##VIDEO ID:iFiUoe56JbI## here here here Mr here Mr H here Mr P here Mr rort here here Dr M here Mr here M here United States of America [Music] indice New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public have noce of to attend meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is acted upon in accordance with the provision of the act the monal Township Board of Education provided a public notice of this meeting which included the time da location that was posted at the M Town Street Municipal Building all M Public Schools the M Public Library the mville Township Board of Education administrative office building the district website and advertising The Daily Record and the moille tap into board's official newspapers on January 28 2024 high school student represent hello everyone I hope everyone's do well so I'm going to start off with the pass and I'm going to start off with sports actually so uh all the winter sports have begun their Seasons uh the winter the varsity boys and girl swim have a combined record of one and three Varsity ice hockey has a record of 2-2 Varsity bowling uh has also started and they have a record of two and two boys and girls varsity basketball have also begun and and they have their the boys have their home opener tonight versus Mount Olive and the girls have their first game tonight as well against Chad so moving on to the school related subjects starting off with the week of November 20th it was the Key Club food drive um and our school total a total 1,854 Goods to be donated the cultural diversity Club held their International dessert contest on the 21st of November the top three are the following first place Natalie be second place Amy Zang and third place went to Nicole London there was a spring baseball interest meeting on Thursday uh as well in the cafeteria after school it was presented that the winter training schedule and different expectations from now till the season the Mambo theater company had singing auditions for its spring musical big fish on the 22nd from the 26th of November to the 10th of December there was a toy drive throughout the school for local family in me the senior banquet was Friday the 6th of of December at ili P the night started at 6 and ended around 9:45 it was full of dancing socializing and food for all last week the mths music department had their Winter concert during the mon during the day on Monday they performed uh an in school concert and on Tuesday after school with the full concert Key Club had a general membership meeting on December 10th on the 12th golf had their first interest meeting for the spring as well lastly the mental health initiative had a meeting December 13th during both Hales of lunch in the media center classroom special guests Janice and her therapy dog hle visited from Bright and beautiful therapy dogs to talk about the process of certifying a therapy dogs and how they work in our community to promote mental health and wellness now to the president So currently the entire High School is participating in the winter Spirit Week the themes have been and are for Monday it was pajama day today was flannel day tomorrow is Winter Wear Wednesday Thursday is Sweater Weather and Friday is a color war with the Freshman wearing green sophomores wearing red Juniors wearing blue and seniors wearing white today also marks the middle of the second Maring period tomorrow Wednesday December 18th the anatomy classes will be going on their annual field trip to the ruers kaber lot at the end of the spirit week this Friday will be the winter pep rally there will be many different events including Castle ball and Family Feud both students and teachers will participate on January 14 the annual Chinese New Year showcase will be held in the cafeteria from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. the whole school is looking forward to winter break starting after the half day on Friday we would also like to wish all of you a wonderful holiday season thank you thank you very much yes I know about whole spirit with my daughter B most hideous Christmas Square I've ever seen so good luck and have fun with that okay so we're going to go on to the superintendent's reports okay how about the presentations good evening board members parents Val students um today we have a very special presentation uh at D we have a fifth grade take control team um there's actually three fifth grade home rooms so um each home room um does a marketing period so what um what you see in front of you are U Miss 's children they did the first marketing period for safety control so safety control is something that is very uh special to Val you and I would like to turn it over to them want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday um and so please enjoy um a little description of what control this uh under the theme of a reindeer I want you guys loud as you are in the Lun want to grab the mic better [Music] I would like to introduce the first round of safety patrol members from fifth grade by classmates and I volunteer to help at arrival in disal times every day our job is to include loging in the time the buses and bands arrive in the morning standing outside monitor children boarding the buses and B and encouraging Riders to buckle up in practice safety and respect when the team is here to share with you their presentation to our kindergarten classes and on how we Inspire to be like a remember those then you could be someone to S with or talk to on the bus are at equals everyone matters everyone counts everyone has feelings just like you and me I equals invite include encourage friends are like friendch price one is good one is bad notice the little things take a moment to recognize the and D equals do something great when no one is looking opportunities are always here to be evaluate others with kindness use your kindness superpowers to help someone Embrace Embrace differences our similarities unite us in our differences and riches Our Lives R respond with respect got a disagreement don't make it worse talk to others in a in a way that brings peaceful end I'm the plural fing in Adriana thank you to Dr Gorman and the Board of Education members for inviting us and thank you to our parents for driving us we have have one more thing to share being a safety patrol member means thinking about ways to practice being safe as we are going to remind all our parents when their car wipers are on so should their headlights be too you can also learn a lot from the child on behalf of my team we wish you all a happy holidays and a wonderful new year thank you and God bless [Applause] [Music] [Applause] thank you very very much we love the festive costumes the head here thank you so much for sharing that and safety tips so thank you again youing everyone a very safe enjy six grade grade did you want to talk about the general first close to the light [Music] hell EXP okay so what is so it started in 2015 by and and it an initiative to express creativity and assigned for students students interest combined science artology to andart is really important because people to tivity and designing process in so the goal is that it's non competive wel to groups of students from various parts of background and inspir girls into like me and people come from different backgrounds we alled one thing and toite everyone their curiosity and passion for the Arts and Sciences and this is done through annual team such team and using the design and Engineering Process and at the end of the year we have a presentation of projects to the community so for those who don't know about the Engineering Process it's very similar to the scientific meod but you get to go back into any process any part of the process to create and improve on your previous project the origin of our presentation it was to F the gos of the district Ste initiative at that time and we started that in 2017 club members projects workm from and we even invited otheres at this to show same project [Music] [Music] sing anding Su [Music] to and the entire middle school activities during the physical classes and this our cons years and havee Andi including time mindfulness in20 our most successful because of the that the entire student interested participa and at the time the show leadership and took Initiative for helping ask so exec to do pricing and management and just they took on responsibility Le and was crucial so we wanted to carry that for our next St day where we incorporated more specific activities for all students and this past year we focused on pushing that leadership initiative since the pr success and this enabled the club to Le on practical skills and a chance for each individual student to grow thiss for leaders F so here's some photos from in 2024 [Music] everyone so we wanted to [Music] haveh schol me to come and support others to same way I Mentor so we have the ship Club to encourage membership where eight graders are helping support six graders and seven graders with Club so we decided to create and and everyone just one of one of the six graders were taken on by all the graders and all time and on top that they get help each other problem solving projects so that's my RO as I focus on supporting students like theic and concept learn through my school as well as learning engagement and involvement because it's a interaction only just few years they get to see themselves in to see themselves in a position that I have can and it's people their age group as a teacher expect the students to learn something from you but that on top of resources time idty school and mentorship me the confidence to my know and passion [Music] others College research as well as leadership and helping become I recently about a month ago [Music] started and different workshops [Music] and into it and all just to be there to cre such a sucess so it's also to Statics so according to research stud that are more to continue FS students inre engagement [Music] ATT to them on top of that it's really important fori because so wom nearly %% of the workforce because of the marginal or under mentorship by 7% confidence participants in so as a district it's important to open up more channels for mentorship regardless of the subject stud support their interests Valu inses and develop skills that will prepare them for the future acad and profal thank you so [Applause] much one point I really appreciate you sharing that I know some of these topics are very near and dear to miss good Ring's heart so um that was incredible we sharing so great I've seen you do the steam day at laar ful and seeing the kids interact with each other and you're exposing them to do this at an earlier age it's been wonderful we' really built up our stem and Ste programs at the middle school and the high school and including at the elementary trying to build all the way through uh so this is wonderful seeing and then how you're mentioning younger kids I want to thank Mell and Mr Wayne for doing with us really appreciate their leadership in this so thank you thank you so much for good d any comments thank so we'll move on to uh the Aon and reports uh Karen finance committee okay so the finance committee uh met just prior to our meeting tonight we discussed the 2024 2025 financial position of the district which is healthy we also talked about uh our ongoing construction projects as well as looking forward to the future for a 3 to 5e plan we discussed Elementary enrollment for 2526 and we'll be looking at our goals for 2526 as well as a budget timeline thank you uh Michelle curriculum on the curriculum committee met last week on December 11th we had productive meeting um we spoke about the MCHS midterm schedule the high school's been again observe half a schedules for M and final exams um and the courses that require dedicated M and final exam are those that are ti to standard assessment um the U we talked extensively you know about the Mandarin program and um Dr Corman had asked us to consider pros and cons of several options including um where we ended up recommending as a committee and as a board keep maintaining the managering program um all the way down to you know not having it due to low enrollment and ultimately it was a really um productive discussion talking about the you know reasons for keeping it and we decided to do that at the current time we also talked about World Language um the rotation schedule in laar um about um benefits of having legure all three years and that is something that um you know research and uh has backed up that it could be very effective for our students so that's something that's being um considered and we also reviewed next year's uh high school program of studies um and as we always do and it was a very productive discussion there as well uh policy no rep my communications no report safet no report Haw um I'm schools jar okay thank you David um first I would like to take a moment to congratulate one of our board members uh Jo Dy has become an alternate delegate uh as a member of the board of directors that happened on uh it happened just a couple weeks ago so just want to congratula Joe um and look forward to seeing you uh in Trend uh we had our delegate assembly on December 7th uh we discussed a number of resolutions and SE several P the resolutions are uh items that guide our advocacy uh so we were happy to see that people are remaining engaged and looking uh to advocate for what they believe it was also a legislative committee on December 14th we were fortunate to have with us that day two of our assembly people assembly woman par Teresa Morales and assembly woman Lisa swing assembly woman Cara Cara Teresa Morales is an educator uh both women are very remitted to uh education and are Advocates uh for us uh there was a lot of discussion about various bills that have been passed and signed and bills that are pending uh but for now we skip that since we have a very busy agenda but I'd be happy to talk to anyone interested and that concludes my um okay Michelle count the meeting was held on December 4th it was a hyri meeting the topic was on creating an effective board culture um focusing on government governance collaboration and mentorship and there was a lot of um effective discussion and presentation on those topics and the next meeting is on February 5th will be virtual and the topic is advocacy equity and access and removing academic barriers Joe Education Services uh we met last week uh just to the aors would in the process of comping the annual comprehensive financial report and next month the board director will meet to approve the new race for the services for 2425 and awareness Council we met on December 5th we reive so grant funding for the state which is around $3,000 which be used for Community awareness programs and supplies uh Charlie anything from who the has not first okay Karen on no report they'll be meeting in January Char Joe Val uh yeah the playground the new playground construction is finished the students are very excited to be to get to use it and also they $40,000 okay [Music] John M would not haven't met since the last me but want just briefly touch on one I forgot to mention at the last meeting that's enrollment that as a result of the new constructions coming into mville and a Woodmont numbers right now is as a couple weeks ago were up 60 from last year and that's not an ins insignificant number so just say something I think we need to keep an eye on to make sure doesn't get totally out of control is concern that is concerned we are watching that uh Christine Michelle I attended the meeting on December 2nd um the administration principles and assistant principles gave the reports and updates the PTC as usual talk about the wonderful things they're doing from their holiday raffle and bookon water funder there were questions about manding program that have since been um you know addressed and looking forward to the next meeting on March 10 and no okay thank you um so now we're going to to the public participation session section of this um I would invite anyone who wants to speak on any item on the agenda or not or even off the agenda to come up now uh I'd like to reserve the second public portion send off Charlie so if you have any comments about anything on the agenda or off the agenda like trust please come to microphone your name address my name is in um address 7 boytown Road um I know we're going to discuss the Ming program in detail at the next meeting but I just want to come up and say a huge thank you to Mr Forman and his team for meeting with us to address our concerns um and really just wanted to give a huge thank you to the whole board for being stay in the m and we'll definitely come back at the next board meeting we really wanted to make sure we help you know the school district and the board and help also the community to boost and maintain their enrollement so that we don't run into similar situations thank you um that see Noone else I ask for a motion for items I through n thank you any questions on the minutes section i j okay so Finance L Personnel n curriculum nothing on policy please sorry just quick the res uh we have two retirements so we have Mr Joe William who's here this evening he has started the M public schools for 20 years during this time at Bazar he T both computers and Technology education classes he steam Club advisor and as such organize a very successful steam day at laar as you just heard about this evening we wish him well in retir we also have after nearly 27 years at the high school Cheryl plin and she's left the mark through her dedication to teaching creative writing English 10 and Advising The Muse literary magazine her passion for helping young people discover their potential and their and her commitment to highlighting their accomplishments have touched countless lives Show's Legacy Legacy and nurturing creativity and champing student voices will continue to resonate for years to come we wish them both well in retirement yes please Mr gr yes Mr D yes St on check 998 Dr cord yes Mrs pH yes abstain section one I minutes Mr P yes Mr Peto yes Mr R yes M Dr M yes okay and with that we get to the highlight of the evening so with that I will ask Karen you please us sure will tonight we celebrate a very special day someone no Fan Fair no plaps no celebration tonight is not that night we invited a few of your friends and colleagues to say some words to acknowledge your 30 years of service they're here tonight and I'm going to start off before we move to anyone else Charlie served the board Between 1979 and 1991 and then after a 15-year hius he joined the board again in 2006 I was elected to the board the same year I admit I was skeptical of char he gave the impression of being the proverbial cigar smoking politician but I would soon learn that his Burly veneer was just up front for the Tedy bear within over the years we developed a mutual respect and friendship Charlie has been a steady hand he came to meetings prepared and always had Sage advice his long experience as a business administrator provided our district with valuable insight and Direction he offered good ideas of how we can save money and still maintain academic Excellence he always voted for the benefit of children and never allowed anyone or anything to influence his decisions Charlie I will miss you and the district will certainly miss your leadership and I wish for you and Mary Kate many years of good health and happiness I've for 11 years and I have to say I I was the you at first too everyone is but I have come to appreciate your humor and your wit yes you have it and I have enjoyed our many conversations as you drive around town I look forward to seeing you out there driving around town I know you'll be there with his window open with his window open smoking the cigar I gave him but we will miss your institutional knowledge your intelligence everything You' committed I know no one else in town I think who has committed so much to this board as you um I will miss you and I hope that you do come back frequently open I'll be because there's a lot of people out there who are a lot more important than I to say something but um Charlie it's been such a pleasure to be with you on the board for these last um what close to 20 years now and um anybody in the audience who doesn't know Charlie he has a great combination if not knowledge but wisdom that given one of two ways to do things you'll always find the smartest way to do it and um your contributions will be Miss tremendously you've been such an interal part of this board you've been the board president for a number of years and I'd like to say people aren't going to realize how much they miss you until you're gone but that's not true because we realize it already thank you so much for your service Charlie and God bless you and Mary Kate In the Future have a safe and happy future P You're see you [Applause] hi Charlie so there are a few things that we have in common that we love your humor but high school wrestling and we both like cigars in all seriousness um you have provided you know you were my first you were the board president when I first started and you showed me um really the love of um the love of your family because I think single meeting close to a meeting before that you would always talk about your family your grandkids and spending time with them you always put number one the children of the district and your common sense approach really would influence all of us and if sometimes we had different opinions on things you know your opinion generally was the one that we went with because of all your experience but I just will always remember the word you never said the kids it was all about the children and um I will always remember that and you have impacted I think all of us in such a profound way and I appreciate you and I wish you many years of watching all the kids play sports in town and just enjoying your life with your beautiful wife and family thank you [Applause] I can Echo everything that was said so don't want to be here all night but I guess a couple of quick things um I remember also you being board president when I came in and the the kind and just way with this experience that understanding you know a new board member and what they needed to hear and see and how you help uh do board members navigate for many years and I think it was really an important thing I especially really appreciate the last couple years that I've sat on the finance committee with you because just seeing your wealth of experience and knowledge and the way you really do look out for the financial responsibility of the district and the children and have learned to balance it so well in a common sense way is a True Legacy that I think you've left with all of us um as we look forward uh to the board and and thank you for what you contributed and who you've been uh Vis this [Music] year Char I just want to say thank you so much for all your advice through the years of on the board I've known you for many years yeah pretty much you know from being in events you know all this stuff um really do appreciate the opp to your advice thank you [Applause] Char I just want to say thank you over the last three years you T me a lot um I hope spend a few more years on here and things on the negotiation side and the facility side I hope to carry and I thank you for [Applause] [Music] everything Char uh just want to say thank you so much for all of your your service I first met you in 2018 when I joined the board and I to say when I first joined the board it was a little overwhelming all the issues and and items that the board has to take care of but your president for the first 5 years I've been on the board and I think I've learned so much from you U just how to handle issues how to handle people um how to uh just manage the board's business and I think you did such a wonderful job have it and and and teaching all of us how to do it and how to do it really really well and I look forward to seeing you drive around town and I'm walk the dog and we uh we'll stop and we continue to chat and and talk business it be a lot of fun thank [Applause] you sorry I just want to say before uh 2 and a half years AG you hired me to uh lead this district and I really appreciate that you've been a friend and a mentor since then you shared a lot of guidance a lot of wisdom with me at times some CR I mean many times [Music] criticism but it was always for the good of the district and for the good of my personal growth and for 30 years Charlie has led this district and and worked with us and put Public Schools we just talk about how many accomplishments over the years we've done you see the growth over all these years and we're forever grateful uh we're going to uh your favorite spot at the top of the hill there we're going to get a wheel bench not a wooden splintering bench a heated bench yes we're going to dedicate to that to you so you can watch over our graduations our athletics events and everything in the future so thank you for this [Applause] opportunity Charlie um Charlene I believe you have something here you please come down Charlie I just wanted to thank you for the opportunity to to be here tonight to honor um you know the 30 years that Charlie has served on your board um you know we recently um at the last moris County meeting talked about and honored the um board members that are leaving their board service and said out of all of them when I totaled up their years it was 300 years that we were losing of experience members and Charlie's one1 right out out of that whole thing just him alone so really just wanted to kind of acknowledge your contributions but also you know thought it was really telling that instead of talking about kind of all the things that the group accomplished when you were here and even the things that you accomplished like through New Jersey school boards of being a master board member of your board not only getting certified but also became a master board one of only like 40 or 50 boards in the state to that what really matters that we've heard here tonight is how you carried out that role that you carried out that role with Grace you carried out that role with professionalism you carried it out with dignity with humor and I have to say that I always had the pleasure sitting in the audience particularly when your students were here to watch the way that Charlie would go up reach out to them shake their hands and really be proud of what they were um accomplishing demonstrating their accomplishments that night and also was very supportive of the staff all the time so to me those are the things that really will stick out in me the most um so just kind of wanted to talk a little bit about as we talked about being a board member what that means really and how Charlie really embodies that so for those of you that are used to seeing me here with training with long PowerPoints good news I got one slide so um just wanted to kind of talk about this like I said we talk about board members pH how this does talk about Charlie and to Dr Gorman I need to apologize you used to be in that picture next to Charlie but not any longer so I'm just wanted to again talk about the fact that LE say the head makes sound decisions communicates effectively loves students and advocates for them reaches out to others flexible as needed stands up for public education that listens to all sides provision sees the path ahead and said the cap is optimal that it comes in handy when a superhero is needed I want to say Charlie for you I added one more special things to the slide stomach enjoy life so just wanted to again um say what a pleasure it has been to be able to work with you and your 30 years as a board member and see I do not come in empty-handed as as that I did and so on behalf of New Jersey school board have a PL that we would like to bestow upon you to honor your 30 years of Bo service to to the students and to the mville Township community and so we just wanted to thank you [Applause] so Charlie just reminded me one thing at a county meeting I had said one time and he reminds me on that every time Charlene don't forget the three be beill I be grief be brilliant and be gone he told me that too that's just a couple years ago when I had my first at the commencement he told me that um so I like to open this up out to the public Mr would you like to start us off representing the voting mod you know unlike the rest of these folks and I admire them speaking excess iously I have not come without a speech um and with apologies to Dr mod here for dragging him into this but to borrow the off boarded words of vice president vice president candidate Lloyd Benson to Dan qu Dr I know Charlie grow Charlie grow is a friend of mine you are no Charlie thank God for that one Charlie Brown per lifetime is enough for any I've known Charlie for over 50 years in fact Charlie helped me in my first campaign for public office unlike Charlie I retired from public office while people still like me Charlie's case he stopped working about 45 years ago but only retired 8 years ago over the past 50 years Charlie has made many friends and admirers unfortunately neither of them could be here tonight so instead it's up to us his cabal who are paid to be here from Charlie's leftover campaign funds left over because Charlie always sought contributions that was very frugal in spending them in fact he once told me he said Joe I never want to buy more votes than I need he never did on a serious note however charie has had a more positive impact on our school system as much as anyone who has served on this sport over the last 50 years and I've known them all as she py is right here who served many years for char on and while he as while he's quick to point out that he goes to conventions and reports lers I went to as many meetings as possible and I found them all very interesting things last works the truth is Char knows a lot and adds a lot to anything he participates in and while admittedly he can be cerous times cerous I said that right he truly does he does do it for the children as has been mentioned up here many times we all owe him and all those who serve a great Deb of gratitude for taking on a challenge of public service especially in the arena of public education where emotions often Run High and thanks thank you are few I think this board's recent experience with the Mandarin language deal will support that thinking we prepared a montage of sorts that shows the change and growth or shall we say expansion of CH effector please PR [Music] [Music] [Music] Dr is there a space in the Rotunda we will make one [Music] thank you put L don't let break FL thank you thank you for that that was wonderful good job guys does anybody else want to come to the microphone please come on up you are you going I don't know should I talk to these pictures I my dear char I know you like speeches to be short you've reminded me of that more times than I care to count but we also know that there's an exception to that rule and that is when the speech is all about you let's be honest I know you love it when people talk about you remember how you asked me to make sure I gave you plenty of air time in my speech at my retirement dinner yeah did so sit back relax and indulge in what I'm calling a brief but generous tribute to Charlie gr Tonight We Gather to Mark the end of an era and what an era it's been after I don't know it feels like 150 years of your service Charlie grow the tough guy the guy who wears everyone down in negotiations the guy who came to our living lessons program just to have a good breakfast is finally finally stepping down from his position on the board of education now to be honest I'm still not entirely convinced that this is real I pretty much expect that you will change your mind at the last minute just to keep everyone on their toes for just one last time if you've ever had the pleasure or most definitely the challenge of negotiating with Charlie you know that calling him a hard nut to crack or any other choice words you might have used is a bit of an understatement in fact I'm fairly certain that there has been a long list of words compiled over the years that were you that were used to describe you after each one of those negotiating sessions teachers would walk into into a negotiating session brimming with optimism and walk out okay I'm going to be nice and I'll say a little bit wiser I don't know but somehow amid all the back and forth I'm sure there was always a sense that you cared deeply about doing what you felt was right for the students and for our community but tonight I'd like to offer a slightly different perspective on dear Charlie for those of you who know him we know that he can be seen driving through Montville Township daily and I mean d up and down change Bridge Road cigar smoke wafting out of his car window as a matter of fact you need not even turn around to know that it's Charlie brout all you have to do is take a deep breath and then you'll say hm I smell cigar smoke Charlie Crow is around here somewhere now while many know him as the formidable negotiator and unwavering Advocate I've had the fortune The Good Fortune to know another side of him let's see Charlie has teased me unmercifully and I have to admit that I've given it right back to him come on Charlie are you still using that same cup you've been using in your car to dump your cigar ashes you've had that one I don't know decades I gave you a new one I know that you never used it yes I did oh I'm going to ask wife about that but truth be told you have been a mentor and a supporter to me and by the way if you think that Charlie is tough in negotiating try winning a war of words with him spoiler alert you're going to lose every time every single time but that's the thing about Charlie you're sharp not just sharp witted but sharp minded you are the person who would call someone out if they weren't prepared and you'd also be the first to offer advice on how to be better the next time and somehow you make people laugh while you're doing it your legacy on this board is [Music] undeniable decisions that seem impossible became possible because you would never give up policies that protected students supported teachers and elevated education standards have your fingerprints all over them and though we've teased each other more times than I can count I've always known that behind every quit and every raised eyebrow at every raised eyebrow there was someone who cared not just about me but about every single person in this community so tonight as we bid farewell to Charlie grow and again I'm using farewell a little Loosely because I know you're going to be checking in on everybody all over just me I know I want to say thank you thank you for your grit your guidance and yes your crazy sense of humor thank you for always being willing to do the hard things even when they weren't popular and thank you for showing us that toughness and kindness are not opposites they're Partners Charlie you are irreplaceable and we're all better having known you enjoy this next chapter keep driving the streets of MF Township and congratulations on a remarkable career and even more remarkable [Applause] Legacy El come and say a few words Charlie [Music] anybody who's read The Daily Record uh knows that board of education doesn't what matter run smoo and that isn't true and I think it comes down to leadership I mean Charlie brings a certain just a different approach he has been an administrator so he's been on one side of the table for probably I don't even know 40 or 50 years and he's been on the other side of the table as a board member uh for 30 years that's an unusual combination for a board member um but what it brings to the board is leadership when I first went on the board and I went to my first meeting and they were doing the uh test results from the kids and uh they explained that we were really pacing with Mississippi and we were doing really well because we were like a little bit ahead of Mississippi uh and at that point I had worked with Charlie and I had said to him you know what they really need help uh because we're better than Missippi with that said he has seen the high school go up he has seen Valley View go up he has seen Hill go up he has seen Renovations for all of those and he has seen the town girl from everything being in Pinebrook to eventually onil developing and then eventually to going from forland to actual development so he has a lot of history and that helps there is so much that he has done that it is um I can't even explain it because of the fact that it's uh his his 10 or 20 years as board president he has led this board to the point where our kids are looked at by the rest of mors County as exceptional I have been very happy with the negotiations because I live in town and it's really helped from a tax bill point of view I've has three grandchildren go through the district and some people make a difference in some people don't he makes a difference and he'll be sore this because the leadership he provides is just being faster good luck [Applause] Charlie we go back quite a while um I want to share just a couple of my personal memories of what Charlie has meant to me um way back in 1993 when I was first starting out as Mars Hy School business administrator was election time and I got a phone call from a gentleman very strange accent telling me that he was not being allowed to vote and what could I do about it and I had no answer and then I found out was Charlie Brown just pulling my chain you you can talk to Charlie pleas pull PRS on you so many PS and they're all really good on um but you always I I've learned tremendously from your wisdom your experience you have enriched me professionally but what you have shared with me over the years um your heart and your head were always in the right say what was right for the children and the taxpayers um we just always done the right thing but I do want to share and Charlie will Charlie will remember this um a number of years ago Charlie was my board president great board president to work with we were down in Atlantic City I was you know by myself and there was an event down boardwalk and I went to it and you know I've been texting back and forth with Charlie about where we're going to beet the next day I was also telling my husband where I was coming back to my room and I don't know if you have ever had the experience where you texting back and forth and suddenly you're texting back to the wrong person but I did at the end of that lovely night I sent this message to Charlie which he probably still won't ever let me forget um G back in my room going to watch a little of the game that fall asle love you heart but now can say I actually do love Charlie you you are you're you're part of our family um and truly was if you all remember during Co you know we weren't allowed to go to basketball games we all had those little cutouts of ourselves and when the season was over we stole Charlie's cut out um he came to Easter dinner with our family we have for Father's Day we hung on to that thing for a little while taking pictures of it you know sending so so Charlie you have been part of our family I can say part of my family um I know the district will experience a tremendous loss when you leave um but I wish you best heal happiness uh more time for the family and and everything good [Applause] there was a a lot of rumors going around about Charlie brow a lot of folklore and I know I was a history teacher for over 50 years and I do a lot of research and I I was at at the darus house when was open they were questioning whether Charlie brow negotiated with George washhington he saying that night uh and the the research that I found we there none none of that is trueth but the thing about Andrew Jackson the thing that we found is that it's possible that he negotiated with Frankin Roosevelt at one time but that's big [Music] [Applause] Char everybody's been to nice F so I'm going to I have two real true to like Char Charlie Crow stories first what is we playing off this is about 20 years ago very hot day Charlie starts getting busy starts mumbling he becomes incoherent so I weigh that on the C the drift C got him a a data R he PT right up and this was before he ran for water of Education the second time so all the ANS that he brought for the last 15 years you could BL it on me or it might have been that he just wanted a free train the second one is with get play off he says I bet you you don't beat me on this hole and I said okay the B we finished the hole we tied I said I guess I don't owe you want any money he goes no no no you bet that you would that you would beat me and you didn't you owe me the bet I took away two lessons from that day one is never bet with Charlie the second is nobody ever beats Charlie especially when it comes to care concern about the children model and their education so thank you for 30 years of dedicated service there anyone else may as a passort member couple of stories about Charlie when I was uh first elected sport of Education the first graduation grow comes before can Charlie and I walked in I I was walking in behind it and as we walk down the steps from the high school get to the tur field everybody's waving and saying hello and I'm thinking to myself a new board member why is everybody saying hello but of course it was because Charlie was in front of me and the whole town L Charlie as we sat there Midway through uh the opening uh festivities Charlie turns to me and says you know I'm need to get up to break up this pattern I'm going to go ahead and and give a diploma out and I looked at him as a new board member and I thought to myself how could that be I said Charlie you can't do that and he turned to me and he said I'm going to do it and as a matter of fact he heard himim say I'm going to bet you so sure enough when the elves came up Charlie said I'm going to get up now and go ahead and give out a diploma and he step onto the podium he looks around he kind of winked and nodded at me he handed out at the phone with someone with the last name of them and he comes back and he sits down he said I'd like a vanilla p and as it turns out of course it was all prearranged and one of his very dear friend's grandsons but so I learned as well that he never that with Charles tonight's very much like the movie it's a life and it's so well deserved Charlie because of all the things you have done for the community and in particular for the schools your your work on the school board myself for 9 years but so many others that were here alongside of you we all learned from you I always said the amount of knowledge that you had in your pigy was more than most of us had entirely you've done things for this school system and the children of of our Township that very few have been able to do and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart as a parent as a resident for everything you've done for the schools and for the town thank you and I will be harassing you in retirement so Charlie we go back quite some time before I and I have to tell you I've heard so many times this evening about Charlie's Devotion to children and how many times I've heard that innumerable times over the years and as we know uh Charlie is a dean of New Jersey uh School ad Ministry School business administrators uh he's also a dean of school members in New Jersey and he's a character of characters so you're certainly a de of characters in this thing Charlie so we we I knew this would be an entertaining evening I wasn't let down the people that did those Cass marks and just so entertaining and so fitting in fact maybe one should be placed somewhere permanently in this room or one of the other rooms of board meetings but with that uh I want to thank Dr Corina for inviting me would or anything I knew it was going to be entertaining and do the recognition he so richly deserved Char over the many many years it's been an honor to know you you C me many things and best wishes good luck to you [Music] and every realiz Dr Gary bman flew up from Flor Char had no attention to saying anything but I feel compelled hearing everybody else talk about you I first met Charlie in 1980 he was the president of the board and I was a candidate for an administrative position and I don't know how you've all done it uh but I'm still in therapy for that first not to mention the 15 years that I worked in a district of char um there was a TV show uh called the name the city that would start out there are 8 million stories in the Naked City there's almost that many Charlie ground stories and you know you haven't lived I remember uh living on playay road our family was in the community for more than 30 years and we still have presence with my daughter and her family and when she was a young child coming into the house saying dad there's some man in a big car smoking this door said tell your father to get the hell out of you don't worry honey you you'll learn it's okay you mentioned about Charlie's golf it just remind me of the story Charlie why do you always cheat at golf and he had a very simple answer people respect me to it and I don't want to disappoint but the one thing I do want to say is that all the comments that people made about Charlie Service uh I had privilege of been in with him for many years being a superintendent for 10 principal of five you count Charlie to stand up the kids to stand up in his community and he continues to do it today I have no doubt will'll continue to do that so Charlie we appreciate everything that you do and we continue to do [Applause] excuse me your name okay so I'm Addie I'm a granddaughter of the man of the night I'm Claire I'm also a granddaughter okay so I've never been to a meeting before but I can say after sitting here and listening to everyone talk about Charlie grow I wanted to tell you about ch ch is a nickname that was given by my dad after saying does cho cho want a do since he loves Donuts show is the best one of the best grandfathers ever have another one but he is great I didn't really prepare for this but he is the best he's so kind and wonderful and I love him so much and yeah that's practically okay I just wanted to say something um I'm not sure what those negotiations you guys are all talking about but I'm pretty sure that sitting at the Thanksgiving table with him is not much different no but seriously um you know we're all so proud of you um grandpa CH anything um and you know I grew up in the schools I didn't go to mon high school but my sister will maybe and I you know I was in elementary schools and middle schools and it was an interesting experience you know walking in having my grandfather walk into my seventh grade Spanish class that was pretty interesting or um being commemorated In This Very Room for something I did with Girl Scouts and having a um board member come up to me and say is is Charlie your grandfather I said yes he says I'm sorry and I didn't understand that but I I'm not sorry that he's my grandfather and I really appreciate all that he does for me and uh one last story is you know I went through to school so I went through be grade promotion and you they call my name and I go up and you know he goes in for a hug and I can only imagine everyone in the room was like who is this girl and why sheing him but um yeah we're so proud of you and we're excited to spend a little more time with [Applause] you is there anyone else if not I would ask for a motion to aour the meeting oh now this is don't anybody leave on a serious note I would really like to thank all of you for coming out tonight and honoring me if you will but more importantly I would like to thank you for I see so many of you that are former administrators in Montville I see so many former board members in M I see so many former ad administrators from other districts that I've worked in seen facilities Managers from other districts and even Gary Bowman who flew from Florida he probably got a threee ticket that's way but I think the thrust of it is L levity tonight and I would encourage my board friend my colleagues up here to remember the gist of what I think most of the people out there were saying is we're here for the children and we're not here just for the children in the school where I live we're here for the children of the whole District we're here to provide outstanding leadership for them through the administration we have a responsibility it's an awesome responsibility I can remember years ago people asked me to run for Township committee and I said no I I'm not interested in how much it cost to repay the road I want to get in with a children work I know she was on the board when I got elected it took us a couple years Cather but we were able to straight things that I think from then it was just all uphill and I think you deserve a lot of the credit Rich Bosa spoke um I I not I the board made the mistake twice first we hire him as a principal of the middle school that didn't he out he left and then superintendency open and he applied for that and he got the superintendency uh and we were very very lucky to have him for several years I can remember when he was leaving us to go to I believe it was Berkeley Heights he made the mistake of having board members of B Heights talk to me after he said how did how do you think I made out I said well they're going to hire you or never talk to you again you got the job I did a lot of lying that day uh I see that the uh well back there I see Scott pepper who hired me three times he's worse than I believe you're rich he hired me three times as an INF business administrator over in Handover um and we had a very excellent professional relationship there had a lot of fun and that was a great system time and I don't think it's that great anymore but Char I see other administrators and I was trying to write everyone's name down and it was difficult but I I just want to go around room of cath moac superintendent of par Bridge she was also a board member of M and inum superintendent of M I believe right and then we got Carl fer former board B member SP former board member Rich BOS wife jie ly former board member we have a very very special guest I guess since car since Karen's a president of the school boards she told him to come he better come so we have the executive director of the school boards Association Tim Perell and many of you might know theel name through our schools his mom still lives here and thank you Tim and J Rich for coming up I can't see it back so much I see the Rene husband thank you so much and if I miss you I apologize to Toby Cohen who's going to be retiring one of these years I think she's got what 51 years nowby to famous I was your high school M teacher started my career when I was very young I owe it all to him in the back have work with me East Handover and Bruce M and then all the crazy kawaiian and their spouses we got Jamie hin and P D and Larry and Joe and then R Ro and Jim sand Chuck O'Neal Who Wants To Be A kananian but he's reallying on it I see Bob uh I want to thank Charlene coming up from the school boards Association Tim she did an adequate job tonight you she believes in 3bs be brilliant first be brief then be okay uh and I would like to thank Matt k for his kind words I think they were kind words I'm not sure but Judy anyone who Judy got Judy what did you expect but thank you Judy and you are right you are right for the kids and that's why we're all here and I think that's why we're all here to this late hour almost 9:00 but again if I missed you Johnny C out there if I missed you I apologize lot the things I could say but before I close I would like to just introduce my family because there's the one sitting over there my lovely wife Mary Kate [Applause] she's put up with a lot over 30 years and then we have my son Carl and his wife Lisa Carl raise your hand please there two girls and Caroline they live in [Applause] monville my favorite daughter and their daughter Addison who SP before it is a special evening and I'm going to sat to enough already and I know I want to be brief but I think the whole thing of you can take away one thing is we as a board have an awesome responsibity awesome and that awesome responsibility is to take care of our children because our children is where it's at we have a responsibility to make sure they provided the best education possible and that's why we have our administrative teacher we have a lot of outstanding teachers in our district you heard some of Judy tonight and she is outstanding before she retired and they are really outstanding we have outstanding group of Supervisors parents are very helpful the kids are super but we always have to keep upgrading upgrading we got to move ahead we got to move ahead we can't be go backwards I think that everyone assumes it you know I thought I was dying everyone say you're so sorry not that I know of but I think that I'm so proud of these 30 years I wish I could say it better but I come to the come prepared I missed very few meetings because I took on a responsibility and I think that it's a it's something that when you get elected you have to D you have to take I guess I forgot somebody is reyer is that the not someone gave me no H oh I I wrote to down carel former board member Carmel [Applause] noi car Carmelo was on the board for many years and she was scheduled to become president but unfortunately some personal she Ste down and so car it's did pretty good I just carel it's pretty good but getting back to what I was saying Charlie one the challenge the bo is important to go through but [Music] now Judy rner who Judy Judy Ratner oh Judy Ratner hiding behind Joy con Judy I apologize I did pretty good right anybody I missed who wants to but on a very serious note I want to thank my family I want to thank my colleagues up here administrators former superintendent here current superintendent school boards uh for all of your support and I think our district as you leave here tonight and really understand why we're near to top because we do an outstanding job and I think the board event takes a lot of that credit even though it's really is doing the job I'd like to thank one person especially up here as Tom mentioned he's only been here two years but our business administrator fun I'd like her to put this in a minutes but she won't she never does but she's been here for eight or n years and has really brought this District a long way in area facilities and school buses and things of that nature I thank you I thank you Tom for two and a half and haven't lost me I me you know I hope I that you but ladies and gentlemen I again profoundly thank you um and I thank all the speakers and it's been a good run and I thank you very much and I really I really do thank you so much [Applause] [Applause] you will misso Mee you will be missed miss you terribly the meeting [Music] thank you