[Music] ready. Okay. Adequate notice of this regularly scheduled meeting of the Frenchtown Board of Education has been provided in accordance with the open public meeting act by notification to the Hunington
County Democrat on January 16, 2025. A copy of this notice has been posted at the public school at the municipal building and filed with the burough clerk. And we'll stand for the pledge. 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. Black here. Mr. Germany here. Miss Howard yes. Miss Klein here. Miss Nicah
Harris here. Miss Portal here. Mrs. Nent here. Um at this time we have open public comment if there isn't. Um there is not really a strategic plan
update since last time. Um, do you have anything that you wanted to mention from your the board secretary report? Um, there's nothing additional that I have for regionalization either. We're still waiting to hear back and on
the um the timelines. Um the school board candidate kits and um petitions are available. That's I think there's two open seats this year. Two seats.
Nothing else. Okay. Um, all right. Then we'll need a motion to approve the minutes of the April 29th regular and executive session. So moved. So done.
All those in favor? I opposed and we'll take the executive this CSA report next. All right. Good evening everyone. Um we just this month again it was short right we've met two weeks ago so um there have
been no incident HIV as you can see there was no short-term mentioned in the account and there is our security and fire drills with our police 425 28
Okay. Do we need a motion to affirm the HIV report from April 29th? Second. Any comments or questions? All those in favor? I oppose or abstain. And then we need a motion to affirm the
2324 HIV self assessment report. So that was just our report that we Yep. sir. Sorry. Do we have a motion and a second? I'll move. I'll second.
And that's just a report that we do every um fall and then that's just val you state of New Jersey when we put it in that just validates it for our school year. Um, and as many of you know, the last few years we've been really focusing on lot of
that spirit and culture and kindness, respect, so forth. Um, and our score has increasingly gone up through the years. I think we were in the 60s when we started and now we're at a max score of 78. So, I think we're just kudos to the
whole teacher team as well as many of the students that are or many of the staff that are part of that positive behavior team. Um, Mrs. Ziggy the shard survival and so forth. So thank you. Any comments or questions
on the that report? Great. All those in favor? I oppose safe. And then 8.3, we need a motion to approve the submission of the 2526 New Jersey Child Assault Prevention
Grant application. So move second. Jim, do you want to speak to that? That's the one we do every year. Correct. Any comments or questions? Okay. All those in favor I opposed or ab
um I just have in addition to the um the calendar for the um CSA and self-evaluation or the dates. I guess it's not a calendar. Um, I also just wanted to add to what Teresa said about
the regionalization study. I did speak with um Matt who is the Matt Davis who is the um board president at Holland um and um you know he said basically the same
thing that Teresa did. they're, you know, just awaiting um the fin the report. And he we both talked about the need for um the at minimum the boards to see the
report ahead of time to kind of digest the material and have the opportunity to ask preliminary questions before the public presentation. Um and he was 100% on the same page as that. So um once the
um report is given to the administrators then the boards will get it um and then we will set a date for a meeting which will be in Holland. Um and he and I discussed how
to handle that meeting if there are multiple boards there. I think there is some rule about how to advertise if there are multiple boards. So, we're gonna we're going to look into that and figure it out. Um, but I know um most
likely um you know a quorum of our board will be there, a quorum of the Holland board will be there, and um he's expecting a quorum of the high school board to be there as well. Um so, so we'll figure out how to advertise that
and whatnot. Um, and I think just, you know, speaking to Stephanie today, you know, last two weeks ago, we were saying we were probably hoping to get that. We might have had that by now. When I spoke last time, speaking to her today, it's still
um she spoke to the group yesterday. It's more towards the end of this month is the latest update. So, that's what I can share. We're at the mercy of, you know, that final report. just so people in a loop. Yeah, he was um Matt said the same thing that he was hopeful that it would be here by the end of the month and we talked about the fact that you
know we have the June meeting midmon and then not another meeting until August. So um and you know I I don't know if there will be difficulty in scheduling a meeting over the summer with people on on
vacation and whatnot. So we'll have to you know kind of try and figure that out. But I assume if we have you know at least a quorum from both boards that they would move forward with the with the meeting. Um but yeah but there there were
definitely you know I think in the gathering of the information um there were some delays. Some of the districts were not as forthcoming with information because they didn't sign up for the study. So, um it took a little longer than
anticipated. Um and that is all I have. Um we have no policy for this evening. Um and we do need to before we go into our consent agenda, we do need to move into executive session to discuss terms
and conditions of employment and action will be taken um when we come back from executive session. So, we need a motion to move into executive session next week. I I wanted to I anticipated that Jim
would talk a little bit more about the testing this week. So, I wonder if I could just have a question before we move into executive session because I'm assuming the public will leave during executive session and likely not from that. Most of the meeting will take place
after executive session. It's unlike other times when we have executive session at the end. Yeah, because of what's on the consent agenda, we need to have executive session in the beginning of the meeting. Um, so most of their action will be taken and there the whole
consent agenda will be after executive session tonight. I'll just be out there. All right. So, we do need a motion though to move into executive session. I'll second. All those in favor? I opposed.
Thank you. Sorry microphone was my it's because of all the employment. Okay. All right. Um, so we have a couple of other notes from Jim and then we'll have our consent agenda. All right. So, just want to
update things. Um, since we met three weeks ago, first off, um, just want to say kudos to River Union. um your good man Charlie Brown performance just amazing and students um and you know all
our all our staff that were participating Mr. Zelledo um Bowers, you know, Keith Laur and Ally and that team just put on a really just it was all awesome. I don't know what else to say. It's just a great clever having, you know, the dual casting and
how they split up both the staging and the uh and the script that was and how they did it with the costumes was very clever. It was really clever as well. Yeah. So, a lot of Yeah. And it's a there's a lot of behind the scenes, a lot of students involved in different
ways. So, um, and it was a good crowd, too. Good show. It's also great seeing kids who you don't suspect kind of stepping out of their show and being theatrical. You would never imagine kind of thing. It's absolutely terrific.
For sure. Um, last week we had teacher appreciation week, nurses week, um, mental health awareness all in one week. um as we said just always um but certainly you know appreciate the PTO and all the support um you know a lot of
great gifts and and food throughout the week and the staff really appreciated that um our affirmative action team we approved last for the comprehensive equity plan we've been working the last few you know since we met um we have another meeting this week so we've been looking at some things I think if
anything um we'll be the policies that we're reviewing as part of the plan will be on um for revisions for an in June agenda. So that's just something coming down the pipe so for the team to be aware of. So so we'll talk about that at our next
meeting and then um be ready for our submission which this following week. Five point testing plan um is in in mode right we have we are testing this week. Um I think students are off you know we are off to a great start yesterday.
weather cooperated. So, um, as we said, we're doing some premovement. Um, everyone's getting breakfast and students go right into their testing and then when during the testing, we've been doing a lot of, um, if the teachers see an effort, right? Students during that
time putting a really good effort, taking extra thoughts, extra time and so forth. At the end of that, throughout the next week, um, students will get, you know, awesome effort as we did last year and award them positive rewards. So, I left everyone on the board one here tonight. So, if you know a friend
or know somebody or um just want to leave it in someone's locker in 3 to 8 on the way out tonight, please do. Um but they're all given a good effort. Um and then when we are done, they get a little bit more movement. Obviously, on days that it rains, we're being a little
bit more creative inside. Um but yeah, so we're in action right now. We're in day two. That's through out the rest of the week. Math is still left this week. And then we have science grades 5 through 8 next Monday and
Tuesday. Um what else? Fifth graders um artyard visit. So they went as we all know they were part of hatch and um activity in school this Saturday 2 o'clock. Um we'll be at the
artyard um for students who are going to be participating families before I think they encourage you to get there at 1:00. Um so that's coming. So just something another thing that you know we were able to get our students involved with the team down there who's been wonderful. They've been great. Um so just make sure
you check you know if you have an opportunity Saturday check that out. Um what else? Visualization. We talked a little bit about um summer scholars. So I wanted to chat a little bit about this.
So we've been talking strategic planning as we said previous years we used esser funds to support summer acceler accelerated learning. So last few weeks we've been looking at why we asked for a little bit more um in our
budget regarding clubs and targeting some of our academic achievement. And I think what we've come up with is this summer we are going to create we're going to be recommending. So this is stuff that will be coming more solidified in June but it will be
it'll be communicated out to the families before we are running summer scholars club um which will be grade level assignments for all of our students throughout the summer and there'll be check-in points um throughout the summer with one of our
teachers. We'll be recommending Mrs. Thompson to lead that club for us. So, I would anticipate by the end of, you know, another communication before Memorial Day weekend to what some of those um specifics are. Um but the
teachers are all working on creating assignments, the importance of summer, you know, keeping summer assignments, keeping your brain fresh through the summer. Um some some information regarding that. But that's something that our team's really working on right now. Um I'm excited about it. that I
think it's going to be a really great opportunity for our students to do some check-ins, give them an opportunity to complete some work under teacher supervision here throughout the summer. Um, and obviously we're going to celebrate some of those moments and have um basically share, you know, given opportunities for students to share
their information and so forth. Um, what they've worked on, what book they read, what some math facts, you know, and all those things. So, I I'm excited about this plan. I think it's going to be a really um I'm hoping it's going to be a plan that we're going to build on for years, but I'm I'm really excited to see
that in action. So, more information coming. Um the board will be getting some more information on that, you know, probably by the end of this week. Um and I hope to communicate that out again before Memorial Day weekend for the parents. I might have missed this. You might have said it. Yeah. What um what grades is it for? And going to be for
all. Well, and do you have a a goal in mind for participation? You know what? What? Yes, I do. I I think what I'm I think I think we're going to set our own goal this coming year. I think we're going to set a standard for what you
know where we're at with Frenchtown right now. Like um I would love everyone to participate if that's if that's the goal, of course. Right. Um but I think the check-in points are going to be the thing that really helps. Um, so knowing that, um, there's an opportunity to come
to the school, check in with a teacher that's going to help you supervise and be a part of that assignment. Um, I know so many parents and family members in the community to help and support, but I also think it would be great for the student to come get to meet some friends, a nice little social opportunity, too, um, while you're
working on some more assignments. Um, so yeah, but you don't have a I'm giving you a hard time. you don't have a a a number in mind. I'm gonna so in the letter Rachel I'm gonna put a number of 100%. Um be able to evaluate whether it's you
know whether success or not. I think our number exceeded expectations we did not meet our expect you know we need to have expectations. So I'll look back at some of the summer accelerated data and you know participation level there and then maybe I'll set a bar. I'll let you guys know
um where that might be. If we can achieve above that um participation level, I think we'll be in a good space and then we know it's a worthwhile program. Maybe we make some adjustments for the following year. But I think I I really am excited to see this in action and see how our community and our
students respond to it. Are the assignments going to be designed for their rising grade or kind what they it's going to be created by the current teacher that they have. Okay. in preparation um for the next year. So just areas that maybe that teacher,
let's just say grade three teacher sees, you know, we definitely could use some a little more um support in reading here, definitely use some more um you know, support in math here in this specific area. That's how we're going to generate it. Um and then there's collaboration going on amongst all the teachers,
especially grade levels. We're in we're in PLC groups together. So grade, you know, K2, 35, 68. So everybody's, you know, in a conversation right now, but they're responsible for their assignments, the current grade.
Okay. So, we'll be finalizing some of those details. Um, but again, communicating out and and I'm really excited for it. I think it's going to be, you know, I'm excited to see how it turns out and I'll put a goal on it for sure. Got a testing related
question. It's top of my mind mostly because the Delva school board had their meeting last night and one of the things that we looked at was the ESSA scores from all the sending districts coming in. And I know in October when we were going through the standardized testing,
we talked about how one of the kind of potential solutions for the challenges we were seeing were just adjustment to curriculum. I think the example used was, you know, if we're not studying, you know, enough geography, like there's a lot of geography, but we didn't cover
geography during our curriculum, then we would adapt our curriculum a bit more to be in line with state expectations. So, knowing that we're kind of keeping the five-point testing plan, which from the feedback of the kids, everyone's divided by, especially the fact that they get no
homework for the week. I'm curious what were kind of some of the bigger chunks in curriculum that have shifted over the last six months to get us to kind of this week of testing knowing that that was a big discussion in October. Okay. Um, I I I can definitely speak more to
that. I'm not going to, you know, I can look back and check in with the team and we can talk about that um in a future meeting. People like I'll bring it to the June meeting. And it feels to me like we're putting a fair amount of like
onus on the parents to exhibit curiosity in order for them to understand how the school is doing in the context of other schools. Yet at the, you know, like at the high school level, we're seeing our scores presented, you know, like to the incoming, you know, parents who are there, you know, like current eth
graders if they're present for those meetings. So, it just feels like we're not being as transparent as we potentially could be with our community on how the school is doing, where we have some opportunities to grow, where we're actually doing pretty well, and what has changed year-over-year. So, I I
wanted to bring that up. I know I sent all of you an email that sort of like summarized here's how we're doing, here's how the neighboring districts are doing, here's some demo data that might explain it. I I do feel like our community may benefit from knowing that stuff more directly in hearing it from us.
Yeah, I agree. I thought that um your summary was really quite good. Um and Beth High School has something just like that. They look at um all the senior districts, our scores, you know, holl at everyone else. I don't know how deep they get into the demographics of each school. They probably look at it on
service and whatever is available from the school. Do we know if other elementary schools are doing that? Publishing their certain information like that. I don't know how they but I mean I know that in the past we sort of boasted when we did very well, but all I
know is what we did this year because I received the email as a board member which was like scores are out. Click here if you want to see them. Mhm. Yeah. It would be interesting to see what the other I I don't know historically that
the high school has done that either. I' I'd be interest Did they have a presentation or it was just on the agenda? Those bar graphs are on the agenda. No, just like as a incoming. So they did or did not publish that
data? The data is already published. It's the high school, they had those those cool bar graphs you had in your email. No, that the bar graphs I made for us. Okay. I published that to us cuz I went and I looked at every individual school district and gathered it because I thought it was important to look at our
test scores or our ESSA scores in context of the districts that we're surrounded by. Especially like seeing kind of the similarities for me at least was eye opening because I think often times we say like well actually we have much more special needs and it's like in reality we don't. But what we do have is
a a higher proportion of lower income families that attend our school and that's where we sort of match Milbury. They're even higher. But that could also kind of explain some of the numbers that we're seeing even in absenteeism. Um I so I'm just confused
with what the high school actually did. I did not watch the meeting. I haven't watched the meeting. I read through their agenda in their docs. So on their docs they said that they would review all the essay scores from the income from the sending districts. So my guess is they're
reviewing that's typically something they have said they would not do publicly. So I'm I can reach out to Scott. Yeah. I mean I just I'm just curious as to how that was, you know, what how their
um you know what their presentation of that was. Um but yeah, I'd be interested too to see what the other how the other district Yeah. report out. What do we think is the right thing to do? I there's the like should we do it the way
others are doing it? What are others doing? Like I'm sure Holland is sharing mostly because they are the best performing district in you know what I mean like just I'm guessing I don't know that right but whether we are best whether we are average whether we are
lowest what do we as a board feel we owe to the community when it comes to some of this public data obviously full transparency that's that's the answer um how we how we sort of uh present that
is you know and who and this be nothing to fall on Jim's shoulders I fear um but how we uh you know what the format of that publishing is you know besides just the link which is what Delv Val seemed to do this gave a link out right um
that's what we did would you say Delv Val did though delval in their board meeting had the report on your agenda you see the meeting right yeah I haven't seen that see what that was just on the agenda oh I see I see sending districts as the scores were on
their edge of time. Yeah. Yeah. I'd be curious. Get an idea of what they and I can certainly see if any of the other elementary schools had a more than you know a presentation of it. I can check in on that for sure.
Regard I mean regardless of what the ele if if we believe that full transparency is the right policy regardless of what the other elementary schools do. I mean it seems that a simple kind of link and
a brief not not not a dissertation you know but a brief discussion of this is our data this is what it says these are some of the reasons these are some of the things we're do just a to contextualize it I mean it's it's a it's
a it's a community parent education community education thing Um yeah, I don't think it needs to be as sort of thorough as the email that you sent, but um but uh like I guess like five bullet points. Yeah. Um and then
and then the link obviously if you want to investigate more [Music] um but I think that's something we probably owe the public. I think that's that demographic information is especially revealing to me. It was it was too
um in the wrong track where we are. Um Jim, did you have sorry go into our consent agenda? No, just I want to make sure that people know that necessarily shared today that um I know she's been communicating out the
2021 graduates are going to be opening their box right of 2021. So that's occurring Monday at 3:15. Um and I believe some of our eighth graders are going to get a chance to That's the one that's down in the cafeteria. In the cap. Yes. So
that'll that is something going on. So you'll be seeing that shortly. Um, that's our high that's ending on our high net apparent I'm sure. Are they all coming back to you then? There's a group I Yeah, I know there are a number of them. That's why they chose 315.
That is funny. Nothing perishable in there. I hope Donald's funny. Okay. Uh then we'll need a motion to approve the con consent agenda items 12.1 the rules
2021 so moved a second. Okay. Comments or questions on the consent agendas? [Music] I had a question about the um library share.
Is that new? No, we had it last year. We did and this year. Yeah. We've had it in previous years. We had it through Delval, right? But we were able to work it through with what does that person do? They have they basically collaborate and work, share less like share lesson
plans, share ideas. It's it's an opportunity for Mr. Rodriguez to collaborate with someone else um in that in that facet. Um so yeah and it's also um something that's on the QAC you know
evaluations is a point indicator um so you know that's another layer of compliance as well um from the the donation from the parents um thanking parents is there an intention for that money for the art
drama program any specific intention Sorry, 12:21. Um, I honestly I don't know if there's a specific target for that yet, but I can check in on that and get that.
What number is it? 21. [Music] Was that the money made from the play? It's the money made during the night of the play, right? Correct. I think some staff members and I think
it's a full community effort in a strange. There's t-shirt salivation that based on being in the audience for those things. Yeah. It's really hard to hear the kids. Yes. Do you agree with that? Yes. Yeah. I it was so charming and so lovely, but I
couldn't really and I hate to put any kind of negative spin on it and I don't mean to be negative at all just because I was so eager to hear what they were saying. It was very hard to hear them. Okay. They work so hard and and the music is very loud and I understand the acoustics in the room are not, you know,
but you know, like that's been like a It has been forever, right? Yeah. It's just such a shame because there, you know, you want to hear it so bad, right? Then the kids like turn rent. Yeah, something like that. It' be cool if we put on Yeah, he can. He also
needs someone to know us how to operate it, which is a lot. Charlie's running lights and he's 83. He hasn't learned how to be a sound guy yet. Can we collaborate with our yard and borrow some water? Rob their sound guy. And Eric Eric Eric.
Um, yeah. I'll bring that when we we're going to have a reunion little recap within you know whether this month or next month for sure. Um I can certainly bring that to them for sure.
I know Eric from the place. Well I was going to say I hate to ask Eric to go on paper anything else. You know there's so much. Could Kyle Johnson do it? You won't have to do it. Don't tell my son that he's done it for months and months. I knew
well unfortunately Penny won't be here next year but yeah can get a kid at the high school who would community therapist we could get a good volunteer from the high school or the community to
do that the play is done at the time Yeah, that's good. Okay. Any other comments or questions on the agenda? We'll need a roll call. Mr. Blackburn, yes. Mr. Germany,
yes. Miss Howard, yes. Miss Klein, yes. Miss Nahara, yes. Miss Brook, yes. Mrs. Na, yes. And okay, is there any other new business from the board before we move to public comment?
Is there a are we going to do the board president's report and talk about the CSA and board that should we did that but well I mentioned it I just went um that was when I talked about the
regionalization study. Oh, okay. It kind of went my Can I just ask about that a little bit in terms of process because I was looking thinking over last year's everything. Um um Jim, do you do a self evaluation
before we do your evaluation? Is I think you could that is that the process? Yeah. So, the the process is that um that's why Yeah, I've lost it now. The first the first step is for Jim to um do
like a self-evaluation of his goals. Okay. And then um that comes to us and then we complete after you know we review what he said and then we complete the right it wasn't in the timeline that I didn't see it in the timeline that
way. So I was confused. So by before June 2nd, right? Well before June 2nd so that we can use that to do the CSA evaluation that night. Well, Jims will be done by the 23rd.
CSA available to be okay. So I it's online. I misinterpreted that. Yeah, the stuff is going to be online, right? it it doesn't come available to us until Jim has fulfilled his part. Okay, that's
what I wanted to understand. And so and Jim, so you you do a self-evaluation and we look at your goals for the year. And okay, thank you. You're welcome. So that'll be included on the TW by the 23rd. Thank you. Yep.
Okay. All right. anything from the public this evening? Sure. I'll throw in one little thing. Ed Branson, 66 Street. Um, the particular sound equipment that you have with the two big speakers, one on either side,
also makes it especially hard to get good. My dad was a sound engineer, like he built speakers for clubs and stuff as well as a DJ. So, I like have learned a few things over the years. But more
smaller speakers are generally better for intelligibility. You can notice this in restaurants a lot of the time. If they've got like two speakers, it's hard to understand what people are saying. But if they've got like a speaker every few feet in the ceiling, it's very easy.
Loud either expensive and we're not likely to change anytime soon. But just so that you all for the next time something happens. Yeah. just stick to that out there. Yeah. Hopefully we can come up with
a at least something that will studio 49 doing with the speakers that they're taking out. And uh so I know they're getting rid of the benches and the seating from the movie theater and Yeah. Yeah. The plan is I think to no longer have the theater as a
part of Studio Route 29 as a creative space. Well, we could reach out, you know, I could be incorrect, but I guess I know I'd love
Jim do include uh me and Kyle in sound conversations. have that extends back into that world. Okay. I know he's interested in helping you and I talked about it before. Yeah. Feel like he could do it in his sleep.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, all right. So, we'll need a motion to adjourn. All those in favor? The poster.