Board approves grouped finance and personnel items; secretary flags potential $63,000 in state aid

The Keyport Board of Education on May 15 voted to approve grouped finance agenda items and subsequent personnel recommendations, including a joint transportation agreement with Union Beach and acceptance of a $274,000 scholarship donation.

Board secretary Mr. O'Polo told the board the joint transportation agreement will allow Keyport to use a Union Beach bus for a specific student route, with Keyport paying roughly one‑third of the route cost to yield substantial savings to the district. He also asked the board to accept the previously announced $274,000 estate scholarship donation for a STEM‑focused scholarship fund.

During the finance discussion the board secretary reviewed a bill recently signed at the state level intended to provide relief to districts that lost state aid in earlier years. He said preliminary review of the state’s updated web budget tool suggests Keyport may qualify for approximately $63,000 if pre‑K funding is removed from the comparison formula, but emphasized he will research and confirm the eligibility and the necessary next steps before any budget adjustments. "I need to research this more," the board secretary said, noting calendar and software updates at the state level could affect the result.

The board then moved to approve grouped finance agenda items (agenda items 8.1–10.6). Roll call produced one abstention on a prior meeting attendance line and otherwise yielded approval; the motion passed. Later, the board approved personnel items (agenda items 11.1–12.11), including reappointment of a site supervisor, approval of a substitute custodian and appointment of an elementary teacher; the personnel motion was carried by roll call vote.

The board directed the secretary to return with confirmed details on the state bill’s impact and any necessary budget revisions at a future meeting if the district is eligible for additional aid.