Call the meeting to order. Can you everybody please rise for the flag salute to the flag of the United States? here. >> Thank you very much. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by the following means. Annual notice was sent
to the record newspaper township clerk and posted in the lobby of the town hall and board office setting forthcoming schedule work meeting and public meetings of the board. Okay. I get a motion for the approval of
our minutes from December 22nd. four >> approval of minutes uh for our January 8th uh reorganization meeting. Motion second. four
>> our student representative report as always. Looking forward to it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I'd just like to say I think I can speak for every student. I hope I can. I'm glad to be back after our winter break. The third marking period of the 2025
2026 school year started today. The student government association met on January 15th and 16th this month. This year, Lynhurst High School will be competing against Beckton High School in our annual Super Bowl soup can drive
from January 5th to February 6th. Senior Nicolina Akono, vice president of the senior, excuse me, president of the senior class, is on the Bergen County Junior Commission on the status of women committee, which is holding a competition between schools for the most
soup cans collected. This committee serves as a vital bridge between government and community, promoting women's right, women's rights, and empowerment. It gives high schoolers a chance to engage with problems affecting women of all ages, allowing young women
to have an impact on their community while improving their networking and problem solving skills. This competition between schools in which the LHS is going up against Beckton High School adds a competitive edge to an already successful can drive. The SGA will be
selling hot chocolate in LHS over the next few months, supplied by the leftover hot chocolate ingredients from the holiday um celebration before the holiday break last month. St. Patrick Day's St. Patrick's Day activities and decorations were also discussed.
A representative from Lincoln Tech visited the high school on January 14th. Two representatives from the Army National Guard visit visited the high school on January 16th and St. Elizabeth University is holding a con uh college
visit on February 2nd. Any information can be found on the Navian student tool website. LHS Future Business Leaders of America FBA testing took place on December 2nd, 2025 in the LHS cafeteria. To attend the
FBLA state leadership conference, students must have qualified on a test or be chosen by the LHS FBA adviserss, Miss Sylvell and Mr. Spence to create a presentation for the conference.
This year, the governor's educator of the year award was presented to geometry teacher Sheris Montana, who has been teaching at the high school for almost two decades. And now I went over uh winter sports last meeting, but I didn't
fully go in depth. Um, winter sports include indoor track and field, swim, basketball, winter competition cheer, wrestling, hockey, and bowling. The first meet of the winter track and field season on December 11th at Ramapo High
School was cancelled due to cold weather. from the Paul Schwarz Invitational meet was the first meet and it was held on December 18th at Rockland Community College. The LHS swim team had its first meet on December 4th against Rutherford High
School at Rutherford's pool. The Lynhurst High School varsity girls basketball team had its season opening game against New Milford on December 17th at home in the LHS gym. The Runhurst High School varsity boys basketball team had a season opening
game on Rutherford uh excuse me on December 17th at Rutherford High School. They had their first home game on December 19th in the LHS gym. Varsity player and senior Johnny Shiname also scored his 1,000th varsity sport uh
excuse me points in the LHS basketball game against Dickinson High School on January 17th. The winter competition cheer team, which performs exclusively for home Lynhurst High School basketball games, performed at the two home basketball games on
December 17th and 19th that I just mentioned. The Lynhurst High School wrestling team, which includes boy, both boys and girls, held its first match of the season at the Harry Mclawen Invitational on December 17th. The PML
or Pamis Mawa Lynhurst combined ice hockey team played its season opening game on December 5th against the Wayne Patriots and had several other games in December. The Lynhurst High School bowling team had its first match on December 9th against Woodidge High
School. Lynhurst won 5-2. The LHS marching band is set to play at a New Jersey Devils hockey game on March 4th at the Credential Center in New York. This is an annual tradition for the marching band. The band will play in the lobby of the center before sitting
and watching the game. And as you can see, the set is being built for the upcoming LHS production of Into the Woods, which has show dates on February 12th, 13th, and 14th. And I would just like to thank the LHS faculty and staff
for getting this um snow cleared over this blizzard we just had. It really is an amazing job and I'd like to thank them for that and I ask please stay safe in this snowstorm that's going on. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you as always. Such a great job. >> We're moving to the state monitors
report. Our state monitor is out tonight or Thank you. Yeah. Um, Mr. Demikov was unable to attend tonight and he asked me to read uh his monitor's report to the record. Uh, he is watching via liveream.
Um, so the following is uh the state monitor's report. I have reviewed the financial reports for the months ending uh for the month ending December 2025 and support tonight's resolution that certify uh that certifies that there
were enough sufficient funds available based on the December financials to meet the district's financial obligations for the remainder of the 2526 school year. I have also reviewed and discussed the resolutions on tonight's agenda with Mr. Corso and support his recommendations to
the board that they approve all the resol resolutions on tonight's agenda. That concludes my report for this evening. Thank you. Thank you so much. Uh as far as the board's president's report, just I'm going to echo a couple of things that
were said. I'm sure uh Mr. Dorso is going to do the same. Uh I do want to thank our maintenance and custodial crew as along with the town. They did a remarkable job getting us cleaned up. Uh although I did see one of the boards truck pass by my house and nothing nothing didn't even wave beep their horn
say do you need anything but no all kidding aside it was um it was wonderful the definitely a difficult job on a personal note I want I know um we're honoring uh Robbie Dazzle tonight and before that happens I just want to personally congratulate him and his
family people I've gotten to know over the years uh whether as a coach in Laos soccer as president for uh four years if you could believe it. And I I don't think I've ever seen such dedication uh to a sport, to a focus. Um um I I
watched Robbie grow. I saw him on the Felician campus, which made me very happy, too, by the way, as a personal thing. Uh but watching him and his dad practice over and over again. But I will say this, Robbie, just to be clear, I don't know, your sister was pretty darn good, too. So I I don't want you to
forget that. But personally, Ellen from the board, I'd like to congratulate you on being honored tonight. It's it's really a pleasure. >> So, on that note, we um high school boys soccer coaches up
to say about him and we have a little tremendous accomplishment. So, let's just see Dr. mentioned. So, please come up. Would you say something briefly about like 6 years Heat. Heat. I have a special
place. school is expectation. Heat. Heat. Yes. Successful. There we go. stop
his career 45 that's Great job. Congratulations. You want to take a picture? Congratulations again, Robert. Um, as Mr. said, you know, it's one thing to score 43 goals in a season. It's another thing when
than when everyone out there knows um, you know, so that's a tremendous feat. Congratulations. You are now officially in the Red Horse uh, record book. So, congratulations again. Um, I am now going to move on to a few other items. Um, everyone is more than welcome to stay. We're going to go over
a few things that uh move into official board business. Um, I did also want to to echo what other members said here. Um, just our custodial maintenance staff. It was a huge storm. Um, they were here all day Sunday um, all day Monday and I have to say our parking
lots and our sidewalks look amazing. um they did a tremendous job and um it's it's difficult when you get that much snow because it's not just about um you know plowing it's about moving it as well. There just only so many places where we'll be able to put snow in
there. So moving it around and so um I just want to point them um again um on page seven of the agenda um we are required um to report student safety data twice a year. you will see um the
chart there which um embodies the district's results. Part of the information we're required to uh provide is the number of training sessions we're providing in our buildings. Um that's in the last column, but we're also required
to um report um various instances such as HIV and other other violence, vandalism, substance abuse. if you have to send students out for screening if you're required to to report that as well. So again on page seven you will see the entire uh district overview um
and that reporting period is from September um to December and then I will come back in June and u and report on January to June. Um again that's on page seven under education and curriculum. And I also just wanted to mention at our
next meeting our 26th meeting during our work session we're going to be going over our budget. Um our budget is due to the county um March 19th. Yes, March 19th. And so, um, preparing is really
going to go over an extensive, um, overview, uh, during work session with the board, um, as to our expenses and some plans that we have for the upcoming school year. And then we will come back, um, in March and give a full overview of the entire budget. Um, but as a district
um, administrators and central office, we've been working on the budget for the past few months. Um, now it's just a matter of, you know, time period and just reviewing it with a board. So again, our work session on the 26th will be dedicated to that budgeting process and then we'll be back in March to give
the overview and entire plan presentation um of our budget. So um that concludes my report tonight. Thank you so much. Okay. Okay. We're going to open this up to uh the public to be heard on agenda items
only. So uh Danielle, you first are coming together. Okay, that's fine. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. I'm sorry. I didn't know. That's a lot of quiet multiple multiple >> multiple pictures and offered to our
community. I think it could be an exciting opportunity for one of a few of our schools. I prepared a couple years ago and we worked very closely with the same course to get a program at Washington School and have been I can't tell you how many
kids are playing. It's just been such a wonderful addition to that school. And when we found out about this opportunity as a soccer game, we just thought, "Oh my gosh, it's free." Which is amazing. And we put a lot of money for that playground. And to be able to continue
to add amenities to our our facilities and just tremendously help our students and help our help our community. getting all nervous. Um bringing your attention and just President Obama
to try to move this. >> So I could comment on that for you. Um so um I was approached um this summer um by the township about this opportunity for a soccer pitch. Um there are certain parameters that need to be met in order
to um be able to um have the uh pitch built. Um size was one one factor, right? So you have to have a very large space um flat paved surface. So really the only properties that we felt could
potentially house this type of a structure based on the size was Roosevelt School and Jefferson School. Jefferson School, the board of edges spent roughly $140,000 to review that whole structure ashall
and and black tops where school had been approved recently when we did the referendum. And so in looking at the size of the porch and how much area it takes up, additionally with the structure that it entails with the metal and such, we just felt that um it would number one it would take away from the
program for the students in terms of multi-use um for for gym and and also outside. And so um it it is large and it my our concern also was this long-term upkeep. um it's not just the surface um
you know there's a metal structure that goes around it and there's a lot that could potentially um be a liability and not just a liability but maintenance and upkeep and so um at the time they just felt that it might not be best suited for an elementary building. I know the
county was looking at exploring possible park or something along their line but to use an entire playground to um a structure like that is problematic. Additionally, we just had a huge snowstorm. And so, um, to prove and to
to move around with such a large structure like that could also be problematic. So, I mean, we did evaluate it, we were certainly, you know, willing to entertain it, but again, um, looking at the size of the structure and then some of the other drawbacks, ultimately
we felt it might not be the best for an elementary building. And that's sort of, you know, where we landed with it. requirements for that purpose would actually be needed for the fact that we already did that as a bunny site and it can be customizable. So 5,000 ft which I
mean those is approximately 12,000 ft. So the school should be plenty of room to part which we often have a problem that schools will always add lighting to any of our lights. If you had a work surface, a field service,
it cost us like $50,000 to put up. >> Yeah, >> we can certainly I can certainly reach out to you. Um but the information that I was given and the I was given it was a massive structure. Um I I have you know the accommodations that I was given and
that's why we certainly if things have changed or out there we can have a conversation. Um, I'll reach out to you and, you know, we can we can continue the conversation. I'd be willing to see what you have versus what I have. Um, so I could reach out tomorrow and we could set up a time to come and just meet and
I could look at again. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I was just going to add as a Jefferson School PTA member, myself, I'm the VP of Jefferson School PTA. Um, we are constantly looking for new things to revitalize the school. Well, Jefferson
School needs a lot of help in a lot of different ways, which is why you guys have done the things you've done to try to give us a little uplift. I just don't think there's enough amenities for the kids. There's not enough for them to do. They're always stuck in the gym. If we're offering them an outlet and an opportunity for that safe environment
where there's a multi-use field that's given to us for free, I really I would ask the board to entertain the discussion, especially with Jefferson School, if at all. Uh the opportunity there. I think that's the ideal location in my opinion. Sure. If you can please
um I think it's a good idea to do this if it puts multiple use to it. I think what you got to find out from someone or whoever's instructing it, how is the snow going to affect it? How is plowing going to affect it? If there's no effect to
it, it's not a bad idea at all. When they say it's, you know, soccer, it's infected. um over whatever that football that is. I I think it's a great idea. We have the facility, you have the area,
but I don't we haven't spoken to anybody from FIFA who would pay us these answers. I think if these questions that I brought up are answered, we just hate it being outside. It's a government facility and they would hate if they put
a plow on or a truck on it. I mean, I understand if you can't put a plow to remove the snow, the Jefferson School refuse that that area first cuz it's got the large backtop if it doesn't work. Um, but I I haven't
spoke to anybody or I don't know anybody up here spoken to anybody who is coming forward with this from FIFA and it's answering very few questions. We we we it was actually brought to us secondhand and we didn't get some of the things
you're already telling us. So I I'm not not because Paul spoke up, but since he's the since he's the chair of athletics, student activities, and facilities, I think maybe this should be a uh we should continue the conversation with everyone. Okay.
We have a a number a phone number to the person who >> has all the information to come here and sit with you. I could just sit with me the president and ask question. I don't think say no and just turn our backs on it. It's
free, you know. It's to me something and it's for the kids that make their school to come up and not be on a rubber a we have that rubber in the gym in the
west side but that's inside you don't have to sh do anything on it maybe but outside you know I'm not sure we're going to get smoke like this again but written on Friday.
>> We don't know yet. So, so I got to put on my economist hat and tell you nothing's free. There's a cost and everything. However, I know what you mean. Look, right? So, maintenance. >> Yeah. It's free to the maintenance part of it.
This doesn't need to be answered by the the people who are telling us that we can have a phone number and discuss it with >> Yeah, that's all we ask is that we continue the conversation. >> There's no need to say no and just walk away from it. Let's entertain and then we could say what we need to say after we get all the information from it.
>> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> Thank you. Appreciate you. Thank you. >> Okay, we're going to open up uh for board discussion and formal business agenda items. Oh, you you want to do it? >> Sure. Okay. Thank you. We're going to
move to uh finance and uh Dr. Tuma is going to step. Appreciate it. >> Thank you, Dr. Scardino. This is under finance committee. Pursuant to 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 federal finance resolutions 1 through nine to be adopted. Second call Mr. >> Mamo Mr. Pamo >> four >> Dr.
>> four >> Dr. >> and Mr. four. >> Okay. Education and curriculum. Uh Anna Pasimano. Second call. Mr. Guso >> four.
>> Miss Pastamano >> four. >> Mr. Pastamano >> four. >> Ms. Russo. >> Dr. Scardino. >> Fourth. Dr. Tuma >> four. >> And Mr. Valano >> four. Motion carries. policy, rules, and regulations. Uh, Mr. Vana,
>> pursuant to the recommendations of the superintendent of schools, the committee on policies and rules and regulations recommends the following resolutions be moved forward to a roll call vote. I make a motion to move forward policies and rules, regulations, resolutions 1 through three to be adopted. Second,
>> second Dr. Kuma. Roll call. Mr. G. Russo. >> Four. >> Miss Pacamano. >> Four. >> Mr. Pamo, >> four. Ms. Russo, >> Dr. Scardino, >> four, >> Dr. Tuma >> four, >> and Mr. Valano >> fourth.
>> Motion carries. >> Person personnel. Pursuant to the recommendations of the superintendent of schools, the committee on personnel recommends the following resolution to be moved forward for a roll call vote. I motion that the motion move forward uh
personnel resolutions A through M to be adopted. call Mr. Russo, >> Mr. Pam, >> four, >> Mr. Pam, >> four, >> Russo, >> Dr. Cardino, >> four, >> Dr.
>> And Mr. Mr. Right. get us after that. >> Okay, we're going to open up to new business for the board. Any new business? Just for context, we had a uh 2 and 1/2 hour work session before this. So, there
was a lot of conversation then. So, if we we seem quiet, a lot happened beforehand. >> Yeah. So um for about a year I've been going over looking at thing about uh cut offs with the kindergarten and the school and starting of schools. So I've looked into it and I figured I want to
bring up for uh maybe a vote for it on tonight. It's regarding to the cuto off for in kindergarten. So you take a kid, he goes to kindergarten, he can't he cannot make it to uh he misses the cuto off. So you put him in a secondary school, say good heart or another
alternative school. they uh graduate that they complete the certified school after that now they have they want to go to public school you know in the town that they live they want to be in that public school for that year um right now it shows that you cannot for the second and third I would like to change the
rules the state regulation said that the cuto off is only applied for kindergarten so they would like to probably put a vote up to keep it as a state qualification so there's no longer a cut off past kindergarten and the teacher child after completing that
complete year course can start school right away in public school in their town in policy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. For policy. So I'd like they put a forward in it and get it uh removed and back to the state.
>> So we would have to make a motion to revise the policy and then they would have to be we would have to revise the policy. We have to come back in today for our first reading and then March for their second reading. >> My recommendation on how to proceed with something like this is to refer your
concerns to the policy committee and have them review it as a committee and then make recommendations to the board of education for a potential first and second read. >> We can discuss it at the board can
discuss it. Um just to kind of give some points of clarification before the board discusses it. Um the boards and I um a few years back decided to um extend that uh for a few reasons. um you know the cuto off date for kindergarten is
established by the state and so many people to sort of skirt the cuto off date would um put their child in a Catholic school for one year in kindergarten and then come the second year thus
trying to really out small or outl kindergarten but technically their birthday would not allow them to have a nerve in kindergarten and so um just as a whole the administration felt that younger students like that typically
then tended to struggle with learning. I know that's not always the case. They're students that you know could excel and achieve. But we felt as a district um if if they went through kindergarten first and second grade since it was a clear
break and we that's a natural transition for us here to two schools and then shift to 3 to five. So the principal ultimately decided that if a student was successful in that Catholic school for K 1 and two ultimately meant that they could come in third grade whereas
learning any learning issues would have probably been hashed out for those for those years. So ultimately that's what the administrative team decided just I just want the votes to know that wasn't a decision that was just made in isolation. there was a concern brought up and through conversation and dialogue
ultimately that's where the policy uh committee landed and that was our rationale for doing that. So um I just wanted to mention that. >> So I think moving it to policy per your recommendation is is the best way to go. >> Right. So so just to clarify that doesn't preclude the board of education
from having a discussion as a whole but you are you do operate in a committee structure. So my recommendation is that you follow that structure for purposes of having that discussion, but that doesn't preclude the full board from having the discussion on policies because ultimately it is the full board that approves it. Okay.
>> Just to bring it to uh so what you're saying is my issue is the kids are going to be behind now if this continues this way. >> So So in theory, this state has a cut off. It's October 1st. Okay. So now I'm doing a and so so there's a secondary
concern, right? Because at what point do you allow that child then to come? Okay, I'm born October 5th. Okay, so you just missed the cut off. At what point do you stop that? If I'm born in December,
January, where does it end? Right. So now the final year you could potentially have a first grader that's going to almost be a full year of age younger than other students. And so that's a secondary concern if the board looks to revise that policy. I really do think
you need an end date at that point because again what is just missing the cut off a month two months and then again people that typically do that are looking to sort of navigate around you know the mandates that have been established. So I would
just ask the policy has to look and revise that if you do choose to do so. I would definitely look at when you plan to end that because again just what what is just missing right I get October and October 3rd but where does that end in
the board's mind of just missing the cut off and so there's a lot of factors that went in that was fleshed out when the policy developed and so that's the concern as well. So, Anthony, a couple things. Um, one is I I appreciate you bringing this up and and it's something
that's important to you. So, of course, um, that's how we operate. Um, I think what we what I'd like to see in policy, if we're going to go go that route, um, you know, being somewhat of a datadriven person or data driven decision maker, as
we we like to say, uh, I think I'd like to see the the plus and minuses a little bit more concretely. So policy should probably dig in and look at what what are the things what's the positive about this? What's the negative about it for the child? Because I think a lot of
times my daughter was November and I was thinking of doing something similar. I and I'm glad we didn't because she needed to grow and mature. I'm a de and I'm not I'm not debating with you. I'm just going to give you a personal example. I'm a December baby. Um I was one of the youngest in my class. I
struggled I know it's hard to believe. I struggled I struggled a little bit and when I finished my first semester of college I was still 17 to give you context and I was nowhere near ready. Now that's personal and I'm not trying to debate you on that. I'm just giving you my own personal experience. So there
has to be I would imagine there has to be a reason for maturity to academic um you know connection to all these other variables. So if it's just to accom and I hate to do it I'm not saying you're saying this is if it's to accommodate the parent that's that's one
conversation and I don't particularly jump into that or or adhere to that. However, if it's if it if it shows if we could show something that this is where we're at a point where it's beneficial or not beneficial for child, I think we should look at it very carefully. So
>> yeah. Well, just for the record, it's it's been K for 20 30 years has never been an issue. So, I'm trying to find out the reason why it automatically had it changed. Kids, you're going to keep you're going to keep your son or your child back a year. And if you choose not to, now you're going to pay for him to
be in a Catholic school >> thousand dollar because you know your kid's smart and he can do it rather than being forced to be put back. Now he's doing it three more years. He's doing it for $24,000 just because someone thinks he's not going to be smart enough. >> Yeah.
>> So, it's been going on for 20, 30 years. So, it's been going fine. I don't see any statistics that shows that it should be that it should be continued. >> Well, I think that's where we should look at see see where the numbers lie and I don't I don't disagree. >> I think Anthony was also talking about if they completed the that's the full
year of kindergarten. If they completed successfully and they have to meet some metrics to go into that kindergarten. >> What does that look like? We got to look at that. >> We have to look at that. >> It can't just be an arbitrary decision. It has to be based on the foundations and policies that the administration has
put forth. So can we move it to what do we do the move it to committee the not necessary >> right so you don't need to take any action to refer it to the committee it just would be placed on your policy committee agenda based by the policy committee chair we'll move that to the committee >> yeah
policy >> yes >> okay policy >> okay thank you >> of course Any other new business? >> Yes. Um, I've been getting a text from my favorite person,
>> but I'm here. She's She's saying the microphones are horrible. It's very mum. She's calling me mumbles now because they can't hear it on the internet. >> So, I think we should look into some new mic system up here. Oh, yeah. I just got the same text from our favorite.
>> Did you get the same text? >> Yeah. Any other new business? Thank you, Paul. >> Okay. >> Public for uh non-aggenda items and uh professors use
of course. >> Thank you, Dr. On behalf of the um US education association, we just like to welcome Miss and Dr. Tina. We wish you all luck and um as you step
forward for the children of this kind and also I would like to uh thank the members of the board of education custodial staff and the DPW phenomenal job. I know. Um I believe it's Harrison and Car open today uh
because there was just too much snow and we had the same amount of snow and we were able we were able to get it open and um you know on the on the hard work of of those men's backs. So I just want to on behalf of behalf of the teachers and uh staff in this district thank them
as well. Thank you. Thank you. Welcome. Okay. Everybody's favorite uh motion. Motion to adjurnn. I'm not saying that we want to leave, but you know, motion to adjurnn. >> Uh all in favor?