WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=vJ4cvxahI20

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: vJ4cvxahI20):
- 00:02:30: Welcome, Pledge of Allegiance, Student Representative Robotics Report
- 00:06:17: Senior Year, AP Exams, Prom, Junior Dinner Cruise
- 00:08:13: Student Athlete Awards and Recognition for Seniors
- 00:11:21: Superintendent's Budget Presentation Begins: Goals and District Snapshot
- 00:14:26: Budget Challenges: Healthcare, Utilities, Technology, Special Education
- 00:16:10: Decreasing State Aid and Cost Saving Measures
- 00:19:41: Proposed Budget Highlights and Revenues and Expenses Summary
- 00:21:13: Facility Projects and Overall Expenditure Breakdown
- 00:22:38: Tax Levy Information, County Comparison, and Commendations
- 00:28:10: Board Questions About Funding and Referendum Projects
- 00:30:26: Board Member Appreciates Budget Minimizing Tax Rate Impact
- 00:31:33: More Budget Questions: Chip Costs, Capital Reserve, AI Impact
- 00:35:35: Public Comment Start and Attrition as Driver of Savings
- 00:36:58: President's Report: Appreciation for Bus Drivers, PTOs, and Administration
- 00:41:29: Academic Committee Report: Textbook Pilot and AP Discussions
- 00:42:37: Board Member Inquiries about the New Textbook Pilot
- 00:49:51: Board Inquiries and Strong Reactions Concerning AP Policy
- 00:57:55: Finance, Facilities, and Transportation Committee Report
- 00:59:52: Discussion of Referendum Project Over/Under Budget
- 01:00:56: Discussion of Business Agenda Review and Policy Review
- 01:02:05: Softball Field Improvements & Discussion About Timing
- 01:03:41: Personnel Committee Report: Addendum and Recruitment Update
- 01:05:54: Community Relations Committee Report: Calendar, BOE Protocols
- 01:08:25: Discussion of an Academic Committe Item
- 01:10:00: Delegate and Liason Reports Begin
- 01:13:55: Delegate Assembly and Confusion Over Name Submissions
- 01:16:04: Ed Foundation Updates & Governor Receives Letter about Healthcare
- 01:17:59: Acknowledging Role of Board Members
- 01:20:37: Start of Public Comments/Budget Hearing-MUN Funding Request
- 01:27:27: Acknowledging Funding Request of MUN
- 01:29:11: Public Comment: AI Program and Request for Transparency
- 01:36:47: Public Comments: Community Supports the AI Program
- 01:41:38: Public Comment: Argument AI Program Does Not Comply State Law
- 01:44:12: Public Comment: How AI Changes Lives
- 01:47:30: Please Protect these Kids
- 01:47:46: Public Comment: Concerns about the AI Program
- 01:54:44: Section 11: Approval of the Minutes from March 17th
- 01:55:19: Amending the Meeting Minutes
- 01:59:07: Further Amending Meeting Minutes
- 01:59:55: Section 12: Approval of Action Items-Personnel Agenda
- 02:01:34: Motion to postpone definitely Personnel 2631
- 02:02:08: Questions about New Agenda Item
- 02:08:19: Discussion and Approval of Personnel Agenda
- 02:11:16: Approval of Curriculum Agenda
- 02:12:56: Approval of Business Agenda
- 02:13:12: Motion to divide the question to consider Business 26120
- 02:13:48: Move to amend final budget resolution that as a condition
- 02:14:23: Discussion on Business Agenda
- 02:34:34: Approval of Special Services Agenda
- 02:35:55: Approval of Other Agenda
- 02:36:27: Member's right to request a division of the question
- 02:38:51: Move to amend resolution Other 2622
- 02:41:47: Adjourning and Old/New Business
- 02:41:59: Old & New Business Discussion
- 02:47:59: Delegate Assemblly and Librarians Month


Part: 1

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I can see that. Is that a restart? >> All right. Good evening everyone. Good evening our student representatives. Uh we are back from closed session. Uh at this time I ask everyone to join me in the pledge of allegiance.

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>> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Right. We are up to section six. our

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student representatives report. All right, good evening everyone. Um, thank you so much for having me once again. I'll first be talking a little bit about the clubs and kind of general arts programs that have recent events at the high school. Uh, first up, shout out to our high school robotics team, team

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303, for winning award at the Lehigh University competition uh recently and qualifying for the world championship, which is taking place uh late last week, so right about now. Uh it's the first time that the team's qualified for world since 2019. So very impressive accomplishment and it is really a testament to all the work that the team

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has put into building the robot and overall just having a really successful season season. Um Mr. John who's the adviser for the team has very proud of the overall accomplishments of the team. It's also great to see so many of my own peers and mentors um kind of really succeed in this really unique and important opportunity when it comes to

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the logs team. So congrats to them. I'm sure the theater arts program had the was the show where little show the girls which I personally did a great spring musical. Um I think the most impressive part was honestly all the set design like they have like a little plants they designed as like a character is super

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cool to watch. Um the day that I went the entire auditorium was packed out so it's great to see so much support from different members of the community and overall I think it's a representation of how well the theory has really succeeded and I'm looking forward to seeing that same success continue throughout the following years. Additionally, the

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unified flag football is a new part of their list as a part of the unified sports at our high school. Currently, they're in the the midst of the start of their season and overall it's good to see that we're expanding this unified program which is very important for student inclusion to different schools to have more opportunities for different types of students to be involved. Uh,

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additionally, four high school students qualified for the national economics championship in Atlanta, Georgia after winning the state championship in New Jersey on March 27th. Um there's one uh sophomore Jame um and sorry one junior John Kon and three sophomores Neil Pika

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and Roa who all succeeded in representing Detroit on this economic stage and we wish them best of luck as they compete at nationals. And lastly the baseball team is also successfully crossing the new field. I think this year was the first year of renovations for the field and both the players and

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also spectators attending the games have said that the were really noticeable and a great way to kind of support the team as they start the spring season and so far from what I know this is really strong and having a great show against every single opponent that they're going up against. So I'll hand off to Matt. >> Thank you.

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>> All right, perfect. Um so right now is a really hectic time for us seniors. Uh next week is AP exams. There's two weeks of that and I need to study. Um I've not done enough of that yet, but it's okay. Uh May 1st is going to be commitment day for us. That's big. We're

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all going to be wearing our uh college t-shirts, sweatshirts, whatever. And it's it's been fun. Everybody's been posting on the commitments page. I'm sure your kids out there have been saying, "Oh, this kid's going here. This kid's going here." Everyone's supporting each other. It's very nice to see. Um

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prom is also soon. May 22nd is our prom. I just got my tux like two weeks ago. Apparently that's late. I didn't even realize that. Um and the junior dinner cruise. I actually I actually this this is it's like it's like my child in in the high school. I started this event

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last year. Um and it's a great it's a great time. It basically subs in for junior prom as a junior dinner cruise kind of thing. It's funded through tickets and it's a great fundraiser for the class and it was a lot of fun last year so I hope it will be just as successful this year. Um, NJSLA testing

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uh started today and will go on through Thursday. Uh, and for all non senior underassmen, there is a college admissions panel taking place tonight from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. And like I mentioned earlier that I completely

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forgot about when I was making this report was the pack bingo night also took place, which is not as much for students, which is why I didn't mention it, but that was also really fun. Uh, I'm sure the parents got a great time out of it. A lot of money was raised for scholarship opportunities that will be coming up soon for seniors going to

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schools. So, thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you both. Uh, are you willing to take some questions from the board if there are any? Any questions from the board? All right. Thank you both very much. As always, you're welcome to stick around, but we understand coming up. Um, real quick, um, there is some news about

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the, uh, distinctions in a couple of our athletes car. I don't know if Mr. uh want to reveal the result yourself or you sure you're okay. Okay, great. So, uh I guess now we share the honor of announcing a couple of very impressive athlete athlete um accomplishments from our uh high school team. First up, we

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have one second. So, there are three different ceremonies that our um students qualify for. Uh one being the Sky Conference Athletes, which was a um ceremony happened, I believe yesterday. And McQuinn and Crystal Chan, our third board representative, both qualified for that. are giving great distinctions and

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honors for all their work as both students but also athletes in their respective sports. And I'll let Matt Houston announce the other two. >> Um, and then two other honors. We had a Somerset County Athletic Scholars Award for Jaden Lee and Lauren Yang. And then we had the NJSIAA scholar athlete for

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Dalia Adams. Congrats to these student athletes. Great accomplishments. Thanks a lot, Diego. >> And look, as we're coming to the end of the school year, I know you have a lot of exciting things in front of you over the next six or seven weeks. Um, you

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know, and I and I hope you enjoy the rest of your senior year, and I hope you get to study a little bit. I I know it's hard to find the motivation once you have your college admissions done and and the like, but >> any announcements. >> Oh, I'm going to Ruckers. a little more.

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>> Hey, >> that's it. But I want to just commend the both of you. I I mean, as a group, our student reps, I think, have been absolutely excellent this year, and um I appreciate the work you put in and the preparation you do. And I also want to

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thank both you as both of you as the representatives and the whole senior class where it really does seem that that this year's senior class has a little bit more um school spirit than I've seen in in years past. And I I think there are a lot of events that that your group and and the other groups

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in the high school have added, such as the dinner crews that that you um you mentioned for juniors that that's kind of a newer event, but um I can see will quickly become a tradition here at Bridgewater Raritin for years to come. So, I didn't know you were part of the

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uh initial group to help organize it, but um but I think it's an awesome activity and and uh it's it's a time for everyone to get together and and and it's it's a lot of fun. >> Where does the cruise go if you willing to share? >> It's basically a cruise around the

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Statue of Liberty in Hudson. It was it was so fun last year. >> It's terrific. Beautiful setting. Thank you for doing that. All right. Thank you both very much. Congratulations on those announcements and to Crystal for her award. Uh, thank you very much for being here with us tonight as always.

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>> Anytime. >> Thank you. >> All right, we are up to item seven, the superintendent report. Mr. Beers. Okay, this is an easy one for me this evening where I am just going to pass the baton over to my colleague, Mr. Lomsky, who's

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the the business administrator because tonight we have our final budget presentation. So um again Mr. Lomsky. >> Okay. I will be presenting on the uh final public hearing for the 2026 27

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budget. Um in preparing this budget, I just want to go over some of our goals when we were working on this. um to maintain our focus on academic excellence and opportunities for students from

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kindergarten all the way to high school. Uh talent acquisition. We always want to be able to attract and retain the best quality teachers we can facilities and infrastructure improving maintaining our facilities. We

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don't want to defer or postpone any type of maintenance projects, construction projects. And a big thing for this year is the middle school edition which will be opening in September. Program expansion. Uh next year all of

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our primary schools will have full day kindergarten and there will be a massive grade reconfiguration. Fourth grade will be moving up to the intermediates or security. Uh continuing our commitment to the overall security of the school

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community, uh we will be adding two additional security guards to our staff and a fiscal responsibility. Uh we want to maintain fiscal discipline with a sustainable budget that prepares us for the future. We don't want to make poor

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decisions now that will rear its ugly head, you know, in the future. and cause problems. Uh this is a quick snapshot of our district. As of uh October of this year, we had 7,400 students enrolled in

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district, a little over 1,200 employees full-time. We have 13 total buildings which total 1.2 million square feet. We transport a little over 7,700 students. That includes out of district

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students. That's why that's higher than our in district on roll number. And our district's operating budget this year is just under $188 million, which if you look at all the districts in New Jersey, we're the 32nd largest

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operating budget in the state. Um I I don't know the exact count. I think there are over 600 districts in the state. An important figure to note with our district, and I'm sure it's happening in many other districts across the country, uh declining enrollment. There's low

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birth rates um that have been affecting enrollment. So over the past five years, our total in district enrollment has actually declined just under 600 students. So this was a key number in preparing this budget and making sure

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that we were right sized. Some of the budget challenges that we faced and I know everyone in the state and probably the country has been facing um in New Jersey particularly healthc care costs have been skyrocketing. the state plan alone. So districts that are

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still covered under the state of New Jerseys plan for 2026 saw an increase of anywhere from 20 to 30% on their health and prescription costs. Electricity and natural gas to utility costs have increased anywhere from 10 to

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20%. And most recently fuel, vehicle fuel which fuels our buses, our maintenance, buildings and grounds that has uh recently increased 30%. Another new uh situation that occurred this

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year, the cost for technology, for devices, computers, basically anything with a chip has been severely impacted and costs have been rising due to the demand with AI data center infrastructure buildouts. Um,

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we've been hearing from suppliers that anything with a chip, they're expecting it to increase 100% or more within the next few months. And lastly, special special education costs continue to rise. And on top of that,

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reimbursements from the state and federal government government have been uh uncertain and inconsistent and most of the time have been declining over the years. that includes extraordinary aid, semi and IDA.

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On top of that, our state aid that uh the state of New Jersey provides aid to all districts. It's typically based on a per pupil um calculation. This shows over the years that our

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increases have been slowing down. Um, back in 22 to 23 all the way to 2025, we saw steady increases of about 8 8 and a half%. And just for this year and for the

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upcoming year, it went down 2.3. The increase dropped to 2.3 and 1.9% increase. So, as our costs are increasing, our revenues from the state are not increasing at the same rate. In

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addition, extraordinary aid, which is funded by the state of New Jersey, this helps us offset some of the um special education costs. So, we can receive reimbursement for anything over a certain dollar amount. So, typically

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anything over $55,000 per pupil that we spend, we submit to the state for reimbursement. And back in 2223 they would reimburse 72% of that amount. Then it dropped to 62 and then it dropped to 52. Um so it

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hasn't been consistent. I mean it's consistently declining 10%. Um but that doesn't help us when our costs are rising. So all these challenges we're facing um not just us but everyone in the district.

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So, some of the cost-saving measures that we tried to build into this budget and we're exploring in the future is due to the declining enrollment, we've been uh consolidating positions and staffing through attrition um based on declining

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enrollment. So, we're able to cut back on some salaries and benefit costs. Um also with the health care savings, um the district is in a self-insured plan. we are not in the state plan and that has been helping us maintain a more

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stable increase whereas everyone else may be seeing 20 to 30% increases we've been around 10 to 15% so that has been a significant help and we've contracted with a prescription

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benefit consultant to help enhance or renegotiate with the prescription benefit managers for better rebates discounts dispens fencing fees. All of all of those things have been helping keep our costs

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lower than uh across the state. Energy efficiency with the rising utility costs. Um through the referendum, we're doing a lot of improvements that should be reducing our utility costs, which are new window replacements,

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um boiler replacements. A lot of the boilers were original to when the buildings were built in the 60s and 50s. So they're being replaced with high efficiency units. So that should help offset the increases. And lastly, uh transportation

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for the 26 27 year, we did a complete reroute. Uh with the new new school start times, we were able to create different tier systems and more efficient routing. So that is helping us offset any increases

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in transportation. So, with all that, um, we were able to prepare a $193 million budget, which is a 3.23% increase from last year. And part of that, we're calling for a 3.04%

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tax levy increase. So, this is a summary of the revenues that make up the total budget, which is majority of the tax levy, state aid. We are utilizing some maintenance reserve and fund balances to offset the budget and then other miscellaneous

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revenues of facility rentals and things of that nature. Uh bank interest. Next we have it broken down by expenses um to balance the budget. As you could see the largest items there are salaries and benefits.

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The benefits showing the bigger increase. This is all inclusive of not just health and prescription benefits but all benefits to employees, tuition reimbursement, um clothing allowance, things like that. And you can see transportation was relatively flat due to the efficiencies

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gained in the rerouting. Um, another big area is the out of district tuition that continues to increase well above the 2% tax levy limit and the inflation number of 3 to 4%. Some of the items in the budget for

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facility projects, we are planning to do some softball field improvements for the softball team. Roof replacements will be ongoing throughout the district. paving and concrete repairs. This is part of our every year we work on these

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items to, you know, improve safety, tripping hazards, things of that nature. So, we're not that hasn't been removed. Painting projects. Um, some schools, some classrooms have never been touched since they were built. So, we're going through and repainting.

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And part of the referendum, we were renovating all the primary school gang bathrooms in all of them except Miltown because that's a fairly new building. The middle school HVAC upgrades, which includes the boiler replacement there,

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and air conditioning. Middle school classroom and cafeteria renovations, they're currently ongoing and expected to be completed in the fall. And the intermediate or upper elementary science room renovations. So, some several classrooms in Eisenhower

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and Hillside will see a a nice faceelift. Here's a breakout of all of our expense expenses just so you can see visually um where the biggest chunks are. And as you can see, salary and benefits, no surprise there.

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Now, our tax levy, we are allowed by law to increase it by 4.66 66% or $7.7 million by utilizing banked cap, which is unused tax levy that we did not use in a prior

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year, and a healthcare adjustment. Because the rise in health care costs for the state plan were so high for 2026, districts are allowed to increase their budget by that amount.

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And what we're proposing is 3.04. 04. So, we didn't want to just utilize the full waiver, full banked cap. Um, I've been seeing a lot of districts have been been doing that. We made a conscious effort to, you know, keep taxes on the

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lower end for the increase. So, with that, we're remaining 1.62% below the allowable limit and while also maintaining all of our district goals without having to sacrifice. Um, compared to everybody else in the

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county, based on all of their tentative budgets, we're the third lowest of the 17 districts, um, at which the county average is 6.23%. The estimated tax impact for the township of Bridgewater, now this is

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just strictly on the school portion of your tax bill. So, not the municipal, not the county portion. So the the chunk that's for the schools, this is what it's uh talking about. So the average assessed home of $629,800, we'll see an increase per 100,000 of

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$36.79 for the general fund. And the debt service portion will see an increase of $7.37. And for Raridan, same information. An average assessment of $323,225. An increase per 100,000 of $27.35

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for the general fund. And debt service, which is to backtrack, debt service is what our bond payment is for the referendum. That's an increase of $10 per 100,000 of assessment. This chart shows based on all the tentative budget information that's been

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released by the 17 districts in the county. Third from the left highlighted in orange is us Bridgewater with a tax levy increase of 3.04%. So you can see we're we're

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trying to stay on the low end. Um this was pretty much identical last year. we were in the same spot and you could see some districts raising over 10%, 8%, 7%. Um the average was 6.23. So we made a

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conscious effort to stay way below that. And with that, are there any questions? And uh before we get to questions, I I really do want to commend the the work of of Kevin, central office team,

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building administration, etc. to really comb through the budget and and see how we can can be true stewards uh of the public's uh dollars and cents to come at a 3.04. Al although it's not ideal, I I think we could all agree that we're

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doing a lot better than some of the surrounding communities, right? And and that could all blow up on us in a year. We know that because of healthcare, but um we were able to navigate this in a very challenging time and I appreciate

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the work uh of the administration and certainly the the uh the support and and the uh the engagement of the board of education. So, you know, we we started this process. I think we had our retreat back in February. So, we all got on the same page. We've asked a lot of

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questions. we've gone through things and and I just want to commend everyone that's been involved in this um uh to help us make difficult decisions because here here's the part and I know I I'm a broken record with this there there's no getting around this in until the nation

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or the state figures out a way to corral health care costs um we're going to be in this in this we're going to be playing this scenario out every single year and and if you look on NJ Spotlight or NJ.com, you see

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multiple districts every year who have really hit that fiscal cliff hard um where they're really cutting into bare bones of their operation. Now, now thankfully, you know, due to the stewardship of of our business office with Kevin and before him, Peter, we we've always been able

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to manage our budgets more effectively, I think, than most people. So, I'm talking too much, but but again, kudos to everyone involved. And uh hey, do we wish we could have stayed to uh 2%? Yes. But um but I I think we're doing a lot better than a lot of folks out there. So

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again, thank you and thank you for the support. >> Any question? Any questions from >> I have any questions from the board? >> Mr. Thank you. Um, you know, I know you mentioned some of the big projects that are going on across the softball, uh,

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you know, the roof replacement, some paving and painting work is, and then you sort of talked about the referendum projects. So, in that first part, if you go to that slide again, um, >> yeah. So for the ones that are not under referendum work, which ones are kind of

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more maintenance reserve funded versus uh capital reserves funded or are they uh funded by the operating budget, >> paving and concrete and painting? Uh we utilize maintenance reserve, roof replacements, a mix of rod grants, uh

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regular operating district grants. So, the SDA, School Development Authority of New Jersey, has a grant program where they we submitted for certain projects, most of them roof replacements, and they'll reimburse up to 40% of that project.

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>> So, 40% will be refunded by the state, and it's paid for out of capital reserve and the softball field improvements is part of the regular budget. >> All right, perfect. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> That just reminded me of one thing. If I could jump in, the referendum work, much

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of it is partially funded by the state as well due to the correct decision that the taxpayers made. So I know that's something we talked a lot about when the referendum was up, but I think it's still worth mentioning that a lot of this money is coming from the state as a result of the uh referendum that that we

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put out in the public support. >> Many of the projects in the referendum qualify for up to 40% reimbursement by the SDA as well. Are there any raw grant programs being done this year? Because we get 40% from the state for that too, right? >> Yes, we're starting two of them. Um JFK

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partial roof replacement and Bradley Gardens >> and those are regular operating grants which we actually don't we pay the up >> we pay up front and we request reimbursement as payments are made. >> It's usually about 40%. We usually get correct on that one. So it's not like the referendum we actually get better

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better we get more tax dollars from the state than that referendum but raw grants are hard to get. So that's great you guys that you were here your first time you know assisting in that correct you get to follow. So thank you >> Mr. S.

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>> I don't have a question. I just um first of all I want to say that the board I'll speak for myself. I take it very seriously um how our tax rates and the impact on our constituents. Um and I I you know it's

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unfortunate that we uh have these costs increase that we have. Um but I do want to apprec I do want to give my appreciation to to Mr. Beers, Dr. Fonder, and Mr. Lomsky uh who make the I'm going to say the really hard decisions that get us so that we can be

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in the number three spot as opposed to you know let's eight or ninth there is all over six 7%. Um so while I am um I'm aware of the impact that this has on our our stakeholders and our families um I

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do appreciate the work that this administration has done to to minimize that impact. Uh and you know that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. S. >> I have another question. >> Mr. Lake. >> Um I know we have what's the tenative

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budget and so you know between the tenative budget and then the budget that is on the agenda tonight. Have we seen any sort of big changes or anything like that or is it generally the same budget as before? >> It's identical to the tentative budget. No changes. I know that some of the

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developments that you mentioned I I don't remember if they were discussed or I didn't really ask about it at the last meeting but you mentioned how the cost of chips has gone up a lot in technology. Um has that been incorporated in the tenative budget and I guess same thing as the final budget.

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>> Yes. >> Yeah. All the the technology portion of the budget was estimated based on expected increases um with the chip increases. >> Chip increases. >> Yeah. That's a big part there. Um, and I'm also curious as well, like you know,

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you mentioned a couple of the different uh projects related to uh maintenance and then capital reserve. Are we expecting sort of or at least are you in the budget projecting that we're going to have more net inflows or outflows out of the capital reserve? And also what about the same for the maintenance

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reserve as well? Do you mean as far as us contributing more money into the reserves >> or is more money going to come out this year >> according to the budget we have? >> I think that's a question that's not really related to the budget because we're talking about closing out the current budget and what the potential

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>> uh surplus would be. So, I mean, I I think we need to refocus the question on what this budget is because again, as as I I would hope you'd know through through sitting at this table for a couple of years and being part of FFT, we know that the amount that goes into

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capital reserve is based on your surplus at the end of the year. And we don't have that figure now. So, any discussion about that would be hypothetical. >> We we have an understanding of where we'd like that surplus to be based off of the budget. Correct. >> But it's not on the topic is what I'm saying.

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>> But but But we we we have budget we have budgeted surplus. So what I'm asking is >> Mr. Respectfully you you've asked the question you've gotten a response. So it may not be and the response is that it's not directly applicable. So we'll have a chance to address it. You have the chance to address that

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>> um a number of different times but we'll stay focused on the budget as much as we can. >> It is budget. Uh, I'd like to echo Steve's comments um on the burden that this does place on taxpayers, but but also I wanted to draw

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attention again back to what you were saying uh about the rising cost of chips and how it affects technology specifically as it's related to AI infrastructure. This is actually an issue that's affecting uh the the market, the supply market in

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in general, especially around construction and consumables around construction. um it's just driving costs up exponentially for for projects all all over the place. Um so in addition to you know commending you guys for for

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providing an excellent education in this district and and and staying you know relatively low in a in a economic crisis that we're facing. Um, I also wanted to commend you for staying on

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budget for for the referendum given these circumstances. So, it's a lot of good work that's been done. >> Thank you. Yeah, thank you, Mrs. Locker. And and I think you hit on a a really important point is that as Kevin and the business

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office and and all of us are navigating this, there are macroeconomic forces that are just beyond our control and and we're in a reactionary phase and and you're correct where it seems like things are hitting you all at once where okay, health care costs are rising. Oh,

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um now gas prices are rising. Oh, now energy prices are rising. Oh, now chip prices are rising. So, it it it's really like a multiffront war we're fighting in a way. And uh I appreciate the comments. Thank you. >> So, I have a question. >> Anyone else who we see if anyone else

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has not asked any questions yet who would like to comment. >> All right. One last comment or question from Mr. Lee and then uh any further discussion can be uh had when the budget is uh up for approval during the business agenda. Mr. Lee, go ahead. Um,

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I guess you talk I guess one of the big saving drivers of savings for the district has been attrition um and slowly ticking down headcount, but maybe focusing more on the non-compensation side of the budget. What are some of the

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areas that you guys looked into to find sort of different cost savings for um non-compensation operating expenses in the budget compared to the last budget? everything. >> Uh the transportation rerouting is the big one. Big one. >> Um that probably would have seen an

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increase of close to 4%. Um and it's relatively it's flat. So that was a big help. And uh we've scaled back on a few um every year we budget construction amounts for projects, but

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with the referendum, the rod grants, we've scaled it back to just only the softball field. Um, so those were the big non-s salary accounts that were reduced. >> All right, sounds good. Thank you. >> Uh, thank you, Mr. Beers. Thank you, Mr.

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Lumpsky, for uh that budget presentation. Mr. Beers, anything else as part of your superintendent report before we move on? >> That'll be it. >> All right. Thank you. All right. We are up to the uh item eight, the president's report. Uh I just wanted to briefly uh recognize uh three different groups of

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people who make uh significant and positive differences in our school every day. The first I got to admit I didn't plan on mentioning until I walked into this building a few hours ago and I saw a sign. So thank you to whoever put up the sign that today is the fourth

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Tuesday in April which happily is today is bus driver appreciation uh day. You know, we hear a lot about transportation when there are issues that come up, but the uh you know, the hard work, the long hours, the early hours, and um I know the children are always perfect, but uh

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they dealing with our children every day. Uh always angels um still make this a demanding job and a critical job. So, uh on behalf of the board, I'd like to thank all of our bus drivers um who's who serve our our community, whether they work directly

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for the district or for a provider. And then along with that, everyone who's a bus aid uh and everyone here in the transportation department um because they play a vital role and in the day-to-day lives of our families and kids every day. So, thank you to them.

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Uh next, I just wanted to also recognize our parent teacher organizations. You know, every just about every meeting we have donations and gifts from the PTO's, but they do a lot more than that in running events and providing things that our our students and teachers need and

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just having that support, making our schools and creating helping to create a culture that make our schools a place where kids want to be and look forward to to going. That's in addition, of course, to a lot of other things that contribute to that. Uh, but they play a play play a big role. Um, and a lot of

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the PTO's I I've heard um just from being around the district put in a big effort for the students who are leaving and going to a a higher grade um to the next school whether that's the intermediate schools, the um middle schools or the high school. And this year uh I recognize that they have a big

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lift because two grades for the primary schools from each one are leaving to go to the intermediate schools and pretty much everyone from the primary schools are leaving. So, I know everyone does something a little bit different. Um, but we see the signs around town. We see a lot of different things that they do.

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Um, so thank you. I to them for putting in those efforts to to fund raise and to actually plan uh whatever it is they're doing on behalf of the kids who are leaving um the the schools that year, every year, but especially this year because um it's a much bigger bigger ask

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um financially and otherwise. Uh and just finally, I want to echo the comments of other board members. um complimenting and thanking the administration for the great job that they that they did putting together this budget. Um look, it would have been easy and I'm sure somewhere in the state or

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in the country, there's been an administration that's been like, "Yeah, all right, the 6% is the average in the county. Uh we can go up to four or 4.5 or whatever it is." H we'll move a few little things here and there, but um that that's not going to be our focus.

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We'll we'll the budget's going to be what it is. we're not paying it anyway. And that's not what we've seen in this district from the beginning, really from the time we passed our last budget, especially since the beginning of the year. Um, our administrators have put in time clearly going through line by line

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through this budget, creating a budget that's responsible to the taxpayers um with one of the, you know, the third lowest uh increase in the county, but more importantly, thinking and always keeping front and center what our children need. um we're not seeing

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increased fees or you know we we we eliminated we we eliminated fees a while ago. We're not seeing uh teachers cut um that serve our kids or or aids or things that serve our kids every day. Um so thank you for that effort on behalf of

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the board. Um, and I think it speaks to, look, if they're putting, and I know that they are, if our administration is putting half as much conscientious effort into the budget, kind of the the day job, the day-to-day running in the schools and the well-being of our uh, students. They put half that much

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conscientious into conscientiousness and effort into that, which I'm sure they put more into. I think that speaks to a lot of the successes that our district is having. So, thank you to Mr. beers and every and all our administration team for those efforts. >> We appreciate that. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. All right, that concludes my report and brings us to item nine, committee reports, beginning with the academic committee uh and Mr. Jooshi. >> Okay. Um we met on April 20th at 5:00 virtually. In attendance were myself, uh

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Mrs. Osuna, Mr. Walker, Mr. Pepe, Dr. Jones, and Mr. Beers. First item on the agenda was the textbook pilot, and this was for Spanish and science. Uh, Mrs. Wolf and Mrs. uh, Miss Matthews, uh,

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reviewed the process and current status of textbooks uh, pilot for grade 6 to 8, science and Spanish 1. Students feedback is still being collected. Uh final recommendations will be shared with the committee before the end of the school

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year. Uh slideshows have been shared in the board drive. Any questions? >> Some questions. Go ahead. >> Thank you. Um so I I I know I read the meeting minutes and it said that there

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would be like the materials and stuff like that um referencing the pilot textbooks. Where could I find that information? It's in the board drive. It should be in there. >> Which board drive? Which folder? >> Drive. Academic committee drive.

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>> Are you sure? >> Committee. >> It's in the committee folder. >> Yep. >> Okay. I'll take a look at that later because I wasn't able to find in the committee folder originally. >> But but respectfully, if you were looking for it, did you reach out to ask before right now? If you were looking for it and you didn't find it, you have

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resources here that could have gotten you information. So, I'm not asking a question. I'm just pointing that out. And then I guess another thing as well is when you were talking about this in committee, uh I guess what were some of the big things that you were looking at, key considerations, uh or things that

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you were trying to take into account when looking for a new textbook for Spanish one and also for >> So right now the students are giving feedback. So we're waiting for that first. Once that comes back, we'll have more questions as to you know why or why

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not students liked it or did not like it based on what was presented to them. Um the other things that uh I look for personally is that to see what resources these textbooks give in addition to just having your physical textbook and others

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uh many times you have um you know online uh access um and other virtual help that's there. So we look for that as well. Um and then obviously one thing is cost is cost is also important. So

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we'll ask questions about cost associated with getting new textbooks. Uh and if I miss something Dr. Jones um would you mind adding? >> Sure. They actually Jeremy go through the process too. So they explain how people pilot them. If they start off you

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know looking at their criteria and they're identifying five potential resources they'll create a committee. The committee should be representative of teachers in different grade levels if it crosses grade levels. And it should also be different types of classes. So you know um like your general education

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class, it might be like a co-taught class where they have um inclusion or you know students who are English language learners. So they they try to get teachers who teach different types of classes and then what'll happen is they narrow down the textbooks. This by

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the way is in the policy and regulation. and they'll narrow it down. And if they choose maybe two that the teachers like, they'll get in touch with the publishers. They sometimes have training. They'll have them explained because typically now they're both hardcover and online resources available

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too on the platform. So sometimes they need somebody to help them understand how to use the platform. And then they actually pilot them in the classroom and we collect feedback from the different teachers. teachers collect feedback from different students and then ultimately they make a recommendation. In the case

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of why are we even picking certain areas, it's typically when the text that's being used is very old or in the case of science, they don't have something that's common or consistent. Um, right now the Spanish one is the way that it's designed the curriculum is

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really thematic. So they're using multiple different text rather than having, you know, uh, one textbook that everybody uses. And so that's been something that teachers have actually asked for for several years now because um, this way you're more likely to have

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students kind of end in the same place and be prepared for the next level equally. >> So was there a Spanish one textbook before or >> many years ago? was and then it and then it was eliminated at some point and they went to >> really they were it was text based kind

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of like the way the English department is in high school that it's novel based so it worked more that way >> like you guys are trying to move into more like finding a natural text >> definitely with Spanish one yes and so if you go into the drive and you find it there should be an explanation of kind

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of you know that whole process that they used and probably there are two finalists at this point >> okay >> and and it's in I just looked. >> Yeah. >> Okay, I'll double check. And then for the I guess so you kind of picked out two, right? So are you piloting two

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right now or are we >> piloting one? >> They they pilot both. They and they collect feedback from the students and then from the teachers. And it's interesting because sometimes, you know, you like one text a lot, but maybe you don't like the platform as much and you see, you know, the benefits of the

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resources they have. I believe in both cases right now they're leaning towards the Savas or Savas um which is also what we use for math. So >> I I know a lot of textbooks and programs look great when you get them but once you dive in sometimes they're you find

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things that was missing from the glossy version that they send you. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. And my final question on this is have do we have any sort of preliminary feedback from teachers or students or anyone on the textbooks? >> I think that might be getting a little

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bit more >> I think it's beyond unless Dr. Jones has something. I think it's getting a little bit >> gr too granular for the board of education. They're piloting it. When they have a recommendation they'll bring things to us. >> I'm asking question. We do have feedback from the teachers

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because we know the direction that they're leaning and how we even narrowed it to the two choices to begin with. They are still in the process of collecting feedback from students. So I do not have that yet. >> All right. No problem. Thank you. >> You guys have a rubric too, right? You use a rubric for the grading. So they've got a you know a scoring system and you

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know so I even asked they even look for feedback from the kids. You know which one do they feel most comfortable with? Because that was something I was like hey what do the kids think? Like that's a good question. We'll get we are doing that. We have we're getting that feedback later. So it was a great that you're doing this. It usually runs about a 5year cycle for curriculum give or take and and it's based on what the

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state does for curriculum development also too. The science standards are changing Spanish. So you you constantly have to adapt. You guys are very very nimble on curriculum development getting it done. Thank you. >> Yeah. One of the good things is that I think with the Spanish they have something like the dual lingo type of

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online app as well. So it's good. All right. Uh item two uh AP discussion. Mr. Beers and Dr. Jones reviewed the rationale for AP studies at the high school. They specifically explained how uh proposed AP changes introduce

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significant risks to students wellness, instruction quality, equity, and program coherence. They also shift decision-making away from trained educators and create structural challenges that may undermine the very

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opportunities they seek to expand. For these reasons, the administration recommends tableabling uh the proposed AP provisions which lack domain expertise, place the board in legal jeopardy, and circumvent the district's overall goal. A more detailed

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explanation has been shared in the board drive. We adjourned at 6:27 uh p.m. and our next meeting is on May 18th. >> I have some questions. >> Yep.

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Uh, you know, I understand my policy proposed. I I wasn't in the committee meeting. I I read it. It's I don't know how extensive this conversation really was, but I'd just like to know how exactly does that policy that was proposed, I guess, bring risks to the

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different things that you mentioned, right? Wellness, instructional quality, equity, and pro program uh coherence. >> Jeremy, did did you see the uh >> I did. I did. Yeah. But I'd also like >> I'll read it. I'll read. Excuse me. >> Go ahead. >> Um, did you read it?

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>> I read it. >> Okay. Those were the answers in there. I mean, I can read it out loud if everyone wants me to. >> Go ahead. >> No, I said everyone. But I I think with the board, we provided our reasons. You may not

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accept them. >> Oh, I'd like to understand. >> No, I'm sorry. Mr. Beer's in the middle of a sentence. >> Thank you. Just a little bit of decorum would be nice. We provided a thorough explanation

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of why it's a terrible idea. You can choose to reject them, but that is the stance of the entire administration and the committee. Thank you. that. Um, Miss Lan,

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>> uh, Mr. Beers, do you do you remember it may have been last year, a couple years ago, one of the students use the term toxic achievement culture, which is the first time I I'd ever heard of of that term. Um, is is this sort of what was

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being sort of talked about in terms of mental health and well-being? >> Correct. Correct. >> I I I just want to >> I'm sorry. I haven't took her question. You can't let I can't ask my question. >> I recognized Miss Loran and she asked her question. So,

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>> does anyone else have a question or comment on this academic committee item, the AP discussion? >> Yeah, I do. >> Mr. Josh, go ahead. >> So, one of the things to consider, okay, when we um when we reviewed this and Mr. beers um shared this with us and I point

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you to one item number four the program viability where you know we need a certain amount of students to run an AP class. Okay, now we want um improvements in our

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classes. We want more AP classes. We want to give different types of AP classes. Now if we allow this and you know students do not take these classes and just take the AP exams what we end

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up doing is basically cancelling some of these AP classes that we're fighting for because you need certain amount of students to run a class. >> Okay. >> So it's you know what what is stated here

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um that Dr. Mr. beers provided is that the situation created is ironic. An amendment intended to expand AP access may actually reduce the AP courses we can offer, thereby reducing the AP access in itself.

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So it's just a defeating thing that we're doing here. >> So that >> but hold on hold on. The other thing that I really considered is the mental toll that it takes on kids.

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Yes, we've heard that, you know, kids can take six or they want to take six AP classes. And we've had cases here since I've been on the board, some terrible, terrible incidences have occurred because students cannot

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um tolerate or kind of navigate taking all of these classes all at once. They may say they can. Maybe it's the parents, but we have to be cognizant of

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what we're doing here. And these are the experts that we've hired. And if they're recommending this, then we should seriously consider it. >> Let me I have some questions. I have some questions. You give me my own point

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and then I'll go to the next person. Thank you. >> All right. just two two thoughts that I had and I concur with a lot of what's been said from the administration and Mr. Jooshi and the committee discussed um just just two things that stand out to me is that any academic institution is going to have basic set of rules

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that's not this that they follow and the students follow. Um I don't think there's a college in America, at least not a good one, that a freshman going into is going to be able to show up and register for nine courses because they think they can do it. Now, there might be a special exception somewhere on a

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case-by case basis. And I think that's still at at least within the realm of possibility here, but any institution of learning has to have some guidelines, some rules. One, for the student to make sure that they're actually learning and not just,

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you know, ticking off credits and, you know, maintaining some control within their institution. So, I don't think that we're um just by having some limits and some rules, I don't think that we're unusual for institutions of learning or certainly school districts in the state

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of New Jersey. And also, if people are interested, if kids are interested in learning about other things that it's not directly tied to their coursework, I I hope that they go out and do that. We have a fully stocked library with books on every topic in the world. The internet has lots of different ways for

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kids to go and learn about things that they're interested in and to enrich themselves and to think about what they might want to do in the future. That doesn't nec but but to do that to learn more to improve yourself to expand your horizons doesn't mean you have to take

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I'm not sure what the number is we're talking about seven eight nine AP courses at a time because I think that's becomes counterproductive at a certain point. So that's the only thing I wanted to say. Uh is there any further uh questions for M or comments on this? >> I have some questions.

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>> So >> Mr. Lee, go ahead. >> I mean uh Mr. Jooshi brought up a point about uh the cl the fact that allowing students to somehow self-study would lead to classes being cut. Was there any instances over however many years where

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or even one instance uh where like a bunch of students decided to self-study and then we started cutting classes all of a sudden? But that was not an option in the past. So we it's a it's an unknown. >> But what I can tell you is that AP enrollment has risen significantly since

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we got rid of this option. >> Right. That's so we can't prove causation. But but I mean that's one of the that's one of the issues. >> So has has any class been cut? >> Excuse me. Once again, Mr. Beers is in the middle of a sentence. >> Little bit of decorum, Jeremy. Just a

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little bit. These are complex issues that can't be always answered in a word or as quickly as you want. >> I will I'm sorry. I will say it again. Since we instituted this policy or I

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shouldn't say it's a it is not a policy. It this procedure enrollment in AP courses has expanded. >> I don't think that answers the question. Mr. negotiate anything else from the academic report. >> Oh, no. That's that's it. All right.

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Thank you. We're going to be moving on. >> I'd like to ask my questions because people brought up some points and I'd like this is large and and many of those points were answered in the document that Mr. Beers referred to earlier. >> It does not. >> Okay. That may not satisfy what you think is the right thing, but

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it answers the question. >> I don't think we're going to finance facilities and transportation committee report with Mr. Singer. Thank you. The finance, facilities, and transportation committee meeting committee met on April 22nd at 5:30 p.m.

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in attendance was myself, Mr. Maloney, Mrs. Lchran, Mr. Pepe, Mr. Lumsky, Mr. Beers with special guest star, Mr. Lo. Up first was a referendum project update. Mr. Toledo provided an update to ongoing referendum projects highlighting

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the current HVAC electrical upgrade projects at the primary schools that are nearing completion this summer but cannot be activated until the utility companies perform their service upgrades. District administration has made formal complaints to the board of public utilities to try and expedite this process. Bradley Gardens classroom

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repair work and safety inspections which uh state that there were no safety concerns regarding the ongoing work at the school. The middle school edition is expected to be complete on time during early summer and several new projects have already started during the school year or will

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begin this summer which include the middle school Eisenhower and hillside classroom renovations, primary school toilet reservations renovations, middle school HVAC and boiler upgrades and middle school clock and paging system upgrades. The last topic discussed

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regarding the referendum was the plaque for the middle school edition. The rod grant projects for JFK and Bradley Gardens partial roof roof replacement will also begin this summer. The recommendation of the committee is that changes will be made to the plea to align with board policy 7250

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and that is it. Are there any questions? >> Yeah, I have a question. Um so I know as part of these FFT discussions you look at the sort of quarterly referendum report usually we kind of take a look and for the different program sorry for the

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different projects we'll see how much over under budget and obviously we know HVAC's been an area where it's been a lot over budget. Um some areas have been under budget like the middle school edition. Uh, was there any discussion of the projects that were over and under budget and what that overall net amount

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was for the referendum and ongoing projects? >> Not this meeting. >> Is that something that the FFT committee would consider in the future? >> Well, as you said, we do that quarterly and we recently did that, so it's not time for that yet. >> Wait, so just for clarification,

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quarterly would mean four times a year. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Not every month, right? Okay. Four times a year. Okay. >> And the board gets we there was an extensive referendum update in the board brief that you sent us sharing on referendum.

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>> It doesn't cover the over under budget aspect of the referendum. I'll note that. >> Understood. Um if you have questions about that, you could certainly reach out, but it wasn't discussed at that particular meeting. >> I also didn't get a request for that prior to the meeting. >> Right. Anything else?

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>> Up next is the business agenda review. The business administrator reviewed the draft business action items for tonight's meeting with special attention to the purchase section which includes several purchases for the middle school addition for furniture, door swipes, and security cameras related to the referendum and several renewals for the

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upcoming 2627 school year as well as replacement of the large set of bleachers in the high school gym which is the last set of bleachers to replace in that gym. The consensus of the committee was to approve the action items. Are there any questions on that? Up next was our policy review of the

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6100 series. The committee discussed their review of that series with special attention to policy 6150 regarding tuition income. Currently, the district does not accept any non-resident students according to the policy and it was discussed if this should be changed and how it will impact enrollment and

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finances. The policy will be the recommendation of the committee was to discuss the policy at a later date to be determined and the committee will continue their policy review of 6200 and 6300 series for the next committee meeting in May. Any questions on that?

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Lastly, other matters. The business administrator provided an update on the Commons Way softwell softball fields improvement. District administration had met with township personnel who were working on the draft share usage agreement with the board attorney. The district will solicit proposals from

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engineering and architectural firms to assist with the spec specifications and construction management. There was no recommendation at this time. Any question on that? Mula >> just wanting we've been talking about the softball fields for a while. What's the target date for this to actually

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happen? >> Uh it won't be this year. >> Am I correct? Right. Yes. >> Yeah. Um but I'm told that the last meeting was very productive and the township is looking to move forward. They just have more questions on it

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>> and and and to be very hopeful we're we're hopeful for the fall, right? Which could be advantageous for us in in uh putting this out to bid, etc. because a lot of times contractors are are pretty tightly booked for the summer and

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this is a project that could potentially be done in in let's say September and October and be prepared for for um the spring. So that is our best case scenario. Fingers crossed. >> So opening day next spring. >> That's what we're hoping.

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>> Looking forward to it. >> We'll be there first pitch. >> Mike, you got the first pitch. You got it this time. I'm not doing it again for that. I think >> I tried to get you to do it. You weren't available. >> I know. >> We adjourned at 7:26 p.m. And our next

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meeting is Wednesday, May 13th at 5:30 p.m. >> All right. Up next is the personnel committee, uh, chairperson, Mr. Walker. >> Thank you, President Mike. Um, we met at the Wade building on April 21st at 5:30 p.m. In attendance was Dr. Fonder, Mr.

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Beers, myself, Miss Asuna, Mr. Lee, and Mr. Pepe. Uh the first item in the agenda was uh we looked at the draft personnel addendum for this meeting. The committee discussed the personal addendum items. Dr. Fonda reviewed specific sections of the sections of the addendum and answer questions. The committee the recommendation was the

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committee supported the action items. There any questions? Reappoint of bargaining unit staff members was the next item on the agenda. The committee reviewed the staff evaluation process and the work that informs the reappointment informs the reimportment process. The

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contract renewal decisions for non-tenured staff members are also discussed. The recommendation was the committee support the action items. Any questions? Personnel legal update. Dr. Fun reviewed a confidential legal issue regarding a district staff member and a related

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agenda item. The recommend the committee supported the recommend supported the supported the action item which is on the agenda this evening. Is there any questions? W nice. Uh recruitment update. Dr. Funer shared the information about the district's recruitment efforts and its

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positive impact on finding excellent candidates for open positions. The committee supported the recruitment efforts of the the district and I think it's be showing well and we always try to attract the best teachers and Dr. F and go and find them digging digging digging and find them getting them in. Thank you. Any questions

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other matters? Dr. F reviewed the administrator transfer for that was for that was being that will be recommended for the board this evening. The committee supported the action item. Any questions? And we adjourned at 6:34 p.m. Our next

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meeting will be May 12th at 5:30 at the Way Building. >> Thank you, Mr. Walker. We are up to community relations with Miss Slackran. Okay. Uh, community relations met on April 8th at 5:15. In attendance was

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myself, Mr. Jo, Mr. Johi, Mr. Singer, and Mr. Beers. It does say guest Mr. Pepe, but you were not there. Correct. >> I was not there. I was overseas. So, I'm sorry. I I should have caught that. >> Yeah. Uh I'll I'll see that to have that corrected. >> Nor nor was I attending virtually or

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anything along those lines. >> No, no, no. That's a Yeah. >> Uh so, the first thing that we discussed was the school calendar. Uh we have discussed this before. um some changes were made based on feedback that we had received from um stakeholders and

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teachers and we are we that's on the agenda for today. Uh the second thing that we talked about was uh BOE protocols and the use of electronic devices by board members at public meetings. Uh we are preparing to review

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that policy more thoroughly and we'll potentially have a uh first reading for the board at the next meeting. Um and well I guess I should ask are there any questions? Great. Um we also discussed the BOE

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planning calendar. Um, and I believe the conclusion at the of that discussion was that we would put it forth to board leadership. Whether or not you wanted to go back to the old way of reading it before the board, I don't

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know if that's been discussed. >> It it has not, but it's a great question. I I do think that a planning calendar helps keep us on track and mindful of some of the key things that the board does, some of the high level things that the board needs to make sure it takes care of especially I think we're approaching a CUCAC year. I don't

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know if it's this year or next but regardless of whether it is we want to be staying on top of those things. So I think it's a good way to keep the board informed of things that we need to do. Obviously we have the administration's help but >> right and in previous years that was done by the vice president. I will leave that up to you to determine if you want

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to continue that tradition. Um and then last we >> giving you homework. >> Uh and last we discussed uh policy 2464 and uh the community relations committee had the same conclusion as the academic

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committee that we agree with uh administration and have no further recommendations at this time. And that was all. Wait, did we we didn't have any walking dimes. That was all we had. >> I have a question. >> Okay.

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>> Okay. I apologize. >> Why would the community relations committee consider an academic committee item? >> Uh I believe that we discussed it because there was communications going back and forth and we were disc honestly

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it was a very brief discussion about it because we're not academic committee. It was more about >> and and another one is in that policy it really was asking for the board of education to take an oversized role in

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student affairs that it doesn't typically do. >> What's that oversized role exactly? >> It's a role beyond what the board is supposed to do, which is allow the administration to do their >> I just want to see if you actually read the policy because I'd like you to actually tell me what exactly the board's role would be in that policy. I'd like

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>> Exactly. You don't have a role in detecting. >> No. What would the policy propose? What would that role be? >> In what way? >> Hang on one second. I think I don't think I don't think this is an inquisition. This is my board report. One person at a time, please. Mr. Lee

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asked a question. No one has to respond. If someone wants to, they are welcome to. Well, I'm just asking because it says that that the policy as proposed, which I proposed, would uh overtly increase this the the the board's role

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in and and and I'm I'm just curious like what specific part of the policy that is and and what exactly that that entails. >> Um I think that really what it came down to is that we took the recommendation of administration and uh that was the end of my report. Thank you.

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>> Okay. Thank you. All right. Uh we are up to liaison and delegate reports. Are there any liaison and delegate reports? >> I have a few. >> Mr. Singer. >> Sure. Uh on April 9th, the uh town the

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Bridgewater Town Council met and they recognized uh some of our students who are actually sitting here today. uh the founding students of New Jerseys first high school chapter of the American lung cancer screening initiative including Krishna Dolapali, Anne Singh, Krishave,

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Anaya Ashar, Ela Sichev and Kavadri. uh this uh high school club um many of whom are juniors actually authored a policy and position papers uh that has received bipartisan support at the state

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legislature and is now uh the first responders and veterans lung cancer screening asset access act and they reached out to 80 organizations or first responders to promote lung cancer screenings. As I said many of them are here and I imagine you might be speaking about this later on. Is that accurate or

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no? No. >> Okay. Well, either way, um uh these students have met with uh town council members uh to work on these position papers. Uh as I said, it's received uh bipartisan support at the state level.

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Uh so I think it's something we should all be very proud of. Uh they also spoke at the town council meeting um incredibly well and I just wanted to congratulate them for that. the >> could could I just jump in with a related Ritan report? I understand that some of those same students are uh

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talking with and working with the uh administration and mayor Ritan to make a similar presentation and I know that town cares deeply about first responders and veterans obviously the hometown of John B John Basalone. So anything with veterans like uh people in Bridgewater we care very deeply about. So thank you

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for reaching out to them and uh presenting there soon hopefully as well. Town Council also gave their budget presentation on April 9th, but I will not be going into that. Uh, my next report is that the Somerset County School Boards Association is having their meeting on May 4th at the Votech,

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at which time Hillside's own Kieran Massud will be recognized as Somerset County Teacher of the Year. Uh, so I hope you all can make that. Uh, on a side note, I want to note that um, Colleen Damonte has been recognized as uh, she's a special education teacher at BRMS and she was honored by Magic 98.3

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as a teacher who makes magic and there was an event honoring 18 teachers including Mr. Mrs. Damonte um, who was nominated by a peer and we just want to send our congratulations both to Miss Massud who we'll see next week and Mrs. Damonte uh,

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Okay. The delegates assembly has uh six resolutions being voted on. Uh that's May 16th, I believe. Uh as well as a new vice president of legislation will be elected. Um we can discuss those resolutions uh during new business if that works for the uh leadership.

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Mike, does that work for you? >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh then that's all I have at this time. Thanks. >> Sorry about that. >> That all Steve, could you send a quick link to the resolutions? Do you mind to everybody? >> I think the handbook was sent out today to everyone. >> Okay. >> But if you don't have it, let me know

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and I'll see you today. >> Okay. >> I think you got to click through a couple things once you get to there. >> Yeah. >> I think it's a direct link, but it's a link to the site that it's on. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Sorry. >> I just wanted to add to that that there was some confusion over whether or not we had submitted like our name was um

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somewhere in in at the end of one of the resolutions, but um we have not. So, so I have a question. So, I know the last time uh Dr. Lee was our delegate assembly member and we I guess basically as a board told her

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how to vote on certain things and and all that. Are we going to do the same thing for this for this round of resolutions? >> I literally just said that we will talk about that in new business. >> Well, I'd like to hear a little bit about that right now. >> Why now and not new business?

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People in the public deserve to know. We're going to talk about it at new business and no one is telling the I don't think anyone told Dr. Lee how to vote on anything. >> So that's something that it's up to the to the delegate. They can take information from the board and

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information from the discussion of the delegate assembly and make their own conclusion based on what they think is best for the district. That's my understanding anyway. >> I I actually disagree. I think that the that the delegate from this board to the delegates assembly should reflect the uh desires of this board and not come to

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their own conclusions which is why I have the six resolutions here to discuss during new business so that I can get a sense or Jen can get a sense because she's actually going to be the representing delegate uh at that time. And I agree that that while I understand

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what you're saying that as a the person that'll be at the delegates assembly, I want to hear what the board has to say and I will my vote will >> obviously convey the board's wish. >> Right. I I look I I think that the the will and the and what people say here is

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important too. So I just respectfully think that I mean when I was the delegate for for two years there were some times where we had there was one year we had 16 resolutions and we didn't discuss them all here certainly or we would have been here to to 2 a.m. so if not longer and um that kind of took them

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at their face. A lot of them had broad support and were not particularly controversial. Um, but I just to to be clear, when I was the delegate, I did go back and forth a little bit and take from the assembly how I would vote, but of course that's

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>> people are welcome to make their own. >> Understood. And I appreciate that, but I wouldn't want anyone to question uh the the vote of our delegate to the assembly. >> Understood. >> Great. And I have one report. Um the the

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Ed Foundation club at the high school had their very first uh volleyball tournament. It was very successful. It was on April 10th, I believe. Uh and to that end, the larger Ed Foundation is still holding the third annual golf

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tournament on July 10th. So July 10th, right? >> Ninth. Sorry, 9th. April 10th was the the volleyball. July 9th. July 9th. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Jooshi. Are there any

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other liaison or delegate reports? >> There's one thing I'd like to bring up from a NJS New Jersey schoolboard association standpoint. um the the five key associations, the PTA, the New Jersey School Board Association, the NJA, the National NASBA, the New Jersey

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Business M business administrators, the New New Jersey Association of Superintendents, and New Jersey Association of Principles and Supervisors drafted a letter and sent it to to Governor Cheryl advocating that steps be taken, measures to help affect

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and impact the rising cost of healthcare that we're all seeing right Now, this is a unified effort by five organizations. Did we all agree on all the issues at first, but it was signed by all of them and sent to Governor Cheryl on April 22nd. So, Kevin and Bob and Karen, your

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groups are stepping in and as well as the association. So, they all were there. But it's a strength trying to move forward that we know the current situation healthcare is unsustainable. um you know the the state state plan was up 34%. And I think there's expected to

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go higher from some of the things saying so we have done our administration has done a great job mitigating through self insurance but others have not as we've seen and it's difficult. So something that they're doing collectively doing it so there is a larger group so feel free to you know being your senators if you want a copy of it I can send you a copy

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of that resolution or the letter if you'd like. So that's all. So they're the larger group that you are a member of and the other groups are supporting and trying to advocate on a high level. >> Right. Any further liaison or delegate reports? Right. Seeing none, I'm just going to

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jump in to respond to something that Mr. Lee had said earlier, and I'm going to give him a compliment because it's true in the policy that um he sent to the board and and put before us in March at our last meeting. Um there there wasn't oversized role for the board, at least

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at my brief review of it. However, in February, we received a different version of that policy that had considerable uh role for the board, including uh directly hearing appeals, uh getting annual or semiannual reports. So, I just want to compliment Mr. for

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kind of realizing that that was not the role of the board and uh making the adjustments when he bought the policy forward again. So, congratulations. I mean, thank you for kind of educating yourself on what is the role of our board and a board member um before bringing this new policy to us. Um so,

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that's an improvement at least. So, thanks. >> Let me let me let me just address that briefly because I I think it's worth discussing because you just brought it up. You talked about how it's not the board's job to receive reports. It's also not the board's job to hear about

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any specific appeals or or grievances, but the reality is that statute. Um, and I think there's there's multiple various different examples of uh things that the board hears direct appeals about relating to students and confidential information. HI is one of those good

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examples. Um, you know, we we hear about these appeals and we receive them and you know, we deal with student confidentiality. We deal with individual student uh issues every single time. And the reality is that as the board, we're at the top of the org chart, which means

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that if there's no administrative solution, it's up to the board to determine what that solution is. And I, you know, if you read through the policy, you'll find that actually goes straight up >> the or chart. >> All right. Sure. Well, thank you for that. >> It's not true. That is an outsized role, right? >> And it's the board's job to be informed

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of what's going on in the district to ensure that policies are being followed to ensure that the district is wellrun. So that's 100% in the purview of the board. >> Well, nonetheless, there's not a role for the board of education and we don't determine grades. For example, if you're getting that grant, the board would

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never hear an appeal about a student's grade, for example. You weren't going to get into the whole thing, but nonetheless, uh you uh scaled back that policy and the board's role significantly uh from your kind of first version of your second version. So, I gave you credit for that. Uh we are now moving on to item 10, open to the

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public, uh which is also uh our budget hearing. So individuals and or groups are invited to present their concerns, comments, and requests to the board of education at this time for any matters. In accordance with board policy, members of the public are allotted an opportunity to address the board for a

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maximum of five minutes during this period of the meeting. Uh and again, this does function as our this will be our annual public hearing on the budget which will be taken up later. So any comments on the budget are welcome at this time as well. Um, just please be

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advised that a video recording of this meeting will be posted on the district's website and if you could sign in and give your name and municipality of residents before starting. So, thank you for your patience and thank you for being here. >> Sign in. >> I believe so. There should be a signin

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sheet there. >> And and if I could just ask, are you addressing us as one group or individually? One group. Okay. Thank you. that we still get five minutes per person, right? >> But >> five minutes as a whole. >> As a whole. Okay. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Point of order. Uh, each member of

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the public gets five minutes. >> Well, they can go come as individuals. >> They're coming up as a group. >> Would you like to come in as a group or you come in as an individual? >> You have to address the board. >> I understand that you have a you're angry. I >> understand you're angry,

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>> but >> but I believe the policy does allow people to have five minutes. So even if it's for a group, they can decide if they want to speak individually, if they want to carry on for that. We are on

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>> we are we are on on to public comment. If if there's anything else you want to send us, feel free to send me an email or the board and we'll make sure we get it out to everyone. But thank you very much for being here. I appreciate it. >> Okay. Uh just to clarify, uh we will take it as a whole group. I Okay. Thank you, Mr. pointing that out, but we believe we can get it through it in five

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minutes. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Um good evening. Uh my name is Christian Eli and I'm a junior at BRHS right now and specifically I serve on the fundraising committee for the Bridgewater River United Nations. So I just want to start with something

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personal. When I was a freshman, public speaking terrified me. I would stutter. I would stammer. I could not get through a single sentence without pausing. And I joined Model UN because I heard it would help. But I was nervous. I fumbled through my first few debates, I lost more than I won. But I kept coming back

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because somewhere in the countless meetings I attended and the countless conferences I went to, full of students arguing about topics such as nuclear proliferation and refugee resettlement, I realized that I was learning to think on my feet. And that is what Molly gives us. Few years later, I've given speeches

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in front of hundreds of people. My uh learning about policy directly led me to create the first responders and veterans act along with my peers. But let me give you the numbers. Our flagship conference is Monday in New York. It is the largest high school model in the United Nations in the conference with over 5,000

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schools from over 300 uh 30 countries. Sorry. We've received a congressional proclamation for that achievement. This year we advanced. We earned a first place delegation award for research and preparation out of 300 schools plus more individual best delegate awards than

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before. We have also won outstanding delegation awards at most of the local conference conferences we've gone to uh such as academy model UN in B County and North Brunswick Township High School. We are bringing a recognition and honor that this district's mission statement promises for every student. The mission

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says teach them one them all. Inspire, engage and educate. Challenge all to grow and exceed. And we have held up that our end of the promise promise. We've grown, succeeded, and we've made this proud and honored. However, we currently attend only one

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major conference per year and that is Nisman. Like Krishna just mentioned, last year the cost was $500 and this year it spiked to 630 and with obviously inflation and other costs, it's projected to go up to even more 700 plus next year. And we want to expand options

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to other conferences to make it more affordable for students, but that's simply not possible without any funding. And Krishna's team has done a lot of effort in getting funding. We secured a $1,000 grant from the Pikatini Arsenal base, but it's simply not reducing cost enough. And we've used financial aid to

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put uh several students on trips who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend. But $700 for simply one conference throughout the year is simply unacceptable. And we've tried other options such as Nimon in DC which is also $600 to $700 as well as Monok

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Philly which would be $400 to $500. So we are requesting a simple funding amount to help subsidize some of these costs. So here's our simple ask. We ask that this board allocates us $10,000 annually to cover the registration fees for our national conferences as well as the Ivy League conferences including

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NISMON, Harvard, Yale, and Princeton and so many more. This amount is less than what other programs receive for far fewer students. It is less than the cost of the bleachers that are going to be discussed later in this agenda. And it is a money that already exists in the budget's complete accounts. So not

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trips, not hotels, just registration fees. Enough to level the playing field. So the student who wants to debate the world's biggest issues does not have to first debate with their parents about the family budget. Now I want to talk about policy. Two years ago this district eliminated

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student activ student activity fees. You made a clear statement. No student should be priced out of an education. That was the right decision. The question I'm asking tonight is whether the same principle applies to what we do. Because MAUN is education. It happens outside the classroom, but it's

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still considered education. It teaches diplomacy, public speaking, research, and leadership. It builds global awareness. It challenges students to grow and succeed. That is exactly what your mission statement promises. So, if the district believes that no student should be turned away because of a cost,

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then that belief should follow us not just to the classroom, but to the conference room as well. Not just to the school building, but to New York, Harvard, Philadelphia, etc. to every place where Bridgewater Veritan students go to represent this district. For the student who is finding their voice, for

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the club who has brought national recognition to this district, and for every student after us who deserves the same opportunity I had to walk into a room nervous and walk out knowing that they can change the world. Thank you so much for your time and consideration tonight.

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>> Thank you. Thank you all very much for your comments. I appreciate it. should be all signed. Um, Mr. Beers, Mr. Lomsky, I >> It's okay. >> No, that's okay. >> We got you. Thanks.

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>> And and thank you for coming. I don't I don't typically do do it back and forth and and uh ladies gentlemen certainly this is something I'll follow up on, you know, with the principal and through those channels and I I would I would appreciate furthering this conversation with you and and again thank you for

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your cander and for your professionalism in in your presentation and uh this is an activity that certainly has my support and I I believe I could speak for the board to say everyone sitting here has its support. So, if there there's a mechanism we need to figure out to to fund this moving forward uh

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that's not currently being done, I'll certainly go through those channels and uh and uh do what we can to make it happen. >> Thank you so much. And we do appreciate you guys hosting us here tonight. This was my first time in one of these meetings. I actually learned a lot. So, it's really interesting. So, thank you. >> Thank you for Thank you very much for

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coming. I'm sure your meetings are just as entertaining though. >> No, I can. And and I'm sorry I I know it's not supposed to be back and forth. Is there a competition coming up that you're not able to go to? Is is this or is it for next year that we're really talking about?

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>> It's more so for next year's kind of ended at this point, but we do plan on going to more like national conferences next year just to like open up opportunities for students. >> Okay. So, there will be time to to figure this out. >> I appreciate you guys coming. I know it's late. Thank you. Awesome. I'll be

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in touch. >> Right. Is there any further public comment or uh comments for the budget hearing? >> Thank you. >> I'm a little rusty myself, so I should >> And again, our emails are on the website, so if there's anything else you want to send us or to Mr. Beers, um feel

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free to do that and we'll pass it along to the right people. Thanks. I just I do have a a quick question before I start to speak. I'll be speaking on behalf of myself to start and then um somebody in the community was unable to attend the meeting tonight. Um does the clock start?

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Unfortunately, we just have to give you five minutes um just for each person who's here. Okay. >> Um but if you have something you want to read, feel free to do that as part of your time. >> Okay. Thank you. Yeah, I will try to um >> I have paperwork both from myself and from her. So, if >> of course, if you want to leave us

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something, we can u get copies out to the board. If if that individual wants to send us an email or a letter or something or get in touch, we can make sure that gets to everyone. Our emails are on the board. You can email Mr. Beers and Mr. LSK. >> Okay. Thank you very What I'll probably do is just try to paraphrase what she

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said if I if I have time. So, um, and let me just set my timer, so um, I know how long I'm going. Okay. Um, >> so, good evening. My name is Katherine Choy from Bridgewater, and I want to speak tonight about transparency.

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Up until 2024, the administration partnered with families on gifted and talented education. At the February 2024 strategic planning meeting, families shared their concerns about transparency and the future of the AI program. I was sitting at a breakout table when Dr.

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Jones assured parents that quote, "We know how important this program is to the community. It's not going anywhere." Yet, here we are after an unexpected announcement this past February that the AI program will end within months.

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People are understandably frustrated. The community had no advanced knowledge that the administration decided to end a solid academic program. The parents of children currently in the program didn't receive a letter for weeks about the change directly

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impacting their kids. The board was told that the decision wasn't even up for a vote. The administration's plan for the current AI students lacks rigor and puts undue pressure on our teachers. It seems that feedback from the community is being

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ignored. I thought the district had a goal to improve transparency. Why did the community partnerships stop and can they resume? Why must the AI program end with this school year? Why can't there be a more inclusive plan for how to strengthen our

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district's strong academic standing? I ask all of you on the board to please take a step back to review this administrative decision. Please don't allow the AI program to be abruptly canled under these stressful circumstances. Let's come together as a community and

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figure this out. Over 250 people have signed a petition asking the board of education to retain the AI program. As and I have that here if I can hand it to whoever at the end of my talk. As our elected representatives, we respectfully

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ask that you listen to our families and to ask questions to our administrators. When voting tonight, please take exception to the elimination of the AI program and have the rest of the budget move forward. Thank you for your consideration.

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>> Thank Thank you for your comment. Did you have anything? You still have some time if you have anything else you'd like to share. >> Okay. Yeah. I just wanted to check my timer how much time I had. >> Understood. Um, so this is uh again a woman from the community was unable to attend the meeting tonight. Um, her name

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is Cindy Alexi. She lives in in Martinsville. Um, and so I will read uh again I'll paraphrase parts of this. Uh, it is kind of a long letter that she she has. Um, and I don't have the time to read it all. Uh, her name is Cindy Alexi. She was I was unable to attend

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tonight's meeting, but I asked Katherine Choy to please read my comments regarding the AI program as I have 30 years of history regarding the program. She is a 35 plus year resident of Martinsville and has two children who attended the AI program. She became

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involved with Apex, which is the association of parents for educational excellence in 1994 to 1995 school year when one of the members attended a board of education meeting in August and heard that the district was considering eliminating the program due to the cost of busing.

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Um, basically over the years there were issues that came up. The administration brought in various experts uh wi with uh I'm sorry with with uh very very detailed information on uh

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gifted programs and the need to really uh provide differentiated teaching for students who require it. Um an endeavor that a group of parents took on culminated is what they called the ideal proposal. um individualized,

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differentiated, enriched, accelerated learning which uh she printed out and provided to me here and I just have one copy but I'd be happy to provide it with the all of you. Um and in conclusion um we must look at what works and

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investigate how to preserve the program currently as we move forward. Every year the budget is an issue as the state continues to provide less for school school districts like Bridgewater Riden School District. We now have a unique program which other school districts

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wish they had. This program is not to be thrown away but to pre preserve it like a rare masterpiece. I ask the administration and board of education to read over what I have what I have provided. Um again this is all this is historical details from 20 20 years ago

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but it still is is very relevant. And again review the report by Dr. Lenor Cina, the consultant you hired as she does not recommend eliminating the self-contained AI program. The program does not cost $500,000 which is stated at a board meeting because the teachers

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are tenured and the busing costs are nothing compared to the damage, impairment and detriment to a child who learns differently. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your comment and certainly if you'd like to reach out to that individual and tell them to get in touch with us.

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>> Okay. Can I provide the documents to somebody in the petition? I don't know who I >> Mr. Lump >> provide >> you bring it over here. I'll take it from you and get it to the right people. Thank you. this. Okay. All right. Good evening. My name is Jen and I'm a parent of a

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child currently in the AI program. I'm also here in support of our kids and I want to give them the opportunities, all the opportunities to succeed in this crazy world of ours, regardless of whether they're in general ed, special

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ed, AI, SGI, or anywhere in between. As Katie mentioned, we have a petition from over 250 parents of kids who are currently in the AI program and have long since graduated from the AI program. And those 250 plus parents

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support the AI program as it currently stands. And so to give our children the opportunities to succeed, I hope you as parents and members of the BOE will support that as well. So I ask before you vote to adopt this

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budget, I'm asking you to pause and to ask the questions that have not yet been answered. First, the elimination of the AI program was not brought to this board as a standalone proposal.

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It was embedded in a budget proposal, budget document without a separate vote and without the full deliberate deliberate uh deliberation that a decision of this magnitude deserves. This community has not yet received

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answers to the questions it has asked. And now this board is being asked to approve a budget that makes that elimination permanent. Make no mistake, a vote to adopt this budget is a vote to end the AI program.

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Once this budget passes, program staff will be reassigned, cohort placements dissolved, and a year of appropriated gifted education cannot be gifted back give back given back to these children.

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Second, we we need the administration to demonstrate that the replacement for this AI program is academically equivalent to AI as it currently stands. One of your consultants, Dr. Cortina, reviewed this district's gifted programs

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in 2023, and she recommended retaining the AI program while while adding SGI and cluster grouping as a supplement, not a replacement. This administration is now doing ex precisely what she

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advised against. And yet the curriculum for this risk placement has not yet been fully developed or shared with the community. Will there be a gifted cluster in every school for grades two through five? What does differentiated instruction

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really mean and actually look like for identified gifted learners under this new model? Right? We cannot evaluate whether the replacement is academically equivalent to AI when the details of that replacement have not yet been provided.

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Finally, this board has the ultimate legal and fiduciary oversight of this district. The New Jersey Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act requires districts to ensure equal access to a

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continuum of service of gifted services. And if this DIS administrative decision violates that statute, this board is accountable whether you whether or not you personally made that call.

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You cannot disclaim responsibility for administrative decision and then approve the budget that defunds it in the same breath. Directing the administration to bring a compliant plan before approving funding is not is a non is a not for a

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non-compliant one is not an extraordinary task. That is oversight. That is this board's obligation. And tonight that is what we as parents of this district are asking you to fulfill.

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Thank you. Thank you for your comment sir. Any further comment this evening? >> Hello. Good evening, Lenor El Karu, Bridgewater resident. Um, I want to be direct with this board.

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The proposed replacement model for gifted education does not comply with New Jersey state law. It is not an opinion. It's a statutory analysis. The Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act NJ NJSA18A35-36 requires districts to provide a

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continuum of gifted and talented education services and to ensure equal access to those services across the district. The district's new model consists of 40 minutes of SGI per week and inclass cluster grouping. That is

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not a continuum. It is a single enrichmentbased tier. Every district ranked above Bridgewater Raritan, New Jersey maintains a dedicated gifted program. Every single one. Furthermore, the district's own published plan uses

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the word may when describing cluster group activities. May incorporate differentiated instruction. Not will, not shall, may. that disc discretionary language does not satisfy the statutory requirement to

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design and document appropriate instructional adaptations and there is an equity violation embedded in the new model. SGI eligibility is determined by a school relative threshold top 10% within a

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child's home school. That means a child in a high-erforming school who would qualify district-wide is locked out while a child in a lower performing school gets access. That is not equal access. That is a structural inequity

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baked into the design. We urge the v the board to vote no on this budget as proposed and to delay the removal of the AI program until an adequate adequate equivalent self-contained program has

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been established. Thank you. >> I thank you for your comment. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. five minutes, right? >> Yes. >> Great. >> Yep. Appreciate that. Thank you.

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Good evening. My name is Indra Prianga. I am from Bridgewater. I want to talk not about law or research but about the children. I was not in a gifted program when I was in school. I did not have what my son has. And I will tell you,

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watching him in the AI program, watching him challenged, watching him find his people, watching him come home excited about math and reading and all of the subjects. Uh, I understand something that no data

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point can fully capture. This program changes lives. It has changed my son's life. It's changed some of the parents who are here. and has changed the lives of students for over 40 years. The children in the AI program are not

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abstract policy subjects. We discuss policy here. You debate policy. You agree on policy. These are second and third graders right now who will be returned to their home schools next year with no specialist teacher, no cohort,

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one 40inut pull out session per week as their gifted education. That is a regression. And for these students, it means repeating curriculum that they have mastered. You've received a petition from over 250

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people. You have reviewed and quoted Dr. Renzelli's research. You have Dr. Cortina's slides and her recommendations from 2023 for this very district. All of the evidence points in one

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direction. Accelerate and enrich. Accelerate and enrich. It's not just about one or the other. It's about both. As my fellow residents have indicated, let us reach all children regardless of

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where they fall on the academic spectrum. Dr. Renulli and Dr. Cina researched and supported it. Mr. Beer said, "We are the only district that has this program in the state. That is not a disadvantage or

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some outlier of the state, but a diamond. It's the reason why my wife and I came to Bridgewwater because of the academic excellence that has always been in Bridgewwater again back to the 1990s

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and it's related and embedded in academic excellence accelerate and enrich. The only question tonight is whether this board will follow the evidence. We discussed the budget today and the last couple of meetings. This

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very discussion happened 20 years ago in 20 2005 when the board had to debate during that time of budget crunch whether or not to get rid of the AI program and they held strong and they stayed with the AI program. They were challenged to cut the

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program at that time and the board followed the evidence. We are not asking you to do something complicated. We are asking to preserve a program that is working, that the research supports, that the law requires, and that families say benefits their children. Please

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consider this when you're vote voting tonight on adopting this budget. Protect these kids and protect Bridgewater and the future of all these children. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment, sir.

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Any further comment this evening? Good evening. >> Could I read his name as well? >> No, that's not necessary. Um, good evening. My name is Lu. Uh, I'm a Bridgewater resident. I've been here several times. So, you guys probably

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know me by now. Um, I want to say that actually in the beginning of the public section, um, those children, students had conversation with the superintendent. I think that was great. I wish we can do that for all the questions and comments we have here. Uh, we used to be able to do that. I don't

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know a few years ago somebody changed the rule that you know what does not respond to the public comments. Um I don't know why but you know we don't think that's really making sense because all the questions have been asking all the requests have been you know asking we haven't got anything back. Um you

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know if we can have some back and forth here that'll be great. Um so another thing is like uh after the last board meeting I can I went back and my daughter uh talked to my son and my daughter is in the sixth six sixth grade she's 12 she said she was going to come

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here for this meeting um she felt strong about protecting um the AI program and making some comments um but a few days ago she said she couldn't go we she was have activities on Tuesday nights um but she was going to skip that come here.

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But after watching the replay um of the last a few meetings, she that's what she said. She she that's what she said. I want to be debate. I don't want to stand here and just sharing my comments when the board may not even pay attention to what I'm saying. So she said she's not

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coming. But she gave me her speech so I can you know speak on her behalf. But making my points about you know having a conversation back and forth will be much better. So this is what she has. Um I want to share my experience. I joined

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SGI and the class groups in fourth grade. Um AI and E classes are teaching a grade level above but SGI is preparing a plantation by meeting warm time each week and you are missing class time for it. Class groups are some extra

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worksheets with no instruction or feedback. programs like this were not teaching us anything in the first place and should not be considered to replace the AI programming. Second, I also heard that many students in the sixe class were not in AI and

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that was used to suggest AI might not be necessary. However, that's not the full story. We enter the sixe classes with different backgrounds. For me personally, I took the Kogat test in first grade and second grade which were not on Saturday and we

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did not have to sign up for and I was not even close to qualifying for the AI program. But later we moved to Bassing Ridge. I took third grade and first half of fourth grade there. And to be clear, I did not qualify for the isolated

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program Bing Ridge offered. I was a average student there. But when I returned to Bridgewater in the second half of fourth grade, I realized the material were learning in Bridgewater is what I learned at Busing Ridge during third grade. So suddenly I became the

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more advanced student in Bridgewater and that's how I qualified for five and six classes. It's not accurate to say the AI program has no distinct outcome, no advanced pathway. The AI program is not a dead end.

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And third, although we are in the same sixe classes, we are not the same level. The students who have never been to E or AI programs before are struggling more than the other students. At the same time, some more advanced students in my

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classes are already learning calculus. They are only in the same classes with us because we there's no more advanced options available for them. In some other districts and countries, what we call advanced program is just average students there don't have to

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join any special program to learn what our students have to join the AI program to learn. And that may explain why some top schools don't have a AI program because that's the regular classes. So instead of removing opportunities, why

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don't we improve the car curriculum for all students um for all for our regular class and AI classes? Um they could and should probably be strengthened. Finally, students are the future. They have the potential to make our world a

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better place. Um why would you want to limit theirs and your future by restricting their learning? And uh that's her speech. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. May about 30 seconds left. Did you have anything else you wanted to share with the board?

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>> Um I just want to say um I mean we don't have that many parents till this evening, but we here you know presenting them. Um we they sent petition to show their opinion. So want to make sure um the number of people here don't don't make you think it's not

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that many people care about this thing. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Right. Oh, you have something, too. Thank >> my name is Yay Yun and I'm in the third grade AI program. First, putting an AI student in a normal

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classroom is like putting a swan with a penguins. It has the ability to fly, but it will never be taught how to because penguins don't. Second, all kids work at different paces and uh

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and uh Hey. High kids can put normal kids at unnecessary stress to work faster, which isn't good. Third, my sister had cluster groups and all she got was worksheets that didn't get graded. Is it still like this? Fourth,

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the SGI program is one period a week, which is a big drop from AI's all day advanced learning. Last but not least, educating future leaders. Do you want them to not be challenged? Thank you. Thank you very much for your comment. I

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appreciate you coming out espec especially on a school night. Thanks. Thank you. Any further comment from the public on any matter and specifically on the or spec specifically on the budget? All right. Seeing no one else, I'm going

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to close uh the session of public comment. Thank you everyone for uh coming out and addressing us tonight. All right, we are up to section 11 of the agenda. Approval of the minutes uh from March 19 from March 17th, 2026

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regular session. >> So moved. >> Is there do we have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> I have some discussion. >> Mr. Lee. >> Thank you. I have a motion. >> Good. Uh I have a motion to amend the meeting minutes. Um, and I move to amend

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the meeting minutes to add the following information for clarity and transparency. At the end of the superintendent report and the meeting minutes to add in the following during the end of board questions during the superintendent report, board president Michael Pepy cut off all further

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questions from Jeremy Lee and moved on from the superintendent's report. Under the business portion, I'd like to add in the following. During debate, Jeremy Lee spoke against the approval of the tenative budget. Mr. stated that his opposition to the tenative budget was driven by his

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opposition to the defunding of the academically independent program. He stated that the $512,000 figure noted includes all baseline teacher and transportation costs and does not represent the marginal cost of the program. He also stated that he believed

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that there were more areas where the budget could be cut to pursue tax relief for families without sacrificing the quality of education for students. setting various line items in the budget. He also discussed AJ Johi's campaign promise from 2024 to continue

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to advocate for AI, arguing this budget breaks that promise to voters. During debate, Jeremy Lee raised the following point of order under our parliamentary authority. Robert's rules of order section 49 col21 clearly outlines that

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procedures for spa boards of fewer than 12 members and under those specific rules motions do not require a second to be debated and voted upon. Since this board has only nine members, my motion is properly on the floor and I claim my right to debate it and for this board to

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vote on it. The chair ruled that the point of order was not well taken. And then under the policy section for discussion of 2619 to add in the following that during debate Mr. Lee spoke against the policy. He discusses support for admitting international

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students citing research showing interactions with international peers positively affecting academic outcomes. He argued that the policy deviates substantially from stra as pay recommendations and enforces redundant limits on international student

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enrollment as a board can choose to admit as many or as few students as it wishes and under old business to replace Mr. Lee responded with a point of order stating that Mr. Walker speaking about his motion is out of line with the

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following. Jeremy Lee raised a point of order pertaining to the objection to the consideration of the question motion raised by Mr. Walker, stating that Mr. Walker's discussion of this of his motion was out of order because the objection to the consideration of the question motion is non-debatable.

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Michael Pepe ruled the order was well taken and proceeded to a roll call. There's a motion on the floor. Okay, with the uh without a second that motion fails, but thank you. >> Point of order. >> Your a motion. >> Point of order. >> Point of order, Mr. Lee. >> Thank you. Point of order. Under

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parliamentary authority, Robert's rules, section 4921 clearly outlines the procedures for small boards of fewer than 12 members. And under those specific rules, motions do not require a second to be debated and voted upon. Since this board has only nine members,

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my motion is properly on the floor and I claim my right to debate it and for this board to vote on it. >> Yeah, I'm going to overrule that. I mean, this board and every board of education that I've seen in the state of New Jersey. Um, I've watched more than I care than probably I should have and and

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been to more meetings than I've care to see. Make seconds. You've made seconds before. Um, the second is necessary to move uh something into a um to move something to a vote. We'll take a look at that, but uh I'm going to overrule that point of order. >> I have a motion.

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>> Motion from Mr. Lee. >> I appealed the decision of the chair. >> Okay. Is there a second on the motion to appeal this is the decision of the chair. >> Okay. Without a second, that motion um does not proceed. Any further discussion on the minutes?

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Seeing none, Mr. Mr. Lomsky, can you call the role, please? >> Mr. Singer, >> yes. >> Miss Lockchran, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> no. >> Mr. Maloney, >> yes. >> Mr. Jooshi, >> yes. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Mr. Sunna, >> yes.

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>> Mr. Pepe, >> yes. >> The motion carries. Right, we're up to section 12 of the agenda. Approval of action items. Uh, up first, we have the personnel agenda. Uh this is personnel 2628

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through 2631 with one addition. Uh Dr. Fonder, would you like me to read that or would you like to read that into the record before we take a mot before we ask for a motion? >> Yeah, I I'll read it if you um

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the uh personnel addendum is something that we have printed and the board members have. Uh so this is the copy from the the back of the room. There's section B of it has retirements and so we do a an updated version the day of the board meeting in case we get anything last minute. This is uh

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something that came in after this was printed. And so this is an addition to section B, the retirement section of the personnel addendum PER26-28. The retirement of Tracy Anne Beyond, full-time special education teacher at the middle school effective July 1st,

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2026 at a salary of $111,461, which is her masters plus 75 step 24 after 27 years of service. That sentence that I read captures the uh information that's included for retirees and so that

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would be added to the personnel. So do I have a motion for personnel 2628 through 2631 with the uh addition that Dr. Fonder just noted? >> So moved. >> There a second. >> Second.

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>> Okay. Motion and a second. Is there any discussion? >> I have a motion. >> Motion from Mr. Lee. Thank you. >> In the future, Mr. Lee, I I'll let that go. Just please please wait to be uh recognized, but go ahead. >> Thank you. I move that the board

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postpone definitely personnel 2631 approval of agreement with the Bridgewater Riden Education Association. Is there a second? Okay. Uh without a second, that motion does not move forward. Uh is there any

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further discussion? >> I have some further discussion, >> Mr. Lee. >> Uh for that specific resolution 2631, approval of the agreement with the Bridgewater RA and Education Association. When was that specifically

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added to the agenda? >> Uh I believe it came through in the updated version that we got uh this afternoon. >> This afternoon? What time? >> I I don't know the exact time. It was around the time that >> so was this afternoon, right? How many

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pages is this document? >> I'm not sure offh hand. >> How many pages is the document? How much >> pages? If you know, you can tell us. I'm not >> How many pages is the agreement? >> Why do you keep asking questions that you know the answers to? >> Yeah, that's a great question. >> Well, I'd like to confirm that I I have the right facts. That's why I'm asking

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these questions. >> Why don't you tell me first? Well, I'd like to know >> how many pages is in it first from the administration. >> How many is it? I don't know. >> You don't know? >> Enlighten me. >> I thought it was on the agenda. It's being approved, right?

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>> All right. All right. What's the question? >> Question is, how many pages is on the agenda? >> I don't know. >> We're not voting on the number. >> You don't know. You don't know how many number of pages, but I'll ask this. I'll ask substance. >> How much time did we have to actually review

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this agreement before the start of the meeting? >> Mr. Lee, you know that the revisions to this document were minor in scope and it was clearly pointed out by the district attorney as far as what those changes were. Is that correct or not?

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>> That's a yes. >> Are you referring to the Are you referring to this? And I'll say how many pages is 66 pages. >> I don't know how many pages. >> Okay. Thank you. 66 pages. >> 66 pages. We were given how many hours? Maybe what? One or two hours?

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>> No, I didn't. Were how how involved were the revisions that were made that you >> It doesn't matter how many how >> it does because if if you're working on a document and there's a revision that's

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essentially a couple of sentences that it took two groups to align on. I mean, you know that it's small. I'm hoping you can read a sentence or two before the meeting. If you can't, that's fine. Vote no. But I think a lot of us are really

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growing tired of you making a clown show out of this organization. >> I'm just asking questions. >> This is an absolute clown show and an embarrassment to Bridgewater Township, to this board of education, and to this whole entity.

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So, can can we do something moving forward? Can you please read the room? If there's something legitimate, we will certainly act on it. But right now, this this is just becoming the theater of the absurd here where we go for hours and

434
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hours and hours and hours o over nothing. So I believe what what we can do is if you're not comfortable, you can vote no. >> Well, and and this I'm going to

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interject myself. This document reflects what the personnel committee negotiated and the entire board approved. >> When was that? Um, and in the last memorandum of agreement, I may have phrased that incorrectly, >> was last year, >> right? The negotiations committee meets

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with the negotiation committee from the BRA and the board already approved the memorandum of agreement. That's why like all the things in here are already in place. Um, because this is just putting everything in one document together. >> But couldn't this have been discussed in negotiations committee?

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>> I had a question. I'd like to be acknowledged. negoti I'm a part of negotiations committee. I don't remember a meeting being had to discuss this being on the agenda. >> Pause for a second. >> I don't remember that. >> Dr. We did it last year. Miss Locker, go ahead. >> That was going to be my question. Could you remind the board who is on the

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negotiations committee? >> I'm sorry. I think I said personnel committee. I meant negotiations committee. I apologize for that. Um >> how many times has negotiations meeting happened this year? How many times have the negotiations negotiations committee had a meeting? >> I I did ask a question. Yes, Miss Lan.

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And your question was >> I was asking if you could remind the board who was on the negotiations >> on the negotiations last year. >> Last year I think myself. >> Go ahead. >> Miss Kistri and Dr. Lee, >> right? >> Thank you. >> Yes.

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>> Right. >> And this uh document stems from basically memorializes what was agreed to by both parties. >> But why wasn't >> Excuse me. I was asking Dr. Fonder a question. Sorry if I wasn't clear about >> right. The memorandum of understanding is where the two sides agree on what

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will change in the document and that was approved by the board in the fall I believe at the September meeting. And so there are a lot of changes that were made from that and then at that point the we're paying the attorney for the school district to make sure that this document is the perfect document. They

442
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go back and forth with the bar uh uniserve rep to make sure that everything is exactly the way it should be and everything is updated correctly. >> Thank you. >> Any any further discussion? >> I just I just wanted to ask a follow-up to the original question. Was there any objection from the committee or the

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members of the committee to the negotiations? >> I didn't think so. Thank you. So, let me >> I believe the vote was on the memorandum. >> Excuse me. >> I think we're interrupting you. Go ahead. >> We were we're taking this path down

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memory lane about the negotiations committee from last year, but this was on the agenda literally. And there was no discussion of this in personnel. There's no discussion of this in any negotiations committee meeting, which we haven't had at all this year.

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And now this is all of a sudden on the agenda. It's 66 pages. We were given less than possibly two hours to review this. And I don't know how this board feels comfortable approving a document that we've barely had the time to review

446
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since it was added to the agenda. I don't really see how we can do that. It's not that I oppose this agreement, but it's rather I think we need to actually spend the time to read through this, think about the changes that were made, and actually review this document in detail before we approve it.

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Now, that was nicely stated. Why didn't you just say that in the beginning? >> I'm sorry. I >> That was That was That was great. You made a valid point. >> Instead of going through, I'm doing this and I'm doing that. I mean, come on.

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That That was great. If you had just said that from the beginning, I think we would have been past that. You would have had your answer. >> If If I could ask a follow-up question based on Mr. Lee's comments, Dr. funer. If we were to go back into the if if we

449
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were to start making edits to that document, my sense is that that would be highly pro problematic. Is is is that correct or am I >> right? And that's that's why a a board of education would have the attorney do it because the negotiation is negotiating the memorandum of

450
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understanding and then once that's done, it's legal to interpret that and make sure that the document reflects it throughout. there's not an opportunity there to renegotiate any sort of the terms because we've already finished that part of the process with the negotiation and that's why it's not

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something that the board members are proofreading this. It's the attorney who does that and the the our law firm Bush Law Group does that. >> I still think it a board member needs enough time to read it before they approve something. >> Mr. Singer, >> thank you for recognizing me.

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>> You're welcome. Just want to be clear, anything that comes at at 4:15 is inappropriate is your belief. >> Something that's 66 pages like this, >> anything that comes at 4:15 is inappropriate. >> Anything that requires more than two hours to read at 4:15.

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>> Um, I also just want to note for the record that um, Dr. Fond referred to the early fall adoption of the memorandum of agreement. That was the September 9th meeting where the memorandum of agreement was passed by this entire board with two extensions being me and Mike. Correct.

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>> Is there any further discussion on the personnel agenda? >> And because we're discussing um sending stuff in at the last minute, I hope you also abide by your own rule as well. >> So So Mr. Mr. Josh, I'm just going to intervene. Let's try to keep it to the

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Mr. Singer made a comment. Let's try to keep it to the personnel agenda. >> I apologize. >> That's all right. >> All right. Any further discussion on the personnel agenda? >> Mr. Lomsky, can you please call the role? Mr. Singer, >> abstain on personnel 2631. Yes. On

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everything else. >> Miss Lockan, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> abstain on personnel 2631. Yes. On the rest. >> Mr. Maloney. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jooshi? >> Yes. >> Mr. Walker?

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>> Yes. >> Mr. Sunna? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pepe? >> Abstain on personnel 2631. Yes. On everything else. Am I correct that personnel 2631 has five yes votes? >> Correct. That carries. >> So the motion carry. The entire motion

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carries. Thank you, Mr. Lomsky. >> Right. Moving on. We're at the curriculum uh section of the agenda. Curriculum 2646 through curriculum 2648. Is there a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion. Is there a second? >> Second.

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>> Who had the motion? I think you had the motion. >> I have no idea. I think someone else needs to second it. Sec. Second from Miss Lockin. Motion and a second. Discussion on the curriculum agenda. >> Seeing none, uh, Mr. Lomsky, can you

460
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please call the role? >> Mr. Singer? >> Yes. >> Miss Lan, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> abstain on NGSBA workshop 26. Abstain on NGSBA spring school law forum for Jeremy Lee. And yes on the rest.

461
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>> Mr. Maloney. Abstain on uh 2646 and yes on the rest. >> Mr. Jooshi. >> Uh abstain on 2646. Yes on the rest. >> Mr. Walker. >> Yes.

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>> Mr. Sunna. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pepe. >> Yes. And once again, five votes for every at least five votes for everything. Malonsky. >> Yes. >> Um motion carries. I'm not sure we needed five votes on that, but better to be

463
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safe than sorry. All right, we are up. We are up to uh the business agenda. Business 2612 through business 2626. >> So moved.

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>> Second. >> Motion and a second. Discussion. >> I actually have a motion. >> Motion, Mr. Lee. I move to a I'm sorry. I move to divide the question to consider business 26120 approval and

465
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adoption of the 2026 2027 school year budget separately from the rest of the business agenda. Motion on the floor. Is there a second? Right. Not seeing a second. That motion does not move forward. Thank you for the

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motion. Any fur any discussion on the business agenda? >> I have a motion. >> Motion, Mr. Lee. I move to amend the final budget resolution that as a condition of the 2026 district budget which is being voted on for final adoption. The board directs the

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administration to allocate all necessary operational and personnel funds to guarantee the continuation of the immersive fullday AI program academically independent program ensuring they operate at the same capacity and format as prior years.

468
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Motion on the floor. Not seeing a second. That motion does not move forward. Discussion on the business agenda. I'll have some discussion. Mr. Lee. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome.

469
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Having grown up right here in Bridgewater and walked these very halls from kindergarten through graduation, I owe my foundation to this district. And I care deeply about the future of our schools, which is exactly why I cannot sit by and watch us dismantle the

470
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programs that make our district exceptional. Tonight, I'm speaking out against the final budget before us, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting no for two fundamental common sense reasons. This budget actively harms our highest achieving students,

471
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and it fundamentally mismanages our budget. My greatest concern is a deliberate defunding of the academically independent program. We're stripping away gifted and talented enrichment and acceleration opportunities from kindergarten through fifth grade. And

472
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why? I remember this question was posed to me at our last meeting. And when you when looking at the facts, I think the real rationale is obvious. We're chasing ideological trends like replacing the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism and equity

473
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rather than focusing on individual academic excellence. But this isn't a step forward for our students or families. is a tragic step backwards pushed by those who will face zero consequences because these changes won't affect them personally. Furthermore, the

474
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public is being handed a misleading statistic which was mentioned before. We're told the AI program costs $512,000, but that number lumps in baseline teacher and transportation costs. It is not the actual marginal cost of

475
02:16:03.119 --> 02:16:18.800
providing our gifted students with the accelerated education they deserve. The elimination of the AI program will not reduce taxation or budget appropriations by $512,000 unless we decided to entirely and

476
02:16:18.800 --> 02:16:34.639
illegally abandon the educational needs of our gifted students. And as this board majority prepared the nickel and dime taxpayers by cutting busing for AI students, eliminating classroom teachers, and unsustainably increasing class sizes, all in the pursuit of

477
02:16:34.639 --> 02:16:50.639
funding a bloated administration and DEI initiatives. The reality is that our AI program I appreciate a little bit of decorum. >> That was funny. I appreciate a little the reality is that our AI program

478
02:16:50.639 --> 02:17:06.479
>> delivers one of >> I appreciate a little decorum. >> The reality is that our AI program delivers one of the highest returns on investment in our entire district driving long-term student success well after graduation. Some have argued that because twothirds

479
02:17:06.479 --> 02:17:21.679
of sixth grade math and ELA students didn't start in the AI program, the program is somehow failing. And I look at that same statistic and I actually see an incredible success story. It proves that our general education students are working hard, growing and

480
02:17:21.679 --> 02:17:36.880
earning their way into advanced classes. It proves that our universal screening efforts are working, finding talented kids from every background and challenging them to reach their full potential. When a program successfully expands opportunity and

481
02:17:36.880 --> 02:17:54.080
rewards hard work, common sense dictates that we expand and invest in it. we don't kill it. This budget also represents a fundamental breach of trust with our gifted and talented families. Transparency and accountability on this board matters.

482
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And during the 2024 candidates night, families were explicitly assured by the current academic committee leadership that our advanced elementary classes were a protected priority. >> Mr. Le, I'm going to interrupt for a moment. Your comments are drifting from the

483
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substance of the budget. Let me get back to the budget. Let me get back to the budget on the budget or other business agenda items. Thank you. >> Mr. Jooshi stated, "I will continue to advocate for these as long as I'm on the board." But we're seeing a complete retreat from that. We cannot ask the

484
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public to trust a budget that breaks the very promises that put board leadership in their seats. And I hope that when it comes to cast this final vote tonight, Mr. Joshi hopefully won't disappear or neglect his duty to taxpayers. >> This is not the budget.

485
02:18:40.559 --> 02:18:56.240
speech. So, I'm going to interrupt your speech respectfully if you're not talking on the substance of the budget. We're not hashing out things from the past. >> I will discuss time limit for board members. >> No, I will discuss >> not by policy, but >> this budget remains packed with

486
02:18:56.240 --> 02:19:12.719
questionable loaded spending. Just look at the misplaced priorities. We're handing $17,000 to consultants for records management, but we're already spending $4 million on secretarial staff. They're spending $20,000 to outsource record scanning, $30,000 for

487
02:19:12.719 --> 02:19:30.000
staff development, $5,500 for outside workshop presenters, but we actually employ six full-time instructional coaches for $593,000. We're outsourcing custodial management for $32,000, but we actually have our own buildings

488
02:19:30.000 --> 02:19:45.679
and grounds team and we're spending $48,000 on phone licenses, $10,000 on administrative cell phones, but we haven't even considered a cost-saving bring your own device policy. And it actually gets worse because this year we're budgeting $25,000 for new weight

489
02:19:45.679 --> 02:20:01.680
room equipment, but last year we budgeted $27,000. We're spending $16,000 on port John's, $15,000 for lanyards, $9,500 to tune a handful of pianos, $7,000 for

490
02:20:01.680 --> 02:20:17.600
piano accompaniments instead of trying to at least ask for community volunteers. We're spending $4,700 for cheerleading choreography when we already have excellent coaches here in the district. And we're spending $4,000 on pet therapy. And just because these

491
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items were budgeted in the past does not mean that we should they should serve as placeholders for endless spending. I believe there are material areas where we can deliver affordability to families while delivering a top tier education for our students. There's nothing

492
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insulting about saving money for taxpayers while protecting the quality of education our children deserve. And we have to ask ourselves, is this money better off in the hands of bureaucrats or in the hands of taxpayers? And when you weigh this wasteful spending against the defunding of our gifted and talented

493
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program, it's nothing short of an insult to our families. All this happening while taxes continue to skyrocket, pushing hardworking families to the absolute financial brink. And I cannot in good conscience look our taxpayers in the eye and support an unaffordable

494
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budget that slashes core academic excellence to fund administrative blow. And I recognize the importance of approving a budget and funding our schools. But this budget is a non-starter. Let's wrap up. >> Our students deserve better. Our taxpayers demand better. And I urge my fellow board members to stand with our

495
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community, vote no to this final budget and demand a budget that fully funds our student instructional programs, not bureaucratic. Getting back to the point you started with, so I'm going to wrap up your comment there. Thank you for your comment. Uh, I will just say for that, look, I'm not going through that line by

496
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line, but if your student takes a a choir class or a vocal music class where there's a piano playing most of the time, um, what are we supposed to do as a board? Say, yeah, sit through hours of class throughout the year. Uh, what's

497
02:21:56.240 --> 02:22:13.760
how many hours a high school class has? I'm not sure how many classes, how many hours a high school class has to be, but sure, let a room full of kids uh sing along and learn, you know, pitch and music with an untuned piano. I'm I'm not going point by point.

498
02:22:13.760 --> 02:22:29.520
No, Mr. Lee, you're not recognized >> because it's an insult to our students, frankly, and it's an insult to the administration. And you're welcome to disapprove the budget, and you're welcome to disagree with the amount that that we're raising it. You voted against the budget last year that as Miss Lran

499
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said had AI in it, but >> I don't think we're discussing >> Excuse me. You do not have the floor. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome to do that, but you're talk but one, you're insulting the administration. You're frankly you're insulting our students by saying that

500
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their education and the things they need to succeed don't matter. And I I would note that look, I don't see in the bills list very often uh individuals named. You've not been shy about submitting your own expenses to the board of education in the past. New board member

501
02:23:02.720 --> 02:23:19.600
training. I didn't submit a dime for new board me board member training. Um year ago, 81 bucks for I'm not sure what you spent that on. They gave you lodging and they gave you food at the NJSBA workshop uh last October. $70 of that was mileage. I guess I respect that. Uh, gas

502
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is expensive, but you submitted $388. So, $310 at a event that had plenty of free food and and free events and um >> free transportation >> and and and your transportation was, you know, back and forth.

503
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I'm sorry, I'm not I'm going to I'm not I'm in the middle of speaking. >> No, I have a point of order. >> What's your point of order? >> A point of order is that this is not related to the budget. >> It's related to what you just said and it's money that and board member expenses is going into it. So, you applied that against the budget last

504
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time. So, look, I'm not going to begrudge someone if they need to to to charge something, but you have not been shy about it. So, to hear So, to sit here and listen to you talk about pet therapy, like that's nothing. You're not shy at all about submitting your own expenses, which very few board members

505
02:24:08.640 --> 02:24:23.760
do and certainly not to that amount of money. So, it's just a little bit hard to take seriously, especially because you've never spoken out against any of these things before. And generally when we have um you know bills lists and other items on the agenda on the business agenda, you don't speak up

506
02:24:23.760 --> 02:24:39.200
about these things now. But I know it's easy to ch to look through a uh budget and cherrypick things that could seem to someone who's not paying attention or doesn't understand what's happening in schools as wasteful. So I I can't really take a lot of that seriously. I respect if you want to vote no, but your

507
02:24:39.200 --> 02:24:54.160
reasoning is frankly absurd. Mr. Beers, I'm sorry. >> There's just one thing, and look, I'm not going to get into all of the points because most of them aren't factual aren't factual at all and and um

508
02:24:54.160 --> 02:25:11.520
I I'll just consider the source. However, what's highly insulting is you've brought up multiple times pet therapy. Do you understand what pet the who pet therapy helps? Mr. Lee,

509
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>> I don't know. Am I being recognized now? Am I being recognized by >> Okay. Well, I you know what? I'm going to answer that question for you. Okay. >> Some of our handicapped students throughout the district, how dare you sit here and mock them and mock the services that help them

510
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>> who may mock. I'm sorry, Mr. Lee. You don't have the floor right now. >> And and and you talk about things about bloated spending. How dare you mock those kids and the services that are provided both for

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students um with disabilities or students we know the pet therapy helps with students who may have mental health issues. I take offense at that and I think the community takes offense at that and I and I know I have to sit here and

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listen to your TED talk every every week, but it would be nice if we stayed to the facts and we stayed away from mocking students in this district because I think I excuse me I have the floor. you don't have the floor because I think

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what we're getting at here is the main problem and your speech really showed it. We are a community. We represent 7,800 kids who come through this door every day. Now, if you want to

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call that equity and collective collective whatever it is you called it, guilty is charged. Yes, I'm here to fight for all 7,800 kids. Whether you're the highest of the high or the low, no one's low, but the

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highest achieving or the lowest achieving or kids in between or kids with special needs or kids with mental health issues. Every every person >> I like >> every person out of 7,800 calls >> you don't our home. And I'm just telling

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you both as a superintendent of schools and I can only imagine what the community members would think of this. But I think it's embarrassing and once more it's embarrassing to this institution to have to listen to this continually.

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Personally, I've had enough. >> Could I any further discussion from anyone who hasn't spoken on the business agenda yet? >> Yeah, I' I'd like to Mr. Josh. >> Yeah. So, I'd like to go on the record and say that last year's budget did have the AI program in it and Mr. Lee voted against it.

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So, there you go. >> Okay, Miss Lockin. >> I have a little TED talk, too. Uh, well, first again, I want to acknowledge the burden that this puts on taxpayers and and I mean, I'll just come out and say especially in Ritton because you guys are dealing with some

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significant issues right now. Um, but a vote to adopt this budget is a vote for all students. It's a vote for the young people that spoke here today, for the students of performing arts, for the athletic teams, the vast variety of

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student organized clubs. It's a vote to preserve the prestige that Bridgewater Rariton has received for multiple years running as a district that supports highly gifted students and award-winning AP classes. for the greater majority of students that may not be recognized as

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gifted by some, but that find their gifts because of the services that are offered here. It's a vote for pianos. It's a vote for cheerleaders. It's a vote for students with special needs. It's a vote for full day kindergarten. And it's a vote for the high achieving public education provided by this

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district for which I am proud to be a parent of and a former student of. Thank you. >> Any further comment, >> Mr. Singer? I just have a brief comment that buildings and grounds performs a wholly different uh scope of work than

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custodians. If that's unclear somehow, >> perhaps we can get some clarity on that. But >> yeah, >> they do very different work. >> Yes, >> I also appreciate both our buildings and grounds and our custodial staff, many of whom stay here until 11:00 at night waiting for us to be done with these meetings so that they can clean the

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building. >> Certainly. Any further discussion? I have some further discussion. >> No, Mr. Lee, I'm not recognizing you. any further discussion? >> No, excuse me. Why am I not being I would like to address some of the points made because I think you bring up some points and I would like to address >> floor. You said your piece you've taken up most of this discussion and I agree

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with the comments of Mr. Beers >> and I have point of order. >> Is there any further discussion? >> I have a point of order. >> Miss Lock, I'm sorry, Mr. Sunna. >> I have a point of order. >> I am not recognizing the point of order. Mr. Sunna has >> point of order. Under adopted parliamentary authority, we have unlimited opportunities to speak.

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>> Stop interrupting. It's Mr. You're not You're not following the rules. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to move into a threeinut uh recess. Everyone stand up and stretch for a second. >> No, but point of order. You didn't ask for a vote on that. Point of order.

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>> Point of order. There was no motion. There was no second on a recess. This was This point of order is out. All right, we're back on. We're just going to give everyone one more minute to come back in. >> Mike, what's that? >> We're alive.

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>> All right. >> Good boy. >> All right, we're back. Thank you everyone for your patience. Uh, Mrs. Sunna, you had a comment. >> I just wanted to make a comment. Um, as a proponent of the arts, I wanted to make it clear that I feel that anyone that accompanies our students in the classroom should be paid for their

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efforts and their education and their knowledge. >> Thank you. >> Any anyone who hasn't commented on the business agenda yet, >> I'd like to make comment. >> Mr. Mr. Lee, you've commented extensively. Uh, Mr. Lomsky, can you

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please call the role on the business agenda? >> Mr. Singer, >> yes. Miss Lockan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lee. >> No on business 120. Dwight. No on business 26120.

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Uh and uh abstain on the Venus tile payment application. Abstain on business 261 126. And yes on the rest.

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>> Mr. Maloney. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jooshi. >> Yes. Mr. Walker, >> I'm standing on business 2614. Yes. On the rest. >> 26114 just to clarify. Okay. >> Muna. >> Yes.

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>> Mr. Pepe. >> I'll recuse myself on business 26114 and yes on everything else. >> Okay. Motion carries. >> Motion carries. Thank you. We are up to

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a lot of pages to flip through here. We're getting there. Special services 2629 through 2631. So moved. >> Motion and a second. Any discussion? >> Any discussion?

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>> Any discussion would have on uh 2630 or 2631, we need to be in close session. Seeing none, Mr. Lomsky, please call the role. >> Mr. Singer, >> yes. >> Miss Locker, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mr. Maloney, >> yes.

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>> Mr. Jooshi, >> yes. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sunna, >> yes. >> Mr. Pepe, >> yes. The motion carries. We're up to other 2619 through other 2622. >> So moved. >> Second.

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>> Right. Um, any discussion on anything other than 2621? The calendar would need to be in close session. So, let me start with discussion. >> What's that? >> Anything beside the calendar? I think >> anything besid I mean we can yeah

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>> discuss the >> any discussion on uh we'll start with 2621 the calendar for 2720. This is for 2728. So a little bit in advance. >> I actually have something >> Mr. Lee. Um, I noticed that a lot of the items bundled under other are not

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related. And as a member, I have the right pursuant to section 2710 of Robert's rules to request a division of the question. And I request that resolutions other 2619 and other 2620

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regarding HIV reports be considered together as a first item. that resolution other 2621 regarding the school calendar be considered separately as a second item and that resolution 2622 regarding the policy 2464

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gifted and talented students appeal be considered separately as the third item okay I I know this has come up >> first of all there's no >> language in uh other >> no >> I'm sorry what's such language

542
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>> Mr. Mr. Lee's uh >> Mr. Lee's representation of what 2622 uh the scope is is not listed in there and he's >> all right. I'm going to overrule the um I'm going to overrule the point of order. The board, as I said before, this

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board hasn't operated that way. You're welcome to make a motion uh if you'd like to do that. If it's something that the board would like to change and talk about dividing questions, I think it's something we could bring up um hopefully not tonight, but at another meeting in new or old business if that's the way that people want to go. But I'm going to

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I'm going to go with the norms that the board >> I just told I just told you the section that permits a member to request the division of a question, particularly when the question has multiple parts of that question that are not related.

545
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>> Okay. So, we've always grouped the other together um since you've been on the board at least and I think for uh you know well before I've been. So, I'm going to overrule that for now, but I'll take a look at that section for next time. >> I'll make a motion. >> Yes, sir. >> To divide the question. >> Okay. Motion to divide the question in

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the way that you mentioned. >> Okay. Uh so, motion to divide the question to discuss 2619 and 2620 together, 2621 separately, and 2622 separately. Correct. >> Correct. Okay. >> Is there a second? Right.

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Seeing none, that motion does not move forward. Is there any discussion on the calendar? >> I actually do have another motion. >> Motion for Mr. Lee. Go ahead. >> Uh I move to amend resolution other 2622 by striking the title and the resolution

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text and their entirely entirety and substituting them with the following. For >> yeah, >> point of order. Point of order. We discussed this in close session >> and I'm about to say that would be inappropriate. >> No, nothing in it is inappropriate. I am simply amending the title and I am

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amending the last part. Everything is public. >> Okay. >> It depend. It depends on what that title. >> There is no student information. It is simply adding >> a little bit. It's it's simply adding the titles of the actual policy and the

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statute. That's what I'm trying to I'm going to ask the board, is there any Was there anyone who's planning on seconding a a motion that that motion? >> How can people say no to that until they've heard it? >> Second motion without hearing the motion so that >> I'd like to at least make the motion and

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allow the people to hear it. >> I'm hesitant as >> is this a close session topic? >> This is not a close session topic. This is not a close session motion. >> Nor was this brought up. >> This is not a close session motion. So, when the board attorney was here in close session, this was not bought up.

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That would have been the time to ask. So, I'm not going to entertain that motion right now. Uh, Mr. Lomsky, would you please call a role on the other agenda? You did not ask for more point of order. You did not ask for more debate from the board before asking that. And I did have

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a question. I had regarding the calendar. I had a question regarding the calendar. >> What? On what? >> Wait, wait. >> No, no. I I No, no. I can't make a motion. Do you have something on the on the act on the calendar? >> I have something on the calendar.

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>> Um I noticed that Eid was removed from the calendar. Um I know the initial date was wrong, but I was wondering why the date was just removed entirely after uh I guess in the second version of this

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calendar. >> Are you able to answer that question? I'm not because I looked at it and I just noticed that Eid was was was not in the second version. >> I I will say I appreciated your your feedback and thank you for it. We had the date wrong. Eat is actually over a

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weekend um during that calendar. So that's why it does not appear on the calendar. >> Okay. Thank you for that. >> Thank you. I appreciate that. >> Any further discussion on the calendar? Nothing else. Mr. Lomsky, please call the role for other.

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>> Mr. Singer. >> Yes. Miss Lockan, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> no. On 12622, yes. On the rest, >> Mr. Maloney, >> yes. >> Mr. Jooshi, >> yes. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sunna, >> yes. >> Mr. Pepe, >> yes.

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02:41:30.319 --> 02:41:47.200
>> Motion carries. Uh, all right. We're up to um there's no policy, so we are up to item 13, old business. Is there any old business? Seeing no old business, >> actually, wait, I I do have some old business. Yeah, we just >> No, no, wait, no, no, no. I have I have

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old business. No, we you can just >> basically What's Can you give me the topic, please, and we'll figure out if it's old or new. >> I just want to ask some clarifying questions relating to uh you know, some of the actions uh of this board that have already occurred. Um >> you're you're welcome to say whatever

560
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you want. I don't know if I'm going to have any answers, but go ahead. >> Well, I'll give you a few. >> I know our last meeting, uh you know, Mr. Joshi assured the public that the ai program is quote not going away unquote. So according to the administration, there's no motion for the AI program

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right now. >> No, no, no, no. We're talking about >> how is this old business? >> It's old business because we're talking about what you said during the budget when you >> Yeah, that's old business. >> We're going to move on. Is there any new business?

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>> I have delegates assembly resolutions that we can discuss. >> All right. Um >> and I apologize to the administration for the time that this will take. >> There are six resolutions and the first resolution seeks support for the use of ranked choice voting in schoolboard

563
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elections and the NJSBA supports the use of ranked choice voting. >> If the I'm just wanted Do you want to do them all at once and then see if the board has >> What are you asking for? just like a straw point like is there support from

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this board on that or you know are they not in support of rank choice >> one of them I'm going to be honest I'm going to speak forever myself >> obviously the feedback from the board is valuable when I was the delegate we had a some very brief uh discussion I put

565
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out a Google form once I didn't get much feedback my the number one thing I based my stance on was the report that was given out at delegate assemblies by the NJSBA professionals who broke down the issue um you know not taking 20 minutes

566
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but gave a really good kind of road so far and and what led to that point and what the recommendation is and what the possible considerations are. So I know for me that was the most valuable other than my own judgment and what I think the board might have wanted and what was

567
02:43:59.120 --> 02:44:14.640
best for our district. So that's without kind of hearing that it's hard for me to >> Well, so I I could say I could answer generally, but it's hard for me to like weigh in in a really meaningful way. >> That's good. I'm I'm trying to make this as brief as possible. So I'm not like

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the the the delegates assembly handbook since we like to, you know, know how long things are is about 170 pages right now. So or 120, whatever the hell it was, it's over 100 pages. Yeah. Um and a lot of these resolutions are quite lengthy. So, I don't want to go into the detail that is possibly required, but I

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can mention each of these resolutions, and if any of the board members has a problem with supporting any of the resolutions that NJSBA puts out to support, they can email Miss Locker and myself. >> Sounds great. Do you want to kind briefly run down? >> Happy to do so. That's what the board wants.

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>> The second resolution seeks the inclusion of three broad belief statements. uh that the schools must carry out the state's constitutional object obligations to provide all students with a thorough and efficient education that school buildings must be free from civil immigration enforcement activities and that boards should adopt

571
02:45:03.120 --> 02:45:18.399
policies and procedures procedures that protect the health and safety of all students while honoring valid judicial authority. The NGSBA supports a statement that boards have the responsibility to ensure that all school buildings are safe havens for all students regardless of their immigration

572
02:45:18.399 --> 02:45:34.560
status and are not used not to be used as venues for immigration enforcement absent judicial authority. That is the second resolution. The third resolution seeks support for the involvement of school districts in municipal discussions pertaining to pay to payment in lie of taxes or pilot programs. The

573
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NJSBA supports a revised uh position on that. The fourth resolution seeks the support for the belief that New Jersey school funding system should recognize structural limitations on local revenue capacity caused by state imposed land use and environmental restrictions.

574
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The NJSBA supports a revised statement on that as well. The fifth resolution seeks support for the equitable pricing, transparency, and cooperative purchasing opportunities for instructional materials while preserving local board authority over curriculum decisions. This should be of interest to our

575
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academic committee as they pilot those two um two books and the NJSBA of course supports that as well. Lastly, the sixth resolution seeks an update to NJSBA policy to allow for increased representation for sending districts on county vocational school boards.

576
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I'm not sure that we uh have a position on that, but the NGSBA supports the position that government structures should reflect the shared fiscal and educational responsibilities between county and sending districts and that county vote should encourage the creation of an advisory structure to

577
02:46:39.840 --> 02:46:56.080
allow sending districts to review tuition meth methodologies, capital plans, and fiscal uh fiscal imports prior to adoption. Uh so those are the six resolutions and I will be happy to send out this brief uh statement to the

578
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board and uh have them weigh in if they are so inclined. >> There's a section in the middle of the there's a section in the middle of the handbook that kind of I don't know if that's what you were just looking at but kind of gives like a >> like a quick summary of each one and then you could read more to find out. Yes. Um, do you know have you and Miss

579
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Lockin decided who will Miss Locker and you will be >> Mr. the the is the >> is the representative and you're the alternate. So if people did have feedback just to be safe, should they send it to both of you or >> how would you like to proceed?

580
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>> Mr. Singer came most prepared for this this discussion. It would be it' probably be pertinent to send it to both of us. >> Okay. Just to be safe then that we avoid any um open public meetings things. Don't copy me on that unless you feel compelled to. Four would be okay. >> Four is fine. So, I mean, >> four would be fine,

581
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>> but it's up if you don't want to be copied on. That's >> Yeah, you don't need to copy me on that. If you have something you'd like me to see, you could send it to me separately, but just so we're not if there are different chains that start going about different things, we want to avoid that there. Make sure to avoid that. But I'm sure you would have done that anyway.

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All right. Anything further for new business? And thank you for sending that along, Mr. Singer. Just briefly, I want to note that April is school librarian uh appreciation month. And I would be uh not allowed home if I did not uh say that uh we we appreciate our librarians

583
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at every single level. Um the elementary level who uh librarians who get our students uh into reading in the first place and instill a love of reading. Uh to our middle school librarians who uh find something for every student to ensure that they are uh an interested

584
02:48:31.840 --> 02:48:48.399
reader. uh and you know find something that that speaks to them. To our high school librarians who uh teach our kids how to do research projects and help them in uh so many other ways including just providing a safe space for them to be at lunch or at other times or after school.

585
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>> The library at lunch is we were in there the one time was was packed yes with students. >> So just want to send >> those resources. >> My appreciation for all of those staff members. >> I can just add to that compliments to uh Mr. Moran for help making those connections throughout the district between our uh local libraries because

586
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uh the directors of uh uh the Rarden Library and I believe a representative of the county system over in Bridgewater at least once have visited and started to collaborate with the high school high school librarians. So thank you to everyone um to Mr. Moran and for everyone who's making those connections

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happen because that's a strong uh strong link there. >> Thank you. Can I make a motion to adjurnn? Anything further? Seeing none, is there a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Second. >> Motion. Is there a second? Second. Motion in a second. All those in favor? >> I

588
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>> I >> All opposed. >> All right, everyone. >> That's not enough for it. appreciate you.