Hunterdon Central accepts $135,000 state aid for transportation, $500 robotics grant and approves bus valuation and contract updates

The Hunterdon Central Regional High School Board of Education approved four operations and transportation items at its reorganization meeting, including small grants, a bus valuation and updates to vendor contracts.

The board accepted a New Jersey STEM Month mini-grant of $500 awarded to the district robotics team. Trustees also authorized a bus valuation with the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission not to exceed $5,000.

Separately the board accepted $135,000 in district state aid and designated those funds for regular-bus transportation. The board also moved to update professional services contracts for Omega Laboratories and Total Compliance Network; the motion covered contract updates rather than new vendor awards.

All four items were moved as a block and approved by roll-call vote; the board clerk announced the vote as unanimous.

Why it matters: The actions provide immediate, targeted operational funding and address transportation asset valuation and vendor contract currency. The $135,000 in state aid is specifically allocated to transportation rather than general operations.

Details and limits: The STEM mini-grant amount is $500. The bus valuation is authorized at a not-to-exceed cost of $5,000 and will be performed in partnership with the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission. The $135,000 was described as district state aid to be used for regular-bus transportation; the board did not provide a line-item spending breakdown beyond that designation during the meeting. Contract updates for Omega Laboratories and Total Compliance Network were approved; the transcript does not state the dollar amounts or the precise scope of the contract changes.

Decisions: The board approved the grant acceptance, the bus valuation authorization, the acceptance of transportation-dedicated state aid, and the service contract updates in a single motion. No trustee comments requesting further detail were recorded during the roll call.

Next steps: Staff will carry out the bus valuation and apply the state aid to transportation as authorized; the board did not specify additional reporting requirements during the meeting.