##VIDEO ID:LoHM0GLkaf4## she's here great good okay call the uh January 28th 2025 meeting of the H High Point Regional Board of Ed to order please stand for FL ALG to the flag United States of America and to the for it stands one nation God indivisible with liy and justice for all open public meetings act statement the open public uh New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon in accordance with the provisions of the act the board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date time in place thereof posted at the Augusta Branchville and Sussex Post Offices and notice sent to new Jersey Herald the Sunday Herald and the clerk of the bus of Branchville and Sussex and the townships of Frankfurt Lafayette and Mage our mission statement High Point Regional High School in partnership with staff family and Community is dedicated to the Quest for individual Excellence by fostering high standards of achievement we prepare students to become responsible productive members of a diverse Society so next uh I get to administer an office to Mr Thomas gu poor gentleman's not able to join us at our reorg uh give this most going to be speaking so um basically you're going to insert your name right and you can read it at your leure Thomas van Stone Solly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of New Jersey and that I will bear true Faith allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States and the state the authority of the people so I Thomas van Stone do Solly swear that I possess the qualifications described by law for the office of member of Bo of education and I'm not disqualified as to R 19 4-1 nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in nj8 12-1 and I will faithfully and partially and justly perform all the duties of that office according to the best of my ability uh so could we please have a roll call for Mr D here M Diaz here m g here long here M ory here M pal is abent M here mrone here M wise here Dr R here okay we are actually going to have a presentation uh ethics TR oh we have it already uh yes uh so we are going to have a special um session e ethic training by our njba um representative Kelly Mitchell um and that should take us roughly half hour okay and then uh we'll proceed into executive session after that so welcome you so much than you for thebody we'll be doing our ethics training today uh you are required every year discuss eths andss itself um for little inform Rec do a then against rece police want said that [Music] have [Music] of and that's REM sure I will uphold and enforce all laws rules and regulations of the State Board of Education and court orders pertaining to schools desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop that individuals of all children regardless of their ability I I will carry out my responsibility not to administer School my I would recognize that Authority rests with the Board of Education and will not make personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board we see so when we're Campa we're saying all personal prises that individual well when we come oniz that team I will refuse I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest of partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends G I will confidential all matters pertaining to the schools would needlessly injure individuals or the schools in all other matters I will provide accurate information and in concert with my fellow board members interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its scho so speak very I will vote to appoint the best qualified personel AA I will support to protect School Personnel in proper performance of theirs iated against our school very I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrator lore all a sta M and that's you're supposed toist and teer did you speak to the school principal and so thank you so much that was great speaking about all the tenants and I I hope that was helpful to kind of shine light on these are some of the uh of Ethics PES we don't to and you know different different cases that came about but I do want to point to the one that had the suspension for days because it speaks to a m that's 15 on theard so a lot of times we doth like oh I've been on the board for a long time I know all this stort St so that was a 60 suspension and she went against letter c d f and um important that we so this is a newer guidance and this came out a little bit before last year and and kind a it'll it's adice your attorney feels then stops with your attorney what the guidance is from the commission is that a lot of MERS will and that exension is really for if you don't have enough information to actually vote um so for a legal conflict guance that you discussion and inad I seen so what that would look like is you wouldn't partake in any type of discuss on and [Music] andbody that's the new guidance from the commission itself and then this a cions finect and this was NE all a are [Music] and then talk are that's and thank you so much so I just want toet to have a couple new board members um to know that Ellie as our fuel service representative is a resource to anybody you can contact her directly I believe we have your card or your cont yes you have um my card in there and um You can call me seven days a week I have board members call me you know whenever they have a free and they have have questions on service something that happened at the board table um anything to do with becoming certified you know level cic that you Canon is working very hards all of that and so I my the um Lighthouse study which you made reference yes does the board have access to that or is that something that is disseminated through taking the uh class to which you make reference I can send you the slides on it if you'd like um I just thought if it was something that gave sense of purpose and uh positive study I it would be very edifying for them to have it should so I think I think it would be it's super interesting because it really says that like high performing boards have that focus on student achievement and it and it speaks to that very specifically so you know sometimes as work MERS we don't know that we can have that power over student achievement and need to do um so I can I can sendid share thanks so much everybody any questions from anyone thank you again thank you so much you guys again thank you with the tech we'll disseminate the phal copy okay motion will now be made at the High Point uh Board of Education enter executive session to provide an update on legal personnel and negotiation items which are exempt from public participation pursuant to New Jersey Public Law 1975 chapter 231 open public meetings act any discussions held by the board which need not remain confidential will will be made public when appropriate minutes of the executive session will not be disclosed until the need for confidentiality no longer exists the board will reconvene in public session in person and virtually at the conclusion of the executive session it is not anticipated that any action will be taken and we hope to be back uh on time at approximately 700 p.m. so I'll make that motion have a second I second All In e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e happens to right um so let's let's proceed with approval of minutes first maybe we can even get in the public comments after that um approval of minutes uh looking to approve the regular meeting minutes of December 17 2024 and the executive session minutes of December 17 2024 reorganization minutes from January 7th 2025 and the executive session minutes from January 7 um I'll make that motion may have second I'll second any comments what do we need to yes okay so uh you want to mention that direction there's a date correction in the exective session so we're looking there's a date listed in the executive session minutes it's listed as February 1st correct that to February 12th oh for the um in the minutes in the minutes yeah in the uh executive session minutes January 7th okay there's a date that's listed as February 2nd should be February 12th mainly for our reference that's so with uh with that correction any other comments yes yes Miss shman yes m g yes Mr vanstone um so there's two separate I can only abstain on January 7 sling the December 17th yesy yes Mr yes uh public comments is the first public comments section of the evening accordance with open public meetings act you will open the public comments for agenda items at this time each speaker should State his or her name and address you will have few minutes to address the board which will be timed by myself we will limit this section to no longer than 45 minutes please be respectful and mindful that your comments are being recorded and uh we have two means by which to address the board both here in person and virtual we have none none virtual either seeing that we have no public comments uh and I have a motion to close public com second all in favor I any opposed okay um we're going to give this just a second here uh Dr rley and then we're going to proceed with the special presentation Valerie Mia will present review of the June 30th 2024 uh comprehensive annual financial report to the Board of Education you ready excellent welcome look at that timing perfect perfect timing good evening everybody first let introduce myself I'm Valerie Dolan I am the auditor from esia we are here to do we come once a year to do the annual audit of the financials and I do want to say you know the district do a Wonder job preparing for us working with us during the process going through an audit it's not easy it's a lot of information um to give you a little bit of information there are two reports that you do receive one of them is our large big annual comprehensive financial report it's a very big book it's got four sections um it's a small introductory section very large Financial section compliance with grants in a single audit section and then there's a j section I always refer back to the JS a lot Js 10 years comparative so it gives you a picture of not only just High Point Regional within all it gives you information on all of your sending districts get you information about the county of Sussex and everything's on a 10e comparative so it's actually very informative secondly there's a second report that I do which is the Management's report is my report to the board anything that's involved in the audit any comments and recommendations that I might have will be in that included in that report as it's a lot of information I everybody to probably what I say are the 12 most important pages of the report which is your audit schedule seat one if you have your books or want to look back after I'm done talking it Pages 83 to 84 to 94 that 12 pages is your budget so when I look at the audit on a budgetary basis that's your budget that's everything that happens it walks you through all of your Revenue where revenue is landed based off the budget all your expenses where anything happened and it does show you any kind of transfers made so when there's transfers that are made through here you can kind of see where we made changes things come up all year long as we all know with budget when I get to the end I look at it and say what's the ending balance you know I don't like the word fund balance because fund balance means free and available but what I call is basically overall balances so you have a little over $3.8 million in overall balances that being said 400 about $440,000 are incumbrances they things that goods and services order before the end of the year for which they have not been performed or outstanding having been received so they carry into your subsequent year budget you have two key reserves that are set aside one of them is your capital reserve which has about $850,000 $857,000 in it and a maintenance Reserve which has $7,000 the real distinction between the two of them is obviously capital is for Capital and maintenance obviously is to utilize to supp your maintenance where those reserves come in handy especially the capital reserve is when you have grant funding they like to know that you may pay for the project yourself or you could pay your local contributions so those funds are T targeted to help you get some grant funding but also it does afford you the ability to have funds set aside to do other capital projects funds without going back out to of owners for a referend you do have two pieces of information that go hand in hand with your budget in the budget that you're currently in right now cuz I'm June 30th I'm still on June 30th 24 time the budget you're currently in right now you utilize $941,000 to support the budget that you're working through right now and that leaves you actually with about $948,000 almost the same to go into next year's building of your budget which basically means you get to start at the same place you were last year when you're working on your budget and that leaves you with what I call real number which is your allowable fund balance out of all that 3.8 million you have $553,000 that's your money that you're allowed to hold the state only allows you to hold 2% of your budget plus any couple of last minute allowable adjustments in the phone non public transportation as the Ws are not get to the district until active so they allow you carry that extra money few other highlights we had $1.7 million that r local federal and state grants that number we will start to see to come down as all of the sers and every all the co fund has been utilized by June September 30th those Grant monies will come back more down in line um you do have a food service fund that generated about 58,000 in Revenue this year so a little bit we have about 288,000 there your transportation services fund did actually um has a fund balance of about 468,000 which got $25,000 less than it was last year I didn't so it's down a little bit and speaking with the business office they were going to look at the allocation of expenses and making sure that those allocations make the most sense so that you don't continue to run at a loss so I mean you still have plenty that alsoa because Services correct are the services matching so you you ordered 468 in the F50 will be buying a bus so you could get right and that's actually factoring in some of the the buses that you did you did purchase a bus and leas a bus and I think in the beginning you'll have like some other busing that you'll probably we go through buses rather quickly a lot of districts and hence our thing about we just talk about adequacy I'm so sorry no you can so important and then in my management report you do have two recommendations in the report that will require corrective action I would say that they're probably not the most Earth shattering words some recommendations um one of them is in the area that you are required to submit your board secretary's report in December and June to the county office all they do with it is check a box they don't do anything with it with the switch over personnel and the timing of everything they kind of got missed so counting office dooring our all received both do received any necessary documents but it's a yes no question that I have to answer so it like I said not earth shattering and then the other one is in the area of the school store um the school store really and we had a lot of talks about the school store because it is a really good program to help supplement it's really meant to teach the students how to run a business and that type of information so really what we want to see more is where right now when I look at the school store receipts they don't necessarily match the like the reports so the deposits aren't matching they're not getting turned over timely and most most important there should be an inventory there's actually no inventory to be maintained of the of the items of the school store so you really part of running that business and being part of it is really understanding inventory and what do you do with your inventory and so said nothing or shadow that I would say problematic you are doing well um we also do have one suggestion to management which is really doesn't require effective action it is just informational and just to keep everybody aware there is all of that Federal funding that did come out in the last couple years under the pandemic where there's Federal funding there be Federal Auditors so you are always subject to an auditor besides myself to come in and we do review those but they are a little more extensive and where I'm a little bit more talk to me tell me all about it they are like black and white you have it you don't and so we always just want everybody running in across every te and if and when they show up um they pick different programs every year and they pick different things they might never come but be your best interest to know that it's possible which is really the audit I do have other comments on the current state of the projects but I wanted to make sure there was no questions on the audit itself before I we have the uh AUD doc cop there's also digal versions The District also digal the blue books are they take a lot of ear you put it under your pillow you sleep so soundly I've done that done that it'll make you go to sleep because there's a lot of information in okay any questions on that so just to reinforce this was the audit that concluded June like six months ago at this point yeah I'm a point in time so it was really that's why I kind of like want to stop here before I went on to what I really think is most yeah we so we've also asked going to to speak about some Current financial activities related to our U two Grant projects because there some questions on that questions and there's the grant projects are interesting in that there are two very great projects very well funded um one was funded under one program called the SPV the ER program and the other one was funded under new state of New Jersey um SDA School development program they put in all the HBC units and events so they were great projects what happens with Grant funds is Grants are reiners bases so you almost have to lay out all the Mone and then get your grant money back what I think was experiencing the most right now was more of not a grant issue more so as a cash flow issue so there was some question as to why the funds were being moved around it was really we were using your own funds to pay the bills so that you could show proof of payment to submit to get the grant funding it's sort of a horrible way to run grants and it really does make for collection of in so important and so timely so when when it started there was concern that you had a very large $1.9 million hbac program for which you had received $105,000 on but a vendor who was looking for payment since we started this process we did receive $849,000 um 675 and you are almost finished and I think tonight I looked at Scot have it on to pay that final a piece to the vendor which gets your vendor up to paid up to dat so your vendors play catchup you did get some grant money you are utilizing some of your own funds temporarily there will be a one more I had spoken in depth with your architect also today you have a submission that will collect another $990,000 towards that project so you're almost you're going to get your money back they fully expect to get that grant funding back back by April so that money should be in the good news on this whole project when I look at the picture which is really what I wanted to do after speaking with Finance was look at the picture as a whole when you budgeted that project you budgeted on a much higher cost than it actually came in so you originally budgeted the Grant and assumed and estimated and took from your capital reserve through your budget process um capital reserve of about 97 ,000 of your own funds in the end when the project will finalize and shake out you will actually be able to the local contribution is only $650,000 so you're going to gain back another about $300,000 into that Capal Reserve that's currently going to be sit it sounds crazy right now when we're saying we don't have enough money and I'm telling you in like a couple of months all of the money will be collected from the agencies and returned to their places and the projects when get closed will actually give you back funds that you actually earmarked and thought you would have to spend so that's great news on that project as a whole we then jumped to the ventilator project on the rod Grant where a similar thing is happening you are currently in the process of filling out paperwork to collect 95% of the Grant and they're hoping that in the while we're collecting those pieces that last 5% of punch list items will get resolved and actually will be able toit for the whole 100% of that Grant if not you'll almost have most of it getting submitted that project also is under cost so you had originally thought that you would utilize about $700,000 of your own funding and you're going to get about another 65,000 back so when I look at those projects you're actually going to bring back into that capital reserve about $365,000 by the end of this year so when I take that plus that $857,000 that you have already back to 1.2 barring anything that's been taken from the reserve since the start of the school year that's really important because I do know from conversations that there were a couple of projects that wanted to be done that actually hit pause you did hit pause on them and so whether you're going to do them now or put them into this budget that you're going to be building it's important to know that you are going to replenish some of that money so you're in better shape I think than based off of all of the emails and all the concern I think and that was my biggest thing is I wanted to be able to come look forward not really do a full audit but look forward to give you some insurances and some others so really you should be they're expecting by April you should be receiving about 990,000 on the last piece on that one grand and about 430 on the rad Grant so you're going to get a big cash flow in once we finish and paying in line we'll get them hopefully just step back and let them finish finish a punch list so you can finish your projects lot of information but I gladly answer any questions how does this you said the state only allows hold 2% of the budget then that 1.2 million will be more than you can hold that in your unassigned fund balance you can have your capital reserve can be equal to your long range facilities plan so you have a long range facilities plan that says eventually could spend $5 million on the on the facilities or 20 million that's how much the reserve is allowed to be for Capital and maintenance is up to your M1 budget you do in October and what they call an M1 calculation which is your maintenance budget and you're allowed to hold and it calculates how much your max Reserve can p so there are so the unassigned amount of your all% is the unassumed not in anywhere it's just 2% of your plus the allowables and that's considered what we call in this world I guess you call your free balance available in the old days we used to be able to borrow and use it if it was an unforeseen special ed cost but I'm talking back years when it was 72% and it was 5% then it was 2% then it went to 4% during the pandemic years and made to roll it back to 2% so it 2% doesn't give you a whole lot of Wiggle where the other percentages used to give you a little more because part of what I hear in the budget this year is unforeseen special causes that's especially when you can't increase your tax by 2% y your ties to an awful lot that your hands are tied for What Little you have so the best advice we've already said is to utilize the reserves to the Maxes put as much money so your Capital can be funded and especially your maintenance can be funded because your maintenance offset of Maintenance budget which is actually inside within your own budget capital is for specific Capital maintenance is for anything that your maintenance people are doing facilities and what is a punch list a punch list you're they almost done with the project but there is probably one or two things that didn't have to be finished they're missing a piece missing something they they your contractor does give you things that just haven't finished this FL we have to follow through with something else to make sure that because part of the requirement especially on the first grant is that you meet energy efficiencies so they have to run tests and do certain things to make sure that those HC those H units are doing what they're intended I without a stretch I would venture to say we're over 95% on both of those projects further along so unfortunately sometimes those punch list items can be very persistent right which is that would be my biggest recommendation to the board and right now to the business office is to say stay on top of that punch list because that punch list will drive you getting those final funds they go very hand inand and you want to make sure that those projects are closed so you can then get all of your grant money and be done with projects my understanding the remaining issues are putting the free on whatever it is refrigerant to uh and they can't do that in January so as soon as they're able to do that they will do that it's a little too cold right because I think they they've uh fulfilled all the other requirements and just that will end it and so that's why we're confident particularly with M Doan's participation that this will be completed what a difference couple of weeks I mean so is it fair to say our balance sheet looks pretty good you yes it's the statement of cash flows and if we ran cash flows but in all honesty isn't even in this book interesting right out there isn't even a statement of cash flows in here so and that's why I said I'm like I had pieces to a story so I'm glad that's you know I somebody reached out my stop reached out to me and said walk me through where we're at and let me let me tell you and that's why I said let me look I need to look to get a picture I had a picture as a June of what was going on but I wanted to catch up to speet so appreciate i' very much like to thank you for presenting this to the board and I know we do it typically for the U for the audit but very important that we heard what we just heard relative to the 2bac projects um finance committee has been uh discussing at length uh some some some items there so thank you for joining us both at our glad glad I could attend and glad could get get you some information and of course we will say on top and see to make sure we get to the fruition and you know once we get those final projects I definitely will HP back up here to get those closed out so that the financials that you're looking at as soon as we know we can you're looking at the ones that have the and things back in the places where they actually belong because that's what happens when you start taking from here to pay just got to make sure it goes back the other way and it will it's just it was really a to issue GL he that your vendors get PA probably won't even be a vis a visible item in the next year's right it isn't an issue because it's not something I would have you know and that was why I had originally said that when they originally came to me and said you have to pay this we have to pay them and I like well the only cash you have right now is the money in the reserve so you probably have to use it temporarily and then pay yourself back with the grand money when it comes back in we're very blessed to have uh valan here this evening she is a CPA and a highly regarded individual in the state out the state for the work that she does with missia and for her to come here this even is really quite uh impressive and we're humbled to have you here and very much appreciate you coming here and this is just further affirms my faith in Miss aachi but also Mrs Dolan with whom I've had a very long professional relationship because she demonstrates um that she is a professional and is here to help us do any issues and she's really blessed us for now 12 years in thank you so unnecessary so what we did was uh thank you uh Mr rice for we have the bound copies and the shorter versions that's Each of which go toone who what is this one called again that's the management report that's my report to your Bo the management report and these are the bound copies of the full of the full AIT y very good they get copies of each thank you have a wonderful evening if anything else comes up please keep me in the loop and I will do what I need to do to help you I hope I don't talk to you till August hopefully you won't see me again thank you till on it's fine thank you have a great evening everyone thank you okay um let's go back to the agenda for presentations the first item looks like is you okay going to read item number eight whereas the New Jersey school boards Association has declared January 2025 to be school board recognition month a time when residents can acknowledge the contributions made by our local school board members and whereas the Highpoint Regional High School Board of Education is one of 581 local school boards in New Jersey which sets policies and overseas operations for public school districts and whereas the High Point Regional High School Board of Education Embraces the goal of highquality education for all New Jersey public school students and whereas New Jersey's local school boards helped determine the educational goals for approximately 1.4 million children in Pre kindergarten through 12th grade and whereas New Jersey's 5,000 local school board members who receive no remuneration for their services act as advocates for public school students as they work with administrators teachers and parents for the better betterment of public education and whereas boards strive to provide the resources necessary to meet the needs of all students including those with special needs and whereas Boards of Education provide accountability to the public they communicate the needs of the school district to the public and they convey to school administrators The public's expectations for the schools and whereas New Jersey can take pride in its schools which rank among the nation's best in key achievement indicators such as the national assessment of educational progress scores and the preparation of school college through advanced placement off and sat assessments now therefore be it resolved that the High Point Regional High School Board of Education does hereby recognize the services of local school members throughout New Jersey As We join communities School W Statewide in observing January 2025 as school board recognition and be it further resolved that the High Point Regional High School Board of Education urges all New Jersey citizens to work with their local Boards of education and public school staffs toward the Advan of our children's education thank you it always I always found it curious that that this is usually um it's to my memory it's always been put in in January right after everybody takes their seats on board and uh it's a little bit of a pep talk I know it'd be nicer to have this like in the Dos of uh July or August but um School Board being a school board member is uh is not an easy task I think I mentioned to somebody we're the only elected officials that have mandated to have training we had that uh mentioned you know earlier uh during our ethics training um so above and beyond all of this I thank you uh so next presentation is our student council Speaker of the House iance good afternoon everyone I'd like to begin with January which was last month um just uh our theme we had a monthly theme and for January was positivity uh which was supplemented with a presentation Believe last a me that was broadc the uh for February we are doing the same thing uh with our new theme loyalty um Engish and K farella are our loyalty theme team for this month so they'll be making the slideshow and U doing the presentation we um for that thing the next thing that's big in the council Community here is matatics which we did last year and matematics is just a quiz that students fill out uh online and they can pay $2 to receive Theirs to their quiz uh on Valentine's the mathematics quiz uh will evaluate uh your responses with other students responses and it'll put you with a match uh for Valentine's Day whether it be friends or I don't know I didn't do it last I'm not sure actually I think it's just aner um we also have a self love activity on Tuesday uh February 11th which is sponsored by the center for prevention uh the counseling department and in. us uh we also have a Valentine's Day craft activity on Friday U February 14th Valentine's Day uh which is sponsored by our city council and for this we're doing door decorating and other for uh theity GRS which uh were done during the days leading up to the pink game for the girls basketball uh we sold 28 sets ofs which was a Gatorade and a cies of Gatorade um accompanied with a positive message for so we sold 28 and every single girl on the team was suppli with Anor accomp the message the positive message to with this loyalty that's all I have for this thank you than you thank you um looks like we have our principal evening everybody how we doing Welcome to our new board members thank you for want us to serve a high point board and look forward to work with you thank you Kyle for your information some great information be shared there um a couple key things and also slide into the Athletics as well we had our pry and  fundraiser um for those had a chance to be there or hear about it um just a fantastic Community event a lot of great community events took place in January that was about two weeks ago now G burn our old rivals as we said back in the day we had League that was all team is no longer as many of you may know is her 15th year um as a fundraiser so over the course of 15 years that fundraiser which was led by Mr Dexter um and one of our former players um has raised over $300,000 that's been given back to local families in need um local charities um and then also lar Charities as well so really kudos to the the basketball team thanks to coach Ruban coach monana deure and all of the girls um who were able to participate in that and again at the end of the day it's not about how much money they raise it's about coming together cause um talking to community members about donations celebrating each other celebrating those that have survived cancer we do more silence we also have people come out and recognize those that are going to be recognized the gym is packed it's decorated just a really nice nice event so really a nice Community event that we had a few weeks ago um also we had our district music um an art celebration night um again for those of you that may have not participated in that see that was our Auditorium filled the capacity literally standing room only um and all all of ouring districts including High Point were there for our district U music um which includes choir and band um for the evening it's great to see over the course of time many things suffer because of Co um obviously in terms of a lot of things have changed but Performing Arts in general um really really took a drastic hit um during Co in terms of obviously teaching Performing Arts as great as our teachers are it's very difficult so so to see those numbers back and as advisors begin to fill up to full capacity now um this many years afterwards is really a neat thing um to see all the grandparents and all the the the parents and Guardians in the audience with their cameras up phones all the cameras just phones right recording their third grader or second grader playing the trumpet or anybody singing right is a pretty cool thing so again thank you to Mr cardi Mrs Martin um Mr SL for leading that night but thank you to all of our Performing Arts teachers um in throughout the district that come together and it really you do a one-day rehearsal it's like a magic show I don't know how it happens and then they then they perform on the next day so it was a a really a neat thing again another awesome Q event for this this month we also had our first Wellness bear for students and staff um that was led by Mrs Pagan Pagan is one of our school counselors here um and she said from the beginning of the year hey I think we do a wellness Fair we talked on the ground I said let's figure out how to do it um and it was her um really leadership that to us we had vendors and um programs that came in during your lunch we had a lot of activities going on and it was really well received um kids like because they gotten some stress balls and things like that that they can take away um there was a lot of organizations agencies that represented and she's already got ideas for what it can look like next year to be bigger um including maybe the parent night um and some other things as well with our our guidance nights that we have so that was a a good event we're looking forward to the next year we also have one of the most important events in January 8th grade open house so those of you that may have participated that in the past as parents had over 200 attendees um for that event again it's about bringing the students in the building we believe our our facilities that we deserve being spoken about a little bit here with things that has behind the scenes to keep the facility so nice um we believe our staff right our programs are second in and it takes getting into the building to be able to see those things so we create a night that's for the parents and also for the students thank you to Mrs Cardinal and also M Jack for leing that there's so many others that were involved as well but it was really under their leadership that we have a successful night um as we turn the page to the mid year we literally right now are starting our second semester classes stared today our midterm exams finished last week um talk to C before about you know the midterm process what that looks like for his classes and as you change that we are already building the schedule for next year so Mr Delaney and our child City team and our guance team are working hard for the Senate districts to get ation for incoming eighth graders eighth graders also our current students so we're excited about again the programs that we have here at High Point you're surrounded by many of them that are right behind you with some of the photography and artwork that's all around um we're excited to begin that chapter of building the master schedule so that way by April May we have a pretty good look at what that looks like that's all for my report okay Mr D if I switch to Athletics um real quick from just extra couple highlights our um winter season as you know is off and running um congratulations to many of our teams who are doing so well um again we' like to talk about some of the individuals that we can highlight and we have several to highlight this evening for athletics we had our hws BGE wrestling uh tournament that was held at tberg and earlier in janary had first place to Gavin Miracle second place jack kitar third place Jesse H and fourth place Lo T and jayen W Paul so congratul to all of our boy wrestlers that are part of that we also had hws girls wrestling tournament here at High Point second year hosting that it was the largest ever as you know gr wrestling girls wrestling in state New Jersey growing fast I think we had over 144 wrestlers as about almost 50 more than they had last year um so it was a really good tournament and I like to brag a little bit about our female wrestlers as they are really really good we had two Champions L Lio and Al Shang with both Champions we had second place kayy Bruner third place gav phana fourth place car locker and El Shang was named the outstanding wrestler which is one individual um that is chosen for that out of all the wrestlers that were there so had 144 wrestlers and one indidual chosen to Alison graduates with her she's a freshman um and again we're excited about where that program is going also awesome um hws for our bowling team um we were able to to compete in the girls wrestling tournament or girls bowling tournament sorry for hws um and we were able to procure pretty a dominant second place finish in that for our team so congratulations them know Dr has some history with the bowling team a few years ago um and it was is really great to see their success Kiera Lewis second place 575 for series um she has recently surpassed that think her recent series is about 623 so she's having a really good run right now Katie Bruno um third place 54 542 series and Rebecca featherman place in the top 10 so those the girls team they very very well um and play second place overall and last but certainly not least like to honor and recognize some of athletes of the week this is over the course of the Season Mr de athletic department with the coaches choose an athlete of the week male female for each um time period so we have Jack kitar for uh wrestling Kier Lewis for Bowling Brook bner for basketball Tucker Barry for basketball k Bruno for bowling and Carter julan for wrestling and also um we had Kira who you've heard her name a couple times was honored on January 12th at Ruckers because she was chosen was our chosen for National girls women sports day and was our recipient for that so they um take all the recipients and they bring to a game a basketball game Ruckers and at half time they honor um all the females um from across the state so kir talked about that and how meaningful it was for her to be there um and be recognize the half time so just a couple cool highlights about all of our students and just so proud of them and who they are and what they do and and our staff for all that they do as well any questions okay now we get to action items since we have no other business curriculum construction technology okay so items one through three faculty attendance for December 94.5% student attendance for December was 91.9% and the suspension report for December was attached um like 4 through seven together four is uh the harassment intimidation and bullying report uh with an attachment number five is are the field trips again with an attachment number six professional development activities and number seven was the revised 2425 school calendar um making motions if you a second and any discussion on those items m j yes Mr vanstone yes m w yes M ory yes Miss longer yes yes okay together um we have substitutes listed Joshua number two we have Daniel bur as a student teer univers to start prce experience tomorrow and through the end of the year number three number six U description G1 school security officer number s six period assignments as listed for biology environmental systems chemistry physics number a second disc M yes Miss Diaz yes Miss shum yes Miss lber yes Mr vanstone yes M yes M wise yes Mr D yes um okay I'll hand the lecture curricular I'll move items 1 through three together one is a recommendation to approve Natalie Manana as track coach 4245 uh and two is a recommendation to approve the following volunteer wrestling coaches for 2425 uh as listed and item three is a recommendation to approve an overnight trip for the competing members of the boys and girls wrestling team to attend the njsa individual Wrestling Championships uh being held March 5th through March 8th in Atlantic City um the wrestlers qualify and make it to the final cost of the rooms will be $126 per night or three night six rooms needed um so I'll make that motion on night three add second second discussion on those let's hope they make it to the finals else call please okay yes skull yes M longer yes Miss orsy yes Miss Wise yes Mr van Stone yes M sh yes Mr dun yes and I just want I was remissed not thanking the volunteer resing Coes that so thank you Mr T and Mr uh policy okay um we just have one item here with 12 12 policies that are being revised most of them are mandated Provisions uh from um that are New Jersey State LA mandates and a lot of them are um wording like um for academic Integrity that was called plagiarism and AC integrity I me we see them all so I'm making a motioning a second any discussion I I I did want to add one thing um there was another small edit that I spoke with dry about today so since since we have our Comm meeting just on the student AGS we struck the in which a student or parent needed G been written as within five school days from the conduct that was to be grieved so basically uh Dr and I agreed that having a a wider window in which to bring forth a grievance isual concern would be better so basically so we removed any reference to a time restriction 5 days is there a is no time restriction I will tell you that even though it was in policy and P came and to g i i i assure you that I would not and say oh you only had five days that would never happen so yeah there's no it demonstrates look we're we're we're here to serve the students and the parents and the community and if there's something uh about which they would like r um from Administration that we need res Ser their so we removed any reference misson yes Miss yes M sh yes Mr vanstone yes m g yes M longberg yes M wise yes Mr D yes so we have no action items under negotiations or buildings and grounds uh just under buildings and grounds I like mentioned something we've already talked about earlier today uh tonight uh that are two huge hbac projects are near in completion and I think uh you know the people um that have helped get us there deserve some thanks there especially our um buildings and ground supervisor office Dr um and pH br's uh committee because little bit of work there we certainly would not be where we are without uh Stephan who is the supervisor of buildings and grounds and our business office who and these cman who work diligently who are the utmost professionals and truly it is a team effort and without their their participation we we would not be where we are today so we're very thankful for that uh so moving to finance action items I will move one through five together one is a recommendation to accept the report of the board secretary business administrator for uh December 2024 two is a recommendation to accept the report of the treasur for December 2024 item three is recommendation to approve reported transfers and minimum expense transfer report for December 2024 uh item four is a recommendation for payment of the attached schedule of audited bills dated January 28th 2025 and item five is the recommendation to accept the adult education agency account athletic account cafeteria account construction account principal petty cash account scholarship account school store and Student Activities reconciliation for the month of December 2024 I'll make that motion may have a second second um just going to note uh Miss on number three like okay so you um no other comments all right Mr vanstone yes M longberg yes M ory yes Miss Wise yes M Diaz yes Miss SCH yes Miss G yes Mr dun yes um item six I'm going to read as is uh and going to propose uh an amendment to it um but item six is a recommendation that the Board of Education approves transfers in the amount of $742,000 195 from capital reserve and $124,800 [Music] retroactive to January 13th 2025 may I have a second so okay uh now that we have a second uh I would like to propose to amend that uh this is something somewhat late breaking um we're going to also well I would like to propose that uh we amend aend to this uh these uh the following uh sent be it further resolved that the board approved payment of $869,000 52339 to inline hbac company $849,500 obligations you a second on that um I do need a second on that so um we have now a we have an amended so let me see have to vote on the amendment and then we will vote on the entire um motion as it is amended okay so now that we have a second on the amendment is there any discussion or comments on that can perhaps well let me ask Dr rley maybe explain why that came in at we received the uh dispersement from the grant um more earlier than we had anticipated and so rather than having received it at some point in February uh sometimes we had to heard it might even be made to late February we actually received that uh check I believe received it on Friday and uh we want to execute it immediately so as to pay outstanding fees to inline HV company who has done the work for us this will pay them in full up to this point so yes it was uh fast moving um and therefore the reason why we don't like to do this where we U make changes at the table but in this case it's to help everyone uh so if no other discussion on the amendment can I have a roll call on just the amendment on adding the amendment okay uh m g yes M Diaz yes M schan yes Mr vanstone yes M wise yes M ory yes M longberg yes Mr dun yes okay so then on the full motion number six including what's there with the amendment um any discussion or comments I'm just going to I'll start by saying that um thanks to the I want to thank the members of the finance committee um for our their diligence and I think we asked some some questions that uh we got answered and particularly with Miss Dolan coming here tonight to explain um some of the movements of of funds that cause some concerns uh I think I for one I'm comforted I'm uh I guess given enough information now that I feel able to vote for this without any um without any quals um when we see sometimes things that are done retroactively there's concerns by board members but we were given a full explanation both in finance and in here um and ultimately where we end up as we heard tonight is a pretty good position with uh some major improvements to our Capital facility as far as the hbac so I just wanted to perhaps make that uh that statement I would just want to reiterate I did not Miss Jamie who are exceptional professionals are are someone are two people in community and board be very proud are there working on their beh so to add such professionals who are so deep committ so with no other comments questions we'll take a roll call on the full item six as amended uh Mr van Stone yes M sh yes M Diaz yes M call yes M lber yes M wise yesy yes Mr Johnson yes so I will move the final item in finance number seven is a recommendation of the board approves and authorizes the execution of the following tuition contracts between High Point as Des sending district and the following districts in related information as listed so make that motion have second any questions comments wber yes M wise yes M yes Mr Stone yes yes Diaz yes s yes Mr D yes um transportation can I ask you all 10 I mean like 10 it's nothing on this thing together like easy one um so one's joint Transportation uh two is um a denim about mileage three is another joint Transportation four is um quoted contract is five I believe yes six is um another joint Transportation agreement contract uh as a seven eight is that as well I think yes and the nine and 10 are no no take back I I say 10 or 11 11 there is 11 there is 11 say 11 okay and then so nine is also D Transportation and 10 and 11 are trips that we not ining trips obviously just the pay for transportation anybody have any comments on yes so I would like to move that have a second does anybody have any comment on Transportation item you ready Mr vanstone yes M yes M wise yes M lber yes M yes M yes M Diaz yes Mr D yes uh that's the end of our action items uh under I guess corresponden is as good place as any I wanted to mention something that I meant to mention at our uh reorganization meeting and forgot to I wanted to note the passing of a former um High Point board member um Row in December uh Not only was he a board member at high point but he was a longtime supporter of the high point baseball program and was uh also very much involved in um in benefits to the community for um cancer survivors of which he was one um just wanted to wish the family um our sincere condolences there you missed other than that uh we have under miscellaneous our school board mandated training which we heard a little bit about early this evening under public comments oh we have our second section of public comments same rules apply as the first section name and address I don't see anybody in the room here are there any virtual comments so I will quickly ask for a motion to close public comments motion second all in favor I any opposed okay do we have any non-committee board member reports or comments see none I'll have I'll entertain a motion to adj second second all in favor I opposed we if anyone would like we have the executive summary and the full bound copy of the uh audit you