Good evening. >> I did see that. >> Yes. Good night. It's January 6, 2026 and we have our annual reorganization meeting. Uh Miss Ali Evvich, notice of the meeting, please. I hereby make the statement to indicate
compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act known as chapter 231 of the Public Laws of New Jersey 1975, which became effective 90 days after enactment January 19th, 1976. Notice that this meeting was given by providing the location, time, and date of this meeting and posting of the same on the front door of the board of education offices,
by delivering copies to the Burough Hall and the Matuchan public library, the home news and tribune, and by filing a copy by the burough clerk as prescribed by this law. >> Thank you. Flag salute to the flag of America to the republic for which it
stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> Now we'll have the administration of the oath for the board members elected on November 4th, 2025. I, Felicia Green,
>> I, Jennifer Zimmerman, >> do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of New Jersey and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States under the authority of the
people. So help me God. >> I Felicia Colleen >> I Jennifer Zimmerman do solemnly swear that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of a member of the board of education and that I will faithfully impartially and justly perform all the duties of that
office according to the best of my ability. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS. [applause] [applause] >> Roll call. >> Mr. Bot >> here. >> Miss Cheetum >> here. >> Mr. Derlinger
>> here. >> Mr. Glasber >> here. Dr. Johnson Marcus >> here. Miss Colleen >> here. >> Miss Michaels Lamort >> here. >> Dr. Sper here. Mr. Sus. >> No. >> He's advises you won't be here.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Miss Zimmerman >> here. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh announcement of election results. Alicia Colleen 4500, Eric Sus 4,325, and Jennifer Zimmerman 4,39.
Now we'll have the election of the board president. Do we have any nominations? >> Mr. Glber, >> I'd like to nominate Dr. Johnson Marcus. Um, she's done an awesome job last year in the role and I think she should continue for another year.
>> Thank you. We have a second. >> Okay. Any other nominations? Okay. Um, I think we still have to just write down your who you're voting and >> and then just put it in this envelope and then give it back to Mike so he can
read the numbers. Thank you. Okay, Mr. Bot Hazeland Hazeland Johnson Marcus Dr. Johnson Marcus Dr. Johnson Marcus
Mr. Glber Dr. Johnson Marcus Hazeland Johnson Marcus Hazeland Johnson Marcus and Hazeland Marcus Johnson. [laughter] >> Thank you so much uh Mr. Harvey for uh
chairing. Thank you colleagues. Thank you Mr. Glford for the nomination. [applause] Um and I suppose I'm I am uh I need to run an election right now for a vice president. And at this point I'd like to nominate Mr. Chris Derlinger to be the vice president. He has been
fantastic by my side over 2025. Is there a second? Oh my goodness, so many hands. I can't even choose. Metum. All right. And now we do the same thing again. Mr. Harvey, we'll follow your lead. What's that? She kind of
really fancy here. >> Our sophisticated system here. Do I count them? >> Yes, you're in charge again. >> All right, I'm in charge again. See, this is where Gavl is handy. >> It was Mr. Harvey's 10 minutes of fame. [laughter]
>> All right. Uh, Mr. Derlinger. Mr. Derlinger. I cannot read this. I see CD. Yeah, we're going to go with that. [laughter] Chris Derlinger, Mr. Derlinger.
Oh, such nice handwriting. Mr. Derlinger, is that you per chance? Mr. Derflinger and Mr. Derlinger. So, it is unanimous. >> Thank you everybody. APPRECIATE [applause] >> all right. Fantastic. Thank you very much.
At this time, now that you've witnessed the scintillating election of your president and vice president of the Matutan Board of Education, it is open to the public on any comments on any of the previous items. Y'all like this is not why we're here.
[laughter] Fair enough. Now, I turn it over to Dr. Caputo for one of the more exciting times of us sitting up here as board where we get to recognize some amazing educators. That's why most of y'all are here. So, Dr. over to you. >> Absolutely. Congratulations on your
elections. Um Mr. Harvey, the most uh in sync harmonized oath I've ever heard. Nice job, ladies. >> I know. That was amazing. [laughter] >> And we're really excited tonight to honor our governor's educators of the year and educational uh services professionals. Uh we have two um winners
from each school and a power professional of the year. Uh I'm going to first um invite up Mrs. uh Jennifer Aspololis, the MOS principal, to announce the um governor's educators of the year and educational services professionals from MOS school.
And as Miss Aspos makes her way to the microphone, of course, we we're going to have the principal invite the um the honores up to the microphone to say a few words if they'd like to. It is with great pride and pleasure that I introduce Mos School's Governor's
Educator of the Year, Mrs. Stephanie Candell. [applause] Mrs. Candell is an exemplary educator possessing the perfect recipe of passion, creativity, expertise,
dedication, and drive. As a veteran kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Kandell teaches with her whole heart and soul each day. And she readily shares her skills and knowledge with those around her. She has the innate ability to make learning come alive for her young
learners, and she empowers them with the gifts of curiosity, imagination, and compassion. Simply put, Mrs. Kandell is an extraordinary teacher. At Moss School, we recognize the importance of
first impressions. And in Mrs. Kandell's class, it is where children first fall in love with learning. A love that will inspire them, motivate them, and sustain them long after they have left her classroom. I can think of no finer gift
to give our children. Congratulations, Mrs. Candelle on being named Moss School's Governor's Educator of the Year. WOOHOO. [applause] [applause] Thank you so much for inviting me this evening. Congratulations to my colleagues that are here tonight. Also,
receiving this award is incredibly humbling because anyone who knows anything about teaching knows that no one does this work alone. Teaching is a team effort and I am incredibly lucky to work alongside a team of educators, administrative staff at Moss who give
their hearts, their time and creativity to our students every day. I honestly could not do my job without my fantastic pair of professional Pamela Malone. >> Mrs. Malone just drove back from Canada this morning to see an very ill family
member and she still showed up at this meeting to offer her support. My former paraprofessional Sandra Spinelli is also an honore tonight and she was such an asset to me in the classroom navigating zoom and in-person teaching at the same time. I am also very thankful to moss
school principal Jennifer Aspololis and supervisor Lindseay Omar who together create an environment where teachers are trusted, encouraged and supported. Finally, I'd like to thank my family for all their love, support and patience hearing my neverending stories about my
students. Thank you. Wonderful. Thank you. [applause] >> I also have the honor of introducing Moss School's education service professional of the year, Mrs. Sandra Spanelli. [applause] Mrs. Spanelli has served as a power
professional with us at MOS school for the past 5 years. She has a unique ability to connect with each of her students and encourage them to grow to their highest potential. Ever the nurturer, Mrs. Spanelli is also a true
team player and she acts with the utmost level of love and respect for her students and colleagues. Her compassion and dedication expand far beyond the walls of her own classroom as she's also a dedicated volunteer in our community.
Her kindness and selflessness truly make her one in a million. We all know the saying, it takes a village, but this village is stronger and better because of Mrs. Sandra Spanelli.
Congratulations, Mrs. Spanelli, on being named Moss School's Education Service Professional of the Year. [applause] >> [applause] >> Wow, that was a lot of big words there. So, thank you so much. I want to thank everybody for this recognition and to
the people who nominated me. I work in the integrated preschool program right now and with a wonderful teacher, Mrs. Herald. We see incredible progress in our children and great change and it's really um very rewarding. So that to me
is a reward every single year and every day. [clears throat] Um along with the other teachers at Moss who are also very collaborative and supportive. We um have a and under the guidance of our great principal Mrs. Esperolas. Um we at Moss School are a
great place to work and a really great place for our children to learn. Thank you. [applause] Next we'll move to Congratulations by the way to uh Stephanie and uh Sandra. Next we'll move to Campbell School. I'll invite Dr. Stanza to introduce the
Campbell School honores for tonight. Okay. Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful evening. And I see we have some Campbell kids in the audience as well. So maybe they'll be able to help me a little bit. Every single day we have the great fortune at Campbell to
start our day with the Campbell motto that says that Campbell Elementary School is a great place to learn and >> a great place to belong. So we have the beautiful Campbell kids. They need a round of applause also. >> Yes, they [applause] do.
>> Who recite that motto every single day. And the motto is wonderful. But who cares about the words? It's about how we live out the motto every single day. That's what we teach our children. And then we follow it up with what makes Campbell such a great place to learn and such a great place to belong are all the
wonderful Campbell people, the great Campbell kids, the wonderful Campbell teachers. So to have the opportunity to talk about two of the great Campbell teachers here tonight is such a pleasure of mine. I am proud to acknowledge Miss Aaron Santeria as Campbell Elementary
School's teacher OF THE YEAR. >> [applause] >> I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING closely with Miss Santiseri as she is consistently exemplifies excellence in teaching, leadership, and service. She is a leader in literacy instruction with
the deep command of evidence-based practices and the science of reading. Her instruction is both rigorous and responsive, ensuring that all students, each and every one of them, whether they need targeted intervention or enrichment, experience meaningful growth
and success. At Campbell, this means that students build strong reading foundations early, gain confidence as learners, and learn classroom material better, prepared to go across each of the grade levels. This goes beyond the classroom. Miss Sanderi serves as the
co-chair of our school leadership team, helping lead a collaborative shared decisionmaking culture that strengthens in instruction across all the grades and is a part of the very lifeblood of Matuchin public schools. She also serves as a union representative
advocating for colleagues with professionalism, integrity, and respect. Her unwavering commitment to equity, access, and student success reflects the very best that Campbell Matuchin and our very
profession has to offer. Miss Ayeria is deeply deserving of this special recognition. [applause] [applause] Thank you so much. Good evening. This award means so much to me and it is such a extremely huge
honor. Um I have only ever wanted to be a teacher and I really love what I do but working here in Matuchen has been so much more than a job to me. I have met lifelong friends, worked alongside so many influential leaders and formed
lasting connections with students and families that extend beyond the school year. I have learned so much about the power of collaboration, connection, and community. And many years ago, a student gave this to me as a gift. It's a little sign, and
it says, "Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning." And this sign still lives in my classroom. And the message lives in my heart where it guides what I do every day. Being recognized for simply doing what I love,
what brings me joy every single day is extremely humbling and rewarding. Thank you so much. [applause] [applause] But wait, there's more. Uh, it is with great respect and
enthusiasm that we recognize Miss Jodie Reiner as Campbell Elementary School's Education Service Professional of the Year. [applause] Miss Reiner exemplifies everything our community hopes for in an educator. deep
expertise, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to helping every child succeed. Families consistently share that after working with her, their children not only grow as readers, but begin to see themselves as capable and
confident learners. To quote one parent who shared this with me, "After working with Miss Reiner, my child finally believes they are a strong reader. Her instruction is grounded in evidence-based literacy practices, but what truly sets her apart is her focus
on the whole child. A powerful example of this is her leadership during dyslexia awareness month when she created a library display and shared stories of successful individuals with dyslexia, helping our students feel known and understood. At Campbell
Elementary School, you do indeed belong. Miss Riner brought that to life. Miss Reiner is also a tireless advocate for literacy, collaborating closely with teachers, supporting families, and ensuring every student receives the individual instruction that they
deserve. In every sense, she exemplifies what it means to be an educational service professional, changing lives, one sound, one syllable, and one success story at a time. It's my great pleasure to
acknowledge MISS REINER. >> [applause] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS truly is such an honor to be selected for this award. It's a privilege to be able to go to work every day and do something that I'm so passionate about and be able to be part of my students reading journeys.
Having the ability to watch my students grow in confidence and become fluent readers, as well as being able to advocate for them and spread dyslexia awareness is such a fulfilling experience. Thank you to all of my students, their families, the wonderful administration
here, and all of our colleagues um and my family um for making work so fun and rewarding. It's truly so much more than a job. Thank you. [applause] DON'T forget that. >> Congratulations, Jod and
congratulations, Aaron. Um, neither of the Edgar honores could be here tonight, but on behalf of Mrs. Oavdo, I'd like to honor Rick Carter and uh Dr. Courtney Crawford here tonight. Mr. Mr. Crawford is an exceptional educator whose dedication, professionalism, and
instructional excellence have made a profound impact on Edgar Middle School. He is not only one of the PE and health teachers, he also teaches adaptive physical education. He designs meaningful, accessible lessons for students with physical and developmental needs and fosters opportunities for peer
support and connection. In addition to being the leader in the fizzed department, Mr. Carter is also Edgar's administrative assistant. He plays a key role in student discipline where he approaches every situation with fairness, consistency, and a deep respect for students. His calm demeanor and strong relationships allow him to
resolve issues effectively while supporting students growth. Mr. Carter is a role model for both students and staff at Edgar Middle School. Congratulations to Rick Carter, Edgar Middle School's Governor's Educator of the Year. [applause] Now to Edgar's Edgar Middle School's
educational services professional of the year. Dr. uh Courtney Crawford is an Edgar Middle School school psychologist. She provides extraordinary support to students, staff, and families at Edgar. She manages a diverse case load of students with special needs, ensuring that each student receives the
programming, accommodations, and related services they need. She advocates for her students and builds strong relationships with them and their parents. She collaborates with staff and offers support to help them. In addition, she serves as an adviser to the EMS friends club. She works closely
with students in designing engaging activities that promote creativity, connection, and inclusion, resulting in student participation across grade levels. Dr. Crawford's dedication, knowledge, and unwavering commitment to students make her an extraordinary asset to Edgar Middle School. Congratulations
to both Mr. Rick Carter and Dr. COURTNEY CRAWFORD. [applause] ON BEHALF OF MR. POWSKI, I'd also be honored to honor the high school honores tonight. First, we have our Matuchen High School educator of the year, Emily Capanigra.
[applause] MHS is proud to honor Mrs. is Emily Kapanigro, a math teacher whose dedication has helped our school continue to be a warm and kind place to both work and learn. Through her highquality teaching and a willingness to go above and beyond, Mrs. Cap supports every student's growth with
comp with compassion and care. Her students describe her as earnest and empathetic. Someone who creates a safe, joyful classroom where students thrive and take risks and whose subject mastery shines through creative, interactive activities that build math literacy and
confidence. Mrs. Kapernigro is not only viewed as an excellent teacher, but a truly wonderful person, approachable, understanding, and respected by staff and peers alike. Congratulations, Mrs. KERNIGRO. [applause] Good evening. Thank you to the board of
education for recognizing all of us and congratulations to all of the other nominees. Um, also thank you to the administration, my colleagues, students, and the families for this incredible honor. I teach math with the belief that struggle is not failure, it is learning.
Many students walk into math class already convinced that they can't succeed. My goal is to change that narrative by creating a classroom rooted in trust, humor, collaboration, and meaningful connections to the real world. One student recently told me, "Math used to be my kryptonite, but now
I'm not afraid of it anymore. That's why I teach." >> Nice. Beyond the classroom, I am grateful for the opportunities that Matuchin has given me to mentor new teachers, present professional development, advise student organizations, and collaborate with colleagues to strengthen our school
culture. This this recognition reflects the incredible support system around me, and I'm proud to be part of a community that values growth, innovation, and student voice. Thank you again for this honor and for believing in the work that I do every day.
[applause] YES, >> I'm not going to make Mrs. Cabernet come up. I was supposed to give her her certificate. So, I'll walk that to her. [laughter] Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Each of our honores tonight receives a just a small token, a little certificate
of of our appreciation. Uh and later on this semester they'll receive something from the county um official notification of their award. Um and we'll be happy to provide that to them as well. Also from the high schools our educational specialist of the year Dr. Miss Dana
Donatelli school psychologist invite you up. [applause] Mrs. Mrs. Donatelli is a compassionate, tireless advocate whose heart and dedication make her a truly deserving educational specialist of the year from a touchon high school. Colleagues and families alike praise her for always
putting students first, carefully designing instructional goals and objectives to meet each child's need while forging genuine connections that build trust and growth. Parents share that she goes above and beyond checking in on students and families mental health, being responsive whenever a need
arises, and forming deep, supportive bonds that make a real difference in challenging times. Her steadfast passion for doing what's best for children, combined with thoughtful collaboration and a generous spirit not only lifts individual students, but enriches the whole school community, making it an
honor and privilege to work alongside her. Congratulations, Mrs. DONNA. [applause] >> [clears throat] >> GOOD evening everyone. Thank you so much. Um extremely honored and humbled to be recognized this year. Um as some
of you may know I actually have the blessing of working in both Moss and the high school which I lovingly refer to as the bookends. Um, and so I get to be a part of students and families journey in the beginning where they learn that love of learning and love for school. And
then I get to be there towards the end where students themselves are trying to figure out what their next steps are and supporting where they go when they spread their wings when they leave Matachin High School. Um, and so being a school psychologist and being uh in my
role, everything I do is team-based. And so any success that I find is due to the success of the teamwork around me, of my colleagues, teachers, administrators, students. Um, and so nothing I do, I do alone. So I am very appreciative of this
honor. Um, and I'm thankful for all of the teams that I'm a part of. So thank you very much. [applause] >> Finally, before I leave the um the podium today, I'd like to introduce Dr. Dean Bonosissa who will um honor our
power professional of the year. >> So just before I talk about power professional of the year, I wanted to personally congratulate everybody who was honored this year for the governor's educator of the year and um prof uh
professional of the year. I have had the opportunity and the privilege to work with each and every one of them in some capacity and um they are all deserving of the honor. So [snorts] congratulations to all of you. [applause] So par profofessional of the year is actually a very unique award in
Matuchin. It is um a person who is a standout paraprofessional amongst all the paraprofessionals in the district. As you can imagine, it is a very difficult award to choose because we have all of our power professionals are
excellent, wonderful people who come to work every day dedicated and committed to their students and their colleagues and the district. So, this year was equally as difficult to choose from as it is every year. This year um the
paraprofessional of the year that is being awarded is Niha Janssari. She is a MOSS par profofessional and I just wanted to talk a little bit about her tonight. Um and while she was unable to attend, I hope that she sees this and this gets
back to her um later on. So Nha um approaches her role as a par professional with remarkable enthusiasm, optimism and dedication. She maintains a high level of professionalism while treating both students and colleagues
with genuine compassion. She's a lifelong learner and she seamlessly translates every new experience into a deeper expertise, bringing new, innovative and insightful ideas to the classroom. Her colleagues often note that her
radiant positivity is contagious and she transforms her atmosphere for everyone around her. Niha's impact is felt deeply by her students, her colleagues, and the entire Mos school community. So, congratulations to Niha and um thank
you. [applause] Thank you, Dr. Caputo. Thank you to the principles, all of you amazing educators who were able to make it with us to today. Sorry, getting tongue tied. Um, it is indeed our um honor to have you with us in this district and it's our
delight to honor you. Um, [cough and clears throat] and just uh should I let people >> You can if you want. Yeah. Very talented group of seven individ individuals honored tonight. So, I'm really proud of them. >> Absolutely. >> Congratulations. >> All right. I see I see the tiny humans
over there getting uh coded up and maybe take a break to allow you all to leave so you don't feel badly. Um, we should have a public break here. So, we'll just give you all a second. I mean, I won't be crushed if you leave. I will understand. [laughter] Uh, but it is indeed our pleasure to
honor you tonight. [applause] Could you pass me off? I don't know. They look like they're having a lot of fun. [laughter] >> [laughter] >> that time of year. >> All right. Um, at this point I see on the agenda I'm supposed to make remarks.
So, I shall make my remarks. Um, I am truly honored to be reelected by my colleagues as president of the Matuchin Board of Education. There is a unique joy in serving this community, especially right now as we watch our shared vision for this district literally taking shape before our eyes.
We are nearing the finish line of a transformational investment in our infrastructure, creating modern, safe, and inspiring spaces that will benefit Matuchan students for decades to come. As we begin to fully utilize our new learning environments, our focus remains
steadfast, ensuring every student has equitable access to our resources and that they feel a profound sense of belonging here. We will continue to champion an inclusive curriculum and to support the incredible educators like those honored here tonight who breathe
life into our new spaces. I look forward to continuing our collaborative work to maintain the excellence and inclusivity that define our district. I'm incredibly proud of our progress and energized to lead us into this next chapter of excellence. And that concludes my
remarks. Dr. Caputo, any remarks for me? >> Thank you, Johnson Marist. Again, congratulations to you on your election and to Mr. Derfinger. Looking forward to 2026. Congratulations to Mr. sus and abstensia and as I said before to Miss Zimmerman and Miss Clean on your elections and swearing in tonight. Um
and I and looking forward to a really good 2026. [clears throat and cough] >> Thank you, Dr. Caputo. Uh we have not yet formed committees. Um so [clears throat] Oh my goodness, I've got a frog in my throat. Yeah, I know.
Where's our waters, Mike? No water today. [laughter] the one time I need the water. Um, >> I think I have a drip in my bag, but I'll I'll I'll power through. Um, so we turn to Miss Michael's Lamort for the
student board member report. >> Okay. Well, >> thank you. Uh so for Campbell on the 20th there's going to be a PTO sponsored book swap and then for all the schools
the districtwide chorus concert is going to be on the 15th and then school will be closed for students from the 16th to the 19th. >> Wonderful. Thank you. All right. Is there any old business from the board?
Seeing none, is there any new business from the board? And in this new business section, I actually it was remiss of me not to congratulate earlier our candidates for election, Miss Khen and Mr. Sus and of course our newest member, Miss
Zimmerman. Congratulations. It's great to have you back and great to have you on board. Uh, now we're open to the public, but Oh, that would be fantastic. See, this is why you're an excellent vice president. Um at this time my uh amazing vice
president has pointed out that I should allow you an opportunity to say some remarks if you are so inspired. >> Would we start with seniority or whoever wants to speak? [laughter] >> I'll just quickly say that I am honored
and humbled to join the board. Um and I'm looking forward to working with my fellow board members, Dr. Caputo, Dr. Herszog, Mr. Harveier um and the Matuchen school staff and administration uh and students to have a a great 2026 and beyond. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Miss Collehen. >> Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for their support the past couple of terms that I've been on here and looking forward to continue the momentum moving forward. Welcome, Miss Simmeran. It's going to be exciting to work with her
and um yeah, looking forward to a great 2026. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you both. Thank you. You both bring great energy to the board. So, we're looking forward to continuing our amazing work together. All right. We are technically open to the public. Um, but seeing no one who
doesn't work here in the audience, [laughter] um, we move to the approval of the board of education meeting minutes. Uh, so I move to approve the minutes of special business meeting of the December 16th, 2025 special business meeting one, special business meeting two, as well as
the board meeting. Is there a second? Mr. Bot. Roll call, please. Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glasper, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. Miss Colleen,
>> yes. >> Dr. Li, sorry. Dr. Sper, [laughter] >> yes. >> Sorry, >> Miss Zimmerman. Abstain. Okay, thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mrs. Elliott. >> We're all getting back into the groove of things. All right, we're shaking off
those New Year's cobwebs. All right. Um, [laughter] at uh we move now to the recommendation of the superintendent of the schools. Often times it may appear to members of our audience that the board of education takes action with very little comment and in many cases a unanimous vote. Before a matter is placed on the agenda at a public
meeting, the administration has thoroughly reviewed the matter with the superintendent of schools. If the superintendent is satisfied that the matter is ready to be presented to the board of education and is then referred to the appropriate board committee. The members of the board committee work with the administration and superintendent to asssure that the members fully understand the matter. When the
committee is satisfied with the matter, it is presented to the board of education for discussion before any final action is taken. Only then is it placed on the agenda for action at a public meeting. At this time, I'd like to move personnel items A1 through A13.
Is there a second? Mr. Derlinger, are there any questions or comments on the personnel items this evening? Seeing none, roll call, please. Mrs. Alvich, >> Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glber,
>> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> abstain. >> Thank you. Motion carries. >> Thank you so much, Mrs. Alvich. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, before you move on
to um leave personnel section, um in item number 12, the board just accepted um the retirement of high school teacher Michael Clark. Um, Mr. Clark will be retiring at the end of the school year after 31 years in education, including
29 dedicated years at Matuchen High School. A Monontlair State University alumnist with a masters in administration and supervision from Georgian Court, Mr. Clark has taught world cultures, US history 1 and two and serves as an instructor for a virtual high school criminology course. He has
been a leader in implementing inclusive instruction and co-eing ICR classrooms, consistently supporting the needs of all learners. Mr. Mr. Clark's professionalism and collaborative spirit are evident in his work across the school community as extended detention supervisor meant to department colleagues, former director of both the
high the Matuchin community adult school and Saturday morning Matuchen youth programs and as a former coach at multiple levels for baseball and girls basketball. He brings superb organization, effective questioning and research skills, thoughtful lesson planning and assessment design, and a strong commitment to integrating
technology and NG DOE requirements into instruction. His emphasis on speaking, listening, primary source analysis, and current events discussion has helped generations of students think critically and express their learning with confidence. We thank Mr. Clark for his years of service and lasting impact on
our school. >> Thank you and congratulations to Mr. Clark on a well-earned retirement. Indeed. All right. Um, >> all right. At this time, I'd like to move finance items B1 through B4. Is there a second? Ms. Jetum. Are there any
questions or comments about the finance items at this time? >> Seeing none, roll call, please. Mrs. Alvich, >> Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen,
>> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> abstain. Thank you. Motion carries. Thank you so much, Mrs. Alvich. At this time, I'd like to move the policy items C1 through C3. Is there a second?
Dr. Sper, are there any questions or comments on the policy items? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus,
>> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Dr. Spner. >> Yes. >> Miss Zimmerman. >> Abstain. >> Thank you. Motion carries. >> Thank you so much. Lastly, I'd like to move the curriculum item D1. Is there a second? Mr. Derlinger. Are
there any questions or comments on the curriculum item? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Mr. Bot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glassber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. Miss Colleen,
>> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> abstain. >> Thank you. Motion carries. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much, Mrs. Ali. At this time, we are moving to accept or to set our 2026 meeting calendar, uh,
which will be on the website. We approve it. Correct. >> Um, >> do we do those separately? >> Um, you can do >> we have to move on them, right? >> You can do them. They're in 21. You can do A and B together if you want to. >> All right. Wonderful. Um, and then I believe the last time we did this, we
read the code of ethics out loud. All right. So, we also are going to move to approve the adoption of the NJSBA code of ethics for 2026, which I will treat you by reading it to you. [laughter] [gasps] So, uh, as board members, I will
uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of the state board of education and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical procedures. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to
develop and maintain public schools that meet individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing. I will confine my board action to policym planning and appraisal. and I will help
to f frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them. I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools but together with my fellow board members to see that they are well-run. I will recognize that authority rests with the board of
education and we will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board. I will refuse to surrender my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the
gain of friends. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if disclosed would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and in concert with my fellow board members
interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its schools. I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. I will support and protect school personnel in
proper performance of their duties. Lastly, I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. So, at this
time, I'd like to move to approve the meeting schedule as well as the adoption of the NJSBA's code of ethics for 2026. Is there a second, Mr. Bot? No questions or comments, I am assuming. No. All right. Roll call, please. Thank
you. Mr. Vot, >> yes. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glassber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Dr. Sper, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Thank you so much. At
this time, we're open to the public and no one has come on down since then. So, I believe we're in the announcement sections of things. Uh, Miss Cheetum, I feel like that's still you for a minute. We're not going to do that to Mrs. Zimmerman on on the very first. We would never know about it. She did not know.
[laughter] >> Did they do that to you? >> They did that to me. >> Well, [laughter] maybe >> we're going to try and do better. >> I mean, Miss Michael Lammore already gave us some good stuff. So, if you have anything else, >> I actually have quite a bit.
>> Oh, apologies. All right. >> No worries. >> All right. So, we're going to start with the mall school. there. The mall screen team is having their first recycling drive collecting used or broken crayons and markers. Um, parents can send in materials in their children's backpacks or they can be dropped off in a labeled
bin at the front of the school. I'm not a Moss parent, but I will be seeing if I can also contribute to this collection drive. Um, so that's ongoing. And then moving over to Cample Elementary School. Uh, always the PTO is so busy there. Um, they provide a hot chocolate station for
staff as a welcome back gift for 2026. And the spring extravaganza, also known as spring X, is currently welcoming volunteers now through March 27th. Open to any parent, not just PTO members. So, it's a great way to show off in front of
your kids and show your creativity. And then from there, we're going to head on over to Edgar Middle School where the seventh and eighth grade dance is occurring on Friday night. Thursday Threads is on January 29th and Girls Dad Brunch is on February 8th. So again, um be on the lookout for all those
communications. Those are all in everyone's emails and texts and all the different ways that the schools communicate. Um and then finally, Matuchen High School, the Matuchen Parent Teacher Council will um invite like to invite everybody to their spring fundraiser planning meeting occurring next Tuesday, January 13th at the
Matuchen High School library at 700 p.m. And as final, now that we've adopted this meeting schedule, our next meeting will be January 27th at 8:00. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Cheetah. Way to set the standard for Mrs. Zimmerman as as uh she's just found out this is
going to be her job next time. A hard act to follow. [laughter] >> I believe in you. All right. At this time, I move we're going to have a motion to go into executive session. Be it resolved pursuant to the Sunshine Act NJS104-
12 and 13 that the board of education will now meet in executive session. Um what am I supposed to say in this line here? to discuss HIV personel [laughter] >> to discuss personnel and HIV and that matters discussed will be disclosed to
the public as soon as the reason for confidentiality no longer exists. So, thank you all for your attention and time. I hope you all have a wonderful night. It is unlikely that we will return tonight. Uh so, see you all on the 27th of January. Thank you.