Oh, let's go. Let's get the show on the road. We got to move it along tonight. 52 minutes delayed. 52 seconds delayed. Welcome everyone. So, our first board meeting of the new
year roll call, Tom, please. >> You want to do this or you want me to do it? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, the meeting's called to order. Miss Bose >> here.
>> Mr. Clark. Miss Evans >> here. >> Miss Kroger. Uh, Miss Kelly >> here. M Martinez >> here. >> M >> Pasculi >> here. >> Vanheis is absent. Hey, we have a
quarum. Thank you, Tom. >> The New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to attend meeting public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon as required under law. Adequate notice of this
meeting has been provided via email and or facts to the Times, the Lawrence Ledger, the Trentonian, the public library, and has been filed with the municipal clerk. This notice was provided prior to the 48 hours required by the open public meetings act
of personnel items and other by law. Please stand for the flag to the flag of the United States of America. to the stands nation indivisible liberty and justice for all.
>> So as is typical for the reorganization meeting of the board of education the board secretary opens the meeting and swears the new members in and then we'll follow the same procedure elect our officers will turn the meeting over to the president. Um at this time if I can have please the three new board members
so we can swear them in. And if you would please come up this corner here and we'll swear you in at all at the same time. >> Don't you know the oath by now? >> There it is. >> Big. >> So this is the required oath of office
for new school board members. Um it is standard across the state of New Jersey. And as typical if we have a whole slate of members, we'll swear them all in at one time. What I'm going to do is I'm going to read the first paragraph and then ask you to read it to fill in your own name and read it back and then we'll
do that for the second paragraph. At that point, you'll be seated. So, it's I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to
the governments established in the United States and this state under the authority of the people. So, help me God. You can all read at the samely swear to affirm that I will states the Constitution of the State of New Jersey and I will bear the true
faith and allegiance to the same and to the government established in the United States in this state and the authority of the people. Thank you. Tom had to correct me twice. First time with with my mic there and then here we
go again. Thank you, Tom. And then we'll do the next paragraph and it's I and then your name. So then you can say that I your name do solemnly swear or affirm that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of
member of the board of education and that I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to this statute. You can say that nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in the statute and that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform all the
duties of that office according to the best of my ability. So help me God and I will pace you on this. Ready? So it's I >> do solemnly swear or affirm that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of the
board of education. I am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to the statute, nor disqualified due to conviction of a crime or offense listed in statute, and that I will faithfully, partially, and justly perform all the
duties of that office according to the best of my ability. >> Congratulations. Please take a seat. Um, thank you. >> So, the next item on the agenda is the nomination of officers.
At this time, I'd like to open up the floor to the nomination of officers. I'll remind those who would nominate anyone, there is not a second required according to our policy. Simply, a nomination will suffice. At the conclusion of the nominations, then we'll take the roll call. Is there a
nomination for the president of the board of education? >> Yes. Based on her many years of service to the board and especially last year in service of the um middle school expansion vote, I would like to nominate
Michelle B. >> Thank you. So noted. Are there any other nominations? Okay, seeing none. Mr. Clark is not here. Mr. Caparata, >> yes. >> Miss Evans,
>> yes. >> Miss Kelly, >> yes. >> Miss Martinez, >> yes. >> Miss Pascali, >> yes. >> And Miss Bose, do you accept? >> I do accept. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you very much. >> All right. So, vice president
nomination, the meeting's yours. I will open up for nominations for vice president. >> For very similar reasons, I'd like to nominate Pepper Evans, who's proven her absolute dedication and commitment to our students and has done a wonderful job in the last year.
Any other nominations? Okay, seeing none, >> okay, Mr. Caparata? >> Yes. >> Miss Kelly? >> Yes. >> Miss Martinez? Yes, >> Miss Pasculi. >> Yes,
>> Miss Bose. >> Yes, >> Miss Evans, do you accept the nomination? >> Yes. Thank you. >> You are installed. >> So, here are the ethics forms right here. >> Your distribution to hang on this
two. Would you like me to introduce the topic or you you have it? >> Yes. Um uh we will go around and read the board the code the board member code of ethics. Um we can just start with u
Olga and each person pick goes to the next one until we've read all of them aloud. Um school board members shall abide by the following code of ethics for school board members. Okay. I will uphold and enforce all laws,
rules and regulations of the state board of education and court orders pertaining to schools. Desire changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will
seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing. I will confine my board action to policym, planning and appraisal and I will help to frame policies and plans
only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them. >> I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools but together with my fellow board members to see that they are run well. I will recognize that authority rests
with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board. I will hold I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the school which if
disclosed would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and in concert with my fellow board members, interpret the staff to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school.
I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after considerations of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. >> I will support and protect school personnel and proper performance of their duties. I will refer all
complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administration administrative solution. Great. Thank you. And everybody can write their name and sign it and date it
and then we're going to collect them. Tom, >> pass them my way if you would please. >> Finish. Thank you everybody. Thank you. Okay. All right. Um, this evening we do not have any student representative or peer
leaders. Um, any recognitions and acknowledgements? Uh, we have no adoption of minutes yet. Um, and now reports to the board. Superintendent report. >> Happy new year to members of the board of education. Our happy new year to members of the board, our staff, and the
Lawrence Township community. I hope the winter break provided time for rest and connection as we begin the new year together. It is with deep sadness that I do acknowledge the passing of one of our students, our Cardinal August Fogle. She passed away over the winter break after
an ongoing medical battle. This was a heartbreaking loss for our school community and one that put a damper on opening schools back up and returning. She is with us at this time and will be in our deepest thoughts and we extend our condolences to her family. I also
want to mention that I'm wearing green tonight in support of a LTPS staff member who is currently undergoing cancer treatment. It's a very rare form of cancer and green really signifies his battle. I need everyone to know that while this is a small gesture, the
buildings are lit up in green this week for um this teacher and Lawrence Township Public Schools not only shows up for one another, but we exemplify care, compassion, and strength. When we say LTPS, this is us. This is what we
do. As we look ahead, I want to share how much I look forward to tonight's um annual reorganization meeting. It is always so meaningful. It's a moment that signifies who will be on board to do all of the great work, and I'm excited to welcome the slate here tonight with
Pepper um and Paul and McKenzie back. Um it really is an exciting time for us in Lawrence and we still have so much more to accomplish. So, last but not least, January is schoolboard appreciation month. And while we be we will be doing many more things to celebrate our board members throughout the month of January,
specifically at the January 2nd meeting, uh the January 21st meeting, I'm sorry. Um I do need to extend on behalf of the entire school district how much we appreciate your service, your passion, and your dedication. You always show up for us. um you always check in on us and
you do all of the behind the scenes things for teachers and staff that I am personally grateful for. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Um board secretary report. >> Given that this is the uh reorganization meeting, I'll defer my report, but you
have seen that we were successful in our asbestous abatement at Lawrence Middle School. all things are on track and I saw that Jen Baldesari shared with you pictures of what was happening and those were fantastic pictures and there'll be more of that to come. Um so thank you all. Great.
>> Have a full report for you at the end of the month. >> Great. Thanks so much Tom. Um there's no board president report thankfully this evening. Um we have no committee reports and no liaison reports. Um and any
review of communications? No. Um, this is going to be our opportunity for first public comment. Okay, seeing none, um, this evening we have a a special guest with us, um, our board attorney, Brett Gorman, um, and he
is going to be taking over during our board discussion and work session, um, to do some new year training with us. Robin, did you want to say anything else about Rick Gorman? Brett Gorman um has been our board solicitor the past few years. We feel very fortunate to have
you with us tonight. Um there's many topics that sort of you know we discussed um along with Michelle and just getting to know the board um for a few years now as president. What might be important for you to learn from um and of course we want to kind of continue these work sessions maybe even
into the summer retreat. So thank you Brett. The floor is yours. >> Okay. Do I have to use the microphone? Can I Is that being recorded or we >> Yes, it's being recorded. >> Do you want me to talk on this? Okay. All right. Um, hi everyone. My name is Brett Orman. I am an attorney. Um, no
applause. No. Okay. All right. Um, that was a joke. >> All right. Um, All right. So, I'm going to give a presentation here. I got a list of items that that Dr. Clim wanted me to go over. So, it's a it can be a lengthy presentation. Um, so some ground
rules. I talk quickly. All right? So, if I'm going too quick, you can tell me to slow down. I will do my best. I cannot assure you that I will actually slow down. Um, but I will try to. And secondly, I do like an interaction. So, if you have questions, you want to
follow up some spontaneity, I'll walk you through it. We can kind of do some analysis together. Um, and try to walk you through how I would think about it and explain it if you were to call me and that might help you as you go through it and deal with these issues uh, moving forward. All right, any questions?
All right, let's get going. So, I'm not going to read you the the citations. Um, but this is the the general citations for the board's role. Um, big picture for you guys. And and these are this is different things you're looking at here. The last two, as
you can see, are school ethics commission's uh citations, which you know, that's kind of what you read earlier. Um, but the big picture here is your job is not to administer the schools. All right? You're not permitted to. It is against the law. But that is thing that is the type of issue that
gets litigated in the school ethics commission at the New Jersey office of administrative law regularly. So that's it. But your job is policy. You set the course and the administration Tom and do and and Robin uh implement and and report back to you at our monthly
meetings. Okay. So this is this is the definition of administer the schools. Um, what you're not supposed to do is when you give a direct order to school personnel or become directly involved in activities or function that are responsibility of school personnel. All right, we're going to go through some
examples of what that means. All right. So, I'll have some questions as we do this. So, this is a school ethics case that came out uh a couple years ago and you have a board member relayed union concerns to the superintendent about a graduation schedule change. All right.
And then the board member also contacted teachers and administrators to request band and choir participation in an outside civic event and question the principal's decision not to participate. All right. So if you guys want to jump in, you can. If not, I'll just jump right to the answer. But which of the
actions from this case um is permissible and which one is impermissible? Anyone answer? I can give the answer. All right. So short answer is uh relaying union concerns to the
superintendent. That's your role, right? You get something direct from the union, they're complaining about something, it's not your job to fix it. You are not supposed to fix it. That's what you have the administration for who are obligated to follow district policy on those things. So that is the permissible one. Uh the second one here though is this is
where you get it right. The board member contacted teachers and administrators to request their participation in an outside civic event. So think about it this way. You are their employers. You're pressuring them to participate in an outside event. Clearly that's going to vi that's going to probably cross
potentially cross over into some administrative act. But also it's it's it violates the the perception of um for them whether or not you're utilizing your role as a board member, elected official, their employer to obtain some type of even personal benefit, something
you want them to do, right? Um and that's the answer that the uh that the school ethics commission gave here. Um that the board member must refer complaints to the superintendent and avoid direct involvement. Um contacting the staff to seek explanations, pressure participation or second guess second
guess administrative decisions constitutes administering the schools. The definition we just looked at even if done from a personal account or in a non-board role. You can't just say this is me saying it as a as a member of the public, right? that doesn't really exist when you're talking to a of an employee of the district, right?
Um and the second one, you know, relaying concerns of the superintendent is appropriate. Um and contacting teachers, administrators to make requests, applying pressure, questioning administrative decisions violates that school ethics provision. All right. Now, we have a slide about
Robin Clim, the superintendent. Um the superintendent is the board's only employee for supervisory administrative purposes. You probably all know this, okay? But the superintendent is the one who's allowed to make recommendations on personnel only. The only personnel decision you make is employing the
superintendent. Um, and that's it. Once that happens, everything else goes through the superintendent. Kind of the deal when they got rid of superintendent tenure several years back was the superintendent gets to pick their their staff. They get to be the ones in charge of that, but they don't get tenure. They only get these three, four or five year
contracts. That's the balance that gets in there is that they get to get to control that situation. Um, obviously there's other laws in play that you know that that impact that their actual control over it, but that's the theory behind the superintendent being the one who makes all of those recommendations.
Right? So again, you have a duty to refer all complaints to the to the to the superintendent, chief school, the chief school or chief administrative officer and we'll act on complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. And frankly, if you're going to do that, you have better
call me before you do that. All right? Because should you take some action, you might be opening yourselves up to a school ethics violation. Some, you know, if it's a personnel issue in particular, you might be violating personnel p uh um certain uh privacy rights and other things. So before you take take some
private action, please run that by the the board solicitor. All right. Um this talks about your authority. All right. You only act as a group during properly publicly noticed meetings, right? Open public meetings act. Um and that's what we talk about there. I think we need to elaborate on
that. Obviously, we we're not going to take anything in private. Um, we we all know the fact patterns of emails and you know, if if two people email and another two people email and you get a fifth person in there, that con that constitutes a meeting and that's in violation of the open public meetings
act. So, the that's where we work in the committee uh function. We work through the superintendent when not in not at a meeting and then we have a meeting to go over everything. Um and of course cannot take unilateral action on matters reserved to the board even if the board later agrees with the
outcome. Right? You can't do that even if it's if it's right in the end. It can it can and still be will be a school ethics violation. Um think kind of went over this. This describes what adequate notice is. This is the purview of your illustrious
business administrator Tom Eldridge. So he makes sure every every one of your meetings meets all of these requirements. Um, and this talks about the electronic notification of a meeting. So, there is a new change in the law that's coming in where you don't have to use newspapers anymore um for that, but that's not till
May or or really it's kind of more for boards that are going to start operating in like, you know, July 1st through June 30th on your on your meeting notifications. You can meet um without providing proper notice if it's an emergency situation. This gives the criteria here. Again, you would only do
this after consulting with your attorneys. um to make sure that it it does meet it and we would take every every step we could to adequately notice the meeting. I'm not aware of this ever really coming into play even during CO and those types of situations. Um and this this right here this
provision here gives the one the and this actually comes up a lot. I actually get a lot of questions about this is when are we actually allowed to go into executive, right? It's this these are the only opportunities that you can right so and and where boards can get into trouble is you go under for a
matter that's valid collective you know negotiations right litigation and then another topic comes up another topic and next thing you know you're talking about something and close that really should happen at opening in an open session in front of the public so need to be very careful and if you start to question it it's always good to ask the question
should we be in open for this right it's better that you ask that question and then you guys pause. You'll know if it's not. Your your administration is very smart and if you have any issues, they can always contact us to find out for sure. But then you go back and open and discuss it.
All right. So, this is an um this is actually kind of an interesting one that just came out. There's a new appellet division case that had to do with filling a board vacancy. Um so, and it's I've had to deal with this a lot because I just happen to have a few boards that had an open vacancy and filling it
becomes a question. So if you look at your policy, it goes over it goes over the exact, you know, way it happens, right? Tom will will notice it for the public to submit CV, cover letter talking about why they should be pointed to the board um for the remainder of the term. This is in the the circumstance
where it can't be filled at an election. You guys fill it for a one-year term um and and in those situations. So there was a case in North Jersey where basically the board just did nothing in public, right? They they noticed they said they were going to do interviews in public. They did not. they deliberated
in public and then they came out and just voted on somebody without giving any rationale. Right? So, um the the long story short on this is you need to have articulate something in public to the public, anyone that wants to come about your rationale for appointing
someone to a position. Um some boards, you know, you can do interviews in in executive. Um the meeting I was on on Monday, we did the interviews in in public in front of everybody. Nobody came to the meeting. Um and it was interesting because there were two candidates and they actually were supposed to go down the hall but it
was clear that one of them was listening um on the interview and got the questions in advance but it it was done in public for the exact purpose of not running a sunder of uh you know of this decision. Um you can do some discussion in executive session on this but when you come out you still have to
articulate why you want to make that decision if that makes sense. All right. >> When was this when did this come >> few months ago? >> Just a few months ago. >> Yeah, this came out this year or last year. So it's an interesting one. So they they invalidated >> because we have done them in private
>> but this this came out >> probably within 60 to 80 days. >> Yeah. >> And and I know Kevin sent it around to to Robin and myself and we knew that Charles Esme came out >> with some clarifications. >> Yeah. >> We just haven't had an opportunity to to use this
>> Yeah. It doesn't change that much. I mean really is you just you just you have to articulate something to the public is really that I mean that and the case here was pretty extreme and they even noticed that they were going to do the interviews in public and then they did it in private. So if you remember and that was the thing there were members of the public wanted to know had no idea and that's what the
appellet division struck it down and you know and of course once you do that if you have any five four votes and that person was with the majority well now those votes are now invalidated. So it can be it can have you know consequences for multiple things that happen and and I in order to get to the appellet
division. I mean I think it happened had to have happened a couple years prior to that. So >> all right so board committees a very important part of how boards function to make sure you don't violate the open public meeting act. Um obviously we have less than a quorum. So so for a ninep person board maximum four board members
can meet. Um I I you know I think a a well-run board really do you guys use committees? >> Yes. Yeah. Okay. I think a well-run I didn't want to say something here that you would like. But no, we only act as >> we're a well-run board. Come on. >> I know. Um well, I do have a board that I'm working with and they just told me
they've they've done everything as a committee as a whole, which is kind of chaotic because then people don't know what's going on. So the way a properly properly run board and is you utilize committees, four of you are up to date on your specific area of expertise. When you come to the board meeting, you can speak knowledgeable about it. you can
trust that so and so on the board asked the right questions, made the right decision, made the right recommendation for whatever it is, and then everybody kind of work together and be apprised at the board meeting and if you have questions, you can ask of it, but you know that four board members signed off on it. Um, and then you can take action
at the meeting. So that that's a well-run that's a well-run board um that does that does it that way. You can do a committee as a whole, but again, it can be chaotic because then everybody walks into a meeting without having the information and then it's like, why didn't we, you know, and then why didn't we know about this before? Yeah. >> Just say no to
>> no to chaos. >> Just say no. >> All right. So, here's your cans and can'ts for board committees. All right. You can gather information, raise issues to other committees, develop recommendations, bring issues forward for board consideration and vote. A lot of boards will send around their their committee notes to everybody so
everybody can see what was discussed. Yep. That's a that's a good practice. um committees cannot make final decisions obviously cannot constitute a quorum because then you violate the open public meetings act commit district resources take board action direct staff yada yada
yada so pretty self-explanatory items and this talks this this gives a case here where um a board does not violate the ethic school ethics act by participating in a proper committee meeting um and in this case the Kathy v Gonzalez you had the chair of a personnel committee called a meeting at
the board attorney's office um with the personnel committee, a little unusual I will say and the human resources manager manager to discuss possible termination of the superintendent. They affirmed that the chair was acting in a capacity as a board member at the meeting and did not violate the school ethics act. So
you are permitted to do that with your one employee that you guys vote on which is the super not vote on but make the motion on which is the superintendent and that's never going to happen here because you have an amazing superintendent. um meetings Robert rules of order board
meeting is not a conversation but a structured decision-making process right so this is you know very old rules but we all follow it first seconds discussions discussion you know should happen at at the discussion point not at the voting peri point um is a best practice you know items like that items
involving money should us should be a roll call vote is another is another piece of this puzzle uh when in doubt do a roll call vote um you know only do all in favor votes on minutes things that you know are not going to be consequential, >> right? Can you repeat that? When in the roll call is the discussion? It's before
the roll call or after? >> It should be before. So you do so you make the motion and the second then you have discussion, right? So that's where you know and if it's an item you can discuss in public personnel. You have to go into executive if if if you're in the middle of that situation, you have a question. Um but then you have a discussion on the items and then you
vote. So it shouldn't really be like I'm in favor of this because of blah blah blah, right? That probably more comes up in discussion. You can do it. It's not it's not like it's against the rules. It's just that's more the discussion is for kind of stating your per your views if that makes sense. >> It's between the motion and
>> after the motion and the roll call. Yeah. Yeah. At motion second and this way you motion second discussion and then you guys discuss and then Okay. Roll call vote. Make sense? >> Yeah. >> Um all right. Board only acts through properly mo made motion seconded discussed and voted on at properly
noticed meetings. There's there's I think the only motion I'm aware of that does not need a second is the one you did a few minutes ago, president and vice president. The nominations are made. They do not need a second and you kind of go in there um without having a second to do it. Um you know this really comes up when you have a split board you
know 54 you know there's a lot of you know jangling maybe somebody moving in between when you have you know uh factions come in. That's where this stuff gets very important because you'll get someone making a motion and no one will second it and then it doesn't move forward. um things like that. And there's a lot of procedural issues with
this. Um and of course, no motion, no vote, no authority, right? Simple kind of way to think about it. >> So Brett, usually we uh as a committee chair, you would send out the minutes of your committee meeting. And the expectation has been that you would approach the committee chair if you had
questions rather than >> hash it out to the public. >> Yeah, you can do that. I mean, you I mean, it's it's a per I mean, you without as long as you don't put 5 together, right? That's where you can have issues. But if you have a question about clarifying question, yeah, it's appropriate to go to the committee chair to ask a follow-up question. But, you
know, you you can also do it at the meeting, you know, if you choose to do so. Like say you can't get touch with them. I'm not saying that's what you should do. It's it's better to kind of work those things out. You also have the superintendent to ask and the business administrator. >> Yeah. >> You'll get the agenda in advance, right? And you'll look at it. So, usually best practice is to communicate questions in
advance um about some items that you know that that you want to address. We we work hard I think at least in our committee chairs to ensure that the board has all of the information and can you know discuss it way before our board meeting because you know there might be
information that Robin has to give or Tom gives or our assistant superintendent and and it's sometimes it's difficult I I mean I think and I and this is how we've always rolled is that we would do all that prior to the board meeting. I mean, people can vote no, they can vote yes, it's fine. It's
just a matter of like getting that information during a board meeting for me did not seem to be the most efficient use of our time when we know in advance this is something people have questions about. >> Well, and that's how the struct that's what the committees are for, right? Then they send the information out so that you have the time ahead of time to do it
and not just have to make, you know, you know, decisions on the moment by getting information there. And you got to remember you're running a multi-million dollar organization once at a public meeting once a month or you can't admin do any administrating right at all and you have to rely on that. So it's structured in a way so the public has
access but it's very limiting in how that how it happens. So yeah running a proper having a properly run board meeting is very important um for making sure that's done correctly. >> All right. Um, you don't surrender your independent judgment or special interest or partisan
political groups to use schools for personal gain. I mean, I think that's a that's a pretty clear one. It's probably uh, you know, potentially criminal depending if you do that. Um, conflict, but conflicts of interests uh, exist when a board member's personal, financial, personal interests interfere or appear to interfere. That's where we
have abstensions, right? if you have any and this mostly comes up in relatives or you know working in a district or working in another district as part of a union things like that. We got very you know uh um strange fact patterns like that that we have that we'll analyze for
you and we'll give you advice and then we have to break it down on you know you can participate in negotiations or no you cannot participate in negotiations but you can vote on theou you know or you can't vote on the MOU at all you have to abstain for it all. So there's a lot of case law on this. We can give you very clear answers on it. Um even if
it's, you know, an an extreme situation. So any relatives, any businesses that you or family members have interest in should all be disclosed, particularly if it potentially comes up with the board. All right. We have hypothetical. All right. Board member is engaged to the district's business administrator.
All right. And the BA was hired before the board member was elected and later promoted. All right. So the BA was hired before the board member was elected. All right. All right. And the board member immediately disclosed the relationship and recuses from votes on the BA's contract and evaluations. Board member does not recuse from discussions or vote
on the annual budget because it applies to the entire district, not just the BA. All right. So, should the board member participate in discussions on the annual budget? Kind of an interesting theory, right? No, of course not. Come on. Even
though the budget is a general district action, participation would violate the school ethics act, right? standard is not actual influence, right? Because you know, you're not gonna it's not going to be there. It's the public perception, right? And listen, I've been in situations where there's like clearly no no influence, probably not even a
perceived influence, but someone can come up with public comment and make hey about it, right? There's just no reason to even participate in it. Abstain from the vote, put it aside. Um and and the conflict of course extends in the BA's chain of command, right? So, it's trickier when people have a relative
who's overseen by the by the superintendent because everybody's in the superintendent's chain of command, right? So, they're pretty much conflicted on everything to do with the superintendent's contract, employment, things like that. Okay. BA is a you're it's a little bit different, right? Even though they're the second, you know, you know, the other part of the top of the
of the school district, still the the chain of command is different for the VA. All right. Have another hypothetical. By the way, Robin asked me to do a lot on this. Okay. So if it's if it's dragging on is >> No, it's fine. All right. We >> all right. >> I mean, there are things here though that I think helps people to put into
context some of the roles and responsibilities. These specific examples might not apply to us, but I think it is important for everybody to understand that we operate as a >> we operate as a group though. I mean, I think that's like the most important part of this. >> Okay. >> Um >> All right. Good.
>> All right. Thank you, Michelle, for making me feel better like I wasn't droning on. Um >> All right. All right. Hypothetical. Board member's mother-in-law is employed by the district as a par profofessional and a regular substitute in school principal's office. Um, the board member
discloses the relationship and acknowledges that they can't vote on the mother-in-law's appointment or evaluation. Can the member still participate in broader matters such as a superintendent search, an evaluation, principal searches, collective negotiations, budget discussions that affect prior professional staffing? Do
you see the nonsense that we have to get into? like it's like all of these different things we have to we have to analyze right um no of course not right just like we talked about the mother is a must the board member must accuse from all of those matters mother-in-law is a relative now interestingly in the law
there's a relative immediate family member and other in the definitions okay and relative um which is defined right there uh has a certain things that you have to recuse yourself for if um under the supervision of the superintendent and this is there so there's a lot of
criteria on these issues. Um, professionalism and unity. I think I mean this isn't something that is really pertain to you guys, but um, you're expected to treat another staff and community with respect, right? That's kind of the role here. It's the expectation. You have policies on this. And that's it. Thank you very much. Are
there any any other questions you have? >> Paul, you're our newest board member. Anything come to mind? >> No, this is great. Very prescriptive. >> Was that good? Yeah. >> All right. Good. I hope you all enjoyed. >> Great. Thank you so much, Brett. >> All right. Thank you all. >> Okay.
All right. See >> um >> only if the meter is wrong. So, we did not have any uh meetings so far this month, but we do need to vote on um our normal uh action items. Um
somebody would like to move personnel. >> Um >> personel personnel. The first one you want to do personel, >> right? We're up to that. about the committee report. >> There's no committee reports. >> Okay. >> All right. Uh then
personnel has payment of unused vacation days and adjusting start date, some leave replacements, amending account numbers, resending an appointment, uh substitute teachers of volunteer.
Motion to approve substitute nurses. Uh another date. And with that, I would like to move items P1 through P10. >> A second. Thank you, Tom, with a motion and a second.
>> Thank you. Um, Mr. Caparado, >> yes. >> I heard that. >> Have any meetings. >> Miss Evans? >> Yes. >> Miss Kelly? >> Yes. >> Miss Pasculi? >> Yes.
Mr. Vanheis is not here. So, the motion carried. >> Well, Miss Bose, you >> Sorry, Miss Bose. >> That's okay. Yes. >> Back to the top. Right. There we go. Sorry. >> That's okay. Um, >> thank you. The CIAD
CIPD also did not meet yet. Uh, but we have Office of Student Services uh approved the HIV reports. Um, and approving the ESY extended school year dates and the location of
the ESY program will be determined later. With that, I'd like to move OSS one and two. >> Second. >> Thank you. With a motion in a second. >> Thank you. What I was actually doing was
counting my votes right there. That's how I missed that because of what what Brett had said. So, you need the majority of the membership, the full membership of the board to pass personnel um items. And so, what I was going back is doing and I was split off on the back by itself.
>> So, here we go. Which is why he said the roll call votes. Yes. >> So, it was a good reminder. >> All right. Uh Mr. Caparata, >> yes. >> Miss Evans, >> yes. >> Miss Kelly, >> yes. >> Miss Martinez, >> yes. >> Miss Pasculi, >> yes. >> And Miss Bose, >> yes.
>> Motion carried. >> Thank you. sit down because I'm at the top. >> That's right. I was on the next page. >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Okay. Um, finance report. >> The floor is yours. >> If I had known all this was I never
would have been to get a raise. Um, >> finance did not meet yet, but uh we've got a a list of surplus to deal with. Motion to or budget transfers.
Uh board secretar's report from November. Uh no fund is overextended. Uh following uh fire drills, security drills. Um
amendments to IDA. Uh school business administrator and superintendent can issue the next two change orders for construction projects. Uh all within the threshold of transportation agreement with Union
County. Uh the administration will be accepting a 4% fee uh for billing for the billing formula. Motion to approve the student activities
checking account and close the existing one. That I would like to move SBM 1 through 8. >> Second. >> Tom with a motion and a second. >> Mr. Caparata. >> Yes. >> Miss Evans. Yes, >> Miss Kelly. >> Yes, >> Miss Martinez.
>> Yes, >> Miss Pasculi. >> Yes, >> Miss Bose. >> Yes. >> Motion card. >> Thank you. Um, reorganization items. >> You might as well. >> Yeah. Um, we'll be looking for a motion
to approve that the board of education will hold its regular monthly meetings on the following dates at 6:30 p.m. for the calendar year in accordance with statute. And those meetings shall begin in close session at 6:30 p.m. and transition to open session at 7 p.m. And
the meetings will be held in the Laur Lawrence High School at 2525 Princeton Pike unless otherwise noted. You can see the meeting dates are attached to the agenda. >> Second, Tom with a motion and a second.
>> Mr. Caparata? >> Yes. >> Miss Evans? >> Yes. >> Miss Kelly? >> Yes. >> Miss Martinez? >> Yes. >> Miss Pasculi? >> Yes. >> Miss Bose? >> Yes. >> Motion carried. >> Thank you. That's our second opportunity for public input.
Seeing none. Uh lastly, new business. >> For new business, we have illness and vacations payouts due to retirements, eagles, and destinations as well as resignations.
Would like to move NB1 to NB8. >> Second. >> Tom with a motion and a second. >> Mr. Caparata. >> Yes. Miss Evans, >> yes. >> Miss Kelly, >> yes. >> Miss Martinez, >> yes. >> Miss Pasculi, >> yes.
>> Miss Bose, >> yes. >> Motion carried. >> Thank you. Um and now we're going to be going into um executive session. The open public meetings act authorizes the board of education to meet in executive session under certain circumstances and requires the board to adopt a resolution
of public meeting to go into private session. I >> was just listening to Rob. >> Oh, okay. Sorry. Um uh Matt uh this evening uh items that will be discussed specifically um HIP formal action will not be taken and exec
session is expected to last 15 minutes. >> Um motion have >> a motion move. All in favor >> I a second Martinez. Go ahead. All >> in favor I
thank you and then Tom will adjourn.