and business meeting of the board of education. Pursuant to New Jersey statutes and rules adopted by the board of education, notice of this meeting was sent to the star ledger and cable vision of Elizabeth on July 17th, 2025. In addition, this notice is posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of 500 North
Broad Street. Pursuant to this act, a copy has been filed with the city clerk of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Once again, welcome to the Elizabeth Board of Education meeting um present here and everyone here present at school 51. And to our all our television viewers and
peoples uh viewing us uh on live stream to this July 24th 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 and 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 recordings will adequately reflect the proceedings. Please refrain from talking while others are speaking. We ask that you silence the uh sounds on
your electronic devices since it is legally mandated that these proceedings be accurately recorded. We may have to ask uh for order periodically should noise begin to interfere with our recording capabilities. There is a public portion for the
citizens to address the board. Participants of this 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 signin sheet states the name, address, and telephone number and the reason that person wants to comment,
whether it is an agenda item or a general education comment. We are pleased that you have taken the time out this evening to join us here for our board of education meeting. Thank you for your interest in the Elizabeth public schools.
Mr. Kennedy, roll call, please. Barbosa, here. Basilus Carvalo present. Chevresz Jacobs present. Moren Ortega Canavas Pastana present.
Rivera Neron present. Thank you again. I want to thank everybody for being here. Um, as we are in Elizabeth public school community, we've had a lot of loss in our district
and I want to take a moment to um have everyone please stand for a moment of silence. Um, we did not lose one or two. We lost um six um staff members of the Lizard Public
Schools community. Um, first Marie Innocent Moreno um from our food service department over at George Washington School One. Brenda Griggs um CDA over at uh school number five. Paul Williams
Euing um our former so social studies teacher, Theodore Christos Pentaglos, father of Theodore Pentaglos over at JBJ STEM. Robert Patrick Stigliano, former investigator at the Mitchell building.
And last but not least, Miss Carolyn Marie Payne, uh, retired security guard from school number 12. Our hearts and prayers uh, go out to their families and many condolences from the Elizabeth Board of Education, the Elizabeth community.
Please remain standing for the presentation of colors. We're going to omit that. Please remain standing for the pledge of allegiance by board member Vice President Maria Carvalo. Please stand. I pledge allegiance 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 Spangle Banner. Oh, say can you see
by the dawn early so proud we held at the twilight last stripes through the
fight or the rampart. Hearts we watched were so gallare the bombs bursting in gave proof through the night. Oh say that star spangled
for the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you. At this time, Commissioner Barosa will read our pledge of ethics. As the 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. You may be seated. Again, good evening and we apologize for the delay of the start of this meeting. At this time, citizens may address the board.
Microphones are open for public comment to all those who have signed in prior to this session. Each statement by made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes in duration. The total time of public comment shall be limited to 60 minutes. The following rules shall apply. Time limits will be strictly
enforced. No personal attacks on individuals or name calling 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. First we have Miss Maria Loren from City of Elizabeth.
Good evening. Good evening. I come here today to speak on the policies which the board has decided to bastardize this evening into the second reading. The first one would be that of the CPAC. Now I am actually still waiting for the GRC along with Mr.
colloji to be given a date to discuss this because the reason we went into this was because of everything that was wrong with the policy. But this board decided to further bastardize, adulterate, degrade, and debase the CPAC policy. And I'll tell you how you prefer
that the underserved and underprivileged lowincome members of our community pay a fee to a PTO or a PTA to be part of one organization to join another. Now, I understand that our madam superintendent, Miss Hugelmeer, may have
selective amnesia, but I spoke on that very same policy a few years ago, and I asked each and every single one of you, how many of you felt comfortable disclosing a health condition such as AIDS or herpes in order to get treated for something else? And the response
was, none. Not one hand. You're asking our community to spend money to be part of a PTA to join a CPAC, which by the way is free of charge. So, you took that policy and bastardize it. That's what you're putting into it.
Discriminatory, tried, tested, and taken out previously, but all of you seem to have selective memory or at least some of you that were still here. You, Mr. Neon, were a part of that. So, you understand. Maybe you may not remember that speech. I refer you back to that YouTube video. the
director of special services to pick for outofd students defining other parental organizations. Please define for me what another parental organization is. How do our outofd district places know that they should be aware of this policy or
have an organization to refer names to you? The only time the director of special services knows a parent is when we take you to court and sue you and win. In addition to that, I want to understand how will the schools would be notified? Are are you allowing outside
organizations like Elizabeth Parents and Students Care to do that? In terms of the IRS, you gutted transparency by informing parents who is a member of the team, characteristics of an effective team, professional development, parental involvement. All of these things you
took out of that policy. How much more are you going to take away from the community is my question to you as a board member. And Mr. Nero and I understand that you're running for freeholder. Maybe you don't care, but the rest of you that are here should care because I guarantee you this and I will tell you this. If any of
these policies go through, I will make it my personal mission to take you to court and sue you on every single change. Because what you're doing to this community is unfair. You're not serving the community. You're serving yourselves. You're serving yourselves by serving as board members to use it as a
springboard to other positions that get you paid. and that is a shame. Thank you. Next, we have Mr. Don Loren from Elizabeth. Good evening, Mr. Loren.
Hey, how you doing? Okay, so on most of your desks there's a um a flyer for Jersey Lanes. Uh September's starting up. Uh school's expensive, so is uh college is expensive. Uh Jersey Lanes is has a uh a program for children from 4
to 17. Uh they have a league on Saturday for kids. Uh you can join up. It also if you start early enough, let's say age four, by the time you hit 17, you can actually run away with a full scholarship to most colleges. I've seen
a lot of kids there that have a full scholarship to many different colleges. uh if you just to join at a late age, you might have some book money for books uh so to say, but everybody kind of wins uh in the league. So that's something to look into, pass around the info. Thanks.
Thank you very much, Mr. Kesan Little from Elizabeth. Good evening, Mr. Queson. Good evening. As we enter the new school year, I want us to move with clarity and courage around an urgent topic,
dismantling the harsh punitive discipline systems that exist here in Elizabeth that disproportionately target black students and replacing them with approaches rooted in equity, restoration, and justice. For far too long, black students have borne the brunt of exclusionary practices like
suspensions, expulsions, and unnecessary referrals to law enforcement. These practices do not do not serve our children. They criminalize them. and they widen the very opportunity gaps we claim to be working hard towards. This year, we must shift that narrative.
And here's how. First, we must train every staff member from the front office to the classroom on implicit bias, trauma-informed practices, and resto restorative justice, something we've been speaking about for the last over five years. This is not a one-time
workshop, but an ongoing transformation of culture and climate. S. Second, we must implement school-based restorative circles, peer mediation, and healing spaces that allow students to be seen, heard, and supported and not punished and pushed out. Third, we must revise
our code of conduct to eliminate vague, subjective categories like willful defiance that often lead to disproportionate discipline of black students. Instead, we must ground discipline in context and care and accountability that is developmentally appropriate. Fourth, we must partner
with parents and community to cocreate a shared vision of school safety, one that is in the best interest of our students and that does not prioritize policing or punishment, but on connection, support, and belonging. And lastly, we must track
data to hold ourselves accountable from the superintendent's office on down to ensure that every student matters. But if our policies are harming black children, they must change. We must have the courage to say that clearly and act boldly. We're not just talking about discipline. We're talking
about dignity. We're talking about justice. We're talking about the future of our children. Let this school year be the one where we did not just listen, but we led. And I yield back my time. Thank you, Mr. Little. At this time, this u ends the public
portion of the um our meeting. Thank you for all who have signed up and for your comments this evening. Um, at this time I want to turn the floor over to our superintendent of schools who will present community updates. Thank you, Mr. President.
So, we would like to be able to begin with our 2025 Elizabeth Community Health Fair that is scheduled to take place on July 27th. Uh, f sponsored by Desle Festival Dominicano deondo the union and assoc Hispanic association of
professionals that focus on health. The Elizabeth Community Health Fair will be taking place on Sunday, July 27th, this upcoming Sunday at Juan Pablo Darte Jose Julian Marte, school number 28, from 900 a.m. to 300 PM. For years, this
community health fair has been held and provided members of our Elizabeth community with free health information, screenings, including those related to prostate cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, and dental issues, nutrition, and
psychological issues. Registration is required for the event. And for more information, you can certainly refer to the flyer that has been circulated um all throughout and shared on social media outlets and also uh being shared
via text with all of our families. Next, we have our world of summer programs. We're going to be sharing the end dates. It's been an enjoyable summer thus far. So on July on July 23rd, we have our rising
kindergarten literacy program for our kindergarteners that will be coming to an end as well as our summer arts institute for our children in kindergarten through 11th grade. And also on July 25th, we will have our CTE summer camp coming to a close that will
um that included our middle school students in grades six to eight. We also have this upcoming week um week of July 30th, our programs will be ending for our spell newcomer multilingual learners, children in K to
three. our promotion retention program for our K to8 students, our extended school year program for our preK through 12th grade special needs students, and Steam for our newcomer multilingual learners in grades 4 to 11, our ESL enrichment program for kindergarten
through 11th grade, our summer school remediation for our high school students, as well as the advanced credit program, and lastly, the Apex learning program will also be coming to an end on July 30th. And next we have our JOTC
program ending on the last day of the month, July 31st, as well as the uh new joint orientation that will also be taking place on this date. And then in August, we have our youth athletic program ending on August 1st, our high school sports camps ending on the 7th,
and our special needs recreation program for our for students in grades one through eight ending on August 8th. We have our summer school high school graduation ceremony that will be taking place on July 31st and that will take
place at our Elizabeth High School French J Curel Academy in the auditorium. Very excited to uh be able to host our students and working very very hard this summer and will be graduating. And also for our community, I wanted to
be able to share that during the week of August 18th, we will be uh sharing our welcome back letters that will be issued by each of our respective schools from our principles with very important information with regard to back to school night, welcoming our families to
our schools to the new school year and a variety of other updates that will also be included in the communication. Next, also as a reminder to our parents that our powers school student schedule accessibility for our new year 256
will be on Monday, August 18th. So, be able to access your students schedules, find out who their teachers will be for the upcoming school year, and before we know it, September will be here. And then also wanted to be able to in
include this information on an annual basis. wanted to be able to share the steps for contacting your child's teacher on P school. We're going to be posting this presentation on our web page and we'll also be sending a letter home to all of our families that will
include this information on how to access uh P school and most importantly how to communicate with your child's teacher. So there's a few steps that are involved and we're posting those steps on our web page. Madam superintendent toward you
for a second. So um I just want to comment on powers school if we can go back. Um and I want to implore parents to really take the time out to understand powers school log on to powers school because oftent times I'll hear parents say hey they don't
know the progress of their child or what's happening in school and the information is right there. So, it is vital that you, you know, just like you fill out their application, you put the emergency contacts, that you really pay close attention to power school to keep
a day-to-day update on your child. You're able to track their attendance, their grades, if they're failing, if they're progressing, if they're doing well, and it's it's a good way for you to really keep a a a measuring tool as the progress that your child is making or not making. And that tool is right
there for you. And I think far too many parents are not using the tool. So, please make sure um if you don't understand it that you reach out to your principles, your teachers, and that you connect with them. And please don't let this just be something that goes in one year, goes out the other. Because again,
I hear too many parents say, "I didn't know. I didn't know. I didn't know." And all the information is on Power of School. Um and all of it is logged in. You're tracking the attendance. You track tests. You can get the report card ahead of time. you can, you know, and you can work with your child to make any
improvements necessary. So, I really just I didn't want to gloss over that. I think we needed to really hone in on that so everybody gets it. And Mr. Neran, you're making a very valid point because years ago the focus was on ensuring that every parent had a power school account, right, when it was first
rolled out. But most important is for our parents to be able to track their children's progress, as you stated, and their attendance. So it's important that we work with all of our parents to understand the capability of the system. So thank you. Thank you so much for
mentioning that. Important updates also uh for our students that were um in sixth grade uh TEDAP and Minactra is required. Those vaccines are critical before the first day of school which is going to be September 4th. So it is
critical that our students have these vaccines before they enter. And then with as a followup to that wanted to be able to share that the city of Elizabeth has their back to school annual vaccination event that is going to be
coming up soon. They'll be hosting this event on Monday, August 25th. And as you can see on the flyer before you at 418 Palmer Street from 4:30 to 6:30. This is a free immunization event and it's for our
Elizabeth sixth grade students as well as our 11th grade students. It's by appointment. Um, and all Elizabeth residents are eligible. These flyers will be posted on our web page. age. And I want to be very clear, the um residents that are eligible, have
Medicaid family care part A only or are uninsured are able to take advantage of these free vaccines. This be once again, it will be held on August 25th. And it's important we've been sending communications out through our nurses and it'll be included also in our
welcome back letter to our families. Another opportunity for our parents is the City of Elizabeth Department of Health and Human Services is offering a free immunization clinic. Um, this is by appointment only. Once again, to our eligible residents aged two months to 18
years old and we want to ensure that our families have access to this information, ensure that our children are safe and sound. And we now move to our inside EPS, our news from central. We
sent out a press release. Um, last week announcing that our very own, our assistant superintendent, Mrs. Judy Finch Johnson, had been named the NJSIA executive committee president. We are
incredibly proud of Mrs. Finch Johnson of this amazing opportunity to lead NJSIAA. So we want to congratulate her once again on this tremendous honor and uh look forward to her having an amazing
year. And I just want to extract from the press release uh a little bit about Mrs. Finch Johnson. Her connection to athletics traces back to her college days when she played organized basketball for the first time at Union Union County College, presently Union College of New Jersey, and eventually at
Trenton State College, presently the College of New Jersey, where she held a school record for rebounds for 37 years. Mrs. Finch Johnson would eventually become the athletic director of Elizabeth Public Schools, a position she held for 11 years, overseeing several state championship teams in multiple
sports. She moved into central administration as an assistant superintendent of schools but stayed connected to athletics through her service with the NJSIAA. Incredibly proud of Mrs. Finch Johnson. Mr. President,
I'm sorry. I'd like to take a second to acknowledge Miss Johnson and give her a round of applause for that amazing accomplishment that she's the president of NJSAI. So, I'd like to start off a round of applause. Thank you. proud that one of our own is now a president.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Jacobs. We'll do it when she's here, too. Yes, she's enjoying a well-deserved vacation this week. And next, we turn to school number 28, who won first place in
the sustainability jersey for schools uh decade of impact Instagram video contest. So, school 28 was awarded first place. Uh, this contest was created to commemorate the 10year anniversary of the sustainable Jersey for schools program, and the school was awarded
$1,500 for their first place finish. Uh, school 28 was one of 38 New Jersey public schools and districts selected to receive this grant funded by the New Jersey Education Association in um and at at a ceremony at the College of New
Jersey. Um this is an opportunity to fund an outdoor classroom as well as science resources. So we certainly congratulate school 28 for pursuing this opportunity and uh coming in at first place. It's fantastic. And with that we end our community um announcements.
However, I'd like to now turn my attention to our director of research evaluation and assessment, Mrs. Amy Gil who will be providing a presentation on our data that we received from the New Jersey Department of Education on the
NJGPA as well as our access data for our multilingual learners. So I'm going to turn my attention now. Mrs. Gil, thank you. I'm just for the click. Good evening.
Good evening. Tonight I am pleased to share with you our students performance on the NJGPA and the access for L's from the spring of this past school year. The New Jersey graduation proficiency assessment is the assessment used as one of the requirements for graduation from
high school. Students take the NJGPA for the first time in March of 11th grade. This year, we administered the NJGPA to nearly 2,100 students. There are only two scoring levels of this assessment, not
graduation ready and graduation ready. If a student is deemed not graduation ready in ELA, math, or both, they will have other opportunities to retake the assessment um up to two times. and they
can also utilize other proficiency assessment measures such as the SAT, the ACT, um, and other options that are available to them. Performance in Elizabeth, as well as the state of New Jersey, um, as you can see
on this slide, is obviously better in ELA than it is in math. And in each of the two content areas, we're trailing state performance by approximately 10 percentage points. you see those same discrepancies between ELA and mathematics in all of our
demographic groups that we serve in our district. The next assessment I will present this evening is the access for L's. All multilingual learners are assessed on their ang English language acquisition with this assessment.
The access for L's is administered to all multilingual learners from kindergarten through grade 12. The students are assessed in four different language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Each student also receives an overall score that is a
combination of those four domains. Performance is reported on a six-point scale. Access scores are used to determine the best placement for a student in the next school year, including whether or not the student is ready to exit from receiving
multilingual learner services. There are several different versions of the access for L's and they are all administered based on the students grade level. The average score for each domain is shown here reported by the grade band that are assessed together.
Kindergarteners are assessed by the teacher using paperbased materials in a one-to-one setting. Students in grades one through three are assessed online for the listening, reading, and speaking domains, and they use a paperbased booklet to complete the writing domain
because of their limited typing skills. Students in grades 4 through 12 complete all domains online. This year we administered just over 200 more Access for L's tests than we did last year. Despite the increase in the
number of multilingual learners we are servicing, the performance, as you can see, is very similar to what it was in 2024. It's important to note that these average scores are inclusive of students who have recently arrived in the United States to students who have been here
for several years. Access scores are not reported as pass rates, but rather as progress toward English language acquisition. And finally, multilingual learners with significant cognitive disabilities are also required to participate in the
access for L's using an alternate version of the assessment. Like the kindergarten version, it's administered to students individually and using paperbased materials. Because of the limited number of students who participate, the data above is not broken out by grade level, but just by
proficiency level. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Gil, for the update and the progress that we've seen and the work that we will continually do here in our district. So, again, thank you so
much and um a lot of good news and a lot of uh transparency there on the work that we have to do. At this time, want to review the agenda. Um 1 A, official private minutes of June 12th and 17th, 2025.
Agenda item 1B, treasury secretary report, May 31st, 2025. Um to our board members, are there any questions and concerns from the board? If there are no questions, seeing none, hearing none, Miss Kennedy, please add um items 1 A and 1B to the agenda.
Thank you. Personnel report. Are there any questions from the board for tab 2A? If there are no questions from the board, Mr. Kenny, please add tab 2A to the personnel report. Add the personnel report to the agenda.
Tab 2A. Uh tab three, tuitions report. Any questions from the board? Mr. President, I have a quick question. Uh, yes, Commissioner on tuition's report. Uh, just what page?
Page this one's page one. Well, it actually uh applies to all the pages. I I see that certain and I always uh uh question this. Are there certain out of district schools that um request payment? Is it at the end of the school
year or do we pay for the children to be at the beginning of the school year? Ky we pay each month based on uh we get the attendance records for the student and based on the yearly tuition is divided by the number of months in in the uh school year for the out of
district tuition. So it's month. So it's monthly. Yes, it is. Okay. And it then because I know that we keep a track of their attendance you right. Each each district um each out of Yeah. each out of district school provides the
accounts payable department with the attendance of the student. So they do a match to make sure the kid is going to school and then based on that they're go forward with paying the monthly invoice tuition. Thank you so much Mr. Kennedy. Are there any additional questions to
tuition's report? Seeing none, hearing none, uh, please add tab three to the agenda. Uh, tab 4 to 4D superintendent report. Are there any questions or comments in regards to the superintendent report?
Seeing none hearing none, please add tabs 4D to the superintendent's report. Tab five, authorizations report. Are there any questions from the board in regards to tab five? If there are no questions or comments to
tab five, please add tab five to the agenda. One one comment, Mr. President, if I could. Um, in authorizations, there's the um, school lunch price listings and just to point out to the board that the same prices we charge this year in 2425
are going to carry forward to 2526 with no increase. Thank you for that information, Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Mr. President, yes, Mr. Jacobs. So, Mr. Kennedy, when was the last time we raised um this lunch price? It's been a couple of years now, correct? This is
the fourth year with fourth year. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Kenny. Tab 66A, finance and accounting reports. Are there any questions from the board? Mr. President. Yes, Commissioner. Okay. I think this one's for Mr.
Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy. So, I see that our uh medical insurance starts, right? medical, dental, and the prescription starts July as well. Are you looking at a dollar amount on tab six or because I see tab six, the authorization to pay vouchers? I see that it's on here
already. Yeah, those are the um the last payments for June. And as you know, we renewed our prescription and health insurance. Um, and it's effective July 1 through June 30th of the next year. So, you'll
see the July billing for prescription and um, well, for prescription on next month's claims list. And um we renewed the prescription and it um through our broker we did fairly well compared to what you've been reading about in the
state of which is over 30% at the state. Our prescription based on um usage of prescription that have been filled went up 15% but health was very good and only went up 6% this year. So comparing the job that our
broker did to to the results that we were seeing that the state health benefit plan is going to be paying starting um January 1, we think it they they increased, yes, but I think they increased less than um a lot of people were expecting.
Thank you. So Mr. President, yes, Commissioner. So I'd just like to make a a quick comment on the insurance the health insurance and as it relates to the increases that we saw this year. Um but when we look at what we are
seeing with the state um health insurance plan where the premium increases are somewhere up to 36% this year is unfortunate and we've been fortunate um with our partner Acur to ensure that to be able to supply our employees and
staff with the same insurance year overyear without major increases that the state has received. and also on the prescription side where we um opted to keep the GLP drugs in the form in the
formulary um to make sure that all of our employees were kept whole year after year. Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner. Any questions or concerns? Seeing none, hearing none, please add
tab 66A to the agenda. Yes. Hello. 77A, award of contract reports. Are there any questions from the board? Mr. President, I had a question. Just I had a comment. um to our plan and
property director. Thank you so much for your leadership and helping us to our vision in school five in the playground be completed. I noticed in the contract to the project is done. Thank you.
If I could if I could comment on that, Mr. Milanis took me took me on a tour and I went to see the playground and I was pleasantly surprised with how it's changed over there. But we actually went inside the building where they're doing air conditioning project and that
project's really moving along quicker than we thought it was going to move. So I think they might be cool in in the fall. Correct. Which was if you remember we had two to go to finish five and 12. 12 is definitely going to be up and running
for the start of school. Knock on wood. And um five looks good too. Thank you, Mr. Milanis. We've been uh waiting for a long time. So, we're there and we're finally, you know, getting to the finish line. So, it's much
appreciated and your work and which your team does not go unnoticed. So, thank you for all your hard work, Mr. President. Yes, Commissioner. So, I'd like to I do recall us talking about this in plant and properties and five and 12. I thought also 19 is 19
schedules will be operational to Nepal. Thank you, Mr. Milanes. Um, I also have another question on tab 7 in regards to the uh purchase of the electrical vehicles under the NJD grant. Um, I
don't know exactly what page it is, but Mr. Kennedy, um, how much of the grant approximately? How much of the grant covers the cost of the vehicle purchase? 50%, 75%, 25%.
How much does the grant cover? No, it covers the entire amount thing. They they caveat that you have to turn in a diesel vehicle, get rid of a diesel vehicle and um it gets replaced by an electric vehicle, but they they buy them for us. It's been
a little slower in receiving the vehicles than we were anticipating, but Okay. So, basically the grant pays for the entire cost of the vehicle as long as it's electric. Correct. Good. Thank you, Mr. Kenny. Are there any additional questions for
tab 778? Seeing none, hearing none, please, Miss Kenny, please add tab seven and 7A to the agenda. Um, next is our committee reports u presented by chairman Jerry Jacobs.
Thank you, Mr. President. The finance and accounting meeting committee met on July 9th. The committee was briefed on the ongoing negotiation meetings with the EA and the EASC. The discussion included offers, counter offers, and the three-year cost out of proposals under
recently announced funding formula statutes regarding maximum and minimum increases and decreases in state aid. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Commissioner. Tab nine, claims list. Are there any questions or comments from the board
regards to our claims list? Seeing none, hearing none. Uh, Miss Kenny, please add tab nine to the agenda. All right, there seem to have been a setup because this is a long tab 10. But we gonna go through it. All right.
Oh, Mr. President. Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I just want to make a comment um in relation to how smooth um the graduations this year were and I want to recognize the IT department and uh in particular uh Mr. Why am I forgetting
your name? Because I've known for over 25 years. Yeah. Mr. I want to recognize Mr. Marcel um and the advancement in equipment that in the past we used to have to rent the equipment to be able to put on that production and now we've been able to do that in house and I think that's a great
achievement. So I just want to recognize the IT department and along under the direction and leadership of Mr. Marcel. Thank you Mr. President. Thank you Mr. Jacobs for recognizing the department um on an excellent job they've been doing and continue to do
and all our mics are working so we're good. We're happy. Somebody's not here to talk about it, so we're we're not going to say anything. All right. So, uh, we have a very long tab. So, resolutions. Uh, amended
resolution appointing child specialized hospital to provide occupational physical therapy services to district students. Tab 10. Tab 10 A, public agency compliance officer for our 2025 school year. Uh, tab 10B. Um
the appointment of our board of education hereby approving Melanie uh Padilla supervisor guidance to be assigned as the 504 officer for public schools for 2025 2026 year. Tab 10 C assignment of the affirmative action
officer for the 2025 school year 2026 2025 2026 school year. Um, be it resolved that Samuel Le Chan be assigned as the affirmative action officer for the Elizabeth public schools for 2025 2026.
Tab 10D India's Independence Day um which is actually celebrated on August 15th of each year. Um so we want to recognize that. Tab 10E consent for transfer of liquor
license. um which the location will be 200 feet away from the Elizabeth public schools. Tab 10F board of education resolution. Uh this is the second reason reading of the
following new policy revised policy regulation of bylaws to be approved which is policy expectations of conduct of interest interested competitions and events. Um policy for special education parent advisory board. Um policy for
regulation of the special education parent advisory board. Um policy for personal illness, injury, health and hardship. policy for attendance, absences, and excuses. Policy for HIV, which is harassment, intimidation, and
bullying. Um, policy for vandalism and violence, uh, policy for intervention, referral services, uh, general educa, and then general education students, and policy bylaws for the orientation and training of board members.
Tab 10g. Um, Essex uh board resolution to appoint Essex Regional Education Services Commission Home Instruction Services for 2025 2026 school year. Tab 10H, Union County Education Services Coordination Transportation Services for this school
year. Tab 10 I, agreement for professional services, Union County Education Services Commission, 2025 2026. Tab 10J, Union County Education Services Commission for non uh public security aid program.
Tab 10K, Union County Education Service Commission Special Education Tuition Rates and Other Service Agreements are in this resolution. 10K 10 L Union County Education Services Non-public School Technology Initiative
Program Tab 10M Union County Education Services Commission Nonpublic Schools Textbook Program Tab 10N Union County Education Services Commission Chapters 192 to 193 services um and that's uh really talking about
the uh certain um chapter 193 NJSA A uh 18A colon 46A laws of 1977 chapter 129 requiring that the state and local community identify and provide auxiliary
and handicap services for students who attend non-public schools. 10 payment fund sick um you uh unused sick days for the uh a number of uh employees
who have either retired or resigned. Um tab 10 P um payment for unused vacation days for the same. Tab 10 Q NJISA membership. Again, congratulations Judy Fitz
Johnson. Tab 10R requisition for taxes. Tab 10 S approval of annual extension for the existing student transportation contract with Vani Bus Company. Uh, tab 10, approval of annual extension of existing student transportation contract
with Shore Vans Incorporated. Tab 10 U approval of annual extension of existing student transportation contract with Durham School Services. Tab 10 V approving annual extension of existing student transportation contract with DNZ
Signature Transportation. Tab 10W approving annual extension of existing student transportation contract with DMZ Signature Transportation Incorporated. Tab 10X increase minimum bid and quote thresholds um for a
purchasing agent which who p who is a who possesses a qualified purchasing agent certificate. um the state treasury in consultation with the governor and pursuant to the NJSA52 colon 34-7 NJSA 18A
um 18A-3 has increased the bid threshold amount for school districts with qualified purchasing agents from 44,000 to 53,000 effective July 1st 2025 tab 10 Y approving annual extensions of existing student transportation contract
with Route 22 Bus LLC Tab 10Z renewed a contract with Systems Electronics to provide fire alarm and fire signaling um system testings maintenance and inspection for all district schools. Tab 10 AAA Union
County Education Services Agreement amended tuition contract agreement for alternative high schools. Tab 10B approving entry into contract with children literacy initiative to provide job embedded coaching and professional development in early literacy for
teachers in bilingual and ESL classrooms of tab 10cc transfer of maintenance reserve funds. Tab 10D transfer of capital reserve funds and we got through it. All right,
board members are any questions or comments to our resolutions. Seeing none, hearing none, Mr. Candy, please add tab 10, the tab 10 DD to the agenda. Also, at this time, um, just want to recognize Miss Jamie. Uh, I'm going to
mess this up. Betesis, I got it. family engagement specialist from SPAN um who is going to be partnering with this district to work with our family. So, we want to thank you for your presence tonight. Let's give her a big round of applause for coming out tonight. Thank you so much.
Um so with that being said um want to uh thank everybody who is here who have joined us this evening and also to all the retirees and folks who have served uh many years in our district who are who was on the agenda to retire this year. I want to thank you for your many
years of service and dedication to our district um for all the hard work that you've done. and to all the people who um lost someone special this summer. Um we read out about six names here in our district that are near and dear to us, but many of you who may have had any
loss in your families. Our prayers and and and our hearts go out to you and um you know definitely reach out and talk to someone and you know grieving is important. So take the time out to grieve and make sure to make yourself a priority and implement self-care in your
life. That's so important. At this time, uh, President, I'm requesting a motion to go into private session. um to consider matters exempt um to the open public meetings act specifically for discussion of legal matters specifically
workman's compensation CP MRJR DCF LLR legal settlement EBOE versus GG and SS versus EBOE personal matters such as interviews personal report personnel
report award of contract track um specifically substitute special education personnel roof replacement at Boowidge Finance Academy. Mr. Milanis, you have your hands full. The board will reconvene in public and take formal action. May I have a motion and a
second? Motion to go to private. I second. Motion has been made and properly seconded. Mr. Candy, roll call, please. Barbosa, yes. Carvalo, yes. Chevresz, yes. Jacobs, yes.
And Pastan, yes. Rivera, yes. Neran, yes. Thank you. We will see you after we come out of private. Thank you so much everyone. Yes. First first item to be added to the
agenda is appointment of director of special services recommended that Nancy Morago Frigalto be appointed as director director of special services on a 12-month basis effective August 1, 2025. Next is a resolution for appointment of
vice principal recommended that Lisa Enis Arena be appointed as vice principal. Benjamin Franklin School number 13 on a 12-month basis effective August 1st, 2025. We have a resolution for settlement of
workers comp MR. Settlement of workers comp JR. Settlement of workers comp JR. Settlement of workers comp CP. A resolution for a settlement agreement,
SSH HA, on behalf of IS. A resolution for a settlement agreement, Elizabeth Board of Ed versus GG on behalf of JA. We have a resolution, I mean a word of contract for speech language
pathologists with ESS Northeast LLC and award of contract for stepping stone for special education substitute teachers. We have a resolution for submission of schematic plans to department of education for roof replacement at J.
Chrisenboage Finance Academy and also a corresponding award of contract for Northeastern Construction for roof replacement. And finally, we have a personnel report 2B to be added to the agenda.
Thank you, Mr. Kenny kindly add those items to the agenda. At this time, a superintendent will present the HIV report. Thank you, Mr. President. Pursuant to board policy 5131.1, harassment, intimidation, and bullying
in the New Jersey statute 18A 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, and other actions
taken or recommended by the chief school administrator. Since our last board of education meeting on June 17, 2025 and through July 15, 2025, our school counselor, schoolbased social workers, and supervisor of anti-bullying have completed 26 HIV investigations. Of
these investigations, eight cases were founded for HIV as per New Jersey law. There were 11 males, 17 females, 27 regular education students, and one special education student that were the alleged victims. There were 21 males, 24 females, 43 regular education
students, one special education student, and one non- studentent that were the alleged offenders. Of the eight cases founded for HIV, one case was founded based on religion, one case founded based on gender, and seven cases founded based on other identifying
characteristics. of the services provided and actions taken for these investigations. There were 10 skill development lessons, 19 counseling sessions, two referrals for outpatient mental health treatment, one change of classroom, one change of school placement, two administrative counseling
sessions, seven inschool detentions, 15 parent conferences, one referral to outside agencies, four out of school suspensions, and three 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
for HIV investigations that the board issue a decision in writing to affirm, reject, or modify the superintendent's decision pertaining to the 61 cases that were reported to you at the last board meeting on June 17th. In order for you to do so, the investigative 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 this month's um HIV report. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Superintendent. Um, may I have a motion to approve and second the entire agenda? Mr. President, I make a motion to
approve the agenda. The entire agenda. Motion has been made. May I have a second? I'll second it. Motion has been made, properly seconded. Any questions or concerns? Seeing none, hearing none, Miss Kenny, roll call, please.
Yeah, just a reminder, resolution 10F, um there's a policy and regulation 12221. We're not voting on that resolution. Correct. We're tableabling it. Yeah. Okay. Is there any other policies? No, the rest of them are. We're going to
vote on. Thank you. Barbosa on the full agenda. On the full agenda, correct? With the additions with the additions, I'm sorry. Yes. Yes. Congratulations. And the tableabling of the policy.
Correct. Correct. And we're tableabling. Carvalo. Yes. Congratulations. Chevresz. Yes. Congratulations. Jacobs. Yes. Congratulations. Kavas Pastana. I would like to abstain on tap 7A. And
yes to the rest. And congratulations ladies. Rivera. Yes, Felicia Nan. Yes, I'm very excited for you. Congratulations
and wishing you all the very best. So, the entire agenda has passed, including the additional items that were added. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. It's a great day. Are there any comments and concerns from
our board members? Mr. Yes, Mr. Mahra. I gota love you. Yes, sir. Last week, last Thursday. Yes. We observed a momentous occasion.
Absolutely. Happy birthday to the man himself. Happy belated birthday, Mr. Kennedy. Happy birthday, Mr. Kennedy. The Fedora King. Clearly, happy belated again, Mr. Kennedy. And cheers to many more years. Thank you.
Happy birthday, Mr. Kennedy, thank you so much. Yes. Again, ladies, congratulations on your new roles and um your your new responsibilities. Thank you for stepping up and um you know, taking on the responsibility to help elevate our district. We really appreciate you and
we're looking forward to the future. All right. Uh may I have a motion and a second to adjourn the meeting? I make a motion to adjurnn tonight's meeting. I second it. Motion has been made and properly seconded. Mr. Candy, roll call,
please. Barbosa. Yes. Good night. Carvalo. Yes. Chevys. Yes. Jacobs. Yes. Kavas Pastana. Yes. Enjoy the rest of your summer everyone.
Rivera. Yes. Good night. Mr. Nara. Yes. Please enjoy the rest of summer and please stay cool. Tomorrow is going to be very hot. So is the weekend. So, uh, please take care of yourselves, your families, and, uh, check our websites for all the cooling centers, um, at our
city website, um, elizabethj.org. Have a great night, everybody.