I pledge, please. 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. Just like to read a quick statement, Mr. Rynearson, if I may.
The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provision of this act, Cliffside Park Board of Education caused notice of this meeting
to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the office of the Board of Ed, the office of school numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, and the high school on May 18, 2026, and notices were posted to Cliffside Park Board of Ed website May 18, 2026. This is an official meeting.
I'd like to take the roll, if I may, Mr. Rynearson. Mrs. Abro? >> Here. >> Mr. Capano? Oh, I'm sorry. Mike was whispering in my ear. >> [laughter] >> What do you have for dinner tonight? >> Yes, I'm having steak. >> Mrs. Frank?
>> Here. >> Oh, gosh. Um Mr. Madru? >> Here. >> Dr. Pantaleo? >> Here. >> Mr. Rancour? >> Here. >> Mr. Russo? >> Here. >> Mr. Bakke? >> Here. >> And Mr. Yunits is not here. Okay. Thank you for everyone for attending
tonight. As we talked about in our work session, the first order of business would be to interview uh in regard to the board vacancy. This evening, we have three candidates. We have uh Dean, who I believe is going to be calling Mr. Wright first via
phone. We have Don. Don is here. And is Fyodor here? Fyodor is here. Thank you. So, those are our three candidates. How it's going to work is um in the order of how I received the resumes and applications, Dean was first, Mr. Nikaj
was first. The board is welcome to ask some questions. Mr. Nikaj is welcome Mr. Nikaj is welcome to give a a one or two minute overview of why he believes he'll be a viable candidate. Then we will go to Don, who I received second. And then Fyodor Am I pronouncing that right? Fyodor?
will be third. And the process will work the same. Once we're through that, the board will adjourn to closed session, commisserate on the three individuals. The three individuals will will leave here. Um
the board will come back. We will have nominations in regard to the next steps. And I will get back with you, Fyodor, Don, and Dean uh probably no later than tomorrow in regard to what the outcome is. Did um Is Mrs. Mr. Nikaj Mr. Nikaj, are
you here? >> Yes, I am. >> Okay. He's on. All right, Dean. Hi. Lou Alfano, if you to just maybe want to give the board a minute or two overview of why you believe you'll be a a viable candidate. Again, this will be a 1-year term.
Uh and then you obviously would have to run again in uh 2027. So, I just want to let the candidates know that. So, Dean, feel free. >> Well, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for the opportunity. Sorry I can't be there in person.
Um I think um I reside in Cliffside Park 23 years. A lot [snorts] of you know me. I I worked for the town for the past 12 years. Uh have three children that are in school. I think I can help out as far
as with people in town. I'm I'm really would like to be in the board because my kids are still going to be in the in the school system. And I really appreciate everything you guys have done since I've been in Cliffside. My kids have since
kindergarten to high school. And everything in the Board of Education is very like top-notch. Um never had any issues. My children love the town. I love the town. Anything I could do to help the Board of Education or the town itself, especially with teachers, to
help the teachers out because they do a great job. Everybody that I've ever dealt with in Cliffside is phenomenal. And I just feel like I can help the team. And I'm a team player. I'll do anything, you know, to make the town better, to make the Board of Education better. I
mean, it's top-notch in my eyes. I think you guys all do a phenomenal job. And you know, if I get the chance, I will try to help you guys out as much as I can. And hopefully, you know, either way, if I'm on the board or not, I'll always be there to
help. >> Thank you, Dean. I appreciate that. Any questions from any of the board members? Dr. Castellana? >> I have a question. Uh Mr. Baccala, you said you wanted to help us out. What unique talent or skill can you
contribute to this Board of Education? >> Well, I think I'm very deep in the community as far as with parents. I have I have a lot of friends that are parents in the town and have a lot of kids in the school system. And I think I can communicate well with the parents and try to help
out the Board of Education as far as getting support from parents in town as far as getting support from people in town for the teachers and the Board of Ed. >> [snorts] >> All right. >> Mr. Nadreau?
>> Uh, hi Mr. Riccio. Thanks for joining us. Um, so I wanted to just ask you a generic question that we ask all members. So, I know you've been in the town for a while. What what encouraged you personally to apply for the board in in this uh, biggest of towns?
>> To be honest, it's because my my kids. I'm honestly doing this for my my son is a going to be a junior next year and my daughter, she's a freshman and I would like to I have a like I said, I have a lot of friends in town with kids and they always since I work for the town, they
always ask me questions about the Board of Ed and if there's anything I could possibly do to help them and unfortunately, I'm not in that situation, but I do try to help them out and I just want to give back to the community that gave so much to me.
>> [snorts] >> Any other board members? >> Dean Joe Capuano, how are you? >> Uh, Joe, how are you? >> Joe, so so Dean, I I I know we've worked side by side on on on some operation projects. You've assisted us up many
times up there at the senior building with your your experience when it came to the building, the grounds, and and how to put things together in in a short period of time and get things up and running. I know our last blizzard was a a disaster and
you impressed me with your your managerial skills in in getting key component people from DPW and some key people to come and assist us as we were stranded up on the complex and
you know, I think uh you feel you can bring that experience here to the Board of Education. I know you deal with the finances in your department, etc. Would you be able to implement some of that here with the Board of Education in
helping us out? >> I think I think I definitely can help you guys out as far as managing the schools' properties, the buildings and grounds, any upkeep that needs to get done, any kind of contracts that deal with the
Board of Ed, I can definitely help you out in any type of way. As far as with snow, you guys know I'm no matter what happens, I'm always going to help the Board of Education. I always have, I always will. Uh anything else inside, interior work, any kind of work that needs to get done.
I mean, I've been doing this for a pretty long time, over 20 years, so anything that I can help out, definitely will. It's available to the Board of Education, either way it goes. >> I appreciate I know you listed some of these things on your resume.
I know you got at Rutgers doing the professional development course that is mandated to your license. Uh I know we we we hold a few licenses in in the same way and I know it takes a while to to get to those licenses, but
uh you know, we also it's buildings and grounds are key essential, but finances and all of that and uh I think uh uh you worked uh with the borough in conjunction uh when it comes to finance for your for your budget and all of that. Is that correct?
>> Yes, I have three departments that I do all the financing and budget that I have my own budget on each department and I have pretty been pretty good with the budget for the past 12 years. I mean, sometimes like a blizzard like this you go go a little bit over but you try to conserve
as much as you can. You know, but I can deal with budget and financing. It's really I'm used to it. I've been doing it a long time. >> Thanks a lot, Dean. Good luck to you. >> Thank you, Joe. >> Anyone else?
Dean, thanks so much for your time. Uh I will be in touch uh sometime tomorrow as I will with the other candidates. >> All right, thank you so much. Thank you, guys. I appreciate it. Thank you. I I'm sorry again once again that I couldn't be there in person. >> No worries. No worries.
Take care. >> Have a good evening. >> Our next candidate I call him Don. And Don, if I mispronounce your last name, just let me know. Uh Bishnoi? Bishnoi? >> Bishnoi. >> This is Don Bishnoi. Uh Don was our
second candidate I received. You have his resume and letter of intent in his packet. Uh Don, if you want to maybe take a minute or two to let the board know why you believe you'll be a viable candidate. >> Sure. >> It'll be a one-year term. >> They usually are not, but this is kind of an unusual circumstance.
>> Then you'd have to run again. >> Okay. >> Uh uh this time next >> Okay. Great. >> I actually have I don't know what copies people had, so I just printed it out. Um and the order that I had is got the the reference letters, the resume, and the letter of intent.
>> Yeah, I printed out. That's okay, Don. That's fine. Um you came prepared. >> But I can't find >> Prep- preparation is good. Thank you for that. >> Um, I think the references are are good. >> Yes. Yeah. So, tell me what you want to give us a minute to just overview of
your candidacy. So, I've been a resident of Cliffside Park for a little over a decade. And like most people, you know, it's it's kind of the same reason that brings you to the community. You know, you have children and you want to see your town succeed. So, similar to
that, I have a vested interest in seeing Cliffside Park succeed. Part of what's great that brought me here from Queens was I had friends that live in the area and, you know, I've heard about the town and and that's kind of what it brought us here. It's been
amazing this past 10-plus years. Our kids just I have twins. They just graduated school four today. Uh, so we're you know, very excited. But again, it's the long day. We have the long journey ahead. Um, I work from home.
I've had a long history in in Wall Street. You know, I was a portfolio manager at hedge fund. So, finances is not at all very um, new to me. You know, analysis of projects, municipalities,
companies, it's all the same approach. But I also bring this unique background in technology and STEM. And you know, I really think that's a component of where I think schools also it's a component of success for schools and
communities. Um, and that's part of what I'd like to be I where I'd like to help as well. So, overall, you know, definitely very invested in and want to see the school system succeed, see the town succeed. You know, town's given back so much for us
just by you know, coaching Little League. I've gotten to know more and more people in town. We've seen people by face, but it's just nice to see what it feels like to to be part of the My kids just love, you know, going for a walk with the dog. They interact with everybody within our
vlog, and I just want to make that, you know, experience for them. So, that's really it. >> Thanks, now. >> Yeah, appreciate it. >> Any questions from any board members? >> Dr. Papantonio? >> Yes, if you don't mind >> Sure, of course. >> Yeah.
>> I know you alluded to finance and STEM. Can you maybe speak a little further about any unique talent or skill you can contribute to this board? Or maybe [snorts] be more specific in your answer because you didn't talk about STEM technology. >> STEM technology specifically AI,
actually. So, I am very versed in agentic AI to the point where, you know, I have a home lab where I'm actually running a business that consults businesses on how they can implement agentic AI. So, they could actually be within school systems, too. It's just businesses that
leverage this amazing technology that can reduce costs, increase efficiency, and just kind of help everybody. Um You know, my kids go to the Our Child, which is in Fort Lee. Um and I It's a great school, but I've
noticed that if I were to teach, you know, I I'd do it a little bit differently. It's a little bit easier when you're practitioner to teach things and take hot, you know, complex subjects and kind of bring it down to to concepts. I think that's the thing
that's key to making our children successful is building a foundation of concepts, critical thinking, lateral thinking. Um so, I think that perspective specifically with STEM is what I can bring uh for education.
But, then there's also the ability to just use AI to kind of make government efficient. Um in a in a good way to leverage it to help everybody. Uh in terms of finance, you know, that's been my entire career. So, it's from a portfolio management standpoint, analyzing companies,
you know, I have the CFA designation, and that's a very part of the designation is very quantitative, but very heavy in accounting. So, looking to tease out patterns in the numbers. And if you marry data science and budgeting, you'll
be [snorts] shocked at how next level you can gain insight. There's budgeting, there's ability to handle spreadsheets. Like I I can I'm like a ninja at Excel. It's you do it in your sleep. You You know, that's that's part of like a a basic requirement for a hedge fund. So, the quantitative tools I'm very
comfortable with. But, the thing is to gain insight from that. So, look at trends and see how do we think about forecasting. So, where are the sources of variability? We'll do do variability analysis. Where can you hedge potential risks? Right?
So, there's inflation, there may be health care costs. Things like that. I'm very comfortable with that. Um I I could go on about that. So, so the finance side of of things I'm very comfortable. Um You know, as at OpenLane, when we
acquired businesses, I was one of the groups of the enterprise risk team that actually evaluated deals. Um so, you know, we presented it to the board. So, I'm very I had experience presenting these things to the board of of governors there and then the senior leadership team.
So, you know, I'm very comfortable with those two topics. Does that kind of answer? Anyone else on the board? >> I'm sure. Just let me jump >> Just some additional you know, you had mentioned evaluating companies and then work out deals. I
mean, that's what I'm understanding. Um you're on the board and then several other persons negotiate between these contracts, negotiate with groups of employees. Yeah, you know, that that experience for later. I'll have you know in situations like that. >> So, that's it. So, what you're talking
about is try to model what we call tangible and intangible scenarios in a spreadsheet essentially. So, [snorts] that is my that is domain I'm very comfortable in. And it's it's actually pretty successful
I find it's very successful a scenario where you can imagine like a Venn diagram where everybody's skills don't always overlap, their knowledge base don't always overlap, but there's a little commonality. So, one thing that I'm very good at is this
type of analysis, but also teasing out the expertise. I'm sure that you guys, you know, have many more years of specifically in this domain. So, taking that the critical approach to tackling these
problems for a specific problem. I think that's something unique that I bring, which again also teases out things that you guys may want to consider in a in a financial analysis for options. Does that make sense? >> Yeah, it makes sense.
I actually had a second question. I just for just so I understand better. I I I graduated from my first state university. So, I I understand the many months that it takes to get the CPA as much as you also list your the FRM. I'm not familiar with that. Can you just explain that?
>> The FRM is another designation that's I would say in the finance world equally as valued. It's it's actually the the risk management designation. So, you know, it's everything from market risk to corporate risk. So,
so you again, if you think about the municipality as a corporation, managing corporate risk, sources of revenue, risk to that revenue, variability in revenue, forecasting out 5 years, sensitivity analysis, all your assumptions. So, um so the FRM is kind of packaged
specifically from what from a risk manager's standpoint. Um but again, all sorts of risk, cybersecurity risk, um and if sorry, business continuity risk. >> And then one last question for You had mentioned in your reading the
cover letter company was having a program for >> Oh. Yes. So, what are the reference So, there's two reference letters. One is from my ex-boss, who's actually from Oppenheimer. He has retired and is in the UK. Um so,
he's that second to last page. The last page is actually the the um the person that runs the literally program. I coached, um you know, on that league. So, he he's the other reference. Well, so I tried to get one corporate,
one, you know, local town, but part of Oppenheimer was giving back to the community. Oppenheimer Funds was uh the place that I worked at where I did this. Um you know, there were many things that we did. We did We had uh it was it was a firm that was 2,500 people spanned across different locations in
the US. So, very much a large organization. Um we did things like multicultural network. So, we had to actually have a budget and manage um that entity within Oppenheimer Funds. One of the other things that you're talking about was uh we volunteered and
were assigned um a high school student for a number of years and actually mentored them, you know, uh I I I actually started freshman year and mentored them through the program, kind of got to know them, got to know their home life, helped them
decide a career, and actually helped them, you know, get it put themselves in a in a situation for success, internships, think about, you know, how would they do their resume. So, all that whole package. And it was actually pretty rewarding because
you know, I didn't walk into it thinking that you'd actually foster this relationship, but it was it was pretty pretty neat. I mean, I wasn't a parent then. Um I learned a lot. I learned a lot about just these little things that you used to think don't matter, they have such a
big impact. A huge impact. But I still keep in touch with with that fellow, but it was it was it was great. It was I was lucky to have that experience. >> Any other board member questions? Don, as as you know, I looked at went through your resume, um you know, I've
seen you you moved around a bit, you know, I I guess you know, you've always tried to to strive and do what you you got to do. Um You have an extensive background in in in finance, and I know um Clayton indicated sometimes, you know, we're we're dealing with personal
matters, where we're dealing with unions, etc. Uh it can get dicey at times, and uh uh you know, you're prepared for something like that? >> Yeah. So, risk management is um the risk managers are the bad guys at
our organization, right? So, you have portfolio managers, right? These are rockstar personalities, you know, they're infallible, and you have to come and tell them there may be something wrong with their strategy. They may not be doing so well, they may have to change.
And I have senior leadership. So, a lot of personalities, a lot of people that think they're right. And I'm just the guy that's got the numbers that I know what's right. And I have to sit down and find this common ground and get buying, get political capital to be able to show
people I add value, so you can listen to me. So, one unique experience that I had at I loved Oppenheimer Funds was it was post-2008, the financial crisis, everything blew up. Nobody liked risk, and I was the second person hired at Oppenheimer Funds. We
had four rounds of interviews. I had a psych psych psychological that brings my life test, IQ test. It was really hard to get into. And um I was part of the first team or the first few members of the team to build the entire program from the ground up.
The chief risk manager was reassigned to report directly to the CEO, and we were there to to do damage control. So, we had to literally do exactly what we're talking about, which is try to talk about things that might not be comfortable to discuss with many
parties. So, that's how I have experience in terms of how to approach that. You really have to try to think from all different, you know, angles. Um try to try to see where they're coming from and and really try to articulate
your point to that audience. Um I guess that's more of a philosophy, really. You know? >> Yeah, you know, you you sit on this board and I've been here 20-plus years. Sometimes I say too much, and I've had the privilege to work with some great people. You know, but you know, we're
dealing with the nine to 10 different opinions at a time. And one thing this board does very well is that we come together to do what's right for for the district. Um but I appreciate the the feedback. And one more question, Don, and I I I think I can see the drive you have in
there. Is the time committed to this? You know, there's there's sometimes there's endless nights, you know, it's almost 7:30 and you're here. I mean, you sometimes you'd like to be home with your your family. You have that drive in you to to be here and be part of the team? >> Well, home's home is 6 minutes away.
There you go. And um yeah, I work from home. I work from home. Um post-COVID, I've always worked from home. And I work for a Trade Desk, so that's actually 24/7. Um you know, the global markets are always there. So,
I'm used to dynamic um state. And I I'm used to handling that. Like, you know, our families used to but again, my wife is part of the PTO or or involved in the teachers association, not our PTO, but
we both really have a vested interest in trying to make um, an environment that sets our kids and their their friends up for success. You know, like before they went to school at school four, they were at Montessori school.
So, Maria Montessori school um, off Anderson Avenue and it's different here because they they're thrown into the whole community. And they have genuine friends, you know, that they care about and I care about their problems and some kids may have other
you know, they may struggle in different ways for education. So, you just want to see that succeed, you know, it's all of them succeed. So, home is home. It's all it's all here, you know. So, I'm not worried about that.
>> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate it. >> Any other board members? >> Tom, thank you so much. >> Thank you guys. >> Thank you. >> You're done. >> Okay. >> Our next candidate is Theodore
Theodore, if I'm if I'm if I'm butchering your if I'm butchering your last name, just let me know. Is it Sakach? >> Sakach. >> Yeah, I'm rolling now. >> So, >> Theodore, you want to give maybe a minute or two overview of why you believe you can >> Sakach Sakach and that's like that. I apologize to you guys, I have to say.
So, some of you might know me with Madison Town. I've been in Cliffside since 2003-4. Uh, I've had a practice on my chiropractor just half a block away from here at 596 Anderson Avenue and I've lived in Cliffside since 2009. I had two kids
since then. And um, kind of always when I went into practice, when I decided to become a doctor, one of the things I've always wanted to do is I wanted to be part of the town. That was kind of like the calling idea of, you know, like you're
you're one of the staples of the society or the local society, you know, the the judge, the doctor. Okay, maybe I'm not a surgeon, but you know, still I get to see a lot of the residents to point where when I do marketing for my office, you know, when I'm trying to reach I'm trying to
reach 5,000 or 5 million followers on Instagram or do I just want 500 people from Crestwood Lake Park at the end of the day? That's kind of what I care about. So um like you said, I'm the last one to apply. I was like probably like 5 minutes before the right the time time
ran out. I didn't know. I honestly didn't [laughter] know. I've always wanted to do I wanted to do something in town. Honestly, I am from Russia originally. I have no idea. I grew up in Moscow. Good luck getting into Moscow local government or councils or anything like that.
Uh but small towns have always kind of appealed to me. I love living next to New York State, but I love coming home here every single time we go out there. And I always wanted to give back. I've always wanted to be a part of something. Okay, probably not health department. I can't administer any vaccinations, but a
board of education I think um I think it's something that sort of rhymes with me. Russians were huge in education. We're psychotic to a point of it, maybe competing with the Korean population a little bit. And for that matter, I think I can also bring on board a lot of
unintended on board a lot of the Russian population we have in town. There's quite a few of us. Uh we're very into it. We're very driven with our kids. We constantly on top of them for doing homework to point where my son complained to me at some point. He's like, "What the hell, dad? Only Russian parents want their kids to do homework?"
I'm like, "Well, the word exists. Why wouldn't you do it, right? It's homework. You got to work that home." And I think um what I'd like to do. So, being a practice owner since 2004, um I've managed hundreds of people as
patients and then dozens of people as employees, hiring and firing, everything falls on me. So, I wish I had a board, you know, a board that could advise me and everything, but ultimately, you know, anywhere from a clock toilet to hiring new staff to uh
talking to the doctor about, you know, bringing the right type of care, the type of care that kind of coincides with how I feel about it, it's always fallen upon me. I'm not always best about it, but I'm trying. Um I'm not confrontational. Uh I try to find uh some sort of solutions. I try to
find um a possible way to sort of compromise between whatever needs to be done has to be done and can be done, you know. So, I think I can bring some of that all also to the board, but once again, uh I'd love to know everything you guys are
doing. I'm love to be part of the town. I'm in town. I live here. Uh I work here. So, pretty much 24/7 I'm in Clark Park. And uh I think I can hopefully bring something somewhat of a unique approach because of like I said, I'm uh really for education, highly
educated. I'm continuing my credits and my education at this point. So, um always curious, always looking to help and would love to help in town. >> Thanks for that. Appreciate you all. Any questions from our board members? Dr. Pacchiana?
Mr. Nicastro, I'm sorry. I'm I mean Mr. Naddeo, I had Dean in my head. Mr. Naddeo? >> Um I'm sure. Uh so, Mr. Gatto, I'm just going to ask you what what I actually said. Um you know, our friends previously on
our sort of board and our vacancy and why why did you what encouraged you to apply uh for vacant seat. This time I will So, education has been like I said a big part of my life. You know,
going through the school myself and then we're on top of our kids. So, my little one's in going to third grade in school number four and my oldest one is just graduating on Friday from the middle school and is progressing on to the NVOT, Northern Valley Old Tappan and Bergen Tech Academy for sports medicine.
Don't know if he wants to be a doctor. I don't want to pressure him. I think it's a calling, but you know what? If by the end of the four years he decides one way or another it's a positive outcome. Um just like Don said, I've had an experience with education,
well, the educational system or Board of Education in Edgewater. Where I felt there was so much traffic through, there was so much going on. It It seems like it's a town that people move into New Jersey and move out of New Jersey out of New Jersey through.
So, there was very little connection to me and COVID didn't help. My son was was there during the COVID years as well, but it kind of made me appreciate how great the system is working here. Um because like Don said, very friendly.
The teachers treat kids like like their their own neighbors or maybe not their own kids, but their own neighbors. I love the multi-multicultural approach here. You know, we have every culture, every religion. I think it's a very important concept very important thing for kids to learn how to
communicate, how to manage. Um so, once again, I'm not applying for a position of a teacher, so I don't want to bore you with that, but I think you guys are on top. I love our camp that's coming up soon, you know, so it's something that I'd love to help to do.
The gentleman before me has a heck of a lot more so, you know, experience with everything. My thing that I can bring is that I'm a problem solver. Um I've dealt with health care uh since 2004. Pretty much every year it's
been a reinventing of the practice. So, I'm flexible. I've survived 22 years at this point. You know, I'm I'm not saying if it's a happy thing or not. It's The word survive sounds terrible after 22 years of practice, but um I think I can I think I can help. Once again, might
not have the same connections to arrange the snow removal or stuff like that, but I can help definitely support might you know, micromanage or macromanage at the moment, whatever the problem may be. I am a problem solver. Um and I think that might be something that I'm hoping to bring to bring to the
board as well. So. >> So, that was pretty much my question. I think you summarized it well because I was going to say, "What unique talent would you bring to the board of education?" So, you used the words problem solver and you said you've been involved in health care. >> I'm correct. Correct. So, I'm the guy
who's >> I'll wrap my question and say, "What unique perspective because health care and the cost of health care is probably the number one, if not number two problem in education." So, what unique perspective from your health care
background could you bring to the board that helps us deal with some of those cost issues? >> Well, the cost issues are terrible. My prayer is that somebody's going to come up with some sort of an AI program that's going to simplify how insurances are processing things because
um not because I can talk about this all night, but there is an unfairness. I think there is a um this is more about my problems maybe than yours, but there's an unfairness where there's a disconnect between the doctor and the patient because there's a third party involved in that mess, the
insurance companies. Yes, we need we need them. We have to, but unfortunately they have us by whatever they have us by where the cost to the patient I'm paying upwards of $2,000 for my family to have insurance which I'm afraid to use
because my deductibles are another four $5,000. There's nothing you can do. Being [snorts] a chiropractor, trust me, I know that teachers have had the Cadillac of insurances for very long time. Still do. They're getting worse. Um but I don't know how much control you guys have over insurances regulating the
plans. Um I don't know how much input you can possibly put into the way the plans are structured. There's probably health fair ways to do it and driving the teachers or the staff towards more of a preventative type of care, potentially splitting the costs differently, having the health savings
account or flexible spending accounts. But like I said, insurance business to me it's the best business in the world, you know, you have to pay for the one thing you're always don't want to use. Ultimately, same as the car insurance. So, um I'll I will happily bring my my view of
it. It's not always positive, you know, I was just uh in the jury duty this past Wednesday and there was a case involving insurance and I'm like, I can't pick I'm biased. Like I unfortunately insurances are far from being our side. There's an old saying that stuck with my school back in
chiropractic school where health insurance has as much to do with health as life insurance with life. You know, uh can we fix it? Maybe if I get elected CEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield or something like that. One day I'll be able to do that job, [laughter] you know, I heard it pays real well. So,
but um I'm hoping there are changes. I think honestly my personal opinion we're heading towards somewhat of a Medicare for all type of situation which might not be called Medicare, but it will be a unified plan. Um but once again, we're not deciding this, you know, so I'd love to insights
how we can solve this, but at the end alone has 26,000 plans in the United States, you know, 26,000. That's insane, you know, they're so complicated that my girls have to call three, four times sometimes to verify the benefits. You know, uh the whole debacle were kind
of brought us towards it with the SH the state [clears throat] employees whatever funds like a few years ago 2018. You know, this is what they drove us to. They drove us back to those back to those Medicare reimbursements and I don't think it's necessarily terrible as long as someone
works for both patient and the doctor. So, I think there is a way to stay on the side of the patient while allowing insurances to make money obviously, but just once again, I can be on the advisor of it, you know, but it's a so far it's been that's why I have to
reinvent every year but because they change rules, they change regulations. I can keep you guys abreast of it, you know, that's something that definitely I'll happily do even if I'm not elected as a board member, so. >> Any other questions from the board? Okay, yeah, I have just I mean you
you've answered a lot of great questions and and good answers back. I know you're embedded in the community. I can assure you if you you come on to this board, people are going to call you out. They're going to come see you you know, maybe you do this, can maybe you do this.
You know, this is an issue I'm having etc. Um you know, there's always checks and balances and you got to be able to separate yourself from your your profession and and and to what you believe in and someone may ask you a favor. Sometimes you can't deliver that
favor. You know, you're okay with that. You understand that there's boundaries >> 100%. I've I've given this consideration you know, where like this could be a bad or a good thing. My only I think ultimate goal is that as long as I'm happy with this decision I'm carrying,
the decision I'm supporting, I can support it to somebody else. Part of um doing what I'm doing in my practice is educating people too, you know, so uh educating on how to take care of yourself, you know, how and that's one
of the most common things, right? Everybody wants a magic pill, you know, and when I tell people, "Listen, this might take 6 months to recover." It's like, "All right, we're going to go see a surgeon." And then I tell them, "Well, that's going to take 6 months to recover after the surgeon's done with you, you know?" So, um I think if if I can be a part of
decisions and I'm happy with those decisions. And if I'm not happy but the decisions made because I guess you guys voted on stuff, right? So, >> The majority >> that Exactly. So, I think that's still fair, you know? Um I like I said, I'm not confrontational in a sense of I don't,
you know, like to scream at people with the foam of my mouth my way my see the recording of this and but uh but at the end of the day, I like to find compromises. And if I can bring some of this, wonderful. I'd be very very happy to be a part of the part of the board as well.
>> One last question. Do you have the time and the commitment to >> I'm here. We travel. I you know, I'm a family guy. I have about 35 hours worth of work in my office. I'm I'm always here. I can always find time. Uh you know, I'm I'm known
to give patients my phone number. So, if they need me sometimes if they can, you know, like even on vacation, I'll pick up the phone and uh and be there for that. So, I'm sure I can be there for you guys. Uh you know, I'm right in Glenside Park, so it's not a huge commute. I think it'll be very
easy. >> [snorts] >> Uh other than travel, I can't imagine or sickness and pretty healthy. So, I think I can be here for when you guys need me. So, it's just a year, right? So, let's see how it goes, you know? >> [laughter] >> Succeeding to one year two two one year term.
>> Well, I do have a question to tag on your question because I did read somewhere that you actually got licensed to practice in Florida. So, I was just wondering, are you opening up an office there or >> So, no. Um 2020
pandemic time, it got real sad, you know, I closed the office for about 3 weeks. I ended up with COVID myself. Uh almost instantly. I have no idea who gave it to me, but uh I didn't have a very heavy form of it. So, uh we closed March 16th of that
year. Uh by May 10th, I got back to work because I'm panicking, right? So, I have salaries to pay, rents to pay. How does this happen? PPPs are not not even question yet. So, anyway, so I got back because, you know, people
were calling like, "When are you opening up?" And I started myself. So, basically, I just I didn't I couldn't get anybody to come out to work because I didn't want to subject them to this, you know, potential. And people started coming back in. It was a It was kind of like a revelation because, you know, some people came in and they had like seven masks on. Somebody came in and they're like, "Oh,
can I take this thing off?" And I'm like I'm like, "I had it. You're not scaring me at this point." So, um uh at that point, uh it was almost a dare where I have a really good friend who lives in Boca Raton and um
and she uh we were visiting Florida cuz it's nice and warm and um she's like, "Why don't you open a practice here?" And I was like, "Oh, I'm like, license to get is is impossible." I remember this from back from college and chiropractic school. She's like, "Really? Check it out." So,
you know, I went on I had at the time I had a New York state license as well, but I was like, "Uh let me check it out." So, lo and behold, in 2 months I had a license and $316 later. So, I was like, "Okay, well, in Russia we say you say A, you got to say B, right?" So, I'm like, "Okay." I'm like,
"Well, where am I going to practice?" She said, "You know what? My friend just opened a practice at this already practice in Boca. You can share space with her." And that was a lucky fortunate moment, too, when my brother was working for JetBlue, so I was literally flying for free. So, it was something I tried. You know,
for about 4 or 5 months, it it got off to a good start. I'd literally leave on Monday morning, come back and then just to answer your question of how adventurous I am. Uh I'd get on the plane Monday morning and come back Monday night. And used uh uh JetBlue as a taxi to Florida,
basically. So, it was fun. It was great. Uh, I can't I don't see myself in Florida yet. Um, after a few months, same problems, same things. You know, you go there looking for a short supply style. I'm not there yet, you know. I I like shorts, don't get me wrong, but it's
just I I like to work. Um, I hopefully want a little less headaches on my on my plate, but they were the same if not more with it. Apparently, everybody's the worst ingredient in there. We the worst ingredient. It's very complicated there, so. So, no. I Ever since put my license on uh
I don't know what they call it. Um, on on the back burner and stuff. So, I'm just I'm just here. I do have another practice in Piscataway, uh, >> [snorts] >> New Jersey, and uh but that's I literally commute there. I went there today for about 5 hours, saw about five patients, and came happily back here. So,
but um and once again, I I've been here for quite a bit. I don't want to brag, but several thousand patients uh over 22 years. It took the long way to develop um because I believe in the way the health care should be done, and I treat everybody um
treat everybody the same the same way. Everybody gets me. I'm not passing things off. Like I said, I'm a problem solver. I enjoy That's part of what my profession is. You know, you come in to me with a problem. Maybe I can't solve cancer, but I can solve some back pain, some, you know, current discomfort, make
a plan for the future, help you structure things, and you know, now this whole concept of functional medicine is developing. So, but I'm not trying to sell anything on you guys. So, that's I don't know if that answers the question. Keep Thank you. >> Any other questions from the board? Thank you, Phil.
>> Nice meeting you. >> So, now the board will go into uh executive session to deliberate about the three candidates. And then we'll come back. Uh, I'll ask for any nominations if there are any. We'll go in order as we do.
Mr. Noy and Mr. Sakach. We'll do Mr. McCash first. I'll ask for nominations. If there's no nominations for him, then we'll move on to number two, and then we'll move on to number three. Therefore, as an example, if number one does get a nomination and there is a
majority vote, it'll go end the process there, and that individual will fulfill a vacancy for the one-year term. >> You need a motion >> No, we're we're we're all good. >> You need a motion to go >> to go to close session for the Okay. So, you guys can do your thing.
I'll wait here. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> A nominee? >> Yeah, we will make a motion to nominate Dean Nikac. >> I'll second it. >> Okay, so then Mr. Kapana was uh first, was that Mr. Russo? >> Yes. >> And that was for Mr. Nikac?
>> Right. >> Okay. Okay, I'm going to take a a formal vote now. Mrs. Abruzzo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Kapana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Freda? >> Yes. >> Mr. Deidre? >> Yes. >> Dr. Pantaleo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rainbolt?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Russo? >> Yes. >> Okay, so moved. I will get with Mr. Nikac tomorrow. >> It will be very important that he uh he can get him signed up for the ethics training. Maybe he can do it online and and then he
think >> He's got to he's got to get ethics, he's got he's got to get his criminal history, then I got to swear him in next week. I got all the all the bells and whistles, so we'll we'll we'll get him all set up. >> Thank you. >> Of course, thank you. Thank you for to the board for taking your time tonight.
Appreciate it. But the questions were excellent. >> And please know that the other two candidates were were really just great. >> I'll call them both. >> Okay, they were >> I'll call them both. I'll call them both. >> Yeah. >> Okay.
Uh Mr. we're back in open session if you want to kick-start the agenda. I know we have Yes. Ms. Rowley here who's been extremely patient. >> Just a couple quick things in the superintendent report. Last week of school, um just a couple
reminders about the graduations on Friday. We have the middle school graduation that is taking place at the high school at 10:00 a.m. And the high school graduate uh graduation will take place at 6:00. Also at the high school. It looks like Mother Nature is cooperating, so we are
very pleased um to see that it's not going to be too hot. Um we should be able to avoid rain. So with that being said, it's probably going to be a hot and rainy day and evening. Um and thank you to um Lisa Fredo and Judy Abreu for the work with
Project Graduation. Uh also a big thank you to um Patty Peterman, Andrew Romano, Lucy Spada for their work with the end of year activities for the eighth graders and seniors at their dinner dance and senior prom. Big thank you to David Porfido and
Jenny Diaz for the athletic awards ceremony uh last week. Uh as well as the high school scholarship night that we had a couple weeks ago where I believe 50 to 60 different scholarships were given out to the seniors um in this year's class. So a big thank you to
um all the individuals who organized uh the event as well as participated in passing out and handing out some of those scholarships. So we're quickly going to jump into the agenda. Uh if everyone could turn to page two, happens to be the first resolution that
we have um on the agenda. Uh we are formally recommending the appointment of Nicole Rowley this evening. She is our new or will be our new uh director of special services. She has been filling in admirably for the
last few months moving from a supervisor of special education to this new position. We're thrilled to have her aboard. She's been a teacher in the district, an administrator in the district, and we're looking forward to seeing her enter into this new chapter.
We have Mrs. Brocco, Mr. Brocco here in support of Mrs. Ralph. SO CONGRATULATIONS AND AFTER THIS evening we can formally get started on ironing out summer details as well as our plans for special education program
starting in September. If you turn to page number five, we are appointing our site coordinators. This is for our after school program. I believe we are approaching 100 participants in the after school program. We're hoping to see that number
grow the closer we get to the start of school. We do have a before care program and more information again will be sent out to parents with reminders and links to sign up and register your child for those different programs that we have. We turn to page number six.
We have we are appointing Katie Larocco. She's one of our classroom teachers and she is now going to be one of our child study team members as an LDT C member. Mrs. Calbrese and myself met with her and had a great discussion
picking her brain and seeing different strengths that she has and we know that she's going to succeed in this new position. We turn to page 13, resolution number 43. We have mandated revisions for the policies that we have
listed below. This is the first reading and we will look to make this official sometime at next week's meeting. And Alfano, I believe that is everything on my end for the agenda. >> Okay, Mr. Rafferty, I have a couple
quick items to move it along. Well, all orders orders will be in on July and August for the full year 26 audit. I think we're all buttoned up. They came for a pre-audit in May. So, I think we're in pretty good shape there. We're working on finalizing our
surplus, which we'll communicate to the finance committee for 25-26 school year. We'll button that up in probably next week or two as we get uh the end of the school year. Uh we've opened up 26-27. I've started to encumber and do purchase
orders for a variety of contractors and vendors. Uh we engaged our buildings and grounds committee. Uh we're engaging our summer projects. Thank you for Joe, Clayton, and the buildings and grounds team for going uh through the individual projects thoroughly, for doing site
visits. We appreciate that. Uh the high school exterior site work project is moving along. They're working on the river view side and the retaining wall. We just got to hope for good weather this summer. Uh and just a couple of quick resolutions. Uh
page number uh 22 number 69. We spoke about the emergency work that B & M Plumbing did at the high school. So, thank you for Oliver and thank you to Mr. Capanna for all his help in regard to that. Uh pages 24 and 25
which are resolutions 71 and 72. I want to thank Mr. Stastano. We were working with Dell. We're ordering 225 Chromebooks in phase one, which would come out of our 25-26 budget, and we're ordering 236 Chromebooks, which is coming out of our 26-27
budget. So, that's over 450 Chromebooks in all. That should set us up to show we're in good shape for 26-27 and 27-28. And then on page 27 that I gave the uh board a heads-up a few weeks ago in
regard to us moving from this Xerox to uh Atlantic/Ricoh USA, uh we will be doing the transition over the summer. Gave the overview of the financials and the incremental service
uh criteria that we're going to be in much better shape, we believe, in moving from Xerox to we had our challenges over the last couple of years to Atlantic/Ricoh. We're going to get a 5-year deal with no increases over 5 years. They're going to
lock us in. Okay, um obviously new copiers. They're going to be working with us on the print side of the business, so I think it's a win-win all around. Mr. Sabatino is not here. >> It's a a comparison on it. It was very informative. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, we went through it.
>> The woman, Sue Figueroa, uh is from this Bergen County. So, we're going to have a hands-on rep. The challenge we really had over the last couple of years with Xerox, we just really didn't We didn't We didn't have a rep. The last year we did not I did not talk to our rep.
We We His name was Cole Morrell, but I never spoke to him. I tried and tried and tried cuz we were trying to We had some issues with copiers, we had some issues with the lease. We had a variety of issues. Uh just could not get a hold of anyone. We were very fortunate that Frank knew this gentleman named Juan who worked for
Xerox for 15 years, who ended up moving to Atlantic/Ricoh. He got us in the door. They're going to buy out our contract, they're going to pay for the buy out, and they're going to give us all new copiers, and they're going to lock us in for a 5-year deal. I mean, it's a win-win and we have a
Bergen County rep, Sue, who's going to who's literally in our county, that if we have issues, we can contact her directly. And Juan, who's a senior member of Ricoh now, is has a a personal and a business relationship with Frank
Sabatino. So, this is really a win-win moving on from Xerox, moving to Atlantic Rico. We're not only going to be saving money, getting better service. Like I said, win-win all the way around. Transitions are always tricky. They're actually going to physically take the machines, take them to their warehouse, bring in
the new machines. All that's fully loaded in the cost of the transition, and they're going to buy out our remaining year and a half lease, and it's going to be on them, no incremental cost to the Board of Education. So, like I said, win-win all the way around.
Uh, that's pretty much it, Mr. Rifice. >> May I ask a question? >> Sure. >> Um, Mr. Final, I'm looking at page 19, the resolution 67. And it talks about the anticipated excess revenue. So, I just want to go on record and ask
him questions. We're anticipating ending the year in the black, and we are not anticipating that it's in any financial distress. >> For what? For for 25-26? >> 25-26. >> Correct. >> So, congratulations to you, because so many districts around us
>> And I want to say congratulations also to the Board, folks like Mrs. Calabrese, the staff, the administrators for uh, we did a lot of big brothering this year, cuz we knew it was going to be very challenging, especially when we got
that second half of the medical and RX for 26 that was incrementally higher than we even thought it was going to be. And the uh, administrators, the staff, the Board, everyone had buy-in. The night I always say, "Let's only spend on the must-haves versus the nice-to-haves." So, we are going to be
in the black. Uh, so, >> Well, and >> thank you for that. Yeah, we know a lot of districts are are challenged. >> can be, so I really kudos to you, and thank you for your hard work and dedication on this, because, you know, so many districts are finding out at the end of the year, boards of which out at
the end of the year, that they may not be ending in the black. So, on record, we were ending in the black. We'll probably have excess surplus to put towards subsequent school years. So, thank you very much for that. Thank >> Thank you. I I appreciate the kind words, Dr. >> Lou, as much as I don't want to agree
with you when I went out and I did for our authority the evaluation on the 2-year tool for the health care claims, you were right on target. No one is going to insure you when they see all those uh claims. >> Yeah, so today we just got the RX
version of it and I got on the calculator and I was trying to do numbers. Well, then I was seeing what the premium is and what they paid out in the 2 years. It's just It's a simple It's almost simplistic. What you pay What you pay in and what you pay out. That mod
factor is just But Brian Brian Reiser from Brown and Brown is going to write up these three unique HIX. He's going to educate us on potential opportunities. He's going to give us our claims experience in September. And he's also going to educate us. He
said he can either come here, we can do a virtual call. >> He said he can come here. >> He's the He's the Jalen, he's the Jalen Brunson of medical underwriting. >> [laughter] >> He's He's a He's a good guy and uh
he uh you know, he's educated. He's He's He's a subject matter ex- expert and I want him just, you know, even if we don't really have a viable option, I want him to at least educate us all on this HIX. There's supposed to be three unique vehicles. I don't know a lot about HIX.
I remember Joe mentioning it. But Tricia, you mentioned it, but we I think we'd all learn together and maybe there's an opportunity, maybe there's not, but collectively we'll learn, which is always a good thing. I'll keep you posted on that, but we're not going to get our claims experience
until around September-ish. >> It'd be great to have him come. >> Yeah. Yeah, >> He's had the time to come up here and really talk to us. >> I asked him, I said, you know, Brian, I I'd love for you to educate, you know, myself, obviously, with the board members,
our ministers, some of our administrators, in regards to such a hot topic. It's right now what's driving the business the wrong way. Unfortunately, no one has any control of what's driving the business right now, and it's driving it the wrong way. Everybody's done everything right. I'll speak in regard
to being smart, being smart with the money, spending the must-have versus the nice-to-have, spending efficiently, using our budget creatively, and then you get a $4.1 million increase year over year. And it blows everything else everything up that you built, Renaissance,
everything like that. So, we got to be creative cuz we don't have up any longer, right? You know, we don't have those unique incremental funds that help us fund Renaissance, but working with Angelo and yourself, Mrs. Cabridge, it seems like we may have some opportunities to get the collective
Renaissance for far less than what we got initially and initially. Yeah, so. Um yeah, we got to be creative with every every dollar. I'll send out my big brother email for '26-'27, the must-haves versus the nice-to-haves. The administrators, I know gosh oh gosh,
here he is again, but you know, really '26-'27's going to be another challenging year. >> Especially come January. >> Yeah, January is the wild card because we don't know if Brown and Brown is accurate in their incremental assessment of the increase, or they're going to be
off to the bad like they were this year, which cost us about $475,000. >> We're going to talk to Barbara. She's going to shut the lights off at 12. >> [laughter] >> And shut the heat off, too, and that's it. >> That's it. >> Uh so, yeah. >> Before we go to vote in reference to to
Nicole, Nicole, we only know from our superintendent that, you know, we had some challenging times and you stepped up to the plate. Simply, thank you. >> Uh I don't want to make any jokes on that. I have seen you more personally doing great. You did a great great job.
>> Can I give one one personal experience I had with with Nicole? We had this report called extraordinary aid, and it it could be worth probably anywhere from 7-800,000 dollars in revenue for us. They take they take the denominator, say we have a million and a half in special needs expense, and
then we get a factor. Last year the factor was 0.51. But we got 1.2 million dollars in total expenses. This year Nicole, in conjunction with Angelo Alvin, found an incremental 350,000 dollars on top of
that 1.2 million, which was audited and blessed by our auditor at 1.65 million. So if we get that 0.51 factor, we're going to get 825,000 dollars in revenue, which is 100,000 higher than budget, that will push us even more into the black. The one thing
we don't know is the factor. The factor's been going the wrong way every year. Started at 90 in COVID, it's it's gone down to 0.51, and nobody will tell us and we'll know the factor in about 30 days. So Nicole, she just took the ball, ran with it. I gave her some sample
reports. I said, "This is about as much as I know." All of a sudden, you know, a week and a half, two weeks later, her and Angelo have a an analysis for the auditor, and they we did a lot of back and forth work with the auditor for that week, and they blessed it, so
thank you again for that, Nicole. Sure appreciate it. >> Thank you. Thank you, Nicole. >> Anything else? >> Make a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> May I have a second, please? >> I'll second. >> Okay. That's Mr. Russo. >> I'll take a vote now. Um Mrs. Labrew?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Capano? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Freda? >> Yes. >> Mr. LeDoux? >> Yes. >> Dr. Pantaleo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rancour? >> Yes. >> Mr. Russo. >> Yes. >> So moved. Mr. Weitz. >> Thank you, Mr. >> Thank you, everyone. And thank you, everyone, for the uh
board vacancy process. I I appreciate it. >> I'll I'll make a motion to all in the >> Yeah. >> So moved. >> So moved. Thank you.