Call to order. >> Mr. Alro, >> present. >> Miss Calder. >> Mr. Dosta >> present. >> Miss Ginger >> here. >> Mr. Lombardi >> here. >> Mr. Lo >> here. >> Vice President D >> here. President G >> here. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Board statements. In accordance with the provisions of the New Jersey open public
meetings law, the New Milford Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the daytime in place thereof posted in the Burough Hall and the New Milford Public Library. Notices have been sent to the record in the Twin Burough News. The board announces that under its long-standing policy, it will not
discuss in public any comments made by members of the public concerning individual staff members. At this time, please be advised that all cell phones and electronic devices are to be turned off. Meetings of the board are open to the public and all members of the community should should feel free to participate. Before before coming to the
board, the chain of command should be followed. There are two portions of the meeting reserved for comments from the public. The first at the beginning of the meeting for agenda items only and the second at the end of the meeting for other items. Issues raised by the public may or may not be responded to by the board for all comments will be
considered. The board requests that all members of the public be mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking due to confidentiality and legal rights afforded by the state of New Jersey. Members of the public are asked to not speak negatively or in a derogatory manner about any employee of
the board or any student. Okay. Recommended action. I seek a motion here. Okay. So, superintendent schools report. >> All right. Uh good evening everyone who's watching and who's in attendance tonight. Uh not much on this agenda
because we just had a board of education meeting I feel like very recently maybe a week and a half, two weeks ago. There are a couple standard things that we have to do. Um I want to talk about the graduation pathways report. So annually, every single year by September 30th, um
T school administrator has to record out on how our 2025 seniors graduate because there are multiple different pathways that students can use to graduate, not just pass a test and go. Um the three pathways are outlined in our board of policy 5460
um high school graduation, which allows students to prove proficiency in math and language arts in the following ways. One is to pass the NJ GPA, which is the statewide assessment. Um, number two, it pass an alternate approved assessment like the PSAT, SAT or um, ACT or
students engage in a portfolio appeals process or special education students can also graduate in an alternate assessment based on accommodation modifications in their IEP. So, we had 153 students graduate new Milford High School last year in 2025. Of those 153
graduates, 126 graduated using the NJ GPA. Two students graduated using the PSAT. 15 students graduated using the portfolio appeals process. 10 students met the alternate requirements as defined in their IEP. And zero students
were denied graduation because of failure to meet any of the aforementioned requirements. So that is the annual report that we have to give. Other items on the agenda that I'd like to discuss are the HIV report. Uh, so I'd like approval of the August
September 2025 HIV report. In New Milford High School, there is zero HIV 338 form submitted in DEEO. There was one HIV 338 form submitted that is currently being investigated in Berkeley. There were zero three HIV 338 form submitted and give the same zero
HIV 338 form submitted. I'd like you to turn your attention to the nursing services plan. So the nursing services plan is done every single year. last year and the year before we got approved in October. Um we tried to push the envelope a little bit but basically it was ready because we
got QAC last year and a couple of recommendations that we had to show and fix on the nursing plan which include more of the non-publiclix. I don't know if you realize Milford's very small but we have three nonpubliclix within our borders and we
have to work with them especially special services allowed as well transportation and everything else um with Miss Clar Dr. flu chart. We have to do a lot for the mouths. Um, all state reporting comes through us. We have to have meetings with them. The nursing
plan is one of those things as well. Um, we thought we had it ready to go, but I told the nurses not to rush it. We'll probably have the October agenda, not this agenda. Basically, because the state after we got everything where we wanted to with QAC just released a new form that they are recommending us use.
it is a lot more encompassing and so as they work through it um I want them to do it right the first way because in every of their subsequent year it's easier to just kind of look through it and make subtle changes so I want them doing it right the first way so it's not
ready by the regular year but that is why um resignations um two resignations uh we thank those people for their service uh one person in particular I'm going to talk more about at the regular session, but coach
coach Hartney is retiring from coaching. He was our indoor and outdoor track person and he coached for over 40 years um over 30 at least in New Milford. So, I'm going to find out specifics, but I want to give that guy a shout out. He is
not retiring from New Milford as a whole. He is still our voting substitute every day in the high school. And now he is heading up a new program we have for substitutes where our teachers are not calling for individual substitutes anymore when they're absent. We have coach Hartney and the SRO in the
cafeteria and all kids report there and they do their schoolwork there because we think they'll save you know over $100,000 in substitutes. Um that's one of the things you know Stephanie came up with um and trying to save money for the district and it's working really well right now and he is a drill sergeant so
he's holding everybody accountable. So, shout out to him. Um, also under athletics and co-curricular, I just like to thank the volunteer. We can always use help, especially when it's free, and it's a clear love and passion for the support they're helping out with. So, I appreciate it. A couple
other things uh that we're going to bring up. The China trip, this is a big discussion last year. I shared resources with you um last Friday. um they are meeting all of the new policy. So over the summer we redid the policy for field
trips including international field trips and they made the proposal the summer proceeding. Uh student safety has been looked at in terms of the travel advisory. Um there's a debate last year because the travel advisory was three. It is now a two and it's been a steady
two for a long time. Um they have cost estimates they have justification time and duration. Um, I think last year one of the issues that I had and why I ultimately didn't recommend it was because everything was happening so fast and I don't think our policy supported the vetting of the trip as well as we
should. This is a big trip and they got it to us very early. I've been watching China, reading about it. Um, the places that they're going are or tend to be very safe. Um, but there's also things that we wanted to be done prior to the trip that would have been very rushed.
So, you know, should we next meeting I'm probably going to recommend approval for it. Um, but under the stipulation that she meets the policy in terms of parent meetings with cost, I talked to Stephanie about insurance, which now I know. Um, I want
guarantees that if it does rise to a level three, I want in writing from the company that it can be canceled and um, money given back. But really the key is that the parents are aware and in the pro and part of the process so they understand understand the riskreward
involved in this, the expectation, the visas, the passports with the company and how insurance works and everything else should something happen, who goes out there. That all has to be done and I'd like to be a part of those meetings and in that meeting at least for the first time as we've been through it. Uh
we are lucky enough in talking to a couple board members last year, we cannot gloss over the fact that we have teachers who want to go on international trips and go on even national trips. That is something that is not in every school. And I can also guarantee going
to China to show these kids this experience and show them this culture does not happen in every school. And it's a balancing act of affording these kids this trip, supporting the teacher who it's not easier for her to go. I mean, I talked to her at length about it
and she's like, "Listen, this is not for me." She's like, "I go to China every summer. This is like for the kids because they work hard in Mandarin and they really want to see the culture." So, if everything is done the way it's supposed to be and it checks out, you know, I have no problem with it. So, uh
we'll give you ample time to think about it, ask me any questions, and then uh for regular session, I'll probably put it on the agenda because then that will give her time to advertise, get the parent meeting in, everything else. Okay. I think our policy now supports it. Um if you read the policy, it was
approved last uh month. Um, I think I shared the policy with you as well and it's it's just more thorough and it makes me feel better and I can now say, you know, the board's assets, we are protecting them because we are vetting it more properly and more thoroughly.
All right, that's that. Um, Stephanie, do you want me to talk about the committees? >> I'm no perfect, perfect, perfect. With that being said, I'll let uh Dr. Cuchar handle that. Um, any questions for me? All right, that's all. Thank you very
much. >> Okay. Um, assistant superintendent report, Lauren Gospa. Good evening, everyone. So, I was just going, we have a lot on the agenda for next week under Edward, the curriculum. So, I was going to talk you through some of these items beginning with C26.7.
We are seeking approval of the 2526 district um professional development plan and mentoring plan. We do these annually. They encompass our goal for the year as well as um they're really driven by first our identified needs. Um
there's a measurable goal and then what actions we'll take including um professional development and the work really that encompasses our our full year. Um the mentoring plan details um the work that our novice teachers engage
in. So those coming to us with help standards. So once hired they move into a provisional SE. This mentoring plan is required of them to attain the standard SER and it includes formal mentoring
with someone in the district acrewing um a certain number of hours and um really documenting the work that they're doing on an ongoing basis. We below that are approving those teachers with their mentors for the year. Um,
some of these are continuation because they were here with us last year. They're just finishing the 30 weeks that is required of them. Um, student teaching placements. I know last board meeting we had Miss Phenitzia on the
agenda for approval working with Mr. Peron as one of her mentors. So, NJXL actually requires two mentors. There's a school-based mentor and a supervisory mentor. So, um, Dr. Chris Amales will be serving as the
school-based mentor and I already talked to Lauren about some different opportunities that we can expose her to as part of this work. Um, we're also approving two new courses in the high school this year. One of them is Heritage Spanish 1 and Intro to Music
Theory. Music theory. Intro to music theory. Um, our existing course that we had prior to this school year was very comprehensive. Um so the curriculum was rewritten and we're now with um Miss Corilius on
board. We looked forward to launching that for students. The heritage Spanish one course is really a course tailored for students who already have some degree of exposure to Spanish at home um or in their communities. So, we have a
large Spanish speaking population and our language courses are really um traditional language courses in that we're not taking into account the uh exposure and experiences that students may come to us with. So, we're really
excited at launching this course to accommodate students who already come to us with that um proficiency in Spanish. And then also very exciting this evening, we're approving a number of option two experiences.
So this is C25263. These are students who are awarded alternate forms um of credit. So the state of New Jersey allows us to provide alternate experiences for
students outside of the traditional classroom. and it encompasses things like summer school, independent studies, internships, uh online coursework, which as you can see here is a big one, and alternate PE
or physical education option too. Um I just want to note with the physical education requirements, there is that 150 minute um requirement for students each week. We are verifying that students who belong to a team sport here
in New Milford are satisfying that requirement. So this frees them up during that time to pursue learning in other areas. Um a lot of the online courses that we're approving for these students is for advancement purposes um
or things that we don't offer here in New Milford such as some of the the language the language course that you see and um the science Finally, next week we have an ed program ed program and curriculum committee
meeting on the calendar and we're going to meet prior to our regular session on Tuesday and that concludes my report. >> Yeah, >> just regarding the last thing you mentioned. So what would the physical education option two what would that be? So that those are students who are
members of a team and um we have really so we're verifying through the coach that they're meeting the 150 minutes outside of the PE classroom and
then they are reporting to another location and pursuing whether I know these students particularly are enrolled in AP courses. So, they're dedicating that time to Okay. their >> course. >> Yeah. And they've had this in developer
for a long time. Um, and this is something that Emma Grady brought up at the last board event meeting before she left for the summer and she was just like they they'd really like to bring it back and take a look at it because maybe one or two kids were really doing it and it wasn't advertised. And I'll be honest
with you, they, you know, we worked on this. Yeah. >> This is definitely a communal effort. Mr. Rickadelli, Miss Sullivan, the guardian person, Mr. and myself um we really just tore apart the original version of it and we I'll be honest we made it a lot more strict. So you have
to have a certain rigor of courses. You have to report in you have to report by you know by monthly to the supervisor to make sure there if you are not where you're supposed to be two times you are out. This is not just a freebie time to walk around. These are set aside for times like promoting kids who are taking
very rigorous courses like two AP courses at a time or more where we feel like all right they're playing football or tennis they're getting a 150minute requirement let's help them on their journey to push themselves with that rigor um this is not for you know a
student who just wants to hang out and go on their phone this is this is not for that so they have to be vetted they have to sign in and I thank everybody who worked on it and I I think this plan is going to be a lot more sound and work and really be beneficial for the kids that's supposed to be serving, you know.
>> Yeah. The students refer to it as opting out of PE, which sounds like they're just not doing something, but actually they're participating in option two. So, they're, you know, taking advantage of still getting the credit for work that they do outside of the school day um in
this area, but then dedicating the time to their other studies. >> Yeah. need to offer too and they don't they can't opt out they call it of health like health is mandatory they have to go to health the only tricky part is the seasons don't match up with the marking periods so that is something
that we basically said okay after your season you're done you wait till the end of the mark period and then you go so it's a clean grade for the teachers as well because it has to be organized for the teachers >> um as well and grad >> we streamlined those dates and they were shared with the students
>> it's not it's Not something new. We just kind of >> cleaned it up, >> revamped it, cleaned it up. >> Is it an option for freshman, sophomore, juniors, or is it just >> Great question. Just just juniors and seniors right now >> because um we have again this for higher level courses, which is usually the
juniors and seniors anyway, but it's kind of like they've earned that privilege as well. We can trust them. We know who they are through the vetting process. So that all has to do with it. We want our younger kids um in gym in PE, you know, >> and we still want to make sure that
they're meeting their requirements in graduation. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> So, we think we did well. >> Y >> great team effort. >> Okay. Business administrator report. Stephanie, >> good evening. Um,
tonight is really going to be more of like the voice secretary piece because um, I would like for you all to consider I asked and spoke to Heather about this because um, we have an ad hoc public relations
committee, an ad hoc bylaws committee, and an ad hoc pilot housing committee. um which I don't think really ever meet. Um the h the pilot housing was sort of big and then
>> it's not Yeah. because they're they're moving forward with it and there's really no sort of no need to have it anymore. And the undertaking that we're going through with our transportation right now is sort of going to be very
large decisions with a large impact and a future impact for the district as well as the community as a whole. And so I think it's really important a lot of that work could be done in finance and facilities, but I think it's important to have a committee dedicated to
transportation just because of the direction that we intend to sort of go. Um, so I think that at this point we can eliminate the three ad hoc um, committees and maybe we even make it an ad hoc for now on transportation and see
how it goes before we really adopt it as a a full committee. But I think the work that's going to go into this is is sort of large and I don't necessarily think that it should be tucked into finance and facilities. Um
so at the regular session next week we can put up if you guys decide who's going to be a part of that committee we can revise the committee assignments for 25. You also um have a board vacancy to fill. So I don't know if you want to wait for that and then because you're
going to have to um Miss Ryan was a part of negotiations committee. You'll have to appoint somebody else to that committee. Um, so maybe that work is done after you appoint a new board member. Um, whatever you guys want to do. I just wanted to put that there for consideration.
>> I I definitely want to jump on that too. The transportation, we are making some big decisions all under statute, all under policy, nothing illegal obviously. Um, but we want you a committee part of those decisions to get the board of ed more involved because ultimately as we
go down this road to like be more cost savings, more efficient. Um, we need you to be very aware. Um, so I I would strongly recommend that. >> Um, and then with that, uh, Mr. Glo and I were talking about it's very difficult
to schedule committee meetings um, with all of your schedules. And so if we can have the chairs schedule a standing meeting every month and so it's on everybody's calendar and there's no need to meet, we can cancel it instead of trying to find a date to meet. Um
because I do think that's one of your board goals this year. >> It was something we discussed last year. I know Nicole brought it up and I think we need to really hold to it because just for everyone to know what their schedules are and when we're having these meetings >> and we can schedule them out, you know, for the rest of the year, you know, just
the third Tuesday is this and the ease of using Google meet now and everything like that. Um it makes it very easy for everyone at certain time in which we can plan around that or if you want them in person, you know, contact us can be before a meeting, right? before the work session meeting. We can meet instead of
meeting at, you know, seven, we can be here at 6:15, you know, that meet before because very rarely do we have close session before the work session unless, you know, HIV is involved or anything like that. So, it's just a consideration. Um, we think it would be a good idea to get those up there
because some of the hardest parts like Stephanie said is trying to wrangle everyone with their busy schedules um to get together. >> Yeah. Like I know a policy alert just came out. So like that's going to have some work. We're headed into budget season already. So like I think it's um
important negotiations. We have scheduled the opening. Like all these committees are going to have a lot of work. Um so I think it's just important to to get that on the schedule. So if the chairs of those committees can reach out and schedule those um with the each member of the committee, that would be
helpful. And then just let us know when when you guys decide. Um and now that's the board business side of it. Um for everything else, transportation
um is going starting and we're slow. We're getting a lot of complaints from a lot of people um and and we're working on it. usually as students are more comfortable with the stops and pickups, as the schools get more comfortable with
the buses. Um, but we know and we understand that everybody has been late. Um, and we're work we're working through that. The drivers and the bus aids have been great in sort of, you know, managing the the lateness and sometimes that creates behaviors, especially
because the majority of our transportation is with our specialized population. um to any sort of difference in their schedules. So, we have had some behaviors on the bus and all that has been is being addressed, but we do understand that that we that we're late
um on like three or four different routes. And that's really because when we put these routes out to bid, it cost us so much money. And so, all of our routes are at least triple tiered and some of them are doing five routes um before they're coming back. And so we've
really maxed out our buses and our transportation. We had inspections today and we passed all our buses but one. We have 30 days to correct that and all of our buses will remain on the road. Um
the food services at DEO and the high school. I think we're in day three or four of the service and right now our sales are up and everything is going smoothly. And the
first day of service at the elementary schools is Monday. Um, and that's going to be a little bit different and I'm sure that we'll meet with some challenges there because it's the first time that the elementarymentaries in a long time are not pre-ordering their meals. Um, the students are going to go
for a line. We printed IDs. they're not they're not really swiping the IDs. The um food service the Pontonium employees are going to do that. Um if we find that it's working and we may introduce the students swiping as they're going through the line because that'll
definitely speed it up. Um so we're going to work through that. That's beginning on Monday. >> Kindergarten is still pre-ordering. Correct. >> But one through five is not pre-ordering. So they're going to be like big boys and girls. And if mom needs them to have lunch and didn't have time to make it, they can go in that day
and they can get a lunch. Um, which just like the EEO, just like the high school, and just like the majority when we talked to Pmptonian, there's certain reasons why we have to do this um with Pmptonian to be more efficient. Um, he said the majority of schools, the majority of elementary schools do this.
The pre-ordering is is a lot a lot of work on the back end. Can I explain the parents notified elementary schools about this? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um there's also a big distinction to um an elementary lunch and a high school lunch. We it's called offer versus
serve. Um that the high school students have options um of what constitutes a meal. I'll bore you with the details of that. Um the elementary is sort of provided like a meal. there are some options if they want chicken fingers or pizza, but it's
really like a full meal. They're not able to select like a vegetable like the whole meal. Um, and so it's not really going to be they're going through the line just getting snacks. They have to get get a meal. Um, so I think that's
important. And then the one item under finance is F2526.31, which is a total of the 2526 budget calendar. Um we are actually going to start beginning the budget process um
now we're going to send it out time really starts going and yeah really starts in like December a lot of the work really picks up but the process starts now um so we're just seeking approval of the budget calendar for 25
for the actually it's the 26.7 budget we're in 2526 So that's a correction. That concludes my report for this evening. Does anyone have any questions for Stephanie? >> Question about their transportation. Feel like the traffic around here is
just going to be so ridiculous. And I don't know just dropping off buses, but I see some cones here and there. Is there any way for the town to do more of blocking off streets or do allowing cars in certain areas like buses like just to
kind of the air because I did the high school individual school drop off and just to get here and then get over there is like I go all the way around and I heard pick up going from high school to pick up at DEO that Madison to bull park
is brutal. Um it's on it's on our radar and believe it or not we've gotten a couple emails mostly stem from the middle school. Um we are going to work with officer Kasano um with the traffic guy to see what we
can do. Um many parents have offered their suggestions in terms of blocking off streets. We do not have any control over that. Um I was actually out at the back of DEEO morning wise perusing what was going on on Monday morning. I went there just because I was getting a couple emails and now I can go see for
myself and I was out there with you know Mr. Dawa like all right I I see what's going on now. I see how we can improve things maybe. Um but we have to with the police in order to do so. So, the the construction doesn't help that by by any means and hopefully that's over sooner
than later, but it is you're not you're not wrong. It's congested. Anyone else? Okay. Any lees on board committee reports? Any correspondents?
>> Okay. Agenda items for discussion. Review of board action. Does anyone have any questions or comments? No. Review of educational programs and curriculum. Review of personnel recommendations.
Review of finance and facilities. Review of athletics and co-curricular. Okay. Any old business? New business. I just wanted to mention for the public um we did have a board member stepped out. So we do have an
opening. If anyone wants to apply um please let us know. There's it's been posted um that's all I have to say on our website but also in the paper. >> Yeah. Okay. Open to the public as outlined in New Milford Board of Education bylaw
0167. Each statement made by a participant shall be limited to three minutes. I seek a motion to open. Stephanie, seconded by Tony. All in favor? >> Oppose. Anyone from the public? Okay. I seek a motion to close to the public. Andrew, seconded by Nicole. All in
favor? I >> oppose. Any board member requests for additional information. Okay. Close session. It is hereby moved that the board of education adjourn into executive session in accordance with the provision of section 8 of the open
public meetings act. >> Okay. For the purpose of discussion and consideration of matters pertaining to the following student matter, the minutes of the executive session will be made to the public when the need for confidentiality no longer exists. I seek a motion to close the courtel
>> and personnel. I didn't know that. I second a motion Stephanie second by John. All in favor opposed. We will not be seeking do any motion open. So thank you.