Thank you all for coming. Happy last meeting of the summer. Uh, pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, NJSA 104 through10, adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by advertising such notice in the Home News Tribune, the Asbury Park Press, the
board office, the schools, and on cable vision channel 118 and Verizon Fios channel 24, and by siling filing such notice with the Township Clerk. This meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, August 19th, 2025. The board will take formal action on payment of bills and
other agenda items. Mr. White, the Old Bridge Township Board of Education acknowledges that the law of the state establishes that members of the public, including members of the board, have the right to record public board meetings using audio or video recording devices, provide that the active 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.
Thank you. Roll call, please. Dun is absent. So we'll go to Francisco here. Jerano here. Jri here. Mone here. Slade here. Solicowski here. Venitas here. And Danuno
here. We have a quorum. After the pledge, please remain standing. Can everyone please stand for the pledge? I pledge allegiance. Please remain standing. Move the board of education acknowledge the death of Roselan Reelli Liboitz, a retired
teacher, and Robert Lip, former board of education president, and express its deepest sympathy to their family and friends. Thank you. Christina, can you read the code of ethics, please? The board member will support and protect school personnel in proper
performance of their duties. Thank you. The um can I have a motion for the approval of minutes? J motion. There's almost a second.
I'm taking Francisco on that one. Any discussion? Roll call, please. So, our subject, yes. Giardano, yes. Jri, yes. Mone, yes.
Slade, yes. Solici, yes. Vanitason, yes. Don is absent. We'll go to Dantino. Yes. Resolution one and two for approval of miss minutes passes. Okay. Uh recognition. Can I have a motion, please?
Motion. Slon and slate on that. Any discussion? Yes, we have uh several retirements. Uh Janet Chester, administration bookkeeper 25 years. uh Denine Alano, a Madison
Park, I guess resource room, 31 years, a total of 56 years. On behalf of the board, we wish you a great retirement. Thank you. Whether she wants to know it or not, we have Janet Schustster is in the audience actually in the back there. So, thank you for joining us tonight and
congratulations, Janet. Thank you for your service. I work with Janet when with the memorial PTA when we were trying to get some things streamlined as far as uh budgetaries and donating to the district. So I know that was a lot of conversations between you and the PTA
and I thank you for your hard work and dedication to that and as well as all the other Would you like to take a picture? Can you come on up? Yes. There you go. Come on up Janet. You put a lot of work into this district.
Uh, why don't one of the board members get up? Well, Jen, and I'll join. There you go. There you go. Very good. [Applause] And I'm glad we took your picture. The teachers get a lot of recogni
recognition throughout their hard work, but you know, the behind the scenes, the Yep. the inner office. You know, you guys are are very important to this district and help it run smoothly. So, thank you all. All right, if no more discussion, we'll have roll call,
please. Gerardano, yes. Jri, yes. Mone, yes. Slade, yes. Solicowski, yes. Vanitason, yes. Done is absent. So, Francisco, yes. Dantino, yes. Resolution one for recognition passes.
Congratulations to all. For the superintendence report, I have a report from HYA, our search firm. I am pleased to report that as of today, there are 32 applicants in the system of which 28 have completed and submitted. Although we have been actively
recruiting, the passive marketing efforts were just initiated. There's a link um that was advertised at the launch yesterday and I guess I can that link is on our website. I believe, right? I I was going to add some Okay. some stuff when we get
All right. So, to date, I wasn't going to read the link, I guess, is where I was at. To date, all non-conlicted board members have been interviewed and the five focus groups have been conducted. A total of 61 stakeholders have participated. On Thursday evening, so this Thursday, August 21st at 7 p.m.,
will be the first virtual town hall meeting. And just a reminder that they have recommended that board members do not participate as to not inhibit discussion or participation. The community survey is ready to go out live next week. So on the board website,
there's a link to the Zoom. Um there's no password. It's just a live link. And the there is their platform is like oh there is now a password. Okay. Um there wasn't one. I had talked to Bill last week. Uh but the um the platform that they have or the
account they have has holds over 500. So they're not worried about you know people not getting in. So that will be to uh Thursday evening. A quick question. You said that HYA has five focus groups. Five have been five already. Five focus
groups have already been done. Not I think there's like 24 28 focus groups. There's 24 total. It might be more than five at this point. Um, a lot are scheduled for uh, next week. The 25th is teachers. I know the PTO PTA um, SEPTA
CPAG invite was sent out as well. Was that sent out to all the PTAs? Yes. So, every school got an invitation for that today? Yes, that was sent out uh, this afternoon. Um, so it might have been more than five. Um, completed the date so far. Um, we do
have 24 total scheduled that included the three community events. That was the inclusion of the eight non-conlicted board members. Um we have one potential that are still need to be scheduled and it was really reserved for students. So
we're going to be working um that out somehow um in case students we don't find a method for students to be involved. We have another group that we can um you know kind of cultivate and put out. But just to to give some clarity on the township on on the
district website, there is a superintendent search page. Um there was a um not only is it on the homepage, but a separate page. It gives all the participation information for the community events. Again, as Jen said, Thursday, August 21st at 7 o'clock, so
this week via Zoom. Um there is a meeting ID and passcode on the website. Um, I I believe you need the P, you might not need the passcode, but I did put it there. Um, and then the letter to the community. And just as a reminder, community event number two is next week,
Wednesday, August 27th at 7 via Zoom. Again, meeting ID and passcode as well as the letter to the community is posted. And community event number three is Thursday, September 11th, 7:00 p.m. in person here at the high school located in the cafeteria. And that
letter to the community is available as well. We have um shared out some information with OBTV, so the local programming um should have the QR code that you can take a picture of and get those meetings. Um and we've been putting it on social media. My my
district uh ex or Twitter page, my LinkedIn um has has received I think thousands of impressions. Um so to that point, that's the superintendent search update. Um that's Yeah.
Okay. Oh, community. So, community survey, the the community survey will be available um for all community community members to participate in starting on Monday the 25th. So, on Monday the 25th, we'll probably put a blast out. We'll put something on our website. Um this is
just another opportunity for anyone to participate with a few list you know general questions that then once responses are generated or or collected they generate into a a summary um for hya to then incorporate in their leadership profile. So the 25th will be
available the survey will be available for every community member to participate should they want um more information to follow on Monday. Any further discussion on that? Okay.
Um, progress towards goals. Uh, I know Sal's going to mention it during special committee reports, but the big focus is on the redistricting and the surveys and stuff for that. So, we'll do that. Uh, superintendent search update I just did for that during the report. Do we have
any correspondence tonight? We do have one correspondence. Thank you. All right. Good morning. My name is Pamela Ramos and my son Logan will be a seventh grader at Carl Sanberg Middle School. I'm following up regarding the late
buses for after school sports and activities. This was discussed at a board of education meeting, but parents have not received any updates. Many families are eager to know if late buses will be reinstated or if other options are being considered. Several parents have even expressed willingness to contribute toward the cost. Could you
please provide an update or let us know when a decision will be shared with parents. Thank you for your time and support. Sincerely, Pamela Ramos. That concludes correspondence, but I will just comment on it. Um so just obviously we know we had a the meeting
last year in regards to um the late buses the discussion going into the 2526 budget. We all know our budget situation but when we did the tax levy incentive aid application we did include um a modified version of afterchool late
busing for students. Um we put that as an item in the application. We put a an expenditure towards it. the item was was actually denied by the state in our application. So, um in their eyes that didn't it didn't what we wrote or what
they believed that doesn't cover thorough and efficient education. So, the item was denied. However, as we learned um the denial of such expenditure just mean I had to reallocate the money into another account. So, that being said, we're
working we through our own budget. We talked internally as a district. We talked to secondary um principles, administrators. We talked to district administration. We are working right now through our budget process talking with administrators and kind of giving and and generating a modified return of
after school busing. Um we're working with transportation obviously. Um we're trying to bring it back in some capacity whether it's one day a week on on the same day for everyone. Um we're working out those details. So, um, something
will be coming up soon to follow and, um, more information will will come out on that, but technically we did not have that item approved in our tax levy incentivation, but again, we understand it's a want from the community. Um, some of the board members here, one of their
stipulations for going up the expenditure that we went up on the tax levy incentive aid was to make sure that late buses were introduced back in some capacity. So we are working together at as administrative team um both district and school level with transportation to
bring it back in some capacity and more information will be followed up when we have those specifics. Thank you. Um special committee reports. So n sure I'll go first. Yeah. So, as a
reminder, the long range and strategic planning committee meeting will be on October 15th at 7 p.m. tentively in the administration building. I but I hope we can get uh some emails of people that are coming so we could probably move it to the cafeteria or have like a bigger
audience, bigger capacity for people to have their voices heard. We will be going over redistricting. Um the superintendent search is probably going to be over by then. most of it, but that'll still be up for discussion as well. So, we'd love
for you to join and I'll be reminding you again next month. This is plenty of time to put on your calendar and set yourself up to go. Thank you. I have something that's not exactly committee, but it pertains to several of our committees. So, um, I just wanted to
read something that I wrote and I wanted to I wanted to say, um, as a member of the board of education, I wanted to address the concerns about the recent tax levy increase, reiterating part of what Jen said last week about, um, the reason, one of the reasons for the fourth quarter taxes being so high was
that our third quarter taxes were significantly underestimated. As a board member, voting to raise the tax levy to make up for only a portion of the catastrophic budget cuts imposed by the state to our schools was not an easy decision. And it it is a decision that
no board member ever wants to make. We live here with our families and these choices affect us as much as anyone. Every single member of this board can attest that we've spent many hours over many months trying to avoid raising taxes while still protecting the quality
of education our students deserve. This was not a choice between raising taxes or not raising taxes. This was a choice between funding our schools or allowing the state to step in to make millions of dollars in drastic cuts beyond our control just as they did in in Tom's
River and in Jackson. In 2017, the district already made deep cuts to programs, services, and staff, and there was simply nothing left to cut without devastating consequences. Voting no would have meant closing schools without demographic studies. Eliminating
full day kindergarten, cutting academic intervention for struggling students, no junior varsity or freshman and middle school sports, no instrumental music, shortening the elementary school day, cutting middle school summer program, no
guidance counselor support for summer programs, and even shortening the high school day to dismissal at 10:30 a.m. for every student at Oldbridge High School. Voting no would have meant no RO ROC, no wood shop or cosmetology
programs and cutting AP courses. A no vote would have effectively put an end to programs like Play Unifi, programs we fought so hard to bring to our students because they reflect the inclusive, supportive community we want for Old Bridge. And that was not an option for
me. A no vote would have caused our home values to plummet because nobody wants to buy a house in a town with a decimated public school system. And let's not forget, if the majority of the board had voted no, the decision would have gone to the state, which historically has imposed the maximum tax
increase, like I mentioned in Tom's River and Jackson, as well as arbitrarily closing some of their schools. In our case in Oldbridge, the state forcing us to raise those taxes would have meant raising our taxes to $31 million instead of the 22 million
that we approved. The decision was ultimately a vote to retain control over our schools. If the majority of the bo board would have voted no, the state would have stepped in and we would have lost control and our ability to make decisions for our own students and
community to the state of New Jersey. In the end, my vote was about preserving opportunities, programs, and support for our children. These decisions are never easy, but they must always put students first. When given the choice between bowing to political pressures or protecting our children, I will always
unapologetically choose our children. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? So, I wanted to speak a little bit about the tax uh conversation as well. I was going to do it later, but I think it's kind of fitting now since under finance. Yeah.
Yeah. We're we're here. Um so, I I too wanted to address the the tax conversation. And um I'm glad though, Margie, that you you brought up the fact that the blame lies with the state. Um
and yes, and while I do agree with with a lot of what you said, obviously I chose differently. Um I do wish that as a board we came together and we tried to rally some other districts um to you know to fight the state on this to go against the state to possibly sue the
state and I know there's cost that comes with those things. I just I guess in you know the ideal you know floating in the clouds pull Elena down back down to earth you know situation like we could have just I wish we would have tried a little harder I guess and and I don't know what's going to happen this election season. I don't know what's going to happen with the school funding
formula or what the future holds for us as a district with funding, but I would like to hopefully uh work together with other districts to see what we can do. Um because I I too don't want to see any of those things go away. But really what I wanted to talk about was um a little
bit more of what Jen addressed last week um regarding some facts that she provided about um the the taxes and the categories of the taxes. But I just wanted to provide some context along with some of the facts that that were
shared. Um, when I first saw some of the posts and only because people send them to me because I just simply can't understand why everybody talks about these things on Facebook or on social media when they can simply pick up the phone or email all of us up here or each
of the town council members and sit down one-on-one or in small groups to find out the actual information because there's so much misinformation out there on social media. And when you get the average person who really isn't paying attention to the schoolboard meetings and isn't paying attention to the council meetings, they read these posts
and these comments and they're like, "Oh my goodness, this must be true." Um, when simply it it just isn't. I I kind of feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone sometimes because a lot of the same people who came to our meetings and begged us to raise taxes to, you know, keep everything intact, our academics,
our programs are the same people that were complaining on Facebook that their taxes went up, but they're blaming the town council. So, I'm trying to make it make sense. Um, so what I did was I went and watched the presentation that the town council gave um at their meeting last week. And I just kind of wanted to
clarify the third quarter versus the fourth quarter bill. Um, if you listen to the presentation, the reason that the third quarter bill was lower and um and estimated or predicted to be lower was because they were waiting on us to hear from the state to figure out if they
were going to approve the budget or not. So they went a little low and then once those numbers when we got the go-ahhead and the green light and those numbers were approved then it was like okay this is the accur accurate number that we need to charge people for their taxes and some of the third fell into the fourth which was unfortunate but it
wasn't anybody's fault. So I I didn't you know want to blame to go in a place where it didn't belong. Um, I also wanted to just reiterate, and I know Jen gave these numbers last week, and when you're just listening, sometimes it's hard to follow, but if you look at the town council's presentation, all of
these numbers are there. So, if you're thinking of a pie chart and where your taxes go, um, county open space, 1%. Not up to the town. Library, 2%. Not up to the town. Fire district 4%. Not up to the town. County, 17%. It's not up to
the town. What's up to the town is the municipal tax which is 1616% of that pie and then the the rest is us which is 60% of of your taxes come to us to the schools and we as a board not all
of us but we did um what's the word I'm looking for consensus thank you um decided to raise taxes and that's 60% so of course that number is going to be a lot bigger um so they gave an example if your taxes were $9,000
in 24 and they went up to like 99,900 in 25. Out of that $900 increase, $728 belongs to the school board. So, you know, when I say blame, and it's not really blaming us. We did what we thought was right.
To blame the town council is unfair. It's it's not coming from them. They went up 1.58% of the 16% that makes up that pie chart. So, I just want to present the facts um and a little context like I said to go with it so that everybody understands
and I didn't understand why the blame was there when it it's really here and and when I say blleame you know what I mean. Um so, and then I was going to bring it back to what Margie said which was we all need to remember where the breadcrumbs lie here and if you trace them back it traces back to the state. None of us wanted to cut anything up
here. Um do I wish that we fought a little harder and did a little more? Yes, I do. But this all goes back to the state and not the council. So I just kind of wanted to make that clear. That's all. Thank you. Can I just say one thing? When people say the 60%, I just want to clarify that
in New Jersey the majority of your taxes are going to go towards school anyway. So it's not like we raised it 60%. That's the portion of the tax that goes to schools that no matter what. Right. I think that the increase for 25 was 13.87% if I'm correct. And then the the additional part of that shows up as
quarter 1 and quarter two in 2026. Is that correct? Yeah. Okay. Reach out to us, ask us. Um we're happy to sit down with anybody and answer questions instead of just, you know, putting all kinds of misinformation on Facebook. Thank you.
Well, if I may, I want a clarification. So, I just want to see um back in May the budget was due, let's see, the 21st, I believe. Uh no, maybe the week before 14th because we adopted we
voted on the 13th of May and adopted on the 14th I believe. So it was due. So the following week on the following week again the way we proposed our budget the way we were informed to to adopt our budget was in right in the resolution which is still on our website a proposed
um tax levy incentive. So again, when going up to 23, the way we had to certify our taxes, which were still statutoily due, you know, the the board did everything on Earth on time as well. We had to adopt a budget. We did so on
time. We had to certify the taxes. We did so on time. What's called an A4F is signed by both myself and the township clerk. Um both those document there's a statutory deadline to file those to the county and then to the and then I I believe the county passes on to the
state. Both those were signed by both parties and submitted. So it wasn't waiting for us. I believe at that point the the reason that the state the township then waits for the state to give that final or the county to give that final approval. So I don't want to say that they were waiting on us because
we did everything on time the way it was. It was just now the state had to confirm and and took their time obviously in in approving that application. Um, which was obviously a major increase in the taxes, but we did everything on time. They weren't waiting
for us per se because everything was was signed and certified and submitted in by statutory deadline. I would like to clarify too, I did not mean to at all by any means. I'm so sorry to insinuate that they were waiting on us, but they were waiting on the state because we were waiting on the
state is correct. what I meant by that, right? No problem. The few questions I had regarding your statement is I don't remember a conversation over like fighting or filing a lawsuit when we were talking
budget. So, I'm like I I'm a little taken back is too strong of a word, but but like wishing we had done more because I don't remember that being a conversation. Um, our numbers were not the only numbers that the state or that
the township was waiting for. Uh, other numbers they were also waiting for, but also the third quarter could have been estimated up to 5%. And they the town chose not to go up to 5%. Um, so I I think the town had more control over
some of the delivery than is being discussed. Anyone else? I do. Um, I actually just clarified this with Mr. Parton. Do you remember? Um, we did speak about I had asked Mr. Parton about filing a lawsuit against the
state. Um, and do you remember what you said why we why we didn't do it? We we talked at that time about the reactions that had happened in other districts, other S full-sized S2 districts, and we talked about that it is the decision of
the board, but there has been no evidence of success on that kind of an effort so far. Right. So, I mean, the whole the whole situation around the lawsuit was brought up. Um, but at that time, we don't have the money to pay. You said it was expensive as well to fight the state,
correct? Yes, it's a long hall. Definitely. Right. So, it that that was brought up also. Um I requested a meeting if and I think it would be a good idea to do a public meeting with both the town council and the board. And I know some Margie I know you said you wanted to
wait till after elections and that's fine but I do think that we should try to set that meeting up have a public meeting with board members, town council. This way everyone from the town can come and we can clear things up and you know people can hear from both sides and because I think there is a lot of
miscommunication going around and I do think that that would clear a lot of people's questions. Last week I mentioned that the invitation from the town came for the meeting and they wanted it at a date that I wasn't available and they just said they'd be in touch. So I didn't
turn down any dates. the board wasn't presented with any dates beyond um myself and Elena pres as president and vice president, but that was the last we heard from the town on it is that they would be in touch. So then maybe we take the ball and we throw out some dates. I'm just
they were the ones that speaking for myself though I at least only for myself I would not even entertain it until after the ele election day because I don't I want to remove any political discussion or conversation completely from that meeting on both sides
and that's fine also indicated the same right that's fine I just think that we should have that meeting I think it would be good for the public I think it would be good for obviously everybody because it like I said it would clear things up that people have questions about okay here's the date I'm throw out. I'm available November 5th.
I'm thinking we should get a date on the calendar ASAP because we all know what happens and it's it'll be June before we come up with something. So, if we are aiming for after election day, which is fine, then maybe we should start uh what are we aiming for before or after the election day? What what kind of meeting
to do an open meeting with the board of ed and the town council to go over the whole talk? This is not the way we should play ping pong, guys. I'm really waiting for my turn. I think I like to talk as well. I didn't talk I didn't think I'm going to talk today about uh this topic so early. Uh but I think this is very important. I do have some notes to share. It's all
again on the fiscal accountability. It's becoming a ping-pong game as we all observe here, right? This is not exactly the way it should go. We should rather be right now pick a call and talk. We should be that comfortable with anybody to talk. We are elected officials, right? And so the township is elected
officials, right? That is the kind of integrity we need to bring in. M it's a taxpayer doesn't pay school you know you go and run with this hey town you know go and look for the police on fire run with this absolutely not none of them you know or most of them or all of them do not even have this clarity that uh
Elena was bringing up like 60% of the taxes goes here versus there and we cannot say that you know uh that we were late or they were late in putting the estimate one for the Q3 and then you know Q4 is the rightest no this is the communication issue
David Mr. David, we all together here on the board did the right thing and we have to literally wait and even the township has to literally wait until something becomes official and stamped. How can they go and increase your Q3 taxes so high right beyond the normal what they can estimate and then you know
you cannot do that business right? So there is dependencies on each other. We have to clearly agree to that. But what I really realize is transparency to the you know taxpayer is absolutely missing in this equation. Right? And we need to come together. We need to be more
integrated. Um I've been here like what 6 months 8 months now. I really feel that through the budget process we need to get the township involved pretty ahead of the game. They need to get a clear visibility on what is being worked upon. Maybe not for every single committee meeting uh like the finance
committee meeting any any such milestone meeting here are the milestones I think when I went for the training uh with the NJSBA NJSB says you know start your budgeting probably right now in September right I have a milestone meeting here is where
we ended our fiscal and here is how we are starting to budget how do we collaborate how do we integrate many of the things I would really why why does NGSBA prescribe here is a formula or a method to the madness because many of these kind of boards and towns suffer on
this right. So we should kind of you know learn from some of these things be more integrated and uh yes long range planning is something which is happening but again fiscal accountability doesn't come with just you know kicking off a program like long range planning and waiting for
those uh you know outcomes you know maybe demographic details or infrastructure uh infrastructure um you know uh worthiness or you know reliability this is not going to solve even for the next year and I think Dr. Kathy also mentioned to this she has seen some of
this in the past and just by doing LRP or longrange planning is not going to solve this. I would say as a elected official and so you know much of year and I would ask uh you know uh Mr. uh you know Chris is there a way we can bring in a motion that brings us this
board more accountable? I'm happy to you know vote for that if there is any kind of a motion. More accountable how for what? Yeah. for all of this what we're talking we cannot be ping ponging about all of this we need to be become more accountable on getting into much more
finding ways to become more uh efficient right so the results are not the results the six month exercise we did since probably January until up until you know where we decided that we have to raise the taxes
or the tax levy the outcomes of our discussion pretty much summed up as we need to close two schools. I think maju read it out everything right we need to close two schools we have to cut down our uh high school to half a day those are like drastic measures
but aren't we saying there are no other measures to bring efficiency in the school system I would not buy that 6 months I was learning I was kind of you know observing everything right but I think the time starts now it is not to wait until December or January or February to really you know get into the
weeds of it the motion I'm looking for you know if Mr. Chris, you know that's something workable is how do we get a monthly accountability of efficiency of how we bring efficiency to the system and as part of this motion or we want to play it the school administration also
is part and parcel of it right how do we bring accountability starting from September don't we what you're what you're describing would basically be achieved by and if it's if it's what the board wants to do you could do a series of public finance
committee of the whole meetings with obviously then the administration central administration would be involved and you could start that when the board decides you want to start that. The the difficulty is that you are waiting for state aid numbers. So you would be you would be dealing in contingencies at that point certainly
for the first couple of months if you started it in September. But you could other than specific personnel information, you can choose to share with the public whatever you want to share with the public as a board. Okay. And so I I guess as far as pushing
accountability and transparency on yourselves, if you chose to do that publicly, that is certainly something you could do. Okay. So we don't have a motion or anything. Just a finance committee meeting is more than it's a matter of scheduling. It's that simple and consensus for people to agree to be there. Maybe that's what we should start doing because we need to get more
people involved into this to bring some method to the madness. Karen, I have a question. I have a question for you. So, we we asked uh Mr. Wedell to give us a line by line budget and we came together and we sat down and we went over the entire budget to try to
find things to cut. You were there too. We couldn't we couldn't come up with something that would actually equal the money that we needed. Yes, we could not. Right. That's exactly why we need to involve more people to give them more transparency of this information and the data. What's more transparent than a line by line budget
that's only to visible to us and uh we see I don't come from this education business right and I don't come from this accounting background right but there could be somebody you know one of the taxpayers come forward to review the data for us there could be a great educator who has solved some problems
like this can give us some inputs because see end of the day it's the same taxpayer you're asking them to pay more taxes so give them opportunity make this data more transparent and visible to Let them chime in and help out. If there is somebody questioning, you know, why my taxes are going high, give them the
opportunities to participate into the process. That's all I'm looking for. And us, you know, taking more deep dives, transparency. I'm confused with the accountability because we as representatives from the community, we were elected to represent them so that everyone didn't have to look at every
piece of paper. They elected us to do that in their place. I've never seen a financial question from a committee member that, you know, wasn't answered by one of the administration, but we're given a bill list. We look at every bill that's
written out. And so, like, that's your checking for efficiency. Is there money going where, you know, it's not supposed to. There's been, you know, 12 years of or more of audits that have come back with with no findings like, you know, showing that
the money is going where it's supposed to. there's not money being filtered places or or missing money or or you know found money and you know although found money would be nice for a change but you know like I'm confused because are you saying that we as a district and
as elected board members look at that bill list and we're not doing our jobs what more accountability like we're given reports of of the money that comes in okay two parts I'll answer you right I'm not saying that at all I'm not saying we're not doing our due diligence Or I'm not saying that we're not doing enough
absolutely not right we're doing what best we could do like we all say the same thing but what I am mean by accountability is more towards bringing efficiency okay maybe accountability is not a right word if uh apologies you know if I'm not using the right word but
what I'm trying to get to is we cannot go continue to go by what is being suggested that you know I need to close two schools I need to you know cut on you know some drastic measures or staff and whatn not right but how do we solve
this problem otherwise see I cannot Chris Mr. Chris, I cannot wait for the state. I know right now what you're going to get next year. We know right now what we are going to work on next year. The numbers are already there. We know like we didn't think we we were told once we finished S2 that that was our new plateau. We were done losing
money. We lost another 3% this year. So we don't know the state aid the state we don't need to know. That's my point. You that's the biggest part of your income. How do you not know? No, because I think what Kieran is trying to say is okay. So after S2, we still lost another three million. that's just going to keep happening. So like
year after year, you know, we keep raising taxes, keep raising taxes. At what point does that stop? What can we do different where we're not maybe cutting programs, cutting positions, but we're also saving money on other things? Well, and that's what But is aren't we doing that by going through this whole redistricting? Is that why we approved?
But he's saying that's not the only that's not the only way to do it. Those Let's also try to become creative and see if there are any other ways or involve people, right, to suggest some other ways. The redistricting meetings are open to the entire community. You don't have to have a student. You don't he technically have to live in town.
Anybody is welcome to these redistricting meetings and I don't know one of us that would push somebody away. Yes. So redistricting and long range plannings are for a purpose that is going to take us from year 1 to year five or year 10. But my suggestion here is that why don't we start one committee
meeting if it if it means a committee meeting to open up just on this very topic. How do we give transparent visibility to the people on the budget and uh look at you know where we can gain efficiency. It is more about bringing some optimization and
efficiency on how we spend right. It is not about long range long-range planning is we have a meeting we are very transparent about it. We have to wait for the outcomes. Let's start that right from September. Don't have to wait for those sessions to happen in like February or in a March. It's too late for getting people's input.
This board is committed to having these meetings regularly. You know September is a calendar hot mess. Yeah. Try fitting one meeting in September. that you know it's a lot but we set the strategic planning in October a because we need the reports that are coming in
that we spent money to to get but b like it's finance and redistricting like that conversation can come but like it's all part of where are we spending our money because if this building is you know too old and
not going to work and it's going to cost us more then we can afford to spend That's what that report's going to show. see where I'm going right Jen to others in the public because I'm talking to people in the town as well right it it's becoming like you know this group is
making those decisions right but at the same time as we were elected to do that doesn't mean you know we cannot involve them in any of the process any committee meeting exactly that's why I'm saying any committee meeting is very generic LRP is very generic have a focused meeting if
you want maybe let's start from September we'll try to figure out a schedule only focus focused on how can we prevent increasing taxes for the next year and there are ways we can work through this right because we all know what's our baseline now it's 180 million Mr. title the baseline of this year
179 the the tax levy is 154 179 so we know that you'll be able to go 2% up exactly so we know a base we can create a baseline out of it right and then we know what state aid we will get 1% 2% as a buffer anything more is a bonus so my
thought process here is consider that as your baseline to work with how can we run this business with that minimum baseline we we should start working now towards it and your LRP outcomes are your again another bonus are accelerator towards that. So it could be a finance committee
meeting but the topics are strictly going to be more focused on this problem. How do we solve? So if I can make a suggestion. Yeah. Um on October 15th we have a strategic planning, finance and shared services meeting. Each one of those meetings is scheduled
every month. So the next one is on November 11th, December 11th, January 8th, February 5th. They are all on the district website just for October to see if the format works. Possibly start the meeting with a 10-minute overview of
current expenditures in relation to where we stand in the respective budget. Whether that's Mr. Spidel, Mr. Whiteell um attends all those meetings. Uh so I I had a colleague named Mr. Spidel. So sorry, Mr. Widel. Um it's a little bit of swag that comes
with the swidel. So start the meeting with a 10-minute overview of the budget. This way it gives not only the board but also the public an overview and transparency of what you know Mr. vacations. Yeah, I would rather prefer to do in September one breakout session on just
this topic with the public, right? Because much of this is within us. I think we don't need to give and October we can follow the same format if there is already monthly one cadence right the 10-minute preview of how we spend is not going to be enough and that's one opportunity the public gets to please
come in forward and then participate, collaborate, contribute. It's more a focus session is what I suggest. I don't know Mr. Chris, there has to be a motion to do that or is it just we can go by that? The next question would be if you if you want to do one in
September, you need to match up a date. Okay. That's all earlier. You can't do it on a night that has the open houses for school. Yeah. And things like that. So that's why the uh the September
finance meeting didn't occur because we felt as a board or as a district that the open house was more important than the finance meeting. Um like middle school alone has two nights, three nights, two nights, okay,
for for their open house. So when you're having all those different levels, it's not that we were trying to avoid it in September. There just wasn't a count. Maybe we can expand that agenda to a little bit more than 10 minutes, 30 minutes or 1 hour open for discussion and then that's all up to Mr. Gardano as the head
of the strategic planning and finance committee. Yes, I I did have something to add. Um part to your point, Mr. event contestant. I think especially for last year's budget and this year's budget where expenditures are concerned, we could release the entire line item list
that we got as board members to the public while redacting the personnel members. Would that be possible, Mr. Parton, Mr. Wido? It would be legal to do it as far as the logistics of it. I defer to Mr. White.
it it would if it that's the consensus of the board and that is what we'll do. We'll we'll have I can talk to incoming district administrators to see um you know Dr. Reagan if he has any recommendations or suggestions as well but if that's what the board in informs
me and directs me to do that's what will be done but again the one thing with the line item budget is the budget is a blueprint you know when I put that budget together and it's adopted in May you know June comes
July comes August there's there's things that have were not budgeted for and have to be accounted for and appropriated and expended already so while there might be some things in there that are are are not in that line item budget that we have to to continue and do. So, just
keep that in mind. But if that's the will and and wish of the board, that is what we'll do. Mr. Widell will deliver to each one of your homes. And right, I have to say something because my my heart rate on my phone is my watch is going off. Um, just a few I want to piggy back on
Elena, then I'll piggy back on Karen as well. Um, I did watch the council meeting as well and we got the message from the mayor as well. And what I got from that is that they were addressing more reputational risk, not the risk
itself. It wasn't us. It wasn't we didn't do it. It was them down the block. Um, I mean, there are parents on that council or for parent or parents who had children in the district and I still don't get that harmony feeling that it's we're going to work together.
Even on their slide presentation, the board of ed was bold as to we were the biggest. We know we're the biggest that raised the taxes, but I didn't get that warm and fuzzy feeling that um we're going to work together. It's they did it down the block. They did it. They
raised your taxes. Um, I would love to work together with them. Um, I just didn't get that feeling. And in reference to blame, yes, they were getting blamed for that whole tax assessment thing. It wasn't the blame for them for putting out the taxes because they made it very clear
they collect the taxes. They collect our money and then they distribute it. They collect the tax and they distribute it back to us. So that might have been an offset of the blame that they're not to blame, but um they I think they were more concerned about reputational risk
than the risk itself. Um in reference to the budget, I would stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mr. Widell going to war with this guy. Um he knows his education business. We don't and you stated that that we're not in the
education business. I mean, some board members ask for that line by line expense report. I'll try to keep my sarcasm, but we're not forensic accountants that were able to decipher what's strong and what's needed. So, we went through that list
and the conclusion was was that 80% of our expenses is for salaries and benefits. So, we had 20% to work with. Okay? And we all have employers that are health insurance went up, car insurance, homeowners insurance,
the electric went up. You're not We can't shut the lights. We can't pay the teachers less. We can't give them less health insurance. So everything went up 25% which is what Mr. Widell talked about. And we only have a 2% cap that we
can raise taxes. I'm not an accountant, but you can't raise a 2% when you need 25%. So that's the issue. in reference to engaging the the township. How I'm not going to check some guy's
credibility or his credentials if he's qualified to give us suggestions for the expenses. The reason being if we cut ROC doesn't mean anything to me. My kids aren't but might affect that parent or the swim team which I don't even think
we have but any cuts that we have. We do have a swim team. Okay. So, you know, the the any anybody who's going to come and speak up are only going to the people who are affected by those cuts, the late buses. My kids don't need a late bus. I go pick up my
kids. But that affects a lot of people. That's a that's a strength out there. So, you can get a lot of input, but that whole expression that too many chefs spoil the pot. You're going to get so much input and I think it's great that we try to get them engaged but as Jen we were elected officials to
represent the township and we have differences of opinions and some of us voted differently. I know there's been some criticism. I hate even using Facebook but like like like we have to justify No, no, I'm not going to take yours. I'm not going to take yours. Like we got to you know I want the I want to
hear what who voted for who? Who voted for what? I voted yes for the budget. I wanted the 30 million because to get us back to adequacy. And I looked at the breakdown that Superman Widell put together. He used big paper and he broke down the columns and he said you raise
it 10 million, 20 million and we had to raise it at least 20 million to get the million from the state. So he gave us a breakdown. We've been doing this thing since February of this year. So we didn't do it overnight. We didn't do it in two weeks. 11:30 at night. Ridiculous
how much time we put into that. So, some people who criticize that we just mailed it in. Bull crap. It never happened. We We took this very serious and I voted because it broke down to $20 a week on the
average of what the town assessed houses are. $20 a week. I know people say, "Not me, not you." I know my taxes went up maybe 8900 bucks uh for what my t my house is assessed for. That was a $20 a week investment towards education,
towards house value. I was going to make that investment. Yes, I've hear people talking about this lawsuit. I'm not an attorney. Mr. Partners, he said it wasn't successful. I read somewhere that everybody has access to that Tom's River
is going to sue, but the taxes still went up and they're still paying illegal fees. So those are small great suggestions but nobody's really coming up with an answer. Didn't he just claim bankruptcy? They're trying to do that something like that. But I mean so not that we have to
follow another township. But I listen I can Elena says Elena came up with an idea. I'm saying it's a bad idea. It's an idea. But the only way to cut expenses is we have to trim the fat. And that I forget the expression about what type of education we give them the clearing.
No no no. We have to thorough and efficient. thorough and efficient thorough and efficient education we got to give them. So the bare minimums that we have to give our students is great, but we love to give the fringe benefits of what they have. And to cut expenses, that 20%, you got to trim the fat. And I
don't want to step on Marjgery's toes, but she gave you a list of what we would lose if we didn't approve it and we didn't raise the taxes, you know, and I'm not going to beat up the the board members who said no, because they're not self-proclaimed heroes either. They're not walking
around saying, "Look how look at me. I said no." That's great. And they they did a great job with that. But the people that voted yes publicly for the t for their taxes, we're get we're getting beaten up. And I know it's election season and it's the witching hour and the pitchforks and the fires
and the going up to Frankenstein's castle. It's that time of year, but the pointing of the fingers to just give our students exactly what they deserve is I mean, you look at this way and I'll I'll shut up in a second. What about the parents who have like older students who
went through the system and got access to all that stuff and now you got a middle school kid or an elementary kid who's not going to get that stuff. So the older kid got the sports and the wood shop and the but now you're other child is not going to get it and you're
okay with that. I mean for a small investment. So, I don't know. The township, I don't mind working together with them, but I hate the fingerpointing. I do think I like the transparency. I'm not going to ask a a a town person what they think cuz
they're not I don't have the credibility. And again, they're not going to want to cut what works well for their kid. You know, they want to keep things intact for what what keeps their house a whole. Um, am I done? Wait, wait, wait. Dwayne said one more thing. I heard the lawsuits, the the trimming
of the fat, the dirty Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, either way, we're working well together. I don't want to cause a wrench in between all of us. We all have differences of opinion, but I'm proud of the tax increase. It sucks. I don't like to pay more, but I don't want to give my kids less, and I don't want my house to
go down in value. It's I mean, my house is appraised at numbers I would never give myself for my house, but they're out there. And they're going to only maintain that because people move to a township because of the schools. Plain and simple. Not Honey Grow, not Shopr, right? You know, they come here for that. Maybe Honey Grow, but that's it.
That's all I got. Thank you very much. Bye. I just want to make sure I say this well and right. This is nothing to do with what Mr. Videl has helped us with that long spreadsheets and whatnot. Very much helpful, right? There's nothing wrong about I'm saying about any of the
activity we did. But all I'm looking to see is how do we solve this problem, right? One of the ideas I really think of is involving people more. I know we are all elected officials. We could go only this far, right? But beyond that what now we are having a stop sign and we cannot move forward and the only
option we get is increase the taxes. We are going to be in the same position. My only fear is forget about elections and all that. Right? We going to be in the same position come next year again increasing taxes and sitting in this table or we probably going to get more people in here and you know throw us out right because our people is going to
leave right. So I'm more pushing us how can we get our ourselves ahead of the game right involving more people giving some more feedback or participate and collaborate early on they also need some time right if you call them you know there's a public meeting you know happening in February or March you have
to come for this meeting to understand the budget it's too late probably and the second thing is expertise do we have enough expertise in this board in this matter right like I'm not I'll raise my hands right away Right. So that's
something I do see that we are lacking. Honestly, we all come from different walks of life. Yes, we have elected officials. We can look at line items. But how do we solve this problem? The long range planning uh to whom we outsourced. They're going to give a this bulk of a document and then they're going to leave. They're going to say
probably you know here is your phased approach that you can implement. It's going to probably take another few years. What about next year? We are going we cannot be increasing the taxes. So all I'm looking for is a consensus among the board that let's start maybe if October is the first session we can have let's have it in October but the
important topic should be here is our position yes Mr. provid agree it's a budget and it's a forecast but at least give the transparency to people what are the ways we can bring efficiency I'm not saying drastically to cut anything every kid need deserves you know what they deserve but efficiencies can come in
different forms and shapes right and I'm not the expert in some of these areas that's why I think you know or if there is any consulting approach here to get some consulting done from an outside firm now that you have raised this much taxes let's spend some dollars to get some kind of a specialized service if there is anything out there I'm open to
vote for it. Okay. Thank you. I'm all for sharing the numbers with the public and being transparent and and having, you know, a meeting to discuss the budget, but as far as like a specialist that, you know, knows the
numbers ins and out. I thought that's why we pay his salary. No, no, It's not a specialist of like, you know, let's have the the meeting that you're discussing, but have the information, you know, that we paid for as far as where we stand because we know
where we stand on what bills are coming in and what money and interest, but we need to know what money we have to spend down the road, what students are coming in the building. So, I'm not saying not have the meeting. I I don't want to have the meeting in September because a the calendar's jam-packed, but b I want the
information. Let let's have the presentation. And I'm not saying it only be on redistricting of this classroom goes here and there. No, it's part of the finance meeting. That's why it's put together under the same committee because we as a board have said we want to have monthly meetings. You know, we
we took the summer off. September's jam-packed and now like we're making sure those meetings happen on a monthly basis. It's a lot of the other committees are every other month. The finance and and redistricting meeting is every month because you know there was
some board interest on having the redistricting done by the 26 27 school year others you know so it's when can we have this all done and what's it going to be impact our finances because that's what we have to do. We went up the 22 million hoping that that'll be enough to
sustain us so that we don't have to go up again. Like that's why there was such a drastic cut and we didn't say, "Oh, you know what? Let's do 10 million. We'll cut 8 million in programs out and 10 million will be good for this year." Because we knew that was going to we
were going to have to go up again next year. Is there a chance we have to go up up again next year? There's always a chance. But the goal at least for my vote for going up to the 22 million was that okay hopefully this is good and this will keep us afloat because that's
our new base that hopefully that's you know the state's the one that said you know that you as a district didn't do x y and z whether that's you know our job the town job I'm not here to discuss that but the state says if you want
these numbers this is the work that has to be done we do what we have to do as far as when the dates have to be done balanced, what's approved, what's not approved, you know, so have the special meeting, but let's not rush it just to have it. Let's get all of our ducks in a
row so that we can have it and then like you said, do it before January. I don't think there's one board member that would say, "No, I'm good till next year." you know, that was one of the it's one of our board goals is to become more fis fiscally responsible and
you know, trained on the budget like that was our goal and that's what we're trying to do. Actually, Jen, you brought up a good point right in the last that's probably what I was intending to eat more and more. How do we make sure next year we sustain on this base and not go above
the 2% cap which we can but not again go for ask for another 10%. How do we ensure that? How do we sustain? That's the point we need to start reaching. That's our conversation. Yeah. Yeah. That's the conversation. I think we should have more publicly and involve more people. In fact, you know, it will be great if you can go down in the
expenses and bring some efficiency but still, you know, have that cap always as the base, right? And we talked about not only going down in expenses, but going up in income, you know, how can we whichever inflow or outflow reduction, right? Either ways. Yep. Any other special committee reports?
No. Um, just really quick, sorry. Um, I do think this is why I suggested that meeting of both us and the town council. I don't think I don't think we should be blaming them. I don't think they should be blaming us. I think there's a lot that we have to understand as board members that maybe they don't and I
think there's a lot of things that go into the town budget that we that they understand and we don't. So, I think it would be good to just sit down all together. we, you know, we have to work together and I I think that's the only way is to to get one big meeting going and opening up to the public. The
problem with trying to get a lot of our our meetings are open to the public. It's people can't make it for whatever reason. But the problem is in you have these self-proclaimeds keyboard keyboard warriors that go back on Facebook that don't even attend the meetings and they
start drama and then that's what causes division on the board because it's like oh well this one said this, this one voted no, this one voted yes. It's public who voted what. It does it shouldn't matter at the end of the day. Come to the meetings, voice your concern. This way then we can make more of you know more of a a better decision.
But they'd rather not do that. So, I just think that it's I think the meeting with the town would be beneficial to everyone. Um, I don't see the difference of waiting before elections, after elections. To me, it should there should be no politics involved in it, period. It it has to do with our taxes. It has
nothing to do with red, blue, purple, white. It does it doesn't matter. Um, but I definitely think that we should try to get a date on on the board. Christina, you're right. shouldn't matter but it it that's why having it after election day is will ensure that
politics is taken out of it completely and we can have a politically free conversation. The other thing is um every person that came to the public hearings with the exception of two or three people we had two public hearings we had board meetings everybody was
overwhelmingly in support of not cutting programs and and raising taxes. And you can rewatch all those meetings. They're all recorded. Um all the emails we got, we got a few emails saying not to, but over it was overwhelming support for for
not cutting programs and and raising taxes. Dave, I have a question. The fact that these last two years they let us go above the 2% cap, right? Because 2%'s the cap. So last year we went up and this year we went up. Isn't that the
state telling us that they're handcuffing us by breaking the rules of letting us go above 2%? Yeah, they're kind of passing the buck, but essentially you are permitted to go 2% on your tax levy plus any allowable adjustments usually for an increase of
healthcare. Then the past two years because everyone is hitting a a fiscal cliff where um that 2% when it was done statutoily there's been that's kind of fell behind and and expenditures are increasing far more rapidly than that. So again they're kind of passing the
buck to say hey something is broken here right we don't really have the fix. We're going to put these programs out and and and it's on you guys to potentially fix it. And and that's why unfortunately there is a lot of talk right now about you know November the election and and why and and what new governor can come
and what may change in the formula. The the problem the issue is is there's a lot a big conversation on that formula. It's not an easy process to have. You know the more you give uh state aid to schools the more you might take away from somewhere else in whether it's
seniors or or community senators or you know whatever else. So there's a given and take a push and a pull no matter if it's the township, the board, the the state, the US federal government, you know. So that's right. I mean, I think it's an important thing that the public knows that if the state is letting us go above
the 2% mandate, they're sending the message is that, you know, it they mess it up. You know, the formula is so convoluted that the state is telling us that, yeah, go above the 2%, you pay for it now. you know, and and we're just
being reactive. You know, it's just um like Marjorie said, it's the state that puts us in a situation causes division. Um but it's a political game. So, on the theme of working together, I'd been asking the town to work with the
school board since Matt was president. Um we met uh Mr. Citadino, myself, Mr. Widell uh councilwoman Sohar and the BA from the town all met in April. We're meeting again in September on ways to try and
work together. So um those meetings are trying to happen. I know one of the initiatives that the school did is during um senior awards night it we asked the entire town council to come and help present uh scholarships and
things like that. So we're trying to get that ball rolling. Um, but hopefully we can have some more positive conversation. Anything else on special things? Yes. So, I know that everybody wants this conversation to end and for all of us to stop talking, but this is exactly what a board meeting is supposed to be
like. It's supposed to be us having all these discussions in front of the public so that there is transparency and that everybody knows what we're thinking and how we feel because sometimes people complain. This one doesn't talk. This one didn't give, you know, his or her opinion on something. So, I mean, while it's timeconuming, um, I think it's I think the discussion is is good. Um
there was a couple points I just feel the need to to touch on and Christine I completely agree with you. I think that the meeting um is really key. I don't see the need to wait. I understand that you do Marine and some others do to wait till after the election. I just it's a discussion. I don't really think that you know if you're you're talking about
politics there's people from both sides and both groups and I just kind of feel like the quicker we move forward the better it is for our community. Um, and I wanted to touch on Jay, something that you said and Jen, something that you said uh last week about um the way that the township that that the council
presented the information with the bolded information. I mean, I didn't create it. I didn't talk to anybody about it or why, but I'm thinking if I'm or my group or whatever or or us as a board is being kind of like uh blamed or accused of something, they're already on the defensive. So, they're creating
these documents for f, you know, to give factual information. Um, and I'd like to think it was bolded because it's the largest amount and it was really what if people are going to blame the increase on it, it's really here again going directly back to why do we have to blame anybody? They're already on the defensive. I mean
the because because misinformation because people are on Facebook spewing misinformation and it it's very frustrating. But if we do what's right and not do what Facebook tells us to do. Like listen, your grocery bill went up because eggs went up. doesn't mean eggs
are are bolded on your receipt. Costs went up. You know, the numbers are there. No one's lying about the numbers, but I do think bolding it was a little bit of a fingerpoint. I Okay, I I completely disagree. So, I just felt the need to say that because I think that's exactly where the transparency is missing, right? And the
communication failure, right? We here in the board approved the increase and then we just moved on. But then, you know, the the gap in the communications is from here on reaching the taxpayer is the gap, right? And then you know when they finally raised the taxes to support
the schools right for the Q4 then everybody woke up to that right so that's the gap we have right when we got approved do we have any mechanism how do we transmit this information see our website we had multiple media that's not enough because all the Facebook people right they don't go to
your old bridge website to see who what did Facebook people yeah I mean what else you would say Facebook people including me I'm on Facebook too right so I'm not pointing at anybody increase on Facebook rather than the website. The website is is ours where we
own and and where we share information. I'm sorry. You're right. You're right. And and that's why like I you know the the point of orders here and and I'm not you know exactly uh we should read the Robert's rules again and and you know I I do feel Jen that you're kind of jumping in a little bit like on on what everybody's saying and I don't maybe that is your right as the president. I
don't know. Um but I just think that we need to move forward. Like we can go tit for tat. We can go back and forth all day long. We need to move forward and we need to move forward together. So I think that trying to get a meeting together is the best that we can do at this point and bringing people together and continue to having having these
discussions. Um I don't know I don't know if anybody else has anything that they want I just want to add one more thing right I wanted to say something just to end this on a positive note sure sure yeah so if you look at the presentation that the township put out right school is considered as another entity altogether
right county agreed it's a different entity and the open space tax that's another entity municipal tax school tax I don't think the taxpayers look at as two different things you know People who are living here pay taxes and these taxes
are for our internal consumption, fire or water or whatever it is, right? Roads or schools. The common taxpayer looks at all of this as one entity. So we should together come up with how do we integrate, you know, this information more seamlessly. If next year we're going to publish a presentation like
this, if I were in all of your positions, I would rather add one more slide. Here is why the school tax has increased and here is the details. that level of information we need to disseminate. It is not about bold versus not bold or any of that. Information is
not being spread evenly and more effectively you know across the layers that we have right because there are certain layers and we need to work through those layers. uh that's something I think we should uh work towards and uh I definitely encourage I know we have some leenship uh with the township but I think we need to improve
that leenship and we need to make them part of the process as well so they become more aware and as one brbridge township we can disseminate more information because I see information posted by the uh township let's say in u
you know Facebook or let us say in the all over Wbridge or whatever you know newspapers they have so many places information is being spread, but we there fruit flies are all over fighting fruit flies and it's so I really apologize for interrupting
Sier. I'm sorry. I did get it though. So I think we have to look at how else we can So my point is we need to look at how else we can share all this information, right? More than one channels. Yes, we
have our own uh OBPS uh communication channels. What's wrong about sharing any of this through OBPS? Hey, here is how you know your taxes that has increased is going to be forecasted or being spent. You know, we always, you know, post you know great information about all the successes we have, right? But
this is a critical point of information. We cannot tell just for this information go to the website, right? We have a good medium of uh communication already. Why can't we post this information? why the tax is raised and why the 60% of the property taxes raised and why can't we give the same uh
material that uh Marjgery read just now we don't do that that's why you know the township is put on spot you know all of a sudden you know somebody observes that you know your taxes has raised so all I'm trying to say again Jen is we as a board we need to come together to improve our communications and trans
that brings transparency I'm not saying we are not transparent that brings transparency communications I'm going to drive around town with a bullhorn and just let everybody know because I mean listen I I commend that. But I think her point is people only take a peek at things when it affects
them. So late buses if your kids stuck at at at at the field they come the taxes all of a sudden now they woke up. We've had a crapload of budget meetings. I mean we just we it's out there. So other than knocking on someone's door, I
mean, I just I don't know. I And I get it. We How much more could you do? And those little planes during the beach instead of going to like the tiki bar. I mean, I do read them, too. So, but we raised your taxes over the beach. I mean, I don't know. So, okay. Elena had a positive note. So, we're gonna
So, Jay called Mr. Widell Superman Widel, right? So, Dr. Tui said, so that is totally now your new name. You were going to meet Mr. Swidel, which is short for Superman Widel. Okay, there we go.
That's big shoes to fill. All right, on that note, we're going to open up the mic and have hearing of the residents on any agenda item. I really wasn't planning on speaking, but you all far exceeded your three minutes, so I'm going to take mine. Did you sign in?
I will. Does this count? Where is my three? Uh so first um if you can provide just uh I know you had a policy meeting before the meeting so before um the policies weren't on the website. So if you could just give a little update uh on some of those policies and on that meeting when we get to that part of the
meeting. Uh and then on taxes and the budget since that's how we spent a lot of time just now. Uh I want to thank uh Jen Marjorie Jay for providing some clarity on what happened over the last few months. Um, just to clarify, uh, taxes were not
raised to 60%. Uh, that wasn't that's I know we're 60% of the total taxes and, um, aid is not known now for next year. Uh, especially because we'll have a new governor at this point next year uh, or you know, when doing the budget. So, that will something could change there.
Uh, and just a note about being 60% of the budget, being a large percent of the budget. as the board of education, you are the largest employer in the township. You have the most work sites in the township. Uh so I would expect that your budget uh you know you employ more teachers I think in the high school than the township employees total
probably. Uh and over the last seven, eight, nine years, however long it's been, uh I think we've done a lot of fighting, a lot of going to Trenton, making phone calls, meetings, whatever it may be. Um I'm willing to do more still. So, if you, you know, if enough hasn't been
done, let us know what more you want to do. And, uh, I'm on board to continue fighting. Um, you know, if if you want to sue the state, Mrs. Francisco, you're very familiar with making new business items, go ahead, do that tonight.
Um, and I'm curious though, are you doing this to benefit the town council or schools, our students, and our staff? I think I know the answer based on your vote on the budget, but if you can clarify that. Seeing no one else, I will close the hearing of the residents.
Um, so can I can I respond? No. This No, this where is this where I respond or no? Mr. But like just don't um I just want to clarify I never said that we raise taxes 60%. I said that we make up 60% of the
budget and nobody is arguing that we shouldn't be the largest uh I guess pulling in of taxes because we do we do do a lot in this town and I didn't I didn't say any of those things. So okay. So for policy
Mr. Parn do you want to touch on the policy summary quick summary? Yeah, just re really truly briefly, I'll put the three-minute timer on myself. Um the we did 10 policies and regulations that are updated based upon updates in the accountability regulations. They are not
substantive changes. They're talking about procurement, professional services, and uh board operations. They are all going to be on the website like all other policies. There are, as I said, are no meaningful changes to those. There is a clarification of board
member election and appointment which is also a matter of state law and has not changed. It's just an update to the policy. There is a new uh pay transparency act in New Jersey now and there is a policy that has been adopted to reflect that. It just says that when
a job posting goes up, employers including public employers including boards of education need to post information about compensation and benefits that go with that. So that will be a new policy. There are some COVID policies that are being abolished
uh as moot and there are there is a new policy updating the curricular requirements which has not changed. It is just being updated to include everything that is in state law at this point. Uh there could be developments given what we've all been hearing from
the federal level uh in the future, but not yet on that issue. And lastly, there is a new state law about student sun protection and there is a requirement that we have a policy on that. That policy will in Oldbridge
be largely left to the parents. There is there the ability for students to use sun protection in school events. But how they do that and in what form will be a decision made at home subject to appropriate behavior in doing it here at school. And that's everything we discussed in policy.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Martin. Any other discussion? Did you get it? Little fruit flies. Um, any other discussion on policy? Okay, moving on to curriculum. Can I have a motion, please?
Jody, do you move it? Francisco will second. Any discussion? Can I have a roll call, please? Mone, yes. Slade, yes. Solici, yes. Vanitason,
yes. Dunn is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano, yes. Jodri, yes. Dan Tuno, yes. Motion resolutions 1 through four for curriculum and professional development passes. Finance items 1 through 16. Can I have a
motion, please? Jana will move finance items 1 through 16. Madam President, and a second. Mone will second moving. Any discussion? Roll call, please.
Slade, yes. Solicowski, yes. Benitason, yes. Don is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano, yes. Joy, yes. Mone, yes. Dan Tuno, yes. Resolutions 1 through 16 for finance
passes. Athletics item one and two. Can I have a motion, please? Motion. Princess, go a second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Solowski, yes. Venitas, yes.
Done is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano, yes. Jori, yes. Mone, yes. Slade, yes. Dan Tuno, yes. Resolutions one and two for athletics passes. Non-certificated personnel office items one. Can I have a motion, please?
Miss motion. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Venitas, yes. Don is absent. Francisco, yes. Jerano, yes. Jodri, yes. Mone, yes.
Slade, yes. Solicowski, yes. Dan Tuno, yes. Resolution one for non-certificated personnel office passes. Okay. We do not have non-certificated personnel operational. So, we'll move over to non-certificated personnel other items one through three. Can I have a motion, please?
A motion. Francisco. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Francisco, yes. Girardano, yes. Jodri, yes. Mone, yes. Slade, yes. Solowski,
yes. Venitas, yes. Don is absent. Danuno, yes. Resolutions one through three for non-certificate personnel. Other passes. Certificated personnel items one through 24. Can I have a motion, please?
Miss a motion. Second, please. Francisco will second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Gerardo, yes. Jri, yes. Mone, yes. Slate,
yes. Solici, yes. Benitas, yes. Don absent. Francisco, yes. Dan Tuno, yes. Resolutions one to 24 for certificated personnel passes. Okay. Do we have any of the newly hired employees in here today?
Come on. Oh, come on up. Oh, she's been patiently waiting. Come on up. What's your name? Raina. And where are you going? She's going to Glenn. Thank you, Raina. Coming up. Wait, we're gonna take your
picture. Yeah. Jo, you come. Congratulations. Thank you. Congratulations. Welcome to Okay. Non-certificated personal
transportations items 1 through six. Can I have a motion, please? Mone motion. Sl. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Chry, yes. Mone, yes. Slade, yes.
Solowski, yes. Benitas, yes. Done is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano, yes. Danuno, yes. Resolutions one through six for non-certificated personnel. Transportation passes transportations items one and two. Can I have a motion please?
Francisco will move. Jod'll second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mazone, yes. Slade, yes. Solowski, yes. Venitas, yes. Don is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano,
yes. Jodri, yes. Dan Tuno, yes. Resolutions one and two for transportation passes. Supplies, equipment, and services items one and two. Can I have a motion, please? Joe, do you move it? M second.
Any discussion? Roll call, please. Slade, yes. Solicosski, yes. Benitas, yes. Done is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano, yes. Jri, yes. Mone,
yes. Dan Tuno. Yes. Resolutions one and two for supplies, equipment, and services passes. Miscellaneous items one through six. Can I have a motion, please? Francisco will move.
I'll make a decent second. Were you seconding Karen or you were asking for a second? Karen got it. Okay. Second. Second from Karen. Sorry. Um, any discussion? Roll call, please. Solowski, yes. Venitation, yes.
Donna is absent. Francisco, yes. Gerardano, yes. Jodri, yes. Mazone, yes. Slade, yes. And Dantino, yes. Resolutions one through six for miscellaneous passes. Okay. Is there any board secretary and
board business? None to note tonight. Okay. Hearing of the residents on any district item. Okay, Brook Richards Brook Richards Patterson. Um I just and it might be kind of all over the place because I always take notes when you guys are
talking. Um a couple things. Dr. Bragan, is he going to be part of the chain of command? cuz I have obviously he's still kind of integrating from where he is to here and um just wanted to kind of know I know we they touched on chain of command in the the last meeting so um I
just wanted to know the answer to that. Um the late buses I know you're working on a modified return but is there an alternative if funds don't work out because we're already past the funding part. We already know that the challenging decisions, you know, having
to cut that. But we had a giant meeting about this with parents involved and giving suggestions. We're going to take any like pay to pay pay to play, right? Um an alternative if this whole budget thing doesn't work out. Um
all I keep writing down multiple times is long range planning to piggyback on what Mr. Batessus is talking about is transparency, right? Um, we we're paying what, another $8,000 increase in real time. Let's send out some alerts with
that $8,000 and ask parents about this stuff. Make it known to them. Um, and you just even stakeholders in general. I mean, because this is not just impacting us. And to Mr. Slate's point, my kids are 10 years apart, so I know exactly what you're talking about as far as a difference. I even touched on that in
Trenton. My daughter was in this, you know, medical program in high school that got her to nursing school. My son's not going to see that. He's not going to see it. But we're also should be talking about long range. We know the health care benefits are going to go up 26%. For our faculty members, so again, long
range planning, we should start now. We could start by asking the departments, right? We could ask each department, hey, so and so, this is the percentage we're going to need to meet this amount. Talk to your respective members and give me a priority list. let them have a say,
you know, and then if we just assume we're going to lose money next year and then if we're lucky and we happen to get some funding, then hey, here's back, you know, the more important stuff. Um, ask the parents, how about shop some vendors? Is real time going up $8,000?
Well, that's a lot of money for one year to go up. Um, so that's what just I keep hearing is, you know, and then the the shifting of the the blame. you know, you guys do have meetings the same dates as the council. I try to make them too because I like to be involved and I like
to know what's going on and they're almost identical the meetings. So, um, you know, I think also you probably shouldn't be bashing them on your platform if you want to actually work together. Um, you know, I one of them used to be a board of ed member and she's and she said at actually last
week's meeting that she knew about, you know, these S2 cuts, you know, from when she was on the board. Where's the long range plan then? So, you know, it is I feel for you guys because it's they're difficult, challenging decisions, but um
you need a long range plan. It's time to start. Thank you. Hi, can you hear me? All right, Marie Kamo Wix. Um, I mentioned several times, longtime B of Old Burge, almost 50 plus years. So, in regards to what Kieran
mentioned about transparency, being here so many years, buying my parents' house, I actually had to look up what estimate taxes were, even have to call my mom like a little child, like what is this? Where did it come from? Now, as a single mom, I had to figure
out my budget. So, when I put out an explanation for those who are on Facebook, it was understanding where it came from, how it came to be. But again, I did it in a way that was not blaming anybody. It was just understanding where it came from. Now, in regards to working with township
council, again, been here so long, going back to last time our town was evaluated was 1989. So, again, working with 1990 funding in order to support a 2025 education system. So, I'm glad that you guys are pushing to try to meet with
them. I'm hoping it can how do you say connect finally because as I look at the different equations and formulas a lot of it is in like so many different pockets that without a connection it's not going to work. So like currently if you look at the what is it called the
equalization table county of middle sex for the year 2025 overbridge is still labeled as 38 billion technically our true value is supposed to be 12.4 billion then when you look at the difference of 8.6 six billion, it equates to $30 million missing in
adequacy fund. So when that was said and they're like, "Oh, you got to raise the taxes." I know a lot of people got upset. Again, longtimer. So our taxes barely move like for the last 30 plus years. So when $600 was offered to $800
to pay for a 2025 budget, I took it versus what's going to look like for my assessment in the coming year. Now, with that being said, in regards to the ratio of taxes, we have 25 cities in Middle Sex County. 21 of them all have between
50 to 60% for ratio for schools. So, when Township Council talked about the increase, technically it was 2% 5A from last year to this year. And then when you look at the towns that actually pay less taxes than us, we're talking about towns like Carterette, Jamesburg, New
Brunswick, Perth, Amboy, South Planefield, South River, South Amboy. When you look at the towns that pay 2,000 plus, you're talking about East Brunswick tomorrow. And if anybody knows about taxes, they're start off at 13,000. So for like the average of 8.9,000 in Obridge, we're getting their
education. So hopefully it'll start to relate to people that technically it wasn't that bad for 6 to800 versus what'll come later or versus what other towns pay. Thank you. Anyone
else? I'm closing on the mic. Uh, any of the board have any old business? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. I'm sorry to Miss Richards Patterson's uh question. Dr. Brian will be the top of the chain of command below the board of education. His position as interim
refers only to time. As far as authority and capacity goes, he is the superintendent of schools while he's here. So, yes, he will be in the chain of command. old business, right? So, yes. Okay. So, um going back to the whole
budget discussion, um I think kind of what we came to a consensus to is we want to release those line items without, you know, letting out any staff members, any personnel. That way, anyone in the town can see exactly where the money's going and they could make their
decision whether we made the right decision voting yes or no. And I have to stress other people brought up how we reach out to the community months ago. I asked everyone to participate so there would be no misinterpretation of the votes. And unfortunately what ends up
happening is that people are now reacting now when they should have been reacting before. But there's a lot of time to reach out to me by email. And we'll be doing what we can. We're going to continue working on the budget as the years go on. We're going to keep fighting. Um, I'm sure we're going to be
involved. The NGA, NJA is very involved in deciding who the next governor is with contributions. So, I know they'll be involved, too. We'll be involved in any way we can. So, please reach out to us and we'll see what we can do. And under new business, I'm going to mention some uh tax forms that people could file
for property tax relief. So, anyone else have old business? Yeah, it's going to be new business. I do. Um, I just have a response to uh Mr. Lewis's comment. Um, and that's the exact divisiveness within the community that we were talking about when the president of the teachers union gets up
and calls out board of ed members on how they vote, insinuating the ones that voted no basically don't care. That's the comments that go on Facebook and pin one side against the other. And being a leader of the union, you're supposed to be bringing the community together instead of causing that divisiveness.
So, thanks. Any other old business? Okay, moving on to new business. So, okay. Yeah, I'll go first. So, uh, New Jersey Anchor, if you occupied your home on October 1st, 2024, which most of us
have, and your income is less than $250,000, you can apply for property tax relief. The New Jersey senior freeze is for those 65 or older, and it's those same conditions. and stay NJ if you're 65 or older. 50% of your property tax
will be rebated up to $6,500 for anyone with incomes less than $500,000. And the forms that cover all three of those are PAS-1 and ANC-1. That's the property tax relief application. The deadline is
October 31st, 2025. If anyone needs help assisting, I will guide them through it. Please reach out to me. Thank you very much and good luck to students going into the next school year. That's it. Good luck. Thank you.
Anyone else have new business? Um I have a question from a community member. Um Mr. Royale, they wanted to know if the shared service agreements are available to see online.
They are not posted online. Uh they may be operable. Um I believe that the security is not being the nature of the correct with the exception of the security shared services agreement all other shared services agreement or public documents.
Correct. Okay. So they are not specifically posted but upon request they they can be provided. Okay. Thank you. Besides the security. Any other new business? Okay. Um, to echo what Sal said, welcome to all
new all staff and students coming back. Um, safe driving for our bus drivers. Thank you for taking care of our little ones. Um, and we hope everyone has a great school year and I we need a motion to go into executive session. Motion.
Francisco will second. Thank you all. Have a safe drive home. Enjoy your last few weeks of summer. I. All in favor? Thank you.