Okay, we're going to call the meeting to order. In compliance with chapter 231, public law 1975 entitled Open Public Meetings Act, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as specified in the act. Proper notice of this open public meeting was posted at the entrance of
the board of education offices, provided to the Nutley Township clerk, tap into Nutley and district newspapers on June 11th, 2025, and posted on the district website. Would everybody please stand for the flag salute? Pledge
allegiance to the flag United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call. Mr. Balsamo, Mrs. Danek Martin
here, Dr. Dia here, Mr. Fragginel here, Mr. Gilbert here, Mr. Kazinski, Mrs. Kirk, Mr. Scotty here, Mr. Ferro here. I got a motion for approval of the
minutes. So, make a motion. Second. Everyone, anyone opposed? Oh, okay. Um, Mr. Bea, we have the superintendent's report. Good evening. Um, thank you, Mr.
President. Thank you, members of the board of education and members of the community. It is hard to believe, but we are just days away from the first day of 2526 school year. And there is much to celebrate as we prepare to welcome our students and families back to to
district. First and foremost, we are thrilled to announce the opening of the Nutley Early Childhood Center on Bloomfield Avenue, which will officially welcome students on September 3rd. Through the support of the township of Nutley, the board of
commissioners, we are proud to expand the Raising Raiders preschool program to include close to 130 additional seats for three and fouryear-old children. This investment reflects our shared commitment to giving Nutley's youngest
learners the strongest possible foundation for their educational journey. Our dedicated preschool educators are eager to nurture curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning in these new classrooms. A brief meet and greet for preschool
families will take place on September 2nd with details being shared by our director of early childhood. I want to take a moment to thank uh the township for its participation in making this opportunity a reality as well as our own leadership in early childhood.
I'll mention April Vidiello and Daniela Duna as well as leadership buildings and grounds Timmy Coer is here, Mike Parigi, Mike Dvita. Thank you very much for making us allowing us to open on time. Um in addition to this exciting expansion, our buildings and grounds
maintenance and custodial staff have been hard at work all summer. uh their efforts have ensured that our facilities are shining and ready for students on opening day. Uh thank you um and I hope you can join me in thanking them for their dedication and outstanding work.
On tonight's agenda, the board will review a resolution for a construction project to add four classrooms to the John H. Walker Middle School Media Center. With this addition and the utilization of six classrooms on the lower level of the building, I am pleased to share that our plans for
transitioning sixth grade to the middle school by September 26 remain on track and are moving forward. This is an exciting step forward for the district as we continue to align our facilities with our instructional vision.
We are also seeing our extra uh extracurricular programs come alive. Um, as you go by the oval, you'll see our fall sport teams begin to practice in the gymnasium. I know Cedar Grove and our volleyball team had a scrimmage today. You'll see our marching band
practicing. They're at band camp now today, this afternoon. Our cheer program was practicing. Uh, these experiences are vital to school spirit, student growth, and community pride, and we look forward to cheering them on throughout the fall.
Uh last week our administrators gathered for their annual retreat which included sessions by our board attorney right here. Thank you Dennis. Uh the New Jersey State Police gang unit came. Uh we've had professional development from I Ready. We had evaluation norming uh
and a motivational talk by MSG network personality Mike Quick. Thank you Mike for stopping in Nutly and adding to the day. Uh these sessions provided important updates and professional learning and provided focus for us as we prepare to lead our schools this year.
Tomorrow we begin new teacher orientation, welcoming the newest members of the Nutle Public Schools family. Uh these sessions will continue throughout the week and help ensure that our new educators and staff are wellprepared to support our students. Uh thank you Janine and Karen for having a
big role in new teacher orientation this year. Uh, from the welcome back letter I shared with families recently, I just wanted to highlight a couple dates. Nutley High School freshman orientation will take place tomorrow, August 26th. I know an email went out to parents today.
Uh, John H. Walker Middle School orientation for seventh graders will take place on Wednesday, August 27th. Um, and the first day of school for all students will be Wednesday, September 3rd, which will be a single session day, as well as Thursday, September 4th, will
be a single session day. We are proud to share the Nutley Public Schools has been awarded several grants throughout the cycle in climate education and esports. These opportunities will enhance our students um learning by expanding our middle
school's esports program and deepening our climate environmental studies uh program across all grade levels. At the high school, we continue to see growth in both dual enrollment and advanced placement participation and scores in this reporting cycle. and we're awaiting our New Jersey student learning
assessment scores in district. Um, as as always, we look forward to welcoming parents back into our schools during open house nights in September where families will be able to meet teachers and hear about the exciting year ahead. In short, this is a great time of energy
and momentum for our district. From the opening of the early childhood center to the expansion of opportunities through grants to the continued planning for our sixth grade transition, the 2526 school year promises to be one filled with progress and achievement. Uh we look forward to welcoming our students back
next week. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Ber. Mr. Dvita, our business administrators report. Yes. Thank you. Um on tonight's agenda, as the superintendent just reported, uh will be uh the bids uh for the work at
the John H. Walker Middle School. This is the second phase of construction work uh for the addition, sorry, I lost my play for for the addition of the four classrooms in the media center. The first phase was completed over this past summer in the middle school basement and the third
phase will be completed next summer. Uh, also on for approval is the acceptance of the federal grant monies uh for the ESA grant. Uh, this includes title one, title two, title three, title three immigrant, and title four. And all five
grants total approximately $574,000. Uh, there was a delay in receiving these funds. Um, so now that we have them, they'll be um the grants will be submitted um this month. Um, and the audit for the 202425 school year has begun. Uh representatives from the
auditing firm of Navachia are currently in the district. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Dvita. We're going to move on to our committee reports. Miss Danchek Martin, would you take academic? Yes, Mr. President. The academic
committee met on August 14th. Mr. Williams and Mr. Retto joined the committee to discuss the associates degree pathways and option two credits. Miss Lucen Solo shared the 202526 mentoring plan, schedule A of classes,
and the 2526 testing schedule. These materials can be found on the district website. Mr. Dwire, supervisor of global studies, shared recommendation recommended updates to the World Language Honor Society. The committee discussed facility updates at 777 Early
Childhood Center, Middle School Media Center, and other summer facilities projects. The committee discussed financial matters pertaining to the district audit financials surrounding John H. Walker Middle School media center and received an update on
healthcare. We also discussed topics and session of administrative retreat. Received an update on personnel matters including district hiring. Discussed an ongoing legal matter. Discussed relevant board resolutions on this agenda. uh
discuss policy progression, new teacher orientation, as well as board district goals. Our next meeting will be scheduled for Wednesday, September 17th at 5:30m. Thank you. Thank you, Miss D Martin. Mr. Scotty, administration.
Yes, Mr. President. Uh the administrative committee met on August 14th. The committee discussed facilities updates at the 777 early childhood center, middle school media center, and other summer facilities projects. Mr. Dvita provided a financial
update which included matters pertaining to the district audit financials surrounding the John H. Walker Middle School Media Center and received an update on healthcare. The committee discussed topics and session of administrative retreat. The committee received an update on personal matters
including district hiring and job searches. The committee discussed an ongoing legal matter. The committee discussed relevant board resolutions for tonight's agenda. The committee discussed policy progression, new teacher orientation, as well as board and district goals. And the next meeting
of the committee is scheduled for September 17th. Thank you, Mr. Scotty. We now come to the portion of our meeting where we allow members of the public to address the board. In this section, we allow questions or comments on reports, resolutions, and all school
related matters. Our board regulations number 0167 allow 20 minutes for these communications. Each person shall be limited to three minutes and we ask you try to stay within this requirement. Speakers may speak more than once only after all those wishing to speak on a topic have been heard. All statements
will be directed to me as the chairperson and no one may address board members individually. Please be reminded that if your statement is too lengthy, abusive, obscene, irrelevant or redundant, your participation may be terminated. Please remember to state your name and address each and every time you address the board. Does anyone
have any questions? Uh Sal Carpelli, president of Netley Music Boosters. Um on tonight's agenda, um Netly Music Boosters were pre proud to present a donation of $12,36 for new marching percussion equipment
for the Nutly Raider Marching Band. Uh since 2017, thanks to the generous support of our community, uh music boosters have contributed over $77,000 towards enhancing Nutley's music programs. These investments have provided new choir robes and marching
band uniforms, sound system and lighting upgrades, and instruments across all grade levels. This latest contribution supports our state and national championship Raider marching band, ensuring our students have the tools to perform at the highest level and continue Nutley's proud tradition of
musical excellence. Mr. Scarpelli, thank you and uh everyone involved in the music booster association for all your effort and hard work and u what you do for our children and our music program and it shows in all of the accolades that our students
out there are accomplishing. your your group is a big part of that and thank you if uh any other board members have any comments. I was going to thank you during the resolution uh but I'll I'll do it now. I we can't um uh survive without this type
of support from the community and uh the the numbers speak for themselves. the effort put into this uh matches the effort that you hear every single morning uh early in the morning uh from that the the band practicing and um I I just can't emphasize enough how uh this
is what the very definition of community is and and just thank you from the bottom of my heart. My my daughters are in the school system and will most likely be part of that program themselves. Uh, and I just it just really warms your heart to see that this
type of uh these activities still exist. And thank you so much. I think you have a fundraiser that you're running right now, right, with the sale of the mums is coming up. Yep. So, I encourage everybody out there to support uh the music booster association
because obviously this is where all the funds are going is to support our children. Anyone else? Yeah, I'd also like to say thanks. I mean, $77,000. Uh, it's just it's just such an incredulous number. You can't even fathom it. Um, and so I I really do
like, uh, you highlighting that, pointing it out. Um, and, uh, you know, I think it's it's a great lesson for everybody to kind of pitch in and just community first. So, thanks a lot, Tom. Thank you. Anyone else have any questions,
comments? Hi, Cheryl Galasso, Evergreen Avenue. I'm also a staff member. Um, I just wanted some clarification. I apologize. I haven't been able to attend a meeting, but I just had a couple of questions if that's okay. I might seem a little all over the place, but I've been making
notes. Um, one thing I wanted to ask is are custodians, bus drivers, and bus aids required to wear a specific shoe. I ask because they get us money for shoes
and I was just wondering if this is enforced because I've myself have seen bus aids wearing UGG slippers and I'm just wondering if they're required to wear a specific shoe. Answer. Mhm. Uh so I don't want to speak for Mr.
Dvita, but we have a dress code uh policy on the books for all staff, support staff, including our teaching staff. They are to follow that policy. If they get a stipen for appropriate wear, they should be wearing that to work. Yes. Does anyone enforce it? Like I said, I'
I have like I don't know like is a custodian supposed to be or grounds are they supposed to be wearing a work boot? We enforce all policies. I I would say if if you see this, this is the first that's been brought to my attention. I would appreciate you bringing it to administration's attention when you see this and we would of course enforce our policies.
Okay. Um and oh the extended day when all the everything was going on with the money we uh eliminated the extended day director then she was
rehired back. Now there's a new position of extended day support. I was just wondering one, why is that needed? Two, why wasn't it posted for anyone to apply for? Yeah. Uh the the extended day support stipen
is a carryover from the previous year. I believe uh we did not hire new for that. We continued that um as a stipen in position in lie of u a secretarial position. Okay. It's substantially more than than the prior stipen. It's 24 thou another
$24,000 a year. I'd have to look and get back to you. Yes. Okay. Um and can what is excursion camp? It was under title three immigrant immigrant program.
Yeah. So with title three immigrant Can I answer? I'm sorry. What's the question? Can you repeat the question for the question? I just saw their uh excursion camp. a few staff members went for excursion camp for title three immigrant program.
I was just wondering what that was. Yeah. So, um through Miss Egan and our MLL program, we've used title three immigrant funds and title three funds to support an immersion program of camp for students that um speak a different
language come to our district for the first time and we immerse them in different Thank you. Oh, yes. Thank you. in in different um in different um activities around the district, taking them out on field trips to get them. So, it's a camp for the kids. Yes. Oh. Oh, okay.
In the past, we've run um boot camp for uh newcomers, new newcomer academy um at our middle. This is kind of in lie of that program. Oh, okay. Thank you. Um and then one more uh well, I have two more things. One more was
the local share for prek grant $478,000. What is that? That was on the bill's list in June. Sorry. I'm sorry. What page are you referring to? Uh I don't have the page number. I can answer it, but you want to answer.
It's from June. It was 478,000 for local share for prek grant. Is that for the uh state preschool? Yeah. So for preschool, the preschool expansion funds um cover all of the
gened side of that the every school district in the state is responsible for special education for threeyear-old and up. That's our fair share of the special education funds which have to be put into the other preschool funds to run preschool for the special ed, not for the one
that's districts are responsible for special education funds to support. Okay. And then quickly, I just wanted to talk about 777 Bloomfield Avenue. Um, how does the repay I may this some of this may have to go to the town, but how
does the repayment work? Like is the board paying back the town for that building eventually as far as the what the arrangement is with the town? Well, the town, if the board of ed wanted to buy that building, it would have had to go out to a referendum. Would have got it voted
down, but the town somehow is able to come in, buy the building. Are is the board renting it? Are we We're going to be leasing it. You're leasing it? We'll be leasing it from the town forever or is there a
leasing for the Yeah, I mean that we're in the process. Our attorney is here, but he's in the process of working those that agreement with the with the township and all the parties. Okay. So, the town and like I said, I'm sure this probably has to go to the town. If the board wanted to buy a building to put the preschool in or any
I mean, we've voted down referendums for the middle school, but the town can buy it and then rent it to the board, but that doesn't have to be approved by the taxpayers. The municipal body has the ability to
simplistically saying it, the municipal body can borrow money and the board of education has to get approval to sell bonds. So, their rules are slightly different than ours. The terms of the agreement between the board of education and the township are not finalized as of
yet. Um but you know essentially I think uh President Ferraro said it correctly there's going to be a lease arrangement but the board of education you're absolutely correct cannot uh acquire real property without a bond referendum. Um the same rules are at
least the rules that affect the board of education are different when you're dealing with a a township. Right. Right. So potentially more flexibility as it were for the township. Right. And then how long the lease for the board office is at Valley National?
Are we still paying that or how long is when is that lease over? 2020. Yeah. Yeah. I believe there's three more years left on that lease. We're actively looking to vacate that and sub lease. And if you can't, then you still have to pay the rent there.
Correct. We're in agreement. Okay. Um and last How this has gotten way ahead of things, but is anybody looking into the fact that all these apartments that are being built with over the next couple of
years? I have 85 apartments at Diamond Spring, over a hundred apartments on Franklin Avenue. I don't know how many are on Center Street. Are we looking into I mean the obviously all the buildings are overcrowded. the influx the possible influx of students
from all these apartments. I know the town, you know, we're working with the town. It's one nutly. Is anybody looking into that? Looking into what? How many students? What are we going to do when there's over a hundred apartments? You realistically, if if there's one kid,
that's another hundred kids. There's 85 apartments at Diamond Spring. I know it's 55 and up. I was 55. I had a kid in school. So, it's I mean, we're we're not involved in the process of, you know, the that type of
uh development. I mean, we're you know, what that's that's up to the township and the the boards that uh you know, approve those projects, right? But in this whole one nutly thing, does the board has no Well, there's always of an input into you know, the overcrowding and the more
apartments we build, the more kids there are. Yeah, there's always there's always involvement. We we do we do send letters to each application when we're asked to look into it. Um but it's up to the board and the zoning in town allows for
certain zones to allow for certain type of development and that's not something that you you can just restrict. Uh that's a zoning that's if if that development is is permitted in that use. There's really can't stop it if it's you know unless they're asking for a variance or some type of a waiver.
Right. Okay. I was just wondering if we but but we do have coordination with with with the boards when they do have these developments. They generally send them to our superintendent and superintendent and his administration do review it and they will you know send correspondents back.
Right. Right. Okay. And one last thing in the last meeting there was the uh state monitor's report and it said she said there was no new positions uh made but the director of early childhood is a
new position. I know it go ahead. Director of early childhood is position required by preschool funding with the amount of uh growth we've had. That uh that position is funded not from our general budget but but from preschool funds. Okay. And that leads to my one final
question. Sorry. Thank you for being so patient. You said that three times. No, I'm just kidding. The state how long this the preschool is funded by the state. How long does that go for? Is eventually is it going to have to be funded by the district?
Um yes. So, that is a question. Um, when we enrolled in pre Can I answer, Mr. President? I'm sorry. Yeah, go ahead. And I'm going to comment to that as well. Go ahead. Um, when we en when we applied for preschool funding, um, it was my first year, so it was three years ago. Um, we
knew we had five years to get to 90% of our preschool universe. That was the funding arrangement at that time. Each year in November, we apply for the allocations for the next September. and each year they they're approved on a yearly basis. Uh the funding is per year. We're aware of that. We're very
transparent about that. But but right now um with them putting it in statute a degree of that with um our waiting list we have, you know, just meeting with our preschool leaison. Uh we have a good base here in Nutley. Um the funding it's state funding is year-to-year, but we're
confident that we can expand uh within that five-year window to get to what we originally agreed to. So then after the five-year window, then the state will stop funding or they could No, they they it it's a year-to-year funding allocation. Uh after 5 years, we
hit our 90% preschool universe. It should continue from there, but anything with the state is yeartoear, right? Ex. Exactly. Yeah. And so I just wanted to comment on that also because it's this is not the first time someone's asked a question with regarding the funding. So, if the state were at some point in the future
to decide not to continue to fund it, I mean, we would have to explore uh other areas to see how we fund it, whether we've whether we fund it through a fee that would charge to families who are sending their kids there. Uh but again, that's that's down the road. That's right now all indication is
that they're going to continue to fund it. I I know just one of the neighboring communities just applied and they received funding but not at the 100% mark that we did. It was it was less than that. So, you know, the timing on our part was was good in that sense that
we were able to submit the application right at the early stages and we were able to get that funding. Uh but again, that's up to the state as far as what they do in the future. We we won't be able to tell you that, right? Okay. Thank you very much. Thank you. Any other questions or
comments? Okay, seeing none, can I have a motion to end the public comment portion? I have a motion here. Do I have a second? Second. Okay. Thank you everyone. We're going to move on to our resolutions.
Miss Danchek Martin, would you take academic resolutions? Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to move academic resolutions one and two is written. Second. Um, any discussion? Roll call.
Mrs. Danch Martin. Yes. Dr. Dia. Yes. With exception. Abstain. Item number two, uh, section six. Mr. Fragginel's. Yes. Mr. Gilbert. Yes. Mr. Scotty.
Yes. Mr. Ferraro. Yes. Mr. Scotty, administration. Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to move administration resolutions one through three as written. Second. Discussion.
Roll call. Mrs. Danek Martin. Yes. Dr. Dia. Yes. Mr. Fragginals. Yes. Mr. Gilbert? Yes. Mr. Scotty? Yes. Mr. Ferraro? Yes. Mr. Fragginals. Finance. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to
move finance resolutions 1 through 18 as written. Do I have a second? Second. Any discussion? Roll call. Mrs. Danek Martin? Yes. Dr. Dia? Yes. Mr. Fragnels?
Yes. Mr. Gilbert? Yes. Mr. Scotty? Yes. Mr. Ferrarero? Yes. Mr. Scotty. Policy. Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to move policy resolutions one and two as written.
Do I have a second? Second. Sorry. Any ro any uh discussion? Roll call. Mrs. Danchek Martin. Yes. Dr. Dia. Yes. Mr. Fragel's. Yes. Mr. Gilbert. Yes. Mr. Scotty? Yes.
Mr. Ferraro? Yes. Mr. Gertie, will you take personnel? Just trying to spread it around tonight. Yep. I'd like to move resolution one as written. Second. Discussion.
Roll call. Mrs. Dan Martin. Yes. Dr. Dia. Yes. Mr. Fragginel's. Yes. Mr. Gilbert. Yes. Mr. Scotty? Yes. Mr. Ferraro? Yes. Is there any old business to come before the board?
Any new business? Whereas the board of education will be discussing matters exempt from public discussion pursuing to NJSA 104-12. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education recess to close executive session at this time to
discuss contracts and legal issues. Be further resolved that the results of the discussions will be made public by the inclusion on the agenda of a subsequent meeting of the board of education or when the reasons for discussing such matters in close session no longer exist. Second. Can I get a motion? Now you're
Mr. Ferrara. Mr. Far, can I just clarify that we're action will be taken uh may be taken after the executive session. Just wanted to point that out public and for everybody. Okay. Can I get a motion to adjourn into executive session? So move.
Okay. Thank you everyone. Executive will be about how long how long am I the only talk? You're 40 minutes. You usually have to warn the public how long you're going to be in executive session when you're Thank you. going to be taking action. You brought me here. I might as well
tell you what's going on. I know. Maybe I shouldn't maybe I shouldn't come to these meetings. Okay, I'll make a motion to reopen the meeting. Second. All in favor? I. Anyone opposed?
Okay, we have a uh walk-on, right? Um addendum. It's approval of access agreement. Be it resolved that the board of education approves the access agreement with 777 Nutley LLC and 413
Nutley LLC and the Nutley Board of Education for the rental of 777 Bloomfield Avenue, Nutley, New Jersey 07110 for the term of two months commencing on September 1st, 2025 and ending on October 31st, 2025. The board
authorizes the business administrator to proceed with executing the agreement. The agreement is contingent upon state monitor and board attorney approval. I make a motion. Second. Any discussion?
Roll call. Mrs. Mrs. Danek Martin. Yes. Dr. Dia. Yes. Mr. Fragginell. Yes. Mr. Gilbert. Yes. Mr. Scotty. Yes. Mr. Fero. Yes. Can I have a motion to adjourn the
meeting? Motion. Second. All in favor? All right. Thank you. Thank you.