Everyone, welcome to the October 9th, 2025 meeting of the Hampton Board of Education. I'm going to read the open public meeting statement. The New Jersey Open Public Means Law is enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend any meetings of public bodies at which their interests may be discussed or acted
upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Hamilton Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, purpose, and place thereof published in the Hamilton Gazette in the press of Atlantic City and posted on authorized premises. We have the roll call.
Mrs. Baronado, here. Mrs. Burns here. Mr. Mr. Koya here. Mrs. Donio here. Mr. Donio here. Mrs. Fallon here. Mrs. Hunter is excused. Mr. Po here. Mr. Shipion here.
Mrs. Skola here. Mr. Thomas is excused. Mr. Lions here. I don't have the flag seat. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. All right, we're going to go right into presentations. Uh, first we're going to have Lorie Shibilia with the 2005 New Jersey SLA results. Come on up.
[Applause] Good evening. Tonight I'm going to present the NJSLA results for spring 20125. Okay. Our district-wide results include results um that I presented in August
from the NJ GPA and for I'm presenting tonight for NJSL. NJSL district scores increase to remain the same in 11 out of 18 areas. NJSLA stands for New Jersey Student Learning Assessment. Students were
tested in grades three through nine in ELA and math, algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2. The scores that meet proficiency in ELA and math are meeting and exceeding expectations. Students were tested in grades 5, 8, and
11 in science. Students scoring proficient and advanced proficient in science meet the target score and individual student reports were mailed home during the month of September. So we have five levels for NJSLA.
Um level one is not meeting and level five is exceeding. If you're in level four and level five, you are meeting expectations. So here are some interventions that we have set up throughout the district. We
have revisions to our curriculum based on essential update updated standards. We have targeted summer programs, universal screening and multi-tered and tiered system of support throughout the district.
We have um pull out and we have pushin for tier 2 link ELA and math benchmark data and assessments are utilized to differentiate instruction. We have Wilson intervention which is a a pull
out small group program for grades 2 through 5. INRS committee development develops goals and interventions for atrisisk students. PLC's analyze individual student data to focus on targeted skills.
We're going to look at now the spring of 2024 25 language arts. So we have grades three through grade six for ELA. The purple is not meeting and then we have exceeding which is in
the red. We're going to compare that to 23 24 for grades 3 through grades 6 ELI. Now this is um language arts distribution for grades 7 through 9 and
then all grades for 23 24 compared to grades um 7 through 9 for 2425. This is our subgroup population for 2023 through 2025 in meeting and exceeding
and this is also our subgroup program population for language arts ELLL's free and reduced lunch section 504 special ed and then general ed. This is our district overall
uh comparison from state to district for grades three through grades nine for ELA and we are meeting at some levels exceeding and we're right there at for a few grade levels.
This is our math achievement level distribution for grades 3 through grade 7. Now, this we're going to compare it to 2023 2024 for grades 3 through grade 7.
This is our math distribution for grades 8, algebra 1, middle school, algebra 1, high school, geometry high school, and then all grades for 2425. And we're going to compare that to 23 24. And we have to remember that we're
really looking at if if students were in grades 3 and 20 23 24. Now we're going to compare it to grades four for 24 25. This is our subgroup for math for meeting and exceeding.
And then this is our subgroup program population for math, ELLL's, free and reduced lunch, section 504, special ed, and general ed. This is our overall math average for districts for the district compared
to the state levels. This is our science scores distribution for grades five, 8, and 11. And we have to remember when we're looking at these, they're in bands. So you're looking at
grades three through five take the science test in grades five. You're looking at six through eight take the science test for grade 8. So it's not just that year that they're having to know the material
and that's compared to 23 24 for science. This is our subgroup by race for meeting and exceeding for science for 2425. And here is our subgroups um for science
by program for meeting and exceeding. And this is compared. This is 23 24 and 25. So right now we're going to look at this. This is the NJSLA 2025 overall science averages in grades five, grade 8
and grade 11. And this is our district compared to the state. Our D learn dynamic learning maps assessments are for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities for whom general state assessments are not appropriate even with
accommodations. Students who take DLM assessments are instructed and assessed on essential elements. Essential elements are grade specific expectations about what students with the most significant cognitive disability should know and be
able to do. The essential elements relate to college and career readiness standards for students in the general population. And due to the limited number of students who participate in this assessment, the results cannot be shared. Okay, that's it.
All right. Thank you, Mrs. Shabilia. Uh, any questions from the board? This is Bernat L. Uh, Lori, why don't you come back over to the borrow a question? No, I it's just the housekeeping
question. Lori, would you mind making a copy, a hard copy of that and sending it to me? Okay. Also, according to this, the subgroups are tested separately. They're not included in
the regular test. They are their statistics are separate from the regular. No, no, there the subgroup populations are included in our regular test scores, but then we break it down into the subgroup
population even a deeper dive into how their subgroups performed. Okay, I probably shouldn't ask this question, but how important is it to know that students are on free and reduced lunch according to the testing? Why is that
important? I mean, I don't want to put you on the spot, but that's fine. It's one of the state recognized subgroup populations. It's not us recognizing free and reduced lunch students. It's the state of New Jersey um having them as a subgroup.
Be a subgroup. Yeah. So, the subgroups are generally um in Hamilton, we have our Hispanic population, we have our special education, reduced lunch and right. Yeah. If you wouldn't mind when you have time, you can email. Can you email it to
a meeting? Can you email it to everybody on the board? Thank you. Okay, great. Sticking with the theme of standardized testing, we'll go a little bit out of order and I'm going to call Dr. T girl up. I know she's brought some guests with her tonight. Uh, who both
need to get a good night's sleep for school tomorrow and potentially want to get home to watch the Phillies andor the Eagles game over by I know we're on a timeline with the Phillies and here we are. Um uh as you were just informed about
the NJSLA results for last year, very timely that tonight I have some examples of some very high achieving students in the elementary school. Uh we do have a a significant population
that score proficient or above. But it's my pleasure tonight to introduce a few elementary students who achieved a perfect score on last year's NJSLA. The first student receiving a perfect
score is Kellen Frankle. Now before he comes up, I do want to say that Kellen is a two-time winner because last year he achieved a perfect score in math as well. So congratulations You can come up and take a picture if
you want. You want to take a picture? Look at Well, yeah. I absolutely think we should. I think his grandmother should take a photo of him. Just I told her she should They need the mats. They need to be hung up for posterity. Okay.
Yeah. Very nice. All right. Our next student received a perfect score in ELA on the third grade NJSLA. Angus Man, come on up.
Yeah, thanks. [Music] We have another young lady that achieved a perfect score in ELA in third grade, Lily Mento. [Applause] [Music] And our last award winner tonight, let
me just say that this may be a first. Aubrey Lombardo received a perfect score in both Elite and Matt. [Applause]
Oh, wow. That's awesome. That's awesome. That is not easy to do. So, congratulations to all our winners. I will just briefly quickly go over a few things that are going on
at the elementary school. Uh the week of respect is celebrated this week throughout the schools in New Jersey, emphasizing the importance of treating others with empathy and understanding. Our teachers have integrated different lessons in the classroom. They've had discussions so they learn to respect
differences and build communities that are positive and inclusive. Each day we have a schoolwide theme which reflects our commitment to maintaining a safe and school environment where everyone feels valued. And I did go through the hallways um every morning and say,
"Well, what day is today?" "Well, it's hat day." "Well, why are you wearing a hat?" "Well, because it's hat day." "No, no, you're wearing a hat because it's hat day because it's the week of respect and the theme is hats off to positive behavior." Um this morning, the Hamilton
Fire Safety Program was presented to all students by members of our fire department. The program is important for elementary school children as it teaches them how to respond in emergencies and practice safe behavior. I'd like to give a shout out to some brave teachers, Miss
Deio, Miss Galaher, Miss Cavaluchcci, Miss Ferrara, Miss Grunwald, and Miss Galleta who volunteered to go up in the bucket lift and wave to the students below. And great news, our much anticipated brand new playground is now open for
business. students were so excited. Uh the program was designed to inspire movement, creativity, and fun, and of course include swings. Uh the significant addition to outside activity offers a safe space where students can
play and grow together. So between today and tomorrow, every student will have had the opportunity to go out and enjoy the new play structures. Thank you to everyone who made this dream a reality, and it was wonderful to watch. Thank you.
[Applause] All right. Uh we're going to bring back uh Mr. Ramsey here for the 2004 2025 school self assessment for the anti-bullying bill of rights and then
he'll go right into student safety data. Yeah. And for those of our students that are here tonight and their parents, if you can, you can go ahead and if you want to hang out, feel free. But thanks for we understand. Thanks for being here.
Good evening. Um I promise I'm going to be brief. I have two presentations tonight. Uh the first presentation is that the New Jersey Department of Education requires school districts throughout the state to present their school self assessment scores for the
2024 2025 school year. Not working. What's going on with this? [Music] having a uh malfunction. Thanks, Brian.
Each school's safety team uses the state approved self- assessment rubric to rate their collective efforts to ensure a positive school climate and their ability to effectively investigate allegations of HIP.
Ratings are assigned for HIP prevention programs, training, curriculum, anti-bullying personnel, procedures for reporting HIP, and our actual HIP investigations. The maximum score on the self-
assessment rubric is a 78. So the scores for the 2024 2025 school year are as follows. The next slide, please. The ECE has a score of self-rating of 74
out of 78. The War Soy Elementary School has a score of 75 out of 78. And Hamilton Middle School and Hamilton High School, they both have scores of 76 out of 78.
Districts are also required to report their HID prevention programs and positive school climate efforts. The ECE has their very popular and successful super friends program. The Warren Eoy Elementary School is
utilizing the researchbased oasis bullying prevention program and also has a robust renaissance program and Hamilton Middle School and Hamilton High School. They both utilize the OAS bullying program and they have positive
behavior supports in schools in place as well. Annual training takes place each and every year and this report is being shared tonight will be approved by our board of education prior to the official certification submission to the
department of education. The second presentation is the student safety data systems report from January of 2025 through June 30th of 2025.
School districts in New Jersey must report to the Department of Education incidents involving violence, alleged or confirmed harassment, intimidation, or bullying, vandalism, weapons, and substance abuse, possession
or use of alcohol or drugs. Schools must also report any other type of incident resulting in a half day or more of inschool suspension. This information must be reported to the board of education in a public hearing
twice a year. Please go to the next slide for the chart. This is the incidents from January 1st to June 30th, 2025. Um, I can tell you I did analyze the
data from 23 24 school year from the 2425 school year and I'm proud to report that as far as incidents in the Hamilton School District regarding violence, vandalism, substance, weapons, HI, and
others, we pretty much went down in almost every single category. And I'm very proud to report that. But so at the ECE, one alleged HIB incident. At the Warren East Soy Elementary School, uh four alleged
HI incidents, one confirmed HI incident. Hamilton Middle School, 10 alleged HI incidents, 10 confirmed HI incidents. Hamilton High School, 17 H alleged, nonconfirmed.
And you can see what the totals are. And where you see other incidents leading to like a half day inschool suspension or full day of inschool suspension, that could be something like inappropriate language, uh, disrespect, maybe skipping
class, things of that nature. Thank you. That's my presentation. All right. Thank you, Mr. Ramsey. We're going to go back to principles. Let's have uh Dr. Sil come on up. Hello everyone. Good evening. Before I
share some current happenings at the ECE, I wanted to take a moment to thank Mr. Ramsey and our board members for your continued support over the summer as we once again plan for expansion of our preschool program. Special thank you
to Mr. Lions, Mr. Pia, and Mr. Koya for meeting and being available by phone to discuss logistics and some other um issues that had come up. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated and it makes a huge difference as we continue expansion.
We had our back to school night on September 16th. It was very well attended with roughly 400 families joining us. So, it was wonderful to see so many people come out. A beautiful evening and learning about what's happening in our classrooms. On September 26th, we had our annual
Hispanic, Italian, and German Heritage Month wellness walk. Although the route was a little bit shorter this year due to construction, students enjoyed walking around the school grounds and learning about influential individuals from each heritage. Thank you to Miss
Scorp Dilly, Miss Rosado, Miss Hagen, and Miss Jones for coordinating this event. And speaking of construction, our preschool students have begun their unit of study on buildings. They're learning about how buildings are made and the roles of people who construct them. This
is an exciting topic to explore right now as students observe real equipment and workers right outside of their classroom windows as some work has begun on our preschool wing expansion. We had a visit from the Hamilton Fire
Department on Tuesday in recognition of fire safety week this week. So, we're grateful to them for always coming out and doing a wonderful job and in sharing um important information with our students about fire safety. This week also marks the week of respect with students participating in themed
activities that promote kindness and community. And we'll close out the week tomorrow with community spirit day. Students are invited to wear something that reflects their culture, school pride, or extracurricular interests. Uh finally, our kindergarten and first grade students will visit Duffield's
farm next Wednesday and Thursday to pick pick pumpkins and enjoy a hayride. So, we're looking forward to having parents join us for these fall trips. Thank you. Thank you. [Applause]
All right, come on up, Dr. Rinsky. Good evening. First, I want to congratulate the uh elementary school students who had perfect scores. That is an amazing feat. Our middle school, unfortunately, this year did not have many or I would have brought them as well tonight. So, congratulations. That
just highlights how hard that is to achieve. Um, as a 15-year cancer breast cancer survivor, I just want to acknowledge that October is breast cancer awareness month, and I want to thank um everyone throughout the district for their support of the cause,
and they're really spreading awareness. I also want to give a shout out to our new strings teacher, Sean Duffy, who's doing an amazing job growing our program, recruiting students, um, and beginning an orchestra program this
year. Um, he's a great addition to our staff. And I'm also happy to report that the Rotary Club is now sponsoring an afterchool orchestra club that Mr. Duffy will lead and facilitate to grow our program. So, thank you to the Rotary
Club and also thank you to the board for your support of this program. More happy news from our music program. Our middle school concert band is going to spend the entire day tomorrow with the high school marching band to learn
all their pep music for the Friday night's football game. So, we're excited about that. It's called Band Buddy Night and it's under the direction of Mr. uh Martinez and Mr. McGlaughlin. and we want to thank them both for encouraging the partnership and uh building school
spirit and uh collegiality between our schools. Our first dance was sponsored uh by PBSIS, our positive behavior initiatives well attended. We had a lot. We want to thank our staff members who gave up their Friday night recently to chaperon.
Tomorrow, more exciting news from the halls of the middle school. We're introducing our newest mural in our main lobby. It's called Books Tell Our Stories. And Miss Judge and Miss Abate, they've been painting and they created a big book and
our students are all going to sign their first names into the mural. And our staff is going to put their last name. So, we're looking forward to that uh to the unveiling of that tomorrow. Another show of uh HMS Unity and respect for the
week of respect. Also lastly, um our performers have been working hard to plan for the cabaret under the direction of Miss Kabibbo and Miss Gaunt. And we want to invite everyone to see their talents on Thursday, October 30th. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. All right, Mr. Matina, [Applause] can you let us know what the score of the Phillies game is? It is nothing nothing right now and we're in a sixth inning inning, two outs, man on first. You're very on brand with the Eagles
tonight by the way. Um so good evening board. Um on September 25th, we had our gym filled with representatives from colleges, trade schools, and military juniors and seniors participated in this exciting event. Next week, October 14th to the
17th, we have our first spirit week of the year. Friday of next week is our fall pep rally, which then the next day will be the fall um the homecoming football game at 11:00 a.m. So hopefully you all get a chance to get out there and that night 7 to 10 is the homecoming
dance. We started Blueevil Time a few weeks ago. I couldn't be any happier with the way it's running right now. Students are receiving a ton of extra help. There's always clubs taking place which is keeping the students engaged in our schools. um what the students and staff have done in a few weeks has been
fantastic. They've took taken it and ran with it. All admin can do is kind of put a framework together and try to organize something for something to be special inside of a school. It needs students and staff and that's kind of what's happening right now. So, I'm very proud of Hamilton High School at this moment.
And onto the fieldhouse. There's a lot of excitement in the building about our fieldhouse outside which represents the boys and the girls. It looks fantastic out there. And to show it off, Matt Donio worked with our athletic director, Mr. Chris Sako, and created a video that
you're about to watch. Enjoy. Renovating the Blue Devil Performance Center has been something that I think's been discussed for a long time. Uh what it is, it's an expansion of our current waiting room that we have in addition to girls locker rooms, girls bathroom, and
an extended locker room on the other side for for the boys and uh for football season. Then we also have uh you know the freshman locker room over there which can be utilized for track and other other boys sports. I think it's amazing because it's not just benefiting uh football, it's benefiting other girls sports and all
the other stuff. I personally for track think it's better for the track girls because we can change out here. It's more efficient for us. I would say it'll definitely be like more accessible and we won't have to like all like all the girls sports won't have to cram into
that the locker room in the school. I think it's finally like fair to like all everyone, every gender because before it would just feel like only boys were allowed in here and like when girls would come I think they would get kicked out and now girls have girls bathroom
they're allowed to use the wait room they have a place to go like it just makes more sense after school when you're trying to get ready there is no room to even go in the bathroom the line's always so long so it's exciting to have uh more room and get ready faster and get out on the
field faster and start practicing right away. I think being able to have a girls locker room in the bathroom and technically the guys fieldhouse benefits a lot because now we don't have to walk all the way to the opposite side of the track to go to the bathroom or we don't
have to go back into the school to go back change or go into the weight room and going to the bathroom. I think it'll be good for like after school training or like ch training in the offse. There's so many options of what you can do in here now. Instead of like, oh, you just want to squat, we have squat racks
or you want to bench with bench racks. There's so many dumbbells and stuff like that you can just like use differently. Very grateful for the expansion. I think it's going to be a great addition to all the sports and I'm really excited to use all the equipment.
Nice. Nice job. Well done. Great job, Matt. Now I was asking if you could consider All right. Now, thank you, Mr. Matina. All right. Now, we're going to go to board member
comment. I'll start to my right with Mrs. Burns. Uh, I just want to compliment Matt on a nice job and that that fieldhouse is long overdue. Yes, it is. Thank you, Mr. Shaban.
Yes. Let me find my report. There we go. Just want to say great job, Matt. It was a great great video. Um, I pretty much just have sports right now. So, we have the field hockey team's
record is 11-2. Girls soccer is 8-4. Congratulations to our September athletes of the month, Ava Celita and Stefan Mahan or Stephen. Girls tennis
hosted and won their first NJSIA playoff match since 2017. Advancing to the quarterfinals, Hamilton will host the girls volleyball tournament on October 11th in gym A
starting at 8:00 a.m. Hamilton will host Atlantic County Cross Country Championships on October 16th at the Hamilton Lake Park starting at 400 pm. The homecoming game will take place on
October 18th at 11:00 a.m. versus Atlantic City. The winter registration portal is open through the following dates. The high school November 1st and the
middle school November 17th. Please visit hamiltonbuedevils.com to register. And that's all I have. Thank you, Mr. Chipion. Mr. Clear, I have the no committee report. I just
want to comment on the fieldhouse. That's something we talked about for a lot of years. I'd like to thank the Grid Iron Club for helping us get that done. And I'd like to thank the donors who donated to the Grid Iron Club to make it a reality. It's really a great building. If everybody hasn't been out there, definitely get out there, take a look at it. The video is great, Matt, but
Matthew, I'm sorry, but the uh the um you know, seeing it in person is always better. So, all right. Thank you, Mr. Co. Uh same uh as Mr. Pia and great job on the video, Matt. Um I'd also like to
thank uh Mr. Caperry. Uh he helped out tremendously with this project. Uh Paul Calderon was a huge help. Um South Jacobs was another big part. And anybody else that helped us uh complete this project under budget again and on time
for the first football game. That was a challenge. I'm not going to lie. Uh but these these guys uh made it happen and it's a fantastic uh place for our kids. Thank you guys. All right, this is for I just want to uh piggyback on something
Ray uh was talking about when he was talking about the winter sport of the fall sports. Uh he mentioned a couple of of uh the teams with winning records. I just want to congratulate all the fall teams. Uh,
I'm a sucker for the kids that sit the bench and wish they could get in the game. And a lot of times they do get in the game, but they practice just as hard and um, you know, they're there supporting and doing what they have to do to be on the team. I also would like
to congratulate the teams that don't have a winning record because if you go to any given game and you don't look at the scoreboard, don't look at the scoreboard. Watch them play. They play with their heart and soul. They could be losing by 20 points. They could be
winning by five points, six points. They play, like I said, with their heart and soul. You They never give up. And I I give them so much credit for that. Um the criticism of some of the teams, I think, is not worthy of what they do out
there. and I just want to congratulate them for their effort and their contribution to our fall sports. Um the other thing I want to talk about is uh it was already mentioned our um playground. It's so exciting. It's you
know I love the swings. I want I thought we should have swings. I need we we need to go back in time, I think, to some of the things we did uh not so much when I was young, but that was like a long time ago. But, um, kids need to get outside.
Put your phones down, go outside, and I think this is going to be really helpful in that area. I mean, learn how to play hopscotch. Nobody plays these little games anymore. Mother mayi, red light, green light, musical chairs, you know. Um, it's I don't know, that's just me.
But I think, you know, getting outside in the fresh air, just having a break, especially in the younger classes, being penned up in the classroom all day, you know, their attention span isn't isn't that long. So, I think anytime they can unwind, but it's a great We were lucky
that we had grants. Uh we were lucky that uh Luke was out there every day making sure that it got done and um getting well not necessarily on time but pushing it you know pushing it to the edge but uh I am sure they will enjoy
it. It's beautiful. If you have a chance as you ride by take a look at it. The kids are going to love it. It's absolutely great. Matt, congratulations on the video. So, I do have some ideas, but I'm not going to go in there tonight cuz everybody's wondering if the Phillies are winning. Um, it was 000 the
top of the fifth. But anyway, um, the reason I love it so much is because it's done by a student and I think that is so great, you know, that we didn't have to outsource this. The student got to do it and, you know, we look at their productivity. So, thank you for that and
it was a great job. That's it. I have it. Thank you. I'm sorry. I got You're fine. I'm just going to piggyback on what she just said. U M Mrs. Bernado just said, Matthew, I thought um it was very well done, very professional, and I loved all of the student perspectives and circling
back to other I just I love the way you executed that. So, great job. And very exciting to about the the fieldhouse in general. And I think a recurring theme tonight seems to be like if we see a need, we we get it done,
right? and we thank this community gets it done and I and I just love it and we saw that in the fieldhouse and we saw it with the Rotary Club donating um so we can have an orchestra right like amazing. So I just love you know we don't we didn't have it in the budget and all these kids signed up. We're like
what are we going to do with all these kids and so to to just form an orchestra and Mr. Duffy's going to run with it and the Rotary Club supported um our school and these kids doing that I think is just a wonderful thing. So, um, I just wanted to I just wanted to kind of point
that out tonight. Like there's just a recurring theme of like, you know, we find a way and we we see a need and we find a way and I love that about this board and this community. So, um, that's I guess that's my report. Thanks. All right, Mr. Skull.
Hey, good evening. Um, I don't have a report for safety and security, but I did want to take a moment to highlight our band and our band director, Mr. Manny Martinez and band staff and parents and volunteers. Uh, this past Saturday was the first time, I believe,
in almost 24 years that we hosted here in Hamilton. Um, I was lucky enough to be able to volunteer in the hospitality area. The judges were happy. Um, I believe us bands, they were happy. They didn't believe that it was our first
time hosting in so long. We did such a good job. So, it was just really nice to be a part of that and to see that. Um, I believe Mr. Martinez even got an a note or email saying that um they may want to come back here next year, which is
great. Um, Wawa, hers, uh, Chips, Funky Cow, Marchelos's parents, uh, they received donations from so many people and I just wanted to put the spotlight on them for a minute because when I watched those kids, they were so happy to be out there and they all did a
really well, really great job. Uh, even though Hamilton couldn't compete, um, I think they got a 72.5, which was their best yet. Uh, so that was really wonderful to see in here. Uh, Matthew, congratulations. That video was great. And um that's all I have.
All right. Thank you, Mr. Stone. So, I just wanted to remind uh the parents that there is a free financial aid night on Tuesday, October 14th at 6:30. It's sponsored by the Hamilton Education Association and it's actually
provided by the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Um, I just encourage not just seniors, but juniors and even sophomore parents if that's something that you think your children are going to explore. Uh, I know as a parent it's very overwhelming.
So, I'm very grateful that our district is offering that seminar. So, just a reminder to parents that that's happening next week. And of course, I'm always proud of you, Mr. Go. All right. Yeah. Well, thank you everybody. I'm glad you all like the
video. Um, I mean, stories like those are my favorite to highlight. I mean, positive and something something good going on in the school and community. Um, but at the high school, we've uh been working really hard on preparing for homecoming. Uh, our spirit week, like Mr. Martina said, it starts next
week and then we have our fall pep rally next Friday. Uh, and then I think uh Mr. Shipion and uh Mr. Matine also said it, but I'll say it again. homecoming game is Saturday morning at 11:00 am uh verse Atlantic City because of the team schedule and uh that's also the day of
the dance. And uh today we just wrapped up homecoming court nominations and uh you'll be able to vote for king and queen when you buy your ticket next week. Um and I did want to give a little shout out. Uh Blueevil Time is going really really well. And uh for our first
student council meeting a couple weeks ago, we had over 179 students. Um and I think that's probably one of the most well attended student council meetings we've ever had. And that's only possible because we have that time during the school day to do that. That's great.
Um and it's nice it's nice for me too, you know, to have time in the morning. Uh I can do things around the school. Uh you know, I get to talk to people more and like it's it's more of like a low stress period. And uh and also the fact that as a senior I can come in late. Um
I don't really use that a whole lot, but uh it was helpful the day I I shot that video, you know, I I had to uh get all the camera equipment together, put it in the car and stuff. Um so it's been really nice to have that time in the morning. And uh other than that, things at the high school, they've been going
really well. And again, I think I told Mr. Matina this like weeks ago when we first started Blueevil Time. I was like really surprised in a good way uh that it ran so smoothly from the beginning. I don't think there was like a single problem like everybody knew what to do,
where to go. Really really uh greatly executed. So that's all. All right. Thank you. Uh a couple additional comments. So, uh, coming up, and we'll have another board meeting between now and then, but coming up on November
19th, uh, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton Middle School in the library will be the special education parent advisory group meeting. That's the first one for this school year. That is for parents of Hamilton, Falsam, and Waterford students. Uh, I encourage
anyone who has a child that receives special education related services to please try to make it out to that meeting. It'll be an opportunity to receive some really value added free information, meet a lot of the folks that work in the special education department as well as network with other
parents and and learn about tips and resources. Uh, and I would extend that offer even to parents who may, you know, may not may just want to learn more and understand more about special education in public schools and how that works and how we manage children and provide them
the resources they need to succeed. So again, that's on November uh yeah, November 19th, 6:00 to 7:00 in the Hamilton Middle School Library. Uh touching on the playground, um you know, it was it's been finished. You know,
fortunately, uh we got it done and we did not want to wait a moment more than we had to. So, we got the kids out there today. Uh soon we'll be putting up a a appropriate uh reminder at the former Penny Park site to acknowledge the donations and hard work from the
community at the pri for the prior Penny Park and acknowledge the transition from the park that was there to the park we've rebuilt there. So stay tuned for that. Uh, I'd also like to thank uh Hamilton's own assemblyman Michael Teresi for not only supporting that
project, but also for advocating uh to the state legislature to help get us a grant to partially fund that project. It helps to have someone who went to school here and lives here in the assembly to work for us, especially when we need to compete for grants and important
projects. Uh it was great to see the students come out tonight, especially those who uh score perfect scores on standardized testing. You know, generally uh I've been known to rant and rave a little bit about how the state handles their standardized testing. I have some significant uh opinions and
displeasure with the state and how the Department of Education pushes down standardized testing, but it makes me feel great when despite all of that foolishness, our kids score perfect on the tests. Makes me feel so good. Um, so I'm really happy to see that. Uh, on the
band competition, you know, I I stopped out on Saturday. I did not have time that day to volunteer, but I did stop out and it's great. You know, uh, I've been to a couple of those. Uh, you know, I I did not play an instrument. My children don't play instruments, but band competitions are a lot of fun to go to. Even if you're not a music person,
per se, it's really neat to watch and the parents are super involved and everyone, it's a really intense thing. And uh I was at the Hamilton competition last year at um Eastern. I spent some time with Mr. Martinez and the folks the judges from US bands to understand how the scoring works and it's really
interesting and very elaborate and it's a pretty pretty neat thing. So I'm always excited not only to see our kids compete but we had a lot of people here that day. There's a lot of people in town. Um and that's a great thing for our community to show just how beautiful a campus we have and how great a
community we have. But also those people that come here from far and wide, I hope that they drive through town and stop and get something to eat or shop a little bit on their way out or just, you know, look at each other in the car and say, "You know what? We should come back here one day. This is a nice town." Because it is. So feel really good about
that. Um the video performance center is fantastic. You know, a lot of hard work and and Mr. Koya did an excellent job of thanking all the people who donated and volunteered their time. Uh so I'll I'll I'll do it for him and I'll thank Mr. Koya for being out there, not only
working hard to to get the job done and make sure that we got the trades and the right people in the right places, but also donating his own time and and and uh wherewithal and abilities and and making the financial commitment, the time commitment to help get the project
finished uh and get get things f you get things done. So really exciting. Um lastly on sports and and Mrs. Bernano made a great point about the different teams and, you know, teams with winning records, teams that are that are still building a program. Uh, you know, I I've
watched a lot of the fall sports. Uh, we have a lot of great teams competing right now. But the thing that makes me feel the best is just no matter what sport it is, no matter what the score is, our kids, number one, they seem really happy to be out there with their friends and really excited. That makes me feel good. and two, they're all very
respectful and they're and they're professional and how they carry themselves and they really represent the district in a positive way and that makes me feel great. Uh, and that's a testament in in many cases to the coaches who teach them the the values
and sportsmanship and all these other important things. So, that takes me to the end of my report and now we're going to go to public comment. It's the first of two opportunities for anybody who wants to be heard. step up to the microphone, let us know your address, and let's talk.
Good evening. Melissa Cast, 672 Grape Street. It's top of the seventh and it's 000. Thank you. You're welcome. That's not my only public comment. Um,
first of all, I just want to echo the sentiment that u Mrs. Balon said just just a little while ago that we see a need and we get it done. Um that was worded so eloquently is really going to underscore
uh you know why I'm here tonight. And if you recall a year ago I saw a need with a wall and you guys got it done. And um you know I think that that has really inspired me to you know kind of be a set
of eyes, a set of ears when it comes to certain things in the district. And I'm here tonight speaking on behalf of several parents. Um in case you didn't know, October, as well as being breast cancer awareness month, is also dyslexia awareness month. A few years
ago, Hamilton public schools took a huge step forward by hosting a speaker from New Jerseys Decoding Dyslexia. This speaker spoke to a well- attended crowd of parents in the West Cafeterium about the struggles and potential
remediation of dyslexia. Those of us who attended felt informed, seen, and ready to work with the district in supporting a robust remediation program to support dyslexic learners. And a month later, CO
had us all on lockdown. So, whatever gains were going to happen were halted. Once back in school, some students were given support in a program called Wilson Reading Program. That program was featured tonight on some of the PowerPoint slides featured by Miss
Sibilia. Reading specialists and dyslexic experts alike sing the praises of Wilson reading as a multi-ensory explicit instruction that works for both dyslexic children and adults. As my son Liam returned from
COVID in fifth grade, he was receiving this instruction from Mrs. Tracy Rarick at the West building. As Liam approached middle school, we knew he could receive Wilson intervention because both Mrs. Moren Anderson and Mrs. Megan Gorbish
are tier one certificated in Wilson. At meetings, however, my husband and I would ask, "What about high school? What what's going to happen then?" We had no answers, but we felt confident that the district would work with us through the issue. And I'm here to tell you that Hamilton High School does not
have a Wilson certificated teacher. And this doesn't just affect my son, but it will also affect any child that is currently receiving Wilson intervention at Hamilton Middle School. And as I understand it, Woodford School District also implements Wilson reading to
identified students. So the presence and or absence of this program also affects students that feed into Hamilton High School from surrounding areas. So my request to the board is to please actively seek out and maybe even
incentivize staff to become Wilson certified to support our dyslexic learners through their high school years. Currently, there is an abbreviated Wilson program called Just Words that a teacher can take virtually in one day and learn how
to implement lessons. Sterncenter.org is offering a course on November 14th. Additionally, Tier 1 Wilson introductory program is offered virtually through Drexel University in January 2026 with
Dr. Lorie Severino. See, dyslexia is often oversimplified as reading or writing backwards when the reality is is that it's so much more complex. Please understand that there's no cure for dyslexia, but there is only
support. And support should not go away when a child turns 14. In fact, continuous intervention with a specialist helps the neurons in a growing brain to make connections between words, sounds, and meaning. We need to continue striving for best
practices in our district. And in this case, we need to strive for continuity of services with Wilson Reading. Please work with not just me on this initiative, but with the other parents that I represent tonight. And lastly,
because there are Philadelphia games going on tonight, um I want to, you know, expedite this by just saying that I am one of the newly inducted members of the Hamilton Education Foundation, and I would like to cordially invite all of you to our upcoming winter event on January 31st to be held at Thomas Elo
Winery. Its purpose will be to give us that recharge that we so desperately need midschool year. So, please mark your calendar for January 31st and feel free to come raise a glass and raise some funds in the name of community and
education. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Something we can bring up at the next curriculum meeting. Yeah. Can we write that down to try to get teachers to do that to get certified? We'll uh we'll take that back. Seriously? Yeah.
See no one else in the public. We'll move to the regular agenda. Uh, I'll take a motion for finance items 1 through 21. Motion. Mrs. Donio, first Mr. Shipion, second. Roll call. Mrs. Baronado, yes.
Mrs. Burns, yes. Mr. Koya, yes. Mrs. Donio, yes. Mrs. Stalin, yes. Mr. Po, yes. Mr. Shipion, yes. Billy's one- nothing. Mrs. Skola,
yes. Mr. Alliance. Yes. Motion carried. Next, we'll take a motion on personnel items 22 to 45. So move. Mrs. Bernado first. Mr. Koya second. Roll call. Mrs. Baronado? Yes. Mrs. Burns? Yes.
Mr. Koya? Yes. Mrs. Jonio? Yes. Mrs. Fallon? Yes. Mr. Fa? Yes. Mr. Shipion? Yes. Mrs. Skola? Uh, yes. Abstain number 37.
Mr. Lions. Yes. Motion carry. We'll move the program, students, and miscellaneous items 46 through 67. Motion. Mrs. Burns. First, second. Second. Skolola. Second. Roll call. Mrs. Feronado. Yes. Mrs. Burns.
Yes. Mr. Koya. Yes. Mrs. Jonio. Yes. Mrs. Fallon. Yes. Mr. Fa? Yes. Mr. Shipion? Yes. Mrs. Fol? Yes. Mr. Lions? Yes. Motion carries. We'll move to the addendum. I'll take a motion for finance
item number 68. So moved. Mr. Shepion first. Second. Mrs. Burns second. Roll call. Mrs. Baronado. Yes. Mrs. Burns? Yes. Mr. Fuya? Yes. Mrs. Donio? Yes. Mrs. Valent? Yes.
Mr. Pa? Yes. Mr. Shipion? Yes. Mrs. Scola? Yes. Mr. Lions? Yes. Motion carried. I'll entertain a motion on personnel items number 69 through 73. Motion Mr. Koya first. Second.
Uh Fallen. Mrs. Fallon. Second. Sorry. Roll call. Mrs. Baronado. Yes. Mrs. Burns. Yes. Mr. Koya. Yes. Mrs. Donio. Yes. Mrs. Fallon. Yes. Mr. Poa. Yes. Mr. Shipion? Yes. Mrs. Skola?
Yes. Mr. Lions? Yes. Motion carried. Next, we'll entertain a motion on programs, students, and miscellaneous items 74 and 75. Motion. Mrs. Burns first. Second. Mrs. Donio. Second.
Roll call. Mrs. Baronado. Yes. Mrs. Burns. Yes. Mr. Koya. Yes. Mrs. Donio. Yes. Mrs. Fallon. Yes. Mr. Po. Yes. Mr. Shipion. Yes. Mrs. Scholo. Yes. Mr. Lions.
Yes. Motion carried. Okay. Second portion of the public second public portion. Seeing no one, we'll move move on from that. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Mrs. Bernado first. Second.
Mrs. Skull second. All in favor? I. I. Thank you everyone. Good night. Right.