WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=IFxhtV77NDs NOTE MEETING SECTIONS: Part 1 (Video ID: IFxhtV77NDs): - 00:23:51: Meeting Call to Order and Roll Call - 00:25:41: State of Schools Presentation: District Goals Overview - 00:28:15: Fairlon High School Profile and District Demographics - 00:30:40: Empowering Pathways to Excellence: Middle/High School Schedules - 00:32:46: High School Schedule Additions and Progression Changes - 00:37:30: Intervention and Referral Services Streamlining and Data Packet - 00:41:18: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: Grants and I-Excel - 00:44:37: Tier One Instruction Analysis and Student Engagement - 00:51:40: NJSLA Statewide Assessment, Superior Performance Data - 00:55:59: Cultivating Belonging: Climate Assessment, Tech Policy - 00:57:11: New Jersey School Climate Survey Analysis and Grant - 01:01:49: Inclusive Access: In-Class Resource, Unified Sports - 01:04:18: Peers for Peace Program and Trade Fair Introduction - 01:06:13: Unified Sports Expansion Update - 01:07:38: Building Sustainable Foundations: Facilities Study Details - 01:11:44: Demographic Analysis: Enrollment Trends and Capacity - 01:19:10: Integrating Space and Program Delivery Considerations - 01:21:03: Staff Capacity and Professional Learning Initiatives - 01:23:50: Board Questions and Comments Round 1 - 01:34:07: Board Questions and Comments Round 2 - 01:39:22: Board Questions and Comments Round 3 - 01:42:36: Middle and High School Student Reports - 01:55:05: Superintendent Comments and Staff Recognition - 02:03:44: Public Comments on Resolutions and Non-Agenda Items - 02:04:54: Public Comment: Concerns about Anti-Semitism at TJMS - 02:08:10: Public Comment: NJSIAA Transfer Policy Clarification - 02:12:26: Public Comment: Concerns on Motion Process, Bigotry - 02:16:53: Public Comment: Concerns on Outside Political Influence - 02:19:49: Public Comment: Thanksgivings, Disagreement, Transparency - 02:23:45: Public Comment: Thank you for Carnival, Intersectionality - 02:26:44: Gail Freriededberg Rottenste's Concerns About Board Behavior - 02:30:32: Allison Curley Thanks Board for Supporting Budget - 02:31:59: Anna Garcia Questions Transparency of Contract Items - 02:34:49: Zangu Asks About Administrative Salary Increases - 02:36:12: Sergey Sevchuk Addresses Tax Increase & Partisanship - 02:37:31: Tim O'Brien: Politicization Hurts Nonpartisan Board - 02:37:48: Anna Kamuk Questions Chromebook Plan, Recycling Process - 02:38:09: Marcy Ree Suggests Combining Multiple Meetings - 02:38:30: Kristen Edson Thanks Central Office, Board Members - 02:39:17: Sharma Amit: Board Leadership Needs Respect, Structure - 02:40:07: Michael Brown Questions Higher Fairlon Spending - 02:41:09: Stan Lynn: Steps for Collaboration Needed Between Blocks - 02:41:26: Anna Marov: Leadership Needs Restraint, Professionalism - 02:42:30: Mary Acriman Thanks Board Members for Support - 02:43:36: Edarmmy Santana: Board Must Remain Nonpartisan - 02:44:26: Anna Kamuk: More Transparency Needed for Bullying - 02:45:14: Erica Rupert: Thanks Collaborative Board Members - 02:46:25: Motion to Reallocate Dinner Funds for Students - 02:51:19: Call to Question Debated, Finance Committee Tabled - 03:01:34: Policy Amendment Discussion, Related To The Minutes - 03:03:50: Committee Reports & Finance Meeting Discussion - 03:07:02: Approving Mental Health, Heritage Month Recognition - 03:07:59: Motion & Concerns Regarding Hips, Questioning Time - 03:09:11: Contracts to be Considered Public Record - 03:17:59: Motion to Table Contracts, Discussion Over Safeguards - 03:19:39: Approving Agenda Items, Then Focus on Summer Academy - 03:21:29: Confused, Motion to Revisit Letter G is Withdrawn - 03:23:12: Another Motion is Formally Introduced - 03:31:25: Motion to Publicize Frontline Contract Cost - 03:33:02: Further Discussion on Tuition, Business Administrator - 03:41:01: Discussion on Lawyer Costs, Medical Inspector Contract - 03:50:10: Discussion on Nepotism Policy - Revised Version - 03:55:50: Homeschooled Student Policy Revision, More Discussion - 04:04:54: Board Member Comments - Santana: No Partisan Board - 04:08:19: Board Member Comments - Board Member Certification - 04:12:32: Summer Finance Academy to Address Equity - 04:20:05: Board Comments: Reflecting on the Evening - 04:27:51: Inclusiveness Needed, Address Antisemitism & Hate - 04:30:24: Adjournment and Next Meeting Dates Announced Part: 1 1 00:23:51.120 --> 00:24:06.159 This is the education meeting of May 28th, 2026 that is embedded in a the regular monthly meeting um that is reconvened and called to order at 7:17 p.m. at Memorial Middle School Media Center, 1200 First Street, Fair, New 2 00:24:06.159 --> 00:24:33.679 Jersey. >> There are nine members of of the public in attendance. Can I get a roll call? >> Dr. Bolini, the record of Dr. is absent. >> Let the record show that Dr. Bernoli had a work event. 3 00:24:33.679 --> 00:24:50.159 >> Uh, Miss Brown >> here. >> Miss Zia >> present. >> Miss Favvelich >> present. >> Miss Coriva >> present. >> Missoy >> present. >> Mr. Rosenberg >> here. >> Mr. Santana 4 00:24:50.159 --> 00:25:07.919 >> present. >> Mrs. Mayhem >> present. >> We have corn. 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 meetings of the public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In 5 00:25:07.919 --> 00:25:23.360 accordance with provisions of this act, the Fair 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 in the Herald News. The announcement posted to the regular monthly meeting along with the 6 00:25:23.360 --> 00:25:41.360 date, place, and time thereof was originally distributed and advertised on Janu January 8th, 2026. Please join me in the flag salute to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 7 00:25:41.360 --> 00:26:23.440 indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay, Dr. Dianio, I defer to you for our state of the schools. Well, good evening board, good evening 8 00:26:23.440 --> 00:26:41.440 members of the public and our administration who is here with us this evening. Um we are at the point in the year where we have the uh state of our schools presentation which is an overview of the three district goals and 9 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:57.360 strategies that support each of those goals. Uh the board and members of the public who've tuned in know that we do this twice a year. In February we do the midyear update uh but in May we do the full conclusion. And I would just like 10 00:26:57.360 --> 00:27:13.200 to thank Mrs. Keller, Mrs. DeFranco, Mr. Cruz, our entire administrative team, all of the administrators and supervisors who are here with us, and all of our faculty and staff who make all of these goals possible. Um, and we're very, very proud 11 00:27:13.200 --> 00:28:15.600 of the progress. And tonight is about providing an update as to the status of those projects. Um, and being able to then take any questions. up 5% from last year. It's quite a big increase. Um we have, you know, a little less than 20 or so percent students with 12 00:28:15.600 --> 00:28:31.279 um disabilities and about 6% multilingual learners. We're a very diverse community. Um you can see across the bottom between our white population, Hispanic, Asian, and whatnot. So we have quite a melting pot in our district. Along those lines, um every single year 13 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:46.880 our high school creates something called a profile sheet. This is created by the high school team along with Mr. Gatilla, who is here tonight, our supervisor of high school counseling. Um and these are the highlights for colleges to be aware of our high school. So some highlights from this past year's profile sheet. um 14 00:28:46.880 --> 00:29:03.440 93.5% AP passing rate, 157 uh AP scholars, 12 national merit commended students, which relates to their PSATs. Um looking at that post-secondary pathways, um districts highlight the various different options that students are, you know, going toward 15 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:19.840 post-graduation, about 80% or so, a little more than that of our students are moving on to some type of college, but we also have students going into military and trades and whatnot. um and overall top 7% public high school in the nation. So something to be very proud of and these 16 00:29:19.840 --> 00:29:35.760 elements are things that we highlight um for colleges for our students and helps for recognition for Fairlon. So we had come up with three goals last year in our work. We collected feedback from the community um feedback from administration and teachers and we we dialed in on three goals and we're going 17 00:29:35.760 --> 00:29:51.919 to dive into those three goals tonight. Um the first goal um deals with empowering pathways to excellence. We have a very high bar in Fairlon. We want our students to do very well academically. We we look and strive for excellence and that that goal is about looking to challenge our students at the 18 00:29:51.919 --> 00:30:07.679 highest level we can. So, we're going to dive into that one in a little bit. Along those lines, while we care very much about academics, we recognize and we educate the entire child. So, that second goal is about cultivating belonging and community and looking at all of the different data. We talked about performance report data, but 19 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:24.000 looking at other elements of data that we can look at within our schools to ensure that we are encouraging the sense of community and the various different pieces of that. And then finally, we do a lot of work to build sustainable foundations. So, um, as a district, long-term financial planning as well as 20 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:40.480 as a board looking at our financial planning. That's important work and we wanted that to be reflected in these goals. So for our first goal um we had three specific strategies that we wanted to look at to ensure a pathway to excellence. Um and I'm going to be we're 21 00:30:40.480 --> 00:30:56.480 going to be joined here tonight well as well with um Mr. Gatella I don't know if you want to come up and Miss Gans are going to be talking with me about some of these elements here. So the first of which is the middle school and the high school schedule optimization. Um so looking at the schedule we reflected we 22 00:30:56.480 --> 00:31:11.360 researched we looked at various different um options and we really studied this was a very intentional year of of really diving in and looking at that information. A second goal is INRS. That's something we've seen in the past. Um early intervention looking as soon as 23 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:26.880 possible to identify students that have additional needs and getting them what they need. Um whether that be academic or behavioral but ensuring that we are giving them what they need. And then lastly, MTSS, that is another similar goal that we have had and that's about looking at our layered supports for our 24 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:42.159 students to ensure that we are getting all of our students to meet at their level. So whether they are achieving and we're trying to get them to exceeding or whether they're below grade level at that moment, we're looking to get them on grade level. So that is our our first goal. And the first piece of this is 25 00:31:42.159 --> 00:31:58.159 we're going to really dive into um the middle school and the high school schedule. So changing schedules take time. Many of us are educators or have children in schools or you know worked in schools and so with that you have to do your research. So this year was really about working with committees, 26 00:31:58.159 --> 00:32:13.679 doing our research, doing our due diligence, learning as much as we can. We went through professional development um analyzing our different structures to really see what are our options and what are we available to do. So we had a core team um we have many administrators 27 00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:30.080 here, supervisors, principles part of this conversation. Um we came up with middle school scheduling committees. High school had structures for this. They have an academic council. They also have um you know teacher committees that they work with within the building that was able to have these conversations. And so this was discussions throughout 28 00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:46.720 the year. Um and not everything is gigantic change. Some things are what can we do? And that's what we're going to highlight at the bottom um in terms of things we were able to change this year already. Um so I'm joined here with Mr. Gatilla who is the supervisor of counseling. So along with, you know, the high school team and whatnot, he's going 29 00:32:46.720 --> 00:33:02.880 to highlight some of the things that we put into place for this year. >> Hi everyone. I'm uh Anthony Catilla. I'm the supervisor for school counseling and student wellness. Um I have helped uh you know in terms of the schedule. I 30 00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:20.320 I you know do a lot of the work to to put it together for the following school year at the high school level. Uh, and this year we added, so some of the things down at the bottom, the updates, we added AP seminar for English 10. That was an additional AP level English class 31 00:33:20.320 --> 00:33:36.000 that students can take. Before that, uh, they could only do AP for 11th and 10th grade for their English requirement. And now we've added that as a 10th grade option as well. Next year, we are adding AP pre-calculus to the to the options 32 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:53.120 for our students for for the math track. We um are shifting our math lab which is designed to support students to make sure that they are prepared to take all the state and standardized testing that um is required. Uh that pairs it with 33 00:33:53.120 --> 00:34:08.720 their personal financial literacy uh graduation requirement. So that way they are getting the math support that they need but also obtaining one of their graduation requirements so that they're not, you know, sometimes they felt like that that year was holding them back 34 00:34:08.720 --> 00:34:25.599 from from progressing towards their graduation diploma. This gives them both of those things at the same time. Uh the global supply chain is a CTE program that we have we added the past two years. we had levels one and 35 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:41.760 two and next year uh we have reached stu we we've gotten students to the point where they're ready to to do the third level which would complete that program for them. Um so that is a new class next year and then 36 00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:59.119 they we we reordered the the history progression. So instead of doing modern world history as freshmen and then US one and two, the students will come into high school in ninth grade and do US history 1, then US history 2, which 37 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:17.119 means that now ninth graders can take AP US history 2. They can take the US history, AP exam at the end of 10th grade and they can take AP world history as 11th graders to fulfill their graduation requirement. Whereas before 38 00:35:17.119 --> 00:35:32.480 uh the the ninth graders who were taking world history did not have AP as an option and it would had to have been an elective in 11th or 12th grade. So now that will open that up for uh many more students who will end up taking the AP 39 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:49.680 world uh class. Uh, in creating the schedule for next year, I have really meticulously gone through all of the classes that only run once a day. So that's what the singleton courses are. So courses that only have 40 00:35:49.680 --> 00:36:05.280 enough students for one section, one teacher to to run the course each day to make sure that any students who are taking those classes can take as many of those classes as possible without them um conflicting with one another. 41 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:22.800 Um and then through the special education uh program we are adding the ERRI program which is designed really to ensure students who have difficulty coming into school have a place to go where they can you know it's a little 42 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:38.480 bit more flexible. They can come you know have a looser schedule. They have a home base that feels less intimidating than you know the whole building at large. and we can really work with them to keep them on track so that they don't, you know, fall behind for 43 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:53.760 whatever reason. Um, and then in terms of the middle school uh, SK schedule change, you know, reworking all of that, we've worked um, like Mrs. Keller said, we've really discussed that a lot throughout the year as an administration, 44 00:36:53.760 --> 00:37:08.640 looking, you know, surveying the staff to figure out what our priorities are going to be in terms of if we want to change those those middle school bell schedules so that we can offer everything that our students need there. 45 00:37:08.640 --> 00:37:30.000 And then uh we we have plans for to v visit other middle schools in the area to see what they're doing, see what they like, see what we can improve upon or or borrow um to create our new schedules. Thank you. There's such a depth of 46 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:46.160 knowledge and working in the systems to ensure it run efficiently and and give our students the most opportunities they can have. Uh moving on to our second strategy, INRS intervention and referral services. So I'm actually going to bring back Mr. Gatilla because he has done he has really spearheaded this and done so 47 00:37:46.160 --> 00:38:05.839 much. So I think it would be best coming from him. Okay. So uh coming uh up as a counselor at the high school, I've worked a lot with the intervention and referral services throughout my years here. And one of my goals uh as the supervisor was 48 00:38:05.839 --> 00:38:22.320 to streamline that process um to make sure that each of our schools are doing it the same way so that as students progress through our district we can really track their progress and their you know what they need. So, uh, one of 49 00:38:22.320 --> 00:38:39.599 the things I did was I created a new packet document for teachers and counselors to use when they're referring students to the INRS uh, committee. It makes sure that everybody is providing 50 00:38:39.599 --> 00:38:55.040 the same information. It makes sure that teachers are utilizing interventions before they make a referral to make sure that they're in uh contact with parents so that everybody is on the same page once they 51 00:38:55.040 --> 00:39:12.480 submit the packet. it is able to be uploaded into Genesis so that teachers can see what the plan is going to be and so that as the students progress uh through their grades we can always look back at the plans that they may have had 52 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:28.720 in the past. So when they come up to one of the middle schools, the counselors can see that a student might have had an INRS plan in second grade that you know they went through the plan. They accomplished their goals. They moved on from the plan. They haven't had it in a 53 00:39:28.720 --> 00:39:43.680 few years, but now they're struggling again. We can kind of go back and see the history of where they might have been struggling before and use that in order to create a new plan that is more effective than if we were starting from scratch without that information. 54 00:39:43.680 --> 00:39:59.440 Um, and then, you know, continuously training all of our teams, our faculty to make sure that they really understand what they can do for students in within the classroom. You know, what the different levels of intervention can be, 55 00:39:59.440 --> 00:40:16.320 whether it's an INRS plan, 504 plans, and IEPs, what, you know, distinguishes one from the other and how they can best support their students within the classroom. um and then expanding tier one supports across all classrooms. So the next steps 56 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:31.839 for um supporting the teachers there are really providing them with more tools and interventions that they can use on their own before even refer making a referral to the INRS committee. And I don't know if you want to talk about some of the 57 00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:47.599 other things. And then finally, um, KOAT is one of our assessments that we give to students in third grade, and it's, um, one of the things that we use to assess for gifted and talented, one of the data points that we utilize. Um, but that platform has really expanded over the years. And there's a lot of 58 00:40:47.599 --> 00:41:03.920 actionable insights and data from that platform that we are going to receive training for next year. So, not just our G&T team, but also our INRS teams and our coaches. so that on those data days we have more data to look at to see areas of maybe how the students um brain or how their learning works in the 59 00:41:03.920 --> 00:41:18.800 different areas that can help us target skills for those students. So in addition to dibbles and our math benchmarks, we're now also going to have another level of data that we can look at. All right. And our third strategy under the first goal is MTSS, our multi-tiered 60 00:41:18.800 --> 00:41:37.680 systems of supports. Um and I'm going to turn this over to our principal of Warren Point, Mrs. Gans. Thank you, Mrs. Keller. And I just before I start with the slide, I have to thank Mr. Gatillaa for all his work with INRS as elementary principal. Um, we 61 00:41:37.680 --> 00:41:53.920 really appreciate you streamlining the process and I know not just as an elementary principal, but everyone it it really has made a lot of difference. So, thank you. Um, in terms of our goal with the multi-tered systems of support, we have some updates. Um, the first is a 62 00:41:53.920 --> 00:42:11.599 focus grant. um application and that was um spearheaded and found by Mrs. Keller and worked on with um Dr. Pankowitz and his team and that really is surrounded um that concerns the dibbles which is 63 00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:27.200 our universal screener that we use in district and the dibbles monitors those foundational reading skills. So everything from letter like the letter recognition to decoding encoding all the way to reading comprehension and the 64 00:42:27.200 --> 00:42:43.119 first grant that they received not just one but two grants. The first we were able to expand it from K to one to grade two which is amazing and that second grant allowed us to expand it even more which I will talk about when we talk 65 00:42:43.119 --> 00:42:58.560 about the elementary classroom level literacy. But the Dibbles is a an a wonderful universal screener that we use. It's also aligned with Boost, which we use in K1, our ML, and our special ed 66 00:42:58.560 --> 00:43:13.920 classrooms. And Boost is a program that helps students that need those supports in those foundational literacy skills. Um, so again, I'm going to get a little more into dibbles and how we use that when we talk about um those elementary 67 00:43:13.920 --> 00:43:31.119 classroom level literacy data analysis as well as the next slide. But also in our high school, one of our MTSS supports was the pilot and um Mrs. Gamman, our um our math supervisor along 68 00:43:31.119 --> 00:43:48.240 with Mrs. Labonssky who was um there before when Miss Kaman was on maternity leave. They um piloted I excel in the high school and that was for the middle of the year and what will be coming soon 69 00:43:48.240 --> 00:44:06.000 the end of the year benchmark assessments. Now what's so wonderful about is it actually mirrors the NJSLA in the sense where the new NJSLA is adaptive and is as well and when those 70 00:44:06.000 --> 00:44:21.839 benchmarks were given at the middle of the year and will be given at the end of the year students will actually get targeted skills that they can work on and it's based on those individual skills. So that's something that they 71 00:44:21.839 --> 00:44:37.599 can then use and practice and it's tailored for them based on how they performed on those benchmarks. And as I said, going back to the elementary classroom level literacy data analysis and that targeted tier one instruction 72 00:44:37.599 --> 00:44:54.960 based on those dibbles assessments that were given teachers as well as so classroom teachers as well as our intervention teachers, even our ML teachers and the principles at the elementary level met for data analysis 73 00:44:54.960 --> 00:45:12.560 days and we looked at th that that Dibbles data And what we were able to do was based on that data, we were able to get targeted skills that individual students could work on. So classroom teachers could use 74 00:45:12.560 --> 00:45:28.880 that and work on that during small group instruction, intervention teachers could use that. But also, which was great, is we were also able to get classroomwide interventions. So during whole group instructions, the classroom teachers 75 00:45:28.880 --> 00:45:45.680 could use that Dibbles data and could work on classroomwide intervention. So it's not just at this larger classroom level, it was targeted to each individual student as well. So that was amazing. And as we know, some of the best 76 00:45:45.680 --> 00:46:00.720 teaching comes out when all of these great minds come together. So you have the principal, the intervention teachers, the classroom teachers, everyone looking at that data, working together, looking at that dibbles and creating those plans not just for the 77 00:46:00.720 --> 00:46:16.079 class but for each individual student in the class. So that was that was amazing and that I can speak uh speak to because I was part of those data days at the high school. Something else that's amazing again as we said when great 78 00:46:16.079 --> 00:46:33.200 minds come together you have the best teaching and learning. So the skip committee at the high school and the skip committee if you don't know what that is that's that drives professional development. Each school has a skip committee and they meet and they talk about professional development that's going to happen through the year. So one 79 00:46:33.200 --> 00:46:48.000 thing at the high school that they saw was that they wanted to focus on that student engagement differentiation for each student and equitable assessments. So what they decided was we have these amazing people at the high 80 00:46:48.000 --> 00:47:04.160 school. Why not see those teachers that that excel in those areas? And what they did was they created they created um like a survey. So they asked teachers who would who who was great in these 81 00:47:04.160 --> 00:47:20.560 areas, who was willing to have other teachers come into your classroom to observe and to learn. So they created that. The teachers signed up. And then other teachers, they'd say, "Hey, I'd love to learn more about classroom management or differentiation." 82 00:47:20.560 --> 00:47:37.359 And they signed up. They went into each each other's classrooms. They observed, they learned, and they discussed after. And the best part was there was a reflection piece after what did you take away? What can we learn from? What are you going to use in your classroom? And 83 00:47:37.359 --> 00:47:54.720 that's something that they've done this year and that they're going to continue to do also throughout the district K to 12th with our ML population. Our ML teachers along with Mrs. Lopez, our ML supervisor, they created in district a 84 00:47:54.720 --> 00:48:09.839 monitoring tool to see how the students were doing. And then based on that data, they they're going to look at it and they're they're examining it and it's based on those four domains from the access testing, which is speaking, 85 00:48:09.839 --> 00:48:25.119 reading, writing, and listening. And what they are doing is based on that data, they're able to take that, see where their students performed, what they may need to work on, what they excelled in. And what they're going to do is share strategies with the general 86 00:48:25.119 --> 00:48:39.599 education teachers throughout the district in all subjects K to 12 to help our ML learners. And again, that was created in district inhouse by our teachers and Mrs. Lopez. So that's 87 00:48:39.599 --> 00:48:55.440 amazing. So in summary, all of our MTSS supports, we've maximized not only district and title funding, but our own people, our own minds, and that great brain trust that we have here in Feralon. And we're able to increase 88 00:48:55.440 --> 00:49:11.440 student intervention time in all buildings. And again, that's through that tier one al and in all tiers, but especially that tier one in that classroom. We've also integrated benchmarks into data team meetings and 89 00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:27.359 staff training which again we've done that this year and we will continue to do that. And also going on that I just pressed that to go. Um one of our highlights we'd like to show is as I spoke about that dibble the dibbles 90 00:49:27.359 --> 00:49:42.240 assessment and those data days especially you can see the growth that we've had in our K to3 literacy. So if you look to the right, you know, those highlights up 10% in grade one, that 91 00:49:42.240 --> 00:49:59.440 growth from the beginning of the year to that middle of the year and that 5% reduction in those most intensive needs on the bottom. So, if you just see, you may not be able to see the numbers because if you're like me, even with my glasses, I can't really see those percentages, but if you look at the 92 00:49:59.440 --> 00:50:15.040 colors, we want our students to be in that green and blue. And if you look if you look from the beginning of the year to the middle of the year in all of our grades K to3 we've increased that blue 93 00:50:15.040 --> 00:50:33.040 and green percentage and that yellow and red is decreased which is what we want to see. And again, that's really a testament to all of the hard work from our classroom teachers, intervention teachers, our principles, and all of our 94 00:50:33.040 --> 00:50:50.319 classroom teachers and staff that have really focused on those tier one interventions that we have been able to receive through the Dibbles and our MClass. Because what happens is once the students take those assessments, they 95 00:50:50.319 --> 00:51:05.839 are given in they are given targeted instruction and different different things that they can do, different um activities that they can do to strengthen those skills that they need those specific students and again also 96 00:51:05.839 --> 00:51:22.480 those those classroom interventions. So and there's also parent letters that go home. So even even at home, parents can work on different things and it really is a testament to Fairlon and what happens when teachers, parents, and the 97 00:51:22.480 --> 00:51:40.480 community work together and we're very proud of that. >> Thank you, Mrs. Scon. All right, so bringing back something we actually spoke about a few months ago, our NJSLA statewide assessment. So we had gone through a very comprehensive um presentation on this and we we already 98 00:51:40.480 --> 00:51:56.559 know these numbers and how we compare to district factor group and you know the comprehensive analysis that Dr. Dianio and the team did on this. Um but one of the things that actually came out afterwards was the state did its presentation and we were able to compare subgroups for the state um compar 99 00:51:56.559 --> 00:52:11.680 compared as us as well um and we outperformed in every single one of those areas. Additionally, something new the state did this year, at least in my knowledge, was they actually shared the county averages. Um, so we were able to look at that. And so what you see, the red bar is Fairlon, the gray bar is 100 00:52:11.680 --> 00:52:28.319 Bergen County, um, and then the black is New Jersey. And so you can see that we are very much so outperforming not just our district factor group, which we had done in in depth last time, um, but as well um, our even just local peers. Um and I can just speak to in the state in 101 00:52:28.319 --> 00:52:44.559 language arts Bergen County is the highest performing district in the state and in mathematics it's um Bergen County along with two other districts. So we are the highest performing district. So even when we only look at the high of the high we're still outperforming them and especially in mathematics we're we're outperforming by 20 18% right it's 102 00:52:44.559 --> 00:52:59.680 quite significant. Um so this all ties in because all of our hard work with INRS and MTSS is about targeting and meeting the needs of our children and doing that sustained periods of time. you know, this was these aren't new flashy goals. These are things we've been working on and continue to evolve 103 00:52:59.680 --> 00:53:14.640 and add more things to year after year and and the growth shows. So, you know, this data is part of last year's results, but it's just continued growth on on that information. I think it's always important to look at it and and see and see it in many different ways and to see where we can improve and also 104 00:53:14.640 --> 00:53:30.160 really where we're shining. And then last to to end this goal um the performance report came out and one of the things that many of us did um that day was dove into the data and so we just want to highlight a few things because there's really a lot to celebrate with that. So the performance 105 00:53:30.160 --> 00:53:45.200 reports is very comprehensive amounts of data. So one thing that you know we often look at is test scores but performance report also look at not just test scores well NJSLA DLM access proficiency attendance graduation rates for high school various different 106 00:53:45.200 --> 00:54:01.280 elements are boiled down to a single number but it also doesn't just look at your grade level average it looks at the various different subgroups that you have within that grade so you need to make sure not just your average is doing well you have to make sure your subgroups are also doing well. So they 107 00:54:01.280 --> 00:54:17.280 take all of that information and they boil it down to a number one to 100. And then they say, "Okay, if you're an elementary school, compare it to other elementary schools and what percentile are you?" Our elementary schools, every single one of them are in the 90th percentile for other comparable 108 00:54:17.280 --> 00:54:34.720 elementary schools. So they all had, you know, significant amount of points, but as well then when you compare them to other elementaryaries, they're in the 90s. Our secondary schools, the high school was a three-year high on their summitive score. TJ had the highest proficiency in all in three areas, ELA, math, and our ELLL population. And 109 00:54:34.720 --> 00:54:50.800 Memorial had really steady increases. They were up 3% um and then three points and then 4%. So really great improvements all around K to 12. Um growth, we had significant amount of growth. West Morland went up 32 points. Was a significant increase in in points. 110 00:54:50.800 --> 00:55:06.160 And it it goes to show you, look, there's a lot of elements and there's factors that can sway a building, but you know, hard work and intervention and and areas where we can really dive in and control. We saw a great deal of growth and I know that was such a level of pride for West Morland, Lingrest, and Forest um because this was something 111 00:55:06.160 --> 00:55:22.480 that they all really do take seriously with the day-to-days and with, you know, Dr. Pinwitz and Miss Kaman and, you know, Miss Lansky and all of our coaches and whatnot that put so much work and our teachers into this. And then finally to highlight which is so lovely that Miss Gonz is here, Warren Point was our district leader. They maintained the 112 00:55:22.480 --> 00:55:44.240 highest summitive score and percentile. It is it is exceptionally hard when you have a score that's like 98 to stay at about that score and they maintained um being at the highest of the high. So congratulations and the hard work of yourself and your team. Such an amazing job. So, this is really just to 113 00:55:44.240 --> 00:55:59.200 highlight, you know, there's this is an impressive goal. This is so much work and this is about meeting the needs of our kids and this is the work that we really do and it's really nice to that this all came out the week before this meeting because we were able to kind of showcase all of that and to see it all coming together. All right. And now I 114 00:55:59.200 --> 00:56:21.520 turn this over to goal two with um um Mrs. DeFranco. Goal two, just to recap, um is cultivating belonging and community. We had three strategies within this goal as well. Community uh climate assessment was the first probably about two weeks 115 00:56:21.520 --> 00:56:38.480 ago. Um everyone in the district and also to our um uh families at home received a climate survey to complete. Um and we will be uh reviewing those results. Strategy two, we talked about a lot during our February recap. 116 00:56:38.480 --> 00:56:56.640 Technology use and cell phone policy. We will talk about it again because of some recent changes. And strategy three, inclusive access initiatives. Uh something that we take great pride in in Fairlon. We have so many initiatives that uh surround inclusivity and uh 117 00:56:56.640 --> 00:57:11.760 acceptance and relationships for students. So that's always a wonderful part that we definitely like to highlight. Now I'm going to turn it back over to Miss Gon and she's going to talk about the New Jersey school climate and inclusion. 118 00:57:11.760 --> 00:57:28.400 >> Hello again. Um so as um as you know we are in the midst of our NJ Sky survey and that's something that is happening at all of the schools. So hopefully the 119 00:57:28.400 --> 00:57:44.880 parents in the audience, our staff and our students have all taken the survey. It's concluding this week. And part of that survey, what you can see on the right side, those are all of the areas that the stu that the survey looks at. 120 00:57:44.880 --> 00:58:00.640 The academic culture and classroom practices, supportive student staff relationships, supports for student social and emotional learning, behavioral expectations, negative student interpersonal behaviors, pro-social student interpersonal 121 00:58:00.640 --> 00:58:17.440 behaviors, student voice and involvement, sense of physical safety, leadership and support, organizational resources and supports, collegial support, family support and engagement, and student sense of belonging. Those are all very very important and 122 00:58:17.440 --> 00:58:33.599 you'll see um with the different colors some some of those areas those questions were asked just to staff some to all some to just students um and as we said all of the schools are participating in 123 00:58:33.599 --> 00:58:52.079 the survey and we are lucky in Fairlon um Mrs. Keller had looked at and had saw that uh as part of this initiative with Ruckers which the NJ Sky the survey is linked with Fairlon was able to obtain a 124 00:58:52.079 --> 00:59:07.680 grant which is amazing. So um Warren Point myself and Mr. Gorski at the high school. We are part of a cohort where we get to meet with Lori who is part of Ruckers and other staff there where 125 00:59:07.680 --> 00:59:22.720 she's guiding us through all parts of the survey. And on we were only able to have two schools part of it. But what's great about Fereralon as we know is that collaboration. So when we go to these different workshops, which actually we 126 00:59:22.720 --> 00:59:38.799 had one today, um we then are able to share with our administrative team all of that knowledge that we gain in terms of that survey. And what's amazing with that grant is they really kind of work with us on all of those steps. So like 127 00:59:38.799 --> 00:59:54.880 we said, the first step is really everyone taking that survey, which does close tomorrow um for the students. The next steps is to analyze that survey data. And that's where that partnership that we were able to get with Ruckers 128 00:59:54.880 --> 01:00:11.599 really comes in because today the one um workshop that that we had that was online really looked at how we are going to use that data to create smart goals because we know that we we need the 129 01:00:11.599 --> 01:00:27.920 voice of everybody. So, we're going to see what the students said, what the staff said, what the parents said, and use that to create smart goals and action plans and really drive that climate in our schools. So, that's what we are going to be looking at now that 130 01:00:27.920 --> 01:00:45.520 that survey closed and look at that data and see areas we need to work on, what we're doing great, what we may need to work on. And from that we can look at district goals again because all of our schools participate in this. We can see 131 01:00:45.520 --> 01:01:02.079 trends and is there something that we see across all of the all of the schools then that could become our district goals for next year. And the great thing is we already have that data and then we can use that to craft those goals and 132 01:01:02.079 --> 01:01:17.680 we're going to work with our teams at each school level to look at that and create school goals. Again, maybe some of them will coincide. Maybe there's things that we'll work on at each each individual school. And that's what we're going to be working on for the rest of 133 01:01:17.680 --> 01:01:32.880 the year and throughout the summer. so that in the fall and I'm sure maybe at one of our board meetings at the fall, we will share all of that data with everyone and we can highlight what we'll be working on at each school and again 134 01:01:32.880 --> 01:01:49.200 as as the district. So, thank you to everyone that did participate in the survey. We really are very appreciative because we really will use that data to to craft those goals and make sure that our schools continue to be the best of 135 01:01:49.200 --> 01:02:12.079 the best. Thank you. So for our goal two, strategy two is our technology use and cell phone policy. Um earlier in the year based on guidance from the state of New Jersey, the district adopted an electronic use policy in the winter of 2026. All of us 136 01:02:12.079 --> 01:02:26.799 can remember that and I really thank again everyone at the building level, building principles, district administration and supervisors and all of our building based committees for all of their input with that and also for the board adoption of that policy. 137 01:02:26.799 --> 01:02:42.480 However, since that adoption, the state of New Jersey has changed the law surrounding electronic use and cell phone devices in schools. Therefore, once guidance is delivered to schools uh surrounding the suggested policy, and this typically comes out through an 138 01:02:42.480 --> 01:02:58.960 agency called Strauss Esme, which gives a lot of guidance and is the like hallmark leader in terms of policy language, the district will adopt a revised policy this summer. So, we're still awaiting that. We're told it should be coming out very soon and we will be looking to do that before the 139 01:02:58.960 --> 01:03:14.960 school year starts. So, we always have to be flexible. DOE guidance is always coming out and laws do change, but we will be ready for that. And uh something I love to talk about here is inclusive access and practice. 140 01:03:14.960 --> 01:03:31.440 And um here are our highlights of the school year. Um, one of the things that we're very proud of is our launch of grade nine in-class resource for science and social studies which was implemented this school year. It is a co-eing model for science and social studies um which 141 01:03:31.440 --> 01:03:46.559 was a landmark for the district. We have not had that before in those subjects. So we are definitely proud of that and uh we also thank the board for the grade 10 um expansion of this to be implemented next school year and for voting for that within the budget. 142 01:03:46.559 --> 01:04:01.599 Again, thank you. Definitely something that we could loop up and continue on for our students. Um, we have also expanded our elective program with um, inclusion models and paraprofessional support. Um, we did so this year also 143 01:04:01.599 --> 01:04:18.240 for our self-contained classes with STEM, woods, and uh, technology. And we're always looking on how to expand those opportunities for our students and self-contained so that they could have access to many electives that um you know uh we may not have been able to 144 01:04:18.240 --> 01:04:37.200 offer before. Um I'm going to come back to unified sports. How about that? Okay. All righty. Talk about peers for peace. >> Okay. I like to put people on the spot. Excuse me. Um peers for peace. um is a 145 01:04:37.200 --> 01:04:52.799 wonderful wonderful group that we have and it is uh spearheaded by our students and our students from TJ visit West Morland in our self uh contained classes and do various activities throughout the year um all different sorts of um social 146 01:04:52.799 --> 01:05:08.640 activities, engaging activities um and they just really try and make uh connections um social connections just like you know true true uh peer relationship connections. and all for a good cause. Um, so we're really proud to 147 01:05:08.640 --> 01:05:25.200 have that. I'm really proud of Mr. Weaver and Mrs. Daglio for doing this and for starting this because making those kind of connections from the elementary level to the secondary level is really important for all students. It builds leadership capacity in our students and it also 148 01:05:25.200 --> 01:05:40.480 helps uh our students with uh transition for the middle school process. So, there's so many things that are wrapped up in Peers for Peace that we're just I'm really proud of and really excited about. Um, we are always working on No Place for Hate. Uh, and we do so with 149 01:05:40.480 --> 01:05:57.200 heroes and cool kids at the high school. And this year we had something uh really lovely. It was a trade fair with about 24 trades people with union and local business owners um looping in different opportunities for our students. You know, Mr. Gatillaa before and uh uh Mrs. 150 01:05:57.200 --> 01:06:13.839 Keller talked about, you know, pathways for our students and and showed you a slide about all of our numbers. Our pathways can be different for students and that's why, you know, we felt like it was so important to have this. Um, and now I'm going to bring up um Mr. Escalante and he's going to talk about 151 01:06:13.839 --> 01:06:30.559 unified sports. >> Thank you, Mr. Franco. Good evening, everyone. Uh just brief before I briefly talk about our expansion of unified sports, I also want to thank Natalie Balon, our secondary special ed supervisor, for her partnership in all of this. Um but this year, we were able 152 01:06:30.559 --> 01:06:47.119 to add a unified bowling team to our program, uh which was fantastic. And along those lines, we also were able to schedule and host a competition versus other schools as well. Um we had a we hosted a unified track meet this year um on May 7th, which which was fantastic. 153 01:06:47.119 --> 01:07:03.440 Um, and then lastly, and almost most importantly, we were able to grow our unified partner population, which our partners are our general education students um that work alongside our unified athletes. Um, and we're really looking forward to uh exploring the option of adding flag uh next spring as 154 01:07:03.440 --> 01:07:22.160 well to the program. So, we'll be looking at that, but it's been a great program and we really appreciate everyone's support throughout. Thank you. >> And one more piece to this. I was remissed before when I talked about the uh trade fair probably because I got so excited about it. I want to thank Mr. Derso because he was the one who really 155 01:07:22.160 --> 01:07:38.960 spearheaded that and brought that in. So really thanks a lot to him. Um he was just magnificent in doing that. So thank you. And now I am going to um kick this over to uh Mr. Cruz who's going to talk about goal three. 156 01:07:38.960 --> 01:07:56.000 >> Thank you. Uh good evening everyone. So goal three is building sustainable foundations. So one of the things that we look at here is the structure and the facilities that provide a warm and welcoming environment for our students and staff. Um so um in here uh we 157 01:07:56.000 --> 01:08:11.680 basically look at uh the first piece um I'm not sure if folks remember I want to refresh people's memory from last year when we had our architect solutions uh present a facility study. uh in that facility audit uh we we saw this huge 158 01:08:11.680 --> 01:08:27.440 number and it's 270 million. Um in comparison to if we think about our capital projects and and what the great work that this board has done over the years of actually building a reserve the reserve is actually not even close to 159 01:08:27.440 --> 01:08:43.759 this 200 270 million. Uh so right now our reserves is probably an eighth of that number. Uh so in reality if tomorrow we wanted to go out and tackle every single need in the district we wouldn't be able to. So we have to be strategic in what and how we address 160 01:08:43.759 --> 01:08:57.759 this. Uh so one of the things I just want you to uh look at these large uh big numbers real quick. Uh the first one is the the 270 of the total uh overall u projects construction and soft costs associated with these projects. Uh the 161 01:08:57.759 --> 01:09:16.319 next number that 91 uh.7 million is the uh the potential debt service aid uh that the the district will be um will uh potentially have access to. And what that means is that uh with that debt service aid uh the total cost is only 162 01:09:16.319 --> 01:09:32.000 177.2 million. Uh when we look at the four priorities of the framework uh we we look at our priority one needs in the district. um when it comes to uh the capital needs um and that's anything that's uh immediate, anything that's 163 01:09:32.000 --> 01:09:49.279 health and safety related um that is urgent and it's and it's really something that we need to address quickly. So those are the prior priority one category of types of projects. Then we have uh priority two which is short-term needs. um uh think of it as lowhanging fruits that uh are are big 164 01:09:49.279 --> 01:10:05.280 needs in the district, but um it's something that we could actually potentially do uh pretty quickly versus planning for it and in the course of multiple years. Uh pri priority three will probably be a medium-term and then priority four is going to be your long-term improvements, things that 165 01:10:05.280 --> 01:10:21.120 we'll look at in a five-year plan or further out. Uh this encompass all the buildings in the district. So we have uh 10 school buildings. Um we also have our community school um uh location at Bergen Avenue uh which also house 166 01:10:21.120 --> 01:10:41.600 building grounds and transportation. The next steps. So the question might be what what are we doing with this uh facility study? Uh so the next steps in implementation we have um in in front of us the the the audit that was presented by the architects. uh there's going to 167 01:10:41.600 --> 01:10:58.640 be a few pathways of how we could actually potentially cover the cost of u many projects. The first one um which this board has taken action on pre in the prior months was utilizing capital reserves for capital improvement projects. That's one option. The other option um is uh going out for a 168 01:10:58.640 --> 01:11:13.760 referendum. Uh a third option is doing a um potentially rod grants that's offered by the state. And uh the fourth option is uh building in within our budget which we currently we have a combination of certain projects being built in into 169 01:11:13.760 --> 01:11:30.480 the FY uh 27 to 26 27 school year along with our cap reserves. Uh so the next steps that we're uh taking on from uh finance and and bills and grounds is meeting in our committee. Uh we're going to be uh discussing this at our next 170 01:11:30.480 --> 01:11:44.800 month's committee uh where we will have conversations on what those projects are going to look like and which ones we're uh are looking forward tackling and building a phase in of a five-year plan that will address these needs. Uh with 171 01:11:44.800 --> 01:12:04.640 that, I'll pass it over to Dr. Buzzio. >> Thank you, Mr. Cruz. Uh in addition to last year's facility study with S solutions architects, we also had a demog a demographic analysis that was done last year uh to track enrollment 172 01:12:04.640 --> 01:12:20.719 and the enrollment trends in the district. um that looked out based as well on live birth studies based on children that were most recently born and residing in Ferlon to try to paint a 173 01:12:20.719 --> 01:12:35.920 picture of what enrollment could look like. What you're going to see here is actual numbers. So these numbers can deviate and likely will deviate. Um, these are our current students who are in the 174 01:12:35.920 --> 01:12:54.159 district today in grades K through 11, K through 12. Our seniors will be graduating within the month. Uh, and incoming kindergarten students as well. So we're able to do our own analysis and projection which we do quarterly 175 01:12:54.159 --> 01:13:10.400 semiannually to anticipate what our building enrollment will be each year but also what our class and grade level enrollment would would be especially at the elementary level right because our students are more or less self-contained 176 01:13:10.400 --> 01:13:27.600 within a grade one or a grade two classroom most of the day until they go to specials. So these are the overall trends. At the bottom, uh the caveat is that these can fluctuate, right? So it can fluctuate because we don't know how many kindergarteners will be here in 5 177 01:13:27.600 --> 01:13:43.679 years because they haven't been born yet. Uh we also don't know if we would get a massive influx of students who have moved into Fereralon. that happened over the past 10 years and there was great migration into the Fair Lawn 178 01:13:43.679 --> 01:14:00.000 Public Schools and we increased enrollment by approximately a thousand students over the course of maybe a 7 to 10 year period. Um that is that trend is not continuing. So at this point we're fairly stabilized and you can see that 179 01:14:00.000 --> 01:14:16.800 with the red line on the graph at the bottom. Um the red line on the seven-year district enrollment projection that we did, that one there is specific to our current elementary students working their way through middle school and into the high school 180 01:14:16.800 --> 01:14:33.760 over the next seven years based on the children who are currently in the Fairon schools. So you could see that in 2026 2027 um 3449 I know it's difficult to see I almost have these numbers memorized at this point. uh 3449 next 181 01:14:33.760 --> 01:14:49.520 year between both middle schools and high school. So the high school is approximately 1,700 students. The middle schools combined approximately 1,700 students. That number is fairly stable. The the peak is 3470 in two years. Uh 182 01:14:49.520 --> 01:15:06.480 the delta the spread from the next over the next seven years from the lowest to the highest is only 53 students. So that tells us based on our current students, our buildings have the capacity to handle the enrollment. That does not mean that there are not 183 01:15:06.480 --> 01:15:22.320 other needs for our buildings because we have in some of our buildings lunch capacity issues because the cafeterias were built decades ago and they're very small. So we have to make accommodations with utilizing the auditoriums. uh and 184 01:15:22.320 --> 01:15:39.040 it also does not take into effect the program delivery the specific programs that we offer. So while the school let's say Fairlon High School can handle 1700 students with the number of bodies in the building the number of courses the singleton 185 01:15:39.040 --> 01:15:55.760 courses the special programs that we offer are much more diverse today than they were 20 and 30 years ago. So because of that that has an impact on the schedule. So overall, our buildings can handle um the students that are currently here. Uh but we will continue 186 01:15:55.760 --> 01:16:11.840 to evaluate and evolve our classroom spaces uh and make determinations and recommendations to the board uh if any long-term construction projects would be necessary. The board of education and the administration recently during the 187 01:16:11.840 --> 01:16:29.040 board retreat in April did uh facility tours of the two middle schools and the high school to at least begin to see the spaces. So existing spaces will need renovation as well. Uh and going back to our enrollment numbers, you can see uh 188 01:16:29.040 --> 01:16:44.560 that at the middle school and high school, the fluctuations down 21 at the middle schools combined or up 14 at the high school. That's dimminimous, right? Very little impact. It's fairly flat. Uh by looking at the elementary 189 01:16:44.560 --> 01:17:01.120 school, you would think, wow, down 104 students, that's a lot of students. Well, there are 38 sections currently of grades K through four. So that averages less than three children per classroom. That does not change actually the number 190 01:17:01.120 --> 01:17:18.719 of sections. So while enrollment is down about a 100 students for next year. Why? Because we have a big fourth grade moving on up to the middle school. Um it doesn't change the number of sections. So at this point in time, the number of sections for next year is consistent 191 01:17:18.719 --> 01:17:34.239 with the number of sections we have this year. One other caveat that I I want to share, and we deal with this every year, our elementary principles know this well, the number of students who will move into town over the summer and 192 01:17:34.239 --> 01:17:51.199 especially into the elementary schools, that can have quite an impact on the classroom size. and we can't control when people move and when they register. And what we also have is the kindergarten registrations. And we encourage families to register early so we can make these planning 193 01:17:51.199 --> 01:18:06.480 decisions with the number of sections in say kindergarten at each school to have modest manageable class sizes. Um I think many of you remember what happened about five or six years ago and 194 01:18:06.480 --> 01:18:23.920 that was a global pandemic. Um and there is a spike in live births that happened in 2021. So we are actually anticipating a slight increase. We don't know what that is yet, but that trend is occurring across 195 01:18:23.920 --> 01:18:38.960 the region. Uh at this point in time, we make theoretical assumptions and what we are planning for is the same number of students in kindergarten next year that we have this year. Why do we do that? because it's a lot easier to plan for 196 01:18:38.960 --> 01:18:54.400 that to make some minor adjustments up with additional sections if need be. So, we won't really know our true firm numbers until August. And even then, there are times that we have families that are registering their children in 197 01:18:54.400 --> 01:19:10.640 September and October. And then to take the broader picture around goal three with facilities and our other goals, this is really all integrated together. So what we're showing you here is there's really one question that we're looking at when 198 01:19:10.640 --> 01:19:26.560 we're talking about the space within our buildings where our students and our staff attend every single day for teaching and learning. And it's a matter of the facility capacity. How many children? How many bodies can we hold in those 199 01:19:26.560 --> 01:19:42.159 buildings every day? What do those classrooms also look like with capacity in the number of sections? Um, and then what do our pro what do our programs have in the delivery? That's important. Uh, what does it look like when we're taking a look at the lunchroom capacity? 200 01:19:42.159 --> 01:19:58.640 Um, can a schedule redesign, which we're looking at at the middle schools and high school, also assist with and alleviate some of the pressure in our current schedule and in our buildings that allow us to be able to more positively and 201 01:19:58.640 --> 01:20:13.840 effectively impact our students and reducing class size. Um and then we have those demographic projections that I talked about earlier uh for our demographer last year and and the areas that we're examining. And what we'll do 202 01:20:13.840 --> 01:20:30.480 is we examine that demography study against our actual enrollment numbers uh several times a year because we want to make sure that we're planning ahead for the future. At this point in time, we do not see based on our current enrollment 203 01:20:30.480 --> 01:20:47.440 any major spike. But with housing developments, with people renovating homes and taking maybe a two or threebedroom home and converting it into a four or fivebedroom home, more children migrating im migrating into town and attending our schools, that makes a big difference and we have to 204 01:20:47.440 --> 01:21:03.040 plan accordingly for that. Overall, um, looking at our staff capacity and professional learning, uh, it's all driven by our district goals and objectives, uh, we're gonna going to continue providing our professional development for our staff, uh, and 205 01:21:03.040 --> 01:21:20.239 partnering with them for mental health supports, the areas of differentiation that you heard today, work around multiensory approach to, uh, literacy to to spelling to to speaking to to reading and writing. um multilingual langu language 206 01:21:20.239 --> 01:21:37.440 learners and providing SCOP training for our teachers and continuing to build upon the amazing work that has happened here in Fereralon for many many years. And without any further ado, let's make sure that this works. 207 01:21:37.440 --> 01:22:29.040 We have a little video of our students that we wanted to round out the presentation on. I am proud of our school's commitment to inclusivity and progress from student le initiatives to districtwide programs. 208 01:22:29.040 --> 01:23:26.080 >> We're not just kind. to go up higher to that next level where instead of being astanding to She knows all of them in a classroom and teach them about kindness and respectfulness all the 209 01:23:26.080 --> 01:23:50.239 school. It really has showed me that leader and show the kids that I can stay. >> So, I am going to turn it over to our board president, Mrs. Mayhem in a moment, but uh I just want to thank our 210 01:23:50.239 --> 01:24:07.040 administrative team, our supervisors, our faculty and staff for all of the amazing work that they do each and every day to make all of this possible. And we would be remiss if we didn't thank all of our parents for all of your support uh not only of your children, but everybody else's children and of our 211 01:24:07.040 --> 01:24:22.560 schools. It means an awful lot. And thank you to the board of education for your tireless service and for all of the work and commitment and the support that you provide as well. Um, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. Keller, Mrs. DeFranco, thank you for wonderful presentation along with our 212 01:24:22.560 --> 01:24:45.120 administrators tonight. And I'll turn it back over to Mrs. Maym, Dr. Dianio, Mr. Franco, Miss Keller, Mr. Cruz, Miss Gans, Mr. Gatilla, and Mr. Escalante. I think I got everyone. Thank 213 01:24:45.120 --> 01:25:04.000 you. Um, I will now open it up to the board for any questions or comments. Miss Brown. Thank you. Um, I just want to thank everybody uh for a wonderful presentation and for being wonderful educators and leaders. Um, I am excited 214 01:25:04.000 --> 01:25:22.000 to say that I am a proud parent of West Morland alumni who made the greatest point jump. So, I I'm not shocked by that. Um, the educators there are second to none. Uh, and I tell anyone who will listen. Um, I'm also a proud uh parent 215 01:25:22.000 --> 01:25:37.520 from Memorial who also continues to strive and do and be the best. Um, and I'm really excited and honored to have uh my children there. Um, Mrs. Gans, congratulations. I'm not surprised as I witnessed your excellence as my police 216 01:25:37.520 --> 01:25:54.639 academy leader, class of 19th class. So, represent. I'm not shocked by that. Congratulations. Um, I also completed my climate survey as a parent. So, um, I'm excited and I would like to know more about the teched 217 01:25:54.639 --> 01:26:11.280 STEMbased programs for the Bridges students that you highlighted. Um, I wanted I just wanted to hear more about that if that's possible. Um, I'm excited to see ICR in 9th and tth grade science and social studies. I know our small committee really worked hard for the 218 01:26:11.280 --> 01:26:28.159 last couple years to get that into effect. So, it's nice to see that uh come to fruition. I'm so excited to hear about the trade fair uh and showcasing different pathways that our students can take uh because I recently just read an article about how the new AI data 219 01:26:28.159 --> 01:26:44.880 centers are in desperate need for electricians. So I've told both of my sons that they need to now become electricians uh because that doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. Um I just want to highlight too I just want to thank uh Mr. Escalante for your support with unified sports. um as 220 01:26:44.880 --> 01:27:00.239 someone who started it in a former district myself, I know how hard it is to get administrative support um because it starts as a grant program for for many many years and if you don't have and then I think after three or four years you have to become self- 221 01:27:00.239 --> 01:27:16.639 sustaining. So if you don't have that administrative buyin and that support then it's never going to sustain. So, I just want to thank you for um for being that support system for the uh team that is getting that off the ground. Uh and I I need a schedule for that for sure. I 222 01:27:16.639 --> 01:27:33.040 want to come see. Um I also just want to thank the administration for uh being so proactive um in maintaining our 10 school district instead of reactive. Um, I'm happy that 223 01:27:33.040 --> 01:27:49.840 our administration is fiscally responsible to continue to fund our capital reserves to also then cap fund our capital projects so our schools don't fall apart fall apart which would cost us so much more. um in going to different board leadership uh seminars 224 01:27:49.840 --> 01:28:05.520 and board trainings, many board members from many different communities across the state are always very curious about our facility study because because it is not something that happens everywhere. Um and it's very 225 01:28:05.520 --> 01:28:25.440 okay and um I just you know I just want to thank you guys for that. So, I really appreciate everything that you're doing to continue to fund those capital reserves uh especially during these trying times. Thank you, >> Mr. Santana. >> Thank you though to theio and uh your 226 01:28:25.440 --> 01:28:48.400 team and all the administrators uh for the wonderful uh presentation and we really appreciate all your hard work on behalf of our children. Um, one question I have is um, h how are we ensuring that we have a diverse 227 01:28:48.400 --> 01:29:05.199 representation of our student body in the enrollment in AP courses? I know ETSs, the college board makes makes it a big deal uh throughout the country to make sure that we have diversity uh of uh minorities uh taking AP because 228 01:29:05.199 --> 01:29:24.480 historically they have been under represented in advanced courses. Um I would like to ask um for any um parent who may be um 229 01:29:24.480 --> 01:29:41.679 I would just ask a question. Dibbles. How would you convince a hesitant parent uh in kindergarten who thinks Dibbles is an overexposure to technology um for a very young child? Uh I don't 230 01:29:41.679 --> 01:29:57.520 know if pe if if you're if anyone here is familiar with the testimony uh before Congress from neuroscientists about the dangers of overexposing our children this generation to the to technology. So this is something that a 231 01:29:57.520 --> 01:30:13.280 lot of parents a lot of young younger parents are very mindful of. Um and I just wanted to see what you think about that. Uh what measurable another question, what measurable outcomes do you expect to see in our NJGBA 232 01:30:13.280 --> 01:30:30.960 and access tests um as as a result from the program strategies and data sharing you created in the district. Um it's wonderful that we are uh we're top 233 01:30:30.960 --> 01:30:48.719 of my time is about to end. Um I just wait for a second round. >> Anyone else? Miss >> Thank you for Thank you for the wonderful presentation. I have a couple of questions. The first one we said that we are not overcrowded but some elementary 234 01:30:48.719 --> 01:31:04.719 schools kindergarten classes have 15 students in each class while others are up to capacity of 25 students per class. So my question is yes on paper the total amount of kids is correct. It's not o we're not over but the idea that some 235 01:31:04.719 --> 01:31:20.239 elementary schools are over capacity where we had art on cart we had um we should so my question is how can we say that the two elementary schools that are currently almost at capacity or over 236 01:31:20.239 --> 01:31:36.480 capacity are not going to increase to a point where we're going to have art on cart again and other electives to be on cart again and I just think that's a problem and it's going to get worse And I don't I would like to know how will the administration address that and how 237 01:31:36.480 --> 01:31:51.199 how are they looking into what to do with those two elementary schools that are currently at 25 for kindergarten class. That's pretty big. The next thing is the LL benchmark. 238 01:31:51.199 --> 01:32:09.679 Although yes, it does give you targeted targeted um help for students that don't understand a topic but it does not explain the topic very well and also it creates a lot of stress with students with why because once you get a problem 239 01:32:09.679 --> 01:32:27.360 wrong in it drops you 20 to 30 points. Students that are struggling create this creates anxiety for them. So I was wondering how is the administration addressing that with the student my my question is basically kids that are struggling and have various different 240 01:32:27.360 --> 01:32:44.320 how are they being targeted um another thing is the it said that one of the things maybe I missed it one of the things that I was hoping for and I've been advocating for is having nine periods instead of eight periods in the high school the reason why is when I was 241 01:32:44.320 --> 01:33:02.239 a student it did having eight periods in a day and I used to play orchestra did not allow me to take electives until my junior and senior year which I think is limited because of all the prerequisites allowed. So students that take band or 242 01:33:02.239 --> 01:33:19.040 orchestra are limited to basically one electives their sophomore year and then starting junior year they're maybe getting two electives. So my question is is the administration thinking of creating nine periods versus eight periods in high the high school. My 243 01:33:19.040 --> 01:33:35.920 other question is the cogate test it says that it's in third grade. Is it every year or is just taken once uh in third grade? I also wanted to know on the targeted uh targeted scales we had those blue, red, yellow um in grade 244 01:33:35.920 --> 01:33:52.159 three. Maybe I didn't see it quite enough. it the pink and the pink and the other color that we didn't want got bigger. So my question is can the admission explain why did that uh bar graph got bigger 245 01:33:52.159 --> 01:34:07.199 >> miss time is up. >> Thank you >> Mr. Ilia and then Mr. Rosenberg. >> I don't have any questions but I just wanted to thank the admin team for their informative presentation. It's always 246 01:34:07.199 --> 01:34:23.040 great. I wanted to thank all the supervisors and admin that are taking their time to be here tonight. It always helps hearing from a lot of a lot of you even familiar even familiar faces. It's great to see. Um I also just want to say that even as an alumni of Fairlon 247 01:34:23.040 --> 01:34:38.480 School, the proud alumni, it's great to see all the different plans and different programs getting implemented across the board, things I wish I had as a student. So, it's really great to see on my end and I just want to thank everybody. Thank you. Mr. Rosenberg. 248 01:34:38.480 --> 01:34:54.480 >> Uh, first of all, I need to thank all of you for for the presentation. It was excellent and it went above and beyond what I was expecting tonight. Um, a couple things. First of all, thank you 249 01:34:54.480 --> 01:35:13.199 for including my granddaughter and like she get she got like at the end of that video she she made me forget all my questions because because I because I got to see my granddaughter like three times. Um but um I'm very impressed with 250 01:35:13.199 --> 01:35:29.440 a lot of stuff and yes we went through so I I'm the one person on this board that's been around when we went through the population growth when we went through COVID. Um, 251 01:35:29.440 --> 01:35:44.960 and I've seen a lot of things work its way through. The population bubble has worked its way through. And thank you, Dr. Dianio, for explaining that and showing that um that it's pretty much 252 01:35:44.960 --> 01:36:01.600 stable now because if you want to start opening buildings, we're going to we're going to need a referendum sooner rather than later. And I don't think this town is ready for a referendum. A matter of fact, I know that this town is not ready for a referendum and I don't think I 253 01:36:01.600 --> 01:36:18.480 would vote for a referendum at this point. Um, as far as some of the some of the great things, first of all, you know, what I've really been proud of on this board is that we educate the whole child and 254 01:36:18.480 --> 01:36:35.280 we always have in Ferlon and it's getting better and better and better and I'm really impressed with how the teachers and the administrators are working together to target instruction and to get results 255 01:36:35.280 --> 01:36:51.520 and the res the truth is in the pudding. I mean that the the results are there. You showed us the results inclass resource Mr. Franco, you know what an advocate I was for that. I was actually 256 01:36:51.520 --> 01:37:07.440 10 years ago. Um, it wasn't 10 years ago. I think it was even less than 10 years ago. I was very surprised that we didn't have an in-class resource program. And now we have an in-class resource program all the way up into the high school and 257 01:37:07.440 --> 01:37:24.480 getting farther into the high school. Um, and I think that's really, really, really important. um the unified sports. Oh, when I came back on the board, I was so surprised and so happy about that. Um 258 01:37:24.480 --> 01:37:41.440 I'm I'm going to save my re uh my other thing is about capital our capital improvement uh re uh that we keep just we're able to target what we need in our schools right away, which is good. 259 01:37:41.440 --> 01:38:00.000 Anyone else? >> Hi, good evening everyone. First of all, thank you so much for the very comprehensive presentation. It's really nice to see all the various um wonderful things that are happening in our school. Um mostly I'm really excited to see the 260 01:38:00.000 --> 01:38:17.040 expansion of the AP program at the high school. I know that a lot of our students have um really been um in order to compete with Bergen County with the rest of our schools in the area for our schools to be competitive as they're applying to some of those colleges. It's really great to see that expansion um into some of the earlier grades. I would 261 01:38:17.040 --> 01:38:32.239 love to know if that will also be um something that the for example the freshman um guidance counselors will also be kind of more um trained on and when those students are selecting those AP courses in those earlier grades um 262 01:38:32.239 --> 01:38:48.560 just to make sure that they are really um choosing the things that are appropriate for them. So, um I would love to also recognize that um hopefully that will trickle down to guidance and u make sure that when those students are going in, a lot of them are just going in without really knowing um what is the 263 01:38:48.560 --> 01:39:04.880 right level for them and make sure that those who want to challenge themselves have those opportunities and that we also have that breadth of options both AP, honors, CP, whatever um is is really appropriate for those students. But just making sure that guidance is also available to help them and parents that 264 01:39:04.880 --> 01:39:22.880 have questions as to whether is you know what what that right conversation is to have with the students and what their trajectory is. So I love to see that and I'm really excited to see what um is coming next. So thank you all. >> Mr. Santana. >> Yes. I really appreciate the the um my 265 01:39:22.880 --> 01:39:40.080 my daughter was not on the video but I'm glad to see all the children uh in the video. All the children of Feron uh are the reason we're here. Um I am glad that the district is including that AP um English class for 10th graders in pre a 266 01:39:40.080 --> 01:39:57.480 in pre-calculus AP. Uh a lot of I have heard from many parents uh who um really want to see the younger uh students in high school being able to take AP classes. Um, 267 01:39:58.080 --> 01:40:12.719 I understand that we are we we have a 70 70% proficiency in math and that's above Bergen County level and that's above the state level. That's wonderful. I commend the teachers. I commend the district, but I hate to say but. But but 268 01:40:12.719 --> 01:40:29.760 how what can the board do to help the district bring that proficiency in math from 70 to 90%. That's my question. Um, cultivating belonging that that touches uh me deeply 269 01:40:29.760 --> 01:40:46.880 because I believe one way for us to decrease uh bullying incidents is to increase kindness throughout the district and I would like to see that. Uh I really I'm really thankful uh for the unified sports program. Mr. Mr. Scalante, you have been uh great with 270 01:40:46.880 --> 01:41:04.840 that and I think when we include everyone uh we we bring the best in all of us. Okay. And that includes uh everyone regardless of their views. Um 271 01:41:08.719 --> 01:41:25.440 I I I'm too cons I'm I'm too also concerned about the enrollment in our schools. I think we have a lack of equity uh in some of the schools with the enrollment versus other schools. Uh, I don't think people that live in one side of the town should have to send 272 01:41:25.440 --> 01:41:42.560 their kids to a overcrowded school, pay higher taxes, possibly pay other other fees. I think we need to possibly look at redistricting to make sure that we have an equitable distribution of students and uh no no parent have to 273 01:41:42.560 --> 01:41:57.360 send their their child to kindergarten class with more with 25 kids or more. And I I would like I think parents of kindergarten kids will be probably and teachers would love to have a teacher assistant in a kindergarten class with 274 01:41:57.360 --> 01:42:14.239 25 kids or more. Um let's model the kindness we want in our we want to emulate we want our children to emulate and kindness start by being tolerant of the views of others. like our former president uh Joe Biden said, we don't 275 01:42:14.239 --> 01:42:31.480 have we cannot love our neighbors only what they agree with us. We have to love our neighbors and um our children learn learn from that. So let's use our words wisely. >> No. Okay, the floor is closed. 276 01:42:36.400 --> 01:42:53.440 I would like to call up Madison Kolarelli, our middle school, our Memorial Middle School student representative, Daniel Lee, our TJ Middle School student representative, and Ezra Fineman, our Fairland High School student representative to share 277 01:42:53.440 --> 01:43:33.360 their student reports. We can just swap the name plates and sign. Nobody else can see them but us. Ezra, can you just show them how? Thank you, sweetie. On behalf of the faculty and staff, thank you to the PTO's from both 278 01:43:33.360 --> 01:43:50.000 Memorial and TJ for making teacher appreciation week so special. The thoughtful treat and surprises throughout the week truly made our teachers and staff feel supported, appreciated, and maybe just a little spoiled in the best way possible. Your kindness, generosity, and continued support means so much to our school 279 01:43:50.000 --> 01:44:06.080 communities. Thank you for always going above and beyond for our students and staff. This year's carnival was a great great success. Not only did our PTO raise lots and lots of money for schoolwide initiatives, families and friends were provided with the opportunity to gather and enjoy each 280 01:44:06.080 --> 01:44:21.679 other's company. Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the of our PTO president Mrs. Sahuri and executive board, students were provided with the opportunity to ride the rides during the school day on Friday, May 15th at no 281 01:44:21.679 --> 01:44:38.239 cost. Students and teachers in each grade level were provided with over an hour of unlimited entertainment. You can you cannot talk about carnival and not also acknowledge the efforts of Mrs. Mahan for all she did to organize and 282 01:44:38.239 --> 01:44:54.800 facilitate this event. Thank you. This is a time dedicated to celebration but also preparing for transitions. On Friday, June 5th, the fourth grade students from Forest, Linkress, and West Morland will visit Memorial for our award-winning Common Ground event as 283 01:44:54.800 --> 01:45:11.119 they begin preparing for middle school. That same day, the eighth grade students from both Memorial and TJ will head to the high school for their own Common Ground experience. And of course, these transitions are not just for the students. Parents deserve a little TLC, too, as they watch us grow right before 284 01:45:11.119 --> 01:45:26.560 their eyes. Last night, the high school welcomed parents of incoming 9th graders for a walk and talk event. And on June 4th, our upcoming Memorial families are invited to a special family common ground evening, complete with a tour by Memorial's finest student event staff. 285 01:45:26.560 --> 01:45:43.840 Finally, on August 26th, there will be another fantastic opportunity for our incoming fifth graders to visit Memorial for a half day of team building activities, locker instruction, and a tour of the building with their individual class schedule in hand. During the weeks of June 8th and June 286 01:45:43.840 --> 01:46:00.719 15th, Mr. Weaver will be visiting with each fourth grade class at Mils, Radburn, and Warren Point for a read aloud as part of their transition to middle school. Parents will visit visit TJ on June 11th for orientation. And 287 01:46:00.719 --> 01:46:16.560 over the summer, our risen fifth graders will visit in small groups of 20 for their a day in the life of a fifth grader in 75 minutes or less orientation. Tomorrow, students from Memorial and TJ are excited to once again attend the 288 01:46:16.560 --> 01:46:31.679 Teen Arts Festival at Bergen Community College to showcase their outstanding musical talents. The day is filled with performances, workshops, and opportunities to collaborate with the students from across Bergen County. It is always a fun and memorable experience 289 01:46:31.679 --> 01:46:47.440 that allows our students to grow as musicians while sharing their talents with others who share the same passion for music. Also known as emancipation day or freedom day, June 19th commemorates the ending of slavery in 290 01:46:47.440 --> 01:47:03.280 the United States of America. the the official abolition of slavery did not bring equality. The devastating effects of segregation were first addressed almost 90 years later by the civil rights movement and it was during those 291 01:47:03.280 --> 01:47:20.159 days those years that Junth started to grow in importance. Texas adopted Junth as a state holiday in 1980. And on June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Junth National Independence Day Act, 292 01:47:20.159 --> 01:47:37.280 making this historical event the 11th federal holiday in the nation. During the week of June 15th, as part of our No Place for Hate Gold Award programming, students will be receiving instruction in one class per day on Junth in the 293 01:47:37.280 --> 01:47:53.119 areas of language arts, math, social studies, science, health, world language, and the arts to observe, recognize, and reflect on the history and contributions of Africanameans in the United States. 294 01:47:53.119 --> 01:48:09.440 As we head into the final stretch of the school year, the calendar is packed with exciting events and celebrations. There are simply too many to mention them all, but just a few highlights include spring concerts, end of year trips, high note festival, and a long list of eighth 295 01:48:09.440 --> 01:48:25.760 grade celebrations, including the overnight camping trip, bagel breakfast, moving up ceremony, dance, lua picnic, and much more. At this point, students are basically running on excitement, countdowns, and snacks, while staff members are keeping everything moving with teamwork, flexibility, and a lot of 296 01:48:25.760 --> 01:48:42.880 patience. It is a busy year, but also one of the most memorable and special times of the year. Continuing on that excitement, we want to thank you for inviting us each month to brag a little bit about all the outstanding things happening in our middle schools. We truly appreciate your dedication and 297 01:48:42.880 --> 01:49:09.119 support of the Fairlon schools. Thank you for everything you do and we wish everyone a wonderful, relaxing and safe summer. >> Good evening everyone. While we may be near the end of the school year, Fairlon High School has definitely not slowed down. Students have successfully 298 01:49:09.119 --> 01:49:24.880 completed AP exams and state testing. And from personal experience, we are incredibly grateful that those are over. On behalf of our student organizations, we would like to thank the board of education again for approving digital payment options. We have already been 299 01:49:24.880 --> 01:49:40.880 using them for initiatives such as SGA and class council apparel sale, the senior class bagel fundraiser, and various bake sales. The digital payment option has been extremely popular among students and staff and we are excited to continue implementing it at future 300 01:49:40.880 --> 01:49:56.719 events and fundraisers. SGA and class council elections were held on May 21st and students who registered to vote could listen to the candidates speeches and vote for their preferred candidates. Congratulations to all students elected to leadership 301 01:49:56.719 --> 01:50:11.440 positions. I heard the board of edre is particularly great, but I just just what I heard. um is I just heard it was the rumor. It is no easy feat to run for a leadership position and we thank every student who ran for office and everyone 302 01:50:11.440 --> 01:50:27.520 who voted. Our masks production of 12 Angry Jurors was performed the week of May 12th. As always, The Mass delivered an outstanding show bringing the classic story inspired by 12 Angry Men to life through an impressive performance by our 303 01:50:27.520 --> 01:50:44.480 talented student crew and cast. Looking ahead, Interact will be hosting its blood drive alongside the SGA Gift of Life stem cell drive on June 3. The Interact blood drive and gift of life stem cell drive provide an opportunity 304 01:50:44.480 --> 01:51:01.679 for students and staff to give back in a meaningful way and help support those in need. Our gift of life drive is an especially meaningful way to give back with one simple cheek swab adding you to the stem cell donor registry. Please visit the SGAA page, Instagram page for 305 01:51:01.679 --> 01:51:18.639 more information on the Gift of Life drive. We're also proud to share that many of our athletic teams are continuing successful seasons and advancing into state competition. Congratulations and best of luck to all of our student athletes and coaches. 306 01:51:18.639 --> 01:51:34.080 On June 5th, Common Ground will take place. Common Ground is an important program that helps incoming freshman students transition into high school by building connections, fostering inclusion, and creating a welcoming environment. 307 01:51:34.080 --> 01:51:48.880 High school student guides play a major leadership role in this program, helping greet and guide incoming freshmen and setting the tone for a positive school community. We also promise them they won't be thrown into lockers and tell them to check out the pool that's on the 308 01:51:48.880 --> 01:52:06.159 roof. Any of you guys checked out the pool on the roof? It's cool. You should check it out. Several exciting events are approaching for our seniors. Senior field day on June 8th will provide a day of fun activities and events to celebrate the class of 2026. 309 01:52:06.159 --> 01:52:21.520 Senior prom will take place on Junior on June 10th, and we know it will be a memorable evening for our graduating class. We also encourage everyone to follow the FLHS Destinations Instagram page to see where our seniors will be 310 01:52:21.520 --> 01:52:39.040 heading next year as they begin their next chapter. Graduation for the class of 2026 will be held on June 23rd at 6:15 p.m. at Sasso Field. Thank you to the board of education, faculty, staff, families, and community 311 01:52:39.040 --> 01:52:55.679 members for supporting the class of 2026 throughout their time in the Fairon Public School District. As we close out the year, students are beginning to prepare for final exams, a season powered by way too much caffeine. Since this is the last board of ed 312 01:52:55.679 --> 01:53:10.880 meeting I will attend this year, but don't fret, I will be back next year. Don't worry. On behalf of Fairlon High School, I would like to extend our thanks to the board of education for your continued support of our students, programs, and 313 01:53:10.880 --> 01:53:27.159 school community. Your dedication and encouragement help create opportunities that strengthen and make our student experience more meaningful. Thank you for everything you do, and I wish everyone a wonderful summer. 314 01:53:31.440 --> 01:53:48.320 Daniel, Madison, and Ezra, thank you. Um, on behalf of the Fair Board of Education, I do have certificates of appreciation for all of you. Um, you guys will have them presented to you this evening and our other student reps for Memorial and TJ will be receiving theirs 315 01:53:48.320 --> 01:54:05.840 next week. Um, just for everyone's uh point of information, Ezra, congratulations on joining us again next year. Um, in my brief research, what we have found out is Ezra will be the first board of ederal High School representative representative in history 316 01:54:05.840 --> 01:54:25.639 to participate in two terms as the board rep. So, congratulations on this historic event. >> I just want to say that I am so honored to be the first person to do this and uh just how much I appreciate this position. 317 01:54:43.199 --> 01:54:59.639 Thank you guys all so much. You are welcome to stay and part continue to participate in our community's governance. But I also know as Ezra shared, our high school students have several upcoming things to study for. Daniel and Madison, thank you for joining us. 318 01:55:05.599 --> 01:55:24.800 >> Dr. Dianio, um, we have our superintendent comments. >> I'm back. Um, I am back because we have two wonderful uh staff members to recognize 319 01:55:24.800 --> 01:55:41.800 this evening um for their amazing contributions to our school district and to our students. Um, and I would like to start with Miss Annie Yan at Fairlon High School. 320 01:55:46.639 --> 01:56:03.440 So, Miss Annie Yan uh was named this year uh as just one of 10 finalists in the state of New Jersey for the Princeton Prize for Distinguished Secondary School Teaching. In my 26 years in education, I have seen precious 321 01:56:03.440 --> 01:56:21.599 few teachers who consistently teach the way that Miss Yan does. I sat in her 11th grade English class this year and watched 16-year-olds wrestle with thorough, disagree without dismissing each other, 322 01:56:21.599 --> 01:56:39.280 and push each other's thinking deeper. She never once handed them an answer. She kept asking better questions. That is teaching, and that is inquiry and action. Across 13 years at Feralon High School, she has built our AP Capstone 323 01:56:39.280 --> 01:56:56.320 program, published seven peer-reviewed articles, mentored new teachers, and given her students something no test can measure. And you can see and feel that when you're in her classroom. Miss Yan, this recognition is yours and richly 324 01:56:56.320 --> 01:57:12.119 deserved. The most important work in any school happens in the space between a teacher and their students. Thank you for filling that space with such depth and care. Please join me in congratulating Miss Yan. 325 01:57:25.280 --> 01:57:57.920 Come on. And the next staff member that we're going to recognize is no stranger to this room this evening. You've heard from her a few times tonight and she spoke so well, so eloquently, and so knowledgeably about 326 01:57:57.920 --> 01:58:14.800 the work that happens in our schools. Tonight we celebrate Miss Sue Gans, our Warren Point principal, who was recently honored at Monontlair State University as an outstanding professional achievement in administration and supervision award from the College of 327 01:58:14.800 --> 01:58:30.639 Education and Engaged Learning. Monontlair State describes it as a true reflection of hard work, dedication, and a promise in the field. For those of you who know Sue, that is exactly who she is. But here is what makes this story 328 01:58:30.639 --> 01:58:46.239 special. Sue is in a class of her own. She is a Fairlaw graduate who attended Warren Point as a child and now leads that same very school, that very same school. Her elementary 329 01:58:46.239 --> 01:59:04.320 class photos still hang in her office. And there is something profound about a leader who came up through these hallways, who knows the community from the inside out, and who has given back so much. So Sue, your achievement reflects who you are as a person and as an educator, and 330 01:59:04.320 --> 02:00:00.800 Fairlon is lucky to have you. Congratulations. And I went to the uh Mr. Cruz. >> All right. Good evening everyone. Uh so this was um I was actually going to thank uh give a special thank you, but it's never too late to actually thank 331 02:00:00.800 --> 02:00:17.599 and appreciate folks. So um on behalf of the administration and the folks that did a lot of work with the budget for 2627, I just want to uh sincerely thank the board for approving the 2026 27 budget. Um it's definitely uh a 332 02:00:17.599 --> 02:00:32.639 partnership um that the administration and and this board actually does. Um it's countless and and it's so uh it was a hercule task especially as folks actually have seen in the media with other districts and how we fared uh 333 02:00:32.639 --> 02:00:48.880 completely different and our stories um is that we didn't have the outcome that many other districts actually have in this budget cycle which was devastating for the entire state. Uh one of the things is that u this budget puts children first. Um it it was one of the 334 02:00:48.880 --> 02:01:05.040 most uh difficult budgets uh to balance. Not just for myself uh colleagues alike uh throughout the state uh uh share the same sentiment. And uh despite the challenges, this budget reflects something very clear. The board unwaveringly commits to keeping our children first. Uh I want to recognize 335 02:01:05.040 --> 02:01:21.520 the men and women who put um our students first not just on paper but every single morning uh when they walk through the doors of their schools. Uh this budget is a statement to that. It actually says Fairlon values you. Uh behind the scenes uh lastly I just want 336 02:01:21.520 --> 02:01:38.239 to uh thank uh the team u specifically my team uh that has worked effortlessly and especially as we uh come to close out the school year. Uh I want to recognize uh the men and women um behind the scenes in multiple departments um 337 02:01:38.239 --> 02:01:54.560 especially in the coming months. Uh the board office, building grounds, transportation, community school, uh coordinated graduation se ceremonies with with each schools and planning end of year events, processing end of year uh financial transactions and accounting. Uh managing transportation 338 02:01:54.560 --> 02:02:11.520 schedules uh and also changes to the everyday fleet preparations. uh supporting families with enrollment before and afterare summer uh program transitions. Uh those are uh the many pieces that goes on behind the scenes and for most some some folks might think 339 02:02:11.520 --> 02:02:26.960 uh it's summer's coming they get a break. This is actually the busiest time of the year for these folks as they prepare to close out the fiscal year uh complete capital projects and ensure that our buildings are safe and beautiful for the first day of school when students and staff comes back at 340 02:02:26.960 --> 02:02:41.920 the board office. uh as we prepare to close out the 2526 fiscal year, prepare for audit um and also uh open our books for 2026 27 and ensure that procurements of supplies, materials and services um start for the first day of school and 341 02:02:41.920 --> 02:02:57.280 building and grounds executing uh summer projects and ensuring that our buildings are clean and beautiful with transportation um as they prepared uh routing also filling positions uh uh certification of our drivers, training uh maintaining our fleet and preparing 342 02:02:57.280 --> 02:03:13.840 preparing for a safe opening. And then lastly, uh community schools as they operate uh the summer programs. Also welcoming families at the new location at uh 501 Bergen Avenue and prepare for full enrollment. Um our goal every summer is the same. When students and 343 02:03:13.840 --> 02:03:28.960 staff uh walk through those doors on the first day of school, we want them to actually find a warm and welcoming um beautiful environment that they're proud of. and really we take um honor with all the hard work, the countless number of hours that uh these men and women 344 02:03:28.960 --> 02:03:50.560 actually do all summer long. So, thank you. >> This portion of our board meeting is for comments from the public on resolutions listed in tonight's agenda and non-aggenda items. When speaking, please state your name and municipality 345 02:03:50.560 --> 02:04:07.520 or residence. Specify which resolution you are addressing. Limit your remarks to three minutes. State law prohibits board members and administration from discussing personnel matters, student discipline, or other confidential issues. Please note that 346 02:04:07.520 --> 02:04:24.880 this dialogue or Q&A session between speakers and the board. That didn't make sense. Please note that this is not a dialogue or Q&A session between speakers and the board. You think that I would know this by heart right now. While we may not respond immediately to or answer every comment made tonight, all input is 347 02:04:24.880 --> 02:04:42.360 carefully considered and will help inform our decisions. Responses come through may come through emails, reports, board statements, website updates, or after the comment period closes. Thank you for your participation in our school communities governance. The floor is open. 348 02:04:54.719 --> 02:05:31.199 Please. >> Yes, please. Please sign your name and mun. Uh, you do not have to share your address. I'm sorry. Should I start again? Uh, unfortunately, it seems like the designation is more symbolic without any 349 02:05:31.199 --> 02:05:46.800 meaningful action or acknowledgement within our schools. I cannot speak for the entire district only for what I know personally to be true. During the school year alone, there have been an alarming number of anti-Semitic incidents involving Jewish students at TJ Bele 350 02:05:46.800 --> 02:06:03.280 school. Jewish students have been punched to the face, spared while their Jewish identity was marked, ridiculated for wearing Hebrew symbols and Jewish jewelry. Their belongings were thrown into garbage cans and uh had objects thrown at them. Jewish tyrants have been 351 02:06:03.280 --> 02:06:19.840 publicly blamed for killing Palestinians. They were told that Jews are disgusting and stupid. Some students at TG Middle School openly wear symbols expressing support for Hamas without any apparent response or intervention from the school administration. The response 352 02:06:19.840 --> 02:06:36.400 from the school administration is even more concerning. On more than one occasion, incidents involving anti-semitic verbal and physical attacks were reported to school administration, including asking vice uh principal Michael Shonsky, only to be mis minimized, dismissed, or treated as a 353 02:06:36.400 --> 02:06:53.119 routine peer conflict. On several occasions, students were made to feel that they somehow provoked to be attacked. On more than one occasion, it required escalation to the school principal for the incidents to be treated with importance that they deserve. It seems like the staff below 354 02:06:53.119 --> 02:07:08.400 principal level lack training or preparedness necessary to properly identify, address or prevent acts of anti-mitism. This kind of reactions from the school administration seems to be pattern and creates a perception that the school adopted the culture of 355 02:07:08.400 --> 02:07:24.239 tolerance of anti-semitism. As a result, Jewish students increasingly feel unprotected and discouraged from reporting incidents that they are verbally or physically attacked. It is deeply troubling that the concerns regarding that anti-semitism in one of our schools must 356 02:07:24.239 --> 02:07:39.599 be raised during uh Jewish heritage months itself. I urge the district to develop meaningful preventive and remedial educational programs for both students and staff. This should include education regarding Jewish culture, Jewish contribution to society, 357 02:07:39.599 --> 02:07:55.760 Holocaust and genocide studies as well as anti-mitism awareness. Equally important is comprehensive training for staff focused on identifying bias, distinguishing between legitimate political discourse and hate speech and training on appropriately responding to 358 02:07:55.760 --> 02:08:10.400 incidents involving discrimination and harassment. I really hope that by the next year's Jewish Heritage Months, we will see both reduction in anti-Semitic incidents and significant improvement in how school administration responds when such incidents occur. Thank you very 359 02:08:10.400 --> 02:08:42.880 much. Hi, I'm Jennifer Burcio. Uh, good evening and thank you for the opportunity to speak on behalf of my son, Gavin Shaw. Uh, there's been some back and forth correspondence and I'm here tonight in hope of providing some 360 02:08:42.880 --> 02:09:00.239 clarity. We are kindly requesting either a one-time exception or a written addendum to current board policy as it relates to athletics and homeschooling. This request is important because we have received direct confirmation from the NJSIA 361 02:09:00.239 --> 02:09:16.079 chief compliance officer that a formal written statement from the district permitting Gavin to participate in Fairlon athletics while completing his online program would allow him to avoid the 30-day transfer penalty when he 362 02:09:16.079 --> 02:09:33.119 returns back to Fairlon ice hockey next season. We believe this request is both fair and reasonable for three reasons. First, the purpose of the athletic transfer rule is to prevent athletic recruiting and unfair competitive advantages. That is clearly not the case 363 02:09:33.119 --> 02:09:49.119 here. Fairlon is the only school Gavin has ever represented. Second, Gavin has been a Fairlon student his entire academic life. His temporary 16-week enrollment in an online program was made strictly for educational and mental 364 02:09:49.119 --> 02:10:05.599 health purposes. Excelis Academy does not offer athletics, and Gavin is already fully reenrolled back at Fairlon High School for the first day of school this September. Lastly, while a 30-day sitout period may not sound significant, 365 02:10:05.599 --> 02:10:23.040 it would cost Gavin nearly half of his ice hockey season. As a team captain, this impacts not only his final season with his teammates, but also opportunities related to recruiting, exposure, and school records, something he's worked so hard for his entire life. 366 02:10:23.040 --> 02:10:39.040 We've been told that the superintendent is the only one that has the authority to approve this request. And we also understand that previous superintendent have approved participation requests for homeschooled students in the past, including students who were fully 367 02:10:39.040 --> 02:10:54.320 homeschooled, not just a temporarily enrolled in a 16week program like Gavin. Our request places no financial burden on the district, harms no other students, and does not undermine the intent of board policy in any way. We 368 02:10:54.320 --> 02:11:09.280 are just asking for a little compassion toward this unique situation. Therefore, tonight we kindly ask the board and the superintendent to please, please consider providing a one-time exception or a board approved statement 369 02:11:09.280 --> 02:11:46.320 confirming Gavin's eligibility to participate in Fairlon athletics during his temporary online schooling. Thank you for your time and consideration. I'll be very brief. I'm Kirk Shaw, Gavin Shaw's dad. I'm going to just I was here last month. I'm just going to read the 370 02:11:46.320 --> 02:12:02.960 NJSIA transfer policy just so we are clear about it. It is considered a transfer if a homeschool student moves from a homeschooling to high school from high school to homeschooling. If a student's home district has a board of education policy that permits homeschooled 371 02:12:02.960 --> 02:12:26.960 students to participate in sports, the student will be exempt from the penalties sit when transferring from homeschooling to home district or from home district to homeschooling. That is all. Thank you very much for your time. >> Hello everyone. My name is Alba Morales. 372 02:12:26.960 --> 02:12:43.679 Um I am a proud parent of two kids in our district. Uh one finishing middle school and one in the midst in the middle of middle school. Um, I'm a very proud parent of this district and I can't thank you enough for the magic you 373 02:12:43.679 --> 02:12:57.679 worked with all your team on that budget. Um, raising taxes is never fun. It's not fun for anybody, but you cut things and kept our professionals, our 374 02:12:57.679 --> 02:13:16.320 teachers, and for that forever grateful. I want to um raise my concern with three board members of this board who have brought together I counted 17 different motions in the last few 375 02:13:16.320 --> 02:13:32.560 months in the spur of the moment um without consideration to any of the other board members uh present. Um only one of those motion pass. It extends time. It depletes 376 02:13:32.560 --> 02:13:49.840 board time. Meetings have been fivehour long. Um, one board member keeps saying that they want people to come to these meetings. Nobody will sit through five hours and past midnight to make comments. I appreciate that you guys 377 02:13:49.840 --> 02:14:05.599 moved the comment session to the beginning, but then now we missed all the actual board meeting process. So, we can only talk after the fact has happened. Um, but I understand that 378 02:14:05.599 --> 02:14:22.239 staying here for five hours to hear people speak is not possible. One motion that has been coming up, I don't know, I'm going to say year after year and maybe many times a year is the um advertisement 379 02:14:22.239 --> 02:14:37.760 on many different publications for board meetings. We know where to find the board meetings. Um, and it keeps getting shut down, but it always reappears. So, that's very interesting to me. 15 380 02:14:37.760 --> 02:14:53.920 motions that have been brought up by three board members. All have failed by one. Um, and then there is accusations of anti-semitism and racism when you don't get your way. But that's not how 381 02:14:53.920 --> 02:15:10.320 democracy looks like. You need to understand that if you cannot convince the other six board members, you will continue failing. Um, part of being in a group of nine means that you need to find ways to work together. And the last 382 02:15:10.320 --> 02:15:29.599 few meetings, I will say the last couple of years, that is not the case. So losing the vote is not evidence of bigotry or anti-semitism. It means you didn't have the vote. Just 383 02:15:29.599 --> 02:15:45.360 have to grow up and make sure that next time you bring something to the table is well researched. You know what you're talking about. You know that you've clear it with the administration. Um you know that you're not here to run the district. And I don't know how many 384 02:15:45.360 --> 02:16:00.960 times that has to be said, but you are not the administrators. You're not the building managers. Um, you're here to do a different job of policy and procedure within the the school district. 385 02:16:00.960 --> 02:16:53.359 The children in this district do not need a board divided. And I'm going to leave it there. >> Thank you. Thanks. Good evening everybody. My name is Bashanki. Municipality is Fairlon. I'm here tonight as a parent and a community 386 02:16:53.359 --> 02:17:09.920 member concerned about increasing outside political influence and coordinated activism surrounding our board of education which is supposed to remain nonpartisan. Residents deserve transparency regarding the involvement of activist organizations in local schoolboard 387 02:17:09.920 --> 02:17:26.319 politics. Publicly available information shows connections between and including joint workshops, organizing efforts, fundraising events, and political advocacy related to school boards and parental rights movements. IRS filings 388 02:17:26.319 --> 02:17:42.719 showed that Defense of Democracy is a New York-based 501c4 advocacy organization that reported over $114,000 in revenue in 2023. Public event materials also show involvement from New Jersey Public 389 02:17:42.719 --> 02:17:58.960 Education Coalition aka NJPC founder Mr. Michael Gotsman through workshops and advocacy events connected to these organizations. These groups openly state that they organize against certain school board candidates and parental rights 390 02:17:58.960 --> 02:18:14.319 movements. Community members have a right to ask who is funding these efforts? outside political organizations influencing Fairon's education decisions, a coordinated activist network shaping schoolboard politics and Fairon and 391 02:18:14.319 --> 02:18:31.040 shaping our elections. There's also a growing concern about apparent coordination between these activist organizations and the efforts to politically isolate and attack board of education members who do not vote in alignment with the majority block of the usual six board of 392 02:18:31.040 --> 02:18:46.960 education members. Former deputy mayor Gail Fred Friedrich Ratenstrick publicly stated on social media that she is proud that the six board of education members vote as a block and ignore the noise from the other three board of 393 02:18:46.960 --> 02:19:02.160 education members. Those are her own words. That statement alone should concern every single resident regard regardless of their political affiliation. A board of education should not function as a political machine where dissenting 394 02:19:02.160 --> 02:19:17.920 voices are dismissed as noise. Healthy debate, transparency, and independent decisionmaking are essential to public trust. This is not about silencing disagreement or attacking anyone personally. Every resident has a right to participate in 395 02:19:17.920 --> 02:19:33.519 civic life. But parents and taxpayers also deserve transparency, accountability, and assurance that outside activist organizations and political networks are not improperly influencing our local education governance. Public education should remain 396 02:19:33.519 --> 02:19:49.760 accountable to families and taxpayers, not coordinated political activism or ideological group think. It is becoming evident that there is a democratic political coup in progress. It is becoming evident that there is a 397 02:19:49.760 --> 02:20:24.720 democratic political coup in progress in order to overturn the nonpartisan board of education. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. This podium always makes me nervous. Okay. Good evening. My name is Marian Sahori. I am a Fairlon resident, parent 398 02:20:24.720 --> 02:20:40.880 of uh students in Fairlon schools and an active parent in our school communities. First, I would like to congratulate Miss Gans on all of her achievements. This is no surprise. I remember her first year at Warren Point um at her very first meeting. I had the proud honor of 399 02:20:40.880 --> 02:20:56.479 serving her as her first PTA president at Warren Point. And I learned and still learn so much from her every day. So, congratulations. Um, I'd also like to congratulate Miss Nolan who's wrapping up an incredible run as the PE teacher at Warren Point. 400 02:20:56.479 --> 02:21:12.319 For decades, Miss Nolan has uh been the cornerstone of our school, instilling love for teamwork, healthy habits, discipline, and of course, shoe tying. So, she will be greatly missed. Um, leaving a lasting legacy. We wish her all the best as she moves on to new 401 02:21:12.319 --> 02:21:28.800 adventures. She is not retiring. Um, I'd also like to thank the seven board members who voted in favor of allowing Thomas Jefferson Middle School students to attend Student Carnival Day. It was an absolute perfect day, weather, and a great opportunity for all of our students to build lasting memories 402 02:21:28.800 --> 02:21:44.240 together. Special thank you to Mr. Weaver for his leadership and commitment. uh coming off of NJSLA testing, this carnival was exactly what our students needed to unwind. Uh the way he shows up every single day for our students um speaks volumes about how 403 02:21:44.240 --> 02:22:02.800 much he cares about our kids. a school's culture starts at the top and seeing the staff completely embrace the fun of that entire day um just shows um what kind of a leader he is and uh how much uh our staff and 404 02:22:02.800 --> 02:22:18.319 students are bought into that community. Uh which is so unfortunate that I have to uh point out that Mr. Santana was the sole board member to vote against that trip, citing concerns over safety and lost instructional time. I'd like to 405 02:22:18.319 --> 02:22:34.080 share for the record that Mr. Santana did accept this gift as a donation and voted to approve this exact trip in the past. In addition, he has cons consistently voted in favor of other students missing instructional time and never expressed safety concerns for 406 02:22:34.080 --> 02:22:48.240 trips like Dawn Park and Great Adventure. to suddenly single out our middle schoolers and target a standing tradition just feels wrong. It highlights an clear inconsistency on that part. And it makes me wonder why he's creating such an issue such such an 407 02:22:48.240 --> 02:23:05.680 in issue over the tradition that our PTO works so hard to support. And while Mr. Santana publicly speaks about supporting students mental health, that vote does not align with that. When a position dra changes so drastically without a clear reason, it creates real confusion for 408 02:23:05.680 --> 02:23:45.520 our families and our students thrive when board decisions every board member makes decisions that are consistent, transparent, and focused entirely on their best interests. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Hello. Okay. Hi, my name is Lissa Mendes 409 02:23:45.520 --> 02:24:02.000 DS and I am a uh I guess of this municipality. Um we used to have to say our address. Anyway, I just wanted to say no, I won't. Don't worry. Um I just wanted to say thank you to the board um and the those who volunteered for the 410 02:24:02.000 --> 02:24:19.600 carnival. It was a lot of fun. Um, thank you to Mrs. Mayan and her crew of volunteers. Um, it's insane all the effort that goes into it. Um, I'm very grateful that we only get to uh staff the booths and not the rides because I 411 02:24:19.600 --> 02:24:35.359 get nauseous just looking at them. So, thank you so much. Um, I did want to address that it seems that in reaction to some of us speaking um for calm, effective, and collaborative meetings, it has somehow seemed like it's a partisan thing. That's kind of a telling 412 02:24:35.359 --> 02:24:49.600 assumption, but I can happily say that in the last couple of meetings and those that I've attended in the past years, I didn't know half of the folks in the audience. And the point of the folks speaking is 413 02:24:49.600 --> 02:25:05.120 to center what the wonderful state of the ferlon schools presentations and those three wonderful kids basically were talking about which is centering the children. Some of you may know that 414 02:25:05.120 --> 02:25:23.520 my north star in everything I do community-wise and yes I am a proud activist is gun violence prevention. Whether it's directly the issue of an event or it's something else, we live in a world of intersectional ills. And you 415 02:25:23.520 --> 02:25:39.680 know, I should have just brought this down. Okay, we live in a world of intersectional ills and the solutions are equally intersectional. That should be the point. My plea is that the kids should be centered. go 416 02:25:39.680 --> 02:25:55.600 through the agenda, ask questions, move forward, but as Mr. Santana said, with kindness. I want to leave you with a James Baldwin quote um that he wrote in 1980, and it's 417 02:25:55.600 --> 02:26:11.280 still so relevant. He said, "The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe. And I'm beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality. 418 02:26:11.280 --> 02:26:29.319 Or I am saying in other words that we the elders are the only models children have. What we see in the children is what they have seen in us. Or more accurately perhaps what they see in us. Thank you. 419 02:26:44.800 --> 02:27:06.880 I'm just going to write my name here. Takes a while. Hi, good evening. My name is Gail Freriededberg Rottenste. Um, which is why it takes a while to write my name. I'm gonna try not to take my three minutes because I respect your 420 02:27:06.880 --> 02:27:23.680 time. Um, having sat on the council for eight years and acted as mayor for a year or so. I understand, you know, um, how valuable your time is. And when you volunteer for positions like board of 421 02:27:23.680 --> 02:27:41.920 ed, you know, you deserve to have your time respected. Um, that's actually why I'm here because I feel that the time of the board of ed has been seriously abused by um, a lot of several of the 422 02:27:41.920 --> 02:27:57.600 members uh, on the board of ed. Um I'm actually shocked that one of the members uh LMA Corlovo left you know as soon as public comments started. I find that a little bit disturbing. Um 423 02:27:57.600 --> 02:28:16.880 but mainly I'm here and I didn't write my comments uh so if I'm a little disjointed I apologize but mainly I'm here because I started losing sleep over what's going on at these board of education meetings. Like literally not being able to sleep at night. Um, when 424 02:28:16.880 --> 02:28:35.200 we got Superintendent Deio as our superintendent, I was so happy because I know what a great superintendent he is. Um, you know, the the um and I want to commend you on the, you know, the um National Leader of 425 02:28:35.200 --> 02:28:52.640 Distinction 2020 uh 2026 awards, you know, for that program, winning that national leader. You deserve that accolade. And truthfully, I am worried that the behavior of members of this board of ed uh the member who left, Mr. 426 02:28:52.640 --> 02:29:08.720 Santana, Ms. Fialovich, um is going to drive away great teachers and administrators. Uh you know, I I know that Fairland in other other districts now they're starting to talk about like Fairland's crazy. We don't 427 02:29:08.720 --> 02:29:24.319 want that reputation. We want the reputation that Fairlon has always had, which is having a strong, supportive board of ed and great schools. I've lived in Fairon 30 years. I raised three children here. They graduated from 428 02:29:24.319 --> 02:29:41.840 Fairon schools. Um, even though they were all classified, they all went on to college and graduated college, they got a great start here. I have tremendous confidence in these school in the schools in our administrators in our teachers. But I am losing confidence in 429 02:29:41.840 --> 02:29:58.479 the board of education. And I I just want to say that kindness is not a word. Kindness is a practice. Kindness is behavior. I sat on the council for eight years and I never sat through a meeting 430 02:29:58.479 --> 02:30:32.479 like the meetings I have been watching online. I shouldn't have to be here tonight, but that is why I'm here. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Allison Curley. My municipality is Fairlon. I have two kids in the um TJ and I just wanted to 431 02:30:32.479 --> 02:30:48.479 say I as a as a fair mom, I just want to reiterate the thank you and appreciation that we have to the members of the board who supported and voted for this budget that allows us to keep and retain our 432 02:30:48.479 --> 02:31:03.439 educators, our staff who are the most important part of why we are so successful. and the initiatives that were just outlined tonight were just fabulous and just praiseworthy. So, thank you. I just wanted to state too 433 02:31:03.439 --> 02:31:21.120 that there seems to be commentary about how people standing up and speaking out seems to be a coordinated political attack. And I just want to counter that and say I am just a mom who has been watching these five-hour long meetings 434 02:31:21.120 --> 02:31:37.520 and listening to some of the dialogue. And I think it's less about coordinated political activity and more about people just listening and using common sense. We're tired of people who are grandstanding and talking about reaching 435 02:31:37.520 --> 02:31:59.600 across the aisle and working together who then vote no on passing the minutes of the agendas. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. Is there anything on the Google 436 02:31:59.600 --> 02:33:44.800 doc? Okay. Okay, we're going to read them. >> Apologies for that. That was my fault. Thank you, it um Anna Garcia, good evening. I have a question 437 02:33:44.800 --> 02:34:01.359 regarding items 8F and 8G since no contracts were attached for public view. Public review. The community currently has no transparency into the scope of these agreements. What services are being provided or how student information may be handled before approval? I believe parents and 438 02:34:01.359 --> 02:34:17.680 taxpayers deserve clear answers. First, will any student data be collected, accessed, shared, stored, or analyzed as part of either of these contracts. Second, if student data is involved in any way, when will parents be formally notified? And when will consent or permission forms be distributed? Parents 439 02:34:17.680 --> 02:34:33.600 should have the opportunity to fully understand what information is being collected and how it will be used before implementation begins. Third, what was specific what specific safeguards are in place to protect student data from misuse, unauthorized access, thirdparty sharing, or a cyber security breach? In the event of a data breach, what is the 440 02:34:33.600 --> 02:34:49.200 district's notification and response plan for families given the increasing number of cyber security incidents affecting schools across the country, transparency and accountability on student data protection are not optional. They are essential. I respectfully ask that the board president and its members provide these 441 02:34:49.200 --> 02:35:04.800 details publicly before moving forward with approval of these items. Zangu Fairlon, I would like to address agenda items related to administrative salary increases, not a personnel matter, but rather an expense line line item question. The assistant 442 02:35:04.800 --> 02:35:20.880 superintendent is receiving increase of about $12,000 or roughly 6.5%. Are all teachers receiving 6.5% increases given they are the ones working directly with students every day at a time when taxpayers are facing an estimated 11% overall tax increase including about 443 02:35:20.880 --> 02:35:36.800 3.3% from the board family. Many families are under financial pressure in that context. It is difficult to understand why significant increases are being approved for administrative positions already earning near above $200,000 in our community. We value education deeply and there is clear 444 02:35:36.800 --> 02:35:52.560 expectation that teachers come first. investment should prioritize the classroom not already highlighting compensated admin highly compensated administration. That 25,000 could meaningfully support teacher salaries or classroom resources. Instead, I respectfully ask the board to 445 02:35:52.560 --> 02:36:12.000 reconsider what these decisions reflect the priorities of our students, teachers, and taxpayers deserve. This is not about questioning the value of administrators as individuals. It is about board priorities. Sergey Sevchuk. Good evening. My name is Sergey Sevchuk. Municipality is Fairlon. 446 02:36:12.000 --> 02:36:27.439 I would like to address several concerns shared by many residents regarding the Fereralon Board of Education. First, proposed 6% tax increase comes at a time when families are already struggling financially. At the same time, questions continue to circulate regarding the district financial decisions and reports 447 02:36:27.439 --> 02:36:42.880 involving funds transferred into accounts that cannot easily be accessed or used. Residents deserve honest explanations and full transparency. Second, many community members are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the level of partisan political influence surrounding the board. A board of education should operate 448 02:36:42.880 --> 02:36:59.200 independently and remain focused on education, not political party interests. The involvement of democratic political organizations and activists at recent meetings has created the perception that politics are overtaking balanced governance. There is also concern regarding the treatment of board members who do not align with the 449 02:36:59.200 --> 02:37:15.280 majority voting block. Public meetings should never become environments where intimidation, hostility, or public pressure discourage independent decision-making. Lastly, parental rights and community input must be treated with greater respect. Parents should not feel ignored or pushed aside when raising legitimate concerns about their 450 02:37:15.280 --> 02:37:31.920 children's education and school environment. I hope the board will take these concerns seriously and work toward restoring a respectful, transparent, and nonpartisan atmosphere. Thank you for your time. Tim O'Brien, Fereralon, watching the last few meetings becoming increasingly clear how politicized our board is. The 451 02:37:31.920 --> 02:37:48.080 ruling party is hurting what is supposed to be a nonpartisan board. How can fair discourse be brought back to these meetings? Anna Kamuk, I have Fairlon. Uh I have simp uh no there's no affiliation stated uh for residents. I have simple 452 02:37:48.080 --> 02:38:05.160 question regarding the district's planned purchase of approximately $500,000 in Chromebooks and laptops. What is the plan for these devices in five years when they become mountdated? Will they be recycled, sold, donated, or disposed of? And what will the replacement cost be to taxpayers? 453 02:38:09.280 --> 02:38:30.240 Marcy Ree, Barlon, sorry I couldn't be there in person this evening. I just wanted to note that perhaps meetings would wouldn't be five hours long if two meetings were combined into one. This has occurred multiple times this year. Kristen Edson 454 02:38:30.240 --> 02:38:46.000 Fairlon. On behalf of the Fairlaw and PTA council, I would like to take a moment to publicly thank members of the central office staff as well as the board of education members Jean Brown, Anthony Aaliyah, and Julie Maym for attending our PTA council endofear dinner. Your 455 02:38:46.000 --> 02:39:02.080 presence at this event meant a great deal to our PTO and PTA leaders and volunteers. Taking the time to attend and connect with those who dedicate countless hours supporting our schools, students, teachers, and families demonstrates a true commitment to the Fairone School community. The 456 02:39:02.080 --> 02:39:17.680 partnership between the board of education, district administration, and the PTO's and PTAs is incredibly important. We appreciate your continued support, collaboration, and recognition of the work being done by our parent volunteers throughout the district. As we close out another successful school 457 02:39:17.680 --> 02:39:35.200 year, we are grateful for your leadership and partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to support the students and families of Fereralon. Sharma Amit from Feralon. Asking questions is a core part of democracy and board members participation should 458 02:39:35.200 --> 02:39:51.280 be respected, not delayed or discouraged. Board leadership has failed this town by scheduling hour-long presentation ceremonies and closing sessions before agenda comments can be made before board members can and public can speak. This approach delayed last 459 02:39:51.280 --> 02:40:07.200 few meetings by hours with real agenda discussions starting around 9 to 10 p.m. most of the time. As a result of the comments are rushed, speaking time limited or declined. Do better on agenda structuring and stop shaming people for asking questions past 10 p.m. There is no stupid question. We tell our kids we 460 02:40:07.200 --> 02:40:22.160 should live by what we preach. Michael Brown, Fairlon. Rididgewood's budget was approved at about $9 million lower than Fairlons despite having similar number of schools, comparable student population, and similar prek and special education services along with 461 02:40:22.160 --> 02:40:39.040 stronger academics outcomes and higher school rankings. That raises serious and unavoidable question. What exactly is driving fair loone significantly higher spending? Residents are not seeing clear justification for this gap. If 9 million more are being spent here, the community 462 02:40:39.040 --> 02:40:54.479 deserves a detailed transparent analysis why it is not translating into equal or better outcomes. This is not a minor discrepancy. It reflects either inefficiency, misallocation of resources or a failure to prioritize spending effectively. None of those possibilities should be ignored. The board has an 463 02:40:54.479 --> 02:41:09.760 obligation to explain this clearly and publicly, not with generalities, but with specifics. Stan Lynn Fereralon Board of Education is responsible for overseeing a budget of almost $150 million and over a thousand employees over the last several meetings. There appear to be two 464 02:41:09.760 --> 02:41:26.240 distinct blocks on the board. Six members who lean left and three who lean right. The public placed all of you on the board of education. What steps are all of you taking to listen to each other and be less confrontational in public? You are setting the tone for the entire school district in Fereralon. Thank you 465 02:41:26.240 --> 02:41:41.920 Anna Marov Fereralon. Thank you to the three board members who showed grace and professionalism during last month's difficult and emotional public discussion. In moments of disagreement, real leadership is defined by restraint, composure, and respect. What should be a focused space for education has 466 02:41:41.920 --> 02:41:58.080 increasingly been overshadowed by political tension and fair lawn mayors past and present personal agendas. That shift is not serving the students or families of Fairlon. Our school board meetings should not become platforms for conflict or outside political influence. They should remain centered on students 467 02:41:58.080 --> 02:42:14.240 learning and the responsibilities you are elected to uphold. We should expect a higher standard from everyone involved, civility and tone, integrity and conduct and accountability to the community above all else. No place for hate and feron. No place for politics and partisan attack campaigns against 468 02:42:14.240 --> 02:42:30.000 board members fulfilling their duty of administrative oversight and speaking up on behalf of taxpayers. There's no place for politics on BOE. Keep politics out of our home rooms. Mary Acriman Fereralon. 469 02:42:30.000 --> 02:42:45.200 Thank you board member Rita Favvelich for always thinking about our little kids, the ones the district spends the least on per pupil basis. Thank you for asking relentlessly for new playgrounds, for new benches, and most of all, thank you for initiating the afterchool enrichment program across all elementary 470 02:42:45.200 --> 02:43:02.000 school population and relentlessly asking every year for new classes and more spots to be added. Thank you for trying your best to add CCT classes in a Ruters inspired computer class program to the high school curriculum. Board member Coraliva, I'm sorry that your time away from family is not valued and 471 02:43:02.000 --> 02:43:17.520 your volunteering efforts are under political attacks just 5 months in. Board member Santana, thank you for always keeping a pulse on how our tax money are spent and acknowledging the financial hardship and tax burden of the people of Fairlon. To all three of you, I hope you remain motivated and engaged, 472 02:43:17.520 --> 02:43:35.080 not deterred. You must be asking the right questions if the entire political machine is being used against you. And last but not least, thank you the Radburn PTA for extremely generous gift to go towards the outdoor classroom for student use and the STEM robot classroom pack for technology classes. 473 02:43:36.880 --> 02:43:53.600 Edarmmy Santana Fairlon. Good evening. I want to express to the Fairlon board of education is by law a nonpartisan board. Our school should never become an extension of political parties or political agendas. At the last board meeting, leaders of the Fair Law and Democratic 474 02:43:53.600 --> 02:44:10.000 Party came to this platform not to unite the community, but to pressure, harass, and intimidate some members of the board of education. That is deeply concerning. New Jersey School Ethics Act clearly states that the board members must not surrender their independent judgment to special interests or partisan political 475 02:44:10.000 --> 02:44:26.160 groups. Our board members are elected to serve students, parents, and taxpayers, not political organizations. It is disappointing that adults would spend a weekday evening insulting and disrespecting others instead of advocating for higher student achievement for all children. Our school should focus on academics, opportunity, 476 02:44:26.160 --> 02:44:43.359 safety, and respect, not political theater. I respectfully ask that we return the board of education to a truly nonpartisan focus and stop sending the message the feralone education is politicized. Our children deserve better. Thank you. Anna Kamuk, my question to the board is 477 02:44:43.359 --> 02:44:59.200 this. Why does Fairlong continue to struggle with accountability when it comes to bullying incidents? Many parents feel there is a lack of transparency, inconsistent consequences, and inadequate communication regarding student safety concerns. What specific steps will the district take to create a more transparent system that ensures 478 02:44:59.200 --> 02:45:14.560 parents receive timely and honest information? Students feel safe reporting incidents, and administrators are held accountable for how bullying complaints are handled. How will board measure success and restore trust with families who feel their concerns have been ignored or minimized? 479 02:45:14.560 --> 02:45:31.120 Erica Rupert, I want to thank the board president and the board members who are committed to working collaborative collaboratively for the benefit of our students. Unfortunately, other members of the board continued to be confrontational and obstructive. At the April 30th meeting, Mr. Santana once again interrupted and talked over the 480 02:45:31.120 --> 02:45:47.600 speakers and Miss Falovich accused her colleagues of being unprofessional and lacking discretion based on her misunderstanding that her Oprah requests were not private documents. I appreciate Mr. Santana's stated willingness to consider the comments about his behavior and hope he will achieve a mutually 481 02:45:47.600 --> 02:46:02.399 respectful relationship with the rest of the board and I fully understand Miss Favvelich's concerns about personal information. But I do wonder why she submitted an Oprah request for Dr. Disio's current employment contract when she could have already had access to it as a member of the board that approved 482 02:46:02.399 --> 02:46:25.760 it. Thank you. That concludes the public comments. >> Public comment is closed. >> No. >> Okay. Can I get a motion for 3A? >> Wait, hold on. Wait, hold on. Aren't they doing committees? Wait, I'm 483 02:46:25.760 --> 02:46:42.000 >> gonna we're gonna follow the agenda, >> but then with the state of the presentations was uh underneath if you look at I just printed it. It was we were not following it. So my question is >> so I'm not I'm actually going to follow the agenda. Can I get approval? >> Uh I want to make a motion. Motion 484 02:46:42.000 --> 02:46:56.960 >> make your motion. >> All right. I would like >> second >> I would like the $5,000 that we spent on board dinners to be utilized instead to um >> this is not related to the minute. >> It's it is because it's not the budget. 485 02:46:56.960 --> 02:47:13.120 The minute has the budget. We are approving the budget and we want >> the budget was already approved. >> I understand that. But every time I'm trying to make a motion, I am told I'm not allowed to make a motion. I've tried this motion three times and every single time I was told wait until it approves. Waited for it the second time. wait for 486 02:47:13.120 --> 02:47:28.640 it the third time. So, can I just make my motion every three every single time? >> Why don't you make your motion? >> Okay. I would like the $5,000 that's spent on board of education dinners to be created a fund to um fund uh students 487 02:47:28.640 --> 02:47:46.640 that go to uh nationals and states competitions. So, >> second. So in just can I clarify to make sure everybody is there instead of getting dinners for us I rather not have dinners and instead use that money for the 488 02:47:46.640 --> 02:48:00.880 children. >> Just so we're clarifying this is also um dinners for the entire board of education as well as all the administrators that are here all day and stay here um for the duration of the board meetings. 489 02:48:00.880 --> 02:48:17.200 >> I'd like to make a subsidiary motion. >> Can we discuss this motion? Second. I'd like to make a subsidiary motion to move this to the finance committee for further discussion. Um I'm uncomfortable making a determination on that without 490 02:48:17.200 --> 02:48:33.040 having any sort of discussion about legal ramifications where that money if we can even move that money to do those things. So I'd like to move that to the finance committee for further discussion. I >> I would like to discuss this now because >> now we have a subsidiary motion on the 491 02:48:33.040 --> 02:48:48.960 floor. So we have to focus on the subsidiary motion. Okay. So, I'd like to make comment. >> Okay. Well, I'm going to get there. Okay. >> I have to clarify. So, you would like to move the motion for taking the $5,000 for 492 02:48:48.960 --> 02:49:10.640 dinner to the finance committee. >> The floor is open for discussion. Mr. Santana. >> Thank you, Madame President. Um well I don't think we need a special meeting to discuss the obvious. Um we have the 493 02:49:10.640 --> 02:49:25.760 business administrator here. We have the board council uh and we have us here. So we have all the information and the people who can answer the questions. Uh I came here uh 20 minutes before we had the close session at 6 and there were 494 02:49:25.760 --> 02:49:43.600 only myself and another board member. That's it. So, uh, from what I have experienced, most board members are not really eating the food. And, um, to the board, uh, to the chair, board attorney, correct me if I'm wrong, are we, uh, are 495 02:49:43.600 --> 02:49:59.200 we obligated to provide food for employees who are staying at this time? Uh if not, I agree that we should use move that money to fund uh the trips of students going to na national and 496 02:49:59.200 --> 02:50:15.600 statewide competitions since we have received many inquiries from parents stating that um uh you know we already the only elected officials who are non-compensated. Unlike the council, we don't get a stipen. We don't vote on 497 02:50:15.600 --> 02:50:31.840 getting ourselves a stipen. We don't get a salary. People don't know our names. They only know our names when they're mad at us or when they don't agree with us, which is democracy. You have every right to disagree with your elected officials. >> Please focus on the most. >> So, 498 02:50:31.840 --> 02:50:47.200 I think it's not necessary. Plus uh some of us this stated that some some of the food does not meet the dietary restriction of some board members due to religious cultural 499 02:50:47.200 --> 02:51:03.600 uh and and and health differences. So you know I rather put that money into the children not into ourselves and I don't need another meeting to think about that >> point of clarification. Shouldn't we be discussing the subsidiary motion? >> We should be 500 02:51:03.600 --> 02:51:19.760 >> okay. point of clarification. That's exactly what I clarify. Okay. Kindness, guys. Kindness. Mr. S. Mr. Elia. >> I was just going to say call the question. >> A >> second. >> Thank you. >> Point of order. According to Robert's rules, 501 02:51:19.760 --> 02:51:35.840 >> everyone should be able to >> that cannot be done until excuse me according to Robert's rules says that everyone have to have a chance to speak before you can do that. Otherwise, you would not have any discussion at all. We just come here raise their hand. And New Jersey school board says we me and Mrs. 502 02:51:35.840 --> 02:51:52.560 Brown went together and we said and they said until everyone speaks you cannot do call of question. M and I we both spoke to the if you're going to f if you're not going to follow their lead then why are we paying the $26,000 a year that we're spending if you're not going to even follow whatever training we are 503 02:51:52.560 --> 02:52:06.640 getting from them. >> So we are deferring to our legal counsel and our legal counsel is saying that Mr. Ilia's call the question and Miss Brown's second >> I wanted to speak and you said >> I'm speak I'm speaking you you like to 504 02:52:06.640 --> 02:52:24.960 interrupt people so many people spoke we're now at quarter of 10 and we haven't adopted the minutes this is absurd you called the question there was a second roll call >> roll call subsidiary motion uh to table 505 02:52:24.960 --> 02:52:41.920 discussion for finance uh committee A vote of yes would table. A vote of no would >> go back. >> Not table. >> Dr. Bolini is absent. Miss Brown. >> Yes. 506 02:52:41.920 --> 02:53:01.359 >> Mr. Yelia. >> Yes. >> Miss Favvelich. >> No. >> Miss Coraliva. >> No. >> Miss Casoy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rosenberg? >> No. Mr. Santana, 507 02:53:01.359 --> 02:53:16.000 >> no. >> Mrs. Mayhem, >> made it a guess. >> Motion fails. >> Motion fails. >> Okay. >> So, we defer back to Miss Favll sub uh 508 02:53:16.000 --> 02:53:33.680 original motion. Uh the floor is open. >> I have a question. Oh. Oh, sorry. So, the account that these this money is coming from, it has $5,000. I've been Oh, sorry. The account that this money is coming from has $5,000 in it. I've 509 02:53:33.680 --> 02:53:49.520 been asking what exactly the money because we don't I'm not sure how much we spent for the dinner, but there's other things that we spending money on from this account. So, I would like to have clarification. What are what other things are being spent from that account? >> So, that's not related to this motion. 510 02:53:49.520 --> 02:54:05.680 So, we're going >> Would that make it Would it take it away from children or do we spend Okay, let me restate the question. Is there any funds that are allocated from the board of education account that go towards the children 511 02:54:05.680 --> 02:54:22.399 or is it directly >> This is not related to the motion. I'm going to ask you to focus on the motion, which is your opinion on the motion, which states that the $5,000 for dinners should be reallocated to creating a fund for any students who attend a national convention or competition. 512 02:54:22.399 --> 02:54:39.040 >> Yes. But to clarify like I agree that every single money that we have that could be extra should be allocated for our children. We are in a business of education and we should be supporting our children. So I know some of the children that go to the state and national and it usually is a problem because the parents do pay higher cost 513 02:54:39.040 --> 02:54:54.880 for that. So I do agree with this motion and we should allocate it towards the children and make the fund. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Miss Valvich, >> I just believe that I've been on the board for six years. I've never ate one single time this mo uh this meal. Most 514 02:54:54.880 --> 02:55:09.760 of the time it goes into the garbage at the end of the night. I don't think we should be wasting food. I think we are here for the betterment of the children. That's our job and children should be number one. And if we can use that money for our children instead of throwing 515 02:55:09.760 --> 02:55:25.680 money in the garbage, I would be happy. So that students that some parents cannot afford states and nationals because they just they don't have the money and their kids cannot go to those states and nationals. Sometimes they fund raise, sometimes they just can't. And I think that money should be going 516 02:55:25.680 --> 02:55:42.479 into a fund. We talked about a couple of years ago that we're going to create a fund. We never did. That's okay. Let's make a fund right now. And then maybe we'll grow it every year and there will be a ability that students will be from our schools that win go to the states or 517 02:55:42.479 --> 02:55:57.760 nationals have the opportunity to participate and we're here for the children. That's our number one. Every single board member has been saying that. So by us not I'm sorry. Well, you're speaking when I'm speaking. 518 02:55:57.760 --> 02:56:14.240 I know, but it would be disrespectful if I'm speaking. You would not speak in front. >> Let's move on. >> Okay. So, I strongly hope this the board will consider this motion and we'll pass it because we don't need the dinners, but some children need to go to states 519 02:56:14.240 --> 02:56:30.240 and and find and nationals and they should be able to go and we should be using that money for the children, not for us. Thank you. I'm actually going to speak. Um, I don't vote on motions. I don't make decisions that are based on 520 02:56:30.240 --> 02:56:45.680 a whim. I will tell you I don't eat the dinners. I've never eaten the dinners. I did not get here until 6 p.m. tonight because I happen to have eaten a sandwich during student dialogue. So, I ate their dinner. That being said, I'm not going to vote on 521 02:56:45.680 --> 02:57:02.720 this motion because there is no way you can ask any of us to determine where this $5,000 should go without without having a conversation with our administration, with our high school 522 02:57:02.720 --> 02:57:18.080 administration through Dr. Dianio. There are avenues that need to take place because we are not in the business of daily operations. We are in the business of policy and oversight and for us to determine where $5,000 should go is out 523 02:57:18.080 --> 02:57:33.920 of the purview of our role. So it has nothing to do with the fact that I don't eat the meals and I don't think that we necessarily need them. But we also need to consider the fact that we are asking our administration to stay here from roughly 7:45 to 8 o'clock in the morning 524 02:57:33.920 --> 02:57:51.760 until lately 11 12:00 a.m. And if a courtesy is to supply them with a meal, I will absolutely do that. And then you can decrease the $10 it is that the legal limit is $10 ahead and you can take my $10 out. I would have to imagine 525 02:57:51.760 --> 02:58:06.640 that, Miss Felich, you could take your $10 out. we don't need. But we can't make a decision based on one person's determination in a room on camera when we don't have all the information. Thank you, 526 02:58:06.640 --> 02:58:27.279 >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> Thank you. Um, this comes up has come up a couple times and very sneaky because I don't think we have the power to change the $5,000 from 527 02:58:27.279 --> 02:58:44.560 one line item to go to a specific other line item. Um, it doesn't make any sense. So first of all just so everyone knows there is a we do have a practice 528 02:58:44.560 --> 02:59:00.640 of funding certain parts of national conferences for that our students have gone into and I have personally also have have given money myself to to people that have done it. 529 02:59:00.640 --> 02:59:18.080 You know what? I've been here six hours the last every meeting since I came back. I could use without eating, but that that eating that snack which is 530 02:59:18.080 --> 02:59:33.680 made by our food service. So, it's it's with with money involved. First of all, $5,000 isn't going to do much. And if we want to let more people No, I 531 02:59:33.680 --> 02:59:50.399 I'm not even going to say that it's this is a nothing. This is a nothing motion. It's just to it's just to say we're spending $5,000 wrong when out of $150 million budget. 532 02:59:50.399 --> 03:00:05.840 You know what? It's it's past practice. We've done it. And I don't see any reason to not fund $5,000. And for the reasons Mrs. Maym has said, um, I am going to vote no on your motion. 533 03:00:05.840 --> 03:00:26.880 >> Miss Brown, call the question. >> Second. >> Miss Brown. This is a This is uh is a motion uh to take $5,000 in board dinners and uh transfer the budget to for use of 534 03:00:26.880 --> 03:00:43.840 studentled uh state and national competitions. >> So if I vote no then we don't move the money. >> Correct. >> Okay. No. >> Mile. >> No. >> Yes. >> No. >> Miss Felovich. 535 03:00:43.840 --> 03:01:01.680 >> Yes. Miss Coriva, >> yes. >> Miss Casoy, >> as I have a student who is attending nationals this year, I have to abstain. >> Mr. Rosenberg, >> no. >> Mrs. Santana. 536 03:01:01.680 --> 03:01:34.560 >> Money belongs to the children. Yes, >> Mrs. Man. >> No. I have a question. Call the question. Who who seconded? Miss Bra, >> thank you so much for the clarification. >> Okay, moving on. 537 03:01:34.560 --> 03:01:52.040 >> I would like to make a motion. Second. So we had appearance coming up about some policies. So I would >> related to the minutes. >> Yes, it is. >> Yes, it is. How 538 03:01:52.160 --> 03:02:08.720 >> um it's about a family that's been here twice and this child is a school child. So I would like to make a motion to amend policy. We are in a mobile. >> We can't have that conversation in 539 03:02:08.720 --> 03:02:24.319 public. >> This is a child. You can't have the discussion. Second, >> I'm not. No, but she asked me how. So, I had to tell her how that's related to the motion. So, I have to do it. But this is the >> But I could make a motion to make an amendment to the policy. >> Policy. If you want to make you want to 540 03:02:24.319 --> 03:02:39.920 talk about policy, it goes to the policy committee. And that's >> we don't have a policy committee. >> And and you also have policies underneath here. So, you >> you can make a dur policy. We don't have a policy committee. >> Make it during policies. >> Policies. >> What does that mean? >> Read your agenda. You can make it during 541 03:02:39.920 --> 03:02:55.760 policies. >> Review your agenda. >> But this has to do directly for the agenda. It is on the >> to make a motion regarding a policy change >> that's relating to it. >> We cannot discuss what is 542 03:02:55.760 --> 03:03:10.880 >> I'm not discussing the anything. >> We're moving on. Can I get a motion? Can I get a motion for 3A? So moved. >> Second. I want to have I want to say something. >> Roll call. >> We have there's a motion in a second. You don't have to have us roll. >> Yes. >> Roll call. 543 03:03:10.880 --> 03:03:26.080 >> Miss Favllovich. >> No. >> Miss Coriva. >> I don't know what I'm voting for. >> Minutes. Approval of the minutes. >> Miss Casoy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> Yes. >> Mr. Santana. 544 03:03:26.080 --> 03:03:50.319 >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mayan. >> Yes. Motion carries. This agenda item provides an opportunity for committee chairs to present brief summaries of proceedings from their most recent meetings. These reports are forformational purposes only and reflect 545 03:03:50.319 --> 03:04:05.439 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 meetings 546 03:04:05.439 --> 03:04:21.040 minutes. Focus only on key actions and discussions from the most recent meeting. Reference when the next committee meeting is scheduled. Avoid introducing new business that has not been properly vetted through committee. Submit any written summary reports to the superintendent and board secretary 547 03:04:21.040 --> 03:04:36.880 for inclusion in the minutes. Floor is open. Miss Felvich. >> Okay. Thank you. Um I just wanted to clarify first just that how the process of this new meeting when you >> we cannot we're currently talking about 548 03:04:36.880 --> 03:04:53.760 committee reports please discuss finance or move on >> during the May 7 2026 finance committee meeting the committee discussed several important financial and operational matters impacting the Fairlon school district administration reviewed the extraordinary aid application process for special education costs and 549 03:04:53.760 --> 03:05:08.399 explained that reimbursement rates vary annually with last year's reimbursement rate uh reimbursement at at approximately 49%. The committee also reviewed the revision 2627 tax payment schedule which provided the 550 03:05:08.399 --> 03:05:24.080 district with a large sum uh large sum payments intended to improve cash flow and increase potential interest earnings and the cash flow is from the town and it's a new schedule that we are 551 03:05:24.080 --> 03:05:41.680 approving. I think it's uh section 12. The committee discussed the renewed uh renewal of advocate service, noting that this pro the proposed cost decrease from approximately $26,000 to $15,000, which will eliminate cafeteria related 552 03:05:41.680 --> 03:05:58.240 services were eliminated. Public bidding for flooring, painting, boiler repairs, and paving projects were also reviewed along with legal requirements governing the public bidding process. Additionally, the committee discussed the New Jersey school board's association resolution regarding a 553 03:05:58.240 --> 03:06:14.479 significant increase in uh health benefit costs under the state education health benefit program. The chair of the uh the chair of the finance committee also requested additional meeting in May to address pending topics that has not been discussed for several potential 554 03:06:14.479 --> 03:06:29.680 dates were discussed and the superintendent stated that they will review the calendar and provide the available minutes. Professional service appointments and renewals were tradition traditionally have been reviewed through a f the finance committee before being 555 03:06:29.680 --> 03:06:45.200 presented to the board. This year those appointments were presented without the finance committee review. The agenda was distributed without the consultation with the finance chair. The committee uh chair submitted a committee minutes within the three within the three 556 03:06:45.200 --> 03:07:02.800 business days. administration subsequently prepared and distributed a separate >> This is not related to the committee. Stop. I'm going to ask you to stop speaking. This is not related to your committee. >> It is. It's my minutes. >> It is not. >> It's my minutes. Thank you. 557 03:07:02.800 --> 03:07:26.240 >> Anybody else? Floor is closed. Can I get a motion for 5A, Mental Health Awareness Month, 5B, Jewish American Heritage Month, and 5C, Asian-American and Pacific Islander? >> I make a motion. I make the motion. >> Second. 558 03:07:26.240 --> 03:07:42.240 >> Go ahead. You're making a motion. Go ahead. >> No, I >> You moved it. >> I moved it. >> Yeah. Roll call. >> Roll call. >> Miss Brown. Yes, >> Miss Ala. >> Yes, >> Miss Favllovich. >> Yes, 559 03:07:42.240 --> 03:07:59.439 >> Skoliva. >> Yes, >> Miss Casoy. >> Yes, >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> Yes, >> Mr. Santana. >> Let's protect all children. Yes, >> Mrs. Man. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Can I get a motion for 7 B and C? >> So move. 560 03:07:59.439 --> 03:08:16.160 >> I wanted to say something. >> Thank you. I just wanted to say the reason why I'm going to be abstaining on the hips because I didn't have a time. I didn't have a chance to ask questions. I tried to ask questions and I was told I cannot ask that question. >> For clarification purposes for the community, we have two months to ask 561 03:08:16.160 --> 03:08:33.920 questions. Roll call. >> Yes, >> Mr. Leia. >> Yes. >> Miss Felovich. >> No. On B and C, I'm going to abstain. >> Miss Coriva. 562 03:08:33.920 --> 03:08:51.600 Uh, no. On B and abstaining from the um C as the C, right? Yes. See, >> Miss Cassoy, >> yes. >> Mr. Rosenberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Santana, >> yes. All of them. >> Mrs. Mayan? 563 03:08:51.600 --> 03:09:11.279 >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Can I get a motion? Go ahead. >> Thank you. The letter I would like the contracts for F, which is the approval of Western Governor Capstone Research 564 03:09:11.279 --> 03:09:27.279 Project. >> You're you're going out of order right now. You're on >> eight. F and G. What am I doing wrong again? We are in education and we are proving A through H. That's what the president said. 565 03:09:27.279 --> 03:09:43.439 >> Didn't you have What about this right here? We just did seven. >> Okay. >> Am I allowed to make my motion now? >> Please. >> Thank you. I would like the F, which is the approval of Western Governor Capstone Research Project and the and 566 03:09:43.439 --> 03:09:59.520 letter G, the approval of Sedan Hall University data collection and analyze research data for those contracts to be considered public record because they are about our children. They're researching our children and parents 567 03:09:59.520 --> 03:10:17.120 should know what their children are going to be part of the contract. All the negatives and the side effects of each of the studies should be known and it should be also public record because they're conducting studies in our schools that is funded by the taxpayers. 568 03:10:17.120 --> 03:10:33.840 >> Uh Mr. Gio Kobe I believe this was a conversation that we had I don't remember if it was last month or the month prior that um contracts like this to safeguard these projects and research once they are approved they become public is that the case >> so when will they when will they be 569 03:10:33.840 --> 03:10:49.120 >> has to approve >> the board has to approve it >> okay well then I would like to talk about those two >> can I speak now I'm recognized I would like to speak about these two >> no there's not a motion >> we have a motion on the floor so you have to either I would like to I would 570 03:10:49.120 --> 03:11:05.840 like to make a motion to discuss this. >> So you don't have to make a motion to >> Can I discuss it? >> Okay. You have to remove your motion off the floor >> and then I can discuss it. >> Please remove your motion off the floor. This is standard Robert's rules. Please remove your motion off the floor and then we can have a conversation about if 571 03:11:05.840 --> 03:11:22.080 you want to make a statement. >> What do you mean if? I would like. It's not an if. >> Please remove your motion on the floor or else you have to move forward with your motion. >> So can I move forward with my motion? You can't >> I remove my motion and I would like to 572 03:11:22.080 --> 03:11:37.600 discuss this >> be you first. >> So basically when you do it there supposed to be a motion and a second on an agenda item and then a discussion. >> So somebody's got a move, >> right? But she wanted to make a motion and if she does no longer has a motion on the floor person who is 573 03:11:37.600 --> 03:11:52.960 >> discuss it there has to be a motion and a second on the agenda then you can discuss it. >> No, we we did we had education. I don't I don't understand why we're doing this backwards. moved it. You asked for >> I'll move it and then can I speak? >> You have a motion on the floor. >> I just said I move I removed the motion. 574 03:11:52.960 --> 03:12:12.560 >> The second has to take their second back and then the motion gets removed. This is standard. You have been a board member for six years like I have. This is not new. Mr. Santana, did you make the second? >> I don't recall. 575 03:12:12.560 --> 03:12:29.080 >> Who did? >> No. No one made it. No one made a second. Can I get a vote for 8A? >> I would like to Can you please let me finish >> and then I can speak? >> Can you please let me finish? >> I don't understand this. I'm asking for this. 576 03:12:29.920 --> 03:12:46.880 >> Make a motion on 8A through G. >> Discussion >> and then discussion. >> There's got to be a second then there's discussion. >> Can I get a motion for 8 A through G? So moved. Now can you say second >> discussion? 577 03:12:46.880 --> 03:13:03.279 >> No second before she said motion. Come on this is standard. >> Jesus Christ. >> Can we I don't know. >> That is disrespectful. That is somebody's religion. It is disrespectful. >> I find that very disrespectful. >> Not because you >> you just took God's name in vain. That 578 03:13:03.279 --> 03:13:19.200 is disrespectful. Miss Brown, are you making the motion? >> Can I have a second? >> Can I have a discussion? Miss Favvelich, you now can make a discussion topic. You have three minutes. 579 03:13:19.200 --> 03:13:35.359 >> Okay. These two research project when I asked the administration in my write up this this time around, I asked them what is the benefit of of these research projects to the district? NA. What is the benefit for the students? NA. Okay. 580 03:13:35.359 --> 03:13:51.040 Then I ask are parent will how will parents be informed? Will they get the contract? parents are informed and do not have an option of opting out. I don't feel comfortable for what's this called for students to be part of this 581 03:13:51.040 --> 03:14:07.120 and they don't have a chance to opt out. The the community doesn't know what be what is being discussed. I don't understand. I just feel like this I don't I if I don't see the if the district doesn't have a value, the students don't have a value, why are we 582 03:14:07.120 --> 03:14:23.200 prep why are we prep participating in the Sen Hall University data collection and analysis research project? I just don't understand. So that's my concern regarding these two and therefore I I just wanted to ask the legal question. So once we approve the 583 03:14:23.200 --> 03:14:38.239 next board meeting, these will be public record. They're not going to be in executive session anymore. Mr. Jacobe >> approved they're public document >> and so they will be in the in the minutes >> they're typically don't put contracts in minutes but people can make an open request for them 584 03:14:38.239 --> 03:14:54.880 >> so we have there's so so why can't a public also be able to speak about this why can't why is it only executive session why can p public people cannot say hey I want this uh research project hey I don't >> earlier >> can you please I I miss it >> someone else 585 03:14:54.880 --> 03:15:10.239 >> can you please answer that question why can't the public >> because I don't know these contracts. >> Well, you >> I didn't review these contracts, so I have no idea what these contracts provide. >> So, you're saying we are entering into a contract with someone else and the board attorney did not 586 03:15:10.239 --> 03:15:29.120 >> This is not This is what you're saying. >> You can make your commentary and then we're going to move on. >> Is that what you're saying? You did not have a chance. You didn't look at the contracts that we are entering into. >> I've already I've already said what I did. So, thanks. >> Point of information. Um, board president, uh, can I ask a question to 587 03:15:29.120 --> 03:15:44.960 the board attorney? >> Yeah. >> Uh, answer you, but you can answer ask it. >> I know. Um, Mr. Jacobe, did did um can we can the board approve any contract that has not been reviewed by the board 588 03:15:44.960 --> 03:16:00.800 attorney or his designate? >> Absolutely. You do it all the time. >> Thank you. >> Constantly you do it. You have purchase orders that you have a very capable administration that puts forwards contracts. They only have us review contracts if they're complex. 589 03:16:00.800 --> 03:16:15.439 >> It was just a a question. >> You can actually do it. >> Miss Cusy, >> I am looking at the contract. >> I didn't see you. >> You're next. >> I'll be very quick. In the seat and hall contract, it clearly says there the 590 03:16:15.439 --> 03:16:32.000 participation is voluntary and they can decide to participate or not to participate. So I don't think it is appropriate to say that they have no choice to participate because it clearly says that right there on page two or I don't know which page it is but it is very clearly identified in that seat 591 03:16:32.000 --> 03:16:48.000 hall contract on page one. Thank you >> Miss Corva. >> So this will involve second. Thank you. So the district's students in um instructional time digital platform and research related 592 03:16:48.000 --> 03:17:06.080 activities are involved in this project. I believe it's important for the board to understand what safeguards were implemented to ensure that transparency, neutrality in voluntary participation. So again I tried I wanted to ask this in the executive session. So can we move 593 03:17:06.080 --> 03:17:22.479 this so I could ask a question in the executive session regarding 8 G because there is questions that I cannot ask on the floor unless I could have a council to step out and he could answer my question. I can't answer the question because I 594 03:17:22.479 --> 03:17:41.120 didn't again there's information on here. It's not regarding it's again we're putting contracts that do not make sense like there are certain things that we need to discuss prior 595 03:17:41.120 --> 03:17:59.600 putting that on the floor. So >> these were provided a week in advance >> and if questions were asked questions weren't answered. >> We can agree to disagree on that one. Do you have anything particular that you want to ask regarding 8A through G? 596 03:17:59.600 --> 03:18:17.200 >> No. Anybody else? >> I'm raising my hand. second time. >> Just for clarification, the Western Governing University Capstone Research Project, uh, I asked that question in my write up and I think question number 23 or 24. It says they don't get to opt 597 03:18:17.200 --> 03:18:38.319 out. That's what I asked. Just a clarification, the students. >> Miss Brown, call the question. >> Roll call. Miss Brown, >> we're voting on 8 A through G. Correct. 598 03:18:38.319 --> 03:18:52.399 >> Correct. >> Yes, >> Miss Leia. >> Yes, Miss Favilovich. >> So, I'm going to vote I'm going to vote no on F and G. I'm sorry. Yes. F and G. 599 03:18:52.399 --> 03:19:12.479 >> Miss Coriva, >> I'm abstaining on G and no on F. >> Miss Casoy. >> Yes. Mr. Rosenberg. >> Yes. Mr. Santana, >> I'm voting yes on everything, but I'm 600 03:19:12.479 --> 03:19:39.120 voting no on 8 F and A and 8G. >> M. >> Yes. Uh, >> motion carries. Thank you. Can I get a motion for 9 A through L? >> Motion. I didn't even finish, guys. 601 03:19:39.120 --> 03:20:00.319 Please let me finish. >> Can I get a motion for 9 A through L and N through S? >> Motion. >> So moved. >> You want to make a motion? >> I would like to make a motion. I did that before. So they say second >> second. 602 03:20:00.319 --> 03:20:14.960 >> Okay. So based on how I I understood based on the write up on letter G, the learning academy. So if you're taking a remedial class, if you if you don't have free or reduced lunch, you pay $200. If you have free or 603 03:20:14.960 --> 03:20:32.640 reduced lunch, you pay um $25. Perfect. Not a big deal. I'm happy with that. But if your child wants to take personal finance course to accelerate so that they don't have to take it during the year and they can take they have to pay $300 for the course. How is that fair? 604 03:20:32.640 --> 03:20:50.000 So if you want to accelerate and be actually do something then no you have to pay extra $100 but if you if you're repeating the course then you'll get a discount. So my motion will be that if you if you're going to take the finance course, it will be $200 605 03:20:50.000 --> 03:21:10.319 as as if it was remedial or and if you have free or reduced lunch, it should be $25. Exactly the same way if it was remedial or non- remedial. >> Second >> discussion. >> I'm getting there. I'm trying to write 606 03:21:10.319 --> 03:21:29.840 down and look up what she's referring to so that I can say it back to everybody. So, you're stating on letter G, 9G, >> correct? G. >> It was letter G 5 minutes. It was the 607 03:21:29.840 --> 03:21:46.560 letter G. It was the summer school that they they have in the high school. It was G this morning. >> It's Gina now. >> Yes. Letter G. Approval of 608 03:21:46.560 --> 03:22:02.800 summer 2026 learning academy >> staffing. >> No, but >> but that's where we put the advertisement of the 225 and the >> Well, that's what we did. Or it's somewhere in the agenda. >> Can you look at that? 609 03:22:02.800 --> 03:22:19.840 >> It's >> me either. >> It's somewhere in the agenda. Miss Mr. I asked that question and they said they updated so that history will also include it. So, and they advertised it was $300, >> right? But we're only approving staffing. >> No, then it's is it is it in the next 610 03:22:19.840 --> 03:22:38.880 Can somebody answer my question? We're approving the 200 and the 25. Correct. Can Mr. Cruz please answer that? The summer academy letter G. The approval of summer academy learning academy. We're approving the 2225. 611 03:22:38.880 --> 03:22:54.160 Correct. >> What resolution is that that you're referring to? >> The summer 2026 learning academy. >> That's not under 9. >> 8. >> It's just hourly rates under 9G. >> Well, I have it as approval of summer 612 03:22:54.160 --> 03:23:10.840 academy of 20. >> That's 8. >> Yes. But then we also are appro >> we were also approving the 200 and the 25 >> already approved what you're discussing. So we can't go backwards. >> When did we approve that >> under 8e? 613 03:23:12.239 --> 03:23:28.080 >> Okay. So that I can bring >> now is personnel not education. >> Okay. Then I'll bring it back. >> Do you want to take your motion off the floor? >> Yes. But I also had a question. You have to 614 03:23:28.080 --> 03:23:47.040 >> point of order. Once you remove the motion, there's no question until you recognize. >> I'm removing my motion. I guess I got confused. >> Can you take your removing? What am I supposed to removing my second? >> Yep. So, we had Can I have a motion for 615 03:23:47.040 --> 03:24:03.359 9 A through L and N through S? >> So moved. And the discussion >> Yes. discussion. So for the I asked this question and I wasn't understanding this for letter N O and P we we are doing I'm 616 03:24:03.359 --> 03:24:20.479 just trying to understand what is the cost for the I don't understand how we're accumulating the limit for the professional development cost. I understand that they said that it's 2500 is for travel but then the two the how much is the profession is there a cap on 617 03:24:20.479 --> 03:25:12.160 the professional development? Can the board attorney answer that? under eight. >> I'm reading it. It says right here very clearly, if approval is granted, the assistance human bonafideed expenses incurred in 618 03:25:12.160 --> 03:25:27.760 attendance at such meetings shall be reimbursed in accordance with requirements of board policy and regulation limitations imposed by law. Reimbursement under this section shall not exceed $2,500 per school year. >> So just to clarify, the travel and 619 03:25:27.760 --> 03:25:42.160 professional development is 2500. Is that correct? Because the questions weren't >> I didn't contract. I just >> I understand that but I don't understand that you are a board attorney. Can you just please interpret it for us so that I understand it? >> I don't give legal advice publicly 620 03:25:42.160 --> 03:25:58.560 because that is privilege. Again, this contract was approved by the executive superintendent. It says all travel expenses reimburse shall be consistent with accordance with legal requirements including not limited to OM. So, no, the 621 03:25:58.560 --> 03:26:14.960 $2,500 does not include travel expenses because that's controlled by the state laws that are cited right in here, 18A1-2, NJAC6A, 23A 7.1, and the OM circulars where airplane transportation is appropriate. 622 03:26:14.960 --> 03:26:30.560 The allowance may only be applied um to tourists or coach classes. So, $2,500 I um says the travel expenses are are consistent with these other laws, >> but but then the detail statement of on 623 03:26:30.560 --> 03:26:47.520 the bottom it says only travel is 200 25,500. That's why I don't understand. I asked that question in my write up. So that and it says only travel is 2500. Now you're saying only professional >> has to be all this has to be subject to board approval. 624 03:26:47.520 --> 03:27:02.560 Whenever the board approves, if they approve it, >> so it's $2,500 for travel and professional development combined because on the detail statement, it says 2500 for travel and then you're stating the $2,500 professional devel. I just 625 03:27:02.560 --> 03:27:17.840 want to understand what we are approving >> under the professional development section. It says it's $2,500 per school year. Reimbursement total under this section shall not exceed $2,500 per school year. 626 03:27:17.840 --> 03:27:38.640 I said that once before. >> Okay. So, it's 25 all total. Thank you so much. >> Roll call. >> Can you repeat what we're voting on? >> We're we're voting on 9 A >> L N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N through S. 627 03:27:38.640 --> 03:27:54.399 9 through >> nine. I'm nine. >> 9 A through L. 9 N like Nancy through S like Sam. >> Miss Brown. >> Yes. >> Mr. Leair. >> Yes. >> Melovich. >> Yes. 628 03:27:54.399 --> 03:28:18.080 >> Miss Coraliva, >> can you come back? >> Can you come back to me? >> Mr. Casoy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> Yes. >> Mr. Santana. This is nine. >> Come back to come back. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Then can I switch my vote? I'm sorry. I thought we were at 629 03:28:18.080 --> 03:28:33.840 10. >> Uh, let me go back to Miss Coriva >> and then Can I come back to me again? We are at nine, right? We're voting on. We have now said 9 A through L and N through S at least four times for myself 630 03:28:33.840 --> 03:28:51.359 and twice for Mr. Cruz. Please, it is 10:22. We're all tired, but we all have to focus. >> So, I want to say no to 6J, N as in Nancy, O as in octopus, P as in 631 03:28:51.359 --> 03:29:08.880 >> nine. Yeah, nine. Uh, no. It's It's 6 J of letter A. I think N as in Nancy. Oh, I'm sorry. Six. It's It's letter J. Six. Part six. So, letter J has it has extra compensation. It's 632 03:29:08.880 --> 03:29:26.800 letter number six. Does that make sense? >> Yep. >> N as in Nancy, O is in octopus, P as in Peter, and S is in Sam. No on those three. And everything else? Yes. Okay, Miss uh Miss Coraliva. 633 03:29:26.800 --> 03:29:50.960 >> Um I'm going to say no on O and S and yes to the all the other ones. >> Mr. Santana. Um, I on on I 634 03:29:50.960 --> 03:30:16.720 um on I uh N O P I I support the the the items, but I don't agree with the percentages. So, um I'm going to vote uh yes with reservations. >> I appreciate all three of you. 635 03:30:16.720 --> 03:30:32.319 >> Mrs. Maym, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> I never You never called me. >> Oh, Mr. I thought I had you, Mr. Ros. >> Sorry, Mr. Ros. >> Yes. >> Okay. Can I get a motion for 10 A through E? 636 03:30:32.319 --> 03:30:51.920 >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. 637 03:30:51.920 --> 03:31:10.000 >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Can I get a motion for 11 A through C? >> So moved. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Yes. 638 03:31:10.000 --> 03:31:25.840 >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Can I get a motion for 12A? 639 03:31:25.840 --> 03:31:40.160 >> Motion. Guys, I didn't even finish. I didn't finish. Please monitor your own agenda to know what the items are so that when I finish it, you can say it. 640 03:31:40.160 --> 03:31:57.840 12 A C through T. >> So move. >> Motion. >> Miss Felvish. So, I would like to make a motion that letter K, which is the frontline contract be um be public record because 641 03:31:57.840 --> 03:32:13.520 it states the cost. There's no reason for anybody to operate. And there's another contract. I just can't see it. point of information. Correct me if I'm wrong. Um, through the chair, board attorney, aren't this 642 03:32:13.520 --> 03:32:30.479 already public once we >> vote on them? >> You have to go through the OPRA and Oprah. It takes a while and it cost the district's money. There's no reason to put this. >> There's a deadline by law. >> There's no reason to spend thousands of dollars in lawyer fees that we're spending currently $30,000 in lawyer 643 03:32:30.479 --> 03:32:46.720 fees for the past three months. We can put them in the agenda and it's already there. and then we don't have to go through this. And $30,000 every penny that's spent on Oprah is taken away from the children. So there's no reason for it to be removed. >> I I agree. We do have too many opas. But what what 644 03:32:46.720 --> 03:33:02.000 >> board members? >> Not me. >> I don't remember the last time I filed one. Um what does the Can I ask a question to the superintendent? >> Can I ask a question to the superintendent? Uh Dr. Denio, do you 645 03:33:02.000 --> 03:33:21.040 have any reservations to do that? We typically do not post contracts until they're after approved, until they're board approved. And >> I I know the what she stated was um to to make it public in a way that people don't have to file an open 646 03:33:21.040 --> 03:33:36.080 request. >> We do once they're approved. You just have to then go into board docs and find the contract. >> Okay. Because the the attorney said earlier you stated that people had to file an upper request for a contract. >> Elevator said that >> they could they could file an upper 647 03:33:36.080 --> 03:33:51.920 request but if it's if you guys make it revealed then board docs people just go to your board documents. >> Okay. So so there's no need for an upper request. So we save money. >> So it will be uploaded by the next meeting. Is that what the board attorney says? >> We have to >> it's I don't do that. That's your board secretary. 648 03:33:51.920 --> 03:34:08.160 >> I'm I'm trying to understand this because it's not a >> ask your board secretary. >> Okay. Board secretary. I'm asking because the board attorney told me to ask >> that all all the contracts that we approve will be included. There's a couple more that I can't figure out 649 03:34:08.160 --> 03:34:23.279 where they are. >> Can I can I ask a question? Is that going to add a burden to the business administrator or is that is that already is that already done? Like are the contracts already on the agenda that he just had to enable it and that's it? 650 03:34:23.279 --> 03:34:42.160 like is this going to take time away from him running the finances of of of the district? If if the answer is yes, then we we got to protect the finances. >> We can add it. 651 03:34:42.160 --> 03:34:59.600 Would you like to move forward with your motion? >> No, because it's going to be added, correct? >> So, can we remove the second? >> Yeah. Uh remove. >> Can I get a motion for 12 A C through T? >> So moved. 652 03:34:59.600 --> 03:35:15.040 >> Second. >> Can we have discussion now? >> You have something to say. You may discuss it. >> Yes. Letter I. I was wondering if they I I can explain. Letter I says approval of established tuition for the 202425 school year. My question is why are we 653 03:35:15.040 --> 03:35:48.000 doing it two years early late? >> You're not. Can you please explain? >> Is that a typo? >> This is 2425. >> Oh, no. That's uh 2425. So we're approving this is 654 03:35:48.000 --> 03:36:03.680 actually tuition um that the state determines is it's actually released every March every year uh is a year behind. So these are the tuition rates that the state confirm after the audit. So this is fiscal year 25 audit. The 655 03:36:03.680 --> 03:36:18.319 state confirms it and then the board has to approve it before the end of this fiscal year. >> Oh, so the 2425 school year that's so next year will be 25 26 >> next. >> Okay. based on your your your audit. >> The audit. 656 03:36:18.319 --> 03:36:40.160 >> Yes. >> And is that different than what we say? I think sometime somewhere during the months we actually approve it. Is it different? This is it. This is it. Okay. >> Roll call. >> Brown. 657 03:36:40.160 --> 03:36:57.279 >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mr. >> Yes. That's my velvet. >> I'm going to vote no on letter F. Um K P 658 03:36:57.279 --> 03:37:12.640 R S T R RST. I'm already know because it was last minute. >> Miss Corva, >> can you come back? >> Can you come back to me? What? >> Mr. >> Yes. 659 03:37:12.640 --> 03:37:33.120 >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> Yes, >> Mr. Santana. >> I have a point of information to the board of Attorney if I may. Bo President. >> Okay. Um, Mr. Jacobe, uh, 12 L and M, those are 660 03:37:33.120 --> 03:37:49.279 two agreements with the Ferlone Teachers Union, uh, Ferlone Education Association. We have five educators here. Don't we need a We have five board members who are educator. Don't we need a a more Don't we need a a a >> doctrine of >> doctrine of necessity? 661 03:37:49.279 --> 03:38:04.000 >> No. These are so just because you're an educator doesn't mean you can ultimately vote on memorandums or agreement. You just can't participate in the negotiations. These are resolutions of grievances that we put together. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. The doctrine of necessity is if 662 03:38:04.000 --> 03:38:25.520 you had a if you had board members who had family members that were in flea majority, then you'd have to do the doctrine of necessity. >> These are just so you know, these are just resolutions of grievances that I worked on with ME with Joe Dundee. how 663 03:38:25.520 --> 03:38:44.880 how I'm voting. Um 12 12J, no too expensive. 12K, no, too expensive. But I support the board decision in whatever the board majority decides. Uh 12 L and M. Uh I will abstain. I'm going 664 03:38:44.880 --> 03:39:09.279 to abstain on 12 P QR S A L and M. We need to go out for bits for these for these professionals every year to save money to the taxpayers. >> Um 12. >> Mr. Coraliva, this is 12. >> You have to stop. Mr. Mr. Santana, you 665 03:39:09.279 --> 03:39:26.160 were just voting on the wrong resolutions. >> Aren't we voting on 12? >> Yes, we are. Which is 12 A C through T. >> Oh, the Okay. Okay. The number the I apologize. >> I thought they called me to vote. 666 03:39:26.160 --> 03:39:55.439 >> 12. >> Yes or no? >> We are on 12. >> They did. He did call me to vote. >> I called I called you 12. Yes. Yes. on everything. Um, no on 12J. 667 03:39:55.439 --> 03:40:23.920 No on 12K. Too expensive. Uh, abstain on L 12 L and M >> Cor. >> No. on C J K N O P R S T N Q. Yes. On 668 03:40:23.920 --> 03:40:43.439 the rest. >> CJ. Repeat that again. >> C J K N O P R S 669 03:40:43.439 --> 03:41:01.600 and T. Mr. Cruz, I forgot. I wanted to put also no on C. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> And Mrs. Man. >> Yes. >> Motion cars. >> Can I get a motion 670 03:41:01.600 --> 03:41:23.279 for 13AR? >> So motion >> discussion. >> Second. No. No. Mr. Mr. Santana is making a motion. >> Oh, >> I I'm moving the item. >> So moved instead of motion. 671 03:41:23.279 --> 03:41:42.720 >> Yes, I know. >> So move. >> Question. Discussion >> ahead. Melvage. >> Hi. So our law we are approving the lawyer contract right now. For the past three months, our lawyer contract uh lawyer fees has been over $30,000. 672 03:41:42.720 --> 03:41:57.840 When we did the RFP for our attorney, we were supposed the highest bills were $20,000 and I thought that was ridiculous. Now we're moving to $30,000. At this rate, if you're going to continue what we're doing, we're going 673 03:41:57.840 --> 03:42:16.080 to spend over $300,000 in lawyer fees. I think that money should be going towards the children. When I started, our lawyer fees were $4,000 to 5,000 a month and now we're at $30,000 a month. I don't know what's causing it, 674 03:42:16.080 --> 03:42:31.439 but it seems something is arai because we increased by 20%. We did an RFP to save money and instead of saving money, we've been increasing every single time. So, I think the board needs to go for 675 03:42:31.439 --> 03:42:50.880 another RFP or do something else because at this rate it's over 300,000 300 if you continue it'll be $360,000 for lawyer fees and that's not including special education. That just is regular education. So, I'm asking the board to 676 03:42:50.880 --> 03:43:07.040 either do an RFP or we need to have some parameters when the lawyer can be used because it's getting out of hand that $30,000 that $10,000 extra is going away from the children. So, I also don't understand the 12Q the 677 03:43:07.040 --> 03:43:25.359 medical inspector made uh so we're approving the medical director. They made multiple mistakes on standing orders. We have not fixed them over the past. So my question is why are we approving this contract? Uh another question I had is I had it 678 03:43:25.359 --> 03:43:40.800 the Strauss Esme. It says nine extra online users at $95 each. Can can somebody explain to me what's the nine extra online users? Maybe Mr. Cruz can if possible. And then will the the 679 03:43:40.800 --> 03:43:58.960 Strauss as my contract be included once we approve it? The Strauss Esme 9 users is us. >> Is there a way we can remove it because I had to use it? >> That the trustees will no longer have access and you were one of the trustees that asked 680 03:43:58.960 --> 03:44:14.319 for that access. >> I I have access but I have no idea how to use it or even what it's a waste. Most of us are not logging in. $95 could be going again towards the children. Maybe we can have two or three licenses and the rest of them we don't need because I don't understand the point of 681 03:44:14.319 --> 03:44:31.040 it to be honest. I've been here six years. I've never been told explained to me. I only got my password last year and we've been paying for the past six years. So I'm not really sure what's the point of it. >> Mr. Santana 682 03:44:31.040 --> 03:44:45.520 >> comments on this on this item 13 >> on 13. >> Okay. to respond to what Miss Melik said, that's reasonable. If we don't use it, why pay for it? That money could go into the children. I don't I've been a board member for five years and I do not 683 03:44:45.520 --> 03:45:02.399 recall ever entering on that website. So maybe the newer the newer board members are utilizing it every week and the the the veteran board members, we're just not using it. 684 03:45:02.399 --> 03:45:19.439 But I I don't think this is the the appropriate time to discuss it. Um look, the the the legal bills they're going for bit for I'm not going to talk about that, but I am going to say that I 685 03:45:19.439 --> 03:45:35.520 did said that we need a mechanism to track who's using the board attorney, how many times they using it, like a tally, right? like a tally like this employee is using the board attorney this many times. This employee is using 686 03:45:35.520 --> 03:45:50.880 the board attorney this many times. The board president is using the board attorney this many time. And why not the the the board president is using the board attorney this many time because of the request or the need because of this board member. That way we hold ourselves 687 03:45:50.880 --> 03:46:07.040 accountable because regardless if you're not regardless if you're not a homeowner, if you're a homeowner or not on this board, we are we have a fiduciary duty to ensure that the taxpayers's money is being spent responsibly. And when we increase the 688 03:46:07.040 --> 03:46:23.840 taxes 6% annually to the average assessed value homeowner, every dollar counts. We have a fine uh attorney, but um you know, we got to keep track of the money by keeping track of who's using the the board of attorney and who's 689 03:46:23.840 --> 03:46:39.840 misusing it because it is not a personal attorney. We cannot have anyone uh using the board of attorney non-stop. I'm not saying that's happening, but we need a mechanism to track and keep control of the money because the dollars don't grow 690 03:46:39.840 --> 03:46:57.279 on tree. And I will ask the board uh the the entire board, why aren't we going to be for all these professionals every year to see if we can save money to the taxpayers? There's people who who are choosing between eating, paying their 691 03:46:57.279 --> 03:47:13.840 mortgage, or buying uh uh um or buying prescription drugs. I know a lot of neighbors who cannot afford to buy groceries. So, if we can save a a buck here and there, let's save it. But again, this is not the time to to do it. We we should 692 03:47:13.840 --> 03:47:30.960 have an ahawk uh uh Miss Mayhem. But I'll ask you respectfully to create an A-HO committee a >> hawk committee. Okay. To do what we need to do to find some savings, not for the administration to find it for us, for us 693 03:47:30.960 --> 03:47:46.080 to find it for the taxpayers. Okay? Because >> be out of our purview as a board. However, if you would like to do that, you can send me a formal written request. >> Yes, I I just requested now, but I will send it to you by email. Thank you, >> Miss Casoy. Thank you. Just really 694 03:47:46.080 --> 03:48:02.560 quickly, um on item H, the affirmative action officer, is that something that is required by the state. I'm just Okay. I'm I'm just very mindful because there's been a lot of language passed down about being mindful of DEI and things that could >> you have to have. >> Okay. I just I just wanted to check if that was a state requirement. Thank you, 695 03:48:02.560 --> 03:48:17.600 Gary. >> It's it's it's under title N. It's a federal law for for for investigation to have that happen >> as long as that's the title because I know sometimes if you're call something one thing versus another. I just wanted to make sure that that was consistent with what the state asks for us to do. 696 03:48:17.600 --> 03:48:32.880 >> Thank you >> Miss Brown. >> Um I just want a point of clarification. Uh we all have access to Strauss Esme which is where our all of our policies lie and that's our one job as board members. Correct. So we all should have access to Strauss Esme so we can do our 697 03:48:32.880 --> 03:48:48.960 job. I use mine often. >> Okay. Just wanted to clarify. >> Ro, uh, Ro, >> M. Brown, >> this is, uh, approving 13A to 13 RR. >> Yes, >> Mr. Leia. 698 03:48:48.960 --> 03:49:05.439 >> Yes, Miss Favllovich. >> No. on B. I is in igol. O is in octopus. Q as in quilt. S is in Sam. L L M M Q Q RR. Do you want me to repeat it? 699 03:49:05.439 --> 03:49:21.600 >> Nope. Nope. >> Got it. Miss Coroliva. >> No on O, P, and Q. And I'm abstaining from R to SS. Yes. On everything else. >> Miss Casoy. >> Yes. 700 03:49:21.600 --> 03:49:37.840 Mr. Rosenberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Santana, >> for reasons I stated, yes on everything, but abstain on uh PQR ST A down, Mr. Sant. 701 03:49:37.840 --> 03:49:55.439 >> Okay. Yes on everything. Abstain on P as in pole. >> Q as in >> Queens. >> Quest. R as in red, S as in scent, T as in Thomas, double L. 702 03:49:55.439 --> 03:50:10.479 >> Can you guys stop talking? >> Double L >> llama and double M. >> Okay, Mrs. Mayhem. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> 14 A and B >> motion. 703 03:50:10.479 --> 03:50:30.479 >> So moved. >> So uh 14B the nepotism policy. The last month I've tried to do it. Now I'm doing it again because so the nepotism policy says board members children and superintendent children or whoever relatives cannot can work in the district as substitute. I would like us 704 03:50:30.479 --> 03:50:46.880 to say that they cannot. I've been asking for that. There's two options on stress test. It's a discrimination of that. So instead of saying they can, we will say they cannot. That's my motion. >> Anybody did we get a second? >> Second. 705 03:50:46.880 --> 03:51:01.120 So, I'm just going to put it out there. This has already been clearly stated by our board attorney in conjunction with our superintendent that we do not have enough staffing and this is put as a 706 03:51:01.120 --> 03:51:16.880 provision should we not have enough staff. It is specific to PAMP. Our board attorney is recommending that we leave this policy draft as is and vote it into practice. 707 03:51:16.880 --> 03:51:34.160 And it's very typical substitute. This is a very typical policy. It's the only exception to neptism. >> Go ahead, Michael. >> I have to say that we are going to penalize 708 03:51:34.160 --> 03:51:51.680 kids because their parents are on the board of education from working a summer camp job. That doesn't make any sense to me. Anyone else? Motion. >> You're making another motion. >> Oh, I have comment. 709 03:51:51.680 --> 03:52:12.239 >> Wait, comment. >> Oh, that's comment. Sorry. Yes. >> Comment. >> While I agree with that children of board members should not be penalized, nepotism is nepotism. Okay. And we 710 03:52:12.239 --> 03:52:26.319 already have community members commenting that there's a perception of politics in the border. Right? So I don't want the appearance that we are benefiting our our own family to get 711 03:52:26.319 --> 03:52:43.120 jobs in the district. And if a child if a a a member of our family gets hired in the district that's a benefit to us. So from an ethics standpoint, I feel 712 03:52:43.120 --> 03:52:58.000 uncomfortable doing that because I think we should serve the community, not serve ourselves. And there's already a perception that there's uh influence that should not be influencing 713 03:52:58.000 --> 03:53:14.880 us. So I think it's in the best interest of the board. I understand what the what the board attorney stated, but I think we have to think what if you were not on the board, right? And what guarantee do I have that 714 03:53:14.880 --> 03:53:30.319 my neighbor's child is going to get hired for the summer camp versus the child of Miss Powerful board member who, you know, gets along with a superintendent, for 715 03:53:30.319 --> 03:53:46.880 example. for example, right? So, >> my kids go to sleepway camp. They're never going to work at day camp here. >> There you go. >> I wasn't referring to you. >> My children, they go to sleepway. Why? Cuz I'm rich. >> That's fine. So, so what I'm trying to say is 716 03:53:46.880 --> 03:54:00.479 >> how is that relevant? >> Excuse me. I have I have I still reclaiming my time. So if we have a mechanism to ensure that there's that that this there's no 717 03:54:00.479 --> 03:54:16.560 there's no um um extra opportunity or influence for that child's board member to get hired in that summer camp versus someone who doesn't have that connection, then yes, I would I would vote yes on the on the policy. But right now, there's nothing 718 03:54:16.560 --> 03:54:32.399 that that says otherwise. So I'm for the little guy. So, I'm I'm I'm gonna support removing board members, putting money in their pocket with the district's taxpayers money. >> I have a question. Point of clarification. 719 03:54:32.399 --> 03:54:48.479 Did you have something to say? >> Call the question. >> Point of clarification. >> Roll call. >> So, this motion is actually to remove the policy on nepotism. Uh, Miss Brown. 720 03:54:48.479 --> 03:55:04.080 >> Huh? That is to remove the policy. You're saying >> no, it's for board members to revise. >> To revise. >> Okay. So, this is a motion to revise the policy >> for board members, children, relatives. 721 03:55:04.080 --> 03:55:19.279 >> Mr. Leia? >> No. >> Miss Felovich? >> Yes. >> Miss Coraliva? >> Yes. >> Miss Casoy. Just to be clear, I also do not have any children who work for the board or work for camps, but no. Thank 722 03:55:19.279 --> 03:55:50.000 you, >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> No, >> Mr. Santana. >> Yeah. Yes. This man. >> No >> motion. >> Second. 723 03:55:50.000 --> 03:56:05.840 >> Roll call. I'm done. Roll call. >> But you told me policies that I could make this motion. >> Oh my goodness. This is ridiculous. You know what? Go ahead. >> But no, but if you're that frustrated, then that's not democracy. You're using 724 03:56:05.840 --> 03:56:22.479 three, four, five, six motions tonight. And correct me if I'm wrong, Miss Morales. There were 17 motions made in the last three months. >> 19. Thank you. >> Why are we addressing the members of the public? And why are you using vulgarity? Go >> ahead. 725 03:56:22.479 --> 03:56:38.960 >> I don't know what is your motion. >> I thought we supposed to be role models for our students. >> Using vulgarity when we are upset is not appropriate. I didn't use vulgarity. >> You just used it. I just saw you. >> Well, it's on video, so lucky us. You're wrong. >> One of your members taking the Lord's 726 03:56:38.960 --> 03:56:54.720 name in vain either. So, if you're going to be talking about being role models for kids, you should >> We're really going to talk about how we are speaking. So, I was called to wait until policy to make a motion on something that is in the minutes. >> Make your motion. 727 03:56:54.720 --> 03:57:09.600 >> Correct. >> Make your motion. >> Okay. I would like to move um to amend policy board policy 34 uh 2431 athletic competition and board policy 9270. Um I would like to amend it since we 728 03:57:09.600 --> 03:57:26.800 don't have an actual policy. We have policy as a whole. We don't have policy committees. So this has to be discussed because I feel that we're not including our children who are homeschooled. Uh policy number 9270 and policy number 2431. These are not on here because I 729 03:57:26.800 --> 03:57:43.040 was told to make it. This was related to the minutes um from April 30th. So I would like to see if we could have a comparison of policy used by other New Jersey school districts that allowed homeschool and online students 730 03:57:43.040 --> 03:57:59.760 participation in intercolastic athletics review of and pardon me. >> We need to write it down. >> Okay. >> So can you slow down, please? >> Yes, I may. Okay. A comparison of policies. A comparison of policies used by other New Jersey 731 03:57:59.760 --> 03:58:16.080 school districts that allow homeschool and online students participation in intercolastic athletics. Review of NJSIA intercolatic intercolatic eligibility and transfer requirements. Consideration 732 03:58:16.080 --> 03:58:32.160 of whether Fairone current policies should be updated to reflect modern educational opinions including accredited online and homeschool programs. Review of possible eligibility eligibility requirements, academic 733 03:58:32.160 --> 03:58:47.840 standards, residency verification and participation expectation for such students and recommendation uh regarding whether the board should consider amending current policy to allow homeschooled and online enrolled residents students to participate in 734 03:58:47.840 --> 03:59:05.520 intercolastic athletics in lawful, fair and equitable and consistent manner. These children are living in our community. I think they should be given an opportunity and um >> we should look into it because the school model has changed and many parents do opt out to take them out but 735 03:59:05.520 --> 03:59:23.600 since they are taxpayers they should be allowed to pay in our inter scholastic sports >> second >> discussion >> discussion >> anyone >> before I decide if I'm going to support 736 03:59:23.600 --> 03:59:41.160 this motion or not I would like to hear what the superintendent have to say. Is there any harm in allowing a child who is homeschooled who wants to play sports for fur? Is there any harm? 737 03:59:41.760 --> 03:59:58.960 The board has a policy in place. If you make exceptions to the policy, then you have to be prepared to answer to members of the community who want to make exceptions to every single policy. Then you might as well not have a policy. Should you not have a policy that the board established many years ago on this matter, then that means that there is an 738 03:59:58.960 --> 04:00:14.960 impact potentially because there would be other student athletes who would not be attending Fairlon public schools who would have access to be able to be on a Fairlon high school athletic team thereby making the high school athletics 739 04:00:14.960 --> 04:00:31.279 uh and many of the sports does do cuts which means that students who are actually not attending the schools would be taking the place of students who are um in the school district and they would be losing their athletic seat on a team. So, it does have far-reaching 740 04:00:31.279 --> 04:00:46.399 implications. My recommendation is if the board with any other policy, you've heard me say it before, refer back to the appropriate committee and analyze it and discuss it in an appropriate setting. The appropriate setting would be education committee which athletics falls underneath. 741 04:00:46.399 --> 04:01:04.560 >> All right. Reclaiming my time. So I now that now that I receive reclaiming my time uh now that I receive this information from the bo from the from the superintendent um I have a better understanding. However um I you know my heart feels for 742 04:01:04.560 --> 04:01:19.840 the the parents that came here. I think they we should we should try to uh meet them halfway or or or help them because um you know we are in a people's business and we you know we all no one here is perfect. We have to try to you 743 04:01:19.840 --> 04:01:35.600 know meet the needs of of the parents in the community but I appreciate your response Dr. Donio. >> Just want to clarify for everyone that this policy was recently updated in December of 2022. Prior that it was updated in 2016. was originally created 744 04:01:35.600 --> 04:01:52.239 in 2006. So, it actually was not updated that long ago. That being said, I just want to remind everyone that although this program as a district is a peoplebased 745 04:01:52.239 --> 04:02:16.800 program, we as a board do policy and oversight. We are not customer service. Daily operations belongs to the superintendent of schools, Miss Brown. Can we then based on the superintendent's recommendation, can I 746 04:02:16.800 --> 04:02:38.960 then make a subsidiary motion to move this policy to the education committee? >> You can do what you want. >> Okay, then I want to do that. >> Second. >> Roll call. Roll call to for sec motion to move this to committee for review. Miss Brown, 747 04:02:38.960 --> 04:02:54.160 >> yes. >> Missia, >> yes. >> Miss Favvelovich, >> no. >> Miss Coraliva, >> no. >> Miss Casoy. >> Yes. I think it absolutely warrants discussion and looking into >> Mr. Rosenberg. 748 04:02:54.160 --> 04:03:10.080 >> Yeah. I can't make that decision tonight. Uh uh. Yes, >> Mr. Santana, >> I support the majority's decision. H, however, I'm I'm with the parents, so 749 04:03:10.080 --> 04:03:27.560 I'm voting uh I'm voting no. I'm with the parents, but I support the whatever the majority decide. >> Mrs. Mayan, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> I I voted no, right? >> Yes. >> Okay. Just want to make sure. 750 04:03:30.319 --> 04:03:49.359 14 A and B. >> Some moved. >> Roll call. >> M. Brown. >> Yes. >> Ma, >> yes. >> Miss Felovich. >> No on both. >> Miss Coraliva. 751 04:03:49.359 --> 04:04:04.960 >> No on both. >> Miss Casoy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rosenberg. >> Yeah. >> Mr. Santana. I'm going to vote um yes, but 752 04:04:04.960 --> 04:04:24.000 for the reasons that I stated about fairness for all 14B policy P0142.1, I'm going to have to vote no. No child of a board member should have uh more privileges than the regular people 753 04:04:24.000 --> 04:04:54.319 in the community. >> Mrs. Man >> abstain. >> Motion carries. >> We are opening the floor for board member >> motion. >> Can I speak? >> I didn't acknowledge anyone yet. 754 04:04:54.319 --> 04:05:15.520 >> Motion. >> I hear you. If you hear me, >> Mr. Santana, >> I don't have a prepared speech. However, um I'm going to speak from the heart. Um 755 04:05:15.520 --> 04:05:32.239 I appreciate the listen listening to the community. Uh the community that came to speak in person. I appreciate listening to the community uh who send their comments. Uh I want to make sure that people understand we are a nonpartisan 756 04:05:32.239 --> 04:05:49.199 bore. Uh everybody's welcome to make their comments. Everybody's welcome to criticize whoever they want. Just remember to come out on a weekday on a work day to bash people who volunteer run for office to volunteer 757 04:05:49.199 --> 04:06:04.880 for our children. I I just don't understand. I I don't understand. If you don't agree with any of us, you have the right to to say that. But, you know, to to trash board members who don't agree with who don't 758 04:06:04.880 --> 04:06:20.800 vote the same way, that's that's not really classy, you know. Um um um I will commit to try to um make my comments shorter to work with the rest of the board to end the meeting earlier 759 04:06:20.800 --> 04:06:37.439 because I'm I'm listening to the community. But it's a listening is a two-way street, right? Uh I would like the community to understand as the only as the only person of color on on this board, I don't think it's right to for anyone to try to silence me. I was elected like 760 04:06:37.439 --> 04:06:55.040 everyone else. I had been treated unkind. And I just want to say the former president of our country said you cannot love your neighbors just when they agree with you. 761 04:06:55.040 --> 04:07:10.880 You cannot love your country just when you win. So I love all the neighbors that came here to bash, criticize, to state their opinion. You have the right to do that. Okay? because tomorrow we have to see each other at the supermarket. Okay? So you have your 762 04:07:10.880 --> 04:07:26.960 right, express your right. But you know it would be lovely if community members also came here to advocate for increasing student achievement for all students. Okay? Increasing diversity in our schools. Almost 50% of our of our uh 763 04:07:26.960 --> 04:07:44.640 faculty almost 50% of our students are minorities. Yet 90% of our staff according to the the the New Jersey report is white even though almost 50% of our student population is nonwhite. So increasing 764 04:07:44.640 --> 04:08:00.160 diversity, increasing the the the scores for the English language learners, increasing the scores for math. Why don't we advocate for that? Why don't we advocate for for increasing student achievement to take out a day from your busy schedule because you don't agree 765 04:08:00.160 --> 04:08:19.120 with what people have to say? Wow. Why don't we work together as a community to decrease bullying and increase kindness? Thank you, >> Miss Brown. I said I asked >> uh tonight I would like to take a moment 766 04:08:19.120 --> 04:08:35.439 to recognize our board president Julie Maym on an incredible achievement. She earned her master board member certification through the New Jersey School Boards Association. This distinction is not something that happens overnight. It represents years of dedication, countless hours of training, professional development, and 767 04:08:35.439 --> 04:08:51.840 a deep commitment to public education and effective board governance. Achieving the master board member certification requires a tremendous investment of time and energy, all while continuing to serve our students, staff, families, and community. What makes this accomplishment even more special is that 768 04:08:51.840 --> 04:09:07.279 Julie is the first board member since Gene Bant to receive this prestigious certification. That alone speaks volumes about the level of commitment and perseverance required to achieve it. Julie, thank you for your time, leadership, and dedication you 769 04:09:07.279 --> 04:09:24.080 continuously give to our board and to our entire school district. Your passion for education, and your willingness to go above and beyond do not go unnoticed. It is truly an honor to serve alongside you, and we are incredibly fortunate to have your leadership guiding our board. I just wanted to take this moment to 770 04:09:24.080 --> 04:09:45.760 congratulate our president and my friend, Julie Maym, on this well-deserved accomplishment. And I had flowers, but my cats ate them. I'm sorry, Miss Corva. Uh, first and foremost, I would like to recognize our amazing students and the 771 04:09:45.760 --> 04:10:02.560 concert. I had the opportunity to go to a TJ concert and a high school concert. And what an amazing children we have. Like I the high school performances was out of this world. I had my family there. My son thought he was like in the 772 04:10:02.560 --> 04:10:19.199 the most amazing thing. He was so impressed and the dedication of these children. I just want to make sure that I recognize. I did not get a chance to go to the other one but I heard it was amazing. So I just want to make sure they are recognized and there is a AP on the 30th I believe there is a 773 04:10:19.199 --> 04:10:35.600 right the 30th there's a huge thing going on as well with them. So um our kids are awesome in their music endows. I also want to make a statement. So good evening. I want to take a moment to address concerns I have regarded regarding governance, culture, and overall climate surrounding the board 774 04:10:35.600 --> 04:10:52.399 operations. A board of education should function as a nonpartisan body focused on students, education, transparency, and service to community. Healthy disagreements, independent thoughts, and asking difficult questions are all normal and necessary part of governance. 775 04:10:52.399 --> 04:11:08.800 Disagreements alone should not be viewed as hostility or a disloyalty. At times I have personally felt that diff uh differing viewpoints raised by certain trustees are not always received or addressed consistently. I believe it is important that all trustee regardless 776 04:11:08.800 --> 04:11:25.920 of perspective or voting alignments feel equally respected and heard. I was also concerned by the tone of portion of the April 30th meetings where independent trustees were referenced directly during public comments in a matter that felt highly personal rather 777 04:11:25.920 --> 04:11:42.000 than focused on governance issues or district operations. Public participation and free speech are critically important. At the at the same time, I believe all of us board members, administrative, and members of the public alike share a responsibility to 778 04:11:42.000 --> 04:11:59.199 maintain a respectful and constructive environment focused on students and the wor of the districts. I don't believe any of us ran for this position to be popular or to agree with every single thing. I personally ran to that because I care deeply about the education, 779 04:11:59.199 --> 04:12:14.720 accountability, transparency, and ensuring that children have a safe and supportive environment in which in which to learn and grow. I will continue fulfilling my responsibilities professionally and asking questions when necessary and advocating for respectful, 780 04:12:14.720 --> 04:12:32.800 respectful, transparent and consistent governance practice. Thank you so much, Miss So, I'd like to make a motion. I guess I messed up the last time, uh, for the Fairlon summer learning academy for the 781 04:12:32.800 --> 04:12:50.239 personal finance literacy course. So, if you're repeating a course, you're paying $200 and for free reduced students, you get paid 25, but if you want a new credit, you last year, I don't know how much, it's not on the agenda this year, it's $300 per for the credit for the 782 04:12:50.239 --> 04:13:04.159 person. I would like to reduce it so that it will be equal to the students that are taking the summer school which is the $200 and then if they're free or reduced students then they would pay the $25 exactly the same as every so there's 783 04:13:04.159 --> 04:13:25.760 equity for everyone. Thank you. >> Second >> this question. >> Isn't this not allowed? We've already voted on and you can't >> I addressed Okay. Yeah, you can't change anything that was already voted on for a year, isn't that? 784 04:13:25.760 --> 04:13:41.520 >> But we didn't vote for the personal finance. We didn't vote for the personal finance. >> We did. We voted AE. >> Not a discussion. It's Miss Brown's turn. >> We only voted for >> Can you please >> Isn't Aren't we Once we vote on something, we can't reopen it and revote 785 04:13:41.520 --> 04:13:57.840 on it for another year or at least I don't I'm not sure about the time frame. >> But we didn't vote on it. But we didn't vote on this part. >> Right now it's Miss Brown's turn. So if we could just let Miss Brown >> You did vote on the summer. 786 04:13:57.840 --> 04:14:13.760 >> The 200 The $300 is not >> It's the $300 is not that. >> So we're going to let Miss Brown ask her question to the board attorney and then if you'd like to speak again, you are welcome to do so. Miss Brown. Mr. Gobi. >> So I can answer Mr. Brown's question. It 787 04:14:13.760 --> 04:14:32.000 was voted on. It was passed. That's you can't revisit >> if you Mr. Jacob Kobe, can you kindly open 8? And if you look at 8E, the finance course is not included. So therefore, we have not voted on it. Please kindly open that tab. It's 8. And 788 04:14:32.000 --> 04:14:50.760 you will see that the finance course is not personal. We hired people for the personal finance course, but we did not vote on the cost of the course. Therefore, we have not voted on it. 789 04:14:52.560 --> 04:15:09.439 >> So, this is completely unrelated to AE. >> It's not. It's still a summer learning academy, but it does not 8 does not have personal finance. So, therefore, we did not vote on it yet. I don't know when we're going to vote on it, but I would like since it's summer and it's already 790 04:15:09.439 --> 04:15:28.399 starting, I would like to make sure that everybody's equitably treated. Go ahead. >> Again, I would encourage you to make a recommendation to bring it to the appropriate committee because with all 791 04:15:28.399 --> 04:15:43.920 enrichment courses, we would be opening up Pandora's box, making an un educated decision because there are plenty of students who may take other enrichment courses online. So this would 792 04:15:43.920 --> 04:16:00.479 have far-reaching implications. So to make decisions from the deis is irresponsible and I would recommend that if the board the board has a decision to make if you choose to make one um then you could make a recommendation to refer to the appropriate committee >> which would be >> education 793 04:16:00.479 --> 04:16:16.640 >> and well when when will it be I have topics from education committee that I send in January still not being discussed mission >> I just have a couple questions. So number one, are there students who already have signed up and paid for this course for this summer? That's one 794 04:16:16.640 --> 04:16:32.720 question. Another part is um are there other courses similar to PFL that are being offered that are being charged $300? These are all questions that I feel like need answers to before we can make a decision on one course. So I would love to get more information. Um, 795 04:16:32.720 --> 04:16:49.199 if there are students who have like what was the deadline to register for this course for this summer, perhaps we can look at this for next year in advance of I'm sure this course was already um advertised and some have signed up. I would guess since it's probably starting soon. If some have already paid, would 796 04:16:49.199 --> 04:17:04.960 they then have to get refunds? If we can look at this holistically with what we are charging for non-required courses, I think that would be an excellent idea. Um, my son took that course over the summer. We paid that amount. It was a lot. Um, but I think it would definitely 797 04:17:04.960 --> 04:17:22.000 be, especially given that there is often the desire for students to take this course because of the eight period day and they don't have enough time in their schedule. It's a thing that a lot of students do and some didn't do because of the cost. So, I definitely think it's worthwhile looking into. I don't feel like we have enough information right 798 04:17:22.000 --> 04:17:37.359 now in this moment to make this decision. So, I definitely think it's worth it. I don't feel like we have enough time right now to address it before the summer start had we looked at it three months ago maybe yes but right now I feel like no unless there's other information Dr. that you can give us is if this is a 799 04:17:37.359 --> 04:17:53.439 standalone course that cost 300 if it is not then this is a part of a bigger discussion that I think is appropriate for committee >> I wouldn't be able to answer those are all relevant questions and I think that's why it needs to be researched because of the potential far further reaching implications 800 04:17:53.439 --> 04:18:09.760 to make an educated decision informed decision >> Mr. Santana, >> I think we heard um some important facts. It's a lot of money. It's 300 ability to pay. How many people are taking it? 801 04:18:09.760 --> 04:18:25.439 Equity. And let's face it, we have an affordability crisis in our country right now. To fill up a gas tank cost almost $100 a week if you have a if you drive a big car. So the intent of what Miss Favllovic is 802 04:18:25.439 --> 04:18:40.880 trying to do is it's spot on. But uh we do have to um have the discussion in the proper in the proper time and place. So we should we should move this to a committee. 803 04:18:40.880 --> 04:18:58.319 >> Miss Brown, um these summer learning academy courses are they only you we only offer the courses that you need in order to graduate. Is that correct? Or you just order you just offer everything and then 804 04:18:58.319 --> 04:19:15.680 I want to make a subsidiary motion to move this to the education committee in order for us to discuss it further because >> I agree that we can Thank you. I agree that we can maybe look into saving um the community some money. Um but I need 805 04:19:15.680 --> 04:19:32.080 more information. >> Roll call. Miss Brown, subsidiary motion to uh table this uh for >> I raised my hand. Can we discuss the subsidiary? >> Yes, >> Mr. Leah. >> Yes. >> Miss Favllovich, 806 04:19:32.080 --> 04:19:48.880 >> no. >> Miss Coriva, >> no. >> Miss Casoy, >> yes. >> Mr. Rosenberg, >> um to move it to education committee. >> Sorry, 807 04:19:48.880 --> 04:20:05.760 Mr. Santana, >> I'm going to vote. This cannot take too long to get to the committee to actually be discussed. >> I already sent an email. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Man. >> I'm standing. 808 04:20:05.760 --> 04:20:35.040 >> Motion carries. >> Anyone else? Floor is closed. Um, yeah. Go ahead. >> Um, I have to say a couple things, especially with all the back and forth 809 04:20:35.040 --> 04:20:49.760 and with everything that has gone on tonight. Um, you know, I I left the board for a reason last year and then I decided to come back because 810 04:20:49.760 --> 04:21:06.640 um mainly because uh Mr. Baldowski moved on to the council and I I'm not enjoying myself whatsoever. I have to say a couple things. First of all, the board by its nature is a political 811 04:21:06.640 --> 04:21:21.359 body. What it's not allowed is partisanship. I don't belong to a political party. I don't agree with half of what the Republicans say. I don't agree with half 812 04:21:21.359 --> 04:21:38.399 of what the Democrats say. Even if I did, it has nothing to do with my role on the board of education. Whatever the member of the public that keeps trying to put my name into some 813 04:21:38.399 --> 04:22:01.960 guy, I don't even know that guy. No one No one pays me any money to get elected to this board. And I don't care. The way you get my vote is if I agree with what you have to say. 814 04:22:02.560 --> 04:22:19.040 Um, I don't mostly with with very limited exceptions, I don't vote yes to a motion that's made from the floor because just like was just said, we need to research 815 04:22:19.040 --> 04:22:36.239 it. There's always ramifications. Everything we do has ramifications, some negative. And thank God for Dr. Dianio for reminding us 816 04:22:36.239 --> 04:22:54.800 of some of the ramifications of what we do because you can't take it back. Once you do it, you can't take it back. Um, I was to many, many things this past 817 04:22:54.800 --> 04:23:10.399 week and I apologize to Mrs. Zson for not attending the the PTA council dinner. I actually paid for it. I actually forgot about it and my granddaughter had a basketball game and 818 04:23:10.399 --> 04:23:32.239 my grandchildren usually come first. Um except today in the state game. Um, I went to a parade. I went to a parade. I went to 819 04:23:32.239 --> 04:23:49.199 um, Tangle Wood. I would go to West of Palooa, except I'm going to be away. Um, I've gone to a bunch of athletic events. I've gone to 820 04:23:49.199 --> 04:24:05.120 um stuff at Ferlone High School. I intend to go go to the music festival this weekend at Ferlone High School. By the way, there's a music festival this weekend at Feron High School. I went to the carnival. I'm sorry I didn't. This is the first year I didn't 821 04:24:05.120 --> 04:24:23.520 volunteer. Watch the Bopton tones there. I know every one of our buildings. I know where they're at. I know the problems in the building. I know the the negatives and positives of every one of 822 04:24:23.520 --> 04:24:43.479 our buildings. How many of you could say that? So, I apologize to the public that has to sit through these meetings. I really felt bad because there was a kid here last last month till the end of the meeting at one o'clock. 823 04:24:44.479 --> 04:24:59.840 So, We have to remember what we're here for. And more importantly, very few districts have this problem. And by the way, our increase was 3.25 to the public to the 824 04:24:59.840 --> 04:25:14.960 taxpayer. 3.25. So, which was and we didn't lose any teachers. Every other district, including Ridgewood, lost teachers. 825 04:25:14.960 --> 04:25:29.680 So, we need to figure out how to make this work. And don't say that you need kindness when you're not being kind. And don't 826 04:25:29.680 --> 04:25:43.920 always say that there's a racial problem. There isn't a racial problem on this board. Maybe it's perceived, but it's not there. I'm certainly not racist. 827 04:25:43.920 --> 04:26:03.120 So I I'm I'm I'm getting tired of it. I you know I'm I'm thinking of filing ethics charges myself on people at this point. So thank you >> Mr. Valvage. So last year I was a chair of the safe uh safe route to school 828 04:26:03.120 --> 04:26:19.279 committee and I attended all these meetings with the council and I every single time I did that I would send the minutes I would say it in I haven't heard it this year at all. It's been six months or almost six months and there hasn't been one single 829 04:26:19.279 --> 04:26:34.640 update that has been provided. >> Can I give you an answer? Will you link us? >> No. Will you will link us the floor so I could give you an answer. >> Sure. >> My fault. I've been to everyone that's that that there's been hasn't been a 830 04:26:34.640 --> 04:26:50.560 whole lot to that has to do with the schools, but what happened was the meet minutes the meetings have been going so long that I just I'm sorry. >> We can also clarify that that's not a chair position. That's a liaison. doesn't >> I I will I will you know what I I will 831 04:26:50.560 --> 04:27:19.359 by next week I will send out minutes >> Mr. Santana. I just want to say that we as a community, we have to fight anti-semitism. There is no place for hate in our schools. When I heard the when I heard 832 04:27:19.359 --> 04:27:35.359 the community member speak about anti-semitism and how he felt, you know, the first thing that came to my mind is, you know, I'm not the only one in the community that feels there's hate out there. And there's a lot of people who 833 04:27:35.359 --> 04:27:51.439 keep saying there is nothing going on. There is no hate. There's no racism going on in Feron. There's no anti-semitism going on. People keep saying this and that's a lie because we have community members stating so we 834 04:27:51.439 --> 04:28:10.080 have had many reports of many things and uh as the only person of color on this board I'm going to tell you that we need to be more inclusive and if if if we want to say that we are inclusive just because we check boxes that doesn't mean 835 04:28:10.080 --> 04:28:26.720 inclusive inclusive mean allowing people to speak without fear, without harassment, and without intimidation. Um, I want to say it's it's almost the end of the year and a lot of our students are getting ready for finals. A lot of 836 04:28:26.720 --> 04:28:43.600 students are stressed. I just want to say that I'm very proud of all students. I'm very proud of the support parents are providing. Parents are the first teachers. I think we spend more time, you know, I'm I'm very disappointed that we did not include student achievement 837 04:28:43.600 --> 04:29:00.880 in the agenda as I propose. I think we need to spend more time as a board recognizing our students because the council is is is is getting in our lane recognizing teachers and students. We need to recognize students and teachers in every meeting. Not just 838 04:29:00.880 --> 04:29:17.760 having the three representatives speak, but us recognizing them. Because when we put the the students first, then we put the ego last. Okay. Um we have to make decisions based on what if we were not on the board. How would you like things to be? I don't want people thinking that 839 04:29:17.760 --> 04:29:34.319 uh any political party, Republican or Democrat controls this board. I don't want that perception. That's a bad perception. And when we had a a when we had Mr. Bant as board president, Mr. Bant always make sure that we we did not have any political influence on the 840 04:29:34.319 --> 04:29:51.120 board. I'm not saying that's happening now with with the new with with the current board president, but I'm saying the community what I'm saying is the community, we want the community to help us help us increase student achievement. Help help us make sure that our our children, our middle school kids are not 841 04:29:51.120 --> 04:30:07.279 driving their bikes in the middle of the road. Help us fight hate. Help us in help us increase kindness. Help us accept the fact that people have different views and you don't have to take a Tuesday out of your workday to come and bash people to volunteer their 842 04:30:07.279 --> 04:30:24.640 time for you. >> Door is closed. >> Our next meeting will be June 18th, 2026, which is a special public not a public meeting. It is a special executive board meeting um at Thomas 843 04:30:24.640 --> 04:30:40.319 Edison School, the Eugene Ambant Public Meeting Room, room 19. June 25th is our regular monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. in room 19 Eugene and Banta Public Meeting Room in Edison School. July 30th is our regular monthly meeting for July and 844 04:30:40.319 --> 04:30:55.920 7:30 p.m. in Edison School, Eugene and Penta Public Meeting Room, room 19. And then on August 27th, 2026, the regular monthly meeting, 7:30 p.m. Edison School, Eugene Ambant Public Meeting Room, room 19. We will be motioning into 845 04:30:55.920 --> 04:31:10.720 executive. Um, no action will be taken. It is 11:24. Can I get a motion to go into executive? >> So move. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> have a good night. You can >> stay here, right? 846 04:31:10.720 --> 04:31:28.680 >> We can. We can just close doors here, right? What? June meeting June.