Good evening and welcome to the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education meeting this December 15th, 2025. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Mrs. Martin here. Please join me in the pledge of
allegiance to the flag of America to the standy andice for all. Adequate notice of this meeting has been provided by mailing copies of said notice to the record, filing copies of
said notice with the municipal clerks of Hillsdale, Montdale, Riverdale, and Woodlook Lake, and publishing said notice in the record on July 2nd, 2025. We'll now have our student recognitions. The first one will be for the Bergen
Record Athlete of the Week, September 4th, 2025, football. Whereas Adam Shaw, a senior at Pascat Valley High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on September 4th, 2025 for football. Adam was specifically
recognized for his noteworthy performance against Union City. Adam concluded his exceptional high school career with 24,436 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. In just three games this fall season, Adam
recorded three sacks and 46 tackles. Now, Therefore, be it resolved that the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Adam for his outstanding achievement. Is Adam here? Next, we have the Bergen Record Athlete
of the Week, September 12th, 2025 for girls soccer. Whereas Alli Paliniac, a senior at Pascat Valley High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on September 12th, 2025 for girls soccer. She served as team captain her
senior year, leading the team to the sectional f final. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Pascat Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Ally for her outstanding achievement. Next we have the Bergen record athlete
of the week for October 17th, 2025 for volleyball. Where is Maline Romero? a senior at Pascat Valley High School was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on October 17, 2025 for volleyball. Meline was recognized for assisting the
Panthers in advancing to the Bergen County Championship bracket quarter finals. Meline concluded her impressive high school career with 14 digs. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Pascat Valley Regional High
School District Board of Education recognizes and commends M. for her outstanding achievement. Next, we have the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week for November 14th, 2025 for volleyball. Whereas, Eva Meyers, a
senior at Pasc Hills High School, was named the Bergen Record Athlete of the Week on November 14th, 2025 for volleyball. Eva was specifically recognized for her performance during the team state playoff debut. Eva recorded 225 kills, 35 aces, 19 blocks,
and a 280 hitting percentage in her senior season, and concluded her accomplished high school career with 364 kills, 44 blocks, 117 digs, and 53 aces. Now, therefore, we have resolved that
the Pascal Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Eva for her outstanding achievement. Next we have the all region team girls soccer. Whereas Alli Paliniac, a senior at Pascap Valley High School, was named
to the fall East all region team for girls soccer. She has impressively surpassed 150 career points over four seasons, ending the year with 24 goals and 13 assists. Now therefore be it resolved that the Pascat Valley Regional
High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends Ally for her outstanding achievement. Next we have the first team all county. Whereas the following students were selected to the first team all county. Ali Piniac girls soccer Pasc Valley High
School. Kylie Deanchenzo gymnastics allaround Pascal High School. Hope gymnastics allar around Pasc Valley High School. Courtney Grieve gymnastics beam Pasc Valley High School. Sydney Flands
gymnastics uneven bars Pasc Hills High School. Kiara Okasain Cross Country Pasak Valley High School. Now therefore be it resolved that the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education recognizes and commends these students for their outstanding
achievements. Congratulations. Congratulations. Congratulations. Next we have a presentation for the annual audit report. I can't believe everyone is leaving for this, but
>> okay. This will be given by Brian Gibbons, the auditor for so we are going to move on to routine matters as we are just waiting for Mr. Hibbons. Um, next we will have the interim superintendent report by Mr.
Phillips. >> Thank you. Uh, I'd like to congratulate our student recipients. I understand the difficulty of managing academics and extracurricular activities. So, I commend you on your successes inside and outside of the classroom. I want to
congratulate staff members who are recognized as teacher of the year and educator service provider of the year. Pascat Hills High School, Jan Young, a history teacher, and Jenna Howard, the school counselor, will recognize and Pascat Valley High School,
Craig GMCO, the band teacher, and Nelly, child 17 members. Congratulations to those individuals. It was a lot of fun. Uh we were able to announce that those award winners in their classroom or their office space without them being aware of it. So, we had some great
reactions. uh our construction projects uh at Milestone. The exterior ramp is currently being constructed. Uh we did find a broken exterior pipe while excavating. We replaced that pipe on Friday and the project is moving
forward. At uh Valley, our HAC project in cafeteria is slowly progressing. Uh the kitchen ventilation hoods are the last items that need to be completed. Uh once they are ready, we will have a building inspection and the health inspector will come and then he'll be
open for operations. At also at Valley auditorium, we met with our contractors last week to discuss progress. We're hoping the project will be completed by the end of January. And um also at Valley, we've uh
installed the visitor management system. It's up and running. U parents along with other visitors will now have to show identification upon entering the building. And we a visitor lanyard to wear. I want to thank the custodial
maintenance staff for their dedication. We had two recent events that showed their commitment and their efficiencies. Yesterday, we had a good accumulation of snow on a Sunday. Typically, you wouldn't think that we're that concerned about it, but we do have a lot of outside local organizations using our
buildings during the weekend. Um, we were able to clear the lots and the walkway, so nothing was postponed. Then on November 20th, for those at Hills might remember, we did have a power failure and we had to cancel the school for the Hill students
and faculty. Uh we were fortunate to have a skilled maintenance staff available to complete the work in house. Otherwise, we may have experienced a multi-day closure. So it just we're very fortunate to have individuals who can
handle these emergencies and who are licensed to do so. So I'm very thankful for that. Um I want to recognize some individuals because I know it's a very difficult decision when it comes to retirement and it's always bittersweet for the
district. Uh we have a couple staff members who have decided to put in their retirement papers and will be retiring at the end of the school year. So I want to congratulate them and uh wish the best as they finish the school year. Maryanne Civic who's executive secretary
at Pasc Hills who has worked there for 29 years and Natalie Mackey is science teacher here at Hills and she's been with us for 21 years. I want to congratulate Cindy Kurt for making it through her first audit with
flying colors and our auditors will be here a little bit later and speak further about those results. Um, we are at the beginning stages of our 2629 school budget. Um, individual budgets have been submitted. Cindy and I are now meeting individually with our
directors and administrators to review their budgets. Once that process is complete, the entire district budget will be constructed and examine to determine our next steps. One of my responsibilities as a superintendent is to monitor monitor legislative action. And it's want to
inform the public and the There's been a lot of chatter down trend about school uh cell phones in school. Uh so keep your eye on it that there might be some changes are happening down the road real soon. And the last thing is our next meeting is our reorganization meeting on
January 7th. So I do want to wish everyone a peaceful and enjoyable holiday season. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Phillips. Um Mr. He will now present the annual audit report.
Good evening everyone. My name is Brian. I'm a principal with Miss Valeran the partner. They had another meeting tonight so I'm covering for her. So I first wanted to say thank you to
Cindy uh for putting up with us for another audit. Uh I know it's a it's a stressful time but I think we have a good relationship with each other and for a few years now and uh she's a huge help during the process getting through everything. Uh her and her and her her
staff were very accommodating and handled all of our requests in a timely manner to be able to get through and I know it was a transition period uh for these first full audit as the business administrator but from our point of view it was a really seamless
transition and uh very very consistent. That being said just want to present some financial highlights for the past year. And I want to start by saying this is as of June 30th, 2025. So we are looking back a few months at
this point. You know, you're well into the the year that you're in, but we are looking back as of June 30th. So I'm going to start with the main operating fund of the district. That's the general fund. The general fund ended the year with a
fund balance of 13,334,000. That was down slightly from the prior year of 14,700,000. And of that $13 million fund balance, there's a few different buckets that make up that total fund balance. So your your largest bucket of that fund
balance is your capital reserve at end of the year, a little over $5 million. The maintenance reserve ended the year with a balance of a little over $900,000. We also have an emergency reserve that's been used offset some of the increasing
healthare costs that ended the year just shy of $315,000. Current year excess surplus which was generated in the operations of the 2425 year was 2.6 million.
That excess surplus is derived from anything in excess of the unassigned which is a calculated fund balance that the state has. It's based off 2% of overall budgeted expenditures for the year. So the state only allows you to keep up to 2% in that assign. So
anything above that assigned goes into your excess surplus. Prior to your excess surplus, that was surplus that was generated during 2324 and was used to help support the budget that you're currently in 2526. That was $2.5 million.
And a reserve for unemployment compensation was $227,000. We also had some ending uh incumbrance balances, $68,000. So those are open purchase orders as of June 30th that
were obligated but not yet spent and that those funds roll over into the subsequent years budget in an additional amount of $96,000 used to um as revenue for your 2526
budget and then lastly as I mentioned your unassigned fund balance which is at the maximum for the state allowance of 1,577 So all those buckets together add up to your 13,334,000
overall fund balance in your general fund. So as I mentioned it it is down uh approximately 1.3 million from the prior year but still very uh some some highlights of what caused
uh the change in the fund balance there. You had excess local revenue, which is your tuition, your miscellaneous revenue, predominantly interest earnings, that had in excess of what was anticipated of 477,000.
Your state revenue, which is your state aid and some grants that go into your general fund, that had excess of what was budgeted of 316,000 and unexpended appropriations of a little less than 3.9 million.
So we also utilized or I should say you utilized um your reserves during the year. So we had withdrawals from your capital reserve, your maintenance and your emergency. You mentioned your emergency reserve had a withdrawal to help offset some of the increasing
healthcare costs. Maintenance reserves uh had budgeted withdrawals as well as approved withdrawals to help offset ongoing and pay for ongoing maintenance projects throughout the year. And same thing, you had a budgeted withdrawal from your
capital reserve as well as additional withdrawals throughout the year to help support the ongoing capital projects. So predominantly uh you're utilizing some of those reserves and what they were originally established for and you're really investing in in the
district itself by maintaining those capital projects and doing a lot of that. So a little bit more on excess surplus. Um we all know uh all the districts are are facing really difficult budgeting
times um and just challenges. But I will say uh at the district here the use of excess surplus uh from 2425 that you're in the audit year that you're currently in and next year you've been able to generate and
being very consistent with what you're using to support your operations for excess surplus, which is very good. We really like to see uh consistency on that on that front. So in 2425, you use
$2.5 million to help support the budget. 2526, the year you're in, you use just shy of 2.6. And then again, what you generated in this past audit, an additional 2.6 will be used to help support your 26 27 budget. And I just mentioned you're starting that process.
So that may not be the final number, but that's the number that's required by the state that you're going to use based on your surplus calculation for that starting point for that budget. A little more uh information on the activity of those reserves I mentioned.
Starting with your capital reserve that began the year with a balance just shy of 5.5 million. You had some interest earnings minimal and you were able to make a deposit of year end surplus of 1,750,000.
You also had some unexpended uh project balances that were taken out of that capital reserve in prior years and maybe projects came in under budget and it was just excess funds that if they're not fully expended, they go back to where they came from the capital reserve. So
unexpended funds return was $426,000 and he used about $2.6 million in withdrawals to move that over into your capital projects fund to do those uh larger ongoing capital projects. So with
all that activity that's that's how we get to the balance of 5 million 39,000 year end your maintenance reserves very similar activity began the year a little over 1.2 2 million. You had a year end deposit by resolution of 278,000
to help replenish some of those withdrawals that you used throughout the year. And those withdrawals throughout the year to help pay for those ongoing maintenance costs was just shy of 600,000. And that left you with a balance of
98,000. Emergency reserve I touched on a little bit previously. again year 563,000 and you utilize $250,000 in the 2425 budget to help offset the cost of the healthare.
So the capital projects fund that is as I mentioned where the district accounts for in their audit report uh those ongoing larger capital projects that usually are over a take over a period of over a year.
So the fund balance in that capital project was 4,771,000 that year in. And what that is is unexpended funds that were authorized for those projects. So there was still out of all
the projects that were ongoing and authorized, there were still $4.7 million sitting in there that were authorized to spend those projects. And we mentioned that uh every year I sit down with Cindy and we go through all the capital projects. Um There's
quite a few I think of all the districts that I see that your your district has the most going on which is a testament to how organized everybody is in the business office to be able to keep track of all that stuff going on. We also want to say that all those
capital projects that the district has been doing, you're being able to utilize your capital reserve to pay for that as well as two SDA rod grants uh which you still have the receivable for uh approximately 750,000 which is really a great thing to take
advantage of of that offering to be able to continue to invest in the district. Moving on, just a snapshot of the long-term liabilities for the district. As of June 30th, it'll pay down your existing serial bonds, leaving you with
the balance of 7.7 million. Related to those outstanding serial bonds are what's called unavertised bond issuance premiums. So when those bonds were issued district received a premium and over the life of the bonds as you
pay them back that liabilities related to that will go down and is amver. So as those bonds are paid off that liability goes down. We paid down some of the outstanding leases leaving me the balance of 574,000
remaining. Paid down a capital lease we used to call it now called finance purchase. of $670,000 your compensated absences. So that is the liability for all eligible employees
unused sick and vacation time that decreased from the prior year and ended at 977,000. So that's like I said a long-term liability. It's not a liability that's going to really come due. I did hear a
couple teachers put in their retirements, but it's it's not a liability and that's everybody as of June 30th. Not everybody's going to retire. So that's that's something that's budgeted for and forecasted with notice that a large liability like that
would not come come. Lastly, the net pension liability for the district decreased a little less than $750,000 from the prior year and ended at 10,717,000. and that's determined by the state of
New Jerseyy's actuaries and and all information that comes from them, but we are required uh to include that as a liability in the district's report. And again, not a liability that will have to be paid out uh at that, you
know, shortly. Uh that's over the life of all the employees in that pension system. We're also happy to report findings and recommendations this year. Um Cindy,
that that's that's great job. Um very happy about that. And uh just two suggestions that we are putting in all of our district reports. Uh just really some some language that deals with two new accounting standards that are going to be applicable for next
year's audit. Um I think that's going to impact the district's day operations. Uh it's really uh dealing with improving some of the uh financial reporting models in our audit report. So you'll see next year uh in the audit report there just going to be maybe a couple
pages that look a little different or improved and it's really dealing with uh just improving um the reporting that we're showing and including more detailed analysis and things of that nature. But just something we want to make you aware of that is on the
horizon. So with that be happy to answer any questions or Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And during where we are without their everyday
work. Thank you. We office very much. >> Next we have the negotiation committee report for November 19 202 which I will give. U we had a
um initial meeting to just go over the uh negotiation that we have for this coming up soons and it really didn't come to conclusion on anything. It was just really
negotiations. So that's okay. Next we have the finance committee report for December 4th, 2025 by adduge thanks to Cindy came over
easy to work with their job. and very proud. So you guys have a policy committee report for December 9th, 2025.
>> Uh yeah, we had the policy committee meeting last week and uh basically it was uh just a couple of issues came up. Um regarding the new freedom to read
summary and that's basically a policy that's libraries library materials there's a process that have to go through now in order to challen
just wanted to make sure that policy protects libraries and also resource materials that was a different and then there was um just a few things about use of vehicles
in regards to parking. Thank you, Mr. Next. We have the governance committee report for earlier today for December 15th which I will give. Uh we first discuss the board committees for 2026.
There will be a um Google form that will go out for the board committees uh to for everyone to fill out and let us know uh who wants to be on what committee for next year. Uh
we talked about um absenteeism among schools and how we can improve that. Uh we talked about instructional time um from both schools.
We talked about meeting dates for next year. So the calendar year we already have to June but we are going to try to move over to what many other schools have which would be
the entire calendar year to go from January to December again form to discuss what we can as far as
dates and of the calendar for from July 2026 to the 2026. Uh we talked about facilities use some more some um issues that we had with
ethics and personnel and questions. That's what the Google form is going to be about. Unfortunately, it's been talked about init So everybody here's obviously available to
June. We're talking about July. I don't know why. >> So the meeting in January uh because it's a reorganization meeting and we're swearing in uh reelected and newly elected officials. The state mandates that we must have meeting the first full
week in January. Uh typically if I'm coming off a break where no one's working, we can't have that meeting on the Monday the 5th. give us time for return from their vacations to be.
Thank you. Um next we have the student reports. First we have Pasc Hills High School report by Stephanie. Students comprehensive students have select
social Mrs. So this is the next Rose, students. required Carol has been optimistic. Last year students are involved in computer.
to drive. Thank you so much. On top of local students as August of December 15mber 24. In addition, Alison probably high school wrestling
season once shines. I haven't seen season. English season was all Once high school celebrated achievements soiety
as well as those Society of Turkish, Russian students, languages to help students
dedication Christmas tree. What's Christmas tree spirit? Thank you. Next we have December National Spanish students volunteer to participate in
service activities. school of writing letters to our military service which is always thanks for number two the environment December drive
from the community homeless shelter in New Jersey. They're also planning to sell as is the ballet conference on November 15th at Technology High School, New Jersey. Students were together
countries to solve global issues related to security, human rights, education, culture. A special congratulations to sophomores and winning. In addition on December 12th several
students and attended field trips this past monthual drive from students and donated them to children through the generosity of members this directly destroy
the lives of children being appointed as younger coaches by the New Jersey basketball coach association. In addition, the women's basketball association has selected to mentor coaches throughout the county and
country. I'm excited to share to Aside from New Jersey, Iissipp. Congratulations government. Uh I'd like to just talk about one other thing. So we have been updating everyone
on the superintendent search. Uh we have asked Mr. Phillips to stay on for another year or so essentially until April 30th, 2027.
Uh we felt that his strong work ethic, his effective communication and his extensive were really in line with what we wanted as a superintendent. Um, also in light of his extensive work
experience, he's been able to mentor some of the hires in the office. Um, and so for those reasons, we wanted some stability, less disruption in the district. And so we asked Mr. Phillips
to until next we have the minutes for the November 17, 2025 regular meeting and the executive session afterwards at
any Can I get a motion, please? Any discussion, please? >> Yes. Yes. Mrs. Mrs. Martin. >> Yes.
>> Yes. Mer. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Next, we have comments from the public. Citizens are invited to make comments regarding agenda items. to three minutes. According to the Pasc Valley Regional High School District Board of Education policy number 0167,
persons wishing to speak must upon being recognized rise, sign in, and state their name, town of res, and which agenda they will be referencing. Anyone like to speak for the public? Next, we will move on to policy for which we have three consent agenda
items. Can I get a motion, please? >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. M. >> Mrs. Martin, >> yes. Mrs. >> M. >> Mrs. Next we have education for which we have
two consent agenda items. Can I get a motion please? >> Any discussion? Please Mrs. M. >> Yes. >> Yes. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. Next we have human resources for which we have 19 consent agenda items. Can I get a motion please? >> Second.
>> Any discussion? Please. Yes. Mrs. Mrs. Martin. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Yes. Next we have finance for which we have
consent agenda items. Can I get a motion, please? Any discussion? Mrs. >> M. >> Mrs. Next we have old business.
Any special business? >> Any new business? weeks ago. They had a presentation on AI just demonstrating how they utilize AI. They also school was very good at >> so I just wanted to bring up
there's a ton of development being done towns and I've had a couple times children. just just you know looking at it aware. >> Yeah, I want to clarify administrators.
I have contacted the four administrators. U heard back from a couple of them um just asking about what recently um finished housing projects they have. currently is being constructed or is currently approved to
be constructed. So, I'm I'm trying to get a better uh idea of potential than that. Um I did receive a demographic study that was a little bit older from public schools. Um but it does have a lot of projects that
were completed recently or in the process of being completed. Periodically, the district will go through a demographic study. I believe we're scheduled to do ours next year. So, um a better idea. Um I think there's
two concerns when you're looking at the projects. One is potential enrollment increases. Um we do have enrollment in most schools are down compared to where they were probably about 7 to 12 years
ago. Um so, we do have some available as far as potential enrollment. The second concern is usually with with tax uh impact the school district uh taxes revenue are based on previous tax levy from the
school district. So if a town uh either increases or or loses that does not uh affect our revenue. Our revenue is always going to be um capped at a 2% tax
levy and It's not based on the in town whether you lose or gain but we discuss that presentation. So just kind of my two cents on that top because I live as a councilman back that
went through their last round affordable housing. In my opinion, there's really nothing for us to do. We're at the mercy of the town council and negotiations with developers. In my opinion, it's corrupt system. Developers come in and they
claim that they're going to build for affordable housing and they only have to % of affordable housing builds hundreds of units and um when a council is negotiating with a
developer that really is like crucial to what we have to then plan for. So if a town council negotiates for 20 25 30 units to the acre
problem. You see some towns that are able to negotiate for 10 to 15 units per acre. That's advantageous to the school district. So, um, for any res is curious about what the school is
going to do, I would encourage any president in the four towns to focus on their town council and their town council meetings and the negotiations that are happening between their council and the developers because saying that
and um it was interesting for me to read that lake has negotiated a pilot with the developer that's coming in for BMW and not to get into the politics of it but you know when you negotiate a pilot
it's much different um when you don't potential impact on schools so um we're not people come talk to we just have to kind of I don't want to say problem but we have deal with the problem of increased enrollment and um we all have
a say in the decisions that are made. So anybody who has questions I know >> any other new business. >> Okay. Next we have comments from the public. Citizens are invited to make comments and are limited to minutes according to the Pasc Valley Regional
High School District Board of Education policy number 0167. Persons wishing to speak must be recognized. There's no one. Can I get a motion to enter into executive session, please? There will be
no action I believe, right? No action taken in the executive session. So, we will um something there. Yeah, he is