convening the meeting. Can we get a roll? >> Mr. Ser, >> Mrs. Atinson >> here. >> Mrs. Beltran >> here. >> Mr. Murphy >> here. Mr. Keller >> here. >> Mrs. >> here. Now we're gonna do the flag salute
of America and to the republic it stands one nation under God indivisibley. >> Okay. So I'm going to move right on to Mrs. Prosa's report. Good evening everybody. How are you tonight?
>> Little bit more energy. Happy 100 days of school. Did you know that? >> Um I'm sure there were lots of festivities at the elementary schools and as you probably know the high school have been getting ready for their new semester. So congratulations to the
second half of school. As you probably all are aware, it's been a very cold, bitterly cold and challenging winter. Um, for me, it's probably one of the hardest decisions I have to make, whether I close school or
keep it open. But I want you to know that I always make those decisions on keeping our students and our staff safe. With that being said, you will see that there is a new proposed calendar that the board is going to approve this evening. It the two snow days. We did
have one built in snow day, but sometimes we were building them in and we haven't had snowtorms like we've passed one since 2016. Um, unfortunately, with that being said, you'll see that now the last day of school has been moved back by one day.
It is now Friday, June 19th. With that being said, if there is any additional snow days, we'll have to discuss it as a board and and we will have to adjust the calendar accordingly. Um, I don't know if you saw what the groundhog said, but
I think he's calling for more winter. I'm hopeful that perhaps those days will move beyond us and we will jump right into spring. Um, the calendar is going to be shared with the community tomorrow. We'll do it through a thrillshare. Mr. Roberts will put it on
our website once it is board approved. Um, and so thank you so much for your support and certainly your understanding. I also want to um bring up some upcoming dates. As you know, March is a very exciting time. We will
be celebrating at the end of February, Read Across America. We will be in our schools on Friday, February 27th. And we're excited because this special day is dedicated to fostering the love of reading and highlighting the importance of literacy in education. There's going
to be a lot of activities and I'm always going to encourage you to go to our website because our publicity people do such a fantastic job of highlighting all the wonderful things that go on in our schools. I also want to ask you to please make sure you spread the word
about kinder. That is the time that we will be introducing our new class that will be joining us in September and that is going to be March 3rd, 2026. It will be hosted at Bridgeway School which is across the way and start at 6:00. So,
thank you so much and I'm going to turn the meeting back to >> Yeah. Next is our military ambassador, senior ambassador, Sergeant Taylor. >> Good evening. Uh, nothing really significant to report uh this evening. I just want to thank the uh district and
the board for all your support for the military community and all our military connected students. >> Thank you. Next, our student government repul. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Julia. I'm the executive vice president at
Manchester High School. I'm here to provide you and the board with important information regarding the events that have been happening. Since last meeting, we have had many fundraisers to spread some love and care with our during our annual singing.
are in full starting the new semech 11 and are currently collecting donations. Seniors were asked to vote between midnight paradise and night in Vegas as the theme. The winning theme was midnight paradise. Juniors are acting in fundraisers with
their prom and their theme is a black tie affair. had their fundraiser on February 11th, Burger 25 on February 25th, and will sell St. Patrick's lucky in March. I just want to say thank you for allowing me to represent the MTHs student government at this board meeting this evening. I'm truly honored to be here
with all of you and to have the opportunity to fill you in on everybody's here recognition with Mrs. So we'll begin with MTS and I think is here to February student of the Hannah, come
up and join Mrs. Meet Hannah. She's one of our preschool dragons. And look at this smile. Can you smile for everybody? Look at that face and those dimples. We are so lucky to have her in our district and certainly the
dragons. Congratulations. get a certificate. Look at that. Is >> that awesome? >> Okay. >> Okay. You show it to everybody now. Big smiles. Okay. Let's give her another round of applause. >> Congratulations.
Congratulations. >> We'll continue with the honors for Ridgeway Elementary School is here. >> Okay, we got a lot of student who leads with integity, kindness, and empathy. She often takes on the role of
classroom project manager manager, but She's not getting paid for that, right? That's okay. Showing strong leadership and teamwork. Every morning warms our hearts by welcoming a younger classmate who feels hesitant about school,
offering a hug and a beautiful smile. Can you show everybody your big girl smile? Oh my goodness, he's so cute. Our kids are kind and cute. >> Okay, we'll continue with Whiting
Elementary School and Mrs. Swift. Is Joe here? >> Okay, come on up. So, Joe is being honored because he has exemplary talent in art and he has done what he is. This project called which is
a seasonal project. It's about one week and he presented his teacher with the very same completed project he made at home with his own supplies. You got a great smile too that not only is he creative but he's friendly. Are you a
future artist in the making? >> I believe that. I appreciate that. Let's give him a nice round of applause. the page. You just never know, right? Okay, we're gonna continue with the cuteness from regional day school. And I
think I saw Andrew there. Is Andrew here? >> Okay, let me tell you something because I read this and that first line is so true. Andrew has really come out of his shell this year and he is progressing so
greatly. He's bright, he's inquisitive, he's imaginative, and he's such a good listener. And if you give him a nice round of applause, I think he'll smile. >> What a smile. Congratulations, Andrew. Okay, we're going to continue with the
middle school if Mr. Gonia is Isabelle here. >> Okay, no, no problem. So, we're going to congratulate and recognize Isabelle who is a respectful, responsible seventh grader at our middle school. She has a
strong work ethic and a very positive attitude and she's very deserving of this. So, can you make sure she gets her certificate? >> Absolutely. about the children. >> Here we go. And our two athletes representing the middle school. I
believe I saw Jake and Aisha. Am I correct? Okay. Congratulations. school. Jake and Aisha are both great representations of what it means to be a student athlete. They're eighth grade leaders on our basketball teams. They work just as hard in the classroom as
they do in the athletic arena and we congratulate both of them as well. Big smiles. Thank you so much. We're going to continue with the key club students. Are the key club students here? I hear I see Mr. Hoffman saying
yes. Key club students, come on up. >> Mostly Key Club. So these students actually coordinated a huge endeavor. So, if you're not familiar with with Key Club, they actually volunteer to help
with the what we call the Code Blue operation. So, we're proud to recognize the students for leading a districtwide initiative, Code Blue. Does somebody want to explain what code is up here? >> Blue Excellent.
And thank you for that explanation. The other thing I want you to understand is they coordinated this with all the schools. So it started with bringing over the other schools to the high school to create first of all a strategic plan of what you're going to be getting from each building. Then also
making sure we had something large enough because the items that you're looking for are pretty big, right? And Obviously, also they worked in coordination and then of course there was snow on top of that so we kept pushing the date back but you were able to get those items to those locations to
make sure that it was there when they needed it which was a very cold >> you guys opened another location. So listen, our kids are extremely academic focused, but even more than anything, they have great heart and they volunteer and they go above and beyond.
And this shows a group of children coming together to organize very selflessly something for the homeless, for people that are in need. And then they extended it beyond Manchester, which I think is just kudos to all of you. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you
so much. And now we're going to do a cheese. Okay. I want to make sure I get the next correctly. Am I right? No. Mr. Commander, come on up. Is it? So, our athlete is Evan. I didn't see
Evan. Is Evan here? >> Don't and they are February athletes of the month and we have their coach with them which is coach. So a first year freshman lady wrestler is that awesome
earbatch against February. She continues to set the tone in practice through her work ethic and her leadership and congratulations to you. Evan is just exceptional. He continues
to excel in indoor track high jump title and group two NJ relay title while also capturing Ocean County relay titles in the long jump and the high jump. Congratulations.
And also, if this wasn't enough, he won the NJSIA group 2 South Jersey High jump title on Sunday, guys. Congratulations and all the best as you continue. Okay, so I'm going to do a shameless plug.
Somehow this got in my presentation. Kinder prep. We want our youngest to start coming in. Please let your friends know if they have a kindergarter is a very important date for them to come to say March 3rd. We want to be able to give them information. Explain to them
about the registration process and what is needed. And we certainly want to welcome our new class. What's the class going to be Mr. You're going to be a class of what? >> 20. >> Okay.
>> Can we talk about math today? >> We talked about that. >> Okay. Sarah, what do you think? >> Thank you. >> 2033. 13 years. >> Okay. 13 years we'll be celebrating.
Anyway, I wanted to end with the importance of across America's birthday. So, we're going to end with a quote. The more that you read, the more things you know, the more that you learn, the more places you will go. So the point of this is just keep reading
and maybe do some math too. Okay, thank you so much for coming. Have a wonderful evening and we will continue our presentation. But if anybody wants to leave to go home and get to bed or do they understand? is right. >> I might have to
>> put my hearing for a second. >> I just noticed you out there. was the 50th year celebration of >> Alex. Okay, moving along. Um, now next to the report of the business administrator. >> All right, first one. Uh, just a quick
budget update. Uh, the governor's address is typically scheduled for the last Tuesday of February, which will be next week. Uh, it does sound like they are giving her an extension of time to kind of get a little accated. Uh so it looks like the governor's address will now be March 10th. Uh which means the
district will not have its state aid until about March 12th. Uh currently the budget deadline for the budget is March 19th, but we believe it's going to get pushed back to March 26th. So that may affect our March board meeting. We may need to move that um
depending on what the date of the budget submission is. So we'll, you know, we'll follow up with that. Um, as far as what we're hearing, we're not really hearing much on state aid at this point. Um, what they're telling us right now is to budget 20 to 25% less in federal aid.
Uh, the other thing that's, you know, going to have a pretty good impact on the budget next year. What they're telling us to project for health insurance for next year in the state health plan. Uh, they're telling us to budget for 30% increases on medical and 45% increases on prescription. uh this
is on top of a 30 plus percent increase this year. So that's going to have a significant impact on our budget next year on budget development. You know, we're hoping to get another update before the final budget is due in May because obviously, you know, increases
like this are not sustainable uh in any in any budget, school budget, municipal budget. You know, this is not something specific to school districts, municipalities are dealing with this, colleges are dealing with this. health insurance, you know, private or state,
you know, we're not hearing increases less than 25%. So, this is not, you know, specific to the state plan or school districts, but these are, you know, tremendous increases. When, you know, health benefits in our district is about a 13 million line item in our
budget. So, these kind these kinds of increases, uh, you know, you're looking at two and a half to three million increase in just that, you know, just health benefits alone. So, we are, you know, we're continuing to work through the budget process, looking at at ways we can we can make
reductions um and have as little impact on, you know, students and and staff as possible, making sure we can keep our programming, athletics, all those things. So, we're doing everything we can to keep those, but you know, we won't know for sure where we where we sit until we get our stadium numbers uh
on March. Um there's uh an item on the agenda that could be very significant to our district and other districts in Ocean County. There is a Senate bill out there. It's Senate Bill S15. What this Senate bill would do if it's approved is it will set up a county
consortium for just this is just for Ocean County. Uh with regard to non-public students in Ocean County, um what it would be it's a three-year pilot program. they would set up a consortium uh and instead of the school districts
being responsible for a loot payments uh the department of education would send that money directly to the consortium and it would no longer be the responsibility of the school district um and they will be responsible for providing transportation or making
payments uh which which we are currently responsible for in our budget next year for 2627 we're projecting about $1.4 million in these payments. So, I don't know if this legislation is going to pass in time for next year's budget, but potentially for budgets down the road
that would allow the district to pull that expense out of our budget. Um, so this is this is very it's very important legislation for three districts in Ocean County right now. Lakewood, Jackson, and Manchester are the ones that are seeing the larger
populations of nonublics. There are obviously some other towns that have it as well. Um, but we're hoping, you know, we're hoping that they'll get support. It does sound like from some of the people that we talked to that it will. I just don't know if uh it'll be in place for
So, we have a resolution on the agenda supporting the legislation that we will send out to all our representatives and politicians. You know, if you guys can support as well, you know, just reach out to your reach out to your local politicians and just
you support this bill. >> Okay. Does anybody have public comments on agenda items only? >> Okay, moving on. Any board member reports? >> Okay. Is there any old business? Any respond? No business.
>> Okay. So, we're going to move to section A numbers one to four and all. >> Yeah. A to E. >> F. >> A through F. Okay. A through F.
>> Can we get a motion? Any discussion? >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Atinson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bel. >> Mr. Min. >> Yes. The rest >> Mr. Keller.
from A2. I was not here for the January 21st meeting for >> B number two and yes to everything else. >> Section two, administrative numbers 1 through seven. Okay. Motion Mr. S. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Atinson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Merkins. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keller. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. Okay. Personnel numbers 1 through 28.
Can I get a motion? Any discussion? >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Atinson. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Belure. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keller.
>> Yes. For number 19. >> And Mrs. >> Yes. >> Uh, student personnel numbers one and two. Can I get a motion? >> Any discussion? Okay. Can we get a roll call, please?
>> Mr. Ser, >> yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Belchure. >> Yes. >> Mr. Min. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keller. >> Yes. I'm going toain number 27. >> What's that? We're in student.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yes. >> Yes. All right. Special services numbers one and two. Can I get a motion? >> Any discussion? >> Can we get a roll call, please?
>> Sure. And just to give you an update on item two, uh, two of the two of these students are have withdrawn or completed and two of them are are temporarily uh have temporary temporarily withdrawn from the programs and will be reassigned
to new programs. >> Mr. Ser, >> yes. >> Mrs. Atinson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Belure, >> yes. >> Mr. Min, >> yes. >> Mr. Keller, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Yes. Athletics numbers one and two. Um, can I
get a motion? >> Any discussion? >> Can we get a roll, please? >> Mrs. Sick. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Beltran. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Keller. >> Yes. >> And Mr. >> Yes. All right. Section three is finance
numbers one through five. Can I get a motion? >> Any discussion? Can we get a roll, please? >> Mrs. Ser, >> yes. >> Mrs. Atinson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bel, >> yes. >> Mr. Min, >> yes. >> Mr. Keller, >> yes.
>> And Mr. >> Yes. At this time, does anybody have any public comments? Um, so I guess we're moving to a motion to adjourn.