session Good evening parents Good evening faculty Good evening everyone who's in the audience Thank you for coming tonight to this uh school board meeting Tonight we have Arbor Elementary School uh a student presentation this month is
a collaboration of a project between Arbor and King Intermediate Schools Students in the container classes at both schools got together at Arbor to work on projects relating to the book WOW robot and yours is harvest principal Heather O'Donnell to tell us more
[Applause] Good evening and thank you for welcoming us here tonight With us tonight include students from both Arbor and Martin Luther King who were able to participate in a collaborative project that brought the two schools together uh with King
students taking two field trips to Arbor in order to be able to work with our students at um all together Uh the opportunity was made possible through the collaboration of the classroom teachers Mrs McGro Mrs Carapinos and Mrs Ball as well as Miss Reyes who is the
speech and language therapist for both schools Uh tonight to introduce a video documenting the project we have Arbor students Zen S and Omari Wilson [Applause]
Good evening and thank you for having us here tonight to talk about our project for The Wild Robot The Wild Robot is about a robot named Roz who walks the who wakes up alone after a shipwreck But
over time Roz learns how to survive in the wild and make friends with the animals She even becomes a mother to a baby goose It's a story about It's a story about kindness survival and belonging
[Applause] After we read the book we met with students from Martin Luther King who also read it Together we brainstormed designed what our group's ideal robot would be We designed photo
prototypes and they created poses that included features we all agreed on The best part of the project was meeting new people and spending time with other friends from other classes We hope you enjoy the video of our project
[Applause] [Music] [Music] Where did you guys go to our school I watch the wild
robot [Music] Our robot's name is pronounced bearbot He looks like a bear and is made of
golden diamond Bearb's job is to cook and clean He has a tail as a broom to sweep off the floor Bear can cook about anything you ask him to cook Could also do anything you ask
him to do He can play games with you too He has sharp corn He He could do cleaning but he has feelings He can be sad when the floor is messy He will be happy when everything's
cleaned or his cars are finished Our robot's special features is a bird and the tail kitchen tools for cooking tools for repairs wings for flying Our robot name is Alice Alice's
job is to destroy the [Music] house Our robot has labored away from super 65° She also is queen
Hi my name is Kevin and this is Troy Although my name is Kelly [Music] 580 cleans up the ocean floor garbage
machine He uses a neck rocket boobs and then jeans
may [Music] n in trouble Today we have a beautiful and golden master kingdom The our robot has it can speak up to 10 langu Spanish or Philippine for some
reason places and import robot B voice box I rocket fingers and a mouth Our robot's name is
Tom the farmer Our Lord established and grows vegetables on a farm The tools he used are reef shelves and seeds in a hole Tom the farmer is made of [Music]
gold Tom the farmer Tom the farmer learned fruits and sells them for money Tom's arms can change with any different [Music]
tool Tom is a robot and calling the robot Robot's name is Logan Ron's job is to help people in the neighborhood Her tools are swords and a bow and arrow She is made of cool Lily has an on and off button This
allows her to have x-ray vision and become invisible Our robots have a motion She is helpful and funny and calm [Music]
It's fun It job is to help people and destroy or destroy creeps Fun is made out of a mind It can deploy growing hooks build it Fun is a protective robot Liam what do you like about
We saw S We made new friends We saw old friends too What was your favorite part of the robot project [Music] if favorites one of them would be hanging out with all my friends from
third grade I got to see Miguel Abdul Justine Jordan Edgar I got to see Aldo I don't think Edgar remembers me but [Music]
again another favorite part I had was making the entire robot It was really interesting how everyone had different uh ideas for it Y so good It really Well one I want to tell all of you
students how proud I am of you Your personalities got to shine Yeah I I got your personalities You definitely are a spokesperson You have no problem with expressing yourself and but what I like most about it What
you were saying was genuine It was from the heart and it was specialness to your friends who you hadn't seen and you guys went to two different schools So that really touched my heart because my kids were in special education This is why I know most of these teachers who are sitting out here because I've had
interactions and dealings with them over the years They've had some of my good kids and they've met some of my challenging kids But at the end of the day they look let's be honest about this Some of them are challenging But at the end of the day they all were able to find their
identity in those classrooms and most importantly they were able to grow Um so right now I'm getting ready to come up Um and we're going to present to each student a certificate of appreciation and recognition for the job job well done with collaborating with both
schools and creating all of the interesting diverse robots that you guys designed and the functions that they serve So now I'm going to come to the front and going to be presenting each one of you with a certificate [Applause]
And when you come up she's going to give you a certificate Our photographer back there he's going to want to take your picture So you're going to get your certificate You're going to say "Voila going to take your picture." And then you're going to stay up here cuz then we're going to take a group picture together And then all the parents can take a picture So we're going to have to
have our patience cuz we're not fast We're a little older We're a little slower So you guys got all the energy You're ready for this Okay Okay we got the assignment All right we're good [Applause]
Pose Turn around Get pose Just like this Right in the middle Stay there Stay there Jin you going to go right over by Tommy there you go Abdul Ahmad Let's turn around
Cheese Good job Cheese So good Is that [Applause] a long list
[Applause] Excellent Thank you [Applause] You can stand up Stay right there Okay
Liam Sanchez Morales [Applause] Nice I'm I'm ready Oh [Applause]
pieces No Justine Fernando [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Can't you see Conrad Jackson
okay now we're going to get a group picture So parents get your phones out Get your cameras ready Zoom in We don't have rules here Hold up Honey That's right That's right Everybody look
over here and smile Cheese [Applause] This is awesome Thank you guys so much Your robots I'm going to feature all your robots and I'm going to make you my screen saver so that I can look
again and remember you coming here tonight parents thank you again for the job you're doing for the commitment and most importantly for their support and showing them that they too have a voice and they do everything that everybody else do but in their own path because
like I say I have four kids who had IEPs Mr McGomery Miss Marino and all of them and my kids Like I said I prayed for them in your day but it's okay But um again thank you for coming this evening and get home safely [Applause]
See you tomorrow Bye See you tomorrow Bye Jordan Bye [Music] [Music] All right let's try to get a group picture I don't know [Music]
That's a Mary's teacher You remember her do you remember her before no I don't think you think they look like a child She He looks more like his mom She looks she looks like her dad
and her sister looks like and maybe a remote control she makes faces just want real quick picture with the teachers real That's true It keeps coming out Okay rolling right
along It's time for Okay no problem Take time I'm just too much joy Too much energy Yes I'm always I'm definitely too much of joy Okay Next on the agenda we have our student
representative representative for this evening Um I'm not sure Tommy I'm sure you want to start or is Tyler start that's right Okay So we have our junior representative Tyler West started with our student representatives report Thank you And walking tonight Tyler hello Um
so first off today um our sack club did a chalk the walk and that was basically our club and we brought out the art club to go out in the front of the school and we wrote beautiful and thoughtful messages with chalk on the ground just to push our students to make good
decisions and to stay safe while they're driving on the road and they could just look at that while they're walking into school just there and after leaving the school to make good decisions And continuing through with our sad club yesterday um we went on a field trip to
a tow trucking company and to the police department at the tow trucking company we went and it's the company where all the crime scene cars go to cars that are involved in crashes again so we could see to make a decision to pay attention while we're on the road and not make do
things like texting while we're driving and end up in situations like that So we saw some of those stuff and then we would go to the police station where we got a tour of the police station We did a simulator that would simulate us drunk driving again to teach us not to do
those things and the results that can happen if you do those things And u moving on we our 50 strong club partnered up with Chiefs for Christ and they went on a trip to the community food bank of New Jersey where they package food to be delivered to the homeless shelters across North Jersey
which was also yesterday And again with our pretty strong program they're starting a mentor program where they will choose kids to go to elementary schools and talk to the kids about whatever they need whether it be personal or school play games with them
and just give the kids a fun time Right now we're in the process of doing mentoring for um excuse me we're doing um training for the mentoring which I'm being a part of right now So we plan on getting two dates this year to go to elementary
schools and test it out see how the program goes and if it goes well we hope to continue it next year and the years following that and so on And moving on for students that want to pursue science in the real world outside of the classroom our science national
honor society is hosting an interest meeting on April 21st for upcoming sophomores and juniors who love science And on April 25th um our school is hoping hosting a flag football game for parents versus teachers So it's just
another nice event for families and people in the community to come out and watch have fun play games Yes And just have fun And on April 28th will be the start of NJSLA testing for freshman and
juniors And best news for last spring break is next week Yes So students will have a great time to relax and get prepared for the last push to get through the school year Good Awesome Thanks Um I just had a question Um the the mentoring that you guys are doing
with the club what was the grade levels that you guys are going to be mentoring we're doing uh all excuse me elementary school level So one through first grade through third grade And then there's kids at the school that have been chosen that we will be mentoring Okay Now was
that going to be all the members of 50 Strong or only a select group of individuals who actually doing the training to be mentors so it's 50 Strongs 50 Strong's mentors that mentor the students They pick students out of there and then also some students just in the school that they think would be a
good fit Thank you Thank you Thanks Tyler Um so happy spring It's a really exciting time of the year We're almost done Um so on that note college decisions are coming out very well they actually have come out So I know you're all in anticipation So I will keep you
posted as soon as I formalize my decision Oh god Okay We thought it was happening It was happening Okay Well I have an idea So I can share that actually Um just cuz Dr Lman's wearing his lucky socks but I'm
Okay So I will make my announcement So I most likely will be committing to Rowan University in the fall for a seven-year medical program that guarantees me a spot in med school Good Um so I'm set for the next seven years of my life Don't My MCAT is low I just have to
maintain my GPA So officially going to be a doctor Um so I am very very excited I visited this weekend and it's a really good program So very excited about that Um so thank you Congratulations Thank you so much Thank you
Um so on that note decisions are still coming out and we are all actively stocking the Pway Commitz Instagram to see where all the students are going So that's a really exciting time of the year Um with that note also APs are going on So AP mock exams have started Um all the preparations I myself have
taken four APs so that's all I've been doing Um that decision so don't do that but it's okay right now Um so yeah so that's going on That'll be all of May and then we're finally done Um so Tyler mentioned the sad event Shock the Walk I
just want to recognize Dr Roberto for coming today Um and blessing us and you know meeting us all and showing her enthusiasm for our event It was really fun like Tyler mentioned Um and again we're really enthusiastic about SAP Um as well as tomorrow Tyler and I are
actually going on a field trip to the elementary schools to talk about SAD Um and just safety around driving although obviously they're very early on um but just kind of get spread out the safety message and just engage them in a very active way So that should be exciting Um
the ICCA which is the international cultural hub here at the high school is hosting their annual lantern night on Friday May 2nd from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m Um I believe last year they were planning to do it but due to I think the rain it somehow got cancelled unfortunately So it should be a good hit Um a lot of a
lot of talk about that as well as the ICCA um heat show which is on April 30th Um I'm sorry Auditions are on April 30th I don't believe they release the actual date of the event but students are looking forward to that I will say it's usually um May I think it's actually May 4th So that's something to you know
celebrate and recognize other people's cultures Um HOSA um the med club at the high school is hosting their third annual million-doll match volleyball game which is a huge hit at the um high school It's on May 21st at 6:00 to 8:30 p.m And we'd love to invite you all to
show up as well Um it's really really hype I mean I've been there I actually MC so I will be MCing again this year So this is a very Thank you It is very exciting Um and also Woodbridge Academy as well as I think South Pinville will be coming as well um to talk about um not talk about play and the actual game
So hopefully the scout wins this year Um as well as the spring edition of the student newspaper the chieftain has been published online Um I know the students there are working very hard on that and you know they're always trying to get the news Um so that's something that you all can check out on your time as well
Um going on the end of March although it is April finally poetry m um March Madness the competition that all the English classes were participating in has finally ended Um I know personally in my AP lit and I think maybe lane I think all English classes were and engaging in that and we would just vote
on which poem they liked for the month Um so it's a good way to kind of get poetry out there and spread some news that um the day of dialogue committee is once again um promoting their event um their project I wish a new project which we all focus on collecting um students voices and identities and voicing um how
they're feeling So that's something that's going on Um submissions are due April 23rd So we're really pushing for that I know we've done tableabling events um and just kind of recognizing as we're uh participating in a competition um which will actually be in the end of this month So that's
something to look forward to as well Um the day the day of dialogue Yes The equity Yep The competition Um it's for the government I don't remember the exact name but it's with the New Jersey government that we actually go to a conference later in in in the year
actually I think it's May Um FBLA I know I mentioned this last meeting the Mission Life um basketball game was a huge hit as always A really big event here at the high school They raised about $5,000 for the Embrace Kids Foundation which is an organization dedicated to helping families children
that are battling um cle cell disease and cancer So it's very very important I was there sad We did halftime as well Um and we had people try on the drunk goggles and do basketball hoops which went as well as it could have So that was really fun as well Um uh Tyler SNHS
Science National Honor Society Um they also are participating in an e-waste elimination tribe um to get students to get you know come and donate their old electronics um and find ways to recycle So that concludes our report Thank you Thank you I got to tell you it was a lot of
information I know I know I really did throw a lot at you I was like "Wait what?" There is a lot at this time of the year So it's just getting started and we know it's all the way to the finish line Once again thank you both for coming out this evening and you go
ahead and get home safely Yeah All right Have a good one Thank you Um thank you Tom I'm texting you something about something coming up in April If you could share it with Tyler and SAD group I'd appreciate it Absolutely Thank you Okay Next we have the president's report
So my president's report for April 10th 2025 I would like to formally welcome Dr Roberto here to our first meeting as our entry superintendent Our board is very happy to work with someone with great experience and knowledge as we navigate this transitional period I would also
like to remind everyone that we will have a public input session as our board searches for a new permanent superintendent Our families students and members of the community are invited to a meeting on Tuesday April 22nd at 6 p.m and PHS Anthony Commons This session
will be led by a representative of the New Jersey School Boards Association who is assisting our board with this search process This input session will gather information to be used to set critical criteria for the background training and experience necessary for the new superintendent Additional sessions are
being held in our schools to gain input from our district staff members I want to wish all of our teachers and students a wonderful spring break Rest your engines in your minds next week so that you come back and be refreshed and finish out the school year strong There
is still work to do before summer break and we want you to end 2024 2025 school year on Ohio And that concludes my report But I also want to just formally let's give a round of applause to Dr Roberto and fitted right in And she's
grouping right along with us And we all going to break out our fans and say where them fans at in June our June meeting H next we're going to watch it I'm over tired We're going to Now it's time for your first official superintendent report
Thank the balcony and just take a a moment Um I'd like to formally and publicly thank the board of education for giving me this opportunity I shared with you that in just the time that I've
been here in the last week I needed this I will serve you But I watching your teachers your administrators and these beautiful children which children are beautiful everywhere but the setting and
the culture of the school district and the support I have not heard one negative word since I arrived and every word focuses on these children and board members You have a tremendous
amount of support from the faculty and staff Uh special thanks to the cabinet You're good people and you gave me so much time You really did And next week I'll be meeting uh the different
departments at as a whole And right now I'm going and visiting each school It has been a pleasure to follow in Dr Rali's leadership path It is a pleasure I as a colleague I have to acknowledge
him and the two words that come to mind with Dr Gali are his authenticity and his natural leadership He doesn't manipulate people He just does it and you want to follow
him and I can feel it in the district So thank you Visiting schools I was at the uh uh shore school for with the municipal alliance of the sixth graders are getting cake uh because they were
superior And our children learned about vaping social media and the marijuana It was an excellent program While we were there I got to meet our mayor and the police uh the councilman and the police
As uh Tyler and Todd me said I went to SAD today while they were doing the um uh chalk walk I met so many kids Gabby the leadership of the SAD group the kids in the art room uh our
principal was there and the teachers And that's the sense of community you uh feel One of the things I was very proud of in the district was my first day when I was pulling into the district and the
electric sign was there and it proudly announced the honor the month and what we're honoring during the month New Jersey Jewish Heritage Month Autism Awareness
Month You know you can teach being inclusive but you have to model it and send messages to kids This is who we are And I was so proud to see those items I want to thank the parents who have
emailed me I got uh um some emails from parents welcoming me and a couple of the parents said I taught them Uh one parent said uh my daughter was in your school and still remembers you and that was a
while ago and two of the teachers here I taught So it's a lot I uh the Piscato police I have a meeting with them this week uh their leadership and uh also um we
continue meeting as we continue planning But I want to thank everybody for agreing uh welcoming me to the district I remind you to check out the superintendence report It's online and it's at the back table back there It's
filled with a lot of things Tonight we just saw one thing Those children tonight no teacher prompting them show the power of public education
We influence children And as Miss Cherry said every child It's not just pick and choose And on my email I always quote Franklin Rosebell which I hope you all aren't too young to know who he
was but I love reading his books And my favorite quote is "We can't change the world for the child but we can prepare the child for the world." And if we model good for these kids here
tonight they'll influence the world They'll influence it positively And also they had a petting zoo I don't know if you're aware of that The third graders will have an opportunity that everything is in the superintendence
report Again thank you I'm humbled but I have to tell you the work in the service of children is nothing better So thank you very much And Gary thank you in the back One more item I have to mention one
more and I'm so sad I I regret it We have a little a student in our school Omar I spoke to his mom today What a wonderful woman And when I called her I said "I'm not calling as a superintendent He's calling as a mom."
And I said "Because what you're going through is hard Omar needs a kidney transplant." And he's a student at the Shore School There's an article in the superintendent's report and he's been in
the newspaper and interviewed and he's been on television These are hard things I can't just reflect on we know what that family's going through But the message as your interim
superintendent Omar don't worry You've got 7,000 kids and,00 employees supporting you and the whole entire community So Omar and his family were here for you and it's not by convenience
So we wish you well I know I speak for the board Thank you All right Thank you Also listed in the superintendent report there will be a funday that's being hosted by Omar's family on April the 26th It's from 10 to 2 and I'm sure some
of us will definitely be in attendance to the representatives of the district Um next personel and labor relations Miss Nancy calling Yes Thank you Madam Ch Uh Madam Cherry Um
getting a little emotional there Be resolved that the following motions identified as items A through C be approved as presented Second Mr Secretary can you take the role dr Connor yes Mr King yes Dr Nelson
yes Mr Patel yes Mr Smith yes Mr Ster yes Mr Salado Cowan yes Mr Start yes Mr Curry Uh committee reports We're going to start off with fiscal planning and operations Dr Connor Uh the fiscal plannings and operations committee met
on Wednesday April 2nd to discuss the 2025 2026 budget capital projects and uh more uh on the budget County approved the tenative budget including some minor adjustments to the preschool education
aid budget Budget will be advertised in advance of a public hearing on April 24th Uh work on the 2025 6 budget book is ongoing U Mr Ala explained the tax levy incentive aid and recommended not
pursuing it for 2025 2026 The committee supported the recommendation That is something new that the state is offering and that is that you can go above your 2% cap if you qualify Um David Olber explained you
know that at this particular moment in time I'm not recommending that we pursue that We did um facility capital projects Skyway High School interior alterations The contractor provided a schedule with a targeted completion date
November 2025 Demolition work is scheduled to begin during spring break Sky High School Anthony gym acoustical upgrades The contract to reboot existing conditions and alternative acoustical panel has been identified and approved Bleacher demolition begin the last week
of school delivery of new leisures is scheduled for August 12th with installation meeting 3 to four weeks at that community meeting He also had some uh pictures of what they may look like Uh we picked a nice it's a black color that goes in It's um that's the color of
the B It looks very nice with it that fits into that Skyway High School intercom PA clock system district administration reviewed the revised quote from the vendor and returned it for further refinement contract award and directed recommended tonight It's
item J in your uh under fiscal is the recommendation Um it came in at about 1 It was a lot of money but uh it's going to be worth it Um came in at 1.8 million David had actually estimated two and a half So uh we're in good shape there And
um it's much needed It's the uh you know se since we put those two buildings together it's had separate uh public announcement system So now and very disjointed So now it'll be quite uniform Solar panel removal Alba Energy is working on bid specifications and
removal of the solar panels at at the high school The district is targeting possible bid award at May 8th toward me Painting services for mythium board installation There were five biders for painting services for mythium board installation codes were reviewed and are
being finalized with the vendor Contract award resolution will be on April 10th That's tonight's meeting uh with work being scheduled for the summer Food services update The district began negotiations on a contract renewal with Nachios for the 2025 2026 school year
and it's awaiting proposal on the guaranteed return Serving line equipment uh requirements for sure schools are being reviewed for possible good report completed the summer Um and David shared with us some of the uh pictures that of him serving some of the food out in our
school and it was quite because sometimes they do a theme day and things New Jersey school business legislative update Dr Connor me noted that the Senate budget committee hearings began The committee discussed special needs
transportation and uh the big one coming out of the Senate Education Committee is the teachers pension and annuity fund reimrollment uh changes legislation Business office update Um again great
idea investment account The committee reviewed the current balance on the March 2025 um NJ asset rever rebate management statement uh and the current interest rates Uh to to date we've we we've made um about a million dollar So
it's been a very good uh copier contract with paper cuts Our previous five-year copier lease agreement terminated in November the existing copier We replace the cell with copier each building to offset the elimination of most printers The district will also be implementing a
paper cut system to be better manage uh the district printing The um New Jersey school insurance uh group safety grant um something I was actually on the board of trustees of that a few years ago They give out safety grants um to schools um
and the district received notification of the ability to apply for safety grant funding from from them Um the district used funds to replace and add uh security cameras in the past um as simple as also some of the funds can be used for uh if we have cracks in our
sidewalks and some uh you know uh from the winter um that simple replacement of that that concrete can save an an accident and possible uh you know someone uh a lawsuit So this was it's a great effort and we're taking advantage
of this one Wellness Committee The committee conducted a walking challenge during March and is meeting next week to select its winners for the PTO day rep Uh Fellowship Farms preschool operations That's that's this building Mr Vera informed the committee about the
proposed um expansion of preschool to add 10 classrooms at Fellowship Farms um with the relocation of the um students um acquiring life skills and program to a yet to be determined location
resolution accepting a school's development authority grant that will cover 40% the estimated cost for the alterations It's on tonight's budget I believe it's item or but uh and madam president that is the report of the
fiscal planning operations committee Thank you Dr Conters culture climate and community relations Uh the culture climate and community relations committee met on Tuesday March 18th 2025 to discuss the positive messaging community
partnerships and wellness initiatives Under positive messaging u Mr Miller shared a slideshow presenting what the monthly themes were quotes social media posts marquee images from uh the ends of January through mid-March Um the
February themes um surrounded around Black History Month and the March themes were centered around women's history month Um we also reviewed what the upcoming month's themes were going to be um that we're highlighting including
autism awareness um and acceptance month and New Jersey uh Jewish Heritage Month for April and um Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month for May Um and the community partnerships Um the
committee voted to revise uh goal number two related to the community partnerships removing the language um to be focused solely on partnerships with Ruckers University since now our committee actually partners with many other groups besides um just through
Ruckers Um so the goal now reflects the participation including those outside um organizations Dr Gray shared information about some recent community partnerships such as the 75 girls from the high school that participated in the women's
future leadership academy at Rucker's business school The 30 boys from across three middle schools that participated in the youth summit at Rucker School of Engineering The PHS Future Educators Association received training from
Junior Achievement to leave to lead the high school heroes program to teach age appropriate lessons on financial literacy to third graders at Nwood Eisenhower um elementary schools Dates are being scheduled for both Grand View
and Grandville later this school year uh financial uh financial reality fair for the PHS students will take place in May through a recent establishment of a partnership which is a new partnership with the
Affinity Federal Credit Union Uh the committee is still exploring possibilities for partnering with the local um Boy Scout troops to build outdoor libraries at schools across the district under wellness The Haven family nights
um was held on Thursday January 23rd in PHS Commons Several committee members did attend and shared their feedback in partnerships with Piscatoaway Community Outreach Commission The committee is helping initiate an evening presentation
to inform parents about potential signs of youth substance abuse Um I just want to stop in that moment for uh to give you guys an update Since the uh on my last meeting on March the 18th we were
able to secure um the high school um path center on Tuesday April 29th We will be hosting the in plain sight um you know coalition uh is coming in we
were able to secure that Um we brought this up in this committee back in September when we met And to actually be able to uh complete that um task before a full
school year is over is really an accomplishment and a testament to both Dr Gray our administration um our team all the parents on the committee Um I just want to thank everybody for that Um it's not a
committee works in with all of its parts It is not my idea It's not the board's idea It's what the community brought to us Um many of you who may have remember or have children who are older this is a something we had many years ago prior to
our um you know pandemic We um we had the um the coalition um come in and really give us information about in plain sight where you can see vapes um different um you know things of
that nature So um since had not been brought to our high school in many years um we were able to get that secured for April 29th That's a Tuesday Um I believe the time will be at 6:30 um for families
and students uh from grades fifth grade um all the way up to 12th grade The flyer will be forthcoming um once we get our esteemed Gary Miller on that and um I just wanted to make sure that um everyone here knew about that date and
that we were able to secure that Um I guess it sort of falls under new business but it was part of that wellness So new business The committee members shared information about um green light grants initiatives which provide more equitable funding for
school safety And that is my report Thank you Uh curriculum committee met on Monday April the 7th 2025 to discuss school performance reports STEM 2D program at the high school science and reading and more J&J STEM 2D program was
presented by Jessica Pritchard and Robin K Supervised volunteers for J&J will visit the Scatteraway High School to work with students in the engineering and health sciencemies It will allow professionals in the field to bring their expertise to our students This opportunity was brought to us by the
health science academy parent In engineering and capstone course will collaborate with academy coursework for an outstanding partnership in health and sciences The volunteers will speak with the students on a cohort level give a career profile and doing a hands-on minds on activity We are hoping to
increase exposure to students that may have interest but are not in themies district and service day which took place on March the 31st 2025 Um we had a very successful as stated by Dr basketball We had a very successful day with a large variety of sessions
designed for our educators including a literacy kickoff with McGra Hill McGraill open court/study sync was presented by Dr Bask Albanese Cornwell of MCR Hill We looked at a variety of options to move forward
with the science of reading and are bringing Mcgroy Hill on board All teachers have materials in hands already McGroill Open Court worked with grades K through five included a blueprint for delivery of systematic teaching and learning the differentiation for the
reaching and relearning A sample lesson structure includes foundation skills reading and responding and language arts The pathway to fluency includes letter letters names shapes fondicted awareness phonics decoding encoding word analyst
dictation and spelling There is also reading and responding with knowledge building themes and scaffold writing instructions Professional development will be given for all our stakeholders 2023 2024 school performance reports The community will receive a letter this
week detailing how the access NJ DOE school performance reports They will reveal progress at the district and individual schools The report is available on the district website New to the report this year are chronic aphotism seal of biliteracy participation in visual and performing
arts K through 12 and a six-year graduation rate This getaway is doing well across the areas Opt out The process for specific comprehensive health and physical education lessons We have been transparent and have had less than 3% opt out in the past We will send
a letter each year informing the families about this lessons in the time frame Go get gifted and talented This is something that's near and dear and so very important in Dr Baskerville In the past we have had no or very few multilingual learners or students with
IEPs in these programs This year we have identified 52 yes I said 52 special education students via the goat assessment We are proud these students will be able to continue reaching their full potential
That is so critical and so very important to special education and to the students who have now been identified and can go forward with advancing and being challenged more but most importantly showing them their
worth not allowing them to say because I have an IEP or I'm a multi- language learner that I'm not capable or comparable of achieving more than anything anybody could ever have imagined So I can only imagine the families that this affected once they
were identified the heartstrings the tears the happiness but most importantly the proud parents of these students for the work that they have put in that it will now be acknowledged So I have to say that part even though it's not written on paper it's okay Yes Um the
visual performing arts was given by Rebecca Staki Miss Stalaki shared some of the events and achievements in the virtual and performing arts in March We are proud of our district's accomplishments and excited to see what the rest of the year brings What this report doesn't reflect
and most reports don't reflect because it's just a little snippet of it What we do in the curriculum committee the envisions the participation of the teachers and the parents and the directors of the departments is
unbelievable some of the brainstorming that's done there some of the ideas that are created there but most importantly everybody is there and they're giving it their all They're excited to be there but most importantly they're excited to see the district success and the advancements that we continue to take
under Dr Baskerville's leadership because this was his vision This was his baby This was his let's go see let's go through this special testing and look at what came out of it So now these 52 additional flowers that has their own
flower pot to sit in and grow at their own pace their own way and whatever they create from it They were given that opportunity because of his out the box thinking That's what Piss gotaway is about Out the box thinking not just saying status quo and following a path
and putting a check mark by everything Everything doesn't need a check mark in order to be successful What your success shows is based upon what you see sitting in front of you your student success your parents engagement with the student success but most importantly identifying
students and making sure if they're not engaged let's get them engaged which is what we're doing because now these students have been identified and now they're free to fly and continue on the path that no one knows where it's home to lead them to but they're being given the opportunity If you're never given
the opportunity you can never know So I'm super proud of us and like I say hats off to you Dr Dave for what you do [Applause] the um 2025 25 board goals Um when we put
them out under the bucket inspired which is our fourth bucket we did include this as a goal to um have an emphasis on programs to seek those gaps So it's nice to see that we are we're doing what we're uh you know saying we're going to
do Yeah not just words on they're actually words They're not just words on this paper They're one of our goals Um the other thing is that um myself as a you know as a retired scientist um you know Colgate here in Scatoway it is so
nice to see that our science department chair um you know we talked about parent engagement J&J this J&J uh arrangement came because it was a parent of one of the students and we had had it in the
past where we would go out to you know we have a lot of companies in Piscato right away in the area um in this area and we used to have some some robust programs but to see us again going out to seek opportunities you know in the health sciences with with parents that
work at J&J are willing to come in our schools and talk to our students is is another is another great thing and then the last thing I wanted to say is that um you know kudos to the curriculum um committee and Dr background and
especially on um you know language uh arts where we're now going with Carro Hill which is the science of reading which is a more it's a science it's a purposefully progressive program the K through five that includes all of these things rather
than being isolated on one thing in front of another and so um just kudos to everyone so uh that's all I would say thank you Dr comments Um next I'm going to need a volunteer who wants to read the approval minutes I will Okay Thank
you Be resolved that the following minutes be approved as submitted Oh special meeting March 11 2025 Do you have a motion the executive session Executive Yeah Okay Okay
Executive session March 11 2025 Motion Have a second Second All in favor okay Are approved There's another one on the back side Business meeting March 13 2025 and executive session March 13 2025
Motion Motion Second Second All in favor okay That'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 community interest In support of this position the law establish a period of public comment at every board
meeting Individuals wishing to speak must state their name and address Comments are limited 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 the individual register to speak prior to the beginning
of the meeting Participants may submit written material in support of their position All statements and or questions shall be directed to the presiding officer and no participant may address or question board members individually All speakers are required to express themselves in this civil matter and due
respect for dignity and privacy rights of others who legal rights may be affected Please note while it is not the board's intention to stifle comments on matters of legitimate concern to the school community the public should be aware that if their statement violates the rights of others under the law of
governing defamation and or invasion of privacy they may face personal liability to the injured party If speakers are uncertain of legal ramifications of their comments the board urges them to seek guidance before from their own legal advisor Uh the floor is open Is
there anyone sitting in the audience who wishes to come forward in public comments to come make a statement or to say something if you do so please come forward state your name and your address and you are free to speak And I see no one coming forward and no one raising a hand Can I have a motion
to close public comments got a second Public comments closed in operations Dr House resolve following motions identified as items 8 through L be approved as presented
second Mr Secretary can you please take the vote mr King yes Dr Nelson yes Mr Patel yes Dr Connor yes Mr O'Han yes Mr Chair yes Motion carried policy Miss
Smith it resolved that the following motion identify this item be approved as presented Mr Secretary can you take the role dr Nelson yes Mr Patel yes Miss Smith yes M
Staffer yes Dr Connor yes Mr King yes Mr Sado yes Mr Jerry yes Curriculum Mr Patel Be it resolved that the following motions identified as item A and B be approved as presented Second Mr
Secretary can you take the role mr D yes Miss Smith yes Mr Stafford yes Dr Connor yes Mr King yes Dr Nelson yes Mr Sado yes Merry yes Mr Sky pupil
services Dr Nelson being revolved that the following motion identified as item A be approved as presented Second Mr Secretary will take the role Miss Smith Yes Mr Stafford Yes Dr Connors Yes Mr
King Yes Dr Nelson Yes Yes Mr Sado Yes M Trey Yes Administrative and auxiliary Miss the staff be resolved that the following motions identify as A through C be approved as presented Second Mr
Secretary please take the role Miss Smith yes Mr Stafford yes Dr Connor yes Mr King yes Dr Nelson yes Mr Patel yes Mr Sado yes Mr Sherry yes All
business I see Dr Condis has his uh notebook out No I'm um on old business Um yes I want to just uh take a moment to um thank the board um for sponsoring
the women um to attend the uh second annual NJSBA second annual women's leadership conference both myself um three of us were able to attend um Dr uh Gail Nelson um Miss Anika Stafford and
myself Um the event um was held on Friday March the 24th and both myself and Miss Stafford are uh able to claim that we've been at both the first and the second annual It was a great day for
uh women um empowerment leadership um and so on some of the um our keynote speaker for the day was Miss Melissa McKinty of SHI International Corporation Um and she shared with us about evolving
from an educator to an edtech leader and um her experience through that and struggling in the real world and how it's worth it Um some of the breakout sessions included um burnout to balance and how to be a whole person and
approach your own mental and physical health Um I attended a great session on um building consensus on your board and other impossible tasks Um there were uh many different um you know breakout
sessions all things from like how to be how lessons how to learn to lead like a woman which was uh very exciting and as well as um leading with courage which was my absolute favorite Um making your
voice count Um never would never ever would I have thought that I needed uh this lesson since I really have no problem with speaking my voice but it was super encouraging Um the woman who led that was Dr Melissa Simmons of East
Orange School District Um and she was she's actually a retired VA Um and she gave us a lot of information about leading with courage and your voice and just really timely and important
messages that also will help our uh esteemed gentlemen of the board as well as women Um but seeing it was held in the month of March and it being um women's history month it was it was very exciting was um just a great thing and I
want to thank the board again for sponsoring us doing that and I hope we are able to attend our third annual next year uh in March So that's what I have on old business Um yeah new business Uh ma madam uh here's
like here at the local level in Discatoaway few first of all is that we're all liaison to our schools Um we got a list of events Okay take a look at that event and and uh make an effort to get out to the schools This is under a
heading of community engagement Um sports senior nights Get a list of all those sports senior nights if you get a chance go to one of those uh as well The other thing I'm going to uh pull the board later is that we also do every year is we participate in the Memorial
Day parade uh sponsored by the American Legion and uh we march in that parade Uh I have I have told the organizers that uh I spoke to Madame President to the vice president uh we we probably have enough people to do it again this year Uh we wear we have our hats we have our
shirts we walk in the parade we hand out pencils people see the board of education It's a great event Um at the county level which I've been active in the in the past is Middle Sex County School Board Association has its county meeting May 21st Um there at this
particular meeting um you know I'm an executive officer of New Jersey School Board Associations Sometimes I get I get to go all over the state and get greetings at these county meetings But this particular month is where uh people get their service awards That is uh you
know it was 5 10 15 years Um I'm expecting myself um to probably get a 15-year one We also honor the teachers of the year Uh getting on to the state New Jersey School Board Association very exciting because we often discuss about
what we can do and as you can see woman in leadership was one of the ideas and look look what was happen that's happening all over the state The other thing is I'm the delegate assembly um representative from the scatteraway to the New Jersey school board delegate
assembly Um that May 10th meeting is where uh school districts get to put in um belief statements or uh resolutions to try and get that into the New Jersey school board's overall um belief statements book that we use to advocate
the legislators with Um I again I vote for us but I I've never had a pathway to discuss like whether or not I'll vote yes or no Um I just do it that day and but what I'm trying to say is this year
I'll be getting three resolutions and um I'll be pulling people about how to vote on them I'll give you an example Uh a uh a district from um uh in um in in Woodbury somewhere in the state feels
that esports now the students should get varsity letters So they want that uh in in there and then we'll go That's an example Um uh the the other thing is the um the work the main thing is the workshop The workshop the New Jersey
Schoolboard Association workshop is in October Most of us will be going Okay And then last what I want to end on is that I'm extremely grateful extremely grateful to be so involved in school boards even at the national level Um I
just got finished with two trips Uh I attended the uh consortium of state school boards associations which is rep has 25 states across the United States and um I attended their meeting in Atlanta Um and then following that this
past weekend I attended the National School Boards Association meeting representing the New Jersey School Boards Association And um the kinds of things that they discuss at the national level are basically a lot of federal advocacy priorities And you talked about
believing in public education The main thing is prioritizing K through 12 public education Correct a main advocacy piece that often we talk about is that Congress uh started in 1976 the individual with uh uh disabilities
education act should be 40 billion but it's only at 15 billion that's the money that goes out to the states that pays for our school psychologists that pays for all of those programs So we advocate for that we advocate for increased funding there We advocate for um mental
health services uh we advocate for child nutrition programs advocate for even uh there may be uh teacher bills that um that that the minimum salary should be 60,000 across the country et so that's the kinds of things that we they do
there um and I'm very proud to be um associated with that um representing New Jersey school boards and with that of course I didn't want to go there and not bring any souvenir so sobody for anybody that wants one here's
the bag I grabbed on the way You know I want a bag See I thought of you guys So I have bags for the conference You're welcome I only have a few hats I love bags And uh this is uh I just also
wanted to pass these out that these are things that had in my back pocket for national school And um then the last thing pass down a hat for Gail Okay interested in a happy and and see what
often we don't celebrate too We don't even celebrate We don't even The last thing I wanted to say is the National School Boards Association has other things has other things associated with it and one of them One
of them is the uh let's see over the head open All right The other thing is with the National School Board's associated with something called the um Council of School Board Attorneys and we
have someone in the room by the name of David Rubin who lives in Atlanta Uh he received from the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys With our greatest appreciation we hereby present David D Rubin for your generous
support and willingness to contribute to the professionalism of our members you are being honored with much appreciation and gratitude uh to David Ruben So we [Applause] have a
[Applause] more you got to do this You got to be like this Welld deserved David was broken in more than three minutes I'm sorry I also have a new business I also have
start Okay Um is that I don't know if it was new business old business I'm probably out of order but um just an update on the superintendent search and where we are with that I know you had mentioned it in your president's report Um since I'm leading that effort I just
want to remind everyone and you know um rightfully so Madame President um welcomed our new interim superintendent who's here for us Dr Roberto We gave her a clap We also acknowledged our um outgoing um superintendent Dr Reelli we
were able with our board to complete and compile um a survey of his efforts and I will be reviewing that um with him shortly once he gets settled in where he's at And in terms of finding a
permanent um superintendent uh we are as we all know partnered with the NJSBA the New uh the New Jersey School Board's Association and they have um put out the public um notice um for the job The
deadline is going to be for applications 5:00 p.m on Friday April the 25th So that's coming up quickly If anybody is aware of people out there that might be interested um please go to the New Jersey school board's um website and
apply Um the superintendent um notice is there It's been sent out to you guys I won't belabor it But the most important thing especially at a public meeting like this and being taped hi friends is that um the superintendent search um
public input session This is your opportunity as a constituent here in Piscataway Whether you have children in our schools had children in our schools were an educator not an educator just a lifelong uh Piscataway person or if
you're just here from last month you get to come to this very important meeting on Tuesday April the 22nd 2025 And no board members will be there No Um Dr Roberto I'm not sure if she will be there as well No none of us that are
sitting here will be there Just you Just you So um it will be held at the Anony's um Commons It's at 6:00 p.m And um it will be the New Jersey school boards They're getting as much and any input
from all of our um different um constituents as well as our what am I looking for the word Thank you Thank you I'm like I can't think of that word All right And that's pretty much um where we are with that Once that process is done
there'll also be input sessions for all of um the teachers administrators etc And hopefully we'll be well on our way to having a new superintendent in 2026 is our goal If we get them sooner
I'm sure that uh Dr Roberto would not be upset You need to get them as soon as you can Exactly No I have nothing to do with that So so that is I I think that was supposed to be old business I'm sorry but I think it was out of order
It's on record Don't worry about it So old and new business from your vice president Nancy Salvado Cowen Cowen Thank you But you know this is an exciting time for your district I've been an interim a number of times This
is exciting It really is Thank you And with that I'd like to make a motion to adjourn the meeting Second All in favor we are at your Thank you
Did everybody get it back yeah