out of here. >> They did, >> right? Right. >> I can hear that. Okay. campus has just gotten it's so much >> if it's not happening in my direct area.
>> Yep. >> We're good. >> Do it the other way. that come. >> We're good. >> Uhhuh. >> Yeah, >> you're good. >> I'd like to call this meeting to order.
>> Adequate notice has been given this meeting as required by law. most important for publication district official newspapers post in the apps creek and orest high schools and forwarded to all the clerks of the 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 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. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God
indivisible with liberty and justice for all. And I ask for a moment of silence. >> Edmonds Garrison >> here. >> Gunther >> here. >> Hartman >> here. >> Hasa >> here. >> Carly >> here. >> Sartorio >> here. >> Wright >> here.
>> Hal >> here. >> Motion is approved. I mean we have one. Okay, getting ahead of here. Okay, today we have the reorganization agenda first. I didn't need a motion for the agenda
with items A through FF. >> I move A through I'm sorry. >> I move A through FF. >> I'll second that. >> Okay. Letters A through FF on pages 2 through nine have been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments on
these items? roll. >> Garrison, >> yes. >> Gunther, >> yes. >> Hartman, >> yes. >> Hasa, >> Carly, >> yes. >> Thorio, >> yes. >> Wright, >> yes.
>> How recuse myself on D and O number one and everything else? Yes. >> Motion to approve. Okay. Then we'll move on to the regular meeting.
>> So I need a motion to approve the minutes found on page 10. >> So move. >> Second. >> The minutes from April 20th been moved and seconded. Any questions, comments, or corrections on these minutes? >> Governor.
>> Yes. Hartman, >> abstain. >> Hasa, >> yes. >> Kurly, >> yes. >> Sartorio, >> yes. >> Wright, >> yes. >> Garrison, >> abstain. >> Yes. >> Most of the >> Okay, we have some special presentations
tonight. >> We do. Uh, the first presentation I'll ask Mr. Manning to call up is the Oakrest girls lacrosse team. So we we have had a really great spring uh
season so far here at all of our sports teams, but the the team that I kind of wanted to highlight today is our girls cross. So if you look at your agenda, I think it's agenda item. Uh you will see something in there about Morgan's
message and all three schools girls. So, I wanted to bring a couple of our players and they just are fresh from the over at ask today. So, uh they're a little smelly. That's that's why uh with their coaches, they are going to tell you a little bit about message and I'm
just going to tell you what they're all about. So, Abigail is going to do speak. Hi. So, my name's Abio Ranger and I'm accompanied by Bridget Greer and Madison Carlin. And I'd like to just shout out Bridget because she got her 100th goal
at our game today. Okress and Absami dedicated Friday, April 17th's game to the unseen battles athletes face. Morgan Rogers, a former Duke University lacrosse student athlete, died tragically in July 2019 after battling mental health struggles.
Although Morgan's life was cut way too short, her legacy of unconditional love remains. Morgan's message was created by her family and former teammates with the mission to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health, normalize the conversations about mental health, and ensure that mental health is treated
equally to physical health for all student athletes. While this is a large in girls lacrosse world, it has expanded to other sports as well. They set up ways for schools to have Morgan's message chapters to allow students the ability to come together
and hold a space to acknowledge the unseen battles and work together to combat them. As a community, we pledged to check in on our teammates and to reach out when we need help ourselves. We took a moment to acknowledge the people in our own family and community who we have lost to these battles. It
was a very competitive game that ultimately ended in Oakress winning, but the message of the game was felt by us all and is something we can continue to take into all aspects of our lives. Thank you. >> Any questions? >> I I was just looking around to see if
anybody usually somebody raises their >> Yes. Um Miss Miss Hassa. So I I mean anybody who knows me knows that my life is basically mental health and suicide prevention and I think that this is incredible what you guys are doing especially in the athletic world. Um
specifically when we look at our student athletes they're not willing to speak up and say hey there's something going on without somebody looking at them and being like tough it up come on push it through. So this is an incredible thing you guys are doing and I think it really
shows leadership. Um and just your compassion and empathy for your fellow teammates. Um I just want to applaud you for your effort. You know I just want to say really >> thank you. >> Yeah. I just want to I I think that the
board as a whole is very and that you know everybody in the school really cares about mental health. So to see somebody take it on and like further the cause and and be able to share it with more people and support it, um it's, you know, there's nothing you could really be doing that would make us any prouder
of what you're doing right now. So thank you for being on the team and doing so well and supporting the, you know, representing our school, but thank you for taking this on and sharing with us because it's important. >> Thank you. Great. >> Congrats. Thank you, Ralph. Congratulations.
This is completely driven not administration. We did our death day two weeks ago. I think it was $28 that we donated to very very cool stuff. especially when
they're nine and three right now. So, so good things around. >> Um, next right is uh we get to share with you guys our teacher host here and our educational professional of the year. We should probably be the
educational professional of the year. So, we get this guy this guy. He is not okay to be here. Uh so our first one uh will be our uh educational professional here ultimate
Friday uh when we were at the uh Atlantic County uh lunchon for all the teachers of the year and educational professionals uh in all of Atlantic County and we were sitting in people all the eggs are all there and actually says
well the last time I was here this is actually second time winning this award >> so uh which is just testament to how she really I don't want to take any more of this Williams thunder here to is
Good evening. Um, it's a pleasure to be here this evening to recognize Ashley Peron as our educational service professional of the year for the 52 school year. Um, so I wrote a little bit about our experience this year and why
Ashley received this award. Um, Ashley is an outstanding counselor. She is my technology guru. Um, she's my spreadsheet queen. Um, she's the early college room credit expert. Um, and
she's my memory when I'm suffering from rainbow rainbow. Um, she exemplifies everything that the standards of our profession. Um, her eyes are dotted and her te's are crossed. One thing that I I thought was so that
you really should know is a a parent wrote in about Ashley and um was part of the nomination. Ashley had a student who um was school avoided anxiety and this young man did not want
to come to school. Ashley worked with him over and over again. Supported mom, supported the young man. um his ninth grade year he missed 51 days of school. When he would come to school, he would sit in Ash's office. She would try and
get him out, encourage him, just go one, go for a little while, then come back if you need to support him mom. His 10th grade year, he missed 35 days. His 11th grade year, he missed 17 days. This year, he's a senior. He missed three days. He's going to Rowan to be a
teacher. his mom is the one who wrote the letter to get Ashley nominated for our education service professional of the year. So that speaks volumes on what Ashley does and the impact she has on her students, the community, and the family. I am super excited that as I
retire that she is going to be taking over for me because I know that it's a seamless transition. She's been here as a student, an intern, and now a counselor and now a supervisor. So, I want to congratulate you. I'm super
happy for you. I'm super proud of you and I just wish you so much. I just want to say thank you. Um, it's an honor to receive this award. If anyone wonders how I pivot so quickly in situations, it's thanks to these three and always chasing them around. So
again, thank you for allowing me to do this job and I'm looking forward to the next step. Finally, behind. >> All right, there. Oh, good. We don't
Um, three, two, one. Yeah. Hey Um so uh this year our teacher to be here uh is Mr. Vincero and again I'm not going to be influencing myself
working on it diligently at this point. I can tell you that I can remember 20 years ago. I remember uh in the middle of a lifeguard race, the throw in a doubles race and looking across and
seeing the burg seeing Sarah. I remember when I came here 20 years later, guy looks he looks I put on 50 pounds and uh he he still looks great. He's one of the best
dressed guys in the entire building. He teacher to a lot of teachers in the building his department. >> Good evening. I'm honored to introduce Oak High School's teacher of the year, Mr. Vincent Sarah. As a supervisor, I
see his impact every day. But what makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it's echoed so strongly by his colleagues and students. Those who nominated Mr. Sarah described him as an exceptional mentor who builds genuine relationships with students and creates a classroom grounded in consistency,
structure, and respect. They highlight his ability to deescalate challenging situations, communicate regularly with families, ensure every student feels supported and capable of success. His colleagues also spoke about his willingness to go above and beyond, not only for his students, but for the
entire staff. Whether it's helping with lesson planning, assessments, or school events, Mr. Sarah is always someone who you can count on. Even more impressive, considering his responsibilities outside of school, yet his commitment to OP press never waver. Perhaps most powerful
are the words of his students who credited him with not only improving their academic performance, but shaping their motivation, confidence, and outlook on the future. Mr. Sarah truly represents the best of our profession. It's with great pride that I present Mr. VINCOR
to have the opportunity. I've been here for 20 years. It's funny. And I remember in my interview, I was interviewing with Carrie Link and in the interview she looks at me and she goes, "Where else did you apply?" And proudly I'm like, "No." She's like, "What if this doesn't work out?" And I remember
my heart track and I looked at her. I said, "Honestly this moment I never considered working anywhere else." I have researched a bunch of schools and I knew other there's an incredible staff, lots of support and probably one of the
best things, my most favorite here, but really the board is getting to work and do what I do every day that I love and I will tell you there is nothing no reasonable request that I made that this district and this board has not supported me. You know, one of
the things I think that um a lot of people really feel lackours is being supported and feeling like they matter. I have never felt that one day in my life. I'm very proud of everything that this board does. I'm very proud of
our administration and most of all. So, thank you very much. >> Just before um we take the picture, um being an old social studies teacher myself, um the compliment I will give Vince is
he finds a way to connect with every single kid sitting in his classroom. Um, when we've had conversations about shifting curriculum or shifting shifting issues within the building, Vince always
returns us and brings us back to what is the student perspective going to be and how is this going to impact in a classroom and keeping that student centered focus is really supposed to be at the core of what we all do. So, Vince, thank you for always maintaining
that heading. Thank you. presentations coming out. Three, two, one. Look, no one's here for you. >> Just came. >> You're going to miss me. Where' your go? >> I don't know why.
>> I know. Exactly. You know, >> and now the moment you've all been waiting for. >> Are they real? >> Yeah. I got Caitlyn, you might you might be in a spotlight. I'm not sure. >> Yeah.
>> Everyone, this is the annual budgeting presentation. Challenge each year technology. We have a budget of 598 students next year. That is up from
549. So this is what we look like next year. Transportation adjustment 2 million44 that is actually down to us. Other
budget challenges techn total budget of 523 is about $53,000. Average cost for student assessment we talked about every year assessment we have put on the building school amount of money
$2 for every dollar we put in and then we got that later 50% share interest. So we $611,000 every year. Right now our total 8 bill8,000
back some budget highlights. Um for all students for all students we started two years ago and it great things for our students on each building.
The increase club the last few years will maintain our office issues last year. We have ESF program replacements and focus on
summer program and summer. We're continuing with our equipment. I think this is year 11. We're doing the five leases. I keep rolling over. Um we have new technology infrastructure
buildings and ground this year. We have reduction of subition budget transition for inhouse program. We talked about software upgrade
software. Remember that's picked up on the firearm. the system that we act continue to realize potential justice for the applications upgrades that should be completed by
referendum. Hopefully this will be the last year. This will be the slides and we're slowly closing things down. Most completed concession stand by this summer. Um auditorium
was hopefully that be all finished up. Remember no taxpayers death service tax general fund is 44 million 38200 42 million73 last year
2.1 million 4.99% our best fund is 1 million275 last went down by the fact that went down special revenue fund which is our
federal and state grant and IDA and other federal grants fund that money I talk about all the responsibility 88,463 side. the uh general fun
capital LA school 87,310,000 capital ally which facility assessment and our school add money. This is the more high expensive side.
Obviously, we're a service business transportation facilities up there. revenue side of it come out as the amount of funds that we have after our budget is finished to the fun house. We use that fun next year's
budget but we also keep about 1.8 million in our operating district,000 local taxes question 41 million88 sources which is all the state we talked
about earlier as well as a 45 million special education. So again full channel 88 million again we go further again we talk about the side again we had no service that was this
year 3300 service get a whole bunch of time on the revenue biggest 48%.
If you remember, we always had the same range of a little more state than local, but in 2010 when state it started growing the other way. Our local start to get higher for the last years
and our Facebook now more than this is the Christmas back 2001 years after I started here. Uh we had a couple hires 18 1920
um brought some programs back then 134 to help us out and again this year we break down a little bit. So we have so control again
last year 26 2746 was 84 million85 up 3560 our special revenue down 25% This is basically the fact that we carry office 75% of what we have per year to be
conservative. Hopefully that number,000 budget,500. This is where we get into who are the winners when we have constituents. This is the equalized valuation by what
percentage of the load as you can see city now has 4.13% responsibility has 51.2% 24% was 50.5 Hamilton 25.82 was 25.76
and 8.79. So you can see city are seeing the benefit of reallocation this year. G1 was the most responsibility increase and this is how calculation
gives us a calculation. This is how we come up with it. They take valuation of all municipalities. They look at the enrollment on the elementary side. We regret it's calculated again by calculations
included This is basically a cool event city assess value this year 26 million5,000 Hamilton County sold decreaseion value. So this is the impact on general fun
city of general taxes 6,000 by an increase of 1.47 47% has seen an increase of $1,99,000
for increase of 3.2% increase of 4.01 and MA is an increase of 76,4 increase. So you look at a set value $100,000 home
that will be the effect that goes down year. on the desk earlier down 70,000 decrease of just under more than a half a gallre
The total service for this year 23 of 1.7,000. Now we're going up $188,000. 579,000 full budget tax, class 254.4 million in academic scholarship.
These are some of the schools we see. We had 25 district 18 minutes full credit with two credits and 26 credits. College Arts magnet
students received lunch. We also have council university program. Students will have the opportunity to receive their bachelor degree three years after high school and land college. Students will receive their high school diploma and associate
degree from college graduates in general studies. YouTube. I'd like to thank Jes and Jen who helped the budget and
continue support. I do can I and you briefly showed the pie chart of the um allocation for the budget. Can you give the percentage increase this year
over last year for the um for the benefits? >> Um this year we don't have it finalized yet. We put the budget together and I I just want to I just want the general
public to to know that the increase in benefits was what really gave us a little bit of a of a challenge this year to to get this budget to where it's at. And by the way, you know, you and your staff doing an excellent job with this, but you know, I want everyone to know, I
mean, it's across the state of New Jersey, this is going on. And, you know, when you see districts decreasing staff by 100 people, 60 people, 30 people, you know, we're not at that level because of how good we
handle our budget. But I just want to make sure that, you know, the general public knows that these benefits are through the roof. And it's not it's it's a struggle for us, you know. So I'm just not situ
school district. >> Yep. >> Thank you. >> So right now 15.7% budget. We will be moving money back to health. Thank you.
>> Well, now I just like to officially open to the public hearing the budget. I would like to close. >> Thanks, over. >> You don't want the picture with Mars and
uh Carol >> over there hanging up Tom W's picture with you and you and Marge. >> Oh yeah. >> Of course. >> Um before I move on, I just want to take a minute to say uh thank you to Tom, all
his staff and everybody that worked with him. I know James. I'm sure a lot of other people within the district do, but every year your staff does great job. That's why we rarely have to worry about when the auditors come, but for this year, especially when it's there's so
many challenges. We know that you're trying to do everything you can to keep everything in place for the school and for the students and trying to keep it reasonable for the taxpayers. So, thank you very much. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. There I see no committee reports, so I'll move to board member reports.
I'm going to start with the students. I'm going to start with Sophia since we're at Oakrest tonight. >> All right. Um, good afternoon everyone. So, um, today AP testing has started for our bio students. So, they had their test like first thing in the morning.
Um, our band concert is this Thursday, May 7th. >> Um, our freshman orientation is on May 13 at 6:00 in the afternoon. That's right. >> On May 15th, Absigami is having their second annual Champions Day for our reach and harp program. And finally,
Absigami is hosting a color run on May 31st from 11:00 a.m. to 100 p.m. >> Thank you. Did I say the wrong school? >> Yeah, that's okay. >> I apologize. I wrote it down wrong. My fault. Okay. How How about I go to the end? Prince Francesca,
did I say your name right? >> Yeah, you did. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, in sports, baseball qualified for the Diamond Classic. Girls flag won their conference for the fourth year in a row. Boys lacrosse plays tomorrow for the conference champs. And girls lacks had a
game today against lower Kate May, which determines if they make it to Cows. Our tennis team just won Cows and our sophomore Miguel Mon is our twotime undefeated cow champ. Our performing arts had a very successful spring with a soldout dance show along with choir and
band. Also, one of our sophomores, Jordan Miller, made it to the all state choir. In April, the juniors took the SATs, which showed improvement from the PSATs in October. At this very moment, we are preparing for the AP testing. The students have done a good job on preparing themselves for the upcoming
exams, which leads me to believe that we are very prepared for what the next two weeks will bring. Our prom will be hosted May 21st, 6 p.m. at the Carriage House and the theme is Sunset Sorve. After that, the school year is coming to an end and our graduation will be hosted June 18th. Thank you.
>> Thank you and Caitlyn. >> So, we had our recent Hi. We had our recent dance concert last Thursday. It was lots of fun, lots of energy, and lots of talent. um biomedical magnet went to Drexal Medical School where we
basically learned about the body systems by looking at cadaavvers and I guess that's just donated deceased people if you didn't know that. And um we also talked to Drexal med students to ask about their student life. Um girls track
is 4 and one and counties was tonight at EHT. I believe boys track is undefeated. Um, NHS had spring day of service. Um, I went to the Egg Harbor City cleanup, but there's also another spring day of service next week, which is for the
green fair in the carnival, which I'll talk about in a second. Um, boys lacrosse is 8 and three and they played abs gaming today. And girls lacrosse is now 9 and three from we heard so we heard from Abby. Um, and they also played abs gaming today and softball's
eight and five. and senior Bruce Bise is going to sectional championships for golf. And upcoming we have the green fair this Saturday at Oakrest, which is basically where local store vendors come and there's lots of environmental themed stores and plants and flowers and stuff.
And the Hamilton Township Resource Fair is this Saturday from 10:00 to 1:00 at Hess, which is basically for kids to like have fun, play games, paint their faces, and that's also assisted by NHS. And the green fair is from 10 to 1.
That's Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Carry on. >> Okay. Any other board members have anything to add under board member report? Yes. >> Um on May 16th there will be the delegate assembly and immediately after
the delegate assembly will be um the session for they're going to start out certified um to able new board members coming in on a regular
basis. Um so basically there you would have mentorship and support outside of traditional support. So um I have volunteered to be part of that and we've gone through one initial like
training um at October the first kind of cool. Thank you. Anyone else? At this time, I'll open the meeting up to the public. Anyone wishing to speak on agenda items only.
Okay. Seeing none, I'll move on to um business agenda action items. >> Business items B1 through B11 can be found on pages 11 through 13. I'll make a motion to move B1 through B11 pages 11
to 13. >> Second. >> Okay. B1 through B1 have been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments on these business items? >> Hartman. >> Yes. >> Hassa, >> yes. >> Kurly, >> yes.
>> Storio, >> yes. >> Wright, >> yes. >> Garrison, >> yes. >> Zunther, >> yes. >> Hal, >> yes. >> Motion is approved. Transportation agenda action item. >> I move T1 through T13. >> Second. >> Okay. T1 for T13 have been voted.
Seconded. Any questions or comments on these transportation items? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Storio. >> Yes. >> Wright. >> Yes. >> Garrison. >> Yes. >> Gunther. >> Yes. >> Hartman. >> Yes. >> Cal. >> Yes. >> Motion is approved. Okay. Education
agenda items. >> I move E1 through E15. 15 15. >> Second. >> Okay. E1 through E15 have been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments on
these education items? >> Kirly, >> yes. >> Storio, >> yes. >> Wright, >> yes. >> Garrison, >> yes. >> Gunther, >> yes. >> Hartman, >> yes. >> Yes. out. >> Yes. >> Motion is approved. >> Okay. Personnel agenda.
>> I'll move P1 through P12. >> Second. >> Okay. P1 through P12 have been moved and seconded. Any questions or comments on these personnel items? >> I have a correction on P5. Okay. >> Uh the school should be Cedar Creek, not
Oakrest. Okay, with those corrections, any questions? >> Storio, >> yes. >> Right, >> yes. >> Garrison, >> yes. >> Gunther, >> yes. >> Hartman, >> yes. >> Yes. >> Kurly, >> yes. >> How? >> Yes.
>> Most approved. >> Okay, Mr. Rain, >> thank you. Um, quick update on the gym floor here at Oakrest. We have passed a two-week period of letting the concrete sit open. Um, they were, um, soliciting
readings from the air as far as moisture. Um, so we should be getting updates from our architect within the next 24 to 48 hours. But that is another milestone in this project complete, letting it letting it air for two weeks and and move forward from that. So
that's a plus. That's one more thing that we kind of needed to get on the other side of. Um I was fortunate enough last week I did the Creek Choir concert and the Oakrest dance concert. Um I'll get you guys updates from here through
graduation. As you know, every spring it gets busy. There's a lot of performing arts stuff going on. The one thing I will share because it it had been a topic of ongoing conversation um with the sound system here at Oakrest in my well 25 years in and around this
building. We we have the clearest sound system we have ever had. What I heard at the dance show last week was far superior. You know, if you remember, we were supposed to be done, but then we had some concerns. Even with the spring drama performance, there were some
questions with the sound, they've come back in twice and made some more modifications to it. Um, and and I will say that it it kind of reminded me of when I was 16 or 17 and I spent way too much money on my car stereo. It was that
kind of a feeling in the pack. Um, and and obviously the dancers were great and the Creek choir kids were were phenomenal as always, but I was I have to admit the biggest sigh that night. I was kind of like, "Oh, thank God. We got the sound system figured out because it's it's been a bit of a journey." Um,
freshman orientations, believe it or not, are coming now that we are here in May. Over the next couple of weeks, the eighth graders and their families will be coming to the buildings. Um, a lot of you have seen this before. Tomorrow, I'll get the exact dates and times from
the principles. I'll shoot you an email over the next couple of weeks if anybody wants to swing by one night. It's a nice night. some version or some variation of about half an hour in the performing arts center. Um kind of an overview of what that to expect this summer from us,
what to expect next fall when you become a student. And then uh an opportunity depending what building you're in to go and visit athletic programs and performing arts programs and get kids signed up as early as possible to get involved. Um, I want to give a shout out
to Oakrest Jr. Zoe Koreah Gonzalez. She was recognized by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office for her artwork. Um, she was one of three students from across Atlantic County who was recognized and received a gift card. So,
she was actually selected by the prosecutor's office for her submission. Um, I want to take a couple minutes now and touch on on kind of a little bit of what Brian asked. As as we we are uh as Tom and I have shared with you, we've
we've kept you in the loop as we are dealing with the insurance increases. Um, this is not a greater a conversation. It's not a South Jersey conversation. Um the insurance industry this year or I should say the insurance costs this year
are hitting districts whether you are rural with 320 kids or you know you are a 15,000 K through 12 operating four middle schools and three high schools. Um, to give you some idea, there's
another district in Atlantic County that had an increase of over $4 million in state aid and they're eliminating 29 jobs and that is entirely due to insurance costs. Um, as Tom mentioned, across the state,
the most common numbers heard fall between 21 and 28 or 29% on the health insurance side. It's an issue. Um you all know I sit on the um the state
legislative organization for my group NJASA. Um and and it's a conversation that we are starting. We we are now we've created a subcommittee specifically to request to sit down with some legislators
and and make sure there is an understanding of what utility costs and insurance costs are doing to us because we can't negotiate that. we can negotiate at some point salaries and benefits and and if this plays out over the next few years, you're going to see
a dramatic increase in class size because there's going to be no other way than to reduce staff and and that ultimately will lead to an increase in class size. So, if anybody has relationships with legislators, we need them to understand
um that the rising utility and insurance costs are are going to hamstring every district in the state. Um to to give it a little more context, the Department of Ed as there was an increase in state aid this year. Um and
the Department of Ed put all their bulletins out. It was, you know, blow up the balloons, get out the kazoos, look at how much we increase state aid, but twothirds of the districts across the state of New Jersey are reducing staff in a year when twothirds of the district
got got an increase in state aid. So that tells you if you know your budget specifically that costs are accelerating faster than than the state aid. Um so this is a very real conversation. Um, as
I said, I'm I'm also going to one of the side side cars to this conversation, for lack of a better way to say it, um, is the conversation now of consolidation or regionalization or shared services comes
back up. there is some benefit to that but not enough of a benefit to compensate if our expenses continue to accelerate at the rate they are accelerating. Um and right now the way the legislation or regionalization
um then you would need it to pass within every single district and I don't know how many districts are are or boards are going to be willing to talk about um surrendering their local control. So um this is a conversation that's going on in my organization. This is a
conversation that's going on uh with PSA which is principles and supervisors association. My understanding is it's also a conversation with SBA with school boards association. Although all three entities don't always align in things. I think this is an area where all three of
them realize that accelerating costs are going to impact the delivery of instruction over the next number of years. Um, I am very vocal and I I just want the board to know some of the positions that I take because when I speak on a screen it says James Rain, a
superintendent, Greater Harvard Regional High School District. One of the things I'm concerned about is the idea that they keep coming back to um and we need to look at the school funding formula, but one of the things that I always point out is they when people talk about
this is what the formula should be. There's over 600 districts in the state of New Jersey from 350 kids to 35,000 kids. The idea that one formula is going to work for all of us is preposterous at
its onset. And and that is kind of an argument that I usually bring to this conversation. Real quick, I just looked up something today because it was triggered. It was bouncing around my head. Give you one real quick example. Atlantic County is 555 square miles and
we have 24 operating school districts. Bergen County is 223 square miles, so less than half. And they have 76 operating school districts. And the wealth within the average district in Bergen County and the wealth within the
average district in Atlantic County is nowhere near each other. So even if we do have a conversation about school funding, if if it doesn't a lot for the significant differences that exist across our state, somebody is always going to be on the wrong side of this conversation. And that's why again some
of us are starting to shift this idea to what can we do to get some of the legislators or some of the legislature on board with us realizing that something needs to be done to assist with accelerating expenses. Um so I I
just share all of that so you all kind of know some of the conversations that are going on among superintendents in Atlanta County, among superintendent across the state. Um, at our round table in April, and Tom could speak to the same thing. When the the county DOE
staff, you know, talked about how much the the increase in state aid for Atlantic County was, we we let them know how many of us were cutting jobs this year and twothirds of the county raised the hand, raised raised our hands, even
though the county saw a significant increase in state aid. So, so we clearly need to have these conversations moving forward if you're involved in school boards and and you know I would just ask that you know bring up this conversation at the state level with school boards
association also um because there's no way that we will be able to maintain the delivery of services we are doing if we have two more years in a row of a 24% increase in health insurance benefits.
We will be eliminating dozens of teachers in each building. It's just the math. So, we need to get a handle on how to go after this and it needs to be done between educators, NJA, ASA, school
boards association. And I think we really need to to help um Trenton hear what we are facing because if we continue to see even a an a state average of a 15% increase in health insurance in three years would actually
play out to over a 50% increase in cost to a district because obviously the additions are cumulative. So I just share all of that. you know, Tom and I, um, Tom gets all the credit in the world for the budget and the time he puts in
with with everybody in this district. Um, but over the next few years, we're going to need help and and the help is going to come in the in the form of awareness and open conversations about what we're facing. Tom, I don't know if there's anything you want to add based on my comments.
>> That covers it. It's mentioning it another couple years at 25%. We're talking about health insurance policies for family of 70 $80,000. It keeps increasing at this level. It's just it's unfathomable. >> So, I thank you for the time. Um this is
our biggest challenge. Marge, give me one second. I I I this is why I sit on um that committee for ASA at Trenton. I I think it's vitally important um that there be somebody who's willing to be loud and annoying from South Jersey
because a lot of these decisions, you know, the power sits in Mercer County and in Burlington County and in Monmouth County and in Middle Sex County and in Essex County and that's kind of where the political center of the state lies.
So, we need some people from down here. Um and and there are a couple of us now um who are kind of ringing this bell. So I just want you to know if you you know I want you to know some of the conversations that I'm having and some of the things that we're we're looking at.
>> I I'd like to know why. Do you have a reason why are health insurance scores going up? So part of um part of it for us is is we have a couple as Tom mentioned a couple of high expense cases, right? And it's it's kind
of like what it's kind of like what we're all seeing at the gas pump right now. When you've got a bad scenario, you ever notice the increases are immediate, but when things level off and when things start going right, it takes a year for you to get that credit back and for things to to come back down. Um so
so part of that is a little bit of the business or the industry side of this. We do have a couple of high-cost cases that we know but beyond that the the increases are across the district and and I don't know maybe the
broker shared something with Tom. I'll defer to him. I I feel like what I've heard for the seven times over the last month and a half is I know you don't want to hear this, but you guys really aren't that out of the ordinary. Everybody's looking at these types of numbers. Tom, I don't know if you got any other
>> and it's the prescription costs are just astronomical. >> Yeah. >> All the commercials you see on TV, those drugs are all five to $6,000, you know, over time. So, our prescription ratios were over 150% this year. It's just the cost of the
prescriptions are going way up. >> I don't mean it wrong, but even if we had a couple of highc cost cases, the amount of teachers that are barely going to doctor that were paying more than what their medical bills would have ever been should more than compensate. I
mean, it's a predatory formula when you're looking at it. We're paying in in case somebody gets sick, but then if somebody gets sick, we're paying in even more because somebody used the insurance that we're paying. >> So, it just it it really to to Marg's,
it doesn't make sense. >> Well, it it's a for-profit industry. >> Yeah. >> Um and you know, the only thing I'll say, and this may come as a surprise to some of you, Tom and I actually dig into the numbers every month. Okay. What are our pres prescription totals? Yeah.
>> For outlay compared to premium. What are our medical totals for outlay compared to premium? So, we've seen that we're running in higher percentages. But even running in the higher percentages to Tom's point earlier, three months ago, and I shared this with all of you in in a couple of emails, you know, the broker
was saying, "Yeah, but where you guys started, you're going to be okay. Budget 12%." Well, now here we are looking at a bill twice that. And and that that's where we are. Um, so but we do monitor that every month when the when the numbers come in and
and you know Tom has a couple of people in his on his staff that go out of their way. We are constantly reaching out. Is there anything we can do? Is there a flyer we can send out to save another, you know, few dollars on a premium if x number of people do it? We are
participating in all of those events. Um but unfortunately this is and and again I'm I'm it's it's a much smaller number but the rate is accelerating at a similar percentage. Utilities need to be a part of this conversation. Also when
you're talking about 550,000 square feet of buildings you know with a lang I I I don't know I forget forget the Chromebooks just what's plugged in. What do we have? A thousand units plugged in across the district at any
given time. >> So, talk about energy, you know. Um, so utilities going up as part of this conversation also. And I'm I'm sure though as I look around the room, if you're like me, you know what your gas and electric bill has been like the last eight or nine months. Um, so you know, I
don't want to bore you with this conversation, but I just I I want you to know Brian asked the question earlier and I I had already had some notes that I was going to I was going to look at this. Um, but these are the conversations that need to be now
becoming a focus within this state. >> So, sorry. No, that's it's it's important like we all feel the same way and I I'm glad that we have voices that will speak up for, you know, not just our district but for all the schools. Um
my report's pretty quick tonight. Um just a reminder, the next county meeting happens to be the 18th, which is our next meeting. So, uh I know that they are they did reach out to the districts and find out what our schedule is for next year. So hopefully that won't h I don't remember it ever happening before,
but because that's usually the one where people are, you know, being recognized for things, so hopefully that won't happen again next year or in the future. And um the other thing is just it's I know it's a busy time of year. I was talking to a couple of students that were here earlier saying, you know, I know it's like prom time, sports are
busy, there's testing, there's um a lot of performing arts going on. You know, it's it's just a busy time of year. So, thank you to the staff and the students who continue to do their best every day and and uh work hard because the end's in sight and uh keep doing the good
work. Um I'll move on to old business and business. Right. >> Um James, talking about the um conversations you're having with uh with regionalization, you mentioned it has to be statewide, but to me, I would think that they would
consider doing almost like a pilot program, you know, seeing how it can work before they push it to the whole state. reason why I'm asking here in the southern part of the state you have perfect scenarios with mainland greater a harbor uh middle township you know
down in in in uh in Kate May County where it would be a perfect fit to make this work and show the rest of the state it can be done and and the savings that can be you know done by it. >> So just to be clear it's not a statewide vote. It's all of the districts in that in whatever entity would be looking to
come together. Oh, I got you. >> Would have to vote affirm. >> So it it wouldn't have to be every every regional school district in the in the state agreeing to it. >> No, it they there, you know, consolidation could occur for the models you just mentioned if every district
were to vote, every community were to vote individually in the affirmative. It's not a summitive vote across the totality of the district. it is each individual district affirming um and and there's you know that's to be
clear and and this is my opinion that's not the only that's not the financial um solution to all of this. Um you know the the the pay scale that would be adopted would be the highest of the five
or six pay scales that's involved. So there's some increased costs over the first four to five years as you're getting people up to to the the most expensive pay scale. Um to to me the regionalization and the consolidation conversation God and I think we talked
about this in my interview five years ago. Yeah. >> Um, you know, to me the the if we're going to advance that conversation, the part of the conversation that needs to also be um a part of that is embedding math
across 13 years. Um, the ability to maybe build out more athletics and activities in the middle school level that funnel more directly into high school programming. um the ability for
data to to more um seamlessly transfer across schools and and districts. So the only reason why I kind of brought that in is because it you can't have the conversation about expenses without somebody saying well the solution is and
and I'll speak freely and frankly I think I've earned it. Oh well the solution is consolidate. Instead of five superintendents you'll have one. Look at how much money we save. Paying one of us instead of five of us on when you're talking about $400 million per month on budget. That's not the that that's not
the reason to do it. The reason to do it is all those other things, right? That benefit students and benefit staff along the ways. But inherently, when you have a conversation about accelerating expenses, the conversation of regionalization comes back in into
light. And I look around the room and it's Tom and it's Carol and it's Lois and it's Marge in 2010 as Chris Christie was grabbing everybody's um accounts. He was also saying and his commissioner of ed was saying, "Okay,
well, let's identify the super districts across the state and and we were identified. There's a 4-in bold folder or binder somewhere in our safe and and all the data is different 15 years later." But my point is every time the
waves come for expenses, this that's one of the first answers back. That's not the singular solution to this. >> And and that was going to be my point. So, I I I was hoping it's not the conversation isn't just about money. It should it should be about the the the
education that we're going to be able to provide a student that is now prek through 12 instead of just a regional and and we talk about it every year when we have our our assessments. You know, we're not getting that student in here that we've had all the time. we're
getting that that ninth grader that's maybe not on the same, you know, standard that we are, you know. >> So, I mean, to me, it just makes more sense beyond the money, you know. >> It it does. I will also say um and again I I'll kind of point to you know to
Carolyn, Marge and Lois and Tom and you've you're you're you're getting to that point too Brian in terms of the experience when I say we have better communication with our constituent incident districts than we've had in my 25 years in this district. the principles, you know,
Davies, Davies and Oakrest, since we're sitting here, Mike Manning, do we go two weeks without somebody from us being in their building or somebody from them being here? >> No. So, so
>> principal today, >> you know, there shared PD. I mean, we're we're working that this as well as we can and I thank the superintendent for the relationships that we have right now. We share PD. You know, we're we run this Penn State program that, you know,
the PD for teachers. We're going to invite one or two teachers from all of our constituent districts to to join us for that next year. Um, it it's just a piece of a greater conversation and and I guess now I'm officially old because I'm I'm becoming a little
cranky. >> But um, >> what else is new? >> It we can't think that in 2026 in our current economy and structure what worked 25 years ago is going to
work today. It's time to re-evaluate. And I think to be candid, we missed a little bit of an opportunity coming out of COVID to really make significant and substantial changes to K12 education. We we made some modifications. We we didn't
do what we could have done, I think, when we had the opportunity to be true. But >> any other old Oh, sorry, Carrie. Go ahead. >> If I can, I wanted to shed a little bit more light on what Marge was asking about why the benefits are so expensive.
I'll try to give a short version, but I'm a pharmacist by trade. So is my husband. >> And there's definitely a big shift going on in the insurance world because the pharmacy benefit manager or the PBM is what controls the cost. So you get one of these high dollar drugs and you're
going to go to the pharmacy and they're going to say, "Oh, you have to use my specialty pharmacy that they own." And they're going to get a rebate and that's why all these costs are going up. the shift that's going on nationwide and hopefully it takes off because it's a huge cost savings is that entities that
are large enough are going to be self are self-insured like American Airlines they insure themselves so they put you know whatever dollar amount they think is going to cost them for the year that their broker tells them and then they have a stock gap above that number so you know they end up with 10 people that
have the high dollar drugs the stock gap kicks in but what they're doing those companies instead of paying a PM they're paying a separate entity who's carving out those high dollar drugs and they source them elsewhere >> um Israel, Switzerland, Canada and they
can save 30 to 40% on all those drugs. So it's it's shifting because people are realizing that you can't you can't keep going with this. You can't look at the same exact drug here in the United States and look at the same drug in Israel and it be half the price. But
that's what's happening. So it's shifting. I don't know if it'll ever get to the point where these entities can work with the current PPMs because they're not going to want to share their money. It's probably going to have to become all self-insured. But I think in the next 10 years, most of the big entities are going to have to go that
way. They're going to self-insure. They're going to put their in their budget, okay, our 14 million lives require x amount of dollars. And above that, this stop gap coverage is going to say, you have to use this company to save the money and carve out. >> Thank you for that. And I know you and I
talked a little bit and just so everybody knows um and and really it was two expenses for the whole year and I guess Tom there was a third expense earlier. Um but that prevented us from getting a stop gap right that that prevented our us from our broker being
able to find a stop gap who would write us. We did look at self-insuring and and and we're hoping in the future that that might be a step we're able to take because it is there is an evolution there. Um, and you know, Carrie, you know, I I appreciate when you reached out, you know, I'm sure Tom and I will
come back to you over over time as this goes on. >> I think a lot of the unions and you know, fire everybody's going to have start shifting that direction. >> Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. >> Thank you for sharing. Any other old business?
I'll move to new business. Okay. At this time, I'll open the meeting up to the public. Anyone wish to speak on any matter? >> Seeing none, do we have a resolution for executive session? >> Uh, pursuance section 78 public meeting act the following subjects will be
discussed at the session of board of education closing of public contracts. Anticipate that the dimension resolution can be disclosed public when the decision is made upon the same. And in the case of personnel issues when the need for confidentiality no longer exists, formal action at the conclusion of this second session may be taken.
>> A motion. >> I'll make a motion. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> Those against? Those abstaining. So move. >> Okay. Quick break. >> Are there any extras of this? One of these
>> twohut they just started 42. um reach out to them about fishing. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's ours. >> Oh, it is. >> Yeah, that's our >> Don't be doing things like that. >> No. So, it's there's a They do it for us. >> I know that that's >> But it's the one that she sent, right?
Cuz there was >> You missed open enrollment, >> y' fire. Yeah. We have Mother's Day. I'll just do the power.
Oh my god.