West Milford board approves written decisions on HIB investigations, notes personnel action

The West Milford Township Public School District Board of Education voted on Jan. 23 to accept the interim superintendent’s recommendations on recent HIB investigative reports and recorded a personnel action that will take effect Jan. 24.

A trustee moved that, in accordance with the requirements cited in the motion, the board approve issuance of written decisions affirming, rejecting or modifying the superintendent’s determinations following the Jan. 23, 2024 HIB investigations. The motion as read identified one incident report as unsubstantiated and another as substantiated. After a roll-call vote the chair announced approval of the recommendations.

Separately during the meeting a motion was made to terminate an employee referenced as 24773 effective Jan. 24, 2024; the motion was seconded and approved by roll call as recorded in the transcript.

The motions followed an earlier announcement that the board would move into executive session to discuss current litigation matters and attorney–client privileged issues. The board recessed into executive session at about 8:28 p.m. and reconvened later in the meeting to complete votes.

What the transcript shows and what it does not: The meeting transcript records the motion text, the identification of one HIB report as unsubstantiated and one as substantiated, and the chair’s announcement that the motions passed by roll call. The transcript does not provide a clear, complete roll-call mapping of every board member’s vote in a format that can be unambiguously reproduced in this article; names and some affirmative responses appear in sequence but the recording does not list a full, labeled vote tally.

Why it matters: HIB findings and personnel actions are formal board determinations that can affect discipline, student safety protocols and personnel status; the board’s written decisions become part of the public record and may require follow-up reporting or notifications to parties involved.

Next steps: The board approved issuance of written decisions; any further notices or appeals would proceed under applicable district policy and the procedures referenced in the motion.