Kearny School Dates, BOE Meetings, Registration & Parent Help for 2026–27
Kearny Board of Education searches can lead to very different tasks: checking a Board meeting, finding the 2026–27 calendar, registering a child, entering preschool, using Genesis, locating a school, reporting HIB or resolving a transportation, technology or special-services problem.
This independent guide organizes those tasks around current Kearny School District information, including Board leadership, meeting documents, the 2026 school-board election, school-year dates, registration, Genesis support, HIB contacts, health resources, Special Services, transportation and the district’s 2026–2031 strategic planning.
Kearny Board of Education NJ quick facts
District
Kearny School District, Hudson County, New Jersey.
Main office
172 Midland Avenue, Kearny, NJ 07032.
Main phone
Board size
Nine members.
President
Samantha Paris.
Vice President
John J. McKenna.
Superintendent
Flora Encarnacao.
Board Secretary
Juan Faciolince, Business Administrator / Board Secretary.
Correct Kearny: this page is for Kearny School District in Hudson County, New Jersey. It is not Kearney School District in Missouri, Kearny High programs in San Diego or the Town of Kearny municipal government.
Use it to verify Board membership, public notices, meeting documents, policies, budget materials and election information.
Verify Kearny Board of Education information →2026 Kearny Board of Education members
Samantha Paris
President
John J. McKenna
Vice President
Dr. Adeline Boyd
Board Member
Elizabeth A. Burke
Board Member
John Carey
Board Member
Cecilia Lindenfelser
Board Member
Laura Pettigrew
Board Member
Jose A. Soares
Board Member
Sebastian J. Viscuso
Board Member
Board names are time-sensitive. Elections, vacancies and reorganization meetings can change the roster and officer titles. Verify the live Board page before addressing formal correspondence to a member.
Board issue or school issue? Use the right first contact
| Your question | Best first route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Board policy, budget or governance | Board of Education | This is Board-level work. |
| Upcoming Board action | Agenda + Board reports | These show the actual item and supporting context. |
| Teacher / classroom concern | Teacher / principal | The school has student-specific facts. |
| New student enrollment | Residency / Registration | Residency and required-document review applies. |
| Genesis access | School / IT resources | Board members do not administer portal accounts. |
| IEP / 504 / evaluation | School + Special Services | Special-education procedures and privacy apply. |
| Bus problem | School + Transportation | Routes and dismissal issues are student-specific. |
| HIB / bullying | School HIB specialist / district coordinator | The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights process applies. |
How Kearny Board of Education meetings work
The Board publishes a separate meeting schedule, legal public notices, agendas, Superintendent reports, Business Administrator reports, public-hearing materials and minutes. Using only one of those documents can leave out important context.
Closed session
The Board’s standing notice currently lists closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Public session
The Board currently states that meetings reopen to the public at 7:00 p.m.
Supporting reports
Superintendent and Business Administrator reports can contain detail beyond the agenda title.
Final record
Use posted open-session minutes for the formal meeting record.
Do not assume the location. The Board Office is 172 Midland Avenue, but multiple 2026 regular meetings were moved to the Kearny High School Auditorium at 336 Devon Street. The current legal notice controls.
Best meeting-check workflow
Check the annual meeting-date file
Use it as a planning calendar, not as final proof that the time and location remain unchanged.
Open Public Notices
Look for a location change, special meeting, retreat, hearing or other legal notice.
Read the agenda
Confirm the business listed for discussion or action.
Open Board reports
Review the Superintendent and Business Administrator reports when you need supporting detail.
Check minutes afterward
Use minutes to confirm the posted formal record rather than relying on a meeting reminder or social-media recap.
Document trail already posted for 2026: the Board library contains the January reorganization materials plus February 17, March 23, April 20, May 18, June 22 and July 20 agenda/report materials, along with the 2026 Board Meeting Dates file.
Use the Board document library rather than an old search-result snippet.
Open Kearny Board document library →August 19, 2026 Kearny Board Retreat
Date
Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Time
5:00–8:00 p.m.
Location
First-floor Board Room, 172 Midland Avenue.
Purpose
Discuss goals and plans for 2026–27.
Action notice: the published retreat notice says action will not be taken.
Recheck before traveling. The legal notice states that date/location can be changed when necessary, with updated notice provided through district/public-notice channels.
Kearny BOE election: November 3, 2026
Election day
Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Seats
Three Board seats.
Term length
Three years for each available seat.
Candidate filing
Deadline was July 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
Candidate qualifications published by Kearny
Candidate-name warning: do not copy an early candidate list into a permanent guide. Filings, withdrawals and ballot certification can affect the final field. Use the current Hudson County election authority for the official ballot.
The Board page contains the current election notice and candidate qualification information.
Review the Kearny 2026 Board election notice →Kearny School District calendar: dates families should verify
The district calendar library lists separate 2026–2027 Academic Calendar and 2026–2027 School Calendar files. Use those district files as the final source before planning travel, childcare or appointments.
Opening day
Current indexed calendar: September 8, 2026 • single session.
First full day
September 9, 2026.
Instructional days
Current indexed calendar lists 180.
Scheduled final day
June 25, 2027.
Major planning dates currently indexed
| Date | Calendar note |
|---|---|
| Sept. 7, 2026 | Labor Day • schools closed. |
| Sept. 8 | First day • single session. |
| Sept. 9 | First full school day. |
| Oct. 12 | Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day • schools closed. |
| Nov. 25 | Thanksgiving Eve • single session. |
| Nov. 26–27 | Thanksgiving break. |
| Dec. 24–Jan. 1 | Winter / Christmas break. |
| Jan. 4, 2027 | Schools reopen. |
| Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day • schools closed. |
| Feb. 11 | Single session / PM in-service. |
| Feb. 15 | Presidents’ Day • schools closed. |
| Mar. 26–Apr. 2 | Spring-break period. |
| Apr. 5 | Schools reopen. |
| May 31 | Memorial Day • schools closed. |
| June 18 | Juneteenth observed • schools closed. |
| June 25 | Scheduled last day of school. |
Use the official district file for final planning. Calendar dates can be changed by weather, emergency closures, professional-development adjustments or Board action. This guide should help you find the date—not replace the district calendar.
Select the 2026–2027 Academic Calendar or School Calendar from the official document collection.
Open Kearny 2026–27 school calendars →Kearny registration: prepare documents before opening the portal
The district’s registration instructions tell families to gather the required documents before beginning the online registration portal.
Confirm Kearny School District residency
Do not register only because a Kearny school looks geographically close. The district’s residency process determines eligibility.
Review the required-document list
Gather the identity, residency, student-age, health and prior-school information required for the student’s situation.
Choose the correct program
General new-student registration and preschool-specific processes are not interchangeable.
Submit through the district-linked portal
Use only the portal linked from Kearny’s official registration page for sensitive student documents.
Watch for review / follow-up
An online form submission does not automatically mean every residency or placement step has been approved.
Protect private documents: residency proofs, birth records, custody papers, immunization records and student documents should never be uploaded to an unofficial Board-information site.
The district registration page contains the current document list, preschool instructions and official portal.
Open Kearny registration instructions →PreK3 lottery and PreK4/Kindergarten registration are different
PreK3
Limited seats. Kearny used a lottery for 2026–27 with sign-up from March 1 through March 31 and an early-April lottery.
PreK4
2026–27 online registration opened February 1. Placement was announced as first come, first served.
Kindergarten
2026–27 online registration also opened February 1 through the district registration process.
Age cutoffs
PreK4
The district registration instructions state that incoming PreK4 students must be 4 years old by October 1.
Kindergarten
Incoming Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by October 1.
Registration is not the same as guaranteed preschool placement. PreK3 has limited lottery seats, while PreK4 placement was specifically described as first come, first served.
Current-date note: the published 2026–27 PreK3 lottery window has already passed. Families seeking a space now should use the current preschool/district contact route for availability or waitlist information rather than relying on an expired lottery link.
Genesis Parent Portal: use the district-linked login and protect student data
Kearny’s Information Technology department identifies Genesis as a district student-information resource and publishes a “Using the Genesis Parent Portal” tutorial.
Student information
Use Genesis for district-provided student information and parent access.
Family tasks
Kearny schools also use Genesis for tasks such as parent-teacher conference scheduling.
Student access
Student Genesis access appears separately in official student-login resources.
Privacy
KSD technology resources explicitly link families to FERPA and student-privacy information.
If Genesis is not working
Start from an official KSD page
Do not enter credentials into a Genesis result for another New Jersey school district.
Use the district tutorial
Review KSD’s Genesis Parent Portal training before assuming the account itself is broken.
Wrong or missing student?
Contact the student’s school rather than repeatedly creating new accounts.
Use school technology help
KSD publishes school-specific Media Center / technology-support contacts for password and Chromebook issues.
Never post portal screenshots publicly. Student IDs, grades, schedules and other education information may be private records.
The official IT page contains the Genesis Parent Portal tutorial, device guidance and school support contacts.
Open Kearny technology & Genesis support →Kearny Chromebook repair and school technology help
The district publishes unusually practical device-repair instructions, so families do not need to guess where a broken student device goes.
Bring the device to the student’s school
KSD says a technology device needing repair should be brought to the main entrance of the child’s school.
Complete the repair form
A repair form is completed when the device is dropped off.
School-based repair
The district says the device is repaired at the child’s school.
Wait for pickup notification
The main office calls when the device is ready for pickup.
Published drop-off window: the current IT page lists technology-device drop-off at the child’s school between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Recheck the page or school before traveling because operational hours can change.
Kearny district schools: which office should families call?
Kearny’s official district site links five elementary schools, Lincoln Middle School and Kearny High School. For attendance, dismissal, classroom communication and same-day student issues, contact the student’s school before the central Board Office.
| School | Phone | Best use of school contact |
|---|---|---|
| Franklin Elementary | 201-955-5020 | Attendance, teacher, dismissal and elementary school questions. |
| Garfield Elementary | 201-955-5090 | Attendance, teacher, dismissal and elementary school questions. |
| Roosevelt Elementary | 201-955-5100 | Attendance, teacher, dismissal and elementary school questions. |
| Schuyler Elementary | 201-955-5105 | Attendance, teacher, dismissal and elementary school questions. |
| Washington Elementary | 201-955-5110 | Attendance, teacher, dismissal and elementary school questions. |
| Lincoln Middle School | 201-955-5095 | Middle-school attendance, programs, schedules and school issues. |
| Kearny High School | 201-955-5050 | High-school attendance, academics, counseling, activities and student matters. |
Meeting-location clue: Kearny High School is at 336 Devon Street, and its auditorium has been used for recent Board meetings. The Board/District Office is a different location at 172 Midland Avenue.
Kearny Special Services and SPEAK family support
Special Services provides specialized programs, placements and related services for eligible students. The district says its schools offer inclusion supports, resource-room instruction and resource-replacement classes.
Special Services
Director
Melissa DeLima
mdelima@kearnyschools.com
SPEAK
Special Parents of Education Advocates of Kearny supports families/educators of students with IEPs, 504 plans or school difficulties.
Early concern? The Special Services page also provides early-intervention information. Do not wait for a public Board meeting when the concern is about a child’s evaluation, accommodation or current services.
The official department page lists Special Services staff, early-intervention resources, SPEAK and transportation contacts.
Open Kearny Special Services →Kearny school transportation contact
Same-day route issue
Have the student’s name, school, grade, address and exact transportation problem ready. Contact the school too if dismissal is in progress.
Weather schedule
Use the current district announcement rather than assuming a delay schedule from a prior storm applies again.
Kearny HIB reporting and district Anti-Bullying Coordinator
Kearny school HIB pages provide an HIB report form, school Anti-Bullying Specialist information, district coordinator contact, Policy 5512, parent guidance and school-climate information.
District Coordinator
Courtney McShane
Coordinator phone
School-level reporting: each school can have its own Anti-Bullying Specialist. Use the child’s school HIB page or district HIB documents for the current specialist and report form.
Immediate danger: an HIB form or Board meeting is not an emergency-response system. Use appropriate emergency assistance when there is an immediate threat to safety.
Kearny’s document center has a dedicated HIB Forms and Information section; individual school pages also publish HIB contacts.
Open Kearny district documents →Nursing, immunization and community clinic resources
District health lead
Jennifer Mead, MEd., BS, RN, CSN is listed as District Coordinator of Health and Wellness.
Well Child Immunization Clinic
Kearny’s health page lists a Board of Health clinic operating by appointment for eligible children.
Clinic appointment
Eligibility matters: the district page describes the clinic for children who meet specified uninsured, underinsured or Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare conditions. Call before visiting.
The Nursing Department page includes medical resources, immunization information and community health links.
Open Kearny Nursing Department →Agenda, minutes, policies, OPRA or student record?
| What you need | Best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Upcoming Board item | Agenda | Shows business scheduled for discussion/action. |
| Supporting context | Superintendent / BA report | Can include background, contracts, staffing or administrative details. |
| Formal meeting record | Board minutes | Use posted minutes after the meeting. |
| Board rules | Policies & Regulations | Use current policy language rather than a summary. |
| Public district record | OPRA form / Board records | The Board library includes a Model OPRA Request Form. |
| Private student education record | School / district student-record process | Do not assume a public-record form is the correct route for private student information. |
FERPA/privacy warning: KSD’s technology resources specifically point families to FERPA and student-privacy information. Do not attach private student records to a generic public comment, social-media post or unofficial record-request service.
The Board document library contains policies, public notices, budgets, meeting materials, minutes and the district’s Model OPRA Request Form.
Open Kearny Board records →Kearny Strategic Plan 2026–2031
Kearny School District is developing a five-year strategic plan with New Jersey School Boards Association facilitation and community input.
Goal
Create shared district priorities designed to accelerate achievement and guide Kearny’s future.
Community input
Parents, staff and community members were invited into facilitated planning sessions.
Published resources
The district page includes State of the Schools material, video and meeting outcome reports.
2026 planning sessions
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| March 25 | 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Lincoln Middle School |
| May 7 | 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Lincoln Middle School |
| June 4 | 6:00–7:30 p.m. | Lincoln Middle School |
The district strategic-planning page includes current planning materials and outcome reports.
Open KSD Strategic Planning 2026–2031 →Common Kearny school problems and the correct next step
🗓️ You know the meeting date but not the location
Fix: check the current Public Notice. Recent meetings have used both 172 Midland Avenue and Kearny High School.
⏰ Search says the meeting starts at 5:30
Fix: that is the standing closed-session time; public session is currently listed for 7:00 p.m. unless a notice changes it.
📄 You need proof of what the Board approved
Fix: use the agenda/supporting reports and then posted minutes.
📅 You found an older school calendar
Fix: use the district calendar library and select the 2026–27 files.
🌈 You missed the PreK3 lottery
Fix: contact the preschool/district program for current availability or waitlist guidance rather than using an expired lottery form.
4️⃣ You registered for PreK4 and assume the seat is guaranteed
Fix: the district described placement as first come, first served; registration and placement are not identical.
🔐 Genesis does not show the correct student
Fix: contact the student’s school / KSD technology support instead of creating duplicate accounts.
💻 The student’s Chromebook is broken
Fix: bring it to the main entrance of the student’s school and follow the district repair process.
🛡️ You need to report bullying
Fix: use the school HIB report route / Anti-Bullying Specialist or district coordinator rather than waiting for a Board meeting.
🧩 Your child may need special-education help
Fix: begin with the school and Special Services at 201-955-5082.
🚌 A bus issue is happening at dismissal
Fix: contact the school and Transportation with the student’s identifying route details.
📁 You need a public Board record
Fix: search the Board document library first; use the OPRA route when a formal public-record request is actually needed.
🎓 You need your child’s private school record
Fix: contact the school/district student-record route rather than assuming the OPRA form is appropriate.
🗳️ You found candidate names on social media
Fix: verify the final election field through the official Hudson County election authority.
Kearny Board of Education FAQs
What is the official Kearny Board of Education website?
The Kearny Board of Education is part of Kearny School District in Hudson County, New Jersey. The district website is kearnyschools.com, and its Board area includes members, meeting documents, public notices, policies, budget materials, hearings and election information.
What is the Kearny Board of Education address and phone number?
The district and Board office is listed at 172 Midland Avenue, Kearny, NJ 07032. The main district phone number is 201-955-5000.
Who is the current Kearny Board President?
As verified August 15, 2026, Samantha Paris is listed as President and John J. McKenna as Vice President.
What time are Kearny Board of Education meetings?
The standing Board notice currently lists closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m. and reopening to the public at 7:00 p.m. A meeting-specific legal notice can change the practical details, including location.
When is the 2026 Kearny Board of Education election?
The election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Three three-year Board seats are scheduled for election. The candidate filing deadline was July 27, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
When does Kearny School District start school in 2026–27?
The current indexed 2026–27 calendar shows September 8, 2026 as a single-session opening day and September 9 as the first full school day. Families should verify the district’s current 2026–27 calendar file before planning.
How old must a child be for Kearny PreK4 or Kindergarten?
The district registration instructions state that incoming PreK4 students must be 4 by October 1 and incoming Kindergarten students must be 5 by October 1.
How did Kearny PreK3 registration work for 2026–27?
Kearny announced limited PreK3 seating through an online lottery. The 2026–27 sign-up period ran March 1–31 with the lottery planned for early April. Families seeking a seat after that period should ask the program for current availability or waitlist information.
Does Kearny School District use Genesis Parent Portal?
Yes. KSD Information Technology publishes a Genesis Parent Portal tutorial and student-information-system support resources. Families should use district-linked Genesis access and contact the school when a student’s account information is missing or incorrect.
Who do I contact for Kearny Special Services or HIB help?
Special Services lists 201-955-5082. For HIB, the district Anti-Bullying Coordinator listed on current school HIB pages is Courtney McShane at 201-246-3034. School-specific Anti-Bullying Specialists are also listed on school HIB pages.
Final Kearny verification checklist
Correct district?
Confirm Kearny School District in Hudson County, New Jersey and the kearnyschools.com domain.
Current notice?
Recheck meeting location, calendar file, election information, preschool availability and emergency updates.
Correct private-data route?
Use district-linked registration and Genesis systems before submitting residency, health, student or account information.
Verification scope: updated August 15, 2026 against Kearny School District’s Board page, Board document library, 2026 election notice, current legal notices, district calendar collection, registration instructions, 2026–27 early-childhood announcements, Information Technology/Genesis resources, Special Services and transportation contacts, HIB information, Nursing Department and Strategic Planning 2026–2031 resources.
Independent-site notice: BoardofEducations.org is an informational guide and is not Kearny School District, the Kearny Board of Education, the Town of Kearny, Hudson County or the New Jersey Department of Education. Current official notices, Board minutes, school calendars, registration decisions and district instructions take priority.