We're good, Eric. Okay. I don't remember. >> The New Jersey public's meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any businesses affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In
accordance with the provision of this act, the Belvier Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted with the Star Ledger in the Express Times and submitted to the town clerk of the town of Belvadier on January 15th, 2025.
The meeting will be livereamed at www.bevadierd.org. Flag salute, please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> The mission of the Beler School District is to celebrate our past and empower our future while focusing on our four cornerstones of our district, tradition, excellence, academics, and community. We strive to build confidence and provoke
collaboration. We encourage an equal partnership with our students and staff as well as its community members. We empower everyone to develop the best versions of themselves. The Belvadier School District is committing to committed to shaping students into global citizens who take initiative for their success and
contribute to the continued excellence of the district. Our students are leaders in the decision-making process of their education and will be prepared to excel in a 21st century society. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Blum. >> Mrs. Cerone,
>> here. >> Dr. Zepath, >> here. >> Mrs. Duckworth, >> here. >> Mr. Scott, >> Mrs. Stefen >> here. >> Miss Walton >> here. >> Mrs. Wer >> here. >> Ms. White >> here. >> Mr. Cherelli >> here. >> Mrs. Gardella
>> here. Mrs. Robbotham >> here. Okay, perfect. Okay, so we're on to committee reports, which we only had two of our committees um recently.
Any questions about any notes that came out or Okay. All right. So, we're going to move right on to our student um board representative and let her do hers so
she's not stuck here all night. Good evening everyone. My name is Hannah Labib. I am here as the Belvadier High School student representative. I have some information about upcoming events from our faculty and adviserss that they would like to share. First, for music and drama, the drama club is performing
their fall play, Alice in Wonderland, on Saturday, November 1st at 1:30 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Belier High School will be having our annual veterans program on Wednesday, November 5th, with over 40
veterans and active duty folk coming. FA this month has 10 students who will be helping in classrooms during the Halloween festivities on Friday. There's also a group of five students who will be running a program for those students who do not celebrate Halloween. These students have come up with a plan focusing on fall activities and science
and will be implementing it during the parade and party time. Next, Leo Club has been doing free face painting at all of the home football games. They will be having their induction and officer ceremony and dinner on November 11th at the Harmony Firehouse. Last weekend, Leos helped set
up quilt show at Belvier High School. Some of their upcoming Leo Club events are the Lions Club Halloween parade on October 29th, walking for the Lions Club to Cure Diabetes on November 15th, breaking yards in the town of Belvier on
November 26th, and on December 20 or December 5th, the seniors have a trip to bake and decorate cookies with the residents at Mirav. On December 7th, the Leos will be assisting the Harmony Lions Club at their annual Christmas party. And finally, Miss Larn's Spanish 2 honors
class will be joining Miss Prislac's classroom and making a day of the dead craft with her students. Thank you. Great. Thank you very much, Hannah. >> Yep. Okay. All right. So, we are going to do the testing presentation then. Okay.
Okay, now I got it. All right, good evening everybody. So, this is our uh annual testing presentation with the NJSLA, SAT, AP, PSAT results from last school year. So, this presentation just gives an
overview of all of the testing that we do. um standardized state and state testing that takes place throughout the year including the NJSLA. Um for last year it was grades students in grade nine and then students in grade 11 they take the NJ GPA which is their annual
graduation test. And then for those upper classmen who take the um SAT and the AP and then we have uh 10th and 11th graders who take the PSAT here at Belvadier High School. This hasn't really changed in previous years. We have the current laws
governing the assessment. So, it is a federal they are federal requirements. They are also state requirements. We um we must assess our students based on these laws. We look at their performance measures. So, growth over the years. Um
we do compare and you'll see in one of my slides or a couple of slides where we have comparisons for the grades when they're in grade three to grade four to see if there are any similarities changes and then it is a QAC compliance. So we um we have that as one of our
points that uh the county uh department of ed looks at when they do their QAC review. So some of the details, the procedures were pretty similar to 23 24. Nothing really changed there. In previous years
coming off of COVID, they did change things a little bit, but now that we've gotten back on track, they use the same reporting, administration, and scoring as in 23 24. They use five levels. Uh level one, which is did not meet expectations, all the way up to level
five. And you can see in parenthesis each of the score ranges for those levels. Test duration they do vary by subject but it's typically total 2 and a half to three hours uh depending on what test is given on which day. That
includes not only the test but administration collecting all of the you know materials that have to be collected, bathroom breaks, so on and so forth. So here you have the elementary school the ELA NJ and JSLA grade same grade
comparison. So the grade three students in 2024 achieved a score of 722 and then you can see last year in grade four they achieved a score of 723. So they are right on track with what they uh scored
the pre the prior year. And then again, grade four to grade five, very similar. Also, grade five to grade six, they obviously went up some points, which was nice. Grade six, again, similar. And grade seven to eight, also not too far
off from one year to the next. Here you have math. Math was a little different. Grade three to grade four, you can see that they went down a few points. uh grade four to five also grade five to six went up which was similar to
their ELA as well six to seven also went up grades seven to eight that's where we saw a bigger drop um and that you know we need to go through the the specific um reports to see what areas they um did
not succeed well in the algebra students in the eighth grade so eighth grade algebra students They were around the same range from year from 24 to 25. Here you'll have the average scores for
ELA uh com comparing Belvadier to the state grades three all the way through grade 9 and grade 11. You can see that um we are below the state average in uh pretty much all of
them. the NJ GPA, which is the graduation test. That's very positive to see that they were not that far off the state average. Here are the math scores. You'll see when we get down to algebra 1, we do a
district average because we have algebra 1 in high school as well as algebra 1 in 8th grade. They are broken down by groups, but you can see the comparisons there. again also lower than the uh
state average with the exception of the eighth grade algebra 1 students. they were five points higher than um the state and then the geometry students were not that far off uh from the state
science you the students are tested in grade 5, 8, and 11 only in science. And you can see that again um grade five and eight weren't too far off. grade 11 seems to be a little bit um further down compared
to the state. Sorry that this is so small but I tried to get all of it on one on one slide. Uh these are our AP scores and I always break it down by by the score itself for the students in that particular subject,
the number of exams that were taken, the average score in that class, and then the percent of exams with scores of three or higher because that's what we're um we're looking for our students to be able to score at least a three or higher. Uh for anybody that doesn't
know, many colleges will accept scores of three or higher and give students credit for specific courses. So we always like our students to, you know, try to get that minimum score of a three. Um the other thing that we do is
students who score a four or a five on their AP exams, we do reimburse them. So that's sort of an incentive for them to try to do the best and get those scores. We do have quite a few that do that every year. So, that's that's a nice
thing to see. Um, but you can see we go by the average score based on the particular class. And then obviously we like to look at the scores of three, four, and five and see how many of those students got the scores in those ranges.
We have AP courses in biology, calculus, English language and composition, English literature and composition, environmental science, European history, which is a few years old, psychology, Spanish language and culture, statistics, and US history.
>> Just a quick question, I forget. Do we require the kids to take the exam? >> We do. Okay. >> Yes, we do. >> I flopped a few times. I wasn't sure where we filmed it. >> No. One of the requirements to take the AP class is that you must take the exam as well. >> Can I ask you a question too? For the um three or higher or actually out of all
those advanced placement scores subject, which one of those are online? >> Are any of them? >> No. >> Okay. >> No, those are all taught >> in school. And then we have I love the College Board because they actually give this to
us so I don't have to do all the calculations myself. Um they give us a five-year summary. So you can see from 2022 all the way to 2025. We grew a little bit in 2022, dropped a little bit in 23, but now we kind of are steady at
that 68 67% of our students with scores of three or higher. And then you can see here it broken down a little bit more by year. The number of students, number of exams that are taken in our school, the
number of students with scores of three or higher, and then the total the percentage of AP scores of three or higher. >> Is there a comparison for the state on where we stand? >> No, because this these are um uh global tests, so they don't necessarily um have
the comparisons of state. We can compare globally but not necessarily by state. And then here are our SAT scores. So we offer the SAT in school for the juniors that choose to take it. They do um we
have a good number of our students typically take it every year. We had 47 testers last year and the minimum score uh the mean score was 1010. Compared to the state of New Jersey which was 8.88
and compared to US and global we still were higher than the rest of them. So that was very nice to see as well. I did break it down. They have an evidence-based reading and writing and they have math. So the evidence-based reading and writing you'll see here at
Belvadier the mean score was 525 compared to the state which was 451 compared to US and global again higher than the rest of them which is nice to see and the same thing in math. So the
SAT was very positive. It's good stuff. 485 mean score compared to 437 state and 470 US and global. What percentage of the number of testers out of juniors and seniors? So that's 47 testers. So out of
the total population of juniors and seniors, do we know? >> That's 100% juniors. >> So 100% of all juniors took the SH. >> Oh. Oh. The percent of the class. >> Yes. >> Probably about 50%. >> Yeah. We usually in the past when we've
had bigger classes it's been about 60%ish is our number but since our classes are a little bit smaller we've had about 50% of the kids >> and quick question also so which is fantastic to see that the SAT scores are doing so well how does how do you how do
you I guess what would be the reasoning knowing that some of the state scores are lower but then the SATs are so much >> so you're the state you're looking at the they're testing them on the New Jersey student learning standards, whereas the state they're they're
testing them for college preparation. So, you're going to have a difference in the test and the types of questions that they're asking. >> Any other questions? >> Um, do you have another slide or do you Yeah, I do. >> Oh, okay. I'll >> No,
>> that would have been easy. >> Okay. So, the PSAT, like I said, we we administer it to 10th graders and we also administer administered it to the 11th graders. And you can see here um with the so the PSAT, for those of you
that don't know, it's the preliminary SAT, it's the practice SAT. So, you can see here for our 10th graders, they were also above the n the New Jersey and national average in both um reading,
writing, and in math. And then you have your total of 65 students who took it. I break it down by gender and then break it down by how many met both benchmarks, the the reading, writing and the math. And then how many met the reading
writing by itself and the math by itself. And then to the right you'll see the 11th graders that opted to take the SAT and or the PSAT, I'm sorry. You have 989. you have um again well over the the New
Jersey and national score. Same thing with the reading, writing and the same thing with math. So the SAT and the PSATs were very successful tests for us last year. Now some support programs that we have
for the uh students at the high school. We have response to intervention which is a multi-tered system of supports and it includes the use of academic coaches. So when our students are having difficulty in certain subjects, we assign them an academic coach who kind
of helps them through that particular subject with the idea of having them fly away and not needing the use of the academic coach after however many sessions that they meet. Some of them need them all year and some of them just
need a little kickart and then they're good to go. We have our K to2 media center, uh, Cedar Studios where the students, you know, can go down and, um, do some really cool projects with Mrs. Bader. She is teaching a a pretty full
class load this year, so she's not down in the media center available as much, but she is down there, and I know students do still go down and work with her. Um, again, we have our peer support center where we have peer tutors through National Honor Society and a couple of
different other um service organizations that we can pair students with in in the event that they don't feel comfortable working with a teacher, they might feel com more comfortable working with a peer. So, we have that opportunity available for them. Our teachers are available twice per week for 15 minutes
during lunch to provide extra help. I know there are many teachers during the day that will have their kids come up and it might even be for the entire period uh because you know the kids need to finish a test, they need the support, they need the tutoring. So the teachers
are available during that time as well. And we also instituted a few years ago academic coaches for our student athletes to keep them eligible for sports at the elementary level. Uh for our K to3 we have the Renaissance learning
which we use freckle and lolo in ELA and math. The teachers assign those programs to the students especially in areas where they might be struggling to give them that extra support. We also have the RTI academic and behavior coaches
down there as well. And then we you use a PAPAC character education program in the classroom. You can see the same thing pretty much goes along with 4 through 5 and then 6 through 8. We do have an online learning program that can
support student safety and wellness. >> I have a quick question about that. So, I know last year um the middle school was a late adopter for the Renaissance learning and since there's been changes to that schedule and staffing, has that
been resolved or >> the I have to check with the middle school teachers to see how much they're they've been utilizing the Renaissance. I know it's a little different now with the with the schedule. Um but I will touch base with them on that. >> You're welcome.
We did have some elective additions at Belvadier High School. So we have now computer applications, social media and digital marketing for business, entrepreneurship, career exploration, advanced PE, sports ethics, woodworking
one, woodworking two, and nutrition for active teens. I do want to um add a little note here. I didn't put it here, but in the middle school we do have some of these elective options. Mr. Feldman is doing um like a career exploration
class. He is also doing like a computer applications class with the kids. So during their um one of their elective periods, he some of some of the classes he gets to see twice and he does a couple of different things with them. They do STEM as well with Mr. Feldman uh
during one of their rotations um in their specialist classes. Oh, I did have it there. How about that? There you go. They have their buddies class where the students do go down and work with the littles. They go and teach a lesson,
read a book. Um, and as I walk through the elementary school, you could see the little's faces light up when they see the big kids coming. They we are utilizing our Spanish teacher, Mrs. Lney, for middle school Spanish now. So, there is a period where
one of the days they go to Spanish, one of the days they'll go to music, one of the days they'll go to art. Mr. Z is doing the middle school music and Mrs. Null is doing the middle middle school art with them. And in eighth grade, they are required to take personal finance. Mr. Feldman is
doing that with them. So areas of focus and overall improvement to analyze the scores, determine those common themes, the areas of struggle um and the areas of strength for the kids because we know that some kids do succeed and we want to see how
we can assist them with enrichment opportunities. Uh but looking at those scores so that we can get a uh fine-tune what we're doing here based on the the needs of our students. utilize the Renaissance learning to help them target
those skills that they are weaker on and then utilize the RTI so that we can again help those those students with the elementary RTI. What we did was we looked at their scores and then we gave the RTI teachers the areas that those
students needed to focus on. They're going to focus on those skills from about four to six weeks. We will look at them again in four to six weeks and see if they've done well. If they have, then we'll move them on to another area that they might need help with.
And then we determine the need for academic coaches on a bas on a need on an as needed basis. So when those those concerns for students come up and we discuss them in the RTI meetings, we decide if an academic coach is what would be best for that particular
student or is there something else that we can do to assist that student? All right. Thank you. You had a question. I know you do. >> I do. Um, okay. Two questions really quick. Uh, what percent of high school students and specifically the seniors, I
don't know if you have this, um, that are taking the remedial math and English for graduation. Do we know that >> the math is a whole lot the the math class is a whole lot bigger this year than our English class? And I want to say there's a there when I first put the
class together it was about 30 kids percentage. >> Oh. Of the whole class >> of the Yeah. of Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. So 30 30 out of 80 something like I think it's like 80 is the senior class. >> Um so the English the remedial English
is a whole lot lower than than that. >> Okay. And then my other qu question kind of goes in tandem with my last question, but um for beyond education like such as Warren County Community College, do we know if they've started
um having the new entry students completing the exam to assess their level and if they need to take a remedial math or English um as one of their beginner courses before moving into click. So the that information so going
into Warren County when they take those the the >> entrance they had those that you had to take them if you didn't place at a certain level and then and then you could start your actual normal English >> they're those nonredit courses that they have to take. We don't get that information from the community colleges.
I know we we had talked about this in the past. >> I didn't know if they because I I thought what was said in the past is that they stopped um they stopped doing it but I didn't know if they restarted it. >> Well, right. So, a lot of colleges are still test optional. >> Yeah. >> Um, but that's kind of a little it's a
little different than than the taking those placement tests to see what courses they really should be starting in college to prepare them for those college level courses, but we don't necessarily get that information from Warren County. I can reach out to Janette Shinstein at Warren County and
see if she does have that information that or if she can, you know, pass me on to somebody else who can share that information with me. That would be a good um thing to look for in terms of growth >> outcomes. >> Absolutely. I agree. >> And I can just add that in the
>> curriculum committee last year. >> Yeah. >> We did ask and I believe this Dr. McKenna reached out >> and they had no testing as of last year. >> Okay. >> I'll double check with Janette. >> I remember it wasn't, but I thought that
they were going to think about bringing it back. Yeah, I'll double check with her and see if they change that and I'll let you know. >> Okay. Yeah. Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> Based on the data where most of our kids are not performing at the grade level, are our kids graduating based on passing
the state assessment, alternative assessment or portfolio? We have I don't have the specific numbers but I know the majority of our students pass pass the test and that's their with their for their as their using their graduation test requirement
then we have that the the 30 students or so who will use the portfolio. In the meantime though if they take the SAT they have an opportunity to take the NJSLA again in the fall. If they get the passing score then we can take them out of the portfolio. The state did change
their requirements also that they took the ASVAB test away, but now they say that if they take the ASVAB test, we can do a streamlined portfolio for them so they don't have to do as many pieces of the portfolio. So that's something different that we can look at this year.
I know we have one student that did that for this current senior year. But I would say the majority of our students use have the graduation tests as their, you know, is what we can use to help to get to input that showing that they pass that. And then we have a smaller
percentage that are in the portfolio. And then we usually have nobody else. It's either or. It's either they've passed the graduation test or they've passed an SAT, a PSAT. Um I forgot. They use ACUPPLACER, which is
one of the entrance exams. Um, so the majority of students will be graduation tests, SAT, PSAT, and then you have a smaller percentage that use the portfolio. >> Is it broken down how many actually pass like the NJ GPA versus using the
alternate means through the PSAT, SAT or ACUPPLAC? >> We haven't broken it down in the past that way. Um, but it's something that we can look at moving forward. >> I got one more. Do you do you have any idea how many students take advantage of the dual enrollment?
>> Off the top of my head, no. Um I can look at that and let you know. We do have we have we're lucky. We have a lot of dual enrollment classes for, you know, the size of Belvadier, but Janette is wonderful and she will always tell us, hey, you're running this class. This
class can be dual enrollment. Have your teachers put in for it because why not get, you know, dual enrollment credit for the kids. Um, but we do have a lot of kids that are enrolled in our dual enrollment classes. I can get that number for you as well. >> It doesn't have to be exact ballpark. >> Yeah, I can I can calculate it because
we have it set aside in Genesis all of our dual enrollment classes. So, I can just look at that look at the rosters and get you the number for that. >> What? >> No. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. McKenna. >> Thank you.
>> All right. So, executive session now. >> We're looking at Okay. Okay. So, now we're going to move to executive session. I need a motion for executive session. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All right. The board of education of the Belair school district and county of
Warren will adjourn into a closed meeting to discuss the items which fall within an exception of our opening meeting policy and permits the board to have a party discussion since it details a specific expect exceptions contained
in NJSA 10 4-12B and we'll be looking at collective bargaining agreements purchase lease or sale of property of real estate property in public interest could be adversely affected. Attorney client privileges,
personnel, employment matters affecting specific prospective or current employees. And that's our list for this evening. So, we will be looking to readjourn in approximately 45 minutes to an hour.
We'll do our best. Any discussion held by the board which need not remain confidential will be made public as soon as practicable. Minutes of the p private session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists. All appropriate persons who may
be discussed in private session have been adequately notified. The board will reconvene in public session at the conclusion of the close session in approximately the 45 minutes to an hour. Um, can I have
all in favor of moving >> acceptable? >> Yeah. All in favor of going into executive session. I >> Any nos? Any abstensions? >> Okay. So, we will return as soon as we can.
>> Thank you, Eric. Okay. So, we are on to public participation. This public partition per sorry I can't speak public participation is on agenda items only um it'll be 3
minutes per speaker a total of 30 minutes and there will be a second public participation um later on but agenda items >> for non-aggenda items. >> Yeah for non-aggenda items but this one is for agenda items. So if you have anything for agenda items come on up.
There you go. >> She does. Eric, do you have our timer? >> I don't have >> She's got her. Okay. Thank you. >> Um I got a phone. I can It's going to be a short question anyway. So, hi, I'm Chipo Chang from the Ridgeview Echo. Um I emailed you all last night. So, good to meet you in person. Um I had a
question about the test results that we had here and I wish Dr. McKenna were around because this is really a question for her or whoever has direct access to the data. Um I was uh chatting with a teacher Belvadier here. There's clearly a lot that the school is doing really well. Those SAT scores, that's something
to be proud of. Um the thing that concerns me that I I had in my head coming to this meeting is um the results compared to last year, the NJSLA results there in the K through8 especially. Um, looking at the NJ DOE data, we were
looking at, you know, maybe 18.8% I believe in the fourth grade of ELA and math were levels four and five, which means, hold on, let's do math for a second. 81% of the kids are not meeting grade level expectations in grade 4,
ELA, and math. That was spring 2024. Um, and meanwhile in eighth grade math, according to the spreadsheet, at least at NJOE, I checked it twice to make sure I was seeing it right, there were zero kids in levels four and five, which means 100% of the kids were not meeting
grade level expectations in math. So, I'm seeing it with your SAT scores, you do have kids who do very well, but if I had heard Dr. McKini correctly, that's only 50% of the kids taking the SAT. So what I am hoping some attention is going
towards is those 50% of the kids who are not taking the SAT. How are they doing if a 100% of the eighth graders last year weren't doing very well at all? Um so I don't know if anyone here has access to that information. >> This is a opportunity for public
comment. So it's not it's not a >> we appreciate your comment and the board able or feels like they want to respond they may at the end of the public comment session where it may be that you know somebody will look into it. >> Okay, that makes sense. Then I'm just
say that is the question that I would like to raise that I'm hoping you as the board are thinking about as well and I'm hoping to talk to Dr. McKenna to dig into that as well. >> Thank you very much. >> That's it. Thank you. >> Yep. Any other um public participation
for agenda items? No. Okay. So, we will move on to correspondence then. No correspondence. Okay. And we did our testing presentation. So, we are on to our superintendent report.
Can you hear me? >> There you go. >> Hey, it's okay. Um well uh I just wanted to say a um very big thank you to staff and students. They've been very welcoming since the start of my uh tenure here on
October 9th. It has been very busy, but it has been um really good to get to know some of the staff members, some of the students. I am still making my rounds. Um I, you know, hope to be able to continue to meet everybody individually. Um it's been a lot of
group hellos and and all those things. Um because it has been very busy, but you know, I was very um surprised and happy. Um my first day there was a welcome breakfast for me down in the elementary school. Students had created posters. I don't know if you got to see
before the meeting started there was um presentation on loop with just some pictures of different things that students had made for me um with the support of staff members of course and um it was just very heartwarming for me. So uh thank you to everybody who's been
so welcoming. Um I did actually get a Belvadier guide book by the second grade which was very helpful because they are teaching me about the different things in Belvadier and places in Belvadier that I can visit. um like the bookstore that came up a few times, so I'm excited about that. Uh strangely enough, I had
actually gotten information about the bookstore from my previous district. Um someone was raving about that store, so I am looking forward to um going there at some point. Um I was also able to enjoy the homecoming events, um the homecoming hallway decorating contest.
It was phenomenal. The students were so engaged and they did such a great job of representing different time errors and um Belvadier during those times. I it was just excellent. Um I also was able to enjoy the homecoming game. I was able to come with my daughter. She enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. We enjoyed the funnel
cake. Um it was very messy, but it was excellent. And um I'm looking forward to be able to do many more um attend many more events here in the district. Um Mr. Duckworth students this week left a pumpkin flower arrangement for me which was beautiful. It was also a picture on
the presentation. Um, and you know, I'm just getting to learn about all the beautiful things and the wonderful things that students are doing as fundraisers and different events for the school. Um, but really also, you know, these skills that they're learning to be able to take out into the real world. It's impressive and the staff is doing an excellent, excellent job of that and
supporting that. Um, I am proudly currently displaying that pumpkin arrangement in my office. Um, but it will be coming home with me this weekend because I want to display it at home as well. So, thank you to Mr. Duckworth and his students for that. Um there's going to be an opportunity for me to schedule
some community events so that I can meet individuals from the community, parents, um groups of students. It's going to take a little bit of time, but I am planning to hopefully get that in um by in the month of November. So just be on the lookout for notices for that. Um
okay, a few school happenings. New Jersey school boards convention was excellent. Um there were so many wonderful workshops, informational section, uh sessions and networking opportunities. Um and all of it was geared toward how to best support a district and how to best support the
students that are in district. Um which is great to see and you get so many great ideas um and some innovative ideas to be able to bring back into the schools. Um this week I want to thank Dr. McKini because she was the district test coordinator and she coordinated the
very last minute NJSLA NJ GPA, New Jersey student learning assessment adaptive and the New Jersey um growth profic graduation proficiency assessment adaptive which are two new tests that the state has put out to replace the
NJSLA which was the data results that you saw before. These adaptive tests the fall assessments are field tests. So the scores themselves won't be looked at or analyzed in a way like the spring assessments would be. But what they were looking to do with these field
assessments is to test out the program itself, test out the platform that they're using for the program program, give an opportunity for staff and students to get to learn the program so that when we do the uh formal testing in the spring, we'll be able to manage that
hopefully successfully. Um what I will say a difference between this new test and the test that the students have taken in previous years is the fact that it is adaptive. What that means is that when a student answers a question, the
test may um either bring a student to a higher level questioning or perhaps a lower level question dependent on how they answered the test. We don't know yet how that data is going to look. It is a new test compared to what was done previously.
Um, I will say it was somewhat of a last minute announcement to districts across New Jersey. So, getting this all together and put together and the scheduling and all the things that go along with it, you know, um, I am impressed by Dr. McKini and everything that she was able to get accomplished.
Um, also the staff who were test administrators also learning the system. Um, so thank you to everybody for for that. We are still in the process of testing. We will have makeup testing that we have to complete and there is a very short window to do all of that.
Um, congratulations to Miss Kane who was awarded a $500 visions grant to purchase materials for the one book one school project for grades K through five. Um, the final book chosen. I'm not going to uh, you know, burst any surprises. She
will say all of that. Um, but it was nice to be able to have that supported by a grant for our students. Um, I mentioned before as you entered some of the school happenings that were displayed on that presentation. My goal is to be able to do that often and at
every board meeting so that you can see what's happening in the schools. Um, I so many good things and we just want to be able to promote that for everybody. Um, things to look forward to. Hannah did a great job of um, stating some of them. The Alice in Wonderland play on
Saturday. Um, we have a senior vet program on November 5th. I am looking forward to that. Um, the NJSIAA girls soccer tournament home game is on November 5th as well. Um, we are excited because we are going to have Dr. Juan
Garcia, no relation to me. Um, two-time Super Bowl ring recipient for the New York Giants coming in to speak to our student athletes in the month of November. We're looking forward to that. that is going to be uh focused on being champions on and off of the field and it's focusing on mental health for
student athletes. Um college financial aid night November 18th and um we do have a save a date sent out there for Belvadier and sending district seventh and eighth grade students to be able to come um to our high school electives fair in the month of December. More
information is going to be going out to the districts for that. Um, just want to go back real quick. It has been a very very busy Is it three weeks? Three weeks? Not even maybe. >> I don't think it's even three weeks.
>> Yeah. >> Oh, tomorrow. Three weeks. Tomorrow. Three weeks. It has been very busy. Um, but we also just a few updates on a few other areas. Um, we do have special ed state monitoring that the district had gone through a couple of years ago. Those results are in and I'm working
with the state to get all of the information that they need just to finish that up. Um, we have are looking at a corrective action plan potentially for chronic absentism. I will get more information out about that. That has to do with our absenteeism percentage rates. Um, from a a school community
standpoint, I have many meetings and I'm meeting lots of great people, which is wonderful. and that's just to start building those relationships with community members. That includes our um SRO chief and juvenile police off liaison. Um St. Luke's which is our
partnering um for the athletic department. So we're excited about that. Um we are scheduling uh monthly roundt sessions with the sending district superintendent and that's again to build collaboration and just that open communication with them and our work
family connection. I'm also in the process of scheduling meetings with them. Um, lots going on in that area. Um, very busy but offer really good things. So, I'm very excited about that. There is an opportunity for a phone grant that's being provided by the state
um for the district. The phone grant itself would require us to um review the policy for cell phone usage by students. Um, in order to obtain the phone grant, we would be required to update the policy to be a bountell policy. So, we
would just need to determine if that's something that we would be willing to consider um to potentially put in for the grant. Do questions on that? Any questions on that for Dr. Garcia and what that would entail?
>> The phone grant you mean? So, so bell to bell meaning so where where do the phones go? >> So the grant itself what that supports is the purchase of um there's little uh storage units that you can purchase things where you would put the cell phones from the moment you walk into the building until the moment you leave the
building. By you I mean the student. >> Um so they would not have access to the phones throughout the whole school day. >> And what was the grant amount again? >> $1,588. And I'm assuming that's to purchase those device storage >> and to do any training that needed to go
along with it. >> And then we could could we pilot it and then if we find that it's um there's limitations to it then decide not to move forward or you once it's you have it >> in order to obtain the grant you are stating that you are going to if you're
accepting the grant >> um you are stating that you are going to have a bell-to-bell policy. How long? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. unclear and it's a districtwide K through >> districtwide. There's been good studies that have
shown this benefited student. >> There's other schools that I know in New Jersey that are utilizing the pockets. I from what I've read from the NJSBA newsletter, it's going well. >> I'm in favor of it. >> I support it 100%.
I do too. >> How would that affect children that have a reason to have a phone medical condition monitoring? >> That is the exception to that rule. So if you have a medical condition, something perhaps, you know, in a
special education program, something to that effect, then that is the exception to the rule for the bell-to-bell policy. If you put in for the grant and then it's decided that it's not something you want to pursue is how does that work?
>> So you could still do that. >> I would do we know what the typical cost of one of the I mean would the is the grant going to cover it in total or is it are these you know >> dependent on what you on what we purchase?
>> We could stay within the >> Okay. Since we would have to have multiple locations, >> correct? Right. >> So, I would support um applying for the grant and reviewing our cell phone policy in committee. Um we can get that
done. If we are granted the grant and we have all that information collected before we decide if we want to collect it, we can determine what the limitations are, maybe get some costs on what those packets. >> At what point do you have to reject or accept it? They'll give us the timeline
for everything as um the timeline to submit for the specific grants is this week. Mhm. I think my big question would be how are you monitoring who's putting their phone in a you know like how like how do you
keep charge of you know who's putting their phone in the pocket like they're supposed to who's not who just says I didn't bring it today >> similar to sort of like a code of conduct >> but now the current policy phone in classroom so if you're found
then there's process to that so >> I think that's yeah the polic Yeah. Yeah, we could talk about that >> if that's if we decide to accept accept it. >> Yeah. >> Do we need to vote if we're
>> I think everyone opposed to it. If you want to, you know, it may be clear >> have a voice vote. Everyone in favor of submitting the application but not necessarily >> moving >> not necessarily accepting the >> grant
>> grant you make it later but just submitting the application >> because we might not get it. >> Okay. So doing all in favor >> so I guess we'd be looking for do I do a motion? >> Okay. So motion
>> motion >> to accept the grant or to to submit >> for the grant to apply for the grant. Motion >> second. >> All in favor of applying for the grant not accepting only applying >> I
>> I. Any nos. Any abstensions? >> Okay. Okay. Anything else for your report? >> Oh, thank you. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Dr. Garcia. So we are looking for agenda items. Now we
will be starting with personnel agenda items. It is 1 through six. Plus you have what did I do with my paper? Thank you. >> Plus we have the add-ons of 6 A, 6B,
and the change to five. So you should all have that. Can I have a motion for items one through six? >> Motion. >> I have a question. I need a second. >> Second. >> Second. >> Okay. Any questions? >> I I have one.
>> Sorry. So, um on item number two, the this appears to be I guess are we correcting what we approved last month related to this? And why is there a need for a correction?
>> The first passed several several years ago. So, we went back and filed to find out what steps. >> So, that wasn't done when the the request came originally. Is that what I'm understanding? >> Are we talking about number two? >> Number two,
>> it's a step correction. >> Step correction >> had been done. >> So, last month we approved the one and now we're approving four. It's not an additional statement.
But so we made a mistake in in what was submitted to us last month. Is that my understanding? Or is it did something happened between last month and this month that prompted the step change? >> The person came to us and said, "Pretty
sure I did for some time. Can you go back and check it out?" >> I got you. Okay. Thank you. >> And then when that research is done, found that Is that your question? >> That was my >> I I have a question. Um under three the
equipment manager. I thought this was already approved >> or was I had that or I think we didn't approve this stipen. We approved the change in the title. Yeah. Okay. the title change the position title.
So just okay then why because why is this being approved now because this is all spring stuff and I believe who's already doing the job right >> well the bottom one that's a year round
position it's not >> that's just a change >> everything else is >> to what we already approved >> but everything else to to your point is >> is new spring >> is spring that we're approving Yeah.
>> But why but why wasn't this on the agenda the stipen last month is I guess my question. >> It was already approved before it's we're just approving the the >> title >> title position title. >> Okay. So next >> change that was requested in the last
meeting >> and pay. So it's a little more in the agenda. So, I see what they're saying. Like it does say formerly equipment manager now to be manager of athletics, but the it was Sorry, there's Hi. Um, it
is was just confusing because it is not clear what exactly we're approving. So, it just feels like we're approving him again for another >> That's what Yeah, >> it's under the spring column, >> I guess, right? For the confusion, >> right? And I remember because we talked
about the name change. Oh, >> the title change last. >> So this stipen is received not on an annual basis but on a seasonal basis. So we would have a for each sports season this this stipen exists for this person.
>> That's the confusion. That's >> okay. >> That's why >> that's what I thought. But then when we said no, it was listed under spring. >> The head of the column says spring. Oh. for this question. Um,
>> yeah, which is okay for now, but maybe going forward we can >> break it just break it into two separate two separate sections. >> Thank you for the lead in on my next question. Is it possible because we get the stipens and then when we have the
the payables we review, we may see equipment. Can we start looking at our programs at a holistic cost that girls soccer costs us when you factor in? >> We can do that in new business. That's >> okay. Thank you. >> Separate question.
>> Thank you. >> Any questions on the agenda items? >> No. Okay. Can we have a roll call, please, on one through 6B? Mr. Serbone. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Zep.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Duckworth. >> Yes. >> Miss Stephen. >> Yes. >> Walton. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wer. >> Yes. >> Miss. White. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cherelli. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gardella. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Robbatham.
>> Yes. Okay. So, we are on to education items 7 through 14A. You have add on to 12 and then you have 14A. So, can I have a motion for items 7 through 14A?
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions on any of those items? >> I just had a question for number seven. Um, do we perceive that our test scores at all are going to
um come up in the QAC assessment as an area of district improvement or based on the scores that we have. I would anticipate that we will need a district improvement plan for that. I mean, we have to wait for the county office to do its process and they have to provide us
those scores. Um if that were the case, if we score below an 80% in that area, um they will instruct us at the end of their part of the monitoring process that we will need a district improvement plan which would then typically be worked on um throughout the summer,
early fall to have for implementation for the following school year. >> And I know Chris answered this before, but I can't remember. are have we had a district improvement plan before for QAC with our test scores? I feel like we
have, but I can't I'm not sure. I'm not 100% sure. >> I don't quite remember. >> We've had district um for QAC before. I don't know specifically for that missed a point here or a point there for attendance or
you know so I don't know specifically for that but I know since I've been on the board we've had USC improvement plans >> okay any other questions 7 through 14A >> I just had a question on 13 the Dorney
trip is that uh an afterchool activity or are they missing class time for that >> Sunday. >> It's a Sunday. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions? >> And that Dornney trip that's not funded by the school, that's funded by the
booster club. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> Yeah. >> Should we be annotating that these approvals? I mean to know what is school actually what's coming out of the general fund versus what's coming out of booster
or is that or is it because it's field trips that's not relevant to that section I mean do you know what I'm saying like I look at it and I'm like >> mark it as a school event versus a booster club event or >> I don't see why we couldn't moving
forward right >> just a matter of liability as opposed to liability and >> cost. Yes. >> Well, well, that that does bring up a good point because this is the first >> booster club sponsored >> uh was booster club. >> I mean, we didn't be able to have a
Yeah. What's district funded versus >> booster funded? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I think we could do that moving forward. I don't see why we can't. >> Does that get does that on the agenda by filling out the activities
form for clubs or the fundraiser form or >> not the but >> you're asking on the >> I guess my question is I don't always well maybe that's the problem maybe I don't always know what are the act the booster club activities because it's
never identified so we may have approved others in the past and not realized it got it okay >> yeah yeah because it should be going in through administration to be an approved activity. >> Mhm. >> Right. Okay. >> So, okay. Any other questions?
>> Okay. So, for education items 7 through 14A, all in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> Any abstensions? Okay. Okay. Business items 15 through 22. Can
I have a motion on 15 through 22? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions on 15 through 22? >> No, you go first. I got to find my paper. >> Okay. I I just have a a question. Maybe a little bit more of a comment. I I
noticed that there were um we have a a lot of school supplies purchased in the last month and it was fairly vague on what those supplies are and I I guess maybe this could be addressed but it it
we have a lot of supplies that are also you know there's just a lot of chatter in town about supplies right parents purchase supplies school purchase supplies teachers purchase supplies so I don't know if it's part of the budget of each student or teacher if we have one or um
but it's always very unclear as to what the supplies are. It's just labeled as supplies. So um there were quite a few entries on pages 111, 109, 105, 104. So, I just wanted to just kind of ask if we could get a
little bit more detail around that and figure out if there's a way that we can maybe determine like a better way to >> what's being purchased, >> what's being purchased, how can we manage it a little bit better, target our list a little bit better in the beginning of the year, but it's very
hard when it just says supplies. Um, and it just seemed a lot for this month in particular. And do we budget for that? Those kind of miscellaneous, you know, oneoffs, this we need that. Is that in a budget?
>> Each class has a budget >> each. >> So that comes out of their their budget. So office supplies. >> So this could be like one purchase from Amazon was for sixth grade and it was just a list of school supplies. >> That I'm not sure.
>> Okay. >> It was on I have one on page 111. And of course, I'm looking at it digitally, so I don't know what that looks like on just from the bill list. >> Yes, from the bill list.
Most were Amazon. Some were from actual school supply companies. It just depends what the teachers put in and then the principles review it to see if it's >> well I'm not >> they have budgets that they
>> so I'm just looking for a little bit more detail I think in there so that we can kind of understand a little bit more. Um and then the other question I had was on page 116 around the facilities for the third street expenditures. I thought it was a little bit confusing. Um, and I wanted a little
clarity because it looked like our expenditures in 2022 2023 was around 10,000 then all the way down to a,000 for 23 24 um and then 24 25 2300 and then we're
projected 20,000 for 2526 and based on what we talked about at the last meeting around selling of the third street I would have assumed all of the months would all the years would be steady around that $20,000 Mark, so I was wondering if there was like what was
happening there. >> I think for clarity, you were looking at the school facilities annual maintenance budget amount worksheet >> because I I had that same question. There was a substantial fluctuation in in between
the prior year actual expenditures and what we were budgeting for this year especially we're not gaining it >> and whatever we might have been doing in 2023 24 maybe going to figure out what
that was it was so much less So, I don't expect an answer obviously today, but can we just visit that >> maybe for next month's meeting? >> I am. But, uh, going back to the payables, it seemed like there were a high number
of voided checks this month and I didn't see replacement ones listed. So, I was just looking it did something happen because I know we've had some lost checks and other things. So, just wanted to will we see these next month as
replacement checks or um sitting on my desk. I had Heidi write out why we had all of them. Um she did have some were printer problems. She has a new printer and some were replacement checks. Um,
for example, somebody wanted their middle initial printed on them when it was paid and not without it. So, it had to be reissued. Um, I have a a list of them on my desk if you want more detail.
So, if it was voided, we should see it either somewhere else in this month's payables or next month's. if it was voided and reissued or just voided altogether. >> Well,
it there's some they're noted like it's check 264 uh one ending in 65 void check voided on today 10:29. So, and I didn't see another check payable to them
>> to that same vendor. >> Yeah. So, that's why I was You want some of those shell? Well, I mean, I have to grab the one. My desk has answers. >> You want the answers right now? Any other questions in the meantime?
Do we Dr. Dr. Garcia, do you know what the budgets are for each one of the classrooms or >> I've been working on figuring out the budgets and for all the departments um related costs that we have associated.
So it is still a work in progress. I do not have it yet. >> So you don't have what each um classroom is allocated for supplies what's budgeted >> typically by classroom. It's by um either department or grade levels. And it's
bundled into like a kindergarten like there's ranges usually. So no, I don't have that list out right now. Um there's always, you know, something to look at when you're doing budgeting as to how we want to separate that and how
we want to do things based on the grade level, based on supplies that would be used at that grade level, the kind of um curriculum they're working on. So those are things you know moving forward that we will be looking at for the next year but it's established now I don't have that number.
>> So just as a side note for everybody remember when we get our agendas and we look at them between Friday and now to try and get some of these questions in via email so that we can have answers in a more timely manner because I sure it's
hard to say check number so and so. Oh yeah, that was this or that that happened 30 days ago. I'm >> I was on the train yesterday. Sorry. >> I know. I know. I'm just saying, you know, even if it's like last night you send it, then at least they could have a little bit of time just because it just makes things run smoother. I'm not
yelling. I'm not blaming. I'm I'm just reminding everybody because we have had changed in our ship, but I still think that's really good practice to give everybody as much heads up. And I know we all think about something during the day and it comes up and we go, "Oh, I meant to send that." Then that's fine.
We're all busy and we all have jobs and lives and I get that. But just so that everybody tries to remember that so that we can get better answers for us and they have time to look into them when it's something on the agenda and we need to look at it timely. So on the check register, the first
void, they said that it was not received and that one looks like it was reissued as check number 26, 952 on page three of the checklist. Um the second one is the one with the
middle initial correction. Um that was waited and >> and I I wasn't necessarily looking for >> explanation on all them. Just was there a thematic issue? >> Um, six flags not received. I see a reissue
on here. Um, Jenson says the void was requested. The amount was changed. >> Yep. That's right after it. Yep. >> Um, >> so I I think if the question is if we are logging in back. Yes, we are.
>> Yeah. Again, he was just concerned if it was a >> because we talked last month about a loss check. Were we having that with having an issue? >> Is it a Are we Are we having chronic issues? >> Yes. >> I mean, there are generally a lot more post office issues with voided checks or with loss checks
>> in the last year or two than I recall ever having before. >> But looking at the printing issues, I see >> that that's so that's sufficient. I was looking for a thematic issue, not not a detail on each one. >> Checks. >> Yeah, that would be the
>> printer issues. >> This is also like another just a random question because we've had these checks being lost in the mail. Does like our bank charge us a fee to cancel those checks that we've sent and lost in the mail. >> We do not get charged for stop payments.
>> Hey, that's awesome. Okay, good. Okay, so any other questions? Wait, I got to get back to my page. Sorry. on business items 15 through 22. >> I have a question. >> Can you talk in your mic because people
at home are going to yell. Thank you. >> We had questions about school supplies like u an individual teacher would submit and say $324 for school supplies. Would it be possible, Shelley, to put a copy of the invoice there so it shows
what they bought? >> I mean, we have an entire bill list. It's about this tall. >> We used to go through. >> Um, it used to be the process that a member of the finance committee would sign them each individually, but they would want to take them home. The auditors did not want the invoice pile
leaving the building because the whole bill box was almost lost. We actually had a box and it had a handle and people took it with them. um they didn't like it leaving at all. So then we had a pro practice of the finance committee, one member would come
in district to sign them, but the finance committee wasn't really looking to do that and sit there for a couple hours each month to sign them. So then it was discussed with the auditor and it became that the entire bill list instead was going to be reconciled by the
superintendent and then signed. And that's been our most recent practice. Um, and that's actually why I have all these voided check questions already answered is because Dr. Garcia went through it and asked the same thing. Um,
so I already had Heidi go through and explain to me what they were and give me copies of all the voided checks so that way I would have the answer. So my understanding of it all would be that staff members are submitting their requests to administrator.
Administrators approving it and then the end the superintendent is approving the whole list of what the specifics are. >> Superintendent always signs the purchase orders >> as well as me. I I they get approved by the principal or whoever the
>> whoever direct supervisor is. Then they go to me and then I look at it for budget and I put the account coding on it and then they're approved by the superintendent and then they're ordered. >> Okay. >> So, is that how the policyy's written? >> I
>> Right. Yeah. I I don't know. We should look at that. >> That's a policy review. >> Our old policy book before Strauss Esme took over. >> We can talk about that new business just came up. I'll forget by then. >> So, um you guys are testing me hard tonight. Okay. I'm trying to keep us in
order. It's okay. >> So, number 15. >> So, wait, we're just going to add that to the policy meeting, right? We're going to double >> We'll talk about that in new business. We will >> um business items 15 through 22. Any other
questions on those business items? Okay. 15 through 22. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any abstensions? Okay, now
we are on to continuing business. >> All right, I'm bringing it up. >> Okay, the life skills room. So, I know that you guys had a tour, but we did talk and I know Dr. Garcia, you're at a bit of a disadvantage here, but we did
talk about showcasing the beginning the process um to the community kind of as we started as we were moving through the process in the finished product. So, we could the community could see that we're moving forward on it and actually making
headway and it could create a good buzz for improvement. And I haven't seen any of that anywhere. So, I know we're kind of at the tail end, but if we could if you know, I don't know if you have an update on that. Obviously, you've been
here for 3 weeks, but >> I did, however. >> Oh, okay. Um, visit the life skills room because I wanted to get a better understanding. I know that you know what the life schools life skills room represents um for multiple reasons. So it is something that we are looking at
diligently and how to get it moving um and progressing a little faster. Um but also the picture side of it because I was also curious do we have something? I was informed that we do have pictures from before. Um obviously we can take pictures right now and the goal would
then be to keep it moving forward and also continue pictures so that everybody could see the the progress that's being made room. Um, yes, I'm at a little bit of a disadvantage because I just got here a couple of weeks ago, a few weeks ago. Um, but it is something that we're looking at. And my goal would be that by
our next meeting, I could at least show you pictures of before and current and then kind of talk about what we're doing moving forward just to get it going real fast. >> That would be great. And then any type of promotion around out to the community would also be appreciated.
We were told by ESY September one and now we're going into September. >> So part of my conversation was what is what is it that we're looking to have in this room? What do we want it to look like? Because we need to make sure that
we have an understanding so that we can plan for what we need. Um they do have very solid things. They've been reaching out to organizations forations. Um and part of that is also the back side of it with regards to any electrical work or plumbing work or things that would be needed to be able to put those items in
that room. Um we have already started to get some um pricing for that and so soon as we have that then we can say we can start the work and get a timeline on that side of it so that we know how long it's going to take those individuals
that room. Um, I, you know, based on the information I have right now, I don't see it being open until January. >> Is it work that there has to be bids for or anything or No, >> not right now. No. >> Okay. >> Just wondering like if that was going to
slow us down or you know, >> but the bid threshold is 53,000. So, >> okay. So, we're good. Okay. >> I will pass that along. Matter of fact, I was there tonight. I can't ask that question. Good.
>> We are on it. >> Any other continuing business? >> I don't know if this is Well, I have one continuing that's that's I'm going back probably two years ago. Um, so I've I've spoken many times about getting some form of a common app with
the sports community and the teams. Um, you know, I know we Mr. Uh, we had talked about the AD and I don't know if I should say names. We spoke about an app. I guess that was supposed to be more of a common communication system this year. I don't think that that
happened, but I do know that there are some communication breakdowns and we have to get a better system in place for the coaches to be able to communicate with their players. I just know from personal experience, Game App, Team Snap, they're super easy. You can communicate with them. you can get
directions to fields. And I just don't know why we're not utilizing these apps at this point because sometimes the communication comes from the coaches, sometimes it comes from the booster. So, it's we need one specific area where all the communication comes in and also so
that the coaches don't have to text players and things of that nature, which sometimes can get a little bit, you know, muddy as well. So, I just want to put that back on the table that I really would like to take a look and start researching some apps that would be better utilized within the community. I
know other schools do them because I have step kids in other schools and they all use apps. So, we just have to kind of get up on the times I think a little bit with that. Um, and then the other thing is this is I guess continuing because I talked about our portaotti one of our committee meetings, recent
committee meetings and I know we have a new vendor but I think it was after we had a very active school weekend and then we had a game on on that following Monday and the portaot portaotti was well utilized from the weekend and it
was evident based on the aroma at the game. So, if we can maybe look to have the cleaning taken care of after a big full weekend of community events or school events just so that we don't bump up bump into that again and that's it.
>> Okay. Any other >> just to piggyback on that, sorry. Uh, girls basketball does use team snap, so we do have that. >> That's excellent. >> Yeah. Um, >> that's nice. >> That is good to hear. Um and soccer, girls, I could speak on girls soccer and
girls basketball. Girls soccer um we do have uh the booster club does email system um and within the school the coach communicates with the um team and parents if we're logged on but via the Google classroom
>> and then team captains communicate with. >> So there are things happening. Oh, no. I know there's communication processes in place, but if you have an app, it's just a it's it's seamless. So, I don't have access to Google Classroom. Sometimes I don't get emails. They might go into
spam. So, things get missed through some of that. So, that's always saying if you have an app, it's everything's right there. Your email goes well, you know, >> but you can as a parent have Google Classroom. I have both my girls right on my phone. >> I don't even know. I don't know how to do it. >> Your child has to log on. I don't know how to do it. I said, "Here's my phone. Put me on Google Classroom." Right.
>> They log themselves in on on your thing. >> Yeah. Do their login, not mine. >> I just have to say considering that October is cyber security month, that behavior is very frowned upon. >> Yeah. >> And um because you're not supposed to be sharing passwords as a rule of thumb. I just
>> Well, I think I think if we could come up with something that would universally benefit the clubs. I mean, sports gets thrown around a lot, but let's talk about clubs. Let's talk about the other
committees that staff members could use um from season to season or club to club like might be something because >> the kids the parents don't have five different apps then, you know, too. I
think that would be something that would be beneficial too so that that that kind of thing could go. Um, I mean, but we all have emails as parents too and stuff, you know, so it could it be as
easy as, you know, you do your group emails? I don't know. But I think that's something that is a conversation for the groups using it too versus us. Um, you know, to see what would benefit them the most because we don't want to put any more
work on, you know, our staff members that are doing these jobs too with the kids. So I I think it's it's a good group conversation for the future. >> But I do I do think uh Mrs. Wer raised a good point about we should in not be encouraging adults
texting teenagers. >> Absolutely. >> And we also have to factor in for while it's probably not as applicable for clubs, it would be applicable for athletes who attend Warren Tech but play here because we are their sending
district. So, they're not going to have a Belvadier school district email that or see the coach in the halls because they're not attending the school, but they are part of the school system. >> And even for like game changes or field
changes, just like it's it's quick real time updates. >> This Yeah, this has been talked about several times at >> board meetings. Um, so maybe we can circle back and get a little bit more traction on it. Any other continuing business?
>> I had a question just about um do we know when our last curriculum meeting was >> um September? >> Yes, it was in September 17th. >> Are we with um Dr. Garcia's position
stepping into the role October 9th. Will we plan on getting um like a more routine cadence cadence of the committee meetings now? We have a plan for that yet. >> That's completely up to her schedule. >> Yes, I I would like to streamline them
that a little bit and change um the way it's >> currently being run with regards to I I'd prefer to be at every meeting >> is the bottom line. Um, so yes, I have some thoughts about that. Again, um, I will be sharing them with the
board and then maybe a tentative schedule to see if it works for everybody. >> Okay. We talked about starting with keeping the group committees, >> you know, where we're doing we might be talking about policy and curriculum and whatever the other one is on that at the
same time, but individual meetings, not three meetings going all at the same time with other administrators. >> Okay. Um, and then my to tag on to that, a while back, I think it was June, we talked about student achievement,
and I think that was discussed in one of the committee meetings. And I just wanted to make sure that we had a a clear defined process for recognizing student achievement. And um also where we were at with the
website and some restructure there making it more clear. Chain of command. I know that has come up actually by several community members as well at our board meeting.
I can confirm that the website is at is updated to same format but it is fully updated. >> Yes, >> it is a work in progress and because there's so many different pages and um
everything to look at that you know at a work in progress is the bottom line. >> I just want to put it on your radar. Yes, it's on my radar. Um, for sure. >> And the student achievement piece. >> Could I could you clarify what specifically regarding student achievement you're referring to? >> So, I would defer to Tyler.
>> So, we we had talked about recognizing students um you know, for student achievement, monthly, you know, acknowledgements, um kind of >> homecoming sports. Yeah. um a class a class working on a something or
>> you know just like little little monthly certificates or you know a picture or just some form of recognition >> right >> or are you asking for putting like on the website are you what format are you looking for? I think that's what we're talking about. It's like we need to come
up with a more clear defined plan that would look >> and it's just it was just really to help the morale of the students also and just to help them encourage them to want to do better in certain things and to have a goal or you know have that recognition piece in place so that the students you
know feel like they're thriving right >> and I also think we well I know we talked about for some of the achievements that we give today having a very clear rubric of some type that shows why they qualified for what they
received. >> Um, right now I think it's a little gray and I know it was always it was on the we talked about it back in June about how we could make that a better evaluation process. And even if it's like social media, I've seen, you know,
other schools and parents will share a social media post from their child's school just basically promoting like, oh, you know, they got student of the month, you know, things like that. And it's, you know, just to kind of get more >> um I I'm going to have to go back and look at the releases that we have with
regards to posting of student names and all of those things. I don't know where we stand with that with with um >> We don't have to do that specifically. I'm just saying this is where I got the idea because I would see a lot of students being recognized for certain achievements and I thought we should really, you know, do that as well.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. We do have something we sign off in Genesis >> for release. >> Yeah. Where you can >> Yeah. >> But I think it I think we just need to come up with a more formalized process and make sure that we're recognizing >> any other continuing business. >> I I think on that too, one of the thing
was the timeline around communication things, right? because there seemed to be inconsistent practices from year to year, particularly with like top 10 and student athletes and stuff. That was that was part of that that >> you had siblings who had who were both
validictorian or valiatoran and and they had very different experiences between the few years that they were, >> right? >> And it created some confusion and concern, >> right? We did talk about just to piggyback on policy getting a policy in place
kind of formalize that as well. >> New business. >> New business. Now you can do it. >> Now you can do it. >> Hey Sh, do we have our old policy book? I'll explain why in a second. >> How old? 2017. for before we switch
>> four stars may >> um >> school boards >> right see if we have here's >> it came up with the number of people on a committee right and I said well our
policy is six people we usually put five the sixth one can be the president committee elects chair pulled the policy out only to find out oh no it's four and the president appoints the chair but four is should be the right number. So when I went back in my emails to see how
we got there because we had we as you guys are going to start doing we're we change policy as we go. Well apparently in 2017 when we switched from school boards being our um hower of our policies and giving us updates and we switched to Strauss's EMA because school boards dropped the ball on a couple of
areas. We switched to a paid service as opposed to a free service. when they transferred our policies over, they didn't transfer our policies. And I found this in an email. They transferred their policies. So what we think, and maybe not you guys so much because you're doing about it, when we think of our policies, what we
think in them may in fact not be there because it was changed to Strauss SMA's policies, not Belucation. >> And some of the policies like numbers like that are because of percentages make a quorum, >> right? >> But most boards aren't 12. We have
sending districts so it's on a seven or nine person thing. >> So we just that's something I was going to bring up for our retreat next week is one of the things that maybe could be something as a goal to look at our policy governing the board. be nice to have >> to update them because I mean the things
that are >> 12 versus seven is >> is going to make a big difference >> of things that came up that we wanted and we needed and now I know they're not there because we went with straight >> because it's just it's just a standard >> right they just gave us yours your
standard policy if you want your special stuff in it oh you got to go figure it out >> yeah they apparently didn't use ours too >> that's what we're talking about doing step by step >> we It's too overwhelming. >> But even to review it, we wouldn't even know what we're missing. We'd need the old policy to bounce.
>> Yeah, but you could at least >> things like that are easy. >> If it works, correct? >> You might look at that one and say we want >> Virginia's on it, >> but we need >> Oh, I'm all out reading policy. >> Yes, I know you are, girl. All right. Any other new business? >> Look, let us know if you if they're
anywhere to be found. >> Yeah, I'll ask the >> All right. I had a policy book years ago, but I know I chucked it >> now that I'm in the right section. Um, >> is it possible for us to look at a way where we're looking at programs by cost?
Right? We we get requests for siphons for coaches. Um, I I saw in our payables this month, there are scheduler fees. You know, there's equipment in there, but a holistic view, right? Some team got uniforms this month. I'm not sure
who, but I know field hockey got uniforms because that was on a prior payable list that it was theirs. So, what does it cost us between coaches, fees for tournaments or races, refer
fees? So we can say this is what it costs us to have girls soccer, boys soccer, wrestling, cross country, golf, you know, and look at at the total um because it's hard to get a true
picture of what that program costs us. Not that I'm saying we want taken away, but then we can also see >> many of these have boosters. So, we know it's what, like 3% of our budget goes to extracurricular activities. If I'm, you
know, say it's $10,000 a year for a particular sport, I'm making that up. Okay. How how much of that is funded through school dollars and how much is it funded through boosters, you know, and and we should have line of sight
what it costs us to have that program, >> right? And some some programs in addition to what their boosters do, they have revenue opportunity, right, that not all have. You don't charge a fee to come to a 4:00 game,
>> but a Friday night football game gets a ticket fee unless you're watching it on Facebook. Then we've lost that revenue opportunity. So they it may cost more, but they may have offsets that. Mhm. >> So, we do have an athletic budget and it
is laid out by sport. Um, and it does detail out who's supposed to get uniforms, what their equipment costs or you. So, it's it's a spreadsheet. So, there's a tab for every sport. Um, and that's what the athletic director
are supposed to utilize when they're approving the purchase orders to be submitted in whether or not it's in accordance with that budget. Um, the revenue sources that you're referring to is the ticket sales, they actually go right to a revenue line. They don't go to a per sport,
>> school revenue, not >> school revenue, >> and the booster club subsidizing. That's all on the booster club's books. Um the I think it's the athletic director does collect at certain times the financials
from the booster clubs just to monitor that. >> I haven't seen those in a long time. >> We just submitted >> they did ask yeah >> we just submitted >> haven't seen them as a >> something we worked on last year so it might be but this year it's happening. >> I guess these become the questions of
these things are happening. It's >> how much of this if all of it and how then do you want it presented to the board? Yes. >> I mean, if there if there's already a document that lays out that would cover, hey, they know they need this much for
equipment, this much for >> schedulers, the athletic director's job is to prepare >> the budget. But I think where it gets confusing is like an iPad for sports or iPad cover away games >> for away games.
>> Well, not every sport is using that iPad cover for an away game unless we're taking it off and giving it to this coach and taking it off and giving that coach, right? So, it's very confusing when I'm looking at this to say, well, who's using this iPad cover? Is this iPad cover for all of the sports? Is it
just for soccer? How? And I mean, I'm reading I'm spending my weekends reading line for line for line and it and so it's just maybe if the the layouts were a little bit better where it was like, hey, sports, soccer, and then whatever was paid to soccer and maybe it's
nothing. >> I think that's your administration's job. >> But I just can't see it. And it's very it's so frustrating when I look at the the line items and I just see something that's so very vague and I'm like
>> and we're being we're being asked to approve those formally. It's not shared as an awareness >> on the recommendation of your administrator whose job it is to comb through these things. Am I >> I understand that but like >> I know I know I know
>> we are a little oversight and I kind of would like I >> I think these are good topics for our retreat. >> Awesome. >> Okay. These are great questions. >> I can just take some of the questions from tonight and wrap them up. >> Yep. >> When you get the bill list, you want all
kinds of detail under each check, not just a couple of words. Personally, the the challenge is right there were all these that just said supplies, right? >> Well, and some were itemized. >> Yeah. So, I'm gonna
>> I'm going to tell you how that happens. So, I'm not the one that inputs them, but there is somebody's job who imports the purchase orders into the accounting system. And I can ask that person to put a whole lot more detail.
Um, >> I don't think we need a whole lot of detail. Like I don't need a paragraph. I just need soccer. >> Third grade. >> Third grade. >> Yes. >> Yeah, that's it. >> No, but it said that it was soccer cover for away game. >> It's this
>> iPad cover for away game. >> For away game. >> So, it's to cover your iPad so it doesn't get too hot, it doesn't get wet, it doesn't get broken. Whatever the coach is. It >> but it doesn't say I think I think Carol and I are of similar minds is it doesn't say >> what what line what
>> I'm just glad you're protecting the iPad and we don't have to buy a new one. I don't I mean >> I can ask for we can put additional amounts in there. I'm remiss if I don't say everybody is pulled very thin. So
I mean you are absolutely welcome to all the detail. So, absolutely can have the whole bill pile, the whole it gives you everything. Um, and I will see if we can just beef that up a little bit if that helps for next month and see how that goes. >> Um, >> maybe the answer is though is like for
the Amazon order where it says classroom supplies, it's not necessarily listing or detailing each item that was ordered, but just classroom supplies grade five, >> not being specific. So just simple and see how easy that simple agree that we can do >> because I don't think any of us wants to
read war in peace either on our volunteer time >> or waste all the trees. >> Yeah. I just have two items and I promise that they'll be super quick. So, um, as I mentioned before, I've been going through I I the department that I
work with is technology and I have had to do a million cyber security trainings this month and they are super super fun. I can tell you that. But one of the things that came up on the day that I actually was reviewing our packet was
PII being sent via email. >> What does that stand for? >> Uh, personal information. [Music] It's personal identifiable >> identifiable information. Thank you. >> It would be like your date of birth, your social security, even if it's truncated.
>> And so there is not a ton of that in the packets that we send, but there are some financial things in there. I don't think that we should be sending electronically or should be considered sending. So, I'm I'm just throwing it out there that we may want to consider a different way to
share this information, whether it's just a Google Drive folder, say, "Hey, the agenda's out and we can go and download it and look at it ourselves that we only have access to. We can set up some privacy there." Um, we don't have to put this into place now, but when you go through some of the pages
that we get, there is information in there that I think if it was compromised, we could be in some trouble. So, I just want to keep I just wanted to throw that out there. Um, and then the other item that I just wanted to bring up because we have had a a mishmash of committee meetings in the last week is that Tyler and I have been
talking a little bit about a high school middle school mentoring program for um athletes to kind of not to kind of but to help u maintain some relationship relationships but also promote our middle school kids to going to Belvadier
because they have formed relationships with the high school athletes. So we tried it out on our own. My seventh grade son had a little bit of a baseball day with Tyler's junior son and my son came home and said it was the most
awesome hour I have ever spent and you guys should really do that. So, if we could put that on the agenda for I guess maybe athletics or extracurricular clubs in general. Yeah. >> Um because I think if we can get them in there, we could definitely
other schools for those kinds of activities. >> Okay. Any other new business? >> Um should I can I request that we look at the policy for the PO signing? that I bring it up in. >> Sure.
Absolutely. We will put that on the next policy committee. >> Right, Carolyn? >> Yeah, >> you're on it. >> I'm on it. >> Okay. Any other new business? >> No. Okay. So, public participation
number two, um it'll be limited to three minutes per speaker, 20 minutes total. And if you have public participation, 30 or 30 minutes total. I'm sorry, I can't do math. It's getting late. Three
>> three minutes. Three minutes per person. 30 minutes per the whole session. >> Please come up to for public participation. >> Can you do the timer? >> Can you please state your name and address when you guys come up, please? >> We got a timer going here.
>> Russo Pierre Jr. al also known as Meli Eli King live 82 Front Street in Belvier. Um my children attends Belvadier Elementary Hannah Victoria and Abigail Pierre. Two of my children are gifted and talented program and selling
and very intelligent children and intelligent because they take their parents. Mhm. >> Um my conver my question or I want to address is I think
two weeks or a week ago Sunday there was the goblin m uh market took place in this school which I understand this place of schools uh what we always learned that this was education uh a place of safety
but why that this goblin fest or marketing mean to say was taking place in this school. It was where they was teaching queerness and having drag king or queen but it was
kings which I don't identify or acknowledge that are calling drag peasants. there were teaching children or from this community or anybody outside this community uh queer book
reading at 1:00 a.m. uh 100 p.m. We was outside protest. I was protesting against this. And I realized when I read the journalists who said here and what they had there were books a ramen noodle
wants to become a spaghetti. Now also there are books where banned was said uh boys are in blue. Now if you look up sorry I had to my phone. Uh if you look up the goblin with the the root definition of it is uh in uh Greek
definition is uh kalos or rogue is a root word is in thought derived from an ancient Greek word and is type of evil mischief and misbehave and it's also a evil spirit. This in our community is
being loud in our school. I'm not care of the day it was but it was in our community in our school. I'm here on behalf of my legacy, my future, my children, my beautiful daughters who are my butterflies. And the fact that you can allow this
wicked agenda, this homosexuality that's coming into our school, which it had an uproar on different those who was okay and those who would say nay to this, I don't understand how this can come into the
community in a safe and environment in the schools where they're supposed to learn. Now, next year, now you understand that uh Governor Phil Murphy also explained and he had passed a legislation and a law where in the curriculum and social
studies where homosexual agenda will be a part of it, right? >> Where are your what is your position on this matter >> if this is going to be taking place here? >> Excuse me, sir. You're three minutes up. >> That was three minutes. >> Wow.
>> They're running them. Yep. shocking. >> Is the timer set? >> Oh, >> all right. Good. All right. My name is Reverend Gregory Quinnland with the Center for Garden State Families. We're located in Paripany and my actual address is Washington Burrow. I am here on behalf of several parents who
contacted me regarding the uh Goblin Market. Uh, I will tell you this as a minister. I am extremely offended by this act of hate that showed up in the goblin market. It looks like Christ crucified hands cut off on a plate above it above the cross.
This is offensive. Should never have shown up in a public school where taxes are paid. And this school board is responsible for allowing this to be displayed on school property. Period. End of discussion. Secondly, I'm someone who left the homosexual lifestyle and I
can tell you there's no science to support anyone being born LGBTQIA-xyz++. So, the promotion of these ideas again is offensive and offensive to many of the people in the community and many of those people in the community have talked to me about it including several
ministers who minister in this school district. So, this is not really going away. We're not done with this issue. We're going to take a hard look at it. And a candidate for a write in who I guess is calls herself a Democrat. There
were several of us here. We had let the police know. We came to pray. All we were doing was praying. She harassed us. She came after us. And as she drove off, she decided to tell me I was number one, but she used the wrong finger if you get my drift. Okay? I think her last name
was Johnson. So, I just want to let you know this is what's going on in your school. Frankly, you have no business allowing this goblin market to take place on school property. Thank you. >> Any other public participation?
>> I am going to keep this short. Um, Patricia Cristo, um, on Rutherford Drive. I am a Christian in the neighborhood. Really, really disappointed, disheartened with everybody here that you would allow something like this to take place. It's just disgusting and yeah, it's not going
to go away. We're going to fight for this. So really disappointed in everybody. Other public participation, Joe Roth from the Belvadier Town Council and resident of Belvadier. Well, first I was going to say tell you about some
highway safety. Um, but after what I just heard, I think that's a lot of nonsense. Um, I went to the uh the uh goblin market and walked around, spent some time there, and I didn't say anything as in offensive as as what
people allude to. Um, I did in fact ask some people, why don't you come in and look around and learn? Maybe you're right, maybe you're wrong, but give it a give it an opportunity and see what it's all about. and nobody did and uh but I did and I walked around and I wasn't offended. Um I sat there while the
little kids were being uh read the story book. There's nothing wrong with that. Uh the the the drag queen was a local resident uh young lady dressed in a man tailored suit which is uh dressed for success when I was back in business. Uh
so there's nothing wrong with that. So I don't think the message was was wrong at all. And uh I don't think you have anything to be to be ashamed of. I think it was a a good event. It's the third time in the school. It's probably the fifth or sixth time within the town. And
it and because of the of the publicity, it drew even more people. So that was that was kind of good. So I just had to say that. M um after I left there were people outside protesting and I I just had a
think you know I was listening to the uh watching a little kid sitting down I getting a story read to them and then I went outside and there's some little kids carrying pickets about queers and I was just thinking who is learning the better lesson the kids inside are the
ones outside carrying placards that they probably don't even know understand what they're carrying. Just something for for thought as educators. You got to balance this and and let's not run from the issue. >> So So if I go back, can I get another minute on on highway?
>> You have a minute left. So go on your safety. We're talking now. Go ahead. >> So highway safety. Um somebody came here a couple of weeks ago to to raise the concern about painted the uh painting in the in the uh crosswalks. I mean, it's obviously not your issue, but I did
contact our insurance company and they have no problem with that at all. So, uh, we put that issue to bed. Uh, also on the traffic safety, the town is going to be putting up some, uh, transverse rumble strips coming down the street here on Oxford, uh, right down the hill
as another attempt to begin to slow down traffic as it's as it's coming at the town. >> Um, that's good news. Bad news is I can't tell you exactly when. we're at the mercy of the uh the contractor because it's a small job. So, he's got to kind of figure out when to fit it in.
When I find out, I'll let you know. Or maybe someday you'll be driving to work and say, "What was that?" Uh and then you'll know. Um we're also going to monitor that and see if it's effective. And if it is, we'll put it in other uh busy streets around the around town as well. So, thank you.
>> Thank you for the good news on the rumble >> about the safety publication. >> Robin, is that >> he's he's okay with if you want to. Joe, I just had a question about will there be um
>> there'll be signage for the upcoming rumble strip like speed bump ahead or rumble ahead or something so that we don't box trucks going airborne. >> I'm sorry. >> Like that those box trucks are the ones I'm worried about. >> Yeah. No. Yeah. It has all all the proper signage that that requires will be there.
>> And uh also they're a little bit noisy. So we'll try to find like a no man's land coming down the hill, not in front of somebody's house. >> Um and they're not cut into the highway. uh they use a uh a thermal plastic now and just make little ridges. Um in fact
they the state uses them on 46 if you go out by the other side of uh of uh Hackett Town. So >> thank you. Thanks. Yeah. >> Any other public participation? >> Is it anywhere speak again or is it one
time >> up to the board? >> Yeah. Policy says one time. Policy says one time is every I'm sorry. >> Um, no other public comment.
No. All right. Then public participation is closed. We are going to add executive session for personnel that we did not get to before. Um, can I have a motion for executive session for personnel?
>> Second. it up. >> All in favor? >> I >> Any abstensions? Okay. So, >> action will not be taken. Let me get back to my thing to read it.
Um the board of education of the public school district of war of of county of Warren will adjourn into closed meeting to discuss the item of personnel um which falls within the exception of our open meeting policy and permits the board to have a private discussion since
it deals with specific exceptions contained in NJSA 104-12B. Any discussion held by the board which not remain confidential will be made public as soon as practical. Minutes of the private session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists. All
appropriate persons who may be discussed in private session have been adequately notified. The board will reconvene at in public session at the conclusion of the closed session approximately 30 minutes but again no action will be taken when
we come back. Okay. Thank you very much.