Good evening. Thank you so much for bearing with us. Can I get a motion to go back into open session? So moved. It is 7:54 p.m. Can I get a roll call, please?
Mr. Baldowski here. Dr. Bolini Miss Brown present. Mr. Aliyah present. M present Mr. Santana present
present Mrs. Mayhem present before the regular monthly meeting of April 2024th was reconvened and called to order at 7:55 p.m. at the Memorial Middle School media center 1,200 First Street Fair, New Jersey. Miss Schwint was not helpful
this evening in pre-counting for me. So I am guesstimating that there are roughly 95 people present. I'm just kidding. Usually I don't have this many people to count. Um, can you
uh can we can you join me in the flex? Oh, I'm lying. Now I'm getting nervous of so many of you. The New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the me the
meetings of the public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with provisions of this act, the Fairlon Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof distributed to the persons on the approved list, posted in the
board of education administrative office, and sent to the Bergen record and the Herald News. The announcement of posting for the regular monthly meeting along with the date, place, and time thereof was distributed on Mar on January 24th, 2025. Will you all join me in the flag
salute? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
So we are going to start with our student rep reports tonight. We have Miley Zamaku from Memorial Middle School. Kelly Sue, your last name Sh. I'm so sorry. Kelly Shu, TJ Middle School rep, and
Lindsay Samuels, our Fairon High School student representative. Um, Miley and Chloe, the floor is yours. On Tuesday, April 22nd and Tuesday, April 29th, groups of seventh grade students from TJ Memorial took part in an exciting career and technical
education, or CTE, and STEM field trips to Fland. high school. During their visit, former TJ and Memorial graduates served as guides, leading students through engaging activities in engineering, supply chains, the stock market, robotics, and forensic sciences. As part of the experience, students also
toured a variety of their specialized classrooms, including the Mac lab, wood shop, art, chemistry, and biology labs in the library. A special thank you to all the Fairland High School and Middle School teachers who played an important role in this trip.
Memorial's annual Hoops for Humanity was once again a slam dunk success, raising over $800 for Meals on Wheels of New Jersey and bringing our school community together for a great cause. Students and staff hit the court for our epic basketball showdown. And while the
scoreboard stayed quiet for most of the game, the suspense was real. In true underdog fashion, Mr. Thompson drained a clutch three-pointer, sealing the deal with a dramatic three-0 victor victory for the staff. The crowd went wild and the
students are already plotting their comeback for next year. Congratulations to TJMS's Miss Alexandra Phillips on being a recipient of the 2025 Sunrise Rotary Service Above Self Award. Her devotion to students for over
25 years and the well-being of the Ferlon community has been nothing short of outstanding. Miss Phillips has been instrumental in anti-bullying and self-empowerment campaigns. Miss Phillips was also honored alongside her former student Michael Fontro who also received the award for his devotion to
bringing awareness to promoting a world where people with disabilities are treated the same as everyone else. Congratulations and thank you for all that you do for the community. Our eighth grade students who take Chinese as their world language had a wonderful opportunity to explore
Chinese culture firsthand during their field trip to the scholars garden. The experience offered a rich glimpse into traditional Chinese architecture, art, and philosophy, making their classroom learning come to life in a truly meaningful way. Our thanks to Miss
Cosby, Miss Baronova, Miss Silverman, Mr. Jeresi, and Mr. Kirk for arranging visits by our orchestra, band, and chorus to Mills, Radburn, and Warren Point next week to promote our performing arts program. This group will be leading our middle schoolers to performances at Bergen Community for
teen arts on May 16th and spring concerts on May 20th and May 22nd. Get ready. Memorial and TJ NJSLA testing season is here. Next week, our fifth and eighth graders will kick things off with a science assessment,
followed by ELA and math testing for all grades the week after. Okay, maybe it's not as thrilling as our field trips, spirit weeks, or basketball showdowns, but this is our moment to shine and show just how much we've learned this year, and trust us, it's a lot. Don't worry,
we will bring our focus, confidence, and middle school pride to every question. On behalf of the strings department here in Fairon School District, congratulations to the many students who participated in the region one elementary music festival earlier this month. These students have shown such
talent and dedication to their string instruments. The music was very tough and these students spent countless hours after school and during their lessons practicing. The festival was all day event where students got to practice their music with students all around North Jersey perform at the end of the day. from Thomas Jefferson Middle
School. William Dong Aong fifth grade Ben Dove fifth grade Luna Jen fifth grade Victoria Rose in fifth grade O in sixth grade Patty Knack from sixth grade
Liamen sixth grade and Sonia Petroia sixth grade from Memorial Middle School Sophia Calabbec fifth grade Chloe Bozac fifth grade Kai Bozac fifth th grade. Philip
Adinoki, fifth grade, James Melan, sixth grade, Sophia Bosco, sixth grade, and Alexander Ramos, sixth grade. We know there are many incredible educators being honored at tonight's meeting. And although we may not be here
to witness you all being honored because we have homework to finish, we want to sincerely thank you for all that you do for the students of TJ and Memorial. Congratulations. You deserve every bit of this recognition. Lindsay, thank you guys.
Lindsay, hello everyone and welcome back from a restful spring break. First, I'd like to thank any board members for attending the Mamma Mia Musical last month. It was a fantastic production and we're grateful for any and all community support. Our theater program hopes to see you all again. To continue, we just
had our spring spirit week prior to the break. We introduced a new fun tradition. Find the assistant principles. Pictures of our assistant principles, Dr. B and Mr. Iello, had been hidden in common areas around the school. Freshman and juniors looked for Dr. B, while sophomores and seniors all
tracked down pictures of Mr. Iello. This was an exhilarating way to encourage friendly competition and school spirit and we hope to continue this as a tradition in the future. As for our class councils, junior prom is this Saturday and senior prom is also quickly approaching in June. Also, our
senior class commitment account at FLHS destinations on Instagram is continuously being updated to reflect the fall 2025 plans of our graduating class. Student government and class council elections are also rapidly approaching with candidates eagerly preparing their campaigns. We're
exciting. We're excited to meet our new student leaders. We have some new and exciting events happening, too. For example, a new program for unified sports integrates students with physical and intellectual disabilities with other athletes, thereby promoting a space for
inclusion and fun. We're also hosting a bone marrow drive on June 3rd where seniors and staff can have their cheeks swapped to potentially match and give a donation. We also want to congratulate any staff being honored tonight and thank you for everything that you do for us and our
schools. And I'm also excited to see how the school year closes off in the coming weeks. Thank you. Thank you guys. Please feel free to stay and participate in our uh distinguished service recognition ceremony coming up
next. However, I do realize it is already after 8:00. And if there's anything you guys need to do for school or extracurriculars, you are welcome to excuse yourself. Thank you so much for your time. Um So with that, I have the amazing honor
to turn the next portion of our board meeting over to Dr. Dianio um where we will be recognizing and honoring the educational excellence and commitment of our staff. We will be celebrating excellence in regard to our recognition
of our educator of the year award and our education specialist of the year honoring our quarter century commitment of 25 years of service which is absolutely incredible. Our starfish award recipient and then although really exciting our
sad for us our farewell and gratitude for our retirement recognitions to our incredibly dedicated staff. So with that Dr. Visio the floor is yours. Well, thank you very much, Miss Maym, and uh welcome everyone. This is a very, very special night, and it's so nice to see
so many of you here with all of your families and loved ones. Um it's a night for us to be able to celebrate a lot of different achievements and recognitions and wonderful milestones and the impact that you've all had on our children and continue to have on our students here in
Fairlon in this very special community. And boy oh boy, those are two brave souls in the front row right here. You're a brave mommy. So, so good evening members of the board of education, administrators, teachers,
staff, families, and honored guests. It is our dis distinct pleasure to welcome you to tonight's very special board meeting where we gather to celebrate the exceptional educators and staff members who make our Fairlon schools a place of excellence, a place of innovation, and a
place of care. In education, our greatest asset has always been and will always be our people. Tonight, we recognize the individuals, all of you here with us tonight, who embody the very best of our profession. Those who
go above and beyond to create environments where students feel challenged, where they feel supported and inspired to reach their full potential. The educators and staff members we honor tonight represent various roles throughout our district. From classroom teachers who spark
curiosity and imagination to educational specialists who provide critical support services to the dedicated support staff who ensure our schools function smoothly day after day. Each honore has made a profound difference in the lives of our
students and in our school community. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations tonight to our starfish award recipient, to our teachers of the year, to our ed specialists of the year, and our staff members celebrating 25
years of distinguished service. We also take this opportunity to express our deep appreciation to our retirees whose decades of dedicated service have left an indelible mark on generations of Fairlon students. As we
proceed with tonight's recognitions, I invite you all to celebrate these outstanding individuals whose commitment to excellence enriches our schools and inspires us all. Their work embodies our district mission to provide an education that prepares our students not just
academically, but as thoughtful, engaged citizens ready to make their own positive contributions to society. Thank you for joining us this evening as we honor these exceptional members of our Fairlon Schools family. And now we will
begin presenting our categories for recognition this evening. I'm going to ask Miss Keller and M. DeFranco to assist as we have some personalized tokens of appreciation for each of you this evening um and for your families.
So without further ado, we have our recognition that we are going to start off with this evening, which is our Starfish Award recipient. And for those of you who know Craig Cohen, Craig Cohen is going to be joining us up here, uh,
is a cherished, Don't worry, Craig, keep his speech to less than five minutes. A cherished Memorial Middle School science teacher recognized with the prestigious Starfish Award for his fun and creative teaching methods,
engaging greenhouse projects, and compassionate approach that empowers students of all abilities. Congratulations, Chris. We will now transition and celebrate all of our teachers of the year and education specialists of the year. We
are going to start off at Edison School. Erica Muly, where are you? For those of you who know Erica, Erica is a dedicated and creative preschool teacher who puts our youngest learners at ease and helps bridge the gap between
home and school. Congratulations, Erica. In the spirit of sticking with Edison School, Leah Lind, come on up. a dedicated and creative um I'm sorry, a knowledgeable speech therapist who uses individualized assessments and interventions while sharing the newest
evidence-based practices with peers. Congratulations, Leah. Moving to Forest Avenue School. I'm feeling a little like Bob Barker. So, Kristen Amaroso, come on down. Oh, Kristen is actually not here this evening. She had a conflict. Um, but
we're still celebrating her. And, um, Kristen is a dedicated fourth grade teacher of 15 years who inspires students through technological innovation and creates a stimulating environment where students feel challenged, successful, and that they belong. Congratulations, Kristen
Amarosa. Our ed specialist of the year at Forest School, Dolly Bamboo. Dolly is a gentle and hardworking paraprofessional with over two decades of experience who takes students with the greatest needs under her wing and provides exceptional
support. Congratulations, Dolly. At Linrest, we have Jane Shaheen. Jane is a passionate third grade teacher of 20 years who engages students through innovative strategies and volunteers with multiple committees.
Congratulations, Jane. Amanda Puk. Amanda is a warm and compassionate speech teacher known for her innovative approaches, collaborative nature, and ability to build positive relationships with students and staff.
Congratulations, Amanda. At West Morland, we have Tyler Clark. Tyler's an energetic third grade teacher whose charismatic personality creates a vibrant environment where students feel excited, motivated, and confident. Congratulations,
Tyler. Our ed specialist of the year at West Morland is Nicole Spanelli. Nicole is a collaborative learning disabilities teacher consultant whose expertise ensures students thrive both in and out of the classroom. Congratulations,
at Warren Point. Our teacher of the year is Kelly Braph. Kelly is an empathetic kindergarten teacher who masterfully handles two children in the front row. with ease. You get extra credit for that. Um,
who differentiates instruction to meet the academic and social emotional needs while serving on multiple school committees. Congratulations, Kelly. At Warren Point, we have our ED specialist of the year, Jillian Boie. Jillian is a dedicated and knowledgeable
school nurse who has transformed the nurse's office into a safe and comfortable space for all students. Congratulations, Jillian. Heading over to Mils. Uh, our teacher of the year unfortunately had a conflict and was unable to attend this
evening. But congratulations to Caitlyn Faber. Caitlyn is a dependable and compassionate kindergarten teacher with 12 years of experience who creates a supportive and enriching enriching environment for all of her students. Congratulations, Caitlyn.
The Mils Ed specialist of the year is Leslie Papus. Leslie is a kind and collaborative first grade parrofessional who instinctively anticipates student needs and actively supports the Fairlorn High School
PTA. At Radburn, we have our teacher of the year, Jane Remshack. Jane is a creative first grade teacher with 27 years of experience who advocates for students needs and serves as the school's head association
representative. Congratulations. Our ed specialist of the year at Radburn is Lindseay Zarwi. For those of you who know Lindsay, she is a kind and caring science specialist in the district who has been instrumental in revamping science
instruction at the elementary level during her decade of service to the district. Congratulations, Lindsay. Our memorial teacher of the year is Yuki Kikuyu Kiku Kikuyama and in traditional ESL ML
language she just said muy bra in Portuguese to me and I'm Portuguese so she knows me well. Yuki is an innovative fifth through 8th grade ESL teacher who designs programs that unite the school community and creates meaningful engagement opportunities for her students. Thank
you, Yuki. at Memorial. Our ed special ed specialist of the year is Caitlyn Con Francisco. Caitlyn was unable to attend this evening. Uh but we congratulate her as a trusted school counselor who advocates for student success, earning
the confidence of her students, parents, and teachers through her ability to see the best in everyone. Congratulations, Caitlyn. At TJ, we have our teacher of the year this year is Melissa Michaelman. Melissa is an extraordinary special
education English teacher who promotes an inclusive and supportive learning environment and fosters a culture of respect and success. Congratulations, Melissa. The ad specialist of the year at TJ, Maria Compolo. Maria is a beloved par
profofessional with 20 years of service who anticipates the needs of her students and teachers and consistently shows them warmth and compassion. Congratulations, And the last school, but certainly not least, Fairlow High School. This year's
teacher of the year, Allison Gormley. Allison is an inspiring English and drama teacher who creates an environment of curiosity and belonging while elevating the high school drama program, positioning the school to offer CTE programs in dramatic theater arts.
Congratulations, Allison. And our ed specialist of the year at the high school is Marcia Nugabower. a compassionate speech language therapist who equip equips students with essential language skills for success while providing valuable professional
development to her staff. Congratulations, Marcia. Congratulations to all of our teachers and ed specialists of the year. Let's give them another round of applause. We are going to transition now to some other recognitions and then at the end
uh we are going to actually take a large group photo. I am not sure exactly how we're going to do that quite just yet, but I have probably about 15 or 20 minutes to figure that out. I am going to at this point turn the program over to my wonderful colleagues uh and Mrs. DeFranco and Mrs. Keller who will then
uh recognize our other staff members here as we uh present you with your personalized gifts. Right. Good evening everybody. I'm Claire Keller. I'm the assistant superintendent of education and I'm here and honored to share the 14 individuals in the district who have had 20 years of
service. So, we're starting off with um from Fairloan High School, Jennifer Bowman. Congratulations. Jennifer has made the Fairlon High School library an environment where students and staff can decompress and set their minds. She seeks to stock the shelves with works of students and staff
and interest with academic relevance. She's an avid swimmer who coaches our high school swim team. So, please join us in thanking her for 25 years of service to Fairlong. Also, some from Fairlong High School, I'd like to honor Carol Bona Pastor. Okay. All right. So, briefly,
um, Carol has excelled in Spanish special education classrooms. Her connections with students has earned her an affectionate nickname, Mama Bee, since the pandemic. She has embraced new technologies and adapted well to change. Teachers request having her in their classes, and she has made strong relationships. So, please join us in
thanking her even though she cannot be with us. All right. Next up from Lindres Elementary School, Jennifer Drainy. All right. Jennifer Drainy is a master reading teacher. She deeply understands the academic, social, and emotional needs of first graders and
works tirelessly to ensure every student reaches their full potential. Please join us in thanking her for 25 years of service. All right, next up from Warren Point, Joelen Foody. Joelen Foody is a role model to both students and staff. The knowledge
of her students translates to success in social, emotional, and academic areas far beyond their second grade year at Warren Point. Please join us in thanking her for 25 years of service. All right. Memorial. Um, let's honor Janush
Glowaki here. No. Okay. All right. He is not with us tonight, but he is the backbone of Memorial Middle School. a master of all trades with incredible skill, unwavering dedication, and selfless attitude to make him truly invaluable to their entire community. So, let's just thank
him. All right. Also from Memorial, let's honor Joan Hughes. her daughter is the principal of my children's um elementary school. So, there's a connection there. All right. So, Joan Hughes is a powerhouse of support in the classroom, always ready to help anyone in need and especially
shines in math where her dedication, generosity, and can do spirit inspires both students and staff every single day. So, please join us in thanking her for her service. Right. Next up from Linrest, Ellen Jubelt.
Ellen Jabel brings learning to life in her second grade classroom through fun, engaging, and hands-on experiences while celebrating the unique qualities each student brings. and she generously extends her dedication beyond the classroom by volunteering on numerous school committees to support both students and staff at Linross Linest.
So, let's join us um in thanking Jabel Ellen for her service. All right. From Fairlon High School, Richard Kelly. Okay. All right. Mr. Kelly is a great leader who has excelled both as a teacher and coach in his 25 plus years
at the high school. He is a team player who works well with his colleagues, students, and all staff. Mr. Kelly has amassed over 400 wins of a coach on the swim team. Um, please join us in thanking him even though he cannot be with us. All right. From Mils Elementary School, Susan
Mines. I say that wrong. All right. Susan cannot be with us, but she has dedicated 25 years of service to our schools, beginning as a lunch at Radburn and continuing as a valid power professional at Mils. She has also contributed her time and talent as a clerk aid and at Edison. Thank you, Sue,
for your unwavering commitment and care. And congratulations on 25 years of service. All right. From Fairlon High School, Teresa Miliki. All right. Also cannot be with us, but Miss Miliki is a strong teacher who has excelled in teaching in grade 10 driver's ed program. She has received
the state recognition in this area and continues to be a leader in placement. She coaches the Fairlon High School unified track team. Just saw them actually today working out on the track and oversees the SAT testing at Fairlon High School. So, please join us in thanking her. All right. U Maria Ray cannot be with us
tonight. Um but she is from West Morland. I'd like to share that um she has had 25 years and service to the students as a valued power of professional supporting students throughout all parts of their school day. Thank you for your love, your care, and your support that you have given the students over the years. So let's thank
you. All right. from TJ Middle School, Anna Romano. Anna Ramano has dedicated the last 25 years serving students with additional needs. Her calm and caring demeanor have proven to be most effective in supporting all students she interacts with. She's a valued member of
the TJ Learning community, and we cannot thank her enough for all she has done for her students over the years. Mr. Mr. Mano holds her students to a high standard while providing both educationally and by while providing for them both educationally and emotionally. So please join us in thanking her. All right. From TJ Middle School,
Kirsten Stenrud. Kirstson Senzrad. She has shared her love of mathematics with the students of Fairlon for 25 years. She started her career in Fairlon, splitting time between TJ Memorial and Fairlon High School before making TJ her home school. She has proven to be an exceptional teacher and was recognized as teacher of
the year in 2019 2020. Please join us in thanking Kirsten for her years of service. All right. And last but not least for our um 25 years of service award, Kenji Yamashita from TJ. All right. Kenji Yamashita's dedication to the arts over the past 25
years has left an indelible mark on our our school community. It's hard to walk through the building at TJ without encountering a mural. he has created or with his students body of work. For anyone who has stepped into his classroom, it feels like a trip to a gallery filled with vibrant work that reflects an appreciation for divers
diverse cultures, the environment, and student voice. Please join us in thanking Kenji. All right. Thank you. One last round of applause for everybody who achieved 25 years. Congratulations. All right. And I turn it over now to Mr. Franco who will talk
um share our retirees. One moment. Okay, it's a great honor to announce all of our retirees this evening. So, thank you all um for your dedication and your hard work and for something that is welld deserved to be celebrated. I'm
going to start with Suzanne Lucabelloo. Suzanne is a par profofessional at Memorial. Thank you, Suzanne. There I I I have to talk about you so I can't hug you. Suzanne is an invaluable part of the Stepping Stones classroom, bringing unmatched dedication, patience, and
heart to everything she does. Whether she is guiding a lesson, providing one-on-one support, or celebrating small victory, Suzanne's impact is nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you, Suzanne. Thank you. Jane Spitzfen from Warren Point. After years
of unwavering dedication, and care as a par profofessional, Jane is retiring. Her kindness, patience, and support have touched the lives of countless students and staff alike. As she steps into retirement, we celebrate the incredible impact she has made and wish her joy,
relaxation, and new adventures ahead. Kimberly Lynn, I didn't get to see you today. Thank you. Kim has been the heart of our counseling department for the past 10 years, keeping everything running smoothly with her exceptional administrative support. Her kindness,
dedication, and care for both counselors and students will be deeply missed. Melanie Guerrero. Melanie has been a cornerstone of our bridges program for over 20 years, bringing dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our
students and staff. Throughout her time with us, she has worked handinand with special education teachers to ensure that every student receives a highquality, meaningful educational experience. What truly sets me Melanie apart is the heart she brings to every
interaction. Her genuine care for each student shines through in everything she does. There is truly nothing she wouldn't do to support a student always ready to roll up her sleeves and go above and beyond without hesitation. Mel's passion, positivity, and tireless
dedication have left a lasting impact on Fairlon Public Schools. While we will deeply miss her presence, we are forever grateful for her many years of extraordinary service here today. But thank you, Mel. Laura Corino Poloccastro. Thank you,
Laura. Laura is an incredible asset to the classroom, bringing energy, compassion, and a deep commitment to student success. Her support helps all students feel valued and confident, and her enthusiasm, especially in science, helps make lessons come to life in
meaningful and memorable ways. With her by their side, students are not only learning, they're truly experiencing the joy of discovery. Thank you, Elizabeth Castillo. She here tonight. One of our
bus drivers. After 25 years of unwavering dedication, early mornings, and safely guiding countless passengers through every season, this remarkable bus driver retires with a deep appreciation of the community and a legacy of kindness,
reliability, and heart. Thank you, Elizabeth. Janice loves Janice's smile and stories will be missed at Fairlon High School. Thank you. As a teacher certified paraprofessional, she has
worked with faculty and students in so many ways over the years at Fairlon High School. Janice is fond of playing the lottery. We were lucky to have had her um at Fairlon High School and wish her luck in
retirement. It went up to five bucks. We're gonna have to plan for that. Danna Quavvis Danna is an incredibly caring teacher and is a master at skillful instruction. She made incredible
contributions to her students and school communities in the Forest Elementary School, the Memorial Middle Math Department, and most recently as an incredible literacy teacher at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. She will be truly missed throughout the district. Thank you.
Harvey Eaggan Jr. Thank you, Harvey. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Despite his many years in the classroom, or in this case, the gym, to this day, Mr. Egan is looking for creative and engaging ways to keep energetic kindergarten and enthusiastic
fourth graders engaged in physical education. He understands that PE is more about learning sports. It is also about learning how to interact with each other and how to become a better person. He constantly looks for ways to spread this love of his craft with o with with others and
for that I'm truly grateful. Annie Blair. She is Madame Blair has spent the last 25 years in Fereralon schools enriching students with the beauty of the f of the French language and culture. She
inspired countless students to eagerly learn French and appreci and appreciate the franophhone world. Oh boy, you're going to make me say this. Maybe you can help me say this. I could do this part. How do you say
thank youoneage? Thank you, Susan Murray. Thank you so much, Susan. Thank you. Thank you. After many years of devoted service to both the elementary and middle school, Susan Murray retires, having left a legacy as a beloved media
specialist whose passion for reading has inspired generations of students. Thank you, Tracy Theel. After many years of dedicated service to Fairlon schools, Tracy is retiring. She
has been the bedrock of the fourth grade team at Warren Point and never stopped honing her craft. She continually looked to create challenging and engaging lessons for her students. She has been a mentor and a role model to each student and every member of the Warren Point
staff and her legacy and impact will carry on in the hearts and minds of the students and staff at Warren Point. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. And last but not least, Joan Cosgrove.
Joan has been a beloved and integral part of the Fairlon school district for over 25 years. She began her journey with us working at the community school in 1998 and later transitioned to student services office where she continued to serve with dedication,
warmth, and grace. Joan has truly been the heart of student services, a cornerstone of knowledge, support, and kindness. Whether it is greeting you with a warm smile, offering a cheerful hello, or asking you how your day is going, Joan's presence has always
brought comfort and positivity to the office. She is the go-to person for answers, always ready for help, and never without patience or compassion. Her dedication and care have touched the lives of countless students, families, and colleagues. While we will deeply
miss her presence, we celebrate her remarkable career and wish her all the happiness and relaxation that retirement can bring. Thank you, Joan, from the bottom of my heart. Now, that's a retirement exit if I didn't see
one. Thank you everybody. And as Claire said before and as Dr. Dr. Dianio said before one final round of applause and then we could take that picture. So, we're gonna try something here. Um, we're going to organize almost 50 people um for a group photo in no
particular order. And Miss Vote, would you like to go right here in the middle or across the back? Across the back. Okay, we're going to get all close to each other. Across the back. Come on up here and join us.
Hi neighbor. I don't think I see you and I You got to keep going now. I'm like, hello. We won't leave you behind. No teacher
lesson. That was nice. Thank you very No, it's fine. Thank you. She's like dinner table and I'm like I Hello everyone. Thank you so much for
being here to celebrate with us. If the board members and administration would please return to the deis so that we can continue with board business. Board members and administration, if you would wrap up and
please return to the deis so we can continue with our board business. Thank you all so much for coming. If we could just wrap up so that we can continue along with board business. Thank you all so much. You're all
welcome to stay and chat a little bit longer. However, administration and board members, we do need to return to board business. Dad, can we do it? At this point, we will be moving forward with committee
reports and it was but nobody could hear me on the microphone. Okay. This agenda item provides an opportunity for committee chairs to present brief summaries of proceedings from their most recent committee meeting. These reports are
forformational purposes only and refle reflect activities that have already taken place. This is not an appropriate time to introduce new business items or engage in extended discussions on topics that should be addressed through proper channels. Committee chairs are reminded to keep reports limited to three minutes
maximum based on the written meeting minutes. Focus only on key actions and discussions from the most recent meeting. Reference when the next committee meeting is being scheduled. Avoid introducing new business that has not properly vetted through the committee. Submit any written summary
reports to the superintendent and or board secretary for inclusion in the minutes. I will also add for those of you that will be presenting committee reports on the most recent committee, please ensure that any information that would be confidential in nature regarding personnel or other programming
is not discussed. The floor is open for committee reports on the most recent committee meetings. Mr. Santana. Yes. Good evening. Um the sheriff services committee uh met on March 27th.
We had a very um collegiate and productive meeting. We discussed the meetings were shared by email but um we discussed installing a blinking pedestrian signs around all the schools. Um this was moved to share service
agenda and will be discussed um with the council. Um also we discuss evaluating road traffic patterns during pickup and drop off uh at all school locations primarily where there is no pickup or drop off on
school property. Uh the the committee decided to move this to the pedestrian safety committee PTO council. Also, the sheriff services committee uh discuss um hosting um furlong will host summer
school and invite other districts to attend to offset the cost. Okay. We discussed if the district can contact uh neighboring uh Bergen County district to see if there is any interest. However, the committee decided
uh not to move forward uh on this topic. Um, if I may add, um, um, we don't have, uh, a date yet for the next, uh, meeting. Uh, we are waiting to coordinate that, uh, with the
council. So, if any board members have any, um, any topics you want to discuss, uh, for the next shared services committee, please uh, follow the procedure and email it to myself as chair. Thank you.
Any questions, Dr. Dr. Disio, there are no questions here. Excuse me. I'm sorry, Dr. Bertilini. Sorry, Ed. This one hit the wrong button. Sorry. All right. We had a very long meeting.
It was an excellent meeting for the education small committee. uh each member of the committee was present. We discussed the following topics. One to uh look into the idea of academy or focus programs on a high school level and also maybe as a change
in schedule. And the result of that discussion was that we're going to send it to the administrative staff, the central office and high school staff to look into it, other districts that do have these things. Uh second of all, we're looking at um how we would fund
future extracurricular student activities if we can for outside events, national events, etc. And the action taken is that we again we'll send it to the administration to discuss the three uh responsibilities of providing what's the steps that we're going to take to
make sure that we don't spend too much, but we also recognize our students. The next topic was summer school and the cost of summer school. In the past, we used ESSER funds for it. Um, we would like to make sure that it's in person and not online. And this topic will be
discussed at the next education meeting, which is May the 8th about cost sharing. Major topic we discussed, fourth topic we discussed was the use of cell phones in its three schools of the three level schools, elementary, middle, and high school. And
that discussion was lengthy and it's being sent back to the administrative cabinet team to discuss and offer some suggestions for the board. No action at this time. Uh and future topics, wireless headphones, the use of wireless
headphones. These are different items that the committee members have asked for. Whether or not we're going to agree to it or not is a again future discussion. So, it's wireless headphones, approved movie list, and the addition of ASL on uh for world language
at Fairland High School and we adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Right on time. Any questions? Thank you. At this time, these reports are solely that they are reports. They are not open for
discussion. Thank you, Miss Brown. Um we met after the education committee um and we discussed the cell phone and electronic devices. Uh the we were given
information that was collected by the point of information. Miss Brown, would you please share what uh committee you're reporting on? Oh, student services. Did I say that? Just kidding. So I am the chair of the student services committee. I apologize. Um so
we discussed the cell phone and electronic devices uh usage and the preliminary findings that were taken from the administrative cabinet meeting through throat exchange. Um we decided on no board action at this time, but we
asked for continued update um when once ad the administration team reaches out to the building level committees once they're established and then the district districtwide committees of various stakeholders. Um we discussed
the special education programs for the 2526 school year. um in order to we wanted to make sure that the needs are being met of the students uh with IEPs and expanding least least restrictive
environment options. Um and we no board action was needed at this time. It was just all information. Um the next meeting date is May 15th. Um and we will not have questions. And if you have any topics that would like to be discussed,
please email me. Again, I understand that this is a new uh topic for discussion. We do we are not eliciting new business for committee meetings. I'm going to ask that everyone I understand that this is new, but it was very clearly noted on our agenda that we are just reporting out. We are not taking
questions and we are not eliciting business for our board committee. Please note to the community that no action is taken in committee meetings. No action can be taken outside of a board meeting with the full board present.
Mr. Robowski, I'm not going to go through the full minutes. Um I I simply want to mention that the buildings and grounds finance committee met twice uh between this meeting and our previous meeting. Um but of note as many of those items eventually make their way onto the
agenda being buildings and grounds and finance. Um we did review the um facility audit uh in part which I am excited that will be shared out to the community later this year. Um and our
next meeting is later next month. So just that thank you. At this time um I will just note that as a result of confidentiality the committees for negotiations and personnel cannot share reports at this
time. However, there was a personnel committee and I believe there was a meeting for negotiations. This portion of our board meeting is specifically for comments on resolutions listed in tonight's agenda. When speaking, please state your name and municipality residents. Specify which resolution you are addressing.
Limit your remarks to three minutes. State law prohibits board members and administrators from discussing personnel matters, student discipline, or other confidential issues. Please note that this is not a dialogue or Q&A session between those speakers and the board. We may not respond immediately or to every comment made tonight. All input is
carefully considered and helps inform our decisions. Responses may come through emails, reports, board statements, website updates, or after the comment period closes. Thank you for participation in our school community's governance. The floor is open to agenda items um for public comment at this
Okay, Christine Weinstein, Fereralon. Uh, wow. I I wasn't expecting the crowd tonight. It was great. Um, so thank you to all of the teachers and administration, everybody that uh was honored here tonight. All of the education specialists and such. It was really it's it's growing up in town. I
know that the town is great and uh my son's gone through the school system. He's now a senior and so we've had great experiences. We've had some not so great experiences, but overall, you know, it's always been great. And just to see all the people we honor, it's it just makes your, you know, your heart feel good. There's so many great people in the town
and educators. So, thank you very much. I know some people are still here. So, thank you. Uh I also wanted to acknowledge uh the uh retirees as well uh that they're all going moving on, wishing them all well and good luck. And our 25 years of service. I mean, that list is so long. It's amazing that so many people, you know, not that they
stick with it, but that they really put their hearts into it. I know kids can be special. Uh, but it's really nice to see so many people that really enjoy their work and put their passion into it every day and for so such a lengthy time. So, thank you to them. I also wanted to
acknowledge uh Jen Gruber who's retiring. She's on the agenda and especially from FLE. She's always been a very uh big supporter of FLEC and the special education community. So, I just wish her well and uh we she will be missed for sure. She's done a lot of advocating for inclusion and uh lots of
great ideas over the years uh as long as I've known her, as long as my son's been in school. So, uh, she, uh, she will be definitely be missed. I also wanted to thank the Barry family. There's a scholarship that's up for approval on the agenda, and it's, uh, again focusing on special education, and it's for a,
uh, student that's moving on into study special education. I think it's really wonderful. So, I wanted to make sure to acknowledge them. Uh, thank you in advance for approving our class of 2025 project graduation. I know you're all going to vote yes. Uh, so, thank you very much. And I wanted to really uh
shout out a thank you to the administrators behind the scenes that helped me navigate the process of getting all of the paperwork in line as a you know person that does administrative work. I know how there's a lot of things to jump through, a lot of tees to cross and eyes to dot. So I just wanted to acknowledge all the
administrators that were uh helping me and get everything done and in in a timely manner. And that's it for now. Thank you. Thanks Christine. I'm so sorry. I just wanted to thank everyone for tonight. It was really nice to see everyone come out and
I also wanted to wish Jen Gruber happy retirement. I'm very sad to see her on the agenda tonight for retirement. She was my mentor. So, uh she holds a special place in my heart and we're really going to miss her in Fairlon. Um and I also just wanted to comment thank you for always um affording us the
opportunities for professional development um on the agenda tonight and I just think it just allound circle, right? We show our appreciation for our teachers. We provide them with education to keep learning and they stay for 25 plus years. So hopefully the next time I'm here getting an award it'll be 25
years and then retirement. I'm going to do the Joan dance. I'm copying Jones dance. Thank you. Do we have anything on the Google doc? We have one comment on the Google doc. Olga Ginsburg from Fairon.
Congratulations on your retirement, Miss Gruber. Your passion, your dedication, your encouragement have left a mark on so many students and families lives. You've inspired, guided, assisted, supported everyone in the classroom and beyond. I hope this exciting new chapter
brings you the same joy and fulfillment you have given to to your students over all of these years. We'll miss you. Many hugs from our family with love and gratitude. Anyone else? The floor is closed. I will now open the floor for
board member comments on agenda items only. Miss Brown. Um, I just wanted to quickly share my gratitude for um, all of the teachers that were here and that we honored and the specialists. Um, it was nice to see
my sons have interacted and have, you know, have been formed into who they are by four of the uh, people honored tonight. Three of whom were teachers um, or staff members of the year and one retiree. Miss Quavvis was Charlie's math
teacher. Um, Mrs. Clark was Jack's third grade teacher and Mr. Cohen is Charlie's current eighth grade science teacher. Um, and Miss Coof Franchesco takes care of all of us at Memorial Middle School. So, I just they are who they are because of these great educators and I'm just
honored to um be in a district that celebrates everybody um as it it's welld deserved. Um, I also wanted to give my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Gruber for her 20 years of service um, as a special education teacher in
our district. Um, your retirement uh, is bittersweet. Um, definitely well-earned and you will definitely be missed here for sure. So, thank you, Lisa. So, I just want to say thank you to
everybody that came tonight for your accomplishments, your years of service, and those who are retiring. Um, it was full circle. It was my children's some of my children's
teachers. Um, some of my children's friends that grew up in Fairlon and many that guided my family through our years at in Fairlon. Um, so I thank them all for coming and for all
their accomplishment and their through their years of service and even up to retirement. Thank you. Mr. Beldowski echoing much of the same sentiment as Miss Yorman and Brown. Um I want to
congratulate and thank the the honores tonight. I also want to thank the administration for providing this opportunity to recognize our staff members of their accomplishments. Um I had four of the teachers that are retiring tonight. me
personally have four of them. Um, and so they certainly have have guided my path. Did you have more, Anthony? Um, so they have certainly guided my path and how I've gotten here
as well as my family. They've had all four of them had my brother as well. Um, but I I do want to highlight Madame Blair um of sparking my love for French. Um, even though I still cannot speak it all these years later, I do Duallingingo
every day. Um, but she also she was more than just a teacher. She truly inspired us to to learn the French culture and I listen to some of the songs that she still plays. And um, but she also or the record I thought I'd put it on is that
she saved my brother's life by performing the Heimlick in class as he was choking on a pen cap. Um, so our family, that's often a story that comes up at Thanksgiving and stuff, but so Madame Blair is part of our family fabric there. Um, but so I want to
congratulate all of those that are retiring um to simply enjoy a well-deserved rest. So uh, and one other comment, sorry. Um just simply want to comment on the budget once again thanking the administration and the business office uh for putting together
such a fiscally responsible budget uh while maintaining and enhancing our uh programs and educational opportunities at the district. Thank you Miss Casoy. Thank you. Um, I'm just going to very quickly echo what everyone
says and and even though my our 16 years here, I can't even count the number of teachers and and all of the wonderful staff here that this one my son had, this one my daughter has, this one my son currently has, this one is our kindergarten teacher, and to a current teacher he has now. And I just want to
say thank you to everyone and congratulations on those who are retiring. And it really helped remind me why I'm here. And it was wonderful to see everybody. And it really helps um I think just for all of us who sit here and do business every day to remember
that this is the fabric of our town and this is the fabric of those who who um are impacting our kids every single day. And I thank every single one of them and all of you for supporting them. And um I'm really looking forward to continuing to to to do what I what I am um here to
do which is to support the students and support the teachers and the staff of this this town. So thanks everybody. Mr. Santana. Yes. Congratulations to all amazing recipients of the Governor Educators um
and specialist of the year. Keep up the great work. Thank you for your dedication to excellence. Congratulation to all the 25 25 years of service recipients and the Starfish Award recipient. Um, thank you for going above
and beyond for our students through high expectations, excellent instruction, and modeling kindness each and every day. Um if if the if the board can have um through the chair if we can if we can
share the the the facilities audit with the board that will be great. Please keep in mind this is on board agenda items only at this time but you can definitely talk about that during other business. Yeah. the um the committee report was on the board agenda. So this is a comment on so technically board
committee reports are not noted in the agenda items and these are reported on agenda items only. Okay. Okay. This is new. That's okay. No problem. All right. Uh item 4 a as an apple. I would like to
uh thank the dis the um central office. Great job with the minutes. I read them word for word. very comprehensive. Uh 6A a is an apple. Congratulations to Miss Gruber on your retirement. I tip my hat
and appreciate your 20 years of service to our children and everything you do in our community. You uh are always advocating for what's best for our children and for our community. You are very involved and I wish I sincerely
wish you a happy and healthy retirement. Um item 7B 21 I will be voting no. I'm not comfortable with the 20 students per chaperon. These are 20 teenagers. I don't feel comfortable with that ratio and I don't I don't feel that
that provides sufficient supervision. 7B12 I will be voting no. I I am not comfortable with again with the student per shopper ratio. Um uh items um item A 8 A as an apple B. I
would like I would like to ask the board attorney present here um I find out through speaker 30 seconds. Oh my goodness. Just just please. Okay. I find out through speaking to my uh mom that
the candidate on item A 8AB is my third cousin. So I would like to ask the board attorney if I'm if I have a conflict legally speaking. We're going to have um all questions taken at the end. However, your 30 seconds are up. So if you can wrap up
now um and have second turn At this point in time, as we do with all meetings, all questions are answered at the end. Mr. Ilia, just to echo the room, I also want to extend my congratulations and
gratitude to those recognized tonight. Thank you for all you do and have done for Fairone schools. It did warm my heart as well to see a lot of familiar faces. I'm not going to say the number. former teachers, former teachers and neighbors that have made my Fereralon school experience like phenomenal and
it's just I'm it's happy to I'm happy to see them see their muchdeserved recognition and see them all tonight. Anyone else? Dr. uh Verdilini, go ahead. So I I I listen to Mr. Santana and I do
agree that supervision is very important but the one the second second or third one that you mentioned the one at Dorny Park it's expensive to have extra superh chaperons but in Dorny Park they're enclosed so they can't go anywhere I mean and there's security there and to
be honest with their 10th and 11th graders point of information you need to address all comments to me I am okay isn't your last name Santana okay I apologize board president Madam, I said just board president. I
didn't say mister. All right. So, let me finish my point. So, in in 10th and 11th grade where this the kids are going to Tony Park, you don't walk around them like an elementary school. You just let them go and they're I think you just let them go. My experience is going to with students and it's enclosed and you
really don't need even 20 chapels to be honest with you because uh 21 ratio because it's it's completely enclosed, completely fenced in. They have security. They have people working it. So I that's certainly in my mind enough for the shop runs in that regard for
that one for that trip. That's all. Anyone else? Mr. Santan, you have another three minutes. I will be abstaining on 7810. Um I'm a member of that professional organization. I'm I will also abstain in
783. Um I I understand uh and I'm president I understand what has been said about the uh the ratio but in my professional
experience only 21 years in education. I I'm not comfortable with teenagers being anywhere outside of the town in a field trip. 20 of them per point of information. This is not a back and forth, guys. Please make your statements and let's move forward. Okay. So,
um I will be abstaining on 11 A is an apple. Um I am happy with the uh response I received from the district for for the from the superintendent. Uh
11J this service is provided at no cost to the taxpayers. That is great news. Also 11K again this service is provided at no cost to the taxpayers. Thank you. That's it for
now. The floor is closed. Can I get a motion for 6 A through E? So moved. Second. I apologize. We're going to go with six and then we'll go back.
Yes. Uh it was uh Miss Brown was the motion. Believe Mr. Santana was the second and we are voting on 6 A through E. Roll call, please. Mr. Baldowski, yes. Dr. Berdellini, yes. Miss Brown, yes.
Mr. Aaliyah, yes. Miss Casoy, yes. Mr. Santana, yes. Miss Yerman, yes. Mrs. Mayhem, yes. Motion passes.
Uh, Mr. Baldski, I am going to defer the remainder of this meeting to you um as board vice president and I will be excusing myself to attend the Rad Gala. All right. Uh, we are going back to the minutes. We forgot four. Uh, so can I
get a motion for 4 A, please? So moved. Second. Oh, can I get a roll call? Mr. B. Um, Dr. Bolini. Yes. Miss. Brown. Yes. Mr. Aaliyah. Yes. Miss Casoy. Yes.
Mr. Santana. Yes. Miss Yerman. Abstension. Mr. Raldowski. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Can I get a motion for 7 A through 7D? So moved. Second.
Can I get a roll call? M. Dr. Bolini? Yes. Miss Brown? Yes. Mr. Aaliyah? Yes, Miss Casoy. Yes, Mr. Santana. Abstain on 7
A10 and 7 A3. Yes on everything else. Wait one second. No on 7B 21. No on 7B12. Yes on everything else.
Miss Yerman. Yes. Mr. Baldowski. Yes. Motion passes. Pleasure. Thank you. Uh we are moving on to eight personnel. Can I get a motion? Voter. I asked a
question about the um personnel. Yes. I will defer to regarding Yes. Your third cousin. However, I my suggestion is always better to
okay I will even though according to the the board attorney I don't have a conflict out of the appearance of a conflict I will abstain on my third cousin which who I never met actually. Thank you. Thank you for airing on the side of
caution there. Uh, so personnel number eight, can I get a motion for 8 through A? So moved. Brown call. Dr. Bolini. Yes. Miss Brown. Yes. Mr. Aaliyah. Yes.
Miss Casoy. Yes. Mr. Santana. believe it's 783 78 or 7 or 11 a seven I apologize well eight eight we are on Correct. I can always
add it to the minutes as well. Okay. No. Um I will I will abstain not on on eight on 8AB out of out of respect. Um I would like to say that I never met this third cousin and it's
it's Please keep your uh comments to the vote right now. Yes. On 8 AB, I will abstain out of an abundance of caution. Uh, yes. On everything else, Miss Yerman. Yes.
You just want to clarify, it's only one name. Only one is just 8AB number one. And Mr. Bowski. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. On to nine. Can I get a motion?
So moved. Second. Yes. Dr. Bolini. Oh, yes. Miss Brown. Yes. Mr. Aaliyah. Yes. Miss Casoy. Yes. Mr. Santana.
Yes. Miss. Yeah. Yes, Mr. Bodovski. Yes. Motion passes. Number 10, Community School. Can I get a motion? So moved. 10 A through 10 C.
Second. Miss Brown. Roll call, please. Yes. Miss Brown. Yes. Mr. Leah. Yes. Miss Casoy. Yes. Mr. Santana. Miss Yerman.
Yes. Mr. Bowski. Yes. And Mr. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. 11. Finance. Can I get a motion? So moved. Can I finish my request first for 11A through 11M? Miss Brown. So moved.
Second. Second. Roll call. Dr. Bolini. Yes. Miss Brown. Yes. Mr. Aaliyah. Yes.
Miss Casoy. Yes. Mr. Santana. Abstain on 11A as an apple. Yes. Everything else, Miss Yerman. Yes. Mr. Baldoski. Yes. Motion passes.
And policies. May I have a motion for 12A? So moved. Thank you, Miss Brown. Dr. point of clarification. Yes. Is this first reading or is this final? This is approval of the first reading for policy 5533.
Uh, can I get a roll call? Dr. Berlini? Yes. Miss Brown? Yes. Mr. Aaliyah? Yes. Miss Casoy? Yes. Mr. Santana? Yes. Miss Yerman? Yes. Mr. Baldowski?
Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. This portion of our board meeting is specifically for comments on any matter for public comments. When speaking, please state your name and municipality of residents. Limit your remarks to three minutes. State law
prohibits board members and administrators from discussing personnel matters, student discipline, and other confidential issues. Please note that this is not a dialogue or Q&A session between the speaker and the board. While we may respond immediately to every While we may not respond immediately to every comment made tonight, all input is
carefully considered and helps us inform our decisions. Responses may come through emails, reports, court statements, website updates, or other comments after the period closes. Thank you for your participation in our school community's governance. Floor is open.
Christine Weinstein. Um, as a parent at the Fairon High School, a PTA treasurer, I've had several discussions about fundraising there, of course. And one thing I noticed, maybe you're not aware of how fundraising works at the high school,
but there's basically two wheels in motion here. There's the PTA, which raises money for PTA events and for PTA functions such as project graduation. Then there's also the uh class councils and the clubs and all of those, which handle all of the student funding for
their proms, dances, events, trips, etc. that they need for their clubs and all. In discussions with them, uh we find that they can only accept cash and as we know we live in kind of a digital world
and PTA has uh kind of evolved and where we can accept uh payment through Square. We can we do we can do Apple Pay, we can do um credit cards and all that. We can also do cheddar up for online uh campaigns, you know, such as for like apparel wear and all that stuff and so
that parents can order things online. But the schools and the kids don't have that advantage. So they're running into a lot of struggles with making funds and having, you know, productive fundraisers because they can only accept cash and checks. Uh, is there any way I'm going
to advocate for them and say if we can look into something setting up I'm happy to work with anyone to explain it square or cheddar up a way that they can accept Apple PEG is they're just losing their efforts are just you know being wasted
and it's it's sad to see that that certain fundraisers that have always done well such as like bagel breakfast which is you know a senior event and the kids look forward to doing that every year but unfortunately it's not yielding you know the the the outcome is not what they're expecting because kids just
don't carry cash anymore. So, I think that if we can kind of get that wheel rolling, I think it would be really beneficial for the students in the clubs, they'll be able to be more productive, have more positive output, and also, you know, learn from it as well. It's not just a matter of making money. There's there's a lot involved
with fundraisers between project planning, uh, you know, financial things, all kinds of stuff that goes, you know, with it full circle. So, I just hope that you can consider and hopefully work with the high school. It's really a high school level. Well, I don't think the middle school uh have their clubs do the fundraising. I think it's mostly through the PTA, but on the
high school level, there's that definite, you know, separation of PTA and school. And I think that it just would be really beneficial for them to have that kind of that vehicle to to help raise funds. Thank you.
Anyone else from the public any comment? Google form. We have two comments. We have Annie Metaflon. My daughter is the current captain of the high school color guard team. Is our fourth year being involved
in this activity and the kids just won a silver medal out of 13 other groups to end their competition season. We have to pay a significant amount of money for our kids to participate in this team to cover the expenses as we are not officially listed as an athletic
team under the BOE budget. We do get district busing and rehearsal space which is much appreciated. In fact, having consistent rehearsal space this season, I think is part of what has made them so competitive this past season. I've been told for years that it is
being looked into, but then just heard that the flag football club that just got started was being considered be added under athletic teams, athletics as a team, possibly as soon as next year. The Winter Guard has been competing for at least 10 years as a self-funded club,
but I am writing to bring awareness that this team is not listed under athletics to see if there is anything that can be done to rectify that and get them some money to be able to fund the program. I also wanted to raise awareness to how hard these teams work as they practice
at least 12 hours a week every week and are very dedicated. The winter guard is when the color guard competes independent of any musicians as its own team during the winter season from December to April. They then usually join back up with the marching band kids
for the fall and perform with them in marching. It is two separate activi it is two separate activities and two separate seasons. Is there something us parents can do to help get this conversation started? Apologies for not being at the meeting tonight. We are canning for FOM scholarships tonight.
Thank you. Our next comment is from Olga Ginsburg in Fairon. I would like to congratulate the FLHS Wintergard team on their outstanding performance this season. They came in second and took
silver, missing the first place by just 002 points at the main competition uh championships at Lehigh University in PA on April 12th. These dedicated athletes worked extremely hard all season practicing more than 12 hours each week
and participating in competitions across the state. Huge thanks to the team's most talented and passionate coach and FLHS physics teacher, Miss Josephine Ryder. And expert assistant coach Jana Goldberg for guiding the girls every
step of the way, for supporting them and believing in them. They couldn't have done it without you. On behalf of the parents, I would also like to thank Annie Metaf, our amazing band manager who dedicated endless hours assisting behind the scenes during the practices and competitions and making it all look
very easy. As a first year gu as a firstear guard parent, I am extremely proud to be part of the guard family and grateful to meet all the parents who came together to support this phenomenal program. I was also surprised to learn that winter guard is not officially listed as a sport in our district and
hope you can look into this as these athletes deserve to be recognized. Once again, congratulations to the FLHS Wintergard on their silver medal. We are all very proud of you. Thank you. Um we will refer all comments though
back to the administration to review and any additional questions um about the decisions or responses will come from them. Thank you. Uh moving on to board comments on any items board members. All right. Seeing
none, Mr. Santana, you have three minutes. Yes. I just want to say this as a not only as a board member but as a resident of this town as a as a father as a friend as a neighbor as a son as a
grandson let's be more inclusive whether you whether you are a leader of a PTA whe or a member whether you are uh a volunteer coach for many years, whether you are a member
of a of a of a faithbased uh uh organization or a nonprofit, whether you've been in in in this town for many generations, whether you were born in this town or you are an
immigrant like me, born in another country, this town belongs to everybody. Our children do not learn what we say, they learn what they see us doing. Every town have
issues. These issues are not uh particular to Ferlone. In my view, my views, Wilkins and Tana's views, the best way to defeat bullying is through kindness to one another. It's very easy
to attack neighbors on social media. Please, we need to be kind to one another. We need to be respectful to one another regardless of any perceived differences because our children are watching. Please, let's be kind to one
another and let's be civil and let's be true role models for our community. And I am challenged everybody here and everybody watching the few people who watch this on YouTube and anyone who will listen to my words.
I challenge you to do to commit yourself to do one random act of kindness. Please, let's do it. and let's send a message that we need to be together
because at the end of the day if you cut yourself we all have the same blood. Thank you Mr. Ilia. Yes. Anything? Yes. Yeah. Three minutes you got for public. All right. I just wanted to uh take a moment to congratulate
those in the last month inducted into the honor societies. A huge accomplishment and the number was was great and it's nice to see that that in across all the different language honor societies and all all those things. It's great to see that accomplishment. I also I know it's been a couple weeks now but
giving a a shout out to those involved in the Mamma Mia play. I did have the pleasure of seeing it and as somewhat a fan of musicals from the audience side, not the performing side. Um, it was it was it was just to be clear, it was it was a great play. I I really enjoyed it
and um I heard a lot of things from family and friends that it was it was a great turnout. So, um just a shout out to all those behind the scenes, cast and crew. It was a job well done. Thank you. Anyone else? All right, seeing none, the floor
is closed. our upcoming meeting dates. We have a our board retreat this Sunday, April 27th, right here in the media center at 8:30 a.m. if anybody would like to join us to start your Sundays. Um, our next regular monthly meeting,
May 1st, is at 7:30 back at Edison Eugene Bantto, room 19. Uh, following that, May 29th, regular monthly meeting, 8:00 PM in the media center here. So, we're flipping back and forth a little. So, just remember the the change of
place there. And then June 26th, 2025, our regular monthly meeting, 7:30 at Edison Eugene M. Banter Room. Um, I believe we are going to close session. So, we will be going uh back
into close session for about 25 minutes. We do not plan to take any action following that when we return. Um, can I get a motion to So move second. Thank you.