The board has been in executive session for the past seven minutes for the purpose of discussing confidential matters as outlined in 2.01. The matters that were discussed will be disclosed to the public as soon as possible once the reason for non-disclosure no longer exists. So moved. >> Second. >> Annette, can you please take the role?
>> Mrs. Penzy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scheler, >> yes. >> Miss Jeffrey, >> Mr. Nicolet, >> yes. >> Mrs. Perry, >> yes. >> Mrs. Quinn, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Reynolds, >> yes. >> Mr. Borton, >> yes.
>> Thank you. We have no presentations for tonight, so we'll move on to our announcements. Um, I just have a couple of things. Um, I'm happy to report that terms of a contract have been agreed upon. Um, I believe it has been signed
by both negotiating teams. Is that correct? >> Yes. next step since they ratify before >> Yep. the union has to ratify and then it is our plan to have it on the agenda next month to approve the new contract. >> Um also happy to report that uh Dr.
Freeman gave us some information last night that is very promising. Um we are in our entire district almost fully staffed. Um we only have about five openings currently. Um, and the administration is working very hard to
get those filled as well. So, I just want to say, um, kudos to you and your team, Dr. Freeman, because that is not something that I've seen in a very long time, and my children have been here for quite a number of years. So, thank you. Um, and that's all that I have. And so,
we'll move on to our superintendent of schools, Dr. Robera Freeman. >> Thank you. I just wanted to thank all the parents that came out to Books and Blankets last Wednesday. It was a fantastic time, amazing time for our new
prek parents and what a way to start off our new year. So, thank you to everyone that came out and we look forward to even more events like that for our families. And tomorrow, uh, everyone will be receiving the opening day
letters. And as you know from last week's Thursday Thunder, um, Genesis will open up the parent portal for schools on Friday with the exception of Moger. Moger will open up on Wednesday the 27th. And that's all I have.
Thank you. And you just reminded me there was one other thing that I wanted to um, report. also very excited about the fact that our re-registration process is almost complete. I think we're down to 322 people who have not completed the
process. Um but everyone else in the district has submitted their paperwork. We do have a process in place for the one the people who have not submitted yet. um they are being contacted and there is um a process in place to make sure that they do this before the school
year starts and before they can get their welcome information out of Genesis. So we're working on that um as well and it is moving right along. So again, thank you. Okay, now our business administrator board secretary, Miss Annette Gordano.
>> Good evening. I have no announcements tonight. >> Thank you. We'll move on to our leazison reports. um a our NJSBA county delegate and our NJSBA legislative officer, Mrs. Sharon Schuler. Um so ramping up to a
season of lots of meetings. Um now that I'm on the um Middle Sex County um board, I do have a county leader meeting on September 13th. The next the first legislative uh committee meeting will be
on 9:27 and then um I know you guys get a ton of emails from NJSBA, but if you ever want to just they have a they have a new capital watch um newsletter and there's
going to be a monthly um legal update letter also um that you can just go to their homepage and find easily without having to search through your emails. So, if you have any questions about something that's going on in the state,
the Capital Watch is watching um upcoming and ongoing um bills and in the um Senate and Assembly in the state and the legal is talking about um ones
that have been put in place that um affect education. So that's the best place to find up tothem minutee information. So um and that's all I have for tonight. Thank you. And now our Middle Sex County
SBA delegate and our Burough Alliance liaison, Mr. Thomas Jordan. >> No reports on either one because there were no >> summertime. Summertime. >> Thank you. Now our Middle Sex Public Library Board of Education representative, Miss Aaron Gomez. >> Good evening everyone. So, we did not
have a meeting in August. We will be resuming in September. But I wanted to echo Dr. Freeman's sentiments about books and blankets. Uh, it was a great event. I really want to thank our preschool instructional coach, Miss Gina Collins. She did an amazing job putting things together for our families and our
youth services librarian, Miss Kayla Ward, for being an instrumental part and really helping set everything up for us and utilizing the library space. and Miss Chrissy George, the director of the library, who we met with and helped make all of this possible.
>> Thank you. Now, we we will move on to our meeting minutes. 5.01, our minutes from last month. 5.02 are corrections and re reision revisions. I cannot speak tonight to previous board agendas.
Um, anybody have questions on any of that? We did discuss it last night. Superintendent recommends approval of items 5.01 to 5.02 as presented. So moved. >> Second. >> No questions, comments.
>> Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Fenty. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schuler. >> Uh, I need to abstain on 5.01 as I was not at the July meetings and yes to 5.02. >> Miss Jeffrey. >> Yes. I'm sorry. Mr. Nicolai,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Perry, >> yes. >> Mrs. Twin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds, >> I abstaining from July of Committee of the Hall 7:15 and yes to the rest. >> Mrs. Gordon,
>> I'm staining from committee the whole and yes to the second. >> Right. Thank you. We will now open the public comment portion of the meeting. Comments at this time are limited to agenda items only. Please come to the
podium and put your name, address, email address, and subject of your comment into the record book. Before speaking, please give your name, address, and subject of your comment to Miss Annette Gordano, business administrator, board secretary. Director comments and questions to the board president. You may speak on two separate topics for up
to three minutes each. Good evening everyone. Um, Cheryl Tarus, San Judson Drive, Tal Sex, New Jersey. Almost forgot to say that. Um, I have a a question comment about um
what you just approved. So, you're saying that you're approving 20,000 extra dollars to be spent on 401 computers for students and teachers.
But at that particular meeting in May, you had approved 195,000 So, it's not really a revision. It's an it's an increase. It's another line item. The the minutes are supposed to reflect what happened at that
meeting. $215,000 did not reflect that meeting. $195,000 did. So, I feel that if it was an additional $20,000 for these computers,
then it should have been on the agenda that we need to allocate an additional $20,000 or, you know, did we have extra money, so we bought more, so now we're going to do a line item transfer or, you know, I don't really think that putting
it as revised is a correct way to do your minutes for a meeting because it's not revised. You did not approve $215,000 in May. You approved $195,000. So that's my comment. I just don't think
it's right. So you should do a resolution. I mean, no, it would just
resolve to revise that particular line. That way it's very specific instead of as a part of the minutes. >> Okay. Does that make sense? >> Yes. But can we can write something? Yeah. >> Okay. We're going to fix that.
>> Okay. I think you also like when you guys are reviewing that part, I think you also have to look at if you're switching people's names. So if you're approving somebody at the main minutes, but now you're going to make it somebody else, then it should be that it's in
underneath personnel that that person's no longer doing it. And you're going to point this person because th those minutes need to reflect what happened that night. And then when it when you're doing these revisions, you have to look at all that to go back to it.
>> The minutes the minutes will reflect the actual agenda from May. This is not a revision to the minutes. The minutes that will be posted will reflect what was in the agenda for May. >> Right? >> What this item is is correcting
something that was on that agenda that the board approved. So this is almost like a new motion. It's not a correction to the minutes. >> The minutes >> why you have May 20th, 2025. That's just for reference so that the board and the
public know the original date that that was approved. But the May minutes will reflect the original information. does >> she's going to write different but she's that's what that's exactly what hope was saying. So just wording it differently. So she's going to
>> Can you make a clarifying statement because >> Yeah. What I'm going to do is just just to to Okay. Just to clarify that it is a revision to that item. So I'm going to
just do which is which is what Kette actually said. And I'm just going to change the wording around. >> Okay. >> So that it it will it it will say we are that there's that um the um amount allocated for um the
Chromebooks for and then just basically spit this back out. Um is hereby revised to increase the amount from 195425 to 215 425. just a just a little bit above word play because the way that you
both the way that your resolution is worded you you just you are talking about uh corrections and revisions to the previous board agenda. Um I my real request is that it be request to modify
the um the resolution to reflect u and it's not modifying the resolution. you're actually adopting a new resolution that changes that dollar value. >> Yeah. Maybe just take out the dates and use them as a reference because the way
that looks here to me, it's that you're going to change the minutes because you're reflecting them July 16th and May 20th. So, if you're just putting it there as a reference, then just after what you're doing, you put reference
minutes from whatever. >> No, I'm not. But this is looking like you're going to change what's there that wasn't >> through. That's all I'm saying. It's perception. >> Yeah. And hope's going to fix that. So, we will have Melissa 6 drive.
Um I have a question about the uh number 12 policy action items. Um so it's 6220 but there are two separate links. This one starts with
finances 6220 page one of two budget preparation and it starts with the annual budget is the financial plans. It's that one that I'm questioning. So that's the policy or the regulations there. >> Oh, I believe it's the policy. I don't
want to >> Okay, I just want to open the right thing. >> It says the annual budget is a financial plan. That's what that first line starts with. And my question is about the one, two, three, four, the fifth paragraph. So right before it goes to page 202.
Um on there it says the budget will be presented to allow adequate time for review. And then those words that are stricken out that's what's being changed and removed. Correct. >> Yeah. And that's um that's by recommendation of Strauss
Esme. That's a mandated policy that they've advised us to revise in a certain way. >> Okay. And can can you just tell me what that recommendation like was like why did they recommend
that you remove um it says the primary the budget should evolve primarily from the needs of the indiv individual schools as expressed by the building principles and the district educational program. Did they give you like rationale for why
they're removing that? That's that's my question. >> Yeah. Every year the state comes out with revised budget guidelines for the budget preparation for the next year and these suggestions from Strauss ESME reflect those updated guidelines.
>> Okay. From the state. >> So it looks like they're taking out the recommendations of the building principles. That was their that was what they're advising. That's my that was my question that it looks like it's eliminating the principles being the
primary recommenders. Now obviously we know that it still has to go up but I mean >> as far as I'm concerned the principles are the people who have the pulse on the building >> of the needs of each of our schools. So taking them out seems like not only like
that it removes that conversation as the budget escalates of principles with the higherups with the board. And my question is then who's who's in charge of the recommendations for each
building? because I would like it to be the principles who are there every day, you know, who talk to the teachers every day, who see the kids every day, as opposed to somebody who's not in the building, who may not know exactly what the needs and then wants are in where
that building should go, >> right? The principles are definitely still consulted. That that's that's the place where we start really when we No, I know. I mean, like I read it and that it made sense to me as it was. So that was why my question was why is that
being removed? >> Yeah, I think the state just wants it to be more broad. They want more stakeholders. They don't want to limit it to the just the principles. They want administration involved. They want the board involved, etc. So they didn't want to specify the principles. Okay. But we
definitely start that's the first thing I do every year. I set up the meetings with the principles. >> I just I have another policy issue later. So, I'm starting to read the policies now. And like I said, that's what it looked like to me was that we were taking out the opinions of the
people who run the building. Okay. Lord Thomasy. Um I would like to know how many people No, before I say that, I would like to know I made a request at one point when there were changes to the agenda that get posted on Monday,
usually before the Wednesday meeting if the changes could be um on a paper so that people would know. And I don't think that happened. So, I wondered if you could tell me what changes were made for tonight. I found one. >> Um, are you talking about on those paper
copies? I don't know which. >> Okay. So, what is I'm sorry, what was specifically your question just so that I can make sure that I'm clear on what Okay. So when the public goes and opens up the agenda for tonight's meeting, great. We
obviously are reading through it and looking at at everything concerns that we have. >> So when we come on a Wednesday, some things may be deleted or some things may be added. So I ask like if you go to a Broadway play and you're not going to
have Brenda Perry as the lead, um actors are going to have Pat Reynolds as the lead. Actress say put a little paper in that play bill. So my request is that if there are changes, if you could please leave that paper for the public to see. So my particular change tonight is that
the secretary for Hazelwood School was not on the agenda that was posted on Monday. However, it is on tonight's meeting. And so I have a question about that. So I would like to know if you could answer me who were the people on
the interview committee, hiring committee, how many candidates applied and how many were interviewed and were they interviewed in person? And then my last question because I submitted my application and I finally got an answer
that it was put on file for future. I wondered how the applicant that you hired um is more qualified than I would be. Um, so we can, yeah, we can get you, um, answers to some of those questions. Um,
but some of them are also personnel matters that we can't answer. Like as far as how is that person uh, more qualified, we can't really have >> Exactly. Those are personnel items, so that can't be, but you can know how many
interview how many uh, resumes were received. >> Okay. and who was on the interview committee also. >> I have to look into that. >> Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. We will now close the public
comment portion of the meeting. Oftentimes it may appear to members of our audience that the board of education takes action with very little comment and in many cases the 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 with the matter, 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, 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. Okay, we'll move on to our personnel report by our our committee chair, Mr. Todd Nicolo.
>> Thank you, Danielle. >> Tonight, superintendent recommends approval of personnel action items 9.01 through 9.12 as presented. So move. >> Second. We have any questions?
>> Any questions or comments? >> Okay. Annette, can you please take the role? >> We did discuss a lot of these things last night. >> Mrs. Corenzy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schuler. >> Yes. >> M. Jeffrey.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Nicollet. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Perry. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Quinn. that I need to abstain on 9.5 extracurricular Gary Brener and yes to the rest.
>> Mrs. Reynolds. >> Yes. >> Mr. Thornton. >> Excuse me. Yes. >> Thank you. Now we'll move on to our education report by our committee chair, Mrs. Brenda Paris. Good evening. Superintendent recommends approval of the education action items 11:01 through
11:15 as presented. So move. Second. >> Any questions or comments? Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Feny, >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. Check.
>> Mrs. Schuler. >> Yes. >> M. Jeffrey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nicolai. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Perry. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds. >> Yes. >> Mr. Thornton. >> Yes. Yes.
Okay. We'll move on to our policy action items. Um, superintendent recommends the approval of policy action items 12.01 to 12.03 03 as presented. So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments?
Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Parenth? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scheler? >> Yes. >> Miss Jeffrey? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nikolai? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Perry? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gwen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds? >> Yes. >> Mr. Thornton? >> Yes.
>> Thank you. Um, so Todd's the chair. So we I guess we need to read that. >> Uh yeah, if I I can read it and say that I'm recommending that we add a 1411. Um and it would be resolved that the
Middle Sex Board of Education hereby amends the expenditure for Chromebooks for students and teachers to Blum USA. um from the finance and facilities section report uh from was it May 20th
um in the in the amount of 195425 to reflect the new amount of 215425. >> Thank you. >> And then the rest of our facilities and finance by our chair Mr. >> Thank you Danielle. The superintendent recommends approval of facilities and
finance action items 14.01 through 14 11. So move >> second. >> Any questions or comments on that? >> Okay. Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Parenth.
>> Uh, I need to recuse on 14.01 check number 038606. Yes to the rest. >> Mr. Schuler. >> Yes. >> Miss Jeffrey. Yes. >> Mr. Nicole, >> yes. >> Mrs. Perry,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Quinn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds, >> yes. >> Mr. Gordon, >> yes. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, do we have any ongoing business that we didn't discuss last night or that we want to discuss more tonight?
>> I just want to say I thought I think I thought last night was amazing. very >> I look forward to the next year ahead as the school year starts working with everybody came out last night that again we all
know we have the same you know we're all here for the kids but it's just obvious when we discuss it for like >> excuse me there's some of us that are hard of hearing could you please speak up from now on especially for those who
like to sit in the back >> thank Thank you. >> Thank you. Um I I agree, Todd. Uh I think we are moving in a positive direction and I think the nine of us sitting up here have learned to really work well together and I think that is
going to show a lot in the years the school years to come. So I agree. Okay. Any new business? Um I just want to say I we were here. So, we were here last night, but I want
to thank the town council. Um, I don't know if if you're aware, but they had the entire baseball team at their town council meeting and they honored them as state champions. I saw a little bit of the videos on social media last night, some pictures, and I just appreciate
that the town did that for the school team. >> Thank you. Okay, now we will open our second public comment portion of the meeting. Comments at this time can be on any topic. Please come to the podium and put your name, address, email address, and subject of
your comment into the record book. Before speaking, please give your name, address, and subject of your comment to Miss Anette Gordano, business administrator, board secretary. Director comments and questions to the board president. You may speak on two separate topics for up to three minutes each.
Uh Melissa Zac 6 print and drive. I'm the last one on here. So I'm just put times two. Um I have two separate topics. The first question I have um is does Hazwood School have a music
teacher? >> Yes, >> they do. Okay. and they've been board approved and will start like they will start the year with music. >> That wasn't an opening. There's always been a music teacher. There were some personnel items actions last year and
that's why there wasn't a teacher but there's a teacher >> a certified they will have certified music starting the beginning of the year. That's my question. >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Um, my next issue is that I would like you to re-examine and change
district policy 5440 uh, entitled honoring student achievement. uh it was last updated January 11, 2021 during the height of the COVID closures, which if my research is right means
almost everyone up here except for Mure was not on the board when it was approved, but the consequences of it were allowed to go through this past school year. The policy starts with the board of education values excellence and wishes to inculcate in students the
desire to do their best in all things. That's a strong statement and one we want our school district to make. It shows we want to repeatedly instill a desire to learn in every student. But then at the end of the policy of states, beginning with the class of 2025,
validictorian and saludiatoran will no longer be identified. Honestly, when I found out about it in Octoberish as a teacher, I thought it was a joke. Um the response was that it was a former administration, former
board. Um I didn't really think it was going to happen. Um especially since the reason almost everyone is sitting here that people didn't like the policies of the former administration and board. Um but to my surprise, the end of the year came and went and we did not honor a
validictorian or saludiatoran as far as I'm aware. The worst part is I'm not even sure many people noticed yet. Uh if you were not aware of this policy taking place as a board of education member, that would be a separate bigger issue uh that you
should examine. But as a school district whose main goal is to educate children, I think not honoring our best students looks horrible on us. Now, will this policy ever affect me personally? Probably not. Um but we all need to understand that the optics of this
policy affect our entire community. We want families who value and prioritize education to want to move here and send their children here. Yet, we're telling them we are not placing value and prioritizing excellence in students. We
want good teachers to come and stay and teach. Yet, we're telling them we don't actually value the hard work of the students. We are asking them to teach. We will lose our best students to schools because of this policy. And before you say, "Oh, what a privilege to
be able to send your kid to a private school." That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about our best students choosing to go to other schools like the Scataway Magnet, which we already rank significantly lower then, or even Bound Brookke because they're a choice school and they could get into a
program there. Not fully versed in the entrance process for any of those schools, but I do know our students are eligible to go to them free of charge. and I would imagine that our best students would be accepted. I'm also assuming there was some sort of logic and reasoning for this policy. I
have a few guesses of my own and I'm sure the people who supported it thought they were doing something good, but it's not a good idea for our district. Uh, if you want a comparison, liken it to Middle Sex not recognizing a state
championship, not having that thing last night, telling the baseball team, "Hey, work really hard and win." Yet, you're never going to get honored for it. No town presentation, no board shout outs, no launch. I mean, it goes on and on. That sounds ridiculous to not honor the
hard work of those kids. And yet that's exactly what you're doing for our best students. From what I've seen at these meetings, you need three readings. Uh there's 14 items for first reading at the summer meeting. Seems like we're okay changing
policy like underwear around here. So I know it could take up to three to four months, but please change this policy. Honor our best students and show the community that we value education, excellence, and hard work in every aspect. Thank you.
Thank you. >> Hello everyone. My name is Marie Capiso. I have lived in uh on Walnut Street in Middle Sex for 23 years and I have never had children attend the school system.
So, I hope I'm bringing a fresh view uh in certain instances, but my first thing is when you speak, please acknowledge that you're speaking to the back of the room. That's important. Not
all of us hear that well anymore. Um, as a newly retired person, I can tell you my hearing is not what it used to be. Um, the other thing is I think
if you consider it, you should look outside the box and try and engage more of the taxpayers from the community. Um, that may not have sent children to your school system. Uh, I know that is
probably not the first thing that comes to your mind, but we are probably uh the folks that have paid the most in taxes. My taxes have tripled since I moved here 23 years ago. And
mind you, I never sent a child to the school. I also worked in corporate America. And the one thing that stands out for me personally is in reading through all of this information, I never see anything
that refers to expense reduction. And if you want to go into the corporate world, that is first and foremost in every budget needed. when you do your forecasting, it not only includes
expenses, but it also includes expense reduction. So just because you have a budget of $4 million or whatever it may be every year, it doesn't mean it has to stay that way. So, as a taxpayer
and somebody that my husband and I are here because we love it here and we want to stay here. But if you want to continue to have folks like us who have been professionals are alive all our lives and can afford to live here, then
that's something that I think you need to start incorporating into your um agendas as just to show the folks in the area that oh gee, you know, we don't have to
pay somebody from uh Tinton Falls to pave the school parking lot, we can pay somebody from Bridgewater and we don't have to pay the fees of transporting back and forth. So, it's things like
that. I I just would hope that you open your eyes and say, "Hey, what can we do to engage the rest of the community, the senior citizens that have been here a very long time? Um, and a lot of them can't afford to live here anymore because they can't afford the texts. So,
that's my true sense. Thank you. Thank you. I'm just gonna put down here. >> Laura Thomasy. Um I'm not sure who types up the um minutes. Is that Do you do
that Annette? I should say the agenda. >> I just >> It's a It's this combination. >> I just don't understand what that is. Is it because it's been I waited because I thought it was an error, but it's been on every agenda now for the past couple months.
>> I don't I've never seen that on my agendas. >> Well, can I see it? I page to show you. I just want to make you aware. I don't look >> What are we What are we This stuff right here. Oh, that could just be a website
thing because we don't see that >> you printed >> copy that you have that you picked up over here. >> Um, I printed that one. >> Yeah, that's that's a that's a website. You must have like headers on your website or something. That's a that's a a setting because we don't
>> It only happens on this one page >> all the time. >> Yeah, that must be some kind of heading setting. Yeah, it doesn't happen. and it's not on the printed parts. >> Okay. And if I uh if I'm reading correctly on the Hazelwood staff page,
Hazelwood students will have music, art, technology classes with certified teachers. Is that correct? I see them listed there with names. So, is that correct? The Hazelwood staff. >> Correct. >> That's listed there. Okay, great. >> Um
I'm sorry I couldn't hear. How many students did not reregister >> right now? We're missing um paperwork from 322. >> 322. Okay. Now, let me ask a question. What's going to happen if they do not
reregister the first day of school? >> So, um they're not going to be able to get into their Genesis account until they have completed that process. >> Okay? And I'll tell you, those kids are going to be on their parents' backs
because once the other kids start to see who their teachers are and have their schedules and they say, "Hey, mom, I need you to go get my schedule or go look who my teacher is." Um, and they can't get in, they're going to want to know why. And they're going to call and
and find out why that that is the reason. And so we'll push them to do that. Um, on Monday, that number was 671 students. So it is being in the right direction. >> Yes, they are being contacted. And again, you know, we can contact people so many times and tell them, but when
they can't get into their account to see their kids teachers, the kids are going to push them to make sure that the parents do what they need to do because they're going they're going to want to know what classes they're in. So, >> and so they will not be allowed to come into the school. >> I don't know that legally we can't. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're allowed to come in
because there's a actually a process to remove students. So this is the first step okay in it but there is an entire process in order to remove students. >> All right. Thank you. And can I ask how many um people attended the blanket and book event?
>> I can get that number to you. >> Excuse me. >> I can get that number to you. >> Okay. Thank you. And um at the council meeting last night um there was a report from the mayor and the dialogue continues with the board of
ed regarding the placement of class 3 police officers in the local schools. The mayor states we've made them we've made them another offer. We're trying to move this forward. it's going to require what I consider a minimal down payment
on their side to move the process forward. So my question is what is your response to the mayor when he sent that to you? Where do we stand? So um we actually did discuss this last night uh towards the end of the meeting. >> Okay.
>> Um yes that is still in um negotiations. our lawyer. It is with our lawyer. Um, and they are just getting clarification on some things that the mayor asked for. The mayor's I guess the council's lawyer asked for. Um, so we are working to get that
rectified as soon as possible. Okay. I from what I understand they're all settled. It's just a matter of this minimal payment that has to be made. I could be wrong, but I just wanted to ask that question. Okay. Lastly,
I'm going to read this because I don't want to miss any information that I want to get to you. I feel the need to express my opinion about attending the board of ed meetings and the committee the whole meetings. I've been attending these meetings for almost one year now. My frustration as well as well as many
other people increases at every one. I come prepared with my questions and very rarely if ever do I get answers at the meeting or given the courtesy of a follow-up email, phone call or board corner post with the answers to my questions. So we were promised the board
corner and September, October, November there were answers to some questions. Very few questions were answered. January, no regular meeting. February, no regular meeting. March, April,
nothing. May there were answers. June, there were no answers. So to me, that's not really good communication. I also send emails to the superintendent as well as to each board member, rarely getting any response. The response from
the superintendent is usually that she is out of the office, but upon return will respond. I understand that. The last email I sent was August 12th, and it took over a week to respond. So, what is it going to take to get better communication between the public and the superintendent and the board?
We, the taxpayers that voted for you and pay your salaries deserve better. So, I can provide a list of my questions for the last 10 meetings. But these were the three that I asked at the last meeting in July and I never got an answer.
Luncher, how much was owed? Who paid? Re-registration. I am getting some answers from this meeting. And I asked about exit interviews. I didn't get any answers to any of those. I feel that most of the questions asked are on relevant topics and should be
easily answered. I have to ask myself, are the board of education members ill informed on these ongoing concerns? This leads me to ask other questions. I know members of the board have children that play on different school sports teams. With all the games they
play, it gives you an opportunity to watch them. This is not the case for children that play musical instruments. They have very limited exposure for an audience, especially their parents. So my question is, who made the decision that the high school music department,
where the teacher volunteers his time, can no longer showcase his students musical talents on stage at 400 p.m. in the afternoon on a weekday at a local restaurant. After their performance, which they were doing this, but now it's
stopped. After their performance, the restaurant would then donate money back to the music department at Middle Sex High School. Unfortunately for us, since they will no longer be able to perform, this will be offered to Piscataway High School Music Department, who will then
receive the donation. Are you, the board members, aware of this? Thank you. Thank you. Oh, thank you. >> Charles Thomas, 10 Judson Drive. Um, I have a question about the re-registration.
Right. Are you aware that people who have registered have gotten letters saying that they are not registered and that when they've tried to contact the person that they were supposed to via email and via phone, that person has yet
to get back to them. with their kids starting in September at a new school. They're worried that these children are going to be turned away or won't be allowed in because they can't get in touch with anybody about this letter
that they received. Now, all of their paperwork was turned in. They were told that everything looked okay and there would be no problem. But yet, a week ago, they received this letter. but can't get in touch with anybody, is called every day, and is
emailed. So, can you check with the person who's doing this job and ask them to get in touch with the people that he sent this letter out to and make sure that they are either registered or not registered. And the ones that are registered,
>> can you let them know that he received their registration or was it a blanket letter that was sent out to everybody? There was no letter that was sent out. There was an all call that was made and an email >> in an email >> that was sent to anyone where it was not
verified in the Genesis system. If any parent or any family has any issue with registration and they can't get through, they can always call my office and my secretary will handle it or will direct it to someone who can. Mrs. Gomez's
office also has been handling re-registration. So, anyone who calls, emails, it will get handled if they contact my office directly or Mrs. Gomez's office directly. >> Okay. What is your email?
>> FreemanR at middle sex.k12.nj. us. It's at the top of every letterhead that is sent out to families. >> Okay. I'm going to let you know. >> Thank you. >> Also, that >> Yes. >> And it's been fixed. >> Yes. Correct.
>> And and so that last night we had a discussion that in the Genesis system when documents are uploaded there's a rollover that happens in July >> for the next school year >> for the next school year where the system goes down and we bring it back
up. There was an issue where if people they reregistered prior to that rollover their documents are still in the 2425 school year. So what Miss Simmons and Miss Gomez's office what she has been working on and Miss Gomez also has been
they have been connecting those documents so that anyone who verified prior to that rollover that now it should be correct in the system. So that was a glitch in the system that we
worked the past two weeks to fix. So those people if they go into Genesis now it should show that they have completed their registration paperwork. >> Okay. Can I just I want to clarify the Genesis everybody should be able to have Genesis
this Friday if they're >> minus minus I was going to say except Mer is >> 27 27. >> Okay. Thanks. >> Yep. >> One followup question. Ma6 print and
drive. What is the process? Uh you said there's a process for removing students. Could you clarify what the process and the timeline for removing nonregistered students is? >> So that's you're talking about unenrolling them and >> right
>> I cannot whip it off the top of my head. Um but >> I'm looking for like a general timeline like how long will we have to educate students who don't necessarily live here who haven't submitted paperwork. >> That all depends. >> Okay. Because what the process is basically you have to enroll you have to
basically the the bottom line is you enroll and the default is to educate children. >> Um then what the overall don't you know quote me on all these dates there 21 days in order for the parents to provide
responses. Um the district can then review them. Um, and then if they don't provide the responses, the district, and I don't remember, um, because I haven't looked at in about a year, whether or not, um, the district then has to file
um, in order to have them removed. I just don't remember the the process. Okay. But bottom line is the commissioner can put a stay on on it. Parents can appeal to the commissioner. So there is no specific cut off okay by which children the 21 days was kind of
what I was my thing is okay yeah the kids push the parents but they could be pushing parents maybe the kids don't know that the parents don't have the paperwork so then they show up the first day when they show up we're going to give them a schedule they're not going to sit in the front office right we're going to allow them to go to classes so
then then they're here then they have their schedule now that pressure is off the parents I was just wondering when that pressure gets put back on. So, it's 21 days. >> I think it's 21 days. I'm pretty sure it's 21 days. >> Yeah, I won't. Exactly. >> I won't call you on day.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. We will now close the public comment portion of the meeting. Uh we don't have a reason to go into executive session again. Um so I would like to make a motion to adjurnn. So moved. >> All in favor?