Uh, but we'll go ahead and get the meeting started. Um, can everybody hear me okay? All right, so it's uh Tuesday, June 16th, our Committee of the Whole meeting, and uh I would like to call this meeting to order. There has been advanced adequate notice provided. Uh,
Ms. Coleman, roll call, please. >> Um, let me see. Mrs. Divine, she's the first one. >> Here. >> Mrs. Makowski. >> Here. >> Mrs. Z. >> Here. >> Mr. McMillan. >> Here. >> Mr. Dilkes. >> Here. >> Mrs. Maya. >> Here.
>> We do have quorum, so. >> You left off Roger. >> Oh, sorry, Roger. Nothing personal, sorry. >> Here. >> I already checked, I already checked your box, that's why I did that. I was like, never mind. Everybody, please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.
There is no executive session at this time, um and I am going to uh move past uh section three, that is uh potentially happening next week. Uh, and section four, can I have a motion to enter Committee of the Whole? >> So moved. >> And a second?
All in favor? >> I. >> All right, so section five, future dates and miscell- miscellaneous information. Um Wow, there is like nothing on there, is there? >> [laughter] >> Yeah. Um, okay, so
I guess 90% of the 99% of the events are going to be happening before next week. Uh so just you know, we are going to have [snorts] an upcoming um retreat on August 19th at Committee of the Whole structure um at in the LMC as well. So our presentations are going to be at the
uh regular board meeting and then our routine business will be approved at the regular meeting. I love the the approval at the regular BOE meeting. That's helpful. Thank you. Student reports during the regular BOE meeting. Superintendent's report at the regular BOE meeting.
All right, moving on to uh section 10, business administrator, Ms. Coleman. Okay. So in section 10, I don't know if everybody had a chance to review it, budget transfers, uh financial reports, student activity report, and food service financial statements have all been uploaded uh for the month of May.
Purchase orders and warrants um as is normal, we're continuing to work on and they they will be up by Friday or excuse me, not Friday, Thursday afternoon cuz we're closed on Friday. Um and then getting into section 11, to the meat of it. Um 11.09
is a grant that um Newbie has has received school grief trainings grant for $500. >> [snorts] >> Um 11.10 is another grant for Newbie for $150 and that's um um State House Express transportation. I
believe it's to pay for the transportation so the kids can go to the State House. I believe tours to the State House are for free. Um item 11.11, this is an annual resolution. Um the Burlington County Insurance Pool, the JIF that we're in,
after they close their audited years, um they distribute any um excess funds. Um so the year that was just closed is um fiscal year 1920 and fiscal year 2021. So what is available to Collinsville is
$13,215. So that'll be a credit to our 26-27 premiums. So it's a little bit of money coming back into the district. 11.12 is also an annual approval
just authorizing me and the auditor to distribute into our capital maintenance reserve accounts any excess funds. This is the only time of the year besides budget time that I can deposit money into capital reserve or maintenance reserve. And the law says we have to do it in the
month of June. I always do an up to amount and then in August once the auditor is done either August or September, he's coming out the first two weeks of August. Once we know how much money is available for deposit then I'll let the board know. But I do an up to dollar amount.
Just in case. This way I can deposit. >> Beth Ann, can I ask questions now or do you want me to wait? >> Go ahead. >> So we're approving we're approving you being able to transfer things into the reserve account so we just don't know how much yet until August. >> Right. So I put a huge I put like up to
a million dollars and then when the auditor comes out again we have to go through the audits and cancel purchase orders we determine how much money is available for the 26-27 budget for surplus and if there's any funds left over I put in capital maintenance reserve. The only time the law only lets me do it
in June or at budget time and obviously at budget time I honestly don't know how much how much money we're going to have. So I put a large dollar amount and I put an up to amount. But I'll report back once I know exactly how much. Sure. Item 11.13 is just approving me during the summer months to continue to pay
bills. Usually during this we're starting to actually close close the books but we continue to receive invoices from vendors through the middle and end of July. So this gives me the ability to continue to pay bills and then any bills I pay during the months of July and August I'll bring to you in
August to ratify. >> [snorts] >> Um The next item, resolution to practice and promote civility, New Jersey School Boards Association. And if you want to I can read the whole thing, but you guys have in front of you a pledge. New Jersey School Boards Association sent
out um a civility um resolution and a civility pledge. Um just basically saying that we that we recognize that freedom of speech, you know, we recognize freedom of speech and we obviously were aware of the state and federal laws, you know, allowing people to express their opinions, but that
we're going to be respectful. Um and that we advocate for civil engagement, but we want to do it in a respectful um manner, basically. You guys can read the resolution, but I just basically summed it up. But you guys have a copy of the pledge in front of you. Um Kelly, did I explain that? Yeah.
>> a place for us to sign off on this or is this like >> Yeah, once it's done once it's done, um it's actually in the agenda itself, the actual board resolution. Once it's done, um I will have my secretary print the actual res- resolution out where I sign it and date it and then I'll distribute
it to the board to sign. Yeah, and then I'll send it back to School Boards. >> Okay. Awesome. I think that this is a great idea and I'm really excited that um the state is taking some action on this and uh promoting this uh across all boards. So, I'm happy to I'm happy to do this. I hope everybody is happy to do
this. >> Any questions with that? Okay. Item 11.15 is just a renewal of our lease with the First United Methodist Church. We have our preschool program there. Um this is year three of a five-year term. So, and there's been no change in
the rent amount, but I do bring it to your attention. Item 11.16 is we're approving a homeless tuition contracts between our um Collingswood and Gloucester City for uh two children. And Glou-
Gloucester City um is also providing the transportation for the children. And those dollar amounts are in the agenda. Um 11.17 is another homeless child that's now residing in Gloucester City and we have to reimburse Gloucester City
for transportation for that child. Um 11.18 is an out of district uh tuition agreement with Gloucester County Special Services. This goes back to February. It's February through June. It's a prorated dollar amount. Um but the dollar amount and the out of county
fee is listed in the agenda. 11.19 family of six is homeless out of Collingswood residing in Camden City. So the amounts that we owe Camden City for the 25-26 school year are listed in the agenda.
11 I'm sorry. Each kid, yes. Yeah. Um Hardenberg I excuse me 11.20 is our annual resolution approving Hardenberg. There are risk management consultants um with the JIF. So they kind of go this kind of goes hand in hand with the the
JIF agenda where we're getting money back. But they represent us at the JIF. 11.21 is approving Inspira Health Network. They They're going to be providing our substance abuse screening programs for 26-27. This is um
This is not for staff and not for all children. This is like if there's a suspicion of something at like a school event, this is when this would kick in. Okay. Um 11.22 is the amendment or an addendum with ESS. ESS provides support services.
So this year we have included substitute rate substitute nurses. 11.23 you guys did see this last month. Um in typical state fashion we approved the NutriServe food management company contract. I uploaded it to Shrek and they're like, we would like you to
say something else in the resolution." So, for both Collingswood and Oaklyn, I had to change the resolution. They want to know the total dollar amount of the food service program that's it's expected to be. So, um I had to add that sentence into the agenda. 11.24 is the recommendation um to for the
lunch prices and breakfast prices for next school year, and I did include in the administrative content section the PLE tool that I'm supposed to use for the federal government um the PLE tool did did did dictate a 10-cent increase. So, that is what's represented in the
recommendation. Um 11.25 is uh recommending Home Care Therapies LLC to provide one-on-one skilled nursing services 2 hours a day um for a specific child. 11.26 is uh approving a contract with
First Children Services um to provide mental health services from July um from July through December. Um the reason for that is um it's for the middle school and high school, and it's through a grant that's expiring in December. So, um
Yeah. And then 11.27, sorry, it's a large agenda. Um First Children Services is providing a specialized instructional assistant services at the rate of $56.50 per hour. 11.28 is approval of a shared service
agreement with Haddon Township. This is for our communication services um in the amount $20,000, and there has not been an increase in this contract. 11.29 is continuation of a shared serv- shared network administrator service contract with Audubon.
Um Audubon, they kind of help supplement our tech team, so all the Chromebooks that get broken, we ship to Audubon. And they fixed uh hundreds so far this year for us, which is a lot cheaper than um obviously getting rid of them or sending
them sending them out. Um, so we we send them to Audubon. 11.30 is approving a shared maintenance services agreement with Gloucester City. Um, this goes along with all the other ones we've already approved like Bellmawr and and Haddon Township and Clementon. They just got their contract
in a little late. 11.31 [snorts] is a shared custodial maintenance agreement with the borough. Um, we we this is for us to clean the um, the bathrooms at Knight Park. Um, 11.32 is a uh, parental contract for student
transportation and that will not not exceed $10,000. 11.33 is just we're accepting a very generous donation for a trumpet and a saxophone to Newbie Elementary School. 11.34
um, is approving the shared service agreement um, between the Collingswood Board of Ed and the Borough of Collingswood in furtherance of the Rec Plan. Um, I did attach the draft shared service agreement um, in the administrative content so you guys can take a look at it. I believe the borough
is approving it tonight. I think their meeting's like I think right now or at 7:00. >> [snorts] >> Okay. Do you want me to pause here? Oh, it's tomorrow. I thought it was tonight. Okay. Um, Kelly and Zakia does anybody want to say anything or do you want me to keep going?
>> What? >> I was going to wait till you're Okay, I can keep going. >> So, paired with that I just wanted to make sure also um, for uh, in administrative content for board members in the committee of the whole topics, um, there's also additional documents
and a uh, a second copy of the shared service agreement under administrative content um, for board members about the partnership. >> All right, 11.35 is um, approving the Collingswood Rec Program to hold a cross camp at the high school complex from
August 3rd to August 7th. 11:36 is approving the Collingswood Rec Program to hold a pre-K camp at Tatum Elementary from June 29th to July 24th in the mornings. And 11.37 is approving the Collingswood Rec Program to hold
um, a a camp at Tatum Elementary for um, not pre-K for K to 5 in June 29th through July 24th in the morning. And then under my discussion, >> [snorts] >> um, I did list, so
tomorrow, uh, 8:30 8:30 in the morning to 10:00 a.m. I did put it on our website. The the state or um, excuse me, I'm having a fart. The New Jersey Fair Funding Collective is having like a coffee like a coffee and talk. Um, I put the flyer on our website. Um, I did list in the
exact administrative content the the five um, bills that are going to be discussed. So, I did pull them out and I did read them all, but in case anybody's interested in the public at home or board members is 8:30 in the morning. Um, I forget the name. It's at
um, Ro- Royal Mile Coffee Warehouse right on Haddon Avenue. Um, but I did list the bills. Um, these are all bills that could potentially help school districts. The first one, S4438, is basically establishing a New Jersey Public Employee Health Trust, kind of
like our health insurance fund, but it looks like they want to do one like statewide. Um, S444330, um, limits the reductions in state aid for certain districts. I kind of like that one because if you're a district that's below adequacy and below your local fair
share, but you've been getting cut, it kind of limits the cut to the state aid that you got before. Um, I kind of like that one cuz obviously it would apply to both Collingswood and Oaklyn. Um, S4328, um, establishes a fund of like $25 dollars. It reads like it's going to
be like extraordinary fund. They're establishing a pot of money of 25 million to help school districts with high health insurance premiums. My guess is it's going to run like extraordinary aid where you have to apply at the end of the year and you might get like a prorated amount back if you're lucky. Um, S4282
um, establishes a health benefit commission um, to run the state health benefits plan um, and it's limits reimbursement for certain med med medical procedures. They went into a lot of detail about medical procedures. They kind of lost me on that one. Um, and S3824, I do like
this one as well. It deals with extraordinary aid. It changes it a little bit. Um, so right now we get reimbursed for in-district children an in-district child that's we spend more than 40,000, between 40,000 and 55,000, we get reimbursed a little bit.
And then anything over 55,000 out of district, we get reimbursed a little bit. This would change the extraordinary aid in that the state would pay the amount between the 40,000 and 55,000 and then anything over 55,000 it would put the onus on the counties to pay. And
then the counties get some kind of uh, tax thing or something. Um, so anybody who's interested um, I just wanted to throw that out there that they are still continuing to lobby um, during the summer months. So, it's out there in our both websites and anybody who's interested I recommend you
guys go. That's it for me. Any questions? >> Um, I just wanted to ask you to elaborate a little bit on the um, added ESS for nursing. >> Um, yeah, I can I'm going to look >> hear the question. >> Oh, she wanted us to ela- elaborate on um, the ESS nursing.
I'll let Meredith kind of take over as it was actually it was her idea and it was actually a very good one. Hold on. >> Um, yeah, so as folks are I believe aware on this board, um, um we had a nurse resignation um earlier this spring.
Um and so in order to provide our buildings with some extra capacity from a substitute nurse perspective, in addition to the substitute nurses that we already have within our um within our mix that um were previously board
approved, um we reached out to our partners at ESS who we already use for our teacher substitutes, our admin assistant substitutes, our administrator substitutes, and we were pleased to know and learn that they also offer substitute nursing services.
Um we haven't actually needed to use this option yet, which is again a good problem, um but I'm pleased to have it in the mix as an op- an option should we need it uh going forward. >> Will this be in lieu of hiring um to
replace the resignation? >> There was a posting for um uh the middle school nurse vacancy um that went out uh earlier this week, I believe. Um and um at this time we're continuing to review um
nurse capacity, student needs, um uh state statute with regard to nursing obligations to make sure that we have a um appropriate plan going forward for next year. >> So, we don't know what nursing will look like in the elementary schools next year
yet. This >> Um in the CEA contract, all uh CEA members are required to receive a tentative placement assignment by June 30th every year, and so we will do that for our district nurses by the 30th of June. Um Matt Jenna is our district nursing
supervisor. Of course then with district staff we're in constant collaboration with him to make sure that we're um deeply familiar with student needs in each building. Um and again to reiterate what I said a moment ago um to make sure that we are um appropriately
implementing all required nursing plans and meeting obligations um to serve our students and keep their safety front of mind. >> For um 11.15, could just in terms of the contract we're 2 years from needing to
renegotiate it, but just wanted to understand the capacity of Park View relative to the CECC and just the anticipated plans for anything to maintain this additional location relative to the expansion of pre-K in Park View.
Just are there any thoughts on what we anticipate needing or using? Is Park View full? Is CECC full? Like are we going to rebalance in the future or just wait till we have to start to think about this contract? >> Um next year Park View is likely to be
full. Um and uh so that was I think the first part of your question. Um obviously we can't always predict enrollment patterns in the future. Um but uh based on our pre-K 3s who roll
into our pre-K 4s and our pre-registration numbers for incoming pre-K 3s, um we will continue to meet our universe next year and our newest Park View site will um is slated to operate all four classrooms. >> How many classrooms can CE Does CECC
hold? >> Also four. >> And how many are filled currently? >> All four. >> Okay. Um from just a numbers perspective, um 15 students are able to um be served in
a um pre-K classroom. We have two district preschool disabled classrooms that have a maximum capacity of 12 students in each. Um so we uh have had this year and will have next year 17
total classrooms to PSD, 15 um gen ed or inclusion. Um and we'll be meeting our universe currently and next year as well. >> So we'll meet the student enrollment demand. Will it fill all of the
available preschool capac- rooms? >> And Philip, can you >> So like would you need the four in CECC, four in Park View, and I think four or five in Sharp? Do you need that many to meet the enrollment or will there be a redistribution of them
is actually what I'm asking. >> Um we will I will be able to answer you very concretely in mid-July um because families are continuing to register and enroll as we speak. Um and um
our wait list has been cleared currently, um but we can continue to bring in more students at present. Um and so I can give you the board an update at our August meeting around that specific space usage and enrollment from
pre-K. >> And then I had a question about 11.31. Um is there understanding we're also reviewing the shared services agreement um as part of the wreck plan, is there need to maintain two separate service agreements?
They're two different agreements, I understand, but they're similar in the support of borough district supporting borough, so just wanting to know what why we didn't kind of combine the custodial maintenance with the
other agreement we're looking at today. For 11.34 Are they merged together or are >> They're completely different. That's why they're they're separate. This is We're cleaning the the night park. The other shared service agreement goes goes more
into the use it the borough's usage of all of our available facilities for their wreck programs. Um Yeah, it's just different. I just do it by I mean, it's just different. So. >> I have a question about 11.29,
uh the um shared service with Audubon for repairs. Um about how many do we have any idea how many um Chromebooks are being sent out? >> I'm going to look at Patrick. I know it's in the hundreds. Can you tell me how many Chromebooks
we've sent to Audubon to fix this year? It's in the hundreds. Yeah, I think it's definitely over I think it's I want to say close I think it's like over 300. We opened the school year with like over 100 being found broken. >> Okay. >> So, it's definitely it's in the hundreds. >> Yeah.
And then um because we keep hearing that there's still a lot of issues with Chromebooks and nobody can keep up and I'm assuming that even with the shared service agreement we could use more, you know, so is there >> always use more support in tech. I'm not going to lie and that's just just the
way it is. A lot of it too is um tech gets bombarded like again, we opened the school year there was a bunch of broken Chromebooks that were never reported. So, we had to we kind of started the school year behind the eight ball having like hundreds of Chromebooks not available cuz they had to be fixed. Um,
we're straightening the ship in that I think we're getting better at finding them when they're broken and sending them quicker. >> Okay. >> Hopefully, um, as we end the school year, um, we'll get a better idea of what is in the classrooms and are broke broken and not being reported correctly, um, so we can get them fixed.
>> Okay. Do they work over the summer? Like this Audubon, so we can if we find things over the summer and things. Okay. >> Yep. And like I said, like last year we came back and we found like there were all kinds of like um, I forgot what it's called now. The chargers, the big units that had all
broken Chromebooks in that we didn't even know that they were broken. So, yeah, our hope is to get caught up. Yeah, we work all summer though. >> And then that and then >> Yeah, we work all summer on it. Yep. You're welcome. >> I am uh, really excited about this shared service agreement with the bureau. Um,
and uh, looks like our playground space will be open on June 23rd, right? Or yeah, June 24th. Um, okay, June 24th so that way um, the community is going to be able to
access our playgrounds and um, they'll be open a little bit longer as part of the shared service agreement. So, I think that's great. Yeah. >> But I saw in the shared service agreement for the fields, right? The the cost is capped at 10.5. So, bureau
commitment is capped at 10.5. Uh, how are we feeling in terms of that amount given, you know, I'm sure prices are increasing or changing in in the moment. Is that something that I I guess the architects and stuff can work around? >> Yes, I've already reached out to our
architect. Um, they they are aware that both the bureau and the board are going to be approving it. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous. Um, but again, if the bids come up over, we just keep bidding it until we get under or we may have to um, what's the term? Value engineer, but we
did cut a lot out of the original ask to get to the 10.5. Um but it said that I I hate to say this, but because of what's going on on the other side of the world that's affecting like you don't realize petroleum goes into all these things, right? So I don't I honestly don't know what the prices are going to
be. >> Got you. Yep. >> But again, I can't go over. So if the bids come in over, I just we keep just keep rebidding until we get it to to a dollar amount. >> And then the is the plan to get bids out during the summer? Is it >> Yeah, bids as soon as the both agencies
approve it, I'm going to let the architect know um yeah, to get them out as quickly as possible. >> That's really exciting. Thank you. >> Yep. >> So am I seeing that uh August 24th meeting is when we're going to see presentation on the details of this plan? >> Uh you mean the the drawings, the the
the design? >> Well, it says it says bureau school district partner presentation in progress. >> Oh oh yeah, that's a joint meeting. I'll let I'll let the I'll let Kelly and Kay talk about that. >> And that uh so we had originally invited the bureau leadership to the June meeting, but uh
two out of the three of them are not going to be in uh in town. So we rescheduled it to the August meeting. So um is there anything specific that you're looking for in terms of the plans? Can we send it out to everybody? >> I'm just I'm just looking so the the shared services agreement just you know,
I guess the details of what it's going to look like. We'll see that in August. >> So so in the in our materials it there's a presentation of what the actual recreation mock-up is, what's removed was the um
taking down the common in that playground is no longer in the plan, but everything else is remaining the same. This is really in particular to shared services of shared spaces at playgrounds, our buildings with with the bureau. That's step one. Step two would be
then um what does the lease look like in those pieces? So in the materials that were included in this presentation, the intention was ideally we'd have the borough leaders here to talk through anything other details, but everything that we're looking at you have the
resolution. Shared services I think certainly as we get to well, the nitty-gritty of what it's going to look like once folks start asking for space, well how do we maintain getting more revenue. All of those things will be as we operationalize that, but just want to make sure with that we've provided the
materials that went out initially. The biggest change is the additional playground space that is not no longer included in the cost and or this agreement. >> And make all the designs and the the the visuals are in there already and yeah, so you can see all that. Yeah.
>> I was just looking at this future date. Yeah, when I said presentation I just wasn't sure what that meant. >> So this might be more for the our August meeting, but I am curious for the playgrounds in the school. Who's going to be the one that locks them up
at dusk? Is that that's not this plan? That'll be what we hear in August? Like >> Our guys will do it, right? Dusk, who's locking up? Yeah. We have people that are like
Yeah, okay. >> Yeah, I think that's important to iron out because as somebody that lives right behind one of the schools, obviously, you know, they should be available but not after dark because we all know that that's probably not the wisest, so I'm curious of who will, you
know, >> I don't remember what this shared service agreement says regarding the weekend hours. >> It says that they're available. >> 7:00 a.m. I mean, we're agreeing to doing opening them and closing them. Right? The district this resolution is that we're
agreeing to make them available, so it I guess we will need to work through how do we now make sure that we get them locked appropriately. >> Thank you for bringing that up because and thanks John for clarifying that so we can figure that out before June 24th figuring it out it could incur
more costs and things like that vandalism. Oh, just to clarify, John, you're going to reach out to public works? Okay, and you'll get us an update on what that conversation was. Yeah. >> I mean, is that an option [clears throat] that you could honestly
trust uh community members to do? Like if you live nearby? No, not at all. >> So, in your the other custodial So, I think part of what I wanted why I'm asking if the two agreements remain separate like in the custodial agreement we have evening shifts that cover
night park. So, would they also be covering the other playgrounds that are open? So, that's like those like in that agreement we're saying here's the custodial shift requirement shifts which would cover during the week I guess not the weekend even though that's probably when night
park is used the most, but the bathrooms are locked those weekends. So, if that >> We clean it two nights a week, right? Two nights a week is when we go to night park. Just two nights. Huh. I was having a party for my daughter and I opened up the door and left and then her little friend behind me is she was
locked in and we didn't realize that the big red button on the wall cuz she was like, you know, five. So, oh yeah, there was a lot of screaming and calling 911 cuz we didn't know if she was locked in there. Didn't know it was automatic, so now we know. I'll never forget. [laughter] So, um
will you reach out to um the commissioners and find out if that's a possibility on their end to keep those up and on is that Okay. Okay. All right, thank you. Can you give the board an update once you do? Okay, thank you. Anybody else have any questions or
comments about this section? Okay. Moving on, section 12, curriculum. Good evening, everyone. Um I will share some updates at Monday's board meeting. Um so, I'll just jump right to 12.02,
which is the 20 an updated version of the 2026-2027 program of study for your review and approval. Um I'm pleased to be able to share an updated program of study with you because it means that we've been able to provide more course selection opportunities for our
secondary students from the version that you originally saw in February, I want to say. Um so, if you want to it's attached, obviously. If you want to scroll to page 20, you'll see a few that have been
highlighted in like a yellowish color. I'll pause for a second to let you skim that and then I'll talk about how we uh how we got here. I'm sorry. 19, my bad. Um 19 and 20 and 21. >> [snorts] >> Um so just logistically, you see there's
about eight or 10 things highlighted um there that were not included in the first uh the first version that you reviewed and approved in February. Um how do we get here? So, obviously there are state-level graduation requirements and course requirements for students. There are local-level graduation
requirements and course requirements for students. Um and then of course we um have students select their elective choices for the upcoming school year. Um the uh the high school middle school and high school guidance team take all of that information um and use that to
generate course tallies to determine how many kids need to sit in a certain class in the upcoming school year and how many of those classes we be able to offer to meet student graduation requirements and course requirements and then of course student interest from an elective
standpoint. Um and once all of that shakes out over the course of quite a few weeks, um the it it reveals for us where we are at teacher capacity or under teacher capacity. And by that I mean how many
teachers are teaching their full six classes every day, contractually six classes, and where do we have any uh room for for uh wiggle room and a buffer um of folks who are teaching perhaps four or five based on our our original um our original plans.
And so we, once we went through that entire exercise this year just like we do well, I've been here twice, so the two times that we've done it with me. Um that led us to see there was about a dozen staff members who uh uh were under their six um six classes. Um,
and that led us to, um, re-survey students. If you'll recall, I know we're going back like 5 months ago, which feels like a year ago, but in the original program of study um, document that you reviewed, we had some things that were in like a grayed out box that
had been offered at one point in time, but haven't the courses haven't run in some time because of a capacity or student interest. And so, when we saw that we did have some increased going into next year, we, um, re-surveyed students, um, to see if there was
interest in changing one of their course selections for something new that we were able to bring online. Um, and so, digital photography was hugely popular, um, when we surveyed students a few weeks ago. Um, other
other, um, things that we brought into the mix were computer science options, uh, public speaking, journalism we surveyed and creative writing. I believe those were the five that we re-polled students to see which was the most popular and the least and how could we
fit that into our, um, program offerings for next year based on, um, student interest and student voice and advocacy as you've heard from students who I think really strongly advocated for our computer science program and of course we've heard over the years about other areas of interest from kids. And
so, we're pleased to be able to update and revise our program of study directly in in in response to, um, that feedback from kids, uh, frankly. Um, and so, that is what you have before you, um, to, uh, approve, uh, re-approve
next week. Um, and you'll notice, I think I should when we showed you this, uh, document back in February that those charts on page 19, 20, and 21 are helpful because you'll see in some instances we were able to
bring it in as a semester based class but not a full year and just trying to be as creative as possible with teacher minutes and and staff staff capacity while also balancing student interest and needs and then of course
as as as a part of this doesn't live in the program of study but we need teachers to run study halls and monitor hallways and bathrooms and lunches and greet students in the morning and dismiss them safely in the afternoon. So those all we call those duties, those are all parts of a teacher's potential
six classes in their assigned schedule that help us to run a safe and happy building. I can pause for questions before I go on to the next few items around 12.02. >> So these new offerings, did they get a
lot of enrollment from the students? Are they definitely running? >> Um digital photography will be running, yes. That was the most popular. I believe 59 students, don't quote me on it, somewhere 50 plus not 60 but somewhere
in the mid 50s and then public speaking was the second most popular. Dr. Malcolm I speak I'm doing this from memory, accurate? >> Uh that is accurate. 59 >> Great. >> 59 upon further conversation said, "Oh, what do you mean I have to give
something up to take it?" So we don't have the full 59. >> Good point. >> 4 of the 59 think they want to take it >> [laughter] >> but they don't want to trade it off. >> That is accurate and so um >> But the program is still going to run though. >> Sorry, okay.
>> So those students who So students had chosen their classes but then they were told after that these were now available so then there was a >> Students made their initial course selections back in January, February, and then in the last 3 weeks going through that process that I described,
um uh we re-surveyed students to say, "Hey, we know you picked your classes before, but now we have this, this, this, and this to offer. Do you want to swap something that you picked in lieu of something else?" And that's what Dr. Walker was just describing.
>> ask a quick question? Digital photography and public speaking were on in the course of study in February. So, how this they those seem like they were there in in like kind of the universe of options initially. It's the computer science
items that seem new even though those are highlighted. So, I'm just trying to make sure I'm understanding cuz two of the highlight the one you just asked about was already there. So, I I want to make sure I'm understanding the recasting cuz the only net new from at least my very quick review are the
ones added under this first section around career and tech. Uh so, I just want to make sure I'm understanding everything highlighted there was a change. Two of them seemed to have already been there. So, I just want to make sure I'm understanding how we got there. >> good Yeah, that's a good question. So,
the uh new new um that didn't exist in any capacity in the first version that you saw other computer science uh courses listed on page 19. Um you are correct that digital photography, public speaking, um etc.
was included in the program of study that you approved. It was grayed out because we didn't think we would have the capacity to run it, and so we didn't even elicit student feedback because we didn't think we were going to have any teacher capacity um to fit those courses in. And so, we keep it in the program of
study because we have curriculum written for it. In the instance of digital photography, we have the equipment for the class to run. And so, um given those factors, we included that when we re-surveyed students to see if there was interest given um that we have the
teacher capacity and the materials and the curricula. >> Okay. So, I'm just going to make a comment. So, thank you for bringing back or bringing to the um you know, course offerings all the computer science. So, for everybody advocacy actually works sometimes. So, thank you for listening
to everybody and being able and flexible to bring that back. Um I really appreciate that and it really is nice to see that our student voices, you know, can make an impact at least some of the time. Um My other question, did we have to lose anything based on just
from the first one? I I should do like a compare. Put them both there. Is Was there anything I mean, I'm sure that we did we Did we have any courses that we had to take off from what we originally put in February? And is that you know, maybe just slow like not we
didn't have enough enrollment, whatever it is, didn't have the teachers. Um And I can when I get home do a compare and contrast, but I just wasn't sure if there was anything glaring that you remembered that we had to take off. >> Um I can pull up I want to speak accurately to you because there were
some classes that had extremely low enrollment. Um we're talking three or four kids. Um and um I believe those are the only instances in which we would would not be running the course, Dana. Chime in. One.
Yeah. >> Okay. And just because we didn't have enough interest. >> I think there were three students. Um our supervisor went physically room to room to encourage kids who were thinking of who were taking Spanish four, Spanish five and encourage them to lean into it,
but I think it's something that um we have a new this year this is our second year like we have a growing immigrant increasing that increasingly veteran veteran Spanish teaching staff and I think this is a program that with some
continued publicity and yeah that we will get there over time that the teacher was ready willing and able to take the summer training and do all of the steps necessary. So I feel very confident that that will be a future option. It's just not quite yet. Yeah.
>> Um so the computer science classes that are listed as this like a full computer science program that is being re-implemented. Yes, okay. >> So how we will facilitate this is just to explain I think what this
will look like for students is we partner with a company called Edmentum. It's an online learning platform that Collingswood High School has used for a number of years for a variety of
purposes and they offer a wide variety of courses that we don't have the capacity to some of which we have already in in-house but often times that we don't have the capacity to to run ourselves um
and obviously you all may recall hearing feedback from students and staff and others with regard to the virtual high school experience that we attempted this year which was like truly students
independent learning online and with AP Calc, AP Spanish, AP Physics um and it did not work out well and so what we're not going to redo is repeat the same thing Um, expect a
different outcome obviously And so, how we're going to structure this differently, um, is we're assigning this group of computer science classes to a teacher as a facilitator of the class. Teacher's not going to teach six
different computer science classes, obviously, um, but they will be in a classroom with a teacher who's there both to support their online learning and to support them with general general support from a content perspective. Um,
that is not something that we had in place this year with the virtual high school classes that I was referencing a few moments ago. And we saw kids struggle and reach frustration points and in some cases drop that drop that class. And so, um, we don't want to
repeat that same uh, frustration type of exercise for kids. And so, we feel like this is a good way to move forward of like meeting student interests, offering the classes, and partnering that with an actual teacher of record assigned to
that class to, um, be the be the person the main point of contact for kids' needs. >> Does that teacher need a special certification for computer science? >> Uh, yeah, there are a variety of certifications that you could have to teach that sort of class, and that teacher does have that.
>> So, they're not actually teaching the class, they're just there to support the kids that are taking the online class. Okay. Um, and with the AP Calc and Spanish and Physics, that, um, were those online classes the same program as this program? >> No. >> Okay. >> So, I'm sorry. So, um, what what
certification will the teacher in the computer science class have? >> I believe I can answer that for you in 1 second because we confirmed that, if you give me a second. Engineering teacher, but he has a specific cert that aligns to this content. If you want the specifics,
Megan, I can check for you. >> Is this an extra class that this person has to teach outside of his normal >> No. >> Okay. >> It's within the six contractually. >> Okay. Are students told what classes are online and are there before they register so they you know can know that
that's what they want and are there any additional besides the computer programming ones that are online? Just the three? >> Nope, just the >> all the the web >> Correct. Yep, and if you um pick anyone can do it right now. Pick
one of the computer science one they're hyperlinks if you click um you know game development as an example you'll see the course description and that it explains that it's an online online course so that kids and families understand what they're what they're
choosing and how it will be offered. Yep, and as you can see we picked a variety of courses with the goal being that just like several other of our um CTE pathways our hope would be that students persist
through this and move through the content over time if this is a real passion of theirs and something that they want to pursue post-secondary. Um so just like we link up Spanish one through Spanish five and AP Spanish this could be a you know a course
a pathway that students set set out and persist with over over the years. >> Um speaking of the engineering courses um there have been some concerns that um the engineering program needs certain uh um materials and and things like that in
order to be able to carry out the content of those courses. Can Can you give us any feedback as to where we are in that situation? I just know there's been some some concerns from students and parents about materials and and things like that. Like is is everything
like like the Okay. Round engineering specifically, I'll get um and and I'll have my notes on me. I'll get some details on that for the next meeting. Thank you. Please, yeah, for sure. Oh, go ahead, Megan. Um can I ask you about we we we've heard students um
concerns about the TV program and you know, Wi-Fi and and um you know, technology needs and things like that. Oh, where where are we in that in that situation? And can any of that be rectified just in terms of editing capacity and Wi-Fi connectivity and things like that? >> A lot of those issues were the fact that
um the Apple units needed to be updated, but we couldn't get to them to up like we couldn't get to them to update them cuz the kids are using them during the day. So, my my understanding is hopefully we can get to them over the summer and get all the Apple updates and make sure everything is up and running,
but it was kind of like the kids are working on it, but we'd have to take the unit away from them to update and put all the Apple stuff on there. That was kind of the issue. Thank you. >> Uh financial literacy is also an online course. Um that would be the only other. Sorry,
just to correct my answer from earlier. Okay. Um if there are no other questions around program of study, um items 12.03 uh 12.04, 12.05 are um field trips that
have have occurred since the May board meeting until now. And so, you'll see that those are all back backdated. Um there are uh medical um uh home instruction uh placements uh item 12.06,
excuse me. And that is all. All right, I'll have that personnel so everybody's good. Item 13.01 um is a listing of all the substitutes and tutors um for 2016-2017 for
teachers, aides, secretaries, nurses, um everybody. Item 13.02 is the travel expense form for the month of June. 13.03 is a resignation.
13.04 is a resignation. 13.05 is a resignation. Um 13.06 is FMLA uh for an employee um they plan to return to their position on um uh June 24th.
13.07 uh is um paid leave of absence under FMLA um from September 1st through September 10th. Um and then unpaid from September 11th through December 7th. And then an extended unpaid leave from
January um from the December approval through January 29th. And that employee plans to return on February 1st. Items 13.08 and 13.09 are mine and Meredith's contracts. Um they did go to the the state for review and approval.
So the approval letters um are attached to the agenda items. 13.10 um is approving a preschool teacher. Uh 13.11 is approving another preschool teacher. 13.12 is approving a high school math
teacher. 13.13 is approving a high school science teacher. 13.14 is approving a child's day team administrative assistant position. Um it's a replacement. 13.15 um is a long-term substitute replacement secretary.
Um that person's going to work to through June 22nd. 13.16 is a listing of the staff transfers and reassignments. Um, the paper copies have a they have an error. Um, but um, Eli and Mark Peters, um,
obviously Eli's music. Um, but in the printed copies it is incorrect, but it is it's correct online. Uh, 13.17 is approving um, uh, the staff listed to receive stipends and for their work with the Special Olympics um, Unified Schools Grant
during the school year. The next item 13.18 authorizes the superintendent to offer employment contracts and to continue to hire during the summer months. Um, and the we will bring it to the board in August just like I do with the bills. Uh, 13.19
uh, is approving unpaid social work interns under the supervision of Kirsten Plath um, to work next school year. Uh, 13.20 is um, approving staff to provide um, WIDA screenings over the summer.
WIDA, I'm sorry. >> [laughter] >> You can tell I don't know what it is. 13.21 um, is approving elementary non-athletic stipends for next school year. 13.2 two is approving uh, EDP adjustments for the 25-26 school year. >> [snorts]
>> Um, for detention. 13.23 is approving 26-27 high school non-athletic EDPs. And attached to um, the agenda item under the um, admin section is the are the dollar amounts to go with all the activities.
13.24 is middle school non-athletic stipends. 13.25's high school athletic stipends. 13.26 is approving uh, the the two nurses as listed to come in and evaluate and process of sports physicals
during the months of July and August. 13.27 um, is approving summer MTSS staff hours. 13.28 is approving the following two staff members to to assist with summer projects related to
elementary curriculum projects. >> [snorts] >> Yeah. >> That's going to be adjusted. Those are our counselors and social workers. We're going to clean clean up the language. Before Monday. >> 13.29 is approving the following two
staff members to for to teach excuse me course overloads in accordance with contract. 13.30 is approving and we will have this for Monday, but this is a holding pattern. We'll have a list of staff that have been approved to
write and develop the 2026-2027 curriculum. We're still waiting for um I guess the deadline is till today or tomorrow to apply. >> [sighs] >> 13.31 is approving a student from Stockton University to
complete her speech language practicum. 13.32 is approving the 2026 ESY program staff. 13.33 is to approve the summer related services staff. This is on as-needed
basis for IEP meetings and any assessments or case management issues during the summer. 13.34 is approving the two staff people listed for summer CST for IEP meetings, assessment, case management.
13.35 is approving this one specific staff member obviously for summer CST. 13.36 is approving a school psychology intern to complete evaluations on an as-needed basis um the summer.
13.37 um is approving the educator practice rubrics as required by administrative code um Charlotte Dan- Danielson the 2022 framework. Um and that's for everybody listed.
And that is it for personnel. >> So, um what we don't see and I know why is middle school athletic stipends. Can you guys give us an update on where we are with that and costs when >> As an administrative team, we're meeting again on Monday. We've we've met twice.
Um we sent a survey out to the middle school families to kind of gauge um cuz right now the the fee's $100. Um so, we wanted to kind of gauge what the families were were feeling as far as the price point cuz
um logistically we're I'm just going to be honest. We were having a hard time getting to that dollar amount whether we didn't want to over overburden the families with the fees. So, we've met twice as administrative team. We're going to meet again on Monday. Hopefully, we can narrow in on on the the price point that we can bring
everybody back to the board and say this is what we came up with. We wanted to get feedback from the families that it was affect- affecting directly. So, that survey went out. I think like yeah, 2 weeks ago. So, we're meeting again on Monday and then and that's why it's not on here cuz yeah, we want to Yeah, we want to make sure that what we
send out is is feasible for people. >> Okay. So, um are we going is this going to be added to the Monday or we're going to have to wait until August? Because August meeting is like 2 weeks before school starts. >> We won't have it for Monday, but we're not going to we'll make sure families
know well in advance. We'll let the board know, too. Like we'll we'll clue everybody in, but we don't have like a we we met and we couldn't balance the dollar amount that we need for the budget with the number of families cuz we actually broke it out how many like, is it a one-sport family, a two-sport
family, three-sport, theater, band, all the competing, the different dollar amounts. Um So, we met as a team and we didn't want the price point to be too high to discourage people. Um then there was discussion of what to do with um economically dis- disadvantaged families. Do you know, do we provide a
discount? Or is it free? So, we had a lot of robust discussions amongst ourselves and also with the middle uh middle school staff, uh middle school uh that leaders. Um and even amongst the six of us, we just we couldn't land. So, then we sent the
survey out to kind of see where families felt they could land. Um we're going to meet again on Monday, but we want to get it out to the families as quickly as possible, obviously for planning purposes. But >> Um so, when this was first presented and I I know things change, but it was
presented as every activity would have a different price point. So, because we know that certain things cost more or certain sports. Um obviously bigger teams should be a smaller price, etc. etc. So, are you looking to change that? Are you looking for a sport fee per
sport, per activity? Like, where are we kind of >> We looked at everything, right? So, we know like football was like the most expensive cuz we and we looked at the most expensive options obviously being like the theater band program and and football were probably the the two most.
But yeah. But but I mean like and then it was um We have some kids that participate every season and one that participate in one. So, do you penalize the child that participates in one seas- one sport versus somebody who's doing three?
Um so, that's kind of what kind of why we sent the survey out. Was kind of just to gauge it. Um I think it I think we're leaning towards like a tiered uh depending on the activity um and the number of activities. But I don't want to speak for the group. I want to see what the survey results are. I haven't seen them.
>> Okay. so we're thinking if somebody does one sport, it's going to or activity, it's going to be a set price. If you do two or more, you know, like >> Yeah, that's kind of what where we landed. Um and then it was like the price point for it. That's the survey. So, we'll know on Monday, but that was kind of
where we landed because some students participate in all year round and others just do one. So, it doesn't seem right to penalize the one. Um but we don't have anything yet. But again, we're meeting yet on Monday. >> So,
we've approved a budget assuming this is moving to pay to play. So, when will we know what that's going to look like? Um I can appreciate the survey, but I'm just trying to make sure, right? Like a family who does every season will leave the school year not knowing if they're going to continue that. So, I'm just trying to make sure I
understand. And also, can you share what portion of activities fees are we collecting today? Do we get 100% of them? 80% of them? 50% of them? And like, how will we ensure we get paid for all of these activities, particularly given that the model's
getting increasingly more complex? >> I can answer the second half of that question. I did meet with um staff from the high school middle school because we are not collecting everything we should be collecting. Um and that is a breakdown in the process. So, that will be corrected. Um we spoke with our
provider Genesis. I know when people pay, we can flag it in Genesis, right? So, that um we know if they've paid their lunch application, you know, whether they paid for activity fees. What is not happening is when kids sign up, nobody's checking to make sure that they've paid their activity fee.
So, we're closing that gap this year. They're going to have to say, like if there's a roster of kids or people, you know, like did somebody's got to go in and check to make sure that they paid their fee. Somebody's got to close that gap. That has not been happening. So, that's also adding the little bit to the burden. So, we have not been been
collecting 100% of what we should be collecting. So, hopefully that'll get fixed going into next school year cuz I have met with the staff. >> So we're not going to close the gap for this year. We're just going to Right. I guess today we know which families are technically owe us a fee. Are they going to get a notification
before the end of the year? I mean almost like the lunch balance thing. Like how are we telling people? I think it's something we've talked about at least this year and last year. So I I'm just trying to make sure that I We've added a layer of complexity it appears and we
need to make sure we're accounting for filling the gap that we have approved to exist. So I just want to make sure I'm clear like how are we going to mon- see that over time I guess is what I'm trying to wrap my head around. >> So I I I I
I'll answer that. I Those all of those questions are valid and all of them are noted. Our goal is to make sure that families in in July um uh receive information about the updated or the revised uh fee structure. In terms of the uh financial
collections, that's very that's a more complicated discussion that um needs to happen offline. Um there are specific rules and and and and regulations that we have to abide by um and then there are other uh circumstances that we're going to need
feedback from the board in order for us to be able to make a decision. And so we would love to bring some of those to our next meeting, our next check-in. >> Dr. McDowell, when you say offline, so when when when will that conversation happen? >> We meet with board leadership weekly.
And so during our next meeting. >> And so we won't approve the stipends for middle school until August? >> Yes. >> Okay. So what happens if we don't have the money for a sport? Like I need to be walked through this because sports start
like 2 weeks after school start or school begins if not earlier. So, >> They start in August, really. >> So, I mean, if we kids are going to have to like walk me through the process because I think there's a lot missing and we're expecting all families to take
on the burden not know until maybe July. And then when is the price when do they have to pay? When are there going to be staff that's hired you know for those positions? When will we know if things aren't running?
Maybe there's not enough to fill a soccer team. When will we know? I mean, these things we've been talking about this for a couple months. So, when I got that survey 2 weeks ago, I was very surprised that we were just now asking families this even though we've talked about this for a while. So,
I really need I'm really interested in the specifics of how this is going to go because this isn't anything new and I'm curious of how we're going to start sports at the end of August when at the end of middle of June we don't
have any plan. >> I will say again, we have a upcoming check-in with board leadership. We need to have some additional conversations. We're not prepared to have that discussion this evening. >> Okay. So, we will follow up with them and then
we will get to you guys. Okay. >> And I I'd like to chime in and say that that this is I think is a very obvious cost that our community is going to have to bear one way or the other, right? We either pay taxes so that we don't have to
calculate how much every single individual family or student has to pay for individual activities or we have to go through a more complicated administrative procedure that takes longer and has uncertainty.
So, in in the end this is again why I think it's really important for us as a board to be working towards bringing in more revenue for the district is because in the end the burden will lie on the community one way or the other. >> So, let me add one additional component
and so, um just so that we're all on the same page, the gap is roughly $150,000. Um there is no pathway to be able to collect $150,000 through fees. And so, we do not want to lay that at the feet of our families and
our students. Which is why this is so complicated. Um and so, there are some considerations that we're going to need direct feedback from board um from the board before we get out in front of our families um of what we can live with
and the trade-offs associated with that. And so, uh we just need more time. And so, if we need a hard and fast our goal is by July 15th um to have uh all of the details worked out families will be notified of said
change, the athletic department which works throughout the summer uh will go through the hiring process. There are coaches that are already in the queue. And so, we're not starting from from scratch. Uh the goal is for communication from uh selected coaches uh who will be notified during the
summer uh they'll be approved in August, but they'll be notified um in July uh for the communication to still be able to move forward so that students and families are able to to receive the benefits from athletics. Um and so, but I just it is an extremely uh
complex uh space to be in. Um and we don't want to make assumptions about uh affordability or lack thereof. Uh but I want to be really really clear. Um the the gap in terms of uh the
$150,000 will not be satisfied with any type of revised fee structure that is fair and equitable to our families. And so that's what's complicating this. And so uh um we need to work through the details with board leadership first. We will then communicate with board in order to gain
consensus before we decide to move forward. But we don't have all of that those answers today. We should have more information after our meeting on Monday and by middle to the end of next week we should have some more concrete plans. >> Okay. I appreciate all of that. Thank
you for from both of you. I think that this is something new for us obviously. This is not something we want to do for any of us. But I do appreciate Maggie's perspective of just wanting to get the information out to families and and have that have that set in place because there do seem to be a lot of unknowns. So coming into
our next meeting I just wanted let you know that there's some things that I would like to have information on are can we get an accurate account of how much we're collecting now? Can we have an idea of who the who or if there's going to be a point person that's going to be collecting the money?
Like if is that going to be the coaches responsibility? Is that going to be Okay. Okay. But you we talked about having a roster and having people check off who's paid like who's going to be responsible for checking that off. Okay. And then what what are we going to do about the
people that are on free and reduced lunch and need you know and have some economic disadvantages there. And um I that's about it for right now but if I think of more questions I'll let you know about them. Okay. And again thank you for your patience
and trying to understand where we're all coming from and asking the questions and getting some answers as much as possible even though we may not have all of that right now. I appreciate the effort from everybody. All right. Anybody have any other questions about this section?
All right, moving on. >> All right, next section policies. Um, we don't have any first reads. But in item 14.02, there are uh, two policies up for a second read. Policy 2365, acceptable use of generative um, AI.
And policy 8461, reporting violence and vandalism. Um, hopefully everybody's had a chance to review them since the first read. So, uh, after after Monday, they will be >> from policy. >> Uh, we have no regulations at this time. And then item 15 is
>> sorry. For uh, section 14, we were going to put the amendment to our committee structure on for us to discuss in this meeting. I didn't realize it wasn't included. I've been in the I don't >> I don't remember. >> So, policy 0155,
um, we wanted to move it back to well, discuss an amendment to the policy we're currently structured it we updated in December 2025 to a committee of the whole structure. Um, and that my motion was to amend it
back to the the version we had approved from September 2003 with the ability to create um, specific standing committees. Um, so, I I know I'd emailed, but I didn't have time to
I missed that it wasn't included on our list, so. >> So, I think we just want to have a discussion on uh, moving back into our regular committee structure. So, does anybody have any comments or anything that they want to talk about or anything that they want to discuss? >> I So, I guess I'll just tee up my
intention of for um, doing the motion to amend is that I I will offer um, and try to reflect on um, the ability to ask and have a dialogue and discourse in committee um, uh, while I I will say that I can
appreciate sometimes we come to the table and folks would say I didn't I wasn't involved or didn't see that. I think we're still having almost the same experience, but it's even more public back and forth in a way that frankly, as we do this commitment for a civility project, we should also think about like how the meetings run, the tone, the
tenor, the ability to ask questions without them um being inferred as um going too far. In committee structure, you have a bit more of an informal dialogue that is I have observed much more productive. And we have a lot of
work before us. Let us say that. I'm right frankly before we had standing meeting around student activities and probably that committee could have helped us with the planning around moving to pay to play. Buildings and grounds, we were selling a school, so we should have an intentional committee thinking about
buildings and grounds and finance. Um personnel, right? We've made some substantive changes that a committee structure that can meet frequently often and have just a dialogue that is easier um to uh manage, I would offer, is something
that I think we would um I see value in. I also would say that uh requires that everybody has the time and capacity to review the summaries and materials um even in our current structure, it's tough cuz we aren't at
the um we don't have full visibility into the agenda, so it will allow just a lot more time to get through having our agenda really clear that we're all prepared, ready, we understand it, we're not asking almost interviewing everybody who creates an agenda topic um in uh this forum.
Um and then the last is just like capacity. We I I actually I think Megan and I were both worried about more time, and frankly, I think we're spending more time between offline and in this forum than we did when we were in committee. Um and meaning we're spending a lot of
time repeating the same question or asking it again and bringing things month over month and I I felt that the committee structure helped us to have productive conversations for things that really um probably just need a smaller group to think through it and
then reach out to their colleagues. Um so that is my intention around mo- the motion to amend and move us back into a committee structure. Um I don't think it diminishes any um information sharing or visibility
into the work we need to do, but we have a lot of it to do and so we'd just be able to get a lot more moving cuz now we have ad hoc committees in addition all to the committees almost and we have Right, so we have so many ad hocs we're almost back to a committee structure plus committee of the whole plus our actual regular committee. That is our reality right
now. Um and so it would probably ground us in having these structures already in place. We would be able to be a bit more nimble. So. >> Um I am not opposed to this um at all, but I do want to make it a point to say that I think one of the benefits to
having this committee structure is the agenda and the posting of the agenda for the public to see. So the public is able to see and hear what we're going to be talking about and voting on in a a week in advance or five days in advance. Um and I think that that's um
that's been helpful. Um and I think that we should make sure that we're posting the agenda as early as possible even if it has to be revised for the public to be able to see that. Just making that point. >> Um considering how many um members we're missing tonight, is this uh something
that maybe um you're you're planning on um talking about uh on Monday during the public meeting or executive session before the meeting or you know, I I I think this does warrant a discussion. I'm just wondering when that discussion can happen. >> Uh also this would go up for a possible first read so people can definitely add in their opinions and you know, we it
would come up for a second read and we'd take a couple of days. >> Okay, so so it's is to be a like a policy structure. Okay. >> This is a policy. >> Yeah. >> Yes. And and so I just would offer all folks are not here. This I shared in two weeks of updates that this is something that we're proposing. We just didn't catch the meeting agenda. So it's not
and it's specifically the change back to one to the other. So um haven't really heard anything offline. So certainly this is the forum. Even those who are not here should be reaching out with their perspectives in advance and I will offer committee of the whole or back to
committee structure. That is the type of engagement we will need online offline. Um and because the um this particular topic I think uh since our last meeting has been I've put up out there for us to be prepared to start to think about. So um
I haven't I will transparently say no one has said anything uh um in response to date. So that's just for awareness if that was a question. >> Sure. I I appreciate that, but um I thought this was happening last month and then it was pulled. So I wasn't sure if this was still a conversation that was definitely going forward.
>> Okay. Um I understand the uh I'm glad we tried this way. I don't like this way. I don't think we can actually talk the way we would want to discuss some hard topics sometimes. Um there's often a lot of questions that we can't answer in public answered in public. So
um I would appreciate going back to smaller committee meetings. Um also would agree that I think we should post some type of even if it's not full or you know, completed and final, we should post an agenda more than kind of 12 hours before our meetings moving forward if that's
how we're going to do it. >> I have a little something written up about this um that I was going to bring up earlier in committee of the whole, but I think we skipped over that. Um let's talk about segregation for a little bit. This is what I see. Um this is me from as an Oakland representative
coming in and sitting on this board for the last year and a half. Um We're a school board and it's our duties to fight for what's best for the students and the faculty first. Um it's clear to me that the board is extremely segregated. Um
and neither side is willing to try to fight through the foggy windows to see each other's sides of the decisions. So, nobody will, you know, we've seen it over and over. We've had 50/50 votes. We've had Well, I'll I'll get into it. This is [clears throat] uh been clearly seen by recent votes as well as
committee structures. In Oakland, uh the president always asked people at the beginning of the year what committees they would like to be on. And then he takes that or she takes that information and then, you know, works on it and tries to put everybody together as he
sees fit. Here, I've not seen anyone ask me to be on a committee at all. Including the regionalization committee. And that goes, I think, for Chris as well. Like it seems like it's a forced committee structure. So, if you want to do committee structure, make it viable and not segregated. So,
um That's uh that's all I got for that. >> And I I will offer right now So, the policy that I'm recommending we go back to would be the process where everyone gets asked, "What would you like?" and there's an appointment for the year for that committee. So, that isn't our
current structure, ad hoc stuff. I think we had one meeting and then none um on the regionalization stuff. So, so totally understand and would offer Yeah, everybody would need to be asked. >> referendum struct committee. >> The referendum committee that sent out the most worthless survey
I've ever seen. Uh that was not invited to me or Chris or anyone else. It was a set committee, I think, by one of you and then that's it. >> Okay. >> Um so, I'll chime in. Uh I I actually think that the committee of the whole has been working
wonderfully. Um because and and I want to echo what uh Mr. McMillan said, which is that we are we have divisions across our board. And I think it's important for uh the community to be able to see the
different sides being argued and being discussed. Um I I think we we, you know, there's there's discussion about how right now we have committees and committee of the whole. I mean, the thing is there's nothing within the policy and
the structure of committee of the whole that dictates we have to have committees. I think the only committee that we have to have is one to hear grievances uh when they come up. That's really only one that we have to have. Um, for me what's what's interesting is is I do think that the committee of the whole is an evolution for us
when we think about all of the feedback that has been, frankly, yelled at us as a board over the last several years. You know, last time we went out for a referendum, we were told by uh many folks in the public, including I
think folks on this board, uh that decisions were being made behind closed doors, that discussions were being held behind closed doors, that people were being left out of discussions, etc., etc., etc. So, why would we want to go back to having these discussions
behind closed doors? You know, I I don't know why we don't just talk about the referendum here as as a committee of the whole. Um, and I'll bring this up, you know, from I think last committee of the whole, I think I was also uh uh pushing for us to have
as much of a discussion as we can about all of these topics in public. And the only piece that we can't really have a discussion about is specific uh discussions about individual personnel. Everything else has to be talked about in public when we're together
as a group. There's no other legal way for us as a quorum or both to discuss these matters. I mean that that's just by law. Uh this I mean our time commitment is [snorts] uh
what, 2 3 hours on uh one week and then 2 3 hours the next the next week for the board meeting. I mean, I remember when we were doing committees uh one committee meeting would probably take like an hour and a half. And then if you're the second committee meeting of the night, you'd have to sit there waiting
until you know, the board president or whoever texts you and says, "Okay, we're ready to go." I you know, this to me works operationally a lot smoother. Um and in the end I think for us, yeah, it takes a commitment from from all of us to be part of this community whole. I
mean, we just closed the school. Of course, we should be spending a ton of time on the school board. It's not like things here are are uh all sunshine rainbows. We have a lot of work to do. And so some an argument that this is taking time or or whatever for me
doesn't really hold water. Um so again, I I want to go back to saying that I think this has been working great in terms of we've all been able to have conversations together. Um there's no reason why we we have to have ad hoc committees. Um and again, I'm thinking back to our last
referendum where uh once again, we were told that uh and and actually even I would say in the uh fall this past year when we were uh uh you know, we'd had guests to the board who told us that uh decisions were being made behind closed doors. Again,
here we have a committee of whole where we as a whole board whole unit can discuss together. Um and uh we don't have to shy away from our our our disagreements. We should engage in them so that the community can see that that these choices are not easy, but ones that we have spent a long
time talking through. And I think that's really important because what you'll see over and over again is people will say, "Oh, you all all just showed up to a board meeting and just voted." Well, that's why we need to show that yes, these are very difficult decisions that
we're willing to talk through and disagree on and then come to in in the end to vote on. Um and so, I'd be against uh going back to uh the committee structure and I think that this has been working great in terms of transparency uh and just having everyone engaged in
discussion. >> And speaking of the referendum, what did did we skip 3.01 for a reason without having any open topic with anyone? Cuz it went right by. >> I I think that was an So, I I just wanted to make um two comments and say
some of what my observation is we've really lost um a lot of our how we engage with each other, how we are willing to hear differing opinions has frankly been lost in this group in our meetings, right? No one is allowed to
really not agree and then gets grilled if they want to ask a question or your question's deemed to be sometimes too far, some are not that far. It depends and to the separation of this board, that is true, right? I will use a for instance, we've have been able to say, "Well, that price of this item
is way higher than I'm expecting." But when somebody else asks a question about "Well, why are we doing this allocation for this person?" It's deemed too far or administrating, but another minute it another group is not. So, that division is real. And some of this is that we were trying to
get a lot of work done at um in parallel and certainly happy to spend much more time on the referendum work and all of what we need to do. I don't think anybody's shying away from those conversations. Um I will offer how we engage and the type
of dialogue has been very difficult for me to even personally feel or hear or see post watching every meeting that we're actually willing to have a civil balanced conversation. Right? So, that that's actually um some of why how we
show up in the committee of the whole, how we have conversation is deeply unproductive at times, right? And so, that's really I am all for let's talk about it, let's do all the work, but we have to change how we're talking
with each other instead of um with instead of at. Um and being willing to hear each other cuz we all everybody gets dished out some feedback about how they're doing it and some of us have to just adjust or just keep getting told you're not doing it the right way.
So, I would I I'm I'm actually totally fine, but I am asking that we show up in a different way with how we go back and forth in this discussion cuz it it is deeply unproductive. Um and I will actually I'll outright apologize for the perception that we aren't being
inclusive. We're trying to figure out like how many people and what, how to have colleagues would own its portion of carrying the water um and bringing folks along. So, I will be totally honest that I don't think anybody was intending a version of segregating or slighting members of this board. So, I will
apologize personally that is definitely not my intention or it Kelly or mine. Um uh we are trying to balance perspectives, experiences, right? So, who's been in these conversations or not and um and so preceding us because as you all have
heard, we um are kind of making sure we're doing our best to bring us along through really difficult decisions that have been just not on our road map to date. Um so, that is I will own that that is not how it was intended to feel or be perceived. Um
cuz that is never the intention, but certainly happy to keep it in this structure. It needs to become much more productive and easier to get through our topics like of the adults we are, um, who are modeling behavior hopefully for children and others.
>> Uh just to go to a couple of points you made. Um, first, yeah, I completely agree with you that this kind of structure raises the bar for the behavior that we need to show as a board, myself included. I do not I'm not holding myself out as any kind of exception to that.
I think the right thing to do is for us as board members to rise to that, not to re-lower the bar. So, and the the second thing, and I'll I'll gently correct my colleague, Mr. McMillan, um, we were invited to an ad hoc committee. Uh,
I I think specifically, and and he and I have spoken about this, uh, one of the things that came off as very I don't know if disingenuous is the right word or very, uh, dismissive of Mr. McMillan and I is that there was another ad hoc committee that was going
on, which then pivoted to a regionalization committee that we were not made aware of or present at, and we saw notes about the committee meeting afterwards via via the board email, and
bit my tongue, let it go, but that was wholly inappropriate, and kind of signals where Collingwood board members think of in terms of Oakland and Portland. >> Are we at open forum right now? Can we >> Yeah.
>> I mean, can I continue? >> I I think that, um, I think what you're referring to was the initial meeting about the feasibility study, uh, and it was recommended that we meet with, um, the Oakland leaders. >> There was I can I can dig it up in >> Yeah, I mean, I want to I would like
>> a different ad hoc committee. It wasn't the regionalization. And then at the end of that, it was decided to pivot to talking about regionalization. And the only way that that that Nolan and I were made aware of that were by notes that were sent out by board
leadership after the >> I'm not aware of what you're talking about, but I would I would encourage you to say, like if there Yeah, if there is something, Chris, like in the future, please don't hold back on that. Please let us know immediately if there's something that, you know, that that we
did that wasn't >> clear or what? >> Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. >> I I recall >> I mean, the initial regionalization concept came out of having gone to the luncheon, and then it was Sarah, Danielle, myself, and Kelly
um had a quick conversation, and then I don't know that we met more than once, and so um I So, I will I will certainly go back through our the update that was sent cuz I don't know that I sent that one, but I will certainly look, and I I I think what you're hearing from Zakiya is that
that was not an an intentional view, and frankly, I will say that the agenda itself can be adjusted to make sure we have the space and time to talk about the topics that are critical to from Let's talk about our operating
referendum. That needs to be agenda topic. Talk about Garfield sale, redistribution facilities plan. More than happy to make sure And I'm going to ask that we make sure that those are specific and discrete agenda topics going forward. So, that is either direction, part of the goal is to
bring it up here to hear what people are thinking. I would have loved to have known that there were these these feelings preceding bringing this up here cuz I have not heard personally from anyone, and I'm fine with that, but it, you know, like um it would have been great to get that
feedback sooner than later. >> to put the point out. We don't need the apologies. We don't need to cover everything up. It was just I wanted to make the point, and then we can talk about it through emails or whatever. And that's the that's the that's the yeah. >> Uh yes. Oh, I got it. That meeting was
yep. Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. Got it. That's fair. I don't Yeah, that wasn't the intention. Yeah. >> Yeah, we don't have to get in the details of like the the whys and the details. That's fine. Um I I was just making my point that Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. No, no. That's >> didn't think you were factual. I just wasn't sure you were talking about. But again, in the future, if there's something that happens like that, you I mean believe me, I would like to know about it if there's something there. So, yeah. Um pivoting a little bit from the
segregation conversation, which, you know, to be fair, I think that that's been an issue on this board for a while. And I don't think that is just something that happened this year. So, if it is something that maybe we can all agree to rise above, that sounds like a good idea
because I'll just leave it at that. Um but when it uh you know, back in December, I I I tried to bring up that there were going to be some possible hiccups to just going from
a committee structure to a committee of the whole structure without sitting down and having meetings to decide how would this work and what would we do about personnel situations and should we have executive sessions with maybe our board attorney to kind of figure out going
into this situation, you know, how it would best work out. And um the response to that was um um you know, quite frankly, accusations of going back on campaign promises and not wanting to be transparent and things like that. And now here we are in June,
and I think we all see Well, some of us see that there are hiccups. And you know, I would suggest that if we stay in the structure, you know, I do agree that I think there are some issues. And you know, I'm I I can my gut reaction was yep, let's go back
to the other way, but I can see the committee of the whole structure being productive as well with some modifications. So I will go back to my suggestion from back in December that perhaps we could talk about having some kind of a meeting with our board
attorney present to figure out, okay, what are the topics that cannot come up so that we don't have another situation where we're here asking questions about budgetary decisions and we have to like pull the cord and go into executive session in the middle of a meeting
you know, to like kind of go into it understanding that that might be a problem and just being prepared. So I would offer that again. >> I I would actually agree with Ms. McCroskey about the having the attorney come out in in clarify what topics we can we can and
and and talk about in executive sessions and what topics we must talk about in public. That's a conversation we actually can't have in executive session just to just to be clear. From from my perspective again, I think I would argue that the only hiccup that
we've seen with committee of whole is that we as board members are uncomfortable. Because we have to state, stand by and defend our beliefs and our positions. I I think that is really
the only hiccup that I I've seen from committee of whole. And and I think that's something that we have to be willing to do. It's it's uncomfortable. It's very uncomfortable. It it says we're putting out our ideas, our our beliefs where not everyone's going to agree with us at all. We're not going to agree with
each other. And that's fine, but we have to be willing to be uncomfortable and to stand sit in that uncomfortableness and discuss through these pieces because again, our community uh uh needs to see that we are engaging
truthfully in these issues. I I don't think having us discuss and and question each other and and each other's questions as well is a problem. I think we have to be able to sit here, be willing to to to to defend what we believe in.
>> So, I'm I I want Look, my intention was to have a conversation cuz clearly there there's been energy around like is this going well and we haven't had the space. I'm actually saying how we do it. I'm not suggesting um that we need to go back into some secret
forum, whatever. That is not the intention. It is just how cuz it doesn't feel productive all the time. It feels more vitriolic than I think anybody's intending their question to become. It becomes It's so I That's really it's the how we're asking questions and how we're
giving being forthright with if this didn't sit well and saying that in the time versus holding on to it for months and not bringing it to anybody's attention cuz you can't fix something you won't talk about. And so, I I'm I'm simply making a
recommendation because I guess when I was sitting in committee, it felt a little less vitriolic and like at each other's throats in a committee structure that I'm I am seeing in our in our committee of the whole structure. That's really all I am bringing forward. I'm not
suggesting I preferred it over it just that I preferred the discourse much more um cuz we saw each other's people and we were open to hearing each other. Um so, I guess that's the difference that I'm hoping we can either strike a balance in how we engage with each other. That was
actually just more respectful and amicable um instead of just battle mode which sometimes this table seems to elicit that kind of energy that I was hoping we can work through. Um I'm going to make a recommendation. And
And so, part of it was to talk about the amendment. I certainly don't need to waste our time going and voting on something if we can kind of all hear that like we all we made a pledge about civility, so let's really think through what that looks like. But I do think our agenda structure has to help us have top
topics brought forward um in a more intentional way. And so, we'll certainly have to And I think we've been working with Ethan and Laura to figure out like how do we just say like make the time for the referendum and make the time for these topics instead of them being within another topic cuz we've kept the
structure we had preceding this. So, I think we can make our agendas much more intentional to talk about certain topics. Um and I Gusson will own possibly surveying everybody to see how is the structure
going, what are the missteps, would have been an easier way to get people's feedback. So, I will um try to synthesize that some more because it's been several months and it would have been nice to hear like, "Hey, we've made this misstep that frankly is a misstep." So,
it would have been nice to course correct sooner than hearing it right now, but I'm happy to know that I've got to get better doing stuff. Um and so, I am asking that we are bit more open to hearing each other
have differing opinions cuz um I think it has come across as "Well, explain your no" is almost demanding in a way that I've never seen this board expect anyone to ex- explain any position until recently. And so, I just think that's some of the shift that I would offer.
We need to just think about how do we get there? If we're going to ask everybody to explain, everybody should explain. Yeses and nos, right? Don't pick the one the no to be the thing that we get on, okay? So, So, look, if we want to move in the direction of tell me your why for your vote, then let's go there. But, don't
pick people Don't single Don't single someone out because it seems to be the minority or what have you. So, I'm just putting that out there as like ground rules for how can we engage more um respectfully is don't pick on the one you you're in opposition to, essentially. So, that's what I would like to see here.
>> that's that's a great suggestion. I I would be uh in favor of everyone uh always stating why they're voting why they are. I would I would love that. I mean, that that in terms of accountability and transparency for uh uh the community that people should know why we're voting for stuff and or why
we're not voting for stuff. I'm I'm all for that. >> Well, I think people have tried to explain why they vote no for things and then they're told that they are attacking people personally. So, you know, forgive me if maybe that feels a little bit of, you know, bullying and having to defend. And I I think I think that's fair.
>> I mean, if that is fair, I mean, if there's someone >> And and and for the record, um you know, in our school board's training, we were told that you do not have to defend your vote. Everyone here has an is entitled to a vote. You don't have to defend yourself. And being, you know, what are you voting and why?
You know, it's it's you know, I don't think that's appropriate, quite frankly. I think people have you know, people explain where they're coming from and they try to ask questions and, you know, sometimes those questions are answered and other times again, people are accused of personally attacking people. So, you know, I think that that's
It it has not been a great climate and um I'm I'm I'm in favor of being a part of making that better, absolutely. But, um you know, and and and and Zakiya, if I could just clarify, um you know, I haven't been sitting here saying, "Oh my god, this is horrible." You know, I I think we've definitely had some hiccups
and I think, you know, the dynamics of the board have definitely shifted and and hey, you know, this this the the the board dynamic has changed over the past 5 4 years and you know, votes are different and and I guess that's a little something that everyone has had to get used to um compared to I don't
know, 5-6 years ago, right? So, you know, maybe it's just been a little bit of growing pains, but um you know, I I don't think it's personally I haven't been like, you know, like we have to go back to the personal structure um the committee structure. You know, once you bring it up it's like, oh, maybe we should. I don't know cuz you know, I I heard some feedback
from our last committee of the whole. I heard that it was a low point, it was an embarrassment the kind of uh you know, fighting and and and disrespect that people saw online. So, you know, I I it's not a good look. Definitely not. So, um you know, I think we if we're
going to stay in this structure, we do have to do better. >> Agreed. >> So, and I So, I I use this as an example of like going forward, right? We will have our next upcoming meeting um and on Monday and then going forward, I mean
this pledge is probably fairly timely for this conversation. The ironic uh the irony is lost not lost on me. Um my goal was to have the conversation not certainly to go back into like offline, but I I guess how we showed up was a
little bit more amicable than we do at this table. And so, I'm really asking that we can really embody being civil, respectful of all viewpoints and say your peace and don't mumble it later or what up just say it and what the
majority is where we're going, right? And I think that's just how I'm I think how we show up in this committee of the whole is really part of why I wanted to offer, here's another way we can do this. Um so, I I um I guess we're now having great our own
um conversation about it, but if there's are there any other comments cuz I want to make sure we move forward in the agenda. So, cuz I we do not have to add it to the agenda. >> Uh I I I disagree that I don't think people are afraid to stand up and say what they feel or how they feel or what their belief system is. I think that
they're um it feels more uh uh that there might be an attack from um somebody that disagrees with them or seen as oppositional that I think holds people back from kind of really putting that all out there. I do think that since we brought it up and we have proposed that
we make a motion, I think that we could we should proceed with that and see where everybody is publicly. And if it if it passes, it passes and then we'll if it doesn't, we'll go from there. If it doesn't, then we obviously reevaluate and we start we we we really consider how we can rise to the occasion. >> Yeah. Yeah, I think if you want to put
up the vote vote put up for vote, that's how the board works. I think that totally agree with that. I mean, I I think we all of us as board members, you know, we have to be willing to be uncomfortable. I have been personally cursed at multiple times at board meetings
throughout the year last year from folks sitting in the in in the audience, right? It is part of what it is, but that should not change the fact that that uh if I believe something, I should express that belief
and and use that to to um to guide the way in which I vote, which I actually believe everyone on this board votes what they believe. And and that I do I do 100% agree with. >> you know, right? Yeah. >> But I just wanted to say a couple things cuz I do think that if we keep this
committee structure the way it is, committee as a whole, that to please we need to add a section for the things that are not discussed. So, we need to talk every week every month we need to know is there anything updated about regionalization? What are the details about Yeah, so like I
because I think that's also going to help everybody feel like they're included even if we have ad hoc committees. Um One of the reasons I am for possibly going to smaller committees is because just something that we just talked about tonight like middle school sports. Um
that should be something we're talking about in public, but I'm being told we're going to talk about you guys are going to have a discussion. So, like those are the things I believe if we were in a smaller structure, we would be able to talk about. So, those are the examples that when I say I think a smaller committee would work better is
because I don't like why are we waiting like why can't we have these discussions? That's not about anything personal, that's not about, you know, those do not fall into the situations of executive session, so we should be able to talk about the hard things that we
might have to talk about just because it's public. If we can't talk about those in public, why are we having this committee structure? So, like that was just one example and I think every meeting we have something like that that's like, "Oh, we can't talk about it at this meeting." But we when are we
going to talk about it? So, um and then maybe I I appreciate that, you know, board leadership meets with admin. I appreciate that. I appreciate the updates, but again maybe those updates also need to be public and we need to read them off or we need to discuss them
as well because that if we want to be full transparency, that's we need to discuss. We have literally everything. Roger, I will agree with you here. We need to talk about it in public. So, but like these are this when I do hear something like almost every meeting even
if it's tiny that, "Oh, we'll talk about it another time." That's where I'm like, "Well, if we were all in a smaller meeting, we would be able to just hash those things out, hear what's really going on." Because I'm reading between lines here and I don't appreciate it. And I So, like we got to pick one. We
either it has to be all here or it has to be back in committees. Like >> So, if I could jump in I'll turn it off if we can just say yeah. Maddie, I I agree with you. >> Well, so let me just let me offer that >> if I if I may if I may If I may look, we're already have we already have progress here. We're already doing something.
>> Well, so >> And I want to I I just want to say the the the regionalization was not the the thing that tipped the iceberg for me. It was the referendum survey, right? So, the the committee that I saw that was made for the referendum, I was like, that is
a cherry-picked committee. >> Oh, it was? Oh. >> That's That's how I saw it. Um and that's what That's what really tipped the iceberg for me. It was easier for me to talk about regionalization being the in the seat that me and Chris are in. So, can I say something that I learned from that piece of it though?
Um with the with the >> Can I say something that I learned from that piece of it though? Um with the with the uh referendum piece. Um you know, we put out that survey. We did get a lot of feedback from Dr. McDowell and um Ms. Coleman about that. Um before that survey was sent out, they were very involved in that. They gave us
the what was needed to begin with to even put on the surveys. Those weren't, you know, generated by us. They were generated by them. But, once we sent the survey out, I thought to myself, oh, you know, like I really should have like sent that out to the entire board before we actually like did that. And I don't think we did. So, I will take full responsibility for that saying that that
was something that I realized immediately. Um I probably should have put that in email apologizing to all of you. But, I'll do it publicly and just say that you are correct in that that that should have been a more of a board conversation and more involvement in there. So, I do intend to do that in the future. Just Just saying. >> So, I just want to level set.
>> was designed by >> We So, I can we get So, the referendum process, we sent it and asked for feedback. There was a ranked survey option and then there was pick your one through five. And it was the feedback we
got was how people picked versus ranked. Um I Uh so, we are trying to receive because we get a lot of feedback about administering this. We didn't want to like force people's hands. So, we received every piece of feedback we received. We adjusted the survey to meet
that. Second, I actually am not quite sure. So, I Look, um I'm not going to pull new kid card, but I'm going to offer I'm not even sure why the pay-to-play follow-up conversation needs to come to our meeting this week. And so, and what I'm hearing is folks need more
time. You don't have to come to like I I That's why we send the update cuz I don't have I don't need to have more conversation or have a different view than I would believe everybody else would have. So, I um want to be respectful that the line of
even the referendum, the pay-to-play space will push on are we moving into administering and micromanaging and really pigeonholing our district leaders and want to be balanced in how we're engaging in those conversations. I'm not quite sure if we need to have this topic
outside of the next meeting we have. So, I I think um we're trying to organize ourselves in these weekly meetings to prepare for how what's the topic, what is our position. The referendum piece we thought we got feedback in the right way and right order, and honestly totally
missed making sure we got everybody's feedback in a hurried attempt to get start engage the community. Understood and um what I don't want to have us do is say, "Well, you Like if almost I can already hear
that the well, the um you gave two options and this is how we made the changes, and I'm not going to say it's us versus anybody else, right? We made the decision as leaders to send this out, and that's the decision I have to stand behind. Um and so, that is I'm I'm going to say
that cuz I don't want it to become, "Well, I would have preferred this or that." That isn't, I think, a fair conversation at this point. So, I will own what we put our names behind and have to live with the bumps and the bruises of not being the most Right? Like that's just
real. Um and also respecting that we can't cross the line of pigeonholing our district leaders into a rank that may be completely arbitrary and not appropriate right now for engagement. So, um I I think I'm I Frankly, since it's not on
the the and part of the committee structure is to determine what's on the agenda. You don't need to put this amendment on it. Um but I do think we should talk about add to the agenda clearly a referendum topic um and clearly I mean regionalization transparently I don't
even know if it's a real topic at this point um and but um def- exactly. So so I'm not trying to degenerate like >> Yeah. >> felt like a thing and then immediately fizzled on its own accidentally. So So >> I I think adding a referendum piece probably be really helpful on agenda. I
I hear you on terms of like trying not to pigeonhole the the admin with options. Um are the admin part of the the referendum committee? >> So in the we so we let me let me be really transparent about the process so far so we are really clear cuz I've sent
summaries of what has happened so let me say it out loud. We've met twice. Between one meeting we shifted who's on the committee and in it we asked we in our weekly meetings we make sure we understand okay so when somebody comes up and talks about wellness what does that really mean? When somebody comes up and talks about this what does that
mean? What are the items we should help bring forward to prioritize in our district board leadership meetings to then bring back to that group to talk through how do you want to get feedback? Like the initial the first meeting only included the board members and then we sent here's what we're proposing for our
feedback via email for review and feedback to make sure the message and survey language made sense. So that's how the leaders were engaged. I asked if we should have ad hoc meetings which I haven't formed yet because I wanted to have this conversation to see if we even need to go in that direction versus bringing them here every single month.
So just giving process perspective the five board members met we sent the survey to our district leaders for their feedback absorbed their feedback made changes and it was sent out. So let me offer that for clarity. >> And and I I would I would encourage cuz I know you know I think I got some
the second longest tenured board member at this point, um, that uh, through my experience here, all the committee meetings, whether it be ad hoc or whatever, there's always admin there because we just don't know enough not not being, um, part of. So, I
would encourage, you know, uh, whenever there's a committee meeting I I don't know I think I saw from the the meeting notes like that it seemed like some admin maybe were not at those meetings that that whenever there are committee meetings that admin be there because I think they can provide a a perspective and and just a practicality
uh, standpoint that that is really important, especially when we're trying to plan something as as big as a referendum. >> And and I I will I think you all have seen every week we're trying to say this is what we've talked about. Everything in the survey is all the things we've been sharing, we've been talking about. So, it shouldn't have been a surprise of any of the topics and that we've really
been trying to make sure that we are getting our wits about us around the words we're hearing brought forward to us at the mic, the decisions we're hearing leaders have to make around partial rollout of a curriculum, full rollout of curriculum. These were So, we want to bring forward decisions that people can't may not
piece out of our discussion that we're making to help meet this budget and put it in plain English. Even knowing that the language that they're going to vote on is going to be super high-level that all of this will not even feel like it's completely translated to what they vote on ultimately. Um, so, I want to just say, one, thank you all
for the conversation, um, and that I'm actually not recommending that this has to go on the committee agenda because it sounds like we are going to adjust how our agenda structured to bring forward topics. We're all standing in a space of we understand the pledge we've made to
each other, to our community, and, um, we'll show up and have a dialogue that is, um, open to everyone. So, cuz part of this is about informing committee informs what the final agenda should be. So, we don't I don't feel the need to add it to the agenda based on this conversation.
Um, I know from those who have or have who are not here today that no one was overwhelmingly pro or against, um, but I think the majority here, it sounds like we are okay with trying again in a more structured and intentional way to talk about certain topics from the
referendum, the sale of Garfield and facilities planning will be brought forward to this group, um, into our committee of the whole conversations going forward, um, and certainly we'll follow up on how do we have the paid other conversations around budget opera-
operationalizing budget components as well. >> So, I just wanted to make a comment about, um, pigeonholing our district leaders. I think when we ask questions, sometimes it does seem like may- maybe it does seem like we're micromanaging, but these are questions that the community has, um, in terms of like what
this is going to cost them and how it's going to go. And so, these questions that I think we're asking, you know, if you don't have the answer, you don't have the answer, that's fine, but I don't think that the notion that anybody is micromanaging is necessarily fair because these are questions that the community has and we're just trying to get answers for them, um, because
it's not just us that's affected by that, it's the entire community. So, I just wanted to put that out there, that that should not be I I shouldn't say shouldn't, but I think that I I caution us to view that as micromanaging, um, because I think that they're genuinely uh, good questions to ask that
community members are interested in hearing. >> I'm I am going to offer that, um, staying in the structure requires that we meet in July. Right, we have too much work to do to not meet in July. So, I will certainly take that offline with Kelly, but like to be off is not
realistic, um, because there's too much work to be done. >> I mean, that absolutely makes sense. I mean, there's just a ton. Yeah, yeah, yeah. >> Plenty to do. >> Yeah. >> All right. Um, we'll talk more offline about the, uh, a
possible change in the bylaw also. So, uh, section 15, we are going to go over that next week. Um Jimmy, I think you did ask me about section three. We did We didn't skip over that. We did say that that was going to be next week also potentially.
So, that's not a topic of conversation for tonight. And we did enter into committee of the whole. So, I just wanted to follow up on that piece of it, too. >> Yeah, it was just my understanding that's when we would all just have a discussion like we just had. So, we would have to go >> really a discussion though because it it not has that that's um something that's
separate from this and has to be done on Monday. I think. >> It isn't for all of us. >> It isn't for all of us. Yeah. Yeah. Um okay. Uh so, uh the uh miscellaneous stuff will be next week as well. And then this is our public participation
for the night. So, um I'm sorry. Yep, go ahead. Yep. No one else can. >> good point. Uh I was just curious what the presentations were going to be on Monday. >> I'll let you guys answer. >> planned or >> So, the only presentation is going to be
recognizing the uh faculty and staff of Garfield. Um we don't have any planned presentations. >> Thank you. So, we're going to move on to section 16 unless there's anything else that anybody wants to bring up now
before we move on. Okay. All right. Come on, Danielle. >> [laughter] >> How would you like me to say it? >> I will just say that when I started and I was on the curriculum committee, my questions were, why aren't we all discussing this together? Why do I have to wait to find out what's happening at
all the other committee um you know, at the end in our regular meeting. So, it just confused me because then when we go through it in our meeting, it goes so fast that if you're not basically researching what's happening in each committee, you don't know and to keep up with it. So, that
was my question when I first start here. I know, thanks Stephanie, thanks. Here's my opinion. >> May I ask just for the agenda for Monday, will there be any kind of year-end wrap-up, acknowledgement of accomplishments or some You know, we've talked about brand
elevating the work that students and staff are the accomplishments we have and it kind of gets stuck after some energy. So, how do we bring those maybe first just one thing if beyond the Garfield acknowledgement, are there any other >> Yeah, during
during my report, it'll be a end of the year wrap-up. >> All right. Section 16, public participation. So, this is our reserved section for the committee of the whole. I would like to make a note that I think
next week at the public meeting we are going to go back to having two public comment sections, correct? There will be one in the beginning of the meeting that will be for people to talk about the items on the agenda and then one at the end of the meeting for people to share other things that are not on the agenda.
Right, that's fair? Okay. All right, okay, yeah. Okay. So, but tonight we are still holding to one public comment section at the end of the night. So, our public participation is now section 16. Please stand, state your name and address and keep your comments to 3 minutes or less. Miss Coleman, will you please keep time
for us? The public is reminded that attempts to resolve all concerns and complaints should first go through the appropriate staff members and administrators. >> Hi, Robin Hogan, president of the CEA. I'm up here to ask a question about the revision to policy 8461M,
reporting vandalism and violence. I'm asking why you are striking the word all from the policy. I have not been in now I've only been able to do the research tonight, but I have not been able to find where that word has been struck from the state law. So, I'm unsure why we are striking it.
Um, according to this policy the majority representation we're supposed to get a monthly report about all acts of vandalism and violence. We're not getting those monthly reports. And now you've struck the word all. So, I'd be curious as to why you made that decision. Thank you.
I'll let you take your notes. >> [laughter] >> Um, Cara Boyle 90 Summerfield Avenue. I'm just coming as a representative for a high school PTA. Um, we had our fifth grade and eighth grade pool parties today. They went wonderfully. Um, thank you to Mr. Oliveri especially
for coming out and spending the evening with all of our kids. Um, and and I wanted to add for our graduation this Thursday. Um, we're going to be trying something a little new. Um, at the exit of the ceremony um, for project graduation when the buses are
rolling out. Uh, this should not impact the board and I've I've I've checked in house but also wanted to mention it for the public. We're asking for a police escort to drive the buses down Collings Avenue as they leave and we're hoping that the public can come support us with a clap out for our students. Sorry to
anybody that lives on Collings Avenue that this might impact. But, uh, about 9:00 p.m. Uh, Collings Avenue hopefully we're asking people to line in front of Knight Park to not obstruct any um, homes or schools and we'll have a police escort and
hopefully a lot of people will show up. Thank you. Uh, this Thursday June 9th June 18th. >> Ca- Cara, can you um, can you send us some some stuff so that we can like like distribute it and put it out there. Even better. Even better.
Thank you. >> Okay, seeing as there are no up >> Where's the timer? Okay. Can you Can you acknowledge 30 seconds, please? I I I can't see. No, no. Okay. No, I believe you. I believe you. Okay. I believe you. I believe you. All right, ready? Here we go. Hi. Uh good
evening. My name is Rick Short. I'm from uh Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Chilton Parkway. Um tonight I have two ideas to improve the Collingswood school. At parts of my speech, you will clamor up and you will not listen to me. You have to understand that will happen. You will not agree with my opinions, but
that's okay. I also want to point out that I've been following you guys for over three to four years now. I know what's happening in Cherry Hill schools and I know what's happening in Collingswood and I want to congratulate Mr. Roger Chew over there for his work with statistician and everything else. But I find that Mr. Chew has what's
called a oxymoron problem with I with ideologies and I'll get into that in a second. Madam President, my question to you is this. Um has your superintendent been called out twice with two votes of no confidence? Why do
you keep your superintendent if he has two votes of no confidence? Cuz I saw it in Audubon um presentation. The second question is this. Do you have any idea, Madam President, that you could possibly be violating
federal law with your 2026 policy? It is all DEI. It is totally unbelievable. It's just like the scammer over in uh Cherry Hill. It's a DEI scammer right here.
Please, show me any proof that DEI anywhere in the United States, come to this public mic and show anywhere where it's improved academic performance. Where is it approved? All right, I hope someone comes up. How
about inclusion? How about this obsession that you guys all fall whole been brainwashed by unfortunately by your school board um not your school board your your your superintendent has brainwashed you to say inclusion, which is totally
delusion. I mean it's totally unbelievable. You're suck up in three words or four words, collaborative. I heard it tonight, student voice, all these things that mean nothing for education. Now, my question for to Mr. And of course I would never curse at
you. I sorry for I'm sorry for the person that did that. I would never curse to anyone. Um my question to you is in your campaign, again, sir, I totally respect the work. I've been watching you. In your campaign, it mentioned this is
Caitlyn Mallery mentioned this that there are oppressed students, oppressed free students. How can that be? So, you're telling me if a 7-year-old comes to this school and her name is Patricia Johnson and she's a mathematician,
everybody here wants equity. But see, you're you have an oxymoron. You really want equality in this school. But you don't want equity. You want How about if Thomas Sowell was in fourth grade? Why are you constantly bringing down students with equity?
Equity doesn't work. And what happens with DEI? DEI does one thing always. It takes out the white oppressor, it takes out the Jewish oppressor. How much minutes? >> That that's it. Thank you so much.
Seeing as there is no one else coming up for a public comment, um I would like to uh see if we can get a motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Okay. Second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Okay. Motion to adjourn or motion has passed.