Good evening everyone. I apologize that we are a little late to the meeting. We had a um NJSBA training right before this. So um we will get started. Thank you for being here. Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA104-10,
adequate notice of this meeting has been posted to the district website under legal notices in the board office, the schools, and on cable vision channels 118 and Verizon FiOS channel 24. And by filing such notice with the township clerk, notice has also been provided that as of March 1st, 2026, future
meeting notices will only be published on the district website. This meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 12th, 2026. The board will take formal action on payment of bills and other agenda items. Mr. Widell, >> the Old Bridge Township Board of Education acknowledges that the law of this state established as members of the
public, including members of the board, have the right to record public board meetings using audio or video recording devices, provided the act of recording does not interfere with the business of this public board meeting. Therefore, the board makes it known that any such recording is to be considered the private recording of the individual and
in no manner represents the official record of this board. The board therefore takes no responsibility for such private recording and completely disavows any future use. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Dantino >> here. >> Mr. Dunn >> here. >> Miss Joy >> here.
>> Miss Mone >> here. >> Miss Richard Patterson >> here. >> Mr. Slade >> here. >> Mr. Solowski >> here. >> Mr. Venitason is absent. And Miss Francisco >> here. >> We have quorum present. Can we please rise for the pledgece
to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Who would like to read the code of ethics next week? I will. Thank you.
Hey, can I have a Oh, no. We're not doing this. We're doing approval next week. Sorry about that. Um, our report from the student representative will be next week. Correct. Okay. All right. So, recognition for this evening. Um, we are
going to start with item number one under recognition. move the board to recognize the outstanding achievement of the Oldbridge Indoor Percussion Ensemble for earning first place at the Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society finals on April 11th in Springford,
Pennsylvania. Can we have a round of applause for them? This accomplishment reflects the dedication and talent of the 16 student performers whose show scatterbrained combined musical excellence and visual storytelling as well as the leadership
of director Katherine Noble and the continued support of staff, parents, and the community. The indoor percussion is celebrating its 18th year as an award-winning music program. So, we would like to ask Miss Keeler if she would like to come up and say a few
words. Thank you. Hello. Hello. Hello. Um, I'll try and make this quick, but I am really proud of every single one of you. Um, good evening, Dr. Sasso, Board of Education. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to congratulate our
award-winning Oldbridge Percussion. Um, I really am privileged to recognize our own High School indoor percussion ensemble tonight on their successes as first place winners of MAPS Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society finals in Pennsylvania. They continue to astound
us year after year, despite how big or how small the group is. This championship is so much more than a trophy. its months of dedication, discipline, creativity, and teamwork. This year's show, aptly titled Scatterbrained, had a powerful
combination of music and incredible visual storytelling. These students work hard. They meet for 20 plus hours a week and then some for their competitions on weekends. This is pretty much a part-time job for many of them.
This team is like any other athletic team. They compete. Every performer relies on one another. Every movement is precise. And then success happens time and time again because the group moves and works as one. Students, your hard
work paid off. You earned this win just as you have earned the many, many wins before. I also want to just take a moment and recognize Miss Nobel. Katherine Noble stepped into this midseason despite not even teaching at the high school. She leads a very rigorous schedule as an elementary
instrumental music teacher in four different buildings. However, despite that grueling schedule, she showed up for the for her students over and over and her leadership has helped guide these students to this very special occasion. So to our performers, you have
set the standard. You have put on the map. You set the standard for excellence time and time again, and you have made me and the rest of incredibly proud. Thank you and congratulations. would you please come up here? Join us. >> Do you want me to read the names?
>> Yeah, have them come up on the up on the stage. As our winners are making their way up here, I'm going to read out the 16 outstanding students who >> come up on the stage, guys. this group. Haley Spiro, Cole Spiro,
Charlie Gil, Madison Susie, Ashley Leon, Jen Carlo, Valo, Connor Grimes, Tyler Florio, William Wang, Andres Wuerta, Heather Bullhower, Charlotte Hey, Crowley Celis, Jessica Suedo, Angus
Walker, and Manir Singh. Congratulations. I want to invite Miss Nobel. Is she up there? Oh, good. Okay. Congratulations everyone. Can I please have a motion to approve items number one and two under recognition?
>> Miss motion will second. >> Any discussion? >> I want to say the back of the sweatshirt actually the whole sweatshirt looks pretty cool. >> I was enjoying that. >> I thought so too. >> Great job, guys. And thank you to the staff and the parents that make that
program possible. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? >> Yeah, I hear them playing every Sunday morning. >> That's awesome. Congratulations to all of you and to all the families who put in the time to make sure your kids are able to participate. So, I know how hard
that can be as a parent. So, congratulations to everyone. All right, roll call, please. >> Miss Joy. Yes, >> Miss Mazone. >> Yes, >> Mr. Richard Patterson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Slade. >> Yes, >> Mr. Solowski. >> Yes, >> Mr. Venitation is absent. Miss Dantuno,
>> absolutely. Yes, >> Mr. Dunn. >> Yes, >> Miss Francisco. >> Yes. >> Resolutions one and two for recognition passes. >> Do we have any discussion for items three through five? >> Okay. Um, we do not have a superintendent report tonight. Correct,
Dr. Sasso? Okay. Um, but we do have a report um for Mr. Widell. >> Thank you, Miss Francisco. At this time, I'll ask the board to kind of copy what we did last week. You're going to go down to the seats at the floor, and there will be two presentations tonight.
Um, one being an update on uh the 2026 2027 final budget and another will be on our final uh refunding of school bonds. Good evening everyone. For those here last week and are watching at home,
welcome back. And for anyone new in attendance, thank you for joining us this evening. Tonight, I will be delivering two short presentations. The first of which is a presentation for the public which formalizes the modifications and revisions made to the budget as a result of the public hearing
which we discussed last week. To reiterate, a school budget is a planning tool which works to manage risk. An effective budget must be fiscally responsible while considering contingencies. It is the financial expression of the district that the
efforts put forth in the adoption of a budget are a delicate balance. Last week during the public hearing, we announced that from our tenative budget submission, there was approximately $1.4 million worth of reductions
of reductions. I forgot that slide break. $1.4 million worth of reductions that would need to be made to our appropriations. But based on the work of our administrative team, the amount to be reduced would be found only through
essential programs or services offered being reduced. Last week, we talked about the main driver of increased expenditures in this budget being the increase to health benefits. While certainly the largest increase to expenditures, this increase
does come with an opportunity to bring in additional revenue by way of an allowable adjustment for health care costs. This is a chart taken directly from what would be our department of education approved budget. It shows that our
increase in health benefits based on a 34% increase to medical uh medical coverages as well as an increase to prescription benefits carries an allowable adjustment for costs at $9.48 million.
At the conclusion of the public hearing, there is a formal process in which a request is made to the county office of education by the business administrator to request the budget software be reopened for appropriate changes based on the public hearing results. When
making our changes to the budget, any changes to the health benefits costs would reduce the expenditure, but in addition would decrease the revenue by the same amount for the district. For instance, if $600,000 was reduced in health benefit expenditures, it would
reduce the allowable adjustment revenue also by 600,000. And as a result, there would still be an imbalanced budget and $600,000 more of additional expenditures elsewhere that would need to be reduced. A vicious cycle, so to speak. As a
result, based on the changes we are working to make, our revenues are staying the same because revenues drive expenditures. What needed to be done was the reclassification of current appropriations within our general fund budget. Based on the district and board
goals to maximize efficiencies while keeping the fabric and foundation of our district education, putting all students first, the board made the following re revisions of our eight budget categories. Program costs were decreased, maintenance and operation
costs were increased, transportation and administrative costs were uh decreased and tuition and capital outlay spe and special schools is status quo. The next slide is a further breakdown specific to just the tenative budget
compared to the revised budget. These amounts will be consistent with the budget resolution on the agenda tonight. The next slide is a revised part pie chart with the updated percentages. The next slide is a further breakdown
that on that just on the program cost which again represent 45.5% or 45.55% of our budget. The next slide is a little bit easier to read again as it just compares the tenative budget submission to the
revised budget. The final slide is a repeat slide of the tax levy which in conclusion will not change based on what was presented last week because we did not make any changes to the revenue but rather adjusted the value of expenditures and appropriations
in different areas of the budget. Before I conclude, I want to address the question from OBA OB president Ryan Soen last week. The question asks for further clarification on a decrease in health benefits. This is all this is for all
employees. It would never be this is a message to all employees. It would never be the level of benefits being reduced that you're receiving but rather it was the value of the expenditure the estimated or projected increase for the 2027 calendar year that would be
decreased. For the 2027 calendar year, which is the second half of our school year in 2627, estimates are in the range of anywhere from 30 to 40% increases. The district budgeted initially at 34%. If the district budgeted 30% rather than
34 without any other variables saying staying the same such as employee benefit contributions or retiree coverages, it would be a reduction in the projected cost of medical benefits of about $649,28. So a 4% deduction in projected cost 34
to 30% would be a difference of $649,000 or $649,28 in medical benefit costs. The issue is that we do not really start to find those estimates out until August, which is three months later than our budget
needs to be adopted. So for the very sake of our district and many other districts, I am very hopeful that the number that comes through this summer is not 34% but rather 30% or lower. That is why you will see a resolution on the agenda tonight drafted by the NJ school
boards association to bring districtes districts together and a call for help. The increases are simply not sustainable. I thank you all for your time. This presentation will be posted on the website tomorrow and again it does coincide with the agenda uh the
resolution on the agenda for the adopted budget. Whenever you make a change to the to the from the tenative budget to the adopted budget you have to name all the changes that is coincides with those changes there. That was the first presentation.
Hello again, friends. The second presentation this evening will be the final report to the public on the refunding of school bonds in 2026. Back in October of 2025, Pretten Architects presented during the long-term strategic planning committee a
li committee meeting a list of capital projects in the range of 320 million for our school buildings. Because quite simply that is no number to sneeze at. The board almost immediately engaged discussions in ways on how to tackle this monstrosity.
It may have been it may have even been at that October presentation where Pratz and Architects explained the multiple funding options including bond referendum, capital reserve funds, capital lease purchase programs, EIPS, direct install programs, county
improvement programs, and rod grants. Based on these discussions and questions from the board for future planning, the administrative team started to reach out to our own purchase professionals such as our financial advisor and bond council to gather additional information
on the potential for another EIP, which because 10 years has gone by since the previous program we are eligible for. Again, during those discussions, Phoenix advisers, as an aside, also began to look into the possibility of refinancing
our our current 2002 school bonds, which were refinanced in 2016, and whose current debt service schedule will be paid off on 7153032, which is the 3233 school year.
December 2025, right before our winter recess, as Phoenix advisers continued to monitor the market, the potential opportunity to refinance became more and more concrete. These bullets here are a couple brief lines from directly from an email
exchange back in December. The most important of such is that in order to go through with refunding, there must be a minimum of a 3% net present value savings. In early January 2026, right after winter recess, conversation picked right
back up. As of January 8th, 2026, there was an estimated savings of $567,630 with a present value at 3.665%. Essentially around an $81,000 per year savings over the remaining
seven years of the schedule. And so with that, an initial project timeline was put forth, which is why, if you recall, in the months of February and March, there were really, really long long resolutions on the agenda, which would authorize the processes for
the refunding of school bonds. One of the major parts of that timeline is to hold a ratings call. Standard Impors or S&P held a rating call on March 19, 2026. Previously, the district was rated a double A negative with a stable outlook.
Based on some of the factors that our district had dealt with over the last few years with funding and budgets, there was a real possibility that there would be a downgrade. That did ultimately happen as a result of the call. However, the positive news being that we kept our doublea negative
long-term rating. It was just that we moved from stable outlook to negative. In reality, this has been a recent occurrence for other districts who have been going through rating calls. So March 19th, we had our ratings call. We are ready to move on to the next
step. And wham, March 25th, we had to pause the sale. If you recall, right around mid to late March, the month was marked by major geopolitical conflicts, large-scale protests, severe weather, and significant e economic trade data.
Microsoft Copilot summarizes March 2026 as quote, "March 2026 was a month of high stakes international conflict, domestic political unrest, extreme weather, and notable trade performance." And so March 2026 for Oldbridge Township
Board of Education based on conservative rates shared by our financial adviserss dipped to 2.6% present value savings, which is below the required 3%. We had no choice but to pause. This is a chart provided by Phoenix
Advisors and if you use the bottom axle which is the amount of years ours being seven we are under the 3% and again this will be on the website tomorrow so you could zoom in a little bit. April 2026 rates have improved and stabilized providing the opportunity to
go through with this refinancing. Quickly we jump to price to bonds on May 6th and close on May 20th. 14,355,000 would be the final amount in which would be refinanced. Here is our final timeline with closing
still planned for next week on May 20th. On the day of the bond sale, it's a pretty cool process actually. There's a countdown timer with you when which you watch and you watch the bids come in in real time at the due date and the time they are accepted and analyzed. For our
bids, Loop Capital Markets provide the most cost savings. Again, really small. It'll be up tomorrow. Ultimately, we were able to achieve a net present value savings of 3.736%, which equates to more than $80,000 a
year on average in savings. This savings will be realized from 2026 to 2027 through June 30th of 2033 in which the debt service portion which is fund 40 of the tax levy will be lower than it was
pre-sale. The board and the administration team will continue to strive to work together to find future savings opportunities for this community across all categories. Thank you all for uh listening and again this will be posted tomorrow and we will
hopefully have good news on May 20th when everything becomes official for a refinancing of school bonds. Thank you very much. Good. Love you. Thank you, Mr. Widell, for all of that extremely riveting
information. I had to giggle a little bit because when you you were like, "This actually is really exciting." and I was like he he would find this exciting because he's so amazing at what he does and loves numbers. So, uh but but thank you for putting all that together for everybody. We appreciate it.
>> Thank you. Don't knock until you try it. >> No thanks. I'm good. Um exactly. It's all that matters. All right. Um so kind of back to you. Do we have any correspondence? >> No correspondence tonight. >> Great. Uh any board members have special committee reports that they would like
to do this week as opposed to next week? Okay, I will now open hearing of the residents on agenda items only. So, if you would like to speak, you may come on up. As long as it's on agenda items only,
you can come up here and you Oh, >> Miss Ros, you you'll be the next one. >> Sorry, I didn't know what Thank you for signing in the book. >> I got to turn this on or is it on already? All right. Hi. Hi everyone. Um,
two questions about the agenda. I saw on the security part which will be for David the numbers. I noticed the security went up from 1.3 to 2.4. like 1.4 million increase. I don't know, maybe I messed it why it was an increase. And then second, I saw the part of the planetarium getting a
software update for like 250,000. Will that enable the planetarium to be open to the public to like generate revenue or anything? Thank you. Do I have anybody else who would like to speak? Okay, I'll close hearing of the
residents and Mr. Widell if you'd like to respond to. >> Sure. Thank you. All right. So, in regards to the security um again when we presented the tenative budget um submission, we had said that there's about $1.4 million
in expenditures that we still were looking to find. So um for that what we did was took a decrease of our expenditures in uh security for per purchase professionals. Um it was something that we knew we needed to instill essentially security coverage
for for all our schools. So we had to keep digging into the budget. Um it was either you know that leaving that security coverage out or um making the additional changes that we needed to tonight for the final adoption. So, um, what it was tonight to put that security
money back in ensures that there's security coverage throughout all our schools, uh, during the school year for 2026, 2027. >> If I could just add just so for the record, there was no change in any security at all at any of our schools for next year.
in regards to the um planetary item planetarium items. So within the 2526 school year budget, so current year uh part of the tax levy incentive aid program where the board agreed to $23 million in expend additional
expenditures um for this budget. Part of or one of the items on there was upgrades to our planetarium at the Sock Middle School. Um, so this was there's not many planetariums around uh for school districts, K to 12 in New Jersey. So I really had to dive in and and kind
of cra craft some specs um specifications that would work for what the school and what that building needs, especially with the system that they had. Um so with the help of uh Mr. Andrichi um Dr. uh Kandria. Um we
crafted some specs, we put it out there and then we did receive one bid uh or one proposal came in from KASM which is the current kind of provider service uh provider of the current system. Um one bid was received in the a little bit
over $200,000. We had $300,000 budgeted for the project. Um so with the exception of um we now have to do an evaluation on the one bid that we've received. So because we did an RFP, a competitive
contract, you can't just award to the lowest responsible bidder. There has to be a a report card so to speak, an evaluation of that one bid. Um and that has to be done and posted 48 hours before you can take action. Um, so with that being said, we look to take action
on the planetarium to award that contract next Tuesday. By Friday, we have to have our evaluation criteria for a one proposal up on the website. Then the work can commence as soon as that purchase order is issued. And then from
there, there will be have to be some discussion. We don't know how long the work necessarily will take. It can go into the summer and we could have it ready for September. Um but then there is the potential for outside organizations to rent out the
planetarium and bring for the district to bring in some revenue through that. Um at our governance meeting this past week that was cancelled and now is being moved and I believe Miss Francisco will provide the date later. Um we were going to have a a discussion on uh facility
use different areas that could be rented out. Um we're going to look at that policy again because that is the policy that governs our renting spaces and kind of discuss what the potential for um renting out that space will be. And then once that does happen, we can update our
ML schedules or follow uh schedules where then outside organizations can rent out that facility um for a price depending on the type of organization you are. So there is a potential to be rented out um but we have a couple steps to get there. first and obviously we
need need to make the repairs to the planetarium as well. But certainly exciting stuff because I know it's been a long overdue and a long waited for those repairs. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. White. Okay, moving on to policy. We actually
don't have anything under this category right now. Curriculum and professional development. Do we have any discussion for items one through four? Okay. Finance, we have some action items this evening. Can I please um have a motion for items 1 through six under
finance? >> Dant second. Any discussion? >> Well, can we separate six to discuss? Let me see if this the budget >> just to have some last minute. >> Sure.
>> Verbage. >> All right. So, do we have any discussion for items one through five at the moment? All right. See that we don't have any there. >> Separating number five. Yes. >> You want to separate number five
for voting? Okay. All right. Do we have any discussion for items number for item number six? >> Yes. Um because I think I'm the lucky one to vote first, I think, on the resolution.
Um I just want to re reiterate what I spoke about last week about the importance of supporting the district. Um it's a hard decision to make. I as well as everybody up here are residents of Old Bridge. Uh so, you know, adopting a budget obviously is going to be
increasing taxes uh of a proportion. Um as Elena said earlier, we were late because we were with the NJSBA, the New Jersey School School Board Association. And one of the pages that stood out to me was it's it's actually nice. It's a refresher of what our role is as a board
member. I think it's great to do that every year for new members, for senior members, uh, tenur members, not senior, uh, just to remind us what what our role is as a board member. And one of the pages that stood out is that our job is to help advance student achievement. And
that comes with a price. You know, whether uh it's more than we are c comfortable with, but it does come with a price. And I mean before I make my vote, uh I stand behind supporting our students, supporting the teachers and
and the district. Um so a lot of thought process has gone in before we make our vote. So it's not an overnight. We've been planning this for at least five or six months. Uh going over the numbers. Uh I think the administration is moving in the right direction. Uh this tax
increase is lower than the last two dramatic ones. Uh and I'm very confident that the administration is doing the job behind the scenes uh to minimize our expenses. So I want to thank them for their effort. Thank you.
>> Any other discussion? >> Madame President, I would like to echo my fellow board member Slade's comments. It's not a very easy thing to do to continuously raise taxes, but we do have a responsibility to ensure the finance education. And as we know, we have
8,500, I'm sorry, 8,51 students here in the district, and we as a board need to worry about all students. I understand the sentiment about repurposing a school, redistric redistricting. I get it. It's it's not an easy decision. And
I have to say unequivocally that our board is making, you know, the hard decisions that will ensure the the viability of our educational enrichment of our our students. That's what we're in business to do is to ensure the quality uh of the educational
enrichment. Um it's it's it's always a battle especially since you know we have been the doormat here in the state with a few other districts where our state aid has been dramatically cut and this board has done I believe a a good job in
trying to find avenues to sustain our educational system here in um you know I have to say that uh Dr. Sasso uh Dr. Hoka Dr. Touille and David Widell have done a remarkable job in in steering us
in the direction that we need to go. Um the board has made those difficult decisions regarding strategic planning where you know we did put on uh the the the radar the possibilities of redistricting and consolidation and
unfortunately there's not much other avenues where we can save money. Uh we are not going to cut programs. We are not going to make our educational system substandard. That's at out of the question. Um and we are going to
continue fighting for all students. So with what's going on with this budget where we are redistricting, we're going to be repurposing a school and also um making some hard choices. We are maintaining that standard of education which will provide our students the
finest education moving forward and give them a strong foundation for future growth. With that said, I'm going to support this budget. I will vote yes. I think it's in our best interest as a school board to to ensure that the
viability of our our educational system is sound. So, with that said, I want to thank the public for their support. the staff at throughout the Oldbridge public schools, the administration, and my fellow board members for for for going
through this process in a way where uh hopefully we are unified um for a vote that will ensure the survivability and the economic um economic and educational enrichment of our students. Thank you.
Anyone else? Okay. And we will move on to a roll call for items. So, we're going to do one through four and six. Is that correct? >> Correct. >> Okay. So, everybody, we're voting on numbers one, two, three, four, and six.
Roll call. Ready. >> Okay. Mr. Slade on one, two, three, four, and six. >> Yes. >> Mr. Solicowski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Venitation is absent. Miss Stantuno.
>> Yes. >> Mr. Dunn. >> Yes. Miss Joel. >> Yes. >> Miss Mone. >> Yes. >> Miss. Richards Patterson. Yes to one to four. No to six. >> Miss Francisco. >> Yes.
>> Resolutions 1 2 3 four and six passes for finance. >> Okay. And now we need a roll call for number five. >> Okay. Mr. Slade. >> Yes. >> Mr. Solowski. >> No.
>> Mr. Vanitation is absent. Miss Dantino, >> yes. >> Mr. Dunn, >> yes. >> Miss Jri, >> yes. >> Miss Mone, >> yes. >> Miss Richard Patterson, >> no.
>> Miss Francisco. >> Yes. Resolution five for finance does carry. >> Do we have any discussion for items 7 through 17 under finance? Okay, we will move on to athletics items
one through four. Do we have any discussion? I know that there's um a lot of missing information at the moment, but all that information will be filled in before next week. Okay. Non-certificated personnel office. We have one item to be approved tonight
which is um number one. So can I have a motion for that one please? >> Miss motion. >> George second discussion. >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Venitation is absent. So we'll go to Miss Tanuno. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Dunn. Yes, >> Miss Joy. >> Yes, >> Miss Mazone. >> Yes, >> Miss Richards Patterson. >> Yes, >> Mr. Slade. >> Yes, >> Mr. Solowski. >> Yes, >> and Miss Francisco. >> Yes. >> Resolutions one for non-certificated
personnel office is approved. >> Do we have any discussion for items two through six? >> Non-certificated personnel operational. Any discussion for items one through six? Okay, moving along to non-certificated personnel. Other any discussion for
items one through seven. Rolling along. All right, certificated personnel. We have quite a bit here. Um items one through five are on for tonight. So, if I can have a motion for items one through five. >> Motion.
>> Dano will second >> discussion. >> All right. Did we Was it Mazone and Danuno? Yes. >> There was like three voices at one time there. >> Wow. >> They all are eager to make these approvals right here. >> So aggressive.
>> I'd like to take a moment and um thank and congratulate both the principles um Mr. Oliver and Miss Fazio or Mrs. Fazio for the dedication and hard work that you've done, you know, since December 1st when we took Dr. Sasso from you.
Sorry about that. Um, but you know, to the proof that you've and the hard work that you've done in the school since then that we can uh work this way is something to be proud of. So, thank you both. >> Yes. I also want to thank you and it's going to be our privilege to approve
this tonight. Thank you. I'm so excited for you guys. Uh, you know, thank you for doing an incredible job that really led up to this moment, but it wasn't just as acting supervisors. I mean, gosh, you might have must have just been sitting on your hands for what, since December, you
know, just wondering, you know, is it going to happen? Is it going to happen? And, you know, the moment is finally here. So, just it just if anything, I feel like um helped the rest of us. I mean, I can only speak for me, of course, but for the rest of us to see
just how much you deserve this. And um and have the opportunity, you know, we do trust our superintendent to do the interviews and the hiring process and uh we felt I think we felt included in this, right? I mean, just just the work that you guys done have really spoken
for it has spoken for itself. So, um I'm excited to vote yes on this and um best wishes. Congratulations. You have to vote on him before you congratulate him. Do we Let's get to it.
All right. Do So I'll I'll jump in here for a second. Usually I wait to go last, but I'll just I'll just jump right in. Um, so I um I agree with with much of what
Brooke said and you know this has been tossed around for quite some time and at first you know it's like you really have to absorb it all and really have to hear everybody and that's exactly what we all did. We just we really listened to what was best for our kids and you know what our staff was looking for. So I am uh so
confident in this decision and so excited for the both of you and it's an extra special gift for you Mr. Mr. Oliver because today is his birthday. So, what better way to celebrate? Um, so
yes, I um I'm really excited for this to move forward in our district. So, congratulations. Not yet, but maybe soon. Um, well, first happy birthday, Miss Ali. Um, I want to congratulate the both of you. uh just being able to be in the
high schools and seeing how you both interact with both your staff, your students, it's just it's remarkable. Um I don't think anyone deserves the positions more than you two. Um I am grateful to be able to be a part of just the whole change in the district from
new superintendent to now new, you know, principal high school GNC. Um and just the way you guys work together and the way you guys speak about each other and respect each other. It's just it's it's amazing. So, congratulations to the both of you and I'm excited to see where you guys bring, you know, the the schools.
Um, we had me and Elena had the opportunity to sit in your final interviews and just to hear how where you guys want the schools to go. Um, I wish everyone can hear that because it's it's it it doesn't take away it shows
how much dedication you guys have for your jobs and for the school and and really for the kids. So, thank you. Congratulations and happy birthday. >> I'll just say if you guys get the job, >> congratulations. Good luck in about two
seconds. >> Miss Fosio, congratulations. This is a gift for you. If I guess before you retire, you can be retiring maybe four or five years. I don't know. And Mr. Olive, this is your birthday present. >> This This is your birthday present, Mr.
Olive. Congratulations to the two of you. >> One thing at a time. >> All right. I'd like to say a few words. I got skipped somehow down here. I think that uh board member, she just wanted to jump in real quick and and say a few words, which is fine. Everyone's excited. >> It's not all about you, Rich. I
>> I understand that. Um but I I just I just want to say a couple things real quick. Uh Sally Fazio and and and and Jim Alvaria are two wonderful, very genuine individuals. I've seen them grow within this district over the 14 years I've been involved and and I knew
when they first came and they were here growing, I was like, they're going to be superstars. And and I can say, you know, Sally being an old bridge resident, that's important to to me. Um to have someone who is the princ will be the principal of High School as as a
resident here in it's it's wonderful to have her here. I've seen her uh in in the neighborhoods. I actually went to her house once or twice um for for a little mishap, but it it's as as a fireman. Um very great. No, no, no, no, no, no, no
explanations. Um and um all I have to say is that I I'm I'm I'm excited to have Sally Fazio is as the principal here. She's very well respected. Uh she's loved by the students. So many good accolades about Sally and and how
she handles herself is is very important. and and Jimmy, a fellow Staten Islander, I I think that's terrific as well. Um, and happy birthday, by the way. So, I I see a lot of great things happening in this district and we have two fine uh internal candidates uh who are going to
lead the high school moving forward and and that's what I I I I adore. I adore our residents, our people who are leaders and stewards of our educational system. So, congratulations. And now we can go and vote to make it official. Congratulations.
>> Do you want to move this to action on the 19th? >> No. >> Anybody want a motion for that? Any other discussion? All right, let's move along. Roll call, please.
>> All right, Miss Shoji. >> Absolutely. Yes. >> Miss Mazone? >> Absolutely. Yes. >> Mr. Jesus Patterson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Slade? >> Yes. >> Mr. Solioski? >> Yes. And congratulations again. >> Mr. Venitation is absent. We'll go to
Miss Man Dantuno. >> Absolutely. Yes. >> Mr. Dunn. >> 100 positivity. Yes. >> And Miss Francisco. >> Yes. >> Resolutions one through five for certificate personnel carries. >> Congratulations.
>> Can we have the both of you, your families, come up so we can clap some more and take a picture? Bring the families up. >> Families, too. No. Come up here all the way up in the lights because we're blinded. So now you have to be blinded, too.
>> Because although you get paid to come here, your family sacrifices well with you guys taking on this extra work. Okay. So, under certificated personnel, we have the rest of the items 6 through 56. So, do we have any discussion on these
items? I'm going to give everybody a second. Very true. I have a quick question and I apologize for not seeing this beforehand. So item number 20 um where it says name and location. So are certain staff members
as no 20 where it says elementary substitute principles. So are certain staff members just assigned to certain locations or why the two columns? >> We just put the location that they're
currently in. But this is for the elementary substitute principles. And right now we're going to um rehire those that are currently in the position for next year. And we have a posting out there right now to add additional names which will
most likely go on in June. Um but we remploy them every year. >> Thank you. Yeah, it was just the location. So you're saying where they are. Thank you. >> Any other discussion? Was there any other questions on the certificate person? No.
>> Well done with certificate personnel. >> Oh, we're going to bring at this point. We're going to go uh we have a request from Miss Richards Patterson to go back to revisit finance resolution number five. This was the resolution for the adjustment for health care costs for 2026 2027.
I believe Miss Richards Patterson, you would like to change your vote from no to yes. Is that correct? >> Correct. My apologies. I did misunderstand. I was trying to get clarification quickly on what that vote was for. It's specifically for the healthcare costs. I'm going I want my
vote to be yes for that and no to the final budget figure. >> Is that good, Mr. Warren? >> Okay. >> Yes. And I'd like to change my vote to a no for five and six. >> Okay. And Mr. Osokowski is going to be
changing from yes to no on number six, which still provides a the requisite five votes for the budget for the budget to pass. But we will move Brook Richards Patterson no vote on
number five to a yes vote. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Non-certificated personnel transportation. Any discussion on items 1 through eight? Transportation items 1 through three.
Supplies, equipment, and services. Items one through 15. Any discussion? Miscellaneous items 1 through 8. So I'm about to move to page 38. And then board secretary, board business, item number one. Any discussion?
>> Okay. Um I think that this is wonderful. I you you know I've mentioned a few times um just how this has started from the top. um between the the funding formula and the
rising medical costs, a lot of this could have been, you know, avoided if things had started differently from the top and the way things come down. Um, and we did discuss a bill recently that,
uh, our representative, our old bridge representative, um, assemblyman Alex Sawiki, um, was trying to sponsor and hope to make a bipartisan issue. Our township did, um, do a resolution for that
particular item and voted yes on it. Um, and so we're still praying that that can help bring some funding down. But then this is brought down by the NJSBA who is who governs the Old Bridge Board of Education and it it looks better across the board
because it's nonpartisan and that's what the board of ed is is to be is nonpartisan. So, um we're really just hoping, you know, the at least for me the my vote would be yes to this um urging relief from the rising public
employee healthcare costs. Of course, you know, we have to consider all of our students and all our faculty members, but we also have to consider the 60,000 um residents that live in Oldbridge and how these things impact them, too. So, that was all I just wanted to touch. I
think this is wonderful. Thank you for adding this resolution to our agenda today. Any other discussion? Okay. Uh we will move on to hearing of the residents on any school district topic. So
>> good evening madame president Francisco members of the board and superintendent Dr. Sasso. Last year in September my son was scheduled to begin cosmetology 2. He was very excited to start the class and continue building his skills. However, as a parent, I questioned why he had
been placed in cosmetology 2 without first completing cosmetology 1 and I was concerned about whether he will be able to complete all required program hours. I brought my concerns to the school principal at that time and after review administration removed him from cosmetology 2 and place him in
introduction to cosmetology and cosmetology 1. Since then, my son has been excelling in his classes. Cosmetology has become his passion and career goal, and he is committed to working hard and improving every day. Recently, my son met with his guidance counselor to plan his schedule for next
year. We were informed that there is enough space in his schedule for both cosmetology 2 and three. However, guidance was instructed by the supervisor of the program not to register him for cosmetology 3. This year he was permitted to take two cosmetology classes at the same time,
but that same opportunity is not being offered next year. I was also informed that if he is unable to complete the program, the hours he has already earned may not transfer to a private or vocational school which could require him to restart the program. I do not
believe this is fair to my son. If there were concerns that would prevent him from successfully completing the program, I feel they should have been communicated clearly before he was allowed to begin. Instead, he was encouraged to enter the program and now it feels as he may not be supported in
finishing it. I received several explanations including that he cannot take both courses simultaneously, that the issue is related to the board of cosmetology rather than the district and concerns regarding safety. Because of
these, I reached out for clarification and guidance to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, the Board of Cosmetology and Hair Sighting, and the State of New Jersey Department of Education. I was
I was advised that the scheduling exceptions fall under the district authority and that I should work directly with the school to resolve this matter. So I am here formally requesting an exception to be granted so that my son may enroll in both cosmetology 2 and three concurrently in order to complete the
program successfully. At this time I am still awaiting a response and I would like that response in writing. Okay. And in regards to safety, the program documentation shows that safety instruction is embedded throughout the cosmetology curriculum and reinforced at all levels. Jacob, my son, started this
program to finish it. He is dedicated, responsible, and motivated. And as educators and leaders, we should not only help our students, but support them and help them reach and succeed and reach their educational goals. Thank you. I try to do as fast as I can. Thank
you for your time. Thank you. Do we have anybody else who would like to speak? >> Okay, I will close hearing of the residents. >> Miss Rosa, I will just say for the record, I know we spent some time earlier in the day on the phone and I'll
continue to, you know, speak to you and about this situation. And I will say for the record, um, Jacob, who I've gotten to know over the years, is a wonderful young man and represents all that is good about High School. So, I just want you to know that you raise a really, really nice young man. So, >> thank you. And you were an excellent
principal. Thank you. >> And I know you're going to do good as superintendent and I know that you're going to make the right decision at this. >> All right. Your three minutes are up. Okay. Um, we will move on to old business and new business, which we kind of mix up. So, anybody have anything
that they would like to share? >> I do. I have two things. I'm going to read the good one first. So, on behalf of the SEPTA uh board, SEPTA, the SEPTA uh SEPTA united uh vers the Harlem Wizards event raised over $21,000,
brought nearly a thousand people together for an unforgettable day. Over 30 volunteers, and 35 staff, admin, and board of ed members played. SEPTA will work with the district to use funds raised to continue creating inclusive and accessible classrooms throughout the district with a strong focus on the ABA
programs and classrooms. The final SEPTA newsletter of the year has been released and highlights the many incredible accomplishments from the from SEPTA this year. You can view it on the SEPTA hub and or on their social media pages. The May 14 SEPTA meeting has also been
cancelled. I know I touched on this last week, um, but again, this is just another testament of how much these ladies do for this district. Um, all the members of the SEPTA board, they're truly truly incredible. Um, they work their butts off day in and day out and
they never ever ask for a pat on the back. They just do it from just the love they have for their kids and and and every kid in the district. So again, thank you to the SEPTA board and everyone who helped make that event so su successful. Okay, now to not the greatest news.
Okay, I just want to clear something up real quick. Um, whoever knows me knows I really don't hold back on what I'm thinking or what I want to say. My facials usually say it all. Um, I usually let all the keyboard warriors say what they want and take it with a grain of salt considering where it's coming from. Lately, there has been a
post brought to my attention. And even though I'm choosing to ignore it, I felt it was necessary to just suggest to the people behind it that if you're gonna spread um a story, at least make sure your facts are correct. Um I know who was behind the post and I just find it funny again considering where it's
coming from and who it's coming from uh that we teach our kids about bullying and cyber bullying yet here we are continuing to do it day after day. My advice to you is to take your own advice and if anyone has any questions or concerns, they can reach out to me directly instead of spreading false
information. Thank you, >> Madam President. Couple things real quick. Um, board member Mazone, I support you 100%. I know how difficult it is to sit up here and be targeted on social media and
through petitions and and quite frankly, you know, no one knows what happens in closed doors. So, I can tell you unequivocally that, you know, she's been a a a a staple of a professional uh ism. She's done everything she needed to do
as a board member to make rational and proper decisions. And I support her and I've been badgered myself and there's been a vicious petition going around about myself, about my decisions on the board of education. And I can tell you from the bottom of my heart, my
decisions are based upon what's best for the children of this district and nothing else. And I've always done that. You know, back in 2013 when I fought for full day kindergarten, that should tell everyone where my heart is. And don't try to discredit us for making the
difficult decisions. It's easy to go out there as a keyboard warrior and belittle us on social media, but quite frankly, be in our shoes, understand what we go through, what we need to make uh and do. Our decision- making has to be of of of
of quality and correctness and and and and we are working for all the students just not one segment. Um so I stand with you Christina and know that I I I understand what you're going through because I go through it as well. Uh secondly, I won't
be here next week. So I just want to congratulate all the teachers of the year recipients. My wife's a teacher here in this district and I can tell you that our teachers are the finest. They're the best professionals in the state of New Jersey. Um they have their
hearts and their souls. uh in everything they do. Uh and that's what makes Old Bridge public schools the best in the state is based upon our staff from par professionals to teachers um to bus drivers, aids to transportation
um to our administrators, nurses. I can't forget nurses. You know, a very good friend of mine's wife is a nurse here in the district. Uh Stacy Ritzen, and they're all great. They're all terrific. And I love this district with all my heart. and and I appreciate when
I see uh our wonderful professionals coming out here and supporting us and supporting each other. Ryan, congratulations. You know, I haven't seen you. I haven't spoken to you about, you know, what this means to have someone who's young and and and looking to do so much good for for for the OBA.
Um you have a lot of vigor and that's great. Um >> we'll see how much gray hair has when he's done the job after listen listen. He has a a positive reputation and you know what he's going to do good things for the OBA here and he's going to work as a steward with the board of education
and administration for the betterment of this district and that's all we can ask for and I know we'll get that from him and his team. Um but again congratulations to all the recipients. I admire you. I love all you and let's keep up doing the work for the children
because that's who matters and those are the people who we fight for. Thank you. I have a few things. Um, first I want to take notice that we are laughing at a budget meeting. So maybe we won't end up on the news for you know doing that. Um,
first I'd like to thank uh first Dr. Sasso and Mr. Widell for permission. Um, but I was working with Ernie uh from plant services and Fet Samjan. Um, national state PTA is working on an
advocacy project. There's a um possible bill coming up for 10.5 billion dollars to go towards fixing buildings in school that wouldn't affect taxpayers. So, um I've asked uh for some help and getting some some pictures and facts about the
conditions of our school. Um so, I'd like to thank all of those involved for helping me uh work with that. Pretty going one step further to give them a shout out and they're they're contacting their other school districts that they're working with also to again try and get the movement on that. Um, I also
want to thank the PTAs of Shepard, Madison Park, McDivet, and Memorial uh through the redistricting process of both Cooper and Memorial students. Uh, they've jumped right in uh to help these families feel accepted, show them around
the building last night. Um, and the PTAs, I know from firsthand, are in contact to make sure that we provide the same experience to the students across those four schools so that um the students are treated all the same. So, I want to give those PTAs a shout out and
say thank you. >> Well, since we're all having a good time tonight, um I just wanted to say preemptively if in the future you see any petitions about me, they're not true. >> Margie, nothing bad is ever said about you, that's why we make you deliver all the good news, the bad news.
>> Okay. Um I just, you know, I really wasn't going to touch on all that much. Well, one thing I am actually super excited about is the planetarium getting moving and I know who else is and that's Mr. Andrichi, you know. So, I'm I'm super excited to get that moving and you know, just thank you for your patience
because we do, you know, this is a depressing day for taxpayers, but also a wonderful, you know, way we can finally move forward with a lot of the wonderful things happening to generate income. So, that's one that's just one of the few things that we're looking into. And so,
that's super exciting. Um, and I do want to touch on what uh, Miss Mazone is speaking of because it's it's evident what she's speaking about. And um, I just want to say because I can't say much, you know, that goes on in our executive sessions, but what I said was
that we all have a baby. Like we've all have our school baby. We've all um, most of us on the board have raised our kids in this town. And um there was never any insinuation that any board member had any influence on the redistricting
plans. It was the company that we've been paying a lot of money to do their job to help make these assessments and the admin team um again, you know, approached uh Cooper families with very tangible reasons as to why uh we were
going to start with the redistricting um on that end of town. We do have a lot of uh new construction going on on the south old bridge side of town and it did make sense for a number of reasons that you know the superintendent did touch on
with the Cooper families. Um you could always reach out to us if you have any you know direct questions but I agree you know I just don't I think if you have a question or you're unsure of uh why decisions are made just please reach
out to us directly. Thank you. Anyone else? Okay, I have a few things that I would like to share and then we will wrap this up. Um, okay. So, first and foremost, we um apologize for postponing our governance governance meeting that was
last week. Um, I would like to thank Margie for the suggestion to postpone once we realized that myself as the chair, Dr. Sassa was a superintendent and another one of our committee members couldn't be there. Um she suggested that we postpone which I thought was a really good idea so we went forward with that.
So thank you Margie for for that. Um so the new meeting is going to be on Tuesday, May 26th. Um and before I move on to the the next item, I just want to say um that there's some controversy out there um
surrounding a policy that we're going to be discussing at this meeting. Um, so I'm going to go back to what my fellow board members have been saying. Don't believe everything you read on social media. Um, there's a lot of misinformation out there. So, come to us, contact us. There's so many different ways you can find us. We're open to sharing how we feel, and you'd
be surprised if you actually learn the truth and not the conversation that's going on on all the Facebook posts. So, reach out to us. >> Okay. Um, >> is there a time for that meeting? >> Uh, we're doing 6 PM like we usually do. Does that work? >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you.
Okay. So, we actually um and I said we were late because we um attended an NJSBA workshop directly before this. But even before that, we all went to um the GNC because um Miss Graasso, the art teacher, was hosting an art show for her
students in Miss Chiodto's class and she wanted to show everybody. She has um I guess all the parents and families coming out to see it. So, she invited the board members and when she heard that we couldn't make it at 600 because we had another meeting before this meeting, she said, "Why don't you guys come a little bit before?" So, she opened it up to us and I was blown away
by all the artwork that we saw. So, um I'm really glad that, you know, we all got to be there to see all of it and just look on social media for the good stuff, for the pictures that we can put up and show you, um if you weren't able to be there. Um so, I'm going to go back to last week real quick. So, I just wanted to congratulate u Miss Thatcher
and all the staff that works with the high school band. They had their performance um right up here last week. They combined the high school kids with the middle school and even some of the elementary school instrument instrumental music uh students and it was quite the show. It the you could
there was no room on this stage. That's how many children we have in our band program. Another thing that you know as a we as a board wanted to make sure that we kept intact. I am also uh oh wait let's go back to stay on band for a second. Um, Miss N at
Samberg had her band concert last night with her orchestra and her concert band and her jazz band. And I'm not just saying this. I I really mean it. I hope she's listening. I was really really impressed. Um, these kids are sixth, seventh, and eighth graders. Some of them very new. And they did an amazing
amazing job. And they played some songs that we all actually knew when we were boopping around to. So, congrats to all of them. Uh, also excited about the planetarium. Um, we have been working on this for how many years? we've been trying to, you know, push this forward and and see what we can do financially and we're finally there. So, super
excited about that. And then just to kind of culminate all of these wonderful things that I would like to share, yesterday um I got to witness something pretty incredible. So, for the first time in Oldbridge, we had 11 of our high school seniors graduate from Middle Sex
College with an associates degree before they even got to graduate from high school. So, that to me is absolutely amazing and I'm grateful to um Dr. Sasso for inviting me to come. And I'm just going to quickly read the email that I
sent to the board just so everybody can kind of hear what the day um entailed. So, 11 OBHS students were the first from our district to earn an associates degree before they even graduated from high school. This is thanks to our partnership with Middle Sex College and Mrs. Fazio's strong leadership and fierce dedication to our dual enrollment
program. This marks our first cohort to reach this milestone and with 11 graduates, we had the highest number of any public school in attendance. Dr. Sasso has strongly supported this program over the past four years and was invited to sit on the stage and shake the graduates hands as their names were called. I was honored to attend this
invitation at um at his invitation and grateful to witness this momentous occasion. I will uh mention this tonight, which here I am doing. Um so I just wanted to say thank you to Dr. Sasso and Mrs. Fazio um for you know really pushing and making sure that our children have every opportunity to
thrive and I know that they're also working on ways to improve this program. I believe we have 19 students in the cohort that will graduate next year. Um so it's just continuing to grow. So just another uh prime example of what our budget includes and it's really
important that we as board members and the community hear all of these wonderful things that are going on. So thank you to the both of you and all the staff who are involved in making it happen. Okay, I digress. I am done. Thank you for listening and I am now going to ask for a motion to adjurnn. We do not have executive
session tonight. Thank god motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Awesome. Thank you so much everybody for being here and we will see you next week.