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Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=TIRWWA3jalo

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Mhm. >> Thanks, Steve. >> Amazing. >> Everybody good? Everybody good? Everybody ready? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. All right, let's hit it. Um good evening, everyone.

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In accordance with the requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 231, PL 1975 announcement, I wish to announce that the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business

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affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the School District of the Chathams Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the Board of Administrative Offices, sent to the Clerks of the Chatham Borough and

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Chatham Township, the Library of the Chathams, Chatham Courier, the Daily Record, and TAP into my news. Mr. DeQuilla? >> Sure. Ms. Ross? >> Here. >> Ms. Allen? Mr. Delsandro? >> Here. >> Ms. Peck? >> Here. >> Mr. Ryan? >> Here.

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>> Mr. Smith? Ms. Weber? >> Here. >> Dr. Zahn? Ms. Ciccarelli? >> Here. >> Six present and accounted for. >> Perfect. Um please stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance if you're able. Flag is to my left. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of >> America. >> And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> We just like to walk in a line. >> We have options. We have options. Yeah. Perfect.

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Okay. I do not have any further comments at this time. I'm going to move on to the administrative reports. Dr. Sortino? >> Graduation was a huge success. The kids did a phenomenal job, and Dr. Walker, Leslie Chapman, Mrs. Gerhardt, and Mr.

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Henderson really put so much time, energy, and effort into organizing a wonderful day. So, congratulations to all the graduates. We are very sad to see you go. One in particular back there. Um staffing, we are continuing to staff the district for the opening of school. We are in very good shape with staffing.

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We still have paraprofessionals to hire, but otherwise we're in better shape than we have been probably in the past few years with staffing, which is great news. Thank you to Sarah Lattski and her team. Uh ESY, extended school year, and brain camp are still in session at Washington

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Avenue School. We had a few days that were canceled because Washington Avenue School had lost power uh due to the weather events that occurred. Um but the staff were wonderful. All the families were very understanding, and it's been um a very successful experience for everyone. So, thank you to Dr.

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Rosenthal, Dr. Burger, Dr. Vasto, and Mrs. Stuckey for the great job organizing it. We continue to work on prioritizing projects for the referendum. Um right now we have a tentative date where it would most likely go to vote in

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January of 2027, and we're really prioritizing safety-based projects first, and then the remaining projects based on the needs of the district's, you know, students, staff, and families. So, that's the work that we have been busy doing this summer in addition to just the usual things that we do, such

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as scheduling, getting buildings ready, etc. So, that's the big update for July. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Um moving on to business administrator's report, Mr. George. >> George, um just a quick update. Um as of the storm uh from 4th of July weekend,

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the district just had a few down trees, so very minimal damage. Uh the biggest issue was the limited power of Washington on Tuesday and Wednesday that uh closed ESY. On the construction end, the roof work at Washington is underway and uh

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proceeding very at a good progress. The brick work at CMS is underway. They're working. Um the boiler replacement at Lafayette has started, and the roof work at Milton will start in the next week or so, and all is scheduled to be completed before school starts.

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And as Dr. Sortino said, we're just having meetings to discuss and prioritize projects for the referendum. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Um Avery's not here, so no student liaison report. Any committee reports? No.

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No. No. No committee reports. No. You have one for finance? >> We have a policy committee report. >> Okay. >> All right, so >> [clears throat] >> Okay. First of all, policy met on the 6th and

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we have agenda items on tonight's agenda to pass first reading which is the first reading of the mandated policies from the Strauss Esme uh, legal service. And these are just first readings. By the second and third

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readings, we'll have um, edits and addendums to those policies. So, that's that and finance met as well. >> [clears throat] >> And we talked about the referendum debt service tax impact

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uh, potential tax impact on borough and township residents. Um, and we authorized Peter and Emily to move forward with um, contracting or working with the architects to formulate what that might look like

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and there's an agenda item on tonight's agenda to approve that process. >> Okay, perfect. Awesome, thank you. Um, any liaison reports? >> None. >> None.

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>> None. Okay, moving on. Um, I'd like to make a motion to move the minutes from the June 15th public meeting. >> Second [clears throat] that. Okay. Four abstentions, just Mr. D'Alessandro

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and Just Mr. D'Alessandro. Uh, the June 15th regular session minutes, Ms. Ross. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. D'Alessandro. >> Abstain. >> Abstain. Ms. Peck? Mr. Ryan? >> Yes. >> Ms. Weber? >> Abstain.

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>> And Ms. Celleri? >> Oh, you weren't here. Correct. Yes. >> Passes 5-0-1. >> Two. >> Two. >> Two. >> 5-0-2, sorry. 4-0-2. >> 4-0-2. >> 4-0-2. >> 6-0-2. >> [laughter]

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>> Okay, perfect. Um, okay. This is going to be our first opportunity for public commentary. Hearing of the citizens during the public commentary section of the agenda is an opportunity for any member of the public to be heard about issues which are or are not topics scheduled for the

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current meeting. To help facilitate an orderly meeting and to permit all to be heard, speakers will be asked to limit their comments to a reasonable length of time. >> Hi everyone. My name is Lily Arves and I'm a resident of Chatham Township, attended Chatham schools throughout my entire education, and just graduated

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from Chatham High School in June. Speaking at a board meeting is out of my comfort zone and likely not what most recent graduates choose to do over the summer, but after reflecting on my time in Chatham, I felt compelled to stand here this evening. While it is important for people to use this time at the podium to express their

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opinions and concerns regarding our community, I believe that it's just as important to shine a light on part of what makes this school district so special coming from the perspective of a graduate. I'm here to express my appreciation for the incredible network of role models I had the privilege of knowing throughout

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my time at Chatham High School. Though I could spend likely all night thanking the individuals from various academic and athletic areas who helped me become who I am. I want to thank four outstanding females. Thank you to Rachel Ruffner, my English teacher during my 9th and 10th grade years. Her investment in her students

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success academically and as individuals is second to none. Choosing to be her intern during the last 4 weeks of this school year through the senior internship program offered here allowed me to see firsthand the hard work she puts in to better her students. Being her intern also reaffirmed for me that the warmth and enthusiasm she brings to

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the classroom are completely genuine and contagious. Not only is she a gem of a teacher, but she's also a remarkable human and I feel so lucky to have grown as a student and person from her. Thank you to the English supervisor of the district, Katie Harms, for her tremendous leadership, relentless belief in me, and dedication to doing what's

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best for everyone around her. She leads with authenticity, brings light into every room she enters, and models both an incredible work ethic and genuine kindness. I'm so grateful to have gotten to know her during my time here. And finally, thank you to Dr. Sorrentino and Dr. Donahue for consistently

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demonstrating what it means to be a true leader, someone who shows up with kindness and is passionate about doing what's best for others. Thank you for believing in me and the community at large and showing us that true leadership is measured not only by what you accomplish, but by the lives you impact. You two are such inspirations

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not just for young women like me, but for our entire Chatham community. As I embark on my next journey, I will keep you two in mind when I visualize what it means to be a leader, and that is a true gift. I'm filled with gratitude when I look back on these past 4 years and feel that speaking briefly tonight does not fully encapsulate my

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appreciation for this community. Our students truly have such a phenomenal support system. I look forward to hearing about the accomplishments of our students and staff in the years to come and know that Chatham High School will continue to inspire students just as it has inspired me. Thank you.

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>> [applause] >> Did you come to every meeting? >> Seriously, Lilly, can we send you the list of meetings you can come to everyone? >> Congratulations on graduation. >> Yes, amazing. Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Heath? No?

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Okay. All right. Okay, well, I'm going to close this public commentary section and move on to the regular agenda for personnel, Ms. Weber. Ms. Weber? >> Yes. >> Very good. >> Thank you. I appreciate it.

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>> I'd like to move action items A1 through A24. Peter, could you correct that? It says 23, but it's actually 24. A24 on the regular agenda with an additional name under number six and two additional items 25 and 26 on the addendum.

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>> I can all that. >> Second. >> Dr. Sortino, are you going to welcome >> Yes. >> Oh. >> Oh, you're going to wait till we vote? What if we don't vote yet? Okay. >> [laughter] >> With that, I wanted to take a moment. You'll see on the agenda that tonight we're welcoming Dr. Kelly Curtis, who is

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going to take over as our new supervisor of mathematics for K-12 after a very lengthy interview process, much [clears throat] of which many of you were involved and several of our staff members. We feel very grateful that Dr. Curtis will be joining us and we feel as though we're in great hands

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as we take this next step together. So, welcome. >> [clears throat] >> Thank you so much. Good evening. I just want to take this moment to personally thank Dr. Donahue and Dr. Sortino and the board as a whole for this opportunity.

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I am honored to join the district as the new K-12 math supervisor and I'm really looking forward to joining the team and serving the community, serving the students, teachers, families, um and the district

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as a whole. So, thank you again. It's really greatly appreciated and I'm excited. So, thank you. >> Welcome aboard. >> Mary, are you going to introduce me? >> I will. And I'd also just want to mention we have a new science teacher on board, Mead right here in front. I asked him if he was one of our students, so I

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apologize for that. Um welcome aboard. Biology teacher, is that right? >> Yeah, biology teacher. >> Oh, that's fantastic. Very good. Well, welcome aboard. Did you want to say anything or just hi? >> Excited to be working over here. It's really great. >> Ah, good stuff. Welcome. Congratulations.

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>> Thanks. Bring some of that excitement. Science is not for everybody. >> have the opportunity to meet with Mead, but I only heard how wonderful you were in your interview, so I apologize that I was not involved in the process, but welcome. As I said, um we heard wonderful things about your performance all throughout the interview process.

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>> There we go. That's what I was saying. Perfect. Excellent. Thank you for coming. That was just >> Yeah. >> That was you're a sport. >> Okay. There we go. >> Oh, we didn't vote. >> We didn't vote on that. >> Okay. Yeah, now to make those two appointments official.

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Um agenda items A1 to 24, the addendum of number six and 25 and 26, Ms. Ross? >> Yes. >> Mr. Delsandro? >> Yes. >> Ms. Peck? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan? >> Yes. >> Ms. Weber? >> Yes.

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>> And Ms. Chiccarelli? >> Yes. >> Agenda items pass 6-0. Welcome to Ms. Curtis and Mr. Meade. >> Now, how do you pronounce your last name? >> Eggleston. >> Eggleston. >> Eggleston. >> Thank you. Eggleston.

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>> Well, you wel- welcome, Mr. Eggleston. >> You guys are in it now. >> [laughter] >> Quick, lock the doors. >> Okay, perfect. Uh finance and facilities, you want to move it, Mike? >> Sure. Before moving uh the agenda items, like to acknowledge some

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uh donations. There's quite a few. Um we [clears throat] have a donation from the Chatham JCs $750 for the Chatham High School robotics program to cover the cost of upcoming registrations and new materials for the

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competitive season. We have a $20,000 donation from the Lafayette Avenue PTO to purchase uh and install new playground equipment at Lafayette Avenue School. We have a donation from the Milton

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Avenue PTO of $13,922 for [clears throat] the purchase and installation of outdoor basketball hoops. Uh a donation from the Performing Arts Boosters of $12,096.70 uh for the purchase of string instruments.

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And on the addendum we have a donation from the Chatham Booster Club $5,500 for Hudl uh subscription. Uh a donation from >> [clears throat] >> Charities Aid Foundation of America

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$250 for the Chatham High School principal uh to use at his discretion. Another donation from Char- Charities Aid Foundation of America >> [clears throat] >> $241.72 again to use at the

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principal at Chatham High School's discretion. And lastly, we have uh donation from the same entity of $73,928 to support K through 12 literacy. Incredible donation. Thank you.

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So, with that, I'd like to move agenda items B1 to B20 and B21 to 28 on the addendum. >> Second. >> So grateful for all those donations. >> Yeah. >> I know. >> I'm incredibly

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>> Incredibly grateful. >> [clears throat] >> Agenda items B1 through B20 and the addendum items 21 through 28. Ms. Ross? >> Yes. >> Mr. Delsandro? >> Yes. >> Ms. Peck? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan? >> Yes. >> Ms. Weber? >> Yes. >> And Ms. Chiccarelli? >> Yes.

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>> Agenda items pass 6-0. >> Um Excellent. Thank you. So, moving on to curriculum, Ms. Ross? >> Yes, I'd like to move uh agenda items C1 to C8.

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>> I'll second it. >> Agenda items C1 through C8. Ms. Ross? >> Yes. >> Mr. Delsandro? >> Yes. >> Ms. Peck? >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan? >> Yes. >> Ms. Weber? >> Yes. >> And Ms. Chiccarelli? >> Yes. >> Agenda items pass 6-0. >> Um perfect.

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Um policy? >> Policy, I would like to move first readings of the Strauss SMA policies, agenda item D1, first readings, first readings. >> [laughter]

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>> Second. >> In addition to an item D2, resolved that the Board of Education held a residency hearing on July 13th, 2026 to determine whether student with

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the ID number of 6551537364 is domiciled within the school district of the Chathams in order to attend its schools. And be it resolved that the following hearing, the board found that the student is not domiciled or eligible to

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attend school, and be it further resolved that the board hereby votes to remove student number 6551537634 from the district. Agenda items D1 and D2, Ms. Ross. >> Yes. >> Mr. Delsandro.

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>> Yes. >> Ms. Peck. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan. >> Yes. >> Ms. Weber. >> Yes. >> And Ms. Ciccarelli. >> Yes. >> Agenda items pass 6-0. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Um, board business, school calendar.

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Dr. Sortino. You all have copies of the draft calendars for your vote tonight. Um, the school calendar for the 26-27 year was adjusted to add a half day PD on June 17th in the afternoon. That's the day before school dismisses.

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And then for the 27-28 calendar, approximately 600 families responded to the survey question regarding the calendar. 56% of families chose the option one calendar. So, option one is the calendar that you're voting on tonight. >> 27-28?

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>> For 27-28. >> 27-28, right. >> Okay. Are we allowed to ask questions about 26-27? >> Yes, of course. >> I'm just curious um the 17th you have as a half a day of June, I'm sorry, June 17th. >> Correct.

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>> And how come that week isn't half a days? Is there more instruction and like isn't there a lot of wrap-up there for staff or no, you're going to crucify me, right? >> [laughter] >> Don't they need more time? Cuz if I was going to ask the same question, but I'll just put it on the 27 28

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calendar. Like the 7th the 14th is a half a day. Is that enough time for staff to button up their classrooms and and do what they need to or can we afford another half a day? Or you again, you're going to crucify me again, aren't you? >> I think the goal was to add the 17th to

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give staff the opportunity for PD and wrap-up and to have the 17th and 18th as those days. 18th, there's staff throughout the district attending graduation. >> Is 18th a half day? >> 18th is a half day for high school graduation because staff throughout the

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district attend graduation. >> Right, okay. And the 17th is a half day? >> Yes, correct. They both are. >> And the 27 28 calendar >> Yes. >> there's no days off in March. >> Correct. >> It's going to be the bleakest month for those kids.

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>> Okay, I mean if that's what folks want it, bless their little souls. >> Spring break is very late. Spring break is late. Well, it's late the year but >> It's here, too. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's something so minor but on the 20 on

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the 26th 27th, we have a half day before Labor Day weekend, but on the 27th 28th, we do not have a half day before Labor Day weekend, September 3rd. >> Mhm. >> You can hold off quickly. >> after they have Labor Day off.

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>> 7 8 until the August meeting. >> I think they both >> Okay. >> They both are. >> Can we add that? That can be added. >> You could also approve the calendar now and then changes can be made. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah, yeah, for sure. It's your prerogative to change. >> Okay. >> That's fine, right?

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>> Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm down for that. I like the new format. Trying to win back some brownie points for my previous question. >> [laughter] >> Okay. All right, so are we voting? I would I would like you to vote and then we can adjust accordingly.

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>> Okay. >> Because people have asked for this calendar already to start planning for 78. >> Okay. >> Okay. Additional resolution C9.

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Board votes to approve Board votes to approve the option one of calendar 27-28 pending revision pending >> With the addition of the half day September 3rd that the board discussed tonight. So that will be added to the

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calendar for 78. >> I need a motion and an approval. >> I'd like to motion to pass the 26-27 calendar change and the 27-28 calendar option one that the

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majority voted on adding the half day for September 3rd. >> Second. >> Second. >> Approve the 26-27 calendar with the minor changes the option one of 27-28 pending revision for

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a half day on 9 3. Ms. Ross. >> Yes. >> Mr. Delsandro. >> Yes. >> Ms. Peck. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ryan. >> Yes. >> Ms. Weber. And Ms. Ciccarelli. >> Yes. >> C9 passes 6-0.

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>> Perfect. Thank you. Anybody else have any other board business they want to discuss? >> Nope. >> No? Okay, perfect. Uh this will be our second section for second session for public commentary. Willie, you want to say anything else great about us?

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>> [laughter] >> Um >> Who's fishing? >> I think that's it. We'll open and close that. >> Nice. >> 7:56. No executive session, correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. Let's adjourn this baby. Everyone be on

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their merry way. It's not even 8:00 p.m. That might be a record. Might be a record. a little late.