Good evening and welcome to our Board of Education meeting of the Elizabeth Board of Education. This is a combined regular agenda and a business meeting of the Board of Education pursuant to New Jersey statue and the rules adopted by the Board of Education. Notice of this meeting was sent to the Star Ledger and cable vision of Elizabeth on 03/05/2026. In addition, this notice is being posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of 500 North Broad Street. And pursuant to this act, a copy has been filed with the city clerk of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
We want to welcome everyone present here at school number fifty one and to our television viewers to this 03/26/2026 meeting of the Board of Education. We are here to govern, provide management, oversight, and make policy for the district. The superintendent manages the district. This is a meeting of the board in public, not a meeting of the public. This meeting is being recorded and will become part of the Elizabeth Board of Education permanent record, so that the recording will adequately reflect the proceedings.
Please refrain from talking while others are speaking. We ask that you silence the sounds on your electronic devices since it is legally mandated that these proceedings be accurately recorded. We may have to ask for order periodically should noise begin to interfere with our recording capabilities. There will be a public portion for the citizens to address the board. Participants for the public portion must personally sign in prior to the start of the public participation portion so that they may have the opportunity to speak. The sign in sheets state the name, the address, and telephone number, and reason that
the person wants to comment, whether it is an agenda item or a general education comment. We are pleased that you have taken time this evening to join us here for the Board of Education meeting. Thank you for your interest in the Elizabeth Public Schools. Mister Kennedy, roll call, please. Barbosa. Here. Baphilus. Chevres. Here. Clervoyant Noel. Here. Jacobs. Marina Ortega. Here. Goncavas Pastana. Rivera. Here. Carvalho. Present. At this time, I ask that we all stand. We are requesting a moment of silence for Daniel Isaiah Spencer Diaz, eighth grade student,
Tucson Levator Marquez de Lafayette, school number six. Paulette Hall, retired classroom assistant, Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy. Thank you. At this time, please remain standing for the presentation of colors by the Admiral William F. Halsey Junior and Public Safety Academy JROTC. The pledge allegiance will be led by board member Rosa Moreno Ortega. To the flag of The United States Of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Please remain standing for The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key. Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early early light. What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight.
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rockets are red glare. The bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave for the land of the free
and the home of the brave. Round of applause for Admiral Halsey Academy. Board member Stephanie Clairvoyant Noel, please lead us in the pledge of ethics. As a member of the Elizabeth Public Schools professional learning community, I will treat people as I wish to be treated. To do that, I pledge to understand that the school community is a special place. Listen respectfully when someone else is speaking by paying close attention and not interrupting.
Speak in a calm voice and use proper language. Dress appropriately for teaching and learning. Inspire the best in myself and others by celebrating successes and learning from mistakes. Care about others by demonstrating acts of kindness. Be a lifelong learner by taking every opportunity to learn from others. Thank you. Everyone, please be seated. I will now have our superintendent of schools introduce our student representative. Thank you, madam president. Brian Guzman is a senior at JBJ STEM Academy, where he serves as a student
government president, student council president, and the student representative to the Board of Education. In these leadership roles, Brian advocates for his peers and works to strengthen communication between students, faculty, and district leadership, striving to represent the full student experience with integrity and responsibility. Academically, Brian has distinguished himself as the current valedictorian of JBJ Jets STEM Academy. He has demonstrated consistent academic excellence throughout his high school career, earning the superintendent scholar
award every marking period since freshman year. Brian is also honored to be an n New Jersey Seeds College Scholar, a competitive academic enrichment and scholarship program that supports high achieving students in their pursuit of higher education. Beyond his academic achievements, Brian is an active member of the National Honor Society and the National STEM Honor Society, contributing to service initiatives and academic enrichment opportunities. He is also involved in the school's environmental engineering club, where he collaborates with peers
to explore sustainable solutions and promote environmental awareness within the school community. Brian has committed to attending Colgate University, where he plans to major in astrophysics. He was accepted during the early decision before Christmas break, marking an exciting milestone in his academic journey. Known for his natural curiosity from an early age, Brian has always been fascinated by discovery and exploration. Because space represents one of humanity's greatest unknowns, he felt drawn to study the universe
more deeply. His long standing interest in NASA and space exploration helped inspire his decision to pursue astrophysics and continue exploring the mysteries beyond our planet. It is my pleasure to introduce Brian Guzman. Mister Kennedy, can you please include our student representative in the roll call to have the record the record reflect Brian Guzman's attendance this evening? Yes. Duly noted. Thank you. Okay. At this time, citizens may address the board.
The microphones are open for public comment to those who have signed in prior to the session. Each statement may be made made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes in duration. The total time of public comment shall be limited to sixty minutes. No individual is able to yield their time to another individual. All statements shall be directed to the presiding officer. No participant may address or question board members individually. Each speaker shall comply in all respects with board policy nine three two two.
Copies were provided next to the sign in sheet. The following rules shall apply. Time limits will be strictly enforced. No person no personal attacks on individuals or naming of individuals. No vulgar or indecent language. A person may address the board no more than once during a single meeting. Comments will not be debated. Any person in violation of this policy will be warned and their comments terminated if needed. As a reminder, this is a meeting of the board in public, not a meeting
of the public. At this at this time, I call Evelyn Diaz to the mic. I can I can start? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Good evening. My name is Evelyn Diaz. I stand before you today, not just as a grieving parent, but as the voice for every child who has ever felt invisible, and for every parent who has fell on her. My son, Daniel, had a heart full of dreams and a spirit that could light
up a room. Yet, he faced a system that couldn't see his potential and failed him. Now he's gone. It is not just about him. It's about the children just like him. Our children spend years in schools growing and learning. We trust these institutions to guide them, to nurture their talents, and to help them grow into confident adults. Yet, the system does far from that. Children are not just numbers or statistics. They are our future. Individuals with unique or special needs are too often unheard, mistreated, intimidated, talked down to,
and penalized by a system it's supposed to help. But instead, treats them like they are less than human, and that's unimportant. I am here today to speak up and demand realistic solutions for our children and staff. We must all come together and build a space, a safe space, for them to grow in regardless of status, disability, color, race, or race. Now question, if it was your child, would you let this happen to them?
I had to bury mine just at 14 years old. No parent should ever have to bury their child. Therefore, any system serving children with special needs must ensure that the individuals it employs to work with these children are properly hired and trained. We love our children just as you love yours, and just as you care for your children, Elizabeth School District should provide the same level of care for our children, while they are in our in your custody during during school hours. Because for them, school is their second home.
We all need to come together and make this happen. Let me remind you, I don't get to see my child grow. I don't get to experience life with him. I don't get to see him get married. I don't get to see him have grandchildren. Give me grandchildren. It is so hard to even breathe, eat, sleep, think, have a normal life every day, knowing my child is forever gone? How many more children have to suffer for change to be made and for children to be loved and heard?
Justice for Daniel Spencer Diaz. Thank you, miss Diaz. And as we have before our condolences, Thank you. Katia Fajardo. Miss Fajardo, do you need a translator? Please. Mister Cortez. Mister Cortez, can you translate for us, please? Thank you. Just take a minute to explain. Yeah. Thank you. She's here to discuss her her experience with the when she, in her meeting regarding her IEP, her son's IEP. My son attends school twenty two, gifted and talented.
My son is eight years old, and he has had an IEP since he was eight years old. Last Thursday, she had a meeting, an an IEP meeting where her rights were violated. So mom says that she wasn't able to participate because she didn't get the information on time. The team said that based on his exams and his grades that he really doesn't qualify. Looks like the lead member of the, of the team said that her services will be terminated effective immediately. So she received notification on Friday and she's And and on Monday, she's asking for
mediation. Her son has been denied, transportation and services for the past three days. Okay. Okay. She sent an email asking that the services be reinstated. And she's under the impression that under stay put that nothing should get changed at this moment. Okay. At this moment, he doesn't have any services at all. Nothing has been reestablished. She's had a a she's had a very difficult time getting her son to come back to school. She's asking for the services to be reinstated under stay put. Until we come to agreement based on mediation or any other legal legal agreement.
Okay. Gracias. Next speaker will be Diana Talbor. Hi. My name is Diana Tavor, and I just wanna say that we are deeply, deeply upset about what has happened, and it is not accidental. This is the system that you guys had aided and abetted, and that's why this happened. To begin, we have a student that suffered something tragic. Imagine this. Imagine you thinking that IEPs are something that's optional. It's not optional. It's a requirement, and this was negligent. This there there was there are things that shouldn't be happening but are happening within
this system. He was failed by a chain of decisions, by policies, by negligence. The system did not even look at him. They overlooked him and they pushed him out. You can't play this off as a student who simply fell through the cracks when you all left the door open. This is this is not a tragedy. It is more than that. This is a failure with a paper trail. If you ask anyone in the city what's the biggest malpractice to exist domestically, they're not gonna tell you city things for the ones that are running for council in case you wanna know. They're gonna tell you things that are inaction for the board of education.
Your inaction speaks louder than the responses that you give that are on this board of education and the responses that you ever will. So let's stop calling this a mistake when you treat the situation as damage control after. You pull students to the side. You pull you pull parents to the side after they speak, but you don't do anything. You pull them away to make it seem like you're giving them a solution, but you're just leading them towards silence. An AEP an IEP is federal law, not a suggestion, not a guideline. It's something that you follow, but you only follow when it's convenient. It's a legal obligation to protect the child, and you broke it. Educators in this meeting did not do what they were supposed to.
No child should ever feel that they are not listened to in a room. So what did what happened as a result? A tragedy. And security guards just watched. Because from where we're standing, it looks like your responsibility ends in the classroom door, and it's once you prepare students for the SAT and NJSLA. You only care about reaping the benefits our bright students bring, but not the damages that you cause. The students will never get to graduate who go through things because I've known people personally that have also committed suicide due to the negligence of the board of education for the past years. Students will never get to experience the beautiful things that lie once you leave this
poisonous city that we call Elizabeth. Elizabeth public schools are so toxic and venomous, and everybody that sits in the board of education refuses to see it. You cling onto your students like ticks and other trauma that you cause follow with them for the rest of their lives. Your negligence continues to show when you protect administrators like principal Cummings, principal McGovern, and principal Tatumbaum. While you get to go back and hug your kids and tell them how much you love them from your boiling hot thrones that you sit on in Amorra Hills, there are some children that will never get to go back home to their parents,
and their spirits will forever be a place they long to come back to, but they cannot. Where's the accountability? There's no sense of urgency to correct these errors, but there always seems to be an immediate sense of urgency to avoid accountability. This is a prime example of what happens when people entrusted with children fail, the consequences are immerseable. Thank you, miss Tabor. Kaysan Little? No mother should have to bury their child. And our deepest condolences to you, Evelyn. Imagine being 14 years old, walking into a place that's supposed to support you. Teachers, administrators, you included, Oga.
The system itself rejecting you. The district didn't just break policy. It broke a boy's sense of safety, dignity, and belonging. You didn't just violate the law, but a child's peace of mind. IEPs are not optional, but your negligence was. Your continued negligence was. That was a face. There was a face to go with the IEP. And now that face is gone forever. Daniel Isaiah Spencer Diaz didn't just hear it. He felt it. Every word, every glance, every dismissal crushed him.
His IEPs, federally protected plan was violated. And not accidentally, not a mistake, but blatantly, and by the adults who knew better. Negligence is deadly. And by aiding and abetting, this you proved it. He followed the rules expected of him, but ultimately ended up paying the highest price. Two security guards watched him leave that meeting. They saw him, a child in distress, and did absolutely nothing. To the guards, you violated your oath to serve because you did because what you
did that day was not guard, but become complicit and negligent in this tragedy. Whether this child was needed protection, you too provided silence. You did not intervene, but observe a tragedy in real time. You had one job, and you used that role to fall to fail a 14 year old. In that moment, you were no longer security but a part of the problem. Picture him walking home carrying that weight of rejection, confusion, and heartbreak. He calls his mother not with anger, not with blame, but to tell her he loves her.
To tell her she did nothing wrong, to apologize for everything he felt he had done wrong. And then he unfortunately takes his life. This was preventable. Every single step of this tragedy screams failure, failure of care, failure of accountability, failure of humanity. For years, families in Elizabeth have raised alarms about IUP violations in this district, and none of you are on a mandate to combat them. Absolutely none of you. Every year, warnings are ignored, concerns are dismissed, and now a child is gone.
These aren't mistakes, but our choices. The board knew about IUP violations for years and let them continue. This is not oversight, but complicity. Teachers who held that meeting, you broke a child. Board of Education members, you enabled it. You turned a blind eye while a federal mandate was ignored. Security guards, you watched a child leave in agony and did nothing. So now I say, long live Daniel Isaiah Spencer. Thank you. Maria Lorenz. At the last board meeting, madam president, you abused your power.
You interrupted me five times. You didn't like what I had to say, and then you weaponized the police department of Elizabeth to remove without warning as you say in your policy. But it's no it's no consequence that you break board policies. Right? Because you're also very accustomed to not following IEPs. As a mother myself, I've held this district accountable several times. The first time, when my heart when my son, Daniel, had a heart condition and you had him running in the gym and no one read the IEP.
That was a state complaint. You were advised to do a corrective action plan. The second time, my son was not provided with his FM system. That was another state complaint. That was another Kappa. Again, you failed. Now we hear the story of Daniel. Not my Daniel, someone else's Daniel, who unfortunately, because the BIP in the IEP was not followed, led to a tragedy, a senseless tragedy that could have been prevented had
your administrators followed the IEP. IEPs are not optional. They're not suggestions. They are mandatory. They are in place to assist a child. And we hear consistent examples of how you continue to fail our children year over year. It's not just my complaints. If today's translation of that Spanish mother that came here to speak in Spanish and that interpretation is any indication of the interpretations that you offer in schools, you failed.
And I know that you're not translating for parents. I filed the OCR complaint. You got a cap of that too. I've been nothing but a staunch advocate in this district that has stood up for parents' rights. You don't have a CPAC that fully functions. You control. You like to control everything, but you can't control this. And you certainly can't control the fact that we have another student, that we have to have an unfortunate moment of silence because of your dereliction of duty and your failure. I have filed numerous complaints. Numerous.
Let us not forget Emily, who went to school expecting to have her aid and got bit and went viral by Cardi b. Let us not forget Emily. Let us not forget Michael Hunter who dragged a special needs child through the hallways, and we rewarded him with a job as a janitor that paid more than a security guard. Let us also not forget the student that went to a boiler room because she needed lunch money and wanted to eat and Bianca Gambetta.
If I recall, March 8 was International Women's Day. There was a brunch at Kean University, and there were some board members present. And one of them was presented with some award. In the speech to present her with the award, they named her as an aspiring leader, willing to help her community and who is willing to open doors for all the girls in this wonderful district. When she received the award, she affirmed that she is there for the students, but that can't be further from the truth. I'm not here to talk about her. I just wanted to state how double faced she is.
On March 2, I met with assistant superintendent Cedeno who noted that the current policy exam, the exam policy, has been in state since nineteen eighty six. Forty years. That's not a reason to keep it. Progress is something that this district teaches us to value. So why would students try to demonstrate that progress we are met with a policy older than most of our parents? I want to draw the board's attention to neighboring districts that have adopted more flexible student centered approaches to final exams, and what flexibility reflects in their outcomes.
Freehold regional regional high schools exempt seniors with an a minus average or above who meet attendance grade and requirements. They also apply to AP students who qualify under the same conditions. Roxbury High School exempts any student with a 90% average or higher if you if you have proven all year that you are mastered at the certain subject, there are
no needs for more stress to be added on. Their graduation rate is a ninety three percent. Cranford High School, right here in Union County, ranked sixty fifth in the New Jersey and with a ninety sixth graduation rate. They exempt AP students main maintaining an average of eighty five and twelfth graders with an average of 90, Trusting that consistent performance is proven off. These strictures districts share common belief. Students who demonstrate mastery throughout the year shouldn't be penalized by a high stakes exam
that adds pressure without added information. Mental health and academic performance aren't in conflict. They are connected. Our superintendent is the instructional leader of this district, the person ultimately responsible for these academic policies. This is exactly the kind of conversation that warrants her direct attention, and, you know, formally requesting a meeting with her as I did seven times. Like I did when I left my phone number, like I did when I when they asked me for my student ID, like I did when I left my personal email.
A forty year old policy is not a tradition worth protecting. It's a problem worth solving. The data that supports the change, there's students that are asking for change. The only question is whether if this sport is willing to lead it. Thank you. Jennifer Divaya. Hello. Last month, my heart was shattered when I learned that we lost a young student in our district. As more information came to light, that heartbreak turned into anger because this was not unavoidable, this was preventable. This young man, Daniel, had an IEP in place, legally required supports that were meant to protect him, those protections were not followed.
Let me absolutely be clear. When a school fails to follow a student's IEP, it's not a minor oversight, it is a failure of duty. And in this case, this failure had fatal consequences. This is not an isolated incident. This is a pattern of negligence under this administration, a repeated failure to protect the most vulnerable students in your care. I attended Daniels Wake. I saw a 14 year old child in a coffin, someone who should still be here. I saw a mother completely shattered. And today, I witnessed something I cannot ignore. Olga Hugo Meyer walked past this grieving mother, refused to acknowledge her, refused to make
eye contact, and instead chose to stand there in congratulating another parent and child right next to a mother who had just buried her son. This is not just insensitive. This is an insult. But it did not stop there. Right now, in this very meeting, I watched Daniel's mother find the strength to stand up and speak, heartbroken, advocating for her child, reliving the worst pain a parent can endure. And as she spoke, Olga Hugo Meyer looked away, ignoring what Daniel's mother was saying. She could not look at a grieving mother while she spoke about her child, yet
she had no problem maintaining eye contact when she was congratulating another child, something that in itself was completely inappropriate to do beside a mother in mourning. That contrast is not accidental. It is telling. It is it shows a complete lack of compassion, accountability, and human and basic human decency. Your silence is not neutral. Your avoidance is not harmless. When mandated protections are ignored, when systems failed and a child is lost as a result, you do not get to look away. You do not get to act as if it's business as usual. This district failed Daniel, and the weight of that failure does not disappear just because
you refused to acknowledge it. And it sits here. It's visible, and it demands accountability from every single one of you. We want justice for Daniel. Carlos Villavincenzo Novo. Good evening. Last month, the community spoke about the concerns happening in our city. I honestly had hope. I thought maybe that meant that this board would finally speak about what families in this district are going through. What left me befuddled was listening to the board discussion and hearing that snow and life touch photography are the only major concerns in this community. Meanwhile, families in this community are living in fear. Children are worried about whether their families will still be together when they come home
from school. Your silence and denials tells immigrant parents that the fear they carry every day is not important enough to be acknowledged here. It tells students that the trauma affecting their homes and their neighborhoods is somehow separate from their education, and it's disappointing because this board always is is always ready to show up when it's time to celebrate culture, community, and diversity. That is what makes this so bothersome. Because leadership is not just when, showing up when, the during the easy moments, such as the Read Across America photo ops. Leadership is about speaking when it gets uncomfortable. Leadership is about being clear when people need guidance.
Leadership is about making sure families know that they are not alone. Right now, many families do not have that from this board and that should be concerning to everyone. What is crazy that three of you are running for city council in the world I live in. So I have to ask, how can you be the face and voice of the community if you don't even speak up for the most vulnerable? One of you was called out for being on the phone and the response that they received was getting defensive. So that's the reaction that's what gets a reaction. Right? You being getting called out on for being on the phone. Where is that same energy when it comes to this, to standing up for my
community? Leadership isn't a title you run for. It's a responsibility you show improve every day. Thank you. Thank you to all the public speakers tonight. At this time, I close the public comment portion of this meeting. At this time, we return to our superintendent of schools who will introduce the management oversight presentation. Our board president commits to the review of our district systems through regularly scheduled presentations as part of our board meetings as a means of reviewing structure, process, and metrics. This evening, mister Felice Salvatore, our director of food and nutrition, will share a presentation
on the division of food and nutrition. I'd like, at this time, to turn over to mister Salvatore. Good evening, madam superintendent, board members, esteemed colleagues, my fellow colleagues, my, my my workers. I'd like to give you a, brief overview of the division of food and nutrition services. My name is Phil Salvatore. I'm the interim director. Prior to that, I was the accountant for nine years. So wanna give everybody, an opportunity to see what exactly we do at the Division
of Food and Nutrition Services. Our purpose is to provide insight into the Division of Food and Nutrition Services, who we are, how we serve our students while trying to strengthen our partnership with the community. Our goal, we are dedicated to our students, their health, their well-being, and their ability to learn. Our mission is to support learning by promoting healthy eating habits, providing well balanced nutritious meals while ensuring compliance with all state and federal requirements, USDA dietary requirements.
What that means is we wanna give the students an overall well balanced meal that includes protein, which includes, whole grains, which includes, vegetables, fruits. We wanna give them a well nourished, which includes USDA guidelines, means whole wheat, whole grains, low fat milk. So we try to do that and at the same time try to give our students something nutritious to eat. Our school community, what that entails, we currently have 25 pre k to eight, facilities.
We have seven annex buildings. We have three early childhood centers in addition to seven main high schools, six annexes for a total operating sites of 48 on a daily basis. Our district enrollment for our students, we are currently at 74% free students, 9% reduced, which comes out to 85 83%. The remaining 17% of students are on a paid status. Our food service staff, which I mentioned thanking for them for coming earlier, we have
41 cook managers at our sites, 11 assistant cook managers, a 182 general workers that spend the majority of the day, during the operating hours of the school. We work with transportation to have 44 multipurpose, workers. Once they're done with the bus shifts, then they come to our kitchens and help our cook managers with the, with the operations mainly of lunch. And then we have 216 currently, two hour lunch aids and that's really for the
classroom feeding at the early childhood centers, at the schools that have pre k's and kindergartens where the kids are a little too young to be able to go to the, cafeteria. What our food service staff does, numerous things on a daily basis. Review and plan meals based on the menus, placing daily orders, receiving those orders, maintaining and rotating, inventory, preparing daily breakfast, lunch, after school programs, accommodating students with allergies. We've been we'll touch about it, talk about in a little bit about the training
that our staff is doing now with the sensitivity of so many dietary restrictions, really adhering to, those specific needs. In addition, we kinda run like businesses. Each school runs like a business where they have payroll, daily attendance, taking students' payments, with the cashiers at the same time trying to ensure that everyone gets a well balanced nutritious meal. Speaking of that nutrition requirements, as I mentioned the different food categories, we wanna make sure that students at least have a well balanced lunch, in addition to breakfast and
and after school meal because we don't know if some pea some students go home and what their next meal might be. So we wanna try to give that a well balanced, cashiers and cook managers are ensuring that the kids have, all the components or at least the ones required just so that the child feels full, to get through the day. We run multiple programs within the division of food and nutrition. National school lunch program, national breakfast program, as I mentioned, the after school dinner program.
We have a fresh, fresh fruit and vegetable grant that we, every year we participate in. During the summer months, we participate in the summer food service program, in addition to the summer vended program. Some schools do after school snacks instead of dinners just to keep the, the flow going and each school pretty much determines what they can do with their with their students and how much they wanna allocate to, them eating a full meal or whatnot. We also do a la carte sales and concession stands, in addition to catering and
special functions for school events. So as I mentioned, the National School Lunch Program, a lot of information there when it started back in 1946. We at our district and the larger districts do an offer versus serve. So as I mentioned, we do offer all five components, but we give the the the student the opportunity to pick three of those five. As long as we're offering them, we want them to take it all, and we have some cook managers here that'll attest to it.
They make sure the kid will grab a fruit, grab a vegetable. So it's kinda like a parent with a with their own child and that's the the the culture that we're trying to build. Total lunches served, we do probably 30,000 a day, which comes out to that's a year by year comparison. Twenty twenty and twenty one, that was during the COVID years, which we were still feeding our students. But as you can see, those numbers are usually for this for the year, over three and a half million, which we're projected to hit that number, again this year
with our with our lunch counts. The amount that we receive every, for every lunch served is listed there. For free students, we receive $4.69, reduced students, $4.29, and paid students, 53¢ in addition to the, $3 that they pay. Excuse me. We also receive an additional 9¢ per lunch if we are in compliance. And knock on wood, we try to maintain that level of compliance with the state, not only to ensure no penalties, but also to get that additional 9¢ per meal.
As I mentioned, the pre k to eight currently pay $3 for a meal. The high school students pay $3.60. The main reason for that, they do get another ounce of protein because, obviously, they're bigger. They're, need more, calories. And we also, for the majority of our high schools, if not all of them, some type of salad bar where they have unlimited access to, salad bar, you know, which is which is nice. Same thing for the breakfast program. With that, they get a grain, a fruit, and a milk.
We also some days offer protein, and that requirement is that they take at least two out of three. And for our district, every student receives a free breakfast. Total breakfast is served. As you can see, it's well over two and a close to two and a half million, breakfasts. We would like that number to kinda match our breakfast number our lunch numbers, but in time as different schools, as we try to come up with different ideas and different ways to to feed those kids. As I mentioned, the rates for lunch here are the ones for breakfast.
We received $2.94 for a, free student. Even though every student is free, what we get back from the state is based on their, category their, eligibility. The after school dinner program, which is huge. Right? That's, for pretty much every program that we have in the school from athletics to, tutoring. So Monday through Friday and now even with the Saturday tutoring, we do offer them through our after school program. And the number of, snacks and and dinners just keeps staying around that 30,000 a
month. So as you can see, a lot of schools, a lot of programs going on. One thing I'm also happy is, every year from the USDA, we get a, grant from, for, fresh fruit and vegetables in addition to the fruits and vegetables they eat during the day. And this opens them up to things that we really can't afford to order dragon fruit. But through this program, we can offer those schools, dragon fruit, star fruit, all these
different fruits so it opens them up. What a lot of schools do is, lessons behind it, where the fruit came from, what health benefits they have. So it's kind of incorporating education into, excuse me, nutrition. Excuse me one second. Oh, I also wanna mention our schools have always done a great job with the Fresh Fruit program. We won it back in 2018. There's a picture right there from 2019, if you guys remember, when you came out. So it's nice for the schools to get recognized.
They get a grant where they can purchase something for a garden or do things that, excuse me, they like to do. We also, in the summer, feed our kids, with the summer retention, through the summer food service program, which is the same philosophy as the breakfast and lunch, where they're getting a full breakfast, a full lunch, just a different part of the state agency that pays us. The total number of meals during COVID was the majority of how we fed our
kids through the summer program, the SSO option. But, pretty much we have consistently stayed around 70,000, breakfasts and about 24,000 lunches. We also do the summer vended program with the city of Elizabeth through the camps. So we have a remote site which makes breakfasts, sandwiches, lunches, and snacks, which are then picked up from our warehouse staff and they deliver it to the multiple sites in Elizabeth. And then we work with the recreation department to confirm the counts. We send them a bill and then they, pay us.
So it's additional income that we're not getting. It's considered non program because it's not affiliated with a school program. And as you can see our numbers, you know, we we probably have close to Different camps right now. So, our numbers are cons consistently around 20 to 30,000, lunches, snacks. They don't do that much breakfast, but it's always the option to do it. We also order, excuse me, we also offer catering and special functions for school events,
honor rolls breakfast, National Honor Society. So Frank Cozzola, our assistant director, really, that's his his his baby in which he takes pride in presenting, getting the cook managers ready at different schools. We also provide for, the athletic department all their trips and their games away. We try to, work with the coaches to have something for the students after a game. We also do the concession stand at, Williams Field in the Dunne Center.
So pretty much this is all those programs come together. Our sources of revenue, 52% comes from lunch, 23% comes from breakfast. So that's 75%. So majority of that's why constantly trying to come up with new ideas for, improving our breakfast and lunch, try to get the participation even higher than it is. Then we have additional sources is with the USDA, in which they give us an entitlement to order food from, from them directly, and that saves us on cost with,
having to buy that directly from our distributor. We can also direct some of that to go to processing companies. Excuse me. For example, cheese gets directed to our pizza company, so they don't charge us for the cheese. So we try to save money in different avenues there. And then as I mentioned, our after school program, our cash sales, other income, which is the non program revenue, which includes the special functions, the summer vended programs, the
concession stands. As I mentioned, the fresh fruit program and the summer programs all sums up to of how we generate income. As I mentioned, the USDA gives us an allotment every year. That all depends on how much they get. So two years ago, we got 1,600,000.0. This past year, still grateful for it. A little over 1,000,000. And, again, the way that gets allocated is it saves us on food costs. This is a list of our expenses, primarily food, salaries, payroll and taxes, pension benefits.
That takes up a lot. As I showed in the previous slide, we have a lot of employees. Thankful for each one of them. Materials and supplies, equipment repairs. A lot of schools are old. The equipment has to constantly be upgraded and repaired. So we're working with our business department to come up with, a plan of how we can attack maybe a group of schools at a time. Revenue and expenses. So one thing that we like to, take pride in is that we're kinda self sufficient.
We're we'll we'll fluctuate a little bit here and there, but we kinda maintain that same level to show that we're not making a killing. Right? We're trying to scrap where we can and and do what we can, but we're at least breaking even on a year to year, basis. Future initiatives. We're looking with our staff to come up with different ideas, different menu things, get surveys from students. What do you guys like? What do you think? Like, we tried a Big Mac where the kids made their own Big Macs. High schools, it's easier to do because sometimes it gets messy with the with the
little kids. But, working with our IT department, to improve our website to make it a little more modern, so that's in the works and should be soon. Upgrading our dining areas, communicating with our parents the importance of, a well nutritious meal. Like, we want them to have breakfast so they have enough energy to get to lunch. And then at lunch, give them that last boost of energy to make it through the day. So, also trying to, as I mentioned, make necessary upgrades to the kitchen equipment and
just so we can have each kitchen kinda running as, the same at every school. Sorry. And, before I finish, again, I'd like to recognize our office staff. We have some cook managers. If you guys can all stand up, please. You hear me falling apart here. Alright. Thanks. Without them, we couldn't do it. You know, I can't thank them enough. Thank you for being here. We're not just colleagues, we're a family. We really look after each other for a family, as a family. So, very thankful to represent them. Thank you, guys.
Thank you. And wanna thank also that last slide was thanking our, our our district members, our team members, board members for always giving us your support, the business office for always, hey. You gotta do it this way. You know? Like, so they they helped me to to to keep that that straight line. Our IT department, warehouse, and Eddie Diaz, they really save us all the time. You know? I'm just thanking Ben Candelino just in case he hears me, you know, with the athletic department even though he should thank me.
But, other than that, there's, the warehouse transportation. I know Mike Grigio might have left, but it's really a collective effort. Plant property, you know, they really save us when we need them. So just wanna thank everybody. Any questions? Thank you, director. That doesn't have any questions after that. You are a true reminder of what teamwork is. And, you are a testament to what Elizabeth is. Thank you. So we thank you. You are homegrown and you make sure that our babies go home and their bellies
are full and that they come to school in the morning and they are able to learn because they're not hungry. And that is because of you and your team and we thank you. Thank you. At this time, I open it up to the board members if they have any questions, comments. Yes, madam president. Yes. First, I want to say thank you for the presentation. I'm very proud of each one of you. 494 staff members to cover 48 school, almost 28,000.
I don't know the specific number, the student. And extremely, extremely proud. And that what kind of model, like, running during morning time, not be able to give you breakfast to Mariana. She say, mom, Hamilton, the lunch person, she's so sweet. And she is the person who always, always make the day for Mariana. Oh, she's here. Okay. No. Everybody know that, you know, be there, smile for the you know, be happy and
make a huge difference. And the way everybody claps on you and, you know, everybody look like a family. And I'm very, very proud for each one of you, and I know we are in a good hands. Congratulations. Thank you. Madam President. Commissioner? Yes. Just I wanna thank you for this really great, information that you shared with us. I went over the future initiatives and looking forward to see the communication with parents because I think that'd be something to make different maybe when we had the back to school nights and any, like, PTO, event.
I think that'd be a great opportunity to inform and educate our parents about the great work to our, staff in food service is doing. And do they trust? Because I think the food is something too. You need to feel comfort, you need to trust, and I believe in our team. Do I know do they working hard? And it's just like had more communication when I went over all about this list. I think definitely the IT department can help him to spread the word and have
the very campaign. And that's what we're hoping with the with the website to, you know, gather more information parents kind of, you know, gives them more access. Our website a little outdated so we just want to go with the trends and with that maybe work with our IT department that would be great. You know, just to say hey this is what we do for food services and and, you know, I think you'd be impressed with what you with what you see. And I think thank you. And I think our community be so surprised. I had the opportunity to travel around the district and visit the different kitchens and I was so impressed to the great work and all the products and to we
serve. I think it's just more like connection to they be more informed. Yeah. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you. Are there any other comments from the commissioners? Madam president? Yes. Commissioner Jacobs. Thank you, madam president. First, I'd like to thank the director and his staff for doing an excellent and amazing job day in, day out for all of our children here in the district making sure that they're fed because that's a very important thing. And as the director noted that they have the energy for that free breakfast to get to lunch and the lunch you get to the next day. You know, the role that you play in our school district is integral and is
very, very important to each and every student and with our staff. So I commend you, director, and your staff for an excellent job well done. Okay. I have a question that may you may not be able to answer directly, but maybe mister Kennedy could give us, some insight in the future. So you we mentioned the fact that, the service the equipment and things of that nature. Is that done in conjunction with mister with the director of plant and property as far as replacement or knowing what items need to be replaced or what schedule they need to be replaced on? My concern is the fact that we know that we have a long range facilities
plans for larger ticket items such as our boilers and our air conditioners and things and roofs and things of that nature. But how exactly is that managed in the aspect of the food service department? Because it's integral to make sure that their equipment is working properly as well. Yes. It's it's kinda a little bit easier actually with the food service department because, they operate just like a regular business does. So when they purchase capital equipment, it's not it's a cash hit to to the bank account, but they're allowed to expense it based on the depreciated value.
So it can be spread over the life of the asset. So the way it works is, the director and also the cook cook managers describe the equipment that they need and it goes through mister Milanis' office originally to make the procurement. But, once again, the funding of that is not just like in our when we buy equipment in our general fund budget, we have to we have to fund it or go out for long term debt. But for the most part, it's it's a current year expense every time we buy something. For them, like I said before, they can spread it out a little bit better,
but it's all coordinated with the request just like any director in the district through the property and plant department. Thank you, mister Kennedy. And once again, thank you director and also to your department for doing an outstanding job. Thank you. Any other comments? Hearing none, I wanna thank you and thank your team for coming. Everyone being here is a testament to your leadership. Thank you. Thank you for all that you do for our children and, we look forward to continuing to work with you and supporting you and your entire family. So thank you. Thank you.
At this time, I'd like to ask if, food service and the entire team would take a picture with the board. Yeah? Commissioner Clairvoyant Noel said we can't let them go home without taking a picture, so let's do it. We're gonna be here till really late, so let's go. Okay. Moving on to the rest of the agenda. Rosa. I know. I know. God help us. Thank you to everyone from food service again. At this time, we will now review the agenda. Tab one a, official and private minutes, 01/22/2026.
Tab one b, treasurer and secretary's report, 01/31/2026. Are there any questions from the board? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add this to the agenda. At this time, before we add tab two a I know. It's gonna be a tough one. We're gonna talk about tab two a real quick. But before, we do, I there's a very special person on tab two a that is retiring.
I wonder who that is. And, you know, I'm a crier and, I don't know, the older I get, the worse this gets. And, it's a very emotional day with highs and lows, as our attorney reminded me today. But, as president of this board, When I was elected in 2014, I came onto this board and it was through a lot of hard work and dedication by mister Cuesta and his wife, Karen.
A lot of personal, but, a lot of love for our community. So, alright. I just need to get through it and then I'll be okay. Mr. Cuesta, Frank, my friend, I wanna thank you for your hard work, your dedication to this district. Not only, from 2014 on, but before that when you were teaching children and molding the future of our city. So on behalf of myself and my family, I wanna thank you for all that
you have done. And, I'd like to open it up to the rest of the board members. Thank you. Anybody else? Yes. Yes. Yeah. I didn't know that was gonna be all done. Good. Ma'am, president, thank you. Yes. I want to say some words. For me, also, it's a sensitive day. Not everybody know. I was a sub teacher looking for position, right here in Elizabeth more than twenty four years ago. And on a ride to school '20 three, and I I was thinking in my lucky day.
And then an Orion was two sub t shirt for the same position. And I say, wow. It's not my lucky day. My first husband was passed away. That's mean I need to provide everything in my house. And then I say, wow. Then they say, no. You need to meet with the principal. I say, oh, who will be the principal? Now, a short story, both of us, Patricia Rodriguez, my best friend right now, and mister Cuesta, my cell in the same room, he look at both of us and say, both of you can stay.
That's mean 2022 right now, look, the person who gave me the opportunity, and I have been teaching twenty two years. He also gave me the recommendation for Jersey City Public Schools, and I have been teaching twenty two year. That's mean, mister Cuesta, you know, I really, really appreciate you. What you who opened this wonderful door for this amazing career, and I count more years of friendship. More than twenty three years, I know you, and I love you.
Thank you. Thank you. Commissioner? Yes. Chebras? Mister Cuesta, thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I always have you have a special, we love you as a family for all you do for the special ed community. And before I joined the board, I was working, through Ellis Eye Promise award and all the initiatives in the community. And you were, Eddie, is reflecting your job in the board. We appreciate you. We hope to miss you. And you can you have time to think in before we go today, just so
you know. But thank you so much. I wish you the best. Anyone else? Madam president? Yes, commissioner is one of the only male members on this board. I'm not gonna let this opportunity get away from us without saying something about the great mister Cuesta. As we all know, mister Cuesta has served this district, religiously for the last over thirty years almost. Alright? Right. Forty forty look at me. Forty six years. That in itself deserves a big round of applause for the dedication from this man. That being said, I'm gonna keep it brief because I know we're gonna do this all over again, but miss Sequesta, you've been a great inspiration, a great leader, a
great teacher, and I really appreciate it. And along with all of my other colleagues, appreciate everything that you've done for us as board members as also everything that you've done for this school, this district, and this city from the promise awards to your service on the council to you being a full time CEO of this board. Thank you so much for your service, mister Cuesta. Much appreciated, and you will be deeply missed. Thank you. Thank you, commissioner Jacobs. Anyone else? Our closer. Madam, before. Oh, wait. Before. Commissioner. I'll respect the closer. You're very I'll be brief. No, mister every time I visited a school, in one way, shape, or form, someone
would always mention, oh, it's because of mister Cuesta. Oh, mister Cuesta taught me this. Mister Cuesta taught me that. And it's it's really a reflection of the service that you've done here for for our district, and I wanna thank you, from the bottom of my heart for everything you've done and enjoy your retirement. Thank you. Commissioner Barbosa? Oh, well, before she closes out, I just wanted to say, from the first day we met, you welcomed me with open arms. The first time we met, we had dinner. We sat there for a while. And that one meeting, I feel like I you literally told me your life story,
and I felt like I've known you for years, you and your wife, Karen. But, I just wanna say thank you for welcoming me with open arms. When you invited me to one of your events, you welcomed me, your friends welcomed me, your friends welcomed me, until this day. There are some that I don't even know by name, but when they see me, they remember me because of you and because of, I'm guessing, what you told them about me. And it's obviously great things because it's love everywhere I go, from you and from a lot of your friends. So I just want to say thank you for welcoming me.
You will always hold a place in my heart, and, congratulations, best of luck and continue to travel the world with Karen. Thank you. Commissioner Barbosa? Well, it's never a closing. It's always a beginning in some form. You've left an impression in, everywhere in the district, mister Cuesta. And now in your final department, a big impression. In each of our hearts, even a bigger impression. Thank you for everything you've done my friend. You'll be loved. You won't be missed because we're not gonna let you go anywhere but you'll be
just close enough. Good luck and then you know path and you know that the Elizabeth Public Schools holds you deep in their heart forever and ever. Thank you. Thank you. Madam President? Superintendent Olga Hulenmeyer. Mister Cuesta, I have to thank you for the wisdom that you have imparted. You were my Spanish literature teacher at Elizabeth High School. You were my first principal when I began my journey as a teacher. You were our assistant superintendent for human resources when I was only in my third
year as superintendent. And as you close your chapter here, Elizabeth, as a chief of operations, I cannot thank you enough for all of the years that I have had the honor of knowing you. And I have learned so much from you and I thank you. I thank you very much. Thank you all. Thank you. Alright. Mister Cuesta, can you please provide us with the summary for personnel report tab two a? Okay. I have like three more of those reports to do.
So let me After all of that. Let me enjoy them. Thank first of all, I wanna say thank you. I really I I understand that my name is in the minutes. I, as I explained to Olga, I'm doing things early. I just want to make sure there are no glitches on the state level. But I honestly, I did not expect the comments that I heard here this evening. I really appreciate them from the bottom of my heart. They they really mean a lot to me. And I am sure that I will have a lot more to say at my last meeting in June. So thank you so much. So tonight for your consideration, there are a few simple items because the agenda is
not that that heavy this time. So I'm going to begin with promotions. We have one promotion. We have 24 changes in salaries, which is one of the aspects that I one of the points that I always like to emphasize because, in this district, as I always tell new employees, if you work hard, if you go to school, you persevere, not only are you gonna get an increase in salary, but you're gonna get opportunities. So these are 24 people who, have completed a master's degree and or 32 credits
beyond, and and even also a doctorate. We have 11 transfers, as a result of resignations and some of them for legal reasons. We have five appointments, three certified or five certified eight appointments, I should say, and three, non certified. We have four resignations, and we have 10 retirements. Of the retirements, as I always do, all of them are important, and I wish every one of them the best. But I always like like to highlight someone that I know.
So in today's minutes, you have my, a Cuban American whom I met, thirty five years ago at school number 23. And I'm happy to see that she is retiring and, she's going to enjoy, her family, and children and grandkids. Thank you so much again. Thank you, mister Queston. Congratulations. At this time, are there any questions from the board as it relates to tab two a? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add tab two a to the agenda. Tab three a, tuitions report.
Are there any questions from the board? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add tab three to the agenda. Tab four through four d, superintendent's report. Madam superintendent. Certainly. I would like to be able to highlight a few of the items on our, considerations. A great deal of professional development opportunities that our, directors and supervisors are pursuing. I'd like to be able to share our director of special services and the supervisor of special services, attended the NJPSA cultivating school success through strong partnerships, earlier this month
as well as the New Jersey, Women's Leadership Conference, that also already took place. In addition, we'd also like to be able to highlight our mister De Donato, our doctor De Donato, excuse me, our director of student services, as well as many of our, guidance counselors inclusive of our supervisor, missus Padillo Padilla attending also the NJSCA, spring school counselor conference at Kean University, as well as our director of pre COVID instruction,
mister Etienne, supporting the professional development for our CTE, department, with regard to the work based learning network and learning session, offered at Rutgers University. Those are some of the highlights and I actually I failed to mention, our director of early childhood, missus Crosby, together with, her supervisor, miss Barnas, and several early childhood, administrators as well as teachers attending the National Institute for Early Education Research.
So those are some of the highlights from our considerations. Thank you Madam Superintendent. At this time are there any questions from the board? I'd also like to highlight that, we also have the Consulate of Columbia that will be using our school facilities for their elections and that there are other the Puerto Rican Alliance that will be having their pageant at our, Jefferson Arts Academy. There are numerous, community activities that are happening throughout the next, month in our schools that we are proud to be able to help and assist, bring the community together
to aid in the bed, to help them bring these things to fruition. Without our assistance I don't think that these organizations would be able to do these events so I want to thank the superintendent and her team for being able to help our community to assist our non profits to, use our schools for these programs. If there are no questions, Mr. Kennedy, please add four through four d to the agenda. At this time, tab five through 5A, authorizations report.
A, authorizations report. Assistant Superintendent Cedeno for the donations. Good evening. This, month we have one item on the donations tab. We do have, a donation for school number fifty's art teacher program for a total of $787.72 so their kiddos can enjoy different art supplies, to create at that grade level. Thank you. Are there any questions from the board as it relates to tab five through tab
five a, authorizations report? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add tab five through five a to the agenda. Tab six through and six a, finance and accounting reports. Are there any questions from the board? I know that many board members have submitted questions. Thank you for responding to all of those emails, madam superintendent. Are there any questions from the board as it relates to TAP six through and TAP six a, finance and accounting reports? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add Tab six and six a to the agenda.
Next, we move on to Tab seven, award of contracts. Are there any questions from the board? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add tab seven to the agenda. Alright. One of my favorite parts of the evening. Our student representative. Madam Superintendent? We'd like to be able to, have our student representative, Brian Guzman, present his report to the board. Good evening, members of the Board of Education, superintendent, administrator, faculty, and community members.
My name is Brian Guzman, and I'm honored to serve as a student government president, the student council president, and the student government, the student representative for JVJ STEM Academy. It is a privilege to represent my school, a school community that continues to grow, innovate, and establish its identity within our district. As one of the newest high schools in Elizabeth still facing many challenges, Despite being
a young Despite being a young institution, our students and staff have worked diligently to develop programs that are both rigorous and career focused. We are proud to share that there are plans to expand the variety of advanced placement courses next year, which gives these students a new college level coursework. One of our most distinctive academic pathways involves the biomedical track. This program introduces students to careers within the biomedical sciences through hands on learning and coursework. As students progress through this program, those who meet the academic requirements may enroll in
a certification course during their junior or senior year. Students may be students may choose between pharmacy technician or EKG certification. Gaining technical knowledge needed to enter the workforce gaining technical knowledge needed to enter the workforce upon turning 18. We are proud to share that a hundred percent of our students enrolled in the course have successfully passed the initial exam. There is a second exam required for employment level certification which is separate from the course itself. However, the cost of this additional exam is covered by our school, ensuring that students can pursue a full certification without any out of pocket cost.
This opportunity allows students to graduate not only with academic preparation, but also with industry recognized credentials that can lead directly to employment upon turning 18. Our computer science track continues to evolve as well. This year marks the first time that students and seniors who have completed the previous three years of coursework will have the opportunity to enroll in a cybersecurity course. This cybersecurity course is designed to prepare them for their CompTIA certification. This addition reflects our commitment to keeping pace with high demand technological fields while equipping students with credentials that hold real world value.
Beyond academics, JVJ STEM Academy places a strong emphasis on service, leadership, and community engagement. Many of these initiatives are led by its student government along with collaborative student organizations working together to create opportunities for service, leadership, and community engagement. This year, students organized a successful Thanksgiving food drive collecting substantial donations to assemble food boxes to donate for the families in need. Through our winter wonderland initiative, students visited a local senior residence and spent time with residents and spread holiday cheer.
I personally had the opportunity to also be a part of this operation, and it was truly meaningful to me not only to see the first hand joy that we were able to spread to these seniors, but also to see that the work we do in school can impact our community. Student government also organized a toy drive. We helped provide gifts for children and families during the holiday season. Our coat drive further strengthened the community partnerships. After outreach efforts connected with local officials, the fire department contributed a $500 donation to support the initiative. Student leadership has also focused on mentorship and student development.
Student government, alongside with our student athletes, hosted a workshop for underclassmen focused on leadership, responsibility, and building a positive school environment. Student leadership has also focused on mentorship and student development. Additional opportunities such as our civics tour and the opening of our student bookstore had further helped to build this school community at JVJ, and expanded opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. At our Freshman Annex, students also participate in educational field trips to the institutions such as the Liberty Science Center and the Franklin Institution in Philadelphia.
These experiences extend learning beyond the classroom and inspire curiosity in science, technology, and innovation at the very beginning of these kids' high school journeys. Although JBJ STEM Academy is a newer school, our growth is intentional and forward focused. We continue to work to expand academic opportunities, strengthen community partnership, and ensure that students graduate both academically prepared and professionally equipped for their futures. As student representative, I remain committed to sharing the achievements, progress, and evolving experiences of our JVJ student body Thank you.
And you are a true leader and you showed that today by not forgetting not only your classmates but the freshman class which brings everything full circle at your school. And your principal and your vice principals are here today to support you and that shows that they truly care about what's going on at your school and you have shown us that you are a true leader and you are the future of Elizabeth. So thank you for everything that you do, continue to do, and, we look forward
to working with you throughout the rest of this year. Thank you. At this time, I would like to, hear from the board members about our through what what we have done throughout this month. Our negotiations committee, commissioner clairvoyant Noel will present the negotiations committee report. Attendees, we have, Charlene Bathilis, board member and also chairperson of the negotiations committee. Maria Carvallo, board president. Diane Barbosa, board member.
Jerry Jacobs, board member. Doctor Olga Hugemeyer, superintendent of schools. Harold Kennedy, school business administrator. Rajiv Malhotra, Assistant School Business Administrator, and Ed Kolodji, Co General Counsel. The committee discussed ongoing negotiations with the Elizabeth Administrative and Supervisory Council, the next step of receiving salary guides from the EASC for review. A future meeting will be scheduled following the announcement of state aid notice on 03/12/2026.
Thank you, board member. School properties committee, Commissioner Chevrez? Yes. The school property committee met on March 2. The committee reviewed an inventory of the school buildings ages, noting that 30% are over a 100 years old. A list of project was created by the division of plant and property and equipment and sent to the committee for review. The committee reviewed a summary of of custodian staffing noting 256 appointed custodian with no vacancy.
The committee request that the list of SOPS be future nullified between day and night. The committee reviewed their response to the recent snow storm highlighting the use of substance, custodian, additional the need for clearance guidance for custodian and sub custodian during the snow storm was discussed. Thank you. At this time, special education committee, Diane Barbosa. Yes. The committee discussed the details concerning the upcoming resource fair that just took took place. A total of 35 providers including behavioral health, family support, health, mentoring, nutrition, recreation, social
skills, and transition services. The director of special services provided the committee with updates concerning the expanding transition program via community partners such as Hope Harbor. The committee requested to discuss the transition program at the next scheduled committee meeting in April. The committee concluded by discussing an upcoming autism acceptance event which is scheduled for April 25 at Warren Napo Park. Thank you, board member. And the finance and accounting committee, led by Commissioner Jerry Jacobs? Thank you, madam president.
The finance and accounting meeting committee met on March 16. The committee reviewed the recent release of the twenty twenty six twenty seven state aid and the impact of the $1,600,000 decrease and the early childhood program aid reduction of $2,400,000. Chris Bronzano presented a summary of health benefits, noting a proposed overall increase of 8%, 8% for 2627. The proposed increase as compared to recent announcements of 30 plus percent increase in the
state health benefit plan demonstrated the district effective management demonstrated the district excellent management of health benefit cost. The district has achieved a balanced budget for 2627, which were presented at the board at its March meeting for submission to the county office to approve advertisement of a public hearing during May 2026. I'd like to just add as a side note, we've seen in the news of many districts experiencing major cuts in their budgets and having to deal with the issues,
that come up go along with it. But thanks to the guidance of madam superintendent along with mister Kennedy, mister Malhotra, and the business office, we've been able to weather the storm, especially in our health insurance, by being able to keep the same, insurance company program and benefits consistent to all of our staff and employees, but at least for the past five to six years, which I think is quite an accomplishment in itself. We realized that, the days of our the days of us getting major increases in
our state aid have come to an end with this year being the first year of us experiencing a decrease. But hopefully with the wise guidance of the business department along with the leadership of madam superintendent and this board that we can weather that storm. Thank you madam president. Thank you, commissioner Jacobs. And the storm, we will weather together. Thank you. And, lastly, legal committee by commissioner Rivera. Thank you. The lit the legal committee met on 03/19/2026. Christina DePaola briefed the legal committee on an upcoming April mediation.
The committee review revision to policy six one seven point three title one, improving achievement and parent and family engagement as recommended by the New Jersey Department of Education. The policy will be included on the March agenda for your first reading. In addition, the committee discussed utilizing Strauss, Esme Associates as a supplemental policy review service. Thank you. And thank you, board members, for all of your, dedication. I know how difficult it is to give up your lunch hours before work and after work to commit to these committee meetings, but it is the only way that
we can do the business of the board. So thank you again for all of your hard work and dedication. At this time, tab eight, miscellaneous communications, please add that to the agenda, mister Kennedy. Tab nine, claims list. Any are there any questions from the board? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add tab nine to the agenda. Tab 10, resolutions. Autism Awareness Month, National Library Week, Union County Educational Service Commission coordinated transportation services for
twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven school year. Resolution agreement with Warren County Special Services School District for coordinated transportation service for twenty twenty six, twenty seven '27 school year. Resolution, submission to New Jersey Department of Education for the following projects, dry cooler, chiller replacements, school three, school twenty eight, school fifty one, rooftop HVAC units at school twenty eight, replacement of DC double pressure boilers at school twenty nine, electric service upgrades at
school eighty seven, kitchen hood system replacement at school eighty seven, Existing makeup air units at HV replacement at school eighty seven. 10 e, application to New Jersey Department of Education for adjustments to long range facility. 10 f, transfer of capital reserve, transfer to maintenance reserve funds, adoption of the tentative budget twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven school year 10 h, resolution for maximum travel
expenditures for twenty twenty six-twenty twenty seven school year, resolution for payment of unused sick days, resolution for payment of unused sick vacation days, resolution for approval of early childhood budget for the year of twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven school year. Do I have any questions from the board? For 10 through 10 I? Hearing none at this time, mister Kennedy, please add them to the agenda. We're gonna yeah. If we could, commissioner Rivera mentioned the first policy that we discussed in the legal
committee. So we need to do the first reading of that policy, if I may. Yes, sir. So thank you. This is the first reading of policy six one seven one point three. Title one, improving academic achievement in parent and family engagement. The policy is available for review in the office of the school business administrator. Thank you, mister Kennedy. Are there any questions from the board? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please place tab 10 through 10 else on the agenda. At this time, the president requests a motion to go into private session to consider
matters exempt under the Open Public Meeting Act, specifically for the discussion of personnel matters, specifically reorganization, interviews, bargaining union contracts, budget review, legal matters, specifically HIV appeal hearings, workmen's compensation, AFJSJ. The board will reconvene in public and may take formal action. May I have a motion and a second? I motion to go into private.
I'll second it. The motion has been made and proper seconded. Mister Kennedy, roll call, please. Barbosa. Yes. Chevres. Yes. Claiborne Noel. Yes. Jacobs. Yes. Marina Ortega. Yes. Rivera. Yes. Carvallo. Yes. We are in private. Good evening, and welcome to the Elizabeth Public Schools announcements for the month of March. We'd like to begin with a reminder to all of our families that the Elizabeth Public Schools gifted and talented program is currently accepting applications. Students in grades two through four are eligible to participate in the application process, which
may they may do so by visiting our district website at www.epsnj.org. As a reminder, applications will close on April 10. Over the next few months, the Elizabeth Public Schools Department of Student Services will be hosting scholarship and FAFSA completion nights. School counselors will be available to assist our students with completing the FAFSA and applications for the upcoming scholarships as well as showing students where they may find additional scholarship
opportunities. Those attending will need to create a federal student aid or FAFSA ID prior to attending the session. And, also, students, you must bring your laptops and, also, please ensure that your parents bring their tax documents. So as you can see from the flyer on the screen, we'll be hosting two sessions, one on 04/21/2001 on May 12, and they are from 5PM through 7PM at the Johnny Dwyer Technology Academy. The Elizabeth Public Schools will be hosting a junior seminar on Saturday, April 18 at
the Bullwidge Finance Academy located at 447 Richmond Street. The seminar will be open to all high school juniors and their parents, and there will be several important topics that will be covered, including how to get the most out of college fairs, the application process, how to use score, how to approach essays and personal statements, exploring college majors and career planning, as well as time management and stress reduction for our college applicants. To register, please access our district website at www.epsnj.org.
Please scan the QR code on the flyer that is shown, and we're offering the session on April 18 from 08:30 in the morning through 1PM, and the session will, once again be held at the J. Christian Bollwage Academy. We'd also like to announce that information sessions for the high school selection for the twenty twenty six, twenty twenty seven school year will begin on Monday, April 6 with our session hosted by the admiral William f Halsey Health and Public Safety Academy at
the Halsey ninth Grade Annex and will continue until the final information session on Thursday, April 16, hosted by the Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, Mary Jackson STEM Academy. The sessions allow our eighth grade students and their families to have the opportunity to learn more about each respective school and make choices of the high school that they wish to attend. So for our parents of our eighth grade students, please take note of these important dates and please accompany your child to the high school selection information sessions.
And from there, you'll be able to make your decision with regard to the high school academy that will fit your child's interest. As we continue, our high school selection registration will begin on Friday, April 10 and will run through Friday, April 24. Registration will be completed on PowerSchool, our student information system. Please consult the high school selection guide for more information about our schools, including eligibility requirements and special components of the registration process for certain schools. Evening hours at the high school welcome centers will be available on Tuesday, April 14
and Monday, April 20 from 04:30 to 07:30 for those who may need assistance with the registration process. All current eighth grade students attending the Elizabeth Public Schools and Elizabeth residents not currently attending the Elizabeth Public Schools who wish to transfer to one of our high schools should register for one of our eight high schools. So, again, from the reminder that our high school registration will open on Friday, April 10 and will run through Friday, April 24. We're announcing our twenty twenty six citywide Earth Day cleanup on April 22, so grab
your friends, family, or rally your coworkers and form a team to participate on Wednesday, April 22. Please note that registration is required, so we ask that you scan the QR code on the flyer to get started. You can find this flyer in the community connect section of our district website or find the event posted on the City of Elizabeth, New Jersey City Hall Facebook page. And now, we are going to be sharing, the dates for both our eighth grade promotion ceremonies as well as our high school graduation.
So for the parents of our eighth grade students, the promotion ceremonies will be held on June 24 or June 25 depending on the school that your child attends, and our will be providing further information with regard to which date corresponds to your child's school. But we know it's important to be able to share this information well in advance. So please, parents of our eighth graders, mark your calendars, June 24 and June 25, and we will be following up with a communication with regard to the specific date,
which your child's eighth grade promotion ceremony will be held. And for our high school students, for our high school seniors, high school graduation as well as the class award ceremonies will be held on either June 24 or June 25. And, again, our high school principals will be issuing, communications to the parents of all of our seniors with regard to the corresponding date for your high school academy, but we ask that you please mark your calendars so that you, have these important dates,
available, June 24 and June 25. We now move to our student assessment update. We begin with the assessment updates as it relates to the various assessments that are being administered. We have our access for our English language learners and alternate access for English language learners, which is being administered through March 27. We have the SAT, the scholastic, aptitude test that will be administered on April 21 to all eleventh grade students and twelfth grade students who have not yet taken the
assessment for graduation. The dynamic learning maps, DLM, will be administered to our students in grades three through eight and eleven of during the time period of April 7 through May 22. Our advanced placement exams will be administered May 4 through May 15, and that is for high school students that are enrolled in AP courses. And we have our New Jersey student learning assessment for English language arts, mathematics, and science, and that will be for students in grades three to eight and high school
grade nine. And, these will be administered on the dates that you see on your screen before you, April 27 through May 22. So it's going to be quite a busy couple of months with the administration of our assessment state assessments. And we now turn to our issue of Inside EPS News from Central. And we begin with Elizabeth Public Schools hosting the Amistad Collaborative Forum. The Amistad Forum took place at the Chesy Dentley Roberts school number thirty, and it was opportunity for celebrating the district's leadership in multi cultural education and the successful implementation
of the Amistad mandate. The event served as both an information session and a celebration of the district's commitment to infusing the African American experience into the curriculum. The forum, included speakers such as our Elizabeth Board of Education president, Maria Carvallo. We also were very fortunate to have our state assemblywoman Annette Quijano, the associate director of the New Jersey Amistad Commission, mister Melton, our Elizabeth Board of Education member, Jerry
Jacobs, served as a panelist, and the DLH enterprise consultant, doctor Davida Lindsey Harewood. Also would like to recognize the, work conducted by our director of curriculum and instruction, Sam Etienne, as well as our supervisors, supervisor of social studies, Bruce Elflein, as well as our supervisor of the visual and performing arts, Tracy Montero, as well as many other guests that were in attendance. And, we certainly thank all of the teachers and students that were featured in the
videos that were showcased at our forum, as well as an acknowledgment of the achievement of our fifth grade students from the Woodrow Wilson School number 19 who recently earned first and third place honors at the Amistad Commission's, African American History Day. So we're very grateful for the participation of all of our panelists as well as the recognition of our amazing students. And we now turn to the Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, our senior Gail Chica, who
has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 record high and Devil's Youth Foundation annual scholarship award. This is a contemporary music education program and there's with that has an annual scholarship program awarding a thousand dollars to New Jersey high school seniors who demonstrate notable talent in music. So once again, our congratulations to our senior from Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, Gail Chica. The city of Elizabeth in partnership with Union County broke ground on March 9 on the Arthur Carrington Tennis And Pickleball Complex.
The outdoor tennis and pickleball complex will eventually be the home of Elizabeth's varsity tennis teams. I'd like to be able to share with our community everyone that was in attendance, our former professional tennis player, Elizabeth native, and complex namesake, Arthur Carrington, the New Jersey lieutenant governor, doctor Dale Caldwell, Union County commissioners, Kimberly Palmeri Mudett, Lourdes Leon, and Stanley Naran, our mayor, mayor j Christian Boulwidge, the Elizabeth City Council members, Carlos Sedeno, William
Gollman, Nelson Gonzales, Patricia Perkins, Agusti, and Carlos Torres, as well as our Elizabeth Board of Education members, Stephanie Clairvoyant Noel, Jerry Jacobs, and Isaiah Rivera. Elizabeth Public Schools assistant superintendents, doctor Jennifer Cedeno, Rafael Cortez, and Judy Finch Johnson, as well as our school business administrator, mister Harold Kennedy Junior, as and our Elizabeth Public Schools students were all in attendance. A special, congratulations. This is a wonderful opportunity.
We are very grateful to the city of Elizabeth in partnership with Union County for the opportunity being afforded to our students. And we now turn to the Elizabeth High School Winter Color Guard team in their fifth competition of the season finished in first place out of 14 teams with a score of 80.44 in the twenty twenty six Mid Atlantic Indoor Network Scholastic Competition at the Bridgewater Raritan High School. The team demonstrated significant improvement from their first event of the season, increasing their overall
score by 10 points. And we certainly are looking forward to the next competition that will take place on Saturday, March 28. A special congratulations to our Elizabeth High School winter color guard. Elizabeth Varsity boys track and field members, Moses Koyingo, Jaden Cadet, Ruth Barry Bartholomew, and Ezekiel Panik earned the all American honors at the twenty twenty six Nike indoor nationals as members of the shuttle hurdle relay team.
They finished sixth overall with a time of 31.99. And in competing against the top programs from across the country, the team demonstrated exceptional teamwork, discipline, and athletic excellence on a national stage. Exceptional teamwork, discipline, and athletic excellence on a national stage. Our sincere congratulations to our Elizabeth Varsity boys track and field members for their all American honors. And as we continue, the Elizabeth Varsity boys track and field had an exceptional showing at the twenty twenty six NJSIA meet of champions with several of our competitors displaying
hard work, determination, and competitive spirit in finishing among the top athletes in the state. A special congratulations to our students, for their outstanding achievement. And we now conclude with our Elizabeth Ressler, who becomes the second NJSIAA state champion in Elizabeth history. Our special congratulations to our senior girls' wrestler, Valeria Ramirez, for on her outstanding achievement.
Incredible, competition, and we are so incredibly proud that she is just a second state champion in our school's history. And that is a fantastic way for us to conclude our announcements for the month of March. Thank you. Commissioner, Goncalves Pestanash is on, sir. Yes. Stephanie? She's she's I'm on. She's there. Thank you. At this time, mister Kennedy, can you please add any additional items to the agenda?
Yes. We have a settle a resolution for settlement of workers' comp, SJED, a resolution for appointment of computer operations and applications, Domingos Fernandez an appointment of coordinator of network cybersecurity and IT infrastructure, Joseph Griffith, a resolution for approval of reorganization and job descriptions, human resources, and a resolution for the adoption of the tentative budget, '22 2627.
We have several bargaining unit settlements. First is, resolution for chief chief of operations, assistant school business administrator and assistant controller, twenty five twenty six. Confidential administrative secretaries, 25 through 28. Human resource confidential secretaries, 25 to 28, senior staffing assistant, twenty five twenty eight, staffing assistants, twenty five twenty eight, Deputy counsel contract, twenty five twenty six.
Associate counsel contract, twenty five twenty six. Confidential legal secretaries, 25 to 28. Paralegal contract, 2528. Lead investigator contract, 2526. And investigators contract, '25 through '28. Those are the additional items to be added to the agenda. Thank you, mister Kennedy. Commissioners, board members, are there any questions or concerns? Hearing none, mister Kennedy, please add the additional items to the agenda.
Thank you. At this time, I would ask the superintendent to present the HIV report. Yes. It was. Sorry. Okay. So we're good? There we go. Thank you, madam president. So pursuant to board policy fifty one thirty one point one, harassment, intimidation, and bullying, New Jersey statute 18 a colon 37, the results of each investigation shall be reported to the board of education no later than the date of the next board meeting following completion of the investigation and include any services provided, training established, discipline imposed, other action taken or recommended by the chief school administrators.
Since our last board of education meeting on 02/19/2026 and through 03/18/2026, our school counselors, school based social workers, and supervisor of anti bullying have completed sixty one HIV investigations. Of these investigations, twenty five cases were founded for HIV as per New Jersey law. There were thirty one males, 37 females, 56 regular education students, and 12 special education students that were the alleged victims. There were fifty three males, thirty four females, sixty nine regular education students, 14 special education students, and four non students that were the alleged offenders.
Of the twenty five cases founded for HIV, two cases were founded based on race and national origin, one case founded based on sexual orientation, one case founded based on gender, one case founded based on gender identity and expression, and 24 cases were founded based on other identifying characteristics. Of the services provided and actions taken for these investigations, there were 15 skill development lessons and trainings, 50 counseling sessions, four behavioral interventions, 11 referrals for outpatient mental health treatment, eight changes of classroom, one change of school placement, eight administrative counseling sessions, 22
in school detentions, 36 parent conferences, 14 out of school suspensions, and seven cases are continuing to be monitored. The HIV statute further requires that at the next regularly scheduled meeting, after board members receive the initial report of HIV investigations, that the board issue a decision in writing to affirm, reject, or modify the superintendent's decision pertaining to the fifty three cases that were reported to you at the last board meeting on 02/19/2026. In order for you to do so, the investigation summaries from those investigations which were reported to you at the last board meeting have been provided for your review prior
to voting and this completes the March HIV report. Thank you. Thank you madam superintendent. At this time, I'd like to ask the board members if I can have a motion and a second to approve the entire agenda and the additional items that have been placed on the agenda tonight. Motion to approve the entire agenda and the additionals. I'll second that. Has been properly moved, mister Kennedy. Roll call, please. Barbosa. Yes. Chevrez. Yes. We extension a resolution for the chief of operation, Kota.
Clairvoyant. Noel. I would like to abstain from tab four b, the resolution of chief of operations and the resolution of deputy counsel contract, and yes to everything else. Thank you. Jacobs? Yes. Marina Ortega? Yes. And Carlos Pastana? Yes. Rivera. Yes. Carvallo. Abstention on resolution for chief of operations. Abstention on resolution for deputy counsel. And abstention on tab four, yes to everything else. Thank you. With those votes, the agenda for this evening has passed.
Thank you. You. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. At this time, do any commissioners have any any comments to make before we end the meeting? Okay. Hearing none, may I have a motion to adjourn today's meeting? I'll make a motion to adjourn the meeting. And seconder. Has been properly moved, mister Kennedy. Roll call, please. Barbosa. Yes. Congratulations. Good night. Chevrons. Yes. Congratulations. Good night. Clairvoyant Noel. Yes. Congratulations, guys. Jacobs. Yes. Congratulations. Good night. Marina Ortega. Yes. Congratulations. Good night. Goncavas Pestana.
Yes. Connec congratulations and good night, everyone. Rivera. Yes. Congratulations. Good night. And Carvallo. Yes. Congratulations, everyone. Good night.