Good evening. Uh, welcome to the board of education meeting of the region high school district. My name is Alex Ferrer. I am the assistant superintendent for business administration and board secretary for the district. Uh, pursuant to board policy, tonight's meeting will start off with me as the President Trump
until uh, a new board president is elected. So, first I'm going to start off uh by reading the November 4th election results. Um for English Town, Miss Diana Capiello, 11,515
votes. Uh right in 180 Farmingdale, Miss K Lavin, 12,54 votes, right in 100. How Miss Joan Butcher Farcus 5,160 votes. Mr. Zach Mezer 10,713
votes in the WRITING and in the writings at 105 votes. At this time uh I'm going to call up each uh newly elected board member individually to join me at the podium for the office. So I'm going to start
off with Miss Cabiel. Right. [applause] Capello, please raise your right hand. I Diana Capiello >> I Diana Capiello >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same and to the governments established
>> to the same and to the governments established >> in the United States and this state >> in the United States and this state >> under the aor authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. I, Diana Capiello, >> I Diana Capiello, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of a member of a board of education >> for the office of a member of board of the board of education >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter
>> that I am not disqualified as a voter >> pursuant to RS19 col4-1 >> pursuant to RS9 19 >> 4-4 >> nor disqualified >> or disqualified >> due to a conviction of a crime or
offense >> to a conviction of a crime or offense >> listed in NJSA >> listed in NJSA >> 18A12-1 >> 18A 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully
>> impartially and justly >> impartially and justly >> perform all the duties of that office >> perform all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. [applause] >> Thank for helping me do that because I
am not very anytime. Anytime please [applause] raise your right hand. I, Kathy Lavin, >> I, Kathy Lavin, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> and I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same and to the governments established
>> to the same and the governments established >> in the United States and the States >> in the United States and the state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. I, Kathy Lav, >> I, Kathy Lavin, >> do solemnly swear
>> do solemnly swear >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualification prescribed by law >> for the office of the member of the board of education >> in the office of the member of board of education >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter
>> and that I am not disqualified as a voter >> pursuant to RS19 col4-1 >> pursuant to RS194-1 one >> nor disqualified due to a conviction of a crime >> nor disqualified due to the conviction
of a crime >> or offense listed >> or offense listed >> in NJSA 18A col2-1 >> listed in NJSA 18A12-1 >> and that I will faithfully and partially
and justly >> and that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> perform all the duties of that office >> and perform all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my abilities. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. [applause]
23 years. [applause] >> You're 24. [applause] Mr. Spencer, please raise your right hand. I, Zach Mezer, >> I Zach Mezer, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and to the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> that I will bear true faith and allegiance >> to the same and to the governments established
>> to the same and to the governments established >> in the United States and this state >> in the United States and this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. Isaac Mezer >> Isaac Mezer >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear
>> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of member of the board of education >> for the office of member of board of education >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter >> and that I am not disqualified as a voter >> pursuant to RS19
col4-1 >> pursuing to RS194-1 >> nor disqualified due to the conviction of a crime or offense nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense >> listed in NJSATA 12-1
>> listed in NJSA 18A12-1 >> and that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> that I will faithfully and partially and justly >> perform all the duties of that office >> perform all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability >> so help me God
>> so help me God [applause] Okay. All right. So, with all board members having taken the oath and seated, I'm going to proceed with roll call. Mr. Asa, >> present. >> Miss Bruno, >> present.
>> Mrs. Miss Capiello >> here. >> Mr. Mezer >> here. >> Mr. Higgley >> here. >> Miss Lavin >> here. >> Mob >> here. >> Mr. Minger >> here. >> Mr. Bruno >> here. >> Thank you very much.
>> All right. At this point, um I'm going to open the floor for nominations for the office of the president of the board of education. Pursuant to board bylaws, no second is necessary for such nomination. Do we have any nominations?
>> Yes. I would with great honor like to nominate Michael Messenger for president of the board of education. >> Mr. Asola nominated Mr. Messinger. Do we have any other nominations?
Hearing none. Um I'm going to move for seeing no more nominations. I'm going to call for a motion to close nominations and elect Mr. Messinger uh as the president of the board of education. >> So
>> moved by Miss >> Second by >> Thank you. Okay. Roll call vote. Mullah. Yes, >> Miss Bruno. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Capiello. >> Yes, >> Mr. Mezer. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Higgley. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Lavin.
>> Yes, >> Mr. Macob. >> Yes, >> Mr. Messinger. >> Yes, >> Mr. Bruno. >> Yes. >> Congratulations, MR. [applause] >> At this point, uh, Mr. Messenger, I can either turn over to you for BP or if you want me to do it, I can do it. You do
the last bit of administrative duty. >> Sound good? >> Okay. >> I hereby open nominations for the office of vice president. Uh, similar to the president position, no second is necessary pursuant to the board bylaws.
Do we have any nominations? >> Yes. I'd like to nominate Jamie Bruno. I'm going to open. Okay. Mr. Messinger is nominating Miss Bruno. Do we have any other nominations? Okay. Seeing no other nominations. Um
there's call for a motion to close nominations and elect Bruno as the vice president of the board of education. We have a first >> motion. Higley. >> I have Miss Higgley. is moved. Second, >> Miss Cavi, >> Mrs. Caviella.
>> Okay. Roll call vote. Mr. Atollum. >> Absolutely. >> Miss Bruno, >> can I vote for myself? >> Yes. Vote for yourself. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Mrs. Caviella, >> yes. >> Mr. Mezer, >> yes. >> Mrs. Higgley, >> yes.
>> Miss Lavin, >> yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Messinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Bruno, >> yes. >> All right. Congratulations. >> [applause] [applause] >> And so at this point I'm going to turn it over back to Mr. Messenger as board
president and we're going to proceed with the agenda uh which will start with the pledge of allegiance and then turn it over to >> So Mr. President sir would you like to do the ethics presentation now or after executive
session? Um, we can do it now. >> Do it now. Okay. >> You do all Yeah. Yeah. I'll just get ready. So, yes. Oh, here we go. >> Congratulations to the newly elected board members and to uh to to my
represent to to my township representative, M. Mr. Messinger as board president and Miss Berto as board vice president. Truly deserved. I I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Happy New Year. >> Thank you, Antonio. >> You're welcome. Did I get sorry? >> Okay, I understand.
>> All set. >> All right, I see I got my timer. >> All right, good evening everybody. Congratulations to our newly elected board member and congratulations to our returning board members and to our board of officers. Uh looking forward to
another great year. Uh couple of quick housekeeping items before we get started. Uh in front of each of you, you'll find uh a packet. The first uh is the presentation information that uh we give out. Uh I ask please that you sign
and provide back to Mr. Ferrer as board secretary, the acknowledgment of the deceit of the school ethics act as well as the fact that you were here and we had this discussion tonight. This is very important for QAC. We want to make sure we all get our points. Uh second
piece of paper is the packet. Um those of you returning will remember it well and I thank you for the feedback last year. You will see now there is a line for your name at the top. uh please fill this out. You don't have to do it tonight. Uh and please just
return it to Mr. Ferrer who will get it to me. This helps us put together uh conflict matrix chart that we use to help each one of you with any potential conflicts uh so we can advise you accordingly during these meetings. All
right. So each year we are required to have a discussion uh about the school ethics act. Sadly, I will tell you uh particular for a newly elected board member, this very engaging, invigorating
conversation does not take the place of the mandatory training that you have to do. Uh but, uh it is informative, I think, nonetheless, and I will try to keep everyone awake. Um just as a kind of 10,000 ft overview uh under the
school ethics act uh there are really tenants and policydriven uh rules and procedures and those really are to hold the respect and confidence of the people that elected you and to avoid conduct which in violation of that trust and more importantly creates a
justifiable impression among the public that the trust has been violated. Those are really the tenants and what drive the provisions within the school ethics act. And it is the school ethics act that governs and dictates uh board
member conduct and that is the rules of the game for lack of a better term that you are all charged uh to follow. 10,000 ft view board of education is the governing body of the school district. It is charged with high level policym uh
decisions and actions. it is the only entity that can enter into certain actions. So for instance, it is only the board of education that can enter into a contract, a settlement agreement, uh a union settlement. Uh it's but its
decision-making authority is statutoily limited. Uh again, you will hear the three big proverbs. Those of you who've been here a long time get tired of hearing me say it, but it's policy, planning, and appraisal. Those are really the guiding principles for board
member actions. Uh we have to avoid what are called conflicts of interest and we'll talk about those uh as we go forward and throughout the year. Uh and your conduct is governed by the school ethics act itself.
What I've done in looking over the cases that have come out over the past year is I've kind of highlighted some major themes or pitfalls that we see time and time again. not here in Freehold Regional, but in other districts around
the state because each month the New Jersey School Boards Association puts out a bulletin listing the decisions that have come out uh where board members have been found to violate the school ethics act. So the first common
pitfall is you see board members trying to administer the district. Again, board members are limited to policy, planning, appraisal. It's the administration's job to run the schools. Second pitfall that we see a lot within the last year to 18
months is board members taking unilateral action. Meaning members of the community coming up to board members, board members trying to solve the problems that are presented to them related to the school district instead of referring those complaints, referring
those issues to the appropriate member of the administration. Because as you'll see, one of the tenants of the school ethics act is that board members have to refer complaints initially to the superintendent uh for to try to resolve it initially. And we are as a board of
education really the option of last resort. We're not the first stop in the process. We're meant to be the last. Third, exercising control over staff or students. This gets into micromanaging and we again we've had a lot of cases. We've seen those over the years. The
next one is compromising or speaking for the board itself. We see have seen these a lot in cases involving social media uh where board members we live in a digital age and digital world where board members like other members of the public
are posting uh the ethics commission has rules and guidelines for social media posts that we will go over. Uh and I give great detail. I want to read them to you tonight. I give this to packet to you as a reference point. Uh number five
is directly assisting businesses or friends. This gets into that violating of the public trust and those are some of the other things. And the last one is going the lone wolf and that is where we operate as a body. We vote majority
rules. It we are a board of nine. We are each of weighted votes. We are one of two boards in the state. We are stat we are weighted votes by statute. Meaning it is not one person one vote. Each vote counts a certain percentage. Uh however
once the majority rules that's the action that we take and board members and other places get in trouble is they stomp their feet, hold their breath uh and take action to try to undermine the board itself. Okay.
So the next couple slides, I'm not going to read them to you. Um I have outlined all 10 provisions of the school ethics act. I will be giving you also cases. Try to be as relevant as possible because each
year not every single provision is violated. But I give you summaries of the cases. I also give to each one of you the citation to the case. If you want to go on the school ethics act website, you can pull the case up. Uh some of them are interesting reads I
will tell you. Uh the fact patterns are bizarre. Uh and really I give them to you to illustrate rather than talk to you in a vacuum what the tenant each tenant of the school ethics act is meant to address or to try to prevent. So I've
also because I like to cut things down a little bit. I give them kind of my own little nicknames. So the first one is follow the rules. Follow the rules of the state. Follow the rules of the federal government. We can't act outside
of that. That is our lane. That's how we have to act. If we want to advocate for change, we have to do so within the accepted norms and the accepted procedures. Again, I give some cases of how board members violate this.
Second provision, the kids come first. uh that is meant that decisions are meant to be made in terms of the educational welfare of students and we'll seek and board members seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the needs of all students. Really,
that's why you're here. That's why I call this the kids come first revision. Again, a nice case uh some irritating fact patterns as to how that got violated. The next one is looking at the big picture. Okay. And that is right
there that that phrase that policy planning and appraisal. That's what drives your actions. That's what board members or board of education members are limited to in their actions. Again, another case. Oops, I'm sorry.
Just a fact pattern. This is for your reference point, not for me to sit here and read to you. Uh but again, some of these facts are just absolutely ridiculous. Um the next one is no micromanaging. Board members must carry out the responsibilities not to
administer schools but together with fellow board members to see that they are wellrun. This is one of the big ones that we see time and time again which is why I give several cases and several examples for you as to what constitutes
micromanaging. Okay. One more. The next one is I can't promise you that. And that's one we see where board members make individual promises whether it is to constituents, whether it's to
businesses, whether it's to employees. Uh but they the provision provides that authority rests with the board of ed and no personal promises or private actions can be taken that may compromise the
board. uh we are only able to act when we are in a board meeting like this. We are in session outside of a meeting like this. No, there is no authority that a board member exercises with the exception of the board president who has
the ability to speak on behalf of the board and who the superintendent must consult with uh as it pertains to certain actions. But all of those actions then have to be reported to the full board the next time we are back in session.
The next provision kind of keeping with that maintaining public trust. I will refuse to surrender my judgment to special interests or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends. This gets to that upholding the
public trust and avoiding any actions that might give an implication of a violation of that trust. Again, I give examples for you. I can keep a secret is the next provision.
Those of you that have been here a long time know when we're in executive session we discussed a lot of confidential matters whether they are student related. They are staff related. They are litigation related. Uh they are negotiations related and those matters must be kept confidential and sacriinct.
Those are not things that can be divulged. Otherwise, well, I would say this, you see more and more penalties under the school ethics act as it comes out of violating that confidence in executive session. uh and
I give some examples particularly uh one case uh that I think was the ethics the ethics commission was most upset about uh was involving a board member uh taking me to social media to try to help
allay public concerns when there was a student discipline matter that was engaging social media causing to go on fire and the board member in an attempt to help put out information, divulging confidential student information,
divulging a student's identity, and the ethics commission was plenty upset that they recommended the second to highest penalty, which is essential. So again, this is that keeping confidence and maintaining that public trust.
The next provision is listening to your superintendent's recommendation. Nobody gets hired, nobody gets fired, nobody gets transferred in the in the district absent the superintendent's recommendation and affirmative vote of the board. That doesn't mean that it's a
blank check that the board just has to do what the superintendent says. But if a board is going to go against the superintendent's recommendation, it can't be for reasons that are arbitrary, capriccious, unreasonable, discriminatory, or retaliatory. Uh we've
never had that issue here in all the years I have been with you guys. Again, just kind of listing that out. The next provision is I will support and protect school personnel in the proper performance of their duties. My friends
from Bartles and James know that I'm aging myself by putting that up there. Um but uh again, these are pretty self-explanatory. Uh some other examples for you. And the last one gets back to what I was
talking about at the beginning. Referring all complaints to the chief school administrator and will act in complant excuse me act in compli in on complaints at public meetings only after failure of administrative solution. So that's my use the proper channels uh
acronym for that one. Uh again some cases. Okay. I talked about conflict of interest. I talked about that wonderful document that I gave you, that questionnaire that helps us put together our matrix. Um, we do have some board
members that have members of their family that are employed through the district or that are employed in other school districts in the state. And I ask for that information not to be intrusive, not to pride your personal life, but it does place a limit on some
of the things that you are able to vote on uh where you may have to abstain or not be present for certain discussions. So what I do like to give is a definition of how relatives and immediate family members are defined. So
when I ask for on the sheet any relatives that you have, I'm asking for anyone that falls in that right-hand column, >> unfortunately. Um, and the reason why, just to kind of give you a quick chart now,
I think we are going into this year, we are entering into negotiations with, I believe, one of the seven units here in the district. uh but we need to know if you have any relatives uh that are working in other schools because as you
see it might limit whether or not you are able to participate in negotiations be present for discussions but again that's why I ask for the information I I take that information I break it down I go through the ethics provisions for you and then we come up with our matrix as
to who can and cannot participate to all of you Please do your training. Uh New Jersey School Boards Association requires board member training. Uh I don't know why, but they have gotten
very militant with that in recent years. Uh so uh newly elected board members, there's a mandatory ramp up training uh that you'll have to uh participate in within your first year. Returning board members, there's the annual trainings.
Please get that done. Otherwise, um Mr. Ferrer secretary will get a very nasty gram and we'll be on the clock uh to get that completed. Uh congratulations Mr. Mezer. We are [applause] one of the
districts [applause] not the first. >> So the the trail was blazed which in a was in a in a good way so that we kind of know what the rules can be. And just so everybody is operating on the same page, Mr. Mr. Metser and I uh met back
in November uh and had a discussion and just so everybody's on the same page just because he is a current student in the district that in and of itself does not create a conflict for him. He is able to participate in discussions and
he acts as a full board member absent a conflict such as a relative working in the district or another provision of the ethics act itself. But I just wanted to kind of give everybody this. I believe in open and transparency with all nine of you. We all get the same information.
We all hear the same information. So he is fully active. He is off and running. So welcome aboard. Uh >> beware of social media. And as I drilled this to my own kids to stay off it, but
I feel like I'm shouting into the void sometimes by saying that. Um, I give you like the most instructive cases and really what it boils down to is
avoiding posts that would violate other provisions of the school ethics act. when that's really vague. What am I talking about? posts that are attacking district employees because remember one of the
tenants is I will support district employees in their proper performance of their duties revealing confidential information whether it's student driven whether it's negotiations driven whether it's litigation or confidential matters
that we discuss in executive session whether it is seeking to address a situation or overstepping or micromanaging and above all avoiding the perception that you are
speaking for or on behalf of the board because when we are in public session, this is when we are active. Outside of that, there's only one board member that does speak for the board. That is the board president by statute and by our bylaws.
So if anybody has any questions, I'm happy to try to help give the disclaimer with that and I will take any questions. Mr. Asole, we're right out of the shoot. So >> yes. Um Antonio, hang on a second. Let me ask a question and then we'll go with
it. >> Yeah. >> Then whatever the procedure is. >> Actually, I have uh two questions. in order to facilitate Mr. >> Med. Yeah.
>> Okay. It's difficult for me. >> It's a new ethics provision. We have to say the names of our fellow board members correctly. >> Yes. Um he can do this training either online or in Atlantic City. Am I correct? >> You are absolutely correct. So the
training is actually a very good element is New Jersey school boards is pretty diligent uh about getting the information. Mr. Ferrer's office that's the board secretary handles the reminders that you will get uh and he can be quite persistent uh in making
sure he stays on top of you. And my second question is uh absolutely unrelated and I know we had discussions about this. Um having worked in law enforcement for 46 years and testified
in federal court, I have a little bit of a difference or maybe it's a different interpretation that falls in line with what you say. If a board member, and I have never seen this here at all, never once. never once in all my years since
2011 notices something that's illegal. They have the ability to go to a law enforcement agency, a bonafide law enforcement agency such as the state controller, the the state u attorney
general or u even local law enforcement uh without confirming with the board because in other words to compromise the case and I have seen that in federal court where it's been brought up. What's
your opinion on that? >> So, what I would say is uh you're referencing the provision about referring all complaints to the superintendent and that is not talking about uh because each of you do have a fiduciary duty as your role as the
elected members of the board of education. I'm not talking about anything that is potentially criminal, fraudulent, uh, or in violation of uh, state law, right? >> What that is, the complaint that I'm talking about is you're the shop, right?
You're at the a, you're at a recreation game, uh, and people come up to you and they, "Hey, I know you're on the board of education. Do you know about this issue? Can you believe this? What do you think about this? I need to get this
fixed. what do I do that those type of complaints are the ones that I'm talking >> we are in 100% agreement on that discussion and I would suggest as a longterm time member of this board former president too that
always go to the attorney I know Mark forever and Mark came in be an RFP I didn't know you from anybody is that correct >> that is correct >> and and he served the district well and as long as you go to Mark first, you can
always count on getting a fair referral >> and that's why I trust him 100%. >> I thank you for the kind words. That's why I give each of you my email address. I'll give each of you my cell phone if you need to reach out just so that we are also in compliance with the
accountability regulations. Mr. Carrera. Uh, under the state guidelines, if you want to reach out to the board council outside of meetings, just you have to just get the permission of the board president, but so we just make sure that we don't have nine chiefs all calling
all at the same time. So, any other questions? >> Thank you for your answers. I I think uh >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, so so um as as some as somebody who's been a going to these
board war board war meetings for the past past years and um I've experienced these board meetings and first time in history watching a student come on the board. I'm just I'm just wondering what what's the what's the age um to um just
to to start running for boards and >> Sure. No problem. uh uh under the uh the laws of the state of New Jersey, so long as you are 18 years old, registered to vote, and reside within the district, [laughter] and not convicted of a crime or offense that would disqualify you
from being able to serve on the board, you were able to run on the ballot. >> I might uh >> if you do, whoever's against you is going to be up for a tough match. >> What town are you from, Antonio? I'm I'm
I'm from I'm from Malboro. Uh >> oh. >> Well, Mr. President, I apologize and I encourage arrival. But >> with that, Mr. President, I just ask please that everyone could return their forms. Uh and let's have a
great >> forward a motion to go into executive session. >> Second. I'll second. Miss [snorts] [clears throat] >> a motion to reconstitute ourselves in close session. >> Motion.
>> That was really >> Yeah, that was serious. [laughter] All >> in favor? I >> Okay. Uh first up, we'll take item C, the organization items. This is items C
1 through six. Oh, could I have a motion to approve? >> Motion to second. We're good. >> Okay. >> Okay. Have a vote.
>> Mr. Yes, >> Mrs. Bruno. >> Yes. >> Yes, >> M. Cabella. >> Yes, >> Mr. Mer. >> I have >> Mrs. Higgley. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Lav. >> Yes, >> Mr. Cop. >> Yes, >> Mr. Messenger.
>> Yes, >> Miss Br. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um, next up, item D. This is a vote to approve the meeting minutes from the meeting that was held on December
11th. However, have a motion. >> Second yellow. >> See no discussion. Mr. Ri, >> yes. >> Miss Bruno, >> yes. >> Mrs. Capiel, >> yes.
>> Mr. Mezer, >> I abstain. >> Mr. Mr. Higgley. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lavin. >> Yes. >> Mr. McCob. >> Yes. >> Mr. Messenger. >> Epstein. >> Mr. R. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on [clears throat] to communications. F before I ask Mr.
Ferrara if there's any communications he'd like to share. Um, also Mr. I neglected to ask you if there was any additions to our agenda that are not in the hard copy that uh people may have missed.
>> Uh no, Mr. Messenger, we have no changes to the public agenda. >> Uh we do have changes with reference to the exact agenda um which Mr. What's the status? >> Just real fast just uh in addition to
the items that were noted on the agenda agenda, excuse me, that was preprinted prior to the board's meeting, the board also discussed under exception number three, HIV appeal, the HIV report, the student discipline report, and for exception number eight, board also
discussed the personnel matter. All right. Now, we're going to move on to the superintendence report. And part of that is going to be the financial report on our annual audit from John Swisser.
>> Yeah, thank you. Yeah, I have a couple of comments. Um, happy new year. Uh, we are excited to be in 2026 welcoming all of our students back from a long um and restful winter break. Uh just wanted to share um you know with the board on
December 6th we had approximately 759 middle school students participating in our maggot program assessment at Colts High School. Um that was where the assessment took place. Um currently we have over 1,800 applications uh
representing uh 1,93 students. So, we are very excited um that we have uh so many students looking to apply uh to our magnet programs throughout our district. Also, we are
running 8th grade orientation programs. That's for all of our students um through the month of January. Specific communications have come out from each high school um to the rising ninth graders in regard to those programs. Um
those programs are just a wonderful opportunity for our parents, guardians, and students uh to really get their foot in the door and get acclimated um to um their home high school that they um you know will be attending.
On this agenda, we are approving our 2627 uh Freehole Regional High School District School calendar. Um, and I did want to note on that calendar, our full day, staff professional development day,
will be on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th. So, that is a day that the students will not be coming to school, but we will be engaging in professional development with our staff. Also, as we uh we are in the winter
season, but as we move um toward the spring, our juniors will be taking the New Jersey graduation proficiency assessment in March. Right now, all of our high schools are running after
school preparation classes. Um and those classes are taking place January, February, and you know, the beginning of March right before that test administration. We have classes in language arts and in mathematics and we
encourage students to participate in those sessions to give them kind of a leg up and a confidence booster uh before they're taking those assessments and the high schools have released those
schedules um to the rising juniors. Also, the Freehold Regional High School District is offering a virtual SAT preparation uh course uh in preparation for the March SAT. Um this is where
students can sharpen their skills and preparation and uh registration. The SAT prep course uh does have a fee of $100. Sessions will be um held virtually uh through Google Classroom. Classes will
be on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the evening for an hour and a half. We have a total of eight sessions and the payment is due and registration is due by January 22nd. Um so again we want to make sure that um our students and
families are fully apprised of those opportunities. Um I want to welcome uh Mr. Swisser. um he is here to present our annual comprehensive financial report for uh
fiscal year 25. So thank you for being here. >> No problem. Good evening everybody. I am John Swisser. I am a partner with Sly Clooney Company selected our firm conduct to conduct your audit for the year end June 30th, 2025. The audits
required by the state of New Jersey. Each year I come and talk to you guys at very different times of the year. Although the report is supposed to be due uh statutoily by December 5th. Uh for the year in a row, it was delayed. This year was because of the government
shutdown and certain information required for your federal civil war was not available until very late in the game. And so the Department of Education extended the deadline to the 15th of January, 2026. I'm happy to report that your report is dated November 2625.
You guys were done. You had your records together. Everything was done. Once the federal compliance supplement came out, we're able to issue the report. So, you actually met the statuto deadline as opposed to the extension which is again the 15th of this month. Um the results of the audit as every year contained in
two reports. There's [clears throat] a small report, the auditor's management report and then the thick report, the ACT for the annual comprehensive financial report and that's the report I'll start with. That's the report that contains the opinion on the financial statement. Uh that's really at the end of the day what you pay us for to render
an opinion on the financial statements to say that they are free from material to state. That's important to you guys as the board. It means you can rely on the financial statement. The public will rely on the financial statement. The federal government, the state government, bond reading agencies, etc., etc. It means we can take the records
provided to us by the business office and the financial statements, apply tests to those financial statements and make our judgment our opinion that they're they're free from material statement. I'm happy to say you've got an unmodified opinion, which is what you want to have. Uh that's not unusual in
New Jersey. Most districts do get an unmodified. In the time that I've been with the district, you've always had an unmodified opinion, and that continues to be the case, which is good. Uh the second letter in there, second opinion is a gas p and government ordering standards. That's on internal controls and compliance. Internal controls are
your internal rules and regulations for processing your transactions. It could be the board approval of the minutes would be an internal control. Doing a backstage would be internal control. And again, we check these internal controls to make sure they're suitably designed. Make sure that everything gets into the right bucket. They're also designed to
prevent or detect flow within a reasonable period of time. Once we go over these controls, we deem them to be suitable. We test them to make sure they're actually being done. And I'm happy to say on the internal control standpoint, no comments and recommendations, so the opinion on that is clean. The second part of that letter
relates to compliance. We live in the state of New Jersey. There's plenty of compliance and laws and regulations, state level, federal level, even at the local level. I'll use as an example purchasing and rewarding a bid for instance that you folks do every once in a while. We'll select some bids and make
sure that they're in compliance with local public contract law. All kinds of different compliance. Payroll is another area that's just filled with compliance. And again, you guys did great there. No comments and recommendations on compliance. Uh I think this is the second year in a row with no comments, which is good is good news as well. Uh
the last letter in this report is on single audit. That's what I was referring to before your federal state single audit. When you spend over over $750,000 in expenditures, we have to do additional testing. And this is where we got held up this year. The federal compliant supplement, the test that this
federal government wants us to do under federal programs was not available to the government shutdown. Once that came out, we were able to complete our testing. I believe it was IDA that was tested this year and your state aid public on the state side. Again, no comments and recommendations.
interesting on the single order we're filing through all the ESSER funding and so for many years probably last five years since co we've had to kind of test those programs they were high-risisk programs now we're going to kind of get back to this cycle looking at the IDA title one national student one be back
in that cycle again going forward but again from an audit standpoint we're kind of hit all the marks here you got three opinions you got no comments and recommendations you got a clean board opinion on the financial statements all good up the second report, the orders
manage report that's the the state makes us but the state department of education makes us put this together and they ask us to report on these various areas of compliance I just kind of talked about and if there was comments and recommendations in reference to the opinions I just spoke about they would be included in this report this is a
good report for you guys because there's no comments or recommendations so it just goes through the various areas of compliance payroll purchasing capital assets and kind of talks about what's involved with each one of each one of those areas If there was a comment recommendation would be noted here. As I said, we don't have any comments. So
there's no comments. Uh I'll finish before I take questions talking a little bit about fiscal condition of the district. Uh your surplus your fund balance is basically flat uh from year to year slightly slightly down but not enough to note. Uh
what is interesting is in the district where you've had you know some challenges here particularly with S2 looking back over the last seven years um you've been very consistent with your surplus uh your use of surplus and every year I come and talk to people about
regenerating surplus you have it for your next year's budget and how much of the budget we're lapsing each year and it's it's really quite remarkable how consistent you've been with that and to be in a position at this point in time with what's happened in the district
with a good solid surplus. Okay, you're still putting some money into your restricted reserves, your capital reserve, your maintenance reserve. And so it's once again, it's about that tone and that consistency. Uh and the bond agencies, for instance, really do thrive on that. They like to see that type of
track record, if you will. Um so fiscally, again, you're holding steady. Okay, like I said, pretty much flat in surplus, but against that track record that you guys will kind of be proud of in terms of uh how you're conducting your finances. So, I'll take a deep
breath right now and see if there's any questions from the room. Any questions? >> Well, Mr. Schwitzer, as always, I always have a question. >> I understand that. That's fine. >> Yes. And um didn't you think Trish did
an outstanding job in getting all the paperwork done? Could you explain that a little bit as in comparison to other school districts? >> Well, I I I can do that, but I've been asked not to embarrass Miss Smith and M.
>> How is that embarrasser? >> Although I do kind of enjoy it a little bit, so I will go into it. Um, >> so this this this big fat report that you see right here is aer and we do probably between 30 and 35 school districts and in most of those school districts, we prepare the schedules in
the ACT. Okay, we prepare the notice of the financial statements. We're we're allowed to do that. You are our only district that prepares the entire document. The only page in this report that's monitor the opinions, the things that I just referenced and really it's kind of a corporate way of going about doing things is a true audit if you
will. Uh, one other thing just to add a little more embarrassment to it. Uh, there's a new standard this year nobody wants to know about it. I know to go too far, Alex, calm down. Uh, Gazby 101, which follows your your compensated absence. I'm not going to go into the weeds on it, but where my other clients
are really kind of struggling with it, I kind of give it to Trish and she's able to implement new standards. It's it's it may be lost a little bit upon you. It does not happen in other districts and I talked to a lot of my colleagues as well and just it's it's really quite remarkable what happens here.
>> So, I think I've done enough damage. >> Any other questions? >> Thank you, Chair. Thank you. >> Actually, I should say one more thing. Uh, we have the return of our prodical son here, Alex. Um, and it's
interesting. I worked with Alex when he was here before. I'll embarrass him, too. I worked with Alex before, okay, when he was here and then he left us cruy. Um, and he came back and we really honestly didn't miss a beat. Um, we had that relationship. I worked with Alex in other districts as well. And the flow of
the audit was as good as ever. Okay, that that's big shoes to fill. I think I mentioned that last year. I think you did a good job with that as well. >> Okay, I'm assuming I think that's it. Since there are no more questions again, you have this
report here. If there's any questions at all that come up over the course of time, I'm happy to come back. You can jump on Zoom, just talk to Alex, reach out to me. >> Happy New Year. >> Happy New Year. Okay. Um, Dr. Hazel.
>> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, since our last meeting was on December 11th and it was Christmas holidays, I assume there were no board reports. means we'll go on to G which is public participation. We have one person who
signed up. [clears throat] Mr. Acetola from Cold Snack. You >> like to take the podium and speak? >> No. Can I speak from here if it's okay? >> Please. >> Sure. Why not? >> Okay. Mr. President, you and I have
started in 2011. you stayed with it consecutively where I had a few uh skips in service and I am ultimately honored to have you take the reigns and run the district
from the chairman's perspective as opposed to the superintendent's perspective who I had just complimented I can I say executive session because I'm going to anyway um in executive
session for her wonderful work that she has been doing. So, thank you, Mr. Messenger, for for doing this. I reached out to you. I asked you to do it and you went to back for me. I can't back forth any longer. I just can't do it. So,
you're the hardest working guy I know and I appreciate it. >> All right. Thank Thank you, Mr. D. >> I appreciate it. And we with that we will close public participation, move on to item H,
personnel and negotiations. Uh there's items 1 through nine. I just wanted to point out something that sticks out to people and myself is that you'll see that we're going to vote to approve the uh stipens for the flag
football supervisors and obviously we want to point out that after this first year it is going to be pay to participate moving forward. So just to get that out
there and I'm sure that will be conveyed to all the students who get involved with the football. So uh does anyone else have anything to discuss with respect to items H1 through9? >> We just need a motion, Mr. President. >> Oh, I thought the I thought the motion came after the discussion.
>> Okay. >> I would like to say something. >> Yeah. Uh you know what? Let's get the motion in a second. Okay. >> Capello second. >> Second. This is Bruno. >> Yes.
>> Oh, now I can talk. All right. I just want to say um first of all, I'm very appreciative of everyone having the faith and confidence in me to be a vice president and I really truly appreciate it. However, I do want to thank Pete Bruno for being a
great president of and a mentor for me. and I um I want to thank you for all your years as president and it really means a lot to me and I hope that I can only do half as much as you did because you really were phenomenal. So, thank you.
[applause] >> Okay, guess we can call the roll. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bruno, >> yes. >> Mr. Cabellis, >> yes. >> Mr. Mezer, >> abstain. Mrs. Higgley, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lavin, >> yes. >> Mob,
>> yes. >> Miss Berto, >> yes. >> Messenger, >> yes. Thank you. >> Motion passes. >> All right, moving on to programmed operations. This will be items I 1 through 4. Uh really the highlights here
are the payment of claims uh accepting the annual financial report from uh Siuty. Um and that is it. So does anybody want to put forth a a motion here? >> Mr. Per
second. >> Anybody have anything to discuss? >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mullah. Yes, >> Mr. Bruner. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Capella. >> Yes, >> Mr. Mer. >> Mrs. Hig.
>> Yes, >> Mrs. Lav. >> Yes, >> Mr. McC. >> Yes, >> Miss Bruno. >> Yes, >> Messenger. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Motion passes. >> Okay, moving on to J Buildings, Transportation, and Physical Plant. We're going to consider items J through
three. Uh if you look, this is the portion of the agenda where we're voting to proceed with an application for a state grant for $195,000 to renovate the tennis courts at Fredo Burough High School. And here we're also
um approving a contract for the design for the uh architectural firm for the design and construction administration for the roofs at all of our high schools. So, uh, does anybody want to put forth a motion? >> Second. >> Yes.
Second was M. Capella. >> Any discussion? >> All right. Roll call. >> M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bruno. >> Yes. >> Mr. Kemp Hill. >> Yes. >> Mr. Meer. >> Mr. Sigley.
>> Yes. >> M. >> Leav. >> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> M. Brim. >> Yes. M. >> Yes. All right, moving on to K, educational programs. Uh, we'll consider items K 1
through 7. Uh, and within these items, you'll see uh dual enrollment for several classes with Brookdale Community College. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion?
>> Roll. Yes, >> Mr. Bruno. >> Yes, >> Mr. Capella. >> Yes, >> Mr. Mr. Sigley. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Slav. >> Yes, >> M. Mac. >> Yes, >> Miss Bruno. >> Yes, >> Mr. M.
>> Yes, you. >> All right. Next up under administration, there's two items here uh about professional conferences and workshops and then an approval of uh a first reading for the uh grounds and
maintenance c and school community liaison officer calendars for 2026 and 27. I'll offer second >> discussion. Please >> Mr. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Bruno. >> Yes. >> Mr. Caviella. >> Yes. On everything except on L1. I abstain from Dr. Hazel. >> Thank you. Mr. Mer >> abstain. >> Mr. Sigley. >> Yes. And everything except on L1. I
abain to Dr. Hazel and Rachel Goff. Mrs. Le, >> yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> M. Bruno. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Anybody have any old business? >> Mrs.
>> I I just wanted to um just second um my thanks to Mr. Bruno for his many years of hard work as um president. Um, I know it's not been easy. It's very time consuming. Um, and um, we're very
appreciative and um, appreciative of Mike serving as vice president and now congratulations as president. I've always found this board to be uh, cohesive and to work together well. And no matter who's sitting in what chair,
um we all respect each other's opinions and um are all here for the same purpose, which is that um the best education we can provide for the students of our communities. >> Thank you, Diane. >> Does somebody else have old business
before moving on to new business? All right, we move on to new business. I have a few things here. Mr. Bruno, I was saving my thanks for new business. So, I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate all the time and effort you
put into this job. G, especially given a whole bunch of things that have happened over the past few years. And plus, I always think it's harder for a how person because you have the longest commute to get to this, >> right? I have a I have my uh [laughter]
>> this is loud and >> uh so yeah, thank you so much for everything it and obviously one of the uh best people that's ever been associated with this district. Uh I also actually want to thank Joan Butcher Farcus who was with us for the past
year. Uh thank her for her contributions to the board. Um, and I would also like to thank my colleagues for uh giving me your vote of confidence uh to be president for the next 12 months. I really do truly appreciate it. Uh, and
looking forward to a good year. And lastly, I wanted to uh ask Mrs. Higgley if she could bring up and let the public know what's going to transpire. Oh, okay. >> So, go ahead. on February 7th. I went
they're going to be doing a um starting a scholarship basketball game in honor of Mary Huff and her family doing a scholarship and it's going to be on February 7th at 10:00 a.m. at Ben High School. It will be an annual event between the Ben and Township basketball
and so the first one county will be on her family will be there at this one and they start a scholarship and I just want to make everybody aware of it. was a wonderful person, you know, endearingly. >> Okay. Anything else?
>> All right. Does anybody want to put forth a motion to >> get a motion to please? >> Second. >> Oh, Mrs. Bruno. >> We're out. Y go.