Good evening everyone. We're going to get started. Welcome to the May 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 that are located uh right next to the podium. Miss Lopez,
can you please read the statement of compliance? >> Yes. This meeting of the Hoboken Board of Education is being held in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10:4-6,
etc. Proper public notice proper notice of this meeting was provided in accordance with the law and was published through the designated official newspapers on January 9th, 2026. If any board member or member of the public believes that this meeting is not in compliance with the Open Public
Meetings Act, the board requests that such concern be raised at this time. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and will be made available to the public through Board Docs, which can be accessed from the district homepage and on the district's YouTube channel, Hoboken Board Docs
video. The board of education is committed to maintaining an orderly and respectful public meeting. We ask that all attendees please silence their electronic devices. If you need to use your device for a call or other personal matter, we kindly request that you step outside the meeting.
>> 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 Deloro >> here. >> Mr. Ga >> here. >> Miss Connor >> here. >> Mr. Ko >> here. >> Miss Norwood >> here. >> Miss Vez >> here. >> Miss Mccer
>> here. You have a >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. We are going to begin the evening with recognitions for our April students of the month. So, I will turn the meeting over to Assistant Superintendent Sander Rodriguez Gomez. Tonight we gather once again to
celebrate something truly extraordinary. The promise, potential, and perseverance of the students of the Hoboken public schools. Each month, this recognition reminds us that greatness is not defined only by grades or awards, but by the
character our students demonstrate when no one is watching. Kindness towards others, resilience through challenges, curiosity and learning, and the courage to continue growing each and every day. Our April students of the month represent the very
best of our schools and our community. They remind us that leadership begins early, that excellence takes many forms, and that every child has the ability to positively impact the world around them. To our honores tonight, Emiliano,
Arie, Rose, Freya, Natalie, and Charlie. Know that this recognition reflects not just a simple accomplishment, but the daily choices you make to work hard, to persevere, and to contribute positively to your
classrooms and school communities. Your teachers and families see in you the qualities that will shape tomorrow's leaders. compassion, determination, integrity, and heart. To our families, thank you for the love, encouragement,
and partnership that you provide daily. Behind every successful child is a network of adults who believes in them, guides them, and reminds them of their worth even on difficult days. And to our educators and school leaders, thank you for continuing to create environments
where students feel seen, challenged, supported, and inspired to rise to their fullest potential. Students, as you stand before us tonight, remember this. Your voice matters. Your dreams matter. And your future is incredibly bright. Continue to
lead with kindness. Continue to chase knowledge. Continue to believe in yourself. and never underestimate the power you have to make a difference in the lives of others. On behalf of Hoboken Public Schools's board of education and district administration,
we congratulate you and we are very proud of you. We celebrate you and we cannot wait to see all that you will accomplish. It is my honor now to invite the principal of the Joseph F. Grant School to the podium to begin our student of the month recognitions. He
will then he will then introduce the Connor's principal Miss Addie and she will follow the same pattern introducing our next presenters principal Dickerson vice principal Dr. Baskinger and principal Pika Petra of Wallace Hoboken Middle and Hoboken High School each will
celebrate their school's selection and then pause for a picture opportunity. Principal Bartlett. >> I don't know. >> 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 like
to ask Ameliano Hernandez Solano to come join me at the podium. Congratulations to Ameliano Hernandez Solano, the brand student of the month for April. Ameliano was nominated by his fifth grade teacher, Miss Rodriguez, who's joining us here tonight as well. She nominated Ameliano for being an
upstander, for doing the right thing when it is not always popular, and for being a friend and classmate that peers can trust and count on. Truly, Ameliano's quiet confidence and leadership by example are indicative of not only the qualities we seek in all of our branch students, but in all of our
children, no matter where they go to school. Miss Rodriguez said, "Ameliano has blown me away this entire school year with how kind and compassionate he is with his classmates every single day. He is a friend that people can trust, depend on, and talk to when they need
encouragement. His positive attitude is contagious and his character is so outstanding and being recognized for this honor is so welld deserved. I am proud of him." Ameliano demonstrates strong leadership, responsibility, and kindness both inside and outside the
classroom. He works hard academically, participates positively in class discussions, and sets a strong example for his peers through his respectful behavior and positive attitude each day. Ameiliano is an asset to our school community because he leads with kindness and integrity. He creates a welcoming
environment for others and is always willing to help classmates when they need support. His ability to include others, make thoughtful choices, and remain positive makes him someone that both students and staff admire and appreciate. Ameliano's hobbies include playing
outside and taking his French bulldog, Luna, to the dog park with his mom and grandma. He also loves to play Minecraft. When Ameliano grows up, he would like to become an engineer. He enjoys drawing and creating. He even made Miss Rodriguez a model Hogwarts
figurine to have in her classroom because she loves Harry Potter. He is always thoughtful and loves to make things for his friends, family, and teachers. Coming towards the conclusion of my eighth year as the principal at Brandt, I can 100% say that Ameiliano may be the
student that sets the bar for all others moving forward because it's a beautiful thing to watch a child live the phrase do the right thing because it's the right thing to do. I cannot adequately express how proud I am that Emiliano is the student standing here tonight.
Allegria. When told he would be honored here tonight, Ameliano said, "My time at Brandt has been so fun. I will miss Mr. Bartlett next year, and I will miss learning Mandarin with Miss Lynn. We will miss you too, Ameiliano. And I'm sure Miss Lynn, like me, will do everything we can over the next few months to spend some time with you
before you take your wonderful gifts and talents onward to the middle school. Please join me in congratulating Ameliano Hernandez Solano, our brand student of the month. At this time, I'd like to welcome to the podium the principal of the Connor School, Mrs. Juliana Addie.
At this time, I'd like to call up Ari Rose Ran, the Conor student of the month. Ari Rose is a third grader in Miss Schmidt's class, and the moment you meet her, you understand why she was chosen. She walks into the classroom every
single day with a smile that lights up the room. When a classmate is struggling, Ari Rose is already there helping her friends. When someone is off task, she doesn't call them out. She quietly leads by example, offering a
gentle nudge in the right direction. In fact, when a guest teacher was in the room, she singled Ari Rose out as an exceptional role model who helped explain classroom norms all on her own. That's the kind of student Ari Rose is.
Ari Rose is always growing academically and has so much grit and an incredible work ethic. Ari Rose's math linkage scores have doubled since the beginning of the school year. Miss Schmidt says that her hard work and excitement to learn is simply infectious.
Miss Reagan shared that in reading, Ari Rose is right there every day sounding out words carefully, answering questions about characters and setting and eagerly raising her hand to read aloud. Right now, her class is finishing their core novel, The Miraculous Journey of Edward
Sulene. And Ari Rose, who loved every page of it, is about to write her own chapter to that story. She gets to imagine where Edward goes and knowing Ari Rose, it will be somewhere wonderful. Her mom shared that when she's not at school, she's at home being
a hero to her 2-year-old sister Anie, reading her books, teaching her ABCs, doing yoga together, and helping cook dinner. Her mom says she never gives up, and always gives her very best. Ari Rose
also was awarded student of the month because she has the character qualities of a Connor's koala. She exhibits kindness, trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, and is so caring. She always tries her best and has so much
grit. Ari Rose, we are so proud of you and you are so deserving of this award. Can everyone please join me in congratulating Ari Rose Ran, the Conor student OF THE YEAR. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO CALL up Mr. Steve Dickerson, the principal of
Wallace. Good evening and please welcome Frera Mayors to the podium. Wallace Elementary School is proud to recognize Freya Mayor as our student of the month. She was nominated by her
teacher, Miss Latat, who has highlighted Freya's strong academic performance, positive attitude, and outstanding character. Miss Lat shared that Freya consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to learning. She actively participates in
class and completes her work with care and shows perseverance when facing challenges. Freya is currently enthusiastic and always strives to do her best. She is also kind, respectful, and responsible,
often helping classmates and serving as a positive role model in the classroom. Freya even helps other students adjust their behaviors by guiding them to make positive choices, contributing to a supportive learning environment.
Freya has shown strong academic growth and takes pride in her accomplishments. She puts forth her best effort across all subjects and responds positively to feedback. Her dedication and mindset support her continued success in the classroom.
Freya is a valuable me member of both the classroom and Wallace Elementary School. She brings kindness, leadership, and responsibility each day, helping create a welcoming and respectful school environment. Outside of school, Freya enjoys
swimming, drawing, music, and reading. Her favorite subject is ELA, and she especially enjoys writing about her drawings using skills learned in her kindergarten class. She has shared that she hopes to become a doctor one day, reflecting her caring
nature and desire to help others. Her classmates have shared that Freya is always kind and helps me when I don't understand something and she is a good friend and includes everyone. Another staff member mentioned that Freya is a hardworking student who leads by
example. When asked about this recognition, Freya shared, "Wallace has taught me to be respectful, open-minded, and responsible, and to always do my best to reach my goals because each day I learn and grow." We are incredibly proud of Freya and
congratulate her on being named Wallace Elementary School Student of the Month. Please give a hand for Freya. Now I'd like to invite Dr. Bassinger from Hoboken Middle School. Please join me in welcoming Natalie Kim
to the podium as Hoboken Middle School's student of the month for the MONTH OF APRIL. NATALIE WAS NOMINATED BY HER ENGLISH TEACHER, Miss Rise Master. Natalie is a kind, studious, and hard-working student who consistently demonstrates a positive attitude. She is respectful to both her
peers and teachers and puts 110% effort into each and every assignment. On a daily basis, Natalie is the epidome of Tiger pride, perseverance, respect, integrity, dedication, and excellence.
Mr. English shares that Natalie, having Natalie in his first period class has been a pleasure. She always arrives early with a smile on her face and is dedicated to learning, making sure she fully understands concepts before moving on. Natalie gets along well with all of
her classmates and is often the first volunteer to help others or answer questions. Mr. English adds that he cannot think of a more deserving student to be recognized as student of the month. Natalie is also described by the seventh grade team and her guidance counselor, Miss Rivera, as extremely
bright, thoughtful, and self-motivated. She takes great pride in her schoolwork and consistently puts her best effort in everything she does. Natalie genuinely cares about doing well and is always willing to challenge herself academically.
She carries herself with confidence, demonstrates responsibility and maturity, and often goes above and beyond without ever needing to be asked. She continues to impress everyone, not only with her intelligence, but also with the pride and integrity she shows
each day. Beyond academics, Natalie participates in the debate club at Hoboken Middle School. She enjoys spending time with her friends, visiting the Hoboken Public Library, reading and fencing. Natalie transferred to Hoboken Middle School from Korea several months
ago and has acclimated seamlessly to our school community. She shares that she appreciates a sense of camaraderie at HMS and all the opportunities the school has provided her. When Natalie learned she had been selected a student of the month, she shared that she felt grateful
to Miss Rosmester for nominating her. She said she was proud that her hard work and positive actions have been recognized. Looking ahead, Natalie hopes to attend Harvard or Stanford University and would like to become either a physician or a lawyer in the future.
Please join me in a round of applause for Natalie Car. Please join me in welcoming Miss Robin Picket Petra, middle of the high school principal. Good evening everyone. At this time, I'd like to welcome welcome Charles Strop to
the podium. Hoken High School's April student OF THE MONTH. HE WAS VERY POPULAR. MISS Rodriguez Gomez and Mr. Bartlett. And they're calling you Charlie. Do you go by Charlie? Okay. Okay. Cuz I have a lot of Charles in my speech. I don't want to.
So Charles exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding student both academically and personally. As a ninth grade student at Hoboken High School, it is especially impressive that he has earned recognition as student of the month
among an entire high school population throughout the school year. He has consistently maintained grades above a 90, demonstrating not only a strong under understanding of course content, but also a remarkable dedication to his
studies. He is engaged and active participant in the classroom, regularly contributing thoughtful ideas to discussions and collaborating positively with his peers. His assignments and quizzes are consistently completed
thoroughly and completed thoroughly and submitted on time. His quiz and assessment performance reflects careful preparation and comprehension of the material. What stands out most about Charles is his consistency and
character. Every day he makes a point to greet staff and teachers with a cheerful good morning or ask how they are doing. These simple but genuine interactions reflect the kindness, maturity, and respect that Charles shows to everyone
around him. He is dependable, thoughtful, and brings a positive energy to the school. Charles has also challenged himself academically by taking rigorous courses, including AP World History, where he has demonstrated the determination and work
ethic necessary to succeed in a demanding academic environment. Glad the test is over. His willingness to push himself beyond expectations at a young age speaks volumes about his motivation and future
potential. Charles teachers consistently recognize him as a mature, respectful, and dependable young man who brings a positive presence to every classroom. In his project, Lead the Way Biomedical Science, he has demonstrated an
impressive depth of knowledge, confidently applying concepts such as patient assessment and triage during class discussions and lab activities. He works carefully and independently, follows safety protocols, responsibility, and skillfully uses
equipment to collect accurate data and troubleshoot procedures. In PE, Charles arrives prepared each day, participates, and consistently puts forth his best effort. Beyond academics, Charles stands
out for his curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. His interest in the Spanish language and culture reflects desire to broaden the understanding of the world. In engineering class, he consistently displays creativity, persistence, and
problem solving skills while contributing meaningful ideas during projects and collaborative activities. He is thoughtful, encouraging towards others, and helps create a productive and welcoming learning environment for everyone around him.
Charles is a well-rounded, intelligent, and genuinely pleasant young man who sets an excellent example for his peers. His strong work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to excellence make him highly deserving of this recognition. We congratulate Charlie on
this well-earned honor, and look forward to his many accomplishments that lie ahead. CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS to all the students who were recognized tonight. We are so very proud of you. Please keep up the excellent work and uh
we know that great things are coming from you in the future. We are now going to hear from our student representatives from Hoboken Middle School and Hoboken High School. From HMS I believe I have uh Zamaya Serret and Emily. Emily, I'm
sorry I don't have your last name. Thank you, ladies. >> Good. Good evening, Dr. Johnson, Miss Rodriguez Gomez, members of the Hoboken Board of Education, and everyone joining us tonight. My name is Amaya Sur and I'm an eighth grade student at Hoboken Middle School. Good evening. My name is Emily Hagy and
I'm also an eighth grade student at Hoboka Middle School. It's an honor to be here this evening to represent our school and share some highlights from this past month. On April 23rd, classroom without walls took a trip to our state capital in Trenton and the Princeton campus. Students in chaperoons had a private
tour and learned interesting facts about our state government. The next classroom without wall trip is to Philadelphia on May 29th. The performing arts department at Hoboka Middle School proudly presented Tigers Got Talent on Tuesday, April 28th. This schoolwide assembly showcased the
incredible talents of our HMS Tigers. From violin and piano performances to dancing, singing, magic tricks, and more. The talent of our students is truly unmatched. Congratulations to Carlos Santos who received our Tiger Pride recognition and to Charlotte Young, the winner of Tigers Got Talent.
Hogan Middle School is also proud to announce that two Steam Tank teams have earned finalist spots in the 2026 New Jersey School Boards Association Steam Tank Challenge finals on May 18th. A prestigious statewide compet competition focused on problem solving, entrepreneurship, and creativity. Serena
Buffano, Viola Sosa, Payton Walker, and Lexington Wena developed the Garmini, while Philip Doll Jensen, Elias Hana, and Nicholas Pickle created the hydroponics kit. The HMS community is incredibly proud of the dedication, innovation, and creativity demonstrated
by these students. Best of luck. On May 18th, on Saturday, May 9th, our HMS Junior Thbsians competed at the New Jersey Thesbians competition. Attendees participated in workshops ranging from juggling to to improv and perform
monologue, scenes, and music selections as a part of the competition. This year, our junior Thbians are in five superior rankings. Congratulation to all our Tiger performatives. Hoboka Middle School is excited to announce that our Tiger for Day series is back this spring. This student
orientation program is designed for incoming fifth grade students from Brandt Connors and Wallace elementary schools. The series will begin with a parent information session held in the HMS auditorium on May 20th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. This session will provide families with an opportunity to learn more about the transition to middle
school and what students can expect at HMS. Following the parent session, future Tigers will visit Hoboken Middle School on the following dates. Wallace Elementary School on May 28th, Brandt Elementary School on June 4th, and Connors Elementary School June 5th.
During their visit, students will be paired with one of our HMS Ambassadors who will guide them on a tour of our school. Future Tigers will learn how to open lockers, explore opportunities in athletics and clubs, and get a firsthand look at a daily life at Hoboka Middle
School. Looking ahead, HMS will host its end of the year dance on May 28th. The National Junior Honor Society induction will take place on June 11th and the eighth grade moving up ceremony will take place on June 23rd. Please be sure to check the Tiger Weekly for updates and additional information regarding
these events. Until then, remember to live each day with Tiger Pride and always enjoy the ride. Go Tigers. Thank you ladies. We'll now turn it over to our Hoboken High School representative, Jennisio. Good evening. My name is Jenna Serio. I
am the Hoboken High School student government representative and thank you for having me this evening. The class of 2026 continues to let their school spirit shine through spirit days with their most recent dress as a staff member day in order to support the softball team and their autism awareness challenge. On May 1st, Hoboken High
School hosted their signing day, an exciting milestone for student athletes and scholars as they officially commit to continuing their academic and athletic journeys at the collegiate level. On May 9th, the class of 2026 travel to the Branch Book Park roller skating center as our second to last
senior trip with our last one still to be determined. But I really hope it's paintball. I'm looking at you, Miss Pig. Hoboken High School is in our second week of AP testing and we want to wish all the students taking the exams the best of luck. For upcoming events, the
Hoboken High School 2026 prom theme has officially been chosen. Glitz and Glam. The prom will be held on Thursday, June 11th, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. at the Greycliff Manor in Munachi, New Jersey. We also send wellwishes to all of our students who signed up to participate in the
student government elections. This is currently my second to last meeting and there are three individuals running to replace me as a school board liaison and best of luck to them and thank you very much for this opportunity to speak and we look forward to seeing you at all our events and as always go Red Wings.
Thank you, Miss Serio. I can't believe it's your second to last meeting. You you have been with us for such a long time. So, we got to give you another ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WE ARE NOW GOING TO GET moving into our committee reports. We realize some folks may have earlier bedtime. So if some of
you want to take a moment to part ways with us, we we will not hold it against you and we'll get moving into our committee reports in about a minute. So Dr. Johnson has let me know that she does not have a superintendence report to us for us this evening. Miss Lopez, do you have a business administrator's report this evening?
>> I do not. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. We're now going to go into committee reports. Miss Norwood is actually going to deliver a quick update on some resolutions that are added to the agenda in advance of Saturday's upcoming New Jersey School Boards Association delegates meeting.
Thank you. Um this Saturday, as um Trustine McGro uh noted, uh the New Jersey School Board Association's delegate assembly is meeting. Um at that meeting, representatives from all local school boards of education across the street state are going to convene to
address six proposed resolutions. Um and to that end, we have adop uh on the agenda resolutions for this board to consider um to develop consensus on these issues, provide direction to our
delegate and increase public awareness of our advocacy on these issues. Um the first resolution is um ensuring that um although these delegates were uh uh put forth as our delegates to the NJSBA in
January just to make sure that uh our delegation is um effective for them to act at this meeting on Saturday on our behalf. So I they will not be presenting resolutions that a little correction on the um agenda um item 1025. they will
just be acting on our behalf. In 1026, um a little correction on the um uh title again here, this first resolution, which is a resolution urging relief from rising public school employee health
care costs, is a model resolution from the New Jersey School Board Association, which is um proposed to be adopted by this school board. This resolution urges Governor Mike Cheryl, the state treasurer binder, state senate
president, Assembly speaker, and all of our local uh state representatives to address the crisis in the state health benefits program, which is um impacting not only our budget at the Hoboken Board
of Education, but many different school districts across the state. 10.2 27 is a resolution that will be brought up um ahead of the NJSBA delegate assembly on Saturday.
This one is a resolution in support of ranked choice voting for school board elections. As you may know, this has been discussed generally in Hoboken with regards to other offices, but here the New Jersey School Board Association is
proposing a policy to support rank choice voting for school boards. and our position is in support of that resolution. Uh 10.28 is a resolution uh that is regarding student protection
from ICE activities. Um there are competing uh pieces of language being proposed between the Essex County School Boards and the New Jersey School Board's resolution subcommittee in terms of the strength of the language. Um the
proposal is to support the New Jersey School Board Association resolution subcommittee's edits to this um which is a statement where ports of education have a responsibility to ensure their school buildings are safe havens for all students regardless of their immigration
status and are not to be used as venues for immigration enforcement absent judicial authority. 10.29 is an important resolution for us here in Hoboken. It's a resolution on pilots and long-term tax exemptions. Here the
proposal is for the New Jersey School Board Association to adopt new policies regarding um the transparency and cooperation between local government and school boards regarding pilot agreements and the grant of long-term tax
exemptions. Again, here there's um competing language which our delegate will have the authority to advocate on our behalf. Uh but our preference um in the resolution is for the stronger language um as originally proposed by
the Egg Harbor Township Board of Education. 10.30 is a resolution on the state school funding formula policy. Um this resolution was um uh proposed by West Milford regarding a very specific
circumstance where they have um wetlands that they can't develop on. Um, we uh propose to support a more general statement that was suggested by the New Jersey School Board Association resolution subcommittee that says
equitable distribution of education aid and related support payments to ensure all school districts have the opportunity to benefit from government financial assistance which considers each school district's unique circumstance including but not limited to circumstances that impact a school
district's capacity to raise revenue locally. So uh the proposal is to support that more general statement as suggested by the um NJSBA resolution subcommittee 10.31 is regarding um transparency and the procurement of
instructional materials. Uh this one was uh proposed by the Essex County School Board and um the proposal is to um support the um the goals of the Glenrock
uh Board of uh education and uh and the uh New Jersey School Board Association's uh resolution subcommittee um substitute language regarding um requesting additional transparency to school boards
regarding ing um the procurement of uh curriculum materials. And the final resolution is again one that is very important to us here in Hoboken. It is a resolution proposing modernizing governance of New Jersey vocational and
technical schools. Um here uh there is a proposal that was submitted by fellow Hudson County Board of Education. It's a caucus board of education. Um and the New Jersey School Board Association resolution subcommittee did um recommend
um alternate dare I say softer language. Um this resolution applauds the Saucus Board of Education um and uh supports either uh variation of the language whether it is the original language as
proposed by Saucus or the resolution subcommittee's edit. Basically, this resolution says the New Jersey School Board Association should adopt policies that uh the governance and advisory structures for these county schools should reflect shared financial and
educational responsibilities, support um statutory and regular regulatory changes that promote greater transparency, fiscal accountability and collaboration, particularly related to tuition rates, capital planning, enrollment capacity, and program expansion. since it does have an impact
on the budgets of the sending local school districts. Um, and so these are um the resolutions that were um put together to help guide our delegate this weekend. I know this was a a substantial amount of materials that was um added
relatively late to the budget um but hopefully that to the uh sorry to the um packet. But I hope that explains a little bit of the rationale as to why they're in today's packet. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Nor. And just to be
abundantly clear, these are not items that add to or change the budget that is in tonight's agenda in any way, shape, or form. It's simply for our delegate to be able to act on our behalf this weekend. Now turn it over to Miss Delara for curriculum.
Thank you. The curriculum committee met on May 8th. In attendance were Miss Mgherk, Miss Veles, Mr. Grana, Dr. Johnson, Miss Rodriguez Gomez, and myself. Um, the committee reviewed uh all agenda items and uh recommends all
for approval tonight. Some items to highlight. Um, some awards and recognitions. The district received the best communities for music education award in recognition of its outstanding support and commitment to music education and student achievement. All five district schools along with the
district as a whole earned the project lead the way distinguished recognition award. The Thomas G. Connor school received the 2025 2026 imagine learning school of excellence award for its use of imagine espanol. Connors was
recognized as the only school in New Jersey to receive this distinction with only a limited number of schools nationwide receiving the honor. The committee reviewed several upcoming professional development opportunities for our staff. Um, in NJSLA news, the
committee reviewed the district's um testing schedule for elementary, middle, and high school. Uh, dual language lottery, the committee reviewed details regarding the upcoming dual language lottery, which will be held on May 20th um at 11:00 a.m. Results will be shared
on the district website. And lastly, the committee reviewed or spoke about the summer assignments. Staff share that planning for summer assignments will begin on Tuesday, May 12th. The district is aiming to finalize, share, and post assignments during the first week of
June. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Delara. I will now turn it over to Mr. GRA for facilities. >> Thank you. The facilities committee met on May 8th, 2026. In attendance were Dr. Johnson, Mr. Gi, Miss Angley, and Miss
Norwood. Um, principally is our consent agenda items, which is 13.01, the approval of our fire and safety drill reports, which we reviewed and recommended for approval. Also reviewed and recommend for approval is 13.02, about two which is approvals of
facilities requests which as you will see from the agenda are for different various school related activities and will be held on three of our campuses uh school campuses. Uh secondarily, an update for the the
board that the Wallace HVAC replacement project is underway. Um update from director facilities is we're expecting an ETA of about June 4th for uh in for completion of installation. Um 38
Jackson director facilities also has met um with the construction office and all applicant permanence pier ready to go. So we are on schedule for September 27, 2027. Um that would be completion prior to September 27 which would be our target.
Uh lastly our good old friend uh the deeris facade update the the SDA the state you know they have committed to this these funds and we have received confirmed that uh we are waiting final approval and that the process should be relatively fast and money should be
expected to work on this project over the summer. So that is the uh facilities update for May. Thank you very much. Back to you. >> Thank you, Mr. Ra. I will now turn it over to Mr. Clville for finance. >> Uh thank you. The finance committee did
meet on uh Friday, May 8th. With me were Miss Angley, Dr. Johnson, Miss Corey, Miss Lopez, Miss Mcgherk, and Miss Norwood. Uh the committee did review all items uh on the agenda and recommends them for approval. Uh just a couple of things to point out of course is the uh
uh transportation 11.08 uh they're not new routes. These are routes that are being reassigned through the end of the year to a different company. Uh 1112 is uh the renewal of the food services
contract with Chartwells. Uh and 1111 of course is the approval of the 2627 budget. Uh, and I just should add, I'm uh was very proud of the uh presentation at the public hearing last week and the incredible work that this
administration and board members uh put into that presentation. Uh, and I uh thank you for that. >> Thank you, Mr. Klefell. We'll now turn it over to Miss Katamatory for governance. >> Thank you. The governance and personnel committee
met on Friday, May 8th in attendance were Mr. Clubfeld, Miss Delar, Dr. Johnson, Miss Norwood, and myself. We reviewed the agenda and recommend all agenda items for approval. This month's agenda contains a number of items related to the current as well as the 2627 school year and a number of
important updates um including the approval of SC of some certain scholarships for our seniors. Um there are a few items worth highlighting from the agenda. 10.01 01 to 10.05 covers various resignations, appointments, and other faculty and staff related actions
for the current school year. 10.06 covers athletic appointments for the 2627 school year. 10.08 covers special summer services positions for this coming summer. 10.11 covers the annual acceptance of mostly local
individual and organizational scholarships being donated and awarded to our amazing senior class. The ceremony formally awarding these scholarships which are worth over $85,000 in the aggregate and which are supplemental to the academic and other scholarships and aid awarded to to the
many colleges and un by the many colleges and universities to which our students will have been metriculating will be held on June 17th. We would like to thank all of these donors for their continued and generous support of our students and look forward to the ceremony. 10.12 to 10.19 covers the
annual blanket approval of the appointments of of the district's non-c certificated and/or non-tenured employees for the 26 27 school year including among other people our hourly part-time and 10-month employees. 10.20
and 10.21 21 covers both the approval of the district's HIV self- assessment grades for the 2425 school year under the anti-bullying bill of rights act and the HIV incident report for the month of April 2026. The district's self- assessment grade for the 2425 school
year is 76 out of a maximum 70 maximum 78 points. There were also two reportable in incidents in the April HIV report, one of which has been substantiated and both of which were investigated thoroughly through the district's established protocols. The board would like our community to
know that the district takes HIV incidents very seriously and seeks in every situation to address the harm caused to the victim or or victims of the incident and address the causes of the incident. 10.25 25 through 10.32 cover the resolutions described by Vice
President Norwood in connection with actions and resolutions we voted on and passed by the NGSBA to establish statewide positions on matters affecting the public school community and in order to provide guidance to our NGS NJSBA delegate. And that is my report. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Katamatori. Miss Angley, do you have a wellness report for us this evening? >> I do not. There are no wellness items on the agenda and I do not have um any additional um items to report. Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> Yes.
>> Please do. >> I'm sorry. Just uh one item I neglected to include in the finance committee report is uh 11.09. And I just want to publicly acknowledge uh Pharaoh Point, which is a real estate investment firm here in Hoboken, uh for their generous
donation of 10 laptop, computers, and some recreational game equipment uh to the middle school uh valuing a total of about a little over $8,000. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Club. I want to start my president's report this evening by congratulating the
Hoboken Public Education Foundation on their very successful 10th annual gala that was held this past Thursday evening. We appreciate all the Hoboken Public Education Foundation and its supporters do to help the Hoboken Public School District. Tonight marks the end of what has been a
long and interesting budget season and evidently my voice decided to go out as we approve the budget. I want to thank our superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent and business administrator for all of the time and effort that they put forth in crafting this year's budget. I would also like to
thank the Hoboken board of education trustees for all of their work, collaboration, and feedback during this process. Everyone has come to the table with very good intentions, keeping the taxpayers, students, and district personnel in mind. The budget before us this evening
is not an easy one to pass. None of us want to increase class sizes or reduce programs. We are also duty bound to honor our contractual obligations. And add to that that we are faced with loss of revenue as every conceivable space in our elementary buildings is needed to handle increased elementary or K to2
enrollment versus generating modest income for the district while being used for state funded prek providers. I want to acknowledge two and thank two Hoboken residents who recently submitted very thoughtful correspondents to the board of education regarding the 2627
district budget. The board values community engagement and appreciates residents taking the time to ask questions, share perspectives, and seek a deeper understanding of the district's financial planning and educational investments. Transparency and open communication remain central to the board's work as we
continue balancing fiscal responsibility with the educational needs of our students and schools. Here are some of the questions asked in a summary of the responses to each question. Uh the first question was, what is the total administrative cost per pupil? So administrative costs per pupil decreased
from 2,300 in the 2324 school year to $2,09 per student in 2425. Hoboken ranks lower than all but one Hudson County district, including the city's three charter schools, in the percentage of budget allocated to administration.
Hoboken ranks lower than all but five Hudson County districts, including the city's three charter schools in the administrative cost per pupil. The second question, what is the average classroom size in the grammar schools and high school? In the elementary schools, the average class size is 21.9
students. In the middle school, it's 22.8 8 students. In the high school, it's 20.1 students per home room. And high school class sizes will vary depending on course enrollment and program needs. Question number three, can you provide the number of students leaving and
entering Hoboken under the school choice program, the net impact on state aid, and how Hoboken compares to other Hudson County districts in participation? Hoboken is the only traditional pre-K to2 district in Hudson County participating in the New Jersey school
choice program. The district has consistently served 164 school choice students and now receives $18,869 per student in school choice aid for the 2627 school year. The number of school choice students coming to us from
neighboring districts equates to 4.27% 27% of our student body. In contrast to the percentage of students from other towns being educated by the local charter schools, Ola at 12.7%, Hoboken Charter at 27.4% and Alleian Charter at 9.7%.
School choice participation generates more than 3.17 million in state aid annually. Neighboring districts and parents do not pay tuition. Aid is provided directly through the New Jersey Department of Education. This question covers the last three years. And the question is, it would be
helpful to know whether there were any large purchases for technology and classroom supplies between April and June in those years and any large transfers of funds between accounts during that same period. If there were, could you please provide those numbers? The district identified no new technology purchases over the last 3
years. A significant instructional furniture replacement project totaling approximately $50,000 occurred in spring 2025 to replace aging and damaged student and teacher furniture. The next question was, can you show me the special education out of district placement budget compared to what was
actually spent for each of the last 3 years? Out of district placement costs holistically have increased over the past several years. The projected cost for 2025-26 is approximately 4.95 million. In 2023
24 we overbudgeted by a little more than 250 uh 260,000. In 2425 and 2526 we underbudget underbudgeted cumulatively by a little over 387,000. And that number overall is hard to
predict because you there could be a drastic change in a student's circumstance or a student who moves into the district or several students who move into the district with a high level of need and it is our obligation to service those students and meet their educational needs which may result in an out of district placement that you have
not budgeted for. So you do your best and then cross your fingers and hope it works out in your in your favor. How much does the summer camp program cost for the district? Is this program open to students outside of Hoboken? The district operates mandated summer
programs for students with IEPs, 504 plans, and tier 3 RTI profiles. These programs provide academic, therapeutic, and transition services and cost approximately $375,000 annually. The YWCA summer camp operates
in district facilities at no cost to the district and generates rental revenue. High school athletic clamps and clinics are voluntary programs that generate modest revenue and help to support student athlete activities. Is there a line item for excess surplus
in this budget or in the last five budgets? If so, can you help me understand what that is? Show me how much has been set aside each year over the last 5 years and what it was used for. School districts are not permitted to maintain excess surplus above the legal
2% limit. Any excess surplus is automatically applied towards tax relief or transferred into restricted reserve accounts. The district's advertised fund balance decreased to $0 for the 2026 2027 budget year.
Do we have a line item for legal services in 2023 24 and 26 budgets? If so, how much is that number and what does that translate into per student? Legal services costs have remained relatively stable over the past several
years. Hoboken's legal cost per pupil is $39 per pupil, ranking lower than all but four districts in Hudson County, including two of the city's charter schools. The sighting slight increase in the 2627 legal budget is due to an active legal matter. How much of the Hoboken Board of
Education WCK programs overlap with the city recreation offerings? District athletic and co-curricular programs are educationally connected, competitive, and aligned with student development goals. Interscolastic athletics differed significantly from
municipal recreation programs due to academic eligibility requirements, leadership opportunities, competitive standards, and school culture connections. Recreation and school-based programs complement one another rather than duplicate services. I would also like to acknowledge
correspondence from a resident expressing concern regarding the proposed tax increase and the broader fiscal pressures facing Hoboken families. The resident encouraged the board to continue exploring additional cost-saving opportunities while preserving the district's educational mission and programs. Specific areas
raised for consideration included healthcare cost manage management, shared services opportunities with neighboring communities and local government entities, and identifying operational efficiencies through collaboration with staff and frontline employees. The resident also recognized the
importance and progress of special education services while emphasizing the need for continued fiscal responsibility amid rising municipal costs and county costs. A summary of the board's response is as follows. The board of education and administration recognize the
significant financial pressures facing residents and remain committed to identifying responsible cost-saving opportunities while protecting the quality of educational programs and student services. The response highlighted that staffing, scheduling, programming, and operational expenses were carefully reviewed during the
budget process, resulting in reductions to originally proposed staffing additions. The district also emphasized ongoing efforts to strengthen program evaluation and ensure that expenditures demonstrate measurable value and educational benefit. Additionally, the response addressed
concerns regarding health care and shared services, noting that the district regularly evaluates healthcare plans, market options, and operational efficiencies while continuing to explore opportunities for savings and insurance and related services. The district also outlined several existing collaborative
partnerships, including shared athletic programs, regional educational consortiums, specialized student programming, partnerships with the city of Hoboken, and educational collaborations with Stevens Institute of Technology. The board further emphasizes its commitment to continuing to evaluate
efficiencies, engage staff input, and pursue additional tax levy solutions as planning begins for the 2728 budget cycle. Again, thanks to this resident for reaching out directly to the board and superintendent with questions and concerns as we are always happy to answer any types of those questions
head-on. And in closing, I'd like to say that this district is one that has always in my tenure on this board and I think during the tenure of pretty much everybody sitting up here has looked for efficiencies and has looked for ways to
make sure that the dollars that are spent directly impact students. Our tax levy is shared with three local charter districts. We have properties in towns with tax valuation of over 1.75 billion that do not pay school taxes. They have
payments in lie of taxes and the schools do not receive any of that money. That increases the burden on regular taxpayers. While we appreciate the introduction of the pilot educational trust accounts, the $200,000 projected from that account in this year's budget
is a modicum in comparison to the amount of piloted the amount that those piloted properties would have paid over the life of those pilots. That impact is very real on taxpayers and frankly is very real on students as it's impacted you know the base over many many years. I
want to en assure the taxpayers of the city of Hoboken that we will be looking at health benefits and everything else under a microscope across the summer and into next year in preparation for the next budget cycle. We will also look for any areas in which we can achieve efficiencies with anyone we can possibly
partner with to continue to deliver excellent outcomes for students and mitigate the impact on the taxpayer. That concludes my report. Now we will move on to public comments on agenda items. As a reminder before we open for public comments, 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 PE 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 speakers 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 residents, and business affiliation, if any. Vice President uh speakers are allowed five minutes and Vice President
Norwood will quietly motion when you have 30 seconds remaining. Please address all comments to the chair. Board policy states that 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.
Madame President, we have two speakers signed up. First is Pat waiters. >> There's 15 church towers. I'll be speaking on a few agenda items today with respect to the budget. And I won't be sharing with you all of my
correspondence that I got from residents that live here, which I wish I could put it on the record, but if you look behind me at our audience, it's nobody here but me and Manny from members of the public or residents. It's it's a disgrace
because it seems so deceptive. We came here, the council people was here. I sat right in the front here for your budget. And I gave a open ear, heart, mind, body, and soul to hear exactly what you was doing with respect to preparing for
the budget and having it here and ready tonight. Again, Madame President, look at behind me. That's the truth. Okay. And you know what the problem is? And you board members that've been here 10 years or more like you. The public has
no involvement. whatsoever. This is so deceiving when I sit in this audience and being stopped in the streets where I live, okay, in Hoboken with some serious questions and now these people are so fed up. We trying to well organized
guys. I told you I was going to say this to members this looking. We're not giving up. What we suggest with the budget is give the power back to the people. Okay? Now, all of y'all that was interested in running for the Hoboken Board of Education, I'mma go all the way
back before your time, Mr. Gunford, okay? When they voted to change the election and changed the budget by giving you guys the power and the superintendent power to do our budget. That's why we sat here and we recorded y'all when everybody spoke about what
they did to prepare this budget. Did any of you read this agenda tonight with respect to personnel and money? Look at the top head of the money, the millions of dollars. But you sat here and you TOLD THE BUDGET, TOLD the members of the
public that this budget is being passed. You trying to save us money. Y'all apologizing that they're going to get a tax increase and property tax. You know what hurt even more, Madame President? These people not going to be impacted. Most of the people that work in the district and don't, I'm being honest.
This is how we feel. Don't care about the people THAT LIVE HERE. THEY NOT GOING TO BE IMPACTED. THEY DON'T OWN CONDOS, HOUSES, their kids don't play sports here. We are being impacted. This is serious. We are going to get a committee together like I'm telling them
at the regular city council level when the council people was here. You see, they not here tonight. And one of your correspondents was from Miss Tiffany Fisher. So, I want that placed on the record. But I'm tired. I am really sick and tired of standing up here emotional. And I'm not going nowhere. I don't care
if this I'll be the only one in this audience. You have tried strenuously to impact me by assassinating my character, but the people still COME BACK TO PAT WAITERS. YOU REALLY NEED TO see all of these calls that I received. And I've been bothering you, miss administrator.
Okay? Every time I got a call, I reached out and shared it with the administrator, which this nine board body member should be doing. I DON'T EVEN WASTE MY TIME CUZ I FEEL LIKE THESE PEOPLE SOMETIME I WOULD LOVE TO GET your email and go back and forth and communicate with you if I think something's going to be accomplished but
it's no accountability. So what I suggest I'm not going to look at no line item and I promise you I'm going to go on the public and see this budget and I'm going to pull it and get copies put it under every door in Hoboken and demand we get a petition
signed where we vote for our budget. WE VOTE FOR OUR SUPERINTENDENT. WE VOTE FOR our board members without politics involved. The time IS NOW. THIS BUDGET, I'm apologizing to everybody that live in Hoboken that's going to be impacted
by this budget. Thank you, Miss Waiters. I count behind you 1 2 3 4 five additional members of the public besides yourself and Mr. Solair. So I would like to put in the record that well no miss wait miss waiters this is
this is my time to speak your five minutes is up. There are five additional members of the public in the audience just so everyone watching on YouTube can know. And yes every single member of this board reads the agenda in advance of the meetings. We sit in committee meetings and we have very robust
discussions about every single thing that is in here. So, I would like to put that in the record that this is a board that is committed to due diligence and doing its work. Now, you may feel otherwise and I understand being frustrated about a potential tax increase, but we are we are doing this
and passing hopefully passing this budget without an impact on staffing, without an impact on the fellow people who work here, without an impact on increasing classroom size, and without an impact in cutting health benefits that are contractually obligated. That is meeting our commitments to the
employees of Hoboken and the students of Hoboken. We are tasked with providing them with a thorough and efficient education and that is what this budget does. >> And that's what we demand. Okay. And you live here so you should know better. I'm not impressed. >> You don't I I have absolutely no desire to impress you, Miss
>> Waiters. No one. Thank you. >> I'm not done. I would like to add to that. >> And finally, as one additional point, you definitely have my email address and it's on the district website. So, if you receive correspondence from anyone, you
can certainly feel free to forward it to us. >> I I do not I I vehemently disagree with that statement. Okay. Moving on to the next member of the bar. >> Our next speaker is Manuel Rivera. Good evening, Madame President, uh,
trustees. Good evening to you all and would like to appreciate members of the public, Patricia Waiters and the other members of the public who are present. Thank you for your attendance this evening. Uh your attendance is important as well. Doesn't matter if you speak or not. The matter is that you're present
and we appreciate it. At least I do. Madam President, I just want to ask a few questions on the agenda. I just want to ask and I know that you're not going to answer. You don't have to if you want to. But I have a series of questions here in regards to the stipens. There
was about three pages of stipens. I just want to know were those stipens or are those stipens obviously included in the agenda. Was anything here? Was anything here of course they're all important. I'm not begrudging the people's money.
I'm just asking, was there anything in these four pages that could have been postponed for some reason or other and saved, I don't know, maybe $50,000 or $10,000? That's just a question. You don't have to answer it. I know that times are difficult. And again,
everybody's meritorious cuz I see all the things that they're doing here. They're all important for the children. I'm just asking what's happening with that. Um and and furthermore, I just want to ask and I want to say I do appreciate um the information given for facilities and I do appreciate um any
updates that can be given for the facade of this building which is incredibly um a lengthy time but again greatly appreciated that those funds um will perhaps be here. Uh they were promised last June. They've taken a very long time to get here but um that's one point
of the agenda. Second point is I see the resolutions. Could you in some way or you can write it in where we can read it somewhere in in the website or something. Um when you were expressing all of the different resolutions, can members of the public understand when
you give authority to whomever is going to change these resolutions, do you does it come back to you and you say yes, this represents the district, the the the majority of the the the district and the parents and students to to all these
cuz there's a lot of a lot of resolutions and I know going to many reason how important resolutions are to be worded. did exactly and for the intention to be exact. So that's just my concern as a person that just came from two meetings that were about resolutions
and I know how they have to um be so careful with that. So that's just a concern I have and um I just want to finish up before my time is over. I just want to again heading back to the the budget cuz it's a concern. you're never
going to be 100% satisfied with a budget, especially when you have to even put one 1% higher. Nobody's going to like it and I understand it and um you know I wish there would have been a pack members of the public expressing the same thing but we just want to know we
just have a concern or anything in this budget future budgets and in this agenda pardon me concerning to future budgets like I just mentioned stipens and things like that and the commitment that you just made madam president in regards to
start checking uh for for ways to save in The last meeting a member of the public a council member per se was discussing things about health care and the cost of it and the way you could negotiate that. I again as a member of the public who attends the whole book
and self insurance um there's a lot of negotiation that goes on there. Um is there any possible future way that you can negotiate better negotiate harder? I know you do. It's not it's not an offense, but we need to know as members of the public and people who are paying
the tax levy is everything imaginable was exhausted. The questions that were made to you, was anything there that was helpful in lower anything or there was just absolutely nothing that could be done this year. And if that is the case, then of course we the
people who pay the taxes will have to accept it. But we'll recommend you to perhaps help us out and do better or lower it next time. Not too better. I take that back. You are doing the best uh you can. But um that is my concerns.
Members of the public, I'm sure um would echo some of my words. I'm sure they tell you why couldn't it be lower? But again, that is what I'm trying to say. And again, as long as it doesn't affect um the education that the children of
the Hoboken School District um are receiving, I am all for any other cuts except anything that benefits the students, which I think is everything. But that is my my questions to you. Again, Madam President, >> 30 seconds. Again, Madam President, if
there's anything that you can discuss tonight, I know this not back and forth, but is there any place or anywhere that I can read any of my answers such as you did this evening? Thank you. And I yield back. Mr. Solair, I'm going to start with health benefits. We did try to up until practically the last minute we
could see if there was savings that could be realized for this budget. And the reality was there was not. But we are committed to looking at all aspects of health coverage to make sure that we can meet our contractual obligation but deliver an equivalent product at a lower cost to the taxpayers of the city of
Hoboken. The resolutions that are included in tonight's agenda relate to a meeting of the New Jersey School Boards Association delegates. The New Jersey School Boards Association represents all of the school boards in the state of New Jersey and they advocate on behalf of
students and school boards to try to make sure that students have access to a thorough and efficient education and also that taxpayers are not you know being built basically. So it's very important that we actively participate in that. And then finally, your first
question related to stipens. And from what I noted in this budget, our budget stipens this year really all or our budget stipens that you see tonight mainly relate to sports. And page 24 of the budget presentation talked about
co-curricular and extracurricular programs. And I'm going to read to you what it said in page 24 of the budget statement or budget presentation, you can find it on the district website. We examine cuts to co and extracurricular programs along with pay-to-play policies and the potential consequence of
minimizing access, the increasing inequities. The opportunities are critical to student engagement, well-being, and development. So, that is what those stipens are about. Those folks are working the extra and co-curricular programs that exist throughout the district that keep our students involved, that keep them
achieving, that keep them meeting their goals, and frankly, that keep them from, you know, I think of my own kid who's involved in a lot of stuff. that keeps her from being out there and and getting involved in nonsense. So, it is very important to the overall development of our students. I hope that answers your question.
>> Yes, I appreciate you taking the opportunity to answer my questions and like like I said, as long as it doesn't affect the students, I'm just wondering that is all I >> not cutting that definitely affects the students in a positive way. >> That's exactly >> cutting it would affect them in a negative way.
>> Thank you very much. >> You are welcome. Do we have any other speakers signed up for agenda items? >> No. >> All right, we are going to move on to our consent agenda. Is there a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Miss Lopez, please call the role.
>> Miss Angley. Uh, I'd like to make a statement uh before my vote. As a 24-year resident and a 12-year trustee, I've seen this district's transformation firsthand. This year, we are facing a perfect storm of aging facilities, rising health care
costs, and revenue loss. All while our enrollment continues to grow. Our administration has scrubbed this budget to find every possible cut that doesn't compromise our core mission, and I thank them for that. As a taxpayer, I will feel the impact of this budget directly
and understand my neighbors frustrations. But as a trustee, I refuse to go back. We have worked too hard to build this district to what it is today. to protect our progress in our students. I vote yes on the budget and the entire consent agenda.
>> Miss Katamatori, I'm going to adopt Miss Angley's um comments and vote yes. >> Morara, >> uh yeah, I just have a a statement as well. Um, I would just like to
acknowledge that a tax increase of this size is significant, and none of us up on this day has take it lightly. Throughout this process, tough questions were asked, difficult conversations were had, and cuts were made wherever possible. Dr. Johnson and her administration have worked hard to drive
down costs while still protecting programs and opportunities for our students. The reality is that much of this increase is tied to fixed and unavoidable costs like transportation insurance, utilities, special education, and mandated student services. At the same time, our district continues to do
exceptional work, and our schools remain one of the greatest strengths of this community. For those reasons, I will be voting yes on this budget tonight. Um, I'd also need to abstain on 10.2, 2 11.12
13.3 and yes on everything else. >> Uh I'd just like to confirm we are abstaining on 10.02 11.12 and 13.03. >> Correct. >> Okay. Thank you Mr. Gra. >> Thank you Vicki. And I have a few
comments I'd like to offer before my vote as a as a voting trustee. Um also as a parent and a taxpayer. Um, yes, I I don't want to add too much more to the comments that have already been made because they've been excellent, very detailed. I would just say that with
respect to my vote, I want to do a one particular thanks to the district for really taking this board through a very exhaustive line by line analysis all the way down to the 2% level of what's really driving this. And and as you've
heard tonight, this is painful because it the number I I I recognize this is painful. It is painful for me as a taxpayer. At the same time, um the district, like all of us here have been caught by a number of
inflationary pressures not anticipated and this budget is primarily about keeping our contractual oblig obligations uh as particularly with our employees. So, while that is said and I I would lastly say that I intend to vote
yes and support this budget because despite all of those changes, this district and this community has done an amazing job over the last 20 years in building this district to what it is today. And I vote yes on this budget as
a bull work to not going backward. Thank you, >> Miss Connor. I will abstain on 11.11 and yes for the rest. Okay. Abstain 11.11. Thank you Mr. Cl.
>> Thank you. The um my fellow board members are much more eloquent than I. Uh but this the sentiments are are deeply felt on my part as well. Um we've come a long way. Uh, and I believe this budget does fund
the the the critical work that we're doing. Um, and I appreciate the support of the community in this. I vote yes on the entire consent agenda. >> Thank you, M. Norwood. >> This was a difficult budget season. Um,
I can attest that, uh, nobody, you know, wanted to raise the taxes as much as we did, but we needed to to preserve and protect the quality of the education of our students. Um, I'm a taxpayer um, and every tax increase um, impacts my
family. I'm also a parent um, and I've seen the quality of the education that this district provides. I think if anyone takes a look at the outcomes that we're providing to our students or that the students are earning on their own as
a result of the education provided that at all levels and whether that is students in our transitional program um obtaining jobs after graduation um students going to trade schools students going to colleges of all levels
including um highly competitive servicemies Ivy Leagues uh nationally known uh liberal arts universities, all different kinds of universities that suit their talents. I
really la the staff, the teachers, the administration for what has been achieved here and the dramatic changes in this district over the past 10 years. I proudly vote yes on the entire consent agenda. >> Thank you, Miss Fis.
I echo the sentiments that have been expressed about upholding our district's mission and not wanting to go back. And I also vote yes to continue to cultivate the uh accessible environment that this district has cultivated uh on the budget
and all the rest of the consent agenda. >> Thank you. And Miss Wer, >> I echo what my fellow trustees have said with what little of my voice I have left and I'd like to add to it. You know, I hear from residents, from parents all
the time about the amazing opportunities their children are afforded in the Hoboken Public School District about the ways in which our teachers and our staff have positively impacted their children's lives or really been the tipping point for a kid who was struggling doing much better. I know
Hoboken to be a place that believes in its community, believes in doing the right thing for the community, and believes in doing the right thing for our children. So I proudly vote yes on the entire consent agenda and this budget. Motion passes. We will now move on to comments on
agenda and non-aggenda items. We have two speakers. The first is Miss Waiters. Patricia waits 15 church towers. Esther, are you there? Hold on. I have a special need parent on the phone. And this is where I get emotional. Each and every
one of you that voted yes and gave y'all a little cushiony story that don't apply to our kids. When I say our people that look like me, yes, I'm going there because each and every time y'all RAN FOR OFFICE, ESPECIALLY YOU, MR. comfort when y'all forced me and begged me not
to run and I RAN ANYWAY. PARENTS STILL COME TO ME. ESTHER, I'm sharing with you. You on speaker phone. This is the board of education. Go ahead, Esther. >> Yes. Um Pat, I would like you to uh advocate for me, PLEASE. >> AND FOR HOW LONG HAVE I BEEN ADVOCATING
FOR YOU, ESTHER? >> For a while. >> Thank you so much. Okay, that's just one cuz this is a serious matter WITH HER. AND I'VE GOT A FEW OTHER MOTHERS THAT RESPECTFULLY GO TO YOU, DR. JOHNSON AND BECAUSE you're not speaking to me or you take a known disregard and no answer me
and accuse ME OF HIRING MR. GOGGLIARDI as my attorney. You work for the board. Am I right counsel? YOU WORK AND YOU HIRE FOR THE BOARD TO PROTECT THEM UNDER QUALIFIED IMMUNITY LAWS. OKAY. I'M NOT I don't never ex You was nothing but a to
me BUT A FRIEND. NO ATTORNEY, NO legal counsel, none of that. So when they keep saying council and throwing YOU AT ME, WHAT'S DISTURBING IS I HAD SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT AND I NEVER FORGET THE DAY MISS PIX SAID GOOD, HER KIDS DON'T GO here no more. YOU KNOW
WHAT HURT? MY KIDS WENT HERE BEFORE ANY OF Y'ALL MOVED TO HOBOKEN. I RAISED MY SISTER'S KIDS THAT HAD ISSUES A SINGLE MOTHER IMPACTED BY DRUGS. FIVE OF THEM WENT THROUGH THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH GOOD PEOPLE LIKE MR. STINSON and them back in the days. OKAY. I RAISED ALL THREE OF MY
BIOLOGICAL KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS, MY GRANDKIDS. AND I TRIED TO SHARE THIS WITH YOU. THAT'S WHY 27 YEARS I'VE BEEN RUNNING FOR the board for PEOPLE LIKE THIS WHEN THEY CALL ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WITH THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS DAUGHTER ATTEMPTING TO HURT THEIR STUFF CUZ Y'ALL WANT TO FORCE THEM IN A DIFFERENT SCHOOL OR Y'ALL GOT ON THE
DISTRICT TO SPECIAL NEEDS. BUT WHERE ARE THEY? THEY HOME. Y'ALL DON'T TELL THE PEOPLE THAT ABOUT THE BUDGET. Y'ALL DON'T SAY THAT. YOU COUNTING NUMBERS AND YOU COUNTING SPECIAL NEED PEOPLE, but they not in the district. OKAY. SO, I ASK YOU AGAIN, MADAME SUPERINTENDENT OF
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. IT'S DISTURBING THAT THAT BUDGET WAS PASSED. I'M ASKING YOU FOR a meeting. When we ask you for a meeting, we don't TRY TO INTERVENE. IT BE OF SERIOUS CONCERNS. OKAY? I DON'T WANT TO BE IGNORED. IT'S PLACED ON A RECORD. YOU'RE NOT CHASING ME AWAY. YOU KNOW WHY THE AUDIENCE EMPTY
TOO, MISS PRESIDENT? Because people fear retaliation. I experienced it already. Okay? So, I'm not scared of nobody. I'm not running nowhere. SO CAUSE IT DON'T HAPPEN TO YOU CUZ THEY SCARED OF THE board members and even though YOU SUPPOSED TO SUPERSEDE DR. JOHNSON. I
work at the district. I GET IT ALL THE TIME. PAT, CLICK THE DOOR. CLICK THE DOOR. IT'S A BOARD MEMBER. So when y'all SIT UP THERE AND TALK ABOUT HOW GOOD YOUR KIDS GOT IT, MISS ANGLEY, WE WISH WE COULD say the same when by October half OUR KIDS IS KICKED OUT THE DISTRICT AND HOMESCHOOL. SO DON'T SIT THERE WITH
THIS CUSHIONY BUD BUDGET LIKE, "OH, I'M A TAX PLAYER. I'M HAPPY, MR. UH UH CLUMPFORD. OH, I'M A TAXPAYER. I'M H NO, THEY NOT HAPPY. AND LO AND BEHOLD, IT AIN'T JUST THE PEOPLE LOOK LIKE ME. RICH PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME TO ME WITH HUDSON TD
ADDRESSES, SHIPYARD ADDRESSES IN THIS DISTRICT. PAT, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS BUDGET? They don't look at ME AS A ANGRY MISCONSTRUED BLACK ANGRY WOMAN. WE WAS IMPACTED TO ALL OF THIS STUFF I'M TRYING TO SHARE WITH YOU. AND STOP TRYING TO
SUGARCOAT IT LIKE IT DON'T HAPPEN AND THROW OUR KIDS FREE FOOD. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I WANT AN EDUCATION FOR MINE. I STRUGGLE WITH RAP in that damn ONE DISTRICT. I STRUGGLE WITH DESHAWN AND SHE MANAGED TO
GO TO my clan. BUT Y'ALL NEVER TALK ABOUT PATHWAY THE SUN. OKAY, THAT WENT THROUGH THE DISTRICT AND WENT THROUGH CATHOLIC SCHOOLS AND GOT HIS DOCTORATE JUST LAST YEAR. Y'ALL DON'T MENTION THAT. SO EDUCATION AIN'T IMPORTANT TO ME. NO, CUZ I DON'T NEED NO FRIEND OR MY
SUPERINTENDENT IS MY BEST BUDDY. SO MY KIDS GOING TO have privilege and be pacified. I never asked for none of that. I told my kids WORK HARD AND ANYTHING EASY is not worth having. MY KIDS KNOW THAT. AND THEY WASN'T TREATED THE SAME AS YOUR KIDS AND YOUR
TAXPAYER DOLLARS IS BEING GOOD AT WORK. OKAY. NOW DON'T LOOK AT THE SPORTS FIELDS. WHAT DO Y'ALL said tonight? Oh, WELL THE HABOKEN PRIVATE PUBLIC FOUNDATION, THEY DON'T SERVE OUR KIDS. 30 seconds, Miss Waiters. It won't take 30 seconds. It'll take one
more second to tell you, please take me serious. Please, your kid is in the district, but your kid ain't going to be judged like my kid, and my KID WAS. THOSE ARE MY KIDS, AND I ALREADY PUT THEM IN A FAILED DISTRICT. I'M ASKING
YOU PLEASE, MR. PRESIDENT, I need a meeting sooner than later. Do you understand me? >> Time. >> Miss Waiters, any parents who want to have a meeting need to >> parent Miss Waiters, frankly,
>> not the parent. I'm not saying the parent. I'm just saying you in general as the president of this board, I will address you and you can address your government body. Okay? I'll put it that way. And veto, I'm not hiring you or retaining you. You're the school board's attorney for the record. Thank you.
>> Is that a question? >> Any other? >> Yes. Miss >> Manuel Rivera select >> one second. >> Matt Manny, sorry. We just hold one second. Thank you. >> I just would like to make one comment. Every single parent that asks for a
meeting or a community member that asks for a meeting, they are scheduled all day long on my calendar. With all due respect, I did set up two meetings just recently over the past month with Miss Waiters. Neither of those meetings did
Miss Waiter show up for. And so I will continue to, as I always do, when a call comes into my administrative assistant for a meeting, I will continue to set up the meeting and I will sit and I will wait. One of the meetings I waited for 4
hours and still Miss Waiters didn't show up to the meeting. But even even with that said, if you contact Miss uh Rojas, I will absolutely meet with anybody that wants to meet with me at any time in my
office. >> Thank you, Dr. Johnson. >> Mr. Ser, thank you. I apologize. Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, uh I just want to say something that I forgot to say in my uh
early remarks and I had it here highlighted, but I didn't say it. Uh really quickly, I just want to say and I I will translate And madam president, I was just going to call you council president. Um what I just briefly said I was just congratulating because it was a course
in Espanor uh the students of Connors and the teachers and uh everyone associated with the school which is a great school. Um my remarks are going to be these. Um, Madam President, uh, when I spoke earlier briefly, I just want to clarify
my questions were not, um, meanted or intended to be argumentative towards you or any member of this board. They were just questions. There was no, um, inference of any wrongdoing, malfeasants whatsoever. So, I just wanted that for the record cuz I I hope you didn't feel
that it was um, argumentative. I kind of felt you felt that. So I just wanted to clear that up for the public that we don't we don't have that uh uh report here at least you can go back and check
um many of the other meetings. And with that, I also like to say um it is very important um when we ask questions here as members of the public um residents, we should always continue to ask questions, remain informed and work
together respectfully for the betterment of our school district and our community. And again, I just want to say it was a rough time. I'm sure for many of you members of the public who are here who I thank again for their presence and I thank those who will be watching any comments that they could
make they sure can make it to again as you said to you individually but I just want to say again it is important for always to have transparency amongst our leaders when we ask you questions in my case again just talking about myself
they are not meant to be or taken personally these are just questions that need to be asked ask whether sometimes they might sound redundant or not, Madame President. And um again, I just hope and pray that yes, in the
future we can get some type of fiscal responsibility in regards to the school. I pray that someday you get even more pilot money. I personally will advocate and I always do advocate in the council meetings. If you could go and check and see how many years have I asked, why can't we get some of that for the
school? But unfortunately the laws are written a certain way like I just said before with resolutions. So I will I as a member of the public as a resident will always continue to do that wherever I can in the county or in our city
government. And again I thank you for your attention members of the public. And I hope that next year we can have a lower um tax rate. And once again, council, I'm I keep calling you council president. Who knows? Um, I made a joke
last week. Got me in trouble. Um, but again, thank you for listening. Thank you all. I don't know if I said my name before. Manuela Hoboken resident, six resident. And once again, God bless you. God bless you all. And God bless Hoboken. And thank you for your
attention. >> Thank you, Mr. Soler. And I apologize if my answers to your questions earlier came off. um as as lesson understanding. It's rare that a question gets asked that I can actually answer on the fly. And in that instance, I do like to
answer it so that it can be put into the record because if we answer a question for you on the side, it's not there for people to see in in the video. So that's, you know, important for us to have that be on the record. We will be going into
executive session. Pete, go right ahead. So, Bill, for some reason, I feel the need to clarify any suggestion as to whose attorney I am. Um, so, uh, for
approximately 17 years, I've had the privilege of serving this board, uh, which retained the firm beginning, I believe, in about 2009. The reason I think that it came up for any members of the board who seem taken aback by it as I was or member of the public is because
periodically uh when Miss Waiters has um issues that concern her as it relates to the district or quite frankly things that don't involve the district uh she will send emails to a number of people and
that will include me. Um, I have interacted with Miss Waiters since I took the position as schoolboard attorney in 2009. Most of the time I don't respond because I don't you don't pay me to to provide counsel to
employees and members of the public, but there are times when I'm not simply copied on the email. They're directed to me. And so to be respectful, uh, I will typically direct Miss Waiters to a proper venue, which of course I am not.
Um, it is very rare, by the way, that I include on my bills any of these exchanges because I I know that's not what I'm paid to do. But there should be no confusion that when I treat any member of the staff or public
courteously in my capacity as the schoolboard attorney, I am never deviating from my role as a counselor to the board of education. and I don't want any member of the public or the board to um have any misconceptions based upon the way it was raised this evening.
Thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you, Mr. Gagliardi. We will be going into executive session for the purposes of discussing matters covered by attorney client privilege. We will be approximately 1 hour. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Miss Lopez, can you please call the
role? >> Miss Angley, >> yes. Miss Kadamator, >> yes. >> Miss Delara, >> yes. >> Mr. Graa, >> yes. >> Miss Kana, >> yes. >> Mr. Clfell, >> yes. >> Miss Norwood, >> yes. >> Miss Vez, >> yes. >> Miss Vicker,
>> yes. And I just want to clarify, we will not be taking any action. We will be returning just to close the meeting. It is 8:34 and we are going into executive session. It is now. >> It is now 9:35 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 Kadinator? >> Yes. >> Miss Delara? >> Yes. >> Mr. GR? >> Yes. >> Miss Connor? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Clolo? >> Yes. >> Miss Norwood? >> Yes. >> Miss Bose? >> Yes. >> Miss Mcgherk? >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you, Miss Lopez. And with no further business, do I have a motion to close the meeting? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor say I.
>> I. Thank you and have a good night.