All right, good evening everybody. I will be just stepping in for Dan while he's running a little bit late today. I'll start with the sunshine statement in accordance with the open public meetings act.
Notification of this meeting has been provided through advertising in the Bergen record and posting the agenda on the school website and through parent square. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. could have roll call, please.
>> Miss Troy, Mr. Grow, Dr. Mester, Mr. Park here, Mr. Mr. Seagull, Miss Thompson >> here,
>> Miss Molina, Vice President, President, >> thank you. Uh we are so excited today to have our new student representatives and we'll move forward with the student representative the middle.
works. I will administer the oath to Miss Cho first, please. So, raise your right hand. I state your name. do solemnly swear
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 under the authority of the people. So help me God. I state your name do solemnly swear that I possess the
qualifications prescribed by law for the office of student representative of a board of education and that I will faithfully
impartially and justly perform all the duties of that office to the best of my ability. So help me God. Congratulations, Miss Joy. Take a back seat. Please raise your right hand. I state
your name. do solemnly swear 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, God, I state your name
do solemnly swear that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of student representative of a board of education and that I will faithfully
impartially and justly perform all the duties of that office to the best of my ability. So help me God. Congratulations, Miss Palm Mary. Take a back seat. >> Congratulations and
uh joining the board and representing the interests of the students and advocating for them as well. Okay, we'll move on to a public presentation. Uh Dr. Carmonos will present the uh assessment results from
the NJ graduation proficiency assessment, also known as the NJ GPA. Okay. All right. So, So, welcome our annual presentation of the uh New Jersey uh requirements uh
state requirements. Um a few things we have to present tonight. First is the graduation pathways report. This will highlight for you the pathways to graduation that our students
Department of Education and the requirements and this is for the class. Then I will go into the New Jersey that our students take in their year class
and then Dr. who supervisor of multilingual education. She will go over the access results. So we'll start with the graduation pathway. Okay. So you'll see this is the graduation pathway report. Basically uh
requires school districts to report out how our students met the graduation requirements. Uh the as department of education we report out the total number of students graduated which is So the class of 2025
students um and then this outlines how they how they met those requirements. So pathway one is the NJPA. So all students are required to sit on the NJPA. Um in
the class of 2025 we had 204 students pass one for ELA and 158 pass for pathway one. If you do not score for pathway one you have pathway as an
option. Pathway is a substitute exam and I'll get into that. We had nine students And then math and then again process which happens in January of
their senior year. So our students last year students meet the requirements and then n students meet an alternative requirement
specified in their that is a state requirement for students or any of the other options and then 24 in. There were the total number of students of 12th grade students that were denied graduation last year were two
and then of those students zero were denied because of not. So they were they did not meet other qualifications for graduation. So the state reports that were denied graduation and then how many of those were because they failed
pathway. We've been consistent and very um very proactive about making Our students meet the state required pathways from they take NJPA support and then image on the side
where our students will be headed to the next NJ graduation proficiency assessment for the NJ GPA So this is the results from the spring 2025 administration for the class of 2026.
So these are for the seniors that are coming into senior year this school year. They take all our students take the assessment in junior year in the spring of junior year. So that's why the spring administration and the class are
requirements for the class to be able to graduate in the NJPA as a quick overview assessment statewide requirement that's designed to measure to what extent students are ready are considered
graduation ready. Um students are assessed in grade 11 and they are assessed in ELA and math separately. So they have they take one day of an ELA assessment and one day you're talking about 11 graduation readiness
for each of the separate you have to meet the complain that if they don't meet either in the spring, then we have multiple ways to get them to as the state requirement is administered
to all 11 pupils and any 11 who have previously failed the mastery on the assessment. Um so the students that did not meet the requirement in grade 11 now going into 12th grade they'll have the opportunity to take in the fall administration and
then again um and then they'll go to a minimum score of 72 and if they don't require this is part of the state requirements and state assessment pathways to graduation. So
first is the first pathway that is a student does not sit for NJPA they can do any other meet in order to qualify for the other students can
So they take one week a grade 11 in spring and then if they don't leave there they can ret their PSA scores or students have a score
that says student on their metathway they have the option of pathway that's a portfolio so that happens in January of their senior year if the other pathies are not met students can be assessed
using the portfolio process and that is basically an individual assessment that a student has to take on their own but it's also not with other students and in order for students to qualify for
portfolio again atast anticipate. So this slide shows the number of students tested. So we have to report out the total number of students tested as well as the breakdown of what students were tested that were grade 11
and students. So you'll see here we had a total of 20 and The number the discrepancy in the number is some of our students are exempt for various reasons
at the bottom between4 we have we ensure that all of our students at least for the exam so that they can have access to some of our major findings and
achievements. Um, you know, you'll see in the next few slides as I share the state well in ELA. found that we need to continue
working on text and analysis text and expression. So supporting students in understanding and analying information and text and then our work
as well as model areas that we All students tested at graduation are requirements. So we've already had students assess students that did not meet the requirements already assessed in the summer and have received
received over administration. And then we have students also helping students figure out. >> Okay. So to the scores um if you look at
the total percentage of graduation ready in language arts we out of our students 87.8% of our of our students are considered graduation graduation
in math. in grade 11. So this is where we break out the difference between 11 requirement. In grade 11 we had 89% of our students graduation ready and 71
and um if you remember the four students and 11 And they are undert years. You'll see in2 that was the first year of the
assessment first. So you'll see that score that was the year that state basically slightly going up and I'll show you And then
same thing we have the conversation every time I do this presentation is really hard to talk about analyting groups of kids that compare different This is our comparison with the state. So in 2024 you'll see our graduation
ready and then in state 58%ic And this is our subdography based on our demographics differ. So you'll see a comparison by subgroup
but also by um And you'll see in 2024 so students were not enough students out that's some of the interventions and strategies we have continu MTSS commmer
which is our datare platform that houses all of our student information or students data subs are because those are in the second year takes time. So we're in the second year of those
period at the high school. We added a flex period last year at the high school time that is meant for interventions where they go for that period and options but really the teachers and
students to focus on Also, this will be the second year of our alternative learning pathway. We created an alternative pathway for students credit. So, um
students can receive credit. And then finally with flex we also were able to create a department and more collaboration across departments are questions.
Yeah, I mean it's hard until the state Even we're talking opportunities to work with children. We haven't heard anything about reporting. We haven't heard anything about how they're going to report
but we're all so I think it is for this the other Yeah, this is an easy one because it's just one
orove. change as there's been no change. There's been a lot of advocacy for changing systems but Yes. So that's No compar any 12th
graders that did not have Yes. >> Good evening. My name is February. So access English student level of proficiency. English level
up to Just as a reminder, when they reach out and they may have discussion So again, that's basically
I don't have a state class. If you look at low scores that understanding scores are second which is normal. It takes confidence to speak English.
However, they have gone up to classrooms and program structure has improved. So overall the last few years I just mentioned the number of students How many usber
starts progressed? The reason that number is actually Ei students took the test and And then a lot of our students arrive in September.
groups that are not last year. We started working not But as soon as you go to a lot of ESL department teachers, general education teachers
instruction. So, new interventions for this school year. And this way teachers office refresh it for teachers. analyzing the data
to make sure supportful images and they got us very It was a voluntary program because that's the one looking AC Fridays
instructions. We're also increasing tools that we're using novels like that for science and we're looking to subject are
really working from PSL to nonSL. It was phenomenal kids so much information more time at lunch. Um social studies program Good job. Thank you, Dr.
with that title. Agenda items. a lot of stuff. Sorry. Sorry. Um, at the end of last year, I want to know if the food dehydrator behind you was in service. If so, great. How how's it working? If not,
why not? The topic came up at a council meeting and I asked I said I would bring up the board of education meeting. Uh when I went on the b website on the this school district website today it still showed that you were the assistant superintendent. You need to update that
to show your current title. Congratulations. Wonder if the board is considering a cell phone policy to ban cell phones as they're doing in New York. I support that. Moving down to 6.3 6.4. before the professional development workshops and
plan. I think an excellent plan through it. Um I don't know how you're going to implement it like a lot of laws and rules and ordinances get passed that's done in one good attention but there's a lot of stuff in there each of the schools are all different. One thing I take objection to is under ACS you
reference gifted and talented as you know I object to that ter terminology because every kid in their own way is gifted and talented. So I'd like to know what the metrics are yet to state the specific items that are used to identify a child as gifted talented
classif11 we have a tools and transportation tools and equipment $7,300 what that was for why we're buying tools and equipment or maybe it was a big piece of equipment but I don't know what it was Under Cooper Electric, there's attic stock of electrical equipment for
$3,600. I like to know what that is. And maybe lamps, which in which case it's bonafide, but if it's other electrical stuff, Cooper Electric delivers, so I'm not sure why we're bringing or maintaining attic stuff on that. Under 4478,
there's LHS pump replacement for $10,600. I'd like to know what that pump was. Was it for the kitchen? Was it for the HVA system? Was it for motor just why that what that pump was and why it's pretty expensive pump under
4680 grant specialties as who's our grant writer there's a $5,000 payment I'd like to know if that was for a specific grant commission or if that's a retainer or what that was for um under uh 1513
uh Deart and Sons there's a change order for $27,000 to the electrical buses that we ordered. I like what the change order was for since we're paying an extra, you know, $27,000 above what was planned. Um, just
drawing to the public's note, we're paying $200,000 to put electric chargers in. We now have buses, I think, still running on diesel, uh, propane, and electric. So, we have three different sources of energy that that we're maintaining, we're buying, and we're keeping. Maybe it's something to think
about the future about where we're going with this and what type of energy we want to use to support the buses because there's a lot of bus repairs in here also which I'm not going to go over which are pretty substantial. Um under Broadway mower we paid $11,400 for a
mower lawn mower. Now ACS doesn't have any lawn. They've got a little strip left behind the behind one of the buildings. Um the high school has a little strip between the back of the building and the board of education meeting. The only that has any kind of lawn that needs to be cut is is middle
school and we're paying $11,000 piece of equipment to cut that one piece of equipment. I think Kevin, if you're listening, you got to maybe you can borrow something from the from the burrow or find something that is going to cost $11,000 to the middle school.
And I think that So are there some of the comments and then um Dr. Fab will send you a response back. Uh the food dehydrator is working working well. been working the last year. Um, last spring our ACS student
council worked with the uh shade tree commission and the environmental commission and did a uh bio biomass uh giveaway and they they got saplings. Uh they they gave the biomass from the dehydrator away. It was on Earth Day. Um so we are getting lots of biomass uh
that we so if you need any just let us know. We probably have some for you. Um and yeah, so it's been working well. Um, the burrow is it did you say? Where is it that I'm not listed as superintendent so we can get that changed? Did you say
the burrow website? Okay, double check that. Thank you. It's been a it's been a long few weeks. Um, okay. And then you asked about a cell phone policy. actually on the agenda tonight. You will see that the board has been working on a cell phone policy that aligns with the uh state the
governor's uh requirements. Um we do have that on first reading tonight. It's the use of electric electronic communications. Uh that's the policy for the public. It's on first reading tonight. It'll be on second reading at the next board meeting. Um the policy is very much aligned and our handbooks our
our handbooks moving forward are aligned uh with the policies. Um and we do have information that we are going to to families after it does become officially approved. Uh PDP, thank you for the excellent for the feedback on saying that it was excellent. I appreciate that. Um I do know we do know that it's a lot, but we
have a lot of goals and we are very lucky to have a lot of uh professional development opportunities within the district. If you look at our district calendar, we have multiple days built into our district calendar for professional development. We also are very fortunate to have uh through our title one and our title two grants. We
work a lot with consultants that come in and do uh in-house professional development with our staff. Uh our elementary school specifically, we have multiple instructional coaches. We have uh supervisors that go in and coach. So, we do have, you know, we don't we we're very thoughtful. We understand that
there's a lot that, you know, that goes into those plans. Um and but we are very strategic and thoughtful about how we roll those out. Um but we are fortunate here in a lot of opportunities uh for in terms of personnel in terms of opportunities with uh days um
substitutes you know we're we have a lot of substitutes here which we're very thankful for um so I'm confident we will work towards those goals and like I said when I was doing my presentation goals are meant to be over time so these these goals we will probably see something
similar next year and continue we um we extend these goals over multiple years uh as for gifted and talented the specific specific metric. So the board uh the state of New Jersey that you know there's specific gifted and talented information and I can share more of that with you Arthur specifically. Um but
just to address it uh the there is specific guidance from the state. However, one of the things that came from our audit that we did last spring was that we were going to develop our own ways to measure and to identify students that fall under the umbrella of gifted and talented. Um but the bigger
thing that we're focusing on is the language, right? and really identify what it means to be a gifted student and what it means to be academically advanced and and what supports align with either of those vocabulary words.
And the $5,000 grant payment that was for so normal grants, any federal or any state level grant that comes from uh the the Department of Education, you're looking at the grant writer right here. Um I write those grants. Um the $5,000
grant uh for that was for the uh the cops grant. That's the school violence protection grant that we did hire an outside uh consultant to do that work. You remember we applied for that a few years ago. The board remembers we applied for that a few years ago.
However, we did not get awarded the grant. We wrote that grant on our own. Um, we've learned through colleagues, through uh collaboration with our neighbors that did receive the grant that they all hired grant writers. So, we try, you know, for $5,000, you know,
it's $5,000. Um, but we would be possibly receiving $100,000 for our for a new camera and a new door system. We have a motion and a second for resolution 6.1.2 Mr.
Mr. Yes. Thson. Yes. >> Thank you. I do have I know I' been talking a lot this meeting but I do have a few more updates uh just because this is our first meeting our last meeting before the school year starts. Um so I
did want to update just some things that we've been working on in the summer. Uh some things coming up. Um first uh our new website. So we just launched a new website in July. We've done a lot of work uh on the new website and making
sure uh the content is updated. I'm going to figure out where I'm not listed as the superintendent. Um but we'll find it. It says Yeah. Yeah. So, okay. Yeah, we'll I think I I can visualize where where it might be. Um but we'll find it and we'll update it. Um we've done a lot
of really strategic work on making sure that the content and the pages are easy to find, available. Um we have new pages, new updates. We have a services and supports section for our families to access different types of services. We
have like family services uh attendance information for the schools. Uh we have the chain of communication available in there. Um we also have created a back to school hub where you will find all of the items you need for back to school. Uh the calendars, the school supply
lists, the uh registration information, all of that. Um there's also easy access to our policies, uh our handbooks, all of that. Um we did a lot of work in really making sure that our um our new really highlights and I is easy to find
information. U some of the other things that we've been doing this summer, the AI implementation team has been meeting. So they met uh it's a committee of teachers and staff members that have been meeting to work on the AI policy that was passed
last year. Um the team uh met over the summer. They created procedures for the classrooms and really focus on developmental developmentally appropriate procedures. So we had representation from each building at different levels at different content areas and focused on how can we what do
we do for students at the the various levels and how do we um teach them responsible use of AI and AI literacy. Um we met as an admin today was our first admin team meeting and that's where we shared out some of those resources and the teams now are planning for roll out for the staff and for the
students for September. Um we are continuing with our gifted and talented program with the audit. Um we have admin training on Thursday. Our admin team will be working uh with our consultant to uh better understand
everything we talked about best practices around get talented start understanding the metrics around it um and really identifying and defining those vocabulary words that we were talking about. Um after this meeting on Thursday we are going to start uh admin will start rolling out uh there's going to be some committ for parents get
involved in. So, they'll start rolling that out after Thursday. We also uh you'll see today today was day one of our admin retreat. Uh we had uh we talked about our goals. We talked about uh our bullying uh updates and timelines, reviewing all of that
information. We talked about AI. We talked about communication and the importance of communication. Uh we went through a slew of things today. Um and we and then tomorrow we have our focuses on in the morning we're focusing on um
uh collaborative team meetings. So they'll have time to kind of workshop some of the items that we've been talking about. And then in the afternoon we're focusing on safety and security our normal uh safety and security our annual safety and security meetings that we do. And then Thursday is our big safety and security meeting with you
know all of our stakeholders police the fire department everyone that gets involved. Um and then my last episode today. I also have to report out the uh student safety data system report which is an annual report we report out twice a
year. This is our called the SSDS for those of you that remember that acronym. Um we report this out twice a year. We report the incidents. Um at this point I'm reporting the totals for the 2425 school year. Um at uh incident totals.
So this includes um any incident any student incident of violence, vandalism, substances, weapons and any confirmed hit. Um at Leon High School we had a total incidents throughout the whole year we had 14. I'm sorry we had 12.
Sorry, last year we had 14. Um at Leon Middle School we had 28. At ACS we had zero. Our total for the district was 40 total incidents across the district for the school year. I would like to highlight some points and some comparisons over the years. We've across
the board have decreased in the incident in the total incidents. Um you know across the district we last year our total was 45 incidents. This year we had 40. Um so all the things that we're doing we're constantly you know the supports that we're putting in uh we're seeing positive results. I do want to
commend the schools. um the HB confirmed. Last school year in 23 24 LMS had 26 confirmed HIS. This past school year 2425 LMS had 14 confirmed hits. So all the work that they've been doing in
their um in their advisory periods in the the teacher the work that the teachers have been doing has really been is showing off. Uh we've also seen the high school incidents leading leading to removal. Uh the school has done a lot of work with how they can support students
um just behaviorally. Uh in 2324 they had 96 incidents of removal. In 2425 they had 66. So that's a great decrease. That's over one year. Um so we're really really proud of the work that we're doing and uh we continuing obviously
we're continuing to grow. Um you know things take time but we're continuing to move that forward. I think that's it from me. school. I don't really have a report than that.
I'm wonderful. Thank you very much. >> So, reps, if you have a report, you're welcome to share it. Um, but I told them that they didn't need a report tonight. Thank you for being here. I do want to share that I had my first
meetings with them uh for the board. Uh I had my first meetings with both of them separately and I'm so impressed with the reasons they're here, you know, the vision they have for the position and what they want to do for the board and to support the the relationship between the board of education and the
uh the student body. I am very excited to have them on board and I look forward to working with them and we've got some really good ideas Item five reports and principles didn't meet last week. Thanks, Mr. Lee. So, for the policy committee did meet earlier this month,
uh we were able to address a number of different policies that are now on the the agenda. Um, we did specifically look at the electronic communication policy and regulations, regulation 5516. And we did a a nice job in being able to at least uh start to customize
electronic phone policy uh based on the schools, whether it's CCS, LMS, and LHS, too. So, um, nice work by by the committee as well as um our staff administration be able to implement this public comment on non
Please provide your name address. Good evening. Throughout my life, I've taken mental professional but nothing much to my surprise what experience over
the last two months I can tell you this does shine the other side and in the room here tonight, friends, family, neighbors, people that I didn't even know these past few weeks
beyond anything I could have ever met. As predicted, since last meeting, many more have chosen to speak publicly, others have not found the courage to speak.
comfort sense of solidarity with our group. Now I know that some people are asking in this community why should the resid's Child sexual abuse leaves depression
stress relies for generations. This is why it matters. This is why the entire community not just the how we respond. Since the last meeting, a core group of survivors organizing,
sharing our stories, discussing how best to move forward and we believe the time has come to take not justice process. We expect the board to do this alone. None of us have the experience in managing a crisis like this. This is why
recommending that the board expert suggested engaging services. The sessions will give you the chance to hear from the experts who have guided other communities through crisis like this. You can ask questions, understandability
issues, and most importantly, learn new ways to approach the crisis. So, here's the commit tonight. I have to ask you this directly. I came here two months ago. What if the board done or is considering doing the
survivors of Mr. 50 years? I appeal to each of you personally. Imagine if this happened to you, your children, your loved ones. What would you expect? For decades on legal counsel, rightfully so. And
while those attorneys shielded the board and district from legal action, they picture those attorneys and firms are mostly gone now. They had no skin in the game. So the question is this. You have the stomach and moral courage to do the
right thing when so many others not. There's one thing I know for certain will no longer be push or choice. Good evening.
My name is Sam Jones. I spent my first 20 years living in Leon 141. My mother moved here in 1955 in 2002.
to join my one sibling and I update Agnostic countless times for me easily times over a single year. I was not in his home. He sought me out. He knew that my father had left our family the year
before and any little boy would be desperate to have a male guide in their lives. I have flown a thousand miles here today so that I could encourage all of you to do everything in your power to make sure
that the abuse that I experienced will never occur again. After seeing other victims come out on the Facebook page, I decided it was time for me to finally face what happened to me so long ago.
The most difficult part about this is that the year before this first occurred, I was abused multiple times at a children's music in New Jersey by my counselor during the summer of 1968.
I was also abused by my own mother. over a fouryear period starting in 1967. Tennessee school was my favorite place to be that year before. I wasn't at the summer camp and I wasn't
in my house. I knew I would be safe until I was once found the abuse felt as if it was coming from all sides of my life. Thank goodness for all my Leona friends and my
dear sister all who have loved and cared for never knew what occurred in our house or Apple farm children's camp or an out of sheer desperation I stuck these
experiences as far back in my mind as was possible I did my best to live my life in a caring empathetic patient and loving. The problem was I was not able to love myself. I was sure that I had somehow
brought this on. As my life progressed, I fell into a deep depression. And along the way, I tried to take my life three different times. You may think, "What in the heck does my trauma have to do with today's Leon
school students?" When this happens to one person, it affects all of you in their lives. I really hope that none of you or your children have to ever experience what there is no way that you all have done
everything you can to prevent this from ever happening again. And I'm supposed to just trust you because you say trust me. I visit Leon every couple years. I truly love this town and literally I tell
everybody about how wonderful this town is accumulated over my lifime. I still have extremely close friends that live here that I speak with multiple times a month and often multiple times a week.
What do I want? I would like I want an apology. How is it possible in any school system in the last years that a teacher could get away with sexually abusing so many kids over a
14year period? How is it possible? I'm grateful that I saw a couple of other victims come out. I decided that I couldn't feeling so poisoned anymore. I beg you
to begin changing your school policies so that you are using every possible tool that exists to prevent this from ever happening again. So far I feel that you have not done
everything you appears that you in place is enough and we are all asked to trust you. Yes, I'm repeating that. Well, I won't trust you and I will fear for the children that currently attend Leonia schools and all those that attend
in the future until you decide to do everything in your path to keep this from happening again. Thank you very much for listening and thank you so much for your time. Thank you, Mr. Jones. Can we have your
address? >> Oh, I'm sorry. 141 Crescent Avenue. >> Yes. from 1960 to 1979. >> Hello, my name is Edward. I grew up on Avenue. And my parents
You're really honest. I was also got all that's up In my later adult life, I became What? I was beginning.
Not so much. Not so much. However, when I was saying, "Hey, where is this I got a critical letter. I'm sorry
that I have no record. It's been nice. Urban Street. I'm here today in a lot shape. Last time I was here, I was broken emotally
saw that past few months I've been in rehabing alcohol experience at the The abuse does not onlyffect me. It affects my wife, my children, my parents. to my parents that still reside.
I want to tell you just countless times my parents have said they are sorry for not only thought they only thought they were setting me off to school should have been the safest place for child
but that should have been the place for me. As of today, there are still people in this town. After our last meeting, the subject came up.
Here is an example. One of the comments made by Are you kidding? Please don't get me started. This is all just keep dredging up the past. Let it
go. It is history and time. As we all know, history, I would like to commend the mayor of this town for speaking out publicly and acknowledging what happened, which has
helped us to begin the healing process. I wish to board of educational policy to the board. As far as I know, most of you are volunteers. It hurts all the victims involved to
know that the board is being silenced by a law tells nothing. I pray to God no one on the board or in this room have ever known I haven't experienced sex.
Thank you everyone. I'm here support myself. I've seen these cases in 24. I am not true. So that is typically what happens.
This is just This is just So I just want to say this is what happens. degrees. I'm hoping that proper qualifications. I would just suggest that also We do have social.
Thank you. Hello everybody and good evening. My name is Michael Gonzalez and I stand here before you not just as a survivor by a teacher
but as someone whose life has been shaped and reshaped when I first came forward with my I thought it would be about my feeling alone. I wasn't prepared for what happened.
people I knew was complete strangers began to come up to me and share their own experiences about they struck me with their stories
they had never spoken about before at first I didn't know how I wasn't expecting to carry the weight of other people's pain. But over time,
I began to see something I hadn't seen before. By telling my story, I have given others permission to tell theirs. By standing here,
I became someone others could recognize. That has changed my It has shown me that maybe my voice a bit more just my own healing. Maybe my purpose
is to help shine the light of what so many of us have carried us and to make sure that the next generation of students never have to do never have to endure
what I did. I never asked for this path. I believe now that my accuracy is where my story has led me.
And with that comes a responsibility. Speak, stand, keep pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing, pushing. future child out there.
To my fellow survivors, my brothers and my sisters, I want you to hear this. We are no longer those children who were silenced and hurt.
We are men and women now. We carry scars, but we also carry strength. We have walked through pain, yet we hear And yet we We stand today
together moving forward not as victims but as men and women who refuse to be broken. I am proud to stand here among you.
We were chained but together we felt and to the boy ahead. I just want to wish you successful school year one where every child is seen
heard. Thank you. So, uh, the board of education has stated previously and has and as Mr. Lee shared at the June 17th meeting, we cannot comment on matters of active litigation. However, my message today is directed to
our current parents, our families, and our students. The that were shared today occurred more than 40 years ago, long before many of us, myself included, and many of our parents were even born. And I cannot speak to the events that predated my time here. But I can speak
with certainty about what we do now to protect our students. Student safety is and always will be a high our highest priority here. In my time here, we have we have complied fully with all the laws, requirements, and expectations related to protecting
our students. All employees, student teachers, interns, and board of education members must pass a criminal history background check before having any contact with students. Employment history is also verified to ensure that there are no substantiated or pending allegations of child abuse or potential
misconduct. No one works with our students without clearing these checks. Once employed, staffed are staff are trained to maintain boundaries at all times, professional boundaries at all times. Staff also receive yearly training on recognizing signs of abuse
and neglect and are legally required to report concerns immediately. Administrators follow the the same protocols and failure to report or to act is absolutely not tolerated. Beginning in prek through grade 12, our students we teach our students about
safety, consent, healthy relationships, and how to seek help when they feel unsafe. Throughout their time here, students receive age appropriate lessons on domestic and child abuse and assault, including how to recognize unsafe situations, how to establish boundaries,
how to identify trusted adults, and how to recognize and report signs of abuse. Mental health education is also also woven into our curriculum. all ages, including emotional well-being, self-regulation, and helpseeking behaviors. We promote a see something,
say something culture, and provide avenues for student voice and reporting. Our district policies and procedures are available on our website under the about us tab. There you will also find Mr. Lee's full statement from June 17th that outlines our policies in in great
detail. on the district website and on each of the schools pages, you will also find a student safety page that describes our plans, our programs, and the procedures that we have for not only inappropriate conduct, but also for other safety matters. Again, while I
cannot speak to the events that occurred over four decades ago, I can tell you that in our district today, student safety and well-being come first always. We appreciate you coming here to share your thoughts and concerns and requests.
does not compassion hear your stories that you've been asked multiple times for the right decision.
What's unfortunate for us as a board is that we are forced to make moral decisions now as well as other victims have not gone by is our legal obligation to the school district and our current
students. So again our silence on the matterence to matter of compassion attorneys not hiding behind oursal right.
So I I've been fairly silent and I actually didn't clear this discussion with attorney or the attorneys that are involved but I did feel that it's important for gentlemen that are here tonight
is not the same right district at this point. So that is really the source of our hiding behind our attorneys. We are following their recommendations. I do appreciate comments. I do
resolution to this issue for everyone. It's just right now. That brings us to item 12. We do have some discussion on this matter executive personal matters.