Mrs. Fano here. >> Mr. Palma >> here. >> Dr. Modrack >> here. >> Mr. Petraino >> here. >> Mr. Rapaort >> here. >> Mrs. Smith >> here. >> Mrs. Zuckerman
>> here. We'll do the pledge of allegiance of the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the
public to have advanced notice and to attend meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provision of the act, the Montville Township Board of Education provided a public notice of this meeting which included the time,
date, and location that was posted at the Montville Township Municipal Building, all Montville public schools, the Montville public library, the Montville Township Board of Education Administrative Office Building, the district website, and advertised in the daily record, and the Montville tap into
the board's official newspapers on November 3rd, 2025. I'd like to welcome our new board members and indicate the election results. Christine Fano was reelected
with 5,290 votes. Michael Rapaort was reelected with 5,176 votes and John Petraino was reelected with 4,86 votes.
Before we proceed, I'd like to go and do the oath of office for those three new board members. So, we'll do Christine first. My kids and I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and
established in the United States and this state under the people to swear or affirm that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for the office of member of the board of education amalifully
and partially and justly perform the duties of that office according like to go ahead and read yours. >> Sure. So I, Michael Rapaort, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of
the United States and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same and to the governments established in the United States and this state under the authority of the people. So help me God. I, Michael Repaort, do solemnly swear
that I possess the qualifications prescribed by law for this office of member of a board of education, am not disqualified as a voter pursuant to RS194-1, and that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform all the duties of
that office according to the best of my ability. So, help me God. Would you like to come up? Would you like to come up again? >> I doly swear I will support the United
States of America. to the same to the government. Johnifully all the duties in that office. Oh, yes. I don't have a pen, but I will.
>> Oh, do it right now. >> Stand under the TV. >> What? >> Stand under the TV. Stay on the TV. I'm not done yet. >> Thanks. >> I do need a drink. I was very happy to see you coming.
I welcome our new board members and I open the floor for nominations for president. I make a motion to nominate Joseph Dorree for board of education president. As there are no other >> Okay,
>> no seconds. >> I will write it down though. Uh, as it does not appear that there are other nominations, I ask for a motion to close nominations for president. >> Now I need a second. >> Second.
>> All those in favor? I. >> Okay. I'm going to do a roll call for the nomination of Joe Dorri as president. Dr. Cordelino. >> Yes. Mrs. Fano. Yes. Dr. Modrack. >> Mr. Palma.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Petraino. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rapaort. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Smith. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Zuckerman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dorree. >> Yes.
>> Congratulations. And I am going to give you over the chair. >> Thank you. I just want to say thank you to my board colleagues for their uh confidence in me as president for this year. So, what I'd like to do now is open up nominations
for the position of vice president. >> Uh, Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to nominate Michelle Zuckermanman for vice president. >> Are there any other nominations? >> Seeing none, I make a motion to close nominations. >> So, so moved.
>> Thank you. >> Oh, thanks. I'll give you that. Dr. Cordelino, >> yes. That one really works. >> Mr. Dory, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fano,
>> no. >> Dr. Modrech, >> yes. >> Mr. Palma, >> yes. >> Mr. Petraino, >> no. >> Mr. Rapaort, >> yes. >> Mrs. Smith, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Zuckermanman. >> Yes, >> I'd also like to thank my colleagues and look forward to working together as a board this year. Uh, and look forward to working with you, Joe, as well. Thank you. >> If we could now move on to a motion for
organization resolutions do the code of ethics. >> All right. Um, as in years past, we're going to do the adoption of code of ethics. I would ask if Dr. Corino being one of our senior members will lead us off on this.
>> Uh a you will uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of the state board of education and court orders pertaining to schools. Desire changes shall be brought about only through legal and ethical
procedures. You will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of the children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social
standing. You will def confine your board action to policym planning and appraisal and will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them. You will carry out
your responsibility not to administer the schools but together with your fellow board members to see that they are well-run. You will recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the
board. You refuse to surrender your independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends. You will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if
disclosed would needlessly in injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, you will provide accurate information and in concert with your fellow board members interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school. >> You will vote to appoint the best
qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the chief administrative officer. You will support >> Oh, sorry. Sorry, Mike. >> You will support and protect school personnel in proper performance of their
duties. >> You will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. I'd like to make a motion to move the adoption of the code of ethics.
>> So moved. >> 15. >> Dr. Cordelino. >> Yes. >> Dr. Modrack. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Palmer. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Petraino. Yes, >> Mr. Rapaort. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Smith. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Zuckerman. >> Yes, Mr. Dore. >> Yes. >> Now, would like to have someone please
make a motion to move organization resolutions? >> Yes. So, as we go through organization resolutions, two items, um, one being board committees and liaison. I would ask that if you please send me an email just to let me know which boards um,
committees you like to possibly serve on for this year. And then we'll also discuss the meeting schedule at the end of uh, the meeting. Are there any questions on any of the organization resolutions? Seeing none,
do a roll call. >> Dr. Modrech, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zuckerman, >> yes. >> Dr. Cordelino, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fano, >> yes. >> Mr. Palma, >> yes. >> Mr. Petraino, >> yes. >> Mr. Rapaort,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Smith, >> yes. >> Mr. Dory, >> yes. Can I also now get a motion to move finance resolutions? >> So moved. >> Any questions, discussion? >> Seeing none, can they get a vote?
>> Dr. Cordelino, >> yes. >> Dr. Modrech, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fano, >> yes. >> Mr. Palma, >> yes. >> Mr. Petraino, >> yes. >> Mr. Rapaort, >> yes. >> Mrs. Smith. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Zuckerman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dory. >> Yes. >> And um I would like to have a motion for curriculum resolution. >> Second. >> Vote. Please. >> Dr. Cordelino.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Fano. >> Yes. >> Dr. Modrack. >> Yes. Mr. Palma, >> yes. >> Mr. Petraino, >> yes. >> Mr. Rapaort, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Smith, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zuckerman, >> yes. >> Dr. Sorry. Um, Mr. Dory, >> yes. >> Okay. Uh, regular meeting resolutions. >> Do you normally do a break or No, I
can't remember. >> No, you don't do it, >> but I think normally go now to the superintendent report. >> Yes. >> So just well first of all congratulations uh Michelle and Joe um looking forward to working with both of you. Uh just I put on your tables this
is a small little something you know when I go around to the different schools you know I interact with a lot of the students and a lot of times I just say you know I wish I had a gold star to give you. So gold star is a little boring but we came up with these uh the the motto the uh the emblem of the of the students of the different
schools. So, I just shared it with a couple of them with you. If you want some other ones that you have an affinity to those schools, let me know. But, uh, I'm planning on just giving them out to kids, you know, when they answer the questions correctly in class or when I'm just popping in or or we we play guess who just walked in the room and some of the kids, you know, figured
me, you know, who's the superintendent, so they'll get a maybe they get two stickers then, something like that. So, just sharing that with you a little little way to start off the new year. >> That's it. >> Thank you, Katine. You have anything to report on? >> I do. Um
we had met when we had met in November we had discussed various uh elements of the budget and the construction uh possibilities. I promised that I would give you December off but that January
was back on again. So in the name of that I am beginning the process of putting together the budget for 20627. At this point we're in the beginning of that process where the schools and the
department heads submit their budgets to us. We do it that way because they have the best understanding of what their buildings need and what their departments need. We indicate to them that it is a zerobased budgeting system. So there is no pot of money that you
just build upon. You have to rebuild the budget from scratch and they're in the best position to do that. As those come in, we will be having meetings with them regarding both the budget they're submitting as well as personnel that they'll need for next year.
However, that process occurring, I have done some projections in terms of where we stand. And similar to previous years, we're pretty much in the same place we've been. Um, one of the big elements that I still don't have is I don't have
benefit increase rates. We are not in the state health benefits. So, therefore, we are not under the 29.7% increase in benefit costs. But our provider has not given us the renewal information yet. So I don't have that. That's a big number. And we really don't
know what's going to happen with state aid. So as we proceed forward from this point, we will be absorbing the budgets coming from the schools and from the departments. We will be putting them compiling them together and comparing them that to the revenue sources that we
have. understanding that we will not know what the state aid numbers are until the end of uh February when the state of the state is given and we will begin the process of trying to put all of the pieces together. One of the
things I promised was a calendar for how we're going to proceed through this process this year. And what we will do on the 20th of January is we will be talking about preliminary numbers for revenues. February 17th, we will be
discussing where we stand expenditure-wise. By then, we should at least know what our benefit costs are and what our needs are from a staffing point of view. Those are the two biggest pieces of our budget. We will need to wait till the end of February, the state
of the state address. So, on March, we will review the preliminary budget. We will have that information at that point and then it goes to the county with the public hearing on April 21st. I know that we tabled the uh calendar
and if we do end up opting for the version that has one meeting a month but we find that in early March after we get our state aid numbers we need another meeting then we'll add another meeting to the calendar. Um that seems to be a
good uh compromise position for all of us to take. If we need it, we'll take it, but I really won't know whether we need it until we get to that end of February and we can see what those numbers look like. So, that is my report. >> Thank you, Katine.
Um, there are no committee reports for tonight. Now, we open up to public partition public participation for those items on the agenda. Would anybody like to come up and speak? Seeing none, we shall move on to consent
resolutions. If I can get a motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Um sections I J K L M
N. Any questions? Um >> any one on the calendar, I guess since this is on the agenda to vote for, correct? >> We're going to come back to it. >> Not yet. Yeah, >> you're not >> We're not voting on it. >> We're not voting on it. Okay, that'll pass.
>> Okay. >> So, I I just have a quick correction on page nine, L317 for Laura Piano. Uh, the pro-rated number in the sixth column
should be $2,9961. >> Thank you. >> Could I get a vote? >> Dr. Modrack. >> Yes. >> Doc Mr. Pesterino. >> Yes. >> Dr. Cordelino.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Fano. >> Yes. Mr. Palma, >> yes. >> Mr. Rapaort, >> abstain. And I'm not sorry, not abain. Um, I'm sorry. No. To end that to policy
8870. Yes. To everything else. >> Mrs. Smith. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Zuckerman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dory. >> Yes. Um I don't believe we need to go into close session for this evening. Um
section Q will be old business. So let's discuss the school um board calendar for this year. >> So just to refresh um I gave you two uh public school calendars the for the end of this year and next year just as reference points uh if you need to look
at some dates. I gave you an option A and an option B uh last month and the same ones that here tonight. These are not necessarily the only options. They were just to give you some ideas of what you've done in the past, what some people have mentioned going forward and uh what was in currently in place for
this past year. So, um you know, whatever dates are, you know, online, however you want to tackle it, but option A and B are not your only two options that you have to vote from. They're just starting points. >> Any discussion?
I just I guess a question to the administration. What would be your recommendation if you had to make one? I'm not trying to put you on the spot, but what would be your preference? >> Um, well, as Kine said, I mean, in March, we have the one. We may need
another one at the beginning of March. Uh, we won't know until what we see what happens with the state. We are going to be talking about some more of the possible, you know, future referendums or either a second question to the budget or something like that. Those discussions are going to be coming up in the next couple of months. So, um, we'd
have to figure out what's what's best. Once a month has seemed to work a little bit right now, but when you thrown in the other, you know, this time last year for January through I think it was March or April, we had two a month. We didn't necessarily need all of those. So, some
kind of compromise is definitely uh doable for this board. >> You know, my one of my concerns about just um approving a schedule that has only one a month is we're in the middle
of making a really big effort to inform the public of our future financial position. And I think small repetitive chunks of information delivered more frequently is more effective than larger chunks delivered less often. Um you know I
would suggest a compromise position as uh you you mentioned perhaps adding back one during the budget season which would be February and March. Um I am I feel very comfortable with one meeting a month. Um when we had one
meeting a month um I thought everything was run well. Um we would post approve things. Uh we'll be saving thousands of dollars um to the district for not having these extra meetings. We've had
meetings and no one is here. And I really do feel as though uh Dr. Gorman communicates I think amazingly well about our financial situation to the community to um the parents um to even the staff
because everyone gets the emails. When we were going through the referendum you communicated so much um everyone knows you Tom Dr. Gorman. Um I I think we do most of our work in our committee meetings. We come here, we chat a little
bit and you know we we vote on things sometimes. Um I I just feel it's not necessary and I'd rather our administrators spend time uh working with the students, even being with their
families instead of being here till 10 o'clock at night. And um I so I feel I'm totally comfortable with once a month and then if we need something you could always call it. >> The one thing I worry about with post
approvals especially if they start to grow is what impression does that leave with the community that we keep postapproving things. It it people could think that the administration is spending money without approval which in fact they are. So, I'm not comfortable
with that. >> If there was one month to add a a meeting to, which would be the administration's recommendation to add a meeting to >> Right now, you would probably add one to the beginning of March because we would have the uh governor's numbers sometime the end of Februaryish and that would
help with a little bit more of the budget presentations to all of the board members. So, that'll be one one month. Yeah. >> David, you want to say something? >> Yeah. Um Karen is right about educating adults especially. They do respond better to small chunks of information on
a more repetitive uh time frame. Um I am comfortable with either. However, I do favor uh more meetings because I think it's important to get our message out. I think it's important to showcase our students and our schools and try to
build up um a strong impression of our schools in the district. Um and so I I have I would favor more meetings a month. >> Okay. Michelle, you want to say something? >> Um I had been, you know, I I see the um
reasons for the more meetings for all the reasons that Karen and David said. That being said, I've also seen that, you know, once we have the presentations in the in the beginning of the meeting, everybody does leave. The public really in general isn't isn't here for most of
the meetings. But more than that, um I think the cost savings are a real factor. And I also think that um the administration has been clear that they're comfortable uh with the once a month. I have done some research. It does seem to be a direction many boards are moving. I think in today's
technological world where people can see the meetings online after. And I think the fact that I'm comfortable with the fact that if needed, we could add one in um makes me more comfortable with where I think a lot of my colleagues are leaning now. So,
>> in addition to that, I I agree. Um, I think it's fine with the one a month and perhaps adding in an a March meeting if it's needed. I I don't think that the public is necessarily getting the information from our meetings. I don't
think having extra meetings each month is going to be what drives the point home of what's needed for the district. I think they pay more attention to things that are posted in emails and social media. So, if we can ramp up that, if we're not doing the multiple
meetings a month, I actually think people will pay more attention to that than to what's being said around the table right now, unfortunately. >> Thank you. Can I add one more thing? Uh, first, real quick, how many people tune in to our YouTube channel,
>> uh, you know, for each meeting? Yeah, it it does vary depending on a lot of the student um presentations as well as what the issue is, but on average it's like 60 or 70 watch it after the fact. >> Yeah. And then what about uh communicating how does that information
on the YouTube presentation then get translated into the public? Do people site that when like on Mville Moms? Do they site that on social media or what do they do? Uh yes, I mean I've seen on uh different uh social media sites that
people have reacted to some of the things that we've talked about. Absolutely. Uh I've sent out the super updates specifically about the uh finances of the district, but I if we're going to go down to one a month, maybe I will have to do more those more frequently to um keep the you know the
community a little bit more informed about that. So that would be something on my part. Um I don't I don't I mean otherwise they just email me, you know. Yeah. >> Yeah. I would recommend that if we do go to once a month um that you know you
would consider uh sending out more frequent updates um to our wonderful town media that we have here and you know just try to get the word out more because I think I do think it's important that we get more of our message.
>> Sure. That's something I could do. >> I a question. What's easier to do? Cancel an existing meeting or add a meeting that's not scheduled? >> Adding a meeting is e easier. >> Adding a meeting is easier. >> Yes.
>> Christine, you want to say something? >> Um, I just want to say I think you're doing an amazing job with communication, Dr. Gorman. um especially with the financial situation, everything, every diagram that we see during board of ed
meetings is sent to the parents. Everything. I don't think you need to do any more communication. I think it's phenomenal. And we have TAP who does a great job on communicating and you know, the public says there talks about their
feelings about but people know what's going on. Um, and I So I think you're doing a great job. I don't think you need to do any more. You're doing phenomenal. Um, and um, you're out there. You're in all the schools every
day. I just feel confident that you're doing everything you can to communicate what is happening here. And because we have all high-tech now, you can hear what board members say, what speakers say, what before you couldn't see the person's face, nothing. So that is um
been a a great thing as well. >> Okay. Well, the feeling is is that most of you seem to want to move towards one once a month meeting. So if I could put forth, >> can we um
consider then having having the second March meeting? >> So somebody needs to motion I would like Sorry. >> I' I'd like to make a motion for option
B, which is one meeting per month. >> I I just want to clarify. It's one meeting per month, but that has two in January. Um, so it's >> Well, that's the organization. Count that. >> I don't want people to think it's just one, but >> Oh, okay. >> And Steve, may I amend her motion or
>> until there's a second? >> Until Okay, there's a second. Okay. Now, may I >> offer amend? I would like to offer an amendment uh that we add the March 3rd meeting in addition just the one extra meeting. And does that need a second? >> Of course.
>> Second. >> Okay. >> And these meetings will start our close session will be at 6:30 with our public session starting at 7:30 and they will take place here. >> So J, we now need to the board needs to vote on Dave's amendment.
>> Yes. Okay. Yes. >> Okay. So this is for the amendment to option B adding March 3rd in >> Dr. Modrack. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Smith. >> Yes. >> Dr. Cordelino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fano. >> No. >> Mr. Palma. >> Yes. >> Mr. Petraino. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Mr. Rapaort. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Zuckerman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Dory. >> Yes. >> I got a motion to have a vote on the amended calendar. >> So moved.
>> Second. >> Call. >> Dr. Modrech. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Smith. >> Yes. >> Dr. Cortillino. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Palmer. >> Yes. >> Mr. Petraino.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Zuckerman. Mr. Rapaort. Sorry. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Dore. >> Yes. >> Um, moving on to general board comments. >> Yeah. Joe, if I may. >> Yes. Go ahead. >> Yeah. I'd just like to thank the
township as well for entering into the agreement on the CLEOS and the SRO's in uh K7. Um we've worked really well with the town over the past years on this. Uh I think it benefits the town and the schools tremendously to work together
and I encourage this board and the township to work together on future activities where at all possible. Yes, I I totally agree with you on that, especially now having two new township committee members on there. Looking forward to working with them as well.
>> Any other comments? >> Yep. Um, second public portion, you can come up and speak about anything you want. No. Okay. Seeing none, um, >> adjourn. >> Second.
>> Beautiful job. >> One down. We define a legal somebody