Meeting call to order. Time now is 7 p.m. Public portion of the meeting begins. New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the rights of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted
upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the business administrator board secretary has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof posted at the municipal building communicated to the Herald News the record and filed with the clerk of the burough board.
Roll call, please. Joseph Carr >> here. >> Alex Cleo >> here. >> Michael Doyle >> here. >> Jennifer Armstrong >> here. >> Abigail G >> here. Erica Moly Coulson is absent. Anthony Paloo
>> here. >> Jesselle Vega >> here. >> Marco Taro >> here. We have a >> please rise the flagg of to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with
liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Meeting regulations. During each regular meeting, two opportunities are provided for citizens to ask questions and to make comments. During the first opportunity, early on the agenda, the meeting is open to the public for the
purpose of addressing items listed for approval on this agenda only. The second opportunity occurs just prior to adjournment when citizens may address any subject matter that this is per that is pertinent to andor directly related to the operation of the school district.
Persons wishing to speak must upon being recognized rise, state their name, address, and subject matter. Comments and questions shall be addressed to the board president or presiding officer and shall be limited to five minutes per person. The board may or may not respond to the issues raised by members of the
public at the time they are raised, but will will provide a response if and when appropriate. The board asks that members of the public be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Please note that the board will not respond to comments regarding students or board employees in light of
the privacy rights held by those individuals. Moreover, the board discourages comments about such individuals and will not be responsible for such comments. Members of the public who choose to speak during the public session should carefully consider their comments since they could be held
personally liable for any statements they make. Finally, please note that in accordance with the district policy, the board will not officially comment or respond to any matter mentioned unless it can confirm that the matter has first been brought to the attention of the appropriate
school personnel and attempt to resolve this issue. The issue public be heard. Agenda items only. Seeing no one here. Motion to go in. Excuse me. Skip that part. Approval of the minutes July 15th,
2025 regular meeting minutes, public and private, along with the July 29th, 2025 budget meeting, work session, superintendent, transition public uh meeting. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Cleo, >> yes.
>> Mr. Doyle, >> yes. >> Miss Art, >> yes. >> Mrs. G, >> yes. >> Miss Multi Colton is absent. Mr. Paloo. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vega, >> yes. >> Mr. Carr,
>> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> My apologies. >> Mr. Thank you for that. Correspondence, please. Thank you. Uh so last week our LMS hosted leadership camp welcoming
approximately 107 incoming sixth graders. This unique program is a true team effort bringing together our school staff, student leaders, the mayor and council Chief Nepert, Sergeant Dalo, and the entire Hawthorne Police Department to support and guide our students. We're
incredibly fortunate as community to provide such a meaningful experience that helps students build confidence, connections, and strong foundation as they enter middle school. Also, last week, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives from each of our schools parent teacher organizations. It was a
wonderful chance to come together, share ideas, and discuss how we can best support our students in the year ahead. I want to extend my sincere thanks to all of our PTO members for the time, energy, and dedication they continue to give in support of our schools. uh practices for our fall sports teams
and programs have become. We're excited to see our teams compete this fall and wish them all the luck as they embark on a new fall season. From the facilities department, they've been busy this summer. The summer projects are progressing well. Paving has been completed at Roosevelt and Hawthorne
High School with Jefferson's paving project expected to be finished tomorrow. The roof project at Roosevelt is ongoing while the Lincoln roof project reached 100% completion today. All gym inspections have been successfully completed and our custodial
team continues to work diligently on summer cleaning to ensure our schools are ready for the start of the new school year. For the parents, please be on the lookout for my introductory letter coming out this week. In it, I will share more information about myself and also provide details about an upcoming meet and greet opportunity
prior to the start of the school year. Uh, new teacher orientation is scheduled for August 25th and 26. Dr. Trabona has organized another great program and we look forward to welcoming our new staff to Hawthorne. 15 new staff members this year. Opening days for staff are
September 2nd and 3rd and the first day for students is September 4th. Um today our administrative team came together for our annual retreat. An important opportunity to collaborate, reflect and focus on this year's goals and vision. We're fortunate to have an outstanding team of administrators all committed to
supporting our students and staff. Our theme for this school year, and you'll hear this over and over, is communication, connection, and opportunity, which ties directly into our district goals. Um, we're very excited for the years ahead, and I personally look forward to seeing our schools in action and getting to know
our students and staff. Lastly, tomorrow, our first district newsletter will be sent out to our school community. Attach will be our social media handles. Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see all the great happenings in our district and community. And I know as part of the
superintendent report, it was listed as the SSDS report. We actually will be reporting that at next month's meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you. And with that, we will go into committee and liaison reports. Uh starting with Mr. Carl, legislator.
>> Nothing to report this evening, Mr. President. >> Thank you. On to finance administration. Thank you, Mr. President. The committee did not meet. We do want to welcome sanity as our new look forward to working with >> Mr. Doyle. Buildings and Grounds and
Policy. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Buildings and Grounds did not meet as a committee. However, Mr. Minielli just uh highlighted a couple of the ongoing projects we have here for the summer. So, thank you for that. Uh policy committee did meet uh share our notes.
So we met on the 12th. Uh we had some continued conversation on the previously conducted policy audit that audit that we had conducted in 2122. Uh and we talked about the new audit that we're asking to be uh completed as well to help plot our path forward to make sure we have our policies and and
uh up to date. It's been determined based on a review of the previous audit that we are not as in uh bad a shape as we initially thought. However, we do have some several policies that need to be reviewed and or updated. Mr. Minionelli is going to contact contact SCME since we're paying for their
services to see what updates they can provide us and to identify any other uh assistance they can give us to help ensure we stay current in the future. Uh, additionally, um, Trustee Vega has uh some experience related to this topic
and she's graciously volunteered to help spearhead this campaign to keep us on track. So that's much appreciated. Uh and we'll keep you updated as we continue to uh move forward with this effort. And that's all I got to report. Thank you,
>> Miss Eratra. Council Leazison and personnel. >> Thank you, Mr. President. A few things um from the mayor's letters and that are happening in the community. Number one, um, everyone's happy to report that the Happy Rank is under construction and is
projected to be completed by the end of August. Also, um, the Hler Volunteer Ambulance Corps has a fish and chips dinner Thursday, September 4th from 5 to 7. A few more points. Our food pantry in
town is in need of donations and people can call Phyllis at the burrow hall. Also, the mayor's encouraging to look into the events at the library and day. A reminder is Saturday, September 27th, and the next council
meeting will be Wednesday, September 3rd. And regarding personnel, um there are several new hires I would like to welcome, and I will that when we go through on the agenda. So that's all I have to report. >> Thank you.
>> Curriculum and instruction. Miss Scott. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The CNI committee met on Tuesday, August 12th at 5:30. Um the first thing that we discussed were the new courses at LMS. Pull up that picture. So computer 6 is
being replaced by techsmart safety, citizenship, and code. The major topics that it covers are internet safety, digital citizenship, safe use of social media, cyber bullying and coding. Computer 7 is being replaced by navigating the digital world. The major
topics are best practices of researching online AI design and create tools, advertising in the digital world. 21st century careers is being replaced well being renamed as personal finance and career readiness. Major topics are money
management, investing, credit and debt, income and career exploration and digital citizenship. And media arts is being renamed future makers, business and design and is focusing on business concepts, marketing research, logo and brand identity, storefront, workspace
design, photography and promotion, video commercials and website development. So that's a really great uh modernization of those courses. The next topic of discussion was the opening professional development days for our staff. So those
days will be taking place on Tuesday after uh Labor Day. Tuesday and Wednesday I believe >> second and third and third. Um the PDS are going to highlight I ready training, strategies for fostering independence, helping students avoid learned
helplessness, a mindful journey uh with guidance, assisting teachers with curriculum instruction, turnkey training on standardsbased revisions, and the keynote speaker will be Dr. Katie Peters. Um then the committee spoke about the
summer curricular work update. We did have a lot of curricular work happening over the summer. that's the perfect time for that to happen. So, we got an update that said that there were 20 courses that had full rewrites this summer um spanning grades K through 12. These include social studies, math, ESL, arts
and computers. Additionally, the elementary teams worked on standardsbased curricular revisions in math and ELA, as well as NJSLA task development and common assessments. And then we were also informed that the district's gifted and talented program
would be getting a a consultant added on someone that Mr. Minelli and Dr. Toronto know uh will be coming in and giving us some tips and fostering some other opportunities there. We will have more updates on that as that rolls out, but
that will be starting this school year and that is all I have for that. Um Mr. President, Miss Monkey Colton asked that I speak for the P County School Boards Association as well. Um the next meeting for Pay County will be in September. The fall meeting will at 6 p.m. at Mario's
in Clipton and it will focus on fostering student achievement. >> Thank you, Zach. All right, we'll move on to Mr. Foose have CPAC and PTO. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um,
it looks like everyone is trying to ramp up for the upcoming school year and I just want to encourage everybody to participate in your local PTO um, you know, your home district, but also try to get involved in both uh, the Ed
Foundation A and CPAC. Uh, they do a lot for this district, but they really need um, you know, some volunteers to uh, to help out. Um, and I do want to report that CPAC is having their uh
first meeting tomorrow via Zoom. Go to their Facebook page. It's uh Hawthorne CPAC. Um go to the Facebook page to pre-register and it's a Zoom call. It's at 7 p.m. And um they're going to be discussing the upcoming
school year as well as um last May May May's color run um and probably start preparing for the the new one as well. But again, if you could just and for CPAC, you do not have to be a special ed parent or guardian. Everyone is welcome.
Um they appreciate anybody's input. So again, your local PTO's uh the Ed Foundation and CPAC could use your help. >> That concludes our report. Thank you. >> All right. Great instruction. Mrs. G. >> Thank you, Mr. President. And I want to
apologize for standing up. My back is bad for anybody that's watching. Um, pursuant to the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the committee on curriculum instruction recommend the following resolutions. CI1 through CI 12 on page 4, CI13
through CI 24 on page 5 and CI 25 through CI 27 on page six. On behalf of the committee, I move second by Mr. Kho. Discussion
roll call please >> Mr. Doyle >> yes >> Miss Antra >> yes >> Mrs. G >> yes is absent Mr. Paloo >> yes >> Dr. Vega >> yes >> Mr. Carr
>> yes >> Mr. >> Yes >> Mr. Yes, >> personnel. Mr. >> The following resolutions are pursuant to the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. P1 through P6
on page six. P7 through P15 on page seven. P16 through P19 on page 8. P20 through P25 on page 9.
26 through P30 on page 10 and P31 through P33 on page 11. On behalf of the committee, I so >> seconded by M Dr. David >> discussion
right here, Mr. President. >> Yes. McNelli, could you just comment on P33, the summer college boot camp? just curious how the attendance was and how that went. >> Sure. Yeah. I mean, it's a great program. I know we've run it in the past and it's really intended to walk
students through the process of um being prepared for the college experience, which anybody who is a parent that's walked through that process in the past, you know, it's very encompassing. Uh the attendance was good. Um I think there's always room to pull more kids in to be
part of the process because it really prepares them for the upcoming year. Um, but all in all, I think it's a great program and we certainly will be continuing going forward. >> Thank you. Agreed. Great offering that we provide. Thank you. >> I just like to welcome all the new um
members to our school district and it's exciting P23 to see um students doing their field experiments here in Hallmark. So, welcome to them as well. >> Roll call, please. Miss Iron Trout.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. G. >> Yes. >> Mr. Paloo. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vega. >> Yes. >> Mr. Carr. >> I'm stayain on P21 and P29. Yes. Others. >> P21 and P29.
>> Mr. Clehjo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Doyle. >> Yes. >> Mr. Taro. >> Abstain on P29. Yes. To all. Motion pass. >> Thank you. Finance and administration. Mr. Gel.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Finance and Administration. Action items. Pursuant to the recommendation of superintendent of schools committee on finance and administration recommends the final resolutions on page 11, F1 to F3, page 12, F4
behalf of the committee. Second, >> second by Mr. Poose. Discussion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. G. >> Yes. >> Mr. Paloo. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vega. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Carr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Clehjo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Doyle. >> Yes. >> Miss Antra. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tataro. >> Yes. >> All right. on to claims which is Mrs.
Miss Moy Coulson which I believe is being shared by Mrs. G. >> Yes. >> Uh Miss Mo Coulson did review thoroughly all of the bills this weekend and did ask several questions and clarify them with myself as well. Uh so on behalf of
her, it is recommended that the board approve the bill list for the month of August 2025. Second >> second by Miss Eric >> discussion roll call >> Mr. Paloo >> yes
>> Dr. Vega >> yes >> Mr. Carr >> yes >> Mr. >> Yes >> Mr. Doyle >> yes >> Mr. Antra >> yes >> Mrs. G >> yes >> Mr. Mr. Taro. >> Yes.
>> All right. Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Doyle. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Purses to the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools, the Committee on Buildings and Grounds recommends the following resolutions. Page 13, we have BG1 through BG5, which carries over to page
14. Uh BG6, which then carries over to page 15. Behalf of the committee, I so move. Second >> tied to All right. Mr. Cleo has a second.
>> Discussion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Poo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Vega. >> Yes. >> Mr. Carr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cleo? >> Yes. >> Mr. Doyle? >> Yes. >> Miss Antra? >> Yes.
>> Mrs. G. >> Yes. Mr. Taro. >> Yes. >> Pass. >> All right. At this time, public be heard. Excuse me. Public be heard. At this time, members of the public may ask questions or make comments on
educational issues or school matters. Seeing no one in the audience, we will move on. Uh, as usual, we will do general comments, new business and old business together. Just please state which one it is. And I will start with
Mr. Carr. I'm good. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Dr. No comments at this time. Thank you, Mr. President. >> I'm good as well. >> I'll come back at the end. I'm good for my Thank you. >> I have a general comment. I just want to
thank Mr. McN um for adjusting the agenda to make it so that the committees are first. It really is something that was very simple, but I think makes everything so much clearer. Um, and I've been thinking about it for years, but I guess we never talked about it and been
talking about it. But a small change, but I think it is a big impact. So, thank you for listening and making such a quick change on that. >> Oh, and and summer's ending and good luck to all of our teachers and to all of the staff and the faculty as we start this new year. Very appreciative for the
Hawthorne machine that it is in the Hawthorne family. As I send my first son off to college and I'm slightly unhinged, I'm very, very appreciative for everything that they have done. So, keep doing what you're doing because it's magic here and good luck to everybody on your new year.
>> Sarah, >> welcome Sandy. Um, we're glad to have you. Thanks for popping in and hitting the ground running. Also, I'm I'm part of the CNI committee. I wasn't at the committee meeting, but I
wanted to comment on that the modernization and the update on those course offerings, how exciting they are for the community. I remember when we updated courses in our music program a few years ago, it really made a world of difference. So, great opportunities for our students and welcome everyone. Enjoy
the last week or two of summer and I hope everyone has a great start to the school year. you know, for the rest of the summer. >> So, a couple short things for me. Obviously, welcome Sandy. Looking forward to working with you in the future. Uh, already getting the ground
running. I appreciate that. Um, second thing is leadership camp. uh for those of you who had the opportunity to participate whether just looking at it being there. Um once again uh incredible
uh week for for the students and also just want to congratulate Sergeant Dalo for another job well done. Um the entire police department staff as well as our staff in district that helps create that
event and make it run so smoothly. Uh, I will also be shouting out to I think it was Mr. Burke in in his video who from now on I cannot get the image out of my head of how to pronunciate
our superintendent's name with the minion icon that was on there. Right. >> Minionelli. >> Correct. All right. Got it. I got it. So now if you if you didn't know, just think of a minion and you'll get it right. Uh but uh that and just like the
camaraderie of of everybody there was just a phenomenal uh presence and and I really appreciated it being uh in the gym where it was airond conditioned and I think uh everybody there also appreciated it. So looking forward to
that continued success. And last thing, um, we shared someone touched upon, I think Miss Aranch about, uh, day, September 27th. It's, you know, we we truly believe this going to be, uh, something that we are going to be doing
a lot differently this year, and we hope and and look forward to the community uh, participating or coming to see us. there's going to be a little bit of a a twist where with PTO's, the district, and also the board of education having
presence this year. Uh on a collective front, we'll all be next to each other and uh looking forward to just showcasing what the district offers. Uh with that said, uh looking forward to the new school year. Welcome everybody uh to to a great year ahead. And that
that's it for me. With that said, motion to adjurnn. Motion >> second. >> Motion by M. Cleo, seconded by Mrs. G. Discussion. Roll call, please.
>> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Doyle. >> Yes. >> Mantra. >> Yes. >> Mrs. G. >> Yes. >> Mr. Paloo. >> Yes. >> Dr. Vega. Yes, Mr. Carr. >> Yes,
>> thank you everybody. Have a great night. >> Thank you.