The New Jersey public's meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with this provision 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 with the Star Ledger and Express Times and submitted to the town clerk of the town of Belvadier on January 12th, 2026. The meeting will be livereamed at
www.belvierd.org. Flag salute, please. To the flag of the United States of America to the stand. The Belvadier School District in partnership with our families and community empowers every learner to
grow, achieve, and lead through inclusive practices, rigorous academics, purposeful learning, and meaningful relationships. We honor our traditions while preparing students to thrive in college, career, and life. Roll call, please.
>> Mrs. Cone, >> here. >> Dr. Z, >> here. >> Mrs. Duck, >> here. Mrs. Johnson, >> Miss Stein >> here, >> Mrs. Mrs. >> here, >> M. Walton >> here, Mrs. Wer >> here, >> here. >> Mr. Chelli
>> here, >> Mrs. Gardella >> here, and Mr. All right, we're going to begin our student recognition for tonight. And our first set of students are the unsung heroes for the 2526 school year. The unsung heroes of Warren County, New
Jersey school board's recognition. This year's theme was roots of resilience, cultivating character and community. These students are grounded in their values, are often foundational pillars for their peers, and don't seek the spotlight. I'd like to congratulate once
again eighth grader Adam Jones. and senior Dylan McGovern. Next, we have a group of model UN students who attended an event on March 13th. We had eight student presenters with five resolutions passing, which is very impressive. Additionally, Belvadier
was proud to have three students moderating a room and they did such a wonderful job that our district was asked to moderate two rooms next year. So, first I'd like to recognize the presenters. Ninth grade. Brian Karns,
Madam Lee Johnson, Elena Johnson, Aaron Kbert, Sarah Kumar, Johan John Junkosski. We have 11th grader Bennett Linder and 12th grader Orian Freeze. Yeah, go with them.
And our moderators for the event were Hannah Labib, Isabella Gardella, and Addison Ehaz. And that's just a little snippet of the wonderful things that our Belvadier students are doing. We did have someone uh come this evening that was showing
some nice cards to the board um that students had made for their community. Um so that's you know all the wonderful things that are happening with our students um supported by their teachers. So thank you so much everyone. >> Okay so we're going to do our student
representative report. Hannah. >> Hey good evening everyone. Um, first to report, our Lady Cedars flag football team has won their last two games by a combined score of 63 to 18. They beat Piscataway and South Hunan, and they have several players in
the top 30 for many statistics throughout the state. They are playing and competing against schools four times our size. They're playing Hillsboro High School tonight. Not only are they much bigger than us, but they are also ranked number four in the state for flag football. If anyone would like to come
out and show their support, their next home is April 30th at 4 against Franklin. Next, Leo Club will be helping with a few upcoming events. They have the Special Olympics of New Jersey on Sunday, April 26 at Haggetstown High School. Flowerland where they will be
helping direct parking during Mother's Day weekend. Leah will also be helping FFA plant flowers at MirV on May 6th, landscaping at Lacon's Rally Point on May 14th, and assisting them on their American Legion landscaping trip on May
19th. Prom will be June 4th. This year's theme is a night in the garden. The sale for tickets has begun and the deadline is May 1st. Tickets are $95 this year. Then before spring break, FA had a great science day during their spring parties
with some of the elementary students. Next Friday, the faculty and staff in the high school will be bringing their children to school for delayed take your child to work day. The high school students will be leading the children in fun activities all day long. For the music and drama department, the K
through8 spring concert will be on Thursday, April 30th. The Friday nominations will be announced on Thursday, May 7th on WFMZ at noon. The high school spring concert is on Wednesday, May 13th. And the 16th, Peggy's Run to raise money for the Peggy
Setstrom Memorial Music Scholarship will be on Saturday, May 16th. The drama club will be presenting an evening of Broadway songs on Wednesday, June 3rd. Also, Mr. Mr. Feldman's middle school STEM classes have been cleaning and organizing here in the media center to
help optimize the space for his project based classes along with the rest of the district's classes. Lastly, FFA just took a trip to the Wildcats field to rebuild their ramp and they will be having their annual banquet on May 2nd. Thank you. Thank you so much.
>> We have pictures of them um when they were building the ramp in our presentation here. They really did a wonderful job. Okay. So, I need a motion to go in executive session. >> Motion. >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Any nos? Any abstensions? Okay. We'll be going into executive session for matters rendered confidential by federal, state, or court rule, individual privacy personnel. We plan to reconvene in public session.
At the conclusion of the close session in approximately half hour half hour we're going to go to Okay. All right. Turn it on. Okay. We are on to public
participation. We very much welcome input from the public. There are two times during the 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 a item that is listed on tonight's agenda. Towards the
end of the meeting, there is another public forum to address any matter of public concerns 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 statement made 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 the public comment portion 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 courteous 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 that make they make that are directed at a particular individual or individuals may subject them to legal liability or defamation. Please also
understand that students and employees have specific legal and privacy protections. The board will not respond in public to comments about students and employees. So this is the first public participation on agenda items only. So if anybody has any public participation
on agenda items, please come up. No. Okay. Then we are on to committee reports. So we'll start student activities and community relations. >> The student activities committee met on March 24th. We started reviewing.
>> They won't be able to hear it all. That's why. Sorry. We started re reviewing the co-curricular and sports information that has been shared out with the negotiations committee. There have been applications submitted for co-op
opportunities so that we can continue offering activities for our students there. We had discussed conferences and although it may not be possible to change conferences, there was serious discussions being held throughout the
state regarding It's for the people at home um that we started talking about the conferences and that it's a discussion being held across the state because of transportation and other issues. We're not the only district facing
financial concerns with conferences and sports. St. Luke's they are currently interviewing for a new strength and conditioning coach and we will continue looking at student recognition and all students recognized at board meetings will have their
pictures taken and the pictures will be used on the website to increase our student recognition and highlight the good that our students are doing. >> Okay, that's great. Thank you. Any questions or comments about those notes?
>> Yeah, I do. I Is there a reason that we're not promoting them on social media as well? I just don't think people go to the website to look for student. I mean, the student um update seems like we have such really wonderful things going on and I don't think anyone in the
community knows that they're happening. So, we do have a district. if we're putting it on the website, is there any reason why we can't post it to our social media account? >> It's a conversation we've been having and I'm looking this way because um Eric and I have been talking about this about how to make it so it's feasible and
sustainable to be able to do that um across the board because there are many social media platforms, not all of them, you know, related to different areas, but um Eric and I uh we have been discussing and I think we have a plan from when they do get recognized at the
board level to then get those pictures out on our social media. >> And what about the stuff that occurs that's not at the board level? Like the Junior National Honor Society students had launched with I think at the Presbyterian Church. There was wonderful feedback around that, but nobody knows
that our kids do that. And I think we need to start highlighting and selling our our district around those things. >> It also depends who's there taking pictures, who sends the pictures, what pictures we get. I mean, I I don't know. We've talked about this before and and we know it's an area that we want to
address. Um it's not going to be fixed, you know, quickly. So, it's something that we're looking at for next year um to be able to do a little bit more, but it's also sustaining it and having the manpower to be able to do that. Um because when you post them out, that also, you know, it's different for Eric to post something on our website that
can link to our social media page, but we are not necessarily um always the ones taking the we do rely on others to send them to us as well. >> Yeah, I understand that. >> Um just to follow up on that, I will say at the high school level, there are many um Instagram pages and some have the
Facebook pages um and many if not all utilize those platforms. Those at least on the high school level are there um both for athletics and scholar athletes and um Leo club things. Yeah, a lot of those platforms are on at least
Instagram. >> To clarify, those are are run by parentled organizations or boosters, >> volunteers or students. Some of the some of the chapters have their own. >> They're not governed by the district.
So, we have to keep them separate. >> And there is little of that happening on the elementary school or middle school level, if any at all. So, there seems like we do nothing. I mean, it just Can PTO possibly have an Instagram or
Facebook? >> They do, but they're also not around for the Junior National Honor Society lunches when the kids do, you know, I don't know, field day, right? I mean, the PTO is not here for all of those things.
I I just think >> again probably like your clubs or your um supervisors of those clubs would be responsible for getting that out that information out or you know most of them have especially at the middle school are then
starting to have students empowered to be you know a president or vice president or whatever of those clubs. So that's probably something they should start looking into amongst their group. >> I hear you. I just really do think that we have an opportunity here to sell our
district to have more positive enrollment and people want to come here because our district has a really active I mean we do really cool things here that no one knows. >> Yeah. No, I agree. And you know I'm I'm a big fan of promoting you know all of
the good in the district. I mean one option possibly would be a high school student could get hours do volunteer hours maybe to the events, take pictures or post things of that. >> You also have to be very careful what
you're posting, too, because everybody has to sign off on allowing their kids pictures. So, if it's being if it's something >> I know, but what if you didn't? >> Well, then we we a roster of >> Well, that that's going to be my question, though. So, if the high school
students doing that and then putting it on the feed, who's going to make sure that somebody who wasn't approved by a parent for a face to be on is properly done? >> Is that something maybe we could talk um
to the clusters about? Because Harmony and White Township social media page is very active. It's excellent. >> It's a lot of lot of the surrounding. So when I was in school, like I I actually ran like a Twitter page when Twitter was like the thing for my school and we had
a class that was dedicated to it and then the teacher would like do all the oversight. So that's an option too. So we would like our class was like going to inschool events, out of school events and then essentially like writing a paper almost like a little newsletter
and then posting it on social media. It's a conversation I can have to see who manages it for those cluster schools. >> Yeah. >> Know who manages it or how they >> Yeah, I don't either. I just have been following them recently. They're very active and they're very good. >> And even if we're not putting kids
pictures up, we could have teachers, you know, I mean, Mr. Caribbean do his videos all the time and they would get sent out to the link and I would watch them. They were great. They were fun and supportive. But even if it's just something like that doesn't necessarily
have to be student always teacher recog teachers talking about little newsletter just really to keep I think the posit I think it's a matter of trying to figure out how to get that in and who would be
responsible for all of that. Um given Okay. Curriculum and instruction. So, we met on March 26th. Seems like forever ago. Um,
we reviewed assessments um and when assessments were coming. Uh I think they've all dynamic learning was the last one for April. Um >> this week >> so I think everything else has been done. They were had they had their
makeups um for NJ GPA and SATs they were already completed. So that was the last one. Our New Jersey student learning assessments were May um Yeah, that's right. We're not there yet. Is going to be happening in May. So,
everything else is pretty much on the list that we had sent out was completed. AP exams are also in May. Common placement assessments. Um we were meeting with the cluster schools
for math articulation um cluster collaborations. um starting with math and then hoping to continue on to ELA and other areas in the future to work together to get everybody on the same page coming into
the high school programs. Um academic programs went over AP programs, the platform for 2627 um and possibilities for that. We talked about um dual enrollments and what those
possibilities are, what they may be in the future offerings, the same or not. We did um math mandatory high school courses. We reviewed those. The algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2,
uh math investigations. So, we're continuing to review the options for the students to meet their graduation requirements there. um and exemptions should be limited to those areas. Co-curricular programs um we reviewed
this same list that the students activities had come up with um so that we could look at what our offerings were, what the uh what's the word? Interest. Thank you very much, Robin.
the interest in those groups are, where the hire is, and where we're lacking. And then we started to talk about the 2627 scheduling, but that is still very early into the process. Um, more coming
in the next month on that. And can we include a GPA on the student report card? We were looking into that too as having that just come up on our quarterly report cards.
And that was it. Any questions on any of those notes? >> Oh, okay. So, on to personnel negotiations. >> We'll do that in executive session. >> And then we had a policy and governance
meeting. >> Yeah. So, the policy and governance um committee met on April 13. We reviewed our use of facility policy where we added language reserve um reserving the board to have the ability to ask for security or site manager depending on
the type of of event or whatever may come up. Um we also reviewed the academic integrity AI policy which is 2365. Um this policy is specifically around
students. Um, this will be a net new and it is in first reading. So, I hope everybody took a look at it. Um, we talked a little bit about staff and use of AI. Um, but right now the staff
is being trained on AI and how to use it within their role. Um, so we just decided not to add any language at this time around that. Um for legal services um is 1474. We updated the policy to be in line with
our current process allowing for the possibility for committee chairs or other president approvals approval u contacts to contact the lawyer. So if the president approves anyone here to
contact the lawyer we have added that ability in the policy which was not there before. Um, we also reviewed the cell phone policy. So, we reviewed it. We recommended the policy that's currently in um, first reading. Um, please, I'd like to make sure everybody
takes a look at it. It's an important policy. Um, we made an update from the recommendation saying that for the 2627 school year, um, that the phones will be locked in a designated area. Since we don't know
what that's going to look like yet, we have we didn't put any specifics. that it will be at admin's discretion. And just so everyone is aware, we do anticipate that this policy will be updated regularly since the state law is
currently new and stress Esme is kind of poking holes in it, getting some legal advice on lots of things. So it could be updated prior to actually September. Um but at least we have one in place. So we're compliant.
Any questions? >> Have a quick question on weing? >> We don't know yet. Um we requested that we get um be presented with the types of blocking
systems, what the cost will be. And as I mentioned in the minutes, we as a committee said, give us what you think will be the best for the admin team to make sure that this policy we can keep to it and that there's a good process around it. I don't know if we'll be able
to afford it, but let's just start there and then move down through the list, see how we can um, you know, address it. Maybe we'll be able to find funds other ways. You know, there's
the grant we received for the $3,000 whatever options have been ranging anywhere from >> I mean we're talking$1500 >> different options we've been looking at quite a few
>> so that of course will be used towards it um I did agreed that the state of New Jersey was going to open this grant again. Whether or not we'll qualify a second time, I don't know. >> Well, and my understanding with the grant too is that it's also able to be
used for like training and programs and things like that too, not just for devices to lock everything down. So, it could be utilized in an even bigger way with doing some of that stuff, too. We have a deadline on that.
money by a certain time >> end of June. >> Oh, I guess right what we're doing for next year. Any other questions on policy and governance? Okay. So then we are finance and
operations. The finance and operations committee met on April 1st. Um, we did discuss the 2627 budget which is still a work in progress. We also discussed the roofing
project um to be completed by June 30th. We also discussed the boiler project for the 26th 27th school year. Um, we are working in coordination with Elizabeth Town Gas to help them. they're
going to cover some of the cost of that. In order to ensure that we don't lose that money, we have to commit. Um, but again, this is a 26 27 project. We discussed the heat exchanger, which is currently under review by the
insurance company for coverage. So, we're waiting on a response from that. Third Street, uh, still waiting on that as well. the long range facilities plan. We did discuss that. Um we're hoping to
complete that by June 30th of this year. We are in collaboration with an architect. Um that's going to help us determine what projects and what's needed to be done. We discussed the fixed asset inventory.
Uh schools are required to track fixed assets. So we have to review that. and the cafeteria um review. This occurs every 3 to five years. It's an audit. They review the cafeteria processes,
free reduced lunch applications, um things of that nature. That was really it. All right. So, any questions on any of that? Okay. So, correspondence. Do we have any correspondence?
I have one letter. Dear members of the Belvader Board of Education, please accept this letter as formal notice of my retirement from my teaching position effective October 1, 2026. After 28 years of service, I have decided to conclude my career in education. I am grateful for the opportunities I have
had to work with the students, staff, and community throughout my time in the district. It has been a rewarding and meaningful experience. Thank you for your support over the years. Sincly amus. Right. Superintendent report. Thank you. So I do have an update on our
district goals. Um this was based of of um we had increments in there of when we would give the updates. This month is that date. Um the April vantage point. So we are focusing on three areas. The long range facilities plan, leadership communication and student achievement
data. So the long range facility plans the objective there is to review and update a comprehensive plan which aligns building conditions, enrollment projections, program needs and budget forecast. Um we have reached a few milestones with this. Uh we were very
fortunate that we were quoted $1,200 to be able to update our long-range facility plan which is required um to be done by an architect in collaboration with our team here. Um that is a very reasonable quote. So we were happy about
that. Um we are actively collaborating to integrate the roofing updates and our with our current needs assessments. Um Mr. Kennedy um Shelley have been working very hard with the um with me on this um and we do anticipate a completion date
of June 30th to have that plan done. >> Um >> how many years does that long >> fiveyear plan >> fiveyear we have two uh active capital projects that we're looking at. Um the roofing project is two sections that we will be doing and that will be completed um by
June 30th. That's the anticipated um completion date. The total cost is 166,000. The contractor there is high-grade and it does include a 15-year warranty. Um we are looking at that roofing project in steps um because of the cost associated with that. Um but
these are two areas that really really need attention rather quickly. Um we also have that boiler project. It was mentioned through the committee's report that we did um receive grant funding. um the total cost of the boiler project which as you know if you've you know
even this school year we've had a few concerns I see um shaking of the head um with the temperature in the building and the boilers and everything um that we have with that um this will hopefully help to address a lot of those concerns and hopefully put us in a better place.
Um the total cost is $885,000. Our commitment as a district is $276,000 with the grant funding being $68,000. That's a big chunk of money. Um we did need to make sure that we committed uh within a certain time frame so that we
don't lose the grant funding for this. So um it was also reported through committee this, you know, the grant itself. Everything that we're doing is coordinated with Elizabeth Town Gas and Public Works uh for DOE certification. Um, it does include a condensate tank,
which was a little wasn't included in previous um, quotes that they've had. I think last year there was a thought of maybe doing something and that wasn't included there. Um, and it will um, hopefully get done in the 2627 school year as long as
everything goes as planned with that. Okay. Um with regards to communication, we have rolled out updated templates to be used for um different newsletters, parent notifications, standardized letterheads by school and then for the district. Um
we have added more information to the district website which includes a page for district goals, board goals, mission and vision. Um we've added um pages for preschool which is actually a requirement as part of the program. So that's been updated as well. We have um
updated information pertaining to harassment, intimidation, and bullying, anti-bullying rights. We were supposed to make sure that that was available on main pages for easy access for families. That has been done. I'd like to thank Mr. Lee um for helping us get all of this together. We've updated our
curriculum on our website to make sure it matches the approved curriculum. It is a work in progress. We are continuing to do this and we're adding more and more resources. Um, one the latest ask was to add a section for behavioral um, health through the guidance department. So, we're in the process of doing that
as well. Um, there's a lot going on. We are doing a lot with that website. Um, and we're wanting to make sure that it's accurate. Um, we had talked about with the district goals that we were going to be focusing on the communication within the leadership team to make sure that we
had everything that we um wanted to have to be in compliance with the regulations that are out there. This is not only about communication out there with the community, but this is about internal communication for behavioral threat assessments, for incidents that happen in the school. All of that has been
happening on an administrative side. It takes a little bit of time because it is change. Um but just to make sure that there's no missteps when there is a crisis of some sort that we're getting to it appropriately that we're notifiing notifying the correct individuals. And that is from everything as I mentioned
with threat assessments even from um PIP investigations how people get reported who gets reported making sure we're not missing those notifications and making sure those notifications are done appropriately. So, those are the big items that we're addressing this year um to be able to hopefully uh come next
year focus on some of those other things that we want to see happening with regards to communication. But there is still a lot more to do. It is a work in progress. Um there will be hiccups. We will continue to address them. Um the administrative team has been um phenomenal in in embracing the change um
and making sure we're following through on whatever process the state is um is set in place for the different things that are happening. Okay. Um some of this had to do with some of the board of education communication uh between myself and the
board of education. Um I feel like we've come up with a pretty solid plan. Um, and I, you know, hope that that will continue. Um, we, uh, have public and staff cadence just trying to get information out there. Um, one of the
things that we've been trying to do, you know, again, there's so much at one time. So, we're trying to prioritize is being able to send messages out like even after a board meeting, um, trying to update the staff with just so you're aware these things are happening. Um, notifying
Not very long. This um also refers to even communication within departments. So special education is an area that I've been working very closely with our child study team um and making sure we have processes in place and that we are looking at all of the areas that we need
to look at to ensure we're in compliance from a special ed perspective. So the communication piece isn't you know just the communication out to the community which is important. It's also all of the internal things that are happening. Um so just you know we want to enhance transparency and we want to be able to
enhance communication and there are just so many areas to address here. Um but we are doing the best we can. I am doing the best I can to try and do that um as quickly as possible but efficiently, accurately um and you know most
importantly making sure that we're ensuring the district is um never in any challenging situation legally. So we are doing a lot The other area is the student achievement area. Um we um had our
cluster alignment. So I've talked about trying to meet with the uh sending district superintendents, meet with those teams and have our staff articulate with their staff so that we can ensure that our students are, you know, on the same playing field when they're um all joining together in high school. So that's one of the areas that
we're looking at. We decided to focus on math right now. Um and we definitely had our first session. We've actually already now had our second session for that articulation. And the goal right now is a smaller goal which is to have a common assessment so that we know as we're placing students what skills our
students are coming in with. Um the anticipation is that once we have these uh delivered in the same platform across the board for everyone that we'll then be able to move into other steps with that. um looking at the data, looking at the results, looking at areas, are we
seeing um maybe you know students in one district are really showing strength in a certain skill set um in another district it's a different skill set. What are you doing? What are we doing? And having those conversations. So those are continued things that we hope to see for the 2627 school year. The primary
focus right now was can we at least get those common assessments done. Um they have done an excellent job. the articulation team. I actually have a meeting on Friday with the sunny district superintendents. We've been meeting monthly um having a lot more conversations than that, but definitely
meeting monthly to review what's going on with this, what we would like to see happening moving forward and just to continue to build those relationships and strengthen those relationships for those students that do come to us in high school. Um an area that we have been looking at
is using AI to support um you know schools. This is this is happening. This is not a matter of if it's happening. This is happening. But how do we utilize it to benefit and support our students? The goal that we should always have is to allow our teachers to have more time
for direct instruction and conversations with students and less time having to go through some of the paperwork and things like that. We want them to interact and I think teachers want to be able to interact with their students. Um, this is what's going to help us get there a
little bit, right? Because that conversation time, that time to be able to have those groups, to rotate with those groups, to do all of these other things is what's going to strengthen our learning and our education. So, we also want to make sure that it's used
responsibly, right? So, one of the first things u Mr. Carabinus has been a big support in this area was to have um staff work on creating syllabi for their sections for their courses. How we can do that through that system where it doesn't take all this time um and have a
guide so that when students come in they know what they're going to be working on for the year. Um and you know how that was sort of a way to sort of test this so we can see it's not you know when used correctly when used responsibly there are many good things with this. Um
and then you know then there's going to be other areas that we can use this for. We are we know that a push for our special education population is to ensure that they're in their least restrictive environment. That means that they are in general ed classes to every extent possible. How to maybe use some
of this AI technology to help us differentiate within those classrooms. Not always for classified students. Sometimes for students who are gened who just maybe need a little something different whether they're need something a little more challenging something at a different level that's that's they're going to be able to understand that's
how we can use this. So everything is obviously connected and what are we trying to create? We're trying to create the optimal student learning environment. That is what we're trying to do. We're trying to ensure that we are always focused on the students. Our goal is to make sure that students want to be in school and that
when they leave Belvadier High School that they leave ready and prepared to tackle that world out there. Um that is what we're trying to do. So securing, you know, comfortable facilities. We have to maintain the facilities, the lighting, the heating, all of that so that they're able to learn, that they're
comfortable to learn and ready to learn. Looking at our communication, just trying to build and send that information out there. Again, we're starting a little more internal with the focus being that as we continue to proceed that we're going to be able to share more and more out there, which we're trying to do. Um, and then that
achievement data. This time around, we don't have benchmarks scores to look at, but for the springtime, students will take their benchmarks in K8. Um, yeah, K8, and then we'll be able to report on that using that achievement data to help us guide how we're looking at students
for next year. What do needs do we have? What kind of training do we need? Um what areas do we need to look at that maybe wasn't something that we had been thinking about before? Where are strengths that we had and realize, hey, this is an area that maybe we could tap into to help this other area over here.
So all of this does go together to create that optimal environment for students. And again, um, what I would say is that, you know, the administrative team, the teaching team, the instructional support team, everybody, I think, has that same
goal, which is to help our students grow. And that's what we're doing. Moving forward, um, we're again projected to complete that longterm facilities plan, um, streamlining the district-wide communication. And a lot of this again
is the internal things that we're doing and then sharing data out to our stakeholders. >> Thank you. Thank you. Well done. All right. Thank you, Dr. Garcia. We are on to our agenda items.
>> You have one more. >> Oh, I have more attendance report. She's got more. >> I've got more >> more than just the goals. So, we are happy to confirm that our 2627 preschool operational plan has been approved by the Department of Ed. Thank
you to Dr. McKini and Mrs. Chama for their collaboration in that process. Um, also a very big thank you to Dr. McKenna and Miss Osborne. Miss Osborne is our preschool instructional coach for their work to complete the preschool self- assessment validation system. That was a
very very complex detailed um new program that the state released that is basically the preschool monitoring program. Uh we have um submitted everything that we needed to submit by the due date and we do have an on-site
visit scheduled for June. Um so more information to come on that. Our on-site cafeteria review was also completed. Thank you to the board office team for all of their efforts throughout that process. As you can see, this year we had quite a few reviews in all areas.
So, it's been very, very busy. Um, I'd like to congratulate our scholar athletes who were formally announced on April 1st. They'll be recognized at the next board meeting. Maline Cardos, Addison, Ehas, Carter Crow, Isabella Gardella, and Marshall FA.
Also, our top 10 students were informed of their top 10 status today. I'm not going to share that yet. A formal announcement will be made on Friday and a special top 10 dinner will be held on June 2nd. Um we will be inviting those
students to our June meeting. Uh be sure to check out BHS Red Zones Instagram page and district website. Um a big thank you to Mr. Feldman for assisting us with the BHS Red Zone Instagram page. Um shout out to Mrs. of the NAMO's class
for winning the American 250th birthday card contest in honor of our country's 250th anniversary sponsored by New Jerseys Daughters of the American Revolution General General William Maxwell Chapter. The district will
receive $250 for Mrs. Bonamo to use on classroom materials. Um, special kudos to Luca for creating the best overall card and Natalia and Anna as honorable mentions. Um, they haven't presented it yet. There's a date that they're supposed to be coming in. So, hopefully we'll I'll
be able to get a picture of that and all of that. Um, congratulations to Miss McHugh and Mr. Duckworth who were awarded grants this year from the Wolfinger Family Donor Fund, $800 for the drama club, and $1,602
for agricultural biology aqua aqua culture test kits. Also, congratulations to Miss Null, who was awarded $1,719.92 from the Warren County Cultural and Heritage Affairs Organization to offer a
workshop with Keith Keith Garuba on the artistic process, creative thinking, and professional art practices for students. I do want to give a nice shout out to Mrs. Li students Caitlyn Bricker, Shane Matson, Maddie Me, Ansley McDonald, and
Joseito Santiago Span. They participated in the inaugural park cleanup day. We received such a nice message from the Belvadier Environmental Commission expressing their amazement and positive thoughts about these students and their representation of our Belvadier student
body. They were very impressed. Another shout out to Natalie Stroka and Carolyn Bilick. >> Did I say that correctly? >> Thank you. Got it. >> Who participated in the Skyland All-Star game recently, making Belvadier High School very proud. Natalie was named the
MVP of the game. I don't think we're surprised by that. Uh the administrative team met with the Warren County Department of Human Services behavioral health systems navigator, Mrs. Jennifer Schwarz and the Warren County mental health administrator, Miss Laura Richter. The county received funds
through an opioid settlement, which is being utilized to support the substance abuse and prevention services unit and behavioral health needs throughout the county. Belvadier School District has partnered with the Warren County Department of Human Services for two programs, both funded through the
county's opioid settlement, which is a multi-year dispersement. I think I believe that the dispersement was for about 15 years. I mean, it's been in place for a while, but I would say we have probably another solid 10 years or so.
Um, the first program, Brainy and Bright, after school prevention program for SE and Robotics. At this time, we have tenatively confirmed two 8-week programs to run, one in the fall, one in the winter for the 2627 school year, offered to students ages 5 to 8 and 9 to
12 with the potential for a third program in the spring. The program will meet one time weekly for eight weeks in each cycle. It is independent of the school with its own staffing. They're using our facilities, but it's for Belvadier students. Program details and
registration information will be provided to families at the start of the 2627 school year. Um there is a capacity of 20 students per cycle for the program, but this is at no cost to families and no cost to the district.
The second program is the Insight Health Behavioral Program. Um this was a contract that was awarded through the Warren County Department of Human Services through that opioid settlement. The contract will allow schools to partner with Insight to support behavioral health for student safety and
crisis. Insight utilizes licensed mental health professionals to conduct telealth assessments of students referred due to safety and/or crisis concerns. The turnaround time for appointments after referral is 24 to 72 hours. This is a big deal. We have had uh students that
we've sent out for assessments that we have not been able to get in to do the assessment for weeks. So, a 24 to 72 hour turnaround time is needed. These evaluations are intended to obtain school clearances for students and may include suggested suggested
interventions with wraparound services. Wraparound services. Um, if they're recommending to the family that the student have some sort of counseling service, for example, there's a care navigator through the Insight Health System that will help to find and locate
um counseling services for that family. Threat assessments with schools are are covered at no cost to the district. Again, supported through this these funds. Just so you're aware, this is a virtual appointment. It doesn't mean that it will cover every single assessment that
we need to do. Um, but it is certainly helpful to have this resource uh for your awareness. Um, an assessment can cost anywhere from $450 on up um into the thousands. Here's the both programs are on a first
come first- serve basis. So Iran um we've included the memorandum of understanding for the insight as an add-on to the agenda to formalize our partnership so that we can do our onboarding process and be ready for the 2627 school year. Also we have finally completed the
onboarding process for Hazel Health. I mentioned Hazel Health a couple of months ago. We're going to be launching on April 27th. As a reminder, Hazel Health provides virtual counseling services to any student registered in the district if referred. Um, parental
approval is required during or outside of school hours. Students may be referred by school guidance counselors or case managers, parents, and or self. More information regarding Hazel Health will be sent to families very soon. The partnership is at no cost to the
district or families. Um, and it's supported through funding uh by the Division of Childhood Protection and Permanency. Also, that one was available on a first come, first- serve basis. So, we got in, we're finally set up, and we're eager to start using the services.
And finally, last week, the Warren County Superintendent Association hosted the lunchon to honor our teachers and education support professionals of the year. Um, congratulations once again to Taylor Prrislac, Aaron Feldman, Carrie Kimell, and Amanda Capola. Also a special shout out to Lauren Palumbo.
Lauren is our Belvadier Harmony LDTC and she was chosen as Harmony's educational support professional of the year. Thank you. >> Do you ever sleep is my question. >> That was a lot.
>> Okay, so now we are on to our agenda items. We are starting at policy. We're looking at policy items one through nine. Can I have a motion for one through nine? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions, comments?
>> I have one on uh policy 9191 booster clubs. The updated policy state the original policy, it's not a change in this year in this approval as that booster club financial uh accounting are to be
collected by the AD and shared to the board. So my question is when can we anticipate seeing that information for the fall and winter sports spring? >> I have it available um it's you know board office
are we looking for copies for what are we looking >> the the policy says that the accounting the the accounting that the booster clubs provide to the ad is to come to the board. So I was expecting that especially since we just are reapproving
the policy that it would be included in our board material one month whatever month >> copies of all that they submit. >> Okay. >> Yeah. By season. I would think by season. >> Yeah. >> And as a reminder they're just submitting it. We we have oversight. We
don't do anything other than just >> I just wanted to highlight that the policy requires it comes to the board. So I want to make sure we're complying. Well, I appreciate this second reading. Is it something we want to consider h possibly not having in there
>> if we don't cover what the booster >> I can put that on the policy agenda for our next policy meeting number five? >> I mean we can but it's not a we're not changing it. to the current policy that's in place today.
>> The question though is do we want to make an update to that if we don't actually have oversight in what >> Yeah. No, I understand. But whether or not we table this doesn't change the policy that's current in the policy right now. That's active and current
today. >> That that part of the policy is currently in that policy. That's what I think we're saying because there was a change in the policy which is why it's in for second reading. But that but that section of it is not part of that. >> So we should have been receiving >> is is kind of the point.
>> So I can put it on the agenda for the next and we can review and see if we want want to update that. I have no problem doing that. >> So then we would update it and then do another first and second reading >> and then reestablish it
>> to do that. Any other questions? All right. All in favor of one through nine say I. >> I. >> Any nos. Any abstensions? Okay. Personnel items 10 through 13. No
add-ons. Can I have a motion for 10 through 13? >> Motion. >> Any questions? Okay. Roll call. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Dr. Zep. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Duckworth. >> Yes. >> Miss Johnson.
>> Yes. >> Miss Stephen. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Straight. >> Yes. >> M. Walton. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wter. >> Yes. >> Miss White. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cherley. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gardella. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, now we are on to education
items 14 through 24. We have the add-on of one of the 22 and we have on 24A. It'll be education items 14 through 24A. Can I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Any questions? >> I have questions. >> Um, I have questions about number 23, which would be the co-op. Um, so first I'd like to ask just a
general question. has the admin discussed this with the coaches and when did that occur? Um, I'm asking that because I'd like to understand if there was any collaboration between the two um, regarding brainstorming around recruiting um, possibly going to
clusters and discussing the programs to see if the numbers are actually what they are. >> Well, I know that Davis has spoken to the coach. timing wise I I don't have that information.
>> Okay. Are we also planning on providing transportation? >> Okay. So, I am going to just say my piece on this. I have a really big issue with not providing transportation especially considering the location of
the co-op. I have done some math around this. So for our tech students to attend, which I believe we have tech students currently on this team, they will be approximately 35 to 45 minutes away and their school times for
dismissal do not coincide, which means that the tech folks probably will not be able to participate or miss a huge chunk of that practice. I also have concerns from the location from parts of Harmony. If I did the math from Harmony school itself, it's
approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Now, we know Harmony is much bigger than that. So, some will be closer, some could be up to 45 minutes. That means that a parent or guardian would need to dedicate two to three hours a day to transfer their student
to this location to participate in a sport that we have been widely successful in in the entire history of the program. the actual savings here of I just need to understand is this actually being
addressed because it's better for the students or for it's better for our budget >> with the field hockey specifically they were having um trouble this year with the number of players on the team I believe it was two teams with 10 players
was finally um for next year what they projected and this includes eighth grade interest um three potential eighth graders, one who's actually played who have not. Um, and for a total of potentially 12 to 13
>> in in the effort of complete transparency. I think I know a lot of people, but not everyone knows I run the Belvadier feeder program for the field hockey program here at the high school. And I just want to clarify on the count
there are this fall there were three eighth graders who played and would be in Belvadier High School sending district. One of those three may have an opportunity to attend a
different school but I believe the other two would. So also in my role as that, not this role, very clearly I did have a conversation with the AD and shared those numbers. So I'm assuming that's
where Dr. Garcia got them from. Also the numbers in the grades behind those, the sixth and seventh grade are larger. So it's a assuming they all continue to play, which they don't always do, right?
That's true. any sport. It appears to be a shorter term potential shortfall right this year. And my understanding there was 13 girls, but then there were some on a who couldn't play for medical
reasons and they did have times and it as someone who's coached most of those kids when they were younger, having to play a whole game is not great experience. They several of
them experienced that in the younger grade. >> But I'm not asking Virginia if it's a good experience. I'm asking about transportation to the location. >> But I wanted to clarify the numbers, right? The it's more than just >> right, but you also are just looking at
feeder program numbers. >> Right. >> And year after year, we always have students that play who have never played before. agree with you, but I wanted to clarify the statement that two of those three never played before. They did and they they actually did have the to play entire game.
>> Yeah, I understand. I also want to just add it feels to me like this was is a reactive versus a proactive and not very strategic. The goal overall is to grow our district, right? More students come in. We want programs that students are
going to be able to enjoy, play, that are good. Our field hockey program is always competitive considering that we play on grass and every other district except for possibly North Warren does not. Um, it draws people in. So, I want to make or we want to make sure that
we're looking at this long term because once it leaves, chances of it coming back are slim to none. And what does that say for parents who have sixth, seventh, eighth grade who are looking right now as to where they're going to go to high school
knowing that we're doing this for hockey? Will we do it for other places? And we really need to start thinking about how we're going to grow our district. And I think by doing a co-op is not the right decision. I I agree, you know, I I have torn
feelings. I agree with Mrs. that if it leaves, it's really hard that it could come back and we know there's potential for more kids in the future. >> And if we don't offer transportation, only the privileged get to participate. >> Did we offer transportation on any of
the other co-ops? I don't believe we did. >> Here's the I would point out a difference. >> I we'd have to do to do an apples to apples comparison, right? I think with like the swim co-op, right? it it's a smaller number of kids going,
right? So, if you only have one or two kids, that's not the same logistical challenge as 11. and uh swim practices based on pool availability may not be the immediate
after school where parents who work cannot get their kids from Belvadier to Blairestown at 2:30 5 days a week whereas they might they're probably running just to get to a game a couple days a week. This is
where I think the benefit of our current booster club policy comes into effect. Listen, we are in unprecedented times as an educational system. It's a we're not the only ones struggling with with these budget challenges. We need to think
creatively. In the past, the field hockey boosters have had a very strong program, right? We probably all tried to dunk a player at the fair. So is there a potential to think creatively while we have to mix experience for the
kids and the cost? Could do does the boosters have the resource to help fund that? We run a bus one way from here to North Warren so the kids can get there and the parents are still responsible to pick them up like they
would any other day. But if we're partnering with our booster clubs to keep with the kids in mind, is that an option? And have we considered that? And right now, because we're not getting the financials like the policy says or the
accounting, my apologies. We don't know. They they might have the resources and they might have historically produced that cost where the boosters give the money to the district, the district pays the bus company, and the kids
and their parents aren't stressing out about how do I get you from Belvadier to Blair's path. So, I would advocate that we make sure we are thinking creatively at all the resources we have. >> Yeah. I mean, right. I know every penny
counts, but it's approximately 1.7% of our total budget we're talking about here. So, are we really looking at this because of a budget issue or are we really looking at it because we think it's best for our students? >> I think it's both. We've actually really hashed this out. I mean, we didn't come
to this decision lightly. >> Who hashed it out? I didn't hash it out. >> You're not on finance. Finance is one of the committees that discussed this because we have a lot of financial obligations and our first obligation is to educate our students. So, we had to come at it from that perspective. >> But education spreads across all of the
programs. >> I get that. I get that. Okay. Should I should we cut an educational program in favor of a field hockey that doesn't have a lot of kids? I don't want to cut sports either. Okay, my kids played sports here. We like sports. I would go to I would have played field hockey had I had it as a choice in high school and
I did not. But first priority has to be to educate the students. If the booster club can pick up a dab, go for it. Please do it. Bust the kids over there. Nobody can. That's nobody's going to say no to that. But that's a booster club responsibility, not a school responsibility. >> Student activities looked at also and we
under deadlines to get an emergency application for the co-op. If we didn't get the co-op application in, we wouldn't have had this opportunity to save. >> So, we were reactive and not proactive. >> No, we're being proactive because we're looking at the best interest of our
student and trying to give them the activities and the sports and the things they want to make them holistic, >> fulfilled students. extracurriculars to add to their academics and we're taking that seriously in the activities committee.
What what is the actual is there another area like we even know exactly how much >> also really quickly didn't we try to do the co-op with Warren Hills so it was closer correct me if I'm wrong was that the
>> options we tried making it so it was closer and more accommodating but I don't think that it it went through in time so that's why North Warren was the only option looking at the numbers That is why that came up wasn't the number of participants and that's the reality that was based on the number of
participants because we're trying >> to offer programs that have bless you that have high interest and that were able to run and sustain >> with based on the student interest. So it wasn't a um this
was very much based on looking at the number of players that you need to play a game. Um >> being that we're losing a lot of players for a lot of seniors flag football was that something that was also >> not paying for flag football
>> that's this year it's been free >> them to go >> we voted against that >> we're funding what the board >> but my my main concern is are we really offering it if no one can get their kids there we're just saying we're offering
it but I don't know anybody body at this table who can spend three hours of their day at 2:30 to bring their kid to Northport. I just don't know that. >> I also know a lot of people who travel three and four hours every day for their
kid playing travel sports all the time or spend their whole weekends or >> but that's not working hours. >> No, but I'm just saying I'm just saying if you if you want to compare >> that's privilege. Have have we also t taken a look see if there are any students that would be impacted if we
were to do this? I mean I know for certain kids they're looking to play sports in college and in order to say take a you know underassman and now have to move them that could really negative effect their you know maybe get scholarships or partial scholarships or something like
that. I think we have to really look at everything and who's involved and as you said like as a community also because that's the one thing we all talk about is we're Belvadier's community and we want to preserve and things of that nature and I agree if it goes away it's not coming back and field hockey has
also been something I mean I love walking by and seeing the girls out there >> you know playing the game and it's always been a wellattended sport so based on one year of just having a little bit less of ideal numbers
with having enough to field a team for next year. We're saying already 13 and we that could potentially even be more because I know just being having a child in the school a lot of times they project numbers and come fall and it's way more where the kids can also advocate and get people to play as well
which is also happen in some of the other sporting programs. But I just want to be sure also like with Carolyn this this concerns because this is heritage, you know, of a school district and our school district specifically.
>> So here's here's just one of my concerns as a person who has tried to keep sports locally in Belvadier for our youth programs for years and have struggled to get softball teams or whatever other teams and have the numbers and then have
kids get hurt at the last minute. kids can't do it at the last minute, whatever it is, and then not have enough to put a team on a field and have maybe seven kids that could have possibly went and played somewhere else now have nowhere
to go play is also a huge concern to me. So, if you're dealing with numbers that are really close and you have a couple kids get hurt, couple kids on academic probation, couple kids that say, you know what, I'm not doing it in high school, whatever it is, that also hurts those kids that you're saying that are
looking for a scholarship or something now if they don't have a place to go. So, that's my other concern is if if your numbers are so tight, you never know what's going to happen. If we have an opportunity to possibly put them in a
place where they're more guaranteed to have a team, if that's a concern, I worry about that, too. So, I get it. I I fought to keep so many things in Belvier for the youth because I know that there's kids that can ride a bike and go there and play, but as soon as they have
to go to White Township, parents aren't driving them. They're not going. So, I I I completely hear what you're saying. I also am thinking about the fact that if numbers are tight for any particular sport, look what's happened to our soccer programs with we had JV games and then kids hurt and not even be able to
play them and then we had 10 kids sitting on a bench hardly ever playing because we couldn't offer that other side. So I think it's a tough call either way and I'm concerned about both sides of it.
>> Yeah. I mean I that's my two cents. >> I hear you. I I understand exactly what you're saying. I mean, I know that this past year's field hockey season was a little bit rough, right? For sure. But from what I'm seeing and we looking at the talking to Virginia about the
theater program and just my overall experience with the program, numbers like this are usually short term. >> I mean, we saw low with football for how many years and now it's more successful, right? So, well, this is also for a
two-year period, >> right? I I think the concern is it's two years. One, it says it's an automatic renewal. So, we need to be really explicit of what the the notification period is and make sure somebody's visibly managing that. So, it
doesn't become, oh, it autorenewalled, you're stuck. And yes, may maybe for this year that is the best option. But if we don't support our kids, our kids in our district, whether they choose to attend here or they don't
think they're going to get the needs met here and they go to tech, the number will continue to dwindle and it'll never come back. Whereas, if we look at this, this is a short-term gap. How can we get the kids the best experience working with the parents, the
coaches, the boosters to recognize none of us know what the budget's going to look like in two years. None of us know how many kids will be here in two years. But to be continuing to support it and not just say, "Well, we signed a co-op. You guys figure it out on your own."
That's my fear because that is not supporting our children. I'm sorry. I'm very passionate about this one. I recognize I have a bit of a conflict. >> Yeah. I mean, I think it'll affect our overall enrollment numbers. I think once we start co-oping large pro like
sustainable long-term programs at Belvadier, parents are not going to want to send their kids here. >> Where are they going to send their kids? Private >> if tech or private. >> You can't just go to tech. You have to apply to tech. There's an interview process involved. You have to submit an application. You have to submit essays. My son went through it so I know there is a process. So, you can't just say I'm
going to tech. You have to get accepted at tech. So, that's problem one. If they can't get their kids from here to North Warren, they're not going to put their kids in private school because they can't afford and they can't get their kids to private school. >> That's not true. That's absolutely private school buses. >> There are, >> but you're going to pay the tuition.
>> It's not that much. It's really not. It's not >> We're getting off We're getting We are getting off topic. >> The point is, can we >> Any other questions or comments on this? >> Can we Mrs. question that was it was in the email
that went out from Dr. Garcia on the questions. The cost of the program is just over $20,000 excluding transportation. So when you add transportation in for all the games, it's obviously more. >> What is the transportation cost?
>> Um I don't know what it specifically is for field hockey. >> I mean 600 a game is what I was hearing for away game >> for like other >> average games 10 away games >> and I'm ask I asked because
>> 6,000 something like that >> when you look at the cost of the program >> transportation is part of the cost so that's why I was looking for a holistic >> right so definitely probably in the neighborhood of 25,000 plus >> thank you >> um to maintain the program
>> and we're at the turning point where we can't buy any more time like programs to do additional fundraising or anything like that. >> Deadlines and because the after board
approval um on both sides um it has to go to NJ um New Jersey athletic NJ um it has to go to them for review. There's no guarantee that they approve it. themselves.
Um, but if we don't do this and then we don't have enough players and anywhere for the students. And if you have numbers come then and they have and the other school has numbers, can they both choose to do their own team or Now they're stuck.
>> We know >> you would already be. >> Yeah. Well, I didn't know if it was like a you're approved to do a co-op. Then could you also if you didn't need the co-op not do it or No, >> there was a potential that if they did have the numbers they might be able to
support um some sort of JB, >> but it would be at North. There's no there's no once we agree we agree. >> Why does the decision need to be at that because we had to join forces with them because I'm under the impression they
didn't have as many numbers. >> No, they have a they have a good solid number. I believe they have about 18 or so. >> So, >> which is why they would be able to also create um potentially something. >> So, if we have like 10 10 girls that are
varsity and they have 18, that would be problematic as well, right? Because they're not going to get play time. >> Yeah. Well, that's why they'd be looking at a JV varsity. >> Well, what if they're not JV, though? That's what I'm saying. >> Don't know what grade level they would be. >> We wouldn't know that.
>> Um, it's the same way, you know, we have um a co-op for track and those students come here and wherever the majority of the students are, that's pretty much who takes because they don't have a track, right? >> So, um you know, we have a swimming uh
co-op with bird, we have lacrosse with North Warren. We have um we actually have tennis with Warren Hills. Um so we have >> for facilities because we don't have those supporting facilities have the facilities
>> for I think well it's based on number as well because you don't have enough interest in the sport. >> Okay. Any other questions on Oh, I got to go back and look. Item number 14 through 24A.
I'd like to do a roll call on that one. >> Mrs. Sone, what are we roll calling on? >> It'd be all the items and then you can say >> yes but no to or abstain from >> number. >> So I'm going to do yes but no to number
23. Is that it? Yeah, I'm no for 23 and I'm also abstaining from 24A. >> Dr. Z, >> Mrs. Duck, >> yes, >> Miss Johnson.
>> Uh, I'm also a no for >> Yes, >> Mrs. Straighta. >> Yes. Miss Walton. >> Yes, but I'm abstaining from 23 conflict of interest. >> Mrs. Wter,
>> I'm a yes and a no on >> Ms. White. >> Yes. For all. >> Mr. Cherelli. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gardella. >> All right. Now we are on to business items 25 through 38. Can I have a motion
for 25 through 38? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions, comments? Just for the um building responsive um construction data guided evaluation grant. Um that's a bridge grant that
focuses on literacy. Um and it is a grant for the 26 27th school year. The grant itself, it's a competitive grant. So, um 20 districts in the state um would be awarded the grant and it's to a maximum of $71,000
and it's to support K through three literacy um professional development. It cannot be used to supplement um salaries. Any questions, comments? >> All right. All in favor of 25 through 38 say I. I
>> any nos any abstensions? >> Okay. All right. So now we are on to continuing business. Anybody have any continuing business? Okay. I would just like to um say
congratulations to Amy Zikas on her retirement. We will miss you. Thank you for all your years of service to our district and the many kids that I know who have went through your class and will miss you. So congratulations and best of luck in your future. And um also
I would like to say thank you to you for all the hard work that you put in for moving us forward and your presentation tonight and updating us. Um we have asked for a lot from you and I want to say thank you so much for putting in all
that you do and I know all the hours that you spend doing it to try and get us up to where we need to be. So, thank you. Any other continuing business before >> I have a real quick >> I put on again >> just to add on to some of the student
accomplishments. Um Jake Acriman yesterday hit 100 strikeouts >> as a junior. So hopefully we can some recognition for him. That was a a big accomplishment. Any other one more continuing business is just a
reminder for everybody that our board retreat coming up next Saturday the second, May 2nd, and the FFA banquet to follow. So, go from one to the other. >> All right. And on to Dr. Garcia.
Oh yeah. >> How we doing? So, I wanted to just um show here at our board meeting um a one-page budget fact sheet for the 2627 school year. This fact sheet will be sent out to our community um and our staff. This is just
a little snippet of the 2627 um proposed budget. Um we will have a detailed budget presentation at our May 6th meeting, which is our budget hearing. Um but just so you understand what's listed here, uh drivers of our budget gap. We do have um
a total operating budget for the 2627 school year of 13,641,000. Um we have a budget gap of $1.65 million. Um the budget gap is really driven by these
um items right here. We have skyrocketing healthc care premiums which was a huge chunk of that budget gap $777,000. We have mandated special education out of district tuition essential support services and again these are mandated. This is an increase in those costs
569,000 and then general operations um of our facilities um and just you know daily operation costs an increase there 312,813 um some of the mitigation efforts that we have been making to bridge this gap
is um we do have some staff reductions it is non-replacement of retiring staff which includes administrative support and instructional staff um reduction of a full-time general education teacher, uh, one full-time special area teacher
and, uh, two part-time and then one full-time custodian. Um, we do also are we've expanded our shared services. Actually, we had shared service agreements in place for child study team, um, technology and business. We
have expanded that to the preschool instructional coach. So these are the different districts that we are sharing um services service agreements with. Um we have been we have used strategic um strategic use of our assets and our reserves. We have a pending third street property sale um
to help us with these efforts. Um I did want to just show here and again this is a very very small just visual. There will be a detailed presentation in May. Um the state aid per student, Belvadier School District
is the third lowest in the county. We get $3,900 per student. Um versus other districts, neighboring districts, uh 5,300, 6100, 7,700, 12,000. That's a really low number for us.
Um there is a state aid erosion and the cap penalty. So um between 21 2021 and 2024 Eric, what did I do here? Um, we had lost 16.45%
of state aid. Um, while they've slow, very slowly been increasing that, we're pretty much flat to where we were in 2021. And that's for the next school year. Um, we've said this before that we received a $173,000
increase in our state aid where if we were fully funding the formula, it should have been 1.82 82 million. We are projecting and um for this survival budget a homeowner impact the cost of survival is a tax levy increase
of 10%. We do not take this lightly. We have done a lot of work to try and mitigate these u this gap. Um and this is just a little snippet of what that means for the average assessed home in Belvadier. And again, more information regarding this will be shared at our May
board meeting and this will be sent out to the community. >> Okay. Any new business? I don't know if this is new business, but I was just wondering um I know some
local schools have been doing um college fairs and I don't know if we have any college fairs or or I know we have the career fair um scheduled or if we send our kids or give them information if we
don't host one if where they can go for certain college fairs if they can join local schools for some of that And then my other question is as far as guidance also, I just was just curious the process when a student comes in, do they
meet with guidance to try to help them understand any sort of long-term goals to get them into um where they would like to be if they have an idea as to where they're going to be after after high school, whether that happened freshman year, sophomore,
you know, junior. Like what kind of conversations do does the guidance do that as a whole? Does she do a presentation? Does she meet with them oneonone? Call them down and help them also try to get the correct classes and curriculum in place, GPA, clubs, things
of that nature to just also help them to get successful for after. >> Yes. So, I was able to get some information from Miss Kimble to prepare for tonight with some of this um planning, you know, this year specifically that started um towards the beginning of the year, September. Um
they had a college fair actually on September 26th. Um and they have college admissions night throughout the year. They have um financial aid nights throughout the year. There's plenty of pleasant presentations that are going on and those presentations actually start as freshmen.
>> Okay. Um so um for example um during the freshman class I believe this year was during a science class uh students um received a presentation regarding um dual enrollment what that means what it means to have dual credit classes um as young as freshmen so that
as they're preparing and moving along they know what kind of courses they're taking and what it means when they take a dual credit class. Um, in 10th grade, um, uh, Miss Kimell actually reviewed Naviance, um, which is a personality assessment, careerfinder survey with
sophomores, um, and she gave a presentation for that, how to access that. Um, and that's just a little snippet of what she's doing. She does this, you know, 11th, 12th grades, career development days. We have NJ4s come out to help um, support some of
those presentations as well. Um she I mean I it was so much that she gave me it was really phenomenal actually. Um she has um a date that she's planning for May to meet with juniors regarding post-secary planning uh college
searching uh writing letters of recommendations. she does share out with um through classroom with students um if local you know any local areas that are having college fairs so that it's not just what we did but she gives information out for other for other
locations there was >> I don't know if there's one coming up in Hackett or happened but she shared that out as well so she is giving a lot of information out to our students and it starts as early as freshman year >> okay good thank you I I wasn't really sure and it just got me thinking just being a parent and I know
couple you and and just even some of the the local kids hearing, you know, they get to a certain grade and all of a sudden they're like, "Oh, I wish I had done better, you know, and you know, had more, you know, emphasize more importance on grades or something junior or excuse me, freshman and sophomore year and understanding the importance of
some of those decisions early on." So, that's just why I was curious what the process was. >> She's been doing quite a bit um and which I think is great for our students and it's very much needed. Um, and she has offered nights as well to be able to
Any other new business? Okay, so we are on to public participation section number two. To ensure the 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 microphone, please state your name, city, town, and group affiliation. Each statement made 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 and no participate may address or question
board members individually. Please understand that the public comment portion of the 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 in public comments. However, all comments are considered and they will be in investigated and addressed as
appropriate. Please be courteous 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 and comments made by members of the public. Members of the
public are cautioned that they are speaking at their own risk and any statements that they make that are directed at a particular individual or individuals may subject them to the legal liability of defamation. Please also understand that the students and the employees have specific legal and privacy protections. The board will not
respond in public to comments about students and employees. And in the future, we now have a board that will say all that to to remind everybody. So I don't have to waste all that time saying it to everybody again. So if you have any public participation,
please come up now. Michl Belvadier, New Jersey. I'm the chaos coordinator of the community lunch that's held every Friday at the Presbyterian Church. I want to come to tell you how fantastic your elementary
teachers are. Over the past 18 years, we've had everything is for the children from prek up to high school. We have Doc who's there every week helping us. Tammy's there every week helping us. I'd
like to invite all of you to come to see what we do. But the one thing I want to stress tonight after co we don't have the people coming in to eat like we used to. We are delivering 100 plus meals every Friday
in this delivery. And most of you got to see the cards tonight. This is very very important to the people we deliver to because they are shutins. I want to tell you what happened a few years ago just during CO um I knew a
gentleman and his wife they went to lunch every day seven days a week co hit of course everything's closed down so I called him I said John how about if we bring lunch to you and Barbara on Fridays now Reva you know we go out to
lunch every day I said well John now everything's closed how's that working for What time did you say lunch should be coming on Friday? >> So we did this. It was about two years into his and I saw him one time was a
little after the co thing. I said, "So John, how are lunches that we're sending to you?" "Lunch is fine. Haven't seen a card in three weeks." I said, "Well, John, I'm working on that." Well, young lady, work a little harder.
So, these cards are extremely important to the people. The teachers are taking their own time. The children are making them. They can't make enough for me because there's no limit. I could hand out every week if they could get them. But I just want to tell you how
fantastic your teachers are to take the time to do this during the school year. The second Friday of every month they make desserts for us. Since there was no school the second Friday of this month they brought it on the third Friday.
They are the most faithful supporters I think I have. So I want you all to know how fantastic your elementary teachers are. I just can't say enough good about them. And for the two of you didn't see the cards, I'll see you get them.
>> Thank you so much, Reva. Any other public participation? Hi, my name is Beth Francis Gino. I am a former student of Belvier High School, Belv Elementary School. Um, current teacher at the school and current field
hockey coach. Um, I just wanted to come up and say I understand things have to be done, but my heart is extremely sad. I'm sad for my players. I'm sad for their parents that aren't going to get to see them have a senior day at Belvadier. Um I hope they choose to play
at North, but I'm afraid they're not going to and I'm afraid we aren't going to get it back. So, um I understand, but I'm sad. Thank you. >> Thank you, Beth. Any other public participation? Yes, my name's Mr. Gandh. I'm from White
Township. I'm here to talk about some issues that have been happening at the school with my family and that. Um, first that the school had an IEP meeting without us being present at the time. And um some changes were also made
without our consent which was which we received no notification of the changes. We asked them to postpone it for a few weeks because my wife started a new job and she couldn't get off. But eventually they just went ahead and did it anyway without us telling us legally that they
had to do it within a year. But that time has changed because they we had a meeting at one time which wasn't an IEP meeting in my opinion. It was just a meeting with the school and they decided to make that the IEP and change the date. Um,
secondly, I'm also here to find out and try to get some answers. Um, in math class a couple weeks ago before the break, um, there was a substitute and from what I understand, there was no work being done whatsoever for the three
weeks that prior to the break. Um, I called the superintendent. He said she'd look into it, get some answers. I didn't hear nothing back. Got a call from the child study team. Um, and the case manager said that she would sit in the class to see what was going
on, but um, she couldn't make it, so someone else sat in. Uh, she said they did no work because spring break was coming up, so they weren't doing any work at that time. I called again to see what they did the past few weeks to try to get an answer
why there was no school, no teaching going on. I asked them to talk to the substitute to find out. Not a hard thing to do. They said they would get back to me. They did not. So, I would have to assume that nothing was done. How can this happen for three weeks, no math,
and 10 days at a break afterwards? I find it quite disturbing, especially with the grades of math right now going on. I find it probably illegal. It would be nice to get an answer. Communication with the school is
terrible. There's no accountability, I don't believe. I hope it would be different with the new superintendent, but I don't see any changes in this part of the school. I believe it when I see it, and I haven't seen it yet. Change should start
immediately. I'm tired of hearing they're working on things. They're trying to get it done. It really shouldn't be that hard. For years, changes have been made into my son's IEP without us being notified. We find out after the meetings, there's
several very disturbing ones also I won't bring up now. And a lot of things in his IEP has not been met, not for years. I ask the board please to bring accountability to the school. Without you, nothing will ever change. Thank you
for your time. >> Thank you. Any other public participation? No. Okay. So, can I have a motion for executive session? >> Motion.
>> All in favor? >> I. >> Any nos? Any abstensions? So we go into executive session for collective bargaining agreements, purchase, lease or sale of real real estate property if public interest could be adversely affected, attorney client privilege and
personnel. And we will reconvene in about a half hour, but we will not be taking any action when we come back. Okay. >> Thank you. Have a good night everybody.