Good evening everyone. Please stand for the flag salute. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. Please be seated. In accordance with the Open Public Meeting Act, NJSA 104-6, adequate notification of this meeting has been provided in compliance with PL2025 C72. Notice was published on the
district's website under public notices, posted in the board of education administration building, and filed with the city clerk. To ensure accessibility, interpreter services are available upon request. Please submit your written request at least 48 hours prior notice
to the board meeting to Brenda Perry, business office executive assistant at brenda perry@hacksackschools.org. I hereby call to order this special public meeting Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 in the Padavano Padavano Education
Center at 6:16 p.m. Dr. Dr. Dennis, can you please do a roll call? >> Excuse me. Trusty um Trusty Olson Balaputra >> present. >> Trusty Amahamza, Trusty Carol, Trusty Gilmore,
>> Trusty Jones here. >> Vice President Martin >> here. >> President Harris >> present. >> I suggest a quorum. Madam President, >> thank you. Okay, so good evening everyone. So this evening we have um two uh two big things on our agenda tonight.
So we do have uh resolutions that we will be voting on later on this evening. Um but our first item is our board candidate interviews as you have all noted. Uh notice that we do have two open positions and we received five
applications for our board vacancy. Um at this moment one withdrew. So we will be interviewing the four applicants. Um the interviews will be taking place in close session this evening. So we will be going into executive session. After
executive session is over then we will be appointing those two um individuals or those open positions. After that we will have public comments. After public comments then we'll go into our second executive session to discuss legal and
personnel matters. Okay. All right. So, be it resolved that the Hackasack Board of Education determines it necessary to meet in executive session on Wednesday, August 5th, 2026 to discuss legal and personnel matters. And be it further resolved that these
matters will be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Can I have a motion to go into executive, please? >> Motion by Trustee Amra Hamza in a second. Second by Trustee Jones. All those in favor say I. Anyone opposed?
Any abstensions? All right. Excellent. So, just so the public knows, the video will still be rolling. We will be in executive session. The public will now move into the hallway where we have chairs for you all. And we will call you in the order that we received your application.
Thank you. Welcome back everyone. Um so we completed our board candidate um interviews. Uh first and foremost, I just want to thank our four candidates um for coming out tonight. Um you are all truly amazing, very unique in your
own ways. Um I do encourage you all to stay involved in the community. you definitely have the qualities to bring to Hackin Sack. You do have the passion. Um, our community relations committee chair uh will also be looking for new
participants to be a part of our community relations committee um in December. So, I highly encourage you to stay involved um and you know, please come to our meetings um and you know, be seen. I think it's
very important um for that. So um our goal um is to appoint the two vacant seats and whoever is chosen those individuals um if all goes well um will be sworn in at the August 19th meeting.
So that is two weeks from now. Um so before we appoint anybody, I would like to just open up the floor for discussion or any comments that any board members have regarding the interviews.
I won't call anybody out. I will let you guys. >> I just want to say I think it was I think everybody was excellent. Like it's not wasn't an easy decision. I mean it's really I mean everybody had a a lot of good experience and kind of unique experiences as well and everybody [clears throat] seemed to be
caring about the community really like really. So it's it's I hope whoever is not in is again staying involved in in some way. And I think I'm on a community relations committee as well. I think that's a it's a good way to still get yourself heard and get things done in town. >> Um so I just hats off to you guys.
That's all. >> And just to echo what Mike says, um you know, Hackin Sack is my home. I was born and raised here. So it just warms my heart to hear the passion for for my city um and for the kids especially and
for the community, especially in this um time, you know, where we are reimagining the district. So, it's a clean slate and we're we are working diligently to ensure that our children still get the education that we all receive from this
district. So, thank you. >> I also just want to thank you all for coming in and um and interviewing um just really impressive all four of you. Um and it's really I guess it's kind of a good problem to have that there are so many good qualified people who care about our schools. So, please do stay
connected. Um, I will say one thing that that stood out to me that I that I love to hear. Um, you know, yes, you do serve the community, but you also need to know how to work as a team. And I think that's also just very important, especially
being um part of the board is you might all have your own vision and your own um experiences, but we all have to find a way to work together. And I think that's also very important to note. Um so all right so being that we don't have any
more uh comments um I open the floor um for any nominations or and this one is to fill in the seat for trustee Siobhani Pringle. So do we have a motion? >> Um Madame President if I could make a
motion to um nominate uh Mabel Vonia. um just very impressed with the strong community um ties um and all the work with our students. I think that that's a great um attribute to bring to the board. Okay, so we have a motion from Trusty Amraza for Mabel Bonia. Um is
there a second? >> Okay, so we have a second from Trustee Jones. All right, so at this time, um Dr. Daffany, please do roll call. >> All right, we have a motion. We have a motion to appoint Mabel Bonia, board trustee, to fill the seat vacated by
former trustee Pringle. I will now call the role. Trustee Alan Buliputra. >> Yes. >> Trusty Amaramza. >> Yes. >> Trusty Gilmore. >> Yes. >> Trusty Jones. >> Yes. >> Vice President Martin.
>> President Harris. >> Yes. >> Motion carried. Welcome, Miss Paneeria. >> Congratulations. >> Okay. Now, at this time, I will entertain um motions for the position for the vacant position from Mark uh
Trustee Mark Stein. Um do I have a motion? >> Um I would like to make a motion to nominate uh Vicki. >> I second that nomination. >> Okay. So we have a first from trustee
Gilmore, a second from trustee Austin Balaputra. Uh Dr. Dennis, can you please do a roll call? >> All right, we have a motion to appoint Vicky Farhey, board trustee, to fill the v seat vacated by former trustee Stein. Trustee Alustin Balaputra, >> yes.
>> Trusty Amahanza, >> yes. >> Trusty Gilmore, >> yes. >> Trusty Jones, >> yes. Vice President Martin. >> President Harris. >> Yeah. >> Welcome, Miss Carney. >> Congratulations.
>> All right. So, as I have stated before, um I still encourage you to apply. Please stay active within the community. We do look forward to seeing you all. You have amazing amazing um qualities. Um and again, congratulations to Mabel
Bonia and Vicki Barh. Um Dr. Dennis will be in touch with you in regards to what the next steps are so that um we can get you sworn in at the August 19th meeting. >> All right. Thank you so much. >> Um All right. So, at this time, we are
going to Oh, does anyone have any comments? Anything else? >> We're good. >> Okay. Excellent. All right. So, we're going to move to public comment. Public participation shall be governed by board policy 0167. A participant must be recognized by the
presiding officer and must preface comments by announcement of his or her name, municipality or residence and group affiliation if applicable. Each statement made by participant during the first public comment period shall be limited to a threeminut duration. All statements, questions or inquiries shall
be directed to the presiding officer and any questions or inquiries directed by a participant to another board member shall be redirected to the presiding officer who shall determine if such statement, question or inquiry shall be addressed by the presiding officer on behalf of the board or by the individual
board member. At this time, board uh public comments will be open to anyone in person. Is there anyone in person that would like to speak? You can step up. Yep. To the mic. Okay. >> And just state your name, please. Um Vicky Far. Um I just want to thank you
all for the honor that you have just given me. I am I am so appreciative. Um and so honored and so looking forward to being part of the team. Um, but I also want to thank Alan and Jason because we were having some great conversations and
I was learning about their commitment and and I'm really looking forward to doing some stuff with you. So anyway, thank you. >> Thank you. >> And it was working. >> Great. >> Is there anyone else in person that would like to speak?
>> Okay. At this time, uh, the public comment section in person is closed. Is there anyone online that would like to speak? All right, seeing that there are none, the public comment section is now closed.
Um, we're going to now move on to our second executive session part of this evening where um, >> Madame President, did you want to take a a little recess before you do the >> Oh, >> to have a little refreshment before you >> Absolutely. Yes. Thank you so much for
that. >> We'll take a we'll take a brief recess and >> we go into executive session. U, we'll take just a brief recess. Um there are refreshments out here um for the public and we will be back in I would give it 10 minutes. Okay.
>> Thank you. August 5th, 2026 to discuss legal and personal matters and be it further resolved that these matters will be made public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. Can I have a motion to go into their second executive session? >> Motion. >> Okay. Motion by Vice President Martin
and a second. >> Second by Trustee Gilmore. All those in favor say I. I. >> Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? All right, folks. It is 7:34 p.m. Um, we do have a a busy agenda for
our executive session. Um, but if you can give us at least an hour, um, and we'll come back to vote on our resolutions. Thank you. We'll get back. >> All right. Thanks. Okay, and we are back. Can I have a motion to go back to the public, please?
>> I'll make a motion. >> Motion by Vice President Martin and a second. >> I'll second. >> Second by Trustee Armsa. All those in favor say I. I. >> Anyone oppose? Any abstensions? All right. Thank you. It is 9:48
p.m. Um, welcome back, folks. and we are going to move into our business personnel and facilities resolution. They are all together as one. Uh and I'm going to have trusty Amrahems take on those resolutions. Thank you,
Madame President. Um I before I offer uh the items for consideration, I would like to make a motion to table personnel item A1 number one. >> Okay. Excellent. So, we have a motion to table from Trusty Amrazza. Is there a second?
>> Second by Trustee Jones. Dr. Dennis, can you please do a roll call? >> This this could all have been done in one shot. U Trusty Alison Belliputra, >> yes. >> Trusty Amahamza, >> yes. >> Trusty Gilmore, >> yes.
>> Trusty Jones, Vice President Martin, >> yes. >> President Harris, yes. >> So, tabled. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. And uh now I'd like to offer uh resolutions uh for personnel um items um A1 through A3, business items D1, and
facilities items E1. >> Okay. Excellent. So we have a motion from Trusty Mahza. Do I have a second? >> Second by Trusty Gilmore. Dr. Dennis, can you please do a roll call? All right, we have a motion and a second on resolutions uh A1, number two, A2, A3,
D1, and E1. Trustee Alison Buliportra, >> yes. >> Trusty Amra Hamza, >> yes. >> Trusty Gilmore, Trusty Jones, >> Vice President Martin, >> yes. >> President Harris, >> yes. >> Motion so carried. >> Thank you. Okay. Um, you like to say
anything? >> Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. >> We would like to highlight and congratulate Donna Petron Wall. >> Yes. Yes. >> I wanted to just congratulate uh Donna
Petron Wall on being appointed as a elementary school principal and being part of of the team officially. Uh I just wanted to read a little bit about uh Donna Petrum Wall. Uh Mrs. Petron Wall is an experienced educational
leader with a strong commitment to fostering academic excellence, supporting student well-being, and building collaborative school communities. And throughout her career, she has focused on strengthening instructional practices, promoting
equitable learning opportunities, and creating learning environments where every student can succeed. In January of this year, Miss Petron Wall joined the Jackson Avenue School community as a acting principal. And in in this role,
she partnered with students, staff, families, and the community to cultivate a welcoming, supportive, and high achieving school culture centered on student success. She collaborated with district coaches to provide professional
learning for teachers, para educators, and support staff focused on effective instructional practices. Uh before joining Jackson Avenue School, she was she served as director of the early childhood. Uh then there she provided instructional
leadership. Not going to read the whole bio, but she and then Miss Petram served as assistant principal at Nelly K. Parker for five years. In that role, she coordinated academic intervention services, promoted
a positive school climate. across her career, she's just been dedicated uh to the Hackasac public school system and uh we are just happy um that she is officially an elementary school
principal for Hackinac public school and um no she's currently um in line for a PhD >> at Monontlair State University with a concentration in teacher education and teacher development. Um and we are happy
um that Donna Petron Wall has been appointed to this position. >> Congratulations. >> Okay. Um before we move on to board comments should know better by now. Um before we move on to um board comments, um uh Miss
Andrea Woods parchment, if you can just uh reassure the public, especially because we just tabled an item in terms of our special services department and who they can reach out to and just what's currently happening at the moment. >> Thank you, President Harris. Uh special
the special education department uh will still be covered. Uh as you see on the agenda, we have our athletic director who is also uh will serve in the special education department with any transitional um needs. We also have our
supervisor who will still functioning as the supervisor of special services. Uh you can reach out uh to both of them with any concerns. rest assured uh that we are still moving forward with all of the things that we have to do to be
prepared for this upcoming school year. Um to our parents, uh just rest assured that we will be um addressing the needs. There's not a void in in the special services department.
>> Thank you. Um all right, so we're going to move on to board comments and I'll start over here. Trusty Balucha Oh, okay. Thank you for that. Um, can I have a motion to extend the meeting past 10 o'clock, please? >> I'll offer. >> Okay. A motion from Trusty Mahanza and a second.
>> I'll second. >> Second by Trusty Austin Balaputra. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? Thank you. Okay. And that was 9:54 p.m. >> Close call. >> I still think we we'll be done by 10.
>> We might be done. All right. Let's see. My only board comment is congratulations to Donna Petron Wall. Um I've learned a great deal from her, been on a lot of her workshops. I've learned a lot from her as a teacher and as a as a leader. So I'm thrilled that she's in this
position. >> All right. Excellent. Trusty Jones, >> we congratulate Donna as well. Uh and I I had uh being part of personnel, we had the opportunity to sit in on some of the interviews and uh you know, first of all, hats off to the administrators. was
really a thorough interviewing process. Um, some of the board members got to sit on partners and it was like you guys were under a lot of pressure. So, and I saw you in action too, so I was able to see it, but it was it was a very thorough process. And it was like, look, you got 20 minutes to put together a
presentation. You got to do it in front of us right now. And it was and then we just sat there, waited, and it was and and again, I was I was able to fortunate to see your interview, but but just seeing the process it. So really, it's a shout out to yourself, but also shout out to the staff at human resources for
how they selected because it was really really thorough and so like you had to be really really good to get that position. So congratulations. >> All right, Trusty Gilmore. >> Um uh again, I want to congratulate uh Miss
Donna Petron Wall on your new um assignment. I know you will do well. And I also want to uh congratulate the newly appointed uh trustees um Vicky Farhill and Bari
>> and um Mabel Bonia. um just want to congratulate them and and welcome and welcome them to the team and um you know looking forward to to the great work we'll do and the rest of the candidates that did not um you know
get appointed tonight. We encourage them to stay connected to the district because they were uh wonderful as well and and we think they have a lot to add to the district. That's it. Good night. Yeah, I just want to echo um my congratulations to Miss Petron Wall.
We're excited um very excited uh to have you in this role. Um and also again um echoing Trustee Gilmore's comments. Congratulations to our newest trustees who we'll get to uh see on on the August 19th meeting. Um congratulations Miss
Bonia and Miss Barhe. Um and uh thank you all very much and have a great night. >> Thank you Vice President Martin. I also would like to congratulate you, Donna. Um, I was also at the interview. Yes, they
were tough and and I felt the way the process was were very fair and um uh well thought out. So, uh to uh the committee that put it together, you did a good job. And to all the candidates
that came before us, um they they were all good. They all good. and some other two. Man, we can't take them all, but you know, unfortunately, we can't and we had it had to be one. And then, Donna, you're the one. And uh we know you're
doing a good job. Um but to um the candidates, congratulations. And and the ones um that came out as well for the interview. um stay in touch and um we look forward to working with you guys and our uh
committee um community committee. >> That's it. Thank you. >> That's it. Excellent. All right. So, we had a very eventful special meeting tonight. Um but it was a good problem to have. Um a lot of good things came out of it. Congratulations Donna Petron. Again, congratulations to our new board
members um who will be filling in the uh two seats um come August 19th. They look forward to working with you. And again, as um what everyone else has said, um to those two candidates who did not make it, um please stay in touch. Uh continue
to reach out to the community and various ways through the CRC or anything else that's going on in our schools. Um and with that, um I look forward to our August 19th meeting, and that will be at the high school media center. All right.
Um so, can I have a motion to adjourn our meeting? I move >> motion by trusty Austin Balapucha and a second. Second >> second by Trusty Gilmore. All those in favor say I. I. Anyone opposed? Any abstensions? And it is 9:58 p.m. Have a
good night everyone. Thank you for joining us.