We are ready to start. Roll call, please. Dr. Cordelino, here. Mrs. Fano. Mr. Palmer here. Mr. Petraino here. Mr. Rapaort here. Mrs.
Smith, Miss Zuckermanman here, Mr. Dorri, Dr. Modrack here, Mr. Brookser here. Miss Patel here. Pledges of allegiance, please. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation indivisibley for all. I should had you all come up and say that. That would have been nice. Okay.
Open public record act. The New Jersey open public meeting law was enacted to ensure the right of the public and to advance notice of 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 Boing, 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 April 17, 2025. Okay. Thank you. High School student representatives report. Good evening everyone. Um so as usual I'm going to start off with the sports. So the vars
the varsity baseball team now has a record of seven and 12 after a win tonight over West Morris. The varsity boys golf team has a record of 8 and seven with the varsity girls golf team having a record of 9-1. The boys varsity tennis team is now 7 and 11 and they had a game today
versus Randolph. The varsity softball team is 15-4 and made it to the county finals, which took place this past Saturday, but unfortunately resulted in a loss. And the varsity girls flag football team is 42 and one with their next game on the
14th. For the school related subjects, the juniors and seniors interested in signing up for the club PAL were able to do so last week. PAL is a club that was created to foster the upcoming 9th grade and new students to MTHs. The MTHS theater company held a
Broadway night April 30th. The night was full of Broadway songs performed by 43 students. On Friday, May 2nd, the baseball team held a t-shirt fundraiser in the ratunda for all MTHs students to buy and support the team. On May 8th,
MTHs hosted its third annual National Maro donor program or NMDP swab event. Uh 57 people swabbed during the hours of 10 to 12 during school to have the potential of saving lives around the world. And Miss Einstein's biotechnology
class received the results for the base exam over the weekend. And this year, our school had a 100% pass rate. And now on to the present. Ticket sales for prom are still available until tomorrow, May 14th. AP testing is still
going on and it will end this Friday. Mottville Township is also currently hosting a fundraiser for senior graduate parents to support their graduate by displaying a lawn sign with the graduate's first name in front of their home. Proceeds from the sale of
graduation lawn signs will help support the Montville Township Drug Awareness Council to provide educational programs and information to both students and the community. And now for the future. On Monday, May Monday, May 19th, and
Tuesday, May 20th, starting at 7 PM in the auditorium, there will be two different spring concerts showcasing large and small ensembles for all to enjoy. The concerts are free and open to all. Next Monday through Wednesday, 9th and 11th graders will be taking the
NJSLA in math, language arts, and science. Senior breakfast will be held next Friday, May 23rd, from 8 to 11:00 a.m. at the mansion in Mountain Lakes. Prom will be held on Thursday, May 29th from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Grand
Intoa. On June 5th, MTHs will be hosting the poster symposium where students in the science research and design class, research and molecular biology class, and biotechnology classes will be presenting. That's all we have for today. Thank you.
Thank you so much for that. A lot of good things and good luck. Congrat. And by the way, uh was it the coach's car that got hit? Yeah. Don't park behind the dugout. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. So, want to
thank everybody for being here tonight. It's wonderful to see a great packed audience here. Uh just so you know, all the seating that you have out there, that's because of the advanced placement testing. Students will be taking the test tomorrow. So, we just left it up that this way. Uh this is not our normal setup. So with that said, we're going to
start off. Mr. Gellber and Miss Cisneros, come on up. Bring your students up and explain what's going on with Junior Achievement Day. And parents, if you need to come up a little bit and you want to film a little better, you can. And this is all being recorded, so if you ever wanted to just watch it on
YouTube, you could do that as well. Good evening and thank you to the board of education and central office staff for always supporting the programs that benefit our students. Montville Township High School partners with Junior Achievement of New Jersey to run High School Heroes. It's a program where
trained high school students teach financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness to elementary school students. The JA program is aligned with New Jersey social studies standards and the common core for ELA and mathematics. Each year, our students
and alumni from their elementary schools visit either Hilldale or William Mason to teach JA lessons, often in the same classrooms that they once sat in. Our high school heroes participate in this experience after being trained for an entire day by our high school heroes
adviserss, both Mr. Conroy and Miss Naturel. Tonight, we're proud to have a few of our high school heroes and the elementary school students with us to share more about their experience with the program. First, Mia Manili will briefly share her experiences.
Hi, my name is Mia Mangeli and I'm a junior at Montell Township High School. This was my first year doing the Hildo Hero High School program through the junior achievement. This year, I taught fourth grade with Tyler, who also went to Hilldale Elementary School with me. I had the great opportunity to teach the kids about how to run a business through
the our region course. This experience was an amazing feeling because I got to give back to my my elementary school that helped me mature and grow throughout the years I was there. I had no idea what to expect during my first day of training at the high school. I was so nervous I wasn't going to be able to teach kids all of the material I
prepared at training, but the training was so important and it helped me gather the information that I needed to make sure the kids understood what I was teaching them. As the day went on at Hilldale, I became more and more confident due to all the kids being super interested in my topic and getting excited to answer all the questions.
Standing in the classroom of my old elementary school, I couldn't help but reflect on how far I've come since I was once sitting in those same seats. It was surreal to be on the other side of the desk teaching the students the way my teachers did for me. This experience allowed me to connect my past with my
present, reminding me of the impact that learning and teaching can have on shaping who we become. I wanted to be able to do that for the kids I taught to make sure they enjoyed what they were learning. Uh I am so glad I I got the chance to do this. It really gave me a new perspective on teaching and how
grateful I am for my own teachers. I also like to thank Dr. Gelber for for creating this opportunity for me. Now Tyler is Good evening members of the board. My name is Tyler Liverman and I'm currently a junior at Mount Township High School. For the past two years, I've had the privilege of participating in the high
school heroes program through Junior Achievement. Both years, I taught fourth grade students at Hilda Elementary, my alma mater, which made the experience even more meaningful. The lessons we taught were part of a curriculum called our region, which connects directly to the fourth grade social studies standards. Through this program,
students explored topics like community resources, basic economic principles, and entrepreneurship. One of the most impactful parts of of the experience was stepping back into my old fourth grade classroom, not as a student, but as a teacher. It gave me a whole new appreciation for educators, as
it's definitely not an easy job. I learned how to plan and deliver a lesson to an audience very different from my own peers, which helped me grow in confidence and communication. These are definitely skills that I'll carry with me into college and beyond. Um, I would like to thank you guys for supporting
programs like this that give students like me the chance to give back, the chance to learn, and the chance to lead. Now, Aiden will be talking about his experience. Good evening. My name is Aiden Blumenthal and I am a junior at Montville Township High School. I am an alumnest of Hilda Elementary and I had
the privilege of returning there the past two years for the high school heroes program. I taught the junior achievement our region curriculum to fourth grade Miss Force class and both years I worked alongside two peers I spent six years with at Hilldale Elementary. Before each visit, we spent
a day fully preparing for the lesson and I'll admit I was nervous the first year and the material was very overwhelming and I was really scared to be honest. And um the the full day of learning just helped me understand the curriculum and helped me be confident for the day that
we were going to speak and teach the Hillale students. And then the next year, this year, I took on a leadership role, helping my two peers uh become comfortable with the content and helping them feel the same way I was going into the year last year. One of my favorite
memories was seeing the kids excitement and engagement as we taught. It was rewarding to be their teacher for the day and knowing that we had an impact on their day and week. This experience has also taught me how difficult teaching can be. as I went to bed right after I got
home. I've developed a deep respect for my teachers and I I don't understand how they could put up with us high schoolers. Thank you for allowing me to share this experience with you. Now, Mrs. Neros will talk. Good evening. I just want to say thank
you for this experience to all the high schoolers. They were mine. And um Dr. Galibur and um the adviserss. It was so nice. I love this program. Last year we only did it um for a small group. This
year we did it K to 5. It was great. And I have some of my second graders who are going to come up and tell you their favorite part about the day. So come up. You can stand here so they can see. They're not see. Hello. My name is Colin
and my favorite part of Junior Achievement Day was when we learned about helping our community. My name is Liam and I loved working with money and making pizza out of stickers. My name is Michael. My favorite part of Junior Achievement Day
was when we learned to pay for things and we pay paid from for things from our friends and they were very cheap. That's why I liked it. Hi, my name is Sarah. I love learning about the community helpers like police
officers and firefighters. Hello, my name is Julia and I liked working with the high school students. Thank you. You get this. I had the pleasure to be able to go down there and see the things in action. And
uh it's so interesting to hear that you were beaten eaten alive by fourth graders. So, you know, it's uh it's not an easy task. And we just had teacher appreciation week last week. But you know, my last column that I just wrote were all about the future business leaders and the entrepreneurs of tomorrow. So you can see some of them
here today. And uh we look forward to all of you helping us with that. And we have our future teachers here. We there's a shortage of teachers in New Jersey. So we definitely need all of you as well. So, this is a wonderful program and it's just so great to seeing the alma mada alumni and things going back
and forth and and the pride that the teachers felt seeing their their former students come back. So, wonderful job. Thank you so much. Anybody else? Picture time. Parents, if you want to come up and get a picture,
uh, it has a little bit. I think they're the only ones that have done it the whole way. Um, the other school. I think William did it. One more time. always. Wonderful. Thank you so much. All right. We also have another special
treat for us. This one's going to be uh much quieter. We're going to bring up our Dr. Spitzer and Miss Gordon. You're gonna bring up the students and they're going to be speaking to us through sign language. Good evening, Board of Education. My
name is Tamar Spitzer and I'm the supervisor of world languages in ESL. Um, this year I we are so proud to have added a fifth world language to our high school program. Um, with your amazing support, American Sign Language. American Sign Language is not just the
study of a language, but also an entire beautiful microcosm within the United States. I would like to introduce our incredible American Sign Language teacher, Christine Gordon, who will introduce her students entirely in ASL. Okay.
So come back students come on back. So uh if you could just maybe talk to us for a moment using the microphone. Um that was wonderful by the way and uh I know that was really hard to get up in front of everybody and and and speak like that. So maybe can you just share like one or two things uh and maybe just
amongst all of you like what's the most challenging, what's the most rewarding, what are you loving about that? Why did you choose this language? Um definitely the most uh challenging thing is trying to read what they're saying while they're finger spelling so fast. Uh that's the most difficult that I have
when my teacher uh Miss Gordon is like explaining things and I'm like what what again? And uh sometimes it's really rewarding when I understand what she's saying and then I can tell my other students uh just a little overview what she was saying like either the sign or
um just like finger spelling a little slower for them. Um that's definitely the most rewarding. And uh while taking the class uh just in my personal life, I've encountered uh deaf people with my uh extracurriculars like I do judo. I've uh experienced some deaf kids that I got
to communicate with. Um, it was really rewarding just like talking to them and experiencing like what they what they enjoy from having somebody here that could help them and having people that could understand them rather than just always having to use an app or having to either always have an interpreter with
them like a family member just having somebody there that they can just be like, "Oh, oh my god, hey, you know this like that's so cool." So that's definitely most rewarding. Thank you. Um, one of the things I struggle most with is definitely the sentence structure because it's different from
English, but I'm slowly learning and I'm getting better at it. And the most um rewarding thing I think is being able to like learn the signs and like see myself improve because I think that's so cool that I'm like picking up a language like this. like I knew nothing, maybe the
alphabet like halfway when I started the class. And so to see myself know so many signs by like the end of this year is great. And like I think it's something that I can apply and use in real life. I think one of the hardest parts is taking like what you want to say in
English and putting it into ASL because it is different and like you want you know what you want to say but like you just can't I guess sign it out sometimes. But I think one of the best parts is also the community that like I've gained from taking this class. I have a wonderful class and I've made
many friends through it and I have an amazing teacher. I love her. Yeah. So I think it's overall a great experience and I I'm so sad that I couldn't do this earlier on in my high school year. I'm a senior now so I couldn't take it freshman year but I have a sister who's
a freshman who will definitely take this class. Thank you. How much of the language is uh are the facial expressions? A lot of it. All of it. Yeah. So, I think it's really important
that to master that showunication. Thank you. Yes. Um, do any of you have any aspirations for doing this for a career? I do. I want to become an interpreter
with either being an elementary school teacher or just like traveling the world, interpreting for music artists or just speakers. Well, good for I'm glad to hear that. And for the rest of you, even if you're not doing it, it's just great enrichment.
Definitely want to continue it. Like I'm going to college and I have it at my college. So I'll definitely take it, continue that as a language. And this is our first year that we just uh offered it. So we expect this program to grow and and hopefully just keep
passing the word uh and verbally and through sign. And we really appreciate that. So, thank you for everything. Appreciate it. Thank you guys for your time this evening. Have a wonderful night. Thank you. Thank you. Wonderful. Yeah. A couple.
All right. Uh as Yeah. Okay. Yep. What's she doing? Yeah, you know, just before we go on, I just wanted to say that between this program and the kids who are here, again, I think just it's so important that we bring these people out here because I want the people in the
district to see where their tax dollars are going to see the product we're putting out that actually the kids go to school and people say, "Well, what are our kids learning?" you would say this is what they're learning whether it's this or the performances, robotics
um you know there's so many different things we show and um you know the product of of the good work that we're all doing in our schools comes out here and I think we all we all definitely I think I speak for everybody when I say we all appreciate it and um you I'm sure
the public does as well. Absolutely. I mean, you see it with the sign language as well as with the uh entrepreneurs and the business leaders. These are practical skills that can be used right on the street and out there in the real world right away. So, it's great stuff that they're learning in school. Absolutely. Can I also just add that in
addition to that, not only are they learning things, but they're learning how to give back to their community. We have possible teachers. We have kids who are teaching other kids. So, we have a lot going on. and thank you all very
much. Great job tonight. Thank you. So, just moving on with announcements. Um, as mentioned in the student report, the over the past two years, the district has been able to offer uh a new innovative academic offering at the high school. This is the science department
administered the biotechnician assistant credentiing exam which is called BASE. The the high school is the first in New Jersey to administer this test for high school students taking biotechnology. BAS is an industry recognized exam designed to assess core skills and
knowledge and uh by the bioscience industry. All the biotech students this year, 15 of them successfully passed the exam for the second year in a row. So wonderful news. Kudos go to Dr. Sandy Schwarz, the supervisor, and Heather Einstein Einstein, uh the teacher of the
class. Yeah. But but but last year they all passed as well. Correct. Eventually. I I just think this is just just like what Mike was saying. This is just another example of the kind of programming that we bring. We support. I
mean, we don't think about it to do it, but we certainly support it. And it's what makes our school district so great. Yeah. And you know, we only get a very small um inkling of what's going on by bringing these presentations. So, we
tried to vary them as much as possible. We had the middle school band, we had, you know, the coral, we had all these different things. So, sign language. So, we're trying to just show you everything that's going on in the school that are playing to all the interests of all the students. And just to repeat, first in
the state. That's amazing. Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Um so, we have uh two dates on the calendar for the board. uh looking into the cell phone discussion. Uh following up on the request, we're going to go look at two schools, one
being here, Montville High School. Uh we're going to be offering for the board members on Friday, May 30th at 10:45 to see cell phones in action in the lunchroom and then maybe visit some classrooms and see how students are using them and not using them. And then
again on Friday, June 6th at 7:30 a.m., we will visit Ramsey High School to speak with the administrators and see the students in action uh at the earlier time because they use the yonder pouch uh when they entered the uh school to lock up their devices and we want to see
that uh being used uh in session. Uh we had a a run here for the past couple of months of having the board meetings at the high school. So, next month though, it's going to go back to uh the municipal B building in town hall. So, just make them noted of that.
We'll be back there. And um that's all I have for that part. Any questions or anything? All right. So, now we're going to go into the uh board goals as well as the district goals. I've given out uh
several times to the board some ideas of what our goals are now as well as what they could maybe do and change them or come up with new ones. These are just some samples uh that to give you ideas to to work from. So tonight will be a
work session on your board goals and as well as the district goals and then uh hopefully we'll have that all wrapped up and ratified at the next meeting. So Dave, you want to start? Okay. So, you all have copies of the board goals. The
first page um has 12 potential board goals, four of which are repeats from last year. The following page has the board goals for the previous three years. You can check them out. Uh you know, looking at
this, to be perfectly honest, I am very happy with our board goals that we've had for the past couple years. I personally believe that they are good goals, but that every year the superintendent changes up the action items under the goals. So, I think that
the goals represent a very positive uh forward-looking um position for the board. Uh I think my personal feeling is that they should remain the same. I am
obviously open to hearing what other people think. I think the goals five through 12 with the exception of nine are really just action steps with that we can fold into the other goals. I think goal nine is is
part of goal one but that's my own personal feeling. So I will now open up and let's hear Michelle you want to go um see what you all think about these. No, I when I had looked at it, I thought much of the same thing because I I feel
like the first four, you know, cover facilities, academic, you know, social, all aspects that we want to cover. I mean, I don't know if we've been talking a lot and just in Dr. Gorman's report about, you know, number seven. So, I don't know if we want to make it a
specific goal or it's just part of what we administer and are checking into, but it definitely is something that's the forefront. And um perhaps making it a goal will kind of give us that extra um push and um accountability to kind of take it
through. So, I don't know if it should be its own goal or if we want to go beyond five. I just kind of saw that and know where we're are with it and wondered how it applies. But I agree with your general sentiment about the four that we have and constantly evolving them. I think that that is
definitely um relevant. So well I'll say that generally we have three to five goals. Um more than five is getting to be a bit much but generally three four is what we normally go for. We can talk
about that. Um, Mike, you also uh Yeah. So, uh uh I think it's it's uh it's good to move u I think goals six and seven um to a higher level because these are two
issues that um is not just in our district but throughout the country basically. Um, first is this the cell phone policy or developing a a a an appropriate cell phone policy within our
schools. Um, there there's there's lots of evidence about uh how cell phones uh affect student learning. um how uh brains can be rewired depending if you're learning something online through
a cell phone or or learning uh through tactile means and it's something that that's important. So even though it could be part of one of the other goals, um I think at this point it's good to bubble it up to a higher level because then it
makes it a little bit more attentive, a little bit more actionable u um throughout our our uh board year. Um and for goal six, uh especially in in the state, uh as as we heard from uh Dr. Gorman uh
previously that a lot of districts are having issues with finances and uh whether is the cap or whatever else is happening. Um it's it's becoming a difficult issue
and as as a board I think we need to one be aware of it every uh time we're we're uh talking about our goals. Um, also it will help bring this this issue to the attention of the public um, every time
we do talk about it so that they're fully aware and not surprised in two years if we do need to make some sort of change either uh, a change to our programs or increasing um, our our our
uh, the amount that we're collecting through through taxes or something like that. So I think for those reasons, six and seven would be beneficial to to bubble up to a higher level to be constantly in front of our attention and and the public's attention. Okay. Thank
you. Am I Okay. Well, I I guess the question is is are these really goals or are they visions? Um I mean other with the exceptions of goals projected goal seven
and 112 which I think are kind of the same really most of these goals are basically our goals to do our job and if again if we're if our if the goals are really just our visions of the community I have no problem leaving them as they
are and some of these other things can supplement them. I mean goal six Mike talked about goal six and um if you look at the way it is it's really more of a vision than is a goal. Now if we start saying our goal is to start looking at
alternative ways of funding look how we can cut costs plan ahead for what's potentially going to happen in the future with you know budget if the financial cliff hits us then you can say okay that's really a goal. If you're saying to manage the district
financially, that's really just a vision. So, um, again, I guess the question becomes, are we looking for specific goals? We want to do this, this, and this specific thing, or are we just looking for the vision of we want to promote this, this, and this, and
this as our general um, way of we function. So, I I am very much in agreement with the two of you, Mike and Mike. I like goals six and seven, but I also think goal six needs to be tweaked a little bit as Mike mentioned, maybe to
be more of a general financial awareness rather than, you know, the specific wording that's in there. Um, but if you know, and I think Michelle, you you brought up seven, that's at the forefront of everyone's mind, so why not make it a goal? I think that's also a
great idea. And so I would I would push for moving those two in and moving goal three out to stay within Dave's bounds of of five goals. Karen, um, you know, I just realized now that
these are board goals, meaning they're the board's goals. And I would almost flip it and make these be the district goals because we talk about the district goals quarterly.
We don't really talk about our own board goals. Uh and I think you know coming coming up as has been mentioned um we could face financial challenges in
the future and I think it is as some of you have already said very important to keep it in front of the public by having those quarterly um goals. Uh the the other I mean the
cell phone policy I a agree. We we seem to be working on it and handling it. Um to make it a goal, I don't think adds any additional work because we're already putting the work in. We've already we've already had some discussion
um on that and we have a field trip plan. So, we're really moving on that. Um so, to add it, if the board wants to add it, that's that's fine for me. Um I don't think it's too much of a of a heavy lift. And
um the other goal that was the six. So yeah. So so six and seven are I I I just I I do believe that those in particular should be part of the district goals. part of district goals rather than I
mean honestly it would be one two three four five um I do agree with and then you know six and seven I feel six has to happen on a regular basis at every meeting and then seven we're we've
already we're kind of halfway there so I know we shouldn't have that many goals but I think it might be we can maybe discuss taking one of the one through four out. Uh no, I pretty much agree with everyone here. I looking at goal three, I think
we can remove that one and uh definitely implement six and seven. And again, tweaking with the words on on goal six a little bit, but I think it sounds like uh people would prefer to have goal six replace goal three uh with some maybe
minor changes to it. So instead of us effectively managing the financial operations uh something more along the lines of um over well first of all overseeing because we don't really manage the
financial operations but overseeing um the district's management of the financial operations. Uh and as part of that maybe a task in within that of reporting back maybe with a like the
word forecasting in there somehow. I like Karen's idea for number six moving that to the district goal level not that being a board level. Well, we'll talk we can talk about the district goals in a moment, but I think uh it sounded like people wanted one of
the board goals to be monitoring the progress of the administration, right? I think so. Isn't that important? That's what I thought it was. We were supposed to be monitoring the progress of the administration in they would be
keeping us a breast of their developments and their thoughts and where we're going with it. Right? I mean I by definition of a district goal, aren't we monitoring those? I'm saying it doesn't need to be both places. So I like I think Karen's idea of bringing it
to the forefront as a district goal might make more sense. I'm fine. I I leaving it at a board goal, but I I just I think we should maybe think about that. I think there are different when it comes to I think there are different roles of the board versus the district.
Now, we would be monitoring their progress while they are then tasked with implementing that. And so that's so they really are two separate. Just to play devil's advocate for a moment, if I look at the district goals,
I don't see them being as relevant as the board goals. I mean, maybe that's harsh, but that's the way I look at it. Um, you know, the the mental health issues, I think, are ongoing. Um, it doesn't need to be a
goal per se anymore. We we we have a very robust mental health program. Um the innovative learning is is wrapped into one of the board goals. The safety and security that has become part of our
DNA. It doesn't need to be a goal for the district. Um and the long range facility plan again I mean we have with the ref, you know, that was examined heavily during the referendum. Um, well, so I I
I I'll say it again. I I really think the board goals are more relevant or are are are better said to be the district goals. So, would you say keep the board goals the same and move goals six and seven into the district goals? I would
definitely move six and seven into the district goals. But I would also point out that our board function is different than the district. We can reward it. And so we we yeah we can reward it which is sort of what I was getting to that we
could have as a goal effective monitoring effective oversight but I mean I I don't want to get I don't want to mix board and district goals uh you know and work between them at the same time. I think that's a little
confusing. But I do think that the point is well taken that the finances I don't think I'm mixing them up. I think I'm specifically saying six and seven should be district goals. Am I crazy? Should the board's goals and
the district goals be aligned? Yes. be the exact same essent to your point David when you were saying the this is they administer it and we oversight right so they don't align right now at all but if we have
four major areas which I think we kind of do you know finance facilities you know the academic piece the social emotional you know specific we can word them in such a way that it's the administration of it and then our goals are the um overseers oversight and I
think we haven't done that and I that's where kind of Karen was going with it that it seemed like an aha moment to me. I mean she kind of knows the stuff pretty well but um you know I I think that it makes a lot of sense because we kind of do that anyway but I think we we agree on what those four main areas are.
I would suggest we go back and rewrite them, figure out how to word them and align them and come up with this because you could even, you know, the cell phone and I think we have four and a fifth with cell phone, but investigating it with the district and us supporting that. I think they can go hand inand in
a very positive way. you know, I I mean, um, a board goal could easily be that, you know, we're going to work together as a group and enhance whatever, but to me, the district goals are those
goals that Dr. Gorman is going to report on uh, every quarter or or more frequently, and the public is going to hear it. We never we never report on our goals. So what's the point of having them having these very important goals
be in the board goals when we're not going to you know there we're not going to hear anything about them and we're not going to do anything about them much. He's going to be doing all the work. So may I make a suggestion? Should we have one board goal and that goal is the oversight of the administration and
and then help the the district uh make the district goals. New Jersey school boards won't like us. Well, you know, well, I they can't not like us. We have one. We're all members. I don't know. I mean, I I that's how I
feel. I feel that well I think maybe you are right that there's a lot of specificity in the board goals that really shouldn't be there. Um we do not promote a collaborative teaching environment. Not so much the
specificity as it is the um what it's saying. Um, right. The these are far more actionable than Exactly. And and therefore to me they belong with the they belong as
district goals, not as board goals. Right. Well, I'm sorry. That's what I was trying to say. They they they promote an action where we should not be involved. We do not promote anything. We we oversee. How about we table the board goals for
now and create the district goals first? Wait, are you Don't use that word table. Yes, I didn't make any motions. I'm just talking. Sorry. Sorry. But just loosey goosey right now. Careful. A good conversation. Word. That's a that's a very specific word.
Um, well, this is a draft session, right? This is a working session. It is. I think maybe what we should do is we should talk about these board goals and turn them more into board functions of oversight. No, take the board goals and
just make them district goals. It's just so it's so much cleaner. Okay, then we can eliminate goal three and just slip in goal six. What would you pro uh what would you propose for board goals? Yeah, I don't know yet because I
I don't like these. Boy, I'm really snarky tonight here. I don't like these as the district goals. Okay, that's fine. But let's talk about the board goals. I don't want to talk about the board goals until we get the district goals down. I think she makes a
point, too. So, you want to do district goals first? You want to drop them? I think they're far more important to Okay. solve. Does anyone Yeah. Well, I'll say this. If I look at these suggested board goals, you know, taking I guess Karen's definition of what's a
what should be a board goal. What should be a district goal? I think the only ones of these proposed board goals that clearly are something would be a board goal, not a district goal, would possibly be goals 21, 11, and 12. Everything else is
really that that's really that's administration's job. Yeah, I agree. I I agree with you, Mike. I'm not even sure if goal two is uh something that we do. So, why don't we if if we're saying we
want to come up say with four district goals, should we walk through and see if we're comfortable with what they could be? First of all, would people like to put our discussion of board goals to the side? Would you like to put and
discuss district goals first? Yes. Okay. Yes. Yes. Everyone. Okay. Let's flip over and talk about the district goals. And you can bring up anything you want. Would you like to propose a district
goal? Do you you do not obviously like these district goals? No. No. The ones that we've had for the past couple years because they're not relevant now. Okay. They were relevant then, but they're not relevant now. Okay. So, that's let's
walk through this. Um mental health issues. You does anyone believe that that is still a valid district goal to talk about? It's always valid. Mental health is always valid and we have a
robust program. We don't need to make it a goal because we've already exceeded the goal. I guess we can revisit it as a goal in three years or something. Yeah. Okay. Well, wait. Actually, can I first ask a
question? What do you think is the most important district goal that we should have? What what's what if you had to pick one district goal that you put at the top of your list, what is it going to be at this point in time? At this point in time, finances. Finances. Okay.
So, not but a variation of number six because because I think the district will effectively manage all financial operations of the district to ensure not just maximum amount of funding devoted to curriculum, instruction, assessment. I think it's
more than that. I think it's and planning the the continued financial viability to support what what we currently have and looking forward to the future like planning forecasting predicting
for and projecting out for the future whatever five years seven years 10 years whatever I mean am I correct I think I'm sorry sorry am I correct in saying that when we have these board or these district goals
It should be something like above and beyond what is normally part of our job. I mean say okay how do how do I want to say this? We have and this might not be a bad example. Say we have very good
curriculum but the district might have a goal of trying to tweak the curriculum say in world language and that's a bad example but I'm saying the the former to say education as a general to say French world language is specific and I'm not
saying that should be a goal. I'm just saying that to try to distinguish a goal from a vision. Yeah. the board goals, remember just just two years ago was things that are more in your purview. So for instance, you were at the negotiating table for the contract with the MTA, you were on the front lines of
the referendum. So like some of those things are a little bit bigger. All these goals will wind up on my my lap. So, but but you know the board goals are going to be a little bit higher that things are a little bit more your purview and the district goals are going to be a little bit more of the meat that
meat and potatoes that we're going to be working on. So, if we do consider finance to be very important it have you heard enough from us to kind of craft a district goal out of what we're looking
for in finance? Uh, now I need a few more minutes of hearing. What? No, I need a little bit more of hearing where you're going. It doesn't have to happen today, right? Like he could No, no, no. But I want to make sure he has his I understand you want to focus on finance, but I think I Well, you know what? What
what our meeting was at facilities and finance tonight. I mean the way that Kina's preparing for the future, you know, looking at the 2627 budget already because we're
concerned about revenues and expenses and Cine is has laying out a plan to deal with that. And I think it's important because the our the public our our our constituent should understand
this is could be a real challenge for us and the only way is to keep talking about it and we'll keep talking about it if it's a district goal. Does that help? Right. So so I'll be moving right. So finance will move
over to a district goal take out manage and try to get to forecasting planning over you know something like that. I would just say too that that I know finance is maybe top priority but I think it's everything is secondary to the assessment of our programs and
teachers and the education of our kids and that should always kind of be number one and that could be the one that stays as number one forever. Absolutely. In fact I would enhance that. Yeah, I'm just just going off the cuff. Make number two. You're talking about district goal. District goals. District
goal number two, exploring, evaluating innovative learning opportunities. Make number one, you know, a global goal to, you know, assess our programs and personnel and in the further of our students education, you know, something along those lines. is the goal. One
could read the district will promote a collaborative teaching, learning and assessment environment that inspires creativity, innovation, differentiation to support all learners and I would add and promote the academic achievement of all learners. Yes. Yeah. But that moves to districtal as number one. And and say
the last part again, Karen, promote Yeah, I just added um and and promote the academic achievement of all learners. It's a little redundant. you'd have to cross out a couple of things, but that just came from goal nine because I wanted to specifically have
academic achievement in there. So, it sounds like it's merging goals one and nine and moving it to a district goal. Yeah. The only phrase from goal nine that I took out of it was promote the academic achievement. Okay. It's essentially expanding district goal two.
It's what district goal two is now one. Right. Right. That's fine. We it the order is very easy to make. Appearances. Yeah. And then the new go to would be the what we started to talk about with finance. I
think we would all agree with that, right? You can even say in light of the current financial situation in all districts across the state that you know the continued analysis of our budget
projecting out over the um next few years or you know whatever. Okay. So I have from board goals number one changed a little bit. I have number six with changes I have to
do. So those two moved over to district and then you had two more you said you wanted. Well, is this the cell phone policy going to move to district as well since that's a uh specific actionable type of
Yeah, we can. Yeah, but I personally I think that should fall under a broader category. To me, that's a a series of steps u without being a truly if you wanted to keep mental health as a goal, you could make that an actionable item under mental health. That's where I
would put it. Yeah. So, you know, if we look at what's currently district goal one and board goal four, propose four, it this is where Karen was talking about like board goal four is more specific
than district goal one and it really keeps in there the addressing of wellness, climate, it encompasses more than just one did. You could add mental health to goal four of the district of the board and make that a district
goal. It's the whole wellness and climate. I mean, I would just keep goal four as a district goal. I would keep board goal four as a district goal. I would make it into a
district goal, right? Which is more just change the wording instead of what's number one because it's more specific and comprehensive. And the cell phone would be actionable under six was the finances, right? Yes.
Six is finances. Okay. So, we have three district goals so far. We have the curriculum and education curriculum. Well, education standards, curriculum, student achievement, student achievement. All of
that wraps underneath of that one district goal and and then finances would be number two and then student health mental health be number three and if we're looking for five I would propose two more one being
the continued search for you know innovative ways to to teach you know something with that's you know recently R&D so to speak for for education you isn't that part of the first goal Is that aren't those more actionable steps
under the first goal? It does say here it says collaborative teaching, learning and assessment environment that inspires creativity, innovation, differentiation. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm thinking one is just be
great at educating and one is, you know, think of new ways and and different ways that I think that's let me just so let me just go back. So you have number one of the board goals with some of the changes. number four of the board
goals that and then you wanted me to combine that a little bit with goal one. Yeah, board goals which would be one. Okay. Because you wanted to get cell phones underneath that one. Yeah. And then Yeah. Board seven goes underneath of
that. So, and then uh then the finance one. Okay. So, you got three three district goals, right? That's that's what we have. Three district goals right now. I think it covers a lot there. There's a lot there. Five goals. We we could we could add back in the
facilities thing too if we want a fourth goal. Just district goal four. I was going to say I think if you want to keep Yeah, keep it as a as a goal. I would not do well long range facility plan is still that's that really is not wrapped up into any of the others. It's good to keep that as the fourth one. We we'll
keep four goal four. What I'd like to do for the board goals is see where these four district goal I mean this we haven't redone this like this and like let's see how they're worded and then align the four board goals to the four district goals which we haven't done
this is yeah I think it makes so much sense okay all right so then for the board goals just leave it as blank slate right now yes leave it blank so we'll talk in June and then you'll we'll work in July then on something yeah we're going to have to
then approve in July Okay. All right. Then I'll talk to you about So I have homework. Is that was that what I heard out of? Yes. This whole conversation was to give you the Exactly. That's what I felt. Right. No wonder why you all succeeded in school. The board goal is to dump as much on you. That's what I
heard possibly can. That's what I heard. It's not our problem. It's your problem. Avoid any. Okay. All right. Any other comments about district goals for now? That was a really good discussion. Yeah. Okay. Thank you all.
Okay. Um, you have not. Do you have anything else, Tom? I'm done. Okay. Kine, would you like to say anything? I have nothing. Okay. But before I leave, Katine, I would like to just say um, as it was pointed out, finances are going
to be getting tighter around here. We need to have this discussion more. We will. A and and it's a district goal. I I know. But I encourage my fellow board members to make sure that they are communicating with their PTC's as well
and you know discussing this with them so they are also aware okay so that's enough right good let's move on committee reports what oh one more I'm looking at the good news and just something just something you just
have to revise when you put the um agenda on the website it says MH MTHs will host its annual spring concert on Monday, May 19th. That's not exactly accurate. Monday, May 19th is a
small ensembles. The actual spring concert for the large ensembles is Tuesday, May 20th. So, we have to add the the Tuesday, May 20th. Yeah. I mean, May 20th is actual what's built as a spring concert. May 19th is
small ensembles. Okay. Anything else? No. Okay. Uh, let's move on to committee reports. Karen, why don't you start us off with finance? Rewind the tape. No, you get nothing. We met before this
meeting and pretty much what we've been talking about is what we were talking about. um challenging times ahead and excellent planning by our business administrator and her business office. And just to jump on that, uh you're correct. You'll be getting a lot more
updates from us about that. But we are going to have to start looking into maybe some revenue streams uh as well as maybe even possibly a future question um about asking the the community, can we go out for a little bit more money to keep the uh the funding going of these
excellent schools. So, this is going to be the conversation for probably the next 10 months. Yeah. You don't want to scare everyone first, you know, first night out. Nope. We'll hold off some of that later. But yes, we will be adding to that every time. Okay. Uh curriculum.
Michelle, no report. Policy. John, uh no report. Okay. Communications. Joe, no report. Christine's not here. Karen, back to you for New Jersey school boards. So on May 2nd uh the uh board of
directors met. Some of the highlights were they are introducing an inaugural AI conference preparing for today and tomorrow. It's scheduled for Friday, June 6th. Um we're well into workshop
2025. The keynote speaker is going to be none other than Joe Thyman. Oh my god. Yep. He'll be there on Wednesday the 22nd. Um lots of momentum with workshop. There's uh already uh
districts are already uh registering their board members. Um we talked about the executive director's goals under the pillars of content connection and advocacy.
Um and then on the delegate assembly on May 10th, there were three resolutions that were approved. The first one had to do with esports, uh basically recognizing esports as a legitimate
sport. Um there was some conversation about school nurse certification. There was a referendum that wanted to um allow school nurses to become school nurses with an associates degree. School
boards altered the language a little bit and the resolve clause to change it to for the legislature to take any means necessary to help fill the gap and and the lack of school nurses. So, it passed
with the revised wording. And then we also um passed a resolution which would excuse uh provide an excused absence for uh young men and women who are entering the trades if they need a day off to
either take a test or um job interview or something like that. Um and that was the DA was my last DA as president. I am now the past president
and it was very sad. No, it was very good. It was a good meeting. Are you still on the board? I'm still on the executive committee. Yeah. I'm so sorry that you're no longer the board president. I It was a good run. It was It was Thank you for your service.
And by the way, as a native of DC, when you mentioned Joe Thyman, I couldn't help but remember him from when he played for the Washington football team. Yeah. Pretty cool. That's why um I I was very surprised to hear that you know he's be okay. Uh let's go on. Uh Mike
Rapport, Morris County School Boards. Uh I apologize. I was not able to attend the May 7th meeting. Um but uh if any of the board members who did attend would like to say anything, uh they can jump in. Yeah.
Um so uh Joe and I were there. Um Joe was actually elected to the board of directors of Morris County School Boards. Um and um it was uh held on May 7th. It was the third annual Nancy Hellberg Memorial Recognition Award. And I have a
special treat for Mike Palma. Mike, you were awarded a 20-year pen and a certificate in gratitude for 20 years of dedication to the children of Monful Township School District Morris County and the state of New Jersey. Oh, thank
you so much. Yeah, thank you. Yeah, it's actually technically 20 years from me. I forget the exact date. It was something along the lines of about April 20th of this year, but yes, 20 years. Congratulations. Thank you so much. You've been very instrumental in this
district. Yep. Thank you for thinking of me, Karen. Get another Get another pin. Karen, anything else? Uh, not from our school boards. Okay. Not from our schools. Something. Okay. Joe, uh,
Morris County Educational Services, we have a meeting tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom and drug awareness. Uh they had a meeting tonight which I was just at over at the community park. Yes. Okay. Um they are actually discussing uh the eighth grade um breakfast and
present uh presentation that goes on each year. They're in the process of playing that out. U having Matt Bellis speak again for this year. And then also they're talking about rebranding the name of drug awareness to something new.
Something new. Yes. So Okay. Something something different. you let us know what that is. Okay. Uh, athletic boosters. John, you're up. So, we they had they had a meeting last week. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend and know after all
this time. They had an April meeting. They rescheduled it to May, but that wasn't a good date for me, but I did review some of the reports and it looks like a healthy functioning body. And I look forward to attending in the fall for their first meeting at 2526. if well if you can't attend a meeting and it
goes for a lot of other people um just let me know maybe you know I'll be able to get out there and take your place okay and they are all virtual now so it shouldn't be too yeah that should be much easier okay but yeah um if you can't make a meeting just let me know and whether it's a PTC or liaison and
I'll do my best to fill in for you all right or maybe we could even all email each other because maybe someone else you know what I mean yeah I think that's a good idea Okay. Uh where are we now? Okay. Hilldale, sorry, C Cedar Hill. Karen, uh
that was a busy night. Uh the first part of the night I spent at the um National Honor Society induction ceremony and that's always a nice event. Um and then I attended the Cedar Hill home and school meeting and tomorrow night they're having their big fundraiser.
It's a tricky tray. Um and I'm bringing with me an alum of Cedar Hill school, my daughter. Um, so we plan to have a fun evening. Great. Um, so Christine's not here for Hilldale. Caitlyn's not here for Valley View. John, back to you for
William Mason. William Mason. Um, I was speaking with the president of the P uh, HSA and they have a very interesting fundraiser coming up on June 16th. There will be a helicopter flying over the school and you could sign up and buy a a
uniquely numbered golf ball and all of the golf balls will then be dropped from the helicopter and whichever lands closest to the target will win the fundraiser and so all the students are going to come out and see the helicopter and it's going to fly away with William
Mason blue smoke and it's going to be a fun event. Same golf ball that your son used to break the chicken. Well, they'll get it closer to the target than I do on the golf course, that's for sure. Okay. Hope no one's standing underneath of that. Yeah. Um
Okay. Mike Palma, Woodmont, anything? Uh we were supposed to have had a meeting yesterday was postponed at the last minute to next week. Okay. Michelle Lazar, to the point of uh missing meetings, they changed the time to make
it earlier. Uh Lazar had their last PTC meeting yesterday. Neither Joe or I could make it, but I do have an update from the meeting. Okay. I mean, they talked about all year-end stuff. Um they talked about how very large incoming sixth grade class uh coming in next year and they're preparing for that. Um all
the eighth grade end of year activities and they introduced the new executive board for next year and are looking forward to a good year next year. Great. Thank you. And then the high school I attended. You have anything else to add to it? No. Okay. Um, and I would love to
be able to tell you more than what you have already heard tonight, but um, our student reps, they pretty much stole everything I was going to say. um talking about the upcoming concerts and Mike which Mike also recommend uh remind us of but also the uh the mud exhibit
the physical art the potter uh ceramics and does that also have uh painting as well in the mud or do they just use ceramics? Just ceramics. Just ceramics. Yeah, but that's coming up I think in June. U we'll find out find out a date
for that for you later. Um and that's it. Public participation. Anyone wishing to come up and provide comments to the board? Uh please come up and state your name and Okay, sorry that
joke is that one's gone. Okay. I need a consent resolution for items I through N on the agenda. So moved. Second. Thank you. Items I questions on the minutes. No question. Uh section J.
Questions? Uh K, facilities, finances, anything? Kids, what's up? Nothing. Okay, don't make me turn this meeting around. Uh no comments or questions on K facilities, finances. Um fair amount
there. L personnel. Tom, you want to say something real quick? Yes, I have a couple of things to say. Um, we have uh several retirements, three retirements tonight. So, we have Marissa Croer is her dedication to the Montold public schools has impacted students across multiple levels. From her social studies
student teaching days at Montold Township High School to her work in special education at the middle school and finally her return to teaching social studies at Lazar. Her journey reflects a deep commitment to our students. After a remarkable a remarkable career dedicated to nurturing
young minds, Beth Hughes is retiring from her role as an elementary school teacher. Throughout her years in the classroom, Beth has been the beacon of inspiration known for her unwavering commitment to her students growth and well-being. Beth's legacy is one of compassion, dedication, and excellence.
Her influence will continue to resonate in the lives of countless students she taught and inspired. And the third one, we have John Pettit. He is a high school uh school psychologist. We wish him well in retirement. And for L5, appointment of
substitutes, L51, we're going to strike from this agenda. There was uh I should not have gotten on there. Just a duplicate. Placed an error. Yep. Okay. Any other questions on section L? None. Section M, curriculum
instruction. Um, seeing none, nothing in section N. Roll call vote, please. Mr. Rapaort, yes. Miss Zuckerman, abstain on I. Yes. And everything else. Dr. Cordelino. Yes.
Mr. Palma. Yes. Mr. Petraino. Abstain on I. Yes to everything else. Mr. Dorree. Yes. Dr. Modrack. Yes. Okay. Uh, no close
session. General board comments. New business. Yes, Karen. Just to remind um our board members that Relay for Life is coming up on June 7th from 4 to 10 here at the high school. Okay. Anyone else? No.
uh our second public participation session. Anyone wishing to come to the microphone and provide comments, you are welcome to do so. Seeing none, ask for a motion to adjurnn. Make a motion. Thank you. Second. Second. Thank you. Okay.
See you all next month. Hey Dave, the mics still work. The mics still work. Thank you for the new batteries. They broke what? Last month. Yeah, last meeting. They broke one by one by one by one.