were discussed will be disclosed to the public as soon as possible once the reason non-disclosure no longer exists. So moved. Second. Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schuler. >> Yes. >> Mrs. D. >> Yes. >> M. Jeffrey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nikolai.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Harry. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Quinn. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dorton. >> Yes. >> Michelle, I'm sorry. I forgot to say we're good. Okay. >> Okay. Okay, we'll move on to our presentations. Um, our district employee
of the month this month was Mrs. Michelle Neil, a district bus driver. Um, she couldn't be here tonight because she is actually driving a bus. So, I think she had a sports run, right? >> Yes. >> So, we want to I know that Dr. Freeman
has already spoken to her um read her all the wonderful things that she we had to say about her. So, we want to >> congratulate her. >> There was a video. Okay. Did you want to do it? >> We can. We It's up to you. >> Yeah. >> It's not ahead.
>> Pressure's on. >> It's two minutes. [Music] >> Oh, the volume on the when you hit the >> either tonight or Amen.
[Music] >> I am so saddened that you cannot be at the meeting either tonight or tomorrow night. So, I wanted to read to you what is going to be said
in this honor for district employee of the month. This month, the Middle Sex School District proudly recognizes Mrs. Michelle Neil as our October employee of the month. For more than two decades,
Mrs. Neil has demonstrated exceptional reliability, kindness, and professionalism in her role as a district bus driver. Each morning, she greets students with a warm smile, helping them begin their day on a positive note. Her calm presence and
steady care create a welcoming and safe environment for every child she transports. Mrs. Neil's thoughtful communication with families and her strong collaboration with colleagues reflect her deep commitment to our district community. She approaches each
day with a solutionsoriented mindset and an unwavering sense of responsibility that inspires confidence and respect. Her pride in her work, attention to detail, and genuine care for students truly embody the spirit of Middle Sex
Schools. Congratulations, Mrs. Neil, and thank you for your dedication, professionalism, and continued service for the students of Middle Sex. Thank you. You're not going to be there. You weren't getting away with not
seeing me and not getting the words directly from me. Thank you. >> The head coming from behind. >> I know. That was great. >> That was great. Thank you. >> Okay, we'll move on to our
announcements. Um I will go first. Um I just wanted to note that on the agenda tonight, you'll see that we are approving to accept um two grants. We um we approved in August to submit them.
Um and then we were notified that we did get them. they were competitive grants. It was the lift grant and the coach grant. Um, which is is really great for our district. And I just want to point out that since the fall of 2024, we've been awarded five competitive
grants totaling $2.2 million. [Applause] Then, and then when we add in the remaining years of the coach grant, which is five years total, that total becomes $2.8 million.
So all of and as a competitive as competitive grants that means they're not just awarded to us. Um there are really strict um guidelines and the applications have to you know say the correct thing so that we can that we
will get approved. Um, so these allow us to offer additional services to our students identified as needing support and that in turn aids aids us in getting more students to meet the New Jersey student learning standards. So, um, that's really great and I want to
congratulate Dr. Freeman and her team on on that because that doesn't happen without them. So, thank you. >> Okay. And now our superintendent of schools, Dr. Robera Freeman. >> Good evening. I just have one announcement. Tomorrow night is our pack night at Moger School. We welcome
everyone to come out, our bilingual families. It will be from 6:30 to 7:30. And it's a great time. You'll learn about our information systems using Genesis, using our district website, everything that we use within the
district. So, come on out with us. Thank you. And now our business administrator, board secretary, Miss Annette. Good evening. Um, I have really no announcements from the business office. If Michelle Neil was here here, I would congratulate her. She's a great person
to work with and congratulations on all the grants. I know you guys have worked very very very diligently for that money and I always like to see money coming into the district. Thank you. Okay. And now we'll move on to our
liaison reports. First, our NJSBA county delegate and our legislative officer, Mrs. Sharon Schuler. >> So, the um delegate assembly doesn't meet until November 22nd. Um I have a meeting with the resolution subcommittee
on October 28th. At that point, we will know how many resolutions and what they are um about. So I can report out on that hopefully before our November meeting so that I can get a um idea of how our board wants to vote on that.
>> What was the date on that? I'm sorry. The delegate assembly. >> The delegate assembly is um November 22nd. Um it is available. Um as a voting person I have to go in person, but you are able to uh do it
virtually. And then that would count for the >> one delegate assembly that Mary talked about >> talked about last night in order for you to get your certifications and stuff. So you can do it virtually can get and Mark tick that box for you. >> Thank you.
>> Um the legislative committee met on November I'm sorry I have trouble with names. September 27. Um the legislative committee is an integral part of the advocacy pillar of New Jersey school boards and the committee members um
represent the 40 New Jersey legislative districts. 21 voting members are needed for a quorum. At that meeting we had 37 legislative districts represented. Um, similar to our county meetings, um, we
do have, uh, speakers and topics presented at the last legislative meeting, which was held virtually because they were doing some work at New Jersey School Board's offices. Um, we had Assemblyman Christopher De Phillips and Al Bolaris from Legislative District
40 as our guest speakers, and they discussed their education and legislative priorities and answered questions. The advocacy team um did a review of some new noteworthy new laws, noteworthy bills, and reviewed our advocacy and
action plans. Some of the new laws they reviewed included the New Jersey universal prek and pre and kindergarten act, the public notice reform, the IEP meeting guideline, and the working groups, and the labor movement
instruction laws. They also discussed the bills. There are two um school funding reform act laws uh that are pending. Um we don't know where they will go. Um there's a pension re
enrollment change that is um being worked on in the state and uh instructional mandates um on the horizon. They expect that um up to election day after election day they anticipate a lot of activity during
the lame duck session. Um if you want more information the school boards has sections on their website called capital watch um and schoolboard notes always has information and our next legislative meeting will be December 6th.
>> Thank you. Now, our Middle Sex County SBA delegate and our burough alliance leazison, Mr. Tom Thornton. >> Good evening. Uh, I attended the Middle Sex County uh NJSBA meeting. Um, we did
have a couple speakers including uh member from our own Bush Law Firm. Um and they were talking about different things um regarding the cell phone
policies. Um code of conduct at events. The New Jersey Scholact Scholastic Athletic Association came out with certain criteria that must be on that. Um,
we also discussed about opt out. When students opt out of different lessons, there should also be backup, which I'm sure there is. And um, that's about it. Sharon covered
everything. She sits at the head table. >> I was on I was on virtually. I attended virtually. So I did I did see all >> Sharon's a fancy pants. >> She deserves it. >> Yes. Um
with the the next meeting which I don't have any dates on yet. Um, they also encouraged everyone to go to the workshop.
I mean, I'm looking forward to going first. It's going to be fun. >> Yeah. I think they said there's only there's only like three towns from Middle Sex County that aren't represented. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. They were hoping to be 100% >> 100%. Yeah.
>> And they called them out. >> They did. They sure did. They did. >> They did. And some of one of the towns had members at that meeting. Um, >> so that's all I have for the county. I
did have the alliance meeting. I'll go into that. Um, they're in the second year of their Wellspring grant. They're going to concentrate on six, seven, and eight. uh discussing alcohol, vaping,
marijuana, and tobacco. Um they plan on having this program set for by the end of October, everything all done and they're planning for they put in for the grant for the 2627 school
year. >> That's it. >> All right. Thank you. Okay. And now our student representative, Mr. Kevin R. Hello everyone. >> Kevin, >> yes. >> Just hit that button.
>> Yeah, the button. >> Okay, I just learned that. >> Okay, good to be back. So, just a sec. This month we had uh like a variety of activities going on around the school. Um no central theme, just
like a bunch of stuff. Um so sorry. So our senior student council, they had a fundraiser that was called Splash a Senior. It was basically you could like a senior could volunteer to sign up. Um, there were some incentives I heard with
some math classes for extra credit. Uh, so shout out Miss Bone Shots and Miss Vitali. Um, and then other students could pay one, three or five dollars to get a certain size bucket that correlates full of water and you uh they
could just dump it onto a fence. So, it was a lot of fun. Um, got a lot of cool videos I can play. Uh, oh, sorry. The student council made a video of it um and posted it. So, I'll play that real quick. >> Sorry.
>> Oh, yeah. >> You got it. >> We got We got I'm Marcus. This is >> My name is Lacy and this is Mr. This has been 12 hours of bullying. [Music] >> Great. >> Uh, so I'll cover the sports we've had
at the high school. So we have, let me pull up the notes. We have our football team. They are I think they're two and two in the big central division. Um the girls soccer team they are nine and six and they're beginning their GMC tournament and sectional soon after. And
the boys are 9 and4 and in the GMC like invitational tournament and they are second seed. So good for them. Um cross country right there you can see Aiden Curtis. I'd say that's our best runner. You'll probably see him running around town like the fastest runner I've ever
seen. Um, and I did I can't get a picture on here, but we have girls tennis as well. Uh, they're doing pretty good. >> So, every year our senior class, like health classes, they have their like children raising unit, I guess you could
call it. And so, teachers assign them for a month, you have to get a stuffed animal and carry it around like the baby and protect it and make sure it's fed and everything. So, I took some pictures of students with their uh babies. >> Some of them were um bags of flower, too, weren't they?
>> Yeah, it's all sorts of stuff. Um that one's Jeremy. That's Gabriela Cigar's kid. That one's Milo. That's Katie Dam's kid. And that one is Gabriel. That's Miguel's kid. So, all >> uh we had we had back to school night
earlier in September. So all sorts of clubs in the high school came and had like big sales or theme sales to raise money for their respective clubs. We had all four of the great student councils and the main student council. We had band key club and I think there's one
more but I don't remember who it was. So they had a lot of fun. They raised a lot of money for their clubs which is awesome. Uh little extra things that happened. We had the week of respect and so our student uh morning announcers on the loudspeakers they every day for that
week they talked about like how we can be more respectful to our peers and how we can treat each other better. Um we also had PSAT testing. So, uh, it was last week, Thursday, seniors and freshman, we got to sleep in. And unfortunately for our sophomores and juniors, they had to come in early and
test, take the PSAT. And we had two students, uh, me included and Emily Penna, who got the National Merit Commended Scholar Award. Uh, and then lastly, we had, pull it up, we had our RWJ safety summit. um
this week or last week and we had these are all the students that represented our school. Um see there you go on the bottom right. They learned about injury prevention and safety so they could help teach our elementary schools how to build a safer community with each other.
So I I interviewed Mr. Seagull. He's our uh supervisor of curriculum and instruction in the district and he told me about like the three initiatives that he's taking to improve the exper the student experience and teacher
experience. So in the high school last year we switched to block scheduling as we know and he's been working uh with teachers and like workshops and etc to uh like I guess give advice on how you could
have multiple activities or lessons in a class while also keeping your students uh captivated and that getting deeper in learning and he's saying uh from teacher feedback it's had a lot of success. there's more time in the classes because of it. Uh
and just having more time in the class gives like more collaboration and a deeper relationship between students and teachers. Um so that's the high school for K through eight. He's been working on oh sorry
uh K through eight. Mr. Mok has been working on CKL CKLA which is core knowledge language arts which is that's the third year of that program. And he's also working on math groups. Um so it's like instructional. He does like games,
skills, workshops. So um students work together to learn math instead of just uh with the teacher. So it helps with collaboration and peer learning. Um and then for volumeaper 6 through 8, it's
like an amplified version of C CKLA. Um they adopted the same resource and have the same trajectory. Um and then lastly he is working on getting a getting like a partnership agreement called students
to science approved which is a free to middle sex company sponsored program where they send um like they send virtual labs and give sponsor free virtual labs or sorry uh
in-person labs or like industrial labs. So, it's great for career virtualization for our uh curious STEM students. Um, it's subsidized by local companies. The middle school gets virtual labs and they get the materials for the labs sent to them for free. So, it it's very like
immersive and helps students, I guess, experience industrial science beyond the classroom. Okay. And what's to come for the next month? We have October like Halloween coming up. So, we're gonna have Halloween activities. Student council
might be doing bake sales. NHS is going to be doing haunted hallways, which is always awesome. And then after that, we'll be having Thanksgiving stuff for November. The um and the teacher workshops and voting as well. Thank you very much, guys. >> Awesome. Thank you.
[Applause] >> I appreciate that you do slideshows so far every month. I love it. Very, too. Cute. Um, we did also talk about that students to science yesterday. We did discuss that. That's on the agenda tonight. So, that's great.
>> Okay, we'll move on to our meeting minutes. Superintendent recommends approval of the minutes as presented. So, move second. Um, any questions or comments on the minutes? Okay. Annette, can you please take the
role? >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Schuler. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bay. >> Uh, yes. Abstain from 9:17. Yes. To 916. >> Miss. Jeffrey. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nikolai. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Perry. >> Recuse from the 9:17 meeting and the 917 executive session. Yes. To the right. >> Mrs. Quinn.
Uh the same recuse for 917 public meeting 9:17 executive session and okay for 9:16 >> Mrs. Reynolds >> abstain recuse from from everything I
wasn't here >> Mr. Jordan >> yes Okay, 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. Direct your comments and questions to the board president. You may speak on two separate topics for up to three minutes each. Good evening. Um, I have a question for
Annette. Um, I was reviewing the bills list and I saw that there was almost $65,000 that are from bills dated March of 2024. Like we never paid them or we didn't get
invoices for them. >> I'm sorry. What was the last part? >> Why are we paying $65,000 for bills from a year and a half ago? I'll have to get back to you on that. I have >> Okay. for bathroom renovation and um
>> those are ongoing projects. >> Those are still but this is dated. >> Yeah. They're not they're not prior billings. Those are current billings for work that's still going on. Probably the purchase order is dated from them
because that's when the work started. But those are ongoing projects. They're working on punch list items and completing those projects. >> Okay. And then there's also we bought a new van after buying a new
truck. Is that because we couldn't use the truck to transport stuff to the schools because it wasn't right. So we had to spend another 56,000 on a van. >> That was because the truck is open in the back. We have four maintenance workers now. And the truck that we
purchased was for one of those workers. And we needed an enclosed van so that the men didn't have to go back to the high school and then to another location and they could carry >> the first truck we bought really wasn't well it served other purposes. We did
discuss this a few months ago when we approved the purchase of the van. Um it ser they served two different purposes. Um, and then can you tell me what forward pro progress is or get back to
me on it because we spent almost $23,000 on it. Um, and then also the there was 270 food for board meetings. Is that like per month or is that like
for like is that what we're doing? 270 per month? >> No. So that was um that covers two months, two board meetings. Okay. And then the only other question that I had was on the water coolers. Is that $1,100 per month for water coolers?
And how many do we have and where are they located? >> That I don't have the information on. I don't know if anybody has that off hand. We'd probably have to get back to you on that. >> Okay. If you could get back to me. Thank you. Lord Thomasy 109 Green Avenue. Um I don't I can somebody just explain
to me the um assistant principal is moving over to be the principal. Um Morg, is that what I'm reading? Yeah, that's that's a temporary. There's dates on there. It's a temporary. >> Okay. But it says I'm I'm looking at the
dates. So 7125 to 10 925 and then 12125 to 6:3025. But the replacement is for 10 1025 to 11:30 25.
>> I'm just pulling it up. Yeah. Which item is it? I'm sorry. It's >> 99. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So her her the person t well her name's the title of assistant principal
shows from the fiscal year what date she is performing that those job duties and then the principal it shows the dates that she's performing those job duties. >> Okay. So the principal then is just on the temporary leave that she's filling in. Is that what I
>> Well, that that's a personnel. So, we can't really >> discuss that, but >> you can you can explain that particular what this particular item means. This particular item means that the assistant principal is being assigned as the
principal for that limited time period currently. Okay. 10 10:25 to 11:30 2025. Beyond that, they can't comment. >> Okay. And so the the then there won't be an assistant principal during that time.
Just be a principal. There's no way to get going replace the assistant while she goes to be the principal. I'm just curious. I just was just looking at the dates. There was a um substitute administrator approved last month. Okay.
Okay. Anybody else? Okay. Natasha Rouse. um 60 Washington Avenue in Middle Sex, New Jersey. I am happy glad to stand here today first of all to say congratulations to Middle Sex Board of Education for
receiving two competitive grants. I actually work um in and I have worked for the Office of Federal Programs and Grants where I currently serve. So I understand competitive grants. I write for competitive grants. I know that they're not easily um awarded. So
congratulation also I have been a literacy um coach and academic interventionist and so knowing how literacy works and the importance of literacy in the school system I want to say congratulations. I am hoping that you all as a board really take time to
implement what's needed with family engagement at this point. Uh which is something I'm very passionate about getting families back into the schools. And so the lift grant offers that opportunity and I living here for several years. I've noticed that a lot
of times families are not invited into the schools unless it's like open house or um back to school night. But having the opportunity to have this grant to open up family literacy nights that go beyond just one month or one time, I believe that this will be a great
opportunity to bring families in not just in elementary, but even in high school. Our high schools need to understand what it means to not just write a college essay, but how to write period. So, I'm hoping and I'm looking forward to seeing how you guys use this grant, the Lyft grant in particular. I
love the other one, too, um the coach grant. Um because again I do professional development as well um where I serve as an educator but I'm also looking to see because outside of the classroom we need to make sure our families understand how important education is not just at home where it's
individuals coaching but also how we as a board of education can make that happen. So again congratulations. >> Thank you. Good evening everybody. Good evening. Thank you so much for this opportunity. My name is Vincent Rouse, 60 Washington Avenue, Middle Sex, uh, New Jersey. Just
wanted to uh come up again as I spoke last month um to to the board um and uh also to the community uh to say as we continue to move forward with the board of education uh in Middle Sex Burrow. And I use this uh and say this again
that you know we cannot have uh using a track when we in AI world. All right. So things have to change, things have to shift. you know, we see things that is on social media and I'm not afraid to address it. Um, one thing I would like to say this week is uh this month is
about food, right? We we we're here for children, right? Children is our focus because if there were no children, there would be no school, there would be no work, there would be no board. So, we're here our focus on children and not on food that the board is eating. Um, and as a as a representative and as a person
that lives in, I pay my taxes just like everybody else, but also I have a background, right? I'm also a board chair for a school district. So I understand that there are monies that are set aside for board members to eat. Okay. So you know to we don't need to
lay on those things um as a people. We need to focus on what is happening with our children. So, I just want to continue to say push forward to the board so that we can make sure that all of our children are educated and have the best that they need to be successful
here in Middle Sex Burrow. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we will now close 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 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, 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 committee chair, Mr. Todd Nicolai. >> Thank you, Danielle. >> Super. There's been some additions to the um personnel report tonight. The superintendent
recommends approval of appointment um action items 9.1 through 93 as presented. So move >> second. >> Any questions or comments?
>> Okay. Um, I just want to point out that on 9.12, um, they're they're approving a job description for a literacy coach. Uh, and that position is going to be funded by the new grant that we received. So,
just want to make sure that that's understood. Okay. Um, Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Feny, >> yes. >> Mrs. Schuler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bay, >> yes. >> M. Jeffrey, >> yes. >> Mr. Nikolai, >> yes. Mrs. Perry,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Quinn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds, >> yes. >> Mr. Thornton, >> yes. >> Thank you. Um, and just to clarify, that was only approving the job description. It's not It's not approving posting the position. Correct.
>> The establishment. >> It's not creating the position. Is >> the message. >> Did I miss it? >> It's number six. thing, right? >> Oh, okay. Sorry. Okay. My bad. No, that
was my fault. All right. Thank you. We'll move on to our education report by our committee chair, Mrs. Ber. >> Good evening. The superintendent recommends approval of the education action items 11:01 to 11:114 as presented. So moved.
>> Second. Any questions or comments? >> Okay. Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Fenzy. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scheler. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ve, >> yes. >> M. Jeffrey, >> yes. >> Mr. Nicolay, >> yes. >> Mrs. Perry, >> yes. >> Mrs. Quinn, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Reynolds, >> yes. >> Mr. Doran, >> yes. >> Thank you. We'll move on to our policy action items, which we discussed last night a little bit. Um, superintendent recommends the approval of policy action items 12.01 to 12.03 as presented. So,
move. Second. >> Any questions or comments? Okay. Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. Feny, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scheler, >> yes. >> Mrs. B. >> Yes. >> M. Jeff. >> Yes. >> Mr. Niko. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Perry. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Quinn? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds? >> Yes. >> Mr. Dorton? >> Yes. >> Thank you. Now we can't speak. We will move on to our facilities and finance report by our committee chair, Mr. Nicholas. >> Thank you, Danielle. The superintendent recommends approval of the sellers and
finance action items 14.01 through 14.12. So moved. Second. >> Any questions or comments, discussions? Great. Annette, can you please take the role? >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scheler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bich,
>> yes. >> Miss Jeffrey, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Perry, >> yes. >> Mrs. Quinn, >> yes. >> Mrs. Reynolds, >> yes. >> Mr. Dorton. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um any ongoing business?
>> So I I'd just like to um for anyone going to workshop um I wanted to point out that there is a legislative panel on Tuesday, October 21st from 1 to 2:30. Um we will have two senators and an
assembly woman and assembly man who are scheduled to be there. Um, it is always interesting to hear what our legislators believe our issues are with education. >> I was looking at the agenda and there
are so many things that I would be that I am interested in that are happening at the same time. So, I'm like I'm trying I'm like add to my planner to my planner and then I look at the planner. I'm like I have there's like six things at the same time. But, um there was a list that is a spreadsheet. So, if anybody hadn't
seen that and you want to look at that, but they also they have an app that has the agenda on it. So, that's good too. >> So, there there is also a New Jersey state um Board of Education panel discussion. That's on Wednesday. And then at Wednesday at 3 o'clock, I
believe it is, the keynote speaker is um Joe Thyman. >> I didn't >> I'm sorry. >> Did you do presentation on Wednesday morning at 8:30? >> I did not. There is an elf presentation on Wednesday at >> 8:30. 8:30.
>> Um what is an elf presentation? Is that a question? Oh, >> the education leadership which Hope is a board of director on. Um, so >> they are the um educational foundation that helps support and fund a lot of New
Jersey school boards. They do um pay for the two weekends of New Jersey school boards. They pay for our um venue and our meals for all of the county meetings. Um what else do they pay for? That's their big and and now we're
morphing into some of the some of the equity items. >> Okay. So, >> so that was so that they could pre provide more and more and more training without having to red to without having to um increase um dues to all of the the
member districts. >> So, thank you. I do. Okay. [Laughter] Um, and then if we just want to I just want to um repeat something that was discussed last night since there are more people here
um regarding the re-registration process. We are down to six people and three have submitted paperwork. It's just being verified. Um I'm sorry, we're down to nine. Three have submitted and are being verified. There are six that
um we are moving. we are taking the next steps um if they do not respond. So that's where we're at with that. Um any new business? Okay, we will open the second public comment portion of the meeting. Comment
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 to Miss Annette Gordano, business administrator, board secretary. Direct your comments and questions to the board
president. You may speak on two separate topics for up to three minutes each. >> Laura Thomasy. Um so Danielle that's nine total. >> Yes. >> As a student. So, there are nine students attending school that are not
registered >> correctly. Yes. Reregistered. >> Reregistered. Yes. Okay. >> And three have submitted paperwork. It's they're just being it's just being verified. >> Okay. Um, I have a a question and I don't know if you pull it in favor or not, but the
last night you had the school board association here giving a presentation and unfortunately those committee the whole meetings are not um so people can watch. Can I ask why you didn't have that tonight when people obviously more
people come on Wednesday than Tuesday and they can also watch from home. Um, so I I don't know if that in this particular case, but a lot of times it also has to do with the availability of our our rep. >> Okay. So, >> so can I ask you if you I wasn't able to come last night briefly what happened.
>> Um, so she went over our board self-ealuation. We did a board self-evaluation. >> Okay. >> Um, we had to complete it online and we all scored the board. Um, it's anonymous and we put in comments. We score where we think we stand in certain areas. Um and then she just kind of went over it
with us to explain um what our scores mean and how we can maybe improve and how we are working it how we are working as a whole. So she said we are working so far um effectively as a board. Um but there are areas that we obviously could improve
in. So >> okay so it was more that than >> Yeah. No, no. Okay. >> Um, thank you for the answers to my questions through the email. Um, I just I'm I'm a little bit concerned and upset
that there were lunch rares of 32,355 for the 2425 school year. It was 40 the year before that. So, I know the governor has policy set in place as to what you need to do. So I did a little research and I contacted some other
schools to see if they have the same problem and how they address it. So I believe if the protocols were followed for um I'm not sure the exact numbers that first the parents are notified and then if they don't pay they're given a
certain amount of time and then the I believe the principal has to a letter has to be sent home and then the principal will call them in see if there's a problem that that the school can help with help them fill out forms yada yada yada and I know it's a
protocol that takes a while to So, one uh superintendent in particular to solve that problem at the um at the end of all of that trying and still did not
get any money. There is um if there's probable cause to believe that a child is abused or neglected, you have a legal responsibility to report it. and she would tell the parents that and contact
the DC PMP and within a week everybody paid their bill. So, it's just a suggestion. Um, I don't want to say a threat, but that solved the problem and $32,000 is a lot of money. So, that's
just my suggestion. Um if if I may just just just to step in, there actually has to be an allegation that there is real a real belief that there is in fact neglect or
abuse which is actually a criminal standard. Um it can't simply be your parents didn't pay. >> Yeah. Because you have >> that because of a lunch balance. There has to be there need there should be other initia that the child is being
hurt. >> It it's simply not you didn't pay your bill. So there's a there's a very real concern about a standard practice that said if you don't pay your bill, we're going to call DC. It would be an improper I would suggest
that without more it very well may be an improper use of a system that is exceedingly overstressed and overt taxed and is designed to really protect children who are being harmed. Well, but
if they if they're not if they ask a parent, is there food at home for the children to eat and the kids, >> it would be a fact-based issue that has to do with whether or not there is abuse or neglect. If in fact it is simply they
didn't pay their bill, that's a different story. So, you can implement that type of it's not for the purpose of collecting your bills. It's literally based on the needs of the child as far as whether or
not the child is suffering the abuse or neglect. It's not your parents didn't pay the school's bill. If the children are not eating, if the children are coming to school dirty, if the children are coming to school with clothes that are not clean, if the children are
barely coming to school, if the children come with bruises, then you call. If a child comes and reports that something terrible has happened to them or something terrible is happening at home, then you report them. If you witness something that has that is terrible to a
child, it is every adult, not just not just a teacher, not just a board. It is everyone's everyone's job to do that. It is not to simply say you didn't pay the bill. We're calling DCP. That's what I'm
saying. It is an individual basis. You said that the that you feel that the child was being neglected to have the proper food intake. And so I'm just I'm giving you this. >> I didn't say that. >> No. >> What I said what I said very specifically was it is an individual
decision if there is an indication that that child is being abused or neglected. >> Okay. I just gave that example because it worked. That's what I wanted to let you know. Um, I want to know if you could tell me how
many people resigned last year and how many exit interviews were conducted because according to the answer, it's hard to to do that with a short staff. But I feel that's the human resource
person's job to do. I just wonder how many people resigned and how many did you do an exit interview on? >> We'll have to collect that information for you. And the another question that I had was regarding the music department
participating um at a local venue. And I wondered if after I read your response, it said that as long as adequate um protection was taken, if there was alcohol being served, it seemed to
indicate that you could do that. So, would the music department be allowed to go back to the place that they had been performing or not? Um, so they would that would have to be um approved as a field trip um because it's being it's a they're using it as a school that's a
school event. If they're taking the whole the whole class or the whole ensemble or whatever it is to some place, they would have to get it approved as a field trip. >> Okay. >> To make sure that all the proper safety and all those things were were in place. >> Okay.
And my last question is the status of our class three officers. >> We actually did discuss that last night as well. Um there is specific language um still the deposit that is being worked out. Um
there is language in there also that wasn't originally agreed upon um which was changed recently. So now we are working through that. Okay. So, it's all up to the attorneys doing all this. There's no
other input from anybody else's up to our >> the town attorney and the school attorney. >> Right. Yes. Um Dr. Freeman also talks to Chief Feist and the mayor, I believe.
Correct. Um but then any language has to be approved by both attorneys once you know they discuss that if something needs to be changed it would have to go to attorneys to be >> so there's been communication between the town and >> there's always been communication between us and the town >> Dr. Freeman speaks with um Chief Gist a
lot regularly. >> Okay. They're in constant communication. Correct. >> There's no indication of a possible date of when this could >> we're trying >> come to fruition. >> We're trying. Okay. Okay. Anybody else? All right. Then we
will close this public comment portion of the meeting. We are not going back into executive session. Um, excuse me. So, I'd like to make a motion to adjurnn. So, moved. >> Second. >> All in favor?