WEBVTT METADATA Video-Count: 1 Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=5iFlKFkAMNw Part: 1 1 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:19.840 Now we'll move into the business meeting. Thank you everyone for attending tonight's meeting on Tuesday uh July 28th. I'll now read the statement of open meeting and public participation. Pursuant to the Open 2 00:00:19.840 --> 00:00:35.840 Public Meeting Act, chapter 231 PL1975, adequate notice as defined by section 3D of chapter 231 PL1975 has been made by regular mail or email on the 11th day of January 2026 from the board of education offices maintained at 3 00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:50.879 1014 Route 601 Skilman to the following. The Curry News, McGomery News, McGomery Township Clerk, and the Rocky Hill Burough Clerk. The board reserves the right to enter into executive session during all meetings of board of board of education. Is the school board's intention to conclude this meeting no 4 00:00:50.879 --> 00:01:07.600 later than 9:00 p.m.? Roll call, please. Valentine. >> Dr. Wang, >> here. >> Miss Duffer, >> here. >> Miss Spina, >> present. >> Miss Franco Herman, >> present. >> Miss Warland, >> here. >> Miss Harris. 5 00:01:07.600 --> 00:01:28.240 Miss Mr. Nunes. Miss Nar >> here. Mr. [laughter] Just forgive me. Uh, please rise as we salute the flag. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the 6 00:01:28.240 --> 00:01:45.840 republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Looks like we do not have our student rep here with us today. So, we'll move right into superintendent's report and presentation. Superintendent Mlak. 7 00:01:45.840 --> 00:02:03.040 >> Good evening everyone. I'm proud to announce um our findings or our results from the NJAC. So, the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, NJQAC, is the New Jersey Department of Education statewide monitoring and accountability 8 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:18.560 system used to evaluate the overall effectiveness of school districts. I am pleased to report the district's 2026 NJQAC results reflect our continued commitment to excellence and confirm our status as a high performing district. As 9 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:34.720 recognized by the state, the district earned outstanding scores across all five areas of evaluation. In instruction and programming, we received a 95%. Fiscal management 100%. Governance 100%. 10 00:02:34.720 --> 00:02:51.760 Operations 97% and personnel 88%. These results reflect the collective efforts of our staff, administrators, and the board of education in providing highquality educational programs and responsible stewardship of district resources. >> So, congratulations to the district. 11 00:02:51.760 --> 00:03:08.000 >> Congratulations, you and your staff. Well done. >> Excellent scores. >> Yeah. >> All right. For tonight. >> Thank you, Superintendent McLolin. And again, thank you. Thank uh thanks squad to you and your staff for that excellent report and those excellent results. We 12 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:22.640 now move to committee representative reports. I do not see anyone from MTA here this evening. >> And Mike said he wasn't coming because he didn't have one. >> Okay. So, we'll move into any board member delegate representative reports. Hearing none, we'll move right into 13 00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:38.959 board committee reports. Assessment curriculum and instruction committee report. Christina Christine. Yeah. I don't believe there was no um operations facilities and finance committee board member Franco Harris. Yeah. 14 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:58.319 HarrisonF [laughter] met July 7 and that whole meeting was a conversation continued conversation that began in May around um the proposal from our broker Brown and Brown on um you 15 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:13.439 know GLP1 medications and their healthcare benefits. So no um decisions were made at that meeting. We will continue to have that conversation. Um and we will share with the whole board at executive 16 00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:30.160 session um what we had discussed. We have our um Jim Finn from Brown and Brown here with us today who will um be sharing some of that information at executive session. So I'm >> any questions. 17 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:46.560 I noticed the uh in the off notes uh there was a discussion for the vendor list and make agreement um was not noticed there. >> I think that that conversation happened though after the meeting the vendor list so that was not part of the meeting 18 00:04:46.560 --> 00:05:03.120 agenda >> so that that's I have nothing to report. >> Okay. But I think I feel it's would be good to include it in the notes. I don't know if new business session. So the off meeting ended, the official OFF meeting ended 19 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:19.600 and um uh our usual staff who takes notes were not was not present when this conversation happened. So that's why the that there were no notes to capture that because it also wasn't part of the agenda. >> That was a separate conversation and I 20 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:38.080 believe you were a guest at that meeting. So also you know >> that that was not brought by me but by four but again That was not part of the agenda. >> Okay. >> Uh policy communications committee PP. >> We did not meet. We're hopefully going 21 00:05:38.080 --> 00:05:52.560 to be able to meet tonight. We'll figure out we'll get better. >> And HRC did not meet in July. The board ignore uh hereby acknowledges correspondence to the board. At this time, I entertain a motion to enter into executive session. So move second. 22 00:05:52.560 --> 00:06:08.160 >> Been properly moved and enter and properly moved uh and seconded to enter into executive session. All those in favor say I. >> I have a question. Uh Patrick, uh I did not see the executive session meeting agenda listed there. Uh did I miss 23 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:24.960 anything in the system? >> No, you did not. I will I will um give that in executive session. I have that. >> So you can announce it's for personnel and negotiations. >> Yes. Um so as people know executive session is for personnel and negotiation >> HIV concept. >> Yes and HIV. 24 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:43.600 >> Um so again uh entertain a motion. All those in favor say I. >> Post. Same right. Extensions. We are now in executive session. >> Okay. >> At this time I'll entertain a motion to reconvene and open session. 25 00:06:43.600 --> 00:07:00.000 >> Second. [laughter] It's been properly moved and second to reconvene the open sessions. Any questions on the motion? All those hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> All those opposed, same right. We now back in open session. Oh, roll 26 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:18.960 call, please. Thank you. >> Dr. Wang, >> here. >> Miss Becker, >> present. >> Miss Fina, >> present. >> Miss Franco Herman, >> present. Miss Warland >> Harris, 27 00:07:18.960 --> 00:07:36.160 Mr. Nunes, Miss Narun >> here, >> Mr. T >> here. Again, thank you all who are here for your patience. As I said, we're going to move it around. We're going to move now to new business from the public. The board of education welcomes and encourages input from the public. 28 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:51.919 Members of the public are allotted one opportunity to bring any new visits to the board for a maximum up to a maximum of three minutes per speaker. All comments must be directed to the board. Before you make your comment, please state your full name and address and enter both on the Chromebook provided. Being mindful of privacy rights 29 00:07:51.919 --> 00:08:08.319 regarding students, board employees, and board members. And to avoid any potential liability on the part of the speaker, the board discourages defamatory and discreditious remarks. The public comment portions of the meeting are not structured as question and answer sessions. The board may need to refer an issue to the superintendent 30 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:21.599 if the issue has not been handled through the appropriate chain of command, usually starting at the school level. Responses may be provided at the end of this session. New business from the public comment portion is now open. Do we have anyone 31 00:08:21.599 --> 00:08:41.919 any new comments or any new business hearing? And seeing none, we will move on. At this time, I'll entertain a motion to approve the June 16th, 2026 business meeting minutes, June 16th, 2026 executive session minutes, June 26, 2026 32 00:08:41.919 --> 00:08:58.080 special meeting minutes, and June 26, 2026 executive session minutes. >> Some moved. Second. >> It's been properly moved and second to accept the minutes. Any questions on the motion? >> Hearing none. All those in favor say I. I. I. 33 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:12.880 >> All those opposed, same right. Extensions. Moving on. Action agenda items. Public comment. The board of education welcomes and encourages input from the public. Members of the public are allotted one opportunity to address the board 34 00:09:12.880 --> 00:09:28.240 regarding the action agenda items only for up to a maximum three minutes per speaker. All comments must be directed to the board. Before you make your comment, please state your full name and address and enter both on the Chromebook provided. Being mindful of privacy rights regarding students, board 35 00:09:28.240 --> 00:09:43.920 employees, and board members. And to avoid any liability on the part of the speaker, the board discourages defamatory and discourteous remarks. The public comment portions of the meeting are not structured as question and answer sessions, but rather are offered as opportunities for the public to share their thoughts with the board. The board 36 00:09:43.920 --> 00:10:02.000 may need to refer an issue to the superintendent if the issue has not been handled through the appropriate chain of command, usually starting at the school level. Responses may be provided at the end of this session. Any public comments on the action agenda items hearing and seeing none at this time, 37 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:18.399 I'll entertain a motion to adopt action agenda items 1.1 to 4.3. >> So moved. Second. It's been properly moved and second to adopt the Jack action agenda items 1.1 through 4.3. Any 38 00:10:18.399 --> 00:10:59.839 questions on the motion? >> We discussed after now. >> Yeah. >> Now. Okay. Um then yes. Find this here. >> Sorry guys. So it's 1.2 policy second reading reading 39 00:10:59.839 --> 00:11:15.200 >> policy 2365 acceptable use of generative artificial intelligence. So I just wanted to get clarification. So it talks about the district's AI plan. This is on the second page. Will [cough] include [clears throat] 40 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:33.200 uh shoot >> and the policy is 2365. >> 2365 >> and you're looking >> Yes. Yep. So second page number five. It says the procedure. So I I had mentioned this previously and I just want to get clarification. a procedure to inform 41 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:48.079 parents and receive parental consent in the beginning of the school year for the student to be permitted to use AI for assignments in accordance with this policy in the district's AI plan. The way it's written I'm interpreting is that a parents could 42 00:11:48.079 --> 00:12:04.240 say no right to is for saying you want to receive parental consent for them to be permitted to use AI. Do we have like if if we're keeping it as written, there could be the anticipation that parents will choose to say, "No, I don't want my 43 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:19.920 child to participate in AI." Do we have like a a plan for how that would work for when there are assignments that are AI based? Like at the high school level, we had discussed that there might be an assignment that says, you know, have AI 44 00:12:19.920 --> 00:12:36.320 generate an analysis of this text. give your critiques on what the AI has generated. Now, if a parent has said, "No, I don't consent to my child using AI." We need to make sure that teachers have the ability to create >> two different things like an alternate assignment that both does the same 45 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:51.040 assessment >> and takes the same amount of time >> because that's going to be very I just want to make sure >> I think we need to change the wording. Okay, that's what I'm just wondering like if we're saying that parents we're saying parents can say no, I don't want my child to participate in any AI at 46 00:12:51.040 --> 00:13:07.360 all, then we just I'm just trying to think about what were those ramifications of that. >> So if we amend this, >> so this test policy gave that as an option. >> You you weren't required to choose it. Um and I think you're right. if you do 47 00:13:07.360 --> 00:13:22.880 choose it. I think that it's going to be very difficult for our our uh teaching staff to be able to implement that with fidelity. Um and I know that the policy also requires that we develop a uh implementation plan that the 48 00:13:22.880 --> 00:13:38.959 administration develop an implementation plan. >> Um so but that that that is for the use of generative um artificial intelligence uh for all grade levels. Um, but I I I I think you may want to give consideration to whether or not you're going to 49 00:13:38.959 --> 00:13:54.399 require prior parental consent for the use of of AI because I think that even at the elementary level, it's being used by teachers um for uh implementing certain uh certain programs and curriculum. It's probably even part of some of the software that we're using. 50 00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:12.079 >> Yes, it is. Yes. >> Spell check. >> So, do we take it off? >> You may you may want to table this. >> Okay. um and and take a look at it rather than to simply splice it up right now. You may want to table this >> and and take a look at it. 51 00:14:12.079 --> 00:14:28.639 >> That's something I mentioned at the first policy discussion meeting and uh I believe the discussion was because the school district is uh developing this AI district planning which would fall actually under the ACI committee meeting 52 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:44.800 for review. I'm not sure if you guys have will have a summer ACI meeting, but we are going to have a policy meeting soon. So, I agree with Steve. Maybe we should table this and continue discuss the language here. >> Correct. >> Yeah. 53 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:59.760 >> This is this has come up in a number of districts where the stress estimate policy has gone forward without paying particular attention to that provision. [clears throat] Um unlike parental consent which is appropriate for many other things. you know, statutoily if parents want to opt out of uh family 54 00:14:59.760 --> 00:15:16.399 life curriculum or um health curricula um they're permitted to do that and it and you and you provide an alternative um educational opportunity for those students but something like AI which is used as unwittingly we could be implementing this as part of our our 55 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:32.079 educational courseware. So I think you you want to take a look at this. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I was just going to ask, can we hold off until the plan is done >> or do we need to >> or do we need to get the policy first? >> I think that we need to table it, bring 56 00:15:32.079 --> 00:15:47.680 it back to policy and then bring it back for first review again so that it would then be adopted in October. >> Okay. And then as far as >> I mean September >> September >> as far as that goes in terms of signoffs anyway we are implement like we did say that that's something that we're going 57 00:15:47.680 --> 00:16:04.480 to have in embedded into the like Genesis forms all the acceptable use forms the acceptable use is going to have something separate acknowledges is it >> acknowledge that they've read the plan not so that's how I think that we >> just needs to 58 00:16:04.480 --> 00:16:19.600 >> interpreted number five originally was that they were just going to sign off that they've read the policy, but now that we're having this discussion, it looks like it's more of a um proactive like consent that they would even use it, not just about the policy. So, >> well, what you're what you're what you 59 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:36.000 what you've just read read um uh with regard to that policy provision, it would mean that a parent could opt their child out >> of the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom, which I do not think is what I do not think is what you want to do here. That is not we wanted parents 60 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:52.240 to sign off that they read the recipe in Genesis. So >> and it may be and it may be that parents can exercise their option with regard to uh their children using artificial intelligence to to to to do projects at home or independent study or things of that nature. But in terms of the 61 00:16:52.240 --> 00:17:07.919 classroom instruction, I I think it's I think it's unavoidable that this is going to be part of that process. >> So you say like project at home, would that be like homework that they had to take home? Yes. >> Okay. So then that would that would >> be a parent to say I'm not allowing you 62 00:17:07.919 --> 00:17:24.480 to do this assignment because it has AI and that's my feeling it's I don't want you using it then >> and then is there an expectation that the teacher provides an alternative? >> Yes. >> Okay. So then then we're still back to the idea of >> but that happens that's that's something that happens. I don't want my child to 63 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:40.640 you know read this book. >> Yes. No, I of course I'm just saying that there we there could be like regardless of what we decide as a ultimate plan that there's there's going to be the potential for parents choosing to opt out of this specific piece. >> So I think it can be refined so that the 64 00:17:40.640 --> 00:17:57.679 parental opt out provision is specific to those things that take place outside of the classroom for example. >> Um so I just I I just think that we need to um we need to modify that. >> All right. All right. So, for clarification, action item item 1.2 will 65 00:17:57.679 --> 00:18:16.960 be adopted with two uh policy 2365 being tabled. >> And we need to take a roll call vote on the tableing motion for 2365. >> To table it to table it >> and Steve, do you have recommended language from other school districts before I do? 66 00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:32.480 >> I'll get it to you. >> Thank you. >> So, at this time, I will entertain a motion in section 1.2 two to table policy 2 the adoption of policy 2365. >> So moved second. >> Been properly moved and second. All those in favor say I. >> I. 67 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:48.480 >> Actually we need to do a roll call. Roll call. >> Dr. Wayne. >> Roll call. >> Yes. >> Dr. Table 236. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Miss Befford. >> Yes. >> Miss Spina. >> Yes. >> Miss Frank Herman. >> Yes. >> Miss Warland. >> Yes. 68 00:18:48.480 --> 00:19:03.520 >> Miss Harris. >> Mr. Nunes, Miss Narum. Yes. Mr. >> Yes. All right. Thank you guys. Uh any other questions, comments on the 69 00:19:03.520 --> 00:19:25.360 um action agenda items. Hearing none. Um I'll take a roll call vote to adopt action agenda items 1.1 through 4.3. >> Oh, wait. Yeah. Oh, did you want to >> the >> Yes, >> district goals. >> Did you get the new wording that they 70 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:41.120 had asked for? >> Go ahead. >> We're going to have to put in >> 1.3 district goals. There were some revisions [cough] to the wording that uh we voted to >> we asked to spell out UDL >> UDL and [clears throat] NSP >> universal design for learning. Oh, 71 00:19:41.120 --> 00:19:59.520 >> and NPA is the National School Public Relations Association. >> So, just spelling out the acronyms was the change. >> Oh, just spelled. >> Yes. >> All right. So, one more time, 72 00:19:59.520 --> 00:20:15.840 >> we have a roll call on adopting action items 1.1 through 4.3. >> Dr. W. And tableabling that, right? Yes. Dr. >> That was already been voted. Yes. for table 2365. >> Oh yes. >> Oh >> yes. >> Yes. >> Miss Pepper. 73 00:20:15.840 --> 00:20:31.919 >> Yes. >> Miss Fina. >> Yes. >> Miss Franco Herman. >> Yes. >> Miss Warland. >> Yes. >> Miss Narun. >> Yes. >> Mr. T. >> Yes. >> Thank you. All right. Any closing items 74 00:20:31.919 --> 00:20:50.960 from the board? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Oh, I just I want to say I think we had spoken about it at the retreat, but if we had determined a way that for communication that's in between the board meetings like you know if we as a board can 75 00:20:50.960 --> 00:21:06.240 figure out how we can communicate without you know >> violating the act >> without violating sensor act or you know uh doing anything that's going to make it seem like it's not transparent. And the goal is transparency, but it's also challenging if our only opportunities 76 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:23.200 that anything comes up is when we're all sitting at this table, all nine of us. Are there opport are there ways to try and communicate about topics that just as things come up or you know if there's any thoughts on how to do that? My challenge is right now occasionally 77 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:40.159 we'll receive an email from a board member that says don't reply all. Well, the challenge is we can't we can't reply all but we can't reply at all. Um, and I find it very difficult because then it all all it does is it allows a single perspective to be put out among the 78 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:57.120 board and contrasting perspectives or complimentary perspectives are unable to be presented. And I I find that it's it's challenging because it really it feels like it's silencing everyone else. And so it's like a first mover. we're like, "Oh, if I think something, I better get it out right 79 00:21:57.120 --> 00:22:14.240 away." [clears throat] Because otherwise, no one else can really converse about it because my perspective is then we're not being as transparent as we should be. So, I'm trying to think what what ways can we communicate as a board that are um in 80 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:30.400 line with the both the spirit and the letter of the sunshine law that allows some of these conversations that otherwise just like it's a it's a single viewpoint and no one else has the opportunity to share or discuss because I'm of the opinion that even like an 81 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:46.720 asynchronous conversation among the board it's still >> crossing like yeah it's like yeah we're like rolling the conversation through but at some point we really all have discussed it. >> So I don't know as you know board president if you had any thoughts about how 82 00:22:46.720 --> 00:23:02.320 >> like what opportunities we have or I mean these board meetings I I really enjoy them but they are lengthy and if we [laughter] if we only have these meetings is our only opportunity I mean we we'll be here very late. Yeah. And and and as I said before, I mean it it is a very fine line um when you're 83 00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:19.679 having offline discussions. I mean technically everything is supposed to be discussed at this table um all issues. Um you do have individual committee meetings where you have four members which is not a quorum. So you do have that um but it it's it's a very fine line and I'll defer to Stephen for the 84 00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:36.559 the legal part of it but it's just it's it's tricky. It's very tricky. Um really your two um your vehicles are this full discussion board, this this full board or your committee meetings. Those are really your two main mechanisms for communicating with with board members. >> Those emails to the entire board usually 85 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:51.760 come from me and they're moreformational. And that's why you're not supposed to respond back. I'm not giving an opinion. I'm giving information that you need to have like where to show up, where to go, or this is what happened. And so there's no back and forth. And Patrick also has 86 00:23:51.760 --> 00:24:08.240 the authority to do that as the board president or Maria in his >> absolutely I was more referring to like when individual board members will share a perspective usually >> and it's a challenge because then >> it really shouldn't happen. It shouldn't happen. >> It's it's it's not only a fine line, 87 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:24.000 it's a bright line. >> Okay. >> So I I agree with you. I think that you know saying do not reply all you know does not put you in a safe harbor. you know, particularly if I'm a board member and I'm sending out a thought or an opinion that's provocative, you know, it's very difficult for those who are 88 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:39.840 receiving it not to respond to it. So, I think that it is a slippery slope and, you know, not one that I would encourage you to pursue. Um, you can have direct communication with your board president, direct communication with your superintendent, direct communication um 89 00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:55.120 with the business administrator with regard to the agenda. Uh but uh beyond that the discussions as uh as the president said should be here at a public meeting or um uh in a committee which is not subject to the open public meetings act. 90 00:24:55.120 --> 00:25:11.760 >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Any other discussions from the board? >> I have another question. Today I noticed we moved the public comments order. Would that do do we move if we didn't move the public comments order? >> Yeah. And as we discussed that was actually in deferment to the people who 91 00:25:11.760 --> 00:25:32.000 stayed here for longer than the 45 minutes or an hour that we did. So we did that. >> Mean like for the future. >> So we we as we have not noted that is something that we're going to discuss among the board um to decide the order of the agenda. So that's still up for discussion. >> Any other items from the board? 92 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:48.159 >> Hearing none. At this time I'll entertain a motion to return to executive session. >> Some problem. >> [laughter] >> It's been properly moved and seconded to return to executive session. >> Action will not be taken. >> Action will not be taken by the board. Um we will not be returning to open 93 00:25:48.159 --> 00:26:02.320 session after executive session meeting. So those who are still here, we thank you. Thank you for saying. Um actually I didn't. All those in favor say I. I. Favor say right. >> Thank you. And thank you all for showing up tonight. We appreciate you. We are 94 00:26:02.320 --> 00:26:07.640 now executive session. Thank you.