##VIDEO ID:xL3dMOqc9t0## e e e e e good evening welcome to a regular meeting of the East spor Regional School District Board of Education written advance 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 meeting has been given in accordance with law minutes of this meeting are being kept by the board secretary and will be made available promptly to any member of the public requesting them from the board secretary at 25A lean Lane heightstown New Jersey minutes will be provided at cost and in accordance with board policy are there any board members present who believe this meeting to be in violation of the open public meeting act there being none we may proceed in compliance with the fire code of the state of New Jersey I call your attention to the emergency exits for the Ser which you're located in the back inside please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance IC having read the materials received I move the agenda be approved as submitted second hold the board please M Drake yes Miss Lans yes Miss Murphy yes Miss boli yes Mr weeks yes Miss Patel yes Miss Kia yes Miss Luso yes um item d be resolve that the East Windsor Regional School District May hold two closed sessions at this meeting these closed sessions concern Personnel Hib report and negotiations minutes of these closed sessions will be made available to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists second any questions hold the board please M Drake yes Miss Lans yes Miss Murphy yes Miss Bol yes Mr weeks yes Miss Patel yes Miss col yes m Russo yes now move on to our student representative report um good evening everyone unfortunately sanj lost his voice due to illness and could not attend today so it will just be me but I have lots of activities to report to you regarding our student body so the end of the marking period was last Friday representing the end of the year's first quarter as always we hope for students and parents and Guardians to monitor there's child's academic progress and recognize future room for improvement as we head into marking period too marking excuse me marking period one report cards will be out soon as graves will be finalized this Friday moving on to winter sports winter sports will be starting very very soon with tryouts and we are so excited to see these teams of hardworking athletes represent our school there are currently interest meetings this week for spring Sports such as basket sorry such for winter sports such as baseball and Lacrosse so be on the lookout for these meetings a small update on Fall Athletics we are happy to share that senior Burke Thompson competed at the meet of Champions the highest cross country competition Statewide and finished 54th out of 159 runners in the state so congratulations to him we'd also like to highlight a major accomplishment from our height toown high school cheerleading team not only did they win first place at Burlington spiritfest but they ALS also are the 2024 CVC Grand champions for the second year in a row taking first place in both their divisions winning best cheer and having the highest score of the championship we would love to congratulate the entire team and the coaches Mrs E and Miss Flynn for this accomplishment and wish them all the best in their upcoming competitions moving on to the fall drama we are excited to share that our fall drama has worked so hard for their performance and will be starting this Thursday night the play she kills m monsters is a story about connection acceptance and love all told through the lens of Dungeons and Dragons featuring '90s pop culture references and exciting stage combat she kills monsters is one you don't want to miss she kills monsters will be performed November 21st through November 23rd at 700 p.m. and then November 24th at 2:00 p.m. tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students so be sure to spread the word about the show and come attend on November 11th the annual senior versus junior P Junior Powderpuff game was hosted and our Juniors won 53 to 49 this sporting event is much anticipated so we'd like to commend all the players and coaches for their hard work practice and dedication because this event was such success we are even looking at opportunities to host a spring Powder Puff where all grades can participate as suggested via our suggestion box so stay tuned for that tomorrow the school administration student council and representative um class councils will be hosting their grade level meetings the purpose of these meetings includes following up on the usage of Vapes within our schools reflecting on the words of Timothy Shoemaker from a past town hall meeting um also reviewing first marking period performance identifying Trends we are seeing and highlighting tips for improving grades along with critical deadlines especially for seniors this Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the heightstown height sown High School auditorium Juniors and parents of juniors are invited to attend the junior planning meeting that the counseling department is hosting this meeting will cover various topics related to post-secondary education testing and college readiness so please make sure to attend if anyone has more questions please refer to the website for additional details now speaking about college this last Wednesday was the national Signing Day and we are proud to announce that senior Penelope sworn has committed and signed her letter of intent to playing Division 1 basketball at Howard University next year we are very proud of her and are looking forward to our other athlete commitments which will be taking place in the spring we would also like to congratulate our heightstown debate team for placing fourth just last weekend in the CBC tournament they had an incredible season this year with a total of nine wins and we are excited to see what they do next we'd also like to take the opportunity to commend our peer group connection leaders for PGC leaders for hosting the center for supportive schools which is the parent Organization for PGC here at heightstown together our peer leaders facilitated authentic and positive dialogue about the benefits of peer-to-peer mentoring and what PGC means for themselves and the school Community it was extremely well received and we want them to know how proud We Are of the mentoring they give to a student body that concludes the end of our report thank you for listening to our report and I look forward to seeing you again at the next meeting that was a jamack report does anyone have any questions thank you so much um now we'll move on to superintendent report okay good evening everyone I'm going to change the the format I'm going to ask the board to change the format to the um student representative SL superintendent report moving forward uh I don't have much to to add to to that outstanding report that sahana provided to us so thank you Sahan um I have a few small things I don't even know how to follow that I mean what can I say here um I will just mention that the district calendar for the uh 2025 26 school year is in the process of being finalized and the uh intent is to ask the board to approve that at the December 9th meeting uh so stay tuned for that uh also on at the December 9th meeting like to Brad an update regarding our strategic goal um process namely the action plans that have been developed for uh the current school year so the action steps I would like to call them so um the administration will be presenting that information uh on December 9th be a combination of what's happening at the district level some of the the goal areas are more specifically geared towards uh some District initiatives and steps in addition to what's happening at the building level so uh there'll be a presentation on December 9th this week we're in the process of concluding our fall parent teacher conferences I just want to take a moment to thank our teachers for uh taking the time to prepare and meet with families to provide an update to dat regarding uh the progress of students uh throughout each of our schools so um for this week we have a middle school session remaining uh I believe that's on Wednesday November 20th and also on the 21st we have our remaining Elementary uh conferences taking place for both of those days for each of those schools uh should I say School levels so November 20th we'll have an early dismissal schedule at the middle school and on November 21st there'll be an early dismissal at the elementary level we'll send out some reminders uh within the next couple of days also quick plug I I'll give a shout out and just a reminder for the for drama I'm not going to repeat what zahana said okay go to the fall drama it starts this week on Thursday runs on Thursday Friday Saturday uh we also like to congratulate our cheer team for their continued success during The Fall season uh I was also going to give uh Penelope uh you know some congratulations for signing her letter of intent uh to play at Howard University definitely a significant Milestone look forward to her um playing her last year uh here uh for high school during the upcoming winter season uh so with that said as we approach the Thanksgiving season uh time of gratitude I'd just like to wish everyone a very safe and enjoyable time with friends and loved ones thank you does anyone have any questions and we will move on first opportunity for board member comments do any board members have any comments or anything they want to share I just wanted to reate congratulations to Burke Thompson I think this was his first season running cross country and he um made it all the way to the end so congratulations it was a great season for him else okay everyone's sure all right first opportunity for public comment is there anyone from the public who wishes to speak that being done we will move on to Executive session we should be gone approximately 20 to 30 minutes and then we'll be back e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e okay the board's back in session um item six is old business a is the committee meeting dates for next year do we have I don't see any there's none for December right is policy committee going to meet in December we are okay a that's ni um is there any questions on I guess this will get updated then to include the the one add right now December 9th there'll be a policy committee meeting policy committee also met tonight so technically we should have uh had November 18th and December 9th um Item B we have a placeholder for the njla if there's um from the presentation from the last meeting if there's any followup does anyone have any questions or follow up I just have one um question last time we talked about njsla and student um achievement we talked about um and I know last year we had tutors and and different programs that we were um in addition to the things that we talked about um in the classroom um is that something that we are doing again I don't remember um is that something we're doing again is there any other um out of the classroom supports so so we're not doing the tutoring in the same format that we had it last year although Varsity Tutors the uh resources in on demand tutoring is still available virtual right virtual students still have access to that um beyond the school day support we are leveraging our Title One funds to provide some some small group reinforcement and supplemental work to students um but in terms of the the um the structure that we have with Varsity last year in addition to the on demand support uh and the homework catalog or resources we still have that in place but we don't have the specific tutor where for example Tina L would be my tutor and I coordinate that schedule with with Tina we don't have that this year any other questions can we just keep that on Old business um just in case I didn't have personally I did not have a lot of time to delve into it the last few weeks thanks item C is tenative 2025 um school board meeting dates if everyone can MO you and if you know now that you have um a conflict Please let Paul know well the one that this will be on our reor agenda the important date is really January six that has to be set in stone because you have to reord within seven days of the start of the year that the only definitive date has uh moving on to item seven second second opportunity for board member comments are there any board members anything to share going to talk about the policy committee meeting that we just had so policy committee um continues to forge through um the policies that um we have in existence now uh we have a whole list uh that sh SME went through and let us know which ones they thought needed to be revised we've really been reviewing all of them so today um we continue that process of reviewing a couple of more of the uh uh policies that we'd already looked that each individual member had looked at um and then we um had there was a policy alert that comes out from Strauss asme um and so we looked at some of those policies that actually overlapped some of the ones that we'd already reviewed and so uh we're looking to uh get that group of policies on the agenda uh for December so the committee will meet but also review them in between uh to uh make any comments that we need to make is is there any update on the the graduation policy that was the one that was approved back in I forget the date wasn't the one that was on the weite you know what um I did follow up with a policy consultant regarding that and I believe that what whatever was approved on March 2023 should be what's up there so I'm going to just follow up on that because that's the one should should be posted so then I was trying to find out what happened like what what you know what the confusion was in terms of what was approved so um actually let me just double check right now let check y so then the one that was approved allows environmental science to be taken instead of physics right if it's the three years I don't have to double check so looking at right now it appears that the uh policy that was approved by the board in March 2023 this appears to be the version of it it looks like we um uploaded it in October 2024 all right so that question that you posed let me take a look at that and I'll I'll definitely get back to you okay I just want to make sure I'm going to close read this right now to make sure absolutely all right this should this appears that this reflects what was March 2023 quickly glancing at it it looks like it does thank you for bringing that up actually are there any other questions um the policy committee now actually what I didn't also say was that we reviewed the policy that is on the agenda tonight for first reading the acceptable use of generative AI are there any other board comments no second opportunity for public comment anyone from the public who wishes to speak being n we will move on to item eight recommended policies for first reading a policy 2365 cable use of generative artificial intelligence AI second any questions hold the board please miss Drake yes Miss Lans yes yes Miss broli yes Miss weeks yes Miss Mr Miss Patel yes Miss kie yes Miss laruso yes item nine motion to approve routine items by exception having read the materials received I move that the board approve the routine agenda items as submitted a staffing November 18th 2024 B ewea sidebar for Best Buddies C HIV report from October 28th 2024 D representative assembly at the es andj e approve travel and related expenses virtual and in person F approve new field trip sites for upcoming trips G approve G&R Surplus library books for disposal or donation H approve heightstown High School Surplus library books for disposal or donation I add a district placement J Transportation K 2024 to 2025 health and safety checklists of school buildings L M1 worksheet comprehensive maintenance plan m board meeting minutes for October 28th 2024 n executive session board minutes October 28th 2024 o board um excuse me report of the board secretary and financial report September of 2024 ke expense and transfer reports of school monies report for September 2024 and Q Bill list of November 18th 2024 second any questions I I do so first I want to say congratulations Mr Daniels on D for being the representative assembly of the educational no I'm like wow that's pretty cool so can you give more details is that something that they pursued you is that something that you had to to get but also why is it a short term can't hear [Music] you so so just sharing thank you uh Jean by the way so it's not yes they pursued me okay I was feeling pretty um positive about this so so the long story short of it um the Ed Services Commission he really housed out middle 6 County and um their role is to provide support to school districts to offic cost as best they can so they're not they operate in a little bit of a different way and they don't get their money directly from taxpayer dollars they're getting them kind of after districts have money and they're looking for services for students whether it's out District placement or some related service in terms of needs could be Transportation so they kind of they they they actually um uh have reached across the entire State at this point they kind of built their credibility up over time so because they house M County they have a board of directors uh instead of an elected board uh like most school districts have um the majority of of the board of directors are superintendents in midd County because that's their Hub and they Ser as those school districts however they they also serve as school districts Beyond middle six County so they are required to have representation from I think four to five school districts they reached out to us as the school district because we do send students uh to some of their Affiliated schools they out of District placement so I thought they were reaching out to me because they thought it was so amazing what I learned quickly after meeting with them is that in addition to that they also recognized that in Mera County we are I think their second um sending School District so uh that was I think the main reason they reached out so the the fact that it's short they lost someone it used to be uh I think the mercy County representative was from I think Robinsville and um they have to the way to the um the way that it's structured is it it cannot exceed June so they they operate from like a July to June window so they reached out to me um so this would reflect my time with them through June it could extend but they have to kind of cap it you know in June and reset for the following you well congratulations you're doing big things oh thank you Jean thank you very much I just had a question on the senior trip is that new to rockella sensor it is I mean unless there used to be a boat trip from from that area so I don't know if we're adding Rockefeller Senate to the bo or is it replacing it you want is replacing it okay okay so it's it's going to be in the summer instead like in May instead of the boat trip you want to speak to this please yeah um no so we we put out a survey to students and um some of our student seniors came up with the idea of going to Rockefeller Center I think June I mean uh December is there a date on that I think there should be a maybe just the approval of the site so in December is when they're going to go so right around the holidays with the tree lighting and things like that so it's be placing the boat trip um that's kind of what our plan is right now well I'm surprised they want to replace the boat trip with this but the the well the boat trip was great except the boat trip it took almost an hour and 40 minutes to get there at that time of day it's it's long and uh last year the weather was not great you really dependent on the weather so it was nice certain years but uh we just take a break from it I think revisit so this was all generated by the senior class officers and do we have stuff for like students with disabilities to be able to absolutely participate yes we'll open it up um you know we'll probably take at least a bus load of students as our goal thank you you're welcome so so just so I'm clear this this stage of the process is really getting the location I didn't see we have not communicated any information to students in the senior class any details yet no details so that and actually we're going tomorrow in our senior class meetings we're going to talk about the tenative date we just we need to get the site approved because the site was not approved the first first proc and then we'll line up just events to do when we go there also so we're looking at itinerary yes sir and we'll bring that back to get it officially approved good thank I have a question while does so then the seniors wouldn't have a trip in the spring do they know that like do they know that this is their trip and this would be I'll find out tomorrow I'll get back to what they know I think they do know honestly they kind of they talked not that they ever went on the boat trip but I think it's it kind of lost a little bit of its luster over time I think so there wasn't a big push to have that but um it's not I wouldn't really say you know the boat trip was more like an event than a trip I mean no I know but I mean I was I guess I'm thinking more because all of the the the trip or the activity is toward the end of the year when they're celebrating being a senior and like this is great but this is December like you have a a long time yeah this is great we celebrate it and now it's like May and we're just staring at each other well we're really actually we have a really hard time finding a time to go on the boat because so many things are at the end I me I didn't I didn't yeah I just met in general like I know that I know that heightstown struggles to do um like an overnight like a Disney or all of what a lot of the surrounding districts do um I just thought an event or an activity also in the spring just when it's closer to I mean aside from prom just that's what I was thinking I think you I'll get honestly I'd have to get back to you I think the senior class um officers in the class they're still working on and it's easy they can add something at any time so it's not that complicated so I think they're working on they actually were exploring even they were talking about doing an overnight trip and there was not as much interest in that again so is from what I've heard from some seniors that live in my house um great I think one of the big at least from what I'm hearing I think one of the big issues with the the trips is the financial aspect right that's what's keeping a lot of it's definitely def absolutely it's significant we also have you know the band the band choir and drama goes to Disney the cheerleaders go to Disney um so there's a large number of people that already have a commitment and then um you you all know you supported that our Deca tends to travel regionals and then they end up going to National somewhere so there is a lot and then you know there's some other summer trips so I do think that finding that time is difficult also because there's so we do have so many events in the spring so we need to squeeze that in but they're going to look at it and again this is being driven by student interests they're the ones that came up with the idea the good Rockefeller Center so um if there's an interest with going on the cruise we easily can revisit that you know we don't ever have it finalized at this time of the year um in the past also thank you sure I think I have sorry followup questions to this this so this would be for this holiday season meaning yes are we going to be able to pull that off because we won't get an approval until December 8th 9th yes and secondly it I'm sure these details will come out when we have the itinerary but will this be during the week on a like a week day in the evening or during the day because I cannot see a bus of high school students going to the city on a Friday a Saturday or a Sunday during holiday season it's just not safe I would have major concerns over safety because you're coralled in like cattle literally we haven't had a the date yet or time set up so we are just working on the getting the site approved and then we were looking at what day I think actually we were talking about like an afternoon maybe leave school early on in the afternoon I think it was actually a Friday we were 10 if be looking at because there's no athletic games that day I do have concerns about the Friday though for security reasons just keeping that in mind we we'll see what the itinerary holds thanks sure I I had a question uh py back TOA a comment so will you have like if you in a Rockefeller are you going to be able to keep the kids in one spot or they will be like scattered all over here's what here's what I'm going to suggest we do let's revisit this I need to gather some information okay and just another question and I know these are on here often but the out of District placements is I I understand like at the beginning of the school year we would have it throughout the year why do we keep adding that makes sense that's a good question some of it's related to tuition payments actually most of the time it's related to tuition payments and then uh other times we have students that may be Rec recommended to go out of District during the school year and then other times we have students that are moving into the school district like there's a few students on here right now one in particular who transferred uh into the district and they are um recommended to be at another District placement so that's typically the Rhythm some of it's kind of like tuition payments um that that are buil throughout the year thank you but in this instance we have we have several students who are also um under the homeless umbrella as well that that that that building occurs so are we taking the trip off the agenda or we keeping it I think right now all you're doing is approving the site just the location not approving the actual trip itself but a potential field trip location there any other questions no the board please M Drake yes Miss Lans yes Miss Murphy um yes but I have four abstains so abstain to b and d and then Mr Daniel's line of 9 M and then line 32 of 9 a hel if you I have an update regarding swim if you want does it make a difference for you let's see well the the the numbers justify that the assistant coach for the girls team we we do not have an assistant for the boys okay um I'm still going to abstain just because from the numbers that we were given in March Allentown has more girls than we do so I'm just not sure about what the breakdown should be of how many coaches Allentown supplying versus us so because I don't have the full picture I'm just going to feel more comfortable seeing so did you just give me those again nine b and d b d and then m 9 M oh yes M um and then line 32 a just what I have is about 30 girls 11 boys 7 to 10 from allent town total 30 you said 30 girls 30 girls total and this this is these are all generalities but based on Genesis looks 30 girls 11 boys it appears that there's a total of seven to 10 students from alltown like boyss I believe it's the way it's written I believe that's a combination but I will confirm that okay well those are better numbers well fewer girls and then March more boys so because I again just because I don't know numbers I'm I'm going tostain right now broli yes Mr weeks yes Miss Patel yes Miss Kalia yes Miss laruso yes um there's no need for a second exact session motion to adjourn have a I hope everyone has a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving break thanks good night