Okay, can everybody please rise for the flag salute? Pledge algiance 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. Call the meeting to order. Root of egress. In the event of an emergency, all people may exit left right or left from this room and proceed to an exit door. All all doors will open
from the inside. The New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance
with the provisions of this act, the Hailen Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published in the North Jersey Record Herald News, the board's official newspaper on January 15, 2025. Notices of this meeting indicating date,
time, and place were posted publicly on the door of the main entrance to the to the school and filed with the clerk in the municipality of Hen. Mrs. Serna, Mr. Ketta, Miss Gabro here. Mr.
Gman, Mrs. Johnson here, Mr. Martinez, Miss Mr. Matzo here, Mr. Ramadan. Mrs. Isa here. Thank you. Okay. So, I am going to turn it over to Mr. Waka for the presentation. So, it's always awesome to have a crowd here at
our board meeting, especially when we have uh so many amazing students here. Um, and the reason we have this this crowd is because we're honoring two amazing people that help us and help all the kids at Hen Public School. Uh the
first is our New Jersey Governor's uh educator of the year uh Miss Masioce. By the time that I I I had arrived here at Hen, she was already an established um and highly respected amongst her staff. uh she she not only
became a jack of a whole lot of trades uh but she became a master of a whole lot of trades within our operation whether it be special education uh in class support or basic skills. Uh her attitude's always been both
uh optimistic and and infectious amongst your staff and we're we're just been blessed to have her for as long as she's wanted to work for Halen and we hope she wants to work for Hen so for a very long time. So, Miss Easy, here's our certificate for Miss Masiosi. Okay. Uh, Miss Masio, if you'd like to come
forward, I can certificate. And if you want to give a couple words after Miss, we'd love to hear it. Oops. Uh, oh, I think it fell out. No way. Did I do that? I hope I did not do that. It fell out.
Maybe it's in that list. Yep, we found it. All right. Oh, thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. If you'd like to say a few words, you don't mind if I got my students come up here with me. It's your award. Hi, Noah.
Okay. So, I'm truly honored and humbled to stand before you tonight to receive this award to recognize in this way among so many dedicated, talented, and passionate educators is something I will always remember. First and foremost, I want to thank my students. Their curiosity, resilience, and growth
inspire me every single day. Each one of them brings something unique into the classroom, and teaching them has been the greatest privilege. To the HPS staff, administration, and the board of education members, I thank you. I know there are countless educators deserving of this honor and I'm deeply grateful
that you chose me. To my fellow teachers and colleagues, you are a constant source of support and inspiration. I learn from you every day and I'm proud to work alongside such an incredible team. Christina Caramana, who not only is my co-orker, she is my best friend. We both
know successful teaching is not a solo act. So whether we are striving or just surviving, you make me better. And I wholeheartedly share this with you. Finally, this award is a reminder of the responsibility we carry as educators to shape minds and build character. I
accept it not only with gratitude, but with renewed commitment to keep learning, growing, and giving my best to every student who walks into my classroom. Let this be a reminder that what we do matters. Every encouraging word, every patient explanation, every moment we choose to listen instead of
lecture, it all matters. This award isn't about me. It's about every student who needed someone to believe in them, and every teacher who answered that call. I'm deeply honored and forever grateful. So, thank you. Good. Thank you, Miss Nasiosi. We also have u
our governor's educator educational service provider of the year awards. Um, I had met Miss Varuse a very long time ago when I still had hair and was thin. Um, and I was uh applying I was interviewing for a student assistant counselor when I was an assistant
principal at Manchester. Um, and this candidate came in and she absolutely did a fantastic job the interview. Subsequently, she did a fantastic job at Manchester. So much so that her her passion was to be a guidance counselor. Um, and even though I was at Manchester,
uh, Hailen definitely understood the value she possessed and they hired her as a guidance counselor. Um, she is the the best guidance counselor, one of the best guidance counselors, um, that I've worked with, especially at the middle school level. I think the service she provides is is is timely and and it's
it's skilled and it's dedicated and it's passionate and our school would be less without her. Uh, so I want to say Miss Darus, we appreciate all you've done and congratulations on being this year's educational service provider of the year. Okay, first and foremost, I want to
thank all the members of the board of education and dedicating your time and knowledge to help our students academic careers and making Hilden a community that I am happy to be a part of. I am honored to receive the educational service provider of the year award. I'm grateful for those people who have made
this recognition possible. I feel a lot of gratitude and fulfillment for my professional journey. Being a school counselor comes with with its shares of highs and lows. There have been times where I've stayed past the final bell and moments
of self-doubt that made me question my journey. But through it all, this path this path has taught me that I'm capable of overcoming even the toughest challenges and still showing up fully present for our students. 12 years ago, I started out as
a student assistance coordinator who went between Manchester Regional High School and Hailen Public School. And then later, I had the opportunity to have a more stable position at HPS as the middle school counselor. I can recall my first interview that
started out my journey and I remember one person in particular being there and he continues to be my professional journey. He also feels that his pickle ball skills are better than mine Mr.
Waka. So as elites Halen public school alongside the rest of administration team, I've truly valued the opportunity to collaborate with them and with our dedicated HPS staff to help create a
meaningful and supportive learning environment. So as I continue to grow both professionally and personally, I often come back to a few questions. Questions that might even resonate with all of you. Question one, who do you show up for?
Whether it's at work, at home, or in our community, who do you show up for each day? And question two, just as important, how can you continue to grow and improve? How can I better serve our
students, support my colleagues, and uplift each other every day, and care for myself? These reflections have helped me find purpose in my career, and I hope these questions can help you, too. So, as I stand here, I'm reminded that the work I
do isn't just about one person. It's about the community coming together to educate the next generations to come. I am thankful for this award. I've always shown up to Halden with attention and compassion, and I will continue to do so with the same heartfelt dedication.
Thank you. I'm going to um do like a five minute break so that you all can take pictures. But before I do that, I just want to congratulate both Miss Masiosi and Miss Barou on this important recognition. um you both have contributed tremendously
in your respective areas of special education and uh guidance but most importantly just being there for the students and helping them grow and learn and feel um cared for. So thank you for that and um you know keep keep going
keep going. Thank any other board members would like to say anything before we take a little break. Just thank you for everything that you do. Okay. So, we do have to do a motion to take a five minute break. So, can somebody make a motion? Motion to second. Okay. Motion by M. Martina,
second by Miss Johnson. Um, do we have to do a roll call? All in favor? Okay. So, let's do a five minute break. So, take some pictures and then roll. Second. Moved by Mr. Martinez, seconded by Mr. Matco. All in favor? I. Okay,
folks. You're you're welcome to stay. We're going to continue on with the meeting. So, you're welcome to stay, but we won't take it personally if you if you want to move on. All right. Um, yes. And if we could have
some um if you want to continue your conversations, uh, please go right ahead. But if we just ask that you move out to the hallway. Thanks, guys. Thank you. Okay. So, next on the agenda is um our
board goals. So, before we vote on the board goals, I just want to give a little bit of uh background. Um let's see here. Well, you know what? It doesn't matter.
I can just read them and then we'll we'll just and if anyone has any questions. Really, I just wanted to see if anybody had any questions before we voted on them. So, um, aren't they from last year? There is one new
one. So, one being like the I'm going to read it. I'm going to read it. Um, all right. You guys, bye. Thank you. See you tomorrow. You know, Mr. Can you go ahead and do your report first because um I
had some information here correspondence. Yeah. Then we'll just Sure. I'll be happy to and then we'll we'll just go back and so first thing is this bill in case you're wondering cannot be pickle ball. Um second thing
is I want to thank board president ESA. I want to begin my report by once again thanking our teacher of the year, Miss Masioce and Miss Varuse, our ed service provider of the year. And I also want to thank the uh entire team that uh look through all the teachers that were
nominated and and selected two great candidates. Uh I want to take a few moments to review certain aspects of this agenda. Under 9.6, six, you will see the adoption of an advanced mathematics program at MA at uh at held
the public. We were able to restructure the format of our middle school math program in order to allocate resources to add this particular class to our course offerings. Uh now, when I was a teacher at PA Tech, it was sort of easy to propose a new course offering because
there must have been over 50 people English teachers in my department. Um, for smaller districts and high school districts, we see that most of the time districts look to offer or add course offerings. They often come in the form of pre-prescribed things like an AP
test, an AP course, or an honors course. At the middle school level, especially at the middle school level for a district our size, it's a bit harder to look to expand course offerings we provide for students simply because of logistics. That's why I'm very proud that our
scheduling team and our math coach and our administrative team was able to allocate resources so that we can now begin providing advanced math options for students in seventh grade. I know this begs the question, what will happen when the students get to grade 8? That's a great question and the answer will be
we'll look to offer a similar program for eighth graders the following school year provided that we see the sort of value in this program that we envisioned and provided that we logistically could support such a program. Nonetheless, I think that this added course option is a boon for the district. Um, and it's
something we're proud of. We are also fortunate, of course, that Mr. Spazado is here with us tonight. He did a lot of the work helping set up some of the parameters and structures of this program. Um, so if the board has questions, I'll answer it, but Mr. Spazado might be in a position to offer
us even greater insight. Uh, under personnel, you'll see a few different hiders. We talked rather extensively about our budget. And we talked a whole lot about our reduction of over 800,000 in aid. And we talked about how it's a good thing that we were
able to take this sort of hit financially and not look to lay off staff members. That's a big deal considering that it seems that when you look in the newspaper every day, there's there's one district laying off 40 or another district laying off 100. Um, one of the things that we've looked
to do or try our best to do when possible is to reduce operational costs through what's known as breakage. Breakage refers to the difference in cost between a staff member that left the district and a staff member that was replaced to hire
them. Overall, a sign of a healthy district is that most of the time you want to see breakage result in a negative number as this will mean that the negative number res represents the reduction in salary costs for the district. This is something that I
actively factor in when I negotiate salaries with new staff members. Um, and it's something I talk to Jen and Dave a lot when when I'm we're talking about staff negotiations. On this agenda, you will see that we have two staffing positions that are being filled. If the employees that had
left had been here the next year, the total cost of their employment would have been about $170,300 before benefits. The cost of the teachers replacing next them next year will be $140,330 before benefits. This
represents a breakage of almost about $30,000 in savings for the district. and that's a very healthy number and we're going to continue to look to gain breakage whenever the opportunity becomes available when hiring staff. Uh when we negotiated the last contract
with the HA, uh we reviewed our salary matrix. Our salary matrix showed exactly what we would have wanted it to show. You don't want to have a district where the majority of employees are at the top of the salary guide because being topheavy means that you'll be able to
have less total teachers because the teachers that you have just simply are more expensive. Additionally, you don't want to have a district whereby everyone is at the beginning steps of the salary guide because this will mean that a there must be a reason why they wouldn't
stick out around very long. B, teachers at the lower steps are often great, but they are by nature less experienced than their peers who've been doing the job for decades. And C, when you make an investment in staff training, you want to be able to see that investment reach
fruition. If you don't if your staff members aren't staying with you very long, then then all you're really doing is training staff with skills that are only going to benefit other students in other districts. Our staffing matrix shows that we have a rather even distribution of staff as compared to
most other schools that I've worked with. We also don't see a whole lot of gaps and we basically see what we want to see which is a 45 degree angle in terms of where most staff members fall within that salary matrix. So that's my report tonight. And lastly, go next.
That's it. Thank you, Mr. WA. Any questions for Mr. WA? Um, two question basically two questions. um with the um I didn't hear the beginning of the math program set up, but how would be how
would we be allocating the money for that? So, it's going to be no additional cost to the district. Um Dave, do you want to talk for to the board about how you could reallocate resources? We So, what we're trying to do, and this is that existed uh before CO, we had a
class like this many years ago before I was here. We're looking to bring it back. um we don't need to pay for a curriculum or books. We already have those. We're essentially having u one of our middle school math teachers would be teaching one class of advanced seventh grade math. This would benefit benefit us in two ways. Number one, we would
take about 20 to 24 of our kids based on teacher recommendation grades, a series of of benchmarks, and we would put them in this advanced class. That does two things. Number one, it makes the other seventh grade math classes a little bit smaller because the issue is we have
certain students who are their test scores are already exceeding expectations and the math teachers can only differentiate so much when we have other kids in the class who need extra support and they have to so it's it's hard for teachers to pace their classes. It's not the end of the world, but it's a problem we can solve. It cost us
nothing and it's going to benefit number one. the extra help for the kids who are in the regular math classes will then hopefully increase their test scores and then the kids who already are exceeding expectations only increase that much more. Um, some districts may have like level one or level two ELA and math
classes. In a small school, it's really tough to do. Um, it creates a lot of stress the math master schedule. So, I think this solution definitely it helps our master schedule, helps our students and it gives us an opportunity possibly for eighth grade depending how it goes. Open up an advanced advanced math eighth grade.
Before you ask, oh, go ahead. Go ahead, Mr. Ramadan. Jeez. The student ratio to the teacher, how many in the class? Right now, ELA and math because they're double blocks or double periods are small. They're they're small classes. History, science, PE, some of the specials are going to be bigger. Um, I
don't have the exact number of math off top of my head. I was doing observations last week for ELA, 16, 17. Some are as small as 12. Depends on the on the period, obviously. Um, the goal is, like I said, to take about 20 to 24 of the advanced students out, put them in this advanced math
class, and then make everything else a little bit smaller. And I had a question. So, you mentioned that there was a class like this before CO and I remember that, but if I remember correctly, the students went to Manchester. Is that right? They were
years ago when I was working at Manchester as a school counselor. I remember they used to come from I'm not sure if it was Prospect Park 2, but they would definitely come from Hailen and they came for algebra 1 and they came for I believe it was French or Spanish. Yeah, it was it was it two periods.
Okay. I'm not sure if this was something else but I know when I was speaking to some of the math teachers and Ramos who's fantastic. She was mentioning that I believe something of this nature when I'm talking about this proposal existed in years past but I can't speak to that because I would so this but this would definitely be here problem that we had
with what I was at Manchester I'm able to attest to this is that sometimes just getting from Halen to Manchester at 9 in the morning is is a rather arduous task with all the traffic um and what we found in Manchester when I was there a lot of times we have the Hen students kind of
waiting for their bus to pick them up um with and we really wouldn't have anything to supervise because our teacher would have to teach a class the very next period. So that became a burden and then the transportation time took you know took time away from Halton's kids getting back to period three. Um you know if if we could do
this in house we we thought it was was a good idea and I think that with the more advanced students you know what we do is we look to kind of load our English and our math classes because they're the tested classes. we we we want to get them to be the smallest ratio of class
size. Whereas a history class, for as much as history is important, it's not a tested subject. So you might have, you know, upwards of 25 to 30 kids in a class like that. And and there's a reason that that that we do that. I think that if you had an advanced class of students and if you had a class size
24, 25 or 26 like David mentioned, um these are the students that are more likely to be intrinsically motivated. of whereas I I don't think the the larger class size for those particular kids would be as as as adverse as as it would be for everyone else.
I think it's a great program. Super excited about it. Go ahead. In fact, a great one. Is there also since most of the math classes they require student to be at a specific um level, is there requirements for this also or just um
what? Well, part of the rubric is they have to be already meeting or exceeding expectations on test scores and but the goal is to get them from what is it level three or four meeting to now exceeding level five. That's the goal is they're already they're already good. Our goal is to make them great. Yes. So
these so the highest score you get on the test is a five. So Dave saying we want to target the kids that are scoring threes and fours and then get them in this program. So our number we have a handful of fives. If we can get more than that, it could really help us on the on the state. It's also going to
contribute to the state also testing as well. I think so. I I may have missed this when you were uh describing it, but is is it going to start? Are you going to be looking at the end of this year to so that they can start right in September? Yes, we want to start we want to build master schedule started September 1st. Okay. So, we're asking
this board to approve any course has to have its own curriculum. So, we're asking the board to approve the curriculum so we can move forward because we can't pass out um permission slips and and go ahead with the final, you know, scheduling until we I'd like to add a comment too like I I was reviewing the curriculum yesterday
and I was so excited because I recently did like math and college and I'm like, "Wow, this is somewhat what I'm doing." So, it's it's really going to prepare them for those states when they get to that. Thanks for saying that because I know you know Mr. Roman did a really our math coach, she did a really good job putting a lot of work into this. So, I'll let her know that. Patricia would
be very happy to hear that. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Any other questions about the the math the advanced math pass? Thank you so much. Um, did you have another question? Yes. Um, with the replacing of employees, um, you said it was 170,000
with benefits, right? No, without preto. I don't I don't know what the the two employees that left. I don't know for sure what their family situation is. I don't know if they had the family benefit plan or the the single or the married. I I don't know. All right. So, and then with the um with the one the way you're replacing it, it's uh
140,000. That's without benefits. If you Yeah, both are with both both totals I gave you were pre-benefit, right? Um so, if you add up the salaries of the two people that are on the agenda tonight for full-time teaching positions, um there's about a $30,000 net deduct reduction from where
they were before. As if those staff members had stayed and got their 3% raises. Mr. Walker when when we budgeted for this when you say it's about 100 employee roughly is this is starting the teacher out let's say for the sake of the argument stage one
two and three. So that's a great question. So you know what I look to do is see how many years of experience they have and where the market's at. Um like a a middle school science teacher. That's going to be the hardest thing for me to get. I think it's fair to say. Or maybe a special education math teacher. So the market's going to be different
from there than, you know, we love our kindergarten teachers, but the market for a kindergarten teacher is much different. Um, so when when you see certain positions on on on a an agenda that are lower, it's more likely because that's a where I had a whole lot more candidates to to kind of screen and go
for and the market was less. Um, and but certain like certain special ed positions that the market's always going to be super high for that, right? And this is um agenda. Which agenda item is? No, this is Mr. WA's report, but the person there should be aware of a personnel or right
there should be two. There should be a science and a uh science 8.14 and then you were questioning 8.2. 8.2 and 8.14 are both they're both new staff members, right?
That's my report. Okay. Okay. Any other questions for Mr. Waka? Okay. All right. So, going back to the board reports and you can see I get lost without my notes, but what I really wanted to just do was ex talk a little bit about the recommended action steps
for the new board goal. So, we're continuing with the uh the two the first two goals. Increase commissioner attendance at board and committee meetings and prioritize dynamic and creative approaches to board professional development which will foster teamwork and increase commissioners knowledge. We're going to
continue those. Um the new goal that we added was uh schedule updates on district goals in order to maintain consistent tracking and accountability. So, you know, after our discussions at the retreat, you know, we we felt that
um it was important to give attention to our strategic plan. Um that's what drives, you know, the that's what drives the district. That's what drives Mr. Waka's um initiatives when we're doing his evaluation. We're looking at that
strategic plan and we should be considering that too when we're thinking about our own goals, our board goals. So, we decided to add that one in. and there were some recommended action steps that will just kind of help us move this new goal
along. Um so, um they were in the report, but I'll just go over them really quickly. Um schedule three formal updates per school year. And these are just suggestions. We could do it twice, but you know, three is not a bad idea. Fall, winter, spring, um during board
meetings. And then um Mr. Waka would give us a report which would So there's a couple of things that Mr. Waka is going to do and there's a couple of things that we are going to do as a board. He would give us a report um that would include some metrics and implementation challenges. So based on
that we can dis we can discuss recommendations. You know the the strategic plan is a five-year plan. It's set uh signed and sealed you know two years ago. But we can recommend perhaps um you know how to adjust to to help
achieve those goals. Um and then you know lastly this would be something really for Mr. Waka to publicize updates to the community members. Any updates that were to be made to the strategic plan especially in terms of like action steps um to to communicate to that to
the community via the you know all the ways that he that are we communicate with the community um website, social media, newsletter, how however. So that was the thought behind you know that third new goal. Um but these are these
are our goals. So, um, does anybody have before we vote on them, does anybody have any questions? Uh, I just have a like increase commissioner attendance. I mean, is that really a goal? Yes, it is. And it's our elected officials. We should be
here. I mean, that shouldn't be a part of it. I'm it it shouldn't be, but you know, we need to we need accountability. So, and what this is, right? Two years in a row. This is two years in a row. The same thing. Yes. So, you know, if
you remember in January, I gave some stats on the attendance of board members and over the past year. So, it's really been a year and a half because we did we established that after we did our first board retreat was like which was in June. So, it's been like a year and a
half that we've been um we've had this goal and you know the stats were they were okay but they could be better. They really could. And if it's a goal, we're going to be paying it, you know, we're going to pay attention to it. We're going to be we're we're going to be
accountable for it. So, um, yeah, it really it shouldn't be a goal, but it is because we need to be accountable for it and we need to be watching it. So, and it's not and as I I've said this many times, it's not to be punitive. It's not to be like, well, you're not here, so you know, this is
going to happen. It's not about that. The reason why we want everyone to be here is because when you're here, we can work as a team. We can work better together. We, you know, we uh discuss more. We hash things out more. It's so,
but you got to be here to do that. So, that's why, you know, it's it was important enough to make it a goal and and we're going to keep it on so that we can keep watching and see, you know, how we do. So, I did that. I did that like uh I checking with the stats. I did that
like in January. So in June or maybe like after all the craziness of June like July I can do another check-in and we can you know see how we're doing. Now granted we have some different board members you know so that's a factor we have to think about that too but we'll
check in again in July and see how we're doing. Um and hope you know I hope that we that we you know will have made some progress and and again you know understanding that people are busy they work they have families they have
commitments of course you know but um that's why this is a goal just to so that we really keep it top of mind to just to be here and especially in person that's always most effective when we're here in person. Um, okay. Any other
questions? Okay. So, then let's vote. Can I have a motion to move the boards? Second. Okay. So, moved by Miss Quadrad, seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll call, please. Miss Mrs. Cerna, yes. Miss Kadrad, yes.
Mrs. Johnson, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. Miss Mr. Moxel, yes. Mr. Ramadan, yes. Yes, Mrs. Yes. Thank you. Okay, great. So, we have our new board goals for the for the year. All righty. Uh, moving on
to correspondence. Can I have a motion to uh accept correspondence? Second. A move by Mr. Moscow, seconded by Miss Padra. Roll call, please. Mrs. Serna, yes. Mrs. Morado, yes. Mrs. Johnson,
yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. Mr. Maxwell, yes. Mr. Ramadan. I have a question before on record if possible on the letter of resignation here indicates that um Miss Frank I think she's resigning a position and we're we're taking it back
as a teacher. What prompted this move? If what's a substitute teacher? Substitute teacher. Yeah. So what prompted this? I don't want to get too far because it's it's I I don't know what the the the rice law is with AIDS, but I do know that our district makes an
effort to look to when possible not provided an employee an opportunity an aid position to work more than 29.5 hours a month a week because we don't want to pay benefits because the benefits are very expensive. Um I believe that this uh change stemmed from
um the possible concern that if her old schedule was kept as is um we we could ever that that threshold in employee benefits if you're in the family plan that's like 30 or $40,000 maybe even more. Right. Um so we we look to avoid that when when possible. Um and I
believe that was the impetus of that change. So this I'm sorry this will alter the hours as well. Are the hours going to be within the guidelines? This will make it so it's below that 30. We want to be we 30 is the mark we but Lama's rule and LMA is very firm with this rule. Hers is
29.5. It's actually that's federal law from Obamacare is 30. Lama's law is a little harder. But, you know, I think it even though it may be less hours, but I think that
going from an afterare caregiver to a substitute teacher is it seems to me like a trans like a like like a move up because you have to have cred you have to be credentialed to be a substitute teacher. So, that's a good thing. I think this is a positive thing for her and I I hope that elected to agree to
this like so it's not like there was any you know but she it resignation that she's willing to come back to actare right that's why it's confusing I asked about that question that she may be willing to you know but we're we're only
going to hire to to the point of less than 29.5 hours per week and you know if if being a sub maybe she's u encouraged to continue her education and you know get full certification or you know that's great. So I think it's um that's
a I liked when I saw that because I seemed to me like some growth you know like professional growth. So we wish her the best and definitely employee of good standing. Yeah. Yeah. We wish her the the very best and success on her career path. Yes.
Yes. Mrs. Isa. Yes. Okay. So, that was correspondence. Can I have a motion to accept prior minutes? I need a first. So, I I'll do I'll take
yours. Mr. Martinez move and Mr. Moscow. Seconded. Roll call, please. Mr. Moscow. Move by Mr. Mos. And seconded by Mr. Martinez. Mr. Cerna. Yes. Miss Gado,
I'm going toain from Mrs. Johnson. Yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. Mr. Melo, yes. Mr. Ramadan, yes. Mrs. Yes. Okay. Uh, can I have a motion to open the floor to
citizens on agenda items only? So moved. Second. Moved by Mr. Uh, Martinez, seconded by Mr. Mes. Uh, roll call. All in favor? I No. And I'm Mr. MCO. I'm sorry. Moved by Mr. Mr. Ramadan. Mr.
Ramadan. I'm going to go. Okay. Sorry. Okay. And then we can do all in favor, right? All in favor? I. Okay. So, the floor is open to anyone who would like to address the board on agenda items. Anybody online? Any hands, Mr. Miller?
Okay. Can I have a motion to close? So moved by Mr. Ronco, seconded by Mr. Martinez. All in favor? Okay. So, let's move on now to committee reports and I will start with my report. Um, so good evening everyone. Thank you
for joining us. Uh, I want to start off with the board retreat that we held last week. Uh, thank you to our NJSBA county rep. Kelly Mitchell for facilitating the retreat and to the board members who participated. We had really good discussions. Um, as you should have read in the summary report that was shared
with the entire board in addition to the board goals, we talked about some possible initiatives that we'll discuss more in depth during new and old business tonight. As discussed before voting on our 2025 board goals, we added one new board goal to replace the 2024
virtual attendance policy goal that has been completed. Uh it's a good practice to have board goals that will keep us on track and always working to improve our performance, which in the end helps our district move forward, which is our ultimate goal. Um secondly, I want to
for the record congratulate um our teacher of the year, Miss Patina Mastiosi, and educational services provider of the year, Miss Christine Villerus. Uh I am sure that in their respective areas of special education and middle school guidance, they have made a positive impact on our students
and the HPS community. It's always a pleasure to acknowledge the hard work and accomplishments of staff who go above and beyond. So we thank them both and congratulate them on this wonderful recognition. Um, and not to take anything away from Miss Masiosi and Miss Villar, but in
recognition of the teacher appreciation week that we recently passed, I want to acknowledge all of HPS's dedicated and hardworking teachers. Um, in my opinion, they go above and beyond, you know, all the time to make sure that our children have everything they need to learn and grow in a positive and nurturing
environment. So, we thank all of our teachers and administration and staff. Um, I also, and I'll leave this in too for the record. I also want to congratulate Miss uh Shahina Farooq, who has transitioned from the role of caregiver in our afterare program to that a full-time substitute. Um, it's
always good to see professional growth within our staff. I'd like to give a shout out to Miss Nasnto, the middle school music teacher, and the HPS orchestra and band. They don't always get a spotlight, but they work really hard. um their last
performance of the school year which took place earlier today was um in the form of an open rehearsal and it was delightful and um very spontaneous. It was fun and they all you know showcased uh the skills that they've been practicing all year long. Um and then
you know as we head into Memorial Day weekend I just want to thank all of our school and community members who have served in the military and remember especially all those who have fallen in the line of duty. Um lastly, uh a reminder to u all the schoolboard members, if you have not
yet, please complete the uh superintendent evaluation by May 30th. Um and that is my my report. Any questions? Okay. So, let's move on. Um
personnel and management, Mr. Martinez. Um agenda items. Okay. curriculum and technology. Mr. Ramadan agenda items only but special thanks to the people that contributed to the uh to the bring in the math curriculum and
also the the equity the comprehensive um equity plan agenda items. Thank you. Uh policy and public relations Mr. Martinez, agenda items, security and safety. Miss Johnson,
agenda items, uh, community engagement, Miss CuadraD. Um, first I want to say that I'm glad that we were able to bring both summer camps back this year. Um, I know that's very helpful to parents. Um, and agenda
items on Yeah. And finance and physical plant. Mr. Msville. Um we met Monday discuss billing um and on the agenda items.
Okay. Okay. State and county miss. Um okay. So, the legislative was out on spring break, but they did return earlier in May, and
they did approve a couple new items. Um, one of which I'm very excited for, um, because they're going to be reviewing chronic absencism. Um, and that was supported by the NJSBA. There are a couple other things, um, like protecting student data
that was approved, um, water safety and IEP meeting guidelines, which is also great. um some some of the things that are happening in our county. On the May 28th, we have the P County SBA hybrids uh spring celebration, which is also
going to be celebrating the county teacher of the year. Um and the featured speaker uh will be um Bernardet Orsa, which is a Spanish teacher from Manchester. Um they're also going to be holding the um executive board elections
during that meeting which we have our very own um George Gizman as a candidate for the first vice president. Um and then I also will be recognized for fulfilling my requirement for the new board um member certification.
Um thank you. We also have a spring virtual conference coming up on May 30th at 9:00 a.m. That's virtual. So you guys can sign up for that. Um and there's also an AI conference which will be um held on 66
at the Mercer County Community Conference Center. Um, I did also see that there is a new grant that's available called um COP school violence prevention and it's a grant that's going to help uh schools
fund safety um school safety technologies such as access control, communication technologies, and cameras that as needed to secure buildings. Um, it is a two-step application and the first deadline is June 18th. So, we might want to look into that. Um the
second deadline is June 26. What else? And that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Um I do have a couple of oh actually one item regarding county and state. So I attended the delegate assembly virtually
on May 10th and I just wanted to pass along the resolutions that were passed because I thought they were good resolutions and they were interesting. Um just a quick summary. Um so the first one was presented by the Woodbury Board of Education. Um and they were uh
encouraging promotion of student participation in inter scholastic esports and the awarding of varsity letters by local boards. So, um, that one, you know, people have an opportunity to, um, speak in favor of it
or speak against it. And everybody was very much in favor of this one. And they, you know, a couple of people said,, uh, and these are all board members who were there throughout the state. They said that um they didn't think they they wouldn't have been for that maybe like 10, 20 years ago, but
they see what a great um impact this has on students. you know, students who maybe aren't physically um athletic, but they are really good at their video games and they're really into it and they're competitive and it gives them like a community, you know,
and like a they have a team. So, I thought that was such a nice one and that passed you um like very they they were tallying the votes and that one passed, you know, by a long shot. The second one um was presented by the Franklin Township Board of Education and
that was to in order to address the nursing shortage. They were asking to modify the school nurse um endorsement criteria by eliminating the bachelor's degree and specific New Jersey Department of Ed uh curriculum
requirements and suggesting instead um school specific classes. So that one there was a lot of um people were contesting that. So, you know, there were people on both sides. People were saying that um you don't really need the BA. There are plenty of nurses who are
LPNs. They don't have a they're not RNs. They don't have a bachelor's degree and they can do the job. They just need the specific training. And once you're in the job, you don't need that credential necessarily. And you know, this was all in the with the mind of addressing the
teacher the nursing shortage. But then there were some people who were against it. and and actually interestingly a couple of those people were nurses so I don't know if they feel like well we got a bachelor's degree so you should get a bachelor's degree but in any case uh it passed narrowly it narrowly passed um
and then the third one was um presented by the kitten board of education uh and they proposed um a resolution that would support the inclusion of excused absences for students taking necessary steps to enter the skilled trades
So um you know they would be they would be allowed like an excused a limited number of excused absences for activities like you know internships or apprenticeships or um even interviews things like that. So and that one was
pretty unanimous. That one people were very much in favor of. So and of course there were some clarifying questions because people wanted to know well what's limited? How much is limited? But um in the end that one everyone was pretty much in favor of that one and I thought that was a good one too. Um so
and then then lastly they just elected the new um NJSBA officer. So the new president is Tamisha Smith from the Nolton Township. The vice president um for county activities is Barry Walker from Bridgewater Ritton. The vice
president for finance is uh Dr. Tom Connors from Piscataway. The vice person vice president for legislation and resolutions is Shantaa J Jackson from Neptune. And then and then the immediate past president is Karen Cordelino. So it
was a good it was a good um you know meeting good delegate assembly and it was I thought those resolutions were interesting. So I just wanted to share them. So we're going to go to Marino and then we'll go back to you Miss Austin. Mr. Marino, do you have anything to report? No no no report tonight. Okay.
And I apologize Miss August. So sorry I skipped the business administrator report. Go right ahead. Yeah, it's just a recap. My report is a recap of our finance committee meeting. We discussed um the security vest bureau award that's on the agenda tonight and we also did
discuss the um grant that Mrs. Kadrados spoke about. I did some initial looking into the grant and some of the details of the grant won't wouldn't favor us long term. So um such as the grant does allow you to um cover costs for the SRO
but it has to be you have to have not had it in your budget and you also we can hire another SRO but the grant will have to be filled out every year or there's no telling that we will get the money again the next year and then obviously there was some equipment that
you can use but those we discussed the equipment that um the grant does cover and we don't think it's good for um um HPS. So the finance team discussed that. So we did look at that. All right. And the other item we discussed were
um the award of the Hback um bid that's on the agenda tonight and we were um discuss um the central pack engineering was the lowest bidder and um we discussed how the bidding process work as far as the review by the attorney and
when the attorney needs to be involved in the part. Specifically, we um were speaking about the RFPs, which today was the day we did all of our RFPs today. So, every hour we had the auditor, the architects, the security services and
legal services. Now that we received the um the proposals, I will go through them. I we already um looked at the prices and we'll do a comparison and then we I'll discuss this with the finance team and we'll go from there. Okay. And the other things we discussed is a few are the facility updates and
the agenda items. And that was it. Any questions for Miss August? I just have one question for the HVAC um contract is for the upgrades. Is that for the school entirety or or specific classrooms? It's just selected classroom. So we're going to have
another um Hback for the rooftop over by the gym and some more classroom. So I have the specific classroom numbers in my notes. um at um on my notes, but it is selective class. I think this I could be wrong, but I believe you know like
when you're in the second floor, there's like that kind of above the gym, there's those classes that don't have like a window because they're in the middle. Um some of the classes office there, we notice that the air is it could be hot in there and the air flow doesn't go as as as well as we want it to. Um and and
I believe also not the not the new prekwing, but probably the old one. I think that might be another area we're focusing on, but I don't know which one is which off the top of my head. Yeah, there's a few classrooms that are being um um updated or upgraded because there was like imbalance of heat and cold in
those unless there's more questions. Okay, thank you Miss. Okay, so now let's go back to personnel and uh management. Um, Mr. Martinez uh
8.1 8.15 second. I would I second but I have a question about 8.13. Okay. So do you want to second it and then you ask your question before you
second it I have Okay. Okay. So when we when we get to you Okay. So moved by Mr. Martinez, seconded by Mr. Matco. Roll call, please. Okay, Mrs. Cerna, um I have a few questions. I sent an email, didn't get a
response, so I'm still um waiting for it from Mr. There's a bunch of them that were forwarded to you by Miss Austin. Is there a question you may answer? Well, they're all in your email. Do you have them? Uh like it's I asked
about 8.2 too. And they said that you are the only one that can answer these questions. I'll answer any question you want. Just ask. Go ahead. Ask your questions. We just go up to like 187, 811, 813, 81. There's a lot.
That's why I sent it early. Well, 8.2. Look, we need a middle school science teacher. It's going to be one of the harder things to find. So, that that's that's a big one. Um try to just the um maybe this this answers Mr.
Mat's question as well. Um our afterare has been running in the black um since about 2018. Um that the the certified angels there they're the two programs we we run that that that generate revenue for us
and they're wellrun. Um we have a staff member M uh the staff member in question under 8.13 has been a pillar of the community and a pillar of that particular program for a number of years. Um there's that program is
communicates with the 4C program to receive revenue because certain qualify for free afterare services kit. Um they also give documents to show their justification for that. there's staffing um there's employee hourly shoot there's a lot of things that that person would
do and when an organization's run as well as Mr. Treat has run it and he says that for a limited amount of time the valued employee can can perform certain tasks from home. I'm going to I'm going to trust that and that's why for a limited time I approve that. But what will she be able to approve
from home in I'm assume that the purchasing um the supplies that they're going to need the staffing that they might need to do. I know Mr. treated is left. I get you an exact report of what she what the specific duties are, but um if don't Mr.
Torino takes care of that thing, well, Miss Jerry runs the the the dayto-day. Jeff oversees it the way I would oversee the operation of Hen whereas, you know, whereas I don't kind of run the day-to-day in the middle school or Miss Palzano's uh prek through second grade. Um, you know, I think that for I think
it's for the the cost and for the fact that, you know, it's if it was an organization or an operation that did not run did not consistently earn money, then I would say, let's take a look into it. But if I'm going to trust my my opinions that I get from staff, my from
Mr. when it says that this staff member can perform a certain amount of tasks are requisite from home. I'm sorry. Active care is essentially babysitting because we have working parents that are right. It's a service that we offer
parents which is a huge benefit to the school community. So if she's home, how is she taking care of the kids here? She's running that overall program. Parents pay money each month for afterare. So there's accounting of that. There's taking the money, depositing checks. I don't know which ones she was doing from home, but I think it was the right move to say. Yes. If it was like a
time, but if we start have paying people from home, isn't that going to start a trend with teachers, nurses, like I don't feel like we could and also I think the big the big factor that is like the key word here is maximum of five hours. It doesn't mean every day
we're we're going to approve five hours. It means that you know if Mr. Trio in his best professional opinion uh believes that there's two or three hours of work that's going to be done that particular day. That's what I trust he'll sign off on. Um I'm happy to share with you the exact signin sheets that we get from this employee. Um but it's
going to be this that's the maximum amount. Doesn't mean every day that we're going to build the full amount, but we're trying to save money. Trying to save money now. And that's why there's a maximum. We even took away our sandwiches. Well, so but in in fairness, if uh if
Miss uh Pelli isn't doing it, I just call her Miss Jerry. If she's not doing it, um it's going to fall to somebody else. Somebody else has to You could say we could have a secretary do it, but I got one secretary who's awaiting fairly significant surgery and is not with us.
I have another s secretary who's out on a on a surgery as well. Um, we only have four full-time secretaries and one part-time. Um, we're down two. Um, and and things need to get done and and you could say it's a babysitting service,
but to the parents who who drop their kids off there, I think they would view it as a lot more than that. They would view it as, you know, people taking care of my kids and offering me a service for for a rate that's it's super duper economical. Um, I doubt you're going to beat the price that we get. And a big
part of the success of the program is this particular employee's been here for forever. And you know there's I get that understandable. So again it's I'll show you the time se. It's not going to be five hours a day but it's up to five hours. How much purchasing do we do for
the afterare? But it also says the 4C paperwork pay for it for a lot of the students. Yeah. No, but the salary. No, no, no. What what Miss Jerry is doing is the 4C paperwork, the recordkeeping, the
tracking, the attendance, and I saw something else over here. Um, so and and having somebody else do it is really just robbing Peter to pay Paul because now you're going to take away the the time that they need to work
on something else. Um, I mean, that I don't think we're not going to land this plane at at 2400 total. we're going to land this plane a lot less. I want to put a number in this we won't be able to exceed. But you know, if if Mr. When Torino took over that program, it was it
was it was losing money. He was losing significant money every year and it was was a a drag on our overall budget. Um he's he's turned it around. So I'm going to trust him when he says that this is something that's important for his organization. She's back already, correct? I believe today she comes back.
Yeah. Yeah. So it was just for like a specific Yeah. a couple weeks 20 what 20 time frame what what date maybe late I don't have in front of me late April to to yesterday 22nd to May 21st
that's after she used up the 52 days that yeah right it was co time I say hey this is co time everybody exactly everybody was we're also but the idea that like it's going to motivate other staff like we were one
school in the county said, "Listen, we're open all the time." Like, "I think everyone here knows that like like we we were open more than anybody in CO." So, we're not looking to go to um remote options unless there's a really good reason. And I thought this was out and
and you know, and I do want to just say that the afterare is not babysitting. I think that's downplaying it a lot. And I think that's you know, not being fair. Parents actually need we're we are only open from 8 to 3. we have the extra time
because people work. Yeah, I know. But just because they it's open doesn't and the parents need it doesn't mean that it's babysitting. There's teachers who do afterare who work with the students on and you know on their homework and there's very specific activities. I'm going to think it's unfair to say that
that's babysitting. You know, it's not 8.13 is about someone who works here and is going to be at home and getting paid. It's not about babies at all. I know, but I'm addressing the comment that I thought was a little insulting to the It is insulting. It's not babysitting. It's
not babysitting, and it's insulting to the staff who who do that service, who provide that service. That That's my answer to the question. Okay. All right. So, Okay. So, um Okay. Do you have more questions or do you are you going to vote? Um 8.13. No,
everything else. I didn't go roll yet. I think I got lost conversation. Okay. All right. So, yes to everything except 8. Okay. Um, Miss Gad, I have a question on
8.5 the shepher on the trip itself. Um, it says it's a trip to winninghouse field trip. What rate is that for? So I think Dave, which house won this year? Pythagoras. The Pythagoras won this year. So I guess the the house that wins, we we we let them I Where do they
go? The jump house or the air thing? Dave and Busters award. Dave Busters grade six. So this is the reward because the house system is going to reward you for good grades, good attendance, um doing well in the house events, um getting caught doing random acts of kindness. So this is the reward they
chose. Okay. Thank you. And yes to everything, Mrs. Johnson. Uh, no to 8.13. Yes to everything else. Mr. Martinez, yes.
Mr. Matzo, yes. No to 8.13. Mr. Ramadan. Two questions if possible, please. Um, 8.6 to 8.9. with all that sick leave, the family leave, the medical leave, how is that going to
impact uh or what's the impact on our students since we know quite a few people within specific time frame is almost the same at this point. Everything is going to be different, but I I think we're lucky that we have two first year assistant principles are here tonight. They're excellent. Um and then
they're very good at, you know, amending and adapting where where staff members are throughout the day. Um, ideally we'd want to be in a position where I could tell a staff member, hey, you're going to teach this class September and you're going to teach it all the way through. Um, but when you're an organization this
size and and it's it's very difficult to get subs and we have to be creative. Uh, so we're going to be okay. We're going to get through it. We this is like not when you operate a school like this size, you're going to get things like this every year for as long as we've been here. Um, but I I you know, we've
seen the test scores go up the last two years, so I think we're going to be okay. And the second question, do can most of these employee qualify for shortterm disability based on they have to buy into it on their own? We don't does any
public employee we don't offer um disability. They would have to buy a or whatever um credential on their own. We don't we don't actually then um I vote yes on all except 813.
Hey Mrs. Yes. Okay. Uh curriculum and technology uh Mr. Ramadan. Okay. Motion to move to second. No wait. Let him do the let him do the agenda items.
Motion to move 9.1 to 9.6. Second. Okay. So moved by Mr. Ramadan, seconded by Mr. Modskco. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna. Yes. Mr. Dorado. Yes. Mrs. Johnson. Abstain from 9.1. Yes.
Mr. Martinez. Yes. Mr. Moxel. Yes. You have to assign to anything. No, I'm not. Mr. Ramadan. Yes. Mrs. Isa. Yes.
Okay. Moving down to community engagement. Majo. Um, I'd like to move 12.1 and 12.2. Second. By Miss Pado, seconded by Mr. Moscow. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna. Yes. Miss
Gad, yes. Mrs. Johnson, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. Mr. Matzo, yes. Mr. Ramadan on verification on 12.1 for the summer program. This is a revenue generating or this is retain. This is summer camp.
This is not the academic one that we offer. This is a camp for parents that decide to pay out of pocket because they want that service. Yes, Mrs. Yes. Okay, let's go to invest it new and old
business. Um, I have a couple of things, but does anybody Oh, finance. Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. Finance, Mr. Moscow. All right. Uh, 13.1 through 134. Have a second. Second. Moved by Mr.
Moscow, seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll call, please. Mrs. Sarta, um, again, I sent over questions that were not answered. You got to send M. You got to send it to me, though. It was forwarded to you. You said, if you want a question to ask the chief school administrator, you got to ask me. Uh, but what what
particular things do you want the answer to now that you have me in front of you, you can ask me. Um, 13.15. Um, 13.8. So you asked why um it's the the challenge started on the the 19th and it's the 21st now. So you're you're
appro there's like a trend with the agenda where we're approving something that's already after. Yes. So I'm going to answer your question. Um this is a challenge of cost of district nothing. It's a philanthropy organization for a student group. Um I could have said no
wait for the board meeting but it worked best for the date for the group if I could say yes. at a certain point I have to look at under my understanding of the board and I can't imagine any board member would have a problem with a a philanthropy organization organiz a philanthropy you know fundraising thing
that's serial boxes it's not going to cost the board a dime because I know that's something that the board members has been very interested in um so I made the executive decision to approve the serial box challenge two days early okay I don't think we have a problem with the fundraiser does anybody have a
problem fundraiser being done in this bill. Absolutely not. I think that you the the continuous uh that's getting approval afterwards after it's already been done. Yeah. So, this came this came to me late and I had to make decision. So, uh I think we should try to work on
that. That should be one of the goals. I agree with that. And your vote? Um I still wanted to ask questions about 13.18 which was who will be alerted
besides the SRO and uh will the sensors be at full capacity when they are installed by uh for example these these uh detectors are supposed to pick up a lot of the stuff which is um not but um
the THC air quality environmental monitoring chemical privacy areas security, keywords, keyword alerting, gunshot dete uh detection, aggression, and loud disturbances. So, my question is is who's going to be alerted? Um the
SRL sometimes is at the academy, so she's not here. So, who gets to replace her? And are these are the detectives going to be at full capacity? So, I know that whenever SRL is not here, uh the the Helden chief uh delegates someone to
come. Uh we had Justin here the other day. Um Roosevelt has been here. Um there's a number of different officers they send, but they've never not sent an officer. Um we hire we bought vape detectors because I want to detect vaping. Um I I don't I top of my head I
don't know if it's going to detect gunshots, but I do know that what the vape detector is going to do is if it detects whatever chemical it is that's inside vape that makes a vape detector go off, um there's going to be an alert that's going to be sent through our
Eastern Dataccom uh security system to Mr. Spazado, uh to Mr. uh to uh and to SRO. Um, and if I hope we don't ever get to this point, but if there's ever an instance of little kids, you know, vaping in their areas, then guess what,
Miss Po will get an alert, too. Um, but those are the people that are going to be those are the people that are going to be reporting. Um, will uh will the police get a a report every time the thing goes off? No, the police get a report when we investigate it and then determine if there's a reason for us to call the police or not. That's part of our memorandum of understanding that
that you voted for. So, but what my question is is that the teachers um not going to be h have access to this or get some type of alert because over here the teachers are going to teachers are going to be teaching and if there's a reason that we suspect that
if the alarm goes off that Mr. Spado investigates it and determines that as teacher as an agent of the district is there shouldn't know about what happened in the bathroom then he'll make that decision. Um but the teacher's job is to teach. Mr. rocker. I believe there's six strobe
strobe lights as well. So, I think there's some silent flashing amber lights that go off as well, right? So, I think the six go out through throughout the building. Well, the bathroom, I guess, right? I think it's outside the bathroom. The
lights when we get them installed, we'll know for sure. Sure. So just understanding that uh this uh this alarm is technically just to ensure that our kids are not we want to
make it so that if someone you know there was there's fears that perhaps either vaping is is happening to a degree inhaled it or it's going to rise just because they're teenagers. Um, you know, it was decided to to use some of our cap funding to get these vape detectors in certain bathrooms, not all
bathrooms. It's not like the the kindergarten bathroom is going to have a vape detector, right? Uh, but communal bathrooms will have it. And um, you know, if it if it goes off, the people that are responsible to investigate will get that alert. Um, and then we'll we'll follow all the other things we would
have done. Even if like, you know, if we found the vape on the, you know, here was vaping, we don't have an alarm now, but we'd still investigate it. We've still disciplined it before. So, just understanding that vape monitor is also THC monitor. I I don't know. I don't
know. It all the things that I listed is what that does. I just want to make That's why I asked if it's going to be used to the full capacity because if not, then what's the point of Thank you. Yeah. If if if the capacity allows us detect, you know,
THC, then I would why would I want to say no to that, right? No, no, definitely. And then like based on what the findings are, then you would follow through with that. So, if it was if it's if it turns out it's a THC, then it's going to be we're going to go through our SRO and we're going to alert the
parents and alert to local authorities. They're going to make a determination of what they want to do criminally, what they don't want to do criminally. Uh but as a district we're going to follow our you know we we there's a certain amount of days we suspend and if there's th there's certain amount of other things that would do um as far as the the
counseling. Okay. Um Miss Sterner, you did say yes. I have you down there saying yes. Okay, Miss Padrad. Um, so I want to abstain from
13.3. I'm also going to abstain from purchase order 500431 from 1328 and also line 71180 from 1331. And yes for the rest.
Um, Mrs. Johnson, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. Mr. Yes. With abstaining from 13.28, not the whole thing. Um, just PO
501 027 through 501 03 and 500898. And my vote is yes, Mr. Ramadan. Yes. Mrs. Yes.
All right. Now we go to new and old business. Okay. Does anybody have anything for new or old business? Okay. Go ahead. Um so about this time last year um
Manchester had like an open house where the seventh graders went over there. Um and I know it's going to happen again. Are we prepared for that? Like I know last year there was an issue with like um permission slips. Yes. So that that was the first thing we talked about the cabinet meeting. Um it was like I think it was even more than a year ago. There
there was a year where uh we we just didn't get the permission slips which is you know we shouldn't have done. Um but that was no one's getting on that bus without the permission slips at first. Um we were going to use our bus but I guess in order to maximize their exposure uh they're coming by us with a
bus. Whatever date you know tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning. Um, and those kids that have a signed permission slip have get to go and if they don't have a sign permission slip, then they can't go. And then I had another thing um that I wanted to I don't know ask or offer. Um, so I know that every year we do like
the middle school open house and I'm wondering if maybe this year or next year when it comes maybe we could implement having more like some of the high schools come and have like a table like in a gym or something. um like almost like an open house with different schools, not only Tech or Manchester,
but maybe inviting Eastern Christian, Don Basco Prep, Mary Help, just so that the students know that there's other high schools out there and I'll be more than willing to help with that if that is something you want to do. Number one, I I think it's a great idea to because we're always wondering like what do we
do with our gym during like the open house for the middle school? Um if if that's something where whether it's a straw pole or yay Nate if the if the board wanted me to pursue that I'd be happy to do so. Um I don't have a lot of contacts at the parochials just to lay that out there. So I'd be I'd most
likely be cold calling or cold emailing. So if you have contacts that that can get me to the to the front line you might do it right. Um but as far as the the the public side I have very strong connection and maybe that's something that Miss Bills could help with as you know her role as middle school guidance
counselor. But what what open house are you referring to? Or you mean like school night? Back to school. Oh, yeah. I I I actually I'd never considered that for what a way to use the gym until you just brought it up and I think it's a wise idea. I do. And I like the idea of,
you know, letting parents know that there are other choices for high schools. You know, it's it's not just Manchester and PCTI. There are other choices. There are charter schools which are free of, you know, they're tuition free. There are private schools which you know tuition and again but just so
this board's prepared like you gota understand like if if you understand like if if we which I'm happy to do invite he's Christian to Paul and Don Bosow and and St. Mary help and whatever else is around um you know one of our
local public centers it might not be too happy about that. So just we the board has to just be prepared for like you know the idea like listen we are united in the vision of presenting as many options to our kids as possible. Um, but I'm happy to do it.
Well, I'm I'm just I'm just telling something else to think about. My point is that this board has to understand that not all boards will be happy to we want to do something like that. Well, I I I I agree. I think I understand your point, but I think that I think parents should should be able to
know and I know from personal experience that some parents don't whether it's, you know, it could be a language barrier or something or they don't they're not aware of all of the choices and it's not, you know, and understanding that some of the private schools there's tuition on there. So, you know, yeah,
that's that's a factor, you know, but um but they should still be aware of the choices and I don't see the harm in, you know, giving them information. So, we didn't we didn't want to like, you know, we want to keep our children here instead of going to school at
HPS for high school like, you know, for I mean, want to keep them in the district. We want to keep him here at HBS, you know. Um, you know, but as far as the high school, I'm not for the middle schools in no way. As far as the high school goes, parents have a right
to to have the information. College scouting, you know, you want to know what, you know, what school is the same for us, too. and and understanding that they Manchester might be upset and Miss Austin is the BA for Manchester. So, you know, I I
understand, but parents should should have that information, you know. Now, listen, whether whether we go so far as to have an open house with them here on the premises, you know, maybe that's for further discussion, but um I think it's
a good idea. And I and and and you know ahead of that giving parents information is never wrong. You know that's never a bad idea. So and it's and you know they should they should have it. I I think
if the you know we talked at the board retreat about empowerment committees if if the if the school relations I Carlos Ber I think he he made that committee a couple years ago. Perhaps that could be but if if the board gives me that directive then I I I would move forward and of course we would have Manchester
here and and the first ones. Yeah, of course we would have them here. They would we would but I mean in a sense of where because I know if you go to a different uh high school the district still got to pay something the transportation for kids, right? So it's
still the same district held it. Right. I'm just saying. I mean no it's not Helen. Well, it's Manchester, right? Yeah. It's healthy. Yeah. So, we still It's all taxpayers. Yeah. So, I mean, that's what I'm saying. So, it's
Yeah. So, it's like charter schools and charter schools already competing, you know. So, yeah. But yeah. No. Okay. Well, how about if we It's like something for further discussion. I mean, maybe that's something. You know what? Actually, Angelina, you are the
chair of the um community engagement. So maybe that's something that you could, you know, meet with your committee about. And actually, you're due for a meeting. So that's something that I think there was something else that we talked about for that, but I don't remember. But in any case, um that's something that you could meet with your
committee on and talk about. You know, that would be actually a very appropriate topic. And then, you know, if it's decided, you know, that we don't do it or we vote on it and it gets voted down, well, you know, so be it. But I, you know, yeah, it's since you raised the the topic. Yeah. I mean, no harm to
the district, but it's just some some high schools offer a little bit more than others and parents don't know that, you know, right? And just in terms of empowering parents with with information and choices. So, okay. Anything else? Anything else
when you are old business? Oh, I do. I actually have one more question, too. Sorry. Um, Mr. Walker, I just wanted to know what is the um protocol when there's an lice outbreak. So, u I kind of understand where you're coming from this. So, someone had
reported that they suspected there was a lice outbreak. Uh, someone from the county uh department of health reached out to us. Um there was uh there's one classroom where there was uh two cases of knits which is like the little egg things that they they have and then also
in another class um there's a a close relation between the students that are involved. Um the the families that are were were affected were told what the particular style of the specialized shampoo uh and the nurses are going to those classes to monitor.
Are the other parents aware though that there's an outbreak? I don't believe we tell people unless we feel that there's a need. Um and I I imagine that the nurse didn't do there wasn't a need. Uh but I know life is like a real strong term. Um the you know, Jen was a kindergarten teacher for a very long
time. Like it it happens probably more often than than you think. And it's usually the knits that are the the things that that are seen. Um, and it's at a point now where if you use the shampoo, you could, we've never really seen like it happened multiple times after you use the shampoo. So, uh, I
wouldn't say we're an outbreak, but we're at It's not atypical for a school our size with this population with our children. Do you guys just email? You want to say I'm sorry. Yeah, I'm sorry. We've been going back and forth with Sandy who is the nurse that oversees Pay
County about all of this and making sure that we're following the correct rules, guidelines, and everything based on our schools. So, we are definitely in compliance with everything that we're doing up to yesterday. Um, and all of our policies,
everything, but we're doing exactly what our board policy states that we need to do. Maybe we should update it because this is the second time this year that someone's complaining about race and not being notified. Did update. Did you read the if you read the most current update that's based on whatever whatever group
is in in charge of that, you know, whatever group of scientists or medical doctors studied this, this is what they said this is the most logical thing to do. um that I don't think people are getting their the likes at Hail the Public, but um this is it's based on the most common the most current
recommendations from the professionals. Um it hasn't been a a staggering problem for us and I know Miss Bzano, she oversees our health department does a really good job with that. We email the whole classroom or just the person they sit next to. I don't know what the
protocol is, but I don't think we alert I don't think, you know, an undue panic when there's there's very little. I I don't know off the top of my head. I could find out exactly what we did to get back to this board tomorrow. I'll email the board exactly what we did. I was just wondering like how
handles. Yes, that's all I have. Thank you. Anybody else for new and old business? Okay, so I have two two items for new and old business. The first one is that um Christian Tahada is requesting again use of the HPS baseball
field for practice for the Royals um in the spring on Saturdays from 8 to 12 and then the summer on week nights after 6:00 p.m. So, because this um this request was voted down initially um we
have to somebody would have to make a motion tonight um and then we could vote on it right now or we can make a motion to table it and then a committee would have to review it. So, that would be the community engagement committee um and then it would be put on the agenda
for the next meeting. So motion to move to to Okay. Okay. So we have a motion to move the the motion is to allow the New Jersey to allow the Royals to use the HPS baseball field for practice um Saturdays in the spring and summer on
week nights. So I have a motion. Do I have a second? Before we go to the question is is this is again are they paying to use the services or they just using facility? Well, I believe if there's if there's a custodian there, they won't right right now, we would at
minimum we would demand to charge the the price of the custodian that would come on Saturday morning. Um, but this board could choose to to to charge more if they wish. Well, see, the idea is again if they're going to use any facilities, we want to kind of I know it
could be minimal amounts, but at least revenue generating path at this point. So it's not just because again it could damage the field we just fix. It'll it'll definitely take wear and tear. I agree. Um you know if this board um you know
there there's our policy recommend certain things but we never have like the field it's like like Manchester a lot of high schools where like it's common to rent out the field like no one's really ever asked to rent out our our baseball field before. Um so I I think that you know this board there's a
price it's comfortable with the board. That's what we could say this is what it's going to cost. Um, at the same time, this, you know, to me it it could only be on a Saturday morning in spring, um, or on a on a Saturday, you know, Sunday, week
nights in summertime. Uh, because other times there's just too many things going on in the field or it's winter time and we don't want kids out there anyway. So, that's my answer, I guess. Let me see. I don't see um any issues with again producing or generating an income for
any of these whether it's the gym, the fields, as long as we kind of capitalize on this. So at least we have some source of some sort of an income that that this particular facility is going to generate just it's not going to hurt this. Think about it. It's about a maintenance. It's
all about maintenance. So if if you if this board wants to direct me to come up with a price then I could present to the board and they could come back to me with a yes, no, or maybe. Wouldn't that be an entire policy though like going forward? I think um I
think it's in there already. Wait, what does Mr. I was going to say I believe like the there is a charge the fees already in the policy. Um but like as Mr. Walk said I believe it's just like the the cost of a custodian and some maintenance like restoration or
restorative uh on the fields but that's already in policy. Yes. What's the I will review the policy and let you guys know and if and if you want to put it um Marino can we have a re a review
of the policy if they want to do like a read or something just to kind of have a committee look at it so that they can come to an agreement because I don't think we've been charging anything for anything lately. So, if they want to update the fees, if we can review the
policy and see if there's any um areas you want to add to the policy for rental, I think this is a good opportunity to know about that. Let me ask you, August, since you've had since Manchester when it comes to Manchester, everything is charged. Thank you. That's
the other that's where it stands. And I agree with you um Mr. Ramadan. And but I think like if we start charging them, then we have to do it the soccer team too. We have to try to be consistent across the board. No exceptions. We would have to
be consistent for sure. As M. Augustine says, Manchester is charged for everything. Don't charge for a redirect me to so I mean I don't see that doesn't make us. So why don't you start with you and the policy? It's um the use of facility policy and the fees. I think
that will be but these are two separate things. First let's address the um the royals thing. I have a motion to will somebody second that. But why are we addressing? Shouldn't we do this first to get the No, should be table. No, because then we can table it and talk
about that's what we're saying. We should table it now. But that's that we're talking about a policy. A motion was put to the table. We have to decide whether we want to second it and move forward with this one and then you can make a motion to table and then we'll review the the finance. Is there a
second this particular motion? Okay. So now we have to vote on it since you're I'm second. Well, we don't have to vote or somebody can make a motion to table and then defer it to a committee. So if I motion to table okay so I now now I need a second. Okay. So first wait the
first motion was moved by Mr. Martinez and seconded by Miss Padrad. Yes. To to consider the royals using the field. Right now the second motion is to table that. Uh so that was moved by I sorry I forgot
who that was moved by Miss Cordado and seconded by who seconded that Mr. Ramadan. Okay. Now within that we're going to review the policies. So the so the finance committee we don't have to make a motion but the finance committee is going to
policy and finance I guess you know because the policy committee will review the policies right but they can't be together because then they'll have a quorum. So the the finance committee is going to have to discuss what would be you know what would be reasonable
charges for the facilities once they discuss it and no this is just going to be a general policy like uh aside from this royal thing this completely separate like a general uh well the policy committee is going to talk about you want to review what what if you want
to change you know more details of it or you can look at it and see how it matches up with other compet you know um districts That's what we did at Manchester. We looked at other um high schools to see what they were charging. So, you guys want to do a thorough look at it, just not go by what's there now
because it really hasn't been enforced. What I would suggest is um sending out um some type of notice to the people that are using it now, which is outside. Well, we can do that in the new year, like once you review the policy. We're not going to do it now because this is the established policy right now. Then
we're not going to charge through the end. have something beginning of September. Jul September July 1st. So, okay. So, so hold it. Let's just make sure we're all on the same page. The policy committee
is going to meet and you're going to provide them with the policy, the current policy. Then the policy committee will meet and review that policy in terms of charging people to use our facilities. the finance committee is going to discuss what would
be reasonable what fees you know what what would be the fees for for having anyone use our facility so it would be the gym and the field and the auditorium or whatever else so that's okay but then the community and engagement committee is going to meet and they will meet and
discuss this specific proposal okay but you you're probably going to have to Um, I we'll need to know like what we're go Well, I guess we could just um if if it's a if we make the motion if we put
it on the next agenda, we're going to we don't have to say specifically how much, but we would say whether we're going to charge or not on the agenda. So, where do you want to table it to when to the next to the next? Yeah. Right. But if the policy is not completely done, then
what is your recourse? What? Yeah. Then I So, so she will we have two weeks, right? What is that? Two weeks for them to meet. Um, let's say policy we can make a
motion to table it to the following meeting. Yeah, that's what I think. So, so we we can do the policy and finance committee can meet before June 9th and then the table the royals one to to the next meeting which is June 30th. So,
okay. And then that would allow to work that out a little bit. The policies then for like the finance and the policy they would be effective July 1st. You're saying well you have to do a first read and a second read and then whatever that happens whenever you read that. Yeah. And and then so then I guess the June
30th would be tentative, right? Because it will depends on whether or you can do the first free you have one meeting June 9th and another one. So the first read June 9th, right? And then the second read June 30th be effective June 1st. July 1st. Okay. So then then June 30th
we could review the the recommendation for the uh or whatever that was going to be put on the agenda regarding the the the royals using the facility. Okay. Um, okay. So, we have Are they facilities now? No. No, it was voted down.
All right. Um, okay. Thank you. Okay. Now, the second one and um the second new and old business. I just want to go through and I'll try to make this quick. The um recommended
um actions that came out of our board retreat. So, they were good. They were good suggestions. Um, we might not want to do all of them. Um, but whichever ones we do, it's not like something that's going to happen in a year. You know, these are things that need to get
worked on. You know, we're going to have we could have ad hoc committees. Actually, one of them we already assigned a a committee to it. But if I don't know if you all had a chance to read the um summary report that Kelly Mitchell um provided and that um I asked Lois to send to everybody. So the first
um recommended outcome was establishing an on of an onboarding program for new board members. So um and we had talked a little bit about that, Miss Johnson. She had brought that up at, you know, one of the first meetings in January. Um I mean it's a good idea. I think it would be
helpful for new board members. Um, and you know that's something that can definitely be and and Kelly actually based on our discussion, Kelly actually like you know drafted some um action steps. So this would be you know an ad hoc committee because we don't really
have a standing committee that would deal with that. So this would be an ad hoc committee. So it would be at least two people and you know two to three people could be on that ad hoc committee. So um does anybody does that jump out at anybody? Does anybody want
to be on that ad hoc committee? Okay, Raph, I need one more. I'll do it. Okay, great. Thank you, Raph and Angelina. And you know, maybe you want to wait until the summer when things slow down a little bit. You know, there's no like hard deadline on this.
So maybe like after after the June 30th meeting, maybe you can meet and you know talk about what that might and that was great because you were both there. So you can talk about like what we talked about and what that might look like. You know there are different ways that you could do like onboarding. So that's
great. Thank you both. Okay. So um enhancement of the committee structure and function. So this was something that I was really interested in. Um and I think that we could leverage our committees more and I think we're already doing that and I think it's helpful. I think it's very helpful
when the committees meet. They come to meetings more prepared and you know just the conversations that you have when you get together. Um a lot comes out of that. So um you know that's I think that's a great suggestion and I would I would like to be on that one. I'd be
happy to be on that one. Um would anybody else want to be on that one? And if nobody else wants to, I'm going to pick somebody. Well, I'll think of you think about it. If anybody else wants to be on that committee structure one and um and
let me know and you know I'll I'll come back to this um at the next board meeting. Okay. Explain the first one again. Uh the first one was the um establishing of a onboarding program for new board
members. Yeah. And then this one is um optimizing the committee operations and promote to promote accountability and clarity in committee for work. Really just talking about how we could better leverage our committees. Um so and then coming up with charges for that was
something that we talked about at the retreat like the the committee should really have a very specific charge. You know sometime you might be on a committee and not really know what they're supposed to do. have a specific charge, you know, for each committee and um so that the committee members, especially new board members, really know what that committee
is supposed to do. Um so, so that's the second one. The third one is um a midterm public check-in on the strategic plan. So that was basically to so we have a five-year strategic plan. So like the midyear point kind of have a
community and and really what that would be is like you know we could do like a community meeting like a meeting invite all the public and look at the um look at our strategic plan look at our uh the progress that we've made so far. Um I mean this one is a little bit in line
with the goal that we have our new goal. Um so it would just really be a little piece of that but um is anybody interested in that one? So, this one I'm going to put a little pin on, you know, because I do think we're going to be doing some of this
with our goal, but we could come back to this one. Okay? And if anybody, you know, looks it over after tonight and feels like they want to be involved in that, just let me know. Um, the fourth one, that's our goal. So, that's not we're doing that one and that's
everybody. And then the last one is actually so the countywide data review for student achievement. That's one that the curriculum and technology committee is going to do. You know, we talked about this um at our retreat and you know, we agreed I think it was Mr. Kleta
who suggested um having some data to look at so that we can compare our our data to it. So um that's that falls right in line with the curriculum and technology committee. So uh Mr. Mes, Mr. Ramadan, you're going to um work on
that. So, like I said, there's no hard deadlines for these um you know, let's have a check-in again like in well, actually at the next board meeting, I can bring it up again and um you know, we can but but think about
this as like a long-term plan and maybe have plan to meet, you know, as I mentioned to Miss um CuadraD like after and Mr. Martinez, after the rush of the evaluation and all of that at the end of the school year, like over the summer when, you know, we don't have as many
board meetings and things slow down, maybe that would be a good time to start working on on these um these action, you know, these action items. Um Okay. Any questions on that? On any of those any of the anything from the
retreat? It was good timing. Yeah, it was good. It was a good retreat. Uh we had, you know, very good conversations. All right. So, let's see. [Music] Um let's go. Okay. So, can I have a
motion to open the floor uh to citizens on the operation of school? Second. Moved by uh Miss Johnson, seconded by Mr. Martinez. Um roll. All in favor?
Okay. Okay. So, is there anything from the floor? Anything? Anybody online? No. Motion to close. Okay. Second. So, motion to close. Uh moved by Mr. Martinez, seconded by Miss Quad. All in
favor? All right. So, we have an executive session. Um the first we have a student matter and then we have the CSA contract discussion part two. So M we'll do the student matter first. Mr. Wat. Yeah, let's do that first. And um if the board
allows I'd like to keep Mr. Spazado in because he'll be able to kind of it's going to be really quick because it's a open and shut case. But he'll have the facts. Is that okay, Mr. Spado? Yeah. And then um we'll let him take over from there. Okay. Okay. So and then after
that you can go and Yeah. Um, so no action will be taken. Um, and I'm going to say just because we have two items, I'm going to say half an hour. Um, and it may not take that long. Can you ask Mr. Mino is no action going to be taken
on the residency student? I think, you know, during asking during executive session, you can ask them now so the public can know. Okay. Mr. Merino, will action be taken on the first the student matter? Uh, no, it will not. Not not in public.
Okay. Okay. Okay. So, no action will be taken. It's going to be I'm gonna say half an hour. Um that's just an estimate. Um Okay. So, can I have a motion to go into executive session? Moved by Mr. Moscow, seconded by Mr. Martinez. And we had to do roll call,
right? Miss Okay. So, roll call, please. Mr. Cerna. Yes. Mr. J. Yes. Mr. Mrs. Johnson. Yes, Mr. Martinez. Yes, Mr. Matzo. Yes, Mr. Ramina. Yes. And Mr. Yes. Okay.
[Music] Okay. Okay. So, can Thank you. Can I have a motion to adjurnn? So, moved by moved by Mr. Mosco, seconded by Missrado. All in favor? All right. Thank you everyone. Please, if you haven't done your evaluation, please
do it. And we'll see you on the 9th.