Schools
Professional Contracts Extended Till End Of 2012
A narrowly approved resolution in February to move school board elections from April to November shifts timing to award professional contracts
The contract extension of district consultants and an update on the superintendent search were among some of items discussed during the April 23 school board meeting.
Fort Lee resident and parent Paula Colbath asked if competitive bidding is involved in the process of awarding professional contracts. She also asked the board if there was an update on the superintendent search.
District Business Administrator Cheryl Balletto said the school board election and reorganization meetings are typically held in April, but because the , the reorganization meeting, which is when the professional contracts are awarded, will be held in early January, 2013.
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As a result, the contracts were extended to December 31, 2012.
Among the contracts extended were Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer PA, the bond counsel, SSP Architectural Group, the architect on record, Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt & Fader, the construction attorney, Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs, LLC., the board attorney, and Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo & Cuva, P.A., the district auditor.
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“All of the vendors you see on this list at one point in time did go through an RFP [Request for Proposal] process, not specifically through this resolution, but when they first got hired by the Fort Lee Board of Education,” said Balletto.
“I did want to make this clear because a board member asked me,” Balletto added. “When it comes to the school auditor firm [Ferraioli, Wielkotz, Cerullo & Cuva], the $140/hour, that is not to do the annual audit, that’s if we need a special type of audit done, I would be able to call upon that person.”
The other professionals will be paid the following rates: Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs, LLC, the board attorney - $140/hour, Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt & Fader, the construction attorney - $175/hr per attorney, and Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer PA, the bond counsel - $2,000 if the bond passes and a bond sales fee not to exceed $30,000.
Members of SSP Architectural Group, the architect on record, will be paid contingent upon their position in the firm. To see the rate list, visit flboe.com.
As for the superintendent search, Balletto said search firm Leadership Advantage will provide an update to the board and public during the May 7 school board meeting.
In Febraury, , alowing Leadership Advantage to meet with residents prior to conducting its superintendent search.
The . The search firm eventually met with stakeholders in March.
Steven Engravalle is currently the district's interim superintendent.
