Uh this is a regular meeting of the Oakland Board of Education. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided. Schedule of regular meetings of the Board of Education was adopted at the reorganization meeting on January 6, 2026. Schedule and notice of said meetings has been posted
um at the uh rear interior window or of the exterior door of the administrative offices uh mailed to the retrospect and the courier post and filed with the burough clerk of Oakland. All foregoing has been done within the time required by law in accordance with the open
public meetings act and a roll call. >> All right. Um Stacy's absent. Ryan's Aiden >> here. >> We do a quorum. I'm sorry. Colleen >> here. Uh Mrs. Marian
>> here. Mr. McMillan >> here. >> Mr. TB. Okay. >> Here. Um, please stand for the pledge of allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. >> No executive session at this time. So, we're going to move on to our first of two presentations, starting with our Hawk Heroes.
Rearrange. Good evening, everyone. Look at these shining stars out there. We're so good to see you all tonight. Um, as you know, I'm Miss Bowden and I'm here to present the Hawk Hero Awards. Our trait for this month was respect. So, these are our respectful students
sitting in front of us today. Um, and at OPS, we define respect as thinking and acting positively towards yourself and others. Respectful students listen closely, use kind words, accept differences, and show care and consideration for themselves and others.
Good job. I'm going to call you up one at a time starting with kindergarten. And when you come up, I'm going to ask that you just stand here with me until everybody's up here and we're going to have our nice certificates in our hand and we're going to take a picture this way. And then we're going to flip around and we're going to take a picture that
way. Okay. So, starting with kindergarten, we have Abigail Kurt. Come on up. Did Abigail make it today? NOPE. ABIGAIL'S SORRY, Abby didn't make it. Or if she comes in late, we will add her to the list. But I will read what Miss Koshi, her kindergarten teacher, wrote
about her. Abby cares deeply for her classmates and friends. She's a positive role model, a ball full of sunshine, always aiming to please her teachers and those close to her. She follows classroom rules and understands why it is important to follow them. Abby is
respectful and is sweet to everyone around her, Miss Koshi. So, let's give Abby a big round of applause in case she's watching at home. All right, then we're on to first grade. Greedy Hamilton, come on up.
>> Okay, you're gonna you're going to do this. Ready? You're going to be my first one in line. You're going to flip around and we're going to hold this like this so everybody can see. Okay, this is what Mrs. Cibbert had to say about Grady. Grady demonstrates
respect through the positive energy he brings each morning. He consistently reminds both peers and staff how wonderful they are. Grady respects the rules of games even when things don't go his way. He follows the school rules and understands the reasons behind them. He
takes turns, shares with his classmates, and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Grady treats everyone with care and makes our classroom a happy and welcoming place. Mrs. Stilbert. All right, stay right there. Here, Grady. Your friend's going to join you
next. Second grade, come on up. AYA COSTA know who to hug first. >> All right, Grady, turn around and Aen's going to stand next to you now. Ready? Let's see what Miss Diver had to say about Ailen. Ailen is a student who consistently shows respect towards both
her peers and staff. She greets everyone with the warmest smile no matter their differences and helps create a welcoming environment for all. Ailen follows school and classroom rules carefully and encourage encourages her peers to do the same. Always making sure everyone feels
included. She uses kind words, listens when others are speaking, and demonstrates manners throughout the day. Her respectful attitude and thoughtful actions make her a wonderful role model in class. We are very proud of her, Mrs. Dard. Okay, let's go to our third great Hawk
hero, Parva Patel. Come on up. Come on down here. Good job. Parva was also a reward winner for our reflex fracks challenge. I will mention the highest earner of green lights.
Parva consistently shows respect for others by listening attentively when classmates or teachers are speaking. Parva always waits patiently for his turn to talk. He treats others with kindness and consideration. Whether working in groups or during free time, Harvey uses polite language, shares
materials wisely, and includes others in activities. He also shows respect for authority and classroom expectations. He follows every direction carefully, completes tasks responsibly, and contributes positively to routines. Parva respects the learning environment by taking care of his classroom
materials and keeps his space neat and organized. Just what we like to see, a clean desk, right, Parva? Parva's respectful behavior stands out through his kindness, attentiveness, responsibility, and positive interactions with others. Mrs. Magro,
good job, PARVA. On to fourth grade. Maris Men, come on up. Okay, my big kids now, right? Maris is consistently respectful to everyone she interacts with each day. She's kind, thoughtful, and always
speaks to peers and adults with a calm and polite tone. She shows respect to her teachers by following rules, listening attentively, and responding positively to the feedback. Maris is honest and responsible, and she treats her classmates the way she wants to be
treated. She's a wonderful example of what it looks like to show respect in and out of the classroom. Miss Guerino, good job, Maris. And last but not least, our big fifth grader getting ready for middle school almost, David Hayes. Come on up, David.
Yes, sir. So, for David, Mr. Weisenstein wrote, "Throughout the year, David has consistently been respectful to both peers and teachers. David has earned the respect of his peers, which can be a
difficult thing to do at this age. He's also earned the respect of all of his teachers. David always demonstrates good self-control. Even if he makes a mistake, he always admits it and takes full accountability for his actions.
It's a pleasure having David in our classes this year. And that was Mr. Weisenstein and Mrs. Hart writing that about you. So, congratulations, DAVID. LOOK AT THAT. I knew you'd get here. Let's head back to kindergarten for a moment and we're going to recognize
Abigail Kurt again. Congratulations. We're going to read this again so Abby can hear it. Abby cares deeply for her classmates and friends. She is positive and a ball full of sunshine. Always aiming to please her teachers and those close to her. She follows classroom rules and understands why it is
important to follow them. Abby is respectful and is sweet to everyone around her. Miss Koshi, congratulations, Abby. Okay, now what we're going to do is have you guys flip around. So, just turn around. Slide down a
little bit. Abby, I'm going to bring you down here, sweetheart. We're going to put you in your worst. Slide all the way down. Slide all the way down. Slide all the way down. >> Right here, >> right here. And we're gonna move this all the way out of the way. >> We got a camera right there.
Boys and girls, HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. OKAY, here's the last announcement. Your t-shirts came in. So, we're going to schedule our pizza party and cupcake party for Tuesday when the library is open and you'll get your t-shirt.
>> I can get it in there for you, sweetie. >> There you go. >> You can't wait. >> Me, too. >> All right, guys. You can head back to your families. And that wraps up our gradations. CONGRATULATIONS
such respectful young little ones or bigger ones, I should say, ready for middle school. >> Get you set back up for the rest of your meeting. >> Thank you, Mrs. Baldin. And congratulations to our Hawk heroes.
Uh, it's time for our presentation number two of the nights. Not quite as exciting, but it is our budget presentation. >> You want to hear the budget? >> So exciting. >> Take your brother to So, good evening everyone. Um, the once
packed room and those that are either currently watching online or who will watch later, thank you so much for uh for joining us this evening. Um our theme for 2627 is moving forward together. Um we're going to uh share
where we are financially um where we're headed. Uh but first would just like to publicly thank um our uh finance team as well as our administrative team at the Oakland school uh for working collaboratively in order to put together
a budget that um is not just balanced but it honors the uh commitment that we have to our students to our staff um and it is also aligned with the values of our community. So, just wanted to publicly acknowledge that. Oops.
Okay. As with all um of our actions, they are uh always aligned with our mission and vision. Uh in addition to being aligned with the core values of our district, core values being student success, equity, and inclusion as well
as team and family. These are the uh really driving force of the decision-making process. And so for the 2627 school year, we have a few uh priorities. Uh first and foremost is to improve the alignment of the administrative teams to better
support our goals and our objectives. Actively engage our community in order to address the challenges related to infrastructure, not just facilities, but also technology, our changing world, being able to keep up with the pace. um is a
continued challenge um for school districts. Continue to identify additional opportunities to secure adequate and fair funding. Uh accur uh uh actively pursue additional revenue streams in order to support uh innovative student learning initiatives.
Commit to supporting and and retaining our dedicated faculty and staff. And then ultimately uh continuation of access to highquality early childhood education for all Oakland families. in the areas of curriculum uh phased in
implementation of a new uh ELA or reading curriculum as we work collectively to uh align ourselves with the science of reading and eventually transition away from the readers writers workshop model expanded use of our universal screeners to include math and
ELA. This enables us to have uh better data and information used to make uh better decisions in the classroom which aids our teachers and then helps us to really track uh and measure progress of our students and adjust instruction as
appropriate. continued focus on data-driven instruction aligned with our school goals as well as our uh board uh objectives broken down by grade level and by student and then ultimately strengthen our inclusive practices through the recommendations um that we
will be presenting next month from our inclusion task force. So what is the budget challenge? In its most simplest terms, the cost to operate schools is increasing at a at a pace beyond the revenues that are
available. For example, personnel over the last 5 years has increased by 23%. Health benefits for the 2627 school year alone increased by 20%.
And they have doubled over the last 5 years. Out of district tuition rates are relatively flat for the 2627 school year. However, over the last five years, they've increased over 22%. Shared services um for the upcoming year
will increase roughly 5%. Which includes um our uh preschool expansion. And there's been uh a relatively flat in terms of utilities based on our participation in the utilities consortium. But over the last 5 years, we've seen an increase just in
the cost of energy by roughly 58%. So what has been done to address these challenges? First and foremost, we've made it um one of our goals and our missions in order to partner with different entities and organizations in order to actively seek
uh additional uh revenues and additional support for our students and for our staff. We are participating in in joint ventures for insurance in order to make sure that our uh health and wellness benefits for our employees are um not just high quality but are also at a
quality price. We actively participate in a utilities consortium to make sure we're not overpaying for energy. We are also in a cooperative purchasing uh group to make sure that our instructional supplies and materials are at the lowest and most
competitive pricing. We truly benefit from shared services between Colleagu and Oakland. We'll continue to seek additional ways to improve our efficiency and lower our overall operating expenses. By partnering with our our uh Oakland uh
public works, uh we have lowered the cost of our uh trash removal. And then ultimately we believe that by offering robust programming at the school level that reduces the likelihood that we have to send students out of district and
incur private tuition costs. In addition, the advocacy that has been demonstrated by our community members and by members of our board um has helped to uh get us to this this point. And so, um, uh, as
with, uh, previous years, we are going to ask for our community to continue to support the effort for fair school funding across the state of New Jersey. Specifically, because districts like ours are negatively impacted for two reasons. One, based on our size, and two, based on our geographic location of
being in South Jersey. There have been technical reports that have been written. There have been uh opt ed uh articles that have been written all with the intent of putting pressure on our state lawmakers uh to actually uh not only address the school
funding formula but to create a better way in order to fund our schools that does not put the burden of schools at the feet of homeowners and taxpayers. We are active participants in the New New Jersey Fair funding collective. And
so these are uh uh this is a regional organization primarily focused in uh in and home base in Camden County, but regional uh and growing of concerned community members including members of our board, members of our community,
members of our staff that are all working collectively in order to advocate at the state level for meaningful change to the finance formula. Public hearings have been taking place in Trenton um for several years. Um and every uh every hearing,
every statement helps brings uh attention to this issue. And ultimately uh last year um as a uh one of 150 school districts across the state of New Jersey, Oakland was able to participate in the tax levy incentive program, which
was a one-time waiver of the 2% tax cap law. Um based on the assessment of the board, uh there was a very measured, very thoughtful um uh increase in the tax levy to be able to maintain the
consistency of programs and services uh at a rate that um did not um disproportionately uh or adversely affect our citizens. And so what is the current um status of funding?
And so I'm going to hand this over to our business administrator and she's going to take over from there. >> Good evening. This screen just shows our projected enrollment. Um we're down about three kids in preschool. The se 7 72 children
that represented on the screen is what we were um we applied for more. Um that is what they awarded us. Um we're up about 16 children overall. District revenue right now um tax levy is the biggest portion of our revenue.
So that's almost 67% with state aid being 28.3%. Um and we do rely a little bit on our surplus balances. the managing the money year to year to make sure that we have savings at the end of the year to put put forth to next year's budget um in a
small district like Oakland is very it's challenging but it's also very important to make sure that we have something left over and this is just for those of you that like learn from pictures like me. Um as far as your expenditures, 81%
of the expenditures go directly to the classroom which is where they should be. 10% is student services. So if you add those two numbers together, 91% is direct services to children in the district. 66 6% goes to maintaining this bu building and 3% to administration.
And again the little picture year-over-year comparison. Um so 20 so tax levy 2425 is 6.2 million. We did participate in the tax levy center program in 2526
brought it up to 6.8 date, we're at $7.3 million. Most of that um jump in this school year is because of the health care adjustment. Our healthcare expenses exceeded the or right in line with the school employee health benefit plan, which obviously is uh increasing
astronomically. So, they let you for the increased cost, they let you increase taxes to unfortunately it puts the burden back on the taxpayers to pay for the increased cost of healthcare, but it it it's an automatic increase to your tax levy. And what does this mean? Do you want me want to keep going?
Okay. Okay. So, what do all these numbers mean? Um, as you just heard from our business administrator, the bulk of our budget goes to direct support um to classrooms
and schools in general. the bulk of where schools spend their dollars are in people and so uh reductions for the 2627 budget. Uh we will unfortunately be um reducing one full-time position. Uh we will also be making um critical
adjustments to our discretionary spending in the areas uh in order to maintain existing programs. We'll be making modifications with our uh and doing a phased in implementation of our English uh language arts curriculum, placing a premium and value on our
staff. Um we will be adjusting uh modifications to our progress monitoring tools in math. Um and then there'll be slight adjustments in terms of assemblies and programs and student recognition. Uh we'll be seeking um external partnerships in order to uh
supplement those. Um there'll also be adjustments to uh classroom and technology updates, equipment and furniture as well as uh it will require us to think um differently about uh how we achieve opportunities uh for
inclusion and the least restrictive environment for our students with IEPs. Oops. Okay. And so the budget timeline and so going back to March, uh on March 27th, uh we successfully submitted um the uh
budget to the Camden County Office of Education. Um we've continued to have conversations with building uh administration about the impact so that that could inform uh planning and setup moving into the summer. Uh the budget submission was approved on April uh
20th. Uh we will be going out to bid for uh summer uh projects uh shortly after uh this meeting uh with the public hearing being today on April 30th. And so in May uh we will open up the 2627 budget to allow um the leadership team
on campus to begin entering in uh requisitions and really setting the uh the tone and and and planning for their summer work. And then we will be issuing employee contracts by May 15th. And so what are uh next steps? Well, first and foremost, um we would
like to um continue to encourage our community um to speak up to ensure that um not colleagues, but that Oakland continues to receive a fair share of funding. Um, we will be sending out um letters or
templates for letters to make sure that Oakland is able to uh continue to contact local and state legislators and then advocating for fair uh funding. Um, in terms of community support, making sure that we're welcoming new Oakland
families that are transitioning to our schools in the 2627 school year just by inviting them to upcoming spring events and year-end activities. Um, this is a time um of uh anxiety for many families within our community and so extending a
helping hand. Uh and then also this is a gratuitous plug um to join our Oakland PTA um the Oakland PTA as well as several of the other local Oakland U nonprofits. Uh they do a phenomenal job of helping to supplement and to support
what's happening within our schools. And so we encourage you to get involved. Um the Oakland PTA uh they meet on a regular basis. They do meaningful tangible work to be able to supplement what our students are doing on and off campus. Uh and we encourage you to
participate. Uh that concludes the presentation. And do we have questions for the board? Not a question, just to piggyback and thank you for the presentation. Um the Oakland Education Foundation as well, just a shameless plug for that group.
It's a 501c3 nonprofit organization that can support anything that school needs and hopefully we'll talk about um a way that is um supporting right now something coming up that I know is not in the budget. So um anyway, if anybody's interested in the community
and is listening um please feel free to reach out to any of us about that. All right. Any other questions on the budget? >> All right. We're going to move on to item four, committee of the whole. Uh, do we have a motion?
>> So, move second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> All right. Uh, just a couple quick updates on my end that I wanted to share with the community. We had our uh uh March 3rd uh we held our uh second
round table of the year um at our senior center. Uh the focus was community relations. Had a a small turnout but everybody was very engaged. Um we had some meaningful conversation. Um our next uh round table will take place on Monday May 18th and the focus will be
curriculum and instruction. Um the centennial celebration is coming up. That'll take place on Saturday, May 16th. Um so look for updates there. It promises to be a really fun night. There'll be our fun day, fun afternoon. Uh tours of the building. Um we'll have
our unveiling of our time capsule and many other things. Um that's it for my updates. Anybody have topics or items for committee the whole? Um, I brought this up in Collingswood and I promised I would bring it up here
tonight and just to start the discussion um about an operational referendum um so that we try to get out of the cycle of cutting adding cutting adding
cutting depending um what Trenton does with our state aid from year to year. Um, we do have the ability to to do an operational referendum um at four times during the year plus the November election. So, five times between now and
when the next budget would be done and finalized. So, I would just be remiss if I didn't at least start the discussion with everyone um as to the appetite to um have a have the discussion and you know I can add it to every agenda going
forward just so we can continue to talk about it. But I think, you know, it's getting harder and harder as you know to balance the budgets. And it's also, you know, when we get money, we hire people and then a year later we lose money and then we have to, you know, let really
great people go. And um I would like to get out of this doom cycle. Um if if we can um we didn't take the whole nugget of the tax levy incentive. Um, so I just for consideration purposes just I'd like to just throw that on the
table and start a discussion with you guys. >> Would this be November 26 or 27? >> This November. >> So you can go um you can do a referendum in September. >> See, I'm going to get these dates wrong
again. I do have September. >> November the general election, December, January, and March. And then so when would the deadline be for the board to make a decision? >> We would have to let the county know 60 to 90 days before we're going to have an election because we have to do ballots
like they have to print the ballots and everything like that. So that's >> at a minimum 60 probably closer to 60 to 90 >> and the referendum that's at cost to the county. >> If you do the if you do it in November we share the cost with the county. Um,
if we do it on our own, we pick we we pay the cost. >> And how much? >> Depends on the number of ballots. The last time I did it in Collingswood, it was maybe 25, 22, 25. Depends on the number of ballots that they mail because a lot
of people um vote by mail now. >> Mhm. >> So, I won't know the exact bill until after, you know, they mail out all the ballots and everything. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, sure. Is there an idea of like how many uh how many times the operational
referendum could could we could use it until we're out of the weeds? Is there is there like a you know maybe three times, four times uh or is it just >> Yeah, there's no limit. Um I will say Robinsville went out the first time they
did it, it passed and then this past year they did it again and it didn't. So, I guess the trick is get it right the first time. A lot of people don't want to ask for more than they think they need. So, I guess the the the job
of the board is to figure out the sweet spot. We don't want to overt tax our community, but we really should ask for what what we need knowing that prices are continuing to increase. I don't see any any end in sight with healthcare. And Aiden, I did start working on your
project. But um I will say the um aid me asked previously for like a long-term plan for health insurance. Um I have an outline very hard to do. Um cuz any change that we make to the healthcare would have to be negotiated.
Um so there are some ideas out there. None of them I I think you know we can do without the support of the union. Um but when I have something I'll bring it back to you. But some of these the costs are just out of control right now. um and out of our control. Um so I don't
know the appetite. I hate to say, you know, because we have the ability to tax we should. That's not an excuse, but I don't like taking services away from people either. Um so I just want us to have a discussion. Can >> I ask a question? I know that the
callings callings would short on their fair share, but I think it's what 4.2 million. Where where does Oakland stand in terms of fair share? >> I knew the question was going to come up. Oakland is Oakland. Sorry, I have Nicole. Oakland is okay on
your fair share, but you are below adequacy by almost $300,000. >> Explain what that means. That means when um in the budget software, Trent looks at your tax levy and how much money they're giving for
equalization aid per the funding formula, excuse me, and they determine what adequate what an adequate amount of our budget should be. Okay. Um and then they compare that to what's actually in our budget and what and it's it's funny cuz
the tax levy obviously comes from us. The equalization aid comes from them. So they add those two together and say this should be what your budget is, but because our budget's less because we can only increase things by a certain percentage, we're kind of always below. It's like a stupid mathematical, but
we're low just um about $295,000. And I did look at when we did the tax levy incentive aid, we we left 309,000 on the table. I think we were approved for like almost 700. It
was like six high in the high sixes or something. And we we did 450 I think. So yeah. So um obviously around 300 would be I I'm assuming that like the max that we could ask we could ask for.
So just as a little bit of history um to just to remind everyone, we had a successful referendum vote that was not operational. It was for capital projects in September 2019. Um, so that was an extra vote, you know, so we incurred
whatever that cost was. Um, but it was the end of September and our community really rallied behind that and it made some incredible things possible that we could not have foreseen that a few short months later would have been really, really necessary and probably impossible past then to do. Can you imagine right
now trying to equalize HVAC and put in a security booth and redo windows, right? I mean there was it was a warm safe dry so there was waterproofing done I mean roof yeah so there'd be none of we wouldn't have any room for that and
we're still you know the the thing we haven't said as board members out loud is losing a full-time instructor which is in this community absolutely heartbreaking because it we are such a
small staff serving so many kids and we're such a small community So um you know I really think this discussion is important. Um I think last year we were faced with some very tough decisions and we took a middle road and I still am
behind that. But um it is terrible to see like and we wouldn't be here if we had gone higher. So I'm all for doing something that's sustainable and I think our board has talked about this a lot. Um if it is an operational referendum it
can't be a band-aid for one year. It has to be. So, I am curious to hear more about Robinsville and why they had to go back. What was done wrong before we even enter into this and you know what did you just say we would go for a
referendum for 300 or I mean should it be more than that? I have to look and see what the parameters are. I mean, obviously you could ask for more, but based on what we left on the table and our our amount that we're like below what Trenton determines to be adequate,
we're hovered at about 300. Those numbers seem to line up because it, if my memory serves, it's been the past three budgets that we've lost someone, consolidated someone, and or
and then lost someone again. And I remember being at graduation 2 years ago and how heartbreaking it is. And besides the fact that also the instruction that we're doing bringing in all these new ELA programs and what have you. I mean the implementation we need the people.
So I I hear what you're saying Bethanne about how there is absolutely listen I work in healthcare. There's no end in sight to what's going on with that. um you know we're not seeing any foreseeing any change um administratively in you
know what what the federal government's going to be doing. We saw if anybody please I encourage you all to watch the meeting from last night from Collingswood because that directly affects all of our kids and it also very much emphasizes in a much bigger
community things like the wellness center going away and other things like that. So, I'd say any way that we can stave off the inevitable and really be thinking as sustainably as possible, I am all for. I think also being really clear about what we get for that, right?
Like, so can we bring that person back? Can we look at some of the inclusion ideas we had? And if if you know, if there's an A, B, and a C, you know, where we go a little higher, if that was allowed, and that means we do inclusion in these in the these, you know, K to three grades or whatever you're trying
to do. I think the more that we can make it really tangible what we could offer, I think that would be, you know, you know, great for transparency and also for people to get behind it knowing what you're getting with that money. And I'm assuming so like what you're asking today is just like do we do you have are
okay to move forward with this? >> Yeah. Are you guys okay continuing to have the discussion? Um because the first date we would have we would go would be September. So, I'm not saying let's rush and do it, but if if you were if you were looking at September, we
would probably want to have a question vetted and voted on on the June board meeting. That's two months from now. Um, but again, if we don't go September, you can go November. You can go to you can do it December, January, March. I think when Robinsville did it the first time, they did March and then it was approved,
so they just slid it right into their their budget. Great. Um, but I want to at least continue to have the discussion. Um, this is all very preliminary because we just finished the budget, but I want to start looking at projections as to what could be the upside down for next year because this
time last year when I was doing the budget, like who would have expected healthcare to like double? Um, so yeah, the projection is only as good as the information I have at the time. But I would probably start doing that to see like right now I'm thinking 300,000 but if the projections are showing that
healthcare is going to creep up closer to 30 versus 20 then we might need more. Um so >> tax use tax levy though if that isn't there a built-in >> there right now there is a built-in healthcare >> this year adjustment there is >> that would give us that wiggle room.
>> Um and then can you just explain what the difference would be if we were to go September versus November? So let me let me weigh in on that. So we made the recommendation um in colleagues would for November for one um the actual cost
is is is less. Two um from a campaign perspective in order to do it right um what what we recommended was to take the next several months so between now and September to engage our community to do a couple of things. make sure that we're
crystal clear on the values that our budget and our ask need to be aligned to and two to really kind of get a sense of what's the threshold that our community would ultimately find align to said
value. Um, and uh, selfishly, board members don't want to be campaigning over the summer. And so, uh, and most of our community members are not necessarily going to be available for engagement during the summer. And so
November gives us the opportunity to really take between now and September to engage our community, get a general understanding, carefully and thoughtfully craft an appropriate question to go to the ballot
measure, and then it gives us 60 to to to roughly 75 days to actually campaign to talk about the particulars and the details leading up to a November vote where um we have a pretty good turnout
um in Oakland in terms of general election. And so we believe that that would give us the best possible option to talk to and engage the most members within our community. >> And there's um I mean I I only know of this because there's been some
campaigning campaigning already. There's some town council members that will be on the ballot as well. Um so I agree about November. I also want to point out that the last time we did this, we took advantage of the Final Friday events over the summer. So, I disagree. I think
I for one will be happy to campaign all summer long. So, um I think we should talk about having a table there with information. Um you know, I I really think it's a great time to get our talking points together and really engage the community. Um,
you know, I know on May 18th is focus on curriculum, but I think it's something that we should just start talking about um, in general. And the last thing I'll say about this is um, I feel like it would behoove us to be in lock step with colleagues if they're doing the same
thing. Um, it's Jimmy did an incredible job representing our community last night at their board meeting and I think we talk about it a lot about how our kids are affected by what happens over there, but we act like we can't do anything and this is kind of an
opportunity to do that aside from Jimmy's amazing service on that board. Um, so I feel like if we are in using the same messaging, you know, working together, it would be it just makes a lot more sense. But I'm curious to hear what others think of that.
>> You read my mind, Theres, about the summer. Um, yeah, I totally think that if we just do decide to go forward with the referendum, we should start as soon as possible. Um, I think one of the biggest concerns is the community not feeling like their input is considered
and giving us the flexibility to start in the summertime allows us to hear from as many community members as possible. Um, and another thing too is I know last time around with the Collingswood referendum, there was a lot of grievances from community members where they felt like their voices weren't
completely heard. Um, so I think the longer we campaign the better because it allows us to have more voices. >> I agree. I think waiting until November makes the most sense. >> See, I'm going to keep this a standing agenda item and we'll just keep talking
about it. that I'm hearing November and um again I we could do it in the either committee the whole or if you just want to do like convene I mean we can do committee the whole but like once I get more information I can bring it to the whole group or you know whatever
>> I think we should talk committees and committee of the whole perfect okay >> thank you for entertaining me >> can I just jump in um we could just romance me real quick with this uh What how how how was it before Christy signed
the 2% gap? What how did how did this work like? >> Okay, so way back in the olden days when I was starting out um every April. So the the election for board members and the vote on the budget was in April.
They were not in November >> and it was unlimited. You just balanced your budget, right? So, you did it's like the last piece that fits is your tax levy, right? And then you go to your community. Um, and it was crazy cuz I actually ran
the elections. The county didn't run them. So, I was actually pulling pulling the ballots like pull like during the selection of the ballot, you know, we had to do all of that ourselves in the board office. Um, if the vote So, if it passed, great. If
it went down, which is what a lot of school districts um didn't like, if your budget went down, it went it goes to your burrow. It would go to your burrow and it would go through what's called a defeated budget process where you would be I would I would have to deliver to
the burrow um the copy of the budget and all my supporting documentation and they would decide what to cut >> with and it nine times out of 10 it's without input from the school district. It's just they So in communities where everybody gets along, not a problem. In
communities where people don't get along, big problem because you have mayors making decisions for the schoolboard members and people get, you know, upset about that in certain communities locally around here. So Christy came in and said, "Well, we can
get rid of that friction. Everybody just agrees to every year your tax liies go up 2%. If you can live within the 2%, you don't you can move your election to November. You know, now unfortunately there you're with all the other, you know, politicians, but we're going to move everything to November and then you
don't have to have that that pull and that tug with your local municipality. Um, and then now that I'm on a I'm on a soap box way back when also, you could retain you could retain your fund balance, >> right?
>> Right. So, um, what they did was after Christy raided all of our coffers and took our capital reserve monies that he didn't have any right to take, um, they also they limited how much we could keep in our savings, right? So, I can only
have um 2% of my total expenditures from the the year prior. It's like a calculation. They say this is how much you're allowed to keep locally and the rest they call excess surplus and has to go back to the taxpayers. But back in the day, you know, you could just save and save and save and save. But so,
yeah, they took all that away. >> So, I ask because just if for whatever reason someone waves the magic wand and that that goes away, I don't think it would go back to that way, right? It would there would be another formula most likely. But, um >> yeah, I don't think it would ever
>> Yeah, it wouldn't go back the way it was. I mean, as a board, you have the right because we voted to move from April to November. You have the right to move to go back to the old way. I don't know that anybody's going to legislate to go back to the old way. But
you as a board can say it's getting too hard to balance our budget. We want to go back to the old way and we're going to move everything back to April and put it out for a vote and ask the taxpayers and and whatever, you know, like you can move your election. Um,
but I I don't think too many school districts are doing that. Only a couple have voted to go backwards. >> Any other items for committee the whole? >> All right. Do we have a motion to close committee of the whole? >> Second. >> Moved and second. All in favor?
>> All right. Moving on to item five. uh future dates. Um >> I do have a comment about that. >> Yeah, >> sorry. I want to just jump in here. Um the last item, the Collinswood senior scholarship night, that conflicts with a board
meeting that we have on May 21st. So, if everybody could just let me know if um rescheduling to May 26th, rescheduling the board meeting to to May 26th works for everybody. If not, then we'll have to like work something out because Miss Balden can't
be two places as once. We love her, but I can't split her in half and send her to two places. >> But it's it's >> we have a lot of absences. You'll have to go through an email. >> Yeah, I'll send an email out, Jen. But if I can, we we would like you in both places
>> because both are both important. I >> it's teacher of the year. >> I do think that the teacher of the year will >> ah all right. Um >> I'll be I'll be gone. I'll be gone then. >> On the 26th you're gone. >> Yeah.
>> All right. As long as just send me send me an email. Let me know. I'd like Liz is totally good and then >> All right. So disregard my comments. Never mind. Jen fixed it. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um
we have uh staff appreciation week coming up. So, thank you to all the teachers in Oakland for everything they do for our kids. Um we have Muffins with mom coming up on May 1st. Uh May 7th, we have our kindergarten class trip. Monday, May 11th through Friday the 15th
is NJSLA, state testing. That's in grades three through fifth. Um and then we have fifth grade science as well. Uh that's a new test this year. Uh different from what we've done in the past. Um Thursday, May 14th is second grade class
trip. Friday, May 15th is our uh centennial assembly in school celebration. Um we also have our roundt. Um that's on the Is that the 15th or the 18th? No, >> it's the 18th, right? Yeah. >> And do we decide where we're having it? Uh I believe it's senior center as well.
>> Yeah. Um May 16th, as I mentioned, we have our Oakland uh centennial celebration for OPS and uh May 21st is uh the scholarship night and our next board meeting.
Uh moving on to item six, routine board business. Uh do we have approval uh or a motion to approve the uh minutes from uh March 17th? So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and second. All in favor?
>> Motion passes. Uh, do you want to do the do you do this one? You do the whole thing down. All right. Moving on to item seven, our annual appointments. And Mrs. Coleman will take away. >> Everybody get used to hearing my voice and I ran out of water. So, let's pray for me. Okay.
Um, item point. So, this is the annual reorg section um of the budget where we're going to do all of our annual appointments. and I'll speak as quickly as possible. It's a long one. 7.01. Uh we're appointing uh the annual appointment. You're appointing me as the secretary of the board, the auditor, the
school doctor, and the attorney. 7.02. Um appointing Brown and Brown as the broker of record for your health insurance. Um 7.03, your broker of record for non-health insurance. That be your workers comp, property liability,
Hardenburgg insurance company. 7.04 architect of record. We're going to continue with Garrison Architects as a district architect of record. 7.05 um the official bank, if those of you who don't know, First Colonial Community
Bank is now uh merged with Midpen. Um so they'll um we are going through the conversion right now, but Midpen will now be the official bank. 7.06 06. Um the official not notification of le leg legal notices will be on the Oakland um
school district website and the link is in the agenda. 7.07 is the listing of all the signature authorizations basically who signs which bank account like which checks. 7.08 08 is approving um approving me as the qualified
purchasing agent for Oakland and setting my bid amount at $53,000 and my quote amount at 79.50. 7.09 is just authorizing me to purchase um CDs and any bank notes for investment purposes as funds permit. 7.10 is
authorizing me to transfer wires um to pay bills that require that. And the only one I really do is a year bond that has to get wired every year, twice a year. 7.11 um is just approving me to promptly handle school business um affairs and to
pay invoices. And sometimes between board meetings I have to pay, but then I'll bring it to the board at the next month for ratification. That's mostly your utilities. They're always on an odd week. Um custodian of records has approving me as a custodian of records. Um and Steven Burns as the alternate
custodian of records. Um and in that capacity we handle all your oper requests. 7.13 is approving John Longo and this is a long one as the um district's asbestous management officer safety and hygiene designate integrated
pest management coordinator, chemical hygiene officer and asbestous hazardous emergency response act coordinator. 7.14 is approving myself and John Longo uh and Steve Burns as the right to know POSA officers. 7.15 is approving me as
the PACO, the public agency compliance officer. 7.16 is approving U. Dr. Walker as the compliance action officer for affirmative action. 7.17 is approving uh Dr. White House as a
compliance action officer responsible for 504s. 7.18 is approving Omni Group as our third party administrator for the district's 403b investment plan tax shelter. 7.19 is approving Mary Hopkins
as the homeless liaison. 7.20 is approving Jen Balden as the issuing officer for working papers. 7.21 uh is approving Dr. Dana Walker as a title N coordinator. 7.22 is um we're approving the um school
safety and security plan and that includes the emergency operation plan, crisis prevention and response procedures in the emergency management plan. 7.23 23 is approving Jen Balden as the school district safety specialist. 7.24 is
approving Dr. White House as the ADA officer. 7.25 um is just um acknowledging that we approve and collect and maintain all student records in accordance with New Jersey law. 7.26 is a listing of the special education programs offered in
the district. 7.27 27 is a listing of the um as required uh educator practice rubrics Charlotte Danielson framework. 7.28 is the annual adoption of all of our schoolboard policies and bylaws which are on the school district
website. 7.29 is approving all of the substitute rates um listed. So we have you teachers, building uh teacher subs, building subs, instructional assistant, secretary, tutor, nurse. Um, and with that, um, I need approval of items 7.01 through
7.29. >> All right. Do we have a motion to approve? So moved. >> Second. >> Move that in. Seconded. Any comments or questions? >> Um, I have more of a comment uh, regarding 7.02. Thank you for um,
starting the exploring other um, options. I was doing a little bit of research and I think way back um the district applied for was it uh >> the shift >> shift um and that >> yeah they wouldn't bid on our we're just
too small >> do you could we do you think if we tried again this time around do you think we would get the same result >> I can try >> because would that be a cheaper option >> it depends they they look at our experience rating um and we are such a
small group small groups they consider to be risky. >> Um but I can always ask. >> The worst they can say is that they they fail they refuse to bid on our work. >> Okay. >> Um the issue is the shifts the shift is seeing a lot of applications obviously because a lot of people are bailing out
of the school employee health benefit. >> So they're seeing a massive uptick in people trying to get out of the state plan. Um but yeah, that's I I can always ask again. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. On a roll call. Sorry, Miss Dunham.
>> Yes, >> Mr. DeMarco. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Fpel. >> Yes. >> Sorry, sound like Aiden was like not quite sure. Um, Mrs. Marian, >> yes. >> Mr. McMillan, >> yes. >> Mr. Ty, >> yes.
>> All right, motion passes. is moving on to our first public comment section of the night. Um, this public comment section is for items listed on the agenda. Public's reminded to keep comments to 5 minutes or less. Um, additional uh more
general comments may be made later in the evening and our second public comment. Any public comment? All right, hearing none, we will move on to item nine, the superintendence report. Section 8 uh I'm sorry section 9 um01
is the enrollment report March of 2025 is 269 March of 2026 is 274 that is attached uh 0203 and 04 are the safety drill suspension and anti-bullying uh and just have a few
announcements. Uh, congratulations again to all of our Hawk heroes. And so, um, just commending and celebrating Abigail, Grady, Ailen, Parva, Maris, and David for going above and beyond to be respectful on campus. Uh, I just wanted to reiterate again uh
to save the date uh for Saturday, May 16th for our centennial celebration for our community. We'll be sending out more information soon. Um, on Thursday, April 23rd, we honored students inducted into the World
Language National Honor Society and uh celebrated the uh students receiving the New Jersey seal of biiteracy. Uh, seniors uh honored will receive a world language honor cord uh to wear at graduation uh in June. The world
language honores pledge to maintain high scholastic standing in foreign language, to continue to ma uh to maintain high overall scholastic standing, to hold fundamental and worthy and untarnished character, to endeavor intelligently and courageously to be a leader in the
foreign language area and to continue their interest in the study of language, culture, and civilization. And so we celebrated eight uh students uh in the French National Honor Society, seven in the German National Honor Society, four in the Spanish National
Honor Society, and we had seven students achieve the seal of of uh biiteracy in Spanish and one to achieve the seal of biiteracy in German. Uh we'll be sending out uh the names of all of those students uh in our updates um uh post
meeting. We'd also like to uh acknowledge that last night under the guidance of uh adviserss Miss Tosh and Miss Gillan, Collinswood Middle School inducted 50 dedicated students into the National Junior Honor Society. The National
Junior Honor Society elevates the school's commitment to values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship, helping middle level students develop the knowledge and skills to become well-rounded student leaders in their schools, community, and beyond. And so congratulations to all of those honores
as well for this outstanding achievement. Their names will also be um uh sent out to our community. Um we would also just like to give um just a recognition and a plug. Our communications liaison, Miss
Lorie Purlo, was honored this past month as the 2026 New Jersey Communicator of the Year. And so this prestigious award recognizes exemplary leadership and commitment to enhance communication and relationship building between public uh schools and the stakeholders that they
serve. And so um congratulations to Lori. Uh and that concludes my report. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. McDow. Uh moving on to item 10, business administrator board secretary report. >> All right. Item 10.01 01 is a listing of
the March 2026 monthly transfers. 10.02 is your board secretary and treasur of school funds reports. 10.03 is the purchase orders issued for the month of April. And in 10.04 are the warrants to be paid tomorrow morning pending approval tonight. Would you like
me to keep going? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Because Kim's not here. Okay. Items 11.01 through 11.06. all of those financial items that I just mentioned. 11.07 is the final
school district budget approval. 11.08 is the final preschool budget approval. Um the preschool office did have comments and questions about a preschool budget. I did answer them. They did not get back to me. So, I'm doing a final budget approval. You may see this again.
Who knows? They have not answered me. 11.09 09 is a listing of your 2026 20227 tuition rates. 11.10 is
um approving the 2026 2027 public employer trust agreement. So this is um the public employer trust. This is the health insurance group that we're in Aiden just so you know. Um 11.11 is approving Neutraser food service
management company. um to be our uh food service management company for 2627 at a flat rate of $18,643. This is year two of a potential 5-year agreement. 11.12 is approving Phoenix Adviserss as um the school district um
continuing disclosure agent. They to make sure that um because we did issue bonds that um they send my audits and my financial statements um to um the municipal security reporting board to make sure that we're we're filing
correctly. 11.13 Gloucester County Special Services School District Crest Program. Um this is a listing of any of the services that any of the children that we send in Gloucester County Special Services. So list the the rates for OT, PT, 101 aids, uh things of that
natures. And then 11.14 and 11.15 are used to facility requests. So um items 11.01 through 11.14. Do we have a motion to approve? >> Do we have a motion to approve?
So moved. >> Second. >> Moved and seconded. Um, any comments or questions. >> All right. Hearing none. On a roll call. >> Down. >> Yes. >> Mr. Demarco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Falpel.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Marian. >> Yes. >> Mr. McMillan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ty. >> Yes. Motion passes. Moving on to item 12, curriculum and personnel committee. Mr. DeMarco. >> Before I start, apologies if I sound out of breath. I'm still recovering from
really bad allergies. Um, I had a really bad >> It was It was one or the other for me. Um, before I start, I just want to reiterate what Theres said. um that the reduction of a full-time employee is a
really big loss for um our district and uh I think that we can all agree that everyone on this board tries to do our best with what we have. Um so 12.01 is the approval of field trips. 12.02
is the approval of substitutes and tutors. Item 12.03 03 is the travel expense report. 12.04 is the um literacy curriculum that we've been talking about. Uh 12.05 is the Alex's lemonade
stand approval. 12.06 is the approval of a revised paid leave of absence for an employee. 12.07 is the approval of a paid leave of absence. 12.08 08 is the approval of the 2026 to 2027
administrative staff. Uh 12.09 is the approval of 2026 to 2027 tenure faculty. 12.10 is the approval of 2026 to 2027 non-tenure faculty. Uh 12.11 is the
approval of 2026 to 2027 tenure office service um personnel. and 12.12 is the approval of 2026 to 2027 non-tenured office service personnel. So we are looking to approve items 12.01 to 12.12.
>> Um do we have a motion? So moved and second. >> Second. >> Um any comments or questions? So out of the two pilot programs you they're going with into read HHS into reading. Okay.
I'm not not thrilled by that but >> just put that on record. >> Uh yeah on a roll call. >> Miss Dunham. >> Yes. Mr. Demargo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Fal. >> Yes. Mrs. Marian, >> yes. Mr. McMillan,
>> yes. >> Mr. Taby, >> yes. Motion passes. Moving on to item 13, school community relations and policy. Mrs. Mormium. >> Good evening. Item three, 13.01 is a Collinswood board report. Mr. McMillan,
>> good evening. Um, I know a lot of you have watched the the meeting from last night. Uh, NBC 10 was there. That was exciting. Um, yeah, it was right behind my head. So, he said it was gonna air at at 11 o'clock and I was like, I'm not gonna watch that. I'm good. It was only
like >> he said yeah, he said it was going to be like a 10sec clip, you know. So, um uh we did a presentation of the budget just uh just as we did tonight. Um uh we were honestly a little worried about the the vote on the budget. Um but uh but it did
pass. So, uh we had a lot of discussions back and forth. Um but we did pass. It was great. Um, uh, the student report was, uh, pro, uh, presented, uh, and then they said that a lot of the high school kids wanted to know about the budget deficit and, you know, they had
concerns about it as well. Um, they said they have AP exams scheduled for next week. Um, every every time I have to do this, Fred always uh takes away all the all the really positive stuff like the recognition of the foreign language uh, honors and uh, and uh, in German,
French, and Spanish. Um they have a new softball coach uh and everything is going well there. Um we did vote to close Carfield out. Um that's unfortunate. Uh having to close the schools never never you know a great moment just like uh you know losing
teachers and we had to uh riff a couple uh well riff uh about 30 um faculty members across uh administration faculty like building grounds every everywhere. Um there was an autism advocacy walk u
in Knights Park. Uh Finding Nemo Jr. ended last weekend. uh paving the way for Broadway Nights, which is coming up uh May 8th and 9th. Uh tickets are still available. Um there were 21 public comments. Um most of them concerned
about Garfield closure. Uh the grantf funded wellness center being closed. Um and other special ed service concerns as well as faculty riffs. Um discussion of operating uh referendums again uh was
discussed last night and uh you know that that'll be happening in consulate as well. I think committees are being set up right now uh to start working on those but uh any questions >> actually are you it might be too early but are you thinking about being on a
committee about an operation referendum? I'm just trying to figure out what would be a good way for us to coordinate with Collingswood for that work. >> The committees have been created and uh I was not involved nor was uh Chris
Stoilus from Woodland on any of the committees including uh um well yeah like all of them. So yeah, I don't know. Okay. Maybe we can continue discussion with that at the leadership level. >> I think we need to to revisit it. >> Yeah.
>> I I I I agree with you. >> Yeah. Okay. Thanks. Um we'll look to Dr. McDow maybe to to help be a conduit between our >> I will encourage that we um pivot. Yes. >> So we have a meeting tomorrow with um Kelly and Zakiya. Okay.
>> That'll be front and center in in our in our discussions. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um item 13.02 is PTA leazison report but Mr. GZ is not here. Um I can just fill in and say I know the PTA had a meeting at the top of the month they had or they
will have a meeting I think it's Tuesday evening uh is their next meeting. Uh and they had one in April. There was a family fun night last Friday. I think it was bingo. And always they're such a success and I know they're working very hard on Muffins with mom tomorrow
morning. I'm sad to miss it because my little one is recovering from surgery, but um it's the first one we're missing in years. Um anyway, that'll be out in front of the school tomorrow morning and uh I know they're doing a lot for the centennial. So, thanks to the PTA for
all of their support and work this year. Um item 13.03 is a mace report, but Mr. Gther's not here, so I think we'll wait for next month for that. And then item 13.04 know for is the Oakland Education Foundation and Miss Love is not here. Um
I'll just say that um the leadership of the OEF has approved to support the centennial um with some budget dollars which is fantastic um because it's uh going to be used for things. uh Miss
Bolton and um our PTA and all of our leadership have some wonderful ideas for making um the front of the school look just exquisite for that day on May 16th. So I hope everyone on our board will be able to come. Um if the board is invited
to the Friday event as well, let us know. Um we'd love to have representation there. So um item 13.05 are policies for first read. Uh we have added on and I think we talked about this in our um post
committee minutes. Um item 2430 is co-curricular activities um that Miss Hzerner put on our agenda just to align with colleagues. 5200 is a revision of our attendance policy. 4352 is sexual
harassment for support staff. um AB it's an abolishment of this and 3362 is an abolishment of the sexual harassment um certified staff policy all for replacements um 2530 is resource materials revised
uh item 13.06 06 are policies for a second reading. Um 0142.1 is a revised nepotism policy. 1220 employment of chief school administrator revised. 1552 sexual harassment staff which is a new
policy as referenced in the the other abolishment. Uh 2535 is library material. This is also a new policy. 9130 are um public complaints revised. And then 13.07 Window 7. Uh, a few regulations that require one reading.
1552 sexual harassment for staff, which is new. 2535 library material, which is new with the aligning policies. Um, 9130 public comment complaints, excuse me. And then 2530 resource materials revived. So, we are uh seeking approval
for items 13.05 through 1307. >> Do we have a motion? So second moved and seconded. Any comments or questions? Hearing none. I have one real quick. What was the Friday night before the Centennial uh event?
>> It's actually a daytime event. Um I it's on the uh list of special dates. >> Yeah. So more information soon. It's during the day. It's a very nice, you know, to involve it's it's wonderful that you're doing something during the
day for, you know, during the school day in case people can't come on the weekends and what have you. So, >> I may have Sorry, it's been a long day. >> Good to go. >> Yeah. >> Miss Down. >> Yes. >> Mr. DeMarco, >> yes. >> Mrs. Fel,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Marian. >> Yes. >> Mr. McMillan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Taby, >> yes. Motion passes. Uh, moving on to item 14, miscellaneous. Um, we are looking for approval of items 14.01,
HIB reports, 140 point 14.02, uh, review of the official state of New Jersey HIB grades. Um, so we're looking for, uh, approval of those two items. So, we have a motion.
So, moved. >> Second. >> Any comments or questions. >> All right. On roll call. >> Mrs. Down. >> Yes. >> Mr. DeMarco. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Papel. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Marmian.
>> Yes. >> Mr. McMillan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Tavy. >> Yes. Motion passes. Moving on to our final public comment section of the night. Um, do we have any public comment? I don't think we do. All right, moving on to
item 16 is adjournment. Uh, all in favor or we need a motion first. A motion >> and second. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> Have a great night. >> Thank you. Lots of ice cream.
>> Oh my god, I can't believe I drank all that water. And I'm like, >> I don't know if it's allergies or a cold, but I'm getting on a plane on Sunday, so I just better go away. >> Yeah, it's not fun. Nice.