Posted notice on the school bulletin board at the administration building, transmitted to the courier post. Philadelphia Inquirer and Clerk of Cherry Hill Township, please rise and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. 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. Mr. Schimp, can you please call the roll? Right? Here. Excuse me? Mr. Mayor? Here. Ms. Palmer?
Here. Ms. Winters? Here. Mr. Greenbaum. Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. There is no board recognition this evening, sadly, and no presentations, and Dr. Morton, no administrative reports, correct? So, we will move on to correspondence, and to kick off correspondence, I'm going to ask board members who attended the APR. Open houses at the many elementary schools last night to go around and just say which one they were at, starting with Mr. Mayor.
Johnson Elementary. I was at Russell Knight. I went to Horace Mann. I was at Barton. And I was at Sharp. Awesome. And I think all the APRs were well received by the community and well attended. There are certainly a lot of kids running around at Russell Night. Mr. Mayor, do you have any other correspondence? I do not. Have a few things. I attended the administrative retreat and new staff orientation on behalf of the board and gave remarks on behalf of the board to welcome everybody to the 25-26 school year.
I also attended the new orientation for freshman parents. At High School East last night. And got to see the presentation there for those families, and welcome them to High School East. Mr. Greenbaum, do you have any correspondence? Nothing this week, thank you. Dr. Dreisen? Nothing else. And Ms. Palmer. I also attended the New Student Orientation for incoming Mustangs at Carusi Middle School. Welcome to all of our new middle school families. Wonderful. And now, moving on, we have our student representative reports.
Today, oh no, Kurt's not here to tell me which side to start on. I think I'm gonna start with High School West this evening? I got a nod from East, so I think it's good. High School West. Okay. Summer has come to an end with school just a couple days away. Here's what's happened. As for academics, West Hold 2. Informational Common App sessions open to all incoming seniors on August 7th and August 13th. Students were able to create common app accounts and get a head start on college applications. The turnout was great, and everyone benefi… Benefited from the information shared. Schedules for students officially came out in Genesis on August 21st.
First, and in the middle of August, we ran. An AP readiness workshop for first-time AP students, with the several teachers coming in and explaining what an AP class entails to lessen any potential stress. As for athletics, girls volleyball tryouts were held out on August 18th, 19th, and 20th. Each day having two sessions, one for underclassmen and one for upperclassmen. With the roster finalized. The programs, practices, and scrimmages have begun. West Football Camp has began on August 11th. Starting off their practices for their upcoming season with their new head coach, Mr. Wojcik.
The girls' tennis team started practices on the same day as well, with new coaches Mr. Bova and Mr. Siev. Our opening football game is at Haddon Heights on the 28th. Cross-country infield hockey have also officially started their practices and are preparing for the upcoming season. As for art, men of note, Fermata, and chamber singers wrapped up their summer rehearsals. With all of the new and returning members confident in their music, the marching band held a successful camp for all new and returning members. For extracurriculars, West peer leaders had a blast at the annual peer leader retreat at the YMCA Pines on August 24th.
Known returning peer leaders came together for a fun day of canoeing, rock climbing, archery, and team building exercises. Wes will be holding our annual student orientation with the assistance of our peer leaders on August 27th, with two available sessions. 9 to 11.30, and 12 to 2.30. More tours will be provided to these new students on the following days, also led by peer leaders. Our stadium's construction is close to an end, with many concrete walkways being installed to make it easier to navigate around the track, and our senior sunrise is planned to happen on the first day of school, September 2nd, with the entry time scheduled from 5.45 to 5.50.
And overall, we wish for a successful upcoming school year for all district students. Thank you so much for that great report. Going over to High School East. Starting with academics, all class schedules for the upcoming school year were released on Genesis on Thursday, August 21st. And if a student wishes to adjust their schedule, changes can be made starting on Friday, September 5th. East is implementing a new digital hall pass system called Five Star Students. Which will replace traditional hall passes and sign-out sheets. And this digital system will track when students leave class and help limit daily passes.
Uh, with exceptions for individual health plans or IEP and 504 accommodations. And upon completing their parking application and paying the fee, these seniors picked up their parking decals on Monday, August 25th. And for seniors who haven't received one, parking decals can still be picked up on Wednesday, August 27th. From 10 to 11.30 a.m. Moving on to activities, freshman orientation was held at East today, with sessions from 9 to 11.30am, and 1 to 3.30 p.m. Current students and faculty guided incoming students on schedules, class locations, available resources, and ways of getting involved to help these new students adjust seamlessly to high school.
In addition to today's official freshman orientation, three tour nights were held for incoming freshmen. On August 6th, August 13th, and August 20th. And parents also attended an orientation on Monday, August 25th, at 7pm. Which covered expectations, services, activities, and PTA involvement. And during that time, many incomes… many incoming students joined East Peer Leaders for pre-orientation, social. With games and a chance to meet current students. East also hosted a successful National Night Out for the Cherry Hill community on Tuesday, August 5th.
With more than 2,000 residents coming together to enjoy music, activities, and food. For athletics, congratulations to the East Boys Lacrosse team for winning the 2025 Summer South Jersey Championship on Sunday, August 10th. And each varsity football team had 3 scrimmages, so I'm gonna open its season at Eastern Regional High School. On Thursday, August 27th… August 28th at 7pm. And e-students are encouraged to attend, wear white, and help the team kick off another successful season. And concluding with arts, since August 11th, the East Marching Band has held daily practices from 8am to 4pm.
Focusing on music memorization and learning the field show, or so performing at Thursday's football game. And overall, we hope all students and faculty had a rejuvenating and enjoyable summer, and we can't wait to see everyone return to East on September 2nd for another successful school year. Thank you so much for the report. And I'll be at that football game on Thursday, so exciting. I'll wear white. So, moving on to first public comment. There are two opportunities for public comment this evening, and this first public comment session is for board action items only.
There will be another public comment section for any topic at the end of the meeting. If you are a student in the district, you may comment on any agenda item during the first public comment period, and students will be given the opportunity to speak. First. Public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to comment on matters relevant to the operations of Cherry Hill Public School District or within the authority of the Cherry Hill Board of Education. The board welcomes diverse opinions on relevant matters. Under established federal law governing reasonable restrictions on speech in public forums. Statements which demean individual community members or groups, or which are irrelevant to the operations of the school district, or repetitious, will not be permitted.
Community members who would like to present information not relevant to the school district are always welcome to communicate directly to district superintendent, board president, and all board members via email or other alternative means. If you would like to speak now, please identify the agenda item and clearly state your name and municipality. We will alternate between speakers in the room and those that are online. And each speaker will be given a maximum of 3 minutes to speak. The timer on the screen will indicate the amount of time you have remaining. As is our custom, we start in the room. Is there anyone who would like to come up for first public comment?
Please state the action item you will be speaking on. Uh, Rick Short, Cherry Hill Action, uh… 19.1? The, uh, district goals? I guess my first question is, um… Are these district goals intertwined with the actual… how should I say this, uh… School goals in any way. Um, because there's no reference to it.
Also, I don't see any reference to, uh… I don't really see any highlighted sections of what each area is. Um, that's what you kind of missed, but I haven't… and all the district goals, I don't see… I don't… I didn't see one mention of anything with restorative justice discipline, or… Restorative practices, which is… which is quite bizarre. I'm also concerned about the whole sections under, uh… Students' involvement…
Um, let's see here… Let's see… Oh, under, uh… under feedback. Uh, you guys say that, uh. You're gonna, uh… be… be a… Exemplify. Positive feedback. I don't really understand… what are you gonna, uh, highlight, just… your ideologies? Is that…
Is that the, uh, is that the goal here? Also, um… Let's see here, where was it? And the whole… mental health thing. I mean, it just… it just goes on and goes on and goes on. It has no… It has no clear ending. It's just… one thing after another thing, and everything is based around… 2030. It's quite bizarre.
And uh… let me see here, where was the other section? I can't seem to find it. It's so large. And, you know, sometimes… Less is more. We have, like, 13 or 14 pages. And probably… 9 of them… It's just all gibberish. And it mentions, it talks about inclusion. That you believe that… If teachers, um…
Have better inclusion, that somehow, magically. Our student grades will increase. So this thing, this entire district goal. It's just a bunch of… 9 pages of it is just gibberish. With no… Accountability. Thank you for your comment. Turning to online, our first commenter is Candy Cummings. It's your turn. Please give us your name, municipality, and the action item you're speaking on.
Hi, Candy Cummings, uh, Cherry Hill, uh, action item 19.1, District Goals. Well, I, for one, unlike our previous commenter, am very pleased to see district goals on the agenda this evening. Uh, and I specifically wanted to bring attention to Goal 4.A.3, the one that states that our schools will enhance community connections and transparency by providing. Opportunities for meaningful feedback and discussions with the Board of Education and Administration.
As many of you in this room and on the line might know, I've been an enthusiastic supporter of family engagement. Through my years of PTA service. I know firsthand the energy, the insight, and the heart that families bring when they feel invited to the conversation. As I was reading through the strategies, actions, and KPIs associated with this goal, I found myself asking. How? As a board in the district, can you do more to meet families where they're at? How can you bring the feedback forums and the other opportunities for in-person engagement to them.
Instead of always asking them to come to you. We all know families are balancing jobs. Childcare, transportation challenges, and so much more. I, right now, am sitting in the bleachers at High School East, watching a practice as I read this to you. Um, when engagement opportunities are created that feel accessible and welcome. Whether that's meeting at school cafeterias, on sports fields, or at neighborhood events. You're not just asking families to show up, you're showing them… that their voices matter enough for you to show up, too.
So, two things. This kind of partnership builds trust. It helps families see the board and district as allies in their child's success, not just. Decision makers at a distance, and two, it creates conditions for feedback. That is richer, more diverse, and more reflective. Of the full communities that you serve. So, I encourage you, Board of Education members and district leaders, to lean into this goal with creativity and openness. Keep looking for ways to meet families on their own turf, in their own spaces, and on their own terms.
If you do, I believe you will not only strengthen connections, but also strengthen our schools at their very foundation. Thank you so much. Thank you for your comment. Going back to the room, is there anyone in the room who would like to make first public comment? I don't see any students in the audience right now who would like to make first public comment. Going back online, the person with their hand raised, it says, Kim. Kim, it's your turn. If you could give us your full name, municipality, and the action item you're speaking on.
Hi, uh, Kim Gallagher, Cherry Hill. Um, I am calling in about 18.2. Uh, the first reading of the student rep policy. Um, I noticed that the amended… Or the proposed policy is actually not available on the public board docs. And, um, just stating that it feels like in order to improve community engagement. And to be able to create public comment prior to second reading, that the policy should be made available to the public.
For first reading and the vote for the first reading. So, thank you. Thank you for your comment. We appreciate it. Going back to the room, I don't see anybody who. Wants to make first public comment in the audience, going back online, I don't see any hands raised for first public comment, so I am going to close first public comment.
Moving on to Superintendent's comments. Thank you very much, Ms. Winters. Uh, so we are now… 7 days until the start of the school year? Alright, last time we were together, I think it was 21, so just 7 days away. And we can feel the energy, we feel the enthusiasm. Uh, throughout the district, as construction projects come to a close, and as our staff returns. To the districts. Truly, truly exciting times. Um, I know there wasn't much mention about the APR open houses yesterday, uh, but I particularly enjoyed them.
This time is always a bit odd and weird for me, like, we have buildings that are empty without kids. Like, school buildings. Require kids. They… that's… it's just a necessity, right? They must… they go… they go, uh, hand in… hand-in-hand. So it's great to see many families come out, uh, at the various buildings. Uh, and taken in the facilities as well, and see, um… what they're voting and what their support. Has allowed to come to fruition. Uh, Ms. Winters, I heard you mention yesterday that we're about one-third through the projects, so we have a significant amount of.
Of construction still ahead of us. And if, uh, what we've seen in the APRs and the other construction so far, um, are any indication. This district is going to be transformed right before our eyes over the next several years, and it's truly exciting. Uh, just to mention, new staff orientation thought ended, uh, very well. It concluded today after 4 wonderful days. Uh, kudos to our CNI office. Staffing and her team believe there were approximately 80… two participants or so?
Right. A nice, focused group is always great to, uh, see the new, um, staff members who will come in and. Impact our children, so that was truly outstanding as well. Orientation activities are taking place. This week, we've already begun and have several more to go. Um, we're definitely looking forward to that. And, as I always like to do. Summer's not concluded yet. If you have not completed summer reading, students. Now is a great time to ensure that summer reading is done.
Prior to, uh, the start of school next week. Thank you. So I have great news on that front. I went to the pool this weekend, and I saw a student reading Orwell's 1984. At the front desk, and I have to assume that it was for summer reading, not for fun. So it's happening. It's happening around the district. Uh, it's that moment. If you haven't read it, read it now. All right, thank you, Dr. Morton. Moving on to our action agenda. I will start with the approval of appointments. Superintendent recommends, and I move the following. 14.1, District Anti-Bullying Coordinator.
14.2, McKinnie Vento, DC, PMP Liaison. 14.3, Substance Awareness Coordinator. 14.4, District Representative to the Camden County School Board Association Executive Committee, that's a presidential appointment. And 14.5, district representative to the New Jersey School Board Association, also a presidential appointment. Do I have a second? Ms. Palmer, are there any questions on the appointments tonight? Seeing no questions, Mr. Schimp, please open the voting. Boating is open. Mr. Schimp, I'm just gonna recuse from 14.4 and 14.5.
All votes are in, motion carries. Thank you. And thank you, Dr. Dreisen, for stepping up to take those two appointments, and 14.4 and 14.5. We just heard Ms. Gallagher call in. Now, with her leaving the board, you'll be receiving those responsibilities, so thank you for stepping up. I will move the CNI agenda. The superintendent recommends, and I move the following, 15.1, approval of attendance at conference and workshops for the 25-26 school year. 15.2, approval of out-of-district student placement for the 24-25 school year.
15.3 approval of out-of-district placement for the 25-26 school year, 15.4 approval of service contract with NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the 25-26 school year. 15.5, approval of re-adopting curriculum. 15.6 resolution approving professional service agreement for the 25-26 school year. 15.7 Resolution Improving Educational Services, Burlington County Special Services School District. Teacher of the Deaf, 15.8. Resolution for the renewal of competitive contracts. 15.9, resolution authorizing acceptance of the 2025 Teacher Climate and Culture Innovation Grants.
15.10, resolution approving professional service agreement between the Cherry Hill Board of Education and Cattlepool Learning, LLC for the 25-26 school year for nursing at participating non-public schools. Do I have a second on the CNI agenda? Mr. Greenbaum, are there any questions on CNI tonight? Seeing no questions, Mr. Shimp, please open the voting. Voting is open.
All votes are in. Motion carries. Thank you. Mr. Greenbaum, please move the BNF agenda. Thank you, the superintendent recommends, and I move the following. 16.1, approval of minutes, special meeting minutes dated July 7th, 2025. 16.2, approval of minutes, board work session, and special action meeting minutes and executive session minutes, dated July 8th. 2025, 16.3, approval of minutes, regular meeting minutes. And executive session minutes dated July 22nd, 2025. 16.4, financial reports.
16.5, resolution for the award of transportation, and 16.6, approval of ESEA, fiscal year 25-26 budgets. Do I have a second? Mr. Mayor, uh, any questions? Seeing none, Mr. Schimpf, please open the voting. Voting is open. Mr. Schimp? I am a yes on everything except 16.3. I need to abstain.
Noted. Oh, go ahead. Go ahead. I just need to recuse myself from 16.4, the third bill list, um, for a conflict of interest with Beata. Noted. And Mr. Schimp, similarly, I have to recuse myself from, uh, invoice to Effective School Solutions to avoid a conflict of interest. So noted.
Motion carries. Thank you. We're a bit of a skeleton crew tonight, so it's the only HR member here. I will move the HR agenda. Superintendent recommends, and I move the following. 17.1, termination of employment certificated. 17.2, termination of employment non-certificated. 17.3 appointments certificated, 17.4 appointments non-certificated. 17.5 leave of absence certificated, 17.6, leave of absence, non-certificated. 17.7, assignment, salary change certificated, 17.8. Assignment salary change non-certificated, 17.9. Other compensation certificated.
Do I have a second? Mr. Greenbaum, are there any questions on the HR agenda? Mr. Schimp, please open the voting. Voting is open. Motion carries. Thank you. Mr. Mayor, can you please move the P&L agenda?
Sure, the superintendent recommends that I move the following item 18.1 approval of harassment, intimidation, and bullying investigation decisions. Those are ones the Board heard on August. 12th. Item 18.2 first reading of policy 0143.2. Student representatives to the board, final revisions, um. Will ensure that those are posted publicly before second reading. Um, 18.3, second reading, uh. Policy 511 eligibility of resident non-residents. 18.4 approval of waiver of policy.
155.1. Uh, and 18.5 approval of the waiver policies, 81.10.
Thank you. Thank you. Superintendent Minimans, 192.1. Mr. Holt. I see no questions, Mr. Schimp, please open the voting. I think we're gonna… to do this one the old-fashioned way, a little malfunction here.
Dr. Dreysun? Yes. Mr. Greenbaum? Yes, Mr. Mayor? Yes. Ms. Palmer? Yes. Ms. Winters? Yes. Motion carries. So exciting. Nothing for governance this evening. New business. Do any board members have new business they would like to raise tonight? Seeing none, old business. Is there any old business that needs to be discussed this evening?
Seeing no old business… oh, one thing I will say, an old business, just to remind everybody, we do have a vacancy currently on the Board of Education, although it's not as dire as it looks, it's just one spot. Um, we are accepting applications until September 2nd. They go to the BA's office, which Mr. Schimp is here tonight. For his very first ever board meeting, they won't always be this quick, Mr. Schimp, but we will try. Um, so if anybody's interested in joining the Board of Education, please submit your resume and cover letter. To the BA's office prior to 4 p.m. On September 2nd, and you will be considered.
Any other new or old business? All right, we have made it to second public comment. Second public comment is the public comment section for any topic. Public comment is an opportunity for members of the community to comment on matters relevant to the operations of Cherry Hill Public School District or within the authority of the Cherry Hill Board of Education. The board welcomes diverse opinions on relevant matters. Under established federal law governing reasonable restrictions on speech and public forums, statements which demean its visual community members or groups, or which are irrelevant to the operations of the school district, or repetitious, will not be permitted.
Community members who would like to present information not relevant to the school district are always welcome to communicate directly to the district superintendent, board president, and all board members via email or other alternative means. You will have 3 minutes. I custom, we always start in the room. If there's anybody in the room who would like to make second public comment, please approach the microphone, give us your full name and municipality.
Sarah Jocely, I'm from Cherry Hill. I wanted to thank you for the strategic goals being successfully accepted and approved, and I was very glad to see. The addition of goals that relate to our preschool program with consideration of the, um. The aid, considering the aid to support the program. I felt that it's been a long process, and everybody has been involved. Um, has spent time and energy, but I think we should all be glad that we have these goals to work with over the next 5 years. It's a strategic plan.
I did also want to wish everyone a very successful. Introduction to school, we're coming up to it real fast here, and I thank the board for their service and all of the staff, from everybody. Here and elsewhere, for getting the schools ready. I did want to bring up one minor client that has to do with the signage. I noticed… I have a little bit of our drone, and I noticed.
And so I know that, uh, it's probably just an oversight for radiating the signage to be completed. But if we agreed to have… Melbourne! Instead, we have come to Melanor School here with the dates. So I'm sure that's on the list, but I just didn't want to make sure that we brought it up.
Um, today's what's a quality day. Values of both our young men and our young women. To have quality and respect in our schools, our workplace. Our country. We understand the importance of… I'm reaching out. Every vote will come out. And very, very able to alert their conscience. We are all independent people, and we certainly will have some of our seniors.
In high school may be eligible to register to vote, and hope that. And then if you will participate, and of course, also. Thank you, everyone. I appreciate it. Thank you, thank you. Thank you for your comment. Going online, CCM cancer, and it's your term, please see the stress from the neighboring municipality any more amendment. Kim Gallagher, Cherry Hill. Fyi, the audio is really bad on the online.
Um, so I just wanted to make a quick comment. So, when I was filling out. Forms for back to school, I noticed that 3 of the policies that were listed. Um, that were associated with various items that parents had to sign for were… They haven't been updated in… since, like, 2016, and they were policy 5330 Administration of Medicine. Policy 2361, Acceptable Use of Computer Networks, Computers, and resources. In Policy 7523, School District provided technology devices to students.
All of them were updated in May or June of 2016. I just think that those might be items that the board should consider looking at, since. I have to assume a lot has changed with technology in the last 9 years, especially since. In that time, the district has become a one-to-one with, um, Chromebooks. Going on to the room, is there anyone who would like to, like, make a public comment?
Uh… Justice for Ram Ram. And umbrella. It was our first year. That's a fraud act! And there's some questions on numbers versus 7743.
It is no numbers are different. For the same amount of time. Um… Is that your nurse. Of them, 18,000 schools, restorative justice practices. The ongoing thing is… Is that, uh, when you Google search things, you'll notice that the schools are practicing.
So, uh… How's yours? Mr. Short, please make your relevant territory held public schools. Why, I need to mention Wilson's across our country to grow relative. You've put our children in it. Right, right. So now you're telling them that I'm not allowed. Suicides. Across the United States, to make a point that… What we are… what we are doing here.
Is we are playing a very dangerous game here. With the Cherry Hill Schools. I have brought to you numbers from Old Bridge Schools. You have ignored those. Discipline numbers. You keep ignoring them. These are facts. These aren't just my general opinion. Now you're stopping me from saying what schools. I haven't stopped you from saying anything. You're interrupting what the rules are. You're interrupting me. Well, no, you're interrupting me. You're stopping me, interrupting me. You keep interrupting me, because I want to tell you facts.
The fact is, is that these schools. Across the United States, I keep finding more, practice restorative justice. And all have ties to bullies. Every time I try to mention a school, you tell me to stop. So, I'll try it again. Peabody, Massachusetts also practices restorative justice with. Bullies that have caused. The student's death. Another one! Mr. Short, this is entirely inappropriate.
Well, thank you. Thank you. Going back online, I don't see anybody else online. Is there anybody else in the room who would like to make second public comment? Andy McElvain, Cherry Hill. Can I have the full 3 minutes, please? Thank you.
Good evening. According to an article I read recently, the cursed. Curse of certainty centers around the notion that what people believe is true must be true. And must remain true, despite evidence to the contrary. It means rejecting concrete evidence that might conflict with your fixed beliefs. It reminded me of the social media trolls who plague our district with their online postings. And public statements that school board and township meetings. Our trolls are absolutely certain.
That they are correct in all things. Are impervious to counter-arguments. And continue with zeal to put forward all manner of baseless charges. And Pretzel Logic in support of their views. Social media trolls believe anyone who does not agree with their extreme view. Is a delusional radical to be dismissed out of hand. With ridicule and contempt. They are certain in their belief. That they hold the moral high ground against all evidence to the contrary.
But they always operate in the negative, never participating in improving what they don't like. There, frankly, nothing more than hateful bullies. It would be easy to dismiss them, but I recommend that, rather than ignoring our trolls. We should listen to what they say in public. And on social media, and take every opportunity to question their nonsensical logic. And they're inverted logic. I've found the more curious I become, the less I know, and the less certain I am.
And that is a good thing. Curiosity. Feeds an open mind. Curiosity and critical thinking. Go hand in hand. My belief is that curiosity. Is a virtue, and is the antidote to the curse of certainty. Encouraging curiosity in ourselves will help break through the noise from our trolls. And encouraging curiosity. And the schoolchildren of our community will help ensure they are better prepared for their future.
My advice to all, be curious. I encourage everyone to use your curiosity. To fund the truth for yourselves. Then participate in finding solutions to the many challenges that public education faces going forward. It is easy to criticize. But much more difficult to find answers. Our community, and especially our trolls. We'll all benefit from our commitment to being curious.
Instead of certain. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. Looking back online, I don't see any hands raised. Is there anyone in the room who would like to make second public comment this evening? Please give us your name and municipality. Good evening. Carol Roscoff, Cherry Hill, New Jersey. How is everyone? I want to preface what I'm going to say.
Quickly. I always, um, am very impressed with Dr. Jocelyn, because she always comes up very positive, and that makes me kind of look like an… like I'm an angry. Labor woman, which probably I am. Um, today is National Women's Equality Day, the day that recognizes the adoption of the 19th Amendment in 192. If you need reminding, the 19th Amendment gives women the right to vote. When we think about the fact that women have only been voting for just over 100 years in this country. It is pretty amazing. Both of my grandmothers were born in 1914.
In a time when they were disenfranchised simply because they did not have a Y chromosome. Several years ago, I met the first woman to register to vote in Camden County. When I met her, she was in her 90s, and she told me that her father threw her out of her house. Because she registered to vote. I often think about the sacrifices that people have made to ensure that we. Have the rights and the freedoms that we all know and appreciate. We, especially as elected officials, have a responsibility to make sure that they are not hijacked.
By French groups who believe that they have the right to dominate the conversation. Recently, I was told by a very vocal member of this community that there was no longer a need for us to debate the idea of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Because it was illegal, and there was no need, no longer a point to it. I was a little confused. How can diversity be illegal? Look at our community. How do we outlaw the very fabric of who we are. When I expressed this to my son, the outright silliness of it, he looked at me over the top of his glasses, and his very old soul wisdom said to me, you cannot be that naive.
That is exactly what they are doing. They are putting people of color in concentration camps, all the people they are deporting have black and brown skin. Do you think that there are no undocumented people here from Ireland, or Russia, or the Ukraine? They are painting over rainbow crosswalks, they are trying to overturn gay marriage, they are attacking transgendered athletes. They are sending the National Guard to our urban areas that, because of systemic racism, are primarily home to people of color.
The Secretary of Defense supports a religious group that wants to make it so that only land-owning white men can vote. When he was finished, my son, I was speechless, but only for a minute. And that is why I'm here tonight. Mrs. Winters, thank you. Thank you for stepping up tonight and trying to silence. The craziness that is happening in our community. We all have a responsibility to speak out against it. I know that you were told by Council, and I have utmost respect for that, that you are not supposed to speak out.
But we have to. As elected officials, we must. Remember, rules are suggestions. It is our responsibility to counter the hate. In our community. Thank you. Thank you for your comment. Going back online, I don't see anybody online. Going back to the room, is there anyone else you would like to make second public comment this evening? Please give us your name and municipality. Yoni Arash, Cherry Hill, tough to follow Councilwoman Roscoff, but we're gonna go for it.
Um, talking about a concern, my wife and I emailed this to the board earlier, but wanted to raise it here as well, that. I'm currently… so we recognize Malberg is one of the unique schools, as it was… had multiple identities, never had a kitchen built into it, and with the new programming. One of those ongoing growing pains that we're going to go through, we'll call it that. But right now, if you have a vegetarian child, only 9 out of the 19 meals offered there. Are vegetarian, and they have a note on the… uh, menu saying is subject to change. Not the challenge, especially vegetarian students who may qualify for free or reduced lunch in the preschool program.
Um, it creates a very unfair situation for them. A couple families that come to us talking about that, because, you know, we have very big mouths and say things. Um, so… um, so that's just a very big concern there, and I think… Also, want to double check about when's the Kilmer Playground going in? Based on our drivearounds, it doesn't seem to have started. There was a talk that it could be starting in August, just curious where that was on the timeline. Um, recognizing that things change, weather happens, and. Things move around. Also, last night, as a parent, I was at Carusi, they did a wonderful job for the parent.
On student open house, uh, the building looks great. It's continuing fun to see the building's multiple identities when you go from new lighting hallways into the old-school lighting hallways. I don't think you ever see a such a profound difference of why the work needed to be done. Um, the TCUs are absolutely incredible. Um, several of the 6th graders that will have all the classes out here, um, which is probably one of the best reactions you could have from any of the students, is that they are really excited to be out there. You didn't feel like you were out on an island, there just was… it feels like it's part of the school. On the fact that you can hear announcements, everything like that was really well done.
Um, so I'm excited to see where it goes. Um, and I think that's it, thanks. Thank you for your comment. Looking online, I don't see any hands raised. Going back to the room. Is there anyone else who would like to make second public comment tonight? Please approach the microphone now. Going once, going twice… I'm gonna close second public comment. And move to Superintendent Comments.
Thank you, Ms. Winters. Just a really quick comment, just like to thank all the commenters this evening who spoke on, uh. Women's equality, uh, rights, uh, Day. Today, um, I think what has been said has been eloquently stated so much already, but we're better off when, uh, everyone. Is empowered, and there are freedoms and rights that are bestowed. Um, as human beings. I mean, we should be treated as human beings, and it's important that we all. Continue to push for that, advocate for that as well, so… Um, thank you for your comments.
Have a good night, everyone. If anyone is interested, there's an excellent exhibit at the Constitution right now… Constitution Center in Philly right now on, um, women's rights to vote. It's pretty cool. I went there with my daughter this week, recommend it. I'd like to make a motion to adjourn. Is there a second? Ms. Palmer, all in favor of adjourning, please say hi. All right, all in favor, the meeting is adjourned. Thank you.