Okay, the time is now 7 o'clock. I'll call this meeting to order. Mr. Gibbs, please read the statement of compliance. We got to get to Nicks. >> In compliance with the open public meeting act, public law 1975, chapter 231, notice of this meeting has been properly advertised in the daily record
in suburban trends. His agenda has been posted at the appropriate locations and a copy has been filed with Mcquanic Township Clerk. >> Thank you. Please call the RO. >> Mr. Bloomer >> here. >> Mr. Sesi Le um Mrs. Espazito >> here.
>> Mr. Gon absent. Skeo >> here. >> Mr. Mcweeni will be absent. Mr. Mik >> here. >> Mr. Senic >> here. And Mr. Shon >> here. >> We have a quorum. >> Thank you. Everyone please stand for the flag salute. Good evening everyone. Welcome to our
June 8th workshop meeting. Tonight is our last meeting of the school year and we have many recognitions planned. First we will honor our valictorian Evan Perah and our co- saludiatorans Megan Diarizio and Shannon Siddik.
Dr. Poris and I attended a dinner to honor Evan, Megan, and Shannon last Tuesday along with all the other validictorians and saludiatorans in Morris County. Aquanic as always made an impressive showing, including Evan and Megan winning two of the ending raffle
prizes, which is pretty impressive. Evan, Megan, Shannon, the board congratulates you on this achievement, and we wish you nothing but success in the future. Great job. Next, we will honor student athletes from PV that have won championships in the discus, the 400 meter, and the long
jump. Great job and congratulations. Last, we will honor members of our staff that are retiring. On behalf of the board, I want to express our appreciation and gratitude for your service to our district. Thank you for your hard work, for your dedication, and to your contributions that have helped
shape and grow our students in our district. We wish you a restful and fulfilling retirement. Congratulations. All right. And last, as I said, this is our last meeting, and this is always my favorite part of the year. Uh, I attended the STEM capstone presentation two weeks ago and the senior awards last
week. Our graduates are just so impressive and they're also so very inspiring. These last two weeks of school are going to fly by and before you know it, it's going to be 6:18 and the graduation ceremony is going to be here. So our to our seniors, try and be present in these last few moments and
enjoy your accomplishments that are coming your way. You deserve every bit of it. On behalf of the board, I want to let you know that we are proud of you and we wish you much success in the future and congratulations. And before I pass it over to Dr. Poris I just want to say go Nicks.
>> Thank you Mr. Senic memo I was just handed keep it brief Portoris. No um actually I will keep it brief. Um what we'll do tonight is what we'll first have our student representatives provide the report. Um we also have um a recognition for them that if you're
comfortable moving it up in the agenda and I'm blindsiding you with this. I know you have the senior sunset tonight even though it's one of the longest days of the year. I want to make sure we have you out there in time. Um, and then we also have, I'm really excited for this, the recognition of our validictorians
and saludiatorans, as well as athletic recognitions for our PV champions. And then, uh, much like Mr. Senic, one of my favorite events, which is the staff recognitions of our retirees who most certainly earned the recognition that they will receive. And then the place
will clear out and I'll give my superintendent report. Check it out in YouTube. It's probably going to be thrilling. Um, but with that, I will turn the microphone over to the Zlers and Olivia to provide the student representative report and then get started with some recognitions.
Good evening everyone. The student council held their elections for officer positions for the 26 27th school year. Congratulations to those who are in office now. Thank you to everyone who ran. Mr. Hazler is holding a meeting with the new executive off officers this week. Mr. Tra's AP English literature
and composition class visited the New York Public Library. On May 18th, AP Chem, AP Gov, and AP Computer Science visited the elementary schools on May 27th, getting the opportunity to share their knowledge with the younger students. Students presented government, chemistry, and computer science lessons
to third, fourth, and fifth graders. Our STEM, allied health, aviation seniors presented their capstone project. Thank you to the students and the teachers for their dedication, commitment, and passion throughout their four years. PHS's marching band had the opportunity to perform the national anthem at the Yankee game this past Wednesday. They
did a great job. They presented the executive vice president with a picture of the marching band at Yankee Stadium from last year and a signed ball from the marching band. She has it displayed in her office. Also on Wednesday, FBLA students took part in the high school heroes. High
school students went to the elementary schools and taught students about the business world and financial literacy with fun games and activities. Seniors had their senior awards and scholarship night on June 4th. Roughly a 100 students from the class of 2026 received awards and scholarships and over
$120,000 of scholarship money was given out. Thank you to all the donors for their support to these students. Congratulations to Evan, Megan, and Shannon. They attended the Morris County Valdictorian saludiatoran dinner last week. Mr. Mr. Sutherland, Mr. Kirkland, and Mr. Khalil were their guest of
honors. During block three today, seniors had their yearbook distribution event where they got to hand hang out with their classmates, sign yearbooks, and take pictures. They would also get some gifts and food. Thank you to the yearbook staff for organizing the event. And
tonight is a senior sunset on Memorial Field. Seniors will get the chance to hang out, play games, sign yearbooks, and eat ice cream as last full Monday in their career here at PTHS winds down. Course lists were made available for the 2026 2027 school year for rising 9th
through 12th graders on Genesis. Official schedules will be released in late August. Final exams are coming up fast with tests starting on Thursday uh June 11th. Students have been working hard to finish the year strong. PTHS will follow half-day schedules beginning
on Thursday. The senior cruise will be taking place on Tuesday, June 16th. Seniors get to enjoy a trip around the Statue of Liberty and make one last memory before graduating. The senior picnic is on Wednesday, June 17th, sponsored by the
HSA. On June 18th, the seniors will have a breakfast sponsored by Stop and Shop. On June 17th, as well on the stadium field, PE will be holding their middle school graduation. And then on the 18th, the high school will be having their graduation starting at 6 PM on the stadium field. Congratulations to all
the graduates. And before I conclude our report, Caitlin and I just wanted to say something. As this is my last board of education meeting, I'd like to thank Dr. Portoris, Mr. Senic, and members of the board of education, and Mr. Hazler. Thank you for having me as a board of ed
representative for the past three years. When I first was the first asked to do this freshman year, I hesitated since I wasn't sure, but still signed up. And I'm happy to say that this is one of my favorite things to do. I look forward to every meeting and enjoyed highlighting what happened here at the high school.
Not only has this been fun, but it has given me experience in public speaking and has taught me skills I will use in my future. If I can go back to my freshman year, I would not hesitate at all. I will miss doing these reports and being a part of this. Thank you again. It was truly a pleasure to have been a representative for these past three
years. Uh being my last board report meeting here at Puquanic, I wanted to take the moment to say thank you to the board, Dr. Poris, Mr. Senic, Mr. Hazler, and my fellow board of education speakers. Thank you for granting me the opportunity over the past three years to
sit and speak in front of you all. Looking back when I was nervous about signing up, I have never regretted that decision once. Signing up was a small risk at the time. When I wrote my name down, I was unsure of the what the entitled the title completely entailed.
However, being a board of education speaker has truly shaped my character and it proved to me firsthand the values of becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. This role has given me the experience that not many people can say that they've had. I got a unique chance to represent my peers and my school in a professional setting.
Ultimately, this didn't just boost my confidence in public speaking. It also gave me a completely different valuable perspective in our education system. Thank you again for this incredible opportunity and have a great night.
Beautifully stated and I believe it's the first time someone's ever said they look forward to going to board meetings. So we now have that as a matter of public record. Um, and just I'll just say on a very personal note, it's it's wonderful to have seen you grow through the years. I was their principal in kindergarten and I understand still your
favorite principal ever. Um, so it's so wonderful to see I've grown through the years and and developed such wonderful confidence, public speaking ability. I'm going to pass it over to Mr. Senic and avoid eye contact with Mr. Hazler. >> So Emily, Caitlyn, Olivia, you have done
an outstanding job all year. Uh Emily and Caitlyn, you guys have done a great job for many years. It's it's no it's not a surprise though. I know your father's in construction, so it's kind of fitting that you guys would be just great at everything. Um I feel bad for whoever has to face you in in collegiate sports going forward because you guys
are just a powerhouse. And Olivia, obviously you come from a great family and I'm not being paid to say that by the person sitting to my right. So, we've started a uh a tradition here last year where we want to formally recognize our board representatives for doing such
a great job as you three have. Um, so the board has generated a resolution which I'm going to read out loud to honor you in front of everyone that's in attendance and we'll see this uh forever. Um, and I'm going to start. So, whereas Olivia Esposto, Caitlyn Zgler, and Emily Zgler have served with
distinction on Vquanic Township School District Board of Education. And whereas through their leadership, the Puquanic Township School District Board of Education has gained fresh insights into student concerns, student priorities, and what is on the mind of young people in the community. And whereas they have
further contributed to the community by serving as a valuable spokesperson, sharing the student perspective at board meetings. And whereas Olivia Espazito, Caitlyn Zgler, and Emily Zgler have maintained a professional decorum at board meetings, shown respect to board
members, and strived to learn the proper etiquette of serving on a school board. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Buuanic Township School District Board of Education recognizes Olivia Espazito, Caitlyn Zgler, and Emily Zgler's dedication and commitment to advancing
educational opportunity and open communication between the board, district administrators, and the student body. It being further resolved that the members of the Buanic Township School District Board of Education extends their sincere appreciation to Olivia
Espazito, Caitlyn Zgler, and Emily Zgler for their dedicated service to Bquand Township School District Board of Education. And be it further resolved that the members of the Quanic Township School District Board of Education extend their best wishes to Olivia Espazito, Caitlyn Zgler, and Emily
Ziggler in all their future endeavors. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you very much for recognizing our our board representatives. I've I've had 10 years of Zglers, so um I get a I get a year a year year reprieve, but but uh
and then we get another one. Uh so I'm I'm super excited about that. But um there aren't too many students that get to do this as sophomores. This might have been the first uh first group. Usually they'll come in in their junior uh or senior year. U but the Zglers got to do it as sophomores and and did it
for three years and just did an outstanding job. And Olivia, looking forward to your senior year. So again, ladies, congratulations. Well done. All right. So I have the opportunity to uh present our our co- saludiatorans and validictorian this year. Uh and so this
year PTHs has the proud distinction of having co- saludiatorans for the class of 2026. I would first like to recognize Megan Diorizio. While being an academic scholar, Megan has has been an active member of several clubs and sports throughout her time at PTHs, including
swim team, peer leaders, and national honor society. At the senior award, she was the principal's award recipient for business. Outside of school, she is a competitive swimmer, often getting up and swimming long before school starts. I learned at at the dinner the other night, she's getting up at 4:30 a.m. uh
to get in the pool and swim prior to practice. And that just speaks to her dedication and commitment to everything that she does. Megan is an AP scholar with distinction, averaging a 3.5 on all exams that have been taken. In total, Megan took eight AP courses while at
PTHs. She is also a presidential education award recipient. She will be attending Queens University of Charlotte in the fall, majoring in finance. Co-soludiatoran Megan Diarizio. Come on up, Megan. You can stand there awkwardly in the
front for a little while. No. Up next is co co-soluditorian Shannon Siddig. A fun fact about Shannon is that I was her Pquonic Rex soccer coach. I think when she was in first or second grade with her sister Claire. Uh if I knew then what I know now, I probably
should have had her coach in the team. She was a dedicated team member and a hard worker. I always remember her in the game situations taking things so seriously. It makes sense that her and her sister have been tremendous students here at PTHS. She's been incredibly active as a student as a member of the
marching band, winter percussion, theater program, astronomy club, national honor society, and world language honor society. Shannon is a puquanic scholar, presidential award recipient, AP Scholar with distinction, taking nine AP courses at PTHs, and is the principal's award winner in English.
She'll be attending Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Ruters University in the fall. Congratulations to Shannon Sitig. And this year's validictorian of the class of 2026 is Mr. Evan Perah. I also had the privilege of coaching Evan in travel basketball for the Boys and Girls
Club for several years. He's incredibly well-rounded. I know he played basketball in the travel and wreck programs. He was on the wrestling team at one point, on the tennis team here at PTHS. He's a member of the marching band, Winter Percussion, National Honor Society, and I'm proud to say that he
advocated for and created our astronomy club, and up till the very last day, he's still planning activities. They were out on Sunday night looking at the stars. Uh just really passionate, and he's been instrumental uh in leaving the club in excellent hands as he moves on. In his junior year, Evan was awarded the
Renelier Medal. It's an award that is given to high school students who distinguish themselves in the areas of math and science. and he actually had a $40,000 a year scholarship at Renolier. Um he's the recipient of the United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, an AP Scholar, a
Pquatic Scholar, Presidential Education Award winner, and he's honestly just a great guy to be around. Evan will be attending the Honors College at Rutgers University where we'll be majoring in physics. Mr. Evan Perah, validictorian, class of 2026. our validictorian and co- saludiatorans.
Why don't you come up for a picture, guys? I failed to mention at the dinner uh Evan received a $500 scholarship. His name was drawn out of a hat and Megan won a tremendous flower arrangement. So congratulations to to Megan. That was awesome.
Yes. I I don't know what happened. It's all over her house supposedly. So, congratulations to everybody and I'll see you out on the sunset. >> Good evening. Thank you to the board of education and Dr. Porters for allowing me to recognize three outstanding accomplishments from the spring PV track
season. Truly, it's been an amazing year all around for our student athletes, both at the middle school and the high school. And as a department, I would like to thank you for supporting our terrific student athletes. This year we had another fantastic girls track season at PV culminating a second place finish
in the county. Tonight I'd like to recognize three athletes that won the county championship and their respective events. I look forward to seeing all of you continue to grow as student athletes and I cannot wait to see your talent contribute to our high school teams whether it's next year or in the next
two years. Tonight, Coach Rogers is here and she will speak about our county champions. Good evening, the board of education, Mr. Poris. We want to thank you so much, myself and the other two coaches for inviting our athletes here to recognize all of their accomplishments throughout
the season. I'm going to start with Anna Bonafante from Mr. Zumo. He would like to apologize for not being able to attend tonight. He is currently attending a senior baseball all-star game where in the recognizing a long-term PTHs uh teacher and soccer
coach, Bill Arada, inducting him into the New Jersey High School Coaches Hall of Fame, Rip City. Coach Rogers, myself suggested that mid-season that he take a look at Anna throwing for us because she is very strong and very athletic. I'm very happy that she did because we are
here today because of this. Discus is not easy event at all. It takes a lot of hard work, patience, and grit. Luckily for me, Anna had the motivation to learn a very difficult throw and to continue working on it outside of practice, asking to take a discus home to continue
practicing. Anna Lerna had to spin, throw, and crush her competition. Only two girls threw over 70 feet and both came from Bquanic with Anna being the top throw of an impressive 79 feet and 9 in.
Congratulations, Anna. The second athlete that we would like to recognize is Bella Legus. Uh, Coach Generali sadly could not make it here tonight due to medical reasons, but he would like me to say this as well. Bella League was quickly ascended to one of being our top athletes throughout this
school year on our PV track team. Bella is fiercely competitive, but also extremely coachable. She sets a great example by putting in bonus time to master her jumping and form at the pit. In spite of her commitments to soccer, goalkeeping, training, she makes sure to
take practices at track very seriously. She is a rare three event county athlete competing at counties for the 100 shot put as well as her long jump events. A few moments from the meet exemplified her characteristics. First, most kids
with her unique schedule would be not waiting for their teammates. Instead, she chose to jump with one of her teammates, Emma, rather than going alone. Secondly, without much practice, she was forced to wing it and just jump without any normal setup measuring
routines. Basically, she just had to find her spot, do a quick run through, and just figure it out. While her first two jumps, to her standards, were not met, but she was able to make it within her third jump. As they tell you, last one, best one. And she put it all
together in a seamlessly bend of speed and form. She ended up jumping over 8 in further than her closest competitor from Memorial and performed the top of her jump overall for Morris County that day. Thirdly, and most importantly, even though that she was going to win and
that she didn't have her own celebrations, she chose to congratulate a Pope John competitor who had jumped before her. She looks out for her teammates and also the competition around her, setting up good standards of good sportsmanship. Congratulations on your accomplishments, and we can't see
what you can do next year in 8th grade and beyond. Last but not least, we have Gwen Cannon. It is my honor to recognize and congratulate Gwen on her incredible accomplishments, becoming our county championship in the 400 meter dash. Gwen
began her track and fields journey in sixth grade, competing in the 400 meters with a time of 1 minute and 14 seconds and finishing the season with a minute and 12 seconds in sixth grade. In seventh grade, her hard work continued and dedication paid off, lowering her
score to a minute and 7 seconds. This year, as an eighth grader, Gwen continued to raise the bar, demonstrating a determination, discipline, and commitment that defined great athletes. Her leadership and work ethic did not go unnoticed. The coaching coaching staff proudly selected her as
team captain, recognizing the example that she sets for her team both on and off the track. While Gwen may be quiet in nature, her passion for the sport shines throughout every time she achieves a new and personal goal. She not only celebrates her own accomplishments, but the her teammates as well.
Today we are celebrating not only Gwen's county championship for the meter dash, but also that she completed her own personal record, creating the one 400 meter dash in 1 minute and 6 seconds, earning the title. Reaching the top of the podium while setting your best performance is a remarkable
accomplishment and a testament to the county's hours and efforts that she has put in. Gwen, we are incredibly proud of you and everything that you've accomplished in just a member of PV Middle School track and field. and we hope that you continue your athletic journey in high school. Congratulations,
Gwen. All right. Tonight, it is my pleasure to honor Mrs. Lorraine Latmpa as she begins her well-deserved retirement. Since joining North Boulevard in 2008, Lorraine has been a pillar of our school community, serving as much more than just a school nurse. Whether it's by
taking care of our physical health or beautifying our ground, Lorraine has left her mark throughout North Boulevard. You can see her hard work in our vegetable garden, which she started in 2017 to help students understand healthy eating and in the character pillar garden near the flag pole. She also spends her summers weeding and
harvesting to keep our school grounds thriving. Lorraine's influence extends well beyond the classroom. She has been a mentor to students from the Allied Health Academy at PTHS, helping aspiring nurses getting their start. She also founded the school ambassador club in 2009, a program that earned a promising
practice award from the National School of Character. Through that club, she taught our fourth graders the value of empathy and connection by building meaningful relationships with the residents at Cedar Crest Retirement Community among other community service projects. Inside the office, Lorraine is the epitome of organized, compassionate
care. She has a huge heart and she's an advocate for student independence. When a child visits her with a stomach ache or a scrape, they don't just get a band-aid or a mint, they also get a lesson. She empowers them to understand their own bodies and take charge of their own health, teaching them how to care for themselves in a way that they'll remember long after they leave
North Boulevard. When asked her favorite part of the job, Lorraine has shared that she loves building relationships, hearing students stories, helping them stay healthy and well, and teaching mindfulness strategies they can use anywhere in life. It's no surprise that she's been recognized as our North Boulevard Educational Support Professional of the Year twice in 2009
and again in this year in 2026. Lorraine, thank you for your many years of dedication. You have made our school a healthier, kinder, and more beautiful place. As you move into your next chapter, we wish you joy as you spend time with your grandchildren and continue your volunteer work with the Suburban Women's Club. We look forward
to waving as we pass you on the boulevard. You will be missed, but we hope you enjoy every moment of your retirement. Tonight, it is also my pleasure to recognize Barbara Phoei, who has been an important part of our preschool program during her 30-year career with the Pquanic Township
School District. Barbara's time here has been marked by her consistency and ability to adapt to something new. 15 years ago, when our district launched its very first integrated preschool class, Barbara was right there at the center of it, along with Michelle Rabina. She played an essential role as we implemented tools of the mind
curriculum, helping to build the strong, supportive foundation for early child education that we still rely on today. To those of you who have worked with Barbara, you know exactly why she's been invaluable. She's hardworking, flexible, reliable, organized, and very caring. Working as a power professional or
preschool disabled classrooms requires a unique set of skills beyond being able to deal with crying in the regular smelly diaper. It demands patience and flexibility, whether that involves managing a sudden shift in the daily schedule or addressing the unexpected needs of a preschooler, whatever that might be. Through it all, Barbara
remains quite unfased. Whether she's tending to a student in need or keeping pace with the energetic, unpredictable nature of a preschooler on the move, she does so with grace, composure, and a smile. Before joining Puquanic Township Schools, Barbara served as a geriatric nurse. Due to her background in the medical field, she's helped us out as
part of the AED team and has lent her assistance to the nurse when needed as well. She told us that she has truly loved her time as a preschool power professional. Rob has made an impact that will be felt by our families and students long after she walks out those doors on the last day. As she moves into her next chapter, she's looking forward
to spending much deserved time with her husband Joe, with whom she will celebrate 40 years of marriage this October, and her two adult children. She's eager to slow life down, enjoy each day to the fullest, and spend a good amount of time cruising and traveling. Barbara, thank you for your three decades of dedication to the
children of Bquanic. While we will miss you greatly, we wish you nothing but happiness in your retirement. Finally, we would like to bid farewell to Nancy Smith, who's retiring after 16 years of dedicated service as a par professional with the Puquanic Township School District. Nancy is widely known throughout the building for her
incredible creativity. Whether she's whipping together amazing bulletin boards that brighten our hallways or coming up with special projects for students to craft for their families, a lot of times when I go in there, her hands might be full of paint. Um, she always found ways to make the school a more fun place for our preschoolers. Beyond her creativity, NY's also known
for her thoughtfulness towards her colleagues, as well as a legendary recipe she shared with the staff over the years. In her years at North Boulevard, Nancy has become a fixture in the building. She estimates that she's worked in nearly every classroom at North Boulevard at one time or another. Reflecting on that time, Nancy wanted to share simply and sincerely that she
believes that, quote, "North North Boulevard teachers are amazing." Right back at you, Nancy. NY's commitment to the district has extended beyond her classroom responsibilities. She was involved with advocating for her fellow PAR professionals, serving as a dedicated representative for the Pquanic Township Education Association. Most
recently, she served as a member of the negotiations committee, ensuring that our PAR professionals were strongly represented in the newest contract. In her retirement, Nancy looks forward to returning to the hobbies that she has enjoyed over the years. And most importantly, she can't wait to meet her first grandchild in July. Nancy, we will
miss you, but we wish you the best on your well-earned retirement and are grateful for the time that we have spent with you. I promise there's nothing I'm doing at North Boulevard to have to do three speeches. Tonight, we have the pleasure of celebrating someone who has made an
incredible difference in the lives of so many students, families, and colleagues throughout her career. After 26 years in the Puquanic Township School District and more than 30 years in education, Kathleen Araji is retiring. And while we're excited for her next chapter, she is certainly going to leave a big hole
here at Hillview. Throughout her career at both North Boulevard and Hillview, Kathleen has been one of those people who simply makes a difference wherever she goes. As a special education teacher, she has helped hundreds of students discover their strengths, build confidence, and achieve things they
never thought possible. She has always had a way of meeting students exactly where they are and helping them move forward one step at a time. Her classroom has always been a place where students still feel feel supported, encouraged, and successful. Kathleen's path began at William Patterson University followed by several
years at Serville Middle School before joining Puquanic. Over the years, she has taught students from first through 8th grade and across every subject imaginable. She has also been in almost every classroom at Hillview and has always been a good sport about classroom changes.
One thing that has always remained constant is her belief that success isn't about being perfect, it's about doing your best. That's a lesson her students will carry with them long after they leave her classroom. Anyone who knows Kathleen knows that her energy extends well beyond school. She is a proud mom to Taylor and Teddy and will
now get to spend more time with her children in their adult years. Her passion for fitness and healthy living is something we've all admired over the years, and we know that she'll continue to kick butt into retirement. Kathleen has always gone above and beyond for her students, whether through Title One
tutoring, extended programs, or simply being available whenever a student needed extra support. She never hesitated to give more of herself. She has worked with every type of learner imaginable and always managed to find something positive to focus on, even on the toughest days. At Hillview, Kathleen
has been so much more than a teacher. She has been a trusted teammate, a sounding board, a mentor, and friend. Her knowledge and experience have been invaluable, but it's her sense of humor and positive attitude that many of us will miss most. Kathleen has a way of making people laugh, helping them keep
things in perspective, and reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously. Kathleen, thank you for everything you have given to our students, our families, and our school community. Your impact can be seen in the success of your students and in the respect and admiration of your colleagues. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to
work alongside you, learn from you, and laugh with you. Congratulations on an amazing career. We wish you a retirement filled with health, happiness, family, travel, fitness, and all the things you've been too busy helping everyone else to enjoy. You've earned every minute of it.
Good evening. Tonight we're here to celebrate incredible educators, mentors, advocates, and friends whose careers have truly made a difference for countless students and families over the years of Aquanic. And I am lucky enough to be able to do this for two people that I definitely call friends. My first
retiree, Mrs. Anmirie Finnen, is definitely one of those teachers and I was very lucky to be her principal for 11 years. Mrs. Finnen started her teaching career back in 1993, having chosen to be a music teacher because she was inspired by her own
music teachers and the amazing experiences she had growing up in Bergenfield. After spending two years at Oakno School in Summit, she got her dream opportunity to teach in Puquanic Township just after moving into town. Little did she know that this opportunity would turn into an
incredible 34-year journey. Throughout her years of Aquinic, Mrs. Finnen taught at SJG, Hillview, North Boulevard, and the kindergarten center, which used to be here in the high school. Along the way, she was able to share her love of music with thousands of students, not only teaching them how to play
instruments, but also providing them with an environment where it is safe to express themselves, work together, and strive there for their best. Mrs. Finnen's impact went way beyond the music room. She was safety patrol adviser, served on countless committees, mentored new teachers, welcomed student
teachers, and dedic dedicated herself to the Bquanic Township Education Association as a rep, public relations chair, negotiations chair, vice president, and for the end of her career, the president. Her leadership didn't just shape the district, it also helped shape the teaching profession
she's so passionate about. I asked Mrs. Finnen to share some of her favorite memories. And knowing Amry as well as I do, I was not surprised by any of her answers. She spoke about honoring our veterans, especially our W, our World War II heroes, surprising Mr. Hardocker
with a birthday cake, taking students to Hurl Village to perform for seniors, teaching beginning band students as they start their musical journeys, conducting recorder ensembles, and seeing the pride on students faces after a great performance. Those are all wonderful memories. There were also traditions
that became really meaningful as well. the Veterans Day concert, the candle light procession during our holiday concert, and the senior citizen tea. These events weren't just performances. They were chances to bring different generations together and strengthen the community. Mrs. Finnen did share one
memory that really stuck with her. It was when she worked with students to perform taps on their recorders during SJG's September 11th ceremony. She said, "Watching those kids play in front of the steel from ground zero in the school's memorial garden was a powerful reminder of how music can really honor
and heal and bring people together." And I couldn't agree more. Among all of her achievements, being named teacher of the year is definitely something she's proud of. But her biggest accomplishment isn't the awards. It's all the students she helped prepare to keep their musical journey going at Pquandic Valley School
and beyond. The confidence she gave them, the curiosity she sparked, and the lifelong love for music she inspired, that's what really matters. When asked what she hopes students to remember about her classroom, Mrs. Finnen answers really show what's important to her. The joy of
expressing themselves through music and the pride of working together to create something bigger than themselves. Her teaching approach has always been about building solid musicianship and encouraging confidence, curiosity, teamwork, and artistic excellence. Mrs. Fman believes that what makes
Paquuanics special are the people, dedicated teachers, staff, and admin who give their best every day and parents who know the arts are a vital part of a student's growth and development. The quote that's guided her all along comes from Maya Angelou. People will forget what you said. People will forget what
you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. That perfectly sums up her legacy. Even if students forget every note they played or song they sang, they'll never forget the teacher who believed in them, encouraged them, challenged them, and helped them find joy in music. She has some advice
for new teachers just starting out. And her advice is simple but meaningful. Build relationships, keep those standards high, and don't forget to have fun. Mrs. Mrs. Finnen admits she misses pretty much everything. students, colleagues, lessons, and performances.
But she's excited to spend more time with her husband James, her children, Elizabeth and An Anthony, and her mom Rosalie. She's also looking forward to traveling and finding new ways to give back to our community. As she closed this chapter, she wants to share how thankful she is for the community she served. She says, "I will never forget
to be grateful to the Bquanic School District and community for letting me work with their children of this town and share my love for music." Mrs. Vinn, I want you to know that your impact will keep going through every student, every program, and all the special moments that you created at SJG. Congratulations
on your retirement and best of luck with all your new adventures. My next retiree is another legend, Mrs. Ivet McBain. It is my honor and privilege to recognize Mrs. Mc Mrs. McBain as she retires after an incredible 46 years in education. Mrs.
McBain began her teaching journey during the 197980 school year. What started as a bold decision by a young college sophomore who saw an advertisement for a third grade teaching position became a lifelong calling. She looked at that advertisement and thought, "I could do
that." Boy, are we grateful that you saw that advertisement. Her passion for education started way before entering a classroom. She was inspired by her father, an adjunct professor of philosophy at Satan Hall University. She learned that education was about more than facts and lessons. It was about
curiosity, wonder, and the sharing of ideas. As the oldest of seven children, she even created a classroom in her basement where she taught her younger siblings. The teacher within her was born. Mrs. McBain started her career with five years of teaching in Newark at Mount Carmel School and Ironbound
Introparo School. She next spent nine years at Holy Spirit, teaching a variety of grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten, first grade, second grade, basic skills, and even seventh grade Latin. She then joined the Bquani Township School District where she would teach for 32 years. She taught
kindergarten and first grade at North Boulevard, became a reading specialist at Hillview, served as our supervisor of humanities for our middle school and high school, and ultimately found her home at Steven J. Jar as our reading specialist. Throughout her career, Mrs. McBain never stopped learning, growing,
and serving others. She has been a mentor, a curriculum writer, a committee leader, professional development presenter, library trustee, conference speaker, founding member of the New Jersey County Teachers of the Year organization, and a representative of the New Jersey State Teacher Advisory
Panel. You have done a lot. What students what stands out most is not what she did, but how she did it. She approached every student as an individual. Our discussions often revolve around this premise that we are not teaching programs or curriculum. we are teaching children. That's that
philosophy has guided her work every day. As a reading specialist, she has been able to witness one of education's most incredible moments time and time again. The moment a child finally unlocks reading, she describes the look in a student's eyes when comprehension clicks for the first time. The smile,
the confidence, and the sense of accomplishment. Those moments were the fuel for her passion. Mrs. McBain's impact extends far beyond academics. She helped students learn to believe in themselves. She taught them to ask, "What will help me?" and to p and to
persevere when things became difficult. She has helped create students who are confident, curious, and resilience and resilient. Mrs. McVain has been more than just a teacher for our district. She designed the PeaceBridge conflict resolution program at North Boulevard, which gained statewide recognition,
leading to her feature on PBS Classroom Closeup, uh, NJ, and and contributing to her being named Mars County Teacher of the Year. As Mars County Teacher of the Year, she traveled to Washington DC, participated in educational focus groups
at the White House, provided feedback on national education initiatives, and worked alongside some of the leading voices in education. But if you ask Mrs. McBain what she treasures most, it isn't the awards, it's the people. She treasures the colleagues who became lifelong friends. She remembers the
teamwork of the kindergarten center where educations trans where educators transformed an unconventional setting into a joyful place for young learners. She remembers the character education committee at North Boulevard and the collective efforts that helped them earn national school of recognition of
character recognition. She cherishes her partnerships with fellow reading specialists, teachers, administrators, and staff members throughout the district as she treasures the students. I'm sorry. She treasures all of her students. Students who are now parents,
students whose children she eventually taught, students who would excitedly point out and announce, "That's my mommy's teacher." One of her most cherished memories occurred on her wedding day when her kindergarten students stood outside the church blowing bubbles as she and her husband
Ronald walked out together. It remains a treasured photograph and a perfect symbol of the special relationships that she built throughout her career. Over her time as a teacher, education has changed, technology evolved, programs came and went, new initiatives emerged,
but students still need acceptance, support, encouragement, and a connection to someone they know cares for them. For 46 years, she has provided exactly that. To our district, she has been a leader. To her colleagues, she has been a mentor. To parents, she has been a
trusted partner. To students, she has been a champion for their success. And to all of us, she has been an example of what it means to dedicate your life to service. As she begins her retirement, we know her life will be filled with the people she loves the most. She looks forward to spending more time with her
husband Ronald, her children Jason and Britney Brod, Michael and Katrina Eemplair, Nicholas and Leanne Empear, and her seven wonderful grandchildren. There will be football games, baseball games, school programs, family celebrations,
and of course, more time for golf, which we can play together. While we will miss seeing her in our hallways, we are grateful that retirement allows her to enjoy all of the moments she has spent decades helping other families experience. Mrs. McBain's favorite quote comes from Greek philosophers she
learned about from her father, which is wonder. Wonder is the beginning of wisdom. For 46 years, she inspired wonder in young minds. She nurtured curiosity. She encouraged students to ask questions, explore ideas, and discover their potential. Mrs. McBain,
on behalf of the Steven Jace family, I'd like to say thank you. Thank you for your wisdom. Thank you for your compassion. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for believing in children. And thank you for 46 extraordinary years of service. Congratulations on a well-earned
retirement. We wish you joy, health, happiness, and endless opportunities to continue learning, growing, and lowering that golf handicap. Congratulations, Mrs. McBain. Thank you for those wonderful presentations and uh to our retirees,
thank you for your many years of outstanding service to our our our school community. Uh just as far as my report, a few events since our last meeting. Uh we had an AI followup podcast that um we pushed out I believe last week u but we shot it on Thursday
the 28th uh as Mr. Senic alluded to. We also had our STEM aviation capstone event that was also on Thursday May 28th. On Saturday, May 30th, we had our first ever district sponsored pup social um in which people were invited to bring their
dogs uh to gather at Green View Park and uh get to know some of their colleagues a little bit better as well as their dogs. Um and then following week, we had a pretty busy week here. We had the Valile dinner on Tuesday the 2nd. It's great to see our students as well as their peers across the county
recognized. I was very disappointed there was zero English majors. Um the Mr. Kirkland was very happy to point out that I believe there are seven math majors but there was zero English majors in the group. So that was disheartening for this former English major. Uh
Wednesday super busy day Wednesday the 3rd. Uh we had our allied health health capstone presentations in the morning um as well as in the afternoon. Uh nothing short of astounding. Um I simultaneously felt very smart listening to the kids and kind of dumb because I didn't know what they were talking about half the
time. It was really impressive. Um, we also had our um, inclusive playground committee meeting on the 3. It was nice, too. We're able to share our newest renderings, which probably won't show up very well on the camera, but that's uh, that's our latest update on what we're looking to
get installed at North Boulevard. Um, we're about $100,000 short of our goal at this point, which is fine because we have some outstanding fundraising efforts in place. Uh, we're looking to get this thing operational as quickly as possible. Uh that day I also attended the William Patterson University
powerhouse celebration for community partners. Um we are involved with William Patterson in a few different programs. Uh it was great to be on their campus talking about some of the opportunities that they can afford to our students um as well as what we can give back to them to help them out especially with placement of student
teachers. Um and then that night our band played the national anthem at Yankee Stadium. Um as was to be expected they were nothing short of outstanding. Um, very appreciative to the Yankees as well for their graciousness in hosting us and hopefully be back there again. We had our kindergarten orientation on
Thursday the 4th. Really exciting to welcome in the class of 2039. Um, the more I say that year, the less real it sounds. Um, we also had a legislative committee meeting on Thursday the 4th. Um, that's through the Mars County Superintendent Association. We welcomed another legislator into the mix to help
us hopefully gain some traction as we really look to partner with Trenton uh to try to make meaningful change to how school budgets are funded um providing relief both to districts and to taxpayers. So, a lot of work to do there, but it's good work. Um that night
we had the senior awards and scholarship ceremony right here in this room and it was wonderful seeing so many of our kids get recognized and the generosity of the community is once again amazing. Uh we saw over $120,000 in scholarships and grants given to our kids. And then on
Friday, June 5th, uh which was quite warm, uh I had the pleasure of running in the torch run with our local police as well as their some of their colleagues from other communities. Uh great event to raise a lot of money for the Special Olympics. um and our students and staff definitely showed up and gave an awful lot of encouragement.
Um and I can tell you it was very much appreciated. And then looking ahead, uh we have our recognitions and graduations coming up uh over the next eight school days. Uh the North Boulevard fifth grade recognition is going to take place on Thursday, June 11th. And then on Monday
the 15th, we'll have the SJG grade five recognition. Hillview has its grade five recognition on Tuesday the 16th. PV has their commencement on the 17th and the high school has its graduation on June 18th. So, um, congratulations to all the families that are part of these
wonderful events. Um, and I'll wrap up also by saying good luck to the Nova Knicks. I understand they're tipping off in about 45 minutes. So, good luck to them. That wraps up my report. >> Thank you, Laporters. Mr. Gibbs, do you have a report?
>> Yes. Good evening. Uh tonight's port agenda is the approval for the acceptance of funds for the funding for optimal comprehensive universal screeners, also known as the focus grant from the New Jersey Department of Education for the 2026 2027 school year.
The focus grant will support the continue implementation of highquality literacy screening assessments aligned to the criti, excuse me, criteria in the New Jersey literacy framework and related professional development for staff and student support. The district
is eligible to apply for $4,592 and the grant will fund, excuse me, the grant funds will serve kindergarten through third grade students. The RFP or request for proposals for the school attorney was advertised and posted to the school's website on
Wednesday, June 5th. The opening of the proposals is scheduled for July 7th at 10:00 a.m. in accordance with state guidelines. The committee will have 12 days to review the proposals and grade them in in order to make a final decision at the July 20th board meeting.
The RFP for an architect will be going out to the board for approval and advertise on Monday, June 15th. The opening of the proposals is scheduled for July um 28th in accordance with state guidelines. The committee will have 20 days to review the proposals
proposals and grade them under in order to make a final decision at the August 17th board meeting. Thank you. Thank you. That brings us to our first opportunity for public comment. Members of the public may speak once for a maximum period of 5 minutes by the clock
during this portion of the meeting. The public may speak on any agenda item only during that five minutes. A member of the public does have a question, please address it to the board president. State your name and sign in before you begin. It's dead. Uh good evening members of the board of
education. Uh for those of you again who don't know me, I'm Elliot Honig. I'm here as the Pquanic Township uh president of the PTA. Uh I just wanted to set up tonight because uh we are witnessing a really special intersection in our district. Uh this evening on one
hand we are celebrating the incredible achievements of our high school valadictorian saludiatoran. On the other hand, we are recognizing our retiring staff members. It is a picture perfect of what makes this community work. The success of these outstanding seniors is
re is a direct reflection of the decades of care, dedication, and expertise that our retiring educators and staff have poured into our schools. Mr. Senk made an excellent point earlier when he recommended that our seniors understand how quickly June 18th will arrive and
urged them to enjoy every single moment. That advice applies beautifully to everyone who was in the room tonight. For the staff members who are currently in the thick of it, we know that just like our seniors, you have your incredibly tough days and your great days. But every single one of those days
is worth it because of the difference you make. To our retirees, as your final June 18th in the district approaches, I hope you are taking the moment to enjoy the recognition you deserve. You are the backbone of this community. Your presence will be deeply missed, but you have more than earned the chapters
ahead. Since this is our final meeting of the school year, I also want to take a moment to say a massive thank you to everyone who makes this district run. To our teachers, paras custodians, IT personnel, our bus drivers, administrators, your hard work this year has been unmatched. You make all the effort worthwhile and you are the reason
our students who were standing here just a few minutes ago will be able to walk across that field on June 18th, move on, and change the world. Thank you for a great year. Congratulations to our scholars and a happy, healthy retirement to our retirees.
Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Good evening, members of the board and Dr. Portoris. My name is Christine Garcia and I am the mother of graduating senior Aiden Garcia. Thank you for allowing me the
opportunity to speak tonight. I am sorry. I am here to respectfully ask for your consideration of a one-time exception to board policy 5460.1. I understand and respect the policies
exist for a reason. I am not here to challenge them. I am simply asking for the compassion Under a very unique set of circumstances, my husband Richard Garcia passed away on June 17th.
2025 after a battle with cancer linked to his service as a World Trade Center first responder. He served more than 24 years with the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, retiring as a detective lieutenant and also served as
a sworn FBI task force officer. His death has been recognized as occurring in the line of duty. When Rich died, our son Aiden was only 60 16 years old,
just 5 days shy of his 17th birthday. Rich never got to see Aiden turn 17. He never got to stand beside him when he received his driver's license. something they had both looked forward to for years. And now he won't be there to
watch him graduate. What makes this even more emotional for our family is the timing. Graduation will take place on June 18th, just one day after his first anniversary of Rich's passing.
For years, Rich showed up. He sat in the stands at sporting events, attended school functions, celebrated accomplishments big and small, and supported Aiden's love of photography. He wasn't
a father who missed things. He was the father who rearranged his schedule so he wouldn't miss them. He was the father cheering the loudest. The father who was always there and the father who looked forward to graduation
day just like every other parent. After a lifetime of showing up for his son, he will not be sitting in the audience on June 18th to watch Aiden cross that stage. Most families will arrive at graduation focused on celebrating. Our family will
arrive carrying the reality that the person who spent a lifetime showing up for Aiden won't be there to see him walk across the stage. I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm not asking for recognition. I'm simply asking whether
the board would consider allowing one of Rich's law enforcement partners or a representative from the Hudson County Sheriff's Office to present Aiden with his diploma. No one can replace this. Sorry.
But having someone who stood beside Rich in his service stand beside his son for that brief moment would allow a small part of his father's presence to be felt on a day that he should have been there
himself. I know this is an unusual request, but these are unusual circumstances. Thank you for your time and your consideration for listening. Miss Garcia, we are very sorry for your loss and we're considering your request
right now. Anybody else? Okay, that's going to bring us into our approval portion of our meeting for our action items. First up is PMC and I'm going to ask Mr. Sesi to please move the items under PMC PMC 2226 through PMC
230-26. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> Mr. Gibbs, please call the role. >> Mr. Bloomer, >> yes. >> Mr. Sesi, >> yes. Mrs. Espazito, >> yes. >> Mr. Gon is absent.
>> Mrs. Ikeo, >> yes. >> Mr. Mcweeny is absent. Uh, Mr. Mahalik, >> yes. >> Mr. Senic, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Champion, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Next up is CIS. Sento, would you please move the item under CIS?
>> I'd like to move CIS 104-26. Second. >> Any questions or discussion? >> Mr. Gibbs, please call the RO. >> Mr. Bloomberg, >> yes. >> Mr. Sesi, >> yes. >> Mrs. Espazito, >> yes. >> Mr. Gon is absent. Skeo,
>> yes. >> Mr. Mcweeny is absent. Mr. Mahalik, >> yes. >> Mr. Senic, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Shen, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Mr. Bloomer, would you please call a role? >> Like to make a I'd like to make a >> Sorry. Would you please move the item
under FFA? >> I'd like to make a motion to move FFA 20. >> I'll call >> 209-26. >> Second. >> Any questions or discussion? Mr. Gibs, would you please call the RO?
>> Mr. Bloomer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sesi? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Espazito? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gon is absent. Miss Ao. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mcween is absent. Mr. Mahalik. >> Yes. >> Mr. Senic. >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Shannon. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Thank you. That brings us into our workshop. First topic is PMC with three items to discuss. The staffing update, the director of security position, and district culture committee update. Uh, Miss Miss Garcia, I just want to let you know that we're not going to tell
you right now. We're going to discuss it later and then we'll get back to you. So, I didn't want you to think you had to wait. Sorry about that. Thank you. You do want to stick around. It'll be It won't be sensational.
Have a great night. All right. um from my promise of a sensational PMC. So, uh staffing update. We're in the process right now um I'll be in the process of interviewing candidates for the MD program at North Boulevard as well as a PV math leave replacement and he'll be special
education candidates. So, they've all gone through the process um and they're making their way to me and I actually I just got another um transmitt earlier today, but I forget what that role was for. But um it's good. We're we're we're we're um already preparing our staffing
for for September and our goal is to be fully staffed by July 4th. Um something that's really exciting and pleasantly surprising is we have a few leads on French candidates. Uh exactly. I mean, previously I felt like we were fishing in puddles. Um but now it's apparently
the water's gone a little deeper. So um hopefully we'll see some positive traction there. Um, and I'm I'm aware I've been doing this long enough that um, staffing tends to be somewhat fluid in its construction over the summer. Uh, people get opportunities to go other places. Um, and just got to be prepared
for it and and post accordingly and then run through our process. Um, takes me to my second Oh, any questions about staffing? So, the next one actually directly is pertinent to staffing as well. It's the director of security position. Um, as is listed on the agenda, uh, Mr. Ron Lucas
will be stepping down from his role as our director of security at the end of August. Um, and I gota say we're really going to miss Ronnie a lot. U not just for his leadership and his overall presence, but just his really genuine passion for security and safety really
for everyone in our in our school community. So, um it's a this is going to be a tough role to fill um based more on the person than the position. So, um we do have a few options. Um I'm going to prepare some recommendations that I'll share with um with Mr. Sharesi
obviously then be shared with PMC committee and then out to the board um about some recommendations for filling it. One thing we're considering is um having an administrator fill the um the administrative capacity, which is more
of scheduling and paperwork side of it, um under a stipen for the remainder of this school year while we conduct a very active and thorough search for someone um who can can fill that. Um if we do post for the position and we eventually will um we would look for somebody with
a background in law enforcement and a minimum rank of lieutenant and we are going to include um our local police force as much as they can be involved in the interview process as well because they have to be able to work really closely. Um and it's great too I was just talking to Ronnie earlier today.
He's going to help me with the posting um and really talk about what's in the job description and what he really does. So, um, we're going to make sure that we don't have a void for this, um, as best we can and no matter what we do, it's going to be a really thorough process. So, we have a couple options. Um, if we
did follow having a temporary fill of having an administrator to hear the administrative side, um, we would look to get another security guard to pick up the hours that will be missed from Ron. So, um, any questions about that? Is running gonna be part of the interview
process? Um, probably not. Um, he's going to help me with the questions, but um, I can just speak from experience. When I left Randolph, they they had me as part of the interview process for my replacement and I lasted one candidate and they kicked me out. U, it hits too
close. Yeah. Um, I have a feeling Ron's gonna be more involved than than he realizes, too, because um, we run in small circles and everybody tends to know everybody else. So, I feel like they'll be giving them
some some really good input there. But, we we'll design a really strong interview committee for that position as well because the person really has to be able to work with Mr. Anderson, has to be able to work with Sophian, be work with principles, um, families and it's
it's a lot. I was nice to Ron when he told me he was stepping down. Honestly, and this is my this is my honest perspective. When when people tell me they're retiring or if they have an opportunity somewhere else, I I do tell them, you don't work for me, you don't work for the district, you work for yourself and your family. And Ron
has more than earned um the opportunity to spend more time with his family. So, last up, we have uh the district culture committee update, also known as the culture club. Um, so I'm I'm happy with the um traction that we we gained this year with this group, and we're going to be meeting pretty soon um to look at
what we can do for next year. So, just a few of the highlights. We added um additional dress down days, one per month, and it's not like somebody had to donate anything. It was just, hey, here here's a theme that we want to follow and um wear jeans and something according to that theme. An example is
Monday the 15th is the day after Flag Day. So any staff members who want to wear anything with a patriotic theme um do so along with uh hopefully a comfortable pair of jeans. I know it's going to be pretty pretty warm, but um we're looking for ways to just help
people feel a little little closer across the district. Um, even next year when we do the college apparel day on May 1st for college decision day, I'm hoping we can get pictures of people um, from different universities together so that they they can see, oh, you went to TCJ? I went to TCJ and they can get to
know each other across across schools. Um, we had the pup social um, at which my dog shockingly behaved well. I was pleasantly surprised. >> Um, we brought back take your child to work day. I know there was at least one board member to my left who was an advocate for that for a number of years.
Finally came to fruition and it was it was awesome. U there there was so much excitement not just from the staff who brought in their kids but our students were really excited for it and then um something I and I mentioned it before but I never would have thought of was the excitement for staff members kids to
meet other staff members kids see see some of those interactions. So that that one went really well and my my one insistence was I wasn't going to organize it. It had to be organized by by staff members interested in making it happen and they did and it didn't become something where we did a dump and run, drop them off in the gym and take off.
It was meaningful activities to engage the kids throughout the day. So, it was really great. Um, the group's going to be heading down to TCJ in July um for an additional training that's provided by the state and we're looking for for new ideas for next year. Something we tried to launch this year, didn't quite take
off, was doing um really small clubs that people might want to set up so that if you have a particular passion and other people in the district share that passion, might be able to form your own sub club. But um we'll see if that one takes off next year. But I just have this vision of, you know, if somebody's
a really big Taylor Swift fan, they can have the Taylor Swift club or the Barky Dachund club, which I could have. But anyway, um so that's something that we're we're hoping to be able to launch and just other ways to help people feel um more connected to the district and
and to one another. So it's fun first year and we're looking for even better things next year. Yep. Culture club. All right. Next up is CIS. There's three items to talk about. Curriculum updates, school performance reports, and the completion of testing for the school
year. >> Hello. Um, so it looks like a lot, but it's actually really short discussions. So, curriculum updates, you'll see there's a bunch of curriculum writers on for approval for summer curriculum writing. Um,
we're we have a couple to be determined as we're still um finding a couple teachers to finish those out. But um one thing I just wanted to note um so basically the state has to do five-year curriculum cycles and they're supposed to update the standards every five years
but in 2020 they did seven content areas in one year. So this fiveyear cycle was um disrupted. Um so just so that everybody has an idea of what's coming down the pike. Um they did update the science standards. That's why you see more science on here um for
implementation in September. So it was approved last week and the standards were approved last week but we need to implement them in September. Luckily there is only four standards that were changed out of the 208. So basically our curriculum is already in line with what all the standards say with the addition
with the exception of these teeny teeny little tiny changes that are no big deal. Um, but what's nice about having Miss Barbosa around this time, um, while we're looking at doing these, um, updates that shouldn't take a whole bunch, she's looking at it more deeply in a, um, forward progress motion as to
how, uh, we can improve the science curriculum overall, but so, you know, that'll be um, that's why you'll see a bunch on this summer for science updates. Um after that for September 2027 next year we will be approving world languages, computer science, visual and
performing arts um and the career readiness life literacies and key skills. So we have a bunch of curriculum to write next year that'll be implemented in 2027. For 2028 we'll be updating the health and physical education standards and the social studies curriculum. Uh 2029 we'll be
doing English language arts and 2030 we'll be doing math. So, just to give you an idea what's on the outlook on the horizon. Any questions? Um, school performance reports. I know Dr. Poris has mentioned this before. Um,
I just wanted to just reiterate, um, there's a ton of data in the school performance reports and it's a whole new platform. It's much more interactive. You can sort um, data by student groups. Um it it really is a much more user
friendly report. Um if you're looking to dive into all the data, which we will be because there's definitely there's just so much more I feel that we can gather out of this just based on the way that it's now presented. Um and uh I was mentioned to Dr. reporters this morning
how I'm already doing a deep dive into different student groups and how we can look at their growth and um possibly use our title funds to do some adjustments so that we can um really impact the students um both ELA and math growth in different areas. So I'm excited about
that. So just wanted to make sure I pointed out the new format because it's really cool. And uh we part of our conversation from this morning too is we were looking at the admin retreat which takes place in July and generally I've had or we've had um the latest state
testing data available so that we could use that as we generate the data reports for each school and then that helps to feed into the district goals. Um that's during the first day of the retreat. Second day of the retreat tends to be a lot more fun and I have nothing to do with it. These are not coincidences. But
um something that Amry and I were talking about I'm really excited for is to is to use these school performance reports as well as the data more so the data behind them. And even though it's it's data cold from the 2425 school year, use that to help us really
set our goals and also establish a deeper understanding of of what narrative is the data telling us and how can we get essentially behind the numbers to really figure out what what is the story that's that's being told here and how can we build on strengths but also address whatever the
shortcomings might be. So I'm I'm I'm pretty excited about it. Um definitely going to nerd out on it which I think is really important and um use that again to help us form our district goals and then the state data is supposed to come out in August. >> Yeah. So the state data I was going to
bring that up too. Um normally we would get our data at the end of June for NJSLA and we would already have the NJGPA data. We will not have the NJGPA data until Augustish o maybe even September and we won't have the NJSLA
data till September October because they have to with a new platform we're now using Cambium with a new platform and a new test that's adaptive they have to um calibrate standardize the score do all of that work over the summer so they
won't have we won't have the same data we normally have at the end of the school year to dive into over the And then one other thing I want to mention too about our data sources too is we'll still get AP um from the high school. I've already told Mr. Hazler that I expect a very excited phone call
while I'm on a morning run down in North Carolina. He's the one person who gets to actually call me. Um and then um we'll we'll also look at other standardized data from SAT. I think the PSAT is actually probably a better data source. Um and then it's minimal, but if
we do have anything from the ACT that's relevant, we'll apply that as well. >> And for the um younger grades, we have the universal screening data with the dibbles. We've got um I ready and we have common lit. So we do have a ton of data that we can dive into um with the
exception of the state assessment data which kind of just finished my report on the completion of testing for the year as well. everything's done other than finals. Um, and this summer we will not have a
um the NJGPA sometimes has a summer um option, but we won't have that this year for 11th graders because of the standardized testing. We will have that next summer as an option if somebody does not pass it the first time. >> All right. Thank you.
Next up is FFA with four items. the budget for next year, uh, facilities usage fees, the new board office, and RFPs. >> The 2026 2022 budget is now up and running in the school's CSI software as
we had implemented over 175 purchase orders uh through the data service system for next year. On Wednesday, June 3rd, I attended a workshop in Atlantic City entitled the risks and rewards of self-insured health benefits plans. Currently, I'm working with the Fair
View Insurance Agency that pro promotes self-insured health benefit plans to see how much the school district can save in premiums. The pro participants in this pool are some of the largest school districts in New Jersey, so it should be quite interesting. It's anticipated the
health insurance will continue to rise at a progressive level over the next five years. One of the items discussed is the use of the weight loss drugs. Starting July 1st, the BMI or body mass index for qualifying prescription weight loss programs will be going up from 30
to 35. This will help reduce the number of people who will qualify for the program um as a prescription. Um any questions on what's going on so far with the next year's budget? >> Yeah, I brought up that ASO well
self-insured company from boards last year. Is this the same one? You remember that company that presented? >> Oh, Brown and Brown. >> No. Was it Brown and Brown? I guess it's not. Um because then we went to RFP and I
don't think they bid, but I'm curious if it's the same one. >> What was the name of that again? The Fairview. >> Fair View. Yeah. >> Any other questions? >> No. Okay. Uh the use of facility fees. Uh, in the
board packet, I put an analysis as to what we're currently charging for these fees. Now, from what I can see, the fees haven't been increased in over 8 to 10 years. Uh, I think the increases would be warranted at this point. Um, I'm
actually working on trying to get more information as to what other districts are charging and I'll be updating that spreadsheet so you'll see it progressively. Um, so the board should vote on it at the August board meeting to make it sure that come September everything is in line.
>> Yeah, I was surprised to see that. I couldn't really find what other districts charge because they don't post it. I I thought it would be easy to find, but makes me think maybe we shouldn't post ours in our policy either, but I'm in favor of raising them. >> Yeah. >> Um, >> um,
>> Jordan, I have uh just a point on I I looked them over. I was kind of in agreement with them overall, but I do have a question about the auditorium here especially. Um I I understand if it's if it's um
district related or connected or something to that effect, but we do have uh call them companies that come in and rent the room sometimes for a weekend and they are charging their attendants 30 or $40
um a person to be here. And if we're only getting $250, I think that's ludicrous. I think we should be looking at this as a $1,500, $2,000 uh rental because they are more than making it up
uh on their end to pay for it. And I'm sure that it's costing us more than $250 just to get the the room clean when it's done. So, uh that's my my thought on the auditorium. >> With respect to the auditorium, that's $200 an hour.
>> Hour. It's not just flat. All right. Well, that a little better. >> That sounds a lot better than looking. Yep. >> Plus expenses. Does anybody understand it? $200 plus expenses. >> Jim Rockford, I'm sorry. I'm that old. Okay. Bye.
>> Partnership. >> Gordon, I was just thinking the because obviously you want to keep up to date with inflation on the rate table here, but obviously redoing the policy every single year is crazy and a lot of work. Could the policy or rag be rewritten in
a way that it just references like the last updated adopted rate table and we just adopt the rate table as like a resolution? >> I don't see a reason why not. Yeah, >> that'll clean it up. Like we'll clean it up and it'll just refer to and then you know if we pass a rate table this July
or August and then we don't do it for two years, it's still the most updated past one, you know. Also, I'll send you what I what I just did. I just updated mine like a month ago. What? >> No, just like whatever the last updated
table was. It just refers back to that. >> Yeah, I think that's doable if the board is in agreement. >> I mean, that's what most seems like most districts are doing. You go to their website and they just they refer to the policy, but there's no rates in there. They're they're attached they're they're in a table somewhere that's not published.
>> Right. Right. >> Any other questions? >> Uh just backing up a topic. Uh, I would recommend reaching out to superintendent of Long Branch, Michael Salvatore. Um, that was a presentation. They they also do customized self-funded plans for
districts. >> Mh. >> And uh, again, it was a year almost a year ago and hopefully they're there again to present, but it was a very good presentation. >> Okay, any other questions, comments? Mike? Yeah, and just quick real quick
too about the um the schedule of fees. What we can do is set up a quick Google form and share out most likely through Mr. Silapina and his colleagues about the um the usage of fields, but I think they they'll be able to tap into facilities as well. So, um we'll look to get some information from our our
friends and neighbors in not just Mars County, but in the surrounding area. Any other comments or questions? No. Okay. The next item I have is the new board office. Uh based on the amount of time it's taken for the board office to be completed, and we're still not in the
completion phase. Um the estimated costs have increased by over $200,000 from what we had originally um talked about over a year ago. So, in doing so, I went back to the architects and I said, "There's got to be a better way." And
when looking at their proposal, I noticed that half the building was going to be modular. So, I said, "Why isn't the whole building modular? It would be far cheaper than trying to refurbish something that's already there." Um, so I went I actually found two modular
companies um and they have another one. So, we have three modular companies. We're getting quotes as to what it will cost and they're working on that for us right now. So hopefully it'll be much cheaper. From what I understand, it could save us between $200 and $500,000. So it's a lot that's a big savings.
That's what we need. Any questions on that? >> No. And I'm just going to put it out there because this ties into my legislative committee um position, but the fact that it's it's more costefficient to have something built in
Georgia and trucked up here and then hoisted onto a site and then assembled using um than we would have to pay prevailing wage for the final assembly process. the fact that that's more costefficient. And I was in on one of the meetings with the modular people and
I just said that our community's taste would be for modular that doesn't look like modular. And I shared with the board a couple of the designs that they shared with us that look it looks like a restored home or restored office that looks some really good looking stuff.
>> Gordon, can you just clarify? So, you're the one who suggested to the architects that we should just do all module. >> Go all modular. Yeah. Instead of just one section or actually half the building was going to be modular, why not do the whole building? >> So, so why didn't they suggest that?
>> That's a very good question. That's why we're going out for an RFP for an architect. >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> And and you found two module. >> I found two. They had one. They had another one. Yeah. >> And they had one. Okay. I just wanted to confirm and clarify that. Thank you.
>> So, we're getting three quotes, correct? >> Any other questions? >> No. Okay. The last item I have is the RFPs. Obviously, I mentioned about the attorney's RFP that's already gone out. The architect's RFP is going to be going
out probably Monday. Obviously, it was in the board packet. So, if you want to take a look at it, if you have any questions on it to let me know, okay? Um, but I'd like to get that out soon because obviously we want to make that uh go into effect as soon as possible. Any questions on that role?
>> Yeah, my recommendation again is inerson uh interviews for when we do >> Yeah, absolutely. That would be good. Any other questions? >> Could you put together a schedule for that, Gordon? Like now since you know when you're going to get the responses back so we can plan when we can have the
board together to do it? Yeah, we could do it like we did in the past like uh right before a board meeting, come in at six and then we whoever is going to put in their proposal, we just interview them, give them a certain amount of time and then do it that way. >> Right. So, can we just put together like
a date when you think that would be you'd be available to do that based on when the RFPs are coming back and everything so we can plan it? >> We can do that. Definitely. Yeah. Okay. Any other questions? No. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Next up is policy. There's
three items. Internet enabled items. I'm sorry. Internet enabled devices policy. Uh the Strauss SMA policy alert. And then an overall policy review summary. So the uh the first one initially when I put this in the internet enabled devices policy I went back and forth with Mr.
Mweeny on this but um it was more or less tell people yep no progress to report and then Friday happened and I didn't make it to my county superintendent meeting in the torch run but I did send uh Mrs. Vancico, who I understand was much more popular with the group than I, but we'll we'll leave
that part alone. But, uh, you did get some really good information. Um, but more or less I could summarize and then I'll open it up to Emory to elaborate a bit, but Strauss has a timetable now where they're they're going to try to get something done in time for the school year. And, uh, I included in
backup the um the statute as as it was put forth. And what's interesting is you can see what's in brackets. that's the language that they deleted and then whatever's underlined is what they they added. But I didn't find the language bell to bell in it anywhere. I mean, it's it's in the it's in the logic of
it. Um, but nevertheless, what we'll be prepared for it, but it's it's a very quick pivot because what the news out of Trenton, especially for the people who had championed the bill, was that the bill as constituted differed greatly from the way it had originally been
proposed and the way they thought it was going to pass. and the NJ DOE had really in January run with this bell-to bell notion. Um, and then there's uh two other documents that are that are in backup. One is this layout of more or
less an implementation plan from Strauss which is pretty good colorful um but it's pretty well laid out and then um a slideshow presentation that they gave including the state's clarification on some of the exceptions.
So, if students are on a field trip and want to take pictures of the animals at the zoo, they can use their cell phone for that. They didn't include what's the kid going to do when they're not taking pictures of the giraffes. Who's going to be watching it then? But nevertheless,
but they're they're trying. Yeah, they're putting forth some effort on it. Um, I think what I think what we have in place is is pretty good and we're going to be able to move with it pretty easily. But, um, Amry, anything you want to add in about this? Um, so
the one thing is that Strauss Esme apparently sent the state a frequently asked question document. So they said on June 16th they're expecting to have that information to share out with districts. Um, so answers to those frequently asked
questions. Um, in terms of the um the backup that did come from another superintendent. Um, so the very pretty notes is she actually used AI to consolidate all the information and um and that kind of that helped uh
consolidate a lot of the information that she um received during a training with Strauss SMA a week ago Friday. So um that's so if you're looking at that that's um where that's coming from. But yes, they're expecting to have much more information to push out soon.
Thanks, Amory. Any questions uh from the board regarding uh internet the internet enabled devices policy which was originally called cell phone the social media policy. Um internet enabled devices include Chromebooks. So I don't know what we're doing with that. Think we can keep those. I'll stop being
facious. But honestly any questions about the internet enabled device policy and our plan moving forward? >> Is it still the same timeline as far as the summer? that that's what they're looking at now. Um it just the window closed a lot quicker than it
we we'll make it work. But yeah, they're they're they're telling us um have implementation in time for September 1st which will be fine. Um and I'll get feedback from Mr. Hazler and his his meetings or from his meetings with the students as well as with staff because
talked about it up here that what what's design and policy is all well and good but something like this if there's no buyin from kids if there's no buyin from parents it's no buyin from staff um it's just not going to work. I mean a blank sheet of paper would have greater value than the policy.
>> All right. Uh next two are pretty quick and I realize I'm up against it with the Knicks game. Um the stress estimate policy alert 237. I gave a summary of um of the different policies that were included. I believe Mr. Senate commended me for putting the general public to
sleep in my thoroughess for that. So I felt kind of flattered there. But we'll look to have a a committee meeting um prior to the July 20th meeting, board meeting, which will be the time for first reading and then second reading would take place at the August 17th meeting uh which would help us get everything in place in time for
September. We do have another meeting, I believe, just before the school year starts in September. Um, but it's good to have things done over the summer so this way they're fully operational. Um, nothing really significant. The high school graduation policies getting updated again, but nothing really major.
Um, and then finally, the policy review summary. um stemming from events earlier this year, we we submitted um several policies to Strauss for review to determine um the effectiveness and efficacy of said policies. Um and with
the their their team, which includes attorneys, uh conducted a review, found no deficiencies, um commented that most of what we have is actually identical to Strauss. Um, one comment that they also included, and I think I included their response in backup is that the
district's policy for 3282 is actually differs from what Strauss has, but it's actually more comprehensive than what they have. I'll I'll take that. I I prefer to be more comprehensive. Um, and then they also noted the differences with high school graduation, but that's that's up for it's up for revision anyway. So, we'll we'll most likely be
following this similar structure to what they're proposing. All right. Next up is the second opportunity for public comment. Members may speak once for a maximum period of five minutes by the clock during this portion of the meeting and they could speak on any
topic during that five minutes. If you have a question, please address it to the board president. State your name and sign in before you begin. Okay, we're going to close that and move on to unfinished business. Does any board member have any unfinished business
about new business? Would any board member like to make an announcement? Okay, we do have reason to go into executive session where we will discuss student matters. No action will be taken and we will adjourn from there. Our next meeting will be June 22nd here at the
high school. Congratulations to all our graduates, our students and staff. Enjoy your summer and we'll see you back here in September. Is there a motion to go into effective session? Their second