BRICK – Board of Education members finished out 2025 with a look at some key issues and projects during their most recent meeting.
Vice Board President Mike Mesmer provided the Finance Committee report during that meeting noting that he, fellow Board member Frances DiBenedictis and School District Business Administrator Jim Edwards were present for a brief committee meeting where they discussed state aid legislation.
Mesmer said that Edwards had provided an update on the status of the district’s 2024-2025 audit. “There was no audit recommendations which is a great thing. There were a couple of things of note for us to look for in 2025-2026 budget that we will be considering when we work on that budget.”
Edwards told the committee that “enrollment projections have been completed and the staffing projections have been going on as we speak so we are kind of in the thick of things with budgeting season for next year,” Mesmer reported.
He added, “we had some new advertising agreements – one from Renegade Heating & Cooling, a bus add-on, a three-year deal. Another is JAG physical therapy for a football banner for both high schools for a three-year commitment.”
He also mentioned a third advertiser, “My Guy Plumbing with two stadium banners and two arena banners (at) both high schools. Additional advertisements is a great way that we try to put some extra revenue in our budget. That was a big win.”
Board member Alison Kennedy reported on the latest meeting of the Facilities Committee saying she, Mesmer, Edwards and others discussed the Warren H. Wolf Preschool air conditioning. An update was given on the completion of the work. There was also a change order for the roof drain and all inspections were passed.
Kennedy added the Herbertsville Elementary School air conditioning project had some items that still needed to be done, specifically the need for pads, a condensing unit and the installation of a boiler pump over the holiday break.
The Osbornville Elementary School kitchen project was reported to be “almost wrapped up,” she said. A punch list needed to be completed before the project was closed out.
The Midstreams Elementary School, the air conditioning project’s electrical monitoring results “showed there was no need for a service upgrade however the electrical engineer is doing one final review of the solar (power) system’s impact on the study to further understand what additional load is available for the district’s future considerations,” Kennedy added.
She reported that in reference to plans down the road, the New Jersey Department of Education long range facilities plan system “is still in beta testing with roll-out being projected sometime in January to February.”
