To the flag of the United States of America and to the rep for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. Can I have a motion please for executive session?
>> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any questions? Whereas Little A Harbor Board of Education is a public body that is subject to the requirements of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Whereas pursuant to OPMA, all the meetings of
public bodies are required to be open to the public except as provided in NJSA 104-12 where the public body may exclude the public that portion of a meeting in which the public body discusses certain specific matters and whereas the board has determined that is necessary and
appropriate to discuss certain matters in private executive session from which the public shall be excluded. Now therefore be it resolved that the board enters into executive session for the purposes as outlined and described by our attorney. So, the board will be going into
executive session uh to discuss contract matters, to conduct personnel interviews, to discuss personnel matters, to receive attorney client advice, to discuss um collective bargaining negotiations and any other matters that require
attorney client advice. The board will be in executive session until 8:00 PM uh after which time it will come out into the public session. The board will not take any formal action in executive session. Any formal action that is to be taken will be taken
out here in the sunshine. Thank you. This resolution shall take effect immediately. All in favor? Any extensions? Motion carries. Thank you. Right, we're going to get back to work.
8:17 reopen. Public comment. The board of education now welcomes the public to comment on the items which are on our agenda tonight. It may not always be possible or appropriate for the board to directly answer questions during public comment
period. Each speaker is allotted a maximum of five minutes to make their statement. No one may speak more than once on the same topic. You're required to give your name and address before speaking. Please keep your comments respectful and non-defamy and maintain the level of the quorum appropriate for
a public meeting. Reminders may be in the audience. There's no agenda items, correct? You're having another public speaking speaking time. >> Yes. >> Yes. There'll be another public speaking
time after our board work session. >> Okay. Moving on to board work session. Discussion of the June 9th, 2026 board agenda. We'll start with correspondenceformational
items. Any questions on that? Seeing none, moving on to superintendent and presentations. At this time, members listed none. We will have retirees next week and our students.
Sorry. >> We will have retirees and our students next week >> student month for presentations. >> And Chris, do you have any updates on the anything for the sixth graders for the coming month of June that for for us
to discuss or you have it all covered? Uh we can discuss that at the new business again. Just remind me action items. School business administrators action items
A through F. Any questions? See none. Moving on to nonpersonnel. Section two A through G. Okay. Um for B, the tentative tuition
rates, um are those state I guess mandated rates or those are rates that we determine. >> We determine them. >> Okay. So now my followup question, how are they deter? How do we base what like we charge for
emotional regulation impairment versus autism? >> E letter E. >> I'm on E. P. >> Yes. Those are the states. >> Oh, those are the states. Okay. I'm sorry. I thought you had said E.
Any more questions on that section? All right. Letter B, superintendent action items personnel. I'm not going to let it go. So, um, for C, uh, one,
so the occupational therapist, I'm not sure if I'm um, that individual does hold a doctorate. Okay. And so, is that salary reflective of the doctor degree or is there a step associated with that degree for that
salary? There is no doctorate step on any guy in this district. So this is a leave of absence through the end of the year. This is not a this is not for next year. So this is all coated but this is only nonaffiliated.
Correct. So but that's something is that something that moving forward and that that needs to be addressed? 100%. Yes. So, could that have been done this year before we approved that contract? >> This doesn't This is a >> I doesn't affect it, but I'm just saying could it have been added when we
approved those contracts? Was it April or May? I remember. >> May. >> Well, we didn't know it was an issue. We didn't know it was an issue when that came up. >> I think because I brought it up. >> No, this was already in place.
Any other questions? I have a question for uh the lead teachers. Is there I know it's a stipen, but is there job um job details that go along with these uh title two fed funding
stipens that help a long way. >> Yes, we can share that with you. Thank you. I don't know if I'm allowed to ask this, but on page eight on the positions with no names, will these are these moving
forward along that will be all individuals listed by next week or possibly not? >> All of the uh everybody who's got to do these interviews are in the process of doing them. So, as long as they can get the people in and they can I can see them, then yes.
>> Any more questions? >> I know. That's what I'm trying to find. Uh, >> I guess page 14. >> Well, I guess again I'm not going to let it go, but number 10 of page 10, we have a CSY occupational therapist that's the
same as a teacher. Like, is that how that reads as an occupational therapist for summer? Like, what's that posting? Is that on the same scale? Tell us that how that works. >> That's part of the contract that that the association has.
>> But RT is in the nonline. >> That's the way that they've been hired previously. >> But I don't understand. I guess because they're in the nonline. So wouldn't they be under a different summer? >> They ought to be, but this is the way that the district has done.
All right, next section. Non-personnel items >> A through E. >> Page 14 under A for harassment, intimidation, bullying. Any questions?
>> I guess Oh, okay. M All right, moving on. Uh, new business. >> Um, so is everything settled for the end of the school year with regards to sixth graders? Like, do we have information when the dance is, if a board member wants to attend that, or any of the other functions?
>> The only information I have um is the sixth grade awards, which is this Friday in return. And then Monday on the 22nd of June, there's two sixth grade promotions, group walking room 2. So the sixth grade awards uh we give an award
away, the Mikey Brown award, I believe, uh to students as a scholarship from the board. Who would like to attend that? >> I am available to attend. >> So were you okay with that? if he
represents us. Then >> I thought I was getting the year off not having to do the 15 PTO awards, but I think I could do one. >> So, is she giving the award and speaking on behalf of the board? >> Okay. So, two speeches. >> It's pretty.
>> Thank you, Nikki. >> For the board. >> Yeah. >> So, Tiffany will represent us on Friday. Thank you, Tiffany. And who would like to do the sixth grade promotional promotion speech encouraging our sixth graders as they
move on? Dennis >> um the 22nd. Monday the 22nd. >> There's two groups. There's the 5 and 545 and the 6:45 to 7:30. I've done it twice. I mean, I don't mind doing it again, but somebody else should
really try to do it if I don't mind doing it. >> All right, let me know tomorrow. Think about it. You don't really have to make a decision right now. um at least for the 22nd we don't need to make a decision right now. So that's uh group
one is 5 to 5:45, group two is 6:45 to 7:30 and it's really nice ceremony. Usually a member of the um township committee comes and you split the duties of handing out the diplomas or your certificates and it's a very nice event.
So if you want to speak and give some words of encouragement, let me know. >> Congratulations. Chris, I'll just speak to you about detail, but um forgive me, but I I didn't hear as much as I needed to hear on that. Um so, I'll talk to you tomorrow. >> Okay, no problem.
>> I have an interest, but I just come soon. >> Sure. >> All right. How's the com? I mean, I would like to, but I I don't know if I can commitments, so we can catch it out and we'll figure it out. >> Sixth grade dance is on Friday if
anyone's available. >> This Friday. >> This Friday. >> Yes. And that's what I I had no idea that the frog pond was at the Blue Cause game on Sunday. Otherwise, that is something that um I was disappointed in the that I missed the play. Um and I'm
so I just want to say this, I know it's not performed yet, so but um impressed of where we come with that program. It's just so amazing what these teachers do um with what we have at the school. So, it's very very impressive and I'm very
grateful to see it continuing. um as my daughter started in trauma here and I'm not going to lie, it wasn't I would love to say it was an amazing experience. It started out to the end it became amazing and then that in the beginning it was a little traumatic but now she's in drama. She does musicals and it's because it
started here and she overcame her fear. So I think it's a great thing that um these teachers do um outside the classroom um on their own time. Um, I know that there may be siphons involved, but I'm sure it nowhere covers the amount of work that goes into these
productions. Um, as I'm involved with, uh, drama at the high school level for my daughter. So, um, but I would like to know when these things are in advance and the time so that we can, um, make ourselves available. Is there a uh you said Carl is there I
know we have a calendar on our website but is there one place where all the activities of the school district I know PTO has their own thing and the teachers have their own thing. Is there one consolidated place that we can see all events
>> they are listed on the website. >> All right. Public comment. The floor is now open to members of the public. Board of Education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues. The board requests that each statement made by participant is limited to 5 minutes as cited in policy number 0167.
There is a sign-in sheet located at the podium. Please sign in before you speak. Thank you. comment the first time Christina 1071 Avenue. I am Little A Car Teacher Association vice president Frog Pon School. We are here tonight to
express our concerns as association as it was brought to our attention about a discussion or a proposal to park 19 buses on the back field upon school. This field is much more than an empty space of land. It is a place where students run, play, learn, and develop
important social and physical skills. Every day students use the space for recess, physical education, school events, and outdoor activities to contribute to the overall well-being. Well-being. Uh, one of our greatest
concerns is students safety. Every day, hundreds of children use this area for recess, for the physical education classes, or the outdoor learning opportunities. Like I stated before, introducing 19 full bus into this area immediately adjacent to
where the children play fundamentally changes the safety profile of this space. Even with safety procedures in place, the presence of so many large vehicles in close proximity to students raises a very big concern. Our students
deserve a safe environment where they can play without the added risk. We are also concerned about the financial impact of this project. Converting a school field into a bus parking lot will require significant renovations and
improvements. How much will the taxpayer money will be spent converting this functioning space uh area into a bus parking facility? And what educational benefit will students receive in return for this investment? Those funds could be used instead
invested in additional instructional support staff. It could be used for classroom resources, student services, facility improvements, or enhancements to the outdoor learning and recreational spaces that directly benefit more children. Rather than investing public
or any other extra funds that we may have in reducing student recreational space, we should be exploring ways to enhance the expanded opportunities for students. wellness, outdoor learning, and physical activities. In addition to
safety and financial concerns, parking 19 buses on this field would significantly reduce the amount of outdoor space available to the students. It would also bring increased noise, exhaust admissions, congestion to the area intended for the students. Schools
should prioritize spaces that provide and support student health, recreation, and learning, not convert them into a vehicle holding spot. Before moving forward, we believe the community deserves a clear explanation on why a student recreational field was selected
at the location. Were there any other sites that were evaluated? What criteria did you use in making this uh determination? What safety studies, traffic analysis, or cost adjustments have been completed? Did you consult any of the follow upon administrators? Did
they have any say or input in this decision? Transparency is essential when uh decisions have such direct impact on students. As parents, educators, and community members, we work hard to provide students the opportunity to be
active and enjoy the outdoors. Taking away a large portion of their play area while introducing increased vehicle tra traffic and spending funds on renovation sends the wrong message about our priorities. If chosen and the field is
converted, the loss of student space may be permanent. making this decision that deserves careful consideration. We understand that transportation plan is very important to each and every one of you as you have agreed to all transportation decisions that were brought to your attention this year. I
know about this personally because I speak about it every month. However, we urge decision makers to explore alternative locations that do not require sacrificing students recreational space, creating additional safety risks or accumulating any more
cost to the district. We respectfully ask that you reconsider this plan and park those 19 buses on the school's back field, not at Frog Park, not at George. Mitchell, not at ECC, somewhere else. This space is used for students and
students only. Spending this would be ridiculous. We thank you very much for your time and consideration with this and we really hope you look at it. >> Thank you. Hello, Jaclyn. LHDA president. Um, I
know Dr. Junz, you sort of had responded to my question on this. I know on the agenda is public comment agenda items only but you don't have access to the agenda in which that you're discussing. So can you reiterate that again on why
>> the email that I sent earlier? Yeah, I think for clarity I just I mean I know in the past you know I mean agenda always is a draft and it always is a working document and I feel like in the past in work sessions we have obviously things get added to it or but it's restricted so
nobody can see so when you're commenting on certain personnel or agenda items we have no idea what >> sure >> we're talking about and we can't public comment. What I what I indicated was that the restricted designation on the board work
session refers to draft agenda materials that are being reviewed and discussed by the board prior to the finalization of the June 9th meeting agenda. The work session public >> yes >> consistent with administrative procedures governing coordinating agendas and supporting materials. Draft
agenda documents are considered working documents during the agenda development process and may be revised based upon board discussion, administrative recommendations, and legal review. As such, these draft materials are not distributed beyond those individuals directly involved in preparing the agenda until they are finalized. Once
the board agenda is finalized, agenda items and supporting materials that are subject to public disclosure are made available in accordance with policy, the open public meetings act, and other applicable laws and regulations. that that's what I had shared earlier.
>> All right. Thank you very much. Board form like you go first. >> I will. I want to reiterate the fact that I've been requesting the board to consider hearing
administrators, the principles, the vice principles about all the great things that are happening in their school. So, it's not falling back on, oh, hey, it's on the website that we have these figures coming in and saying, hey, to the public, you know, we're having an
art show. Hey, you know, the the course is going to be at the Blue Claws game. Hey, you know there's gonna be a >> dance. I'll always tell you about the PTO events because I'll connect it to it 247, but I don't have all the information for
all these other schools. And it would be a benefit to the board and the community to hear it from the principles about these great things happening in their school. And not after like, hey, like my kid was at the concert or whatever. That's great. It is just
um the transparency, >> you know, I thought that was the whole point of the board of a whole is to be out here in the sunshine, if you will, and have these discussions to hear what the community has to say so that we can go back into executive and take all
those things into consideration, but we're not giving any information for people to give feedback on. So, it's what's the point? Um, with that I will go into my regular closing notes that the library is going
to continue to have the uh events and free things for the children. So tonight they have that journaling thing again because it's been very popular. The Wildcat Jack still has their food bank, their gently used clothing, monthly supper club,
school supplies, use of washer and dryer. The book fairs are going on right now of George J's this week. So, sign up to volunteer. Give an hour of your time. I don't know which day is the family night, but I'm sure it's
hopefully posted on the George J uh social media page. >> Tomorrow. >> It's tomorrow at It's a family reading night tomorrow at George at um >> 5 o'clock. >> 5 o'clock. Also, ECC is doing an art gallery >> and ECC has an art gallery and these are
all wonderful events that we should be supporting our students with. Um, they usually have a lot of giveaways at family reading night. So, lots of baskets. Uh, frog pond is next week, so sign up to volunteer an hour. The Lost
and Found has an abundance of very expensive water bottles and hoodies. So, please come to your child's school and check out the loss and found and collect all the things that you spent your hard earned money on. Take back those standings. And the PTO has their glow dance June
5th for again the sixth grade only. No parents invited. The student appreciation day is June 6th. The rain day will be the 13th. There is a volunteer side of life. This is where they have the cotton candy, the snow cones, the popcorn, the inflatables, the games, all the things. We need
grown-ups. Responsible high school students to get those um volunteer hours in. Sign up. Come help them out. It's they're here for from like 8:00 in the morning. Then you guys are here from I think 10 to 2. You know, they're here
all day. Just come for an hour and that's it. Thank you. Thank you. >> Um, okay. So, I I would a couple things. I would love to hear the full formal plan
for the busing as well for next year. We keep getting drips and drags and where the buses are going to be parked, fueling, and all different things. I would like to see something finalized and that we hear it as a whole and what the whole plan is together um and not peacemailing it all together.
So it is something that I have requested also. So I that's something I would like to see and I would also like to see and Chris I shared it with you Galloway had a wonderful presentation regarding lunch program availabilities for kids in the summer. Um that some are entitled to
staff benefits different things lunch year. I want to see what we can give to families and that they're entitled to and let them know that they're entitled to and make it as easy as possible for them to get it. This summer is going to be financially draining on a lot of
families with the cost of food, the cost of gas, cost of utilities. I can keep adding on. Um, so let's get the word out there. Make it a flashy thing. Are we on Instagram? I don't really do Instagram, so >> we need to get out on some social media
platform other than Facebook that people are going to see. And I don't know if that's something as a board as a whole that we need to vote on. Um, but that if we want to get the information to people and it it shouldn't be questionable about what information how we feel comfortable delivering
information to people, but how it's going to be received by the most people. I am going to tell you that oh I forget what his handle is. There's a chemistry professor I know and he makes Tik Toks about organic chemistry because you know what his students are going to see it
and they're going to watch it and that's the purpose. We want people to succeed to achieve and to get the information that they need to do so and I think we have to think about that as a board and how the best way to do it. Oh yes. Um um also too with regards to
Thank you. Um the our superintendent search um Barnett is also um doing a superintendent search and they have a a big pamphlet on community involvement. So that's something also too I would like to to expand upon. Um and the dance
Friday is 6 to 8. >> Yes. I would like to be the um board representative unless anyone else wants to come only we can't have more than three of us unless anybody else wants to um I think that's very important so that we can see the great things to see the
kids to see what you know is happening and the good that's happening and I hope that moving forward communication throughout the district is better um these things that are happening weekly should be announced weekly whether it's through a video post a post on Instagram
Instagram, um, Facebook, something. We need to get the information out there. Um, I believe I had heard through the grape vine that something happening great next week at Frog Pond for the 250th anniversary of the United States birthday, right? >> We're doing something on the 12th. >> On the 12th, right?
>> Yeah. Anything else? >> I heard that from someone in the public. >> I should be hearing that from someone in this room >> on sitting at this table. I should not be hearing it from outside sources. I don't even have that on my calendar, Dr. Snyder. So, I'm not even aware of that.
>> Okay. >> So, that's all I have. >> So, the ladies who bring up uh my portion support for the ladies by my side bring up a great point. I think once the dust settles in terms of the superintendent search and whatever
pressing matters of business we have as standard operating procedure in in perhaps the months to come. uh if there is any down period Chris maybe we as a board can identify specifically maybe it's an an agenda item on a working session where we can identify specifically what our passions are
whether it's community outreach and community awareness whether it's digital media platforms and uh communication um whether it's um you know passionate about facilities or passionate about um you know all things education who knows but I think it's important Chris perhaps
you can put it on an agenda where we collect collectively agree on things that we're passionate about and we maintain that responsibility. For me, I'm not an Instagram guy, but I completely appreciate what what Christine is saying in in getting that
and there might be a formal um notion that maybe Christine wants to do that. Tiffany, excellent at PTO communications. She should continue doing that. For me, I'd like to be involved at a greater level tapping into what my keen interests are because I'd like to offer that to the public. And I
just think a pow-wow amongst us um and figuring those out like what's important, what are important important metrics of the district that we can um offer out there to the community. I agree it should come from this table, but I think it should come from the experts that that are elected and appointed and yeah, sure hire too, but I
think we are a collective that can really offer great things to the community as a group without looking at any singular people at the tables, you know. So, yeah, I'm I'm on board with that. I can just talk about in the future and assign some responsibility to one another.
Carl, thinking back on the um bus uh conversation, um I think you did a fantastic job, you know, highlighting and communicating the the financial aspect and um you know, line items to us and and I I think we fully understood that. Uh now, as we move closer to to go
live date for this, um I think it is important that we have a full understanding of the operating model. You know, what do we look like dayto-day? Uh they bring up a great question and where are the park buses going to be parked? Um I think we can use a lot of the info um from previously when the district did have their own
buses. Uh maybe if you can contrast to what they did then and what we're going to do now, but um as what Christine said, uh is there uh sometime soon where you can give us a full presentation on what it would look like? >> I can give you an update on at Tuesday night's meeting.
>> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> That's the plans that are being developed right now that they're working on. >> Now, is that going to be public or just exe uh executive? No, it could be in public. >> Okay, perfect. >> Can I add one more thing? So, it's often
times we uh we give Carl or Lisa or or one another a call and when like if I talk to Tiffany about something, she'll bring something that's great to me that I might not have been thinking about or I'll talk to Carl and it makes me think of John's level of expertise when it comes to roofing and facilities and all
things, solar panels, what have you. Um, just to kind of reiterate what I said, I I love the idea of the update. Um but perhaps to take a load off a singular person if we assign like if if um if Greg's passionate about transportation
perhaps don't know if we want to take on this level of responsibility but if maybe we could give many presentations on our levels of passion you know facilities update transportation update um educational operations update social
media PTO you know special needs whatever whatever it might be, we can collectively support the good of the order and at these working sessions. >> I think the problem is that it's too deep in the weeds at that point. It should be the person who is the director and and the driving factor uh the
driving person behind it. We're more of the uh overseers and approvers. Um since it's not like since we're not the subject matter expert in it, um I I don't think that we would present on it, right? Listen, I love presenting. % for
work. But uh I don't know. >> You just want to be careful not running the schools. But to your point and something to think about, if we switch back to regular committee as a committee, then you can have all these separate committees where that person could be the chair of the social
media or the events or transportation. That's the format and structure that as a government entity, that's what we would have to do. >> Purely in the spirit of oversight, not administration. So >> I I think just the issue with the committees and that because I know we're
talking back and forth and going on is that it was numerous committee meetings, two to three committee meetings in addition to our board meeting. Um and each meeting was at least an hour if not more. and the work session and this
my thing is is that I when I proposed the work session uh or I agreed to it was my interpretation was we would just be discussing the agendas and we've added on quite a bit. I think it's just a matter of I want to just understand what
is what we are voting upon upon and the reason why um and discuss that and any questions that I have and then we can all discuss together because again sometimes someone else will bring up a separate point that I hadn't thought of and that will make me you know maybe ask another question or make me understand
something better and I I value everyone's input and that's what I want to hear as a board of a whole versus committees because when you're not in the committee it's sometimes it's a little bit the telephone, you're not hearing everything that happens. And so that's the downfall to that. But I think adding on so many things to our work
sessions is what makes it difficult. And I think that we could tighten it up a little bit. >> Last point, and I'm just completely piggybacking on Dr. Snyder. Um when when Dr. Snider talks about, you know, parent advocacy and advocating for teachers, I
pull a chair up, but I want to listen even more intently, right? Because I'm super curious about it. But she puts it in such a great way. She's a great advocate to that point and when Tiffany pulls up and starts talking on PTO stuff, I genuinely want to listen because that's her jam, you know. So,
not so much taking over the responsibilities of someone who's the expert, but just speaking to our stated passions and not even really in the form of a committee. uh still continuing to fine-tune how we're operating as a whole without committee form, but yet tapping
into one another's passion and allowing perhaps each of us to have a voice, a more fine-tuned voice in certain areas of our operation and our business. Um, and maybe we're moving towards something here with this because I like
the different areas where we kind of funnel towards individually speaking. I think it can be we can go somewhere. Okay, thank you, John. >> Yeah, pretty much piggy back off of everything that everybody's saying here. I do think that um moving forward with
the transportation like Greg was talking about um it is good to have a clear plan in place that we can see that everybody can be transparent with. Um superintendent excited about that. Uh hopefully we get some people come through and we can get a lot of uh a lot
of opinions, a lot of interviews, a lot of feedback on that. Um, and I mean moving forward, you know, good job to all the teachers that put in the time here and put in the effort and you're almost there. It's almost summertime and that's a a great thing to look
forward to. I'm sure everybody needs a break moving uh moving forward coming into the summer. Um, for maintenance, great job to them. Also, custodial staff, I know they've been doing a lot. This is when it picks up for them. this is when they're going to start putting in the work and uh making the place look
good for the children, the teachers moving forward for the new year coming up. So, um good work from from everybody and I look forward to a lot of things moving forward in the future here. >> Thanks, Sean. Um I just have a couple things. I just
looked at the calendar on the website and unfortunately it does not have the uh liquid blue clause game. and it does not have the reading night and it does not have um the family night. I think it's a great tool but probably needs to
be utilized more and I understand it's not just administration, it's everybody that's uh teachers on up. If something's going on uh there has to be some kind of system in place where as soon as you have an event, the first thing you're thinking is let's put it on the website. It just has to be, you know, like a
culture thing or something. So this is the main if we designate this as the main hub as hey what's going on this week in our school district you know you can turn to that calendar and know everything going on >> whatever we need to do to make that
happen. Can we to further that maybe shoot that out in a one of those mass texts the the link for the calendar maybe the first of every month just to make it easier accessible puts it in in front of people's faces uh so that way they know what's going on.
>> So just to add to that I don't know if you can do it here in this district but for my kids um their school calendar is linked to my my iPhone. So every event like senior exams start on June 2nd. Like literally everything is listed on
my phone as to what is happening in their district. >> Is it a school specific app? >> No, it's it's my Apple calendar. >> So it syncs. I don't really know how it works. I'd have to ask my son, but it >> Central Regional uses an app called Appe
and it links it right to the district calendar and the district website and it pulls up certain it highlights certain events and it's a stated it has the school envelope on it and it's a paid service that we we use. I don't know how much the teachers and staff use it but I
think the parents use quite a bit. >> I think we just gave Carl a bunch more work. Well, at the very least, we should update our own calendar and make sure that we have all of our in-house events, no matter what school, what grade, if it's a public event or something that we
want to celebrate and support, then it should be on there. Um, to that extent, I walked into Walmart the other day and saw a whole wall of artwork coloring for the 250th celebration of our school, and
I had no idea that it was our school. and it really doesn't say anything other than George J. Mitchell. So, I tried to figure out like I didn't I would didn't spend enough time to see if my son's was up there his class or not, but I did see a lot of his friends and I texted somebody I knew. I said, "Hey, do you
know your son did this and it's sitting in Walmart right now?" And he had no idea. So, just little things like that as we're going around town. That's that's pretty cool that all this artwork is hanging up. If you go to Walmart by where all the carts are, there's 250 awesome pictures from our students that
I had no idea was up there. So, if we can just communicate things like that in one central location. And then, um, hats off to Mrs. Dreer and all the chorus students. Obviously, they did a great job with the chorus here at Progun, but
they also sung the national anthem at the Lakewood Blue Calls game on Sunday. Uh, did a really phenomenal job. It was a great day, beautiful weather, and uh she's just doing a really great job with the chorus and all the musical talent
that we have. And then finally, just a quick update on the interim superintendent search. Uh we did interview two candidates tonight. There's one more candidate that we're going to have to interview. Uh they weren't able to make it tonight. We're going to do that next before next meeting. and then um
probably the week after that appoint somebody uh who would be the interim candidate. Simultaneously, as you may know, we are also looking for a permanent superintendent. Um so that the applications are due by
June 24th. So as we have the interim for the next couple months, we're also going to be interviewing and uh determining whether who our permanent will be. If we don't find a candidate suitable, we're going to go back out again probably in
January. So, we are working on that both interim and permanent superintendent. We have a lot of applications that we're going to have to read and go through and try to, you know, make a really good decision, make sure they're a good fit for the district. Um, but I just wanted
to give everybody an update on that. >> Yeah, Chris, just to kind of piggy back on that as well. Um, for me personally, it was very important. So originally we posted acting uh which would be an internal candidate uh to take that seat until we found a permanent. Um and it
was very important for me to try to find internal talent uh because you know it it further drives um uh engagement and and trust uh within the district um along with the community. Um and unfortunately nobody was qualified um or or had the to take that position. So,
with that said, um I would just like to say anybody who's watching online who would like to further their career, I highly suggest going to get those searchs, get the schooling you need. Um so that way when we do have one of these opportunities, uh we can grow it from within. Um somebody from the public
spoke uh maybe a month ago and she said, you know, why do we have people from the outside come in and um you know, make decisions and then they they end up leaving. And um unfortunately we just don't have anybody internally with the right surf. So uh when these principal positions open up, when superintendent
positions open up, um I would just highly suggest, you know, if you're on the fence and you think you could really add value to the district, help us grow in the right direction, uh you know, go and get that uh that schooling and that. >> Yeah, I agree with that.
And just so you know at home, acting is any internal candidate that already works for us. Interim is someone from the outside that's not permanent. They can work up to two years. And then permanent would be however long uh you work out in your contract. So there's
three types, acting, interim, and permanent. We are now searching for our interim interim candidate. And then we will also be searching for our permanent candidate. Chris, can I just ask a question about the interviewing for permanent in the past?
Who was included in that? Was it only three board members? Was it did you have interviews as a whole? Did you invite the associations? Were they random staff members? Who participates in interviewing? >> So, what we did last time, and I can only speak to the last time because it's
the only church I was involved in, was um the entire board. We had 42 resumes. We narrowed it down to 15 in-person interviews. We narrowed the 15 down to eight. And then from the eight, we went
down to two. And when we had two, we invited the teachers association, uh, the union to be part of that. Um, I believe we had, uh, did we invite the public to? I don't remember if there was like an open forum. >> Yeah. Um I mean it's whatever we want to
do and how we want to include it, who we want to include at what stage and um usually it's the leadership of that organization. But then if that organization designates certain individuals that's probably going to be fine onto the agenda to be discussed, who are
we including in this search? It shouldn't just be us. >> Yeah, we can discuss them. and and just what happens at Stockton is there's it's not the golden ticket but they call
it like a golden ticket and anyone who sits in and attends and watches interviews um presentations anything like that they select the candidate and give them a score and while we do not have to go by
the majority we can review public if we're allowed public's opinion in um staff, things of that nature, and take that all into account into our decision-m if that's what one of our that's what a board member wants, if that's legally allowed. I don't know if
it's legally allowed or not before. >> I mean, just going off the you shared the other day with boarding it, like they're doing a community event trying to find it. It's going to drive me nuts. Well, um there's certainly no legal
prohibition on opening up the interview process to have input from the stakeholders including the association, the various associations, etc. Um, with that said though, um, there are some
superintendent candidates that would like to remain confidential to the point that they may not want to sit for a public interview because their current boards may not know that they're looking to make a move. Um and so I
would just caution um against public interviews, but I do think that there's value in bringing stakeholders to the table so that they can have input specifically, I'm talking about the education associations, so they can have input in who the next leader is and they
can provide the board with some things that the board may not necessarily be thinking about uh through their lens. I have a comment and a question of order, Adam. Uh, in terms of rating the superintendent as we move through this process,
we've introduced and are using a rubric, a score a scoring method so much, right? We're we're rating questions and we're tallying and then um Chris is more or less suggesting here what you what what did you score each and I guess Chris you're telling a number because we're
using a number ting system. Are we legally bound to use that as a qualifying metric as terms of quantitative measure or can we inject qualitative measures and make our own decision regardless of the numbers? Well, um so that it's entirely up to the
board in my opinion. Um the the the process is whatever the board says the process is and the weight is whatever the board says is weight is going to be accorded to whatever dynamic you're rating. Um,
it's it's very much a democratic process. So, it's all up to you as to what's acceptable. I'll be here to let you know when something's coming up against the legal guard rail, but until that time, it's really whatever you guys say the process is.
>> So, ideally, your score should reflect who you favor. >> Well, I feel like the score reflected their answers to the questions, not them as a whole. It was those few questions that we asked. that's what they were scored on, not all the information they may have given. But before we continue,
I just I found the post and I wanted to share that the board Barnate Board of Ed on this date in their media center for community forum to provide input on the hiring of the next superintendent. I'm not saying we should have public interviews. I'm saying that the again
the purpose of the meeting will be to provide members of the public an opportunity to engage in a forum regarding the hiring of a new soup for the Barnagate School District by the board. Meeting format. The board will conduct breakout sessions with members of the public. These sessions are design are designed to encourage open dialogue
and community feedback. Isn't that what we want? >> And this is actually run by the New Jersey School Board Association. So that's their search. >> Yep. So it's more of a feedback forum for hey I'm very disappointed in this I
would like to see this in the future. uh giving that feedback when we go to the table and start interviewing. >> I think so. And >> I think it's fantastic. >> And and Tiffany in I I don't actually don't remember I apologize who said about just the answers to the questions
in the sport. That was you Tiffany. I think that Chris or us as a whole could add to the rubric and add like qualific qualification category like how many years experience they have you know
and that gets a certain score and then other things so that it's not just based on their answers to the questions. Um and and when we did our last search, we did other things. There were writing assessments, you know, um there's different things that you can add to it.
Just doesn't have to be based on just questions. So I think we could as a group design a rubric. >> Yeah. I see. So just to add to the conversation, you know, we could in the spirit of using qualitative measures and
and coming at a decision that doesn't necessarily marry up to numbers. We might rate someone if if the scale is a 20 max 20. We might give some a 20, but we might then find out that in their last role they were non-renewed
and or they've had a career in charter school and urban center educations that don't fit to the norms of our community that are frankly a difficult means of measure and we might decide that even though they have the best score, they're still not the best fit.
>> But I think in theory we should have those answers before we even call them in for an interview. like if you're saying that that's a reason not to inter like to hire a candidate, we should know their their background. Um, and if we're using a search committee, um, our last
group that we used, they asked a lot of those questions. And so that's how they were pre-screened before they came to us. And so I think that's part of it before you actually like you know making it to
um the interview process is not like the it's going to be really >> does the SBA have um a means to pre-screen like that if we do >> um my husband was telling me they do >> you got to hire a person
whomever we're using >> my husband when he took the exam he was one of 9,000 I don't I think they get 9,000 applicants today. Um, but no, like if you think of uh American Idol, right? Getting your ticket to Hollywood Boys is
not necess or you know going making it to that point does not mean you're going to make it to the final 10. There's a lot of other things that go in between. And that's what I think before we get to the interview process, you should have done a lot of pre-screening to get to that point. Like that's an honor to make it to an interview.
>> It it is. And for me, my own screening process, my the mechanisms I went through, I literally, for me, when I reviewed a stack of resumes, I discarded in my mind, I went I pushed one to the side. If if you've had a life, an educational leadership life in in an
urban center and and and and charter schooling, that's amazing work, but it's not fit for for um certain settings. Adam, do we have to add the score sheets by question? Maybe we do away with that.
>> Again, >> again, the process is whatever you say is uh rubrics, scoreeets or not, you can do it's whatever you decide is the the best for your district. >> Does anybody think we should have the scoreeet going forward? It has value.
>> We're going to talk about the permanent process. I just wanted to give the update on the interim. Right now, we're focused on the interim. We have time still to talk about the permanent. Um, and so we have our next meeting next Tuesday. We're going to interview the final candidate, then discuss among
ourselves who we're going to extend the offer to, and then the following week, the 16th, after we announce or we publish it, we'll have our other meeting to discuss the evaluation of the superintendent. And then uh also appoint
the next interim superintendent. During that time, we can also discuss what we want the permanent to look like because that doesn't close until June 24th. But don't like title N and anything like that like aren't we required to ask each individual the same questions and have
some type of uniformity and by having a scoring chart that allows for that and that helps us legally um for any future things because I know um at Stockton we literally have to have the questions approved before we're even allowed to ask them like is that serious
because we're a state entity. >> Yeah. So, so we have to be careful. Um, just because the rules the the rules still apply to us even though, you know, we're kind of in a in a weird situation. Um, it's it's best practice to have a
rubric because that way you are literally asking everybody the same thing and the field or it's a level playing field for everybody. where you get into problems is when you kind of start doing oneoffs for one person but maybe not for the other folks that are
applying. And so whatever you decide for purposes of of the law, we want to make sure that it's consistent from candidate to candidate. If you have that consistency, we're good. Um the other thing is a lot of school districts will use and this is for the permanent will
use a search firm. that takes it away from you in terms of, you know, the vet process. Um, and and kind of shifts the liability, if you will, a little bit to to the to the search firm. Um, again, your your expectation is that that
search firm is using the same criteria across the board. Uh, and then they're going to present you a screened um a screen tool, if you will. So, uh, Christine, to to say that, um, yes, you
don't have to have a rubric, but yes, at the same time, whatever you decide needs to be non-discriminatory, apply evenly across the board, etc., etc. So whether it's a scoring sheet or and and I as I said before the board can decide that
it's going to accord 20% weight to the interview and 30% to the resume whatever it is to get that full picture but whatever th those aortionments are should be applied evenly throughout for every candidate.
Yep. That's going to be another discussion another night. All right. Anything else? Okay. >> Can I have a motion to adjurnn, please? >> Motion. >> Can I have a second?
>> Second. >> All right. All in favor? 9:13. See you next week.