Hobacon Board of Education meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. is we still do the flag salute, right? Rise for the flag salute. Okay. I pledge allegiance >> allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic indivisible and justice for all. >> Okay. And we have um our opening statement. In accordance with section five of the open
public's meeting act chapter 231 PL1975, this public body, the hopon board of education hereby announces that the New Jersey Herald and the daily record have been notified by email that this board of education regular meeting will take place at 6 p.m. following the executive
session which starts at 6:00 p.m. on January 26, 2026 at the Hop Packon Board of Education um virtual meeting room today. Can you please call the role? Mr. >> Hback
is absent right now. Mr. Davio >> here. >> Miss ShraMM >> here. >> Mr. Chaffy >> here. Miss Paulina >> here. >> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan
>> here. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert >> here. >> Okay. Um, can I please have a motion to enter executive session? >> I'll make it. >> I'll second.
>> Okay. Um, can you please call the RO? >> Dr. Pello is absent. Mr. >> Davia, >> Miss ShraMM, >> Mr. Chaffy, >> yes. >> Miss Paulina, >> yes.
>> Mr. Cit Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert. >> Yes. >> All right. just sent everyone Hey, And Miss Foney Schubert, the meeting is yours. Are you back with us?
>> Yes. Sorry. Can you hear me? I was having a >> is there. >> All right. Uh, we're back to motion to reconvene with you. >> Okay. Yes. Sorry. Here. Present. >> All right. Can I get a motion to reconvene? Oh, sorry. I thought you already did it.
>> Nope. >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. >> And Jen. >> All right. Dr. Capello >> here. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio.
>> Yes. >> Sham. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Chaffy. >> Present. And Miss Pelena >> here. >> Mr. Citri is absent this evening. Miss Gulan
>> here. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert >> here. >> Can I please have a motion to approve the December regular and executive um minutes? >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion?
>> Okay. >> Put her through the interview process and the fact what her capabilities could be. >> Yes. >> Vote. >> Yes. Thank you, Mr. Davio. >> Yes. >> Miss ShraMM. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chaffy.
>> Yes. >> Miss Paulina. >> Yes. >> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert. >> Yes. Um, can I please have a motion to
fill the um one-year board vacancy position um with James Warren as we received um two resumes and one after the due date? >> Um a few things. >> Yes, I'll make it.
>> I'll second. >> Is there any discussion? >> Okay. hearing none. >> Dr. Capello, >> yes. >> Mr. Davio, >> yes. >> Miss Shrimp, >> yes.
>> Mr. Chaffy, >> yes. >> Miss Pachina, >> yes. >> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert. >> Yes. >> All right. So, my office will be reaching out to Mr. Warren tomorrow to
get some paperwork and he will be uh pending his criminal background check and fingerprints. Uh we'll look to try and swear him in at the February board meeting. >> Great. And then he would fill the um position that's vacant on the um student achievement committee.
>> Correct. >> Okay. All right. Next, we'll move on to the superintendence report. >> All right. Um, couple things, uh, and I'll kind of jump around here on the agenda. Just a reminder this evening that we had first
and second reading for HIPS that we discussed in executive session. We'll be looking to approve those. Uh, we've discussed in committee meetings the approval of the budget development calendar in terms of when we will be submitting our preliminary budget, when
our budget hearing will be. Um please remember as we discussed that anytime there is a transition in administration the governor um there can be a one to two week um swing in those dates
depending on uh when state aid is released but it looks like based on how we've set our meeting schedule in that calendar we'll be able to meet each of those deadlines with our existing board meetings. Okay. So, um I just want to make you aware of that. And then, uh the
administration has submitted what is called the midyear SSDs, which is the student safety and um uh >> student safety damage uh system data. It's where we log all of our incidents
of HIPS um suspensions for regular red and special education students. Um, it's also where if there have been acts of vandalism against property in the district, either in the schools or exterior of the schools, we have to submit all of that data. We do that
twice a year um to the state of New Jersey. So, we've submitted that midyear uh batch of data to the state containing only our HIPS and our suspensions. We haven't had any acts of vandalism in the first half of the year in the district
itself. All right. Um and um the only other thing that we'll be discussing this evening on our agenda is um our project um to try to restore components u of the gymnasium. Um you
know, we've had lots of conversations. We've talked about the new gym having been constructed in 1995, uh 30 years old, and we still call it the new gym. That floor actually has not been restored for those 30 years. Every
handful of years, uh, it's a special scrub is done on it and additional polyurethane is added to it. Um, that wood floor actually needs to be taken down to bare wood. We have some boards that are uh dead spots in the floor that
need to be replaced. It'll have to be repainted and repolyureed. Uh two years ago, we had one of the two dividing curtains in that gymnasium that became detached and had to be completely taken down. The mechanisms that support
those curtains are also 30 years old. They aren't made anymore. Um we'll be looking to replace those. And then we're looking to add special covering to the floor. That gym is used for uh indoor graduation, a number of fundraising
events, tricky trays for the district, for the Warriors, uh bingos, other kinds of events, uh dances. So, looking to protect that investment as well. Um and we'll be um both launching a fundraising
drive uh to support those efforts and utilizing capital reserve money for that. On this evening's agenda, we already have $13,000 in donations towards the cost of that project. And um we'll be looking for
additional donations uh whether it be from individuals um or businesses um individuals and businesses looking to donate. When we recognize you on a board agenda, we provide you with a tax letter for the IRS for your your donation to a
non notfor-profit organization. Um so certainly those are some financial benefits to you uh along with the benefit of um helping the community. It is one of the largest gymnasiums in northern New Jersey. It is used
extensively by our community and our youth groups. Um it has taken a beating over those 30 years and and we need to kind of restore it a little bit. So um that's on our agenda this evening. Um, and with that, that will um close my
superintendence report. And I would just need a motion and a second to approve that. Please, >> I'll make it. >> A second. >> Janet and Kevin. Any discussion, questions?
All right. Dr. Capella. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio. >> Yes. >> Miss Shrem. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Chaffy. >> Yes. >> Miss Paulina. >> Yes. >> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan.
>> Yes. >> And Miss Talon Schubert. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Next, we'll move on to acknowledgement and correspondence. So, congratulations to the following students who were chosen as Opacon Middle School students of the month for their outstanding performance in
December of 2025. Grade four, Atana Lopez. Grade five, Aiden Williamson. Grade six, Sebastian Rea. And grade seven, Jaden Paraguaya. And then in January 2026, grade four, Devin
Casey. Grade five, Abigail Stewart. Grade six, Victoria Garcia. And grade seven, Derek Sylvestri. >> Um, next we'll move on to parent teacher organization representatives. Um, just as a reminder, the PTSO is hosting their
um, tricky tray in March. The signup genius is out. If anyone would like that, um, I think you can find it on the school's website. If not, you can email the PTSO. Um, every class has been asked to get 13 different um, gift cards and
to come up with six different volunteers and then they will share in 25% of the proceeds. Uh the other 25% goes to project graduation and the remaining 50% goes to the PTSO who traditionally uses that money to give back to different um
groups and teachers who put in for grants and for the end of the year scholarships. Jen, do you have an update? Um, we had the Wizards game last week for project graduation and it was a huge success and um, again, you know, the
tricky tray is coming up and as you said, we get 25% of the proceeds. So, come on out for that. >> I also know that um, Hepto is starting the penny wars within all the schools. So, that's going to be a lot of fun. And, um, a couple of parents have
started planning the um, seventh grade dance. So, we're in talks with um the the principal to kind of get a date um situated and start the festivities for them as they move on to the high school next year.
>> And I just a quick update for um the HPAChon Municipal Alliance. Um Girls on the Run registration is still open. Um and there has been um an additional discount for HPACKON girls and this is a reminder for girls in grades three through fifth grade. Um, and there's
more information about registration in the digital backpack for Tulsa and the middle school as well. So, if you're interested, please feel free to sign up. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Okay, hearing none, we'll move on to
public comment. Jeeoff, I don't I think you said you didn't get any emails. I don't know if any new ones came through. >> I am just checking my email right now to make sure there are no additional questions or comments, and there are not. Okay, great. Can I please have a
motion to move item 12 A through I finance? >> I'll make it. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? >> I would just like to point out that um Just Driven has donated $8,000 to the
gym renovation. Um they use the facility and um also give back quite a bit. This is one of many donations they've given, right Jeff? How how much? They're they're at least up to like I would say like 15,000, right?
>> Yeah, 15,000 in total donations over the last two years from just driven. >> That's great. And then um the Chiefs booster club in combination with the basketball booster club is donating $5,000 um towards the renovation as well. So they obviously use the gym a
lot. Um and it's just nice to see that um you know every the hard work is going right back into the facility. So thank you to both of those groups. Any other discussion >> elevates their hearing and we'll um call
the vote. >> Dr. Capella. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio. >> Yes. >> Miss ShraMM. >> Yes. >> Mr. Chaffy. >> Yes. Miss Pelena, >> yes.
>> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schubert. >> Yes. >> Okay. Next. Can I have a motion to move the rest of the agenda items? Actually, I think there's retirements, right? Let's do the retirements. Can I have a
um a a motion to move personnel 13A through L? an exception. >> I'll make it. I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion?
>> I'd just like to uh point out the two retirements we have on the agenda this evening. Uh John Canzone who uh will be retiring after 31 years um of service to the school district and Carmela Katazone
um will be retiring after 26 years of of service to the district. And uh this is one of the things we've talked about over the years, right? Hopon being this this family community and it it extends to our teaching staff as well. Folks
come to Hopong, they stay, they make a career. That continuity is something that is um I think very unique to us and our community um for how long people stay here. And we're talking about two uh incredible educators in John and and
Carmela uh who will certainly be missed. Uh we want to wish them uh all the congratulations in the world um on their successful and amazing careers. >> You know, thank you very much. Mr. Kzone was our athletic director when I when I
was in school and he's so that means he's he's been around for a while and my kids had Mrs. Katazone. So very lucky to have had her. Um, any other discussion? >> I would just like to add about Miss Catone.
>> Um, a very tricky year moving up to the middle school. Miss Katzone was that reason for a lot of kids and she really is a special special one. So, she will be very missed. I'm a little upset my little guy won't be able to get her, but I'm very very happy my daughter was able
to have her. She really is a special special teacher. I did look to see if there was any way that we could not accept her res. >> I tried to convince her to. And look, she played in a Wizards game. >> She did great. >> Yeah,
>> I got one more in. >> Okay. So, if we're if we hear no more discussion, we can vote on personnel. >> All right. Dr. Capella. >> Yes. >> Mr. Davio. >> Yes. >> Miss ShraMM. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Chaffy. >> Yes. >> Miss Pachina. >> Yes. >> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan. >> Yes. >> And Miss Falcon. >> Yes. >> Okay. Can I please have a motion to move
the rest of the agenda? Items 14 through 18. I'll make it. >> I'll second. >> Any discussion on the rest of the agenda that covers
travel policies and regulations, student services, resolutions, and the co-op. Okay. Hearing none, please um call the vote. Uh >> Dr. Capella, >> yes. >> Mr. Davio, >> yes. >> Miss ShraMM,
>> yes. Mr. Chaffy, >> yes. >> Miss Palena, >> yes. >> Mr. Citri is absent. Miss Gulan, >> yes. >> And Miss Falcone Schumer, >> yes. Uh, lastly, we'll move on to board member comments. I'm just going to go around my screen. I'll just call your
names if you have anything you'd like to um add before we close. Uh, Jen. >> Um, no, I don't think I have anything. Just everybody stay safe, stay warm, >> Jim. >> No, I'm good. Thank you, >> Veronica.
>> All set. Thank you, >> Dana. >> Uh, it's exactly what Jen said. I hope everyone gets to school safely tomorrow. >> Natalia, >> um, I just wanted to add one more thanks to Just Driven. Um, my kids are also part of that program and that's a
homegrown coach and teacher and she just keeps giving back to the district. So, thank you. >> It's amazing. Kevin, >> I will echo what Natalyia said. Thank you very much for those and the rest of the donations. That's it. >> Okay. Um and
as for me, I am good. Thank you all. Um no more pajamas inside out and all that. We're all done with snow days as far as I'm concerned. So, um everybody stay warm and get to school safely tomorrow. And uh with that, can I please have a
motion to adjurnn? >> I'll make it. >> All in favor? Bye. >> Bye. >> Thank you all. Have a wonderful evening. Have a great night. >> You good night. Bye. >> Thank you.