Flemington-Raritan Regional School District

Role of the Board
The Board of Education is the governing body of the school district, responsible for developing policy to ensure the proper care, management and control of district affairs, and supporting the mission of educating our students to reach their full potential.  To that end, the Flemington-Raritan Board of Education sets district policy which is then implemented by the superintendent and administrators.

In addition to setting policy, the Board hires the superintendent; approves staff hirings, resignations, terminations and leaves of absence; reviews and adopts the district budget; approves expenditures; approves educational programs (curriculum), and otherwise ensures that proper facilities and equipment are available to support teaching and learning in the district.

Board of Education Meetings
Every January the Board holds an organization meeting to elect officers and set committees and appointments. There are standing committees that meet monthly to discuss specific issues and make recommendations to the Board as a whole. The standing committees of the Flemington-Raritan Board of Education are Instruction and Program, Operations, Personnel, Policy and Transportation.  Board members typically serve on multiple committees within the board structure. Board members are also appointed as liaisons to a variety of education-related and municipal organizations.

District Mission Statement
The following district mission statement is read publically at each board meeting.

Open Public Meetings
Board of Education meetings are typically scheduled twice each month during the school year and one time per month during July and August.  Board meetings are held at 7:00 PM in Lecture Room B132 at J.P. Case Middle School, 301 Case Boulevard, Flemington, unless otherwise noted. All regularly scheduled meetings are noted in the district calendar, district website, announced to Raritan Township, announced to Flemington Borough, announced within the six schools of the district and published in both the Hunterdon County Democrat and The Courier News.  You may also call the district office, (908) 284-7561, for meeting schedules and updates.

Executive Session Meetings
The Board of Education may meet in Executive Sessions, which are sessions closed to the public.  Executive Sessions are noted on the Board of Education Meeting Agendas.  Executive Sessions are required for the Board members to discuss legal matters, items of confidential nature, personnel and legal negotiations. Executive Sessions are typically scheduled prior to Open Public Meetings and may also continue directly following an Open Public Meeting.  Executive Sessions may be scheduled at any time the board leadership determines this type meeting is required. Proper notices are posted for all Executive Sessions held by the Board of Education.

Public Participation at Board of Education Meetings
The Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest.  On a board agenda, the public may address the board during the ‘Citizens Address the Board’ agenda item.

The meeting agenda will include the following language for this agenda item:

The public is invited to respectfully share their concerns, comments, and suggestions according to the Board's policy and by-laws. Please be aware that this portion is your opportunity to comment on items of concern regarding the agenda only. The second public comment is for comment on any issue. Each speaker will have 3 minutes, and the total session will be 30 minutes. The public is requested to sign the register and to state their name, municipality of residence, and group affiliation, if applicable.  While all comments will be considered, Board Members will not respond to speakers at this time. 

Citizens are invited to address the Board of Education using the designated microphone(s) in the meeting room.  Citizens are requested to introduce themselves and should note that the comments are recorded and are incorporated into the audio recording.  Citizen comments are requested to be a maximum of three minutes in duration.  The Board reserves the right to limit public comments to three minutes per citizen and may limit the duration of the Citizens Address the Board section of the meeting.  The Board President will announce instructions at the beginning of each session.

• Citizens Address the Board: First Opportunity to Speak: The first opportunity to speak is early in the meeting under the Agenda Item “Citizens Address the Board.” At this time, we request that citizens limit their comments to Agenda Items only.

• Citizens Address the Board: Second Opportunity to Speak: The second opportunity is towards the end of the meeting. At that time, the public may address the Board on any concern.

Board of Education Policies
All policies of the Board of Education and the regulations of the School District are posted on the district website under the Board of Education, under Policies and Regulations. 

Audio Recordings & Meeting Agendas of Public Meetings
Audio recordings and meeting agendas for all Open Public Meetings are maintained by the Board of Education on the district website. To listen to audio recordings, please click here: Audio

How to Become a Board Member
For more information about becoming a Board member, please visit: New Jersey School Boards Association.

• What are the requirements necessary to run for the Board of Education?

Board candidates must meet specific legal qualifications. Candidates must also submit a notarized nominating petition endorsed and signed by ten (10) registered voters from within the jurisdiction (either Raritan Township or Flemington Borough). For additional information, the New Jersey School Boards Association publishes a School Board Candidate Kit, which is available by contacting the NJSBA at (888) 886-5722.

• What kind of time commitment should Board members anticipate?

Board members can anticipate attending at least two Board meetings a month, several committee meetings, and various school functions. A significant amount of time for reviewing written materials is also required.

• What happens if a member moves away or decides to step down from the Board?

In the event of a mid-term vacancy, the public is invited to apply to fill the opening. The existing Board members interview the candidates and then appoint one candidate to the open seat.  The appointment to fill a vacancy is for the remainder of the calendar year.  In that year’s November general election, the position is open for election by the public.

Need more information on the Board of Education?
Citizens can contact the District Office, located at 50 Court Street, Flemington, (908) 284-7561, for more information about the Board of Education.

To File A Complaint for Non-Compliance of the New Jersey Department of Education's Strengthening Gifted & Talented Education Act:
Individuals who believe that the school district has not complied with the provisions set forth in the New Jersey Department of Education's Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act in regards to G&T may file a complaint with the District's Board of Education.  The Public Complaint Policy outlines the processes and procedures necessary to file a complaint. 

 In an effort to control SPAM, our district no longer provides direct links to staff e-mail accounts. To e-mail employees, please use firstname.lastname@frsd.us.