Good evening. Good evening. Did it Yes. >> Good evening. I call to order the April 14th, 2026 meeting of the Matuchin Board of Education. Please stand 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. >> Mrs. Alivich, 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 in January 19th, 1976. Notice of 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 Matuchin public library, the home news and tribune and by filing a copy with the burough clerk as prescribed by this law. >> Thank you. Roll call, please. Uh, Mr. Bot. >> He is advised he won't be here today.
Thank you. Miss Cheetum, >> here. >> Mr. Derfinger, >> here. >> Mr. Glber, >> here. Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> I am here. >> Miss Colleen, >> here. Um, Miss Mle Lamort is not here.
>> Dr. Spner also advised that she would not be here today. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Mr. Sus, >> same thing. >> Okay. And Miss Zimmerman >> here. Thank you. >> Wonderful. >> Thank you so much. Dr. Caputo, we turn today to a showcase of success. Some familiar faces. Got to visit with them
the other day. Our student advisory board is here. >> They are. Thank you, Madam President. So, uh, I think everyone knows about for the last decade, uh, I've been fortunate enough to have a student advisory board. It's made up of students from grades 3 through 12. Um, and it's it's been one of the highlights of of my career for
sure. Um, so a few times a year, we invite the students to come and interact with the board uh, at a public meeting. There'll be a more formal presentation with slides and a full recap of the year led by our senior members on June on 9th. idea. It's the first meeting in
June, >> but the board's asked over the years, can we get some updates during the year? So, we we ask our group and we we always have at least two or three or four people who are our members who are willing to come. And tonight, we have three of our student advisory board members with us tonight. I'm thankful
they're here. Um, we also have Mrs. Taylor who runs the student advisory board with me and handles all of the the arrangements and logistics for it. So, thank you, Miss Taylor, for for being here tonight as well. Um, so if I would, I could invite our three um, student advisory board members here of our 12 up
to the um, the podium and I think Miss Tail, you prep them where they'll introduce themselves and they'll give their, you know, they give their name and what grade they're in. Um, maybe a little about what what you know, a recent highlight is or any highlight that you want to say and then advisory board members, I would expect some some
questions or some comments from the board uh, because they're really happy that you're here tonight. So, K, you going to start us off? I love it. >> Yeah. All right. Hello. My name is Crew Bagel. Um, I'm in third grade and one thing I like about the student advisory
board is the people. They're very welcoming. >> A nice. >> I love that. >> Oh my gosh, I got goosebumps. They really are crew. Stay close crew because we have some questions from the board members for you. >> Um, I'm Steven Jacobson. I'm in sixth
grade and the thing I like the most about the board is the changes that we're able to make when we speak for the whole grade and not just ourselves because I feel like those changes can influence uh learning experience of the kids at the schools.
>> Wonderful. Thank you. >> Thank you, Steve. >> Um I'm Llaya Weissblum. I'm a junior at Maten High School and um I've just really enjoyed being a representative for the school. there's only, I believe, four or five or six high schoolers a part of the board. And it's just been
great to collaborate with them, especially if it's like people I don't normally interact with. And it's also been great to learn more about of like the behind the scenes of what goes down and what the schools like how all the districts I mean how all the schools in the district collaborate to make like everything like go according to plan.
>> Wonderful. >> Thanks, Laya. I appreciate that. >> Nice. >> Thank you. I think it's really fascinating. Um, I've said this every time we see student advisory board members to watch you as you grow in your roles. And Stephen, I think you mentioned, you know, it's really nice to see how things change and
you've been on for three years now. What is something that you're most proud of that you've had an impact on as a student? >> Honestly, the most recent thing is um I remember back in your meeting a couple months ago, I asked for something. It
was like a I think I asked for a vending machine at at one of the schools because I feel like >> when kids are leaving the schools, the water fountains aren't always so conveniently placed and you just want to get out of there. >> But then if you have like a sports practice after, you don't have anything
to drink. >> So I feel like a vending machine with like Gatorade or something would be good. And I said that at your meeting and Dr. Caputo said, >> "Hey, we have Pmptonian coming at the next meeting. Maybe that's a better question for them." So, I asked them and they said they'd work on it and they'd
get us something at our school. So, I feel like that's one of the biggest accomplishments I've made recently. >> Fantastic. And I happen to know that the track team is practicing after school and it's quite warm. So, that Gatorade would come in very handy. >> Excellent. >> Just came from practice a couple hours ago. So, >> exactly. Thank you so much, Stephen.
Other questions, folks? >> And others, if you've made if you've been proud of something you've contributed so far, could you share? I do have a quick question for you guys. I'm just curious, you know, based on your grade levels, how do you solicit feedback from your classmates?
>> Do you have a strategy of doing that? Like, do you set up a table at lunch? Like, feedback, welcome here. Like, what's your approach to having your classmates discuss their ideas with you? >> Well, I just think take it in and then
I'll just discuss it with you guys. >> So, they just come directly up to you and share. I love that. I love that. >> If sometimes sometimes some things like we don't really need that much, I'll maybe check that off the list.
>> I love that he kind of like filters out some of these. >> Yes, >> I like that. Um, and also like we are able to take cuz every meeting we typically discuss something different whether it be like the food providers or AI use or >> like just overall feedback and we're
able to kind of like make like a chain reaction kind of. So like when we talked about like the food pantry, we would all go back to our friends who would tell their friends about it being an option to start food drives or when we talked about um like we suggested a share table
in all the schools. I think Edgar already implemented it, but >> Oh, yeah. I did hear about that. Yes, you did hear about that. >> Um, and what we did was like the I know the environmental club got involved and it just like they came to the lunches and started talking about it. So, just like using like us all being in
different extracurriculars and a part of different classes and especially different grade levels were able to like appeal to like the whole school in every single school. So, it's been cool. >> Awesome. >> Wonderful. We've had a really good year this year, including a field trip to the food pantry, and I'm sure you'll hear about that in June. We've had and we
still have more guests coming in. We had Dr. Johnson Marcus joining us. We've had principles joining us. We've had Miss Lmer, our STEM supervisor, join us. You heard about Ponttonian and uh they're testing out new foods and giving feedback. Um uh next this month coming up, we have uh Chief Flareity and Mayor
Bush coming. So, um, we have a tour of the new spaces in in May where they'll be get a chance to see all the new spaces and we'll have our meeting upstairs in our new conference room. So, um, really, really exciting and I love that I'm able to share that with this group. >> Lovely. I want to touch on something that Crew said. Um, I listen and I
filter it out because I think what you all get to see as members of the student advisory board is the reality behind the scenes. I think you mentioned it as well. Um, so you're able to adjust your peers expectations of what is possible. So, I appreciate that.
>> Laya mentioned about the share tables. Um, and part of our food equity efforts, um, you know, we partner with share my meals and the food pantry and twice a week on Fridays and and Wednesdays, we collect all the food that wasn't eaten at the schools and in a in a specific
process, share that with um with Sarah Teddy, >> who you heard from at a recent meeting, and that food then goes out to people that need that. Well, a second part of the food equity efforts are on these share tables. Um a as um as Stephen was saying there there's students that have
practice or play after school or they have a long walk home or they have homework to do whatever. And so uh or sometimes they just want to take some carrots home for their little brother who loves carrots, right? >> So um folks at the schools have been doing and and I'm glad a lot of you mentioned that. I literally saw a
picture cutest picture with crew and Libby who started the Campbell Share Table just last week and Dr. Stanza sent me a picture. Um, so they collect the food back at lunch that's not eaten, either the untouched fruits or the bag things. We're hoping to get some refrigerators so we can put the
refrigerated items like the milk and stuff in those and and share those and and those can go to the food pantry or kids can take them after school if they're staying or they have a long afternoon or or like I said or their brother likes carrots, they can take them home. So, uh, it's so important that food would normally have been
wasted. it would have gone into a a trash can which would have gone to a um a waste dump and you've seen the stats that we've been sharing with the the amount of uh food waste that we've eliminated through the share my meals program but also through the share tables. So I'm really excited about
that. So I'm glad Laya brought that up and congrats to you crew to get that rolling at Campbell. >> That is very exciting. Thank you. >> Um I know cutting back to Mr. Dorfinger's question of how do we kind of get this information? I know before every meeting, this is kind of something
I say at every meeting, but I always ask all my friends, hey, what do you guys want me to do? And they'll tell me kind of a agreed on topic or something that they would want to change. >> And I normally bring that up at every
meeting. That's how I got that vending machine I was telling you guys about earlier because I remember it was brought up earlier in the year and then we got like kind of bamboozled. The guy never kind of came through and I was like, "Well, I'm going to get these kids
a vending machine cuz that's what all these guys want." So I'm like, so I go up to the meetings and that's what I've been working toward. >> And before every meeting, I'll ask them like, "Hey, what do you guys want for this meeting? What do you guys want me to change? if there's anything
>> and I feel like as I'm speaking for the grade in this council, I should get information from everybody in the grade. That way I can give the most accurate responses and change the most accurate things that are needed to change. >> Wonderful. >> You guys are handling it very
responsibly. I'm very impressed by that. It's very thoughtful. >> Agreed. >> Great. Mr. Keep up the good work. >> Thank you for sharing all that. I hope that everybody on the advisory board who's not here and here hears what you just said because I think that's very
important. Your your views in isolation are just random thoughts that come into your head from your personal experiences. But the power and the position is to hear a wide range of views and then to be able to bring all of that even if it's not something that
was at the forefront of your mind, bring that back. So hopefully um you know send that message to to the other members on the advisory board if you feel like they're not doing those kinds of things because that's a really important piece of the puzzle. >> Thank you
>> Dr. John Marus not to get the last word um but just a heartfelt thanks for me because you know I know it's at night and you have homework and you have dinner and you have you know games you want to be watching or whatever but to come out tonight uh to represent the the advisory board is really uh thankful.
I'm thankful for that. U and also to have Campbell and Edgar and the high school representing. We couldn't have planned it any better. So maybe Mrs. Taylor did plan it. So thank you for that. >> Well done. >> Wonderful. Thank you, Mrs. Taylor for organizing. >> Thank you for coming. >> Thank you for coming. I appreciate the
three of them. >> Yep. >> Great work. >> And we'll probably see them again in June when the entire board is invited invited back as I said for a more formal presentation and additional Q&A with the board. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Thank you all. Have a wonderful day. Thanks for all your good work.
>> Thank you. All right. Okay. Now, at this time, the meeting is open to the public, but our last remaining public members are leaving. Um, so turn to presentations. No presentations. >> No presentations tonight. We will have a
bunch of presentations on the 28th, so we will come back for that. >> Stay tuned, folks. >> All right. And I don't have a report tonight other than to delight in this wonderful warm weather. I'm very excited that it's finally feeling like spring. So, I'm excited. I hope folks are doing well with the transition in the weather.
Do you have any report today? >> Just a quick um kind of an update. Um remember last spring we did the um the NJ Sky the climate survey and we shared the data out. We just had an important meeting today and Dr. Herszog's leading that uh follow-up survey this year. So you'll be seeing that later this month
or in May um where students at the high school and middle school and then parents and teachers at high school, middle school and Campbell will all be um asked to do the climate survey again and we'll compare results. We'll see areas that we're improving, areas that we still need to work on. Uh so be
looking for those um those that's those survey links coming out in the next few weeks and we'll remind everyone next meeting as well. >> Absolutely. I think it's really important that people make sure that their voices are heard so that we can use that data to continue to move ourselves forward as a district. We value that information and all
information is valuable and welcome. >> We can't we can't do anything about it if we don't know. >> All right. Um we have not had committee meetings formally I believe since our last meeting. However, I know that Mr. Glasber has a couple of updates for us. Yes, the construction committee did not
meet formally as you said, but we did uh have various email exchanges and have some date updates for everybody. So, the the parking lot at the high school is able to be used in its entirety. Uh the classroom uh the hallway that connects
the wings together is now fully in able to be used. Um we are a bit delayed on the cafeteria re-rennovation. the turning it from the old from the board offices into usable space for the students. We've struggled
a bit with our contractor there, but we're doing everything that we can to keep that moving. Uh at Moss, we should have the certificate of occupancy, the temporary one by the end of next week. Um there's an elevator, the elevator's
operational and an electrical inspection is happening uh yes today or tomorrow. Um, we have a little bit of a delay on the flooring of the cafeteria, but that's not going to impact anything that needs to happen in there in the near
future. Um, because that's part of the space for the realignment next year. The parking lot and landscaping at Moss. The landscaping is mostly done. The parking lot is done. Um, there's some fencing that still needs to be put in and some
finishing touches there. Um, Edgar and Campbell are just in the phase of some punch list type items that that need to take place. Um, so those are basic dates and then there's also some planning going on for celebratory events that
will happen at each school and there will be opportunities for the public to be able to see these different spaces. Um, one space that has been open to the public for different events has been the the high school gym um for basketball games near the end of the year. And if
you are coming out or want to come out, tomorrow is the Harlem Wizards game. And that is a great fundraiser for our PTO. Is that the >> high school PTO? >> High school PTO. The high school PTO fundraiser. >> It's a lot of fun uh for adults and for
children. So, it's not too late to come and show up and and be there. We have tickets available online if you follow that or just show up. And does anybody know the exact time? >> 7:00. >> Doors open at 6 at 7.
>> Game at 7. You'll have a lot of fun >> and you'll see some of your teachers and uh administrators playing. >> So, you'll see the space, you'll see teachers, you'll see uh kids having fun. It'll be a great event. So, please come out for that. That's all I have. >> Fantastic. Thank you, Mr. Glassber. All
right, as our student board member is not here, we will move on to old business. Is there any old business from the board? Any new business? All right. At this time, I'd like to move to approve the March 24th, 2026 special business meetings one and two
and the board meeting. Is there a second? Mr. Glber, are there any comments or questions? Seeing none, roll call, please. Miss Cheetum. Yes, Mr. Deringer. >> Yes, >> Mr. Glber. >> Yes, >> Dr. Johnson Marcus.
>> Yes, Miss Colleen. >> Yes, >> Miss Zimmerman. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you so much. At this time, the meeting is open to the public for our second opportunity of the evening. But seeing none, I shall move to the recommendation of the superintendent of
schools. Oftentimes, 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, it is then referred to the appropriate board committee. The members of the board committee work with the administration and the superintendent to asssure that the members fully understand the matter. When the committee is satisfied with the matter 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 A15. Is there a second? Mr. Derlinger. Are there any questions or comments on the personnel items? Seeing none, roll call,
please. Mrs. Ellavich. >> Miss Cheetum. >> Yes. >> Mr. Derlinger. >> Yes. >> Mr. Glber. >> Yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus. >> Yes. >> Miss Colleen. >> Yes. Yes, Miss Zimmerman. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Wonderful. Thank you. Um, in Mr. Cess's absence, I move the
finance items B1 uh through B4. Is there a second? Miss Zimmerman. Are there any questions or comments on the finance items? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glasper,
>> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you so much. I'd like to at this time move the policy items C1 and C2. Is there a second? Ms. Cheetum. Are there any questions or comments on the policy
items? Seeing none, roll call, please. >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derlinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Deringer. >> You don't want to just keep going? No,
thank you. >> I'd like to make a motion to move items D1 just one >> as listed on the agenda, please. >> Is there a second? Miss Zimmerman, are there any questions or comments on our
curriculum item tonight? >> All right, seeing none, roll call, please. Mrs. Ali, >> Miss Cheetum, >> yes. >> Mr. Derfinger, >> yes. >> Mr. Glasber, >> yes. >> Dr. Johnson Marcus, >> yes. >> Miss Colleen, >> yes. >> Miss Zimmerman, >> yes. >> Motion carries. Wonderful. Um,
we had a late breaking request for a comment from one of our colleagues here at the days tables. Meteom, did you want to have a comment? >> I did. I did. I just wanted to take the time to thank um, Edgar School for putting on a fantastic play, Moana, um,
last week. It was just so wonderful to see such a talented group of brave and um, just wonderful kids. I mean, they did such a great job, so engaging. And what a great familyfriendly event to have in town on a Friday night. I mean, this place was packed. It was just
spectacular. And I'm so grateful that we live in a community where these kids can express themselves artistically and have fun. And it was just such a fun production to watch. So, you know, really shout out to everybody that was involved with that production. >> Wonderful. Thank you. I've heard nothing but wonderful things about it. My
children also attended and they were raving about it when they got home. It was such a wonderful model for the younger children to see the opportunities that are possible for them in artistic expression here in our community. So, thank you for that additional comment, Miss Jet. I appreciate that. Um, and at this time,
the meeting is open to the public for our third opportunity for the evening. >> Sadly, no one has joined us at this time, so we're going to turn to Miss Zimmerman for announcements. >> Thank you. Um, couple quick ones tonight. Um, as we heard earlier, the Harlem Wizards game is tomorrow in the
new gym. So, come and check that out. Um, kindergarten registration opens the week of April 20th. So, if you have a rising kindergartener, um, you'll need to fill out your paperwork and, um, be ready for that. Also, at Moss, the Scholastic Book Fair is happening April
29th and 30th. Um, and at Moss, Campbell, and Edgar, we have staff and teacher appreciation week coming up. So, the PTO's would like to remind families if they are able to contribute some funds to help make those weeks possible. Um, Edgar is having their week um May
18th through the 21st and then Moss and Campbell are May 4th through 8th. So, um donations, monetary donations if you're able to do that and then also for thank you notes for the teachers are appreciated. So, that's upcoming. Um PTC
fundraiser is Friday, May 8th at JR's Pub. Um, Moss Spring X is May 15th and the next board of ed meeting is April 28th. >> Wonderful. Thank you so much for those announcements. We have such good stuff going on in our district. I'm always excited. I will be at the Harlem Wizards
game tomorrow. I'm very excited. >> Uh, at this time, I'd like to move to adjourn the meeting. Is there a second? Mr. Derlinger. All in favor? Good night, everyone.