The New Jersey public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is disclosed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Belvadier Board of Education
has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the Star Ledger Express times and submitted to the town clerk of Belvadier on January 12th, 2026. The meeting will be livereamed at
ww.belvierd.org. Please stand for the flag salute. The flag of the United States of America and to the republic for stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty, justice. The mission of the Belvadier School
District is to celebrate our past and empower our future while focusing on the four cornerstones of our district. tradition, excellence, academics, and community. We strive to build confidence and promote collaboration. We encourage an equal partnership with our students
and staff as well as community members. We empower everyone to develop the best versions of themselves. The Belvadier School District is committed to shaping students into globalized citizens who take initiative for their success and cont and contribute to the continued
excellence of the district. Our students are leaders are [clears throat] leaders in the decision-making process of their education and will be prepared to excel in the 21st century society. Roll call. >> Mrs. Serbone >> here. >> Dr. Zep >> here.
>> Mrs. Duckworth. Miss Johnson. >> Miss Stephen >> here. >> Mrs. Strider. >> Miss Walton >> here. >> Mrs. Wer >> here. >> Miss White >> here. >> Mr. Cherelli >> here. >> Mrs. Mrs. Gardella >> here. >> Mrs. Robbatham
>> here. >> At this time, we'd like to have student recognition. The Belvadier, the BHS basketball all-time point scorer, Natalie Acoa >> Sroa. >> Sarroka. Thank you. Dr. Garcia, >> Coach O'Neal, will you come up and join
me? [applause] So, we are recognizing the outstanding achievement and accomplishment of Natalie. During a game on Saturday, December 20th, Natalie broke the all-time score leader record for Belvadier High School of 1512 points.
That's for boys and girls. As of today, that's right. As of today, Natalie has scored, 1729 points. >> Coach O'Neal. Natalie, come in. >> Come join me. [applause]
Dr. Garcia, members of the board, thank you for having us here this evening. Um, this young lady is, it seems like she likes to do everything in December. Uh, last year, December 21st, she scored a thousand points, got her a thousand points. I was not at that game. Uh, as
she reminds me, it's one of the achievements I missed in her career. But I was sure, even if I was on my debt bet, I was going to be here to see her break the all-time scoring record at Bel High School. Uh the very next game, North Warren, there was a reporter here for Lehigh
Valley Live. And if you read what Natalie said in the article, she didn't brag about herself. She didn't brag about anything. She thanked her coaches for the support. She thanked her teammates for the support. It was never about her. Um one good thing about
Natalie, her vision on the court, it's not just her putting the ball in the bucket. Her vision on the court is next to nothing. She'll see the court, she'll pass the ball. She is one special athlete. And also in that article, she mentioned about going to a small school
and what it means to her to be at a small school and have this achievement, the spirit in a small school. She is very appreciative to be here at Belair High School and make these accomplishments at Belair High School. So, she's shooting for that 2,00. We
might be before you again uh when she hits 2,000, but in my opinion, if anybody could do it, it'll be this young lady here. She's one special athlete. So, congratulations. [applause] >> Thank you. Excellent. Do you guys want to take a picture?
>> You have to be nice to me. [laughter] >> Where am I going? [clears throat] Put Dr. Thank you. Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you guys. Thank you. [applause] [laughter] Um, now we'll move on to student recognition or the uh student board of
education representative report. >> Good evening everyone. First to report, the art department has been experiencing some heat issues, but the crew has been on top of it. One or two mornings they had to relocate here. Um, the BHS drama club is rehearsing
daily for their musical Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, which will be performed on Friday, March 6th at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 7th at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets will be available to purchase starting February 1st. The link will be on the school website. Next, the
NHS students recently went on a service trip to Mira on Friday um to bake peanut butter cookies, play games, and paint nails. The next Miller Keystone blood drive will be March 19th. The student government is hosting a winter spirit week this week to break
the winter blues. There will be a pep rally to celebrate our winter sports teams next Friday, February 6th. Then Cedar Scoop is planning a love issue for February. Staff and students will be getting a survey this week to fill out to potentially be featured in
the issue. Also, SAFE is giving the opportunity for students in grades eight and above to go to the 10th annual teen summit at Setinary University on Thursday, March 19th. The summit is organized by Desack to encourage teens to explore the
importance of mental health health and emotional well-being. Finally, the travel club has partnered up with Action Karate to hold a self-defense night on March 5th for $10 a person. A QR code will be out soon with more information. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome to go if you would like. >> [laughter] >> Now we would like to um invite our auditor up to pres present his presentation. >> Great. Can I put this in here?
>> Yeah, you can. I sure walk. >> Okay. Okay. I'm just going to move this over here. That good? Okay. My name is Anthony Ardo with Ardo & Company and I handed out a presentation
uh about the fiscal 25 financial results in the audit uh report and we'll go over that and um if there's any questions as we go over the financial information just you raise your hand. I'll answer questions as we go and we'll also talk
about the audit um at the end and any recommendations that we have. Um, so this is a very high level presentation kind of give you a feel of where the district stands financially, what your fund balance is, what your expenditure
levels and revenues are. So we'll just hop into it. This first slide here is your governmental fund expenditures. And your governmental fund is not only your uh general fund that you base your tax levy on your budget, but it's also your
special revenue fund where you spend spend all your grants. You also have uh student activities baked into your special revenue fund. Uh so this is the complete pie of the governmental fund. So off to the left is instruction. Uh
the largest piece of pie there, 31%. It looks small. You say, "Well, why is instruction only 31% in our school?" Well, it's the New Jersey New Jersey chart of accounts. That 31%, a little bit over 5 million, is just teacher
salaries. Um, it doesn't include benefits. Um, it's also direct classroom materials. Athletic salaries is in there also. Um, but benefits is if you go clockwise um up to about 11:00, you'll see there's
another 2.2 2 million in benefits. Um 1.7 of that 2.2 million is health insurance. Um the rest is, you know, employer taxes like social security match. Uh you also have your uh PERS
pension payment that you owe every year. you you pay that um for your PERS employees, unemployment, um uh workers compensation, um any type of tuition reimbursements for teachers, they're all baked into employee benefits.
Uh next to that at about 12:00 is support 1.1 million. Uh support is anything that supports that instruction function. Your health >> [snorts] >> um you know your your your health uh department related services, extra
services um also your improvement of instruction is in there. Um your library media all of those ancillary support functions um purchase professional services is in
there. uh general and admin next to that 1.1 million. Uh not only is that the board of ed office and superintendent and principles, um it's also secretarial. Um it's also all your professional fees,
your legal, your audit fees. Um also any IT costs, information technology is all baked into GNA, 1.1 7% of the pie. Um, New Jersey, I I mention this every year, is typically 8 8.1%. So, you're slightly
under uh the typical school district in New Jersey. Uh, plant maintenance 1.1 million. Next to that, not only custodian salaries, cleaning, repair, maintenance, but it's also all of your insurance for your building, all of your
utilities, your gas, and your electric um is also in plant maintenance. anything to maintain the physical plant. Uh transportation, 315,000, that's all of your busing. More than half of that is athletic transportation.
Uh the rest is, you know, uh transportation for special ed or uh that you pay for uh Warren County special services. You have a vendor uh providing busing and 100 county ESC. Also,
um, on behalf benefits, I mention this every year. On behalf benefits are the benefits the state pays for you for your teachers pension and your teachers post employment health insurance. Um, this isn't an expense that you pay for, but
it shows up in your numbers. That 3.394 million shows as an expenditure, and the same exact dollar amount shows as a revenue. So if you pick up your ACFR report, you know, thick audit report, you look at expenditures, you'll see
that number in there. You'll als you'll also see it as a revenue. They net each other. They don't affect your surplus, your fund balance, um any of your finances, but governmental accounting says you have to show it in there. And then down at the bottom, special
revenue, almost 1.5 million. All your spending of your title programs, your idea, um your preschool education aid from the state is in there. That's 678,000. And your student activity and
scholarship fund revenue is in or expenditures are in there, 317,000. Uh so most of it is uh preschool education aid and student activity. You know, the other 400,000 500,000 is your federal grants.
You have a little bit of Yep. >> Can you clarify or write an example of what's considered a student activity? Is that like the clubs and so forth? >> Yeah. uh clubs. You have um [clears throat] anything that relates around uh you you
might have um you know any all all the grades have their type of student activities. Um you have dedicated bank accounts for that. Um it's not something that runs through your budget. Um you don't have to raise
money for it. It's self-funding. Um, >> uh, it depends. Um if it's if if I know there's some issues surrounding um clubs or booster clubs um and
depending on whether they were part of the o opices of the board or not. Some some parent clubs pop up on their own um and they they raise their own money, take their own trips. Um, sometimes you
have to be careful because they they use your own your uh employer identification number. >> This would be like the freshman class is fundraising for money towards their trip. That that is a student activity, right? Okay. Thank you. >> Right. Yes.
>> You have a little bit of capital outlay last year that was uh I think HVAC um work that you had done. Uh second page, these are your expenditures again, but over a five-year time frame starting in
2021. So uh in 2021, uh you had 11,967,000 of expenditures and the black line is your actual run rate. Um the blue line is your 2021
expenditures adjusted for inflation. So as you know during co inflation took off. So that blue line you started off at 11.9 million. That 11.9 million is now worth 14.2 million. So you need 14.2
million 5 years later when you only needed uh 11.9 million. Not saying that you spent that. Your actual run rate is that black diamond there. So, you ended up um spending last year 12.8 million. And I
will preface this by saying this chart excludes capital projects and it excludes those on behalf benefits we talked about since they're not in your budget. We stripped them out. These are your ongoing operating costs. So, you went from 11.9 million to 12.8
million, roughly a million dollars um in the last five years, which is a 1.8 8% compounded annual growth rate, which is fantastic considering the inflationary um environment that we're we're all in.
Uh 2022 was an 8% inflation and it just it keeps growing and lately it's just it's 3%. We think that's great, but it's 3% compounded on all the other years everything's up 25%. Um so you did a great job in containing
those costs and I know um as you you prepare your budget every year there's constraints because you don't have the surplus to do whatever you want. You have to u budget within um your your ability to raise your levy and your
state aid is always decreasing. Um so you had to do what you had to do to get that those expenses in line and you've done a great job at that. Um, next page is your revenues. And this chart's a little messy because there's a lot of numbers on it. Uh, but tuition is
your largest revenue source. Um, you know, the three three districts sending their kids here uh pay you for that um for the for the high school. So, and you could see that blue bar for tuition hasn't really it went up a
little bit in 2022, but mainly you're charging about the same as you've always charged in collectively, $4.4 million. Um, the next largest is your tax levy. um it inched up a little bit over the
last couple years and you like every other district in fiscal 25 took the opportunity to increase the levy. The state came to everyone and said, "Yeah, we fess up. We're not we're not really funding you properly, so why don't you let your taxpayers pay for it?" Well,
thanks a lot. Yeah. So, everyone had to raise their levy. Um, and it's it's hopefully it's a one-time adjustment and then you can just have regular increases as you go forward. But last year you were uh 4,266
and then then from there the revenues drop off to nothing really. That the blue line there is federal grants. Um it bumped up in 2024. You had that large U HVAC SSB ver grant. Um so you'll see a bump
up there. and then it it comes back down. Um, and then the local revenue, which is that uh orange triangle down there, again, most of that student activity and scholarship um revenue coming in, 317,000.
The rest of it's interest earned on your bank accounts. Um, next page here, it's labeled analysis of excess general fund balance. So, what does that mean? um you're only allowed by statute to
have 2% of your expenditures or $250,000 whichever is more in unreserved surplus. So this is money that's sitting in your bank accounts. It's not reserved for any purpose. Um you're only allowed to have
in your case 250,000. um you're allowed to add on to that about $15,000 of extraordinary aid since you don't get paid that until the following year. So your maximum unreserved fund balance for both 24 and
25 is 265,000 and you come in right at that. Um, and the reason why you come in right at what the max is is because you pass a resolution every June that says if we have any access, we can plow that into
our reserves, our capital reserve or our maintenance reserve um, uh, tuition reserves, things of that nature, which you did. Um, you put money into um, I believe both the maintenance and and uh, capital. Um, yes, both m No,
just the just the maintenance you put money into um to bring you down to what the maximum is allowed. So, you have 265 that's unreserved um going into the next budget season. So,
the last page shows all of your fund balance components. So, we just talked about the unreserved portion and that's down at the bottom at about 7:00. That's that 265, but you have all these other components. And I'll just mention that fund balance
is merely you start off with a pot of money at the beginning of the year. You collect all your revenues. You spend all your appropriations and you're left with another pot of money. Hopefully, it's larger than the pot of money you started with. Um, in your case, it it's not.
It's down 94,000. Um, and I'll go over that in a second. Uh, but that's what fund balance means. When you hear that in governmental accounting, fund balance is what you're left with at the end of the day. It's like your your checking account in your personal life.
Uh, the largest piece of pie here is maintenance reserve, 739,000. You started off 652,000 last year. Um, you had a little bit of interest. Uh, the June resolution, you plowed $34,000
into it. um but you budgeted and took withdrew $225,000. So that grew um by about $100,000 up to 739. We go around the around the pie chart here. Encumbrances are just open POS at
the end of June that need to be in reserved for because they're going to be paid for in fiscal 26. So that money is there to pay for those fiscal 25 POS that um have not been um services and uh
uh products have not been received on those POS yet. Um off to the right is the amount of surplus that you put into your fiscal 26 budget. So at the end of fiscal 25, June 30th 25, you have to reserve for that because you're going to
start using it the following day. June 1st 25 is fiscal 26. So you use $200,000 to of fund balance to balance your fiscal 26 budget. That number used to be 300,000
for many years. Um last year you tried to whittle it down. It's a good thing to try not to use your surplus. Uh in the perfect world, you would have revenues coming in that would equal your expenditures, your appropriations. It's
not a perfect world. You have to kick in money that you already have to balance that budget. So that's that that's the $200,000. So that's down a h 100,000 from uh the year before. And then down at the bottom, capital reserve $355,000.
That's down 100,000. You withdrew $119,000 of that, which I believe was for the HVA HVAC work that you did. So now that's down that started at 468, it's down to 355 now.
So all in all, the finances of the district, you're you're kind of you're treading water. Let's just say last year you had uh there's not much, let's put it this way, there's not much room for error. We're talking a couple hundred
thousand here or there. Um could really put you in a bad place. um you're using $200,000 for the fiscal 26 budget. You're going to have to replace that in your fiscal 27 budget. So, where do you
get that from? Well, hopefully fiscal 26 ends and you haven't spent all of your appropriations and you're able to take those excesses, put them back into maintenance, put them back into capital, and still maintain that $250,000
unreserved cushion. Um, so that'll be the challenge. Fiscal 26 or yeah, fiscal 26 ends. See where you're at. Um, but fiscal, you have to plan your fiscal 27 budget before fiscal 26 ends. Another couple another month or
two, you're going to be working on your fiscal 27 budget. You know, you're going to need 200 because you used 200 last year. you would love to have 300, but beware that could eat into your surplus if uh fiscal
26 you end up spending more than you usually have in the past because every budget gets tighter and tighter and tighter. [snorts] Um that's the last financial slide. We'll talk about the audit now. We completed
the audit um and released the report in beginning of December. Uh audit report. Uh we have one um audit recommendation that that shows up in the audit um and it centers around monthly bank
reconciliations. So as you remember back in fiscal 5 in November fiscal 25 in November um Randy Wilson retired as the treasurer um and the board combined the positions
of treasurer and board secretary report. However, as we kind of went through this and researched it and we spoke with the uh the county BA uh Mike Simeonetta, we
researched it and found out, look, the statute was changed a few years ago eliminating the treasurer, saying school districts don't have to have treasurers, but it also said if you're going to eliminate the position, uh the board has
to assign it to someone other than the board secretary. So the board secretary can't reconcile their own work. So you have some uh segregation of duties. Um so that's that's the recommendation. Um you're
going to have to come up with a way either hire a lot of a lot of districts hire an outside um person like Randy was um to reconcile their bank statements. you can do it in house. Um, but that person would likely not report to the
board secretary um and would have other supervisory um other people supervising them. The history of the treasurer position being eliminated in New Jersey was because all the big districts are like,
"We got plenty of people to do this and plenty of people that aren't reporting to the board secretary. we can have our accounts payable department do it, we could have accounts receipt, whatever. Um, so they just eliminated it, but they put that caveat in there uh to have
someone other than the board secretary. So that's our recommendation there. Um, we did some additional work for you um in looking at uh reimbursements, employee reimbursements to the district uh specifically with the board
secretary. Um and we found that all the reimbursements there was only uh four reimbursements uh that were non-contractual and one contractual reimbursement. All of them were approved
um appro uh signed off by the uh board secretary um were on the bills list and approved by the board board of education. Um and were bonafideed district expenditures.
Um the dollar amount of those four uh reimbursements was about $8,500. Um there were there was a uh a traveling sprinkler system. Uh these were all
vendors that did not take POS. They wanted to be paid online. Um and there was a traveling sprinkler. There was a uh uh there was a scheduling service that
athletic directors use. Um there was uh the the uh the high school musical rights to all the music that was um uh used uh was reimbursed. Um and there was
an there's an $120 annual dropbox fee. Um that's a post office at your PO PO box. All of them were proper. All of them were approved. Um, all of them were bonafideed
expenditures. So, I think if you take a look at your your reimbursement policy, which I think you already have in talking with Jessica, um, making sure that those are pre-approved um
before any reimbursement occurs. Um some of these reimbursements could be rather large and I think um you even noticed some on your own bills list uh a number of months ago uh for gas reimbursements and things like that.
[snorts] Um all of that all of that should be preapproved through the sup superintendent. Um new superintendent now so it's a different situation. Um but but the reimbursements that occurred last year to the board
secretary were indeed proper and properly approved. Any questions? >> Thank you, Anthony. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Have a nice evening. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> We're on to committee reports, personnel
and negotiations and finance and operations. >> We sent out notes. So, what are we going to >> just re just to do a quick review of the notes? I didn't bring him with me because I assumed we sent them out so we weren't going to talk about them. >> Everybody got him, read them, asked
questions, we answered. Didn't think anything was left. I didn't bring them. Sorry everybody. >> Sure. If you just want Yeah. I mean, it doesn't have to be word for word, just like a bullet point because like Marian said, we have them and could have reviewed them. But if any, you know,
just do a general quick >> [clears throat] >> Okay. >> Can I ask you a question? Um, so roofing, I know we were making comparisons to see if they were equal comparisons. Um, are they equal
comparisons with the save monies? >> Um, [clears throat] I mean they they both the proposals were written in different ways. Um the original one that we got was only for I think two maybe three sections of the roof and then later they
said you know if we did do the whole roof here's what it would possibly be. The second one was written for the whole roof. Um but the one that we spent the most time on was a a new work quote that we received over the break um from a com from the company that did some roof
repair for us back in 2020 and 2022. um they had issu that's the one that we still have the 15-year warranty [clears throat] on. They have said that they are able to um do the same type of repair on these other sections. Um and it's at a much
much less cost than the entire ripoff and replacement which is what the the two architectural proposals were based upon. Um we are looking at that um one as our most financially feasible option. Um, it still comes with a 15-year
warranty. So, um, it at least maybe would buy us 15 years at a much better price. Um, what we talked about at the finest meeting specifically was that in conjunction with the heat exchanger is issue that we have right now. We do have the $168,000
in capital reserve um to do some project and we want to make sure that our heat exchange issue is not it that actually could trump our you know, our afterlife roof issue. So, we're we're kind of waiting out a few weeks until we get the right proposals
on how to handle the heat exchanger. Right now, since it um you know, it happened last Thursday, we have been able to make some minor adjustments and we're trying to limp through this extremely cold weather. Um, it would be much more feasible for us to make the repairs in a milder weather where we
don't have risk of the entire system freezing while we have to take the heat down for possibly between, you know, 3 and 5 days. Uh, we're waiting on the correct estimates, but to actually do the repair. So hopefully we can make it through a few more weeks, maybe a little
longer to deal with the heating issue. When we have that for sure under control, then we're looking back, okay, to the roofing. Can we maybe use that $168,000 to do possibly two of the sections, two of the worst sections and get those into a 15-year um
warranty, which will be great, and potentially do some more that way. Um, I actually spoke to several architects today at a um, a business administrator roundt meeting um, and spoke to one of the ones that we had gotten a proposal
on and he is willing um, at no cost to come in with this contractor that gave us this proposal to go through what exactly were you warranty cover? This is what the roof looks like in this shape. Are you sure it's going to work? can go through some of our questions um because we are a little concerned that they are
very drastically different. Um but we right now we're we're a little hopeful that we'll be able to get our roofs um maybe into a 15-year warranty without going through a referendum. >> That's awesome. >> That is awesome. Thank you. >> Cautiously optimistic. [clears throat]
>> Cautiously optimistic. Yes. So that's why we're >> slowly moving with it. Um but still some good info today. But so then right now we're just rep prioritizing based on the heat. >> Yeah, that was happening pretty much the exact same time that the finance
committee was meeting. So we're [laughter] >> um >> Yeah. Same. >> Yes. So we were Yeah, kind of. Or it was Wednesday, right? Not Thursday. >> I don't even know. >> Yeah, Wednesday. Yeah, Wednesday. >> All right. Sorry. >> Great. >> Yeah. So, we're trying to utilize that money to the best we can at our most
priority point that weekend. >> Okay. Great. >> [clears throat] >> try. Yeah. Yep. Great. Thank you, Brianna. >> Thank you. Great. >> Okay.
>> Again, trying to um because there's quite a number of items on the agenda today for flag football. We have the heat exchange. There's an extension legal fee, I think, for an extra $10,000.
We're talking about a budget gap. I realize that the budget this year is good, but any savings that we could gain from this year, can that be rolled over into next year to help us? >> Okay, >> that's the fund balance that Anthony
was. >> So then, so then All right. >> Any other questions on those personnel negotiations? And we will have executive session before agenda items too. So,
all right. So, finance and Oh, no. We did >> Yeah, we had we didn't do personel. >> Yes, personnel and negotiations. Well, we'll be doing that in our executive session and everybody should have gotten notes. All right. So, we are looking at
executive session. Can I have a motion for an executive session? >> Motion. second. [laughter] >> It's going all around here. >> Okay. So, we'll be going in to executive session for matters rendered confidential by federal law, state law,
and or court law. Purchase, lease, or sales of real estate property in public interest could be adversely affected. Personnel, employment matters affecting a specific perspective or current employees. Um any discussion held by the board which
need not remain confidential will be made public as soon as practicable. 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 in public session at the conclusion of the closed session in approximately 30 minutes. 30 minutes we're going to go with. All right. Okay. So, we are on to our first public
participation. This is for agenda items only. We very much welcome input from the public. There are two times during regular meetings that the public is invited to speak. One time is early in the meeting before the board votes when you may speak about any items that is
listed on tonight's agenda. Towards the end of the meeting, there will be another public forum to address any matters of public concern related to the schools. To ensure fair and efficient meetings, each public comment session will be limited to a total of 30 minutes at the discretion of the presiding officer. When you approach the
microphone, please state your name, city, town, and group affiliation. Each item or each statement by a participant shall be limited to three minutes. Time may not be yielded to other participants. All statements must be directed to the
presiding officer. No participant may address or question board members individually. Please understand that public comment portions of our agenda are not question and answer sessions, but are offered as opportunities to share your thoughts with the board. The board may or may not respond to public
comments. However, all comments are considered and they will be investigated and addressed as appropriate. Please be curious and mindful of the rights of others when speaking. Comments may not be abusive, obscene, threatening, or irrelevant. The presiding officer may
interrupt and/or warn if necessary. Please understand that the board will not be responsible for the content of comments made by members of the public. Members of the public are cautioned that they are speaking at their own risk and any statements they make that are
directed at a particular individual or individuals may subject them to legal liability for defamation. Please also understand that the students and employees have specific legal and privacy protections. The board will not respond in public to comments about students and employees. I did it. Is
there any public participation? >> No. Okay. [laughter] Please. >> Do we have any correspondent Shelly? >> Yes. Um, after 25 years of teaching elementary school in the Belvadier school district,
I'm writing to formally announce my retirement from my position at the Belvadier Elementary School effective June 30th, 2026. This decision comes with a full and grateful heart. Teaching in Belvadier has been far more than a career and has been a calling and a second family. As both a general education and special education teacher,
I have been blessed to learn from my students every day and to work alongside colleagues whose dedication, compassion, and unwavering support made even the most challenging days meaningful. The encouragement, teamwork, and friendships I have found here have shaped me as an educator and as a person. I will forever
treasure the moments spent watching children grow, discover their strengths, and build believe in themselves. I am deeply thankful for the trust of families and the support of administrators, but especially for the incredible colleagues who lifted one another up and truly put students first. Leaving this community is bittersweet,
but I do so with immense pride and gratitude. As I begin this next chapter, I leave knowing that relationships built, lessons shared, and lives touched over these 25 years will continue to ripple forward in ways seen and unseen. Thank you for allowing me to be part of such a
such a special school district. Velveter will always hold a very special place in my heart and I wish the district continued success and joy in the years ahead. With heartfelt appreciation, Terresa Gomez. [cough] [clears throat] That's the only one. Okay. Now we are on
to superintendent report then. >> All right. So the community input session was held on January 14th. Um thank you to all who were able to attend and participate in the session. The board will be moving forward with the next steps for the mission and vision at our special meeting on Thursday, February 12th. It is a Thursday and
that's different than what we're used to. So don't miss the meeting >> at 6, right? Not 6:30. >> No, that one's at >> February 12th is at 6:30. >> Okay. >> Um the February 25th regular board meeting is at 6 p.m.
>> Um district goals and board goals have been posted to our district website. uh the 2627 preschool program. The registration window is opening very soon. Um information will be sent out there. We're looking at uh to have students registered between February 2nd
and February 27th. Notices will be sent to district families posted in various community locations and on our district website. um as part of the preschool program and the preschool expansion initiative, it is a requirement to do registration with certain um time frames
and timelines and posting in certain locations and we will make sure that happens. Um and again that's for the 26 27th school year. Um behavioral health services. So something that we've been working on as a team is supporting our students behavioral um their mental
health and their well-being. So the district has partnered with mobile response crisis um that's mobile crisis teams um through the Q program which stands could use extra support to support wraparound services for students in need and this is effective January
20th so it already began. Mobile response provides immediate community-based support for mental health and behavioral crisis and they are dispatched through perform care. Reform Care is a full-ervice behavioral health managed care company coordinating and managing mental health, substance
abuse, and intellectual developmental disability services. Any student linked to Belvadier schools would be presented with the opportunity to participate in Q uh by the mobile response team with parent and guardian permission upon intake. The goal of this partnership is
to facilitate more immediate communication between schools and the mobile response team to support the student. So if a student has mobile response that is called to give them support for whatever reasons outside of school at the home um what this program does is we now have an formal
partnership to say that if the parent and a guardian give permission they can call us and let us know what is going on so that then we can ensure that we're supporting the student in school and having that communication with those providers outside of school. Um in addition to that um our team also met
with Hazel Health which has partnered with the Division of Child and Family Services um through a grant that was received by DCF. Hazel Health partners with school districts to provide teleaotherapy sessions for students enrolled in the districts. Referrals uh may be made by the guidance department,
child study team members, the parent or guardian or from directly from students who are 18. Sessions may be held during school hours or morning evening at home. Hazel Health will provide an iPad to each school for sessions held during school hours. Our responsibility is to
provide a location that they can have their session if needed um that still has supervision but still has enough privacy for the student. There is no out-ofpocket cost for families or to the school district. This is supported wholly by the grant that's
um DCF received. Um we have a memorandum of understanding to begin that partnership on tonight's board agenda. Uh what that does is it um allows us to formalize the partnership. Um they then can send us the iPad that we could use here for students who choose to receive
their services during school time. Um what would happen over there is um at with Hazel Health, we would actually provide the information to everybody in the district, every family in the district that has a student enrolled registered here. um that family can
reach out. They don't have to go through the school. Um they don't have to tell us they're doing it. What does happen though is that if they reach out to Hazel Health, they're going to be told, "We will be sharing information with the school." So, the school is aware that this is happening. Um and the parent
would have to agree to that as part of using that teleaotherapy service. Um what we have found as um school personnel is that there are lots of families really looking for help for their children um for different reasons whether it be um you know
behaviors that are you know anxiety whether it's um school avoidance whatever it might be uh these individuals they would uh do an intake and then they would set up actual sessions with therapists throughout the state of New Jersey and they align those therapists according to um the intake
information they've received about the student. As I said, it is at no cost to the families. So, they may ask for insurance um information. They may bill the insurance, but any out-of- pocket like deductibles, co-pays, they're not responsible for. It would be covered by the grant. Um this is
actually something that came about recently and it is a first come first- serve basis because there's a cap as to how many students they can serve in the state. We want to be in this program. Um, I think it's a nice way to help our our families and our students. Um,
there is actually one additional partnership that we're looking to do and I'll give more information hopefully about that at our next uh regular board meeting. It's a work in progress. We have really really been focused on finding supports for our students um because of what we're noticing um here
in school as well um as what families are telling us outside of school. Um, obviously we are also very aware and cognizant of the financial um, burden this can have to families and um, school districts, which is why we've been working so hard to find um, resources
that are grant supported for everyone. Um, any questions about that before I keep going? >> So, you'll send a communication out to the parent >> once we have everything formalized. Then, um, that'll be the next process and they usually give us like a form
flyer and then we would tweak it for us. Um the biggest thing is just that they're there and they're available and they do um the sessions run about 8 to 10 weeks, but they renew the sessions if the student if the parent wants it, if the student wants it, they do do that.
Um it's K through 12. However, they actually do have preschoolers who are participating in the program as well. >> Thank you. You said that was >> mobile response. That partnership is just it's was more so for us to say that
we're in agreement that they will contact us and they can share the information with us which we absolutely are in agreement with. It does help us to know if something's going on outside of school um for things that we may be seeing in school.
Okay. Okay. Um I am working on a parent survey to address our chronic absenteeism. Um the New Jersey school performance report for 2324, which is the latest one that had been released, um has our
absenteeism rate at 23.3% for high school and 30.1% for elementary school. Um anything that's over 10% requires a corrective action plan. So um as part of that process, a parent survey um is appropriate to be able to create the the
corrective action plan. So I anticipate being able to send a notice out to families next week. um with the mini survey it is anonymous um so they can hopefully share freely um and then from that those survey results we would then
create a corrective action plan which I would look to get approved at our next uh board meeting >> and that's >> or I don't know if it's approved but acknowledged >> the survey will be for all like prek2 because I know the >> so the way it it's one survey but I do actually request um
part of the survey is uh the grade range for their child and if they have children more than one I don't like state that yeah just because it does help me when I'm looking at the information to know what ages we're looking at to the best of our ability it's not going to be specific but
>> and where does our middle school fall in those numbers are they in the elementary or the high school >> elementary >> okay >> and then um we have to have intervention by and then um how how are we held accountable
the corrective action plan would would really like give that information and what we're looking to do and what we're looking to improve. I will say that although this survey isn't done yet, um I know what we see and I know what we're experiencing um quite heavily, which is
why I there's been such a push for this behavioral health support. Um it's important. Okay. Um I did want to give a little quick update about the child study team. Um did have a uh meeting over the break
actually with um Mr. Weiss from Harmony. Um and Shelley was there and we discussed some roles and responsibilities with the shared services agreement. Um I have started um and in continuing to visit um our students that are placed out of district, visiting the programs,
visiting our students, all of that. Um, and I did want to give you just a little number here. As of December 2025, our classification rate for the elementary school is 25%. And our classification rate for the high school is 17%. Um, if you're wondering
if that's a high number, yes. Um, and we are working as a child study team to figure out. >> Yeah. >> What should it be out of curiosity? on a state level they their ideal would be more of a 15% about um the thing with
New Jersey one of the major um things that they are really focused on is uh placement in least restrictive environment um because New Jersey rates actually as the worst in the country with um that type of placement meaning that we're placing our students um where they can thrive and we're not really you
know restricting their ability to be with um peers things like that. So, um, we we have work to do and we're doing it and, um, you know, it's a good team and we're getting ourselves going.
>> And finally, one of uh, the slides, I think the last one there. Um, Joseph, good luck to our uh, Belvadier cheerleaders who left for nationals today in Florida. >> Yay. [clears throat] Thank you. >> All right. Thank you for the
superintendence report. We are going to move on to our agenda items now. So we have our first one is policy. We just have one for policy. So can I have a motion for the number one policy item?
Second. >> Any questions on that? This is on a second reading. >> [clears throat] >> No. All right. And all in favor? >> I I >> Any nos? Any abstensions? Okay. So, we are on to personnel items.
That is going to be 2 through 12. Can I have >> a motion for personnel 2 through 12? >> Motion. >> Second. Any questions? We reviewed. No. Okay. So, we're going to go roll
call. >> Mrs. Simone here. Here. Yes. >> Yes or no? >> Yes or no or abstain? >> We need a little no on here. [laughter] >> Dr. Zith, >> yes. >> Mrs. Duckworth. >> Yes.
>> Miss Johnson. >> M. Stefan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stride. >> Miss. Walton. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wer. >> Yes. Miss White.
>> Yes. But no, >> Tigerelli. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gardella. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rebotham. >> Yes. But no to 11. >> Comment on 11 here. >> Yeah, you are correct.
Um, we can revote on 11 as well if you want. We had have discussion to amend number 11 to say to approve the creation of a flag football club for the spring 2026 at
Beler High School and appoint Jordan Shuffler as the volunteer coach. The club will be approved with a $1,500 budget from the board general fund. Additional expenditures would need to be fundraised by the club. >> Do you want to revote?
>> We need to revote >> on 11 >> unless that change was for the motion. >> Right. So we should revote. >> Right. Okay. Um, so our original vote just be for
numbers two >> 2 through 12 excluding 11 and now we'll just do a number 11 alone. >> 11. >> As amended >> as amended >> Mrs. Sone >> yes >> Dr. Zith >> yes >> Mrs. Duckworth
>> yes >> Miss Johnson Stephen >> yes >> Mrs. ative Miss Walton. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wer, >> yes. >> Miss White, >> Mr. Cherelli, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gardella, >> yes.
>> And Mrs. Robotham. >> Okay. So, we are on to education items 13 through 21 and then we have 21A on your add-on sheet. So, can I have a motion for education
items 13 through 21A? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions on 13 through 21? >> I just had a question. Are those already budgeted
for the year? Um they're part of the original budget for 2526. >> Um and then are there any others that are coming up that budget? >> I'm sorry, we were looking at an item
number. Just asking if there's any other field trips that are included in the budget fund. >> So, are there additional yet to come? >> Yeah. Are there additional that are accounted for in the general budget that
we >> wait to clarify? Are you asking if these are >> budget? >> It's already covered. We've already anticipated the cost versus unanticipated cost. Okay. >> They already budgeted >> typically. I mean, it's only January, right? You still have all the grade
school. >> Yeah. I'm sure there's more. >> Class trips coming, the the class the high school class trips >> at the beginning of the year, we always like approve a whole slew. So, I assume that when we approve the whole slew, they're already accounted for general budget.
So, I know we had a discussion about the budget gap. So asking are these trips included in the current budget for 2526 hearing? Yes, that is >> and if they're already budgeted for then
should be that shouldn't impact the gap >> budgeted for the answer is yes. >> You already answered yes. >> No. No. whether or not these trips are included in the original answer is yes. Yes. Are there additional
yet to come? Um I'm I don't know. I don't know that we I'd have to go back. We'd have to compile a complete list of what's been approved thus far and compare that with the principles to see if they have other trips that have not been handed in yet. >> I think the ask would be if when
additional field trips are on the agenda, if we could just notate >> if it was budget that wasn't budgeted for. >> Yeah. Right. If it's an add to budget, >> not plan for it. >> That's what you were trying to get out. Perfect. >> There you go. Good job, Virginia.
>> You translate well. >> See, she gets >> She did. She We We got it. We got there. >> Glad somebody does. >> We got there. >> All right, Marian. >> Okay. I said that. >> Any other questions on those item numbers? >> No. And I think Is that an all I got to
look back? Sorry. That's a All in favor? I >> Any nos? Any abstensions? >> Yeah, I abstain from 15. >> Okay. And now we are on to business items number 22 through 34.
Can I have a motion for business 22 through 34? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions? So when I reviewed the information, we do a statement of assurance um twice a year um that has to be sent to the
county office. And when I reviewed the information and reviewed where the individuals were assigned, which happens sometimes, sometimes we initially think they're assigned in one place and then they get moved. um their assignments weren't matching the um the funds that were being used to help
support that position, that role. So, it's being um reapproved or realigned to the most appropriate grant. >> No, it's just reassigning the person. That's all. >> Just which staff person is allocated to each grant type?
it there their time could be in there 100% but the grant only covers 50% of that time. So um but yes we do look to align that but it's not always fully covered by your grant. I guess the question is does the it well
I think now my question is I'm sure it's fine but there's a like a payroll tracking for that that aid if they or whomever if they switch >> halfway through their I picked up that this was not aligned >> okay yep
any other questions on any of those items >> um I have a question on 25 as I I I know you know obviously we have to have our full service but um when was the last time we did increase and that's
two question then I guess also is there a way so this so the 40,000 that's that's from when >> for the 2526 school year >> so July 2025 to June 2026 >> and so then this would begin
>> already >> this is a midyear right this is what I'm saying so we need the increase Now >> we need an increase now because our usage is is higher. >> And so with that is it can we look at um areas where that keep that down? I mean
utilize other resources. >> The biggest thing is we had a couple really big items that required lots of services. >> I mean we're negotiating. >> We had some communication issues. We had yeah we had community issues I mean that
that just have come up in the past few months and >> if the question there's lots of guidance there's other resources like for example um one of the roles that we discussed >> yes I do reach out reach out elsewhere where I possibly can um and sometimes I get the answer but you should contact your
>> yeah totally get that >> your board attorney >> in uh in our standard operating procedure right there we had looked at prior to Dr. Garcia joining there is a control point turn my mic's on that I
believe it's the president is to review the the log of outreach to council to the invoices so given that we are increasing it can we and and I think it was one of those things that maybe was
not as formally done as written could we look to either modify that control or implement it to the way it's written to make sure because um in looking at the invoices that you shared, it did seem
that too there was some outreach or correspondence outside of the three roles that are authorized to to engage to potentially increase this cost. So, if we could just make sure that we we've buttoned up that control to go along
with this increase. Not that it's not I get it. I I'm completely in agreement with Mrs. Duckworth. We've had we've had some a lot of stuff and we are negotiating our contract, but making sure that we're doing the monitoring to make sure there's no
>> allocated >> that, right? That we're we're not nickeling and dimming away $10,000. We're using it as viciously as possible. >> I think that's fair. Yep. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions on any of those
items? >> No. Okay. So, go back to >> answer your original question, Mr. W. I don't recall that Belvadier's ever had to our attorney cost me. >> Oh, thank you. >> Yes, we have. Oh, yes, we have. >> Yeah. >> Oh, tenure charges. Does that not ring a bell? That was what hundred and
something thousand dollars. >> Oh, my >> right. There's been time sh >> Oh, yeah. But that's a lot was >> but I'm just saying don't say never >> first I said I don't recall another year that we had >> I can recall other years too. We've increased our >> Yeah. >> It's not the norm. I think it's
>> it's not the norm. >> It's not the norm. >> But it has we're not expecting it again next year. >> Yeah. So then here so then next year would it go it goes back to to like we're increasing it now. Does it stay there or do we both
27 in the budget? um budget will be approved in the when we do the 2627 budget in March the preliminary and then the final you'll see that that's where you see the initial um attorney and auditor costs are approved in there. >> So that's just every year with normal
that would go back to the original amount at this point. >> Yeah. Unless you'd have to change. Okay. >> Okay. That makes sense. That makes sense. Okay. Any other questions on 22 through 34?
>> So, we're gonna establish. >> Yeah, I think we need we'll go over the SOP and establish a log, right? >> Or whatever an appropriate control is. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it has it on there. It's it's I forget what the number is, but it's like when it hits a when it hits a certain number, then there's I I forget what the
terminology and what the number is, but it does tell you once it's to a certain point, then these are the steps, next steps to take. >> It's not the one I'm >> I have it on my desktop, so I'll send it out to you the SOP and I'll highlight the pages and we can take a look at >> recommend. Yeah,
>> because we looked at it in our >> in the policy >> in our policy meeting >> to see if there's anything we needed to change. >> Yep. We did review that November, December sometime in one of our our many policy meetings. Okay. So,
any other questions on 22 through 34? No. All right. So, this is all in favor. I >> any abstensions? No. Okay. So, let me get to my next
page. Continuing business. Does anybody have any continuing business? >> Um, public participation. I know we I I feel for you, Melissa, every time you read that. Um, and I know you guys were
looking at a potential solution. So, I just wanted to and how you guys were working on that. During our pol our last policy meeting, I believe we were talking about ways to maybe put that as a general statement
that it's on the printout and that we could have people say refer to statement whether we read it in the beginning because our thought our thought was when we talked about it in our meeting was if you don't read it again later if somebody came in
>> then it wasn't quite fair because we didn't give the disclaimer kind of thing. So we were trying to adjust of how we could make that in some way whether we made it like a standard thing that's set here for people to be able to look at and read or whether it's okay
see those are some things that we were talking about in policy as to what would be best practice and we also wanted to follow up with Mr. recruit as to what would in the end make that >> Yeah. Can I just ask a quick question about that? >> Absolutely.
>> Question. Is it is it printed in both places the agenda? >> Yes. >> Yes. That's that's helpful right there. >> Okay. >> All right. You've got and everyone gets a copy of the agenda when they come in. >> It's available. It's available. Yes, it's available.
>> So, one suggestion meeting it. One option is to read it the first time and second time say I'm refer back to this statement I read. However, it's in your agenda.
Read the agenda. Especially since nobody came in today, >> right? So then for instance, today everybody already heard it. >> It's easy to see if people came in there in the agenda, you could maybe refer to that. >> So >> but I mean theoretically you don't even have to read
to the agenda. >> Most my experience most try to read again not at a routine meeting it may seem like it's not as But anyway, we can talk about lots of different
>> Can we add it to the policy committee meeting that's probably now going to be like four hours and tidy up what we're going to do because we've talked about this numerous times at meetings. I think it's time to button that up and we'll just finalize it there and decide what we want to do.
>> Yeah. >> So, we'll launch it like a question. >> I think my question, Mr. recruit then would be when we're having meetings where there where we don't have a lot of public here to participate can it could
could it go back and forth where you're saying okay it's printed here you can read it yourself and then when we do have the the normal time when people are there I would read it also it is there but I and then you also read it >> I mean theoretically again could
better to be >> sure >> come up with a plan that you can live with and do it at every meeting. >> Okay. >> Because then you don't have a situation someone read it at the other meeting. >> Sure. Sure. Sure. Yeah. No time. >> Sure. >> That's just my
>> Nope. Okay. That's fine. >> Just to definitely short circuit a point on that. Jackie, Mrs. Rothenberg. >> Robotham. >> Robotham. [laughter] >> I don't know. I like that new name tag. >> Your name tag's face now. >> Yeah, I couldn't read it and I was
trying. So anyway, >> um I please note that in the the attorney bill list that we got today, >> this was in there. So I I would caution that we don't want to change the language where we have to go back and
incur a cost. >> So it's a process item. >> I would also like to note that crew mentioned NJSDA and I think this would have been And let me just say robot sorry [laughter] >> that um you know the the basic framework
of your statement there. So what you're really talking about now is ways to streamline from the board meeting. So I I don't I don't anticipate any need for any >> major stuff on that. You've got the framework for it and it's just a question of maybe can we put
>> we put up a sign? >> Can we put it in a thing? Can we put a sign? We have a plane fly over with one of those banners behind it. >> Yes, we have the budget for that. That would be too expensive. [laughter] >> Okay. >> In the budget. >> Um, so I had one other for
Renaissance and just again circling back to the general ed that new adaptive testing how we're have any like >> the benchmarks for winter were taken um
and we're finishing that up to be able to review the data. Um so actually we'll have that as part of the presentation for the district goals >> and middle school participated. >> I will confirm with everybody. >> Okay. Because last year it was a
>> I did confirm with that there was a question with Renaissance about the training and it was not formalized in the same way that it was for the elementary um grade levels and um because there was a decision later to add the middle school to that. Um so we are aware of that
>> but it's all different teachers now. It's different teachers but it's more than that. It also costs quite a bit of money to do the training. Um, I actually, speaking of Renaissance, um, had a conference call with them
last week, I believe it was, um, about a few things, including there was a question as to whether or not parents could log in and see information. Um, I got that answer. The answer was no. Um, there might be a way to for us to turn on a button that allows us to [clears throat] have scores sent, but
we're not quite there yet. Um there's a lot that we've been doing all at once at the same time, but um but yes, I will find out about the middle school. >> Any other continuing business? >> Oh, on the cell phone. So, I know you mentioned that we have to accept that at
a certain point. When does that have to >> We did. We just did. Not I meant implementation. >> The policy. >> Yeah, the policy. So now that we've accepted it, I mean there it's law now. So we have a little bit of time to get ourselves together and roll it out correctly and get, you know, figure out
what we want to do. That's going to be part of the conversation um in policy and then we'll go from there. So >> we don't have to have a date that's done by >> September. I mean, it needs to be done. >> I mean, by law, yes, for September. But for this, because we got the grant, um
things have changed a little bit because it's now law. So we there's a little bit of grace with districts. we really just need to finalize, you know, really work on our policy and then go from there and how we want to roll it out. We want it to be done correctly um and successfully. So, it's we don't want to
rush it. Any other continuing business? So, since um correspondence was read tonight, I just want to say thank you to Teresa Gomez for all years of service to the district and our students. um wish
her the best of luck from all the board and in her future of retirement. I hope it's great and we see her back here at Belvadier. >> Um so new business. I guess I'll start new business. Um
>> so hand them out. >> Sure. So we have been talking a lot in the past couple weeks. have been doing a lot of thinking and since our last meeting after our last meeting Carolyn and I were able to meet with Dr. Garcia just to talk about some structure things
moving forward um I know you know people some people feel strongly about a lot of board change some people you know think that we don't need change or you know whatever the the whatever your take on the situation is I've done a lot of thinking I've talked to a lot
of resources I've talked to um Kelly Mitchell. I even talked to Kathleen Hela because she's coming in and doing our onboarding um next month also. So, I've gotten a
lot of different perspectives and um some peace of mind out of it all. I was able to talk to um I know we've we've heard a lot of um what some of the changes Harmony's been making and trying to implement. So, I did get to talk to
our other sending district reps, too, just to kind of see what their structures are. I've also talked to outside of our sending districts. I've talked to other county um school board members, presidents, past, present, some with 20 plus years on there just to kind
of get a take on their structures, what's worked for them, what hasn't worked for them. Um just to get some feedback to try and help us move forward. Also, um, Kelly Mitchell when she comes to our next meeting in two weeks will be helping us with our
board norms, which some of this will be. We took a couple years back and when Kathleen Helawa was our school board's rep, she helped us with a communication plan for our board. So, we were able to get that, Marian had remembered that we had that.
So, Dr. Garcia was able to find that. So, we kind of started with that as our base. Thank you, Shel. >> Oh, okay. >> Shelley actually found it for us. Thank you very much. Um, so we started out with our base um when we used it quite a few years ago and it was done well. I
think it was very very helpful and just kind of a guideline for all of us. I want everybody to realize um Carolyn and I spoke about this a lot on the weekend um on the phone. I want everybody to realize that there's needs to be a lot of grace with this, okay? Because things
happen. Everybody has lives. Somebody gets sick, ill, game, whatever it might be. Um, so we all need to know that this is a guideline and if it's not at 48 hours and it's at, you know, a day later, it's okay, you know, um, for all
of us. So, it's just a baseline for us to start at. Um, so with some of the things that we talked about, Carolyn took our old one and kind of updated it for what we're looking to do. Yeah. >> One of our things that we want to do to
try and take some off of >> yellow. >> There you go. >> And the change is I highlight in yellow just like we do for our policy. >> Beautiful job. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Yep. >> So, one of the things we want to do is try and take some of the pressure off
Dr. Garcia for all the emails because sometimes >> three of us email her the same question and then she's trying to answer three people. Um, so we want to try and go back to compiling the whole group question. At one point, we would send in our questions by a certain date. We
would get a list of 10 questions that whoever asked and we would see the questions and the answers. So, we're going to kind of try and do that again. So, you're going to email those questions. So, our board package typically come out on Friday. Again, there's always that grace period and it might be
>> emergency closing, >> you know, whatever. So, it'll come out. [clears throat] You'll have your agenda. You'll have till Sunday night, early Monday morning to get that those questions if you had to. And Caroline's going to take on um trying to compile
those questions, get them over to Dr. Garcia, and then when she has, you know, five minutes to breathe in her day, hopefully she will answer those questions. Sometimes it might be an answer to all five questions on there and we'll get them all before our board
meetings. some of she might just be like you know well more information at the board meeting whatever sorry whatever that might be but this is where we're going to kind of start and it doesn't have to be thank you Mr. recruit that it doesn't have to be written in stone. This is a work in progress and we'll see
each month how we go and what we might like to tweak and change. Um, one of the things I did find out from speaking with um, Kelly school boards and even um, when I was talking to the county superintendent about the board and and
just some ideas her and I had too, I did find out that a lot of our succeeding board members in the area do a structure that we already do. We just have to be more precise with it. Um, committee meetings are very similar to ours. I
know there's been a lot of change in the last six eight well since since September of you know last year we went through how many changes between our structure in our school our structure in our district our administration structure our board structure trying to change our
committees into different groups and I think we can all agree you know three meetings at the same night all jammed into one with a superintendent bouncing around like a ping pong ball didn't work okay so we're trying to get back to the structure and we're trying to get back to what worked before we threw throw everything up in the air multiple times
and and get there. Um, many of the districts have a very similar plan to what we have for committees and, you know, set times to get questions in. um chairs working, you know, with the superintendent to add those things that the board was working with, but you
know, the superintendent still putting down a lot of what's on some of those because they know what the school needs to address today, you know, versus next month or whatever. Um but making that a work, you know, back and forth together.
So, that's kind of where we're at. Um, and the idea also is I I don't know if you guys don't know this, but >> I never get to see what other questions you all are asking. And so you could be asking the same questions or you could be asking questions that I didn't even think of. And so if we're able to
>> compile them, send them to Dr. She can answer them all at once and send everything out to the board. I think it helps with transparency and it takes a lot. I mean, being copied on all these, we ask a lot of questions. They're all really great questions, but some days it's like 20 plus emails a day that does
not need in her inbox. So, we can skinny some of that. >> I talked to Carolyn the other day and she goes, "Oh my gosh, did you see all this?" And they all the same subject. So, they all like combined and I'm like, "Wait, who's responding to who?" And [laughter] it it's >> Yeah. She's like, "Wow." I was like, "Uhhuh."
>> Yeah. And then we just wanted to point out for the committee, you know, the chair um will send the minutes or whomever we decide in your committee will send the minutes to the committee first so that everybody can weigh in and make sure that nothing was missed and
then send it out. Um and we for finance we'd want to ensure that you copy and Shelly. Um and Dr. Garcia, >> I have a I just have a question about that. Does it like all questions regarding
reporting but contra can contradict the um getting the items to the agenda by Monday morning they'll create a lot of detail the the committee chair and superintendent so it's not like the
committee chair is then taking it to the president to then take it to the superintendent to do one full response. That's also a separate communication thread. That's occurring, right? >> Yes. >> Yes. Yeah. Committee committee note and
questions are one piece and then the like the so that she has them by Monday to compile them for Dr. Garcia is for our full board meetings. >> So, two separate ones. So, and I I would say when you're when you're addressing
com committee um minutes and questions, um Dr. Garcia and I talked too like you can put the chair and her on there too because then the chair might be able to answer a lot of that stuff and she doesn't have to, but you know, she sees responses. So, if there's something, you know, oh wait,
but there but this is the piece that's missing or this is the vocabulary, you know, that might that might understand it, then she can help out. or if it's a question that really, you know, an administrator needs to answer, then she's right there on it, too. As opposed to Carolyn gets it as a chair of of
policy and then she's like, "I'm not sure. Let me message it to her." And three days go by, >> you know, before she's seeing it and that kind of thing, too. Just >> Yeah. >> So, just to clarify though, right, like we had committee meetings last Wednesday. Mhm.
>> So the chair of those committees should draft the minutes, >> send them to the committee members. To me, in that mind, since it's really just confirming, hey, I got on this document the correct things we discussed. >> Exactly. >> Yeah. Did I miss anything? No. What?
>> No. Chair takes the minutes, sends them. The >> chair is responsible for the minutes. >> No. Can Can I finish my sentence? Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So, in that case, the chair would send them to the committee members. the committee members have an opportunity and in in my vision in that case we
don't need to copy Dr. Garcia if it I'm saying hey we forgot to note in this draft of the minutes that we discussed this or no that might have been discussed in your other committee and doesn't belong here. We could work that amongst the four or five people on the
four people on the committee and then once the the commit the four board members of the committee say, "Yep, these look are a good reflection of our discussion," then they go on to I because if we're just cleaning
up stuff, that seems like a really poor use of Dr. Garcia's inbox. >> I would I would agree with that, too. And then then that's where then they get submitted subsequently to the whole board within five daysish >> after >> after they've gone to Dr. Garcia. The
board gets in lock the subcommitteees in lock step. >> We share with Dr. Garcia and then within a week >> everybody gets >> Yeah. Yeah. Once you guys like Yeah. If you want to just check it with your committee. Yep. Oh. Oh, wait. You forgot about this or whatever. Do that. Send it
to Dr. Garcia. Then show review. Yep. nothing was missed or you know or oh this this is technically the case you know whatever the explanation is then she can put it into the folder and with her update say >> committee notes thereoop and on to so
then everybody can go in because we're trying to do the folder system is the hope right >> okay >> everybody's okay with it yeah >> because I know that's been an ask like people would love to have a folder where they can go in and see it Dr. Garcia has been set up that she can make that happen where we would have a folder. So
she could actually just be like, "So I had 20 meetings today and this happened today or this happened this week and committee meetings for this and this are in the folder." Boom. >> I've had 20 minute meetings in one day. >> I'm I know you have I know you have. >> Great. [laughter]
>> Yeah. Like just the link is good. >> Yeah. One caveat I would like to offer or explain. Dr. Garcia and I had a conversation before personnel and said because of the nature of personnel and what can and can't be shared and what we have shared in the past and we can't she was going to take the notes her and I
sat down at the end of the meeting and went over the minutes did everything and then they were going I personally did not write them >> but in in the using the example from last week's minutes there were a couple of items >> that were my fault cuz I thought that would be helpful to the board two people didn't think they were helpful so it'll
never happen again >> because they weren't discussed and it appears as though if somebody was to go back and look at them, it would appear as though those individuals were aware of that and that wasn't the case because it was discussed in a different >> trust me never happened again. I will
not make sure everybody's aware of >> human we can make that mistake. I would just rather that we work it out amongst ourselves rather than there's 12 emails back and forth and Dr. Garcia is in >> correct. I agree with that. I 100% agree with >> and and I think it's okay for the committee to decide the structure that
works that works in their committee. 100% 100%. >> Absolutely. >> Absolutely. [clears throat] [clears throat] >> Yeah, we can do that. And Kelly Kelly can also
>> that document. >> Yep. >> Yep. Well, >> yep. And I think we're going to do that our next meetings. We're going to do board norms. So, some of that might be part of that, too. And again, each committee is different. Like I know you're on finance and um what's it uh
building? >> Finance. >> That's operations facilities as I want to call it. Um, so that might be different than what policy is too because, you know, you're not going to write an agenda for finance because that's, you know, your administrator
needs to tell you, you know, what what things we need to look at too and and our um BA. So for that, you know, you'll look at the agenda and go, "Oh, there was a question about this. Can we add that?" Yep. Okay. So, we add that to the agenda. But then for, you know, your
minutes, it can go either way. you know if you're comfortable taking them if you know if Dr. Garcia wants like you know and you can it can be a collaboration. So why we can say oh this is what you know we want a chair to do it doesn't have to be written in stone either. It
can be very flexible within the committee whatever the people that are on the committee and feel is best suited to get the information out correctly um the format. So it's it's kind of you know open as far as that goes.
>> Sure. Oh god. [laughter] >> I have >> like >> there There's there's a lot of parts to that and I have talked to several people about it and I talked to um Kelly Mitchell about it. She said for us at
the moment like it's not something that we could just change right into. Um she said it would be something that we would take multiple multiple trainings to do. So it would be something that if it's something that a majority of the board wanted to look at later on, we
absolutely could. Um, but it's something that would take a lot of training to get in that structure. I mean, right now we have hour committee meetings. So, are you going to talk about one committee meeting each month or you know what I mean? Like, if you have to talk about each committee each month, then that hour meeting now that you're talking
about, you have to bring that down to a tiny tinier frame to have that open discussion. Also in some of the feedback I got talking to other um boards and members and presidents and stuff, one of
the big drawback is um just your open discussions in committee meetings wouldn't be the same um you know in a public session to some degree because just just you know you want to discuss an experience or you know things and
people might hold back and not say something. um that might be like a polic like something to consider, you know, for some kind of thing. So, they said it's just a less formal, you know, thing. And that's another thing, too, like when we're taking minutes and
stuff, you want to have all, you know, like all your bullet points of what you talked about and, you know, describe some of the things that you talked about, but it's not going to be a word for word thing because then that's a meeting on paper. So only because we did touch a
>> it has been discussed. No, it wasn't anything about you suggesting it. There's been a lot of feelings about it. A lot of feelings that I was going to want to laugh because we've been down this road times. was like, "Oh, >> I just want to comment like I don't
oppose a board a board of a whole, but we're definitely we need to start I think as a board in general just becoming more efficient >> before we can move there because we >> I've been thinking about this a lot like we cover a lot in these [snorts]
committee meetings and sometimes they run rather long and so we have to be able to run our committee meetings more efficient I think before we can start doing workshops." Um, but I think the communication piece is just step one. Like it's I in my opinion, we're just going to have to slowly ease into
um just putting some rigor around how we function as a board and then I think we could get there. >> And just just a quick question because I was already thinking about it. So obviously Dr. Garcia sends out all the questions, right? And then I guess
>> yeah, >> obviously others are going to go, "Oh, that's a good question. Then what about this?" And it might lead additional. So just kind of thinking head is that something we're going to talk about in meetings like we're going to hold off on those additional questions. So it's not >> depends on your question. If it's some if it's something that it needs
background information, >> you need to give these two a heads up. >> You know, if it's something finance related, Kelly pulls off all kinds of information. Sometimes we throw >> that. What I'm saying is from a process standpoint, is it still then we still going to ask additional questions or is
it just the one, you know, email out here? >> I think I think you can, you know, if if you if you read something Tuesday night and go, oh, well, that was a really good question. Now that brings up this question and I want to know about this and it might take some, you know, you can you can do two things. A, it's
something you want to ask in public. You can always be like, hey, heads up, I'm gonna, you know, I I want to ask this question. so they can be like, "Oh, yep. I pulled this out today. Here's your answer." You know, kind of thing. Um, so that that could definitely be feasible. It's not saying that just because you
didn't think about that by Sunday night, you can't ever ask that question or, you know, whatot. >> No, I just want to make sure I'm following the process. I want to come to the table, you know what I mean? Why didn't you use that? >> Yeah. And then next month, if it doesn't, we don't like the way it goes, we'll just try talk about it again,
right? Which leads me to my next point. Wait. Oh, can I >> Yeah, go ahead. >> Oh, I was just ask for the um who will provide responses to the full board prior to or at the BOE
meeting. Do we at all have to worry about walking a fine line with the open public meetings act and doing board business outside the board by the depending on the amount of content that is sent out?
>> Yeah, I that's an excellent question. >> Yes. Oh, here. >> That's okay. I have >> um I I think the key is that cannot be discussing or conducting business outside of the board
meeting. So that can happen through emails. So if you're sending emails and people are asking questions that are going to the whole board that that's that's potential problem. So I think that but if it's just sending out
information a one direction. >> Yes. A one direction, >> right? >> Like a van. >> So if it's going out one direction um and I think that um I think that's okay. So I just have to be careful. So if the
board member shouldn't be replying all >> and sharing things amongst the whole board, >> but if questions are going to the superintendent and she's just compiling the questions >> and responses and then sending that out as anformational piece, >> I I think that that would be okay.
>> Okay. Now, devil's advocate here. So, say all of our answers get answered in this one email that goes out to the entire board and then we come to every board meeting and we have no discussion, no comments because they were all answered in an email. Do we have a
concern about open public meeting act and not that community? >> Well, as somebody alluded to, just because something is answer question. So then >> so if there are issues that would be appropriate down on that
>> okay >> or the questions could be repeat you know it's very very good idea just practice I'm sure >> that one of the things you as a best practice don't want to do is surprise kind of question >> right
>> so you good idea to be setting questions that doesn't mean that they can't then be repeated or or shared at the board so I guess >> is that best practice Yeah, there's one of those it's one of those things like there was a famous >> hard to find.
So with the you know with the communication among the board it's yes you have to be careful and so any discussion discussion of the item could lead to an open public but I think if it's not a
full board discussion and it's just a report of information. >> Yeah. And I I also think it's okay to say I'm going to ask this question in public meeting so that they did that many times. I ask a question, they answer me said, "Okay, be ready cuz I'm I know you answer me,
but I'm going to ask it in public session because the public needs to hear your answer." You could do that, too. But at least they have a shot at getting >> I have also responded to people, we will discuss this at the board meeting. So I have, you know, for some things that feel sometimes a little sticky. >> Okay. So that's why I did I did allude
to the fact that she might just say you know I'll answer this at the meeting or you know this will be a topic we'll discuss or you know whatever it might be >> which just brings me back to when we're doing um talking about the policies. So
as far as or the committee as far as the committee we're doing the notes right we have to do that public like have to kind of talk about >> oh the readout reads right so that's why I was only saying because then earlier
>> we didn't years ago we didn't used to do that >> there's no there's no require requirement that you do that that's a it's up to the court to >> decide how you're going So, so are we
>> I would like to continue just because >> I can do it. I do have >> That's why we went from 7:00 to 6:30 so that we had that half hour to do a committee report whether that was one meeting or five meetings we had that week it was or that month. It was
>> as it was alluded to I think earlier out if you have a long detail it doesn't mean that you necessarily have to Yeah, just bullet point verbatim bullet points. >> You could just prepare a report which just kind of summarizes it. >> Yeah. No, I just wanted that's what I
talked when I talked to Kelly. Um she said that and um two of the other board presidents I talked to said the same thing. Their committee report is just bullet points, you know, just just reviewing their hour they spent together and the topics [clears throat] that they did and what their decision was. not,
you know, not word for word because again those minutes go out that way. It's a meeting on paper because you just told everybody, you know, in the whole the whole 12 members what that hour word for word was kind of thing. So, it's just more of a standard discussed this.
This is what we decided. And the other thing we talked about too is highlighting if you guys thought it would be helpful. I think this would be really awesome for me is highlighting what is going to be on the next agenda in our board meeting. So if you talked
about five topics, if there's certain certain things that are going to come on as an agenda item directly from that to highlight that because if I get that those notes from last Wednesday's meeting, Tuesday night 11 o'clock, I'm going to go, "Oh gosh, I have to read
this." someone be like, "Oh, there's four things on here I really have to focus on for tomorrow, too." So, I thought that would be just really helpful to have them highlighted because, you know, >> it's very clear that they're the next thing. Like, our policy is always our first reading. So, we know, oh, this is
going to be on, you know, this is just a first reading, but then we'll know the second readings coming up. So, we need to know, yes, 100% we're voting one way or the other. >> Yeah, I thought that was great. on the committee agendas, what was noted >> would be on this agenda. That was very
helpful. >> Yeah. >> And then, you know, those items that aren't highlighted are still a topic for the committee to probably talk about, >> you know. >> And the other item I wanted to just add that's outside of this, but part of this is on our regular board meeting agendas,
is it possible to carry over new what like this new business into continuing business if it doesn't get resolved? >> Yes. um on the agenda itself just like you know communicate like a short communication plan that we are all
reminded as a board that there's still some outstanding items >> like a bullet point under continuing business. >> Yeah. Just like a followup >> just put the topic >> like a followup topic. >> Yeah. >> Because I think that we all keep notes but then some stuff falls through
because we you know and it's like I forgot to ask. Yeah. [snorts] >> And then with that too on the agenda and I've asked a couple times with this just to kind of when we do have the public have to specific [clears throat]
go over what the resolution was or what the convers were but just that that if we do have those public comments that that's being addressed. everybody knows that's something actually
>> to the extent those that the catch >> obviously yeah I mean I'm not saying we have to get specific but just saying there was a public comment made just to let everyone know we are addressing contact with >> just to as part of the superintendent
>> I suppose >> I think that's what we've Yeah, I think that's what sometimes it's done. It's been the superintendent just said, "Oh, last week, >> last meeting, this and this were asked >> this was taken care of or that's being looked into or whatever." Yeah. >> Right.
>> Okay. >> Any other business? >> New business. >> I I know. All right. So, um just heads up, February 2nd, there's a hybrid NJSBA meeting. is actually um unsung hero awards that's March 11th
and I know many of us the eighth grader and the 12th grader who recognized um legislation I just wanted to I don't know if anybody's looked at the
legislation updates on um NJSBA but um the most recent one was a substance poisoning awareness act requires school districts to provide instruction on dangers of elicit opioid
substance that was just approved on January 17, 2026. So, I know we've had some discussions around vaping, um just, you know, other concerns within the school and that, you know, I'd like to understand more about how this is
going to come into play to support um you know, those challenges that we have. And then, um I noticed one of the pictures on the TV was career fair or career pathways with Kimble, which made me think about the career fair that
we have every for the past two years. >> Yeah. I couldn't put >> Yeah. So, I didn't know um Miss McKenna usually um took it over last year. The year before was Mr. Barto and they had some >> It wasn't Dr. uh No, it was um in
guidance guidance. >> That was Dr. McKinn. >> Okay. Yeah. So, it was Brad Barto, Dr. McKini, and then I guess guidance last year >> and then um so I just wanted to ask about that. And then I saw also battle the minds uh made it through three or
four rounds. >> Yeah, they did. >> So, I didn't know if um we could have the middle school students maybe pop in at one of the meetings just recognize them for >> it was a big achievement from a big
progress progression from last year. >> Yeah, that's awesome. [snorts] >> That's all I have. >> Any any other new business? Which loops me back to [laughter] >> um recognition. Are we doing anything on
the websites? Yeah, I know we touched upon that. We have the waiverss already signed like when they sign in and stuff like that. I just see it so like all over on like some of my friends, you know, go to different like their schools
really recognize big job and make it for their I think that's going to roll out as we work on the communication parts. There's been a lot of things that we're focusing on and there's not very many of us. So,
um that is a work in process and it's a part of the plan and we've had conversations about it. Um we've started to do some things and um we're going to continue to work on that, but I >> you know um wait there's that red is it red zone? >> Oh, BHS red zone. >> Yeah. Is that still
>> going I think the student that started >> No idea, >> but they haven't posted on there since like December 18th. >> I know. I was gonna say I haven't seen >> because I've been looking for updates. But that's a good way to showcase and then really like rally That's by a class, right?
>> Yeah, that's um >> because it's in like the curriculum maybe. I don't know. I I think he did a thing where this is what I heard >> have students taking right
yes and interviews. It was really fun >> which back >> and having instead of putting more work back on the staff building. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's a good idea. >> Oh, look. I don't know what the red zone
is, so it's really >> Yeah. >> It's an Instagram page. >> It was fun. >> Instagram. >> It's one of the many Belvadier district related. >> Not necessarily district sponsored, but >> like a social media. >> It's an Instagram.
>> I'm not on social media much. >> Um, but it's a it was like a class. >> I really don't know. >> It was a class, >> but I will look for it. Yeah, it was within a class and I'm I'm sure Mr. Felman won't show you all about it. They did a really phenomenal job last year. >> Any other new business?
>> There's one other thing. Um, we do or Mr. Blum was our New Jersey school board's Oh, um, representative for a very long time. [laughter] Yeah. So is if anybody's interested in
being that liaison at all, um, reach out, you know, because >> you can rotate like attendance. So, if there's anybody who's interested in doing that kind of thing, reach out to me and Carolyn and we can figure out um there's different times. If you go to
the last workshop we just had, they were talking about, you know, um there's different opportunities where you can go and try and vote on things that they want to bring to legislation and thing. You know, they they do >> a description of what that entails somewhere. >> The delegate. Yeah, I'll get it out.
>> I'll send it out. I'll get a delegate description. >> I should know. It's on It's on the It's on school boards cuz I forget cuz I was looking it up at that meeting. It's on the page and stuff and they meet. So, you can vote, you know, you can be one of the the bodies and multiple like it
doesn't like if if a couple people are interested like one person can go be the voting body, but you can bring more than one person. Like it's not like only one person can show up. Like two or three people could go, but then we get one vote and they'll vote on topics when they they have their meetings. um
they'll vote on the topics that are most important to like their district and other districts and kind of compile them to be, you know, something that they want to push to legislation. >> Yep. >> Some Yeah. So, if anybody's interested in
doing those things, please let Carolyn and I know because I'm not going to, you know, tell you you definitely have to do it cuz that's unfair to put that on somebody. But if there's people that are are interested in doing that, um, we are looking for a new one because Mr. Blum
did it for a long time and I think it was taken for granted that he was that person. So, >> now we're looking for somebody new. So, thank you to him. >> Yep. So, is that any other any other new
business at all? We're good. Okay. So now we we are moving on to public participation. Our second one of the night >> and can I safely say >> yes. >> Okay. So I am going to say if you want
to read it it's the same information I read for first public participation. But this public participation is open to any comment. Does not need to be just on agenda items. So do we have any public participation tonight? No. No. Okay.
Thank you all. So, we are looking then to move on to our second executive session, which would be for a couple topics on here. Can I have a motion for executive session? >> Motion. >> Second. >> I'm going to start studying for my test cuz I got to go.
>> Okay. All in favor? >> I. Any abstensions? Okay. Okay. So, we will be going into executive sessions for matters rendered confidential by federal law, state law or court rule, collective bargaining agreements, attorney client privileges, and
personnel employment matters affecting a specific prospective or current employee. Any discussion held by the board which need not remain confidential will be made public as soon as practical. Minister of 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 >> for 45 minutes I'm going to go with and there is no action being taken when we
come back. >> You leaving? >> Have a good night. >> Thank you all.