to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic of liberty and justice. >> The New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies of which any business affecting their
interests is discussed or acted upon. in accordance with the provisions of the act for the board of education as caused notice of this meeting to be published on January 10th, 2025 and posted on the district website at www.flbbo.com published in the board's designated online media outlet newspapers the
record in the sar leisure file with the clerk of burough Fort Lee and mailed to all persons if any who have requested said notice. Please be advised this meeting is being recorded and may be broadcasted on local TV and online at a future date. The open public meeting act allows for remote participation at board meetings and defines meeting as any
gathering whether caporeal or by means of communication equipment which is attended by or open to all of the members of a public body held with the intent on the part of the members or the body present to discuss or act as a unit upon a specific public business of that body. Roll call please.
>> Mrs. Bas >> here. >> Mrs. K >> here. >> Mr. N here. Mrs. Kotang >> here. >> Mr. Lopez here. >> Miss Morell >> here. >> Mr. Rabino >> here. Mrs. Rino
>> here. The board will be convening to executive session to discuss legal personnel and other confidential matters. The board will reconvene into public session at approximately 7:30 p.m. We have a motion to go into executive session. Motion second. Motion morale. Second Rubino. All in favor? Any
opposed? I stand together [Music] and justice for all. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their
interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of the act, the Fortly Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published on January 10th, 2025, posted on the district website at www.floe.com. published in the board's designated online media outlet newspaper, The
Record and the Star Ledger, filed with the clerk of the burrow of Port Lee, and mailed to all persons of any who have requested said notice. Please be advised, this meeting is being recorded and may be broadcasted on local TV and online at a future date. The open public meeting act allows for remote participation at board meetings and
defines meeting as any gathering whether caporeal or by means of communication equipment which is attended by or open to all of the members of a public body held with the intent on the part of the members of the body present to discuss or act as a unit upon the specific public business of that body. Roll call
please. >> Mrs. Buyers Kang >> Miss Kat >> here. >> Mrs. Curry >> here. >> Mr. Knight >> here. Mrs. Cotang >> here. >> Mr. Lopez >> here. >> Miss Laurel >> here.
>> Mr. Rabino >> here. >> M >> here. >> The board can be executive session at 6:30 p.m. to discuss legal personnel and other confidential matters. Miss Gazo, will you begin by sharing the superintendent report? Thank you, Mr. Director. Good evening. Thank you to all
participants who are joining us tonight. We have successfully completed our first full week of school. Students and staff are settling into their routines. Learning is underway and our buildings are running smoothly. I want to thank our administrators, teachers, and staff for their preparation and dedication and
providing a warm and welcoming start to the new school year for our students and families. I'm now happy to announce that tonight we have students Isabella Rivera and Kyra Repross from Fort Lee High School to share highlights from their school. [Music]
Thank you. We've had a strong start to this school year with block scheduling at the high school receiving receiving positive feedback from both students and staff alike. And our unit lunch has provided students with valuable opportunities to unwind while also
achieving meaningful ways to spend their time. As well as this, the new electronic device policy at Bley High School has been met with great cooperation. We are proud of how quickly our students have adapted to their and how their efforts on supporting a
positive learning experience. Last Tuesday was our back to school night. This was a success and and it was great to welcome our parents considerably. A reminder from student housing office that senior night is this Wednesday
September 17th at 700 p.m. in the high school auditorium. All seniors and their parents black garden and clubs have successfully had their interest meeting and look forward to a great year ahead. This week the student
council is hosting our annual spirit. Students and are encouraged to dress up days to encourage school spirit and get everyone excited for our rally on Friday. Bill Bridgeman. And lastly, all of this would not be
possible without our 25 26 student council leadership team, our pres co presidents chiefly and Isabella Rivera, co- vice president and secretaries
and treasures and social media chairs, Madison River and Wong. and the auditorians will be September 22nd and September
classes make up day will be October 31st and information will be registered in both classroom our high school Block Richville Park High School has been awarded the 900 part of grant through the kids
foundation for 2025 is will provide valuable support for our school garden to further enhance hands-on learning experiences for students grow sustainability and foster deeper connection with nature and healthy people also crafting to be long as
school programs volunteers at each elementary school providing other students with municipal students. They are also attending a variety of six children for their end of year.
We're excited to implement new products and innovative this year. Thanks to this generous support, we look forward to sharing updates as our garden. >> Thank you, Isabella and Kyra. Thank you. I'm pleased to share that all required
monthly security and fire drills for August were completed in full compliance with the New Jersey State Code. I'm also happy to report that at this time there are no incidents of harassment, intimidation, or bullying to present at this meeting. I want to continue to remind parents to continue to check the
Genesis parent portal for important information about your child's school. If you have any questions about your child's schedule or program, please reach out directly to your child's school office. Um the high school has hosted a successful back to school night last um last week and this week our
elementary, intermediate, and middle schools are welcoming families for their back to school night programs. As we begin the year, I want to emphasize the importance of regular school attendance for all of our parents. Research shows that high absenteeism in the early
grades can be linked to academic and behavioral challenges. While at the high school, it can be associated with a greater risk of dropping out. Studies have shown that ninth grade attendance is a stronger predictor of high school completion than eighth grade test scores. So parents, we're asking for
your partnership in ensuring that your children attend school consistently. While students should certainly stay home when they are ill, we want them to come to school when they are healthy and able. Consistent attendance helps build strong learning habits and supports
long-term success. Finally, I want to recognize that this week all of our entry schools are participating in start with hello week. This initiative began at school number two through the leadership of Miss Rambala and with the support of Miss
Konomo at school number one, Mr. Shapelo at school number three, and Miss Fusco at school number four. It's now expanded across all four elementary schools. Start with Hello Week is part of the Sandy Hook Promise and promotes connectedness, kindness, and inclusion among students. It also aligns with our
Dylan's wings of change program at the intermediate and middle school levels. Our intermediate school counselors will incorporate some resources during advisory and I'm preparing to launch this program um next year. So this is just one example of the many initiatives
that our elementary school counselors lead to positively shape school culture and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank them for their continued commitment and impact. Mr. Richtor, that is the end of my superintendent report. >> Thank you.
>> Do we have committee reports? >> Okay. >> Good evening. Last Monday, the finance committee met with Brian Brown to discuss options regarding ever rising healthc care insurance premiums and possibilities of
savings um that for our employees and the district. um in the future. So, more information to come as we continue to gather information. >> Thank you. Any other committee reports?
Okay. Um before we take board member questions or comments, I just want to point to the handout I gave you. There's three things. All have been emailed in the past, but I wanted you to have dates regarding our superintendent search um
that we chose last time we met. The second page is the propo proposed dates for possible revised calendar because one date conflicts with the Atlantic City convention. Um but we can we can put that on as a resolution to the next meeting. I heard back from a few people
but not many if we do decide to change that date. And the last page is brainstorming ideas for board goals that we need to set. Do we have questions or comments from board members on the agenda or any other topic? >> I just want to give a shout out to
straight teachers and volunteer students at back to school night at the high school. I thought it was very well run [Music] evening with the parents scrambling to figure out where all the classrooms are and I thought it went extremely well.
teachers were enthusiastic, energetic and optimistic about the school year. So huge. >> Thank you. >> Also heard very positive feedback. Um well I don't have children in the high school but the new policy um direct
feedback from um teachers it help. It's very supportive for instructor. Thank you. >> Yes. Welcome. Thank you. [Music] I have a question on one if you can get just a breakdown of what
the changes are if these are new or they were it says revised so there what's revised about them previous pointed out both of them >> yes >> okay sure so for the first one there's
revisions regarding um tuition requirement so in the passport policy uh there There were certain stipulations for particular groups of students like high school seniors that they could attend uh tuition free if they entered the school district after January 1 with
an update in the state code that's no longer permissible. So that's one example. The other example is that the policy now delineates between um tuition requirements for our teachers uh versus our staff members that are not teachers.
But um the teachers will still students children of teachers will still have a discounted tuition rate and then for use of electronic communication devices there was just a minor uh adjustment made um regarding the offenses. So we
noticed in the last adoption that there was an error between the second offense and then the notice. So we just corrected that. >> What was supposed to >> Yeah. Yes. look at it sites accurately. So for example,
if you look at page uh four of six, third offense. So the the title of that section is third offense in a school year. However, bullet F in that section said discipline will be imposed on a
student for a second offense. So, we just needed to line up the third offense with third offense in that section. I think that happened in two locations of that post. >> Yeah. And I have one more question. Can we clarify? >> You're just talking to the mic for anyone at home. Thank you.
>> Hi. Could we clarify 5B uh 5P on the list? There's a there's a very long list of names and the staff list for the lunch. Could you explain that a little bit? >> Yes. So, um the high school we are
compensating staff members for covering lunch to ensure that with our new unit lunch, we have as much supervision as possible. And so, because uh the high school administration selects staff members on a rotation basis, we have every staff member on that list. But it
doesn't necessarily mean that every staff member is getting paid for every day. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Anything else before we move on to public comment? Okay, we have a motion to open the floor to the public.
>> Motion morale, second pullback. All in favor? >> Any opposed or abstensions? We will hear first from members of the public physically located here tonight. Then we will take questions and comments from those participating remotely. Participants are all limited to three
minutes and wish to make their statement. For remote participants, please select the raised hand button. Mr. Roger will recognize you in the order of raised hands by lowering your hand. Please unmute your microphone. State your name and address for the record. And everyone, please make sure
you state your name and address for the record. And you may begin your comments. They're all limited to three minutes. Anyone in person wish to speak? >> Hi. Um, I'm Michelle Brez, 555 North Avenue. I noticed in one of the
attachments about um, teacher mentorship. I know it's a requirement, but I thought it was really nice what was put in it. It was part of the mission of the fortune teacher mentoring program and I know not everyone in the audience reads the attachments so I just wanted to pull it out. As a community of
learners, we are dedicated to providing that support and enhancing the effectiveness of our educational organization through comprehensive mentoring and induction activities. Research confirms that effective teachers are the single most important factor in promoting student achievement.
Teachers influence learning and are successful determining the success of an entire generation of students. Across the nation, nearly 50% of youth teachers do not reach their fifth year of teaching. Social isolation, anxiety, curriculum requirements, and other
stressors contribute to this loss. Successful mentoring programs link supportive and experienced model teachers to provide assistance in critical areas. And it goes on. What I like was I wanted to say thank you to our district for having the future teachers of America program and the teaching academy and all of the support
because anything that we do collectively and that you do as a board to retain and support our teachers is essential to the harmony and stability of our district which is a benefit for all of us. Um continuing my thanks um it is my fourth year being a parent um in a middle
school student they didn't repeat um but I thank Mr. as for his weekly emails. They are informative, timely, organized, and reliable. I'm sure there are other school principles that do just as well, but his are particularly good. I told him, I just wanted to make sure to tell
all of you. Uh on the agenda, I'm looking forward to your approval of 14F, which includes a candidates night at the intermediate school. And finally, uh, from me as the president of the Friends of the Fort Library, we are having a very big fundraising party on, um,
Sunday, October 26th. It is a Sunday brunch fundraiser for the Fort Le renovation. Because it's a fundraiser, tickets are $100 per person. They go on sale this Friday. You can get information at flrs.org. And information is also available on
Facebook and Instagram. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else in public before we go into the Zoom? >> Hi, my name is Stephanie. >> Um, it's been it's been a very hard week for
a lot of our students and a lot of our recent graduates. And I wanted to take a moment and just recognize the like Charlie Fur here, a man who handed the mic to his enemy and gave them the freedom to speak, which is what I often
feel happens here sometimes when we get up with opposing viewpoints. Um his message was basically get married, have children, build a legacy, pass down your values, pursue the eternal, seek true
joy, and eventually you will replace the nihilist. Now, if you're in the high schoolers out there, I know some of you watch this. Nihilism is a political view that life lacks objective meaning and
purpose and intrinsic value leading to the rejection of fundamental beliefs like objective truth, morality and political institutions. I feel going forward in Fort Lee that we
really need to have balance to our high schoolers and open debate from both sides of the aisle. I don't think the kids really are able to express difference of viewpoints and a lot of them have expressed to me
privately that they felt there just wasn't enough of that going on. Now, I know maybe there's fake club, but I I was so sad to see how many hundreds, thousands of teachers online were cheering coldblooded murder. And during
5756, I gave teachers the benefit of the doubt, educators the benefit of the doubt, medical professionals the benefit of the doubt. But the masks are off. We've seen people cheering coldblooded
murder, and it's vile. and it's had a great effect on a lot of students. So, I think we should think about this going forward. I know Mr. Rino had talked about metal detectors. I don't know what really needs I know that some parents are against this.
>> I said I wasn't in favor of metal. >> You were not in favor? >> Right. I'm in favor of the class 3s or the other security things that we have. >> Okay. So, so I I thank you for that and um whatever security measures we can have in school going forward. I know
last year was a very difficult year for everyone. Um whatever else we can do can be that can be done. I'm all for support of that. Also, what is the total amount that 5P is going to cost us in the year? Do we have anything on that? That's
question. You can answer later. I think the speaker should approval. >> It depends on the day for the year is my question. What would the amount be? Because 97
not all 97 are >> but how many people? That's the question. >> So the superintendent is not able to answer that question on the spot. She will get back to you. Thank you. >> Can you get back to the public? >> Uh she you ask the question, she'll get back to you. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Next speaker. Um, good evening. Keith Goslin, 2185
Le Moy Avenue. Um, I just wanted to um thank the Intermediate School PTO for hosting what we hope will be approved of the candidates tonight. Uh, we're excited about it. I also hope that none of our Fort Lee teachers or any of those
hundreds of thousands of teachers celebrating deaths of people. Thank you. >> All right, >> we're good. >> We're good. >> Okay, we are going. Uh, Mr. Roger, your turn. Howard Lipoff, you've been
promoted to panelist. >> Mr. Buddha, can you >> please unmute your microphone and feel free to share your video? Please state your name and address for the record. You have three minutes. Howard Lipoff. >> Okay, let me turn on my Yes, you could
see me now. And hopefully you're good. Uh, my name is Howard Lipoff. I uh live at 161 Main Street in Little Falls. I'm a teacher at the Louiswis F. Cole Intermediate School and I'm the treasurer of the Fort Lee Education
Association. My question is on um number 10F on the agenda. Um it says about um approving purchases for a non-public school. I was wondering what that was
that was being purchased and maybe the board attorney could uh could add a comment because I thought that public funds could not be used to uh support a religious institution. So, thank you
very much and I look forward to your responses. >> Thank So, the district receives 192 193 funds as well as ESCA funds which you might uh know as title one, title 2, title 3
funds. Um, part of the requirement is that when you have a non-public school that lies within your town boundary, there is a portion, a percentage of those funds that has to go towards that non-public school. This happens every year. And so, by policy, we're required
to approve the purchases that are being made um for that non-public school with those funds that are designated for that school. Thank you. >> M. You've been promoted to panelist. Please unmute your microphone and feel
free to share your video. Please state your name and address for the record. You have three minutes. >> Hi, Mesco Town Hunter Road. Uh so I have a questions around the uh compress uh comprehensive health and uh forms that
uh and and what was mentioned in the meeting. So I'm looking at the form and it says students who are excused will be supervised by certified personnel and work in a separate location for the duration of those identified lessons and will be given alternative health
assignments to complete independently. So the question is what are these health assignments? I mean you know how can I make like an informed decision if you guys don't list them anywhere. Um so that's one question. Now the other
question that I have so it was mentioned that health week was started and the school counselors would join classes. I mean, we can already tell that because my son came home with one lesson which matches
what I excluded him last year from um the healthcare curriculum and was around trusted adults and I think I made a very clear point that I'm not co-arenting with the school. So I want to ask what's the point of me excluding him from the
healthcare curriculum last year so he can only be re you know forced to do the same lesson without me being asked this year. So this is another thing that I have. Lastly uh I think I know the question from last
time it was about tax levies which I noticed on this meeting as well. So the district was supposed to receive I think it was couple of millions at least from um the the government in tax levies that
we didn't get. I think you guys projected like 4 millions and this report as well you had to sell some investments to cover up the tax levies and pay salaries. So I want to know what's happening over there. Thank you.
So regarding your first question regarding alternative health assignments, we are required by law to provide students with health instruction. But if a family submits the health consent form and designates content that they do not want their child to learn, the health assignments
will not reflect that content. And so once you complete that form, our student information system um allows us to easily identify the content that that we do not have permission to teach and therefore the the teacher prepares
health assignments in other content areas. I mean in other topics of health. So that's the first question. Start with hello week. It really is it's actually starting this week. It didn't it wasn't last week. So, I really am not sure what you are referencing regarding what your
child came home with. If you would like to email me directly um with specific examples, I'd be happy to get back to you. And as far as the tax levy, I'll allow our internal business administrator. Can you please um Miss Ku, Mr. Ku, can
you please restate the question about the tax levy? >> Thank you. >> So, But I know the tax levy if you're looking for it, you're not necessarily going to see it in our bills list. >> Uh the word line items I believe on the
treasury uh report. So you guys were projecting in the last meeting. I think it was about 4 millions and then you had the line item where he was saying that you sold something and you got
you sold I think bonds in in about 3 million and you got like a million and a half in interest off off of them and the line item clearly says that you received zero last time. This time I do see the line items. You receive money for the ID
and the IEP plans from the federal government, from the state, but on the tax levy lines, you receive little to no money. And same thing happened on this report from what I noticed. And I'm not sure how that functions. You know, I'm just curious. It seems to me like, you
know, there's two months where you didn't receive money, but you seem you're selling something to cover payroll and makes me question. After the school budget passes and the tax levy is set between board of
education and the municipality, they then sit together and devise a payment schedule for the tax levy to come into the schools over 12 month period. Now, I'm not sure which reported what treasurer or secretary you're referencing, but I'm sure Fort Lee has a
schedule of tax levy payments that come into the schoolboard budget every month from July through June. There are no more raised hands. >> Thank you. May I have a motion to close the floor to the public? >> Motion Rabbino, second Kobath. All in
favor? >> I. >> Any opposed or abstensions? Okay, moving on to resolutions. May I have a motion to approve items 1B through 3B? >> Motion. >> Motion morale. Second Rino. Roll call, please.
Mrs. Bias K. >> Mob. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Curley. >> Yes. I understand name. Stay here. >> Noted. >> Mr. Knight. >> Um. Yes. And I also have seen on my own
name. >> Mrs. Cotang. >> Yes. And I have same >> Mr. Lopez. Yes. >> Just your name, not the whole resolution. Okay. Just clarify. Sorry,
>> Mr. Yeah. Mrs. R. >> Yes. And I stand for my own name on 3B. Thank you. >> May I have a motion to approve items 1 C through 5C? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion Morell, second forino. Roll call, please.
>> Mrs. Bias Tang, >> yes. >> Miss Colan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Curry, >> yes. >> Mr. Knight, >> yes. >> Mrs. Coang, >> yes. >> Mr. Lopez, >> yes. >> Miss Norell, >> yes. >> Mr. Rabino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gri,
>> yes. May I have a motion to approve items 1 F through 14F? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion Curry. Second. Morell. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Byers K. >> Yes. Miss Kobe, >> yes. >> Mrs. Curry, >> yes. >> Mr. N.
>> Yes. And shout out to Mary Church for the program. They're going to meet again. Absolutely. [Music] >> Mrs. Potang, >> yes. >> Mr. Lopez, >> yes. >> Miss Laurel, >> yes. >> Mr. Rabino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Richtor,
>> yes. >> May I have a motion to approve items 1 P through 8P? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Motion Morell. Second. Curry. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Byers Kang, >> yes. >> Miss Kobath, >> yes. >> Mrs. Curry, >> yes.
>> Mr. Knight, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kotang, >> yes. >> Mr. Lopez, >> yes. >> Miss Morurell, >> yes. >> Mr. Rubino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rton, >> yes. >> May I have a motion to approve item one, P? >> Motion. Second. >> Motion pullback. Second. Rebino. Roll
call, please. >> Mrs. Buyers K. >> Yes. >> Miss Kath, >> yes. >> Mrs. Curry, >> yes. Mr. N. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Kotang. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lopez. >> Yes. >> Miss Morel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rino. >> Yes. >> Mrs.
>> Yes. Moving on. Is there any old business? >> Okay. New business >> regarding transportation. Um once the dust is settled, Diana um asked privately, but um
would the central office whether it be George or someone um if you can consider giving a presentation on our transportation service in terms of our fleet, what is
our current inventory, what routes are we servicing um besides the five routes that that are on tonight's agenda of any other routes that we are outsourcing um maintenance training if we can have a
comprehensive presentation. I don't think any has ever given to the district. Um given that it's such a big line item and um it would be very helpful to understand how uh district is operating as yes when we
first started to talk about subscription busing. We did mention that we would do a presentation. We're trying to identify the best to do that when it's not along with a long date of presentation and other things that we have to get done by a certain date. But that is the plan.
Thank you. You're welcome. >> Anything else for new business? Okay, just a reminder, um I've heard from two people in favor of changing the calendar from October 20th. >> Yeah, I heard Yeah. And then I heard from two others who said they'll go with
the majority. So, I think we'll the next meeting have a resolution to amend the few meetings remaining after the October 6th meeting because it falls under convention. >> Okay. All right. May I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Can I real quick? I want to thank
everyone that came to the September 11th memorial. It's always meant a lot to me, especially over the last two years. Um, so just thanks everyone that always shows up for support. >> Thank you. Okay. May I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion Rabbino, second morale. All in
favor? Any opposed? >> Right. Thank you. the nines.