Order 602. >> This is to advise the general public that a compliance with the open public meetings act. The little a carpet board of education meeting was advertised in the Atlantic City Press and posted at the office of the board of education located at 307 Crockcon Road, Little
Harbor, New Jersey. Was posted at the office of the municipal clerk of Little Lake Harbor. Roll call, please. Mr. Mr. Con here, >> Miss Ber >> here, >> Mr. Lee >> here, >> Miss Middle >> here, >> Dr. Schneider >> here. >> Mr. O'Keefe >> here. >> Mr. Phillips
>> here. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge algiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. All right, the first order of business is presentations. >> Students of the month, acknowledgements for George J. Mitchell and Brogpon Elementary. Good evening. The character treat for March at the George Middle School was
perseverance. All of the students chosen were chosen based on this trait. >> First, Lana Mallet from Mrs. Le's class. CONGRATULATIONS, >> Miss Mrs. Philippe said, "I am so proud
to recognize Lana as our student of the month for perseverance. She has shown wonderful growth in kindergarten this year by continuing to try and never give up even when things feel challenging. Lana listens carefully, works hard, and
is growing more confident in herself each and every day. I love seeing her raise her hand, share her ideas, and shine in our classroom. Keep believing in yourself, Lana. We are so lucky to have you. Next we have Evelyn Georgette from Mrs.
Mrs. said, "I am proud to celebrate Evelyn, a student who truly demonstrates perseverance each day. She is always eager to learn new things and puts forth her best effort even when the learning feels difficult. She listens carefully,
stays positive, and smiles as she finishes what she starts. Her persistence, growing self-confidence, and strong spirit are wonderful examples of never giving up. >> Next, we have Thomas Con. The second,
and Mrs. Travis, class. Thomas. >> Mrs. Chhattis said, "Thomas has grown so much in our class just this year. He comes in every single day with a big smile and is always excited to play and learn with his friends. No matter what
we are working on, he tries his best and keeps going. Even when it's not easy, I'm so proud of the progress he's made with his verbal communication and writing his letters and numbers. He works hard and doesn't give up. Watching his confidence grow has been such a joy.
Thomas shows what perseverance looks like, and I couldn't be prouder of him. and Cooper Robinson. So, Miss Lorenzo said, "Cooper has improved in so many amazing ways this year. He has become a fantastic friend
and is always willing to help others. When Cooper comes across a task that is difficult, he perseveres through the assignment and gets it done. We are so proud of his accomplishments and are excited to see how many more ways he will continue to improve this year.
Big smiles. Awesome. There we go. Congratulations. >> Good evening everyone from the Frog School for March students of the month. Our first student from Miss Parker's class is Leslie Hernandez. Come on up Leslie.
have to say Leslie is a perfect choice for our student of the month. She is softspoken but consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and dedication to her learning. Leslie approaches each task with care and gives her best effort in
everything she does. In addition to her academic efforts, she's a kind and supportive friend who treats classmates with respect and compassion. Leslie's positive attitude and quiet leadership makes her a valued member of our classroom. Congratulations.
Hello everyone. I'm going to introduce the fourth grade student of the month from Mr. Dit's class, Elena Underman. Mr. Dit says, "I have so many wonderful things and so many wonderful students to choose from, but I am so proud to recognize Alina as our student of the
month." Alina is someone who may not always draw attention to herself and she is quiet and humble, but she's truly a giant in our classroom. She consistently works hard, gets her work done on time, leads by example when it comes to meeting our classroom expectations and
showing what it means to be a frog pond student. Alina is kind, polite, and respectful to everyone around her. What stands out the most is her commitment to continue improving and becoming even better every single day. I am very proud
of Lena and all that she represents. >> Next from Mr. Sch's class, we have Harmony Runza. Come on, HARMONY. MR. Sch said, "I am honored to be nominating Harmony Runza for student of the month." She has been a role model for her classmates and peers since the
beginning of the school year. We can always count on her to be attending lessons, participating with her thoughts and ideas, and putting forth her best effort when it comes to her academic. She doesn't hesitate to help others or off and offers valuable advice. She's
courteous, dependable, and charismatic. And these are just a few ways to describe Harmony. Her kind, heartwarming personality is infectious to all. This nomination is welld deserved and keeping you marketing. CONGRATULATIONS. Our next selection is coming from the
health and PE department. So this is from Mr. Lee, Miss Hoffman and Mr. Martinez and they are recognizing Emma Rosia as student of the month. Emma, but everyone at home and everyone here is going to learn about Emma. Emma
has been selected for our sixth grade student of the month by the PE department. Emma consistently demonstrates kindness, a strong work ethic, and outstanding sportsmanship in every class. She was out of her way to include others, making sure everyone feels welcome and part of the team. Emma
maintains a positive attitude and leads by example. The health and PE department are proud to recognize her for the respect, effort, and character she brings to our school every single day. So, normal round of applause for HAVING our next student of the month, I am
excited about this one, is Sebastian Wells. Come on up, Sebastian. Sebastian was nominated by Mr. Paige, our art teacher. Here's what Mr. Paige had to say. Sebastian was nominated as student of the month for his creativity and his follow through. No matter the
project we are working on, Sebastian Sebastian's inventiveness shines through and he keeps working till the job is done. I cannot wait to see the work he creates as skills grow to meet his imagination. Congratulations. You want to squeeze it?
>> No, you're good. I mean, all good. Amen. >> All right. Thank you very much. >> Next, moving on to executive session. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Can I have a second? >> Second.
I just say before this week's sleep, I just want to say congratulations and I love that you picked um PE and art also chose a student. That was something different that I noticed and I and I enjoy that because not every student's spark is in
academics. >> Some is in gym and some is an art and I have an art to get to. So I very much appreciate that. My whole congratulations to all of you. >> Thank you. >> Whereas the little a carbon board of education is a public body that's
subject to the requirements of the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act pursuant to OMA. All meetings of the 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 from the that portion of a meeting at 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 for 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. >> Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Uh the board is going to be retiring to close executive session uh to discuss collective bargaining agreements or the
terms and conditions which are proposed for inclusion in any collective bargaining agreements including negotiation of the terms and conditions thereof with employees or representatives of employees of the board. Uh, additionally, we're going to be discussing pending or anticipated litigation or contract negotiations in
which the board is or may be from a party or matters falling within the attorney client privilege to the extent that confidentiality is required in order for me to exercise my ethical duties as an attorney to the board. Additionally, we'll be discussing matters involving employment appointment
termination of employment, terms and conditions of employment, evaluation of the terms of of of work performance, promotion or discipline related to any board employees. The board will not be taking any formal action while in executive session. If
the board is going to take any formal action, it will be done out here in the sunshine. It's expected that the board will return from executive session by 7:30 p.m. Thank you. >> May I please have a vote?
>> All in favor? Motion car. All right. Recommend motion to approve the agenda. Can I have a motion, please? I would just ask that the motion be withdrawn and the u meeting minutes be
voted on uh for each meeting that's listed below. So uh I A is March 3rd, B is March 10th, and C is March 23rd. So I just suggest um that we do them separately for this evening.
So, you want you want me to withdraw or >> No, we're voting on the agenda first and then we're going to go through the minutes. >> That's the change you want to make. >> Yes. So, we're going to vote on the agenda. Any questions on the agenda? >> All right. Vote. All in favor?
>> I. Any against? >> All right. And now we're going to go through the minutes one by one. Recommend to accept the following minutes for March 3rd. And I have a motion. >> Motion to approve. >> And I have a second. Second. Any
questions? All right. Motion to approve. I have a vote. >> Mr. Chrome. >> Yes. >> Server. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> M. Middle. >> Yes. Dr. Snder, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe,
>> yes. >> Mr. Phil, >> yes. Motion carries. >> All right. Recommend to accept the following minutes for B, March 10th. Can I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions?
>> Seeing none, I have a roll call, please. Mr. Shone, >> yes. >> Mr. Herbert, >> yes. >> Mr. Middle, >> yes. Dr. Snder, >> yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Can I recommend a motion to accept the
following minutes for letter C, March 24th? >> M server, do you want to make this motion? >> Yeah. Just like to uh revise the minutes on the regular portion of the meeting, the action meeting. Um the the motion by
Miss Cooper, my vote was heard and I I'd like my vote acknowledged as as a vote. >> So uh Mrs. Herbert is making a motion to approve the minutes for March 24th with a correction uh to reflect her vote on
item number 10, I believe. >> Yes. >> On the motion uh which uh was not heard due to um technological issues. So, do I have a second on Miss Gerber's motion?
>> Second. >> Question, discussion, >> clarification that you want your voice heard, not changing or amending anything. >> Well, the uh the motion is already a motion, if you will. I just want my correct vote recorded on minutes.
That's what I'm asking by the board since I did urgently text it to >> and just for the record that that that >> that vote that evening uh that you would like corrected is is a no vote. Just so the minutes are correct. >> That's right. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Thank you. >> Any questions? So those minutes I guess will be on the next week. >> So they would be approved tonight with the revision to reflect Miss Herbert's vote at that one.
>> Thank you. >> Roll call, please. Mr. Coner, >> yes. >> Mr. Ber, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> Mouth, >> yes. >> Dr. Snider, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe, >> yes. >> Mr. Phil, >> yes. Motion carries.
>> All right. Public comment agenda items only. 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 the public comment period. Each speaker is allotted
a maximum of five minutes to make their statement. No one may speak more than once at the same time. You are required to give your name and address before speaking. Please keep your comments respectful and non-defamatory and maintain a level of decorum appropriate for a public meeting where minors may be
in the audience. >> Good evening. 43 letters. Uh I just I looked at the budget, which is obviously what you're here for. Um
I looked at this budget and I don't like this user friendly budget. I don't like the user friendly budget that you sent me with my Opra request. When I requested Oprah for the budget, I wanted a budget I work for the town. When we do a budget
and people have questions for the town, they come in, we sit down with the CFO and we go over the budget with the lines. We show the people exactly what the money is being spent on. This budget doesn't show us what exactly what the money is being spent on. Okay? And
that's a concern. I think that people would like to know exactly what the money is being spent on, especially when you're looking to eliminate 81 jobs. Okay? If you're eliminating 81 jobs because of a the bus issue, and that might not be it. Maybe
that's not it. I don't know. But I can't tell because this is opaque. It's not transparent. And I can't tell if that you might have a good reason to uh want to do buses, but we don't know. The last study that the district did showed that
the bus program was not beneficial to the district. It was cheaper to go without the buses. And as I stated at the last meeting, the National School Transportation Association shows that it's 20% cheaper
to contract out to do the buses. Now, I don't know whose program this is. I don't know if it's Dr. Inunius's program. I don't know if it's your program. Dr. Andunius isn't even going to be here. He has no commitment to this
town. I don't know who was on the board when this came in, but in the days gone by, we hired people within the area who cared about the town and cared about the
people and cared about the students and did what was right for the area. We need to consider that and we need to move forward with what's right. And consider that
if this is about running buses instead of students, then you should vote no and send it to the county and let the adults take over this budget. And Mark sing 35. coach. I just have a question. I know we don't typically
answer, but in this case, I hope you will. As this is the public hearing of the budget, will we have a chance to voice our concerns and ask questions on that budget or is this our only opportunity tonight before you take action? because not knowing what the budget full
presentation is, it is not being open to the public for us to discuss and voice our concerns. At this point, like Mr. Moscius says, the presentation we've received is not very transparent. So, I am requesting that we do have the
opportunity to speak at a public hearing of the budget. Typically other districts and this district in the past has flipped the script on this order and allows us to speak after the presentation has happened. I feel that is the only fair way to do that at a
public hearing on a school budget. >> Will we have the opportunity? >> Chris, if I may clarify, don't we have public comment after the presentation? We have open public comment at the end >> at the end of your action at the end of the meeting which doesn't allow us to
voice our concerns in the moment at a public >> well since you spoke I'm going to agree with Mr. think because as a person who said at many board meetings prior to being on the board, it would be something that I would appreciate because you come and you think I took my
time. I took my energy and then everyone already voted. So I I I know we can't do this now. >> How do you guys feel time stopped at 12 seconds? I think
>> I have no problem with it just because I think with our um initial presentation we switched the the format around so questions could be answered >> I would second that questions >> questions yeah but that's not necessarily that there's a back and
forth for public comment >> it's public comment afterwards before we vote so we can hear what the public has to say before we vote >> yeah I think it's actually a good idea. >> So, thank you for pointing that out. I appreciate it. >> Yes, they're saying thank you.
>> One of the things that we can do now, which is close public comment and do it after, reopen it afterwards. So, we're not >> double dipping on the public comment. Sir, >> we can close the public comment now and go through our agenda and then reopen it
after the presentation. >> Anybody else want to talk now? We're going to open up another line. Yeah, it's good. I'm Tracy Brown, 858 Center Street. I'm also a teaching assistant in the preschool.
And I just want to ask the elected officials on the board. This is for the elected officials only to please listen and please make sure you have knowledge on what is happening and not just taking the word of the drifters that are just
drifting through the town with their Kool-Aid and their ideas. and nobody's going to be here to pay the consequences except for the elected board members that are part of our town. And I I just would like you to really take into
consideration what is happening and what is best for the children. All right. Let's move on. Correspondence.formational items. Filing items are being presented forformational purposes.
Correspondence from Mr. Nicole, facilities manager, enrollment suspension totals for the month and fire emergency drill reports. Any questions? Seeing none, moving on to number 11, superintendent report. Number 12, presentations. Final budget
presentation, public hearing. Good evening. Tonight's bud budget presentation for the Little A Harbor School District includes a 2% local tax levy increase 19,761316
together with the debt service for the bonds that were issued several years ago. 1,131390 gives a total tax levy of 20,892706. Few slides down the road, we'll show the tax impact
per household on the 2% increase for excess property value of $28,000. Last year's numbers did not include the debt service that were in the presentation. So there's a note at the top there. It says for 2025 26 property
tax does not include debt service for this current year 2627. We did include the debt service number in with the tax letter to give you a truer figure of what your tax bill will reflect. So with the 2% increase,
a $28,000 assessed value shows $1,816 of assessment. So your annual increase would be $31.20 over the course of 12 months, which amounts to $2.60 per month.
2% increase for a $38,000 assessed property value. Same items. 2025 does not include the debt service. This year it does. Of $2,689. Annual increase of $46.20.
Monthly increase of $3.85. 2% increase for $48,000 assessment. Same thing, $3,562. annual increase of $61.20 and a monthly increase of $510. This reflects a 2% tax levy increase
included with the debt service. The debt service right now is running $1,131,390 per year and will continue until I believe 2032 in the box. Our
revenue table is pretty basic. Our tax levy makes up almost 45% of the amount of funds going into the district. Seconded by our federal programs, our state aid at 19.5%.
Federal programs being third and then the other items that we have. On the left we have our tax levy at the top which is the actual 2% tax levy number of 19761316 anticip anticipated bass river tuition 1,179858
state aid of 8,579192 transportation for other leas,700 our rents which has to do with our before and afterare program that they pay us. $44,569 Medicaid reimbursements, miscellaneous interest for the interest uh that we
receive on our various accounts from the banks. The debt service number again, our federal programs of $750,000. Federal programs have been budgeted at 70% of what our current allocation is.
Meaning that if they give us 30% less that will be that $750,000 mark each year is we have no idea of what it's going to go down this year because they don't tell us ahead of time. So we budgeted at 70%.
Preschool education aid is a separate grant that comes in 5,196,90 miscellaneous revenues and adjustments and that totals our budget of 37,98647. Our appropriations again simple pie chart almost 60% of the
money that goes out of the district is for salaries followed by 20% for health benefits. And then the various other costs, transportation 5.5%. Our purse contribution, our energy at
1.7%, and then other total expenses at a little over 7%. Again, the breakdown on the left, salaries are over $22 million this year. That's with contracted increases. out of out of district tuition
284 lease purchase which was another program that was done a few years back. We are still paying that off at 154,000 and change per year. Our insurance is almost 500,000 right now, 475,000. Our energy is running
$655,000 for electricity, gas, and electric. Transportation, 2,79,000. Our transportation number for this year was over $2.5 million is where we're going to end up is June 30th. The new
budget coming in, as you see, is slightly over $2 million. specialed homeless is zero for the first time because we have in-house transportation. If you go back to last year's presentation, you would have had a high number in there. We do not outsource
anything anymore regarding transportation or special services. Our board chair FICO pers are mandatory contributions. Our health benefits right now are $7,69,000. Health benefit payments $225,000 for
those of our staff members that don't take our health insurance. We have our security contracts of $128,500 which are our SRO's and our budget and unemployment $30,000.
All other expenses combined 2,747,000 which gives us a balance budget again of 37 million 986 3407. Our federal funds which is our titles 1 2 3 and our
again these are budgeted 70% of current year appropriations that we received. They will go down each year and they will continue to go down. We do not expect any increases at all from any state or federal programs this year. They will all be decreased. It'll just
be a question of how much. Unfortunately, we do not know ahead of time as we prepare our budgets in the spring because these allocations come out probably midsummer. So again, the numbers you see up there totaling 750,000, a little over that are
based on 70% of our current out of our current awards that we received. our projected class sizes for next year. If you look at the screen, K through six, we are now looking at an average class size of 22 to 25 students for
kindergarten. First grade 18, second grade 19, third grade 24, fourth grade 22, fifth grade 26, and sixth grade 26. Column on the right shows how many sections we have.
So, A very simple look at this chart will tell us that we have five different levels that are in the mid20s or approaching the mid20s and slightly over.
These are based on our current enrollments and projections starting in for September. One of the stories here that has to be said is the decrease in state aid which you constantly hear about year after
year. So this slide shows the actual dollar amounts from 22 to 23 to the current year of 2627. We're down almost $700,000. And when we say we're down $700,000 that's a per year.
So, we were down around that number last year. We're down around that number this year. We'll be down that number or more next year. And it just keeps going on and on. So, if you take that number of 685 or round it off to 700 and multiply
over five years, we're down $3.5 million. All of these numbers keep multiplying either as expenses or loss of revenues or a loss of aid that comes in. Things are not getting better because the state
and the federal government are pulling back. Everyone asks the question, well, if they pull back, what happens? There's only one group left to pay to fill this gap, and that's the local taxpayers.
So, this is the clearest way that I put this in the presentation to you. This presentation will be on our website tomorrow morning so you can take a look at it again. And again, these are our state aid numbers from 2023 through
26 to 27. A little summary as if we don't have a good idea of a lot of the things that have been happening. We know we're losing state aid over the past 5 years. We will continue to lose it. There is no one out there today that's giving a
message from the state in Trenton or anywhere else that things will get better. The message is be prepared because they're going to get worse. Funding will be cut each year. Funding will also has the potential to be cutting for preschool. Even though we
know that to be a separate grant, this district right now is funded at 100% for preschool. The new districts that are going into the preschool program this year are funded at 40%. They expect the local taxpayer to pay
the other 60%. Those are for new districts. Currently, we're still in the 100% mark, and we hope that each year it stays that way. There is no guarantee that it will remain at 100%. our health benefits.
Last year, the district faced an 18% increase. This year, it faced a 32.7% increase. We're looking at over slightly over 50% increase in two years. This is a problem that is not we didn't
ask for it. We didn't choose it. This is the reality of the healthcare industry right now. Our local fair share shortage overall, the district
has a shortage. I could tell you that based on my analysis has probably gone on for several years and we cannot go backwards. We can only go forward. Our energy costs keep
increasing. We do have a solar energy um project that's in the works. Uh three approvals were required from Atlantic City Electric. We have received two out of three approvals and we're hoping that within the next two to three weeks we'll have our third approval. So that project
could move forward. That's also the project that includes new roof on the buildings to take care of and replace the existing roof that is very much past its useful life. We have contracted salary increase that's based on the contracts that
negotiated we have to pay. We have a new transportation department this year that will grow that is open to transporting other districts as long as it is profitable for our district. reduction in health care benefits which
we had to make and that was of course due to the 32.7% increase that we were hit with. Again over the two years healthc care has increased slightly over 50%. These numbers are not sustainable going
forward. You can't have increases that are this high and the state mandates that we have to provide for our students and then have the state and federal government cut back on our funding. It only leaves one other place to turn
and the burden goes on to the taxpayers. This year we were able to create this budget with only a 2% tax levy. I was not here last year, but I do understand that you were hit with the highest tax levy in the state of New
Jersey last year. So, I'm proud to say that this budget is balanced. It's county approved and the results are 2% increase that has been passed on to the taxpayer plus our debt service.
And it also contains in it the allocations for seven certified certificated staff members to come on board because as we see from our class sizes, we have several positions that are in need to be filled in this
district. And the chart that again this will be on the website tomorrow gives the estimate of our class sizes for September. I thank you very much for the time to present this to you. will be on the website tomorrow morning and if anyone
has any questions um my office is open it's very easy to find my email and telephone number and I will do my best to answer them thank you >> does any board members have any questions for >> I have a question
>> the sections for the fifth and sixth grade does that um reflect switching classes is >> switching >> like when they do math and science with one is that still staying the same. >> So the fifth grade will stay in one
classroom. >> I'll go back and check that. >> So this presentation just for clarity for the public this is the first time that I'm seeing this is saying that our fifth grade will not rotate for their
classes. and six. >> I'd want to be sure. >> Okay. Could you just also verify for six? >> Thank you. >> Can you say that? >> I will check and get back to you.
>> Any other questions for the board? >> Yes. Nice job. Uh the seven certificated staff members, >> excuse me, on the crowd. Thank you. >> Thank you, Chris. Uh, hi Paul. The seven certificated staff members that are part
of the budget, uh, is that included in this very slide that you're saying here, does that support projections? No. >> No, it's not included in this slide because it has not been determined what positions those seven are going to be. Thank you.
>> Caught up in the numbers here. So, if I add up these numbers correctly, and maybe Tiffany or Lauren is another number person, this indicates, unless I did something incorrect, that our enrollment is only 11:47 projected for next year.
Try one more time. >> We had an enrollment figure, Christine, at the beginning of the of the agenda which said, >> but if you add up these numbers, all the sections.
>> No, the enrollment is the I had actually even less the second time around. >> I had 1147 then I got 993. It's been a long day, but that's nowhere near 1600. So, I really do question whether these numbers are accurate. >> I have 1173 on the high end using the
highest. >> I got 1147. So the first the second time I did this one must have been >> I don't see the um ECC program. >> At most ECC is 300 I'm going to lay my money on. I would bet on that.
>> Will likely change because we often get late enrollments. That's why the projection is the way it is. And >> you're telling me the projection is off by over 500 students. >> We have rolled up with the administrators for these numbers. They are not made up. We have met several times and we rolled them up. I I never
said they were made up. I said they there must be a correction if we're looking at a difference of 500. >> That that was the process we used. I will certainly continue to do that. >> Okay. And then my other question was
with regards to health benefits and I know I've asked this repeatedly about going outsourcing to other or whatever the process is to look for an alternative healthcare provider because prior you had said um that was 27%
versus 32. This last email you said said it was 25%. And I just would like to see some documentation uh that we are not eligible or that we were not offered because that savings would be a half a
million dollars if we were able to save that 7% in health benefits. >> Correct. And your numbers are correct. The Etna is part of the shift which is the school alliance insurance fund. They are the only carrier that would offer us
a quote out of any of the carriers out there due to our high claim status. I was told by our brokers that last year the district tried to go out for other policies and and receive letters of rejection and didn't even receive
quotes. So the only outfit out there to entertain any change that we would have would be the school insurance alliance fund which is managed through EDNA. This year their estimate of what our district would have been if we were with them would have been an increase of between
25 and 27%. They're anticipating of course another increase of next year. I'm being told right now that most of the plans are looking at a 30% increase for next year based based on the reports that just came out for the statewide. I
also would like to mention that based on our contracts that we have with our staff members, we have to provide either equal to or better health coverage than what we have now when the contract was negotiated. So if there was to be a
change that was not equal to or better than what we currently have, we would have to go back and negotiate it. >> Counterpart. I appreciate that, but I'm going to tell you I I've been on the board and I've been a member of the public and for years and maybe staff
can, you know, confirm this when public comment opens, but I remember year to year changing health plans and there's been no comment from any staff or complaints because I'm assuming that they save money in the same way that we
save money. So, I think that this would be something and that's why I've been pushing for this for so long. And I'm disappointed that we never actually got a quote and went moved through the process because during the initial budget, I was told we still have to prepare with the numbers that we currently have. And I think like the
timeline shifted a little because I remember we would do this in January. I thought I could be wrong. I'm >> getting older. Um, and then second thing, uh, the SRO's. I know that there are grants out there that we can apply for because I know schools that have received them. Um, I think that we
really need to investigate that because again, that's $130,000 a year. I think we can use that to put it back in the classrooms. >> Any other questions? >> Me. >> Hi. The agenda shows that we have a district enrollment of 1,649
students. Um, it seems as though this spreadsheet may not include our special education students. Is that possible? >> It is possible. >> Okay. Could we also have that information because I think that that's important. I mean, many of our special education students push into these gen classrooms. So we're talking an
increased number if we include those questions for >> probably put another sheet together including them and also ECC for a total picture >> and is 327. >> I know those questions that's that's a
could be a large number going in these classrooms. to put these class sizes over 30 students in some cases >> and that's why they're hiring certified staff, right? To lower our numbers. I hope we we don't know that those we
can't confirm that those are teachers. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you. Thank you. All right, presentations part B. Dr. Idler is uh not going to present tonight. He's going to present at a later time. So, I'm going to turn it over to ultimate public forum regarding
the budget. >> If you like to make a comment, please come to the podium regarding the budget. >> This is just a comment. This is not question. All right. Uh well,
>> really was a question, but it was the $225,000 for the health uh insurance buyout and I thought that program had stopped. So, I didn't understand what that money went to. >> I'm sorry. Could you repeat the
question? You see 225,000 for the health health insurance payouts for the people that oper. >> Yes. >> They stop the program. >> No, we still have staff. We have other staff. >> My wife hasn't been getting paid for
years. So you owe her money, I believe. >> Well, I can only go by. >> I'm not blaming you. Somebody somebody stopped paying her a couple years ago. So this is a this is an issue. So, um I
don't I don't know that. That's a problem. And um I I know I noticed from the agenda the insurance that you know you have there's some options that you might be interested in one day as well.
Um, and the only other thing is um I'll take with the uh the town council because I don't understand why we're paying tax twice for police officers that we already paid for. The school should be paid for police officers that we already
paid for. budget and I'm just questioning here. There seems to be a lot of questions, a lot of inaccurate information on class numbers. You're asking to final vote the budget tonight and there seems to be question mark question mark question mark question mark
with a final presentation on power usage which is a part of this budget. that big massive change is something for us to have confidence in your votes constantly. I hear you say, "I have enough information. So, I feel confident
in my vote. I don't need to change my vote because I have the information." We all just heard the information. Where's the information that's going to give us confidence in you as our elected officials? Another question for me is I don't think it's ever been shared in any of the budget
presentations is what would the tax levy in this need to be in order to maintain our staffing as is. Where is that? I have other this past two months and they said this would have been this if we made this
change it's this. So that's why we are doing this. Where is that information on the public hearing of the budget? Hi Jar 11 road um your graduate presentations >> SRO's
towns and boards of education are separate so the board of education has to pay back the town for those SRO's that's where it comes from and we have to because the the town council the town
and the board and the schools are separate entities. So yes, we have to pay them back. We had some other questions. Etna, a 27% increase. Etna is undesirable.
Equal to or better is built into the contracts. That's what she wanted. I work in a school district. I know the pain of equal to or better. And believe me, he wouldn't just accept it. He would tear it apart word by word
and make sure that you're getting that equal to or better. The state also the unions have gone through and encouraged their members to join chapter 7 44 over chapter 78
statewide. that has been a huge hit to schools that needed some members to be part of chapter 78 which does pay more of their health benefits than chapter 44. When the union went to their members and
said you'll save a lot of money and they do. If we saved money by going to Etna, the members will not feel any of that. Their contribution is based on salary, not premium cost. Chapter 78 is based on
premium cost. Chapter 44 is based on salary. It's a huge loss to schools. And I think if you look even further into it, in years past with members changing from chapter 44 to chapter 78, this school has lost even more money than
anyone realizes. Preschool was not included in the slide of the numbers. That may be where your missing children are. that I don't know, but a preschool is not included in a slide, possibly because it is grant funded 100%.
Maybe you do need more education on what actually goes into it, but I'm not sure that anyone here actually cares. I'm a taxpayer. My taxes went up 30% last year. I had the pleasure of sitting beh in front of
many of NJA's representatives this evening. They think you are weak and that you will fold shortly to what they want. Please stand up for the taxpayers.
My taxes went up 30% last year and on paying 3500 to $5,000 a year just for this district, not including the Highlands district, is a burden on my family. I hope that you will consider
the taxpayers of this town as well. Your job is incredibly hard. You are caught between a rock and a hard place. Funds coming down from the state and the federal is a hard thing to do and cutting jobs
is very hard. But I can also tell you a district with 100% full-time power professionals is unusual and your NPA representatives are lying to you on more levels than you could
possibly imagine. >> Thank you for your service. >> Thank you. Hi. >> Kate Sanchez. I've spoken at every one of these meetings um so far in this past seven months. Um I didn't want to bring
up increasing taxes because I know that's a touchy subject for everybody. Um but if we are going away um as you mentioned Carl where the state is looking to have the taxpayers fund more of our education than uh what it is now.
Why not look at the increase of the taxes? Uh kind of like Mr. S was saying, um why not do that in small increments to keep what we have rather than if the time comes for the unknown of uh you know just all of a sudden all of these programs are just cut and then the
taxpayers have to take this over. if we could just like nip at this little bits at a time, I feel like that would be so much better for us than getting hit with a huge tax increase sometime in the future. Um, that being said, and again like uh your your chart showed um about
what was it? I'm sorry I don't remember the exact numbers, but it was anywhere between5 and $10 $2 a month for us as taxpayers payers and you all with the 2% increase got multi-million dollars for this. I might get a lot of people mad at
me for this, but why not increase it to four and double that amount if it's only going to make us a month $10 extra on our taxes? Um, I know that that is something that I would be more than willing to do to make sure that especially the people who are so close to retirement who are going to lose it
all had that to push them through. Um, that's that. Um, and then the other thing I had mentioned in the last meeting is this has been crumbling. It crumbled with um other superintendents. It's crumbled with other board members. I applaud you two for voting down um
using those COVID funds in ways that they were not supposed to be used. I appreciate that. Um but again, nobody is being held accountable for any of this. People come into our district, they go onto our board, they become our superintendent, and then they just
leave. They leave and nothing happens. There's no ramifications for any of this. the mismanagement and that has to be something that's put into like your board policies. We fought for like an hour and a half of the board policies last uh meeting for um whether or not to
be virtual and things like that. Like let's think about what things can be in your policy to to show people like there are actual consequences to your mismanagement of the funds for this district. That's all.
Anyone else? >> I don't know why I torture myself. >> How? >> Oh, come on, man. Even I felt >> this is a trick microphone, I swear. >> How y'all doing?
>> My name's John Miller. >> SAY YEAH. president of Little Egg Harbor and uh proud parent of a beautiful little fifth grader in this school district. Uh so uh
thank you for the presentation. I believe it was was pretty pretty thorough. Obviously you have some questions about stuff that I'm not educated on that. But you brought up a couple interesting points that I would like to address. Um one is of course the
raising of the health insurance and why it's happening is the high rate of claims makes us undesirable to the healthcare uh health insurance providers right and that that's a problem uh there horizon has a pro has a program called
um ICRA which is a stands for individual coverage health reimbursement arrangement uh I I made an introduction to Mr. primarily to a representative from Verizon that I that I know that is exploring whether or not the school
district qualifies now for it may may not. But the concept is interesting in that the school district or an employer just for an example would provide a designated amount of money towards an an employee and then that employee would go
to the marketplace and select whatever level of coverage they want. And because it's an individual thing going through the marketplace, our collective uh claims don't play a factor in that. So it actually ends up being cheaper for everybody. And um I know that that's
ongoing and I know that that's a process. Mr. Mer just responded yesterday to that gentleman and I know that we're working on that. So thank you for that. Um some people know his comments about a month ago and um I was invited to a meeting with several members of the board and uh Mr. Morelli
and Miss Antunis. Uh, and we had a productive meeting where I brought with me uh, a former CFO from a different township and a an active tax assessor for multiple townships. And in my little
financial team, we gathered as much information from the budget that was given to us uh to to establish exactly how much money the difference is for the parrots and how much it would cost to keep them or not, which is a question
that this board, I don't believe anybody here has publicly told us that, you know, that number. and we got really close in that meeting and but there was a couple couple little final numbers we couldn't get and then we ran out of time. But I can tell you based off of
our math I think uh Carl you can tell me if you agree or not but I believe it's about 4%. Is is give or take. So, at the $3 a month, $4 a month, $5 a month to the average
uh taxpayer in this town, that would then make their tax increase 10 or $15, right? Instead of $5, might be $10 or $15 because that's reflecting a 2% increase, we're talking about 4% is what the difference in the healthcare for the Paris costs.
So for $10 or $15 a month to the average taxpayer, we're we're just going to roll over and die. I understand we had a great a crazy increase in 25 and a pretty good increase in 26. What happened, guys? Where do we just now we're now we're just gave into the Oh, no. We can't do it no more. That's not
right. Um and then lastly, the only other comment I'm going to make on this is you said there's only one other source of funding to go to, and that's the taxpayer, right? because the state's cutting us. Feds are cutting us and it's going to get worse. I agree with that.
Except there's only one way to push back. Is the way I threatened to push back a month ago by pushing to not reelect anybody who doesn't who doesn't keep these parrots, right? Is you push that increase back on the taxpayers.
Make them pay $15 a month for their parrots and then explain to them and educate them on why it had to happen. and direct them to their state senators and their congressmen and their federal senators and congressmen to go fix that
policy and get the state to not only restore our funding but to increase it to account for the missing money that we have. So, so if you want the state to come back, don't roll over and just say, "Well, we'll just we'll just fire everybody.
We're going to go home now. Please don't please don't cut any more money. Push back. And the only way to do that is to piss off the taxpayers. So I invite you all to join me in pissing off the taxpayers. Let's raise the whole budget. And last
but it is really not I accused you guys of doing something dirty a month ago and whether it was right or wrong, whatever. But to deny us the presentation on the part-time model, which you cannot
explain how 81 part-time people are going to replace 81 full-time people >> and then you guys are going to vote on this budget on a final thing tonight is offensive. Sorry, that's not right. It's not transparent.
Wish you all. Thank you. How come you're not up there? >> No. >> Please. >> I need six more of me and a lot of Advil. Hello. >> Hi, my name is Christina Bore.
I have been in the district for over 25 years. 1071 Rap Avenue, not in this town. Um, I'd like to express my concern. Hi. I'd like to press express my concern uh regarding the district's transition
to an in-house transportation fleet. This has been my ongoing concern on my mind at every meeting. To date, we have not received any more information or a presentation on the transportation
plan for the upcoming school year. We have no idea what it's going to look like, the actual cost to run it with the 19 buses, the maintenance, the fuel costs, and the wear and tear of it all. I believe there was a presentation to
the board privately, but there has never been one to us, the public, the community, this administration, or the staff of this district. Never once did we try anything that we have used in the past.
While I understand the potential benefits of increased control, the reliability, but down the road, I worry about the financial impact this decision may have on our district's overall
budget. I'd like to know the upfront and the ongoing costs associated with running a district own fleet. I would like to know where we are parking the buses. I would like to know how the leasing and the
purchasing of this bus will cost. How the maintenance, the staffing, the gas, the parking, the insurance compared to the previous transportation model that we've had over several years. You talked about the increase of the
salaries. Well, we are hiring 19 bus drivers. Most importantly, any sorry packs, whatever we call them. Most importantly, how will the district ensure that this increased cost
do not reduce funding for the classrooms, the student programs, or any essential services that we have lost already? How will the district protect funding for this instruction,
the programs, the student services if transportation costs exceed your projections? What plans are in place if the costs run higher than expected? I respectfully ask for continued
transparency around this decision and its long-term impact on students. WOULD anyone else like to speak? No, >> another question.
>> How will the superintendent's departure in August impact the current budget and any planned staffing programs initiatives for the five school year? Just one final time. Mark Zeride.
And just to be sure, I am not employed by this district, nor am I an LEHTa member as of January 2023 cuz I know sometimes we get confused about who's still an employee. So, do not reflect my comments on that cuz I am an independent person who's also a taxpayer. Question
about the busing. I'd heard this presentation. I've listened to it. I've looked online. I believe the number was a $500,000 savings. Bearing this oranges here for a moment. I'm making up the number cuz I don't know what the bus size is currently that you guys um get
from Durham. We'll say it's 30. You're only employing a 15 size. So, it's not a savings when you're reducing the number of buses on the road. Changing the hours of schools in order to make that happen because there's no way you can get every kid to school on those 15 buses at the
same time. Start times haven't been discussed. That's a part of this budget decision tonight that these families haven't heard. What time do they need to get the bus stop twice now to get their children to school? Having been in this district for many years, unlike some of
you who are sitting at these tables, there were presentations. We used to have the model of the tiered start. Then we went to two K to6 buildings. Then we went to the configuration we have now. But parents fought back about having two different bus stop times. And I mean they fought back. They thought the room
was full. Last month this room was standing room only busting out those doors. We actually had them open. And uh they were adamant about the fact that they couldn't do it. There's that transparency during these discussions. I feel like we keep
brushing things underneath those tablecloths hiding people. We need to be transparent and for you to vote tonight without this transparency tells us everything we need to know come November.
>> Okay, I'm sorry. There were two things I forgot to mention. >> Yes, Kate Sanchez. Um, two things. The first thing was thinking back, looking at those numbers, I feel like maybe the second grade class numbers are incorrect. I know that's the highest uh class numbers right now. So, I know we
talked about special ed and the prek, but I know that um in other meetings and other discussions, the second grade class was uh one of the highest in the district. Uh now my other question again this is uh something I found on Facebook so we'll take that for face value. Um
but I do see on Indeed posted by the mom and education services commission that there are five and part-time para jobs open right now in the district. Um who Dr. You look a little confused. Um
that we're also confused. Um, just I wanted to make you all aware it's very, like I said, it's the Mammoth Ocean Educational Services is posting it, which I know they are an actual like thing. It's not just a data thing, you know. Um, so it's
saying that they're hiring part-time and full-time. Um, the the time in which these people will be employed is like ASAP till the next day of school. Um, and then what else was on here too? Uh, but then also the hours are part-time
hours. I don't know. You all seem very confused that this job posting is up in July, but I do if anybody didn't know that was around and you all didn't know that was around. >> Anybody else? >> All right. closing in public comment.
>> Can I just state as closed so I thank you I annoy everyone by doing this so I hope you guys um I just want to say a couple things and address some people's questions just things that I can answer and things that I really do appreciate
you all of you because you raised questions. I went back to the bus lease agreement and so just to let you know that's on the February 3rd there should be a link for the lease agreement and that gives the payments and the conditions and the terms of the lease.
Okay, February 3rd. Um that was um I have also I know said to go to 4%. I think Mr. Miller said that. Um, I think we're we've used all of our bank cap if
someone wants to correct me on that. Um, so we can't go to 4%. However, we could and I'm going to get the name of this completely wrong because I've asked for this number also and what it would mean for us. It's not really called the health insurance waiver. It's called something
else because they the health insurance went up so much we're allowed to take back some of that. >> What's the actual term of it, Carl? there from the email that I sent. >> I know I just want the name of it. >> It's the health cost worksheet that comes out of the NJO budget that
includes the healthcare cost, the increase and the pass down to the tax. >> Yes. So that's where we could get money from to do that. And I had also asked to see again with regards to the Paris what that would look like overall in the
budget. Um, I wish I had been at the meeting that discussed potentially going to the healthcare marketplace and doing that because that's the first time that I'm hearing it. So, um, same as you, I I I would have liked to have known that. Um,
and then one more thing with regards to the transportation, we have the same information and similar questions. That's all I can say. Um, I did look at the lease agreement and it is a a year-to-year agreement.
So, I do see the concern with that because it's not a lock in. And that's when I relooked at it after I want to say after Mr. Miller mentioned it. Um, well, someone else mentioned it last last week's meeting. So, I see where
people's concerns are based on what we're seeing. That's what we're being told is it is a $500,000 savings. And are the bus numbers the same as what we currently have with Durham or it's one more? I thought we had 18 buses with Durham full buses currently.
>> I believe there's over 30 buses right now. >> So we are going down to 19 that's all that we need for our >> 18 >> and I uh I think that's all I have. Um >> on my list to answer the questions that
I have written down. >> So um okay that's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Recommend motion to approve finance items A through H. Can I have a motion please? >> Motion. >> Second.
Any questions? >> Second. Any questions? So H is if we do not wish to approve the budget or have any concerns regarding the budget as it is. Is that correct? >> Yes.
>> I see no questions. Roll call, please. Mr. Mr. Con? >> Yes. >> Mr. Server, >> yes. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. >> M. Middle. >> Yes. Except for H. I'm obstaining. I don't have enough information. >> Dr. Schneider.
>> I'm the same. Uh, yes, except for each. Um, I'm I've really been conflicted as whether to say no or abstain. Um, but I'm going to abstain also. I've been asking for information. I
haven't received it. >> Mr. O'Keefe. >> Yes. >> Mr. Phillips. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Can I recommend a motion to approve facilities item A? >> Motion.
>> Any questions? Seeing none, roll call, please. Mr. Chome, >> yes. Mr. Server, >> Mr. Shaker, >> yes. >> Cooper, >> yes. >> Dr. Steiner, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe, >> yes. >> Mr. Phil, >> yes. Motion pass.
>> Recommend motion to approve school business administrators non-personnel items A through H. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. Do I have a second? >> Any questions? >> Uh, yes. On B, could I before the next
meeting please get those figures on travel expenses >> from last year to this year? >> Yes. Any other questions? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Shone,
>> yes. Mr. Server, >> yes. >> Mr. Lusha, >> yes. >> M. Middle, >> yes. >> Dr. Snder, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe, >> yes. >> Mr. Phillips, >> yes. Motion carries. Recommend motion to approve personnel
items A through H. And I have a motion. >> I think this is where I'd like to make a motion to table motion to approve >> or don't we discuss afterwards?
>> Miss Middle is making a motion to table which >> tables are correct. Um that would be BE number 10 and 11. Say those again. >> Number 10 and 11.
So it's page 13 and 14. >> I'll second. >> All right. All other items >> and those were the were for the ESY >> bus drivers in their salaries. Correct. >> And the a
>> and the >> So there's a motion and a second to table. Is there any questions or discussion on the motion to table? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Con? Yes. Server.
Uh, no. >> Mr. Lee, >> yes. Mr. >> Middle, >> yes. >> Dr. Snider, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe, >> yes. >> Mr. Phillips, >> yes. Motion carries.
On the remaining items, A through H. Are there any questions? >> Yes. Substitutes. Paris substitutes. If this district is moving forward with part-time Paris, I
do not support paying a substitute par which we are we use on a daily basis minimum wage. >> I completely agree. >> I also agree. >> We have to be careful though because teachers are only making 150 as
>> and I also propose that we move to 175 for that because that's what finance is at and we're competing. We talk about that. >> I did suggest that a lot. Thank you. >> Can we make a motion to do that at new business? Should we table that and then make a motion?
>> I've been asking though for this since for the haven't had consensus ever made a motion. I discussed it during executive and it keep being brought up. It kept being mentioned to be brought up. I kept bringing it up and it never went anywhere. And then I just recently found
out that in the 26 27 budget that they're budgeted at minimum wage, right? It's been that way though for a while. So what I was saying, but that's also was if you look at the guide for the power of professionals that is starting on the guide. So in theory
in theory that was an acceptable amount just because theory that's where they were starting on the guide. Now, if we're starting every parrot at $25 an hour, how can we expect to get substitute parrots into this district that we would need potentially on a daily basis that maybe just want the
flexibility of when they choose to accept to come in versus being Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. We're not going to entice them. We're enticing bus drivers, but we're not enticing people that are going to work with children every single day.
um make a motion to table that. >> We have a meeting next week. We can table. >> Okay. >> So, a motion to table G on what that number was at first. There's a lot of pages there. It's still
under that 13. It's on page 15, but I don't know where it started. >> You're just talking about the substitutes. It's on page 15. >> Yes, but I don't know what number it started out here. >> G. Teachers are getting 25 an hour for a
our day. >> Carla, did you get the right number? >> Yes, it's >> all right. Roll call, please. >> May motion. >> Second, >> Mr. Yes. server.
>> No. >> Mr. Shaker, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Dr. Schneider, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Phil, >> yes. Motion carries. >> All right. One more change I want to make to this section. Um, honor about
foration on or about August 20th. Just to amend that to June 30th. Make a motion. >> Any questions? >> All right, roll call. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr.
>> Yes. >> M. >> Yes. >> Dr. Snder. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. >> Yes. >> All right. Anything remaining on this section? Items A through H
for the remaining items. Any other questions? >> Uh yes, I do. So in tableing G, did we eliminate those individuals from the possibility of being subs? That's my slight concern that I probably should ask for.
>> I thought that we could make a motion under business to do it at a different rate. I'm not comfortable decision. >> Yeah, the issue that I hadn't brought that up sooner is that in the past when we substitutes like during
co postco those numbers weren't in that fiscal year's budget. So that was a concern I had about giving it for the remainder of this school year. But I I'm concerned that we won't have coverage if you don't.
That's my concern. >> So by by voting yes, they eliminated all these people in this section. And at this time, I'm not recommending that we do that until we have a chance to look at the numbers. I can make a
motion to >> I was under the impression that business we could make a motion to increase the power rate to match the $25 an hour. >> That's what that substitute
>> to the extent that you're going to increase any rates right now. I would suggest that so we can have a discussion in the executive session concerning the ramifications of that motion here. I understand it's just it's disappointing because this has been
questioned several times, but this board just uh voted to eliminate all these people from being hired. >> But that wasn't obviously everyone knows that that A was not my intention and b unfortunately took me to discussing it
publicly to be heard. If you if you multiply the teachers for 6 hours for 150, they're getting only 25% 25. >> So then that means that people are hiring to teachers. So and that was been my other concern with the current rates
that we're hiring people. We're hiring bus drivers. We're hiring par profofessionals at current rates with no plugs to the future. What type of raises are these individuals going to get? What's the 5-year plan? If they're not part of an
association, what's going to happen? And no one wants to answer that question. Well, that's been on the agenda for a good two weeks now. >> And I question, >> but this is I have asked and the people that we don't want to eliminate. I have asked for months that question and it
has not been answered, which is the reason I abstained from my vote approving this budget because there is no 5-year plan in place. I was told that the bus drivers are not going to be affiliated, which means they don't have to go through a due process to receive a
raise. That if or the if it was proposed to give them a $5 an hour raise, it could be approved without any representation, any due process. That's my concern. But obviously, we have to bring these people back on the agenda.
Agreed. But I want something in place that says that we're not well I didn't approve the budget anyway but that for the 25 26 27th school year cuz Carl you knew that I this was a pet project of mine that the fact that it was approved in the
budget and that was the plan is disappointing to me. It's very disappointing. >> So we're going to bring it back for next week and all the people that were on this list because the numbers have to do with that. Do we have do we have to undo the motion? And
>> so they can take action at the >> the next >> we move to put this back on. >> My strong suggestion would be that we have some time so that I can give you some legal advice in a closed private area.
>> So can we pull back the motion and table it and uh discuss further? can certainly um >> it's already it's already it's already tabled or already voted on >> table. Well, I mean can we vote on this on Tuesday? Like are is this going to be
detrimental between now and this Tuesday since this coming Tuesday is still a voting? >> Here's my concern. My concern is for the operation of the district. And now we have to ask Lisa and Tara what they need in order to run the district. Um that's really should be our north star for the
moment until we get to that next checkpoint at the next meeting. So between now and the next meeting I I think we need to find out from the administrators whether or not they can run things with the way that they are given the votes tonight or the non votes
tonight >> without the subs. So you can unt >> you can untable it, but but my concern is that what's the action after that? >> Untable it. Bring and and vote affirmatively for those folks. If that's the case, so long as Lisa originally re
Dr. Antinis originally recommended the action, then it's fine. I just wouldn't want any board members to take any action that's not being recommended by the superintendent for various reasons. >> Okay. I I don't have a problem untabling it. So the the students have what they
need, but I need to know. And again, I I'm I'm not happy that I it has to come to this point for me to get answers. And so far, this is this is how it's become. And it's becoming frustrating. So, I've been asking for this for months to have
something a little more fair um in regards to pay for our part-time staff because they are vital to this organization. And you're saying that right now they're vital to the uh the
operation yet. We're not reflecting that in their salary. >> So, is everybody okay if we table it for a week? >> Exactly. will vote in the next >> table. >> You can. So again, if there was an
original recommendation from the superintendent which was tabled and now the board wants to take action on that, I would suggest somebody just make the motion. You >> have a motion to untabling a motion to approve whatever you want.
A motion to approve. Chief >> second. >> Any questions? >> Roll call. >> Mr. Chone. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Schneider.
>> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> All right. Items eight through eight. Roll call, please. Our remaining items, >> Mr. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Ber, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Snder, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Motion passes. >> Recommend motion to approve superintendent of schools non-personnel items A through D. Can I have a motion,
please? Motion. >> Have a second. Any questions? >> I'd like to make a motion to abolish policy 0155.1. >> Second. >> Any questions?
>> Now, that's the electronic participation virtually. So basically by abolishing it you're going to need approval from the board to be virtual. >> No. >> No. By abolishing it there's no um
mechanism by which board members can appear electronically at board meetings. Um, however, uh, to the extent that a board member wants to appear and to the extent that the board does want to have that person
up here, they can still, um, make a motion and a vote at that evening. Um, but technically, the absence of an electronic participation policy means that board members cannot participate electronically unless otherwise permitted to do so uh, on a case-by case
basis. So, so you work for someone participating electronically, we need the policy in place. >> I'm trying to clarify. Sorry. So, the
policy would give a framework within which to operate. The absence of a policy means that there's nothing. It's not allowed. However, one can still make a motion to allow on a case-by case basis at a particular meeting, but it wouldn't be, you know, you wouldn't have
the framework in place to guide how the electronic participation works. And so I I understand the idea behind this um but there may be some unintended consequences as a result of it. >> What is your recommendation to the
board? My recommendation to the board is that we hear the concerns that each of the board members have with regard to that policy and we adjust it in a way that provides a framework for the um off times that we may need to have someone come in electronically on an emergency
basis >> respectively. We did discuss that last week and the rewrites to the policy are completely opposite of our concerns and from my reading of it and anyone else can tell me the difference. It felt like most of the
responsibility felt fell on the board president. >> By abolishing it, it puts the power back in the board's hands and I don't see any problem with that. >> I agree. >> Yeah. The point is for people to be here in person. Uh there's a lot that goes on
here in person. I support it. >> Mr. Tone, >> yes. >> Mr. Ber, >> no. >> Yes. >> M. >> Dr. Snder. >> Yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe. >> No. >> Mr. Phil.
>> Yes. Motion carries. >> All right. Now, is that just that specific item items A through D that are remaining? Any questions? >> No, just comment. Um, if we do approve, which I'm hoping the 26 27 calendar, if
we can make sure that goes out to parents as soon as possible and is posted on the board website and staff, sorry. Any other questions? >> Roll call, please. Mr.
>> Yes. Server. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lee. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Dr. Schneider. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Phillips. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Any new business?
I would like to make a motion to authorize the superintendent to hire staff in between board meetings for approval of the next available meeting of the board through June 30th. Hence why I was okay with the table. >> Any questions?
>> Can we just specify as to who could be hired with, you know, maybe par professionals, custodial staff, teaching staff. It's >> my understanding it's anybody but administrators. Uh and the purpose of this between board meetings there are
vacancies that need to be filled for either student needs or operational needs. And rather than waiting until the next meeting, it gives the superintendent the authority to fill that whole way. If I can make a suggestion, um, if it is going to be for non-administrator
positions, we should specify that motion. >> Yeah, >> let me check. >> I would like to make a motion to authorize the superintendent to hire non administrative staff in between board meetings for approval at the next
available meeting of the board through June 30th. >> Second. >> Any other questions? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Shahon, >> yes. >> Miss Ber, >> yes. >> Mr. Leega, >> yes. >> Miss Middle,
>> yes. >> Dr. Snder, >> yes. >> Mr. O'Keefe, >> yes. >> Mr. Phillips, >> yes. Motion carries. And and just to clarify, so this is in the hopes that if there's a need for a pair of professional for student for other needs, someone leaves that we're not in
we are in compliance and that students needs are being met. >> All right. Public comment. Final public comment. The floor is now open to members of the public. The board of education recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues. Board
request that each statement made by a participant is limited to 5 minutes as cited in policy number 0167. There is a signin sheet located at the podium. Please sign in before you speak. >> Good evening. My name is Landazzo. a field representative from the New Jersey
Education Association. Represent about 250 staff here, two staff unions here. Uh I'm proud as a middle class member and a staff union member. Um we're also an educational association, professional association. We reserve the right to respond accordingly to any comments to
the contrary. So um I firmly believe Mr. Weiss and I are on the same page in terms of the ongoing negotiations we referenced. I want to thank Mr. coach alder banking association last week's meeting. Um though the order to show clause report
uh was issued today by the appointed staff agents uh the association is firmly committed to bargaining with the board over the terms and conditions and I know that Mr. Vice and I are in that vote but I don't know that the full board is committed in the same way and I'm going to explain why and I'll answer some of the questions and comments from
some members of the community this evening. So uh our initial information request was 2 weeks ago on Monday the 13th and you know in good faith our uh Mr. Weiss's colleague reached out to our colleague
yesterday at the hearing and I exchanged correspondence on that yesterday and today as well um but we have not received all the information to date. Uh most notably the health benefit information from the full uh par workg
group. So just as a method of comparison that's been 15 days uh in town school district who I also represent in December when they asked us to bargain very quickly at the last minute to leave the school employees health benefits program for similar reasons and costs uh
for a larger bargain unit than just what the 81 paras are we received all that information in two days from Kevin Burns their uh business administrator so there's a point of comparison >> in addition to that though uh as some people say that today there were par profofessional postings from another
school district for your school district. >> Uh I'm clearly aware of what that is. I know that it's not subcontracting. It's allowed shared services. But that leads me to believe that the board doesn't know what's happening in the district based on those comments and what is happening right now with your ability to
do that. But Mr. Rice is clear with that. I think the board members don't understand that postings for power jobs exist right now. So I don't know how I don't know that the board is still committed to bargaining in terms of the existing power structuring and what is going to remain in place. And I think
that is a great metaphor for a lot of things. We continuously hear from the board members about feeling like they're left in the dark and not understanding things that are happening. Uh last week we heard Miss Milu mention that she wasn't aware how the policy draft that one you just abolished amendments occurred when you meet as a committee of
the whole. Dr. Sner just mentioned that she was left out of the community meeting uh the other evening. So, we remain committed to those things, but the district is in a crisis in a lot of ways, not just for the parent professionals, and you're seeing that in all of your operations. And the number
of data points that we have recommended, uh, some of which appear on the March 24th word agenda, right? You are corrective action plan items. You are, it's very troubling. And not getting the data has us, uh, very concerned about the true financial state of the district and your vision, right? Without saying
anything negative about anyone, the superintendent is leaving. I'm shocked that the posting for that is not approved on tonight's agenda. Whether you have a lot of options there, Mr. Vice can tell you you can post both for interim and long-term or not. But the window for that is very short and moving
on from that and where are you going to move operationally for the students and 5-year plan other things is a very relevant consideration for the board. I'm not giving you legal advice. It's Mr. crisis decision, but it's going to impact down the road all the school operations and especially the students.
Um, you know, we're not we're not reducing the health benefit costs uh appropriately, right? Which is one of the items we're not taxing we're not taking the bills from appropriately and these are some of the things that are requested from the association. Uh Dr.
Snider is also right, right? In the current agreement between the parties, the first two steps on the power professional salary guide fall below the minimum wage. uh I also wrote a letter for their association president uh that we sent to the management right in January saying hey you got to follow the minimum wage amounts so that's a very
relevant thing for us you have people here starting at the minimum wage when they can walk off the street to Walmart target a number of other places and make far more money not to care for children and also the staffing as one of the gentlemen mentioned right the 81 part- timerrs that are going to come out of
the full-timers we we have the data for where the staff are in current rooms and we have very real concerns about complying with IEPs. I think that should be a very top of mind awareness item for the board members. There is a lot going on that I feel like you're telling the public and all this that you're in the
dark about and I think you only know the tip of the iceberg. So, I'm not going to give you legal advice. As my time ends, I would just say you need to raise your standards for the way the management communicates with you as an entity and the body and administers the district.
you can't administer in the district, but you should have high standards for the way it is being administered and the information you're being given. And I'm very anxious to talk to the board in a much more open way in the evening with the committee when we meet because this is just the tip of the iceberg. Frankly, word for your district where
you're aheaded. >> Thank you. Thank you. All right. Closing public comment or form. >> Okay, I'll start. >> Um, thank you for all the public comment. Um, I just want the public to
to know tonight that we I guess two people keep saying that they don't have the information, but that's not true of the rest of us. We don't keep saying that. We do have work sessions whereby we ask for this information. We also
have a consensus on this board to keep our taxes lower and that 2% mark was very important to most of us. Um, we also considered Pinelands, which is the other school that these taxpayers have to pay for, and that's going up
7.82%. Our town taxes are going 124 a year based on $200,000 home. So, these are all additional figures that you have to take into consideration. Um, by by saving money on health care, we are
putting that money back into the kids uh supply. Excuse me. Excuse me. >> Our children are boring. >> Excuse me. Everyone had a chance to public comment. Now it's the board. >> Laura's turn. >> My turn.
>> Okay. So, that's the decisions I myself made. We had these numbers and it's not true that we didn't have these numbers. Several weeks ago, we had these numbers. We had worksheet numbers. We had waiver numbers. How much that was costing for people not taking into healthcare. So to
save over a million dollars in years to come, not just this year. You you you know people have mentioned increasing the tax rates so we can cover it, but then what do we do next year? It's all these things are going to accumulate, right? The the um amounts are going to
accumulate and then transportation plan. I did after last week's meeting ask again. We're saving 500,000 more per year this year and over two million two million over the next five years. So
that to me is making a difference in cutting our budget. You have anyone knows that runs a b that works with a budget. You can't keep spending if you don't have the money. So, we're just trying to cut where we can so that the kids programs and the kids um education
and instructional and and I would like to get back to uh discussing academic um progress in this district. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Are we going around you guys? Good.
Welcome. >> Um, I just want to make a comment on my personal stance on the teachers association that I am proud to have our teacher association. Um, I would also like to make a comment that I would be
happy to pay an extra $20 a month in taxes even though I do not have any children enrolled in this school district besides the kitten care. I would also like to make a comment about my board position. Um, that as a parent, I was also worried about the future of
our school district, which is why I am here today. And I do have unanswered questions. Um, I can ask them now if you'd like. Um, I would like to know why we're paying ESY bus drivers $165 a day when we only pay our certified
substitute teachers $150 a day. They're working part-time, teachers working full-time. We also don't know the number of questions that Christine has asked. Um, and I'm also still waiting on whether or not I know the answer to
that. Let me rephrase. I'm also waiting to hear how many more pair of professionals we need to hire today to be in compliance with all IEPs and with that what the projected number would be for next year because that's not on that slide, right? didn't show special
education students which was why there was a gap in the enrollment number. Um so maybe my ears were clogged. If somebody has those answers I will gladly accept them now. I didn't have any of that written down. So as far as my happy closing notes
library events you can find them on the on Facebook under friends at the Little Lake Harbor branch. Um we are killing it. They are doing upcycled junk journals make it. So if you have a teen um or you know a young child who you think would benefit from journaling,
they would be able to create their own journal. There is a dying to donate for the friends of Little Harbor branch on May 6th at Doyles. They are doing a pollinators um education program with 4 May 12th. They are hosting a K pulse dancers um they're from New York City.
It's kind of like K-pop on May 9th for Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. So all of those things are free for the children in our district. So go check them out and support their fundraisers. ECC is hosting another Toucher Truck on
Saturday, May 2nd from 1 to 3 at GJM. There's going to be snacks, free painting, resource tables, um, and food trucks for purchase. The Wildcat Shack is continuing to offer a food bank, gently used clothing, a monthly supper club where I think that they're even having child care. like they have a
limit of half but your family can go there and learn how to make this meal and or bring it home and make it at home. They offer school supplies and use of washer and dryer. The PTO um would like to thank let me
just the obviously the sponsors for the bags, the attendees, the volunteers. They had their biggest year yet. They had over 300 people show up for the designer bag bingo. He had 73 raffle baskets. They
had 14 purses sponsored by local businesses and families. The 50/50 was the biggest it's been in four years. They raised over $20,000. >> Thank you ladies. The plan for this money is to help renovate the FrogN
basketball court as well as the track over GJM and ECC. Again, they would like to thank the volunteers who helped make this event a success, including Dr. Chuck Idler, who if you haven't gone on their Facebook page and checked out his empty outfit, you need to because he volunteered his time. I don't know, he
was with us for like five hours on this stage where Designer Bang. The Jersey Mike's fundraiser raised $1,05. Staff appreciation week is May 4th through 8th. That is every single staff
member. Unfortunately, the PTO doesn't have the funds or woman power to appreciate each staff member on those designated days like today's bus driver appreciation day. Thank you. It's just not feasible to do all those separate days. So, they combine it into one week
for all staff members. So, that's May 4th through May 8th. It is going to be a target themed week and they hope that families will participate by using their bullseye template to shower staff with appreciation all week. The template can be found on their Facebook page. The color run is May 9th at Frog Pond.
That is free to participate, but if you would like to help fund raise, they have a link at myfundrun.com/lhpto. Sixth grade promotion loan signs are due by May 25th. You can purchase one at lhpto.org. May 25th is the actual cutoff. It goes to the signed company
and then that's it. They don't let you add any on. No exceptions. It's not our rule, it's the company. The student appreciation day is June 6th. The rain date is June 13th. Um there will be a sign up link for volunteers. Volunteers are needed to make that event successful. I think I skipped the sixth
grade glow dance. That's going to be June 5th for the sixth grade only. It's a fun night. So again, support the PTO. They give back to your kids. Show up. help out. I mean, $20,000 in one night. You guys are awesome. Thank you.
>> Good evening everyone. Um, like to first of all congratulate all of our students of the month this month. Great job. Love seeing them smiling up here. Um, want to say that I look forward to continuing to fight for uh proper uh proper student
rostering levels in the classroom and proper staffing. uh both teachers and parent professionals in the classroom. Uh also um look forward to continuing the fight to keep taxes at bay for our constituents, our 23,000
uh plus or minus residents in town. Um would like to give Mr. uh Chuck Iler, Dr. Idler a shout out for the uh the great information he provided on the uh the part-time power professional recently. in executive session uh recently.
Looking forward to Thank you all. I'm looking forward to uh hearing from the NJSDA on giving recommendations on the timing and the roll out of our search for our next superintendent and I look forward to uh Adam Weiss's feedback in that as well. And um we're certainly uh
going to get that posting out for the superintendent immediately. Um so please uh trust us on that. we want to get uh this thing rolling right away and we appreciate your patience. So, thanks for all your questions tonight and look forward to uh connecting this board as well.
>> Thank you, Dennis. >> Um I just want to say that just because um I I still have questions and I've asked them repeatedly to the point I could be considered annoying. Um, but
just because other board members have felt that their questions were answered, it doesn't mean that we all need the same information to make the same decision. Um, I wanted to see what it would take to keep every single par. And
I've been asking, that's why we uh I supported Tiffany on the amendment. It was an amendment. Um because I I and I wish I would have won the motion to have a deadline because I still I received
some information today, but yet again the healthcare was a big area where I do think that we could have saved a half a million dollars and if we didn't truly explore it, that's disappointing. >> Yep. um also to with regards to the I
still say the name wrong where we could um use a healthcare percentage increase and include that to the tax base. And again, if that was only $20 a month or $20 a year, um I'm partially on a fixed income. My husband's retired. I
understand the difficulties of it in increasing taxes, but I'll also say this, my kids went to this district and I'm forever grateful. Um, you know, I would want that experience for every child. And I'm concerned with
each cut that we make. It's it's not going to be that same experience. And it's not anyone who's working on a day-to-day basis fault. It's due to all of the cuts. As for the power model and the start time, I
have been asking this question for months as well. And I do hope that it is presented and it's advertised when it's going to be presented and not placed and then removed so that I hope that people can attend and hear it. Even better, as
I suggested, roll it out um as a video recording so that everyone can have it immediately. Um I don't see why we can't make it accessible to everyone as soon as possible. Um I think that's all I have to say. And I
do I did see uh Dr. Eidler's picture demoing a purse which I quite loved as well and I thought that he was a great sport and really gave back to the district and I really appreciated that. So I do look forward to negotiating with
the power professionals and I do hope that that this is not the end of the story and I pray to God it's not. Um, so just know that. And I know that we had the spring concert last week. Um, and I
do believe we have a the spring play is coming up. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. And so just some fun things to look to forward to the new and to the district. And I appreciate all of you and to the bus drivers. Thank you for
what you do. I cannot imagine driving a bus with some students. >> All right, have a good week everyone. I um or made me remember about wishing what you could hear at the board meetings. I enjoyed when we had the principles give us that positive thing
that was happening in their school. We used to have the principles would have I remember Mr. Mr. Daniel used to have his student government come up and tell us about the things that were going on in the school and you know I missed so many things. I didn't know there was an art show that I could have shared with the public. So all those type of things I
feel like should be presented from the schools so that the community can be aware and be included. I would have loved to know. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Can I just add one more thing? I with regards to not knowing information, I really genuinely believed when we moved
to a board of a whole and that's when I voted on it was that we would have all of the information but I still feel that I am still out of the loop in some areas and for that regard and I asked the questions I sent an email and then oh can you call me sometime or this I just
I have questions if I can read it at midnight that's when I can read my answers and reformulate my questions but still we're not getting the chance to have that dialogue whether it's executive that we're rushing out or even here or we're or my hand is forced to
present it publicly which I'm fine with but I think we have to do better making sure everyone gets all of the information and I don't know what the best way to do that is but it's not working in this fashion either in my opinion
>> thank you I was just wondering about a motion to go back into executive. >> All right, I'll just um I'll finish up. I just really want to thank everyone in the room right now. Whether you're on this side of the table or that side of the table, these are very very difficult
financial issues. Difficult because we have to make them difficult because you guys have to live. Um thank you Mr. Rendazzo again for coming and speaking at the podium. We are committed to negotiating and and trying to do something that works for
everybody. Um, you know, as we discuss these issues, especially in work sessions, that's what a work session is for, is to discuss openly, publicly. Uh, as you can see, there's a lot of different opinions, a lot of uh a lot of questions that are answered or
unanswered. And a lot of times people, you know, this is probably the first time that they've seen this kind of back and forth, but when we did the board as a whole, we realized that this was going to be one of the um outcomes of that. So, I just wanted to say thank you for
everyone that's here tonight, uh especially on that side of the table because it's 9:30. It's 9:41 and we're probably going to see you in 10 and a half hours from now. uh back at work doing what you do for the kids, which is amazing work every single day. Um and to
that end, our work as a board is not done tonight. We are actually going to go back into executive session uh to discuss personnel issues, but we are not going to take action. So, we're going to come back after executive session just to close it. No further action is going
to be taken tonight. We're going to talk about um personnel issues including the superintendent and what's next for that. So, can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> All right. Can I have a roll call,
please? >> Motion to go to executive session. All in favor? I >> opposed. Thank you. Have a good day. You guys ready? Ready. All right. Go ahead. >> All right. We're back to executive
session. No action will be taken. I would like to adjourn. Let it hereby be resolved that the Lily Carpet Board of Education adjourns at 11:06 p.m. >> All in favor? Thanks for