WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=cf_cH4yuWGg

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: cf_cH4yuWGg):
- 00:00:00: Roll Call, Executive Session Minutes, Regular Board Minutes
- 00:01:37: Superintendent Updates Agenda: Jill Trainer, Resignation Addition
- 00:03:22: Solicitor Report, Committee Reports: Finance, Special Services
- 00:04:19: Curriculum Committee: Budget Updates, Program Changes, Retirements
- 00:05:23: Policy Committee: Policy Reviews, Superintendent's Consent Resolution
- 00:06:13: Board Questioning and Discussion: Field Trip Scheduling Concerns
- 00:09:37: Business Administrator Report: Approval, Questions, and Discussion
- 00:10:17: Buildings & Grounds: Committee Loop Concerns, Transparency Issues
- 00:12:14: Municipal Advisors, Sidewalks, Business Administrator Approval
- 00:14:45: Old Business, New Business: Commendation, Public Comment Opening
- 00:15:40: Public Comment #1: Bus Incident and School Safety Concerns
- 00:21:01: Superintendent's Response to Bus Incident: Action Plan Needed
- 00:22:56: Possible Solutions: Call Transportation, Change Phone System
- 00:24:21: Public Comment #2: Dorothy Delayo Termination Concerns
- 00:31:31: Board Member Comments, Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

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Like to bring this back to order, please. Can we have a roll call, please? Ms. Dantino. Here. Ms. Galanakis. Here. Ms. Gore. Here. Mr. Hutchinson. >> Here. Ms. Maski. Here. Mr. Peluso. Here. Mr. Tarsey. Here.

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Ms. Henry. Here. Ms. Johnson. Here. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes of the executive session, March 23rd, 2026? So moved.

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Second. Roll call, please. Ms. Dantino. Yes. Ms. Galanakis. Yes. Ms. Gore. Abstain. Mr. Hutchinson. Yes. Ms. Maski. Yes. Mr. Peluso. Yes. Mr.

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Tarsey. Yes. Ms. Henry. Yes. Ms. Johnson. Yes, thank you. Can I have a motion to approve board minutes regular, March 23rd, 2026? So moved. Second.

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Roll call, please. Ms. Dantino. Yes. Ms. Galanakis. Yes. Ms. Gore. Abstain. Mr. Hutchinson. Yes. Ms. Maski. Yes. Mr. Peluso. Yes. Mr. Tarsey. Yes.

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Ms. Henry. Yes. Ms. Johnson. Yes. Okay, before we go ahead with public comments for agenda items only, Mr. Biledo, do you have something for us, please? Actually, uh Ms. Johnson, yes, good evening, Ms. Johnson, members of the

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board, members of the public. Welcome to uh central administration. The um agenda, I do if you indulge me, I do have changes to tonight's uh agenda. Um so, under the report of

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superintendent, um item 7.6 uh B, which is recommendations for approval of non-instructional appointments, would you please add the name Jill Trainer, t r a i n o o r,

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replacing employee number 4094. Uh Ms. Trainer will be the director of special services. Uh her salary will be $161,000 per annum, pro rated. Uh the beginning date will be July 1st, 2026,

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and or the completion of all paperwork. Any questions on that? The second item would be under personnel again, item 7.6 C,

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which would be approval of resignations. Would you please add employee number 6358, school business administrator, board secretary, with a resignation date of June 30, 2026.

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Any questions on the second addition to the agenda? Okay, that's all the changes I have. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Thank you. Okay, at this time, is there anyone who'd like to make a comment on agenda items only?

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Please raise your hand. Seeing none, we'll close that portion. Uh can we have the report of the solicitor, please? Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. I have nothing beyond what was discussed in executive session this evening. Thank you.

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Okay, um board committee reports. Do we have anything for finance? No. Uh anything for special services? Nothing to bring up, but we just basically discussed um microphone.

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We had just discussed um the different positions and um like preschool and re- moving people around and classes and stuff like that. Okay, thank you. Curriculum. Anything for curriculum? Yes, good

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evening. Um we met on um the 23rd of March. Um everybody um from our committee was there. Uh we talked about the um preliminary budget updates for um certain programs and such. Um about limiting after-school and

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summer um programs, um updating the um elementary Spanish and life skills. Uh we also talked about um some retirements. Um talked about adding um like I said, the life skills um program

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that everybody was really happy about. Uh we also talked about the um NJSLS um update and the adaptive testing and um the schedule that they were going to go through. And that's about it. Thank you.

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Okay, uh report of the superintendent, Mr. Biledo. Uh thank you uh Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Biledo, please. Oh, I missed policy. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Anything from policy, please? >> Yes, we met on March 30th. Uh all

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committee members were in attendance. Um we discussed the two policies that is three policies that are going to be before the board today for the first reading, along with fine-tuning 7510. So. Thank you.

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All right, now Mr. Biledo, report of the superintendent, please. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. Uh I'd like to ask for a consent resolution for item 7.3 A through 7.6 and wait. A. A.

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With as amended. Thank you, Ms. Gore. Can I have a motion, please, to approve? So moved. Second. Are there any questions? I have a question. Mhm. Uh in 7.4

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B as in boy, um why are we knowing that there could be bus usage or a field trip the same week that we're approving this? Like it pending release. Like don't we get the date ahead of

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time? Mhm. Yes, we're we're we're working on communications efficiencies. Okay, because I mean, granted, I don't It hasn't. I Hasn't happened what? The field trip hasn't happened. Mhm. It's only three

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days. Yeah, but that's not The point is, say for instance, whether it's scheduling issues logistically, or say there's five, six, seven, or eight, or all nine of us who say no.

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That'd be pretty disappointing if there were children who would qualify. So, I think if once we know that there is a date, cuz this happens every year, we should notify and have this already scheduled as opposed to just doing this. What if there was a snowstorm and we

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didn't approve this? And today's the 20th, and they're supposed to go on the 23rd. So, just for future reference, I think we should plan well in advance, so therefore we're ahead. The same thing with with, you know, field trips. I mean, we have

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Uh blah blah blah. I do apologize. Um field trips going on, right? The May 7th. I'm pretty sure this field trip was planned well in advance before 2 weeks from now, cuz

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field trip money has to be sent. Uh permission slips need to be signed. We should know these things well in advance, so therefore we can ensure that there are no logistical issues, and that we, you know, are well aware. So, just going forward, I think

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30 days is well enough, you know, to to notify and and have that done. That's just my small request. I think it's a valid point. Uh often these things are also noticed and some discussions have already taken place. Um but at the heart of it, I don't want

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the students to be harmed. I don't think you do, either. That's not the point. The point is sufficiency to get it And also, absolutely. >> And the responsibility of the board is to, you know, approve things. Not if discussions are already taking place in a sense, basically we're just

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rubber-stamping, and that's not something that we are in business of rubber-stamping, right? So, we want to ensure that there are thought processes and and discussions being held. Okay. It's a good point. Thank you. My pleasure. Anyone else with questions or

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comments? Can I have a roll call, please? Ms. Dantino. Yes. Ms. Galanakis. Yes. Ms. Gore. Yes. Mr. Hutchinson. Yes. Ms. Maski. Yes.

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Mr. Peluso. Yes. Mr. Tarsey. Yes. Ms. Henry. I am abstaining on 7.3 as in apple. Yay, uh yes on the rest. Ms. Johnson. Yes.

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May we have the report of the business administrator, please? Yes, Ms. President. My report begins on 8.0 and 8.1, the board secretary's and cash summer report, and goes through um

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8.7 E. Can I get a motion to approve, please? So moved. Second. Thank you. Um, any questions or comments? I have one. On 8.6,

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buildings and grounds, I'm on the buildings and grounds committee, and this is the first I'm seeing this. Was this approved eons ago or when do we get notified? >> It was part of the budget process, and the timing is the issue of it. That's why. When as soon as the board passed

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the budget, if we didn't move forward with it, we wouldn't have the fire alarms installed. That's what the point of That's what it is. I think it's a valid thing to do, but shouldn't the committee members be in the loop on what's getting done? >> Yeah, you're probably right, yes.

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Okay. I just like it I just like it it just seemed to be, like you said, Dina, we're rubber stamping so many things here tonight, and we're not transparent with our own board. I got I just going forward, I'd like to

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be in the loop. How How long ago was that approved? Last week? Like you you planned on doing this last week? That? Yes. >> No, it wasn't it's not it's not approved till now. We're trying to get approved so they can do the design so the

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installation of the fire alarms can happen in the summertime. But it cost money. But it was it was discussed in the probably in the February and and March uh finance committee meetings as as as in the budget. >> But not in the building and ground? I think it's not for buildings and

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grounds. Yeah, we don't know. Huh? Yes, that's what I'm saying. Let's be more transparent. [laughter] I mean, is it Are you Are you saying we're only approving the design >> design part of it? We're not really getting fire alarm? >> It's the It's the design work, and then

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after the design work happens, the board would approve the actual contract to do it. So, we're only approving the design. Correct. All right. Thank you for that clarification. All right. I also have a question. On um 8.7b,

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could you explain, please, municipal advisers? Oh, that was my uncle. Yes, when anytime you have bonds or leases out there, you have to do a rating service every single year. So, we've had this

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probably since probably since you were here or even beyond you. Um, every year they do the rating service for us. Okay. >> Um, so we have a contract with them, and I think actually, this is the contract right here.

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And you'll see not only is it are they doing work for us in B, but if you were to look under D. There's another one here somewhere. >> D. Under D. Mhm. Um, they're actually doing the work for the actual lease itself. Okay. Thank you.

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All right. Can I get a roll call, please? >> wait. I have one more question. >> Sorry. The sidewalks, are you talking the ones public access or is this the one literally in front of the school? Yes, in front of the school where it actually goes from the school into the roadway, they want to hold that 12-ft

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section so they can put their no slip surface down. So, they they want to own that part so they can maintain it. That's what it's for. So, why isn't the township doing it? It's They're doing it up the whole Blackwood Pike. I I think it's it's a state It's a state program. It's a state road.

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>> it up the whole Blackwood Pike. Every business is affected by it up the whole Blackwood Pike. So, it's not a township sidewalk. State. >> Just for clarification. But they're doing the work here. We're selling it to the state. For that handicap ramp or >> put it, yeah. So, they can put their

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little non slip the little red surface down there. Yeah. I got you. Thank you. Take the roll call, please. So moved. Moved. Mrs. We did that. Mrs. Dentino. Yes.

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Mrs. Gallic. Yes. The score. Yes. Mr. Hutchinson. Yeah. Mrs. Maski. Yes. Mr. Pelvis. Yes. Mr. Tursey. Uh no one check 140744, yes on the balance.

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Balance. Balance, sorry. Mr. Henry. I'm abstaining on check number 140744, yes on the balance. Mrs. Mrs. Johnson. Abstaining on check number 140752

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and 140819, yes on the balance. Noted. Thank you. Do we have any old business, Mr. Bilodeau? I just to have a reminder for the Board of Education that uh next Monday evening here,

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we have the public hearing on the school budget for the 2026-2027 uh school year. Any new business? No, but I'll take the new business to uh uh commend my colleague, Mr.

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uh Mercoli. I think that he has a wonderful opportunity ahead. I appreciate, Jean, your years of service here to the Gloucester Township Board of Education. So, thank you for your hard work. Thanks. Okay. At this time, we're going to open

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the floor to public comments. Would anyone like to Well, someone in the back I did see. Can you give us your name and address, please, or town? Three mail and address verbal. I'm here today due to a horrific

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incident that was avoidable. Unfortunately, no meaningful changes have been made since it occurred. I have my phone on. Is that a one I think of We're not here. Something along those lines. And I hope my speaking up will ensure this hap um and no one will experience what I did.

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Few weeks ago prior to >> hearing me. A few weeks ago Can you hear me? Do you want me to start over? Okay. Yes, please. I'm here today due to a horrific incident that was avoidable. Unfortunately, no meaningful changes have been made since it occurred, and I'm hoping my speaking up will ensure

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this never happens to anyone else and no one will experience what I did. Few weeks ago prior to the end of the school day, I received a text from transportation that my pre-K son's bus was running late. I waited at the bus stop for 20 minutes with no bus updates.

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I have three children at three different locations, all of whom are my sole responsibility, so timing is important. A parent came and told me she was notified by her child's teacher that the bus wasn't at the school yet, and she was going to pick her child up. She offered to pick up my son, and I

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declined knowing that she was not listed on any of my son's approved contact or emergency forms, and the school would not allow it. I told her I had to pick him up. I had to make a difficult decision to stay at the bus stop and wait with no information or go to the school and risk missing the bus if it arrived.

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I chose to go to school. At 4:02, I called Mullen school and reached a voicemail stating the office was closed. This is a serious issue. My child was still inside the building, and I had no way to reach a staff member. If transportation would send updates when buses are late with an ETA or any

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information, and if someone at Mullen answered the phone to know I was going to get my son, what happened next would have been avoided. As I pulled into the school parking lot to pick up my son, I got a call from the principal. Some of the conversation is a blur, but she was telling me that this wasn't school policy, and we don't allow but my

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son went home with another parent. I was dumbfounded, anxious, and frantic. I needed to get home, but also needed to know what happened. As I was on the phone with her, the parent was calling me. Although this parent may have had good intentions, they were not authorized to take my child. No one should have let my

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child off the bus with another parent before contacting me. What if that parent got in a car accident with my child or they didn't take the child to my house? The parent was wrong, but so was everyone else involved. The bus driver, E, a staff member, anyone should have said, "We need to call this

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parent right now and make sure they're okay with this." No one asked me. Didn't write a note, make a call, or answer phone to state my child wouldn't be allowed to leave with someone else. I understand the buses are short-handed and run late from time to time. Circumstances occur. This is not to

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complain that the bus was late, but to address the complete lack of communication and absence of safety protocol. Why can't transportation send follow-up updates when buses are delayed? Why are school phones not answered after 4:00 p.m. when children are still inside the

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building? This has happened at both Mullen and Lily schools multiple times. If staff are present for late buses, someone should be available to answer calls and provide updates. So many people let me down and failed me that day. This was avoidable if transportation and

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schools communicated better. If someone from Gloucester Township staff communicated with me that a parent was saying they were taking my child home. Although good intentions by the parent and bus staff, it does not change what happened. I'm not here to get anyone in trouble. I'm just trying to prevent this from happening to anyone again.

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The day after this happened, I sent emails and made calls to transportation, the superintendent, and the principals at Mullen and Lily. I cried on the phone to our superintendent a few days later, and he said he would reach back to me within 2 days and never did. I gave it a week and it took 20 days from the day this happened to speak with

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him with answers. I want accountability and actions. I wanted to hear what happened, which my understanding is the parent already had her child and they went onto the bus and got mine. I know this parent, well, I know the bus driver may have recognized our children from the same stop, but that doesn't replace proper authorization or procedure.

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No one called to inform me after this had happened and my child was released in a car and off school grounds. I wanted to hear that transportation had started implementing improved communication for delayed buses, which they haven't. And that schools would ensure the phones are answered after 4:00 when school buses are late and children remain in

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the building, and I know that hasn't changed either. The superintendent said conversations were being held, but that isn't enough. It needs to be now, not later. Think if this happened to your child, this was unacceptable and avoidable. I hope speaking up today brings awareness and changes immediately. The

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anxiety I've had every day since this has been overwhelming. As a parent, it is my responsibility protect and advocate for my children. I need to know that they are at school, I can reach someone and trust proper procedures are followed. Gloucester Township must do better with

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communication and student safety. Thank you for that. Mr. Belladonna, um what can we do to fix this? So, I um I I learned about this uh

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issue, terrible issue, and did reach out to the parent. I did ask uh Ms. Lee for some time to look into it. I was waiting for different things. Parts of this are personnel issue. Parts of this related to operational having people available at the school. I think uh

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Ms. Lee is making a good point. If a parent calls, uh they should be able to try to reach a human, whether it's either at the school level or transportation. I do know that numbers had been provided to Ms. Lee from our transportation supervisor, but that's only one piece of

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this. Right. As far as an effective text messaging, there's time that's needed because no sooner do you think you have an update on when a bus is going to arrive, then something else happens and then the message looks erroneous to the parent that receives it. So, I think

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being able to reach a parent, especially in the p.m., is paramount. So, it is being worked on. Okay. Um my apologies. I didn't know the date range. I had been waiting for the video and audio to see it for myself. So, I do apologize. We are continuing to work on it. We don't

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want a student to um not be in the hands of their parent or guardian. Okay? We're working on it. Okay. All right. Thank you. Staff know going forward not to release kids. Um I have made my point with the building, yes.

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What about at the times that if the buses are so late that there's no staff left in the office to answer the phones? I'll be back to the Board of Education to discuss that. Okay. Okay. I mean, maybe obviously a call to

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transportation, but parents don't know to do that. And we would have to to make sure that they they have that number. I've had discussions even with Mr. McCauley about changing our p.m. phone system, so when you try to call school, Uh-huh. first question may prompt you

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with this is a transportation and then it will you can hit a button and it will just direct you and try to get to a human to talk. So, there's some things that we are working on, it just haven't been implemented yet. Okay. Let's get that done as soon as possible. >> have Do we have a time frame of when we

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are hoping to get some answers as from from what this parent said, it's been 20 days since this incident happened. >> Yep. And even just an update of hey, we're

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working on it, I think would go a long way as opposed to radio silence because it is when there isn't any update, that means it it could be perceived that nothing's been done, but there are things probably in the background that are being done.

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And whether it's a tracking system where, you know, an app where people can you know, follow the bus or or something. I think the conversation just needs to be, you know, done and and also updated on a regular basis.

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I don't I don't think 20 days it should take 20 days to solve an issue of no kids leaving without their parents. 20 days is really long. But Ms. Henry just said about an app, I had brought that up a couple years ago. I think that's something that we need to revisit. The app where the parents can track where their kids get on the bus, when they get

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off the bus, and they know where they're at. I forget what the name of it is. >> or something? Like it's similar to that, but it's a bus program. Um so that they know where their kids are. The lights that are on the bus are for tracking. >> There's a couple other districts that do have it.

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Okay. You get it. So, yeah. I I don't think just that school needs to be reminded of this issue. I think all 11 schools should be getting a reminder. >> Yeah, it would be universal. It wouldn't just be >> Okay, so in a principal's meeting or something, they can Correct. Yes. >> Okay. Because we don't want it to happen

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to anybody. We don't want >> That could be going universal. Thank you. The buses that we see on the street have a white light on the top. What is that light? Is that a tracking? No, it's another security light I think

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it students are on board. visibility light. Okay. Okay. Even though it's on the top of the of the bus? That's Okay. Thank you. All right. Anyone else like to speak? Dorothy Wait a minute. Dorothy Hope Delayo,

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terminated employee of Gloucester Township schools. I read this into the record uh last month and I'm going to do it again. It bears repeating. Dorothy Hope Delayo's situation, based on the letters, attached policy number

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4161, and her own testimony, appears to reflect a troubling combination of procedural violations, possible abuse of administrative policy, and potential retaliation, particularly when viewed in

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the context of her nearing eligibility for lifetime medical benefits. Here's an informed analysis. Number one, policy number 4161 seems to have been used as a tool for termination. Critical point, policy number 4161 was

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adopted December 2023 after she returned from medical leave and had already been cleared by her own doctors. It appears this policy was either retroactively applied or created in anticipation of using it against her,

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which may show intent to remove her before she hit the 25-year contract at milestone. Number two, she was cleared by her own doctors, but still forced into psychiatric evaluation. The policy says

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the board can require exams if there's evidence of deviation from normal health. However, in her documentation, there is no clear documented evidence shared with her justifying psychiatric testing. No hearing occurred where she had the

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chance to contest or defend herself. Instead, the district appears to have unilaterally decided she was unfit without due process. Number three, there are serious concerns about procedural misconduct. Termination

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appears to have been issued by the superintendent alone with no evidence of Board of Education approval. Policy 4161 mandates certain steps, notice and opportunity for hearing, board determination before enforcement, a

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process for mutual doctor selection, option to submit her own provider (in parentheses, providers). Her story and the documents suggest these rights may not have been honored. Number four, the timing and motive are highly suspect. Termination date,

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November 6th, 2024. Medical benefits end, November 30th, 2024. Years of contracted service, 24 years and 7 months (in parentheses, just shy of the 25 years required for lifelong health

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benefits). That 5-month gap is pivotal. Terminating her before the threshold under the guise of mental unfitness with policy enacted post-incident raises a serious question of bad faith intent to deny earned benefits.

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Number five, potential legal and civil rights issues. Dorothy may have grounds for multiple legal claims, including retaliation under New Jersey whistleblower and employment laws, disability discrimination or for illness was used as pretext, violation of due

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process under New Jersey education law and employment protections, union failure to represent if her union breath (in parentheses, C seat only) didn't advocate properly, breach of contract or implied covenant of good faith regarding

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her medical benefit eligibility. Ms. Blair, are you finishing up? Conclusion, Dorothy's case strongly suggests an abuse of authority and policy to strip her benefits she was about to earn after decades of service.

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The evidence and timing appear highly orchestrated. This is not just about Dorothy. This could affect any employee nearing retirement and the misuse of policy number 4161 warrants public and legal scrutiny.

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Mrs. DeLeo, you come every month and I appreciate that that you tell us, but you're telling us the same thing over and over. >> okay. No, it's not. At this point, what do you want? The next thing I'm going to talk about is >> What do you want?

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>> Same AI generated thing that was sent to me last Tuesday night by Barbara Williams. >> What do you want us to do? And we know what that is. And tell Please tell us. Tell us what you want. Mr. Bill Adorno

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knows them. Well, tell Well, I'm the president. Please tell me what you want. Let me just read this >> No, no. This is like one sentence email that >> This is your ma'am, this is your public comment. It's not Hi Dorothy, this is from Barbara

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Williams. I don't know Barbara Williams. Hi Dorothy, are you available right now? We need to discuss something before moving forward. Please confirm your availability. Kind regards, Barbara Williams. No title. Just lostyourschools.org.

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Okay. And that was She sent me that last Tuesday. Thank you. That's all. Thank you. Okay. Anyone else like to speak? Seeing none, that portion is closed.

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At this time, where are we? Board member comments. Board member com- Anyone with board member comments? Um just wanted to thank the public for for coming tonight. It is nice to see um faces and new faces in the room um

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and truly appreciate you guys coming and and taking the time and and congratulations to our new director of special services and uh Jean, um thank you so much for everything that you've done for this district and I wish you the best on your new adventure.

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Okay. I I attended the honors band choir thing and it was phenomenal. That I think more parents beside the parents of the children should see the talent that's in our district. Um I highly recommend you attend an honors band Vince James

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concert if you haven't done so in your years of uh being in Gloucester Township school. I'd like to honor Dr. Martin for her outgoing but her dedicated years of service. Appreciate Appreciate all your hard time and effort in Gloucester Township.

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Jean, I would like to Rebecca Haven't been here long, but wish you well in your new endeavor and I hope everything works out for you. All right. I and the parent that spoke up tonight, I'm I'm glad we're set. If If transparency is our thing, we have to do better. We

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just have to do better. Thank you. Anyone else? I too also attended the honors band. It was fabulous. These do a great great job. Um Dr. Martin, we'll miss you. Jean,

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we'll miss you. And I would like to welcome our new director, Jill Trainer. Who couldn't be here? Okay. She She has a college daughter a a a

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daughter going into college, so Yeah, she's in Altoona visiting Okay. colleges up there. All right. Can I get a motion to adjourn? So moved. Second. Oh, let's see. I just went blank. Oh, all in favor? I.

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Okay. Safe for that in the meeting. No, no, we'll hear from you. All public comment