WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=pSt8VwFIgj8

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: pSt8VwFIgj8):
- 00:00:16: Meeting Opening, Roll Call, Mission Statement, Executive Session
- 00:02:49: Adjournment to Executive Session and Off-Topic Chat
- 00:59:07: Reconvene Open Session, Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
- 01:01:30: Correspondence Received, President's Report: Communication & Finances
- 01:08:20: Superintendent's Report: End of Year Activities and Planning
- 01:12:20: Student Representatives Report: Student News and Initiatives
- 01:15:38: Student Representatives: Presentation on Student Input
- 01:24:20: Questions and Discussion with Student Representatives
- 01:29:00: Principal's Presentation: Student Safety Data Systems Report
- 01:43:53: Questions for Principal About Safety Report Statistics
- 01:54:00: HIB and Suspension Reports, Board Action Items Overview
- 01:55:19: Public Comment on Agenda Action Items: Thank You to Principal
- 01:57:11: Motion to Approve Actions, Discussion Regarding Bid Threshold
- 02:03:02: Discussion on Tableting Item 6 Until June Meeting
- 02:09:32: Move to Original Motion, K1-K18, Legal RFP Discussion
- 02:11:16: Dr. Halpern: Presentation on Student Life and Program
- 02:17:35: Move for Action Item: Dr. Halpern, Operations Report
- 02:24:27: Action Item Questions: Invoices/Financials, District's Legal
- 02:57:53: Discussion, Vote on Items Related to District Finances
- 02:58:36: Personnel Committee Report and Action Items
- 03:06:17: Policy Committee Report, Discussion & Action Items
- 03:07:01: Additional Board Business, Committee/Liaison Reports
- 03:13:43: Additional Board Business: Scheduling of Committee Meetings
- 03:15:04: Public Comment on Any Topic: Aspire, Book Censorship
- 03:30:14: Comments: Support District, Condemn Board Member's Actions
- 03:38:46: Motion to Convene into Executive Session to Discuss Personnel


Part: 1

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Welcome to a meeting of the 10 Central Regional High School Board of Education. Please be advised that this and all meetings of the board are open to the public and media consistent with the open public meetings act and that advanced notice required therein has been provided. Meeting notice was also

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posted on the district website in the boardroom of the upper school campus sent to the New Jersey Herald Tap into and sent to the clerks of Delaware Township, East Amwell Township, Flemington Burough, Raritan Township and Readington Township. The public will

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have an opportunity to speak um as shown on the agenda. >> Roll call. Miss Stokes. >> Miss Bryce >> here. >> Miss Gong >> here. >> Dr. Halpern >> here. >> Miss Laccasta >> here. >> Mrs. Rothell >> here.

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>> Mrs. Santangelo >> here. >> Miss Wallace >> here. >> Mr. Williams >> here. And Mrs. Kellogg >> here. All here. >> Please rise for the flag salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Miss Gong, would you read the district mission statement, please? >> Yes, I would. 100 Central is an innovative educational community

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dedicated to the intellectual, social, and emotional safety and growth of all students. While fostering curiosity and promoting wellness, we aspire to create powerful learning experiences, establish strong partnerships, and serve as

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contributing members of society. >> Um, we're going to make a motion to convene into executive session. um resolve that the board of education of 10 central regional high school now adjourns from public session and will reconvene in or and will convene in

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executive session for the purposes of discussing attorney client privilege HIV cases and pending and anticipated litigation negotiations personnel security issues student matters and be it further resolved that the board will more specifically be discussing

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litigation negotiations and attorney client privilege Um so there is another executive session on the agenda for the end of the meeting. Um but this these are the topics that will be So is there a motion? >> Motion to convene into executive session.

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>> Second. >> Um do we need a roll call or all in favor? >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Thank you. Um we will reconvene the meeting at approximately 7 o'clock. Turn the master down

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>> because >> check. DJ Mickey I hear you listening. Medicare that you're waiting for or is it >> So we have Medicare hospitalization but we actually

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have Sigma for regular medical benefits. And so he he was able to get government insurance which is great >> through this company called where it's the government

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Victor, >> I'm sorry. You're giving me sick today. We're back love. What? What the heck is that? >> You know, Victor will look up profits and I think he sent a note to the CEO of record profits. Why don't you just hire

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a few more clerks? >> Maybe you'll see my purse. >> Did I lose my pen? >> I know. Now we know you can get them for $30 an hour. >> Yes. 32. >> Exactly.

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>> Yes. But I just have not that was like my But I would definitely >> again. I'm sorry. >> Yeah, you got to have a little me. >> There's like Well, that room can get a little warm

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once we shut the door. >> No, it was not. >> It was not. It was not. >> They're just starting. Okay, we're going to reconvene into open session. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second.

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>> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Okay. All right. So, um, the first thing on the agenda is the approval of the minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the minutes?

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Motion to approve the minutes and second. >> Second. >> Any comments. >> Okay. Miss >> is your >> microphone on? I know. Okay. So, I just mention with

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regard to the executive session minutes, per my email to the full board, a public body may only enter a closed session for reasons specific to New Jersey 104-12. So, the two questions posed to board counsel in my opinion did not fall

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within those acceptable topics. Um, I never received a response to my email to the board. We were notified that my in executive session which it was but I objected to that because we would be again discussing impermissible topics. So while I will approve that the minutes

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are accurate because it does state those two impermissible in my opinion topics, they do not pass the OPMA test and so we are being asked to pay $300 per the invoice for that. So I just want to make that statement. Thank you.

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>> Any other comments? Okay. Miss Stokes, roll call. >> Miss Bryce, >> yes. >> Miss Gong, >> yes. >> Dr. Halpern. >> Dr. Halpern. >> Yes. >> Miss Laccasta. >> Yes.

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>> Mrs. Rothell. >> Abstain. >> Mrs. Santangelo. >> Yes. >> Miss Wallace. >> Yes. >> Mr. Williams. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Kellogg. >> Yes. Motion carries.

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>> Um we did receive uh correspondence this month and the correspondence is on file with uh the board secretary. So I do thank um Mr. Keebler from the Hunter County Library Association for uh for the information that they sent over.

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Um on to the president's report. Okay. Good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight. There are a couple topics I'd like to address this evening. Over the past few meetings, board members have said publicly that they're not getting the information that they've asked for. That's an important

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conversation and I think it reflects a shared goal, making sure that everyone has what they need to do their jobs well. Right now, the process outlined in the board handbook is members or is for members to email their questions or requests to committee chairs. But in

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practice, that approach just isn't working. For one thing, it sets up an expectation that any individual board member can request any information at any time without coordinating with the rest of the board or considering the impact on the district staff and

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operations. It can also make it harder to have the kind of back and forth discussions that help convey context and nuance and build shared understanding. To top that off, the process isn't very transparent. Requests and responses aren't shared with all board members, so

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most board members don't even know what's being asked or how it's being answered. And in the end, it often comes down to personal judgment about whether a response is good enough. With that in mind, Miss Kangalissy Hay and I put together a simple Google form to

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centralize questions and requests so they're visible to the full board. The goal is to improve communication and give everyone the benefit of learning from different perspectives. It also creates a clear record of requests and helps us make sure that responses are

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being provided. Some members of the board are opposed to using the form because it was not developed by the majority of the board. That's a fair point and I agree that this should only be a temporary solution until we take a closer look at our communication process

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together at the June 15th retreat. But continuing to use a system that clearly isn't working and then continuing to point out that it's not working doesn't really move us forward. Switching gears, I also want to spend some time talking about district

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finances. Over the past several months, some board members have raised questions about the district's financial operations, and I want to take a moment to talk about them publicly. The core of our role as the board of education is being responsible stewards of public

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funds. These are your tax dollars, and you deserve to understand how they're managed, protected, and ultimately used to support our students. This year, we've made a real effort to bring more transparency and public involvement into the budgeting and decision-making process. We added a budget retreat,

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introduced committee of the whole meetings, and launched a strategic planning process. And we're going to keep looking for more ways to engage with the community and keep communications open. I'd like to walk through the system of checks and balances that's in place to make sure

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that district operation the district operates in a way that's efficient, fiscally responsible, and transparent. There's a strong framework of laws, regulations, policies, and best practices that guide the day-to-day work of our business office. That includes

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internal controls as well as purchasing and procurement procedures. Each month, the operations and transportation committee meets with the business administrator and the superintendent to review financial reports and expenses. Then, the full board reviews and approves those actions in public

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meetings. On an annual basis, the district always goes also goes through an independent external audit conducted by a licensed public accounting firms with no ties to the district. They take a close look at our financial records, test transactions, evaluate internal

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controls, and make sure everything is being handled appropriately and in line with the law. I reviewed the audits going back to 2021 and we are and as we report every year there have been no deficiencies and no recommendations over

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the past 5 years. Those audit reports are shared with the board, the New Jersey Department of Education and are available to the public. Another important level of oversight comes from the executive county superintendent. Each year, our budget is submitted for

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review and approval. Throughout the year, we also report on things like budget transfers and major expenditures. If anything raises concern, the county superintendent can require corrective action that provides valuable regional oversight and an added level of

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protection. We're also required to notify the county superintendent if the board if the board members vote against the secretary or treasurer's reports as has happened in March and April of this year. Beyond that, the district is subject to state oversight. The New

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Jersey Department of Education has the authority to review district finances at any time. In fact, we recently went through a random audit focused on employee benefits from 2019 through 2022. The audit concluded in 2024 and included

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some recommended updates to procurement procedures. However, those changes had already been implemented by the district in 2023. We're also evaluated every three years under the state's quality single accountability continuum or QAC. This

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system looks at several areas including financial management, how we budget, track spending, respond to audits, and plan ahead. If the district falls short, the state can step in with increased oversight. Our district scored 100% in

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financial management in 2022 and 98% in 2025. On top of that, if we take any federal funding like title one or special education funds, which we do, it comes with its own set of monitoring and compliance requirements to make sure those dollars are used exactly as

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intended. And finally, all board members and administrators are held to strict strict ethics standards, including financial disclosure and conflict of interest rules. These are in place to ensure every decision is made in the best interest of our students and the community.

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No system is perfect, but there are multiple layers of oversight working together to minimize risk and ensure accountability. Most importantly, all of this helps keep our focus where it belongs on providing the best possible education for our students. So, thank

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you. And with that, I will turn it over to you. Okay. Good evening, everyone. We are getting closer to the end of the school year, and you can certainly feel the energy shifting in our halls and our classes. Our student activities office has a paper chain countdown in the display case right outside principal

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Brandt's office. And each day a student or two from a co-curricular activity removes a link. Today members of our speech and debate team, Ryan and Henry, let us know that there's no debate that there are just 22 days left in the year. They did a much better job if you

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[laughter] go on social media, but I thought it was cute. I wanted to share it. Um, I also want to note that we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week, National School Nurse Appreciation Day, and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day a couple of weeks ago. I believe everyone knows how important our staff are. But

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these recognition days serve as a reminder that the strength of our school community is built not only on the achievement of our students, but also on the dedication of the adults who support them every day. The commitment of our teachers, nurses, transportation staff, and so many others, all of whom I

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consider to be educators creates the foundation for the learning growth and opportunities our students experience throughout the year. As we move through the final stretch of the school year, we are seeing many of the culminating events that reflect the vibrancy of our school community. I know Bronwin and

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Alexis will highlight many of these in the report as well, but this week alone, we are hosting our spring coral concert, National Honor Society STEM Showcase, and the robotics team's STEM stemposium. In the coming weeks, we will also celebrate instrumental concerts, fine

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arts showcases, and our senior awards program, where more than $100,000 in scholarships will be awarded to our graduating students. These events are more than celebrations. They're reminders of our purpose as a school district. They reflect our commitment to

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ensuring that students have meaningful opportunities to explore their interests, develop their talents, and connect their learning to experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. That theme came through clearly during our strategic planning process where students, families, staff, and community

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members consistently emphasize the importance of enriching opportunities alongside our strong academic core. Over the past several weeks, I've been working closely with our leadership team to translate that feedback into action. For each of the four goal areas

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identified through the strategic planning process, we are developing implementation plans that outline specific priorities and measurable actions over the next three to five years. We are proud of the collaborative work that has brought us to this point and look forward to sharing the full plan presented in partnership with the

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New Jersey School Board Association at our June 8th board of education meeting. I also want to thank the board for its continued support of both the strategic planning work and the 2026 2027 budget. Your support makes these opportunities possible and strengthens our ability to

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prepare students for success after high school. A strong example of that is your approval for first robotics team 3637, the Dallas, to attend the first world championship competition in Houston. As the only first robotics team in Hunter

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County, the Dallas represented our district exceptionally well. Despite being a relatively young team, they finished in the top 11% worldwide. They were finalists in two district competitions and earned both the quality award for robot concept and fabrication

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and a judges award recognizing the positive culture and character of the team. Their success is a strong example of what can happen when we invest in opportunities that allow students to challenge themselves, collaborate, and grow. Exactly the kind of experiences our strategic plan is designed to

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strengthen for all students in the years ahead. So, we will continue with the thread of strong examples of student success and leadership with a report from Bronwin and Alexis, our student representatives. They also have a rep a presentation for us to reflect on their work throughout this year after their

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regular report. All right, good evening everyone. Our names are Bombadani and Alexis Chen and we are your student representatives for the board of education. And tonight we'll be going over student news throughout April and May. For many students, the month of May has been synonymous with testing. During the

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first week of May 9th of May, 9th and 11th grade students dug through the trenches of NJSLA testing for science, reading, and math while seniors enjoyed their latent breakfast. The following two weeks, another large portion of Central students found themselves locked

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in the windowless dungeons known as Cafe O1 and or the Ox Jam for AP exam testing. Hopefully, the hours of Himler's history the night before paid off. Shifting to more entertaining news, our arts and music departments are wrapping up the year with their final

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concerts. On May 6th, choir, band, and orchestra orchestra groups performed in the annual jazz and pop concert. This past weekend on the 15th and 16th, our underclassmen put on the 910 play Sense and Sensibility. And tomorrow will be the spring coral concert. And in the

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final week of May, we'll include freshman instrumental concert, full orchestra and percuss percussion concert, Thesbsian showcase, as well as the student fine art showcase on May 29th and May 30th. As for sports, our spring season has been coming to a close as we get closer

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and closer to the end of the school year. Just today, baseball, softball, and lacrosse all had games against Hope Valley, South Brunswick, and Ridge, respectively. Both boys volleyball and softball celebrated their senior nights on Tuesday, May 5th, with softball winning against Pingri and boys volleyball winning two-0 against Wong

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Hills to put their volleyball record at 177. In girls flag football news, I'm happy to report that sophomore Katie Gray and senior Jordan Moran hit 1,000 plus career receiving yards. Junior Khloe Bruner hit 1,000 season passing yards. And seniors Angelina Tenor and

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Vanessa Tanky and junior Khloe Bruner all hit 100 career tackles. As always, Alexis and I are cheering on all our spring athletes with a special shout out to seniors for finishing their final high school season strong. In student input news, Alexis and I once again have made the long arduous journey over to

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the 910 building. We asked underassmen our triedand- trueue question, if you could change one thing about Central, what would it be? And from the residents of the basement cafeteria, we learned how much students would appreciate a more systemic approach to teachers posting grades across their classes.

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some students asking for weekly or bi-weekly updates to keep track of their learning before exams. In addition, one student noted how much she loved having classes outside as the weather improved and suggested implementing chances to work outdoors when possible across schedules. We also witnessed how many underclassmen appreciate all the

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opportunities to get involved with clubs and sports at Central, a luxury few experience at their respective middle schools. Alexis and I will be giving you a report about the luxuries we've received in terms of student voice and our slides presentation about our reflections and goals for future student reps later this meeting. So stay tuned.

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Thank you all for listening to our report tonight. We hope everyone is enjoying the last few months of the school year. And we're excited to continue sharing the passion students have for Central in our final student report in June. >> You want to go?

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>> Okay, we're just gonna go get set up. I did try and sneak ahead and get the the computer connected. So I don't have that. >> Oh yeah, that's right. >> All right. So, this will be our student um pres student representative

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presentation for the month of May. All right. So, we'll just be going over kind of an broad overview of what we've been going over uh for the entire year. So going over student input that we've been hearing as well as reflections on the goals that we presented to all of you in

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the beginning of the year and then looking forward um as to who our next student representation may be and how we'll select those. All right. So as for student input, so what we've learned this year is that student voice comes in all different forms. Um, as Bronwin

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alluded to before, one initiative that we started implementing this year was going around during unit lunch to try to get a sort of census of all student voices. So, not just those who are filling out a Google form or those who we invite to our student lunches, but literally just any voice that we can

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come across. Um, we also learned that we need to have more connections between clubs and grades. Um, Broadwin talked about this in the beginning of the year, but between the two of us, we can only cover but so much ground. Um, especially missing some aspects, uh, notably in the

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athletics department, sadly. Um, so we're really focused on trying to broaden our outreach as much as possible. Um, and we also learned that the student representative role is vital to student morale. A lot of students have come to us noting that um hearing

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like just hearing that their voices are being put in the board presentations and being um told to administration does help um improve their sense of community at Central. All right. So looking at November, so

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what we discussed in our November um student input meetings um was when we first introduced the pulse forms. So, if you'll remember, the poll forms were introduced as a supplement to the climate and culture survey. And so, these were used as a method to have

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shorter but more frequent um check-ins with the students. Um so, here we had questions that included new phone policy, seeing if and what um students were involved in, website access, and cross-campus passes. And a lot of these questions, the type of questions that we

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were talking uh or that we put on the form came from that uh sort of census collecting that we did during unit lunch. So after uh seeing these results, we saw that many students were still arriving late. So one of the changes that we

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would make in the January survey was um des uh was adding an additional question about whether these students who were arriving late had that cross-campus pass or not. Um, we also saw that since many students had trouble finding bathrooms,

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um, our student lunch group suggested making some sort of like locationational resource so that they could find um, bathrooms that were open. Um, and a lot of uh, students also shared that having a more consistent phone system um, would help them understand the rules a lot more because a lot of them expressed

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that um, for some teachers they had a different system. Um, for some they had the pocket cubbies, for others it was just in your backpack. And for others they were more laid-back. So they suggested having a more consistent phone policy. All right. So as for the February

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meetings, so in January is when we sent out the second pulse form and this was where we added those tweaks. Um, for example, with the cross-campus pass, adding that conditional question of, okay, if you don't have enough time to get between your classes, do you have a

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cross-campus pass or not? Um, and so here we saw a 6.8% increase, so very marginal, um, in students that were able to get on CLA, get to class in time. Um and then when we further evaluated these results within our student

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administration lunch groups, we found that a lot of students actually preferred the old cross-campus procedure um where they arrived at class late rather than leaving early. Um but we also learned of course that teachers preferred the opposite. So we had a bit of uh discussion there. Um, as for

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student activities and involvement with the second survey, we saw a 4.9% increase, but we still wanted to break down how that um looked by breaking down by grade specific trends. So, if freshmen were more less involved than

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for example seniors were, that was a trend that we would want to look into more. Um, additionally, uh, with the food options, we also added a not applicable option for students who didn't buy lunch. So then we were able to see the overall satisfaction of

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students um and their satisfaction with school lunch options. Um and then lastly we also talked a lot about the 82minute block style. So what we found with this um I think we touched upon this a little bit at the last presentation but um just creating a system for teachers to

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utilize the blocks more effectively. So, um, one of the students brought up that for, you know, smaller electives that may be a little lighter, 82 minutes isn't really necessary and they have a lot of free time, but for those more like in intense highle classes, those

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longer class periods are necessary and can h actually help with um, college preparation. Um, but just utilizing the blocks in a way where we're building in brain breaks or just constructing them in a in the way that's best suitable for that class.

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All right. So, in thinking about how we did, these were the goals that we had set at the very beginning of the year for Alexis and I. And we focused on getting honest thoughts that you might not even get in a voluntary survey because while those thoughts may be

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honest because our form is anonymous for the people who choose to do so, they are the more passionate group of students at our school for better for worse who have this idea and want to share it and want to get it heard. So instead we brought ourselves to them through these

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underassmen census is sens whatever the plural is. [laughter] [gasps] We went around at lunch to get their thoughts um especially because they might not realize the opportunities that we provide just as they're being a

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student rep um being pretty new to the school. So by coming to them, we're able to introduce ourselves, maybe get them interested in becoming student reps in the future and also getting their opinions about everything. And we also just wanted to engage students, bring the board to them. We just so through our morning announcements, cracked some

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jokes, talked about the board members, great time had by all. Um it was great being able to kind of share that perspective for those who do look on the morning announcements. um [laughter] not not a lot but some some got to see us on there which is really cool for us and we

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worked on our public speaking skills there getting it in one take every time I add [laughter] and then we wanted just to make the most of it um our partnership is kind of unique because we are two seniors and one of us has been in the role before but next year is going to be completely different we're both graduating

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hopefully and um [laughter] there's not going to be someone with necessarily experience in this role but that doesn't mean that we won't be electing new leaders, people that really genuinely want to do the work. And so that's what we're trying to set up for the 2026 school year. We're going to be doing

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elections pretty much how we did to elect in Alexis. And it's going to be voted on by central students according to NJ state law. And we are going to be doing an interest meeting, kind of a workshop um to answer their questions and get it done now before they are

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freaking out, scrambling in September. Right? we want to get it before so that they feel comfortable in the role because it is scary but we know that they can do it. Um so we're going to be passing that along to them and hopefully being a resource beyond central giving them our numbers that kind of thing so

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that um we can help them facilitate their new role and of course the job goes to you all to help be that resource for them too because I'm sure they'll be nervous um but really learning the role I think will help a lot going into next year. Thank you. Does anyone have any

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questions? [laughter] Thank you. [applause] >> I I have a question. First, thank you so much for a great year and good luck to the both of you as you uh enter the next chapter. You will graduate, I'm sure.

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>> Thank you. Guns [laughter] are here. >> I was just wondering, so when there are two new reps, do they self-nominate? Do they go out and campaign? uh does the administration help you? I was just curious uh if you could just share a

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little bit more information about that. >> Yeah, so as far as I know it's self-nominations. Yeah. Um it'll pretty much be by interest. We have a lot that are ready and willing now purely by our student lunch groups. So the people that we've invited to give their opinions seem really eager to take on more of a

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leadership role in that regard. So I assume we'll get a lot from that group, but it really could be anyone um uh that can help provide some perspectives. hopefully some that we haven't been able to give to help the board even more. But yeah, we're hoping to do that. Um

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submitting some kind of um you know, notice about themselves, asking the students to vote for them, all the traditional campaign stuff. Yeah. >> So, what do you see? This is your second year in this role. So, how has the role evolved and and how would you like to

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see it keep changing or are you happy with where it's landed? >> I'm happy where it's landed. I would love to see I think more relations between the board and the students perhaps sitting in on committee meetings um once in a while or giving more of an in-depth perspective not necessarily at

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these meetings but I do really appreciate that the role has given me such confidence in the fact that people do want to hear from students and they do want to make changes that students would like to see and I think continuing that that power of student voice would

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be something that I'd love to in you. >> Yeah. >> Um I'll also just add I know the question was directed at Brahmwin. Um but even being in this role this year um I'm so thankful for the support that Miss Kangalosi Hade and Mr. Brandt has given me um and Brawin in this role to

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expand it um to do all these like fun little initiatives like the uh like morning announcements and being able to go out and like do this like census collecting. Um, and so for me, what I see this role is pretty much just whatever the next student representatives

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want it to be. Um, and I really think that they will have a good support system to expand it into whatever they feel best will will meet the needs of the student uh, body. So, I'm curious um about what do you

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think um based on your con this consensus and what students were looking for, you know, in particular like bathroom signs or all those other things. Was there anything that you felt the board and potentially the district fell short on sort of supporting you all with or or or were we where you needed

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us to be? I still think despite having a student on the board or two students on the board that the board still sometimes feels like this very distant entity. They are like the overseers. They're the people in the high chairs looking down on the students. Um and now I know being

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here that it is not that case. But I think perhaps a section directed to the students on the the emails you sent out. I know you have shout outs, but maybe putting even putting that at the top of the email just to immediately connect with the students I think would be a good idea.

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>> Um, I would also just like to add on to that just kind of more communication between uh the board themselves and the next student representatives. Um, I think there were a lot of questions that came to us about like the board specifically that we weren't able to answer. Um, we have obviously a lot of

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communication from us to you guys through these presentations and through our reports and even just through u Miss Kangelosi Hade and Mr. Brandt. Um, but I think having a more two-way uh uh street communication with that where we get to hear from you guys um and what you guys

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are think about whatever concerns the next student reps bring um and how you guys can help support them would be great. >> That's great. Thank you. >> Of course. Thank you guys.

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[applause] >> Thank you. I I feel like thank you is not even enough. So, thank you. I'm going to thank you even more next month, but that was a wonderful presentation. Really appreciate it and you both do such a great job. Um, next we're going to switch gears. We're going to go to

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principal Brandt and he is providing um you all with a required presentation on the student safety data systems report for reporting period one which is the first half of this school year. >> Uh first I'd like to thank all of you

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for how how you have uh welcomed our student reps to the board. Uh I think it has been fantastic to watch that you know over the years. I know that a number of years ago we didn't have members and then there was that almost

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like a um uncertainty of what does that mean and um the combination of the way you as board members welcomed them and the way you two stepped up and led has been amazing to watch and um so congratulations to all of you for that. Thank you. And setting what a great tone

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for the future. Um because we do have, you know, like tomorrow we have a a student lunch and there's about 15 to 18 underassmen who are a part of that meeting and hopefully are like hm that might be a good spot for me too. So um you paved a good path. So thank you very

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much for that. Um my again Edward Brandt principal and twice a year um I present out to the board uh data about what's called the student safety data systems um throughout the school year anytime

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there are instances where students are um removed from school whether it's an out of school or in school suspension andor hip situations we have to report it to the state and there's a system uh through New Jersey home room where we

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report it on an ongoing basis but then twice a year we report out to you. So um this is a report out of the first six months if you would the first half. It really could if we had instances that took place in July or August would count

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also towards the school year but from September through uh December of 2025 which was the first reporting period of this school year. And the first couple slides here are just a brief overview of what needs to get reported. Any type of

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incidents of violence, vandalism, weapons offenses, or substance offenses get reported uh if they occur on on school grounds. But also any incidences of HIV um and and these items could be

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either on school grounds or off school grounds. Um cyerspace for sure has opened the door for situations that might begin off school grounds but if they have an effect on the students um you know

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learning here and and substantially disrupt then we also report it. We also do have to report and it's not part of tonight but any HIV trainings uh both for students, staff, families, board members um and any other programs we

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report as well. This is a more uh thorough list, if you would, of um the specific areas that the state expects us to report any of these incidences. I'm not going to read them to you. Um but I will go over a few of

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these in a second as I give you the data. Um the first set of data here is on HIV, which through the board meetings, you know this information anyway. Um but what the public doesn't know necessarily

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are some of the um breakout areas here. So and know up until December 30th of 2025 um or 31st um we had 13 HIB reports and investigations submitted. Uh there were

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three instances where I use that principal's preliminary discretion. uh that that is if it's a situation where there wasn't um really any evidence if you would of either a substantial disruption or um a distingu

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distinguishing characteristic about the student that's the target. Um it might be still a conflict. It might be something that um still needs to be investigated through our normal vice principal principal route. Uh but it wasn't an HIV. We also had one out of

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district HIV and that would be an incident where for example if we had a student who was in out of district placement and they're still our student as far as the district is concerned but it didn't take place here at 100 central. So, we had one of those. Of

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those 13, we had four confirmed HIVs. And of those four, three of them were um as you can see there based on distinguishing characteristic on sexual orientation andor gender and one of them

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on race and an ancestry. So, that's that information there. And then as far as non-HIB areas, this is a more um you know detailed list if you would under the umbrella of violence under violence they consider assault um

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as vi violence um criminal threat and they were fighting and we had five incidences of assault. I will mention that these are five individual students who are identified as assaulting and there was really only two incidents if

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you would um but one had multiple students. Uh there were two criminal threats and five instances of fighting. There were 19 reported incidences of substance offenses and then one weapons,

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one of weapons. And then under the other category and this is any other area um that where a student is either um the consequence is either an inschool or out of school suspension. So if you're removing them from the classroom, we

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report it. There were five incences of bias related incidences. um 11 cases of students cut not physically cutting but cutting school or cutting class. Um the excessive tardiness that's rare

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but if you get to a number of tardies where a next step and this is where um a few years ago we instituted in school suspension uh we didn't have that for probably 20 years if you would. We had an extended detention and then a jump to out of

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school suspension. And we felt you don't want to take a student who's late so many times and put them in out of school. It's the opposite. Um so but we do have inschool suspension where we have students in school um with one teacher in there throughout the day um

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working both to make sure they stay on track as far as learning but also having restorative practices to say okay what kind of practices can you change right here so that this doesn't happen again. Um and again uh one case of false public

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alarm, 20 incences of insubordination, six incidences of harassment, and this is if it was harassment that didn't fall under the category of HIV. Uh so you can have you can harass somebody, but it might not be based on a distinguishing

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characteristic. So it might not be a confirmed HI by law, but it's still harassment. um inappropriate physical contact. We had 15 incidents. That that would be kind of in that gray area between a

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fight and assault. A fight, you need two people, at least two people to consider it a fight. And assault is a pretty egregious. Um this would be, for example, um one quick physical contact, either a shove into the lockers real

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hard or something like that. um that wouldn't be considered assault and also as one direction and wouldn't be considered a fight. And I I say that only because it that's something that's questioned. Um incitement. So we had 10 incidences of incitement and I want to bring that

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up because that's something over the years we really didn't necessarily have. Um this is and I would say um an offshoot of some of the things that take place with social media. And this would be for

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an example if somebody was online using social media to try to encourage a fight, encourage something to happen to the point where they were warned and and it continued um to de definitely disrupt um the atmosphere here. That would be an

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incident that that's what we would call incitement. Um, three cases of noncriminal threat. We had six cases of unauthorized audio f photo or video. This might be for example videotaping and and posting online something about

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another student without their permission. Um, and then we had use of possession of either tobacco or nicotine products. Seven instance of that. Um and that's that's the data along that. Um these next two slides cover

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some of the interventions prevention resources that we have. Um Superintendent Kangelosi Hay mentioned earlier and also the students did about the importance of getting involved. The fact that we have over a 100 clubs and 34 interastic athletics is a great way

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for students to get involved and and build a sense of belonging here. Um, and a lot of times that sense of belonging is what's missing in the students who end up then having some of these uh behaviors that lead to this report if you would. In the ninth grade health

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classes, um, they talk specifically about HIV and also healthy decision- making. Same thing with the 10th grade and the teen mental health program. Unified sports is an example also. Um, three times a year we have uh a lunch

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celebration with students and staff members who are identified as students of the month or student allstars, staff allstars. And that's a program that's uh run by Mr. Estrada, one of our vice principles and he's been doing that for a number of years now. And he has a

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committee of students who take the nominations from students or staff about students or about staff members who uh either go above and beyond uh the norm, maybe had a an amazing situation where they stepped up and and just showed

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great um sense of citizenship. And then we we recognize them with a little reward lunch and and a little pin um and a little certificate that can go home and and that goes a long way. And one of the things that I mention in those

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meetings and I I stand by this is that a lot of times it's the day in and day out just doing the right thing and they're being recognized by their peers or um a staff member. And that's that's really more powerful than any one type of uh

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program that we can have here. when the students themselves day in and day out or the staff members themselves day in and day out are doing the right thing to make this a good place. Um that's a great day for rewarding right there. I do also want to mention on this last

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slide some of the other areas too. Uh and this is more of recommendations as well of supporting to hopefully lessen the numbers that were on this report. Uh the first is the grade level teams. I just want to thank you the board and the and

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the business office and superintendent for you know even in this uh new budget moving forward supporting the house level teams. Um the house level teams meet every week and that's their team of counselors, student assistance counselor, vice principal. Maybe every

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other week the nurses involved every other week the um secretary is involved and they're looking at students. What's going on? what are who are some students that are in need of higher level support? What are some trends they're seeing? And that's that's the core right

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there. Um I'm going to scroll a little further down and I mentioned the AM and PM supervision on here for a reason because a couple of months ago that was one of the areas in at least the budget of uh under my umbrella that we were looking that was probably the only area

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that I looked for an increase. And that's because um in the start of the day and at the end of the day when it's outside of the staff contract time, but it's when we have 2,000 students, adolescence, you know, here. Um, we want

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to increase the AM and PM supervision in the hallways and outside. that increases the number of bathrooms we can open, the number of student staff members that are visible and active amongst the students to hopefully lessen um some of the incidences that I had to report on

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because a lot of times those those incidences that were on here, especially any physical altercations or during that window of time of we have all the students out and about at the same time. Um that's when those take place. they they don't take place during the four

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instructional blocks. Um so if we can increase the amount of supervision during that time that would help. Um the last item there I mention um I have on there I put in bark alerts there and I put in not because of the suspension or

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out of school suspension areas. The Bark system that we have here is a system that's in our IT department and that's if there um if a student or students communicate within our realm of um hc um

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rhs.org if you would um whether it's any threatening comments or of self harm. And I bring that up because um that's an area that we've been able to get out in front and help students prevent something that might

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end up being on this list of data. Um and what that is is an alert that comes to just a few of us. Um, but it comes at any time of day uh where there might be a student for example like and I mentioned either mentioning harm to

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others or self harm and we can jump right in on it and help assist that student from making a a decision that's detrimental to themselves or others. Um, we keep that pretty private if you would. Um, but it is something important to know that I do believe the numbers on

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here would be higher if we didn't have that system. And that's it. Thank you for your time. >> I have two questions. Sure. One is um >> so do you do you feel that these numbers

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are trending up down or staying flat over a few years? >> I I'll give you can I go back a couple of them? >> I didn't I because I like you know this same presentation the same time every year. Right. So I compared the last two years at this presentation of the which

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was of the first six months. I didn't do the whole um so for HIV um we're we're down a little bit from last year which is good less number of incidences um but not as not as far yet

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but two years ago we had even less. So I'd like to go to that. Um this one here we had we did have um I have five assaults listed but I did mention that there were two occurrences incidences

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last year we had two um at this time last year substance offenses I have 19 up there this time last year or this report last year had 22 but the year before had 14. Um, so it went up and

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then it came it's trending down. A year ago, this report had five incences of weapons. The year before that only two and I'm happy to say one here. I'd love to make that zero. Um, and then scrolling down, some of them

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were very similar except I I did notice that harassment I have six. There's six on there. This time last year there was 16. So there were 16 incidences that didn't fall under a hip but were still um an incident harassment.

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However, the inappropriate physical contact that oneway shove if you would um rose from 10 to 15 and you know not pleased with that. And then an area that went down and I think part of it is

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um the unauthorized audio photo videos. I think kind of for two reasons. I think this is one area that students get it like, yeah, you know what? That's that's crossing the line. If you're going to take a video of me in the bathroom or doing something, you're going to post it. That that's out of bounds, if you

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would. I think kind of culturally the students are realizing that's the case. But we also last year increased the consequence of that in our code of conduct. So, I think it's a two-way thing there. They students got like, we're not messing around with that. If you're going to bring your

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phone into the bathroom and you're going to record something and post it, or for example, if there is an altercation between two students, I look at a fight, this sounds kind of weird to say, but that's a pretty personal thing for two students to get that heated, to get

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physical at school, right? If a student breaks out their phone and records that and posts that, that's something that we would consider. And and that's something that we we really went after as well because that goes back to that incitement. That's something that okay,

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you had two students get in a fight. We worked together to you had the consequence. Now let's work it out. Let's get the two of you in a room and make peace. But then it's the buddies who are like, hey, remember that? And are posting that video again. And that's where it just perpetuates. So that's an

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area that I'm sorry to point at you. That's an area that I was happy to see. It went from last year this time 12 down to six. Um, those are the ones that I wrote down. I don't have all the data, but those are the ones that had significant changes

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just from the look. >> Thank you. >> If you would. >> So, the next question. >> Sure. Um, of the substance offenses, do you know offhand, do all of these come from the Halo vape sensors or were they >> multiples

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of Halo situations or um visible, somebody actually sees another student um partake in a substance offense or it may be um their behaviors, you know, kind of what before we had any type of

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payload thing like that. It would come down to a staff member recognizing, wow, that that student's off. Let's let's go check this out. Um let's go make sure they're okay. Uh because they're showing behaviors that are a bit different than normal. Um so it's a mix. It's

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definitely a mix. I don't have the specifics, but I know even off hand it's it's a blend of the three. >> I just want to uh ask sort of part C of Mrs. Rothell's questions. Do you look at trends in terms of grade level students

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or by gender? >> We do. I don't have that on me right now. I apologize. Um, but we do. We do. I will say we tend to see it decrease as the students get older. um that some of

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the risky behaviors tend to perk up in ninth and tth grade and then decrease andor um I'll use the seniors for example they get the right to park on um not the right the privilege to park on campus

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and one of the consequences is if you get caught with a substance violation as a senior with a car on campus you lose that spot. So that's an area where maybe the students think twice before uh engaging anything like that on campus.

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>> It's a good question. >> Sure. So the alerts when you say any time of day is that are you talking 247? >> Yes. >> The question is >> sorry. >> So my question was regarding

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>> regarding the bark alerts. Um Ed mentioned any time of day. So I wanted to know if that was 247. >> It is now it is if you don't mind me couple parts to that. It's not something that like I have a dashboard up and I'm monitoring

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it the whole time. Um, what it is is the system triggers an alert to us depending on what the system sees as the level of concern. So it might be derogatory language or if somebody searches something on the website like a a

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pornographic site that they shouldn't be, they don't get access to it, but it also triggers an alert, but it's not an alarming alert like, whoa, we got to find that student. Now what does get triggered is if there's if there's any type of evidence in this system of um

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for example self harm or harm to others that seems imminent that will raise to the level where um either myself or the vice principal of that grade level student uh triggers an email that says urgent

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and if that doesn't get open with a certain amount of time then they actually trigger a phone call and no alert. So, we have had incidences and I will say that worked out helping students uh for sure where I might be

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home on a Saturday afternoon and we get that alert and then I can see it and then I'll call that family and I'll say, "Hey, I think you just need to make sure right now that your child's okay. This is what an alert we got. They they stated this message to a friend using our system."

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um and this is what it said and you know your child you take care of them right now but if you need help here's some resources for you and that that does happen but it is um yes I don't know if that helped >> no thank you I just have one more

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question so on one of your slides um it showed traditional discipline and restorative discipline I just wanted to know what the distinction is and how do you know when to apply it >> that's a good question Uh I shouldn't do that and I don't do that to stall. I

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know people say you should say that's a good question to think your answer. Um no I think so traditional might be what what is black and white in the code of conduct. You do this this is the number of detentions you get the number of days suspension you get. But where the um

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restorative piece is is two twofold. one we try to like for example when a student is in in school suspension there's two things going on that day one we're helping the the teacher is working with that student to help them you know make sure that whatever they need to get

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done and maybe they're missing some work let's get them back on track academically andor um hey um would you like to use this time to talk to your counselor let's let's instead of waiting till the next day when you're back in class let's do it now you're in in school suspension

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perfect time to do it. Andor we also have these prompts for students um to reflect on all right what decision- making was going on when you made the decision to do whatever got you in this spot? What could you do differently?

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What and that is shared with their counselor. Um so that if they want to follow up, they can. Um there are certain times where and and this is that um where our code of conduct has a range and sometimes we

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make judgment calls based on what we know about the student andor their circumstances andor what the actual incident was and uh we might split it up to where it's two days of out of school suspension. But even though it said five

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days, let's two days of out of school. let's get them situated here and then let's do three days of inschool and let's get them caught up. Let's get that restorative piece going now rather than five days out and then on that sixth day they're not only trying to get caught up

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in their class but oh we might pull you out for the counselor too. So that day is tricky. So we try to then pull it back a little bit. So that's where that would fall. >> Yep. >> Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Brent.

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>> He's going to walk the laptop back to me. Um, so lastly, I just want everyone to know you'll see the Hibb and suspension report on the agenda. Thank you, Mr. Brandt. We did not have any HIP cases to review this month. Um, during our

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executive session just before, the HIP cases we reviewed last month are captured under organizational item number 18. I did want to take a moment just to review some of the items for board action under the organizational section of the agenda. So numbers 1

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through 16 are standard annual items that we need board action and approval on in order to move forward with the 2026 2027 budget and just regular district business. Um we did discuss these at the operations and transportation committee meeting as

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well. Number 17 is an acknowledgement of Mrs. Kellogg's appointment as board president of specific BOE members to our legal services RFP committee. And number 18, as I just mentioned, is our Hib um our standard HI motion for the ones that were reviewed in last month's executive

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session. So that concludes my report tonight, and I'll pass it back over to you, Mrs. Kellogg. Thank you. Um so now is our first residence forum on the agenda. This is only for items that are on the agenda for voting. There will be a separate

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public comment section at the end of the meeting for anyone to speak to. >> Um I guess if you if you are going to speak, please um sign in and say your name and municipality. Is there anyone

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intending to speak? >> Okay. Oh. >> Oh yes. Sorry. Oh, thank you. Sorry about that. All right, Rachel White, Raron Township. I mostly just wanted to thank Mr. Brandt for the presentation because it was very informative. It's a lot of information

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about, you know, I've I've had a student graduate, so I've definitely seen the consequences of some of these things, including video recording of incidents because that did happen in our time here previously. Um, and so it's helpful to understand how all of that works. But I

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was also really pleased to hear about the restorative approach because I think that really is so significant when we're talking about showing the students that we care about engaging them and about actually helping them grow, right? We want them to succeed. But that method

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really shows a balance between, you know, consequences, especially when expectations are known, but also trying to help them grow past, you know, things that they might make mistakes with and uh and showing them that we believe that they can do better and that we're actually here to support them in that.

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So, I just thought that that was really wonderful. So, thank you. Thank you. Any other comments on action items? Okay. If not, we'll close public comment. And would anyone like to Well, I move

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organizational items 1 through 19. >> 18. 18. 1 through 18. Do I have a second? >> Second. Yeah. >> Any any comments on the organizational items?

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>> I just wanted to bring up I6 a little bit and I'm wondering if maybe we want to consider holding off since we don't know the situation with um the actual board

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secretary, board administrator and purchasing agent. So, do we want to consider um moving items 1 through five and 7 through 18 and then readress this actual organizational item when we actually have a person?

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>> Um so, Miss Stokes is a QPA. So, um it's it's appropriate. >> Okay. Then we probably should change the wording because it says um school business administrator in most of the resolution. >> Is it okay? Yeah, please.

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That's a good point. I think in the past we used to list the business administrator's name, but this year because we don't have someone yet, we listed business administrator >> for whomever will assume that role at that starting July 1st.

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>> So, you're expecting to have someone July 1st, but we're voting on it now, not knowing whether it's going to be Maryanne, Mrs. Stokes or someone different because I I believe you had mentioned before we might have an acting board administrator. >> We might have an acting business administrator but who regardless we will

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have someone in that role that will be the certified you know agent the financial agent on behalf of the business. >> So then that kind of brings me back should we wait until we know who that person is or whether that is actually going to be our business our board business board secret

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>> I don't know what Mrs. Stoke's official title is she's >> business. Um it it's up to you all to decide. Um I think like legally we're protected with that language, but it would be up to you all to decide if you wanted it on there. Um is there wouldn't

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delay us, right? Because it goes into effect July 1st. I just I I felt, you know, I felt like normally we always know who that is and I was like, is this is this okay to be having on here when one the title is different and two there's no person? >> Yeah. No, I it's a good it it really is

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a good question to ask. Um we from a legal standpoint, we're okay, but it, you know, you all have to be comfortable with it, too. >> Any other comments? Okay. I'm just want to ask respond to um Mrs. Russell. Um is there is there any

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um disadvantage to not approving it now or is it just kind of proforma and we might as well wait. I'm I don't have a I don't have a bias either way. I'm just kind of curious um as to as to whether it matters.

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Um, I can only say like whoever whoever is selected for that role, if they have a QPA, that would be their limits. So if if your candidates have a QPA, then that would be their limits. But somebody without a QPA, the limits would change. >> And my understanding is >> so then that makes even more sense that

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we should hold off. >> I don't believe Yeah, I was going to say I believe the QPA is required for our business. The other the other point is so so assuming the person starts July 1st we're having our board meeting um >> in June

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right but we won't can't approve it in June unless we know in June right so so would we just then approve on July 1 sort of ad hoc rather I'm I'm the I'm just wanting to make sure that we're clear about what we're stopping or not starting I I don't have

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a bias either way I just want to know No, it's that's a good question and I'm actually thinking back to last month because Leslie asked Miss Lacost, excuse me, asked a really good question when we had that item about I think the benefits

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the motion and it was tied to the the budget motion and we were like we need to make sure that both go through because they're they rely on one another. Um so what hopefully we have someone on the next agenda. So if this if you want to table

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this um or push it to the next meeting um I would then suggest we move you know we always have organizational items up front but then we would want to probably put this afterwards if there were a vote on personnel regarding a a business

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administrator position. Okay. Okay. So then I think maybe I am making a motion to table I6 until June in hopes that we would actually have the ability to name the

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person and or official title. >> Okay. So I'll second that. Okay. So now we're the motion is to postpone I6 until June when we have hopefully an understanding of of who will be filling the role of business administrator.

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Okay. So is there any >> that is my motion. >> Is there any comment on that motion? >> Sort of a comment um but also a question. This is an annual item for approval. So if we have a a new BA or an

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acting or interim BA and at some point during the year or in any year if that BA were to step down and mid cycle we find ourselves in a position where the

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person named is changing. Isn't it almost better? You mentioned that we've removed the specific name of the person and so we're referencing title, we're referencing certification, it's legally sound.

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Um I'm just not sure if that makes any difference postponing it to June or being able to vote on it now. >> Yeah, I get where she's coming from, but in the past we've always named the person

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Yeah, >> I I I I I think the situation might be different if we haven't acting and there has something to be said for it that if we in fact for whatever reason somebody um not for any negative reason had to had to shift and we didn't hire the person who was acting or the person

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acting didn't want to or whatever and then then we have the process again. the so it is kind of a tied together thing. Again, I as as long as there's a smooth transition and that whoever is the business administrator who has the appropriate qualifications is not kept

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from doing their job. That's to me that is the most important that there is no gap. That's >> and if you can reassure me that whether there's a name in there or not, there'll be no gap. >> Yes. >> Well, and and that that's my understanding of this motion is that we are setting the thresholds. It's not about the person, it's about the

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thresholds. Um So this isn't a dual thing that >> not a dual thing that approves a threshold and approves a person at the same time. >> Correct. >> This is just about the threshold, not about the person. >> Right. >> Well, no, because the the motion actually directly states a position's

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responsibility. >> Well, the position, >> but the position could be different than board administrator. And again, I'm I'm not I'm just saying since we have a little leeway, why don't we just hold off since historically our practice has

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been to name that person or in any case the title could be potentially wrong come July 1. >> I don't think the title will be wrong. >> We won't have acting. We will have an abort administrator. >> Can the acting and business administrator in this type of motion

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would be be the same thing? And in fact, you probably leave it business administrator. Um, but if you're all more comfortable with having the name there, then you can wait till June. That I it's not it's not to your point, and thank you for saying that, it's not

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going to slow down our operations at this point in time. If we make it to July, then yes, but but we're we're still in May >> that we're not throwing a personnel decision into this particular >> Yeah, I Yeah, I do want to be careful around the personnel. If we wait and add

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a name and that person is acting and then is replaced within that 12-month period, would we have to revisit this? >> So, by adding the name, we actually reduce the flexibility and we'd have to go back and revisit it if we >> Yes, but we've in the past that has been

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the case. I mean, Heather was named last year when we did this resolution. So, if Heather had decided to step down midyear, we would have had to redo the resolution with the correct adjustments. Uh just um again in terms of information. So is this motion to

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approve the bid quote threshold or is it to approve the individual in the position? The way I read it is move to approve the following resolution authorizing bid slashquote thresholds. I just want to be sure what it what the

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motion is. >> It is based on the bid quote threshold. Our amount is based on the fact that we require business administrator to be a qualified purchasing agent. Did I say that correctly? Yes. So there are other motions too that

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you'll see even if you look at organizational item number one um 26 27 officials you'll see like a TBD in there, right? So we're once we have all this underway in terms of personnel we will put those additional items all those

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TBDs will go back on um again. So, so there are other kind of motions that this spills over into as well. >> The mo if you read the motion fully, it is it is twofold. It's not strictly giving a bid threshold. I mean, it says, yeah, be further resolved that the

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school business administrator is hereby authorized. >> But it also says board secretary. So, Maryanne Stokes is listed as board secretary, right? school business, right? >> Yes.

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>> Is is the uh consideration that if we do not have a name uh on the June agenda for business administrator that the that the acting business administrator uh would be uh on there and that person would it would be on there with the

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stipulation that they are QBA. If there are no further comments, we will vote on the amendment. So, the amendment that we're currently voting on is to postpone um I6 until the the June meeting.

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Miss Stokes. Okay. Miss Gong? >> No. >> Dr. Halpern? >> No. >> Miss Laccasta? Yes, >> Mrs. Rothell. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Santangelo.

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>> Yes, >> Ms. Wallace. >> No, >> Mr. Williams. >> No, >> Miss Bryce. >> No, >> Mrs. Kellogg. >> No. >> Okay. No motion will stay on the agenda. >> Thank you. So, now we're going back to

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the original motion for H1 through H18. I >> I sorry I 1 through I18. >> Any additional comments on those motions? On that motion? >> I just have a quick question. So on the

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legal RFP, so is that for new board counsel? Is that the purpose of the RFP? >> Uh the RFP is actually for all district council. So it includes board counsel as well as special education personnel and contracts. >> Those are the Yeah,

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>> those So is the consideration to not use current board counselss which is actually the board counsel not special counsel but so Shank Price and Kyle Trent. Um that that's up to the committee. So, my understanding is that

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the RFP has been sent out to all current board council um and the committee will review all of the proposals and um proposed to the board who the the board who who they recommend. >> Okay. Thank you.

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I also I'm just going to add um Miss Santangelo, everyone on the board is going because I think we did this last year, everyone on the board will get all the RFP responses so that everyone you know if you have questions um Miss Wallace is the chair, you know, you can

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send that over to her. Thank you. If there are no further comments, Miss Stokes, uh roll call, please. Miss Gang. >> Yes. On items 1 through 18, >> Dr. Halpern, >> yes. On items 1-8,

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>> Miss Laccasta, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rothell, >> yes. Mrs. Santangelo, >> yes. >> Miss Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Williams, >> yes. >> Miss Bryce, >> yes.

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>> And Mrs. Kellogg, >> yes. >> All yes. Motion carries. Dr. Halpern, Student Life and Program. >> Hello. Student life and program met on May 4th and we had one action item that we discussed and had a few other

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discussions. Um, so the action item had to do with work-based learning. The committee reviewed the district's partnerships with over 60 local vocational locations for the students in the Achieve special education program. Students in the Achieve program typically begin community-based placements at age 16 with job coaches to

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develop social and communication skills. The program is most robust for students aged 18 to 21 as they work toward IEP goals and gainful employment. Currently, students are active at approximately 14 locations. The comprehensive list was

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presented for approval to ensure that as new student interests arise, placements can proceed without waiting for additional board action. successes. Success is measured through the data collected by job coaches on specific IEP goals and objectives. The reliance on

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the committee discussed the potential for a dedicated off-site location in Flemington to reduce reliance on busing and improved life skills through community navigation. This is a long-term goal pending budget and location availability. We also had a had a discussion of the

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Aspire program. So, I'd like to speak a little bit about that. Um the Aspire program is uh part of the uh multi-tiered system of supports. Um it is a tier three um uh program. So the the committee addressed some several

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questions that were made by a board member addressing legal and policy. The tiered support framework um involves uh the tier three intervention with the within the general education setting part of the statemandated multi-tered system of support. It addresses academic, social, emotional, behavioral

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and attendance needs es specifically school avoidance through a smaller personalized environment. Um, special education and and IDEIDA. The administration confirmed that the program does not skirt special education laws under NJAC 6A14 and IDEIDA.

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Districts must document that interventions were attempted in the general education setting before referring a student to a child study team for the most restrictive special education placement. Parental involvement and transparency. It was noted that parents are the first point of contact and must provide explicit

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permission for their students to participate in Aspire or receive tier 3 counseling services. I'd like to add that in our discussion um it was very clear that students would not be placed in Aspire as if today you're a regular gen ed and tomorrow you're aspire

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students typically if they're having some challenge they will begin with tier one and if tier one is not seen as being sufficient then tier two and whatever parental involvement is involved in tier one and two that's that's what happens in tier one and two in tier three if it

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is thought that the student might do well in the Aspire program in this more um limited limited setting in terms of um smaller classes etc. then the first point of contact once individuals in the school think that it would be potentially helpful the first point of

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contact is the parent not the student. the student does not actually know anything about this that they are being considered unless the parent um is is interested and willing and it is done through an in-person meeting with the parent not a a simple consent form. Um

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my understanding is that um in the time since 2018 that we've had Aspire is that um parents who were where who um came to discuss it did accept and did want their child to be in this program. Um, another thing that's important that that um I

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want to raise is that I was concerned personally about whether a a student who was placed in Aspire would end up getting stuck in Aspire. That would they be then not able to go back to their choice of classes that they had had before that they would not be able to be

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involved in activities or any of those things. and and it was very clear that as the student uh exists in Aspire that every attempt is made to note when the student is wants to do something outside wants to go back to a class is ready to

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leave and in fact one instance was desri described where the student essentially was an aspire for maybe two months maybe three months so it can happen that the student is not in there very long however the other the alternative can also occur that that the Aspire program

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is not meeting the the students needs. The goal for the Aspire program is that these are students who don't have a specific necessarily a specific disability or special need that would already have placed them in special ed, but that some combination of what's

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going on in their lives is keeping them from from potentially staying in school. So, they're in Aspire so that we can make sure that they stay in school and benefit from that rather than dropping out um or something else happening. So of course it can happen that in fact Aspire is really not sufficient, not the

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appropriate thing. Um and then there is a referral process where information from the Aspire program can also be used as the student becomes evaluated for potentially a special ed type of situation. So um so students in Aspire may have 504

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plans just as any other general ed student. And so the multi-tered system supports program is evaluated by the state through the QAC process. And the most recent CQAC review provided full points to the district for this program and also in the past program which I believe was something like three years

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ago or so. The CUSAC and possibly before the Aspire program has been around since since 2018 and it has grown since then. Um, so I just wanted to share this information about Aspire and uh certainly if if there are additional questions um uh we can receive comments

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about that and potentially answer other questions. I move to the action item for the workbased learning 2.1. >> Thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. Now, is there discussion on the action

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item, which is work-based learning? >> I think I just would like to point out that I love that this is a really big list. >> It says something about our community. >> Thank you. >> Miss Stokes, roll call. >> Dr. Halpern,

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>> yes. >> Miss Laccasta, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zeroell, >> yes. >> Mrs. Santangelo. >> Yes. >> Miss Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Williams, >> yes. >> Miss Bryce, >> yes. >> Miss Gong, >> yes. >> Mrs. Kellogg, >> yes.

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>> All yes. Motion carries. >> Reverend Williams. Operations and transportation. >> Sure. The committee met on May 12th. Uh, in attendance were myself, D. Kellogg, Ellen Halpern, M. Mayor Stella Wallace, Superintendent Kangelo Haye, business

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administrator Heather Spitzer, Assistant Business Administrator Maryanne Stokes. Tonight, the committee uh has 25 items for uh approval. K1 through three are standard board items uh of the financial reports,

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invoices, and transfers. K4 moves to amend the total amount of the health benefit adjustment in the adopted 2627 2026 27 budget. K5 moves to accept the school bus evacuation drills conducted

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pursuant to NJ uh AC 6A27-11.2. K6 moves to accept with gratitude a donation of photography supplies with value of $1,28 donated by Miss Brenda Picelli.

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K7 moves to assign a value of $30 each for districtisssued Chromebooks not returned by seniors at the end of the school year. K8 moves to approve the non resident tuition rates for the 2627 school year. While K9 moves to approve a shared services agreement for the 2026

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27 school year with Hunter County Vocational School District for uh for Central to provide provide school nursing services at an annual fee of $43,467. K10 moves to approve the 2026 27 meal

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prices as K11 moves to approve the 202627 food I'm sorry meal prices for K10 food price list for K11. K12 moves to approve the parental transportation agreement for the 2026 27 school year

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while K13 moves to approve the renewal of craft bus regular transportation routes for the 202627 school year. K14 moves to approve the renewal of a joint transportation routes between the central BOE and the Delaware township

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BOE for the 202627 school year. K15 moves to approve the renewal of the joint transportation routes between the central BOE and the East Amwell Township BOE for the 202627 school year. K16 moves to approve the municipal tax levy

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payment schedule for the 202627 school year. K17 moves to approve a joint transportation agreement between Delaware Valley uh Regional High School and Central for the 2026-27 school year. K18 moves to authorize submission of the

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2026 27 application for extraordinary special education aid to the Department of Education pursuant to NJSA 18A 7F-55. K19 moves to cancel all outstanding

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checks that are older than six months effective May 1st. K20 moves to approve an addition an optional parent paid electronic device insurance plan of $50. The cost of the plan is uh valid for coverage on one

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device for the 202627 school year. K21 moves to approve the superintendent's recommendation to recognize no extracurricular activity fee for inclusion in the activity participation fee program for the 202627

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school year. K22 moves to approve the 2026 central corporate sponsorship program. K23 moves to award the contract for the architectural studio upgrades to Triform Construction Inc. the lowest responsible

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bidder uh responsive and responsible bidder. The total amount valued at $252,600 and to approve a withdrawal from capital reserve in the amount of $277,866 uh which includes the construction contract, associated professional

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services, inspection fees, and the project contingency. K24 moves to award the contract for the IMC partial roof replacement. Uh that's state project number 2300-50-23-R513 to Waterproof Technologies Inc. WTI in

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the amount of $435,872.80 80 and to withdraw uh up to $479,4608 from capital reserves which includes contingency as uh the as an approved pro as approved in the 202627 budget.

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K26 uh moves to award the contract per the roofing repair and maintenance services for the old wooden GM roof replacement uh roof project state project number 2300050-223- R509 to WTI Inc. in the amount of

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$449,9243 and to withdraw up to $494 $494,91644 from capital reserve which includes contingency uh as approved in the 202627 budget. And finally, K26 moves to authorize the business administrator to

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enter into a contract with the uh with WTI in the amount of $155,424.91 for the purpose of repairing the roof in the 1112 counseling office and to authorize the withdrawal from maintenance reserve in the amount of $170,967

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uh41 cents that includes contingency. I move to approve items 11 uh L L1 through uh I'm sorry K K1 through uh K26. >> Is there a second? >> Second.

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>> Thank you. Any comments on these items? >> I just wanted to address um items one through through three. Um Leslie, Jessica Rothal, and myself have raised questions and requested a reconciliation of legal contracts, board

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resolutions approving legal billing rates, and the corresponding legal invoices. Through this review, we identified multiple discrepancies as we've all discussed, including a legal invoice originally totaling approximately 6,000 that remain under review under review. Given these

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unresolved issues and the ongoing discussions surrounding them, we have not approved the financial reports. Under New Jersey 6A23A, when a board member votes no on the certification of financial reports, the board must report the reason for that no vote to the executive county

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superintendent Juan Torres. The reporting obligation rests with the board of education, not the board president. The regulation also requires that the reasons for the dissenting vote be submitted to Juan Torres. At the board meeting, we stated our reasons publicly. Following the meeting, Miss

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Kellogg again requested that information from us so she could report it to Juan Torres. I asked for a copy of that response that would be submitted to Mr. Torres as the regulation contemplates action by the board as a whole rather than by the board president acting independently. To date, that response

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has not been provided to myself or the full board. As a result, I submitted an open request on Friday to obtain the correspondence. This step should not have been necessary, but I believe all board members are entitled to review what is being submitted in the board's name, and the board president does not

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have the authority to work unilaterally. So, in response to some of your comments and the president's report, this is some of the information that we're talking about where we're not getting it and we should be getting it. Um, the other issue is the legal invoice initially

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questioned at approximately $6,000. It has since been reduced to approximately 3,000, demonstrating the value of diligent oversight. I also continue to question the $200 per hour billing rate applied beginning in October of 2025 because that rate is outside the scope

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of services in the contract that we were operating under. And at that time the conflict where the law firm was servicing not just special ed but was also representing this board on the Gibble case. So hence a conflict with representing a board member on an ethics case. So that's the issue and I haven't

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seen which I've requested the board resolution authorizing that. Um and then there's also the discrepancies with regard to the Udica reimbursement checks to be able to provide that checks and balance. So I think that's a major issue that has not been resolved and that is

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why we have not approved the financials and I think we haven't received all that information. So we continue and I don't want to speak for Leslie and Jessica but I continue to feel uncomfortable with um voting yes on that.

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So my comments were going to be similar in the sense that um now publicly but also in writing you have um informed us that we should be getting consensus to get the answers of the things we need particularly as they pertain to the

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finances which our due diligence clearly showed was a benefit to the district. Um I have since confirmed that um doing a consensus poll among our board members is actually a violation of OPMA. So to

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go to every single person on a phone or an email and ask the same exact question to acquire consensus is breaking OPA. So I will not be trying to get consensus and I will continue to ask the questions of the chair that would and put in the

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Google Drive. I've done both things that are being requested. >> Did you have something you wanted to add? Okay. Um, so I'm I'm assuming that that was on what items one through three. I I will say I am not I have not

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requested that there be a consensus poll. I think the district the the desire is to have a majority of the board or a consensus of the board requesting information of the

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district and having individual um board member requesting contracts and evaluations and analyses um can take away from the the day-to-day

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operations of the district and the responsibilities that our staff currently has. So I guess what what I am requesting is that those requests and and this is why we have that form, right? So that everyone can see what

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that request is. Everyone can go to the chair of the committee and say yes, that's a great idea. I think we really need to look into that. Um it doesn't it it's not a requirement to pick up the phone and poll every member of of the board. Um so

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>> your emails to me have basically said to do that. Um you have said that I should build consensus with the majority which means either email or have a conversation with five four other members to build consensus. You've

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clearly built consensus with three members of the board. So I I don't understand how >> why are you saying I clearly have built consensus just because three of us have >> three of you in public have said that you are you have a consensus on this matter and you're all looking for the

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same information. >> Have all three of us written the chair or the superintendent for the exact same information? Is there record of that being asked which increases administrative um necessity to do more work? >> So I I guess >> so you're arguing that the re that we

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can't do it because each of you excuse me. I just ask that each of our board members give the other board member the respect to finish their statement so that we can actually follow what's going on. So if we could do that, that would be much appreciated. Thank you.

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>> Thank you. And and I will I will say um this discussion or this debate is related to the um the matter that's in front of the board right now. And if you would like to have an offline conversation about communications, we can have that or we can discuss it as a

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group at the retreat on the 15th if you'd like to wait until that time. But the motion that's before the board is K1 through K25, not um a discussion of uh communications. So, okay. Are there any

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other comments [clears throat] on K1 through K2? >> Yes, I'll bring it back explicitly to K1 through three. So, um, you you addressed that in your president's report that the only way that we should be getting the information as a board is to get

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consensus and one of us sends. My question is because of the fact that it's increasing administrative work. However, you just stated that all three of us or more are not asking the same questions and I am following the practice by which

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you ask in two different ways and >> and and I believe that Reverend Williams has al also replied that the other option is to make an appointment with the business administrator and you're welcome to go in and look at those contracts and do the evaluation. No one

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is keeping you from seeing the information. We're just not using staff time to collate and spoon feed it to board members. C >> could I >> please >> as as as it um regards the the $6,000 uh

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check that you mentioned from back in October, information was as you said uh was was uh provided that shows that yes, you you are correct. The rate for for that uh consultation was incorrect. the

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the current the the appropriate rate was uh subsequently provided and that dropped the the amount uh down to the 300,000 as as you uh um correctly state and also no >> he said 300,000

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>> 3,000 3,000 >> correct 3,000 >> also um it was the information was provided to you that that rate was approved by our uh insurance uh company in that rate did not require because

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skank price uh was a an approved um contract for our legal services did not does not require that we have to to go that we have to have a resolution for that unlike uh uh like like some of the

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other who were not some of the other councils for uh ethics charges who were not approved and not council uh for approved council by the board information that you requested was provided to you.

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>> My my issue is that that rate of 200 was not in the contract. It was lower and so there needs to be a board resolution to approve the $200 which goes above what the contracted rate was. That's the issue and we don't have a board resolution I don't think for that

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that um higher rate. And the response is that because it is approved and it's it was an ethics charge and because it was approved by the insurance our insurance uh uh broker that it did not recruit it

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did not did not require an approval or a resolution by the board because they are already uh part of our approved uh council >> right at a lower rate and that I think goes outside the scope of services. So there's the issue

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>> I was going to say. So I I I would just like to note that board counsel um Mr. Trent has looked at this issue and has determined that as long as the council is contracted with the district that if

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the insurance company approves the rate, there is not an additional step of the board approving the rate. Um so I'm sorry. And that would be because the insurance company is paying it correct >> as opposed to the to the district paying it. >> Correct. >> That's that's a crucial part of the

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distinction. Right. >> And and and the matter of the $6,000 has been resolved that our insurance company actually paid the or or I'm sorry, the the district paid

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skank price. We notified them that that was incorrect. They sent the check back. We've sent that information to you. You have that information that that that has been resolved as an issue. >> Yes, I understand what you're saying.

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So, do do you share the information from Kyle with the board about that? >> I don't think we have that >> that that is part of the information that I sent to you in as part of your uh >> I know what you're talking about, right? But I didn't see anything from Kyle.

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>> Yes, it was in the it was in the email. because it was shared to to all of us what Kyle's uh recommendation was uh to the district. >> Okay. It it came from Miss Kangeli hate. It was shared with the full board. >> Okay. I'll take a look at that. Okay.

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>> I just have a quick question. Um using the example of the $200 UDICA approved. I'm asking I think this is directed at you. Um, is it accurate that we put the money out

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first and then get reimbursed >> is okay. Yep. Yes. >> Um, that's how it works. That's not all boards, not all insuranceances, but for this particular case, that is what we do. >> Oh, just for this case, >> well, for in our case with our insurer, that is how it works. Some um in other

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districts, >> the the actual the board member puts the money out themselves. So, we're in a much better I think a much better I hope you all think that too. Uh in a much better situation in that case, but um because we did work on a procedure last

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year, Miss Santangelo, Mr. Trent and I um we do make sure that the insurer will approve the the attorney and the rate before anybody moves forward with anything. >> Understood. So um rate approved

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district pays out of pocket first for then subsequent reimbursement from the insurance company. So my question was what is the validation or cross reference process that if I put out I'll make it up $4,000 that I actually see

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the 4,000 reimbursement come back in. That's the checks and balance. You mean like does the district sees the money come back in? That's the checks and balances in the business office. >> And Miss Angelos aid, are we also uh trying to work out uh where uh that

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payment would actually go directly to the uh uh to Udica in this case? >> We would love for it to go right to UNICA in every case if we could. Um there are certain cases well where they'll do that. Um but then in other cases we have to put the money out first.

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>> So I have a question. So, so thank you for whomever who made the correction of the $6,000 check and now it's really a $3,000 check or a fee, right? So, that's a good thing. So, to the motion though for

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financial reports, invoices, uh, and transfers, are you still I guess this is the question. Are we still questioning the accuracy of that? Well, I think I that's a good question

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because I don't remember seeing the reconciliation of the legal invoices, the contracts. I know there was on file issues and so I don't I haven't seen that information. I I haven't personally seen that.

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>> I was going to say I do believe that was shared with the full board, but it it was probably shared by Miss Rothal. >> No. >> Okay. But that's not >> she's miss district. >> I I do think I shared um it was nine

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maybe Excel sheets that um Mrs. Spitzer had put together that went through each contract. I think each contract was linked in their hourly rates um to to do that sort of reconciliation. But that was a that was maybe in March,

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>> right? But I think we had some issues with some of those rates being on file and then we didn't match it up with board resolutions. So I have not seen that match up. >> I so because the board at that time last year's board approved the rates saying

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as on file those rates are approved. Is that I'm not sure I understand the question >> but we weren't alerted that the on file meant that there was actually a change in a rate. Right. We assumed it was the rate that we knew it was at, right? So that should have been something that was

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alerted to us because how would we know? How would we know otherwise, right? So I don't think that's been reconciled. >> What? >> It doesn't. So from a legal standpoint, from like a board standpoint, it doesn't need to be reconciled, but I heard, you

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know, I agree with you. Anytime we can put the amount on, we absolutely should and we will moving forward. Um, same thing with your question about ethics cases. You know, we want to be as transparent as possible. And I think that's the most recent communication I sent with with regard to Mr. Trent that

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said, what's the best practice moving forward on how to put them as a pro approved provider, but to indicate that it's a different rate because it's it could be an ethics case. So, um, we you will see that next month. You'll see that all taken care of. But if there are

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questions, please bring them forward. you know, Vernon is the chair, but please send them in so that we can make sure if there are questions that they're asked before the vote. I think we had done that, but okay. So, maybe somebody should resend that

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information so we have the latest >> and we can I'm talking about the um board resolutions, the contracts, and the invoices just to make sure that's matching up. That's what I don't think we've all seen. I I I've seen Jessica's

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stuff, but I I didn't see it validated. I I'm not sure what the latest greatest is, I guess. >> So, that would be helpful. >> My email to you with the response that the entire board was copied on Miss Kangalloi Hayes uh spreadsheet as as she

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has said and I informed you where to where to find that uh that spreadsheet that we were all given. Also, um we are not going to be able to match up because the the the resolution because the resolution stays on file and that

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information was indeed and in fact in in Miss Kangalloi Haye's um spreadsheets to us the contracts are there. They are linked uh in that spreadsheet and every and all of us can see that. Um, and

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subsequent uh to that, Miss Kang Joel Hay sent a cheat sheet, a one-page cheat sheet of all of the representation and what they do for the uh for the district. We all have that now. >> Guess I don't know how to reconcile the

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on file piece of it then because that's we had a different understanding with regard to the rate. So that that's seems problematic. Miss Wallace, >> Vernon, how much of the uh rate increase is offset by not having the attorney at

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all the monthly meetings? >> Well, well, I well, I think that that that rate, you know, um uh that we're talking about is is only on the board council, which was uh Kyle uh Kyle Trent. You know, I mean, as as we've all seen,

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we do not have the board uh at at council at the table. Uh so we don't pay transportation, we don't have the hourly, you know, the hours of of uh payment for board counsel now. Um we have that if there is a question if we

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need to speak to the attorney, we do that in executive session and uh and there undoubtedly is a is a tremendous savings from that from the first uh during this first five months of this month. >> Well, okay. So, we still have an attorney in executive session and we may

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be looking at an OPMA violation because we shouldn't be fielding questions that can be fielded in the public in private because the public should see and hear what we're discussing the which is ironic, right? Because that's the sunshine law. And I totally disagree

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with talking about board governance and executive session and theoretical and hypothetical situations in, you know, behind closed doors with paying our attorney when that should be done right here. So, I totally disagree because we could be looking at something.

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>> Well, I I would like to say that our board attorney made it. >> I'm sorry. I'm still talking though, D. I'm sorry. I'm still finishing my thought. >> I I apologize. Please finish your thought. So, I feel like we could be looking at something that is at an even greater cost if we uh have a an open

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complaint, right? Because then we have to defend it legally. And so, I think that could be an issue. So, I don't know if there's a cost savings. And we also have a duplicative board counsel right now, right, in Kyle, Trent, and Kate. So, and I don't know if that's really

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the best continuity either. And we're we're getting different sets of information. Right. So Kyle said certain things last year, but now this year he said other things, but he's not here to validate it. So there's a lot of misinformation going on as well. So I

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don't think that's the best scenario either. So I I guess I would just like to point out that, you know, board counsel, we did have this discussion about um OPMA in executive session. Um she did point out that she

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would not be giving um the board legal advice in public. So it would always have to be an executive session. However, the board is welcome to share that legal advice in public if that's what we would like to do. Um

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I guess the the other challenge that I have with um Mr. Trent from last year is that all of the board communicate or all the communications with Mr. Trent went specifically through the board president um and was not shared with the rest of

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the board. So he wasn't really board counsel. Whatever guidance was given was given to the board president. And the purpose of having board counsel in executive session for all of the board members to hear his advice. It or her advice in this case with with um Miss

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Gaffilian is that it is Miss Gaffilian is the board counsel. We all have the opportunity to ask the questions and we all have the opportunity to hear the information that is being provided. So there is consistent information and any board member can certainly follow up and

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ask for a written opinion um or additional information. Um but again we act as a board. Um sorry please. I'd like to also say that although I agree that certain things should be in public and it's

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sometimes hard for us to know, we do distinguish between deliberative content and more uh you know things that are beyond the deliberative point. And so I do think that some of what ends up getting talked about in executive session has a kind of deliberative feel.

404
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So it allows us to talk about stuff in a way that we then learn something just like we do in our committees. Our committees are not we don't we don't um provide um a verbatim recording of

405
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committee meetings. Public does not come to committee meetings unless you know their individuals are invited. So it feels to me that there is sort of a piece of this that is deliberative. I I don't know that anybody necessarily agrees with me, but it does feel as though there's some things that that can be discussed more openly because it's

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deliberative. We just want to know things. We don't want to make the decision. We want to hear what the lawyer has to say. And generally with uh lawyer client privilege, the client can share. It's you know the lawyer can't the lawyer is not free to share but but

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we are and we can agree on what we share. So I will I will just add that the sunshine law is specific about the things that can be talked about without the public present. So there is there is the law, right? And so that I don't

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think that squares up with the law. And I guess we'll find out. >> I'm not sure that the sunshine law is long enough to describe every single thing that everybody talks about. I do think it makes a lot of sense to actually summarize and have something from the executive committee that might

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actually go to the public. And it makes a lot of sense to me that we could have that happen and then we would be um sharing that um Any other comments on other action items?

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>> I I will just add that when Kyle was here, he was accessible to everyone. He addressed public comments at times. He also addressed uh board member comments um as well in executive about appropriate topics. So um I do have one

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other thing I was just curious about with regard to the agenda. Um, Nikki, I was just curious why the committee discussed a policy in Can you specify which policy, please?

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>> It's noted in the minutes. >> I think it Yeah, I recall reading the minutes. I think it was 0174. >> So, I was just curious why you was that right >> discussed that in an in policy wasn't in the committee. I don't believe but um we

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we can the discussion of 0174 was not a discussion of changing the policy. It was a discussion of the policy changes that happened between March of 2025 and November of 2025. Um, so in the res in

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the revision that was approved by the board in November of 2025, there was text that was removed that required the business administrator to get board approval before um paying, am I correct

415
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on this? Before paying the legal invoices. So, in March 2025, we added language that specifically said the board had to approve the invoices prior to them being allowed to be added to the bill list. What this had what that did and what that what that policy

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essentially did is, you know, this month we're actually voting on um Mr. Trent's bills from November. So, it's it's significantly delayed our ability to pay the the legal bills. that language was left out of the March or sorry of the

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November 2025 um uh version of that policy. So the discussion in was around returning to our our previous practices of presenting the bills to the to the board. Um and then automatically if

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there if there are no comments when the board receives the bills this month, they will automatically be put on the bills list next month for approval. um just so we can can actually you know not be 120 180 days in the rears on our our legal bills. So is there anything that

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you'd like to add to that? >> So Nikki you you're saying that you weren't in that committee. >> I do not serve on the committee and all the committee members were present. So

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there was no if if I had attended >> uh that would be quorum I I had no involvement. >> This was as it relates to walking in I'm just curious. Right. So that night when I was leaving personnel and you were walking in with Vernon were you going somewhere else?

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>> You said hello to me. >> I think this is uh getting a little bit uh >> beyond the board's responsibilities and roles. Mentioned if I could answer that. I was walking in with Maryann Stokes >> and just to confirm I have never

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attended an meeting but I have requested as a new board member I specifically have asked Vernon if one of his committee members is going to miss the meeting for whatever reason and he knows in advance. I have requested an

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invitation to attend that meeting just specifically as a learning opportunity. I would love to sit in on that meeting and observe and understand a little bit more. I have never and I would never try

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to I wasn't even there that night. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> I I was going to say and and we just pulled up the minutes. Um Mrs. Wallace was at the meeting because Ms. Lacosta was not at the meeting this this month. >> Thank you.

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>> Yeah. So Nikki, I'm sorry, Miss Bryce would have been a quorum. Is there >> I do want to make a comment. So back to last year just with Mr. Trent at the table. Um I recall that there were a couple of times when I asked him questions and he said uh where we can

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discuss this in executive session. So yes, there were times when he did speak at the table, but there were um several times when he said he just wasn't going to respond and that he would respond in executive session. Going back to this

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particular motion for so for financial reports it really is our balance sheet for the district for the month and if you look at the accounts for us not to approve this um

428
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salaries of teachers [laughter] uh general supplies and even if we didn't approve this I'm not quite sure how I would confirm confirm the payroll amount for every teacher staff member to come up with a

429
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number that's sitting on our um financial report. So I think if there's a problem with checks that probably falls under invoices but for financial reports u I don't know I have to have

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some trust in the business office that these numbers are correct and if they are not correct I don't know how we would as board members be able to actually come up with these numbers.

431
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So my comment is it's really think about whether we should not approve financial reports or transfers because we're saying that the district has enough money to pay our bills. >> I guess my question would be is if we found one discrepancy that was $6,000

432
02:54:38.160 --> 02:54:57.760
that turned into $3,000 and that's the one we found. It does create a level of >> I I understand there's also legal services within the secretar's report like as I went line by line and so when you happen to have found one issue that

433
02:54:57.760 --> 02:55:13.840
was a 50% oversight it doesn't exactly create the level of confidence that we are being asked to have without going deeper and so like I get what you're saying like a person's salary is the person's salary, it's tied to that person. It's W2. But

434
02:55:13.840 --> 02:55:28.880
like, what are we supposed to do? Am I just supposed to blindly accept all the money that's put in front of us? Because if I do, this is the kind of stuff that happens. So, when we ask, why do I want to vote no on number one? It's because I'm not comfortable putting my name to something that I think is potentially

435
02:55:28.880 --> 02:55:47.359
inaccurate. >> Okay. Are there any other comments or >> I do have one quick question. >> Sorry. Um just Sandra, your last comments just reminded me and I just want to mention um in case any board members don't

436
02:55:47.359 --> 02:56:05.600
realize or have forgotten, but um at the beginning of the year as I I was on boarding, I had some questions for our New Jersey school board's field services rep. And um in response, one of the things that she provided as a resource

437
02:56:05.600 --> 02:56:23.120
is just this one pager. Um, it's reviewing the financial reports, specifically the secretar's report, the treasures report. It's like a 101, and it lays out um for new board members or seasoned board members in each of those

438
02:56:23.120 --> 02:56:40.800
reports what to really focus on and how to determine that it matches up between the reports um and all the numbers. Make sure that, you know, nothing is overdrawn. Um, every month when the agenda comes out and I'm looking at these financial reports, I go back to

439
02:56:40.800 --> 02:56:58.240
that one pager. I actually have it printed out and I keep it with my board materials. So, I just want to mention in for reviewing these and preparing for a vote. Um, Superintendent Kangalloi Hay put that one pager that 101 reference in

440
02:56:58.240 --> 02:57:18.000
the board member onboarding folder which is available to everybody. So, just a reminder about that resource. No, thank you. In fact, I read it before we did the uh evaluation because I was poking around all the folders, but thank you. >> Quick question. I have a question about

441
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the scheduling or rescheduling of the committee meeting, but it's not an agenda item. Would you prefer I keep it to additional board business? >> Re rescheduling of if it's not one of these action items, can we talk about it under additional board business?

442
02:57:34.080 --> 02:58:01.439
>> Yes. Okay, thank you. All right, Miss Stokes, roll call. Miss Lacasta, >> no to one. Yes to two through 26. >> Miss Vel, >> no to one. Yes to 2 through 26. Mrs.

443
02:58:01.439 --> 02:58:17.600
Santangelo, >> no to one and yes to the rest. >> Miss Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Williams, >> yes. >> Miss Bryce, >> yes. >> Miss Gong, >> yes. >> Dr. Halpern,

444
02:58:17.600 --> 02:58:36.479
>> yes. >> Mrs. Kellogg, >> yes. >> Majority, yes. Motions carry. >> All right. Is it Miss Miss Gone? Yes, please. >> The personnel committee met on May 12th.

445
02:58:36.479 --> 02:58:53.359
Personnel has 14 action items that are recommended by the superintendent. The meeting was attended by Marisella Wallace, Lisa Santangelo, D Kellogg, David Bailey, Jessica Canalosi Hayade, and me. For item one, I don't usually go into detail about resignations, but I

446
02:58:53.359 --> 02:59:10.479
just want to point out for this one resignation, it's an individual who is in the human resources department um paid through administrative costs. So, this individual will not be replaced as this position is eliminated. Um but absolutely, we wish her well in her her

447
02:59:10.479 --> 02:59:25.200
new position and she actually has been able to secure a new position. Item two is an appointment of a school nurse effective August 31st. This individual has a track record as she was a long-term nurse substitute. I'm sure

448
02:59:25.200 --> 02:59:42.000
we'll hear more about this individual. Items three and four seek approval for hourly rates for four summer computer support technicians and for AP psychology curriculum writing. These are students and or former students who will take on these roles.

449
02:59:42.000 --> 02:59:57.520
Item five provides professional development for staff and for one board member. Item six is to revise the listing for a tenured HCA staff member. Item seven lists advisors, their clubs, and their respective stipens. Item eight

450
02:59:57.520 --> 03:00:12.960
includes the schedule D positions and stipens for cheerleading coaches for the fall. Item nine is for professional development for curriculum and instruction. Item 10 is for seven instructor. seven instructors at tier three rates for

451
03:00:12.960 --> 03:00:27.520
summer academy including recommendations for stipens. Item 11 is for four summer institute instructors and that includes [snorts] recommendations for stipens and this will depend on the number of students who are enrolled in these programs.

452
03:00:27.520 --> 03:00:44.160
Tuition is required. Item 12 is for two internship observations for the coming fall. One is for a school nurse. The other is for English. Item 13 seeks approval for two bus driver stipens. Item 14 is for five leaves of absences.

453
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Two have been given previous interim approval by the superintendent. With that, I'd like to move items L1 through 14 from the personnel committee. >> Second. >> Second. >> Miss Stokes, I apologize. I need to correct my vote from the last one. I

454
03:01:00.399 --> 03:01:21.680
need to abstain from check 85622 for shank price. And that's under item two, >> sorry, 85622. Um, any dis debate comments on the personnel items? >> I just have a little inquiry and just a

455
03:01:21.680 --> 03:01:45.600
nice one really. Do we know if the uh student teacher for English is an alumni? >> I think I heard yes. >> Yeah. Any other comments? [snorts] Roll call. Miss Stokes.

456
03:01:45.600 --> 03:02:01.120
>> Mrs. Rothell. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Santangelo. >> Yes. >> Miss Wallace. >> Yes. >> Mr. Williams? >> Yes. >> Miss Bryce? >> I'll abstain on L5 number nine and yes

457
03:02:01.120 --> 03:02:19.520
to everything else. Miss Gong, >> yes. >> Dr. Halpern, >> yes. >> Miss Laccasta, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Kellogg, >> yes. >> Yes. Motions carry. Miss Bryce, policy.

458
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All right. The policy committee met on May 4th. In attendance were Mrs. Rothell, Reverend Williams, Mrs. Kellogg, Miss Kangalloi Hay, and myself. The committee is continuing to review the 8000 section of the policy guide. Additional policies and regulations in

459
03:02:36.560 --> 03:02:51.439
need of minimal updates to align with the Strauss Esme versions were identified as well as one policy for abolishment. The committee did not receive questions or concerns about any of the items listed under M1, M2, or M3

460
03:02:51.439 --> 03:03:06.720
of the agenda. The committee has five items for approval on first reading. policy 8310 public records. Uh the Strauss Esme prompted selections were not previously selected before the policy was edited and the appropriate

461
03:03:06.720 --> 03:03:23.680
selections have now been made. Policy 8335, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, commonly referred to as FURPA. Uh regulation 8420.4 kidnapping policy 8453

462
03:03:23.680 --> 03:03:40.720
HIV AIDS. Uh these three items simply change the term pupil to student and remove cross references at the bottom of policy 8453 HIV AIDS. Uh policy 8860 memorials updated to Strauss Esme

463
03:03:40.720 --> 03:03:56.319
language and the policy has one item to abolish on first reading. It's policy 8442 reporting accidents. Uh this is a homegrown policy and all critical and required components are captured in

464
03:03:56.319 --> 03:04:15.040
policy 8441 care of injured and ill persons. The committee has four items for approval on second reading uh detailed at the April 27th board of education meeting and as listed under item M3 of tonight's agenda. That covers

465
03:04:15.040 --> 03:04:32.240
all of the action items from the policy committee this month, but I would like to provide an update on a couple of other things. First, the committee has been discussing policy uh 5516, student use of personal electronic devices, also known as the cell phone

466
03:04:32.240 --> 03:04:47.359
policy. In early January, former Governor Murphy signed a so-called cell phone ban legislation requiring schools to adopt a bell-to-bell policy prohibiting student use of internet enabled devices for non-instructional

467
03:04:47.359 --> 03:05:03.520
purposes during the school day. Um, in followup, the New Jersey Department of Educated uh education published related guidance for schools to be implemented for the upcoming school year. The guidance describes bell-to-bell as the moment student enter the school building

468
03:05:03.520 --> 03:05:18.880
through dismissal, including passing times and lunch. Monitoring and enforcement at a campus of our size and layout present unique challenges. Strauss Esme's development of a bell-to-bell policy was recently paused as some of the original sponsors and

469
03:05:18.880 --> 03:05:35.359
advisers of the bill have asked the NJ DOE to revise their guidance as they intended bell-to-bell to mean during instructional time only. We are continuing to monitor developments and are poised to resume work on revising our policy accordingly as soon as we

470
03:05:35.359 --> 03:05:49.439
receive additional communication from the state and Strauss Esme. Lastly, we recently received a large policy alert from Strauss Esme which replaces adds and/or abolishes uh policies and/or

471
03:05:49.439 --> 03:06:07.439
regulations in the sections uh zeros 0000 um 1,00 2,000 5,000 6,000 and 8,000. All but one are mandated. So, the policy committee will tackle all of these together with an expected first reading

472
03:06:07.439 --> 03:06:23.680
in July to allow the appropriate staff members sufficient time to review. And with that, I'd like to make a motion to approve agenda items M1 through M3. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any comments

473
03:06:23.680 --> 03:06:44.880
on the action items? Okay, Miss Stokes. Roll call. >> Mrs. Santangelo, >> yes. >> Miss Wallace, >> yes. >> Mr. Williams, >> yes. >> Miss Bryce, >> yes. >> Miss Gong, >> yes.

474
03:06:44.880 --> 03:07:01.880
>> Dr. Halpern, >> yes. >> Miss Laccasta, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rothell, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Kellogg, >> yes. >> All yes. Motions carry. Okay. >> Additional business. This is for committee member and liaison reports.

475
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Yes, Miss Bryce, >> if anyone else has anything to say, go ahead and go first. I was just talking a lot. Um, first parent engagement committee. Uh, they staffed an information table at the May 5th open house for seventh and eighth grade

476
03:07:16.880 --> 03:07:33.920
students and parents. An estimated 350 to 400 people attended, toured the campus with RDAs, and spoke with administrators and staff from 100 centralsmies, student activities, athletics, counseling, and special services. Volunteers from the parent engagement

477
03:07:33.920 --> 03:07:50.160
committee spoke with families from all four sending districts, welcome welcoming them to campus and answering questions. A special thank you to the JPK's PTO co-presidents for volunteering with us to be a familiar face for their middle school families. And a special

478
03:07:50.160 --> 03:08:06.880
shout out to whoever put the brochure for the evening together. Um it highlighted campus happenings that visitors could pop in and observe including boys tennis, softball, baseball, volleyball, girls flag football and jazz ensemble rehearsal was

479
03:08:06.880 --> 03:08:24.800
an active evening on campus. Um, also as representative to the Hunter County School Boards Association, um, on April 30th, um, there it was the final meeting of the school year or or program year. Um, but that meeting it

480
03:08:24.800 --> 03:08:41.040
honored board members throughout Hunter County who have achieved important milestones and certifications and recognized Carolyn Man, special education teacher at Round Valley School in the Clinton Township School District as the Hunan County Teacher of the Year.

481
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It was a positive and uplifting evening to celebrate many incredible local achievements and network with board members from nearby districts. Um, I'd also like to mention uh earlier this month I attended um New Jersey School

482
03:08:56.399 --> 03:09:13.279
Boards Association. They put on a virtual spring conference. Um, and as a new board member, I found this conference to be particularly valuable and worthwhile. Um, it was a full-day conference with multiple concurrent sessions on the most requested topics

483
03:09:13.279 --> 03:09:29.680
and most popular sessions from workshop 20 uh 25. I was able to attend six live sessions throughout the day and can go back and view other recorded sessions. Um, not only did I learn a lot, but I was inspired and have some ideas to

484
03:09:29.680 --> 03:09:44.960
share for our upcoming work on board goals. So, more on that next month. Um, and I just want to thank you again for the opportunity to attend that educational conference. Um, and that said, at last month's meeting, it was

485
03:09:44.960 --> 03:10:01.600
running a little long. Um, and there between our March and April meetings, there were four additional NJSBA webinars that I had attended. Um, and I think it's valuable just to mention and to share with other board members in

486
03:10:01.600 --> 03:10:17.200
case you want to follow up with me, received any information. Um, so I was kind of regretting that I skipped what I had prepared to say. So I'm just gonna mention it now. Um just I'll share a a key take uh takeaway from each. Uh there

487
03:10:17.200 --> 03:10:33.520
was the school funding update education highlights of the proposed fiscal year 2027 state budget. Um the budget in brief acknowledges districts have recently experienced and reported fiscal strain due to inflationary pressures and other stressors. Um it's not just a

488
03:10:33.520 --> 03:10:50.240
local problem or a state problem but a national problem. Um what's brewing in education law? coffee talk with uh Kathy and Caitlyn. Of note, they said the school ethics commission has been adopting decisions in excess of 10 per

489
03:10:50.240 --> 03:11:05.680
month. Then there was understanding state aid and school budget essentials. Uh when reviewing a school district bu budget, always ask these two questions. One, is there any reduction in programs? And two, are there any reductions in

490
03:11:05.680 --> 03:11:21.120
staff? um we're here for the kids and remember that they have the staff and the curriculum that they need. And lastly, policy briefing, key updates for districts, uh were they focused on the cell phone policy, special education,

491
03:11:21.120 --> 03:11:40.319
and public notice. Thank you. >> I just want to uh just mention that the bus drivers negotiation team met with the bus drivers representatives on um May 11th. Um it's uh we've had a cordial meeting. We have three meetings

492
03:11:40.319 --> 03:11:55.279
scheduled in June and that's really what I can report out in public. >> This past Saturday, I attended the NJSBA delegate assembly. Um and besides uh voting in new officers, there were uh

493
03:11:55.279 --> 03:12:12.000
some the items on the agenda that we all took a vote on. The first one was the rank choice voting. So the issue was if rank choice voting does come to New Jersey whether or not we would like to have the option to have it for a school board and that did pass. The second one

494
03:12:12.000 --> 03:12:28.880
was uh how far uh school districts will go to protect students and staff and parents from ICE on school property. Um and I am happy to report that um from the original um resolution it was added to add buses, the grounds and anything

495
03:12:28.880 --> 03:12:46.000
that is considered a school uh function. Um the third thing was pilot programs which I did not know but when uh pilot programs um happen in a m municipality the school district is not required to be notified that this is going to be

496
03:12:46.000 --> 03:13:03.040
going to happen. So the original verbiage was that school districts should be notified and that was changed to shall. Uh the next thing was uh the Highlands school uh school districts in the Highlands um had issue with uh their development um and the open spaces and

497
03:13:03.040 --> 03:13:19.840
they cannot get a share of the pie of development in New Jersey. So they would like to come up with a new um formula so that they're not left behind. Uh the fifth one was keeping uh curriculum and textbook decisions at the local level no matter what happens nationally and

498
03:13:19.840 --> 03:13:43.359
statewise. And the last item up was uh VOTE representatives were very upset that they don't have a seat at the districts that they're from. >> Any other committee or liaison reports? Okay. Additional board business, Miss Laccasta.

499
03:13:43.359 --> 03:14:00.479
>> Um, so in regards to the committee meeting, when we first established the committees, um, Vernon had reached out to me to help be one of many to coordinate the schedule, went through availability, um, and it worked out at the time. And,

500
03:14:00.479 --> 03:14:15.279
uh, one of the things I had specified was that unfortunately on Tuesday evenings, I have a professional commitment from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. very far out of town. Um, and since then all of the meetings have been now moved to Tuesday, which essentially pushes me out

501
03:14:15.279 --> 03:14:31.920
of participating uh for the balance of the year. Um, so my question is, is there a way to look at potentially swapping me with someone else on a different committee where I might be able to participate better as long as it

502
03:14:31.920 --> 03:14:48.000
doesn't put somebody else out as well? >> I I' I'd be happy to have that conversation with you. And I also think we need to look at why because originally those um committees were scheduled for Wednesdays and I'm not sure why they've been pushed to Tuesdays the last few months, but I I do understand that you've you've already

503
03:14:48.000 --> 03:15:04.160
communicated that you have those limitations and we'll we'll certainly figure out a way to get you >> and I remember seeing one move and I thought in my head, oh, it was just the one and then when I went back and looked, I think they had all moved. So unless and if I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but I think they did all. We >> We will definitely take a look at that

504
03:15:04.160 --> 03:15:26.479
and and circle back with you on that. Any other additional board business? Okay. So, now we'll move to the second public comment. Um, this is on any topic that you'd like to share your thoughts with the board on. Um, you have five

505
03:15:26.479 --> 03:16:02.000
minutes and um, please make sure to sign in and tell us what your name is and where you're from before you speak. Hi, my name is Sarah Trillin and I'm from Delaware Township. Um,

506
03:16:02.000 --> 03:16:18.080
I wanted to follow up on a letter that I sent to the board this morning expressing my concerns about Mrs. Santangelo's comments about the Aspire program at the last board meeting. I have to say I'm a little reassured by Dr. Halpern's um sharing of the minutes, which I really

507
03:16:18.080 --> 03:16:34.800
really appreciate that they were very detailed and I think um provided some real clarification. Um, however um I still would like to um express some concerns. Mrs. Santangelo mentioned parental consent as one of the issues she thought needed to be addressed in the program. Given that she expressed

508
03:16:34.800 --> 03:16:50.479
concerns about parental consent with the Care Plus program and that program is no longer available to the students at the school, the comments got my attention and made me eager to understand more about these concerns. As a licensed mental health professional and clinical social worker in practice for 20 years, I'm very familiar with the laws

509
03:16:50.479 --> 03:17:06.880
regulating my profession and also our code of ethics, which we're obligated to follow, regardless of whatever setting we're working in. Um, although teenagers who are 16 or older do not actually require parental consent for mental health counseling in the state of New Jersey, schools generally do require

510
03:17:06.880 --> 03:17:24.080
parental consent for all age students, and I believe your school does, and that's the policy. Um, so I'm certain what I'm really uncertain about what issues related to consent that Miss Santangelo is concerned about. And um, I'm wondering if she might be willing to share tonight some more specifics about

511
03:17:24.080 --> 03:17:39.840
her concerns about parental consent with the Aspire program or or any other counseling services at the school. Um, and if she'd prefer not to share tonight in the public meeting, of course, I'm happy to receive um the answer by email. Thank you.

512
03:17:39.840 --> 03:18:24.319
Excuse me. Gum is part of my life. My name is Kathy Tarny. I'm from Readington Township. It seems the topic of book censorship has reared its ugly head in this committee.

513
03:18:24.319 --> 03:18:40.319
Since both of my kids attended local schools, including this one, I am compelled to tell a cautionary tale. My family survived Nazis and I survived communist dictatorship in Poland.

514
03:18:40.319 --> 03:19:01.120
I am not speaking metaphors when I say you have no idea what ideology you are flirting with. I wish some of you would look at me. In Poland, the regime had a censorship office. It controlled books, the press,

515
03:19:01.120 --> 03:19:19.279
and entertainment. We were forbidden to learn parts of our own history. Different cultures forbidden to read anything that challenged the people in power. Libraries were purged.

516
03:19:19.279 --> 03:19:34.720
Authors were forced to write propaganda. So I ask you, what kind of office do you want to build here? Let's do a history refresh for some of you.

517
03:19:34.720 --> 03:19:50.800
In 1933, the book burnings began in Nazi Germany. And here's the part that should make you uncomfortable. The government didn't order them. It was done by regular people, educated people,

518
03:19:50.800 --> 03:20:06.800
students, neighbors. They called it cultural renewal and protection of German values. They demanded that teachers prove their loyalty that descent be rooted out of

519
03:20:06.800 --> 03:20:23.680
classrooms before it could infect their children. Doesn't that sound familiar? So I ask you without diplomatic softening, what will make you different from the fascist and the communist sensors of the

520
03:20:23.680 --> 03:20:38.880
past? Now let's connect the dots. Readington Board of Education screened their librarian and made her defend her professional credentials. Then

521
03:20:38.880 --> 03:20:59.760
a supposed parent complaint was made regarding the reading material. It turns out that the complaint was made by a Readington MAGA board member. They manufactured the outrage,

522
03:20:59.760 --> 03:21:16.080
shopped its grassroots concerned and used it consolidate control over what children are allowed to read. This is political operation by people without a background that qualifies them to override a

523
03:21:16.080 --> 03:21:36.080
trained Liberian professional judgment. The Readington Board crusade targeted a book called Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Over one sentence about oral sex and maybe some profanity.

524
03:21:36.080 --> 03:21:54.479
Just one sentence. They convinced the public that an 11year-old could check out this pornographic book from the school library. THAT IS FAKE NEWS.

525
03:21:54.479 --> 03:22:12.720
Fake news. Now, Hunter and Central has found its target, a book called Let's Talk About It, written for teenagers who are too scared to ask adults and friends in their lives

526
03:22:12.720 --> 03:22:31.760
about sex, sexuality, and relationships. Rather than being grateful such a resource exists, this board is now ready to jin up the outrage and will demand the veto power

527
03:22:31.760 --> 03:22:53.760
over everything the Liberian is even allowed to consider purchasing. This is a censorship apparatus. It starts at the edges. a sentence, one book, one librarian forced to justify herself.

528
03:22:53.760 --> 03:23:12.840
Then it moves to subjects, to authors, to entire bodies of thought exactly the way it has always built by the sensors of the past. So listen to me carefully.

529
03:23:14.080 --> 03:23:29.840
No regime in history has ever described itself as the bad guys. The communist sensors in Poland thought they were protecting social order. >> Thank you, ma'am. >> Please, let me just finish one sentence. >> Is there anyone else that wants to speak this evening?

530
03:23:29.840 --> 03:23:46.479
>> The students burning books in Berlin thought they were defending their culture. They all believed their cause was righteous. You are not protecting children. However, you are to you're about to indulge an ideology that has ended every single time in the

531
03:23:46.479 --> 03:24:14.960
suppression of every very person it claimed to serve. History is watching. >> Thank you. >> Choose carefully. [applause] I don't remember. Do I have to sign again? >> Nope. Just tell us who you are again, though. >> Okay.

532
03:24:14.960 --> 03:24:32.239
Rachel White, Rariton Township. The role of a board of education is to set policy, approve budgets, hire and evaluate the superintendent, and represent the community students, not to manage day-to-day operations. As the New Jersey School Boards Association makes

533
03:24:32.239 --> 03:24:48.800
clear, this partnership only works when both sides respect their boundaries. Board members must remain focused on governance, policy, and student outcomes, leaving the administration of schools to the professionals appointed to do so. Even with professional credentials,

534
03:24:48.800 --> 03:25:05.439
board members do not spend their days in our classrooms, hallways, and counseling offices. Our educators, librarians, and professional counselors know central students. their strengths, struggles, and community. This intimate daily knowledge cannot be substituted by

535
03:25:05.439 --> 03:25:22.080
policy level oversight. These licensed professionals grounded in real relationships with our students are best equipped to make decisions about coursework, libraries, and student support services. The elimination of comprehensive counseling services days before school

536
03:25:22.080 --> 03:25:38.479
started, despite the superintendent's warnings, was deeply damaging to our students and families. One family gave me permission to share that their student, who had successfully navigated previous years at Central with coordinated on-site counselor support,

537
03:25:38.479 --> 03:25:55.600
spent a month in partial hospitalization as a result of these gaps. It's no wonder that the district now pays more to send students out of the district due to our lack of support services. You cannot separate student well-being

538
03:25:55.600 --> 03:26:11.840
from academic success. Which is precisely why operational decisions must remain with professional educators, counselors, and administrators, not with board members discussing student support in terms of budget line items. Mrs. Santangelo's recent comments about

539
03:26:11.840 --> 03:26:28.080
Aspire raise serious concerns about attacks on the counseling services that could extend beyond general cuts and appears to target the very services that support Aspire students. It's irresponsible for board members to make

540
03:26:28.080 --> 03:26:44.560
program decisions without collaboration with district professionals who are experts in their fields. Beyond the damage to students, overstepping exposes the district to legal liability, a cost that ultimately falls on taxpayers and diverts resources from our students. Our

541
03:26:44.560 --> 03:26:58.560
community deserves a board that trusts and empowers its professionals. And if I have a couple minutes left, I just want to say based on my experience with lawyers at FRSD when we had the allegedly abusive superintendent and our

542
03:26:58.560 --> 03:27:16.239
we were losing staff like crazy to um leaves of absence due to mental distress and all these other kinds of things and we lost a bunch of our special ed teachers to West Windsor and all those things that were happening. We had an attorney at all of those board meetings and it was very clear from the

543
03:27:16.239 --> 03:27:30.960
stakeholders point of view that the attorney was there so that the board could not answer questions which did not feel like transparency and didn't feel like it was a service to me in any way and I was very conscious of the fact that I was sitting there and that that person was paid to travel to the

544
03:27:30.960 --> 03:27:47.279
meetings and to be a shield between the board answering community questions uh instead of the board actually being accountable to the public, you know, and so while I do understand that sometimes it is important to have an attorney and it does make sense to do all of that in executive session. My personal opinion

545
03:27:47.279 --> 03:28:27.439
would be that I don't want to see my taxpayer dollars, you know, ticking away while someone sits here and can't really, you know, it's not it's not their job to be the board member. So, thank you uh Maryanne Rampuller, Raritan Township.

546
03:28:27.439 --> 03:28:44.080
We are seeing a loss of trust in institutions and professionals these days and it was on full display at the last few hundred and central board of education meetings. At the last meeting, a few board members questioned the competence of the business administrators to secure a reducedpric

547
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drug plan for the district. A long and unnecessary discussion of boilerplate contract language to allow the district's broker of choice to place that insurance policy showed a level of micromanaging that was truly gobsmacking. All presented with the guise of

548
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protecting the taxpayers, it was a waste of time and seemingly performative. A board member questioned the necessity of the Aspire pro program, which enables students who need the extra support to re reach their potential. Parents and

549
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teachers say the program works. When did helping students thrive become controversial? This year's budget discussions were filled with veiled accusations of malfeasants. The reality is that the administration uses an approach for capital improvements that is also used

550
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by the Hunton County Board of Commissioners, a fiscally conservative group if ever there was one. A narrative that this school is not well-run and is failing students is being promoted. But from what I have seen, a few board members are stoking

551
03:29:47.920 --> 03:30:14.000
distrust in the school administration or professionals to do their jobs. It's a narrative that may benefit a few, but ultimately the losers will be our students. Anyone else?

552
03:30:14.000 --> 03:30:36.560
Then we'll close public comment. Um, any board comments this evening? Yes, Miss Bryce. Um, first I'd just like to say, Miss Santangelo, I just did not appreciate the inaccurate accusation of

553
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potential unethical behavior on my part as a school board member. And in the future, if you think I'm uh behaving in a way that I should not be, I would really appreciate you bringing it to my attention uh beforehand and at public in

554
03:30:52.720 --> 03:31:08.160
public as well. But I do strive to do my best and act in an ethical manner um with no hidden agenda, no negative behavior. So, that aside, on a

555
03:31:08.160 --> 03:31:25.520
more positive note, um I'd like to just mention this month I've enjoyed the Triumph Showcase, the Jazz and Pops concert, uh which they dubbed Singing, Stringing, and Swinging, and all three performances of the 910 play Sense and Sensibility. Um, a quick highlight from

556
03:31:25.520 --> 03:31:41.439
each. Uh, at the Triam Showcase, there was a surprise promosal, and she said yes. Um, two students arranged and conducted a beautiful piece for Corral at the Jazz and Pops concert. And two of

557
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our juniors co-directed the 910 play. Um, like I said, Sense and Sensibility, a touchingly acted yet approachable and highly funny production. And just a huge thank you to our students for sharing their amazing talents. >> Thank you. Any other board comments this

558
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evening? I have a comment. So Nikki, I did ask you a question um just to validate if you were if I was correct or not. So my apologies for that. Um but I did ask the question. I

559
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didn't insinuate it. I just asked if you were there. So um my comment is regarding checks and balances. So when board members ask questions and exercise due diligence, it strengthens the district. Careful

560
03:32:34.800 --> 03:32:51.279
careful budget review helped reduce the proposed tax increase from 3% to 2.37%. Oversight has also identified potential open public meetings act violations, corrected an incorrect HIV vote, strengthened internal controls related

561
03:32:51.279 --> 03:33:07.359
to parental consent where protocols were not followed. that is related to school based youth services. We had a lot of issues last year. We had contractual um issues that were discussed where there were liabilities. We had people

562
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not performing according to the contract terms. We had to terminate a counselor because of behavior. So there were a lot of issues going on that people seem to like to ignore, but those were the facts. Um, we highlighted contractual liability and litigation risks that

563
03:33:22.720 --> 03:33:38.880
needed to be addressed regarding Care Plus. The decision was ma was based on unresolved contractual issues as well, incomplete responses to board questions, missing performance uh, metrics and the board not being included in the RFP process despite expressing a desire to

564
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participate. This was not a lastminute issue. I proposed an internal staffing solution in April and the district ultimately hired an internal counselor which provided greater continuity for students while preserving access to existing free community mental health resources. We did not have a lack of

565
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coverage for the students and we spoke to some of those free resources that were servicing those families 247. So let me be very clear. I have never advocated eliminating Aspire or student mental health services. My questions are

566
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about parental consent, legal compliance, contract terms, and whether programs are operating effectively and in accordance with district policy, ensuring these safeguards are in place to protect students, families, and the district. So, I appreciate Ellen's um

567
03:34:27.760 --> 03:34:44.319
feedback regarding my questions about Aspire because that just gives us a greater understanding and it makes sure that we are following all of the protocols and have the safeguards in place. That's our job. Oversight is not political. It is the responsibility of

568
03:34:44.319 --> 03:35:00.319
every board member. We are elected to ask questions, verify that laws and policies are being followed, and strengthen the district when gaps are identified. Oversight is not obstruction. It is responsible governance, and I've clearly demonstrated that works when allowed to do so. But unfortunately, this majority

569
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is stifling those efforts. I actually think this is a disservice and complete disrespect to the superintendent because you're basically saying she can only handle rubber stampers, not constructive feedback and proper oversight, which in my opinion is insulting. I respect our

570
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professionals and value their expertise, but trust does not eliminate the need for accountability. The board's role is to verify that proper safeguards are in place because oversight protects the student staff in the district. Thank you. Also, sorry, one more thing. Just for

571
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the record, last month's meeting, the motion about the insurance broker was made by Ellen and Marristella. So, I'm not sure where that confusion came from, >> Miss Wallace. >> Um, I I take offense to uh

572
03:35:53.200 --> 03:36:08.800
expecting Miss Kangalloi hate to just rubber stamp items. I think part of the issue is that a lot of the questions that are allegedly unanswered were the parameters of Aspire did not change since you were president, Lisa. So, I really don't understand why you don't

573
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know this information this year that you knew last year. >> I can answer that. >> This is not a debate. This is board comments. Are there any other comments? No, no, no. You had your you had your chance to have board comments. Are there any other board members who would like

574
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to make comments? >> [clears throat] >> I want to thank uh the district, Miss Angelos Haye, Miss Heather Spitzer, and Miss Marian Stokes for providing all the information uh that uh that gave us the opportunity to make sound decisions uh

575
03:36:41.120 --> 03:36:58.000
on the budget. Um thank you for uh the budget retreat. Thank you for um uh the extensive uh review uh of the budget uh in committee as well. And that gave us plenty of information not to rubber

576
03:36:58.000 --> 03:37:13.359
stamp but to understand fully how our budget uh was functioning to understand how the capital reserve works. Understand how uh uh the fund um uh balance works uh and uh and to ensure

577
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that our district is sound uh and is operating for the students. Thank you. I'm I'm probably I'm not going to give the speech that I sort of intended, but um I'm going to give a thank you to the school district. Um there's something going on right now with the seniors

578
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which is called Water Wars. And while it is not Water Wars, um and while it's not necessarily a high school sanctioned event, um the high school supports it um and it's studentrun and it really is um

579
03:37:49.680 --> 03:38:06.479
a lot of fun for them. Um it's an opportunity for the seniors to all come together and um have one last harrah as a group. Um there were 32 teams this year with a minimum of four players on each team and a maximum of six. So that says something about the collaboration

580
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of the students and um as a mom of two seniors who unfortunately got knocked out in the first round, both teams. Um I I appreciate the fact that this is allowed to happen. And again, I always say this, it's a testament to the fact that while there are things that go on

581
03:38:22.800 --> 03:38:40.840
here, we don't agree on everything. Um I still don't agree on a lot of what's going on. I still think Central is a great place for our students to be at. Um, but I believe my role is to make sure that it is even better for the future beyond them.

582
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>> All right. Do I have a motion to convene into executive session? Um, we'll be going into executive session to discuss personnel matters. There will not be any action following executive session. Motion to go to executive session.

583
03:39:02.560 --> 03:39:10.760
Second. Okay. >> All in favor? I. >> Any opposed? >> Thank you.