WEBVTT

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

Part: 1

1
00:02:02.160 --> 00:02:17.560
Um we can go ahead and get started. You want to do roll, please? >> Sure. Mr. Cohen? >> Here. >> Mr. Corey? >> Here. >> Mr. Hayward? >> Here. >> Ms. Parlamis? >> Here. >> Dr. Pucci-Bender? >> Here. >> Ms. Stevenson? >> Here.

2
00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:36.760
>> Mr. Tang? Ms. Calves? >> Here. >> Dr. Robinson? We have a quorum. >> Thank you. Mr. Corey, will you please lead us in the flag salute? >> Certainly. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

3
00:02:36.760 --> 00:02:55.160
United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Adequate notice of meeting in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, P.L.

4
00:02:55.160 --> 00:03:10.400
1975, Chapter 231, as amended by P.L. 2025, Chapter 72, adequate notice of this meeting was provided on June 18th, 2026 by posting notice on the Glen Rock Public Schools website, where legal

5
00:03:10.400 --> 00:03:31.640
notices and advertisements are listed. Dr. Pucci-Bender, would you read our mission statement, please? >> Sure, I'd be happy to. Thank you. The Glen Rock School District, founded on principles of education in partnership with a supportive community, provides an exceptional education to all

6
00:03:31.640 --> 00:03:48.840
students to cultivate resilient, responsible, and engaged global citizens. >> I'll read this statement to the public. Oftentimes it may appear to members of our audience that the Board of Education takes action with very little comments, and in many cases by unanimous vote.

7
00:03:48.840 --> 00:04:04.600
Before a matter is placed on the agenda at a public meeting, the administration has thoroughly reviewed the matter with the superintendent of schools. If the superintendent of schools is satisfied and the Board of Education president concurs that the matter is ready to be be presented to the Board of Education,

8
00:04:04.600 --> 00:04:21.239
it is then placed on the agenda at the next Board of Education meeting. The members of the board work with the administration and superintendent of schools to ensure that they fully understand the matter. After the committee of the whole approves the matter, it is placed on the agenda for action at a public meeting.

9
00:04:21.239 --> 00:04:38.040
In rare instances, matters are presented to the Board of Education for discussion at the same meeting that final action may be taken. So, I understand that um we do want to have a conversation um about

10
00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:54.320
>> a personnel issue. >> a personnel issue. Um so, uh can I get a motion to go into closed session, please? Boaz, seconded by Mr. Corey. Thank you. >> Okay. How long are you going to be in closed?

11
00:04:54.320 --> 00:45:54.040
You going in now? >> Mhm. Maybe like 20 minutes, hopefully. All in favor? >> I. >> I. >> I. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Mhm. >> Thank you everyone for your patience.

12
00:45:54.040 --> 00:46:31.042
Um, we're back in public. >> Which is 40 minutes >> There is. Who am I? Oof. >> You got a little wet. >> Yeah, there's a water fountain. >> Look at that. It helps you. >> A water fountain. There's a water. >> [laughter]

13
00:46:32.520 --> 00:46:55.520
>> Thank you. Thanks for being so kind. >> You really wanted to. >> Anybody got a t-shirt for him? Greg, can I have a t-shirt? >> No, it's okay. >> Where were we from? >> Nothing in lost and found. Okay, Greg, would you like to give us your >> I have a question.

14
00:46:55.520 --> 00:47:13.200
>> Oh, sorry. Can we have a motion to go back into open, please? Karen, followed by Ed. Okay, we're back. >> All in favor. >> All in favor. >> Aye. >> Aye. >> Okay, so just a brief school administrative report. Uh, summer's

15
00:47:13.200 --> 00:47:29.040
great cuz it's nice and quiet. We're getting a lot of work done. There's a lot of painting going on by my office, which is awfully nice. Um, a lot of projects happening in all of the schools. Uh, good to see that moving on. The um, big news uh, from from Mr. Canales is

16
00:47:29.040 --> 00:47:44.120
that the books are closed for the 25-26 school year. It looks very good as far as deposits into capital reserve and maintenance reserve are are right where we expect them to be. Um, the other really good news is that we you approved phase two of the rooftop unit

17
00:47:44.120 --> 00:47:59.680
replacement um, over three-year phase. And um, that included uh, units um, in this building, quite a few of them. And they came in way under uh, uh budget. So, we're able to basically use that money that we pulled from capital

18
00:47:59.680 --> 00:48:16.400
reserve already that's in the budget um to fund phase three, which would be the the final phase of of RTUs. So, it's it's great news because uh they came in so much lower. I'm not really sure why they were so much lower. Um but that enables us to move forward the third phase of RTUs and that should

19
00:48:16.400 --> 00:48:32.280
pretty much wrap up the whole project, which means we can use that capital reserve for other things like paving and other exciting stuff like that. So, uh so that's good news that that Mr. Canales wanted me to pass on. Um we do know uh there've been a couple concerns about we replaced the electronic sign

20
00:48:32.280 --> 00:48:48.400
boards out in front of the middle school middle school and high school here. They've been inoperable for a while. We haven't been able to really control them and they're falling apart. So, they did get replaced uh last week, week before, I can't remember. And they're they're very bright. So, we're working on that. We we've gotten some concerns from from

21
00:48:48.400 --> 00:49:05.280
neighbors about that and uh we're working with the software and the settings of that to set them down at at lower lower brightness at night um cuz I know it's it's shining in folks' windows. So, we ask a little bit of patience while we while we figure that out and and dial that in uh to an appropriate level.

22
00:49:05.280 --> 00:49:20.200
Um do want to uh say that we're we're in really good shape when it comes to staffing. We have some appointments today for OT and for English and stuff and that actually takes us up to a fully staffed for the fall. So, we're we're very excited about that with these with these appointments today.

23
00:49:20.200 --> 00:49:37.520
And that's my report. >> Thank you, Mr. Van Ness. Okay, so we'll move to public comments. Um this is public comment session number one of two. Um I ask that you come to the microphone, state your name and address,

24
00:49:37.520 --> 00:50:08.600
and then you'll have 3 minutes. Um and we'll have a gentle reminder at 3 minutes so you can close up your comments. The first session is for agenda items only. So, the first set of comments is for

25
00:50:08.600 --> 00:50:50.680
agenda items only. We're opening public comments at 6:54. Seeing no one, we'll close public comments at 6:54. Yes. >> Elise Melcher, 59 Abington Terrace. Um I just wanted to um you know, make sure

26
00:50:50.680 --> 00:51:06.040
that in all of our hiring that we are hiring um people that have a lot of experience, um have been in the position before, especially our high trafficking um positions that um

27
00:51:06.040 --> 00:51:21.240
need to show leadership and um drive a lot of what's going on in the district, especially um in areas that the district currently has a lot of challenges in and a lot of complaints um from taxpayers.

28
00:51:21.240 --> 00:51:38.520
Um and so, I just really urge the board to make sure that they vet and do the proper research um when hiring someone. Um and I also just wanted to mention that I did send um an email to the board a few weeks ago in regards to my other

29
00:51:38.520 --> 00:51:54.440
concerns regarding the placement progress process and I hope that you guys do um really take that into consideration and you know, as you're planning for a new superintendent and new supervisors, um that you take that into consideration also and see what the

30
00:51:54.440 --> 00:52:09.760
trends are in other districts and the opportunities that other districts are giving to their students that Glen Rock is not. Um and in the end Glen Rock is harming a lot of our students instead of helping them propel forward um and challenge themselves and, you know,

31
00:52:09.760 --> 00:52:24.920
reach all their potential um that they have as well as also deep diving into the way that you do your benchmarks um and to make sure that these benchmarks that are carrying so much weight for students, that the students and the parents both know

32
00:52:24.920 --> 00:52:42.120
how much weight it is carrying and maybe looking into standardized way of doing these benchmarks. Um so there's a lot that needs to be done in the district and a lot of things that might need to change and leadership that needs to be changed and, you know, we are looking for a new superintendent and

33
00:52:42.120 --> 00:53:04.960
some new supervisors, but, you know, thinking about how those new people can help integrate some of these things that I think would really help the overall well-being of the district. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yep. Okay, so we'll close public

34
00:53:04.960 --> 00:53:23.560
comments at 6:57. Okay, so moving on to the general resolutions, I need a motion to approve resolutions G1 through G5 as below. Yeah. >> Just a thought. Um I assume you're all waiting for the other open comment

35
00:53:23.560 --> 00:53:38.560
section, which is probably going to be after our presentation and all of that. But if we were would the superintendent There's no We're just going into close. That's all in close. Okay, so

36
00:53:38.560 --> 00:54:02.800
then never mind. I guess we're We're forward. I thought you're going to be stuck for an hour. >> Okay, so can I have a motion to approve resolutions G1 through G5? Ms. Parlamas followed by Ms. Stevenson. Yeah, any discussion, any questions or

37
00:54:02.800 --> 00:54:20.480
comments? >> Just on G1, I just want to make sure that everybody understands that the virtual or remote instruction plan is required by the state since COVID. Just, you know, hopefully we never have to have it inactive, but that's something that we have to do by law. >> Thank you.

38
00:54:23.240 --> 00:54:38.840
Anything else? No? Okay. >> Okay. Mr. Cohen? >> Yes. >> Mr. Corey? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hayward? >> Yes. >> Ms. Parlamas? >> Yes. >> Dr. Puchibender? >> Yes.

39
00:54:38.840 --> 00:54:56.200
>> Ms. Stevenson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Tang? >> Yes. >> Ms. Calves? >> Yes. >> Motion is passed. >> Great, thank you. So, moving on to business resolutions, I'll need a motion to approve resolutions B1 through B20.

40
00:54:56.200 --> 00:55:22.000
Ms. Puchibender. Ms. Parlamas. Okay, any questions, concerns, discussion? >> Just to say it out loud, I think it's great with the RTU bids since they came in so low, it sounds like we're going to be able to do phase three sooner than later.

41
00:55:22.000 --> 00:55:38.600
Um, any estimation on like windows at like this year or next summer or no? >> I know that it will be going out to bid soon. Um, so there were maybe it's even on here to authorize the going out to bid, so I don't know exactly the time frame. to >> it out loud, it was a

42
00:55:38.600 --> 00:56:03.080
put in the multiple phases cuz we thought the budget wouldn't support it, but it sounds like it can, which means everybody's error gets fixed uh hopefully in the next year, which is great. >> Anything else? No? Okay. >> Call roll. >> Yes, please call roll.

43
00:56:03.080 --> 00:56:17.760
>> Mr. Cohen. >> Yes. >> Mr. Corey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hayward. >> Yes. >> Ms. Parlamas. >> Yes. >> Dr. Puchibender. >> Yes. >> Ms. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tang. >> Yes. >> Ms. Calves.

44
00:56:17.760 --> 00:56:45.520
>> Yes. Okay, so moving along to the personnel resolutions, I'll need a motion to approve resolutions P1 through P16. Mr. Corey, followed by Mr. Hayward. Any items for discussion? >> On P2

45
00:56:45.520 --> 00:57:05.440
>> P2, I just wanted to say I'm so sorry to see um Ms. Laura Caligari leave. She um was well beloved and uh we will miss the district will miss her. She was great. >> Very much so. >> Thank you. >> Also, I think on P1 we should welcome

46
00:57:05.440 --> 00:57:30.000
Mr. Rota as uh we will be voting to appoint him as our interim superintendent. >> Welcome, Mr. Rota. >> [laughter] >> Thanks for joining us this evening. >> Yes, I also wanted to welcome Mr. Rota to the to the board. I'm looking forward

47
00:57:30.000 --> 00:57:45.680
to working together. Um welcome. Uh, in regards to P4, uh, at this point, I I cannot vote to approve, uh, another supervisor, uh, at the district. Um,

48
00:57:45.680 --> 00:58:04.680
I I think I've made my concerns clear, uh, in previous, uh, meetings. And, um, I will be voting no on that. >> Thank you. Ms. Puchir >> Delanda. >> Yes, on P1, I'd like to welcome, uh, Mr.

49
00:58:04.680 --> 00:58:21.920
Rota from my former life. Welcome to Glen Rock. I'm sure you will be very happy here and people will be very happy to work for you and with you. On, uh, P4, I have to say I have hemmed and hawed and gone back and forth,

50
00:58:21.920 --> 00:58:38.720
um, over several different philosophies. I sit back and I need to express that this is not a matter, my vote is not a matter of trust for the administration or lack of trust. I trust wholeheartedly

51
00:58:38.720 --> 00:58:54.880
the administration and the process that they went through. I have to I have to say that first. Um, however, my concern was that the mantra for the board has been that we didn't want to make any change, um, until our permanent superintendent

52
00:58:54.880 --> 00:59:12.240
came on board. I, um, have seen I sat on the board when we brought in an interim supervisor for science, a very talented former superintendent, uh, Dr. Fishbein. He served as a science supervisor and performed beautifully. It worked well.

53
00:59:12.240 --> 00:59:27.440
Um, this is a critical role, the supervisor of science, and I think that I'm sorry, of math. And I think that, um, you know, I hear the parents that have voiced

54
00:59:27.440 --> 00:59:45.280
their opinions in emails. Uh, I don't want to say anything negative about the applicant because this is not right now about and my perspective is has nothing to do with the applicant and has everything to do with my philosophy that I think it would have been nice to bring in a new superintendent and allow

55
00:59:45.280 --> 01:00:01.840
a new superintendent to bring in his or her own allegiance, her own or his own team member with maybe his or her own philosophy in that area. So as of right now I am a no vote.

56
01:00:01.840 --> 01:00:18.680
Thank you. Mr. Corey. >> Yeah, I'm on the same principle of philosophy. Uh And specific to P4, I I do hear that we had a call to keep things status quo. Not all those choices are ours to make

57
01:00:18.680 --> 01:00:33.760
and there was a change in what the structure that we had that we tried to keep status quo. Um so my support for for hiring into this role is in order to keep the the process of procedures and staffing and assignments consistent with what we currently have

58
01:00:33.760 --> 01:00:49.400
staffed and supported both upward and downward through that time period through this time period where we are making a very important and be central hiring position for the district. So um I'll be voting to to welcome a staff member

59
01:00:49.400 --> 01:01:06.360
to this district in that regard and wish wish everybody a specific Not not anybody specific. Everybody uh specifically and in general best of luck and and consistency in in this new school year. But I really see this role as something that we already

60
01:01:06.360 --> 01:01:22.560
have in place and it's part of our process that we're going to continue to push push excellence through for the rest of this year and when our permanent superintendent comes in place, I'll look forward to those recommendations to make changes at that time. Thank you, Mr. Corey.

61
01:01:22.560 --> 01:01:37.840
Mr. Haywood. >> Um with regard to that role, um I agree with uh Mr. Corey's uh philosophy there and our job is to keep the school staffed and running and um we've discussed this with the superintendent and uh it sounds like

62
01:01:37.840 --> 01:01:53.640
they've got a good candidate uh they're confident with which uh I believe is the right thing to do. Um having said that, the repercussions of not hiring a candidate leaves an entire department and five buildings without uh supervisors to support them, to help

63
01:01:53.640 --> 01:02:08.960
them, to instruct them. I understand the desire to to to wait for a permanent superintendent to come in, but uh the permanent superintendent wouldn't get here until January earliest if we do our job quickly. Um so there'll be time down

64
01:02:08.960 --> 01:02:24.080
the road to do that and that's a long long time to go without support. Uh the other thing I wanted to mention was I've seen the emails that are coming in already about this. Uh so obviously the word's gotten out and somehow uh people are under the impression this person doesn't have high school experience,

65
01:02:24.080 --> 01:02:39.960
which they do, and they have elementary and high school, and they have all the certificates needed. Uh so I I I just don't want the public to be misinformed uh with with the type of uh candidates they're looking at. This person is 100%

66
01:02:39.960 --> 01:02:57.560
qualified and uh it's a in my opinion, the right thing to do to support. So I'll certainly be a yes vote. >> Thank you. Ms. Stevenson. >> Also on P4, I will be voting yes on the appointment. Um I don't think we're

67
01:02:57.560 --> 01:03:14.280
changing course. We are filling a vacancy because somebody resigned. And we did discuss as a board that this is something that we wanted to do. We were promised that we would we would um be consulted before the hiring happens, and we were. We were provided with the resume. Yes, she does have high school

68
01:03:14.280 --> 01:03:29.360
experience. She has a middle school experience and all the proper proper um certifications. My concern would be also leaving this position empty. It's a core subject. And as we all know, we've gotten a lot of emails about math and the math department and concerns that parents have. And to leave that

69
01:03:29.360 --> 01:03:45.520
department without a leader concerns me. And I'll speak if I was a staff member and everybody else had a supervisor and I didn't, I I would I would take that as almost a slight or like, "Oh, you're not that important." When every subject is important, especially a core subject. And I'm comfortable with looking at a

70
01:03:45.520 --> 01:04:01.600
resume and listening to what Mr. Van Ness shared with us um to support this candidate. >> Thank you, Ms. [clears throat] Stevenson. Mr. Cowan, did you want to say add something? >> Yeah, I just want to clarify that

71
01:04:01.600 --> 01:04:19.440
by no means the my vote today is any indication that uh we that I value the math uh less than any other group. I think the opposite. I think anybody uh who knows me and heard me and speak, I think

72
01:04:19.440 --> 01:04:34.000
if if I don't put the math as the top priority, uh they really don't know me. And so, I I'm I'm want to make sure that uh not no no teacher or staff member thinks that that's the uh indication of the

73
01:04:34.000 --> 01:04:51.920
vote. And also to uh Ms. Bridges uh point, this is not a uh vote of uh mistrust or or accounting. Uh we we just voted for so many things uh based on recommendations of the

74
01:04:51.920 --> 01:05:08.120
administration. Um this is um this one is a core value to me and I really think that we need to um have it right and that's why I'm voting how I'm voting. >> Thank you.

75
01:05:08.120 --> 01:05:25.080
Mr. Tang. >> Um yeah, I think the candidate does have teaching experience in high school. My concern is the experience seemed to be in pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry. I would like the supervisor to have

76
01:05:25.080 --> 01:05:42.800
experience in advanced courses, pre-calc, calculus, statistics. Because I imagine if I'm teaching calculus, I don't know how am I going to report to someone who has never taught it and give me advice. Uh so, this is a concern for me.

77
01:05:42.800 --> 01:06:03.680
>> Thank you. Okay. I think it's time we call roll. >> All right. Mr. Cohen. >> Yes, except for P4, I'm going to abstain. >> Mr. Corey. >> Uh yes, on the P items. >> Mr. Hayward.

78
01:06:03.680 --> 01:06:21.320
>> Yes. >> Ms. Parlamas. >> Yes, except for P4. >> Dr. Pujibender. >> Yes, except for P4. >> Ms. Stevenson. >> Yes, on all the P items. >> Mr. Tang.

79
01:06:21.320 --> 01:06:56.200
>> Yes, except for P4. >> Ms. Calvillo. >> Yes, except for P16 as it pertains to me. >> Motions carry except for P4. >> Okay. On to new business. Um, I'll need a motion to discuss

80
01:06:56.200 --> 01:07:12.320
>> There's no motion, it's just discussion. >> going into new business. Okay. So, we'll have a discussion on the first read of the policies, uh P5516 student use of internet-enabled devices. >> Sure. So, if you don't mind I'll introduce. So, I shared with the board

81
01:07:12.320 --> 01:07:27.840
last week the policy from Strauss Esme for the internet-enabled devices and also the regulation. Regulation only needs one read and and Mr. Cody caught a typo that we we thought we struck out. So, we'll have that fixed before the um August 31st one.

82
01:07:27.840 --> 01:07:43.400
Um but we do have the policy here for you now so we can have it on the second read on August 31st so that when school starts up we will have that up and running. For those of you uh with kids in the district uh things are going to change as far as cell phone use policy. Um it's going to change

83
01:07:43.400 --> 01:07:59.160
across the state cuz we're following the new law here. So, we'll be communicating those changes out to parents and students uh soon over the next few weeks so that everybody knows and everybody understands kind of where we're headed. >> Thank you. Okay. And our next meeting is

84
01:07:59.160 --> 01:08:16.720
August 31st, 2026. >> Discussion about policy. >> Yeah. Yeah. Go ahead. >> So, I I think the state got it at least right on this time and and I'm glad that uh we're going that direction. Um so, thank you

85
01:08:16.720 --> 01:08:33.359
for the administration for for for doing that and handling that. Um yes, there are going to be a some kind of adjustment but I think for the best. I think that's the the right thing for our students and for our teachers and for the mental health in the class and just for the attendance. So, uh I am

86
01:08:33.359 --> 01:08:51.839
glad to see that we're moving that direction. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> I just think we need just to clarify that internet-enabled devices also includes like an Apple Watch or a smart watch. It's not just >> Smart watches, phones, any

87
01:08:51.839 --> 01:09:08.640
internet-capable devices. >> I think that I don't think that people just assume a lot of times, as I may have, that it's just like a a cell phone but then when When read through it it includes anything like a smart watch or or >> Yeah, as as the parent of a preteen,

88
01:09:08.640 --> 01:09:25.080
there is all sorts of devices that are internet connected. We've all heard stories of kids going on Twitter from their Samsung refrigerator. They are creative. They will figure it out. Uh I know that the parents are going to be looking forward to hearing a lot of the guidance that's coming down.

89
01:09:25.080 --> 01:09:41.799
Um I have a a very generous amnesty policy with my kids if you know so I'm sure there'll be a lot of lumps and bumps along the process and uh my hat's off to the to you to figure this all out as we stumble through it together.

90
01:09:42.240 --> 01:09:58.080
>> Thank you. Okay. So, next meeting date is August 31st, 2026 and now we'll move on to the second session of public comments. Um please come up and state your name

91
01:09:58.080 --> 01:10:15.720
and address and you'll have 3 minutes. >> Good evening. >> And we're opening them as of 7:14. Thank you. >> It's been a while since I've seen you all. Hope all is well. I am here to follow up on concerns that Ms. Colleen Manley previously raised

92
01:10:15.720 --> 01:10:31.040
regarding the incorrect markings on the school track. This issue is not simply cosmetic. The the track numbers and hurdle markings were incorrectly were installed incorrectly and the inaccurate hurdle markings, especially on the curve for

93
01:10:31.040 --> 01:10:46.640
the 100-m hurdles, have the potential to create a safety hazard. Hurdling is an event that depends on precision. An experienced hurdler trusts the markings to be accurate and incorrect markings could increase the risk of injury.

94
01:10:46.640 --> 01:11:02.360
Mr. Corey can attest to that as he is on the record board for shuttle hurdles. After the the track was completed, the coach conducted a walk-through with the conduct the contractor. During the that walk through the contractor acknowledged

95
01:11:02.360 --> 01:11:19.440
that the lane numbers had been placed incorrectly. They agreed the numbers should be moved to the start of the 100 meter dash and say it stated that they would pay to correct the mistake. Later during the track season coaches discovered that the hurdle markings on the curve were also incorrect. When the

96
01:11:19.440 --> 01:11:35.520
coaches contacted the administration to ask when the corrections would be made after the season ended, they were told that the markings would not be fixed because there had been no complaints during the season and the issues were considered aesthetic. The coaches did exactly what they were

97
01:11:35.520 --> 01:11:52.080
supposed to do. They identified the problems, worked with the contractor, and obtained the contractor's agreement to correct the errors at no cost to the district. Yet, the corrections were never authorized. This brings me to another decision made during the turf and track project. At the August 25th,

98
01:11:52.080 --> 01:12:08.000
2025 meeting, Board of Education minutes at the 51 minute mark, the business administrator stated that that when the new turf was installed, it became apparent that the football uprights were in disrepair. He explained that the district replaced the uprights

99
01:12:08.000 --> 01:12:26.040
at an additional cost of 67,000 dollars using part of the 110,000 dollar project allowance and leaving 43,000. Board member Mr. Corey asked whether the project had originally budgeted for the uprights. Mr. Canales reported that it had not. But it was determined that they

100
01:12:26.040 --> 01:12:42.320
were needed and that the project allowance made the replacement possible. That raises several questions. Were the existing uprights actually unsafe or non-functional or were they simply faded from yellow to white due to age and weather? If they were still functional, could they have been repainted instead

101
01:12:42.320 --> 01:12:58.080
of replaced? Who made the decision to spend an an additional 67,000 dollars on uprights? Did the board formally approve this change? If there was funding available within the project allowance to replace functional uprights, why were there not support

102
01:12:58.080 --> 01:13:14.040
for allowing the contractor to correct documented mistakes on the track when the contractor had already agreed to pay for those corrections? Who made the decision not to allow the contractor to fix the errors? Were the coaches informed that this decision had been made? If not, were they Why were they

103
01:13:14.040 --> 01:13:31.280
excluded after having been involved in identifying the necessary markings during the planning and installation project? As you know, the track and field program is one of the largest athletic programs in our schools. Our student athletes deserve a track that is marked accurately, not only for competition,

104
01:13:31.280 --> 01:13:46.240
but for their safety. I respectfully ask the board to review this decision, determine why the contractor was prevented from correcting acknowledged errors at no cost to the district, and assure ensure that the track is marked correctly before another season begins.

105
01:13:46.240 --> 01:14:07.360
Thank you. >> Hi, good evening. Uh Michael Gallagher, 546 Harristown Road. Um just quickly would thank the board for all the work you guys do. I'm sure it's not easy. Um so, I'll quickly get into the topic I'd like you to consider. Um Glen Rock Community School preschool

106
01:14:07.360 --> 01:14:23.920
recently announced last week they were closing um because of under enrollment. This is quite late notice. Um I had a child in the program a couple of years ago. I still have a child in there now, hoping to go into the fours program. Um it now leaves us a little bit stuck because the early years program that

107
01:14:23.920 --> 01:14:40.600
happens in this school here is also uh at capacity, and so there's no ability to register into that one. So, we're now on a bit of a scramble up to September. So, um if there's anything the board can do at re-examining that one, perhaps giving parents like a one-year notice period or reopening the school. It sounds like the

108
01:14:40.600 --> 01:14:56.760
finances might be in good shape from what we heard earlier on. Um so, if the board could just take that under consideration, given that, like I said, there's a bunch of families now who are a bit stuck with uh no ability for for preschool at least, you know, until we can find something in the interim.

109
01:14:56.760 --> 01:15:22.480
Okay. Thanks. >> Thank you. Yeah. So, seeing as no one else approaching the podium, we'll close the second uh on public comment session at 7:19. Now.

110
01:15:45.960 --> 01:16:02.160
Um I just want to apologize for my tardiness. I was stuck in the OR and could not get out any earlier. Um not actually even sure, honestly, what to say except for thank you so much, Mr. Roda, for uh taking uh

111
01:16:02.160 --> 01:16:18.680
uh the helm. I am looking forward to um your leadership. I also want to thank you so much um for all that you've done uh and not even just the past school year, but um there's been a lot of of people, and I think that um you have done a

112
01:16:18.680 --> 01:16:35.600
remarkable job, and I'm appreciative of your leadership. Um you know, I I guess I I saw um briefly uh that there were a few emails that had come through um the board email before them like immediately before the meeting, um which

113
01:16:35.600 --> 01:16:50.280
sometimes it's like expected, sometimes it's a bit unusual. Um in this situation was a bit unusual just because I feel like not a lot of information was provided um uh to the community based on the email that I received. So, it is a little bit

114
01:16:50.280 --> 01:17:06.800
alarming, but um when we make any hiring decisions, we have to, you know, really take a look at one, what is our role as uh you know, school board members. Um additionally, you know, what is the role

115
01:17:06.800 --> 01:17:23.160
of administration? What are the things that we are required um to consider within our expertise. Um even if, you know, like professionally, some of us are educators, health care workers, IT professionals, business owners, etc. Um and whatever the future

116
01:17:23.160 --> 01:17:39.080
may hold. Um so, we all have those things, you know, personally, but when we step into this room, it is, you know, really important that we you know, hold that side of ourselves back and make sure that, you know, we are doing what's

117
01:17:39.080 --> 01:17:56.000
best for the district. And sometimes it's very, very complicated because there's certain things that you can say, some things that you can't say, some things that um you know, like you may want to be able to communicate, but you really can't. And um I know that we're all

118
01:17:56.000 --> 01:18:13.680
familiar with that. We're all various types of professionals in our lives or uh or in our homes. And um I I I really just want not only just this board, but the community to consider sometimes what you're asking because it's not always linear. It's not

119
01:18:13.680 --> 01:18:29.400
always that if you're asking for this, that you immediately get that. That if you're asking for a a person like I I I I I was listening as I was driving. Um you're asking for, you know, somebody that has specific qualifications. Well, do you know that the market

120
01:18:29.400 --> 01:18:46.440
is going to provide that? You know, like we we don't we don't know. Um and and our our job is based on the information that we have at any given time um that we're trying you know all of us are trying to do the best that we can with the information that we have and stay within our roles as well as

121
01:18:46.440 --> 01:19:02.600
our goal is to inherently trust our administration that we have hired to to to do these things but of course trust but verify. So you know things went the way that they went and I am looking forward to this

122
01:19:02.600 --> 01:19:17.840
new school year. I'm looking forward to you know Mr. Rota's leadership. I'm looking forward to succeeding in this district. There's so many good things that are happening. I even was taking a look at um

123
01:19:17.840 --> 01:19:35.440
our like SAT scores this year compared to last year. We increased our our kids and I know this goes year to year and so there's no never any guarantee but we increased the average SAT scores in our district to

124
01:19:35.440 --> 01:19:51.160
put us in line with some of the very other schools that we're always saying that we're we're we're you know comparing ourselves to. So our children are succeeding. I think that this is important that you know like as we're telling them that they need to believe in themselves as a district we really

125
01:19:51.160 --> 01:20:07.960
need to believe in ourselves. Our kids are succeeding. Our families are succeeding. Our district is successful. There absolutely is room for improvement. Any district should be able to say that. And so I'm looking forward to the partnership with the community that is

126
01:20:07.960 --> 01:20:23.720
going to help us all achieve help us maintain stable employment for our our staff because we also want to show them that we appreciate what they are doing and that we appreciate you know the work that they're going to

127
01:20:23.720 --> 01:20:41.200
do for us in the future. So thank you so much everybody for coming. Um we are going to be moving into our recessing to sorry, go ahead. >> Um according to Robert's Rules, I think I can make a motion to

128
01:20:41.200 --> 01:20:58.880
revote on item P4. If anyone >> I don't know. >> If it gets seconded, is that >> You have to a no vote would have to bring it to the table to reopen it. >> It was a no vote. >> No, you were the no vote.

129
01:20:58.880 --> 01:21:13.880
Like you can't bring it to the table. Someone else who voted no. Like oh. >> Yeah. Yeah, this this kind of thing was discussed for something else in the in the past. I'm not sure

130
01:21:13.880 --> 01:21:30.880
um what, but no, we at this time are not able to bring it without there being a potentially either a change in the resolution or a change in the item or like Dr. Puchibanda stated um

131
01:21:30.880 --> 01:21:47.720
So, uh unfortunate. All right. So, I need a motion to go into um closed session or I'm sorry, I just Vice President, would you please

132
01:21:47.720 --> 01:22:05.880
finish this up? >> [laughter] >> Thank you, Dr. Robinson. Can I have a motion to go into closed session, please? No action will be taken. Say again? >> And we won't >> We will not be coming back.

133
01:22:05.960 --> 01:22:24.520
You yes? Yes? Okay. Mr. Hayward, Mr. Corey. >> And you know, before we Did you already close this up? Okay. Um Did you want to say something? All right. No, that's it. Thank you.

134
01:22:24.520 --> 01:22:33.760
All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Any opposed? None. We are