Call this meeting to order. Adequate notice of this meeting is provided by sending such notice to the Asbury Park Crest, the Middletown Patch, and the Middletown Township Public Schools District website and opposing of such notice at the OST minor administrative offices and each
elementary, middle, and secondary school in the district. Roll call, please, Mr. >> Mrs. Venues, >> here. >> Mrs. Galaski, >> here. >> Mr. Sarowski, >> here. >> Mrs. Tobacco here. >> Mrs. Torres, >> here. >> Mrs. Weinstein >> here. Mrs. Wright >> here. >> Mr. Capone
>> here. >> Mr. >> here. We now need a motion to go into executive session. So moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I read resolution. Now therefore be
resolved Middletown Board of Education that the board enters into executive session. Discuss the following items. Confidential matters statute court order. Collective partying matters, personnel matters be further resolved. Items discussed in the executive session
may result in more action when they convene public session. Order meeting back to order. Everybody please rise to the pledge. of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation
indivisible with liberty and justice for all under New Jersey law and administrative code. Boards of education are required to annually prepare, adopt, and submit a school budget to the county superintendent, New Jersey Department of
Education. While the superintendent administration handle the technical preparation of the budget document, the budget ultimately reflects the board's priorities and decisions. For the administration to prepare a meaningful and accurate budget in accordance with the board's intent, it needs clear
direction from the board. Without that guidance, the administration cannot fulfill its role to prepare a tenative budget in support of the board's legal obligation to adopt a budget that truly reflects the board's intent.
In that regard, per the discussion with and consensus of the board of education in executive session, I'm asking for a motion to amend the agenda to include resolution 9 C. Resolution 9C will provide clear
direction to the administration regarding the preparation of the budget. The board must make this decision so that the administration can proceed accordingly in the meeting in meeting its budget preparation
obligations. Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. All right. So, there was a motion was made and seconded. And just to be clear, the
motion was resolution authorizing closing of Leonardo Elementary School and Natsync Elementary School and directing the submission of required assurances and approvals to the New Jersey Division of Administration and Finance in the Executive County Superintendent of Mammoth County. Now,
to be clear, this is only a motion to amend the agenda to include this resolution as item 9 C. discussion. >> Yeah, I'd like to speak. I'll start it out. What concerns me most about this
proposal itself is not just the proposal, but how we got here. We're discussing closing schools because of years of financial mismanagement and a failure to engage in long-term planning. Enrollment trends were known, structural deficits were predictable, yet no
comprehensive strategy was developed until we were facing a crisis. And this is not a comprehensive strategy. Let's be clear with that. Now, we're being asked to make Now we're being asked to make permanent structural changes under pressure. This
is not strategic leadership. >> This is reactive. Something I want to be clear about because I push this with paper. There are no clearly defined academic benchmarks tied to this proposal. That is our job as a board of education to hold the administration accountable
to that. There is no multi-year financial modeling that accounts for infrastructure, future enrollment shifts, or sustained improvement in student performance. When I asked directly, how does this improve student outcomes? There was no measurable answer.
Closing school is not an academic plan. It's a consequence of poor planning. I believe in accountability and I believe in transparency and I believe major restructuring requires stable leadership which we're not going to have.
collaboration, not not collaboration and a long-term road map that extends beyugging a short-term fix. Our kids are my kids are going to be in the district for the next 15 years. Why am I worried about next year? I'm worried about the next 15 years, 20 years. I have a business. I'm
worried about the next our responsibility is to fix this mismanagement without compounding it. And until there's a comprehensive plan that's data driven and a plan that clearly improves student achievement, which this does not have anything at all
in there discussing that at all and protects factor, I will not support sweeping structural changes that impacts not just one school, two schools, it's three schools, but it's not just that. It's Thompson Middle School, it's Thorn Middle School that are down.
Anybody else? >> Sure. >> Please no shouting from the audience. There'll be time for public comment. >> Um, I am going to ask the public if you would please let me speak and I'm hoping
that there are some people up here that have some experience that can answer some of my questions because they have not been answered. They haven't been answered by to the public for a past year. They haven't been answered to us here and enough is enough.
Let them respond because we deserve responses. We've been waiting for a year >> and we paid for it. >> So, been on board for a month and a half now and let me tell you what I've learned. Our facilities people, our maintenance
people, they are very creative. They are problem solvers. They have been keeping this district running as everybody around them has not allowed them to. Our teachers, our paras, they are creative. They make sure that our children are
sheltered from this nonsense. Our nurses are creative even when people are falling off bars. Where is the creativity in finding ways to save money for this district? We talk about big items. We talk about closing buildings that we can't sell or get any
more revenue for. But what about everything else? I have been told come with ideas. So I did. every single idea that I came with about afterare, about preschool, about the little things that we can do as a
district to get revenue because that is very limited in a school district. Even though the town has their own preschool and can run that revenue, even though they use our facilities and we don't get any money for the use of our facilities that we are paying for out of our
portion of the budget so that they can run those. But I haven't had a shared services meeting. So I'll get back to you when I find out when they say about that. Today alone I found out about afterare and I found out in a district that is
similar to ours that they have camps, they have infant and toddler rooms in their preschool, they have after school enrichment, they have Saturday enrichment, they have summer camp, they have before and after care, they have jump ahead. They are in the black and have at least six figures
of income that they are in the black running these programs. Would you like to know what they're doing with that program right now? They are buying a playground for their elementary school that houses afterare with that afterare money and that afterare money because it
is in a building that houses afterare they are paying with it so those children have playgrounds what a concept but I was told that no we can't do that champions brings in money the YMCA brought in money and let's see how much that works in a few years when they up
their prices because you know inflation So, we'll see about that. Some other ideas for revenue. Sorry, very been a long night already. We talk about the budget. We talk about health insurance. We all know that the
health insurance is going up. We also know that we did not fund the health insurance the way that we were supposed to. Amy, might you be able to explain that again so that we can talk about what you said in the um financial meeting with the
what we have to pay for to go back fill the assurance. What I I was referring to was having a reserve on hand for allowing the district to either pivot back to fully insure that need to or to take care of
years where claims may be in excess of what uh we had budgeted and not and we wouldn't get stop loss back for. We do have some we had we did fund the reserve when we set up the self-insured program. Correct. >> We've utilized some of it. We do still have some left, but what I had mentioned
to the finance committee was that it would be prudent and recommended to replenish that up to a higher level so that we would have that. >> And why wasn't it replenished that way in the past? >> We haven't had the funds to do it. >> Okay. Because from what I recall in the meeting, you said you weren't allowed to
put it in the budget. >> No, we haven't had funds to replenish the reserve. I said I I think what you're referring to is last year we were under we were under budgeted on insurance and that's why we dipped into the reserve. >> Right. And when we asked why he said you
weren't it was told to be taken out of budget. >> The budget was set at an amount that was less than what we what we >> So why was that chosen as what was cut? I'm I'm just, you know, the budget was presented with the percentage and
increase in health insurance that, you know, the board voted on budget. I'm not I'm not really sure what you're trying to get at. >> I'm trying to get at the fact that we have been underfunding this and that this is not new.
>> I said last year we were under budgeted on health insurance. Yes. >> Right. And we we used we utilized part of our reserves to fund the claims last year. >> Right. and but that we were supposed to have more in there
>> to fund >> our broker had recommended a higher increase than we budgeted. Yes. >> So the broker had recommended the higher increase. And why wasn't it put in there with what the broker recommended >> when we were balancing the budget? That
was an area that was brought down to to help the budget. >> Who made that choice? I mean, the budget the budget's recommended and the board votes on it, >> right? But that specific one, I I
wouldn't have come up with this on my own. So, I'm asking who said cut it and don't put that in there. >> Well, as an administrative team, our direction was to >> by who? >> I I I'm not sure. You know, I don't know
what you're trying to >> I'm I'm trying to show Okay. We'll leave it at that because it is a transparency issue. >> It's a transparency issue. >> So, as you can see, and I'm this is not
directed at Miss Dy. There are it's been very difficult to get some answers as it has been for everyone else for the past year. So, last year we said that this was a Mr. Capone said it was a band-aid. Dr. Alone
said it is a bridge. When you have a bridge, you are building something and you are looking to build it in a way to get people on board so that you can move forward. In all of our conversations, I am fairly certain that nobody here has any clue any misconception that things
don't need to change. We know that they need to change. We have been asking for it to be part of the public conversation so that people can have a buy in and their communities and their children can be in a safe environment to learn. So
the optics of all of this and Mr. Capone, this is what you and I talked about on the phone last whatever time this week. I'm sorry. I had pneumonia this week. So days are running into each other. We have the meeting in October, I'm
sorry, March, April, May. We passed the budget. We're going to have the strategic planning. We're doing all of this and everything came to a screeching halt because we are waiting for the Habber report. When we get this habber report which is six months late,
we then see the least disruptive outcome which only affects schools that somehow weren't affected by the school closing. Why is it that if Navis Inc. has space,
are you not looking to move children into that high-erforming school to balance out the classrooms? That means is that you are there to divide this town for whatever purpose. And congratulations, it was done. It
divided the town. It divided this board. And it divided everything that makes this town great. We look at the report by Hab and for some reason Nav and Leonardo are not touched at all which only adds to the
optics that this was done on purpose. And when we have no transparency and when we have no information, what else are we supposed to believe? >> What else are we supposed to believe? Because guess what? we showed up here and now there's a resolution that you
pulled out in the middle of exec session because we had a straw poll that said some people are interested in this. So this is not isolated. There is absolutely no way that these two three schools can close and that it is not
going to have a domino effect. I don't care if you take out the 228 plan out of writing when you are doing this because now Beayshore Elementary is not going to be full and they're going to look to reduce that footprint and make that
school full. So there is no way that this means you are only closing those three schools. And don't tell me that the middle school kids are going to be fine because we have The last time that there was actual
strategic planning done in 2009, the capacity for Beayhore Middle School is 746. Thompson Middle School 805. Thor Middle School 805. Education hasn't changed. The footprint hasn't changed. Nothing
has changed. Except that now you're saying you can fit a,50 students in Thor Middle School in the next three years. So don't tell me that these kids are going to be fine because it is not acceptable. And there is no plan to show me that that's how it's going to be.
January 6, our first meeting, I came in hopeful. I was sure that there was no backdoor conversation when I paused everything and asked the question of why half of the table knew what was going on, had all these things in place and were ready to set these motions. And I
said, I really hope that you are being honest with me. Mr. Avita, you have been honest in that we have had committees. We have been part of the conversation. But at the last committee meeting I was in on Tuesday night when we were at the facilities meeting and I sat there and
said, "What am I missing? Why are people's heads down? What is it that we're not talking about?" And I was told nothing. >> This doesn't seem LIKE NOTHING. WHEN you said we just had the finance committee meeting and what I did,
please >> and what I did was I explained to you what was just reported by Mr. Dy the business administrator. Okay. And and that basically said if we rem if we maintain the status quo only
anticipate tax levy increases of 2% each year and receive minimal if any increases in state aid will still face budget deficits of 6.6 million 2728 10.2 2 million in 2829 and 13.9 million in
2930 and that's on top of the 6 million what things now we are 10 please let me finish everybody >> so that was that was why I I said to you that's what you missed in the finance committee meeting
>> but there's a lot more than just the finance committee that was missed so I was also promised that I would have the opportunity to ask the questions here that I had about this plan. I sent 21 of them on Sunday night and I did get some
answers, but I do have some follow-ups. I asked what the anticipated plans for expansion at the elementary and middle schools in the proposal are for the 26 27th school year and it said that they are um going to be decided by the BOE
but they are recommending more classroom space in the middle school and large spaces like cafeterias and APRs at the elementary schools >> with what money. And I understand that you are not here for this part. So you don't have to answer. This is really for the board
because this is what we need to consider before we decide what we are doing for this next motion. Um when looking at cost savings, how are the extra nurses administration facilities added from the LROT annex?
And it was told that they are only adding the cost of a nurse. Uh and it's through the special education budget that the current uh special ed administrator is going to be the main ad admin for the annex, which does lead me to the one thing I do want to clear out
for the public. I did have a conversation with one other board member who was trying to clarify some things for me and I asked the question of in the interest of facts when we're talking about CUAC and that we are talking about
we are losing money because we cannot get enough money from the state because our footprint is too big. If we are expanding our footprint with the Loftraftoft annex, why is it we are voting to do that if you are then looking to reduce the footprint of the
district? I am a special education teacher. To then have people come and say that I am pushing to close the Loftraftoft annex and close down that special education program is the most
infuriating and insulting thing. There is nothing about what I said that should allow you to attack my character that way. I am once again confirming why we need to
meet as a board not as a small group of people just to not make. I asked for what was budgeted to pay for the adjustments to make beayhore and elementary school housing kindergarten. There is none.
>> As a mother of someone going into kindergarten, not okay. I asked for what the plans are for the LLD and autistic programs in the middle schools and where they will they go. I would like to clarify what I meant by that because I spoke with Miss Glowski
and she said, "What do you mean?" And I said, "I have been in a school where the autistic classrooms were placed in a loud hallway. It is disruptive when it is class uh changing time. It is disruptive when they need to go to the bathroom and
there isn't one that is right there by them." With a thousand kids in the school and carts going around because classrooms are now mobile, where are these children going to be housed? And what specific things are in place to
make sure that they can continue to have a successful program that has been built throughout this district? That is a question I would like answered now. But >> that's why
how is it that we can then say we're saving money when we don't have this information to even know. >> Okay. So I guess Keep going. >> I asked for what the timeline and cost for teachers and staff to have time to
pack their entire schools. What is the timeline and cost for facilities to make these moves? What is the timeline and cost for setting up the new schools for the new school year? Um, I did not get the answer immediately, but what I was then told is that um,
it will happen after school's out. I moved my middle school classroom and it took me four days and I don't have an ounce of the materials and things that an elementary school classroom never mind school has. I don't know how this
is going to get done by September and have not been assured otherwise because while we have a excellent maintenance and facilities crew, they also have 10 other buildings that they need to prepare for the September school year.
It doesn't make sense. Uh enrollment. >> What are the contingency plans if closing schools does not have the cost savings we cut back in other areas? Was the full answer. These are basic questions.
>> If you are having a plan, you have a plan. >> The reason we don't have a full plan is because we can't put out the full plan because then it's going to show all the other buildings that are going to close along the way. And that
What I have to say isn't as strong and powerful as you, but what I have to say is coming from my heart, and it's the truth about what's been going on for this past year. >> Chris, you and I were on this board together before. You know what a budget process looks like. Back in the day, we
were told by some of the same people today that are saying close schools and complaining about the tax hikes not to take our budget to 2%. Look what happened to us. We did in fact give direction to the superintendent to make cuts and we were
a part of that discussion and decision. We cut at least $3 million or more every year of those um budgets that we put together because many many in our community were hurting and we didn't want to hurt the families and take away
from their kids. But back then we always put the kids first. >> Now it's not our place to get involved in the cuts. It's the administrations. Last year some of us sat in small groups
with Dr. phone to go over and make recommendations on cuts instead of meeting as a board. We were told that our leadership did not choose to attend those meetings. In fact, we had radio silence right up
until the final budget vote with no involvement from leadership. And I don't mean to point fingers, but these are actual facts. Yes, take part in making $6 million in cuts last year, which it seemed to me that a lot of people were surprised about those
cuts, but they did happen and we worked hard with the superintendent to make those cuts happen besides the tax increase. So, all those past budgets that we did and I was a part of it, I am not taking myself out over the years where we didn't go to 2%, we actually
hurt ourselves. We hurt ourselves. I'm sorry that I wasn't more knowledgeable about that. But moving on, um, we should be making every possible cut that does not affect the classroom
before we close our schools. >> I don't understand what the big thing about selling the land is because here's my here's my suggestion. Selling the land should be done only when we have a wellthoughtout plan that addresses our entire plan to renovate the building
with a total cost of what we will need to go out for a referendum then sell the land to offset some of that cost. >> I think the only thing this board has agreed on is that the first hab presentation was ridiculous.
The neighbor report has done nothing but pit school against school and split this community which is supposed to be one middle town. I can't help that feeling this was part of the plan all along. The faculty would
not allow board members or the public to ask questions at the first paper presentation and the second one only. board members on top of trying to do it in close session. And he was not prepared to do a
public session and he said it. After the first presentation, the public was left in fear only to speculate what was next. Again, was this part of a plan? If it was splitting the community apart, you
achieved it. Get off your phone, Jackie. >> Middle school, in my opinion, is a huge problem. >> Is she on the phone? >> I'm just gonna finish because it matters to me. Middle school in my opinion is a huge
problem. I've worked in one of our middle schools when it was almost a thousand kids. I was a power for 17 years. It's not a good situation. I learned from this experience that opportunities are lost in many areas for our kids. In today's world, kids need to
be more than ever be involved and included. Our elementary schools with large class sizes will be moving up to even larger class sizes in the middle school. What opportunities are we giving them? >> Just because we think we can crowd them
doesn't mean we should. Giving us capacity for the middle schools. Does that include the staff or are we looking to change the capacity numbers? Last week in committee, Chris, I told you the overcrowding in middle school is
going to cause behavior issues. >> You told me that we are not responsible for bad behavior. >> We heard you say Here's my response. >> If that's the case, and we're not responsible for bad behavior, we have
plenty of cuts from this budget that we can make because whether you if you really believe this because I don't we have had to hire many positions since co to address mental health, which includes behavioral problems.
>> Limiting your opportunities is not going to help. WHAT about special education classes? And I think Aaron hit on that pretty good. The district has been working hard not to keep moving the classes around. Some of the programs we use in the middle school need more than one
classroom for that program to be successful. What is the plan to support these programs? Are there extra classrooms besides the ones that you're telling us that we have plenty of room for? We should be looking to cut the budget this year in order to put a real plan in
place. There is no plan in place. As I see it now, we're going to ask for a referendum to add on and fix the buildings. That's was put out in the plan that we discussed last week. My question is, is it true that the
county has been spoken to so that we can get money from the Mammoth County Improvement without a voter approval? >> I haven't spoke to anyone. >> Has anyone on this board spoken to the county about getting an approval without voter appro getting money in bonds
without a approval from the public? >> No, never. >> Not me. >> Okay. Just asking. That was my question. >> When it comes time for public comment, you could ask the question. >> This isn't this isn't this isn't time
for public comment. >> Let the board finish >> and if that is so that's not transparency. And Dr. Dr. Alone, I'm really sorry that I'm going this route, but we've had many conversations and I just can't let this go any further. Dr.
Alone, after the past year, you've stated in we're in a better place knowing we still need to do something about the future of our schools and we are well aware of that. Strategic planning started. We were supposed to start building a plan by getting ideas
and suggestions. In August, we stopped waiting for Haber. In the meantime, no plan discussion took place. We left strategic planning with the next steps and as they were sent to the public. The next step in the process is to develop
the development of action plans. The superintendent and the administrative team will develop the action plan for the strategic plan. The timelines will be developed for a three to fiveyear plan. That's what the public is looking.
Over the last few months, you have led some of us to believe that you're not driving the bus anymore. >> And no, no, really, seriously, just let it go. Now would be a great time to let the public know who's driving the bus because this is a very serious decision.
>> I don't know. You have led you have led people to believe that it would be a plan that would play out over a few years to make sure it was a successful plan for our students. At your superintendence council meeting, you talked much differently and gave
many suggestions that are not even being talked about now. And a member of the public got up at the last meeting and said that what are we doing? This wasn't what was told at the superintendent council. And I have to agree with him. It appears to be Haber was directed and
give it a give it plan A and told to make it work. How many times how many times was he redirected? How much input did you give him with what was discussed with leadership after the first presentation? Because we we did get an
email saying that this is what's going to happen next. Why was the full board not included in that leadership meeting, Chris? Because leadership can speak for the board after they have spoken to the board
for us. We need to know what you're you're talking about when you're speaking on our behalf. And we were not part of that plan. Please fill us in on the conversation you told me a few weeks ago not to lose trust in you. Well, you also told me two
days before Habers's first report after we got to see the december 5th report report that obviously this year we were not going to be closing elementary schools. You did tell me that. >> I wouldn't lie about it. That's why I'm calling it out because this is eating
away at me. That we have that we have leaving to come up with a plan conversation at your s your super council meeting pretty much back that up. If that was not your intention, you
have grossly misled many in the public. I hope that we come up. Oh, I'm going to go to the next page. Sorry. I'm a proud member of our community. I think our town does a great job, but I also feel our schools are a big part of why people move here also besides all the other
great things that yes, would they like modern schools? Who would not? But the feeling I get is that they all, and I mean every school in this district, not just two, they all love their community schools more.
along with all of our staff, our custodians, our parish, anybody that works for us. They do a great job. And I also think that our town does the same. There's so many opportunities given for our children around around town with parks and fields, things that we can't
afford to do. I'm really proud to be a part of Middletown. So, let's do what's right. Make a plan that will be successful and our kids for our kids and our taxpayers doing the plan with band-aids like we're doing it now.
>> It's only going to cost us more money because we're saying we're going to sell land and we're going to do this improvement. We're going to close the school. we're going to do this improvement, but without having a whole picture of everything that needs to be done and the total cost and buy it from
our community, by the time we get more money to do the other projects we need, these projects that you're going to do one by one are going to be obsolete. >> So, we really need to think about we can't get buying from the public unless we include them. And I know
Chris, you say the public doesn't make decision we do and you're right, but we need buying because all of this stuff we're talking about is going to cost money >> and they're not going to give it to us. See, the rumor that's going around is that we're going to go to the county and
get money without v voter input and that's going to make it even worse. And anybody who thinks that closing these schools is not going to stop their taxes from going up, wait till you see the referendum. Anyone
comments? So I have a very long prepared speech that I was going to read and now I'm not going to because my colleagues Mrs. Stores Mrs. Nway spoke a little sorry this spoke a little bit and really covered a lot of of the
things actually that I was going to say but I'm going to keep ringing this bell which I'm sure is going to actually cause some eye rolling on the other side of the table. It's really sad that we find ourselves in this position again for two reasons.
Number one, I would have hoped that after the way this was handled last year, we would have learned some lessons. Apparently, we have not. But moreover, I'm going to keep ringing this bell. It's really sad that even though the
makeup of this board changes or could potentially change every single year, if we had nine board members that always put the best interest of kids first >> and dedicated themselves to fix a
longstanding problem in Middletown, five years ago, we would have come out with a plan that not only potentially solved the financial issues of this district but made it stronger for the future.
We were in the middle of a process with Mimona McBroom. It was a consensus building process and at the time the superintendent was Dr. George when it first started.
I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say that he only wanted to do it quickly in just one or two meetings. I pushed and pushed to make sure that there were more and that it was spread around the town.
Consensus building is messy. Consensus building is loud. Consensus building is not perfect. But when it's done right with the actual correct leadership on both sides,
everybody comes out of the process with a little bit of something, not everything, but more importantly, everybody knows everything at the end. >> We have real financial issues which we
still do. They're extremely serious. I've never said any different. The difference is is you tell people the truth. You actually be the real definition of
the word transparent and together you come up with a plan. We would have had five years, maybe I don't know, even more, maybe a little bit less, as an on-ramp to get everybody ready to what the new
Middletown would look like. we would have had time to address the outstanding issues that have not really been answered in a way that I can say, I'm not speaking for anybody else up here, but that I can say have
affirmatively been answered for me to be able to make a vote of yes. Because again, even though we all owe a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers of this town, of which I am one, the first question we should always be
asking ourselves with every decision we make is the effect that this will have on the students of our district. Now for seven years, you have heard me many times if you have been paying attention saying, "Wouldn't it be nice if we could actually focus on
the real issues of this district instead of tilting at windmills and trying to fight every ideological fight that we can think of so we can get ourselves there are many outstanding issues here. I seven years haven't been through a budget process like this where again I said it last meeting I'm going to
continue to say it now it's like we're being held hostage >> before we actually get real data comprehensive data to make informed decisions this has never happened before until now which also makes me believe it's because
it failed last year perhaps I'm wrong but when you have processes like this those are the assumptions that are made and it's terrible to be in that position. Again, if we could all focus on what is
truly important, I think we would have had answers to a lot of these questions before. And I will end with this. On Thursday, we were given one plan as Mrs. Minuez addressed. On Saturday, a
different plan somewhat went out to the public. That's a problem because now I'm not even sure at the end which one we're talking about half the time. My other problem is that regardless of whatever decision carries tonight, this
isn't over. No one leaves with any impression that we're done. No one leaves with any actual concrete ideas of where we may be moving to. That's a problem. >> And it's something that we should all be
putting in the extra time and work to figure it out >> before you make a move, before you make a vote that you can't walk back. Any further discussion? >> See roll call. Is there any is there
anybody else that can give us a little bit of insight as to why this is a great idea >> about why maybe why your vote is going to be yes. What is it that is making this the way that you're going to go yes? It's a roll call.
>> I have a question. >> Point of information. >> Mr. Vita, you suggested to send you plans. and I sent you several different plans and ideas and I asked for cost analysis and you said the administration has copied on this email. How come none of
this was presented? We have no transportation cost for any of this. >> Mark, you you you sent a plan. >> I just sent ideas, Chris. >> What? >> I sent ideas that we could workshop as a board. You asked for ideas. I sent you ideas and I
asked you said, "Well, what's the transportation cost?" And I said, "I don't know that. Can you ask the administration >> what was the plan you proposed? >> Well, I plan the plan. Number one, redistricting. >> Redistricting. So, no buildings closed. Number two, pie in the sky idea. But
again, no buildings closed. One high school. I said it. I'll say it out loud. I've had a lot of emails from people on that. You'd be surprised. >> One high school. >> One high school. Yes. They've done it in a lot of other towns. Suggest. Again, a suggestion, but these are ideas. If you
took ideas from board members and you workshopped it as a board, maybe you could come up with a plan that everybody was happy. >> Point of information, I'm sorry. I and I may be out of order and at this point, whatever. Were these plans discussed
as a group of five that are voting block guests outside the board so that you knew what you were doing before coming in here? At the January 6th meeting when I was told this isn't happening, here we are
and it's happening. This was discussed in executive session. >> The options were discussed with the board. The consensus of the board. The majority of the board was to move forward with the motion that's currently
on the floor. >> Roll call. Mr. >> We don't have the safety concerns for these children being moved into this building. We don't have any safety. >> M Miss Torres with It's a board
decision. Our kids are NOT >> just to put it on the When I when I'm voting, this is just to put the resolution on the agenda and then it will be public comment. >> Mrs. M.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Wright, >> no. >> Mr. Kapone, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Agenda is amended. Student speakers, High School North, Jason Woods.
>> All right. At this time, I'd like to open up the mic to public comment on agenda action items only. Please remember 3 minutes, which is the time here, and it's for 30 minutes. And please note as
a reminder to remain and keep to the word. There'll be no shouting from the audience. >> I'd like to make a motion to extend public comment until discussion. Who sent you? >> Miss. >> Yeah. Please don't chat from the
audience. If we have to keep warning people, we're going to have to ask you to leave because this is we can we can't >> test one, two. >> Wait, can we >> No, hold on one second, please. There's a motion and a second on the floor to
extend the public comment. Mrs. Min. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scholaski. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Saras. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> NO. >> MRS.
>> MR. I'll do a favorally answer. motion passes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Good evening. My name is Benjamin. I'm sixth grader at B. I'm here tonight because my
>> Hold on one second. Excuse me. Excuse me, young man. And still she said the vote was to extend public comment until everyone is spoken. >> Okay. How long will we >> The motion I made. >> Excuse me. Which would just please one
second. because we need to get their comments. We need to hear what people have to say. >> The motion I made was to extend public comment until they all everyone had a chance to speak that wanted to. >> Make a motion to extend public comment for 1 hour maximum.
>> Make a vote on it. >> I think Mrs. Torres would have to accept that as a friendly amendment or not. vote on it. >> All right, we start now.
>> We have a new motion on the floor to extend it for 1 hour. >> Vote on it. >> Please stop shouting so we can we can just What happened to the motion we just voted on?
>> Motion passed. Now there's a second motion on the floor to extend one hour by Mr. B. Roll call on that motion. >> Mrs. Mrs. >> Mrs. Tobacco
Mrs. Morris, no. >> Mrs. Weinstein, no. >> Mrs. Wright, >> no. >> Mr. Capone, >> no. >> No. >> Okay. Public comment, please. Don't do
Please. I'm asking just no shouting from the audience. We'll move on to public comment. Please state your name for the record. Guys, we want to hear what everybody has to say, but it's hard with that noise
filtering over. So, we have students up here, please. >> Good evening. Uh, my name is Benjamin Hag and I'm a sixth grader at Broom Middle School. I'm here tonight because my school, my community is on the chopping block. I'm autistic. For me,
school has never been easy. For years, it's felt like no one has wanted me. The Middletown School District sent me to Lancraftoft Ocean to baby because it felt like no one knew what to do with me. I was shuffled around, shuffled
around like a problem to be solved, not a child to be taught. It was lonely and it was hard. But then this year, I came to be and for the first time in my entire life, I finally felt accepted. I finally felt supported and I finally
felt LIKE I BELONG. YOU SEE, wasn't built with bricks and mortar. It was built for my grade. This school is designed exactly to designed to have three grades which means it's calm, not
chaotic. Everything is colorcoded so know where exactly where to go. My sixth grade classrooms are yellow. My locker is yellow. And if I ever feel lost or overwhelmed, I can just follow yellow blocks on the floor and they lead me right back to
safely to to my classrooms or wherever I need to go. It gives me independence, gives me peace of mind in a world where that can feel very loud and confusing. You're proposing to send send us to
Thompson Middle School. Thor Thor. My sister went to Thompson. She told me there's there's nowhere to cafeteria. She had 30 kids in every single class. She said the
hallways are so crowded that you can barely move. So I So I have to ask you, why do you think moving more kids into an already overcrowded school is good for our education? How does that help
any student, let alone one like me who needs room to breathe? I feel like you're the only I feel like You think about dollars, looking at a budget on a spreadsheet, but I'm thinking about my life. I'm thinking about the first place that ever
felt like home. In your documents, you talk about cost. I searched and I cannot find where it says how it is, how this will affect our education. Where's the study that show bigger schools mean better learning? Where's the plan for students like me who thrive in a smaller
environment? Where is the consideration for our mental health, safety, and ability to learn? This is the board of education. Your job is to focus on education. Please, I'm begging you to look past the dollars and see the students lives whose lives you are
changing. Hello, my name is Logan Delesia and I go to Beayshore Middle School and I'm in sixth grade and I live in the Belfford area and I attended Bay View Elementary School for
elementary school where My brother is currently sec in second grade. Last year when I was in fifth grade, I was excited to go to Beayshore for three year three years. I got to see the Bay Shore band perform.
Well, being encouraged to join as I did when I entered in September. Middle school is the only three years I don't want to switch schools. the middle. I have friends and family that have
attend attended Thompson and Thorn and they complain how it's crowded. There's crowded and there's nowhere to fit. So, I don't know what we would do if we put more kids in. And being allowed to ride my bike to
school is great. The other two middle schools are far and have to cross major highways to attend. Prevent that would prevent me from riding my bike with my friends. So I wouldn't be able to ride my bike to
school. And I'm worried to leave all the te all the wonderful teachers at Beayshore and our wonderful vice principal and principal Mr. Curtis and Mr. Canon. They've been very helpful throughout the school year and I don't
want to attend another school and think about having to make new friends and having to learn new classrooms and deal with the crowdedness
of the school. Thank you. For any students that want to speak, can we have them come to the front and speak first, please? >> Hi, my name is Charlie Zerba. I'm a sixth grader at Bear Middle School. When I first walked into Beayore as a
sixth grader, I felt nervous but excited. Middle school seemed huge compared to elementary school. I didn't know where my lock group was. I wasn't sure how to switch classes and I was worried about making new friends. But after just a few weeks, Be sure didn't feel so scary anymore. It felt like
home. That's why hearing that the school's my close is so upsetting to me and so many others. As a sixth grader, this is my first year at Behore. I just started getting used to everything. my teachers, my schedule, and even the way the hallways sound between classes. My teachers know my name. They know when I'm confused and when I'm having a good
day. If the school closes, I won't just be changing buildings. I'll be leaving behind people who have helped me grow and feel confident. Be sure isn't just a school where we take tests to do homework. It's where I met new friends and joined activities. It's where I learned how to be more responsible, like remembering to bring
the right book to class, and to and managing different subjects. For for many of us, middle school is already a big change. Closing the school would mean changing everything again, and that feels overwhelming. As a sixth grader, I know adults have to think about budgets and what's and
important decisions. But I hope they also think how this will affect students like me. We're the ones sitting in these classrooms every day. We're the ones who finally started to feel comfortable in middle school. Change might make sense on paper, but it feels very different when you're the kid who has to pack up.
Good evening everyone. My name is Ki and I'm in sixth grade at Bayore. I'm here not just to tell you why Beor shouldn't get shut down, but to really convey not only my feelings, but many of my classmates feelings. Be sure isn't just an ordinary school. When I was in fifth grade, my teachers and guidance
counselors told us middle school may be an adjustment and that we and we will probably get to meet new friends at Beayshore. The teachers were not prepared to teach us, they welcomed us. I now have some new friends along with the elementary school friends I've been with for the past 6 years. I was excited
to be with my new friends, but now I'm just learning that I wanted to be with my new friends next year. That is so disappointing. I've heard many people say this change would be fine for Thompson and Thorne students, but is it? No other kids will be affected as much as BA. Also, Thompson is already proud
enough to putting one another elementary school into Thompson will just be worse. I had to put three elementary schools into Thorn. Thor be will also be overcrowded. Now both elementary both middle schools will be crowded. This year I felt a special bond with my teachers. When I'm in class and I see the older kids walk by and say hi to all
my parent teachers, I think that I think to myself, I want that to be me next year. In particular, Miss Soy, Miss Steinberg, and Miss I talk to them, but they listen to me and understood me. Also, having a new guidance counselor will not just affect me, but the other kids in the grade who speak to the their guidance counselor. It is not easy to
establish a bond and build a safe and comfortable relationship with the counselor. Miss Molina is very supportive of me for her to just be a different school and not with her students will be hard for everyone. If closes, we won't just be changing schools, but changing communities that
we've started to build. Some of us at Facial are shy, and it took a lot of courage to talk to new people. Now that we finally feel comfortable, we might have to start all over again somewhere else. That's very overwhelming for kids our age. With the new changes, the sports and clubs will be very overcrowded. This
leads to many kids not making sports, teams, or clubs. Thank you for listening and please consider an alternate plan. Good evening. My name is Ella Hilton. I'm an eighth grader at Behore Middle School. I'm here to talk about my school once again. On March 18th, 2025, the
Middletown Township Board of Education presented the proposal of 2025 2026 budget which included closing Bore Middle School, Leonardo Elementary School, now elementary school to address a multi-million dollar budget cap. This proposal caused strong opinions from
parents and community members who are concerned about overcrowding, transportation issues, and impact on student learning. You hired a company to study the schools and determine what would work best for students. However, I do not recall seeing anyone come into our classrooms or our school to observe
and ga gather information if a real study was conducted. Where did the data and evidence come from? How are the enrollment numbers, the zoning decisions, and project projections determined? I personally have an IEP and I already struggle with
distractions in the classroom as it is now. The teachers and staff at Behore understand my needs and my health to to help me to succeed. In a larger, more crowded classroom, in a bigger sized classroom, and more noise, it will be even harder for students like me to
focus and learn. Students that have IEPs or four 504s rely on structured supportive environments. Overflowing classrooms make the support impossible to provide. These are facts. Facts matter. >> Middle schools are designed for students
our age who are learning independence responsibilities and life skills that life skills that prepares for high school and beyond. Elementary schools are built for younger children who are just beginning to adjust to structure and independence. Restructuring schools without careful planning affects both
age group age groups in different ways. Thorne and Thompson middle schools are already more than halfway to max capacity. Adding another significant amount more students will create overcrowding overcrowded classrooms increase stress on teachers and lead to a less safe and
a less effective learning environment for everyone. When classrooms are packed, teachers cannot give students the individual attention that they need. This impacts grade confidence and mental health. When schools are closed, teachers lose their jobs. Families lose stability. Our
district risk losing some of the best educators that affect us more than we realize. Additionally, Middletown continues to to keep building town homes and housing developments. As our town grows, more families and students will move into our district. Closing schools now could
create e could create an even greater over crowding problem in the near future. You say students first. You ran your campaign on that phrase and that promise. But closing schools, overcrowding classrooms, and disrupting learning environments does not put
students first. We are the communities. Family votes for you to be up there and represent us to make decisions that best interest the students, not you guys. We ask you that you truly listen to the students, the parents, the teachers that will be
directly affected by this decision. Thank you for your time. >> Hi, I'm Rowan Young. I'm currently at Bayshore and I moved here from New York. When I was little, I was undereducated by my
schools in New York. During co me and my family moved here. Now I have to explain why I'm here. I have noticed that some of these things you guys have been doing recently
have been interesting to say the least. Yeah. For for example, you have spent $900,000 on a billboard and now you're saying that we don't have money.
I wonder why. I know this is like a short script, but I want you guys to be like more transparent. >> YEAH. Any other students? >> Good evening, guys. My name is Ryan Y.
I'm a River Plaza resident. I ACTUALLY I graduated from Middletown South with my beautiful wife over there in 2010. I went through the rural plaza system, the Thompson system, Middletown system. I'm here to talk about uh closing schools and student achievement. I actually sent a presentation to you guys via email and
I appreciate those that um got back to me on that. Um before I get started on that, I first want to say although I'm from River Plaza, I'm here talking about closing schools which clearly based off your vote is impacting the north side. I don't care. I'm from Middletown. like I don't want any schools closed.
The other piece I'm going to talk about is um the impact on New Mammoth Elementary School. And I want to make this abundantly clear. As you guys said before, this is not an indictment on the teachers or the staff or the administration in that building. I'm here to talk about negative performance trends and I think it has to do with war
planning. Um so in the presentation I sent you um we're talking about closing schools. You could obviously read scholarly articles on the negative impact on students uh for closing the school and I could sit up here and give you a lit review about what would be the purpose of that. You have precedent in this district when you close Port
Mammoth right so I think it's worthwhile to take a look at what happened with the student outcomes in New Mammoth Elementary School. Um you can create a baseline in 201819 by following cohorts of students that have existed postcoid um being in third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade to have testing data.
And if you read my report, um, it talks about how there is our major negative trend with data. Uh, Dr. I, I really appreciate your email back to me. It means a lot. You're absolutely right. This was descriptive data is onedimensional, but I think it is correlation and descriptor that we need to look to coupled with those scholarly
articles. I I think it's easy to say there will be a negative impact, right? And I think before you vote on this, you need to know what that impact would be. Look at New Mammoth Elementary School. Run a multi-linear correlation. Pay attention to what significance putting
those two schools did. Right? There's not just an academic feature, right? When you pull those schools together, you need to provide academic interventions. You also have to take in mind that there's cultural norms, right? There's a climate of school. These poor mammoth kids had to go to completely different school. And those are operational interventions you have to
put in. So the first thing I have to say is what academic or operational interventions were in. If you did put them in, they're not successful. The data shows that there's major negative trends with new mammoth elementary school. Um looking at the 201819 baseline pneumat somewhere in the sixth
or seventh elementary school is currently trending to the 10th. This was a very wellperforming elementary school that has now been gutted since you've you've put the two schools together. And again I want to say this as clearly as possible. This is not on the teachers and staff in there. Is about the poor
planning. All I really all I really ask right now is before you vote on this to look at the student outcomes. These students did a wonderful job talking. I mean, you can look at them and a lot of them talked about their journeys, right? This will have a major impact on them. Um, and at
the end of the day, I'm concerned that this could be a death sentence for what is going to be a high achieving what is a high achieving district, and it scares the living hell out of me. Oh, I thank you so much, guys. If you guys are helping things, you have my email. I'll meet over coffee. Thank you.
Have a good night. >> Good evening. Thank you. I'm Cynthia Sty. My daughter is a baby student. She's a fifth grader. So when she entered Bayu, she was only in kindergarten. She was actually a harmony
student at one point until co hit. Scared her moving to another school. Now here's the thing. She slated to go to Thor in the fall. The same school you guys plan to overcrowd nonetheless. And
believe me, I I know a lot. I'm a little fired up. My phrasing. I was probably going about 200 in a minute, but she's overcome in me at Bay View. It's a small school. The small community schools seem to always do the best
thing. They really do. Now, I moved back down here with my husband when she was first born, a about a month after, nonetheless. And my husband said, "Middletown is a great district. She'll have the greatest time. She'll make
friends. get the proper education. Okay, here we go. Now, this is where I'm going to get riled. Out of fairness, I kept my mouth shut until now. You closed Pan School back in 2020 and sold it FOR
$2.5 MILLION. WHERE'S THAT MONEY? WHERE IS IT? OH, WAIT. It's It's the $900,000 scoreboards that they got. Oh, that's right. That's right. >> Last year I close Leonardo Nic. And now this poster gets me fired up. My nephew
is a student at Leonardo who's slated to go to Beayshore. Why mess up these kids' lives? Seriously. Plan to overcrowding schools. Tell you this, trailers aren't going to be the option because it's only a temperate.
What's going to happen this winter time when it's cold? Those trailers are not heated properly. Same thing in middle school. and the trailers. Those slated to go to Beayshore will now have to be bust all the way across town, depending where you are, to an overcrowded school
and be scared because they won't really know a lot of people. They won't have the same opportunities that, you know, for the little ones, I have a 13-month-old son who's supposed to be going to Middletown when he turns
five. Now, I'm not sure. I think private school is going to be the best thing. Now, my daughter has an IEP and mental health issues. Overcrowding a school is going to cause everything that I worked for to get her
better to go downhill. Do you guys plan on paying that uh that bill to her therapist, her psychiatric nurse practitioner, to the psychiatric facilities that she would have to go to because she will have a breakdown. I
will say that flat out. Keep the schools opened. Mental health is nothing to fool. Can you give me one more? Just one. Just this last one. >> Anxiety, stress, and burnout on all
students and faculty will happen and you will have absences. So, we're tight community and fight for our kids. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Kristen Bernie. I'm a River
Plaza parent here in I'm here tonight as one voice in a great speech. Not just one voice though, a unified voice for an entire district. We are not just fighting for one school. We are
here for all of the schools. Look around this room. Really look, we are your neighbors, your taxpayers. We are the parents who chose this district because we did have a choice and because we
believed we believed in the promise of the schools. And tonight we stand here before you unified not in opposition but in advocacy for transparency, safety, and responsible planning. This is not a River Plaza one school issue. This is a
Middletown issue. Whatever decision you make here tonight will ripple across every school in this district. We will not fall for the north versus south, my school, verse their school nonsense that constantly permeates through these
conversations. That hostility just distracts from the real problem, which is poor decisionmaking right in front of us. Our first message is really simple. We will not accept a vote without a real plan. River Plaza may be small, but
we've really been listening. In 2020, River Plaza was named as a potential school closure. In April of 2025, River Plaza was publicly named as the third school slated for closure. In February of 2026, Ross Gaver emphasized that
while Riverbank, OH I MEAN RIVER PLAZA, would be a lucrative option, its impact across the district would be detrimental to the education of our students, which I took the time to share my thoughts and feelings about that with all of you.
In that time, we've made it our mission as a River Plaza community to make sure we could do whatever it takes to deliver the best education to our kids in the best environment possible. From running a functional library,
building a playground, painting the walls of the school, our teachers, our parents, and every staff member who walks through the door puts kids first. All we're asking is for you to do the same thing. Your proposal failed to name
all the schools planned to be closed. Your own website still says you're proposing eight an 8 school model. We know Beu is too big to only have Leonardo and kids in it. So which school are you planning to fill that hole with? Even tonight you're holding up three
fingers, not two. The key word planning. Is there any plans? It doesn't sound like it. Can you simply answer any of the planning questions? Families will not accept permanent closures without naming the schools that survive and where our children will receive the
education that they legally have a right to receive and we need to see the impact on our student outcomes before we make long-lasting decisions. The rumors are causing stress across the entire district. We deserve answers, not someday. Now, if we can't
>> Thank you. on behalf of River Plaza. No more secrets, no placeholders, no votes without >> Hi, my name is Maggie White. I'm also a parent uh of three young elementary kids. Um, thank you so much for those of you that responded to my email this
week. Um, I am standing here tonight as a part of River Plaza's United Voice because when it comes to our children's safety, there is no room for compromise. Our second message is this. Safety comes
first. Overcrowding is unsafe. It's unlawful. It results in worsened education outcomes. And frankly, it's unnecessary. New Jersey law requires that the district demonstrate reasonable capacity
in remaining schools before approving closures, but your own data shows that buildings are already exceeding functional capacity. The widely recognized safe operational range is 80 to 85%.
The proposal pushes many schools well beyond that capacity and would force Thorne and Thompson middle schools up to 120% of what the nation recommends. That percentage is based directly off of your
last two capacity assessments. That's not a projection that we will accept. That is dangerous. Let's talk about why and what this what this really means for our kids. Construction timelines typically take a minimum of three years. That means an entire generation of
students, our current third to 7th graders will spend some or all of their middle school years in trailers, modular classrooms as they've been named. Does your health and safety committee plan to maintain the proper protocols for these classrooms? Do we have the money and the
custodial staff to maintain the temporary footprint? Also, imagine the last eight weeks of below freezing temperatures and blizzards and how you felt. Now, picture kids, our kids in trailers all over
the same last eight weeks in those temperatures. Do you want to volunteer our kids for that experience? We're talking about class sizes exceeding 27 students. A larger studenttoteer ratio impacts the instruction that can be delivered within our schools. You as a
district are required to follow a multi-tered system of support. Crowding our classrooms risks delivering this support which in turn could lead to additional costs at the expense of our failing students. reduced supervision,
strained mental health, and let's not forget the district has already seen and sued or has seen and been sued over a tragedy resulting from bullying. Reducing staff while increasing student deposit student density is a recipe for
more heartbreak, not less. And what about our most vulnerable learners? Students with disabilities are legally entitled to be in educated alongside their same age peers. three minutes. >> Thank you. On behalf of every p family in River Plaza and in Middletown, we
thank you for your time. >> Good evening. My name is Kim Donovan and I live in River Plaza. I have a River Plaza third grader and a Thompson Middle School sixth grader. Like those have who have spoken before me, I am here as part
of a unified River Plaza community who are are demanding answers. Our third and final message, the math is not adding up. There is currently no comprehensive financial plan to stabilize the budget, rebuild reserves, or fund the building
additions required to fix the overcrowding this proposal creates. Before restructuring a single school, the board should have in place a defined funding strategy, a realistic construction timeline, identified
revenue sources, and secured voter or state support. None of that exists today. So, we ask you, how long will Middletown's children be placed in trailers while the district hopes for a referendum or state money?
What happens if voters reject a tax increase? What happens if The state doesn't approval doesn't approve the projected savings from this plan, more than 90% of which comes from cuts to our amazing teachers and principles will
will be quickly consumed by construction costs, increased transportation expenses, and temporary facilities. That puts us right back into a deficit cycle, but this time with overcrowded schools, and fewer resources. We've also seen
troubling signs of a lack of financial acumen. When comparing our schools line items to neighboring districts of similar sizing, we are extremely inefficient. Someone that knows how a school system works and understands numbers should be going through every
line item with a fine tooth comb and removing any redundancies. We don't care how small. We've also called other districts who have implemented revenue generating alternatives. Some ideas for Middletown that continue to be dismissed are expanded prek in-house before and
after care, the selling of BOE owned properties, shared services with the township, which this board hasn't shown any initiative on in months, reduction in administration, duplication of line items, and more. If you don't have any
ideas, we do. This is a public school we're talking about. Every safe dollar counts, and our kids are worth and whatever this halfbaked plan suggests is possible. If closures truly solve the problem, you wouldn't have to hide anything from us because the data would
convince us on its own. But your math is not adding up. On behalf of Rural Plaza, we are not asking, we are demanding no voting on closures, a multi-year financial recovery plan, aggressive pursuit of federal and state grants, careful cost controls, a new
superintendent on board that is fully versed, and every available screen and a comprehensive list of revenue generating alternatives. We are plaza and we are unified with every school and paired across all of Middletown fighting for
what's right and we want answers now. Thank you. >> Good evening. Um, my name is Penny Rochelle. Um, my son Nathan, a daughter of Behore. I went to Middletown South. My parents went to Middletown High School. My grandparents went to Middletown High School. Thorne was named
after my great uncle Buddy, um, who won the Congressional Medal Bon World War II. Um, my grandmother was very involved with Middletown. Mayor Perry actually spoke at her celebration of life recently. Um, I own a veterinary practice and it's right around the corner in Middletown. Suffice it to say, I'm invested in Middletown. Um, as a
mother, I'm emotional about the school closures. As a business owner, I understand that feelings don't overrule finances. Um, I've had about one snow day to research this, so bear that in mind. Um, in my opinion, this is worth a deeper investigation as a potential solution to both the budget issue as well as the decline in education that
has been worsening since at least the mid 2000s in this country. The budget and quality of education um triangulate in on technology and education, the onetoone computer plan. The United States has spent more than $30 billion putting a computer in front of every student. From my limited research, it
looks like Middletown spends about $1600 per student per year to have Chromebooks and some of the associated costs. Purchasing, maintenance, repair, subscription, servers, platform, security updating. It looks like we have at least Dreambox, IRA, Get Epic, Cahoot, Seesaw, Parade, Link, Flip Grid,
custodial power. School, imagine it. You get the idea. With the AI revolution, this the associated tech costs are expected to skyrocket. So, we need all the tech, right? Because that's how you help kids learn, right? Here's the most current data on that. Most of the following is from Dr. Jared Kunorbath,
an educator and neuroscientists who re recently presented to the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. I printed a few copies of his testimony, or you can scan the QR code for all their resources and the graphs. I'll leave that there if you if any of
you guys want it. >> Here's the data. PISA, the program for international student assessment. This study collected data from millions of 15 year olds around the world. More time on computers in the classroom, not social media, not iPhones, but computers in the classroom is directly correlated to worse test scores. More screen time,
worse test scores. TIMSS, trends in mathematics and science study. Same pattern across high and middle inome countries. PLS, progress in international reading and literacy study. Same thing. Even modest computer use in the classroom lowers reading comprehension. What about all the studies we hear that say it helps? Turns
out most of them compare tech learning to a zero learning baseline. Hence they look like they're positively correlated with learning. What they need to be compared to is the baseline of good oldfashioned school teacher textbook class long classroom or analog learning has a positive correlation of about42.
When you compare tech learning to that baseline the study suddenly show negative correlation with learning. If tech can't do better than good old fashioned school why are we investing millions in it? UNESCO in their report recent report they urge more caution and for schools to only use evidence-based tech. When compared to analog learning
the only positive studies for tech and education are related to two very narrow areas of education pertaining to targeted remediation and adaptive drills for foundational skills. I don't even know what that means but that's two really tiny areas. Collectively these assessments and studies involve millions of students over decades of time. They
all forgive me. Can I just finish? They all point to the same thing. Computers in the classroom are not working. As a result, Gen Z is the first generation to score lower on standardized tests than the generation before. And Gen Alpha even worse than Gen Z. Computers promote task switching, interrupted attention,
the formation of bigger memories. They don't just promote the proper brain circuits to allow for proper learning, not because of bad programs, but because the inherent difference between how computers work versus the human brain. >> Three minutes. I have >> Do we have evidence that reducing tech
can help schools? Yes. Denver, Colorado went from over a thousand tech programs to about 300, saving a million a year. Carter at New Jersey completely eliminated >> Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Are all your favorite report to us? I also sent the Z report to Mr. for calling this
week. Thank you so much. >> I just want to point out that $1600 a student times 6,000 students would be $10 million. Hi everyone. I'm Diana Paradis and I have children in the district. But I
want to come out this tonight as a taxpayer because right now we're playing around with most people's two biggest assets, their children and their house and the value of that house. I'm here tonight to speak about transparency, governance, and
public trust. In 2015, this district had more than $2 million just in capital reserves. By 2020, we had no reported debt. By 2021, we had $4 million in the bank. Let's say it again. When Jacqueline Tobacco and Frank Pong came
on this board, we had 4 million in the bank. And that's not even enough to make her look up from her desk. >> Mechanical was a fine girl. >> By 2023 to 2024, the projected deficit rose to 7.6 6 million legal fees
increased 40% year-over-year and those reserves were gone. That financial trajectory demands explanation. Last year when I asked you where you spent our money, we've never gotten an explanation for that. But finances are only part of the story. Public filings
with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission show repeated payments by the Mammoth County Republican Committee and local campaigns to Archangel Strategy Group LLC between 2023 and 2025. Between the same period, Central Jersey
Newswire are publicly associated through business records with the same consulting firm, published numerous articles supporting some candidates and criticizing other candidates. I wonder how. Separately, additional elect filings reported by local media show several companies doing business with
the district have been giving donations to people in the district. CLB Partners, a lobbying firm hired by both the district and the township, gave $1,000 to some candidates. Brio Benefits, who we used and paid $180,000 to last year,
they donated $1,000 to some candidates. Alliance Health donated $10,000, which just uh They're gonna how much they're going to pay for these billboards on these fancy new scoreboards. >> They donated.
I have to give you an aside. I was a fundraiser for nonprofits for 20 years. I was able to endow a dog water fountain for 60 grand 20 years ago. You guys only got 10. That's sad. Again, a dog water
fountain for 60 grand. It's not because I'm a great fundraiser. To be clear, businesses are to donate to campaigns. Candidates can get contributions. But when vendors and contractors and lobbying firms that do business with a public school district financially
support candidates seeking to oversee that same district, the public is entitled to ask questions about process, disclosure, and safeguards. And we need an independent forensic audit of this district to show where the money is done. We are taxpayers. These are our
biggest assets. And you don't care. This is our entirely for this down our funds to get on cable news and promote their own POLITICAL CAREERS STEPPING ON THE necks of our kids. >> When will it end?
>> I'm sure you'd like me to. >> Hi, Heather. So before you voted, I just wanted to bring some information to you. I wanted to give a voice to the children, specifically the middle schoolers. So many of them got and spoke and they did great. And that first kid just wrecked
me. So excuse me. But so before you vote on such a monumental decision that we cannot come back from, I felt the court should hear directly from those affected. The children of the of Middletown, specifically the middle schoolers. The children being affected
should have a voice. They deserve to be heard by you before you make this decision. I created a survey over the weekend, sent it out. I was lucky enough that 200 families took time to give me their children's answers. Okay. Several times in prior meetings, the middle
schoolers have been ignored, referred to as just numbers to educate. Haber didn't even refer to them. He said only two schools would be affected and this was the path of least resistance. A middle school is getting closed. There are hundreds of other kids being
affected. Okay, so let's be clear. These middle schoolers are being affected. All of them. And this plan could conceivably affect a whole generation of middle town children. Children who haven't even entered into our school system yet. Phase one shuts down elementary schools
and pushes hundreds of kids into already overcrowded schools. The classrooms cannot accommodate this many extra children. This is proven. Everybody's going to give you the facts. I'm just going to give you the children's emotions to this. Phase two talks about additions to accommodate these children,
okay? Because we know that it's going to be overcrowded. So, you can't say to be in one breath, oh no, it can accommodate these children and then say, oh, but in phase two, we have to build the schools bigger to accommodate them. It doesn't work like that. Okay? So, where's the money going to
come from? That's the next thing. You can't vote on a plan that isn't a plan. Okay, maybe a referendum, but what if that doesn't pass? Then how are we going to afford that? How long are our children going to suffer in trailers, in overcrowded situations before this
construction is approved and completed? Members of the board, please just think about this. Think about all the ramifications of this decision and listen to these children. Listen to their names and think about their thoughts when you make your vote. The survey was a very simple nine questions.
What's your age, your name, your school currently attending, and a few questions about how they felt currently in their schools and how they felt they would feel after the merger. It asked children a simple question if they felt safe in their schools. Overall, they did, and I
think that's great. It was about 70% of them said yes. And if you look at the answers of just the Basher students alone, that number went up to 83.6%. When you looked at Thorn and Thompson, the numbers dropped down to 53 and 62 felt safe currently. Okay, this is not
okay. How is this going to be after we add the extra children into the schools? The survey then went on to ask if children felt their class size was too large from pores responses. 40% said no, 28% yes. >> I have so much more. We just we just
another minute for these children's voices. This is the game. This is the children. It's not my plate. >> You You can share it with us. You can send it to us. >> Wait, where do I start? Okay. >> Okay. So, All
right, I'm Armstrong. I have three kids in Middletown. Two are in the district, two will be. Um, so the survey also asked if students felt that their class size was too large. From Thor responses, 40% said no and 28% said yes. When asked
if adding extra kids into the school would make it feel too crowded, not the just the classrooms, but shared spaces like hallways, gyms, and cafeteria, 78% said yes, that would be way too crowded, while only 6% said it would be
fine. Results were similar at Thompson. 43% no said no, currently their classrooms are not too large currently, but 31% said yes, they are already. They're already too large. Beayshore answered 58% no
classroom size currently was not too large. 18% saying yes and 73% said yes. Combining schools would be too crowded. 8% saying it would be no problem. A parent from Thorne shared our shared our
son told us Thorne is crowded and hard to concentrate. that he felt his grades could have been better, but with all the noise in the classrooms, he couldn't concentrate and do well. Then when asked if students felt if adding the extra students would compromise their safety,
59% said yes. This is not okay. Our students are scared. We cannot do this to them. From Vivian, a sixth grader at Thorne, changing classes is crowded. It's chaotic and very crazy. Adding more kids
would make it much more stressful and feel less safe. I would worry about being pushed. Our classrooms are already full with no extra seats. From a parent, there are enough fights as it is. We don't need more. From an eighth grader
at Beayshore, I feel safe here. I don't think I could handle any more kids in my class because we already have a lot. From sixth grade boy at Thompson, the halls are so crowded. We aren't allowed backpacks and they stagger some classes switching since everyone in the halls is
super crowded. He also states, "Yes, he's often unable to find a seat at lunch and has to leave the cafeteria to sit down." Numerous children who went to Fairview answered, citing they would only be the they would be the only children moved to
South and they would lose all the friends that they already made in middle school. One anonymous response stated, "I've been sobbing since I found out this might again. Most of my friends are new friends from different schools and I won't be with any of them because Fairview is the only one going to
Thompson. From a parent of a child at Thompson, my child has to run to the cafeteria to be able to get a seat. There are many large classrooms, crowded hallways. Adding more kids will only add stress to the
add to the stress and potent potentially more bullying. Okay. From a seventh grader at Thompson, hallways are too crowded to walk in walking. From a sixth grader, >> please state your name.
>> OH, I ALREADY DID ON THE FIRST ONE. I say on the first one, WERE YOU EVEN PAYING ANY ATTENTION? You weren't even paying any attention. NONE OF YOU GUYS ARE. NONE OF YOU GUYS PAY ATTENTION. YOU WANT TO PAY ATTENTION when something directly affects
>> from sixth grader at I made a lot of friends and I don't want to lose them. I feel stressed just thinking about overcrowded classrooms. I don't want my grades to suffer. I I also want to worry about my teachers
because teaching a large class would be worrying for them. Dylan from from a sixth grader Dylan at Thompson. I already have I already have 27 students in my social studies
and 26 in my language arts board. Our superintendent has resigned. She's not interested in seeing this project out. Please, please wait until we have all the information. Have a clear plan. Have a truly sustainable
plan. Please not Just the hodge garage. Poorly planned demolition of all our school system. Consolidation may be our future, but the future of our kids of the kids is your responsibility. These decisions need to be done in the
right way for for the right responsibility. These decisions need to be done for the right way, for the right reasons. These kids need to put first first and we need an actual plant that
can be seen foration. I can't read that word. >> Okay. >> Fuition. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much. Not just Google Slides with incorrect facts on them. Our children deserve better. Remember these kids
voices are when you are voting. Julia from Basher stated, "Yes, adding extra kids into the middle school would affect her negatively. I love my school and I would not want to have have to switch to another school that is already overcrowded." A current eighth grader
from Thommpson answered, "No, they do not feel safe in their school. Real school is hard enough with the mean kids. Don't make it worse by adding more classes of kids. Well, Isabella, a sixth grader from Beayshore, says yes, she
does feel safe at her school, and it's insanely safe and a fun school with my favorite teachers I've ever had. I can't imagine losing some my friends if it closes. A former middle school student
commented that he he had to eat lunch every day in the media center because he couldn't find a seat in the cafeteria. An eighth grader from Thorne commented that he has to leave the cafeteria to find a seat and said, "I think from I
think middle school is already overcrowded. If more kids were added added, >> that's three minutes. and it would not be a safe environment at all. >> There's a lot of people that want
>> and and would be very overcrowded. So, board, please remember these children's names. You forgot mine though. I forgot mine though. I even though I was the first one to speak here. I was the first one to speak here while you
guys are all arguing over the whole one hour thing. 1 hour thing. You forgot to remember my name. Uh, good evening. My name is Christrista Mataliano. I have two children, one at Thompson and one at River Plaza. Um,
I would like to begin, this is my first time speaking at a board meeting, and I'd like to begin by suggesting something to the board to consider. A more efficient and modern approach to public comment. Um, allowing community members to sign up online would create a clearer, more organized process. you all
could receive the list ahead of time, ensuring names are accurate for the record and helping the meeting run more smoothly. It would also give you a clear understanding of how many speakers there will be so you can prepare for that. Um, this approach would be more transparent, organized, and respect everyone's time.
Speaking of transparency, I'm here to really address the concerns about communication and the pace of the proposed school closures. I understand that sometimes difficult decisions must be made and I recognize that there are financial realities. However, parents and community members feel that this
process is moving quickly just as it did last year without the full picture being presented and that the information is not being shared in a consistent and timely manner. Right now, families are piecing things together through social media, text messages, and informal conversations rather than receiving a
clear, comprehensive communication directly from the district. When decisions of this magnitude are being considered, parents should not have to rely on secondhand updates to understand what's happening. Clear and proactive communication builds trust. Uncertainty
and peace information dismantle that trust. There has not been yet a comprehensive presentation outlining the full financial picture, projected savings, long-term impacts, and what the district will look like in five years. Last year's plan was more of a general
outline. The Ross Haber and Associates January report focused more on redistricting and this report lacked important details such as student outcomes and learn long-term finances. Without that information, it's impossible for the board to make fully informed decisions and it's as equally
difficult for parents to make informed decisions about their children's educational futures. Timely communication means providing the full scope of relevant information before the final decisions are made, not after. Additionally, the district is entering into a leadership transition with the
superintendent not returning next year. That reality makes it even more important to ensure that major long-term decisions are thoughtful, transparent, and not rushed. The choices being made now will shape Middletown for decades. Once schools are closed, those parts of
our community cannot simply be restored. I respectfully ask that before any final decisions are made, the district provide a clear long-term plan, transparent financial information, the audit, great idea, and meaningful opportunities for community input. Families deserve to
move forward with clarity, stability, and confidence in this process. Thank you for your time. Kristen Coons, Middletown. Uh before I begin, I want to mention the home bill uh letter that was released showing cooperation between the township and the
schools. It was pretty impressive. Maybe you guys could take some notes. Um I also want to talk about um how several member members of this board got elected and who paid for it. A typical board of ed campaign costs under $1,000.
But members of this board pushing school closures using flawed and constantly changing data ran campaigns costing tens of thousands of dollars. That kind of money doesn't come from residents and bake sales. It comes from people
expecting something in return. Campaign records show donations from engineering firms, construction and remediation companies, auditors, technology vendors, consultants, developers, unions, and political
insiders. The exact groups that stand to profit from school closures. Because school closures don't just close buildings. They create construction projects, engineering studies, financing, packaging, consulting
contracts, technology upgrades, and demolition or redevelopment. Remember that soccer academy? Chris Avita and Sarah Wings Weinstein and Code Amy's not here received $10,000 from Alliance Health immediately after
being awarded the scoreboard contract. $10,000 from Brio Benefits, the district's own health provider benefits broker, sorry. Remember that fund that we were talking about that got depleted? 10 $1,000 from Mayor Tony Perry, which raises serious concerns about
independence on shared services. $1,000 from Andrew Meleneck, who's tied to public debt financing. He can approve debts without public approval, and he's a Mammoth County Improvement Authority official. Their campaign was also
supported by the Proven Leadership Pack. They produced these flyers, which was funded by board to bond attorneys, engineering firms, infrastructure consultants, the district's own auditor,
technology contracts, union pack money, redevelopment, redevelopment interest, and that demolition and remediation company. The list goes on and on. There's more. I don't want I don't have time to get into all of them. And these are not grassroots donations.
These are industry investments. And now the same board members backed by those investments are pushing decisions that could generate millions of dollars in contracts. The public is being asked to believe that this is not a coincidence.
It isn't. When the companies that fund your campaign are the same companies that stand to benefit from school closures, people have a right to question your motives. This community deserves a board that answers to parents
and taxpayers, not donors and tax. There is a term for this. It's called pay to play. and our schools and our children should not be a part of it. Not on the backs of our kids. Find another thing in
government like garbage that'll no one will care about. Hi, my name is Karen. I'm from Middletown and my son goes to Thorne. Dr. Alone, Mr. Pollen, and many board members know
my son J.R. Novak. He is autistic and he has ADHD. His time at Middletown school system has not been the best experience. As a mom, I have spent countless
sleepless nights fighting and advocating for him, and this continues tonight. Jr. started with a 504 in kindergarten and then an IEP in first grade. He is an inclusion, but the social, emotional,
and behavior roller coaster has been nonstop. Every year I put hard work into researching what is best for my child and to come to the IEP meeting prepared. Finally, this year, Jr. is beginning to
find his place in the school environment. And now another major change is eminent. Every year he has had another struggle from IEPs not being followed to
harassment from staff to cuts to programs. Now combining schools, last week, Kay's report didn't even show how middle schools will be affected. Let me inform you of how it will, not
just for my child, but for every child at Thorne and all the middle schools. With or without IEP, Thorne will be over capacity starting the 2627 school year and it goes up
every year after that. The population increase will cause larger class sizes. This will make it harder to create an environment of respect and rapport between teachers and students. Crowded hallways are going to cause
extreme loud volume and also in areas such as the gym and cafeteria. This will create over stimulation for students and cause increased behavior incidents. Slower times for evacuation,
god forbid an emergency happens. All of these issues I have pointed out directly affect my son. However, how many students at the middle school level are just like my son? If it affects one,
it affects all this house. I'm not new to this. Um, I've been doing this for a very long time now, for many years. seeking and tonight I'm here as the Thorne PTA president, a Thor and Middletown North
parent, and an educator. And I, like many of you tonight, have questions, lots of questions. And I respectfully urge you, if you do not know the answers to these questions, to vote no until a
comprehensive transition plan is developed and publicly shared. We are past transparency. There is none of it. We're in the same place we were last year. We know that this is going to happen at some point. We need a
transition plan. I respectfully ask for clarification on the following. Were building principles and assistant principles consulted prior to the release of this proposal? Do they know what is happening in their schools? More
important than the parents, do our administrators know what's happening? Did you speak to them? Did you get their input? Were staff members in the directly affected buildings engaged for input? Did you get their input? Did you find
out what their thoughts are on increased kids in the middle school? Why were there no community forums held with families and the impact of schools prior to advancing this vote?
I was not at one. I would be directly affected by this. There was no form given this proposal was introduced nearly a year ago. What planning occurred during this time? We were told that this year would be the
year to come up with a plan. There is no plan. We are back where we started a year ago. The presentation that we received on Saturday morning indicates a split of Beayore Middle School students between
Thorne and Thompson. However, enrollment does not reflect a 50/50 split. It also is misrepresented. It appears on the on the on the presentation that Bay View
currently codes to Thor. They do not. The district needs to provide a corrected transparent feeder mats. Bayu, New Mammoth, Harmony house our multiple disability and artistic
programs. Thorne cor currently houses MD, BD, and multiple LLD programs. Is it accurate that all middle school special education programs will be centralized to Thorne? Because according
to the Perhaps that is what will happen. Thor will get all special education classrooms. >> Thank you. It's three minutes. >> If so, what is the rationale for concentrating these programs? >> I understand that it's three minutes. I
have like 35 seconds left. >> If so, what is the rationale for concentrating these programs into one building? How are we going to accommodate? How will Thor accommodate the smaller required class sizes that
will be absorbing while absorbing a significantly larger general population. This is not equitable. This is not good for our special education services and it's not good for either middle school. A transition of this magnitude needs to
be shared. The transition needs to share. Our students deserve stability. Our educators deserve preparation time. Our families deserve transparency. And for these reasons, I urge the B
board to delay this vote until a clear, publicly vetted transition plan is developed and shared. >> Good evening. My name is Nitra Bustler. I'm a resident, taxpayer, parent of Behore student, former high
school teacher. I'm going to start uh by saying what I think that most of us by now already know, and my apologies for being redundant. I did not realize this was going to be on the agenda tonight, but uh the report from Ross Habber was phoned in. It was halfass. It was
ridiculously late. It was a steaming pile of crap. And and I say this not just as a parent and as a taxpayer, but as a former consultant. I I worked for IBM for years, one of the largest companies in the world as a consultant.
That was garbage. It was embarrassing. It was unprofessional. It was just a disgrace. So, um, frankly, if the town hasn't considered suing Mr. papering company for boost contract. I think it should get on that because uh sure we only few tens of thousands of dollars
for that. But uh you know what those nickels and dimes we keep hearing about, but hey, every bit counts. And the inexplicable delay of what was it 6 months is already proving to have had a major negative impact on our ability to
properly plant which vastly outshadows any kind of uh cost to us. So, um, first deliverable was so bad it was rejected out of hand by basically everybody. So, what did the administration do? Did they hire somebody better? Did they roll up their sleeves and investigate any of the
numerous cost-saving ideas that the community proposed a year ago? No. They they went and tasked the same hless crew with giving a hasty rubber stamp to last year's colossal failure, aka plan A. And
they didn't even instruct them to do an empirical reality check on on what is perhaps the plan's most highly flawed assumption we've all been pointing out extremely that dumping an entire middle school of students into the other two middle schools already crowded middle
schools will work just fine for kids. Uh this is not just incompetent it's insulting and to me it's highly suspicious. It is my belief as other more or less said that four members of this board are
in the tank for the township machine and its close friends, the developers, the construction companies, the other contractors that would be involved in construction. This would be, in a word, corruption. Honestly,
I think that if we were running a surplus, they'd be busy looking for ways to squander it just so they could get back to their secret school closing agenda. You know, like not keeping the budget up with inflation for a decade or
something like that. So to you for I say you should be ashamed of yourself yourselves. >> I speak now to the board members that are serving in good faith and 3 minutes or so. Thank you. >> I don't care. >> Your three minutes is up.
>> Don't let these people steamroll this failed scheme over our schools, our children, and our communities. There are real solutions that can keep our schools open and our classrooms manageable. For starters, publicly press the mayor and the township committee to do what they should have been doing all along, which
is to pay for the police that are stationed at our schools. As others have noted, this township already puts less of its overall budget in education that more and more of our peers in this uh county. One way to address this
>> 20 seconds to address this would be to have the municipal budget come pleasing as they are supposed to do. The mayor made good on this claim that the class three officers would be paying out the municipal budget from the get-go. we would be well in black and on a sustainable path.
>> So my last point is I say >> three minutes >> I'm going to address the one person whose vote appears to not be decided. I certainly hope not let
>> please do not betray our children, our town or our school. Test. One, two. Melissa Brandal Galper. Last April, Dr. Alone assured this community that the 10% tax increase would be would not be a band-aid, but a bridge. A bridge to give
the district time to gather data, build a long-term plan, and avoid a rushed reactionary decision. Yet here we are less than a year later, still in crisis mode, still without a transparent plan for our schools, our families, or our staff. Some families believe this
conversation doesn't affect them. But once Beijear closes, our middle schools will be over capacity by more than 100 students. Thompson is already crowded. Next year, it will be worse. Overcrowding in buildings affects every building. And closing four elementary
schools and a middle school in a district that has no capacity to close schools will overcrowd everyone. This is every school's problem, every family's problem. We were told last year that the plan was to reduce our district to eight elementary schools. We know Navasync and
Leonardo are on that list, but what about the other two? Why haven't they been clearly identified? Slides and side conversations mention River Plaza and Fairview, but many parents at those schools are adamant that their schools are not part of the plan. Why is part of
the plan still a secret? How can a proposal even be presented if half of its impact remains hidden? That is not transparency. That is blindsiding the community and it is exactly why
public trust has eroded in this town. The district hired Ross Habber to restore that trust to give us an independent factual analysis of our capacity. In January, Mr. Haber said there was no space to close a school
after he was re-engaged. Class catchies, special ed, and preK programs were moved to an undisclosed location. Old, inaccurate, untrusted data was reintroduced. And all of a sudden, 14 CLASSROOMS appeared in the
district and the recommendation changed. All of this is fact spoken out of Haber's mouth. And that shift between over capacity to closing free schools, it mattered because when independent analysis becomes altered analysis, the
facts are no longer facts. They're manipulated outcomes. I'm going to run out of time. I'm not all praying. Paying for independent verification means allowing independence to stand untouched. MRS. TOBACCO, YOU OFTEN REMIND THIS community that facts matter.
And you're right, they do. That's exactly why the public deserves to see them. Real numbers, full reports, complete plan. This community is fully capable of engaging with facts when they are presented with honesty.
Finally, I want to address the issue of optics. Many board members also serve on township committees, support one another's campaigns, receive contributions from individuals like the mayor, even the district auditor. None of this automatically means wrongdoing, but it absolutely creates appearance of
conflict. From the outside, it looks like decisions are being made in the best interest of the township. And that's why I respectfully and sternly ask that any board member who has accepted campaign contributions from town contractor vendors or those with financial ties to the township repeat
themselves. >> Thank you. >> NEW JERSEY SCHOOL ETHICS ACT 18A 124 IS CLEAR. OFFICIALS MUST AVOID NOT ONLY ACTUAL CONFLICTS BUT ANY ACTIONS THAT MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO IMPAIR
THE OBJECTIVITY or independence of justice. Refusal in this case isn't about guilt. IT'S ABOUT RESTORING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE. UH, my name is Jill Inkling. I'm a Middletown resident and a special education teacher at Behore Middle
School. My primary concern with the two middle school model is IEP compliance and service delivery. Maximum caps in classes must be considered. Max is 10 classified students in inclusion and 12 in pullout. With multiple special class
sections running, how will the district maintain compliance and instructional effectiveness? And what precautions will prevent overcrowding in resource and inclusion classrooms? Thorne and Beayshore currently house all special class middle school programs
including MD, BD, LLD, autism, and ELLL. Where will these programs be located under the proposed plan? These programs require adequate space to operate effectively while respecting class size caps and specialized instructional needs. Currently, Thompson has 129
classified students. Spayshore has 130 and Thorne has 141. With con with consolidations, projections seem to rise to 150 classified at Thompson and 250 to 275 classified at Thorne. There does not appear to be enough space to safely and
effectively provide these students with the education they need. Many IEPs require pull out, small groupoup testing, readaloud supports, preferential seating, refocusing, and small group instruction. How will these accommodations be delivered in larger
crowded classrooms? Where will alternative testing locations be? This impacts multiple sections, all grades, and every core subject, making careful planning essential. Where will services such as speech, OT, PT take place? How will the district ensure all
IEP mandated services minutes are delivered? Especially with the increased enrollment, complex scheduling. Increased enrollment will drive more referrals, evaluations, annual reviews. Without proportional increases in special ed teachers, PAR, CST members, related service providers, case loads
may become unsustainable. Will case load caps be established to protect service quality and compliance? It is concerning that these critical factors have not been addressed. Any consolidation plan should be developed through a special education lens and not just a budgetary one to ensure program integrity and
mandated supports remain intact. Decisions of this magnitude need to prioritize students learning and legal compliance rather than relying on a plan that feels only partially explained. So, please come visit our schools. Come walk through Beayshore and Thorne. See how these specialized programs operate and
how much space they truly require. Speak with teachers, principals, CST members, counselors, paras, RBTs, OT, speech, PT providers, interventionists, custodians, cafeteria staff, secretaries, nurses, security guards. Because if you took the time to see and hear from the people who
make these programs run every single day, I believe this would not be a proposal you would feel comfortable voting yes on. Thank you. Up for the stack of middle All right. Good evening. My name is Ashley Ste. Uh, much of what I'm about to say
will sound familiar because many of these recommendations were presented last year and were not meaningfully addressed. Unfortunately, as was this case then, we still have not been provided with a more detailed line by line view of projected spending despite repeated requests. As a result, we are again relying on historical data to
identify areas where costs can be reduced responsibly and strategically. Based on that analysis, I would like to outline three concrete initiatives. One, reduce overhead district office. The one, this one is a complete reuse from last year because no reductions were made whatsoever to central. It is
extremely alarming that you go straight to closing schools before reducing costs to the top. If a CEO of a publicly traded company, the board would most likely remove the CEO for not reducing vertically. Combined salary of staff in the district office is over $7 million.
I propose at least a reduction of $1 million there. This would be a recurring cost savings. This year, you have the added benefit of state changes to observation requirements. So, the eight curriculum supervisors could drastically go down because any highly effective
10-year teacher now only needs one observation. So, the excuse that we needed all of the central admin to do observations no longer holds true. We have three assistant superintendent. You can also consider consolidating. No offense.
um request for Middletown to cover the class 3 officer expense. Another repeat of what I said last year, uh this summer I actually went to a town council meeting and asked Tony Perry why he wasn't funding the officers and he said, "I'm still waiting for this school to
call me because there hasn't been a shared services meeting in over a year." The one that was so proudly touted for today didn't happen, right? Cool. How long have How many times How many meetings have I been to and I've asked
why aren't we having shared services meetings? >> Yep. Cool. The last one in 2425 school year, the athletics account spent $54,000. So far this school year, you've spent more than double that and we're
only halfway through the school year at $110,000. This isn't coaching staff. This isn't the $900,000 scoreboards, which are another account. This is one athletics account that has more than doubled by January.
What are we doing? This does not look like cost savings. >> That's insane. If the same level of urgency applied to closing schools was instead focused on reducing administrative overhead and scrutinizing discretionary consistently, we would be in a far stronger financial position.
When taxpayers absorbed the 10.1%, we were told it would stabilize the district for years. We were told that SCHOOL CLOSURES WERE OFF THE TABLE. THOSE ASURANCES were repeated consistently for months. Now we are told that a $3 million gap cannot be closed without revisiting that option. That reversible understandably raised serious
concerns about planning, transparency, and consistency. A vote yes to close schools is a vote yes for corruption. >> Good evening. My name is Jennifer Gley. Middletown. Um I am also honored to be a member of the Bayore PTO board. Um three of us today are representing the Bayore
community, our amazing teachers, our staff, and our students. However, all the questions that we have today impact all of our Middletown Middle School students. Based on the latest reported New Jersey Department of Education data from the 2023 2024 school year, be sure
had 8% of their students with disciplinary action. Thorne had 7% of their students with disciplinary action and Thompson had 5%. What new measures are being put in place to properly manage a doubling of disciplinary behavior? What county and state experts
were consulted from a disciplinary perspective to weigh in on the impact in combining schools with a higher rate of this action, especially during these critical middle school years? What additional administrative support services and overall staffing will be provided to reinforce the management and
resolution of these interactions? What new student flow pathways and overall supervision will be added to monitor the increased volume in the hallways? What data management tool will you be using to monitor the increase or decrease in these incidents? Is this going to be reviewed weekly, monthly, or quarterly?
If this data demonstrates an increase, what immediate action will take place? How is our student supervision and climate to be pro protected at higher enrollment levels? What is the roll back or mitigation plan if outcomes worsen? Is it in the best interest of our
students and our staff to knowingly increase the amount of students with a higher risk of disciplinary behavior, putting them all into one building that will be over capacity with a proposed plan to decrease staff in a school that currently does not know how to
accommodate that volume? Today, moving on to extracurriculars, which are extremely important to all of our students. What plans are in place to ensure all students have access to all the different extracurriculars our schools offer? Last year it was noted Middletown would allow sixth graders to play on their own grade level teams to
ensure greater capacity. This doesn't solve for the problems on our seventh and eighth grade teams today. Also, we all know there's no sixth grade teams across the region, so they'd have no one to be playing. What honors classes? What students still have the access to honors classes? Many of our students are honor
students. Will there be enough classrooms and teachers to support all of the honor students in this new setting? Is it in the best interest of our students to immediately reduce their access and ability to participate in all their school activities, to reduce their school pride and morale, to reduce their
access to peers shared interest, and overall to reduce their ability to successfully transition into their middle school community for the second time? >> Good evening. My name is Taylor. I'm a native mom and I first want to have never spoken at any one of these. I want
to acknowledge the awesome group of women in the back of the room, the Native Inc. staff. I also want to thank Colin and Mr. Rock for being here this evening and for showing my my daughters a wonderful education. My daughters are listening on YouTube. I love you girls. Go to bed.
It's almost 11 o'clock. So, I'm here to speak to uh school courses, space, and equipment. All middle school students recently made their course selections for the 2627 school year. Will their selections be honored? What is the plan to ensure each classroom is
appropriately set up with supplies and resources to provide the highest level of instruction? For example, science classrooms require specific tables, sinks, and safety equipment. Are there enough physical classrooms that meet this requirement? How will program
breath and class sizes be protected after this consolidation? What arrangements have been planned for to ensure there is not a significant shift in current lunch times? Does the cafeteria have enough capacity to double the amount of students during each of
the three lunch blocks? What additional staffing and construction updates have been accounted for to ensure the lunch flow is not delayed? Students who order lunch have enough time to eat. There is not a decrease in food production and quality due to doubling the amount of
food that needs to be prepared. Are there enough gym spaces currently to accommodate new students? What improvements, modifications, and overall construction need to incur in July and August to to ensure each space is ready
to be utilized for its new purpose, has the appropriate supplies, and meets all safety requirements? Is it in the best interest of students during this transition to potentially reduce the ability to be in classes they selected? Is it in the best interest of students
and our teachers to limit their exposure and learning experience by not having sufficient equipment in classrooms? Is it in the best interest of our students to have insufficient classroom spaces? What is the projected class size for
each class? How many classroom teachers and support staff will be in each classroom? Thank you. >> Jennifer Bentley, Beayshore PTO president and proud member of the Leonardo community as well. I want to thank the other schools that stood up
here today and said they stand with us. We appreciate you. And I also want to give special recognition to all the children who had the courage to come up here and express how much this impacts their lives. So thank you. I also want to recognize the board
members who had the courage to speak their mind today as hard as that might have been and we do that absolutely appreciate your support. There is one community that I want to talk about today and that is our teachers and our staff and our principles. Have we given them any
emotional support while they're doing damage control and taking care of our children in their emotional situation that they're in? Have we taken a moment to prep them to let them know this was coming out on Saturday? Because I'm pretty sure we didn't. And I have to ask, this feels like a
corporate restructuring right now with our children and our teachers who have put themselves out there every single day throwing their hearts on the floor to make sure those kids are okay. and that they get what they need every single day and putting their own families and their own emotions in the
back. We need to stand up not just for our students, but our staff, our teachers, our principles. They have rights. Deon Deon Rafferty Leonardo. So, uh, let's start, uh, I guess from the beginning. There seems to be this
pervasive mindset within the board that goes something like this. Well, the mayor has decided how much money he needs and the counties decide how much they need. And since that's independent and separate from board matters, and since taxpayers can't shoulder anything, then golly old Gust Whiz, I guess there's financial difficulties with the
school which are cooked. I guess the only option is to just close them. But, as you're going to see, this thinking is backwards. It's time for you to grow a spine. >> In spite, in study after study in New Jersey outside of the distance to New York City or Philadelphia, by far the
biggest factor that contributes to high property values is the quality of the town's public education system. In turn, the two biggest factors that determine the quality of a school system is each school's overall aggregate size and that school's proximity to its students homes. Incidentally, nowhere to be found
in these property value studies is the rate of growth of the expansion of special assignment police force or whether open space taxpayer funds type funds have purchased public use running tracks. So, you can probably much pretty much say that tax and spend Tony Perry's milestone achievements have had no
financial impact on our population's biggest financial concerns. Now, since the health of the public school system drives the health and wealth of the town, the public school system budget is the one that overwhelmingly matters. And therefore, that's what must generate adequate financial resources to cover
the costs for operating a highquality school district. This is all fairly intuitive and obvious. By the way, that's why a healthy public school budget is called an adequate budget and is the most important mechanism for ensuring that people who live in Middletown, even if you don't have kids in the school system, also get to
benefit from relatively high property values. In fact, it's then and only then that a suburban township mayor would be able to acquire the funds that they could use for their pet projects. So, let's put this into context. The increase last year wasn't anywhere near close enough what's required for an adequate budget. In fact, in my
understanding, last year, the board of edi simply to cover their immediate cash commitments. Basically, they were weeks away from being forced to declare default. So again, that 10.1 was necessary just to keep the doors open and get a minimal inflation adjusted
level of funding, but it was by no means adequate since it's pretty easy to see that over the prior years, we have been actively defunding our public school systems while passively funding tax and spending Tony Perry's agenda under the former leadership of former President
Capone and VP Tobacco. THIS IS THE problem that our township taxpayers are now saddled with. So, it makes it pretty clear that if you want high property values, even if you have no kids, no kids in the school system, or if you want to support the township's fairly financially pointless initiatives, the best thing you can do
is be on board with ensuring that the Middletown public school system has an adequate budget both the short and the long term because that drives up our property values, which then creates the wealth that the township takes a cut of. >> You need No, it isn't. Now, it is. We need to have wellunded community- based
schools or else you end up with a ghost town, deteriorating, apathetic, impersonal townships. Listen, I was just in Hunter Mountain. The one thing you can count on is Dr. Alone closing schools. Thank you. I met two people there from Hoboken. You know what they said? One's a doctor, one's an
architect. They were moving here, but after last year and then they looked further into our politics, you know what they're doing? >> It's off the grid. Off the map. Not even Good evening. My name is Thea Ali and my child attends River Plaza Elementary
School. As Miss Tobacco just posted on Facebook a few hours ago, we are apparently the desperate people here spreading desperate rumors around Rivera Plaza. Even though I'd say we are desperately
asking for clarity, I am the first of seven parents who will read from this joint statement tonight that we prepared together representing a united front from across this township. You will hear from River Plaza, Navasync, Linkraftoft, Leonardo, Beayshore, Thompson, and
Harmony. My portion of the speech will be focused on transparency. I did not have the proper words to fully express the deep disappointment I had in this board's continued lack of transparency. Further proven by the secrecy at last Thursday's meeting, followed by an
incomplete PowerPoint sent to us with no warning and no context. It is very clear to our school that you are hiding which schools are part of the further consolidation listed in your timeline slide. River Plaza is no stranger to threats of closure closure. We've been
getting it since 2020. and River Plaza parents listened when our school name was put on the record last year as a school to be cut in the two high school, two middle school, eight elementary school phased plan. Whether or not that has changed or is being hidden from us,
please know that we are keenly aware of what could happen to our schools in this proposal. I am sadly left to assume you are hoping to keep us in the dark so that we don't get organized like other parents have. That did not work. Every
parent here deserves to see a fiveyear strategic plan with all of the details showing us that it is a solid plan that is best for our kids. You also mentions in this proposal that I prefer to call an agenda
because it's definitely not a plan that any new construction or additions to handle the overcrowding you are deliberately creating are dependent upon referendum bonding status. Those are your quotes. In one of the ways to get a referendum to build onto schools, you
have to prove the overcrowding is so bad that you need to build. This means you would be purposefully overcrowding our schools, particularly Thompson and Thorne, as and using our children as pawns to attempt to get funding. This is not a guarantee. You are risking our
kids' education and safety to find out. We are here tonight to say once again, we do not accept this plan. We do not accept the closure of any of our district schools in this way. And we demand a direct answer before we leave this room tonight. Which elementary
schools are the final eight you plan to keep? When is the real plan being presented to the community with clear data? And what are the alternatives you are presenting to the parents instead? We deserve TO KNOW.
GOOD EVENING. My name is Alice Rosanski and I am a proud sync elementary parent. I will focus on the foundation of this entire proposal, the data. To begin, your own demographic consultant Ross Haber, whom the district paid $24,000
to study only elementary school capacity and enrollment, stated in his report that elementary school enrollment indicates stability across the district as a whole. Apart from two schools that are showing slightly under or over
enrollment, overall our elementary schools, specifically kindergartens are maintaining ideal class sizes of around 22 children per class. It is very strange the report and the proposal both focus on elementary
schools and yet the proposal doesn't include any projections on elementary school enrollment over the years. How is it possible that the current average class size with all schools open is the same as with the closing of schools?
Furthermore, Ross Haver commented in his memo that a disadvantage of closing two schools would mean increasing the maximum class size to 27 students. I hate to restate the obvious, but the math is simply not adding up.
Dr. Alone, you said it yourself last week. You do not want to have 27 children per class. The proposal goes to questionable lengths to justify the inevitable increase in overcrowding in our middle schools. You present historical
enrollment data for Thompson Middle School that highlights 2017 peak student enrollment at 1,62 students. What you failed to acknowledge is that while this enrollment occurred, it put school well over its capacity limit. By the
district's own numbers, which Aaron Torres also referenced, the capacity at Thompson and Thorne was 805 students. That number somehow magically increased recently to 930. Conveniently, Ross Haber did not study
the current middle school capacity enrollment data. But even so, at the 930 capacity you are currently using, the enrollment projections from 2026 to 2031 put both Thorne and Thompson well over
100% enrollment. I took a moment to look up the ratio of optimal enrollment to capacity and not surprisingly nearly all results indicate optimal school enrollment to be around 85%. Nowhere did I find anything in excess of
100% enrollment as an acceptable standard. By our own projections, our middle schools will steadily increase from 100% to nearly 108% of recommended enrollment in the immediate future. That number balloons to 120% enrollment
if we are looking at the 805 student uh count capacity numbers. >> This underscores the importance of having real data to work with. In either case. It is simply too high and it is not safe. >> Thank you. >> The central problem with this proposal, apart from the fact that it has never
been transparent and is using reframed or incorrect data, is the absolute gaslighting of the residents of Middletown, have been subjected to over the last year. We can clearly see the data as being altered. We are being manipulated and we are not accepting it any longer. >> Please, somebody make a motion to
dismiss closing our schools from this agenda tonight. Good evening. My name is Katie Young and my children attend Lyn Prop, which I think is a school many of you think um is not paying attention to this issue and where you're spreading rumors, but we're not
falling for them. I'm here to talk about the money because the financial case for the restructuring proposal is just as misleading as the enrollment data. The administration claims the will save 3.5 million per year. We've yet to see how that's true. The money will be eaten up
by busing construction on day one. Conservatively, at least 300 additional kids who were once walkers would need busing. That is roughly seven school buses at the going rate of 400 to 600 per bus per day would be up to $760,000
per year. And that doesn't take into account the increased busing costs of those who are already getting bus to be shore being busted further distanced and the millions of dollars it will cost to retrofit Beayshore to be legally ready for the elementary school children
redoing bathrooms updating doors and more. Your own facilities assessment estimates 2.5 million for the bathrooms alone. Then what? We find ourselves in a bigger deficit at that point. Do we close more schools? Your proposal to
close schools and overcrowd what's left hinges on receiving a future referendum or state funding which is not guaranteed. You are asking us to send our children into overflowing middle schools with the hope that funding materializes or that taxpayers approve it for you. To me, that is the
definition of kicking the can down the road. The entire proposal, which is a rumor they're trying to confront, the proposal is a house of cards set up to fall down onto our children. There are real
alternatives that have not been seriously pursued. The they have been stated, but we have to hit you guys over the head with them. prek grants, in-house afterare programs, selling surplus districtowned property, shared services with the township that are still not being considered. Other grants
were probably not aware of and further administrative reductions. Closing schools is the most destructive path for our children. In November, in November, our community will vote for candidates who are
qualified to manage multi-million dollar budgets and leadership that is willing to do the hard work of genuine long-term FINANCIAL PLANNING. HI, MY NAME IS Valerie Zenner and I am a proud parent of a wonderful student at
Newur Middle School and I am a resident leader. So, I want to take a moment to address leadership or rather the lack thereof that has brought us to this crisis. The architect of this disruptive plan, our superintendent, she has resigned and is leaving Middletown to
pursue a career pivot. A superintendent who has been looking for a new job instead of pouring through our finances with a fine tooth comb. Who is no longer committed to the future of our district is making an irreversible decision that will harm our children to decades to come.
>> She will not be here to face the consequences of overcrowding, the teacher layoff, the community devastation that she is proposing, she won't be here for. She is a board member. She is, as board member menues so accurately put, ramming down a
recycled plan before she walks out the door. This is an astonishing failure of governance. The board has had a responsibility to provide stability and long-term vision. Instead, you're pushing a rush job of an agenda that
serves no one long-term's interest. You are allowing her to recycle last year's fair bail proposal and to use consultants whose stated goal in his own words was to find a way to close schools not to determine whether or not it was actually necessary.
We need a leader who is who will build a thoughtful multi-year plan for a sustainable future. And we desperately need a board that will actually demand one. By entertaining this proposal, you are failing on both accounts. We demand that you elect a representative of this
community to take control of this process. Stop the chaos. Vote no and let us begin to search for true leadership who will work with this community, not against it. Hi, my name is Amy Johnson. I have two in River Plaza, one in Thompson, one in
South, and one slated to go to River Plaza. That being said, north, south, east, west, upside down, we're all Middletown, but I'm speaking to you as a parent from Thompson Middle School. You have heard about the flawed data and the questionable finances.
I want to talk about the real cost of this plant, the human costs paid by our children. Closing a neighborhood school is not a line item on a budget. It is a traumatic event in the life of a child. It rips them away from their friends,
their trusted teachers, and the only school community they have ever known. It creates anxiety, instability, and lasting emotional harm. Your proposal treats this as an acceptable side effect. This plan will force hundreds of
middle schoolers into already crowded buildings. Thompson and Thorne Middle School is projected to house over a thousand students under the same scheme. under the scheme. That is not just a number. It means larger class sizes, hallways too packed to navigate, and an
increased risk of safety incidents. It means our children become anonymous spaces in an overcrowded building with less individual attention and fewer resources. And we must speak plainly about the impact of our most valable
students. Middletown has an important value and special education population. These children depend on routine stability and familiar support systems. Your plan forces them to be uprooted and rerouted across town, disrupting the
very structures that allow them to thrive. This is not just an inconvenience, it's cruel. And it is a violation of the district's fundamental obligation to every child in its care.
North the school's supposed to be split apart. Tonight you've heard from multiple school representatives. You have heard that this proposal is built on insufficient data. You have heard that it represents a financial loss dressed
up as a solution. You have heard concerns about potential conflicts of interest influencing this plan. You have heard from school communities who are being kept in the dark about the future of their buildings. And you have heard the same thing from every parent that has stood at this microphone that this proposal will harm the future of our
children. Every single one of them. Tonight you are looking at what Middletown United truly means. So now you will hear our request clearly and without mincing words. We ask you that you vote no on the closing of schools and restructuring proposal. No modifications, no amendments. Vote it
down entirely and unequivocally. And then the real work must begin. We ask that you commit to a transparent communitydriven process to create a true five-year strategic plan. One that explores every alternative to school closures. one grounded in honest and verifiable data, real financial
stability, and one that places the educational and emotional well-being of our students above all else. Every parent here supports public education. We believe our school board members should be our strongest advocates, fighting for every grant, every shared service, and every school, every
available resource every single year in pursuit of continued excellence for our public schools. And we commit to doing our part as well. We are not going away. We will attend every meeting. We will review every line of the vote. We will take note of every vote taken and every
vote not taken. Be the board members that listen to its community. Be the board that chose a better path. Be the board that plans strategically with real numbers and real goals for the future of this town. We are watching. Our children are watching. Vote no. Give us a better
plan, a real strategic plan for them, for the future they deserve. Thank you. Jeff Mack, Middletown resident. Um, I want to first thank you guys for actually being up there and choosing to serve our community sites like this that I think none of us envy. Um, you know,
that being said though, I'm a realist and uh I understand that there's probably nothing that any of us can say that will sway the votes of those out there who believe that this plan is a good one. Keeping it real and I'm not going to use my time here to say anything that you haven't heard. But as
a board whose job it is to represent us, I believe it's also your job to be transparent in justifying your vote. I think it's okay to have an opinion that runs counter to mine and to a lot of these people here, but I don't think it's okay to sit silent without letting
us know why you believe why you believe your opinion is the right one. So, I want to say that I appreciate Miss Minui, Miss Separoski, Miss Torres, and Miss Wright for speaking and providing insight into why they feel this plan is a bad idea,
>> but I' I'd love to hear from Miss Scalasi, Mr. Aetta, Mr. Capone, and Miss Tobacco as to why they feel it's a good one. >> So, before you place your vote, and again, I'm sure you don't care what any of us said. that you're going to make up. You have your mind made up. But before you place your vote, all I ask is
that for those who have not spoke, just tell us why you think it's a good plan. >> Thank you. >> So, I'm Bill Dow. I live in uh Leonardo and I have a first grader at Leonardo. I have an incoming kindergartener and I also have a 2-year-old. Um, so I'm also
a middle school teacher and so I can provide multiple perspectives regarding the board's proposal. Closing three middle schools, two ele three schools, excuse me, two elementary and one middle school will lead to severe overcrowding in the middle schools, which impacts student safety, which I feel I haven't
heard enough about tonight. Academic performance and social and emotional development for students at a critical age. The school I work in is similar in square footage to Thompson and Thorne, and our enrollment at sixth, seventh, and eighth grade is 550. and that feels
crowded. This proposal calls for almost double that in those two schools. Directing hallway traffic, preventing bullying, and ensuring the safety of all is a challenge every day and will become more difficult if this proposal is passed through.
As a result of these closures, class rosters will also expand to a point where individualized instructions individualized instruction is nearly impossible. High studenttoteer ratios make it difficult to provide feedback and personal personalized learning that
middle schoolers require to for schools to meet their specific learning needs. The other group I want to shine a light on is the educators and how teacher burnout is a growing nationwide problem and this proposal
also places an undue burden on them. So, I'd ask that we support our beloved teachers, not have them suffer from burnout with packed classrooms, navigating difficult hallways, and looking out for the safety and the well-being of all our children. To me,
the metaphor I use for this proposal is it's a restaurant that is saying, "We're going to get rid of a few tables and cut weight staff, yet we're going to be able to accommodate more customers." How is that possible? That's because it isn't. This proposal places an unfair
burden on our educators, negatively impacts our kids development, and compromises student and staff safety. Therefore, I ask the board to support our teachers, our community, and most importantly, our students, and not go through with the closing of these three
schools. So, I apologize if I'm a little over But I do have one question. >> Oh, Samantha Delesio from Belelford. I have children that go to Bay View um as well as Big Shore. And I also have family members across multiple schools in elementary, junior, and high school.
The overcrowding is across the entire town. This is not an unknown thing. Now, I do have some questions. Earlier, Aaron Torres had asked if members of this board had met in private to agree on this plan for closure separately from the rest of the board. I believe one of
you had addressed that and then it was kind of put on hold. Is that something you're willing to address now? >> No. Okay. I think we want to understand. >> I have not met individually or privately. >> I appreciate that. Would
anyone else like to go on the record to clarify if they have or have not? >> So, there's two sides to the table. Is the other side going to give an opinion one way or the other? Are you going to move on? >> Okay, great. That's fantastic. Listen, I
don't envy any of you. The circumstances you're in are hard, but you volunteered to be in these positions, so you're responsible to show up and put the work in and actually put together a plan that everyone can review. It's my understanding at least one of you have a background in construction so you have
the understanding how big of an uphill it will be to reiterate for elementary school kids. I believe most of you, if not all, are also parents and can understand the differences for a kindergartener versus an eighth grader and the facilities that they need. We deserve to see a plan. No one thinks
that we can't change anything. Well, some people in this town may not want to change anything, but I'm from New York. I don't There's no loyalties to specific schools. If you have a better plan for better educations, better facilities, and better learning, let's do it. But a plan is a plan. And you can reference a
plan. And there spreadsheets. A child asked earlier if you're looking at just spreadsheets and dollars. But I'm questioning, do you even have a single spreadsheet? Is there anything that you're actually looking at or not? for years. I didn't get the north versus south thing in this town. I'm from Brooklyn. You're lucky to go to
a safe school with a good education. But you guys have done something no one has done for years. You've united the entire town. I'm both north and south because we don't understand why we're rushing this. We were here a year ago. It's like Groundhog's Day. You may need to merge schools. You may need to close schools.
But students, teachers, and staff members took hours of their time last year giving suggestions operationally, financially, emotionally, structurally on how to approach this so that there's the least disturbance amongst the children's well-being, which is what you
were voted for. So unless you guys understand the impact to these students, I ask you vote no and come back with a better plan or have the courage to explain why you think it's a great idea. Hi, my name is John Converse. I just
have a quick question actually. Uh, when did each board member get access to the full detailed budget proposal for next year? >> Hello. >> Does anyone have it? >> Are you talking about the resolution that they just introduced? Yeah. >> Haven't seen it. They gave it in exact
session. I left. >> Okay. So, no, no one exactly knows what they're voting >> Yeah. Is there a budget available? >> The plan? >> Yeah. No, no, no. Is there a detailed budget associated with this plan? >> Budget? No.
>> Okay. So maybe I'm unclear about this, but I think that within 48 hours of this meeting, we have to have a budget posted. Is that going to be done? >> From what I was told, they are not doing
anything with a budget until we tell them if we are going to support schools closing. >> I don't understand how we could vote on something without any details. >> No data. >> The survey, am I wrong, or is that what it was? The question should be yes. So
what was the question? >> I'm trying to figure out the level of detail that we have available right now in order to vote on this proposal. >> Is it anything beyond what was set in the proposal? I saw like a PowerPoint. >> Okay. The budget >> the budget will be prepared
based on whether or not this this proposing those three. >> Okay. >> So, so the only information available is what's been put out publicly so far. Correct. >> And the Hab report, which is not an independent report. Haber is not an
independent consultant. He writes whatever whoever pays him tells him to write. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Hi, Kristen Rooney, Middletown. Um, I had something to prepare, but um, I would be remiss if I didn't address
something that just happened here. You had an armed police officer approach parents standing at this podium in front of their children for going over their time for 30 seconds. An armed officer.
That is shameful. My children are watching this. I encourage my children to speak out for what they believe in and that's why I'm here. So showing them that a police officer can approach their parents, who by the way, their kids are in the room,
>> that's a disgrace. >> You shouldn't even be around children if you think that's okay. I kind of also wanted to just use Dr. Alone's words to kind of, you know, see why we all feel very strange about being here again. At the April 30th meeting
last year, which is when we approved the final budget, Dr. telephone said, "I'm hoping that everybody sticks around." That didn't age well. Um because this is where it's going to get harder in the sense of work, but it's also going to my
in my opinion get excited. Are you excited? >> Because all of you sitting here tonight obviously have a vested interest in some way, shape, or form and care about this district a great deal. And so do I. I'm
sorry. I don't believe you. >> And the board members, they supposedly do care this much too and I do believe some of you do. So Dr. Alone goes on to say, so we need to be strategic. Ross Hab will do a facilities and boundary analysis and that will be a small part
of the strategic plan. The report though is going to be a big driver of the piece that's financial and facilities and programming, which by the way Ross Haver didn't do any of that, so I don't know. And um another quote that struck me and made me feel good. Honestly, that last
one made me feel good and a lot of that is still true. We all do care. Some of you obviously don't and some of you are on your way out the door so should not be making decisions for our children. That's what said and this made me feel good. And also she quoted me in that meeting as saying
silver linings where is it now? I'm a public educator. My heart lies with students and not touching the student experience is a negative in a negative way is really really important to me as I know it is to all of you and I want to believe that because I really I really
do deep down. What I want to remind everybody though is how what's changed since last year. Since April 30th last year, our budget deficit now is $3.2 million which is about one and a half% of the budget.
It's they've had this happen almost every other year before last year. We now also have a superintendent that has one foot out the door who found a new job, decided to pull a dusty plan A out of her moving box and presented it again exactly as it was last year,
illconceived, reckless, and careless. >> Okay. Also, I just wanted to say that somebody on the board earlier said that this is not the end. And I also want to say yeah I think I agree because litigation takes a very long TIME
res and I'm in a unique position to agree with what Mrs. Rooney just said as a trial attorney. POLITELY disagree with an earlier speaker. I don't believe all of you have made up your minds yet. I believe that
some of you will consider every comment that was made by the public tonight. Do us that courtesy at the very least. Put our kids first. do what is best for our children.
>> You know in your heart that closing Leonardo, Navisync, and Beayshore is not what's best for our children. Data, facts, evidence severely lacking.
What is the plan going to cost? Transportation, construction. You want to talk about the alleged savings, but not about the cost. It makes no sense to move forward with this. It's clear you didn't talk to your own
employees, your principles, your special special education teachers and staff. Apparently, no one. How do you do that? >> The first speaker brought up the yellow brick road. I suggest you follow the yellow road and come up with an actual
plan. A plan based on facts, a plan based on data. A plan based on evidence. A plan that puts our children first. I implore you, please do what's best for
our children. Take a pause. Take a breath. Figure it out. Be better. Do better. >> Good evening. Middletown res,
middle, and high school. Uh, somebody asked me today, uh, what's it going to cost to convert, uh, beayhore to an elementary school? This is something that the board hasn't addressed yet. It's a major component of whatever plan this is. Well, I uh spent the afternoon working on it, consulting a few um
school construction um estimators, and it's going to cost six to $7 million just to make it appropriate for an elementary school. And I'm not talking about mechanical, electrical, plumbing upgrades or investments in the infrastructure and parking lots or any
of that. So, um let me help you back into that number. So, if Mr. and Miss Alone, do you believe in that Speasel report? There's $2.6 million on bathroom conversions in that. You defended that report. Um, so you know, all the parents are saying, "Are the bathrooms
appropriate for littles?" And, "Oh, we can upgrade them." Okay. Well, how much is that going to cost? You have a report that you commissioned that says Behor's bathrooms are going to cost $2.6 million to fix up. Now, in the construction
estimating world, you have MEP, you have site. I just want to talk about FFE, which is fixtures, furniture, and equipment, right? The placeholder on most school budgets for that is $100 per square foot. You're going to have to upgrade about half a beayshore,
converting it over to an elementary school. You don't have to do the gym. You don't have to do the cafeteria per se. You don't have to do the hallways or the administration offices. But Leonardo is about 30,000 35,000 square feet. Navy sink is about 20. Half of Beayshore is
about 70,000 square feet. 70,000 ft time about $100 for FFE is $7 million. All right. Now, let's just say you just move the desks over from Leonardo and Navy and you do it on the cheap. You still have to build cubbies. Some of those damn things with the hooks in the back.
Those things are not going to get ripped out of the buildings and replaced. You're going to have to buy them. All right. $50 a square foot, you are around5 or $6 million before you upgrade the building. That's just for conversion. So, I'll submit that as your
draft budget and let you come back to me and tell me where I'm wrong. BUT budget estimate is about $6 million which wipes out your first two years of savings.
>> Know it's late. Good evening loft. Let me start by stating the obvious, which is the reason we're having this vote today is because somewhere along the way between last week and this week, somebody took a straw poll and you realize who have the votes. Um, and I
think that is the political question, right? Or the politician's question. Do I have the votes? Uh, there's nothing wrong with that question. That's part of the process. But let me offer you some questions from a lawyer's perspective and a litigator's perspective as to some
questions that I think are also salient. When you're sued over this decision you're about to make, >> what are your emails going to show? >> What are your text messages going to show? >> What are the documents and the memos
between Middletown Township Board of Education and Mr. Heber's office going to show? >> How is Dr. Althone going to do on stand? How is Ross Hab going to perform on stand? I think all of these are salient questions that I'm sure your board
attorney will tell you, yeah, that's going to be important based on what happens in a litigation, what the outcome of that litigation is. And I don't know the answer to those questions. Well, I think I know about Mr. Neighbor. I don't know the answer to those questions. I don't know what's in your emails, your text messages, or your
private communications, >> but you do. >> And if those things come out, and they will, right? >> Yes. When those things come out, are they going to paint this decision in a corrupt light? >> If they are, then what I would ask you
to do is go back to executive session, talk about it for 15 minutes, come back and vote no on this resolution. Hi, my name is Jack. I'm a Middletown resident. Um, I want to reinforce some
of the things that we said for those of you who think this is a good plan if we want to eliminate corruption from the options. The only thing is that you think that this is fiscally responsible. And I don't understand how you come to that conclusion if you haven't done a full budgetary analysis that includes
all the costs that will be incurred that counteract the annualized cost savings. Annualized cost savings are a good idea. There have been a lot of them sourced from the community. You have no idea if you're actually going to have $3.5 million of annualized savings. You might
incur an additional 1 million in annualized costs because of this plan, but you don't know because you haven't run the numbers. I I don't know if any of you have ever worked in a corporation before, but you don't create you don't decide on something with no recourse to
change it in the future without having all the information. Some of you are supposed businessmen. I would hate to work for a company that you ran. For those of you who are on the board who are maybe undecided, who maybe have not heard uh or have been listening to
the community and what we want specifically, Miss uh I'm sorry. Right. >> Miss Scholasi and Miss Weinstein, if you really haven't been in private meetings about this, I ask you to use your heart for the students, for everyone who came
out and spoke to you about how horrible it's going to be for them. But I also ask you to use your head because this plan does not make sense on paper. It's going to cost us more money. The million dollars in busing, all of the extra things we're going to need to deal with all the students, all the things to
upgrade the schools. This will be more expensive. flat out. And I could tell you how much if you'd publish a budget. That's all. But again, we're looking to you two. Please, please do something sensible and please do something that
your community will be proud of. Read Across America Day. Whereas Read Across America for the National Celebration of Reading sponsored by the National Education Association that promotes reading and adult involvement in the education of community students.
Now therefore be it resolved that the Middletownship Board of Education does hereby recognize March 2nd, 2026 as Read Across America Day and be firmly resolved that the Middletown Township Board of Education calls on citizens of
Middletown celebrate reading by engaging in programs and activities that allow the children of Middletown to be the strongest readers they can be. I'll just mention the adjustments. >> Um, just the calendar adjustments. So, we have had obviously several weather
events that have caused us to close school. So, we will now be in session on Monday, April 6th, and Friday, May 22nd, which is an early dismissal day. Um, we had two snow days built in or weather related days built in. Um, we've used three. So, our last day for staff and
students as of now will be June 22nd, barring any additional closures. We're going to wait out the month and put it on next month's agenda just in case we get some more weather next week. Um, but, you know, that's where it stands right now. Unfortunately, we cannot have
um students in on June 19th because we must observe the Junth celebration day. So that bumps us to Monday, June 22nd. As of now, >> I need a motion to approve the minutes
items 8 A through D. >> So move second. >> Discussion. All in favor? I Oppose abstensions.
Okay. I need a motion to approve 9A policy second reading adoption. >> So >> second >> discussion. All in favor? >> I >> opposed
abstensions. Need a motion to approve item 9B, acceptance of the donation. >> So second >> discussion. All in favor.
Made a motion to approve 9 C, which is a resolution authorizing the closing of Leonardo Elementary School and Sync Elementary School and the direct submission of required assurances and approvals to the New
Jersey Division of Administration and Finance and the Executive Superintendent of Monmouth County. Is there a motion? >> I would like to make a motion to to take it off the table. We have a motion to table.
>> Second. >> Can we maybe amend the motion to come up with a plan? >> Oh, if we table it, that's what you would have to do. >> You have to come up with a plan. So, tableabling it is the way to go. And how soon can we get a new date for this?
Well, as we talked about in the tech, the board really the board really the board really needs to give direction to the administration to have prepare the tenative budget whether to include closed schools or
not. But the tender budget needs to be >> there's a motion at table right now that's been second. So the motion on the floor is Miss's motion. >> Are we able to have discussion? >> Yeah. >> Yep. We have a motion in the second on the table is now a discussion. Correct.
>> So what is the plan that you're looking for? Miss Lazy, what do you want? I would like a detailed plan on not detailed plan, but at least a
please. I I respected everyone tonight. I've really sh um a detailed plan on an expected amount an an expected date of when the transition is going to start. Um when teachers could start moving out of
classroom. Um >> what about finances? >> What about mental health? because right now we don't have a financial um plan on that. >> And I'd also like to add in something with security. Um something that the
kids brought up that I didn't think of with trailers cuz I grew up in school going in trailers. >> No, I'm saying that if there are trailers or there are other things that are going to help accommodate a thousand students being inside these buildings
and then we are going to have to build on to them. There is a There may be trailers. What I wanted to bring that in was, has anyone here been in an actual active shooter situation? >> Please listen to her.
>> I have and it was this year with my students and we were outside and we are not guaranteeing that these children may or may not be outside. And until we have that clear plan, we cannot have a secure
knowledge of what we are planning on doing. And I think THAT we really need to take this into consideration. Is there any valid uh evidence to the fact of trailers?
We've had kids in Thompson with,00 kids and there were no trailers. >> We don't have Is there anything Was there anything that was said by our superintendent or our BA as to putting trailers on the schools? >> When I asked for specific >> I'm asking our superintendent.
>> She's speaking to someone else. >> Please let them let them have the conversation. Please. >> She's speaking to someone else. What I was going to say was when I asked for a specific plan for where these classrooms, >> I'm asking if the superintendent has
ever said that we are building trailers on middle schools. >> Sure. And then >> and then I'll continue my >> I can't answer. >> I'm waiting. You can get your question answered and then I'll answer mine. I'll ask mine.
Guys, we really need to have a conversation up here. So, >> all right. So, where we are right now, >> there's a motion on the floor to table. That was seconded. There's discussion on that motion. >> Okay. And then Miss Tobacco asked a
question to Dr. Al. >> I'm sorry. >> No, Mbco. I'm sorry, Jess. Uh, Mrs. Torres said that there's trailers being put in Thompson if we're a thousand people and I asked if there are any plans because I know that my kids were
in Thompson and there was,00 kids and there were no trailers. So, I've gotten calls and I've seen Facebook posts about this trailers and active shooter and kids crying and it is there's no basis of fact for that. back. >> No, what I So, my question was and my
specific question was, do we have a classroom layout of where these classrooms are going to go? Especially considering the special ed classrooms that there are going to be necessary there is more necessary space when you
are putting these programs into those buildings. Right? So, my question is do we have that information? And if that is if we are going to be having these specific programs in there, you're going
to need more space. So I'm asking if that is the case and we don't have that information. I was bringing up a point of order saying that we don't have enough information and I was also bringing the fact of what reality is
going to school now. Thank you. So right now >> motion table >> there is a motion to table that has been discussed. >> So there might be a motion a separate motion if Miss Minuise is willing to withdraw her motion to table.
>> What would be the separate motion? >> Well, I would actually move what we've discussed before is the alternate resolution which I move now that >> wait. So Miss Minuis's motion at table is
currently pending. If she agrees to voluntarily withdraw that motion, then you can make your motion. >> Can I hear her motion first? >> No. >> All right, I'll withdraw. Okay, I'll withdraw. >> Mr. Sabriios, can you second that motion? Are you okay?
>> I second the withdrawal >> now. Mr. Right. >> Yes. So, I would make a motion now that we reject the proposed closing of Leonard Elementary School and Native Sync Elementary School and direct the administration to prepare the 2026 2027
school year budget without school closings. >> I'm sorry, Mr. So there's a excuse me >> no >> it's a motion and a second on the floor now discussion on the mo the motion to
not close Leonardo and Navisync and prepare the budget based on that for the 2627 school year. >> That's the motion on the floor. This will still be on the table, correct? >> No, not if this is voted on and
approved. This is then the direction that the administration will take as it was laid out in executive session. >> Please, please let >> No, you can't. Don't push. >> Don't push me up against the wall. >> Please stop. Please. So, we have a
motion in a second on Mrs. motion. So, it's discussion. Does anybody have any discussion on this motion? Okay. Roll call. M. >> Mrs. Minions. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scholaski?
>> No. >> Mr. Sapparaski? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco? >> No. >> Mrs. Torres? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Weinstein? >> No. >> Mrs. Wright? >> Yes. >> Mr. Capone? >> No. >> Mr. either.
>> No. >> Okay. Now, >> do we have any other motions? >> I'd like to make a motion to table it. >> SECOND. >> May I? >> There's no there's no motion, I think, to do a motion to table right now.
>> Why? >> Because nobody's made a motion. The last motion just failed. >> The last Which one? I just made a motion to table it. >> Yeah, but what what are we tableling? There's no motion on the floor right now. >> 9C. Table 9 C. >> No.
>> There was a reconsideration on 9C to not close schools. >> That failed. That failed. >> I motion to vote on 9C. >> I made a motion to table 9C. >> And it was seconded before that.
>> All right. So now we have a motion for 9C to approve the closure of NASCAR. Mr. Tobacco just made the motion. My motion was first.
>> One second. Hold on a second. >> What is she making a motion to take? >> That's what I'm trying to say. There was no motion to >> Yes, she did. >> No, the board voted on Miss Wright's motion. That failed, >> right? And then I made the motion to
table it again. >> There's nothing to table failed. >> That's why I made the motion. >> The motion failed. >> So, and then there's a new motion by M. >> There's a new motion now by Miss
Tobacco, second up by Mr. Hang on. Hang on. If you want to have a subsidiary motion to table that, you can do that. >> No, but you're missing the point. And I made I made the motion first again after that one failed to table it.
>> Nothing to table because that motion failed. >> That was >> Oh my god. >> Mr. If there is no seat, then why are we voting? >> Because there's a there's a there's a
motion to put it back on. I just >> There's nothing to table at this point. >> Somebody can make a motion now. There is nothing right now on the floor pending to table. >> Do another motion. >> Yeah,
>> I I make another motion to vote on 9C. >> 9C is theirs. So, >> please let let us >> Your motion is a resolution authorizing the closing of Leonard. >> Okay. Is there a sec? Is there a second on that?
>> Second. >> Okay. >> So, there's a motion in second now. >> I'd like to make a motion. >> You want to make a motion to table that motion again? >> Okay. So there's a motion to table Miss Tobacco's
motion to close Davis and Leonardo. Is there a second ones motion to table? >> Second. >> Second by Mr. Saraski. >> Discussion. Roll call. Miss Dy on the motion to table Miss Tobago's
motion. >> Mrs. Minions. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gasi. No. >> Mr. Yes. >> Mrs. Tobacco. >> No. Mrs. Torres. >> Mrs. Torres.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Weinstein. >> No. >> Mrs. Wright. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capone. >> No. >> Mr. Aita. >> No. >> The motion. The table fails. Now there
is a motion to close Navy and Leonardo. that's currently on the floor. >> May I say >> we have a discussion? >> Last discussion. I urge the people that were hearing the comments and the concerns of this community for the first
time. We these are the exact same concerns that were there last year that are still not addressed. And I heard what that gentleman said at the end about litigation. And we need to
understand that if we go through with this, you are wasting taxpayer dollars because we are going to spend a whole lot more than 3.7 or five or whatever the number is today million dollars in closing these schools. I appreciate
those of you that are still listening. What >> Mr. Torres, if we are sued, >> we have insurance. >> I thought we blew through. >> We have insurance. >> We blew through that already. >> Jackie, this isn't your piggy bank. It's
>> not your piggy bank. >> Our children are not your piggy bank for those lawsuits. >> All right, we have a motion and discussion. >> Please don't Please go. Please >> children.
Let's go. This is >> this is a dereliction of your >> Mrs. Mrs. >> Yes, >> Mr. Sakarami. >> Before I vote, I just want to make a
comment that it is irresponsible at best to be putting any sort of plan in this in place when we have a superintendent that's leaving and we have nobody driving the ship. So, anybody voting yes for this obviously didn't hold up to their vote. >> No, >> Mrs. Tobacco.
>> Yes. Mrs. Torres, >> Mrs. Weinstein, >> yes. >> Mrs. Wright, >> no. >> Mr. Capone, >> yes. >> Mr. Aita, >> yes. >> Motion passes. >> I need a motion to approve items.
disgrace. >> Discussion. >> What are we voting 10? What are we voting? A through G. >> No. G through G >> on the business office consent agenda. >> I'm voting no on all the bill list. We
should be freezing spending. >> Mrs. Min, >> thank you for >> We're doing a I was asked to do a roll call on items A through G. This is office. >> And that's the bill list, right? Well, the bill list is
>> I'm voting no on all bills. >> So, you're yes, but on everything but no on D. >> No on. >> And is he? >> No. >> Oh, and I'm also voting no on Mr. Pulla's bills.
>> Well, that's on the bill. >> That's correct. >> Okay. Um, Mrs. Last I'm a no on the bill and yes on everything else.
>> Yeah. Okay. Mr. Sakras. >> No. >> On everything. >> On everything. >> Okay. Mrs. TV. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Torres. >> No. On the bills.
All right. Mrs. Weinstein. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Wright. >> I mean, yes, as up to the bills pertaining to Mr. Padulla. >> I'm sorry. The bills pertaining to >> Mr. Padoula.
>> Mr. Capone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Avida. >> Yes. Need a motion to approve item items 11 A through K and L1 through 28 >> under personnel. >> Second
personel >> 28. >> Can I have discussion on one item, please? >> Yes. Um, as for next year's school calendar, I'm and again trying to have uh a winter like this, probably the
percentage of that happening next year is low, but I'm just curious as to why there was only one snow day built into the calendar instead of two like we have this year. >> That was the decision of the committee. Um, the majority of the committee felt that there was only there only should be
one wedding day built in. >> All right. Well, I mean, I actually think that it worked well this year. Um, and unfortunately with an additional storm, now they have to go through the weekend and the last day is now Monday the 22nd of June. Actually think it would be better for us to actually built
into more snow days in next year's calendar. It's just my opinion. >> I agree. >> What was the reasoning for only putting one >> the committee? The majority of the committee wanted that. This is done by committee. >> Did they say why? Yeah, >> just they want they just wanted to have
more days tied to school. They didn't want to have kind of lingering things. Um even though you know because the trend isn't for us to have a snowy winter. Um so but but I do agree we are rolling the dice because you know we put this >> we build in the weather days last year
and it seemed to work out well for us. Um you know we could always this calendar even if we approve it tonight we can always amend it. We amend our calendar all the time so we could have further discussion if we wanted to add additional snow days. But I think at least so the public knows um when the
school holidays are, I think it's important that we probably at least approve this iteration and then if we want to add in days that we can >> decision and discuss. Yeah, >> we still >> I think I I was in the meeting. I think
there were a lot of working parents in there that didn't want a lot of extra holidays in the calendar and they would rather >> but but if we do have snow days, you're going to defer it anyway. >> Well, they would have to add it to the end of the year, but I think it it was a lot of um inconvenience to have random
days that weren't actual holidays in the in the schedule. >> Not as inconvenient. waiting. >> Not as interesting. >> We We're waiting for a vote. Um where are we on? >> Item 11 A through
>> K and one through 28 28. >> Any other discussion? Roll call. >> Mrs. Anyways, >> I am voting on 11A. No on the yeses and
yes on the nos. >> That's okay. Yes. On everything else? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Galaski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sarasi? >> No. >> Okay. >> Mrs. Mrs. Tobago. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Torres. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Weinstein. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Wright. >> Yes. >> Mr. Capone. >> Yes. >> Mr. Amita. >> Yes. Old business. >> Any old business? >> New business.
>> I do have some. >> I got some new business. I think this board should call on the town to share some of the pilot money that they've received throughout the years that they're not contributing to the school district. There's been several developments that have been erected around town. We're not getting the money
from it. The township is, but yet we're providing busing and seats in the classroom for these kids. And I'm calling on the board president and the board vice president to go to the township and ask them to share the pilot money with us, similar to neighboring towns that they have done.
I think and as I suggested in executive session, that should be step one before closing schools. Don't be scared to go talk to the town. They helped you guys get elected. Go talk to them and say, "Why don't you help us out?" >> The shared services meeting is scheduled for next week. >> Okay. So, in shared services, talk to
them about sharing the pilot money and also paying for our class 3 officers, which part of the original deal is they were going to pay for it and have since gone back on it. So, why don't you hold them to it? the board. >> I like to say from the vet services, I am going to be out of town because I do
have a family event next Thursday. So, I would like to recommend that either Mrs. Wright or Mr. Subrowski take my place on shared services because we really weren't consulted that this was the date and I said even in facilities and finance I wasn't available that day. So,
I can't change my plans and I won't for my family. I don't do that that way. asking you to. >> So, I would like to have Mrs. Wright or Mr. Sparowski take my place. >> I'd be happy to >> cuz I don't want to hold the meeting up.
>> I think Mr. Sarowski should I think that's a great idea. I second. Is that a motion? I second. >> No, it's not a motion. >> Yeah, but who's going to attend in your place? Mr. Sarasa, Mr. >> No, Mrs. Wright first, right? You said yes.
>> Yeah, I'm ready to go. >> I'm happy to fill in. >> All right. So, Miss Wright, it's Miss Torres, myself, and Mr. Kapone. >> Thank you. Because I can't change my >> Is is March 5th good for you? >> March, >> next Thursday.
>> Maybe you got >> Okay. So, Mr. Saras, any other new business? Uh, if I have something to say as a parent, do I say it as a board member up here or do I have to go down for public comment?
>> It's new board business. So, I'm asking if I have something to say about what was just passed, do I say it in new business as a board member here or do I have to walk down and do it for public comment? New business is to introduce.
>> I'm asking Mr. Burns, Miss back. >> If it's as apparent, As a board member, I would suggest stepping off the ties during public. >> But do you have to wait till public comment or you'll >> um I I'm going to reiterate some old business because I didn't have um
Thompson's information while we still have a crowd here. We have some plays coming up this month in March. Thompson is The Little Mermaid. It's on March 11th at 3 p.m. and the 12th and the 13th at 700 p.m. Thorne is Descendants March
14th at 400 pm, the 16th, 17th, and 18th at 700 p.m. Beayshore is Greece Jr. April 30th and May 1st at 700 p.m. North is Once Upon a Mattress March 13th and 14th. And on the 14th, they're having a
1:00 p.m. and a 700 p.m. South is doing Guys and Dolls March 12th, 13th, and 14th at 700 p.m. And from board members, we did get an email today with that invitation. So, I hope everybody goes out and supports our schools.
>> That's all I have. Okay. Anything else? Business or old business? Okay. >> Like now like to open up to public comment. 3 minutes time. Please stay tuned for the record. >> Deon Rafferty Leonardo.
Well, boy, you guys have a lot of work to do. You are now in the middle of a major redistricting and trying to get a referendum passed all while searching for a superintendent. Who's leading that process? >> Crickets. That's what I thought. No
leadership. Only thing you guys are missing are big red noses. >> Under that answered my first question. Thank you. Second, um Dr. Alone, what does the district use for benchmarking student growth success?
We have a digital platform that has a benchmarking assessment >> at the elementary school. What do you use? >> Same thing. >> What's the name of it? >> I right. And is there a secondary benchmarking tool >> in middle school? Yes. >> Okay. The elementary is there.
>> What >> is there at the elementary? >> Yeah. >> It's I Ready? Right. Okay. So if we were to make a motion that would get rid of I ready, would we then be able to benchmark student growth success?
We do have other mechanisms that we >> other mechanisms kind of like okay >> examples for instance elementary dibbles assessment >> right and the one that you report to the state is >> the state >> which one do you report for your own report >> standardized state assessment NJSLA NJPA
>> okay so if you were to get rid of I ready you would be basically getting rid of the premier benchmarking student assessment metric that you use. Correct. >> One of them. Yes.
>> Yeah. Okay. Reason why I asked is I remember at the initial HA report, somebody who's new to the board made a motion to get rid of the primary district's student growth benchmarking tool and then didn't realize there
wasn't really a backup plan. Welcome to the big leagues. My third question is Mr. Aetta. >> Yes. >> Do you have any qualifications in finance whatsoever? >> In what? >> Finance. >> You're the president of the finance committee on this board. Correct.
>> Why am I qualified? >> What are your qualifications to be looking at finance? >> Not. Okay. Thank you. I'm going to be seeing you very, very frequently and I You enjoy the deputy mayor badge for a day and the pat on the head.
>> Thank you, >> Erin Torres Middletown. I kind of like this because what I've been asking for is to be able to see the faces of the people that I'm having the conversation with. Now, it's personal. I have a five-year-old entering kindergarten who may or may not be able
to start in the school with her sister in September in a place where she may not reach the toilet if there are toilets if it's done in time because we still don't have a plan. I am disgusted.
I cannot stand the fact that we sat here, we had all of these different things that we've been talking about and there are five people up here that had no good work because it was much better than the one I have at this time to even
speak except to make little comments here and there asking about a I don't know I'm living asking about it's even real that there's trailers asking about it, but if it's real that we're out here talking about it, you
don't know what it's like to live dayto day in a school. All you care about are the people that donated to your campaign that are in your year telling you that your taxpayers should deserve this. And that is not our role as board members.
We are liaons between the district and the community and the community and the district back to the taxpayers of the town. That is why we have a separate school board from the town council. That is why we control this budget and that
is a dereliction of your duty if you are working with other people to make it your way. Chef Mtown resident. I'm going to ask the same question that I asked before, which was again, thank you for telling us why the plan was a terrible plan. I
agree with a lot of what you said, but for those of you who voted that this was a great plan. I still have not heard from one of you as to why the plan is a good plan. Miss Scalasi, I know it's a really difficult decision. I don't envy that you have to make it, but could you do us the courtesy of telling us why you
think this is a good plan? Thank you. I would ask I would ask everyone else to to answer as well, but I don't think that I'll get an answer. >> I was actually going to read something prior to my vote. I don't know if anyone cares at this point to listen to it. >> We're still here against the wall.
So, >> I'm just going to make believe I never announced my vote. But, um, before I announce my vote, I wanted to take this opportunity by expressing my sincere appreciation for the time, effort, and heart that so many members of our community have poured into advocating
for their schools. The outpouring of love and support from families, staff, and residents have been powerful, and it reinforces why this is such a special town. What I have seen throughout this process is not just passion for individual
schools but deep love for our children and our sense of community. That commitment has truly been incredible to witness. I also want to say this clearly especially for the people who continue to frame this as a north versus south
side. We are one community. Please, I respected you. Please, >> but I respected you when you spoke. >> Please let her speak. Families across this town are fighting for what they
believe in. And I truly believe that that that comes from a place of love, concern, and commitment. Even when we disagree, we all share the care for our children, schools and community, which should matter more than division.
Let me be very clear. I have no personal agenda, have not been persuaded by either side of this. I have heard everyone and have not met individually or have had private group meetings. I have said this many times before. I vote
individually. Whether or not some of you believe this, this has been very difficult as someone who is vote and a strenuous decision for me and a decision that I have not taken lightly.
My family, my personal family, my children have been neglected. I understand and respect how deeply everyone feels and I have worked hard to listen, reflect and respond to the emails. But I also believe that
something needs to be done. In making this decision, I have taken into careful consideration how school closures >> Oh, no. Sorry. That was I'm sorry. In making this decision, I have taken into careful consideration how school
closures would affect our children, their stability, their routines, their communities, and their overall overall well-being. I have also taken into consideration how raising taxes again would affect the
broader community, including families, seniors, and residents who are feeling the financial strain. Because last year I voted no to close schools. This decision has weighed heavily on me and I know the outcome will be difficult
for many. I have always come from a good place and will continue to do so. I know it's not easy. I know it's easier said than done, but my hope is that regardless of where we stand, we move forward as one
community with respect for one another and a shared commitment to do what's best for our children. Continuing to delay difficult decisions only increases uncertainty and can create even greater challenges for our students, family, and community in the
long run. After taking this on to account and with full understanding of the weight of my decision, I voted yes. And I'm sorry. >> Well, Melissa Grandell Belelfford, if you were sorry, you wouldn't have wrote
that before you listened to all the parents speak. Given Given You had it written out before the meeting started, I don't want to cut into my time, please. Given the serious concerns surrounding this vote, the troubling optics, the rush timeline,
the lack of clear data, and the continued refusal to fully answer questions, I believe the public deserves better. Transparency, accountability are not optional. When decisions of this magnitude are made without clear facts and open dialogue, it erodess trust. The New Jersey School Ethics Act is very
clear. Board members must not only act members must not avoid not only actual conflicts but reasonably expected to impair. Wait, sorry, I'm like so shaking right now. The New Jersey Act is very clear. Board
members must not avoid not only actual conflict of interest, but also any actions that might reasonably be expected to impair their judgment, objectivity, independence, or judgment. I know I said this before, but now I'm asking members of the community, if you
believe that this standard is not being met, then we have a right to file an ethics complaint. The process takes time, but ethics matter, public trust matters, accountability matters. Those people on that side, they care a lot
about politics. They spend a lot of time on Fox News. They spend a lot of time if they have a lot of ethics complaints, none of their cronies are going to want to do business with them. I also want to say that even though a vote was made, members of the public absolutely have
the right to write to the county superintendent and express opposition to a school closure in New Jersey. I urge everybody to write to them. They review the district's submission. They make a recommendation to the NJO8 and they evaluate enrollment capacity, fiscal
input, and equity concerns. I think that this plan, not only does it take into consideration any of these things, IT ACTUALLY HIGHLIGHTS ALL THE PROBLEMS with these three things. So, if everybody can take a minute and please file an ethics complaint and also write
to the county superintendent, I appreciate it. Scott McFersonson, Middletown resident. How do I explain this vote that happened tonight to my fourth grader and seventh grader? I understand that it's my job as a
parent to do that, but how am I going to put this into words to explain it to them? This fight, and thank you all for saying it, this fight's not over. that litigation that was mentioned. Oh, it's coming.
>> And that individual who spoke, he talked about emails, he talked about text messages, he said to have a real thought about it. And someone who's dealt with electronic evidence before, metadata, it's a real
thing. I didn't think I'd be at a loss for words up here, but I kind There's a certain board member or board members who've said, "Well, it's just two tiny little schools. It's just the parents of two tiny little schools." It was clear tonight that it wasn't just
the parents of two tiny schools. There was a lot of schools that were represented here tonight. This fight's not over. First, everyone, everyone in this room, everyone watching at home, email the county superintendent. Send him letters. Reach
out to the county superintendent because he's the one that needs to approve this. You need to tell him that this was not done based on facts, on data, on evidence. You didn't even look into how much it's going to cost for the extra
busing, for the construction, how long it's going to take. And what are you going to do if litigation's filed and then you're stuck and you start moving things and a judge somewhere along the line one year, two years from now says, "Well, you shouldn't have done that. You couldn't have done that." How do you
unwind that? How much does that cost? Be better. Do better. Eric Dow, a Middletown resident. And at this point, I think I'm talking to an audience that is not up on that stage, but I'd encourage everybody to listen. People in the community can feel it. I
think at least some of you can, too. This is a Pandora's box that you do not want to open. It still can be fixed. That lid can still be put on. If this goes through, Middletown will never be the same. We've noticed all the schools are on the north side, including
the ones you're going to close one year later. And this is what town elders have been trying to avoid for generations. And if anyone is being told that schools will close and that the affected citizens will go home and eventually
forgive and forget, that reflects ignorance of human nature and ignorance of human history. Human nature. If an army tries to save something, they fight a good fight and that that thing is not saved, they do go home and they grab their torches and
their pitchforks. Does anybody want this human history? If a community pays a lot in taxes more and more and more and gets nothing tangible in return, what does history tell us? Do we really want this?
We don't. Let me give you an example of a conversation that will happen very soon. Parents from Navinc will be sitting next to parents from Lindra at a travel baseball game and they'll ask a fair question. Hey, we heard you guys sent an
email to a certain board member based on a text message that was flying around Winoft based on lies to scare up fear-mongering and encouraging that board member to close quote those two little schools up north.
Did you guys send that text message? Did you guys send that email? How do you think that conversation's going to go? And how do you think versions of that conversation are going to go for the next decade? Anybody who thinks they can wake up tomorrow and preach, okay, we're
one Middletown. Good luck stitching that back together if this is not fixed very quickly. We are about to descend into a very scary place that this town has been trying to avoid for as long as anybody can remember. I know there are people
out there that care deeply about Middletown and could do something about it. So, we hope we get a very different piece of news next week. Thank you. My name is Rob Torres. My wife's on the
board here, uh, from my comments. Um, I don't know that any of you quite understand or have been through. I don't know your life stories. I don't know where you've been, what your past was, where you've grown up. I don't know that
any of you have actually gone through the experience of what you're doing right now. I have. I've moved around quite a bit. My dad was in the army and for many reasons we moved around, my family moved around. It had a profound
impact on me. Profound. All right. And I felt lost and I was a different person until I found a school that made me feel like home. And
when I bought my house, we're living there. I did it because I wanted to make sure that my kids had a stable school system that they never have to experience what
I went through. And I am so frustrated and disappointed that I have to go home to my daughters who loves her school so much. She loves neighbor. You robbed that. You
robbed her of that. She loves her teachers. She's so kind and smart and talented. And while my wife and I have a lot to do with that, those teachers >> that administration, >> please make eye contact.
>> This is what you did. >> That administration, they have helped my child feel safe and have a Oh, and you're taking that from her and you're taking the experience for her to
go to school with her sisters and her siblings and you're putting her into an uncertainty because you guys DON'T HAVE A PLAN. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING. Anybody who's anybody who is doing this for the
right reasons would see that this is wrong. It is wrong. You're making these decisions for the wrong reasons. You do not make a decision like this with so
many unanswered questions from the public that you know yourself, but there are no answers to. And whether it's through incompetence or through corruption or both, that is the only explanation for this decision,
there is no logical reason that this decision would have been made with the facts presented and the lack of facts that were identified. And the fact that we are in this position and I now have to go home to my kids and explain that
to them crushes me. So to all of you who make light of this and make smart comments and think this is a game, shame on you. Uh there were a lot of questions asked tonight and I actually had planned to
ask the same questions but because it was so obvious to so many people the unanswered questions I didn't have to. There were questions around how do we measure academic success of closing these schools? Why do we think this will drive academic success? How do we
understand if this will actually save us any money or if we're creating more costs that are even higher than the cost savings? there was why do we think it's okay to put 120% capacity in the middle schools? Why do we think that they will
get a good education? Why do we think that they will be safe? And the answer repeatedly was, "I don't know." But what I heard was, "I don't care." Because you still voted for it without having any of the answers. If you cared if the schools
would be overpop populated and the kids would be safe, you would have tabled it or you would have voted no. You would have said, "Work on the budget. Come on, do the numbers. Get get dirty. Get figure out take some of these suggestions. Take a minute." But
instead, you said, "I don't care that we don't know the academic impact, the safety impact, the financial impact of these decisions. Let's just do it anyway. That was the decision that was made tonight. And it is very important that
everyone understands that we didn't say I don't know. We said I don't care. >> Hi, Leonardo. Um, okay. So, just so I understand what happens next or maybe the rest of us.
So, now you actually put together a budget. This was the idea of we can't put a budget together because we don't know if we're closing schools. So, when will this actual new budget be presented? >> We have until March 27th.
>> Okay. So, you have until March 27th. And when this projected uh and when the projected construction costs, new busing costs of moving summer overtime for teachers who have to pack their classrooms and move show to be more than the 3 million deficit. Will there be
option to reverse and come up with a real plan that works. >> No. >> No. Okay. >> And since this was also based on projections of next year it's $6 million overage and then next year it's $10
million overage, will this next budget address how those millions will not come up for discussion in the following years? We will have to come up for discussion in the following years. >> No, you you sold this that we were three
million over and that it would be six million next year and 10 million 10 million the following if we don't do something >> right and that will >> so now we're doing something. So if it doesn't do that >> fine singular fix
>> all I'm saying is that we as the parents got to be the town's punching bag for raising taxes last year to save schools. I can't imagine the you will feel for failing us and costing taxpayers more for closing them and not closing this
budget. Realize how silly, right? >> Kristen Bolton, Middletown resident. I wasn't going to speak tonight because I really thought that this was going to go differently. Let me be very clear. We are not one Middletown. Last year, I met with Dr. Alone Amy. We gave you real
data with closing the schools. You just made Middletown South area richer and Middletown North poorer, socially disadvantaged. We gave you those numbers. You didn't listen. You just brought this on yourself. We are not one
Middletown. You broke it. You all broke it. You did not come together. If we were one Middletown, our board would be one Middletown, and we're not. >> Hey, Gosh. I wasn't planning on speaking either, but it's a s day unfortunately for all
of us. Um, it's s for kids and I think I need to remind you why we are here. We are here to invest in our kids. Our kids are our future. It doesn't matter what you do here or there. The kids, we here
for kids. And if you are there on the board as a volunteers, agree nobody forced you to be there. you made your conscious decision to step in and serve our kids. I don't see how you serving our kids. Again, we have a new we need
leadership in this position. If you decide to step in, you need to be a leader. We are now a laughing stack of New Jersey, of Mood County, of I don't know, the whole country. Look across the
border. A town next to us. We don't need to look far away. I'm from Poland originally. We don't need to look to Poland. We can look to Homedale. Look what Homedale has done. They put their kids first. How? They work with the township. I don't
need a mayor to go and cut the ribbon to open a building. I need a mayor to step in and work with our board. Where is the mayor now? We closing schools. He is nowhere to be seen. Shouldn't be heol involved in that decision making. Is he
putting why we have no cooperation? Why why are we so quietly making decisions without consideration of the under underlying problems? First of all, closing schools is not a
solution. Our problem is actually overspending. If we don't actually cut our waist and spend less, we we can cross all the schools and we still going to be overbudget with the way we managing the
money. There is mismanagement. There is no you should be providing a budget A and budget B. There is no budget whatsoever. We have to re in our spending. Okay. Few years ago and correct me if I'm wrong, that's the question for administration.
We switched our health insurance. Is that correct? To selfinsure district. >> Yes. Okay. So, I believe these were good intentions. I don't believe anyone had bad intentions to do it. Did it promise
to save us money? Did it happen over the last few years? Did we save money on that switch? >> Yes. >> Every year we save money. >> Went up 34% this year. Thankfully, we're not in it.
I'm I'm I'm asking question. Did we if your budget was 30 million, did we stay within that budget or do are we now 10% over the budget with the health costs? >> That's my question. >> Are we over the budget or not?
>> In the current year, >> yes. >> Not right now. >> I'm hearing we are. So we're not controlling our spending until you take a control of our spendings and
re-evaluate your decisions. We never going to dig out ourselves out of the hole, financial hole. You can close all the schools and we're going to be back here again every single year. Control your spending. Closing schools is not
>> three minutes. Thank you. >> Hi Michelle, my two kids. I actually have a question mainly directed at Amy. Instead of just doing one budget like in most normal corporations, can you do multiple
budgets and then provide them to the board to actually vote on and maybe take things from each budget to piece it actually together? how any other corporation would work. >> I mean, that's what I do almost every
day in my day job and I work a lot of hours to get it done. Can we do that? >> Oh, and then Chris, I really would love for you to explain what your finance credentials are. I'm very confused. He was elected.
>> I know, but he's president of finance. >> Maybe we can go through everyone. >> I love that. >> Amy, can you explain to them what independence means? >> Maybe you need to give them a lesson
>> because it's not just an appearance, right, or on paper. It's how people view you. You guys really need to do better here, honestly. And as someone who I don't have the time to pour into Miltown public schools, and I wish I did because
my kids are here and they are what matters, I'm very upset to see that this is how this is run. And looking in at the finance department, I think there's a lot better out there.
Emily Donahghue, Middletown resident. Um, definitely wasn't going to speak tonight, but um, you asked us to trust you. You said the kids come first. You said this is a new beginning.
I'm just going to wait until I have attention. You have broken your oath. You have broken law, rules, process. You chose this. If meetings weren't had, options
weren't on the table, how did you vote? Seriously, how did you vote? You asked us to trust us to trust you. You took an oath. But obviously speaking to you guys, doesn't matter. This has
been the plan all along. You hired Haber to support your planning. I saw in your redacted words that you didn't do the right way. You literally said you hired them to support your planning.
Here we are a year later. How devastating is that? But I'm done talking to the board because you do not listen. We cannot trust you. You are not honest. We have told you this is not over. And it's not. So, I'm going to ask you
guys, don't go home and tell your kids that the schools are closing cuz they're not. You can't break the rules and get away with it. You didn't follow process. Do you know your own school closure policy? Did you do the things you didn't? So, don't go home and tell your
kids that their schools are closing. Tell them that people that have the wrong intentions voted to close their schools and that people that are not afraid to do the right thing will save them because litigation is here and you
can thank yourself for getting into it. Prayers can't help us. >> I'm Maggie Wel. Um, I got up and talked before and actually thought I was pretty respectful when you asked me to stop speaking um at my three minutes. I stopped uh and then kicked myself for it
for a little while. Um, but I I I am curious, Mr. What do you have any finance background to head the finance committee? I'm asking a direct question. >> Okay. Do you would would you be open to
financial guidance? >> Not from me. Not not from me. >> Okay. >> So So with with that in mind, you've you've voted to close two schools with more, I'm sure, to to follow.
>> Yeah. Three. Sorry. Yes. Sorry. My I'm baffled. Um the is is there is there a way now that this has been voted on with with the group up here. Is there a way for you to redact that?
Is there a way to come back from this if you put a financial plan together? >> Was that my three minutes? >> That's up to the No, that's up to the That's up to the board. >> You're the board. >> I am not. I'm one of nine. But but I'm
looking at all of you. >> There was a discussion regarding this issue in executive session. The consensus of the majority of the the board was the action that was taken tonight. It wasn't made by one person. It was made by a majority of the board, >> right? Which was
>> the administration needed direction >> and there was an alternate plan >> was to table it. Wasn't that your >> thought was to table the conversation to put a better plan in place?
>> Yeah, >> I guess that's probably my three minutes. >> Maybe they should have explained the alternative plan. >> Maybe >> maybe if everyone had all the information this way.
>> It's really it's really shameful. Mark Sapparowski. Can you get up here and talk fairly? I get up here and talk as a taxpayer. In my business, when an employee gives their two weeks notice, I shake their hand and I thank them for their service.
>> So, as a taxpayer, I think anybody that's leading this district should be somebody that's going to be here committed for the future. And a plan of this magnitude requires that. You already spoke. >> Thank you. I can speak again. Um Emily
Donghue, Middletown resident. Mr. Burns, this question is for you. You guys just admitted that you had a conversation in executive session about school closures. Is that correct? >> Yes. We have discuss the two proposals and the two options
that include the personnel matters as well as the potential disposition of real property which are acceptable exceptions to the open public. >> Okay. So are school closures subject to that? >> What >> are school closures subject to executive
session >> if they contain personnel? >> No. I'm sorry, Mr. Burns. They don't. Personnel? Yes. You brave for executive session to talk about personnel. You don't have conversations about school
closures in private. Is that correct? >> So you're going on the record, Mr. Burns, that school closures are not required to be spoken about in public. Can you use your mic? So that >> conversation in executive session
centered around the two proposals which included personnel matters and the potential disposition of real property. That is the answer. >> So how did you come up with school closure of specific schools? Because
that's not subject to be excluded from a public session and you know it. You you know it. And school closures must be they must be had in public. You all know this. >> And they were discussed in public tonight by evidence of the fact it's
12:30 in the morning and there was 2 and 1/2 hours of public comment regarding potential board action before the motion was made. >> Did you have conversation in private >> about personal? >> No, I'm asking a very because you're all going to have to go on vote for this.
Did you did you have conversations about this in private session? Mr. Aetta, I'll ask you, >> do you have to get back to me because I can I can do a followup email. Can you speak to the mic?
>> I see a question. I actually supposed to direct my questions to you. So, Mr. Avita, did you have conversations in in private session, executive session about school closures? It's a simple question. Yes or no? >> What is the Can you speak to the microphone?
>> I truly I can't hear you. >> The answer is no. >> No. >> That's why you did it. >> We sure did. >> I know that. I I know this isn't fun. This is probably why you have it in
private session. This is your responsibility. If you're going to do school school closures, you have it in open session. You do not get to hide behind the doors, get somebody to get on your side, and then close the schools. You broke your
own policy. You broke your own law, and now this is where we're going to have to move forward from. So, thank you all for speaking tonight about the conversations you had in private that should have been done in public. Anybody else?
>> Have a motion to adjourn the meeting. Please.