Is it working? last meeting they just turned the camera that they said at this time. Can I get a motion and a second to resume the public portion of the agenda? You good? >> All in favor?
>> Any opposed? Any abstain? Motion carries. Uh if we could please rise for the flag salute. >> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> At this time, Dr. Pauls is going to give us a presentation of the 2526 SSDs data and an update on the district corrective action plan for student attendance.
So there are two um reporting periods for uh our SSDS system. This is where we upload information uh that's relative to inschool suspension, suspensions um HIV and our proactive interventions. Um so
as we move to the first um slide, the information that we share there um is broken down by our primary school and our middle school. Um in terms of inschool suspensions, you'll see there uh there were two uh for the elementary or primary and eight for the middle
school out of school suspensions, one primary building uh four for the middle school and HIV incidents were three and four respectively. In terms of programming, our teachers have gone through HIV training. We've had PBIS programming, review of the code of
conduct and appropriate responses as well as assemblies for our students. So that is our first um half of the year information and over the summer uh I will be reporting on our second half of the year information. Our second topic for tonight is relative
to an update on uh our attendance corrective action plan. Uh so uh I had written a letter to families um back in January uh informing them that we are under a corrective action plan for attendance because about 18% of our
students are chronically absent uh uh based on last year's school year. Um some things that we have done so far this year is we have identified students who have met the thresholds of 5 10 uh and 15 and 18 or more days absence. uh
those the prince the student have received letters from five days or more. But those um children who have been absent more than 10 days this school year uh the principles have had individual meetings with each of those families uh with one um being
rescheduled due to the inclement weather. Um and that will happen shortly. Um those students who have 10 or more absences are on corrective individual plans for themselves. Um and really it's a conversation with families um because so many of our children can't
get themselves here. It's a big piece um in terms of their families um prioritizing that. Uh there are students with extreme absences. We do have a small number of students who are have been absent over 30 days of school this year. Uh and we just celebrated our
100th day of school last week. So uh in those extreme situations we have filed truency charges as required by law. Um so those are the things that we continue to do. Um we also continue in a proactive way to have conversations with our student leadership group asking them
um about different things that we can do um to make our school more engaging uh for those children who are absent. When we're having a lot of the conversations um a lot of the uh absences are falling into two categories. one families choosing to go on vacation during the
school year and the second um being things that are medically happening. So we are also working on those interventions that are appropriate when there's a medical need um that needs attention. So I think we've gotten some good work uh out of out of those meetings and I will say every family has
been extremely responsive and we appreciate that. Uh the last thing that I was asked to report out on um or add on to here is an update on our board goals. Uh there are three goals that the board's been working on uh throughout this year. The
first has to do with academic achievement of our students um and monitoring uh how the students are progressing um through throughout the year. The second one has to do with a fiscal responsibility. And the third goal is uh relative to our uh parent
volunteer uh programs. So a few things that we have done um staff communication uh for goal one has been established. There is a clear articulation schedule that occurs. We do have grade level meetings uh faculty
meetings um and uh different opportunities where we talk about data and how we're interview intervening with students. Um we have uh been actively uh communicating with families as well indicating any concerns where a student
uh is not meeting thank you not meeting um proficiency um and we've been able to include tutoring in our uh afterchool ACES program um to help support those students. Um we are in
data analysis. Um we do have our training room upstairs where we have um broken down all of our students in terms of how they're performing based on state test scores and local internal benchmarks. Uh we just did a reflection last week about where they are at the
midyear point um and wrote down um that work uh and also move students along the the progression. Uh there also are individual student action plans um that are actively monitored as well uh by our staff. Uh we also have done some
training with multiple measures through our encore system and we've been actively uploading all of our internal uh data that we have on students creating what is known as a student story and getting more engaged with um how our students are progressing. So at
this point um uh that has also tied into our formal observations of staff and our informal walkthrough process. So in terms of that goal, everything that we laid out that we were going to do towards that goal is actively um occurring at this point and um I would I
see no reason why we wouldn't meet that goal um by the end of the year. Uh goal two uh has to do with uh our fiscal responsibility. Uh we've been actively re and engaging staff in conversations
relative to the master scheduling and programming. We've also included students into our programming conversations as well. Uh this is currently informing the budget in terms of what we will need for staffing purposes. Um and once our budget has been finalized, we will then be able to
move forward with um more work within the master schedule. The curriculum committee has also engaged in those initial conversations and when we meet again as a committee um a progress uh of our master schedule will be given uh at that time too. Um
the final goal is uh relative to our volunteer program our volunteer program thanks to our principles and our staff is act is active at this point. um all volunteers uh with the exception of our outside volunteers. Um that'll be a
spring initiative. Um but all of our volunteers have gone through orientation. They've gone through a training. Uh teachers have established schedules. Uh administrators have established sk schedules for these volunteers. And our final step that we will need to do this year is in the
spring we will have a volunteer recognition day and bring those volunteers in to thank them for their service to our district. So in terms of all three goals, we are making active progress on all three. Any questions from the board?
Good. All right. Thank you for your time. Thank you. And thank you to all the staff who have been working hard on all those goals. We could not accomplish them without you. So, thank you. Uh at this time, the meeting will be open to the public for comments on agenda items only. If your comments
pertain to students, personnel, litigation, or negotiations, we would ask that you see the superintendent after the meeting since the board does not generally discuss such items in public. Is there anyone who would like to make an agenda comment? Yes.
>> Hi. First, I'm Nicole Campalone. Um, as far as summer program, can I guess get what the plan is with the summer program on the agenda? Um, as a parent, I did get an email that was concerning as to what the changes were going to be to the summer programs. Um, so I don't know if
Doc Dr. Pauls could explain, I guess, what the changes are to the SummerSlam program. >> Thank you for your question. Um, at this time, what we are uh doing with our budget is looking at what we can provide for the summer. Our number one goal is
to provide a summer support uh to those students that we've identified needing additional help. Um so the program would not be necessarily um in preK uh through three would not be open to all students. Um the program would actually start at
kindergarten um and uh go up to three uh second grade I should say. Um, in terms of an invite uh to get additional tutoring, um, third grade and above, students can register for our ACES program, there will be an additional piece to that that will be involved in
tutoring. And then we are also actively pursuing a grant right now, which would provide an opportunity for us to extend our services to other students. But, um, right now that's where we stand. Uh I will say if there is a concern um is your child preschool or
>> I have three. >> Okay. >> Um I have one that will be going into third. >> Um so she would qualify for ACES. >> Sure. >> I have one that will be going into kindergarten and he has an IEP. So I assume he would have qualified under the ESY route. >> But I have another one that will be
going into preK again. >> Okay. >> So since my kids have been coming here, Summer Sims in a program has been offered every summer. >> Sure. where two, you know, two parents working. It was a great program. Um, >> it kept the stability with at that age having four days off today was rough
getting them here. >> So, like having that little bit of like consistency in the summertime. It wasn't the whole summer, but right, >> it benefited um not only because of our work schedule, but like my children benefited from that program. And I will run into the issue where I'm going to be dropping two out of three kids off.
>> I don't know how that will pan out. I also don't know. I don't know enough I guess really to know yes why program would benefit if I would want my child to go through that versus like the invitation for the summer slam like I guess the different the differences between those two programs.
>> Um but I'm sure like the board's aware you know the with the tax increase that happened last year there's a lot of questions that the taxes went up a lot but when we're cutting programs too. >> So I just wanted I guess to say my piece on that. I am I don't I'm maybe a
minority in the sense that I will have certain kids that will qualify for it and one that won't and I don't know how I orchestrate dropping two out of three off. Um so I just want to just bring that to everybody's attention and you know I I don't know how much it costs. I don't know if the teachers were
involved. I know I'm not a teacher and I give them all the credit in the world. I volunteer every week here so I'm very active in the in the school. Um I don't know if they were consulted because I know it is a form of income for teachers that aren't working over the summertime.
>> Um I know as a parent I just got the email and I wasn't consulted whereas in the past we would get like a survey that said like are you interested in this? So the school could kind of get an idea of how many people would be interested in those levels. Um so I just I saw it on the agenda. I wanted to come and ask the questions. I guess put out my
perspective as a parent with multiple children and I guess that unique situation, but also as a taxpayer, you know, what where's not where's the money, but like how do you cut a program and ask for money at the same time? >> Well, I will say in relation to the
preschool, that's the part that is I would say being realigned. Uh preschool has its own um different lines within our budget. uh that at one point was um a grant which is now coming into our general funding, but it's uh allocated
for preschool only. I will say that uh I do not know of any other program that's not related to special education that actually offers preschool programming in the summer. The preschool programming and the amount of funding that we receive is for the school year only. So,
the district doing that in past years, um, it was being was coming from the local funds. Um, and typically preschoolers would you would not you would not offer a summer school program because what is the gap that you're trying to close? Um, that's not really
like they're just starting out. Um, so I understand where you fall with three children. Um, but I will say it's very unique that any preschooler would be offered a summer program. Um just so that you have that for your own background knowledge. Um as I shared with families who have reached out to
me, we will we are in the process of putting together what are the resources in the community, what is happening nearby, what are the opportunities that are there and we also are still seeking additional funding through grants to be able to provide um and expand our
programs. But um to build that into the local uh funds and not to really have a focus on it um you know uh what that academic focus would be um was just the concern. So we do need to
prioritize and think about what we're doing with students and who we're inviting and how we're educating them and what gaps we are closing. >> So the money that was used for the five year I've been my daughter's going into third grade next year so I've been here for a couple years. So the money that
was given before to fund that program that's no longer >> accessible. That was a that was a local fund. That wasn't a grant. That wasn't that did not come in your preschool funding. >> Okay. So, previously they just they were able to fund that through local money.
>> And we're we're saying that we're not able to do that now. >> We're saying that that to that level um we we have to make some choices. >> Okay. >> And so my goal in communicating as early as I possibly could with families based on what we were doing with the budget was to allow people to prepare.
>> Okay. I one suggestion with that I will tell you I felt like that email was kind of buried. I know every Friday we get like the elementary school update. There's been no communication in there that there weren't that I guess the the definitions of what's going to be allowed. So I would suggest that um as I
said I've got two in pre-k so I'm well into the pre-k world. A lot of parents didn't know that it wasn't going to be an option. Yeah. Um, so I think that >> well that's why I would specifically wrote to the parents directly myself and put it in a completely separate communication
>> because when I it was a tutoring and summer program. So I would do summer differently because I think it doesn't really fall >> as a pre preschool mom. I'm not looking for tutoring. >> So like I think it needs to be separated because I don't know that the pre-k moms or dads or parents know about it. Um,
but like I said before, I guess my frustration is the money was there before the board asked for a lot of money last year and now I don't know how much it cost to fund this for that prek group. I don't know how many kids are in that group, >> but I would, you know, I think it's a
little disheartening that the taxes went up so high and that we're choosing to not give it to that group when the past at least four years that prek group was covered. noted. Thank you. >> No problem. Thank you.
>> I'm sorry. Can I piggy back off of that as well? >> Go ahead, >> Rachel Jordan. >> On a completely different aspect of that, I know Dr. Paul that you're new. Um, over the last couple of years though, we were under the impression for prek. There was a study done that had
showed the drop in education for the retention over the summer break. That's why we were told those kids were allowed for the summer program. So, I don't know if that study can somehow be brought back up and you can go off of that for your numbers for educational purposes, but that might be something that
benefits as well. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Welcome. >> Any other comments on agenda items? >> Thank you both for your comments. >> Old business. >> Oh, yeah. I just uh just alerting the
board. Just want to alert the board that uh and I think you probably all saw that your school ethics disclosure should be in your mailboxes uh in your email boxes. Um a few of you have already replied. So
uh thank you and congratulations. So April 30th is the deadline for me to uh submit, but I'm asking I think in email April 15th. If you could get that done by then that would be awesome. Uh BOE training as well. I don't think we
have a lot of training uh requirements on the board, but the people that do have training requirements, you would have also gotten a separate email. So, just alerting you to that. And that's it. >> Susan, I actually have something under old business, but I think it's going to be covered with this
>> microphone. Turn it on. There we go. >> I do have something. It's under old business, but you gave this handout because I was going to ask where the $750,000 increase was spent, but I guess you're going to review this at towards the end of the meeting. >> We are. >> So, that that answers those questions. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Uh, any new business? >> I have a question for new business. I'd like to propose that we have a budget workshop for the whole we can have this these discussions, the whole board president at the same time, the public president at the same time. I think we
should definitely do that a budget workshop for this upcoming budget so people can understand where the money's going and why this is this and that is that. We seem to do it in committee form, but it's a piece here and a piece there and it's a piece here and that committee form never seems to get out to
the public and there's a lot of misinformation and there's a lot of no information out there. So, I think a budget workshop would be well warranted. So, I'm not opposed to the idea, but squeezing one in before. >> Yeah, but we have to we have >> Well, I mean, we have to publicly
present the budget in March anyway. >> By that by that time, it's too late. I think you need I think you need a budget workshop. Just my opinion. >> Okay. Thank you for your opinion. We can continue to talk about it.
Um, at this time, can I get a uh committee report from curriculum and policy? >> You got to get it pretty some of them. You got to get real close. You want me to talk? There you go. >> Yeah, it feels weird, but it's on the microphone. Okay. Um, we talked about um
identification of students for the um additional tutoring support. um and the tutor during ACES and um that same tutoring program is going to be woven into the summer programs. Uh we talked about policies, some of the new ones
that are there. Um we talked about headlights and all got head scratchy. So there'll be a policy coming on that. Um we just had to iron that out a little bit more. Um we discussed the SSDS reporting and we also discussed the change in the calendar. Uh March 16th
and May 22nd are now abbreviated days. And I'm sure we will be talking about the calendar again next time. >> Hopefully it'll be the last time we talk about this year's calendar. Uh can I get a finance and operations report? >> All right. So we discussed uh the
updated revenue schedule um initial deficit analysis as well as updated surplus and deficit analysis uh TLIA expenses uh tax rate summary and let me get over the next page
and um then we finished up with open issues of um potential financial state aid uh final aid schedules and instructional efficiencies. Thank you. Personnel negotiations. >> Okay. We um discussed um shared services
with um Greenbank and um Falsam and possibly with Port in a Carver City. And we also discussed um a truncy officer with either Galloway or Greater Carver Regional. We um revised the
paraprofessional job description and we discussed personnel concerns. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Thank >> any correspondence? >> No. Can I get a motion and a second to
approve the January 28th, 2026 regular and executive meeting minutes? >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Any opposed? >> Any abstain? >> I abain.
>> Anybody else? >> Okay, we good. >> Got it. >> All right. Thank you. All right. Um the next item is monthly reports. So those are um justformational items. >> May I have a separate question?
>> Oh, go ahead. >> Grade levels. There's roughly between 45 and 60 children in each grade level. From what I can see from the superintendent report, is there a breakdown on how many are in each class or how many teachers are for each grade? Is there somewhere you could put that in your report? >> I can.
>> Yeah. If you'd be interested. >> We're working on that. >> I I know you're work that that's why I asked the question. I know you're working on that. >> I am working on that in relation to the master schedule. Um so that when I make a recommendation of how many teachers we need per grade level, it's based on class size.
>> Would that be just interesting to see? >> I'll talk to Kelly. Uh, all right. Uh, at this time, can I get a motion and a second for the Mullica Township Board of Education upon recommendation of the superintendent approve items 8B through 8C?
>> Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I guess we'll take into consideration the comments about the summer programs all the way as I shared with the parents who reached
out as like right now it's still early in the budget process and and also the fact that another grant came out from the state. I just wanted to at least let parents know ahead of time that that might I didn't want to leave them at the >> it's all local funding. It's all local
funding, but um obviously the you know anytime somebody makes a comment recommendation that's certainly heard, taken to heart um and considered in our next um steps. Um tomorrow I'll be writing another grant
to see if I can get more money um you know for us to expand our summer program. So we will continue to seek those opportunities because it's difficult when it's local funded. >> Correct. >> Thank you. Uh, can I get a roll call vote? >> Miss Curts?
>> Yes. >> Miss Lynch? >> Yes. >> Miss Mayon? >> Yes. >> Mr. Roner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Stalenor? >> Yes. >> Miss Warner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Winterbottom? >> Yes. >> Miss Wild? >> Yes. >> And Miss Brownill? >> Yes.
>> Motions pass. Uh, at this time, can I get a motion and a second for the Mullica Township Board of Education upon recommendation of the superintendent, approve items 9B through 9H? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Any discussion? Can I get a roll call? >> Miss Girtz. Yes, >> Miss Lynch. >> Yes, >> Miss Mayon. >> Yes, >> Mr. Roner. >> Yes, >> Mr. Staliner. >> Yes, >> Miss Warner. >> Yes, >> Mr. Winterbottom. >> Yes, >> Miss Wild. >> Yes.
>> And Miss Brown? >> Yes. >> Motions pass. >> Can I get a motion and a second from the Mulla Township Board of Education upon recommendation of the superintendent approve items 10B through 10 C? >> Motion. Second.
>> Any discussion? >> Can I get a roll call? >> Miss Curts? >> Yes. >> Miss Lynch? >> Miss Mayon? >> Yes. >> Mr. Roner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Stalinor? >> Yes. >> Miss Warner? >> Yes. >> Mr. Winterbottom? >> Yes. >> Miss Wild? >> Yes. >> And Miss Brownill?
>> Yes. >> Yes. Uh, at this time, can I get a motion and a second from the Mullica Township Board of Education upon recommendation of the business administrator approve items 11B through 11F? >> Motion.
>> Second. >> Uh, any discussion on on E under contracts the uh preschool tuition. Is there an amount in there? We have a we just have a a blank.
Actually, you know what? Maybe we should table that because there we we didn't come to the final calculation on that. Is that okay to table? >> Yeah, >> we'll just strike that and then we'll we'll bring it to the next meeting. >> You could just amend the motion.
>> Amend the motion. All right. >> Bobby, >> sounds good. >> Thank you. So, the motion is amended. Then, >> could you lean into the microphone? >> I'm okay with amending that. >> Just wanted to make sure. >> I'm good. It's fine. We can amend.
>> Any other comments or discussion? >> Yeah, I have a question on the bill. The systems 3000 for like $1,000. That's software update or is that software update and payroll and everything else? What what's included? Yeah. So the systems 3000 uh we do three different
modules for that. Uh it's accounting, personnel, and payroll. And so that is actually one half of the total payment for all three modules. >> Yeah. >> Have we ever looked at outsourcing
payroll? Would that save a module? >> Because then they would do all the taxes and they would do the updates all the time when we have to individually update ours. >> Yeah. Well, I haven't looked at it here, but I've looked at it at other places. And for instance, let's just say a
school that is probably one of this size, you're probably paying a payroll agency about one I'd say you're paying a payroll agency over onethird of that cost and they're
not going it. So >> in other words, the payroll agencies more than the module updates. >> Yeah. Okay. And and we've got a lot of interlocking personnel and payroll functions that also then talk to the budget as well. >> So yeah, eliminating one isn't really an
efficient way to go. >> Perfect. >> And I will say Bob, years ago before Todd was here, we did look into that and it was >> changed or because it seems like the software costs keep going up and up and up and up. Everything's coming up. >> Like everything else, it's just it's
worth >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, no problem. >> Um, any other questions? >> All right. Can I get a roll call? >> Miss Girtz? >> Yes. >> Miss Lynch? >> Yes. >> Miss Mayo?
>> Yes. But abstain from 11D. >> Noted. Mr. Roner, >> yes. >> Mr. Stallain on 11. Yes to the >> noted. Mort. >> Yes. >> Mr. Winterbottom. >> Yes.
>> Miss Wild. >> Yes. >> And Miss Brownill. >> Yes. >> Motions pass. >> Um at this time we have an addendum item. So uh our addendum item is that we are accepting with regret the retirement of Mr. Todd Deanna, our business
administrator and board secretary, effective >> May 1st. May 1st. So, thank you for your service. You're >> welcome. >> Uh, can I get a motion for that? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> Is that a roll call? >> That's personal. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Curts. >> Yes. >> Miss Lynch. >> Yes. >> Miss Mayon. Yes, >> Mr. Roner. >> Yes, >> Mr. Stalin work. >> Thanks to your years of service. Yes. >> Thank you, Miss Warner. >> Yes,
>> Mr. Winterbottom. >> Yes, >> Miss Wild. >> Yes. >> And Miss Brownell? >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> Thank you. Uh, at this time, the meeting will now be open to the public for comments. If your comments pertain to students,
personnel, litigation, or negotiations, we would ask that you see the superintendent after the meeting since the board does not generally discuss such items in public. Um, I know a couple comments she wanted to make. At our last uh board meeting, we were
asked to comment on um the tax levy incentive. Uh so we will be revisiting that topic. I would like to ask Mr. Indiana to begin with the history of the tax levy incentive uh and then we will go through detail.
>> Yeah. So, I'll I'll try to keep this brief. Um uh this really goes back to the $750,000 uh tax levy increase from last year. Um and that um official name of that program was called the tax levy
incentive aid. And so the short history of that was if you remember um we ended up approving a budget and then after budget approvals went through the state came with a program uh that was eligible
to only certain districts. And so this is kind of the key information that I I I think is the takeaway from this. So only districts that were short on what the state determined to be local fair share
um and and spending an adequate budget. The very short definition of that is when the state looks at expenses throughout the state in different regions uh they determine what a school should be spending per student. uh for
their budget. Uh and so given our demographic and let's just you know say in round number 600 students with this many elementary this many middle so there's different coefficients for you know the different categories they come up with this adequate budget.
Then the state also looks at that adequate budget. Let's just say for argument sake that's $10 million right? They say, well, to provide a thorough and efficient education, which is the the key words in New Jersey, and that's
based on, you know, some uh statutes and then case law, um that define what a thorough and efficient education is, basically a proper education as determined by the state. Um let's just
say that that's $10 million. Then there's another formula that would say okay now we believe given where your community is located and also the wealth of your community determined by real estate values normally we believe that
your community should be paying x number of dollars as a local share of that budget. Right? Does that make sense? So, so then the state looks at these numbers and
last year determined there were certain districts that were spending well below adequacy and well below local fair share and those were the districts that became eligible to um approve additional tax
levy. So Mullica fell into that. And so just just so you understand the numbers um and then I'll be done. I guess this wasn't as short as I thought. So uh but it but it's important that you understand these numbers. Um the
our adequacy budget was $2.3 million um lower than the state deemed that it should be. So according to the state's formula and again we can argue whether the state's formula is correct and all of this but
all all the districts are being judged are being judged against this that we were um that we were $2.3 million below adequacy and then so the state gave these boards including Mullica the
taxing authority to bring your budget back up to adequacy. So, this board had the option to increase taxes by 2.3 just by resolution because we were below adequacy. And believe me, and I just say
this just as a I'm not a taxpayer, but I know sitting in the room with the board, which are taxpayers, it was a very um deliberative and educational decision that they had to make to strike that balance between
not only the health of balancing one budget, but looking forward two, three, four, and five years and saying, "Okay, what you know what? Why are we short and how do we get to a point where
we're fiscally stable? And that spot that they decided on was the 750,000. Um, but I I I don't I don't want it to be lost that the board had the ability to raise it 2.3 million. Not saying that
that would be justified. I'm just saying that it wasn't like, oh, we were given 750 and we went for it. we were given the authority to do 2.3 million and there was a lot of deliberation uh with the board to come to that
decision. Uh and I think that's that that's the history of that. So turn it back over to Dr. Paul. >> U for those who may not even be in the room um and are watching from home uh just also please note uh Mr. Deanna did
uh add information to our website um that goes through a very thorough explanation of what he shared and much more um in relation to budget development. So, uh, to the point of us making sure that the community is
educated on our budget, please know that we've done a concerted effort to make sure that the information is on the website for people to access, has multiple links and can kind of walk you through it. At any time as you're doing that, if you have a question about that and you would like to come in and sit in
with either Mr. Deanna or myself, we are happy to uh do that one-on-one with you. Uh so the question um that was asked at the last meeting had to do with how was the money spent. Uh for the board members that are here, we've provided
you with a print out of how this money was spent and where we stand so far. Um so we do have about four more months of spending um that is needs to occur. Um but through uh March uh this is where we stand. Uh, one of the areas was
curriculum uh that we would be addressing and you can see the list of curriculum items totaling uh $275,762 uh that include um math curriculum, science curriculum, um I ready middle school math, Spanish health curriculum,
social studies curriculum, K to6 reading, K to1 social studies um uh more reading, social emotional curriculum, vocabulary programs, music program, programs, music instrumentmentation, um primary school classroom libraries,
uh and educational field trips, uh that enhance our programs. Uh from there, uh there was a topic of intervention assessments. Uh and to date, we've spent $30,233 on things that include crisis intervention training, ELA and math
benchmarking, and a screener for math. Um technology was also another component. Um, and to date, uh, we have, uh, allocated $117,524, uh, for laptops, Chromebooks, interactive boards, air teams, uh, and,
um, expanding our Chromebook uh, carts to be able to provide tutoring and the like. Uh, the next thing uh, had to do with our internet and server infrastructure and communication system. uh and that is 99,000 uh related to
wireless access points uh and our district-wide phone system. Uh we increased speech services uh which is part of our special education programming and required by IEPs and that was the addition of additional speech therapist. Uh from there we were
also looking at the furniture that exists in the building uh and the um upgrades uh in the last 15 to 20 years. um and to date uh have allocated $77,955 um to things that include uh a science
room renovation, new classroom furniture sets, uh upgrades and repairs to instructional furniture and um equipment and desks and files. Uh we still have an outstanding amount of 107,000 $470.
um that will at this point kind of taking a breath considering what the budget um is going to offer. We will be looking at uh how that will be be best used in the next couple of months knowing that there's a number of options on the table.
In addition to the um funding that I just reviewed, uh we've also been talking in committee about how are we leveraging the additional funds that we receive through grants. And we know that our ACES grant is um a significant
resource for us. Um and we've also begun uh partnering with Atlanticare through grants there. So uh through our ACES um monies and based on what the students are using on a regular basis as they're here till 6:30 um we started looking at
how we can also balance um using our school. And one of my goals coming on board was, you know, I come from, and if you know my history, I come from school districts where uh there was not a separate community center. And that is not our situation here either. We don't
have a community center for Mullica. One of my goals is that our school becomes the community center for Mullica. Um that it is seen as a place for education. It's seen as a place of resource. Um a place that our wreck programs can be using on a regular
basis. and expanding those things. So, um some of the work that we are doing, you remember we replaced our gym floor. Um however, we have um bleachers and seating in there that is actually damaging that floor. So, um we need uh
we've also added a cheerleading program that needs additional different seating, I'll call it, um to be able to do uh their program effectively. So, we'll be looking at the seating in the gym as well as the basketball nets that are stationary. Uh, we have guys that are
capable in our system to be able to convert those basketball nets to be able to go up and down. Um, that will provide us not only an opportunity for all of our third through 8th grade ASUS students to engage in a in a sport appropriately, but our wreck program um
can also use them developmentally appropriate as well. Uh we will also be using AC's funding to expand our outdoor seating um for uh lunch um for our students and also instructional areas um
as well. Um so those are two areas that we will be thinking about through our pea funding which is our preschool funding. Uh there uh will be a portion of that money uh that we need to consider our gross motor spaces. Um,
right now we're all sharing the gym and things like that, but we will be based on that funding as well as our Atlantic Care grants. Um, considering how some of our courtyards um within the school can be changed to gross motor spaces as well
as a combined sensory garden u so students can go out and have the fullest um experience in those spaces. Um the other thing that we are doing with um Atlanticare and they will be here in May is offering uh community screenings um for anybody who needs a community health
screening. Um and so that information will be put out to the public. Um and they will be here on site. Everything from your blood pressure to diabetes to uh eye to teeth. Um anything that you might need um that will uh Atlanticare
will be set up here and be able to provide those services. and we look to do those things more frequently for our general community as well. So, that's how we're using all of those grant fundings um to overlap and talk to each other um to not only benefit the
students in those programs, but also benefit um our greater community, the students that attend during the school day. There any questions from the board about that piece? Thank you for your patience as I shared
that. >> Thank you for sharing. >> We got another thing guys. >> I think I need to catch my breath tonight. Um the other thing is is we got a memo today um just uh actually informing us when our elect board
election um which doesn't impact us but also our budget piece. Um, so we had scheduled our board meeting for the 19th um to be um in line with the last budget timeline. Uh, they've pushed that back because we have a new governor. We're
not getting that that information till around March 10th. Is that correct? >> Yeah, March March 12th will be the release of the number. >> Um, so to keep in time, we can push our board meeting back to our regular Wednesday night on the 25th. And that's
my question to this board. Do you want to have the um keep Right now we're on a Thursday night which is odd. I want to make sure that the public falls into a normal pattern. I just wanted to see the availability of the board um our
solicitor. >> I'm available. >> I'm good. >> I'm available. >> The 25th one. >> Everybody good for the 25th? >> Yes. >> Okay. and we will put out um public notice that our meeting will be on the 25th then.
>> Thank you. >> All right. Now everybody else's turn. Anyone want to make a public comment? >> I'll be quick. I just want to say thank you to Steve Wear and the whole team for again making it safe for us uh walking in all that
snow. Oh my god. Um and Todd, we had no idea. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> I appreciate that. >> Appreciate you. >> Thanks. >> Sorry. I do understand sorry Johnson. >> Thank you. >> Um I understand the budgetary constraints the school is under. So,
just a little bluntly and quickly so you understand, other than in English, I'm fully fluent in two languages and conversationally passable in two more. I have two kids who learn very differently and are very willing to do different amounts of work. The Spanish program is
not great, guys. I I understand the budgetary constraints as we're looking into next year's curriculum. If there's literally anything else, all of my foreign languages other than one have been learned as an adult and gamified learning
doesn't really work great for a foreign language. So, just just so that my concern is heard, I understand, like I said, I know the constraints the school is under. I understand it may not change, but I just think it's important to know. I don't know how many of you have learned a foreign language as an
adult. So, just that was really it. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate your comments. Anyone else? >> Yep. >> I just I just want to ask for a picture. >> I do want to say Mr. >> Can you just say your name please for the record?
>> Teresa, >> thank you. >> Mr. Swork, I agree with you on the budget workshop. I think that is a good idea. The township did it. A lot of people were interested in it. I thought it was very informal informative. Um, couple questions on the so the 750,000
that she just explained. Thank you for that. How does our budget look for next year though? Because I know that 750 now stays part of that budget. Are we asking for more money for next year? Um, and one other question was on the insurance.
I was at the township meeting. I noticed there the insurance for the township went up dramatically. They actually shopped it out and were able to get that down a little bit. I think it was at 36 went down to 21. How about with the school? What happened with the insurance here? Was that Did that go up real high?
and did they shop it out to get it at a lesser rate? >> So, I'll speak to the insurance. Um, last year we shopped our insurance out and made a proactive move to combine
uh prescription which was through another um subcontract in with health and ended up saving substantial money. Uh we did not shop Amera Health out this year because Amera Health uh their um
increases came in at 19% uh which are substantially lower than any other um carrier uh that that um you know is out there for for our and I I'll say that with a caveat. Our agent
actually actively shops our program out every year. But when you get numbers back, when you just switched in the previous year and then you get a renewal number back that's well below market, you don't do the thorough shop where you
have to get all of your demographics and send them all out. So, I'll caveat that by saying every year our agent does the due diligence of looking um at our program against the market. uh but we didn't do an official shop out. Whereas
um you know there are other districts where uh the state health benefits plan comes back at 30 and you shop that out because there's other markets that are available for you and I'm glad the township did that. Um so so we're we're
below uh those crazy numbers. Now, I'll say 19 to 20% is not a good place to be because if you project that number out five years, um that's not, you know, a happy place for a business administrator
to be. Um and which which speaks to your first question uh about the tax levy. We haven't made any definitive decisions uh because there at this point there's still just too many variables that are still coming in. the biggest being state
aid. We have no idea until the governor speaks. We have no idea what that state aid number will be. Um we can't even I mean you can project as a BA but it's especially with a new governor with new priorities and new programs. We really
don't know if we might take a hit. Maybe we get a little bit more and all of that really informs that tax discussion. I just think it would be premature um for us to say anything at this point about a percentage tax increase without
knowing those variables. >> So at the next meeting though when they discussed budget, am I correct? Will we have any idea then? >> As long as that meeting is after March 12th. >> Okay. >> Because the unfortunately >> right now we're going to hold it after
March 12th. Am I correct? >> Oh yeah. The budget Yes. The budget discussion and approval would be after March 12th, >> but there's no way, as Mr. Stonework had said, to do any type of budget workshop prior to that. >> Uh, we'll discuss it and share some dates with the board members and see if
we can get something to work. >> Okay. And do you want to just explain and clarify for everybody that I'm sorry I don't have a mic that the budget is March 25th if that's what you're doing but then it can still be amended and
changed before the final vote which is in April or May depending on what that calendar is. >> Right. So the budget process goes through these series of approvals. The board is required to approve a budget and then send that to the county and the
county business administrator and super the executive superintendent and the executive business administrator that are in charge of all the county schools. They review it, do a do a deep dive into your budget and then they issue an approval. That budget then comes back
for a public vote at the next uh board meeting and it can be amended in between those time frames. That's what Miss Elco was talking about. And so that final budget which is called the public budget hearing um statutoily I think this year has to be before
May 4th or 7th but I think our our late April meeting fits in that window. So it would be our a you know our last week in April. Um and so there could be adjustments there as well. So the I think what you're getting at is the
approval on March 25th isn't the final approval. Uh it's that April 28 just for round numbers. April 28th approval would be uh the final approval of the budget. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Would anyone else like to make a
comment? >> Go ahead, Jackie. I just have a question um to see if the board um would like to get a photo for um the yearbooks. It doesn't have to be tonight. However, everyone is in attendance, so that's really nice. Um, but I could come back
next month and uh after you've all dalled up if you would like and uh get a fancy photograph for the yearbooks. Um, >> doesn't get any better than this. >> I I think we're all here and we should take advantage of that. Who knows what's going to happen next month. So, um, do you want us in front of the tables,
behind the table, do you want us? >> Last year there was um behind those tables um uh people were seated and then um other people were standing behind. >> So, we stay. You want to do it now? >> Okay. All right. We'll finish the meeting. We'll do it at the end of the
meeting. >> Are there any other comments? >> Yes. >> Hi, Rachel Jordan again. Um, for the community center, when did you guys plan to play or looking into that? >> Well, to me, it's hap it's something
that will happen gradually. So, there's a few things that we've been looking at from a facility standpoint. Um, right now we um keep I I don't I'm in a lack of words at this point. I've said too many tonight and today. Um, but right
now there's limitations to how the community can use our building given the times that we have aces and things like that. Um what we're looking to do is uh architecturally we can actually move our programs to one side of the building and put the lockdowns on that and we can
still be running our ACES programs and such in that half opening up the other half and giving as access to say our gym and things like that um at a more reasonable um time. We can also use our our grounds um a little earlier than we
are now. um and given the fact that there's not lighting, the lighting, um daylighting is a consideration. So, we have what are known as operations meetings within the district that include facilities, um tech, the administrators, um and we've been working through what that will look
like. My hope is that we start to try on some of these things and get work out some kinks with it being next year that we're um in our communication out to the organizations that use our program. for expanding those times uh and giving more
of an opportunity. Um it would be premature for me to share even more, but there's more things that um a community school does um that includes uh community education and opportunities for adults and things like that to come
and learn within our school. So, um you know, another piece to that is our Lyft grant with our um music together program for our birth through three year olds. they're using uh our school during the school day uh on Wednesdays at 11:00 am.
So, there's things that we've been doing to open us up a little bit more. Um, and I just look to expand that. >> Would we still be using the school's insurance at night for that? God forbid if someone was to get hurt. How would that work? >> There's different pieces that people apply for how they use the building.
>> Okay, perfect. Um, and my other thing, sorry, one more thing. The Spanish program, I agree. It's it really does need some work for our community especially. We have so many Spanish speaking children in here. I mean when I sub nurse I hate to have to call somebody to have me communicate to a
child. It's embarrassing for me and I feel horrible for the child. So if we can have our children learn that would be fantastic. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Would anyone else like to make a comment? >> Go ahead
again. Um, I know the snow has been a real big factor in this. Um, as I already stated, I have three kids and I do drop off. I don't know if anyone's been on Elwood Road between like 8:15 to 8:45, but it's the line goes down. I live in White Oak Circle. Sometimes it's
like past the Elwood light for drop off. Um, I know the snow's been a huge contributor this past couple weeks. Um, but I know the school sent out last year a form for us to sign if our children were not taking the buses. Um, so I guess I'm curious as to how many
students are not taking the buses and what money may have been saved in redoing the bus routes and if any of that money was put back into the drop off situation. Um, at the beginning of the school year, the teachers out there and this gentle lady's out there every
day in her heels. Amazing. Amazing. Um, they would open the doors. I've got two kids in car seat. So like I have, you know, it's like a I have like a pit stop like 30 seconds. I'm throwing kids at somebody and driving out. Um, so I just I think it's an issue. I brought it up last year at the board of education
meeting. Um, this year with the snow, I've seen parents dropping kids off on Elwood Road and they're walking through the multiple snow banks. Um, that's going to be an issue. Parents are creating their own type of drop off on like the other side, not the playground parking lot, but the other side. The
half day, I got here a half an hour early and couldn't get a parking spot because of how it was all configured. Um, so I know a lot of it, I guess, is going to fall back on what they need to do, but I just wanted to bring that to everyone's attention. They said I have a three and four-year-old that I have to get out of out of a car seat, so I know
that's the fault. Um, but I it's an accident waiting to happen and what's happening with the drop off. I don't know if if the school time I don't know when the teachers get here, there could be more staff allocated to helping the parents get the kids out of the car. I don't know if that should be a second
drop off loop kind of thing because now you got kids passing through. Um I'm not sure if the board exact I brought it up last year, but I wanted to bring it up again. With the snow, it's been much more difficult. Um but I mean Mikipedia's been out here a couple times trying to help orchestrate it. Um so I
just wanted to kind of bring that to everyone's attention, too. I think prek has got a lot of kids in it. I know since my kids have started, every year we seem to add at least one more prek class and those kids need the help getting out of the cars because they are in car seats. Um, so I just want to
bring that to everyone's attention. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> This is a topic that I've addressed with the police department. Um, you know, to me it's a big time of the day and we are certainly appreciative of their support and when they are here, uh, it is a much
smoother process. So to me, what what what's bigger than coming to school and leaving school every day, right, in our community? Um, one of the things that um we've been talking about administratively and a communication will come out for me to families. Yes, you're right. A lot of this has to do
with the snow and my hope was the snow finally melted and we were going to get like a little bit of a reprieve and then here we are again. Uh I do just want to remind all parents that there's actually two places to drop off kids. Uh, our back parking lot is the least utilized
space of dropping people off. I think we have about 12 parents that take advantage of the back parking lot. Um, I've I go out at least once a week to look at what's happening was out there this morning. Uh, you are correct. It was backed up. The police department did
assist us. Um, part of what I will communicate with families is what needs to occur um for parent drop off and that is having the children on the passenger side. Um, having them unbuckled uh while you're
waiting in line and saying your goodbyes. Um, sometimes there's like still at this time of year a big farewell that's occurring. Um, and it's just belaboring the process. Um, you know, the staff are out there opening doors and getting kids as fast as they
can in in the safest way, but uh it will take that partnership from the the families organizing even the car seats to the passenger side so that they're they're there and ready to to go. Um, but you know, it is something that we are monitoring. I don't have the perfect
solution to it quite yet. And I've asked um the different officers who have been here uh if we can uh look at it from a traffic uh pattern. Um I've learned over the years you do not as a school district patterns into the community uh
without consultation of them. So I'm asking them to look at that back loop as more of an option of who we can serve there and how many we can serve um to alleviate what's happening out on Elwood. Okay. Any other comments?
Okay. Uh then our next board meeting date is well now th Mar Thursday March 25th 20 Wednesday Wednesday. Thank you. Wednesday March 25th 2026 at 6:30 p.m. for executive and 7 p.m. for public. Um
I do have a PTA update. So I'm going to read that. Unless you want to give. No. Okay. You're welcome to. >> I forgot. How's it going? Do I hear that? >> Uh, hold on. I gota There we go. I got plans checks. Uh, handbag bingo is
coming up on March 13th and we're getting excited. We are currently in need of donations and volunteers to help make this event an acu success. If you're able to contribute an item, gift card, or your time, we would greatly appreciate your support. The signup genius for volunteers is on our link
link tree site. And don't forget to purchase your tickets if you want to attend. We will also be selling FL on March 26th and 27th. Be sure to stop by and support our students while picking up a special flower for your performer. Thank you for always supporting our
school community. Uh any update from MTEF? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you. And then at this time we are ready to adjourn the meeting. Can I get a motion and a second to adjurnn the meeting? >> Motion. >> Second.
>> All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any abstain? >> All right. Motion carries. Thank you everyone. Oh yes. Picture. Don't leave without picture. Me either. Me either. I just >> No. No.