Good evening everybody and welcome to the reorganization meeting for the East Windsor Regional School District. Written advanced notice of this meeting was provided at least 48 hours ago. Such notice provided the time, date, and location of this meeting and included
the agenda to the extent it was known at the time. Notice of this meeting has been given in accordance with law. Minutes are being kept by the board secretary and will be made available promptly to the any public requesting them from the board secretary at 25A Leen Lane, Heightstown, New Jersey.
Minutes will be provided at cost and in accordance with board policy. Okay. Are there any board members present who believe this meeting to be in violation of the open pubs meeting act? In compliance with the fire code of the
state of New Jersey, I call your attention to the emergency exits which are located in the back of the room and one to the front here. With that, we will move on to 1B, pledge of allegiance. 1 C election results.
On November 4th, 2025, four individuals were elected to serve on the East Windsor Regional School District Board of Education. The official certified results were received on December 19th from the Mercer County Board of Elections. East Windsor Township had three seats
open on the ballot to serve a three-year term. The elected board members are Draudi Patel with 6,342 votes, Jessica Defalco with 5,662 votes and Nicole Laruso with 5,75
votes. East Windsor Township had one open seat on the ballot to serve a one-year term. That was Mr. Robert Larry with 7,256 votes. I will now ask all four of those individuals to join me in the center
here. Okay, please raise your right hand. >> Thank you. I state your name. >> Do solemnly swear >> swear >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. I will
support the Constitution of the United States >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established in the United States and this state under the authority of the people.
>> I state your name. Do solemnly swearly swear >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of a board of education. that I am not disqualified as a voter
pursuant to RS19 col4-1 disqualified >> and I am not disqualified due to any conviction of a crime or offense listed in NJSA 18A colon 12-1
and that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform all duties of that office according to the best of my ability. Okay, I will now take nominations for the vote for the board president. Uh just to remind everyone that we just
need a nomination. Seconds are not required. We will take a vote in the order that people are nominated. Once we have a successful nomination, we do not continue down the list. So with that, I will open the floor for nominations. I nominate uh Christina Lens.
>> Any other nominations? >> I nominate Nicole Narusa. Okay, one second. Please have a little tech issue. My board members are not. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So, on the nomination of
Miss Lans, Miss Boli. >> Yes. Mr. Defalco. >> Yes. >> Miss Drake is not here. Miss Lance, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso,
>> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> no. Mr. Lavy. >> Yes, >> Miss Maheri. >> Uh, I want to remain neutral. >> I'm sorry, sir.
>> Can it be a neutral choice? >> No. The the nominations are now closed. So, we're right now on the vote of Miss Lance for president. So, the answers would either be yay or nay. I think she wants to abstain.
>> You want to abain? >> You may absolutely abstain. Yes. >> Mr. Weeks. >> Yes. >> Thank you. And the nomination carries. We now uh move on to item 1 F, nominee
and vote for board vice president. Does anyone wish to nominate a vice president? Okay, I'm going to nominate Michael Weekes. Are there any other nominations? Okay, there being none, Paul, would you
roll call? >> Yes. >> Mr. Defalco? >> Yes. >> Miss Lance? >> Yes. Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Lardy, >> yes.
>> Miss Mahari, >> yes. >> And Mr. Weeks, yes. >> Congratulations. >> Item 1G. Having read the materials received, I move the agenda be approved as submitted.
>> Second. >> Pull the board, please. >> Miss Boli, >> yes. >> Mr. Defalco, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Miss Patel,
>> yes. >> Mr. Labberty, >> yes. >> Miss Mihary, >> yes. >> Mr. two weeks. >> Yes, >> Miss Lans. >> Yes. >> Item 1H. Be it resolved that the East Windsor
Regional School District may hold two close sessions at this meeting. These close sessions concern personnel, student matters, uh, HIV report for January 5th, 2026. Minutes of these closed sessions will be made available to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists.
Second. >> Pull the board, please. >> Miss Boli, >> yes. >> Mr. Falco, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Ly, >> yes. >> Miss Mheri,
>> yes. >> Mr. Weeks, >> yes. >> Miss Lans, >> yes. >> Item 2 A. So at this time annually, everyone kind of reviews their assignment on the committees and they reach out to the
board president over the next week or so to confirm that they're still interested in the seats that they have. I will have a conversation with Mr. Falco on the seats that Agita had. And if there's anyone interested in changing committees
or express an interest in a different committee, please talk to Miss Lans and she'll arrange for committee assignments. >> Don't we usually just read off what we have? But now you want us. So if you don't want to be on the committee, we just email you.
>> I can read those off. >> Great. >> Okay. >> I I'm It doesn't have to change. I'm just asking. >> Okay. >> As a refresher. So right now on curriculum is Michael Weekes. We have an opening from um Agetta uh
leave of the board. Uh Jean Bourji, Nicole Laruso. On finance we have Jagri Patel, Nicole Laruso, Tina Lans, and Bob Lavdy. Um, on policy
we have Bob Lavty, Jenna Drake, Michael Weekes, and Kavita Muri. On wellness we have Jenna Drake, Gene Bourji, Nicole Russo, and Tina Lans. On negotiations for EWEA, we have
Michael Weekes, Jenna Drake, Tina Lans, and Jrudy Patel. For negotiations from for EWRSSA, we have Tina Lans, Michael Weekes, and Jagrudi Patel. Um, for negotiations for EWS, we have
Jenna Drake, Tina Lans, Michael Weekes, and Jagrudi Patel. And for negotiations EWMA, we have Jenna Jake, Tina Lans, and Jagrudi Patel. And then we have a couple of a few ad hoc um we have ad hoc
security which is Bob Laberty, Gene Bourji and Nicole Aruso and ad hoc transportation Nicole Laruso and Jenna Drake and currently our NJSBA delegate is Gene Bourji. >> So if anyone wants to leave or go on to
any of the committees just let me know. Tina, was there an opening in curriculum one? There was a spot open there. >> If I only name three people, there's a spot open. Um, so right now there's an opening on Orisa and and EWMA
negotiations. >> Curriculum. Yes, we have one spot open. >> Okay. So, I could just email you then and then I can um get out of finance. Somebody else can do finance, >> I'm assuming, if they want to try. Mhm. >> Okay, I'll email you then. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> And did you mention wellness? I missed that. You probably mentioned it. >> Yeah. Corre uh wellness is Jenna, Jean, Nicole, and myself. But if anyone is interested in any of the committees where I may be on, just
reach out to me. I was interested in going into curriculum as well, but if Chr would like to move over there, there are no spots. Um, >> and yes, >> you can have my spot. >> What's that? >> For curriculum. >> Okay. Okay. Very good. And then, um, I
would also be willing to like move myself out of finance if anyone's interested. So, but negotiations I'll stay on. Thank you. [clears throat] So, now we'll move on to item 3A. Um item 3A, reorg uh reorganization
items for approval. The EWRSD Board of Education will continue its existing policies and bylaws, including the by exception procedure, the district's existing K- through2 curriculum and course offerings for the ensuing 2025 through 2026 school year, the high school program of studies
and graduation requirements for the 2025 to 26 school year, Item B, resolution that the board approve the motions and procedures required and essential to properly organize and carry on the activities of the board of education and the East Witcher Regional School District. Item
C, schedule of 2026 board and committee meetings. Item D, district financial depositories for school funds and required signatures. Item E, approve the district superintendent and business administrator to implement the budget for per federal and state purchasing requirements. Item F, student activity
accounts and required signatures. Item G, awards and scholarships at HHS and MHK. H, appoint Paul Todd, BA board secretary as district purchasing agent. I, authorization to use faximile signatures of board president, board
secretary, district checks. Invest. Item J, investment of idle district funds per NJDOE statutes. Item K, payment of certain bills prior to board approval. Item L, pettyash funds and required signatures. Item M, designation of
official news media. Item N, use of state contracted vendors for purchases. Item O, district vendors for 403b, 457B plans, disability life insurance, and other. Item P, appoint Paul Todd, BA
board secretary as district custodian of government records. Item Q, district staff appointments for 2026. Item R, district professional service providers. Item S, fees for district kidcore extended kidare extended day program. Item T, adoption of New Jersey school
boards association code of ethics for school board members. >> Second. >> Okay. Okay. Now, on item T, um, everyone should have their code of ethics for school board members papers. What we typically do is we go around the board
table and each each of us will read one and then whoever is first will repeat will have a second turn on number 10. So Jessica, we'll start with you and we'll go around the board table and um I'll start from the beginning saying I move that the East Windsor
Regional School District or EWRSD Board of Education agrees to abide by the NJSBA code of ethics for school board members. >> I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of the state board of education and court orders
pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures. >> I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all
children regardless of their abilities, race, creed, sex or social standing. I will confine my board action to policym planning and appraisal and I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those
who will be affected by them. >> I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools but together with my fellow board members to see that they are wellrun. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will
make no personal promises or take any private action that may compromise the board. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends.
Number seven, I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if disclosed would needlessly injure individual or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and in concrete with our fellow board members, interpret to the
staff the aspiration of the community for its schools. Number eight, I'll vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer.
I will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their duties. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only
after failure of an administrative solution. >> Thank you everyone. Were there any questions? >> I have a question Tina on line item D uh where it says uh designated check signers listed below. So would you need
two signatures to do the check written or it's approved by just one person? It could either or. >> No, it's multiple. So they're both required. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome.
>> I had a question on M for the official news media. Is that is that where we publish where the meeting is going to be? Is that that's the news media? And is it still the Trentonian? >> The Trentonian. The Trenton Times is the
Trenton Times right now is an all media. And as of right now, we talked about this maybe a couple meetings ago, we're still required to put in a printed newspaper. That's going to start changing uh in March. So, what I need to do starting in January for the whole
year twice a month need to place an ad in a paper. it can be online mentioning that we will be posting our notices to our website. So if you notice on our homepage we have a link to all of our notices and everything will be posted
there. I'll have to give that web page to the state and they're going to accumulate all the web pages from municipalities, school boards, muas, everyone and publish that information. So, for now, this will hold for about the next three months because I think it
starts the end of March, >> beginning of April. >> Okay. Thanks. Yeah, I thought we had talked about the print. >> Yep. So, we're still advertising the Trenton, believe it or not. They're still hanging around. Um, so we advertise in there and we just have the
Trenton Times on there. Um, but our printed one is the Trentonian. I have uh two questions for um Q. This is a simple one for Q. I noticed that uh Paul Todd and Sam um Feliciano, they
don't have the Mr. or the Miss, but everyone else does. Can we have that added, please? >> Actually, Miss Felicetta actually mentioned that and I did not have a chance to update that. So, thank you. >> Okay. And then for R, um, it has board
attorney David Rubin. Why, um, are the other ones not listed? Because we, you know, sometimes we do have other attorneys that appear. >> Which one are you talking about >> for R? >> Which one? it says um board attorney and
then down at the bottom where it says labor attorney. It only has David Rubin, it doesn't have like the law firm itself. Um it like it specifies just him. Why is that? >> The labor attorney does say Bush Law Group. David Rubin of Bush Law Group,
>> right? But then why doesn't it say like Amanda or like the other ones that appear? >> Actually, I could just take David Rubin off and just say Bush Law Group. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Any other questions? [clears throat]
>> Right. >> The labor attorney is Mr. Rubin. Right. Thank you, Mr. Daniels. So, right, he is the labor attorney. So, pretty much anytime we have any labor issues, we do deal directly with Mr. Rubin, but we could just say Bush Law Group. But then
so board attorney he's when we have like a board issue we only deal with him. Is that what we're saying based on this? >> I mean te technically yes but but it is under the Bush Law Group umbrella. So the labor attorney is a little different because when we have a labor related
issue although David Rubin is part of the Bush Law Group we deal directly with David Rubin for those issues. >> All right. Thank you. Pull the board, please. >> Miss Boli, >> yes. >> Mr. Falco, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso,
>> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Laberty, >> yes. >> Miss Mhuri, >> yes. >> Mr. Weekes, >> yes. >> Miss Lans, >> yes. We will now move on to our student representatives report. >> Good evening and happy new year. We are
happy to be back with this evening's report on how the student body is doing. [clears throat] >> So, starting off, we wanted to highlight our um holiday drive-thru event which was held on Thursday, December 18th, where a variety of clubs and teams
set [clears throat] up holiday themed displays at the front of the school. With these displays, community members were able to drive through the front of the school and receive goodies from each stand. And this year, we're happy to report that around 20 organizations came out to participate. And we wanted to say thank you to all the members of the
community who helped set up as well as the student council. [clears throat] For an update on the senior class, the college application process is wrapping up with the majority of applications having been due on January 1st and some
of them being due today on January 5th. And many seniors are already hearing back from the colleges regarding their admissions decision and [clears throat] some of them have already actually committed to their college of choice. An update on winter sports. Boys
basketball has a successful start to their season, winning with a new head coach, leading the team to win against Lawrence High School 65 to 53. The boys also participated in the Spartan Classic tournament going 2 to1 during winter break. Congratulations to the coach and
the team and good luck on the rest of the season. As for indoor track girls, the girl indoor track seniors Carly Kelly, Maddie Kelly, and Asia Somers along with junior Jenna Notori said the second fastest time for the 4x2 relay in
school history. Wrestling won at the home quad on Saturday's match, beating Princeton 56-19, beating Arthur L. Johnson High School 66-6, and defeated Morristown 44 to31. Congratulations and good luck to both
boys and girls for the rest of the season. >> Next, for an update on the junior class, the junior planning meetings have begun to help students prepare for the next for next year's academic year. At the same time, the planning for next year's course selection is underway with some
teachers starting to discuss outlines for possible elective courses that they may offer. In terms of clubs, um the DECA club will be competing at regionals on Thursday, January 8th with students uh preparing to represent the school in a variety of
competitive events related to business. Additionally, the Coders Union Club will be hosting a hackathon on January 14th, providing students with an opportunity to apply their technical skills in a team-based environment. The seal of biiteracy exam is scheduled
for January 20th to 22nd. Students who successfully pass will receive a special design designation on their diploma highlighting their bilingual proficiency to colleges and future employers. This year, the exam is also being offered to juniors for the first time. A total of
84 students are registered to take the exam, the highest number of participants in test in the test history at Heightstown. This concludes our report. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for a great beginning of the year report. Um, does
anyone have any questions? >> Okay, we'll now move on to our superintendence report. [music] >> Hey, I may need to switch this out. >> Okay, good evening. Um, like to thank our student reps. Thank you for your report to begin the new year. I'd like
to also say happy new year to everyone. Welcome to 2026. Hope you had a joyful and rejuvenating uh winter break. So uh just to get things started this evening, I would like to congratulate those board of education members who were sworn in this evening. Look forward to working with
you this year to support the educational needs of our students. Uh I just want to call some attention to uh some student recognition as it relates to the uh the artist calendar, the district arts calendar that you should have each board member should have one in front of them.
So for I think the past couple of years, it's maybe our second or maybe third year that we've engaged in uh selecting student artwork to be a part of uh the district art calendar. So this is obviously a calendar for each month of 2026. We have 15 students represented.
So in addition to each month, it's also I think a back cover, front cover, inside cover, which gives us about 15 students. So um just to kind of celebrate their artwork, we're going to invite them to the board meeting on
January 26 and uh we're also going to invite their their their art educators that have supported them and guided them. So when you have an opportunity, put this somewhere where you see it prominently. Student reps, I'm going to get you two copies as well. These are we have digital copies actually on the website, but I'm going to get you two
hard copies as well. Actually, you can take mine tonight, one of you. So, um board members have an opportunity take a look. There's some amazing artwork here, uh representing all of our great levels within the school district. So, uh at our next board meeting, we will celebrate and recognize those very
talented uh student artists. In terms of the governance educator of the year uh recognition, if you recall, I I want to say about three weeks ago, we announced um the individuals from each of our schools. We have two for
each school um that we recognized this year. We're going to be inviting those individuals to be recognized uh at the February 23rd board of education meeting uh just to celebrate their uh achievement. I think it's a significant milestone to
be um kind of acknowledged and and recognized within each of their respective school communities for the amazing work that they do uh day in and day out. Uh the two um just to remind everyone the two awards for each of those schools go to obviously a more
traditional educator teacher and then we have an educational service professional who will be someone who kind of supports the work happening within our classrooms. He's a certificated uh staff member. So, it could be a counselor, child study team member uh or an educational assistant. So, we'll be celebrating those individuals during the
board of education meeting on February 23rd. This is an announcement regarding Genesis. This was sent out to the community. I want to say um it was probably during the break. So, this is our a student information system,
Genesis. It's not new to all of us, but sometimes as uh families are transitioning, it becomes more prominent as your child uh transitions to the middle school and high school, but obviously from a a parent portal standpoint, uh that is something that's pretty critical within the district. So,
we did engage in an update uh to our server process related to to Genesis in terms of how we're backing up and storing information. That did occur on December 29th. uh this information was sent out via email, but I'm just kind of putting out another reminder. So based on that change in terms of the
transition with the server, it it requires a new web address to access uh Genesis and that's actually for all staff, parents, and our students. Um so those new links can be can be found obviously through the email that was
sent out to the community, but they can also be found on the district's website, ewrsd.org. uh when you go to the website, click on parent guardian information. I'm talking specifically to our parent portal component and then obviously with the drop-own menu uh click on Genesis grade
portal information and you'll see the information that was shared via email on that page just to ensure that you access uh those new links. Some folks like to bookmark those those web addresses and you'll need to update your the web addresses that were bookmarked. Okay. uh
our student representatives eloquently uh highlighted the seal of biiteracy. I was going to plug it as well, so I don't need to plug it right now. So, I'm just proud that we do have um a cohort of students uh within our high school and it's great that they've opened it up to
our juniors in addition to our seniors. So definitely proud to have uh 84 interested and hopefully qualified uh students that will be participating in that assessment uh on January 20 20th through the 22nd. Uh I think that's a a
a really important piece of currency for our students to take with them upon graduating from high school. In conclusion, I just want to remind uh the community and our board that this is uh we're about to enter the throws of our our winter concert season. We did uh
begin that process prior to winter break. Uh but we are going to be uh in it starting this week with the middle school concerts. So, we have concerts uh starting tomorrow, eighth grade concert. Uh and then on Wednesday, we have the
seventh grade concert and then we have the sixth grade concert on Thursday. Those concerts all begin at 700 p.m. in the Melvin H. Creps Auditorium. Uh whether you have a student at the middle school or not, I I I would recommend uh availing yourself to one of those or if
not all of those concerts. It'll be very impressive. Um, next week, uh, we'll transition to our elementary concerts. So, we have our, uh, Grace and Rogers school. Uh, those performances will be, two of them
will be here at Heightstown High School. So, our fifth grade concert will be on January 13th beginning at 6 p.m. Our fourth grade concert will be here at on January 14th beginning at 6 p.m. Those will both take place in the high school
auditorium. The concert series at uh for GNR will conclude on January 15th at 6 PM, but this will be back at Grace San Rogers Elementary School. The following week, uh we'll have our
PLLD concerts, our Perial Drew, and same rhythm. Uh January 20th at 6 PM, the fifth grade concert will be held here, Heights High School in the auditorium. the on January 21st at 6 pm, the fourth
grade concert will be held here again uh in the Heightstown High School auditorium and then the Perry Drew grade three concert will take place on January 22nd beginning at 6 p.m. But that that third grade concert will be back at
Perry Drew School. Um, and I will just throw in there, I missed something for this week, and there's a two two other things that are middle school, high school related. So, [clears throat] we have the, uh, the
grades 6 through 12 uh, Hickory Corner Library 2D art exhibit, uh, which will run at the Mercy County Library, Hickory Corner. That will run from January 5th through the 31st of this month. And then uh a high school um performance will
have our rock band night. And that'll take place on January 9th, Friday, beginning at 700 p.m. uh in the HHS cafeteria. I'm not sure which one it is. I think it's cafeteria R. Um but uh rock band night, Friday, January 9th at 700
p.m. I just rattled off a lot of events. I did that deliberately. one um I wanted to see who was writing that down feverishly but but more importantly I wanted to highlight the amazing uh things that are happening involving our students beyond the school day uh from a
co-curricular standpoint. So I just think it really speaks volumes to uh the amazing work that's happening within each of our schools. Uh that information though that I shared can also be found on the district's website uh ewrsd.org.
Um, I would go to departments. You click on departments. The first uh item on that drop-own menu will take you to our visual performing arts page. And that information is all displayed there. There's a pretty comprehensive calendar that highlights uh things that are occurring each month. And with that
said, that concludes my report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mark. Does anyone have any questions? Okay, then we'll move on to item number six. A first opportunity for board member comments. Does any board members
have any comments they wish to Jessica? >> Just want to say congratulations to everyone else um that was elected and that I'm excited to jump in and get started and work with everyone. Thank you.
Oh, Michael, go ahead. >> Uh, welcome aboard and uh, looking forward to a good year. >> I second that. Welcome back for our returning board members and welcome Jessica. It's great to have you. So,
here's to a great 2026. Um, so we will now move on to item 6B, our first opportunity for public comment. Are there any members of the public that wish to speak? Okay. Um there being none, um we will move on to executive session
and um we'll be we'll be out for about 15 minutes. Thank you. Right, welcome back everybody. Um, we're going to now proceed to item 8A, old business. We have nothing listed under old
business today. Um, but if board members could just reference our weekly um, email from Mark, we have our all of our uh, future Board of Ed meetings and our committee meetings are listed in that email. So may Paul we can put these put
those in here for next time for next meeting. Um I have a question. When we um said that certain dates don't work for us I guess. Is it like if there's a um a whole bunch of people that they don't work is that
when it's changed or Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. little real. If there's the majority of us can't make it, then obviously we would have to change the date. Any other questions? Little business. Okay. Um we'll move on to item 9A, our second [clears throat]
opportunity for board member comments. Any members of the board wish to speak? There being none, we'll move on to our second opportunity for public comments. Any members of the public wish to speak? There being none, we'll move on to item
10. >> Mandated mandated [clears throat] policies for first reading. Item A, policy 2535, library material. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> Pull the board, please.
>> [music] >> Miss Polei. >> Yes. >> Mr. Falco. >> Yes. >> Miss Laruso. >> Yes. >> Miss Patel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Labry. >> Yes. >> Miss Mahiri? >> Yes. >> Mr. Weekes? >> Yes.
>> Miss Lans? >> Yes. >> Item 11. Mandated regulations for first reading. Item A, regulation 2535, library material. >> Second. >> Any questions?
>> Pull the board, please. >> Miss Boli, >> yes. >> Mr. Defalco, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Ly, >> yes. >> Miss Maheri, >> yes. >> Mr. Weeks, >> yes. Miss Lans.
>> Yes. [clears throat] Item 12, >> recommended policies for first reading. Item A, policy 0155.1, board member participation at BOE meetings using electronic devices. Item B, policy 2530, resource materials. Item
C, policy 9130, public complaints. >> Second. >> Any questions? I do have a question. Um I think it was last year, the year before the policy committee uh um took on the project of
reviewing all the policies. Did we um did the policy committee get a chance to review like all of them for a first reading kind of or is that project still going on? Okay.
All right. Thank you. Okay, pull the board, please. >> Miss Boli, >> yes. >> Mr. Falco, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Laberty,
>> yes. >> Miss Mhery, >> yes. >> Mr. Weeks, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Item 13. Motion to approve routine items by exception. Having read the materials received, I move that the board approve
the routine agenda items as submitted. Item A, staffing for January 5th, 2026. Item B, HIV report from December 8th, 2025. Item C, approve travel and related expenses. Item D, approve for HHS scholarship applications for seniors.
Item E, approve HHS overnight ski trip to Lake George, New York, February through March, February to March 2026. Item F, out of district uh placement. Item G, transportation quote and bid approval. Item H, transportation jointer
approval. Item I, approve request to use the competitive RFP process. Item J, approve professional service contract. Item K, bid award, HHS HVAC administration wing. Item L, board meeting approval, uh, board meeting
minutes approval. Item M, report of the board secretary and financial report for November 2025. Item N, expense and transfer reports of school monies report for November 2025. And item O, bill list of January 5th, 2026.
>> Second. >> Any questions? >> Question on. >> Sorry, you can go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you. Um item number I approve request to use competitive RFP
process. Can you just clarify to me what is that? And it's saying it's consolidating some system software. If you could just explain what that is. Thank you. >> Yes. So so um a couple different things.
So, this is the RFP process is really just the we're in the process of um identifying a need and the RFP process is us actually put putting that out there and we're in this is we're asking the board to approve that. A couple
things are happening right now. We are using multiple different platforms. For example, front line is a platform that we're using to kind of serve as the umbrella uh for our um our appllet track processes which is
our applicants seeking a position in the district. We're also using it for our evaluation model uh our certificated and also our non-certificated evaluation model. And then we have an absence management software under that umbrella
as well. We also have something called systems 3000 which is kind of our uh a model that we use to uh manage our personnel information as well as our business office uses it for uh kind of like their day-to-day operations. So
we're looking to uh see if we can streamline that maybe engage in in one um one platform that can accommodate those needs. What that will do is one, it makes life a little easier between
the personnel, curriculum, and business office if we can identify something that can kind of streamline that. And then in two, that will potentially have some cost savings for us. So therefore, we're not dealing with different vendors. We're looking to potentially engage in
one that can kind of serve those needs. So right now, the RFP process will say, as a school district, here's what we're seeking. And then we're going to see if we have vendors that can kind of meet those needs for us to engage in that process. That's really what this is represent representing
right now. Looking to streamline that and see if there are vendors out there that will um kind of put their hat in the ring as it were to say here's what we can we can uh offer you. And then we'll look to determine if there's someone who we think can alleviate the
need for us to have multiple vendors that are kind of engaged in that process. All right. So this is just a this is just us really determining are there vendors out there that we think based on the description that we're going to put out there vendors who are interested in saying we'd like to have
your business as it were. But it's really kind of looking to streamline in particular some personnel platforms and our business office platforms and look to see if we can merge those and streamline that in a way that we think is a little bit more efficient. All right. So we'll be seeking the beads for
these vendors coming through and perform and giving you some idea of how they can consolidate the it could take a couple of years. I'm assuming it's not >> it won't No, it's not going to take that long. It's not even going to be bids of sorts. is going to be um you know us
indicating that um we're going to say here's what we're seeking >> and then we're going to put that out there to see which companies are are interested and then the the bid process is usually lowest bid. This is going to
be more so us saying here are some specifications that we would like to to see and then we'll make a determination regarding scoring those potential vendors to determine if we're looking to adopt a different platform. All right. So we'll provide an
update. This we're looking to get this done in the next couple of months to be quite honest with you. >> Okay. And that would also affect the website as well. This is different. This is specifically related to um the the I'll just say the platform connected to the the human resources
department, the business office and the curriculum department. So this will happen. We'd like to see see how this process will take place in the next two months. And then we'll look to see if we can streamline um the need to have so many different
vendors kind of curtail that which will make life easier we think in terms of from a usability standpoint but also we think there'll be some cost savings as well that'll come from that. >> All right. >> We are looking around other district to see what type of platform they're using. >> There's not that many. Yeah, there's not
that many platforms. So, we're looking to see the the we're going to say here's what we need and then we'll see the vendors that will kind of put their hat in a ring and then we'll score them to determine what we think the appropriate uh vendor will be moving forward. Okay. >> Thank you, Mark.
>> Just if I could follow up. So, in state procurement, New Jersey state procurement, there's often a an RFI, request for information. It's to get the vendors notified that you're intending to seek bids on something and asking for actually their
input to here's what we think your system should do along with what you think you would like to do. Um, so it's a give a little give and take. There's no obligation on their part, but you get a sense of who's in who's ready to play.
But then based on the RFP, the RFP spells out what the scoring criteria is. So it's still fair, competitive, um, objective, finance. You know, the money is part of it, but the other scoring is is uh
sometimes equal part of it. Is that kind of how this will play out? >> Yeah. I mean, yeah, this is basically saying we have a need. we've got some um some criteria surrounding that need and then based on that potential vendors will then express their interest in saying oh we think we can we can
accommodate those needs you've indicated to us. We will then determine who's shown interest and then we will score those those potential vendors to determine who we think will be an appropriate fit based on the criteria that's put forward. But this is more so specifically connected to trying to
streamline based on the software connected to the personnel payroll and accounting services in the district. So, uh it doesn't Yeah, you're right. It does not mean that we are obligated. We're just indicating that we are seeking [clears throat]
um you know, possible interest in vendors who think that they meet the criteria for what we think we're we're leveraging. So the RFP process, we will out we'll lay that out there to say here's what we need. You know, here's the criteria that's surrounding that
need and then we'll determine who we think is an appropriate fit. So we're just exploring ways in which we could potentially streamline some of the uh current software that we're utilizing within the school district. All right, >> any other questions?
Pull the board, please. >> Miss Boli, >> yes. >> Mr. Defalco, >> yes. >> Miss Laruso, >> yes. >> Miss Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Lavy, >> yes. >> Miss Mccuri, >> yes. >> Mr. Weeks,
>> yes. >> Miss Lans, >> yes. Okay, we have no need for a second executive session this evening. So that will conclude our meeting.