What the hell? See her again. Okay, welcome everyone. We're going to call the meeting to order. In compliance with chapter 231, public law 1975 and federal 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 provided in notice of January 6, 2026. Said notice was posted at the entrance of the board of education offices, sent to the Nutley Township clerk, sent to tapped into Nutley, sent to the district
newspapers on January 15, 2026, and posted on the district website. Everybody please stand. Mr. Balfamo >> here. >> Mrs. Danek Martin >> here. >> Dr. Dillia >> here. >> Mr. Delpiano >> here. >> Mr. Fragel
>> here. >> Mr. Gilbert >> here. >> Mrs. Quirk >> here. >> Mr. Scotty >> here. >> Mr. Po >> here. >> Any correspondence? >> No correspondence. I get a motion for approval of the meeting.
>> Motion minutes. All in favor? I. >> Anyone opposed? Okay. Before we move on to our reports, our superintendent report and our business administrator's report, I just have something I'd like to read. On behalf of the board,
on behalf of the Nly Board of Education, I must address false rumors circulating regarding the removal of music programs at the sixth grade level. Let me be absolutely clear. music programs are not being removed. These claims are inaccurate and appear to have resulted
from irresponsible adult speculation which has caused unnecessary concern within our community. The spread of misinformation is a serious disruption and the board will take appropriate steps to determine its source. If it is found that this information originated
in any way within our buildings, it will be addressed accordingly. I have asked our superintendent to investigate this matter with the assistance of the board attorney. I also want to remind our community of the importance of verifying information, particularly content that's
shared on social media. The presence of a message on social media doesn't make it accurate or truthful. Everyone shares a responsibility to avoid spreading unverified or misleading information and to refrain from further escalating false
claims. Our priority remains transparent communication and continued support for our students. If anyone has any questions or concerns, we strongly encourage you to contact the district directly so that you have accurate information which can be provided. We
also want to thank those parents and the music booster association who have already contacted our administration directly and took the time to hear the facts firsthand. I also want to thank everyone who came out tonight uh who want are here to listen to what the
facts are and any questions obviously you are more than welcome to come up and ask our administration and to further clarify this uh matter our superintendent administration team will be presenting details on the proposed sixth grade middle school schedule this evening. This schedule is
still being refined and is designed to offer students the strongest possible academic experience, including expanded elective opportunities that are not currently available within the elementary school framework. We appreciate the community's continued engagement and commitment to our student
success. Thank you. Our superintendent report, Mr. Ba. Uh, good evening members of the board, staff, families, and committee members. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to begin by thanking our community for your patience,
cooperation, and partnership these past several weeks as we've navigated a particularly difficult winter month. The heavy snowfall and challenging conditions have challenged us to all groups, our our students, our parents, our teachers, and our support staff. Thank you for remaining flexible.
Hopefully, the forecast and patterns change. I believe they are. Uh, and the bulk of the winter is behind us. I also would like to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of our buildings and grounds teams, our custodians, our maintenance um Mike and Timmy. Uh thank
you. Uh following each major snowstorm, these dedicated professionals, they worked tirelessly often around the clock to ensure our schools were clear and safe and ready for students and staff to return. Their hard work exemplifies service to our school community and we
are grateful for their commitment. As a reminder to all, the district is currently out of a allotted snow days. Should we need to close again for any reason, we will be using days from the spring break week to ensure them that we meet the mandatory 180 days of
instruction as required by the state of New Jersey. The first of those makeup days would begin on Monday, March 30th. While the weather has brought its challenges, it has also allowed us to solidify our end of the year celebrations. Um, so I'm just here to announce that
our Junior Olympics will be Friday, May 29th. The league picnic will be Friday, June 5th. We'll celebrate our preschools the week of June 8th at all the different locations. The final week of school is set June 15th through 18th
will be single session days. Monday, June 15th will be the kindergarten promotions in the morning. Tuesday, June 16th will be the fifth grade promotions. Wednesday, June 17th, in the morning, John H. Walker Middle School will promote. In the afternoon, on Wednesday,
June 17th, the sixth grade classes will promote. Our last day for students will be Thursday, June 18th, and also high school graduation. This will be put in calendar form and released publicly so people can understand the end of the
school year. Please welcome. Come on in. Find a seat. Thanks for coming. Uh thank you to our school leaders and event coordinators for planning all these meaningful milestones, mostly our principles. Uh we appreciate their work. At our most recent CPAC meeting, parents
raised an important conversation about enhancing opportunities for students to learn American Sign Language, particularly for learners with special needs. In response, the district has been exploring asynchronous ASL courses, resources, and connections through our
network of partner universities. We'll also be convening a working group to identify curricular pathways and supports so we can thoughtfully expand American Sign Language instruction across grade levels. Uh, next Monday, a meeting with some professors from
Monontlair State um to explore what that looks like. Most of the information we're reviewing and learning about this uh about this uh can can be used to enhance the early child curriculum and may lead to very purposeful pathways in our school district. There's a great
point CPAC brought up and we're happy that to follow through with it. I know it's been some time in February's professional development day. Our faculty and staff spent time reviewing I Ready assessment data. Parents should be receiving I Ready reports soon at home if not already. Similar to the New Jersey, New Jersey
student learning assessment, IRA is an adaptive diagnostic tool that gives us precise actionable insight into each student's proficiency levels in math and language arts. These resource uh these results help teachers and parents work together to support student growth. Additionally, on our PD day, our middle
school faculty engaged in professional learning around our sixth grade transition, focusing on uh many of the new staff members that will be coming, as well as the bell schedule and some programming. Um this was the first time we've discussed this with staff. As mentioned earlier this evening we are
increasing uh the transition experiences for students so they feel com confident connected and we open opportunities for them following the presentation of some awards. Uh we will have a presentation to go into further details for the community and public as to what that
looks like. We're also excited to report that the middle school media center renovation should be completed next week. Upon completion, we will invite back the steering committee that began its work last year at this time, a committee of parents, teachers, administrators, board
members. We'll invite you back to that space to show you the work that has been done and to share with you the work that is going to be completed. Um, that was intended to be the kickoff of the sixth grade transition uh with the community. We will kick it off tonight because I
think there were some things going around the community. we want to make sure the community is aware of. Um before uh before closing, I want to highlight some upcoming community events and celebrations on March 5th, next week. Uh we will have our senior citizen
dinner and movie night. We work with the town. It's a great night. It's about four or five years. Our culinary department does a wonderful dinner. We invite the seniors in and they go to watch the dress rehearsal of the play. It's a great night. On March 6th, 7th, and 8th at 2 p.m. on the ETH, 6th and
7th at 7 p.m., our Nutley High School Mute Spring Musical will go off once upon a mattress. We encourage you to buy tickets. I saw an email come across today to buy tickets. Um, on March 5th and 6th and 7th, Lincoln School is producing the Lion King kids. Um, this
is a great production um that highlights uh collaboration between the school and I think Disney in this case and really showcases some of the talents at Lincoln School. Uh just finalized today uh Friday May 8th the Dooop group the Dupri will be
doing a benefit concert in Nutley. Uh Nelly native Tom Petrillo class of 1969 uh reached out u to set this up. The proceeds uh the proceeds from this event will be shared evenly between the Nelly Educational Foundation and the high school musical music music department.
Uh look for these tickets on sale coming out next week. It should be a great event. uh the depre want to give back to Nley and we appreciate that. On time agenda, you will see the 2627 academic calendar and 12-month calendar
for approval. Um finally, I'd be remiss and I would like to close by recognizing the importance of this time of year in our schools. February is Black History Month, a time when we honor achievements, resilience, and profound contributions of Black Americans throughout our nation's history. Across
our classroom, students have been engaging in meaningful lessons that celebrate culture, leadership, innovation, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice. Because of this, I would like to remember John Walker, who is a beloved longtime educator in Nutley, and who the middle school is
named after. So is High Five Hill at Rackless School. He served as a teacher at Washington School, a principal at Yanquest School, and eventually assistant superintendent of schools when I showed up here. known for putting students first. Many initely looked up
to him. I was talking about him today and I actually he was uh a gentleman who you felt him in the room. He knew you. He would come talk to you and he was just a great inspiration to many of us coming up. Uh many looked up to him. I was lucky enough to get one of his
signature high fives in my first year here. I remember Mr. Walker as we work together to move forward. I ask that you remember Mr. Walker. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Mr. Ba. Mr. Dvita, our business administrator
report. Thank you. Uh, honor approval at tonight's meeting will be the award uh to award a bid for the next phase of the middle school project. Uh, this work will renovate um the old office space in the basement into classrooms and also upgrade HVAC in the same area. Funds for
the project will come out of the capital reserve account. Also on for approval is a forensic auditor to perform a forensic audit of the 2023 and 2024 funding years. Funds for this audit will be received through a state grant that will be passed through the township of
Nutley. And I'd also like to thank the Nutle Parks and Recck Department, uh, Commissioner Tucci, Frank Deo, and their team, uh, for their assistance with this past snowstorm. Um, they help with, uh, plowing, uh, so we can get our vehicles out. um also with some stone removal and
some equipment repair uh when it was needed. Uh so it is much appreciated. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Tvita. Uh we're going to move on to our presentations. Mr. Ba. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Can you hear me? Okay.
>> It's working. >> Let me Can you hear me now? Y better. >> This is important. Every year at this time of year, we celebrate students and we celebrate them for a couple different uh reasons. One of the reasons is um our BFW um post local post does a patriot
pen essay writing contest. Um it's been a staple since I've been here. I do want to welcome them up to speak about that and recognize our winners this year. I'd like to bring up from post 493 uh Diane Robertella, Anna Janice, and John
McGuire. >> I just want to thank all the students that participated. Um, it's not easy to get kids to write about hatred uh topics, but I just want to thank the teachers for pushing them and uh we love doing this with the kids and uh I'm
going to let D uh speak. >> Um it's a it's a wonderful program folks. We really appreciate the students hard work and dedication to our veterans actually and that's how it works. But I
would like to tell you how we go about looking at all these essays. Uh this year over the nation it was 60,000 people applied for these. So it was quite an an adventure but it's down from two or three years ago. So at least it's
important. Um last year more than 60,000 students participated in the BFW's Patriots Pen Essay contest that is conducted nationwide. This contest is open to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. It is an essay contest which
which encourages young minds to examine America's history along with their own experiences in our American society today. The students draft an essay of 300 to 400 words expressing their views based on a patriotic theme chosen by the
BFW's national commander-in-chief. This year, the theme is, "How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?" The student essay must be completed and submitted to the BFW by October 31st. Then the essay is judged
by the students knowledge of the theme, all relative facts about the theme, such as the who, what, where, and why, and how it relates to their own experiences. After reading the essay, it should give the reader a clear understanding of the
students understanding of the theme. How are you showing patriotism and support for our community, for our country? We want to thank the schools for the students participation in this year's patriotics pen essay contest and for letting our young students voice their
views on patriotism today. The contest gives our young students a chance to be aware of veterans in our society and how important they are to our nation. At this time, I would like to present our first place award to Tashki K. Gandhi
and our second place award to Colin J. Our if you'd like to come up. is your presentation and Anna and I were award and Colin, this is your award. It's $50 cuz you are a runner up and there is your name and outstanding mayor
for an essay and we thank you both very much but we like John is Gia here. Ellia Gia and Luke's not here, right? Luke's not okay. Here come this way.
>> You come that way and I could get her picture. Okay. >> Come that way. Congratulations. Everybody go here first. Mr. B, before everyone goes back to their seats, can we take a picture with the board as well? Thanks.
While everyone's getting up, I just want to say too, if your kids have not applied for our scholarship, we also have a scholarship. So, if any of your kids were on the scholarship, uh little briefing we had with Mr. Ba. It's free money. Please, please, please get your
kids to uh to try. Any anyone has a chance of uh of getting a scholarship. So, Thank you. She's importing. Thank you. We also have another award um tonight and I I want to recognize the Nelly
Educational Foundation's role in uh sponsoring our spelling be. Um we've run the spelling be I want to say for the last three or four years. Um, and I'm happy to introduce uh Jannine Locan Solo and our new ELA supervisor uh Danielle Rosselli uh to come speak about the
spelling be and introduce the winners. Okay, thank you for joining us tonight to recognize some very special students. Before we recognize the spelling bee winners, I want to recognize and thank Danielle Rosselli, our ELA supervisor, um, who oversaw the spelling bees in
each building. It takes a great deal of effort to organize and execute these bees effectively, and she did a great job with that. So, thank you, D. Since 1925, students across America have participated in classroom, school, and regional spelling bees with the hopes of
making it to the scripts national spelling bee. In January, each of our elementary schools held a school spelling bee for interested students in grades four through six. These students not only mastered challenging words, but also showed remarkable poise under
pressure in the school. spelling bees. We're incredibly proud of all of their dedication and their love of language. Our school champions will now move on to represent us at the regional level. We continue to cheer them on as they showcase their skills in this next
stage. Tonight, we recognize the winners from each school. Lincoln Sorry, guys. There we go. Our school winner for Lincoln Elementary will be Colin our Colin. >> Yeah, we need a We need a phone.
Thank you. >> I'd like to announce our Radcliffe Elementary winner, Matias Prasad. Our Washington Elementary School spelling be winner, Haven McFarland. OUR Spring Garden Elementary School winner,
Daniela Centennial. And our Yanqua Elementary School winner near Baker Town. I'd like to come here. Everybody was here. Congratulations to all our winners tonight.
APPLAUSE. Uh for those of you who uh were winners tonight and you're more than welcome to stay, but if you feel like you need to go home and do homework, you can. Now's the time.
Congratulations again. Thank you. See you later. All right. You are Please bear with us. We'll get Okay. Um, thank you. Sorry for the delay. U, we know many of you came here to learn about uh, some of the sixth
grade things we've been talking about in district um, and and speaking to the public. Uh we have been um since about a little over a year now been talking about transitioning the sixth grade uh to the middle school uh for many reasons. Um if uh if you go next slide
Ian, I just want to speak to some of the timeline things. Uh we we went uh went public with this last January. We convened a a group of um about 40 people. Uh everyone that put in was invited and we met up the stairs in the
media center. I want to say four or five times. And this was a steering committee. This was a committee meant to identify the pros and cons, the challenges, the the benefits. Um really identify some of the work to be done, the the 30,000 foot level things. Um really come out with um you know, what
are the concerns from the community, you know, where are we with this? Uh we went out, looked at some other middle schools, we looked to see how things were done. Um we reported back. It gave a lot of people in the room an idea of what this may look like. Um, this is a change for Nutley. Moving to a 68 middle
school is something they've been talking about for 20 years or so here in Nutley. Uh, the benefits are great, right? Uh, True Middle School exposes kids to a variety of pathways, skills, and classes, allowing them to choose um what
opportunity they may want to fall into a good high school, develop them to be college or career ready as they move towards 12th grade. Um, in Nutly, we have a 78 middle school. Um and just when students transition to learn the routines of middle school, they transition out to learn the routines of
high school. Those buildings are very different. So we were trying uh to think about this from a campus perspective from secondary students. What does that look like in both our buildings which happen to be very close to one another? How do we utilize that in our favor? Um how do we do this amongst the challenges
we face as a district or as a state uh with different things? Um this is a timeline we put up a while ago at a previous presentation. Last time we presented publicly about this was in October. Um and we shared uh the schedule. We shared some of the work that we were we have done uh to date. Uh
we have been working since then um to continue the progress of this project. Um and the work we have been doing has been securing the facilities. Uh the facilities upstairs are almost complete. uh securing the bidding process for another phase of the facility's work
which is on the board agenda for tonight. We have been working to use the rooms we're projecting the ones being built to run a master schedule. When I say that we brought the sixth graders up we have the rooms we scheduled the
classes and we ran to see how they fit and and can they fit and they can and we did that. That gave us a high degree of confidence to move this forward. uh we have been meeting I want to say weekly for a good part with our curriculum leaders in district our supervisors our central office team definitely Mr.
criteria and we've been taking the information we've gathered from our visits from our steering committee along with information we have from understanding analysis of what standards we hit a lot what standards we miss what experiences we use a lot in district what experiences we miss to develop um a
pathway for curricular choices electicing cycles and a plan forward um that that came with it some discussions we spent a good amount of time um all of our supervisors there from every content area and We agreed leaving there with a plan. Uh that plan we we also started
looking at staffing right around October probably probably right after I say November. I'm sorry. We uh surveyed the staff and we asked the staff you know who would like to go with the sixth grade to the middle school. We we kind of put it out there. We developed a tiered system for this approach. We
involved to some degree the EAN. We shared it with them and asked them for feedback. Uh we then put that out there. I met with each person. and we had 27 people put in for that across the district. I met with each person. I described the tiered system and what that looked like uh priority list pretty
much. We um having a lot of people that wanted to go, we prioritized people in sixth grade, people that have been in sixth grade since we departmentalized with the right certificate. We then looked at other sixth grade teachers and then we looked at other certificates that were very universal for some of the things we had to teach. We've identified
the 11 teachers to make the core classes and we notified them to come to the middle school for our PD day. And at our middle school PD day on the 13th of February, um we met with next year's faculty, right, for the middle school and we described some of the the moves
we're looking to make as a district. Um there was excitement, there was um I think overall a sense of um a path forward with our faculty. I think most educators are excited to move forward with the 68 middle school. they see the value as do a lot of our community members at this point. We are going to
hit challenges and uh one thing we want to do is make sure we're talking about where we are as a district with the community. Um as mentioned before this, you know, we're planning to share with the steering committee first and start rolling it out at board meetings once the plan continues to develop. This is our February plan. As we move forward
and learn things, get feedback, we will continue to refine and modify until we open next September. Um but here's some of the key key timeline steps. you know, the staffing conversation that's ongoing. Uh the program and curriculum design is starting. One of the ending
points of our middle school uh professional development with Mrs. Lopen Solo sharing what curriculum writing looks like as we modify courses and create new ones for sixth grade with our teachers. Um what that looks like. We're building up to the program of studies being completed in April. At that point,
we should have our program descriptions as well as our um the basis of our scope and sequence and curricular documents mostly completed um for scheduling. Um so we're moving forward with that very nicely. Um our two orientations, I know Mr. Merry is playing two parent nights
to bring the parents together, both the fifth grade and sixth grade to talk about what this looks like. So a lot of work has been done and we're happy to share um some of this work with you tonight. Um, and uh, you know, in talking to our team, I know Mrs. Lman Solo is here and she's ready to field
questions. Mr. Mr. V is here because I know some of the the questions came up during the music program and I thank you for being here. Really, it's Mr. Mataria who is the center of this conversation and I invited him to give this presentation because as the middle school principal uh, I think he's the most excited uh, and he sees the most
opportunity and lives this dayto-day. So, I'm happy to welcome Mr. Terry up to to go through only 23 no only three slides um based on based on the the adjustments we have going. Thank you Mr. Merry. Everyone's welcome to stay after the
board meeting for the original 270 slide presentation. Um thank you for coming this evening. Um we're going to start off with uh the slide on that. Thank you Ian. Um, with regard to music, one of the things that, um, I'd like to say before before
starting is from the beginning of this journey, uh, we we always start the conversation by saying that we were going to bring the sixth graders to the middle school, but not the sixth grade. Um, and that's key to to to keep in mind
is we were bringing we are bringing the sixth graders, but not the sixth grade. So things are going to look different um when when we talk about programming um we want to make it better um but it's going to look different. Okay. So
starting off with music um right now when we look at our music offerings in sixth grade our students receive their music ensemble once a week for 40 minutes and they are being pulled from an academic course whether it be ELA or
math or social studies something along those lines. And in our is that is that too dark? I know you as I know you wanted me to stop talking. Um in middle school our middle school program next year in the zero period
offering which would be an AV rotation um they would be receiving from 80 to 120 minutes of music a week. So once again that's that's an improvement and they wouldn't be being pulled. It would be a dedicated AB rotation
for instrumental lessons. Once again, in the sixth grade this year, students are being pulled from an academic and it's for 40 minutes once a week. At middle school next year, students
will be pulled from a phys health class once a week and it's for 46 minutes. Once again, it's increased. It's an improvement. and the access to other courses. Right now, as it currently stands, students
are once again being pulled from an academic in sixth grade. Um but with the program that we are offering for next year, students will continue receiving their ensemble and will have the same exposure as non-m
music students to the cycles which we will cover in the next slides to all of the exposures as well as their academics. So this is an improvement. This is better. This is what we want our sixth graders
to be exposed to while also enjoy enjoying their exposure to what they love which is music. It'll just be at a different time. Next slide. Ian. So before going over the slides, the typical sixth grade schedule will be an
8 period day. We've already gone over zero period which takes place prior to the 8 peri day beginning. But every sixth grader, every student in the middle school, but focusing on the sixth grade, every sixth grader will have four core areas. ELA, math, science, and
social studies. A lunch period, that's five. Health and fizzed, that's six. Um, and then they will have two other courses. These are their exposure courses. They will have a language rotation
and they will have a cycle rotation. The cycle rotation is really exciting because it's something that's really really new um here at the middle school. Um and we see them up here. Some of these find their foundation in what we saw as gaps, things that our current
middle schoolers we think don't have, things that we think our middle schoolers need. Um some of these things find their foundation and things that we just think are really cool um that our kids would really benefit from. Um and some things up here just oldies goodies
things that increase the repertoire for our students. We'll start with seminar. Um these courses are marking period long cycles. Um things that our students would have exposure to. Every single sixth grader would have exposure to these courses. So
they don't pick. Every single sixth grader. You're a sixth grader. You're going to have this whether marking period 1, 2, 3, or four. You get to decide at the end of sixth grade, well, I like that. I didn't like that. You actually get a choice. You don't get a choice as to whether you're going to take it, but at the end, you
get to choose whether you liked it or not. You actually get to make that choice. You get the choice at the end to say, "I liked it." So maybe later in seventh or eighth grade or when you get to high school, you can actually make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to take something and make a
commitment later when you actually have the foundation to make a choice. So starting with seminar which is kind of a nebulous term. Seminar is a course where our students will learn information and stuff that they need to be successful middle school
organizational skills executive functioning. Um cyber security awareness how to learn learning how to write an actual email which a lot of our middle schoolers do not know how to do well. um learning how to use the student portal,
accessing their grades, important things that they will need and use throughout their tenure in this school and that they will also use as foundational skills through their tenure in high school as well. Engineering, um which is a course that we currently offer in seventh and eighth grade. It's not
called engineering, it's called tech, uh technology and engineering, but it's a very popular course. This is a taste for our students to actually see if they actually may want to take this in seventh and eighth grade and make that commitment. Um, but here they'll learn about design and process, problem
solving. Um, all those really important skills that find find also success in math class and in science class. Entrepreneurship. This is a course that we kind of thought about that finds its foundation also in a really fun program
that students um enjoy um in elementary school that we call traps. Okay. So, it's a little flavor from traps. Um, but financial literacy, innovation, design thinking, market research, public speaking, which is something we
currently don't offer, pitching an idea, things that are find find their success that that um students find success in public speaking um in these types of courses and then they can transfer that
success in other classes. And finally, the old but goody art. Um, our our art class is chalk full of kids smiling all day, having a great time. But right now in seventh and eighth grade, students have to choose art. And if they choose art, they can't choose
something else. Um, and maybe students go through middle school the whole time saying, "Hey, maybe I should have taken art, but I didn't get a chance to cuz I wanted to take this class." At least now in sixth grade, they get to decide if they even liked art or not. And if they they like art, they're like, you know, maybe I'm going to take art in seventh grade. So it gives them a chance to see
if they actually like art or not. So those are our elective cycles. That's the package that we give our sixth graders. That's the package of exposure. That's what we find as being important for our sixth graders. And I'm sorry if
I keep hitting the microphone really hard. I apologize. And now for our language exploration. So for our language exploration, once again, it's it's one of those things where we want to give our sixth graders the opportunity to do a taste test for
what we already offer at our middle school. Currently in our middle school, we offer Italian, Spanish, and Latin. Okay? And I have it's it's very small print. I'm not going to read every every item here, but right now in sixth grade, our students
receive 1 to two days a week of Spanish. Okay? Here at the middle school in seventh and eighth grade, students take world language every single day. But at the middle school in seventh and eighth grade, the language you choose in seventh grade, you must take for two
consecutive years. You make a commitment. At this time, we don't see that changing. But now that the sixth graders, not the sixth grade, but the sixth graders will be coming to the middle school, we want to give them an opportunity to be able
to make a better choice prior to seventh grade. So, we want to give them a language exploration course where they'll be able to take a little bit of Spanish, a little bit of Italian, and a little bit of Latin over the course of four marking periods.
So the purposeful exposure before commitment, they'll have an exposure to Latin, an exposure to L, Italian, and an exposure um to Italian Latin and Spanish over the course of four marking periods so that they can start making some
informed decisions over the course of that year prior to seventh grade scheduling. Um there's that cultural cultural literacy component. As the year unfurs, they'll be introduced to geography,
music, food, all the cultural facets of Italian, countries that speak Italian, countries that speak Spanish. Naturally, Latin, there aren't aren't any countries that speak Latin naturally, but there'll be a Roman history component as well. Um, those are all pieces that will be part
of that curriculum as well. Language foundations across the pathways. Students will also be introduced to basic vocabulary and also language features of the langu of the languages of study so that they can start putting that in in their repertoire so that when
they make their decision they have actually pieces of information as to why they're making that decision. Hey, I'm going to choose Latin because I've learned that Latin has a lot of root words that will help me with vocabulary or help me with PSATs or SATs once I get to high school. or I'm gonna take Spanish because I have a lot of Spanish
people in my family and I can speak Spanish to them or Spanish will be helpful because of the job I want to have when I get older. Whatever the case is, they'll have information as to why they want to make that decision. Um, and then naturally comparative language uh root study once again I just mentioned
that the whole idea of roots of languages and then finally readiness of sequence sequencing and alignment getting them ready for high school. Um, so that is the language exploration component of the that last class that they will have that finishes that
exposure package for our sixth graders. Thank you. As this conversation continues, um, we will be sharing more and more. This is our February uh, framework. as we move forward and listen to feedback and learn new things come up against new challenges. We didn't anticipate and
have to overcome them. Um we will keep everyone updated. Uh we do plan to bring the steering committee back together as soon as we get the co able to use that room um and speak in more detail by that point. We'll be well on our way with curriculum writing. Uh we'll have more information as to scope and sequence and
things of that nature as it comes. So we are excited. I want to thank I know there's a lot of people in the room um that have contributed in some way to the conversation or will contribute. Um but as you can tell by Mr. Terry's excitement, we are excited uh for this change. We see uh the huge benefits this
brings our district, our students um for years to come. Um and we're thankful that the board supports this, our our township board of commissioner supports this and we hope that our community will support this as well. Uh thank you very much, >> Mr. Be. Mr. B, I just there's something that Mr. material said that I just
wanted to just get some more clarification on. So, right now in the sixth grade, right, if a if a student is pulled for one of the uh 40-minute sessions of of music, they're pul they could be pulled out of any of their core classes. So, if they're in a math class,
they're going to get pulled out of that math class. >> Um, yeah, correct. I was uh I was at an elementary school in fifth grade science lesson. The science lesson was two periods. I mean, this teacher um had a great lesson going on. It was very hands-on station oriented. There was a sun in the middle of the room. The students were rotating around. Kids were
engaged at at the beginning of the second period. A bell rang and announcement came up. All band students, please report to the auditorium uh for band rehearsal. So those students missed that second part of that science lesson. Um an engaged class and band is very important. So I understand why they're doing that, but the two are conflicting
right now. >> So So I want to follow up with that, right? Okay. So, you can't if if if in a math class, I'm just going to use math as as the example, but if the if the teacher is giving an exam, a test, right, or a quiz, what happens at that
point? Does that child still go to their music or do they stay and take that test? >> Um, I would I would think each school might handle that differently, but I I do know that many students will go to band because that's their one opportunity that week to to meet with their grade level colleagues in band. Uh, and some schools have it where it's
not the whole band meeting, but it's different components of the band. Um, and they have to make up that test. >> Okay. Thank you. I I don't know if there's any other board members that have any questions, but um the one thing I was confused about is I understand
that zero period presently is geared towards symphonic band like or instrumental band solely. Does that change in the new model where there will be on A and B
days? Is it one day choir one day? I'm just confused about that. >> Yeah, currently and this is a conversation I had Mr. Murella even this past week. We are we are in our AB schedule for band and choir. Um so they're getting out every other day. We are we have been having a lot of discussions about the doublers the the students that take both and how to
incorporate them into this setting ensuring I was very confident after talking to Mr. Vicarella that we're going to develop a pathway for students to do that. I just jumped there. Right now, the the the foundation of Zero Period is is not for symphonic band. It's Zero Period was
created for for dual ensemble students. It's for students that wanted to be in band and orchestra. >> Okay. >> Um it's it's for students that wanted to be in dual ensembles or for students that wanted to be in choir and band. Um so, say a student is a choir student,
but they also want to play the trumpet. They would have choir during a school day and there would be a zero period band. Or if a kid wants to be in band but also plays the violin, they would be in band during the day or orchestra during the day and then be in in its counterpart during a zero period. >> Okay.
>> That that's that's how zero period came about. It's for dual ensemble students. >> Okay. So there's choir offered in zero period. >> Currently zero period is only for dual ensemble. Choir is not offered currently during zero period. Will it be met in
the new model? >> Yes. >> I'm sorry. I think I misunderstood your question. >> Only for sixth grade. >> Only for sixth grade. >> Any other board members have any questions or >> I think the question
>> Yeah, I was going to say, do we have any questions now from the public? >> I think I heard we're going to fit everyone for zero period. Our building's open. We have auditoriums. We have this space. We have a lot of space, zero period. But during the school day, as mentioned, we already put all the new rooms in, brought all the students up a
grade, and ran a master schedule. So, we know we have the rooms to fit six, seven, and eight. >> What do you mean? >> Can still do band zero period every day. But now we're going to also bring sixth grade in to also do band. >> So, if we're going to be then
I want you from the beginning, man. Good evening everyone. Vinnie Morrell, supervisor of fine and performing arts, career and technical education as well as the high school band director. Um, currently I'm just going to reiterate a couple things. Currently, zero period is a musicto music conflict. Like Mr.
talked about it was created so that students didn't have to choose between either choir or band, orchestra, band, choir, whatever it is. However, it was created so students can do two at once. Um, students are not able to do
currently in seventh and eighth grade another elective such as art and zero period music. That is considered a leg up on everybody else. It's it's a conflict right now. Um, moving forward with sixth grade, the AB schedule, I'm going to clarify that a little bit.
Where we're going right now is one day um has to be worked out, of course, all all the logistics and everything else. Uh, take this week for instance, an A day say is sixth grade. Uh, they would have it Monday, Wednesday, Friday, next week, Tuesday, Thursday. I'm just
busting out really quickly what it could look like. Um, sixth grade is not going to be on the same day as grades seven and eight. in our conversations um pedagogically sixth graders are not in the same place as an eighth grader are. So um one of the things we talked about
is how we separate that and make sure that it's successful for all the students. So on a given day sixth grade ensembles so sixth grade alone all those ensembles are going to meet zero period. So what that means is orchestra will
have its own class, band will have its own class, and choir will have its own class on a sixth grade morning. Seventh and eighth grade is not being touched. Seventh and eighth grade is still operating the same way that it is in our current model. But instead of having it
every day, they would be on that every other day with the sixth grade zero period. Is that have a is there a little more clarity to that? Does that mean that the zero period for the sixth graders is not going to be Monday to Friday? It's going to be only three.
>> It's going to be on every other day uh a schedule that will be put out prior to the start of the school year. Uh so that everybody has it. It's different um again outside of the box thinking on certain things so that students can get all their exposures as well as keep
their love for music as well. But the bottom line is that under the new model, the sixth grade will be receiving more instruction than what they are getting today. >> So, >> and not being pulled out of class in order to >> they will not be pulled out of their
academics. They they will be staying separate from their academics. They will be getting their psycho elective as well as a music if they choose. Now, before if any before anybody asks, I think Mr. Delpiano started to get to that was the
fact of um what if a student wants to be in a doubler as we call them. Um we're like Mr. Ba alluded to we're we're on a pathway of how that's going to look. Um again this is year one not saying it's going to be perfect in year one but we
are going to do our very best um in in all that planning. I currently in conversations with Mr. last week we we were, you know, just bouncing ideas back and forth of how that doubler can look. Prior to last week, it wasn't a conversation of a
doubler. Um, it was streamlining and we want to be able to offer what our students at the elementary school currently are offered. We want to be able to offer that to them in sixth grade also by allowing them to have two ensembles if they wish such such as a
choir and a band, a band in an orchestra, orchestra and a band, whatever it may be. >> Um, with them being in those opportunities, will they then also be able to be in what I imagine is the seventh eighth grade like productions? Like will they be a part of like when
there's a a concert, things of that nature? Are they going to have like are they their own bubble sixth grade? They're not in they're in it but they're not in it. Like I know there's a lot of marching band that's an extra like how is the work enveloping?
>> Sure. So um with that again things are things are being worked out. There will be a performance opportunity for the students. Of course we're not just going to you know take all that away. Currently sixth graders have one performance opportunity at the elementary schools whether it's choir,
band, orchestra. um with that marching band currently is only offered to eighth graders. Um students currently rising eighth graders. So um that will stay the same. Seventh graders it will not be open to at the current moment or sixth
graders. Too much of an age gap in maturity that needs to happen. Um so with that, you know, we we go on a trip with seventh and eighth grade. Don't know if that will happen for sixth grade. Um, uh, some of you are laughing and shaking your heads, but I I I don't
want to say no right off the bat because, um, I'm not the one there. There's a whole entire team that has to make decisions as well, not just Vinnie Vicarella. Um, so >> are they going to have a club also, for a reason, uh, they want to do a music
club separate in between? >> No, you answer. >> Um, of course, clubs also have to do with stipens and all of that. So, I know that that's a bigger conversation than just deciding, hey, you're going to have a club right now. Um, currently we do have music clubs for seventh and eighth
grade. Um, I'm sure that there are things that will be explored as well. Uh, just so that one of the big reasons when we started this conversation for sixth grade moving to the middle school was the fact of giving them more opportunity. Um, with that I believe
giving them opportunities with possible clubs and I say possible because I can't make decisions for anybody. I'm I'm a big component uh proponent of teamwork. So um with that it will be explored for sure.
>> Is it the same teachers if you're saying zero period sixth grade is going to be separate from seventh and eighth zero period? >> That I currently cannot answer. Those are things we're working through. um you know this is all all fresh to a lot of people including you know everybody in
this room so those are logistical things that need to be worked out um you know a lot of the planning on behalf of Mr. Vana as well as Mr. Mitaria and uh the rest of the administrative team as well along with collaboration of teachers. >> Yeah, I I can speak to you know some of
the staffing things. We're very early what we did with our team and I just like to echo what what Vince said. U so far the team has been um kind of you know behind the scenes working through as we communicate this out the team will get larger. We'll involve more stakeholders and we'll get more feedback. Uh we've developed a framework
if you will. some of the specifics about staffing and what the programs actually look like will be those decisions we made with a bigger team especially our teachers as they come on board and join the curriculum writing and different things. So it's very early uh in every year to talk about staffing and where staff are going right now.
>> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Are there any other questions still take any >> Yeah. Any other questions that um you have for my team? I have one question for for drama. I know the sixth graders are completely separated for seven and
eight that they don't want to put them in. That means that if the sixth graders will not be part of any drama uh class, they want to get involved. >> Yeah, drama is an extracurricular uh club in some buildings. I believe uh
Lincoln School doing a play is a very special thing where they went out and they they got a grant and a relationship with Disney. Uh, Spring Garden does it as well. Yeah. Um, I know at the middle school they do have a performance. Um, I don't know if you're want to speak to that or not, but you know, as we move forward, you know, common sense
opportunities, common sense things that we do should expand for our sixth graders and we're committed to seeing that through. >> Yes, ma'am. >> A schedule for the sixth graders. Do they have a choice? But they want to
require and require and then >> I think I think that's what Mr. V was just alluding to the doublers as I learned the phrase over the weekend. Um students students that are in multiple ensembles um we want to open those pathways for them and find a way to do that. I think the district is committed
to doing that and working out the logistics about what that looks like on an AB schedule. Um, so that's one of those things where we understand the idea. We want to move forward with that idea. We have some operational logistical things to work out in our end, but we're going to do that.
>> Although they could be >> correct. >> So I'm sorry, I don't mean to speak for you, but I believe that's >> So they're separate days. Again, seventh and eighth grade will keep their exact model. just zero period will be half the amount if we want to say it straight up.
You know what it is. Uh sixth grade will be on a given day. Again, working through how that might look for students that want to be in two sets of music, but they would all be still on that given a day. >> Just thinking you're going to make it.
What time does zero period start? >> 7:23. >> 7:25. 7:25. Um, now with um, sixth graders who want to participate in music needing to be part of zero period, are we thinking about crossing guards being
>> that's crossing guards run through uh, public safety? You know, we'd have to have those conversations with them. They they appoint crossing guards. Um, but things like that are things we need to consider. We we need to build out and these things need to come forward so we can consider them sooner than later. Um, so I do appreciate that coming out. Um,
although it's probably not a conversation for now. It's has to be in the conversation package we have moving forward. >> No, but Mr. Benny, I just want to add to that though. We this year we open September, we opened up the prek center on Bloomfield Avenue. There was no crossing guard there, but we discussed
we had a conversation with our counterparts on the board of commission and there is a crossing guard there. So we, this board does meet regularly with the board of commissioners. Uh we have subcommittees that meet. We discuss all of these issues. Um this move to the
middle school doing a 6 through 8 is is a direct result of those discussions and something that they are you know there to help us in any way that they can. Um this is this sixth grade move is something that's been talked about well over 20 years. Uh I think the
superintendent at the time when this first conversation started that I recall was Dr. Saraphina. All right. And when my daughters, who were twin girls, were in third grade, the discussion started with moving the sixth graders to middle school. And the
talk at the time was that by the time they were in sixth grade, that was going to happen. Well, my quarter is in May will be graduating high uh college. So that's how long this has been, you know, in the works. It's something that we've tried to do. We've, you know, we went out to the public two times with a
referendum. The public didn't support it. um it's something that is talked about academically that's going to be beneficial for the students. So it's something that we've been able to work with the board of commissions in and getting that done. So as the team said it's something that's it's going to look
different from what the sixth graders experience today at the elementary school. But I think this is something that's going to evolve and things are going to change as you know things come up and parents have concerns and obviously questions we you know this is what this is about right. If you do have
a question or concern, you hear something, pick up the phone, call the building principal, call the superintendent's office, reach out to one of the board members. We may not have the answers because some of these things are not things that we make the decisions on, right? It's something that
the team works on, but we're here. If you're not getting the answers, obviously come to the meeting and you could ask the questions. >> I I would encourage you to reach out to administration. and the board members are are wonderful, but to be honest, our job is to answer your questions and to listen to you. So, I would appreciate um
if you go up or we put out a channel of communication, you start at the bottom of the chain, work up and find answers. I I found on Friday, there's a lot of misinformation out there. I was hearing it from the public. I was hearing it from board members coming to me. And to be honest, as I started speaking to people and explaining kind of what we're
doing, some of the anxiety decreased a little bit. It's probably still there because I understand it's a big change. Um, but we are listening and we are here to explain things. So, I would encourage you to come to the administration. >> The two slides back up. I know things can change, but just
>> Yeah, sure. Um, Karen, are we posting Can we post these on our website? We would also post them online as well. Yeah. >> Middle school teacher that that happening. >> Yeah, as far as staffing and budgeting, you know, we're very early in the
budgeting process. We we did a preliminary uh walkthrough of the board. Um we have a long way to go as far as this year's budget. As far as I but I want to be honest with the community, you know, as every school district around the state, budgets are tight and going down, and there will be challenges
in this budget. There there most likely will be staff we have to reduce by, not add to. Um, so as we go through this together, we'll be letting the board know, letting the public know where we are, uh, with revenues and expenditures, and we have to come up with a balanced budget. So that's where we are. It's
March. Uh, things will be delayed with a new governor coming in. Um, but as we move forward, you know, I I just want to set the expectation that we're probably like many districts, um, not because of maybe the mismanagement, the troubles we faced here in Nelly, but because of just a very difficult equation for schools
right now with healthcare and energy going up and and staffing, um, and the revenues being limited of 2%. Um, it's a very challenging equation for the school district. >> Mr. Any questions? >> I was just going to bring a little bit of a human touch to this. I have a
seventh grader now. Um probably going to embarrass her, by the way. But I will say this. Um all of this was mind-numbing when you're sitting in those orientations and you're listening to the the zeros and and and the doublers and and all. I will just give
this advice. Talk to a seventh grader. I was I was more worried than she was. Uh I I I wore the worry and I have to commend the transition into middle school. I have absolutely nothing to worry. I have a third grader too. Uh nothing to worry about with the third
grader coming up having been on the rece midway through the year. She knows her schedule. She tells me where she needs to be and I just I'm the Uber. Um, I bring her, she she delivers. And I cannot tell you what fantastic
educators we have, what fantastic talent. Um, we're also very highly recognized, by the way. We are kicking butt. So, you guys keep it up, please. Fantastic. Um, it is just nice to see not just a transition to keep the same,
but a transition to improve time, not just in arts, but also in our core subjects. I think that may have just been kind of maybe not emphasized enough. Our students are currently pulled from academics. We're limited in
what we can do because of our current sixth grade elementary model. Bringing the sixth grade up to the middle school, this true middle school model now allows for greater opportunity. We seem to forget that sometimes and we worry about
all the things that the kids don't worry about. They've run right into it. They embrace it. They love it. Um they'll tell you. Don't take my word for it. Please ask them. U but what I I think we kind of breezed over but is very important is the increased academic time
too. So we not only are we enhancing the time and this this is a lot of thought, a lot of effort. This wasn't put together overnight. I commend administration uh and all the stakeholders that came in. They listened. They didn't just make these decisions in silos. They made them
in support of what this community values. You don't get that too often. Uh sometimes it's just this top down this is what we're doing. They were uh sensitive to what the the town values. that was at the core and they built
something wonderful around it. So I I have to say just having a being a parent being educ and in education and seeing the thought that came in and and what I'm seeing before me is impressive. Not other other communities cannot do this because they don't have the team we
have. They don't have the community we have. They don't have the educators we have. They certainly don't have the kids we have. That's why we're able to do something like that. So, it's everybody in this room. But I I just want to um kind of revisit that a second. Just we've made a brief pass at it. But this
is not just repackaged sixth grade. That'd be the easy route. This was the hard route. This is the path usually not taken. This is improvement. And I'm very proud to see what we did here. And um I can't wait for my uh my my children that
are involved, but also my young one that's going to receive this. Maybe not this iteration. I would only imagine it be completely improved upon every single year, but this is fantastic. So I can't um can't just not say that. So thank you
very much for all your hard work on this. >> Uh it's everyone in the room. Um to Mr. Dr. Leah's point um we have not yet designed scope sequence or curriculum yet with the academics especially but there's huge value in some of the academic shifts that are coming in the course the teaming model um the teachers
working together science classrooms you know the whole nine u we're going to do that work with our teachers um and we will report out on that stuff when the time comes >> any other questions
>> I just want to continue And just thank you on the board very much. Mr. Bos, I am a senior parent. My kid is out of the system. I have two kids and from spring school we eat sleep
free music and so I want to thank you all. This sixth grade I was hoping my kids were going to be part of this. I voted in every single referendum and unfortunately I didn't have the privilege to see my sixth graders come into the middle school because definitely they were bored out of the
line of sixth grade um in the elementary but I thank you because the way that you guys are singing it um from years past not I never thought it could be done and I really I know there's a lot of work and I know that you guys still have a lot but I want to thank you for this and
thank you for keeping music and trying the best way possible because as I that you know my kids are music kids and they're still they're going to my one is in college the other one's going into colleges college also with music so thank you board members thank you Miss
thank you Mr. secretarian for doing this. I think it's great. I know you have a lot of work to do. I know we need more teachers. I know we need more curriculum. We need all that stuff. But thank you for taking into consideration and listening to our our music.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh thank you. We'll return the seats and move on with the meeting. Thank you guys very much. Good job. Thank you. just Okay, we're going to move on to our committee reports.
academic. Mr. Duck Martin, I got it right. Morning. >> It's going to be a hard act to follow. All right. Okay. The academic committee met on February 18th. In attendance were
myself, Mr. Delpiano, Miss Quirk, Mr. Ba, Miss Loans, and Mr. Williams. Mr. Smith joined the committee to discuss the upcoming crew trips. Students and faculty from Hackinac Meridian Medical School joined the committee to discuss one-on-one peer mentoring programs
beginning the next academic year. The committee discussed the profile of a graduate and describing students at key benchmark years for student growth and measurement, the upcoming cursive mandate and the DOE guidance on cell
phones in schools, and the 2026 27 academic and 12-month calendars. The committee discussed the sixth grade transition and the February 13th professional development day as well as updates in the budget presentation, legal matters, field trips, professional
development as well as the CPAC conversation regarding American Sign Language. Our next academic committee is uh schedule is to be determined. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Dmorton. Mr. Bamo, acade administration.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. Uh the administration committee met on February 18th. Myself, Mr. Scotty, and Mr. Gilbert were there with Mr. Ba and Mr. Bemeister. The committee discussed the 2026 2027 academic and 12-month calendar. We also
discussed the sixth grade transition and the discussion from the February 13th professional development day. The committee discussed the upcoming cursive instruction mandate and the New Jersey Department of Education guidance on cell phones in schools. The committee discussed updates in the budget
preparation, legal matters, field trips, professional development, as well as the CPAC conversation regarding American Sign Language. Uh the next meeting of the administration committee is to be decided. >> Thank you, Mr. Bosano. Mr. Scotty. Policy. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The policy
committee met on February 18th following the administration committee meeting. Uh in attendance were myself, Mr. Balsamo, Mr. Gilbert, Mr. and Mr. Vmeister. Uh, the committee reviewed policies from Strauss alert 236 and policies that needed to be reviewed based on the
five-year policy renewal cycles. The committee moved policies to first reading for abolishment and approval and the next uh committee meeting is to be determined. >> Thank you, Mr. Scott and Mr. Fraggin's finance. >> Thank you, Mr. President. The finance committee met on February 18th in
attendance was myself, President Farro, Dr. Dealia, Janette Makus, Kent Ba, Michael Dvidita, Michael Parizi, and Terresa Lard. The board received health benefits from and budget projections for the next school year from our insurance broker, and we discussed potential increases. We received an update on
various facility projects, including the middle school media center project. A substantial completion is expected in March. Uh the middle school classroom conversion, we are currently receiving bids now. the digital signs at the high school and middle school. Uh we're waiting for the snow to melt to proceed.
Uh the IT chiller, which unfortunately the HVAC system needs to be replaced. Uh we also discussed auditorium seating replacements uh and are currently getting estimates. Uh the board discussed payment application 2 for the middle school media center project. We discussed settlements uh settlement
agreements as well as discussed the 2026 2027 academic calendar. We received an update on the 20 the 2026 27 budget. There is a delay in the governor's budget address and the state aid amounts. Um and we're sending out RFPs
to review the costsaving measures like lawn maintenance. Uh as always, we're looking for ways to increase revenues. Uh we did discuss results of the RFP for the forensic audit and we're currently receiving proposals for coffee machines as the lease will be ending this summer.
Um we reviewed resolutions including a bill for the next phase of the middle school project payment application three for the middle school project and the forensic order. Uh next meeting is for is March 9th is a board workshop. Uh thank you Mr. P. Thank you Mr. Frainos.
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 others wishing to speak on the 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? >> Just hit the switch.
>> Donna Ferrero, 34 Roosevelt Street. Uh, first of all, I'm happy that I'm here at this meeting. Everything is moving up very nicely and it really looks great. I'm happy for the school system. Um I really am. So um I've been
waiting patiently and when I looked on the board minutes that uh we are going to have an audit. I just want to know about a timeline if you have one. >> Mr. Dude, >> uh I'll be speaking with them tomorrow.
um once it it's officially approved, we talked with them. Um and from in the uh proposal, uh we did say that we wanted um it to be done uh before the start of our next audit for our annual audit. Um so we're hoping to have it done before um the end of the school year, but I
don't know firm dates yet, but that's what we're we're hoping to have so it doesn't interfere with our annual audit coming up. So you'll keep the public informed in a sense to let us know when those dates and when all the final >> outcome comes. Okay, that's all I have.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else have any questions? >> Okay, seeing none, can I get a motion to end the public hearing portion of the meeting? >> Make motion second. >> Okay, thank you. Okay, Miss Dan checkpoint, would you uh
take academic resolutions? >> Yes, Mr. Govern. >> Uh, any discussion? >> Mr. Bamo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Dan Martin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dia, >> yes. >> Mr. Delpano, >> yes. >> Mr. Fragginel, >> yes. >> Mr. Gilbert, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Clerk, >> yes. >> Mr. Scotty, >> yes. >> Mr. Po. >> Yes, Mr. Bosamo. Administration. >> Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to move administrative resolutions 1 through five as written. >> Uh, any discussion?
>> Yes. I would like to discuss um number four. Uh the the continued reliance on half days as a method of delivering professional development has and continues to cause undue hardship on parents and caregivers in town. Furthermore, too much instructional time
is lost due to these half days. I understand that the Friday preceding long weekends has been the traditional time that Nutley has done professional development. However, in the future, I would like to see the district use alternative methods as a mean to lessen
the burden on the public and allow our student body to receive the greatest possible amount of instructional time. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um any I mean that's I guess that's something that Mr. Ber that's something you're going to obviously from year to
year review. So it's something that >> uh thank you. >> Thank you for the feedback. Uh we receive feedback on the academic calendar uh frequently from many stakeholders and we appreciate it. >> Any other discussion?
>> Okay. Roll call. Any other discussion or >> No. >> No. Okay. Roll call. >> Mr. Bamo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Danek Martin. >> Yes. >> Dr. Dia. >> Yes. >> Mr. Delpiano. >> Yes. And all four. No. >> Mr. Fragel.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Gilbert. Uh, yes. I'm all for no. >> Mrs. Quirk, >> yes. >> Mr. Scotty, >> yes. >> Mr. Ferraro, >> yes. >> Mr. Fragginals, finance.
>> Thank you, Mr. President. Finance resolution. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Mr. Bamo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Danek Martin. >> Yes. >> Dr. Dillard, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Delpano.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Fenell, >> yes. >> Mr. Gilbert, >> yes to all except number six. >> Mrs. Quirk, >> yes. >> Mr. Scotty, >> yes. >> Mr. Ferro, >> yes.
>> Mr. Scotty, policy. >> Yes, Mr. President. I policy resolutions one and two is written. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. Mr. B. Yes, >> Mrs. Dan Martin. >> Yes, >> Dr. Dulia.
>> Yes, >> Mr. Delpano. >> Yes, >> Mr. Fragel. >> Yes, >> Mr. Gilbert. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Quirk. >> Yes, >> Mr. Scotty. >> Yes, >> Mr. Ferraro. >> Yes. >> Uh, Mr. Quirk, would you do personnel? >> Yes. Mr. President, I'd like to move
personnel resolution number one. >> Second. >> Discussion roll call. >> Mr. Bamo, >> yes. >> Mr. Duck Martin, >> yes. >> Dr. Dia, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Delpano. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fragel, >> yes. >> Mr. Gilbert, >> yes. >> Mrs. Clerk, >> yes.
>> Mr. Scotty, >> yes. >> Mr. Ferraro, >> yes. Is there any old business to come before the board? Any new business? Um, I have something under new business. Uh, as the president, uh, I'd like to make a motion
to work with our board and our board attorney, our administrative team to draft a letter to send to our governor uh, regarding increased costs that are putting a strain not just on the
township of the board of education, but also all the school districts throughout the state. Uh, it's something that can't be solved at the local level. when you see certain costs that are increasing by double digits. Um, in the instance of, you know, insurance, I believe there was
the state insurance plan, uh, that a lot of the other school districts are in that are seeing an increase of 37%. Um, and when you when you have to when you're capped at a 2% increase to the tax increase, it's very hard to make up
that difference. So, uh, I'm making a motion and I our attorney there is correct me on, you know, if if it's if there's wording we have to, you know, put forward as far as a motion to write a letter to our governor seeking a meeting and assistance with regard to
these increased costs, healthcare, utilities, special education, I mean, transportation, you name it. These are costs that are far outpacing the revenue. And I think it's important that we as a district uh make sure that uh the governor understands where we're at.
And I'm sure there's other school districts and um municipalities that will be at some point doing the same. So I put that motion forward. >> Second, >> Mr. Board attorney. So yes, >> walk us through the process so we do it right and we don't have to redo it
again. >> Absolutely. Uh, so your motion, I I understand it as working with the administration and our office to draft that letter for this board to send on behalf of the Nutley Board of Education to Governor Cheryl. Um,
regarding the increased costs placed on school districts, that's what I have written down as your motion here. Um, such as health insurance, transportation, etc. Um, we can certainly work with administration if the board approves that that motion that we can move forward with that.
>> Okay. So the motion was made. There was a second. Um is there any discussion from the board? Okay. So roll call. >> Mr. Bano. >> Yes. >> Mrs. D Martin. >> Yes. >> Dr. Dia.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Delpo. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fragile. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gilbert. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Clerk. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scotty. >> Yes. >> Mr. Fero. >> Yes. Whereas the board of education will be discussing matters exempt from public
discussion pursuant to NJSA 10 col4-12. Now therefore be it resolved that the board of education recess to close executive session at this time to discuss personnel contracts and legal issues. Be it further resolved that the results of the discussions will be made public by inclusion on the agenda of the
subsequent meeting with the board of education or when the reasons for discussing shuts matters in close session no longer exist. I get a motion to um go into executive session. Second. >> Okay. Thank you everyone. Motion. We're
going to make a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Okay. No. No actions going to be taken. >> No action. >> Okay. So, we'll make motion to adjurnn the meeting. No action will be taken. >> Second. >> All in favor?