Good evening. This meeting is being held in conformity with the Open Public Meetings Act NJSA 10 colon four dash six at SEC. Proper public notice of the meeting was caused to be sent to the El Diario La Penza newspaper and posted on the district official website. Public notice was also delivered to those persons requesting that such notice be given to them. The public has been advised that the board meeting may be viewed live via the district website at www.jcb0e.org.
I will now take the roll call. Trustee Blunt? Present. Trustee Ioffe? Here. Trustee Morris? Yeah. Upstairs. Trustee Mohammed? Trustee Patel. Present. Trustee Rezaibala. Trustee Schneider. Present. Vice president Tisdale. President Velasquez? Here. We have a quorum. Thank you. Yes. Vice president Tisdale will be a little late today. Did we hear? Trustee Reza Ballo will be here in a few minutes. She's running behind. Thank you. Thank you, trustee. We're going to begin with our committee reports,
and I think the only one that is here with the report would be trustee Iofe. Okay. But, Debbie, you did receive all of the reports. Right? They're in here. All of them you received? Okay. They also go And they also go on BoardDocs. Okay. So, if we don't have the trustee here today to read their report, then, you can, go onboard us. Thank you. Miss Ioffe, we're ready whenever you are. I apologize. Normally, I read from the computer, but we're having trouble with Wi Fi.
So I'm looking for my page. That's true. You for printing them, miss Melendez. Otherwise, this would be a problem. Okay. Thank you. This will be the report for the finance facilities meeting, which met on the May 13 at, at 11AM. In the finance agenda, Doctor. Luce went over the recurring monthly agenda items ten zero one through ten twelve with the following highlights. In ten zero three, the board secretary's report will feature the final January report now that the annual audit has been finalized, and we will also see a preliminary March report. Same applies to 10.04
for the bank reconciliation. There was discussion about 10 o nine and ten ten, which was contracts and purchases for overbid threshold of $44,000 Doctor Luce explained that as per the received guidance from the Department of Education, the use of co ops will be eliminated. I hope I'm saying that right. You're not sure. Reduced. Reduced. Okay. To help districts with compliance, and subsequently, everything will go out to bid. This will become the new best practice going forward as per the DOE. Doctor Luce explained 10.13, which is to approve professional accounting services. We discussed this at length. The current position's contract is not to exceed 17 and a half thousand dollars,
and it will be in place until the hiring of the permanent executive controller that will be a CPA and a licensed professional to oversee the accounting department. The committee discussed the functions and credentials of the executive controller, available trainings that may be available for professional growth of current employees in these situations with accounting skills as well as tuition reimbursement policies. 10.14 is asking the board to approve 2324 audit corrective action plan for the fiscal year ending 06/30/2024. This corrective action plan has undergone the review of our the auditor,
the business administrator, and the superintendent and is now coming up for board approval. Ten fifteen and ten through ten seventeen are additional transportation items, annual services agreements for fuel, renewal of transportation routes, and the purchase of two buses for special education. Ten eighteen is the standard annual levy and payroll tax request for twenty five, twenty six year. Ten nineteen and ten twenty pertain to security, which is the approval of NJSIG safety grant, which will be used to upgrade security cameras and other equipment, and the contract for security uniforms, which will go out to bid.
Ten twenty one through ten twenty three pertain to food services, ordering school system ordering the system for the school lunch program, consolidation agreements for Soaring Heights Charter School and a Harry Moore School. Finally, Mr. Gupta went over items 10.24 through 10.3 pertaining to business technology. Most of them were annual contract renewals such as Comcast wide area network, Millennium services for firewalls and cyber security, E rate high speed Internet, infinite campus platform for posting student grades and more. The committee expressed interest in learning the definitions of certain acronyms commonly used by district
staff in agenda resolutions in order to have more clarity and understanding behind the programs and companies involved. In the facilities agenda, there's only one item. I believe that has not changed. Approve payment to DCO Energy and CHA, which is part of the ESIP program, noting that this payment comes out of the Wilmington Trust account and not district funds. Doctor Luce noted that the new bidding requirement as per DOE will apply to the ECIP related projects as well, and the DCO Energy will go out to bid for all applicable, projects. That is all for the facilities and finance,
and I'm ready to proceed with the policy and legislative if you are. Please do. Thank you. The this month's policy and legislative committee did feature a special guest in the legislative portion. Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez from Legislative District 32 joined us for the legislative portion for discussion about school funding and outreach recommendations. These recommendations can be used by the board as well as supporters from the school and parent community, Specifically to identify and reach out to the following groups in the legislature. The Hudson County Delegation,
which is comprised of senators and assembly people representing Hudson County. Senators and assembly people that may have teaching backgrounds. Heads of the relevant state committees such as senator Ben Gopal, currently the head of the educational committee, who was also instrumental in allocating the budget of equity funds for Jersey City Public School in prior years, as well as any urban legislators in New Jersey. The goal is to organize and conduct an outreach to these groups via a mass email campaign with key action points concerning Jersey City Public Schools, our unique needs and circumstances. President Velasquez inquired about some of the ways our local legislators currently advocate for Jersey
City public schools, and the assemblywoman explained that some legislators made a commitment not to vote for a state budget that cuts school funding. Additional discussion points including included the school funding formula, ideas on how to improve the current payroll tax ordinance to make it more effective, and prevent large corporations from suing and avoiding responsibility as some currently are doing. Assemblywoman Ramirez shared some examples of New Jersey school districts that successfully advocated for their school funding and also committed to inquiring on our behalf without,
about any relevant state meetings that JCVOE delegation can attend and advocate. In the policy section of our meeting, we discussed policy number two three six five concerning artificial intelligence. Tonight, we'll be doing a second reading. And once this policy is approved, the administration will form a committee to develop AI guidelines and regulations as per the state requirement. Additionally, we discussed the dress code policy, in instructional, it's policy number three two one six. In non instructional, it's policy four two one six. Currently, there are slight differences between the instructional versus non instructional staff attire requirements that may
need to be addressed. Mr. Pritchnick will review the inconsistencies and will return to the committee with recommendations next month. Additionally, the committee addressed some items from past discussions. One of them was policy number zero one three three, adjudication of dispute. Given how frequently the policy is misinterpreted and the inconsistencies of its current language with the board code of ethics, the committee determined that policy zero one three three merits a significant revision. General counsel and board counsel will collaborate on the proposed revisions and present at the next committee for discussion.
Finally, we discussed field trips. The administration is in the process of forming a committee that will review and update the list of preapproved field trip locations to avoid any miscommunication in the future. Vendors will be preapproved based on their willingness to cooperate with the school district specifically in providing liability insurance certificates and show commitment to student safety. That is all for the legislative and the policy committee. I'm done. Thank you. Thank you very much for that, thorough, report. Any questions on the report?
Okay. Trustee, vice president Tisdale is not here yet. I'm going to quickly read through the ed programs, report. So, welcome remarks were given by, miss Ruan. And then miss Ruan presented, the following, 8.01, eight point zero two, and 8.03. Eight point zero one, to seek approval of the textbook's instructional resources for elementary and high school levels. This is a comprehensive list of all resources for elementary and high school from which
schools can purchase, form from. 8.2 is to seek approval to award a contract of camp Liberty Services for 80 students as part of the Sparks summer program. There'll be two sessions. That'll be June 30 through July 11 and July 14 to July 25. To seek approval I mean, 8.3, I'm sorry, is to seek approval for submission of CTE grant application for $50,000
to enhance the green construction program at Dickinson High School. Presented, by mister Morales was 8.4 through 8.11 to seek 8.4. To seek approval for ninth grade students at Innovation High School to visit Dave and Buster's on May 30 from nine to 03:00 at a cost not to exceed a
thousand $537. 8 point 5 to seek approval for a donation from RWHBH RWJBH, I'm sorry, Jersey City Medical Center for a thousand $900 to offset prom cost or any other senior costs for seven for 14 seniors at Ferris High School. Eight point o six, to seek approval for a donation of 50 varsity leather jackets from POBA to Lincoln High School worth $2,000,
8 point o seven, to seek approval from RWJBH Jersey City Medical Center for $2,800 to offset the cost of any other senior, any other senior cost. Eight point o eight, to seek approval to accept an honorarium scholarship to a student at MS forty doing graduation for $500 from Roberta Gilmartin, a former teacher. Eight point nine,
to seek approval to ratify approve for three students to travel to Columbus, Ohio to attend the Regeneron International Science and Engineering competition from May 10 to May 16 at no cost to the district. 8.1. To seek approval to purchase the Everyday Labs online platform at a cost of $8,032, which tracks chronic absenteeism.
I'm sorry. You had a question about Okay. No. No. No. That's okay. Anyways, to seek approval this is 8.11. To seek approval to accept a donation for Dickinson High School of a 500 to provide a thousand to the salutatorium and 500 to the valedictorian. And then doctor Gallano presented 8.12, and that is to seek approval for a donation from donors cho choo choice or choose?
Choose. Donors choose for teacher, miss Kayin, from p s twenty eight of 15 Sony headphones for the project. And then in representing a doctor of hepatitis was mister Bill McCoy, and he had 8.13. And that's to seek approval to establish an account for early childhood to process fundraise at the week of the young child's dinner event, which was wonderful.
And, miss Watkins Williams presented 8.14 to seek approval of donation from the Orient Church for school supplies for the students at PS fifteen. Then the bilingual program, this is a little lengthy. I'm going to go through it as fast as I can. The executive director, mister Aldo Sanchez Abreu, gave his report about the Mick update, BPAC meeting update, proclamation update,
pre IPT ELL assessment and identification, former ELLs year, one year and four forms, Chinese scholar garden fields, and CLBER professional development session for language teachers. Thus far, the multilingual intake center has registered 1,428 students, and a 157 students were found in need of services. The following data reflects the enrollment of new students registration in bilingual ESL programs offered
through the district. That data is quite lengthy, but you can see it on the, portal. Right, Deborah? Yes. Thank you. Final Bilingual Parents Advisory Council was held at PS 27 on April 25. The parents were invited to attend and received information on upcoming initiatives for the summer and upcoming for the new year in September. Proclamation on 05/02/2025, the Jersey City Public Schools community gathered at Dickinson High School for the annual bilingual
ESL world language proclamation ceremony. This year, the theme Jersey City, a culturally responsive community highlighted the rich diversity of the district and celebrated the achievements of students, teachers, and administrations. On April 30, '80 students and their Chinese teacher from Dickinson High School, Innovation High School, and Infinity Institute participating in a field trip to the Chinese, scholar guard garden. Then pre IPT ELL assessment and identification.
All ML four year old students move to kindergarten moving to kindergarten must be assessed using the pre IPT test. The identification assessment and placement of the pre k multilingual learners entering kindergarten for 2025. Based on the results, ML students are placed in the appropriate bilingual ESL program. Former ELL year one through year four forms.
After the ML learners exit a language instructional program by state code, their progress is monitored for connect consecutive years for four consecutive years. The digital form contains information regarding the students' academic progress and ongoing teacher observations, including a copy of the students' self evaluation and parent evaluation form. Center of Applied Linguistics. On Saturday, May 10, the ML teachers participated in part one of CALPD to learn about the eight components
of the SIOP model to effectively integrate language and content instruction. Bureau of Education and Research. On Saturday, May 10, the ML teachers in PD had PD in using all, AI tools to increase the success of English lang language learners. And that is it. Thank you. Any questions with that regard? Okay. If there are no questions, we will continue. I don't know if trustee Afaf will be present,
but upon, her, entrance, we will ask her to do her, report if she can. Thank you. Now if we can have a motion to adjourn the caucus meeting. So moved. Second. Okay. All in favor? We will meet again in five minutes. Thank you. We will begin with the pledge of allegiance, doctor Fernandez. No. Presentation of colors. If everyone would stand up and remain standing. Pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the Republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light what so proudly we hail Wasn't that wonderful? This is Desiree Oladeo from the Maya Angelou PS twenty. Thank you. That was beautiful. Thank you. Thank you very much. We will now continue with, the sunshine statement, followed by the roll call,
please. Good evening. This meeting is being held in conformity with the open public meetings act, NJSA 10 colon four dash six et seq. Proper public notice of the meeting was caused to be sent to the L Diario LaPrensa newspapers and posted on the district website. Public notice was also delivered to those persons requesting that such notice be given to them. The public has been advised that the board meeting may be viewed live via the district website at www.jcb0e.org.
We'll now take the roll call. Yes. Take your minute. Trust. Here. Trustee Ioffe. Here. Trustee Morris. Present. Trustee Mohammed. Present. Trustee Patel? Present. Trustee Rosabella? Present. Trustee Schneider? Present. Isdale? Here. President Velasquez? Here. Student representative, miss Bowles? Present. Thank you. Okay. In the interest of time, we're not gonna read those reports that were not read, earlier. So okay. Thank you. And we will move on. The superintendent will introduce,
I think, a few presentations, and then afterwards, she will conclude with her report. Thank you. Thank you, president Velasquez. First, I wanna thank you for joining the Parents as Partners conference today at NJCU. As you witnessed, the event was well attended with close to 500 parents. The feedback I received was extremely positive. So I want to thank doctor Sabino for her diligence and work with a team of dedicated district employees,
service providers in the community, and, with senator McKnight who made made it a point to consistently support the district. Our guest speaker was doctor Hubert Benitez, Saint Peter University president, who spoke on the importance of education and being lifelong learners. There was a tangible benefit when we focus on education and getting together parents and school. There are tangible benefits such as students,
belonging to the community, increased communication, shared understandings, and it builds a stronger school home connection. The the attendees had a very positive feedback as well as, positive impact, I'm sure, in years to come on their academic and social emotional development. At this time, I typically share with the families in the community how important attendance is. A day in school every day in school is so important.
So I'd like to acknowledge two schools for their attendance. That is, first, we have the Alfred Zampella School twenty seven with a 94 per 94 points point eight attendance for the month of April. Congratulations. PS twenty seven. If you could join me. Trustees, if you could join me in congratulating them, that would be great. Thank you. The second school with the same high percentage is middle school number four,
Conwell. Please come up. Okay. Don't get too comfortable. Okay. Thank you. At this time, this is the, last meeting our citywide student council representatives will be, joining us for the school year. And I want to offer a final thank you for serving as an officer, each one of you. I appreciate your hard work and willingness to serve the student body. I have I had the pleasure to attend some of your meetings,
and your leadership was evident in your projects and your diligence. This year, you developed a district wide cultural fair that was a great success. You planned down to the smallest details, and it was evident when I visited the event. You even persevered in the face of adversity and cool weather. I know you will continue to work with the students at your school to bring a balanced approach to the voices. So thank you,
miss Campbell Williams and miss Cacaro for supporting our students. I also have plaques for each of you, so I am going to read your names. And then, please stand come up, Stand by the mic by the speaker in the front, and the board and I will join you to take a group picture, if that's okay. So at this time, from middle school four, Catherine Russell, if you would come up. Yeah. In the center, please. Joshua Kahina from Middle School seven,
if you're here. Paileen Bradenax from middle school forty. Sofia Khan from middle school from Academy one Middle School. Fanu Asheba from Dickinson High School, Aileen Trujillo from Ferris High School, Salma Dardir from Infinity Institute, Suwad El Gavethi from Innovation High School, Fatima Ahmed from Liberty High School, and Deontay Simmons from Lincoln High School, Arjun Krishna Kumar from McNaira Academic High School,
and Melissa Namutebi from Henry Snyder High School. Trustees, if you would join me with our citywide student council, please. At this time, I'd like to call Sofia to please come and share your message, please. K. Sorry. Just okay. Oh, oh, I'm sorry, Sofia. I'm so sorry. I went in the wrong order. May I have Paileen first? Good evening, doctor Fernandez, assistant superintendents, directors, principal Salgado, board members,
and community members. Hello. My name is Paileen, and I'm the assistant recording secretary at Citywide Student Council. I grew up in a hardworking Mahambo household and learned early on that determination and resilience are more valuable than resources. My parents always emphasized the importance of education even when opportunities were limited. Their sacrifices have inspired me to pursue my pursue my goals with focus and purpose. Goals that include earning a degree, building a meaningful career, and giving back to my community.
Every step I've taken through school challenges and small victories have shaped me to the person I am today and the future I'm striving toward. As I progressed my way towards middle school, my family made the big decision to move me to a new school. I was devastated. All I have accomplished and all of the friends I've made along the way were gone within a moment. As I began to go on my new journey to look for a new school, we decided on my current school, middle school forty. I was a completely new and very quiet school student who quickly adapted towards the school and made the mess the best out of my middle school experience.
I gained and lost friends along the way, which has been the most humbling experience of all, although it didn't stop me from getting a good education and doing what I love most, which was sports. I joined many different sports, including cheer, volleyball, and stepping. Being in these activities kept me on my feet. And over time, I became more social. I am very thankful for that. I worked very hard on my academics. And as a result, on my NJSLA, I scored level four with a total score of 812.
I also received a scholarship to Naya Mwage, and I am very proud of these accomplishments. Shortly after, I became the student council president of Middle School forty, which led me towards the amazing opportunity of becoming a part of the citywide student council. Since this is my first ever year in citywide Student Council, I was nervous and didn't exactly know what to do or say. I quickly adapted towards the concept of being a officer and the responsibilities that came with it. Being a part of the Citywide Student Council has taught me how to engage with my peers more, and has taught me responsibility.
What it means to me to be a part of the Citywide Student Council is to have responsibility and be independent in ways, all while helping others, including myself, learn how to express ourselves in different ways, ways that we could be heard, seen, and actually have our own voices. Personally, I believe that I am my biggest supporter on my academic journey. No matter how hard things have gotten, I've learned to push myself to get back up and preserve. I've always reminded myself that I haven't gone this far for anyone but myself, and that very motivation is how I wake up every morning and go to sleep
every night with the courage to continue on with my academic road. I would like to take the time and acknowledge my adviser, miss Rodriguez, for offering me the opportunity to be a citywide officer and believing that I had the ability to take on a role with Vanessa and Grace. I would also like to thank my system of support known as my friends who have given me a pat on the back when I needed it most. Most importantly, I want to thank miss Williams who interviewed me with doctor Fernandez. And although I've just gotten to meet her this year, she's an amazing woman, and I admire all that she does for Citywide City Council.
My future is just beginning as I step into a new chapter called high school. At this time, I I feel I am ready for any challenge that comes my way. Thank you, and have a great day. Thank you, Paileen. That is great. And you are a role model as well. So thank you. So at this time, Sofia, if you could come up again. Thank you. Good evening, superintendent doctor Fernandez, assistant superintendents, directors, principal doctor Corbin, board members, and community members. My name is Sofia Alvarez Khan,
and I'm an eighth grade student at Academy One Middle School. And I currently serve as a recording secretary for the Citywide Student Council. I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to speak tonight and to represent both my school and the incredible, diverse student community that makes up the Jersey City Public Schools. When I first joined the citywide student council, I was looking to challenge myself. I wanted to take on a role that required real responsibility, to be a voice for my peers, and to contribute something meaningful to my school community. But what I didn't realize at the time was how much I would gain from the experience, and not just as a student leader,
but as someone still growing into her own identity. And that identity is something deeply shaped by where I come from. I come from a multicultural home. My dad is Bengali and comes from a Muslim family, and my mom is Filipino and comes from a Catholic family. At first glance, you might think that's an unusual combination. But to me, it's the most natural thing in the world. It's who I am. It means that at home, I've grown up with two languages, two religions, and two beautiful cultures. It means that my family celebrates both Eid and Christmas, and our dinner table is just as likely to have adobo as it is biryani. And I've learned that culture is not a single definition.
It is something living, something layered, and something worth celebrating. And growing up in a space that embraces two different world views has given me a has helped me appreciate the value of diversity in every part of life. I've learned how to respect traditions that are a noise of my own, how to listen closely to others' perspectives, and how to carry pride in both sides of my heritage. My Bengali and Filipino roots are not in competition with each other. They work together to form the foundation of how I see the world. And that's also why I feel so connected to Jersey City, because this city and this school district are reflections of that same kind of diversity.
Jersey City is the most diverse mid sized city in America, and every day, I see that diversity come to life in our classrooms, our celebrations, our cafeterias, and even in casual conversations between students. In JCPS, it's normal to meet someone who speaks a different language at home, who eats different food, who celebrates different holidays. And instead of dividing us, those differences bring us together. They give us stories to share and reasons to listen. And two people who have always helped me understand and appreciate my identity are my parents. They're who I turn to when things get overwhelming, and they always have a way of helping me slow down and reflect.
Our conversations aren't just about getting through the day. They're about understanding where we come from and where we're going. And they've helped me realize that being confident in who I am means shaping myself into someone I'm proud of and someone who works towards your goals even when it's tough. And that confidence has followed me into the field, into the classroom, and into every leadership role I've ever taken on. At Academy One, we make space for that same kind of pride in our school community. One of the best examples of this is our multicultural day, which we've hosted over the past three years. It's an event that brings our school together to share music,
food, clothing, traditions, and performances from all over the world. We also had a similar event this year, the Culture Fair, hosted by the Jersey City Public Schools Citywide Student Council. And the event was very successful, thanks to the collaboration between everybody involved. At this year's multicultural day at Academy One, we missed our former adviser and Mandarin teacher, miss Pan, who's currently on maternity leave. But even though we missed her leadership, the event still came together beautifully because students stepped up, collaborated, and put their heart into it. It reminded me that even when challenges arise, our community finds ways to shine.
Outside of council, I stay involved in other ways too. I was a student ambassador, and I'm a part of NJHS. And I'm also a part of several of our school's athletic teams, including flag football, volleyball, basketball, and track. Each of these activities has taught me something different, whether it's teamwork, discipline, time management, or how to lead by example. They've also shown me how to build relationships and stay connected to those around me even when life gets busy. Being involved in so many different parts of school life has given me a deeper appreciation for what it means to be a student in this district. I've learned that leadership isn't about being the loudest in the room.
It's about showing up, listening, and trying your best to make your community better. And if there's one message I wanna leave you with tonight, it's this. Our differences are our strengths. My my culture, both Bengali and Filipino, has taught me that. My family's taught me that. And Jersey Jersey City Public Schools has helped me live it. I'm proud of where I come from and proud to be a part of a school district that gives students the space to celebrate these things. Thank you to missus Williams for her leadership and encouragement. Thank you to my current adviser, mister Curcio, and my previous adviser, missus Pan, for their guidance. And thank you to all of you for giving me this opportunity to speak tonight.
It's truly an honor to represent my school, my community, and the vibrant student body of Jersey City. Thank you. Amazing. So well said. Thank you for highlighting the beauty that is so inherent in our diversity. In such a, you know, we come from different places, speak different languages, eat different foods, have traditions. But when we come together, it becomes a superpower. So thank you so very much. Thank you. One more person, miss Salma Dauter, who will speak,
please. Salma? Good evening, superintendent doctor Fernandez, assistant superintendents, directors, board members, and community members. On April 15, the citywide student council proudly hosted its first ever culture fair at Lincoln Park, welcoming over 1,000 students from middle and high schools across the district. I'm excited to share that this event was a tremendous success. We conducted a survey of the students who attended, and the majority rated the experience a perfect five out of five, not only for how enjoyable it was,
but also for its educational value. Among the most popular highlights were flag face painting, karaoke, belly dancing, and engaging cultural trivia games. These activities allowed students to interact with and appreciate cultures in a hands on and meaningful way. We did receive some helpful feedback as well. Some students noted that the windy weather presented a minor challenge, and several expressed a desire for more time to visit and explore each cultural display. These are useful points that we'll take into account as we plan future events.
Overall, we are incredibly proud that the Culture Fair provided students with an opportunity to learn about a wide range of cultures beyond stereotypes, fostering understanding, inclusion, and the celebration of diversity. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Doctor Fernandez for making this event possible, and to Miss Williams for her ongoing support and guidance throughout the entire planning process. I would also like to sincerely thank our volunteers who worked hard to create vibrant, accurate, and respectful cultural displays. Finally,
I want to recognize the dedication of our student council officers who work tirelessly to coordinate the logistics, maintain organization, and ensure that everything ran smoothly. Our efforts our efforts with the citywide student council don't stop there. We've engaged in our monthly meetings discussing important social emotional learning topics, such as gaining independence, building leadership, and indulging in self care. These sessions provide a space for students to reflect and share their personal growth and success beyond the classroom.
At this time, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge one of our fellow officers, Deontay Simmons, who recently experienced the heartbreaking loss of his mother. In support of Deontay and his family during this difficult time, I ask that we all take a brief moment of silence to honor her memory. Thank you. To Deontay, we want to remind you that you will always have a place in our hearts. As a high school senior, the citywide student council holds a special place in my heart. Being a part of this program has shaped me in countless ways. And I'm incredibly grateful for the friendships,
the leadership experiences, and the memories that I've gained along the way. Thank you for allowing me the space to grow, to lead, and to leave something behind that I'm truly proud of. Though this is my final year, I know the future of citywide is bright. And I can't wait to see how far it'll go. Have a great evening. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you for those wonderful words again, expressing your culture, expressing the importance of it, and expressing how we are all, one with all of our diversities.
But more importantly, I wanna thank you for the moment that you took to respect your friend. That is so important. Many times, at an early age, many do not recognize that. So I thank you for your sensitivity and for your care of others. And for, the young man, we also stand with you. May god bless you. Thank you. As as we move through May, it is with great pleasure that I introduce the observance of Asian American,
Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a time dedicated to celebrating the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders who have played an integral role in shaping our nation and our local community. This month, we provided our schools with resources to engage in meaningful discussion, educational activities, and celebrations that highlight that Diverse experiences and impact of this time.
Tonight, students from PS twenty and Liberty High School will entertain us and teach us about some of the Asian American Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. Here to present the student work, supervisors, miss Stephanie Phillips and miss Maureen Betts. Good evening. Superintendent Fernandez, President Velasquez, Vice President Doctor Tisdale, Board Trustees, acting deputy superintendent doctor Cristadino, mister Wayne, senior leadership team, colleagues, parents,
students, and the viewing public. I am Stephanie Phillips, mathematics supervisor. I am honored to be here this evening alongside my colleagues, Maureen Betts, supervisor of English language arts, and Gina Milavoy, supervisor of performing arts. During the month of May, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander heritage, and Jewish American heritage month were celebrated within the schools. Schools received various resources to commemorate these two heritages. Together, we are honored to highlight the incredible contributions of our students as we celebrate Asian
American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It is celebrated each May to recognize and honor the rich cultural heritage, history, and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander peoples to The United States. The theme for 2025 is a legacy of leadership and resilience. Jersey City is home to a large and proud AANHPI community whose heritage and traditions add to the vibrant mosaic of our diverse city and
school community. We honor the invaluable impact the AANHPI community has made in education, business, the arts, public service, and beyond. And we and we reaffirm our commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all. This evening, we proudly showcase student performances from PS number twenty and Liberty High School. Additional student works may be viewed at the Jersey City School website under the curriculum and instruction department,
diversity calendar. Enjoy this evening's entertainment. Now it is my pleasure to introduce my colleague, Maureen Betts. Thank you, Stephanie. Please direct your attention to the stage as I introduce our first group of performers from doctor Maya Angelou Elementary School PS twenty under the direction of their teacher, Melissa Janie. They will be performing selections from Moana Junior. Please join me in welcoming PS twenty performers as they bring this beautiful performance to life. Thank you. We carved massive canoes from mighty trees, and we sailed the whole ocean with ours to explore,
passing on lessons from one navigator to the next. Okay. Alright. What an inspiring performance. Thank you, p s twenty, for your beautiful performance. Next, we are proud to recognize Liberty High School students, Marouska Ghaly and Jessica Suwaha, as they perform the Chinese fan dance. This dance is a vibrant expression of Asian cultural heritage. Their performance embodies elegance, strength, and storytelling, offering a personal glimpse into the rich artistic traditions we celebrate today. We hope you enjoy this captivating and heartfelt presentation.
Thank you for that beautiful and heartfelt performance. Your dance reminds us of the power of student expression and the importance of celebrating diverse cultures in our schools. We're so proud of you. This concludes the evening's performances. What an incredible evening of music, dance, and reflection. The committee is grateful to all administrators, teachers, and students whose contributions have made this celebration of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month possible. We want to acknowledge the administrators in attendance, Richard Stellato, principal of MS four,
Marissa Savino Gonzalez, assistant principal of MS four, Lisa Santiago, assistant principal of MS four, Monica Grisilla, principal of Liberty High School. Elizabeth Annatelli, principal of PS twenty seven. Hania Leah, principal of PS twenty. Doctor Courtney Campbell, assistant principal of PS twenty, doctor Cleopatra Wingard, principal of PS eleven, and Esael Salgado, principal of MS forty. If you look at the screen, you'll see all of the schools and teachers that participated in tonight's program. We invite you to return to the stage for a photograph with our senior leadership
team and the board of education members, and thank you all for being a part of this meaningful night. Good night. Thank you. Woo hoo. So cute. I know. I can't help Oh, thank you. If I could have mister Lea, miss Priscilla, and doctor Campbell please join us for the picture. Yep. Right. I know Adam's the only bitch. Is Adams? Don't forget your other cord. There's another cord on the floor. If I could Five minutes. We're gonna take five minutes while they work with doctor Grzila. Oh, she's okay.
We're back. Yes. Please. Quick. Okay. We're going to get back to our meeting. We would appreciate if you're joining us to, find your seat, and if not, to find the door. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you, president Velasquez. I'm glad everyone's well. Thank you. Miss Griselda, thank you for no. I'm very happy. You're fine. There's one more student I'd like to highlight, and his name is Ishan Gupta. He coauthored a book with his father. You know how, miss Velasquez has always a book?
Well, this is one of our current students. He coauthored the book with his father, Vineet Kumar, and it's inspired by his concern for the impact of global warming. Ishaan is a sixth grade student in the AP program at Middle School four. He wrote a letter to president to the president of The United States urging action on the critical issues. After receiving a response from former president Biden, he strengthened his belief that even small individual efforts can make a difference in the
fight against global warming. This response from the president and his parents' encouragement inspired him to write this book, The Martian Miracle. Ivan and the Climate Crisis intertwines the science of our world and Mars, integrating the mysteries of the universe with the complexities of human emotions. Through the main character's eye, readers witness their catastrophic impacts of global warming and are encouraged to consider their role in addressing this issue.
It is such a poignant story. And this evening, we have a copy for each of the trustees. In addition to his literary accomplishments, Ishan is the twenty twenty five Hudson County and Jersey City Public School spelling bee champion. Wow. He will proudly represent our district and the county at the Scripps National Spelling Bee this coming weekend in Washington, DC. Wow. Thank you, miss Dwayne, for providing all the copies. I'm gonna pass them around to our trustees.
Trustees are going to read this because this young man is coming next month to quiz us. If you would pass them along to our trustees. Thank you. The teacher and me is like, take one and pass the others. Pass. Take one and pass one back. Back. Thank you. Take one and pass one back. Okay. There's one more thing that you asked me, the board asked that, we discuss this at the, board meeting, and that is to, confirm to everyone that is here that the arbitrator,
as you know, we filed ten year charges, against our former business administrator, miss Robinson. And the arbitrator found that, 36 of the 42 charges for neglect of duty and conduct unbecoming were upheld by the arbitrator. They made their decision on May 12. And, just for your benefit, I'm going to read a couple of things that, are very impactful as to how we got here.
With your support, we were able to rectify, issues that were taking place. And this is what the arbitrator wrote. In the second quarter of twenty twenty, the respondent, miss Robinson, failed to authorize the business staff to remit the taxes on a timely basis despite warnings of the financial consequences. On 06/09/2022, the IRS sent a letter to the district stating that it was in default of the agreement for prior taxes and taxes incurred during the 2021 school year.
And the penalty assessed the charges. Due to the respondents' failure to send the money, the IRS reinstated prior penalties against the district and charged the district for new fines in the amount of $14,520,447 And they wrote, And the failure to ensure that federal taxes were paid cost the district millions of
dollars in fines and penalties, and they were diverted resources from the education of children. Her actions and inactions constitute misconduct, conduct unbecoming, and the neglect of duty. And here's one more just so that, you know, we all feel comfortable that we made the right decision. And the arbitrator wrote, and I think this is so important. Although conduct unbecoming by a public employee has not been defined by statute,
the courts have held that it is conduct which has a tendency to destroy public respect for government employees and confidence in the operation of public services. So with that, I conclude my presentations for this evening. Thank you, President Velasquez. Thank you, Doctor. Fernandez. Before I go to comments from our colleagues, I must say that I am super ecstatic that this is done and over with.
For a couple of years, the district was paying, the salary of this, person and, while the person was at home. I think that's a waste of time and money, but we did our due diligence. Thank you to everybody in the district, and, so did the courts. So we appreciate that. But I just wanna say one more comment because while this happened, I believe that the only ones on the board were, trustee Ioffe and myself.
If anyone else was here, please raise your hand. When this started, we were the only ones on the board, and and we were like, the we were the the the face of a very ugly thing. We were called racist. We were called everything in the book, and everyone would come every month to tell us, okay, how bad we were and the worst that ever happened to this district. I am sorry. There was never a racial undertone with our respect.
We were looking out for the benefit of the district and our children. That's why we are here, and we will continue to do that. However, at the time, this didn't start with us. This started with, a board as well as administration prior to us. And at that point, no one was racist. Okay? And no one was wrong. As soon as you saw two Latina women and a white woman at the leadership of this board, then we were racist. Thank you for clearing this up,
and let the chips fall where they may, but we are done. Thank you. Stop it. Stop it. Okay. And, oh, before I I begin, doctor Tisdale, brought in this book. And let me quickly go through it. I wasn't going to introduce a book today because doctor Fernandez was introducing, just a wonderful book from one of our current students. But I have a book here that doctor Tisdale brought from a former student. And looking at the picture, he's a real, real former student. So let me quickly read.
I haven't read the, book, but let me quickly go through, the author, information and the book information. And my name is Mike Larkins, and I was born and raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. Early in life, I developed a speech impediment that accompanied me from adolescence into adulthood. Along this journey, I had to find ways to speak more fluently, overcoming numerous challenges and learning valuable life lessons.
Through many ups and downs, I emerge stronger, ultimately becoming an overcomer. About the book, Beyond the Paws is powerful is a powerful journey of resilience, growth, and self discovery. Mike Larkins shares his life story with courage and honesty, chronicling his experiences growing up with a speech impediment and the challenges he faced along the way. Through personal
and anecdotes and hard work and insight. He reveals how he learned to use to rise above. I'm sorry. To rise above obstacles and become stronger. This book is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder that with determination and perseverance, we can overcome anything. And that is exactly what our children live on a daily basis. They may not have a speech impediment,
but resilience helps them overcome anything. Thank you to all of our teachers for making students as great as Mr. Larkins and many others. And now we will continue with our program. I will have, oh, the attorney to read the preamble, prior to our speakers. And please listen to it closely because we will abide by every word. Good evening. I'm gonna read the public comment statement. All speakers must adhere to the three minute speaking rule.
The The clock shall not be stopped. Speakers will be called to the microphone to speak in the order that their request is received. All statements or comments shall be directed to the chair. It is the expectation of the board that the comments will remain The chair reserves the right to, a, interrupt, warn, and or terminate a person participant statement or comment when it is too lengthy, interrupt and or warn a participant when the statement or comment is abusive, obscene, or maybe defamatory, c, request any person to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum or presents themselves as a danger to others in the building,
d, request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person. When that person events or disrupts a meeting with an act that obstructs or interferes with the meeting, including threats by words, actions, or objects, e, call a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting, and f, waive these rules when necessary for the protection of privacy or to maintain an orderly operation of the board meeting. Thank you. And before, miss McKenzie, calls up the speakers for this evening, I'd like to remind everyone that as of last meeting,
we had voted not to engage in the Zoom or or call in. However, because it wasn't corrected on the website, some people have called in, and we found out this evening that they thought that they would be able to, come on Zoom or through, our the telephone. However, if those people are listening to this meeting this evening and they would like to come in after we return from our closed session, I will make we will make an exception and listen to them then,
and I do apologize for the error in the website. Thank you, miss McKenzie. Our first speaker, Caridad Dayton. May I begin? Good evening, Caridad. Yes. Good evening. Okay. Good evening, superintendent doctor Fernandez, members of the board, parents, teachers, and students. My name is Karida Gallietam, and I attend Liberty High School. I, as well as a few other students, have come here in regard to the cancellation of our senior class trip. From our understanding, this trip has been approved for many years and was also on the approved list of field trips for the school year 2024 to 2025 that the district provides.
With this in mind, we proceeded to properly plan out our senior trip accordingly. Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, we were told that the central office this the central office disapproved of our trip with no further reasoning or solutions when asked about other trips. Many perspectives on the matter have been shared on why we can't attend these trips. As high school students, we are aware that funding doesn't goes goes towards necessities rather than wants for the school. So the school begins fundraising for our senior year, our freshman year. With this money, it continues to grow till our senior year.
If money needs to be paid towards any event, many seniors are willing to do it. I know people in my class just took up jobs just to pay for their senior year. So the attendance of the trip shouldn't be a financial issue because the cost of the trip was directly coming out of students' pockets. Another issue being speculated is conflict, conflicts on these trips. It is rumored that students from other schools in the district exchange physical contact with each other, leading to the trip being canceled. I understand the saying one bad apple messes us up for the rest, but what if we remove the bad apple before it ruins it for the rest?
I don't think schools that work hard for many years to gain academic and professional social recognition should be affected by one bad apple. Not only does this view affect us who can't go on trips, but you as the board of district. JD City Public Schools has a negative reputation because of individuals who honestly don't know any better, who aren't presented with the idea that words are more effective than fists. They aren't taught otherwise. It's normalized for them compared to other schools such as ours that have potentially serious consequences following any aggressive behavior or actions. I hope we can find a solution to the cancellation of this trip.
Even if it's not Hershey Park, we can have a list of actual approved activities for proper replanning of what's supposed to be the best year of high school. Thank you so much, and have a great night. Thank you. Thank you very much. You will not right now, we will not engage with you. Doctors, That you know? Doctor Fernandez will, speak on this later. Okay? Thank you. Dwayne Baskerville. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It's nice to see you again. It's been a long time. I came this evening to, give president Noemi Velasquez her her roses today,
regarding supporting my peace be still basketball program throughout Jersey City. Uh-huh. Twenty years ago, when doctor Epps gave me permission to come into the school board into the into the schools, the first person I met was, miss Velasquez. And when she showed me the, papers that I had to fill to be able to get into the school and use the building, I'm sure she saw the look of a fourth grader on my face once I got past the name and address of who I was and what I was trying
to do. Excuse me. Had she not allowed me to sit down with her, fill out the paperwork, and explain to me the process that we had to do in order to get into the schools, excuse me, I would have used it as an excuse to tell God that I showed up. I tried. They said no, and I'm out of here. But when she said yes, what she doesn't know is that during the first after school program that we did, excuse me, I approached my 10 of my kids who were working with me,
and I showed them my testimony of how I should have died over 50 times. I asked the kids, if you met this person, what would you say? I was expecting this here, you know, get away from me. You crazy. But they were like, oh, this guy's cool. Blah, blah, blah. And when I got to the tenth child, he said, if I were him, I would help people. I didn't say it to him, but in my mind, I was like, oh, you little okay. So I took my testimony to Booger t. I spoke to the people who I needed to speak to, and I gave him a a choice.
We can play basketball or shoot each other. At that point, they decided to play basketball. From that point, we've had over thousands of games of basketball here in Jersey City. We've had a hundred and five days of peace back in 02/2006. We've had two previous summers of peace. We've had, two father's days where we had kids from all over Jersey City playing together. We've had 11 talented fashion shows, five teen summits, one at each high school and one at Saint Peter's College. Had you not allowed me to
relax. Your time's up. I wanted to say thank you. You're welcome. Let me quickly make a clarification. While I appreciate your accolades and all of that, I want to clarify that, at the time, I was an employee of this district, and I was working. I was doing my job as per the superintendent's, directors. So, in as much as I appreciate everything and everything that you said, I want that to be very clear. I was working for the district, and, whenever I am given a a directive from my superior,
I carry it through to the ultimate. Thank you. Madam president, I think he was just telling you did an amazing job when you were working for the district. Amazing. Belinda Gote. Good evening. I'm here today at the board meeting tonight because no one is responding to my emails. My child has been a target. I've seen another parent here from forty one speak last month about the same teacher, Miss Bethel. I've reported an incident with her hitting my child and other students. Nothing has nothing was done. I'm asking questions. The acting principal, she's sending me to Kansas.
She's sending me to the lawyer. Only person that responded to me was the lawyer. Whoever you are, I appreciate you. Spoke to walk ins. Nothing. You know, now it's just constant my child, my child, my child. What are we doing? There's no strong leadership. You wanna do coffee with the principal to get to know her. You not getting to know your children in the school. This is where we should be safe where our children are at. So my question is, what's going on? What's gonna be the next step? Is she gonna get this and these kids are just traumatized? She's everything is going under the rug.
I've told her many times, your rug is probably like Mount Everest. You don't call. You don't say anything serious that's going on, but as soon as it's one bad thing, you pick up that phone. You called me at nine in the morning to let me know my child has an attitude. This is a middle schooler. What kid don't have an attitude? So when I asked her about my concerns, she's sending me to people I've never even spoke to. This is not my first my child's first time attending this school. And that's probably what she's making it seem to everybody. No. My child's been attending there many years. So I don't know what's going on.
I've contacted Rudy about an investigation to happen with his guard. Nothing. No respond. No nothing. So I'm led here. So I just need answers. I wanna know what you guys are gonna do about this because it's not acceptable. Kids come to my house and tell me the same thing all the time. Teacher hitting, the way they talk. You got recordings of kids acting like we're down in the projects. You're in school. Kids are screaming, cussing, fighting. Like, what are we doing? That's all I have to say. But I also have emails of her sending me places where she shouldn't.
And now she don't respond. But if I go to the school and I'm like an outraged parent, you would want to speak to me. Because I'm calm and I'm going the route you sent me, I get a response from nobody. That is very unacceptable. That concludes everyone that I have on the list. Thank you very much. Doctor Fernandez, did you wanna address any of these? Yes. Thank you, president Velasquez. Students, your safety is my priority. Amusement parks offer a variety of rides, and injuries can occur from falls, improper restraints, malfunctions,
or being thrown from rides. These can include broken bones, whiplash, head injuries, or even more serious trauma. The decision was made in your best interest, not because someone misbehaved or because they were a bad apple. We removed Great Adventure from the authorized field trip. Unfortunately, we missed Hersheypark. It was not done to punish anyone, but it is done for the safety of all the students in the district.
Miss Gauthier, unfortunately, you were unable to attend the meeting with miss Watkins Williams that was scheduled. By code and by regulation, I am unable to comment on purse or answer questions about personnel or specific issues for other students. I encourage you again We I'm sorry. This is not, interactive, this is not interactive. So we're gonna let we let you speak. Now we're gonna let the superintendent speak. If you have anything other to say,
please wait until we're done here, and you can speak to her on the side. Okay? Thank you. I encourage you to please reschedule that meeting with missus Watkins Williams, and then we can address this in a, secure place. This is student rights privacy. We cannot address this at the board meeting. Thank you. Okay. Do we have any do we have, I'm sorry, any, comments from from any of our, trustees?
Trustee Morris? Madam Yes. Madam president? Yes, sir. I just wanted to, basically, piggyback, off of your original, statement regarding the former BA. I know it was a very tedious process last year. A lot of us, didn't have the opportunity to really know offhand, what was going on. We were forced to make a decision based, off of, charges, which is why I'm glad that we took another look at it it because we found that she was actually guilty of more charges than we would originally, have been charged with.
So, you know, I'm glad it's over and I'm glad we have the opportunity now, for the superintendent to, actually find someone who she will be able to work with, to further this, district, not just for the remaining of this year, but also for next year and, years to come. Also, I just wanted to, say because I didn't hear I was gonna I was waiting to see if you were gonna mention it, but, I guess not. I just wanted to congratulate our vice president, who officially graduated, walked across the stage. Right? Yes. Walked across the stage. I wasn't able to attend, but, you know, if I would've been able to watch it on Zoom, I would've been, like, shouting your name, like,
several times. But I'll wait until I go to your party to do that, afterwards. But it's just a good, he's, you know, he's just a good role model for our community to see, you know, someone who's Jersey City bred, came up and now you're an educator and now you're a doctor. So, we're very proud of that. I think I sent you a text message to study this. Yes. And thank you. That was next on my list upon everybody speaking. I'm sorry. But that's okay because, congratulations from one is congratulations from all. We all appreciate, respect, and are quite proud of your accomplishment.
Congratulations. Congratulations. Yes. I guess trustee Iofe? Through the chair. Thank you. I just would like some clarification from doctor Fernandez, if possible. Would Liberty High School student situation, since we discussed field trips in our prior committees, and and the complications around them that arose, in this particular case, I don't know if they're seniors or or if this is their last opportunity to go somewhere or if an alternative option will be presented to the kids. They have an option to go anywhere else that doesn't you know,
not amusement parks. So Basically, it's this particular vendor for all the reasons that we discussed here. Again, it's not interactive. Your daughter had the opportunity to bring this to us, address it accordingly up here. Again, if you have a concern, if you have a concern, please wait and speak to Doctor. Fernandez or whomever you need to speak to miss yes, please address that. Okay. Anyone else? Through the chair? Yes. Trustee, Tisdale. Okay. So, thank you, trustee Morris,
for the accolades and the congratulations. So with that, also, I wanted to recognize I had the pleasure of sitting next to, doctor Carla Webb, who is a professional. I don't know what she does specifically. We didn't get into that, but she works at PS twenty eight, and she graduated with me. So I told her I would shout you out. So if you're watching, probably not because we found that out. She didn't watch the board meetings. But, Carla, if you doctor Carla, I did mention you, here. And just to also piggyback off of,
president Ihope, when did we make the decision that we were going to, not allow amusement parks? I'm just curious. That was, previously. Not this year. It was removed from the field trip. Due to some legal concerns, the it's just the liability for amusement parks. So when we, when you say previously previously in terms of when? Because I don't remember that ever happening. It was before you were on the board. Oh, okay. So what I I don't didn't we allow, though?
I'm trying to think back. There were field trips that were approved to such types of Not amusement parks. No? No. Not recently? Not recently. I don't recall it during my time. Okay. But, madam I'm sorry, madam president. So my question is, since it was before we were on the board, then the administrators and the principals should be aware of this, and they should be telling their students this already. Was that done at Liberty? Did they get another option to, you know, select? Or maybe we can just re Yeah.
And I guess that's a great question, because my question then becomes, how did it get as far as it did with before it even had to get canceled? The students, understandably so, did not like the answer. It was on the list. The administration does not, does not have the, well, no. We we don't monitor what the school is doing at that level. However, it's a danger for the students to allow them to go. No. I think the question Safety is the priority. Where Are they are entitled?
I would I spoke with the principal, and they can choose something else, as per the principal who was here this evening because they presented, is, they're upset, understandably so. They had their heart set on it. But there are times, as an entity, that we have to make decisions in terms of safety versus everything that we would like to do, Great Adventure, Hershey Park, they they post challenges and safety concerns.
Go ahead. And, Doctor. Fernandez, I know this is not your fault. You know, we're coming at you because we have we have no other choice. But I'm I'm just a little, confused because I'm sure that this is not the first time that that principal has had a class trip with the seniors. Correct? The seniors. So why wait? We're in the last couple of weeks of May. Right? They graduate in June. What what was the alternative? Like, if Hershey Park was not on the approved list, then what was? The problem was that it's still on the list.
However, when we reviewed the purchase order, that's where we caught the issue. So for safety reasons and, you know, there are many instances that we discussed during executive session that there are legal issues that come up. It's a liability for the district, and our students' safety is the priority. They can go they can go to circle line, they can do something that is on the ground and they stay on the ground
that is safe. Miss Grisella will work with them. It just won't be Hersheypark. We all expedite whatever we need to do to make sure that they go. But unfortunately, it won't be Hersheypark. Okay. Through the chair, I have two questions. Is this something that made it to the board docs that we agreed on earlier in February? No. You would never have seen it on board docs because it was on the list. It was just caught when we saw the purchase order. And then the next question is,
since it's a legal issue, if the parents were to take responsibility signing, A waiver, we would still be responsible. Okay. Any other questions, concerns? My question was there. Yes. Okay. Thank you. If there's no other question, we will, close this session and get ready for, the executive session. So motion. Motion. Second? Second. Okay. Call. Okay. Roll call. Pursuing to the open public meetings act NJSA 10 colon four dash 12, the Jersey City Board of Education will now be going into closed session for the
purpose of discussing matters where confidentiality is essential. In particular to protect the confidentiality of individual privacy rights or a matter involving the lease or acquisition of property or pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiations. The matters discussed in this closed session can be made public at the time that the need for confidentiality no longer exists. We will be gone for The usual ninety minutes. That does not mean that we have to use it.
Okay. It's just in case. All in favor. Thank you. I Okay. Oh, please. I am sorry. Mhmm. The young lady did not do her report. Can we please quickly Dispose. I'm sorry, dear. Go ahead. Hi. Considering that I'm a junior, the students at Infinity next year also wanted to do something similar, to what the students that were speaking were just saying. They were, like, they were raising concerns as to how, like, why was the amusement park trip confirmed before,
but not now. Because they think it's unfair that other people had the opportunity to do it, but now all of a sudden people say it's illegal. And that that's a good question. I'm glad you brought it up. But I think you also heard what doctor Fernandez said that due to safety reasons, it was stopped. However, doctor Fernandez, the young lady wants to know, next year, apparently, Infiniti is planning on also having such a trip, and she wants to know That why before not now for safety reasons.
So let's start planning a different location. Okay? Okay. One last question through the chair. When was the last amusement park trip? If you can recall. I'm I'm I can't recall the last amusement park trip. But at least ten years. I I I won't go that far, but it's been a while. If it's if it's before if I don't recall one at all, I've been here six years, so beyond that. Two to three months. My students went to DreamWorks. Okay. Thank you. Can we share?
My students went to DreamWorks. I'm sorry? They went to the DreamWorks in East Rutherford, the American Dream Mall. They ain't going there. They went to that was 2020. Let's discuss this downstairs. Because we did call. We did roll call. Sentence. Go ahead. We did roll call. I appreciate it. Mhmm. But they went to DreamWorks in 2023. Thank you. Yep. Done? So are we. Yes. Thank you. I am done now. Okay. Doctor miss McKenzie. I'll take it. I know. To do anything. If that's the case, then you need a promotion.
Right? Yes. Anyways, miss Smith. I'm speaking with you. We're we're gentlemen, we are back. Okay. Roll call. Miss McKenzie, please do roll call. Trustee Blunt? Here. Trustee Iofe? Here. Trustee Morris? Present. Trustee Mohammed? Present. Trustee Patel? Present. Trustee Rezabella just had to leave. Trustee Schneider. Present. Vice president Tisdale. Did he leave? He left. Okay. And president Velasquez, we have a quorum. Oh, just because I wanted to? Of the April 16 meeting.
I don't want a motion. I'm sorry? I don't want a motion for it, please. I need a motion. So moved. Thank you, sir. Second? Second by trustee Morris. Any discussion? There's none, so let's take okay. Let's take a vote, please. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Iofe? Yes. Yes. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. Okay. Thank you. I also need a motion for 7.02,
which, the minutes for the special meeting, public budget hearing. Motion. Alright. Trustee Blunt. Second? Second. None. Vote, please. Let me get out. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. Motion. Motion. Who was that? Doctor Blunt. Second. Second. Miss Iofe. Discussion? Vote, please. Trustee Schneider. Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes.
Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. Trustee Blunt? President Velasquez. Yes. Motion passed. Thank you. Motion on the 10:10 o one to ten point three zero. Motion. Second. Second by Ioffe. Motion by Ioffe. Sorry. And second by Mr. Morris. Discussion? Yes. I just wanted to commend the, the district superintendent and business administrator for the, the plan to the corrective action plan. You know, already we see a lot of the corrective actions have taken place and looks like
by 07/01/2025 with the new software, it'll be fully fully remedied. And I don't know if, doctor Lucey wanted to comment anything on that with a little bit more on the new software. So I think that will be a great benefit to the district. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. So I'm just gonna just go over just a quick few talking points. So the new software is called Linq, l I n q. So we previously had systems 3,000. And so Linq, just to tell you where we are with it with the implementation, it's going to go live for the input of requisitions June,
and that would be for the 2526 school year we met can you hear me? Okay. Can you hear me now? Okay. I'm sorry. So for link, which is the new software program, it's going to go live for the input of all the requisitions for the beginning of in June for the 2526 school year. It was mentioned at the principal's meeting yesterday, so they are aware of the new system. Clerical staff has been trained. There's ongoing training as we go along. There was a weekly implementation touch point meeting to discuss these updates and tasks that
are pending. Training will continue for users and approvers throughout June so that they become proficient in this. It initially began in April. The HR component will go live in January. The data is being updated and reviewed daily to ensure that all the information is accurate. We currently have multiple systems that store our employee data. The payroll will also trans transition into the new system beginning in January. Therefore, we will have parallel payroll runs that will be taking place in October to ensure
that the deductions and pay stubs are accurate. We're not just going to end one system and start the new one the next day. Okay? So in order to have a smooth transition. So just I'm gonna, give you additional information for systems 3,000 and why we're moving past that. One of the main reasons I mean, there's a number of them. But one of the main reasons is there's a lack of integration between the HR and the payroll modules. Okay? Whereas this new link system, everything is linked together, and it will become more efficient, within our financial end.
So is there any other questions? No. Thank you. That was very helpful. Okay. You're welcome. Thank you for that question. And thank you, doctor Luce, for your, explanation of the entire program. Thank you so much. Any other question? Call the vote, please. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Blunt? Trustee Morris. Yes. President Velasquez. Yes. Motion passed. Thank you. Eleventh's facilities. Only one eleven point o one.
Motion. Motion. Second. Discussion. Vote. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. President Velasquez? Yes. Pass. Motion passed. Thank you. Before I ask for a motion on personnel, there is one that you said doctor Fernandez? Twelve o two. Go ahead. So 12 o two. Section one. One through seven on nonrenewals will be the eliminated.
So we're not gonna vote on that. So we'll only vote you will be we not I. Uh-huh. You Us. Will be voting on the retirement's resignation and, below that. Okay. Motion. Motion. Doctor Blunt. Second, mister Morris. Discussion. Vote. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Just to confirm, this is all of twelves or this is all of 12? You can it's all of 12 Okay. I'm sorry. 12 o one to twelve fourteen except for the one that, that defendant just,
took, which is 12 o two one two seven nonrenewals. Okay. Thank thank you for the clarification. Yes. On, all but 12 o five point, one, due to a potential conflict. I'll abstain on that one. Okay. You you said you're abstaining on that one? Abstaining. Yeah. Yeah. Potential conflict. Okay. Thank you. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Blank? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes and no. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. Is there a reading,
mister Pushnik? We would next be voting on, 14 o one, which No. There's not Yes. We're not we're not voting on 13 o one. Okay. That's already been addressed. What we're voting on is, 14 o one, the second reading of the policy for artificial intelligence, and that's policy number 2365. Was that read into the record by, trustee Ioffe? It was read into the No. We don't read it into into the record because the policy is attached to the
to the agenda. Very well. Thank you. You're welcome. So motion? Motion. Trustee Morris. Second? Second. Trustee Schneider. Discussion? Vote. Trustee Patel? Yeah. This is Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yeah. Trustee Schneider? Yes. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. 15. Motion for fifteen, fifteen o one, 15 o two. Conference. We have to do that. Yes. Fifteen o one. Not, I'm sorry. We don't vote on fifteen point two,
but we do vote on why? I thought we h No. It was a report. It's not a resolution. I know. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Okay. Explain. Fifteen o two reads be it resolved. That means the board has to vote on it. Okay? If we haven't, then we should have been. So that's just that Okay. Both. I recommend you vote on both of the 15 items. Okay. Hold on. Okay. Motion. Doctor Blunt. Second? Yes. Second. Okay. Patel. Discussion? Did you have a discussion on that? Okay. Thank you. Vote, please.
Trustee Mohammed? The rest is done. Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Ioffe? Yes. And president Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. Okay. Prior to adjournment, is there any discussion? Any concern? Motion to adjourn. Motion by trustee, Morris, second by trustee, Blunt. All in favor? Meeting closed.