Good evening everyone. We're going to get started. Welcome to the April 2026 Hoboken Board of Education meeting. Thank you all for being here. If you are joining us this evening to speak on agenda or non-aggenda items, please use the signup sheets located directly in
front of me. Miss Lopez, can you please read the statement of compliance? >> Yes. This meeting is being held in conformity to the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10 col4-6 ETSE. Proper public notice of the
meeting was published in the local papers on January 9th, 2026. If any board member or member of the public in attendance believes that the meeting is in violation of the open public meetings act, the Hoboken Board of Education requests that they make a statement at this time. The board wishes
to make those in attendance aware that this meeting is being broadcast is being recorded on video and will be broadcast by the board at a later date on CATV channel 77 and FiOS channel 46. The full meeting recording will also be made
available on board docs which can be accessed through the district homepage. The Hoboken Board of Education is committed to preserving the decorum of the public process and is mindful that we live in the electronic age of computers, cell phones, and other electronic communications devices.
Nevertheless, we respectfully request that all meeting participants kindly silence their electronic devices during the course of the meeting. And if use of the device is necessary, we ask that you please leave the meeting room if you need to conduct personal business.
>> Thank you, Miss Lopez. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. 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. Miss Lopez, can you please call the role? >> Miss Angley >> here. >> Miss Kadamatori >> here. Miss Delara >> here. >> Mr. GR >> here. >> Miss Connor. >> Mr. Clolo >> here. >> Miss Norwood >> here.
>> Miss Vez >> here. >> Miss Mcgher >> here. You have a quum. >> Thank you. Miss Lopez. As we usually do, we're going to begin the evening celebrating our students of the month. So, I will turn the meeting over to Assistant Superintendent Sandra Rodriguez Gomez to recognize our March
students of the month. Good evening, members of the board of education, superintendent Dr. Johnson, colleagues, families, and members of our Hoboken school community. As we enter the spring season, we are reminded that this time of year is all
about growth, renewal, and possibility. It is a season where we begin to see the results of steady effort, where what has been nurtured over time starts to truly blossom. And in many ways, that is exactly what we celebrate in our schools
every day. Tonight, we have the honor of recognizing five students who represent that growth. students who through their effort, their character, and commitment to learning are truly flourishing within our Hoboken public school community.
These students have been selected not only for their academic dedication, but for the way they show up every day with curiosity, perseverance, kindness, and willingness to keep growing. They are leaders in their classrooms, role models
among their peers, and reflections of the bright future ahead of us. Students, tonight we celebrate you, not just for what you have achieved, but for who you are becoming. You are growing into thinkers, leaders, and compassionate
members of this community. As we celebrate the students tonight, we are reminded that growth does not happen overnight. It is nurtured through effort, encouragement, love, and care. Just like the spring season, each of you
is continuing to grow into something truly remarkable. We are so proud of you and we look forward to all that is still to come. Congratulations once again. And before the principles come up, let's just give them an early round of applause. Ladies and gentlemen,
it is my honor now to invite the principal of the Joseph F. Brand School to the podium to begin our students of the month recognitions. He will then introduce the Connor's principal, Miss Addie, and she will follow the same pattern introducing our next presenters, principles Dickerson, Sorphine, and Pika
Petra of Wallace Hoboken Middle and Hoboken High School. Each will celebrate their school selection and pause for a picture opportunity for which we would obviously invite families to come up as well. Again, thank you for being with us tonight, being here with us tonight. And
I'd ask Principal Bartlett to take over. Thank you very much, Mrs. Rodriguez Gomez. Good evening, Dr. Johnson, members of the board, and our guests here tonight. At this time, I would ask Christopher Fields to come join me at the podium. Congratulations to Christopher Fields,
our brand student of the month for March. Chris was nominated by his fifth grade teachers, Miss Litz and Miss O'Brien. Miss Litz said, "I nominated Chris for student of the month because his charisma and consistent progress throughout the year truly stood out this
past month. Chris is always eager to help, often the first to raise his hand when a peer or adult needs assistance, regardless of the task. He consistently shows kindness towards his peers and helps foster a classroom environment that is safe, inclusive, and fair. Miss
Litz also said she is incredibly proud of Chris for doing the right thing. She said recently at recess, when a student felt others were being unkind, Chris immediately stepped in and invited that student to join him in a game. That moment reflects who Chris is. Thoughtful, compassionate, and always
looking out for others. Miss O'Brien said, "Chris is truly deserving to be recognized across the entire school for both his character and his growth. He is the kind of friend every child hopes to have. Kind, supportive, and inclusive to everyone around him. Chris consistently treats others with respect and care,
making our classroom and school a better place each day. Chris arrives every morning with a genuine smile, ready to learn and to take on new challenges. He demonstrates honesty in all that he does. Always choosing to tell the truth even when it may be difficult. He stands up for his classmates, especially when
they may not feel confident enough to speak for themselves. And he actively seeks fairness and justice in both the classroom and larger school community. In addition to his strong character, Chris is incredibly well-mannered and approaches each day with a positive attitude, always finding the light in
every situation. Academically, he has shown impressive growth as a reader and mathematician, and he continues to excel in all of his special area subjects. Chris is a role model for his peers and a student we are proud to celebrate. Outside of school, Chris is a sports
fanatic. He plays football, basketball, and baseball, and loves a friendly game of competition. Not only is Chris athletic, but he loves to stay in the know. Chris is always keeping up to date with the latest trends in fashion. Whether it's his Tik Tok phrases, his
Lululemon keychain, or his Birkenstock Clocks, Chris is happiest when he's listening to hiphop and rap, and dancing along to Big Guy by Ice Spice. Chris aspires to play football or basketball in college, but looks forward to playing in high school
to represent the Red Wings most of all. I was just telling this BIG,000 point score and probably lead the league in touchdowns. I know that's going to happen. As principal, this is it's really a proud moment for me because my relationship with Chris goes all the way
back to when he was in kindergarten with Miss Picone or as he used to say, Miss Conn. I've watched him grow and mature in real time and I'm sure he's going to be taller than me any day now. But to remind him that I have always been in his corner and always will be. I have a
picture for him of us back when he was in first grade when he was a bit shorter and I didn't have a whole lot of gray hair in my beard. As a fifth grader, Chris has this advice for his fellow students. Treat others the way you want to be treated because
when you care about a friend, they will care about you. He also went on to say, "Brandt is the best school in Hoboken because we have the best teachers." But that's just part of it because we are also incredibly lucky to have students like Chris. Please join me in congratulating our brand student of the
month, Christopher Field. At this time, I'd like to welcome to the podium the principal of the Connor School, Mrs. Juliana Addie. to call up Jack Wolfie, Connor's student of the month. Jack Bull was nominated by his first
grade dual language teacher, Miss Severino. And it's not hard to understand why. Jack is the kind of student who walks into the classroom every single day, ready to give his very best. That dedication has led to some
truly impressive growth this year. Jack has grown as a tre a tremendous amount academically this year. He came in as a developing reader and has worked tirelessly to strengthen his skills. He began the year reading at a DRA level
three and today he is reading at benchmark level 12. A fantastic leap that reflects both his perseverance and his genuine love of learning. His fluency has blossomed and words that once gave him pause now come naturally.
That kind of growth doesn't happen by accident. A big part of Jack's success comes from the wonderful partnership between home and school. His parents shared that Jack is wonderfully dedicated at home and that
he truly loves to read. That homeschool consistency shines through in everything he does. Whether he's diving into a Dogman adventure or a beloved Dr. Seuss classic, Jack approaches every page with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Outside of school, Jack is a young man of many passions. He loves soccer, spending quality time with his family over dinner and playing with what his teacher affectionately describes as billions of toy cars. And when he grows
up, Jack has big plans. He wants to be both a dentist and a soccer player. With his work ethic, we have no doubt he'll find a way to do both. What makes Jack especially deserving of his honor is not just his academic achievement, but it's
his heart. Jack is the first to offer help when a classmate is in need. If a friend is missing materials, Jack is already reaching into his bag to share. If someone needs help tidying up or completing a task, Jack volunteers
without hesitation. He is gentle, generous, and genuinely kind, and his classmates and teacher are better for having him in the room. Miss Severino shares that Jack is a true role model, the kindest student other children look
to, not just for his academic dedication, but for how he treats the people around him. That is a rare and beautiful quality in anyone, let alone a first grader. Jack embodies every quality we celebrate in a Connor's
Koala. Kindness, responsibility, respect, caring, and trustworthiness. He is a shining example of what it means to be a good student and an even better friend. Jack, your grandparents, parents, and I are all so proud of you.
Can everyone please give me a round? Please join me in a round of applause for Jack. At this time, I'd like to call up Mr. Steve Dickerson, the Wallace principal. It is truly an honor to recognize Elhaji
Mab Makabiso as our Wallace fourth grade student of the month for March. Alhaji has been selected in recognition of his consistent effort, positive attitude, and strong commitment to learning, which he has demonstrated throughout the course of the school year. From
September on, Aaji has shown that he is a dedicated and motivated student who takes great pride in both himself and his work. If you know Aaji, you know he has a heart of gold and always has a smile on his face and never lets me walk past
without getting a fist bump. He approaches each day with a willingness to learn, grow, and consistently contribute to our classroom community in meaningful ways. One of Alhaji's most admirable qualities is his
strong work ethic. He cons consistently completes his assignments with care and attention to detail, always striving to do his best. Even when faced with challenging tasks, Alhaji does not give up. Instead, he demonstrates perseverance by asking questions and
puts in the extra effort needed to succeed. His determination serves as a powerful example to his peers, showing that success comes from a combination of hard work and a positive mindset. In addition to his academic dedication,
Alhaji is known for his respectful and kind character, which is demonstrated on a daily basis in class. He treats both his friends and teachers with courtesy and consideration, helping to create and wing a welcoming and supportive classroom unit. In fact, just the other
day, Aaji saw another student struggling to to access the computer and immediately diverted his attention to his friend in need, which is just one of the many testaments to Alhaji's character. He's always
willing to lend a helping hand and puts the needs of others before his own. His kindness and empathy make him someone others can rely on and feel comfortable around. Ahaji also demonstrates excellent responsibility and self-discipline. He
comes to class prepared, follows directions and takes ownership of his learning. When asked to describe Alhaji in a few words, previous educators along with his teachers, along with his classmates identified him as being kind, caring,
trustworthy, motivated, and positive as he is a great asset to the classroom as well as the Wallace community as a whole. These qualities not only contribute to his own success but also positively influence the overall classroom atmosphere.
Another aspect that makes Elijah stand out is his positive attitude. He approaches each day with enthusiasm and a willingness to participate. Whether engaging class discussions, working independently, or collaborating with others, Alhaji brings positive energy to
every task. His optimism and can do spirit inspires those around him. Alashi's growth over the past few months has been truly impressive. He continues to build confidence in his abilities and is not afraid to take on new challenges.
His willingness to step outside of his comfort zone shows maturity and a genuine desire to improve. This growth mindset would will undoubtedly continue to serve him well in the future. His teacher, Michaela Scott, shared that as a newcomer to Wallace Elementary, she
feels privileged to have an opportunity not only to work with a student like Alhaji, but also to learn from him, as he has taught her that a smile goes a long way and has the potential to shift someone's day far more than you could ever imagine.
Overall, Ahaji is a shining example of what it means to be a dedicated, respectful, and hardworking student. His strong character, academic commitment, and positive contributions to the classroom make him truly deserving of this recognition. Thus far this school
year, Laji has received awards for perfect attendance as well as first honors, which are outstanding achievements. We are incredibly proud of Alaji and all that he has accomplished and we look forward to seeing his continued success. Congratulations,
Aazi. KEEP UP THE AMAZING ALL RIGHT. I now invite Mr. Sorina, the principal of Hoboken Middle School. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. Please join me in welcoming Kimani King Taylor
to the podium as Hobok Middle School. When I shared this recognition with King, his face immediately lit up. But in true selfless fashion, his first concern was making sure we thanked Mr. Moranga for nominating him rather than focusing on the recognition himself.
That moment truly captures who King is. He has a kind heart and genuinely cares about everyone around him. King was nominated by his math and science teacher, Mr. H, for his dedication, curiosity, and positive attitude towards learning. He consistently puts forth his
best effort and takes pride in his work. He has a strong curiosity, especially in science, and a genuine interest in understanding the world around him. King approaches learning with enthusiasm and determination, and he aspires to become a scientist in the future. King is also
a leader in the classroom. He actively participates, often volunteers first, and encourages his peers to engage, helping to create a positive and productive learning environment. Miss Johnson shares that King is truly deserving recipient of student of the month. He consistently demonstrates
perseverance, gives his best effort, and never gives up even when faces when faced with challenges. Beyond academics, King is kind, respectful, and inclusive. He builds a positive relationships with his peers and contributes to welcoming classroom community, making him an
excellent role model at Hoboka Middle School. When asked how he feels about being student of the month, King shared that he is proud of himself and the progress that he has made in school. He enjoys attending Hoboki Middle School, appreciates its uniqueness, and continues to pursue his passion for
science. King's friends King's friend Ivan shared that he he's very deserving of this recognition because he's always always tries his best and is a kind and loyal friend. King's dedication and character truly set him apart and he is very deserving of this recognition.
While every student of the month is deserving, sharing this recognition with King and his family gives me a tremendous sense of pride as the principal of Hoboka Middle School because it is an outstanding person he is. King, please never stop believing in
yourself and never lose that positive outlook you have on life. You are an inspiration to all of us. Let's all give Kimani King Taylor a huge round. Thank you. >> At this time, I'd like to welcome to the podium the principal of Hoboken High
School, Miss Pikatra. Good evening everyone and please join me in welcoming Jana T, Hoboken High School student of the month. Gina is truly deserving of recognition as student of the month. When asked
about this, she shared, "Thank you so much. I am extremely honored for being considered." A reflection of the humility and gratitude she brings to everything she does. Some of Gina's favorite experiences in
Hoboken High School have been the field trips that allowed her to expand her learning beyond the classroom. She especially enjoyed the Boston and Forom trips with Mr. Terry, which gave her the opportunity to explore new environments
and ideas. She is actively involved in school life, particularly through the classroom without walls club, where she has built strong and meaningful connections. Additionally, she is a dedicated member of the softball team, demonstrating her
commitment to athletics and teamwork. Outside of school and work, Jana enjoys spending time with friends and family and admits she's always up for a little retail therapy. That's so funny, honey.
Her close friends Polar and Vanessa describe her as an extrovert who is always laughing and finds a way to make everything around everyone around her smile. An energy that is felt throughout our school. Academically, Gina is a model student.
She is hardworking, self-driven, and consistently strives to improve herself both in and out of the classroom. Teachers note her active participation in class discussions, her intellectual curiosity, and her willingness to ask
thoughtful questions. She brings a positive dynamic to every group she works with and is respected by her peers for her self-discipline and leadership. As one teacher noted, when it's time to lock in, Jana leads by example and
encourages those around her to do the same. Jana's ability to balance a rig rigorous academic schedule, including multiple AP courses alongside extracurricular activities and part-time employment is
ex is impressive. She approaches every responsibility with maturity, accountability, and a strong work ethic. In the classroom, she is known not only for her academic effort, but also for the positivity, humor, and leadership
she brings each day. She is dependable, honest, and always willing to support her peers. Looking ahead, Jana is considering Satan Hall University, Ruckers, and St. John's University as her college choices. Each
a testament to her bright future. She is an essential part of my school community. Her kindness, determination, and positive spirit along with her beautiful smile make her stand out both in and out of the classroom. She is a
joy to teach and a pleasure to have in my school. We are proud to recognize Jana as her high school student of the month. HEAT. HEAT. Congratulations to all of our students recognized this evening. We are so
incredibly proud of you. Please keep up the excellent work. Um, your families are proud of you and everyone here at the Hoboken Public School District appreciates all of the effort you put into your learning each and every day. We are now going to transition over to hear from our representatives from
Hoboken Middle School and Hoboken High School. From Hoboken Middle School, we have Reika Chug and Vetica Dua. Ladies, you can take the podium. Good evening, Dr. Johnson, Miss Rodriguez Gomez, members of the Hoboken Board of Education, and everyone joining
us tonight. My name is Reik, and I'm a seventh grade student at Hoboken Middle School. Good evening. My name is Bea Dit, and I'm also a seventh grade student at Hoboken Middle School. It is an honor to be here this evening to represent our school and share some highlights from the past month.
Seventh grade students recently visited Finance Park in Edison, New Jersey, a financial literacy program by Junior Achievement USA designed to teach middle school students real world money management skills. Students learned about personal finance, career exploration, and the long-term impact of
financial decisions such as budgeting, saving, and managing credit. Each student was assigned a persona, including careers, salary, and debt, and created a budget by visiting kiosks to make decisions about housing, transportation, and food.
Congratulations to the students who participated in the math league competition, and earned a certificate of merit, an outstanding accomplishment that reflects their hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Students have received their certificates, and we are proud to celebrate their success.
Thank you as always for your continued support in fostering a love of learning and academic ex excellence. Haboken Middle School proudly hosted its first annual career day and it was an incredible success thanks to the support of our community and the many
professionals who volunteered their time. Students had the opportunity to explore a wide range of career paths from trades and healthcare to business, education, technology, public service, and the arts. Throughout the day, students engaged in meaningful conversations, interviewed professionals, and asked insightful
questions about career journeys, challenges, and and successes. Career Day truly highlighted the power of community and the importance of exposing students to diverse pathways for success. Autism Acceptance Month this year. Hoboken Middle School's Best Buddies and
Student Council invite all staff and students to participate in our autism ex acceptance and acceptance spirit week during the week of April 20th. This month is a time to celebrate and support our neurodeivergent community while promoting inclusivity,
understanding, and acceptance throughout our school. The performing arts department at Havoka Middle School proudly presents Tigers Got Talent on Tuesday, April 28th. This schoolwide assembly will showcase the talents of both students and faculty.
Students can collaborate across grade levels to form acts, making it a great opportunity to build Tiger pride within our community. This spring, Hoboken Middle School is looking forward to an exciting sports season, including softball, baseball, co-ed track, co-ed
golf, and boys volleyball. Be sure to check the Tiger Weekly for upcoming games. Until then, remember to live each day with Tiger pride and always enjoy the ride. Go Tigers. Thank you, ladies. I know going up there for the first time can be a little bit
intimidating, but you you did an excellent job. We'll next hear from our Hoboken High School representative, Miss Jennisio. Good evening. My name is Jenna Serio. I'm the Hoboken High School student government representative. And thank you for having me today. And I also hope everybody was able to enjoy the nice
weather outside. For general events, on April 8th, Hoboken High School held our spring egg hunt in which students discovered and collected hidden eggs from all around the school. And the grand prize has yet to be found. On Saturday, April 11th, we hosted a pancakes for prom fundraiser in the
Hoboken High School cafeteria from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. All proceeds went towards the class of 2026 senior prom. Today on April 14th, the Hoboken High School student government health and wellness committee hosted our annual blood drive in the gymnasium. And our senior spirit days have been keeping the
school lively with twin day, country versus country club, and our upcoming one this Friday, dress like a teacher. for more upcoming events. On May 1st, we will host our signing day, marking an exciting milestone for student athletes and scholars as they officially commit to continuing their academic and
athletic journeys at the collegiate level. Thank you very much for this opportunity to speak and we look forward to seeing you at all of our other events. And as always, go Red Wings. Thank you, Miss Syria. We'll now be moving into reports. Dr. Dr. Johnson, do
you have a superintendence report? >> Good evening, members of the board and members of our community. Over the past few weeks, our schools have continued to demonstrate excellence across academics, athletics, the arts, innovation, and
community engagement. I'm pleased to share highlights from across the district this evening. Uh in the area of athletics and student activities, our schools continue to foster school spirit, wellness, and community connection through athletics
and student sponsored um events. At Connors Elementary School, uh we look forward to the parent and staff basketball game as it always generates tremendous excitement bringing families, staff, and students together in a fun
and engaging environment at the Joseph F. Brand School. Um, I think it's kind of uh fun to report out that they are preparing for the school's first ever kickball tournament, encouraging student participation and family engagement in a
new and exciting way. And I'm a little embarrassed to say that um two weeks ago I well I guess it was about 2 weeks ago during March Madness the students at Brandt Elementary School sat me down quickly in a game of knockout. Um was a
little rusty. I wasn't as um warmed up as I thought I would be and got knocked out relatively fast in two separate knockout games. So um next year I will be back to take on the Joseph
Fbrandt uh fourth grade in a knockout game again next year. So we'll see what happens then. Uh looking ahead, um students across the district and in the city seem to be very excited about the opportunity to participate in the Hoboken youth football camp that will be
led by Hoboken High School Redwing coaches and student athletes from our football team, providing both mentorship and skill development for our young learners across the district and city. um our high school uh athletic teams and
our middle school athletic teams are waging really successful seasons. Um not only are they um bringing home victories, but I think more importantly uh they're learning life lessons um on the field and uh exhibiting positive
sportsmanship and that's really what we're most proud about. Um, in terms of fine and performing arts, our art department, our arts department continues to be a source of pride across the district um, within um, the area.
They continue to um, be recognized for the robust programming that we offer. And I think it's just as important to recognize the fact that while athletics keep our students engaged positively after school, so do our fine and
performing arts across the district. So between band and orchestra and chorus um and also theater. Um our students are engaged continuously from after school until sometimes 9 10:00 at night. Um, our
district theater program, including students from Hoboken High School and Hoboken Middle School, um, received outstanding recognition at the New Jersey Thesbians Award, uh, ceremony. Mean Girls earned three nominations.
Romeo and Juliet, Together and Alive at Last, earned a record 13 nominations, including recognition for middle school theater educator of the year. Um, so we uh congratulate uh Mr. Benson who is actually in the back corner over there
doing our congratulations. Um, and we also earned two Foxy awards for excellence in collaboration through uh Montlair State University. In addition, our district is demonstrating a strong K to2 performing arts pipeline with an with aligned opportunities
across all of our schools. So, for those of you who are not aware, um we are one of probably the only school districts I know in Hudson County that offers uh theater arts to all elementary school students from kindergarten through fifth
grade on a regular basis. Um our theater showcases at both Connors and Brandt Elementary School um have occurred and um we're waiting on the Wallace theater showcase. the theater
showcases um actually highlight what the students learn on a uh daily basis or a weekly basis I should say in the theater arts program at the elementary school level. And then we also have a full spring concert series that's coming up
for our elementary school um level and our middle and our high school level as well. So um as we get closer, I'll be announcing uh those dates as well. And as a result of our success in the area of fine and performing arts, our
students from across all five of our schools have been invited to perform in the Hoboken cultural affairs summer concert series at Shipyard Park once again. And this gives them the opportunity to showcase their talents to the broader community.
Um, on the academic excellence, innovation, and future readiness front, our students continue to engage in meaningful real world learning experiences that reflect the district's commitment to future readiness. Um our students are continuously engaged in um
areas such as uh technology, public service, financial literacy and they have a lot of different opportunities to participate in interviews and discussions about career pathways. Um all of these things contribute to our
students ability to function at the highest levels once they leave Hoboken High School. at Hoboken Middle School. Our students are currently participating in a John's Hopkins uh CTY creative
problem solving program um that actually we kind of created a curriculum to enhance um what was happening with the overall CTY program. And right now they are engaged in an interdisciplinary
project um regarding sustainable colonies on Mars. Um and up to this point it's been fairly successful. I think the students are getting used to something that's a little different than the online courses through Johns
Hopkins. So, uh, we look forward to evaluating, um, our kind of new approach to creative problem solving. At the elementary school level, our students have been busy traveling, um, as a result of the
kind and gracious donation uh, from the HPEF. Our students have been participating in immersive learning experiences through Biztown um and also Lifettown in Livingston um to highlight
their uh areas of learning um as it relates to financial literacy. So, we're really excited about those trips and all of these experiences are really strong examples of um what you are going to be seeing more of in the coming future. Um
and that is our newly created portrait of a graduate. Um in terms of student leadership, culture and belonging in our schools, our students are actively shaping all kinds of positive and inclusive um opportunities that create a
um inclusive and and positive uh school culture. At Hobokim Middle School, student council initiatives and career spirit week have really strengthened student voices and engagement and school pride. Um, we also are seeing uh a lot
of partnerships uh across all of our schools with the Hoboken Public Library, which also creates a real sense of awareness and belonging among our students. Um, in terms of family and community engagement, our Connors
Elementary School has an upcoming multicultural night and uh, dinner and they look forward to that annually to celebrate diversity of the school community through food and music and cultural exchange. at Hoboken High School. The pancakes for prom event was
such a great way to bring people from the community into the high school. Um, not only to have some uh good food, but also to meet our students. Um, our high school uh students, particularly our seniors, always love the opportunity to
talk to members of the community and parents that they don't know yet from uh students at lower grade levels um to kind of show off a little and talk about um their experiences at the high school. Um we're also looking forward to um some
new initiatives that um are being put out by high school students. So, not sure how many of you are aware, but a lot of our high school students in an effort to um get themselves ready for college show themselves in the most
positive light are um creating experiences for younger students in the district. So, um we have students, I'll give you two examples. Lucas Daly um runs a guitar program um where he
teaches young students how to play the guitar and then engages in a range of musical activities with kids uh across the city. And for those of you um who maybe have read about it but don't know a lot about it, it's um Tasha Fu, one of
our seniors at the high school, has an art for unity program. um we uh open the art classroom for her uh throughout the summer, but also on Saturdays. And um she runs a art program for our
elementary school students. Um these students produce all kinds of works from watercolors to um uh clay molding and all kinds of um art mediums across different art mediums. and kids are
really um having a great time with that. Um we're hoping that when these two leaders graduate that they've set an example and our upand cominging um juniors uh when they take on their role as seniors um at the high school will do
the same thing. Students across the district are benefiting from a range um of enrichment opportunities as well. Um we're seeing that from all kinds of um walking field trips to afterchool programs. Um and we
also have put out recently information regarding our summer programs. So um Splash into literacy and math will be running this summer again along with the YW.CA camp. So we look forward to hearty
and robust um enrollment in those programs. Looking ahead, there's some exciting opportunities that are um coming up. The HPF annual gala will be held on May 7th. Um our district-wide spring concert series, like I said,
we'll be putting information out about those. We look forward to seeing as many people as possible at the district musical School of Rock this year. I think that's set to be a really exciting and fun show. Um, also the middle school
has a tiger for a day series that they are going to be um, hosting in order to allow our fifth grade students to um, better understand uh, all the programs that the middle school has to offer. So, we're kind of modeling it a little bit
in somewhat of a modified way after our Redwing for a day program. Um and then uh the last two items that I have is just wanted to update the board of edin community on our future readiness side
of um the college planning process. We're really proud of this particular senior class um as we have been in past. Um but this particular class um seems to be so excited about their college acceptances.
um we are nearing the um 94% mark in college acceptances and it's only growing. Um this year we have a range of colleges and universities that we have not seen um in the past and kids are
really like reaching out to schools that they um thought they might be interested on in on paper and then applying. and we're seeing acceptances from schools that we haven't really seen in the past. Um, also this is our first year. We have
a record high of six Ivy League acceptances. Um, and we have one weight list um, decision that we are still waiting on. So, we're excited about that. We have one acceptance to the Air Force Academy as well. Um, and we're
extremely excited about that. And um we um the student that was accepted was waiting uh last year and into the fall for her congressional nomination and when she got it she was just meing and then to learn that she was accepted.
It's just a really proud moment for her um and for her family as well. So we'll give a little more information about that later. And probably the most impressive um piece regarding the college acceptance process is that our
senior class has already earned over $25.8 million in college scholarships. Um these are scholarships as I say each year that are rooted in academics, leadership and merit. This does not
include financial aid packages or anything um of that nature. This is flatout scholarship um monies from colleges and universities. So that number is also continuing to grow. Not sure if we're going to hit the $30
million mark this year, but it is possible. So we we will see. In closing, uh the past few weeks have really highlighted the strength of the Hoboken Public School District's commitment to excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and community engagement. Um,
just before I started this report, we had a huge softball win today also against Bayon. We have not done so in in a while. So, we're really proud of uh the high school softball team for that win. I've gotten like four or five different text messages um at the start
of this meeting. Oh my gosh, we had a huge win against Bon. Oh my goodness, we beat Bon. So, it was a good win for sure. um from an innovative classroom experience and award-winning um uh experience as well. We really
appreciate all of the opportunities that the district um and the board of education provides for our students. So, on behalf of the administration and the staff, we thank you for for that. Um and that is all I have for this evening and I appreciate the opportunity to provide
an update to all of you. Well, >> thank you. Thank you, Dr. Johnson. We'll now move into committee reports. Miss Lopez, do you have a business administrator's report for us this evening? >> Um, I do not have a report, but I did just want to state, and I'm sure you'll hear this from other committees as well,
that the budget hearing is going to be held on May 5th at 7:00 p.m. at Denver Auditorium. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. We'll now move over to Miss Delara for curriculum. Good evening. The curriculum committee
met on April 10th. In attendance were Miss McGherk, Miss Bles, Mr. Frana, assistant superintendent Miss Rodriguez Gomez, Dr. Johnson, and myself. The committee began with standard approvals, which you'll see um action items nine
and so on. Um, I would like to note the approval of the Deote Community Service Project at Brandt Elementary School with final details to be determined as well as submission of the Hudson County Arts and Education Grant. The committee reviewed KOAT testing which took place
from February 24th through March 18th. Updated gifted and talented enrollment for 2026 27 increased to 641 students. Families will receive results in June following additional internal review. The district will continue working with CTY for verbal and is exploring a
partnership with Stevens Institute of Technology for math. The shift is intended to maintain rigor, increase program access and transparency and significantly reduce costs from approximately 1.2 million to an estimated 500 to $700,000 while
expanding opportunities such as math circles and potential grant funded programming. The committee also reviewed professional development aligned to the NJSLA adaptive assessment with staff leveraging NJ DOE and Pearson materials to better prepare teachers for the
updated testing format. In dual language, the committee discussed ongoing program alignment through teacher level conversations focused on literacy, fluency, and instructional fit. Connors Elementary continues to implement strong oral language development practices.
Congratulations to the three teams advancing into the steam tank competition for their innovation and achievement. Connor's elementary animal clip camera team and two teams from Hoboken Middle School. Additional updates included report card distribution on April 24th, upcoming
training through the Institute of Multi-ensory Educational for Dual Language and Special Education Teachers, and continued progress towards Orthan Gillingham certification for the current cohort. The committee also discussed special education budget considerations,
including increased out of district placements driven by dyslexia and emotional regulation needs. The district's exploring programmatic options, including potential partnerships with out of district schools to expand in district services and ultimately drive down costs.
Finally, the committee reviewed the draft of the strategic plan, which reflects input from staff, students, and families and will guide district's priorities through 2030. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Delara. We'll now turn it over to Mr. Grana for facilities.
>> Thank you. Um I don't think I have a mic. Maybe I do. All right. Thank you. The board the the facilities committee met with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Caligie on April 10th. Um there are two items in the consent uh agenda which
I'll review which are 12.01 1 um and um excuse me, sorry, 1301 and 1302. 1301 uh is familiar business. It is the approval of the fire and safety drills and 13.02 is the approval of facilities request
which the committee recommends for approval. Uh we were presented with requests for use by Volo which some of us may know as for only Zog Sports, Hive Athletic, Hoboken Charter School, Connor's PTO and Flexwork Sports.
They've asked for um use of our facilities and specific dates. We recommend these for approval. Um in addition, we discussed several other items. Um one is the Wallace HVAC update. Uh replacement of the HVAC system at Wallace is underway. Uh
rooftop dismantling has been uh begun this week. We are doing this um in concert with trying to not disrupt school operation. Uh the new units as we go through removal should be expected within 4 weeks and I think uh the weather is working for us. Uh eventually
there will be uh notifications but we will be removing the the old units and replacing the new ones in in in the coming weeks. 38 Jackson uh permits are rapidly moving towards approval. So this project is advancing. The building itself has
received the certificate of occupancy. Um and we will be able to well now that that step has gone forward we can move forward in earnest with our uh plans for uh facilities at 38 Jackson. uh the demorist facade is just like to give a
reminder just to everyone here and to the board and to the public that we we are very we are dependent on state funds SDA funds to uh repair this facility. Um we do have an initial $15,000 funding
that has been approved and we'll begin work. We have additional requests in uh to the SD SDA for approval. So the timing on this is simply that that you know we we are on the pipeline for state funds like others. Um
this is not an item that we put in our operational or or budget or to to capitalize for. Uh lastly we spend a lot we'll spend time on a lot of time on something we'll hear more about which is our strategic plan. Um it comprises many
components which is our demographic study which has been completed, our long-term facilities plan and our and our comprehensive maintenance plan bundled up into our overall goals of modernizing upgrading facilities dealing with capacity challenges related to
continued enrollment growth, safe, clean and well-maintained buildings um equitable access across schools and facility alignment with academic programs and future academic programs. So, that was a lengthy discussion. That's just for your FYI. The two votes
tonight are 13.01 and 13.02. Thank you very much. >> Thank you, Mr. Graia. We'll now turn it over to finance with Mr. Cleo. >> Thank Thank you. The finance committee did meet on Friday, April 10th. With me
were Miss Angley, uh Miss Lopez, uh Miss Kana, and Miss Norwood. Uh the committee did have the opportunity to review all agenda items uh uh and recommend all for approval. Uh it's a brief agenda and the only thing that I want to add a little
highlight to is uh uh a little collection of transportation routes 1108, 1109 and 1110. Uh those are for uh roots uh that were 10 roots that were rebid
um for next year. To clarify that uh 11:09 is for three uh three routes that were rebid but are only for uh the rest of this school year. And 1110 is for two new routes uh one for not a district
placement and one for uh uh student activities uh for the rest of this year. Uh that concludes the report. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Klepel. We'll now go to Ms. Katavatori for governance.
>> Thank you. The governance and personnel committee met on Friday, April 10th. In attendance were Mr. Clubfeld, Mr. Lara, Dr. Johnson, Miss Norwood, and myself. We reviewed the agenda and recommended all agenda items for approval. This month's agenda is typical, containing a number of staff and faculty related
items. There are a few items uh worth highlighting from the agenda. 10.01 covers, among other things, uh resignations handed in by three of the district's most beloved teachers, including Miss Tank, a very talented math teacher at our high school for the
purpose of a very welldeserved retirement. Miss Wagner, also you universally known as Miss T for a move out of state and Miss Pavlovic, who is also moving out of the country. We and our entire school community will sorely miss these teachers and thank them for
their dedication to our students. 10.02 covers the appointment of a Hoboken High School graduate, Angel Kenyon, known by everyone as Mr. Q. Um, as a full-time teacher at Hoboken Middle School. Mr. who recently completed and received his certification and we congratulate him on
that and look forward to him working with us. 10.06 and 10.07 covers volunteers and appointments in connection with the district's musical theater production of School of Rock. Thank you to all of our community members who give up their time and lend their efforts to putting on what we are
sure will be an amazing show as it is every year. 10.12 and 10 10.13 cover the annual blanket approval of the appointment of all of our district certificated administrators and staff members for the 26 27th school year. And
as you've heard in all the other committee reports, um the uh governance committee reviewed the draft strategic plan. committee discussed and reviewed focus area number four of the draft strategic plan regarding talent acquisition and capacity building given
our seemingly rapidly growing enrollment. And we'll continue to make changes and suggestions and um we'd like the public to know and and look out for uh community meetings on the strategic plan um coming up as soon as we can get them out. And that is my report. Thank
you. >> Thank you, Miss Katamatori. will now go to Miss Angley for wellness. The wellness committee met on Friday, April 10th at 12:30 in attendance with Dr. Johnson, Miss Norwood, Miss Vez, Miss Connor, and myself. There are no agenda
items this month, but the following was discussed. Um later this month, there will be a school safety meeting between the Hoboken Police Department and the district's administrative team. Uh we have a new platform being rolled out called Clear Residency to be launched on April 15th. Uh this will significantly
ease the residency verification process of all district and charter school students. Um the committee also discussed health benefits and reviewed the format of the district strategic plan which we will meet again on to review and provide input um on the action plan focused on student
well-being, safety, and learning environment. And that is my report. Thank you, Miss Angley. Uh my president's report this evening will be brief. Um I want to take a moment to address a letter that we received today from Hoboken Hoboken Sports Palestine uh
in reference to a facility's use request for an event that's going to be taking place at JFK Stadium on May 10th. The Hoboken Board of Education is committed to the equal and non-discriminatory application of district policy 7510 use
of school facilities. The policy permits community organizations formed for charitable, civic, or educational purposes to use district facilities. The Israeli Action Committee has met the criteria set forth under this policy. Denying use of our facilities to any
group on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, or religion associated with their cultural celebration would itself constitute discrimination, something this board will not engage in. Cultural heritage celebrations, whether honoring Israeli, Palestinian, Irish, Puerto
Rican, or any other heritage, are not inherently political events. The Celebrate Israel Independence Day Festival is a cultural and civic celebration, and it does not fall outside the bounds of appropriate facilities use under our policy. Regarding safety concerns, the board
takes the safety of all students, families, and community members very seriously. The district works closely with the Hoboken Police Department for all events held on school grounds and appropriate measures will be in place for this event as they are for any community gathering. The board wishes to
be clear. We will not cancel an approved event focused on a particular national or ethnic community. To do so would set a deeply troubling precedent and would be inconsistent with our obligation to serve all members of the Hoboken community with fairness and equity. We remain committed to fostering a school
community where every student and family of every background feels welcome, respected, and safe. We'll now be moving into public comments on agenda items. So, a reminder before we open for public comment. Over the years, and most recently, the board has been asked why
it does not prohibit or stop comments about school district employees from individuals who speak during the public comment portion of the meeting. The short answer is that the law prevents the board from censoring comments made about district personnel. The board does not condone nor is the board a party to
comments as such. However, just because a speaker may have the right to say what he or she feels, it does not absolve a speaker from liability for any comments that could be viewed as defamatory by an employee. Should speaker say something that subjects them to a civil suit, the responsibility falls squarely on the
speaker and not on the board. Board policy requires that all speakers please state your name, municipality of residence, and business affiliation if any. Speakers are allowed 5 minutes and Vice President Norwood will quietly motion when you have 30 seconds left. Please address all comments to the
chair. Board policy states the board welcomes comments on matters of interest to the board, but this is not an opportunity for dialogue or debate between speakers and board members or the superintendent. Miss Lopez. Uh yes, we have six speak uh sorry one
speaker for agenda items only and that is Mr. Rivera. Good evening, Madame President. Good evening, everyone. Uh, Madam President, I once again I always come up and I'm I'm sorry that I'm the only one speaking on agenda
items, but it is important and as you gave the the reports, I spoke the last time I was here in regards to the different um times we um accept retirements and visav we we hire
um new personnel. My question is always, do we actually get enough people coming back, enough personnel um to cover the fact that we have like this case, I believe there's about seven um retiring teachers are moving to somewhere else.
And again, the two teachers that are beloved, I'm sure they're going to be missed by their students and um their fellow teachers. Um just want to make a sidebar that congratulate them on on their future endeavors. But um that that would be one of the questions that I
always ask and it's very important to understand and make sure as um was mentioned before that 38 Jackson Street is going to come online obviously at some point um the process of not only um having that school furnished and and
prepared for the students um as well the faculty that's going to be there. How is that process going along? um members of the public would like to you know understand and if possible um see the criteria as um how many are coming in and how many are actually leaving and
again I always say that uh the same way I say one thing I say the other um I know that uh times are tough but the the rate for the school teachers a year it's uh the salary it's um I hope someday it improves because it's is it's
it's very low. I'm surprised we could even have people coming in at that amount cuz with their talents I'm sure they could do better elsewhere but we hope that they do come to Hoboken for the view if not for anything else but of course to help the children. Um also I
would like to um unite like you did um thank the personnels or the people who do volunteer um uh in the theater department. It's very important that the children always have and the students have um members of the public, their families and to join in in their um
times when they're u making these special presentations. As I always ask, um I'm still curious as the um uh the expenditures for the um school of rock. Um I I still don't understand uh are we
adding more teachers every agenda or do we have a amount that we're going to end uh music school of arts or rock? Yeah, there's 1 2 3 there's four and I'm just curious as to know these additional um
individuals again you're welcome. Uh it's no begrudging on that. I'm just asking um are we are we continuing to hire? And as far as um uh faculties, again, I'm always going to ask for this building um for the scaffolding. I know
that last time you made a a a an explanation, but you're still concerned. We just still want to find in the the um website um updates that would help us a lot. as well as 38 Jackson. Um
again, uh if in the website and I tried to find if we could have where we could find a way to incorporate some type of um updates for the parents and the neighbors who are in uh that uh
neighborhood to understand when that impact in the neighborhood is going to be whether it be traffic uh the noise because I live in front of a school. I know when there is school and when there's not school. I oversleep when there is no school. But um it's just uh
things like this that we like to know. And again I you mentioned that the budget wasn't wasn't uh going to be presented till May 5th. Now a question is that budget when you present it do you vote on the budget that same night
or do you leave that for um for the next actual meeting? And I don't see anybody raising their hand like I have minutes left, but I will then leave it at that and and yield back. Thank you.
So to clarify for you, the budget will be presented with a full presentation here on May the 5th and then the vote on the budget will occur before our regularly scheduled May meeting, which by my math would be May the 12th, the following Tuesday. >> Appreciate it. Thank you.
>> You're welcome. Miss Lopez, do we have any other speakers on agenda items? >> We do not. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. We are going to move on to our consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> Second. >> Miss Lopez, can you please call the
role? >> Miss Angley? >> Yes. >> Miss Kadamuri? >> Yes. >> Miss Delara? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gro? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cl. >> Yes. >> Miss Norwood. >> I need to abstain on 6.02 02 as it
wasn't here and yes on the rest >> miss. >> Yes. >> And Miss Booker, >> I need to abstain on 6.01 and yes on the rest. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. We will now move into comments on agenda and non-aggenda
items. So, the same rules I reviewed earlier will still apply. Please state your name, municipality of residence, business affiliation if any. You will have five minutes to speak and Miss Norwood will be our timekeeper and you can address all your comments to the chair.
We do have uh six speakers signed up. The first is Jenny Lebenzy Leven's Hoboken. Last year you agreed to rent Tageri Field for an Israel Independence Day festival festival hosted by a MAGA
aligned Israel advocacy group called Israeli American Council or IA. IA claims it is not a political organization, but it manifestly is. It is a standard Israel advocacy talking point to say that they are not
political. I appreciate that you acknowledged the letter you received today. It still stings though that a year ago over 150 people sent letters to this board explaining our opposition to that approval and why we thought it was a
violation of the board's policies. And you roundly ignored us. You didn't reply to any single one of your constituents who voiced grave concerns save for one email to me from the president of the board on a technical
matter. You didn't even acknowledge us and our viewpoint. Is this who the BOE wants to be? A publicly elected board who never responds to its constituents when we express grievances? A body who hides
behind narrow readings of their own policies to do outrageous things? I hope that your response to the letter today is the sign that you're changing, at least in your responsiveness to your constituents.
I have been a supporter and advocate for this district for over a decade. I have worked closely with the superintendent and the assistant superintendent and a whole range of issues and I deeply respect them both. I have happily watched my children grow and thrive in
this district. This board, however, is failing in its duties to to this community. Last year, in our letters, we focused on the existing policies. This year, my message is different. Change your policy.
Don't allow politically divisive or culturally insensitive programming to be run on school grounds, even if you would make a buck from it. It's frankly not that much money. Build in discretion and hold yourself accountable to the public.
I'm sure many of us would gladly sit down with a subcommittee to help figure out how to craft such a policy clearly, legally, and sensitively. How do you not see the profound insensitivity of allowing a celebration
of a country who has been committing genocide for nearly 3 years if not for the last 78 years when a few weeks ago after the arrest of Alexander Heeler which I'm sure you all heard about no one from the district
issued a statement of comfort and assurance to our Muslim, Palestinian and Arab students and their friends and supporters that you would ensure our safety. That silence was upsetting enough, but now you're allowing again
IA, this MAGA aligned Israel advocacy group to go ahead and celebrate Israel on our public school grounds with those same Zionists who won't publicly condemn assassination attempts on Palestinian activists
and who cheered for Alexander Heeler on social media over the past several weeks. It's unacceptable. Your silence, your cowardice, and your hypocrisy. Change the policy and avoid this
situation in the future. Thank you, Miss Lebenz. Uh, Miss Lopez, the next speaker, please. >> Next speaker is Emily. Hi, board. My name is Emily W. That's W I R T for anyone who hasn't yet figured out who I am. I'm a Hoboken resident and
a small business owner. And unfortunately, I'm not a parent because I'm not sure if you guys have seen the state of the dating world these days. I just But really, I'm here as part of an autonomous and diverse group called Hoboken supports Palestinians. Shout out to all of my friends here tonight, both
Jewish and Palestinian. Despite what other people think about me, I do have Jewish friends. I want to read to you today a headline from just this morning. a headline that is just a repetition of the same story that I have seen every day for the last two and a half years
and echoes from the many decades before. The headline reads, "Israeli soldiers tear gas Palestinian children." Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank fired tear gas today at Palestinian
school children who were staging a sitin protest on Monday after illegal settlers blocked access to their school. The students had been peacefully holding an open air classroom in order to educate themselves
as I believe you guys would all believe is a right we all deserve when they were gassed by one of the richest and most powerful armies in the world funded by our own very government. These children have been seeking to return to classrooms for the first time in over 40 days after the is USI Israeli war on
Iran. A war started by Israel for Israel on behalf and funded by our government while our students again are living in an increasingly struggling society where parents are figuring out how do I fight feed my child? But don't worry, we're sending bombs to Israel.
Those children were teargassed, something that most of us as adults can't even fathom. And these young, brave children face it. That is something that is unfortunately a a reality for many children in the West Bank and Gaza for not just the last two years but for the decades ever since the
quote unquote Israeli independence day. I will bring us back here the present in this room in Hoboken, one of the most beautiful cities around if I do think we all say so. Um why do you think all these rich people are moving here? Today was a very hot but gorgeous spring day and we really are truly so lucky and uh
grateful to be here and how lucky of the children in this city to not have to exhibit such bravery against such violent violence. I pray so deeply that no ever no child ever does. And so once again I must call into question this board's approval that you have told us once again that you stand behind firmly
once more of the Israeli Independence Day Festival on Hoboken High School property. This is not a small local family cultural organization. It is not purely celebrating Jewish culture, an event I would love to attend. It is an event sponsored by one of the largest Israeli supporting nonprofits in the
nation. An organization funded by one of our country's richest billionaires, Miriam Adlesen, who is also one of the largest donors to Donald Trump. Adolf is responsible for funding those very same illegal settlers taking over those children's school. So I ask again why it feels appropriate for this board given
the state of the world to let an Israeli festival take place on the very field where the children we celebrated here tonight that we gave standing ovations to tonight will play sports, hang with their friends, and even graduate. The one kid who said he wants to play high school, it boggles my mind that we'll celebrate a genocide aparttheid state on
the place where he'll play football one day. So, how can we celebrate a nation founded on an ideology that allows other school children in this world to be teargassed while trying to learn? Over 90% of the entire education system in Gaza has been destroyed. 90%. They're
learning intense. I've heard your statement tonight and I've witnessed most of you hanging your heads while she read it. You know how you look at this moment in history and you have once again made your stance clear. So, I'm not interested in trying to convince you. I am purely putting it on record once more that history will look poorly upon your neutrality and in
my opinion cowardice. You echo the Milkato sentiments of our city after a young man was arrested in Hob Hoboken for building incendiary weapons intended to murder someone in his apartment in Hoboken. His ideology is the very same as those settlers and the very same of most of those celebrating the festival
on your school property. You asked us to stand for the flag tonight for justice as our pledge says. But as I stand here in a city that is honestly quite literally segregated in its housing and will only become worse as we develop beyond belief, I dare one of you to deny it. I always wonder when I'm forced to
pledge allegiance to that flag, to a flag built upon the genocide of natives who also never receive justice. We really must ask ourselves on this precipice in history, who does receive justice? It does seem that so long as people with power continue to be neutral and hide behind policies while upholding
a celebration of an apartheid and violence, I really am questioning if we're being just in Hoboken. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Wart. Miss Lopez, please call the next speaker. >> Cynthia Smith. >> Hi, I'm Cynthia Smith, 722 Jefferson.
I would like to thank our board members for their selfless service to this community. You always make yourself available to listen to your constituents. you navigate our district making decisions to advance our students, our community, and I thank you.
May is mental health awareness month, and I wanted to remind everyone in advance that the United States is still experiencing a teen mental health crisis. 40% of high school students experience persistent sadness and
hopelessness. 20% consider committing suicide. 20% of adolescents report experiencing anxiety. I know space is challenging in our schools, but please consider additional electives for our middle school students
that I believe could help with this crisis. Working with your hands through crafting, gardening, fixing and repairing and building things significantly boosts mental health, reducing anxiety and stress. Engaging
with hands on activities releases dopamine and provides a sense of accomplishment to humans. Thank you for your time and consideration in this issue. Thank you, Miss Smith. Miss Lopez, can you please call the next speaker,
>> Zachary King. >> Good evening. My name is Zachary King. I'm a PhD sociologist, a 5-year resident of Hoboken, and I've been an educator at the K through six and college levels. I'm speaking tonight in the spirit of
education, of critical thinking, and of moral character. I was gravely disappointed to hear that this institution was once again using public school grounds for an Israeli right-wing nationalist celebration, but I am not surprised.
This is no neutral cultural festival. It takes a deep ignorance to believe that. But the racist and anti-Palestinian misinformation is all-encompassing in this country. Our educational systems have not done us justice. They didn't do me justice in teaching me the history of
that conflict, the reality that people are facing in Palestine. So, in that spirit, I'm going to assume that some of you are acting out of ignorance and I'm going to attempt to bring some facts that maybe you haven't heard yet in hopes that they might
change your mind. I've studied the history and social facts extensively. I have been to Israel. I know Israelis. Many of those Israelis that I know have recently been beaten in the streets by the fascist regime for opposing the genocide. Others are sitting in prison
for refusing to fight in the genocide. The reality is that this is no neutral celebration. Holding this event is exactly like holding a celebration for the racist apartheid regime in South Africa in the midst of the 1980s freedom
struggle. None of us would blink today about holding a cultural festival for South Africa. If if we did that today, that would, you know, it it wouldn't be anything crazy. But in the middle of the 1980s freedom struggle, knowing what was happening to South to black South Africans on a daily basis, knowing the
terror faced by the people in the townships, I don't think you would have approved that festival. I don't think you would have hidden behind, oh well, you know, it's just another country. We have to be fair to everybody, including the racist aparttheid regime of South Africa. Some facts you might not be aware of.
First of all, simple one. Palestinians are absolutely the indigenous people of that land. So are Israelis. But this is confirmed by Israeli genealogologists, Israeli geneticists, Israeli archaeologists. Palestinians are indigenous. They are the indigenous
people of that land. The 5 million people in Gaza and the West Bank live under total Israeli control, but do not have a vote, do not have rights, do not have any voice in Israeli society. That is a part. The Israeli regime counters
that by saying, "Well, they're not our citizens. They're combatants. They're under our total control. They live inside walls that we've built. They live under total military blockade that our government controls. But they can't vote in that government. They have no voice. That is a part time. They have a
different housing system. They have different access to food. They have different access to healthcare. They have different access to education. They have to cross through borders and checkpoints and be searched by soldiers with machine guns to go to their jobs or go to school. They are subject to daily starvation,
terror, and total surveillance, and are murdered by settlers on a regular basis, almost every day, with total impunity. Since 1948, approximately 150 to 200,000 Palestinians have been killed by the occupying state, compared to
approximately 3,000 total Israelis that have been killed in that entire period. This is not a war. It is a parttheid and it's the genocide of a largely disarmed and occupied population.
As we speak, this genocide is rapidly expanding. The Israeli state has now leveled cities. The scenes are apocalyptic. The Israeli state recently passed a law to begin executing Palestinian prisoners by hanging. These
prisoners have no right to civilian trial. They include young teens. They face military trial. There are only three other times in history when a state has passed laws to execute some parts of its population on the basis of
race. The United States slave codes, Nazi Germany, and now apartheid Israel. I want to tell you a little bit about what I saw at last year's celebration. I joined in the peaceful protest because, as may be clear to you now,
knowing these facts, anyone of conscience would absolutely oppose a celebration of this kind of death and destruction. I saw a dad screaming at us that we were all subhuman animals while his crying daughter tried to drag him
away. I saw another father teach his four or fiveyear-old daughter to raise her middle finger at us. This is the kind of education you're supporting on public school grounds.
So there you can claim ignorance anymore. Let's set a good example for our students. Let's get on the right side of history while you still can. Thank you very much. SORRY FOR Thank you, Mr. King. Miss Lopez, can you please call the next speaker? >> Roelle Santos.
>> Hi. Um just like to say that um calling IA a charitable organization is also like calling the NRA a charitable organization and um the lot of the same philosophy.
Um I'd like to tell you a story about what happened for the Israeli Independence Day. Some of the things that happened that year. I have a friend named Hala Gabrielle. She came from a
town near Hifa called Tanura. And um they came in at night. They raped most of the women. They chopped off children's heads. They lined men up in front of a pit that they were
forced to dig. They shot them into the pit. And then the younger boys who were remaining who should have been in school um had to fill the pit. Some of them were still alive. One of them was his
father. Um her father went into a kind of concentration camp for 2 years of for forced labor and he did not take a shower or change his clothes for 2
years. When he was finally let go, nobody recognized him, wanted to be around him. But some cab driver came by that recognized him, and he got to the refugee camp in Syria where his father was,
who had been the head of the community, extremely educated person, wealthy person. uh that town was actually um a place that traded a lot and um he was catatonic and remain that way for the
rest of his life. So this is just one story of how Israel came to be. Uh it wasn't all before May 15th, 1948. In fact, that particular story happened on May 28th.
So that would have been bad enough if it ended, but has it's never ended. And uh you know the concept of Palestinians being subhuman has only
been exacerbated exacerbated until we get to the point where people are ready and happy to kill babies. Um Emily was telling the story before about the children who were gassed.
Well, that's in a community called when I was there this summer. Um the there was someone there that was shot that was a producer on a very famous film, No Other Land, shot in front of the whole community. He
had his son in his arms. Um, and you know, his his son's four and his brothers have kind of remained non-conversent since then, but that killer's been allowed to run around the community and tease them about the
murder. They are stalked by these con these settlers every day. I get notes from people there two or three times a week. They told me the night before that they were going to set they set up the barbwire and they were preparing they can't afford a van to get their kids to
school which would probably be destroyed anyway. So they tried to have school and they gasped them, how does one school district who cares so deeply for their children as I can
see that you do support a country who does this to other children? That's all I have to say. Thank you, Miss Santos. Miss Lopez, do we have an additional speaker? >> Yes, the final speaker is Manuel Rivera.
Once again, good evening, Madam President. Um, I didn't say my name before and I apologize. It's Manuel Ria Ser Hoboken, six ward. Um, madam president um and trustees this evening
I am heartened by the members of the public who um were passionate in their um voicing their opinions in regards to very important issue. But um I would like to say I hope sometime their their
concerns are legitimized by conversation. Even if you cannot change the rules at this point, but engaging the community in conversations and explaining the reasons or the reasoning why you are prohibited
to do certain things or why you are doing certain things um in regards to the context of the law. So I hope that concerns are are heard today and are considered. myself. I just want to say I
just want to ask as I've been asking everywhere I speak. Are you okay? Are you okay? Madam President, the trustees, are you all okay? Members of the public, are you okay? The reason I ask this question is because we have
been going through a very difficult and tumultuous time, not only here in our city, but around our country and in this world. There are wars, wars going on of choice.
The killing of civilians, the killing of children, just going to school, that is not acceptable in any civilization or any country that says that they are moral
and they want to have the higher moral ground. You cannot say that it was a mistake when you have the best military in the world. You must take responsibility for said action
and make reparations. There is no way that a country that you claim you're going to liberate and you kill their children and you expect them to accept you. It is a sad day in our country. If we as a society continue to accept this,
I will not name countries or cities or governments. This is all for everyone. We must all be civilized. We must all express our concerns to our local government, to our state government and our federal
government. We must say no. No more killing of children or innocent civilians in our name in any country. We say that because that also affects how our students in our school district
have challenges. Of course, but if we put more stress in our community where our children can see these actions from their adults, caregivers is not correct. So I ask you, are you okay? And I will always ask, are
you okay? To all of you and all of my neighbors and all the fellow Hobokenites, I hope and I would exhort you to ask your neighbors and your friends, are you okay? And especially the students and the children who are in our care to make sure that their
concerns are addressed and that we make sure that they are they feel safe in our community and in our school district. With that, I yield back and I thank you. Um, Madame President, God bless you and
God bless you all. God bless all of Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Solair. Do we have any additional speakers? >> No additional speakers. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. We've >> you could come down to the podium and we'll ask that you state your name, your
municipality of residence, business affiliation if any. And Miss Norwood will motion to you when you have 30 seconds left. And if you wouldn't mind spelling your name so that we have it correctly for the record. Thank you. >> Yeah. Hi. Um, my name is Greg Rebo. I
haven't spoken in front of this board for a long long time. Been a Hoboken resident for 40 years and I appreciate the hard work that all of you do. Most of it is tedious and mundane and routine and uh and so on. And I think the last
thing in the world you want is to have something like this. So um with that having been said, I am Jewish. I've lived in Hoboken for 40 years. 1201 Garden Street. All right. And my name is
spelled R I B Like O T. Um anyway, um if I if somebody wanted to have a festival on school ground to celebrate uh the North Korean government
and Kim, whatever his name is now, um would that be okay, you know, would it be okay if somebody like celebrated um the the government of um Mussia and Uganda? I don't even know if he's still
there, but he who was committing seriously committing genocide with the backing of a lot of uh European and Western nations. I mean, there is some objective standards, but what it means to me to be
Jewish is that when you see something, you speak up because the silence of people, as my uncle said, where where was God when we were in Awitz? uh same place he is now with the people in Gaza and Lebanon. Right now there are
people in Hoboken who cannot locate their family members in southern Lebanon in Gaza and in the West Bank whose who are distraught. This is not abstract and it's not
abstract for me. So when there is a war somewhere, there is a war everywhere. The fire that burns the smoke on the horizon you see one day is the fire on your house the next. This war is
spreading. We are getting deeper into it and it is going to come here. It already has somebody making bombs. The prices you pay for things. But we are a wealthy nation. This $4, even if it goes up to
$8 a gallon for gasoline, isn't going to kill us. It will hurt a lot of people, especially those with lower incomes. But in like countries around the world, this is going to be starvation. This is and this is
aside from our own unhinged president, this is definitely an Israeli thing. I mean, we are being suckered into a war by a person I consider to be a psychopath. So, I'm going to end it there. But I don't think it's
appropriate to be celebrating a government that is committing crimes against humanity on public property. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rebo. If we have no more speakers, I'll give one more chance out
to the audience. And I'll I'll ask you to do the same. Please spell your name so that we have it accurately for the record. You'll have 5 minutes. State your municipality of residence and >> stuff. Thank you. Uh my name is Elijah Conlin. E L I J H C O N L A N. Um I'm 25.
I'm 24 years old. I've lived in Hoboken my whole life. I live in First Adams. Um I grew up here. I played sports for Hoboken High. I was captain of the soccer team. I was on the baseball team as well. Um I'm glad to hear that school students, you know, they're getting
better. I'm moving on to better colleges. So clearly Hoping High School is doing a good job there. Um but yeah, I I wanted to speak because honestly it's it's upsetting. It's disheartening to hear that, you know, you hear our letter, you hear what's going on, you see what's going on in the world, and
yet you still think that this is about inclusivity and allowing other countries to have independence days here, cuz that's not what this is about. And I think you can look at what's going on in the world and look at the genocide that's been happening and been being
perpet per perpetuated against people and decide to educate our students, educate our people about what is right. And what we're doing right now moving forward with this Independence Day celebration that is not right. And that is you have history. You have history
books. You have real life things going on right now that you can learn from and hear from yet you are choosing to ignore it. And so what I really wanted to come up here and ask you all about is how can we change what policies we have so that
this doesn't happen moving forward. that we aren't coming here to talk to deaf ears and have these letters be written and read out and then ignored and then moved on because things like this can't happen. I want my friends and my family
and the people that come to school in Hoboken to know that we stand for justice and we stand for the right side of history. And right now moving forward with a independence day for a genocidal state that has a death penalty for one
group of people. And I mean death penalty shouldn't exist but here they have it. And so this Independence Day celebration is not about independence. It's about just perpetuating a long line of violence and a system that needs to
be changed. So please work with us. I I will talk to you guys after this. I I'm new to the whole public speaking and trying to work with community, but I want to know I want to know how we can change these policies because it it doesn't make sense that we can have so
many people come up and talk and have gone to last year's event and then have this whole year of worsening genocide, worsening wars, uh fear on the streets, things that, you know, we look to our electeds to stand up and talk to us and
give us places of comfort. But right now, knowing that the school that I played four years for and played and sweat and got concussions and was able to get picked back up and turned to my friends and family, to know that that field is now going to have a a c a
celebration of a genocidal country is is really upset. It really is. And so I hope that we can come together and work for a better Hoboken cuz that's what I wanted to have you guys do for us. But right now, you know, it's disappointing.
It really is. So let's let's do better. Thank you. Yes. >> And again, we'll work in the same way. I'll ask you to state and spell your name, share your municipality of residence, and any business affiliation.
>> Hi, my name is Juliet Proctor. I'm a Hoboken resident. I'd just like to say that if the United Nations and a lot of other governing bodies can acknowledge that that what is going on is a genocide, the state of Hoboken should be able to acknowledge the same thing and should set a precedent for our students
to stand in solidarity with freedom for everybody because all of our freedom is intertwined. Thank you, Miss Proctor. Do we have any other speakers? And again, please name spell. Good evening. My name is Shireen Lopez.
It's S H I R Y N L O P E Z. I am your neighbor from Union City. Um, and so I'm sorry for coming in, but um, I needed to support my neighbors here in Hoboken. Um, and
I'm very touched by by everybody's words. Um, but I just wanted to highlight something. The same technology and tactics that are used on the Palestinian people are the same tactics
that ICE is using on our neighbors here. And I think it's really important that we acknowledge that because the dehumanization that we have watched Israel
show to the Palestinian people, to the people, to the Muslim community in Lebanon, and other countries is allowing and and and you're and you're telling that it's okay. You're telling people that it's okay to to look
down on people, to cheer on their death. And I want you to know that while Hoboken is not experiencing kidnappings on a daily, what I have witnessed in
Union City, North Bergen, Fair View, in Cliffside Park with my own eyes, a foot 2 ft away from me, my neighbors getting taken from bus stops and reading comments from people saying, "Well, they deserve
deserved it. They deserved it. As educators, you know that we've dist this country has destabilized South America and that's the only reason why people from those countries come to the United States for a better life.
I have witnessed the way that Hoboken has pushed out residents here. I grew up here. I spent my summers here with my friends, with my teachers. They all went to East LA to decompress.
So I have, you know, relationship memories here in Hoboken. And it's quite disheartening that you don't take the moment to recognize how much hurt the Israeli state is causing.
And to remind you again, ICE agents are being trained by IDF soldiers to kill, murder, and rape people in detention. These are the same tactics. These concentration camps are here
already in our country. and you are celebrating, you're allowing a celebration of this country to take place on public property. To be honest, I don't feel safe here anymore.
Thank you. Thank you, Miss Lopez. Would anyone else like to speak? Going once. Going twice. >> And again, I would ask if you state your name, please spell it, share your municipality of residence and business affiliation if any. Yes, my name is
Marcia Goldberg and I've been a resident of Hoboken for almost 50 years and I can't see how after hearing all this, you wouldn't see that there's a way to change this
reading over what the guidelines are for what is allowed on on school property. So that's really what I what I want to say. >> Thank you, Miss Goldberg. If we have no further speakers, the board is going to
be going into executive session, so I'll put one last call out. All righty. We will be going into executive session now for the purpose of covering matters covered by attorney client privilege. We will not be taking any action when the meeting is over. So, we will just be coming back to close the
meeting. We will be approximately 30 minutes. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Miss Lopez, can you please call the role? >> Miss Angley? >> Yes. >> Miss Katamatori? >> Yes. >> Miss Delara? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gro, >> yes. >> Mr. Miss Kufel, >> yes.
>> Miss Norwood, >> yes. >> Miss WZ, >> yes. >> Miss McGurt, >> yes. And it is 8:50 and we are now going into executive session. >> It is now 10:07 p.m. and we are just coming back from executive session. Do I have a motion to resume the meeting? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Miss Lopez, can you please call the role? >> Miss Angley? >> Yes. >> Miss Cadmator? >> Yes. >> Miss Delara? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gran? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cliff? >> Yes. >> Miss Norwood? Yes. >> Miss Vez? Yes. >> And Miss Mcer? Yes, we are not taking any action. So with no further business,
do I have a motion to close the meeting? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor say I. >> I. >> Have a good night. Heat. Heat.