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. In the event of an emergency, all people may exit right or left from this room
and proceed exit door. All doors will open from the inside. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings 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 in date, time, and place were posted publicly on the door of the main entrance of the school and filed with the clerk in the municipality of Hamilton. Roll call, please. Mrs. Serna, Mr. Colada, here.
He just he just logged in. He He has to say, Mr. Kleta. Yeah, it wasn't letting me on mute. Present. Thank you. Miss Gado, Mr. Guzman here, Mrs. Johnson
here, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Moxel here, Mr. Ramadan, and Mrs. Isa here. Thank you. Okay. Can I have a motion to accept correspondence? Moved by Mr. Moscow, seconded by Mrs.
Johnson. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna. Yes, Mr. Ketta. Yes, Mr. Guzman. Yes, Mrs. Johnson. Yes, Mr. Moxel. Yes, Mrs. Isa.
Yes. Can I have a motion to accept prior minutes? So, move. Second. Moved by Mr. Matzo, seconded by Miss Johnson. Roll call, please. Mr. Cerna, Mr. Ketta.
Yes. Mr. Guzman, Mrs. Johnson, yes. Mr. Boxel, yes. Mrs. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Can I have a motion to open the floor to citizens on agenda items only? Motion. Second.
Moved by Mrs. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Matzko. All in favor? Okay. Um, this is for agenda items only. Would anybody like to address the board? Any hands, Mr. Miller? Hands. Motion to close.
Okay. Moved by uh Mr. Goodman, seconded by Mr. Matskco. All in favor? I Okay. Okay. So, let's go to reports. Okay. So, good evening everyone and thank you for joining us tonight. I want
to thank Miss Kolinsky, the speech language pathologist um and Miss Ryder uh from Aftercare for their dedication and service and their their respective roles to Hailen Public School. We we wish them the best in their future endeavors. And I want to wish everyone
in the HPS community a continued healthy and happy summer. And that's all for me. And I'm going to turn it over to Mr. report. Wow, we're trying to get through it tonight. We get the large order B tonight. Uh, thank you, board president EA. On the
agenda tonight, you'll see the SSDS report. This is a report we are obligated to give to the board twice yearly. Uh, the data we are presenting is mostly uplifting. Uh, the incidence of violence and vandalism has decreased
and that was expected. uh the two assistant principles that I've hired uh or we've hired within the last 18 months are doing a great job. Uh that was even noted on my evaluation which I appreciate. Um and you know very pleased
doing such a great job in their positions. Uh the only negative part of that report is the amount of times we've had to physically restrain students that's gone up. But I imagine sadly that this is likely to continue as most of our students in this category uh come
from our 409. This is class number multiple disabilities classroom. Um we've come to terms with hiring a teacher for this class. But too many board members despite taking an oath to hire the best qualified candidates decided the only candidate that applied for the job was too expensive. Uh so it
looks like we'll have to put a vendor in the classroom. Maybe it'll work out, maybe it won't. We'll see. Uh this is the board. Um, so this is where we're at with that particular item. Uh, item two, currently we have four different summer programs running at HPS and we have two
construction projects going on right now. And like always, uh, things are running smoothly. Thanks to Lamea, thanks Germaine, uh, Mr. Trio and all the other HPS employees are doing a great job adapting to the needs of the construction. And that's my report tonight. Another quick.
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Rocka. I'm going to turn it over to um business administrator and Miss Austin. Okay. Thank you. My report is just the agenda items. I just want to note um resolution 13.1. The um state has sent out a notice that
we're they're raising the bid threshold from 44,000 to 53,000. And again, that is allowing districts to make purchases up to 53,000 without going out to bid. And this is mainly for purchases of everyday use or there is like repairs
and in that matter. Um being that we have a QPA on in the district, we are allowed to go up to the 30 53,000 but there are stipulations when there's a order um for like 7,950 I believe it is. A second quote is required and there's
other um qualifications as far as like having a BRC they have to be um you know provided for political disclosure at um a certain threshold too. So, it's not just, you know, we can make purchases. Um, the other item I wanted to note was
the 13.5 and 13.6. 13.5 is the fire alarm upgrade award. The district went out to a bid and we um reviewed the documents. Um, our attorney reviewed the documents and all the documents are um um in compliance and we're going to that
13.6 is the domestic pipe relocation. That was the second time we we bid that because of material defects. This time the vendor still came in as the lowest and their paperwork seemed to be um in order. So we're going to award that
tonight. Uh the other item is that is for the pipes. The pipes. Um we also have um and I think that was it. Just bills items unless there's a specific question on finance I can try to answer. Any questions for Miss
Austin? Okay. Thank you, Mr. Oxton. Okay. Um, personnel and management. Mr. Guzman. Thank you, Madam President. Um, just wanted I just make a recommendation um as it pertains to hiring. Obviously,
personnel management has oversight on that. And, uh, I would like to request a personnel management committee meeting prior to the next board meeting. and any recommendations that the superintendent has as far as hiring. I would like for him to present it to the person on
management committee, myself, Mr. Martinez, and Miss Johnson. I would hope that we're all there. Um, we will we will vet those recommendations and we will respectfully ask you, Madam President, put on the agenda and the board may vote it up or down. Um, but
the personnel management committee will meet with the superintendent that's, you know, going by based on past practice. We will uh take the recommendations. We will vet them and uh should we see the need, we will uh ask you to place that
on the agenda and the board members can vote it up or down because we have a school district president and I don't like the fact that I'm hearing that we still have a special education uh vacancy open. I'm very big on special education. It's very important. I also understand the needs of uh remaining
fiscally responsible so on and so forth. We have a district. That's my recommendation. I would hope that Miss Johnson, and I know she will, and Mr. Martinez, I'm sure he will as well, join me in this effort and um we will work close closely with our superintendent.
Um we will look at his recommendations. We will vet them and um so we can have this presented to the board for uh for hiring. But we can't just uh stop operating the district. It just cannot happen. We have we have to move the district forward. This position was open
since October, right? I I don't know. But before I came on the board, we still didn't fill it. So, I think we should talk about that last year, too. Right. So, Mr. Guzman, just to clarify, I'm not talking about going I'm not talking about the past. Talk about going forward.
Move forward. I'm going to ask that any recommendations for hiring we call personnel committee meeting myself, Miss Johnson, Mr. Martinez committee. we will discuss it and the committee, not me, not George Buzzman, not Mrs. Johnson,
not Mr. Martinez, the committee will uh u ask for it to be placed on the agenda and the board can vote it up or done. So, let me just make sure I understand. So, before whenever there's an agenda item that's
for hiring, you want to have a committee meeting before. Yes. And then Okay. And then so you will the committee will discuss with Mr. Waka the recommendations. Sure. And then you will recommend at that meeting whether you are recommending to hire or not. Correct. Is that so? Okay.
So that's going to be a new practice like going forward. Is that what you're recommending? Yes. And I I think this practice will work. Um and I think the committee will be able to speak to superintendent. Uh superintendent will be able to uh uh articulate why or why uh he needs this
this person hired. the committee will will assess it and then we move forward. Okay. All right. And you know another recommendation that I would suggest too. So earlier in the school year we had um it was one of those topics that we wanted to discuss was the hiring
practices. You know the interview vetting all of that. Um I think it would be worthwhile to revisit that and do that again just to um you know we do have some new board members just to have that presentation again in in a general you know just a general topic so that
we're all aware of what you know what the process is and what the you know practices are to both points uh my answer is 100% yes I think there it's a good idea I think that of the things we do well and I've specifically talked about the three
assistant and principles from the special ed uh director, share director, they the amount of time and effort they put into interviews. Um they they just don't take the first application that say you're hired, but you know, they screen them all. They look for their Facebook, their Instagram. Uh we usually
bring at least four or five for the C like for a preschool job. I'm going to get four or five people applying. That's why you see the salaries are are lower for those guys. Um, and you know the we don't pay the staff, but we we ask the staff volunteers, hey, would you like to be part of the interview committee? And a lot of times they say yes, which we're
grateful for. Um, but it's it's a kind of thing where, you know, we're going to be working with this person for a long time presumably. So, we we we put a lot of time in in our end to try and make sure we get the right people and and I think we've been successful because I think most people would say that they really like the teachers at Hilden and
they they appreciate what they do for the kids. So, um, you know, I'm happy and what I'm what I talked to the board president about maybe a meeting or two ago in that, um, for meetings where we have a lot of people coming on the agenda, um, you know, sometimes harder because everyone's away. Um, but I'd
like the supervisor who's in charge of that particular hire to come here to also be able to answer questions to the board directly. Um, because there's a lot of thought that goes into this. Um, I I want to say um I don't really agree with that it was just the pricing, Mr.
Walker. I think it was more of the fact that like we were trying to figure out did we we kept asking if we needed somebody else and like no we're good and then all of a sudden it's there like we need this person and we haven't had them since I've told her. So it was like did we really need them or we just
we've been using a vendor to cover well like we we paid someone else to to fill this. Okay. So that's what it was. But this particular class turned down because of the pricing, but that that wasn't that's understand. But this this these kids needed more anyway. Like this is the one class where like we need Right. Okay.
And and all the the hiring that we've been all those agenda items for for they're not new. They're replacement positions. They're all replacement except I think there's been one new position since new position, right? And then you know allowed us to
do that and we found that the counselor was a a net positive to our school and philosophically said let's keep this because the kids benefit from it. Um but all the others are replaced them in so long. Do we really need them? That was what it was about mostly for me. Anyway,
when we replace it's like if I have to go to a vendor the vendor is like sometimes you get lucky, right? And you get a good person. Um but they're not technically my employee. they work for whatever agency they get. Um they they come and go sometimes um it's more like
a temp solution and for for kids and in this particular class um like this is a it's a high need class. This is what it is you know um and the kids have high levels of need that they need for good staff member for. Madam President, I I
truly feel, look, we got cut $600,000 and immediately, of course, that was going to bring concern on the board. You know, board members are going to be concerned. What can we do to be fiscally responsible, concerned about the future? There's no I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I don't think any board member has any intentions, want to see anybody um anything. I I think with this practice, okay, we will work closely with our superintendent, personnel management. He will he will present it to the personnel and management committee. Again, it's a
committee. It's not one person. And then from there, we come we come to the board and the board could vote it up or down. And I think this will this would allow us to to to continue working with the superintendent, monitoring, hiring, and promotions, whatever it's going on in
terms of personnel. And um and that's it. And I and I just want to point out in terms of personnel um the the administration and yes could we have done this in the past? Sure. And we have but I trust personally I trust our administration
because if you look at let's say litigation and lawsuits and things like that a lot of school districts face a lot of lawsuits and litigation. So I look at the track record of our administration and our burough attorney. Thank you Mr. M. Um,
no law no lawsuits uh uh crazy litigation going on, no crazy scandals going on in our school district. Things are going in a healthy direction and I want to continue that. Um, but right now we we we have a situation where fiscally we don't know where we're headed. So, okay, we'll
button things up. We will have personnel take a look at these uh these these hiring recommendations. Personnel will vet them. it just has an extra set of eyes to ensure that we're being fiscally responsible and then we bring it to the board. It sounds like a good practice and I just in the way that the finance
committee meets before every meeting, the personnel and management committee can meet when there are agenda items that are, you know, I will commit to make myself available to ensure that we get this done the right way that's comfortable for every single board.
Okay. And if I could ask and since Lois is here and Miss Austin um if you see that there's a person like new hire or replacement hires on the agenda if you can schedule a personnel and management. To be fair, Lois is awesome with that. Like thank you Lois and thanks for
coming by the way. Yeah, if you and I guess you'll have to manage it with um with finance because I believe that Mr. Martinez is also on the the We can probably do it the same night. Okay. Okay. All right. That sounds good.
Sounds good. Okay. So, let's move on. Thank you, Mr. Goodman. Okay. Um, curriculum and technology, Miss Cerna. Sorry. Okay. Uh, policy and public relations. Mr. Guzman.
Um, security and safety. Mr. Guzman. Community engagement. Mr. Moscow agenda items only and finance and fiscal plant. Uh we met on Monday the 21st, went over
the billing and went over the uh procedure for um our interviews coming up this evening. Other than that, agenda items. Okay. Um so state and county miss here. Do you have anything for state and
county, Mr. M? Uh actually um they I just attended a meeting and they have upcoming meetings but Miss uh Quado did mention it. I just took advantage of it. So she did mentioned it the last meeting. Okay. Um yeah, I mean the the county
meetings will start taking place again in in September. Um or or in the fall they'll start taking place, but just check your emails. There's always lots of information coming through. Miss Cerna, do you have anything for the state and county? Uh, no. We have a meeting actually, but um we're gonna see
what we do after. Okay. Okay. Thank you. All righty. Um, Mr. Marina. Okay. So, let's go back now. Um, and personnel and management. Mr. Gizman.
Uh, Madame President, before we go to personal management, share services. Yeah. Sorry. I would like to make a motion to accept share services. Yes. Thank you, Mr. Guzman. Um, can I have a second, please? I'll second it. So, moved by Mr. Guzman. Um, actually,
I'm going to abstain. Yeah. Anybody else? Can somebody else Can somebody else second it? Okay. Seconded by Miss Cerna. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna, yes. Mr. Ketta, yes.
Uh, Mr. Guzman, yes. Mrs. Johnson, yes. Mr. Moxel abstain one through nine Mrs. Yes. Okay. Okay. Now we'll go to
Now we'll go to personnel and management. Mr. Guzman, I would like to move items 8.1 through 8.14. But before the roll call, if I may. Yes. Uh committee generally speaking is three
people, right? board president is exofficial member on every committee. Only have four people. You can't have five. That that creates a board. So let's say Mr. Martinez can be at a personnel committee meeting as a chair. Mr. Marie, if I'm wrong, correct me anybody, but I believe it's within my
perview as chair of personnel. If Mrs. Johnson is not there or if I'm not there or if um Mr. Martinez is not there, any other board member can feel free to sit on this, you know, knock your socks off. There's we just want a full transparency so
everyone can see there's nothing going on. You know, I want everybody to feel comfortable and see that there's no hidden agenda. We are going to vet these hires before it comes to that's it. That's just my personal opinion. I've been here, you know, for over 10 years
and u I think this will be a great practice for us and I think this will solve a lot of miscommunications that we're having at the board. At least I would hope. And I will I will make um an effort like I usually try to make all of the finance committee meetings. I will make an effort to make
attend all of those. I guess if somebody else wants to come and see uh if they can participate if you see that there's already four people here then you'll need to Exactly. You you need to leave or you know right away. Yeah.
Okay. Um Okay. And my vote is uh yes. We need a second. Oh, I need a second. So moved by moved by Mr. Guzman, seconded by Mr. Matzo. Roll call, please. Mrs. Sa. 8.1. No. Everything else? Yes.
Mr. Ketta? Yes. Mr. Guzman? Yes. Mrs. Johnson have a question about the E. Is that the same as the LL C or what
is Lois, we just asked that today. What did we say it was? Pull out resources on the same small group instruction special ed students that have
Okay. All right. Yes, Mr. Maxwell. Yes, Mrs. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Curriculum and technology, Miss Cerna. Actually, I don't think Oh, no, we do. We do. Personnel, we did that
one. Yes. Curriculum and technology, Miss Cerna. Second. Moved by Miss Cerna. Seconded by Mr. Matzo. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna, yes. Mr. Ketta, yes. Mr. Goodsman, yes. Mrs. Johnson,
yes. Mr. Matel, yes. And Mrs. Yes. Okay, we have no policy committee items. Let's go down to security and safety. Mr. Guzman, um, as you can see, the evacuation sites
redacted from for security reasons from the agenda. Um, like to move items 11.1 to 11.3. Second. Moved by Mr. Guzman, seconded by Mr. Matskco. Roll call, please.
Mrs. Serna Mr. Ketta. Yes. Mr. Guzman. Yes. Mr. Mo. Yes. Mrs. Johnson. Yes. And Mrs. Isa. Yes. Okay. Going down now to finance and
physical plan. Like to move 13.1 through 13.16. Not a second. Moved by Mr. Mos, seconded by Miss Johnson. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna. Mr. Petta. Yes.
Mr. Guzman. Yeah, Madam BA. Um, I know you're going to do a good job as QPA uh with the uh extra increase. I know you're always uh fiscally responsible and watch our money. Um I would assume that they raised this because what is it like the
inflation? Every few years they do. Yeah. Um and my vote is yes. Thank you. Mrs. Johnson. Yes. Mr. Matzo. Yes. Mrs. Isa. Yes. Thank you.
Okay. So I mean we're doing pretty good on time here. So I do I would like to just bring up one new It's not really new. It's I guess it's new and old. Um LA I had pushed it out to this meeting the discussion about the Hen uh the the
board initiatives. I had sent out an or Lois sent out an email for me um for last month. So those were all recommendations that had come um from our retreat, our board retreat. And they're not goals, but they're initiatives that we can work on. I think
they're all worthy of our time and attention. They're all going to help our board become stronger. are all going to help move our district forward. So, um I did get a couple of requests for people who wanted to be on certain committees. So, I accommodated those and the others
I just put people on committees. So, I just wanted to mention them here and then I will send out the updated um information that I sent out but with the committees um with the people on the committees. Um so, the first one was
establishment of an onboarding program for new board members. So that is Miss Padrad, Mr. Martinez and I put Miss Cerna on that committee and the lead for that one will be Miss CuadraD. Um the second one is enhancement of committee
structure and function. Um and that is um myself, Mr. Guzman, Miss Johnson and u Miss CuadraD had mentioned that she also wanted to be on that one. So that would still only be four people. So um I
think that should be fine. I'll be the lead on that one. And then the third one was the countywide data review for student achievement. Um and that is Mr. um Mr. Ramadan, Mr. Matzko and Mr. Kleta. Uh
and Mr. Ramadan will be the lead on that one. So um you can I'll I'll recirculate this the information that I sent in that original email and you can look at the points. Um I would suggest meeting over the next
couple of meetings and then so August September and then maybe report out in October of how you know how it's coming along um what you've come up with um any you know discussion or thoughts or any you know action we can take regarding those um but I just wanted to like you
know put it let everybody know so that we can start meeting and start working on this um okay so so that's that Any questions on that? And I and I again I'll send out the information um again.
Okay. And if not, any other new or old business? Okay. So, um can I have a motion to open the floor to citizens? Second. Can I have one mo a first motion? So, move.
Well, I need the first so moved by Mr. Modsk. Can I have a second? Miss move. Uh seconded by Miss Cerna. All in favor? I Okay. Uh the floor is open to the to the public. Any any hands or
I don't see any hands. Okay. Can I have a motion to close? Motion to close. Second. Okay. So moved by Mr. Guzman, seconded by Mr. Mosco. All in favor? I Okay. So, we will be um moving into
executive session um for interviews, legal council interviews. Um it's going to take I would say about an hour and 15, an hour and a half, you know. Yes. Are these interviews hybrid? Um or everyone's coming.
Yeah. Yeah. And um Mr. Ketta, you will have to we'll have to um exclude you from the um from the executive session. Um understood. Okay. Thank you. I have a question. Um for 18.1, I'm
still able to vote. I just can't partake in the uh executive session. Correct. Um so I don't dis. Right. Well, I would I would think not because if you weren't present at the interviews, I don't think you'd be able
to vote. I'm asking for a legal opinion from the attorney who's hired because I don't see why I wouldn't be able to vote even though it's still an item that's on the agenda that I was able to review the other documents. I don't see why I wouldn't be able to vote as an elected member of board.
Just review the policy so that we have that remote that policy and that policy speaks for itself. Yeah. The the policy that's not in executive session. That's after the vote will not be in executive session. It'll be in regular session. Correct. Let's look at the policy because the policy, if we're going to go
by the policy, several members have violated it already where their camera was not on while they were speaking, which was a requirement as per the policy. Well, we're we're talking about the vote right now. And so, let me look at the policy and we're going to follow what our what
we wrote in our own policy. Right? There's nothing about voting on a topic that I can't participate in the executive session. The vote will not be in executive session. So I'm asking the attorney what the what the legal advice would be. I would say follow the policy. Yeah.
So then I see no issue. Okay. So let me I don't know if I have the policy like at my fingertips here. I probably don't. Being on the policy committee, I remember you can't participate in the executive session because we can't
confirm that an individual has the proper privacy and that all that is properly protected. However, it doesn't say anything about participating in any other voting. Um, again, I don't have it in front of me either. Okay. So, Miss August has it. Can you read it, Miss Austin?
It's a long policy. Okay. Yeah. What the part that pertains to voting? If a member isn't present during the executive session, can they still vote on the matter that was discussed during the executive session
0164? Yeah. Says the board member will be excluded from the executive session if the subject matter of the executive session requires action to be taken by the board. The virtual board me member shall abstain from voting, but his or her
remote participation in the public meeting shall be counted towards a quarum. Okay, so it says that you shall abstain. Okay, that's fine. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. All righty. Okay. So um so we are um going to take
about an hour and 15 minutes um and then action will be taken when we come out of executive session and we will that is the goal that we are going to vote tonight and take so um can I have a motion to move into executive session
moved by Miss Johnson seconded by Miss Matskow and we have to do roll call for executive session right [Music] so yes okay so we have roll, please. Mrs. Sterna, Mr. Ketta, yes.
Um, Mr. Yes. Mrs. Johnson, yes. Mr. Moto, yes. And Mrs. Yes. Okay. Okay. So, um,
so I'm going to read it and then I'll make a motion. Then someone has to We have to pass motion and second, correct? Yeah. Are we out yet? Yes. Yes. Are we in public already? Yes. Um,
okay. Make a motion. So, um, I'm going to read the the resolution with the vendor. Okay. Um whereas the law firm of Garinsy Hollandbeck has the exper the expertise
and experience necessary to provide general and special education professional legal services to the board of education um here referred to as the board and whereas the board is desires of appointing the law firm of Scarinsy and
Hollandbeck to provide such professional services. Now therefore be it resolved that the board appoints the law firm of Scurency Hollandback as board attorneys until the next reorganization meeting in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the agreement attached here
too and made a part here. Be it further resolved that the board president and board secretary are hereby authorized to execute the agreement and any and all other documents necessary to effectuate the terms of this resolution. Be it further resolved that the board
secretary is hereby directed to publish a notice of this award in the official newspaper of the board. Can I have a motion to pass this resolution? Motion. Moved by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Miss Jerna, Miss Cerna. Ro uh roll call,
please. Mrs. Cerna, Mr. Mhm. Um I just want to say um before I vote uh obviously we're in executive session for a long time. Uh we didn't take this uh we're not making I'm not making this
vote lightly. Um I want to thank Mr. Mino um for his uh for his great service to our district. Um however um it's important for for a board to work together for the board for the entire
board to feel comfortable with with the with their board attorney. So it's important that we come to a consensus that we can all agree on as a board. Um and with that being said um in the interest of moving this board forward and then for the interest for this board to remain united so we can work together
for our children for our district. I'm going to vote yes. So with that being said, I thank Mr. Millino again. Um, however, you know, the show must continue and again my Mr. Johnson. Yes, Mr. Maxwell.
Yes, Mr. Um, I also want to thank Mr. Merino and Methyl and Wurbble for their stellar service to our board, especially during difficult times. Um, and in the interest of moving our board forward together, I
vote yes. Okay. So, can I have a motion to adjurnn? Second. Moved by Mr. Na, seconded by Mr. Guzman. All in favor? I right at the wedding the uh George the conference