7:00. I'm going to call this meeting to order. Mr. Gibbs, please read the statement of compliance. >> 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 and suburban trends. Its agenda has been
posted at the appropriate locations. A copy has been filed with the Banage Township Clerk. Thank you. Please call the role. >> Mr. Bloomer >> here. >> Mr. Sesi >> here. >> Mrs. Espazito >> here. >> Mr. Gon here. >> Mrs. Ao is absent. Mr. Mcweeny >> here.
>> Mr. Mahalik >> here. >> Mr. Senic >> here. >> And Mrs. Shen >> here. >> We have a quarum. >> Thank you. Will everyone please stand for the flag salute? All right. Good evening everyone. Welcome to our March 23rd regular business meeting. Tonight we will we
have a great meeting planned with many important items on the agenda. First, we will honor multiple students for achievement in music as well as our recipient of the unsung hero award. These students are an example of the excellence that our district puts out into the world and the board wants to
congratulate you all. Great job. Next tonight, the board will vote to ratify the new contract with Township Principles and Supervisors Association, which was reached in just one meeting. I want to thank our negotiations committee and the representatives from
the PTPSA for completing this task so quickly. The relationship between the board and our administration and staff is very strong and the speed at which this contract as well as the teachers contract were settled speaks to that fact. Also, tonight the the board will
vote to approve the tenative budget for the 2627 school year. Putting the budget together is not easy any year and I know it wasn't easy this year and it was especially difficult this year. The board wants to extend our appreciation to Mr. Gibbs, Dr. Poris and our administration for working hard to
deliver this budget for our review. Thank you. Last, the board will vote tonight on the 2026 board goals which were discussed at our February retreat. That's it for me and I'll pass the mic to Dr. Porters. >> Bad timing to grab my water bottle.
Sorry about that. >> Well played. Uh I'm going to send it right over to our student representatives for their report and we'll go from there into having uh Mr. Hazler begin the introductions for our many honores for tonight and then I'll hold off on providing my report till
that's done. And if the room clears out just in time for my report just so everyone knows I take no offense. It's kind of industry standard. So girls over to you. Good evening everyone. Congratulations to Jack Bicardo who was recognized for third team all Morris County for
basketball at the all county lunchon. Congrats to Jack who also broke the school record for most three-pointers in a career. Spring sports have been off to a great start. Se teams have been scrimmaging and preparing for opening day. Girls lacrosse had their play day on Saturday. 16 teams came to scrimmage
while also helping train officials. Juniors took the NJGPA testing last week. Everyone worked hard and this we are this week we are finishing up makeup testing. FBLA represented PTHS at the state leadership conference in Atlantic City showcasing their hard work, leadership
and business skills while competing with chapters from across the state. National qualifiers were Sabrina Casta third place for business law and TJ Woodward fourth place for business communications. The top 10 winners of FBA were Kylie McGow and Aia Tamara for
event planning. Dominic Arnold and Sebastian Partika for graphic design. Kenny Garner Dammers for introduction to marketing concepts. Maddie Brunner and Caitlin O'Brien for sales presentation. And Caitlyn O'Brien fourth place for a
scholarship. Operation Smile had their fashion show last Friday. Thank you to all the seniors who participated in raising money for cleft pallet surgeries. Over 60 seniors walked the blue carpet. Thank you to Robert's Tuxedos for their help
and Mrs. Lockinata and Miss Cartelli for organizing the night. The guidance counselors have been meeting with the with juniors to help them start planning for their futures and getting them prepared for senior year. They have been going over colleges, SATs, class recommendations, and more. PTHs will be
having their spring pep rally on April 2nd. The third marking period is ending for at PTHs and PV on Thursday, April 2nd as well. Thank you and have a great night. >> All right. Thank you. And it's pretty exciting for the marking period to be
ending because that means you have one more remaining as high school students. And when people say it goes by pretty quickly, hopefully you can attest to that being true. Oh, thank goodness. I realize I set myself up because if you said no, it was agonizingly slow. That could have looked
pretty bad. Mr. Hazer's right there. But um but lot of lot of great stuff. I know uh this is the time of the year where we're in between sports, but to have 16 teams come here for lacrosse on Saturday is really impressive and um from what I was hearing and it's people who wanted
me to be happy, but it sounds like the NJGPA went really well. So Livia, you're confirming that. Excellent. And I was really proud of the level of preparation. I know I included it in my newsletter, but I was really proud of the level of preparation and glad Mrs. Vans is here. She's gone through the
information from the state incredibly closely and a lot of the information was not particularly timely. So, um, preparation, performance, they go hand in hand. So, thank you. All right, with that, I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Hazler at the podium and he will take care of getting us started to introduce
students. Thank you for the report. Thank you ladies for your report. >> Good evening everyone. Uh it's always great to see uh everyone. So thank you for the opportunity to showcase some of our students this evening and uh it really is a special night as we get to honor um our unsung hero which I'll
start off with. Uh she unfortunately had a had a change of plan. She could be here and then kind of speaks to the unsung hero. Uh she's covering at work uh because some she needed to help out one of her friends. So, it just speaks to who she is. But, um, we'll we'll talk about our unsung hero and then we're
going to recognize some of the students in our music program. So, Township High School is proud to have chosen Miss Savina Velios as the unsung hero for 2026. Um, it's an award that's given out in Morris County uh at the middle school and high school level and we're allowed to select one senior um based on on
certain characteristics. So, her strength, resilience, and selflessness embody what it truly means to rise above adversity. Savina experienced a life-altering experience when she was left paralyzed from the waist down as a freshman. Through unwavering determination, constant support, and extensive rehabilitation, she regained
full function in a journey that required immense courage both physically and emotionally. Rather than allowing this lifealtering experience define her, Savannah has chosen to use it as a source of purpose. She gives back by volunteering at our local hospital, supporting students who have faced similar medical and physical challenges,
and offering mentorship, understanding, and hope. By sharing her story and guiding others through her own through their own struggles, Savina reminds them that setbacks do not determine their future. Her quiet strength and commitment to uplifting others made her truly deserving of being Kuwan Township
High School's representate representative of the unsung hero award. Savina was recognized at a ceremony held at Handover Park High School with unsung heroes throughout the county on March 5th and we congratulate her for this outstanding tremendous accomplishment. Uh Savannah is just a wonderful young lady. She's going to be heading to the
College of New Jersey uh for for college and we wish her the best of luck. So Savina Velios congratulations. >> And as you know we have an outstanding music department. Um, one of the highlights is uh the students get to to um really pursue their their talents at
a very high level. And I want to thank their teachers and parents uh who are who are in attendance tonight for supporting them in this endeavor. It's never easy uh to audition for these highly rigorous programs. They go out there, they learn the songs, they sing in front of people that they don't know.
Um and we we have some really really talented students both in the band and choir. So I'm going to introduce our members of our teaching staff. Uh we'll start with Mr. Striper and Miss Granholm who are going to introduce uh some of the students who made area choir and
area band. So Mr. Striper, come on up. Hello everybody. Uh we had three students make North Jersey Area Band this year. Um Jose Joseph Constantini, Nicholas Finnegan, and Adam Jen Josie. North Jersey Area Band is a highly
competitive auditioned honor band made of 9th through 12th grade students from 40 participating high schools in North Jersey. Conductors are often internationally acclaimed artists. Past conductors have included Robert W. Smith, Richard Saledo, and David
Holinger. On December 6th, 2025, almost 300 students auditioned uh which is the most actually since 2019 since before co. Three students from Puquanic auditioned successfully. Ninth grade clarinet player Nicholas Finnegan, 11th grade tuba player Joseph Kazantini, and
11th grade percussionist Adam Joosce. Nicholas and Joseph performed with the North Jersey Area Symphonic Band. And Adam performed with the highest level band, the North Jersey Area Wind Ensemble. These students performed in North the North Jersey Area Band in their concert on Saturday, January 17th,
2026 at Mount Olive High School. Do I all just like say their names individually now? All right. Uh Jojo, let's let's have you come up. Jojo Costatini from on the tuba. >> Nicholas Finnegan from clarinet and Adam J. Josie, percussionist.
Hi everybody. Um, we also had three students participate in the Morris Area Honor Choir and then one in the NJSMA, the North Jersey School Music Association region one honor choir. So for Morris Area Honor Choir, we had Claire Badami, Abby Paul Raj, and Sophie
Toma. Um, and Morris Area Honor Choir is a rigorous auditioned honor choir made of advanced ninth 9th to 12th grade students from participating high schools in Morris County. The honor choir is directed by well-known and highly respected coral conductors and music educators from not only New Jersey but around the world. Past conductors
include Vinroy Brown, Brandon Williams, and Z. Randall Stroop. This year, the students were directed by Dr. Whitney Koval of Montlair State University. And of the hundreds of high schooler students to audition for this opportunity, three students from Pquanic were selected. Sophomore Clare Badami, freshman Abigail Paraj and Sophie Toma.
The achievements of these students were recognized in their culminating concert on Saturday, January 17th at Morris Nolles High School. So all right Claire, congratulations. and Abby Paul Rash.
>> And last but not least, we've got Sophie Toma. >> And she's already up there. But Claire also participated in Region One Honor Choir, which is the North Jersey School Music Association. Um, they're honor choir. They host two highly competitive ensembles that represent only the most
advanced coral students in North Jersey. In order to be accepted, students must successfully complete a rigorous audition that includes uh prepared vocal pieces, advanced site reading, and those who demonstrate exceptional vocal ability, musicianship, and dedication are chosen. We are super proud to recognize um PTHs sophomore Clare Badami
for not only earning a place in the trouble choir, but for receiving the fifth highest score of all ALTA ones. Um the NJSMA region one mixed and trouble choirs were led by Dr. Nick McBride of TCJ and Mr. James Miller and they performed at Morris Nulls High School on February 14th. Congratulations again,
Claire. Good evening. Um, North Jersey Area Band is a highly competitive auditioned honor band made of seventh and eighth grade students from 40 participating middle schools in North Jersey. On December 6th, 2025,
nearly 200 students auditioned. One student from Pquanic Valley School auditioned successfully. Eighth grade flute player Oliver Imosis. Uh, it should be noted that Oliver placed in the top seven flutes of North Jersey and Oliver performed in the North
Jersey area band concert on that Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at Mount Olive High School. Congratulations, Oliver. On another note, today I did sign off on five students who are going to be uh doing all state choir auditions. So, congratulations to those students as
well who are going to be auditioning. And we hope to see everyone. It didn't make our student report, but we hope to see you at the Music in Our Schools concert uh this Thursday night. 7 o'clock, Mr. Curtis. 7. Yes. 7 o'clock. 7 o'clock here in the auditorium. And we have a faculty band playing. So, thank
you everybody and we will see you next time. >> I I'll say it. Uh Mr. Hazler failed to mention that he's playing Barry saxophone in the faculty band. All right. Thank you, Mr. Hazler, for for
helping to uh I guess MC for that and also to our our teachers speaking so nicely about the students and also to the students and their families for being so talented and putting forth such great effort. That certainly warrants recognition and my comment to the kids and I sincerely mean it. We'll see you
here next year, same time. Um, and let's keep the success going because it's really wonderful. So, I have a few items to report in in my report. Um, since last time we met, we had some great experiences with the ele reading to elementary school students doing read across America week. I was lucky enough
to get into all three schools and have to say had a great experience. Um, my go-to is the book The Giving Tree, which as your kids get older gets to be more difficult to read. Check it out if you get a chance. It's really a beautiful book. We're making some progress with the preschool inclusive playground
committee. Uh we pushed out a press release about a week back. Um we filmed the podcast which we haven't pushed out just yet, but I worked with Miss Bronco and Dr. Sheleri on that. And then our community liaison are starting to get some traction with donations. We actually had our first first one come in
today. Um, and we'll keep we'll keep working towards that and I look forward to breaking ground on that soon and we're still seeing if we can uh get some partnership going with the Jets as well as a few other larger organizations. Um, I'm happy to say we welcomed a new
colleague into Mars County over in Lincoln Park. Mr. Chris Walker will be the superintendent there starting on July 1st. Um, and just nice when we get uh some positive people in our in our neighborhood. And then we had the unsung heroes event that was um already
discussed, but we were really proud to honor Savina Velios who was most deserving. Um we also had some really gutsy performances from our student athletes as they wrapped up the winter season. Um I I was able to attend the boys game at Waldwick. I was hoping my presence would force Mr. Hazler to not
act like he was on duty and act like a dad, which I think you did for like the last minute, minute 15 seconds or so. Yeah. Um, so my my my attempt failed and I I used to coach against that team and I forgot how small that gym was. It's it's pretty tight. Um,
the Macasa, which is Marsh County Association of Superintendent, had our first legislative committee last week. Um, and we made some really nice progress getting started. And the goal of this group is to bring greater attention to our legislators about um what's going on with the school budget
process and how it's becoming increasingly difficult in the face of rapidly escalating costs. Most prominent of which is health care, but seen massive increases in electricity, in liability insurance, in in so many different different avenues. And we we
need we need help and we need help from our friends in Trenton. And hopefully um they're on board with us. Um, and then on a really nice note as well, I got invited to the hockey banquet again this year and I was able to attend. I don't know why they keep inviting me, but they do and they're really, really nice group. So, I'm happy to be able to
attend that. Um, speaking of nice notes, we received a note from Caldwell University. I made a brief mention of it in my update on Friday. Uh, but Mr. Hazler shared this with me and I just want to read this because it speaks I think tremendously to the culture that's
being built in this building as well as throughout the district. On behalf of Calwell University, I'd like to thank you so very much for making last Friday's observation experience such an exciting one for our math and science students. The purpose of this program is to encourage our math and science majors to consider teaching as a profession. As
part of our larger National Science Foundation grant that underwrites math and science majors who have already chosen to go into the field of education, you have succeeded in getting these students to talk about teaching as a possible career. And additionally, you've given them an opportunity to see
how rewarding teaching can be. Your dedication, your profession has shown through and inspire sorry has shown through and inspired a group of young talented math and science students. the goal of this expedition. All the students were excited about the day that they spent observing and learning in your classrooms. So, I thank Mr. Hazler
and his staff for for creating the environment that made this possible and uh and our friends at Caldwell for really a wonderful experience for not only the aspiring teachers but also with the administrators who set it up for them. Um there's going to be some conversation about the budget. Preliminary budget is on the agenda for
tonight. Um represents a great deal of collaboration and communication among the principles, the directors, Mr. Gibbs board and me. Our goal is to ensure that we're maximizing resources to deliver on our mission which is to educate students. And I pushed out a podcast
about this. I had uh two of my colleagues come in uh Brad Seagull from Mountain Lakes as well as Gene How from Jefferson. Hopefully that provides some insight. But um as as Mr. Sedic made a reference to, it's no secret this budget has been the most difficult one that
we've gone through as a team. Um, and we we knew we were going to have some challenges this year. We knew last year we it was it was tight. And so, um, I'll I'll present on the particulars at our April 27th meeting, but spoiler alert,
the message is going to focus a lot on just the the escalating costs are are becoming just massively prohibitive. Um, particularly in the face of more or less a cap placed on on revenue. um we were able to avert a lot of cuts um that
would have prevented us from keeping positions and the programs that we have in place. Um we need the best possible people in those positions to deliver the programs. Um and unfortunately there are um budgetary factors that making that increasingly difficult to sustain. Uh we
were lucky. we were able to get a 5.97% increase in our state aid which came out to about $177,000 which um it's that that helped. Um and then the ability to use the healthc care health insurance waiver also saved us um
and it saved us in in a big way. Um, and the way I I look at it is you want to have the best, as I said before, the best possible people to deliver programs to keep your your your kids having great experiences. And really, so much of the value of a community is centered on its
schools. We want to make sure that we're giving our community the best best school system possible. So, sure, the system is broken um for school funding, and it's it's something that really it's not beyond repair. We have some of the best schools in the world right here in
this state and really more precisely in this county. Um we we just need we need help and um my colleagues and I are working towards that and at the local level um we've put an incredible amount of work in I'm very proud of to make it so that our budget for 2627
um is is going to be as effective as possible. And we're also planning to make uh we put plans into place to help make the 2728 budget um as effective as possible too. We'll see we'll see what comes as as we get closer to the process
for that. Um on a on a a happier note, um I have a snow day update to give. So our students voted um remarkably consistently for the uh Tuesday, May 26th as a snow day giveback day. Of our
98 seniors who voted, 82.7% voted for that day. um which I found surprising because they also had the opportunity to vote for the Friday before Memorial Day, but they wanted that Tuesday. And then uh I also opened up the ballot for the second give back to the staff and they voted um to the
tune of 83.8% of the 277 voters voting for Friday, May 22nd. So if uh if everything pans out with the updated calendar, looks like we'll have a very nice Memorial Day weekend for it.
So, uh, Friday, May 22nd and Tuesday, May 26th. We said that. Did I mess that up? Okay. >> You You know why they didn't vote for Thursday, Friday, right? >> I do not know.
>> Anyone take a guess? Anyone? Anyone? Come on. When do beach houses start? Saturday. In New Jersey, it's a Saturday. >> Oh, >> yeah. >> No. memorial. >> They're going to be hanging around town on Friday annoying the heck out of everybody.
>> No, no, no. >> They may may have already determined their own snow day, but um we we'll have the updated calendar ready for the board to vote on and we we can even put it as an action item at the first meeting um in April. And then just
few quick things coming up. Um, I'm excited for tomorrow. U making a site visit to check out how Ramsay's fifth graders are presenting their defenses of learning. Thank you to community member Mrs. McGawan. Um, who heard what we're doing for the profile of graduate and sent me an invitation to go up there.
Um, Mr. Riner is going to join me tomorrow. I gave him very very clear rules. He's not allowed to touch me while we're driving, but um, I think otherwise his behavior will be outstanding and we'll have a really great and productive visit. Um, and then I know Dr. O'Keefe has also been in
touch with Mrs. McGau. He also wants to go and check out another one of the sessions um for when the kids are doing they call them TED talks which I think is really great. Um, but it's nice to be able to collaborate with people from other districts. Um, especially when one of them is a parent, nurse. And then culture club's going to meet be meeting
on Thursday. Um, going over a few final details for take your child to work day. Um, as well as we're hoping to get a pup social going, which is an event where staff members can can meet and bring their bring their dogs with them, just
not on school property. I have a really absurd question, but I'm going to ask it. Hypothetically, we need to pull one of those days back. Which day are we pulling back? >> Yep. You know what's funny? I was going to include that in my in my update, but I don't seem like Dr. Kiljoy. Um, not to
say that you you're >> I'm totally fine being Dr. Kiljoy. I just >> So, the first one to get pulled back would be the Friday, May 22nd, because I want to be respectful of when beach houses first get occupied. No, the the kids got the first vote, so the first one. >> Perfect. is is uh the 26. So the first
one that we would have to first give back to be given back would be May 22nd. >> Thank you. >> That's a it's a really good question. Um and then our DAT committee's meeting on Tuesday um No, it's not it's not a Tuesday. It is um March 31st. That's a week down the pike. And then uh spring
break, just in case anybody's been monitoring, uh will formally begin on Friday, April 3rd, and we'll be back in business on Monday, April 13th. We also have a board meeting that night. So that's going to be banner Monday. So this should be a good one. And that concludes my report. Thank you.
>> Mr. Gibbs, you have a report. >> Yes. Good evening. As previously noted, u on tonight's board agenda, there is a motion for the approval of the 2026 2027 preliminary budget in the amount of 56,147,954.
The budget reflects a 5.77% school tax increase in accordance with state guidelines. The increase in tax levy is needed in order to accommodate a 24% gross income, excuse me, gross increase in health insurance, which equates to a 17.78%
net increase in health insurance after employee contributions. The increase is health insurance is over $1.7 million. A 2% tax levy increase would only be $815,748, which is less than half of what is
needed in order to cover the school district's health benefits. Also, the increase in salaries has contributed to the needed tax levy increase. The use of capital reserve funds will be used for the renovation of the tennis courts and new univvents for some of the
schools of which the SDA or school development authority will reimburse the district for a portion of the expenditures. The total cap reserve uh needed for that amount is $721,948. Maintenance reserve funds will be used in accordance with the board board
approved M1 maintenance plan in the amount of 959,29. More information will be provided at the April 13th workshop board meeting regarding the budget. Board resolution number FFA158 repairs to the gym for the new for the
snow plowing accident has been approved by the insurance company. The cost of the repairs is $44,449.19 of which the school district will have to pay the deductible of $5,000. The school district has still not received the third appraisal for the
post office to purchase the property located at 538 Newark Pton Turnpike. I reached out to the post office of whom I'm still waiting for a response. I also reached out to the appraiser who had stated that he would have it done later this week. Regarding the purchase of the new property for the new board office,
the state has not responded to the school district school district's request for approval to purchase the building as they are waiting for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to sign off on it. And finally, if you haven't already done so, please complete your financial disclosure statements and submit them to
the state for review. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Gibbs. Uh, Mr. Mahilik, will you please move the minutes? >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes for February 17th, February 26th, and March 2nd, 2026. Second.
>> Any question or discussion? >> Mr. Gibbs, please call the role. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cesy, >> yes. >> Mr. Giddon, >> yes. >> MO is absent. Mr. Mcweeny, >> yes. >> Mr. Mahalik, >> yes. abstaining from February 26th.
>> Mrs. Shenton. >> Yes. Also abstaining from February 26th. >> Mrs. Espazito. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Sanic. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay. That brings us to our first opportunity for public comment. And
there is nobody here. So I'm going to open that and then close that and move over to approval of the action items. First up is PMC. Mr. Sesi, would you please move the items under PMC? >> I would like to move PMC 157-26 through PMC 170-26.
>> Second. >> Okay. Uh, some question and discussion. First off, we are going to be honoring uh, Savina Belellios for the unsung hero award. And I want to read the proclamation that the board is going to vote on uh, which will be presented to
her. Whereas the Morris County School Boards Association in collaboration with the New Jersey School Boards Association recognizes unsung heroes from each high school and school district in Morris County to celebrate those whose character and impact define the heart of
our schools. And whereas the unsung hero award honors students who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities, but are often overlooked by traditional recognition systems. students who have modeled good citizenship, a spirit of quiet strength,
and the heart of a hero that inspires others. And whereas these unsung heroes may have organized community programs, selflessly supported their peers, or achieved significant academic success while overcoming difficult personal challenges, disabilities, or language
barriers. And whereas Sadina Velios has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach her full potential, serving both the school community and the community at large as a beacon of resilience and integrity. And whereas on Thursday,
March 5th, 2026, Savina was formally recognized for these achievements at the 2026 Morris County Unsung Hero Awards ceremony held at Hanover Park High School. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Buuanic Township Board of Education officially recognizes Sabina
Velios as an unsung hero of Morris County and the Buuanic Township School District. And being further resolved that this resolution is presented to Sabina Velios as a sincere token of the Puquanic Township Board of Education's congratulations and best wishes for
continued success as she continues to lead by example. So congratulations Savina. If there's any other question or discussion, if not we can call the role. >> Mr. Bloomer, >> yes. >> Mr. Sesi, >> yes. >> Mr. Gayton, >> yes. >> Mr. Ao is absent. Mr. Mcweeny,
>> yes. >> Mr. Mahalik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shanton, >> yes. >> Mrs. Espazito, >> yes. >> And Mr. Senic, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Next up is CIS. Mrs. Espazito, would you please move the items under CIS? >> Yes. I'd like to move CIS-76-26
through CIS-82-26. >> Second. >> Uh, Mweeny second. Question of discussion. >> Mr. Gibbs, please call the RO. >> Mr. Bloomer, >> yes. >> Mr. Sesi, >> yes. >> Mr. Gon, >> yes. >> MO is absent. Mr. Mcweeny.
>> Mr. Mahalik. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shenton. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Espazito. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Senic. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> All right. Next up is FFA. Mr. Bloomer, would you please move the items under FFA? >> Like to make a motion to move FFA 142-26
through FFA65-26. >> Second. >> Any question or discussion? >> Mr. Gibbs, please call the RO. >> Mr. Bloomer, >> yes. >> Mr. Sesi, >> yes. >> Mr. Gon, >> yes. >> Mrs. Zako is absent. Mr. Mcweeny, >> yes.
>> Mr. Mahalik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shanton, >> yes. >> Mrs. Espazito, >> yes. and Mr. Senic. >> Yes. Motion carries. >> I'd like to take a moment to thank the generous donations uh by Mr. Musio by Below and Mr. Sub um for their generous
donations. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Bloomer. Under policy, we don't have action items, but just two discussion items. Uh a committee report and then policy 5460 for high school graduation. >> Sure. Yeah. Uh so, uh policy committee
met last Monday um March 16th. um to we reviewed a a policy on a variety of items on student safety uh with the focus of continuing to improve the ways we keep our students and staff safe. Um I put out a uh committee report to
everybody. I think you should have received it uh last Friday. All the policy items are listed in there. A number of the other items that we discussed during the policy committee improved other ideas outside of policy to uh help to continue to improve safety. Um including uh having an
outside body review our policies just to make sure we're meeting all the things we need to be doing. Um looking for other educational ways to uh inform our staff and our students on a variety of topics such as, you know, teen dating
violence. um had to recognize predatory behaviors uh detection of predatory behaviors um in staff outside um uh programs such as like safe sport. I know we brought that up a few times uh
of ways to uh train staff on recognizing uh and detecting predatory behaviors. Um and then some other policy, some other ideas about um badge in and badge out protocol at our schools. Uh procedure going in and out of the doors of our schools. And then um the anonymous
reporting system Dr. Poris mentioned during the the call um a ways to it's kind of a see something say something reporting process um that I guess both students and teachers can send in reports of things that they seem suspicious.
>> Yeah. And that was um it was well timed to something that was um conducted by the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation. Um it's a program that we can consider. It's called Say Something. It's anonymous reporting system. Um and there are a few other options. Marsh County itself has the RSVP3 which is done
through the sheriff's office as well. And exactly to your point, it allows for reporting to be done by students, could be done by staff, could be done by families. um if there's a concern about somebody's welfare or well-being, even if it's um concern about self harm, um
you call that number and and they they take things seriously and then they route them out um the RSVP3, they route them to the individual individual municipalities and the the say something anonymous reporting system has a similar type structure um where more or less um
the reports are screened and determined if they want immediate attention or if it's something that um isn't isn't urgent necessarily as a police matter. So, so we have some options there and and I think it's good in this era where um communication
is happening at a breathtakingly quick pace we can we can harness that uh to our benefit. Uh and then other items we discussed were um one is the apogee um apty y um the the messaging system um for
students and staff for staff for if they're communicating with them about sports programs anything it's uh run by the school system so we have a record of everything we can see everything that's happening it's nothing outside of by WhatsApp or text message or anything like that so um that's one of the things
actually is already in our policy um about electronic communications that it should not be outside of school approved proof software applications. Yeah. So that's just another step to move to
any any questions. Okay. Uh and then the other item we discussed was um policy on graduation requirements. >> Um 5460. Um right now Pquanic requires 140
credits to graduate. Um the state requirement is 120. Um I would say probably most other schools are somewhere in between 120 and 140. A lot of them add 120. And so we're very very high. Uh, so as a result, a lot of our students and a lot of our seniors are
taking a full course load senior year just to get their requirements to graduate. Um, I know I was in high school, you know, senior year, I did have a study hall or two maybe. Um, you know, and you could, you know, relax a little bit, study, study for your AP
exams if you're taking them. Um, but a lot of our seniors are like in class all the time working hard. So, um, it's an option we're looking at. Any discussion on that? All right. Next up is board
effectiveness. Mr. Gitton, would you please move the item under BEC? >> Yeah, I'd like to make a motion to move uh BEC-126. >> Second. >> Any question or discussion? All right. Mr. Gibbs, please call the RO. >> Mr. Bloomer,
>> yes. >> Mr. Sesi, >> yes. >> Mr. Giddon, >> yes. >> Mr. Ao is absent. Mr. Mcweeny, >> yes. >> Mr. Mahalik, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shanton, >> yes. >> Mrs. Esto, >> yes. >> And Mr. Sen, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Okay, that brings us to our second opportunity for public comment. And
there's nobody here uh still, so we're going to open that and close it. Move on to unfinished business. Is there any unfinished business? How about new business? >> Would any board member like to make an announcement? Um, I just would like to thank Dr. Porz
and Mr. Gibbs for working so hard on um this budget. I know I think we know how much time and effort went into it and a lot of um I mean if I hear the word budget one more time, I'm going to throw something so in my place of work. So I I
understand um how much really went into it. Um so it is and and how difficult it truly is. um with the way that that everything is right now. So very much appreciated. Um we appreciate I appreciate the communication, the
continual communication and transparency throughout this whole process. Um I would uh like to thank Dr. O'Keefe um for all his hard work in this um amazing trip that the school is planning for the juniors and seniors to go to Costa Rica.
Um, so I want to wish them a really good trip, but also remind them to be safe while they're in Costa Rica. >> I would like to uh share a thought on something I believe I shared with some of the board members. I read an article
that there are school districts that are now replacing their analog clocks with digital clocks because the kids don't know how to tell time with an analog clock. And I just hope that that never happens in Puquanic Township, especially
since we need to save money. >> Okay. There actually standards to teach that. No. Nope. Anybody else? Okay. Uh we do have reason to go into executive sessions tonight where we will discuss student matters and attorney
client privileged matters. No action will be taken and we will adjourn from there. Our next meeting will be here at the high school on April 17th. Is there a motion to go into executive session? Is there a second? >> Second. All >> in favor? Any opposed? Good night,
everyone.