All right, let's uh start the meeting with a salute to the flag. Okay, this is a regular meeting of the board of education in Burns Township. Notice of the time and place of this meeting was provided and copies of that resolution were forwarded to the official newspapers as designated by the
board of education and to the township clerk and a copy of the notice was posted on the bulletin board at the board of education offices in accordance with public law 1975 chapter 231A. For those members of the public who cannot attend our meeting in person, a live stream link to the meeting is
posted on the district website. Um, we very much welcome input from the public. There are two times during regular meetings that the public is invited to speak. One time is early in the meeting before the board votes when you may speak about any item that is listed on tonight's agenda. Towards the
end of the meeting, there is another public forum to address any matter of public concern related to the schools. And the rest of the very lengthy public meeting notice is unchanged from every other meeting. So we'll skip that and go straight to
the next item. So the uh statement of election results isformational only and that is going to take us to the oath of office for three board members and we'll get up on the
Diaz and we'll read the oaths in unison. States of New Jersey people. member of the board of education disqualified disqualif.
effects and justly perform all the duties of that office according to the best. So help me God. Right. Now that we have a reconstituted board,
I do the roll call. >> [snorts] >> So, Miss White, >> yes. >> Dr. McHune >> here. >> Mr. Molinari >> here. >> Miss Curado >> here. >> Mr. Shaw
>> here. >> Mr. Talbin. >> Yes. >> Here. >> Mr. Omalanic >> here. >> Miss Moan >> here. >> And Mr. Lecoitz >> here. >> Right. So now we're up to the election of the
board president. Is there a any nominations for board president? Mr. Sha, >> I would like to nominate Jennifer White for president. Is there a second? Any other nominations? >> Mr. Molinari,
>> I'd like to nominate David Shaw for president. Any other nominations have a motion to close nominations and a second to close. All right. Uh so we'll first uh vote on
Miss White as board president. Um so Miss White, >> yes. Dr. McHune, >> yes. >> Mr. Molinari, >> no. >> Miss Curado, >> yes. >> Mr. Shaw,
>> yes. >> Mr. Talbot, >> yes. >> Mr. Milanic, >> yes. >> Miss Mohawk, >> yes. >> And Mr. Lequitz, >> yes. >> We're president. Okay, that brings us to the election of
the board vice president. Um, are there any nominations? Keith, >> I nominate Dean Shaw. And >> is there a second, Janice? Any other nominations?
We had a roll call. >> Miss White, >> yes. >> Dr. McHune, >> yes. >> Mr. Molari, >> yes. >> Miss Curado, >> yes. >> Mr. Shaw, >> yes. >> Mr. Talbot, >> yes. >> Mr. Malanic, >> yes. >> Miss Mohammed, >> yes. >> And Mr. Leitz,
>> yes. >> Okay. And with that, we have a vice president, and you two can swap it out. And thank you once again. It is an honor and a privilege to be the residing president. Um, and with that, I hope we
have a wonderful year where we work together as a team and that brings us to now our regular session. Um the first thing on it we have is uh the schedule
um of the meetings and I believe we do need to approve this. So, can I get a a motion? Dave and Smearthy and roll call. >> Miss White, >> yes. >> Dr. McHune,
>> sorry. Yes. >> Mr. Molinari. >> Yes. >> Miss Curado. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shaw. >> Yes. >> Mr. Talbet. >> Yes. >> Mr. Omalanic. >> Yes. >> Miss Mahan? >> Yes. >> And Mr. Lewitz? >> Abstain. Um and you will notice that there are um
three I think three different um there a couple of BT connects that are listed there and as we get closer I'm sure we will get more information and details um about exactly what what um those will entail and they also will be part of our regular board of ed um schedule so that
we probably will be doing board of ed business and then rolling into a BT connect. Um, Jim, do you want to say anything about the the code of ethics? >> Yeah. So, at at your place, there's a code of ethics that uh each board member is required to read and sign, and I need
to collect those this evening. So, if you just hand those all in to him before you leave tonight, that'd be great. And with that, we are up to student report. MJ. Hi everyone and welcome back, Miss
White. My name is MJ and I represent the student body here at Bridge High School. I'll be updating the board as well as the public on recent student updates. So, even through the winter break season, our sports teams were really hard at work, particularly for the
basketball team. They competed against Del Barton and Rucker Prep. Despite being short-handed, ridge players put in their best effort and really narrowly lost. Our girls track and field team swept team titles at the Somerset County Championship and we just set a new
school record for the 4x400 and 4x200. We also had a lot of several first place and championship finishes in multiple events. In addition, our unified basketball team also has been attending several tournaments, particularly during
the December season. In fact, in our last schoolwide meeting with the board of education, you probably noticed that some student government members were missing. They were actually also helping out the UNIF unified basketball team as well. For my senior peers, this really
marks the end to the college application season. But rather than slowing down for the senior year, I've actually noticed that a lot of my peers have actually been thinking about post high school career planning. So, I think that's a really positive momentum in our
community. For instance, like now that the senior rush is over, many seniors are thinking of getting part-time jobs and have been asking their counselors for work papers, local internship, research opportunities, as well as additional community service projects to
leave a legacy behind before graduation. In addition, talking about community service, our National Honor Society recently concluded more than 1,500 hours of free volunteer tutoring given to the Bernard's Township District. I'm so
incredibly proud and grateful for a community that in really incentivizes this level of stewardship. And within the student government, we recently concluded our winter volleyball tournament for juniors and seniors. But this year, congratulations to the faculty team for winning the tournament.
Furthermore, especially for the seniors in the schoolwide government as well as the student government after our college rush and academic stress is over, we have been planning for things we want to accomplish before we graduate. Particularly, we hope to have another meeting with Mr. Roberts, who is the
director of Mashio's food services. Last time we talked a little bit with the board as well as other schoolwide members regarding Mashio's food services and the implement implementations and suggestions we wanted to picture like healthy energy boosters, nutrition
labels and more. Furthermore, the editor-inchief of Rich Devil's Advocate, which is our studentr run youth organization, actually took the initiative in offering to be present in this meeting with Mr. Roberts and really be the voice to update the student body
on many of the initiatives we take toward improving our food services. Her name is Anya Wong. She's also the same girl who came up during public commentary last sess session to advocate for township email updates being in both English as well as people's native
languages. The rich devil's advocate our news organization also did their own independent survey of machios as well. As we wrap our winter break up and prepare to go into another school season, I'm incredibly excited to see the things that Ridge will accomplish in
the second semester. Thank you for listening to this school's update. If you have any questions, I am more than happy to answer them. Thanks, MJ. Does anybody have any questions? As always, you are welcome to stay. I
don't know if you have a ton of work yet since it was day one, but if you do, we totally understand. Uh, we are now up to the superintendent's report and there is one item. Is there anything that you want to say about this? >> No.
>> Okay. Can we get a motion? Brett Mike and a roll call. >> Miss White. >> Yes. >> Dr. Mcune. >> Yes. >> Mr. Molinari. >> Yes. >> Miss Kat. >> Yes. Mr. Shaw,
>> yes. >> Mr. Talbot, >> yes. Mr. Malanic, >> yes. >> Miss Moan, >> yes. >> And Mr. Leate. >> We're up to public comment on agenda items. If anybody has a comment, please come down to the mic, state your name and address, and sign in with the clipboard.
Okay, see there no one coming forward, we will close public comment. And we are up to finance. Um there Oh, the minutes first. Let's do the minutes first. Uh can I get a motion? >> Janice
Robin. And roll call. >> Miss White. >> Yes. >> Dr. McHune. >> Yes. >> Mr. Molinari. >> Yes. >> Miss Curado. >> Yes. >> Mr. Shaw. >> Yes. Mr. Tin, >> yes. >> Mr. Milanic, >> yes. >> Miss Mohan, >> yes.
>> And Mr. Lewitz. >> Okay. We're up to finance. Uh, there is no report. I think you said, Dave, that the minutes will be coming shortly, right? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Uh, but there is one item and I didn't know if there's anything you you
needed to say about anything about it. >> No. Okay. Can I get a motion? Brett, Mike, and a roll call. Miss White, >> yes. >> Dr. McCun, >> yes. >> Mr. Molinari, >> yes. >> Miss Curado, >> yes. >> Mr. Shaw,
>> yes. >> Mr. Talbett, >> yes. >> Mr. Malanic, >> yes. >> Miss Mohawk, >> yes. >> And Mr. Lewitz, >> uh, we're up to personnel. Same thing. I don't think that there's a report for this meeting. Um, but there are four items
on the addendum. Um, at the bottom, did you ever see the addendum? So, now that brings us to eight. Can I get a motion? Robin Smithy. Roll call. >> Miss White, >> yes.
>> Dr. McHune, >> yes. >> Mr. Molinar, >> yes. >> Miss Curado, >> yes. >> Mr. Shaw, >> yes. >> Mr. Tin, >> yes. >> Mr. Malik, >> yes. >> Mhm. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Lewitz. >> Okay. Policy there. Where's Mike?
>> There's no report. will be meeting this Thursday 22nd. >> Curriculum, >> no report. We meet Friday. >> Wellness next time. >> Jim, I'll check you for facilities and when there's nothing because there was
no meeting and there's no Okay. Um, and I can't imagine with us just having the winter break that there are less on board reports. Okay, that brings us to public comment on non-aggenda items. Okay, I'll close public comment and it
brings us up. Actually, I know we all have the time limits, so I mean me and my kids are here and we're giving three pages of speech and we will separate. So, okay.
>> Can you please just state your name? >> Yes, sure. I know. I know everything. >> Okay. First, good evening members of the board members and Mr. McCarron and members of our community. My name is Michelle Young and I live in six Sentinel Drive, Basking Ridge.
My family has been part of the school district for the past 10 years and now I currently work as school aid lunch lead at Liberty Corner. Before joining the district as a staff member, I served our schools in many roles. I served on both
the MPS and William and PTO board from 2018 to 2020. class parent and MPS for five consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. Chair of MPS International Day Committee for six years from 2017 to
2022 and chairs of se uh several fifth grade graduation activities in 2022. I also chair of the William and ETH grade committee in 2021 and 2025, the Reach High School's junior prom in 2024, and
supported a lot of fundraising efforts across the district. I share this background not for uh recognition, but to explain how deeply connected my family and I are to this community. Like many others, I work
alongside parents and volunteers who quietly and consistently support our schools. We are quite computer uh com contributors. Our goal is not to stand in the spotlight, but to help our district continue to grow and thrive.
With that the same spirit, I'm here today to respectfully request the board's consideration of recognizing Luna New Year as an official school holiday. Since my family moving to the district, my family has tradition of wearing
traditional clothing on Luna New Year. I also volunteered to come to school to read books about Luna New Year to students for years. I know I'm not the only one doing this. Through MPS International Day, the Chinese team has introduced the Luna New Year to the
entire school community multiple years, helping student learn about its culture, meaning values. I also host a mini unit session, Chinese culture club in Cedar Hills when I worked there in 2023 and introduced the Luna New Year to the
school. Recent years my family made decision to take the day off each year to celebrate our tradition together. It reflects a reality shared by many families that Luna New Year which has many names. Chinese New Year, Korean New Year,
Spring Festival is not is not simply a culture event but important to our soul. I also know this request has been voiced before. I recall attending a board meeting in 2019 where a parent spoke
during the public comment expressing the hope that Luna New Year could be recognized as a school holiday. Over the years, we have witnessed the district has approved holidays important to other cultures and communities which I
sincerely appreciate. At the same time, the conversation around the Luna New Year has continued without the resolution. I think my time is over. [laughter] I don't know. But I will now pass my family uh speech to my son who will give you more information to help. Thank you
very much for your time, your service, and your continued commitment to our student and comm uh community. Oh, hi. Sorry. Okay. Sorry. Um good evening members of the board of education, Mr. Mercarian and members of our community. My name is
Ethan Zang. I was a senator at Ridge High School for the class of 2025 and I graduated from here and I am currently a freshman at Emory. I'm here to continue my mom and our family's request for the board's
consideration of recognizing Lunar New Year as an official school holiday. Importantly, this interest is not limited to parents and that's why me and my siblings, well, me and one of my siblings is here today. Um, we heard that Ridge High School's
student government raised this topic in a recent meeting right before winter break with our uh with the board. Um, hearing students speak up about inclusion and cultural recognition reflects not only their hope but also
everybody in the school's hope for engagement and sense of belonging within our own schools. The decisions about school holidays are obviously not supposed to be based on personal personal preference and we trust that the board will evaluate these decisions
using the necessary criteria needed um such as equity inclusion, cultural, religious significance, legal and policy consistency, etc. I know there's a lot of different stuff when it comes into like making decisions like these. My
family spent time learning more about how districts holidays and based on information that from what we collected, Lunar New Year aligns closely with the same principles that supported the recognition of Diwali, Yamapour, idol feter, and all
the holidays that are already part of our district calendar. Maybe the only thing we want to mention here is that Lunar New Year also has a really important religious meaning in our culture and it's a very long story. So I'm not going to spend that much time
on that today. Uh for many families, Lunar New Year carries a deep cultural meaning and in some traditions religious significance as well. Our district has a substantial number of families who celebrate it from people from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, people
from Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and many, many more other places and cultures. Um, and students and parents have respectively and respectfully raised
this request for many years. Alongside that request has been continued commitment on our own part from us as people in school life and just in our community. And yeah, that's my part. And then my sister is going to give you some
more information. Hi, my name is Claire Jang and I am currently the senator for the freshman class, the class of 2029. And I attended a board meeting a few weeks ago before winter break that was also talking about
Lunar New Year. So we would like to respectfully share that neighboring districts such as Bridgewater and Warren have also successfully included Lunar New Year as a holiday where they also celebrate many other cultures which our
school district celebrates too. and their experience may offer helpful insight into how this can be done thoughtfully while maintaining community balance academic goals and also making sure that there's a good
length school calendar. As a practical suggestion, our district already observes a three-day mid- winter recess in February, and Lunar New Year typically falls between late January and midFebruary. With careful planning,
aligning one of those days of Lunar New Year could allow for recognition without extending the school year. We are here today not to place any blame but to ensure that the efforts, voices and hopes of many families are heard. We are
here to support the board in our school district while trying to not create any difficulty. My older brother has already graduated without seeing this recognition. I am now here at Ridge as a freshman and even if Lunar New Year were
approved soon, I would graduate before it appears on the calendar. Still, we continue to hope for our youngest brother and for the families that will come after us. On behalf of my family and the many families who share this tradition, we respectfully ask the board
to consider adding Lunar New Year as the school holiday. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment? Good evening BOE members and happy new year. My name is Haing Lee. I would like to propose to our district sign um
designate Luna New Year as an official school holiday. In January 2024, New Jersey passed landmark legislation designating Looney Year as the official state art villains. This law honors the
diverse heritage of Asia America and the Pacific Icelander community especially those from China, Vienna, South Korea, Mongol Mongolia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brune and Taiwan who
celebrate Luna New Year. By closing schools on this day, our district will be acting in a spirit of state law to recognize the cultural identity of a significant portion of our population.
Currently five of the 19 main BOE districts in Somerset County have already approved of February 17 to 2026 as the day where school are closed for students including Hughesboro
Bridgewater Raiton Warren Greenbrook and Wan Borro BOE and comparative analysis shows that our district's Asian students population is significant higher than many district that have already adopted
holiday. For example, our districts 36% 36% of Asian of 4,760 students that makes 1,728 Asian students in Hughesboro 35.2% 2%
Asian of 7,263 students that makes 2557 Asian students breathe water 35 30.5% Asian of 7,994
students that makes 2,438 Asian students Warren they makes 376 Asian students out of 1,677 students Greenbrook 163 Asian students
that makes 22% of all the students in district watch and borrow 134 Asian students that makes 19.7% Asian students out of 680 students enrolled in the watching boring school
districts with 36.3% of our enrollment identifying as Asian. We have a clear demographic mandate to provide a day of observance that reflects the community we serve.
Recognizing Luna New Year is proactive step toward diversity, equity, and inclusion. Currently, many Asian-American students face a choice between their academic responsibilities and their cultural heritage. By closing
schools, the districts ensures educational equity by not penalizing students for observing their primary cultural holidays. Promotes inclusion by validating the tradition of more than
onethird of the students body. Enrich the cultural competency of all students by acknowledging a global a global tradition celebrated by billions. Given the legislative support from states, the
president the president set by five neighboring Somerset County districts and the significant demographic presence of Asian families in our school district. We respectfully request that the board of education officially
include Nola New Year in the school calendar as a holiday. Thank you. >> Thank you. Is anyone else? >> Okay, we'll close public comment. is this anything related to the calendar um has
to go through policy. So um this would have to be something that if the board wanted to discuss once again um we can send it back to to policy but it's really up to the board. So I don't know what people opinions on this are.
David, >> I mean, my opinion is every year policy whenever we get to the calendar should be discussing which holidays we're including and not looking at our demographics and what seems appropriate for I know we do it three years in advance which makes it a little difficult but I think it should be
something that policy every single year shouldn't just be glossing over and should be looking at. I know we've had discussions internally just we don't all agree on exactly which holidays. It's definitely something that should be discussed every year and debated on um and decided. So we should look at all
the holidays for sure each year. Robin, >> I mean I agree with um having policy discussed again I think what however we've discussed it over the years you know we try to look at factors such as you know numbers of students who would
be impacted because I mean there are like we've talked about with the student government um how many designated holidays the state of New Jersey lists um there's many different religions and cultures so we have to think about what what makes sense in our district but I'm I'm totally fine with bringing it back
to policy to discuss Anyone else? >> I mean, I think I I I >> Yeah, I mean, I think I agree. I don't think it ever hurts to talk about it. Um, I do think uh, you know, it's always a trade-off. The more holidays we add,
the less the later we can go in the year, it can become a slippery slope. I mean, I was just writing down a couple and, you know, right in Orthodox Christmas time, our Ukrainian, our Armenian uh, population population is not insubstantial. We don't have those days off. Um we don't
have off for Ramadan. Um Yam Kapoor and Rashashana is continuing discussion and it's a trade-off if they both fall during the week. So it it's tough and if we keep adding stuff and I'm not saying we shouldn't talk about it, but if we keep adding stuff, next thing you know we're going to be right at the end of
June. So the more diverse our our district gets and the more holidays we incorporate, you know, maybe we have to think about maybe eventually going the other way and take away any holiday that's not a legal holiday and and just give maybe different more excused
absences or what have you, account for different culture. Um it's it's a hard decision and it's not without it trade-offs whichever way we go. >> Mike, >> yeah, I agree. I think it's um you know something we have to talk about uh definitely on the policy committee on
the board. Um but you're right it's very hard to just uh you know if we add another holiday then you know another culture is going to want u another holiday and it just goes on and you know I don't like the way where I teach in my district they've I think in my opinion
you know we go until the very end of June if I remember right last year we went till June 29th and u you know that would be you know to me I think the students like getting out, you know, in mid June, much better than going to the very end of June. So, it is but it is
something I think we can talk about and see. We want to make sure that we're being fair and we try to represent the community the best way possible, but it's not just a quick snap of the fingers. It's, you know, be something we really have to talk about and make sure that we're representing people correctly. >> Yeah, I do agree that it's worth
discussing annually. I also want to bring up the point that was also made when we spoke to Bridge High student government members that um to Mike's point where the more and more we add we have certain restrictions in terms of
how many days of school we need to have how many um you know even even when we have snow days if we have too many snow days we have to start cutting into vacations and breaks and so there are a lot of considerations that need to be
made in in the calendar um assessment. So, I do agree it's worth talking about annually and making sure that we have the right holidays. At the same time, trying to put everything in there is going to be a little bit difficult if we
are trying to account for things that we are that are unexpected like snowstorms. So >> just another thought um building upon that where we heard from the student government uh when a student takes off for a cultural holiday it is an excused absence and teachers are supposed to
make accommodations for that as far as exams or testing goes and we did hear from the student government that that is not always the case. So just you know as a district when we do when a student is out for a cultural holiday or an excused absence um we I think we really have to
make sure that um those policies are being followed where they're not being tested the next day and they are given the appropriate amount of time to make up the work. >> I think we talked about that with the student government and you know a couple students said they felt like it wasn't
uh fair. They might have had a test the day after a holiday. And you know, as the principal said, u a ridge that usually was almost always a miscommunication. I mean, I can tell you as a teacher, you know, for example, this Wednesday my district has off for Orthodox Christmas. And um you know, but if we had school and a student says to
me, [snorts] you know, look, I I couldn't study. I couldn't hand in this because it's Orthodox Christmas, it's not going to be a problem at all. And I really do feel that the teachers be totally understanding of that. Uh you know, anytime it's a religious holiday, it's just, you know, that you have to let them know. U and you know that's I
think just when is mess up usually it's just a miscommunication. So I I think that that is something students and staff and everybody knows that you know it's an excused holiday they just have to tell them. Um, you know, this is a topic that we for years we have circled back and we've
talked and talked about and it's interesting to hear what other districts do, but at the same time um there are a lot of factors that go into making the the calendar and what one district can do is not necessarily exactly the same with what another
district can do because you might have different constraints. We've always made that commitment to being able to get out um somewhere around the 20th of June. And and it wasn't just because kids liked it. It was because it was impacting students abilities um to get
summer jobs uh for teachers to have summer jobs for um kids to you know even at the younger ages to be able camp programs were starting. Um so it that was part of what led us to try to um end
around the 20th 22nd. That being said um I agree I think we have to look at everything um in its entirety and not just based on um one holiday and things fall differently every single year for certain holidays.
So, um I think it probably is a good idea to send it to policy to not just look at one one particular but to look at the calendar in its entirety and see um if there are any changes that we want to um be looking at. So, I don't know if
we want to send it to uh we won't have the new committees until February. So, I don't know if you want to wait till the February probably makes more sense to do it that way. But does everybody agree to send it to policy for February's discussion?
Okay. Um so there are a couple things also for um board forum that I just want to go over. Um the first is I will have uh Mr. Mark
Harian sent out I'll try to get it done tomorrow. um the letter that asks you what committees you would like to be on um for this year um and what uh what your availability is. We'll ask you to
there are six committees to rank them first through six in terms of your preference and to list all your availability but also your when you're not available. So for instance if you know like Dave I always know Tuesday is the day not free. So, put that down
because that'll be something that we factor in um when we're figuring things out. Um anything that you are willing to be a liazison, the more information you give um the easier it becomes. What
becomes tricky um each year is when everybody's first choice and second choice is the same committee. And we never know how that's going to shake out till we get everybody's responses. So I just want to say upfront that as much as
we will try to you know cater to the the choices it may not work out and you may be asked to serve on a committee or chair a committee where you just are needed and it might be based on your experience. It might be based on what
you've chaired before. It might be based on your flexibility. It might be based on the days you're available. Um but the other thing is we know from the past few years Don't don't pick what you're interested in based on when a a particular
committee meets because that can be changed. You know, there's flexibility um based on the time of day. Um sometimes we've had finance in the morning, sometimes we've had finance in the afternoon. Same thing for facilities. It would be a little more challenging with committees like
curriculum or wellness, but it can be done. So really base it on um you know what your preferences are and we'll take it from there. And then I guess what we can do is um we'll vote on to approve the committees at the next meeting. But
maybe if you if we know we're going to be placing somebody on a committee and you've said that that day that it meets doesn't work for you, we can have whoever the committee chair is going to be start conversations so that we can get the February schedule. um going that
will work for everybody. Does that make sense for everybody? Robin? >> Yeah. Just to to um to chime in there because having tried to do the logistics of assignments before, be as specific as possible about like times that don't work. Like if you can't get there before elementary drop off, like say that
because some committees have chosen to be to 8 in the morning, you know, so be very specific about days and times of day. >> Okay. Um the other thing I wanted to point out is Mr. Mr. Marcarian has shared with us at a break the revisions of the board goals and I just I'm I'm
going to read them um in case everybody didn't have a chance to take a look at them. Um so this is just a draft of the three goals. The first is to engage with the school community and administration to track the pro progress of the
district's strategic plan. To two is to pursue professional development for board of education members on the subject of board governance, the chain of command, communications, the role of the board and board policies and procedures. And the third one is to
collaborate with the administration to approve multi-year financial plans addressing enrollment trends. facilities and staffing needs. Um I know Brett had written some suggestions in light of these also, but I didn't know if anybody
else had some more feedback on um on this and I know one of the things that Brett you had brought up was um really wanting to have some check-ins in terms of board goals and governance and I was thinking about that and to me the
perfect place for that is policy. So I feel like that's a a mechanism that we have in place. And it might be a good idea, you know, periodically and even if it's like once a quarter to have a check-in on where are policy can lead
that discussion of where are we with our goals? Um what steps have we taken? What do we still need to work on? Um and I just thought I wondered how people felt about that. I think that sounds like a great idea. I
think um every committee has a piece of of what we're all working towards and I think it's it's good to have everything centralized and communicated out periodically. >> Yeah, same. I think it's fantastic. Uh I appreciate the opportunity to be able to
bring that to everyone too. Um, and it does make sense for policy to do it, like I said, three times a year, four times a year to just check in to make sure we're still cohesive and moving in the same direction that we set out to move in the beginning of the year. >> Dave,
>> yeah, I I think it's a great suggestion just because with any of these, I feel like we talk about them when we put them in place and then we talk about them at the end and in between we kind of forget about them. So, I think it's a great idea to have it in one of the committ There have been years where the
individual committees have had goals. So um you know that could be something that at the committee level we can also talk about. Robin >> that was that was what I was going to bring up. I think what I think the time that we did that for a while was after our previous strategic plan where we had
the different threads and then we assigned different threads to the committees like it was curriculum instruction types of stuff you know then we tried to link that to the strategic plan. So that the committees were looking at progress on the strategic plan. So we could ask each committee to
look at the strategic plan and come up with some goals. Then they can report out, you know what I mean, to the board on how they're going. >> Right. Right. So some of the the board goals fit specifically for a committee. So we can work on that a little bit too. I mean I can remember I don't know how
many years back it was, but when we would get our agendas for the different committee meetings, you would have the goals right at the top. So maybe that's something to you know there are a number of new people so um you know that that was before your time so it might be a good idea to go back to something like that.
Um and the other thing I I do want to point out in terms of uh I forgot to mention this for everyone the January committees are status quo. So we might have to fill in one or you know one or two spots but it's the old committees. It's not till February that we'll start
with the new committees. Okay. Um, anything else with board goals that anybody wanted to add? Okay. So, if you think of anything, send them to Nick and I. Um, and at our
January 26th meeting, we'll vote on the board goals. And then maybe also we can start talking um at the committee level about which of the board goals fits with which committee.
Okay. >> Does anybody else have anything for board forum? >> Keith. >> Yeah. Just uh you know, I want to thank um the people of Burnish Township for giving me another three years up here. Um I'm going to be worthy to trust. I want to thank my wife for running my
campaign. Um she'd shoot me right back here, right? Um no, but she did a great job of it and uh you know, looking forward to serving with everybody up here uh for another three years. Um doing uh doing the best I can voting where I think is right and uh let's look
forward to a good year here >> join us. >> Oh yeah I'm sorry need to thank my daughter too who came out tonight this morning. She she she left I mean she had her fill of school board governance but she she didn't come out the way. So
>> thank you. Um, we are a board of nine members and we work together as a team and um, no one board member has more voice or more say than anyone else. And so I hope going forward with this year
that collectively everyone feels comfortable speaking up and and sharing their voice. Um, this district is is a great one and it's very important and this the children who attend school here
and the staff that work here dedicate their their lives to our students and um we as a board are equally committed to doing all that we can to support everyone and ensure that our uh district
stays as wonderful as it is. So with that, if no one has anything else, I will ask for a motion, Brett and Janice, and wish you all a lovely evening and see you at the next meeting.