WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=37jW8wbu08s

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: 37jW8wbu08s):
- 00:09:00: In Memoriam: Remembering Lynen Avenue Teacher Jennifer Gonzaga
- 00:13:22: History Club Presentation: Regional and National Championships
- 00:19:46: Open Forum: Public Comments on Agenda Items Only
- 00:20:40: Committee and Liaison Reports: Updates from Various Schools
- 00:31:21: Board Business: Approval of Minutes, Administration, Personnel
- 00:36:22: Open Forum: Public Comments on Any School Matter


Part: 1

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board met tonight in executive session. We're now ready to continue with the public portion of our meeting. Uh before we start, I want to recognize the fact that uh last Sunday we lost one of our own. Um, Jennifer Gonzaga, a longtime

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second grade teacher at Lynen Avenue School, passed away on Sunday. So, I hope that you will keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. And right now, I'd like to have a moment of silence in honor of Jennifer Gonzaga.

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Okay. Uh, did you want to add anything? Uh, Miss Gibbs, Glen Ridge is a special place and even though this tragedy has hit very hard to our school community, just seeing how everyone pulled together, the staff, the

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students, the families. Lynon Avenue Home and School brought the staff sandwiches today just to give them a little pickme up. Staff members have been covering. People have gone from one building to another just to make sure that kids feel okay. Um, her service is

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Saturday in Rutherford. If you need the details, I'll put it on the main page of the Glenidge website. I did send out a couple emails with the um information, but I'll also place it on the main web page. Thank you.

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>> Okay. Um the arts I want to remind you about the arts festival in Eagle Fair on Saturday from 10 to 3. Uh I hope everybody will attend. Um it is always a special thing. The board of ed will have a table. Uh so

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come and see us. Uh I also would like to give a brief explanation of uh A2 on your agenda which is a resolution urging relief from rising public school employee health costs. Uh, as you know, Glenrich was fortunate enough through the skill of our BA Barbara and the

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planning ability of our superintendent, Miss Kivet, to have a balanced budget this year and not have to have any layoffs, program cuts, etc. Um many many districts were not as fortunate and one of the probably the major cost driver in

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New Jersey education this year and there are many cost drivers but the one that was overwhelming was health premium costs and not just for school employees but for all public employees. It had a particular impact on school. I'm sure you've all seen the headlines schools

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laying off anywhere from a few people to hundreds of people. It is largely because of very dramatic increases in health premiums both from the uh school employees health benefits plan which many districts are in we were

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in until this year and um but also private insurers are uh handing over uh extremely large increases. So um I received an email from Jonathan Pushman the chief lobbyist for the NJSBA school boards association. They are encouraging

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members to pass this resolution. Um, and it will of course go to Governor Cheryl's office, to the leadership of the legislature, both the Senate and the Assembly, uh, and to our own delegation, um, that represents us, our assembly people and senators. So, that will

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happen. I also sent it over to Burough Hall. uh Mayor Debbie Mans got back to me and said that they had just received a similar uh resolution from the League of Municipalities to which all municipalities in New Jersey belong and the uh burough council will be passing

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their own resolution uh at their next meeting. So that is an explanation of A2. Uh and that is the president's report uh superintendent's report. We have the history club here today and

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they've been very very busy going to competitions, hosting competitions and they have been very successful. So is Mr. Majuski here? All right, Mr. Majuski, you want to take the mic and tell us a little bit about your club and

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all the great students you have and their achievements? Um, it would be wonderful. >> There you go. >> Uh, thank you very much for having us here tonight. It really is a wonderful honor. Um, I would love for our new

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president, uh, Mr. Nate Yaso to come up and speak on behalf of the history club if that's okay with you. Good evening and I just want to say uh thank you for representing us and um without further ado, Superintendent

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Keevit, members of the board and members of the Glenidge community, my name is Nate Yaso, it is my honor to speak on behalf of the Glen Ridge High School History Club. The 2025 and 2026 school year has been an amazing experience for

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myself and for the history club. On February 28th, uh we welcomed close to 150 students from four different states to compete at the Glen Ridge High School Regional Championships of History. The students range from age grades um

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three to eight and all had high hopes of advancing to the National Championships in Orlando. And after seven rounds of competition, Glenbridge schools had 14 students advance. The highlight for myself and 27 other members that day was

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acting as judges and readers for the young competitors. The opportunity to see the happiness and intelligence of so many young people as they competed for a championship was inspiring. There's no doubt that this opportunity guided the 23 members of our history club academic

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teams that competed in nationals in Arlington, Virginia in April and next week in Orlando, Florida. We would like to thank Superintendent Keevit, Mr. Lawler, Miss O'Donnell, and Mr. Hill for all that they have done to make our championship dreams a reality. Thank

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you. So, I have this thing where I do limmericks. I don't know if you've been here for one of them, but the history club also has to have a limmerick. So, here goes. The history club meets to

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look back at documents, tales, and old knack. With stories so old and secrets untold, they keep the past right on the track. Now, I'd like you to introduce because we have quite a contingency here of students. Um, Mr. President, I would

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like you to introduce your fellow history club members and um, uh, competitors so that we could acknowledge all of them. If you don't, Mr. President, if you don't mind, >> Vice President. >> All right. Take the microphone. You can

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walk with it. We want to hear you. >> Yeah. Yeah. Uh we have >> here Justin Herz, fellow president >> and we also have we also have Leo Gashi and Benjamin Schaper.

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Current president Mr. Logan Powski, Neville Cantino Walla, excuse me. Uh, I can't really see. Okay, we have Asa Lavine, Noah McNick. Excuse me, Ben. All right,

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>> Leo, >> Stephen Majuski, >> Mark Rucko, Shian Johnson, And now we have Sethic Wler. >> Yes. >> Total of course. on your back

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car like this. Okay. >> Yes. Yeah, they're doing >> Okay, thank you again to the history club.

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Anything else? No. >> Okay. Uh we have come rather quickly to the uh public first public comment period for questions or comments on agenda items only. For those who are not familiar with our protocols, uh if you

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have a question or comment, please come to the lecture and give us your name. Confirm your Glen Ridge residency. Uh you have two minutes. Uh my colleague Kristen usually does the timing. Uh and so this is the opportunity. Do either of

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you have a question or comment? >> Oh, all right. Well, if you remember something, we do have a second public comment period at the end of the meeting. All right, board members, uh it is the first meeting of the month, so it is time for committee and liaison

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reports. You were all warned by me earlier in the day. Uh we do not have our student rep here with us tonight. I suspect it's because of AP testing. So um Luke, that means you're first. >> Perfect. Um as our S uh NJSBA delegate,

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uh wanted to remind everybody that the annual delegation is this Saturday in Mercer County Community College, I will be attending in person. Others on the board are welcome to uh are welcome to uh view it uh virtually. Um I'll have more to say at the next meeting on that.

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Uh and then for RAZ, the next HSA meeting is this Friday at uh the 15th uh at RAZ. Uh but in the interim, I did get uh a note from the current president, Hillary, uh with a few updates. The bike bus was a few weeks ago. They had 135 kids participate in town. It was really

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cool to see. Uh Rhino Rump and Field Day are on June 4th. Uh and so in just a few weeks, Camp Rock also had a successful run with 150 kids from RAZ participating just a couple weeks ago. Uh and the HSA is still looking for a treasurer at RAZ

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and they didn't want me to mention that. So that's what I've got. >> Okay. Right. >> Uh I'd like to share a brief update from the most recent Central School Home and School Association meeting which was held on April 17th. Uh first there was discussion of facilities um and the

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exterior HVAC work uh that was completed over spring break. The systems expected to be operational very shortly pending the foiler transition and final system charging. That may have actually happened already. Um sounds like it did. um and uh with exterior work wrapped. Uh

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the fenced installation, the fence which was donated by the central school HSA I believe last year um is set to be installed I understand Friday from our superintendent. So breaking news. That's exciting there. Um and other programming they uh recently had a well-received

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author day. Uh they had their spring social event on May 2nd. Um they have their learning garden planting uh coming up next week uh as well as a kindergarten parade for the end of next month. And then the next and final HSA meeting of the year is the evening of

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May 28th. >> Okay, Darus. All right, Anthony. >> Uh no report. >> All right, we quickly got into your Joselyn. >> Okay. Um so I have a few updates from the Glenidge CPAC, the special education parent advisory uh committee. Um they

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had a meeting on the 7th in the evening to discuss events for the next year and there will be a coffee meetup tomorrow morning at Skoo Cafe at 9:30. Um they requested that anyone who's interested in getting involved with the CPAC or who has ideas that would be good for

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programming for next year to please reach out. They are currently looking for representatives at each school who can uh bring CPAC messages to the HSA meetings. Um and then on the 29th of this month, the CPAC leaders will be meeting with administration at Ridgewood

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um along with student services. And then I have an update from Lynen Avenue home and school meeting which was on the 29th of April. Um they had a successful spring fling last Saturday subsequent to that um HSA meeting with a cakewalk and

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games. Um it's a big success. There was an intergenerational day on the 1st of May, which is the only um it's our only school that has this event where grandparents come and visit the school and attend classes and do projects with their grandchildren. And they will be

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having their spring concert on the 15th, so this Friday. Um coming up is field day on the 29th and they are still looking for a second VP and some committee chairs. So if you're interested in that, you should get in touch with the Lynen Avenue Home and School Association. So, the next meeting

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will be an evening meeting on Thursday the 4th of June. >> Thank you. And I neglected to do this, Barbara. Uh, and so it's out of order, but we did have one written communication uh since our last meeting, which was from um Nikesha Johnson on a

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student matter uh which was referred to Miss Gibbit uh for a resolution. Uh and the um home and school association executive council met on the 30th of April. uh in addition to the school specific reports from the uh various uh

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presidents which you'll hear more about in the liaison reports they talked about uh the scholarship fund because as you know the uh homeman school gives administers several scholarship funds some substantial ones uh particularly this year they've received uh there are

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two rather large uh scholarships scholarship funds donated by Mrs. Lois Shank of Glenidge that uh add up to individual scholarships in the thousands of dollars. And so those and others are administered by the um home and school. So they discussed that. Um they

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discussed the squeaky clean fundraiser for those of you with uh newly cleaned carpet. Some of that money will go to the scholarship fund as well. And also um they will be starting preliminary discussions of the kitchen tour which

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will take place on October 18th, 2026. And uh they are in the process of finalizing a sponsor for the kitchen tour. And that is my report. Um the middle school high school HSA biggest update is the arts and ecoair

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which Betsy you mentioned already is this weekend. So we hope that everyone gets a chance to come out and support this initiative um that we have every year. And the second major update is that there's there was a survey that was

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sent out for project graduation 2027. So for those prospective 2027 graduates, please make sure you complete that survey. And the initial meeting on how project graduation works will be May

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19th at 7:30. >> Okay, Jah. >> All right. So, um, very quickly, the Glen Ridge Visual Arts Association supported our art department here at the high school to put on the advanced

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students art show on April 22nd. There were hundreds and hundreds of incredible works. We have incredibly talented kids here. Um they will also be helping with the arts and ecoair with putting up with helping um uh organize the artwork that

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will be shown throughout the school hallways. So hopefully you can come and see your child's work. Um my next update is the Forest Avenue Home and School Association. They met on April 27th. uh their Firefly Fest very much met

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their goal of raising money for a new shade structure. Uh during the meeting there was considerable conversation around determining next steps, what kind of structure it should be, where it would be placed, and all of the other um

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as Barbara well knows all the other logistical issues surrounding that. Um there were also um discussions around move up day that prompted by um Mr. Murphy as far as getting the parent point of view. So we had a lot of input

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on that whether you know how to do it, whether to do it. Um uh he also spoke quite extensively around expectations for this year's move up day and what would change and really the emphasis on making it fun um for the

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children for the faculty low stress just celebratory. So walked through all of that. Um he did announce to the um to the group about the um Forest Avenue School being a showcase school for

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capturing kids hearts. Uh one of many I hear and um also the um the school's looking forward to their spring concert tomorrow, a field trip to Turtlevac Zoo coming up at the end of the month. uh planting in

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the learning garden uh next week on May 19th and field day on May 20th. Um the last home and school meeting will be June 2nd and it will be in the learning garden um at in the evening 6:00. So that's all I have

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>> for Gas Lamp Susle Kids was a smashing success this past weekend. A few selections um from that show will be sung at 12 PM at the Arts and Ecoair this Saturday. Um they are planning to march in the Memorial Day parade which I

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think it will be super cute. Um Dungeon and Dragons inspired Gas Lamp teens play She Kills Monsters will be is is scheduled um to perform in the LGI here at the high school on Thursday May 28th and Saturday May 30th. Tickets are going

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on sale at the end of this week for that. um for that show. The junior summer camp performance of um the June for this junior summer camp. Uh the performance this year is Descendants. Rehearsals are um the camp

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is full and rehearsals are running from June 29th through July 17th with performances on July 17th and 18th. And finally, registration is open for the teen summer camp. They are producing fame this year. Um those

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uh practice schedule, the practice schedule will run from July 20th through August 7th with performances on August 7th and August 8th. Uh for um the educational foundation, they um have kicked off planning for

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this year's Ashen Filter race. So if we're talking about the um kitchen tour already, it's it's also makes sense that we're starting to talk about the Ashen filter. And I am very excited to be able to publicly thank the educational foundation for providing the funding for

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our new business um program curriculum. Um I met with them a a few weeks ago and the organization is just very excited to to partner with the high school on this. So thank you very much for your generous donation. And then lastly, they asked me

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to remind everyone to stop by their booth on Saturday for their famous cotton candy. And that's all I have. >> Thank you. Okay. Um it's time now to uh continue with our

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rest of our meeting. Uh you all have minutes in your package from April 28th, exec session and regular meeting. Does anyone have any changes to either of those minutes? All right. Um, Josyn, would you move the minutes? >> Sure. I move item M1. May I have a

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second? >> Second. >> Uh, which one went first? Anthony. Okay. >> Uh, Barbara, would you call the role? >> Miss Akini. >> Hi. >> Mr. Bonnet. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dinard. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi.

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>> Abstain. >> Mr. Franklin. >> Abstain. >> Miss Scotts. Yes, >> Miss Graham. >> Yes, >> Miss O'Neal. >> Yes. >> Yes. Okay. Uh, administrative items. Kristen, would you move the administrative items?

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>> Yes, I move A1 through A3. >> Okay. I have a second. >> Second. >> Any discussion on the administrative items? >> Okay. I hope we're able to uh collectively all the school boards and municipalities move the move the needle

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on health benefits. Uh that being the case, Barbara, will you call the role? >> Hi. >> Mr. Dad, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi, >> yes. >> Mr. Franklin, >> yes. >> Miss Gotautle, >> yes.

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>> Miss Graham, >> yes. >> Miss O'Neal, >> yes. >> Miss Ginsburg, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Okay. Uh, personnel. Anthony, would you move the personnel items? >> Yes, I'll move items P1 through P9, including P9 and P10 on the addendum.

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>> Okay. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second from Joselyn. Keeping with our rules, the board members code of ethics, we discuss personnel related items in exact session. If no one has any objections, uh, Barbara, will you call the role?

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Mr. Bonnet, >> hi. >> Mr. Dinard, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi, >> yes. >> Mr. Franklin, >> yes. >> Miss Gotib, >> yes. >> Miss Graham, >> yes. >> Miss O'Neal, >> yes. >> Miss Ginsburg, >> yes. Motion carries. Okay. Before we

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move to business items, I want to draw your attention to the items listed under B4 on your agenda. uh donation from the Forest Avenue Home and School Association of bike racks for Forest Avenue school playground in the amount of $478

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and change. And then on your addendums, um donation um where did I see it? Uh yes, I'm sorry. Ridgewood Avenue Home and School Association monetary donation for the grade 6 field trip to Fountain

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Springs in the amount of $2,000. So, thank you to both the Forest and RAZ uh home and school associations. And now, um um I just like to add that on B5, we I'd like to strike the two copers because they were on the last

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agenda. Thank you, Darius, for letting me know that these are a duplicate of a motion that was on April 28th. So, we're going to strike Atlanta's Tomorrow's Office, two copers on B5 in the motion. >> Okay, that's okay. Uh Kristen, would you

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items? >> Yes, I move B1 through B9, including the addendum B4B and striking the two copers under B5. >> Okay. Uh may I have a second?

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>> Second. >> Second. Um any further discussion on the business items? >> All right, Barbara, would you call the ROI? I >> Mr. Bonnet. >> Hi, >> Mr. Dinard. >> Yes,

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>> Mr. Dorenzi. >> Yes, >> Mr. Franklin. >> Yes, >> Miss Gotautle. >> Yes, >> Miss Graham. >> Yes, >> Miss O'Neal. >> Yes, >> Miss Ginsburg. >> I motion carries. >> All right, we've come very quickly. >> Let's see. We got a victim of

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curriculum. >> Yes. Um, would you move the curriculum item? >> Yes, I will. Um, I move C1 and C2. >> Okay. May I have a second? Second from Luke. Uh, any questions or comments on the curriculum items? >> Okay, Barbara, would you call the role?

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>> Miss Akimandi? >> Hi. >> Mr. Bonnet, >> hi. >> Mr. Dinard, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi, >> yes. >> Mr. Franklin, >> yes. >> Miss Gotley, >> yes. >> Miss Graham, >> yes. >> Miss O'Neal, >> yes. >> Miss Ginsburg, >> yes.

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>> Motion carries. >> Okay, now we've reached the second public comment period. for questions or comments on agenda items e u on anything pertaining to the running of the schools and I see Fran advancing to the lectern there you go you're on there

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um Fran Wong 16 high street and um I just wanted to take advantage of this large crowd here tonight to um just say a few words about our our new uh major project And uh that is the uh working on

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the new business curriculum as well as the engineering program. And we're very excited to be able to partner with the home and school at the high school as well of of course you all in and bringing these exciting new

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opportunities to the the the students. Um, we've never done it quite this way before and uh we'll be knocking on every door. So, please do not run across the street when you see me coming. I won't ask you on the street to donate or

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anyone else, but um we'll be looking in every corner. Uh and if we don't get you, the home and school will. Um we're really excited about this and I we have to really thank uh Miss Pivot, Mr. Lawler and uh their staffs who um

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brought this project to us and um if it wasn't so exciting I think we would have stuck with one major project this year but we have two so thank you and um wonderful friend I I'd always think that with regard to our donor organizations particularly the generosity of the

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foundation you know because of you we are so thank you Any other comment? No. Okay, with that, uh, may I have a motion to adjourn?

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Move by Kristen. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second from Ranks. Thank you. >> I changed the battery. out there. I just took a fender