The time is now 7:02. I'll call the meeting of the Leon Board of Education to order. Um, adequate notice of tonight's meeting has been provided in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act by the following methods. distribution of notice to the record posting of agenda
of the agenda on the school district website and through parent square. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Mr. Can here. >> Here. Here. Here.
>> Here. Next time we'll do this. We'll just say that we did it, which we did, but next time the public will hear. Okay. Thank you very much. U Mr. Sable, Mr. Grow, and Mr. Zo all contacted
myself before this meeting. They have all reasons for not being here tonight. That brings us to 1.3. Um, that brings us to item 1.4, public comment. Um, anyone from the public wishing to speak, please step up to the podium, provide your name and address. You'll have two minutes to speak.
This would be on agenda related items. Okay, seeing none, any board member comment item 1.5 on agenda related items. Okay, we will move right along. Uh, this brings us to approval of consent agenda.
Um, under item two, can I have a motion and a second for approval of consent agenda items? Motion. Dr. Meister. Second. Second. Mr. Park. Are there any items that anyone would like to pull for discussion?
Okay. Seeing none, can we have roll, please? Okay. M. >> Yes. Dr. >> Yes. >> Men, >> yes. >> Mr. Park, >> here. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Ma, >> yes. >> Uh, Vice President Thompson. >> Yes. >> President Lee. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you. Um, and actually I do apologize. I did want to make one statement. I think on the agenda is approval for the the science
lab. Um, looking forward to. So very happy to see that finally moving along. >> You have no idea. >> Okay. Thank you. That brings us to item 4.1. Dr.
>> Okay. So I have a few updates for us. Um the first thing I do want to say there is items uh there are there are items under new business. Uh so please make sure you take a look at those items. one being the approval pending uh pending
contract approval from the county superintendent but the approval of an interim business administrator and school and board secretary um uh if you look at the agenda Dr. He is a experienced business administrator. He was a business
administrator for many years in another district in Bergen County. Uh he recently retired. Um and just very excited to have him on board. Uh he will hopefully be starting pending all goes well. You know, you know, all of the pendings, sorry. Um but pending all goes
well, uh he will be starting on or about March 1st. But we are very excited to have him. Um I think he will be a great person for for both Mr. Co and I to learn from um and to work with. So very excited.
Uh you'll also see under new business um we are applying for the local improvement recreational improvement grant. Um and we are focusing this money on uh improvements that need to be made at the ACS uh the playground area ACS uh particularly building a retaining wall
to help with the mitigation and the flooding that happens there when we have heavy storms. Uh and then so that'll be a chunk of the grant and then the other chunk will be uh for some new. So let's cross our fingers that we get the approval for the grant and then we can
move forward with those projects. Uh this week we launched so we are as the board knows we are uh in the process of uh piloting Apple using Apple products particularly iPads uh with students for student learning instead of Chromebooks. Um through a lot of
research and analysis um we're we're at this point just piloting to see if it would be beneficial for our students and to compare the difference between uh learning on an iPad versus learning on a on a Chromebook. So we are piloting the pilot for the iPads launched today at the middle school. So, uh, we have
about, uh, 15 kids, uh, various grade levels working on iPads for the next week or so, uh, to get a sense of how it feels to work on an iPad. Um, the iPads do come equipped with a case and also a keyboard. So, they'll open it up just
like a regular uh, Chromebook. Um, we're excited that after we finish the middle school, we will then move to the high school and do a pilot uh, pilot program at the high school. Um, Mr. called me today after his junior class meeting where he announced that they
were going to be looking for juniors to do the pilot and he said he'd never seen such happy children in his entire life. Um he said he has plenty of volunteers for us to pilot um and is um so the kids are very excited to get away from the Chromebook and move towards an ad
pending I mean assuming that all goes well. Uh last night uh we attended the home and school meeting and I attended the home and school meeting um for ACS. We had a a lovely time uh talking. It was there there weren't it wasn't a huge
turnout, but it gave us an opportunity to kind of more have more of a conversation instead of a Q&A or presentation type of style. So we, you know, parents got to ask questions. We got to answer them as best as we could. Um you know, it was nice. It was nice. Uh a lot of alignment. We had
conversations ranged from um you know uh how we're the what we're doing with our literacy instruction with the gifted and talented and also our plans for uh the new cell phone uh policy um and what we're going to do with that. So definitely a range of topics but it was
it was a nice conversation. Um yesterday we had our first uh official I guess meeting for our health for the change over to our healthcare benefits. Uh as district as the board knows uh we're transitioning uh from our current
state health benefits plan to a new plan. So last yesterday's faculty meeting all staff met with the uh with our brokers from our insurance fund uh who will explain to them the differences and walk gave them an in-depth analysis of uh the new plan. Um and then tomorrow
we start with the schoolbased meeting. So each school will have a dedicated time where the associates with Allen associates will be here and be able to answer any specific questions that each individual person might have. Um
we also so there is a um public notice publication reform uh that has that goes into effect March 1st. So, uh, we've transitioned all of our public all of our legal notices that we send out will now be just digital. Uh, we don't have to put them in the newspaper anymore.
Uh, so we there's a portion on our website, and this was all in my community update that went out last night, um, explaining where it is, where to find it. But on on our website under about us, you'll see legal notices, uh, where you'll find any postings for any board meetings or any, um, bid
solicitations, anything like that. Um finally I have the SSDS numbers for the first for the first reporting period. Uh the SSDS SSDS is the student safety data system. So we report to the state uh two
times a year. We report any incidents uh incidents that lead to removal and any incidents including HIPS all of that. We also report out our trainings and um the programs that we do in schools. Uh so this reporting period runs from
September 1st to December 31st. Um this year we saw uh 14 total incidents across the schools. Uh we had four at the high school, nine at the middle school and then one at the elementary school. This year um last year we had 16 at this
time. Uh other incidents leading to removal. So this is anything uh anything else. So fighting, vandalism, anything else. Um we had 34 in total, 27 at the high school and
then seven at the at the middle school. And then uh specifically HIS alleged that weren't that didn't turn into HIS um because the incidents are confirmed HIS as well, but the HIS that didn't turn into HIS were uh six total. I'm
sorry, two total. Six last year. So we had two total hits from or two total alleged hits from September to December. Last year we had six total alleged tips from September to December. So yeah,
and that is it for my update. >> Okay, thank you very much. Um we do not have an SBA currently and hopefully that will be resolved soon based on what you heard from Dr. Karamos. That brings us to item 4.3.
Ara, you're going to go. >> Last week, LHS finished midterms and is officially moving on to the second semester. And in the last since the last meeting, um LHS um achieved quite a few accomplishments, which can also be seen
in the district report. But to name a few, National Honor Society and Math Honor Society together hosted drop in tutoring for midterms um in the new media center to help freshman, sophomore, and junior students um to help them across various subjects. And nearly 30 LHS students performed at the
Bergen County Honor Choir concert in January. And LHS wrestlers also secured their first league championship since 1966. And um Leon High School literary magazine was also awarded the superior distinction in the 2025 recognizing an
excellence in art and literary magazines contest as well as the culinary academy seniors receiving a 100% passing rate on the serate exam. And today a Holocaust survivor also came to LHS to speak to a select group of students in the little theater and that offered a really
meaningful experience for many students to learn. Thank you so much. I'm curious u for the tutoring that was held in the new media center. Um did we do tutoring in prior years
for for the uh midterms? >> Yeah, we have done tutoring prior to this but um it was in the downstairs like downstairs classroom which didn't have a lot of space for students to learn from but the media center was pretty packed across all three days. >> You picked up on the exact point that I
was getting to. I was just curious how how was received in the media center. So very glad to see and hear that it's being used well. I think you included a picture um in your report. So very happy to see that space being used well. Thank you. >> That space is every time I am anywhere near that space is being used. So
definitely worth it. >> Big change from what it was before. So thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. Next on the agenda is committee reports. But we are just wrapping up the process for scheduling the committees. I don't believe any committees have yet as
of yet. Um so I do expect by next time we'll have some reports on the committee. So that's item number five unless anyone has anything that I'm missing. Okay. That brings us to Okay. Um, if you're looking at the agenda, I'm going to make some
rearrangements because the next thing technically is new business. Um, we do have to go into executive to be able to discuss some of the new business information. Um, so what I'd like to do is move item 10 um and 11 up from above
item nine. So that's public comment on non-aggenda items as well as board comments. If anyone from the public has any comments on non-aggenda items, please step forward to the podium. Provide your name and address. You have two minutes to speak. Is it on now? Yes. Lori Molino 104
Nelson Court. Um, very excited about science lab. It was really nice to see it on there. Um, we are having a region 6 CPAG meeting. We're opening it up to a bunch of districts. Edgewater, Leonia, Pal Park, Ridgefield, Ridgefield Park, Fort Lee, Anglewood, Anglewood Cliffs,
and Cliffside Park. So, we're blasting it out on social media sites right now. Um, it's going to be held on Wednesday, February 11th at 7:00. Again, it's virtual. Um, this, however, is only for students who have IEPs. It's not open to 504 students, which we usually serve
both. Um, reason being is it's going to be working with the division of vocational and rehab rehabilitation specialists. It's a virtual presentation. So, it basically gives kids um what they can do in Bergen County throughout um after they leave
high school or maybe going out to college, help with getting jobs. Um the reason why it's not open to 504 students is you have to have an IEP in order to get into this Bergen County um committee. So, I think it's going to be a really exciting thing. We're really
excited to get some other districts out there um and to promote CPAD in Leonia. So, um Wednesday, February 11th at 7 p.m. >> Thank you. >> Just a quick question that the CG that's for parents and students. Okay. Thank
you. I forgot one update about parent uh preschool and kindergarten registration is launching on Monday. Uh so if you know any any kids looking to register for prek um we will launch it on it'll be on our website. Uh we'll launch it
through parents square uh through the community page as well. Uh but it'll we'll blast on the website so and on our Instagram as well. >> Thank you. Anyone else from the public? Okay, seeing none, we will move on to
comments. Any more comments on non-aggenda items. By now, you are probably aware of former Governor Murphy's new legislation banning internet enabled personal devices in schools. This new law gives school districts the responsibility to
create new policies or amend their current technology policies September of this year. I am now urging our policy committee, the superintendent, our assistant superintendent, and the full board to take a close look at our policies and the impact they have on our
students. For too long, we have said technology is the answer when it is actually the problem. For too long, we have let edtech dominate our schools and now infiltrate every aspect of education at all three
buildings in Leonia schools. It is going to take a collective movement to make this change. Please see the example of what happened when mothers mobilized in Brazil. Because of their determination and backed by scientific research, Brazil
implemented a nationwide ban on smartphone use in public and private K to2 schools. The change is happening in Australia, too. The United States has now fallen behind other countries and how slow we have been to make these necessary changes. I'm calling on the
board, Dr. Karammanos, and Assistant Superintendent Mr. Coen, to do these five things. Number one, board members need to educate themselves on the research and publications related to cell phone usage
by kids and teens and edtech. I urge you to reach out to me if you need any recommendations for for books, journals or podcasts or experts to listen to. The data is readily available and we all need to be on the same page about the
highly addictive nature of these devices. Number two, I am asking for our administrators to conduct a deep dive into this research and to put a stop on all new spending related to edtech. Let's gather data
before we make any more purchases that may actually be decreasing student learning. Number three, recognize that cell phones may not be a large problem at ACS and LMS. However, edtech is. It does not
help. It decreases learning in every study that has been conducted over the last 60 years since edtech has been around. Again, please see me if you would like the data and research articles that support this. Number four, removal of edtech that
includes AI from all classrooms at every grade level. Now, teachers benefit from AI. It can be an amazingly powerful tool as an educator for lesson planning, composing emails to parents, and making a slide presentation, just to name a few. But AI
in the hands of students is harmful and decreases learning, and it needs to be removed from student use, and this should be implemented in our strategic plan. Number five, remove the requirement for a one:1 device to student ratio for our
preK and K students. These students do not use these devices for word processing or anything like that. They play games, they watch videos, they may occasionally read an ebook. Again, they do not increase learning. They actually
decrease it. The devices are highly addictive and that makes it hard to control their usage in the classroom. Students will learn this technology in many other ways outside the classroom. As Steve Jobs once explained, the iPhone touchscreen was constructed so that even
a baby could use it. Let's be ahead of the curve, not behind. The legislation calls for action by this September at the latest. We need to be aligned now, and we need to act not in haste, but with a sense of urgency for how this is harming the culture and
climate of our schools. Thank you for your time and I hope this starts the conversation as a full board for what needs to happen. >> Thank you, Kim. Any other board member comments
Kim, if you could could you share a copy of your your statement just for the five the five points or if you can maybe email it. >> Would like to say that I do not use AI to write that. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Um, and as
the new policy chair, I I can commit to the fact that we will be reviewing the new policy requirements. Um, and I I do welcome an open discussion as to the points that Kim brought up. Um, and been hearing feedback from the rest of the board and Dr. and Mr.
>> If I can just add the we revised the policy in August. We'll definitely look at it again. Um but we since the governor uh signed the legislation, we've been talking about it non-stop as admin. Um in all three levels, we've been talking about it in central office. Um you know there the
governor has 60 days to give us guidance. So we are also waiting for the governor to give us that guidance. They're supposed to give us a model policy that then we'll follow with our asses and you know do our own research. Um, but I I wanted to be clear that it's something that we've been talking about consistently and espec especially when
it comes to teaching and learning and part of our strategic plan is creating a vision of the technology and how we use technology in our schools. So, this is all conversations that we're having. I appreciate you Kim bringing it up. Um, and I look forward to what we're going to do to make sure that it's impactful
and that we're doing good work for kids. Okay. So at this time uh we are at item number 12 which is executive session. Um we will need approximately 30 minutes uh to discuss um executive session uh topics. Upon return from there we will
be taking action to vote on new business and then personnel and then adjournment. Um, so for those members of the public that are in attendance tonight, those people that are watching on YouTube, and for our student representative, we thank you for being here tonight. Uh, for the close session, um, we do need to ask you
to leave the room. So, thank you. Okay, we're back in open session at 8:37 p.m. We're on item nine, new business, actually 9.6, approval of new business items. Can I have a motion and a second?
Motion, Mr. Park. In a second, Dr. Roll, please. Okay. M. >> Yes. >> Master. >> Yes. >> M. Null. >> Yes. >> M. Park. >> Hi.
>> Mr. Mer. >> Yes. >> Vice President Thompson. >> Yes. >> President. >> Yes. Okay. Carries. Thank you. And that brings us to item 13. 139.
>> Yes. 139. Approval of personnel actions. Can I have a motion and a second? Motion second. Mr. Park, please. >> Okay. M. >> Yes. >> Dr. Yes.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Park. >> I >> Vice President Thompson. >> Yes. >> President. >> Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Motion second, please. Motion
second any opposentions? Okay, we are at E30.