GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Galloway Township Board of Education on Oct. 13 approved a series of routine agenda items across curriculum, finance, personnel and policy, and formally approved submission of the districts Student Safety Data System (SSDS) self‑assessment for 2024–25 (agenda item 5.5).

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes (Sept. 8, 2025): motion passed; one board member was recorded as abstaining during the minutes vote (transcript identifies the abstention but the speaker name is inconsistent in the record and is therefore listed as not specified).

- Agenda item 5.5 — Submission of SSDS/HIB self‑assessment (2024–25): approved on roll call (affirmative votes recorded from members present; no recorded no votes).

- Curriculum (items 6.1–6.4): approved on roll call.

- Finance (items 7.2–7.23): approved on roll call; one abstention was recorded on the bills list (page 39) specifically citing School Specialty LLC, PO numbers 605093 and 605094. The meeting transcript records the abstention but does not clearly tie that comment to a distinct roll‑call name in the written record; it is therefore listed as an abstention (not specified).

- Personnel: acceptance with regret of two retirement letters (item 8.1) for district food service staff — motion approved. New hires announced included a network and systems administrator starting in January and a mental health crisis counselor; items 8.3–8.11 were approved with two abstentions recorded on item 8.6 (Miss Loria and Missus Hermonow each asked to be recorded as abstaining on 8.6).

- Policy: items 9.2–9.7 approved (first/only reading where indicated); items 9.9–9.14 approved as first readings and will return for second readings as scheduled.

- New business (items 10.1–10.2): approved on roll call.

Noted abstentions and process details

- The finance vote (7.2–7.23) included an abstention on specific purchase order(s) for School Specialty LLC (PO 605093 and 605094) that the speaker identified during the meeting as an abstention on the bills list page 39. The roll call that followed recorded the remainder of the items as approved. Because the transcript records the abstention generically, the record here notes the abstention without attributing it to a specific board member.

- Personnel item 8.6 received two named abstentions: Miss Loria and Missus Hermonow were recorded as abstaining from that single subitem while voting yes on the remainder of 8.3–8.11.

How votes were handled

Most items were approved by motion and second with a roll call. Several items were presented as grouped consent actions (example: 6.1–6.4; 7.2–7.23; 8.3–8.11). Where board members asked for specific abstentions that were recorded on the public roll call, the transcript reflects those abstentions and they are listed above. The meeting did not record any failed motions on the items presented.

Context

The meeting also included a substantive presentation by student‑services staff on SSDS/HIB reporting (see separate item) and a public comment period during which multiple speakers addressed topics including inclusion, community safety and disability employment. The board adjourned following public comment; there was no executive session scheduled.

Formal actions extracted from the transcript

- Motion to approve the SSDS/HIB self‑assessment submission (agenda item 5.5): approved (see separate article for details).
- Curriculum approval (6.1–6.4): approved.
- Finance approvals (7.2–7.23): approved; abstention recorded on bills list page 39 (School Specialty LLC PO 605093, 605094).
- Personnel retirements accepted (8.1): accepted with regret; 8.3–8.11 approved; abstentions on 8.6 by Miss Loria and Missus Hermonow.
- Policy items 9.2–9.7 and first‑readings 9.9–9.14: approved as presented.
- New business items 10.1–10.2: approved.