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any lecture put it on Google put it uploaded in a Google notebook and created a video to me which was kind of helpful but like >> good evening everyone I'd like to call this meeting to order this is the North Brunswick Township

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Board of Education our conference and regular public meeting today is Wednesday, July 29th. Could we please rise for the flag salute? >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Mr. Carter >> here, >> Mr. Sepa [clears throat] >> here. >> Miss James, Mr. Laori, [snorts] >> Dr. Patel, >> Mr. Singh. >> Yes. >> Miss SHA,

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>> Miss Toth >> here, >> and Mr. W >> here. >> We do have a quorum. >> Thank you. The New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests is discussed

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or acted upon. In accordance with the open public meetings law, the public notice of this meeting, which included the time, date, and location, was distributed by 300 PM on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026 in the following manner. Posted on the bulletin board

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reserved for announcements in the board office 25 Lynwood Place, North Brunswick. Mailed to the Home News Tribune, Starledger, NJ.com, and the clerk of the township of North Brunswick. Delivered to the nine duly elected board members. And beginning

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March 1st, 2026, all future board meeting notices shall be published on the board's official website, www.nbtschools.org, and be made available through the New Jersey Secretary of State's official website in lie of publication in a

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newspaper in accordance with PL2025C. 72. Happy summer everyone. It's nice to have a full audience in the summer. It's great to see everyone. Great to see uh members of Dr. Zakowsk's cabinet here

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and some of the members of the central office staff um in uh Dr. Zakowski and uh Miss Kea's wing. It's good to see you all here tonight. Um so we have a couple of presentations that we uh will get to. Uh but before we do that, I'll turn it

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over to Dr. Zakowski. >> Thank you, Madam President. It really is good to see everyone here in person, but this you know, Madam President, they always watch. So, we have millions of viewers. I also want to welcome the millions of viewers from our TV land. And so, if they can't watch it, I know

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they tape it on YouTube and [laughter] we're so very big night. >> In fact, I think our ratings will go up. Not because it will be someone's last reporting period, but I think because it is her last reporting period. Uh, as you

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know, under the the responsibility of the assistant superintendent for HR, some of the uh important work that Miss Kea did besides everything that the superintendent didn't want to do is uh the violence and vandalism report. And she's going to segue into

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her one of her with her replacement. So it's, you know, her understudy. And so without further ado, her last annual report on the violence and vandals of period 2 2526, Miss Amy Kea and her understudy, Miss

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Jen Ashantino. [applause] Okay. Good evening everyone. Thank you very much. Um I did tell Mrs. Ashettino who is our uh new director of future ready programs, technology and school safety. Um that you know she's free to

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change this next year. I used the emoji lady because it kind of looked like me. Um but feel free to to change that up. So, we are here tonight to present by state law, which appears on pages 27 through 29 of tonight's board agenda for

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reporting period 2, uh, the annual violence and vandalism presentation. Um, so we will go to the next slide. I I can click. Yeah. >> Okay. So, this is the table that appears. Um for anyone who is not familiar with this, we did we do have to

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report period uh reporting period 1 by state law is actually July 1st through December 31st. Um even though we are not technically in full school in July and August. We do report uh that's the reporting period one by the state and

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reporting period two is January through uh the end of June. we are required to compare it to the previous year. Um, and you will see a couple things that we in in North Brunswick take our presentation a little step further to provide context uh just to the numbers because the

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numbers by themselves um you know do need you know some explanation. Um again by state law we are required to uh compare it to last year's reporting period too but we will also give you highlights from the total year in general because that really is is what

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uh speaks to uh our school year in terms of incidents whether it was HIV related other incidents leading to removal such as tardy cutting class uh insubordinate behavior HIV alleged um those that were

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unfounded um HIV ES or HIV trainings and HIV programs. So for reporting period 2 of the 94 incidents uh from January through uh the end of June as defined by the NJ DOE, you should know that 38 of those

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were uh HIV confirmed HIV. We did do again as we usually do more we provide a little bit more context for you and primarily the majority of those were teasing in nature mostly from the elementary level. Less than 10 though of

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that total number involved social media. And actually, we're pleased to say that there were no repeat offenders um in reporting period 2 or from reporting period 1 either. So for the total school year, we did not have any repeat confirmed offenders. Um you know, we of

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course would love these numbers to be zero. Um but you know, we are pleased with progress that we are making in our schools. Um 18 submitted HIV claims, as I mentioned, that's what that number is. were unfounded or what the state calls alleged. Um, and under state law, we do

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provide supports for both offenders and victims. Uh, and that continues to be overseen by our instructional deans and our school counselors in each building. For the school year in review, uh, we saw a 22% reduction in other student

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incidents. Um we had 881 total this year representing a decrease from over a thousand incidents uh reported from the prior school year. Um we also saw an 18% reduction in the primary student incidents. Uh again representing a decrease. We still were a

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little bit over a thousand but as you can see we did see a couple hundred de incidents decrease from the prior school year. That's the category that includes the HIV confirmed. Um, and again, in terms of our HIV,

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uh, cases this year, um, we did have two schools that had no HIV cases at all, whether it was alleged or unfounded. Um, and that was LP and the ECC, uh, Mrs. Kerianne Egan, who is our anti-bullying

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specialist for preschool. Um, yes, we are required by law to have one for preschool. Um, so great job there. But we we uh one of the things as I mentioned on the prior slide um and one of you know something obviously that we know is coming down from the state the

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cell phone ban completely with a decrease in having phones in the classroom that students have all the time. We do attribute a lot of that to some of that decrease in social media uh HIV claims. Um HIV claims are reviewed to determine if an investigation should

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or should not proceed. that is that was updated by the state several years ago and we are required to report it is um on page 28 of your agenda that 15 submitted HIV claims were prelim preliminarily determined as not

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proceeding um the school the principal and then myself and the superintendent uh do have to agree to that and a lot some of the claims on its surface uh are pure conflict and so they they adjust it and go by school conduct code for those.

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Um, again, as I said, there are claims that are found to be outside the scope of HIV. Alleged HIV reports remain consistent overall with 30 uh this year compared to 31 the year before. So,

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that um I'm not going to read everything here to you. Um, but I do like to provide examples of consequences, examples of remedial measures. Uh this presentation as with each one will be provided on our anti-bullying uh web page on our website after tonight's

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meeting. Um but these are some of the uh examples that uh our school take take place in our school. One of the things you noticed is that our trainings in our programs and and reporting period 2 this year as compared to last year were lower. That is because

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we frontloaded most of them this year in reporting period one. And also a lot of the trainings that are offered outside the district by the law center uh in particular by FEA our we have our deans we didn't have any new ones this past

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year. Um and they once they go to one of these state trainings they won't let them sign up again for the same one because they already took it. Um, so you'll see on the next slide, uh, a couple slides that we also did a lot in district. Um, although they don't count for the state numbers, that doesn't mean

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that we're not going to hold our own either. So these are some of the other trainings in district related to student behaviors during period reporting period 2. Most of which were actually offered by our own administrators um that not only administrators took a part of but also

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staff. Same thing. These were ones that were out of district supported by the board. Thank you very much. Um that uh primarily our deans and counselors attended. And then last we are required to show you the HIV programs. Um they are listed

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uh on tonight's uh agenda as well. Again the middle the elementary they consider prek through sixth grade. That's why that list looks so extensive. Um and again you can see from the middle school and the high school as well. our HIV or anti-bullying uh information

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page, which is now overseen by Miss Ashettino, um still includes all of our HIV resources, uh links for parents, links for staff, um and as of now, she is the official anti-bullying

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coordinator. I pass the torch to her. I know you will do a great job and it's okay. Great. Um, any questions from the board >> for you or for [laughter]

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>> I will say she Jen Jen sat right alongside me when you know I put them I put it this together. We went over it. She asked questions. We looked at um you know how things are coordinated between my office, the deans um and the school.

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So, uh, I know you'll you'll do a great job when you have to report out next February for reporting period one. >> Thank you very much. Ma'am, >> I had a question. So, Mr. Sing, >> do we have uh any type of comparison between us and other schools in the county or in the state or this? >> No, we'd have to go to their board

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minutes to see. We're not they're not we're not readily given that information. >> So, they're not they're not publicly published like there's not like a database where you Okay, understood. Well, the reports will be on the state website. Sure. But you would have to

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grip. >> Yes. And they don't give you what they call their report card till the next year. Gotcha. >> So, we won't you will not see 2526 >> probably on our website till late December. >> Okay. Much like the state scores that we

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get. So, they're always a little behind the times, but they will be there. >> Great. Thanks, I just like to take the opportunity to thank you for doing this presentation and also for all of the care and the time that you took in transitioning me

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into this role. Um it's tiny huge shoes to fill [laughter] and I want to thank the board also for the opportunity for this new role. I'm very excited to serve the community in this way and looking forward to working with you and the other members.

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>> Well, we're so excited for you, Jen. Thank you so much. Congratulations on your last uh hip. It still seems unreal to see my name on this slide, but I'm sure it's fantastic for you. So, [laughter] congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. >> And the goal is to zero. >> That's [laughter]

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working on it. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] mic. >> Madame President, we're also uh graced with the presence of Mr. Neller from the high school and I believe uh are you

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going to share with him uh today, Miss Chang? >> I'm morally supporting him >> morally. He >> says he took off. >> Okay. All right. >> I don't know if Mr. Nella needs any introduction. our principal from the high [laughter] school. >> But we do have millions of uh viewers.

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>> Absolutely. >> Good evening. Um and thank you for asking me to come tonight to speak about um our graduation rate and our AP test scores. Um last year uh last summer I had the opportunity to present this. Um and I think you'll be equally as

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impressed if not more um with what I'm going to share tonight. Um, usually this data starts to come out um once the school year ends. I received the AP test scores and usually in the middle of July. Um, the graduation rate

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I am estimating. Hope I think I'm accurate. Um, last year I was a couple percentage points off. Um, but that rate doesn't actually come out until September 1st. Um, because we have until August 31st to submit any summer grads.

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We don't have any members of the class of 2026 currently working towards a diploma. Every eligible senior has already completed um their diploma requirements. Um so as I shared last year uh in 2011 the state of New Jersey adjusted the way

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they determined the graduation rate. Um so they use a 4-year and a 5-year cohort. So for the class of 2026 when they entered the high school four years ago it was the number of students entering the high school that we were

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judged on for our graduation rate and that number was 467. Once they enter the high school they become our responsibility. Um and some students transfer unfortunately some students make the decision not to continue schooling. Um we have uh a

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cohort of students every year, special education students that uh go on to our they don't officially graduate from the high school because they go into our 18 to 21 year old program which by state law we are allowed to give them that extra years of schooling. But if we do

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that, the state then punishes us by counting them against our graduation rate. I would love to say I I [laughter] got to get that fixed before I gra I retire, but we'll see. Um it's been like that for since 2011. Um

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and then after 5 years, they do go back and look and see if any additional students graduated and they will adjust our rate after year five also. Right. So for you can see uh going back

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to 2023 our graduation rate um was 95%. The last two years it's been around 94%. [cough] [clears throat] Um this year my estimate is of that 467 students. Um we will have a 93.8%

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graduation rate. Um we have 10 students going to 18 to 21. Um, we did have 10 students unfortunately that are listed as dropout, meaning they made the decision or their family made the decision for them to pursue work or

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something else besides school or they went to a program that didn't that the state doesn't necessarily rec recognize as a school. So, there are some training programs out there that kids will go to that the state does not count them as schooling and therefore they can't they

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still count against their graduation rate even though they're they're going into employment or a trade. Um, we did have nine unverified students this year, which means those students for one reason or another left our district were supposed to enroll in another district.

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However, the state is saying they didn't. So, we always try to track those kids down. Um, so right now we have three that uh we will appeal, but we can't appeal it until after August 31st.

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Um, two of those students we believe uh you know have enrolled in other schools and I'm not sure why. Sometimes the schools don't uh enroll them the right way >> um and then they still count against us. So hopefully we'll be able to appeal and then that would increase our rate um to

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94%. All right. So that is our graduation rate for the class of 2026 AP test scores. So advanced placement exams are college level tests administered by the college board. um the same makers of the SAT. Um

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they're given to students who take AP classes at the high school, which we have over 20 uh AP classes currently at the high school. They're rigorous. They're meant to be college level exams that will measure uh the students ability to perform on the college level.

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Um in the in those type of classes, um colleges will determine whether or not to provide credit to students. They are scored on a scale of one to to five. Three is considered they call it qualify but it's the passing the metric for a

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passing score. So three to five is passing generally four to five is where colleges will consider giving uh college credit to a student. So where did our students excel uh this school year? Um they excelled in AP

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biology where 100% of them scored a three or better. um they excelled in computer science A and computer science principles. Computer science A 100% of the students received a three or better um 87% in computer science principles in

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calculus BC 91.4% 4% of students passed n if you take into consideration the AB subcore which is basically the first part of the calculus BC exam covers the material um from calculus AB so they ret

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um they take the first part of their exam covers those principles uh 97% of the students pass that section of the exam uh AP chemistry um Dr. Riley got 100% passing for her students.

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>> I think it's sort of your adoption. [applause] I didn't look back before. I I was wondering [laughter] you would be >> I know you always count our English language and composition. 90.7% of students passed. Uh pre-calcu

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AP pre-calculus. This is only the third year uh we're offering that course. Um 100% passing. >> Wow. Wow. >> Uh, AP Physics 1 was 90, sorry, my eyes are going a little bit, 95%.

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And physics C was 87.5% passing. Uh, Spanish language and culture was 91.3. Um, and then AP US history had a 95.2% passing rate and AP World History Modern was 87.5.

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Um, so our kids really did very well on the exams this year. Um, last year I stood in front of you and said we had a 78% passing rate, which is excellent. This year 85% of our students received a three or better.

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>> WOW. [applause] >> This year we had more AP students taking tests. All right. Last year we had 342 AP students. This year we have 358 AP students. They took 19 more exams in

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total than they did the previous year. Um and I'm excited to tell you that they increased in the number of students receiving a four or better by 1% to 30 from 32 to 33. However, the number of students

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receiving a five, which is the highest score you can receive, increased from 17% to 26%. >> Wow. >> And not only um did the the students perform well in passing, but on the last graphic I can show you that in Dr.

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O'Reilly's class, for example, 100% of her students received a four or five on the exam. AP biology 88%, world history modern was 88%, US history was 86% and pre-calculus was

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80%. Um, overall we had uh 20 about 30% almost a third of the senior class, 467 students took an AP exam while in high school and passed with a three or higher. Um, and we had 153 students that

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were recognized this year as AP scholars, meaning they received P not only received passing scores, but in many cases took multiple AP tests while they were in high school. Um so each year uh spring in academic recognition night uh we're unable to recognize the

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graduating seniors. So we will send um certificates to their homes but we will recognize the current juniors who are rising seniors at academic recognition night next year. So I'm very excited about that. So thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hold on. Mike

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Eller um that academic recognition I remember it well. I think I closed for that. [laughter] Um >> I changed the script. >> Yes. But I just want to um say first of kudos to you, Dr. O'Reilly. You know, the numbers speak loud and clear and the

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magic continues. >> I don't know if people realize the the the scoring is done by against a national norm. What's universities will give credit because it's not grade inflated where they worry about local grade inflation rules. an AP I mean a

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honors class maybe 4.5 on a 4.0 scale for GPA whereas AP they level it in college board trains uh scores and it's on a national norm and it's compared so to get four or five on 100% of your

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students that's that's magical and and we thank you for all of your work and going above and beyond because it doesn't happen by accident and we don't believe in coincidences so not only Dr. all the staff that they're dedicated, but since Dr. O'Reilly is here, the magic continues. And thank you, Dr.

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O'Reilly, for that. SO [applause] >> also uh Mike uh many years ago when you first became principal we endeavored to increase not only selection we became a um honorroll a college board honor roll AP district or high school because of

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your work and your team's work because we increase the number of courses plus the number of students and [clears throat] I want to segue into and thanking this board as we had our retreat the other night and we talked about how does a board contribute ute to some of these initiatives that we

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execute, the administrators execute, the teachers, the staff execute at the high school. You pass a few years ago a I think a very u equitable um budgetary uh initiative that every student who takes

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an AP course the board pays for. >> And why is that important? They're very expensive. And we found out students were not able to afford and would not take a course. So in addition to paying for the PSATs, the board budgeted and

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paid for every single AP test. So every child wouldn't be fearful of, you know, I don't put that financial burden on my family. >> Test cost about $90. >> $90. So if you have four tests, you're asking someone for three. So and we will not allow and and you will lose credit,

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not credit, but ranking if you take a course and you don't require students to take that test. uh because then they don't have any way to calibrate it on this national norm. So I do want to thank the board. I want to thank Mike for executing Mr. Neller for executing that plan. It started many years ago and

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we also started a few years ago probably 10 years ago a entry to AP courses for firsttime students that uh you just to get students to increase the uh those who would may never take a course or if they did decide to take an AP course

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they weren't shocked. So I I again executing the initiatives. Thank you board for supporting those initiatives because that's equity and practice. Everyone talks a great game. What is fairness? I just wanted to highlight that for the community that uh is truly

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equity and practice utilizing funding to make sure every child had an opportunity to uh take a test national test like AP in a course and receive credit for it and maybe utilize it going on to university. So again, thank you Mr. Nell and thank you board of education.

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>> Thank you um to the board for always for your support. Like Dr. Zakowski said, um you know, it's great that we never have to worry about um how a kid's going to pay for a test. Um and also the fact that we're able every year um in October to provide every student at the high

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school with the opportunity to take the PSATs, which once they get to their junior year, that increases their chances of earning national scholarships. So thank you. Yeah, I just wanted to say, Mr. Neller, um I obviously we had the time to spend some time together last week at the Capturing

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Kids Hearts training and it's just so evident how much you care about the district and how much you care about the students, especially at the high school. And kind of piggybacking off of what uh Dr. Zakowski said at our board retreat last week, you know, we talked about how

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can we get this message out there? There's there's so much good happening in our district and unfortunately, you know, you hear, you know, people saying certain things on social media and it's it's definitely unfortunate, right? But I think the thing that we really focused on most was there's so much good going

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on in our district. How do we get that word out there as a board? And that's something that this board is taking a very concerted effort going forward this next year. But more importantly, yes, it's great. you know, we pay for the tests and and getting, you know, we appreciate the recognition of that with

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the PSATs and everything, but what's more important is these numbers. These are the numbers that we should be celebrating and getting the word out to our parents, our families, the community itself. Um, because there's so much good happening. Um, and again, staff members

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like Dr. O'Reilly should be celebrated for what they're doing on a on a daily basis for our kids because not only are you getting them college ready, but you're getting them life ready and that's what's most important. So, thank you. >> Great. Thank you, >> Mr. Noah. I have a question for you. I

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heard the number 358. Was that the amount of kids who took AP classes? >> No, that Yeah, the number of students who were in at least one AP class. >> At least in one. So out of the 467 358 >> well 467 was our senior class.

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>> Okay. Sorry. Okay. So combination. >> Most of our AP students are juniors. >> Um there are a couple AP classes that are open to freshman and sophomores. The majority are the upper grades. >> Okay. So when they take them >> my follow-up question was going to be

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how do we prepare ourselves? I know you said you just mentioned that freshman's available to freshmen. Is there anything that we could do to ensure that, you know, maybe you could start some sort of program in middle school so they start, you know, takes them a year to gear up by the time they're juniors to actually take those classes? Is there any way we

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could do so we increase that number? Cuz I mean, if these numbers are higher, the district looks great, right? >> So, is there anything that we could possibly do? >> No, I definitely think um one of the things we're doing next year, we're going to be offering AP physics to freshmen. Okay. >> Um who are taking honors physics as a

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middle school. So that's the beginning of a way to try to [snorts] really get first of all expose kids to AP classes earlier in high school. >> Um but also to start preparing them earlier. >> I do want to say uh Mr. Singh and it's absolutely a great uh thought and

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strategy. Uh as you know yesterday's high schools today's middle school and algebra 1 never was taught at the middle school I mean at the high school middle school level. It was always the first math class at the high school to get students able to take AP courses. The

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increase of high school level courses at the middle school has been increasing. Our newest director of curriculum is sitting right here. And I know she her commitment to increase that rigor at the middle school in preparation and not only in preparation for that nth grade.

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We've had uh numerous discussions with Mr. Neller and the cabinet on how we make that ninth grade year that pivotal year um and as the principles that instructional leader to to ensure that pathway is not compromised because nth

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grade is that I think pivotal year and and so you don't start in nth grade we have to continue work at that eighth grade level increase those uh rigorous opportunities which in design of that new middle school which is why it's no longer called Lynwood school it's an

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extension of our high school. Um, and so 7 8th grade exactly the uh initiative of making students allowing students to have the opportunity to be ready to go and take things like freshman physics

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AP. Think about that and we I can't wait to see those numbers because >> all these numbers are a reflection of that uh dialogue between middle school and high school and preparation. It just doesn't happen in a silo and in one year. So um I mean we know Dr. O'Reilly

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executes it and gets it done at the end but students have to come prepared. So your thought about continuing that rigor and opportunities in middle school is certainly on our our front burner >> as we talk to our principles and instructional leadership instructional goals that we need to continue that

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pathway because there's challenges out there. Recently there was a press release about AP scores in in the charter schools. The press release was very inaccurate um in in a lot of ways, but I'm not here to bash another school. Uh it was done by a third party, which

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is smart because then it can't come back to the inaccuracies to this charter school, but it was inaccurate. So rest assure to Miss um Toth's point, we'll we'll get a press release out with these scores and and some of the great things, but I think Miss To was talking about a

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continuous systemic way and I I do want to talk I will talk about it in my report, >> how we're going to address it as just one part of um engagement of this great news and not only the great news, how do we keep that out there. Um, so >> I do I do think if I could just say real

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>> I need to take a break either. [laughter] >> I think Real Share is a great way to kind of get the news out. Um I don't know why but I get all the scaways like oh >> you know their posts and so once I think you have that that algorithm I you can

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see everything and I think it it's a great way I know we started it last year and I hope you know we're going to continue it this year but I think that's a great way of post you know showing what's going on in the schools >> but there's more to come on that because uh I want to report out on our board

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retreat uh our second year together and and our our laser focus on strategically thinking about community engagement, stakeholder engagement as we uh talk about strategic planning but not as a document but as a course of uh action

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and that second year is important because year one as I returned as a freshman um an older freshman uh it was really a look and see how things were going, what we needed to tweak and what was our return. And so we really had a productive uh I think a board retreat

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and more to come. It's not a oneshot deal. We'll we'll do more in August and then through the school year as a board. So, as a governance structure, we can support those concepts, ideas, and exactly how do we make sure that all these great accomplishments, people not only know about it, they have an

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opportunity to uh appreciate it and and have input into how we go forward. So, again, thank you, Mr. Neller. And any other comments from the board? >> I actually wanted Oh, I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> I actually wanted to say I This is not for Mr. Neller though, but our other administrators like you know people who

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are handling a middle schooler um a lot of the kids that I've spoken to a lot of them don't even know about AP courses or these higher courses and especially their parents don't. We're a very we're a melting pot of a community, right? And people coming from all different types of walks of life, different cultures, different religions, different

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backgrounds. I don't know if we could set in place where come seventh grade, we could start teaching the parents, educating the parents that, hey, your child has an opportunity to accelerate and kind of, you know, they work amongst their own selves at home to kind of like, you know, push the child to

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accelerate a little bit more. So, I I know there's people out there that don't even know these things exist. Some students don't even know until they get into like sophomore year. They're like, "Oh man, I could have done better to get into AP." But they're not. >> We're definitely starting to do that. Um like our science supervisor uh this year for the second year in a row, we did a

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see yourself in STEM night. See yourself in STEM night. [snorts] >> Um which was a parent program uh where high school STEM students presented on the topics that they're learning about and it was an opportunity and she invites families all the way down to sixth grade.

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>> Perfect. Great. to the high school and we got a couple hundred people. So I think we're definitely starting to do some of this much to Mr. Nell maybe he we have promoted uh Mr. uh Farrell to a K12. And one of the initiatives we asked

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them to do is kind of take a look at that um linear way of education, not that that transition, those key points and how we can utilize those counselors in schools to get the message out to those parents

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at that age. Say seventh grade, sixth to seventh. Now we have a fourth to fifth, >> right? So um and I say much grant because Mr. Farrell was 9 to 12 and he knows as an excellent high school uh uh chair of uh the guidance department. He

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knows what it takes and how these students need what they need. So it's appropriate choice that he's now able to go and he's just starting in his role. But one of his key initiatives will be to kind of unify and make sure that uh

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that journey is not only uh advertised but and and students know about but the families know about what is out there. And so he's going to kind of be the glue with the uh because we have counselors in our elementary different roles. We have counselors at the intermediate,

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middle school and high school and all have different roles and but there is a common purpose in that ven diagram that overlaps which is to get the message to the community get to families of what's available and what they can do if they stay in the course. So um we do know

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you're going to lose a a full-time director of guidance from 9 to 12, but I I think >> you'll get more help and we'll [clears throat] certainly >> do a great job. Yeah, I think he'll do a great district. [laughter] >> And we thank you for that. >> Yes, >> thank you.

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>> One thing real quick, I think, you know, as we talk about these numbers, um I think it's a great way to remind our parents about like when we talk about the ROI of of the APS and what the board has invested into these students is that there is a real monetary uh advantage to

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our students who have scored, you know, four or five in those tests when they go to college. And I think that's something that people sometimes forget. Um, but it really is such a huge I mean, come on, [snorts] look at that. 100% for chemistry. It's awesome. >> You know, it's and I, you know, I've had

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kids go through that as well and be able to score it and skip >> um and save a ton of money. So, it's really important. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. We're also I don't [laughter] >> last year when we uh initiated the uh

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the uh dual enrollment program at TCJ, most of the classes the majority of the classes that they um that students can earn college credit for are AP classes. >> Wow. >> Um so we're going to continue that work this year as well. >> That's great. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Thank you, M. >> Congratulations, Mr. Miller and your team. I may have done a little >> microphone, please. We got millions of viewers. So, thank you. >> Congratulations. >> Introduce yourself. >> Oh, Mrs. Chang, director of curriculum and instruction. Okay.

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>> Um, congratulations, Mike. I may have done a [clears throat] happy dance when we were done calculating the numbers, but what I wanted to say to the board was that our district has been presenting graduation rates for many years due to Mrs. Kea's diligence. It has never been a requirement. Um, it's just something that we do to be transparent, but my understanding is

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that, um, in the coming year we will be required. So if that rate that Mr. Neller presented, that estimated rate changes, he or I will um be sure to publicly um update you with an accurate rate as it will be a state requirement that it be presented to the board

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publicly. Um usually they would have accepted a board committee um announcement on graduation rates. So thank you Mrs. Kea for starting that many years ago and now everybody's going to have to do it and we're already ahead of the game. So, I'm hoping that like Mike said, it goes up to a 94% with his

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few appeals. >> Definitely. >> Thank you, Mrs. Chang. >> Thank you. >> No problem. >> All right. >> Wow. Two great uh presentations. >> Yes, >> Madam President. I know you um know this is our Did you I know you might have

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heard the rumor that our assistant will be retiring. >> Yes, I heard that rumor. >> I know you wanted to say a few things before that. So, and because we have some people here that you know, so I would recommend that uh we do a you do your uh presentation to us as

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superintendent and then maybe I'll ask for a motion for a fivem minute break and we could you know um sure >> kind of say hi to the audience and maybe Amy could say hi to the folks in the in to see her last meeting. >> Absolutely. >> So um >> I think I'll turn it over to you.

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>> Thank you so much. Well, I wanted to take a minute uh for uh Mrs. Kea Amy's last meeting um as board president to just say a couple of words and then of course our board can you know chime in as well um but I prepared something. So

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um there are some people whose impact can't be measured by a title or the number of years they've served and to me Amy you're one of those people. When people think about your career, they'll remember the titles, the accomplishments, and the incredible 25

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years you dedicated to North Brunswick. They'll remember that you once were a student in this district, and you chose to come back and serve the community that helped shape you in your high school years and ultimately became our assistant superintendent. That kind of full circle journey is remarkable and

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something so many people aspire to. But that's not what I'll remember most. I'll remember the person. I remember knowing you as Miss Rumbo when I was a student in the district and now years later having the priv privilege of serving alongside you as board president. It's

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crazy. Really crazy to think about. Looking back, it's amazing to think about how our paths come came full full circle. Throughout every role you've had, you've had the way of making people feel seen, valued, and cared for. Over the years, you've become so much more

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than someone I just worked with or someone [snorts] that was my friend's teacher. You've become a dear friend. Thank you for always being someone I could count on. For your kindness, your encouragement, your wisdom, and the quiet way you've always made those feel around you supported. You lead with

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compassion, humility, and grace. You make difficult decisions with heart, celebrate others before yourself, and remind all of us that leadership is ultimately about people. While I'm incredibly sad to see you go, I couldn't be happier for you. Retirement at such a

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young age is such an exciting new chapter, and it is one that you most have that you most have earned. I hope it's f fulfilled and filled with joy, new adventures, and all the happiness you spent the last 25 years helping create for everyone else here in North

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Brunswick. On behalf of the board of ed, and from me personally, we thank you so much. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to North Brunswick, for the countless lives you've touched, and for being someone I've always admired and looked up to. You left this district

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better than you found it. Your legacy will live on through the people you've mentored, the students you've inspired, and the example you've set for all of us. Congratulations on an extraordinary career. We'll miss you dearly, but we are all so excited on what's ahead for you, and we know that this is not

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goodbye. Let's see you later. [applause] >> Would anyone else from the board like to say [laughter] >> um Yeah. >> Oh, well. >> Yes. >> I just wanted to make one editorial note. [laughter] >> You said, "Look up to Amy."

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>> Yes. >> Figuratively. [laughter] >> Well, thank you. >> Oh, okay. I can do this. Um, thank you so much, uh, President Toth. It has been an absolute honor to serve this district for the past 25 years. Um, like you

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said, I was a student here. I taught here. my uh whole careers here, friendships, uh my mentors. It has just been wonderful. Um it has been a pleasure to work with all of you, both past and present board members, my colleagues who are here tonight. Thank

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you so much. Um Dr. Zakowski, you saw something in me in the classroom and you challenged me. You provided so many wonderful opportunities for me. I would not be here today without your guidance and your leadership. I truly appreciate

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uh everything that we've built together uh over the years and um I could not be happier to go out uh on a great note. Um but I hope you all know just how much

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you all mean to me and how this decision was not easy. Um and but I am just so blessed to know all of you and have worked with you so closely. And just before I cry again, um, thank you all so

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much. It has been the journey of a lifetime and one that I will take with me forever. And I promise my my parents live close by. Um, they're probably wa they may be watching. Um, I I will not be far. Um, you are all family uh, first and foremost. And I will treasure that

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always. [snorts] >> Thank you. >> I love you, Amy. [applause] >> You think we need a little recess. >> We'll take a quick recess if we could have a motion. >> A motion. >> Can I have a motion to take a quick recess? >> Thank [laughter] you. >> We just need a second.

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>> All in favor? Anyone opposed? We can take a break. Okay, great. >> Yeah, definitely. Okay. >> Um, >> no, you just say I need a motion. >> Okay. >> All right, everyone.

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>> Thank you for that nice break. Mr. Wen, would you um make the motion to return to open? >> Uh, so moved. >> Second. >> All in favor? Anyone opposed? We're back in session. >> I can't oppose. We got to come back in session. We got [laughter] to >> have much to attend to.

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>> Madam President, may I just take the mic for a little bit again? We we know. Thank you. Uh Miss Kea, I think we summed it all up. Just people coming out on a on an evening. Uh your your retirement dinner. It's hard to believe retirement dinner, right? But was well it's so well attended and so

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much uh appreciation and respect. I do want to talk a little bit about post Amy because part of when Amy was leaving uh as you know districts have faced many challenges throughout the um year with fiscal restraints and fiscal

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cutbacks. You've read I don't have to repeat [snorts] the number of districts that 10 million 13 million 14 million in our middle sex county in the whole financial red. Um, we're very fortunate that we were not in the red and we were able to maintain the entire staff that

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we wanted to keep. So, not one cut, unnecessary cut, but there was some challenges and some creativity. And one of the creativity was that we all have to do more with less. So, with Amy leaving, currently we uh will not be

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replacing at this moment the assistant superintendent. And you will see that we moved some people around to do some of the extra work. We got some extra funding for from the state with uh our preschool grant. I just want to introduce uh because the net of it all was that we were able to save a few jobs

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with central office kind of overlapping changing doing some more work. Uh Miss uh Ashentino coming join the team to pick up parts of the assistant superintendent job and the hiring of an interim HR person and which I'm going to get to in a minute. So w with the

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board's um you know allow me a little bit of uh some leeway here to divert from our normal agenda which we have uh some work to do yet but I just want to introduce and I'll start with uh Miss Egan Carrie Egan. People say her last

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name is Ragavas, but Egan, she's our new 12-month uh supervisor of preschool partnerships and uh she was a 10-month. Uh we got increased through her hard work and and the preschool team and the director of pupil personnel services and

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and uh Mr. passenger they are our allocation increased and we were able to have uh Kerianne uh receive that promotion to continue to do the work of the requirements of the grant uh it is very prescriptive but we have full day

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preschool Amy was here from the beginning when we first started with 20% of preschool 20% of the universe they called it 40% now we're fully subscribed um but I just want to introduce she will have a new role not just the curriculum but also our public partnerships which

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is a big part of the uh federal grant and I mean statewide grant. So Miss Ragavas I know they call you to me it's Kianne Egan but we'll say Ragavas for now. Yeah. >> I just wanted to take a moment to thank uh the board of education Dr. Zakowski and even our cabinet members for

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supporting me um in this role. I started in 2005 um in preschool here in district. So that's really what I know. So don't put me in high school science. [laughter] >> We have that covered. you see the scores. >> It wouldn't be that if I was there.

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[laughter] Um, but I've even been the teacher of some of um, you know, our board members um, kiddos. So, I just wanted to thank you for your support and um, I'm honored and proud to continue to serve our youngest um, little learners and their families and our district. >> Thank you.

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>> Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] Also, somebody was here uh replacing we had recently um had to uh a few retirements in Parsons. So, the Miss Nicole Jakuna moved from Lynwood um as

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the dean to the director of elementary instruction at Parsons. So, we needed a new administrative dean here at uh Lynwood School, Intermediate School. I only know her as Nicole Stewart. They told me she has a new last name, too. [laughter] Uh so,

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>> is it Stewart? Okay. I know it's Lour, right? It's Lator. Okay. I have to say Nicole. Nicole Stewart. Lour. Nicole, I know you were hired already, but it's nice you to come out. She was on vacation last meeting when we hire we did the promotion. So, I know she wanted to say a few words. You got 45 minutes.

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Go ahead. [laughter] >> So, good evening. Um, I just wanted to say how excited uh I am uh to be the new dean at Lynwood. Uh this coming September will be uh my 19th year at Lynwood. Basically my entire career has

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been there. So it is close to my heart. Um and I wanted to thank you and tell you how grateful I am that you are giving me and trusting me with this opportunity. Um and that I will continue to serve the students and the families

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of Lynwood and the North Foy community. uh for my tenure as being there. So, thank you kindly. >> Thank you, Nicole. Now, Nicole, [applause] I do have to share with the board, I I wasn't really in support of you being promoted because we're losing a dynamic English teacher, [laughter]

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>> but and truth be told, um I had Nicole in a college class and she did very well. 97.8. [laughter] >> Am I not supposed to say that? But she had an A in the course and and but [laughter] I knew she would make a great administrator someday and I'm very happy

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that you're administrator and but she is also a great teacher but you can't be a great administrator if you were were not a great teacher. So even if it's English not history [laughter] >> thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause]

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And then I do want to introduce a former somebody that sat here many years ago but came full circle and is now working as our assistant business administrator. She's in the audience. He came in to wish Amy a goodbye. And uh Miss Ingred Dylan, our assistant business

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administrator in Miss Hawk's office. Uh want to say hello, Miss Ingred, if you want to say hello to the board. And >> wouldn't miss an opportunity to say hello to the board. uh place near and dear to my heart many years of service and as you know um long

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nights with Dr. Z and millions of people >> so they're still sticking around >> I was so he used to say that then too [laughter] >> but it's just an honor and a pleasure to be you know back as a part of the community and still um uh serving as I

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work with Mrs. um in all important you know business news business office. So thanks for having me back and it's just a pleasure. >> Thank you for being here. [applause] >> And we do have a habit of I I think you

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know Michael Kleó once said every time I think I'm out I could get pulled back in. So Amy also has a unique role. she her predecessor is now her successor in in a way of taking over the HR department. So uh he Mr. Patel was the

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uh director of human resources HR actually the title was director of personnel and administration and then he became his superintendent and then when Mr. Schmidt re left suddenly from Jud. He took over as Jud principal and finished and retired and it only took me

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four calls to prod him to come back. Um and he now he came back willingly and I'm very happy he was able to do that as interim and part of that uh reorganization and fiscal savings. Mr. Patel will be here in that transition before we see how if how and if we can

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replace that position. So as interim uh human resource Mr. John Patella >> well it's a theme this evening of being happy to serve and I'm I'm also happy to serve uh and I called Dr. Zakowski only

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five times [laughter] >> he was saying so anyway uh it's it's I'm I'm excited to be back. I saw a lot of familiar faces uh a lot of kind faces and I'm looking forward to working hard uh Dr. Dowski is very ch uh very

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difficult to work for in a good way. Uh he will challenge and you will grow as a >> that's not what I wrote with you to say. [laughter] >> So board of education, Mr. President to I'm very happy to be back. I'm looking forward to working with all of you. >> Thank you. [applause]

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>> So Madam President, thank you for indulging me. Board members, thank you for indulging me to kind of get off script. But with that, I'll return. >> What about um introducing some of our other guests as well? They're behind the scenes always. I want to just recognize that they're here today. >> I do. Yes. And they're so I take them

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for granted. So, thank you for reminding me and maybe a little embarrassing to me, but that's okay. [laughter] >> No, we do have a great team and and you know, we hear about how great Amy is and was and and how things were central office, but we wouldn't be able to do what we could do. >> Yes.

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>> And how we do it without a support, the administrative support. So, I'll just ask them to stand up. And uh we have uh Colleen. No, I'm just kidding her. [laughter] Connie, would you stand up? [applause]

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And of course, Janine. Janine, won't you stand up, please? That's my administrative assistant. >> Yes. >> So, I I Colleen and and and Connie, I made a mistake one time called Connie Colleen. So, that's our little inside joke. So, thank you, Connie. Janine is

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the administr So Connie serves as the part of the HR team in with Amy. Janine is the administrative assistant to the superintendent. My predecessor hired her and I'm so glad she did because I've been the beneficiary of that. And as somebody who's been working in HR for a

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long, long time, she gapped that, >> you know, predecessor successor now, uh, Miss Denise Bandandy. Denise, [applause] >> thank you D. Thank you guys for for being out there and supporting Amy and all that you do behind the scenes at central office.

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>> Yes, thank you so much for being here. It's it's all great to have everyone here tonight, especially for Amy's last meeting. All right. Well, we have some items of business to attend to. Um number six on our agenda, we have a public hearing on policy and regulation 2361.

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It's acceptable use of computer network/computers and resources. Um, so at this time we will have a public session. If anyone from the public would like to comment or speak specifically on this policy and

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regulation 2361, um, now is the time. We ask that you just state your name and you'll be given three minutes. Again, this is only on the policy. Okay. Seeing and hearing none, um, Mr. Singh, would you take item seven, please? >> Sure, Madam President. I'd like to make

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a motion to close the public hearing on the policy and regulations 2361 acceptable use of computer network computers and resources. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Is anyone opposed? This session is closed. >> Thank you. Um Dr. Patel, would you take

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item eight? >> Yes, Madam President. Uh I'd like to make a motion to approve the following board minutes. Special meeting June 17, 2026. Executive minutes June 17, 2026. Regular public meeting June 24th 2026 and executive minutes June 24th 2026.

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>> Second. >> All in favor? >> Is anyone opposed? All the minutes are accepted. >> Thank you. Uh at this time we will jump to item 10 are reports and we'll uh jump to the administrative report done by Dr.

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Zakowski. >> Yes. Thank you madam president and good evening to everyone again. Um you know the most misunderstood uh part of the summer for people who don't are not in education is that oh summers are closed summers are off but there's a lot going

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on and I want to thank the board members are our operations business operations took a tour some of his free time during the day of the work that's being done recently a year ago the referendum was passed work is being done our president

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has been not only on site for the work the oper operational work. Also did many tours of uh the programming that's going on and [cough] taking place. And we do have programming going on. Miss Chang has a program going on in her 8th grade

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in our Lynwood school. And we do have extended school year which is giving services to students. So we try to get that so there's no regression. They call it learning loss take place as students that are qualified going on at JUD. We did visit we visit the early childhood

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center. Um, and uh, our I'm so happy because all of the board members have a keen interest of not only hearing about it, but getting out and seeing it. We'll do another tour for the full board as we did last year during the summer, but a lot of work in construction sites. We don't have enough hard hats and

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sometimes goggles for everyone to go. So, I did two separate tours with uh, uh, Miss Toth and with Mr. Carter. Um and we just did some um just inspections and showing progress. So that's going on

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many of the hires, many of the uh replacements. So many things going on. So people are working very very difficult, very hard and and um there's some a lot of difficulty because I do see Mr. Bandi was here for for a while ago, but the turnover so

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there are eight weeks in the summer. We start early next year due to the project. We start school September one. The you would be surprised how much the floors, the classrooms being redone, the lockers, each individual locker here in Lynwood, we're being cleansed and

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cleaned and and disinfected and you name it. High school, so much work is going on. We have summer camps from the township. So, the window is short and the work turnover is uh unbelievable and kudos. And there's never been a convocation in 25 years that I uh led um

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that I don't thank the folks that do that work in the summer. And so we have a board that appreciates it by not just saying thank you but coming out and seeing the work and it's really board members that really was appreciated is appreciated and we're we'll continue to set up those tours because I know how

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much it means to the people doing the work behind the scenes. So so much is going on. One of the things we are able and we promote is North Brunswick is a great hub. We started a wonderful program called AVID. It's now in our middle school and it's also in our high schools. A goal setting focus for

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students to think about career paths, college, and AVID um has been so successful. We were asked to host a tri-state conference and we just finished. So, let me give you some numbers that really sink in. 330

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uh teachers, staff members came in and looked at this AVID pro I mean attended this AV average conference here at North Brunswick Township High School. Thank you Mr. Neller. I know you had you got your high school back now for a little bit but [laughter] um they were from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, 53

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school districts attended this and North Brunswick was the hub. Why is it important to us? Uh not only to show off that our initiative, how successful we are and they highlight us, but also we learn from other districts. That networking is so important to be able to

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reach out to colleagues. So hosting it, we're we're getting our staff is getting free PD and learning and of course um we continue want to get better at all that we do. So thank you again to Mr. Neller. I think Mr. Emanuel is the host of it. I believe I don't want to leave anybody

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out. So I do want to thank and make sure I'll tell Mr. Neller please on behalf of the board uh to thank your team that hosted 330. I want to thank Mr. Miser because I know uh the security 330 making sure students that from the high from the township summer program 20

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classrooms were filled every day at the high school. So we really appreciate all the work and and hosting that. Our summermies I mentioned we have grades one through four. um I think uh some institute I said the middle school 5 through 8 so it's the intermediate and middle school they had been hard at work

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of this summer and thank you Miss Chang for organizing that grant funding that we appreciate that we had 186 students it doesn't cost the taxpayer any any money because it's through a grant led by u started by Miss Chang I mean

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started by Miss Kea and Miss Chang took it over and it's continues to grow and uh they regular attend they regularly attend with a great focus. The instruction is math, language arts. Um, but also weaving in their social emotional learning skills uh is is a big

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part of it. So, the program has been essential. Again, you heard me say summer slide or the regression uh learning loss to get ready for uh students in uh ready for school in September for the students. So, congratulations and thank you again. A busy busy time things are going on. This

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year's theme is the New Jersey I mean the Jersey boardwalk where the students have been engaged in project-based learning. They're preparing final showcase next week with the families and I'm talking about the um summer programming of the grades, right? It's a Jersey boardwalk. I think it's pretty

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pretty neat, pretty uh creative. So, uh you know, our president will be there and always open to every board member. I know our team always welcomes the entire board. We have a anything we do, we'll certainly invite uh Miss Kesky. I introduce Janine before she makes sure

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that the word gets out to the board members to come. feel free. You're part of the uh the reason why we're uh able to provide these programs. So, uh Jersey Boardwalk, that's the theme and I think it'll be exciting if you get to see their their final product at the end. Our extended school year program also I

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mentioned and Miss Toi did a a tour ECC Jud Lynwood some student highlights will be displayed in the World Cup showcase. Pretty neat. Uh next week, our older students at the possibilities program that's 18 to 21. They have been busy learning how to run a business with

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their cafe coffee cart. Uh the the ladies at central office and the people in central office working the summer look forward to that all the time. They fight to get in line to buy that coffee. Um so we um and I [laughter] did take the we did a a road trip. I just want to

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a shout out to a great colleague in superintendent started from a cafe coffee uh cart to now they have a storefront the Bombers Cafe. Um we're going to take our team over there to show what is possible and with some forward thinking. Um so we look forward

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to that trip and um also it's a wonderful experience for 18 to 21 because I know you heard about the [clears throat] four-year cohort supporting students where they will not graduate in four years but to get these life skills and ability to uh take some

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time their time to be ready to go out the next step may not be in four years definitely be five six even sometimes seven up until 21 years old. So, um, we're very proud of that and we're very happy the board supports that. So, um, I

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don't think we'll ever be at 100% graduation rate because, believe it or not, in states infinite wisdom, they do count the very, uh, regulation that they create that this is a federal and state regulation that these students have protection not to be have to graduate

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until they're ready, actually count against the graduation rate. So, it would be simple to fix that as I think Mr. Ella alluded to that, but um maybe sometime Mike might before you retire they'll fix it. Um I do want to reach out uh that this Tuesday coming today's

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the Wednesday. So next Tuesday, August 4th, there's a National Night Out. It's a nice way the community uh you know gets together. Just know the board supports uh this National Night Out in conjunction with our police department. We have a great partnership with our our wonderful police department. Um you're

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going to hear later on. We're gonna have a separate motion. I'm very excited. Uh Jen Ash, Miss Ashentino led a an opportunity to have a grant uh a chair grant with called the cops grant, a community outreach grant with our police department to fund some of our programs

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together. We had this many years ago, I mean, Senator Rush Hull, Congressman Rush Hull. Um millions of dollars came to this district for our safety initiatives. So, uh much to Miss Ashino's credit, you're going to see two motions later on. Um uh one being the

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we're going to have a consultant for a few dollars very minimal help us facilitate a best application award could be up to half a million dollars. Uh we have opportunity we're working with Miss Tangi Comp at the uh township because uh it's we're one community and

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it's it's it's an opportunity to do a shared uh venture and uh joint venture and so I want to thank Majino and the board. We just got the the application finished, ready to go. And that's why it's not on the agenda because it came in too late. So, we'll have a separate

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motion later on. But, uh, we're really excited about that. And thank you again, Miss Ashantino. You saw, if you remember Miss, uh, Chang last year, I gave her three days to get the, uh, impact grant, which we won almost $200,000, and uh, she had about three four days. I think,

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Jen, we gave you a little bit more time, but not much. But these grants come in like last second. And so we're going to be eligible for up to a half a million dollars in a a joint venture with the township. So we're really excited about that. More to come on that and more celebration because I I feel confident um under Jen's leadership that we'll be

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able to uh procure that grant like we did with the um with the impact grant last year. Uh and last I want to mention the I mentioned a little bit the board retreat. Uh we we [clears throat] had a very serious retreat in terms it was a lot of fun. Uh we had our consultant Dr.

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Salvatore lead the retreat for the board members because as a participant I don't want to lead the retreat. I'm going to be part of it because this is a team u board super actually a board member just not a voting board member and we had phase two yes last year was phase one we

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went to take a look at priorities what we need to do and now phase two is uh gratefully I'm back uh and offer another year to come back with this and work with the board but how do we now start operationalizing those priorities uh we

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even went through the detail of how many um motions and approvals for the areas of our priority. We looked at a a data set to give us an idea that there's a lot of work being done. One of the things that most people don't know what board members do, >> how they impact the uh the direction of

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the district, the results of the district, have been AP scores like uh Miss O'Reilly and the other teachers have that was a a concerted effort to make sure we break down barriers and get many many students who are capable taking those tests. So in this in the

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same regard we want to take a look at the board retreat and the number one um next phase of our coming out of the board was how do we outreach tell our story connect the community not just a simple meeting yes we're going to try to reinstitute coffees with the

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superintendent and uh Miss to has a special newsletter on behalf of the board and we that Dr. Dr. Ellis helps work with so we get the news out but how do we engage and truly hear what the community says are the barriers the strengths maybe the uh challenges of the district well I met with a couple groups

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already since our retreat and I'm looking at a okay so there's u when you look at u data right and you look at gathering data you you can certainly look at it from a standpoint of a focus group serve

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I mean you could do it on your own and just put a survey out there, but we want professional surve uh focus groups that kind of help us lead us in these community engagements uh par parental engagements and most importantly also student engagement uh our from our high school. One of the

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reasons why we need student engagement, they're the end user. Families are the end user, but we also want the community also to help us with that. What do they think some of the barriers are that we can improve? And if we do it ourselves in a stu strategic plan, sometimes it

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gets lost, right? So um we want to take a look at that type of uh work that qualitative feedback because quantitative we could give you the numbers but numbers don't tell the story what's [snorts] going on. When you triangulate the qualitative data through

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surveys and focus groups, it gives us the and the board a very uh direct path to maybe improvement or achieving those strategic thinking and planning. So this is the next phase of it. Board members, you know, you have homework because we'll be meeting again in August with so

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it's not going to be just one retreat. Last year we had a a summer retreat and a mid-year retreat to follow up. This year we're gonna kind of do another one in August and every other month we're going to start holding us because if we measure what we're doing and we uh

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challenge each other, we'll certainly be able to be more participatory with the community and our our guided wishes as a as a board. So, I just want to thank you because we're asking for a little more time from board members. They will get a raise. Um I'm going to recommend that.

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So, anything times zero, we'll still say zero. But I still will recommend that. [laughter] But thank you for your time and I appreciate the being the partners because if we're going to truly have a strategic thinking and make a difference and support our wonderful programs at the next level, we certainly have to

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take a strategic approach to it and and look at that qualitative feedback of and be uh open to it. How we're going to improve and how we're going to get to what are the barriers, what are the strengths and weaknesses. So that'll conclude my long report. Um I know uh so

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I hopefully the flavor is that wow there's a lot of things going on in summer and a lot more to go. So thank you very much. Thank you to our promoted staff. No one's new here but our promoted staff. Welcome back. John, Miss Dylan, welcome back. And again, thank you everyone for being here and also

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honoring Amy. That concludes my report. >> Thank you. Um all right. Uh does do any of our committee chairs have any reports that they'd like to give? Any comments? No. Okay. Um, we have a a pause on on committees for the the summer, but we

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are of course getting constant updates. Um, so nothing [clears throat] to report at this time. Um, Mr. Carter, would you take item 11? >> Yes, Madam President, I'd like to make a motion to approve the administrative and committee reports. >> Second.

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>> All in favor? >> Is anyone opposed? They're accepted reports. >> Thank you. At this time, we will take a couple of minutes to review our agenda. Um, as always, the board does receive the agenda prior to uh our board

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meeting. Any updates um are in bold, but we've had ample time to review the agenda as it's been given to us. So, if any uh board members have any questions or comments, we'll go page by page starting on page two and three.

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on pages four and five, six and seven. Pages eight and nine. uh pages 10 and 11, 12 and 13, pages 14 and 15, 16, 17.

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This is the time of year where we're obviously approving all of our clubs and activities going on at all the schools where they're listed on 16 and 17. Um concluding on 18 and 19

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pages 20, 21, 22 and 23, 24 and 25. pages 26 and 27,

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28 and 29. All a part of Miss Kea and Miss Ashantino's presentation this evening. 30 31 32

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and 33 and then wrapping up on 34 and 35 with some bolted changes on there as well. >> I do have a question. >> Yes. >> Do we need to abstain from >> Yes. Uh as it pertains to yourself? >> Oh yeah. >> Yes. Yes.

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>> Um, Miss Hawk, >> you heard the question about >> Yes, you do need to because it's approving your training at um workshop. >> Okay. >> As it pertains to themselves >> as just to themselves. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Wait, I'm sorry. What was the question?

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>> I curriculum and instructions. >> What page number? >> Uh 25. >> 25. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thanks, Mr. >> Thank you, Mr. Wen, for that reminder. Um, if your board members, if your name is listed um on page 25 uh for NJSBA

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workshop 2026 uh later this year, um you'll just need to abstain as it pertains to yourself. Okay, thank you for that, Mr. W. Um, okay. At this time, we will have a public session

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on agenda items only. If anyone from the public would like to come up and address the board, this is now the time to speak on agenda items only. We just ask that you state your name and you'll be given three minutes. We'll have a section for public comment as well. >> This only agenda items.

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>> This is just agenda items only. Yep. >> Okay. Seeing and hearing none, could I please have a motion to close the public portion of the meeting? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Is anyone opposed? We can close the session. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Depa, would you

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please take item 15, consent agenda? >> Yes, Madam President. Thank you. I move to approve the following consent agenda items. Personnel one two, curriculum one two, miscellaneous finance one two, policy and transportation. >> Second.

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I will do roll call. Mr. Carter. >> Yes. >> Except for >> Except for item >> related to the workshop. >> Related to the workshop. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Curriculum. I >> Thank you. >> Uh Mr. Aada. >> Uh yes, with exception to curriculum. I mean >> for the workshop.

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>> Yes. For the workshop. There we go. >> All right. And Dr. Patel. >> Yes. Except for the workshop listed on page 24 and 25 of the agenda. >> Thank you, Mr. Singh. >> Uh yes, except for curriculum. I-2. >> Thank you, Miss Doth.

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>> Yes. Uh, except for curriculum I as it pertains to myself listed on page 25. And Mr. Wen, >> yes, except for, um, curriculum section two, uh, number I that pertains to myself for workshop. >> Wonderful. All the motions and

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resolutions are accepted. >> Thank you. We're not used to, uh, abstaining very often as it pertains to ourselves, so [laughter] Okay. Yes. All right. Thank you everyone. If we could please jump to page 34. We'll have a public session on any matter at this time. So, if anyone

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from the public um in our audience would like to address the board on any matter, this is now the time. We just ask that you come up to the podium, state your name, and you'll be given three minutes. >> Good evening. My name is Maria and I previously had

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emailed a letter to the board to a board member who's not here this evening with the understanding was would be forwarded to all the board members, but I thought I would come that I would come this evening to express my concerns in person. I'm here to express my concern with regard to the amount of summer work

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assigned to the North Conser High School students. While I appreciate the importance of reinforcing academic skills during the summer months, I believe the current workload can place an unnecessary burden on students. My son is a high achieving student who will be entering the 10th grade in

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September. There's no question that he's gifted and more than capable of being challenged academically. For the 2026 2027 school year, his course loads will be comprised of honors and AP courses. Upon my review of the extensive summer

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assignments, they hardly seem like reinforcement of busy work or a means to get a head start on a new school year. While an individual class may not seem ac excessive on its own, when you factor in that an honors or AP student is assigned summer work for multiple

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classes, the work becomes overwhelming. Throughout the school year, my son spends long evenings completing homework, studying for tests, preparing projects, and balancing demanding course loads while also participating in clubs, music, and volunteer work. Continuous

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academic demands without an adequate break can contribute to stress and burnout even among the highest achieving students. I understand and appreciate that students who qualify to take honors in AP classes are expect to work at higher academic levels and be prepared for more rigorous coursework. However,

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instead of serving as a reasonable review or introduction to the course, the assignments can feel overwhelming and consume a significant portion of their the student summer break. One of my other concerns is the timing of these assignments. One of the classes

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that my son received summer work for, the the work was not distributed until 3 weeks after school ended on July 16th. At that point, many families that already need travel plans for students that committed to camps, jobs, or other activities. Releasing assignments 3

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weeks into the summer reduces the time the student has to complete the work and creates unnecessary stress. If summer assignments are going to be required, they should be made available before the school year ends so students and families can plan accordingly. Another teacher required an assignment to be

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turned in by August 17th. requiring summer assignments to be completed early by mid August prevents some students from making full use of their summer break. To be clear, I'm not requesting that students not be given any summer work.

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What I am asking is that the board consider establishing guidelines that ensure summer assignments are meaningful, limited in scope, and directly support course readiness. Summer work should not be busy work or be used by teachers to shift a portion

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of the school year's course work into the summers the student summer vacation. Require that all assignments be distributed before the last day of school. So students have the full summer to complete them. Require that students be provided the entire summer to

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complete summer assignments and all assignments should be due on the first day of school. And lastly, I didn't go into this because of time constraint, but I also would like to see some kind of

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consistency on all levels of academic classes. Children in standard classes should also receive adequate work that the honors or AP students receive. Students in advanced

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classes should not believe that their advancement means that they're being punished for their hard work. They should not receive more summer work while a child in the standard class receives little to no work. I've confirmed this with several parents.

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I've spoken with them and there seems to be a disparity in the amount of workers. I thank the board for listening and I hope that there can be something >> is it? >> Yes. >> Um so I I we first thank you. I mean not

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that this the board is very board is very open and this as a policy body this your initial step you know so when you have what's your points of resolution to any issue and I think it's a very age-old problem. What's the point of the

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you know they call it diminishing return and we talked about this the board in fact our cabinet just talked about this especially disparity point that you made up like why are just the honors and and advance having maybe too much but nothing from the so um I I would really

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like for you to set something appointment up with me we have our director of curriculum we have our high school principal here luckily they we didn't know that you would be here um and we do appreciate no board the board member that you wrote u it really wouldn't be in her position to kind of

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solve that issue because we really need to get it on the ground level and really guide because this is I think um regulations or requirements of a a high school policy not a district-wide for the the board we would report out to the

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board the resolution of this issue um and I just think that your feedback your input hits some really important points uh because you know we don't want to add to stress to these students >> and but we also got to be careful because we have made such you know now

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we're on the AP honor rolls and we're moving in that right direction but we want to make sure we don't hit that saturation point where it's called diminishing return for example 3 hours a night of homework they say you can improve your GPA with three hours of homework a night by five points if you

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give six hours of homework a night will they improve it by 10 points no you hit the saturation point and the point diminishing return. So we don't want to hit that point. So your feedback is welcome. I mean I'm glad you came to this board because we do have millions of viewers and you're so this interest

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will this piqus my interest that family members with high achieving students and but also you're advocating for that their students that may not have AP courses. So we have Miss Chang here tonight and and and Dr. Uh Ellis will

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tell you as she's also in charge of the high school English department uh will tell you that we just had this major discussion like what's too much for one and nothing for others like we have to have a balanced approach and maybe calibrate. I like to call it calibration. So the calibration really

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would become and I help facilitate that. Luckily I introduced you see Janine there um she's raising her hand. She's going to give you my direct line. She'll set up something. we'll have you in even though you maybe just want to get that out. I mean, I don't know if we could we're not going to be able to change

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something this year, but maybe we could allay some stress and some fears and I'll certainly include the high school principal, our our our district level, but more importantly our uh high school uh supervisors have been structured. So, uh, we want to certainly not stop this

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momentum, and I don't think your intention to stop the momentum of high achievement, >> but as a father of students that took a lot of AB courses, I see the stress that happens sometimes in the summer and you don't want to be counterproductive. So, thank you. But, uh, if you talk to

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Janine, I think we'll set something up and we'll get you here sooner than later, unless you're going away, but we'll try to get here as soon as I heard you going on vacation, so you came back. >> Oh, good. Okay. Hope you had a good trip. And so we'll we'll certainly uh meet and and we'll facilitate a meeting to get this kind of your input very

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important to us and because I think I've got some feedback from other community members that it's been generating a lot of discussion and so we certainly listen >> and I have a younger son so it could benefit him as >> what school was >> he's going into seventh so middle school this year.

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>> Ah okay good. So so it begins there as you heard Mr. sing say we want to make sure that you know we start off the right way and certainly but we also don't want to hit that saturation point and be counterproductive. So thank you. >> Great. Thank you so much. >> Thank you for coming out. >> Thank you.

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>> Yes, absolutely. Good evening. >> Good evening everyone. My name is Wendy Planto and I'm a North Huntington resident, a graduate of the North Brunswick school system and a parent of three children who attend Jenny School. As a resident of the Colonial Garden

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neighborhood, I want to take a few minutes this evening just to make sure you're all aware of the proposed redevelopment project at 100 Fidelity Plaza. The project includes a proposed pilot for gaming taxes agreement and will res the property from office

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research use to light industrial use with a stated goal of constructing a 300,000 ft warehouse. Over the past several months, many members of our community have attended county council meetings to express concerns about the project. While there are a number of

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community concerns including potential impacts on wetlands, traffic, noise, air, light pollution, flooding, and public safety, I want to speak specifically about the issues that directly affect our schools and our children. First, the proposed pilot agreement will

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use a different tax structure and the board of education will not receive the same share of tax that it would under conventional property taxation at a time when our schools are continue to face growing demands. Any long-term reduction in potential education funding deserves

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careful consideration. Second, the location of this project is quite unique. As you may know, it borders North Brunswick Township High School is immediately adjacent to a preschool daycare facility that has been a partner of the North Country preschool program uh and is located near many of

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our district schools actually within 2 miles of any increase in truck traffic congestion, noise or air pollution has potential affect students, staff and families who travel this route every day. As members of the board of education, you may not have to work on

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this redevelopment proposal, but you are trusted advocates for our students and our schools. We believe it is important that you are aware of this project, understand its potential impact on our community, and consider whether your voice should be a part of this conversation. We will continue to attend

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upcoming township council meetings on August 24th and September 14th to advocate for our community. And we invite anyone interested in learning more to visit our website stop100f facility.org. Thank you for your time, for your service, and for your continued commitment to the children.

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>> Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you for coming out. All right. Anyone else from the public? Okay. Seeing and hearing none, uh, can I please have a motion to close the public portion of the meeting?

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>> So, move second. >> All in favor? >> Is anyone opposed? This session is closed. >> Thank you. At this time, we will go into closed session. I will read the beginning of the motion. Whereas section 8 of the open public meetings act

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chapter 231 PL1975 permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting in certain circumstances. And whereas this public body is of the opinion that such circumstances presented exist. Now therefore be it resolved by the North Brunswick Township Board of Education that the public shall

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be excluded from discussion of and action upon the here and after specified subject matters. The general nature of the subject matter to be discussed is as follows. We just have one this evening. Negotiation matters. It is anticipated at this time that the above stated

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subject matter shall be made public as such time as the need for non-disclosure no longer exists. This resolution shall take effect immediately. Dr. Patel, could you please take the actual motion? >> I'd like to make a motion to close the public. >> Second.

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>> All in favor? I. >> There's anyone opposed? We can go to close session. Thank you. Okay. >> All right. At this time, can we please have a motion to return to open session? >> So moved. Second. >> Second.

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>> All in favor? >> I. >> We are back in session. >> Thank you. So, we have two motions coming out of close session. First, I'll call on Dr. Patel. The first motion, please. Thanks, Madam President. Uh move to approve the memorandum of understanding between the North

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Brunswick Township Board of Education and the North Brunswick Township Board of Education Buildings, Grounds, and Maintenance Association establishing the terms of collective bargaining agreement for the period of July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2028 contingent upon successful ratification by the

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association. >> Can we have a second? >> Second. >> I will do roll call. Mr. Carter? >> Yes. Miss Sepa, >> yes. >> Dr. Patel, >> yes. >> Mr. Singh, >> yes. >> Miss Toth, >> yes. >> And Mr. Wen, >> yes.

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>> This motion is approved. >> Thank you. And I appreciate the team's hard work on that. >> Mr. Wen, the second motion, please. >> Yes, Madam President. I'd like to make a motion to approve the submission of an application for a joint grant venture

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with North Brunswick Township to the community oriented policing services cops grant. A second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> I will do roll call again. Mr. Carter, >> yes. >> Mr. Sepa, >> yes. >> Uh, Dr. Patel, >> yes.

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>> Mr. Singh, >> yes. >> Miss Toast, >> yes. >> And Mr. Wen, >> yes. >> This one is also approved. >> All right. Thank you so much everyone for a great evening, a great night. Congratulations to Miss Kea. This is officially your last meeting. Officially the end of

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the LAST MEETING. >> [applause] >> THANK YOU ALL. Uh at this time, can we please have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move. >> Second. Second. >> All in favor? [laughter] Hi everyone.

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They want to go home.