indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Egress. In the event of an emergency, all people may exit right or left from this room and proceed to an 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 a p of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Helden 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 September 30th, 2025 and October 1st, 2025. Notices of this meeting indicating date, time, and place were posted publicly on the door
of the main entrance to the school and filed with the clerk in the municipality of Helden. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna, Mr. Mr. Colada present Mado here Mr. Guzman here Mrs. Johnson Mr. Martinez here
and Mrs. Isa here thank you okay um so for the first um item if it's fine with everybody we can postpone we can table this and postpone it until
October 29th to see if we hopefully have everybody here to vote. Does anybody have a problem with that? Okay. So, then make a I make a motion. Can I have a motion to table um 2.1
until October 29th? Okay. Uh motion made by Miss Quadrad, seconded by Mr. Ketta. Roll call, please. Mrs. Cerna, yes. Mr. Ketta, yes. Miss Gado, yes. Mr. Bess, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes.
Mr. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Um, so we're here tonight. We're reconvening tonight because uh we did not have a quorum at our September 24th scheduled meeting. So that was very unfortunate, but hopefully that won't happen again. With that being said,
we're not going to do reports because they were already given on September 24th. So we're going to go right to Yeah. Yeah. Except with the exception of Mr. WA. He's going to give a report. Um, but we'll, you know, we'll do voting and, you know, as usual, if anyone has
questions, you can ask before you vote and we can have a discussion if it's necessary. President question. Yes. Um, with respect to, we asked the attorney, um, since it wasn't an actual meeting, um, there was no forum, uh, would it be appropriate to skip giving the reports or would that be something
that we file with Roberts? Since several members of the board weren't here for the reports even though I did take the liberty to watch the early uh time wouldn't it be more proper to give the actual reports since it wasn't actual meeting schools required to do different things
so reports were given if people have individual questions about motions on the agenda I think that's the easiest way to go I'm sorry is the report that you walk uh Mr. W. Mr. Waga,
that's my name from the other day. Is it going to be different? Well, that's a question for Mr. I'm gonna add on to my report because this is now our board meeting on October 2nd on my superintendent report. Okay. So, we'll proceed. Um, can I have
a motion to pass correspond or accept correspondence? Can I have a second? Second. Moved by Mr. Martinez, seconded by Mr. Guzman. Roll call, please. Miss Mrs. Cerna, yes. Mr. Fetta, yes.
Missado, yes. Mr. Guzman, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. And Mrs. Yes. Okay. Can I have a motion to accept minutes from our working session? Second. Can I have a I'm sorry. Moved by Mr.
Martinez, seconded by Mr. Cla. Roll call, please. Mrs. Sona. Mr. Ketta, yes. Miss Gado, yes. Mr. Guzman, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. And Mrs. Yes. Thank you. Okay. Uh, can I have a motion to open
the board of citizens on agenda items only? Moved by Mr. Martinez, seconded by Mr. Ketta. Uh, all in favor? Okay. The floor is open to uh public on agenda items. Anybody here? Anybody
online? Mr. Miller. Motion to close. Second. Okay. Moved by Mr. Guzman, seconded by Mr. Martinez. All in favor? Okay.
Um, so for the reports, we will Mr. Waka is going to give a report. So, I will turn it over to CSA. Ma. So, I I have nothing to report other than what this board needs to hear, really need to hear, and that is that
what happened last week without being able to get a that can't ever happen again. That can't happen again. I've been a superintendent for five years now and I I a lot of superintendents contact my phone number and I text them all and
I said, "Have you ever had a meeting where you didn't get called?" They said no. And it's especially troublesome in that we're we're a board that allows you to to join the meeting via Zoom. You're not here and you're allowed to vote via Zoom, but you're not here. The only
thing you can't do is be part of an executive session if you're not present. Um and and there's ramifications to what happened last week. Uh we tried twice last year to get teachers for our autism students. These are kids that need us
the most, right? And this board decided that these people were hired too hired of a too high of a of a salary. Now we can't have it. So we're we're we're bringing people in other positions, but that still leaves a dirt and and an
opening for the the kids that there's always going to be kids aren't getting what they want. Now this board approved the budget to higher positions. You know, we're we were I was really hopeful that today we'd have a a vendor
that would come in and take an autism spot. And if we had had a board meeting last week, one of our autistic kids, our autistic kids would have had this vendor to come in because they would have, you know, we would have completed the deal. Um, I got a I found out about 2 PM today
that because this board wasn't able to meet, this person took a job somewhere else. And now we're back to square ones. It's the third the third straight time we've been trying to get this this these pots secured and they're not. Um and
this is it's a big deal, right? And I I just need this board to make sure that when we have a board meeting, we have four. That's what's best for the students. It's best for the parents. It's what's best for everyone that the stakeholder held in public school. Um
and it's I'll just say it's it's irresponsible when we can't have that happen and I'm not I know I'm preaching to the choir here and and and I say this is like as a superintendent but I'm also a board member right and it's and we only have we only have five of us as a
board that I'm on um but like this can't happen and this is something that uh I just implore this board to to make sure that if you're not able to come don't just email Lois email the board president know with me could email myself so we know ahead of time and we
know things come up but that's what the whole Zoom thing is for right that's why we we allow for rivers to to to join remotely and we of course we want people here in person but we can't have what happened last week so that's my report and my name is Mr. W just make to make sure that everyone in this board knows
my name Mr. Waka that's how you refer to madam president yes Mr. Just in the interest of fairness, um I just hope Mr. Walker that your comments and I'm sure they are are directed to all of us, not any specific board member. It's it's it's it's to this board. Yes.
Because you're you're all one like nine links in this chain, right? And we need five of them to even have a meeting and I lost another special ed teacher because we we couldn't get five links together. I appreciate the comment, George.
And I just want to say as the long longest serving board member on this board, I will also make it a point to try to make it and not miss any board meetings. I just want to point that out to me that um although I was here at the last board meeting, I have missed meetings in the
past for other and I have to I miss Vernon too. I I get that. I I have to I get that. I do. I appreciate you saying that. Um and it is one of our goals. But it's one of our board goals is attendance and um you know I gave um a check-in at the
last meeting and um you know we the the goal is to you know do better with our attendance as a board. So and and your comments are you know understood and heard for sure.
Um, okay. So, let's move on to personnel and we're going to straight to voting. Um,
I'm going to move items 7.1 through 7 22. Can I have a second? Second. Moved by Mr. Guzman, seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll call, please.
Yeah. Usually, so before they board members vote, they'll ask their questions. Yeah, that's how I'm sorry. You second, Mr. Martinez. Uh, I think so. Yeah. Yeah. Mr. Goodman moved. Mr. second.
Um, Mrs. Cerna, no. Mr. Kleta, I have questions. Uh, first question number 7.11. Um, I'm good. I know.
I'm good. Oh, you're good. So, I'm just a little confused. So again, I'm a supervisor in my full-time job as well. Let's see a little confused as to why if we have a
secretary whose job as secretary, your job is chief school administrators to delegate their authority, why it seems to always be we need to give people more money to do a job that you're capable within your parameters of assigning the person to do. So a person is getting a
raise for something you can literally as the supervisor say you are entitled to do this. I I don't understand why we consistently keep giving uh raises for things or hiring people to do things that we are able to delegate uh without
paying extra money for. Uh as far as 7.9 I have a question. Was this something that I don't know I have a question regarding the hire? I don't know if the executive is on the nine the higher
or on the salary revisal. Okay. I don't know if that has to be an executive 100% sure it's seems like it hasn't my question is is this an individual who
left and came back or was that a different teacher? I know we have a teacher that left and came back. I just want to make sure this particular individual he's been with us for more than All right. I just want to make sure it's not somebody that left because we hired somebody. The answer to that question is no. He's been he's been here for a long
uh so yes to 7.7 and 7.8. 18 and no to everything else. 7.7 and 78. Yes. No to everything else. Correct. You don't want to accept some resignation.
Oh, I'm sorry. And 7.16. Yes. Just 7.7 7 16 and 78. Yes. No, Miss Dorado. Yes. Mr. Dozen.
Yes. Mr. Martinez. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Okay. Curriculum and technology. Um, let me get I'm sorry. Let me get back to
my list. I'd like to move it. Okay. So, sorry, Miss Prado. Seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll, please. Mrs. Cerna, no 8.1.2. Yes, sir.
I'm sorry, I didn't hear you. No, 8.2. Mr. Ketta, yes. Mad. Yes. Mr. Desmond, just have a question for 8.4. Sure. Um,
the Fairfield Farms, is that like all day thing? is that so it looks like it's like you know there's like the place in W that has like the farm where the kid the little guys will go and like see like the they'll feed the goats whatever it seems like this is a another type of business that offers the same kind of service to
students and it seems like this is what um they they're offering was attractive to our preschool second grade band and that's why they wanted to make their field trip to this particular place My vote is
Mr. Martinez. Yes. And Mrs. Yes. policy. Mr. Fleta. Make a motion to move 91. By Mr. Fleta, seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll call, please.
Mrs. Serna. I don't think we should um touch the policy for for member election or appointment until I can hear Can you repeat that? Or the policy of uh policy number 0143
and what is that board member election and appointment? I don't think we should actually touch anything until we actually what we have to handle as a board. That's a policy. Let me go to this one.
The one that says board member election by this one that you would ask Mike, right? So, this is a standing policy that has some revisions. back and look at it.
I mean, since we're down to members, I feel like we should come up with the bylaw together as a whole, not just So, is this a recommended one or a mandated one? Based on my answer I received, I believe
it was recommended recommendation only, but it's not listed on the policy. That's why I have to email question. Yes. So, Andy, this is the the email I sent you. Looked at this. There's no substantive changes to the policy itself. They've
restructured paragraphs and taken lists of things that are in the statute and made them into par made them into paragraphs rather than they cleaned up I guess is the easiest way to say looking for a more technical term. There isn't a substantive change to policy itself. and they added
specific language for our vocational districts which doesn't apply on second. So you're free to vote your consciences but I can tell you based on what the law said this para yes yes
Mr. Martinez yes Mrs. Yes. Okay. Uh, security and safety. Mr. Guzman, like to move items 10.1 and 10.2 by Mr. Guzman, seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll call, please. Mr. Sa,
yes. Mr. Ketta, yes. Miss, yes. Mr. Guzman, I just have a comment if I may. Go ahead. Can we please move it forward if possible, if legally be permissible, if we can redact certain information regarding our evacuation drill such as
what times we're going to be held and things like that from the public uh for public use for security reasons. Yes. So, this is great. This is just a school bus evacuation, right? It's not like, you know, we did a thing where the HP does a really good job where we we coordinate with our SRO and I won't say
out loud where we go, but we actually have two different locations where we we can go um you know based on you know what the weather is, but this is just the uh a mandatory. If you're a school that buses students, then you have to make sure that all students know how to
get on and off the bus in case there's an emergency quickly. And that's what this particular items possible moving forward because say there's a fire drill and it says, "Okay, the fire drill is going to be at 9:30." Then the public will see what time the students are exiting the building. It
just does. I don't think the public needs to know that. I It's an oversight of my part, George. I'll make sure make sure the next time we do this we'll we'll we'll kind of reject. Not a problem. My vote is yes. Okay. Minez. Yes. This is Yes.
Okay. Community engagement. Missado like to move item 11.1 by Miss Fra seconded by Mr. Martinez. Roll call, please. Mr. Cerna, yes. Mr. Kleta,
yes. Mr. Yes. Mr. Rosen, yes. Mr. Martinez, yes. And Mrs. Yes. Finance and support plan. Mr. Martinez 12.1.2
by Mr. Martinez. Seconded by Miss Guadrad. Roll call, please. Mrs. Serna. Um, no. Yes, sir. Mr. Ketta,
um, I have a quick question. I know we're going to be given a update or a PowerPoint from the special education coordinator. Um, not not today, obviously at the later meeting. Uh in reference to the out of
district contracts um are these for behavioral or medically required. So it it's whatever their IE team decides. So the in certain cases like if say you
live in pick the name of the town, right? And then you move ahead. We're we're inheriting the IEP that you have. There's a certain amount of time we have to to amend it or or perhaps even challenge it. For the most part, it's it's legally binding document and we're
going to have to kind of follow those rules until we do our due process. Um, so it's going to be a mix of everything. I can give this board, you know, what we'll do in advance that meeting confidential report of the year is what we're seeing with our students. Uh, you know, when we when we have that
presentation at the next board meeting, we're not going to say this student has this issue or that student has that issue. uh but uh I give the support of confidential here's the x y and z for what we're paying for for all these particular students that were not able
to meet uh pay for um and then I think at that presentation I think the board will I think everyone will benefit here here's not here's why a child who lives within a district might not be able to receive an education inhouse from that
district uh and and here's the process that goes into that is that would you agree with And yeah, because like I said, my only concern is obviously the special needs kids that need to be out of district for their compliance so that they can get a proper education. I have no issue with it. I
just uh it seems to be every year we're adding more and more and under one list it seems a lot more listed for behavior only and uh when we're spending $88,000 for kids have a problem with any behavior. If somebody has special needs, that's different than whatever cost and
cost those kids are entitled to the same education as everybody else. I wouldn't disagree with you on that. And I also I would also just state too like we add maybe one or two a year and then you know in eighth grade they graduate and then they we subtract that. But but you don't see that in a board
agenda, right? Um I I think our numbers been fairly consistent. I think our overall IP numbers are something around this I think it's between like nine and 13%. And you know in a lot of districts you're going to see that I would say in most district is probably a little
elevated than that. Um but hopefully we have that presentation that could be addressed. So yes, Miss Katra purchase order 600330 and also abain from 121
line 71180. Yes to everything else. Thank you. Mr. Yes. Have you um Recommendation recommendation of PO
6533 and P 6534. Okay. Okay. Mr. Martinez. Hey, Mrs. Um, I have one question about 12.24. Um the the free main street is that for
staff. So that's for staff. It's free and it's also the kind of thing. So we have our our umbrella insurance policy and it's the kind of thing where staff do that. I think there's it's a benefit to to get your your bait screened. I'm sure we would all benefit from that. Uh but there I think there's
certain incentives where staff are able to show the insurance to do certain things. Then they get either some Amanda might be able to help me out with this but some kind of reimbursement that the staff get but I know this is something where this is during one of those days where it's a staff only he did that and
this is something that you know you know we want healthy staff and we we we think it's a good thing and it was free so we said why not do it. Yeah. Yeah. That sounds great. I just wasn't I wanted to know if it was the public. Yeah. I don't know the public deal. I don't know. I know nurse car set this up so I could ask her tomorrow and email
the board but I know that our staff are definitely going to be able to do this. Okay, sounds good. Uh my vote is yes. Okay, so uh new and old business. Does anybody have I have two items under new business and
uh questions I guess including the reports that we go into old business. Um, first item under new business. I would like to thank the teachers for coming out and I'd like to extend invitation for the teachers union to come to every meeting and feel free to voice any concerns or different things that they
have because as a union executive board member myself your speech in public meeting board member is protected and you're free to say anything you want whether it's about our how we handle things or the administration and I would personally welcome the input. Um, I'd
like to know how the school's doing from your perspective and what can be done better and different things. The second thing under new business I wanted to ask based on the water crisis that we have and some of the other issues um I don't know if it's possible but I would like to see if we could recommend doing
possibly a position of like OEM office emergency manager for the school whether it's a board member or a staff member to coordinate with the town OEM the county OEM so that in the event something like that or any of the other disasters that we've had um come up that we have a
direct representative from the school and the dealing with the town directly and the county. Um I don't know if that's something that's allowed. More question for the attorney, but I think that that would be something that could benefit us. Um so that's that's a good idea. Do we have
something? I I would imagine we have something two thumbs this guy but basically um you know when when there's we've had the emergency church in regards to student matters staff matters
the water thing was something that there really no textbook that kind of get you to prep for it. Um, and you know, we were we we ordered like 8,000 water bottles and then we we had a meeting with uh I I'm going to use the term
Poland Spring, but like it could be a different water vendor. Like those things were like our plan was to you know once we got through those 8,000 was to have like instead of water fountain patents now there's like Poland Spring kind of stations around. Um, but you
know, if if the board wished to have, you know, someone especially in charge of this, you know, I I get that. At the same time though, like I'm the superintendent of a school with a thousand people and 130 or 40 employees. Like
Patrick Water, it's going to be on my shoulders to make sure we figure something out. Um, but if the board wish to formally appoint someone, I wouldn't I wouldn't say no to that. But it's going to be melt. understanding that the person would definitely have to report to you.
Yeah. But at that level, if it's an emergency, then it's me. Like that's my job, you know, like when there's emergencies, that's that's that's when I have that's when I have to be who I am, right? That's what I have to do my job the highest level. Um and you know, I
know got a whole lot of phone calls from me that those couple weeks about what are we gonna Germaine Germaine did a great job. He really is like he's been a gold mine. really has all these construction projects we've done. Um, but like when it comes to emergency, that's what but need a superintendent
when things are easy to be super when things are going well. When there's unexpected weird things that happen and you need to think laterally, that's that's when you need a good super under old business. Somebody else wants to go first, but um under old business
previously uh question more from Miss Augustine. Um over the past two years between the state aid cuts as well as federal cuts and the increase in the healthc care uh cost on our contributing side, we've lost approximately $1.2 million. Correct. In funding
approximately. Yes. Yes. And given that the trend is that has exponentially exceeded in the last three years where it was no was barely any decrease to it was 300,000 the first year before and then the rest
came this year. Um if we were to expect that trend to continue, what kind of financial shape would the school be in to start for next year since the way the budget works is we're doing the budget now. What plans do we have in place for that to possibly happen? as if you look
at the election cycle, it's quite possible that we could have a change at the state level. Um, so Mr. Walker, my question is we appointed earlier this year or last year the position of current leazison which was covered under well I'm the first one to say I do not
want to see people be laid off. I have a problem where our students are fourth from the bottom in every category. We're the only defeating better grades of Patterson and Patterson safe and cross park in most categories. We cut the boss
program which cost 51 uh $51,871 but we kept a position of parent leaison which when we appointed the position I brought up the concern about spending the money and the way it was eased in was saying that should that federal funding be cut that that position would
be cut but instead we've cut the boss program we cut actually $30,000 worth of programs like makers night and different things um after uh believe it was after school homework club and things that went to the teachers and things that directly benefited the students, but we
were leaving a position that we said had that money been cut, that position has been eliminated. You know, I have an issue where you want us to hire people. And as a person in good conscience who is been laid off not once but twice due to financial mismanagement of the towns
that I work for, I have a very hard time when we're cutting the things that directly benefit the students to keep jobs. Then you're going to ask me to look at the teachers. You're going to get them upset and say, "Hey, I want you to hire all these people." When I do not have full confidence, I'm sorry to say that that
at the end of next year when the budget gets cut again that I'm not going to have to look at them and say, "Hey, uh, all these teachers that we just hired now great, we have to lay them off. And good luck to you. Thank you for leaving your other jobs. Thank you for coming here." I have a very hard time as a person to look at somebody in the face
and say, "I'm going to give you a job." And then I don't have faith that we're going to have the money if the funds get cut again. Especially when that was what was said we could go back and pull the YouTube comments from the video. That was specifically a position where I asked you that and that was what I was
told. And then when it came down to it, we cut programs that directly benefit the kids. The boss program directly benefits the children. I don't want to see anybody get laid off. But if it comes between directly benefiting the children and laying off a parent liaison,
I don't understand how that was the choice that was made when the cuts that in LA's email it was 29,000 whatever was the salary and it was $50 more what you cut. Had you cut that then the cuts that you took that went to after school? I think it was after school homework club,
makers night and um Saturday attention. I have an issue with that, especially when I'm going to be lectured consistently by board members, by yourself, by the board president about how I vote and how we try to care and do the best that we can in our conscious. I have a problem with that. And I just
don't understand. If we get cut another million dollars or more, what does it actually look like? And is there an actual plan other than saying that everyone in this town should just pay indefinitely to continue to pay people? Because it's not fair to the teachers. It's not fair to you. It's not fair to
the people that live in town either. And it's also not fair to these kids who had the boss program cut because it's unacceptable that we're losing to every town except Patterson and and uh Pro Park. It's unacceptable. And I I know the teachers. My daughters went here.
They work hard. They're good teachers. I I don't think they're happy that when you pull out the list that it took me three years to get that we're at the bottom. That it's unacceptable. That's a lot. Okay.
Well, I have I have two two things. The the jobs that we're the positions that we're approving or voting on are not new hires. The the parent leazison is a new hire. That was a new position that was created. But the other ones that we've
been voting on are replacements. So, it's not like those are new positions that have been created. They're replacements. And we have to replace them. The those classes need teachers. That's number one. The other things and Miss Austin, correct me if I'm wrong.
The funding for the boss program and and the other programs, isn't that a different funding than the parent leaison? That is title one. Is it the same funding? Leaison is in title one too. So the the other those programs and those were weren't those ESSER funding
which is the first year was ESSER the the um year of 2025 summer. came out of of title one. Okay. And additionally, we've we've absorbed over I'm just trying to do the base
math. I'm not a mathematician, but approximately 300 just shy of $300,000 in salaries which were originally covered by ESS funds that we absorbed into our regular budget as per the email that I have with um Miss Augustine when I asked this question. So, there's three specific teachers who I won't go into
names because I don't want to have that um possibly any violations there, but there's three positions that we absorb at over $90,000 a piece that were originally covered by federal funding that federal funding was cut. Again, this is the conversation we have, but when you say one thing and then when I
ask a question, it's always I didn't hear that. I didn't this. And it's very frustrating. That's almost $300,000 that we absorbed into the budget. $300,000 for salaries for three separate salaries that we
absorbed that were originally plus the the parent leazison on which we're bringing over $300,000 for salaries that were originally covered by federal funding that are no longer covered by federal funding. Well, if we're going to talk specifically about those, then we would
have to rice those employees and do it in executive session. Correct, Mr. Brown? We're going to talk about those individual employees that yes, I'm not I'm not trying to bring up the indoor. I'm saying in reference to your point you made that the positions are not being covered that they're separate things. We absorbed $300,000 worth of
salaries to avoid laying people. I'm happy that we did that for this budget because I don't want you to see like anybody else here. I'm the only person here that could say I've gone to work as a police officer and been told hey guess what doesn't know how to do its finances and you're laid off even though you were hired on a grant and they got to keep the money with no penalty. So, I don't
want to see that for anybody else. We went above and beyond to absorb over $300,000 worth of sales. You could you guys can act like I'm the bad guy all you want, but it's what it is here. Well, there's no kind of bad guy. Like,
you stated that you don't want to hire people to go. The thing is, you don't hire anyone like the board hires. That's how this works. Um, well, actually, we we you're correct. We we hire one person in two and the first comment you made of the night was to argue with a board member who last time
I checked. We supervise one employee. That means that you answer to us. We don't answer to you. If she wants or Christopher, your name is Christopher Waka. We're she call you whatever she wants. She's not calling you anything disrespectful. I'm tired of being lectured and talked to like if you don't
answer. We are ultimately responsible. You are the one employee. I'm It's very frustrating. Want to answer this? Um you can talk about the the boss program that was an esser program that was something that was geared toward learning
his board uh I think they were smart to do this said let's let's get a get a parent uh you know advisory committee together we had about four sessions in the evenings and they said this is if there's one program that can teach post esser it's going to be the boss and so
that became one of my priorities uh as far as the the position of I'm not going to the employee but position of the parent coordinator that was not it didn't start like a month ago that was it's probably 13 or 14 months we've had this position and you could look at
YouTube all you want and you're going to see that I say repeatedly that like my goal is not to cut staff unless we have and you know we've done that so I you know I hear your points Mike and that's my response [Music]
I just want to say so I I I hear what Mike was saying last year and I know and I remember those layoffs city privacy and all that it's tough but I just want to say something we do have as a team we do have other we do have a lot of we do
have several options okay options that have never been discussed here I don't like to bring them up because we don't want to send our school district into any type of panic mode especially our teachers the bottom line is this if our teachers teachers feel
that their their jobs are at jeopardy and that's going to in my personal opinion it's going to affect their performance in the school. All right, we want to make sure morale is high with our teachers. We want to make sure they're they're they're well supported. They continue giving the great service that they're giving to our children. Let's remember something and I think
this is the issue that Mr. Walker has and I'm not trying to speak to Mr. Walker if I'm wrong. So Mr. Waka was our principal. He was our he's been our superintendent. Okay. you feel like he's done a solid job for us. It reflects in his uh his evaluations.
Now all of a sudden, okay, we're facing a financial situation. We understand that. And now we're just jumping on throw. What are you What are you doing? The bottom line is this. This district, one thing that we never speak about is the fact that this district is 100% debtree. If this this board can
consider, okay, let's say they cut us a million dollars. We've never asked the state for a loan. We never went down those roads. Okay. So, if you don't want to lay a teacher off, we can ask the state for a loan. Okay? So, we can get through a tough time until times can get better. Okay? Another thing we can do is
instead of trying to make a unilateral decision ourselves or whatever, we can ask the taxpayers what they want to do. We can we can do a referendum. Taxpayers, what do you want to do? Do you want to lay people off? Do you want to do this or do you want to raise taxes uh 1.1%. You know what I mean? So, we do have
options, okay? Instead of sending our school district into a panic. So, let's work together like we've done in the past several times. This ain't our this ain't our first rodeo. This is not Mr. Walker's first rodeo. He's a former vice principal at Manchester Regional High School. He's a former vice principal at
St. K. He's a former principal here. Let us do CO 19. Let's trust him to do what he has to do. And if he doesn't, we're going to hold him accountable. George, that's it. The only That's all I have to say. I appreciate what you said, but there's only one thing I'm going to contest and I haven't done a solid job. I've done an
excellent job. When I had when you guys all interviewed me, people that were here, all four rounds of the super interview, the one question that came up about overcrowding. Sure. Um and we added a whole new wing to our
building. Um you know, that that was the main thing that you were looking for and I did what are we going to do back to academics? You know, you're going to get a presentation next month. It's going to show you that the last three years we keep trending upwards where we want to be trending. Uh, you know, we the board
talked to me about we want to have, you know, a conclusive playground. Guess what? We got that. Everything that this board has asked for in their strategy strategic plan, spoiler alert, we've done right. Um, so that that's what I've done as a superintendent and I'm not
going to apologize for it. I'm just gonna I'm gonna do a touchdown dance because I'm really proud of what we were able to do with the support of all the people that work here with me. Um, and you know, I I understand and I respect Mr. Glenn's point understand your point. Um but yeah, my name is Mr. Rock. That's
what I asked. Um another thing too is um and I also think that that uh Mr. Kleta's concerns are definitely valid. I mean, those are all valid concerns um in terms of where where we're going. U but I think it's
important that we continue working together to try to get through what could possibly be a tough fiscal time in our school district. And you know the crazy part is like like you got a neighboring town like Wayne their state aid it went up like 680,000 880,000 or
something like that and and they laid on 47 teachers or full-time staff and and we had like the worst thing that could happen which is losing you know like I said like 1.1 million um and it just turns out that lame and I happen to know what we're doing when it comes to you
know being fiscally prudent and no one's more fiscally prudent than Mo she says no to me more than more than anything, right? Like um because I I my job is to build and her job is to tell me no. Like that that's that's kind of how we work. And um and she wins a lot more than than
than I want to win. Um but like for us to lose that much and we're we're a district where only our budget's what 29 million for us to be short 1.1 million we were the previous year and not have to lay any full-time staff members off. That's that's that's something I'm
really proud of. And that that's something that you know I'm never going to apologize or I'm just going to keep promoting it and and if people want to know about what what's going to happen with this staff position or that staff position next year. I'll tell you like I could give you a report publicly and it it'll cause chaos, right? Like I know
what we'll do if we get to this level or that level or that level. So let me make it. We talk about it. Uh but we also know that like we got to the board passed this budget May or April or something like that and we're going to operate on that. when it comes time to make a new budget, we're going to factor
everything in. Maybe things that certain board members like in it. Maybe there are things that other board members don't like in it. And you know, it's I'm going to I'm the budget that ultimately I'm going to present because you know, LAMA is going to present to me and I'm going to okay, it's going to be a budget
that I think is best for the students and the families of and that's that's the bottom line and that's never going to change. Um well, I just have a one last comment. Um, I think what we also have to remember is this, Mr. Walker, where did you start here at HBS, if I may ask?
So, it's funny you ask. It's either 2016 or 17. It's one of those somewhere in there. Yeah. So, I think it's safe to say, Mr. Walker, based on our history, I have confidence. Okay. You should we we also but we also have new board members that you still have to earn
their trust and that's important, you know, and and what he's I don't think that Mr. letter is trying to attack it. I just think that, you know, this this is he's he he's a newer board member. Well, he's about to go into a possible second term.
Okay. And I think it's important, Mr. Walker, that that um you earn the trust of your new board member. And I think you'll do that. As far as Mike, I've known Mike for way a lot longer than than he became on the board and and we've had some fun conversations with the phone on email,
but like I like me and Mike get along. we talk about anime and your comic con and things like that we I I there's no ill will I don't from my right um so yeah so when Mike brings up challenging points I understand where he's coming from I I would say that you know Mike
and I philosophically disagree I think that would be fair to say right but you know if if if I saw Mike sitting next to the Jets game I'd be really happy to have him sit next to me right it's that kind of like my any else okay So I think that um as new
board members you are not receptive of anything that I have to say Miss Johnson has to say and you can you can tell everything from coming to a meeting or looking at RBA sat there and said that we are in hot water. Go back and look at
so we are asking for a solution. What is the solution? What number is gonna make you go, man? We really got to think about it. But you continue to let him disrespect everybody. Yeah, you you're the board president.
Okay. So, what I was going to say was, and in answer to your your comments, Miss Cerna, we passed a budget, and it was a good budget given the cuts that we had, and we hardly had to raise the taxes. We are working on the next
budget. We don't have the numbers yet, but we are they're already in plans, including Miss Austin, including Mr. Walker, and including us. So, there's not this solution that's going to just happen today. It's a work in progress. And
talking about respect, and this also commenting on what Mr. said, "Yes, a a board oversees a superintendent, but there has to be respect there and Mr. Blanca does an excellent job, a very efficient job,
very confident job as CSA. He has been doing that. What's your opinion?" So, well, yeah, it is. But I I heard Miss I don't mean to interrupt you. I apologize. I What you said has been hurtful, but I I don't want that. Okay. But but what my point is, you
know, We this I want there needs to be a certain culture here with with our board and we are going to address people by Mr. or Mrs. That's what we're going to do. That's what we've always done. That's the courteous thing to do and that's what
we're going to do. Um at least during board meetings and when it's not during board meetings then you can you know I I have no say in that. Well, I would like the respect to go all the way around. When you have a board member saying that, oh, you really need to show up when he had majority of the the time
that he he doesn't show up to a meeting. That's hilarious to me. But you allow it, right? As president. Well, we're not going to we're not getting into I'm not getting pulled into like little arguments. Okay. I we can go back and look at all the minutes and you can
see who was present, who was not present. So you're not getting pulled into a petty argument. Did I hear that from you today? I got that suited. I I need corn. That's what we need. That's all I need. And that's that's true. We have to have a for
what I'm saying is that we have a board member disinfecting other board members when he has the most amount of time out of here. Well, if if I I think I know who you're referring to and that board member has only Let me finish. that board member has been absent one time and you can
confirm that if you not the you can look at the minutes to prove that and it's not being disrespectful to ask board members to be here. Yes, Mr. G. Madam President, I would love to bring up this point since you finally want to
take charge of a meeting. I got an email from you lecturing me about uh my virtual my attendance and my virtual presence. However, as the board president, on two separate occasions, rule allowed two board members who are sitting here. On the first virtual board
meeting, Mr. Martinez was in violation of the policy. And on the meeting where we voted down the extension, you guys harassed committeeman, who was on vacation, who was also voting in violation because neither of them had their camera on, which is part of the specifically spelled out policy. I think part of the
problem here is that in good times, yes, Mr. Walker did a good job to put on the building. We are no longer in financially good times. If you look at what's coming in the state, there's polls that show what's going to happen. And if Sugar Elli wins or if Mikey
Cheryl wins, she's talking about regalizing school districts, which will also lead to cuts and loss budgets. But whenever anyone has an opinion that's not the opinion of the former committee that was here, it seems to be a problem. And the respect does not go both ways.
the former when I first came on I was the only no vote for two and a half years. Everything that Mr. Walker was wanted was immediately said yes to the fact that when I voted no for you being president the first time it stopped in because people didn't even know the what a no vote was
if you're going to if you're going to say things then hold everybody accountable because you allow people to vote in violation of the policy two star. So that was my oversight. I was focusing more on who was No, you were trying to get your you were trying to get what you wanted passed. That's why you called Mr. Guzman from
vacation to try to save the vote on the contract extension because you didn't have the votes and I sent you an email before and I said you didn't have the votes. You're going to make us look stupid instead of tableabling the thing. Okay. So now at no point does has she's
been the board president now for two years. You know how many times she's called me and asked me for advice or anything or what should I do? And I s as a law enforcement officer sworn 22 years in this business. Several. She stands our own two feet. Okay. And she did not
call me and told me to jump on or any of that. It did not happen. Yes, I was on vacation. Yes, I knew that u um that Mr. Fox was up for a uh for a thing and I did jump off and if I didn't have my camera on, I apologize. But I think it
was very clear. I'm not saying that that that gives me an excuse to violate policy, but it was very clear I was on vacation and um and my camera was on at one point, right? Or or others, right? And and I and I wanted to deliver my vote and I did and it didn't pass and that's okay, too.
That's all. So yeah, if I if I just want to finish if if the policy is vi in terms of with the camera not being on, I apologize. It's not your fault. It's the board president's fault for not. it was my oversight that I didn't notice that that well I I didn't remember that part of
the policy. But if you want to talk about adhering to policies, you and were complaining that the the attorney sent the contract to the county superintendent before it was approved. Well, guess what? That's policy. That's
required. So, we still authorized it. You You still claim you didn't authorize it? He said we did. So, we still authorized said to put it on the agenda and everybody knows that that's not a state, but nobody We still don't know who authorized the former attorney who we
got rid of to send the approved contract to the county superintendent. That's what you're supposed to do. Somebody has to authorize it. Either you authorized it or you didn't. I'm not going to continue to argue. Excuse me. since my name was brought up
and we're going to get personal. Um the people that that need to know um the times that that I work that I was out uh it was because I was hospitalized one for 13 days and one for nine days. It just happened to be that the meeting happened to be when I was
and that was last year. That was last year. And this year I've only been absent once once. So get my mouth. Get my name out of your mouth. Yeah. You should you should do the things because I'm not speaking about anybody else here. Here
in that we're not here for the kids and bad decision by not showing up. Did I say your name? When you have when you have not when you have a bad name when you have a bad record. Okay. Okay. So now Okay. You know what? Listen up. Miss Quadr, please go. Which is worse. So,
hearing everyone and picking back off of what um Madame President was saying, how the culture needs to be revised and turned into something new, I just want to remind you guys I sent out a survey. I've only gotten two responses and while some of you don't want to answer it
because you think it's something tedious, your opinion matters on how we can change the culture for our new board um members that come in in January. So, please fill out the survey. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Pad. And you know what? On that note, let's bring it back in
because this is really getting, you know, did we all did everybody get it out through system? We got 48 people watching us. I hope, you know, like, come on. I mean, I wish I didn't have better. I know everybody here personally, we're all better than this.
We're all better than this. We're all better than this. I'm glad everybody got it out their system. Let's move forward, please. Thank you, Mr. Guzman. Can we please move forward? Can we please stop looking forward to hearing the citizens on operations? We need a vote.
Wait a minute. Where 14.1 motion? New and old business. So, okay. So, we are still in Okay. Motion to close. You want to open? There was no motion. Yeah, you we don't have to. So,
I hope that the next meeting is I agree with we're better than this. I hope that the next meeting is goes better. And I hope we all come together as a team. Can I have a motion to open the floor to
citizens? Can I Mr. Moved by Mr. Martinez? Can I have a second? Second. Seconded by M. Quadra. All in favor? Okay. So, floor is open to citizens. We're going to start first with people
who are here. Okay. Is there anybody online? Mr. Miller, anybody online? Yes. Okay. Okay. Um, go ahead, Mr. Coello. you have three minutes.
Thank you. I I don't need that long. Um thank you for your time. I appreciate it. Uh I just wanted to stop by and invite everyone um at your meeting and online to our open house at Manchester, which is on October 22nd. That's Wednesday, October 22nd from 7 to 9:00
p.m. Um that's open really to all grade levels as long as a child has a parent with them. Um and um they don't have to come from 7:00 to 9:00. can come anytime during that 2-hour block to check out what the high school has to offer. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Kovale. Anybody else? Okay. Can I have a motion to adjourn to close? I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Can I have a motion to close uh the floor? Moved by Miss Fra, seconded by Mr. Martinez. All in favor?
Can I have a motion to adjurnn? Second. Moved by M. Martinez, seconded by Miss CuadraD. Uh, do we do all in favor? All in favor, please. All in favor? Let's stick together.