with the glasses on top of his head. >> I think it's closer. I got [Music] >> Oh, yeah. I'd like this meeting to order. >> Adequate notice has been given this meeting as required by law. Notice has been forwarded for publication of
district official newspapers post in the Absagami Cedar Creek and Oakrest High Schools and forwarded to all the clerks of your municipalities within this school district. There are two opportunities to address the members of the board. The board values and welcomes comments and opinions from residents as long as remarks are not personal or
discourteous. The public comment portion of the meeting allows the board to listen to community members and to hear their opinions on school policy and operations. The first public portion is reserved for persons wishing to speak about agenda items only. The second opportunity following the action items
when residents may address the board on any school related issue. Each speaker is asked to limit their comments to three minutes and you're not permitted to yield your time to another. The public comment portion of the meeting during both sessions will not exceed 30 minutes. Upon being recognized, persons wishing to speak should stand and
identify themselves by name and town. >> Please stand for the flag salute. >> Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and
justice for all. Can I ask for a moment of silence? >> Edmonds. Garrison >> here. >> Gunther >> here. >> Hartman >> here. Hasa >> here. >> Kurly >> here. >> Storio >> here. >> Wright >> here. >> Hal >> here.
>> Jang Bio >> here. Sephodini >> you have a call. >> I need a motion to approve the minutes from September 15th. >> So moved. >> The meeting minutes from September 15th have moved and seconded. Any questions,
comments, or corrections? Garrison, >> yes. >> Gunther, >> yes. >> Hartman, >> yes. >> Hasa, >> yes. >> Kurly, >> yes. >> Storio, >> yes. >> Wright, >> yes. >> How? >> Yes. >> Motion is approved. >> Okay. We have some special presentations
tonight. >> We do. Uh we will start with the Cedar Creek uh teacher and student presentations. First, I will ask Mr. Parker to present the teacher and the students for us. >> Um Sharp.
I think I'm That one's definitely on, although I was probably plenty loud enough. Uh, this evening I'm here with Matt Gable, Cassidy Judson, and Zach Manel. Uh, these three students are all representatives of the sustainability
internship class offered at Cedar Creek High School. I myself am Mrs. Aaron Sharp and I'm the teacher that they have as well as the green team leader here at Cedar Creek. And part of our internship project was to make sure that we are documenting all the green things Cedar
Creek does maybe. Here we go. Eoschools happens to be part of the National Wildlife Federation. It is in 70 different countries, but here in New Jersey it's specifically sponsored under the Ottabon Society. And
in that programming, the goal is to have studentdriven sustainability tiered certification levels that we are proud to represent the gold level of, and it focuses on learning, action, and leadership for students. Unlike some of the other green programs that we do
offer in the state of New Jersey, this is one of the only ones that allows my students to actually access and upload all of the evidence of the green actions here at Cedar Creek. All of those other programs are great programs, but I end up doing the leg work in the end. So,
I'm really excited to have them start to tell you about some of the green things that last year's interns earned the gold award for, and they hope to outdo them just a little bit more by earning the green flag, the top award in the nation.
So this year our projects received an award recognizing the outstanding work initiated by the last six year or last year's six interns who began their school year collaborating on group projects before transitioning into individ individual
initiatives aimed at improving the Cedar Creek community. They thoughtfully identified projects that would benefit the school, gathered support and reasoning resources from the community, documented their progress through collections of data and photographic evidence of the
improvements made. Despite the challenges such as unpredictable weather, the interns remain dedicated and adaptable, often adjusting their plans and increasing their workload to ensure each other project success. This year we have the privilege and opportunity to continue to the
foundation they built their work to the next level further enhancing the positive impact to Cedar Creek in our community. Last year interns worked on various projects just a few examples earned in recognition of the equal schools are.
>> So um the first project that is listed here is uh food recovery in schools. Uh students can donate their unused and unopened food for athletes for after school activities. Uh these products will then be stored in the athletic
trainer's office for easy access. Uh this helps minimize the food waste and help students get a healthy snack during sports. Waste audit. We collected recycling and trash, sorted and restored 316 pounds of
waste collected and responsibly disposed util utilizing separate separated trash cans labeled for each different trash category. The waste audit will be able to identify the amount of waste is thrown away in our school during lunch
periods. This will better help us minimize the amount of waste we throw away as a school. We were also fortunate that a student last year worked on native tree planting. That includes uh two American holly, a sweet gum, Virginia pine, and a
swamp white oak that were planted on campus. They also worked with Atlantic white cedar, a program that we actually work with Stockton on to do studies in the marine and wildlife management class on salinity tolerance of those Atlantic
white cedar. So, number 14 was unfortunately treated with salt. Number one was not. Um, and you can see the difference in just a three-week trial of salt exposure, some of the impacts of sea level rise that students worked on. And our healthy trees were planted back
into Atlantic white cedar groves, restoring some forest areas in New Jersey. We also have outside door classrooms. Nearly 80 hours of learning opportunities outside in the courtyard, which is the outdoor classroom, where we have above ground fish pond and a new
compost bin. And we even have a garden where we maintain it. talking about the numbers. Uh you want to talk about the point system. Yeah. All right. >> Yeah. So, uh we receive points and why it matters beyond the numbers. Uh by playing a part as an eco school,
especially from New Jersey. Uh this brings a lot of benefits to our school and who we are as students. Uh from learning civic responsibility and innovation to having students be engaged and building a strong leadership skill. uh this benefits our school and the
environment around us as a whole. In summary, we have met the criteria for the gold award under ECOS schools USJ autobond by completing many projects that help sustain and protect our environment and strengthen
our un school community. Through the year, we will be given various opportunities and trips to strengthen our understanding and commitment to our environmental classes. Every day, we continue to
learn, expand, and improve our class by using resources and ideas around us to build tower build towards greater achievements. Uh this school year, these interns are just getting started on their journey to
document and improve the green actions and initiatives of Cedar Creek High School. Some of them are interested in gardening, in increasing our um interactions with biodiversity through bat boxes and others are looking to make sure we have green spaces uh that
continue to be available to our students. uh programs like Eco Schools allow our students these opportunities to really interact with actions that are occurring in our communities and give them this opportunity tonight to uh really learn to express what we're doing
here at Cedar Creek to others. Thank you. Do you have any questions? >> Wait a minute. Wait a minute. >> Hold on. Just a comment, not a question before you go back. >> Um I'll start by saying thank you for being here. We know that it's very hard for students especially to come up and
stand in front of us and have to do some kind of a presentation. So, thanks for not only the work you're doing here, but for being part of this. Um, it sounds like you're already off to a good start. And it really means a lot to us to see you doing something beyond, excuse me,
beyond the regular school day, you know, trying to work for the school and for the environment. Um, I really like the unopen items from lunch. I used to be a teacher and watching kids throw away their un you know things they hadn't even opened was just like painful almost watching all that waste. So uh thank you
for all you're doing and thank you Erin for everything you do. >> Thanks for being here tonight. >> Um the the salt impact on the trees was very real to me. Um especially given as as the ocean pushes further up the
Mullica River and that that line shifts. Is that part of the ongoing conversation? >> Um, you were in marina and wildlife last year. Was this part of our conversation? >> Yeah. >> Got anything to add on it? >> No. So, Cassie, you were in the class as
well, right? No, you don't remember. Uh, we do work on that. Fortunately, we collaborate with Stockton University and Christopher Newport University, actually out of Virginia for that programming. uh they send us the trees every year to work on the saltwater and then Stockton
works on planting them with us to have those right locations and the talk is how does high school data move into the college and research realm. The reality is the more research we have the better starting point we have for where to go from there and there just aren't enough
researchers with funding to work on Atlantic white cedars. So when classrooms like ours take on some of these projects, it's actually going to a larger service than just a classroom experiment. >> It's gonna get it's going to get shared. >> Yeah. Get shared. >> That's awesome. Nice job. Thank you guys.
>> Great job. Thanks. [Applause] >> Okay. Uh we have a couple presentations by um Director Callahan. So I will ask her to come up. We have our two uh last two fall
presentations this evening. One is for the entire year. And then our second is looking at Asiv. that
dive in. Um, again, just as a refresher, I know this a number of times SSDs look at three. They're going to look at those offenses
violence. They're also going to look at HIV and they're going to at not just those but anytime for more than half of the day. So again for your eyes you have copies of this presentation in front of you.
This is going to give that top snippet is if just period two remember it's not even so. So that goes from January 1 that period too and then the full year data comparison as we know when we look
at numbers inity context. So we try to look back and say let's look one year was there and so again this is going to give the breakdown of each of the different
categories alled are just there forational purposes they're not actually So then we start to dig in and look at not just um those overall numbers, but let's start to look at some of the ones.
And again, we'll look at this in a moment in last year areas. This just going to give you a a snapshot of from building to building where the differing
smaller up and down arrows make the shift to just red. So if there's a black number in the 2024 25 green in this instance green and then obviously
so you'll see again in each building areas Again, we're not looking at things like we're looking at are there big decrease [Music] Then we look at HIV
numbers last year in one of our building that was um so we start to look at and we kind of you know I've shared with you multiple times How many times really trying to kind of get a handle on what trends are we seeing? Um, and
again, so we start to look at as we look at that comparison again, but I thought it was interesting to kind of put out. So that first top line is HIV. extra pieces that were reported on create. But then we also look at what we start
to hone in on here and really get proactive with is that ide having a conflict and it gets reported on a form 33 that investigation takes place. But those that 10, four and 12
are cases that after everything like you know went through the claim was filed. So there was not actually any kind of identifying reason. So it becomes important for us to be aware of those numbers but as we know
the number getting more proactive HIV confirmed that's the total number of confirmed cases where of the alleged numbers on that column are not going to add up 29 and that's because sometimes
might have multiple we ended up being but you could have something related to race and appearance. So in that case both boxes would get checked. So there are numbers there are
cases that are double. >> Can I just ask that is correct that just as many were alleged is confirmed. >> It's just a fluke of the numbers. They're not related. I was I was going to point that out. >> Thank you. >> It could have just as easily been 29 and 28 or 29 and 30. It just happened to
fall the same number. >> I double check them. I did notice these two numbers that first. >> Okay. >> When we get to the next page, I did realize going like the last two. >> Gota.
So this that motivated by no identif that that so you'll see we had that was a big So again, we've had a number of meetings trying to be proactive on how we can
support the web. One of the things we started to realize is that all these realizing that that's going to help. They're not necessarily looking
just Before you move on real quick to that, just as a reminder for the board, because I think this is an important an important point to to make sure everybody's clear on these findings are going through four
sets of eyes. Um, Brenda and I two or three days a week will sit down for half an hour in my office and she will bring to me, you know, the Hib reports that she has signed off on that it is then my turn to sign off on. There are times
when when Brenda sends it back to the building and says, "I have a question. I'm not sure I agree with this. Give me more information." There are times I will kick it back. There have been times I've kicked it back and said, "No, I want more discipline on this," or, "I think there's another component to
this." So, I just share that with you so you all realize the the multitude of people that are involved in this process and the different opinions that go through it. One of the examples we recognized last year, and Brenda didn't get specific into it, but touched on it, the other distinguishing characteristic,
weight was a huge issue. Um it and that just at at Absagami last year to the to the point where we talked about how do we include it in the programming for the students that that was kind of the default insult if you will. Um so there are
those trends that we see and again a big part of it is because there's multiple eyes going over the this paperwork. Sorry, >> I do have a question if that's okay. So looking through this really quickly um before we go too much deeper into it, obviously there are some schools that
have larger changes than others, especially going towards you know the negative. Um even going back a little bit, we could see you know some of those behavioral changes. Um but a lot of times all we're seeing is obviously numbers and we know what's approved in
going into the different schools going out to the district. Is there additional information that would be helpful for us to know in regards to, oh, you know, we we just got a brand new staff member at that school who's just learning this process or, oh, you know what, this
staff just went through a training and they're turnkeying how to notice these things better, so they're catching more of them. Like, you understand what I'm saying? Like sometimes there it's anomalous, but sometimes there's processes and procedures that might make
these numbers stand out more at one school versus another. >> Perfect. >> Okay. >> Again, you know, I appreciate the question.
We also Yep. >> That would >> things like that. We have to Twice a year we run Excel spreadsheets, >> grade, gender, race, um, uh, classification or or general education.
um we get down to looking at okay grade you know and and last year a significant portion of both the discipline and the hip at Absagami were freshmen the year before that at Oakrest it was freshman so so we can also identify where those
grades are that are the pockets and then you try to address those kids and adjust the programming for them moving forward >> is there things that we can do in relationship with our sending districts to help to better prepare those students, but like is there like like I
hate to say like exit interviews, but is there information that we can gather from those students in regards to what might have been helpful to them entering into the district? >> So, we we're looking at it from the other direction and we're trying to get a better handle from our constituent and
sending districts on getting um more information from them on student needs. um you know there are a couple of our districts that are minimalist in terms of the information they will provide us. Um so that is one place where we have
gone to to try to improve. I will also say if you recall we talked about it in the summer in fact I think Brenda spoke about it at the summer retreat. We completely redid the freshman seminar program for this year particularly because of what we saw the last two
years. So now we can get in front of those freshmen more and earlier to try and create positive relationships with staff and older students. >> I appreciate that. Just a thought to put out there. I know student voice is important sometimes when we're not getting that information from the
funding district. It might be nice if we utilize the students that are having the challenges because I mean I've seen I mean working behaviorally if I do you know sometimes you can even give them the ownership of helping to make a program better for the incoming freshmen and then you'll see a drop in behavior
because they have ownership of that. So, that's one of our goals and the principles and I will be working with student groups and we've talked specifically about grades and one of the things we're going to purposely do and Brenda has done this before um
particularly in title one but also just in general not just pull in the students who are here as part of the board of education members or the student council or the captains of the athletic teams or or the performing arts leaders. but who
are the other voices that oftentimes don't get asked. So that's a very deliberate focus this year and it ties back to our goal. So you will see the principles and myself working with you know all manner of students. >> Thank you. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> That's where the freshman seminar came from. They worked with kids. >> Perfect. >> Thank you guys. >> Yep. They have very specific legal definition.
Did not have any. What are we consequences? Really trying. figure out what's going to all the bulk of oursulum. programs that run last week. We also look at how many places
action strategies down here. October. How do you start to go back? Not just
I'm trying We're not going to go through all of the different categories, but there are um 26 different indicators, eight elements. Um remember this is the one that every
element gets scored from zero to three. A two is meeting expectations. So if you are doing everything They have for each category a giant box of things that get and that's where they spend a lot of
time. So this is how the individual happens. kind of what we talking about each building has their own. So when you look at curriculum and instruction, a lot comes down to
what's documented and what's embedded. They get very specific about things. Some of the domain elements from each anti-bullying specialist committee have recommendations their agenda
program and so anytime that's missing there we are and again from time to time but again together. Not everything get >> still 52 you're doing what you're
supposed to be doing. >> This is this is also this is currently our third year in five where there is a leave being taken by one of our our um school psychologists. So that impacts the documentation also to Brenda's
point. So there's somebody there to do the investigations and to do the trainings, but that extra stuff may not be getting done because we are one short across the district for the third time in five years. biggest
problem. This list is long. We do a lot in terms of program and it's not instantaneous coming and having experience all of the things does take time
That's all. [Applause] Thank you, Brenda. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> I don't see any committee reports tonight, so I'll go to board member reports and I'll start with the students. So, Sophia, anything you want to share?
Yeah, >> we have around 10 to 13 um like activities that are available for the like kids to come during Halloween. And as for homecoming, our theme is the Great Gatsby. So, it's like very like
roaring, like 20 themes and stuff like that. And is there like any like specific things that you guys would like to know about homecoming or hallway Halloween or just like the general gist? >> Just in general? >> Just in general. >> Yeah. >> So, um as for hallway Halloween, um
obviously I mean sorry, as for um homecoming, student council is in charge of that. So, we I'm in student council as well. I am their treasurer. So they have been hosting um meetings like every single day ever since like like last
month and like to prepare for homecoming cuz we do want it to be like a big thing. And as for now we have around maybe like 10 days like maybe 10 to 15 days left until homecoming. So we're
just wrapping everything up. Anita. >> Hi. So, um I'm just going to give kind of an update about how everything's been going on at Oakrest. So, I talked to Mr. Manning today and the band won their last two competitions. So, that was like
pretty impressive. Um something that was also really nice in the performing arts department is that our new hire, um she is the drama director and also an English teacher. She got the cast of Rock of Ages to perform with Foreigner
at the Hard Rock Casino in Atlantic City on Saturday. So, that was like really nice. And she's working on a few competitions. So, she's bringing a lot to Oakrest for our performing arts, which I'm really excited. I even talked to her right before the board meeting
and she wants to even like rec recruit me to like performing arts. So, I'm really excited about that. And then the boys soccer is undefeated in the Cape Atlantic United Division. The records 10 1 and two. Girls tennis made playoffs.
>> And then we also had our open house on Saturday which I attended for biomedical sciences and that went really smoothly. I talked to a lot of parents and families and everyone that did come to the open house. I kind of asked like where do they want to go out of the three schools and everyone that did come
to the open house was really sure on Oakrest. So that was really nice. And we did have our lab coat ceremony for biomemed. I'm a junior, so I got like my lab coat this year. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. So that went really smooth. It was really nice. We had a guest speaker that was a former biomed student
10 years ago. She gave a little bit about her experience. So yeah, and then we have homecoming the 25th which is ran by the senior. So I'm a junior. I don't really have a say in that. And tomorrow I'll be going into classrooms, social
studies classrooms for the FTP program, freshman transition program. So yeah, thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> And Vinnie, >> uh, so since we've been talking about all these things, transitioning fresh freshmen and whatnot. Uh we also had a
freshman transition activity where we essentially we pulled them out of their classes, their regular schedule and we had essentially an open house for them where we had on display all the different clubs. They get to meet the leaders, all the captains of the clubs
and whatnot. And in hopes that they would join the community, put some more effort into the school so that they can get more out of the school. And I think that that always goes well. I I hope that some of them join. I'm not sure. I
I don't think we got any for cross country, but uh which was where I was attending, but hopefully hopefully the other clubs fair far fared better. Um we also had an open house. Um in stark contrast to Oakrest, all the all the people there seem to want to go to Cedar
Creek the most. So, so but that went well also. Um again, lots of clubs and activities on display for everyone to see. Uh last meeting we were talking about back to school night. Uh that went well smoothly.
All all the teachers seem excited to meet the parents and vice versa. Um we had our 10year anniversary of first football championship the other day. uh a lot a lot of the uh old old team
members, staff and previous students alike came back to celebrate with had a uh Thursday night football commemoration. That was awesome. And uh finally, in reference to last month's meeting, the PSATs are coming up
this Wednesday. Sure. All the students are looking forward to. >> Thank you very much. Just just to be clear, you just called a bunch of like 25 and 26 year olds old, right? I mean, you know, I'm sure I'm sure to
you like I get it, but looking around the room like >> Well done, guys. >> They were old students. If if any well in high school then >> well well recovered, buddy. Thank you.
Good job. >> All right. um for board member reports. Uh I just want to take a minute to report first because at the county meeting the other night, even though Marge was recognized before, but with a piece of paper, they did give
her a plaque. Marge Gunther for 40 years between the Galloway Township Board of Education and the Greater Harbor Regional. Woohoo. >> Thank you very much for your >> Thank you. Uh, any other board members have anything to report?
This time I'll open the meeting to the public. Anyone wishing to speak on agenda items only. Okay. There are information items listed. I'll move on to business agenda action items. uh business items uh B1
through B15 to be found on pages 2 through 5. >> I'll make a motion to move B1 through B15, pages 2 through five. I second it. >> All right. >> B1 through B15 move and seconded. Any questions or comments on these business
agenda items? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mario. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Abstain on B2. Yes. On everything else.
>> Okay. Transportation items. >> Transportation items can be found on pages 5 through 32. T1 through T1. >> I move T1 through T101. >> I'll second that. Oh, go ahead. Second that.
>> Okay. T1 through T101 moved and seconded. Any questions or comments on all these transportation items? >> That's my comment. >> The transportation office had an audible exhale on Friday at 3:00.
>> Would you explain each one of those? >> They're contracts. >> Make sure you spell right. Okay. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. [Music] >> Yes. >> I'm still turning pages. Yes. >> She'd like to say yes individually on each one. >> All right. Education.
>> Page 30. Education. I move E1 through E13. >> Need a second. >> Second. >> Thank you. E1 through E13 have been moved and seconded. Any questions or
comments on these education items? >> Yes. >> Yes. I'm going to um abstain on E12 even though I probably don't need to but E12 abstain everything else. Yes. >> Right. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Personel personel items. I'll move P1 through P13. >> Second. >> Okay. P1 through P13 have been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments on
these personnel items? >> Can we vote no on the first one? Will that work? >> No. I thought about it, but now >> I don't know if this is proper, but on the on P1, would it be possible to add
with deep respect with deep regret? Excuse me. >> I think you just did. >> I'm very sorry to see number one on there, but Yes. >> Yes.
>> Uh abstain P3 number nine on page one. Uh yes to everything else. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. Superintendent report. >> Thank you. Um,
so we have a just some quick housekeeping first. Um, we have a program committee meeting scheduled for October 28th here beginning at 6:00 p.m. Um, there was a second one scheduled after the November meeting. So, they're split up. Uh, Brian, I'm going to reach
out to you in the next couple of weeks and we'll start the conversation about scheduling athletics and activities. We usually try to get it in, you know, just near or right at the right after the end of the the fall season. So, I'll reach out to you and we'll start looking at some dates for November. Yep.
>> Okay. Um, Greater Egg Day at Stockton. You know, this is uh I've shared this with you. It's a fantastic opportunity. Stockton opens their doors to tours, financial aid information, transcript reviews for
only Greater A students. It's a deal I worked out with their admissions department. I think uh four years ago now this uh this year we had 59 families of juniors and seniors go and take advantage of that time. It's about a 2
and a half to threeh hour day. Uh as I said it's a nice opportunity especially for our our students who are firstgen college students whose parents might not have familiarity. it it is a very very
um cumbersome process from A to Z to start. So, it's great that Stockton runs this for us and and handles all this. The other thing I'll say as a as a a plug to Stockton, while certainly they're looking for students to go to Stockton, they will have a conversation
with any kid or any family in that moment and help them out. Um so, it is nice to see that our families get that opportunity. But 59 families went there at 9:00 on a Sunday morning. So that's a that's a very positive showing. Uh as
the students mentioned, we have completed our three open houses. Uh they were September 20th, October 4, October 11. Good showing at all three. Um couple of different different approaches, but what works for the personalities of the
buildings and the personalities of the staff and the students. The one thing and and I know many of you in this room have popped in at some point over the years at one of the open houses. The one thing that's really cool is not the adults, seeing the kids that are there
interacting with other kids. Two quick examples. Just this past weekend at Oakrest because it's in my mind. Um, there were Oakrest students sitting at the pottery wheel and I was walking around and I popped into the class and immediately a little girl who was
nowhere near getting ready for high school was probably about five or six years old. You could see her face just kind of explode. And the Oakrest students immediately brought her over and while the middle schooler and mom were talking to the teacher, two Oakest students were playing on the pottery
wheel with the younger sibling. And it was just a really cool experience to to see and observe. So, a huge shout out to the to the not only our staff, but also our students for the three open houses and making them so successful. Uh, back to school night was held September 25th
at all three buildings. Positive feedback. It's a week later than we used to do it. We moved it specifically because it opened up uh we thought a greater chance of not having conflict with one of our constituent districts.
Um, so the principles reported positive numbers in all three buildings. It's hard to keep track of as people are coming in in waves. Um, but it sounded like they were at least at probably 50% or so, which for a high school event is
a very very strong number. Unfortunately, to to to be um to be honest with ourselves, we struggle with some of the students and families who we would like to see most. But that is one of our goals this year is that positive
outreach and that trying to to bring other communities or other families in the community into the buildings. But it was a good it was a good turnout. Um, we had a walkth through with the county BA
uh as step one in the CQAC process. As I've shared before, we're being cusacked this year. That's the every three-year New Jersey Department of Ed review. Step one was walking the building at Absagami. And you know, Tom and I
couldn't have been prouder for uh in addition to the district supervisor of buildings and grounds, we also have the lead for that building with us. And it's great when the BA talks about every every four or five minutes, I can't believe how clean your buildings are. I
can't believe the condition of this building. I mean, Absigami is 1982. So So we're getting up there. We're north of 40 years. Um, but I it I want to make sure it's noted for the union and I wanted to make sure the board also heard how impressed an outsider was
walking around Absigami with the cleanliness and the condition of the building. And then the last thing I'll say is I want to thank Brenda um for her her effort, for her um integrity,
for her work ethic and the examples that she sets. Um I am super happy for her. I am proud that she is moving on into a superintendent position because she deserves it. She will be exceptional.
the district and the students are fortunate to have her coming their way. Um, we have big shoes to fill and and it's going to take some time, but I I just want to make sure that she knows how much she was appreciated by everybody along the way here at Greater
Egg. So, thank you and best of luck. [Applause] And I'm sure I'm sure I stole part of your thunder on the last one. I apologize. happens all the time. I'm crossing stuff
off as you talk. Um, since I've got it's backwards now, but the at the end I was going to say how much we will miss you, Brendan. We're very I'm very happy for you. I wish you nothing but the best, but um, as much as everybody gave you a hard time about presentation, you always had everything we needed to know. You
knew how to present it and how to answer questions for us and you will be missed. Okay, for my report, um I was also at the white coat uh event at Oakrest for biomed and um I'd never been before and I was so impressed. It was amazing to
>> see the students, see them get their white coats from the upper classmen, but also the speaker I thought was wonderful because she talked about her experiences all the way back when she had to pick a high school, how she picked Oak and the biomed program and where it's taken her and her success now. And um so anyway,
congratulations to the students that were there and just it makes those kind of things just make you proud I think as a board member to know that the magnets you know one time they didn't even exist and how that they really are working and to see students that very excited when
we went in they had a reception afterwards and the students were getting their pictures in front of the backdrop and talking and the families were talking and it was just a really really wonderful thing. Um, okay. The next board meeting we have, we're going to start at 6 because we're
going to have a presentation or a training really. Um, and we've been talking about this in the past, but on the budget. So, please, you know, try to arrange your schedule if you can. Correct. For six o'clock, >> Tom. And I >> the um next county meeting will be December 11th, but it's not yet, if I
understood correctly, it's to be announced where it's going to be. Um, but that's December 11th. uh this time the speak I really was interested in what they would talk about. They talked about the achievement gap and that's one of the things as a board you know we always are looking for but I have to say
that a lot of the things they mentioned I think we already do >> um you know I really think we're ahead of the curve on a lot of >> other topics. >> Yeah. So, um, just kind of kudos to everybody that works on our curriculum and administrators and teachers. And, um, that's all I have for the
superintendent report and the education now. I'm sorry, the president's report. Trying to bump your job there. >> Anybody with old business report? Brian? >> Yeah. I wanted to um talk about getting the former students
back into the district more. I I know that was a goal that we had as a as a district or as a as a board. Um, hearing what you said about, you know, at Oakrest having the a biomed biomed student come back and do that, that that to me is is just huge. We need to figure
out ways to find that in other areas of of our our district. um maybe not even not only the um um just just find ways to get them back into the building, you know? I mean, I think it's just it's big. I mean, we
have people that are, you know, doing amazing things, you know, that were here years ago, but even more recent that we need to figure out a way to get them in the building. To that direct point, Ron Schmid, the district supervisor of science, and I stood in the back of that white coat ceremony and we looked at
each other and we had the same thought at the same time and he said, "I'm going to talk to her." So, we got her speech. She gave us permission. She's going to give it to us digitally. We're going to create a QR code. So that's and and we started rolling downhill with that idea
of kids that have gone through the programs, getting them to write up a little story or give us a little video that we can pop into a QR code that can go on the website or can go into the books that we send out to eighth graders and and that type of information. So
there's a perfect so that that literally watching that girl the other day was like because she said it's I don't want to take too much time but she said I was here in 8th grade and it was here it was Creek it was um it was somewhere it was
ACIT and I thought I wanted to get into the biomed and here I am 10 years later and I have a job and this is my career so right there right there with you. >> Yep. Good. Thank you. >> Y >> thank you. Any other old business? >> I just had a question. We had talked a couple times about something for the
board members to wear when we go wear some type of something for um community events and looking at the goals that we just were working in communication with the community. I felt like that would to revisit it because I thought that'd be a good way maybe just for recognition not
for ourselves but so that they see oh look the are attending because >> yeah thank you for bringing that back up. Old business. New business. >> I just want to remind everyone that school board's uh workshop is Monday the
20th through Thursday the 23rd. I put in front of your uh there information on registration hours. You all registered. You just need to go up there and give them your name. Um there's information about when the exhibits will be up and all the training. If you have any questions, please reach out to me and
I'll be there most of the day. And then lastly, I also want to say Brenda, we I will miss you dearly. You and I grew up in our positions together and we've been banging things off years, always questioning back and forth and uh truly
going to miss your camaraderie. I wish you all. >> Okay. Any other new business? This time I'll open the meeting up to the public. Anyone wish to speak on any matter? Evening board, uh, president, vice president, board members, superintendent, VA, solicitor, and
student representatives. I'm here to represent, um, Township of Hamilton. I used to be on school board. Um I've had recently taken a seat on the township committee and during one of those meetings we had uh quite a few passionate parents um attend um due to
an issue with our ordinance that uh essentially would charge them to use our fields for street hockey. So, I'm here to solicit and respectfully request that in the 2026 year that this school, Cedar Creek,
and also Oakrest U start up a club for street hockey at minimum. Uh, if you want to take it further, great. Uh, but that will unlock our ordinance that will allow us to allow the students, our students to use a field for free. Um we are in lock step with Egg Harbor
Township Galloway and currently not using um uh any other means but uh our ordinance says that if you participate in a forprofit league which um our
students are we have um three four uh oh sorry five we have five different teams that rep represent and use our school names respectively and because they are part of the township uh because they are part of a prof forprofit, they are not allowed to use our fields without paying
for them. Um, Aar Township, Galloway, and um, Hamilton Township all have the same ordinance and because of that um, it would cost our students um, a great deal of money on top of what they already pay for the league. There won't be any games used during these times.
They'll be strictly practice. Um, so we do understand that you would uh we would need to have teachers and a you know a stipen associated with it. I believe that the uh parents would be able to come up with that. Hamilton
Township has decided that what they would take on that burden. Um I respectfully request you guys uh see if you can do that within your budget year of 2026. Um but the the parents also have their own um coaches. So obviously
we would need to have a coach from each school um as required by your clubs and your and your um your policies and procedures but the actual main bulk of the training and coaching could be provided by the students sorry the
students or the parents of the students and also um allow them to again use our ordinance that allows them to use our facilities for free. Um Galloway faces the same issues. Egg Harbor Townships are facing the same issues. I've uh again I've gone to um uh Hamilton
Township for uh the our Davies and our um test schools and u that board is considering it um and I've got positive feedback from them as well and um just looking to see if we can do the same in the greater eggs. You guys have any
questions about it? It's just a street hockey and um I think it's got quite a large following from your students today. Thank you. Um, when we do public comment, I don't know if it was the same on your board, but it's really just we listen. We don't usually get into a dialogue, but I would suggest um that
maybe you schedule an appointment and come to talk to our superintendent. >> Yeah. And I'll pull the principles or the ads. And >> I just for clarification um you're looking to use the facilities for practices. >> We're just looking for you guys to
endorse it. Essentially call it a school club. So, we would be using our facility assuming we would also then be assuming liabilities. >> That is correct. >> Okay. >> Yep. And they'll use Hamilton Township facilities. Um, our fields are ready for it. We just uh our ordinance dictates
that it has to be for a nonprofit, which the schools are. >> Yeah. >> So, no facility requirements from you guys. Just >> I think we should meet and then I think I'll probably want to bring the solicitor into it if we're going to assume liabilities. Right. Okay. >> So, I'll schedule a meeting with you. I I'll text again so you have my number on
top. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Okay, great. Thank you. >> Sorry, I have something. I have a question. Sorry. >> Oh, yeah. So, I have a really quick question. So, this just like came like came up to me. >> I'm sorry. I could you speak into your microphone?
>> I'm so sorry. Yeah. Can you hear me? So, it's a question regarding reimbursements. Um, I just want to like clarify like just kind of like ask question. So, for context, there was a student um like president of a club at Cedar Creek High School for APIs. I'm
not sure if you guys are aware of the club, but just to give context, she was um trying to buy light products for the club to like host kind of like a club meeting like um like she was wondering what is the policy regarding like
reimbursement. So she talked with her advisor and the adviser said that students aren't able to be reimbursed for like products that they buy even though for a gami at our club we are allowed to reimburse students. So I was wondering is there like a definite like
policy regarding if students are able to get reimburseed when it comes to clubs? >> So I would have the student and the advisor ask to sit down with Mr. Parker because we do reimburse as long as the proper procedures are followed ahead of time. So, it's got to be cleared what
the purchase is, what the purpose is for it, how it's going to be used. So, I think the easiest thing would just be, you know, I I Vinnie, I don't know if this was on your radar or not, but if it's a Cedar Creek student that you happen to have a relationship with, I would say to the student, the student
and the adviser should set up a meeting with Mr. Parker, the principal, and they can work through it together. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> All right. Do we have any executive sessions? >> We do.
>> Pursuance to section 7A the public meeting act. The following discussions following subjects will be discussed in a session of the board of education close to the public. Attorney client due to matters personnel matters. Anticipate that the items mentioned the resolution can't be disclosed to the public when a
decision is made upon the same or in the case of personnel issues when the need for confidentiality no longer exist oral action at the conclusion of executive session may be taken. >> Need a motion make a motion. >> All those in favor. Those against
Okay. Quick break.