LITTLE EGG HARBOR – The Little Egg Harbor Board of Education approved bus aide positions but had questions about their pay.
These were part of a long list of personnel changes during a recent meeting. The aides will be part of an extended school year program for special education students. They included six part-time bus aides. The positions will be from Monday, July 6 through Thursday, August 6 and will be paid $25 per hour.
The board approved three bus aides for students who require a one-to-one staff person, from Monday, July 6 through Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026 and will be paid $30 per hour.
The board also approved 38 substitute bus aide positions who will be paid $30 per hour and will work between the same calendar dates on an as-needed basis.
Members of the board raised questions regarding the salaries of the bus aides.
Board member Christine Snyder stated, “So on page Roman numeral 14, we have buses listed at $25 per hour and then at the bottom of page 13, we have bus aides at a period of $30 per hour, and the same thing at page 14.”
The board of education approved four registered behavior technicians, RBT, bus aides for $35 an hour on an as-needed basis, according to the agenda.
“Now, I understand the RBT bus aide is $35 an hour. I expect, I understand that because that’s a separate certification and they’re at a different pay rate. But, I don’t understand the difference between the $25 an hour bus aides and versus substitute bus aides at a higher pay per hour.”
Board member Laura Erber said, “I think I asked that last time and I was told that’s a requirement by [Superintendent] Dr. [Michelle] Cappelluti.”
Snyder said, “Why are substitutes paid higher? Historically, in the district, substitutes have been paid less for the same.”
Cappelluti said, “I don’t know. I will find out.”
Snyder said, “[Board member] Tiffany [Middlecoop] and I have discussed this. We’re getting hit with so many different numbers and so many different hires and different positions. It’s a lot to digest and then some days to have them discussed just prior to the meeting.”
Middlecoop said, “There’s never a straight answer. That’s my problem is there’s never a straight answer.”
Also as part of the personnel section of the agenda, the board approved the resignations of 10 staff members, including six paraprofessionals, transportation supervisor Michael Cofer, full time custodian Andrew Ramos, and per diem administrator Yvonne Reitz.
The board approved several stipend positions for the 2026-2027 school year including yearbook advisors Jordan Cusick and Shannon Kawka each in the amount of $2,250, student government advisor Joanny Hoffman in the amount of $2,250, and safety patrol advisor Timothy Vliet in the amount of $2,250.
The board affirmed the hiring of Elizabeth Castellano as a grade six teacher for $72,399 starting on Sept. 1, early childhood education teacher Katie Goya for $75,199, and grade 3 teacher Karlee Robertson for $72,599.
