WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=KVCSbblYhk8

NOTE
MEETING SECTIONS:

Part 1 (Video ID: KVCSbblYhk8):
- 00:00:00: Meeting Call to Order, Pledge, and Roll Call
- 00:01:19: Executive Session Resolution for Confidential Matters
- 00:02:59: Student Representatives Introduce Next Year's Leaders
- 00:04:51: Student Government Recognizes Unsung Heroes for May/June
- 00:07:03: Special Leadership Challenge Coin Presentation to Students
- 00:08:40: Recognizing May Seniors of the Month: Lena and Michael
- 00:13:14: Recognizing May Vocational Senior: Rebecca and June Seniors
- 00:16:30: Recognizing June Seniors of the Month: Erica and Declan
- 00:18:16: Celebrating Conference Championship Teams: Gymnastics, Swimming, Baseball
- 00:21:15: Recognition of Athletic Director and Health Care Concerns
- 00:22:53: Discussion: Rising Healthcare Costs and Budget Impact
- 00:26:45: HIP Grade Report and Public Comment Opening
- 00:29:06: Public Comment 1: Legal Bills and Ethics Charges
- 00:33:05: Public Comment 2: Budgetary Concerns and Tax Increase
- 00:38:59: Public Comment 3: Full-Time Paraprofessionals Status Concerns
- 00:42:06: Board Committee Reports: Policy, Curriculum, and Finance
- 00:53:59: Board Comments, New Business, and Meeting Adjournment


Part: 1

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Okay. >> All right. We're going to call this meeting to order. Can you please rise for the pledge of allegiance? >> Pledge of 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

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justice for all. Adequate notice of this meeting was advertised in the Asbury Park Press on January 9th, 2026 and on the Beacon in January 22nd, 2026 and by posting the notice in the Fork River Post Office, Lenopa Harbor Post Office District website and by filing a copy of

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the notice with the Lacy Township Clerk as requested by the Open Public Meeting Act in compliance with the provisions of the law uh 2025 chapter 72. adequate notice of this meeting. Date change was advertised on the district website, Asbury Park Press online, news

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publication, secretary of state of the New Jersey website, and by posting the notice in the Fork River and Lenova Harbor Post offices. Can I have a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Opitz, >> here. >> Mr. Hurley, >> here. >> Dr. Forny, >> here. >> Mr. Amato, Mr. Bell,

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>> here. >> Mr. Goen, >> here. >> Mrs. Claus >> here. Whereas NJSA 104-6, the open public meetings act authorizes board of education to meet in executive session under certain circumstances. And whereas

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the open public meetings acts require that the board adopt the resolution at a public meeting to go into private session. Now there be it resolved by the board of education by Lacy Township that it is necessary to meet in executive session to discuss certain items

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involving matters matters of personal confidential rights including but not limited to staff and or student disciplinary matters and specifically three HIV student matters. Matters involving anticipated or pending

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litigation, including matters of attorney client privilege, and specifically termination of a service contract. Matters involving personnel issues including but not limited to the employment, appointment, termination of employment, terms and conditions of

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employment, evaluation of performance, promotion or discipline of any public officer or employee and is specifically administrative employment contract for employee number 858377. Whereas the length of the executive

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session is estimated to be 60 minutes after which the public meeting of the board shall reconvene and processed with business where formal action will be taken. Now therefore be it resolved that the board of education will go into executive session for only the above

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stated reasons. >> Can I have a motion please? >> Motion >> second. >> All in favor? Hi. >> Hi. >> Good evening everybody. We're going to resume our meeting. >> We're going to start off with our student representatives.

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>> Good evening everyone. I want to start by saying thank you for this opportunity for allowing us to be the representatives on the board this year. Tonight we are joined by Maddie Sullivan and Landon Klene, the student representatives for next year. Maddie is going to be the executive board president and Landon is going to be the

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class of 2026 senior president. >> CONGRATULATIONS. Thank you guys very much. So for the meeting notes for May, SGA met on May 4th. For freshman news, they stuffed mailboxes for teacher appreciation week. For sophomore news, they stuffed mailboxes also for teacher

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appreciation week. And they continued sales for commencement and law signs, lawn signs. Pre-orders are highly encouraged. For junior news, they hosted junior prom on April 30th. They discussed the pros and cons of junior prom and what they could do differently for next year. And they discussed their

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kiss a senior goodbye. For senior news, the seniors selected a senior t-shirt design. Then they discussed senior prom. Paperwork will be sent out during the next one or two weeks. And then they discussed tablecloths and napkins. Then the raffle tickets were sold and the

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winners were the winner was announced on Friday, May 8th. Then field trips forms were due last Friday, May 8th. Then the for executive board news, we finished all all elections and all f spots are now full. Then their Ahsoka senior. Now it is May

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22nd during fourth period. We're going to call down the underassman during the first I think 30 minutes and then the upper classman the second 30 minutes. And then June 3rd is Mr. Lacy. The next SGA meeting will take place Monday, June 1st.

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>> Okay. And for our unsung hero uh portion, I actually have two to present today. Um first off, I don't know if Mia Moore is here. She was our unsung hero last month. If she's here, no. Okay, never mind. Ignore that. Okay, we're gonna start off with our May unsung hero then. Uh, so each month the student

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government association picks one student who is making a positive impact on LTHS. Uh, this student was selected for the month of May and that is sophomore Cali Peekom. I don't know if Callie's here. >> Right here. >> Oh, >> hi Callie. All right. So, Callie has a serious work

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ethic, but also a kind attitude. She is a part of the varsity girls swim team and the varsity girls gymnastics team. Call Cali has also enrolled in three honors classes and has maintained high grades throughout the year. As an active member of the STEM program, Callie has shown to be diligent and hardworking. Finally, she is attentive, prepared, and

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very friendly with her peers. Overall, for these reasons, we congratulate Cali Pekkham as the Student Government Association's Mayans hero. Congratulations. And for our June unsung hero, I would like to welcome down Madison Supa if she's here. HELLO. All right. So, for the June unsung hero,

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the student government association would like to recognize Madison Supa as someone who does so much for our school and everything she and everything she does to stay involved. Mattie is in choir, the leadership academy of humanities, theater color guard, the surf rider club, interact club, and is

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the 2025 2026 treasurer for the class of 2028 for the student government association. She manages to give all manages to give her all in these activities. She works hard, cares about her school, and she makes a difference every day. In class, Madison is also an amazing student where she excels in all

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of her academics, especially the humanities and the leadership academy. Madison is so deserving of this award because of all of her dedication to her extracurriculars in classes in school. Congratulations, MADISON. Stay there. >> Stay there for a minute. So, if I can go

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to my report. Yeah, go. >> All right. So, um uh Cooper and Tatiana, um I've been here a long time and all of you guys are always great when you serve us on the board. I think it's a particularly great year. I think you guys served us well and served your student body very well. Um, we have a special uh challenge coin that we uh put

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together over certain years. We actually got the idea from the military. Tatiana, you're now going to uh um where >> the the Navy. I'm doing Navy ROTC at UTL. >> It's awesome. CONGRATULATIONS. >> SO, so you'll see more of these. And when you get them in the military, they

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don't tell you they're giving them to you. They just shake your hand and it's in their hand and you look at it later. But we do it a little differently here. We're not the military. Okay. And actually, there's some people in the room that has one of these coins, I believe. So, we give them out very. >> So, the challenge coin obviously has our

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logo on it and it says, "The practices of exemplary leadership, which you two have done all year. You model the way, you inspire a shared vision, you challenge the process, you enable others to act, and you encourage the heart." Nice job. Thank you. >> Thank you.

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your first one. Thank you. You are sure of that. You'll see more of those. That's right. >> All right. Next will be our esteemed high school principal, Mr. KING. >> We forced that one.

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>> Doesn't matter. Two months in a row. I'll take it. I'll take it. All right. Uh it's always a pleasure to talk about our seniors of the month. Our first May senior of the month is Lena Ble from Lena. Come on over. >> Hi, my name is Lena Bolair and I'm the May senior of the month.

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>> Congratulations Lena Boler on senior of the month. I do varsity tennis, varsity golf. I'm in DECA. I'm the chief editor for the yearbook club or one of them. I'm the vice president of the executive board for student government. I'm the president of Surf Rider. I'm the social media coordinator for NHS.

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>> Lane is just a rock star in the classroom. Uh, you know, I had her in pre-calc honors. She was like a team player, always helping people out. Uh, she really cares about her grades. uh outside of the classroom, she's involved in everything, clubs, activities,

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sports. Uh I know on the golf team, she's just a great person to have around and she's got a great personality and great character. >> One of my favorite memories from high school was the Greece trip that I went on through the school last year. It was one of the best experiences of my life and it was so cool seeing a different culture and all this new architecture

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and landscape. It's so beautiful and I'm so glad that I was able to see that part of the world. I thought it was ironic that I was asked to share a story or experience with Lena. Uh because if you want a story or experience, the person you should ask is Lena because she tells stories all the time. >> After high school, I'm going to be

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attending Nova Souththeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I'm majoring in marine biology and I'm hoping to minor in political science and scientific diving. I also got into the dual admission program, which means I have a seat saved in the master's program. And I really hope to work on some kind of thesis and maybe one day

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get my PhD. But ultimately, my goal is to work for some kind of research facility or at least a job where I can travel a lot for work. Um because I really want to be able to see the world and I also really want to be able to see the most untouched parts of the ocean.

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>> So Laney, you're going on to college in Florida. Congratulations. Um I know you're going to do great there. Uh, I'm expecting to hear great things about you. And remember that I'll be in Florida, too. So, I'll be checking up on you. >> Just hearing about

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>> And a round of applause for her parents who are here as well tonight. >> All right. Our next scene of the month for May is Michael Grant. Michael, come on over. >> Round of applause for his family as well. Come on over. >> Hi, I'm Michael Grande and I'm proud to be named May's senior of the month for

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Lacy Township High School. >> Congratulations, Michael Grande, senior of the month. >> I played football for all four years along with winter and spring track and I'm a dedicated member of the STEM Academy. >> Mike is so incredibly deserving of senior of the month. Uh he walks into

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every single classroom with enthusiasm. Walks in with a pep in his step and a smile on his face and uh and ready to learn, especially in science classes. >> Outside of school, I like to hang out with friends a lot. I go to the beach and then work at the gym. >> Mike is so welld deserving of this award. He's respected by both faculty

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and his peers. comes in every single day willing to work incredibly hard and his enthusiasm in class works so well with his lab partners and and uh working so hard to get the job done. >> After high school, I plan to graduate at Ramell College for biology and become a

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genetic engineer and pursue somewhere in the biotech field. >> All right, I'm so excited for Mike's future. Uh good luck uh the last couple of months, Mike, and next year at Ramipo. I know you're going to study biology at my alma mater, Ramapo College. uh and uh study

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biioinformatics. I'm so excited for you and best of luck. >> Congratulations, Mike. >> Get myself organized here. All right, our May vocational student of the month is Rebecca Rea Vasquez. Rebecca, come on down.

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Round of applause for her family who's here this evening as well. I'm Rebecca and I'm proud of to be named May senior of the month at Lacy Township High School. >> Congratulations Rebecca on winning senior of the month. We're so proud of you. >> I've been involved in internet club

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basketball and softball. >> Rebecca is dedicated, reliable, and very much hardworking student. I think that's what sets her apart the most. The fact that she works so hard. She went from being an English language learner to being an honors English class when I had

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her and she did very well. She worked so hard in class. Put that extra time in and she, as far as I can see, she puts all the extra effort in and everything that she does. >> My future high school is going to college for nursing at Rowan University.

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>> Rebecca has been an active member of Interact. I've known her for the past 3 years. She was a volunteer and now she's an officer. She helps out any chance she can on the weekends after school. She helps out in events like soup kitchens and with the food bank. She just helped

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us last week in Asbury Park at a soup kitchen. She's always willing to help and her caring and compassionate nature is what I think is going to make her such an incredible nurse as she goes in to nursing and Rowan. And I wish her the absolute best of luck. All right, congratulations.

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Moving on to our June seniors of the month. Our first senior of the month is Erica Doofinger. Erica, come on over. Round of applause. >> I'm Erica Doofinger and I'm proud to be named June Senior of the Month at Lacy Township High School. Congratulations,

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Erica Duffinger, on being recognized for senior of the month. >> Some of the clubs and organizations I've been in at Lacy Township High School include Interact, Surf Rider, SGA, Yearbook, and STEM Committee. >> Erica's leadership and excellence in the classroom and in the field of doing community service with Interact Club,

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Surf Rider Club, and National Honor Society definitely separate her from the rest of the pack. >> Outside of school, I like to go to the beach, listen to music, and spend time with my friends and family. Erica's compassion and kindness truly made a difference in our classroom and our high

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school community. Whether it was in the classroom or in the cafeteria or in the halls, she was always a great peer and friend for her classmates. >> After high school, I plan on attending Ramo College of New Jersey to study biology and hopefully enter the field of reproductive science.

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>> Erica, we wish you all the best of luck next year at Ramipo College. You truly have made an impact here at Least Township High School and your legacy will forever live on. Go get them. >> Congratulations. Our final senior of the month for June

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is Declan Mi. Dean, come on over. Oh, there he is. Round of applause for his family up top there as well. >> I'm Declan and I'm proud to be June senior of the month at Lacy Township High School. >> Declan, congratulations on being selected for June student of the month.

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>> At Lacy, I play volleyball, basketball, and I'm a member of National Honor Society. Declan, for the last four years, you have absolutely set yourself apart academically as a high-end Ocean County College Academy student, and perhaps one of the best volleyball players to ever come through the boys

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volleyball program. >> Some of my favorite memories at Le Township High School are Friday night football games, freshman year lunch, and hanging out with my friends outside of school. >> Deck, it has been great to work with you the last two years county college academy. Your intellectual curiosity is

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topnotch. You seem to have a fascination with history that I usually don't see in a normal college academy student and it's been just a joy to work with you on the volleyball court. We are literally watching you do things statistically that are unimaginable. You are on the

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course for breaking the kill record which has stood for the last 11 years. You are the heart and soul of your team. It is super impressive and I don't say it enough but I could not be prouder of you. After high school, I plan on enlisting in the United States Coast Guard. I do four years of maritime

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enforcement, then coming back for local law enforcement. >> Declan, or should I say Mr. Aura, it has been a pleasure to work with you for the last four years on the court and in the classroom. Thank you so much for your service enlisting in the US Coast Guard.

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We are proud of you. Congratulations and best of luck. Just kidding. I understand you have some other special presentations. >> Yeah, I'm not leaving just yet. >> All right, keep going. >> Sorry about that. >> All right. Uh, at this time of year, we like to celebrate our students

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academically and athletically. It is my great pleasure to introduce three teams that have brought home a conference championship to our school. Uh a feat not to be underestimated. It is taking takes a lot of time, effort, and extreme dedication to their sport. Uh not to mention winning every game that counts.

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And this is the three teams that have done that this year. Our first up is gymnastics. coached by coach Kurtio and coach Dudley, captains Lily Allen and Olivia Schwarz. Uh they won their B South championship this year. So a big round of applause for gymnastics.

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Next up we have swimming coaches Brian Keelin and Daisy Fola. Boys captains are Justin Bradshaw, Nick Faraji, Jake Mlani, Shawn Hall, and Will O'Donnell. girls captains uh Liliana Khichi, Tatiana Feebas Perez, Tatiana, come on

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up. Mariana Ferola, Brooke Mcinley, and Melanie Santa Maria. They also won their B South Championship, both boys and girls. Uh first time that both boys and girls won the B South Championship in over 25 years. So, a round of applause for both there.

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Next up, we have our baseball team of coaches Adam Taha, Matt Kefir, and Bob Brewster. Captains Russell Davies, Braden Msina, and Logan Resitar. Uh, they won their C Conference public school championship this year. A lot of hard work and effort went into that. A lot of close games went their way, and again, that's the desire and dedication

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to all these teams up here. So, a round of applause for baseball as well. And again, I I couldn't be more proud. You know, when they go out there and they compete, whether they win or lose, we're certainly proud of them. But when they bring home the championship, it just makes a memory for them, for the school, and again, it's in the record

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books forever. So, uh, big congratulations to them. >> I just have one comment. They look great, but the swim team practice at 5 in the morning, right? >> Yeah. Yeah, they do. Yeah, they do. Yes. All right, round of applause once again for all our athletes. Nice job, everyone. Good work.

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>> All right, you're dismissed. You can go shower, change, do >> time for that. Congratulations. >> Yeah. >> Are you >> Do you want to do your hip review? >> Hip review or dismiss?

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Yeah. >> If anybody would like to go, we're gonna uh keep going on with our meeting. We'll take a two-minute break. >> All right. >> So, just uh just It was tough when everybody in here and I made her stay for a minute, but in order of people who

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pull their hair out would be Mr. King, me, and Miss Delventto, our athletic director. She on a daily basis struggles, gets things done, really works hard for us and produces like the champions that we just saw tonight. So, thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Really nice girl.

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>> Really nice girl. >> Impressive. Like the teams like even swimming like it's just so hard, >> you know, to get to that championship level and they both did it this year. Really great. >> So, 25 25 years since the boys and girls together. >> Wasn't that Mr. Brewer didn't do that? Did that the last time? Isn't he here

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somewhere? >> Yeah. >> Dr. Brewer, did he do that somewhere? Yep. He did it with the math though. They probably did it with talent. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. All right. Very good. Thank you, Miss Delento. That's awesome. >> All right. Just uh I have a couple comments. Okay, President Claus. So, I

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just want to continue a little bit of the conversation that we were having last week because I've reflected on it and and I've gotten some interesting comments back. Uh so, I want to make some comments uh uh to continue our conversation of last week. So, um, the

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challenge that is currently the single greatest pressure on our district's budget, that's really the the topic that I want to talk about, is the rising cost of health care and the impact of statemandated benefit laws. And anybody can really call me on these. I'm becoming an expert very quickly. To understand why our budget is so tight,

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we have to take a look at the shift from a law known as chapter 78 to the current law, which is chapter 44. For nearly a decade, under Chapter 78, employees paid a percentage of their insurance premiums. As insurance rates went up, the employees share went up

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automatically. While this helped the district managed costs, it eventually became a cliff for our staff. While rising where rising healthcare costs often ate at their yearly raises. In 2020, the state introduced Chapter 44 to provide relief to educators. It moved

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the system away from premium sharing to salary sharing. Under this law, health care contributions are capped at a percentage of an employees base salary. And that is the case here in Lacy. While chapter 44 was intended to help staff take home more pay, it created a new

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rigid trap for the district. Because the state locked these contributions levels and plan designs into law until late 2027 when that law expires, they're effectively unbargainable. Okay? Okay, because we're talking bargain, we're talking collective bargaining agreements. We've been talking about that a lot here. In the past, the board

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and the union would could negotiate perhaps a slightly higher health care contribution in exchange for a larger salary bump. But now that puzzle piece has been removed, all right, from the table. We've lost that local control when we want to try and find a middle ground between salaries and health care

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benefits. We're now facing that perfect storm or financial cliff. You've heard me say that before and people before me have said that. While employee contribution percentages remain fixed, the health care premiums have spiked by nearly 30%. You've heard me talk about that. Because the new law prevents us

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from negotiating higher contributions to help cover these death spiral price hikes, the board is forced to absorb almost the entire increase. Okay. Thank you. All right. We are paying a much larger share of a much larger bill and it's placing a crushing burden on

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our ability to fund other areas of education. Regarding our current negotiations with the LTEA, let's be clear, the board offered raises of 2% for 2526 and 3.5% for 2627. Okay, but we haven't we haven't really come to an agreement. All right, the

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narrative that the board does not care about our staff is simply not true. All right, these offers are not what we want to give, what we can afford to give, given this financial reality that I talked about with the healthcare. All right, we're trying to protect the great education we provide while navigating a system where benefit costs have

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skyrocketed beyond our control, down your control, and really beyond the state control. Okay, we're actively working on long-term solutions. We're actively working on one right now to lower health care costs, but it's not going to happen over overnight. All right, please, and we need your help. Please continue writing your

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legislators. The board has already passed a resolution supporting the Pineland's bill and tonight we're going to pass another resolution which is going to be sent directly to the governor. We're seeking immediate relief from the health care system that was designed to save money but has instead become an albatross around our necks of

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local school districts. So, thank you for your support for all of our students. We're going to continue to work on these problems. And that is my commentary for the evening. Thank you for the opportunity, President Claus. >> Um, do you have a HIP report? Uh, anything you want? >> I do have a HI report. Thank you very much for following. So twice a year we

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report out on our hip grades. Okay, this is a uh a self assessment that the district does. You score between uh zero and 78. Um they don't really ever give us a passing score. Uh but the max grade is 78. Uh and I report out on here. I

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post these on the website. I am required by statute to report these out uh these uh selfcore. The district grade is going to be a 74 for this half of the year. Cedar Creek Elementary School scored themselves at a 73. The Fork River Elementary School also a 73. The high

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school is 74. They're overachievers on this one. The middle school is 75. They're the top of the class. And then Lenoka Harbor Elementary School is a 73. And the Mil Pond Elementary School is also a 73. So we've reported on our grades. You can review them on our website if you really want to. Call me

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if you have any questions on how hip grades work. >> Okay. >> Okay. We'll put them up. That is the end of my report. Thank you, President Close. >> Okay. We're going to go into public comment. Ladies and gentlemen, you are now we are now opening to the public comment portion of this meeting in accordance to New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. This is an opportunity for

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members of the public to make comments for the board. Please note that this period is reserved for comments only. The board will not be responding to questions or engaging in dialogue. The board's role is a policymaking body. Operational and administrative matters should be addressed through the appropriate chain of command, beginning

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with staff member or administrator most directly involved. All speakers are expected to present their remarks in a respectful and civil manner. Rude or harassing will not be permitted. Please understand that defamatory remarks may create personal liability for the speaker and potential legal exposure for

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the board. In addition, to protect the privacy rights of students and employees, the board will not entertain discussion regarding specific student or personal matters. We thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain an orderly and respectful meeting. An audience member wishing to make a

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comment, please raise his or her hand when called upon. State your name, address, or affiliation and intention to make a statement. Comments will be addressed to the board president. Comments will be limited to six minutes. No person shall speak more than once. This portion of the meeting is for public comments only and there will be

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no questions answered. The purpose of this board meeting is to perform our business in public. Everyone is entitled to a public comment. If there's a question for the board, there's an established chain of command to follow. Oh, I could do >> good. >> Would anybody like to have a public

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comment tonight? >> Go ahead, Regina. >> See if I can change that. >> This morning Regina Desenza, Sunset Drive, Sunrise Beach. Um, this past week I had the opportunity to add up all the legal

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bills that Mr. Geodano initiated in November and December 2019 with his underhanded actions confirmed by his loss of his appeals. Thank you very much to Miss Stewart for providing me with all the check registers showing the payments to Mr. Dasty and Mr. Subsy

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during the cases since 2019. I already had the report of payments from NJSIG, the New Jersey schools insurance group. I remember way back then, everyone thought the cases could be reimbursed under one insurance claim instead of one claim for each of the

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four cases that erupted. The insurance coverage was only $100,000. Mr. Geodano had no idea that six and a half years later this would still be a topic for discussion. Gavin Rozie levied the first ethics case against him in

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December 2019. Then Mr. Geodano followed with his case against me. Next, in January 2020, Sonia Marcetello levied her case against Mr. Geodano. A few weeks later, I levied my precedent setting landmark case against Mr. to

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Geodano. I've always believed what is good for the goose is good for the gander. My case is now part of the NJSBA training modules. And the numbers are as follows. A total of over $210,000 has been spent by insurance and the

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district to defend Mr. Geodano. Mr. Chris Dasty was paid a grand total of $18,6044. Mr. Suspy has been paid $12,64.72 to date. Worse yet, the Razie Marquetello final decision isn't due for maybe another two months. I spoke to the

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deputy attorney general last week. The district can expect another bill or so for Mr. Subsy. And if Mr. Geodano insists, he may appeal these cases as well. That means the cash register for Mr. Subsy's charges is still running.

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And to add insult to injury, Miss Claus has now acquired her own set of ethics charges. In spite of the fact that she knew or should have known the details of my case against Mr. Geodano, she has now repeated the process of acting alone, using the board attorney without

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permission for her own personal intimidation and vendetta against member of the public. I was very shocked the night of the December 2025 meeting when Kim went on and on about her complaints to the police department regarding Facebook comments

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on the Lacy Citizens for Responsible Government page. She tried to insist that Mr. Bnick was responsible for what other people clearly wrote. This is a free country and Mr. Bnick told her he doesn't censor speech on that page. What an ironic turn of events. All in the

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name of a political invent vendetta. Think of all the good this money could have done for the students. Thank you. >> Anybody else like to have a coffee? >> Hold on. It's not going to work. Trying to get a stopwatch.

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>> No, I'm trying to reset it. >> Do we have I'll turn it back. Turn off. Turn. There it goes. >> Sorry. >> Technical difficulties. >> Okay. >> Good evening. Uh, members of the board of education and Lacy citizens. I'd like

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to address the budgetary educational process that our four new board members just experienced. I know it's troubling and difficult, especially when you have very little dollars to work with. You are new and inherited a mess and came into the scene in the middle of the

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process. For that reason, I've been somewhat lenient with my comments concerning what I feel or feel should have been done. But moving forward, I can't do that any longer. The board has been reactionary in each of the past

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seven years with the reductions in state aid which have had an impact on our budgets. Reductions they knew were happening because every budgetary season I would hear them say wait till next year. In my view that is totally unacceptable. We must end the

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reactionary phase of the budgeting process we've encountered and move on to a proactive approach. At this point, the four new board members have total control of this board. You must now exercise that power. A proactive approach to the budget must start taking

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place now, and you need to plan for the worstc case scenario, and work from there. There's nothing worse than being in a crisis mode each and every budget year, which the district has been in because you have little options when you are in a crisis. Taking a proactive

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stance to budgeting eliminates that. I want to explain to you what the school district has done in the form of economic damage to our community. Within the scope of just three budgetary seasons, the school tax has increased by 26%.

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Taxpayers in Lacy who live on a budget and have been accustomed to a 2% increase in school taxes per year. All of a sudden, the board inflicted a 13 times budgetary increase over the period of just three years. This was a

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financial shock to our community. Millions and millions of dollars have been taken out of our households. Money that it could have been used to pay for high utility costs, high gas prices, high food prices, etc. Causing a huge strain on many households. What is worse

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is the board refused to make the necessary steps to lessen the blow, which into itself is what we call fiscal mismanagement. This cannot continue any further. Sadly, 70% of the households in Lacy do not have children in our school district,

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but they are forced to burden the majority of this cost. The four new board members were elected to make reforms and changes, some which in my view might be very difficult to swallow, but must happen if we are to achieve some sort of fiscal dis stability in the

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district. Change is the one constant in life, and many find change very difficult, but it's inevitable and must happen. The four new board members, Meg, Curry, Brandon, and Steve, have all the power in your hands. Now, it's time for

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you to use it. I don't understand for the life of me how you could propose to give raises to the teachers and then at the same time lay off 31 employees. If you have to lay off staff to save money to make the budget work, there should be

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no raises for anyone. The health insurance increase is more than enough of a raise. And it is eating away many precious dollars. Cheaper plans must be agreed upon by all parties. It is not only unfair, it's unjust to be paying

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somewhere to the tune of 84,000 for a legacy family plan and 63,000 for the other family plans when there are individuals in our town who have no health insurance. Something has got to give and our pocketbooks are now empty. You realize

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we are paying 26% more and getting less and less each year. How on earth does this make any fiscal sense or logic? It doesn't. Members of this board should not be producing ethics violations, nor

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trying to stop individuals from expressing their First Amendment rights to political free speech, no matter how distasteful that free speech may be. We, the taxpayers of Lacy, should not have to pay for unethical behavior of our

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elected school board members. Acting alone as a as a board member should never ever be tolerated nor put up with. I'd like to remind you all that you represent we the people and are accountable to us and not the other way

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around. And finally, I have a request. I would like the district to put the salary and benefit cost for every single employee back on the website where it once was. The taxpayers of Lacy have every right to know how our hard-earned

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money is being spent. In the name of transparency, please return it to the website. Our former superintendent, Mr. Stardup, had no problem putting this info out to the public. It needs to be returned where it once was. If you're

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asking us to bear a 26% tax increase, you should at least have the decency to lay out all the cards on the table. Thank you. >> Would anybody else like to have a public comment? Go ahead, C.

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Senior citizen. >> Hi, my name is Karen Knap. I live in Loka Harbor. I've been a full-time power professional for 26 years in the Lacy district. As you all know, I've been here fighting to keep my full-time status. As per the reduction slide at the budget meeting on May 5th, full-time

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powers are costing the district $900,000. We have 25 full-time PAR professionals. $900,000 divided by 25 is approximately $36,000 per power. There are 19 full-time power professionals choosing

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to either leave the district, go to a part-time status, or retire, which is a district savings of $684,000. leaving the district with six full-time powers according to the PAR list at $36,000 per par

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sorry it will cost the district $216,000. Then we go on to the seven full-time health aids. The budget slides that stated it costs $340,000 for seven full-time health aids. According to tonight's board minutes, there are four

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health aids choosing to go part-time at $340,000 divided by seven health aids that it's approximately $48,572 per aid with the four health aids going to part-time. That is a district savings of 196,000.

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So to reiterate, 19 full-time powers choosing to leave the full-time status is a district savings of $684,000. of four full-time health aids choosing to leave the full-time status is a savings of $196,000, which gives a total savings to the

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district of $880,000. Now, according to tonight's board meeting, we have 10 full-time powers going to part-time status and four full-time health aids going to status, which at $21,966

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per employee times 14 is $375 $37,000. I'm sorry, $37,524. Now, like I said before, the hund the $880 savings with the 14 full-time employees

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going to part-time status. This district will still be saving $572,000. Now, I'm not saying my numbers are to the penny, but I'm going off the reduction slide at the budget meeting and tonight's board minutes. I'm asking you to please find the money in the budget to keep us six full-time powers

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according to the full-time power list. As I lo as I told you at the budget meeting in the library, you're hiring quiet quitters. They're here for the paycheck and not the children. The district's falling apart and these poor children are suffering, especially the ones who need us the most. And you can

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say we are hard workers, but until you come into our classroom and see with your own eyes, you have no clue. Thank you for your time, and I pray you make the right decision. Thank you. Would anybody else like to have a public comment? Okay, I'm going to close public comment.

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Uh we're going to move on to uh board committee reports and we are going to start tonight with uh policy with Miss Opitz. >> Okay. Okay. So, we had the policy meeting on Wednesday, May 6 at 1:00. Um present was President Claus, myself, Dr.

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Forny, and Mr. Zalinsky. We reviewed policy 6830. Uh specifically the peer review process. Um, we reviewed policy P7421, indoor air quality standards. Mr. Zalinsky discussed the updates for these

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two policies that were updated to include the PEO SHA language as required. Um, we reviewed policy and regulation 9130 at the April meeting and it's being put forward for a first read at the May May

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meeting, sorry. Uh, for co-curricular, Mr. Zalinsky shared that the boys basketball be south victory with the committee safety and security. The committee discussed the security incident on May 5th

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for um LTASA LTCA. The committee is awaiting the salary guides for those. And then Mr. Zolinsky informed the committees that we'll be moving forward with the posting for a BCBA and seven

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behavior technicians stipens for the district. Um the non-aligned raises will be aligned with the offers that were extended to the LTEA and and the LTC STEA.

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Um the contract for the interimm BA will have a recommended extension for up to one more year. Um, the assistant to the school BA is a new position. This position will replace two existing positions in the business

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office. Uh, Foxrun Group, it's a branding, marketing, and advertising. Mr. Zillinsky had several conversations with this group in the attempt to increase advertising revenue for the district. and Cedar Creek principal hire Terresa

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Kilmurray, the current Lenoka Harbor supervisor, is recommended for that at Cedar Creek. And our next meeting will be June 10th at 1 p.m. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Now, we'll move on to curriculum with Mr. Bell. Do you have a report? >> Sure. >> Thank you.

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>> All right. We had our meeting uh May 5th at 4 o'clock. Um members present were myself, Salato, and Dr. Forny, Mr. Mr. Zalinsky and Miss Kovski. Um, we went over curriculum as far as

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near visits at Mil Pond. Miss Kovowski described the visits from Near, which is a Ruters group that assists in training and developing highquality preschool programming. Mil Pond playground almost complete that they wouldn't let us play

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on when they showed it to us. Um, the preschool Mil Pond playground is almost complete and there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony. uh once it is totally finished. Uh course proposal AP research. The high school has proposed AP research as an

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additional AP course offering. Bridge to algebra 1 summer prep program. The district will once again offer the bridge to algebra 1 program to students who will be taking algebra 1 uh as as middle school students.

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AP World History Freshman Summer Program. Uh the district will offer a summer prep program for freshmen who will be taking a very difficult AP course for the first time. NJSLA- the statemandated NJS SLA testing is

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taking place across the district. Special education one step forward waiting on a finalized contract program confirmed for 2627 school year. Miss Graovski uh described in detail our plans to utilize One Step Forward as

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part of our curricular offering for the Cedar Creek autism population. Behavior Tech proposal moving forward for 2627 school year uh met with LTE president to discuss submitting uh this proposal to

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the district attorney for review. Miss Graovski uh detailed the behavior tech proposal and the associated stipen that will be posted. Technology NJSLA uh and AP testing prep support NJIS

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uh sync to real time uh fishing emails and email security review summer planning. Uh the technology department highlighted their monthly activities to in include state testing preparation and building level support

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uh during the year's testing season. Additionally, the technology department has been closely monitoring fishing emails and has begun summer begun summer planning to maintain our Chromebooks, computers, and tech infrastructure.

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Personnel uh grievance uh 2526-2. The committee discussed this grievance. Behavior technicians and BCBA. Uh Mr. Zillinsky informed the committees uh that we'll be moving forward with the posting of a BCBA and seven behavior

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tech stipen for the district. Uh non-align raised 3.5%. The nonalized raised uh will be aligned with the offers that were extended to the LTEA and the LTCSTa. Interimm business administrator

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employment contract. The contract for the interimm business administrator will have a recommended extension of up to one year. One more year of time. >> Assistant to the school uh business administrator. New position. This position will replace two existing

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positions at the business office. raise HR management salary pay parody president branding marketing advertising Mr. Zalinsky has had several conversations with this advertising group in an attempt to increase

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advertising revenue for the district. Uh CCS principal hire Terresa Kilmari, current Lenoka Harbor supervisor, is the recommended hire for the Cedar Creek principal. LTEA June 30th, 2026 will be the first

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meeting uh with FactFinder uh for contract settlement. The committee will be attending a negotiations factf finding session on June 30th. Other uh business office reorganization. Again, the branding, marketing,

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advertising. Uh Mr. Zalinsky has had several conversations with the advertising group in the attempt to increase advertising revenue for the district. Next meeting will be scheduled for June 9th, 2026 at four o'clock. Great. >> Thank you. Now, we're going to move on

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to finance. Um, Vice President Goen. >> Okay. Um, so we had our meeting on Monday, May 4th at 4:00. Uh, present were myself, uh, President Clauss, Brandon and Hurley, uh, Connie Stewart, and William Zalinsky. Um, agenda items,

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facilities. We talked about the land behind um, the land that the district owns behind Milpond School. Um, we have located the, uh, title work for those and we are exploring the sale of that property. Um uh we talked about high school exterior paint. We're getting

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quotes to have the painting completed. High school storage building. Uh there's a building behind this high school that needs a significant amount of work and that work will be done through a donation from the Lacy football foundation. Um we discussed the synergistic uh contract for energy

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management services. Um finance uh we talked about board of education members continuing education classes and and how to be uh compliant with those requirements. uh staledated checks. Uh all the checks that we had or that Connie had uh researched um had

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been researched and several will be reissued. Uh those were on the agenda. Uh we talked about the revised final budget for 2627 that would be adopted the following night on May 5th and the few changes that were made. The um South Jersey Elevator LLC, we had a settlement

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and a resolution in small claims court. Uh we discussed that matter. We discussed the RFP for the solar field and the fact that the board is going to reject all of the proposals received uh for that potential project. Food services. Um the uh forms to issue an

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RFP for a management company have been approved by the department of agriculture and uh we discussed issuing an RFP for management oper management uh food management operations only. No staff. Um the curriculum uh K to8 ELA

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instructional program purchase is on hold due to budgetary constraints. Um discuss generally the budget and the impact on that program. The uh one step forward contract for services to enhance autism uh services at Cedar Creek uh allowing us to improve the program and

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not add additional full-time staff. And we are waiting on a contract from the vendor for that program. Uh we discussed the um opportunities for behavioral technician and BCBAS. Uh we discussed the um raise for uh

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nonline non-aligned staff at administrative offices. Um interim business administrator employment contract. Uh the assistant to the school business administrator which is a new position that Miss Opitz mentioned. It's going to replace two existing positions. Um and HR manager HR manager SA salary

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pay par parody uh nothing on security nothing on technology transportation um talked about parent transportation contracts for the 2627 school year uh and and the uh savings to the district based on those contracts. Um we

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discussed the uh aid in LOW 5.5% administration fee to process um for Mammoth Ocean Educational Services Commission um and the uh savings to the district and what that contract entails. Um superintendent search. So this

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meeting that we had on May 4th um we did after uh we had narrowed our field down to three candidates. uh we conducted uh interviews with all three candidates and we've now since narrowed that field down to two candidates that will be um

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presenting those two candidates will be presenting to the full board on May 22nd. Um so we'll be having a special meeting on May 22nd. Uh the two candidates for superintendent will be doing a presentation to the board and the board will have the opportunity to ask additional questions. Um so that'll

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be the next step in that process. We talked about the uh referendum and the RFQ for construction management services um which uh was due by April 24th, 2026. Um the architect, our architect for the

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referendum has uh requested fees for review. Um so we discussed that the um bid for the high school roof and HVAC replacements were due by May 6. We did get those bids um and I believe we're those are on the agenda uh for this evening. um use of facilities. Uh we

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went through that um those requests. Uh business office reorganization, the uh plans for reorganization of the uh business office. Um we discussed a a proposal for advertising services for the district. Um just a discussion at this point and we discussed the

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recommendation for Cedar Creek principal. uh meeting was adjourned at 5:13 and our next meeting will be on June 8th at 4 pm. >> Okay. Thank you. Um Mr. Zalinsky, do you have anything else? >> I do not. >> Okay. Then we're going to go into board

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uh board comments if there are any. Mr. Hurley, do you have any comments tonight? >> Sure. Hi. >> Okay. >> Uh so first I want to say congratulations to the uh unsung heroes for May and June. um or I'm sorry, the seniors, not the seniors and the uh the

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sports teams, the athletics. I remember I was thinking about it when I was in high school, my senior year, my last game I played and we won a championship and being brought up in front of everybody. It was a great great feeling. So, um you know, great for them. And also, thank you for everyone showing up because last meeting we had a whopping

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four people here. So, I encourage you to still show up to meetings, tell your friends to show up during the summer and you know, spill your thoughts out of the podium for us to hear. We we do encourage it and we as much as we try to keep a smile, you know, good or bad, we

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we appreciate the engagement. Thank you. >> Mr. Bell, do you have anything you'd like to add? No. Okay. >> It's open. >> Um I also just wanted to say congratulations to all of the students. Um my kids are nine, eight, and five in the district. So, it's inspiring seeing

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all the students of the month and everything like that and where they're going off to school. So, thank you. >> Okay. Y Dr. for any >> no okay Mr. going vice president going. >> Yeah, just just really briefly um that was uh it was really great to see the um it's always great to see but it's really great to see all the students of the

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month. It's very cool to see like like Vobit said where they're all you know what they're all doing and where they're all going off to school and the fact that they've accomplished that much already in high school and they're going off to these amazing things at college. It's very cool and um congratulations to all our sports teams. That's that's a pretty incredible achievement.

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>> Okay, great. Um same as everybody else, we love our student athletes. Um and we are going to miss our two representatives down at the end. You guys did a great job. Thank you very much. Great year. Yeah. >> And if Miss Kilmary is in the room, I just Is she in there in the back? >> Approve her yet?

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>> Well, okay. >> Approve her first. >> We'll approve her. Then I'll say thank you. Okay. Um and there is coffee and conversation tomorrow at 5:00 at the Milton School. >> Yep. Same place. >> Yep. Same place. So, if anybody would like to have a conversation with your acting superintendent, please come.

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>> Okay. Now, we're going to go on to our new business. Everybody ready? Okay. A1 meeting minutes. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please.

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>> Mrs. Opitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bell? >> Yes. But I have to abstain on minute meeting or meeting minutes for special meeting on 428. >> Thank you, Mr. Goen. >> Uh, yes. Yes, but I have to abstain on

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the executive session April 16th and the special meeting April 28th. >> Thank you. And Mrs. Cloud? >> Yes. 82 list of bills. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz, >> yes.

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>> Mr. Hurley, >> yes. >> Dr. Forny, >> yes. >> Mr. Bell, >> yes. >> Mr. Goen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Claus, >> yes. Uh, A3 and four transfers and S1701. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. Second.

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>> Uh, discussion. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Goen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clouse? >> Yes. A5 to A uh 23. Finance and Facilities. We're on page 3 to 13. Can I

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have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz. Yes, >> Mr. Hurley. >> Yes, >> Dr. Forny. >> Yes, >> Mr. Bell. >> Yes, >> Mr. Goen. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Claus.

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>> Yes. >> 824 to 28. Tuition and transportation. Can I have a motion, please? >> Can I read 27, please? >> Oh, uh, we didn't get through yet. >> We're on 20 24 to 26. >> 26. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Motion, please. >> Motion.

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>> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Harley, >> yes. >> Dr. Forny, >> yes. >> Mr. Bell, >> yes. >> Mr. Goen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Claus, >> yes. And A27, we have a resolution and Mr. uh Go ahead. You're going to read

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the resolution. >> I'll read it. Go ahead. >> Okay. This continues kind of my comments early on when we talk about healthcare costs. So, at the time, this is a resolution the board will pass just like we did last month. We'll submit it directly to the governor and to all the parties that are interested. So whereas at a time of continued fiscal uncertainty and mounting challenges,

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local boards of education from across the state of New Jersey continue to suffer under the growing crisis posed by the rising cost of health benefits and are desperate for relief. Whereas despite record levels of state investments in public education, these school districts are facing fiscal

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pressures similar to those confronting the state budget, including the unsustainable growth in healthcare premiums and the mounting insolveny of the state's public employees health benefits program. Whereas both within the school employees health benefits program and the private market,

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year-over-year, double-digit increases are placing tremendous strain on district budgets and local taxpayers alike. Whereas Governor Cheryl and legislative leadership have publicly acknowledged the urgent need to address rising healthcare costs and the challenges facing the state's health

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benefits plans, including both the state and local portions of the state health benefits program. And whereas the seriousness of this issue is underscored by the midyear SEBP analysis released by the Treasury Department in March of 26 which concluded that based on these

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projected losses and building and future trends, active premium rates increases for 2027 will also likely be in the double digits. Whereas these projected increases would follow the 31.9% premium increase that took effect in January 26,

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further exacerbating an overall premium increase of nearly 74% in the preceding 5 years. Whereas this growth in health care costs far exceeds inflation, state aid increases, and the fiscal capacity of local communities. and rising healthcare premiums are consuming an

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ever larger portion of already constrained school budgets, forcing difficult decisions that directly affect students, staff, and educational quality. And these cost pressures also have significant consequences for taxpayers, as districts are often compelled to utilize the full extent of

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their available tax levy, even after which many districts remain unable to fully offset these increases due to the constraints of the property tax levy despite the limited healthcare exception. And whereas for the families and students these districts serve, the downstream consequences, including

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district deficits, program cuts, school closures mean the loss of community stability, continuity of services, and in many cases, access to the specialized supports that our most vulnerable students depend on. And whereas these are also precisely the conditions that erode student achievement and weaken the

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family engagement that is central to strengthening New Jerseys public schools. And whereas implementing real sustainable solutions, the rising cost of health benefits and reforming how benefits are delivered through the SEBP would demonstrate the governor and legislaturator's leadership and

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continued commitment to New Jersey students, educators, and families, which directly advances our goal of affordability and effective, efficient government for all New Jerseyians. Therefore, now be it resolved that the Lacy Township Board of Education and the County of Ocean calls upon the governor

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and the state legislature to provide immediate short-term relief from the unsustainable increased health care costs experienced by school districts in recent years. And be it further resolved that the Lacy Township Board of Education in the County of Ocean urges the governor to engage in meaningful

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engagement with all effective stakeholders to develop and implement practical long-term reforms to the state system of delivering health care to its public employees in order to generate meaningful long-term savings. A copy of this resolution will be forwarded to

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Governor Mikey Cheryl, State Treasurer Aaron Binder, State Senate, State President Nicholas Couturi, Assembly Speaker Craig Cochland, State Senator Carmen Amato, Assemblyman Gregor Greg Meyer, Assemblyman Brian Rump, and the New Jersey School Boards Association. Thank you. I know that's a mouthful.

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>> Yes. Thank you. Okay. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh, any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bell. >> Yes. >> Mr. Goen. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Claus.

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>> Yes. Policy and regulation 828. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Goen? >> Yes. >> Mr. Claus?

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>> Yes. 829 to 8:30. Hibs. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz. >> Yes. Yes. Mr. Hurley, >> yes. >> Dr. Forny, >> yes. >> Mr. Bell, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Goen,

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>> yes. But abstain from 30. >> Thank you. And Mrs. Claus? >> Yes. Um, donations page 15 to 16. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion?

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Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bowen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. clause. >> Yes. And thank you. Uh, programs and curriculum, page 16C. Can I have a motion, please?

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>> Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz? >> Yes. >> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Goen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Claus? >> Yes. Page 16 to 20. Certificated

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personnel D1 to D12. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Hurley, >> yes. >> Dr. Forny, >> yes. >> Mr. Bell, >> yes. >> Mr. Goen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Claus,

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>> yes. Non-certificated. Oh, >> Congratulations, Mr. >> Principal. There you go. >> YEAH. >> Thank you for the opportunity. I'm looking forward to stepping into the new role and taking on new challenges to contribute to the district. So, thank

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you. >> Congratulations. Welld deserved. >> We also we're going to embarrass her. We have Mackenzie Hart. She's going to be our brand new math teacher. >> Congratulations, MACKENZIE. >> Very nice. >> Very nice. Thank you. >> And we're keeping Connie.

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>> Keeping Connie. Okay. Non-certificated personnel E1 through E11. Can I have a motion, please? Motion >> second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Opitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Hurley, >> yes. >> Dr. Forny, >> yes. >> Mr. Bell, >> yes.

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>> Mr. Goen, >> yes. >> Mrs. Claus, >> yes. And we have no walk-on, so meeting adjourned. No. Uh, >> we do. Motion to >> motion. Second. >> All in favor? I >> I chipp