All right. Good evening. I would like to call this meeting to order. Would the pres or would the secretary please call the role? >> Anna Braun >> here. >> Timothy Cummings >> here. >> Jamie Falco >> here. >> Le Figueroa >> here. >> Lorie Herrick >> here. >> Lee Wuhong >> here. >> Wilbur Pan >> here.
>> Marian Tangos >> here. Heather Gu >> here. We have a quorum. Please rise to salute the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Good evening. It will be more fun in an hour when we have lots of little people here. All right. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to
attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed and acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the East Brunswick Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted the board of education offices. Written
notice was also provided to the Sentinel, the New York Star Ledger, the Home News Tribune, the Alternative Press of East Brunswick, and the Municipal Clerk of East Brunswick. All board of education meetings, with the exception of executive session discussions, are videotaped for later
broadcast. It is the policy of the board of education that videotaped meetings are not edited for any purpose. Individuals who speak at the board's public meetings should be aware of these videotaping rules. Hi, we have a need for a closed session. Whereas the board of education must discuss matters which
are not appropriate for discussion in a public meeting and whereas these subjects are within the exceptions to the open public meetings act and are permitted to be discussed in close session pursuant to NJSA 104-12B and whereas the board of education intends to discuss matters as listed on
tonight's agenda. Whereas the length of the closed session is estimated to be one hour after which the public meeting of the board shall reconvene and action will be taken. Can I have a motion please? >> Move >> Wilbur. >> Second Maryanne. Right. Discussion. All
in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions. All right. We are enclosed. We'll be back in one hour. >> All right. Hello. We are back and I am so happy to see my favorite kind of people in the audience. I'm looking forward to what you have to say. Oh, one
more favorite people. All right, but first you guys have to sit tight just for a second. We have the superintendent report. Good evening, everyone. Tonight's boardroom features artwork created by our talented students from Irwin and Central elementary
schools. The artwork will be available for viewing through December 5th. I would like to recognize the art teachers Brooke Serbone and Angeliki Caracagloo as well as the school principles Joanne Chamilillowitz the principal of Irvin
Elementary School and Dr. Michael Gascal the principal at Central Elementary School. Shiddik Elementary School successfully hosted its inaugural math Olympics turning the school into a hub of excitement and learning. Students
engaged in high energy math games focused on number sense, subetizing, counting, and fact fluency, earning points for their respective grades. The event was a dynamic success, featuring movement, excitement, and non-stop math.
A special thank you goes to the math specialists Christy Cognata and Kelly Stalling, who worked hard to bring innovative alternative math experiences to our students. In the end, the kindergarten class claimed the gold medal.
On Wednesday, October 29th, the high school hosted their inaugural tricks and treats, which turned out to be a great success. It was wonderful to hear about so many families enjoying the evening and our youngest Bears having fun in a safe and welcoming environment. Dr.
Bushure re received a number of great compliments about our high school students who served as outstanding leaders and role models throughout the event. Their enthusiasm and teamwork truly made the night special. I would like to extend a sincere gratitude to
everyone who contributed to making this event possible and to our community members for their strong support in establishing this new tradition. Also on Wednesday, October 29th, Churchill Junior High School staff hosted the first ever families learning
together night, an evening designed to support our basic skills and multilingual learner families with hands-on practical ways to help their children at home. The event was made possible through a fast grant with the East Brunswick Education Association.
This event was created to bridge the gap between school and home and bring families, students, and teachers together for learning, connection, and fun. Churchill math and reading specialists, ESL teacher, and school counselors led many sessions on math
games, online textbook tools, district literacy supports, and organizational tips. Thank you to the East Brunswick Public Library for joining the event to share local resources. Over the recent teachers convention
break, the district partnered with East Brunswick Township's construction engineering department to resurface and repave Warster Elementary School's parking lots. This project highlights the continued commitment between the board of education and the township to
execute shared services to benefit the community. The board of education and school community appreciates the generous financial contribution made by the mayor, township council, and township administration. The Hammershold Upper Elementary School
Counseling Department held a special event during lunch on Tuesday, November 11th. Students used the time to create inspirational posters to thank our local veterans. In addition, the staff took a group photo to collectively recognize
their service. In sports, Allison Zeer is the second all-time cross country female runner and the first female runner since 1979 to qualify for the meet of champions,
which will take place on Saturday, November 15th. Wow. >> That's it. Girls tennis won the red division and GMC tournament for the fifth year in a row. Another wow.
And field hockey won the GMC tournament for the fifth year in a row. Congratulations to our October high school athletes of the month. Students were selected for this honor by the coaching staff based on performance demonstration of leadership, effort in
practice, and for modeling exceptional character. The East Brunswick Education Association held a denim day this month in honor of Veterans Day. EBEA members along with district staff raised $2,100 to help
support the VFW Post 133 and the Wounded Warrior Project. This Sunday, November 16th, the East Brunswick Education Foundation will be hosting their annual 5K Walk Run, Bear Crawl, and Kids Fun Run at the Community
Art Center. The East Brunswick High School Drama Club is proud to present Radium Girls. The production will run Friday, November 21st and Saturday, November 22nd at 700 p.m. and Sunday, November 23rd at 3 p.m.
All performances will take place in the East Brunswick High School Joseph J. Sweeney auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at ebhsdrama.org. First quarter report cards can be viewed online through parent access Monday, November 24th. Hard copies will be made
available at the request of anyone without internet access. And just a few reminders, Wednesday, November 26th is a single session day with lunch served for students in grades K through six. Schools will be closed
Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving break. And I would like to wish the East Brunswick community a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Now, I want to Did you guys go to Halloween at the high? Did anybody
go? Yeah, you went. So, I went. It was If you have, as a parent, if you have the opportunity to go next year, it was amazing. My daughter's in third grade, and she walked away. The candy is Halloween, but she walked away wanting to take coding classes at the high school because she played the spooky
video games and the kids told her they made them. Um, it was just such a great experience and very inclusive. There was a lot of areas that were good for all of our learners. All right, up next we have a resolution of appreciation and recognition for American Education Week.
You want to come on up. Okay. Whereas the public schools are the backbone of our democracy, providing young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation's precious values of freedom, civility, and equity. And whereas by equipping young Americans
with both practical skills and broader intellectual abilities, school gives them hope for and access to a productive future. And whereas public's public education employees be they administrators, teachers, health and student service workers, librarians, custodians, bus drivers, clerical
workers, food service professionals, skilled trade workers, security guards, technical employees, or substitutes work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism. And whereas public schools serve as a vital hub uniting
educators, volunteers, business leaders, and the officials for the common purpose of student achievement. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the East Brunswick Board of Education hereby proclaims November 17th through 21st as American Education Week. This goes to Dr.
>> Zimi. Zimbicki. Neot. All right. I need a motion. Second. >> All right. Any discussion? While roll.
>> All in favor? >> Opposed? Thank you so much. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Awesome. We'll share it with everybody tomorrow. All right. Now, we are on to more students, but a bigger student. We are
on to our student representatives report. Jane, we are so happy to see you. >> So happy to see you as well. Good evening, everyone. This week, we kicked off field testing for all of 10th and 11th graders. We're already on day two and students have been powering through,
testing with focus and determination. They'll be wrapping things up tomorrow and we're proud to have of how hard they're working. Now, on to some exciting news. Our student council is thrilled to announce our second annual holiday market coming up on December 10th. So many students and staff members are eager to show off their creative products and small businesses. After the
success of last year, we're confident this one will be even bigger and better. So, mark your calendars. Speaking of big events, our homecoming was an incredible success. We had over 800 students attend, more than last year, and we raised over $2,000 for each class in the student council. It was amazing to see how many students come together and
celebrate. We also hosted our annual tricks and treats um which brought tons of smiles to our community. Families and kids had a blast visiting the 40 clubs that hosted the fun and festive activities. We received so much positive feedback. It was truly team effort that made the night special. Coming up next, we have the Anderson Bowl on November
18th, complete with a bonfire and brand new event format as it is a flag football tournament. The rain date is the 20th. Another huge highlight this fall was our schoolwide pinkout in support of the MKS Foundation. Together, we raised an incredible 8,500 plus over 2,000 from Dr. Rur's fundraiser totaling
more than 11,000 donated. Thank you to everyone who showed our your pink spirit and supported this cause. On the art side, our drama club has been hard at work on the production of Radium Girls, which opens Friday night, November 21st. From our stage manager, Alyssa Buckwell. We've put so much work into the show,
and we know it'll all pay off with amazing performance. Kayn D. Rose, one of our student council members who presented at the NJ teachers convention, states, I focused on how high school students are impacted by a variety of factors within and outside of the classroom and how that overwhelms many
students. I discussed how teachers and administrators serve as mentors to guide students to be equipped for a dynamic world that currently changing and how students are also future leaders. I closed out my speech with student testimonies of how teachers impacted their lives outside of academics. Such an impressive impressive accomplishment
and a great representation of our school community. Looking ahead, we have sophomore parent night on December 3rd. A great opportunity for families to learn more about their high school life and how to support their students. And finally, a reminder that Club Ubrook's photos will take place next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for round one with more slots
available in December. It's been an exciting few months full of school spirit, creativity, and community. And we're looking forward to keeping the momentum going through the rest of the year. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Now, the moment we've been waiting for. We have learning across the
district. The Chidik third graders will be sharing their project, Pollinate, Migrate, and Educate. Who's coming up? Everybody's coming up. That's awesome. >> All right, we have the little box for
them to stand on. Yes. They look so nice, too. >> We would like to begin by thanking the East Brunswick Board of Education for giving the Murray a chitic third grade teachers and a few of our students the opportunity to share our symbolic monarch migration project. Our third
grade presenters this evening are Abby, Lucas, Mo, Adon, Gabby, Myra, Maxine, Anisha, and Lucas Z. The symbolic monarch migration mimics the migration of monarch butterflies to Mexico in the autumn and their return
north in the spring. Students in the USA and Canada send life-sized paper butterflies in the fall. We received different paper butterflies from the participating groups in the spring, plus a letter from a student in Mexico. Students in the US and Canada
also create ambassador folders as gifts for students in Mexico. Good evening members of the board of education. We are third graders from Cheddick Elementary School and we're excited to tell you about our project called Pollinate, Migrate, Educate. This
project helped us learn about butterflies, pollinators, and the environment. At the beginning of the school year, we continued learning about butterflies from second grade to understand how monarch butterflies migrate all the way to Mexico every
fall. We joined something called a symbolic monarch migration program. We made lifesized paper butterflies and wrote letters to students in Mexico. Our butterflies travel to Mexico just like
the real ones do. And in this spring, we'll get new butterflies and letters back. We also learned about about native plant, the ones that grow naturally in New Jersey. We discovered that these plants are very important because they
help poll pollinators like bees and butterflies survive. In the fall, we planted real pollinator plants in our school garden. We learned that planting in the fall helps the plants get strong roots before the hot summer. We can't wait to see them grow and maybe even see real monarchs visit
our garden. >> One of the most important plants for monarch butterflies is the milkweed. It's the only plant where monarchs lay their eggs and it's the only food baby caterpillars can eat. Without milkweed, monarchs can't survive. So, we planted
some in our garden, too. And tonight we bought packets of milkweed seeds for each of you. We also read on fiction books about butterflies, insects, and habitats. We learned new science words like migration, ecosystem, habitat, and adaptations.
Now we understand that every animal and plant has an important job in nature. One of our favorite parts of this project was when Eyes of the Wild came to visit our school. They brought real animals that live right here in New
Jersey and taught us amazing facts about them. We learned that skunks are like nature's garbage disposals because they eat things that other animals won't. And did you know that box turtles can live up to 100 years, but they usually don't
travel farther than a football field from where they were born? This project will make us feel like real scientists. We learned that even kids can make a different by planting and
protecting and caring for our planet. Okay. So, thank you so much to the board of education and to the EBEF for supporting our pollinate, pollinate, migrate, educate project. >> And we are proud of what we learned and we look forward to show our growth just
like our gardens. That's great. if we could gather all of our amazing presenters up front for a picture also. >> Thank you. You did a great job. >> Thank you. You did such a great job. Thank you very much.
>> She did not >> tell >> what All of our Chidik supporters, let's get this picture. >> They were so great. They really were. >> So nice. >> It's a lot of parents.
>> We have the parents. Mhm. >> Did you go to Chitty? >> All right, we're going to go a little out of order for a second. This is not our normal, but our student representative who just spoke before, she's a senior at the high school, but she went to Chidik and she would like to
say something. >> Hello. And you're Miss Anderson, right? I remember. >> OMG, I'm feeling a little nostalgic now. You kids are so amazing. I love the presentation and you guys are going to
go so far with such amazing teachers and I loved Chitik so much and I wish I could go back. >> All right, we want to thank all of our learners for sharing what they learned and your public speaking. Your parents must be so proud. That's really hard to
do to get up there. You did an amazing job. Um, but now I'd like to call a very brief recess because you all should go home and go to bed. >> It's getting late. >> President was before we discharge this young people, can I make a comment? >> Okay.
>> Okay. >> You guys did a very good job. You learn a lot. In order to prepare the presentation and this beautiful gift, you put a lot of effort with assistance from your teacher. Thank you very much.
Can I challenge you guys with one or two questions? During the migration, how did the butterfly communicate with each other? And second question is I know you have the answer. Let me ask my question. And
second, during the migration, how could the butterfly find home instead of get lost? >> So now you you can answer the question or you can come back to answer my question a few years later. You don't
have to do it now. >> Come back. >> Do we know how they communicate? I saw heads nodding. Do we know that one? >> Do you? >> What do you know? Is it >> you can go to the podium so can everyone
can carry you? >> Is it like their antenna like the ones that girl on top of your head? >> Like >> Mr. Um, did you know the answer to the question? >> Because this this young man is
incredibly polite and he's looking at me. >> So, >> so, so I can attest that the antenna actually are important part of butterfly to butterfly communication. So, you got it. >> Just want I'm not sure that Mr. Hong was positive about that one, but I I
appreciated you looking right at us. I'm an English teacher. I don't know. >> All right, I want to thank all of our Chittik friends. We're going to have a very brief recess so that you guys can go home, spend some time with your family, and get some sleep because you have school in the morning. All right,
so a quick recess. We'll be right back. >> And now we have the good of the cause for the public. The board of education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on school matters of community interest. To protect the
privacy of all students and staff, concerns regarding individual students and staff members should generally be addressed by first meeting with the appropriate administrative staff. In order to permit the fair and orderly expression of such comment, the board shall provide a period of public comment at every meeting of the board. Each
person has up to three minutes to speak. The board secretary will keep the time. When you step up, if you could give your name and address, unless you're a student and then just your name in school, we would appreciate it. Is there anyone wishing to address the board? Hello. >> Hello. Good evening. How are you? >> Good evening.
>> Um my name is Dr. Maggie Georgees. Um I live on Garfield Avenue in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Um so recently East Brunswick students were tested using the new reading pilot program. Yet many families were not given clear information about what the program is, what the results mean, or how the district plans to move forward. As a
parent of three children in grades K to three, I was alarmed to see so many indicators, sorry, indicators showing that my kids are not at reading at not reading at grade level. Clearly, our current literacy curriculum is not supporting our students the way it should. And this
pilot results um these pilot results highlight a significant problem. I want to emphasize that it took a lot of time, effort, and speaking to multiple people to even gather the limited information I have. There has been no communication about this pilot or the district
literacy plans. It should not be this difficult for parents to understand what is happening with their children's education. Once again, East Brunswick has done a poor job communicating with families on issues that directly impact student learning. On top of that, I was taken back when I saw the agenda and saw that the district is approving only one
hour of teaching training, teacher training for Amplified. the brand new reading program. While other programs are receiving more hours, if we are adopting a new literacy curriculum, comprehensive training should be a requirement and built directly into the implementation plan. A program can be only effective if teachers are properly
trained and supported. I understand a pilot is meant to identify needs and challenges, but families deserve transparency answers. Now, we need to know one, how is the district training teachers in the reading instruction? Two, why is there so little allocated
training time for a new program? Three, what is the timeline for full implementation across all grades? Four, why did an outdated curriculum stay in place for so long when better systems existed? Five, what immediate supports are being provided to students who were
flagged as below grade level? I'm also unsure how to feel about my children not being part of the pilot. On one hand, I want them to have access to improved curriculum as soon as possible. On the other hand, I worry that the pilot group may not have been fully supported because teachers did not receive enough training before administrating it. That
is not fair to the teachers or students. As a taxpayer and a parent, I want to ensure that East Brunswick is providing the strongest, most effective curriculum possible. Families choose to live here and pay the taxes that we do because we expect a high quality of education. If our current literacy curriculum is
outdated or ineffective, the district has an obligation to move quickly and responsibly towards a better research aligned system. So when will this program be implemented for all students? And what concrete steps are being taken right now to ensure teachers are
adequately trained and students receive the support they immediately they need immediately. Thank you so much for your time. >> Thank you, Maggie. Do you want to give your information to the ladies back there? Thank you. >> Hi, Michelle Bethy. Watch on Young Road.
Um, also like to bring up um something about literacy um which relates to the Matthew effect in reading. Um so the Matthew effect describes how the rich get richer and the poor get poorer when it um when it comes to literacy. So students who learn to read early and well continue to grow rapidly. They read
more. They build vocabulary and access knowledge across all subjects. But students who struggle to read fall further behind, not because they lack intelligence or effort, but because they're not getting equal access to the very tool that unlocks learning, reading. This is why it's crucial for
students to have access to grade level starting in elementary school instead of lower level text, which has been going on because of subjective reading level assessments. By the time these students reach middle school, the gap has widened dramatically. Science and social studies
texts become heavy with academic language, abstract concepts, and domain specific vocabulary. A student reading below grade level isn't just struggling to read the words. They're struggling to access the content itself. They may not be able to meaningfully engage in
lessons, participate in discussions, or demonstrate their understanding of grade level ideas. When we talk about equity, this is where it matters most. Every student deserves access to grade level learning, not just exposure to simplified materials or watered down assignments. Struggling readers need
structured ev evidence-based support that allows them to catch up. Students in the resource room setting were excluded from the language arts pilots. They are still using LLI, leveled literacy intervention, and assessing reading levels, which leads to limited
or no access to grade level text. If we continue allowing students to fall further through the cracks, the Matthew effect doesn't just describe a reading problem. It describes an opportunity gap, one that compounds year after year. We have an obligation to ensure that all
students, especially those who struggle with literacy, receive instruction and intervention that is effective, researchbased, and aligned with how the brain learns how to read. That's how we make equity real. Thank you. >> Thank you, Michelle. Anyone
else? >> Kevin Lynn, Clear View Road, East Brunswick. Our youngest son is in the preschool education program. My wife and I sent two emails to the board this last month. Our son is being excluded from the community programs afterare program. As preschoolers in the special ed program
can't be included, they used to be, but since the district changed their afternoon dismissal time, they can't attend afterare. These are kids I would arguably benefit the most from the socialization and inclusion in ask. Gened preschoolers are welcome, just not the ones with special needs. This, one can assume is a very unfortunate
unintended consequence of the time change at best, or our worst and intentional exclusion of our neediest kids and families. We came up with a solution for our son that would cost the district no money at all and would work around this exclusionary policy of the township. Our son receives ABA therapy after school for an additional 3 hours.
We found a daycare that's inclusive that would be willing to have our ABA therapist that we pay for continue to work with him so we can go to kindergarten next year in a least restrictive environment. We are literally trying to save the district money. The transportation department immediately denied our request as EB's
policy states they will only transport to a location in the catchment area for the school or our home. This doesn't make sense. He doesn't go to our home school. He's already bust outside our catchment area. No other center is open that is open to working with our ABA therapist to pro make sure he gets
therapy. Without the therapy, it's likely he'll need to go out of district to a special education school to meet his needs at the expense of the district. This not only is costly, but doesn't fulfill the district's mandate for least restrictive environment. This seems particularly arbitrary. It should only matter that it's in East Brunswick,
which it is. After sending the board these emails, we heard nothing. Eventually, weeks later, we receive an email from the business administrator. The response we received is what you'd expect if you ask an airline for a refund on a delayed flight. It lacked no human. It lacked any sort of humanity or compassion. The thing is, we didn't
write a corporation or business. We reached out to our child's board of education to look at a policy that if revised would make a significant difference for one of its students while having minimal impact or expense to the district. Following is an excerpt from the response. We must firmly underscore that your request for transportation is
denied and a revision to regulation 8600 is not planned to be undertaken as the decision regarding transportation has been thoroughly reviewed and finalized based on 8600. This matter is now closed. Further communication seeking to debate this policy application and decision will not receive a response. I
mean come on. This is the board's response to a parent asking for support and pointing out that a policy leaves us in a position of having to unnecessarily terminate our child's therapy instead of his boss dropping him off at a center in East Brunswick that's no further from the school than our house. Where is the compassion, the collaboration, the
logic? Our question for the board was this a collaborative response and decision. We reached out to the board for help, not the business administrator. If this is our how our board responds to families like ours in this manner and refuses to even entertain that a policy may be excluding the needs of the most vulnerable students, this board has lost its way. I
truly hope this was one individual responding out of turn and not the sentiment of the board. Thank you. >> Thank you, Kevin. >> Jack Levit for Springfield Road, chairman of the East Brunswick Education Foundation. I was here at the last board meeting to invite all of you to join us
at our bear crawl coming up on Sunday. Happy to say we have 635 people registered which beats our total from last year of about 540 or something like that. And I was happy to see that there's more names from the board of ed
on there. So, thank you for um heeding my cry. And we are taking walk-ins, no pun intended, on Sunday. So if you have forgotten or suddenly find yourself freed up, please join us. That's first thing. Second,
last night we had our monthly meeting and it was our big grant season. Last night we gave away $29,000 in mini grants and larger grants to uh more than half the schools in the district. I have to say that Chittik, we
saw them here tonight. They they really came with five or six grants last night. we were they're trying to bankrupt us or something like that. I talked to Rachel about that. Um but we are we are on track to have our biggest year of giving away grants this year and we are
thrilled about it. So just keep them coming. Uh also congratulations to the board members who will be returning. Look forward to working with you in the coming three years. Thank you. >> Thanks Jack. Anyone else?
All right. I'm going to close the public portion. Moves us on to our agenda. All right. Under board of education items one through four. Can I have a motion, please?
>> Second. Lori and I'm sorry, I didn't hear is and Jamie. Right. Discussion. And did and did everybody get the minutes sent to their home? >> Oh my god. because I did not. >> They weren't in the packet. >> No.
>> Then let's do a um a revision. Okay. >> Um let's do a motion for um to modify the motion >> to exclude the minutes. >> Move to modify the motion. >> That's all of it, isn't it?
>> No item. >> So I need a motion to exclude items two, three, and four. >> Move. >> Second. Wilbur Lori. All in favor? I >> abstension or sorry opposed.
Abstensions. All right. Motion carries. >> Can I have a motion for item one? >> We already have. So that's on the So that's on the table still. >> Now discussion. Thank you, Anna. >> Item one.
>> All right. This is a roll call vote. Wait, wait. >> Oh, I'm sorry. It's okay. Um, so I was looking at policy 1320. Um, is that something we want to hold off on until the new superintendent
um is on board because this is something that affects will be affecting one of her staff members. Um, so is that something we want to move forward on? >> I don't know. >> I believe Dr. Mammon is already aware.
>> Oh, okay. Because, you know, since she's not officially our employee, I wasn't sure what the protocols were. >> Any other discussions? >> Policy 2535. I just had a question on uh definitions
A sorry B item four um letter D it says a representative selected by the board of education. Do we need to specify in there how that individual is selected or by whom? >> What was that policy? 2535 the library
material >> this is definition D you said right >> B number four lowerase D that's in the regulation Is that correct? >> The policy doesn't have that. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. >> It's okay.
>> It's just policy and regulation. So, they're bunched together. >> Sorry. >> So, Congress here, the request for removal forms committee consisting of >> 4D. >> Okay. Oh, I'm I'm sorry. So, the
question again, >> does this need to specify how the board designate? It says a representative selected by the board of education. Do we need to specify how that happens? Because >> so you under your board bylaws the uh
president >> appoints um the committee members and so that would be a president designation, >> right? >> Okay. So >> So this is one where the the president will select who would be the representative under this the library act to serve as the board's
representative of this committee to make that review. >> Okay. So that's something. >> Yeah, but you already have that in your bylaws. You that that is something that's one of the enumerated powers of the president and in the absence of the president, the vice president >> would select that person. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah.
>> Anything else? >> All right. This is a roll call vote. >> Yes. >> Um Anna Bronn, >> yes. >> Timothy Cummings, >> yes. >> Jamie Falco, >> yes. >> Lewis Figureroa, >> yes. >> Lorie Herrick, >> yes. >> Lee Wuhong, >> yes. Wilbur Pan. >> Yes. >> Mary Tany,
>> yes. >> Heather Gloss, >> yes. Motion carries. All right. Moving on to curriculum instruction items 1 through five. >> Can I have a motion, please? So moved. Second. >> Lori Jamie. Discussion.
>> Marriott. >> Yes. So, um I see for the amplify it is one hour that we're approving, but do we have a list of how many total hours we're our staff is going to receive? >> Um this is for the reading screener.
This is not the reading program, the pilot program. Okay. So, for the reading screener, the teachers did have um training um and uh this is training them in the progress monitoring feature of the program. And this is for um teachers
who uh are working with students who are below grade level. So this would be our reading specialists and our special education teachers uh so that they can learn the fe this one feature in the program. >> Okay. How many have they received so far?
>> All of the staff. I don't know off the top of my head but I can get that information for you. >> Okay. So this is separate from the pilot. >> Separate. >> Yes. This is not anything to do with the pilot. >> Okay. All right. Can we can we get those numbers though of Okay, >> absolutely. So,
>> just building off of Maryann's question, um, in addition to how many hours of training the teachers have had up to this point, are there future hours of training that go go into >> with the reading pilots? >> The we've we've gone with the companies both companies recommendations and the
teachers have had the number of hours I think it was half day of training initially in the summer and then the companies are meeting with the teachers monthly and then they're also coming on site. In the last two weeks, I've been on site with them and we've been doing walkthroughs in the classroom and the companies have been providing ongoing
support for the teachers. Okay. They wouldn't want to frontload all of that because it would be a lot at the beginning. >> Sure. Um and and will that continue through the the length? Okay. Thanks. >> And if it you know if we do um choose to implement a program then there would be
extensive training. board. >> Uh I'm just going to comment on four and five. Um those are both contracts with the National Council on Alcohol and Drug um dependence of Middle Sex or otherwise
known as Well Spring Center for Prevention. I know that a lot of parents had voiced concerns regarding um current drug drug trends as well as vaping and cannabis use, especially at schools or in the bathrooms, especially lower
grades. So, I'm happy to see um that we have uh partnered with them to do these trainings and I encourage parents um to to attend. Um I I'm just going to say when we take the roll call vote roll call vote, I will abstain because I used
to work for them. So, I'm just going to avoid conflict right there. And I just want to say that in June I surveyed the PA put out a survey to all parents to gain an understanding of what type of topics they would like to see at the parent university sessions and these were some of the responses and if
anybody knows of any other organizations that provide quality sessions for parents, please let me know. Yeah, they do a really excellent job and I'm I'm just excited because I know that um for many years them as well as other organizations like NJ4s have been really
trying to get in here and do work and so I'm happy to see that we're being being able to build those partnerships. >> Hi Tim. >> Sorry I just want to jump back to the amplify training. Um, so 1 hour remote training. I just wanted to confirm again for the purpose of the vote today.
You're you're confident that that is sufficient for >> This is one feature of the reading >> screener. Okay. >> This has nothing to do with the pilot programs. This is the screener. >> This is the progress monitoring feature in the program. >> Okay. >> So this training is what the company
recommended. If this is not sufficient and teachers need more, then we would be happy to provide more support. >> That's great. That's what I was hoping to hear. Okay. So a teacher would is should feel comfortable coming to the district to express their need for more help if needed. >> Yes.
>> Great. Great. Thank you. All right. And um just to piggy back off of Tim's question, um is there training available on a as as needed basis then or would they if they
have a need, do they have to wait until another opportunity is presenting itself >> to use this feature, this progress monitoring feature >> or to to receive any kind of professional development or training? Um I mean everybody has administered the reading screener and you know the the
principles and supervisors haven't expressed any that any teacher said they didn't know how to do it that they did it already. >> So this feature um you know the company's recommending an hour of training. So I I personally don't know how complicated this one feature is but if a teacher was having trouble using
the feature then we would you know they would definitely be able to communicate that or we could check in with them and ask them how's it going. >> Okay. And is there something to see? Um, so for full transparency, we there were two and I know that was for the pilot, not for the reading screener, but there
were two meetings last night >> and Monday night there'll be one for the reading screener. >> Okay. So there was a a question that arose because of a feature that they weren't aware of. How do they know that there's features that they're not aware of is my question. Um,
>> well, they're they're getting trained in the progress monitoring feature. Um, you know, the company did the overview and the teachers have administered the reading screener. >> So, I could ask the company, are there features that we haven't used, but I think it was pretty straightforward.
>> No, I mean, if a teacher doesn't know that a feature exists, how would they know that they need or in the pilot program? >> Either or, you know, like they only know what they know, right? >> Um, I guess so. Um, uh, the company is having monthly meetings, check-in
meetings with the teachers. So they're reviewing everything with them and when they're here on site, they're in the classrooms. You know, we spent the whole day. So I mean, we could assume that somebody doesn't know something, but I don't I haven't heard that for a fact except
that feature that you pointed out last night. Okay. And we're going to dive into that with Laura. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Anyone else on curriculum and instruction? All right. This is a voice vote, so I don't know, Lori, how you do your abstension there.
>> She could just say it. >> Before we start, what are you abstaining on? >> Uh, four and five. >> Thank you. All right. Beyond that, all in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstension. Motion carries with Lor's abstension noted.
All right. Taking us to business and support operations items 1 through 16. >> Can I have a motion, please? Second, >> Wilbur and Jamie. >> Right. Discussion. >> Yes, >> Lori.
>> Okay. Um, let's do uh the long range planning number nine. Um so maybe just a a little background or thought about >> sure >> things that were picked things that are in here just
>> so right so the long range plan uh provides um the the state requ of education requires a submission of a long range plan. It includes um a whole host of potential projects
and the key is potential projects. Um the board isn't wedded to them, but these are things that have been identified as needs for the various facilities throughout the district. Um the we've worked with um our
professionals on this, our architects to identify what they are. One of the biggest items in here, as you would note, is what do we do with the high school? So, there are two components to that. One is a full-blown renovation and
one is a um replacement. Um they're both very costly. >> Um but um the um the renovation component breaks down every element um that could be identified as needing
replacement. Um but this is um um the state has is been has been behind on the long range facilities plan submission process. They've been through the process of refining or revising the systems by which we're supposed to
submit. I think they put that on the shelf for a little while. Um and now they're requiring that an update be submitted. What we have here is a very comprehensive list uh that encompasses
every building in the district, school buildings as well as support operations as well as the administration building. Um but as I said, it is not a um there's no obligation, but it's what's the potential scope of what would be
included here. And we're talking about, you know, overall many hundreds of millions of dollars um for all of the facilities. >> Nonbinding. >> It's a plan. It's a planning document. >> Okay. >> Um and there's um uh as as happens
because there are things that come up uh throughout the course of time that there might be something not included here. And in those instances, a revision can be made uh when a an emergent project arises that uh allows the board to add
to the list to be able to accomplish whatever that emergent project might be. So the key here is this is a requirement. It's not obligatory in terms of we have to do the everything that's listed here. Um, it's something
that the state requires of all school districts to have a long range plan in place. >> Hope that makes sense. >> Yes. Um, my next is number 14. >> Can we ask a couple more questions on that? >> Yeah. Yeah, I have more questions on the long range plan if that's okay. >> Yeah, that's fine. Wilbur.
>> Yeah. So, um, so when was the last time we submitted the long range plan? I looked and I could >> Years. Okay. >> Years. I can't even give you an exact date because the state has put this on the shelf for such a long time. And what they've requested now is um this is
what's called a major u major update. >> Okay. And and so was there a particular uh trigger to have the long this long range plan be put together at this point in time? Um >> because they're requiring it. >> Okay. >> They're requiring that it be submitted. >> So there's a deadline that we had to hit.
>> Yes. And also we've got some one of the things that um uh I think that may have triggered it with them is the fact that we have other projects that the board's approved to submit to them and they're saying well we need to have this in place >> to advance everything else that we have
going on. >> Okay. And and I um I just want to ask a little bit more about the implications of this list. So, um, so it seems like the approach to this list is we put everything we can think of on there because it's better to have it on there than not to have it on there. Is that
correct? So, what happens um, uh, again, if something comes up um, so I'll just come up with a ridiculous example since we're talking about replacing schools. Let's say that for some reason we need to replace Memorial again. Um, I know I know I know I live through
that. I lived through that because my kid was supposed to start kindergarten >> when it caught on fire. So that that that was awesome. So So what happens if it's not on the list? How what what does that process look like? >> Uh it's it's actually quite simple. It
is um the submission of an amendment >> to uh the long range plan. So it's basically tacking on an additional project. Uh and that typically um is something that would be done by board resolution with the approval of a
project and the submission of plans and that basically gets uh submitted to the DOE and they update the plan >> uh accordingly. >> Okay. Um and then one last thing um with the dollar values of the items on here. Now I'm just going to pick one out at random so I don't bring up memorial
again. Um yeah, sorry. Okay. So, there's a um thing for a perimeter fence installation around uh Church Hill at $815,000. I'm not questioning that number at all. But what happens if we decide that that's what we want to do and then it
turns out the cost is significantly higher? Um is are there any implications for that scenario if >> these are these are estimated costs that our uh professionals have put together, right? >> We would we would not >> use the exact dollar amount that's here.
or we do an upto-date um estimation >> for bid purposes. So, we would want to know that at the time that we're planning, if we were going to move forward with something, we need to develop what those plans would be. Fencing is kind of an easy one, but if
we take um an if we were to say we were going to put an addition on a building, we would get into the details of that, what's required in terms of HVAC, the construction, electrical, plumbing, all of those components and really dive into developing what that estimate is. And
that would be the basis that we would use to ascertain what our funding levels would be, but also how do we go about funding it and then ultimately going out to bid. >> So the these numbers would not necessarily be the number that's going to be used.
>> Right. Right. Uh but what I'm asking is since this this goes down to the state and we have a number here and if the cost um or the the the the winning bid comes in at a number that's significantly higher than the number that the state has, are there any
implications for that? >> No. Um and when an application is submitted for a project, the cost um the current cost estimates are all submitted with that application. So this is a benchmark if you want to call it that.
But this um from the state's perspective what they're looking at was was this part of the original plan or is this an addition to the additional to the original plan and it's not going to have an impact as to whether the state um is
going to say do it or don't do it. They're going to look at criteria when it has educational implications. Do we meet the administrative code criteria for classroom size? Um, uh, the additional space for support services,
libraries, uh, nurses, um, areas, main offices. They'll look at a whole host of other criteria. They're not going to they're not going to use the long range plan to say, well, this is what it said >> and this is the dollar amount. This is
what you have to live with. That that won't be the case at all. >> Okay. Then that sort of begs the question, what is the state doing with these numbers? But I'm not really interested in the answer to that. >> I won't won't beg to try to answer that. >> Tim, >> who thank you. Who makes the list? Who
where did the list come from? >> That was done administratively. Okay. And looking at what our needs are in each of the facilities, things that we know need to be done. >> Gotcha. Um just um um the one thing that
jumped out at me immediately was um um parking lot curbing, sidewalks, uh milling, repaving. Uh that's at actually a number of schools. We know that needs to be done in various facilities. So that's an easy one. So basically, you know, doing a walk through and just kind
of really diving into each building and trying to come up with a comprehensive list of what are the things that need to be done and then ultimately when it comes time, you know, prioritizing what are the things that rise to the top over others. So
>> yeah, that was my next question. There there wasn't a column on here for priority. >> It's not a prioritization. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's I got you. And so are principles or other members of each school community involved in making this or or do they have an opportunity to at least weigh in and offer feedback? >> Well, these are a lot of projects that
we've also have discussed historically even with principles. Some of these >> probably just for example um u couple of the projects that were recently uh advanced were the um multi-purpose room and kitchen renovations at Chidik and
Frost. Those are projects that uh we've sat down with principles to go over >> um to see, you know, uh what what the scope would be. Uh they're going to be full-blown renovations in those areas similar to what we did at I'm sorry, did I say Chidik? >> You did. >> I'm sorry. I didn't mean Chidik.
>> We're having a very night. >> No, Frost and Warnser. >> Chidik and Irwin were previously done with complete renovations. Um, but we sat with the principles and we typically do with all anything that's a major item. That's what we do is go through that.
>> No, that's great. And then it looks like I mean is there a minimum balance or threshold that that constitutes like making it onto this list or is it just sort of these are all needs-based plant issues? >> Uh, I wouldn't say that there's a minimum threshold. >> Yeah. Okay. >> Yeah. All right. I mean,
>> there wouldn't be repairs, you know, repair would not go on this list. >> Yeah. I mean, I think the the the smallest number I found was 45,000, but then like it jumps to 250,000. >> Yeah. You're talking many of these are I mean, well in the millions, >> right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, cool.
Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? Are we going to stick with this one or do we want to come? >> I think you have a question. >> Still with this one. Okay. >> So, um I know you said that this it's been a number of years. So, was did we
use the old template to make this or this was newly created? Cuz I saw an item on here and unless I'm misreading uh for bound it says new school $48 million >> for um >> bound
>> a similar size. That was one of the things that had been discussed. Um um and at some point I think there's going to have to be a discussion regarding what happens with the building. The building is very old. Um so the board
was going to have to grapple with that decision at some point as to does it get replaced, does it not? Um does it get replaced in the same location? I can tell you that um through the work that
we had done several years back um trying to build a school on that site is going to be a challenge to say the very least. So um then the issue becomes well where and trying to identify land
that will meet the state criteria to be able to build such a school. Um, so those are this is a placeholder. It's something that the board will have to grapple with at some point in time as to what happens. Um, I know we had talked
last year, >> forgive me for saying this, but we had talked about, you know, the potential closure of bound, but >> you know, that's going to that's not something I see as happening in the immediate future. >> I'm sure there'll be people that'd be happy to hear that. Um but the you know
what is the long-term life of the building and it is very aged. It needs a lot of work. Um and it's a decision that the board's going to have to come to some kind of a decision at some point. And some of that may be balanced with does it make sense to try to build a new
school and acquiring land to do so or do we expand some of the other elementary schools to make up the space? Because keep in mind Bound is our smallest school. We have less than 200 students in that school. Our other elementary schools are in the 400
student range. So, and and more 44 450. I think we're somewhere in that range. So, um these are conversations for the future. >> Okay. So, it's more of a wish list than a plan. You could call it that because um there's a lot of things on here that
will probably not happen in our lifetimes, I would say. >> Okay. All right. >> Not for the many hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cost. >> All right. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Lori, we back to you. >> Okay. So, thank you. Uh 14.
>> Um so, I'm just I guess first question, what's the timeline on this? Is this um something we have to submit um now like what is the requirement for
submission? Um can the board have access to or see the original October 1st, 2021 letter um regarding the reason for >> Oh, absolutely. Um and then um I guess thoughts or thought that came to mind
was um we know that this is a point of great discussion in our community with the TCUs um and their life and what they're you know uh being used for and how our schools are are uh separated at this
point um by Greek. And so I guess like one of the things I uh was thinking or a thought um was that is this something that we wait for Dr. Mammon to come and sit up here and join this discussion maybe at our December meeting because I
think having a discussion about the outlook. I mean I know this is one year temporary for the renewal. >> So let let me address that. So, um, and for members of the public, the discussion topic is the renewal application for temporary classroom
units. And this specifically, uh, is regarding the TCUs at Churchill. Um, from the first year, um, a renewal application had to be submitted to the Department of Education. It's a requirement under the administrative
code. Um typically um uh temporary classroom units the department of education says five years you have a plan. The department of education is not going to say you have to remove these facilities. First of all the facilities
are exceptional. I mean they're they're really wonderful facilities. They're better than some of the high school classrooms if you will. Um so uh I think that's um that's an important point. So, you know, a lot of the and I've seen some of the commentary regarding uh
these facilities, the commentary is wrong. It's just wrong. So, um I do think that the the big conversation it definitely is going to happen when Dr. Maramin comes on board because that's going to be an important point of what's
the what's the look ahead. But for the time being, these fac Let me just finish please. these facilities remain and I want to address something with regard to changing grade configuration. I want I'm going to say this very clearly. There is
no room at the elementary schools to move fifth grade back to the elementary schools. Not in the way they are now. You would need additions on the buildings. There is no room. We can have a debate about that at
another time, but there is no room to be able to sustain fifth grade across the board. >> Um, I know we hired redistric and I'm trying to stay on top of here as for this agenda item, but I know that we hired somebody to look at our
redistricting plan. And so I think that part of this is being anxious like what does that look like, >> right? >> And um, so I know that's going to be part of the discussion. But I also know that within a year we won't be able to move these, right? So the point and discussion around it is kind of mute
because they're there. They're going to be used. We can anticipate new buildings or changing structures or anything probably that fast and we need to at least renew our application again for another year. But I just think and maybe
we okay this today. Um, but I just think we have to give reassurance to people that like this is a discussion that's at the forefront of everybody's up here's minds, right? Like this is a level of concern for people. Um, the cost, the uh
efficiency, and I'm not going to disagree with you about this space, and >> well, understand that that these were purchased outright. We're not there no payments on that facility. >> Yeah. I I also think that's uh an area of confusion for people that are not
sure about that. So, I'm happy they >> there's that was paid off >> um at the time that they they were installed. >> Yeah. I just again I know it's it's a renewal application. They're going to be there at this point no matter what. I'm
just saying that in my mind I think um I I think that in our next meetings and early as Dr. Naming joins us, we're going to have to have these these discussions because we really have to address some of these building concerns. >> I think that'll be part of the planning
that the board goes through with Dr. Mammon in terms of um goals. Also, also on this subject, um when I was at the NJSBA conference, I did speak to somebody from Modular Ease, which is the the company um that we purchased
these from. And what was explained to me, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, Bernie, but what was explained to me is after the fifth year that they're used, the company comes in, does whatever they do, all kinds of checks and fixes up
everything, and then they're kind of renewed so that they can continue to be used. So, it's not like the state is going to say, "Oh, five years, you know, demolish them." That they will be able to be continued to be renewed. the state would have to come in and re-examine
them, make sure everything is up to code, but they can continue to be used. And not that I'm suggesting this, please, but they said that um in Philadelphia they actually build whole schools out of these prefab units and
they can go multifloss. They can go four floors. >> So, >> there's a lot of modular construction >> out there. I don't know how um how the community would like to have a entire >> you know new school as a modular but um
you know and I don't know what the DOE's stance would be on something like that either. They seem homes >> are done modularly. >> Yeah. >> Um you know so um you know there are lots of possibilities out there but the construction on these units is unlike what I think a lot of folks might recall
as being trailers >> construction >> you know 30 Mhm. >> years ago there because at at back in the day we had some of those up at the high school. These are not those trailers. >> Do you know where they >> That's not what these facilities are. If
you remember when we did um when we were putting out we had a video from the company that was building the TCUs and it was posted showing like how they were put together and there included in the video I believe was there's a chain of private preschools
>> that have their entire building put together by this company in the same manner. So, they've been around out there for a while doing, I think, more substantial construction than those construction trailers, which still exist in other districts, sadly.
>> Can I just make sure I'm clear on something? Thanks. The um so we we've finished our five-year term on these things. Correct. And every year now, we are going to need to just kind of reertify with the DOE. Uh it's a renewal application and and it's not that it's
after the five years. We've been doing applications and you can only do it one year at a time. You can't do it for a three-year term or a fivey year term. So, okay. So, every year around this time, we're going to be seeing this until a bigger decision is made as to how to move forward. Okay. >> Sorry.
>> May I just ask a question on that? Um, so what I'm getting at, what I'm I guess what I'm hearing is that the state will come in and review what we have there and make modifications or or suggest or recommend modifications
>> for for the TCU for the TCU. >> No, >> no, the state won't come in. >> So, this they just want to make sure that they're still standing right. >> The state comes in um during the monitoring process. >> Okay. >> Um, which we recently have gone through and they do walkthroughs of various facilities. uh against an inspection
list. TCUs would be one of them. But one of the things that that we do uh is we have to with regard to our facilities overall. Um in fact, this is the time of year that'll be occurring. Um we have to do inspections of all of our facilities.
Um principles have to sign off on the inspections. Uh there are many criteria uh that have to be met. There are criteria that are called 100% criteria where if any one of those is not met,
that's a failure on that building. >> Um then there are 80% criteria where you a whole host of items that um you have to have met at least 80% of all the items on that list. Um it ranges from um
something as simple as uh the um boiler license being posted um to um asbestous plans to um are extension cords being used. Uh do the uh lavatories function?
Uh there it covers all kinds of things. Fire code, building code. um very important process to ensure that our buildings are safe >> but that is an internal process >> that we have to then send >> send to the state but what you're saying
if if I'm hearing you right the TCUs the state will come in >> and in okay so so the same process >> it includes the TCU >> would be included okay so because I'm I was concerned the way it was presented that there would be additional costs >> that we would have no on top
>> that was something that Mrs. Dr. Ronn uh mentioned in a conversation she had with a vendor, >> but that's I think that's going to apply with a leased facility. >> We don't have a leased facility. We own the facility. >> That's what my question. >> But I will add that our um facilities
management team um has done an exceptional job with our facilities to ensure that they are you know any of the issues that might exist are addressed. Okay. and um and that includes the TCUs. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, you're welcome.
>> So, this is for 20 2025 2026 school year. So, should we decide to do anything else with these TCUs, let's say for the fall, there's nothing to stop us. It's not like this is set in stone. It's just an approval for this current school year. But
>> the board can do anything with regard to facilities that the DOE would then have to approve. >> So anything that is done with facilities, the DOE has to approve. >> Okay. So this is for this current school
year that we're already in. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> All right. Anything else on 1 to 16 for business and support office? See? Um, couple quick things. Uh, item one for
the uh, kitchen equipment um, maintenance, repairs, installation, uh, contract. Um, do we have a timeline as to how long that's going to take to, uh, uh, finally nail down a bid given that the one bid that was, uh, submitted um,
had the fatal error, which is an awesome term, by the way. >> Yeah. And that that is the technical term. um uh the legal term for it, it's a fatal error. >> Um so once the board approves uh the rejection of the bid will immediately uh
get a bid advertised and issued. So I would say within the week's time that would be done. >> Okay. Thanks. >> And then the turnaround time of course. Um I'm going to say based on the timing right now, I don't know that we'd have an opening for the 4th. Are you thinking
the fourth? Probably January. Um, we went out the bid because the co-op bid through Ed Services Commission expired. Uh, and they had a delay. So, we have this fatal error. We're hoping that the Ed Services Commission awards one. If not, there's other co-op
options. And just rest assured, the equipment is still being repaired under quotes instead of a bid. So, everything's handled. It's just taking a little bit. you know, we have a little gap, but >> so we're going to utilize potentially a co-op rather than going out to bid again. >> Okay. >> So, we're exploring all options,
whatever the most cost effective process is. >> Okay, great. Yeah, that that that answers my other question on that one. Um, let's see. For uh item seven, um the protect group repair for the jam-pack uh the rigging system at the jam-pack. Um uh
let's see h how um how old is the current system and how long has it been since a repair like this needed to be done? >> 16 years. That's the building's 16 years old and I think it's been >> this is the mostive replacement of the rigging system. We've had minor repairs throughout the years,
but this is a comprehensive plan to to bring it back up to where it needs to be. >> Okay, great. Um that sounds reasonable then. Um so then the last one uh item 15 we're we're moving from three child psychiatrist and one social worker to
two child psychiatrist and um two social uh workers and just want to uh check that um the case load seems reasonable for for that uh for that makeup. This was the recommendation of the director of special education and she does feel
that it would balance the teams two per each discipline and better meet the current needs of the students in the building. >> Okay. And um yeah uh I mean I've worked with a ton of social workers and wonderful is the least best ter term that I've they do they do terrific uh
things but I just wanted to check on uh that. Um and and and then the other thing fiscal impact on on of this change. Do we know that yet? No, >> it it's not going to it's not going to hit the budget. >> Mhm. >> It it'll it'll balance.
>> Okay. >> It'll balance or possibly even um be a lesser cost. >> Yeah. Okay. Great. Thanks. >> You're welcome. Yes. So the easy one for item 12 for the joint uh transportation agreement. Who's
going to pay the insurance for this transportation? Who is going to pay the cost for this? >> No, the insurance. >> Oh, the insurance. Yes, >> the insurance is paid for by the uh district. They have their own insurance on the buses.
>> So we the district is East Bronk or the >> No, the the district is Hopewell Valley. >> Okay. >> So they they hold the jointure and we'll be tagging onto their uh bus. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anything else on one to six?
>> One more. One more. Sorry. Um the going back real quickly to Wilbur's point on the rigging system. Do we have a minimum that we a minimum threshold for when we have to put something out to bid uh to solicit bids in terms of dollar amount? >> Uh the uh yes, it's established by law.
Um and it it's more than that. It's >> it's about I think it's about $50,000. >> It's in that range. Yes. >> So in this case, did we do that? >> It's 119. >> What item number is that Tim? All right, that's seven. Um, yeah, it's $119,000.
>> That would require a bit. >> We're using a national co-op. That's why this we have to advertise and you have to board approve it before we can issue a purchase order. We are a member of about over 30 co-ops, I think, throughout the >> So, we're always shopping for the best
value, the cheapest, most effective. >> I hear that. Yeah. And one of the things that just to note for the board, you'll see in resolutions that uh such as in this one, it it specifies the contract that it's it's being uh purchased under or the work is going to be performed under. In this
case, it's the KPN contract and we have to specify what that contract is. Uh what co-op contract that is. >> Um but yes, we have to do this by resolution each time. >> Thank you. And just to piggyback on what um Tim is talking about here, I worked
that rigging system. I was there when it was installed and I I worked this system and um this is not something you want to mess around with. This is a a severe safety issue because those battens um you know, super dangerous if something
goes wrong. And I mean they were squeaking like crazy when I was still working there. So I'm glad to see that they're being updated. All right. Is that it? And I will say it's probably advantageous to the district that they're getting such heavy
use because the JM Pack is >> a lot of revenue for the district as well on the weekends. All right. This is a roll call vote on business and support operations. >> Anna Braraw, >> yes. >> Timothy Cummings, >> yes. >> Jamie Falco, >> yes. >> Louis Figureroa, >> yes. >> Lorie Herrick, >> yes.
>> Lee Wuhong, >> yes. Wilbur Pan, >> yes. >> Marian Tangos, yes. >> Heather Gloss, >> yes. Motion carries. All right. I need a motion for human resources. Item one. >> Move. >> Wilbur,
>> Lori. Discussion. All right. This is a roll call vote. >> Anna Braraw, >> yes. >> Timothy Cummings, yes. >> Jamie Falco, >> yes. >> Lewis Figureroa, >> yes. >> Lorie Herrick, >> yes. >> Liu Hong, >> yes. >> Wilbur Pan, >> yes. Marian Pers. >> Yes. Motion carries. Can I have a motion
for special education and student services items one through three, please? Wilbur and Jamie. Thank you. All right. Discussion. >> Yeah. Very. So just because I'm not familiar with this, uh I see that
there's two students where it says they are going to benefit or out of district placements from a therapeutic, more structured learning environment that will meet students social, emotional, and academic needs. Maybe it's the way it's worded, but isn't that something we should be
providing all of our students here? You know, it it's concerning for me that we're saying we're going to place students out of district because we're not providing enough of a structured learning environment that's meeting their social, emotional, and academic needs. Um,
>> no, she's not. >> I can just tell you generally, so under the law, >> under the law, um, districts have to put children in the least restrictive of environment uh, to meet their needs. So, it's not suggesting that your your
school doesn't have therapeutic um emotionally appropriate classrooms, but there are certain children with certain disabilities that um there are schools, specialized schools that are more appropriate for them to give them therapeutic, whether it's um they have
emotional issues or they are on the spectrum. So, these are out of district placements at specialized schools. Um, I think it's a more structured learning environment to meet that specific student's needs. And these specialized ad district placements specialize in
that. It would be cost prohibitive for the district. You we don't have the resources to have a classroom to meet every child's need. You try to meet the maximum amount you can >> because this is very expensive. It's much better to if you can pro educate the kid in the district, it's much
better, but there are certain um children with certain disabilities that there are specialized schools they're sent to. why it's done. And that's really more of a term of art in the law in the special education context to meet that kids. It's the individual children's therapeutic needs in a
structured environment. >> Okay. I guess it was just more clear for other students like it's more clearly worded and here it just saying generally that's >> Y just a quick question for clarity. Uh what what does CMO stand for in for the
second student? The student was placed out of district by their CMO >> case manager. >> Okay. I I know CMO is a completely different thing. That's why >> their child study team case manager I believe. Yes. We don't have anybody out there.
>> Okay. >> I had one more question. >> Sure. >> Under uh item three, the monthly school reports. So, um I guess it's going backwards because there's no page numbers, but it's one to the third page back. Um specific
infarction is cell phone possession. That's not against our policies though at the high school. So, >> which page again? going backwards because there's no way backwards or third page back.
>> What did you say the issue was? Sorry. >> Cell phone possession. >> Cell phone possession. >> Yeah, but we just did our policy where >> Do you want me to No, that's >> BPV. >> Oh, here we go. >> All right. Cell phone possession.
>> It could have been in class. >> All right. I mean, >> it might have been a cell phone possession in class. Um I mean, >> but the possession is okay because that was in our policy. It was if they're >> I I just want to make sure that, you know, everyone is aware of our policies
in in all of our schools. I I would assume I'm assuming I'm just assuming, but I'm assuming that was the student had the cell phone out and was using it in class, which would violate, but you're right. The wording on the the infraction is confusing. Yeah.
>> Right. Someone's going to check that, I guess. >> Yeah. That's that would go to Dr. Bashure, right? Because that came from him. >> That came from him. >> Yeah. Thank There's nothing else. >> All right. Sorry. I was making a note of
that. It's slowing me down. Um, all right. This is a roll call vote on special education student services one through three. >> Anna Bronn, >> yes. >> Timothy Cummings, >> yes. >> Jamie Falco, >> yes. >> Liz Figareroa, >> yes. >> Lorie Herrick, >> yes.
>> Lee Wuhan, >> yes. >> Pan, >> yes. >> Marian Tangos, >> yes. >> Heather Gloss, >> yes. Motion carries. All right. We are two. committee reports,formational items, and for the good of the cause for the board. Wilbur, I guess we'll just work our way
around. >> Sure. >> Um, so uh the CPAC um resource fair was uh was yesterday at the high school. Um uh Lori Lori and I had the pleasure of uh attending uh that. It was a fantastic
uh event and I'm actually uh quite astonished that it's only their second year doing this if I remember uh uh correctly. Last year's event I remember was really uh good. This year they had um probably I'm guessing at least 35 to
40% more vendors. Uh foot traffic was was uh was was tremendous. and uh I know that they're planning another uh similar event um uh for the uh for the spring because of the success they've had so far. So, I just want to acknowledge uh the the wonderful work that uh the CPAG
folks are uh are are doing. Um let's see. Um uh I'd like to thank Heather for um the update on uh what uh what's been happening with the uh uh transition um and that we have a uh retreat u planned
and that there's an agenda in place. Um I was just wondering if we could have that sent out to us as soon as possible if it since it exists. >> Um I think that I'm not sure if that would have to wait until Dr. Amendment actually started with us, >> but I will speak to her about it. >> Okay. I mean you can send it out as a
draft. I think that that that's a pretty reasonable thing. Um and then u finally I I had um uh see just for transparency um I had some uh questions about uh the planning board. My wife is a member of
the planning board, but I think these are general enough questions that there wouldn't be a conflict of interest uh thing. It's mainly because of process and just cut me off if I'm wandering into the uh into the DMZ if that's okay. All right. Um, so, um, so, so in terms
of, um, bringing our projects to the planning board, I just want to make sure I understand the process, you know, um, you know, understand the process well. Um, so, you know, we have plans that, uh, that were being presented uh, yesterday, the one that got presented
uh, involved uh, the parking lot at um, at at Cheddick. Um and my understanding is that the um presentation at the planning board um is strictly forformational purposes and we don't actually need an approval from the planning board. Unlike say if Midstate
Mall wanted to reconfigure their parking lot, they would have to um work uh touch base with the town ahead of time, work uh present at the planning board. Um if the planning board had um modifications that they might want, then that would have to be discussed and incorporated in
the plan. Um and but we don't have to do all of that. >> That's correct. Under the the municipal land use law, uh public entities such as school boards, county colleges, um even the town, if you're undertaking a capital improvement, um you do you go
before the planning board for what's known as a courtesy review to make sure it's consistent with the township's master plan. >> Um and so it's a courtesy review. they don't they they provide feedback on your plan uh but it's not a vote similar to
your example you gave about them all going in that requires a vote >> right >> um and then you also have under the municipal land use laws you also have the board of adjustment which is an entity that's going before uh to deviate from the t the town's ordinances and
master plan and you have to get permission from the board of adjustment to adjust the master plan so there's two different land use bodies within the township. Uh but what what was what happened last night and it happens on any capital project. If you're going to
build um a new football stadium, you're going to uh put a dome over it. You would go in for a capital review project and it's a it's known as a courtesy review and that's done all over the state and that's mandated by state law. >> Okay. Um let's see. So for the projects
that we're uh we're considering um when do we get public input onto um in into the process because again if this was a a private sector thing and Midstate Mall doing something that would come to the planning board um but they would have to give notice to the folks
that live in the area about what what's being planned and um uh and also uh you know people from the public can show up at the planning board meeting to get input. Do we have a similar point of contact with our things? >> So, planning board meetings are are open
public meetings under the law just like your meeting is. There has to have be an agenda and notice. The difference is that the law um does not require public entities to provide the public notice. In the public notice, what you're talking about is um you have to give
certified and regular mail to everybody within 200 feet of the entire property boundary of any change that you're trying to undertake to basically put your neighbors on notice. >> Uh the law does not mandate or does not require that for public entities given that look at the size of a public entity
and the square footage. I mean just think of um one of your buildings and the property how many people surround it. It would it would become cost prohibitive. Um there are there are notice uh requirements from the planning board what's on their agenda the public
knows about that. Um and then um other than just you know principles talking or making presentations uh to the public you you have done like for example several years ago I think it was about two years ago when you were talking
about um the softball fields and the updates to it. You guys had presentations here at the board for the public to hear about it >> that once you made those presentations here and discussed it here at the board and voted on it then it go it it goes a couple steps. So first has to go to the DOE because you have to get department
of education facility approval then it goes to the planning board. So there's this there's lots of notice to the public when you a body like yourself is undertake any type of capital improvement. Um, so but in terms of the law does not require that and because
it's the taxpayers when you're when you're sending out certified mail to hundreds of people I can tell you representing private and I don't my law firm does when you represent a private developer and you're sending out hundreds of things it's an expensive undertaking that's why they don't and
the improvement um most of the improvements that you're making are improvements just remember for public purpose >> so a town doesn't need permission of its planning board or zoning board to do things if it's improving a park or it's putting lighting up on a field because
it's a public purpose and the entire public body of East Brunswick will enjoy that that capital improvement and that's the whole purpose behind it is to try to you're you're using taxpayers money you've been elected and you have these different bodies looking at it to make
sure that the what is being expended by on behalf of the taxpayers is to the benefit of the taxpayers you know making things safer, better, newer, etc. >> Okay. Um so um so in terms of the input
that uh the planning board did provide um uh you know for uh for the for the Chik project um uh uh I know we're not under any obligation uh to incorporate those things but u do we have a sense as to um you know would
any of those items be taken under consideration or is that >> well well I can tell you that generally what what what happens is um without getting into the specific specific of this. >> You you you very often you take that into advisement. I can just give you an
example. I I I am the city attorney to a town in >> um Union County. They're putting lights up and you put up big lights on football fields. You got a lot of people that are upset. They don't they didn't notice people, but they told people. People came out. And at the planning board
during the Curtis review, there were suggestions about uh the timing of the lights, when they should be off, uh if they're not in use, etc. And all that's now being incorporated into the town's ordinance. So the so the whole purpose of going to another body because they're
the experts on planning is to get their input and very often many of their suggestions are incorporated uh and could revise plans and do and do things. Um that's the whole purpose is to have that dialogue to have another set of eyes who are experts at it give you their feedback on it.
>> Okay, great. Thanks. Um I I also just want to say that um I'm very happy that I went to that planning board meeting because I learned a lot. I've never actually been to a planning board meeting before despite the fact that my that my wife is is there. Um Lori also went with me uh to uh to check things
out and um I did learn a lot and I see a lot of opportunity uh for us to uh work with the town going forward for these sorts of things. So just want to say that for the record. Thanks >> Anna. >> So I'm gonna um I just want to get two
easy things off my plate here. Um, first, the East Brunswick Public Library is hosting a tween stress less night tomorrow night for grades 5 through 7 and their parents. So, parents are required to be there. Um, you can contact the library to sign up, but it's
in conjunction with the um mental health uh task force in East Brunswick. And then I also just want to let every uh remind everybody that the East Brunswick Symphony Orchestra is having an event on November 23rd at 3:00 at Trinity
Presbyterian Church. Um and then I I have two things and the first um Mr. Jacobe I'm hoping maybe you could help here or weigh in on your thoughts. >> Um and I've spoken I followed up with
Dr. bully um about this and I think we had a productive conversation but um at New Jersey school boards um we were able to um meet the people who are piloting some of our new uh programs and um they
had offered to provide um presentation for the board to help answer our questions and so um while I was there I had reached out to Dr. and um had asked like is this an opportunity for us and
um then Dr. Bully had said, "Well, we have something planned for parents and perhaps the whole, you know, she could share it with the board." Um, and we could be invited. And I guess somewhere between all of that was a discussion with um somebody I don't know if it was
you or Francis but regarding the fact that if the invitation was made to the full board then it would look like we had quorum at this parent meeting that was held virtually um about this new curriculum that was
educating parents. And um so I think my concern or thoughts or thought process is then how as a board do we become informed about a new curriculum or changes um or this these new programs that we're piloting if um
we cannot be as a full board or um for a presentation that is held virtual. >> So >> or in person. >> Yeah. Well, I mean, generally, um, whenever, so you're a nine-member board. So, whenever five or more of you are
together, you have a meeting. And whenever you five or more people are together, the Open Public Meeting Act mandates that you provide advanced public notice at least 48 hours to the public so that they can come and participate. At every public meeting, you have to have a public comment
portion. You have to have an agenda. If it's a special meeting, the purpose has to be published what the purpose is and it's limited to that. So it doesn't preclude the board from participating in this. So I don't know the name of the entity, but ABC entity wants to come and
tell you about a new curriculum that they're putting out and you're opening it to the public. You could notice a meeting. It could be done either virtually um you might get more participates in some way or you could have it virtually and where you sit here live. I mean you could do it all different ways. The only thing you would
have to do is if a if more than five members of the board want to be present, you have to notice it. And the reason you'd have to notice that is because you're talking about an item that is being utilized in this school. It's school related. That's different than
say uh you're having the the play that's being shown. If the whole board goes to the play and you're sitting all over the audience, you're not there conducting board business. you're there, you know, supporting the students who are putting on this production or a a concert. If you go all to the U November 23rd uh
East Brunswick Symphony, you're not connecting board business. This would be clearly board business. So, typically, and I I've had many of these cases where there's presentations, and I'll give you an example. Many many years ago, um and I don't think any of the board members
were here. I know that Lou, you were here, you were here. Um they did a probably a decade ago. They did it in I think it was the Hammershold cafeteria where you had a the board it was noticed and there was basically feedback in
small group sessions with members of the community to get input on things and there was boards and people were writing on >> stickies strategic planning. So that was one where you involved the community. So you could easily do something like that. You could have the you could have literally have a special meeting. You could do it
at the JM pack and have this group come make a presentation to the board to the public. You guys could sit in the audience and have them make a presentation and then you'd open to the public for comments and then when that's done you get open to board comments. So you can absolutely accomplish it. You just have to always be mindful of the
Open Public Meeting Act and those requirements. And I think I've told you guys if you violate the Open Public Meeting Act, the body that looks at you is called the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. So you got you got to be very mindful of that. So that's why you want to make sure that you can do it. It's just it might take a little bit of notice, but it's it's not impossible.
And I've done many of them in very different contexts like that, especially if it's informational for the where both the board would benefit from it and the public would benefit from it. >> Yeah, I think that was my concern is that I think it's a achievable outcome, right? Like and who does it benefit? It
benefits everybody, right? Because if we know what's going on and we're we're like well informed and we can talk about or answer again like very low-level questions and refer people to who would be their point of contact in the district, it makes it easier and better for everybody because we're all on a
shared same page. And I think I just had some concerns about um how we can make that happen. And again like I I'll thank Dr. her bully because she's we had a conversation before we came out here and so we were able to address it and fix
paths that we probably um were missed but um we addressed it and I feel good moving forward but I just want to again make sure like um people want um to understand the curriculum change they have questions and it's new and so I
think we we're all working together to just be on the same page as and being a resource as well. Like parents see us as a resource, right? And so I think that we have to just make sure that we're meeting >> and usually if you're doing something of that nature, like you're going to have
an outside entity come in and make a presentation. My recommendation is I wouldn't do that at a regular board meeting. You got a lot of stuff on your agenda. You know, if you want to do it and you really get the input from the parents and have people listen and have a dialogue, you just you do a special meeting. And at the special meeting, you
can notice it and say no action will be taken. This is anformational meeting. Questions will be answered and you just you have that the meeting is dedicated to that special purpose and then at that meeting you can't take any other action. That's the only thing you do. So that's typically and I' that happens a lot when
you're doingformational things. You're you know you're undertaking some type of project or building or like you did the strategic planning. You didn't take any action that night. You just got input from people. Um and so it's very easy to accomplish. you just uh when Dr. from a mans you tell her and you figure get you
know a time when a lot of people are around um you know you don't do it over teacher convention because that's usually probably not a good time you everyone was in Florida um but there >> yeah but but you it's absolutely doable
>> okay thank you um and then my last thing I just wanted to talk about the um the school funding survey that went out and I I think um I think was also an opportunity for us as a district and um
to be able to put together some type of response or community outreach a little sooner than we did. And I know colle um on my part um like I had shared it with board members kind of as soon as it was shared um I think uh outright back in the the beginning of
November um and then when thinking about it and I sent it you know to the board I had just forwarded Dr. Pernell's email from uh New Jersey school boards and I said like I think this is an opportunity um to ask the public for their input um
and to provide testimony and support for some of the challenges that we have been facing. And I also will acknowledge like off the bat like changing the funding formula does not mean it'll work in favor of East Brunswick, right? like um
when we're looking at at equity um we we don't know what the outcome will be um for overall um but we know that there are some things that again like we could definitely go to bat for like the special education funding
um having more of a time to focus on our budget instead of a preliminary budget and a hard budget due so fast after numbers come out. And so I know that around like November 5th I had shared it um with the administration asking
um saying that I just think it's a good opportunity and I I felt like it took a while to get a push out and um Mr. Juliana I appreciate the response like that you you know because I know I said there's board members and community
members that have questions about how to answer some of this. I mean, you know, I'll use my example to you and you know, I said the first question is, is averaging multiple years of wealth better than using the most recent year alone? And I I totally understand um and appreciate your response that you don't
feel comfortable like providing answers um specifically because it does ask for a name and um to to classify yourself. But I I just feel like we should um be able to have a discussion about what the best answers are. And now I feel like it
was a mischieve closed and if we weren't willing to tell people closes tomorrow, right? So if you're watching like this isn't live. So, if you're watching first thing, but um I just feel like too there was the opportunity like if you don't feel
comfortable answering these questions, there was also the email that you could provide um like a statement or information. And I just feel like um the for surveys, especially when it comes to funding or any other district endeavor we want to take on, these are like
lowhanging fruits, right? Like surveys, getting people to send emails because their experiences are real, right? We have kids and parents at Hughes months ago. We had the music. Um, and we don't we know that we're going to face um
continued changes as time goes on. And again, like these are missed opportunities because it's I think the people in our community would support us by answering a survey or providing information. And I I I will just say like I really think we missed the mark
in in waiting until two days before it closes to get it out. And I don't I don't know how we um we become like more don't want to say aggressive but more as to advocating for the needs of our district because we're advocating for the need for our kids. And um again look
I also acknowledge that it's the DOE. I don't always think they read everything that comes in front of them. Like I don't know. I'm not here to judge. um you know, I definitely um see them working very hard, but I'm sure it's overwhelming to take all this information too and kind of of make
everybody happy. And I know that's not going to be the outcome. Um but I just think that we can ask our community um for support and just be on top of these things a little better. And I really do think that having an advocacy committee
going forward is probably one of the better ways to approach this because I think if earlier we had said, "Hey, like the the district or administration just doesn't feel comfortable telling people how to respond um that us as a board if we had an advocacy committee." could
have said like, "Okay, we're going to talk this out together then and get the answers that we think are are the best to our district and get your input and kind of have discussions about it and go from there." And so I'm just hopeful um or I'm I I believe that we can do better
going forward. And I I think that's that's it for >> Oh, before before Tim starts, the survey is open through the 14th, which is tomorrow, and it is posted on the district website and shared on the district's Facebook page. So, if you are
looking for it, that's where you can find it. >> And your name is not mandatory, by the way. You can skip over that. >> My initial I was very fond of the places where you were allowed to say unsure. I appreciated that choice. Yes, that is an option. But I do feel like we know what
we collectively know what the best responses are probably for our district, right? Or >> but the the point of the survey is to get people's opinions and the just to be clear, my discomfort is with telling people what they think,
>> right? I >> I you know, people need to be able to express what their opinion is in the survey. I totally >> what what the way I might see something might not be how someone else sees it. >> Agree. I totally understand. I I just think we um
maybe going forward what we have to look at is making our message clear as to the measures within the state that would help us specifically when it comes to East Brunswick and what exactly it is that when we advocate or have the
ability to speak to people that are making those decisions, what we want that to look like. And I and I think that being clear with our message is is a win overall for us. >> Tim also um and just want to note on the
sur on on the survey that I think it is far better to answer >> Did you see it talking? Yeah. >> Yeah. >> I said Tim the voice came from there. >> Sorry. Start over. Um I uh for as far as the
survey goes, it is far better to answer unsure to everything and then go to town on the one question that you know something about. Um and there is a room for to type in comments. So and as far as I can tell, there's no character limit on that either. I tried. So um so
uh um so please fill it out because um some information from East Brunswick is better than no information from East Brunswick. >> Try it again. That's it. Ready? >> It's all good. Um >> tip. Yeah, real tip. >> The second tip. Um, totally agree and
and just um yeah, I mean ditto everything you said everything you said, Wilbur. Um the and and Lauri, you've really been a champion for this and I really have a lot of respect for that. Um what what we haven't done well is is and I loved what you said about advocacy advocacy committee. We have not actually
like put together a group of people that should not just be people up here. It should involve members of the community to really like, you know, strategize around this and what is important and what is the message and how do we as a community clearly communicate. So, uh, I hope we can get there and, uh, Lori, I
think you maybe should lead that committee. >> Uh, volunteering. No, I'm just kidding. No, no, no. I mean, >> I've only told No, I mean I really do think that, you know, we need it. It it has to be community feedback and input um members of the uh, you know, faculty and administration, but um, we haven't
done that well. So, we have to fix that. And and and I mean it we're going to be hit with another at least $8 million deficit. I think it's probably fair to assume that and I hope I'm wrong, but uh we have to think that that you know effort there is worth it and probably could make a change. Um so, thank you,
Lori, and thank you to the other members who who did do that. I mean, I failed I failed on that myself. I have time. No, but I but you're right. I mean, when it came out, we should have hit the ground running from that moment. uh and that's what a committee would do uh with with someone who's, you know, really driven to help push that forward. So that
that's an area of improvement for us and I and I really hope that we can get on that. >> All right, Lea, I'll I'll I'll be last. >> As for that survey, I put my name there. I put my contact info there. I wrote
very long comment. I ask them to contact me if they have for the question. I'm waiting for the opportunity because I really want to talk to them. Okay. So, I have multiple report. So, on October 29th, the curricular committee
uh had a meeting and Dr. Bully and her team did very good job. Uh I don't know if people know that East Bronzik is certified by New Jersey Motion uh production and television committee uh committee is the
movie uh ready uh town and there was totally 43 of them. So we made some uh course name change to help our student to take advantage of this future uh job opportunity. uh people knows uh I believe some people
notice that there are a lot of film activities happening uh in this state. So we hopefully uh we try our best to help our student get ready for their future. Hopefully the action performing
and filming will provide them a job opportunity. So uh thank you very much Dr. Bully and the curricul and again it's about Dr. Bully. She and her team did a lot of
things and about the pilot program. So on October 29 and October 28 there is a pilot um coming to meet our parents and our teachers. The
title for that being a reader K25 is parent section and then on October 30th there is a math night so it's uh the math team provide the evasion and
parents uh for and the parents university and then last night there was two sections of the pilot related the amplify cka parent sections is about EA pilot So
when I attend all those meetings, I'm kind of very disappointed. For the fourth pilot program, we only have five parents showed up. And the second the mass night, we have less than 10 parents. And last night, first
section is less than 10 parents. And second section, we only have five parents. It's the team spend so much effort to get the presentation and especially when we start when we use
a pilot to test a curricular program we may or we may not use in future. So this meeting is the go gold golden opportunity for the parents for the teachers
of course for the uh for the providers to get together exchange ideas to get the feedbacks. So if your if your children are in the pilot and I really hope parents talk to the parent how are you doing with this new pilot program
and I and I suggest Dr. bully to get all those teachers together uh who is in the pilot program. Let's figure out what's good for this program and what is not good for the program and that will help us the curricular committee and the
board make the decision if we will imp roll rule out this program or not. So that's why I there will be more opportunity coming out right and I strongly urge parents teachers take advantage of this opportunity.
It's free you it cost you one hour or two hours and let us know let the provider know your idea your feeling and your suggestion and they will help us to grow. So the at the end of the day our
purpose our single purpose is to provide our student the best education and but this need everyone's combined effort. So that's is the uh the statement I want
to make I urge parents get involved school only cannot prepare your children well for the future. Okay. Uh one last things uh as the superintendent report stated I really appreciate uh Mayor
Cohen and his team to put a quart of million dollars for the Warren store for parking lot. I have been saying everywhere where only one East Brunswick at the end of the day every penny we spent every penny school district saved
is taxpayers money. So the township helped us out for the Warren Stoer uh park lot. I personally as a taxpayer, as parent, as East Bronson community member, as board member, I really appreciate. I want to thank the Dr.
Mayor Cohen and his team. That's all I have. >> Jamie, >> I'm still in awe of our student athletes as always. Go Bears. I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone in our district uh whether
your staff, administration, and all of course all of our families a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving this year. Enjoy hopefully your family time together. Thank you, >> Marian. Okay. Um so, thank you Lori for
reminding us about the survey. Um and as Jane just kindly reminded me, there's actually an option for students as well. So, if you're a student, please make sure to fill out the survey. Um, with regards to an advocacy committee, I've been asking for this since before I got
here. This board has probably gotten a million emails from me. Um, as somebody who's been to Trenton, I can't tell you how important that is. And that was, um, you know, Dr. Mammon has so many wonderful things about her, but the fact that she took uh, South Brunswick to Trenton was one of the, um, key pushers
for me as well. So, um, we can't undervalue what it is to advocate for our district. So, I hope that we're going to take a more active approach towards that, and I I know that you're going to be at the forefront of that. So, thank you in advance. Um,
just uh, one one I have a couple of things, but um, thank you to the township of East Brunswick as well. That would, you know, I love to see the collaboration. I hope we're going to have more of that as we move forward. Um, I wanted to ask if there was a transportation communication protocol.
Um, there was an event that occurred this week where uh, late buses didn't leave Hammershield until an hour and a half approximately after they were supposed to and it left a lot of um, families in uh, you know, concerned like
and when they called uh, to ask you know what what what's happening they were advised to reach their children on their cell phones. But given that this is hammersh and we just signed a policy that says no cell phones. They didn't send their kids to school with a cell phone. So this takes me back to I want
to make sure that one there's an effective communication protocol in place for transportation. Um you know oftentimes as a parent I don't even I'm not notified that the bus is going to be late until it's like the bell is about to ring and I'm already on my way to school because the bus never got there.
So I I don't know if there is one in place but I would like to see one in place. And two, um, if the advice is going to be that hammershield students need their cell phones, perhaps we need to revisit our policy, um, because those things need to be aligned.
Um, what else? Oh, um, last month was school boards, uh, where we attended workshops. It was wonderful. It was my first time, so I really enjoyed that. I learned so much. And one of the sessions that I walked into was given by Mr. Dave Nash um who was
presenting on AI and schools and it was called opportunities and landmines and I'm sitting in this with about I don't know 500 people and uh he starts prevent presenting content and he's like oh and this is being shared from East Brunswick
and Dr. Mike Gascal comes on the screen and um he was one of the the content sharers for this entire workshop and it was really phenomenal and it it speaks to the talent that we have in our district. Um and he you know he even asked he's like who's from East
Brunswick and I proudly raised my hand like um I didn't even know this was happening. So I just wanted to give a uh shout out to Dr. Mike Gascal. Thank you for um being one of the numerous talented employees that we have in our district. Uh, last but not least to go
back to Wil Wilbur's question, sorry, parched. Um, about the agenda. Is is this an agenda that has already been put together the for the retreat? >> I I don't know how we call Dr. Mammon
from the off to the audience to this. >> No, no, but I mean it's already been put together like you've seen it. >> She and I were working on it together. So I think the rest of the board can see it then if you've seen it >> actually call it. >> Can everyone come? >> Oh yeah, absolutely. Yeah. Yes. >> December.
>> That that that is what I that is what I said. >> Good evening, East Brunswick. Um yes. So I've hit the ground running, right? My 90 day entry plan already started. I think I'm day 30 now. And um because I'm
an English teacher, I write down everything. And as I'm listening and visiting and talking to people and as they talk to me, I'm putting together, okay, this is going to be good. I need to add this to my agenda, my retreat.
And um I did that and rightfully um called Heather and I said, Heather, I know it's not time yet. It's like however many weeks out and I'm not technically an employee, but really I have this retreat agenda. I want you to kind of take a look at it. Let's work
towards it. So, I do have a draft of the agenda. There's um I'm actually quite proud of it. And as I meet one-on-one with each one of you, I think even some of the board members I met with today, I was kind of said, "This is what's on my agenda. This is what I'm doing." You're getting a sneak preview. So, once I'm
done meeting with um I have some of you tomorrow and Mr. Cumins on the 19th. >> Sorry. >> It's okay. I forgive you. Um, after that's done, um, because your feedback as I talk to you oneon-one is also going to help me flush it out even better,
then I would, um, with permission from President Guas, send that to all of you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And Lori, we can do the advocacy committee. You tell me what to do. You're running it.
Um, so and just so for public >> Sorry, do you have questions for me? >> No, no, not at all. >> Thank you. >> For um public transparency, the retreat on December 4th is can that be in the open? Because I I was checking and it looks like as long as it's, you know,
back to Mr. Jacob's thing about OPMA, it should be in the open unless there's closed items that would only >> Yeah. So So the the retreat takes place at an open public meeting. Okay. >> So, there'll be a a portion for the public to speak. Um, if there's anything
in the retreat that touches on there's nine categories under the open public meeting act that preclude um public discussion of them. Personnel um labor negotiations contract. So, Dr. Man can we can look at it and say these
are items that have to be discussed in and you can you can bifrocate it. You could have a public portion and then you can have if there's something you about personnel or >> goals. >> What >> goals? >> Yeah, goals. There's some things that are deliberative that you guys could discuss in in close session. So, we'll
look at we'll look at the agenda and then we can identify what would go into the public portion kind of like this evening's all the items you went through and then under the uh close session agenda you could list it under the specific nine one of the nine categories. >> Okay. So I'll be glad to do that when
when a but of course it'll be after the 19th because of Mr. Comics. So we have all that >> Tim. >> Somebody has to be last was Marian. Okay. Um so I have I have a
list as well. Um I want to re-emphasize first I want to thank Dr. Mammon for the work that she's doing right now. um using her own time because she does not work here yet. Uh she still has a very large full-time job and um she's been
using her time to come here as well as doing her job. So I know that was it yesterday only? It feels like it was longer, but there there are like 16 18our days happening in a district that wants to get every last bit of her greatness out of her. So, it is amazing
the amount of time she has spent in the district meeting with people, touring, um, trying to get her bearings as much as she can before she officially starts on December 1st. So, I'm very, very appreciative. Uh, at school boards, I also went and I have to say that um, I
spoke to some people not from East Brunswick about how difficult it is to be chosen to present at school boards. Um I was speaking to somebody who was very very honored to have been chosen but she was sitting with three other people who had submitted propos proposals who were not. So we were talking very quietly but I would like to
say I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Aman speak and it was excellent and if you've ever been to a convention you know sometimes you go into the rooms and there's not that many people sitting there as it's sort of an open come and go and sometimes you go into the rooms
and there are fairly a decent number of people. Uh that was the only presentation I went into that was in a very large room and there were people standing up against the walls because it was so packed. Uh people wanted to hear that presentation. It was excellent. Um I want to also say that we have some
really good problems to have here right now. Uh last night was the Amplify presentation, the Zooms. Um but it was also the CPAG night. And I was frustrated at first because I wanted to be at both. And then I was thinking it's a really good thing to live in East
Brunswick where we have so much information coming from the schools that we have to pick where we want to go because there's so many things going on so many nights. So while I was a little salty last night that I couldn't be at everything today, I've decided it's just a really good problem to have. Um I
wanted to thank the high school students again for the event at the high school. Um it's not we we do trunk or treats. We all do trunk or treats and this year trunk or treat was really hard. Candy was insanely expensive. So, um, just crazy. But there were some people there
that were unexpected joys for the kids. I would really like to express my gratuitity to the elementary school principles that were there in their crayon costumes. I took a million pictures of them. They were very, very good sports about that. But the little kids coming into the high school are sort of overwhelmed. And there were so
many costumes and there was noise and they walked in and they saw their principles and you just watched them all light up. they're here with these other people I don't know. Those are all principles. Um but that was a great way for them to enter and community programs was there too right at the door. So they
saw people that they knew. Um the brilliance of it though was that the students were running the room. So it wasn't just go get candy, go get candy, go get candy. You know, we went to the math room and my kid sat down with her friend and did math problems with a math teacher and some math honor society
students who helped her solve. if you solved, then you could pick some candy. Um, she went to the German club and had German tongue twisters and had to flip a hat onto somebody's head, which was much harder than it appeared to be. Uh, but that was high school students playing with little kids. And it's very much
like the cheerleader event. Was that really a month ago already when we had the little our youngest learners cheering with our high school squad? I love seeing our youngest learners spending time with our high school students because they look up to their
teachers, but you have to see them when they're with the big kids. Um, they just want everything with the big kids. So, the candy was not the highlight of the Halloween at the high school. The highlight for the kids, I think, was the high school students who were very hands-on and in there. The adviserss
were not running those rooms. The adviserss like were sort of in a corner making sure everything was good. But the other thing I just want to stress is that it felt very um amazing to have a place that had quiet areas and louder areas because if you have a child who
has different needs um sometimes the big functions at the schools are very loud for them and it's not so easy and there were a lot I have friends um from CPAG specifically that I bumped into and some other parents who were so appreciative of a variety of spaces so that their
child could enjoy it as well and not be overwhelmed. Um, and it was just really a cool night. There was just stuff everywhere. Took me a minute to realize that one of my favorite coaches was a dinosaur. I felt a little off. She was Quaid was dressed in a costume. We went in to go do some field hockey events and
then realized who we were talking to. But just very appreciative to the high school students and their adviserss and they were there very very late giving our little people the opportunity to see the kids they look up to and want to be. Um, I think that Yep. My notes were
long, but that's everything. All right, Lori. >> I I I would just be remiss if I um Thank you. If I didn't uh I know he's was unable to be here tonight, but I do thank Dr. Wleski um for his service to
our district. Um and I wish him well in his future endeavors. So I thought um you know although he's not here the the recognition is there. >> Agreed. >> Thank you.
>> Oh I also want to say I did the survey. There were some things I had to look up. Please go do the survey. If there's things you don't know you can click unsure. But it really is looking for individual people's opinion. And the more opinions the better picture they get of all of us here in East Brunswick.
Mar >> that I missed also um regarding the um Amplify and the pilot. I appreciate everything that uh Dr. Bully you've done to try to get as much information out there and Mr. Hong, while I agree that
it's important for parents to um want to get involved, I I like to think of myself as a pretty well-informed parent. And for full transparency, I have to say that a lot of the information that I've been able to gather about this pilot has been from members of the community and
in looking at the Amplify website. Um, and while I appreciate the efforts of the presentations that were given, um, that wasn't where a majority of my information came from. So, I just want to be clear that, you know, we our efforts are wonderful, but there's so
much more that needs to be done and and it's uh not entirely fair to put that entire burden on parents um like myself being one of them because I, you know, and and we heard parents speak tonight who um shared that same feeling. So, I
think it's important to say that this has to be a collaborative effort. Um that's all >> I'm not trying to put the burden on parents but I'm emphasizing their input is very important in this decision
making process. >> I agree. >> Okay. Because this is multiple party got to contribute provider teachers parents even some students if they're old enough. So we need to work together to
make the final decision which will benefit our students. I'm not trying to give too much pressure on the parents but I do urge them to come to the meeting. They express their opinion or they agree or disagree. We want to know
I believe the providers want to know their true feelings. You they like or dislike. That's the way we we got to know the information. Okay. I I just want to clarify that on the district website there's a tile for the reading pilot programs with a lot of information
there as well. >> And that's where that's that's where I've been getting some of my information as well. Um but I think like I'll give you an example. I've been getting calls from constituents about the the Dibbles reading screener and it's like they're like oh the BME stands for uh below
meeting exceeding and it actually is like beginning, middle, and end. Or did I say that? Yeah, it's one of those. So people didn't even know what that stood for and there was no communication that explained you got a reading screener in your Genesis. This is what this means. This is So it's it's not just, you know,
it's just to say like we we can also put out more information. >> Um yeah, >> there's a parent night for that Monday and more information is always better. >> Okay. >> I agree. >> Okay. I'm going to piggyback on that and say again, it's that good problem that
we have sometimes because as an elementary parent, not so much from the high school, but as an elementary parent, when you get the principal's letters about everything that's going on, the number of links at the end for events that are coming, it is easy to
miss something that you want to see. I mean, I know I get distracted when I get to theater week and then I'm like, "Oh, wait. And you don't get all the way to the bottom to math night that happened to also be at the high school the other night for my school. But there is a lot of information coming out and we can
just keep encouraging parents to ask questions and access the presentations as they come. But I appreciate the people that were there last night. It was very very informative. >> All right. Can I have a motion to adjourn, please?
>> Wilbur and somebody. Who is somebody? Jamie. All in favor? >> Opposed? Abstensions. Thank you. Have a good night.