Test test test. >> Yeah. board met tonight in executive session. We're ready to now go ahead with the regular portion of our meeting. Um, we had some public correspondence. So, let
me find it here. Um, since our last meeting, which was back in February. Okay. Um, I'll read out the public correspondence. On March 18th, uh, we had an email today
from Thomas Jennings regarding personnel changes at Central. That was addressed by Miss Pivot. Uh, on March 6th, Robert Howell wrote us regarding the first day of school for 2627 and inquiring about how calendar decisions are made. Again, Miss Kivet
responded detailing the process, which includes input from the BOE, from the teachers union, etc. Other districts are also starting before Labor Day in September due to the fact that it falls late in 2026. And we also had on the
27th of February an email from Laura Yun regarding the central principal search. So that is all the public correspondence. Uh going on to the president's report. Uh we have one big thing to report
tonight and that is the board will be voting tonight to appoint Miss Kivid our acting superintendent as our superintendent. So um we have sent out a press release um which hopefully all of you have seen but I will read it out uh for the record. The Glen Rage Board of
Education is pleased to announce the appointment of Winnie Kitt as superintendent of schools. Miss Kivet has been serving as acting superintendent of schools since the board appointed her in July 2025. During her three decades in Glenra, Miss Kivet has played an instrumental role in
supporting student success, working collaboratively with many superintendents and administrators with diverse administrative styles and educational philosophies. Beginning as a chemistry teacher at Glenidge High School, Miss Kivid advanced into administrative leadership, eventually
becoming director of technology and curriculum, a role she has held for the last 15 years, overseeing the district's educational and operational technologies as well as curriculum development and implementation across all grade levels. Under her leadership, Glenidge students
have thrived academically with the district schools consistently ranking among the best in the state and nation. In eight months as acting superintendent, she has presided over administrative transitions in two buildings, stabilizing the school community. She also oversaw the
implementation of the early reading program initiated by the previous superintendent and in collaboration with teachers and administrators has assisted in the launch of program improvements in math at the middle school level. After a student survey revealed broad support for expansion of business related
classes at Glenriidge High School, Miss Kivet worked with administrators and faculty to begin the implementation of those offerings. Miss Kivet, a mother of five, lives in Wayne with her husband Ron and her three youngest children. She also serves as president of the Wayne
Special Education Parent Advisory Group, the CPAC. Miss Gibbit, a registered nurse, earned a bachelor's degree in education, chemistry, and physics minors from Indiana University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Montlair State University. She has also held an adjunct faculty position at
Ruckers University teaching educational facilities management. Glenidge um I say um Miss Pivot the first woman to lead the Glenidge public schools in 25 years. as an educational leader. She gives us
roots and wings. Um, we interviewed a number of very qualified candidates and we've also had the privilege of watching Winnie work as acting superintendent. Uh, this is what convinced us that she is the leader that Glenidge needs right now. And my colleague Anthony Bonnet
also quoted here uh who is chair of the personnel and policy committee remarked, "Winn's career demonstrates what meaningful evolution looks like in education. Much like the district itself, she has continuously grown and adapted through her journey as an educator. Her multiaceted training and
leadership experience makes her exceptionally well suited for this role. We look forward to seeing her guidance and innovations take shape in Glenn Ridge. And finally, Miss Kivot's appointment is the culmination of a rigorous search process that began in the summer of 2025. The search conducted
by the board's personnel committee with the assistance of the board's attorneys involved the receipt and review of 52 résumés. The committee conducted screening interviews followed by longer second round interviews with selected candidates. The full board, which also had access to all the résumés,
interviewed the finalist candidates. To inform the search process, the board sought input from parents and staff via a comprehensive survey, including comments, and reviewed survey results and comments from the 2324 superintendent search. The appointment will become official upon a vote of the
board, which will take place tonight. So, that is the press release. Um I wanted to while we are speaking of this uh particularly thank the personnel committee uh chair Anthony Bonnet who kept us all together during this process
and my colleagues Darius Denod and Josyn Godly who made up the rest of the uh personnel committee. It is a timeconsuming job and to do it properly requires a lot of thought and attention. I also want to thank all my other colleagues who contributed who looked at
an awful lot of resumes who contributed their time, their attention, their wisdom to the process. And I want to thank Winnie Kivet for being a wonderful interim superintendent. Um we've had uh we have been through
some uh difficult times and uh Winnie has stepped up for us. So thank you for that. Um I also want to um we will be announcing in a moment uh other changes. I want to thank our parents, our teachers, our administrators and our
community for everything that they have given us during this very difficult time uh with the loss of our previous superintendent, interim periods, transitions, uncertainty, all the things that have happened. um without the support of the
community we could not have gotten through this period. So I want to thank everyone the whole school community for helping us come through this process. And so uh now we go forward and now it is the time for the superintendent the
acting superintendent's final report. Greetings Glenn School community. All right, I'm going to start off with uh snow days. You know, I was driving yesterday and there was snow flurries and it scared me. Um, but I do want to
give you a preview. Uh, we have one snow day we didn't use yet. Very exciting. And if we follow the rules of the calendar, um, we will get the Tuesday of Memorial Day weekend off, but I'm not officially saying it yet cuz I don't
want to jinx it since I saw snow yesterday. But I'm pretty sure that we can make this determination. I hope by April 1st and it won't be a joke. It'll be yes, we get an additional day off. So looking forward to that. Um, the primary
schools did registration. We had a surge of additional prek students registered. That's a good sign of our healthy district. So, we are opening a fourth prek section at Lynen Avenue School um to accommodate that extra enrollment.
So, Joe Caravella, he loves prek, so he's going to get an extra prek section. And we did get um several emails and comments from current kindergarten parents um talking about class size. And
so we are adding a seventh section of first grade at Forest Avenue. And I do believe surveys were sent out to all current kindergarten parents to elect to go to Forest Avenue. It's a great place. Mr. Murphy is wonderful. Um you can go
be a Firefly. it's okay and um have smaller class size. So, we're kind of waiting to see how we're going to determine that. And that is my superintendent report. I'm going to hand it over to Barbara Murphy who's going to do the budget presentation.
Good evening. Tonight we will be we will be presenting the Glen Ridge public schools 2026 2027 tenative budget. The budget has been developed through collaboration between district administration, the board of education and the finance committee. The process
involves many months of planning, review, and discussion to ensure that the district continues to meet the educational needs of our students while remaining fiscally responsible to the community. This evening, we will review how the budget was developed, where our
revenues come from, and how those funds are allocated across the district. The budget process. The budget is developed throughout the year through meetings with the finance committee and the district administrators to review program staffing and operational needs. The tenative budget will be voted on
tonight and submitted to the county for review. The public hearing and final adoption of the budget will take place on April 28th. What happened here? Okay. Before reviewing the details of the
budget, I wanted to briefly provide some context about the proposed budget and the broader budget climate that school districts are facing this year. The proposed 2627 budget for the Glenidge public schools is $44.2 million with the
tax levy increase of 2.7%. And included in that increase is 7% of the health benefit caps exception which is permitted under state law when health benefit costs increase beyond the
standard tax levy cap. Across New Jersey districts are experiencing significant cost pressures particularly with particularly related to employee health benefits and contractual salary increases. On January 1st, 2026, the
state employees health benefits program implemented premium increases of approximately 30%. Many districts that participate in the state plan are experiencing very significant cost increases as a result. Longage was in the state plan, but was
able to move to a private plan effective January 1st, avoiding an annual increase of more than $1.5 million. Other districts were not as fortunate. Based on information currently being shared amongst districts in Essex
County, while tax levy increases are not yet finalized, 10 of the 13 districts are projecting tax increases between 5 and 7%. Many after making significant staff reductions.
Another major driver of school district budgets statewide is negotiated salary increases. The average settlement across Essex County is approximately 3.6%. And like all districts, we must plan for those contractual obligations. While Glennidge avoided the health benefits
increase this year, we must still budget and plan for a potential significant increase in 2627 from revenues. The general fund. This slide shows a comparison of the district's general fund revenues between the current year and the proposed 2627
budget. The total proposed general fund budget is approximately 44.2 million, representing an overall increase of about 3.5%. As with most New Jersey school districts, the largest portion of our revenue continues to come from the local
tax levy, which funds the majority of district operations. The budgeted fund balance used to support this budget remains largely consistent with prior years, helping maintain stability while preserving appropriate reserve levels. We will also
be utilizing 300,000 from the maintenance reserve to support several necessary facilities maintenance projects across the district. These include roof repairs at Lynen Forest in Ridgewood, door and window repairs, replacement of the high school water
heater, and refinishing the high school gym floor. In addition, the budget includes 1,632,55 withdrawal from the capital reserve to fund a major roof replacement project at Glenidge High School, which is part of
our ongoing effort to maintain district facilities. The proposed tax levy increases 2.7% which includes a 7% health benefits cap exception permitted permitted to offset increases in employee health benefit
costs. You will notice a significant increase in tuition revenue this year which is up approximately 35%. This increase reflects growing demand for our prek program and as a result we will be opening an additional prek class which includes the addition of one
teacher, two prek aids and classroom supplies. The additional tuition revenue generated by the new class will cover the cost of the added staff and program expenses. State aid for Glenn Ridge was increased by 3.8% to $2,67,000.
Overall, this revenue structure reflects the limited amount of state aid our district receives and continued reliance on the local tax levy to support the educational programs and services provided to our students. This this chart provides a visual representation of the district's revenue
sources. As you can see, the largest portion of our revenue, approximately 82% comes from the local tax levy. State aid represents only about 6% of our total revenue which highlights the limited level of state funding Glenbridge receives compares compared to
many other districts. Approximately 5% of the budget is supported through fund balance which allows us to stabilize the tax impact while maintaining responsible reserve levels. The remaining revenues come from capital reserve withdrawals, tuition revenue,
maintenance reserve, and other miscellaneous sources. Overall, this chart illustrates the district's continued reliance on the local tax levy to support the majority of our educational programs and operations. Now that we've reviewed where the revenue comes from, the next slide shows
how those funds are allocated across the district. This slide compares the current 2526 budgeted expenditures with the proposed 2627 budget, showing how district funds are allocated across the major spending categories. As with most school district
budgets, the largest portion of expenditures supports instruction, including both regular education and special education programs. The regular education program, the regular education instruction remains the largest single expenditure category, increasing
slightly this year, primarily due to contractual salary increases. Special ed instruction also shows an increase reflecting the continued need to support special education services and student programs. The instruction other category, which includes basic skills and other
instructional supports like ESL, reflects program adjustments to support student needs. Co-curricular activities and athletics show a modest increase, primarily related to stipened and salary adjustments. Tuition for added district placements is up 10.3%.
And reflects the district's continued effort to manage special educations, special education placements while meeting student needs. The support services category includes such areas as health services related services including speech, occupational and
physical therapy, one-on-one aids, guidance, child study team services, library media services, and professional development. The large increase here represents additional one-on-one aids and the social worker. Administration remains relatively stable compared to
the prior year. Overall, these categories reflect the district's continued focus on supporting instruction and student services while managing operational costs responsibly. Slide continues the expenditure breakdown and highlights several operational areas of the budget.
Maintenance and operations reflects the ongoing costs required to maintain and operate our school buildings. This category includes custodial services, utilities, building maintenance, and repair work across the district. As mentioned earlier, the budget also
includes $300,000 withdrawal from maintenance reserve to fund several important maintenance projects. Transportation costs are down as we have have a few out of district students graduating this year. Employee benefits represent a significant portion of our
district expenditures and include health insurance, pension contributions, and other contractual obligations. While Glen Ridge avoided the 30% increase in the state health benefits program this year, we are planning for a significant increase in the upcoming year.
Capital outlay reflects investments in district facilities and equipment. This year the budget includes a million 632 withdrawal from Capital Reserve to fund a major roof replacement project at Glenidge High School which is a critical
in infrastructure investment. Overall the total general fund budget is 44.2 million with tax levy increase of 2.7%. This chart provides a visual breakdown of how the district's expenditures are allocated across the major spending
categories. As you can see, the largest portion of the budget supports instruction, including both regular ed and special ed instruction. When salaries and employee benefits are combined, they account for approximately 77% of the district's total budget. This
reflects the fact that education is a people-driven service and the majority of our resources support the teachers, specialists, and staff who work directly with our students. The remaining expenditures support areas such as facilities maintenance, transportation,
administration, student activities and other operational services that allow the district to function effectively. Overall, this budget reflects our continued commitment to supporting classroom instruction while responsibly managing the operational needs of the
district. Capital outlay and project allocations. Our proposed budget includes the following key capital outlay and project expenses. Prometheian boards, $72,000. Copio replacements, $81,721.
Two floor scrubbing machines, 21,878. Ridgewood Avenue school classroom flooring, that's for about five classrooms, 34,494. High school principal office flooring, 6,000, high school door buzzer system, 19,000,
high school CAD lab upgrades, 40,000, and the high school roof replacements, a million 632. These projects reflect our continued investment in maintaining and improving school facilities, enhancing educational technology, and ensuring the long-term
sustainability of our infrastructure. Overall, the budget for the upcoming year reflects several key increases. These increases primarily reflect staffing adjustments needed to support student services and the expansion of our prek program, which is funded
through increased tuition revenue. We have a social worker salaries and benefits $110,77 prek teacher salary and benefits $93,841 two prek aids 56,000
six additional aids to at central to forest two at Rididgewood $168,000. You may notice that the average assessed home value used in this calculation is approximately 1.2 million, while last year it was 674,000.
The difference reflects the townwide reassessment that occurred this past year. The reassessment adjusts property values to reflect current market conditions, but it does not change the overall tax levy collected by the district. The tax impact of the general
fund tax levy on the average house assessed at $1,22,720 is projected to increase by $387.13 for the year or $32.26 per month. Our public hearing on the budget is
scheduled for April 28th. At this meeting, the budget will be presented and voted on for adoption. I am happy to take any questions from board members at this time. >> Okay. The way this works, board members get the first pass at questions and then
we'll have uh questions from the public in just a moment. Board members, any questions on the budget, >> Barbara, I want to thank you um on behalf of everybody. We have probably the healthiest budget in the county. We have one of the healthiest budgets in
the state. Uh I think that it is a tribute to your excellent financial management and to our entire team board members. Any other questions? Thank you. All right. Um anything else from the
superintendent? Okay. Uh we've come to the first public comment period for comments or questions on agenda items. uh obviously on the budget but other items on the agenda. Uh for those of you who are unfamiliar with our practices,
uh if you have a comment or question, please come up to the lectern, identify yourself, confirm your Glenidge residency, sign in. Uh you will have two minutes. My usual timer is not here. Uh if any one of the rest of my colleagues could time, I would appreciate it. Okay.
My colleague Jocelyn will has graciously uh agreed to time. Um, and so, uh, if you have a question or comment, uh, please step forward. my daughter class and I was very excited for
yesterday that we had been told um that the entire school I have myself I over a dozen years experience. I know the bond between teacher and student
and um my daughter is love and I'm so devastated that way throughout the entire year as we all Um most classes are very large perhaps
uh there. Um also that kind of the parents and the rest of the community were really blindsided by the um qualified by
So I hope the board service >> Thank you. Other questions or comments? Um, good evening. My name is Nina Kundra. Um, I live at 42 Woodland Avenue and I am a parent um of a child in Miss
Lagotti's kindergarten class of Central. I want to be clear that this is not about Miss Applebee and we are glad that she is returning. The concern is that families were told in December that Miss Latti would remain with the class through the end of the school year for the sake of consistency. Now, with only
weeks left, that commitment is being reversed. What is especially troubling is that the explanations have not been consistent. Parents have heard that this is standard practice, but we have also heard that this is tied to budget cuts. If the district can find $82,000 in the
upcoming budget for copers, it is fair for this community to ask why it could not find a way to preserve stability for a kindergarten teacher for the final weeks of the school year. At the same time, we understand Miss Lugatti's position was budgeted for the full year as documented in previous BOE agendas.
We also understand that Miss Applebee's return was already known when the commitment was made to keep Miss Lagati in place through June. So, the obvious question is what changed? We also understand Miss Latti herself was just informed this week. For a district that prides itself on community, this is hard
to reconcile. It is also trouble troubling by how it appears that it has been handled. If Glen Ridge prides itself on community, then I think we need to ask, is this how we treat our students, our families, and our educators. These are kindergarten children. Stability matters. Continuity
matters. And with only about 8 weeks left, it's difficult to understand why another solution could not have been found. I urge the board to consider this decision or in minimum, please provide families with an honest and clear explanation as to what happened. Thank you.
Other comments or questions? >> Hi. Oh, okay. Now it's on. >> Yes. Yes. Now you're on. >> Um Rich Cous. I live at 18 Summit right behind the school. And uh I don't have
prepared remarks and certainly won't be as eloquent as as these guys. That's for sure. Uh but I too and and my family um is very upset about what happened with Miss Lagati here. We couldn't agree more that consistency for kindergarten children is extremely important. And you
know, on on a personal level, and my daughter is probably one of the shy kids in the class, it took probably 2 months for her to actually start to come out of her shell and even respond to some of the questions and comments in class. She
loves Miss Legatti and she has been a revelation for her. She's finally come out of her shell. She's learning. She's thriving in that classroom. And now we were blindsided and basically just told that she's going to have to go through this again and there's not even two months left in the school year at the
time that she leaves. So, you know, on a selfishly, it seems to me like my daughter's going to lose the last 2 months of school year, right? So, I have to believe that there is some type of a solution to what ended up happening here. I feel like it was handled
inappropriately that it was just so abrupt and, you know, different from what we were told historically. Uh, and I have concern not just for my daughter but for the whole class because I think everybody would benefit from that consistency. >> Thank you.
>> Other questions or comments? >> Hello, I'm Nadia Meliker. I'm at 27 Appleton Road. Um, and uh, I just wanted to ask congratulation Winnie. I'm so excited for you to be the superintendent. I wanted to hear you
talk a little bit about your plans for the district for the coming years, your priorities, and your passion projects. You know, if that's something that's on the table, but I'd love to hear more about your plans.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Speak about your plan. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Megan. Um, I have five children. Number one is here. Um, the others are activities and Megan is a
2005 graduate of Glenrich High School. So I and she's a she is a science teacher in Carlat. Now I'm giving a speech about my daughter and I'm sorry because I just love kids and I love education and um we
have a great administrative team and we're doing some great things at the high school with Mr. Lawler and his whole high school team. A business program that came out of student request is amazing. They told us what was missing and we researched it and we
said, "You know what? I think we could do this." Um, we did some math changes where um, we're opening up opportunities for more students in math. Um, Kesha Harris, it's great to work with her at Rididgewood. I travel over there almost
every day and they're capturing kids hearts there and they're revolutionizing their building and I got to go with Dr. Harris to Trenton and we got the Blue Ribbon Award. So, it's really exciting to see the changes happening there. Um, Forest, Lynon, and Central, it's where
it all begins. I was Peppa Pig a couple weeks ago. And, um, people see me on the playground, except at Lynen, I am not. Um, somebody called me the headmaster today. And I was I didn't know if I would like that or not, but but um, at
Lynen Avenue, I am Skyler's mom. So, I have a prek student. Yes. I have a wide range of ages. It's an interesting story which you don't want to hear right now, but um yes, so I love traveling to schools. I visit them as often as I can.
Um I visited the prek and K as Peppa Pig and for Halloween I was Mother Goose and I read nursery rhymes and I'm having a blast. So I think education is very important and we've got a great team. the primary. See, I didn't mention the primary team's names, but we got we got
Joe, we got Matt, and we happen to have the new principal here for Central. So, Donald Pickard is in the audience. So, um she's going to be taking over, and you are in great hands, Central School Cheetahs. Um Kesha personally was part
of the process to um help select her replacement. So, I have already kind of gotten started and we've already done some initiatives and we're just going to continue and I got to come up with the great costume for the end of the year. I'm not sure what it's going to be, but
Skyler's mom is going to be back reading to preK and K and um can't wait to get started. Thank you. >> Okay, other questions or comments? Okay, there is a second public comment
period at the end of the meeting for comments and questions on agenda items or other uh items pertaining to the running of the school. So if you think of something in between, there is time. All right. Uh now getting on with the rest of our meeting. Um it is the first
and only meeting of the month. So we will have our committee and liaison reports and we'll we don't have a student representative tonight. Um, so we will not have that. But Luke, uh, do you have anything to report? >> Yeah, I have a a couple things. Uh,
first, uh, I think as folks know, I'm, uh, the, uh, New Jersey School Board Association or NJSBA, NJBA liaison. At the last meeting, we um here as a board voted on supporting the Essex County School Board Association's uh motion to put forward a
uh resolution that spoke to uh that reiterated both that schools should be safe, inclusive spaces that are intended for learning and um not immigration enforcement venues. Um that we voted as a board here to support that motion. The Essex County School Board Association
met on March 3rd and I attended uh along with uh Joselyn uh and uh Betsy uh and I voted uh in support of the resolution. There was it was unanimous vote. There was a bit of discussion but the resolution passed unanimously. That will now uh move on to be considered at the
New Jersey state uh schoolboard delegate assembly on May 16th where I will attend uh and as Glenn Ridg's representative. Uh also in that meeting I was able to connect with uh one of our board of ed board of ed members of South Orange Maplewood. Uh they shared that they've already adopted a similar policy in their district. Uh I was able to get a
copy of that policy. I've sent it to the full board uh and we're reviewing that policy to see what potential may have for our district. Uh also was excited to attend my first RAZ uh HSA meeting as the liaison on Friday uh last Friday. Uh a couple things a lot of things
happening over there. Uh they're planning for the rhino rhino romp which will be uh happening uh sometime in early June. I don't know that it's been officially announced yet. Is it June? No. Okay, it hasn't. All right. Okay. Got it. Okay. Um the Wizards game was a big success. Obviously, everybody knows who attended. Uh also was a great
fundraiser. Um they're planning a bike bus to tie into Earth Day. They're targeting April 24th and an email went out uh with additional details last week. Uh get yourselves ready. Treps uh is next Wednesday the 25th from 6:30 to 8:30 in the Raz gymnasium. Uh a bunch of
uh students have put forth a lot of effort into uh their entrepreneurial pursuits and will be having their businesses set up there. It's a great time. You should go. Uh Camp Rock is coming together and they are still looking for additional parent volunteers. So keep an eye out for that email soon. Half date to on Friday the
20th due to parent teacher conferences. Just want to let that be known. Lost and Found is out this week in front of the school, the main entrance. There's a lot of water bottles there. I saw them today. So, if you're missing one, go check it out. Um, and that is the full leaison report. >> That is wonderful, Luke. Including lost
and found, which >> Yes. Well, listen, all the details. I was there. Copious notes, >> right? >> I'll provide a report for the central school HSA uh which met last Friday. I I assume they also have a copious lost and found. So for any of those parents there
but uh the two main agenda items uh to report out first um acting superintendent kivit uh then acting superintendent kit attended to give an update on the principal search um uh for those who were in attendance. Um and then second um the HVAC repairs are in
progress at central. Uh a lot of the sort of initial work has been done and I believe the final steps are hoping to be completed over spring break. Um, and then after that, the fence, which um, the HSA kindly donated, uh, will finally be installed. Um, so that work is
proceeding and can't predict the weather, but hopefully the HVAC is working in all parts of the building by the time it gets too hot. >> Okay, Carus, anything? Okay, Anthony. >> Well, my news is your news. So,
>> but but you can do the followup. the >> the followup any comments and >> oh well um the search was an interesting process there were a lot of interesting candidates
um I think that where we are right now um with the amount of uh change that we've had this year it made sense to have someone like
Winnie or Winnie to leave the district. Um because there is a a real sense of of stability that comes with it. And so um ultimately, you know, that was this the the decision and and um I think we're
all happy with it. >> Okay. Thank you, Jocelyn. >> Sure. I have liaison reports um for Lynen Avenue School and uh the Glenidge CPAC as well as the Glenidge Music Parents Association. So bear with me. Um
Lynen Avenue School had their HSA meeting on March 4th. Um I believe that today was the visiting author day that we discussed back then. Um which kind of followed up after read across America week which had happened back earlier this month. Um, there was a successful
bingo night, a successful community soup drive, and a future one of a future sock drive is coming up. On March 11th, there was an enrichment activity of a STEM workshop where they focused on roller coasters. And there's planning underway
for a maker day in April and the May 9th spring fling, Lynen Lagoon. Um, so there's some also some open board positions. So if anyone is interested, please reach out to the linen HSA. Um the Glenidge CPAC, the Special Education
Parent Association is hosting a lunch and learn on the 24th. Um that's next Tuesday with the New Jersey Department of Education, Office of Special Education OMBbudzman. So the OMBbuds person is going to be going over their
practices in their offices and it's open to anyone who's interested. Um there's a virtual link that's been sent out. And then on April 15th, the Glen CPAC is hosting a meet and greet with all of the child study team members at central schools. So if anyone is interested in
meeting the child study team at a future school or having a little bit of quality time with their child's um teachers, that's an opportunity to do so. And last but not least, the Glenidge Music Parents Association is hosting their I
don't know, probably 30th annual pancake breakfast this Saturday um from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the Glenidge Congregational Church. If you buy your tickets in advance, it's $8 all you can eat, $10 at the door, and $5 under five.
I am a promoting parent with two kids in the band. And I will say that if you go, they have a song list so you can have the mariachi experience of having band members come and serenade you at your table while you're eating your unlimited pancakes being served by students. That's it.
>> Thank you. Are you going to be flipping pancakes? >> I will be taking at the door. >> Ah, okay. We have a former pancake flipper here as well. I am filling in for my colleague Kristen who was not able to be with us tonight and who uh is chair of finance and also
negotiations. So uh the negotiations report is short and sweet. The negotiations committee uh has been working to finalize the superintendent's contract which we have now done. Uh the finance committee met on the uh 5th of
March. Um we reviewed the budget u with Miss Murphy. Uh we also discussed the uh insurance claim uh that we've made for the central school chiller. The good news is we've received about $481,000 which is um the total cost of the
chiller less a small deductible. So that's very good news. Um we have um Miss Murphy has submitted a grant application for $33,000 towards a shade structure for forest. We don't know if we'll get that grant but it has been submitted. Uh it's a Department of
Community Affairs playground grant. Um we have uh we're providing transportation and free meals to a Glenidge family which s uh recently experienced uh homelessness due to a fire. Uh we received a a generous parent and you'll see this on our agenda
donation of $2,000 towards negative lunch balances with a preference towards Rididge Avenue School. Um, in order to address all balances, the district is contributing $1,400 towards the cause. Letters went out to the parents receiving funds. Uh, snow removal. Uh,
we don't even like to think of snow right now, even though it's cold outside, but our, um, supervisor of buildings and grounds, Bob Gomes, and the crew did a wonderful job on snow removal, uh, which was brought to our attention, um, by Miss Murphy. Um we
used a couple of vendors to uh remove dangerous icicles uh and also truck snow out of Raz Central and the high school to Lyndon. Uh the Glenrich DPW also helped uh stepped up with salting our parking lots. Uh so in celebration um
Miss Kivitt uh Mr. Gomes and Miss Murphy went over to DPW and treated them to coffee and donuts. Uh and that is the uh finance committee report. So moving on to Trica. >> Um the middle school high school HSA has
not met since our last board of ed meeting nor have the curriculum committee. So the next middle school high school HSA meeting is next Friday, March 27th. Um so far it's still on the on the calendar for March 27th even
though that's spring break. and the curriculum committee will meet again um right after spring break, so week of April 13th. >> Thank you, Dell. >> Yes, I have uh two two reports. Um I met
with the um um organizers of the Glen Ridge Visual Arts Association. This is the group that funds fine arts scholarships for high school graduates for Glenidge High School graduates. And they also organized two very important art events
coming up this spring. The advanced student advanced arts students show which will be at the women's club on April 22nd. And also they coordinate the arts part of the arts and ecoair. They help coordinate part of that which will
be um Saturday May 16th. Uh the GRVA is looking and looking for and accepting donations of new and unused art materials and they are also looking for artists in the community who would be willing to judge um students artwork as
part of a jury panel. So it could be now or it could be sometime in the future, but they're just looking for a roster of artists who might be interested. Um, if you know anyone, you can reach out to me and I can forward it along or grba.org
is their website, I believe. Uh, my other report is for the Forest Avenue Home and School Association. They met last Wednesday, a week ago. Um, Mr. Murphy reported that they've submitted uh their data to Capturing Kids Hearts
to the program directors there hoping to be selected as a national showcase school because of all the incredible work they've done there. So we're fingers crossed on that. Um he also reviewed testing um and expectations with parents and we included some
discussions around um Kogat and Winkit which was I think very helpful and um he noted that teachers this past Monday for their professional development took a course in AI in education. Um the school
is celebrating ReadAcross America with a penguin palooa which sounds so much fun. I love penguins. uh that includes waddle and read activities. Not really sure about the waddling and the reading um at the same time. Maybe they're waddle up to a book. I don't know. Um penguin
crafts also included and a special showing of Mr. Poppers penguins will will cap up all those activities. Um the big news from HSA is that Forest Fest, the biggest fundraiser of the year for the school will be Sunday, March 22nd.
So after you have your pancakes on Saturday, the next day you can go to the center court at Monontlair, the Monontlair Center Court, the bubble from 4 to 6 PM with your whole family and there will be tons of activities, an amazing silent auction and everyone in
the district is invited. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Right. Uh now we will continue with our the business portion of our meeting. Uh, you had in your packets minutes from the meeting of February 24th exact session
and regular meeting. Does anyone have any changes to those minutes? >> Jocelyn, would you move the minutes? >> I move item M1. >> All right. May I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Uh, I think Dubal spoke first.
All right. Uh, since there are no changes, Barbara, would you call the role? Miss Akin Wandi. Mr. Bonnet. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dad. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi? >> Yes. >> Mr. Franklin? >> Yes. >> Miss Gotautle?
>> Yes. >> Miss Graham? >> Yes. >> Miss Ginsburg? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Okay. Moving to the administrative items. Jocelyn, would you move those? >> I move items A1 through A3. >> All right. May I have a second?
>> Second. >> Second from Anthony. Uh, any questions or comments on the administrative items? All right, Barbara, would you call the role? >> Miss Awandi, >> abstain. >> Mr. Bonnet,
>> I. >> Mr. Dod, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi, >> yes. >> Mr. Franklin, >> yes on A1, abstain. A2, A3. Miss Gotautle, >> yes. >> Miss Graham, >> yes.
>> Miss Ginsburg, >> yes. Motion carries. >> Uh, Anthony, would you move the personnel items? >> Yes, I move items P1 through P12. >> Okay. May I have a second? >> Second.
>> Second from Jocelyn. uh in keeping with the our rules and the board members code of ethics, we discuss personnel items in exhaustion. Uh that being the case, Barbara, would you call the role? Oh, I'm sorry. One question I guess we just
heard from three parents like uh what sorry what happened you know with with the specific notice which they referenced from de December 12th where you know the one
particular staff member was going to stay on for the full year and then we just heard from them that yeah that one staff member is now no longer we just get get more context whether that's possible We >> don't know. >> Yeah.
>> Can Winnie get back to you on that? >> Okay. >> Yeah. If if one of the parent gren.org if someone can forward that email. It doesn't change. I think what I view needs to happen procedurally, but I would like to see the email. Then we can also discuss transition at some other
point. Thank you for letting us. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Um All right. Any other questions before we proceed with the vote? >> All right. Barbara, would you call the role? >> Miss Akimwani. >> Hi. >> Mr. Bonnet?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Dad? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi? Yes, >> Mr. Franklin. >> Yes, >> Miss Gotautle. >> Yes, >> Miss Graham. >> Yes, >> Miss Ginsburg. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Uh Trisha, would you move the
curriculum item? >> C1 includes um C1 A and B, first grade avenue going to work farms and then going to band going to school's next high school compet.
Okay. Uh they have a second. Second. >> Second from Ray. Any questions, board members, on this or comments? >> All right, Barbara, would you call the role? Miss Akini? >> Hi. >> Mr. Bonnet. >> Hi.
>> Mr. Dod, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi, >> yes. >> Mr. Franklin, >> yes. >> Miss Gotautle, >> yes. >> Miss Graham, >> yes. >> Miss Ginsburg, >> yes. Motion carries. All right. Before
we move the business items, I would draw your attention to the items under B4, which are donations. As we mentioned before, an anonymous donor gave a monetary donation of $2,000 to cover uh lunch debts. Um we received
approximately $750 from the RAZ Home and School Association for TV and candy. That sounds rather provocative. Um, we received uh $454 from the Central Home and School Association for a book vending machine. Uh, so thank you to all of those donors.
And now Luke, would you move the business items? >> Yes, I move business items B1 through B6. >> Okay. May I have a second?
>> Second. >> Second from Anthony. Any discussion on the business items? >> Although I I do I did want to >> find out more about TV and candy because I would like to participate if it's possible. >> I don't know if board members can do TV
and candy. Um but we can discuss that uh in in a committee meeting. >> Any other questions or comments? Okay. Um, Barbara, would you call the RO? Miss Akiwandi. >> Mr. Bonnet. >> Hi.
>> Mr. Dinard, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorenzi, >> yes. >> Mr. Franklin, >> yes. >> Miss Gotley, >> yes. >> Miss Graham, >> yes. >> Miss Ginsburg, >> yes. Motion carries. >> All right. Now, we've reached the second public comment period for questions or
comments on agenda or other items. Uh, the protocol is the same. If you have a question or comment, uh please come to the lecture and identify yourself. Uh confirm your Glennard's residency and let us know what you have to say. Any questions or comments?
>> Uh good evening. I'm Jesse Gonzki, 28 Outlook Police. Um, my child is in Miss Lagatti's kindergarten class. I'm standing before you tonight, not just as a parent, but as a representative of an entire community of families who are
blindsided, confused, and deeply upset. On December 12th, our acting principal sent an email confirming that Miss Legatti would remain in her classroom through the end of the school year. That
same commitment was repeated at our HSA meeting last month and again at the meeting this past Friday. We were told explicitly and repeatedly, "Miss Legatti is staying through the end of the year because that is what is best
for the students." This board itself listed Miss Legatti's assignment through June 30th in the personnel section of its own meeting agenda on June 22nd. This wasn't just a promise made in
passing. It was on the record. So, I have to ask, what changed? Um, and why weren't any of us, not even the parents or the principal or Miss Legatti herself, given the respect of a real conversation
before the decision was made. We're talking about 8 weeks. uh removing Mugatti with just 8 week left feels not only deeply unfair but shortsighted. Uh the disruption caused by this
transition will far outweigh whatever benefits uh this decision was meant to achieve. So I have to believe there are alternatives. Um could Miss Lagatti remain in a part-time capacity just to maintain her presence?
Um, could a transition plan be designed that keeps her connected to the classroom that she lovingly felt? Uh, we're not asking for the impossible. We're asking for a creative problem solving on behalf of 5-year-olds who
deserve better than an abrupt goodbye. >> Yeah. Finish your comment. Yeah. >> Um my son, he brought home a piece of paper today from uh school work he did and it was a fourleaf clover and things that he was lucky for and today he brought it
home and Miss Lugatti was one of those four. This is really important to him. Um so thank you. >> Thank you. Um, one question, Betsy. So, >> sure. um you know um you know so
pursuant to Robert's rules could we potentially make a make a specific motion to re reopen P2 where where we where we
uh remove the one specific line for now and we revote on on the specific you know the P2 appointments with the removal for this one staff member until
we can figure out like what's fully going on here with this. >> Um let me take legal advice from Jen on that just on the procedural aspect of it. Um for those who don't know um Miss Osborne is our legal counsel. uh procedurally,
Jen, >> they they could make a new motion to basically um recant that motion, resend the motion um and then you could put it on again at a future time. >> Okay. >> Do that
>> because I would like to make a motion. Sorry. >> Before you do that, let me um see if the other board members have comments. Um board members, >> couldn't couldn't also it as is and do an amendment at the next meeting. >> The next meeting is April 7th and I I
would like to get more information before doing anything and then April 7th because the this the date here the end date's April 17th. So it would be before that >> correct? So we do have time to do that and we are going back in exact session.
We are going back in exact session >> so we can continue the conversation which we started prior to >> you know you getting here. >> Yes. So so I so I I guess regardless given the the comments we've heard I
would still like to make the uh the new motion to I guess resend one specific line for K2 for now. um, you know, to to to give the parents comfort as um to
give the parents comfort as well that we hear their concerns and we want to get to the bottom of it first before we vote and just let it go. But but yeah, but I Yeah. >> So it would be a motion to resend and we would then um have further discussion, reconsider and consider
>> Yeah. the one specific line. So like really like all the rest of P2 I guess >> right would go through as Yes. >> He'd be making a motion to pull that one piece out. >> Yeah. >> Um and it would need a second >> just to be clear. >> So Darius has made that motion. May I have a second?
>> Second. >> Second from Luke. Um so uh Barbara, would you call the role on that? When you're ready, take your time. is Akumandi. This is to >> pull the motion. Yeah. >> To resend the motion.
>> So, I'm a little confused because I understand it's to resend the motion, but then we would have to consider also the next line item as well. Correct. Because it's the same instance.
So to be fair because there are there are two teachers impacted by this. >> No one >> no I mean we heard about one but we didn't hear about two and based on the discussions as I understand it it's
affecting um this these changes of these teachers coming back from leave is affecting two leave replacements not just one. So to be fair across the board, should we send both of them? >> Um,
you can't talk about personnel in public. >> Um, we can't take questions from the audience right now. Um, we need to straighten those bills out procedurally. We have noted we have we have noted your concerns and heard your concerns. Yeah.
>> So, some of these concerns are are are we can't to discuss in this open session. Um I think the if we want to revise the motion, we can do that. >> Mhm. >> Um but I mean those are your options. I
I I can't say more. I understand. >> So um so we have Darius's motion on on the floor as it were. Did we have a sec? Yes, we had a second. >> I I second it and I at this point I am seconding just the Mrs. Legatti line.
>> Okay. Just that >> just to be just to be clear just that resend rescending that one motion so that we can discuss it further. >> Right. As Darius >> as Darius put forward. >> Yes. Okay. So So we're acting on Darius's motion with a second by you. Any further comment before we vote?
All right. Uh, Barbara, would you call the role? >> Miss Akiande. >> Mr. Bonnet. >> Hi. >> Mr. Dinard. >> Yes.
>> Mr. D. Lorenzi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Franklin. >> Yes. >> Miss Scott? >> Yes. >> Miss Graham? >> Yes. >> Miss Ginsburg? Yes. Okay. The motion carries. Um All right.
Uh as we mentioned, um is that I'm sorry. You have another comment. Um >> so forgive me. I don't know if this >> No, you're and you're all signed in. So >> I'm all signed in. Still rich Cous. Um so so what happens now?
>> What happens now? >> I was going to ask that before this all happened. It's still not clear. What happens now? just just procedurally um and this would have happened anyway. The board of course precedes the regular session meeting with an exec session meeting where we discuss personnel
items, litigation items. Um so we did not actually finish our business at all in um the first executive session. So what we will do when we're in a few minutes is we will finish the public portion uh of the business. We won't do
anything else. Uh, no more resolutions, no more business tonight. We will adjourn to executive session to discuss the matter that you brought up as well as other matters that we didn't finish before. Um, and uh, I can't tell you what the outcome will be, but but we
will have further discussion. So, that's that's what happens next. Understood. Okay. I guess the only comment I would make is just letting that sit to the next meeting when, you know, she's only scheduled to work for another few days also doesn't seem fair just to leave it in limbo like that.
>> I don't think that we would, you know, we're not guaranteeing that we would that nothing would happen until the next meeting. So, um it just we know what the next step will be tonight. We can't uh we can't guarantee after that. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
>> All right. Board members, as we said, there'll be no further uh we need to um if there's nothing else for public session. Anything else? Public uh for any further I'm sorry. Any further public comments? Nobody signed in. I just wanted to
confirm I've sent the email message that you guys have requested to all of the board members. Hopefully, you've all received them. if there's anything us as parents can do, whether it's work with our HSA to try to put forth additional funds if it's a budgetary concern, um I think that we're all willing to kind of
work to a resolution noting how important this teacher is to our students. So, I just wanted to reiterate that. Um and please do let us come back to us if need be in terms of what we can do to make this happen. Thank you. Thank you. I should note that we cannot fund
raise to pay for uh personnel. So, uh, I know it's it's always a temptation, but it's something that we just cannot do as a public school, but thank you. Any other questions or comments? All right, that being the case, uh, as I said, no further public business will be
done tonight. No decisions will be made or resolutions passed. So, the public portion of the meeting is over. Board members may have a motion to adjourn to public se to executive session. The motion >> moved by Darius. May I have a second? >> Second.
>> Second. Um I second by Trisha.