committee have a vote to approve the minutes of June 18. I need a second. Joe, all in favor? Okay, we're going to start with our board retreat presentation. standing. So, I'm just going to introduce myself.
I'm here representative Jersey. I know that um Matt has been serving district school boards and um covering boards anymore. I just wanted to let you know that they are actively going
through the hiring process. Um it does take a while to go anybody questions anything feel free to reach out to me and whether or not you have what you need. So we I was
asked to come in and talk about the annual ethics presentation for you. um interesting. Um I have required to just say that I'm not providing people's guidance. I go to law school. Um attorney is always the appropriate
person to contact for um guidance. But this is for educational purposes so that you really have the information that's valuable to you. So it's a set of guide rails that we use to go forward so that the board uh works efficiently and
operates really. So it's recognized that it's essential for um the conduct of members of the board and the local administration to maintain of the respect and confidence of the people of our community that you serve.
And to do that you have to avoid conduct which is a violation of the public trust or and this is important which leaves a justifier impression or a member a reasonable member of the public that their trust is right. So I always say
it's kind of similar to a family gathering or a cocktail party and walk in people have their heads together looking at you whispering. what they're doing may not actually be about right certain impression and it's very important to then in that situation. So
we always want to remember it's not only about breaking the law it's also about the impression that we leave our community. Next please. So because the school ethics act is really um the intent to ensure and preserve the public's confidence in school officials
which you all are as board members um it's recognized that we may benefit of some standards of the standards and also to understand any disciplinary mechanism for violation of those standards and it's really important just point out
that these are minimal ethical standards that they're passing in compliance with. But when we hold that that higher goal, maintain public trust, right? Um it's not enough to just read it. We have to really always maintain that and live it.
So next, excuse me. So there are four provisions of the act that lean towards accountability um for school officials to to maintain that public trust. The four of these actually apply to board members with ethics mandatory training
um compliance with prohibited tax and disclosure statements. Now for local administrators they have to be compliance with prohibited tax and by the way disclosure statements both relative family and financial statements
please. So it's important to understand who enforces the act. It's not just trained for it. It's um the school ethics commission which is composed of nine members that are appointed by the governor. No more than five can become
appointed political party. Two are school board members from throughout the state. Two are school administrators who come throughout the state and on which there are five non school officials who sit on this commission that will decide that board. Apparently both school board
member positions are open and so is one of the school administration positions. So they're operating on traditional sets and that's not likely to change prior to the upcoming election. Next um so important to know that anyone who is
newly hired or newly comes on the board has to file their um disclosure statements within 30 days. But then um next year they get to uh you're all responsible for filing them by the April
30th deadline. Any information that you provide is actually um posted on the SEC's website is available to the public service. And while some boards the VA secretary will sometimes remind you it's always
important to understand that you maintain that responsibility for ensuring that you meet the deadline. Okay. And that There can be um penalties for failing to do this by next. So mandatory training for board members
is um within the first 90 days of coming on the board governance one training covers basic knowledge and skills. Explains about uh NGA which is self auditing process right on a threeear cycle. they come in and inspect to make
sure um that the ship is functioning as inspected properly. uh HIV. So you're trained on that and your role for that um superintendent evaluation which is very important because you have um an appraisal function as a board right your
policy makers planners and appraisers and the way that you evaluate the superintendent should be tied into district roles and it's a prime responsibility of one another to do that because that's how you are ensuring the oversight that the district is properly
run dayto day right for students By the end of year two, government two goes into finance and policy. Governments three in the third year goes to student achievement and labor. And every year following reappointment um or reelection, you take four so that you
have the most recent legal updates to inform you as you do your work. Okay. New Jersey school board is required um and identified as the the provider of mandatory training. Mandatory training
has to be um set up with your VAS. Um so that's how we track it. School boards again is not the ethics commission, but we are required to turn over the name of people who fall out of compliance to the ethics commission. So I just ask that you make sure that
you're using emails that that's on the census that you check them regularly because whether it's me or the field service rep should we try to get to you first to sort that all out. Um, again, you can go on our district, I'm sorry, you can go
on our website and you can see um offerings of what level you need and when they're going to be offered just let the VA know so properly registered for it and it's offered in various forms in person by virtual self.
So advisory opinions I didn't create this slide these slides those are out of the Google department um but this should really come after the the next slide we look at but the advisory opinion once you look at the code you may um want to take an action in the future and say you
know now that the ethics of the under code of ethics I'm not sure if this is appropriate right or if I would get in trouble for doing this so because of that any school official or attorney on your behalf can make a request for an advisory which is
guidance before you take action to make sure that um and also what they'll do is if they get a good question and they have and they provide guidance they um have it and it's available to you hyperlink on the next slide but um you can then look
and research that for guidance before you even have to ask for your own if you request it um and they decide that this would be valuable to other boards throughout the state, they'll remove the identifying information you're getting your district on there. It's really just for the purposes of being a resource. Um
so police officer gets everybody's attention, right? recognizing that school evidence commission is holding the authority to judge these um cases that come before it or um expected you know someone makes a claim that there's
been a violation they they look at the evidence. So they also retain that power to give you um guiding information or the advisory opinions but the expectation is that you follow the guidance you're given. It's like the police officer says, "No, you can only
go 35 in this moment. You choose to go 60." You can choose to do that, but there's probably going to be a consequence. Okay. On the bottom, I believe this might have been sharable numbers. Okay. So, the hyperlinks throughout this presentation, the one on the bottom will bring you to the advisor
and there are coming out all the time. So, if you do have a question before you go through your board attorney or need help there, you might see it. Excellent. So here I'm going to just go over like one. I don't think we need to go over all of them, right? But important to
know about this is we just tried to put this information here. These are the ones that we decided from this past year. Can a board member and then summary of the uh school ethics commission response. So in the corner where it says like April-24
that means advisory opinion year 2024. this was posed to them for um advice and guidance and then they their answer in some issues on the right side. So if we just look at one of these um AO924
is county board member who's child works in the district as a music school director in space and substitute but there's no third party employer participating in matters related to the superintendent and school ethics commission points out that
working as a substitute in the situation isn't conflict because they district and superendent is supposed to be by your district um and running the district. Um but due to uh a stipen
which is now that puts that person in the chain of command to the superintendent that is what precludes that board member from participating in that. So you come from a community you have um and that's why one of the things that um has been shared with you is the
code of ethics community. The next page you should sign off and return to your um VA for retention in the files. And then the third sheet is um the explanation of relatives and family so that you can know whether or not these
things are next. So, I think we can um I know you have very long agenda and I think that maybe these but I really strongly recommend that you get comfortable with looking through the ones because they're current right and you may not have been aware
but also being comfortable using that hyperlink because you can see the cases in more detail and start to understand the thinking. Um now for an ethics complaint anyone can file an ethics complaint um what happens is the school
ethics commission will look at what's presented and then make a fine. So it has to be the ethics complaint has to happen they will know from the alleged violation and it has to be specific to the section of the act which we're going
to look at that they believe has been violated and on the bottom of the slides I'm going to show you the factual evidence that would need to be provided to support their claim. Okay, because it's commission by what information is provided and decided that they need to
gather more information. So if there are um penalties if it is seen that yes this is in fact a violation the school ethics commission um is in charge of making the recommendation to the commission of
education for the proper sights. So the first one is a reprimand which is basically a review by commissioner recognizing that that activity is inappropriate or was actually violation of code of ethics meaning that it could you could actually be using you know the
confidence of your public there. Um, but it's what's called a learning experience, right? And kind of, okay, it's going to be quiet. You can note it. It's on the record, but doesn't really go much further than that. And that is a censure where it's a formal by
the commissioner and it results in a resolution. Um, that board member's name is out there. It's really much more formal, right? The third one becomes um a possible suspension from any board activity and you have to step away from
the board for 30 to 60 90 days whatever is determined not any contact with anything to do with your business and finally so you can be removed from the board and an administrator who's also um found to
be in an ethics uh violation could be just of course none of you are going through right so um on the next slides I'm just going to go through a what the coding
says but I also hope and please stop me if you have a question right it's not helpful unless you see tied to what you actually do right so the first one of course is upholding and enforcing all laws rules and regulations of the state
board of education and courts desire changes shall be brought about legal and ethical procedures. So you have policies in place or policy of how you conduct yourself do it in you know in um understanding open public
meetings act right and and go through proper processes and especially when you're going to your county policies are really how you communicate what you value and what you expect to see in the schools and make sure the people that are um covered under right so it's
important that we have procedures in Um and that we do things like first and second we want to make amendments or any policies so that we're hearing back from the community and people next
make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children seek to develop and maintain the schools that meet individual needs of all children regardless of their ability race sex or social standard. And I think that's
probably well understood. But um we also in real terms have to remember that we're sometimes sitting with complicated issues before the board. And we have to remember in those very specific moments when you're up against budgets and
you're up against you have that providing um for all students and all students to be successful. I should say on the bottom where it says standards on each of these slides that's actually
telling you what evidence would need to be presented to support claim that there's no um so I will find my board actions and policy plan of course those are the roles and responsibilities of the board
and hope to frame policies and plans for the active board has consulted those who will be affected by them againuring that you're following and we have established processes and you're in compliance and really ensuring that the community understands that we're doing this it's a
business being out the public so they can understand how you arrive at your decisions right next um oh I'm sorry I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools and I think every board member has probably heard this many times any
kind of training or attended anything school boards but the next part of it is really something where sometimes we strip right and together with my fellow board members see that they are welcome and what that speaks to really is that
as a board you don't have one percentage of the board authority as individuals we hold and I was board myself years ago you hold no authority as an individual has the authority that's granted to the
legislature to take action class, right? So, because of that, we want to make sure that we're we have good processes in place of how we work together stronger relationships with each other, communicating well with each other, and
that we're not individually confusing by speaking um where they can interpret, right? We don't have one voice. We want to make sure that we're working each other, right? in your district um and making sure that
it's a safe place when we come to um consensus and not just focus on right is I will recognize that the authority rests with the board of education and personal promises action that compromise the board very
council that look it could look like I'm not sure if community organizations um or even personal involved in community organizations. Most board members are very active in their communities, right? It's really important that especially if you're
going out and you're asked to go out and provide information to update that, you know, that group um and perhaps while you're there, they say to you from that organization, well, you know, I have a problem with this. What is what is the discipline about this that it's really
important to understand and we respond to that in let me bring that back to the board. Right? Because if you start to engage in that moment about and you might you might have the pullback, but you want to do that in that moment. You want to really always be sending that
message that as an individual you have an authority that your role is to bring that back to the court to be addressed properly. Okay. that I will refuse to strengthen my independent judgment to special interest or partisan political groups or
use the schools personal meeting or friends. That um third sheet that I gave you has, you know, relationships whether or not you should be participating in superintendence evaluations, negotiations, right? board members are
not allowed to hire a member a family member or relative into the school district that they serve in um superintendent's family or relative. Of course, there are times when your family member may see you grateful service. Um
they have to be aware of your responsibilities so that members of the public don't think that there's any benefit to you or in reality that you are not getting the benefit that someone else would have. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to schools which should
disclose would end injured um injured individuals or schools. And I just want to stop there for a moment because one of the things I find is really important to be on the same page with is understanding when confidentiality is
appropriate and transparency is appropate. Right? So if you were to say working within committee system um and you have your committee meeting you plan for how you share that information the rest of the board right if someone on
the board has done might have a question about something it's not appropriate to bring it out to right there should be other methods where you can get the answer to your question because it should only come out at the public meeting to be transparent that's ready
for public that really hear start to finish something that they understand by right confidence of the community and what we're doing if they're hearing too many things maybe you're looking at something in
the point where it's prepared to make recommendation support so you want to just really understand that's what it's talking about um uh can we go I'm sorry can you go back the second part of it is in qualitative matters providing accurate information and again in
concert with my fellow board members not acting individually interpreting for the staff the aspirations of the community for schools. So we do that through our goal setting and we do that through our policies so that we really want everyone
to be going forward understanding what's expected and what's valued from this community for the students that are going through the system. Thank you. Next please. I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of
the chief administrative officer. So your superintendent is both educational leader of the community and the dayto-day chief executive running business operations. Right? So he is uniquely qualified to be able to match
up what the needs are for hiring with all of the things right what budget supports what the student needs are how it's going to fit into the overall plan of the district and we'll make that recommendation to the board and as we know superintendent is not really a
member of your of your board um he's your advisor so it's really a responsibility of the board you may have policies It might go out to you know see how he got there why is this person the best person may I see the resume or whatever that should be outlined in your
policies but it's not for the board to suggest for hire or take more hiring is really responsibility um health support protects school personnel
and proper performance of their duties. If we remember a couple years ago when the health standards changed and there was a lot of um concern from parents about what that would look like in classrooms with students grade levels um we have to understand that curriculum is
based on major student learning standards and certain things are required. So when personnel are properly performing their um their roles uh then the board regardless of of personal
feelings we really as a board entity we have to express support personnel. So that ensures that they have the confidence to know that behind them and they can focus specifically on serving students and better.
So Jay I will refer all the chief administrative officer and act on public needs only. This one is one you all know you don't realize it. It's ch right. It's going grocery shopping or sitting on the field
or taking your child from school or what have you getting stopped by a member of the community who sees you with authority, someone who can fix their problem. right now. It's really important to have that scripted response to educate people that while we are
concerned for them that it's appropriate for you as a board member to have discussion directly. The important thing to understand here is if your conversation goes beyond that and you start to say things like it for
you let me see if I can find something now you're now improperly engaging in that situation and if it fails an administrative solution it could be a great solution but it could be one that that person doesn't accept as the
solution for this there it goes all the way to the superintendent and there's still no agreement that that's the best way forward. They will then come before the board and the board has to decide whether to support the recommendation of the superintendent or not. But if you've
had conversations in that process with that individual, you have to recuse yourself. So it never really has to come to the board level. You need to be aware. So cases related to the
These cases were decided in 2024. But the hypo here um you'll notice are case 45-23 from the year 23 on the bottom 24-22. They go a lot, right? Because like most
of the old cases, they're not um settled quickly. They go back and forth. And that's exactly what's happening here. So um the the case on the bottom is usually cases. Sometimes it's kind of hard to
believe they are um a board member was involved in ongoing efforts to reverse an HIV and code of conduct violation against their child. Okay. So it's always you always maintain the right to advocate for your child but where you
get into records is if you are going beyond right and here in the situation this board member made contact with the superintendent individual board members um and board council to further
her agenda which was actions were unrelated to board duties and because of that um trying to get the rest of the board to reverse the directive that really was the responsibility of the superintendent um
was undermining and using the board council was inappropriate because members of the community have access so it was found to be a violation and you see on the bottom where it says NJSA code that's section of the code that was
evaluation ethics commission recommended on the rep and it says repres I would like to just point out um I think it's really important because it starts off with Right.
So just to be clear that your length of service on the board doesn't mean we have to really be revisiting this and this is why it's a requirement to revisit the boards each year to remind us of our responsibilities. But this board member took the appropriate action
beyond the role of the board member. The action um was really he served in the authority of the superintendent who's responsible for making disciplinary recommendations and had done that about staff member. the board member didn't agree with the superintendent and took
it upon themselves to go to the employees home, pick up a letter, presented to um presented to the board, presented it to the VA and said don't be as superintendent um and they refused themselves from
discussions at the board table clearly had shown that they were no longer right. Um, so there's the alphabet underneath of all parts of the code that were by and this to suspension of um 16
and from the time this was put up there but commissioners so of service um we wanted to be valuable length of service and we want to remember that challenges sometimes good intentions but we
territories. So versus abension to point that abension is a less normal way. You may need all to try to be prepared for all your meetings, but it may happen that you may not have had an opportunity to um look at a part of your packet and
maybe there's going to be discussions on something and you feel it's really not because you haven't really been fully informed about the issue and abstaining from a vote in discussion. Um the difference is that accusable
way that we are going on record and saying the reason I'm not participating in discussion because I recognize I have a conflict and if I were to act it would be something that community so refusal is the formal disqualifying
yourself discussion and vote it's import If you feel that you have to recuse yourself on something to make sure that it's not a secret prior to meeting because um your attorney can let you know whether it's going to have an effect on your votes that might
especially if you're reaching other people and you may not affect your votes and things like that. You don't have to state why you'reing yourself but you have to have that conversation privately. You have to go on recording yourself. Next.
So we mentioned that uh prohibited acts is one of the four things that you have to be in compiance with. Basically um you need to recuse yourself if one of these situations is true. Uh if you as a school official or your immediate family
would have a benefit due to a business interest or professional activity and conflict. You know we're hiring speaker to come in and I work for the organization that we're right. Um I have a business interest and my company wants to apply for bid um to be working
position use of your position to secure unwarranted privileges advantages or employment of course for family member or relative and that's important to note financial involvement that may impair your objectivity. You know if you decide
to do that that may actually hurt me my family finances for some reason. uh service or employment that may prejudice independent judgment. Right? So sometimes we can know a lot about an issue but we may feel very passionate
that you know we want to bring your experience as individuals is important that's understood but there's one superintendent right so even if others on the board for instance are educators
um you're not in the role of being the superintendent right so we want to just be um aware things that could prejudice your judgement that they would be just a mutual part of the table. Um, financial gain, gifts, figures, um, to persuade you.
Everybody gets a cup of coffee. If someone's coming in, then they're coming in presentation, you're probably okay. But if they're taking one of you out for lunch every Friday, then that's probably um, important to remember is that you
may never represent any person or party with this board. You always represent the interest of the bishop and students of the district. So next slide please. So they're talking about it as not
having a benefit. So when we talk about benefit we have to understand what benefit they look like. So it is the definition is a direct or indirect advantage profit for children gain whether personal, financial or otherwise
and employers to do that, right? Or otherwise that leaves it open and the reason it leaves it open is because ethics violation cases are settled very much on specifics of that case. So, we have advisory opinions that can inform
us and guide us, but those cases are really looked at um whether you're a reasonable member of your community would lose faith in school officials um and impair how you serve your students. So, the determinative factor isn't
whether you think you can still be objective in the situation. It's whether a reasonable member of the public would believe that you can still be objective. Okay? And one of the situations we have on the bottom was that an acting superintendent had put before the board
um a list for substitutes and it came out that one of the names on our list was actually your son. Right. So looking at that that would be a benefit to the superintendent and it would also be a benefit to her son who financially by doing that work. um when they did the
investigation uh it was the argument was that it was maybe a lack of focus and not reading that list and not realizing his son's name was on it and was an active superintendent with less experience um but
so these are cases just to so conflict benefit cases um the first one is a member mber of the board is president of the parent staff association sometimes the HSA everything out here and owns a spiritware company
so the board member has the company and wants to donate merchandise to sell as a fundraiser uh through the company's website using the principal to promote the sale of the families so we can look at it not any involved in this and say well it's good intent from a board
member right to support and raise funds for things for the students. However, um the problem with that that creates an ethics violation is that board member cannot use their business for not do it
to support other things. The reason behind it is that it can lead to um the principle of best situation that some of those families would feel pressured participating by purchasing things at the Right?
So the principal didn't want to be putting families in that position. That principal now has to be concerned about disappointing the board member who will be voting on things that affect their life. Right? So that was a concern and the
city board member who owns the company will stand to mean right even if they turn over 100% financial good will right people think we are you right your competitor in the town may not have that advantage but it
is an advantage benefit so um it was recommended for next So I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this. I did give you that sheet that you can refer to. But it is important to understand who fits in the category
before you participate in especially superintendent evaluation and negotiations. So hiring a person I mentioned earlier member is not allowed to um hire a relative of a board member or the chief
of the superintendent. If um the relative already works in the district, the administrator cannot have any oversight direct or indirect over that person. So that can be quite challenging dayto day. Um, a board member may also
not take part in employment matters concerning superintendent or any supervisor in the chief of command from their relative up to the superintendent. And a board member then would not be able to participate in search selection
or the annual um superintendent evaluation, right? Because you have a family member and this person is over that family. Next, collective bargaining. Um, this just lays out for future reference whether you may or may
not participate collectively based on relationships and involvement with the local or even a citywide um agency. Next, please. It is not necessarily a bad thing to get
supported by perhaps your local union when you're running for the board, but you should not then sit at the um negotiations table within a year of that, you know, support because it could look like um for your community and you
want to avoid that question about that. So impact on committee assignments if you have a of working in the district. First case was the president has a child who's an instructional system and because of that normally the president
gets to create committees and turn on the chair of the committees and sit in on those committees. But when you have a child working in the district, you now cannot as president participate in any of those things. anything that um it's a
limited to uh including but not limited to personnel committees, negotiation, instructional finance pretty much, right? And if you're not president but a board member and you have a family
member very similar, that was what was decided. So, it's important to just be aware of that. um they may not opportunity to now but we know that I'm on the boards and it's just important that you all support each other in understanding what next
advice of council defense for penalties. So if a board member is found to be in violation um at times they will to say well I ask my board attorney legal advice and I'm told to do this. Okay.
It's important to understand that advice of council isn't really the defense. It can if these four things are present um mitigate a penalty. So you cannot remove still in violation. Okay. So you would
have had to ask for the advice um prior to taking the action. You would have had to um got the advice from really avoiding counsel, right? Not from your husband or wife attorney or your neighbor or anybody else because they're
not authorized to have um all facts and circumstances have to be fully shared with the attorney who's going to give this advice. um you can't hold there to share with someone that they can look
at, right? They have to have all of the facts because their guidance is going to be based on all of the facts and you have to comply with whatever their advice was fully complied. So if there are more than there's more than one thing present that you should or should not do, you have to be in compliance
with that. All those things are present. It may help to mitigate the penalty but um it also may not because it is very case specific and they're looking at the employment of the board always maintaining that confidence.
Next, volunteering in schools. This is one that um we come across really regularly because not surprisingly board members are usually very involved in volunteering and this is the biggest volunteer job you'll ever probably have in your community. Um so the school
ethics commission is not saying that it's bad thing to be a volunteer. What we are saying is it's a degree it's it's a degree of involvement with staff and students and it's the degree of authority to receive directions um and
orders to both staff and students and also to direct resources and so it's really a question of the degree of their involvement outside of right and on the left we see the ethics so we talked about earlier how canines
action policy making planning and appraisal. So if the volunteer activity is putting you with staff at heightened level regularly where somebody that doesn't know you as a board member of school which student
that you are a staff member because you're president there you staff that that degree is going to cause um issues and concerns. D is not to administer schools. So similarly if you're taking
over the responsibility of one things that would be under the purview of staff members handling then that also is going to be possible violations and you are taking any private action that may compromise
the board. So if you are volunteering and participating in things in the schools and you're having conversations about your business um with staff members or you are becoming more um it's it's appealing to someone else that you
know you're close friends right it's not bad to have close friends by the way I work in district and I appreciate it might be nice to me but you don't want to make people think that now there there's something else based on that
relationship. Okay. So, if we go to the next slide, it looks at things that are really inherent violations when it comes to volunteering. If you are um if you have a spouse who's on staff and you're coming in to work on a theater program
and you're really actively participating the custodians kind of set the ground up and directing the students and who goes where what they do on what point that's an inherent violation because it's in conflict with your ability to be an objective manager of right um leaving a
student you did that before very valuable to do but can't do it now to one another because you direct contact on a regular basis with students and that can blur the lines between decisions you now have to make later on
objectively um going forward. And if you are a volunteer football coach where you have regular contact with both staff member who's a coach and student that's violation and things that are not violations which you know you can look
at is board members if you go into class and you read across America are going to read or participate in something that's open to everyone else to participate in not just that Um and perhaps later on we you know you
read in the classroom and the next month you're asked to sh the trips. It's not really it's a degree, right? You're going to have everyday involvements, different activities, it's probably going to be fine. Um, if you're
that parent who shows up and bus with all the musical equipment or sports equipment and unloading really interacting with staff and students labor or building nobody's around because you can, that's really not going to be probably seen as validation. The
one on the bottom I will tell you it's something that I recommend that you have your attorney um go over with you which is involvement in your PTA HSA whatever you have here um because it really is a matter of degree and your policy should
really be clear to direct you on whether or not oh I'm sorry on that previous slide okay um importantly I think It's you know always important to surprises. So if you are going into schools to let the superintendent's office know that you're
going into schools and you can just maybe with their confidential secretary whatever takes that information. What that what that does is it also ensures that he's prepared if staff members are saying in the building right not really
be true but he'll be able to respond and say no related to this or that I was aware of it. Um and does it kind of remind So, social media, I didn't want this slide to be quite considered a bit, but um it's fact of life, right? We're all
out on social media. But the school ethics commission really looks at content and substance and contact context, I'm sorry, of messaging um and whether it would make a member of the community, a reasonable member of the community believe that you're speaking
for the board. That's where we get into on social media and they look for a nexus between what's posted and what business. So the first one a member discussed without any kind of disclaimer about specific policy that she to abolish indicating it was reviewed by
the board council and opposed by board members board business. Um, and any reasonable member of the community probably notes your name and knows that you're on the board will be hard to find someone who didn't think in that case,
right? The other one was not to have a nexus that was a problem because the board member just put it up in the pictures of three people running the board and didn't make a statement about anybody. Just wanted to remind people that these are the people up there to go
out. Um, next one please. So, school ethics commission um provides suggested disclaimer for you to use. They actually provide it just this way. Old and italics because they want it to
stand out. You're not required to use it, but what this particular disclaimer does is it's two parts. The first part, the following statements are made in my capacity as a private citizen and not in my capacity. Right? Putting it out
there. The next part equally as important, these statements also um are also not representative of the board. Board's individual members and solely represent my own personal opinions because there was a situation where um
the person is the first part of that disclaimer, but it kind of left the impression that they know something, right? They didn't really go that extra step. Other people must agree if this person holds this out there, right? You
want to be really clear about that, especially when it's something that hot topics, things that you want to be careful about. Next, please. So, just quickly run through these. You're not automatically protected by using
the context and the impression that you leave with the community. Um, you're not automatically in violation if you do something and don't have, right? If you were saying, you know, a board member, a theater performance the other night was wonderful. The students did a great job with it. It's really not going to be a
big concern on social media, not necessarily. Um, and again, you don't have to use the exact wording, but I always caution that if the entity that is the one that's going to decide your future recommends that you use that disclaimer, you may
want to consider. So general guidance is that if a board if a city board member has been recently elected appointed and was using um social media to get on the board, they should cease using that social media
system to become a board member because prior to being a board member as a candidate, you are not fined by the board of really whatever you want. Um and that won't carry forward. So your previous conversations will now be kind of following you on that account. You
want to stop using that particular moment. Any social media that you have privately should not say in your little bit little thing about me every number, right? You want to really not have that listed there. Be proud there.
Um liking and sharing from your personal account, especially on days that are really not your business or not going to at least a single member of the public cause of concern are probably going to be fine. But importantly, um, board
members should be refraining from having being an administrator on a social media account. And the reason is that you're making a statement as an administrator by what you allow to be on that page or what you don't allow to be on that page. So you're tied to all of the statements
everyone makes that that's there that's not allowed right now want to avoidation. So that's your ethics for the year. Um congratulations you got through it. I hope that it wasn't just a checklist
item and I hope that you walking out some of the things complicated work that we do um complicated things. So we always want to make sure that any questions on this.
So um I was also asked to uh just go over something which you don't need to hand in your page so that you evidence that um
I was asked to go ask the um some evaluation is that something you guys want to go right into that we can sure um and That was passed out. It was passed out. It was passed out.
Just before you just just make sure to sign the form underneath the ethics and give it back to her before she goes to Sure. Did you get the summary of the award? Okay. So, I forgot to do both.
Oh, what? Okay. Do you have Okay. So, then we'll go right to the board evaluation. So um what what you've been handed is the just
the report and I usually look over the evaluations and try to provide some guidance for students for you to consider but your goal setting your work and what you do so it's not to come in and tell you what the goal should be I hope it was helpful to
consider. So um seven of the board members um evaluation and we know that these are the categories that it covered. So if you take a look at them um vision,
mission and goals the uh rating that rating was 2.81 1 and overall report comments reflects the agreement that the board is focused on student achievement districts as basis for board planning policy and
that's great because that's crucial always to remember that the work we do regardless of the topic has to tie in to how we are serving students and students right um recommendations just based on
I'm sorry did you share with them not yet So the compiler report is something you can look at. This is just an attempt to kind of make recommendations based off that. So the board should consider these action plans and I actually mean just
thanks so much. So I would say that you may want to consider if you're not already using um a form similar to this doesn't have to be this to create action plans for goals that helps to ensure accountability and progress right because sometimes we get really
distracted knowing before us but this helps us really see progress throughout the year for these goals that we set. I would also recommend setting calendar dates forward updates on those goals to report on the progress made. Um this would be similar to how Mr.
Superintendent makes updates on districts or if not more frequently to keep everyone engaged both and community so that people can understand the good work that's happening to serve students. Um set a
set the committee meeting schedule and report schedule. Now what we find is that um everyone that's on board is incredibly busy and has a very complicated calendar right so it's helpful just logistically if you set say
monthly dates for different committees to meet you can always advise the rest of the board that you know we don't have any business this month so we're not meeting but at least if you do need to meet something comes up that is already scheduled without just waiting for
Um if you look at uh policy average came in at 3.3 reports positive progress towards reviewing and creating policies and employees best practice of first and second readings um and getting feedback to meet the obligation to hear from
those who may be affected by policies. It's not something every board that I serve does and I think it's really best practice. So that's doing that. Um a recommendation would be that all board members regardless of being on committee are expected to be familiar with
policies. So even if you're not on policy committee, all board members should really understand that um policies are working. That's one of your major responsibilities and understand those policies you're setting, approving and abiding by are clear, that they um
treat people fairly and equitably and that they're current. So we have some that are, you know, state or federal regulations, very important, but also are the local policies that you set really appropriate now, right? Do they need to be um looked at or they possibly
need recommendation of superintendent? A new policy based on things that are happening in the school, right? Um three, accountability for student achievement came in at 3.29. The board really recognizes the important recognition of students and staff as a
an important way to focus on accomplishments and student achievement. That is a tremendous best practice to to really uh do that. It keeps positivity in schools, but it also helps to ensure community understanding and support the work that is happening in schools. Um
he's going to focus on student achievement. There um are regular updates uh according to testing and student outcomes informed and the board supports professional development for staff also really crucial to student achievement. A recommendation would be
that the board may benefit from training on the use of data to decision making as well. So for instance um the monthly uh financial reports the the secretary and treasurer's reports that you approve monthly is everyone really comfortable
with what is on there what you're actuallying are is everyone really comfortable understanding when you're asking what it is they're improving service students right not to develop the curriculum not to develop the financial savings understand that so as
a board member you're fully engaging understanding how it works. Um governance uh number four governance team relationship and accountability uh is 3.03 boards that communication cohesiveness
and confidentiality have improved. So we're making strides in that direction. This provides greater opportunities to work together and stay focused on student achievement, right? good teams have good communication, respect, an environment where people feel safe to um
perhaps have a minority opinion but be heard and considered. Um recommendations are recognizing that you know we know that research shows that words that are operationally efficient understand how we do it. How do we do what we do? How
do we communicate? I have a question ask the process. Um words that are operational vision and commit to learning together an important part of it. boards that train together um generally have much better outcomes
for students because they're operationally more efficient. Everybody understands what the goals are, what we're trying to achieve and what role we play getting right as understand how to do that well as part
of the same team so that moving forward. Um consensus is really important to really build that environment where consensus is valued as to just do I have enough votes to get the majority right know that business happens on the majority we don't all the time that's
absolutely fine but are we in a place where the minority feels heard considered right because their opinion may be shared by others who may represent the students that we're serving so engaging in various opportunities um there's always
opportunities but especially school boards including uh professional training um and county meetings. I'm not sure if all of you are aware that all county meetings have a component of reading in them. Most meetings are able
to come out, have dinner, meet people of the front of the district. So you can share, you know, information and what to do. Um, but you earn board credit for participating. Can't make it in person. You can do it hybrid, virtual, live
virtual. Um, and you can attend any that you want to attend. Doesn't have to be your register and sign in when you get there if you're otherwise online. They'll have you tracked and you'll get credit as an
individual for that. And so you want to certification if that's important to you. Um and you want to you know really always make sure that you are trained towards improving you know information and understand information but also
government structure how you can um always continuously improve the way resource management and oversight. Um board report history. The board reports communication with administration regarding the budget and financial
planning and sees the process as transparent and collaborative and comment was made that community members have actually made statements to support that. So that's clear from the community. The board should um consider revising the role of oversight and
approval in the budget process to ensure that the budget supports the established district goals towards student achievement. As I said earlier, right, it's not a function of creating the budget but to understand how the budget is being created um that it's aligned
with and serving students of the district and uh that your policies are being followed towards the budget process. so that things are attending calendar dates that you're having the the um presentation in public that the
public has access to not only seeing it but understanding why you're doing it. um you want to engage with people and get used the board also may find training for uh your role in the referendum process helpful if you're considering you're
considering that path it was noted in um the self-ealuation comments that you made that Right. Um but we also want to have opportunities for um the public to engage in other ways. It's the responsibility of the board to make sure
that there are communication channels available to serve them. But it's actually responsibility of administration on how to manage that right doesn't come directly. Uh so we have individual member skills of how you feel
as positive results in the skill categories that were so I know that you have had some discussions and maybe some things are currently in place. This is just meant to make sort of what we're already
doing. Um board goals are student centered which is very important. The board has a first experience and use these lenses to serve students. Um recommendation based upon the comments is to look for opportunities to extend
the understanding of how decision right so that has formed processing communication especially around an area that we may want to consider. you have established you mentioned
earlier about deciding whether or not but also what's 48 hours so that they're informed you know we want to just keep things consistent so everyone in the room feels that they
understand what's happening there and of course when the committee is ready to make a recommendation for action then that should be clearly noted and advance of recording wherection. Um
also just understanding especially sometimes whether or not there really being clear about share transparency, right? Members need but So that's really
particular um would be important to have measures broken out of how we know that we achieve this goals, right? So when he goes forwards and achievement
evaluation process, we want to know from the beginning what will consider information. Similarly, we have board members who want to hold themselves accountable and say how can we know we met propic
item um who's responsible for timeline and really importantly posting it just the way these goals often get posted so that the community is aware of them and then updating on a quarterly basis just progress those schools so they stay at
the table alive right So there's nothing further or any questions for me. Does anyone have any questions? All right. Thank you very much presentation. So then we'll go into our board.
Did you guys set that yet? Yeah. So we discussed it as administrative team. I sent out today draft goals that we came up with. I think I have uh here too. I distribute that. We can discuss it. Um it's just based on information
everybody. Um where we see our priorities moving forward is now I say we do our goal. I just want to know if you guys we can go over our goals first and then we can go to yours. Okay.
Okay. So, um just to get started on our goals for our next year. Um you know, if you've read over the goals from our previous year, I personally feel that we haven't really met those goals yet. I don't know if you guys agree with me or
not. Um so, I do think we should consider keeping them or elaborating on them so that we can try to achieve them this year. Um I don't know if you guys think any input on that especially let's talk about the first one engage in consistent annual professional development activities on an individual
and collective basis to earn New Jersey school board master board certification promote communication and community engagement. So I think that we definitely need more participation as a board to get that master board certification. So that's
why I feel like we should continue with that role. Yeah. What's the benefit of a master? I mean, I don't know if I can truly answer that question. I just I'm I'm trying to I know you have this goal and I know
the principle of why is there is there a value add to it? Is it is there what can we articulate that makes this a a goal, right? Part of it is showing that all our board
members have been trained properly and as cohesive as a board. So it doesn't look good as representing our entire district. That's one piece of it. I think too like we we have a certified board and I think we're we're just a few
credits short of the company board as having training and that was just I forgot what the credits were but so close and I think it's just just to get there because the previous boards I guess that was to work together. That
was the reason why it was critics at cargo numbers, but it has to be the same at first. So, it eventually does go away. and I emailed her to see how far away you are because she may be out of time. Reset and we had to go for like board
certification and then resets the clock. But we were only board certified two years ago when pretty much the same members. Yeah, just one that I think you then only have two years to get master board certification before you have to
get reertified as a master as a like board certifications and then get m Did she respond to you? I don't think she can. Okay. Um well at this point then I don't we have to see if that even is
should we even be discussing it as a goal. We have to go back to that one or you may have achieved it. I think it's either you achieved it now based on today's training or it's out cuz I know last year at work a chief we
asked Matt to do several throughout the year so that we could get those but it was a certain amount of hours. I don't I don't think he came. I don't think he did. We had the superintendent search through school boards. I think you get credit for that. And then um one of the presentations
that I believe Vic did, I sent it and you got credit for that. And so I thought he said after your retreat like today that would be I don't know.
I know. She knows. So, I feel like we have to go. We might have to come back to that one cuz we may have the credits, which would be excellent. Um, okay. So, we'll go back. We'll come back. I I'll ask for a response tomorrow. Maybe I can email her, too. She can help you get through it and I'll give you guys all
the response, too. Um, okay. And then the second one is enable more effective board governance by enhancing consistent ongoing communication from committees to the board as a whole. Um, again, I think we can keep this to
continue. I know we've had some issues uh throughout this year, but I think we can work on it and improve on it. Um, I'm going to be honest though, I also like doing I think somewhat putting this action plan template into our board goals cuz I can tell you I know the responses in here, our auction
responses. I will send that out. I didn't know she sent it to me. But I think if we could throughout the school year see where we have been so we're not waiting to our retreat to see if we achieve the goal in a sense. I don't know what you guys think about that. We can all contribute to this. It's not like a one person thing. But what do you
guys think about the second goal? Do you think we should continue with that goal? Anyone here? I'm okay. I I I don't really want to comment too much on the other one with master certification.
Yeah, absolutely. I think the community work and I can talk about establishing standing committee groups um monthly with every two months whatever it is for every committee it's easier to cancel
one of the hardest parts is trying to you know gather everyone on a common date to have these committee meetings and I think it would prompt us it's in my calendar have committee meetings coming up just I I've talked to a bunch of superintendents that do it and it's
kind of like a standard thing that they just do it and I think that would alleviate if it gets into practice um you know committee votes and everything else that like you know yeah because we have some committees we don't need to meet so I think we need to definitely enforce that more so that we
can have a even if it's right before one of our board meetings just for a half hour just to discuss something if possible but yeah I think that's important we can do that so I think we should keep number do if anyone agrees to that. Um, does anyone want to add to any new goals for this
year? Can I go back? It's It's over. So, you either got orchest I feel that because we we we don't have our normal field rep that we had. I feel there's been a a drop in discussions about these things.
Um, and I feel like she's covering so she might not know there so she'll have to look into it. I will try to get an answer to you guys as soon as possible for that. But at this point, it might not be a goal at this point cuz we're not going to start all over again. We got to start from the beginning to go back. Do you do you know when our our school
boards are officially no longer with the school boards? No. Um, so neither do I. That's what I was getting at. I'm sure I'm not singing for the first one, but like you know I look through the July expenses short check for $18,000 to them and we are and um
you know just like I never maybe you did as president I didn't know I didn't know either. So to be very transparent, the only reason I found out is because when we were doing the CSA evaluation, I texted Natalie at night,
no response. The next day, Jean emails me. Did anybody else get an email? No one got an email. I You did? I did not get an email and I checked. I actually went to the county first and sat next to that lady, found out two
days later that sick. When was that? When was it May or June? the left the last being cut sat right next to you had a great conversation then they made mention that from just not to get it but I think he just left abruptly so I don't and I
don't even know if she knows but my issue with the situation is that she didn't even know I didn't get a notification no one they didn't get notified and I feel like because I texted him that we got notification which I did have an issue with team I explained to her like we should have had more communication about this even the
new like evaluation for self worth was not communic Katie clearly. So I do feel the ball was dropped on their end recently. Um so yes, I had no idea and I don't think I would have known. I don't even know if she would have reached out to me about our retreat had I not texted Matt. So to point I I said I had
thoughts now. So we're sitting here trying to achieve master board certification but with school boards but school boards doesn't even let us know what our practice no longer are. So I'm kind of not in love
with this whole thing right now. My default. So I'll I'll refrain from going further than that. But we're spending money in a budget crunch to have school boards yet when we need them at the end of the year. Our represent
I just don't know if it makes sense to even continue. That's and I had a very first conversation with her last week about this because of that kind of we weren't informed of anything and we're not informed and we have to like ask first to find out which is not
the way it's been. Um, so I agree. I don't sure it was it was discussed because you mentioned the budget crunch. We are a budget crunch. So every line item was discussed $18,000
check. I guess that's our news. Yeah. Okay. And not even someone from schoolboards contacted. I just don't know why someone higher up didn't contact what I said to her. Like I'm not I said I'm not upset with you. She thought I was but I'm like you should have someone else should have let us
know. Tony, do you know any district that doesn't have school boards? Say again. Do you know any district that doesn't have school boards? I don't know. Do you have school boards? requirement.
I don't think it's a requirement. Okay, I see that. I see that. Again, I don't know anybody who doesn't have it. Superintendent circles all can we not be in it?
What I sorry I was trying to make is we could have master certification now. did not and it has not changed anything about that doesn't work either. The other one's plugged in. This doesn't
work. I used to look that I so you want to bring up a possible new board. Yeah. Um like a few weeks ago when Heather sent out the thing, she asked, you know, if anybody had any ideas for board goals
and then we had talked about like two that we had. Did we we really feel like we achieve them. So, one morning I was up early and I thought this would be easy to attain and I think it would be good. Um, I know in the past we had like kids coming every month presentations
and things like that and I really like gearing towards that again just for the students. We as a board can see what's opening schools as well as the like community we continue to see what's going on. So, I've put this together about um engagement and awareness of
district programs. The board of education will enhance its understanding and support of our district's academic, extracurricular, and athletic programs by inviting staff and students to share instructional strategies, programs, technological tools, and any
instructional resources during monthly board meetings. This initiative would aim to celebrate um innovation, foster collaboration, and strengthen the board's connection to the day-to-day experiences of students and staff across all schools in the district. And I just
felt this was an easily attainable goal for us. So what was the goal itself? what I think I just read like to have pretty much to have all programs come in monthly like if there's I don't know like yeah
showcasing student achievement or initiatives like celebrating teams things like that but make it a regular thing not just a once in a while I feel like even before you we should have a more consistent schedule of
students and staff presenting and like first of all kids love it too like you know and I think it's yeah people want to see it um and it has kind of dropped off in 2 years and we've been through a lot of transition I do think it'd be a good goal I think it also brings the community into our less you're getting
people to sit here because so I don't think I think it's a good goal to have um I mean I think in general I'm trying to understand I know you just I just could shorten it maybe to like more simple
yeah what what the goal itself is to bring if you could read it again if you don't mind well I guess the board event will enhance its understanding and support of the district's package ademic and extracurricular and athletic programs.
Um the initiative would aim to celebrate student achievement collaboration and strengthen the board's connection to like basically so that we're seeing as a board what is going on in our schools. We're not just hearing about it. We're seeing we need to cut it though. We need
to say that in like that's what I'm saying. I like it. I'm just trying to understand you know program what you're saying also goes to that community engagement that's also I Inhale.
Just so we can see it. I feel like we need to see it. While we do that and each other, does anyone else have any other possible goals for this year? You had a great answer. I was I also think they need something.
Yeah, I know that wasn't really just curious. that I so in in part of our evaluation I think one of the things that I have worked with specifically about you know things like
um I don't know if it's exactly goal we can make it we can short but like I don't have specific focus on
I don't know saying we're not doing it. I don't know if it's appropriate for to you know make facility improvements we have and that's so I don't know if that's really
something that needs to be additional modal or or if it can be I really think that identify to identify facility it's not a goal that's
well I was just going to say that might be achievable the goal lights the fire to start the process and then perhaps the next goal the following year is for long work and size we have to continue that process. Um I know in
my evaluation I literally refer to as the elector we have to be more specific in this whole action that's perfectly we have concerns cost reaction and production for it but we we're not any
closer to getting Right. So I think that maybe preliminary aspect of that process would be a good goal for us to look into. Again we could be we could be superheroes and start the process and then make it a goal. We
don't reach any we have really you know we have to refresh our architects versions of it stuff like that. So I think that would be a goal. I think if we make a goal we work toward it and if we don't make a goal we will work toward it. So I think we if we all agree which I think we kind of all agree
unless we for everyone but facilities is an issue referendum is going to be something we need to discuss. So I think we should try to make a goal but ordered in a way where we can't understand achieve it working towards this goal. Um so we need some help now we're going to
work that part too. Uh first of all we had to continue education community engagement district. Should we leave it just as referendum or just even facilities? Like we do both and not just leave it.
Yeah. Facility improvements because I feel like if we leave it just as referendum, we may never achieve that. But if we work towards facilities in some other way, too. Like could could we could we somehow create something where we're identifying
you know a hierarchy of facility needs like to itemize like what is priority like immediate priority. Well, the committee has done that. We have an act of document. Yeah. That has that lists it in priority with cost.
Right. But I meant now translating that as a group to achieve. I don't know if you want to be that specific though. I think I I mean I'm not speaking of making it more
not so specific, maybe more achievable. And we were not the ones that we needed the most, but maybe smaller ones, which is what happened years ago when we were going for a referendum. I remember links was a thing. We did it without using referendum. Like we achieve some of these goals without having a referendum.
Um, I mean, I know we always like, you know, chip off some of it. So that's why I don't want to be so specific, but that's up to you guys to make decision. I mean, I like the wording of that, but not just putting referendum, putting
like ongoing facilities. And, you know, maybe I'm not maybe I'm not articulating because, you know, Stephanie and Pete, they work really hard. I just meant to literally
be every, you know, our list of what our goals are. Are we actively working at some point? I'm not in any way, shape, or forming anybody not addressing
our goal to like by next year at this time like how far do we articulate but that's what I'm trying to say is like I think facilities is I don't think there's a person in this room that is concerned with it that
isn't you know trying to formulate an opinion on how to do referendum or not. That's all I'm saying. How do we work with this every single week and and maybe better
that's my focus that was the one that I was how do we really focus on we know that we we've identified how I think we already
also provide an overarching financial plan. We we are going when we audit ourselves next year. We have to make significant financial decisions to find money in some way. Now obviously
facilities that as well there's also programmatic elements right now Tony knows this as well. No title one, no title two, no title three, no title four,000 cut and not coming back to us. And I will say it is
100% over services that hasn't come down and yet we're banking in 1.8 million. We're banging moving people to tight that we're not getting moving certain things too that we're not getting. So that is
like there's two financial things going on right now. There's two paths that are diver and I predict we are going to it's probably take 2 years to get out of the hole or through
one. you might need another year to get out of a hole and I keep coming up with a second question and do a second question and they referendum more time. Now there are ideas that we have to avoid the second question but it's major
decisions on the table that um we are starting to look at to come up with so I look at more financial strategic plan including the including program including if the title don't come back
will come back we have to account for those major pipeline I'm nervous We said that would go fullfledged into a referendum. We had a referendum meeting and I with the architect going over things and then
March 17 back and all that and we're going through budget. We have to do this again. How do we juggle both huge things in the air and be confident that we can get
through? So that is that is my apprehension. I would love a referendum. I would love it. I think a simple referendum with a major facility needs that need
right now $20 more entrance or something like that that can get us you know realistic windows ceilings hack parking lots that are like I mean just like Stephanie and
the roofs they're not sexy but we needed the rooms and they are done we have to encapture ourselves sounding and work toward the program
science lab and stuff like that that I love but I don't know after the burrow just reassessed everything and taxes went up now we're again possibly second question not that I want a second question either
navigate but it is on my project. I'm not opposed to language with the referendum. So it starts
to go I think I can you type up that old one and maybe we can change it so that it works for us this year. facilities though if that's possible. I know we have to go back to numbers too the other one but I want to just
I feel like I need to see it so we can adjust it as simple as the board to actively pursue facilities like no like or look at like yeah revisit on a regular basis. I think we want to do
more consistently. I think that's the right consistently working toward that goal and discussing it. I don't I don't like that. That's why I wanted to see it so we could change it. That's kind of why I need to see it.
Maybe it's most like towards the district financial plan as opposed to district facilities as opposed to an emerging program. Yeah, I think we're just facility upgrades.
I don't even want to say emerging. I like, you know, I don't like that word. What about just facility upgrades? already engagement vision planning towards facility upgrades whether it's video or not they're there right they merge
but do we need a community engagement that's not really what it's usage it's not a refund like that part right there where it needs to be up I think this I think this here we don't this possibility. I'm going to suggest
the facilities meeting uh in the month of July to talk about this facilities meeting. Um like I said, we are there. I think the plan that we have now for the referendum from 2020
is grandiose in terms of what we can realistically offer to Um you have to just kind of think that's a part of the administrative team now has to start chopping off things and bring something that's feasible facilities for
me and say okay what do you guys think start with and say listen what do you guys think community you know what is feasible here and what needs and not need so we can start down what we have to be facil
argument back in it is I have to now tell people inform that be careful that drives big problems major problems um so certain things like that compost
business you know that we fill in we fill in we fill in it doesn't make sense for the district to do it outright because we do it through a referendum we get 30 something% back every million we get 3,000 it doesn't make sense for us to start just putting out money. So
I am definitely okay with communication community engagement district after the board level it's been accomplished per discussions surveys we have a survey already that we can go through from the
architect that should go out to the community as well in tandem while we start talking internally about But these referendums take a long long time. It's not only happen overnight. Other discussion is while there's referendum something that we want to
take capital reserve and chip away at as well. So you can kind of see progress as we move forward and that's all in line with I'm telling you that right now it's all in line with how we can compete with or combat
another deficit here next year and then I think we get from multiple angles right now but this isn't saying referend to happen next year this is saying we have to start the process and look at So when we are confident already we can move
forward. So we're comfortable with number two wagering everyone. I think it's Do you think the address I don't think for
parent teachers and stuff like that that would be a second question like program like I'm not saying but like let's say some districts are saying well we got to cut sports Let's do a second question. They vote on that. So
that's more programmatic referend. So she's going to write the blurb kind of what we can shorten it or that. Oh yeah, you can see that isn't number three. We're doing that as
one. Yeah, I feel like you could put a word forward and after meetings for I feel like um promote student achievement and community engagement with something like how I don't know we have
the only probably is important student achievement. I know that's why I don't think that's I think it's more celebrate student achievement and raise awareness about student achievement. The way I regard was that the board will enhance its
understanding and support of the districts that just category. Yeah, like one year I remember like one year was like a student council but that happened one year that they do it again. You know, it's like these things that we do once in a while which make the
meetings fun. I mean like they're you know also we had the administrators they went to a professional development and they presented on it and then we saw what they learned at their presentation. Like I think the community needs to know more what we're spending our money on and how it's affecting our kids and
staff. I mean, I enjoy it as a board member. So, I think it's memorable to people. They see it. It is very memorable. Um, so I think it's and it makes them feel important like the kids are here. So, I think that's I think that's a great goal because I think it also engages the
community to come to our meetings and watch it through. For me, it's just more establishing a regular routine of having that presentation, not just sporadic. That's how I feel. But we got to treat that as like
that's just my No, no, no. I know. I know. We have to shorten in a way that's like to the point. So I think I don't think we need that second sentence that starts this initiative too. That's like an
explanation. this initiative, you know, on that day cuz that's just the explanation of why we're doing it. We can get rid of that part, right? Well, like yeah, I think like at the end of athletic programs, right, by inviting st like that that's then we get how to
like the goal is the goal like that. We have to figure out the how. Like I know for myself, right? Like one of the things that I try to do is is attend a couple of different sporting events each season, right? like show up
at the side, you know, show up at a volley, show up a wrestling match. And I don't know exactly which way to get to be sure, but I try over the course of the year get to as many different athletic events as I can, even if it's only one, just observe like what's going on,
you know, just you know, not just to be part of the community, part of the different events. And, you know, I I would like to get to try, you know, different person. So, I think board if we could collectively get to as many as
possible. Like maybe it could be a potential goal for us. Like if I get to volleyball and cross country, Tony gets to football and soccer. Maybe we get to reward we get to every season, you know,
right? I touch it and a lot of us are already doing it. But like you know, you know what I mean? Like maybe if we as a group can get to every place including you know across America including like
so it's reciprocated like we want the community to come here and work at all. I think goal for us to get out everything is that are we good? Wait, does anyone else have any other goals they want to
any new goals outside of those for this year? I think No, I wouldn't do more than three, but I just we didn't I want to hear from everybody. You're okay. No, we can do a recap first. If you don't know
first All right. So, we're going to go over the 2425 goals real quick. I know the summer population superintendent. Um, so it's pretty much the same evidence. We're going to actually give you more that we did.
Uh, the first one was evaluating refined structures with accountability for the entire district where personnel positive supports are in place for the district to function efficiently and effectively. And there are three criteria we put under that was not my board agenda but like kind of action items and uh one was
reestablishing or refedational chart that we completed um that was you can see basically took the old one and we did measures have picture see it
so this is the new one the old one was this you guys want me to pass around. And so now it's Yeah. Now it's editable, you know, and we can change as needed. It kind of just pretty much establishes who evaluates
who, who answers to who. Um, so there's no questions. Um, the job descriptions, they're still in progress. The whole athletic department is done. Um, VA department is done. Um, some random others, but there are some areas that have no job
searches. um that we're working on is going to be in late August, September because they mostly have to do with clubs and study positions and there's there's no discursions on how frequently they meet um you know the length and duration and responsibilities or
anything um connected to that. So that's something that the principles know. Uh we have working on a template to just once these new people get hired, people get hired, they're have to fill out this template if they're interested. Well, part of the expectations, what we're
seeing is without that job description and somebody else takes it over, unless they are informed by the previous person what's going on, they have no idea. They got to make up their own thing. So these job descriptions are even more important. respect position there's more turnover turnover so they will be done
by the club description will be done you know next year evaluating standardized for clarity efficiency and equity various components of the evaluative system you know we are doing that so PDPS observations can all be on one platform
we also got rubrics now for counselors support staff um nurses that will all be on this as well because as of this year some nurses will be done uh narrative style others working platform all
different counselors one platform push a button management tomorrow first goal second goal evaluate establish structures for communication uh the first one was create distributed board notes
um notes um feedback whether you enjoy that whether it was informative and teach you engaged and u know what you're voting for the goal um and we also revised the
agendas to make it more transparent to the public and I think that we receive less questions from the public regards to um items on the agenda for clarification so I think that all my support appreciate your support that the
district website I would encourage you to go on the district website because it is now changed as of today you can kind of see we add a lot more colors pictures um in January our other one expires
and now I'd like to thank department and Awesome. Thanks, my secretary. So, you can see the color pattern. Uh we have students out there. We have um it
is I think it's pretty much not bad, right? And pictures in front of the building. And so now it's going to have that new website to the websites and that would be kind of like here's the goals now.
And we already have ideas to expand on the website about the district by the number also program program highlights. So if you come website you can see like this sports the program
um everything. So I see looking at it right now. You know it's not bad, right? Not bad. Um so that's a con that's a major major. So now
board and then by parent square. I think parents square for the most part was a hit according to the principles. They really like it. uh they do for I mean thousands of posts
about course of a year. I like it. I'm not a social media guy because it's it's hard to control what's out there. So Par Square allows me to post things as needed quickly when needed in terms of car fire
communication and obviously the monthly newsletters. I mean, I put the pictures in there and what I need to say to people in the district and I can leverage that more understand square. The hard part is getting a lot
of people to read it and read the whole thing, but I think that we um social media, we evaluated it. Very many kids don't really use social media. Mr. at the middle school uses social media
square and then the high school doesn't social media social media easier for us. I think the high school kid that will use it more sporting program and stuff like that maybe
student clubs social media support practice for social emotional needs. Um we have a lot of social emotional learning institute elementary program which we do on a
daily basis. Um this book behind neighbors compliments initiative this um I don't know if you saw number two they did this education foundation it's huge
video you see that thing is awesome the whole school it's a treat and they didn't know what it was the kids but it's all about community make Um the DEO does a tremendous amount.
They brought three separate guest speakers for this year. They let me here also did one
comment or question at the event every lesson initiative. Uh the high school uses fresh start bringing guest speakers um buddy mentorship program a lot of subject boosters our convention this year and do for us to target mental
health and self-esteem for the students that's about it and then we also had title Jenny Mills throughout the district between. So that is the 2425 rules. Real quick
recap. Any questions? I always Yeah. Any feedback you have project everything you see there stolen but it hasn't been stolen from other websites. Um so if you see anything on the website yeah just let me
go. I actually went to St. George was very happy to see their websites. They use it as recruiting tools too. That's part of what our website has to be like. That's where we came up with the program highlights in the bottom show and everything else. Oh, they have this. Well, they have this
they have this. So, we're trying to private numbers. St. Joe's actually has a really interesting numbers that I'm looking at to expand there. So, in time that will evolve, but at least launch kind of see
that. All right. As for the draft goals for 2526, um you look at there's goals and there's priority tasks associated with it. I like doing that just keeps me in line that's specifically
what we have to do with the district. Uh the first one is a no-brainer. I think that I think in day one a bunch of binders on my table like this is a great art. Okay. Um, so over the course of the last year, I already met
with OEM just to try to have them look at our safety and security events in the district and we have them in place and we are safe and we are secure. I don't want to make that but there's a uniformity that has to be achieved. There has to be one district manual with
little addendums on it that have each school in it with a reunification and everything else. So that I think that's a no-brainer as a whole and that'll be done by May 1st, police, OE, district staff and uh just give you pretty much a
binder and tab everything in and then each school will get just their portion. But this also includes um emergency plans for athletics after school because that is actually most that is something that a lot of do not have that Mr.
has already started working on to incorporate into this thing about vulnerability that's open um security at a minimum and so is that just his
Oh, sorry. Oh, okay. Oh, so you may not. Oh, that's what I was wondering. I don't know which one you like. I I And even if you even if you only if we go three, you go three,
you're going to you're going to have a four on your desk, right? So why I have question is is attendance an issue is that so tendons so data so
we by the skin of our teeth were not did not have to actually so the district releases I guess it's October November correct me if I'm wrong um schoolwide attendance rates and
absentism and you're 10 schools 10% or over you have to do action that one of our school is looking at 9%. Um so throughout the course this year I just did data this this time we have more school at 9% the elementary schools are
5 and 6% over high school 7% for the district we're averaging 7%. Um that's a lot and trying to get to 18 that's the state. So we already talked about decreasing season
policy policy 18 just under what the state wants. part of the state that should help a little bit. But I think communication practices some already started working on
development ideas to really target kids and their families about this. you've been absent last year, you're on our so anybody 14 absences last year. We would like to get a correspondence this
summer, you're on our you were absent 14 times a lot of time don't know and be aware like these are the penalties you know here's resources that can help you need help contact us and then have actions throughout. So we are going to
do this evade the attendance because we don't want to get to that 10% I don't want to actually we actually have certain pockets of our population multilers specialized populations in certain schools that are older than 10%
since certain population don't have to have an action. Yes, we don't want to get more coordinated. I think we have to really get across to parents in general. It's
so important that kids have great business, right? Like it's not just support. It's because they're not there, right? any job in the world. You start your job, maybe you're lucky, you get a week's vacation, maybe you get five
personal days or sick days. 10 days a year, you're not working, right? Like because those are life skills that translate when you get up to work, you're not going to be able to get 17 or 18 times from your job, you know, whether it's in 4 years or 8 years is,
you know, going to be able to understand that statistically, I think one But statistically five is the magic number right you don't want to go over five then there starts to be problems and I was talking to
their students transition previously actually started absences to collegees and so came back from the school day a year you know I thought that was
interest shows there's a direct correlation to attendance student achievement and what% I think that just has to be made aware and I think the newsletters have happened where I do mention I did it
once already some parents actually came up to like I saw what he said about that all right so I think that that is a possible combined district will constantly
obviously have statuto they know I don't know if they understand how many times you had to like if you're just two times a month that doesn't seem over 20 days and then your time is on
the other school district excuses certain absences the state is not. So the doctors turn in excuses within the district report says an absence from the state. So people say okay my kids grade is not affected by
the attendance I'm going to be asking you to excuse you excuse it as a district but from the state perspective when your backside and the struggle might always that's great that maybe satisfies the grade and
good for you 25 m but I think that's part of this is I'm getting twisted from the state's perspective As you come out of the building 18 times, you're chronic reaction and it it's always been there, but since
it's got more philosophic parents because depending upon the age of the child, they're telling the parents it's But they don't realize the impact on us that if your test scores aren't as great as you like to be. One of the things to
look at is how long what are you doing today? So I think that's one that's a disconnect and I think it's a disconnect everywhere more so in high school grades but I think that's part of the problem but you know black tal
there's some districts that are going places and they just say you get 16 and that's it over that because it is it is I can speak to the principal I have given two absences whether you have 30 doctors 30
days of doctor I've still got to do you know and and just the continuity of education in the classroom to teach right because if you have several kids who are often not in class right
it may be that those kids need to go for extra help to figure out who but the reality of it is we have we have teachers who are going to be teaching that lesson more than one time to make all the kids you can get and then what is the the the growth of that class and
then that translates to test scores and you know it's not just about meeting the state guidelines. It's about each kid getting the education they're supposed to get and a teacher being able to give them that education because the kids are in school in class. You know, it's just
it's a big deal. And then uh all right uh reevaluation of current teacher observation instrument for explor alternative researchbased frameworks. This is the master initiative. Um, we
just want to make sure that our instrument allows us to target instruction like the administrators want us to evaluate teachers. Um, and I think that was
the fourth one just talking about every single person. I I don't think any of this worth tossing in my opinion if there's one that has
so she's kind of like more person the only the only thing that you know I professional development. I will I do have concerns about that
process training for staff and do not have that and I'm not sure given the conversations that we've already had I position.
So you're talking about I do think that we need to engage in that process and I do think it's time to revisit the tool. I definitely think there's value in that. I think there's there are tools we had this conversation
better. Um I just not reassured that faculty properly support understanding
that and you know especially cuz you know some years we have title we don't have that right now. We're going to get that. And it's a little cuz you can still do without making your
goal. Yeah, we can still work on it without being able but I think that's really more decisions you guys us knowing that it's a priority or interesting go that might look like
you spot When we talk about money is there 20,000 50,000 15,000 from your stand I'm not really sure but I know that the last time I did the
process there were layers of training administrator value teams and it just won't happen. No framework process. So like
it's not so by migrating to the front line. We basically take what we need, whatever it so right now we're operating for
and that's it. for anybody else and you have $1,700 for both Daniel and my brother specialist person as well for them specifically target them
because now they're going to be the platform should be operating from right now. Um just because we want something you can't have marriage for some for some doesn't make sense. So that's the
that was the goal last year to identify things. Now moving forward you have for online it's the same operating system if you want to eventually go to like games whatever it is you have to get those
blue up teachers now um any other questions regarding Okay. She's like, "Yes." All right. So, we've achieved our goals. We're going to move on to our
presentation. Those are the key points of the presentation. I know. This is number one. Let's take a few minutes to break. We're all leaving. No, I think it's going to take.
Okay. So, um, good evening. Tonight I'm going to share out the results of the spring 2025 demonstration of the go sit down. Dan, can you just take a quick break for a second from the recording? Sorry. No,
I just need Okay, good evening. Uh, this evening I am going to share the results of the spring 2025 administration of the NJGPA and access for health. Um, as a reminder, the NJGPA or the New Jersey
Graduation Proficiency Assessment is administered to all 11th grade students and to any um students who have not previously demonstrated uh proficiency on the assessment.
The NJGPA is designed to measure the extent to which students are deemed graduation ready in two content areas including arts and mathematics. The ELA component of the assessment is
aligned to the 10th grade English language art standards and the math component is aligned to algebra 1 and geometry. students are required to score a minimum of 725 on each of those components.
And um it's important to note that the NJGPI is one of multiple pathways to demonstrating proficiency for graduation. Students can retest if they're not deemed graduation ready,
which we administer in the fall um after the spring administration. And then we also went through the portfolio appeal process. This year we had 100 group participation for the assessment of um all students
who were eligible to take it test. Here are our results. So you can see that we achieved 90.2% in English language arts and 75% in math.
Here's a look at our res historical performance on the assessment beginning with 2023 and to this current administration in 2025. you'll see that um
we increase significantly in the area of mathematics which is great success. And this is just showing the percentage of students who were not graduation ready in both content areas across the three-ear period.
And this slide is showing us our district's performance compared to state performance in each of the content areas across the three-year period. You'll see that across three years, we're consistently outperforming
the state average in both content periods. The access for L's um the access is actually English language proficiency assessment that we administer to what we now refer to as our MLS or multilingual
learners and students in K through 12 take this assessment. It's administered in the second half of the school year, late winter, early spring. And our teachers used the results of this assessment to
make decisions about students academic language and really how to facilitate their continued um language development. The scoring on this is a little bit different in that there are six domains.
Beginning with level one entering and level six is the most proficient which is um referred to as breaching. So we had 100% participation across all
grade levels for our eligible multiler. Um, important to note here the students when they take this assessment, it's not specific to grade level. They're actually clustered because it's um language development and English
language proficiency. It's not really specific to grade level expectations and really developmental. So, beginning with second grade, we cluster second and third, fourth and fifth, middle school, and then high school.
that they had on, you know, partners. They might be part of a cluster two or three target learners. Some kids are like on the cusp of being proficient in English and are still qualified as MLS where others are literally arriving to
our country and have no English whatsoever and they're taking the same test. So that that makes it very difficult for the teachers obviously but also to get real true assessment on um
yeah so typically um like any assessment you want to see students needing or kind of in that end of the higher level proficiency but because we have students who are coming in with no English
language um you'll really see students who are in each of these is um performance levels across the board. So this is kindergarten and here we have first grade percentages because our members are a little bit
smaller. Gra 4 and five middle school and high school. So um I did bring out some points of notes of achievements to share with you.
So in 205 the percentage of 11th graders who were deemed graduation ready on the MJ GPA in math rose to 75% which marked a 9.65% increase from 68.4%
from 2024. uh really reflecting significant improvement progress of the student. In 2025, 75% of 11th graders received graduation ready math with an impressive
15.03% increase from 652 in 2023. Um, we did see a small gain in English language arts as well, but because we're already high achieving in this area, the
gains are naturally smaller. So, in 2025, we have 19.2%. And that's a small increase, when there's not as much room to grow. um to tell the kids
and then just going to and I can read this later but I'll just share some of the things that we are continuing to do. We have our year-long professional learning continuum which is aligned with our district calendar utilizing our monthly meetings for ongoing
collaborative planning and vertical articulation. This is really helping to make sure that our faculty um is really equipped to address student needs across all content areas but particularly in English language arts
math and language development um for those and I haven't talked about this yet but we are talking about this but we are meeting new standards in all content areas with
the exception of ELA So we recently revised the curriculum in both of those content areas. Now all of the other seven content areas will have new standards. So that will
translate to um collaborative planning sessions for our teachers to revise curriculum. And we're really going to look at integrating ELA and math in all of those other content areas such as science and social studies to reinforce
cross-disiplinary learning and simple students targeting that interventions. We really focus heavily on datadriven um interventions and small group instruction
particularly for students who are not meeting benchmarks. Um these small group lessons really hold in on deficiencies that are identified in the assessments that students take and
help fill in gaps in the end. Um, we're going to look at the resources that we um provide for our multilingual learners, not just when they're working with our ESL teachers, but also in their classrooms and uh
opportunities for teachers to strengthen our ML's English language acquisition. This will um encompass integrating strategies across those content areas, emphasizing vocabulary development,
proficiency, and academic language skills to help the expectations at work student learning standards. Um and I I do have a wonderful team of ESL teachers here. I know that they are
assets to the faculty in the building. December. And then of course we're always looking at results of all of our assessments, not just standardized assessments, but also our district benchmarks and course
assessments to um adjust instructional strategies and to differentiate instruction to make me learners. Um, a key part of that is also making sure that we're monitoring
students progress so that we we know we need to if and when we need to do something different. This presentation will be up on the website tomorrow. So those watching you're interested
have any questions? I know I had question where last year we did a little bit better on the LA this year. Yeah. And it's interesting just
conversations together performance and how um somewhere along the line catching up and pretty well this assessment along the way but
Thank you. Superintendent everybody start action items. I'd like to approve the June 2025 HIV report. Glad to report the move high school with no HIV g HIV. CEO had one
HIV33 submitted and that HIV was investigated. The allegation was found suspension report Milford High School Berkeley and Gibbs. No students were suspended, you know, in June DEO.
Five students are sused for a total of 6 days. Two students need served one day at school suspension. Two students being served one day school suspension. once in service. That's what um you'll see on here rule for the co
insurance protection plan. Anybody who's watching, I strongly encourage you to um go with this protection plan. cost only $25 per child or $75 per family, but it greatly reduces any risk you have or
your child has for incurring any cost associated with access to them with Chromebook. We do currently have over 80%. I'd like to thank the government administrative association um and negotiations committee for boardification
agreement with the contract tremendous amount of work negotiations committee just intense conversations back and forth. I just want to thank both parties. Okay.
personnel recommendations. Um, just the part-time band instructor. We are looking at increase in our band in middle school. We have 90 students in the middle band next year if all the students generate carry holders from
middle school. There is never going to be some drop off most likely, but we do anticipate 775 um from what this instructor will allow at $35 a lesson where we take a small group and I take small
group teaching whole group lessons all the time which my high school that's kind of acceptable but middle school they're still learning my children. So I think that's great. I met personally very experiencing was Okay. Also work
marching band. So there is also a couple new positions. Um legacy kind of in this district. Um she applied. She's the best candle who was promoted to the supervisor guides
growing up. She was number one personally. She wore a great job and then come home from the elementary school. She's been down there for another
decades and just I think she just needs a change. looking for another coach. Um basketball coach girls basketball coach, wrestling coach,
um track coaches on finance facilities, uh the studios and up uh for rement. They're an amazing position. Um I came into the job budgets like that is something
necessary. They are integral to what we do here in terms of communication and just the safety and security involved. And we have all good people in those conditions which is amazing. Anything has to do
with those elementary schools. They are not therefore just person. They are actually promotion hugging them saying goodbye crying. They don't want to leave the summer. So that is a good connection
that we have officers and we look forward to that because that is a bond they're creating. You don't have to be freedom freedom, you know, but you can see that respect to
got a fight. Amazing program. I'm sure you've never seen this program. Project Unifi specialized students uh with Virginia students basketball
games and it's an amazing program and plays encourage you. I will definitely speak to this once they get their schedule out. We also like to thank also we touch down 45 tax donation $1,200 to help
competitive policy that there are a number of policies other news I explained we're still waiting for title one through four funds that doesn't impact us funds I have not said no it's just been
a holding pattern so we still have All especially it's a huge ESY program hundreds of kids and then we have our varsity sports camps which our teachers actually work these camps
great for kids looking for something to do with their kids hands here we started around us which we were avoiding floods recently.
Because on the mayor last night during downpours and river only got 12 we started worse. Thank the trout previous to that. still was rescuing people by cars and
flash power. and then website. Any questions? Assistant superintending on the agenda, you'll see that we are expanding our employment options. So, um
one of our neighbor students was recently approved for credit from King University. really excited about that. Um, we're also doing the emergency virtual construction plan.
This has been in place since the pandemic. It's something that we revisit each year, finally, and then submit to the county approval. Um, I also recently submitted a bilingual waiver. We have if the
district has more than 20 students in any given language you are required by code to offer bilingual um instruction. However, because our students are spread across the K through
12 continuum fiscally responsible for us to um offer a bilingual in each grade level. So, we apply for an annual waiver in order to provide um what's referred to as high
intensity. High intensity means that those students in that one language receive an extra period of instruction. Um so that was recently submitted to the county. We also submitted the final impact tutoring
grant. um that I believe was a 2-year grant that we have um should be a final work done. Um Mr. As I mentioned, we're still waiting
to receive of the allocation for title funding. Just to mention something that we intended to do able to uh last year we did all of the summer step up program which was a transition program for incoming kindergarten
first grade students. um we held out as long as we could be able to offer that in August um to help our students with that. But we to future
benefit students and as I receive more updates on the New Jersey learning standards content All right. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Also
present in house contract. that will still continue in terms of bringing consultants in know that great um title 3 is for
so welcome the district has done a great job hiring we pay for all our teachers we're not buying of these funds for teachers I talked to some districts these superintendents are losing their binders they don't get these funds they have to lay off staff
it does affect So you might be able to speak more like one or two. Yeah. So some um after school support instruction extended school day anything
where teachers are working outside of their regular hours they would receive extra pay. There's also some of that money in title three so that you know that's learners get that extra support. Um just looking a lot of instructional
supplies and materials, um, conference fees, which there are some requirements for those, um, title three. So, here is to say that happen. Um, title four, we did a lot of like uh,
safe and healthy student programming, a lot of presentations for kids. It's really crazy because districts are dependent on these fun talk about what past president. We expect some type of fun
title one before where that money come from. So that is so it's national and then the national pretty much gives states the funding. Right now the national predator the national has not given the warning to
the states. The allocation should come by July 1st of every single year. They did not say no. They're just delaying it and saying it's not in the holding. That's a huge problem for school districts because right away step up we can't we can't advertise it and set up
teachers and say we're doing it and then the money never comes in and people make these plans and everything else. That's not fair too. So it's already affecting us just the delay and so last year we received the application in 2017
I guess my concern is that the department of education the government the department of education distributes to the states and the states distributes to the schools. So I think you know realistically to the extent that they're
not going to be investigation we're talking hundreds of thousands of dollars we're already when we talk about coming to it goes back to this we talk about money all the time we talk about money all the time
and it's just a convergence of so many things as facing the 1.8 now that's hundreds of thousands of dollars in the title funds I mean it is just health insurance costs continue to go up and we just can't get from all angles right now I'm trying to stay I
think we're doing a great job staying low but I'm also not sugar coating it that this is going to be one year we did a possible condition the budget coming out to fix it is not unless we figure things out especially
So, do we need to like I know this might sound stupid, but like more outreach to our state senators, to our governors, like whoever, or even like the school boards because which I'm sure they're doing cuz they're emails about it, but what else can we do to like make it more I don't think people know this. I know
they know about the Department of Education, but I don't think they realize how it truly affects us individual districts in our state. I think that needs to get out more because I think they just they weren't allowed to. The state stepped in the budget
and they said they can raise taxes the budget. But unfortunately with the title money um because we were so strategic in removing the salaries from from here a lot of these things are things that kids will feel. So that's we're hopeful that
we'll get it but it's already having an impact because of a delay and things that we would have offered we're not able to make very offer the same resources after school that's targeted
they may not We are not financially sound. All right, we will just start supplementing out of our own budget and all this money cross the uh start with the significant
purchased a new serving line for middle school. uh which require a lot of electricity upgrades to be installed, but that is currently underway and we're going to um have a full new serving line at the middle school. We received from the
foundation um I believe it was early in the fall a donation for the teacher lounge um also a DEO to do upgrades there. And so they're the maintenance crew is currently working on that to install cabinets that has new uh
electrical stuff moved and so that's underway. The Gibbs PTO made a donation I believe that was at the last meeting for the playground that has been ordered. Um that should be instilled sometime in the fall.
the uh through the ride grant um I believe it was two years ago the final allocation of the SDA RI grant money that we spent to um install air conditioning Berkeley has been is complete and Berkeley is now fully aironditioned
um and now we have the remaining being installed in the high school the maintenance crew is currently working um to do the wiring and electric and have that installation hopefully it um sometime in the fall as well. Uh the bus
that was approved at the last meeting has arrived. It's currently parked at the middle school, but I didn't consider where we're working with the four passenger bus. So yet to find a plan for it, but we will. Um it's not on the road
yet because we're waiting for GPS and radio. Um but that should be coming by the end of this week or probably next week. uh the business office has started the 20 preparing for the 2425 audit. The auditors have contacted us. We'll be
pulling um all sorts of stuff. So, who knows? It will probably be March before they completed, but it started um and they have a lot of information already. We through South Korean Commission put out all of our nonprofit bus routes.
Four of them were picked up. Burton Catholic being one of them. Um and I highly empathic because we were going to absorb that hour buses before like uh B Tech opened a new program that's in parameters and so we had a significant
increase in our enrollment and so that bus has 42 students. We transport Bernie Field Presfield Crest and Burger Hill. um as enjoy transportation on that route and so it has 42 students who were already at the
board with them. Um and so we were fortunate enough that that route will be picked up. So there are three other schools that will also picked up all those notifications and families. Um as of yesterday the route information will be forthcoming sometime in August to
those families. Um but because birdie hasn't been picked up we still want to pick up another route. that we are going to be transporting to um and on our district buses. Um this is all in a way to sort of try to minimize our
transportation costs. Uh so that will be tier route. We were able to do that because the start end times are different. Um the challenge with DASA is that they have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday dismissal is a
whatever time is also talking and Thursday is a different time and Friday is a different time. Um so we'll have to stagger that. Um but we have one of our bus drivers works a nighttime schedule. We designate a sports driver. Um, so
we'll be creative in our bus driver schedules and it will result in overtime, but it will cost less money to pay the overtime pay. Um, and then the last thing I have is the New Jersey Department of Treasury recently released the recommended rates
for the state health benefit plan and the recommended rate is at 20%. Um, so we budgeted 15% since 5% are budgeted. The problem is is that um when you read this report, it seems as if um the the
board chair is going to make the card that's going to make it uh harder and so that's going to impact our current budget. Um we did make significant cuts going up to 20%.
It seemed high uh but this is you know I believe the fourth year So those rates are not official yet. I just think they're recommending those people. Okay. Any leazison on board committee
reports? Tony. Uh as policy chair board is 11:00. Um the policy committee met um early last week. We have uh 18 total pieces on our
agenda tonight. First reading, 12 are policy, six are regulations. Um thank you to Mr. Basso here to give a report to everybody. So obviously if anybody has any questions, they can reach out to me. Um and obviously we talk about at our second meeting, our August meeting,
we actually take action on the second. Thank you. Any correspondence? Uh okay. Open to the public. Items on the agenda as outlined in the bill for board of education by law 167. Each statement
made by our president shall be in three minutes. This is a motion. Stephanie seconded by Tony. All in favor? Oppos. Motion to close. Joe seconded by Nicole. All in favor? Opposed.
Board action. Having the recommendation of the superintendent, I seek a motion for VA25-26.12.3.4.5 and a second. Tony, all in favor? Close. Educational programs and curriculum in the second.
I make a motion to seek approval for C25-26.1.2.3.4 and.5. Second Joe. All in favor? I oppose. I personnel having the recommendation of the superintendent. I seek a motion for
P 25-26.1 2.3 4.5 6.78 910 11234 that's it
second Stephanie roll call excuse my voice Mr. Albro. Yes. Melro. Yes. Mer. Yes. Mr. Luna. Yes. Vice President D. Yes. Yes.
Finance and Facilities Committee. Cheryl Keation. I see a motion to approve members at 256.1 22 34 256
27 28 29 210 1125 145 16 17 Tony all in favor athletics co
I seek a motion for AC25-26.1 and2 second cher all in favor oppose policy committee Anthony Alb I seek a motion and hope to get a second for policy 25-26
Stephanie all in favor any old business any new business any board member requests for additional information open to the public as outlined for education bylaw 0167. Each state is made
by participants. Is she a second? Tony, all in favor? I oppose. See a motion to close the public. Cheryl, second by Stephanie. All in favor? I seek a motion to
adjourn. No. Seconded by Tony. All in favor? I oppos. Next meeting is August 27th. Thank you everyone.