We will bring our meeting, to order. This is a special meeting, to vote on three items today. It's the public the budget public budget hearing. And, let's start by standing for this flag salute, please. Like when we were in school. What was that? Okay. Thank you. Welcome, everyone. We're going to start by a roll call and reading. Okay. Yes. Good evening. In accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 10 colon four dash six, et seq.
Adequate notification of this meeting has been provided by advertising in the El Diario LaPrensa, 04/22/2025. Notice was also post on the district website. I will now take the roll call. Trustee Blunt. Present. Trustee Iofe. Trustee Morris. Present. Trustee Mohammed. Present. Trustee Patel. Present. Trustee Rosabella. Present. Trustee Schneider. Present. Vice President Hisdale? Here. President Velasquez? Present. We have a quorum. We will begin by
hello? Okay. We will begin. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Doctor. Luz, you can, start our meeting with, the reading of the, budget, please. Thank you. Good evening, President Velasquez, Superintendent Doctor. Fernandez, Vice President Tisdale, trustees, senior staff, and members of the viewing public. I'm pleased to present the 2526 budget to the public. So if we can start with our budget development process, our process began in November 2024 with comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
This included individual meetings with each principal and their team, department level meetings with respective team members. Stakeholders were asked to submit budgets, including staffing and tables of organization. All participants were urged to consider current economic condition and the district's funding capabilities. The budget office staff conducted follow-up meetings with each stakeholder to discuss specific needs and requests. All budgets were thoroughly reviewed by the superintendent. The board involvement included, on March 12, '3 by three meetings involving the superintendent,
the acting school business administrator, and board members. During these sessions, the acting school business administrator shared the presentation you are seeing this evening, allowing board members to engage in further discussion and ask questions. A preliminary budget hearing was held on Wednesday, March 19, and then submitted to the county superintendent. The budget was then approved by the county superintendent and county business administrator on 04/08/2025. Today, Wednesday, April 30, is the public hearing where you will be asked to adopt the final budget for
the Jersey City Public School District for the school year 2526. This presentation outlines the 2526 school budget, which aims to balance our educational goals with fiscal responsibility. So if you can pull up the presentation for me. Okay. You want me to begin? Okay. So the budget process, we will begin with that. We can just go to the next slide. So the the budget preparation is defined in NJSA 18 a colon 22 dash seven.
This process varies by district. Here in Jersey City, the process began in November. Administrators were asked to prepare their respective budgets, including a table of organization, which included staffing for the 2526 school year. All stakeholders were asked to be cognizant of the current economic condition and the district's ability to fund programs for the next school year. Business office staff met with each administrator to discuss the budget needs and specific requests for the next school year. All budgets have been reviewed by the superintendent.
As I stated, the preliminary budget was submitted to the county superintendent on March 19. Today is the public hearing of April 30. So when reviewing the 2025 budget review timelines, just so everyone is aware of the length of time it takes in order to prepare this budget. The analysis of the school based budgets, which is our non salary costs, started from October 1 and ran through November 15. The distribution of the school based budgets to the schools and the central office budget
to the departments occurred on November 19. Business office meetings with schools and departments took place between December 3 and December 18. The midyear budget review submission was due on December 31. The school based budgets and central office budgets were due on January 10. The midyear budget review meeting with the county superintendent and county business administrator was held on January 21. The review of school based budgets and central office budgets took place from January 13
through February 21. The AUTM, which is the audit summary from our our CPA firm, the certification submission didn't occur until February 3. The Department of Education budget development took place from February 4 through March 17. The governor's budget address was on February 27. The receipt of our state aid and budget data from the DOE was February 28. So just to take note,
that had given us, seven working days in order to compile this budget from when the governor's address took place to the time that it was due. Board members, our three by three preliminary budget presentations was held on March 12. The district budget submission was on March 19. The approval from the county superintendent let me have a little date there. Was on April. Sorry. Lost the date. It was occurred ten days after that. The public budget hearing is today, April 30. So in the yes.
Okay. It wasn't exactly so ten days, we did receive notice from the county superintendent, that they approved preliminarily approved the budget. And then there were some minor revisions we had to do, not with numbers, but there were some things in other categories that needed to be moved around. And so that our final I have it right here. Our, our final approval date was, let me pull this up, April 8. Okay. So after the minor changes, it was April 8. So they notify you within ten days, which they did.
So just to add to note before I go through the entire presentation, nothing was changed from the preliminary budget to this budget. The county the county did not make any financial revisions. So these are the same numbers that were presented to you during the three by three meetings, as well as the preliminary meeting. There have been no changes. So, again, this is for the public as well. So I'm gonna go going to go through the definition so everyone has an understanding of the terminology. So the tax levy is the amount of revenue raised through property taxes to support
the general fund. The budgeted fund balance is a surplus funds from prior budget years used as revenue in future budget years and or unused appropriations from prior budget year. Extraordinary aid is the state aid for special education costs that exceed $40,000 per year per student for a public school and $55,000 per year per student for a private school. Semi aid is the federal aid for services provided to special education students eligible for
Medicaid reimbursement. Capital reserve is the surplus funds reallocated from fund balance and set aside for future capital improvement projects. The debt service is funds for payments of principal and interest on outstanding bonded debt previously approved by the voters. Our other funds. Fund 11, that is our general current expense accounts for all expenditures of the district for current expenses. Expenditures included here would be regular programming instruction costs and the administrative and other support
services costs related to providing the district's normal operations. Fund 12, capital outlay, items that are funded by general fund revenues, includes increases in the general fund capital reserve account, equipment purchases, facility acquisition, and construction services. Fund 15, school based budgets accounts for revenues and expenditures by schools for those required to prepare school based budgets for whole school reform. Districts with schools preparing school based budgets must record all the revenues and expenditures for
each school separately in character for class 15. Our fund 20 is special revenue. It's an account for the proceeds of specific revenue sources that are legally restricted to expenditures for specific purposes. That is our title one and IDA funds. The amount of grant funds received differ from year to year. Additional funds. Fund 30, our capital projects. The source of revenue in this fund would be the sale of bonds, grants, or transfers from the general fund to augment the grant. Separate accounting must be used for each capital project.
Fund 40, debt service. This accounts for the accumulation of resources for and the payments of long term debt, principal, and interest. Fund sixty, food service. Used to account for any activity in which a fee is charged to external users for goods and services. So on this slide, the 2526 projected revenue for the local tax levy, we had an increase of 2%, which we are mandated to do. So the total is $452,337,369.
Our local tax levy, the bank cap, 82,000 $82,148,763. That's an increase of 1%. We did not use the bank cap last year. However, to note, we have used the bank cap in many previous years. Payroll tax. We received an increase of 25% in the payroll tax, which for approximately $15,000,000 for the 2526 school year, so now having a total of $80,994,124
Miscellaneous revenue and interest, 0% change, equaling $1,841,237 Our state aid, as everyone knows, we received a decrease of 3% down to $129,632,193 Our equalization aid of $98,000,000 was decreased at a %. We received $0. Our extraordinary aid was we received the same amount of $3,000,000.
We received no increase. Our semi aid, which is for our special education Medicaid initiative that is our most vulnerable population, we received a decrease of 86%. We are only receiving $135,495. Our budgeted fund balance is $148,847,199, which was a decrease of 27 percent of last year. We have not withdrawn anything from our capital to reserve for next year,
and there is no adjustment for prior year encumbrances. Our title one contribution has increased 46% to $15,929,982, and our total operating budget has increased 6% of $914,866,362 So this slide is just a graph representing all of the projected revenue. Those are the numbers that I just went through.
So if you can go to the next slide. I am not going to read all of these numbers individually off of this sheet. Each of the slide thereafter talks about every one of these line items, and it gives a breakdown. But just to go to the bottom line, for the 2526 school year, the total expenditures and appropriations will be $1,027,273,122, which is a decrease from the previous year of 1%.
So if you go to the next slide, again, this is a graph just representing our projected expenditures, and I will go through every one of the line items going forward. If you could go to the next slide. Thank you. So for our regular program instruction, salaries, and program expenses, this comprises 20.35% of the district's proposed budget for the 2526 school year. These line items represent salaries for kindergarten, bilingual, grades one through 12 teachers equaling $178,787,248
classroom aids for $8,430,285 general supplies for that are district wide of $6,531,049. Textbooks, $2,732,323. For our purchased services, $8,000,007,791,719 dollars and miscellaneous expenses of $745,789.
Our contribution to the preschool program this year, which we are mandated to do, is $2,985,039 for a total of $209,003,452 Our appropriations increased 15 8% equaling $15,795,752 This fully funds all of our instructional programs.
So for our cocurricular activities, athletics, alternative education, and summer school, This comprises 54% of the district's proposed budget for the 2526 school year. These line items represent co curricular activities of 685,788 Athletics, dollars 3,910,707, alternative education, dollars 143,553, dollars and summer school of $775,417
for a total of $5,515,465 Our appropriations have decreased by 11%, and equaling $694,973 For our special education instruction, this comprises 9.66% of the district's proposed budget for the school next school year. These line items represent salaries for language learning disabled students,
behavioral disabled students, and students with multiple disabilities, resource room, and preschool disabled teachers, equaling $82,057,301. Our classroom aids equal 10,767,433. Speech, $85,175. Other related services, occupational therapy and physical therapy, is $4,179,639.
For the administration secretarial child study team, it is $194,249. Supplies and computers, $735,732, and purchase services, $1,204,987. This is for a total of $99,224,516. Our appropriations have increased 3%, equaling $2,782,243.
For special education tuition, this comprises 2.49% of the district's proposed budget for the 2526 school year. These line items represent tuition for the out of district placements to other local education agencies, VOTEC, our county special services district, which is regional day, and private New Jersey schools. The total for that amount is $25,564,231. So the total special education expenditures,
which is the expenditures, which includes the tuition plus transportation, is a total of $150,563,647. That, just so you're aware of, is 14.6% of the total school year budget. So our appropriations have increased 4.35% for a total amount of $6,283,232. For the attendance, health services, home instruction,
guidance, and library, This comprises 1.17% of the district's proposed budget for the next school year. These line items represent salaries for attendance equaling $3,383,927 health services for school nurses of $4,928,050, home instruction other than special education, four hundred and fifty thousand dollars, miscellaneous purchase services, $2,484,000.
Supplies and computers, $824,347 for a total of $12,070,324. Our appropriations have increased 6% for a total of $698,300. For the improvement of instruction, this comprises 2.41% of the district's proposed budget for the 2526 school year. These line items represent salaries for instructional supervisors of $184,597.
Teachers, 8 million 6 hundred and 20 1 thousand 3 hundred and 15 dollars. Guidance, $8,300,074 9 hundred and 50 3 dollars Library media, $3,510,045 Secretarial, 5 hundred and 19 thousand 2 hundred and 12 dollars. Miscellaneous purchase services, $2,871,718. Supplies and materials, 502,008
$502,827 and professional development, $155,776 for a total of 24,000,744 hundred and $43. This is for an appropriations increase of 3% of $807,563. Our general administration comprises of 1.32% of the district's proposed budget for the twenty five-twenty six school year.
These line items represent the salaries for the superintendent, deputy superintendent, assistant superintendent, directors, and secretarial of $5,741,850 Legal services, $1,859,852. Audit services, 299,000. Judgments, $3,200,000. Copiers, communication, postage, supplies, dues, and miscellaneous board expenditures of $2,487,787
for a total of $13,588,489. This is an appropriations decrease, by 1% of $189,880. For our school administration, fund eleven and fifteen school based budgets. This comprises 2.3% of the district's proposed budget for the 2526 school year. These line items include the salaries for administration, which includes principals and assistant principals of $15,401,045
Secretarial, 7 million 40 2, 8 hundred and 20 4 dollars Teachers, 1 million 15 thousand 4 hundred and 60 7 dollars Purchase services, supplies, and miscellaneous expenses of $884,647 for a total of $24,343,983. The appropriations have increased 3% for $731,589.
So this is the blended funding, which include which is included in the school based budgets. So central services, which is our business office and human resources, and it's divided into two parts. So our business office is comprised of point 86% of the district's proposed budget. This line item supports the business office and includes administrative and staff salaries, secretarial purchase services, budget software, payroll supplies, and miscellaneous expenses for a total of $8,871,308.
Human resources is comprised of point zero four percent of the district's proposed budget. These line items support the HR office and include administrative and support salaries, secretarial purchase services, the human resources software, and supplies for a total of $398,425 So collectively, the business office and human resources is $9,269,733
with the d with an appropriations increase of 10% for a total of $824,187. So just to note, this is less than 1% of the entire budget. So for technology, it comprises point 58% of the district's proposed budget. These line items support the district's technology initiatives and include salaries for staff, purchase technical services, miscellaneous expensive expenses, and tech supplies for $5,976,517.
Our appropriations have increased 6% by $333,619. For our operations and maintenance of planned security, this comprises 8.93% of the district's proposed budget for the twenty five-twenty six school year. These line items support the district's maintenance and custodial services, including the salaries for their staff, general supplies, cleaning, repair, maintenance, purchase of professional tech technical services, the maintenance software,
other purchased property services, which includes our water, sewerage, trash removal, and insurance, for a total of $91,708,639, which also includes line items for the security services. This is an appropriations increase of 13% for a total of $10,716,213 For student transportation, this comprises 3.32% of the district's proposed budget.
These line items support the district's student transportation services and include salaries for the bus drivers, maintenance of school vehicles, special education transportation, joint transportation agreements, and field trips for $34,106,723. The appropriations there have increased by 5% for $1,497,244. For our health benefits and other employee benefits,
This comprises 16.44% of the district's proposed budget. This budget includes $124,989,538 for medical, prescription, and dental benefits, 4 $43,925,282 for other employee benefits, including the FICA contribution, HERS, which is our public employee's retirement system. So the district is required to make employee contributions on PERS.
TPAF, which is our teacher's pension and annuity, and the district also pays a portion for certifications, certificate staff, unemployment, workers' comp, tuition reimbursement, and compensated absences for a total of $168,914,820 Our appropriations have increased on this line item of 15% for a total of $21,948,790
So for our capital outlay, which is fund 12, it comprises 2.16% of the district's proposed budget. These line items include the architectural engineering services for $3,547,165, construction services for various capital projects of $17,706,480, and equipment of $965,778 for a total of $22,219,419.
It's only an increase of 1% from last year of $200,705 And so just to note as well, this is such a nominal increase that we are hoping that we will receive additional funding for the from the SGA to continue to do other capital projects that do not include these dollar amounts since our buildings are so old and are in need of that. So our transfer to charter schools, it comprises 16.41% of the proposed budget for 2526 school year.
This is one of our this is one of our largest percentages that we give away to the charter schools. This line item supports an enrollment of 6,983 students in 23 charter schools for a total of $168,619,608. So we this number is given to us through the budget software, and we are mandated to contribute that to the charter schools for those students. So that's in appropriations.
It's a decrease of this year of 3% of $5,946,122 Our special revenue fund 20, this comprises 12.49% of the district's proposed budget for the 2526 school year. These line items these line accounts receive grant funds, which is our preschool aid, IDEA, which is our Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Flow that's the flow through. Every student succeeds act. It is the governing law that is it ensures that everything is equitable to education
for all of our students. It's our consolidated aid. The preschool program, which we are required, this year we gave over about 2,900,000.0. So we're required to give that contribution to general fund, and it is supported by the total grant funds that we receive from our state and our federal sources. That is for a total of $128,336,742. The appropriations have decreased 30%, So our total amount there is $54,717,672.
So just to give an overall recap, our general current expense, which is our operating budget, is $724,027,335. Our capital outlay, $22,219,419. Again, our transfer to charter schools, $168,619,608. Special revenue, $128,000,336,742
dollars less our title one contribution to the school based budget of $15,929,982 That is our blended funds. Therefore, leaving our total budget for the proposed budget for the 2526 school year is $1,027,273,122 Again, our appropriations decreased from last year for from $8,448,302
So the synopsis, The 2526 school year budget includes the current certificated staff vacancies that support the district's instructional programs, the current noncertificated vacancies that provide provide the district secretarial, clerical support, custodial maintenance, food services, and security support. The 2526 school year budget fully funds the district's instructional programs and initiatives by decreasing the $1,027,273,122
and decreasing the overall expenditures from the prior year by $8,448,302 The district is planning renovations with upgrades during the next school year that addresses the health, safety, and security of staff and students. Some of our capital projects include, but not limited to, bathroom renovations, boiler replacements, the conversions from oil to gas, masonry repairs, gym, auditorium, cafeteria upgrades, roof replacements as needed,
elevator upgrades as needed, floor replacements, fire escape demolitions, HVAC upgrades, fencing replacements, sidewalks, and parking areas. The, listed below are the collective bargaining agreements that were settled as follows. I'm not gonna read each of those. They were all settled last year, but those are the percentages that we project, and we do a four year projection to make sure that those are included in our numbers. So at this time, we have a resolution to adopt the preliminary budget.
So I guess we're gonna do public comment first. So thank you for your time. We're thank you so much, doctor Luce. Quite thorough. Thank you so much. We're going to open up, the floor for public comments. I know that some of you that are here did not call in today, we will, allow because there's not many of you, we will allow, you to speak on the budget and budget only. So Is the microphone in the are we ready in the back?
Okay. Anyone that would like to speak on the budget before we move to vote on it? Because we don't have your name, please make sure that you state your name. If I speak on the budget, will I be able to speak on the audit also? We could do that later. Just stay on the budget for the time being because we haven't gone through the audit yet, please. Okay. My name is Elizabeth. My name is Elizabeth Perry. I'm a resident here in Jersey City. First, I'd like to say that, I don't believe y'all should have principals in every office.
That's just a fact. But to stakeholders and, paid employees that you all set and met with as y'all going to prepare for this budget, they are not the stakeholders. They are your staff. The stakeholders include the public, the parents, the, taxpayers. So if you're not meeting with these groups also in preparing this budget, then you're not meeting with stakeholders. The Fund 20, title one, I'm just curious. Out of that budget, are you paying for title one writers or the people that,
submit the budget for title one? Are you paying them extra money, like, the way you pay, grant writer? Is there something extra? Because the order that made the order that made a reference to that. And last year, I asked the question and never got an answer. I'm also curious about the TTO vacation unemployment. Of these, some of these are self funded, which means that you guys say that you'll be responsible for the cost and the payout. But the order that also said, you have not answered an unemployment claim since 2019.
So, again, I think that we should stop putting principals in charge of all these different departments and do a better job of understanding what our responsibilities are in preparing these budgets and managing our funds. Thank you. Thank you, miss Perry. Anyone else speaking on the budget, please, say your name and we move on. Good evening. I just wanna say for the record that I, I did sign up this morning, but I don't know why I'm not going But that's online. So I have my receipt and everything too. That's okay. But you're giving him the opportunity,
so sorry that your name is not on the list. Okay. Thank you. So I wanna speak on the budget. Please give us your name, and we know who you are, but for the record, please. Lorenzo Richardson. Thank you. So, just for the record, the sorry. The time? It's on. The time is on. Thank you. This was the document that was online. It's about a nine page document along with the ad. I watched your presentation, and there's some numbers that are not jiving for me. But I just wanna start with, the first page, related to the advertising roles.
So we've been having declining enrollment, but we're showing an increase of 1,085 students. And then special, I'm assuming that's special ed, full time, zero increase. And then to contracted preschools, an increase of 498. And people sent to other districts, special ed, zero increase, on there. But I'm trying to figure out if because those are the most extraordinary costs. Right? But the the levy is at least as far as the bank cap from the
meeting the public meeting that you had back in March, that was a hundred and $44,000,000 from bank cap. Right? And you're saying you're gonna have according to this document, the levy is going to be $534,486,001.32, which is an increase of 91,000,000. So I'm a I'm a little confused as as of the numbers, because I know we were over $4,439 to $4.40 something And your question is last year. I'm sorry. Your question with that regard is? In terms of the levy,
the number the number is numbers are not jiving. That's what I started with. So we're we're, like, at 91, but the presentation is a 44. Right? So, that's to begin with. And then, there were some areas, revenues from state sources. Transportation aid, you know, because we said we were being cut, but, transportation aid from state sources is on this document has shown an increase of 7,500,000. And categorical special education aid, even though there's no additional children or anything, it says 2425 revised number is 18,000,000.
But the 2526 proposed is $86,000,002.58 $8.31, an increase of $68,000,000 Then you have your categorical security aid, which is an increase of 18,000,000. See, my time is up. Thank you, mister Richardson. Anyone else? Good afternoon, everyone. My name is James Solomon, spelled out j a n e s, and last name, Solomon, s o l m o n. So, here to speak with you before the budget and first for both the elected officials and civil servants in the room, I thank you for your service.
I know you guys have a very tough job. We appreciate your volunteer the board members, the volunteer efforts that you put in, to make our city better. And I know that your job has been made harder by these unconscionable state cuts to our school district, you know, totaling over, you know, 2 to $300,000,000 annually that has made the ability to educate our children that much more difficult. And those state cuts have necessitated work from all of us in Jersey City. And I think unlike some other elected officials, I have tried to do my part to be a partner in helping this district.
We've passed legislation to ensure that future pilots share their revenues with the schools. We have worked to ensure the payroll tax fully funds you, auditing companies that didn't pay, passing new legislation, which we passed at the last council meeting to, ensure that developers and contractors can only get certificates of occupancy if they pay the payroll tax, and working with members here on state legislation to change what the payroll tax gives us and and have strength. And, obviously, anything that affects the districts affects the people that I care the most about as my children are at JC Public Schools.
With that all said, you know, I'm here to urge folks to reconsider the budget that's before you. The budget would create between your two fiscal years a 16% tax increase for the schools. And when I talk to presidents in Jersey City from all neighborhoods, from The Heights to the Westside to Greenville to downtown, taxes are the single number one issue that I hear the most about. And that's on top this increase of 40% increase in three years across all, municipality governments, schools, city, and everybody else. That level of increase is too much for the city to handle. That it is going to drive people out of Jersey City,
whether they're born and raised and and own a home or whether they recently moved here. And that is just just too much for what the city can have. And I think a lot of folks are gonna ask if that happens this year, then what's the plan for next year? And I know these are tough choices. I know it's difficult. But, again, I I think the 16% increase year over year is going to be difficult for the city to maintain. And for me, it's not about blame but about choices. I'm gonna continue to be a partner in fighting for more revenue for the schools, looking at the payroll tax, looking at developers, making sure they're paying their fair share. But I encourage the board in this case to make a different choice than the
one we put before you because that level of increase is gonna be too much for the city to handle. Thank you all so much. Thank you, for your assistance every time we do come to you. Well, sure then, James. Hi, everybody. My name is Katie Brennan, k a t I e b r e n n a n. I have a quick question. During the budget presentation, there was a reference to the facilities funding for our, admittedly, really aging infrastructure. And, there was a seemingly optimistic response, which I was glad to hear, about potential additional dollars from the school development authority.
But, my understanding has been that the SDA, money from the SDA has been historically very hard to come by as it's been chronically underfunded and there's not been a new bond issuance in quite some time. And since the state budget negotiation is ongoing as we speak and hopefully resolved in the next few weeks, I was hoping that you might be able to elaborate about any discussions or cause for optimism from the current state budget for additional facilities funding. Because to the point that was just made,
this is obviously a huge increase for the taxpayers of of Jersey City, and I want nothing best for our kids. And but I also, you know, don't want another one of my friends deciding that they're squeezed and have to leave. So I'm hoping that you have some good news about SDA funding. Thank you. Anyone else? What do you say? I'm Sheryl Mace, s h e r y l, Mace, m a y e s. I just wanna know, for Local 2262, If the PTOs and the vacation pay is included in the budget this year, if so,
will the members be told ahead of time, which is a finding, which was a finding and also a recommendation by the auditor. And, also, I do agree with miss Perry. You need professionals instead of principals. Thank you all. Have a good night. Okay. Anyone else? Okay. He there, no one else. Do we Doctor Luz and doctor Fernandez. Doctor Luz and doctor oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry? Oh. One more person. She just walked in. Does she know what she's gonna talk about? She's on the agenda. Oh, but that was on okay. You're on the agenda.
I'm sorry. Please step to the podium. Identify yourself. Hi. My name is Bridget D'Souza. I did sign up. Yes. You did. I'm sorry, Bridget. But since you just walked in, I thought that it was okay. Please. Go ahead. See, my time has already started. So first of all, I just wanna say, I, looked at the budget presentation from a couple weeks ago. I was confused by, the the total levy. Is it 452,000,000 or is it 452 plus the 82,000,000? The bank's cap is the levy, but the amount, I think it was on page 12, I don't remember now,
didn't include the bank's tax. It only includes the so I think that needs to be clarified. Also, in this I was watching on my phone. This presentation that was given tonight doesn't have the total levy statement. So that that lack of clarity, I think, needs to be addressed. What's the total levy? That's the primary mandate. That's the tax that's the total taxes. We need that to understand the resulting rate. I I think it's unfortunate. It's unfortunate that the public comment has been cut down to three minutes. It's really unfortunate that you're doing this at a budget hearing. This is inappropriate, in my opinion. I watched Mr.
Richardson, making comments. He was making cogent, detailed comments. And he was cut off at three minutes. And I can't tell you how much you're losing by not having people of goodwill come up to you and give you feedback about these public documents. It is so unfortunate, because the kids are gonna suffer. Because this school district is already under such a spotlight for the billion dollars, which is really an unfortunate Like, can everyone please stop saying the billion dollar budget? Because I I heard Miss Lou's struggle to emphasize that that includes 20% of that
is charter funding. Those charter kids are also public school kids. So they're all public school kids. Also, the percentages, like percentage of total, I heard an emphasis on something as the percent it's only X percentage of the total. Is that the total including the charters and the federal funding, or is it only on the $750,000,000 operating for K through 12? This specificity really matters. It gets at these kids who are in these schools, who need these schools to be funded fully, the expense keeps going up. You've got a salary guide that shows 4% increases.
I'm not sure if that's over the three years or if that's I assume it's over the three year span, not annual, because then it would be, like, 12% over three years. But you have a structural budget that keeps going up. I realize your equalization aid is now down to zero. I'd like to confirm. Is it true that we can assume no further state aid cuts because security, transportation, and, what's the one I'm missing? Security, transportation, special education are set on the students, and those aren't those those will get those will remain with the students. So the equalization aid is is done as but can you confirm that? I mean,
I saw it in the budget. The budget was confusing because it doesn't fit properly, the tax levy wasn't gonna fit. So, I just want to encourage, please, please include the public more. It's a missed opportunity. You're under fire enough, and it's the kids who will suffer, because they're the ones who need these schools. Thank you. Thank you. Doctor Luce, if you would speak to the, equalization aid, I do consent in, so that one. It's completely gone. That's it. So the rest. Doctor Luce? So, yes, the equalization aid is gone.
So if I may, just, a few comments. Yeah. If I could go through. So, mister Richardson, you seem to have a lot of, questions. If you'd be happy to, email them to me, I would be happy to respond to them just for clarity purposes. Okay? Because you kinda you went through a lot of items, and I'm not really sure. So I wanna be able to give you the correct answer, so feel free to email those to me. Doctor. Luce, with regards to mister Richardson, he has, some form that he said, this is what you found in the in I'm sorry?
That is That's what's online. Yes. So and and that is what you referenced your question. So what is online? So when we advertise, we need to take off the budget software. So there are no miscalculations in there. Let me be clear. This is right off the budget software that we have to cut we have to produce that along with the advertisement. Okay? I don't have that in front of me to go through, but those numbers are accurate and correct. And may I add again, these numbers have been approved by the county through the budget software.
This isn't just a PowerPoint that was created. And to add to that, this format that was presented this evening has been the exact same format that has been used in the past few years. So if there is, questions about, different clarity or what you would like to see differently, I'm open for suggestions going forward, but I followed the exact same format as has been in the past few years, where there didn't seem to be any questions Thank you. About that. If I could just continue, that was
with respect to the SDA, if I could just make a comment on that. Oh, that's good. I could tell you that we recently received almost $4,000,000 from the SDA for bathrooms, which we are going to renovate in an one entire school. They will get all new bathrooms, so we hope there's more to come with that. There is a number of projects that we are in discussion. I don't know that I'm allowed to say that publicly. But as we as we speak. As we speak we can't have comments from the public As we speak going forward.
There are a number of projects that we are working on. Anybody who had a question about the audit, we will have a a corrective action plan with respect to the audit within forty five days of the last meeting. That is the protocol. So anything there were any findings? Those findings were from last year. And I think that's all the comments I have at this point, doctor Fernandez. I don't know if there's anything else you wanted to add. Do you have with you the total levy? I did not bring down any additional papers with me other than The presentation. But I oh,
but let me add to this. Okay? I could actually answer that. I don't have the exact numbers. Again, with respect to the total levy and all of the numbers and the increase in additional funding that we did receive from the city, that is all part of the budget software. Once this final budget is approved this evening, the budget software, the printed version, will be posted on the website. And, again, those are numbers. It's hundreds of pages, as you will see, that has been not just inputted by us, but that it has been,
approved by the county superintendent and the county business administrator that they have gone through line by line. And those numbers are completely 100% accurate, and where that is where I got these numbers from. So if there's something with the lack of clarity on this presentation, as I said, I would be more than happy going forward to make some modifications to this, but these numbers are accurate. Doctor Fernandez. That's it. Thank you, president Velasquez. Okay. If there aren't any more questions, we're going to I
ask for motion. Motion. Second? Second. Okay. And now we we've moved. We second. Before we vote, we can have questions from our board members. And, we've had these forums with us for a few days now, and I know that you've had ample opportunity to also reach out to the VA. However, any other questions that you have not clarified through her, it's great that you bring it up to us today. However, we're going to keep it to a certain time.
We're not going to have the interaction back and forth. Once your questions are answered, we're going to move on. Okay? Thank you. So I I think, doctor Snyder, you have questions. Yeah. Through the chair. I guess the one one point that's been really confusing is the equalization aid. And is that part of the state aid from last year? The hundred and 3,334,000,000 we received? Because as far as I can tell looking at online, it is. But here in the presentation,
it's separated out. And if you add up that column, I'm on slide seven, 2025, '20 '20 '6 projected revenue, you add up that column with that in, it comes up to 961,000,000, you know, in the 2025. Then if you take out that equalization aid, it comes up to 863,000,000. And looking at the state aid online for this year, our special ed, you know, went up significantly. Our transportation went up significantly. Security went up significantly, but equalization was zero. So I was kinda little confused there of how that how that works.
Doctor Schneider, so I know we spoke this afternoon for a while about this. So just to reiterate what I had said earlier, there is no equalization aid, and that is exactly what was given to us on the state aid. Zero equalization aid. Now when you look at the first column from 2425, that number is not added in. And the reason being is they received that after the budget date of last year. Okay. So I use these exact numbers that was presented last year, and that was in the software as is.
Okay? Their bottom line and again, that's what was approved last year, and I did did not go in and change anything. Okay? So for this year, yes, we have zero, and these are our numbers. Again, this was approved. Thank you. Any other question? Mister chair. Yes. So just for clar good evening, everybody. Just for clarification purposes, I think that one of the things that the public is always saying to us is, a little more transparency and things of that nature. Is there a specific reason I know you said that once the budget is approved, we'll have the exact numbers.
Is there a reason we don't have the total, levy? The total number for the levy? It's not in this particular presentation. Again, I follow the same presentation formats as we have in in the past years. If that's something that you want going forward, I could add an additional slide and include it in right off the budget. Is it, do we have the percentage? The increase in the percentage? What's Excuse me? Do we have the increase? Like, what is the percentage? Do we know that? It it's at the last page. Yes. So if you go to the last page,
page 30. Yes. So if you go to the last page of the presentation Twenty nine three. Okay. Mhmm. Where we're talking about the assessment, the 2526 average home assessment in Jersey City. Now this is information, right, that we have available from the city. It's $481,886 with a proposed tax rate of point zero one zero four. Obviously, this has to do with the net valuation. Okay? So the 2024 net valuation was $45,392,365,002.
The 2025 net valuation was $47,014,032,034. There's a $2,000,000,000 difference in one year. Okay? So the increase to the average assessment is $34.08 per month. Okay? Now if you just go to the next slide just to show you, over the three years, okay, from 2324, it was a decrease of $51.
20 4 to '25, it was flat zero. This year with our increase of $34.00, it is still a three year net average of a decrease of $16.92. Thank you, doctor Lewis. One more question. Yes. With regards to charter schools, I think that I I don't remember the lady's name, but she made a valid point, and I'm glad she said it. They're all all the city's children, public school children, and so the money follows the student. I've said that since I sat down here. So with the hundred and 68,000,000,
roughly hundred and $69,000,000, The reason that it's part of the operating budget is because the money is paid out periodically throughout the course of the year. Is that correct? Correct. That is paid to the And so because it's a payment that goes out to the charter schools throughout the course of the year, it's a general expense to the district. Correct. I think that that that was necessary for the public to understand. The reason that I asked that question is because it's included in the district budget because it comes to the district, and it's it's considered an expense.
So as the, money comes in, it has to be paid out to the schools because the state does not fund the charter school directly. Correct. It funds the district, and then the district is responsible for paying the tuition or, I guess, if you wanna consider tuition, to the homeschool for the child for said services. Thank you. And let's take into consideration that when those children come back, they don't send money. Madam president. Thank you. Yes. Yes. So I just wanted to, reiterate from our last meeting, that we had,
what a great job, I think, that the business administrator and her team did in putting this, budget together. Listen, in any budget, there's not going to, it's not gonna have a perfect budget. But we move, as we need to, with what we have, throughout that year. I understand that there are a lot of people who are concerned regarding, the elements of the budget, but I think it's pretty self explanatory. It was broken down, and we've been doing this for a couple of meetings now, going over, all of the different logistics. You know, it's entertaining to me, to sit here and and hear,
you know, we have people who are making public comments about our what we're doing with our budget and how, we need to check this. But the city's budget is, if not, is worse than ours. There is a lot of things that need to be taken into consideration with the city's budget. And I wish that, some of our speakers would take more concern over the city's budget than they would over the Board of Education's budget. And this budget, it was said that is gonna hurt the city. Well, if you take a look at the city's budget and how much money has been how much wasteful spending we have in the city's budget,
public safety, and and, other areas. I don't have their budget in front of me. But it it's certain critiques that should have been said during their budget meetings. You know? So it's quite interesting to me that even at our, our private meetings that we have, with certain trustees, the similarity in the questions that were asked here today by the public were asked by the trustees, several times. And it's just interesting to see that the since the teacher's in the room, the students have to, you know, be responsive. You know? If we're gonna be elected trustees and we're responsible and and we take, stewardship over certain things,
this is the board of education. We're the governing body of the board of education. And we have sat, we have listened to the business administrator, we have gone over audit reports, we have, we have, eliminated, different elements that we believe that would apply and would not apply, to this year's budget. But then when we have an audience, it seems like we get, you know, budget amnesia as if we didn't have this discussion already. This is the final day. We're gonna vote on on this budget, up or down, but it's just ironic that the three trustees that voted against this budget for it to even be, sent to the the county,
one of them is not here today, obviously, because they knew the councilman was probably gonna be in the building. And then the other two, who are here today, who are just basically taking marching orders. We need to sit here and get have our own opinion about what we're gonna do in regards to this budget. Thank you, madam president. Okay. Thank you. And and I I want to again, I did, recognize the councilman, and I thanked him for, assisting us when I spoke before the council last month. However, let me make this very clear. We keep getting monies from the city piecemeal and never the entire thing.
There's still so much that the city owes us, not for this year, but for many years, before that. I will be coming before, the council again this, next month and in hoping that as generous and as helpful as all of you were at the time, it'll continue because this is a partnership. And I know under I do truly understand exactly, and I know we all do, what you were talking about with regards to, people moving and people that have been here.
We have been here a lifetime, and we've seen the gentrification, in this district, yet we've seen nothing coming to us from the city. We want to continue to work as partners because that's what we ought to do, but it has to come from both sides. And it's not, personal, to you, councilman, Solomon. But if you would just deliver for us that message that it is a team here, and this is our city here. And I think they've moved out as much as they've can,
and we're not going anywhere, but we're gonna continue to fight for the children here. Okay? And I know that you, would love to continue working with us and fighting, on our behalf. We thank you. We also plan to return to the state, and if anyone wants to help us, join us and speak on our behalf, we would appreciate it. I know that we have had meetings in this building last year when mister Morris was the, the president, and somehow that stopped.
But education doesn't stop. The needs do not stop. So we're going to continue pushing forward. We hope that you come with us. Thank you. Yes. Did you wanna okay. Through through the chair Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. One very quick comment. I just believe that trust is best earned and not assumed. Thank you. I'm sorry. Was that towards me? Because you didn't tell me. I didn't know what that meant. Okay. Okay. Yes. To the chair. You can hold these conversations when, we go into close, meeting. I really would appreciate if we,
you know, continue with the most professional decorum possible and that we stop, throwing stones either way. We are a team, and we must maintain a team. And we don't want the public to think that, you know, we're all over the place and fighting each other because we're not. We are all here for the same thing. It's the children. And, yes, it hurts. And we all pay taxes. So we're all being affected by this. But, again, let's work together. Let's have those heavy discussions that sometimes are necessary and behind closed doors.
Thank you. Can we move on? Yes. To the chair, just on, just going back to the budget and special education, the, and charter schools. So our children are going to charter schools, and when they come back, they're coming as special education students, which is increasing the special education budget. Also, our special education, we're actually become like a, the one of the outer district schools for Hoboken and Union City children as well for, special education. So that's where the the increase is coming from as well. Through the chair. I just wanna address it since it was already said.
But I I I'm actually honored, to say that I was taking marching orders today. But, my vote for no was because of fiscally responsibility. If we're gonna sit here and say that we have a fiduciary duty to represent the stakeholders, which is the community, I believe that I didn't have the information necessary to vote yes. So while I I am I feel kinda honored that you said I was taking marching orders because up until a few months ago, he had no clue who I was. So but, my,
we knew each other. Okay. No. No. We didn't. The the the community comes first. My family's been here for over a hundred years. My family bought a house on Claremont. First Black family used the white ID. We're all here paying taxes together. I believe that we owe it to the community to make sure that we are doing that fiduciary duty. That was the vote for now. Thank you. Thank you. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. Thank you so much. And, again, I think it's very important that we do have these dialogues, and, you know, sometimes we need strong dialogues.
But let's try, again, to keep decorum. So excuse me. Through the test, can I just submit some clarification just because, Debbie might need the copies Yes? Of this. So just We have a copy of So this is what was this the form that, mister Lorenzo Correct. This was part of the advertisement. Okay? And, again, this is off the budget software. This is the advertised revenues. And so the reference, and I think it was Bridget de Souza that had asked the question, And so where you see the operating budget, okay,
on the, on the far right column. Okay. So you see the tax levy, dollars 534,486,000. That's that's what she was referring to. If you look at my slide on page seven, where we have 452,000,337. If you go to page seven. Okay. If you could put the slides back up, just page seven, they could find it, just for the public to understand this as well. Before the pie chart. Okay.
So that is that is what we have. The 82,000,000 is the bank cap. So if you add those two numbers, that is how you get the 534. Okay? So it's not we have two different numbers and that doesn't make sense. It is these two numbers that equal that. Okay. If you go to page seven, trustee Mohammed, on here. Okay. Your first two numbers in the 2526, your local tax levy and the bank cap. Right. It's the $4.52
the 452,000,000 plus the 82,000,000. They could put it in as one on the budget as 534,000,000. It's both. And if you look all the way to the left, you will see the 2324 the prior year the prior two years, actually. You will see the 443,468,000. So you just go across and you go across here. But because we use the bank cap, they added it in there. Okay?
So it's not that we have two different numbers. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. Okay. Thank you, doctor Luce. And I guess we're ready to vote. But before that, I just wanna also clarify that, we have brought this meeting to the community before. This is our second meeting. Our other meeting was a public meeting as well, And the community had an opportunity to, give their recommendations, their concerns, and whatever. So, yes, we do work with our stakeholders. Thank you. Call the vote. Okay. We're gonna call the vote.
No. That's that's not anything. Okay. Okay. He doesn't understand. So we don't need to read the resolution or anything? It's just in I'm sorry? You're we have a motion. Please. We have a motion. I know. We second. So now we're calling the vote, please. Trustee Schneider? No. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee, Rosabella? No. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Vice president Tisdale? Yes. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. Thank you. We're gonna take five minutes,
okay, before we continue. I think we need it. Let's get up, have a refreshment, and come back refreshed. Thank you. What? Seven and five. It's we'll be back 07:10. I think it was adjusted to about 820. At the same time, I see there's increased enrollment, but there's been a trend of decline enrollment. So you can give some insight on that and how you derive the numbers. It would be much appreciated. Thank you very much. Anyone else? No. Again, my name is Elizabeth Perry.
I just wanna talk a little bit about some of the observations from the appointments. I thought it was pretty interesting. The order that said that you guys don't put all of the money for the salaries into the account for the time of paying the salaries. And we talk about how we are such a, you know, multimillion dollar district. I'm just curious as to why we can't get the money into the account on time. Also, he talked about the PTO sick days, vacation days,
that they'll those days have to be accounted for, and y'all supposed to know what they are ahead of time. So, like, if y'all owe me seven days, y'all should be able to show that y'all owe me seven days, but that we are not doing a good job of doing that. I'd like to know why and how we could do a better job. What else do you talk about that I found interesting? So we are a self funded unemployment paying district, which according to what I understood, and I could be wrong. You guys say to the state, we'll collect the unemployment insurance from the employees, and we'll get it to you guys,
but we'll pay out our own claims. And yet and still, y'all are telling people they're not entitled to unemployment. Y'all not filing claims. And the order that said y'all haven't kept up with the claims since 2019. Maybe I misunderstood it. Y'all could clarify it. But if we are self funded and we're not doing a better job, then maybe we need to turn the job back over to the state. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Hello, I wanna talk about the sick days again because as most of you know, I've been talking about sick days for,
what, three years now. And I don't care who don't like it. I'm still talking about it. But at any rate, that was a finding once again. But I've spoken about how people don't get their sick days, which means that you're not calculating it. And there are two people right now sending emails to mister Rivera about their sick days, and he's ignoring them in their old sick days. And I know just how much they're owed. Also, when it comes to unemployment, there are two, people that apply for unemployment. They got it. The district appealed it twice in loss.
So you lost two appeals for unemployment. So what does that tell you? You're not paying people their unemployment either. So I guess some people think it's funny. It's not funny. But I guess maybe you think it's funny. But once again, when are you gonna follow the law and pay people their sick days? This is money. So when you don't pay people their sick days, you're actually thieves. You're actually stealing, and you can't call it slander. Because if you owe people money, you need to pay them their money. And I don't think anything funny, trust the moralist. Bless my peace. You know,
I'm going to make a recommendation to this board. Anyone that comes to the podium and starts throwing back and forth, okay, to our board members, they will not speak again. And I'll make whatever we need to do to ensure that they don't. Because we are here to hear you and respect you, but we are not here to be insulted, and we will not put up with it. It's probably been done before. It stops now. If that's not good with you, there's two x's here.
You can choose one. And we're gonna move on. I want her out. I want her out of here. We've been putting up with this. I'm not. President Velasquez, may I Yes, please. Thank you. Just for the public, compensated absences does not mean sick days in our bank. Employees who work for the district have saved sick days. For instance, I have a lot of sick days. But that means that the day I retire, the district will have a payout on the number of sick days that I'm entitled.
It is not the sick days that we have in our current or that we're not paying sick days. It's compensated absences. What is the balance of absences in our sick bank? So we are paying and, actually, since last year when this audit and this counts the '22 the 2324 school year starting in '25 in 2425, all our compensated accesses Sorry,
doctor Fernandez. Let's wait until they Okay. Finish their summit over there. Excuse me. Wait a minute. We will not have that. Through the chair. Through the chair. Yes. The the the chair has has decided that these two or one individual was Yes. I want to leave. One individual has to leave. If you refuse to leave, we will have to call the police, and you'll be Escorted. Escorted out, and you're gonna be held in defiant trespass because you deemed to be out of order and to leave the meeting. I read the rules in the beginning of the meeting.
I read them. I read them so you can leave voluntarily, or the police have to come and take action. Thank you. Thank you. You you may continue. Doctor Fernandez, I Thank you so much. Sorry, doctor. No. It's not. It's just I want the public to understand that compensated absence has nothing to do. It's that balances we keep on our employees. And this audit is from the 2324 school year As part of our new practices
and efficiencies starting in the 2425 school year, we're up to date with our compensated absences. We are up to date with on unemployment claims. So that's why individuals who may file a false claim are being denied because they have not been let go. They may have summer vacation or, in some cases, individuals may be getting paid and filing for unemployment. But we are current,
up to date, and we're in compliance. So thank you so much, president Velasquez. Through the chair, if I may add something. Thank you, president Velasquez. So, yes, just to reiterate what doctor Fernandez said, the audit is from the 2324 school year. This isn't as we speak. So some of the findings that are in there have already been remedied. We will continue to do so, and we have forty five days to do this corrective action plan, noting the ones that we have rectified and to come up with a process for
the ones that we are working on. So, again, this is from twenty three twenty three twenty four. So thank you. Thank you, superintendent, Fernandez, and thank you, doctor Luce. I will now call for a motion, for the audit. Motion. Yes. Motion. Motion by trustee Morris. Second, anyone? Second. Okay. Second by doctor Blunt. To the chair, please. 5 0 1. 5 0 I I I think we're back at the payroll tax. I think we jumped ahead on the agenda. Point of order.
So do we have to rescind the motion, or what happens now? It was a motion in the second? Yes. Which one? Five zero three? Yes. Five zero three. Five zero three and then go back to 503. Exactly. Is that okay with everybody? Alright. Thank you. Okay. Any discussion on 503? Very none. Let's call the vote, please. Trustee Isabella? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Marrick? Yes. President Tisdale? Yes. President Velasquez?
Yes. Motion passed. I was trying to use my teacher's voice. Five zero one? And five zero two. Okay. Motion by trustee Tisdale, second by trustee Morris. Discussion? Five zero one? Very none. Call the vote, please. Trustee Schneider? Yes. Yes. Steve Isabella? Yes. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Belan? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yeah. Vice President Tisdale? Yeah. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. I'll entertain a motion for
five zero two. Motion by trustee Morris. Second. Second by trustee Mack. Discussion? Very none. Call the vote, please. Trustee Patel? Yes. Yes. Trustee Isabella? Yes. Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Schneider? Yes. Vice President Tisdale? Yes. President Velasquez? Yes. Motion passed. Okay. And we have, the second reading, would that be That's the policy. Okay. Yes. Okay. The second reading, forty six zero one. So at the last meeting,
the board, passed the first reading of a modification to policy zero one six seven. And just for everyone's, memory, at the last meeting, you resolved to revise the second sentence of section three. Participants must appear in person is what the new language will have, and you agree to delete the language that individuals may participate via Zoom and by telephone. So the reference to Zoom and telephone was deleted from the policy. And I'm just gonna read the title and the change. Public participation in board meetings, and now the new section three,
as I just stated, will say the public comment portion of the board's in person regular voting meeting shall be limited to ninety minutes. Participants must appear in person, that's the change, at the discretion of the chair or board president. Public comment may be extended by an additional thirty minutes under extenuating services. Was that a vote? I think you're gonna vote. Okay. Motion. Second. Motion by You need a motion. I okay. Motion by trustee, Morris. Second by, doctor Blunt. Discussion? Yeah. I just like a little more clarity because I think we had voted earlier this
year to keep it, and now we're going back. So, unfortunately, I had to step out early. I'd love just a little more background on it. Thanks. Yes, trustee. Last meeting, we realized that, you know, it was really not even I I don't wanna say worth, but it was it was not serving the public as we thought it would serve the public because the calls are not being made, and it's always the same call for the same thing. So we figured, that's okay. But we would rather than just bring it back.
Anybody that comes to the meeting is welcome to speak on the same thing all the time, but we are using a lot of our time trying to connect and everything. It's not in the meeting, and and it's not helping. So we made a decision at that meeting, by resolution that we would, we would eliminate that. Thank you. Okay. And and it passed then, and we're going this is the second reading and second row. We Susan, just one more clarification.
This if it does pass, this will be in effect for the next board meeting. Yes. It is. Okay. Meaning that the next board meeting and from there on, everything will be in person. Any other questions, concerns? There are none. Then let's call the vote, please. Trustee Mohammed? Yes. Trustee Visabella? No. Trustee Blunt? Yes. Trustee Patel? Yes. Trustee Morris? Yes. Trustee Schneider? I'm gonna Epstein or I forgot the word. What was that? I'm sorry. Here it's right. Oh, okay. Vice president Tisdale? No. President Velasquez?
Yes. Motion passed. Right. We're exactly. We're having difficulty with the state person. Can we is it okay with, the majority of us or all of us, hopefully, that, we move it to the thirteenth, which is that Tuesday? Would it be okay? If not, we would have to probably go further in the month, and that will cut us very close to, the evaluation of the superintendent as well as our own. Tuesday works then. Tuesday, you don't have to babysit or anything.
Okay. Okay. So I this this is not a vote. Tuesday. Oh, the time would be oh, in the evening. So I'm saying, let's say, five to nine. We can have a cut I'm sorry? 05:30. I'm sorry. 05:30 to nine. Right here. Through the chair. I just have a question. Sure. Doctor Fernandez, you can come because it's the JC Arts drama musical that night. Well, that's Sunday. Sunday and Tuesday. Okay. Right. It was in May. Wait. Wait. We're saying the thirteenth.
You're gonna be okay? Oh, no problem. Oh. The baby oh my Jesus. Okay. So, I mean, we don't have to vote. I am just hoping that, you know, you will all respond to it, that it's okay with everybody's calendar, and we can move on that. Okay? And remember that Monday is the Monday after Mother's Day, so many people will also be probably out of town, visiting, whatever. So thank you so much. Now, I'll entertain. Motion to adjourn. Motion. Director. Aye.