Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call. Mr. To >> Mr. Vichel Patel >> here. >> Miss Pang >> here. >> Mr. Shei >> here. >> Miss White
>> here. Miss Angina Patel, >> Mr. Lugo >> here, >> Mr. Ronak Patel >> here, >> Mr. Erico >> here, >> Mr. Azerillo, >> you have a quorum. >> Opening statement.
>> Yes. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, public law 1975 C231 Sunshine Law, the Edison Township Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted in the Board of Education administrative administrative offices and posted on the
board's website. >> Thank you. In accordance with NGSA section 10412, Edison Township Board of Education adjuns to confidential session for the purpose of discussing the following personal matters, legal matters. Um motion to adjend to
privilege session. >> Motion. >> All in favor, >> President. >> We should be back in probably 10 15 minute. We have a quick update from the superintendent. Thank you. So, yeah, before we break the close session, I'm not sure if this affects it or not, but I'd like to make a motion to
unt session. Untable the resolution for the termination of the townage property. >> Oh, the the vote to executive session's already occurred. We're we're in executive session now. When we come back, you can you can make the motion.
>> Okay, fair enough. Thank you. reconvene to open session. Uh we'll start with superintendent comments. >> Great. >> Thank you so much uh board president Patel. Uh I just have one uh comment tonight um in relationship to um teacher
appreciation week as well as nurses week. Um, I'll make my formal comments in relationship to this as uh May 19th at board of education meeting we will be we will be honoring uh our teachers of the year and teacher recognition. Uh a great way to celebrate the uh very talented staff that we have here in uh
Edison Township public schools and it's an honor and privilege to work alongside of them each and every single day. >> Thank you. Next we next one is president's comment. I just want to wish all the high schooler good luck for the AP exam. Next two weeks are AP exam for all the high schoolers. And next I'd
like to invite Miss Selena, EHS student rep. >> Okay. Hello everyone. My name is Selena Lewong. I am the vice president of student council at Edison High School. And I want to start off today is Mr. Ross' birthday. So congratulations to him. And I want to talk about this
year's um senior of the month. So to this May it's um Samita Vijara Kumar and um Bryce Hickerson and next month is um I forgot the name. Wait, I'll do it
next month. But yeah, so um this week is teacher appreciation week. So yesterday the student council board came into the school at 6:30 a.m. setting up a big breakfast for the whole staff, including the security guards, custodians, everyone was welcome, all staff. And then today was Mr. Ross's birthday. So,
admin was in charge of that. Tomorrow, we are doing a popcorn day. So, we are having teachers make their own flavored popcorn while watching a little video, a thank you video made by the students at Edison High School. Um, we can release that soon on our Instagram. And then,
um, Thursday, it's a dirty soda bar. It does not sound like it sounds. Um, it's where teachers make their own flavor of soda, so they can have a little fun, um, drink throughout the day. And then Friday, it's the woo cart. So, we get coffee from Waw Wa and we put it on the cart and with other little snacks and
then us bored we dress up in inflatables. Last year I was like a clown or a mushroom. I forgot. But um we dress up as an inflatable and we run around yelling whoop whoop and then teachers come out if they want coffee or if they want a little snack for the day. So we just want to show our thanks. We
don't want to just give you like a lotion or a chapstick. We actually want to show you something that we appreciate about you. So we give you fun snacks and little messages from the students. And then also about May, it's a big month for seniors. Um May 1st was commitment day. I'm committed to Middle Sex. Um
none of these is committed to Skidmore and um Love and my president is committed to Boston University. And then also um Rudra Patel is committed to a college in New York called Bernard College, I think. Um so yeah. And then
also we have our senior prom this month at um the Marra Golden Somerset on May 29th. Senior skip day is June 1st, but the the student council board is not participating in senior skip day because we are going to Six Flags for a field trip where all the student councils
within New Jersey meet at um Six Flags and we have a big celebration of all the money we raised for the charity of this year which was um Crisis Canines. So, Crisis Canines is a charity where all the all the um crisises that happen
within New Jersey, the charity sends um canines as a response and support unit for those who went through a crisis. And then also we have a spirit week and then May 22nd is our um pep rally, spring pep rally. So that day we are celebrating
commitment day because our college counselors weren't able to come there May 1st. So that's the day we all wear our little t-shirts and have fun and take pictures. And that's also, I think, our bow of the classes day. So if you want to come, you can show out to that. Also, last week there was a few um
senior nights for sports like boys volleyball, um boys lacrosse, and today was actually girls lacrosse senior night, which is why Loveven isn't here and I'm here. And I just came from there, so the traffic was kind of hard to get over here from there. I found out
at 5:35. So, I got here in time. I thought I missed it, but luckily I made it in time. So, yeah, that's it. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, next is public comments resolution only. >> Um, board president, before we open the public comments, I would like to make
the motion to the board that we removed from the table the resolution that we had terminating the contract for the town property. So, I'd like to make a motion to remove that resolution from the table. Okay. Do we have a second? >> Second.
>> Roll call. Dr. Mr. To. >> I have a motion by Mr. Luke and this is to untal resolution. Okay. Uh, Mr. Vishel Patel. >> Yes. >> Miss Pang,
>> no. >> Mr. She >> no >> Miss White. >> Yes. >> Miss Anja Patel not here. Sorry. Uh Mr. Lugo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ronac Patel.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Ralph Ero. >> No. >> Mr. Azerillo. >> No. >> Motion fails. >> Motion does not pass. >> 44. Motion does not pass. >> Did I say fails? You said motion passed.
It sounded like >> No, I said fails. Fails with an F. >> Okay. Oh, next is public comments resolution only. >> Okay. Do you have a motion to end public comments? >> Motion to close. >> Second.
>> Okay. Come on up. So this is resolution only >> items only. >> Recognize yourself please. >> Huh? >> Name and address. >> Crystal there's only one resolution which is a reappoint. You understand that?
>> I understand. I understand that you guys didn't put an agenda in the back and and I've been trying to figure out what the what it is and >> Okay. Can you say your name and address please before you say anything? >> Absolutely. Name and address uh for a
good time. Nine Finch Court. Am I recognized? >> Yes, you are. >> Yes. Thank you. Hell yeah, Jerry. Um, so it's just an appointment. >> Yes. >> An appointment of who? >> All the staff.
>> Several people. >> All the staff. >> All the staff. >> Okay. Okay. Um, I would assumed it was like the land deal or or increasing the budget. That's why I'm just so confused. I wish there
was an agenda in the back. Um, yeah. And >> public comments will come later. >> Oh, no. I know. I know. But sometimes by the time my time hits, sometimes members
of the public, they might want to talk about the agenda. I just didn't want you to shut it down so quickly cuz there there's no reason everyone has to leave so fast. I hardly ever see you guys and you know, let's hang out together a little longer,
you know. God bless America. Um but yeah, all right. We can we can appoint all of them. I'm I'm all right with appointing all of them. Um, just as long as you increase the budget one and a half% 2% more.
I'm okay with it. Um, I'm really here for something. I'm going to talk about it during the public comment. >> I mean, do you have anything to talk about the motion? >> Yeah, I support I I I I support appointing each and every one of those people. I wish I had the agenda in front
of me so I can look at each and every one of their names so I could say, "Yeah, I agree with that appointment. I agree with that appointment." But everything we we do, it seems like it's behind closed doors. Um,
you know, how can I object to someone's name? I don't even see their name, you know. Um, I would have objected but on each and every one of them, but I can't. it's not in front of me, you know. Uh but yeah,
I just I just hope that all these appointments that they're not DEI hires. The last thing we need here in Edison, New Jersey, is some DEI hire, some racist that pretends to be an anti-racist um
saying all this radicalized racist propaganda. We don't need we don't need that here. We don't need that here. Um yeah, hopefully we don't hire somebody like the Sville janitor through the Oh,
through the chair. Uh Jerry Jerry, so recently this uh Serville High School, Serville, New Jersey, Serville janitor was >> Sir, this is not an agenda item. Please constrain your comments to the agenda items. >> I'm just saying I don't want to hire I I don't want you guys to hire these. >> These are personnel reappoints. Please
constrain your comment to the agenda item. There will be another public comment period. >> All right, I understand. I'll rephrase my question. Um, I hope we don't appoint somebody that we find out wants to eat 13-year-old girls like they did in
Sville, New Jersey. So, through the chair to Jerry. Jerry, I know you're gonna be looking into that. All right. We don't need these vampires here in Edison. You understand? And I might sound crazy. You guys thought I was crazy back so many years ago, but
everything I said seemed to came to pass. Even worse, they're eating the freaking babies. Even I didn't know that, Jerry. So, they hide in the school system because they love to be around children. That's the problem, Jerry. So, it's it's up to
you. It's up to you to look at each and every one of their names. You understand? Make sure they're not a weirdo. >> Sure. I >> I'm talking about the appointments. I don't want you guys to point some weirdo, sir. >> I I I I hear you. I'm just There was
another There is another comment period. Please constrain your comment to agenda item. >> No, I am. And in the agenda items, we're appointing people and I just don't want us to appoint the wrong people. I don't want us to appoint some cannibals, people that are into necroilia. You
understand? As has happened in this county, Seville, New Jersey. It's quite frankly this is the times we live and through the chair to Jerry. Jerry you know about the Epstein files. It's it's not a secret anymore what what all the all you politicians are doing. Democrat
Republican party you all do the same you know. So >> sir, please refrain from profanity. >> Okay. So I hope we're not appointing any Republican uh connected people. I hope we're not appointing no Democrat
connected people. They're all freaking vampires. All right. Each and every one of them is a vampire. I hope we're hiring some intellectuals that that actually want to educate the children and not with that DEI You know, that racism stuff.
>> Sir, profanity. Profanity again, please. >> Uh uh Rosenfeld vers New Jersey. Um you can look into that case law. I don't want to educate you now with my last 20 seconds. Just please don't interrupt me. Um,
so yeah, God bless America. Please don't hire any vampires. I hope some members of the public want to speak out, too. You know, uh, three people speak, 12. It's 18 minutes. 18 minutes. You just from three speakers. We're going to hold them up 18 minutes. So,
>> time is up. Next motion to close public portion. Second. >> All in favor? I >> Okay. Motion to approve personally appointments. >> Motion. Second. Okay.
>> Mr. Azerelloo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ero. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ronak Patel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lugo. >> No. >> Miss White. >> No. We're voting on
>> personnel. Oh, the personnel. I'm going to say yes with the exception of any conflicts that I may have. Personally, >> noted. >> Thank you. >> Mr. She, >> yes. >> Miss Pang, >> yes. >> President Patel, >> yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Public comments. Yes. Members of the board, my name is Sagurika Katiala and I am an Edison resident and taxpayer since 20 years now. We are here for one reason. Cancel
the $9 million Talmage land deal. Because right now this proposal has no plan, no feasibility study, no defined educational outcome, not for a single student. You are asking this community to commit to $9 million today and
potentially lot more tomorrow with nothing concrete on paper. That's not governance. That's gambling with taxpayers money. And let's be clear, this is not your money. If you want to take risk with your personal uh investments, that's your
choice. But don't treat the board of education like an investment firm and don't try to act like portfolio managers with public funds. One of the board members tried to convince me the other day that we can leverage EIP program against this land,
the energy savings improvement program. Sounds technical, sounds convincing, but here's the reality. EIP only works if total savings cover total cost. That's the entire model. If savings falls short, it becomes debt. And that debt
comes gets paid through cuts to programs, staff, and student resources. and other operating expenses potentially raising more taxes in coming years. Now apply that here. A land purchase is not an energy conservation measure. It
does not reduce energy use. It does not generate savings. It is purely a cost and liability. So the question is simple. Where are the verified savings that justify this $9 million expense plus solar construction plus financing
and long-term maintenance? not assumptions, not estimates, verified numbers only. Because if you cannot clearly show that savings exceed total cost, this falls the basic requirement of ESIP. And right now, here's what we
have. No finalized energy savings plan, no clear dollar savings projections, no complete financing model, and yet you are asking for approval of a $9 million expenditure from Edison residents. That is not EIP. That is speculation.
Let's talk about the process because this matters here. The correct sequence for EIP is first identify and verify savings, then build a full energy savings plan, then prove savings are greater than equal to cost. Only then you do commit to uh funds. But here you
are doing exactly opposite. Buy land first, figure out solar later, hope the number works after that. This is completely outrageous and backwards. Now let's address solar. Solar can work under EIP very good but only when the
math works and most importantly show us a prooma where savings cover land installation financing and maintenance because if solar cannot cover all of that this is not savings again this is a liability. In addition to this solar approval for the specific land by
township is not guaranteed. Power grid proximity and residential area restrictions will apply making solar project on this land next to impossible. And here's where this becomes even harder to justify. Where are we buying?
Why are we even buying the land? If the goaler is just leveraging EIP and the solar, BOE can always use rooftops, parking lots of existing school facilities, all of which require zero land cost. So why choose the most
expensive option possible when lowcost alternative already exist? Moving on to capital reserve funds. These funds are restricted. They are meant for defined capital projects with clear purpose. Clearly educational
purpose only. So here's the question. What is a fully defined project tied to this land today? Not future ideas, not possibilities today. Because if the project is not fully defined today, this raises serious concern about how these
funds are being used. And at the same time, you are telling students their needs. Playgrounds, band equipments can wait until later while you prioritize buying land today with no clear plan. So let's call this what it is. This is not
land versus nothing. This is land versus investing in our schools right now. And someone said, "Why so rush to cancel?" Let's be very clear. We are not rushing to cancel. We are being asked to rush into a $9 million commitment without
proof. And while this sits on the table, real projects are being delayed. That's the real cost. Now about 500k losing. Yes, losing is not ideal. But using that justification to risk 9 million more,
that's not logic. That's escalation of risk. And it raises even bigger question. Why was this deal entered into without a full financial assessment in the first place? Because when the process becomes commit first and analyze
later, trust breaks down. So this is not about timing, it's about discipline. If the math didn't exist before entering the deal and still doesn't exist today, why should residents believe it will work suddenly tomorrow? And let me close this. Is it only works when savings
cover the full cost that make uh buying $9 million land at this point makes numbers worse, not better. Finally, please cancel the deal for the students and residents of the Edison. Thank you. >> Thank you,
Dr. you know, address the plan about the land, what's going on, whatever you can within the >> within the confines of the pieces. >> Yes. >> Um, yeah. So, I mean, there's there's been multiple uh topics and discussions
in relationship to what to do with the uh the property at Talmage and Coolage. Um, from Bust Depot to auditorium, all of those pieces. From from my perspective, it it's always been uh an opportunity to um house our special
needs students, right? So, we probably have somewhere in the ballpark of 175 out of district special education students. >> Probably like 190. >> All right. Closer to All right. Closer to 190 and ballpark 17 million worth of >> 17.5. >> All right. So, about 17.5 million. So,
the goal would be to, you know, build a structure where we can let's let's say, you know, actualize, right? because we we're dealing with students IEPs, you know, we have to make sure that we're opening programs in relationship to uh something that we can house within district, right? Let's call it 16 a 16
classroom structure, you know, along with the gym, cafeteria, and those pieces, right? Um so bringing 50 of those students back, let's call it we actualize $7 million net. >> Um you know, an EIP loan could potentially be over 20 years, right?
cost in construction over that time frame, you know, I would look at, you know, $1.5 to$2 million net back into the district. Um, you know, o over time, a a similar model, what what I would equate it to would be a similar model that we did with the success academy
when we when we purchased when when we uh you know, I I inherited the church at that time frame. So, um and and listen, it's the opportunity to accept tuition. So, I hope I hope that provides like an overview of of of
>> my vision for Thank you. >> I I see some parents with the kids. Does any of them want to go first in the back? You, sir. The black t-shirt. You You have a little kid with you. Thank you. Good evening, members of the board. My
name is Matthew Pino. I am an Edison resident who resides at 18 Heathcoat Avenue. I am a New York City public school teacher, a husband, and a father. I want to begin by recognizing that this is teacher appreciation week and this Sunday is Mother's Day. For my family of
teachers, teacher appreciation week and Mother's Days are usually times of joy and gratitude. This year, they are not. Last Friday, we found out that my wife, Miss Gabriella Pino, a seven months pregnant second grade teacher, is losing her job next year as a result of the budget vote that
took place at last week's meeting. I am here today to tell you that my wife, Miss Gabriella Pino, is not just a name on a list. She is a dedicated teacher, a member of the Edison community, a mother to our three-year-old son, Benjamin, and pregnant with our second child, a
daughter we plan to name Everly. She deserves more than to be reduced to a line item on a budget that needs to be balanced. Receiving this news during teacher appreciation week and right before Mother's Day is nothing short of a slap in the face to the educa educators and their families. Before
coming to Edison, my wife taught for six years in New York City, earning tens of thousands of dollars more than she does here in Edison. We chose to leave that behind. We took a financial loss so she could teach where we live and raise our children. We chose Edison.
In 2022, we bought our dream home here. While raising our son, my wife worked to transfer her certification from New York to New Jersey and accepted a lower salary because she believed in this district and her students and the students here. We didn't just move. We committed ourselves to this community.
When my wife was hired by the Edison School District, she was absolutely ecstatic. It was her dream job to teach the children in the community where we call home. The weeks leading up to the first day of school, we spent hundreds of our own dollars making her classroom into an oasis for her students, a space
where they feel loved, heard, and cared for. She worked from early until late at night every single day, even throughout her pregnancy. Always putting her students first before herself, before her friends, before her family.
She loves this job and her students with every fiber in her being and in her heart. And how was that dedication and love rewarded this past Friday? With a pink slip at seven months pregnant the week before teacher appreciation week.
To say we are devastated would be the understatement of the year. Now because of this decision, we are facing the real possibility of losing our home, the home that we love, and leaving Edison permanently. The NJ paid family leave we were expecting to receive in September
when she went out on leave is gone. She's been paying into it every paycheck for the last two years that she worked in Edison. It no longer applies because you did not renew her contract. The community that we love with all our hearts has rejected us.
You rejected us. You rejected us. You rejected us. That is the real impact of these cuts. Not numbers, not positions, but families. Wholesome, hardworking families, taxpaying families who only
want to make this town a better place to live like mine. My three-year-old son, Benjamin, will now be leaving his preschool at Primrose in North Edison, only a few miles from where we sit tonight. We informed his preschool earlier today, and we cried the entire time. He loves his friends, Skyler,
Nathaniel. He loves them and we're pulling him out next month. I can't afford it. The prek lottery, which seemingly still in limbo, is far from a guarantee. And even if restored, the chances of him being chosen is slim to none. Out of 450
students who applied last year, only 70 were given a spot. The life we built here is literally being pulled out from under our feet last Friday. I'm sorry. Give me a second.
Excuse me. Last Friday, after we found out my wife is not being renewed for next year, we spent hours in fear and uncertainty. That night, my wife woke up in the middle of the night with cramping and bleeding. and expecting mother's worst fear. We rushed to the hospital terrified for our
unborn daughter. By the grace of God, the baby is okay. The doctor said my wife's stress hormones were through the roof because she lost her job. No family should go through this, especially mine who's given so much to this community as educators. I've been
an educator for the last 10 years. I've dedicated myself to children, not here, but in New York City. My wife, she wanted to work here and she dedicated herself to the children in this district to teach them, to let them learn. And you took it away from her. You took it away from her.
This is not just about balancing a budget. This is about the messaging you were sending. That the people who chose to invest in this community are expendable. The integrity, love, and respect and dedication we chose to bring to this community is not being
reciprocated. But let me tell you something. the decent and good-hearted families affected by these budgets cuts, they're not going to stay. They're going to leave Edison. And when they leave, they take with them the foundation that makes this district so strong, that makes this district so strong.
So, is this truly serving students? Is it serving families? Or is it blindly balancing a budget at the expense of your community and the values you purportedly have? You still have a choice that can make this right. You can still make this right. Find someone
somewhere else to cut. Find somewhere else to cut. Find somewhere else to cut. I'm over my time, but I'm going to keep going. >> I asked the board to do three things. >> Sir, sir, >> please. >> There's a number. >> No, no, no. I'm going to keep going or I
will say it away from the microphone. Who here would like me to keep going and hear my story? I have around a minute left. If someone else would like to yield to you some of their time, you can continue. But other than that, there's a number of other people and your time is expire. >> I have around a minute left.
>> You your time the timer's up. You had six minutes. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I ask the board to do three things. First, you can help those Edison residents that were laid off by the budget decision by offering their spring
school age children guaranteed guaranteed placement this year in the preschool program. Second, you can ensure that when teaching positions open up throughout the year due to retirements or resignations, the teachers who were not renewed are immediately contacted by their
principles and given priority to be rehired back in their schools. Finally, I'm an educator for 10 years. I know how this works. Please understand that as a seasoned teacher, I am well aware of the retaliation that occurs when teachers
speak up. The retaliation that occurs when teachers speak up for their rights. I have firsthand experience of what happens when the boat is rocked. Because of this, my wife and myself were extremely hesitant to come here and speak tonight. But we must be brave for
our son, Benjamin. We must be brave for our unborn daughter, Everly. We must be brave for the other teachers who were let go. Those of you who know Gabriella know that she is the last person to rock the boat. I'm the one who rocks the boat. You could see that she does not like to be in the spotlight. She simply
wants to teach the childrens she so dearly loves. So my last request is for her future job prospects not to be affected because I spoke some hard truths tonight. I am here tonight because our teachers are worth fighting for. Our students are
worth fighting for. and what is right is worth fighting for. Behind me, thank you. Behind me, we have parents, educators, Edison neighbors, and voters. Those who came here tonight to support to support
Miss Pino. I ask that these people please stand right now in solidarity. hire them back and cut somewhere else. Edison needs their educators and most importantly they need teach the children need their teachers. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Either one. Either one. Good evening everyone. Uh my name is Nimsh Dav 13 Remington Drive. Uh I'm going to start with uh thanking the gentleman uh Mr. President, the
gentleman who was here before me and I really have a great sympathy for him and the entire teacher community including the administrators and I will tell you why. My son uh is one of the most successful uh
person uh leading in the private equity industry sitting on the boards of several billion dollar corporation. You know why did that happen? It happened because of JP Stevens. It happened because of Woodro Wilson. That's where he was taught. That was he was prepared.
And that all credit goes to this real teachers without without the hard work of the administrators like the superintendent, assistant superintendent and many more. I don't
think this school system have been uh this great and I'm proud parent and I'm pretty sure everyone wants that child to be like my child and why I'm saying this mind you everyone why I'm saying this is
because this board has chosen to spend money on their personal wishes of spending $9 million in land while telling all of us that we don't have enough money to pay to the teachers to the administrators and go fire them.
Wow. Amazing. Next year onwards, you are going to f force us to commit several more million dollars in a development cost. Mr. President, if I'm wrong, please stop me. And that is also going
to bring the money out of our pocket. But at the same time, we will be in such a dire situation where teachers will be again asked to get fired. That is insane. I will not ask anybody to stand up here
because of the respect I want to give to that gentleman. But at the same time, I have uh in fact changed my topic and I couldn't resist myself. But Mr. President, I want to start by thanking you. Why? because you allowed a profane
person speaking a profane language in the last meeting in spite of this dear attorney calling him out multiple times. Mr. President, I want to thank you for stopping me in spite of my using a
respectful language and simply opposing. You did not allow me to fulfill my first amendment right to register my objection. Thank you so much. I also want to thank Mr. President and Miss Vice President for pertaining to
reclassification. I had raised a question. She creatively at the end asked a question to the board uh to the BA uh in such a way that he answered no reclassification is not possible. I am standing at this podium telling you guys
it is possible. Look at this teachers. I also want to say real thanks to Anja Patel. I'm sorry if I'm not allowed to use the name that she has no clue what's going on. She's still researching and today she is not available. I please convey my sincere thanks to her that she
has no clue since months what is going on and she is still re researching. Thanks to Miss Pang and sorry if I'm not allowed to use the name uh for saying confessing publicly that she the board is now conducting a viability study
after the public uproar. Amazing guys, this is not a threat. But the last thing, you don't have a blueprint. You don't have a physibility study. You don't have a defined educational plan. We have three options for you. If this land deal is not cancelled, option
number one, and this is a true democratic option. We will collect enough votes to have that particular member fired and elect a member who is responsible enough. This is not a threat. But the option
number two is we will collect enough votes to change the district type so that the budget goes in the hands of responsible people. Option number three, we will force the election type which Mr. Jerry had
suggested originally to April so that the budget goes for voting in the hands of the people of this township and does not remain in your head. At last, please, please, this is not a threat to you. This is my humble
request. Please be cautious with our money. Don't play it like it's your own. Don't gamble with our money. Thank you. Thank you. Nice. Good evening. Sake Goyel 1725 Raspberry
Court, Edison, New Jersey. And you know, this is the fourth consecutive board me board of education meeting I have attended and spoken at. And my daughter and son who are seven and
nine, they asked me why are you there? Why aren't you reading books and teaching us or playing with us? Because we keep on delaying the important decisions. I can't tell them everything we go
through here and you know honestly they won't understand. But do you want me to tell my kids that oh we are not going to you are not getting a better playground or fans or a new
band equipment because board has decided to buy a land. Is that what you want me to tell my kids? Second, I have done so all the points that I have raised so far in a good
faith hoping to re get a clarification. During every meeting you guys have told us that at the end of the meeting we will get an answer. I have yet to get a single answer. I have emailed you guys.
I have not received any response. Okay. Now I just want to recap what I have talked in the past. Consolidation of the software licenses use of an AI administr in administration without cutting teachers jobs.
But I have not heard anything about how we're going to cut down the administration cost. All right. The free breakfast program and the quality of the food. Okay. If you guys are going to continue to give snack bars and juices made from concentrated, we aren't we
better off removing that from the program or just give a cucumber and uh carrots and grilled cheese, right? Subscription buses and their impact on traffic patterns and the student safety. We talked about reducing subscription
buses. just keep thinking that the traffic is going to get worse if you reduce the subscription buses. I don't know how is it fair that you know a person who is living under two miles or two and a half miles for high schoolers
doesn't get free get free bus but everybody else does. But that's okay. It is what it is. It's it's just like prek. I don't want to get on that subject right now. That will be you know another story for another day. and the tax levy and program priorities
particularly for the Talmage deal. Okay. Now regarding the Talmish deal, this is the information this information was verified by a council member and shared with me. I believe it's important that everyone everyone here to hear this. The
township has confirmed in writing that there are no current or past applications for apartments or townhouse on record for this property. They also directed residents to the New
Jersey D mapping system to review the environmental conditions on the land. According to the NJD go web a significant portion of this property falls within the designated wetlands and
through president for all the board members and the people who are sitting behind me they can verify this information going on government website and the fact that now we are doing the architectural survey after putting the
deposit on. What were you guys? How was this thoughtful? What you all were doing with our money? Right. Okay. Given the facts, no development applications on record and clear environmental concerns, it is
troubling that justification for this deal relies on what might happen next scenarios. Decisions of this magnitude should not be based on speculation or hypothetical outcomes. especially when the documented data suggests otherwise.
If this deal is canled and it has been confirmed by BA that funds can be redirected to immediate and tangible needs such as playground upgrades, band equipment, classroom fans, and other capital projects that directly benefits
our students right now. They need this benefits now, not later. So I respectfully urge the board to make a decision based on the facts available and on your concise. Thank you for your time.
>> Yeah, Bluetooth. No, no, no. Behind you. You go after him. Thank you. >> My name is Sujal Perik. Uh 42 Lahi Avenue Edison, New Jersey. District 29. I think Nimsi you had a very happy
story. 22 years ago I moved from New York to Edison for better education for my kids. Guess what? They went to Edison High the worst school. Thank you to superintendent changing the Edison High
making the next level. I don't remember last time I missed any voting on any election but I think I have missed last time when there are board of school board election because I don't select people who we don't can
trust. This is the trust been betrayed. You are not standing up for our rights. You are not thinking of of people of Addison and what Nimz just mentioned. We have rights and we have power to change the board and we will do that in our all
rights. So put things my request humble request to all of you just don't listen to this. We can go until we get the justice. So don't think we will silent after this meeting. We will fight for our rights. We will fight
for what better for Edison and Edison Township people. So all politics aside, please put together your thoughts, rethink about the land and see what the best for the Addison Township people and do your best. This is what I have to
say. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Py Clay Hills Road. I'm Anderson resident and taxpayer. This is a story about a family business about a man named Victor Dileo about a
piece of land and about a time. In June of 1998, a developer called Edison to villages sold 9.4 acre a lot of partnership called Bridgeco Ralty. The man who signed that deed for bridgeco
was Victor P. Dileo. Eight days later, eight days, the same lot was transferred again from the partnership into a new limited liability company. The same family, the same address, the same control. The price for the second
transfer was less than $100. That was 1998. In January of 2022, the family did it again. Another internal transfer, another reshuffle on paper. And in 2025,
when the contract with the board was being prepared, the seller name on the document was Robert Jr. Dileo, a new generation of the uh of the same family. The main address is not changed since
1998. 13 15 Shelton wrote Piscataway 27 years of ownership multiple transfer on paper and in that time not one shovel in the
ground not one building not one driveway not a single apartment the DLE family is not new in real estate they run NIL bra and company one of the central New
Jersey most established commercial brokerages. They develop land, they sell land. It's their profession. And right next door on the lot directly re adjusting to this one, 330 apartments
were built in 1996. They have generated rent for 30 years. So I asked the board with respect, why why would a sophisticated professional
real estate family hold a 9.4 acre lot for 27 years and never put one scene on it when they built apartment right next door. And I am not making accusation. I'm not pointing in a silence. I'm
asking did this board ask that question before signing because now we are taxpayers of Edison are being asked to buy the same lot for $9 million. 9 million for a parcel of the township
itself assessed I 623,000 roughly 14 times assessed value. cancel the deal and 9 million is not the beginning. The board stated publicity the resolution
language was kept broad to accommodate is these own words potential land use or environmental restrictions. It was admitted that this board does not yet know what can legally be built on
the land just signed at $9 million to buy. Edison own court prohibits construction within 100 ft of any steam. New Jersey state law protects wetlands with transaction buffer up to
100 ft wide. F MA flood maps may restrict more. Until this board obtains a letter of interpretation from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, no one in this room can tell
you how many of these 9.4 acres are actually buildable. And whatever is buildable, steel has to be surved, cleaned, grained, drained, designed, permitted, and connected to
utilities. Millions of dollars more laid on top of 9 millions every year, every after year before s single child set food on this land. Cancel the deal. Because some of this problem may never
be solved. Cancel the deal. Because that this is board is about to buy not a school. It's not about the port. It's not a sport complex. What this board is about
to buy is a 9.4 acre graveyard for saving of our community. The DO family held this land for 27 years and built nothing on it.
Do not let our children inherit this silence at 9 millions. Cancel the deal. Choose the students. Thank you. Good evening board.
My name is Sethur Raj 319 road edition. So we have a couple of questions. I want to answer from the board. What is BOE? Is it board of education or business organization of Edison?
We don't know like what is the goal of BOE. Are we focusing the students life the improvement for their education their extracurricular activities or your focus is on how to make a business in
Edison? I don't understand that. And we have like a couple of questions regarding the teachers. We heard like you know almost 80 teachers got fired and what criteria on what basis
the board decided or like you know the BA decided what would be the impact of the students on what basis the BA or like the board recruited the teachers
earlier and what basis like you know is it based upon like the student strength then What would happen like now? We have no clear answer. And one more thing we keep on asking
why do we purchase the 9 million land? I have a couple of questions. Let me ask you what are your enrollment projections for the elementary, middle and high school over next five years and what specific
criteria the data source you are planning to do calculation. Do you have that answer right now? Next question is what are the projected capital expenditure for building this new school
including any available funding resources or any budget breakout? Do we have that information? And we heard the land purchase is based upon the student strength.
Today meeting we hear like you know this is for special kids. What is the need? Do you all like you know discuss together and find out like you know why you are purchasing it? The next question is like you know how
does this $9 million land purchase fit into the overall plan to address the over capacity? How many students going to be like an accommodate? Do we have any numbers? What are the expected timeline
for purchasing this land and completing this new school construction? Do you have any idea? Is any board member have any idea any plan is like hand out? Not at all. I'm not hearing anything like you know from the board.
How will you this new school impact existing the school boundaries and the student transportation route is a BA and BA like you know thought about those kind of like the plan? Do you have any idea? And what is the total estimated cost for
building this new school and how do you go on like you know managing those like the new fund? What the community like the Edison the residents going to expect the tax increase for the next year? Do you have any projection because of this land
purchase? Do you conduct any conduct any kind of like a demographic or like the population growth in and in in Edison? How many families are like you know moving out of Edison? How many new families are coming like you know for each and every family like you know what
could be the the number of I mean what could be like the kids like whether it's going to be like elementary school any kind of like the previous record or like the the the projection you have. So lot of like the questions whatever I ask I simply see like the silence. Thank
you. You are all doing it's a great job. Keep doing please focus on students life. Don't focus on the business one. Then the kids are asking the kids are
asking now the teachers are like you know fired who will replace it and what is the plan? Have you heard like have you like talked to like you know those kind of like you know information because the kids are grown up they do understand that.
See this board is not talking about anything the future of like you know the Edison student community. First of all like you know the board has to like you know throw out like you know your political mind and ego focus on the
edent growth the students life is in your hand. Thank you. Thank you, Joyce. >> Joy ship, Edison, New Jersey. The first thing I want to say is because someone doesn't agree with you, it doesn't make
them stupid. >> Thank you. >> Okay. I think it's disrespectful for people to call the people out of their name because they don't agree with them. And that's what I don't want children to do. That's very, very bad. I'm only going to say one thing too about the land. 2023
stated state. Our mayor said he wanted the land, the nine acres over there to build a new school. Well, I say, "Do you like the uh Oak Tree Pond fiasco? Buy it and sell it to them." and you know we can make money off of it. But
that was a fiasco back and forth. And me being a union person, nobody wants teachers to lose their jobs. And it's not just teachers. I don't want the familiar janitors. I don't want the paraprofessionals. I don't want anyone to lose their job now. Because if you
guys have been watching the news, over 300,000 people that look like me have lost their job in the last couple of years. You know, everybody has an out outcry, but everybody's not in it together. Everybody's me me. I want to hear somebody get up and talk about the
children. All right? Everybody only talks about it when it it enters their pocket. Okay? Until we get together and stop fighting back and forth, the administration wants this downtown, the board of ed wants this over here. We got
to play this game with each other. We got to act like uh the 9 million stays in capital improvement. It really doesn't do the budget. But if you really was concerned about the budget and
concerned about the people's job at all, you wouldn't be running and running, screaming and screaming, I want this cut. I want this cut. I want this cut. And I know a person stood up here and he said about the busing the busing situation. Yeah, I walked two miles to
school and I walked two miles back. Our parents said it built character. It would be rain and be snow. I mean, I didn't even know that we really had snow days. And I'm not lying because they didn't close the school when it brushed on the ground when I was growing up. Okay? And I'm not that ancient because
I've been teaching in the school a lot. But if you're going to scream and scream about the busing, I need you downtown screaming about sidewalks and different things that matter that the town can do. All right? Cuz I had to
walk halfway in the street. It's dangerous about sidewalk, but nobody's down there screaming about this sidewalk. No one's down there screaming about all the millions and millions of dollars we have. And no one's screaming about the water and the water situation.
All right? And they that ordinance thing is a joke because you can get more variance in a little bit. They had houses built across the street from Menllo Park shopping center on wetlands. So let's stop with that whole thing. Megan tend like the ordinance means
really something here. I I know it really doesn't. And if you want to know the truth, uh my grandmother was here since 1929. I know everybody likes to talk about the numbers and stuff. She was here since that time. So, I've been around here for a while and I and certain things I just screamed about
them, but I was screaming by myself because I don't have an agenda. Okay. I don't want kids walking in the street. But if you if everybody come together and scream like they scream at this meeting, maybe we'll get some sidewalks. I can't understand why we
have such beautiful homes. All right. I have to belong to a gym in order to walk so I don't walk in the middle of the street and get hit. You know what I mean? My husband, he likes to ride the bike, but he's terrified of riding it cuz they got all those holes and he's
scared that he going to fall over, you know, trying to ride that little electric bike. You know, he rides down, but you know, by the time he get back, he needs the motor and stuff to get him back home. But I I just me myself, I just want people to be genuine, you know? Don't just come up and say,
"I'm with the BA gang. I'm with the band. I'm with the group." I want people to do more research and understand more of what they're doing and more research and go places and ask why are these things like this? Ask right now, why is
halfway through the year and I don't have my municipal budget. If my budget relies on that, okay, I heard people say, "Well, this is going to end this for me because of the school, because of me losing their job or whatever." What?
Hey, where's the where's the budget? Where's the municipal budget? Where is it? Okay, that depends on me and depends on my taxes and the money that I spend. you know, I just think people should think about all areas and not just
concentrate on one area and kind of, you know, work together. But like I said before and I say it again, God bless all the teachers and everybody that's involved within the school system. But you got to be genuine. You got to not
just be about yourself. You got to be about all the rest of the people that get hurt when the firings and stuff come. Thank you. >> Thank you. We still got 30 seconds. >> Still got 30 seconds. >> No, no, no, no. >> Still got time. >> The the white white shirt in the back,
gray shirt. >> Good evening. Uh, Koati, 23 Remington Drive, Edison. Um if we have uh reserves for the capital spending my recommendation and my opinion is that we should hold on to it
because the salaries are not increasing first of all. Second thing uh salaries of the residents if you go out not many people are getting the raises the salaries are not increasing. So that's a that's a bummer but you know that's the
reality. Second thing is that the artificial intelligence is coming and because of that again job loss is more likely to happen.
Third thing is that because of the uh uh stricter immigration policies, the H1 uh people that uh that were coming uh uh regularly uh which would be typically young families having young kids uh
typically choosing to settle in uh in Addison. uh that is also not happening because uh the stricter uh uh immigration policies and because of that reason the you know the the new crowd and young young couples and young families are not
coming in. uh because of these reasons I believe that if we have funds in our uh reserves for capital spending we should hold on to it and instead of you know increasing the taxes and assuming that you know new money high revenues will
keep on happening uh it's it's unlikely to happen and uh with that let me just close thank you the gentleman in red Thank you. Um good evening. My name is uh Prasad Ragu. I live in 21 Tamarak
Road in New Jersey. Um today I'm not going to talk about what others other community members said when we discussed about this whole thing. I'm going to just talk about what the board member said and how it validates the claim that I'm going to make. That is our demand or
request, whatever you call it. Cancel the $9 million termaged land deal tonight if possible, please. And to support that argument, um I'm going to just raise this one point. When I spoke in the same podium uh last last week or two weeks back, I raised the question
about the $9 million uh budget for the Tomage deal. At that time, Miss Shannon Ping uh asked the asked the administrator or someone in the meeting, if we cancel the $9 million deal, will it reduce the current operating budget
and will it help the tax? And the answer was no. it won't reduce anything and the tax will still be you know um remained at the same rate and the tax hike will remain at the same rate that's what was told um so my my humble point is this
the question that you asked will it help reducing the tax hike is not a right question we should instead ask what is the plan for that what is the plan for that $9 million expense that we are going to make and how are we going to use Is it for future generation of
students? That question was not asked. The point is that you are no defined plan for this land. You have no blueprint. You have no committed use. Yet you are asking this community to commit an additional 30 to $40 million. See $9 million this year. But then you
have to grow it. You have to make sure that something is built, something is spent on that so it'll make the revenue. We expect it to be about 30 to $40 million over time. So this is a liability we are objecting to. We are not objecting to anything like for
example if you want to do prek please do it. Don't throw this as a reason. Please do not buy this land and increase your own liability. That's all we are asking. In that meeting, the board member Chris Lugo asked business admin administrator
directly, if we cancel this land deal, can we use the 9 million capital reserve for the capital projects that we were previously canceled? And the answer was yes. He asked even specifically, can we repair HVAC systems, aging equipments, and other deferred maintenance? And the
BA said yes. So, the board's own business administrator validated the argument that the $9 million can and should go to go towards real and immediate student needs. Now, I want to get to another most alarming thing that I noticed last few
days. Vice President Miss Pang herself stated the last budget meeting that the board has ordered a viability study to determine whether this land is developable. right long after signing the $9 million contract. Now they are going to find out if it is going to be
usable. I I don't think that's I don't think that's a right use of our money. You signed the contract first then you are asking the basic questions. Now this is the definition of reckless backward decision making this community
has been warning about. So I want to close this again by stating the same thing that summarizing the same point. When the board's own vice president cannot justify this deal and the board's own business administrator administrator confirms the money is better used
elsewhere. The board has no excuse left. Cancel the deal. Use the money for what our students need today. Please. Thank you. >> Very nice for president. >> Yes please. I don't know if you guys paid attention that what the doctor
>> close public comment. >> Oh, no. No one had their hand up. >> All right. Sorry, I didn't see any hands. >> Oh, go ahead. >> I don't know if you guys actually paid attention. Dr. Already gave a high level uh what we're going to use our land for. I don't know if you guys paid attention
to that. He mentioned a special needs. >> Okay. >> Excuse me, sir. Excuse me, sir. >> No, please. No. >> Excuse me. Sit down. You have your chance to speak. >> Yeah, you can speak without >> You have your chance to speak. I I I'm responding to some of the comments which
I can. >> Yeah. And I >> Which I can I ask the permission >> I asked the permission of the board president. >> Can you >> I ask the board president for the permission >> speaking please
Mr. He has permission from the chair to speak. Please let him speak. He didn't interrupt any of you while you were speaking. Do not speak without being recognized. You'll be removed from the meeting otherwise. Thank you. >> So when you come here, pay attention to what the administration saying. Dr.
Alarelli gave a um uh the high level explanation about how we're going to use our land. Okay. And just want to clarify a couple things. Uh someone the gentleman over there said the estimated uh value is uh $600,000. the assessment
values wasn't uh is $10.5 million. Okay, if you have a common sense, you know, in in Edison, you there's no way you can get nine acres for less for less than a million dollars. Just look around how much they paid for the uh the Charlie
Brown property, right? Um there are a lot of things that I I like to say but I uh talked to the attorney since the uh the de deal is still under under um you know um um the the negotiate negotiations I cannot say it. So uh you
know the thing that I want to say is we don't make decisions you know um based on you know what we think whatever we are not expert you guys are not expert we're waiting for experts opinions we're based on the professionals assessment
then we make the decision right so you talk about you know what was happened and stuff this is called a due diligence period and and uh this is what you review all these things to see if it's if it's kosher then you you pull the trigger of buying the land. We have not
bought the land yet and we're still in the part in the negotiation phase. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Ain >> hello Avin by 17 Sunflower Code. Um I I've been participating in the past four meetings uh hearing everybody talk here
public board uh provide their responses. I want to draw your attention to two specific aspects. The first one is how did we get to this situation that we are today. Um you heard one of the member of the public here talk about their family experience the the hardship that they're
going through because of some of the decisions difficult decisions the board had to make. But my question is how did we get to this position today? Uh these are consequences that we are talking about right but you go back to 3 four years ago a board of education is not a
political party. You are a board you represent the public the best interest of shareholders. Who are your shareholders? Students, their parents who contribute through tax, teachers who define their future. These are your three shareholders. But
what has been happening for the past 3 four years, I've seen it firsthand. Um when I saw the campaign that came out for Board of Education, right, I saw their 0% tax hike. These are the deliverables that I've made. I was stunned, very appreciative. But for the
past four meetings that I've been, I've been educated how this process works. So the question I had in mind which I'm stunned that none of the board members also thought about is you have your administrative staff which draws close to $4 million in compensation rightly so
because you've appointed them. So you're telling us the members here in the public that your competent employees did not have the foresight your planning board did not have the foresight to think that we don't have an endless pool
of money. When you came to campaign saying 0% tax increase for how many ever years, people appreciate it. But your planning team did not warn you that the cost will increase. How you run this show will need more
money. All the programs that you have given for free will cost you sometime down the line. If you have to go and buy a property, it will cost you money. So how you going to get it? two ways primarily right you're going to get fund from the state and then you'll get a
portion of the property tax that we residents pay higher portion simple facts as one of the board member here was talking about find out facts so as a member of public I want to ask this question to the board when you have such a competent team at your disposal why
did they not inform you that you have to actually do good financial planning that is basic we teach our kids in school financial literacy. How do you think are we going to explain to our kids right now the situation we are in? We are
fighting each other consequence but nobody's asking this question. The second part which most of the public has talked about here is land deal and one of the board members talked about go and check checking facts rightly so we have to check facts but when the proposal for
the budget came in on the website we were told an average household in Edison which co which a house cost 800 $187,000 now who came up with that particular number which house in Edison will cost
$187,000 >> the Right. So all we are trying to say is you have a competent team. Use them wisely. One of the board members last time questioned the administrator. What will you do if you have $9 million at your
disposal? Can you actually change ACs? The answer was yes. Can you use that money to repair? The answer was yes. Can you use that money to fund the band equipments that you've stopped? The answer is yes. So when we are right now starving for bread, why are we going and
shopping for cake? As member of public, all we are telling you is as board have the best interest when you have to actually make difficult decisions. Why do you have to go and shop around? There is money at your disposal. You've actually cut down certain important
things. Here is your opportunity. Some of your board members themselves are giving you that information. the member of the public's here are coming and asking you some basic logical questions. So how is this competent board who's been functioning for so many years with
such competent staff not able to think these basic questions that just baffles us right last but not least um I myself have been a board member in a different organization I understand what your challenges are but you're here to make not just difficult decisions you're here
to make decisions in the best interest of wider public more importantly students and teachers so today I am demanding you cancel the land deal. Use that money as mentioned and agreed in your previous meeting to invest
repairing your uh school grounds. Invest in buying those equipments that you've stopped. Invest in upgrading those ACS and putting those fans that the kids needs so badly. Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Tony.
Susan Campion, Shifer Court in Edison. Um, I do have a question about the agenda tonight. Um, the tension in school is unbelievable with what's been going on since Friday. People were waiting all day for the agenda. It you
normally it would have come out yesterday. Um, when it did come out, it was missing lines. It it just said reconvene it. We never even knew that you were going to close session. Um I know Mr. Lugo said something in the beginning of the meeting that he wanted
something removed. We didn't even know what he was talking about. Um I I just don't understand. I could be wrong, but I thought agendas are supposed to be posted at least 48 hours before the meeting. And um you know, we should be able to go through it. You
don't print it out anymore. Everybody's scrambling to try and get on the Wi-Fi here to try and even see what you're talking about. Um, so it should be posted before the meeting so that people could see and not late in the afternoon and then with nothing. All it kept
saying was reappoint, reappoint, reappoint. It didn't say anything else. Um, it's not right. Um, the other thing that I am just questioning is Miss Anja Patel. She's not here again. What is
going on? It's She seems to show up maybe every third meeting and then sits up here and is voting on livelihoods of people in this district and she says, "I can't vote because I don't know what went on in the last meeting." Shame on
her. Shame. And now she's not here again. So, is she going to call any of you to find out what went on tonight so that at the next meeting she knows what's going on? It's not okay. These are people's lives. these you're running this district and making important
decisions and she's on the board and she's never here and when she is she's useless. It's not okay. >> Excuse me. Watch your legs. You're an educator. Okay. You know better, >> Jerry. It's not okay. She's voted on the
people who I work with and making major decisions and she's never here and then had the nerve to sit up there and say she couldn't vote because she didn't know what happened at a meeting when she wasn't here. That's not acceptable, Jerry. And you can tell me all I want
that I know better. I do know better. That's why I'm here. Don't tell me stop. Don't tell me stop. I've lived in this town for 40 years. >> I'm entitled to say what I want. Please direct your comments. >> Don't tell me to stop. >> It's not right and you people should be
doing something about it. >> Thank you. >> Somebody left their notes up here if they're looking for them. Um Beth Taly, 15 Midwood Avenue. going to change the tone a bit. Just want to remind everybody, but this Friday the 8th at 6:30 in this auditorium dedicated to
Andy Dakola will be their annual jazz extravaganza. I am getting old, so I've lost count of how many years it's been. So for all of you to come and alumni out in TV land who's watching this, please show up. Bring your instruments. It's a
great time. It's a great showcase of the talent that our school districts have. So, please come out and see it and also partake in it if you're a former student. I know I won't cuz I tried to play the flute. Didn't go well. Thank god my children were more talented than
I am. Now, one other thing I want to bring up is I saw the very intensive summer programming for 2026. Couple questions. Not sure if you're going to answer them or not. I see some AP courses here. Are students actually
going to be able to pay and earn credits for these classes? That's number one. Number two, this is very intensive. It seems that all of these classes seem to
be tailored more towards high-erforming students rather than our entire population. It would have been nice being that they are summer programs and enrichments to see some offerings in the arts. I'm not
sure if there are any, but it would be nice to see that because we have a very strong arts music program here. It would be nice to see something with that. Um, I'm also wondering on the form, it doesn't say what the
prices of these courses are. So me wanting to make sure that every child has the opportunity to partake in this is it open to even those who might be on free and reduced lunch or who can't afford
you know the tuitions for these because then it's to me creating a bigger divide in our town between the halves and the have nots. So I'm just curious about what the price is on there. And my last little nitpicky thing about this to see this um form
like the you know the offerings and stuff that they have but right on it rather than it saying like Edison Township public schools it says board of ed curriculum committee. I understand the board of ed curriculum committee should be having input into
what is offered. But by having that on this um paper that went out, the form that went out with the offerings, to me, it gives the impression that the board of ed is
running the show and making the decisions where they should be guiding our administration and not be involved in the day-to-day operations where it should be coming from Edison Public Schools, not saying board of ed
curriculum committee. So maybe that can be tweaked a little bit just for just with everything going on so we seem transparent and open to everybody cuz you know you guys lately have been getting a bad rap with what's going on with the budget, you know, with just
that. So make it it should be coming from the school district, not the board of eds curriculum committee. So maybe if we could tweak that before it goes out and if you can answer my questions about like the tuitions and you know for everybody else. Thank you.
>> Have you had the tition question? >> Yeah without having the uh the document in front of me. Um so uh yeah thank thank you. Um yeah, so we we off we we obviously um increased access uh over the course of another a number of
different programs in relationship to uh AP course offerings associated with uh some of ourmies um some of the other pieces uh also in relationship to the uh performing arts as well too uh miss uh as always in you know uh we do accommodate students that
uh and and families that have issues in relationship to socioeconomic um uh status uh as per law um much like we do for all of our other programs. Um and as far as the curriculum committee is concerned, I mean th those um some of
the courses uh were the uh discussions amongst uh myself members of the team and the members of the committee as well well there too. So just providing them with a little opportunity to get some credit for that stuff. >> Well, thank you. Yes. >> But if you could send Yeah, I mean I have the copy of Yeah, it's online.
Yeah, I got it. All right. Hi U Paliki Kabari 113 Christie Street. Um some neighbors can move it down. Yes. Thank you. >> Now >> uh some neighbors in my community reached out and I'm here to advocate on their behalf. Um they received an email
for a Python prerequisite course for ABCSP being offered to the students to take over the summer. This is a 20-day prerequisite remote course for $800. However, Python is not a prerequisite
course for any of the APCS courses. APCSP is a language agnostic. You can submit your project in any programming language you choose, including Python, JavaScript, Java, Swift, Blockbased,
Scratch, Code.org, org and appl. The exam is multiplechoice exam. It does not use a real programming language. Instead, it uses a standardized pseudo code that is meant to be easy for humans
to read regardless of what language is used. So, I think the school prerequisite needs to be looked into. Um, in addition, Harvard along with Edex offers a comprehensive CS50 course, introduction to Python programming for
high schoolers. Um, that is free of cost and they can then get a certificate for about $150. This is a well-received, wellrecoognized course. So, has our department looked into any of these courses that the kids could use instead
of the $800 course? Also there are about five virtual institutes recognized by the National College Association NCC NCAA like US Scout or even um Apex Virtual which offer a two semester APCSP
course for high schoolers at the cost of $3.99 per semester without the prerequisite of Python. So kids could actually do this on their own outside. They require algebra 1 that is the prerequisite that is in line with college board. I'm urging you all to
look into these options so that we can bring more accessible and affordable options to our community. Thank you. >> Thank you. We'll look into it. joining a squal to Pine Street. Mr. She, you're leaving.
Why don't you stay to me? >> So, I want since he left, I I want you as the president to send a message to Mr. she that I would like to thank him for all his service over the past many years on the board of education because
because of him we are in the mess that we are in right now. A video was posted five from five years ago that I posted that I had a discussion with him during public comment and it was about this 0%
and he told me I was crazy. Well, who's the crazy one now? me. Look, look at the mess we have. We're getting rid of teachers. We don't have money now. And I also want to thank uh Miss Payne because that meeting was
fantastic. Was it last week when you were trying to convince all of us that we need that $9 million land so we can get a $50 million loan? Luckily, the board president said, "Well, let's find
out from the BA." Is that the case? No, it wasn't the case. It's not the only way to get it. We can get it other ways. Sorry, but you failed. You failed in trying to convince us. What are you going to do next? What's What's the next way you're going to convince us, Miss
Pang? Now, we're saying, "Hey, we're going to do a bus depot or we're going to do this or we're going to do that. Now, you might do a special needs school." Oh, are we going to have a a a a place for homeless people now? Are we
going to have a place for that? Like, are we going to start throwing things in the air and just say, "Hey, we're going to put whatever we want there." Would you do that with your own money? Would you buy a piece of land for $9 million and have no plan for it?
Would any of you do that? No, you wouldn't. But you're doing it with our money. You don't have a plan. who goes into a you tell me what real estate developer goes and buys a piece of land and just says I don't know I'm
not going to really do anything with it we might do this we might do that they're not that stupid they know how to manage but you guys want to buy a piece of land and you have no idea what you're going to do with it
tell me that makes sense anybody is does that make any sense Okay, thank you. It doesn't make sense. I'll answer it myself. So, just as I have said over the years, and
I will say this forever, the board of education needs to earn the trust of the residents. And you have not. That's part of why you are voted in
because we trust you to make decisions. Hello, Mr. She. Welcome back. >> So, the decisions you guys make, you're surprised that the residents are arguing and fighting with you over decisions you
make is because we don't trust you. We don't trust the decisions you make because they are not good decisions. You are affecting people's lives. You're affecting students. You're a affecting the
livelihood of teachers. You affect so many people. And you don't I'm glad you're smiling. I don't know why you're finding this funny. Is this funny to you? You happy if you lose your job?
Is that what you would like? If you lose your job, you're gonna laugh. Oh, and while we're at it, I emailed you two more times and you still haven't responded to me again. I guess I'm afraid. I'm I mean, I guess you're afraid I'm scary. I I don't get it. It's
typical respect when you get an email, you respond back. But for some reason you don't. So that's one question. Could Could you answer why you don't respond back to resonate? And Mr. She, you you missed it. I I
thank you for for being a board member for 10 years and helping this mess being created by all the decisions that you have made over the years. I appreciate that. I really do. Let's give him a hand because I have a video that I'll send you because you might have forgot about
it where you called me crazy. You said I was crazy because >> you wanted to do 0% for your campaign and that's why we're in this mess. You you can laugh. You can laugh all you
want, but it's true. We are in this mess because of the decision you made. Yeah. You say boards after you made a decision, too. Yeah, they did. But you started the whole thing so you can get voted in. That's why.
And Miss Pang has it on hers. Vishell has it on hers. All 0%. All that looks great. But you're destroying lives in this school system and students because of the ridiculous and ignorant stuff that
you guys have done. So this is your job to solve all these problems because that's what your job is. Your job is to make sure everything is running well and the finances are running well and the students have what they need and you're
not doing it. >> Thank you. Behind you. You go man after him. Thank you. Manesh Patel 240 Wman. I always came here for money for my
kids. Today I came for one question. Why the hell Tomitch Property came back again on a project? Because Jimmy She's back on board. this tall property
and that's true guys is this tall property is playing in board of education for the last 10 years let me give you a little hint on who my buddy Jerry she is Jerry she for 10 years ran this place never gave a dime to JP
Stevens nor Edison high school music bands not a single instrument during Douglas Dougy's time we out 500,000 for two places. They spend money all the places. He
loves to hold money in the system but would not declare it. And Jerry has been doing it every time. Jerry, what is the purpose of this property? You have no clue. And that's what just
Tony said, and I agree with him. You have no clue of it. That means you have no rights to bite. Number two, whenever you show up, somebody's salary shows up higher so that they would shut up. I know I have
seen it. We'll talk about it when we are alone. You don't need to do it on this board. Board knows what you do. But you always manipulate board members ever since last 10 years and you have done it in the
past. You couldn't do it during duck time. You couldn't do it during bureau time. But we we shall it's your shoulder that's taking the blame for increase of taxes which not to be done.
There is no taxes needed this year. Possibly next year you could show the paperwork. Why do you need it? Our teacher salary. Doctor, how much did he went up?
According to that, you can increase your taxes. Don't increase because somebody wants to buy the property. I bet you if I ask one by one including your attorney doesn't know why do we need talage property.
Do you know Michelle why do we need talage property and how badly do we need? We did enough classes in every school that you needed. There is still enough space in each school and there is
as per doctor all principles are number one in JP Stevens and Edison and all our 17 schools. So if our principles are good, why can't we add more rooms or whatever we need in each
school, why do you need to go somewhere else? We already have Edison for south, we have JP for north, and we do interconnection of the students when we need to. So why do we need new property?
Can you answer that? >> I don't think so. Thank you. Moni manu hated drive. So this is like third time we're discussing and talking about the same thing. The big like the big beautiful bill. This has become the big
beautiful piece of land which nobody knows what we are doing with it. To begin with, this big hole that you guys have dug into the capital reserve of $9 million which was earlier $22 million has come to zero. Thank you for zero tax
increase and zero capital reserve as a result of it. This land purchase is being used from the money that is called capital reserve. to use that money. It should have been in the long range facilities plan. I have went up and down
the long race facilities plan which is being posted on BOE website from 2024. I don't see it over there. If there is an amended uh LR L uh longrange facilities plan, please educate us or put it on the
website to be transparent and compliant. Secondly, this raises a serious concern because a BOE vendor that has been hired for this land deal is a title company is trying to persuade residents and trying to make a case for this deal which
raises concern. Is this deal for a private interest and the public is buying for it or it's really useful? It is definitely not useful because nothing works like this that buy now and we will decide later on capital reserve. There is a serious compliance issue with this
land deal. I request our BA to please provide us all the documents and the records related to this land deal as soon as possible. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yes. After him. Yeah. Blue t-shirt. Yes,
please. Um Miss Shukla, you can go after him. Thank you. Raj Heritage Drive, Edison, New Jersey. So this is again the second rare occasion I would have to come here, right? I mean, like I told you, I was here only in 2021 for the kids. So there
are two things I want to state to this board, right? I mean, first respect to you all because you don't get a single penny. You spend a lot of time doing this work. Okay? We all need to acknowledge that. The second thing is like I told you last time, please spend more time in reading the documents. That
is very very important to understand, right? You cannot just say yes because somebody said yes. That's why that's not why you are here. Okay, the first thing the first point I want to talk about is prek. Okay, I heard the guy speak before about prek and I understand his pain,
right? The free prek should be only for people who are in need. I hope you'll hear us loud and clear, right? So none of us residents right we are saying that cut prek right we are ready right the problem is the prek program in Edison
has messed up the private prek and K okay with a kid at the age of K and prek I'm suffering today because every private place I go hey because of Edison BOE setting up the rules we don't have K we are reducing prek we don't need this
right people like me who want to have options should have options Okay. So if you're trying to revamp prek, please ensure that you know you look into the rules, okay, which is very important to make sure that the poorest of poor get
the funding. The second thing is I I have read so much about what Cheryl is trying to do. You're not going to get any more extra dime from next year. I mean I mean trust me on that, right? Because I've done a lot of analysis on her policies and stuff. She wants to rain down, right? She's at the center. She's not like Murphy on the left. So
please be little more conservative about your budget and please try reducing not reducing the heads because it affects families and lives. I'm sure all of you have jobs outside of here, right? If you got laid off, if you got fired, you're going to suffer, right? So let's look at
unnecessary bloated expenses that you can cut and you can save on the teachers, right? The third thing I want to talk about is the stal match land, right? Whatever it is, it it is what it is, right? But at least now please go back look at the feasibility of even
having a school. I mean the thought was noble right you wanted to build something there for special needs kids that's awesome right but we have to ensure that that area is buildable so that this 9 million can go towards your roof because I I do appreciate right
what Jerry and the team have done because I was part of the no referendum in 2019 and 2020. We did not want to borrow $180 million for expansion, right? And you guys did it without a single borrowing single money from outside, right? That's good. But we
still need the money that we have saved over the last 10 years for the roof repair for if something god forbid something goes wrong, right? Please consider that and that's very very important and we need to be physically responsible here. And I'm very very happy that last time you guys answered
and told me about the educational foundation, right? I worked with Jerry and Rich back in 2019 and 2020 to see if we could start education foundation. I'm glad it's getting off to a start and because there are a lot of uh companies, commercial companies in Edison, right?
We are not just a residential town, right? And I'm 100% sure you'll get a couple of million dollars every year and that will shave off our budget. Okay? I hope you're receptive to all of us and you know you agree to you know listen to us and do what is right. Okay. Thank
you. >> Thank you, MLA. >> Good evening. Uh good evening members of the board, administration, and all my fellow neighbors. I am uh pretty confused after listening
to everyone here and getting millions of messages over the last one month. The board here is governing $350 million of school districts money
and you all have said that that is not enough for you. So you have cancelled essential capital projects, defunded programs, you have deferred the band equipment
and the repairs of the playground, but yet you want to spend $9 million on this land purchase. Now Jerry, you just mentioned that the land price is $10.5 million.
If that is the case, why don't you purchase it with your own personal money? Don't do this favor on us. Board of Ed is not a real estate investment firm. I hope you guys know
that, right? Do you? It is not a portfolio manager. It's not an asset and wealth management shop. If taxpayers want to invest their money, they will go
to an investment firm, not to a school board that cannot even balance its own budget. Your only mandate from us who are the Edison taxpayers, your only and the only
mandate is educating children. I hope you guys understand that because I don't think you guys do. There is $9 million this board is choosing where it is going to go. The community's answer is very simple. We
said choose the students, not the land. But you guys unfortunately look like you want to choose the land and not students. And also let me tell you that to confuse
us in sales and in politics we often say that if you can't convince just confuse and that technique has been adopted so beautifully by all of you. So to confuse us, I've been receiving
many messages about the ownership of this land and I would like to know from you Jerry because you seem to know that this is the $10.5 million land and you are doing this favor to Edison citizens by buying that land for 9 million. I
want to know this land in the record shows that it was owned by Burko Realy and in the middle got bought by Lee Yun LLC who acquired this land right before
the board decided to buy it. What is this? Can you clarify? Friends and neighbors. Is there a smell of special interest? >> Is someone making millions here?
>> What choice is this board leaving us today? You are asking us, you are guiding us and you are actually forcing us to move the election cycle to April so that the budget decisions go directly to the
voters. Currently, this board makes major financial decisions without direct voter approval at the ballot box and that needs to change. Thank you. Thank you.
Shivi Edison. Uh, first I want to address you Ralph Er. Uh, somebody asked a question and Jerry was trying to respond to that question and so nobody was raising their hands and you actually tried to close the meeting. That's not done. People are
here to speak to the board and the board I mean no one had speaking time it's my it's my speaking time can you can you please inter know your facts >> no no no please it's my speaking time I don't want you to speak >> I would just ask please direct your comments to the board president speak your comments just yes
>> thank you >> terrible >> please don't speak from the >> Dr. Alderelli. Uh thank you. I spoke about the curriculum issue um last time and that's been fixed. So thank you so much. So uh let's talk about the Talmage land now. >> First it was Athletic Field. Then it
became solar panel. Then it became a bus depot. Until last night through the informal network it was the ESIP program and now it's a special needs facility. From where are you getting the money to build this facility? Are you going to fire more teachers?
At this rate, you will just have buildings with empty classes because student teacher ratio will increase. Right now, you're cutting school improvements such as playgrounds, double the cost for summer educational programs. I don't know if anybody's
noticed. Nothing is left in your reserve. You're firing teachers. And you're still thinking of expansion. In my opinion, you're really living in La La Land. The state is talking about changing the funding formula. What if you get even
lower state aid next year? You all need to be responsible in what you do. This is not why you were elected. At this rate, you're going to face an even more dire situation next year. Thanks to Chris Lugo, Vishal Patel, Ronuk Patel
Veresy and Virginia White for your support to trying and cancel the land lead. Anjuna Patel is absent yet again. My request to all four of you is to keep bringing back this resolution at every meeting. So she is forced to take a
stand. Cancelling the land deal will help in reducing the operating cost next year because some of that money could actually be used uh for the capital expenses and hopefully we don't face this situation again. Um to the gentleman whose wife is not getting
renewed, I cannot even imagine his pain and what his family is going through right now. Let's all be more responsible please. To the rest who voted to table this land deal yet again, I'm not understanding your fixation to buy this
land. Again, you're firing teachers, cancelling school improvements, and yet you want to keep the land. A budget reflects the priorities of an organization. You're prioritizing land you have no money to develop in favor of firing teachers and reducing student
facilities and access. And um I don't want any answers to um any of the questions that I posed. I just wanted to make comments because I really don't trust the answers I'm going to get. So I just don't want anybody to be responding
and especially you because you are in a position of power where you can say things and I'm not allowed to come back and speak. So I would appreciate I don't want a response. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks. Yes. Yeah. Elizabeth Conway, 20 Netherwood Circle.
This week is an important week in our school district, and I can't say enough about our teachers, our school nurses, and every other employee that works here. And I'd like to commend them, especially on this week, that we make so important. I was
so proud of the young lady from Edison High who was showing us how important the teachers are to the students. And it's it's really a shame that more of us aren't talking about the most important thing that makes our district work, and
that's the personnel that we have in this district. We are a service organization and we serve the most important portion of this district.
And I feel really hurt that the timing of getting rid of the teachers and any other staff happened when it happened. And it's really sad that it had to happen at all.
I don't think it would have happened if the budget had remained more stable over the last few years and then happened what happened this year. But it brings back something to me that I learned when I was on the board of
education years ago. My main job, my number one job was to make sure that this district was working well, not that I was doing and telling the district what to do. You need to just
make sure that the administration is doing exactly what it wants to do. And I I'm saddened by the discussion going on with the board of ed that it comes to a 44
to discuss something whether it's right or not right. I feel sad that it keeps going on and on and nobody seems to be making sense out of it. Now, when this property first came up, and I
want to say it was in 19, I could be wrong, there was a vision for that property, and the vision was to build like a technical school and we had gone to go look at a school in Hudson County, and
it was beyond fabulous. But when the uh architects came back with something that was not part of our vision, it kind of got put to the side. And then the last year or so, we've been
talking about many things for that piece of property. And each one seemed even more ridiculous than the next. Let's just buy it so that the town can't do anything. Let's buy it to put solar panels on it. Let's buy it to make a bus
depot. And I'm hearing all of this and I'm thinking at this point you've deleted so much money. We need to put that back into the capital improvement. God forbid we truly need it. But but
tonight was the first time I actually sat here and I listened to Dr. Alderelli's vision for what could actually be done >> on this property. >> Don't talk. It's my turn.
It's a vision that we truly need to follow up on and look into. It may not work, but don't walk away from a vision like that because down the road it's going to be more beneficial to our students, to
our children. I was a special ed teacher and I would hear stories about my former students that had to go out of district where they spent a couple of hours a day just getting to their schools and we spent so much money paying for
one child to go on a small bus. So yes, right now money is tight. I should know I'm on a fixed income, but the vision is there. But the vision is not for a bus depot. The vision is not
for stopping Sam Johi to buy the property under us. We need to make it a positive and we need you guys to get together, get educated as to what's the right thing to do. Postponing it,
it may be a good idea, but it's making you look awful. So, I really suggest get together and decide what's best for the district. And you know how you're going to do that? By listening to the two gentlemen up there, not you. Those two gentlemen.
>> Yes. >> That's what you truly need to do. And I can't believe I'm standing here and he's agreeing with me. That never happened. One more thing. I only have 48 seconds. After I left the other night, I thought
the rest of the night was just going to be a complaint session. So, Carol and I had enough. But from what I hear, it was brought up again about the prek. And if you can answer any questions, please
bring me up to date as to what's going on with the prek. And I'm giving you back 24 seconds. Thank you. >> Harish Satini 45 McKinley Street. So I was late for the party but thanks to BEL he updated me anyway. So two things um
one is the prek and the second one is the talmage. So for the prek, John, I sent an email. Um, can we uh have the exact number of uh prek kids um this year? I mean I hear
150 + 150. I hear 415 total, PK uh 3 + 4 and some other numbers exact number as of now and how much uh we are spending. And second thing
is um the total 88 million that we talk the equalization special transportation security everything uh I know it's difficult to allocate per student u aid that we get from the state because uh different uh students come in different
categories but uh on an average if we consider 16,500 it comes to we can divide that so anyway so around 5,000 per kid. But um are we double counting the prek kids into this 16,500?
I I'm trying to understand how much exactly we are spending per kid u on the prek program. That's where I'm that's what I'm trying to figure out as of now and uh based on the estimated numbers uh next year. So it would be helpful if you
could um respond to that email. Um and of course the most important hot topic um talage. So as I said uh in my last meeting um we don't buy to negate something and pretty much same thoughts were echoed by Mrs.
Conway and I kind of agree with what Raja said earlier. Um there are there are a lot of success stories uh in the past in terms of negotiating with the union or um
turning around the Menllo church for the Edison success academy and all that but those times were different. This time is different. So we have to be really careful. So if bus depot and special ed are the
final ones, I still don't know if they're the final ones, but if they are the final ones, when can we have the detailed analysis of that complete detailed analysis because end of the day we need to see
whether we have a return on investment on that or not just like uh we had on the Menlo church. Will it be through a video or will it be posted online? Will will it be in another town hall? But we definitely need the real detailed analysis both quantitative and
qualitative. uh again I'm repeating in the quantitative we need to have we need to stress the model in with Monte Carlo simulations to see that under adverse conditions we get a significant positive NPV over a horizon of let us say five or
seven years I don't know uh so as I said when there isn't enough transparency and communication or answering questions u lot of things float on the social media so we need the complete Complete numbers, complete picture, everything.
And besides that, going back to the actual contract, what is the last date that we have to close the contract as of now? Will the D reports and all the environment
reports or whatever. I mean, as I said, we we are hearing lot of things. Someone says halfacre is a wetland. Someone says everything around that is wetland. Someone says half of uh 9 acres is wetland. We have no clue what is going on. So when can we when will we get all
those reports? By what date and I'm assuming that if we don't get the reports by the closing contract date we are going to cancel it. So obviously that solves the problem. But if we get it then what are the next
steps? Can you explain the full process like uh they say tmi is not good in corporate world too much information but this is a classic case where tmi will be good actually uh as someone said transparency and trust they all go hand
in hand so more the details you give the better what date is the last date for cancellation if we get the reports the positive reports then what are the next steps and how much loan will we get on the EIP uh on the special ed and what
are the restrictions on that loan? Can we if we let us say hypothetically I get 20 or 30 million then can I take 9 million out of that and put it in the capital reserve um for the roof repairs and the band equipment and playground equipment and all that I mean I I'm not
aware of the rules uh of the budgeting and all those uh capital reserves account in the school accounts. So I mean maximum information you guys can give uh that will help end of the day we understand that if it
is not feasible we are going to cancel that that's a no-brainer but if it is feasible then what are the next steps and another possible solution is you keep this 9
million in the reserves but work with uh maybe county or township ship or whatever for a low interest loan of 2% and use that to buy the land if the model and everything comes out positive. So I know I asked a lot of questions I
don't know how many can be answered. Thank you. >> Thank you. I mean you want to address the wetland question. >> Okay. Okay. >> Sorry. Yeah. So we are under contract so we cannot answer it right now.
>> You can come to the podium. Thank you. >> You want to ask? >> Good evening board members. >> Yeah. >> And president name. >> My name is Mulan and Patel 10 fully avenue. I was uh my kids were >> Can you put the microphone down so
people can hear you from the back? Pull down. There you go. >> Okay. Thank you M Sherry. Uh I'll my kids since we were within the 2.5 miles we never had subscription bars. So I don't have any objection whether you have subscription bus or
not. But my main question is that we already have one special ad needs school uh school in Addison in the RAL park. Why do we need another one? >> That's not our school. >> Huh? Jerry, let him let him finish
>> that. Who school is that? >> I'm sorry. >> I I'll let you finish and then we'll address that. Thank you. >> Okay. And that does not question if already there's a school then why why we getting another school. So but since Mr. Siri
said that it's not ours then I would like to know that. That was my main question. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Yeah. >> Can you can you answer what's >> Yeah. So the the uh >> please sit down. I have not recognized
you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. So the Yes. So the Lake View School is uh part of the uh the Ed Services Commission. Um that is actually a school that um we work with in relationship to sending our um special education students uh uh with special
needs uh to those schools amongst other schools too. Um, and one of the components that we talk about is the tuition that's associated with those uh, programs when you send a child out of district. Um, the cost can be anywhere from a tuition fee of 65 to $95,000. On
top of that, uh, would be transportation in the ballpark of 30. So, it could cost um, close to 110 115,000 per student. But that is that is not our school um, in relationship to that. All of our special education programs are currently housed um uh within within the
structures that we have uh in Edison Township. >> Thank you. I mean you're happy to set up an appointment and have you know have further conversation with him later. Next. Yes. >> Thank you. Am I recognized? >> Name and address. >> Name Oh, name and address. Um for a good
time, nine Finch Court. Am I recognized? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, I came here to talk about one thing, but we'll talk about several things. Someone's going to raise their hand for me, I'll get an extra six minutes. But I'm a little bit disgusted. I'm a little
bit disgusted that you violated Robert's rules of order. The man said he was uh handing five minutes of his time over to me. Earlier in the meeting, you gave it to to the teacher's uh husband, but when when someone wanted to give their time
to me, it was for uh you forfeited it. That's discrimination. Um, keep in mind someone's going to give me an extra six minutes. You guys set those rules today. Um, so you're discriminating against the special needs kids. I really don't understand how you're going to purchase
Talmage when New Jersey state law says, uh, you can't discriminate against the special needs kids. You you need to continue as is. So, you're going to take every single special needs student and separate them from from everybody else?
I don't I really don't understand how you can do that. Um, absolutely disgusting. And you don't even specify are they the students that have IEPs? Are they uh people that are uh so handicapped that they're in wheelchairs? You're not even explaining
none of it. But even the way it as it is, you're still violating New Jersey state law. So the excuse to house special needs students in my mind it it's not true. Um the reason why I came today is because I I honestly thought
you know through the chair to to and elderly that you the reason for this special meeting was not to appoint people but to raise the budget one a.5% possibly 2% ju just because you you guys accepted the kindergarten. So now I'm
wondering where those $4 million in cuts are going to go. It really doesn't make sense to me. Um, that's really what I why why I thought you you understand why I would think that, you know, it makes sense to you. Um,
constantly constantly. Uh, B, no agenda. You You broke the law. There's no agenda. I want an agenda. I don't want to go on my f my phone. I'm born 1987. I don't like that computerized crap. All right. If I want a piece of paper and I want to read a a freaking piece of paper, you understand? You're gonna give
me that freaking piece of paper. Um, the lawyer said, the lawyer says I can't curse. That's not true. Rosenfeld vers New Jersey, you certainly can curse. You can go all the way and say, "Mother Effers uh several sever several times,
but we're not going to go down that route. Why are you li lying to me? Why are you giving me uh wrong legal advice?" Don't answer that. It's not your time uh to speak. And at the same time, it's not your job to give me legal advice. So, please don't tell members of the cur uh public to curse or not to
curse because now you're diving into the realm of legal advice since they're constitutionally they're allowed to curse. That's wrong. What you're doing is wrong. Um Michelle Patel, you're constantly um you're out of order by the simple fact
that you refuse to call Jerry out of order. You refuse to call Ralph out of order. Um it's your job to call people out of order. I just don't understand how members of the board can just have a a back and forth when people are up here at the podium. We only get six minutes
of time and you guys can stand up there and talk as many minutes as you want. Why Why are you taking away time away from us? That doesn't make any sense to me. But what I'm really here for through the chair to Jerry She Jerry would know most about this and I hope Jerry corrects
this and does the right thing. I'm not here for anything else but this. The gag order is still in effect. So I I got to be careful on what I say. But at the end of the day, I feel that we had a
member of the transportation department. And this member of the transportation department, she was retaliated against. Why was she retaliated against? Why did she lose her job? I believe Miss Anna Rodriguez, I believe she lost her job because she did the right thing as an
American citizen. She did the right thing. She became a whistleblower. Um, she testified under oath. Unlike Mayor Sam Jooshi, who lies under oath, you understand Anna Rodriguez, she testified under oath to the deputy attorney
general. And because of that, I I I believe we she was fired. And I believe we need an investigation. I believe here in the United States of America, when somebody does the right thing, we do not retaliate against them. When somebody
that that when one of your subordinates works for you guys and you know they're either exposing corruption or they have to testify under oath. I think it's it's setting a bad precedence to fire these employees. She had been an an employee
for at least seven years. She had been an employee for at least seven years before she even testified. And you know what? You know what? I It makes me believe Alderelli possibly uh Superintendent
Bernard Bragan's contract wasn't renewed. I have reason to believe that Superintendent, but that's elsewhere. I want to talk about the young lady in the transportation department. I I want you guys to issue her an apology. Okay? When
when I provide proof of this, I want you guys to issue her an apology because that's not the type of community we are to retaliate against someone here in the United States of America for doing the right thing. Um for testifying under oath and saying that just can someone raise their hand for me? Six minutes,
please. Robert's rules of Are you going to >> Your time is up. Please be seated. >> My time is up. >> Yes, your time is up. I will be filing ethics complaint on the simple fact that you gave the teacher's husband an extra six minutes, but you're violating Robert's. >> Please, your time is up. Please be seated. >> So So it goes to show it's not
>> Please be seated. Thank you. Next, Matt. >> It's okay. It's on It's recorded on TV. I'm I'm going to get you uh Office of Administrative Law. I'm doing my ethics complaint. >> Thank you. Matt Revnack, ETA president. So, I'm going to start off with positive and
impositive and not so positive in between. So, first of all, and I apologize to my teachers out there because I want to send out an email thanking them, wishing them happy teacher appreciation day today and week.
But I have been so inundated since Friday that I haven't even had the time. So, happy teachers appreciation day. We have one of the best school districts in the state and we have one of without a doubt the best staff in the state. Also, happy nurses day tomorrow to our
nurses out there. I probably won't get to send you an email either, but I do apologize, but I wish it to you as well. There's one other group I actually was able to before all this happened, and that was the principles. I sent them all an email, happy principal day on Friday.
Unfortunately, they had to pull in staff to tell them they're being non-renewed on what should have been their special day. Not a good thing to have to do. So, the reality is on Friday, 52 of my members, staff members were non-renewed.
There were some additional due to retirements that will not be filled, but at least it didn't cost people. Oh, and by the way, you guys will have to take a look at the reappoint list. There are people missing and there are people on there that have already retired that are listed. So, please take a look. I've gotten some texts as I was sitting in
the audience. But that's the reality of it. And quite honestly between my building reps, but especially me since Friday afternoon, my phone emails
today, yesterday, and today I've been going to buildings to meet with people that are extremely distraught, emotional, upset. Some of the things I want to share with you, and this is what this is all about, and I do appreciate Mr. Pinno before. I
thought he was awesome. The first question I'm getting, why me? I did nothing wrong. I've dedicated my life here for two, three years, whatever their circumstance was. I've gone above and beyond. By the way, couple of them are going to send emails to some of you
about everything they've done here for the past couple years. You know, their evaluations, my evaluations have been good. I've give I've given up my life basically to do the job here. and now I'm not here anymore.
I was wishing some of these others would come here, but they are just too emotional, upset. So I told them, I'll share some of your stories. One of them I was on the phone with Friday afternoon for 15 minutes for 15 minutes of crying.
Literally 15 minutes of crying as I tried to talk her off the ledge. Another one who said, "I don't have health benefits as of actually August 31st because they pay it through then. My child has medical conditions. It's
going to cost me $2,000 a month just for their medicine. How the hell do I pay for that when I don't have insurance? I don't have a job." Another one's a single mother. Doesn't have a job.
a non-tenured person who left another district as a tenur person because she wanted to be here in Edison when she saw an opening and now she's out of a job. She said, "Had I known this two years
ago, I would not have left where I was at because now I have to start all over. Hopefully, she can get something." So, this is the reality of what's going on out there. As I said the other night,
we're not a commodity. We're not a business. You're not going to find Edison school system on a New York Stock Exchange. We don't have shareholders. We develop people. As Miss Conway said, we are a people industry.
And with 60 70 less people, and by the way, there were some cuts in administration as well. Obviously the teaching load some power professionals were the were the big hit but that's 70 less people now which is
going to increase class sizes those kids are not going to get the same personalized attention etc. I sure hope some of you cannot sleep at night like these people have gone through since sun uh Friday rather and
I'll add my name to that list because it is a it's a tough thing that happened to these people their lives have been upended one final thing before I get to my positive to end it really looks bad please don't respond to the public when
they're speaking. I've talked to some of you about this before. I guarantee you tomorrow I'll be getting things. Why are they doing that? Why are they attacking Sue Campion? Why is you know this one interrupting? Let the people have their six minutes. Respond afterward if you need to or you guys
have board member comments at the end. You can address it then. You don't know how bad it looks sometimes. Ending on a positive note, as was mentioned before, this weekend is Mother's Day. So, happy Mother's Day to
all the mothers sitting in front of me, behind me, out in, you know, live stream world. Um, I also want to mention, I forgot before, to the other educators that are Edison residents that teach elsewhere or have jobs in education
elsewhere, thank you for what you do every day as well. And again, happy Mother's Day to all our mothers out there. Thank you. Thank you. Next. Yes. Yeah. Good evening. Adam Glenn, CEO of the JCC
Middle Sex County, Oak Tree Road, Edison. Um, I apologize for having arrived late. So, um I don't know whether or the extent to which there may have been any discussion about the preschool expansion program
um and the um challenges and the um minations that may be going on. Um but I I want to use a statement that uh a woman uh made some
time ago that a budget is a story. Um I know when I lead my organization and we do our budget preparation, we talk to our staff about how a budget is supposed to tell a story. A budget is supposed to set forth the priorities for the
organization. what is important, where the organization sees itself, what it sees as as its mission. I'm not here to discuss land deals. Um,
and at the risk of redundancy from my statement last week, the reality is that of all of the items that have been under discussion and items of some controversy, there are only two items that are purely
educational, that purely go to the mission of the Edison public schools, which is to provide the highest level of education to our children and those are within this budget discussion. Those are
preschool education and our education staff. Those are the two pure mission issues. Those are and those should be your focus. Those are and those should be
your priority. Somebody mentioned earlier about we need to make sure with the preschool program that we are offering preschool to a I think his words were the poorest of the poor. Somebody made a comment about well we
have a special ed school. What do we need another? I'm on the ground every day with children from this district in the preschool expansion program and I can tell you a few things. Number one,
the vetting of that program and the children who who are fortunate enough to get into that program starts with and I know you know this starts with recognizing and identifying those that have the greatest socioeconomic need.
That's how this works. That's how this system works. Number two, and you know this as well, we have many children that come to this program who come with special needs, with learning challenges,
with developmental challenges. We are their pillar. We are their resource to end this program.
doesn't simply and shouldn't be based upon whether it saves you money. Ending this program will literally put hundreds of children behind. I heard one individual say,
"When I put my kids through school in Edison, we didn't have preschool. We taught them at home and they did fine respectfully. And my children have been out of the district for many, many years. They are adults with families of
their own. I know I look younger than I am. But the reality is we live in a different world today than we did even 10 years ago. The reality is that children who don't
have preschool education enter kindergarten behind. That is simply evidence-based. That is not hyperbole. So I go back to a budget is supposed to set forth your priorities. It is
supposed to set forth your understanding of your mission. And your priority is, or at least it should be, to start the children of our district off properly with the greatest opportunity for
success. That begins in preschool. That begins with an incredible teaching staff. And one more thing that begins with the recognition by the Lelay board of education
to defer and listen to the experts. We are fortunate in this district to have professionals in our administration that frankly are are experts. Your responsibility may be to guide
policy but your responsibility as leaders is to recognize the leadership in others and that is your administrative leadership. Thank you. >> Thank you Joe. Joseph Romano, Edison, New Jersey.
First of all, I want to thank the teachers. To be perfectly honest with you, uh when I was up there, this is one of those times that heavy decisions have to be made.
The job is according to governance. The job is to see that it runs well. Well, to be perfectly honest, the people who know how to run it are the superintendent,
the assistant superintendent, the directors, the supervisors, the teachers. They're asking you, I think there's a problem. Nobody understands the difference
between the board of ed and the administrative staff at the board of ed. The board of ed has to listen to the superintendent and the superintendent's charges.
You're to make a decision as a board as a whole to listen to the superintendent and to follow the five-year plan that was voted on.
And every year you add on to it, which is fine. But the superintendent, that's the big guy. He makes those decisions, decisions. Excuse me.
If he says we need this, then we need it. Because I will take and say this. He's the one that runs the place.
The end of the day, the board itself has to make a decision to follow the superintendent, the BA, the other assistant superintendent.
They're the ones that are in charge. The board members, they make policy. But they listen to the superintendent and the assistant superintendent. That's how things work. You see, I don't
believe the the people I don't believe the people understand the board of ed. There's two different two different systems.
the board of ed, the nine elected or the administrative staff. It's separate. When I was on the board, we listened to the leaders
and we all made a decision. You vote yes or you vote no. I really want to make sure that the public knows that there's a superintendent. That superintendent
does the job. The board members discuss what the superintendent sells to the board members. We have a district that has
multi- layers of issues. Let's talk about Jackson, New Jersey. They sold two schools. Let's talk about Tom's River
that actually right now is contemplating going bankrupt. We talk about other districts in North Jersey that are disintegrating,
but I can tell you this about Edison. The superintendent and the people that are in charge with him are doing everything they possibly can and they need the board of ed. They need the people
to take and to listen, argue, scream, but come out and have a cohesive thing. And you know, you know who it's all about?
It's about our students. You know them little kids. Yeah. They put it together. That's what they do. They do it well. If
you remember governance, the first line in governance is to see that it runs well. It's not to run it, it's to see that it runs well. I want to thank everybody
for making this happen. Thank you very much. Have a wonderful night. >> Thank you. Next >> motion to close comment. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> All in favor? >> I.
>> Thank you. Board member comments. >> Yes, Jenny. >> I just uh you know felt I should say a little something here. Can you hear me? I just wanted to thank everybody for coming here tonight and sharing all your
concerns and your ideas and all of your input. You know, we do appreciate this and we do listen. You know, don't think it's just falling on deaf ears. It it's not. And Matt, you
can add me to the list of people who don't sleep well at night because of certain things. But, you know, we are, you know, we do listen. We are concerned. And believe me when I tell you, we're trying our very best to do
the right thing for our children, our parents, the taxpayers, and the district. Thank you for listening. >> Thank you, Jenny. Anyone else? >> Yeah, I just wanted to um you know
mention you know was mentioned uh before uh teachers appreciation week and nurse appreciation week. Um we really appreciate you know um all they do. um just some of the things that I just
want to um people so passionate about it um about the land right so as I said before let me reiterate we don't make decisions based on what we we understand we don't make decision based on what your noises are we based on the
decisions from professionals the contract is still under is still in the process of negotiation there are a lot of things I cannot say but The final decision is on the professional assessment
to come here and say, you know, this is my money. Okay. Yeah, it is your money. It's my money as well. Half million dollar is a lot of money in my opinion. So, we're not going to, you know, blow
it off to like like a nothing. That's my money as well. It's our money. We need to spend it wisely. We're not going to make a a decision without a professional assessment.
Whatever the information you got, those are fear-mongering information. Okay? You would Dr. Alderelli gave a high level uh vision and normally I don't agree with, you know, Mrs. Conway, but
she brought it up. We have 175 students. We're paying $18 million. We send them out out of district. I don't know any of these people who actually making all the all the uh complaints. How many of them has actually visited FDR? Okay. How many of them visited FDR
building? >> No, no, no. >> Okay. >> So, these are the students. We send them we we put them on a bus for an hour to go to another school. We have a facility right in the middle of the town.
It's convenient for everybody. If there's something happens, the parents can go there and get it. Just be a little bit patient. Let Dr. Art ready present the visions. And after that, and you still think it's it's not it's not a worthwhile investment,
cancel it. I'll be the one who vote to cancel it without a professional assessment, without looking at Dr. Alelli's, you know, whatever he said. I'm not going to cancel it. It's very simple. Let's look at the vision. And
people say, "Oh, you don't have anything." There were a lot lot of discussions, but we have success stories. Our own success story is Edison Success Academy. We spent $2.5 million to to buy the property. it. We were discussing what to do with our product
property for about two years and we we finally decide we're going to make a success academy alternate school. We spend about a million and a half to update the school. A total investment of $4 million. You know what?
Now we're bringing these students back home. We used to send them out. We spent $3 million to send them out. And we also have the capacity to bring students from out of district. Those are the ones that
generates revenue. People are saying oh you education education you you educate. But the problem is for education all these years it's spend spend spend. And when you when you are short what you do you go to taxpayers.
Okay. when you can generate some revenues, you offset the tax, offset the tax burdens for the residents. That's what we're looking for and that's what that property is for. Okay, I'm done with my comment. Thank you very
much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Yep. >> Uh couple things. Uh you guys can stay. I can talk to you afterwards. >> Okay. Sorry. >> Go ahead. Um >> couple things. uh you know a speaker
came up and said that I uh made a motion to close public portion. When I looked up there were no hands. So I have never ever curtailed public portion uh comments. So I don't know where that speaker got that information from. But
anyway, um also I owe Mr. Lugo an apology. Um it's out of character for me. Um last week um I made a comment uh about Mr. Lugo and his stance on a certain issue. Um there's no name need
for name calling which I called him a name. So uh I wanted to publicly apologize to Mr. Lugo. I did email em email emailed or text him the next morning uh apologizing to him and I told him I would publicly apologize. It's you know we may differ on opinions but I
think we're all here for the same reason. Um we may not like our opinions of each other. Uh, sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree. He voted no on the budget. I voted no on the budget, so we agreed on something. Uh, but I just want to publicly apologize to Mr. Lugo.
>> Thank you, Ralph. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. >> Um, education week. Uh, congratulations to all the teachers. Obviously, as an educator myself with 34 more days left to retirement, um, I appreciate everything you guys do. Um, you know, I
know it's not an easy job. Been there, done that. Uh it's only getting tougher. Um so uh hang in there and uh it's not a pleasant time right now. Um and I'm hoping that you know I could help some of them. Uh I know I talked to Mr.
Revnik and uh we're going to do our best to uh do what we can to help you know our own here in Edison. So thank you very much teachers. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Uh Vishel. Yeah, I just want to add uh
what uh Ralph said. Um Matt, you know where I stand, you know, with with uh with the teachers, right? So, I I had a conversation with with Matt when I was out of the country. So, uh I hope you you know, you know where I stand on this. So, um as Ralph Ralph said, uh
we'll do whatever we can to help our own. So, um, you know, if you guys have any, uh, um, CVs or anything you want to send to us, uh, we'll, you know, feel free to send to me. Uh, you have my email address. Um, we'll do what we can,
you know, to help, right? Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Motion to close. >> No, I want to say something. >> Did someone have something to say? I'm sorry. No. >> Okay. So, I mean, I I want to piggy back on what Jeie said, right? I mean I
appreciate all of you coming and raising your concern. Uh I mean we are listening and and believe us we are trying our best to make the best decision for our students and our stakeholders. But at the same time I also recognize I want to recognize that there are certain people who is coming with political biases to
discredit the board. Uh and in respond to that I want to at least share why I do what I do, what I try to what I want to achieve in this school district and how I do it. Right. So I'm I'm very passionate about our students in education. I believe in giving back to
the community and I believe in a phrase where I want to give back to the world more than I take from the world. Um what I'm trying to achieve is I want to create this you know environment. I want to create the culture resources and environment in the school district that allows our student to be the best
version of themselves. And and how I do it I I do it by keeping student at the center of every decision I make. uh some of those choices are not easy uh but I make those decision with you know 100% honesty and integrity and
it empowers me to take lot of bitterness and disrespect with the smile and and somebody said that I know I'm I'm afraid of uh responding I'm not afraid of anything when when you make decisions with you know honesty and integrity it gives you power not to be scared of
anything but I choose to not to respond to any threats disrespect and condensating tone and I will not respond to those kind of tone but the issue that we are discussing is important to me and I'm always happy to discuss it in in any
respectful forum you know I have been to many you know community gatherings where I have given the information whatever information that I can legally I have spoken to a lot of residents oneonone and I'm always happy to do that but I will not respond to any threats or or
disrespectful comments or you know condescending you know tone Thank you. Anyone else? >> Yeah. >> Motion to close. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. Medium.