My god. >> May I call the board of education meeting of the Paripony Troy Hills Board of Education to order on Thursday, July 31st, 2025 in compliance with chapter 231, public law 1975 entitled Open
Public Meetings Act. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided as specified in the act in the following manner. A meeting notice was published in the newspaper and on the district website on January 8th, 2025. In addition, the notice of the meeting was posted at the municipal building in the
schools and a copy of the notice filed with the township clerk and transmitted to other newspapers on June 30th, 2025. The daily record, the star ledger and parcipony focus tap into paripony patch and the district website. May we have the roll call, please?
>> Mrs. Abraham >> here. >> Mr. Barios >> here. >> Mr. Devito >> here. >> Mrs. Mayor >> here. >> Mr. Rehea >> here. >> Mrs. Chappelle >> here. >> Dr. Wright >> here. >> Mrs. Kogan >> here.
>> Please stand for the pledge to the flag. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Right. Tonight's meeting is a special meeting. Mr. Andrew Chafo, vice president of the board of education, resigned on May 22nd, 2025 after completing 17 years of service to the Parcipony Troy Hills Board of Education. Tonight, we are here to interview for
that board seat that will run through December 2026. So, we have to, you know, discuss our process on how we're going to do this. And the front of your packet has the interview schedule. So, everybody was
given a specific time. Miss Benos will be the one bringing the candidates, you know, out of the back room and to to the public session. um they will they're free to remain in the public session after their interview
sess after their interview um and then after all the interviews are done we will have a hearing of the public and then we can ask to go into executive session. So I think the only other thing we need to decide is which
questions each particular board member would like to ask the candidate. I don't know that we will be able to get through all of them. So we will also have to decide if there's a specific order we would like to ask the questions in to see if there's you know higher priority
questions. Uh Mr. Devito's already asked to do number 12. So if anybody else has a particular one they would like to ask let me know. We would like to be consistent among all the candidates. So like Matt asked for number 12. So he
will ask number 12 of all the candidates. >> Can I do eight? Judy would like number eight. >> I have a question. >> The second candidate just came in and they said that their friend had didn't
get a confirmed time. We do not have his name or his resume. So I asked him to forward the email that he sent in. He said he forwarded to me. He said he did on July 27.
Um he wants to know if he can still looks like he did forward it to us. Should we print it out? >> Is there any problem with that? >> Yeah, as long as the one he forwarded to me does say the 27,
>> but we didn't get it could have. Yeah, I'm searching forward. >> Is there any other ones? >> Will you be able to print something out and give it to us so that we can see? >> Thank you. >> Is there any other ones in spam? No. >> No. Well, there were two, but we got those. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. >> Uh, anyone have number seven? >> I'll take it. >> I can do number 10. Tim, do you have a number? >> 10. Yep. She has 10. Wendy or Tim?
>> Number four, please. >> We have Wendy. Michelle. >> Let's see which one Michelle and I want and then we'll see. >> Because we don't have to ask everything. >> No, we definitely Well, I don't think we'll have time to ask everything even if we wanted to.
>> Michelle, do do you have a preference? Um, I'm going to say six. Can I number six, please? I'm going to do number 11. First of all, do we care what order any of these are or do we want to just assume we're going to make it through
all eight questions? >> Just to keep it simple candidate as we're asking them just start one end and go around and then next they go the other way. >> Yeah. >> Are we giving them time limits on answering?
>> I think we h I think we should tell them that they have 15 minutes and we expect to ask eight questions. How's that? So that they kind of have to >> so that's like one minute per answer >> just keep it to one because we have to takes time to ask the question and then
a minute to answer so that would take up to 15 minutes easy. >> Matt is 12. >> So if we get if we get through all eight sheel did you want to ask a second one? Um, >> I don't know that we will ever get
through it all. The only problem, Matt, with going one direction and then the other direction is that some people may answer like these five questions and the other people may answer those five questions. >> I would say >> if we don't get to all eight. >> Yeah. >> Alison, what I would say is just keep
the order of the like can we just ask in the order of questions? Like even if we don't get to all of them, can we just ask in the numerical order? >> So the ones that are already >> but then Matt will always get >> always be last. >> You'll always be last. And well, my next
question was going to be is there a >> alternate? If we do one like this, one one way, one the other once, and then as we get to the rest of them, we do every every other person back the other way. And way it's always >> it's hard to keep track if we skip one
person and come back like Jack, Judy, >> Allison, and then on the way swing back. >> I think it's just going to be very hard to compare people if they've answered. probably just go in numerical order and >> whoever's doing each question go in
numerical order. Otherwise, >> we're going to not know what which where we are on this thing. >> We each have her own question. So, I'm saying the same. >> So, why don't we do it this way? Wendy
and I will go after Matt >> just to make sure that Matt's question isn't always the one like Wendy, you know what I mean? We're kind of gonna go three to or four. I guess we're gonna start with four and then we'll do Matt. Then we'll do
Wendy's then mine. Then we'll come back. So Matt is going to sneak in after Judy. >> Sorry, I've lost track now. But >> we're going to start with We're going to start with Mr. Barios. Okay, >> because he picked number four. >> Okay, >> we're going to go right down the line. Okay.
>> After Judy's number eight, we're gonna go to Matt who's really doing number 12, but >> doesn't want to get skipped and I don't blame him. >> Yep. >> Yep. >> Or number two. >> And Sheth. >> Oh, and then Sheth. Or do you want to go after? I don't care. Either Matt's
before or after Shethl and then Wendy then me. >> Sorry. >> He'll point at you. >> He'll point at you. >> Well, after each uh candidate has answered their question, they're sitting out there. Right. Right. >> They're they're invited to.
>> Yeah, they're invited to. So, >> okay. So, I hope they're not going to be confused. >> Well, we're going to go in the same order each time. So, hopefully they shouldn't be. We just have to >> We're going to do the same order each time. That's fine. >> Yes. >> But we just have to remember like to write it down at the next one >> because I only wrote it down on the first one.
>> So, what is the order again? >> Tim. >> Okay. >> Thank you, >> Michelle. >> Okay. >> No, no, I'm sorry. The number question >> four, five, six, seven, eight. Matt is really going to be number nine,
but he's asking 12, >> 10. And then we'll go back to Wendy and then it's 212. 211. >> All I know is I go after Jack. >> Yeah, that's >> we're each going to go in the same order each time.
>> I'll just go after Jack. >> Okay. So, is this accurate? Okay. >> Then Matt's going to be number here. >> Matt's going to go here with question 12. >> Yeah.
>> Okay. Hey, has a question. Hey, Jack. Do you think that six and seven are really close in context? Should I change my question? I'm just rereading them together and I think they're really close. No, I think they're actually um different because
one of them is uh the first one is is is >> something that's wrong with the with the that you would want to fix and the second one is >> what what led you to want to serve on the board like what are the positive
aspects that made you want >> it could be the same >> that's what I'm thinking sometimes it's something wrong >> they feel >> that they want to serve >> that's exactly What my fear is? I'm going to change my question. >> Okay. >> Sorry. Oh my god. We finally got the order.
>> Now we got like be the same order, just a different question. >> So, we're taking you one out. >> Oh, wait. I took what? >> I'm reading. >> We We >> Well, if we have a second >> Nobody thought they were going to be
interviewed till 6:30, so we have time. >> All right. off sticks. She's coming off sticks. >> Um >> I think number three, >> but hopefully there's no bad questions
because these have been our questions. >> These have served us well. >> Um I was thinking of 13. Is anybody opposed to 13? I just Has anybody posted that question? >> No, I think that'll tell us. >> It's a very word question.
>> It is a very wordy question. My concern is like will they have time to like >> I like 14 actually. >> Uh write that question down and all the parts of it and then be able to answer it. You know, >> I like one, three or five person.
>> And a five. We know. If they don't Well, if they don't know that answer, then that says something. I suppose >> that might be a good I'll take five. >> That might be a good question. >> I'll take five. And that means that I'm still like in that running order. So, sorry. >> So, you're just went up one. >> I just went up one.
>> You just moved up. >> Just changed the question. >> Not messing with everyone. >> That's right. Sorry, guys. >> 13 is just really >> I just think it's more worthwhile because Jack's question is I'm too sim. >> Hey, Frank. >> Hello. >> Hey, Frank. >> Okay, so we know the order.
>> Good. I'm going to explain that we hope we expect to ask them eight questions and they have 15 minutes. So obviously they have to keep >> answers appropriately. You know >> they can try. >> I don't want to say brief because I don't want them to think they only have a sentence. But
>> you emphasize the 15 minutes part whether we get through eight or not. We're not going to do like one minute answers or >> I I think nobody's going to actually time them. So I think I want to make sure I give them
enough warning that they've only got 15 minutes and maybe after the first two questions if they take way too long. I'll just say >> you're gonna have to speed up your answers. >> Would you consider answering a little more succinctly?
[Laughter] Right. So the next So all the candidates are going to ask the same question. >> We are going to ask the same question in the same order to each candidate. >> Good. Got it. >> And then if anybody gets left out, it's me
>> or Wendy. But >> don't hurry up and answer because I want my answer. >> Does anybody else have any questions on the actual process for tonight? Good. >> The first few people here. >> I would think we would like to start,
right? Just in case they do go over there for >> Yeah, we'll get behind schedule pretty quickly if we don't. Oh, there was something that said if there's something that really needs clarified um from a candidate, the president would
ask for clarification. Um [Laughter] >> so, um I will keep my cell phone in front of me. If if you have a specific question that you absolutely must get answered,
you can text me. But they're supposed to answer the questions as we go. So they may leave leave things out and that's, you know, good going to happen. But I just want to, you know, make sure that that possibility is out there for you
guys. All right, we're all ready. >> Ready? >> Good. There's very little room for actually writing the answers down there. I think I'll use one of their Thank you pages.
Put them back. I just didn't think that part through. She's prepared. Hello. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Good afternoon. >> Good evening, Mr. Samaga. Thank you for your application. we did receive it and
we we do have the other papers that you submitted with your application. Um we have 15 minutes for your interview slot. We are hoping to ask eight questions. So just keep that time frame in mind. We're hoping you know we will hear your
answers to all eight questions as we go along and each board member has a question and we will start with Mr. Barios. >> Good. Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Over the past 12 over the last 12 months, how many board of education meetings have you attended or viewed
online? >> Uh, do I need to do my introduction or just answer this question? >> We Well, we have we have your um all your >> resume. Okay, perfect. >> Yeah. So, unless unless you think there was something not on there that you want to clarify, we're good to go.
>> Perfect. Okay. >> I'm sorry. There's a second part to that. >> What is your understanding of the role of a board member? >> Perfect. Okay. So in the last one year personally like I would have come here one or two times for the board of education uh meeting here. Uh but good
thing is I have subscribed for the local newspaper like patch or post paripeni focus and all these magazines. Every day I get an daily update about all the events what's happening with the board of education or paripeni township. So I get to look at it and if I want to see
more then I'll look at your video or some other information. So that's my usual practice to know what's happening within our community. And then for your second question, u I ran for board of education election back in 2023. Yes, I lost. Uh but no regrets
for that. Uh so I know how does the board of education work. Yes. Uh they have no authority to take any decision. Superintendent is the one who runs the school. uh he does a daily operation of the schools and then he comes back and gives the feedback about what's happening and all. As a board member uh
you have the authority to come up with the policy regulations uh how the school needs to be run uh you have the control on the budget you dictate what needs to be there uh and you have those uh how to approve the budgets uh what's happening with respect to the rules regulations so
that's where the board member's role is but I personally think board member play as a common link between the school as well as the public or community Yeah, >> thank you.
So our next question is what do you see as the greatest challenge facing the board of education during 202526 and as a board member how can you help meet that challenge? uh more than the challenge first I would like to highlight uh we have a huge
strength uh in terms of our school especially the diversity of the school uh students as well as the uh strong uh teachers community I would call and then from the challenge perspective I know from last one and two years uh the pilot
program is the one which is causing major headache for everyone uh so that could be a bigger challenge I would consider Second, the technology is booming a lot. Uh we need to find u how the technology can be used in terms of communication or
in terms of teaching or in terms of how we can improve the current business process so that like okay uh because of the inflation because of the uh rising cost we need to make sure that the budget is well balanced.
>> Thank you. No. Okay. >> Hi. Um, are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education? >> Uh, I have worked 25 years in the IT industry. Uh, with my experience
currently, uh, how what I do is I interact with the customers. I know their pain points, challenges. We help them in terms of operational efficiency or it could be a continuous improvement or it could be a process improvement. uh that's where I feel if I come into the
board I can play a role where I can I mean again uh board member role is more of a team game it's more of collaboration communication but as an individual I feel that I can do my contribution in the in that area and also I'm a project management professional um so I know that okay if
any project needs to be executed you can find how it needs to be run as a team player >> okay thank you >> okay >> hi Judy Board members interact as a board and as a member and or a chairperson of
committees. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the board as a whole and as a member or or chairperson of a board committee? >> Um maybe I need some more clarity on it, but maybe I'll just say what I can
contribute. >> Okay. >> Want to hear it again? >> Yeah. Oh yeah, you can repeat. Board members interact as a board. >> Mic, please. >> When does my voice not? >> Because it's being recorded.
>> All right, now we're in stereo here. Okay. Board members interact as a board and as a member and or chairperson of a committee. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the board as a whole
and as a member or a chairperson of a board committee? uh maybe from the uh okay from the public communication if there is any board uh I can look from that perspective or it could be from the
procurement side I can help or it could be from the uh communication or it could be from the process improvement if there is any board I can help in that or it could be in terms of the auditing within the team if there is anything I can help
from that area so I I do not know what are the different boards you have uh but uh these are the some of the areas where I can contribute. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Welcome. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> I mean >> board members need to work with fellow
board members and the superintendent in a spirit of mutual trust. >> What steps do you would you start to take to building that trust? >> Okay. Uh first thing is communication. uh I personally feel that open communication uh is a key in terms of
building trust. Second is uh transparency. Um so it's better to communicate openly with the group as a team. Uh share your thoughts, opinion. Of course there will be difference of opinion as a team. Uh that's completely fine. uh but see where you can meet uh
as a team to achieve your goal because as a board member your goal could be to have an uh goal for your district. Uh your goal would be how how the schools can be improved how the students can have a better uh education. So as a team member ensure that you communicate well
with the board member with the superintendent and with respect to external board so that there is more efficiency within the board and also for the schools. That's what I feel. Thank you. >> Hello. >> Hi Vinnie. >> Uh can you please tell us why you were
interested in being a member of the board of education? >> Uh sure. U earlier I had run ran for 2023. um being in Paripeni for more than 15 years and 10 years uh have uh I would say uh uh volunteered for the Paripeni
community. Uh just to highlight few of them I mean we are running a program called teachers appreciation day. Uh every year we invite almost like 10 to 15 teachers uh for this event where we appreciate the teachers for the service what they are doing to the community. Uh
sometimes teachers become so emotional they come back and say that okay by this uh uh uh program what we have done we have to contribute more to the school more to the students more to the community. When you look at this as a broader way uh each teacher if they
contribute more maybe 5% 10 person there's a big contribution to the school community in that way we have a better civic uh system. uh I personally like and apart from this we do something called food drive uh every year we do uh food drive during uh Thanksgiving time
and this year the goal has been set for 1 million pound uh across 35 states. So these are all the community service I'm doing and I feel that the community and the school they both go hand in hand. So I personally feel like when I'm doing the community service I can also
contribute to the school where you can have a strategic planning or some sort of uh advanced uh uh program or some sort of uh flow which can help the schools it can help the future of the students. >> Thank you.
>> Hi. Although there is an average of two board meetings per month, board members additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, close sessions, and special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board
meetings? And do you have any commitments that might interfere with board meetings? >> Yes. Uh average I'm thinking so far my contribution could be 10 to 20 hours per month. uh as I work for uh Oracle
company as a consultant as a full-time uh professional sometimes I travel to different places um when I say different places within uh US mostly towards the east coast area and our travel is always you travel on Monday and then end up either Tuesday or Wednesday at the
customer place and then you come back by Wednesday evening so uh with this schedule I feel that I can contribute for other meetings also uh but sometimes again uh what I think is if I'm traveling And still there is a meeting on a Thursday. Uh I can attend through
the Zoom call. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you. I think I'm up. Um board of education members are um elected or selected to represent all students and the community at large. How
do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some um that board members are accountable to spec specific constituencies, communities or groups? Uh can you please repeat the question? >> Yes. Board of education members are
elected to represent all students and the community at large. How do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups?
>> Okay. U if I get elected as a board member, so you are representing yourself to the community. uh I would consider the stakeholders as students uh teachers uh parents and the township uh taxpayers
as long as you are in touch with them most of the stakeholders and getting to know what's happening within the community and have a transparency in terms of the communication uh you feel they get a picture that yes you are contributing to the community in that way they know that okay you're not
playing an individual role you are not paying for specific uh diversion sites So, they believe that, okay, you're doing it for the community. >> Great. Thank you. Um, and Joanie did text me that I was supposed to ask for your opening statement. So, if you have
a statement, you are welcome. Or if you if you think you didn't get to answer something, you know, that we asked you. >> Um, I think I I think did I answer everyone's question? >> Yes. >> Oh, okay. So, you still have time? >> Yeah. I think you you have not used your
whole 15 minutes yet. I >> Excellent. Okay. Yeah. >> Okay. So, f first of all, I personally want to sincerely want to thank you all for your commitment to the board and because it's a voluntary job, uh you are
doing a community service. Uh yeah. Okay. U so I feel that you are giving your time uh you are doing your experience uh to the township which will help a lot for the schools and also for the township. So that's a great thing what you guys are doing. Uh personally,
yes. Uh my children um they are all from I would call proudly call uh the product of Paripony schools. Uh they studied in East Lake, Mount Tabber, uh Brooklon, Paripony Hills High School. Uh so I feel happy and proud that okay if I get
elected then my students my kids studied here then I get to contribute or give back to something to the community. >> Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. I got the next one.
>> Sheel, do you want to go after Wendy again or do you want to >> Okay, >> now we got it. We I just want to make sure >> I just feel like there was one question. I need like 30 seconds, please.
>> She thought which one I don't really want to change too many, but >> was it mine? >> 78. >> That still sounds kind of silly. >> I think I was going after M. after I >> fine. >> I think we did it.
>> It was fine. >> Matt. >> Yes. >> Then she's >> I will try to remember to take the time this time. >> I think her talks to the skills though >> as opposed to the interest. >> Your question talks to skills. The other
question talks to interest. Those are >> I wrote down two different answers. So I So I wrote down challenge. >> Wait, which one is it? >> Was aspects of education that led you to serve.
>> And then that's okay. Just keep it consistent. >> I can't just point at All I know is I know you Jack. That's all I know. >> I'll look. Okay, Mrs. Zabra.
>> That's my mother. >> That's right. Because I always forget it. So me actually remembering it. >> Everybody makes fun of my notes. >> I know you're really You're taking really thorough notes. I got most of it.
Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much for applying for the position. We have 15 minutes. We are hoping to get through eight questions. >> Um but if you we and we do have, you know, all the information that you submitted, so we've all, you know, seen
all that information. If you'd like, you know, to say anything before we start the questions, you are welcome. >> I'd need to grab my glasses. I forgot. >> Sure. I know that feeling. >> Okay, I'm ready. >> So, hello everyone. I'm Ja. I'm here
today to support and contribute towards the board of education's work that you guys have been doing. I'm a mother to two Pasipini kids. They are well-rounded, academically excellent kids and that makes me eternally grateful to the school district for providing them the opportunities that
they have received. I want these opportunities to be accessible to all the kids who go to Pasipini school district. My passion is to have future ready generation which is strong which contributes towards building better society and that is one of uh the
reasons I'm running to be one of you guys. Uh I have been an educator for past 15 years. I have uh I started as a teacher and evolved into a curriculum consultant with the top education uh companies right now. I specialize in AI
literacy and data literacy. I'm ready to support the teachers and staff building better infra in infrastructure for our schools. I've been very involved in the local community. I have u organized teacher appreciation events. I've been participating in the um uh school
district uh PTAs, organizing book fairs, organizing um food drives and so on. >> Great. >> And I'm ready for any questions that you guys might have. >> All right. Thank you. Mr. Barriers, >> good evening.
Over the past 12 months, how many board of education meetings have you attended or viewed online? >> What is I'm sorry there's one more second part to that. >> What is your understanding of the role
of a board member? Okay. So, first of all, like I have been very active when it comes to the video viewing of the uh this because at times you know the timing for that is not very workable in my schedule but yeah I have actively
watched it on uh line. I have attended I think uh three of the board meetings. One of them was um I think very recent where the Pasipini school district kids who had excelled in one or the other of their achievements they were awarded. So that was one of my favorite meetings uh
in there. My understanding of a board of education uh member is that we support what the school district is going to perform like like what is the curriculum going to be like what is the budget going to be like and how is it going to
be you know impactful towards building better facilities in our student uh in our schools and providing support for all the students. >> Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the board of education
during 202526? And as a B board member, how can you help meet that challenge? >> So I think first of all like this comes from my kids also. I think the infrastructure is aging right now. we do need to provide our students with better
opportunities and it is not possible without the infrastructure. The other thing that I feel is like financially we have to take more um decisions that are based out of uh the research are based out of data. So those are the two challenges that I think that we should work very collaboratively towards
>> and then the follow-up question is how would you contribute to those? Okay. So, uh my experience as I said has been into budgeting, has been into a lot of project management. So, I bring those skills uh for your pursu contribute uh using my skills on those.
>> Thank you very much. >> Yeah. >> Hi. Um are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education? >> Definitely. So, um my recent experience first of all was from my middle schooler
who came to me. I have been a very big STEM promoter in my life. Like STEM is everything. Take your math classes seriously. Take your science classes seriously. But he brought a new perspective to me. Unfortunately, growing up as a student, I had never had an option of choosing music education.
When he came up to me and he told me like you know I want to pursue music and I was like I don't know anything about it. I don't think I can provide you with the support. But he was very strongly rooted into this that my teachers are there, my school district is there, they're providing me with all the support and when I was talking about the
board of education meeting, he was one of the contributors through his music music education. This is one thing that has changed my perspective completely like you know you have to be open you have to discuss with your kids what are the opportunities that they want. I personally if you ask me I am a robotics
coach for last two years I'm a STEM person I will always talk about STEM and robotics to you. Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, board members interact as a board and as
a member or a chairperson of committees. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the board as a whole and as a committee or as a member of a committee or chairperson of a committee? >> Okay. So as I said that I have um like
extensive experience into technical education. I have over 15 years of experience into the same field. Um currently like I'm working with the edtech company for Fortune 500 companies with curriculum uh specialization like I specialize in curriculum consult
consulting which is more into technical education. So I think that is one thing which is my what do we say my skills lie over there but I think I'm very good at um organizing a lot of things organizing community events I'm really good with interacting with community as well I
have arranged a lot of uh teacher appreciation events as well as I have uh contributed to health programs as well so I think uh those all skills would help me in whatever committees we have and when you talk about collaboration I have worked extensively with people with
diverse opinions and bringing them back to the like you know the main goal of the conversation that has been my expertise too. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Board board members need to work with fellow board members and the superintendent in the spirit of mutual
trust. What steps would would you start to start building that trust? >> So uh trust actually comes from both the parties listening to each other. So that is the first thing like listen out to the superintendent listen out to the challenges that they have and I think at
times that solves half the problem like if you're listening if you're a good listener you talk to them you ask them about their challenges they are going to come back with you with solutions and that is going to be like you know on uh what do we call it on on a scale you are going to solve your problem 50% at that
time when you listen to the problem and then you work towards like what solutions you have and uh go towards Did I answer your question properly? >> Hello. Um you've kind of given some indication but if you could uh kind of expand on please tell you us why you're
interested in being a member of the board of education. So first of all it's a sense of gratitude as I said that um I have always believed that this is one unit like the board of education the school district the superintendent the teachers the staff everybody is one unit
and they have contributed immensely to my kids so I definitely want to give back to the community I want to be involved with the community and that's the major reason I'm here and uh the other thing why I am so uh like you know interested in this position is also I want to support the kids in making them
ready for future like right now we are talking about tests we are talking about college readiness but I think we should talk about workforce readiness or we should talk about like overall development of kids stronger kids because that is what builds a stronger society
>> although there is an average of two board meetings per month board members additionally have committee meetings work sessions closed sessions and special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? Do you have any commitments
that might interfere with board meetings? So, currently I don't have any commitments that would uh interfere with that because along with my work that I do. It's 40 hours per week. That's that's what my work week looks like. But everything else I think I can dedicate
to the board because I'm really really interested in building this for our uh Pacific students. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Board of Education members are elected to represent all students and the community at large. How
do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? >> So, uh c can you please repeat your question? >> Board of education members are elected
to represent all students and the community at large. How do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? >> As I mentioned like I think that we all
work as a unit. If if one person is working only towards a specific objective I don't think we can meet the common goals and I believe everybody over here and in the school district is for one and one goal only make the school district better for our students.
So I think that's a common goal that we are going towards. We might have diverse perspectives. Yes, that's pretty common that to have a diverse perspective on something. But the goal is common. So just focus on the goal that is uh there. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. I believe six, seven, eight. That was all eight of our questions. We got them through, right? >> Is there anything else that we that you didn't get through that you wanted to make sure to tell us? >> I think I covered everything that I wanted to.
>> Great. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. I really appreciate this opportunity. >> Thank you. Thank you. I think I'm scaring everybody into answering fast. >> It's okay. It's fine. >> I'm giving them a chance at the end.
Next. >> Okay, I'll be looking at your first It's something up and down in something that I She was really close to the mic. >> Yeah. A little closer to the microphone.
>> Okay. You too. >> Oh, damn. >> It's never been a problem that my voice doesn't carry ever. >> Has to reach the recording. >> Yes. >> I was just following. Can you hear me on the playground? >> I mean, I was just following. Jody was
behind you like the mic. >> I get it all the time. Nobody could ever hear me. >> And oh my god, you. >> Yeah. Good morning. >> No way. I'm >> kidding. Hello everybody. Good evening. >> Good evening.
>> Hope you guys hope you guys had a good day so far. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Thank you very much for coming tonight. We do have you know all the information that you sent ahead of time and we have been through that. We have 15 minutes to
for this interview. We have eight questions that we would like to ask. So um you know obviously we hope to get through all eight in that time. If there is something you know you'd like to start off with that's fine or we can start with the questions.
>> Definitely. I just want to give a little introduction about me and uh myself and my family. Definitely. So I'll start with my name. Uh I'm Rupendra Simakorti. Am I audible? >> Just pull it closer to you. >> Okay. Now much better.
>> Okay. I'll start again. So my name is Rupendra Simakorti and I live in Morris Plains. I'm an IT program manager and uh I come from a IT background as you all are aware now. You saw my resume as well. I'm happily married with two kids.
My elder son is going to be in a junior in college next year. I mean this fall and my younger son is going to be a freshman in high school this fall. So both of them are in uh the same school district and I'm really happy that I'm getting this opportunity to talk to you
and uh provide my uh inputs to be on the board if selected. Okay. And I just want to ensure that you are aware my management skills and the uh collaboration skills which I have learned and earned over time. I will be definitely using them to provide
opportunities and collaborate with all the team members and ensure that we are bringing in some fiscal responsibility into the system. I know there is responsibility but a bit more uh clarity on what we are trying to do and how we want to do things and I want to
definitely use my experience there as well as ensuring that a happy student community and teacher community is going to be providing them the equitable opportunity that they need to be successful and also create a strong
community. I know Paripany has been trying the best and that's one of the reasons I se I wanted to uh be in Paripney when I moved from Boston. So I really love this place and I'm really happy to work with you all if I'm provided an opportunity. >> Great. Thank you Mr. Barios.
>> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Uh this is a two-parter. Over the past 12 months, how many board of education meetings have you attended or viewed online? What is your understanding of the role of a board member?
>> Okay. Uh to be very frank, I have not attended or uh viewed any board of education meetings online. But uh as a board member, I am going to be responsible basically in framing the policies that are needed for providing
all the facilities needed for the students, teachers and their families in for educational purposes. So it's a highly responsible position which will really uh give an insight and provide a
lot of input to the uh team in general. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. What do you see as the greatest greatest challenge facing the board of education during the 202526 school year? And as a board member, how
can you help meet that challenge? >> Definitely. I've been following news very closely and uh with the new administration coming in there is definitely a lot of uh changes to the educational policy and the support we are going to be receiving from the uh federal system and I was reviewing the
uh financial charts for our school district uh for the past 3 years and I see there's uh definitely a lot of decrease in the amount that's being uh provided by the federal and state as well. So definitely I want to work with
you all understand what are the possibilities where we can bring some I mean uh some kind of policies where we can reduce depending on the uh amount of funds we are receiving from every I mean all the places and ensure that we are
uh happily able to spend it for the required purposes and not for everything but specifically prioritizing our requirements and spending our dollars there. That's how I look at it. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. Are there any specific
aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education? >> Definitely, Jack. Good evening to you as well. I've been I've been I'm a parent, but I'm also an educator myself. Uh even though I work in IT, I also teach uh our
language to kids over the weekends. there is an organization uh with whom I have been working and I really ensured my kids know my language from where I am which part the part of uh India where I am from we speak a specific language I just want to make sure the kids are
learning that language at the same time I also ensure that they learn the language that is highly spoken here other than English which is Spanish and uh I have a very good uh insight into what is what it helps how it helps the kids not just in terms of talking but
also on their mental uh development. Uh different languages help them. I'm I can speak four languages and write four languages. So that's definitely one of the reasons I wanted to come in and enforce not enforce but at least provide inputs to people and uh the teachers
that yes this is important and we need to ensure that students receive all round development rather than being specific to some specific subjects or their interests. >> Okay. Thank you. [Music] Is this close enough?
Board members interact as a board and as a member and or chairperson of a committee. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the board as a whole and as a member or a chairperson of a board committee?
>> It's a very good interesting question, Judy. Uh yes as a board member uh my background in management I've been in the uh IT industry as I mentioned for the past 25 years and my background uh managing projects delivering projects
given has given me these skills to identify recognize I mean identify and also ensure that I am taking the right steps to achieve the goals. So as as a board member, my goal is to ensure every
student receives the support and the education they need to be successful and also happy because I have seen students not being happy even though they have completed their classes or they move to next uh grades. I want the
students to be happy that they are doing something and they are learning something good for them and they are able to show that. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So, so board members need to work
with their fellow board members and the superintendent in a spirit of mutual trust. What steps do will you take to build that trust? >> Thanks for the question, Matthew. It's it's it's really uh Twister I would say I mean uh when you
are given an opportunity to become a board member first and foremost thing is I would like to understand what is that the board is the goals of the board number one and ensure that I express my opinions to the board and we all talk
together because the board is not being constituted newly it's it's a board that is already there and I'm going to be a new member if I'm given the opportunity but I would like to get understand the policies procedures being followed and ensure that uh I am on the same path as
the entire board as it is but if there are any suggestions I would want to make to improve the process I would definitely uh provide my inputs and uh take the uh process forward that's how I would uh talk collaborate and ensure we
are achieving success >> okay thank uh can you please tell us why you're interested in being a board member? >> Yeah, sure. Wendy, all my life I had been uh I had been teaching kids. I mean even when I was in
college, I used to teach kids. I used to give them uh personal tions to make sure they are learning. they are able to uh they are able to provide the outcomes they need to provide and
this is an opportunity where I can use that kind of experience I'm not saying that experience but that kind of experience at a higher level and ensure that we are framing the rules policies that can help all the kids basically it
should be a equitable opportunity for all the kids not specific kids or not specific uh teams but all the kids and this is the place where we can ensure that is being framed and followed. So that's one reason one of the main
reasons I wanted to be uh taking this opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Hello. >> Hello. Although there is an average of two board meetings per month, board members additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, close sessions, and
special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? Do you have any commitments that might interfere with board meetings? >> Before responding to that question, can I ask you what times uh of the day these
meetings are conducted? Is it during the day times or evening? What times do the day >> um they're evening there? I think our general meetings are 6:00. Uh we have our executive sessions that run around 5:30 generally. >> Okay.
>> 6 6:30 is when we have our public meeting. >> Okay. >> And our committee meetings also happen to run past after 5 5:30. >> So generally all the meetings are conducted or starts around 5:30 >> and you said uh two meetings per month,
right? Uh there are two board meetings per month and uh several committee meetings during the month um and other events as they come up. >> Mhm. >> Yeah. Uh so uh on a monthly basis I can
I can provide at least 15 to 20 hours in total. I mean depending on uh the requirements and depending on how much time I need to spend because just not attending the meetings but I also need to prepare for the meetings. Right? So uh I would say 15 to 20 hours is how I'm
uh looking at it at this point but I need to get a little bit deeper into the process and understand what exactly is the time frame I need. But yeah 15 to 20 hours seems very uh reasonable >> and the second part of the question was do you have any commitments that might interfere with board?
If it is in the evening after 5:30, I should be good because my all my work meetings will complete work will complete around 5:00 p.m. So, I should be good. Most of the time I work from home, so I should be good. >> Thank you.
>> All right. I think that leaves me and I'm pretty sure you've already answered this, but I'll ask it to in case you want to elaborate. Board me board of education members are elected to represent all students and the community at large. How do you reconcile that this fact with the belief on the part of some
that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? >> Can you reiterate the last part of the uh question? >> Yes. How do you reconcile the represent all students with the belief on the part
of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? Definitely the board members do not I mean as I was expressing uh a happy student communities a happy uh system
itself they are going to be the future and they are going to build a strong community. So the board members are responsible for each and every student. We cannot we cannot have uh part we cannot identify a specific group. we can identify a specific group to improve
them but not to really provide this uh process I mean provide anything that they need uh that other kids should not be provided. So we should not be having that kind of an approach. The approach should be equal opportunity and equal uh
uh work to all the kids as they need it. >> Thank you. Yeah. So I said I thought you pretty much answered that but that's okay. Um, all right. Five, six, seven, eight. That was all of our questions. We
have our 15 minutes. Thank you very much for coming in and applying for the position. >> Thank you very much. Have a good evening. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. >> 14 minutes. >> Perfect.
>> Yes. See that? I got the notes. made a big difference. >> Yeah, him using the mic was better. >> Yes, >> I didn't realize they weren't. >> Yeah, >> it's not just >> Yeah, she isn't >> is not working at all.
>> Just want me to move this one over since I'm not using mine. >> If you're not using >> Hello. Hello. Hello. Well, you could probably hear me in Bermuda, too. >> Now, you now you were too loud. >> I was I don't care. I don't care. >> Oh, this was the message.
>> Oh, okay. Oh, this is yours. >> Thank you. We're flying 10 minutes ahead. >> Nice. All the questions. >> No tornadoes. >> No.
I was um >> I was like sitting in my living room earlier and my son was home cuz camp was like he's in camp in Morristown but they were like come pick him up cuz he's at the Y and I was like okay and we're sitting there and all of a sudden we hear like lightning strike and it hit a
tree on our on our block and I look out the window and I just see the tree goes and so it's like blocking the whole street. So I'm like we should probably call 911 and just have them come check it out. So, I got JC PNL up and down the block right now, and it's been it was an eventful rain, but I'm like, "All right, as long as we don't get seven inches."
And I'm sorry, I'm just jumping right in. Hi. Sorry. I'm Erikica Noolak. Nice to meet you all. >> Nice to meet you. Thank you for coming in. Um, we do have 15 minutes for this interview. We have eight questions that we would like to get through in those 15
minutes. We do have all the printouts of everything you handed us. Awesome. Um, but if you'd like to make, you know, a statement before we start asking, you are welcome to. >> Sure. So, I'll be brief since I already took some time. Um, so my name is Erikica Nolac, as I indicated. Um, I've been a resident of the town since 2018.
My son started in Paripony Public uh public schools in 2022. My daughter starts kindergarten in the fall. Um, like why now, right? Like I think that that's kind of an important question like why decide for the board now? And I think part of it is uh capacity, right? So, I've spent the last several years
with my daughter just still having a lot more needs um prior to entering public school. I was getting my doctorate at the time um and just a lot of different things happening. And then I saw this opportunity come up and I said, you know what, this is a great next step, right? I'm done with school. My daughter's
going to be in school. I would love to be a part of the system that's shaping um their education. So, so let me bring my passion, knowledge, those types of things to this governing body. Um, not that I'm saying I'm not here to learn
because there's a lot to learn as well, but I think I have a unique perspective that could uh complement the perspectives currently on the board and I'll leave it at that. >> M. >> Good evening. This is a two-part
question. Over the past 12 months, how many board of education meetings have you attended or viewed online? And what is your understanding of the role of a board member?
>> Sure. Um, I've only attended, I think, one in person. Um, I've seen at least three or four online. Um, sometimes I don't catch them live. I I get the the post view later. Um so that that's the
first part. The second part what's my understanding right so it's the governing body that works in consultation with the or maybe not consing body that helps kind of guide and make the decisions that impact the schools within the district right so
you're uh you know managing the budget uh high level personnel things um working directly with the superintendent to ensure um that the strategic vision and plan are kind of moving along as planned and um desired ired. Um, I think
there's a lot, right? I think you're you're also the face of the district to many people. I think that there's a a relationship and a leazing with parents that's involved in that. Um, you know, I think that there are things that can come up. I think you have to be ears everywhere as well because I think sometimes things don't make it as far as the room. So, there's some of those
unofficial pieces um that I think are part of it. Um, yeah, that's my overarching understanding. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Good evening. >> Hi. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the board of education
in the 202526 school year? And as a board member, how can you help meet that challenge? Okay. Um, the greatest challenge facing the board, I think I think there's a well there there's a new superintendent coming in
and I think that there's going to be some uh managing of that relationship. It's a it's also an octo a planned October change. I think that brings about unique challenges I think considering how that's going to flow into the district and looking at how we're continuing to maintain along the
pace that we've been on and not shifting course too dramatically at the beginning um with a new person. I think that that's a that could be a unique um challenge opportunity that's facing the board this year. Um you know I'll just
leave it there. Yeah. Okay. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> I'm a little nervous. I'm trying not to be. >> Okay. Thank you for coming in. >> Yeah. >> Are there any specific aspects of education that that led you to want to serve on the board of education?
>> Any specific aspects of I mean, yeah, I so I I bring Yes. I'm excited because I have an education background, right? And and I think that the district is doing a lot of great things and there's a lot of things happening and I I love the diversity
that we have in our district and I think that that puts us uniquely positions us to help prepare our students for the diverse world that they're entering into. And so I think can you repeat the first part of the question again? >> Are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to
serve on the board of education? >> Yeah. And so I I think I want to make sure that we maintain some of these core values that are that are strong and and that are important to the diverse members of our community and making sure that we're holding on to them. And so the desire to want to serve comes from
sometimes I think we have to ask yourselves like if not me then who? And so when I saw the opportunity to do it, I said I I'm an able person who can come in and do it. I think I understand um issues facing public education. I
think I am a quick study of, you know, learning what's going on and taking the opportunity to sit back, reflect and kind of try to understand how can we best serve uh our community given the strengths, challenges, limitations of the system.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay, hold on one second. Board members interact as a board and as a member and or chairperson of a committee. Okay. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the
board as a whole and as a member or a chairperson of a board committee? Um, so my professional experience right now, um, I do work with schools across Northern New Jersey, helping them, uh,
develop, plan, and implement strategic plans for school improvement. Um, so that's an area of of uh, expertise. And so in part of doing that, there's a lot of liazing between uh, school administrators, teachers, school districts, and kind of navigating that relationship. In that piece, I think
there's then also a lot of this external navigation of looking at like partnerships that schools can foster and develop. Um, so this piece around cultivating relationships, I think that's a that's a strength that I bring. Um, I'm also relatively familiar with a lot of New Jersey education codes
through having gone through this process, which I I don't think some people are as familiar, which is fine. Um, I also know how to read the code. Um, which again can sometimes be a challenge. Um, you know, I've worked with budgets with schools and helping them figure out how to use various
funds. There's a lot of, um, nuance to funding and I think there's a lot of limitations to certain types of funding that people just aren't aware of. They're like, why can't we just buy the things that we need to buy? It's not always that easy, unfortunately. Um, so I think that those are kind of some areas. Um, I think I understand a lot of
the backend logistics. Um, there's a lot of pieces around like datadriven decision-m. I think that that's a big piece. you know, even just looking at the New Jersey performance report, looking at it, diving into it and seeing um what is this data telling us and where do we go from here, right? So, if you looked at um our districts from the
2324 data, which was released in April, it's the most recent one. Um we are um somewhat flat in our growth. Um and so I think that that tells a story, right? We have high growth in elementary school and math. Everything else is somewhat typical. Um and our growth is is
somewhat stagnated. even our math data has dropped from when it initially peaked in terms of performance in 2022. So, I think that we are performing above the state, but I think that there's still a place for growth, which doesn't entirely I realize I'm getting a little bit tangential and I'm sorry, but I think just understanding those nuances and being able to get into it is is also
a piece that I could bring to the team. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Here. Hi. >> Thanks. >> So, so board members need to work with their fellow board members. >> Yep. and the superintendent in a spirit of mutual trust. >> Yeah.
>> What steps would you take to start building that trust? >> Yeah. Well, I like to think we have two ears and one mouth for a reason, right? So, even though I'm doing a lot of talking right now, I think that there's a lot of value in listening. Um, obviously coming in I would be uh the most green person in the room. Um and so even though I have have iterated several
times that I think I bring this unique perspective because I understand the education system um I think it's important to uh be humbled by the knowledge that we bring to the table. And so I think you know managing those relationships is one of the most important pieces. I mean each of you has
has been here for a period of time. Um some of you longer than others. Um you have an expertise specifically with this district with these challenges. Um, and I think that there's a lot that I have to learn from that as well. >> Thank you. Uh, can you please tell us
why you are interested in being a board member? >> Yeah. Um, I mean, I I hit on some of this before. Um, but sometimes even when things aren't going the way we planned, um, it can be really easy for people to complain but not actually want to do anything about um, their complaining,
right? um which it's if you don't have a a solution then um where do we go from here? So I think I say that not to say I'm I want to complain right but I say that to say when when challenges arise um how better to move things in the right direction
than to be a part of the group that's kind of trying to do that. Um, also, um, both my kids are here and I and I want to model for them what it means for active civic engagement, for being a part of, you know, the solution, for being willing to take a voice and take a stand and advocate for the things that
you think are important within your educational system. >> Thanks. >> Hi. >> Hi. Although there's an average of two board meetings per month, board members additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, closed sessions, and
special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? And do you have any commitments that interfere with board meetings? >> Do I have any? No, I don't have any commitments that interfere beyond like
the my kids are in activities, right? So, beyond that, which, you know, I have an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old, so they're in certain, my son's in tuo, my daughter's in dance, and she'll be starting soccer. So, there's that piece. I mean, other than that, um, like I said, I just finished school, and that
was a huge commitment. So, I have all that time free now. Um, so if I could piggyback and ask before I answer like randomly with a number, what's the average time that a board member spends outside of your because I
know board meetings can run long. So if you take board meetings out of the ta out of the equation for a minute, how long would you say you average the the time commitment that you give in a given month? >> Answer that. >> Okay. Um I can tell you all of us are on
several committees and they meet um at least several time some of them are several times a year some some are more much more frequently um depending on the committee. So that is something to consider as well. The board meetings like I said are two times a month but we also have the executive sessions right
before that. >> Um they do they you know they vary in length as to depending on what the agenda is. Um, and then there are other things that we participate in as we can uh throughout the year, whether it be uh school activities or um just things that
we want to that we get invited to or um such as um maybe even like tour the schools and things like that. But that might be the only thing that might be more during the daytime. Most of it is in the evening after 5:30 uh and onward. So uh just to give you an idea of you
know if we are on three to four committees each uh that would require you to attend those committee meetings like I said before they're not always they're not every month some are spread out depending on the committee um and then the we have two board meetings a
month executive sessions as well and that also changes depending on the summer and uh whatnot. So >> that makes sense. Well, I would say I'm here because I want to do it. So, I would make it a I would make it a priority, right? So, I I think that's the best way I can answer it. I don't want to give you a random number and
then you're like 12 hours doesn't make any sense cuz some months it's 27 hours and some months it's eight. Um and so I I think um if you guys decide that I'm the right choice for this committee and for this district and if I am in agreement with you, then then I'm going to make the time commitment to do it
with um with intentionality. And I and I think that that's what's most important over over giving you a random number. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. Board of Education members are elected to represent all students and the community at large. How
do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constitu constituencies, communities, or groups? >> Can you just repeat that again for me? >> Board of Education members are elected
to represent all students and the community at large. How do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? >> So I I think you said it by itself in
the beginning, right? So you're you're here to represent everyone's issues, not just one groups. And so I think it's I think that there's a duality. It doesn't have to be this and or it can be both. And um and so I I think that that's part of it, right? Is that always easy? No. And do you get sucked in? And and I think sometimes I can imagine it can be
a challenge with reconciling um what could be your own personal hopes for things and then re managing that with the realistic expectations of of budget or larger uh community interests and things like that. So I think that
there's a lot of uh reconciliation if you will that probably goes into this um in and of itself. And so I think part of that is being transparent with yourself and being honest about it. Um, I think it's it's having conversations with your with your trusted colleagues in this. And then I think it's also knowing that
like ultimately the decisions that the board makes affect the what is it like 8,000 kids roughly that are in the district. And so we have to think and and more coming every year, right? And so I think we have to think about um how we're making the decisions that best
interest them. Um but then also being fiscally financially responsible as well, right? So, we're not trying to um go into into deficits over things. >> Thank you. I think that was all eight of
our questions and we made it in. Thank you very much for coming out and applying for the position. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Okay. >> Can I run to the restroom real quick? >> No, no, no. Not yet.
>> I'm just going to run to the restroom. >> No, I'm not. >> Take your time. We're fine. number eight in his board. I do with her
So this is the starting to getting >> Yeah. by the end of August it's like whoa big difference. >> I don't like it. Who does >> not
>> Today is the last day of the Saturday of summer. >> Tomorrow starts the Sunday of summer. >> Meaning like July always feels like a Saturday >> and August always feels like a Sunday. Oh, I got >> Yeah.
>> Scary in the face. >> Ready or not, here it goes. >> Thank you. Thank you all for your patience. And the more you think about it, the more you have to go. Hello.
>> Okay. Hi. >> Hello. Welcome. >> Thank you. Um, we have 15 minutes for our interview tonight and we are hoping to get through eight questions. We do have the, you know, all the information that you sent ahead of time and if you'd
like to make an opening statement, you are welcome to. Otherwise, we will get right to the questions. >> Okay, I do. I'll try and be brief. Okay. Um, good evening. My name is uh Susie Golder. Thank you so much for the
opportunity of being here tonight. Um I at for education I have a degree in um a bachelor's in psychology with a specialization in industrial organizational psychology from Fairley Dickinson. Um I felt it was important to
come here tonight and ask um for the opportunity to be considered to fill the vacancy that Mr. Truffle left upon his resignation. The district is going through a lot of changes and will be going through many more in the next two to six years. We need to have people who
are not afraid to speak up and take action when it is needed. We need to make sure we do our research and find the most favorable outcomes for the space and financial situations we are encountering. No one on this board or the administration have ever had the
experience of such a large expansion project that we are currently being forced to undergo. Why is it happening is no longer in question as as to how to handle the repercussions of the overdevelopment the town is of Paripony
is facing. The district will face other distractions that will take away from what we are here to do which is educate the children of Paribony. But as long as the board is united and focused, I think all of this can be something positive for the school district. That is why I
am asking for the board to please consider me. >> Thank you. Go ahead. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> So this question, this has two parts. Over the past 12 months, how many board
of education meetings have you attended or viewed online? And what is your understanding of the role of a board member? >> Okay. Well, I was out of the country for
6 months and so I I mean prior to leaving I attended all my meetings. Um so I'm going to say six, seven. Okay. And the role of a board member is
that we are to give the superintendent the support to administer the district and um we're basically the trustees for the for the people and the the community of partipony in that we're making sure
that everything is being handled accordingly properly according to the um state regulations and laws and um that we provide an equal education to all the children of paribony.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the board of education in the 202526 school year? And as a board member, how can you help meet that challenge?
Um, as I said in my opening statement, we're going it it's going to be very difficult to meet um the budget um the budget needs of the district. And I believe that what needs to happen is we have to think out of the
box. We have to not look at things the way that they have been done all the time and and not be afraid of trying something different and new because if we're ever going to do it, it's going to have to be done now. >> Thank you.
>> Hi, Susie. >> Hi. >> Are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education? any specific >> aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education?
>> Um, the most important to me is I hold very dear the um elementary education. I think it is the it's the foundation. It's the most important part of a child's education because that's where
you learn to read, to write. um that's where you encounter new friendships. That's where um that uh it's the emotional part of it and and little and kids are like sponges, you know, they just want to
absorb and they just want to please people and they want to be happy. And you you know it it's the best time for me. It's it's the elementary education because to see the the faces and and
when children get to that next level, it's um it's very rewarding. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Board members interact as a board and as a member and or chairperson of committees.
>> Can Yeah. Yes. Thank you. What personal skills do you possess that contri can can contribute to the board as a whole and as a member or a chairperson of a board committee? Okay.
Well, I I do have a um I have over 40 years of business experience. I have um I actually have worked in every department you could possibly think of. I've worked in customer service. I've worked in um order entry. uh accounts
receivable, accounts payable. I've worked as human resource director. I've worked in manufacturing, printing, IT, healthc care. So what that has given me um over the 40 years is that experience
of not looking at things narrowly and being able to to see what things are done across um you know AC across the different industries and the things that happen the same way in every industry.
So, it's just given me a a good outlook to be able to make better decisions. >> Okay. >> So, board members need to work with their fellow board members and the superintendent in a spirit of mutual
trust. What steps will you take to start building that trust? >> Okay. Um I have said before that the board of education is an entity in itself that when board
members are sitting in the dis when board members take the oath you know it's loyalty to the group of nine people that that is important and outside people really should not have um things to say about what's happening.
in the district itself. Um that's why they, you know, any individual can run and if they want their opinion or their voice heard. Um but it's important to be able to to be honest with each other, to be able
to give your opinion and be respected for it even though, you know, we we don't agree. And the same thing goes of course with the um superintendent is to be honest, you know, and and um and
sometimes honesty hurts, but that's why we're all adults and we should be able to we should be able to communicate. You know, we ask that of all the kids in the district. We should have it ourselves. Is that raining?
>> You told me you don't. >> Hi, Susie. >> Hi. >> Uh, can you please tell us why you're interested in being a member of the board of education? >> Okay. Well, as I said before, um, I you know, a lot of people say, well, you know what? I I resigned or I'm not
running again because I feel I'm done. And I really to a point felt that way. And I'm like, you know, I've been on the board for, you know, what 13 years and um all my children have gone to the school district. My ch my grandchildren
are going through it. And I just feel but in the light of what we're going through, um it's insane to to want to be to to
actually be offering myself for this. It's a huge headache what everyone is going to have to face and but I'd like to be a part of that because at the same time I think it's a an awesome opportunity to be able to one continue
the same direction that Paripony has always had in values uh in education but at the same time maybe create a new a new way of doing things which I find exciting.
Hi, Susie. >> Hi. >> Um, although there's an average of two board meetings per month, board members additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, closed sessions, and special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? And do you have any
commitments that might interfere with board meetings? >> No. And um I mean I don't even you know like I I can't think that I would ever change anything that I've done in the past and
I've always been here. >> Thank you. >> All right. It's my turn. Board of Education members are elected to represent all students and the community at large. How do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that
board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? >> How could you say that last part again please? Um, how do you reconcile the fact
of representing all students with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? Um I I mean everybody has
their you know quirks and agendas and I just feel that it's important that once you enter you know once you enter the doors of this building that you remember that you know it's it's one you know it's a whole
it's not individ individual groups or individual people. And as I said before, I I believe strongly in the core values that the board of education members have to have of equal
education for all. And that, you know, I mean, there's no other way of looking at it from me at least. >> All right. Thank you. That was all of our questions.
>> Okay. >> Um, and we made it in our 15 minutes. So, thank you very much for applying. >> She told me she said it. So, it wouldn't And it wasn't >> wasn't even anybody on my contact list,
so it shouldn't have run through. >> We're all okay. >> What was it that came? >> It was just a scam, you know. Nothing. >> Was that the code? I'm gonna do >> Did you turn it off? >> We did this before to make sure it
didn't happen. >> We changed it. So now now it's real. My sugar. >> Maybe get Brian to help you out. >> We can also of other people just throw it to the rang and hers rang. So I don't
feel too bad. I didn't ring. Someone else is ringing. I was like throw it in a link. >> Double check. >> No, we'll put it in some. >> I'm just leaving it like this. >> I'm afraid 10 minutes ahead. We're good. >> Is it ringing? >> Look at this. Who the hell is going to
see my name? Look at this. >> Is it really ringing? >> That's what you said. >> You said it wasn't going to ring. Hello. >> Welcome. >> Get yourself settled. You're good. >> Yep.
>> Um All right. Thank you for coming in tonight. We have 15 minutes for this interview. We are hoping to get through eight questions during those 15 minutes. >> Okay. >> We do have the information that you sent in. Um, so we have that and we've been
through that, but if you'd like to, you know, make an opening statement, you are welcome to or we can start with the questions. >> Yeah, let's just jump in. >> Sure. Mr. Barios, >> good evening. >> Hi. >> My question has two parts.
Over the past 12 months, how many board of education meetings have you attended or viewed online? And what is your understanding of the role of a board member?
>> Okay. Um, I've never really counted how many meetings I've attended. Um, I know I come whenever I can. Um, just something of interest to me. Budget, I like to try to get to the budget. The,
um, curriculum meetings, I like to try to at least have my thumb on the pulse somewhat of what's going on. Um, I listen on YouTube whenever I can. I pop in my earbuds while I'm doing my housework. Um, or driving uh very
intently during the pilots. I would say in the past year maybe eight total. I I don't want to give the wrong information, but I mean I know I've seen all of you many times. Uh, role of board member. I mean, as far
as I understand, you guys um create policies for the school district and ensure that they run effectively and hire the superintendent, which was a task, I'm sure. >> Those are big shoes to fill.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Good evening. >> Hi, Michelle. What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the board of education during the 202526 school year? And as a board member, how
can you help to meet that challenge? Okay. Uh to me, in my experience, the biggest challenge we're facing is definitely monetary. um meeting budgets instead of cutting budgets and the pilot uh how to work
around all these new students that are definitely headed our way in the future. Um, for this year alone, I would think that the best way to like approach that is to start thinking outside of the box, possibly using the benefit of the 14 PTAs that we
have in town because I know for my school alone, we have raised more money than we've ever raised in the past because we took a new approach and we're like, we need to hit this head-on and we need to hit the ground running and keep going. And right now, two years ago when
I started, we had $3,500 in our account to start the year. This year, I have $35,000 in my account to start the year. I have engaged the parents that volunteer with me and try to explain to them why it's
good for us to reinvest that money back into the school and make it better for our students. And I think that that could be an untapped potential to help meet those monetary issues that every town is facing.
>> Thank you very much. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education? >> Um, first and foremost would be my children. Um, they are both in
elementary school. They are in the same elementary school that I attended. So, uh, having grown up here, the town is very near and dear to me and the schools I adore. Um, in education as a whole, I think that Paripany has an excellent education
system. We have always been a leader in all the things that we've done. I mean, for I remember being in the top 10 in the state when I was back in PHS. So, um it's to me it's a little more like a
piece of my heart and trying to give back to the community and being able to do so. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Okay. Board members interact as a board
and as a member or a chairperson of committees. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the board as a whole and as a member or chairperson of a board committee? >> Okay, good question. Um, I think as a
whole I am very open-minded. I not just hear what people are saying but I truly listen to what people are saying and I try to see any um topic from all sides because you have to compromise. We all know we
have different point of views. We all have different things that are important to us. So there's definitely compromise and I'm very respectful. You have to respect that every person's opinion matters just as much as your own. um chairperson of a committee. I mean, ideally, I would say that I would be the
perfect candidate to be chairperson of the PTA leaison or that's not really a committee. I would be perfect to be the PTA leaison. I have an excellent relationship with the sitting princ um presidents and the new ones. We have a group chat. We talk all the time. We're
very open. We support each other, help each other. And I kind of feel like that would be the same environment I would like to participate in on the board. Thank you. >> Over here. Hi.
>> Oh, hi. I was waking all over the place. So, board members need to work with their fellow board members and the superintendent in a spirit of mutual trust. What steps do you start to start building that trust? >> Um, okay. Building trust. Well, first of
all, I say exactly what I mean. If I don't mean it, I don't say it. So, right off the bat, you get truth and honesty from me. Sometimes a little too much, not going to lie. Sometimes I just say it and people don't like to hear it,
but that's what we have to do. Um, I think I had an excellent relationship with Dr. Sutter. Um, he I was very upfront with him, open, candid, and I had that same relationship with my
principal who will be dearly missed. I think I'm building that relationship right off the bat with our new principal. I have an excellent relationship with our teachers. So, I mean, to build trust, you have to start by giving it and being honest. And um,
that's just me. I don't believe in lying at all. Terrible politician. No, I'm just kidding. >> Um, and can you please tell us why you're interested in being a member of the board of education? >> Um, well, I always kind of had it in the
back of my mind. Uh, ideally, I was thinking like, oh, when my kids are a little older, that would be a good thing for me to do. Um, after the past two years that I served as PTA president, and I'm still PTA president moving
forward right now, um, I found that I really enjoyed, um, empowering the families at my school and giving them acknowledgement for their well-doings. So, I was like, you know what, maybe this is the time for me. I
happened to be here at that meeting totally randomly when Mr. Chafo resigned. Was not expecting it. I think my jaw hit the floor. Like I just was like, I have nothing today. There's a board meeting. I'm going to go listen. And it was almost like a sign like now's
the time. Just do it. So, I'm doing it now. I think I could be a very valuable asset representing elementary school families on the east side of Parcanany which please thank you for all you have done
but there isn't one of you here or am I mistaken I don't think there is one sitting person here that has an elementary student on the east side currently and I think it needs to be Sorry. Although there's an average of two board
meetings per month, board members additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, closed sessions, and special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? And do you have any commitments that might interfere with board meetings?
>> Okay. Well, hours. I mean, honestly, do we have a do any of us have hours per month just lying around? No. We all We all are bombarded with tons of things to do. When something's important, you make time. When I took over PTA, I made time.
I attend every single event at my school that I am allowed to enter the building for. I don't care if my children aren't in it. I am at the fourth grade concert. I am at the first grade play. I didn't even have kids in those grades. It's just you do what you're called upon
to do. So, I don't I hours, however many hours I need, I'll make them happen. I'm very lucky to be a stay-at-home mom, so I can make the time when I need to make the time. I can juggle my schedule. I don't have like, oh, I got stuck in
traffic coming home from work or I had to go away on a business trip. That's not my life. Yes. Would my kid be sick? Possibly. We've all been there. Um, gentlemen, usually your wives, the kids, for some reason they want mommies when they're sick. I don't It's a thing. I
don't know. But, um, I think, yeah, I would find a way to make the time if I make a commitment. And that was actually the very first thing I did before I considered filling out that um writing
that letter and sending it in was I contacted the state PTA office and asked if there would be any conflict of interest being a sitting president because there was no way I was going to abandon my commitment that I made to Rockway Meadow. And they did tell me
that it is not a conflict. It is actually strongly encouraged. So, I was like, "Okay, thank you for the green light. Here I go." >> All right. >> It's my turn. Board of Education members are elected to represent all students
and the community at large. How do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities, or groups? >> Um, I think that those people are incorrect. This is not a political
venue. Um I think everyone working here should be solely focused on the benefit of the children. I know that's what I do in the PTI. Everything that I come up with, everything that I think of, I am
looking at how it's going to better every single student in the building. We have the most diverse student body that I have ever thought possible. We have this tiny little student body of 250 students. They represent 19 countries.
They speak 14 languages. We commissioned an artist last year to paint a 30-foot mural inside the school focused on diversity and kindness. Like it's very important to me that um people
understand that this isn't a political venue. This is for children. Thank you. All right, I believe that was our eight questions and we got them in. Thank you very much for applying for the position. >> Thank you for hearing me.
>> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Oh, that mine. >> Put it away. No, just listen. >> That's silent. So, this will be >> all good. He added that forgot to give her >> just it was just it said 7:48.
>> I don't know. I didn't ask them what time it was. >> I told you. >> What a disaster. >> I do not know. I'm gonna put my watch in my pocket next watch. Told me what time it was.
>> That's what it was. 7:42. >> Okay. >> You are a mess, lady. >> I have nothing now. >> Strip down to the bear. >> No, we're good. Sorry.
>> I forgot about the doors. So, we have this one and one more. >> Got it. >> We got this. >> Is that all the way down? It's not set on the hallway. Okay. Hello.
>> Hello. Welcome. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for coming in. We have 15 minutes for this interview. We have eight questions that we'd like to get through. >> Okay. >> Um we do have the information that you, you know, sent in ahead of time. So, we have been through that, but if you would
like, you know, to make an opening statement, you could do that or we can start with questions. >> Just want to say hello and that I'm happy to be here. Um, as a lot of you know, I already ran for a board seat a couple years ago. I've been I lived in Paripity all my life. I taught 17 years
here um at elementary at Lake Hawthata Elementary School. Um, so I feel like I know the town very well. I have two daughters, one attending Central, one attending the high school. So I have a very vested interest here. Um I left a few years ago. I'm now um in the
business world. So I do HR and internal finance um and payroll for a small business. We have about 27 employees. So like I said in my letter, I feel like I can bring um a balanced viewpoint to the board of education knowing education very well for many years and now knowing
the business world as well. So thank you for your time. Good evening. Uh, my question has two parts. Over the past 12 months, how many board of education meetings have you attended
or viewed online? What is your understanding of the role of a board member? >> Okay, good question. Um, I've probably attended three or four and I viewed many of them online. I always make it a point to view the bulletins as well and in the
readings and any addendums. Um I know a board member um looks at makes policy for the district. I know they don't run the school district per se. I know they um help with how they obviously appoint the superintendent. Um but we report um
uh the policy to to the public. Uh we review rules and regulations and ensure the district is in compliance um along those lines. You know, we don't set curriculum and things like that. So, >> thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Good evening. >> Hi. >> What do you see as the greatest
challenge facing the board of education during the 202526 school year? And as a board member, how can you help to meet that challenge? >> I think a big challenge will be the population growth in our town. I know that's a big issue with all the buildings. I know the board has been on
the forefront in trying to help mitigate as best that they can um with all all of the the building going on. Um, I think we can be out in the community, out in the schools to really see for ourselves what is happening um, at each classroom level. Um, and then go from there with
tackling those challenges of population growth head on. >> Thank you. >> Hi. >> Hi. >> Are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education?
>> That's a loaded question as be someone coming from an education background. Um I think I think public education is paramount in our society. I think we have to invest in students from the ground up and to educate them as best
that we can. Um so I mean specifically um not sure if there's one specific reason but again looking at the kids that we have in our town helping them be the best versions of citizens best best educated they can is what I would say.
>> Okay. Thank I could go more into depth in all the aspects but I won't I won't bore you. >> Hi board members interact as a board and as a member and or chairperson of a committee. What personal skills do you
possess that can contribute to the board as a whole and as a member or a chairperson of a board committee? >> Thanks Judy. Um I believe I am very logical. I'm grounded in facts. I like to see reason with everything. So
regardless of my opinion, um I will look at the policies in place. I'll look at the facts in front of me and bring a balanced approach to looking at pros and cons. I've known to be very levelheaded. I'm known in um on the committees and that I've served on even as an
elementary school teacher. Um like I I bring I bring a level of of logic to whatever I do. Okay. >> Thank you. Hi. >> Hi. >> So, board members need to work with their fellow board members and the
superintendent in a spirit of mutual trust. >> What steps would you take to build that trust? >> I think a camaraderie when you're up against the board versus a public is really very important. Um, building a trust, I will lay all my cards on the table and let you know that I will come
every at everything um in a strictly nonpartisan manner. Um, I think getting to know each board member for one-on-one, for coffee, for lunches, for dinners, you know, any kind of team building we can do is also extremely important. I think when you let get to know people on that personal fundamental
level, all the other noise will go away. >> Thank you. >> And can you please tell us uh why you are interested in being a member of the board of education? Having gone to many many board meetings here in this room
over over the years, um I enjoy watching the give and take the board members have. Um even listening to members of the public, I think you have an extremely important role in the town. Um, I just think it's very important to,
um, be able to listen to people, be able to talk to people, um, and show them that you care about the town, about their their their children and the future. >> Thank you. today.
Although there's an average of two board meetings per month, uh board members additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, close sessions, and special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? And do you have any commitments that might interfere with
board meetings? >> Um hours in a month is hard to say. I mean, at least at at least 10 to 20, I'd imagine. And I mean as it as it when I was teaching I did many things outside of contracted hours. Um I do have two children who are very busy and active
but I have a supportive family and system at home who knows my who understand my commitment to public education and how much it means to me to be able to be a board of education member and continue uh my passion of education in that respect. So, um, if I
am selected, um, I have a big support system that would help show for my children around until my one gets her license. Um, but also understand that I would have to step away from other I don't really have any other obligations if that's what >> workwise. Yeah. >> All right. It's up to me.
>> Um, board of education members are elected to represent all students and the community at large. How do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities, or groups?
>> I mean, it it's just the fact that we're not. So, not much to reconcile other than just to to continue to hold strong and to spit those facts out that, you know, we're not beholden to any one person, any one group, or beholden to the students. Um, I lived that in my
experience as a teacher. um I couldn't cater to certain parents. So I'm very comfortable not catering to certain groups of people and holding strong that are, you know, if we find something that's been that we believe is in the best interest of the students, that's what we're going to continue to to do.
>> Thank you. All right, that was all of our eight questions. >> Okay. >> Um yes, it Thank you. >> Thank you very much for coming in. Thank you for coming. I mean just for purposes
ahead of schedule Welcome. >> Good evening, distinguished board members. My name is Davos Sha. >> Hi. Thank you very much um for coming. We have 15 minutes uh for this interview. We are hoping to get through
eight questions. Um we do have the information you know that you submitted. So, you know, we do have that part. Um, but if you'd like to make a statement before we ask questions, you're welcome to. Or we can just jump into questions. >> Sure. Um, brief background. I'm sure you
have it as well as, um, I've been a resident for over 20 years within Par. Sorry. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh, I'm a resident of Paripony for over 23 years. I've worked in Paripony
most of uh, those 23 years, 17 of them. um across multitude of companies such as Ipsos u and uh metrics which is a revenue life cycle. Most of my career I have managed um large teams
budget right now currently sorry uh I managed currently budget of over $3 million. Uh most of my responsibilities are a lot of operationally to essentially go in
revitalize teams um make sure you know cut the budget um refresh the budget um and apart from that innovate. So a lot of my back uh round is in IT and software management. So uh what we go
through is consistent innovation in our software as well as education. So I've been fortunate enough to have two nieces, two daughters, uh two nephews, um c through cousins and such go through
the parts of system. Um at the same time, um I have been fortunate enough to work in franchisee organizations such as Huntington Learning Center through uh Thick and Thin before COVID and after COVID and innovate through it. Um in my
current role um we're progressing and innovating a lot such as you know uh investigating AI AI tools um working and have backgrounds and met some open AI board members and who are also
professors or lead um departments at Carnegie Melon for machine learning. Now, how does that help us as our future? It's going to impact us and our students. And I want to make sure
whatever my lessons learned that I consistently learned through my context, my experience, I can apply. that includes critical thinking processes and how the decision- making for young students to high schoolers for their
future growth and future empowerment um on the fields they want to succeed in and AI will play a large role in the next two to three years. So I I want to dedicate my time to the board to the
team to help empower the students of parts of Thank you. >> Good evening. My question had is two parts. Sure. >> Over the past 12 months, how many board
of education meetings have you attended or viewed online? And what is your understanding of the role of a board member? >> Sure. Unfortunately, I have not uh not attended any. Um I just got into the
board because I know how critical it is uh for the growth of our students. I was concentrated on, you know, uh teaching my kids, nephews, and nieces for the future. But as more and more I got in touch with um the innovation of the
future um including those with OPI AI members, including those within uh my school districts, including those at Huntington and Learning Center, I knew I had to try something that can make an impact to the future of my kids and the
students of Paripony. Um and hence why I'm here and why I'm also going to run for election in November. Um, I want to help and support it. And that's the first question. Sorry, what was the secondary question? My apologies. >> What is your understanding of the role
of a board member >> to help formulate um and policies that can help this empower the superintendent uh uh for implementation
uh for the growth of the students. We're here to empower the superintendent. Uh we'll do our best to review policies that will empower our students for their growth uh and success in their life.
>> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> What do you see as the greatest challenge facing the board of education during the 202526 school year? And as a board member, how can you help meet that challenge?
Great question. The biggest challenge will be twofold definitely in terms of critical thinking. But how do our teach how do we empower our teachers
with the speed of which AI machine learning is going growing in the day-to-day lives empowering them teaching them teaching ourselves so we can come up with solutions that empower the teachers when
they're teaching the students it's going to be huge we can't uh avoid it. Um secondly, how are we going to teach the students to use these tools? Uh believe it or not uh there will be a
truncation of uh and it's reality it's happening now and it's already planned uh to happen more and more that the workforce that we're having right now that are doing coding uh a lot of um manual work will
be shrunk down from 100% to 30%. Now those that will succeed here are going to be imparted in two forms. Critical thinking and how to use these tools uh so they can succeed in the future. Now
the way we can work together for success in 2025 2026 is um how to bring up the curriculum. and my apologies if it isn't already. Uh if we don't have a plan for it already uh
to empower uh for each and every grade level the critical thinking process. That's step one. And step two, how to integrate these new tools that are already challenges for the teachers and the faculty as well as the students uh
and integrate them within our platforms. >> Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Hi. Um, are there any specific aspects of education that have led you to want to serve on the board of education? I would say almost a facet of everything
in terms of what my kids learn specifically. I love learning with them. Um so a lot of the questions that they have um across the subjects they help and ask me how do I learn this better because
you know we were not taught this we were not taught this but it's a good challenge um how do I learn it myself so one the facet of self-arning and how to empower after the teacher has uh provided uh the guidance the initial
guidance uh to the students. So that self-learning aspect, how to empower the kids. Secondly, parenting. Um a lot of what we uh concentrate on is how do we empower the students? How do we empower
uh the teachers but we forget about how do we train and parent um give training and give give um virtual training to the parents so that their kids are empowered at home. That's the key thing like from a parenting perspective that I miss that
I seek advice from other parents my wife does other parents do but if we had a good forum and training for the parents in this future uh training courses whatever be the case is what I uh seek to improve.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Hi. >> Hi. uh board members interact as a board and as a member and or a chairperson of a committee. What personal skills do you possess that can contribute to the board
as a whole and as a member or a chairperson of a board committee? >> Sure. Um couple of things. Um I'm flexible. I've done all the skills. I can help wherever I'm needed and
required. One is research, analytical research. Um two is data analytics. Um a lot of data on what works, what will work and provide that aspect. Um two is
uh from a leadership perspective uh connections within the industry that we can bring in uh to our districts for um as simple as uh teaming up with firms like AWS,
Google for Gemini as well as Microsoft uh for first of all at the high school level good initiatives and trainings from their software and software access not just from a IT programming perspective but from a tool set
perspective on what will help with them. Um secondly from uh education perspective before the eighth grade the tools that can help them grow for that future critical thinking and analytics. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Hi. So board members need to work with their fellow board members and the superintendent in a spirit of mutual trust. >> Yes. >> What steps would you start to building that trust? >> Uh fortunately I've been in plenty of
leadership roles. Uh the very first thing about trust is transparency. Always having transparency in communication. If you have made an accident, it's okay. Uh we're all humans. uh to transpire and say I
screwed up here. uh transpire to say I need help here to trans uh be transparent and say this is what I think from my experience but have that open communication the pros and cons in the end the decision making is going to be
uh all of us together but the communication of it has to be clear cut and transparent. >> Thank you. Um, can you please tell us why you were interested in being a member of the board of education?
>> Uh, to see succeeded the students future growth. I want to ensure that I did my best to empower my kids, my nephews, nieces personally and
with that vision the students of Paripony like vision my dream and the vision is that I see is how can I make Paripany the best
school and district in the us. That's my goal. How can we innovate together? That's what um got me so excited that we have a chance with this changing in technology to be one of the leading
fronts in the country to adapt and uh essentially innovate and hopefully I can help with that. Thank you. >> Hi. >> Excuse me. Although there's an average of two board meetings per month, board members
additionally have committee meetings, work sessions, close sessions, and special events that they must attend. How many hours per month can you commit to committee meetings and board meetings? And do you have any commitments that might interfere with board meetings? >> I can be flexible as long as it's
I'm fortunate that I have a great boss. Um uh that's one. Uh two, uh I'm flexible. Uh that that's some one of the reasons I applied for the board and thinking that the board will require my
time um and I will need to be open and flexible uh whenever it's required. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. To me, um board of education members are elected to represent all students and the community at large. How
do you reconcile this fact with the belief on the part of some that that board members are accountable to specific constituencies, communities or groups? >> Never thought the my first thing is to empower the students and the growth. And
if I can do that through curriculum, it's every student that's empower being empowered. Uh that's it. I think if we work together uh we're going to be successful together. It's and curriculums are the
same throughout for everyone. >> Thank you. >> I sorry I managed like a team of right now 22 25 and you know there is that type of thought process never comes into our hand.
>> All right that was our eight questions. Um, thank you very much for coming in and interviewing tonight. >> Thank you so much. >> All right, board members, just to remember that there was one other person who gave us his information but was not
available to be here tonight. So, just to keep that in mind. Um, so as part of our meeting, we are up to the hearing of the public at this time. If there is anyone who would like to address the board, please come up, sign your name and address in the book at the lectern
and state your name for the record and please address the chair. Each person will have three minutes to speak to the board. It will be helpful if you would like to address the board to please come up now and sign in the book so you are ready when the first speaker is finished. Don't everybody rush at once.
Okay, seeing no member of the public coming up, it is time that we go into um executive session for deliberation. So, do I have a motion to go into executive session? Dr. Wright and a second, this
is Mayor. All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. Got it. >> Okay. >> Um around the show here. Open up.
Perfect. started question. There is a calendar. Our children did grow up. not >> Yes. There was a lot of development that
happened. It would be interest. >> Would you I work with >> my job. My boss is >> not the most address
20% which makes me believe >> the send you a letter to me >> um and I'm going to publish that letter but there's many
that's all they care >> said you know what I still work The way the website >> because they haven't built anything on [Music] I got really bad. I got too many. >> That's always good.
>> I don't I'm sorry. >> I'm a Republican, >> but I just 36 years old. >> This year the election the worst years too much. >> Is that
Hi. Hi. >> So that my son-in-law What's going to happen? >> My daughter goes, "Are we going out for his birthday?" >> I can't see. I'll eat later.
>> Okay. So, does the beauty I feel like >> September, >> you know, Wednesday, >> I don't buy a ticket. Unfortunately,
>> so hopefully the 12th >> I have plans. Justin two, three months in advance >> so I can put it on my >> adult. I was just with 25 of them all day. >> Yeah, >> I don't know. I always had
>> we had a lot of problems with >> I mean at the rising >> that he was going to pull that party together >> once he got the power to his changed. >> I got along with him four years.
>> I was probably the last one to say goodbye. >> We're just going to be I don't know. Trish was president for the longest time. >> If you bring up Yeah. But um well, I'll just re
typically the way I do it is a motion to return to open session, but if you don't do that, >> that's fine. Just reopen. So, are we voting on the resolution? >> I'm not quite sure I'm clear on that. >> Exactly. >> Vote the way weed
>> in that room. No, I mean I would, you know, normally I would say do the motion things in executive session in public. >> Can I get some clarity on that? >> But if you never do that, I'm not suggesting you change what you do. >> I'm sure it >> Okay, we have closed our executive
session and I'm going to reopen the public session. Um, I want to thank everybody who came and was interviewed and applied. We obviously had some very qualified candidates and we appreciate you putting
your names in and if you know we are obviously only allowed to select one person but I would you know highly encourage you guys to who do not get the appointment to apply and run for the board of education. Um the deadline for
this year is out but there is a deadline there is will be three open seats again next year. So I would encourage you to apply. Um, at this time we are the the board has decided to appoint Nicole
Delave to the board of ed. Do we have a resolution? >> Yes, Madam President. Resolved that the Precipany Troy Hills Board of Education hereby appoints Nicole Delave to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of board member Andrew Chafo effective
upon successful completion of the mandatory criminal background check to serve through the board's organization meeting in January 2027. >> And do I need a motion or does >> a motion in a second? >> Um, can I have a motion to accept that?
>> Uh, Mrs. Chappelle and Mrs. Mayor and can we have the vote, please? >> Can I just ask a question? >> Absolutely. >> Um, just for clarity's purposes, this is just a vote on the resolution >> to appoint >> to appoint.
>> That's that's the only motion before the board. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I was just asking for clarity that this is a vote on the resolution only. >> Yes, this is our this is the only action before the board. So, this is what we're voting on. This appoints the board,
right? So, this is not >> It appoints the candidate. >> appoints the candidate, right? Okay. >> Subject to the background check that's required. >> Yeah. Right. Correct. >> Good to go. >> Mrs. Abraham. >> Yes. >> Mr. Barios.
>> No. >> Mr. Devidito. Yes. >> Mrs. Mayor. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rehea. >> Yes. Uh, Mrs. Chappelle, >> yes. >> Dr. Wright, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Kogan,
>> yes. I'd like to amend my vote. No. >> What was that? >> Can I amend my vote before it's over? >> No. >> I'm sorry. I I wanted to amend my vote. >> Change a vote. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. >> No. >> She amended her vote to a no. I couldn't hear. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I amended my vote to no >> mot. >> The motion passes. >> It's okay. It still passes. >> Um,
okay. Roll call vote. So, congratulations, Mrs. Delave. [Applause] Um, the oath of office will be administered at the August 21st board meeting. Um, assuming your fingerprint
processing is approved by then. Um, and there being no further business before the board, I would like a motion to adjourn the meeting. >> Mrs. Mayor, Mr. Dvito, second. >> We need a roll call on that.
>> That could be a voice. That could be a voice. >> All in favor? >> Meeting adjourned. Second. >> I just wanted you to It's your vote. >> Sorry about that.