All of this session to all of my student athletes. I'm so happy to see you guys here tonight. I know most of you you're on the front row like so I like it you're not hiding out in the back but at this time I'm going to turn it over to your
principal the one and only I feel like we're here after each season because Pway athletes really you we go far. Um, I will say as a three sport athlete in high school and a collegiate athlete, two of my sports were wrestling track. So, I'm really happy to be in
this room tonight with you all. Um, and this is a night where I was not a state champion. U, this is a night that we get to recognize the achievements of our student athletes. So, we we recognize the amount of work and time to balance
the school part of being a student athlete as well with the achievements on the mat and on the track. So, without further ado, I'm going to start with Coach Smith who's going to come up and talk about his two wrestlers. So, coach, the floor is yours. Thanks to the board for having us here
tonight. Thanks for Mr. Balsado, Miss Shik, and Mr. Hunter for putting this all together. Um, we had two uh wrestlers this year who made the state tournament. Uh, first one I'm going to talk about is Jean Rodriguez. She's a junior at Piscato High School. Uh, she may be small, but she is a tough person.
Um, very talented wrestler, very nice young lady. She's a very bright future ahead of her. Um, she had a first this year for us. Um, not only did she have a uh a 25 win season, which is very impressive. She was very dominant in all the matches that she won. Um, she won
the first ever girls GMC tournament. And when she did that, she did uh she pinned every single girl that she faced in the tournament and obviously took place at her home gym so a little bit extra special. So that was great for that. Um next as she went later on to
the season she was in the region tournament which is uh part of the state qualifying process and she was the first ever Piscataway girls region champ which is a big deal as well. And again, she pinned every single girl wrestler that she went to be up against in that tournament, making her a state
qualifier for the second year in a row. So, congrats, John. Our next wrestler, Sean Love, another junior at Skyway High School. Um, I have both of them actually in class. Maybe a little. Um, Sean, he's great wrestler for us. I forgot to mention earlier,
John. She was one of our captains this year. Sean was one of one of our captains as well. and they also were co- MVPs for our team. So, that's another little special aspect. Uh Sean, very dominant wrestler. Uh we were just talking about earlier how he almost knows everything, knows everyone. He's a student of the sport,
works very hard. Um and he's always he's always pushing the pace, pushing our our wrestlers in practice, pushing his teammates to be the best that they can be. Um it really shows out on the mat. Um this year he was second in the counties. Uh he lost to a state qualifier. It was a very tough match. Um
he then went on later in the season to avenge that loss and he won the district title beating that same kid. Um and that was the second time that he won his district title and he was the second he's a two-time outstanding wrestler for the districts. So give him a little round of applause. In the world of wrestling, not
a lot of times you actually win the title of being outstanding wrestler of the tournament. He actually has two of them so far under his belt. Very impressive. Um then moves on into the regions in the postseason. Uh he was able to make the finals of the regions. He placed second to a high level
division one wrestler in a tough match. Uh so he then qualified for stage the second time uh in his high school career and down in Atlantic City and a great weekend. Uh had a lot of tough matches against some of the nation's uh highest level wrestlers and he wound up placing fifth in the state of New Jersey at 157
pounds. Like I said, captain of our team, co-vp. Gary, can I b you? Can I have one rest on the right, one rest on the left? Thank you, Coach Smith. How about one more hand round of applause? I'd like to call up Coach
Pacino now to recognize some of our winter track athletes who will be back in the summer, I think, to be recognized also for spring. But um I want to say congratulations to our wrestlers. I'm glad I didn't have to wrestle with you. my kid. But um I know the commitment
that it takes to get to that level and you know it's a real pride. So congratulations to parents as well. Um the board I'd like to thank you for your support uh for our uh track team. Uh this is really a uh it's like an all year round thing to get to a level that
these kids have uh achieved. Um unfortunately um I I only have two of my five uh people here. two are at home watching siblings and one is studying for an AP taking five AP exams. Uh we were out late two nights in a row to hold the six family championships. Um so
unfortunately he can't make it tonight. So again I apologize for their their absence but we do have two of our gentlemen on our relay team and that achieved you know some state championship um uh you know races. There we have um in front of me here we have
this is Jamari Atinson. Jamari was a member of our relay team. On we have Noah uh Grant. Um Noah I think you read about that in the paper this morning. Uh he achieved um last night before he ran the fastest time in Middle Sex County
100 meter mark. Uh he ran 10.3 seconds. Um and he also slipped 46.3 seconds in the 4x4 relay. Jamari led us off uh in that relay. Uh these gentlemen not only um you know they've individually achieved but as a relay team they were
main stays in the winter and they are now on this relay team. Uh and what they've achieved is is tremendous. Last year they were uh sectional champions. They won u you know state title. Uh they're back and uh we're just getting started right now in our in our
championship season. So we're we're really excited to for them to get them to uh all the way to the finish line and continue to achieve some great things. Um but let me let me call them individually. Uh we have two awards. Uh we have uh this quartet, okay, which is
made up of Jamari Atinson, um Mile Stony, Devonte Death, and Noah Grant. Uh these these gentlemen who are overall New Jersey group four state champions in the bowl 4x200 meter relay. Right. Uh we also this quartet um set a new Middle
Sex County record two weeks ago. They were the fastest quartet to ever run a 4x200 meter relay. They ran in 1 minute and 27 seconds. Um the same quartet also ran uh last week the 4 by I'm sorry the other night. last week and and the other night 4 by
100 they set a new middle sex county record 41 uh seconds. That's pretty fast. Okay. 4 by 100 million. Yeah. All right. Um so I'm going to call Martin. All right. Come on up and Noah. All right. also. Okay. And they
were also part this is their 4x400 meter uh sectional championship as well indoor. All right. So they won not only won the state championship, they won a um sectional championship 4x400. Congratulations. Where's my smile at? Come on
now. My last chance to see you up here with these awards. Chris, your job is to get a picture when those other three runners I'll track them down. I don't know if I can catch Thank you again. I appreciate everyone coming. Congratulations on all of your
accomplishments. Uh some of you I meant that I hope we see you again here in July to hear some more great things as we go through the spring track season. Um we'll have you both back around this time next year. I hope with the two gold medals at the two state champions. Okay. Um so again, thank you very much. I
appreciate everyone coming tonight. It's great to see you. um and go home and study yourself. Have a motion to go into executive session. Rock and roll. Have a second. Have a motion. Be it resolved that the board reconvenes the public session.
Motion. Have a second. All in favor? We are now back in public session. Greetings. Greetings everyone. How are you this evening? Tonight's student presentation is coming to us from Eisenhower Elementary School. The kindergarten reading buddies program worked with the future educators club at
the high school to help strengthen students reading skills. And here's their principal, Benny Steel, to tell us about it. Come on, Mr. Steel. Do I go this way or do I go this way? I go this way. This way.
There you go. All right. Before we get started, Arab Benjamin, it's one of my students birthday today. Everybody wish Ara a happy birthday. Our kindergarten reading buddy program. Put the mic down. My first time. My first time. Easy.
Our kindergarten reading buddies program consists of selected kindergarten students who are taught reading strategies from our high school students future educators club. I would like to highlight the three educators that have started this wonder wonderful program. Support specialist, Mrs. Janelle Barley,
Mrs. Stacy Sakurski, and Mrs. Lisa Pazuti. Please stand up. They have collaborated together to create instructional lessons that are researchbased with the emphasis on teaching the total child. All three of these amazing educators have gone above and beyond to turnkey their lessons to
our PHS students to instruct their kindergarters. Please give them another round of applause. I would like to also thank Mrs. Kelly Chelacos and Mrs. Jill and Alonzo for their partnership and having the PHS students greatly support our learners. Please stand up. And let's please continue this
partnership because in the end it's the students that benefit the most. PHS students, you have shown us that you have the skills and heart necessary to be exactly that, a future educator. Can my future educators club please stand up that are in attendance tonight? And remember to send me your resume if
you pursue education in about five to six years. Okay. Thank you. Lastly, I want to thank my kindergarten students that are in attendance tonight. Mr. Steel, Miss Moscow, and all of your teachers are so proud of how you've grown as a learner. So, let's give them a round of applause.
And now we have a video we want to show highlighting our program. Bring back his button. Hey. your letter. Are you ready? Three, two, one. Very, very good. You guys got it all
correct. tip to say. Good. Change it to the sound. Good. Good. Good. Okay. Let's say it together.
The next going to be. Good job. Okay, everybody at the same time ready. Can you put your finger on the Good job, guys. because they help me learn. Hey, I apologize parents. We're going to
actually pull out the students who are here tonight in order to recognize them and give them certificate. So being I don't know any students Pearson And at the end, we're all going to do a group picture just so we know what's going to happen next.
Miss Emily Selvin. Miss I know this name. Miss Marissa Makita. from Eisenhower. Mia Torres, they're a little taller. I know Nelson Camilo and R. Rob Benjamin, birthday boy. You can bring home your birthday.
Guys go to school together. Yeah, we should move back a little. You guys are tiny. I can see it. There he is. and smile. Thank you so much for bringing them out tonight. Most importantly, I'm glad that
the uh future educator teachers program is actually able to assist to assist them getting started earlier, making sure they have a solid foundation to stand on going forward. Again, we appreciate you, the parents. We super appreciate you, our high school
volunteers. You guys are incredible. The things that you are doing now are making a difference for our future students who will be coming through PHS. And once again, thank you so much. You got it. You're doing it. You're making it sound. You're following the instructions. given you and I can't
wait to see you standing here again receiving more certificates saying guess what I did it I want to show you something oh Vinnie Benny Vinnie I got a go home with And if you want to leave, you can leave. We're
done. We don't for a minute. I don't know if y'all want to stay with us or not. Yeah. Oh, okay. And um yeah, that's my question. You knew my question. Thank you.
You know where it was. Thank you. What's your I see you trying to get Gary's attention. You want her? Okay. There's a speaker. Yes. Microphones. It catch those are microphones. Microphones. Yes. Whoever goes up to the podium.
Should I um introduce the speaker? What's next? Report. All right. Next on our agenda to the right of me, I have my junior and senior representatives. It is your time to
shine. So, here are our student representatives report for tonight with Tommy and Tyler. Who's speaking first tonight? Let me see how this goes. You want me to? Okay. Okay. Okay. So, um I hope you all are doing well. Um not a lot. I know last
time I threw a lot of information. We're toning it down to this time. Um just because it's the end of the year, so AP exams are this week and next week. Um unfortunately, we are victims of AP exams, but we're almost done. So, um lots of senior activities going on. Physician day is May 1st, which is very,
very exciting to see all the students and all their merch. And it's kind of crazy that, you know, we've grown up here and we're moving on. So, very exciting. Um we have a senior trip coming up to Hershey Park and senior skip day. Very exciting. activities as well as prom, you know, have to mention
that. So, some fun things at the end of this month. Um, going on with clubs wrapping up, honor societies are also looking for board members now, kind of wrapping up with their events, um, meetings. So, that's kind of coming to an end. Um, NHS, National Honor Society
is hosting a blood drive on May 19th, and you can actually get free Girl Scout cookies, um, if you donate blood. So, some incentive for the students. and we're taking that very seriously and hoping to get some of the students involved. Um, one of the freshman seminar classes at the high school, Mrs. Ziz specifically, um, is collecting
donations for an animal in need. Um, so they're looking for treats, toys, blankets, and just more um, and just ways to help, which is really interesting. It's really nice to see students get involved. I believe freshman seminar students have to do some sort of community service. Um, at least when I was a freshman, we had to do something like that. So, I believe
that's continuing. And I think it's really interesting that they chose shelter in need. So, that's something that they're trying to get all the students in the high school involved with. Um, science league, um, they actually placed seventh this year, which is a really exciting, um, number to be ranked. Um, they also get a plaque, so
some good representation from the high school. Um, and I know specifically Bolague also has one individual winner who actually um, actually placed in the ranking. I know I was specific to bi league but some of the other science leagues like physics leagues chem league I know they also have done very very
well and have been working really hard um hosta their million dollar match volleyball game is coming up and I know they'd love to invite you all to come it's on May 21st um and they're versus Woodbridge Academy South Pickway um it's from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. So, I know they
really appreciate they could see some of you. Um, and it's just a really fun event. I mentioned this last time, but I'm also MCing, so it'll be really exciting to see you all. Um, and I MC last year, and it's really fun to see how all the other high schools come. Um, and how lively the events are. So, some
big events to look forward to. going off to safety ambassadors which is our program with Robert Johnson hospital um where we go and present to the students elementary students um and talk about safety methods and how the case stay safe um they're looking for applications for the next members I
actually have been with safety ambassador since my sophomore year so it's really exciting to see the new students that are taking on that role um we have our lunchon on May 14th um I believe it's at Vampiria so it's a nice lunch and you know to celebrate all the work that we've done Um the Middle Sex
County traffic team for girls um track they actually placed um in the 4x4 4x1 and 4x2 relays um I'm sorry 4x8 also medals. So it's really nice to see some of our sports doing that um as a track prior member runner. Really nice
to see some representation and see us do so well in all these county relays. Um, and wrapping up with the ICCA mentor night. Um, I know that was a huge hit on May 2nd where we actually I know they planned this event every year and this year it actually executed for not usually gets canceled with the rain. So,
it's nice to see that I actually went through um and I know they're trying also for their dance event coming up for the um international night. also very looking for jobs. Well done. Um so last time at our last meeting I spoke a little bit about the
50 strong program that we started where they were picked some kids that would go to Eisenhower school and mentor some kids that may be in a little bit of need of some guidance. So on April 30th we went there 13 mentors went we mentored about 15 students. We split up into some
groups and we just sat down and talked with them for a little bit, talking about what they have going on in their lives, what they have going on in school. And then we all in our separate groups had little stations we would do. We made a little dunk contest with these little balls and baskets. We did paper
planes and stuff like that. And um it went really well. The only complaint was that we were only there for a small amount of time. So hopefully we get to go a little bit earlier, spend a little bit more time with the kids this time. And our next trip is on May 14th, I believe. So doing that. And then
hopefully as if that goes well next year, we'll be able to start these from the beginning of the school year and go throughout the month of the school year to really connect more on a deeper level. Um, continuing Key Club is having
their banquet tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. at Applebee's business formal. And if you go, you can enter a raffle where you can win a couple of And who doesn't like free money? So, exactly. We know we'll find you tomorrow. Um, in the high school, our freshman
seminar program is hosting a food drive from May 5th to May 16th, collecting food items. And where's the hammer? Smash it. Um, so yeah. So our freshman seminar program is hosting a food drive from May
5th to May 16th. They're taking turns. Tag team. Sorry, Tyler. Not us. Let's try this again. You said that pretty confidently. All right. Um yeah, our freshman seminar program is hosting a food job from May 5th to May 16th where they'll be
collecting food items. Some of the food in high demand are food that is low sodium, gluten free or sugar free. They're also accepting other foods but there's some foods that are high demand and um you can drop off to the teachers in the school and when you drop them off um you win a raffle ticket to win a prize and if you drop off one of the
foods in high demand you get two raffle tickets to win a prize and enter that raffle. Um we just had our spring pep rally where and spring sports came together. Um, so everybody went out to the football field, had a good time, did
some tug of war, a lot of games being played between the classes and a lot of cameras out to just kids have fun and run across the field and it was just a fun time at the end of the day for kids to let loose. Um, for SAD, the club that me and Tom
are in, we took a successful trip to Eisenhower School again where we gave a presentation to the kids about safety with crossing guards, bike safety, road safety, and just being safe in general as they're making their way to school and being kids in general. And after
that extremely well, we got approved to go to Randleville, Grand View, and No, and give the same presentation to the rest of the schools. So, we will be doing that at the end of May and a little bit going into June. And um for our SAT club, there's it's a national club. So, there's a national competition
where we had to make a 10-minute I selected to make the video. So, I submitted a 10-minute video and a 15 second reel that uh they have to go through everybody's and then we get feedback on and um hopefully we win. And
we get 15K. That too. That would be very nice. Um and that goes to the club itself. Can you say what SAD stands for? Students against destructive decisions. Okay. And it has to do with driving, right? Driving
So back in the day, I think it was specific to old Miss Benjamin had it in our high school. So now it's they safety about our particular campaign has been towards driving and speeding in general, but the just the club in general is just safety and all
that. Um I don't have the video with me. Hopefully maybe next meeting I can show you guys the video. I have a little but um yeah, that's it. Thank you guys so much. Uh once again, thank you for all the information you're passing down to us. I know you have AP exams. So at that
point, you're please go home and get some rest for your testing in the morning. Yes, Tom. Tomi, is there anything this since the last board meeting that maybe you've done you might want to share? Yeah, maybe.
Um I can think of two things. Tyler, I won't be here next year, but I might come back to this meeting a year from now to get you. What do you think? Yes. Okay, I will share. Um, so I was selected as the
Middle Sex County Secondary Principles Association Outstanding Student. Correct me if I was wrong. Um, so we had a big celebration. Mr. Bano was there. It was really really exciting. He said a lot of nice things about me. Really boosted my ego. It was
a nice dinner. Um Miss Nancy Salen also joined us. Um and Dr. Watman as well. So it was really nice to see all the mad men and just see the Piscati community I have. Um so I was really honored. So thank you for that opportunity. I want to just piggy back that it was really
really special um to see how many people are around such a light uh like Tom Vi. Um she was able to bring I think it was 12 individuals. So her family, her uncles I believe and you know so on like
that. Um the woman who helped her with all her campaign um for the overdose uh was there. It was just very very enlightening to see how one um sparkling shining person really feeds
out into the community and definitely uh Mr. Balano had his uh his work cut out for him. He could only say 250 words and uh there was definitely much more that could be said about uh Tom. So, it was a
great honor to be there and just see her um and all these other really spectacular students um throughout Middle Sex. So, it was definitely amazing. Nice Tyler. What did you learn from the
Eisenhower kids from the their experiences when you went down to 12 for the um mentoring them with the 50 strong program or just for the 50 strong program? Um a lot of them had you um just energy that they needed to
get out. I think I think that was the biggest part. They would uh they came in and at least the group that was with me, we had games that were set up for them, but they kind of made it their own way and we kind of just had to go along with it. Like um we had a game where we were
just kind of we had a couple of balls that were just going to throw around to them and uh just get everybody to learn each other's names as it was our first time being there and stuff like that. And uh they kind of turned it into playing um Mossy's. I don't know if you guys know what that is, but they kind of throw the ball up and everybody tries to catch it at one time. So, they kind of
had a lot. We didn't want to do that because we don't want anybody to get hurt. So, we kind of turned it into a little dunk competition that we made with them. But, they had a lot of energy that they might not be able to get out when they go home or they obviously don't have to get out when they're in the classrooms. So, I think it was a nice time for them to just be with us,
have fun, and a lot of them knew each other. So just to be with their friends for you and Tommy enjoy your the end of the senior year. Thank you. Trust me, I am.
All right. Thank you guys. Go get some rest. Go study. You could go study if you want. I'm done for this week. I'm actually watch Okay. Okay. Now to bring the next light. It's my turn to shine. Woohoo.
President's report. Yay. So anyway, I want to congratulate all of our teacher, our teachers of the year, educating service professionals of the year, the school support of the year. We have so many dedicated professionals in our district and these people have stood out among their peers for extraordinary work
that they do on the behalf of our students. approximately this teacher appreciation week and so I would like to thank all of the educators in our district. It is it is appropriate that the school support categories were added to this year because whether you are teacher, service professional,
administrator, secretary or custodian, everyone in our district should be considered an educator because we all work together to make sure that our district gives all of our children the superb education and care they deserve. Congratulations to one of our own student representative to the board
Tommy Havilla for being selected as the outstanding student of the year for Piscataway by the Middle Sex County Secondary Principles Association. Tommy has worked tire tirelessly for the past year bringing attention to horrible opioid epidemic
that has hit our nation and our community even earning a health equality impact award from Duke University. She is also the president and co-founder of the students against destructive decisions, a girl scout who has earned a bronze award, silver, and gold award and has taken 21 AP and honor courses.
Congratulations again and thank you for all you have contributed to our board over the past two years. We are so honored and proud of you as the student representative that you are, not because of your accomplishment, but because of your humbleness. Your humbleness plays a
huge part in who you are and your personality, which makes people love you even more for all that you have accomplished. We're going to always keep our door open to you. Dr. Roberto is expecting monthly emails from you keeping you updated from Rowan. I'm just
going to say that for her because she's not going to say it, so I'll say it. Um, but if there is anything that we can do here at Piscataway School District, please reach out to us, let us know, and we will more than step up to the plate to help you in any way that we can. That goes for all the seniors out there. We
don't want anyone to think we're just singling you out because everyone is a star in my eyes and everyone has accomplished so much because the fact that they're meeting all their requirements to walk that stage on June 18th. It's going to be an honor to be up there with all of you guys and watch you all walk. But once again,
congratulations on all of your accomplishment and all the accomplishments that are to come for you. Looking forward to hearing about it. Thank you so much. Good for you. Yeah. My turn. It's your turn. Come. Let's go. Let's go. There's not There's nothing absolutely nothing to say.
Everything Everything's been acknowledged. I'll just go through my checklist. Teacher appreciation week. Superior. Teachers should be appreciated every single day. I think so. Right.
Absolutely. And then the one position, and I'm just preparing you. I'm getting a little overt tired. The one position that I love but I'm afraid of are the nurses. They are the health and safety
of our district. They can spot you at the end of the hall if you're too tired, if you didn't eat lunch. Am I correct? Yes. And they take care of all of us. But the highlight of Piscatoaway, aside from seeing tonight your accomplishments as somebody who's been
here five weeks, the volunteer evening last Monday was humbling with the power this district has in terms of volunteers really. and the board. I have
to commend you that you have community members at large on your board committees. I have never and I'm not all over the place, but I've been around. I've never seen anything like that. Never. You You want openness. You want
to hear what the people think and you don't wait until the budget time to do it. You look at it all the time. And uh uh here's our kids. Convi, you know, you saw the reading buddies, the future
educators. We had another one, Angie Ramos. Angie Ramos was selected to give the New Jersey Junior Achievement Award, Junior Achievement Testimonial to the state
representatives. I mean, I brought this home to my home, the first one, and I put it on the table in our family room, and I had my daughters and their husbands over and
they came in and they looked at it and they go, "Mom, is this Mom, is this I said, I know. Have you ever seen anything like this?" And I'm going to tell you, you all better read this superintendent's
report. And let's highlight somebody who does it. Where is Gary? Gary Miller. You ready for this? Gary Miller, information officer. And he does the website. And you sit there when you interview for the
position, you see it on the website. You go, "Okay, I know what that is." No, I don't know what it is. This is a newspaper. He's received 21 awards. So, we
were And here's the other thing. I said to him, "Well, where do you live?" or something like that. He doesn't live in Piscataway, but he got the citizen of the year award from here. How did that happen?
I mean, we know you're good, but how good do you know? And last week, this board meeting I tried very hard because sometimes you need to take a moment and reflect you have a strong
culture it doesn't take one person it takes the whole community and I'm telling you you have it and then you look at this and then you see children students like this young adults and the future
educators and the kids benefiting like Tyler told us about the kids at Eisenhower school and then I have to acknowledge the teachers this again and the nurses and I have to acknowledge the administrators. You've got one effective
district. One effective good for you. Okay, at this time let me make sure I did everything. Oh, I forgot one thing. I know you all want to, you know, I visit the schools during the week. I start usually in a school and I end my
day in a school. I like to feel the kids. Um, and I attended three honor roll celebrations. Okay. So, you figure, all right, let me go to them. One had ice
cream, one had popsicles, you know, one had donuts. I cut at one school 306 ice pops so the kids could eat them. So I'm standing there going, "How many kids did you have?" 306. Then
I go to another school and I was in charge of sprinkles. Yeah. You laugh sprinkles. I have to tell you. Do you know the color of sprinkles now is very different than it was when I was a kid. It's purple now, too. So, I
figured, how hard could it be to put sprinkles on ice cream? 263 kids getting honor roll. So, I started adding them up. I served over
1300 kids on honor roll. Come on. They're achieving. Our children are achieving. And uh the kindergarten concert at Eisenhower. In my journal that night, I put the following statement. A little
girl had on a pink and white gingham check dress. It reminded me of my daughter Jacqueline, who is now 42. And the parents there with Mr. Steo, excellent program. So, thank you very
much. Now, I'd like to introduce, we have a presentation, Dr. Laura Heimlick who is going to do our mandated annual wellness summary. Thank you Dr. So thank you for having me here
today. Um, I am a district supervisor of health services. All those wonderful yet scary nurses that what we would do without nurses week actually school nurses week this week into our teacher appreciation which is lovely. And I'm also the supervisor of
prek through counseling. Oh gosh. And as part of this I'm our district wellness policy coordinator so I have the honor of doing that as well. Um, I'd like to thank Teresa Edmonson, our people services director, for supporting all the programs that we have in place and helping me to do all of this. Thank you.
I know. Um, so what we do every year, we have a committee that comes together that I'm the chair of and we take a look at our district policy 8505, which is our wellness policy and nutrient standards. and our district wellness committee convenes and we got an
assessment of the district all of the school's compliance with the policy and alignment with the goals of the policy and we gather data and information and evidence. Do you want me to put this away? I'll give it back to whoever gave it to me. Thank you. Thank you for
the I'll be loud enough hopefully. Um so we take a look at throughout the district all the buildings and what they're doing to make sure we're aligned with the polic and the Um, our policy is aligned with the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and our Smart Snack Standards, which is in accordance with the guidelines that are
set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture. And the members of our district wellness committee for this year included myself, a principal, a school nurse, parent. Tombi was our lead student who also put together our photo montage that we'll share with you later. We had a gym
teacher from Scoutway High School and our new food service manager, Nicole Cooper. played an active role in our in our wellness um committee this year as well. So each school itself also has a wellness policy coordinator that we collaborate with who helps us to gather
the information and the evidence to ensure that we continue to be in line with our district policy. So within the policy we have four goals nutrition promotion, nutrition education, physical activity and nutrition guidelines. So our wellness committee we collaborated
and each school able to demonstrate um how we're able to evaluate compliance and goal attainment and progress. Then we decide if we need to offer recommendations to you to suggest to change our policy if needed. And then we collaborate and develop an action plan
collectively across the schools to determine what their plans are to move forward. So I'm happy to share that the policy goals for nutrition promotion have been attained throughout every building in alignment with our policy as it stands. And we determined that our schools to demonstrate commitment to
educating students regarding healthy nutrition, providing activities that involve physical activity, and encouraging overall wellness in students. Health and wellness education activities are developmentally appropriate across the grade levels and are implemented in collaboration with
staff, administration, families, and community partners. So, I'll give you a brief overview of attainment of our goals and the collective action plan that was established for schools to continue our wellness activities into the next year. and then we'll share our slideshow to highlight some of the things that went on across our district
to support our goals. That being said, our first goal is progress on goals for nutrition promotion. One of the things that we'll see across the buildings is an importance for visual aids to highlight the importance of healthy eating. These visual aids are in the cafeteria
highlighting a balanced plate aligned with the healthy hunger free kids act nutritional guidelines. They're also throughout the schools in the hallways as well. Families are encouraged, especially at the elementary level, to send in healthy snacks with their child.
And the schools send out monthly newsletters that some of them will include nutrition information from the school nurse. Um, there are menus and nutrition standards are available to all staff, students, and parents via our district website. And Mashios has worked with our schools to promote nutrition
and healthy eating. high school middle and middle school administration students met with ma our machio staff and our business administrator Mr. Ala and they gathered feedback from the students to have input on their menu options. And as a result of that, they took the feedback to
implement into including choices of fruits and vegetables for school lunches available to children. And there are also daily vegetarian options available as well as coordination for any type of special dietary needs including halal, vegan, gluten-free, and allergyfree
options for students. In addition, our business administrator collaborated with Machios this year to ensure that all children in the district have access to free breakfast, which has been a great program that has been implemented across the district. And number two is progress on
goals for nutrition education. Um, in this regard, nutrition education and promotion of physical activity is included in the health and physical education curriculum at every school throughout our district. Nurses also partner with our PE teachers to deliver this information to students in a
developmental fashion with regards to healthy eating awareness of food labels, serving sizes for example. Um, children are encouraged to align food choices with a balanced plate and we promote healthy choices through large group activities such as assemblies where we
provide more information about healthy choices. Um, the standards and guidelines Mashio ensures are included in the school lunch menus which mentioned before are posted. Something to highlight is that the menus include a farm to school program and they can be
easily translated into nine languages which has been very helpful. We also have a digital app that's available called Neutri Slice that's available to the entire school community. So it's staff, our nurses, the parents, the students themselves. And through this
app, parents are able to browse the daily menu items. And it provides a lot of specific information such as nutrition and dietary or allergen information. And that's available in over 50 languages, which is a fantastic resource that we have. Our third goal
for physical activity. Um all of our students again receive health and physical education under the supervision of a certified staff member. Um students at the elementary school have recess daily. Outside recess includes a lot of activities such as kickball, basketball,
hopscotch, just to name a few. We have um developmentally appropriate playground equipment and climbing stations that are at our elementary schools that are supervised for student physical activity. Um schools also incorporate activities related to mindfulness and movement throughout the
day to provide what we refer to as brain breaks such as stretching. Some schools have flexible seating in some of our classrooms and physical movement is promoted during indoor recess when it's inclement weather. Um as well some examples for some of the
schools Grand View and Arbor students through jumping jacks and yoga poses and mindfulness exercises during indoor recess. Nwood school begins each Monday with a Monday moment mindfulness exercise and ends each Friday with a feel-good Friday physical exercise.
Eisenhower provides a sensory path in the hallway and student volleyball games as part of their positive behavior support program in the school and a color run for families. King school incorporated exercise with their learning vocabulary parade and our
schoolwide positive behavior program gave additional recess time to children and teachers um to provide them with breaks throughout the day as well. So all of the elementary schools and intermediate schools have annual schoolwide field days and a lot of other activities such as that um that the
community can participate in walkathons, running events, danceons and our community education department also provides physical enrichment classes at elementary schools which provide opportunities for students to participate in soccer, basketball and
zumba. So some examples from middle school um we have organized sports such as soccer, cross country, field hockey, volleyball, just to name a few. Our middle schools also promote their own individual wellness activities. For example, field days, dances. Quibbletown
had a hoops for heart event. And their positive behavior program kicks off the beginning of the year with rewards that include physical activity. Shore holds a reset day that includes physical activity. And continues to expand availability of weights and
cardiovascular equipment, an initiative that they're promoting through their PU department. And in our high school, um, all of our students also receive health and phys. And as we know, our high school has a whole host of many different opportunities for children to participate in sports, dance team, flag
football, a health and wellness club. Um, there's a safety ambassador program that was mentioned before, teacher versus student volleyball games, a bad club. aside from all of the great sports programs that we have implemented. So our fourth goal, our
last goal is for nutrition guidelines and beverages. So our food products, like I mentioned before, must meet the healthy hungerfree kids act standards, which they do. They're provided by Mashios at all of the schools. Portable water is provided at all of the schools
through fountains and filtered water stations, which continue to be expanded. students are able to fill their water bottles throughout the day and our onampus fundraisers involve food and beverage items that meet those smart snack standards. So that being said, we
compare our district policy with the model policy. We determine if there's any recommendations or changes to the policy. So our district wellness policy continues to incorporate all of the points of the model school policy for New Jersey Department of Agriculture. We do not recommend any changes to the
policy at this time. The schools collectively have made some pointers for an action plan on how they'll move forward into the next year to continue to promote activity and health and wellness. Some of the examples of what they have as their action plans is to increase articulation between the
building wellness coordinator, Nashio's food services, and the cafeteria staff regarding nutrition, education, food, allergies, and restrictions. reviewing birthday celebration practices to include healthy food options or for some of the older grades and non food
celebratory practices and physical activities in place of more unhealthy food options. Um develop additional student le wellness activities, increase staff awareness of the district wellness policy and nutritional standards and promote after school clubs, physical
enrichment opportunities and sports just to name a few of the goals that they have in place. So before we move on to our slideshow that Tom put together for us, is there any additional information that I could provide to anyone? Very comprehensive. Thank you. I love the
words action plan. Agreed. Yes. So way to go. It's important. So thank you very much, Tommy, for putting this together for us. This just shows a little bit of the highlights across the district, the different buildings um for the activities that they had in place this
year. Okay. So, starting with our elementary school, um this is Nwood highlighting some of those visual aids that they had um throughout the building to promote wellness. Um an event that they had um for the school community where there was a Valentine's Day dance. So, activity
involved there. Uh this is Grand View. They had a beginning of the year kickoff where parents and um families and students came and they had a lot of physical activity, different stations throughout the building and outside that they were able to partake in. You'll see in the upper leftand corner where
children are doing a mindfulness exercise that's led by a video. Um sometimes that's done during inside recess. sometimes that stunt to kick off the morning or just at a time where we feel all of that energy that we were talking about that little ones have and a way to kind of calm down and hone it in. Um especially sometimes after
recess, it's a nice way to reset. And we also have a couple of pictures there from the walk-athons that we do and our walk your child to work day which is a great event that we have across the district in collaboration with our police department. Um Randolph will also highlight some of the visual aids that
they have throughout the buildings and They also highlighted an event that they had at Randolph bill where families brought different foods that they were able to sample um and experience different cultures which was a lovely event at um Randolph bill. Eisenhower
also highlighted their visual aids. Everyone's very proud of these visual aids that we have for our children. We have a a staff basketball game there and also in Eisenhower on the lefth hand side you'll see we have a yoga instructor that's working with children
um to give them a yoga class. This is part of the body wall program that Mr. Steo has um developed and has been in place in the district for quite some time that he brought to Eisenhower as well. For our intermediate schools, MLK highlighted some of their visual aids
throughout their building. Arbor did as well. our middle schools. This is Kakamat has an organization that comes there for their um hoops for heart event that puts on quite a show for the kids to promote physical activity and to raise awareness of um heart
disease. Quibbletown, this is some of their field day activities. We have our um middle school assistant principal, Miss Artist, there participating and looks like she's winning at that basketball game right there. And this is um host reset days for for students once a marking period
where they go outside and um they kind of get to be more of a younger kid again with like a field day type of event. It's a lot of fun there shore when they do that. And our high school um we have just many of the sports that we have um are phenomenal athletes that we have
throughout PHS. Um we see them not only here, I actually see them on my own. My daughter's an athlete. So whenever we go up against PHS, we're always very worried. So our athletes are phenomenal here. And then in the middle there was a field day event um where there was a tugof-war. Is there anything else you
wanted to add Tommy to Piscatoaway High School? I will say the top one I believe is the Mission Life basketball game with FBA that hosts. So that's also one of our really big events. It's students versus teachers and this year actually teachers won. So I know Dr. Ched was really proud about that. So yeah, it was
really exciting. Very, very lively. Excellent. Thank you. That's that. Thank you. No, if I if I can make a comment if I can make a comment and ask you your your thoughts on it is that a big part of our district wellness is nutrition
and um I'm not sure how many districts do this but our district this year started the free breakfast to all students and um I think that's something that that's that's part of our culture and have to
give kudos to our business office who found a way to work with Majio. So this is a free breakfast for all students and it is part of our district wellness and that's a good thing. We have so much positive feedback for all of the buildings.
Thanks. Next on the agenda, we're going to have personnel and labor relations. Miss Nancy Salgado Coen. Thank you everybody. Um be it resolved that the following motions identified as items A through F
be approved as presented. Just add it as A through B. Oh y A through E. Second. Mr. Secretary, can you take the role? Dr. Connor. Yes, Mr. King. Yes, Dr. Nelson. Yes, Mr. Patel.
Yes, Mr. Rivers. Yes, M. Smith. Yes, Miss Stafford. Yes, Mrs. Salado. Yes, Mr. Chair. Abstain from B1. Yes to the rest. I'm sorry. Yes, it's the same thing.
Abain from B1. Yes. Committee reports. Dr. Connor, fiscal and planning and operations. Uh the fiscal plannings and operations committee met on Wednesday uh May 7th uh yesterday I believe to discuss the 2025
2026 budget capital projects and more on the 2025 2026 budget. Um it was submitted for final approval by the uh county office and the user friendly bud uh budget the budget book and the tenative budget presentation have been
uh posted on the district website. Uh uh systems 3000 is open for 2025 26 purchase order entries. It's a good thing to get started before the um July 1. Um gets a lot of our uh purchase
orders in on time. So 2024 2025 budget. Mr. Olivera informed the committee that expenses are up significantly in several categories. Um health benefits, substitutes, pair professionals, and bus aids. Um
ECJ contracted bus routes. That's our shared service with our um I'm not sure what that stands for educational service um uh of New Jersey. and uh the implementation of the science of reading
was a significant expenditure. Surplus will be lower than in previous years and the amount of a capital reserve contribution is uncertain at this time. Facility capital projects um the Piscatoway High School wood shop dust collection the electrical panel upgrade
was completed last week. The job should be wrapped up by the end of the month. Skyway High School interior alterations. Demolition work started during spring break. Contractor sealed off the work areas and has been working around school schedule. Acoustical uh update uh
upgrades acoustical panel material for the admin building and SC been ordered and due this summer. Um bleach de uh demolition will be again the last week of the school. This is our 1112 or our Susan B. Anthony uh area where the
bleachers are going to be done and and and some paneling done. Scatter high school intercom uh and the PA clock system. Um we're finally getting around to putting the whole um Skyway High School complex on one intercom PA clock
system. The purchase order was issued for the work. The district is setting up a planning meeting to discuss scheduling. Solar panel decommissioning. Four bids were received. The resolution awarding the contract will be added to the May uh board meeting agenda. Um
that's tonight. Fellowship Farms preschool alterations which are here. Um we were able to um secure some money from the state and we are going to be doing some expansion on our on our preschool classrooms and that's going to happen here. The architect is working on
plans and bid specifications for a fall 2025 bid date. Mr. Olivivera noted that the difficulty districts are having and receiving reimbursements for federally funded American Rescue Plan extension projects and discuss possible
implications for preschool expansion. So that's federal money that um uh is being discussed about how we're actually going to get that uh paint painting services, Prometheium board installations, contractual paperwork and purchase
orders are being finalized with the painting contractor and Prometheium board installation contractor. A planning meeting is being set up to discuss scheduling and uh coordination. But I just want to make a comment about facility capital projects. And I want to thank the business office um and the uh
long-term planning that um the Scatteraway Township Board of Education has zero debt. We do not have any bond debt service um in um the property tax. We have been using surplus at the end of
our um fiscal year and transferring that to our capital project reserves and paying as we go. So we do not have a uh any debt. Uh May board agenda contract renewals. Mr. Olivera reviewed the contract renewals included on the agenda
including Leila Transportation, Mashio's Food Service, uh ESS, that's our uh contractor that we get the pair of professionals from. um and others professional service appointments. Mr. Olivera noted the reapportment of of our professional services providers and the
RFP um request for um conducted for special service professional service providers. New Jersey school business legislative updates um Dr. Connors that's me and we discuss the school funding formula and the impact on tax
levies throughout the state. Um, I just so happened to be, um, one of the executives officers of the New Jersey School Boards Association, and I have gotten there by learning about the school funding formula. This year, I'm
really going to be on a mission within our own town to educate other publicly elected officials about the implications of state school funding. because at this particular juncture uh there are a lot
of school districts throughout the state who are not receiving aid uh and it is having an effect on their uh revenue and it's hard to predict whether or not you're going to get aid or not not get aid in any way. We need to have a very
uh um robust discussion about that. So next year we will uh we will not find ourselves um not knowing how much school funding we'll receive, etc. So, Mr. Olivera, um we're very fortunate because
I can come to these meetings hearing firsthand uh the legislative committee of the New Jersey school boards, the school finance committee of the school boards, New Jersey school boards, and uh uh our business administrator happens to be um the legislative committee chair of
the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials. So he can bring that perspective and I can tell everybody right now we are doing what we need to do based on things like the incredible
health benefit um uh increases uh you know those healthcare costs. Um and and we're not the only ones in this position. And if you watch some of the recorded meetings of school boards from around the state, they're very contentious. And and the thing is that
we we are we're holding our our ground. The last couple of years we've only had an average of a um about a 3% increase because last year we had a 1%. This year we had a 5.5. There are a lot of contributions that are out of our uh to
our revenue that um uh that there are a lot of things that are out of our control, but we are doing what we can through our state organizations to help with with those things. Um David also also talked about um uh purchasing regulations related to co-ops,
restrictions on the use of co-ops for and for public work projects and the additional workload for member districts. And the last thing and and um And I have to say that I've been doing this now for 16 years. We are very proactive board of education when it
comes to being a board of committees and we think out of the box. One of the things that we're thinking out of the box and why we can pay uh for these capital projects as we go is our business administrator a couple couple years ago realized through the New
Jersey Association of uh rebate um um and man uh NJ ARM is that we can have an investment account. We take 20% of certain accounts and invest it. Um over the last within the last couple of years we've invested um somewhere around what
101 million of of that would just be sitting there. We've made 5.5% we've made over a million dollars on this investment account that we can put towards capital projects. Um and uh and and David is we have a policy for it
etc. The last thing is that um this is something that I think is great that we do is that the business office actually has a summer intern and uh Mr. Oliver informed the committee that the business office will once again be employing a Piscatoaway high school student. Um he
may be smiling in No, it's not him. He did it last year. Steve has just been our video person. Oh been our video person. But we but we're trying to use our high school students um to get experience with what's going on the board of education. um um as an intern
for the summer. Um I just wanted also to um comment on your report um Dr. Connors that um besides being debtree, which is like super important for um fiscal responsibility and having these accounts
um that also when we are looking at bigger projects such as expanding the preschool, we are using federal money and not having to go out to our um you know people here in the district to make that expansion. and we were able to get
grants because we were able to do that paperwork. So, that's a real testament to our business office and uh Mr. Alivera in making sure that we are coordinating these funds in the most
efficient way to get the most done. But it's not only the federal money. Um, you know, in the time that I've been here, um, the state would through the school development a of regional operating district grants. They would make monies
available and we have used them time and time and time again where it's a a 4060 proposition where we have to pay 60% but they will give us 40 and that is how we have expanded our communication systems our safety systems the cameras around
all the schools uh a lot of different types of programs that we have been using state available money and keeping it down for the taxpayers. So there's not only federal money, there's a lot of state money that we've been um taking advantage of. So anyway, that's my report. M we have to also remember that
the state is putting a bill for our preschool program for all of our students to attend it for free. It's not as if the district is covering the cost of it. It's all coming from the state. Um which the community needs to realize and understand. The state allotss us so many slots a year and we're over 500
already. We will be expanding based upon the expansion of this building. But what everyone needs to realize, you can you have to cap off at a certain point because you can only do what the state allows you in terms of numbers. So, I'm happy that we're able to give over 500 students a prek program for
free that they have to go into a lottery for. And I have to say, you take your chances, you put your name in, and hope if you're successful, you're successful. If not, you come back the next year and you try again. But there's not too many townships that are in our position to offer that many students a free program
and and I just want no cost to them and expand on that is the fact that the the governor has now puts that money into his budget. Correct. And what happens is that where a township is limited or a particular you know school district in that's um um co-terminus with the the
township is that um it's facilities. You get as much money as many kids you can put in facilities. It's called preschool aid. And what ends up happening is that we have been doing very um proactive things with the for example with the Dasis of Matuchen. What happens
we only had this facil uh a facility for preschool kids but the Dasis of Matuchen some of the couple of the schools in town closed down like our lady of Fatima and um and uh and Cababrini but we do a win-win situation where that facility
doesn't go doesn't get sit uh uh vacant. We do a an agreement. So now we have we've expanded the number of kids that we could get into that program and the number and the money that we can't get. And then the last thing is we actually did a a facility off of um Centennial
Avenue. So what I'm trying to say is that you're absolutely right. I mean I've been here for 36 years. My children now have grown up and live in other towns. For example, I give you Cranford. Cranford has a lottery to get into kindergarten. They don't even have preschool. And so there are towns where they're not offering that. So,
Piscatoaway offers preschool because we've been proactive in finding facilities to put the kids in and taking advantage of the preschool aid that is in the governor's budget and and everybody benefits.
Thank you for your fiscal report. Policy and legislative Miss Smith. Good evening. The policy and legislative committee met on Tuesday, May 1st, 2025 to discuss policies on student residency and academic integrity and state statute
regarding employment listings. The committee discussed up updates to policy 511, eligibility of resident and non-resident students. Mr. Rubin alerted the committee to changes in the law now requiring payment of tuition for all
non-resident students with the exception of certificated staff. Some committee members requested that a definition of parent be included in the policy explaining that the term extends to legal guardians and others. Mr. Ruben
will will prepare a revised version for consideration by the board on first reading incorporating as much le as legally possible the exceptions for staff future residents and previous
residents. The committee considered an update to policy 5701, academic integrity, expanding the earlier version of the policy beyond plagiarism to include other forms of academic dishonesty. The committee
deleted a reference to misuse of art artificial intelligence from the draft policy until the committee has the opportunity to to develop an artificial intelligence policy. After considering the implications of this developing
technology, Mr. Rubin informed the committee of a state statute taking effect in June promoting more transparency in employment listings. The new law will require wider circulation of job listings and inclusion of salary
and benefits information. And that concludes our report. Thank you, Miss Smith. Next on the agenda, we have approval of minutes. Miss Rivers. Being resolved that the following minutes be approved as submitted. Business meeting April 10th, 2025
executive session April 10th, 2025. Second. Have a motion. Second. Okay. Business meeting April 24th, 2025 and section session April 24th, 2025. Have a motion. Motion. Second. All in
favor? I. All right. That it's approved. Public comments from the floor. The board of education recognizes the value of public comment on the educational issues and school matters of the community interest. In support of this position, a law establish a period of public comment at every board meeting.
Individuals wishing to speak must state their name and address. Comments are limited to three minutes duration, but an individual may speak a second time after all others who wish to speak on the topic have been heard. The board may require that individuals register to speak prior to the beginning of the
meeting. Participants may submit written material in support of their position. All statements in or question shall be directed to the presiding officer and no participant may address or question board members individually. All speakers are requested to express themselves in a
civil manner with due respect. dignity and privacy of others whose legal rights may be affected. Please note, while this is not the board's intention to stifle comments on the matter of legitimate concern to the school community, the public should be aware that if the statements violate the rights of others
under the law governing defamation and or invasion of privacy, they may face personal liability to the injured party. If speakers are uncertain of their legal ramifications of their comments, the board urges them to seek guidance beforehand or their own from their own legal
advisor. Anyone and anyone wishing to speak, please come forward. State your name and this the town you live in. I have I'm a mother of a child in the
program. I have worked in the district in the AT. We usually drop off our kids in the morning and my husband. Half an hour later, I received a phone call from the nurse saying my daughter had Play-Doh in
her ear. What on her ear? Play-Doh. Play-Doh. Oh, Play-Doh. Okay. Sorry. Play-Doh. And I said, "How did it happen?" My daughter is in ADA
class and I went and get her. I I panic. I was like, "How did it happen?" I end up taking her to urgent care. It happened the week of Thanksgiving. That first
Monday, I took her to urgent care, pediatrician at the same day, and I went to the ER that Monday. I went to the ER around 2 p.m. I didn't have time to get up. pick up my
son. Fortunately, I had to call somebody to pick up my son. Next day, I I had to make an appointment to the ENT doctor and ENT doctor couldn't do anything. So, she said, "We need to put
you under anesthesia to get the play out. This was something that happened without somebody to relieve. Somebody did not watch my something. Somebody must have done.
Okay. When the doctor did the procedure, everything was fine. The thing she hearing properly, she went for testing stuff. So, she's hearing properly. But now my daughter is scared of going to
doctors due to that so many doctors after the other after the other and end up in surgery. That Thanksgiving week was rough for me for my husband and for the rest of my
family. My daughter is traumatized now. She doesn't want to come to school at all. In the morning, we usually we always drop off our kids to school. They both go together at the same
school. But my daughter does not want to go. As soon as I say this, get off breakfast to go to school. Unfortunately, my daughter does not want to go to school. She said, "No school. No school. No school. I don't know what else is happening. When she started
preschool, my daughter was taken out. I out of nowhere. They keep her out of nowhere. And I said, "Why are you taking my daughter out?" They said, going to have somebody
coming to to to you to your to home to to give blessings to your daughter. I'm like, why? I need you guys did not even send me a letter or setting up a meeting, anything like that. I did not get anything that when did that happen? I'm
sorry. That was uh when she started preschool, the year 223. Okay, that's prior. Yes. But the Plato incident happened this last year. I know we have the right to advocate our
kids. Unfortunately, my daughter would not be able to tell me what really is happening in this class and I already saw with my own eyes because I have worked in this district and I
hope anyone of you can help me in a way of changing the administrative district because they're not telling you guys what is really happening in these classrooms.
And I hope you guys take your time and talk about it because I don't know what to do to bring my daughter to school no more. She does not want to go to school and she cannot
tell me what's really happening in her classroom. These kids cannot speak for themselves. Okay. They're good teachers and bad teachers. It's like we have good hearts.
Some other we don't have good hearts. It's like good days, we have rough days. I hope you all It's not us. I don't know what. Please continue. Okay, fine. No, it's not you. Well, I appreciate what you guys are
doing for the rest, but I also need your help. to help me in the ABA class. This kid knows and I witnesses with my own
eyes what is happening in this classroom. I cannot say nothing because I know I can get in trouble. I cannot say either. But my daughter is a sweet girl. She's not
autistic girl and everybody recognizes her since we she will not harm and I hope you all talk about it
and do something about it. Please do and try to change the administrator uh district. They're not doing their job. I'm sorry to say with me. They're not doing it, but for others they might.
But not for ADA. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Hello, my name's Ed Soulfield. I'm from Perth Employee. I'm here for the Middle Sex County Union Building Trades. Right now, we got we got a situation here
where we're going to remove 1,450 uh uh solar panels from the high school in Piscataway. And we have contractor Echo Electric uh doing the work right now in their union and they're good and they're doing a great job and it's a very uh unsafe situation if you don't
have the right people. Unfortunately, in the bidding process, we have competition from two low bid non-un contractors who want to bid. Now, this is the scatter and we've been here for over 120 years and the unions do all the work here. We do all your schools. We build a
community center. Uh that's the YMCA, the biggest in the state of New Jersey. There's a plaque on here for the union building trades because we love the scatter wave. We love the mayor here in council. We work with them. Uh but right now we got a problem because there was no uh project labor agreement put on
this job. It was a project labor agreement. Anybody took the low bid can hire take the bid and hire out of the union hall. Right now, it's a possibility that if you give this low bid to a non-union contractor, you're going to get shortcuts, safety, safety problems, and you're going to cheat the
workers because they hire off the street and let them go off the street. Uh, so we have two contractors that bid at Union. Today on Route One in North Brunswick at the Toyota dealer in Route One, it's on news tonight. a young girl working for a non-union electrical
contractor on a solar project on Route One in North Brunswick was burnt to a crisp and sent to uh and she's right now at St. Barnab uh St. Barnabas Hospital in in North Jersey. They have no training. They have no safety equipment, no support staff for their
people. Now, the state of New Jersey and the federal government, as you talked about with the funding, has a prevailing wage rate. That's because they want the best possible workers, the best trained people to do the best work for your kids. You can't have your kids in a substandard school or substandard work.
And now our with the unions, I'm talking about the electricians. I'm an electrician 50 years. I'm also a member of the DCA, the community affairs in Trenton. I'm on the books. I'm on computer. I'm also on the contractors association electricians in Newick and Soulfield. And we I can tell you that
the electricians in Middle Sex County have a boot camp where we train all our apprentices on OSHA 30 hours. They have first aid. They have CPR. We put them in a five-year apprenticeship program. They go to school three hours a night, not one hour a night like college. And uh
and these people that are non-union work for a contractor, but they have no certifications or skills. These people get hired off the street and put there. Okay? And then they're off the job. Now, I want to tell you about these panels. The big job here is one uh 100,45 panels
to be removed from Scatterawway High School. And these panels always have 20 to 60 volts. From the minute you take them out of the cardboard box, they got 20 to 60 volts in. From the minute you disconnect them from the source up there, they got 20 to 60 volts. And there's no there's no switch to shut
them off. And then the people have to handle them and throw them in a dumpster. You need skilled trained people. And uh these type these type of panels that we're going to remove are all hot at all times and there's no switch to turn them off. The state of New Jersey says that anything over 10
volts, 10 volts, you have to have a licensed electrician on it. 10 volts, not labor, but a licensed electrician. So, you have to have skilled people. Now, everybody can't be everybody here in Piscataway can't be a teacher, a fireman, a nurse, computer operator, be
on the honor. Some of these people have to come in trades with us. They have to come in the trades. And let me tell you something, our guys, and I'm going to name them here. the electricians, the linemen, the irritants, the plumbers, the pipers, the glazers, the glass people, carpenters, the laborers, the dock builders. I had dock builders at a
rally Saturday morning, 200 of them from local 54, which is Newton, New Jersey. And I had 50 women of of all different trades and minorities getting $100 an hour. That's the package. $50 and another 50 for benefit. And I'm going to talk about the rest of the trades.
Spectral tapers, masons, painters, tire workers, carpenter, rug people, HBAC, pay attention. I saw 50 women Saturday morning. 50 women I saw getting 100 bucks an hour. Okay. In the top doors,
54. Okay. So, what is my answer here? The answer is you didn't put a POA in this. So, you're not contractor. Could they take this situation and get it? And we got thousands of people working your in your community. in Middle Sex County
that pay taxes to live here. They don't go away. They stay here. We need help from you guys. We need to keep this union contractor that's on board right now, Echo Electric. Echo Electric. We need to keep him on board and we need to get a union contractor in there. And the
name of the contractor is Echo. Echo Electric. Okay. Echo Electric. Pylock. What is the uh I mean the scatter union teachers, union police, union city workers, don't throw us out of here. This is our home.
Please, I'm begging I'm begging you for our people, our thousands of people that you guys are going to have the opportunities and I guarantee if you go to the mayor of council, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. All right. If you go to the mayor council and you come to us. Um I'm not I'm only one of nine kids. I'm going to
We want opportunities for your kids. Of course, you're going to get them with the union. I promise you. I promise you to go to the mayor. Okay. I believe you. But we need that union contractor for because the danger is just crazy.
Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else wishing to speak? Please state your name and your town. You okay? You need some water? I'm good. You sure? You sure? We have water. You guys. Yeah, Nancy. Here's some
water. I can't do no CPR. Good thing I did. Right. Tom, you hear what I said? Oh, he heard you. Heard you. I heard you. Thank you, sir. And we want to hear Tom go back through. Thank you.
Okay. Anyone else wishing to speak from the and public comments. If not, can I have a motion to close public comments? Have a second. Second. All in favor? Public comments is closed. Fiscal planning and operations, Dr.
Connors, be it resolved that the following motions identified as items A through BT be approved as presented. Second. And I just want to make a comment. Go for it.
the May meetings. Um there are a lot of items. Yeah. Um and so uh you know I just wanted to say that um you know there are a lot of say one more thing. You said I can say
three words comments closed. I'm sorry. Once I did the um officially I can't allow you to because we've closed that step of the agenda. But the prevailing wage state and federal gives you that money so you get the best people. They want you to
get the best people. See how that worked. Got it done. Um Mr. Secretary K. No, no, no, no. I'm just I'm about to call the role on finance. So when I call your name, that's where you're not. Wait a minute. We're on page 25. Thank you.
Okay. Wow, that was a big jump. Can you please take the ro question? Oh, go for it. About is what? Um, excuse me. What? What's his name? Echo. Mr. Sfield, Mr. Sfield, is this part of his um the package here
today? There is a resolution to award a contract for the removal of solar panels on the agenda. Yeah. And what item number is it? It is the beginning. I page six.
Yeah. Page six. Mhm. Um the numbers for medical are not even here. Yeah. I'm just wonder echo electric was not a bidder on this project. Okay. At all. Oh. So does that mean they're already they they're already doing the job and now we
have new biders? No. There is no existing job here at all. This is in the board of ed. This is the first solar panel removal job we've ever had. Certainly in the 10 years I've been here. Okay. Um so and Echo Electric, I've never heard of that contractor. They to my recollection did not attend
the walkthrough and uh did not bid on the job. Okay. Are these union union contractors? I don't know. Uh the requirements in the bid are that the contractors pay prevailing wage. That's a state New Jersey requirement. That's part of the
bid packages that we put out. And they don't have to be. State doesn't require that. That's not just I'm just asking. Sure. No problem. You say you say there's not a contract. We have two people. No, that's not what I
said, sir. Public comments over it's at the discretion of the biders as long as they meet the requirements the uh that the state the classification requirements prevailing wage requirements that the state of New Jersey has laid out then it's up to them
uh the labor that they use as long as they're meeting all those requirements when they bid on the job. Okay. So we're on taking the role now. We're taking a photo, Mr. King. Yes, sure. What happened here?
Computer system did a malfunction. I told you I'm on my own. I'm struggling. Okay, Mr. King. Yes. Miss Rivers. Yes. Mrs. Salgado Cowan. Yes. Miss Smith? Yes. Miss Stafford? Yes. Dr. Nelson,
yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Dr. Connor, yes. Miss Cherry, yes. Motions carry. Policy, Miss Smith, be resolved that the following motion identified as item eight be approved as
presented. Second. Can you take the role, please? Dr. Nelson, yes. Mr. Patel, yes. Miss Rivers, yes. Miss Smith, he's in the top taking over. Mr. Stafford, yes. Dr. Connor, yes. Mr. King, yes. Mrs. Sado
Cowan, yes. Miss Char, yes. Motion carries. Mr. Patel, curriculum. Be resolved that the following motions identified as items A through R be approved as presented. Second. Mr. Secretary, take the role. Mr. Patel,
yes. Miss Rivers, yes. Miss Smith, yes. Miss Stafford, yes. Dr. Connor, yes. Mr. King, yes. Dr. Nelson, yes. Mrs. Sado Cowan, yes. Miss Cherry, yes. Motion carry. People services. Miss Nelson, be it
resolved that the following motion identified as items A through G be approved as presented. Motion. Second. Mr. Secretary, can you take the role? Miss Rivers? Yes. Miss Smith? Yes. Miss Stafford? Yes. Dr. Connor? Yes, Mr.
King. Yes, Dr. Nelson. Yes, Mr. Patel. Yes, Mrs. Salgado Cowan. Yes, M. Cherry. Yes. Motion carry. Administrative and auxiliary. Miss Stafford. Page 36. Yes. Sorry. Be it resolved that the following motion identified as A
through I be approved as presented. Motion. Second. Mr. Secretary, can you take the role? Miss Smith. Yes, Miss Stafford. Yes, Dr. Connors. Yes, Mr. King. Yes, Dr. Nelson. Yes, Mr.
Patel. Yes, M. Rivers. Yes, Mrs. Sado. Yes, Mr. Yes. Carry old business. Anybody with any old business? I have business. Go for it. Um update to um the uh superintendent search. um from New
Jersey school boards. Uh we have 36 applicants for our superintendent job here in Gataway, which is um I'm proposing a very good number, healthy number. Um we will be
um meeting uh the non-conlicted um board members will be meeting with New Jersey school boards um to receive the those um resumes and applications. on May the 13th um here in the boardroom and uh we
look forward to our dates of interviewing which will be in June. Thank you for that update. That meeting is sorry um executive session only because of personnel related. We don't need the public showing up for that. Yes, absolutely. Sorry. Yes. Um and in
terms of uh also on superintendent uh review the um review for our our outgoing um superintendent was completed today so that we'll be up to date for our QAC going forward. Very nice. Good
work. Thank you guys for doing the uh search the search all the work that you're putting into it and going to put into it for completing the superintendent paperwork uh exit and for QAC purposes. Uh most importantly, I'm
going to cheer you guys on. I need you to take your vitamins, get your vitamin D, have you a Pepsi or a cup of coffee, but it's about to get serious. Yeah. At the end of the day, yeah, I had I'm over here. Go ahead. Go for it. A couple items on old business.
The first is that um I am still pursuing um the master board certification. Beyond the board certification, we had two years and get um
uh 10 credits. Um we've already achieved um actually four and a half because the superintendent search is going to give us three and we just and we had one session. Um so that means that within the next um I'm going to try and do it this summer, possibly in the fall
schedule another session where we will learn about the um a couple of topics um that we picked which would be uh the goal goal setting and Anyway, the thing is that we're going to keep going with it so that uh we can uh keep learning
about governance. Um national research shows that a better local governance results in greater student achievement. It's just it's just a fact. Second thing is that in the spirit of our town having every year a Memorial Day parade. Okay.
Uh what we have done every year for the past about six years is that we have participated in the township's Memorial Day parade as the Piscatoaway Township Board of Education. Um I will be getting uh information out to people. It's a fun thing to do. Uh we use this banner. Uh
we have students that hold the banner. We pencils. We have our shirts. We'll have hats. And I will be coordinating that with Vice President uh Nancy Salan. And so please reserve that time. I'll be sending out um you know if you
can attend um anyway so you'll be hearing from me on that and um those are my two items for business. Thank you sir. Anyone with new business? I just had one item for new business. I just wanted to um because I picked this
up today and I thought it was it was very I want to share this with Peter. Um, and that is that it's a published May 5th. Um, and it's a statement from Governor Murphy on the Trump's administration cancellation of school-based mental health grant. He had
to put this out here because he put out a statement that he was extremely disappointed that the United States Department of Education has arbitrarily cancelled nearly1 billion dollars in nation school-based mental health funding that was approved through the bipartisan safer communities act
following one of our nation's most horrific school shootings in Texas. And what he's saying is that the New Jersey Department of Education was in a three a year three of implementing a fiveyear$15 million effort to expand access to mental health professionals in
our schools. And now it will have to end two years early. And I just want to make make sure that people are aware of this, but he's working with our uh our New Jersey Department of Education to see what we can do about continuing that. And I just thought it was important that
this is one of the effects of of what's going on. So we have to keep track of these things because uh our state will be getting short two years and some money based on this initiative. I would just like to give a special
thank you to Councilwoman Laura Leitz and Councilwoman Sarah Rashid. At the township meeting on Tuesday evening, they both addressed the importance of respect and communication between the township officials and the school board members that all sit here, calling for
unity and constructive dialogue and rather than fingerpointing, come work together for the better of the community. So, I applaud the two of them for making a stance and making a motion. um and they will have further discussions on it. But I just would like to acknowledge it to the public right
now how much all schoolboard members appreciate this and it's well overdue. It is time. So it's time for us to unite as a town work together for the better of the township itself. Um, now executive session. Uh, be it resolved
that the board reconvenes to executive session for the purpose of conducting reviews and personnel information HIV reports pursuant to New Jersey NJSA 10 semicolon 4-12B. Can I have a motion?
I have a second. Second. We are in executive session. No further action. No further action will be taken this evening. Thank you for coming out, but we still have work to do. Our quarters were mixed up today. Down
as best I can, but I think she probably she probably signed in. She's still here. Yeah, she's still here. We want to get your information. This is yours. Miss, do you always keep this in your folder?