and the work that he that he was doing with that. Uh, we also had a couple um, big events last week. We had the middle school, excuse [clears throat] me, graduation and the high school graduation. So, a big thank you goes out to Mr. Genucci and Mr. Pinto as well as
the other administrators and teachers who helped out with those ceremonies. Um, approaching my first year um, in this position, I would like to give a formal thank you um, to members of the Board of Education as well as Mrs. Calabrese, Mr.
Alfano, uh, the central office staff who made my transition from a middle school principal um, to a superintendent very seamless and painless. So, thank you for your patience. Thank you for your guidance and I look forward to many more years uh, working together.
Would also like to welcome uh, Mr. Nikaj to uh, the Board of Education and uh, looking for a bright bright future together. Um, at this time, I don't know if there are any committee reports that anybody would like to >> I have a brief >> update.
>> Just everybody knows that the uh, high school uh, masonry project is up and running. Um, as you know, the uh, concrete work around the high school uh, was in somewhat disrepair. It was recommended by the school board's insurance people to go to uh, to you
know, make some uh, uh, you know, repairs etc. So, we decided we had some money saved to go ahead and just redo as much as the concrete, the steps, a lot of the steps are original uh, and just uh, clean everything up and
uh you know, put new sidewalks around the uh high school so there's no cracks, no trip hazards, etc. and do a major repair and then fix steps that go from the beginning of the high school all the way down to the Palisades and Lords. So, that's going on. Uh have some smaller
projects started up in the high school. I did visit number three school yesterday and I know summer school is in session, but the custodians in there were working in the empty classrooms, painting, or you know, refreshing things. So, it's good to see that. You know, a lot of kudos to our custodians. You know, the buildings are older, but
you know, the brick and mortars, the roofs, the boilers uh are in good shape. All our buildings are air conditioned. So, that's a testament to the administration here that uh uh put a lot of time and effort and the Board of Education to get it done. So, that's pretty much it. >> Right, thank you. Uh
yeah, the custodians are are tremendous in the summer and it's amazing to see the transformation that goes on from day one of summer up until that very last minute uh before students are coming in. All the classrooms uh we have the furniture coming out. Some classrooms
are getting painted. All of the floors are washed, they're waxed, they're buffed, everything put back in, um and they truly look like brand new buildings uh when you walk in. And I know the administrators, the teachers, the students were all appreciative of the work that they are doing.
Uh if you want to turn to page three of the agenda, this is the personnel section. Um just a quick update on where we are personnel-wise. Mrs. Calvary and myself have been busy the last week or so um
interviewing potential candidates and applicants um and going through the hiring process of starting with uh building principals and supervisors. Um some of them are doing demo lessons to see um and show off some of the skills that they have inside of the
classroom. So, up to this point, we have hired 17 individuals who are joining the Cliffside Park team. So at this point in the process that number you know we're we're thrilled that we were able to find 17 extremely
talented educators that are going to be joining our team. Some of them in the teaching capacity others are OTs or PTs or members of the child study team. So it's nice that we're getting a lot of resumes of highly qualified people. Also some individuals
who may not have the experience but we feel that they are willing to invest and give them an opportunity to grow into those positions. So we do have 17 hires. At this point we have seven open positions. We do have resumes for many
of those positions and we are looking to fill them hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Then if we turn to we're going to jump ahead here page 18.
Just a quick update on the policies and regulations that we had briefly spoken about at our last meeting. This will be the second reading of the mandated policies that are listed below
and these are mandated by the state. Majority of these mandates and updates generally come with slight verbiage that that needs to be updated and changed. And as far as the agenda goes that would wrap it up for
myself. Oh, if we take a look at page 19. So page 19 this was a possible resolution that was brought to us by Mrs. Abreu. Basically what the New Jersey School
Boards wanted to do was highlight more civility in public session in public discourse giving people an opportunity to express their freedom of speech express an opportunity to voice their opinions and an open forum and
with that being said having the ability to listen to digest and then to come up with conclusions and opinions on our own. So we include side Park we will be joining many of the districts across the state of New Jersey in support of a
civility project and a civility pledge. So I'm actually going to pass around this pledge to the various members and I think it would be a nice symbolic gesture if all of us sign this we can get this framed and hang it up somewhere in the Board of Education building. So maybe we'll start it down at the end
with Mr. Rancourt. >> And Mr. Rancourt so as I understand is the literal text of the >> Can I sign anywhere? >> Yes. Anywhere on it. Yep. >> Um >> Yeah, they didn't give you much space but I think there's enough for our signatures. Yes, this was the recommended text
that's that's just stating that the Cliffside Park School District is in support of civility giving people an open forum to voice their their opinions. And I believe that's it. I don't know if there are any board members with any questions
concerns with the agenda. Mr. Alfano, I don't know if there's anything that you would like to highlight. >> Couple items Mr. Rancourt. One of the resolutions that I pointed out is that the Jenny Orientis been appointed transportation coordinator and Mr. Rancourt I think you can concur.
Over the last two and a half months Jenny's been a bus driver for us for about about since I've been here about 13 years and I've worked with Jenny when we were shorthanded in regard to transportation coordinators in regard to
uh them leaving and we had a hole in our uh inventory of subject matter expertise. Jenny stepped up and helped me out with routes and such. So, I thought of her uh when we had a similar situation back in March and she just stepped up and ran with the ball and has
done really a really good job over the last 2 and 1/2 months or so creating routes, managing the drivers, the bus aides, the parents, child study team. Uh couldn't be more proud of her. Uh so, it's a really happy day for me that we uh are appointing Jenny Orienti as the
transportation coordinator. She's extremely happy and proud and she wanted me to thank the board personally for this uh unique opportunity. So, I just wanted to bring that up. Uh as Mr. Capanna spoke about, we are working on our summer projects. We'll
talk about one of them uh later in in my overview in regard to uh of one of the resolutions. We are actively engaging in closing of the year and trying to really understand where we land in regard to surplus. This has been
one of the more challenging years in my uh 12-plus year career here. Um we are going to have the auditors on site to help us identify any unique incremental surplus dollars um that we may capture.
They'll be coming on site in late July and in August and we've opened up the new county or the new fiscal year 2026-2027. We're starting to encumber our purchase orders. So, I sent out purchase orders to all our contractors, all our vendors,
all our child study team vendors. Um we call it encumbering the funds. You want to encumber as much of the funds as you can so you can really understand what you're starting with with surplus. Everybody says, "Oh, you have a 70-something million-dollar budget." We're below $10 million already.
Because we encumbered all our salaries, all our contractors that we have agreements with for a variety of services. So, that $70 million goes quickly, $70 million changes was quickly down to about 8 to 10 million. That's essentially what we have to work with in
regard to energy, facilities, and anything that may come up above and beyond what's already on paper. Uh like we had this year, we had energy challenges because of the very cold winter. We had uh health benefit challenges because it came in higher than was originally
forecasted and that created our budget a little bit. Uh we've had some maybe incremental hires or whatever the case may be. So, it's some of the stuff that we don't know yet. Again, I always say you don't know what you don't know until you know it. And that's what [clears throat] that $6 to $8 million
hopefully will get us through uh '26-'27. It's going to be a challenging year. The real litmus test is January 1st when we find out the new health benefit number. We hope it comes in line with what Brown & Brown has forecasted. Uh this past year it did not and it cost
us about 450,000 to the bad. Hopefully, that doesn't occur again, but we'll keep everyone posted. So, again, we have the year opened in '26-'27. I just like to take everyone's eyes to pages 23 and 24, which I believe are resolutions 46 and
47. Uh we made the final payment on our RTU project. And Joe, as you know, that RTU project's been around for about better part of 20 months. Very challenging project. So, at number six school over the last probably 18 months,
12 to 18 months, we've completed three major capital projects. The multi-purpose room reno, which everyone knows about the renovation at the multi-purpose room. The unit ventilator project, which is partially funded by a ROD grant. And
the rooftop unit, the RTU project, which we're signing off on tonight. We've got the final close-outs and the final payments. So, we did three major projects totaling nearly $3 million in total capital in total capital
capital reserve. Again, this is building up building up our infrastructure. Uh important stuff. Obviously, our multi-purpose room. We had challenges with the multi-purpose room because it's it's been challenged the floor and everything. Mark, as you know, for the better part of a decade. Um
we've had our share of HVAC issues at number three at number six school. So, the unit ventilator and the RTU projects have hopefully buttoned all that all that up for years to come. So, I think we're in pretty good shape now moving forward in the district in regard to infrastructure. And then the final
resolution on page 24, uh I actually brought Mr. Capano in the loop. Uh we've been having grease trap challenges for the last three or four years at school six. Um it's been told by our food service director and others that we really need to replace it. I engaged Mr.
Capano to look at the quote a couple of quotes from the different contractors. Um he blessed the one from DMN Plumbing. That's what you're approving tonight. And they'll be uh starting this project hopefully uh by the early part of uh next week, but this was something that
was pretty much uh long overdue. So, again, this is part of the summer project work. But uh since this is over the quote threshold, we put it on the agenda to be transparent to the board and the public. That's pretty much it, Mr. Rifice. >> All right. Thank you.
Um I see that we have some members of the public here, some current students, some hate to say it, uh ex-students uh as of last week. Um So, I don't know if anybody is here to speak. If anybody
>> Sure. >> Come [clears throat] on up. >> I took my ass to the class position I started um a month a month ago a month and a half ago about the new coaching policy of the committee to buy this town and um yeah, I have a over 200 signatures.
Um all walks of nature. People from Mitchell Park, a lot of teachers, a lot of student athletes that call for a uh either a reconsideration or an appeal of this whole policy. So, again, again, this doesn't do anything, I would have I have one question.
Um what's the purpose of this policy? If y'all can tell cuz to a lot of us, a lot of my peers, teachers that I talked to, we don't see the purpose of the policy. [clears throat] And because in my eyes, it's taking money it's taking money out of
one coach's hand and taking a second chance to coach another man's son. You know, that's what I That's what I see. So, that's how a lot of people see it. So, again, if this doesn't do anything, can I get you to tell you can tell us why
this is the policy. If anybody can give me an answer >> So, one thing I do want to say, I I really appreciate um you being respectful, getting a petition organized, doing it in the right way. I had a couple conversations with Mr. Cinucci
um about this and you know, he too just kind of echoed what what I was saying and I think I speak for the board when we truly appreciate students seeing or having concerns and going about it and doing it the right way. What I will say is that in this forum,
it is not meant to be a back and forth question and answer between us and the public. But, we're giving anyone an opportunity to share their concerns, um which I think you have done. And we will gladly accept the petition, the
signatures. We'll take a look at it, and then our next work session, that's when we will discuss any items that are brought up at this point. Okay, so if you want to leave them here, the board will get copies of them, they will take a look at them, and I'm sure
it is something that we can add to the agenda and speak about in the work session. Okay, I appreciate that. Do you guys want to introduce yourselves? >> Um, yeah, I'm Hayden. I ran for student council president
for my senior year next year, and we also have Ethan, he's now our treasurer as well. Our other members couldn't make it, but we're here at our first meeting. >> All right, welcome. >> Thank you very >> So, we do usually have monthly meetings. You guys are always welcome to attend. I
think it's one of the highlights for many of the board members, hearing about what's going on in the high school and some of the things that you would kind of, I guess, like to open our eyes with. So, please, you know, come, you know, have something to
share with us. We would love to hear all about it. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. Our next meeting is July 29th. >> Thank you. >> Is there anyone else from >> Would that be 6:00 or 7:00? >> We'll have our We'll have our work session. What time >> would start at 6:00. The public starts
at 7:00. >> Uh, 20 29th. >> 29th. 29th. July, I'll be in Croatia. >> July 29th and then August 26th will be the two summer meetings. Both will have 6:00 work sessions and 7:00 public meetings.
>> Any other comments or questions from the public? Any board members with any questions, concerns, comments? All right, Mr. Alfano. >> the project graduation? >> It was good. It was good. They had a great time. Thank you.
Mrs. Brew, Mrs. Fredo, who's not here. >> used our own school buses. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Kahoots. Lou. >> Thank you, Lou. >> Yeah, but we used our own school buses. >> The buses buses went without without a hitch. Without a hitch. >> Six six buses this year. >> Yes. >> More than uh I think we had >> Kudos to Jenny.
>> 240 240 something was the final plus point. >> 240 240 plus. >> Okay. >> And and about 20 chaperones plus or minus. So, we needed first year since I've been here, we needed six buses and everybody was on time. Everybody got
>> Mhm. >> picked up in the p.m. and picked up in the a.m. Kids were good. Jenny said no no trouble on the buses and everybody was >> [clears throat] >> Big thank you to the drivers. >> Yeah, the drivers were on time. >> it was they left at 3:00 3:00, 3:30. Around there. In the morning
to come back. >> They were all all there up and ready drinking their coffee. >> Yep. Ready to start the next day. >> Jenny sent me some texts when they came back to me and showed everything was good. No problems. So, yeah, everybody I got the six texts and everything was good. >> Good. It's good.
>> The students were great. >> Great. >> Students Frankly, anybody from the public? Before we end the meeting, I would like to uh to thank our staff for a great year that we had. Our fellow parents, our fellow graduates. Don't forget you were >> You were a Red Raider, right?
>> I commend you for doing that. You're coming up in front of us. It's pretty hard. So, I commend you for that. So. Mr. Alfano, I'll get back to you. You guys graduated also, if I remember, right? >> Yeah, I think I shook your hands. >> I want to congratulate everybody. I want to congratulate the new board that's
coming up up. And uh teachers and staff, they had a great meeting today, I heard. So, I want to thank everybody and have a great summer, everybody. All right, Mr. Alfano, I think we are >> I'll make a motion to do it >> Mr. May I get a second, please? >> Second.
>> Okay, thank you. I'll take a vote now. Um this is a brew. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capano. >> Yes. >> Mr. And Mr. Drew. >> Yes. >> [snorts] >> Mr. Nakash. >> Yes. >> Mr. Raincourt.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Russo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Zerbakiem. >> Uh yes, but I Resolution number two. >> Number two. >> Please, thank you. >> Abstain. >> Yes, please. >> Abstain. >> Correct. >> Correct. >> I'm sorry, I also like to abstain.
>> Is there a resolution number, Mr. Drew? >> Uh resolution two. Uh >> Resolution number two. >> Yep. Me and Mr. Zerbakiem have abstained circumstances. >> Okay, very good. Okay.
I have a motion to adjourn. >> Yes. >> Second. >> All right, very good. Thank you so much, everyone. Enjoy