wave tracking field. >> Welcome everyone. Um I call to order the March 24th, 2026 meeting of the High Point Regional High School Board of Education. I ask you please stand for the flag.
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. >> 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, and place thereof posted at the Augusta,
Branchville, and Sussex Post offices, and notice sent to the New Jersey Herald, the Sunday Herald, and the clerk of the buroughs of Branchville and Sussex and the townships of Frankfurt, Lafayette, and Wantage. 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 and productive members of a diverse society. Can I ask for a roll call, please?
>> Mr. Anderson >> here. Miss Longird >> here. Miss Orsy >> here. Miss Diaz Mr. Stackus, Miss G >> here, >> Mr. Van Stone >> here, >> Miss Hill
>> here, >> Miss Weise, >> Mr. Dunn >> here, >> Dr. Ripley >> here. >> We do have a quarum. >> Okay, excellent. Um, a motion will now be made that the High Point Regional High School Board of Education enter executive session to provide an update
on legal personnel and negotiations 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 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. I'll make that motion. May I have a second? Second.
>> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. session. Uh, may I have a motion to return to public session, please? >> So moved >> and a second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed?
>> Okay, we are returned to public session. Uh let's have approval of minutes from the regular meeting of February 24, 2026 and the executive uh minutes from February 24th, 2026. Uh I will make that motion.
>> I'll second. >> Uh any uh comments, questions, corrections to those minutes? >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Mr. Lberg, >> yes. >> Dorsey, >> yes. Miss Diaz, >> yes.
>> Miss Gaul, >> yes. >> Mr. Ben Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Mr. D, >> yes. >> Passes. >> Excellent. Um, bringing us to our first public comments section of the evening on agenda items only. In accordance with
the open public meetings act, we will open the public comments for agenda items only. At this time, each speaker should state his or her name and address. You will have three 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. Do we have anyone in the room or virtual would like to make comments? >> I'll just check just Okay. >> Uh so may I have a motion to close >> in a second? >> Second. >> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Okay. Moving on to presentations. First we have George Oriana, speaker of the house. Welcome George will give us an update on the activities of the student council. Uh good evening everybody. Uh so I suppose I should start with March's
theme once again. The margin's character theme is trustworthiness and to sort of uh represent trustworthiness and discuss it and develop upon it. uh students made a trust starts with me banner writing ways they promised to be more trustworthy which is currently hanging
in the main office hallway and then for St. Patrick's Day, there was a lucky leprechaun trivia contest where students were emailed a Google form with about 10 trivia questions and the first five students to answer all 10 correctly would win prizes such as candy and
writing journals. And as for fundraisers in each of the classes, the senior class of 2026 is doing yet another dime to donate uh this time at AMG's uh this Saturday, March 28th. Um, all these
sales of course go towards the prom, senior cruise and other activities that the senior class is doing and they are also selling graduation yard signs through March 31st. The junior class of 2027 is currently collecting money for prom and they just finished a Groo hot
chocolate sale and is most likely doing a custom ink order next and working on moving it for June. The sophomore class of 2028 is currently doing a virtual fundraiser. And starting today, they are starting a prank day
fundraiser where money jars will receive outside the main office with names and faces of administrators and teachers. And the top four who receive the most money in their jar will be quote unquote pranked during unit lunch in the east gym on April 1st. uh they want it to be
fun and harmless which is why the sophomore class is monitoring it and all prints will be approved by Mr. Talent. And for the freshman class of 2029, uh they are doing a couple of time to donates um specifically for Chipotle on
uh March 31st and at Barnyard on April 16th each from 4 to 8:00 p.m. But apart from that, that is all we have for this evening. >> Thank you. Thank you again. Uh, next, HA president Elizabeth Sunda
updates on HA items. >> Good evening. >> Hello. >> How are you? Hello. Um, my face is not on one of the jars, but I did offer to be and I was not chosen. So, just saying for the prank, I'm not there and I'm
probably not voting against um my admin who are on the jar. Yeah. >> So, you're on the jar. Um, so we really don't have much as far as items on the agenda. I just wanted to say that I think um it's kind of that push of the
year that we are finally done with winter and happy for spring sports. So, we just started week three and I know I'm hoping today's the last day I'm wearing my scarf. Okay. Um, but it's nice to be outside and coaching girls track and field and um the girls team
and the boys team and seeing all the other teams out. We had pictures last week. We'll have pictures this coming Friday for the rest of the team. So, it's nice to just give out uniforms and just be out in the fresh air again. And it's nice to see the kids out having fun. Um I also apologize. I was coming
in as you were coming in. I just left the Sussex County um had a dinner at the farmstead to honor union women um of the year. It was their first year doing this for Sussex County and they nominated where 15 women were selected. one of our
Corey Loyola who I nominated as well as her sister who's at the Sussex Wic School um Justin Silly she was there and um so we had just come from that. I left them there. They were just hanging out, having fun. Um so that was nice to be
recognized and um I just want to thank you again for the continued um transparency and open communication with the admin. I know this is a tough time of year um and everything that's coming up with the season ending and um for next year as well. Um but our officers
appreciate the open communication and I'm here if you have any questions on any agenda items if I can help with anything and to wish you all a happy and happy Easter um and spring season. So thank you. >> Thank you Miss
>> Mr. John tell me principles report. >> Good evening everybody. CA again this beautiful night and the sun has so nice to describe. Thank you Sunday for all your work and continue communication and all the things that we talk about every single day. Um as you can see up there
I'm going to skip right to that. Um one of the things I wanted to say thank you to I know our school board Mr. John was there last night as a president of the Tesla County School Board's um association. This was started the third year that the county is doing this. Um and it has become in my opinion one of
the nicest nights that we do. Um there's not many times that all the county schools right or boards or administrators and students come together. The round table awards another time that that that happens but few and far in between. So to have this award for unsung hero um is a really neat
thing. So I'm hoping that this continues on for infinite future um because it's really cool to be there um in that same auditorium together recognizing sixth graders, eighth graders, and 12th graders from from Kenny schools. Um it's based on criteria where um in our case,
Miss Kenny Shepard was was selected in a welldeserving nominee. Those that lead all the time, those that lead by character, those that lead by that silent voice sometimes, right? Or that action that you don't always see that are behind the scenes. um lead by role modeling um leave the character in
Kentucky every day. Kennedy represents that in so many capacities for for our school district, not just within our school community. Um she also extends outside our school community uh works very very often with uh lower sending districts such as W in particular, but their sports programs particular
basketball running camps and practices and assisting with them. So again, a true epitome of what you want a high point student to be. So Kennedy was um recognized last night with many of her um classmates that were also senior from schools as well as 16th graders. So thank you again Mr. Dunn for kind of getting that initiated and we're hoping
that that that continues a very very nice night for the the kids and for the parents. Um in addition to that great news we had a teen arts um event earlier in March. We had over 100 students that attended and I just wanted to highlight a couple things. Roxan Kemline actually had her work chosen uh for the state
teen arts. I think I've spoken about this before, but how that works is when you go to teen arts, um students artwork, whatever it might be, poetry, music, theater, dance, and all the things film, um are then kind of rated and and recognized at different levels. It could be at a local gallery, um let's
county art museum. It could be at SEC itself. It could be one of the judicial brand branches in uh Newton, one of those they have there. It could also be um at the state level, which is will be later on in June. So Rox was selected um to be recognized at that event later on.
Many of our students had their artwork selected and chosen for um different areas of recognition as well. But I just wanted to highlight hers. I also want to thank particularly to our teachers. We talk about staff and students all the time. That's what we do. Um because that's what High Point is about. Mr. Deoff, Mr. Shice, Mrs. Shice, Mr. Sek
from our fine arts department. Um Mrs. Martin, Mr. Slain, Mr. A Smith from our performing arts department. Mrs. Bay from our English department led poetry, Mr. Leansancy from media tech led our film crew. So all those teachers that are there to sit back on that day and
walk through the galleries and be there for the film and and see their students shine. Um it's a really cool thing, cool experience to see that aspect of it as they are also just kind of observers and leading that. So thank you to them because there's a lot a lot of work. Miss McCarthy does a lot of work. Our community supervisor putting that
together as well. Without that, we wouldn't be able to to send over 100 students to teen arts each year. A couple other events that have been coming up I think we can talk about a little bit but we have our college and career fair on March 26th. Um that is a large undertaking for our guidance team. We're thankful to all of their work particularly Mr. Flatier, Mrs. Meyer um
and Mrs. Jacine and they are coordinating all the college and career aspect of it. Mrs. Bean is co coordinating the health and wellness fair. So we are taking on campus and here we're going to have a health and wellness fair in the media center have a career fair. um in the college we expect in the West have about 65 colleges um
there as well. So this whole area will be opportunities for our students to explore. We're looking forward to that. In the afternoon we're going to do our spring musical preview. We've been doing that for many many years. We bring all our student body to grades at a time and they get about a 25m minute snapshot of Freaky Friday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
If you're looking for something to do um 7 o'clock, 7 o'clock, 2 o'clock and they get a chance to see their own classmates right on the stage. It's really cool thing. um and then hopefully come back um on Friday or Saturday or Sunday and see the whole performance. But we've been doing that for many years. Mr. Carti started that and we want to
continue that because it's neat to see all their hard work in fruition. Tech week is this week. So we're there till about 10 11:00 each night. Um and it's a long long week for them. So kudos to M Smith for that. And again, if you're looking for tickets, I think Dr. Clear, Mr. Cush can send out the link. Uh it is
a digital form to get those those tickets for Friday, Saturday or Sunday if you're looking for a night out. Um, in addition, we are um, once again bringing back and like a two-year cycle of what we call every 15 minutes prevention program. Um, that is for our pre-prom and end of year senior
activities. We're always very mindful that um, I'm sure other conversation about, you know, different trends that are out there, different statistics that are out there. We're always very mindful about um, positive choices for our students and positive decision- making. So, um, I'm not really big when Dr. But I talk about this often. I'm bringing
that speaker in that one and done speaker and then they kind of go away into the the miss. Um this pre-prom activity every 15 minutes is a national program. Um it builds upon the fact and sadly out every 15 minutes 15 minutes a young adult is taken based on substances
and alcohol. We also pair that with a large community event of a mock accident in our junior parking lot, our senior parking lot. So all our junior seniors come to see that. And then the second day of that event, um, we do an assembly where it all comes together. So, um, kudos to Mrs. Cardinal and Mrs. Bugan.
They work directly with our community members on that program. Um, we kind of tweak it a little bit to make it our our own. Um, and then so it can fit in within a day and a half aspect of it. Um, we have parent meeting, action department night with all the student volunteers that are going to be part of that because it's a serious undertaking
to be either in the accident scene or part of the classroom scenes. Um, and it's a pretty emotional part of it, right? So, the parents come in I'll meet with them tomorrow night uh in the media center and kind of go over what those goals are going to be and and make sure that they are okay with that um and and move forward with that process for the
next several weeks. Um there is a parent piece of it too which in that assembly the parents would come and and read letters that they wrote to their students that were involved in the accident. So it's it's very very emotional. Um it's very very powerful and uh you know our students have said many times that is one of the most
impactful things that they see along the way. So that's April 21st and 22nd that we're going to um have I like to call it a program or have a a really good resource that kind of covers all the bases for them. It's not just one one thing and then and then it's done. Um
also in April, thank you to LOS which is our library outreach society um DEI diversity everywhere and inclusion as well. Um and we're looking at that program and saying, you know, what else can we do with our with our um our school, right? And LOS has really been a
foremon um leadership and they've been very proactive with wanting to do programs. Last last um year we did a Black History Month museum um in the library and that was really an awesome opportunity, but it was studentled. It was helped shaped by Mrs. Aludo and it was helped shape by
other individuals and other teachers, but it was really a student led. So, LOS this year as well working with many other clubs are looking to bring his Hispanic Heritage um museum into our our library again on the end of April, the 20th and 30th. We're looking to turn
that into a classroom activity as well and we have teachers that are signing up for activities. Um so, we're looking forward to again recognizing and honoring and celebrating all the different um backgrounds of our student body. Um and we tal found talking to those students that we're trying they're
trying to develop a way to do that on a rotational basis. So each year it's not the same thing and every month of the year that the state has identified for something it's not the same thing but we're giving a chance for all our voices to be heard um over the course of a couple different years because like the Black History Month museum last year um
was about a six-month planning um that the students and teachers had together. So we're looking again to to bring that um together with the World Hispanic Heritage Stage and Mrs. Mudo who's our media center specialist is one of the um big uh leaders behind that as well. She's letting the students kind of craft
it but she is definitely facilitating that along the way. So there's some upcoming school events shifting over to um the athletic report by K Muck. Um some great things to talk about is the end of the as said the end of the winter season and on to the um spring season.
But so there's a lot of awards and significant um students to talk about. So for our wrestling program, we had a district champs and we had state champs all along the way which we're very excited about and that's a huge opportunity. Um so we had district
champs for um girls. We had Al Shanger and Payton man were all champions. Second place Kendall Serbo, third place Gabby Vana. Fourth place Faith Leo Bella Gold and Carly Locker. So pretty good reputation of district champs for our girls wrestling program. Um boys wrestling we had um again
district tournament champions Thomas Jou Carter Drew and Gav Miracle. Second place Jack Kitkart, Jade Rupaul and Luke Tommpkins and third place Logan Tactic. Um so again good repetition of of boys wrestling for that aspect of it. From there then you advance to the states which becomes down in Atlantic City. Um
you get a chance to wrestle your way to the possibility of individual state championship wrestling very unique that way. at the team championship and individual and we had um two state champs. We had four wrestlers go down. Gavin Miracle and Payton man just missed out on meddling um for for boys and
girls. Um and El Shender was a two-time state champ and El was a three-time state champ. Um so seeing that program again seeing girls wrestling really come um to a whole another level this year. It was last year more more girls are wrestling more student more schools representative um more the weight
classes represented throughout that aspect of it. Great to see those wrestlers um be crowned champs again along the way. I'm sure that you've seen that um throughout social media. Um and also wanted to talk about some of the other sports. I had to flip pages here because I have some notes for all the
sports and want to make sure I didn't miss anybody otherwise you know make sure they're all represented. So for bowling talk about bowling a lot done a great job with Katie Bruno. Um has received so many awards this year. We talked about it last month. this county girls bowl of the year but she also was with Haley Southern first team since
this county second team was Rebecca Featherman and Gustafson I mentioned was Braden Lorenzo and Ethan Beth of course so for for bowling we had a good reputation um of team individual recognition for boys basketball um and then it's by league right or divide
division so all league honors for second team Matt Shepard and I will mention were AJ Hamilton for girls basketball we had Claire Saminsky and Brooke Wagner for first team and Addy Yanoff for honorable mention. So again, a good reposition of each one of our sports teams for swimming which is combined
with swimming is with WCO Valley. We had the girls NJCA first team and freestyle Addison Mackenzie Darooa for the 200 freestyle relay. Um I'll also talk about that in a second. We had NJC freedom division for honorable
mention was Fate Postma. Boys NJ Freedom second team was Ryan Davis for backstroke. And then the boys and Jack on mention for Chuck Carlson. Um and Mrs. um Guerrera our coach said the second year in a row that a girl swim freestyle had won the county championship and has been named the
first team. So again a huge effort there. And one of her swimmers Bradley Benber one of her times qualified her for the junior Olympics. So, she was able to swim on that about a week and a half ago. I was talking to her dad today about that. And it's funny because Riley
qualified her time qualified for a breast stroke, which is not her favorite um stroke, but she's like, "I'm going away." So, pretty good to qualify for the Junior Olympics. It's all based on time. She actually qualified a long long time ago time wise and just finally got recognized for that um in the last week
and a half. for girls wrestling. Faith Bito mentioned Kennel Servo for second team, Ellish Grees for first, Bella Vogga for second, Gabby Vana for second team, Clarity Lane for second team, Ella Palo for first, Payton man for second team, and Carly Lockman for second team. So almost all of our weight classes were
represented there on the the all awards. And surely not least is boys wrestling. We had uh Thomas Jou's first team, Carter Dan second team, Logan Tack mentioned, Luke Tommpkins first team, Jay Rupaul first team, Jack Ka first team, K Deakcoa first team, and Gav
Miracle first team and then Jeffrey division. So all of our winter sports were well represented. We should all be proud of what they do all the time. Um and it's not, you hear me say this all the time. It's not about the awards and recognitions that they receive whether it be teen arts right or the end of year
end of season awards but it is great for them to be recognized um as individuals and as teams. So that's all I got questions. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Mr. Campbell you're up. >> Good evening.
>> So congratulations to Kennedy. What a beautiful picture. or lovely guidance counselor and her principal who uh battled the TSA um shortage at North Airport to rush from I think from the plane to the event last night. Um so
want to thank the board for your support with busing to allow our baseball team going to Florida. Mr. Talame was on the trip. Um and um I think it was great for the students. I know they really they love their principal and for them to be able to go out and have that support and to play baseball. So, it was a great
trip and kudos to Mr. Chapman for making it back for the event and again thank you Mr. John also for starting and most of all congrats to Kennedy. Uh, last week we had testing here and um, everyone loves it.
>> It was fantastic. And I say it was fantastic because statewide there were a lot of problems. is a new adaptive format and uh all of us as administrators are on different email chains with people in our respective roles and so supervisors, principles,
criminal director leaders um I don't know what the state's going to do because the directions were very difficult to follow um and there were problems everywhere. Our problems were relatively very very minor. Our students were mature, cooperative and focused.
Our staff worked very hard to support the students, English and math in particular to make sure that the students were prepared. Um it was not without incident as all as no testing is, but it went really really well and we'll be um extremely well prepared um
for the big test in men when it's freshman, sophomores, and juniors. Um in the curriculum office, Miss Jessica Briggs um it's as if she's leading the military brigade. Um she starts planning this probably around Thanksgiving. There are thousands of variables to move
around for hundreds of students to test. Thank you to her work. Um to everyone, Mr. Gardy, Mr. Chart, Mr. Perry on the back end of the IT, tremendous support. So it's a big undertaking and it went very very well. Um students in particular were were very cooperative.
In October, we provide a comprehensive review of student behavior, suspensions, substance abuse, etc. But we are required a second time of the year to report on incidents that occurred from July through December 31. So the second
half of last calendar year and I'll move through some of this relatively quickly. First number really exciting about this is not this is apples to apples because it's the same months last year versus this year. So essentially we have July
and August but really it's September through December 58 suspensions last year 39 suspensions this year. That's a drop of approximately one/3 and we're proud of that um achievement. Our main office staff and Mr. Jane Regs is here
tonight who does a tremendous job with our HIVs. Uh together have worked very very hard to bring about that drop in suspensions. Also there is a team behind the team that provides counseling um nurturing
support um training support for students with disabilities. Dr. Ripley is adamant that if a student has an IEP and they're in a situation that involves discipline, their case manager counselor is there to support them. So, I really think that our overall support system includes a
lot of people and I want to highlight our resource team who um they keep us safe, but they also build relationships with students and they respond to incidents and they're very proactive and supportive. Our child study team and our counselor. So, it takes a lot of um
people working to drop those suspensions. Of the 39 suspensions, this is a bit of a breakdown of the categories they fell into. When you see fights, does not mean we have 10 fights. It means there were 10 specific students who were suspended as
the result of an altercation. Could be two fights, could be three fights. Um we are um and when we say fight, I don't mean to um belittle it, but if there's a shy match in 20126 that goes on the
books as a fight. Um almost every physical altercation literally um from what I just described gets counted as a fight. Um so we've always been very um u faithful in what we report. transparent
about it. And those are some of our numbers. This chart shows you on the far right for a handful of incidents that led to suspensions, the number of suspensions for the first half of this school year,
and then the full year total number in those categories um for the previous decade. And I think you'll see some trends look um positive and encouraging. There are some ups and downs, but again, we present this twice a year and we're
transparent about um these incidents. Again, back to harassment, intimidation, and bullying. If you go back here, I had on the bottom there one hit. Doesn't mean one hit. That means one of our suspensions was directly related to a
hit. But for that first part of the school year, Mr. right oversaw 17 investigations of which six were considered a hit. So approximately one/3 were ahead, 2/3 were not. Often times misbehavior occurred
but it does not rise to the level of a hit. Uh I was uh recently sharing with some of the board members. I went and uh looked at the other schools around the county and on a given year you'll see the range of official Hibs that they
reported on a given year 0 1 3 8 9 15 17 and I think that uh speaks to the fact that schools have a um individualized approach to how they go about it. I don't think the disparity in
human nature is is that vast. So, um, we do a lot of investigations. We're very thorough. If there's any possibility that it is a HIV, um, we take action to investigate it as that. All of our HIV resources are right on our website.
Resources to report a HIV, policies, contact information, um, etc. Um, so that, uh, that is it. Any questions on SSDs or state testing? Good. Okay. Thanks.
>> Thank you. >> That concludes our presentations. So, I will move to other business and uh New Jersey school boards has uh been nice enough to provide us with a resolution uh template that we can read uh
regarding the unsung heroes. So whereas the Sussex County School Boards Association in collaboration with New Jersey School Boards Association recognizes unsung heroes from each school district in Sussex County to celebrate those whose character and impact define the heart of our schools.
And whereas the unsung hero award honors students who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities but are often overlooked by traditional recognition programs. students who have modeled good citizenship, a spirit of quiet strength, and a commitment to elevating character, strength beyond the spotlight that
inspires others. And whereas these unsung heroes may have organized community programs, selflessly supported their peers, or achieved significant academic success while overcoming difficult personal challenges, disabilities, or language barriers. And whereas Kennedy Shepard has overcome
seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach their full potential, servicing serving both the school community and the community at large as a beacon of resilience and integrity. And whereas on Monday, March 23rd, 2026, Kenny Shepard was formally recognized by those
achievements at the 2026 Sussex County Unsung Heroes Awards Ceremony held at Sparta High School. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Highpoint Regional High School Board of Education officially recognizes Kennedy Shepard as an unsung hero of Sussex County and the High Point Regional High School
District. I don't believe we have to take a vote on this, but we can uh so moving on to action items then curriculum instruction and technology is up first. February. I think I have eight items to
move. Well, eight items. Most of you uh faculty attendance rate for February is 94%. Student attendance was 91 a.5%. And the suspension report is attached and of course that we uh approved the
harassment intimidation and quality reports. Item five is um field trips that are listed approving them. Um, number six is for professional development as listed and number seven is our perennial revised calendar which
I guess is the last time and uh eight is the school calendar for next year. That's all the items. I will move them for a second. >> Second. >> Does anybody have any comments or
questions on those issues? All right. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Van Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Weise, >> yes. >> Miss Hill,
>> yes. >> Miss G, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Mr. Dun, >> yes. >> Passes. >> Next, we have personnel. >> I'd like to move two items together. Um, number one is accepting retirement
notification from Doroth Martin. Number two is approving Barbarastein as a substitute teacher. >> Making a motion seeking a second. >> Second. >> Any discussion, questions? I'd like to congratulate Miss Martin for a uh a
lovely wonderfully impactful career that she established relationships with kids over the time that she was here such that she was a positive influence on our community and will be remembered fondly particularly with her uh volunteer efforts in as far as beautifying our
campus and committing to uh improving not just the way it looked but how it was received. by visitors and staff and students alike. So, congratulations on your career. >> Flowers might not be the same.
>> Roll call. >> Miss G. >> Yes. >> Mr. Van Stone. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes.
>> Mr. D, >> yes. passes. >> Uh, next we have uh extracurricular up. There are six items in the regular agenda and there was an addendum. Sorry, five items in the regular agenda. There's a sixth item as an addendum. So,
I will move all six items. One is a recommendation to accept the resignation notification for Marina Adamo Morris, head cheerleading coach, effective immediately. Item two is a recommendation to approve uh Joseph Camelan as a volunteer chess club
adviser for the 2025 2026 school year. Item three is a recommendation to approve the following individuals as volunteer coaches uh as listed for football and softball. Item four is a recommendation to accept a resignation
notification from Caleb as assistant cheer coach effective immediately. Item five is a recommendation to uh approve the following extracurricular appointments for the 2026 2027 school year uh for fall
cheerleading and winter cheerleading as listed. And item six is a recommendation to approve the following extracurricular appointments for the 2025 2026 school year as listed for uh assistant track coaches.
So I will make that uh motion. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh any discussion on the extracurricular appointment? >> Motions none. >> Miss Longberg. >> Yes. >> Miss Diaz.
>> Yes. >> Miss G. >> Yes. >> Miss Wise. >> Yes. >> Miss Hill. >> Yes. >> Mr. Venstone. >> Yes. >> Miss Zorsy. >> Yes. >> Mr. Anderson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dun. Yes. >> Passes. >> And I was remiss for thanking our
volunteer coaches. You should do that. >> Yes. >> Um without them we uh often cannot hold some of the um programs which we which we do. >> Uh policy.
>> Two items I'd like to move together. The first is a second reading of the new policies on sexual harassment and library materials. And the second item is on approving the revised regulations on resource materials.
>> I'm making a motion seeking a second. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion or comments? Question. >> I'm concerned with the with the library material. I had sent over some information or or a revised policy. Um,
it just gives me concern with minors being able to check out books without parental approval that that could be uh considered, you know, soft porn or just just
I'm just concerned and I don't know I don't have an answer to it. I had sent over a policy. I don't know how it would be monitored or to what degree what books are added into a category that would be considered risky, but I don't know how many people have dug into this.
I'm not uh proposing books be removed, but as a proponent of of parental rights, I I think that some of the books, especially some of the newer books, parents should be able to say whether their kids can take out those books.
Any other comments from board members on the library policy? >> Mr. I just So this was sent over to the curriculum personnel and policy. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. >> Uh is there anyone from the personnel
and policy committee that can address that? >> Well, uh we did we did discuss your recommendations. >> Um I believe the um you had suggested two recommendations. one being having the
parental opt out and then a second holding the librarian responsible and I think the sec the second piece is the easier piece uh holding the librarian responsible I think we decided was probably um I'm not sure if it would be illegal
but it certainly would be a violation of union protection for librarians um especially because in the policy I said that uh librarians should not cannot be held responsible
>> as as long as that is to where they are not they can't be totally immune if they do go against the policy which you know I think uh Dr. uh he noted that that he monitors that, but I just don't want a situation
similar to what happened in Roxbury where where you have a a wrong librarian who's out and and you know if the policy says that certain kids if if a parent says my my kid should not read this book, but then a librarian gives it to the kid anyway, there should be a
consequence for that for the librarian. So, as long as long as we're covered in that regard to where we don't have somebody, you know, going against the will of a parent, that's where I'm coming from with that, which I think Dr. Ripley confirmed that he has that under
control. >> Yeah, there's some things that I think that I could bring some light to this if possible. um you know the library materials which is up here as a second reading uh has now been differentiated from resource materials and it's based
upon the freedom to read act which was um New Jersey law that took effect in December of 2024 as a result of the law which is specific to libraries resource materials and library materials are now each covered by separate policies
library materials as as we're looking at here policy and regulation 2535 as I said inspired by the Freedom uh to read Act. It prohibits censorship but permits removal of material if it is found developmentally inappropriate for certain students. Age may be a
consideration. It also distinguishes and the differences from library resources and other resources. What it does permit, an individual with a quote unquote vested interest can challenge a library resource closely defined by uh
as vest interest is someone who is a current Highpoint teacher, a parent of a current Highpoint student, or any current student. Those are the people who can challenge a library resource under the policy under the code
that I've just referenced that was just put into effect in 2024. The complaint form must be online and at the principal's office and the committee must be esta a committee must be established when a complaint is lodged so as to address this. And I can go into
it further, but I think that gives you a um an understanding that it is not a blanket authority to have books that one might believe is without some consideration. So there is the facility to be able to remove something that a
parent that a teacher or a student feels or believes might not be appropriate developmentally to be in the library. So there is a system in place according to the regulation that allows for the removal of a library of material as is
appropriate based upon the regulation. Can I ask is was the policy committee aware I assume that was >> yes it was discussed >> that quite quite quite certainly tried to look at the issue
from all perspectives and obviously looking with the best interest of students at heart >> Mr. Yep. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz,
>> yes. >> Mr. Van Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Miss Gaul, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Anderson, >> no. On 2535 policy and no on 255ation.
But yes, I'm too. >> Very good. And Mr. Dunn? >> Yes. >> Passes. >> Uh, no negotiations or buildings and grounds items. We'll move on to finance. Uh, we'll move one through five together. First, one is a recommendation
accept of the board secretary, business administrator for February 2026. Two is a recommendation accept the treasurer for the same month. Item three is a recommendation to approve the report of transfers and minimum expense transfer report for the same month. Item four is
a recommendation to approve the for payment the attached schedule of audited bills dated March 24th, 2026. And item five is a 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 reconciliations for the month of February 2026. I'll make that motion. May I have a second? >> Second. Uh, any comments, questions on those? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg,
>> yes. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Mr. Van Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Miss Ball, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Mr. Dunn, >> yes. >> Passes. >> Okay. Item six is our important one for
the evening. Um, it spans about three pages. I'm not going to read everything in detail. However, uh let me provide some highlights. Be it resolved that the board approves the adoption of the tentative school budget for the 2026
2027 school year as follows. First section is related to travel and related expense reimbursement. basically saying something along the lines of an annual school threshold of $1,500 per staff member where prior board me board
approval shall not be required unless the annual threshold for a staff member is exceeded in a given year. Uh and um the maximum expended total maximum expenders expenditure for travel and related expenses of 75,000 for all staff
and board members. The second portion of that resolution, adoption of the tentative budget. Be it resolved that the tentative budget be approved for the 2026 2027 school year using the 2026 2027 state aid figures and the secretary
to the High Point Regional High School Board of Education be authorized to submit the following budget to the Executive County Superintendent of Schools. Uh I'll highlight what's in that table. Total expenditures of uh I'll just give you the totals in the
far right column. $25,710,339 less anticipated revenues of $6,563,787 results in the if you go to the next page, the taxes to be raised 19,146,552 uh with a double asterisk underneath
that table. This includes a 2% increase and the number listed there that is associated with that and a healthc care adjustment and the number associated with that. Be it resolved that the High Point Regional High School Board of Education approves the levy of general fund taxes
for the tenative 2026 2027 school budget to be 19146,520 uh $552. This budget addresses health and safety issues related to facility capital spending, student centered items and program integrity. Be it further resolved that included in
the general fund appropriations is $31,98 for deposit into the board of education's approved capital reserve account for future funding of capital projects and represents expenditures for construction elements or projects that are in addition to the facilities
efficiency standards necessary to achieve the New Jersey student learning standards and to advertise said budget in the New Jersey Herald in accordance with the form suggested by the state department of education according to law and post tenative budget on our website.
I will make that motion. >> May I please have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion or comments on tentative budget motion? >> I would just like to say that um there are two numbers that are compelling
factor. Obviously the tax levy but also the general fund which also gets forgotten in the tax levy. And I would like to uh present to the board that the proposed tentative budget is a reduction in overall spending of the general fund
by8%. While8% does not sound like a lot given the rise in health care costs and fixed costs being that which they are to reduce our overall operating budget otherwise known as the general fund to reduce that by point8% is something
about which we're we're uh I'm proud and uh the business office worked very hard to be able to present this to the board and to the community to demonstrate fiscal responsibility in reducing the overall operating budget And at the risk of repeating what I say
uh every time a budget comes across the board's uh table, I consider uh vote voting on the budget one of the most important jobs that we do as board members. uh I know as a member of the
finance committee uh having been involved with the budget uh from that perspective and as the president of the board it is it is a lot of hard work by Dr. Ripley
Mrs. Kush to prepare the but and and everybody else that submits their information to them uh to prepare this and we believe that we are not we're not asking for anything that we don't
absolutely need. Um we're not asking for more than that either that we've taken efforts not to use everything that we are allowed to pass on. So, uh, we're hopeful that that
is recognized by the community, um, towards our fiscal responsibility as boards. >> So, get off my soap box. Um, if no other comments, we'll take a vote on them. >> Miss Wise,
>> yes. >> Mr. Van Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Miss G, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Mr. D, >> yes.
>> Passes. >> Uh, I will move 7 through 14 together. Seven is a recommendation to resend approval of the vendor payment for the spring musical. Uh, we could not fulfill the commitment. And item eight is a
recommendation to approve vendor payment for the spring musical. Believe for the replacement. tell us that uh came in. Uh item nine is a recommendation to authorize the approve and authorize the execution of an agreement between NJIT
and High Point Regional High School to offer concurrent enrollment courses for uh the 2026 27 through 2028 29 wow that's a long name of school years. Um, item 10 is a recommendation to approve
and authorize an agreement between Sussex County Ed Services Commission and High Point uh District Board of Education for ancillary educational services for the 2026 2027 school year. Item 11 is a recommendation to grant permission to the High Point Football
Camp to host a non-affiliated co-ed camp grades 2 through eight, which will run as posted. Uh, camp will be self-supporting and will charge $125 per participant. Item 12 is a recommendation to grant permission to the speed and strength camp to host the non-affiliated
co-ed camp ages 12 through 15 which will run as listed. Uh same the camp will be self-supporting and will charge $225 per participant. Item 11 is a recommendation to approve and authorize the following tuition contracts between High Point as
a receiving district and the following districts. uh related information uh for sending districts. And item 14 is a recommendation to approve and authorize the following tuition contracts between High Point Regionalizes ascending district in the
following districts and related information as receivers. So I'll make that motion on seven I think it was 7 through 14. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Any any comments there? Seeing none.
>> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Mr. Man Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Miss Gaul, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Mr. D, >> yes.
>> Passes. >> Okay. Item 15, I think, is our last item on Oh, no, it's not. I'm going to move 15 and 16 together. 15 extremely lengthy uh resolution that spans about four pages. Uh so let's see if we can uh
condense this a little bit. Uh, it is recommended the board of education approves and authorizes this agreement made the 24th day of March 2026 in the county of Sussex, state of New Jersey by and between the school health insurance fund referred to as CHIF and the
governing body of High Point Regional High School, a duly constituted board of education here in referred to as school boards. And uh I believe this uh approves our
uh membership and uh for period of 3 years from July 1st, 2024 and ending June 30th, 2027. Um school may withdraw at any time with
90 days written notice. And any other key points I might miss here uh related to our uh school health insurance fund. Our participation in
this health insurance fund has been uh very helpful to us maintaining a uh controls over health costs in our budget. uh it has muted the vast swings of increases over the last several years
and to have been selected for and been a member of this health insurance fund is very beneficial to our district and our taxpayers. Uh so that that entire resolution is related to our health insurance fund. Uh
and item 16 is a related resolution um that notes uh Kathy Kathy Kopush is hereby appointed as fund commissioner to the school health insurance fund effective March 1st, 2026 to represent Hipund Regional High School Board of Education. Uh and be it further resolved
that Dr. Scott Ripley be appointed as alternate fund commissioner to the school health insurance fund effective March 1st, 2026. So I make that a motion on uh items 15 and 16. Second. >> Second.
>> Any other comments related to that? >> Yes, we have none. >> Okay. Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Miss Diaz, >> yes. >> Miss G, >> yes. >> Mr. Stone, >> yes. >> Miss Hill,
>> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes. >> Mr. D, >> yes. >> Passes. Uh, okay. Transportation. What? >> Okay. I'll put them all together. It is recommended by the board approves uh
execution of the following contracts for the mileage remainder of the 25 26 school year. Number one is uh a contract with Lakeland Andover School.
Number two is a contract with the Windsor School. Number three is a contract with Northern Hills Academy. Number four is a contract with Lakeland Andover School. Number five is a
contract with High Point High School. >> Oh, I'm sorry. Where is it? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Joining with Wayne Township Public Schools. And then uh number six is with Kit Tiny
Regional High School, joining with High Point. Number seven is >> a bunch here. bus and bus. >> Uh, but bar and bus. Do I have to read these school? >> No. Okay. And then number
eight is uh recommended superintendent board approves jointer agreement between South Bergen Joiner Commission and High Point Regional High School for anticipated coordinated pupil trans uh transportation services for non-public and out of district special education. Vocational includes burger tech regular
field trip athletics and summer programs for the 26 27th school year with 3% administrative debate. >> Making a motion and I'm looking for a second. >> Second >> roll call. >> Any comments? >> Any comments or discussion?
Usually got just wait until they have like 25. >> Roll call, please. >> M Diaz. >> Yes. >> Miss Orsy, >> yes. >> Mr. Anderson, >> yes. >> Miss Hill, >> yes. >> Miss Wise, >> yes.
>> Mr. Randstone, >> yes. >> Miss G, >> yes. >> Miss Longberg, >> yes. >> Mr. D, >> yes. >> Passes. We have the correspondence uh miscellaneous item the standing uh notice about school board mandated training. So that brings us to our
second public comment section of the evening. Same rules apply as the first although it's not limited to agenda items. We haven't have any public comment. Please welcome to >> Hi, good evening. >> My name is Lisa Carlson. I'm the deputy
mayor for Lafia Township. So, I have a question as to how many students are totally are total enrolled here at High Point at this time. >> I think it's about 818 give or take.
>> Okay. Um, we sent a request yesterday. I believe it was yesterday. Yes. To Miss Kosh. Did you receive that from the clerk? >> Yes, I responded to. >> Okay. So, we are requesting the um sending district census broken down by who how many students are
from each sending district along with the property tax formulas to see the breakdown in terms of monies. Um we understand Montyu is a send and receive. So we're also looking for cost per pupil
that comes in to High Point per Monu student and how many there are that should be included in the census as well. um >> was uh that was not listed in the request. Certainly uh I'm not denying it, but if you could are to have uh >> we'll send resend the
>> Yeah, that's not a problem. Um and also wondering if you will be coming to any Lafayette Township meeting to do the budget. We haven't seen you guys since pre-COVID. Our presentation of the board uh for our budget will be here in uh
April 20 28 and that will be our presentation of the budget. >> Okay. All right. I'll be back. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> We'd like to thank you. Uh if are you like the liaison from Lafayette?
>> I'm the deputy mayor this year and >> but I mean from the town council do >> yes I'm >> excellent. We um this is for the general public. I believe you're the first uh aside from some representatives from Frankfurt that have come to a board meeting in my recent memory and that
goes back at least well more than a few years. So thank you for coming and making public comments. I was um I will say previously we the board and Dr. Ripley did go to uh present at
the individual municipalities Um we are videotaped. We are we we get to meet and we're board members are unpaid for this if we attend. Um we feel when we present a budget we're doing it in
the forum here as we're required. Um so just to insulate Dr. Ripley, it wasn't a sole decision of Dr. Ripley's not to continue going out to the individual townships. It was the recognition that maybe that was a little bit too much to
ask when we're doing it already. So, any comments virtual? >> No. >> Okay. Um, can I have a motion to close public comments? So, move in a second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Okay. We don't have it
listed on our agenda, but I'm going to make a motion to uh enter a second executive session um to discuss matters related to uh Dr. Ripley's contract renewal. Um it is not expected that any
action will be taken. So I'll make that motion. >> Second. >> Uh all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Okay. Uh we will return to just as for the public's notice we will return to
public session and then immediately adjourn. So uh there's no need for anybody to stick around. We don't in intend to videotape that. Um, and we have no idea what time that would be at at this point.