Could we start without May we start without Mr. Wonderful's here. Oh yes. I'm going to call the meeting to order. Can you please rise for the flag salute? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Mr. Avante here. >> Mr. Ger Russo >> here. >> Miss Pasamano >> here. >> Mr. Pasamano
>> here. >> Mr. Petranzio >> here. >> Miss Russo >> here. >> Dr. Scardino >> here. >> Dr. Tuma >> here. >> And Mr. Valvano >> here. >> You have qu sir. >> Thank you. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the following means. Annual notes was sent to the record newspaper township clerk
and posted in the lobby of the town hall and board office. Setting uh forthcoming schedule work meeting and public meeting of the board. Approval minutes. >> We need a motion for the approval of the minutes for March 24th. Please move it.
>> Second. >> Roll call. Mr. Abate. >> Four. >> Mr. Garuso. >> Four. >> Miss Pasamano. >> Four. >> Mr. Pasamano. >> Four. >> Mr. Petranzio. >> Miss Russo. >> Four. >> Dr. Scardino. >> Four. >> Dr. Tuma. >> Four.
>> And Mr. Nevada. Motion carries. >> Student member. Uh again, one of our highlights of our evening is having our student representative, uh Nick Brennan here. Nick, >> thank you. First, I want to say I'm glad to be back in celebration
preparation. for start of next school year which is crazy for this year. The spring practary of Winders High School's first school year opened on September 11th, 1926. Uh
this state also wants to tax. So select stand out front celebration SBA University website. the April issue of the White House published earlier this
month. I included a few and I also competition volunteers who show proficiency in Italian language competing in the Italian language and culture competition
in March at the construction. of New Jersey. There we go. Along with Ruckers, New Brunswick College hosts this competition and our students have competed for over 5 years. Each school that competes prepares a fiveinut skip pertaining to a predetermined theme
which has to be produced solely by the students involved. The students brainstormed, put together, and performed a skit about honor society induction took place. Thank you. on April 16th in the LHS
auditorium. This society is managed by Spanish teacher Miss Rojos and Italian teacher Mr. Agusto. To be chosen for this group, students must demonstrate proficiency and excel academically in either Spanish or Italian at Lynhurst High School as well as be as well as be
academically sound in other classes. Select Lynhurst High School students took the national Spanish exam in early April during which their knowledge and proficiency in Spanish were tested. This test is administered and monitor uh and monitored by Spanish teacher Miss Vega.
This year's Lynhurst High School Powderpuff game was played on April 15th. This game is an annual event where junior girls and senior girls go head-to-head in a 50minute flag football game coached and refereed by students and junior and senior boys to take the
cheerleading job complete with a halftime performance. Unfortunately, no halftime performance took place this year as no boys volunteered to cheer. But don't fret. I will definitely be doing that next year. The Lynhurst High School, excuse me,
Lynhurst High School observed the annual Take Your Child to Work Day in April 23rd. I was glad to be here with my mom, the vice principal of the school. It was very fun. The Lynhurst High School annual academic awards dinner is set for May 4th. This dinner recognizes the
achievements of each class's top students and is open to all students in the top 10% of their class. LHS students in AP or advanced placement classes will be taking their national exams throughout throughout May. So exciting.
These classes and exams are provided through the College Board Association and match the difficulty of college level courses. The LHS junior class is taking the science portion of the NJGPA test this week. The freshman class is
taking the NJSLA state tests in May, consisting of an English and a math portion. So, a lot of testing going on around this time. Uh, now this is something new. A select group of LHS students have been chosen to participate in a competition on artificial
intelligence's role in finance on May 8th at Felician University. Felician University just introduced this event and this is the first ever year of the competition. The select students chosen will answer questions based on financial scenarios and how AI can be used in
them. The Lynhurst High School graduation ceremony is set for June 21st as of right now at 10:00 a.m. The early time is a prevention measure against bad weather later in the day which again at the very least I see a future
board member right there. So, uh um that's great. Uh now we have our state monitors report. Mr. uh Demikov, please. >> Yes. I have reviewed the financial reports for the month ending March 2026 and support tonight's resolution that certifies that there are sufficient
funds available based on the March financials to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the 2025 2026 school year. As we continue uh to monitor the 26 financials, all indications are that the district's
financial position should remain positive for the remainder of the school year. On the agenda this evening for board approval is the final 2026 2027 district budget that has been approved by the Department of Education's county
superintendent. I have also reviewed and discussed the other resolutions on tonight's agenda with Mr. D Corso and support his recommendations to the board that they approve the resolutions on tonight's agenda. That concludes my report for this evening.
Thank you, Mr. Demikov. As far as uh uh for me, the board president report, there's a couple things. One is um if you if you haven't had a chance to look at the lighthouse every year, every every time we get a copy or we're part, it's truly remarkable about what these students do. And I think it's really
important to recognize that how amazing it is as far as this is my first show I missed in a long time. Sorry I missed it, but I heard it was wonderful. And I think acknowledgement of the arts as much as anything else being so important is really something that continues to grow and we outshine anyone in the
region as far as I'm concerned. Um and um as as we think about it, the other important thing the thing I I I always say, well, why am I on the board? What the what's the things that drive me? being able to celebrate students next, which uh the superintendent will do.
It's always great to see families and the students here to share in these incredible moments. I think there's there's nothing more important than celebrating not only their success of what they mean to the community and the way we look on the future and things that are happening. Uh AI is not going
to destroy us. Um I certainly we could certainly have some conversations about that, but watching these students uh uh achieve such high things, it's amazing. and we're grateful to share with us. So, I'm going to turn this over now to the superintendent. >> Thank you, Dr. Scardino. Welcome
everyone uh this evening. Just to kind of um echo what uh Mr. Demikoff and Dr. Scardino said. Um Mr. Demikov mentioned tonight um on the agenda is the approval of the 2627 school budget. So, we're going to recognize some some students and then um a faculty member as well.
Following that, we are going to move into the 2627 budget presentation where um I'm going to give a PowerPoint overview of the budget for next year, highlighting some driving principles um that the that the district and the board goes off of um including some projects
we have planned for next year, as well as some staffing and technology upgrades um that we plan on doing. So, um following the the awards tonight, we will move into a budget presentation. But then, like Dr. Scardino said ultimately the most important
best part of our evening is celebrating our our faculty and of course our students. So um with that I'm going to first call up um Mr. Rizzo the middle school principal who is going to recognize one of our students. Uh good evening. Uh as Mr. Dorso just
mentioned, I'm here to recognize one of our learners Middle School students. Um he received a pretty prestigious award. The award is called the National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award. Uh it's presented by the NASSP, which is the National Association of
Secondary School Principles and by the National Junior Honor Society. There are only a select group of students uh that are picked across our nation to receive this award from the National Junior Honor Society. It includes a $500 scholarship that is to be deposited into
a 529 account in his name. Um he is only the second Liners Middle School student to receive this award in the 13 years that we have had the National Junior Honor Society in Lhurst. That student is our young man Jamie Farendino. Please come on up.
Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Rizzo. Congratulations, uh, Jamie. At this time, I'd now like to call the high school administration up, Miss Lisa Klein, who's going to, um, recognize Okay, I am thrilled um to prevent
present two different groups of awards tonight. And as Mr. Rizzo says, I'm getting old and he's watching me grow older before his eyes. So there's my glasses. Okay. So if Miss Pastor would please come up.
Miss Pastor is our adviser of the lighthouse. So, previously the Lighthouse competed in the National American Scholastic Press Association contest, and this year marked the staff's first time participating in the
Colombia Scholastic Press Association's competitions, and we did really well. Congratulations students on your achievements. Thank you for representing the lighthouse so well in its inaugural year of this competition. I also want to
recognize Miss Pastor for her guidance and support in helping students reach this level of success. And at this time, Miss Pastor will recognize these outstanding achievements. Um, thank you. Um, so again, my name is
Miss Pastor Tanya Pastor. It's my 18th year at LHS and my 18th year advising the lighthouse. We started with eight students and we are up to 32. Um, so that in itself is an accomplishment. Um, so I'm here to recognize several
outstanding achievements. We're going to start with Zahara and um, Lexi. So Zahara Chory and Alexandra Lorenzo, please come on up. So, both Zahara and Lexi are four-year members of the journalism program and their two-year editors and chief. That
deserves a round of applause. Um, during their time at LHS, they earned a combined 15 individual awards from the Garden State Scholastic Press Association and led the newspaper to a first place GSSPA print excellence award in October. So, we were here in the fall
um discussing that and now there's another round of wonderful awards to celebrate. Um but before we get to those awards, um this Friday at Ruckers University, the Garden State Scholastic Press Association in partnership with the New Jersey Press Foundation are going to be honoring Zahara and Lexi
with the annual uh journalism scholarships. Um this is a big deal. There's only two given each year and they're going to Lexi and Zahara this year. Um, Zahara is going to be attending Duke University next year. Um, she is the recipient
she's the recipient of a $5,000 Bernard Kilgore Memorial Scholarship given to a student who plans to pursue a career in journalism. Lexi will be studying at the University of Notre Dame and she is the recipient she is the recipient of a $2,000
scholarship. It's the Bob Stevens Memorial Scholarship and it's given to a student pursuing a career outside of journalism. She's going to be pursuing a career in marketing. Um this is the first time um LHS students have received this award and for them to receive it the same year is absolutely incredible.
I honestly had to pinch myself. We've had what I thought were really qualified candidates who never got this award and then I think I found out I don't even remember who I found out first about I think it was okay. All right. And I like once one of them got it I was like all right the other one has to get it um
because they're both just so wonderful. Um so we'll be celebrating this Friday. It's actually uh the Garden State Scholastic Press Association's um advisor conference and uh the students are invited as guests. So, they're going to be treated to a really beautiful um buffet lunch and be I know uh given so
many accolades by other adviserss and I'm going to be so happy to be them be there with them uh kind of showing them off in all of their achievements. Um so now I'd like to turn u my attention or our attention to Zahara and Lexi's second outstanding achievement. Um so as Miss Klein said last summer um I put put
in the paperwork for the Columbia Scholastic Press Association's um annual contest. This was a really big deal for us because we never participated in this contest before. Um, it's a three- tier contest. Um, so in the fall, the lighthouse earned a gold medal from the CSPA and that moved us to the next level
of competition, the Crown Awards. So, in the fall, we were here discussing um that first level of competition where we earned the gold medal. And tonight um I have some great news about the Crown Awards. So, the Crown Awards recognized the top publications in the nation, and The Lighthouse was among the finalists.
Last month, I received notice that The Lighthouse earned the Silver Crown Award, and that means The Lighthouse is one of the top 12 high school print newspapers in the nation. The Silver Crown Award would not be possible without Zahara and Lex's
vision, leadership, commitment, and attention to detail. They are here some nights so late and they are reading the same articles five times to make them as excellent as they can possibly be. Um so they really deserve um all of the praise
and all of the awards that are coming towards them. Um so this is the plaque. Can you hold it up? Uh this is the plaque the lighthouse received from the CSPA. Um so it's gorgeous and it's going to be put somewhere uh at LHS. I think we need to discuss where. Um, but I want to give Zahara and Lexi their copies of
this award. Um, so thank you Okay. And that's not it. Um, so I get you guys can sit down, I think, and we're going to recognize two more people. Um, so Jacob Collins Dodd and Sophia Duran, can you come on up? Um, so there's one more level of
competition from the CSPA competition and this is the gold circle award and this goes to individual students. Um, so I'd like to turn my attention to these two students who have won national awards for their contributions to the lighthouse. So first there's Jacob Collins Dodd. He's a junior and he
joined the lighthouse staff last year. He earned a first place state award for his on the agenda column. Um, and in the CSPA's national contest, he placed second in the nation in the general commentary category. So, congratulations, Jacob.
And then this is Sophia Duran. She's a class of 2025 graduate who's studying at Montlair State University. Um, she's a four-time GSSPA state award winner. And now I have the honor of presenting her with a national award. Um, she's a third place finisher in the cartooning
category. So, congratulations, Sophia. And also, thank you for being with us tonight. I know that this is a really busy time in the college students life with finals. Are they coming up or are they here already? This is finals week and she's here. So, round of applause. That's amazing.
Yes. Okay. Now, I am honored to recognize a staff member. Um, Miss Anna Slla, would you please come down and Anna is here not just for one, but
for two awards. She is a Spanish teacher at Lynhurst High School and her first award we will be talking about is she was named a recipient of the Muheres destadas, a distinguished honor presented by El
Diario, the nation's oldest Spanish language newspaper recognizing exceptional Latinas who make a meaningful impact across the tri-state area. Miss Sylvell was the only K to2 educator selected this year and was
honored for leading the Wonder Girls program at Lynhurst High School as well as for her dedication to teaching and promoting the Spanish language. And now the big reveal. Okay, >> county really did it. Okay.
Additionally, Miss Sella was nominated, this is really special, by one of her students, Nicolina Ayakona for recognition as part of Bergen County Women's History Month celebration. This
honor recognizes women who have made a lasting impact through their leadership and service. Her work with Wonder Girls, which is active at both Lynhurst Middle and High School, has helped students earn over $3,000 in scholarships this
year. And she was formally recognized on March 12th by Bergen County Executive James Tedesco at the Bergen County Courthouse. So I wanted to congratulate Miss Dell on these welldeserved
recognitions and a beautiful Hold on. Can we get a picture? >> We want them in the picture. >> We'll put this one in. Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thanks.
>> Thank you, Mr. Rizzo. And thank you, Miss Klein. It it really truly is amazing year after year. I know we have some new board members, but we have some existing board members. It's truly amazing what small little Lynhurst is doing on a national level, both with our with both with our students and our
teaching faculty year after year. Not only are we recognized for state awards, but we're now being recognized for national awards. And it just it's just so great to see. And congratulations to our students and faculty. The Lighthouse, as mentioned, consistently receives awards year after
year as well. And so, we do have copies of the Lighthouse. We bring them to every board meeting. So, if you do come to board meetings and you want to um see the lighthouse, please come up and take a copy. So, at this time, we are going to transition to the budget presentation. You are all certainly
welcome to hear that. Um, but if you do not want to hear that presentation, now would be the time to exit. As the board, I'm gonna ask the board members to come down off the stage and we're going to uh bring the screen down and we're going to present. Former board member, Mr. Fernandino, you don't want to stay for
our presentation. No. Okay. >> Okay. >> Congratulations. That's so good to see. How's everything? >> Congratulations. I know you got >> bathroom. >> No, I'll wait. I'll wait.
>> Have to sign the book. >> Oh, yeah. How are you? Good to see you. Yeah. Uh 20 30 minutes. >> Uh on agenda or non-aggenda? >> Non-aggenda.
>> Well, I mean, >> right. >> Sorry. I know. I don't know where it went. >> There was one up here, but I'm not sure where. >> Sorry. I'm just going to wait one second because I had one or two people ask.
They just had to run to the restroom and I'm going to start. Okay, thank you. So, tonight I'm going to give an overview of of next year's uh budget uh school year 2627. Uh for school districts in the state of New Jersey, our fiscal year runs uh
differently than the annual fiscal year, right? Most budgets turn over January 1 for a school district. We run from July 1 to to June 30th. So there we go. Okay. So when devel Thank you. So when developing the budget,
um there's there are several factors that go into that. And so I'm going to give you just a brief overview of what the presentation um is going to cover tonight and then we'll get into those various components. So um the the the administrative team and I really start develing developing the budget as early
as October of the following year. There's a great deal of information um and effort and time and planning that goes into developing the budget. So we start that process in October. Um when the admin team and I look at the budget, there's six um major components
that go into developing the budget that I'm going to highlight um in the next few slides. In those six components, there's various aspects um that I'm going to highlight this evening in terms of programs um technology and key factors that we're adding in next year's
budget. Um a big factor this year um facing um school districts and and um multiple uh businesses is the healthc care um increases. I have a few slides on just giving you a little perspective on what that meant to Lynhurst. Um of
course our district revenue, what we receive in revenue annually, our district allocations. Um this district has made some cuts in prior years. Just want to highlight some of those. Um, of course, there's a tax impact um ultimately that the budget will have on
the taxpayer. And then um finally, I would just like to highlight um some other um budgetary issues facing not just us, but other districts throughout the state. And there's many many places I'm sure you've seen in news facing the you know, the quote unquote fiscal cliff.
So when we develop the budget, um there's six guiding principles that really define the overall budget. Of course, there's instruction and programming which includes salaries and benefits of all of our faculty. Um the
the curriculum, right? And that's where our teacher salaries are, you know, primarily housed. Special education and student services a huge cost whether we're servicing our special education students here in Lynhurst or whether they're going out of district. Also, OTP
related services, speech fall under special education, of course, building goals. um each building is unique and each building has its unique set of challenges and so we have to budget and plan accordingly um for that technology um Dr. Scardino me
me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me mentioned AI and how that's shaping not just education but you know the workforce as well and so technology is always a huge part of our budget whether it be the in infrastructure in terms of servers access access points but also
the devices that our students use and then also the the resources in the classroom security obviously school security um for obvious reasons um is a huge part of our budget um that security cameras SRO's um security officers um
and then finally facilities right I think a lot of times facilities sometimes are overlooked there's a lot of infrastructures uh infrastructure type um things that impact our budget the energy costs that go into that PCG uh that really impact the budget and
then of course we have to keep up with our facilities and making sure that we're not just reactive but we're proactive um in addressing and fixing some of our buildings are 100 years old. So when when we look at next year's
budget and I look at what's highlighted, um I just go through each of our six components and just really pull out the main um aspects that are going to um have a financial impact as we move into next year. Franklin School um is going
to be getting an additional first grade classroom because enrollment increased last year. We were sort of 5 years postcoid and we're seeing we saw an influx last year and we're seeing another influx next year. Our
kindergarten enrollment is already higher at this point um than it was last year and we had an add added faculty last year for that. So um obviously as a district one of the primary goals is to keep class sizes down um and um in order
to do that we need to add faculty. The state of New Jersey came out with a new cursive mandate. So, we had to get new curriculum to address that mandate. We're also looking to revamp our social studies curriculum. Um, so we're working and and brainstorming and um having a
few principles and teachers work on on that revision and of course there's a cost of that and ultimately um where we land on what program and the resources that are needed for that program. Since postcoid um the learning loss and after school tutoring has been something
that's been important um to the district and so for a few years there was grants that supplemented that after school tutoring could either do it before school or after school. We have found that after school seems to work the best and so we are now supporting that with
local funds in our school budget. So that's uh in our budget. Um, and then of course our programs, I Ready, I Excel, Albert at the high school. Those are just a few. Um, but we actually have several budget lines that address all of our curriculum, whether it be uh
tangible textbooks or online programs and resources such as those. So, those are a few highlights for our instruction and program in 2627. In addition to that, I mentioned one of the six components is special education.
And so, um, it's sometimes it's hard to forecast, um, special education numbers cuz we don't know, um, who may move into our district. That has a tremendous impact on our budget, which I'll show you in later slides. But, um, right, we
can't predict if a student's going to move in or then need services inside our district or outside of the district, but certainly we can control and look at the students that are within our district. And so we always want to make sure that as a student or a group of students goes
through our educational system, we have what they call as a continuum of services. So if there's a program that we develop in the elementary school, want to make sure that program then is sustainable in middle school and then again in high school. So in order to meet the needs of some of our students,
we needed to create another MD class at the high school. So that is in the budget for next year. As well as to meet the needs of our student, we needed to create another special education math teacher. Technology.
So I'm extremely proud of what we've developed in terms of our technology for our students. Next year, students in grades five and nine are going to receive brand new Chromebooks. They did this year as well. And so with the board
collectively, we have come up with a technology model that we really feel is sustainable. And what that means is every single year, our fifth grade and 9th grade students are going to receive brand new laptop computers. Our students in fifth grade are going to keep that
device for grades five, six, seven, and eight. When they leave the middle school, that device becomes theirs. the district does not take that back. So, we did a cost analysis and we just felt um it was better to just give the device to
the student because the money we got back from the company really wasn't substantial and we feel our students need devices and so they need them at home as well. Some families don't have access to the technology as everyone else. We felt um that that would be the best interest of our students and their
families. So, when they leave in 8th grade, they leave and keep that device. When they enter 9th grade, they get another brand new device. Students in 9th grade get the brand new device. They keep 9, 10, 11, and 12. When they leave
as a senior, they also keep that device. So, during your time here in Lynhurst, you will leave the district with two uh computers that we purchase. Both will be brand new, and our students get to keep those. In addition to that, um, our our
kindergarten through fifth grade teachers have aging devices. I think they're five or seven years old at this point. And so they're beyond their lifespan. And so all the teachers in grades uh, K through five will see brand
new work computers. As you can see, uh, at times during the meeting, our mic system here isn't ideal. It cuts out. I know for our viewers watching at home, our streaming capabilities are not ideal. So, there's money in next year's
budget to upgrade. Um, not only the mic system in here, but the sound system in here as well. Um, we talked about the plays in the musical that are performed here. Um, they're phenomenal. And so, we feel our students should have like an example is the hodgepodge of wires that
are up here. Um, we've sort of made do with what we have. The facility is gorgeous, but our performances are just such at a higher level that we need to upgrade to make sure that our students have the latest and the greatest so that their performances um can be recognized
and and seen as such. In addition to that, unfortunately with infrastructure and technology, right, technology is improving every day. And so our servers and access points at the high school Jefferson and Roosevelt are also now um
beyond their life expectancy. And so we are going to be we replacing those as well. The reason why we're starting at the high school Jefferson and Roosevelt is because those buildings are testing buildings. So those students are um taking New Jersey assessments that are
required. And so we need to make sure that the access points and the in uh the internet and the infrastructure is at par so that we can successfully implement our state tests uh security. So, the district has made a
huge initiative in the last several years to upgrade our security cameras. And I'm happy to say next year with Washington and Columbus. Um, every district, um, every building in the district, I'm sorry, will have state-of-the-art cameras. So, um, those
cameras tie directly into our police department. They have access to them at all times. And so, we had an aging camera system that was not even supported anymore. So um our tech team really was just patching together what was there and the backbone of the system
was really not uh conducive to where we need to be. So again after that all of our uh buildings will be online and then we're at a point now where the middle school believe it or not that technology um is starting to age and so the middle school will be next in that cycle to get
new cameras. And then of course facilities. Um next year in the budget, Jefferson School is going to be getting new windows. They're also the gym is going to be refreshed. Over the past break, just now
in April, Jefferson's gym got a brand new roof. We obviously waited to do the roof before we do the interior of the structure. So now with the completion of the roof, we're going to resurface the floor, repaint the gym, and kind of just give it a little refresh.
In addition to that, uh the we're planning to paint the interior of Franklin. We just completed a large project at Roosevelt, painting the entire interior of that building. We just did that over the last several months. Roosevelt is slated to get some exterior upgrades as well.
the high school boilers. Um the project u is actually started now, but it's going to carry over into next year's budget because that's a significant project and a large-scale project that needed to be budgeted over several budget cycles. The high school boilers um the project in total cost around $2.3
million. Okay. And so I'm extremely happy and proud to say that once the high school boilers are completed, every single boiler in the district has been completely replaced. So um that's quite a feat because 5 years ago, none of the
boilers have been replaced. So within 5 years, um the district is able to invest um into our facilities and really bring them to where they need to be. And and those are those are things that people typically don't see, right? our parents, our students, they're not going to be um
in our boiler rooms, but of course, you need heat um and air conditioned to run the facility. And our our our some of our boilers were original to the building and they had been transitioned from from coal to gas and if if you can imagine. Um so amazing. Um and then of
course the high school locker rooms in the fieldhouse. Um that's something that's also started in this school year. So if you um if you happen to be in in the high school um there's some projects going um on right now and due to the
cost of those projects there's money also budget in next year's um budget to just complete those projects. So, unfortunately, I did mention, you know, the healthc care um really crisis has impacted Lynhurst as much as it has
every other school district and in and town really um in the country, but particularly in New Jersey. And to really understand how much the healthc care has impacted this district um we created this slide. And so unfortunately
um you see here um in the first column um right healthcare I really should say healthcare and then prescription um health care in general is broken up into two components. One is the healthcare two is prescription and so when we look at our healthcare analysis um from this
school year to next school year just in the health care side of things we went up 1.7 million in change. Okay. So again, from this school year 2526, you can see our healthcare cost was 5.4
million. For next school year, we're having to budget 77 million and change, which equated to a $1.7 million increase just in healthcare. Then we go to the prescription side. Okay, we increased almost a million
dollars. We went from 1.47 47 million to 2.3 million in prescription coverage. And this was totally unexpected. This wasn't just unexpected in Lynhurst. It wasn't expected throughout the state. So ultimately, our healthcare went up
almost $2.7 million from this budget cycle to next budget cycle. And um that's why you're seeing the news articles and you're seeing districts really suffering across the state because this was not expected. Unfortunately, districts like us who are
in the state health care plan, which is um really intended to save districts money. Unfortunately, now is costing districts money. So, um the state has already published articles. I've shared with the board that they're expecting the same double-digit increases that we
saw this year. Unfortunately, we're going to see them again next year. As a district, uh James James Heyman is our BA. Um, as soon as we got word and news of this, please know the district did shop and look to get out of the state health benefits plan. Unfortunately, we
were denied by five major carriers. They deny to even uh quote our school district, which means um the our um our claims experience in both healthc care and prescription were at a level where
they they felt that we were more of a liability and they were not willing to take us on as a client. So, um we unfortunately received five denial letters to even try to get out of the state healthcare plan. So, right now we're in it. Hopefully, things change.
Um, but this is the position that we currently are in. So with that, the state of New Jersey recognizes that with increases like this, districts really can't sustain these type of increases. So we know that the school districts of
New Jersey are capped at 2% annually on the tax levy increase, but due to health care, you're allowed to go above the 2%. Okay? And what happens is uh James um has to input numbers into a budget
software program and the state tells us what additional money we can increase into the tax levy. Okay. So when we put our numbers in for this year, the state said that we can go up an additional 2 million and change. So we can go up 2%
plus the 2 million. But if you look right, we went up 2.6. So, the local funds had to support almost $700,000 of an increase. Okay. And I'm going to show and highlight that on some other slides. Does anyone have any questions about the
healthcare? So, I know that was a hot topic and um there really were a lot of articles and press throughout the state on that. No. Okay. So, those are our some of our expenses. This is how the district um generates
revenue, right? So, like I said, the top number here is what we can go up annually because of our our 2% tax levy increase. So, as a district, right, we don't control these numbers. These come right from from the
really the county tax office. The district is able to increase our tax levy a million dollars and change. This year, we were lucky. Last year, we decreased in state aid. This year we went up in state aid a little bit. That's very volatile. So we increased
343,000 in state aid and then because of the healthcare adjustment we were able to um go up about $2 million in the healthcare which on the revenue side of things added $3.4 million additional to our
budget from the prior year. So where did that $3.4 million go? So about a million of that is automatically eaten up by our contractual expenses, right? Our teachers have a contract. Our administrators, our support staff, our
aids um contractually we have to obligate the contract. We're obligated to honor the contracts that we have. And so that is about a million dollars. We see that our healthcare, this is the tax portion that we're able to increase.
I'm going to show some other cost in the next slide. Um, and those are just some areas I chose to highlight in this slide that equates to the 3.4 million. So, when someone says, right, our district went up $3.4 million. Where did that
money go? This slide was intended to highlight some basic areas where that money went, which totals the $3.4 million. Contractual healthcare. I mentioned the tutoring program. We budgeted $60,000 for the
tutoring program. Um, last year when we when we received the tax levy money, which I'm going to highlight in the next slide, the district and the board decided to remove the technology fee. That was $25,000. That means we are not charging a technology fee for our students. Um, for instance, like in the
town that I live, each year I have to pay $35 for each one of my my kids and I pay that annually. We remove that um from the structure that we had here. I talked about the cursive mandated uh mandates that we have. That's about
40,000. I talked about the security upgrades. Security upgrades for next year for those two buildings are going to be roughly 150,000. And then um I know the board and I feel strongly about sustaining our class 3 officer program in terms of safety and security. So the
remaining monies um are going to our class 3. So you could see really just seven budget lines absorbed $3.4 million. So I know last year and I'm not sure how many people are familiar with the tax
levy incentive program. That was a program that our board and I decided to take advantage of last year. We were able to increase the levy for for one time one year. Um our district was eligible. um I can give a dissertation on that that uh that project and in that
program. Um I did so last year. I can certainly do so. If anyone has any questions um on the side, you can email me. I'll certainly get back to you. I can go over the presentation we went over last year. But I did think it was important this year to highlight where that money went because I know the
average person might say, "Okay, great. You went up 3.4 million last year, but you also went up um I'm sorry, we're going up 3.4 for for next year. But last year we went up X dollars and that money is is carrying over to next year's budget. So I thought it was important
that we highlight all of the 5.9 million that we received last year. So I could certainly go through everyone, but you can see I'm going to highlight some of the major expenses that contribute to the 5.9 that we went up
last year. So when we look at the top left here, tuitions, I talked about um special education students and how we are responsible for their tuitions even if they go out of district. So essentially a student could move into Lynhurst but requires a level of service
that our district cannot provide provide and we are responsible for that uh student. So from last year to this year we received almost a million dollars in additional tuitions. We also I remember I had stated right
our healthc care went up about 2.7 million but we were only able to increase the levy 2 million so almost 700,000 681,000 had to be supported from local funds. Additionally right I talked about the
technology um upgrades that we're making and and the computer device cycle. Last year when we received that money, the board collectively and I decided to develop a technology device cycle that was sustainable. So those um those
commitments did not go away. We've signed leases, multipleear leases, and that money has to carry over um into this year's budget. You know, unfortunately, when when COVID hit, um the state put out a lot of grants and programs for every student to get a device. However, that money is now gone,
but districts are left sustaining one-to-one initiatives forever, right? So, students from grades 3 through 12 receive some type of a device and it's on the district to support and sustain that program. It's a very costly initiative. So, almost $700,000
annually goes towards the device cycle. But, as I mentioned earlier, our students do leave, right? They get a brand new device in fifth grade. They keep it till 8th. They leave with a new device. and then again when they leave high school. So that comes at a cost. Um
we also um we added some buses. We had some aging buses. So we did a uh a busing lease that carries over. Um I mentioned the construction. The construction slated for next year is roughly 800,000. Um unfortunately, even
though we did receive that money last year, um with the healthcare increases and other increases that we received, we had hoped to um pay entirely cash for the high school boiler project and ended up not being the case. We had planned to do the high school boilers the year
before and we were saving money in capital reserve to do so. within a six to seven month span the boiler project because of just the price of steel and rate um inflation the project went from 1.6 6 1.7 to 2.3
because of that the cash on hand we had could not sustain that project. So ultimately we are paying um liquid money right now for um certain aspects of the project. For instance, it needs a whole new sprinkler system. When you pull out
the old boilers um it needed a whole new sprinkler system and also the the the removal of the old boilers was almost 150,000 just to remove the boilers. So, the sprinkler system, the removal of the boilers, we're paying right now, but ultimately for the boilers themselves
and the installation, uh, we decided to do a 5-year lease purchase, which is the most a district can do without certain state approvals. So, we pushed it out. So, we now have a $500,000 lease purchase payment for the next four years in order to complete the high school boiler project. And then you'll
see um other um costs sprinkled through that ultimately equate to the 5.9 million that we got last year. Some other things to highlight. Um we had to redo the tariff field about four or five years ago. The township was gracious
enough to bond the money for us, but we are responsible for that bond payment. We were paying the bond payment at a capital reserve. That's sort of a bank account that we have. um that we put excess funds in for sort of a rainy day. At the time, we did not have the
$160,000. First of all, we didn't have the the million half dollars to redo the field to where the town stepped in and through a shared services allowed us to bond that money. We didn't necessarily have at the time 5 years ago, we weren't in the financial position we're in now. So,
we were taking money out of capital reserve to pay that $160,000 bond payment to the town. But because of the position we're in, I don't want to use bank account and reserves to fund that. So now the $160,000 comes annually from our local fund is in a budget line.
Additionally, um the district was con um relying on title one funds, state funds, and federal funds um to supplement teacher salaries, which is really not ideal, right? those funds fluctuate fluctuate sorry on an annual basis and
you never really know what you're going to get. So again our district was relying on grant funds which are not guaranteed and so what we did was um about $126,000 of uh teacher salaries at the middle school was subsidized by these this
grant. This is now fully supported by local funds. And so the goal over the next and even into next budget cycle is to come completely unreliant on any type of state or federal money. So the budget
is completely self- sustaining and any money that we do get from the state or the federal government drops to our capital reserve and a truly healthy district. That's how their budget is is constructed and that's how those districts are able to get capital reserve accounts into the $4 and $5
million. And that is what our goal is over the next several years is to get our capital reserves into the $5 million range. So, as I indicated, you know, the tax levy program last year has really put our district in a position to excel um
for years to come. And with the budgeting practices that we're now are employing, we are going to be extremely sustainable and not only sustainable, we're growing. We're one of the only districts, I can say, in the area that are actually adding faculty. It is
really sad to see across the state um what many districts are facing. They're laying off people. Um and even with the money they're receiving, they're having to lay off people, cut programs, close schools. And so this district has been in that
position before. And I just want to highlight that because um in years prior before receiving that tax levy money, our district did make cuts. And so I thought it was important that we highlight that in the 2425 budget cycle we lost seven teaching positions, three
custodians, a central office secretary. We're not able to do um essential repairs in our district. I'm happy to say the high school roof repair now with the tax levy money last year was completely replaced. That was over the auditorium. You could see the Jefferson
playground was in disrepair last summer. We completely renovated the Jefferson playground and that looks gorgeous. Then um in the 2526 um school year we lost four more teaching positions. We had to close Memorial School and ultimately rent that
to the South Berg and George where we now we receive a revenue. Um and there was another section of the high school roof and again we couldn't. So for two years in a row we had planned to repair the high school roof. The high school roof got so bad over that 2-year period we had to close the second floor
of the high school balcony because the roof was leaking so bad. but we didn't have the funds to repair it. So, we have now since repaired, not just repaired, we replaced the entire roof over the auditorium and we of course went then into the interior and redid the entire interior um of the second floor. So, um
you know, unfortunately, you know, I I know what it's like and I feel awful for the districts facing some of these challenges because we have been there and I'm happy to report that we are on the other side of that and we're adding teachers, we're adding faculty, and we're upgrading our facilities. We're being proactive in what we're doing with
our facilities. We are no longer reactive. So, what does that mean uh to the average taxpayer? So, our our tax levy um increase um for next year um with so
with the 2% and with the two with the 2% um increase were allowed into the tax levy which was about a million dollars and then the additional $2 million of healthc care money which we were eligible for. Um we're going to take that full amount. Um taxes for our side
on the school district side are going to go up about 5.87%. Um and basically um we're required to report that based on what the US um census price is for a township in our town which is $547,000
and ultimately that will result in a $737 um 15 uh increase to the taxpayer which um ultimately is around 64 uh $61 a month I'm sorry.
So, um I talked earlier um about what's ahead and you know I I mentioned um what school districts are facing. I didn't really think it was um right to highlight certain districts, but these are some of the of the highlights that have been in the recent uh news.
Um these are some of the um you know the shortages districts are facing everywhere. Again, I didn't name anyone by name. I just took general headlines. And so I mean again there's districts all over the state because of the health care and what position that put them in
what they're faced with. And again there's districts that are taking the healthc care adjustment and taking the funds that are available that are available to them and then not even with that money they're still having to lay off teachers and closed buildings.
And so um it really is unfortunate. um no one really expected um what came with our healthcare. Additionally, right, um people have been talking about the fiscal cliff for several years and it's really been postco um I think that sort
of was an infusion of cash that really helped districts survive the last couple years and a lot of districts didn't make the best decisions meaning we got a great deal of money because of COVID. um some people hired staff members and you
they put reoccurring costs into their budget and ultimately that co money was taken away but yet those staffing and those reoccurring costs were left in the budget and so now a few years down the road that's hitting in addition to the
fact that healthcare went up 30 to 40% districts were just not able to sustain that and these are some of the articles um that you're seeing throughout the So, thank you. That's just a general overview of our budget. Certainly, there's a lot of specifics that go into
it. Just try to highlight the key components. Um, there was a lot in there. I don't know if anyone has any uh specific questions. Um the the the school district met with um township officials over the series of the last uh two months. We met
approximately three times and we're working to try to address that, you know, that um that inequity I guess. Um they've brainstormed some ideas. We've brainstormed some ideas. We're trying to increase um our shared services and we're trying to do projects
that will limit the cost to our school district. So I could tell you one thing we talked about just the other night was um the Roosevelt School behind Roosevelt School there's sidewalks that are sort of beyond repair. That could be a costly repair for us. Township has the equipment and the workers to do that. So
we're going to partner together to to fixes like that. So, we have been meeting with them and we're going to continue to meet with them to see what we can do. So, so, so with so with the with the
increase that we proposed tonight, um the percentage of the tax money that we get from the town will be about 50.5. Yeah, I mean there's certainly districts that >> Well, no, I'm just saying that, you know, there's
>> Yeah, I mean, I'm happy to say that we've been consistently meeting and, you know, we are trying to, you know, work together to do the best we can for the town. I understand, you know, the township unfortunately was faced with the same health care and, you know, inflated costs that that we have as
well. So, I I don't I don't know. I'm not entirely sure if that would be one, you can do that, and two, what the what the ramifications are of that. Yeah, I mean ultimately we're we're working together to try to address that, but
yeah, I Some things are out of the board's control. We're doing the best that we can. Yeah, sure. So, um has it been two year? I think this is the second school year where um we partnered with Felicia University. um through a series of
conversations and connections that I made um the high school administration and I came up with um this this plan with Felician University where um we're a smaller smaller school district. We don't have the opportunity to offer certain electives to our students
because we just don't have the numbers to dictate such a course. Maybe an advanced marketing course, um a criminology course, right? larger school districts are their course catalog is extensive. We don't have that opportunity if only a few students want
to take those courses. So, um we partner with Phil Felician for several reasons. One, it's proximity to Lynhurst. Two, um they offer our students transportation back and forth because they have a shuttle service and ultimately what happens is we offer certain high school
students the opportunity to take these elective courses at Felician University. So our students are given a series of um they're given Felician's course catalog and if we can we try to offer any course available to those students and they can
take it at Felician. We've also worked with Felician to make sure those courses align to the high school schedule so that if a student, you know, most of our students are either in the play or they're in a in a sport, those courses align so that they could take him and
then get back to Lynhurst in order to um participate in our extra umcurricular activities. So, the program took off and was so successful, we're fully funding that, meaning that that is not a cost that a student is paying for. Um so we
it was so successful we had a limit in the first two years the number of courses we could offer to our students. Now we're trying to just give them an opportunity to really take as as much as they really want. Um there's also a secondary benefit to that program. The
high school is overcrowded and so class sizes in the high school have increasingly gone up. And so, um, the secondary benefit to this program is we're getting students out of our seats and into Felician seats, which is limiting our class sizes and then
allowing us to offer additional courses cuz it's the the load at the high school schedule is not as cumbersome with. It's it's a budget line. It's an item line in our budget. Though for me at this point, we've funded it the past two years. We're in a position where
this year we expanded it. I do not see that um coming away. In fact, I see expanding it even further. Um I got the idea really from the superintendent in North Arlington, Steve. Um you know, we're colleagues I attend meetings. Um he's someone I respect. I heard about a
program he was doing. He's doing a program um with um Bergen Community where he has juniors and seniors who spend two years and leave North Arlington with an associates degree as well. So the idea is to expand our
program to that. And so I took what what Stephen and and A did and we sort of made our own spin to it because Felician is a little bit closer um and we have the busing opportunity and the electives. We sort of put our own spin
to think outside the box to offer these elective courses. The goal is to eventually get a partnership with Felician or another university where um we have the associates program. So that's the long-term goal for us. We already started the groundwork with
Felician in doing that. Um, so, so the way NA does it, it's a very rigorous two-year program for juniors and seniors. Well, you have to be a junior. I take that back. You have to enroll with your junior year and it's extremely rigorous and it's for their top top tiered students. For Linhurst, we felt
that that might not be the best model. We want to offer it to a more of a wide range like net of students. And so, by doing so, we have to sort of re-evaluate the way we're going to do it. Um, for me, I felt like that program should really be geared toward maybe a student
that isn't destined to necessarily go to college, may not be able to financially afford to do so. We're going to try to offer it to a broader range of students, but by doing so, um, we're going to probably have to start by sophomore year. So, we're really trying to lay the groundwork to see what that will look
like. But to answer your question, that to us is going to remain a line item in our budget that we're not going to be removing. Yeah, right. Yeah. Okay. So, there was a couple reasons why we decided to partner with
Felician. One of the things in working with um and speaking with other districts um they felt like their students really weren't getting a college experience by going to to Bergen Community um and Wall Street. It was more of an industrial office building
type setting. And so for us, we felt that going to Felician campus just gave our students more of that college life type experience. Um the students at Felician have access to the library, to the athletic facility, and so that was
one of the reasons. Um Felician ultimately ended up matching the same price that Bergen Community um offered. So the cost wasn't an issue. Um and then the last part of your question or the really your main question was in terms
of the agreement um you know Felician does have agreements with colleges and most of their credits we're hoping will transfer. I know that there's with the with the with the community colleges that's actually in statute. They don't have a choice. they have to take those credits. And so, um, you know, we'll
see. We're going to work with our, you know, local colleges, but we're hoping, um, certainly the initial part of the program, obviously, we want our students to maintain and keep those credits, but the secondary purposes was the electives, the overcrowding, and so we're going to have to work through
that. Yeah. So you hopefully a majority of the credits will transfer over but like you said not everyone will be guaranteed but I know that they have linkage agreement like I know Felicia has many linkage agreements with many institutions where those credits will carry over um so we'll have to see but
yeah good question yeah so James was just saying if it's a full associates degree once that associates degree is certified it it it fully carries if we move in that direction. Um, any other questions or comments or
>> Sure. >> I just wanted to add a little bit about Felician because I was um on the committee with Mr. Dorso. Um, we do get free transportation. Um, they don't charge us to for our students to go um
back and forth. The students from North Arlington that go to Bergen Community, they don't even go to the Pamis campus. They're in a building at Wall Street and they're only mo taking classes with their other high school peers. Our
students are taking classes with college other college students and having that true college experience. Also, if we have students that are interested in taking a course later cuz at in the evening because they don't do sports or
this or that, the entire course catalog is open to them. Yes. Um even the LOI campus is available to them as well. The other thing that um Felician has been
fantastic with is making sure that the classes that our students want that they get in. So for example, um Intro to Psychology was very very popular. Um we made sure like we make sure our kids
don't get shut out of the classes that they want. And we've also like if there's a class that our students want that they're not offering that semester, they'll get a professor to offer it for sport. So they've let us um pull our
students and add courses that our students are interested in. Bergen isn't quite that flexible. Yeah. >> Thank you, Miss Klein. Are there any other questions about the presentation
or anything I could clarify? No. Okay. I really appreciate your time and attention and we're going to transition now back to the board. Thank you. Okay. Next we have public to be heard on agenda items only and we we have none.
Okay. Uh board discussion and on formal and formal business agenda. Anyone? That's it. Okay. Thank you. Uh uh finance uh Mr. Petranzio. >> Pursuant to the recommendation of the
superintendent of schools, the committee on finance recommends the following resolutions be moved forward for a roll call vote. I make a motion to move forward finance resolutions 1 through 13 to be adopted. >> Second. >> Second, Mr. Abate. >> Roll call. Mr. Abate.
>> Four. >> Mr. Garuso. >> Four. >> Is that a four? >> Thank you. >> Oh, no. >> I have a question regarding uh line number six. >> I have an issue with uh the budget
itself. Um, in the beginning of the hearing, the monitor stated that we're in good standings. I can't see how we're good standings if we have to uh increase our budget by $3.4 million. Um, also when last meeting we had, we
had seven members against two voting against the budget. Unfortunately, Mr. De Mcoff had to overrule it. I understand this board or superintendent administrators had nothing to do with that $5 million that our last depa
um wrongfully or incompetently. However, he lost the $5 million. I don't blame Mr. Democrat for being in overseeing us, but it's not our our board. It wasn't our problem. We didn't cause it. The other administration caused it. So, I'm I'm suggesting uh that the cause of it
was waste, abuse, and fraud. anytime the state requires if there's any waste, abuse, or fraud, there shouldn't be an overruling of any decision that happens here tonight. Um, I'm also wondering that with the the superintendent and the
the board, we'll uh maybe re-evaluate on what we can decrease, what stipes we can remove, what contracts we can revise. Um, I've been on the board two years and the second year on the board I'm already here ready to increase our taxes again.
I think it should stop. I think we should really look into reducing instead of increasing. Um, also with the state mandate, it's a state mandate. If there's any waste or any fraud or any abuse, I don't believe this board has any fraud or abuse, but I believe there's some kind of waste that
we could kind of decrease our uh reduce our taxes from being increased. um if not then there'll be a forensic audit and find out where we can reduce it. So I am here to uh suggest to the board and their members that uh to not
increase to vote no and maybe get back to the board and maybe find out where we can reduce our taxes increasing it every vote we make. So I'm for no number six. >> Okay, Miss Pasamano.
So the decision was really difficult, but one thing that I kept going back to was the ripple effect of a no vote. Living through it on the other side where I'm employed. An underfunded budget would create
consequences that go beyond the numbers on a paper that we keep looking at. and those ripple effects would be felt in the classrooms and with our students and that just I just don't think our
children should carry that burden. So I'm voting yes four >> Mr. Pass mana. >> I'm going all but number six. I understand that we have to do this. It's healthcare. It's got nothing to do with
anything. Okay. But we have people out here on a fixed income. I'm one of them. Yeah. I have my taxes frozen. Absolutely. I don't get that money back to maybe a year and a half, but I got to put that money out. And I don't get your hold up. My last raise on social
security or Medicare was $22. can't afford it. So yes on everything no on six. >> Mr. Petranzio >> four. >> Miss Rouso. >> Yes for everything on number six.
>> Dr. Scardino >> four. >> Dr. Tuma >> four. >> Mr. Valvano. Um, I just wanted to read something quickly since everyone else is reading everything. Uh, really quick. Well,
well, many people. Uh, I This is like one of the hardest decisions I had to make in I don't know how many years I've been on the board. Uh, but yes. Um, I I I've reviewed this. I've gone back and forth on this, but I ultimately I end up supporting the budget because I think it it reflects our responsibility to govern
effectively and to move forward as a district. As a board, we're entrusted with managing our own affairs. If we fail to do that, it ends up becoming counterproductive. Uh not just in the short term, but financially long term as well. Uh I I do understand it's a major
burden on the tax taxpayers, but I'm a taxpayer, too. I take that seriously. That's why I'm going to make sure that every dollar spent is well spent and it's and it's transparent. Uh I do think that this budget makes sure that we uh continue improving um in the classroom
school and uh and I do think that this also helps us make sure that um we keep class sizes down. And uh ultimately my goal at least as a board member is to make sure that we improve our standing as a school district and give the best and opportunities for our students. And
I do think this budget is a step in that direction. May not be 100% behind it, but I am a yes on this. All motions carried. Thank you. >> All motions be carried.
>> Budget is uh six yay two nay one abstain. Welcome. >> That is a pass. >> Thank you all. >> Education and curriculum is passo please. to the recommendation of the
superintendent of schools. The committee on education and curriculum recommend resolution forward. I make a motion to move forward education and curriculum resolutions through four to be adopted.
>> Second. >> I'll call Mr. Abate. Four. >> Uh Mr. Guso. >> Four. >> Miss Pasamano. >> Four. >> Mr. Passamano >> four, >> Mr. Petranzia >> four, >> Miss Russo >> four, >> Dr. Scardino >> four, >> Dr. Tuma >> four >> and Mr. Valano
>> four motion carries >> policy rules and regulations Mr. Vano. >> Pursuant to the rules, I'm sorry. Pursuant to the recommendations of the superintendent of schools, the committee on policies and rules and regulations recommends the following resolutions to be moved forward for a roll call vote. I
make a motion to move forward policies and rules, regulations, resolutions one through two to be adopted. >> Second. >> Second. Mr. Abate. >> Roll call. Mr. Abate. >> Four. >> Mr. Garuso. >> Four. >> Miss Pasamano. >> Four.
>> Mr. Pasamano. Four, >> Mr. Petranzio. >> Four, >> Miss Russo. >> Four, >> Dr. Scardino, >> Dr. Tuma, >> four, >> and Mr. Valvano. >> Four. Motion carries. Personnel.
I guess I'll keep this one. Pursuant to the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools and the Committee on Personnel recommends the following resolutions to be forward for a roll call vote. I make a motion to move for uh forward personnel resolutions A5
>> A1 through M5 call >> Mr. Bate >> four >> Mr. Guso >> Miss Pasamano >> four >> Mr. Pasamano >> four >> Mr. Petranzio >> four Miss Russo >> four >> Dr. Scardino
>> four. >> Dr. Tuma >> four >> and Mr. Valano. >> Uh yes and everybody would like to abain on number two. I'd like to abstain on number two because I don't think enough information has been presented to the board and um I would just like more information before we vote on not
renewing teachers. I just would like Okay, motion carries. Hey, new business. Any new business? >> All right, we have for publicly heard on non-aggenda items.
We have Chris Oryama. >> Chris Oryama. >> He was here. >> Not here. I think he just left because I've spoken with him in the past and I I did see him leave. So, yeah. >> Is he sure? We sure he's gone. >> Yeah.
>> Let me give it give it one second. Make sure he's not coming. I don't want to make a scene. I would just >> if there's any new business, carry on to that portion of the meeting. Otherwise, wait till I wouldn't adjourn the meeting without
somebody who signed up to speak. >> Right. That's amazing, >> you know. So, >> I love doing what I do, but the Knicks are on, too. So, you know, I swear to God, this is an important thing.
All right. >> We we we weren't going to adjourn. We were waiting for you. So, okay. Thank you. Um, so I it's been a while since I've been here and uh, you know, obviously when I came in last time, you know, and some of
the people said, "Oh, if we repeal 5756, there'll be some financial impact from the state, right?" Well, and I said at the time East Rutherford had it. Now, East Rutherford's had it for almost two years. There's been no financial impact. But beyond that, beyond that, um,
Supreme Court just ruled in the banto case, oh, I forget the first name, but whatever, that 5756 or keeping secrets from parents is is illegal. So 5756
now, if you keep it after you've been informed, you are now keeping a policy that the Supreme Court said is illegal. You cannot You cannot keep secrets from parents. So again, if you decide to keep it, you you
you open yourself up to or you open up the town to all kinds of lawsuits because Supreme Court just ruled specifically on that matter, right? As far as policy of of kids transitioning or whatever it is, I mean that's it. The
Supreme Court ruled it was 63 something like that obviously, but beyond and so that's one. So, I'm asking you to just do what legally you have to do anyway because Supreme Court ruled you have to do it, right? And the second one is
something that I brought up over a year ago. Again, you know, obviously I know it's not something you may be comfortable with, but the the flag that I want that I wanted to fly over a year ago, I still want to fly it. I still I
still believe because of the Sherlock case that I have a right to fly it in the school. Again, you know, you guys allowed people to fly other flags in the school. Whatever. And I understand someone said something about we made a
policy. Policy wasn't adhered to different flags were flown and because you allowed that the shirt law case says if you do this as I pointed out the last time you must do that. So, I I'd really rather not have to pay for a lawyer to
force you to do something that you have to do anyway because you allowed this, you know, and again, and you're going to allow it again this year. You I mean, this like the smoke screen that we went through the last time. Obviously, it's going to happen again. Obviously, I'll
be made aware again when it happens again. So, just do the right thing. Let me fly the flag. Doesn't have to be a big deal. Can you explain more to the new member? >> Oh, okay. Okay. So, Oh, sorry. Okay. So,
the Sherlock case said if a a city or or or an entity like this, like a governmental entity flies a a prime flag during June, then I then another person, another
member of the community can request a religious flag. So, what I'm what I requested then must apply like the ten commandments or or Christian flag it's a white flag right just because and and in that case the
shirt case it was 90 right so like every one of them said yeah because the first amendment you know is covers you know freedom of religion that's like it's establishable it's like the main part of the first amendment >> so again if if because you allowed not
you personally you appear But because it was allowed in the schools, I you know, and again, I'd rather not have to pay the money for a lawyer, but if I have to, I mean, I guess more. >> So, wait, can I can I just >> Yes, the town.
>> Yeah, I made them fly, too. I made them fly. >> Mr. Pamo, I think my statement will probably answer your question. Okay. So the first part of your statement um right we have an um an attorney obviously but we also have a company
called Strame that um analyzes current legislation whether at a national or state level and they provide us guidance so we'll wait to hear about that but the second part of your statement is about the flag and right and so what the board of education did last year was we passed
a policy which I don't have in front of me and off the top of my head I can't remember the exact number of it. But in that policy, it says that a flag can be flown in the school if it's pertaining to a student activity or club. Okay? And
so um and so if there's a club or organization in the school, whether it be the middle school, the high school, or any elementary building, right? A flag can be flown if it's directly connected to a club that's been approved to part to function in that school
building. So again, if you go if again, I can research it. I believe I have your email. I'll send you the exact policy. And so therefore, we are not necessarily flying one flag and not the other. The policy clearly states if there's an organization within the school
functioning, they are able to represent a flag. Additionally, if there's something represented in the curriculum for a certain reason, uh for a time being, that can be displayed as well. So, there was a a careful policy that was created and um I believe that
addresses your question. >> Well, I mean, so essentially what you're saying is you're not going to you're going to fly one and not the other. >> No, what I'm saying is if there's a a club, an organization that functions within the school building, then they will be able to be represented with a
flag. >> So, you're saying essentially unless unless there's a Christian club in the school, you can't you won't fly. Essentially what you're saying is you're not going to fly my flag and thumb that >> Mr. Dorso if I just might clarify we're
not taking any action this evening so there's no final determination being made today. Um from what I am hearing that there is opportunity for conversation review of the policy and we can continue to have that discussion but as far as whether a decision is being made tonight there's no board action being taken.
>> What I'm saying is is is been done. it's going to be done and and and the case that the shirt case covered specifically these two flags, right? Like it just like as far as like if this group does this or if this group does
that. It there it wasn't it wasn't nuance like that. It was pretty generic in that term that if you fly this, you have to fly that, right? >> I think that was generally speaking in terms of a township in the township, right? So the board of education has a
policy that we're following. So to answer your question, any flag that's being flown in the district is directly connected to a club or an organization that's functioning in the school building. >> Um so the only like like okay I'll give you an example. Rutherford other towns I did this in you know
Rutherford what they did was the only legal way that from what I understand that they could do it was they don't allow flag requests of any kind. Right. So that was like okay all right that's you know and then whatever flag is flown it's flown by the the the city council
and they you know you know whatever. >> So so certainly as our attorney stated right now we have a policy on the books we can certainly revisit that policy if the board chooses to revisit that policy but as the policy stands right now if a club or organization is functioning
within the the district they can rep be represented with their flag. So certainly the board Yeah. I'm going to email you the >> because then I can send it to my lawyer. >> Okay. >> But and certainly as our attorney stated if the board wants to revisit that policy, we they certainly have the right
there's a policy committee. I will certainly send you that policy and then we can go >> and also if you can you know after the this meeting again follow up on on that latest court case Supreme Court case that rule >> that specifically covers that parental
rights in terms of their right to know and 5756 is the opposite of that. >> All right. I could certainly get clarification for you on >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you guys. Have a good night. That's a great point, Mr. Jus. So, thank you. So, embedded in that policy um any
flag needs uh either building and or super uh building principal and or superintendent approval. So, that's embedded in the policy. That's a great great point. Thank you. But I I will send you that policy. >> You're welcome. >> All in favor? Hi again.
>> You guys don't even let me do my job.