Good evening. Welcome to a meeting of the Mountainside Board of Education. In accordance with the state sunshine law and state regulations, adequate notice of this meeting was provided by mailing us notice of the time, date, location, and instructions for accessing the meeting to the Union County local source
and the Westfield leader. filing the same with the burough clerk, posting the notice at the main access door of the Mountainside Board of Education building and on the Mountainside Board of Education website. These meetings are reserved for board deliberation and for review of items contained within the agenda. The board reserves the right to
vote on action items. The board welcomes the participation of interested individuals. We encourage questions about specific school practices, incidents, or events to be brought directly to to school administration. Public comment will be permitted at the
beginning of the meeting for agenda items only. Each participant is asked to give his or her name and address prior to making a statement. In addition, time will be allotted at the end of the meeting for public comment on any item. Speaker shall limit their comments to three minutes. Roll call, please.
>> Mr. Bill Dylan. Mr. Michael Goodwin >> here. >> Dr. Dana Guided Cpietro >> here. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman >> here. >> Mrs. Vivian Koopo >> here. >> Mrs. Candace Shiano >> here. >> Mrs. Lauren Wargan
>> here. >> At this time, can I please um I would like a motion to go into executive session. It's >> 647. >> 647. >> So moved. >> Second. >> We will return an hour. All in favor? I
>> oppose. Motion carries. See you in a bit. >> 45 minutes, not an hour. >> Oh, 45 minutes. Sorry. 45 minutes. Could be an hour. Uh, I don't even know what time it is. 7:55. >> Make it up. >> 7:55. I do apologize. We are a little
late. Um, normally don't do this, but we're very sorry. Uh, it is 7:55. We're returning from our executive session. Can we please stand to salute the pledge? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Can I please have a motion to approve our minutes from January 20th? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Correspondence. Having none, moving on
to public participation. If you would like to come up to the podium to discuss um anything that we are voting on, please come up. >> I don't think we vote on the minutes. >> Sorry. You see, I'm all over the place. Sorry. >> We got you. >> Did we make a motion?
>> We did. We have to do roll, please. Okay. >> Mr. Bel Dylan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin. >> Yes. >> Dr. Dana Greedy CPro. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Poop. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Candace. Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Wargan. >> Yes. Okay, at this time you would like
to come up to the podium, state your name on anything that we're voting on. Seeing none, we're moving on. Okay, president's report. Just really quick, um just wanted to let our board know that not that we were doing it wrong. However, we no longer have to have a
representative from the board to be uh on the library >> LIBRARY UH COMMITTEE. UM, it is the law that the superintendent holds a place on the library board of trustees as a fully participating voting
board member as does the mayor. Um, he has the right to send someone which Mrs. Christopher has been in the past. So, that's what we're going to do going forward. So, that is all I have to report. I am moving on to the superintendence report. I am going to
come up. Miss uh Dr. Quy Cedro, you can come up with me. Okay. Um, first of all, I do not look like Mr. Kenny, but um, he had an emergency and he is not here and he did not want this to go without being mentioned. Um, you will unfortunately
not get your certificate today. he will give you your certificates uh when he comes back. But uh I have something very nice to say about two special students here and you can still come up and take a picture with us if you want. Tonight we are very privileged to award two
students for this month's trailblazer award. The award recipient is nominated by their teachers and the final selection comes from the administration. Our first trailblazer displays kindness, helpfulness, and a sense of caring for his fellow students. He is on task and
strives for excellence. His solid character and passion for learning are why his teachers nominated him and the administration selected him. The Mountainside Mover of the Month for February is Henry Leo Nardelli.
CONGRATULATIONS Oh my god. >> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. >> Sorry, but Mr. Kenny will give you a certificate. Okay. >> Good job, Henry. >> Good job. Congratulations. You want it? Okay. Our second
mountainside trailblazer is one who is consistently leads with kindness and integrity. She naturally looks out for others, often checking in on her classmates to ensure they feel included, supported, and valued. We need more people like this. Wow. She always has a smile on her face and perseveres through
difficult challenges with admirable determination. Her caring heart, strong leadership, and positive attitude make our classroom a brighter place each day. She is a wonderful example of trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, and citizenship. And she
helps those around her feel safe, appreciated, and inspired. The Deerfield Mountside mover of the month is Ava Wint. Thank you. >> Congratulations. And Ava, you will also get your
certificate. Okay. Uh maybe sit back down. Okay. And now I would like to have Mr. Rosenloom. >> Oh, sorry. We have one more time.
>> I do not have that. >> Oh, absolutely. I would love that. Have you came out in the cold? Yes. Come right up. All right. >> So, this is a special trailblazer from last month. Beachwood wanted to honor
Miss Khloe Koreah for her constant kindness that is absolutely unprecedented. Um the specific words as part of the nomination were that there is a kind
curtsy and a bow to greet every student, every staff member as she enters the school each day. And for that reason, we want to additionally honor Miss Chloe Koreah. >> Chloe does have her CERTIFICATES FROM
LAST MONTH. CHLOE, we missed you last month. We wanted to see your birthday. Okay. >> Yes. >> OKAY. >> SO, now we'd like to introduce Mr. Rosenlum and a couple of performers from
the upcoming musical Matilda. >> Um, hi guys. Thank you for having us tonight. I have two actors from the show, uh, Gabe and Dia, that are here to sing a beautiful song from the show for you. Um, and, uh, tickets are now on
sale for the show. They're, as always, almost sold out. I think Mr. Kenny sent out an email today that they're on sale to the public now. So, so keep getting the word out. It's an amazing show. We've got, as always, about 120 kids in it and, uh, 26 joining on the crew this
week. And uh I'm here with my team, Miss Summers and Mr. Makula, who um I couldn't do this without. So I'm very thankful to you guys for being here and for helping to support the show. Um you guys ready? All right, here's a little
preview of the show. This roof keeps me dry when the rain falls. Store helps to keep the cold at bay. On this floor, I can stand
two feet. On this chair, I can ride my lesson. Through this pillow I can dream my night away. This table as you can see was perfect for
it isn't much but it is enough for me. It isn't, but it's easy now. On these walls, I hang wonderful pictures. Through this window, I can watch the seasonings change. By the
lamp, I can see I am set free. Heat. Heat. Heat. Scissors. This is my house. This is my house. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. I know that I isn't too much, but it is enough for me. It isn't too much, but it is enough
for me. >> Excellent. >> Thank you. Awesome. That song always brings tears to my eyes. My wife balls when she hears that song. But um thank you for I was having such po flashbacks. >> Oh my gosh, you have no idea. This is I was seeing Daniel standing there
singing. So >> you both did an amazing job. I cannot wait. I'm going Saturday. I can't wait to see it at 2 o'clock. >> Yes. >> All right. Thank you everybody. >> Thank you. >> Now I can't I can't stop.
>> That was amazing. >> Great job. >> Do we have to continue? Okay. Um, once again, thank you to Mr. Rosen Bloom and everyone else that came. Um, we really appreciate it. It was great. >> Hey, what is it? Oh, the rest are
welcome to leave now. We're going to continue with our meeting unless you want to stay, but you can run. Nice. >> That was a good one, >> Henry. Henry, accees green. Next time you show up, wear the hat. Okay. Got to
represent. >> Congratulations, Henry. >> Nice job. >> Okay. I am here um to report about QZAC. I would also like to report on behalf of Mr. Kenny, after a mid-year review of the QAC indicators and the progress observed by the county, Mountainside is
now a high achieving school district. Moving on to the SSDs, also on behalf of Mr. Kenny, every year the district needs to publicly report its data on the student safety data system. The following scores were reported to the state for the September 1st through
December 31st, 2025 time period. Beachwood incidents in progress, zero. Incidents completed, zero. Total incidents zero. Total restraint seclusion incidents zero. Training completed four. Programs completed four. Deerfield incidents in progress zero.
Incidents completed 16. Total incidents 16. Total restraints inclusion incidents zero trainings completed seven and programs completed 12. I do not have a district up update. Mr. Um, Kenny will
do that when he comes back or for next month. And we're moving on to our business administrator. Our budget budget pres preparations have been underway. Uh, we had our final meetings with our administrators today,
so we should have all our final numbers in next week. Um, unfortunately, we probably won't hear about our state aid till uh the state passes their budget, but we are moving along to the calendar and we'll
be adopting that budget on March on our next meeting, March 16th. >> Okay. Thank you. I'm moving on to Berkeley Heights. >> Thank you. Um, so, uh, Berkeley Heights Board of Education had one meeting since
we last met. That was on January 22nd. I'm happy to report I believe it's the shortest meeting that I've had there. >> Uh, general session was after exec was less than 90 minutes. So, wow. Good promise. >> Um, similar to tonight, we had an a capella group uh, present to us. Uh,
couple of GL singers. Very, very good. Um, anybody wants to see that, it's the meeting is recorded. I I recommend it. Um we went through things that were relevant to um GL specifically and and Mountainside potentially. Uh went through some guidelines as it comes to
fundraising. Um the board was getting a lot of questions around uh a lot of the GL sports teams reaching out with relatively high goals, you know. Um and uh with the booster club up there, there was some questions around what does the booster club race for versus what do the
what does the athletic department pay for? So, uh, very informative on how that all works. Um, a topic that was tabled was, uh, that's relevant to us was this their their application for a SER grant. And what the SER grant would allow them to do is investigate the
feasibility of, uh, regionalizing their school district or consolidating with another school district. Um, so something that may or may not impact us here in Mountainside. Um, it was determined by the uh the board though that they still had more questions
around what the grant could be used for. Um, so it was tabled and and I'll keep you guys aware uh of any updates on that front as it comes forward. Um, you may see in the Mountainside social
media pages some of the Berkeley Heights referendum information creeping in. I I did notice it was out there on the pages. Um, just a reminder to the audience, um, that's not something Mountainside votes on. That's a Berkeley Heights referendum, uh, to raise money for their schools. Uh, we had these
solutions architect come in and discuss what our impact would be. U, but despite it being on our social media pages, it's not something we would specifically vote on. That vote is, um, on March 10th, and I'm interested to see where it comes in and how it would impact the creation of the Berkeley Heights budget for this
year as well. Um, if anybody wants to find out more information about that referendum, uh, on February 23rd at 7 PM, the Governor Livingston PTO is meeting and, uh, the superintendent is going to come in and and have a Q&A specifically on those
topics. So, uh, that concludes my report. >> Thank you, Mr. All right, let's move on to administration. Can I please have a motion to approve items 1 through five? >> So moved. Second.
>> Any questions or comments? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dana Gi Pierro, >> yes. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Poop. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Candaceiano, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Lauren Organ, >> yes. >> May I please have a motion to approve under budget and finance items 1 through 10? >> So move. Second. >> Any comments or questions?
>> Just a quick question on five Brooke. Do you know or or does anyone else know is our rate for Golden Arrow intact from fall sports? That 550 per bus. >> I think it is, but >> not sure. >> Okay. >> Find out. >> It looks right to me, but for some
reason in my head I thought 525 is what we used to pay, but maybe it's 550. Won't change my vote. Okay. Um, any other questions or comments? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes.
>> Dr. Dana Guy Cierro, >> yes. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Poopa, >> yes. >> Mrs. Candaceiano, >> yep. >> Mrs. Lauren Wargan, >> yes. >> Can I please have a motion to approve under personnel items 1 through 4?
>> So moved. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Uh, any questions or comments? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dana Guided CPRA. >> Yes. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Vivian Pup. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Candaceiano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Wargan. >> Yes. >> Uh, can I please have a motion to approve under curriculum item one? We do not have >> the list. >> The list. Yeah, it was just >> I do have it here.
>> Okay, >> my apologies. We could al also table it if we don't have it and we can vote on it next meeting unless there's one between now and then. >> You need to have it. No, we're good. >> Yeah,
>> we have it in front of us. Can I please have a motion to approve um under curriculum item one? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any uh questions or comments? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin.
>> Yes. >> Dr. Dana Guy Pierro. Yes. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Fuba. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Pandiano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Morgan. >> Yes. >> May I please have a motion to approve under policy item number one, two, and three?
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Any comments or questions? >> Policy. >> Yes. >> Sure. Uh more of a just a confirmation. I want to make sure I've got it right. that um for 7510 use of school facilities. Number two, look, we've
added two organizations to that group. I don't know if this requires a Chris or you can answer it, Brooke, or if a fellow board member can answer it, but just want to make sure that these three organizations under priority three would now have equal access to fields because that's what we're voting on tonight.
That's my understanding of the reading. We've added two organizations um >> to to uh which are the Osprey and Mountain Side Football Club. Mhm. >> So, uh, prioritization between organizations should be on a first come, first- serve basis. I read it as as such that I think as Chris has said, you
know, first come, first- serve application for field usage. >> I think under the correspondence between that was sent, it was first come, first serve >> obviously with their paperwork, >> right, >> that they have to put first serve after
PAL and MPL. >> It doesn't read that way. No, there's no order to it. >> There is no order to that. >> PTO. >> It's PTO. >> It's a policy. The policy changed >> and now it's equal across the board and
it's first come first serve, >> but it's got to be put in writing. >> It has to be put obviously they have to do the field usage and they have to go through that. >> So, >> so no. So the the the organizations that are
through Mountainside that are mountside organizations such as PAL and MSPL which are mountainside organizations do there used to be like a ranking that's going away and anybody could come in and use the fields and pay. >> Not anybody. There's four organizations
that are under that priority three. >> Anyone pay? >> Sure. Yeah. Yeah. >> And what are the Is this right? Is there a way to see this? It's in the policies >> specifically page seven510. >> Y
that was sent to us on Friday. >> Yes. >> Mhm. >> X out and look at your thing. >> Yeah, you can go back again. I don't have it on my computer. >> So, what are the four organizations? >> I can show you.
>> It's the Mountainside Softball Baseball League, the Mountainside PAL, the Osprey Softball Club, and the Mountainside Football Club. >> So, the Mountainside So, >> priority three, the following nonprofit organization, Mountainside Baseball League. >> The the Ospreys is a club team.
It's on a mountainside organization. >> There's other >> the following nonprofit organization, Mountain Side Softball and Baseball League, >> right? But Mountside PAL and Mountainside Softball Baseball League are two organizations that benefit that take like maintain the fields, take care
of stuff. Offspr does not and neither does Mountside Football Club. Not saying they shouldn't be on here, but how are they the same tier? So, from my understanding, from just the emails that went around, it's um it will be first come first serve. Everybody has to
fill out the paperwork, >> right? Of course. >> And >> but there's >> that's who will determine who will use the fields. >> So, there's so in so like in the like in the what emails were this which committee is buildings and grounds. >> Yes. >> So, they made that decision.
>> I want to say that Mr. Kenny was the one that redid this policy. >> We worked over the last >> six months on the policy. It was brought up at another board meeting when we all discussed it. >> Um, and I think up until this point, I'll speak on behalf of buildings and
grounds that >> everything had been put in writing. Um, and without putting it in policy, there was a lot of conversations that were being had outside of policy that, um, we need to get our hands around. And the only way to do that is to write it into
policy because if if you don't put the anybody in a priority then everybody feels they have priority over a different organization. >> But what makes you not have priority when you maintain the fields or maintain or get or give a kickback because PAL has given a kickback to the school. So, where's the where's the difference
between organizations such as PAL and MSBL versus the other ones that are that that should should have ability to use the fields with paperwork and paying the fee versus PAL and W and Mount Side softball.
>> What do you mean by kickback? >> Yeah. What was the PA on kickback? I'm not sure. I'm not sure, but I mean I I thought the PAL like if there was something that the school needed, didn't they give money to that? They do scholarships. >> That's not part of the policy though in
when we talk about the grounds >> that that has really nothing. >> So will will Mountainside So will such teams pay to use the fields these teams in the team? >> No, that's that we waved that a year ago. So when they put in writing, we waved Mountainside FC from utilizing the
Beachwood field and not paying to do it. We also waved the Ospreys to be able to use it. And unfortunately, because it wasn't written in policy when some of those teams tried to use the field, there was a a lot of back and forth that happened. Um, and this allows us because
it's not Mountainside FC or it's not MSBL's fields, it's not PAL's fields, it's Board of Ed fields. And for us to be able to control that paperwork, we have to put it into policy. And that's what we discussed. It
was on record what 6 months ago when when I know you and Bill just were were going back and forth and and it was said that we need to revisit this policy. the buildings and grounds went back, revisited the policy probably the following month and has and and Chris
has rewritten it um to a point where he wanted to circulate it and and everybody have a vote to approve it. >> I think so. That's fine. >> I tell you I think at committee it's not a >> it was a committee thing. It wasn't everybody. It it's it it was
>> the revision was done in committee but now >> it was done in committee as it should be as it always the policy itself was written in that committee a long time ago but then it was brought to the board to now vote on it and and read the policy. >> This is first reading right I think.
Yeah, first reading. >> So the the intent isn't take to take away any of the usage from what's already happening. It's a way to bring back control to say who can and cannot use the fields back to this organization. >> Sure, that makes sense. >> Yeah.
>> Yeah. I don't see anything changing outside of one thing. I do I will speak and say that in the past some of this has not come to the to the board in writing. This is one way for us to start to gain a little bit of control to understand that everyone every year in
in a calendar year should put in writing that we want to use the field. That no one none of these organizations own the field. We own the field. >> And this also has to do with whatever posters or um they're going to hang, we're going to have to approve them. Correct.
>> That's right. Yeah. And Jordan, you you asked that. >> You did ask this question >> cuz I know that last year we had a problem with the softball. Um, so going forward we will have to approve whatever signage goes. >> Chris said, "Yeah, he would review and approve." That's that's in here though. I think >> I think that was Sorry. Changes in the
policy. >> That's a good call. Yeah. And I'm glad that's in here because I think in the past it was assumed, but the language is stronger now. >> I don't want to speak for Chris, but I will say in committee Chris said that he's going to re he has reached out to all organizations. He's spoken to them
and he will continue to speak to them throughout this adjustment, if you will, or or policy change. And again, it's not a policy change. It's being more exclusive to allow other organizations to to utilize the field.
>> Any other questions or comments? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Bill Dylan, >> yes. >> Mr. Michael Goodwin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dana Lee, CPR. >> Yep. >> Mr. Jordan Heyman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vivian Poopa. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Candace Giano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Lauren Morgan. >> Yes.
>> Any old business? >> New business. Committee reports. >> I can go quickly. Um, we did we had a um send and receive committee meeting on February 9th uh here at Deerfield with
uh our counterpart uh committee from Berkeley Heights. um about an hourong conversation. Uh both superintendents were present. Um say it was a healthy conversation. Uh allowed us to get some good information that we needed clarified. Um and will help to inform
our ongoing negotiations with them. Uh and then separately we met uh Friday for about an hour this past Friday 13th the referendum strategic planning committee. That was really the first time that we met as a committee to start to dig into the ones and twos the the priorities that the architects have shared with us.
uh also very insightful to just to get a feel from Chris um what uh what really the priorities are uh and and what we need to be thinking about and then also kind of looking at a timeline uh once we do align on um what our true ones and twos are and what what those dollars
look like. Um uh what what kind of a timeline if we decide as a board to go forward from a referendum perspective what that would look like. Um so uh happy to answer questions about that and we can as a committee but uh informative and um we will be meeting again I don't think we have a date set yet but we'll
be meeting again uh with with uh solutions architect to to dig into some of those questions and and suggestions from them. >> Okay, >> this is this by the way was off their their initial presentation here in public last fall. >> Okay, thank you. Do you hear that? >> A little bit of feedback.
>> All right. All right. um open up the floor to public part for public participation. Seeing none, um we will be going >> Oh, no, no, no. He's just >> um we will be going into a second exec. I don't believe we will be coming back
out. So, at this um time, I would like to make a motion to go into second exec. >> So, move second. >> All in favor? >> I >> opposed. Seeing none, motion carries. Good night. We will not be returning from our second executive.