Hey, good evening. Call to order. Adequate notice of this meeting of the Berkeley Heights, excuse me, board of education was given as required by the open public meetings act as follows. On January 9th, 2025, notice of the board of education meeting schedule was sent
to the Star Ledger and the Courier News and also provided to all schools, PTO presidents, BHA president, and posted at the administration building. A copy was also provided to the public library and filed with the municipal clerk. Please rise for the flag salute.
I stands one nation under God. indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, may we have a roll call, please? Mr. Airi,
Miss Bradford, here. Dr. Forger, here. Miss Terrero here. Mr. Dylan, Miss Jolly here, Mrs. Connor. Mrs. Stanley here. We have a quorum. Yes. Okay. Adjourn to
executive session. Whereas the Berkeley Heights Board of Education seeks to adjourn to executive session in full compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10:4-6. And whereas the Open Public Meetings Act provides that a public body may exclude the public from that portion
of the meeting at which it discusses matters related to those identified below. Matters rendered confidential by federal law, state law, or court rule. Individual privacy, collective bargaining agreements, purchase or lease of real property if public interest could be adversely affected. Investment
of public funds if public interest could could be adversely affected. Tactics or techniques utilized in protecting public safety and property. Pending or anticipated litigation, attorney, client privilege, personnel, employment matters affecting specific, prospective, or current employees. Be it resolved that
the Berkeley Heights Board of Education adjourns to executive session to discuss matters related to students personnel and legal issues. And be it further resolved that the minutes of the discussion, if any of those items will be disclosed to the public when matters have been determined and confidentiality
is no longer applicable. May I have a motion to enter into executive session, please? Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. Second. Second. Thank you, Mrs. Terrarero. A voice vote. All in favor? Hi. Yes. Okay. The time is 6:32.
Good. We're going to move now. Thank you. May I have a motion, please, to return uh to public session? So moved. Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. A second. Second. Thank you, Mrs. Dolly. Uh voice vote. Hi. Hi. We are returning
to public se session at 8:05 p.m. Report of our student representatives. Olivia, good evening. On April 30th, the Berkeley Heights Education Association hosted a staff talent show at Governor Livingston featuring many different
teachers showcasing their skills. On May 1st, GHS seniors participated in the nationwide celebration of decision day in order to celebrate their plans after high school. Since May 5th, GL students have been taking AP exams and those will
conclude tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow, May 16th, the GL Smack team will be participating in the 2025 Real Lake for Life in order to fundra for cancer research. Next week, freshman and juniors will take the NJSLA tests each
morning from Monday through Thursday. As the school year wraps up, there will be some very exciting events for GL students. On Thursday, May 22nd, the second annual field day will be held, which will include a variety of games and food for students and staff in attendance. Governor Livingston seniors
will also attend prom on Friday, May 30th. Thank you. Thank you. And uh Pip is not here to give us the other report, but we are very proud of all the academics that have been going on. We have some recognition ceremonies coming up in
June. And of course for our sports teams, we have some very good news for some of our sports teams. So it's very exciting time of year as we conclude our our school year. So thank you very much. Olivia, can I just ask about decision day? What are some of the activities
that you did? Um, mostly it's just kind of getting together with your friends and taking pictures because you all wear your college shirts and some people wear baseball caps, too. Um, so mostly it was just pictures and I know that Mr. McGee for physics always takes pictures of all
his seniors. So that's always a fun activity. Awesome. It's a great time of year. Thank you so much. Um, now we're coming to the report of the superintendent, Dr. uh, Beltry. Thank you, Mrs. Bradford. Um, I first want to formally welcome Crystal Moore at a
public meeting. I I know the board, we saw her at our special meeting, but this is her first public meeting. We're very excited to have her. She's been into the schools. She's been um meeting with teachers, talking with administrators, getting the lay of the land. So, thank you. Um, great thought
partner for me. So, I appreciate it. We want to also extend a huge thank you to Mr. Phillips for the interim work that he did. He was critical in the transition. Um, we still have his cell phone number. It's used widely, but he
did text me to say on I think it was day five he had to close a school for a fire in a kitchen. So, it's not just me. So, um, but yeah, we we we thank him for all of his work and we we welcome Mr. or Dr.
Maher. Um, the next thing I'd like to talk about is I was asked by several board members to address the concern brought forth by a community member about the SAT, ACT, PA, PSAT presentation um where the community
member stated that we inaccurately reported scores for our students. The SAT scores that were presented were not incorrect. They were just a different data source than what was used by the community member. Mr. Phillips um informed me that the SAT
data in his presentation came from Naviance which averages the best scores of the students whereas the school performance reports use the last scores taken by the students um different data sources not necessarily incorrect. Mr.
Phillips presented on May 18th and the school performance reports I mean March 18th apologize March 18th and the school per performance reports were released on April 2nd. So when he was gathering the data he used the data that was available
to him. Um the assertion that the administration falsely presented data to me is unfair and unjust. Um, in the future we will be noting the sources of data so that it's clear where the sources of data are coming from um as
opposed to um being presumed to intentionally uh present erroneous data. Um a reminder, the referendum proposed project list was shared with the board via the board buzz on April 25th and May 4th. If you'd like to provide input on
prioritizing the projects, the spreadsheets are due to me um tomorrow, uh May 16th, I have a meeting scheduled with the architects on Monday to review the input alongside the community surveys. A reminder to the public that the survey uh number two closes
tomorrow. So, if you are watching tonight and you forgot to complete the survey, please do so so we can have your input. Um May started with a celebration of teacher appreciation week and uh we are very grateful to all of our students. We
are grateful to the PTO also for for I mean our teachers and we're grateful to the PTO for supporting um our teachers as well. We celebrated them that week but we celebrate them and try to honor them every day through the year. They
make a difference every day of the year. Um, I have started my coffee in connection uh with the community. I've had two sessions. They've been um well attended. I have a third one coming up the end of the month and I'm also meeting with uh student council at GL um
at the end of the month. I jokingly say that they couldn't fit me in before then. So, um but I'm looking forward to meeting with all of them. And that concludes my superintendent report. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Feltry. We'll move on to our committee and liaison
reports. I will start as chair of the negotiations committee. The committee members were unable to schedule a meeting uh time since our last BOE meeting, but the head custodian contract discussions continue. I am also liazison to the town council veterans affairs committee and the veterans affairs
committee has asked local veterans to participate in the Mountain Park flag raising ceremony on Friday, June 13, 2025 at 8:40. teachers at Mountain Park School um with the uh agreement of Mr. Morso have a ceremony. I know that Hugh
Schools has a very nice flag ceremony, but this year we'll be at Mountain Park. They'll have some veterans there. The scout program uh the scout um program participants will be invited to there be there and wear their uniforms. There'll also be some veterans there to explain
what's happening with the flags. Um, we usually have a box by the VFW for worn flags, but that box is being renovated now. It's not there. It's actually here at the high school. It's being uh refurbished. It's being repainted a red color, so we don't have that. But at the
flag raising ceremony, Mountain Park, we will be collecting worn American flags from anybody in the community, and they'll talk about how to have a future respectful retirement ceremony for those flags. The Union County Educational Services Commission met last night. Mrs. Dippy uh
Connor could not attend. Uh they had a presentation by the principal of Hillrest Academy North. Financial and personnel matters were discussed and architectural plans for the building expansion will be shared at their next meeting. The Berkeley Heights Education Foundation met on Tuesday, May 13th. Dr.
Feltry and I attended there. The foundation was discussing some future uh fundraisers looking for an update from the board of education and the foundation really encourages Berkeley Heights staff and students uh to apply for grants using their new streamlined application process. They have the
money. So if you need something for playground equipment or something from there, they are anxious to spend the money for us. Uh update on board goals. The board is continuing to work on improving the committee structure. We're working on improving our communication.
Uh right now the board of education is in the process of evaluating our CSA. Um and we have a deadline of June 30th. And that uh process opened up this morning to all board members. You got an email. So you you have a time now to fill that
out and get that back by um I think it's May 29th has to be done. Uh the board of education is going to be developing district goals um with Dr. Feltry and then Mrs. Jean Clearary, our board's NJSBA field representative, will be be
providing guidance to the board regarding our five-year strategic planning process in support of the district. And she came here on May 1st for board training to explain to us what that process and the tools were. So, this is a good time to take a look what are we looking at as a community for the
next five years of Berkeley Heights. Where do we envision it? It is also the time of our referendum. So we have two things going on at the same time. So it's actually things that could be worked out together and looking ahead where where does the community want the money to be spent? What are our district
goals and looking ahead to the next five years? The board of ed continues with its professional development and we will continue to work on that. Mrs. Clearary is also helping us to update our board goals. Our board goals are old. We need to update them and she will be helping us do that in the fall, but we'll be
working on those at the end of this year. That concludes my committee and liaison reports. Is there anyone else would we'd like to go around the table or who would like to go first? Okay, Mrs. Jolly. Thank you.
Good evening. Um so the curriculum committee met um May 2nd. Um in attendance we had Dr. Feltry, Dr. Curtis, Dr. Moore, Mr. Nixon, Dr. Janosco, Miss Heler, Miss uh Sikino, Miss Stanley, Dr. Forager, and myself.
It was a full house. Um, okay. So, the the agenda topics covered ge the geometry textbook discussion. Um, and I believe it's on the agenda for um today to approve. So, I think uh Dr. Curtis uh addressed some of the concerns that um
Dr. Forger had provid um written concerns that he had provided. She explained how the math topics are taught in a scaffolded manner and some of the items that Dr. Forer had questioned um as missing were covered in other classes or textbooks. Um Dr. Curtis also
provided a mapping document to show how the textbook um aligned to state standards. Um I know there was a concern raised about videos. Um, so the videos um that are part of this program are supplemental um for special education
students. Teachers will provide what's needed, meaning they won't use the videos if they're not appropriate. Um, students will also receive a a volume of student guided notes. There was a book that Dr. Curtis actually gave me and I forgot to bring
it back um for students to use like a workbook. Um, Miss Heler spoke to the benefits of the additional resources that come with the textbooks like worksheets that can be downloaded, modified to cater what's being taught, exit tickets that allow for quicker results and formative assessments.
Proofs can be done with dynamic software and in general just easier to gather data, download and edit resources. Miss Siguchino spoke to the benefits of the program Alex which leverages um AI um in terms of you can
use it to create a learning path to have knowledge checks um progress checks and lessons and work on mastery at an individual pace and it provides immediate feedback to teachers to allow for direct instruction. Um it was noted that currently there is no targeted
intervention in CMS um and that Alex can be leveraged to develop a targeted intervention program. Um Mr. Rash also had positive feedback regarding Alex uh for special education students. Um question around Delta math. Delta math
is still um used u probably used for another year during the transition period and it was also noted that summer assignments are in currently in Delta math. um downside of delta math it's not adaptive. So then uh briefly spoke about
the AP psychology book um AP psych which I think is a class taught under a different name um behavioral AP behavioral sciences I believe. Um so that class currently has no textbook. Um the selection of the book was the same
pro selection process where there was a committee made up of teachers and students. I believe this book is only online. Um and it this particular class also has very high enrollment um at the high school. There's like three or four sections that are scheduled for next
year. Um AP calculus book uh current book is from 2006. This new book reflects uh new standards, more rigor um and again I think went through the same uh committee process. Um, we also agreed
going forward to provide the book to committee like ahead of the meeting so we could take a look at it especially Dr. Farer if it's math related. Um, we also had uh Dr. Janoska and Mr. Nixon uh uh speak to us about the GPA and the
scaling as there was a concern raised by a community member um around the current uh GPA scale. So um Dr. Janoska spoke about the school profile um which is a two-page um document that is sent to universities
and includes the GPA scale um she also spoke about some of the feedback from college admissions officers and how you know what they're really looking at also in addition to the profile for an individual student is seeing the progression in the course um work
admissions officers understand that each high school has different GPA scaling uh Mr. Nixon presented his analysis um of surrounding districts including new prov Summit, Chattam, Milbour and others. Um I would like to see it because I don't
remember I didn't note down all the districts but um it was a bit enlightening to see that each district does do it differently in terms of the scaling. Um the presentation included some stu student specific data and the chair suggested chair beami suggested um
that we have this presentation at a board meeting. you know kind of what taking out any student specific information. Um I think after I left the meeting there was some discussion um and I guess it was decided that the board uh
public board meeting was not the best um uh I guess arena to have this presentation. Um I kind of disagree with that but um that's you know what was discussed after I left. So I think um it would be worthwhile for the public at
hand because this was out there in the community and discussed you know whether you have a high schooler or not just the important context to understand you know what the different especially that Excel spreadsheet what the different um how the different districts uh do it. Um so
there were a couple of items that were not that were on the agenda that were not discussed. Um the CMS schedule, I know we've talked about, we've kind of talked about it in periphery. Um it's something that potentially might want to look into changing, right, to allow for
more in-class instruction, more class time, and maybe more breaks so the kids can get some of that energy out. And there was also um the STEM aviation program. It was an email from a community member, I believe, um back in February. Okay. So, I think we should
take a look try to take a look at that at the next meeting. Thank you. So, I just wanted to comment. So, my daughter was one of the kids that had to take the the test for deciding what's going to happen in eighth grade. And I just want to give a shout out to the math department and um that letter. The
letters came in so detailed with so much information really gave parents so much to really think about and and figure out and decide the best course for your child. I thought it was really really well done and I I just want to give them props for that because I really think right the first year is really difficult
when you're implementing something new and I think this really hit the mark and really helped parents understand what was going to come. um just as a seventh grade parent. Um so I just wanted to thank them for that. Yeah, I'm good. Thanks.
Thank you, Mrs. Jolly. Mrs. Terrero. Okay, so um I have two things. Um one, and I apologize, AJ. I didn't write this down. Don't kill me. Um so um for the technology and communications committee um we had our
meeting on um I think it was the 5th May 2nd what the second sorry May 2nd um and there were a bunch of different topics we discussed uh number one on the district website
um there will be there's going there is actually a referendum page and right now there are two presentations as well as two live streams on there and as the results come in for the surveys that will be posted on there as well. So if
people are looking for additional information on the referendum that's a a good place a good source of information to get to. Um the board of education members web page was updated and the purpose of that was for two reasons. Number one to prevent for fraudulent
emails if somebody's fishing. Um, and number two is if somebody wants to actually uh email the board, it it makes it a lot easier for them to email the BOEbhpsj.org and that will make sure all members of the board um actually receive
their their email as well as the um board secretary and the superintendent. Um we discussed the New Jersey school district's social media litigation. I hope I can talk about this. Can I talk about this? Sorry, the New Jersey school district
social media litigation. Oh, the raw You mean the class action? Yes, I think you can discuss that. It was discussed uh I mean obviously the board is not actively Right. Okay. So, this was there's a litigation out there and it it basically stems on social media and how it could
potentially affect our students. And so there's a law firm with various school districts that are looking to uh see if people want to sign on to get involved in this litigation. Um we just discussed it. There's no determination and I think
as a board we need to actually discuss that and that's all I'm going to say so I don't get in trouble. Um we discussed didn't get in trouble on my book by the way if that makes okay. Um we discussed Chromebook protection plans. right now
um these are not available to the parent. So if something happens to a student's Chromebook uh sometimes parents can actually get hit with some hefty fees. So um we discussed options in terms of um if we would make
available um to parents whether it be optional or mandatory exactly how we would go about that and that would actually be a huge costsaver to the families and to the district. Um, we discussed copers and printers within the school district. Um, the
current contract that's out there ends in January. And, um, the premise for why there this new contract, what's so great about this new contract is the reduction in the number of personal printers that
are out there within the school district. Um it allows for staff member to print at a various location based on swiping um their IDs. And it also allows for security
protection if some of the documentation that that somebody's printing is actually private and doesn't want to be shared. So you can actually print the item and and be at that location rather than it actually sitting on that in that spot. So, it provides protection. Um,
the one thing that was brought to our attention, and I think it's a really good point, is that we don't know in the current climate what's happening with the tariffs. And so, they were looking to possibly want to um accelerate this contract a little sooner so that the
pricing that we currently have right now won't change and become more expensive to the district. So, they're currently looking at that. There was discussion on network redundancy specific to the infrastructure. We talked
about what it would cost to create a whole separate uh fiber optics optics system at another school location and create network redundancy so that if we had outages um that it wouldn't take the entire district down. You're talking
about a significant amount of money. And I think right now with some of the other things that we have going on in the district, although it be that it would be nice, I don't know that it would be the best option in terms of spending dollars in the district.
Um updates on the PA projects. So over the spring break, um Mary Kay and Woodruff had a update done in their schools. Apparently Woodruff did have an issue after the installation and it was fixed. So
everything's good to go. And then lastly, um Raptor and I actually asked this question for you. I don't know if you read my notes, but we did ask specifically about um a couple things. Number one is it's completely been rolled out into the district. Um and
there were some concerns that I know um members had regarding the percentage increase on that contract. And last we were told is that we're still waiting for that updated contract. I I don't know. Well, the invoice is on the agenda tonight. Okay. So, did we end up finding
out what that percentage was? Um well, it's last I think I replied to an an email earlier today. So, um last year the cost for the services was $7,336 and this year it's 6 I mean
$6,624 for what we will be purchasing. So, right, it's so it's for me it's not so much the cost. Um, it's just the uh the the fact that we signed a contract with a minimum 5% increase when we're capped at 2%, right? Like, so
while these numbers are not huge, like what's our threshold, right? Are we going to sign other contracts for other things that have a minimum 5% threshold? It's just not a practice that we want to uh and and Deb just because you mentioned raptor I don't remember but
like one of the other concerns um was actually where and how the data was stored. Okay. So so if I remember in our conversations there's only a couple of pieces of information that are stored.
It's the name, the date of birth, something about the last four digits of a driver's license and right there was one other thing. So yeah, it wasn't the actual attributes in and of themselves or not, but I guess maybe the followup question is there. So
that's the the data. Sorry, I'll speak into the microphone. Sorry. That's the data that gets captured when you swipe. So are we loading any other data into it? because from a prior Raptor data breach, not from our district, right? There was like class schedules
that were there or anything like that. Okay. So, that's good. And then, so even those Okay, then I guess it doesn't really matter. It was just that information that was stored, right? It's my understanding. Yeah. All right. Um Okay. So, that's it on the technology and communications committee. And then
um for town council uh the town council met on Tuesday, May 6th, the township of Berkeley Heights made two proclamations. First, the township honored Mr. Joseph Seino for his many, many years of ser volunteer service for the Berkeley
Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad. And shout out to him. Thank you so much for serving the Berkeley Heights community. Second, the township declared May as mental health awareness month. um which I think is incredibly critical for our students um and our community. Um the
Berkeley Heights Town Council discussed many other topics, but the most impa impactful for our schools is the complete and green streets committee. The mission of this committee is to implement a road user education campaign to encourage drivers to follow speed
limits and be aware of pedestrians around the community. The goal for 2025 is to make the township roads safer for the walking community and more bicycle friendly. They're also looking into promote sidewalks and school safety for
our students. And that's the end of my report. Thank you, Mrs. Terrarero. Mr. Dylan, uh just one comment that may be a possibility. I know when I came to GL the last time, Mrs. Gillick was sharing with me that um before you come in and use Raptor for the first time, there's some quick and easy steps that maybe you
can do to prepare. Um I don't get all of the district uh emails. If that hasn't gone out, maybe it's just a quick how-to uh to make it a little simpler the first time. Um but otherwise, she I did ask she reported back it was working great and was making it a lot easier for uh to maintain who was coming in and out. Um
so I'll just piece of feedback having just gone through it uh week or two ago. Uh so I'll report the athletics and co-curricular uh committee. Uh our meeting was on 57. Uh Dr. Feltry, Dr. Maher, Mr. Hendricks, Miss Bradford,
Mrs. Terrero, and myself met. Um the two items we reviewed that will be on tonight's agenda. Uh we did get into some length around the interview process for the Governor Livingston boy head basketball coach. um why the candidate
was being put forward um you know with a with a huge glowing uh recommendation from uh our our uh our committee the the interview committee. Um and then we also reviewed uh from an athletics perspective the items that we wanted
included on the maintenance agreement that's going to go forward with the town uh as part of the lower Columbia. Right. So both of those are on the agenda. Both of those pass through uh the athletics committee. Uh some other items we discussed uh since I joined back in January, I've
been trying to get someone to officially confirm that there are no town ordinances around lights at Governor Livingston. Uh I finally got that official official. So we can put up lights uh if we wanted to at Governor
Livingston. Uh so we started to discuss if that was to be a reality from an athletics perspective. Um what are the different budgeting options, right? Is it referendum? Is it capital gain capital uh reserves? Is it uh soliciting
funds from neighboring community organization? Right. Um so I just know that uh as somebody that has been sitting out in the public and watching these sessions for a long time, uh I was not aware. I I also thought that there may have been an agreement in place that prohibited those lights, but you know,
just making sure that we all know that uh that has since been removed. Yeah. So, um that was discussed. Um we talked about um online ticketing, right? So, moving forward, uh we anticipate in the fall of
2025 a new online ticketing program to go live. Uh so, this would mean any anywhere where you currently pay cash to get into an event, right? There would be an app on your phone, you'd pay um we would have a little bit of time in the beginning that you could do cash or uh
you know, touchless, you know, through the app. Uh but we anticipate that going forward and there are some cool advantages to it. Um you could buy potentially an entire season for your your child if they go to almost every basketball game. You can kind of pay it
all in advance and get a little bit of a discount. Um we discussed um kind of one of the pain points um from Mr. Hendricks, you know, his early times here at at uh uh Berkeley Heights.
Uh and we reviewed the maintenance here at Governor Livingston, specifically the outdoor maintenance, all the fields, all the grass, um the repair, the all the great sports that are going on all at once. Um all that falls on one person to
kind of maintain the fields all at once. Uh and you know, unlike the other fields in town, uh where the DPW and the town helps out, they do not help out at here. Um, so there is we start started to talk through um potentially a risk in terms
of having only one person responsible for all of that maintenance should that person find a better opportunity, win the lottery, whatever the case may be. What could we do as a potential minimize that risk by uh getting a backup plan or even additional
help um to start to get through some nice to haves that may be on a backlog uh in case of a rainy day if we ever had extra help. Um we discussed the likelihood uh of some new clubs uh and
we'll call them active clubs which would be the first step before you introduce a varsity team. So for example um there's a lot of interest to potentially bring in uh girls flag football or boys volleyball two varsity uh sports that we
don't have today. We would bring them in initially as active clubs if there's enough participation, if we have the right coverage. uh from a a coach and sponsor, right, from the uh from the staff, we could turn those into to varsity programs. So, it's it's great to see we're continuing to grow and offer
other what haven't been traditional sports here at Governor Livingston and the Brookley Heights uh uh school system. Uh and I think that's that's it for my report. Thank you, Mr. Dylan. Um Mrs. Stanley,
I could be wrong, but I think there is a policy on what they have to do to get a sport to the high school and it's like a feeder program. So, just if you ever want to look at it and or have the policy committee look at it, just let us know. That's correct. There there is a
policy uh to establish a new sport. It has to be parent funded, I think, for four years. That Yeah. So, again, it's it wouldn't it's not officially a sport, right? I think there is u and new new to this uh
the the term was active club and I'm sure it's the same thing as if you wanted to introduce any other club that would be here in the district. Oh, that's great. What would this what would a boys volleyball club do though? What would it do? I would anticipate that they compete in the sport of
volleyball. But I mean that sounds like how's that different than just starting a a volleyball team? Well, we wouldn't be playing in the in the NJA team league. Um, that's for one, but
right now we have a policy that says what they have to do to become an official one. And they've already started the the boys volleyball has already started that. They've started the feeder program um through PAL and stuff. So, I I think they're halfway there. But, but I like the idea of giving them a club until they can become
a fully established and gain more interest. Um, but I think we got to remember one of the big concerns was um what are these students currently playing that would right like if we're going to lose numbers on a different team, you know, do we have enough
students to carry these in the same seasons? Um, so I do think that's something we have to think about, but I'm going to move on to the personnel committee meeting minutes. Um, I Miss Kana is not here tonight and she asked me to read them out. So on May 13th, we
had a meeting. Um the first agenda item was suspension of a non-eing staff member. Um the second item on the agenda was um the hiring of the Thomas P. Hughes uh principal, which is on the
agenda tonight under personnel B. Um we just want to thank Mrs. Nardy for all of her u many years here and hard work with our students. um she will be retiring and we do have a principal on the agenda for tonight. Then we have the boys
basketball coach. Um this is under personnel P. Um this role was left vacant and the athletic director director and his hiring committee um was able to find a new uh head boys basketball coach. Um and that is on
tonight's agenda. We um also have our business administrator retiring. Um we just want to thank him for all of his hard work. I can't tell you how much finance um finance facility stuff has gotten done this past year. It's amazing. I thank you for that. Um but we
did start the search for a new BA. Um we did get an update on that. Uh we have at eight candidates that have applied for the position. Um uh what else can I say? And the plan is to look for an interim
BA in July and August. Um, and hopefully we can get uh a candidate ready. The committee is ready to start interviewing candidates. Um, and hopefully we can get one on the schedule for June 26. Um, next we have the budget accounting
and reporting specialist is also retiring. Um so we just got an update on that position. Um and we had a discussion on the role of that position and how to move forward um as we make changes in the business office. Um so I
know that the committee had asked Dr. Feltry to uh give us kind of um what is it? Comparison. Yeah. A comparison on the different roles and what we could do with that position. Um and kind of give us a
I was trying to think of the word but I can't. Um just kind of give us an idea of what how which direction we should move in. And then the next uh thing is we have the assistant superintendent contract on for tonight. Um again we're just approving it for the new year. It's the same
contract. Um and because the current the current contract was a pro-rated one but this is for the new year. And that is it from personnel. Next we have the policy committee meeting minutes which was on Tuesday May 20 uh May 6th.
Um we do have a bunch of policies on tonight under new business. We have policy 5570 which is sportsmanship. This is a policy that we had looked at um last year when we found out that um the
NJSIA had changed their sportsmanship code of conduct. We did approve for first reading last meeting um the actual actual uh policy that NGISA SI AAA put out. Um but this is
just updating our sportsmanship policy to fit be in line with that one. Uh then we have policy 1530 and regulation 1530. Um both of these were from last year's February alert. So
these just are basic updates for added protect for that protected category statute. So basically the statute that talks about protected categories whether it's race, religion, etc. that has been updated over the years. Um and to prevent us from having to go through
every policy that mentions it, they are just putting in the statute now so you can refer to the statute so it's updated easily. Um the regulation however is new but the change is that this is now mandatory so we must have this regulation um and we want to make sure that we have
this in place before CUSAC. The next policy is 1550 equal employment and anti-discrimination practices. This was also from last year's February alert. This again just talks about protected categories. Um we
also have policy 131 which is bylaw policies and regulations. This is the policy um that was um abolished in the December meeting. Um the committee the entire committee worked really hard and compromised to get wording that protects
the minority members and the superintendent right um to how we bring policies to the full board for a vote. Um, I think that we did a really good job on on compromising and making sure that everybody felt comfortable to move forward. So, again, that's on for
tonight. Um, and then we have 5755, which is equity and education programs and services. This one is going to be abolished by stress estate. Um, this is because they found that this was already um covered in other policies. So, they
feel that it's no longer needed. Then we have the regulation 2200 curriculum content. Um we are not moving forward with that. Uh we had policy uh 47441 which again we were not able to
move forward at this time. Regulation 441 again we were not able to move forward and policy 9320 and regulation 9320. These are both going all of these will be moving to the next meeting. Um then we had
uh a discussion on policy 5120 assignment of students. As I discussed at the last um meeting, we did discuss the request to keep students in one school building even after they moved within the district. um we all agreed that this policy is clear that you can
finish out the year um if you have like 90 days I think according to the policy left in the school year but otherwise we expect you to to to attend your new school building. We do not want to raise classroom numbers due to preferred buildings. Um and so we are not going to
um make revisions at this time to the policy because we believe the policy is already clear in that um we had a couple policies on here. There was some confusion about whether or not we had approved them at our meetings uh last year. Um so we found a
couple that we had already approved because we were looking at last year's February alert for ones that we hadn't. Um we did have policy 5701. Um this was a total rewrite um but the policy committee is ready to move forward with it. Then we have policy
5710 student grievances. This is similar to the chain of command and gives opportunities to appeal to the board. You often often see this in instances of grade dispute. And then we have policy 85000 food services. Again, this is new language around subsidized lunch
program. Um something that we already have here in place, but we needed to update the policy. Then we have policy 5533, student smoking. This is now mandatory. We chose to keep the options we currently have in policy and stress estate added another paragraph to
address the MOA. Um, and we added a statute from paragraph above to address the address what substances were we talking about. And then we have regulation 5533. This one again is new um and it supports the same policy. The
rest of the policies I will not read through because we already had them at the last meeting. Um, so we are going now for a second read for these policies. And then um we do have um the club regulations.
Natasha uh found the regulation 2430. I put a link in the minutes to that if you want to read over that regulation. We did look at this regulation about clubs and the establishment in the district um in the I believe in the fall of last year or
the summer of last year. Um and we decided not to move forward um due to um people finding out how clubs are actually working. They want to bring it back. We ask that um the district looks very closely at this and we will discuss
it at the June 10th committee meeting um because we want to make sure that Mr. Kalisa and Mr. Nixon have a chance to really read exactly what this entails and if it's going to change our current process. And one of the concerns previously was that we have informal clubs and this would make it very
difficult for us to continue with those. Um so we just need to make sure that if we put this regulation in place what's going to happen um because obviously we want to make sure that we're aware um of how to move forward. So that will be on
the next meeting which is June 10th. That is it for policies. Again, we have old business, which will be the second reading, and then we have new business, which will be the new policies. Again, we'll have to decide if we want to do a first read on these as well, or if we just want to approve them tonight. Um,
but that's it for me. Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. Dr. Forer, update, please, on finance and facilities. Finance and Facilities is meeting tomorrow at 1:00. Okay. Thank you. I think that concludes all our uh committee meetings and
liaison. We're moving on now uh to board communications. There are no board communications. Thank you. Report of the business administrator. I'm just going to report on the uh items that have gone on with uh buildings and
grounds over at uh GL. Mounted a new TV in room 131. installed new outlets in assistant principal's office and main office. New benches installed in main hallway and new trophy case was installed by blue gym. I don't know
where it is. Replace drain pipe and bathroom by room 131 and tile abatement in room six was done uh with air samples were concluded. CMS uh released uh recealed blue gym
skylight, repair repaired broken pipe inside of lower bathroom wall, lower A-wing, installed new light switches and gold gym, removed and installed new corrugated pipe for rain garden. Repaired downspout and courtyard. Replaced broken pipe cap in B-wing for
heating Mountain Park. Uh they started doing uh new water fountains and bottle fillers and painting continues throughout the building. Used they installed a new main entrance door closer. Uh Mary Kay they repaired pipe
behind the wall in the girls bathroom. At Woodruff uh cafeteria was painted. So were various rooms had uh various rooms had new actuators and thermostats replaced uh for the upcoming heating season. Districtwide, we had uh lead
water testing done and uh report was was completed and that is being done so we can uh comply with the lead water testing and we can get the uh report and compliance done for uh county office and
the state. And that concludes my report. AJ, sorry, can I ask a question about the asbestous remediation in room six? Yes. um was what were the results right there was like air think you mentioned there were air samples tested what were
the results of that whenever you're doing a uh removal of asbestous what it is it has to be monitored so while it's conducted there has to be containment areas done and
while it's being done a separate company has to come in and monitor the air so it doesn't get anywhere where loose particles get anywhere at all. So that's what the job of the um company that conducts that that um
what's the word I'm looking for? Conduct that oversight. So that's what their primary job is to do. We knew that there's asbestous in that room and that's what we were remediating. Their job is to control it and to maintain it within those barriers and that it doesn't come out of those bar barrier
areas. That is what their job is to do. Thank you. Any other questions, Mrs. Stanley? Right. That's just done annually, right? Or or by annually or something like that. That's I believe it's every two years if I'm not or every two or three years if I'm not mistaken. Just as a
parent, I know when I hear that we're testing for lead in the water, you start to look be like what? But it we have to do this uh to comply with the Yes. And there's another uh the last testing is done and that's on our website currently. I think there was like one or two water fountains that uh exceeded the
level. They're being retested because I believe it might have been the water might have been in there for a little bit longer. So uh anything that's over the 0.15 has to go back out for testing. So that's what Mr. Romano is doing and then uh the results will be posted online and by the end of the 15th as a
reassurance that has to be done by the county um to make sure that everything is completely uh lead free. Thank you. Or under that 15. Yeah. Thank you. At this time, uh we'll move on to comments from the public on agenda items
only. During this portion of the meeting, district residents and staff are invited to address the board of education on agenda action items only. The board requests that the individuals state their name, town of residents, or school of attendance for the record. All comments should be directed to the board
president and depending upon the nature and complexity of the question. It may or may not be answered during the meeting by the administration. If so, the response would occur after this public portion of the meeting has concluded. Although the board may not respond to all items raised during the
public forum, all public comments will be considered. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding personnel matters are discouraged and cannot be responded to by the board.
Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded by the laws of New Jersey. The board bears no responsibility, nor will it be liable for any comments made by members of the public. Please note that if any member of the public becomes disruptive during the meeting, the board president may
terminate the participant statement. Continued disruptions may result in removal from or adjournment of the meeting. Each speaker will be limited to three minutes in duration. We will take public comments in person first and then we
will go to online uh participants. Is there anyone from the public? Good evening everyone. How are you? Chris Derfinger 3 Lexington Drive Matuchen, New Jersey. Um I wanted to introduce myself. I had the pleasure of meeting all of you at executive session,
but I did want to publicly introduce myself uh to the community. I am on the agenda tonight as the uh newly appointed principal of Hughes. And I do want to start off by just saying u Mrs. Nardy has already given me gear. I'm already
wearing the bracelet. Um the fact that I have my um elementary principal co future colleagues here at tonight's board meeting in 18 years, I have never seen anything like that. So to to tell you that I feel completely welcomed and overwhelmed by that is an
understatement. So thank you for taking time from your families to come tonight. Um and I just want to say I'm so excited to start the work at Hughes. Uh really looking forward to meeting everybody and and and getting my sleeves rolled up and get going. So thank you for uh the
opportunity. Thank you. Jessica Nardy, soon to be former principal of Hughes School, which is really really weird and hard to say, but um I wasn't intending to speak tonight, but I felt a little little motivated. Um the four of us elementary principles decided to get together. We had dinner
together. We had kind of a a little good time, and we um just wanted to be here to welcome Chris and to support him in um his beginning of his adventure here at um Berkeley Heights. And I also wanted to assure the board and the the public, wherever that camera is,
um that Chris and I have already been in communication. We've already scheduled a day for him to spend at Hughes with me with the children so he can meet the staff and the students. And then we intend also once he is free of that other district to work together um to really learn the ins and outs of Hugh
School. So um we're really happy. Thank you for um your detailed process in finding a great replacement. and Dr. Felchy, thank you for honoring my one request, which was to do it quickly so I could get my hands on him sooner rather than later. So, thank you to everyone.
Thank you. Good evening, President Bradford and the rest of you. Um, and thank you for the opportunity to speak. My name is Tamar Tier and I've had the privilege of working as a school bus driver for the Berkeley Heights School
District over since um March of 24. I also brought prior experience from another district where I maintained a perfect safety record, no accidents, no violations, and I've upheld that same standard here. Since joining the district, I have shown up on time,
stayed available Sunday through Friday, and done everything that was asked of me. I've received numerous compliments from coaches and teachers, and have built pro positive um relationships with students, fellow drivers, and staff. I
care deeply about doing this job um doing this job well and contributing to the community. The position I was hired for as an athletic driver was created last year, but unfortunately it was not clearly defined. The contract language has been
vague and doesn't align well with the existing district union agreement. I've performed my duties as they were explained to me, but the lack of structure has led to some challenges. One of those challenges has been a
misunderstanding about Saturday availability. From the start, I was clear that I could not commit on working every Saturday and I was not informed that Saturday work would become a regular expectation of the role. Another ongoing challenge was
scheduling. It was agreed I would receive my assignments as at least a week in advance with the understanding that tournament season might bring some last minute changes. However, I was frequently given my routes just couple
of days in advance, sometimes even hours before departure which made it difficult to plan and fulfill the role effectively. That said, I believe I still have a lot of value to offer. There are currently route drivers assignments being
outsourced at an added cost to the district. Routes I'm fully capable and available to cover. I'm a reliable, experienced, and safe a safe driver and I would be honored to continue working for Berkeley Heights in
a role with a clear job descript definition. I respectfully ask for the chance to continue serving this district not as an athletic driver but as a route driver where I can thrive and contribute meaningfully. Thank you for the
consideration. Thank you. Hi Shauna Williams Berkeley Heights. Can I ask a question about the active clubs real quick or should do you want me to wait? Uh if you ask a question, we'll wait till after the comments and then we can answer. Okay. No, I meant I I didn't
know if if active clubs it was a liaison report, so I don't know if that counts as an agenda item. Um it does count as an agenda item, so ask the question and we'll answer it after. Thank you. Gotcha. Um so I know that for a while the boys were meeting, some boys were
meeting from 5 to 7 playing volleyball. Uh they got bumped because the basketball or baseball team was using the gym. But I wondered if that kind of activity like them meeting twice a week from 5:00 to 7, does that qualify as an activity that would then, you know, down
the road qualify them to become a proper sport? That's all. Oh, thank you. Um, do we have anybody online? I see one person online, but I don't see a hand raised. Okay, thank you. um from the administration. Do we have an answer on
the boys volleyball qualifying as a active club? Mr. Dylan, would that No, I I would have to investigate with TJ. Okay, we'll get back to you. Thank you, Mrs. Williams. current policy like
um meeting without a coach or a program would not qualify as time. Um according to policy, you do have to have like a feeder program like a PAL program to uh right like the younger kids say, "Oh, I've been teaching them this." And then
they go into uh the official sport when they get to high school according to policy. Thank you. We'll check the policy and have Mr. Hendricks get back to you. Thank you. I see no other questions. At this point, we will close
the public portion of our comment time and we'll move to the minutes portion of our agenda. in the minutes. Looking for a motion from the board and a second to sorry to promote
items A to all board members. May I have a motion, please? So moved. Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. And a second. I'll second. Thank you, Mrs. Jolly and Dr. uh excuse me, Mr. Jessica
Witz. May we have Is there any discussion? Sorry. No. Mr. Secretary, roll call vote. Mrs. Stanley. Yes. Mrs. Jolly. Yes. To all accept the executive session
minutes. Dr. Forer. Uh yes to the April 24th minutes and abstain on the special meeting minutes of May 1st. Mr. Terrarero. Yes to all. Mr. Dylan, I'll abstain from uh the two
on April 24th and yes to the May 1st. Miss Bradford. Yes to all. Motion passes. Thank you. Moving on to administration. Um, we have we may need a motion to table B, case number
287774 CMS. Is that correct, Mrs. Jolly? Yes. I move to table um item B 287774 CMS. Thank you. I'll second that. I second that. I'll second it. Wait, who's who's I'll Mrs. Terrero and
Dr. Forer both seconded it. Right. Okay. May we have a voice vote to table the motion? Uh, sorry, to table B, case number 28774 CMS. Mr. Secretary, Mrs. Jolly. Yes,
Mr. Terrero. Yes, Mr. Dylan. Yes, Dr. Forager. Yes, Mrs. Stanley. Yes, Mrs. Bradford. Yes. Motion passes.
Yes. Right. So, at this time, we're going to have a motion to approve resolutions A through C. All board members, may I have a motion, please? So moved. Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. A second. Second. Thank you, Mr.
Dylan. Any discussion? Um, so I have one. If if um we did want to bring uh the case back, um is there any way that I could what was the word we used? Re
motion to reconsider. Reconsider. Can I make a motion to reconsider a case at the June 26th meeting? That would be so yes my my view is until there if or when there's a challenge to be filed. Can everyone hear me? Okay. um that a
board if they believe a hip decision if new information comes to a board which makes them believe that a prior decision was incorrect I think a board would have an ability to correct a prior decision again new information and then would do the avenue to do so would be a motion to
reconsider so the motion to reconsider at a certain time or reconsider tonight I'm just I just want to make sure that I can do it for next meeting so the motion on the agenda tonight is to table. So that one was a that one if there is a
prior one from a previous meeting. Yeah. Then yes, you would raise it to reconsider that motion. I think there is typically an obligation to sometimes give notice. So I believe you are giving notice of your intent to reconsider that prior motion. So you can do that
tonight. Um and so I think that would be the next steps. And I I'm happy to I think we talked about I'll possibly just review and refresh on Robert's rules to kind of outline for the board the steps. Um but that is my recollection
being asked here as of now. Dr. Forer, uh you may want to look this up, but I may I believe you have to be in the majority to make a motion to reconsider. Again, I will I will outline for the board. I think we talked about I'll
outline for Robert's rules. And I I'll be honest, I left my copy at home. I have the actual I have I have a copy also. I just don't have it with me. Do you want No, I think again I will I think nothing will be done at the pres. I don't think there's any current motion. Is that for dummies? Well, this
one this one's for dummies. It's a nice synopsis, but this one's this one's the real the real version I don't think we should be referring to him as the dummy. David, I do I do have a copy of I think I promised I will outline the whole process for the board. Um I don't think
so don't make a motion tonight to to give notice. This is you giving notice. My preference is that you give notice of your intent um to that you plan to move for motion reconsideration. Again I will outline the process for the board. Uh as indicated it would be again my
preference. Robert's rules is as you can see both of your copies a little dense. Um there is also again as we've talked about Robert's rules doesn't control at all times if you have a board policy which I don't believe you do but I would want to check that the
order of control always comes to your policy first and then if you have no policy you then will default to Robert's rules. So again, I just if it's okay with the board, I would like to first make sure your policies don't touch upon this because again, that is what we'll always control. And then if your
policies don't, I'm just going to make sure that we dot our eyes, cross our tees under Robert's rules on how you'd properly reconsider this motion. So when when would we then do that? Are you going to look at that now? No. Uh my my request was I will between now and your next meeting I will have a full uh
explanation for the board on what the process would look like if the board so chooses to do that. So we should at least make a motion with the intent of reconsideration. So, I'm I'm giving notice that I intend to make a possible motion at the next meeting to
re-evaluate um case number 287774 CMS in reference to a student ID number that is different than tonight's agenda.
Um, and possibly relook at that case as new information has come to the board. Um and that is my notice. All right. So we um had that. We have the notice. Any other discussion? Okay. Thank you. May we have a roll call
vote, please? Mr. Secretary, Mrs. Stanley. Yes. Mr. Dylan, am I abstaining from B? Okay. So yes to A yes to C
because I do not see any right what's what about A yes to A A and C A and C yes and B you're abstaining correct because I I don't see any high school
related items on that correct okay Maybe. That's my final answer. Thank you, Dr. Forer. Yes to A, B, and C. Miss Terrero, yes to all. Miss Jolly, yes to
all. Miss Bradford, yes to all. Motion passes. Moving on to education resolutions A through H. All board members. May I have a motion to move education? So moved. Thank you, Mrs.
Stanley. Yeah. Second. Thank you, Mr. Dylan. Um, discussion. Yeah. [Music] Um, I, uh, am I'm going to have to vote
no on this geometry book. Um, and I, I wrote a memo on this. I'm just going to give you my reasons. I don't think any uh other mathematician has really looked at this. I did find math mistakes. There's
unclear or incorrect definitions. I'll just mention a few. Hyperola, directric, and parabola. Uh some of the proofs appear only in the videos. I think that's going to be very hard for students to review a proof. I don't think some people are not
going to be able to understand proofs unless they're written out. I know I have trouble with that. Uh there's a bunch of derivations of formula for area and volume. In fact, there's no derivations of area and
volume for a lot of things. I think that's part of learning geometry. Where do these formulas come from? Um there are missing postulates. I'll mention one of them. Volume addition. There's no volume addition postulate. [Music]
Um the uh uh I think they're missing a postulate that the a line divides the plane into two parts. You'll need that if you want to define the interior of an angle. They try to define the interior angle by a picture. We're trying to teach uh
deductive reasoning. That means you go by the postulates. you start with those and you derive theorems. I don't think you're supposed to rely on pictures. Uh something that I don't like. Uh not much I don't know what we can do about it, but it mixes analytic
and synthetic geometry. I have no objection to teaching both if that's required by the standards, but I would think that it would be better to teach one and then the other sequentially. And uh I think students
learn by seeing proofs and struggling with them. I don't think there's enough proofs for the kids to practice on and see examples of. So those are my objections. Thank you. Any other discussion? I
would. Yes. Um Mrs. Dolly, just real quick on item I guess E, there are two separate line items for we care autism. What is the difference? Like one
says extended school year versus so extended meaning into the summer. Yes, the ESY program in the summer time. Okay, Mrs. Stanley. So, I just wanted to give um the curriculum committee perspective, but I I I think our
teaching staff in the math department did an excellent job of telling us how excited they are for this resource. Um, they also did an excellent job of of describing how this is just one of many resources and we don't currently have a textbook. So, this is actually an improvement, right? It's one more
resource. Um, but you know, the online stuff where you can see the image in 3D and stuff we didn't have as kids is pretty amazing what they can do now in math and our I think our department did their due diligence in the getting this resource. So, I'm I'm fully on board
with it. Um, but then I just want to talk about H and say that effective school solutions again, I'm so glad that we're renewing them. Do we have any inclination of moving them into the middle school as we continue to see
issues um at the middle school um struggling with mental health as well? Um that would be my next uh move because I think that some of these students are struggling um and we we continue to see students have to go out for uh periods
of time. Um, so I I I would ask that we look into this. Um, effective school solutions was brought in. I don't know if you know, Dr. Felt, because we had students going out of district because we couldn't meet some of their extreme needs. Um, and they were able to come in
and that also gave our staff a little bit of breathing room to help the other kids that were dealing with anxiety and and whatnot in the classroom. So, I I'm really appreciative of them and I think that any student that has gone to see them has really uh been helped by that and I'm I'm really glad that we we continue to see that. I know the price
tag is always big and people um get a little bit worried that we're spending too much money on this, but I want you to remember we brought students back um out of district that we were paying for and that's one of the reasons how we were able to. So, at the time, um, the special education, uh, director was able
to actually say get like promises from families like, if we bring this in, will you bring your child back? And they said yes. And so, we were able to get that savings by bringing these students back. So, I just want everybody to know that I know it's a big price tag, but by bringing students back to their home
community, it's it's it's totally worth it, and we're not having to pay those out of district costs. Um, so yeah, that's it. Thank you. Mr. Mrs. Jolly, did you have a comment? Um, yeah, just uh, you know, with the
Pamra U middle school, right, and some of the challenges um, kids are having there. I and I come back to the scheduling, right? Their class periods are very long and I think even um, uh, Mr. Phillips had commented that um you
know he would recommend to see um more frequent breaks so the kids can burn off some of that energy. Um so I think we should you know maybe alongside just to yes you could have external help with mental health issues but I think you can also maybe try to alleviate some of the
behavioral stuff by having because I don't think they even have a a break like I don't think there's recess. Well, I think what he was saying is that the classrooms are 55 minutes and your attention span cannot like their their attention span cannot last that long.
Um, so right like shortening the classes but having them every day, right, can make a difference because they're getting up, they're moving to their next class, right? So I think it was less about bringing a recess period but more about giving them less like sitting time
the whole time for 55 minutes and getting them moving the building a little bit. Yeah. But but yeah, I I'm I'm totally on board. I know that Mr. Kabiska is on board, too. I think it's just finding the right schedule. Um so I know the last time Mr. Kubliska talked
about it was um he was supposed to maybe go visit a few schools and see how it works in their in their district. Um so hopefully we're still moving ahead with that. Thank you. U Mr. Secretary, vote please. Roll call vote. Mrs. Stanley,
yes. Mr. Dylan, yes. Dr. Forer. Uh, let's see. Uh, no on C, the revealed [Music] geometry.
Um, no on D, and yes to the rest. M. Terrarero, yes. Miss Jolly, yes. Miss Bradford, yes. Motion passes. Moving on to
personnel resolutions A through V, all board members, resolutions W through AG, Berkeley Heights only. May I have a motion? Sorry, just turning to the right page. Um, motion to move
that forward. So moved. Second. Did you? Yes. Yes. Uh discussion. I see no discussion. Um oh I just want to we do have a couple
of the personnel. So again under B we have our uh Hughes elementary principal um which we had just met at the podium. Um we do have retirement of our staff. Um many of these staff members have been
here a long time and we really really appreciate all you have done for Berkeley Heights and their students. Um and then we do have a resignation of staff and I'm trying to see if there's anything else. It's a long section. I think that was it.
Right. So again, Mrs. Narnney, thank you for all that you have done for my kids, but for all of our students here in Berkeley Heights. I know it's I know it's bittersweet for you, but I'm excited for you and your grandkids. Thank you. Yeah, I'd like to also say thank you to Mrs. Nardy because, you
know, mine went through your programs through the Hughes as well. And the fact that you've always remembered their names and always said, you know, hello, it always warm my heart. So, thank you. And thank you, Mrs. Dardy, as a former staff member, the guidance that you gave
to the staff. Thank you. Uh, Mr. Secretary, roll call vote. Mrs. Stanley, yes. Mr. Terero, yes. Dr. Forer, okay. No on
uh AG and no on AK. Yes to the rest. Mr. Dylan, did we say A through B? You said stop at W. Go back. Yes.
Okay. Correct. Yes. Yes. A through B. M. Jolly. I think yes to all. M. Bradford. Yes. To all. Motion passes. Moving ahead to business. At this time, I'd like to see if we have a motion to
add resolution AL. And I will read resolution AL. Approve shared service agreement between the Township of Berkeley Heights and the Berkeley Heights Board of Education. resolved that the Berkeley Heights Board of Education upon the recommendation of the superintendent
approves the shared service agreement with the Township of Berkeley Heights setting forth certain contingencies for the lease agreement governing the township's lease of the BOE's property at Lower Colombia and hereby authorizes the board president, school business administrator, and board attorney to
take all steps necessary to effectuate the agreement. May I have a motion to add that A through uh in so moved al thank you Mrs. Jolly second. Thank you Mrs. Stanley. Any discussion? So just maybe for the
broader public right this is the um one of the contingency contingencies of the lease agreement um to document um a maintenance plan um for the fields uh during the time of the lease. It also um
it also uh documents the um agreement with respect to the tennis courts that should the lease um be broken, you know, for any reason that um the the district will have use of the tennis courts for um for a year. So I think that's um
yeah, that's what it is. Thank you for the background. So the motion is to add AL to this section. We've had a Oh, yes. Sorry, Dr. Farger. Yeah. Yeah. I I just want to make a kind of a procedural thing. Public uh has not seen this. Uh
so they don't have a chance in the citizens hearing. They can comment on every agenda item, but of course, they don't know about this one. I know when the township uh adds things, they make it public. There's a change to the agenda so that when there's a citizens
hearing, the public can comment on it. So going forward, I'd like to see us, you know, put these things out there be, you know, not so that there's an opportunity during the assistance hearing for them to comment on it. Thank you. Yeah, and Tom, I normally agree
with you 100% on that. I think it was just the timing of um getting the finalized language and the timing of when um it's due to be done based on the lease terms. But otherwise, yes,
absolutely. So, this is just a roll call vote on the resolution to add the resolution AL. Mr. Secretary, Miss Jolly, yes. Miss Stanley, yes. Mr. Dylan, yes.
Dr. Forer, yes. Miss Terrero, yes. Miss Bradford, yes. Motion passes. Okay, we will now move on to do the business and we are looking
at resolutions A through A now all board members. May I have a motion to move that forward? Ender business resolutions A through A all board members. So moved. Thank you. Second. Second.
Thank you, Mr. Dylan. Discussion roll call. I want to actually just make a comment. I'm gonna vote for this, but I just want to make a comment. Um, as for AF, um, our food services
program, I think that the vendor needs to improve upon the quality of the food, specifically as it relates to the middle school. Um, and I don't know if part of that is because of the multiple periods when these kids are having lunch, but I think the quality of food that these
kids are receiving isn't fabulous. I certainly don't want to leave the district in a situation where they don't have a vendor at all, and that's why I'm going to move forward. But I do think a conversation needs to be had with this vendor to try to improve upon that because I know many
kids don't like it. Thank you. I would just like to add right as someone who has the middle schooler they right like I mean there's always going to be off days but like the kids complain that the food's not cooked well and stuff like that but I think the bigger thing is that they run out of
food. Um so I know that um you know my daughter has started bringing lunch all year because she's like I get there and they have nothing so I had yogurt and chips right and that she's like that's not that's not a lunch for her. Um, so I
think making sure that they account for, you know, middle school boys who order, you know, five slices of pizza, um, needs to be had. I There's nothing wrong with boys having five slices of pizza because they're growing. It the problem is is
that when the girl just wants one slice of pizza and there's none left. Um, so just accounting for that. Um, but I I too I think that we need to have a a deep conversation about um food services. I know that that these this one is one of the better ones, but we
definitely need to be on their case a little bit more. I I think this is the first I'm hearing of anything during during the whole course of the year. Yeah. I haven't heard anything. The one thing I did hear and the one thing I've tried to address this year is the equipment. I know there's been a lot of
things we had to buy a lot of uh warmers because a lot of them didn't work. I know we had some issues with refrigerators, compressors that broke. Uh a lot of things that went this year. I know we had a lot of issues with the registers uh that was holding up the lines in a lot of the um a lot of the
schools and they were all all replaced. I know there was only one at the high school replaced, but all of them were all all replaced this year and that was done during the uh Easter break or spring break I should say. So that was done. So I don't know what might have happened, but I think letting or voicing
those concerns sooner rather than later instead of culminating them all at one time, I think needs to be done. But I haven't heard anything from the principles whatsoever. No. And it's hard because sometimes, right, like sometimes you hear these things, but you're like, "Oh, it's a bad day." And you know, but
then it's like you hear it the next month and then you hear it the next month. So, you know, I I think it's just something we need to continue to uh press upon the food service vendor um is quality, quantity um and students. And
to add to Miss Stanley's point, um, and this kind of goes back to when my kid was there, um, because you have two lunch periods, what I think also happens is really the the ones who have the second lunch period or the eighth graders and half of
the seventh grade. So, the staff tends to put out all the food in the first period. So by the time the second lunch period comes in, they're the ones that tend to not get either anything that's available that's left or whatever. So if there's a way
that they can better split up the meals so that the kids at the second lunch period actually get the same opportunity as the ones in the first period, that would be great. I just wanted to comment on two other things. So one, the fireworks donation.
Um I'm we're always so thankful for that and it really makes our graduation stand out. So thank you so much. And then which which item is um the one for um the the box the the press box? The one
for the 236,000. That's the Hold on. Hold on. It says box B O XXX permanent buildings. That's ah ah. Okay. Thank you, AJ. And I thank you so much for
continuing to to focus on this. I I can't tell you how much facility stuff you have gotten done for us. I I know it's not easy. So, I thank you for all that you've done for Berkeley Heights as you retire. And um I really really appreciate it, Mrs. Jolly. So, um AJ, I
did want to ask sorry um I think it was in one of my questions to Dr. Felry. So, the the modular is um for the press box. because we've we've seen so that I guess that was the final solution. Um is it or is there additional equipment um or
additional costs that are needed to um you know to make the structure? There's going to be demolition and there's a bunch of other things that are going to be needed to lay the groundwork. This is just to get the press box itself started. There's going to be a bidsp spec that's de being developed by the
architect that's supposed to be coming soon. I'm hoping I've been bugging them for it. I'm hoping that's going to be on the next um at some point, maybe the next meeting, but I hope it's soon. Okay. But there might be a delay with this um with this box. Um they came out
with uh with the contract and then we went back with it with some wording uh because they wanted us to uh give a deposit without anything being even done and we don't do things like that, right? So, uh Mr. Dist can attest to that when we went back and forth with them on
several occasions, finally got something back. But now before I initial everything with all the dimensions and all the other things that were needed, uh before I initial them, I wanted to have the architects take one one last look because I don't want to put my initials on something and it's not right because anything that's going to be
developed or put together, uh I want to make sure that the architects are are doing a once over before um it's sent off, but the purchase order has been done already and it's just sitting there, but the contract needs to be finalized. So, I'm just waiting on the architects. Okay. So um if so approving
this like are we did we actually send them you know did we pay for this already or are we no okay okay so this is just the approving to once the contract is finalized then you'll have the right approvals in place to go ahead and pay it we have the PO done but the contract needs to be done that's where this we're just waiting and waiting for
for this to be done okay thank you so just one more on the topic we still have line of sight to have this fully implemented by the start of the school year Uh, I don't think it's going to be done by the start of the school year, but I'm waiting for that answer to come from them once we
get the contract over to them. I've been asking for for uh dates and they haven't given me any dates in writing yet. They only told it to the architect, but when I've given when I've asked for them, I haven't gotten anything yet. So,
I'm I'm waiting. I guess they're waiting for me to get this contract to them. Thank you. Um, Mr. Secretary, roll call vote then. Uh, Mrs. Jolly. Okay. Um,
I am Yes to all except AG. And that's a nay, correct? I'm sorry. Yeah, it's going to be a n a nay. Yes, a nay on a K.
Uh, Mr. Dylan. Yes. All Dr. Fora. Uh, yes to all except AG and AK. Wait a second. I got the wrong thing. It was AG and not AJ. It was AJ. Correct.
AG and AK. Okay. Miss Terrero. Yes. Miss Stanley. Yes. Miss Bradford. Yes. Motion passes. Moving on to
finance resolutions A through D. All board members, may I have a motion to move resolutions A through D under finance, please? I reviewed the bill list, so I'll move uh A through D. Thank you, Dr. Borer.
I'll second. Thank you, Mrs. Stanley. Discussion. Yeah, I'm uh on uh check number 212230, which has to do with Hazmat Diagnostic
LLC. Uh they did not submit a readable copy. So, we're waiting on that. So, I'm going to give a conditional yes if that's allowed. Okay. Uh roll call vote then. Mr. If there's no other discussion, roll call vote. Mr. Secretary, Dr. Forager.
Uh, yes, except for certain checks. Uh, [Music] 211645 211752. 212047. 212047. Yes. And as as I said, a conditional
yes. Once they submit the paperwork, uh, then we can pay that 212230. And uh no on C. Can I just ask Dr. Borger, what was that check number? That was the conditional one. 212230.
I'm told that we should approve it. Uh but uh and they will hold up payment. I don't know if you how long you can hold payment if once you've approved it. It seems like it has you know they're entitled to payment. So I'm a little
worried about this but I trust that the business office will take care of this. So that's why I did it that way. Thank you Mr. Terrarero. So uh yes to all except I will support Dr. Forager on uh conditional check
number 212230. uh that they get you a readable copy of that. Mr. Dylan, yes. Mr. Jolly. Yes to all except 211645
211752 212047. Um I don't know what a conditional yes means in the context of actual procedure. So, I'm just going to say no to 212230 until we get the readable copy. And I'm going to abstain on C.
Mrs. Stanley. Yes. Mrs. Bradford. Yes. Motion passes. At this time, we're moving on to comments for the public on any topic. During this portion of the meeting, district residents and staff are invited
to address the board of education on any topic. The board requests that individuals state their name, town of residence, or school of attendance for the record. All comments should be directed to the board president, and depending upon the nature and complexity of the question, it may or may not be answered during the meeting by the administration. If so, the response
would occur after this public portion of the meeting has concluded. Although the board may not respond to all items raised during the public forum, all public comments will be considered. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Specifically, comments regarding
personnel matters are discouraged and cannot be responded to by the board. Students and employees have specific legal rights afforded by the laws of New Jersey. The board bears no responsibility, nor will it be liable for any comments made by members of the public. Please note, if any member of
the public becomes disruptive during the meeting, the board president may terminate the participant statements. Continued disruptions may result in removal from or adjournment of the meeting. Each speaker statement will be limited to three minutes in duration. We'll start with in public first and move to online.
Shauna Williams, Berkeley Heights. Um, I would ask that the board please consider something um with the ethics cases that were brought up. Um, it is now an appeal. Um, the case that's an appeal has very little bearing on what actually
happened. At this point, it has become sort of a legal battle about what attorneys are allowed to do. Um, I don't think this is really benefiting our district in any way, shape, or form. And I would like to ask that the board please consider asking Mrs. Stanley if she will uh withdraw the case at this
time. Uh if anybody has any questions, please feel free to reach out. Um I don't know how much you guys are told in exact session, but I am a little bit concerned because the firm that's that led us astray to begin with is still
overseeing this case. Apparently, they're allowed to do that uh because the insurance company can can keep them on even though we have gotten rid of them as a as an attorney. Um so, I would just ask that you seek,
you know, maybe advice from our current attorney um as to the relevance of what's going on now for our district. Um sorry if that's a little bit vague, but trying not to say too much. Thank you. I see someone online. Please uh promote
that person. Hello. I don't see them promoted. Yes, thank you. Good evening. Uh, can you hear me now? Yes. John Mcu, Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. Um, I'm
going to be really quick. I'm just glad to see our our attorney back. Um, man, if you need a kidney or anything, just give me a call. We want we want we want to keep you here. Um, water, anything, snacks, just let me know. Um the the I I also I
wasn't going to speak tonight, but I you know I that the the bus driver that came up, you know, it takes she apparently has a lot of pride in her job. Um and you know, I I I hope that you guys can do something to work. I mean, I usually don't talk about stuff like
that, but uh you know, I I hope you guys can figure something out. like it's good to see somebody who um takes pride in her work and and has enough of a of courage to come to a public meeting uh and stand up for herself. Um so I really hope you guys can kind of figure
something out where where she can continue her her work for our district. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. I see no other um individuals online, so I will close the comments from the public on any
topic. We're coming up to new business now, Mrs. Stanley. New business on policy discussions. Uh, so I know I have had policy discussion on the agenda since February. Um, the reason is is because we have two
policies that were put in last year that I would like to bring back to their original form because I believe that they are putting our district um in a difficult position and as we move forward I would like these policies
to go back. So first policy is 6421 purchases budgeted and the second policy is 0132 executive authority. I have copies for everyone so we can look at them to go back to its original version.
What are the numbers? 6421 purchases budgeted and 0132 executive authority. So Mrs. Stanley, you're looking to um Yes. discussion. Okay. What are
they? She's gonna I was gonna try to fall. She's walking. Is Is this really allowed? I mean, was the notice on 6421? I don't see it. I see new business. I'm looking through
the policies. I don't see any 6421. Yeah, I know. But I I'm looking at the list here. Oh, the topic is policy discussion. And you can you think you can bring in any old policy you want? Hey Mrs. Stanley, would you like to
begin the policy discussion? Where would you like to start? So let's start with executive 0132 executive authority. You can see uh what was added last year and what was crossed out. So the green part there is what was crossed out last year and
instead it they put in shall require board approval prior to propligation. The problem with this is that some regulations um do not need board approval and the board was upset because they felt that a couple of policies had
regulations had been put in place without the board's knowledge. But there was never any proof that the board didn't have knowledge of it. Um, we have had many discussions about how all policies should go through the policy committee, whether or not the
superintendent um, put them in place already or not. Um, I do believe, especially as we come to the summer, that if a regulation comes out and Dr. Feltry believes that it needs to be part of our policy, she has the right to put
it in our policy book. uh according to right the the state she has that right according to our policy we changed that and it takes away her right to do what's best for the students and have these in place um and these are regulations that are put out by the state right so it's
not it's not anything that we would have much control over anyways um but it was changed last year in December they had to abolish policy 0131 which is on the agenda uh after this um they had to
abolish that whole policy in order to get this in place and I feel that one that was wrongly done and two I believe that this is not in the best interest of the district and I would like to change it back to its original form. Um so yeah does anybody have any questions?
So what what I'm a little confused. So what did the what did the policy say before it is? It says exactly what is here with the cross out. Their original policy is exactly like this in December. They passed the policy. They crossed out
the green and they added shall require board approval prior to publication. Okay? Meaning that when the state comes out with a regulation, it has to wait for board approval. And as you know, our board sometimes has struggles to approve policies, especially when we have a
first and second reading. It can cause delay, right? There are certain regulations that the state put out that the superintendent is allowed according to the state to put in effect immediately because of this policy. We are not allowed to do that. Our superintendent is not allowed to do
that. Can you give me and I would like to go back to the original language. Can you give an example of where this has actually happened where one of these urgent regulations was needed. Well, I would say right if we have a COVID situation,
I would say if they bring out if the state puts out a regulation and it's important enough that they don't believe that a board needs to give approval first, then I would say that's an important regulation that our superintendent should have the right to be able to do so. But I would I would defer to the superintendent. So is it
Mr. Mr. Distler, is it fair to say because like when I learned about mandatory regulations or regulations like is it the state that deter because I it determines which regulations the superintendent can uh approve and which ones need to be approved by the board or
is it like Strauss asked me because there was there was like a couple lists that were like oh some are mandatory some are not that list changes um and and so that's one question and then the second question is if the superintendent does not have
the ability on her own, you know, without a board vote to promote a regulation, what actual impact does that have on the operations of the school or on you know things that we need to do given that
these are regulations from the state and it this is more for anformational purposes than anything. If it's okay with you, I will defer the second question to Dr. Feltry on the impact on the school. Um if that's okay with Dr. Feltry. Um am I not on? I am on. She's
not closer. As to the first question. So there are some statutes that exist that say this is mandatory for a board of education to pass. Please don't ask me which of those there are, but I I know that those exist, right? um whether it's a statute or sorry
whether it's a policy or regulation that is a Strauss estimate determination on typically speaking Strauss estimate will try to put the law into your policy and then the implementation of that law into your regulation whether it is deemed
mandatory is a determination by Strauss SMA in many cases it will be because the law but not always sometimes Strauss will think this is important and therefore make it mandatory in order to be consistent with its other policies and regulations. There have been
occasions where Strauss sme um has indicated that even though we've made it mandatory, the law itself infers it but doesn't require it. So again I hope that answers your question but I majority of the time if it's mandatory it's by law but I there
are instances where stra may have said we are making we think it should be mandatory but and so and one other question um we have in the past um updated a regulation like changed the wording in a regulation um I think uh it
was the regulation related to transportation policy right so my fear fear is that well not my fear I guess the concern is that if we don't put all regulations through the same process of committee and review and that
um we do not then get to potentially you know review the language and update the language before it goes into our policy book. So for for that regulation, right, we didn't change the wording. We removed wording that did not apply to our
district. But again, if we had left that wording, it still wouldn't apply to our district. But I think uh Dr. Feldry should answer the second question that you had because I think that's the important one, right? Is is when there's a law in place, right? Being able to put
the regulation in place for our district and share it with the teachers and the staff to make sure it's in place immediately is important and this doesn't allow that, right? Because not only does the board need to be aware of it, which I'm totally fine with. If we want to put language in there says board
must be aware, that's different than saying board must approve it, right? If we're going to have to have two approvals before it's even put into place, it really ties the hands of the district to get it out to the staff who need it. So, I'll let Dr. Areltry answer the second question.
So, I'm going to have to speculate on this because um I know that there are times when the law changes the the and we are told that it has to be implemented by the next school year and there have been times that we've gotten things in the spring
um and it has to be implemented um by September. And in that instance, if a policy and a regulation come out and we don't hold something in the summertime, then how it would impact the district hypothetically is that we wouldn't have a regulation in place by the time we needed to have it in place, you know, by
law by the start of the school year. Um, if we're in a CQAC year or the the year before a QAC year, you actually get gigged for it. If if it's not that year, you may not unless they actually historically go back and check to that point. And it depends on the CUSAC
years. Sometimes they've done that and sometimes they they haven't. So, um otherwise you're non-compliant, you know, and sometimes when you're non-compliant and the state finds out there are consequences, sanctions, consequences,
you know, but Dr. I can't imagine there's a lot of them, but and I can tell you that my intent would be to bring regulations through the board and not keep secrets. But I can envision a time I I've seen it happen in the recent past that policies
and regulations get or laws get changed and then policies and regulations are fasttracked, if you will. And I know being new here, but still looking at February and June um policy alerts is a little bit concerning
to me because there are things that should have been in place that for for the beginning of this year that weren't in place and I don't know if that's going to have an effect with QAC next year or not. Um Dr. Mar and I are looking at QAC as a growth growth experience because you know we can't
backtrack. So, I mean, I guess if we're still looking at things in February, it would have nothing to do with the change that was made here because this was only done in December. Meaning, like, so if we weren't looking at things, it wasn't because of this um policy change. What I
think she was referring to is that it takes us this long to get through policies. Not that anything in the February of 2024 policy alert was something she can put in place. I think that what she's saying is that if she needs two votes to get a
regulation that is required by law in place and we're taking this long to get through the February alert of 2024, right? Because there was, you know, February 2025 and we're already past that. So, it's a year past that and we're just bringing them on the on the
new business tonight. Um, so I I again I I understand the concern, right? Right. I understand a concern that we are not being notified, but I think that there's a easier way to rectify that than saying it must go to board vote, right? Because
that really puts the district's hands tied waiting for the board to make movement. I I'm totally fine with putting language in there that says the board must be made aware of any regulation being added. I think that's
perfectly understandable. Um the hope was always that it should go to policy committee whether it was implemented or not. I think my big issue is this idea that it has to have board approval especially when we have a two vote system which hopefully we will have
after tonight or the next uh meeting and that that's where um I think it it struggles with me. Yeah. Um, so I'm going to defer to you guys because you know a lot more about policy than I do, but um, is there maybe a way, and I
don't know if this is where some of um, Mrs. Jolly's concerns are, is there a way to put something in here which is a stipulation so that it's not just, and this is not to pick on Dr. File, Dr. Dr. Sorry, Dr. Belry
um to um put something where if it's a regulation that's urgent as opposed to just arbitrarily just doing it. Is that kind of what the concern would be? Because maybe that would help that if we put language around it
that it was more related to items that have an urgent need to be addressed as opposed to six months down the road. I mean, would that be fair? I I think the concern I I mean, I think the sense of urgency is probably more a concern
for Dr. Feltry in those scenarios, right? For me, it was a concern of having things put into the policy book that the board has not seen, has not had a chance to review the language, update the language, whatever it is, right? And
so that is my my concern. like a maybe make it like a conditional. We just have we just have one person talking at a time and what I'd ask that each of you raise your hand be recognized before you talk. Thank you,
Mrs. Jolly. Well, I sorry, Tom. Point taken. Um yeah uh I think that that was really um that was really the concern and I guess I have not or I there hasn't been a scenario in
real life that's been presented to me where this would create an issue and maybe when it does or if it does then at least because I really can't wrap my head around a scenario where you know I
even though we've described it right like you you know, if it's something that needs to be implemented in 3 months, right, then it jumps the queue for review anyway, right, alongside the policy. So, uh, Dr. Forager, yeah, I'm going to
have to say uh this change is not advisable and not not necessary at all. The current uh rule of shall require board approval is an excellent one. Uh the example the the only example I got
was COVID. Now COVID was handled as executive orders by the government by the governor was all decreed and the board had no say in that. Superintendent had no say. It was dictated by the governor. Uh I think it's rare that
you'll see a regulation that just pops out of the blue and says, "Oh, you got to do this right away." Regulations actually come from the state board of ed. They have a a hearing process and everything. People can testify. There's a rule making. They don't just
materialize and get dropped on you for adoption the next day. Now, the one example that you might be able to give uh concerned formation of threat assessment teams and I think that happened about September of
uh a year ago. Um and in that case boards had to quickly formulate some policy or regulations on threat assessments. The way summit handled that was usual way
something is getting in the way that the the two meeting rule which they have uh is suspended with respect to a particular regulation or policy and we have that same thing. you just suspend and you do it in one meeting and then
you unsuspend. So the right way is to just follow the Robert's rules or your own policies, suspend, adopt it, and you're done. But I don't think I think it's a good idea actually to have board approval of all our regulations. That
gives the force of the board, not just the superintendent. Thank you, Mrs. Terrarero. Oh, I was going to just say just another suggestion because I'm trying to work with everybody here. Um,
is maybe make whatever regulation would need to be in place by you conditional until the policy. I I I don't know how this stuff is written. So, I'm trying to come up with ideas for for everyone to make everyone happy. U Mrs. Stanley, then Mr. Dylan, I would just say I mean
to Dr. Forger's point, this is not like all the time, right? This is a rare occasion. So again, if the board is made aware that there is a regulation that needs to be put in place in a quick manner, then there would be no reason why it couldn't go to a policy committee
after it's already been put in place and we work it through and make sure it's ready for our district. Um, again, and these are regulations, not even policies. So we would most likely have to make a policy that goes along with the regulation. So anyways, or we already have the policy in place and this regulation is there to change that
policy. So again, I think we're making a lot of whatifs and whatnot. But again, why would we put ourselves in this position that the district is then tied by a policy and we said we should abide by our policies? Guess what? This is our that was our policy until you changed
it, right? Our policy was that the superintendent has the right to put the regulation in and it will be propagated accordingly and then accept where board approval is required by law. Right? So again, I I don't know why we're going the wrong right like I feel like we're going in the wrong direction. Instead of
giving the district what they need and putting in place what we want, which is oversight, instead we're trying to put handcuffs. And I I that for me is a problem because we're talking about students, right? These are things for students and our staff to keep our staff and students safe. They're not they're
not putting into law, you know, fluff. Um, and again, this comes from the state, so it's not even like I don't know. I So I again, I think that we're just handcuffing instead of trying to show oversight. And again, this was our policy, so we're not going back to something that's crazy. We're going back
to the norm. Um, you changed the norm. And I I I think that it's it's putting the district in uh a tough position. Mr. Dylan, I believe we're starting to spin our wheels here. Um, I think everybody who has an opinion on this has given been
given the opportunity to speak. I request that we either take action or move on. Um, right now, Mrs. Is there a motion on the table? One, Mrs. Stanley. Well, you want to make a comment? Yeah. I mean, I kind of reject
the notion that like this policy or the approval of regulations will in somehow cause safety issues for the district. Like I just don't see that. Um I I don't see that happening. Um and o and the
only way to do oversight is and given and one of the main functions of the board is policy formation and I guess this includes regulations as well that support the policy vice versa that is the power of the main power of the
board. So I I mean again I and you know Mr. Stanley even said, "Oh, this will be rare." So, if it's rare, why are we even, you know, revisiting it, right? Like I I just don't see what it's
uh and it gives us the opportunity to again have as a board have the oversight through of the approval process. So, Mrs. Stanley, thank you. is I would like to make a motion to move policy 132
executive authority as uh handed out to board members. This was already looked at by the staff and our board president. Um and I would like to move forward with it. I'm going to read it in in total and then I would like a second. The board of
education shall exercise its executive power in part by the appointment of a superintendent as chief school administrator who shall enforce the statutes of the state of New Jersey, rules of the state board of education and policies of this board. The
superintendent shall prepare regulations for the administration of the school district that are consistent with the statutes and rules of the state of the board of education and are dictated by the policies of this board. Administrative regulations shall be binding upon the employees and the
students of this school district when issued by the superintendent and shall be provided to the board for the information of board members except where board approval is required by law. The board reserves the right to revise an administrative regulation proposed by the superintendent provided the revision
is consistent with policy, statute, administrative code or any other applicable law or collective bargaining agreement. Any administrative leg regulation that requires board approval shall be board approved prior to propagation. The superintendent shall be delegated the authority to take
necessary action in circumstances not governed by board policy and shall report any such action to the board at the first regular board meeting following the action. The superintendent shall have a seat on the board and shall have the right to speak on all matters at meetings of the board but shall have
no vote. So I made the motion. Can I get a second? I'm sorry. I'm not clear what the motion is and and as previously done I just heard the policy and as previously done this is a motion for first read at the next meeting. Yes.
Because that is the unfortunately we we abolished policy 01. No, no. When when I brought tried to bring back my version of policy 131, if we go back to the earlier meetings, it was relegated as a first still had policy 131 in place. And
then at the December meeting, you this morning, this this morning, this year earlier earlier this year when I tried to bring back my version of policy 131, it I think and Mr. Distler, please chime in. um it was relegated to be a
resolution at the next board meeting as a first read. That is what happened. I made a motion and that is the advice that I we were given. This is the same statement I made yet in the last meeting when we tried to vote on the policies
that did go through committee. There's a motion on the floor. I don't motion. Okay, I'll read it again if you need to. There's a motion to approve 0132 executive authority as read
prior. Do I have a second? Second, Mr. Secretary spoke. So we're no we're just we're a discussion now. So given that this was a surprise, right? What happened to no surprises? So, I would hope that the rest of the board members
again recall what happened at the last meeting when I tried to bring back my version of policy 131 and it wasn't and the the advice was to have it as a first read. So this goes against the um
surprises you know it wasn't even a dis it wasn't the policy wasn't even noted as a discussion point like the number wasn't even put in like so when we have policy discussion we can discuss anything no one was prepared for this right apparently Pam was Gail you must
have been as well for the rest of us this was a surprise so does not work with the 24hour rule does not work with our you know no surprises thing. So, I don't know. So, I'm hoping since the, you know, I'm hoping Deb and Bill kind
of recognize that this is not what was done when I had put forth my resolution for policy 131 and that we, you know, play fair. I think Dr. Forer, I think uh Mrs. Jolly is exactly right. First of
all, I should have objected to any of this discussion. The idea that you would come to a board meeting, give us a policy that we have not seen before, and think that you can force that through on a first reading is ridiculous. Okay. The
whole idea of the 48 hour notice was that people had a chance to look materials over and get prepared. This is the first I've seen of this and you want to put through a policy on the same night. This is absurd. This is not the way you make policy, Mrs. Not the way
you do it. This is wrong, wrong, wrong. Um, I absolutely agree. This is how we should not be doing things, which is why I was really against what happened last year. But, um, the no surprises thing is for the superintendent. The superintendent was aware of this. Also, you have seen this. This was our
previous policy. So, this idea that you've never seen this policy is is not is not valid for this. So when I had presented my policy 131, it went through three meetings where there were attachments right and then in when I made the resolution as I said it was
relegated to a first read at a subsequent board meeting that is exactly what we did with the policies that came in um last week and there was no resolution and they said look they have to you know that's is what happened when I put my policy forward. So again, not
being consistent, right? Moving policies the same way you did in December. It's the same exact way. So no, not really. Anyway, so I again your policies in December have the first time, one person at a time. I hope that
Deb and Bill recognize that this is I'm more than happy to move it to the next meeting for a vote as a first read. We're going to have policy um you know 131 as a first read today. It will come back as a second read next meeting. So
um hoping that we just follow what we've done before and bring it back for a first read as we did with policy 131. Mr. Secretary vote Mrs. Stanley. Yes. Miss Bradford. Yes.
Mr. Dylan, I'm just going to make a statement, right? Um, in terms of no surprises, I'm not sure where we're at from a regulatory perspective here. Uh, should we be voting? Should we not be voting? I can say honestly this version
of the policy I prefer more um than the one that's currently in place. So, I will vote yes. Dr. Forer, no. Mrs. Jolly, no.
Mr. Terra, I want to make a statement. Um, I think it's important that if something like this is in place that the policy committee reviews anything new that would be put in place
with executive authority. um because I think it's really important that the policy committee does have an opportunity to read through it after something like that is put in place. So I will I will agree to it um with that understanding.
Motion passes. Mrs. Dley, the next the next policy that I handed out was 6421 purchases budgeted. Again, the green is what Strauss Esme had um
given to the board. Again, you have seen this because it did come in front of the board. It did go out to the public. It was voted down. Unfortunately, uh in December, the crossed out area was added uh by a board
member. So, anything in green was suggested by Strauss Esme and anything crossed out was suggested by a board member. So I'd like to go back to the SHUS Esme original version. The biggest difference here is the 15% or more of the bid threat threshold established in
accordance with statute. according to the policy that is in place at the moment that is there we're only allowing 3300 which is 3,300 but I believe that because of our
um board um business administrator because of his certification we could actually be doing 600 6,600 right so we are now requiring that anything under 6,600 goes to board or goes out for a bid and goes to the
board. Now, we've been getting around that by going through um our co-ops, but it has caused some delays and it has caused some issues. Um but again, we're getting around it, but I don't see why that is necessary. We also um our BA is
retiring and we will have a new administrator come in. Again, one of the first things we have to do is tell them we have this policy that is different than the state statute. The statute by the state already regulates how much a district can spend without going out to
bid based on the certification of your administrator. Right? So the state already does have regulations on this. Um and the board chose to go even lower. And I believe that it is again really important that the the district has the availability to do what is necessary for
our students especially because the state already allows that and has a a different range based on um um certification. So I would ask that we move forward with this. Um I do want people to have a discussion on it. Um
but again I ask that we move forward because I think it's in the best interest of the district. If I may. Yes, Mrs. Jolly. Um, AJ. Um, question for you. Has this threshold created any issues for you?
It hasn't, but there's a few things just coming at the end of the year where where it is where we've had certain vendors that people have been using for graduation. Um, where it has I just know I'm going to just say it's it's coming down for graduation. And so, and in
practice, what this really does is require one additional bid, one additional quote. Let's use not it's not a bid, it's a quote. One additional quote for anything that's um between 6600 and 3,300. One additional true. No,
because well, you need a quote in the first place, right? In order to actually buy something. So, you'll just be looking for that second quote. That's it. Well, normally if I if you have anything between 6,600 and 40 under 44,000, you have to get two others
besides your original one, right? And and and what this prop and that doesn't change. What this does is just require one additional quote for anything between 6600 and 3,300. That's all it does. So previously you could just
needed to get something if anything was below 6600 you got that quote and you went with it whatever it was. What this requires is one additional quote. I mean that literally one additional quote and that's it and you picked the the lowest one or and if you don't pick the lowest
one you just need to document as to why. But why would we do that to our principles right? like why would we add more steps to our principles who are just trying to get ready for graduation right and AJ right he's the board administrator he's going to do whatever we put into policy but it affects the
students and the staff right it's not going to affect AJ it's going to affect the students and the staff so I I just think that it's unnecessary and the state already does it for us and I don't believe it's helping the district in any way
this is Terrarero um do Do you ever run into a situation where you can't get a second quote that would fall within this threshold? Well, it all depends. I mean, sometimes when you have to deal with plumbers and
and other vendors and when you constantly have to get a quote from them and they don't get the lowest quote, they're not going to come out and give it to you. Um, that's why I used the co-ops when it comes to using these uh particular things. But now you have a
bill out there and you have um what is it? You have the unions that are clamoring out there at this point in the ears of the lobbyists and the assembly that put a bill forth out there that they don't
want um these co-ops using the trades. So now if that becomes or comes to fruition then it might be an issue and that just came out recently. It was polished last week and I know that several of my colleagues uh we wrote
letters to oppose that bill in the assembly. Um where it goes I don't know. So like roofing plumbing um and I don't understand why those trades are complaining about it when we're paying prevailing wage anything over $2,000
doesn't make sense but I don't I don't I don't get it you know. And then the other question I have is Pam, you mentioned that there's a state regulation number. What is that? So if you look right in the green, it says, "Is 15% or more of the bid threshold established in
accordance with NJSA 18A18-3 and NJSA18A18A-37. So the state already has right the limits based on the certification, right? So, uh, correct me if I'm wrong. You have an executive or
no, what's what's the title that you allows you to go to four, uh, 6,000 QPA? You have a QPA, right? He's a qualified purchasing agent. That's it. And he's a qualified purchasing agent. So, the state already says if you're not a qualified purchasing agent, I think it's 4,600. But because you are a qualified
purchasing agent, it's 6,600, right? So the state already has kind of a a limit on what the the the administration can do based on your qualifications, right? So again, we're putting our own qualifications on top of that and I'm just not sure why and to who's benefit
like who's benefiting from this, but I would like to hear Dr. Feltry's um opinion on this because that's really it's really the district, right? It's not me that's going to like this doesn't matter to me. It matters to the district. We had a hand up from Mr. Dylan and then uh we had hand from Mrs.
Jolly and Dr. Horer. So Mr. Dylan, you were first. Have the same question. I was going to ask Dr. Felry. Oh, Dr. Fel. Okay. So, Dr. Feltry. Well, I know that AJ has spoken to me about the plumbers and the and the
co-ops, and we've talked multiple times about what the impact is going to be with regards to if the co-ops, you know, fail. I also know um from prior experience in my district speaking to getting quotes not only with the
plumbers there are times when if you go out to the same companies to get quotes and you don't actually purchase from them then they stop providing you quotes so then it does get more difficult. Um I know from experience with the 6600 that was difficult. It just adds to the
workload the lower the um and and I'll have to say it just hampers it delays the process. Um AJ's had to be creative in terms of which companies he can use. Um principles are frustrated because they have said I've used so and so this
has been the best price. We have this great relationship. Who else am I supposed to go you know use? And it and it does take time. So it impacts does it keep us from purchasing things? AJ has said no. So, you know, we're we're we're not directly feeling it that way. Is it
delaying things? I would have to, you know, defer to him on that. I don't I don't know the timeline. Um I also know that this happened before me, so I'm not taking any of this personally. Um, but I also know that as I look to, you know,
hire another BA, um, the eyebrows are going to be raised, you know, because it's not typical. It's not it's not that not not to say that you can't do it, but it does. And I think well it it I think
some of it comes down to and I've said this before um things that happened before me you know and unintended consequences are what going to happen moving forward and I and and um you know some of you have have said some of this
has to do with board power and I'm sensing that there was a power struggle in the past. You know, I don't know that I've demonstrated that up until now, but I also know there was a breach of trust in the past and some of this I think is
a result of that. And yes, it has unintended consequences to the district that we're going to feel. You know, Mrs. Jolly, then Dr. Forer, Dr. Feltry, did you know these two policies were coming up for discussion today? Um, Mrs.
Stanley handed them to me before the meeting. Although I was given a heads up that this discussion might take place. I didn't specifically know which two policies, but you said she just gave you she she handed them to me when we when we arrived here at the meeting and I had a
meeting with her in February where I handed her both policies and I sorry I and I also um has asked for policy discussion to be added to the agenda um until we had time to actually have time to discuss it.
Dr. Forer. Well, I cannot figure out what you're doing here. Uh, you've got in your third paragraph some material that's struck and it starts with 33 $3,300 or more
calculated in accordance with this whole bunch of stuff crossed out. So, I can't figure out what you're doing here. Um, it doesn't make any sense to start a sentence with $3,300 or more. So, I don't know that that that's
that was in their current policy. If it is, then the current policy is really screwed up. Um, and I don't think that giving me something like this at 10:15 or 10:00 at night, uh, which I
haven't had a chance to think about is fair. Uh, I can't figure out what you're trying to do here. Um, I haven't heard any reason why this has to be rushed through. Um, I haven't even heard any real problems that it's solving.
Um, it's uh I don't know if you're trying to take advantage of something or what you're trying to do here, but I don't think we should be rushing this. Give me a copy, you know, that makes it very clear what it is you're trying to strike. Maybe put
it in brackets, but certainly don't cross out things like this because it makes it hard to read. If you want to add words, you know, come up with some way of indicating you're adding something. But here, it seems you're just striking things out. So, I'd like
to just say it's late. Let's defer this. You know, give me a decent copy for the next meeting where I can study it. Uh, it's just not the way to do this. Mrs. Stanley then, uh, Mrs. Terrarero. So, just so you know, you can look at
the the original copy that you voted down uh last year and it it would be the same the same way. The green is the greenh you don't have your hand raised and it's I have raised my hand. Okay. Um if you want if you want me to follow Robert, you got to follow them too. Um
so you can see the green is actually the added stuff. So the 3,300 it it goes is 3,300 and I cross that out and I put 15% which is what stress usme recommended. Um so again this policy was already uh
viewed by the public. It was already put to the to the board. It was voted down. Um it was changed in December and voted through in one meeting by um abolishing policy 131. So again, I would like to
make a motion to adopt policy 6421 purchases budgeted as handed out to the um to the board that was also put through last year um and the prior
changes that were done in December. So um if you want I can read the whole thing. Uh if not I will provide um AJ a copy. Can I get a second? Yes. Um uh we have I
will second that because we are now looking to hire a a new business administrator. But Mrs. Terrero, you are first in discussion. So um I'll be honest with you, my biggest concern is how this affects the
districts. Without the fact that you were working, AJ, with the co-ops, did this hinder us when it came to fixing the roofing and everything at GL and the fire panel
situation at CMS? Did we run into because it took a long time to fix some of these things? And I'm not picking on you. The fire panel. No, I'm going to say because thankfully we had Hey was in the co-op. Thankfully, that was number one. Number two, I just used basically
everybody for the GL stuff. Just sort out everybody in the co-op. So, this did not because I know we had delays. So, I'm I'm asking did any of this play a role in those delays? And it's sounding like the answer is no. Would that suck? No. everything matter of of things that
were uh uh what's the word I'm looking for? Just things that weren't available. And can you sorry to make you repeat this, but can you just explain to me again what this potential bill could do
and and when are we looking at this potentially having a real impact on the district? Well, as as Dr. Belry said, you know, when you start to utilize a contractor and you ask for quotes because you have to get three. When you get quotes, you
have to go out and ask certain vendors because there's going to be available vendors that are around here. When you keep asking the vendor that's highest, they're not going to come out and give you those prices. It's going to be explained soon. So has again like ha okay so maybe it wasn't GL or the CMS
issue but has this been something that has currently impacted the school district since this has been put in place have we run into roadblocks or is I going to say on a handful of
occasions yes a handful Mrs. Dolly. So, it's actually two quotes. One additional quote for the price range. Three. No. Three. The statute says three. Yeah. The price that you have and you need two others.
There's three total for the We're talking again for the narrow margin of 33 to 6600. Before you only needed to you could you you got one price and you went for it. This one says one additional quote. It's one additional
quote per the policy. So, so you need two So, you need to have two two numbers, two prices to compare for that range. Okay. It says in the policy. Yeah. So, the um and just the dev's question like that question was asked
and answered um several times even though there was intonation from another board member that it impacted a heating fire did not. Mr. Dylan. Yeah, just a comment.
Um, I I'm willing to revisit this in the future. Uh, I think in my opinion, given the uncertainty of what's going on in the business office with two members retiring, uh, I don't see an issue with the extra rigor that this puts in play.
Um, we I don't know the level of um experience that the interim will have. I don't know who the uh who will replace AJ once he retires. Um so I I'm I'm open to the idea. I just think it's
the wrong timing. This is Jolly. And the one other thing that I would add is so you know with all of me questioning the legal bills and not approving for certain things that I don't think you know attorneys or should
be doing or for even the introduction of this policy. It all goes to the fact that this district has the highest cost per student of all of our surrounding districts and and I do think we need additional rigor in term I know and you
know so when we talk about oh this amount is so small this amount is so small like we did with the raptor contractor with this right it all starts to add up and so that was and we're not the only district that has um a hard dollar amount in this policy right so
while you know, the stress estimate version, you know, refers to the percentage. Um, there are other districts that have a hard dollar amount as well. Mrs. Stanley,
so again, I would just go back to the fact that we're we're adding frustration to our principles. We're adding time away from things that they need to get done for for what, right? Like I'm not I'm not sure what the benefit is.
Like I've never been able to understand what the benefit is other than board control, right? The board and you guys already don't vote for bills that you don't like, right? So like this idea that you have to have this policy that really restricts, right, our district. I
don't like it's I don't understand the handcuffs, right? And that's that's that's always been my issue is is we're putting handcuffs. Um I heard the superintendent say that we're hiring a new ba ba and this is going to raise eyebrows. I heard her say that the the
principles are frustrated. I I heard that it's hard to get two quotes sometimes. I heard right that we have to use co-ops. Well, is co-ops the best price? Who knows? But we got to use co-ops because we got this limit. So again, I I I'm I'm hesitant to
understand how this is actually helping the district. I understand how this is helping board members feel like they have control. I do not understand how it's helping the district. And that is why I have made the motion tonight and I hope that we can move forward. Two more discussion items, Mrs. Terrar, then Mrs.
Jolly. Yeah, sure. I don't Oh, I'm sorry. I I didn't see. So mitigating So this is this is to mitigate costs, right? There is no way that um you know when we go and review bills right we review and we look for certain things
sometimes we catch them sometimes we we're not this is not to have board control right we we're not buying things we're not you know this is to again have rigor around costs okay and so that's really again
what what it's for now if the principles and to be honest this is the first I've heard of principles uh you you know, having frustration. Never mentioned it to us once. So, until tonight, this is Terrarero. Just curious,
um, when you're going to be looking at BA, potential BAS, um, will their Q BA, is that what will that matter? Will that play a role in who you
would pick or is that Yes. Okay. I think this is more that'd be preferable. Okay, I think we're ready for Yeah, just one last comment. Mr. Dylan, it's not a bad thing if the BAS were hiring know we're fiscally responsible here and they
know what's expected of it, right? So, um if this raises questions, it's a good thing to kind of vet out in the interview process. Okay. Um Mr. Secretary, board vote. Miss Stanley, yes.
Miss Bradford, yes. Mr. Dylan, no. Dr. Forer, no. Mr. Jolly, no. M. Terrero, no. Motion fails. Mrs. Stanley, moving on.
Any other new business? Yes, we have new, revised, and abolished policies. As you can see, we have policy 0131. We have policy 1530. We have regulation 1530. We have policy
1550. We have policy 5533. We have regulation 5533. We have policy 5570. We have policy 5701. We have policy 5710. And we have policy 5755.
And last policy 8500. These um I can make a motion. Um do you want them to be a first read or a or to adopt is their preference? I think we
should make this a first read and with um right because I think uh even though the everything was shared there's a lot of policies it gives um board members a little more time to um you know to
review um and then yeah any other discussion on first read or yeah so oh I'm sorry I'm Okay. Yes. Dr. Forer, you have the one 13 uh what is
it? 131. Yeah, that's coming up. Yeah, that's what we're talking about, right? Not yet. Well, yeah. I I haven't made a motion yet, though. Oh, okay. Got it. So, all right. So, we'll wait till there's a motion, I guess, or or can we
ask questions about it? Let's make a motion and second, then discuss. I just hold on. I'm looking for the abolished one. Do we want the abolished one to take two readings or one? When I make my motion, it's policy
5755. Is it being abolished? The uh the old policy was you could abolish a pol any policy at the current meeting. Yes. With no notice. But our current policy that we're hoping to get in place at next meeting does say that you will
need two. Yeah, that's that's the part I have a problem with. Okay. As you know, right? So I I I think uh it's safer to be able to abolish a you don't really need two readings on abolishing a policy. You just look at
say I don't want this or I do want it, you know. So you just get rid of it. Uh so you don't need a second reading on abolishment. So the polic a lot of things you know in life GK Chesterton he says before you go changing things you
should know why they're that way right you should understand why things were before you go changing it and there there was a good reason for allowing abolishing things in one meeting and I don't think we should go
back I don't think she'd impose a two reading thing on abolishing a policy. Uh the other thing is I noticed you have the board shall at its organization meeting or annually at a meeting of the
board and by a majority vote of those president voting readopt looks like it's misspelled existing bylaws, policies and regulations without prior notice. And yeah, point of order. Um, yeah.
Yeah, let's have a motion first. Um, so I understand you want to have two motions. One for the abolish policy and then one for the others. Well, I don't I mean, she raised the question. Do you want I thought we were going to be able to talk about these options after the uh
motion. Yeah. All right. So, she wants to introduce a policy here, I guess. So, Mrs. Stanley, the the re um the the the committee did um talk about policy 0131
and abolishing at one meeting. Um in the past it hasn't been an issue because um you're mostly abolishing a policy that is being um eliminated for you know by because the regulations now are are past that it's outdated or it's found in
other policies. So, it's usually not a big deal, but as we saw, um the board used it in a way that allowed them to um do what they wanted at a meeting. And that I think is where that's not them that's not the way to do it. You have an
option to suspend a policy um when there is an emergency situation. But unfortunately, because there was no emergency situation, it had to be abolished. And that's really not the proper way to go ahead and and move things. Um so the committee did make this recommendation that we'll have two
and that was one of the compromises right the compromise was to add language for um some board members and there was the the option to keep other language for other board members. So there was this was part of the compromise. Um, so I'm going to make a motion to move
policies under a new revised and abolished policies attachment Z um to be moved as a first reading and have their second reading at the June
25th. No, June 5th. June 5th. June 5th meeting. Is that a regular meeting? Do I have a sec? Um, a second. I'll second that. Any other discussion? This keeps the abolish policy and we'll go to a second read and then we'll move forward from
there. Okay. I'd like to amend it to say that we would we would go with option two which is without in it would say without the proposed abolishing of the proposed bylaw, policy or regulation being approved by the board at a
previous meeting of the board. So that's my amendment to go back select option two. So you're amending Yeah. the motion that has already been uh what? So he needs a
second. You need a second. I don't understand what the I don't understand what the motion is. He would like to remove I'll explain it. There were they made a selection. See where it says at the bottom of uh page one of the policy
options. Select one option below attachments but I'm looking at attachment Z and uh bylaw guide and it's print out of policy
131 and it says option select one option below and there's an X where it says you can abolish a policy but if it's been approved at a previous meeting of the board and I'd like to change that
to without the proposed abolishing of the proposed bylaw, policy, or regulation being approved by the board at a previous meeting. This is the way it used to be. And so, I'd like to go back to that. Does he have a second? Second.
I see no second. So, going ahead now uh with the motion that was put before us. um discussion and we had discussion and we now need a vote. Well, [Music]
um and so just what is what is the reason? What happens if the board does not adopt its policies at the organization meeting? Will the policy will be in effect? [Music]
So, we had I mean it's a good question. We had Natasha Yeah, we had something uh happen like I don't know if it's a ceremonial thing, right? Like um because I think when I first came on to the board, there were you know there
were certain policies that some board members did not want to adopt, right? Okay. And it's typical that you adopt all policies at your or meeting or whatever. Um, so I don't I'm not I don't recall it's not really clear to me. Um,
so I think what I think what happened was that there was some polic so some of the policies came back as like a first read or or like so some board members wanted to amend certain policies instead of readopting all and then um they ca
they came back there was quite a bit of confusion but they came back at the next meeting I think uh the amended versions as a first read and then the board got to vote on it. So I think it would follow the same sort of path, right? That if there were, you know, you can
vote to adopt all of them. If there are some that board members don't like, maybe they put forward, you know, a motion to amend them and if you know and then kind of carry through the process, but I'll leave. So Tom, I think that's
what happened. So I think that's what would happen again. But to Tom's point, there's only and I didn't pick up on it, but there is a little bit of um maybe confusion because it says organization meeting or any annual meeting. So is the intent that like if it's not done at the
organization meeting, it has to be done at any of the other meetings at least once in the year. I almost think that if we if we strike out that or annual meeting if we just do it at the or reorg meeting as and cross out that second
part then it's just that one meeting where this is done. I I think that's a good idea. So well that's that's not the motion on the floor and that's not been seconded. But we could Stanley you're head of the policy that could go back to policy correct. Yeah, I mean it could go
back, but I right like I again this is just right that when you have new board members come on this is kind of like a a nice thing to be like you're now a new board so we're going to approve it. So again it's it's mostly ceremonial. Um
again the amendments I think that's where I differ because I think when we went through 131 we established a procedure right and that would not follow that procedure right like you would make the recommendation to the board president to the board to the
superintendent it would go to a committee and then the committee right so I think if we really I think we worked really hard to get a procedure in 131 um so I wouldn't want board members to use that opportunity to just kind of do fluff. But I think right that the
point is that when you're a new board, you kind of just do this ceremonial thing like we're approving everything again so you have a voice. So but to to Mr. uh to Tom's point though, Mr. Distler, if the board for whatever
reason as a majority does not vote to adopt at an or reorg, what actually does happen? You mean at the reorg? the reorg meeting, right? Under your policy or under law. I'm trying to read trying to see if the brackets are removed or So, I
don't think I don't believe there is, and don't quote me on this because this question's not come up before. I don't believe there is a law that requires a board of education to annually adopt its policies. I've always seen it be done because I think when a new board comes in, they're coming in with their own
policies. Um, but if a board of education, I don't believe there is a law. So if without a policy in place, if a board of education simply does not chooses not to annually adopt its policies, I think your old policies remain in effect. I think if you can
have a policy though that says these policies will expire at the end of this board's term and require a board of education to readt each of its policies which may be what and I'm trying to maybe what this provision the board shall at its organization meeting or any
other meeting and by a majority vote of those present voting uh reopt existing bylaws policies and regulations without prior notice. Yeah. I mean, yes, Mrs. Stanley. So, I just have a question, right? So, I think Natasha was saying if the board voted it down,
right? If we have a reorg meeting and the board votes all the policies down or doesn't approve them, how would we move forward from something like that? Because you have mand Well, because you have mandatory policies, right? You have
state regulations. So, like hopefully that never happens. Um but if it does because we have some wild things that go on. Um what would you do? You would have to then go to the next meeting and reintroduce every single policy by so look there's by law right there's things
that will control over your policies. Typically though speaking your policies govern how the board would like to govern both the district and its own behavior. Yeah. Um so I think it would have to be you know one by one. Right. So if you don't have a HIP policy, for example, that doesn't mean that your
schools no longer have to file the anti-bullying bill of rights. They would still likely be required to do so. What would change though is how that law is implemented in that the board has certain discretion on how certain laws are implemented and you want each
district, each of your schools to follow those procedures in place. If you don't have board policies, each individual administrator would have discretion on how to govern that. And so if for example the board says we want no policies in place um which again I don't
anticipate this board doing. I think I probably the question is more aligned if what happens if we just don't approve one policy and I assume the point is being that can we get around the rule of two abolishments if we simply just don't abolish it at the reorg meeting. Um,
that's an interesting question, one that I'd have to probably put more thought into if again sometimes can you get around a policy by how it's written. Um, but I think again I think it's possible a board can simply choose to
vote down all of its policies. Um, whether it's one meeting or two again will dictate how this board um what this board chooses to do with this policy. But as you said, it's probably not even in the board's best interest to to do that because to vote down all of its
policies, right? Because some of these policies control what the district does. I I I think I can safely say that yes, I would not recommend that the board vote on all of its policies. Well, and like that, right? We have policies that say this is how the district must handle it. And if we don't have those policies, the
superintendent and the district can make their own choices in that in that way. Yeah. I think it would go down to discretion, right? So if the board doesn't have policies in place then administrators will be making the decisions decisions right and you also I should just say that policies help
administrators right because a lot of times administrators um that's the first place they go it's not just for how the board wants to handle but also you you pay a company stra estimate to dictate what the law says and so a lot of times administrators will utilize that for guidance. Mrs. Dolly, you had your hand
up and then um I don't So Pam, would you like for the board be amendable to because I I do think the or annually at the meeting of the board creates um kind of fluidity as to
okay if it's not the reorg meeting, is it the February, is it the March meeting, right? Like it doesn't. So I would um propose an amendment um to this version just to strike out more annually at the meeting of the board. So I wouldn't be in favor of that only
because Wait, can we have recognition here? Floor. Yes, just just wait. She made her motion. She asked me a question. She asked a question if you could answer and then Dr. For it's not actually allowed but go ahead. So, um, again, I I would not be in favor
of that, but it's mostly because I think it's just giving us the ability to have flexibility, right? We still have to do it annually. That board member still gets an opportunity to voice their opinion. I think it's just not saying it must be done at the reorg, right? Like
for instance, Gail was not sworn in at the first meeting at the reorg meeting because of um a delay, right? And so that wouldn't have been fair if we did all the policies without her when in fact she hadn't been there, right? So I
think just giving discretion like I think that's why it's there. It's not it's not to say we can't we don't do it. It's just saying again that you know so that's my opinion. I I just I feel like it it gives flexibility. Dr. Forer. Oh wow. You bring up so many things. So
let me just go back to uh I think what you want to do is strike the words or annually at a meeting of the board and otherwise you don't have um shall shall at a at a threeorg meeting by a majority vote. So I think
you want to go up to the word and the other part is I think readopt is misspelled in the next line. Um now you did bring up Gail was delayed in taking her seat. Is that correct? Yeah, my fingerprints were
approved. All right. So I don't exactly know what happened, but uh there is a provision as long as you've started the process uh and You file a little affidavit or something that says you file, they've
started the process. You could have been sworn in. I looked at that. That was not an option. You looked at it. The board attorney said that was not an option. It was not an option. Who was that? Mr. Clearary. Yeah, we're off topic here. Well, just a minute. No, I think he was incorrect. You could be sworn in as long as you've
started the process. Two years ago. Yeah, I know. But I just want to correct that. The other thing is it's actually there's a court case actually and I'll send it to you after the meeting. You don't actually have to have any policies at all. Okay. Uh thank you Mrs. Terrera.
I'm sorry I looked over quickly. So So for some crazy reason doesn't get adopted at the reorganizational meeting and you don't have this language in here.
Does that does that hamstring my my view is that your policies would not then again I'm not aware of a situation where board has simply passed no policies but my unless there is an expiration date on your policies I
believe they would carry forward now you can I you can certainly have them expire there's nothing that would prevent the board from doing so by way of policy but my view is that if your policies uh if you don't have a provision that says they're required to be annually
approved and therefore and suppose the board just forgets to put it on the reorg meeting that it wouldn't all of your policy would not just automatically expire. M but I guess okay but if you remove the
part that says for annually at a meeting of the board you remove that piece does this basically say it has to be done at the reorg meeting or I mean yes this this would require the board place it on its agenda at its
agenda at the reorg meeting if annually at a meeting the board is removed. So if you remove the word annually it has to be done at the reorg meeting or it can't happen right I'm just I mean I would never say it can't happen because a board has every right to pass any board member's
any right to make a motion to adopt policies. What the way I read this if annually at a meeting of the board is removed would say that the board is required to place it on Jenner at its reorg meeting again I if for some reason a mistake happens and you don't I I
don't think by policy if a board member makes a motion to say I would like to adopt these policies that um in good conscious like I said that would not be permitted. Mrs. Dolly, um I I'm not held belt on this, but like maybe the
compromise would be to say at the reorg meeting or in the first quarter of the calendar year. So it's not waiting until you know May, June, whatever, right? Because if it doesn't get on the agenda, right, that you know that
there's at that point there's no point, right? So the idea is that for the new board to come in. So if for whatever reason it doesn't happen in the reorg meeting, if it happens within the first calendar, you know, first quarter, February, March meeting, we're still
good to go. So we have on the table a motion to adopt this as a first reading and this has been a very good discussion on this. So this would actually go back to the policy committee for changing of the wording for the second reading. Well, we don't need we can make an
amendment here. We can make a motion to amend so that the first reading is inclusive of any change language and then we could you know so we don't have to bring it back to policy committee but the purpose of the policy committee is to go through these changes. So we
would be yeah but this is a small change right? So like like again in for expediency I'll make a motion I'm making a motion to amend the wording in bylaw 131 the wording or annually at a meeting
of the board to state uh with with um at the organization meeting or within the first quarter of the calendar year. Okay. Uh, chairman of the policy committee,
do you have a comment on that? No. Okay. Need a second. You need a second. So, just say in you you're saying do it at the org meeting. Do it or do it within the first quarter. Is that the language? That's the amendment to the motion that you're leaving the
this word re redopt. Is that being left in? Yes. Redop. Is that a leg? Is that an English word? I don't know that word. Maybe put a hyphen between the re and the a. Yeah, it probably just that's what happened. The hyphen looked like a
cross. Oh, readopt. Uh, it's readopt. Readopt. Ah, okay. Okay. Okay. Do we have a second on the amendment? Second her amendment. Okay. question on that just Sasha why just um
just give me the the yeah so the point is that for the new board to kind of say okay I agree to abide by the you know by these policies right so the new board comes on in the beginning of the calendar year so if you're waiting until June July August September or annually
doesn't dictate you know when in the year and then it becomes kind of pointless because then we're still operating the new board is still operating and then you know they could wait until December, right? Like there's no there's no time limit on the or
annually piece. So I'm just trying to you know I think the intent is for the new board to read in the beginning of you know at the reorg meeting but if for whatever reason if it doesn't and typically it is on the agenda at the reorg meeting but if it doesn't make it
then just you know this gives us a little bit of leeway but doesn't extend it for the entire year. Would you be amendable to putting Would you be amendable to having the to changing it to annually at a
regular meeting of the board? No, because I don't want annually in there because it doesn't dictate when in the year. No, that I'm adding the word regular meeting. We don't normally change policies at special meetings and that that can uh lead to abuse and funny
things happening if do things at special meetings. This is we can reexlain. Yeah, probably a little bit out of order, but my my motion is to remove or annually at the meeting of a board and replace with
or in a regular meeting within the first quarter of the calendar year. Okay, so we have the motion. We've had the discussion. We have a vote. Oh, we had a second. This is Ter. This is for a first reading on policies.
A um this is this is just an amendment to this an amendment to policy 131. Then we'll go back to the first reading. Got it. Yeah. I'm I'm going to have a change later on. Something else I want to change. But so as long as we're we're
just introducing it, we're amending this little bit right here. We're amending the little bit in policy 0131. Okay. Vote. Vote. Sorry. Is your secretary? Miss Jolly. Yes. Mr. Tero. Yes. Mr. Dylan. Yeah. Yes.
Dr. Forager. Yes. Miss Stanley. No. Because I think we we worked really well together in policy committee and I I don't understand. Bradford. Yes. Motion passes. Okay. Now
we'll go back to the motion for first reading. Okay. I'd like to offer an amendment. Uh I don't know what page this is. It's a bullet item number
six. I guess it's on the last page. What policy are you talking about? Still 131. Okay. We're just working on 131, right? Uh motion is for all under new
business. Correct. Well, I Okay. They have an amendment to 131. We've already we only we only off we only changed the language of 131. We haven't voted on 131 itself yet. Right. Because it's a Drew. It's a first reading. Right. So I'm
offering an amendment to this language in 131 just like she did to the policy committee now that we're having a second amendment to well and also these minutes were given on May 8th. Um that there could have been an email committee. Please look at I have the floor. I want
to offer my amendment. Okay. Um, so I see you made a change here in number six and you got word you struck out the word succeeding regular meeting. You took out the word
regular and um I'd like to reinstate regular. I don't think we should be changing policies at special meetings. And in fact, that's never been the practice to change any policy at a special meeting. So, I'd like to My amendment is to
reestablish the word regular in point number six. Do we have a second? There's no second. I'll second it. Thank you. Then we need a vote. A vote.
are we putting in there, right? So, I think the intent here was to I guess if there we we it it depends on the special meeting, right? There might be some special meetings that do not call for any action, right? So they
wouldn't you know they wouldn't be uh it wouldn't come on to the agenda right so it's not required that it's at the next it's I think I guess my view of it succeeding meeting is where it can be added to the agenda like so for example we had the special meeting with um NJSBA
to talk about the CSA evaluation this would not come onto the agenda so no action could be taken because there was no action to be taken but where action can be taken um you adequate notices provided. I don't see that as being any
different. Um, if we need if we wanted to pass, you know, the the policy it being any different. Public gets the notice, you know, they get adequate notice, the attachments are there. So, I don't really see that being any different. And it might lighten our
agenda for the f the regular board meeting as well. um your intent it really is to try to do policy changes at special meetings if if there is if there's a special meeting where action can be taken and again it's also you if it gets onto the
agenda right so if the agenda is being formulated and there's consensus that maybe we don't want to but if it's a first reading uh sorry no so uh or will be submitted for adoption
Okay. So, it it I I guess like I don't view it any different than um doing it at a regular board meeting. Yeah. But then you're also allowing revisions in the draft may be made at
any meeting prior to adoption by a simple majority of the board. So, what you're saying there is you're going to allow changes even at a special meeting. This allows a faction to take advantage of some member's
absence and push through a policy change. I don't think this Mrs. Stanley had her hand up, but Mrs. St. So, if you finish reading the sentence, there's an if in there. Um, but again, I would just recommend that this goes back to committee because we're we the motion
was for a first read. We can put this when it goes on the second read for the June 10th committee meeting. We can discuss this. But again, I think right like we worked really hard to come up with a procedure so we don't
have people bringing things or deleting things or abolishing things or whatever whenever they want. Right? So again the idea of this procedure is not to go to a special meeting and try to undermine each other. Right? The idea is that we are not going to do this in the future.
We are going to work together. We are going to have a procedure in place. I think that was the point of this whole policy and I'm really proud of the policy committee for working together. Um, we went language by language, paragraph by paragraph. Um, so again, I
think that you're misrepresenting it. Um, and I think you got to read if you read the whole paragraph. Um, that's not what that says. And we also know that at special meetings most of the time you cannot take action, right? That's that that's the point. But people should be coming to special meetings even if no
action is being taken. Um, so I think it's I think it's um I think that this can go back to committee and I think that we're just at this point wasting um everyone's time. Mrs. Jolly. Yeah. I mean just the point that um take I mean we're at a regular meeting and we have
board members who are not here for various reasons, right? So there could be board members missing from special meetings from regular meetings. I don't think that there that that is the intent here. So, we have a vote now. Dr. Forger, last
comment on discussion. No, man. I wish you wouldn't do that. Uh, you don't actually have the power to limit the debate. That's up to the board. So, I'll just make my comment. This is a mistake. You only want to do policy
changes at regular meetings. They are well attended. They're advertised. This allows people to sneak things in because it's a special meeting. That's a big mistake. I would not do it. Okay. My amendment is to put back the
word regular meeting so that there can be no mischief here. And I am not misreading anything. I'm looking at the literal language. You can all look at it. You have it in front of you. And we have a second from Mr.
Dylan. Correct. Yeah. Can I Yes. Question. I'm asking procedurally. I like the idea of regular meeting is I don't want to delay. So what I'm hearing is there's two ways that can
happen. Do it now or it's going to go to the committee and then it comes back to us and if the word regular is not on there I would be against it next time. So is the keep I keep hearing going back to the committee. Is it to go back to the committee to to take the feedback of the group here now and make those
changes or should we make the changes now? Yes, that's the intent because after a first reading discussion, it can go back to committee for any type of type of um change and then come back for a second reading. And I don't think this would be a substantive change if we
agreed to make it anyway. I think that's what I'm I think that's what I'm trying to get at. I don't want to waste another month to if it comes back to me and because there was a decision to add the word regular, it's now the first reading again. So, no, that's not a substitute change. It would still be a second
reading. Correct. Yeah. Okay. So, we have a vote on the change. Dr. Borger. Yes. Mr. Dylan. Yes. M. Jolly. Um, sure. Yes. Miss Stanley?
No. Miss Terrar? No. Miss Bradford? No. Motion fails. Hi. So, um we are now back to the motion for first reading for all
of those. Okay. Um we've had a lot of discussion. We're ready for a vote. Yes. And we are also running out of our Zoom time. Well, let's be mindful. That's all.
Okay. So vote on first reading for these um for that motion. And Mrs. Stanley, could you just restate that motion? The motion is to move policies under uh new business under a new revised
abolish policies for a first read and second read would be uh at the June 5th meeting. Correct. Uh Mr. Secretary, vote, Mrs. Stanley. Yes. Mrs. Jolly. Yes.
Dr. Forager. No. Mrs. Terrarero. Yes. Mr. Dylan. Yes. Mrs. Bradford. Yes. Motion passes. All right. Mrs. Stanley, we are up to
you again. Old business. So at last meeting right we had these policies um up and we called them for a first read. So now we are at a second read again. Hopefully after next after the January
uh June 5th meeting we will be able to get these on the agenda as normally. Um but again for tonight it's under old business. So we're going to move a new revised policies which is
P5460 high school graduation and P9163 spectator code of conduct for interast intercolastic events. And then I'm also going to move B at the same time just for time. Comp the comprehensive equity plan policies
that we discussed at the last meeting that we need in place in order to get the comprehensive equity plan um approved in June. So again, that's policy 1140, policy 1523, policy 2260, policy
2423, policy 511, and policy 5512, policy 5750, policy 5841, policy 5842, policy 7102, Regulation
2260, Regulation 2415, Regulation 2423, Regulation 5111 and regulation 7102. Again, that motion would be for second reading and again it would be to adopt. So these would now be policies in
our policy handbook. Do I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Mrs. Jolly. Any other discussion? I just want to say something. Yes, Mrs. I just want to thank the policy committee because you guys have obviously really worked hard.
I see so many policy changes in here and I just want to thank you for your time. I don't know who else is the other third person, but it's Connor Deputy. Well, you guys have done a really great job. So, thank you for doing all you did. Yeah. And thank you to the staff because it's been a lot for Dr. Feltry as he
moves in to find all the policies and make sure we're ready for uh CUSAC and for this. Thank you, Dr. True. Yes. Thank you. All right. Ready for a vote. Mr. Secretary? Mrs. Stanley? Yes. Miss.
Jolly. Yes. Dr. Forager? No. M. Terrero? Yes. Mr. Dylan? Yes. Miss Bradford? Yes. Motion passes. May I have a motion to adjourn? Uh can we just say real quick that the regular board of
education meeting on June 5th is the educator of the year and retiree reception. So please uh come out and support your teachers um because we know how hard they work and how amazing they are. But yes, a motion to adjurnn. Yes. And just that that begins at 6 o'clock
p.m. instead of 6:30. Okay, we have a motion, a second to adjurnn. Thank you, Mrs. Jolly. Voice vote. I I Yes. Good. We are joining at 11:10 p.m. Thank you very much.