $85,807
• Treasurer's report for review
• Approval of June 16, 2026 Business Meeting Minutes

Business Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will hold a business meeting to take action on several personnel items, including appointing three new directors and approving the 2026-2027 organizational chart. The board will also consider contractual appointments, staff transfers, and acknowledge the district's Professional Development Plan update. Public comments will be heard after committee reports.

• Approve appointment of Marcos Bayas as Director of Special Education at $152,265
• Approve appointment of Tristian Cox as Director of Curriculum & Instruction at $152,265 plus $3,000 stipend
• Approve appointment of Mykel Brooks as Director of Early Childhood at $146,616 plus $3,000 stipend
• Approve 2026-2027 district organizational chart
• Approve contractual appointments: Charee Bertram at Cook School ($78,152) and Robert Futrell at PHS ($99,207)

The Plainfield Board of Education held its final business meeting of the 2026-2027 school year. The board unanimously approved the formal consent agenda, which included numerous personnel actions, contract renewals, grant applications, and financial reports. The board also unanimously approved a resolution to enter executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters, and later resumed public session to adjourn.

• Approved formal consent agenda (8-0, Malone absent)
• Approved resolution to enter executive session for personnel & legal (unanimous)
• Approved resolution to resume public session (unanimous)
• Approved motion to adjourn meeting (unanimous)

Business Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will consider a Memorandum of Understanding with DuCret School of Art to provide free after-school visual arts enrichment for district students. The board will also vote on the treasurer's report for March 2026, approve contractual appointments for three new teachers, and adopt minutes from previous meetings. Committee reports on finance, policy, and academic excellence will be presented, followed by public comment.

• Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with DuCret School of Art for free after-school visual arts enrichment programming
• Treasurer's report for March 2026 to be reviewed and approved
• Contractual appointments: David Abraham (Music, $75,902), Serena Graham (Science, $74,402), Nashawn Taylor (Technology, $72,902)
• Reassignments/transfers of 28 staff members effective various dates
• Adoption of April 14, 2026 Business Meeting Minutes and April 28, 2026 Public Hearing and Final Adoption of the 2026-27 Budget Minutes

The Plainfield Board of Education approved the formal consent agenda, which included numerous routine items such as contracts, reports, and program approvals. Two items (O9 and O10) related to broker of record services were administratively pulled by the Acting Superintendent. The board also unanimously approved a resolution to enter executive session for personnel and legal matters.

• Approved formal consent agenda (8-0, Malone absent)
• Approved Bard Early College Sequence MOU for 2026-2027
• Approved MOU with Covenant Development Corp for Freedom School Program
• Approved 2026-2027 Courses of Study, Textbook List and Curricula Guides
• Approved 2026 Summer K-8 Summer Learning Academy, ESY, and 9-12 Summer Credit Recovery
• Approved 2025-2026 Title I Hubbard Family English Language Arts and Math Middle School Nights Amended
• Approved 2026-2027 Student 2 Science program
• Approved tax-exempt lease purchase financing resolution for equipment and vehicles

Public Hearing and Final Adoption of the 2026-2027 Budget

The Board of Education will hold a public hearing and vote on the final adoption of the 2026-2027 budget. The meeting includes a presentation of the budget and discussions on financial operations and student services.

• Final Budget Adoption 2026-2027 with a total base budget of $374,191,824.00 and a tax levy of $32,118,138.00
• Approval of a $4,000,000.00 withdrawal from the Capital Reserve Account for district capital projects
• Approval of travel and related expense reimbursements up to $317,441.26 for the 2026-2027 school year
• Approval of the Special Education Medicaid Initiative (SEMI) corrective action plan
• Resolution authorizing specialized Extended School Year (ESY) transportation with parent accompaniment

The Plainfield Board of Education held a public hearing and unanimously adopted the 2026-2027 budget, which includes staffing reductions tied to declining enrollment. The board also approved a consent agenda covering travel reimbursements, a capital reserve withdrawal, a corrective action plan, and specialized ESY transportation. Public comments raised concerns about budget accuracy, audit findings, and the impact of staff cuts on students.

• Adopted 2026-2027 final budget (unanimous)
• Approved travel and related expense reimbursement policy for 2026-2027 (consent agenda)
• Approved capital reserve withdrawal (consent agenda)
• Approved SEMI corrective action plan (consent agenda)
• Authorized specialized ESY transportation with parent accompaniment (consent agenda)

Business Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will consider several personnel actions including the appointment of Carlton Bynoe as Acting Supervisor of Compensation Administration with a $1,000 monthly stipend and additional responsibilities for Tasheen Epps with a $500 monthly stipend. The board will also vote on approving the Student Safety Data System report for period 1 (September-December 2025) and authorizing up to $1,352 for four administrators to attend the NJASA/NJAPSA Spring Leadership Conference in Atlantic City.

• Appoint Carlton Bynoe as Acting Supervisor of Compensation Administration (stipend $1,000/month, April 15 – June 30, 2026)
• Assign additional compensation duties to Tasheen Epps (stipend $500/month, same period)
• Authorize $1,352 for four administrators to attend NJASA/NJAPSA Spring Leadership Conference, Atlantic City, May 13-15, 2026
• Accept resignation of teacher Anisa Douglas (Charles & Anna Booker Elementary, effective June 30, 2026)
• Appoint Madai Pena as Assistant Custodian at $48,493 prorated salary (May 1 – June 30, 2026)

The Plainfield Board of Education approved the formal consent agenda, which included the Reduction in Force item, along with other personnel actions, reports, and field trips. The board also unanimously approved a resolution to enter executive session for personnel and legal matters. Public comments raised concerns about staffing reductions and the potential removal of specific administrators.

• Approved formal consent agenda including Reduction in Force (unanimous)
• Approved resolution to enter executive session for personnel and legal matters (unanimous)
• Approved minutes from March 17 and March 24, 2026 meetings (consent)
• Approved contractual and administrative appointments (consent)
• Approved resignations, retirements, and leaves of absence (consent)
• Approved school safety drill compliance report for March 2026 (consent)
• Approved field trips including Rock N Air, Museum of Natural History, Hershey Park, and Keansburg (consent)
• Approved tentative 2026-2027 budget (consent)

Business/Tentative 2026-2027 Budget Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will hold a business meeting to discuss and take action on the tentative 2026-2027 budget, including a preliminary budget presentation. Other agenda items include approval of a revised 2025-2026 academic calendar, appointment of a representative to the Educational Services Commission, and acceptance of staff resignations.

• 2026-2027 BOE Preliminary Budget Presentation (slide deck attached)
• Revised 2025-2026 10-month academic calendar, adding three emergency days on June 17, 18, and 22, 2026
• Appointment of Acting Superintendent Elizabeth Filippatos as representative to the Educational Services Commission of New Jersey for term through June 30, 2026
• Treasurer's report for January 31, 2026 submitted for board review
• Acceptance of resignations: Gwendell Holmes (Preschool Teacher), Farod Robinson (Residency Officer), Ozzie Sims (Assistant Custodian PT), Jennifer Villafuerte (position not listed)

Special Meeting

The agenda consists of procedural boilerplate and administrative reports. The board will hold an executive session for a legal update.

• Executive session for a legal update

Business Meeting

The Board of Education will consider the adoption of 10-month and 12-month academic calendars for the 2026-2027 school year. The meeting includes a review of the 2026-2027 budget and approval of various personnel appointments and transfers.

• Adoption of 2026-2027 10-Month and 12-Month Academic Calendars
• Review of 2026-2027 Budget
• Contractual appointment of Abeer Eljolani as SPED Math Teacher at Maxson Middle School ($101,350)
• Contractual appointment of David Carmen as Technology Support Specialist ($66,421)
• Approval of the Treasurer's Report dated December 31, 2025

Special Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education holds a special meeting to discuss the district's preliminary budget projections and budget oversight. The agenda includes a presentation on budget oversight and community understanding, and a discussion of preliminary budget projections led by the acting superintendent. Public comment will be taken at the meeting.

• Discussion of preliminary budget projections for Plainfield Public Schools
• Presentation on Budget Oversight & Community Understanding (file: PPSD_BOE_Presentation_02102026_Budget 2.pdf)
• Public comments period (30 minutes, 3-minute limit per speaker)

Business Meeting

The Plainfield Board of Education will vote on approving the official name and mascot for the Plainfield Early Learning Center, selecting the Bees following a student vote. The board will also consider multiple personnel actions, including the appointment of an assistant principal, contractual hires, transfers, resignations, and retirements. Committee reports and a public comment period are scheduled, followed by an executive session for legal and HIB updates.

• Approval of Plainfield Early Learning Center's official name and mascot as the Bees
• Appointment of Venetia Johnson as Assistant Principal at Plainfield High School at $132,627
• Contractual appointments: security officer ($51,315), three assistant custodians ($48,493 each)
• Resignations of three staff members (custodian, teacher assistant, SPED teacher)
• Acceptance of retirements (details pending)

Organization Meeting

The Board of Education will swear in newly elected members and elect a President and Vice President. The body will also adopt a Code of Ethics and establish the official meeting schedule and public participation procedures for the year.

• Administration of oath of office to DeShawne Allen-Jordan, Tamara Douglas, and Willie Pat Hembree
• Nomination and election of Board President and Vice President
• Adoption of the Code of Ethics for School Board Members
• Designation of Courier-News and Tap Into Plainfield as official newspapers of record
• Resolution recognizing January 2026 as School Board Recognition Month