All right, let's stand 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.
[Music] This meeting has been invited to the retrospect of the career post as legal ads on January 7th, 2025. Local Miss Billingsley here. Mr. C here. M Desi here. Mr. Kendall here. Mr. L here.
Mr. Richie here. Matter here. Williams here. Moving into section three, our minutes. Can I get a motion to approve items 3.1 and 3.2? Our regular meeting work session minutes and our executive session minutes from April 16th.
All in favor? Uh, can I get a motion to approve item 3.3? It's our special meeting for April 8th, 2025. Motion to approve. Second. All in favor? All right. Moving into section four, correspondence. Mrs. Gold, do we have
correspondence? Yes, we do. Um, we have a letter from Mrs. Shantel Shorter. Um, thank you for your unwavering support of the Adam Township School District and the recent grant from Magna Math. This is to the
Habitat of Education Foundation um and the board of members. Uh, it's a platform designed to create opportunities for deeper student-driven problem solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. This tool begins by providing additional support to our educators when reaching students of all
letters. Again, thank you for partnering with us as we educate the students of Had Township School District and our future leaders of tomorrow. Sincerely, Shantel Short. Thank you. All right, moving into section five, public comment. This is the first public
comment section of the evening. This is for members of the public uh for comments to the board on items included on tonight's agenda. Sele, could I go back one second? We approved the um regular meeting in work session 3.1 and then you said 3.3. We
did 3.1 and 3.2 together. We did that together. Okay. Thank you. I missed that part. Thank you very much. All right. Seeing no comments, we'll move into section six, the superintendent report. All right. Uh couple things to report on tonight.
uh want to talk about uh tuition increases uh for all of our programs for the summertime uh our preschool program, our child care program, our summer wreck program, our out of district tuition. And you know the headline on this is
there are no increases. Okay. Uh we recognize um uh you know the support that our community is giving us through not only this year's budget uh but also through the use of this referendum other costs that are increasing um in society
and we think it's important to where we can keep costs completely flat um that we're able to do so. So virtually every program that you're approving tonight that has a cost to it is the same rate uh as last year.
So I think that's important for everyone to know. Next, we had a extremely successful kindergarten information night. Our two teachers, Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Royster, did an amazing job as always uh presenting. But there was
something very unique about last night's event, and that was there was probably about 60 people in the room. There's a video of this Jimmy videos. Uh, and 90% of them seem to indicate that they were brand new to Hadum. So, we're getting a lot of new families um into the district
that don't necessarily have generational roots here, but have chosen to come to Had Patchup to live uh and to have their children educated. So, we're excited to greet uh a new and exciting group of um kindergarten students, but also a new
group of parents. We have not heard officially from the state if our tax levy incentive program uh budget was formally approved at this point. I'm assuming that no news is good news now that we're sitting on May 15th and all of our non-tenured staffing
decisions need to be finalized. Um so, you know, we're wishing for the best there. Uh I am disappointed that the state uh has not provided us with formal uh confirmation of this. Um, school leadership is and school board
governance is tough enough under uh normal circumstances, but especially budget deficits of the lack of communications making things even more challenging. It's disappointing. On the agenda tonight is a first reading for an
electronic communications device policy. You know, the policy that we have now, you know, the policy that you're approving for first reading does allow students to have cell phones on their on themselves during school time, especially at the middle school, high
school, but they need to be off and away. Um, that is difficult to monitor all the time. So, um, this is a policy that I'm we have for first reading tonight. it'll be approved in in June, but I would not be surprised if this
became more restrictive when we come back in September with there's changes over the summer. We have had some concerns about um implementation and uh you know this is an area that we're
monitoring closely. Matilda the RMS musical is tonight. uh if we it's a short meeting we encourage you to attend and have head that direction as well after the meeting our community engagement security forums
have been uh successful we have one more May 22nd uh next week advanced sky school we've got small groups of parents out but the conversations have been really rich feedback um from our parents and uh excellent support from the Hen
Township uh police department in this area. We also have the Stokesberry Riotta uh this weekend on the Skook Skookul River in Philadelphia. The crew program um continues to be a program that is uh performing at a very high
level. Uh it's expanding every year and we wish those athletes well. Before I turn it over to our student representatives, I just want to make sure that I hit all the items here. I think I do. All
right. Laura, welcome back. Thanks. All right. You have both of you. I think we haven't had both of you uh in some time, right? Yeah. Good. Okay. So, um so I think um we met with the middle schoolers uh yesterday and it was the
most uh enthusiastic I've ever seen them about. They were excited for their end of the year events and um the transition into high school. They seem really excited about. um some things that they had or are coming up to. Um they had the
uh eighth grade dance and it's a formal dinner. It's a Hollywood theme and then the sixth and seventh graders just had their luau dance which they said had great participation. Um other than that, they're really excited for their Wildwood trip and the seventh graders are going to the zoo and they're taking
uh a little field trip on Friday to um the environmental center near Jennings which they seem really excited about. Uh they also had just recently last week the sixth grade orientation. Uh it was parents only. They had the uh tours of the middle school. Um there was some
information about clubs and some of the forms and paperwork they need going into middle school. Um the fifth graders are coming soon for their like moving up day where they get they get tours and some students show them around which I remember that was that's always a fun time. And they have the NJSLA testing
next week I believe as well. And um as well as the student council elections coming up for 8th grade which is which is also always a fun time. And in terms of their extracurriculars like Dr. Piparo said they have the Matilda play um tonight and then tomorrow night and also Saturday I believe and then they
also have uh on May 28th the spring concert with um and everything that comes with that band, jazz band, chorus orchestra and then they have the track championship. Um, not sure if it's next Thursday or tonight, but I know they
have that coming up tonight. And then, uh, in terms of the high school, it's been a hectic past couple weeks. AB testing finishing up tomorrow. Uh, a lot of people involved. It seemed like we had um I was telling Mr. Sher about this. It seems like we had um a
lot of students taking AB tests. It seemed like more than last year. I don't I don't know if that's for sure, but there was definitely a ton. Um May 1st we had commitment day um which was uh that was the deadline for deciding where you're going to go to college except for not that's not including weight list but
uh we had people um wear clothing of uh wherever they're going to college or military or their trade. They had they wore that on May 1st and it was fun to see. Everybody was in good spirits, very excited. It was it was really cool to see. That's always a fun time. And we
also just recently had prom um last Friday and that was also a great time. It was at the the new venue of the Scottish right which people seem very happy about. I think they prefer that um to the Weston and I I agree. I think I think it was beautiful. Um no problems there. It was went very smoothly and um
yeah, it was very high energy. People were dancing for the whole time, I will say. And yeah, people are just uh especially me and Mara and the seniors are gearing up for graduation, which is weird to say, but yeah, it's coming to an end. And I might add, probably one of the
best lacrosse games we witnessed, Mr. Richie and I, is uh Monday's game. How many goals were you down by? Um we were down by six. Fourth quarter they ended, I think you tied the game or you got to get I tied it. So, it was one of those games where
we play we play Easter. Wow. You kind of wrote it off like I'm going to go to the card out. All of a sudden came back. That's what my dad was saying to say. Congratulations. Thank you. Do you have more to your high school report or Joe? No, that sums it up
pretty much. Uh, I heard that you had some grievances about your prom date that you wanted to air. A couple complaints, but I'll keep them private. I'm just kidding. I heard it's perfect. People say you look great, but guys are doing a great job and
thanks for coming out. Go ahead. All right, moving to section seven, presentations. It looks like we have none this evening. So, we'll jump straight to section 8, finance and facilities. Can I get a motion to approve items 8.1 through 8.23?
So, move. Second. Any questions? Roll call. Miss Billingsley. Yes. Mr. Cook, yes. Miss Desmond, yes. Mr. Kendall, yes. Mr. L. Yes. Mr. Richie, yes. Ma, yes. Miss, yes. Moving into section 9, instruction program. Can I
get a motion to approve item 9.1? So move. Second. Any questions? Roll call. Miss Billingsley. Yes. Mr. Cook. Yes. Yes. Meny. Yes. Mr. Keel. Yes. Mr. L. Yes. Mr. Richie. Yes. Mr.
Sadder. Yes. Single. Yes. Moving into section 10, personnel. Can I get a motion to approve items 10.1 through 10.29? So moved. Second. Any questions?
I'm sad to see go. All right. Roll call. Miss Billingsley. Yes. Mr. Cook. Yes. Miss Desi? Yes. Mr. Kendall? Yes. Mr. Le? Yes. Mr. Richie? Yes. Miss Sadder? Yes. Miss Single? Yes. Moving into section 11, Student Services and Activities. Can
I get a motion to approve 11.1 through 11.12? Second. Any questions? 11.12 is that the the day that we the snow day we have to be here. What was the revision? I think it was I think I
saw it was an inservice from March to February I think. Yeah. In 2026. Yeah. I think March was originally on there and then it was switched to February. the federal superintend not everybody's participating
but we are going to participate so we move the marching service to we got like knock on some wood about this getting a little optimistic here super bowl in general
there's always risk having servicing the winter time mostly because it's snow, right? So, breaking the outside, right? And the other two changes um on there were countywide ensuring that we're starting after Labor Day and the other one was um
the Friday we would be returning from winter break. Oh, yes. The entire county is just extending that to Monday rather than come off a winter break, come to school for one day, and then be out for two days. So, we had to adjust our calendar for you. So some of it was deemed by the
county trying this is an area that the county is trying to sync up on and for the most part everyone is synced up on the winter calendar. I'd say half the folks are probably going to have that countywide in service February 9th. Is it the 9th? The 9th. Yes. Okay. And
then the the next year's spring break is a little bit um different because uh it's Easter's early. Um we're going to stick with uh the week after the week after Easter. Correct.
We've traditionally had that. Some other districts have moved to the week before for for a variety of reasons. So that is an area where I think there is variability. I think Cherry Hill is always there before and Pennsylvania is typically
yeah some districts moved it to before because of pass over even though that doesn't always line up. Any other questions on this section? Thank you. Miss Billingsley. Yes. Mr. Cook. Yes.
Miss Desi, yes. Mr. Kendall, yes. Mr. L, yes. Mr. Richie, yes. Mr. Yes. Mel, yes. Moving into section 12 policy. Can I get a motion to approve item 12.2? Second. Any questions?
Roll call. Miss Billingsley. Yes. Mr. Yes. Miss Desley? Yes. Mr. Kendall? Yes. Mr. L? Yes. Mr. Yes. Miss Sadder? Yes. Miss? Yes. Welcome to section 13. This is uh our final public comment section of the evening. This is for comments for
the board um from members of the public on any item whether or not it's on tonight's agenda. All right. Seeing none, do I have any final questions or comments from members of the board or administration? I have one. We were doing a field trip. Bob, you and I were
discussing this. Now, over in the extension, we have the oldest schoolhouse in Camden County. Yeah. And uh you know, we were trying to figure out how to get the kids over there at
least once during their time through school cuz it really is a historical site and it's kind of a cool thing for the kids to see what old one room schoolhouse used to look like. Sure. And you know, Fred Lit walks long in heaven,
but I don't know who's running that now or who has any I I looked into that, you know, and the person that was running it did email me back and told me they weren't running it anymore, but the I think the mayor's office is willing to open it for us, but there's no there's
no um we don't have a guide, right? There's no kind of like somebody that can talk to the kids like there's no formal kind of program in there, right? we're interested in going, you know, um with the Hen Township Historical Society. Maybe I don't think the mayor
brainy to get back to me and said, "Hey, we we'll make that happen for you." But I don't think it's under the umbrella of any specific organization. See, that's a good idea cuz that would seem like Sandy would be perfect for that. You know, historical society, that might be
something to discuss with Randy. Maybe see if uh historical society can have somebody, you know, just go over some of that knowledge with the kids like fifth grade or something. We go there like once a year. I think it's a good
idea. But isn't there's also something isn't there like a uh garden. So there might be some extension on the outside. It was just an Eagle Scout project to clean up that whole back area of the school, too. So that's all the radio,
right? And maybe find somebody that would take responsibility for that. Or even if it were like a history teacher here or somebody, let's say elementary teacher that likes to teach history, you know, and u whatever. But it's a
valuable resource for our kids to see. It wouldn't take long, maybe an hour in there for the kid to let him explain everything. And do you think it would be an You think they would have an hour in there? Do you think it's enough? Do you think they No, whatever. Even if it was 45 minutes or something about the
cemetery on the other side, they had a historical cemetery over there, too. You know, we have it and you know, the town put a lot of money into fixing that up at one time. Yeah. You know, years ago. So um it's a 5 years ago we had a
celebration you and I were there. What was the what was the what was it? Was this something some year anniversary of 100 year anniversary? Yeah. Yeah. Mhm. I mean you know it's a
valuable resource the oldest we brag of the oldest schoolhouse we have it here in township in the whole county the whole area you know South Jersey whatever. And it'd be nice for the kids to go there, you know, I would say fourth or fifth grade once a year, you
know, uh, they go over and, you know, learn about, at least they've seen it. It's something, you know, for them to learn about down to it. Yeah, I like it. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Uh, I did want to congratulate Mr. Cook
who has recently um taken on the role of Camden County School Board Vice President. Correct. Congratulations. Uh, a couple of other reminders just already Dr. Chris Carol already mentioned this. Uh, the community engagement forum on school safety. Our final one of the three is
going to be on the 22nd at 4:00 at Vans Skyver School. So, we hope folks will join us there. We have the pride parade coming up on Thursday, June um 5th. And so, schoolboard members, we all received an email to RSVP for that if you are going to be walking this year. And then
I wanted to give a quick update. Um, I'm having surgery at the end of this month and so I will not be at the Pride parade. I may not be at our June meeting. I may not be at graduation. It just kind of depends on how my recovery is going. So I'm apologizing in advance if I am missing some of our events at
the school board. And I want to say something about that because I'm very proud of Kelly. She's donating kidney to someone. So, it's makes me very proud that our schoolboard president is donating a kidney and God bless you,
Kelly, and thank you. I mean, it's a wonderful thing and good luck to you. Thank you. Anything else? All right. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? So, moved. Second. All in
favor? All right. Thanks all.