WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=C-TiqJCp7kQ

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: C-TiqJCp7kQ):
- 00:00:59: Meeting Call to Order, Flag Salute, Roll Call
- 00:11:21: Addressing Inappropriate Conduct at Previous Meeting
- 00:13:34: School Business Administrator Report: Finances and Maintenance
- 00:17:04: Interim Superintendent School Report and Preschool Update
- 00:20:25: Board Addresses Theater and Dance Program Elimination
- 00:26:39: Public Comment 1: Tal Aronson on Budget Choices
- 00:39:20: Public Comment 2: Ted Enoch on Lincoln School
- 00:44:04: Public Comment 3: Fundraising and Grant Opportunities
- 00:46:24: Public Comment 4: Questioning Legality of Budget Cuts
- 00:49:09: Public Comment 5: Grants and Funding for Positions
- 00:51:28: Motions and Votes: Field Trips and Travel Expenditures
- 00:53:45: Executive Session Motion: Personnel, Legal, Negotiations
- 02:50:29: Return to Regular Order, Motion to Adjourn Meeting


Part: 1

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Test one, two, three. Test one, two, three. Call the meeting to order. 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

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interest is discussed and acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the East Rutherford Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting by having the date, time, and place thereof provided to the record and the South Bergen newspapers to have published and posted in the vestibule of

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the Bergen Hall and public library. Copies of the agenda are available 48 hours prior to said meeting of the board education office and are posted on the East Rutherford School website www.be.net. Please stand for the flag salute and please remain standing for a moment of

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silence in honor of members of our police department, fire department, and first responders and armed forces. >> Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. >> Hey, Mr. Varachi. Roll call, please. >> Miss Caruso, >> here. >> Miss Collie >> here. >> Miss Laruso >> here. >> Mr. Sealini >> here. >> Miss Shemley >> here.

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>> Miss Meta >> here. >> Mr. Banker >> here. Fire locations are to my right and to my left. As a courtesy to all in attendance, please silence all cell phones during this meeting.

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Um, before we move on to the school of business administrators report, I'd like to just read something uh regarding our last meeting. At our last meeting, several students and parents spoke passionately about the recent budget decisions, including the

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reduction of the dedicated dance and theater teaching positions. I want to be very clear. We hear that passion and we respect it. Advocacy for programs you care about is not only welcome, it's healthy for the school community. However, what happened at the end of the

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meeting was not advoc advocacy. The loud booing led by a parent while the superintendent was speaking, the obscenities shouted as people exited, and the gestures made toward the board were inappropriate, disrespectful, and unacceptable, especially when coming from students.

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What concerned me even more, there was no parent intervene to correct that behavior. As a public body, we conduct the business of the district openly and transparently. While the law protects the public's right to express disagreement, it does not prevent us

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from expecting a basic level of civility and decorum so that our meetings can function at every voice can be heard. Passion is welcome. Conduct that disrupts the meetings or models poor behavior of students is not. Disagreement is allowed, criticism is

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allowed, but we all share responsibility for maintaining a constructive environment, especially in front of our students. Our students look to the adults in their lives to model how to handle disappointment, frustration, and civic engagement. When adults remain

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silent, when silent students shout obscenities at public officials, that sends silence sends a message and it's not the message we want to teach in East Strugford. Going forward, I am asking all parents, guardians, and community members to help us uphold a standard of conduct that

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reflects the values of the district. We can have hard conversations. We can disagree, but we must do so in a way that allows our meetings to function and sets the right of right example for our students. Thank you. >> Okay,

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Mr. Verachi, uh, school business administrators report. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Good evening, everyone. Start off my report with the buildings and grounds report from our buildings and grounds and transportation supervisor. Overall custodial maintenance and transportation

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operations continue to run efficiently throughout the reporting period, ensuring district facilities remains clean, safe, functional, and fully operational. Daily services, preventative maintenance, inspections, and transportation routes were completed without major issues or disruptions. At

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Lincoln School, concerns were identified regarding deteriorating landscaping and recurring damage to the exterior light ballards. Recommendations include removing damaged shrubs and plants, regrading the area with new saw to improve the building facade, and replacing the existing Ballard lights

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with either other lights or possibly removing them. That'll be a conversation that I'll have with the physical facilities uh committee about that. Some of the ideas we have. Next is the Mashios. At the end of April 2026, the prepaid

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balances was $7,792.85. Negative balances was $1,29.60. I encourage families uh between my office and the school's call-in as well as parent square messages, please, if you receive a notification, please reach

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out to the business office. We're here to work with you with your negative balances. Our profit and loss at the end of April 2026 is $71,91751. Uh moving on, PF. So next week, the

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board will vote on PF1, the approval of the monthly facility calendar for June 2026. Finance items. F1 is the approval of payroll for April 2026. The bills list will be available with the next agenda.

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So we anticipate that to be available tomorrow to the board. F3 and F4 are in regards to the financial and transfer reports for March 2026. F5 is the approval of the federal school breakfast lunch pricing program for the 2627 school year. Pricing will will

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remain the same for both breakfast and lunch as this year. F7 approval to I'm sorry, F6, approval to withdraw from maintenance reserve account for the 2627 school year. F7 approval to withdraw from the capital

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reserve account for the 2627 school year. F8, approval of tax requisition schedule for the 2627 school year. F10, approval of member participation in the P County co-op pricing system. Just to let everyone know, this was made aware to me about a week or two ago. This is

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free very similar to ED data or ESCJ or Huntington. So it was I thought it was a value to be a part of this cooperative. And F11 is just a follow-up. It's just an agreement approval for a cooperative pricing system agreement with the Pay

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County Co-op pricing system. That concludes my report. Mr. President, >> you're welcome. >> Anybody have any questions? Hey, interim superintendent school report. Mr. Scarfield, please.

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>> Good evening everybody. And on the next agenda, you will be approving uh the fire and emergency drill report. That's S and then uh that's S1. S2 will be the approval of the enrollment report. S3, four, five, six, and seven will be

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resolutions affirming the interim superintendent's decision relating to alleged HIV incidents. Uh, three of them were reported 31626 uh and 1 31826. Curriculum item C1, approval of student

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field trips and transportation requests for the 2526 school year to balance of this year. Personnel items approve Kelly education substitute list. P2 will be approving personnel actions. P3 approval of travel expenditures.

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And um we'll also community relations CR1 approval of the first reading of new and revised bylaws, policies, and regulations. Right now there's no new business in tech. Just want to report to the public. Also, as of today, we have

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97 verified preschool children for next year. Um, we're still in the process of doing some evaluations. There is um thought that a few of them may qualify for PSD. So, right now, if if everything went I don't think you'd

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have a lottery, but we should know coming week or two. Mr. Barrow. Okay. We do have an open house set for June 4th. Am I correct? >> Yeah. Yeah. It's June 4th.

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Some things I do remember. I think Yeah, it's correct. And then, you know, this way we'll have it I think we're having it at It's going to be at the Kitty Academy. Correct. Right. Okay. Very good. Our private provider. That is my report if anyone has any questions.

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>> I have a quick question. I don't know if it's under which report. So I know we had talked about putting on a resolution about the healthc care >> waiver >> about Yeah. >> Yes. Thank you for the reminder. >> I just wanted to remind you I didn't see it. >> Yeah, I'll put that. There was

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definitely Thank you, Mr. Bank. Yes, we'll put that on there. Uh should we put it on the finance? I guess >> not the waiver. I guess you know what? So >> that'll be on uh the regular work session agenda. So thank you for the reminder. Okay.

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You have any old business? New business? >> Yes. I would like to uh say something. So after reviewing the meeting and the widespread commentary that followed, I believe it's very important to provide our community with the transparency and

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to address the significant amount of misinformation surrounding the decision to eliminate theater and dance as in school classes. First and foremost, East Rutherford is one of the last remaining K through8 districts in Bergen County still offering theater and dance during the regular school day. The overwhelming

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majority of these districts uh eliminated these programs years ago due to budgetary constraints. It is also important to clarify that theater is not being eliminated entirely. It will continue as an extracurricular activity, including the school play and related programs, which is how the majority of

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districts currently provide access to performing art opportunities. As discussed during the last meeting, the district is facing substantial financial pressures that are largely beyond our control. Healthcare costs alone have increased by more than 30%

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while contractual salary obligations continue to rise annually. Salary and benefits account for approximately 65% of the district budget leaving roughly 35% to cover every other operational expense including out of district special education placements,

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transportation, utilities, facilities, maintenance and supplies. All of which have also increased significantly. Administrative costs have already already been reduced wherever possible. The district has now eliminated a principal position, the assistant superintendent role, a technology

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position, and other areas through consolidation of responsibilities and restructuring of duties. Additionally, several years ago, the town approved a referendum that added another school building. While beneficial for our growing district, that expansion also brought significant ongoing operational

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costs, including additional staffing, utilities such as PSENG and water, maintenance, supplies, and building and grounds upkeep expenses that extend beyond the initial referendum construction costs. There has also been considerable misinformation regarding

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public participation at the meeting. Multiple hearing of the citizens portions were offered. And while few members of the public use the opportunity to ask direct questions, many chose instead to make statements or speeches. Claims that there was no opportunity to ask questions are simply inaccurate, particularly given that

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public comment occurred after the board of education presented the budget, financial data, and proposed reductions. Every member of this community has the right to ask questions and voice concerns, and respectful public discourse should always be encouraged. Not too long ago, I sat on the other end

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of that table myself, and I strongly believe in transparency and open communication. If residents have questions, we encourage them to attend meetings and speak with us directly. However, board members cannot discuss or answer questions regarding board business through social media platforms.

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>> It is also important to address several inaccurate claims that have circulated. Members of the board of education are unpaid volunteers. Four of the seven current board members have children presently attending the impacted schools and two additional members have grandchildren who will attend the

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district. These decisions direct our own families as well. The suggestion that board members do not care or are somehow lining their own pockets is false. Speaking personally, my own son greatly enjoys these classes and the teachers involved. This impacts us all. There has

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also been confusion regarding athletics. Sports such as football and baseball are not funded through the school budget. Therefore, comments suggesting that these programs should be instead cut are not applicable in this discussion. East Rutherford serves nearly 800 K

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through8 students and is not considered a small district by standards. By law, all districts are required to employ a chief school administrator or a superintendent. Based on publicly available statewide data, compensation for these positions

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ranges about 200,000 annually with many districts exceeding 300,000. Our previous superintendent salary was below the statewide average. Additionally, interim administrators such as Mr. Scarfield do not receive benefits and are compensated at significantly lower

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PERDM rates than what has been portrayed. The broader reality is that rising health care costs, increasing enrollment pressures tied to statemandated housing obligations, and escalating operational expenses have made it financially unsustainable to maintain every existing

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program in its current form. For the 25 26 fiscal um period in New Jersey, school taxes continue to comprise approximately 50 to 60% of the average property tax bill statewide, which is consistent with East Rutherford's

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figures based on public available data. Those averages for the state are also projected to increase further for the 2627 school year. We fully understand why members of the public see these cuts and ask why. The reality is that every possible reduction was reviewed

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extensively. We evaluated both the short-term and the long-term impact of each option and were ultimately forced to make extraordinarily difficult decisions based on what would create the least detrimental long-term effect on students and the community as a whole. The intention remains to continue

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offering these opportunities and programs to students simply in a different capacity than before. Legally, we cannot discuss every option that was considered as personnel matters are involved. However, I can say unequivocally that these decisions were not made lightly. We are just as

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disappointed as the community to lose the programs and the exceptional staff members connected to them. As a parent of a children in these schools, this decision was heartbreaking. And as an educator in a public school myself, it is even more difficult to witness fellow teachers lose positions. However, difficult decisions were necessary to

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ensure a financially sustainable budget while continuing to provide our students with an excellent education, outstanding teachers, small class sizes, and the overall highquality school system that East Rutherford families value and that they deserve. Thank you.

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>> Thank you, Miss Manor. Uh, we're not open to the public yet. Any other new business? Okay, we'll open to the public now. Uh, opening public comments on any agenda or non-en non-aggenda items. State your

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name, address for the record. Address the board president, Thomas Banka. Each person wishing to speak will have five minutes each. Any anyone wishing to speak will be given the opportunity to do so. Sorry.

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>> Oh, we got Okay. >> Hi, folks. My name is Tal Aronson. I live at 264 Randolph Avenue. Um, I wanted to take this um to take accountability for my delivery at the last meeting. My goal today is a productive datadriven dialogue. I am

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here because I care deeply about the stability of the district. And to that, was there anything this board could have legally done to increase revenue and to avoid cutting the performing arts and special education teachers?

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>> Yeah. The board is constantly looking for revenues. Okay. The state uh you know, state aid. I I don't know. We got a little bit of an increase, Alex, on that, but we're subject to the whim of the state. Uh this board pursues grants. We got a lot of grant funding for uh

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prek. I know. Um you know, the last thing the board wants to do is cut positions or cut uh programs. So, the board is constantly looking for sources of revenue. What >> you believe that there were none? So you're saying that there are none? There

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were none for the for the teachers? >> No. None. What? Yes. No. The board constantly pursues revenue sources this year, last year, every year to sustain the the bud the budget for the district. So the board did explore

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all okay avenues of uh >> well on the business administrator's own um slide March 23rd presentation showed $792,40 in available funding authority. We only

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used $381,685 of those dollars. That leaves $410,355 in funding, more than enough to restore the three roles that this board chose not to use. Why are we firing tenur teachers to save the average homeowner 14 cents a day?

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>> Which account was that? >> I I can answer that. So, >> this is from the It actually is because I actually I did I used an Oprah request. >> Yes. which I just received at 4:30m today. And actually on your cap bank

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eligibility statement, it says that you have availability increase in healthcare costs of $749,040 that you are not using >> more than half of that's correct. You also have to understand anytime a local

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board of education regional goes over the 2% we must go through three things. First, is there an enrollment adjustment? We didn't have any. Is there a healthcare waiver? Yes, there was. >> Yes. >> So, anything we go over 2% now raises

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the tax levy. So, the tax levy is 3.99. >> It's a nice round number. If there's any if we used any more the tax levy would continue to increase in order to save those two positions >> salaries >> two >> what

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>> was 5.19 that's an increase to the taxpayers so could we have used it yes but you don't have to use it that's at the discretion of the local boards of educations it's at their discretion

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>> but under NJSA18A A289, a reduction in force must be a bonafide economic necessity. So when a board chooses to fire a tenure teacher to save the community 14 cents a day

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while ignoring available taxing authority and did you apply for any grants? because I know that um there's a fiscal year 2026 high impact tutoring or bridge literacy grants with 12.1 billion in direct state

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aid and new grant pools specifically for growing enrollments. We have 90 more students. There are uh clear avenues to fund our support services through outside revenue. Using these grants would also free up general fund dollars

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needed to keep our for performing arts and special education teachers in the classroom. So if you did ignore those or didn't write for the teachers, um that's a policy choice, not a legal necessity. These cuts aren't a financial

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requirement. There's a they're a choice to prioritize a lower tax rate over the education of our students. I could address the special ed teacher that position was a non-tenure teacher that in looking at next year's

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projections necessary because the other people with certification. So that's why we reduce that. So there's going to be no effect on students on that piece. So that is that excuse. The next piece is one of the things that the board was very very

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adamant about was not going we've been going over the 2% for the last few years and knowing that Beckton went up over six. Um the county is going up. The municipality has no choice. They chose

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to be fiscally prudent. Now unfortunately there was casualty there in terms of a teacher that is tenured. If the dance teacher had another certification, we she would have had bumping rights. She only holds one

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certification. We don't have it anymore. So, that's a moot point that that there's nothing we could do there. Otherwise, she would have been considered because you don't just, you know, there are laws on that and we did check that. >> Um, yeah, there are laws in the law. >> Why don't you finish your statement

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because your five minutes is up already. >> Okay. Okay. So, why don't you give us your statement and then we'll respond to some of the uh questions that you have in there after you're done. >> Okay. Um >> and you're over your five minutes. I want you to take another couple minutes,

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say the rest of your statement, and we'll go from there. >> I think Oh, okay. Thank you. Um, I'm concerned that the board is being led into a significant legal liability under NJSA18A28-9. A reduction in force must be a

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necessity, a bonafide economic necessity. If a tenure teacher challenged these cuts, the district must prove that there was no other choice. And there clearly was another choice. We had more than half of our funding

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authority that was left on the table. How does the board authority defend necessity when the district owns public record owes public records? Your own public records show $410,355

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in unused taxing authority and you have 4.7 million of our tax dollars in reserves. We are gaining 90 new students who may very well rec require special education services. cutting a special education teacher while our state for

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that specific line item is increasing. It is a risk for compensatory educ lawsuits. Uh is the board prepared for legal fees of those lawsuits which I imagine would

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far exceed the 14 cents a day it costs just to keep those teachers. You're well aware of the bonafide requirement under 18A28-9. You saw the March 23rd slide showing $792,000 in authority. You know that cutting

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tenur staff while enrollment is increasing and while over $410,000 in taxing authority is left on the table is a legally precarious position. Why was the board not advised that this necess necessity is actually a voluntary

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choice that opens the district up to litigation? I think that true fiscal responsibility isn't just about picking the lowest number. It's about the return on the investment. By choosing to save the average household 14 cents a day,

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this board is sacrificing our performing arts, our special education support, and the stability of its tenure staff just as 90 new students arrive. That isn't a fiscally responsible budget. It is a budget that prioritizes political

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talking points over the health of our children. Is it fiscally responsible to open this district up to lawsuits and special education litigation just to keep the tax levy at a specific political target?

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So to finish, you left $410,000 in local taxing authority on the table. You failed to apply for a record high state grant pool. And you didn't have a you didn't have a budget crisis. You had a leadership crisis. You stopped looking

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for money before you started cutting people. I'll stop there. >> Address one at least one of those I'll address. >> Yeah. >> So, on the legal side, um you know, I'm 100% confident that everything we did

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was legal. The budget was approved by the county superintendent, okay, which is the state board of education, okay? They approved this budget with those um uh programs being cut. Okay. So, it was legal. It was

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approved by the state department of education. Okay. So, I'm not worried about legal fees and any legal fees on this would have to be challenged before the department of education and the commissioner, which is the state board that approved the budget. Okay? So, I'm

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really not worried about that. Um, and as far as the funds and reserves, you cannot spend that money except on certain things. Maintenance of schools and capital projects can't be used, cannot be done under the law. If you're

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concerned about us following the law, we can't use that money. Okay. And I think the the um, you know, unused taxing authority, that's where it comes down to a discretionary decision. and you you're going to disagree with the board's decision on this that we should have gone to over 5%.

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Okay, we're just going to have to agree to disagree on that. Um, you know, everybody's going to have their own views of things and and taxpayers are getting walloped. >> That's >> and let me let me No, no, that's not the way it works. Okay, you had your say.

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Okay. So, you know that those are the discretionary things that this board gets paid zero dollars to go over, scrutinize, deal with the heartache of this whole thing. And that's what they had to do. And they came to a number that they thought that the taxpayers

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could burden in this town. Okay. And there's just going to be an agreement to disagree on that. I don't know if anybody's Alex, if you have any other things on that that you want to talk about. Any other members the public?

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Hey everyone. Um, Mr. President, board, fellow community members, I can imagine that the meeting you guys went through last session was one of the hardest in your tenures. I am sorry that it can be painful um and

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that the passions of the community may felt directed personally at folks. But it is clear that the role of a principal, a special education service provider and theater and dance is really important to

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many people. I know me and my family, I'm sorry, I'm Ted Enoch. I am a parent of two children uh uh here at McKenzie and Lincoln. A 10-year-old boy at Lincoln and a 5-year-old girl in kindergarten at McKenzie.

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All of these services are really important. Um and I know I may not have been as articulate as I'd hoped to be at the last meeting, but I I was trying to find out what were our revenue generating options. Um, you know, we we

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talked it's been mentioned tonight that we've just realized the the Lincoln school building. Um, and that with the possibility of this school building, of course, there are new maintenance costs and costs that the community are born.

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However, this community decided to create that building for a real reason so that we could dedicate services to that special group of kids who were fourth and fifth grade. And I know that having a principal dedicated directly to that group of children is really

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important. It's been nearly life-saving in my family's circumstances. Uh Mr. Valardi and his dedication to this group has been spectacular. I've seen him go above and beyond the call of duty and it's I'm shocked at the demands that

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come to him. Now, when I was here last session, when I was asking about revenue, I really was hoping to open up an honest conversation about how and when do we trigger a tax increase because we've decided to have this school building in our community. And now we're deciding not to have a leader

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in that building dedicated to those students. And I think that's worth the public conversation, possible referendum. And I would hope that the school board would reach out to folks in the community to say, "Hey, how important is this to us? We've built the building. Are we going to have a leader there to realize its promise? And I know

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my me and my family would be willing to explore those things to be willing to figure out if you know whether whether it's petitions or referendums like how viable is this write grants. Uh both my wife and I are professional grant writers. I've raised millions of dollars in grants professionally in many

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jurisdictions. I want to be a partner in solving some difficult things. But really, the promise of Lincoln is something we've agreed to do together as a community. And I'm concerned that we've left the promise dangling right now without a

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really good conversation about how do we finish our commitment. For the record, Mr. Valardi will be the principal of Lincoln FA next year, so he'll be running both buildings. Um, Mrs. Barali is going down to McKenzie.

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she will be the principal down there. So, you will have coverage for a principal. There will be a supervisor in the building. You will have coverage there. We're not there be little loss of any administrative oversight in that. I mean, the buildings are connected. The

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building um picking up another maybe 300 students across the way. I think it's a total I think each principal have about 425 students each. So I think that's a a well balanced situation

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at this point just so everybody's aware that's how the new structure is at this stage. And just just one real quick thing um in the referendum there was not going to be a principal in that school that came after the building was built.

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Uh there was never a plan to put a principal in in that school. It was a thought of as an annex to FTO. Any other uh questions from the comments for the public? >> You just if you could go to the mic.

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because nobody could hear you on the on the uh >> I was just saying I'm hearing a lot of like opportunities to fund raise and grant right and I know I've sent emails about fundraising and I feel like there's a little bit of push back of like no we just can't do that and

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there's opportunities to raise money and schools need money and and you know you're taking one principal and you're splitting them over two schools he now has two schools to manage instead of one and so I would say if there are opportunities to raise money for our kids like we should be all over it. I

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mean that should be exciting I would I'd assume. So anyway, >> yeah, one of the I mean the ideas I don't I don't think there's any resistance on things we can do legally to you know to get grant funds um to try and raise money. there are a lot of restrictions on that you know but I'm

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sure you know um you know any of the ideas you have can be explored >> you there yeah it's it's tough to accept that there's there's donations that can be that that can be done um and there's

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restrictions on it what it can be used for and things like that so we're you know the board would be willing to consider it uh any kind of revenue source >> there there's educational foundations that can be started There's a lot there's a whole statute on it and there's a lot of laws against it but um

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where the school district can take funds but it has to go through a foundation and there's only certain things that it could be spent on. So I was looking into that a little bit. I think it's got to I don't know if the board can start it though. think >> you need a separate board and >> yeah, I think it's got to

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>> I've I've formed them before and you need a separate board and it has to be for certain purposes and has to you know you know you it needs to have professionals handling its books, accountants and um make sure it complies with 501c3 laws and things of that

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nature. So >> okay. >> Um Mr. Cobin, I hear you're not concerned about litigation, but as a taxpayer, I am. I'm holding the cap banking eligibility sheet provide today. It shows $792,000

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in generated healthcare taxing authority. If this board votes to fire tenure staff while voluntarily forfeiting that revenue, you are creating a record of avoidable loss. Mr. Cobin in a tenure hearing, how does the district justify necessity when the

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state's own documents show that we had the authority to fund these positions and simply chose not to? >> Based on what you're saying, all the districts across the state that are cutting positions to keep taxes reasonable would be subject to liability because they didn't exhaust all of their

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uh potential taxing authority. Again, that comes down to the discretion I talked about earlier. But the state the district is currently taxing $2.5 million less than what the state considers our fair share. We're not

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overt taxed. We're underfunding our own adequacy bud budget. So the state actually does believe that we can afford a tax increase to save these jobs. And again, I'd like to reiterate that it is the cost of less than a $5 coffee one

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time per month that could save those jobs. Your statements have been heard and taken into consideration. I disagree that there's anything illegal that's happened whatsoever. Okay. You're disagreeing with the discretion of the board. That's all that's uh occurring

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here, which is totally valid. Okay. It's you you're entitled to express your opinions, but it's your value system versus the board trying to protect taxpayers from a a bigger increase than they thought the taxpayers could handle. Uh that's the that's the

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kind of that's really the story here. Okay. >> State doesn't think so. >> I I I think you're you know uh you're you're wrong in your assessment. Okay. Thank you. >> Can I just make a quick statement? Um,

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so a few years ago, prior to me being on the board, we did create an ed foundation and just didn't have the um community. I guess it was the same like four of us trying to run it. I believe it might still be in existence though. So, I'm happy to share that information

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separately with you if that's something that you wanted to take over. I believe the 501c3 might still be in existence as well. So, Orbal and I did it years ago. Yeah. >> Yes. Rachel was part of it also. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The three of us. Yeah.

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>> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else from the public would like you you >> um What about grants? What grants did you apply for to try to save these positions? >> There would be no grants that we'd get

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at this time. What right now we've um through New Jersey Pack, Bergen Pack, we're speaking to them. We're working with uh William Patterson University who we are a partner district with. We have professors and residents. we have requested if they had professors in

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residence for theater and or dance also that can be paid with federal grants. Problem is the federal grants do not get released until June and it's not like we can just hire staff because district size doesn't get that kind of money. We

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might get 20 30 hopefully if we get that kind of money we can probably do pretty well in collaboration. We're even thinking of including music and art in this so we this doesn't disappear. You know, you can make music a little more fun. I'm sure vocal music was something I never liked in school. I'm not saying

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that uh Michart does a great job, but she also runs the chorus. And I think if you incorporate things that are theatrical, I think it could be more appealing. So, we're looking into all of those things. Unfortunately, there's not that kind of money that can hire people. And even when you do use federal money,

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if you did get that kind of money, the amount of money that they hit you with for benefits is you're throwing the money out the window because they they hit you for 40% of the money you use. That's an that's an old number probably

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closer to 50. When I used to write them was 40. I mean, so now we're talking 50%. So we don't get the kind of money we don't get like Hackinack money. We don't get Englewood money. we get East Rutherford money because of the size of the population. So, it makes it a little more difficult. It sounds easy, but it

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it's not that it's unfortunate. Um, but again, we're not just throwing it out the window. We are exploring all options. >> Miss, your time is up. Okay. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Have

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>> a motion to close the meeting to the public. All in favor? Post. >> Yeah. Exactly. >> Yes. >> We're going to vote on those. >> Yes. >> You want to vote them first?

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>> Yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. I send you come back with no action. >> Yep. Yeah. We won't have any action. >> No. It was >> P1 C1

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Purriculum. >> So, Miss Shemley. Um, >> yes. Thank you, Mr. President. Upon the recommendation of the interimm superintendent, the board hereby approves motion C1. C1, approval of student field trip and transportation request for the 2025 2026 school year.

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>> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Caruso, >> yes. >> Miss Collie, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Mr. Sealini, >> yes. >> Miss Shmley, >> yes. >> Miss Ma, >> yes. >> Mr. Banker, >> yes. >> Thank you, Mr. President.

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>> Thank you, Miss Shmley. and Miss Cruz. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the East Rutherford Board of Education approves the following travel expenditures uh preparing for special education monitoring in Crescill. Mrs. Mand

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Deville. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Caruso? >> Yes. >> Miss Collie? >> Yes. >> Miss Laruso? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sealin? Yes. >> Miss Shmley? >> Yes. >> Miss Ma? Yes, >> Mr. Banker. >> Yes.

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>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Cruso. Um, >> let's see. Executive. Correct. I think we have nothing else. >> Sorry. >> We going full executive >> personnel is one of them. Uh, >> personel contracts, HIV

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>> negotiation. Well, I'm going to meet with you guys after we touch base on that. >> Okay. HIV. >> HIV. Okay. In accordance with section 8 of the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter

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231, the board has the authority to adjourn to close session to discuss matters pertaining to legal personnel negotiations, attorney client privilege, andor student matters. Said matters will be made available upon termination of the board that the disclosure of the minutes will not detrimentally affect

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any right or interest of the board. The board ex expects to return to the business portion of the meeting in approximately an hour. >> Let's be let's say now >> approximately approximately 60 minutes uh no action

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will be taken. >> Correct. Correct. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> oppose. sit here. >> Entertain a motion to return to regular order of business. >> So moved. Second.

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>> All in favor? I >> opposed. Entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Our next meeting is uh May 21st.

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Are we the same next week? Yeah. >> Uh I got to look at the schedule how we did it. >> It's one. Yeah. >> Well, eventually that's >> I gave it to him. Who gave it to me? >> No, not you, Frank. The other Frank.

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>> Oh, that Frank. >> I got an extra one in here. Come back with only one. Okay. >> Does that make sense, Alex? Is he like consult? No, he's not involved in negotiations. The supervisor

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and um No, he's not involved.