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.
office. I just need to read a quick statement if I may. The New Jersey open public meetings law is enacted to ensure the rights of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend a meeting of public bodies of which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provision of this
act, the Cliffside Park Board of Edge notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the office of the board of ed and the office of school numbers 3, four, five, and six and the high school on March 20th, 2026. This is an official meeting
like to take the role if I may. Mrs. Abru >> here, >> Mr. Capano >> here. >> Mrs. Fredo >> here. >> Mr. Garcia >> here. >> Mr. Nadru >> here. >> Dr. Pontiano, Mr. Russo [applause]
Kbakia here and Mr. Yuzzi is not here. Mr. Ryan's meeting will be broken into two pieces. Uh the first piece we'll be talking about is our 2026 2027 budget
and Mr. Tabaki I think you Yes. I just like to read a statement about their budget. Good evening. Good evening everybody that came to this evening's meeting and who else is going to watch us live later on. I'd like to be begin by thanking our superintendent, our assistant
superintendent, our business administrator, our administration team, and my fellow board members for the time and effort put into developing this year's budget. This is not an easy process. With rising cost, real financial pressures, we work
hard to balance the needs of our students, with the responsibilities we have to our taxpayers. I also want to recognize our teachers and staff. What you do every day for our children is the foundation of this district, and it doesn't go unnoticed.
We were recently recognized by the Burton County Office of Education for a perfect submission for something we're proud of because it reflects our commitment to doing things the right way. As both a board member and a father with two children in this school system, this
is personal to me. I'm not just speak I'm not speaking as an elected official. I'm speaking as a parent. I see the impact our schools have every day and that stays with me in every decision I make. We understand the weight of this budget. It reflects
carefully though tough choices and commitment to doing what's right for our students and our community. I [snorts] would like to thank everybody that assisted with this budget. That's all I have to say. Mr. Panel, thanks Mr. Tvakia. Appreciate the feedback and kind
words. Again, I personally uh my name is L found a business administrator. I want to thank again the board um obviously the public uh all staff uh Mrs. Cal, Mr. Rinfus, Mr. Alban, the entire business office staff. Special thank you to
Maryanne Carreri who uh work with me on quite a few nights and quite a few weekends. I want to thank them and I really want to thank also the mayor and his team for being so flexible in regard to understanding the challenging dynamics really unique dynamics that
have presented itself this year. Um uh really a unique year. So um I think what's going to come out of that this year and we've talked to Mrs. Calibri and Mr. to Ryan is that we really learned the minutiae about our business and we're going to build and we have
built and we're going to build even a better mousetrap moving forward. We got under the hood of a lot of different unique segments and called out some real unique opportunities. So I think the challenges from this budget will lead us to better days moving forward 26 27 and
beyond. I'd just like to take a couple of minutes to go over just some of the key metrics that kind of make up the budget. Again, the total budget for 2627 is approximately 77 $76 million and change.
It's up about $4 million year-over-year. To put that in perspective, our medical prescription went up $4 million year-over-year. So, our budget is up $4 million year-over-year and our medical prescription went up $4 million year-over-year. So, you can get the
message that the real challenge, the real challenging metric was the rising cost of the medical and RX. It's been a challenge over a few years. It really raised its ugly head this year. We had a 32% increase year-over-year and an absolute increase of over $4 million,
which challenged the budget. Um some key line items we look at each and every year. We look over a three-year period line items such as instruction which includes regular and special education, teachers, extracurricular activities,
athletics, really all the salaries that make up the business. We're up about [snorts] a million dollars year-over-year. And that's really driven by contractual obligations. um operations of the plant which is
essentially sal uh salary supplies outside services to maintain the buildings. It's flat year-over-year. Salary for technology, business office, superintendent, professional services, architect, legal, grant writing, flat year-over-year.
Okay. Transportation cost, bus drivers, bus aids, maintaining those buses flat year-over-year. And remember, our buses, our transportation business creates revenues by taking other schools such as Palisades Park, Richfield,
and Fair View. They piggyback on our buses to similar routes. So, we act, it's actually a revenue earning business, transportation, those costs are flat year-over-year. instructional support services such as
child study team, OTPT, purchase professional services. That's up about a million dollars year-over-year. Again, child study team along with prescription and medical are the two most challenging [snorts] dynamics of the business right now. You don't mind paying for child study team
because it's about our kids providing them services. What we're all struggling with is the challenge of medical and and prescription plans rising at extraordinary rates. and our grants which is our title one, title two, title two, title four and
IDEIDA, they help our students with English as a second language, students that have some disabilities. There's essentially that's flat year-over-year. So you can get the gist here that our our expenses are relatively flat with the exception of some of our salaries and our child study team expenses. But
really, let's challenge the budget is the medical and the RX increase which was $4 million year-over-year. our revenues. Our biggest revenue is obviously our tax levy and the commitment that I cannot applaud the
burrow enough for the commitment that they made to the students of Cliffside Park School District. We had a meeting with them and Mrs. Calibri, you were with me and they could not have been more of an advocate for us in regard to do what you need to do to make sure that
staff and services to students, the core business is not compromised. That was their exact words. Do what you have to do. We know it's going to be an impact on the taxpayer. These are extraordinary times.
And do what you need to do. again their their mantra was to not compromise the integrity of the staff or the students and the services provided to them. Given that
we had a approximately $3.5 million levy increase uh year-over-year and what what does that mean to Mr. and Mrs. taxpayer? So based on working with the burrow, if you have an average home
assessed of $360, $370,000, it's going to impact the taxpayer about $270 per [snorts] higher than historically. But again, the reality of it is because of the extraordinary increase specifically in
medical and prescription, we had to use what they call adjustments that were provided from the state. And the state took the increase of 4.2 million that we had absolute increase and gave us about
2.8 million back in adjustments. That adjustment is allowable above the 2% cap. Well, what that does do it puts it impacts the task taxpayer. So that's just the reality of the situation. The good news is we've learned a lot about
our business. We've got a more efficient and effective business. And moving forward, we will feel good about that. We have optimized staff and services to the best of our ability. So, like I said, I think all the challenges that
came out of this process, we've learned so much and we're going to build a better mousetrap currently and moving forward. So, again, the levy went up an absolute of $3.5 million. Again, historically, usually your levies go up about a million and a half, plus or
minus. miscellaneous income there. I [clears throat] mentioned that we get transportation revenue from piggybacking other schools to the same routes that we go to. It's pretty much flat year-over-year. Uh tuition essentially the majority of the tuition
we get is from Fair View. [snorts] That's up about a million and a half year year-over-year. That's essentially a slight growth in the Fair View population in the high school. but also the rates that we are allowed to charge, they're called certified rates, have
gone up year-over-year. And we have a new revenue stream thanks to Mrs. Calibies, Mr. Rinfest and staff. It's before and after care. Correct, Mr. Rinfest? Correct. >> That is another tuitionbased revenue. So you can see we got some unique revenue
streams transportation fair and now we have this before and after care extremely helpful. Right now we're forecasting that the revenues will exceed the expenses twofold. So your P&L is positive and for a guy like me that's
always good. So and it's in it's in its infancy. I think this is the first goound but right now we're forecasting that the revenues will exceed the expenses twofold. So that's a unique revenue stream that we think we can build on moving forward.
State aid is up about 5% year-over-year. That's been consistent over the last two years. Really, what's a component of state aid that went up the most on a absolute basis went up twofold is
our preschool education. We've expanded that. We've opened up a new classroom, I believe, in number three school back in January, I believe, January 20th, plus or minus. So, we're using that to continue to expand
preschool. So, we've used that money to to expand. So, it's not like we got incremental dollars and we put it in our pocket. We spent it on on the students. We continue expanding services, more classrooms, and then federal aid,
which uh we were concerned with because of the the new regime in in Washington. We're concerned that it may be compromised some of our federal aid. The good news is we're not hearing that. We're hearing that the aotment that we usually get historically we will
continue to get in our title one, title two, title three, title four and IDA money and also our Medicaid which essentially is special education driven aid is going to be it's going to be funded. So again those those are the dynamics. It's really the the tax levy
drove the incremental revenue increase along with tuitionbased opportunities. But given all of that, we still had to be very very creative in regard to [snorts] managing our expenses where we can get a zero sum budget where our
revenues can equal our expenses because the expenses unfortunately are growing at a far greater rate than our revenues. I wish we had better news looking forward to this time next year based on what we're hearing about medical and prescription costs, but we are not
hearing that. Be open, honest, and direct. We could be in the very very same position that we are in this year. So, we'll uh we'll continue to keep everyone posted, continue to try creative ways to save
money without compromising staff and the services we provide to the students. That's really the bottom line, right? That's the mantra. Let's not compromise the good folks we have in place and let's not compromise the integrity of the services we provide the students because really it's all about the
students, all 3,219 of them. So, um that's pretty much u the overview. I think it's a good budget. I think it's my 13th year here. It's probably our most challenging budget just based on some of the headwinds.
But like I said, with the help of Mrs. Calibri's board staff, Mr. Rinfus, uh, business office staff, the public, the mayor and council getting behind us. They really gave us an opportunity to succeed in creating a
budget even with all these challenges that we feel is robust and will continue to provide solid services to our students. So, that's pretty much um the overview. I know the board's probably tired of
hearing me talk about the budget for the last two months, but I want to thank them again for all their support. Um, there wasn't a lot of good news the first few weeks, but uh, we took it as a challenge, everyone, and uh, I think we're in a pretty good place for uh,
2627. >> Thank you, Mr. >> I'll make a motion to adopt it. >> I'll second it. >> Is there any question? Okay. Okay. That was a motion from Mr. Tvakia and Mr. Garcia. >> Okay, just let me put that down here.
[snorts] Mr. Tvakia, Mr. Gar. >> Okay, we are now voting on the final budget that will be submitted tonight to the county and the state. Mrs. Abru, >> yes. >> Mr. Capana, >> yes. >> Mrs. Freda, >> yes. >> Mr. Garcia,
>> yes. >> Mr. Nadru, >> yes. >> Dr. Pontiliano, >> yes. >> Ror is not here. Mr. Tarbachia. >> Yes. >> Okay, that is so moved. Thank you again. So, we are going to
close this portion of the meeting and we are going to open up the our usual public consent agenda. I have to uh ask again since we're closing this meeting have to do another roll. That's okay with the with the
board. >> Close this. We are closing the budget hearing and we are going to open the public consent agenda. So [clears throat] I just have to take attendance if I may again. Mrs. Abru >> here. >> Mr. Capano >> here. >> Mrs. Fredo >> here. >> Mr. Garcia >> yes here.
>> Mr. Drew >> here. >> Dr. Pontiliano >> here. >> And Mr. Terabaka >> here. >> Mr. Rinfus. >> All right. Thank you Mr. Alfano. Thank you [clears throat] board of education members. um the public, students,
teachers, uh Mrs. Calibri, um and our technology department who's here um helping us live stream um tonight's board meeting. Uh first and foremost, I know everyone is probably tired of hearing the word budget at this point, but a huge thank you goes out to Mr.
Alfano, our business administrator, uh members of the office staff in um just constantly coming up with creative ways to stretch every dollar that we have available to us. So, I I'm pleased that
we are at this point. Um I'd be lying if I said that this was a seamless and smooth uh process. um sitting in on a lot of the new superintendent meetings that I'm required to attend. Um it's the budget
is is on everyone's mind and it doesn't matter if you um are in this part of Bergen County or um southern New Jersey. It it it it doesn't escape any of us. Um and I think the team that we have put together, the conversations that we've
had, the ideas that we've thrown around and some of the uh policies that we are looking forward to implementing in the future um is going to make a big difference. So whatever challenge is ahead of us, we are going to do our best
um to make conscious decisions and I'm looking forward to continuing the partnership [clears throat] that we have here. Um but again, I would be remissed to uh not mention the hard work of Mr. Mr. Alfano, Mrs. uh uh Maryanne in the main in the main office, uh Mr. Alfano,
sorry, Mr. um uh Alban, uh Mrs. Calibric, and the members of the board of education for all your support through this process. So, big thank you uh to each one of you here tonight. Um as well as a huge thank you to the burrow uh for the work that you have
helped um the support that you've had with us um getting us through this process. And from day one, we have seen nothing but uh support on your end. And I know that uh they're seeing the challenges just as much as we are. So, we truly support the uh partnership that
we have with the burrow and moving this um as as further along as we can. A big thank you to the teachers. Uh the last couple weeks, we had a couple big weeks uh with ReadAcross America in our elementary schools. We've also had wellness weeks uh activities happening
in some of our uh middle schools and high schools. So, a big thank you to uh fizzed teachers and school counselors and wellness groups and committees within each of the schools. Um so, it was great to get into the classrooms and read to some of the kids. I know I can
uh speak for members of the board of education, other members of our administration who were present um in some of the classrooms the last couple weeks. It was just nice getting um back into those rooms, back into the schools, meeting with some of the kids, answering some of their questions. Um so, big
thank you to the staff for everything that you did with that. [clears throat] Um I do want to note that we are looking to um adopt an updated calendar for 2026 2027 at in um April's board of education
meeting. So we are looking to um bring every bring the teachers back um August 31st. So if we want to start planning um vacations and return to school, August 31st is going to be that date um because since uh Labor Day is running a little
bit later than normal, it is going to impact the school calendar a little bit. So looking forward to working with the teachers um and coming up with a plan that makes sense for everybody. Um, but do circle that count that date on on your calendar. Uh, Mr. Porfido, our
athletic director, did supply a couple important dates and students and athletes to recognize. On April 25th, we will be honoring um Ben Luter, one of our elementary special ed teachers on Ben Luter Day. So, we will have a couple
baseball games over at the high school. Um, and big thank you to uh Mr. Porfido um for organizing that um for another year. On June 8th, we will have our winter and spring athletic night. Um so please circle that date on the calendar.
That is June 8th. Our girls bowling team finished 19th in New Jersey and fourth in North Jersey. Um it was great getting out and seeing some of the uh some of the matches that they had. And it was interesting um to kind of see how the scoring works. and you know, you've got
uh bowlers on this this lane, bowlers on that lane. So, learning a little bit about how the uh high school bowling process works um was very interesting. Um but a big thank you to uh the coaches that we have and a big congratulations to uh Caitlyn Balins for finishing 16th
in all of New Jersey. Uh which is very impressive. I know she was down um out of school a couple days participating in the state tournament. So big congratulation goes out to her as well as Ashley Bernal. She's one of our wrestlers. She was down, I believe, in
Atlantic City a couple weeks ago and she ended up placing sixth um in all of New Jersey. So it was great to see that program um growing. U big shout out goes goes out to the coaches for that. Um and we do have over 200 student athletes
signed up for the spring session. So um keep doing what you guys are doing. Thank you to the coaches. Thank you to Mr. Porfido um for all the work that you're doing with the athletic department. And I guess at this time I'll turn it over to Mrs. Calibri. I don't know if there's anything u from
the inservice day or anything curriculum wise that you would like to share. >> Yeah. So on Friday um Friday, March 20th, we all met as a district. Uh the building admin teams facilitated staff updates on our NJSLA
um administration highlighting key resources and expectations and the staff engaged and it was um for the most part a really you know great uh PD. Uh right now uh on Monday our administrators as
well as our school counselors were trained um from the Renaissance company for educ climber training. I also want to reiterate something that Mr. Reinfest said being in the buildings during ReadAcross America reading to all different ages was definitely the
highlight of the month. You know, besides the fact that it's women's history month and there were a lot of activities and culminating projects surrounding uh women's history month, school 5 hosted their international night and they did a fantastic job. So,
in the future, I promise you board, we will get you invitations to some of these wonderful events that you asked for. Um, and I want to, you know, commend uh the high school had a lot of testing this month. So, I want to commend Mr. Janucci and his team um you
know Mrs. Brennan uh for really you know working so hard to get WEDA up and going this month. So WEDA testing for our um ML students is almost over. It's coming to an end. And I just wanted to give a shout out once again for wellness week
to all of the schools um for doing you know such a creative job this year. And a huge shout out to the PE teachers. That's it. >> Great. Do we have any committee reports that anyone would like to share? >> Uh just on buildings and grounds,
everybody sees the improvement that went through the district. I know uh Lou emphasized on the budget, but there's not many many school districts here in the state of New Jersey that can do all the capital improvements that we've done throughout the years. And and on the bottom line, that was a a plus for the
district, a plus for the taxpayers. And I got to commend uh Lou's uh uh you know good budgeting and doing that where we didn't have to go out on referendums and uh hurt the tax levy. So uh you know that's all good stuff and uh our buildings are in good shape. You know
our brick and mortar you know tight everything is good. So I know the next few years the budget's going to be challenging but uh you know our buildings are in good physical shape. So that's important. uh still closing out a few projects with the UN events over at the the school here and uh we've got uh
some money built into the budget as everybody knows to uh uh do a lot of uh masonry repairs and concrete work around the high school that's due those uh famous steps that take forever to go up especially for a guy like me that's older but uh you know they need some TLC
so uh that application went to the you know department of education I think it's back and uh we're going to go out to bid and see if we could uh do it within our budget. So, that's pretty much it with buildings and grounds. Anything else I may have missed? >> No, Joe. Just to piggyback on that, April 14th is the open bid. Keep
everyone posted. Okay. >> Any other committee reports? >> No. Okay. Uh so, we will take a look at a couple specific items um in the agenda. If you could turn to page three. Page three. Um down at the very bottom
there's a resolution to recommend uh and accept the retirement of Lori Lavine uh school counselor at school number three. I had the pleasure of working with with Lori when I was a high school teacher, high school supervisor. Um so a couple weeks ago when she called me for um a
meeting, I kind of had a feeling that um you know the talk was coming. So we had a great conversation um and I truly wish her well on on the next chapter. So she uh started over at the high school and then for the last year she's been working with Mrs. Barco over at school
number three. So we wish her well on um the next chapter of her life. [snorts] If you could turn to page 8. So, resolution number 23 um superintendent of schools to approve uh school 5 remain open on Friday, April
3rd for all staff and students with an early dismissal at 12:30 due to the previously recommended school closure on March 20th. There was uh construction work that was being done close to school 5. um the administrative team, the
teachers, the students safely evacuated the building on uh March 20th and then they were advised not to return to the building the following day. So, we had to make a quick decision um and the decision was to close school for school
5 uh students and staff the following day. Over the weekend, I worked with the construction company to ensure that we were safe to return. Um we received the paperwork that we needed to ensure a safe return for our staff and students.
Um unfortunately because of not opening on that day, school number five students would finish the year with 179 days of school. So by law, we need to have 180 days for all students across the district. So working closely with Mrs.
Calib, the board of education, Mrs. Martini and other administrators and teachers within the district. We decided that school will remain open on Friday, April 3rd for school 5 only. So the morning will run as a normal school day
and by 12:30 all students and staff will be dismissed. Um I met with the teachers on Tuesday and I was so impressed with their professionalism, the questions that they had, the understanding that they had. Um and we believe that we are
going to have um a good amount of them in school on that day because it was a previously scheduled first day of spring break. Um we will have parameters um in place in case we do have um a higher number than expected uh staff not report
um for that particular day. So I'm looking forward to heading over there seeing all the kids in the classes um and teachers in the building. So big thank you to the students, staff, administration and also the parents um on that particular Thursday and Friday
as well as um for the upcoming uh Friday, April 3rd date. Messaging will be sent out to school five parents in the morning informing them of this addition to the school calendar. Um if you look at number 27, we will
have um policies approved this evening. These were policies that were read through at the last board of education meeting. Um, and we will look to finalize those this evening. If you turn to page
14, this was something that Mr. Alano spoke about earlier. Um, the expansion of our prek program. Um, with the expansion of the prek program, the district has qualified for a grant through the through the state and what we are
looking to do is expand as much as we can moving forward. We want to try to have every three and fouryear-old in district have the opportunity to begin their education in our schools. Unfortunately, because of space um and
other constraints, we're not able to open it up to everyone, but we are looking every year to expand upon that program. Um and the plan for next year is that we will see prek in all of our elementary school buildings. In the
past, it was primarily housed just in school 5, but our plan is to open up buildings in schools three, four, as well as school five. So, um, as we grow, we're looking to, um, open in all of the different buildings that we have. And
there is one, um, I want to jump back to personnel on page six. So, this is a resolution, um, that under most circumstances we would hold in a
closed session. Um so what is that's about to happen generally happens in a work session behind closed doors that we discuss as a board. Um a staff member was notified that if they wish to wave this right this discussion will be held
in public. So that's what we are doing now. Um because the employee waved the right um to have that. So, if you take a look at the resolution, um, in paragraph number two, it states that the superintendent of schools will recommend
that an employee will go on administrative leave with pay um, until further notice. So, a couple months ago, um, I was approached by an employee in our district who had allegations made
against another member of our, uh, of our district. And the allegations were made against our transportation coordinator, Glenn Luciano. The allegations uh were made in a meeting with myself and Mr. Alfano. The meeting
lasted roughly 45 minutes and based on the information that was provided to us, we felt strongly enough that an affirmative action investigation was warranted. This employee has had previous affirmative action investigations in the past. They were
done inhouse by our administrative team um or sorry members of our affirmative action team. We felt that that since this was not the first affirmative action investigation that we would like to have a new set of eyes um to see what
their take is, what their opinion is, what questions they are asking uh that we might not be asking. So we reached out to our attorneys. Our attorneys have set up interviews with members that have witnessed um or have um been uh
witnessed to different events um either verbal or physical that involved uh Mr. Luciano. We have had a few employees who have met with our council and have been in hour-long interviews with our council.
Those interviews are still ongoing. Um I believe there are a number of interviews left to do. So what started with one person speaking out with allegations against a co-orker and a peer has now
turned into numerous employees meeting with the council and explaining um what they have seen or unfortunately what they could have possibly witnessed. So, we are in the middle of an affirmative action investigation with this employee.
Um, last week I was notified um by a an investigator from the New Jersey Department of Education that this employee, Mr. Glenn Luciano, was arrested. The charges against him um according to
the investigator were concerning and pending charges against him could be a disqualifying crime or offense. And then it said, "We as a district are reminded that if the
pending charge results in a conviction, this individual will be permanently disqualified from school employment." So given the seriousness of this information from a New Jersey Department of Education employee and investigator,
we felt I felt that it was most important to let this play out to notify the board of education of the incident and come up with a plan to move forward. No judgment is being made until we have
a report done from the affirmative action investigation or through the court system. So until that time, this employee will be on a paid leave with no contact with school employees until we
have a decision from our attorney regarding the results of the affirmative action case or more information about the outcome of the legal accusations. Okay. So I don't know if any board members have any questions,
>> concerns. Yes. >> Concern. You said he should have no contact with school employees. >> Yes. >> But you would also mean that he should have no contact with anyone from the school. Students, right? >> Correct. >> You wouldn't want any contact with students besides the employees. >> Correct. >> Okay.
>> Yes. So, no no contact with students, no contact with um employees until until further notice. There any other questions, concerns? Okay. Um, Mr. Alfano, I know you did the budget
presentation. Is there anything that you would like to add resolutionwise? >> Yeah, just quickly thing, Mr. Rus. Um, obviously our focus over the last couple of months has been 2627, but we can't take our eyes off of 2526 because it has its own unique challenges. Again, uh the
forecast for the first half of 2026 for medical and prescription was X. The actuals came in about $450,000 higher. That's a challenge to the budget and we're going to look very closely as we get closer to the end of the year to see the dynamics of our surplus. Another
thing that threw a curveball at us, which this year was Mother Nature, we're about up about 190,000 above our budgeted forecast for uh energy, gas, and electric. As you know, we've had historic cold for about two months. Um
we forecast over a three-year trend. Previous three years, weather's been pretty good. This year, mother nature wins. So, we have those two headwinds. So, we're going to look very closely at the next few months. Again, Mrs. Calibries and Mr. Rinfus along with the
staff, we've asked them to dot their eyes and cross their tees in regard to only spending on must haves versus nice to haves and they've done a wonderful job with that. So, I want to commend them and I want to thank Mrs. Cal and Mr. Ryanfist and the
staff in regard to sharpening their pencils. It seems like they're always hearing from me. Uh, but this year, um, I can't thank them enough. they they really took it to heart and we've done a good job of really only spending what we absolutely have to and that's really
about the students or if there's required maintenance if we got a leak, if we got electrical issue, the roof leak, stuff like that. So, we've really cled it down to the to the bare bones. One resolution I just like you to look at if I may please and I want to thank Mr. Sabastano who's here today is on
page 18, resolution 48. Mr. SA standards and new servers which you can explain a lot better than I am can but uh SHI is the organization that we work with the company that we work
with um again they help us with the construction component the hardware the software essentially we're upgrading the servers that was mentioned at number three school number six school and the middle school and the high school uh we expect then Mr. rifus the project to
start this weekend. I will follow up with the subcontractor in regard to that. But I want to thank Mr. Saviano personally because he's really the lead in regard to everything it and when we were working on the budget, you recall our conversations and we were looking at all the line items and one of the line
items we said please do not try to cut that if at all possible was information technology. Sorry, Frank. We did cut it, but we cut it far less than we originally thought we were going to have because again, the infrastructure, the information technology infrastructure is
a lifeblood. If that doesn't work, you know, we can't conduct business. So, I want to thank you personally, Frank. You're always there for us, not just this, just in in general in regard to you are the shell answer man in regard to this organization. So, I just wanted to personally give you a shout out
because you're always behind the scenes. So, that's pretty much it, Mr. Right. >> I believe they're located in New Jersey as well. SHI. >> Yes, they are. Yeah, good group. >> Thank you, Mr. Alfano. Um, I do see we have our student council here. >> So, we would love uh to hear a report if
you guys have any information to share. Let us know what's going on over at the high school. [snorts] >> I'll start us off. Um, thank you for having us once again. Um, I want to talk about the Easter egg hunt that we're going to have on Saturday. So, this is
the third annual Easter egg hunt that will take place on March 28th, 2025, of course. Oh, sorry, 2026. Um, the Go Park High School. Building on the success of last year's event, which brought together families for a day of community
engagement. The event will feature activities such as egg hunt, singing, games, baseball, and music. This Saturday, we encouraged parents to bring in their children to attend and join the event, which is being organized and led by our leaders. In addition to fostering
community connection, this year's event will also serve as a fundraiser to support communities in Ecuador, contributing to meaningful initiatives and positive benefit. And addition, excuse me, additionally I want to report that the school year has
been running really smoothly and more settled into finally and we would also be highlighting the addition of our new CER which we truly appreciate and it really provides that drive.
And we just want to say thank you. And then you rent out the couch. Sorry. >> Yeah. So, um I just wanted to um next week we have our annual tournament for
the um club and it was a massive success last year. So, we expected to have the same as as last year. All the money that we get from the is going to go for our seniors that are um graduating next year
included and uh monitoring the full school like we did last year. Yeah. >> Okay. And on the same route of DECA, we also want to report on our Atlantic City.
Um me, Ariel, and Sebastian all went on March 5th. >> March 5th. Um four kids placed. I don't know any place. They got awards which was really cool and it was just fun to be able to go down there and you know
compete at the state level. We got to meet a lot of different people and network and it was so I'd like [clears throat] to thank >> Hi. Um, I just want to talk about like um in May we have a lot of AP testing coming up
and I know a lot of seniors and like anyone who takes AP classes is going to be really glad all their studies over and hard work is going to pay off. I'm seriously here and she's helping like my class and I hope that you know my class
working hard. I know, you know, the rest of this stress out. >> Thank you. SORRY. >> Thank you guys. Um, what time did you say the the egg hunt was? >> What time is the egg?
I'm pretty sure And I think >> okay >> there's different rounds. >> Okay. Okay. Good. Looking forward. Uh >> yeah.
>> Nice. >> Good. Good. And no snow on the ground. So We got that to look forward to. So, um, believe that is it on our end. >> Mr. Set, anyone on the
Anyone from the public? [clears throat] >> May I bring up something? >> Sure. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. >> On number 27. >> Was that number 27, Dr. >> Number 27 on page eight? I would request because it's your resolution
>> that you add the words second reading. >> Okay. >> Because although it says we're approving it, I think that we should memorialize the fact that this is the second time it's coming before the board. So if you wouldn't mind making that motion. >> Sure, we can do that.
>> Thank you, Dr. Do we have any public comments? Just before we have the public comments, Mr. Rinfus, I just want to little housekeeping and some ground rules. Essentially, uh, this is a forum for the public to to provide it provide the public an opportunity to be heard. This
is not going to be kind of a Q&A. Just want to, you know, under just understand the ground. Again, it's a forum to provide the public an opportunity to be heard, but there's not going to be kind of a back and forth dialogue. And we want to try to keep it in around a three minute plus or minus time frame.
>> State your name. Glad to have you here. >> If I'm going to stay in three minutes, I'm going to have to use my >> feel free. I've got the I've got the Timex on you. >> Yeah, the Timex. >> That was a performance.
>> Um, good evening. My name is Tiffany Woodley and I've been an educator in this district for 23 years. I was a coach for almost one. >> I coached Foley so I was super excited last month when they were killing it. It
was amazing. That whole team I have as freshman and they are amazing. Sorry, it's not part of my time. It's a separate thing. [laughter] Um, I'm here tonight to speak against the proposed policy 3231
that would ban teachers from coaching teams that our students compete against. I believe this policy, while intention, would cause real harm to our students, to our teachers, and to the faculty of this community. First, this board voiced
concern about students being placed in adversarial positions against their teachers. I'd like you to reconsider that moment. Some of the most powerful lessons we can give our students are the ones that teach them how to compete with grace. How to honor someone's ability,
how to shake a hand and mean it. How to understand that another person's success is not your failure. These are lessons that they will carry in careers, relationships, and life. Who better to model that than their
teachers? Their teachers are not what the students advocate or just the other teams are. And when a teacher is on that other team, it is an opportunity, not a conflict. I've stood on the res and I've said this for years and watched bowlers.
And the most amazing thing about competing and rolling is that when a kid earns a 300, the best possible score we can earn, the entire lean stop what they're doing. come watch and it's fun.
If there is anything I want to teach my own children, it is that it is that we can celebrate each other's honors. Second, I want to speak a little bit to what makes this district what it is. In Cliffside Park, you can't turn a corner
without running into a former student. People don't just grow up here and they come back. I'm sure some of you did. Yeah. uh they want to return what was given to them and bring those same lessons to the next generation. When I was 22 and
starting in this district, I walked into a school I had never heard of. And what stopped me in my tracks and made me want to build up was this community. And that has never changed. I was going to bring up some financial hardships, but I know this is very momentum. Um, and the
economy and healthcare and gas crisis, but as you said earlier, you already know how extraordinary this is. You're correct. These are extraordinary times. Even for those with great skill and big hearts, the positions we have to
assist our community and our coaches are limited. We only have so many jobs. Many are going through financial need and that financial need will likely only grow in the next few years. I ask the board to celebrate our community and our
camaraderie. I ask you to reconsider this policy. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Wley. [applause] >> Hi, my name is Joe. I have nothing written down. I'm going to just speak from the cuff. Uh I've been a teacher here for 28 years. I have coached
bowling which I passed which I passed [laughter] on. So we're super excited about their success. Uh also coach girls soccer. Many of our coaches are former students and former advocates of the center. They chose to come back here as
teachers to pass on the Red Raider pride and tradition. my husband. Well, I'm going to speak specifically [clears throat] specifically about you're not going to meet anybody who's more true to a career than my husband, Jim Casey. He has
coached track, wrestling, baseball, and soccer. And if you've been around for the last 20 years, you know the success that it brought to the soccer board. Recognition in accounting, NSC, an amazing program that hardly anyone could
walk away from. He walked away from me for two reasons. Our daughter Ryan and our siblings. He has been lucky enough to coach them since they were young kids. specifically our son from people to coach to for my
release to maintain rare opportunity that anyone who is involved with sports knows it's extremely rare to be able to coach your child and his friends in high school sports. He has coached these boys six people, not just our summer, but all the
boys that he now would like to continue to coach in high school. He is a volunteer. He doesn't do it for the money. He does it for the love of the game and for the love of his son. I ask you to revisit this policy
and allow teachers, not just my husband, but all teachers to continue to coach and inspire young kids whether they go to Cliffside Park or any other school. He supports the kids that go to Cliffside Park in their will support. He
talks about and encourages them in all way. He has an extremely respectful relationship as do all our coaches whether they're here or outside of the gym with our students. Like we said, when you coach, you look
to inspire. It doesn't matter where they go to school. You're coaching for the love of sport and to teach kids life lessons. There is no adversarial intention at all. So I ask you consider this policy.
BEN, >> THANK YOU. >> [applause] >> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. My name is Steve Jana. I grew up in Side Park. Went to school here K through 12. Played three sports and now have the privilege of being a health and physical education
teacher here at Riverside Park High School for the past 18 years while coaching three sports. What I'm here to talk about is a new policy allowing people who work in the district to coach other tennis in Cliffside Parks division. My disagreement with this policy is that I coach basketball for 15
years 10 as an assistant five coach. I would still be coaching here now boys basketball coach three years ago. Although I was not recruited as the boys head varsity basketball coach, I continue to coach soccer and baseball. Since my love for coaching is so strong,
I wanted to continue to share my coaching capability and explore more basketball coaching opportunities within other districts. Thankfully, other schools that were aware of my coaching skills, proficiency, and experience reached out to me with offers to coach
within their districts. Since I competitively coached against these said districts, they were aware of firsthand of my coaching ability, my leadership, and my positive connection with my players. These districts saw firsthand what I was capable of bringing to the
table and uh being productive and improving their programs. For me, it was a no-brainer. Even in my early years before I became a teacher, my goal was also to coach, help kids, and improve their skills on and on the board. Once removed from my head basketball coaching
position in Kai Park, I knew I wanted to continue that goal of mentorship. Sadly, since it was no longer the district I teach in, I welcomed and was thankful for the offered opportunities and for the positive reinforcement other districts saw me. taking these assistant
coaching job in no way was sincere intentionally adversarial or hostile towards the family I love and worth it. They are purely love continuing to coach and help student athletes.
I understand unfortunately that life meets many unforeseen friends that we don't always have control of. We lift our heads up and move forward and try to turn a negative into positive. This rule that may be imposed on you will not allow negle.
This does not also only this does not only affect my love and the other of sports. It financially impacts myself, my wife and our one-year-old child. For those reasons, I would greatly appreciate if you would reconsider
the potential new policy. Thank you for your time to allow me to respect you and ask my opinion regarding this matter. [applause] >> Hi everyone. Um, I'm a 15-year-old kid park high school and um, for as long as I can remember, my dad has been my coach
through everything, whether it was soccer, baseball, basketball, hacking time. He knew what he didn't know what he was doing with basketball, but he was still here in my court. Since I've been growing up, I grew up with the Raider. My dad coached my entire childhood. And if you look
through my pros and half of my stuck with the Raiders, um staying here, I had the opportunity to have my dad as my coach through my high school career. And um I wouldn't want anything different with this policy. I was really
basic taking away the privilege for me, for my dad, and for my team behind me. [clears throat] Again, since I've been a kid, he's always been in my corner, my my corner, my number one supporter, been my biggest fan. half the time I don't know who he
supports me or close eye part athletics he's a big close eye park guy no matter where he's coaching no matter what kid what team his kids on the side no matter what there's never been hard feelings when Mitchell partner partner and even
when so I stand in front of you hoping that you can reconsider this policy and allow my dad to match me through my high school career thank Hey, [applause] really hard for me to really hard for me to stand in front of
the board of education. Mr. Ryan, Mrs. Cal members of the board of education standing here to talk about the policy. Well, first off, fantastic job at this gym. He looks fantastic. I grew up in this jail.
I'm here to talk about policy on 3230. I'm here to talk about Jim Fus, someone that's been an educator in your high school for 28 years, nearly three decades. >> [clears throat] >> To my students, I'm nothing short of a
role model. Somebody that steps into that school as one of the first teachers daily in that school to put my rightful forward to change a mindset every single day. To my colleagues, I a turnkey educator. I bring things back and 90% of
what we do in our fizzed program is a fantastic fizzed program are things that I've established. I'm a leader in that building. I'm a role model in that building. I'm a friend in that building to my administration. I am the consmate team member.
I go above and beyond for my administration. Wherever they need something, just tell me to go there and I do it without knowledge. I brought nothing but respect, dignity, accountability, and sportsmanship to my
job that I take fantastic and great pride in. I'm a Cliffside person, born and raised on 40 Preston Avenue, right down the block from 7-Eleven. I take great pride in what I do. I've worn many hats in that high school over almost
three decades. I've been on a negotiating committee. I've served on committees that improve the culture, climate, attendance policy, discipline policies. I currently, and I still do it, and I'm
going to continue to do it. I orchestrate to joy drives for those less fortunate than many of us, for the community of Cliffside and Fairview. I hold fundraisings, orchestrate district-wide fundraisers for for flood victims, fire victims, for kids that
just fall on hard times. I currently serve on a on a committee that gives scholarships to our athletes, our cliffside athletes. I go above and beyond my job at Cliffside, not because I have to, because I don't
have to. I check out at 310 if I want to. I do it because this is my community. I stepped aside from coaching about 13 years ago that young man just spoke in front of you today. Many of you have kids. I've seen your son walk Mrs. Galleries in the hallways.
He holds some of the highest standards in character. Mr. Gracus, same thing. I've seen your nephew. They get character for a reason. They get character from your home. That's what I possess every day. I stepped away from educating to be more of a father. I'm a
father first, first first and foremost. And because I have implemented myself into my community, little furry, I've created the same culture and climate in my hometown that I've done in Cliffside for
nearly three decades. stepped aside from this soccer program that is nationally ranked, a hall of fame soccer career, not from Cliffside Park Hall of Fame, from the state hall of fame and Burke County coaches hall of fame. I stepped away from a nationally ranked soccer program, returning county
champs for my family, a very normal thing. And I don't know many people that would put their pride aside to be a father first. And now this policy comes out. And with all due respect, I too was offended by the adversary of comment. And I will
tell you why. And and if my time's running out, just give me like a 30 seconds so I can please wrap it up. You're all aware that the Cliffside baseball team went to Florida last week. Yes. Do you know why? Because of me. Because those gentlemen who I didn't know were coming tonight. We went to
Florida. And I posted it to coach Dozer and had a conversation. We have fantastic young men right there. And Cliffside Park has got fantastic no manner baseball game. So let's bring them together. Let's create more productive members side of the society. Are you aware that both programs have
joint and combination practices right before the states? Are you aware of my relationship with those cliffside players? I spend more time with the cliff side than I do with these kids because I'm a cliffside guy.
I share ideas WITH COACH. WE SCOUT FOR each other. So when the word adversarial comes out, I'm a professional for nearly three decades. I've been nothing but professional in our building, in our community. I was offended by that because I, as a
professional, can separate the two. We're not talking about street fight guys. We're talking about two teams that are competing against each other on the most pure level of high school sports. We're not talking about a street fighter. And I was offended when that term advers adversarial
situation came about. >> Count timeout. So I will >> Mr. Sir 30 seconds. >> Great. I want the opportunity to coach me. Less than 1% of all high school coaches have
the opportunity to coach their son. Put yourself in my shoes. somebody that's gave his heart and soul to that building, to this community, to this board of education. Put yourself in my shoes. You would be standing here right now advocating for yourself, for the
opportunity not to coach [laughter] the rival team, not for that kick a play, but for the opportunity to coach my family. You're talking about family, right? You all have families. We're talking about family. So, with all due respect, I'm
asking you to table this policy. I'm asking you to condemn some of the language to allow somebody, and again, I'm only here talking about Jim Fusy. I'm not talking about Steve Job or anybody else in this to allow somebody with exception to coach their family.
I've given my heart. I give my soul to this district. I will continue to give my heart and soul because I'm a charact person. I'm a prideful person and I have morals and values. And each one of you that know me know what I stand for. I'm a good person. I'm a family person. And
I earned that RIGHT IN CLIFFSIDE PARK for the last three decades to coach my son. Regardless of where my son goes to school or regardless where I bought a house, please take it. Please give it some more food. Please, please
amend some of the languages because that's my son talking about. Thank you for your time. [applause] >> Anybody else from the public? Anyone else from the public? >> [snorts]
>> Yep. Okay. I believe uh that would end the public session. We got to do a motion questions, comments on the board. >> I think we should table it >> on the policy
and discuss further. Is there a second? >> A second. >> Mrs. Fredo. Sorry. >> Which one specifically? >> I'm going to help Mrs. Fredo. >> We're going to table resolution number 32. So, we're going to revisit policy
number 3231. Any member abstain? Do the other one too. >> What's the other one? >> The back side. >> The 4231. >> 423. We're going to do one step.
>> Okay. We're also going to table policy number 4231. Any member abstain? I'll make a motion to accept the agenda with just those two stripes. Mr. Fon, please. >> I'll second. >> Okay, that was Mr. Terbakia. Thank you for that. And that was Mr. Garcia on the
>> It's okay. >> I'm sorry. >> We have to vote on table. >> Okay, I'll make a motion to vote on >> agenda. >> I would prefer a vote. >> Okay, >> we're going to vote specifically on policy. I understand that Dr. Conlana
3231 and 4231 table >> to to table >> that that's what the vote is about to table right >> so the vote is to table and revisit it may maybe fine-tune it >> okay >> just I want to just clarify that before I vote yes I don't want to speak for you
Mr. Capano >> yes >> Mr. That's what you're looking to. Okay. Okay. I'm going to take a vote now to table revisit policy number 3231 and 4231. Correct. Okay.
Mrs. Abru. >> Yes. >> Okay. I'm going to got to write down here. So, I apologize. That's a yes. Mr. Capana. >> Yes. >> That's a yes for Mr. Capana.
Miss Freighto. Yes. >> Okay. >> Uh Mr. Garcia. >> Yes. >> Uh Mr. Nrew. >> Yes. >> Uh Dr. Pontiliano.
>> Yes. >> And uh Miss Turbach. >> Yes. And then I'll make a motion to accept the agenda. Please >> second. >> And that was Mr. Capano. Is the second. Okay. >> Yep. Okay, Mrs. Abru.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Mr. Capana. >> Yes. >> Guys, don't forget the picture. >> Mrs. Fredo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Garcia. >> Yes. >> I don't have my code. >> Mr. Drew. >> Mr. Nadru.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Dr. Falana. >> Yes. >> And Mr. T. >> Before Before we close, I would like to thank everybody that came out to the meeting. And can you please come out more often because we need more attendance and more brainstorming ideas.
Thank you for all that came out. >> So moved. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> I'll make a motion to close today's meeting. Thank you. [applause]