We're going to call the meeting to order. Republican newspapers as well as 202 broadcast as well as submitted on February 22nd. This meeting may
for the flag to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation with all
John, okay, we have some recognition. County School Board Association. Well, the market kindergarten first grade second will Third grade.
Fourth grade. Sixth grade. Fifth grade. Seventh grade. Then we would like to for her article in about modern classroom.
Congratulations. Um >> yeah. So just an update on our current uh calendar right now. So that would put us at Wednesday June
17th uh for our last days of school. Um, and then on the Tuesday school calendar, um, just a few highlights. Um, Labor Day
is very late this year. It's not until September 7th, which is that Monday. So the plan is to have our two in service days on uh August 1st and September 1st, which is Monday, Tuesday, and then the students to come back Wednesday, Thursday, and then for a 4-day Labor Day
weekend, uh everybody off on that Friday so we can get our two days in before uh Labor Day. And I think that was very helpful this school year because if you school year, the students didn't come back until the Thursday and Friday after Labor Day. So if we stuck to that plan
this year, like our last day right now would be June 19th, which is a Friday, assuming no more closing. So I think that was the board, you know, all of our, you know, decision collaboratively. That was the regular voting kind of dealing um with that
um delayed open delay instead of delay. That being um People have a hard time figuring out what money equals last night and said one other
sent out to our email the change is the spring conferences. So um we originally had on this Wednesday the 17th and Thursday the 18th um we back to Thursday and Friday
the early would be on Thursday and then it will be a day Friday. So we just >> But remember that's for next school year, not the current school year. >> And that's like and that's the part about doing this. Now lots of people get confused with you know break and when is
it like we're currently in the current school calendar. Nothing's changed on that but uh state law requires us to approve the following school year's you know calendar by the April meeting. That's why we're actually like to get just a little bit ahead of the game for planning purposes, families with vacations coming up so they can kind of
plan their schedule hopefully with, you know, a lot of time in advance for the follow. >> So now I I'm going to take my piece right here everyone. This is the schedule. You ask next year to change to a half day. I'm going to tell you you voted on
schedule. Understood? I should have said that this year. No, >> we're allowed to change that >> doesn't come into play. >> That was very clear one time.
um bypass budget um you know the release is March 10th meaning we should have our members uh by March 12th that's you know state statute
and then you know of course you know our board meetings on March 16 by state statute all preliminary budgets must be submitted to the county approved submitted to the county office by March 20 so again state is pretty much like three days you know when we know our
exact numbers that we're looking at obviously us working on it. Now we have, you know, kind of meeting discussing things all kinds of, you know, scenarios when we do finally know what we're dealing with. Hopefully we do get city, you know, we have a good idea of what
what the plan is. And that's all I have. Mr. there. And then the work of the communities. Um we have department helicopter
working with the sheriff's office. We have a number of local community out maybe We're also inviting local Okay, one more thing. We have our uh eighth grade vers staff basketball game
coming up uh a week from this Friday. >> Not yet. >> Not yet. >> And we are looking for some more players and we learned board members are allowed to play. >> Yes. So if you saw the game, you're looking
for all the help you get. So you know any any board members want to sign up, we would be more than happy. I I could board members count. Anybody else? Anybody else?
All right. >> It's not in the best interest of the >> So, we got Second comment. >> Second. I was hoping I hear
the office. >> That's why Yeah, I'll just give you a summary. So back in end of January, we got to see the local state has been with the fact that a lot of newspapers are kind of going out of business and downsizing. They finally
allowed us to start doing posting our public notices online to our own website. The state actually has also set up a website to kind of aggregate links to all of the notices across the state and so forth. So effective March 1st, we
have to start posting anything public notice on our website and it has a whole I think I include a copy. There's a lot of new things they also want have on there two years of budgets, two years of audits, all of your advisors in there as
far as attorneys or any any uh any vendors that have received over a certain dollar amount. They want to have that stuff posted in there. The biggest thing was the public notices. So, I've been working with our website company to set up our our our site. If you go to
the website, you'll see public notices, the top link on the banner. Um, right now it just says under construction, but go live next month. So, it will have job postings there, board meeting on our website. >> No, we did administration.
>> Yeah. So, that's the big change. Um so we'll be you know on top of that what the thing for the transition is the state you must post in a new in your district newspaper that you use twice per month for the whole month that whole
year of 2026 notifying them where our ads are going to be posted. So I've had it twice in January twice in February and then I'm going to reschedu through the rest of 2026 just to point people to our website.
Yes, >> we will. I mean, it's minimal. We don't We spend hundreds We spend hundreds every year on ads, not >> but even with that, the newspaper moved up that to get something in the newspaper now, you have to send it four days in advance. It used to be two days
in advance. They they're even increasing the deadlines and it's hard to have a quick meeting because you know you have to send it within reasonable notice to get it in there within 48 hours before the special meeting and now
>> with four days extra it's tough. So this will alleviate that problem. But either way, it Yeah. I'll just make it work. >> March 54
24th um April 1st will be our spring break from the 10th and the 13th come back. Next up we have policy and curriculum.
curriculum update in October. World meeting up with What kind of stuff? That's fantastic.
One book. It's about a rescue program. So, we're gonna And then just what I'm looking at right now has to be revised. So we'll continue with the current
areas computer scienceology next year. of the curriculum for inside. So we have three of them. However, It's a consideration.
No, >> we have the curriculum but not the You'll be fine. Um yeah, that's it. Um, you know, it's
about transparency. But I know that policy the president of the board of education and another designated member of the board shall award the diploma.
board members and former board members probably afforded the opportunity to award more performance to their own children. So if you expire the board, you can come and ask the board to hand your own child
out to everyone that you can do that I just know that >> this year we do have some board members who Jack and then we did which is not in this policy but come at me anybody
want to fight me on it um also president of the um I don't know if about that now or not but I feel like for graduation this year we should have it just be you and then let us go up and just do our own child rather than having like four or five people up there four people like we did
last year I think It just detracts when there's like so many people standing there and I don't think it's necessary. So I think like if you were to hand them all out and then we were come up one at a time and Yeah. >> Well, yeah. Or have one of us be the your designated person. But I I don't
like that it like I personally did not like like that panel of people up there handing them out. I think it detracts from yeah from the kids and it makes it harder for people to get photos because now there's people like standing there that don't need to be there. just so I think we should have one person you um
and then we would just like pop up and so I know for example in Newton when they do it they say when they say like the student's name they say something like and David will be receiving his diploma from board of education member Kate >> and that that's like said into so that people in the crowd understand kind of
what's happening >> and then they go and they sit back I'm your mom by the way >> but I I don't know if this is the time to discuss Yeah, I still feel like it's like extra theatrics that like to detract from things, but that could work, too.
Yeah, whichever. >> No, like you always sit in that front row. Like I would just get up, go give it to my child, and I would sit back down. Yep. Very quick. >> Whoever reads the names needs to be slower. >> Yeah. Especially
if they're sitting on parents that are sitting on that one side, it's harder for them then to see because there's like all these adults standing there >> say that, right? I think >> we all like when it was your child.
So I think we have to >> right >> even do it at the beginning and say you know we have >> maybe at the end we may have people >> then that's even farther than where we currently are. I I think it's fine.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I I can I'll figure out that they >> Yeah, but it would it would be like I just feel like It's about an hour and a half.
aware Yeah. >> And they're graduating. That is an important Right. For the most part, Yes. I think Newton back in the day. I'm not too sure, but I'm pretty sure that
>> back in the day. >> I know. So, I do think that it is long, but I enjoy it. I think that Is that what that would be? for something years ago.
All of that >> and actually it used to be even longer since I've been on the board because when they did the awards, they used to speak more. They used to speak about each student. >> Yeah. They got faster now that he's very like
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> No, but I think No, I think they do. Yes, they do. Yeah. >> Right. >> Community >> memorial. I know. >> Yeah.
>> Let's get some emotion. So we set up the rich building. We got it all set up. We had it ready to go inside. So at least like now we know like >> right across the walkway to the Richard's building. um formal. So
Jenny Armando when her kids are there right now people but It could open it up. Not that I'm putting this on here, but it could open it up
that has a child like she was a right. So like that gives her the right when eth grade stand up. >> It's not that's just parents. Does that include like grandparents? >> Not like So,
>> I mean it also is a small community, right? So, like maybe you don't have to say Kate Adam like >> No, you >> I mean I Yeah, I guess people will know. >> I still like the idea of just like one person and other people like hopping up and then sitting back.
It's not hard for me. >> Yeah. Okay. Exactly. >> Okay. website about books in the library and want to say I don't like this book
in the library is that exclusive to the media center or teacher live personal libraries in the classroom as well. >> So I think I think it's technically media center. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Library what we're in right now. >> Yeah. >> Yeah.
So thenology >> really quickly. So I mentioned to Mandy too that now the NJSBA has a free policy. So are we looking at that to also potentially I don't know how much do we use? Oh, we use school boards. It's like it's their free basic. We're
already using so there's no March 20th county. So we have our March 15th board meeting to vote on. March is a Thursday. >> So there is a potential they may move the the deadline for submission of the
budget by a few days. We may have the opportunity if need be to move the board meeting a few days but that's just a few days because still the townships and counties and all still have to have certified by a specific date in April.
So if it gets moved we might might get a week or so. So there's a bill out there. >> I mean, my association NJSA is currently fighting to have it move to March 31st, but you know, >> we're trying,
>> but the finance committee has again budget. Um, so we had um January 12th and February 11th and February both uh I just want to just interject. So I
do have one update and this has to do with the school project. Um Nick Cippetan reached out to me today uh regarding Gotimer. So the federal government has a program where every congressperson can put out up to can
propose up to 15 local projects. Um, so local projects, you know, for school districts, municipalities, whichever. However, the deadline is March 6th. Uh, so we're going to try and propose the sewer project. Yes. >> So, his idea, he was trying to work to
find a way that we can get it fully funded through the federal government if possible. So, >> did you see? >> Well, I I looked at the application. It's just a Google sheet. So, >> you know, he wants to have a meeting to see what it is. I'm guessing it's a
summary about the project. So, I >> Yes. Yes. But but looking at looking at the application on Gutimer's website, it was very very basic. So I could not find a lot of details on what they need in there other than that onepage Google form. So that's where he
wants us to try and have a a meeting. >> Uh the meeting would be just us for that matter and then figuring out what to do to submit through there. We have the sewer study, but you know, we're not going to submit a 50-page sewer study. It's more or less a
synopsis of the project. Here's the cost and how does it benefit the community? >> The close out of the roof project that's still in limbo, especially the roof um being covered in snow, but we are we're still waiting for the final close out.
They still have to redo the electric all of the roof penetrations because they use interior grade conduits and connections. So that all has to be redone. >> Unfortunately, our buildings and grounds guy is an electrician, too. So, he's
like, "This is not correct." And we've been on top of them. Um, but that's just lingering now. That that leaves us Uh so how how how it works with um compensated you have to actually have a loss in
order to go after them for for liquidated damages. We don't technically have a loss. Now if there was a short or anything like that that would be a much different issue. Right now what it is what's non-compliant is covered by a tarp on the roof. Uh, so it's
watertight, but and it's not ideal, but we're just waiting up for that. That does leave us with one section of roof that has not been replaced in the last 10 to 15 years. Uh, you know, I got estimates from the engineers and costs have gone up significantly. So, I'm
still that'll be a later discussion because it's not something we're going to put in a referendum or we certainly don't have enough capital reserve for any of them. But there will be later discussion as to what long-term projects we want to pursue more as we get towards
finishing up with the current bonds. So that'd be like next year or two. Um so that's the update. Super project is a good one. Trying to see what we can get for it'll be a quick turn around for submission. >> It's only
>> Yeah. Well, she's she wants to talk to the town clerk. says she has good ideas, >> but >> but we'll we'll get through there. My guess is you just need someone that's a good creative writer to flourish. >> I mean,
perfect. for the follow. Okay. school agenda item number 2024 20264-31 we'll start with >> Stevenson have no nothing for number 32.
>> Nothing motion to open public comment. Second, >> any public comment? Motion to close public comment. >> Okay. Other items of the order. Um you
discuss becoming certified board. Um that's you have to >> um >> I am in moving forward. >> It has the the stuff's on the last page very back.
>> Kind of the requirements. I do have um do have school boards. Oh my gosh. My brain is totally tired. Anyhow, they're going to be here for double check
to discuss this and some other training things that will count towards this count this information. >> It counts towards the credits that the Yeah. >> And then >> Well, the benefit is that we learn a lot
and we become better educated at what we're doing to make better decisions. Um, and then it like shows our community that like we're invested in what we're doing and that we care and that we want to be educated as board members making, >> right?
Yeah, >> I guess it's ultimately that like it gets the board members talking more and working together more and understanding things that are available to us and all of those things of us functioning better ultimately a better school. Um I don't know. I
don't think that there's any like harm, right? >> Yeah. It's like her coming and talking doesn't it's what 16 credits over four was that it was over? >> Yeah, four years. >> Over four years. So, it's really not that much. Yeah, >> she's close. Yeah, she's
>> No. I have >> um so I attended the online uh hybrid Sussex County NJSBA meeting on February 5th and it was all about um communications. So, what I'm doing now
for the board anyway, and it gave me some ideas um that I wanted to pitch and see what everyone thought. Um so, one that I already mentioned to Mandy and um Mr. Newman was a dropbox potentially in our middle schooler
area that parents could like so if you come in the evening to a game and you need to drop off a check for lunch money or you need to drop off a doctor's note or you need to drop off whatever the news form for a sport you're running or anything like that that people could just drop that in there um rather than
like sending it in with your child and having it getting lost in their mouth in their backpack or lost on the bus especially if it's like money, Right. Um, so that was one idea that I had. >> Yeah. >> Well, I just like an idea that maybe
like that could be a project for Yeah, maybe. >> I am not telling anyone to do anything, but >> is there that we can drop something? So, I didn't even know that. So, maybe we need to like share that information more.
Oh, right. I always interpreted that as like something students could be like, "We want more apples or something." >> But maybe we could change that to. >> Okay. or anything just anything that you know when a parent comes in in the evening
they want to drop >> I mean it would have to be secure obviously because people might drop like money or a check in there or something like that but Um >> yeah, >> right. Right. And if if we share that information out to the community, you might start to use it more regularly and
then and you would also know maybe if there's nothing going before, not as pertinent to look, but if there's a big wrestling match or something. Um, and then I had another idea of um that they I think they mentioned in the meeting about the idea of like share the
good news like a Google form. Um, I don't know if that already exists for like staff for example that if we could get staff to share more information about I know we already do share what's going on in their classrooms and things like that, but sharing more information and putting more out onto our our
district um Facebook to get more information there. And then something to just keep in mind maybe uh to think about and then talk about in the future would be the idea of using our Facebook for the school
to try to channel the community to that rather than to like the Branchville Frankfurt community page. Right? So when parents have a concern that if they maybe post that or share that to our school page, we can more easily reply to community member concerns um and to have
people have I don't want to say more trust but like feel more faith in like just reaching out to the school rather than reaching out to like some random >> Right. Right. And then we could provide like a quick answer to
>> that is accurate. Right. to like shut down rumor mills and like things like that and to have the community >> find like I have a question about school, I have a question about anything. Like I'm going to go to the school. Like we want to try to start channeling people, >> right, into the direction of like
trusting what the school site says and trusting what the school Facebook says or social social media in general. >> Of course. >> Of course. But what would be great is then is like the if like you know everybody was on there was like, "Oh, you should post that today, right? Oh, you should post to the school page,
right? Maybe that the community would even start to shut that down a little bit. Um just other ways to share um information and and to use our social media platform and to make the community want to reach out to us and to give them better feedback and quick answers to the
best of our ability. Um so just something to think about. Do we already do something for the staff members where they can like fill out like a Google form? >> Okay. Yeah, >> I'm curious if we could open that platform. If we had like a Google forms,
maybe the students or like even family members too, like community members could also like share >> I don't know share the good news. That's phenomenal, >> right? you know, but to say even if there was like a
spotlight, right? Um, you know, shout out to you and, you know, quote it or whatever
that, you know, today their student came home and whatever, but like, you know, the little but we all know about it, but I bet you ask kind of like
>> you know and I'll tell you now um but I I'll tell you when I walk into sixth grade school I don't know those people when I go to seventh grade I'm going to tell you I don't know those
people and I'm the president, right? So, I think that those kind of highlights could really spotlights on staff members in a good positive way, but it's also showing the population at large, >> right?
>> You know, yeah, Mrs. probably most people don't know at this point but it could you know if that was spotlight and then you know or I mean Amanda Harrison
not that people don't know them but they're not on our staff but they are doing fabulous things at this school but Those two women are surviving to these students that people if they
did that for your child then you know and actually phenomenal stuff. She's phenomenal. I text her and all this stuff just to give her a little The girl was like so emotional about it.
I literally looked in the face and I said, "I was telling you, you're a senior in high school. Hopefully one day you have a blessing like this." When you do something for someone that is so impactful and so good, you have that
person for life. Like if that girl called me from college and was like, "I'm going to go back home." I go pick her up. You know, like she's just done so good for my And that's for all of these staff members in here. If you this is a long
way, but like if if you do something if somebody does something good for your child, you remember that and you could spotlight that in the bullard bulletin rape great press, >> right? Or like on our Facebook, which you already do, but maybe like expanding
upon that more. Um, >> sorry. >> No, that's okay. And then um because of communications, if any of you do anything other than you all here and you um like you attend something, you attend a workshop or whatever it might be um let me know so that we can put it into the bulldog bulletin about the
achievements that you have. And then I also had the idea, which you might all hate me for this, but in the Bulldog Bulletin, maybe spotlighting like each of us once like a month or something being like meet board member Mandy Joust, you know, Mandy can write up a little little
um to kind of reintroduce ourselves, especially since we have some people. >> Yeah. I mean, I know it's on our website, but I don't think anyone goes there. Let's get that. I'm sure it's outdated. Yeah, >> right. Right. Mine is Yeah, mine is definitely not.
>> Um, so that and then also keeping in mind the unsung heroes which we mentioned was mentioned. We can all go to that. So if anyone wants to go, you can go. Um, and then also the next county meeting is on May 7th. It's at the Newton Country Club. They feed you. I highly recommend you go.
>> Yes. Um, it's in your email. You can spawn and like log off. It's free and sign up. >> It's May. Yeah, May 7th is the next one. It's in person at Newton Country Club. >> I don't. >> Yes, definitely. Um it's usually at like
six o'clock and you go early, you eat, and then they do a program for you. And this one is typically recognitions. Um and not to like brag, but like I'm going to be recognized at this one. So, if you haven't come support me, um you can. Um, and I'm being recognized as being a
certified board member. >> Uh, it's usually >> how do you get recognized? >> So, you can become a certified board member by doing there's a criteria you can look up um and I don't remember all of them, but you have to get a certain number of hours um where you like so
going to county meetings count um going and you have to go to at least one workshop. Um, so I went to workshop. No, it's weird. I feel like it's weird to say. Um, you have to go to a workshop, which I did the past year. You have to do
delegate assembly. One delegate, which I did. >> No. >> No. Oh, no. No. No. No. Like other pe all the people in the county that are getting it. Well, they I think I get a pin and like a certificate or something, but there's other people that are going to get it as well.
>> Yes. Well, I technically have met the requirements. Um, that is when I will be like that's when they'll say my name and give me a pin. It's really not a big >> but um but you'll see it and then you'll be like, "Oh, maybe I want to do that too." And then maybe that'll be
motivation to like >> go to more meetings. >> You have to I'm sorry. >> It's the county. So, it's the Sussex County. So, it's really great because you get to meet like I've met so many board members from other districts and so many super a lot of superintendents go to these meetings. So, you meet the
superintendent from other districts. >> You're I should tell you that. So, I went to workshop and they did this little thing at workshop where you they ran like a contest where you could wear like fun socks and submit your socks and I also got that. So, I was one of 40 people on
this date that got my socks recognized and I got a little NJSBA pin that has socks on it. How funny is that? >> I had forgotten about it and I got it now like a couple weeks ago. Pretty cool. >> I have a sock pin. >> Isn't that so funny? >> This is why we spotlight. I wouldn't know.
>> Well, I'm not in the spotlight. I'm just my >> favorite some more socks. >> I don't know. Maybe. >> Yeah. >> So, anyway, my point is go to the meetings. They're actually like kind of fun and they fe especially new country
club make a really good like pasta. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, give me more for those correspondence updates. Hopefully, well, for those bubble, well, you know, back and forth.
and we are working on some other um children. >> They at our county meeting today, they said there's there's a consideration of moving it, but it would only be maybe a
week if it it's lucky to get moved >> if we wanted to. Yeah. I mean, otherwise we get state aid on Thursday and the budget is will be getting approved that following Monday. It's not the first time it's happened, but see tends to be
whenever there's a new governor. >> Anyone else forget of the order? Don't forget to go to March 31st. >> You guys see office. >> Thank you.