Pennsauken Board holds July retreat, moves into executive session to discuss personnel

The Pennsauken Township Board of Education met for a special retreat on July 12, 2025, at the Board of Education Administration Building in Pennsauken and moved into executive session to discuss personnel matters, including new positions.

Joanne Young, the board president, opened the retreat and confirmed that advance written notice had been transmitted to the Courier Post and Burlington County Times and posted with the township clerk, and that the legal notice stated formal action would not be taken at that time. The meeting’s agenda listed scheduled presentations on board ethics and governance, communications, a financial update, committee formation and a superintendent’s report.

The board approved a motion to open the public-comment period; no members of the public spoke. The board then approved a motion to close public comment. Both motions were recorded as carried. Following procedural items, the board adopted a resolution to adjourn into executive session under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12 to discuss matters exempt from public discussion. The resolution identified personnel — specifically "New Positions" on the agenda — as the reason for confidentiality.

At 11:57 a.m., the board approved a motion to close the public portion of the meeting and enter executive session (motion by Board Member McDevitt; second by Board Member Carey). The transcript records the board reconvening at 12:32 p.m. after executive session (motion by McDevitt; second by Carey). The record does not disclose the content of the closed discussion beyond the stated personnel rationale.

The meeting closed under "Good of the Order" and the board approved a motion to adjourn at 12:33 p.m. (motion by McDevitt; second by Alves). The agenda had listed presentations by Board Solicitor Jeff Caccese on ethics and governance, Board Member Lisa Eckel on communications, Business Administrator John Ogunkanmi on finance, and a superintendent’s report by Dr. Bevere; the transcript records those items as on the agenda but does not include presentation text or outcomes in the public record provided.

N.J.S.A. 10:4-12, cited in the meeting materials, authorizes public bodies to enter closed sessions for enumerated purposes; the board’s statement says matters that no longer require confidentiality will be made public when appropriate. The transcript does not record any formal public votes on policy or hiring during the open portion of the meeting.