We did not have an executive session, so we're going to go right into our public meeting. Notice of this regular meeting of the Pitman Board of Education was posted at Burough Hall. A copy thereof delivered to all Pitman schools to be posted and posted on the district's website. Further notice was posted and filed as required by law stating that the board would meet in close session at 6:30 p.m. in the Pitman High School
Media Center. The president shall entertain any objections with supporting reasons to the conduct of this meeting on the grounds that it violates the open public meeting act. Seeing none, good evening. Welcome to this evening's board of education meeting. Please join me in a moment of silence. Thank you. Please join me in a salute to
the flag. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Gman >> present.
>> Mrs. Higgbyono >> here. >> Mrs. Miller >> here. >> Mrs. Papalardo >> here. >> Mrs. Pope >> here. >> Forum 70. >> Thank you. All right. It's going to bring us to our first public comment. Public school board recognizes the value of public comment on educational issues and the importance of allowing members of the public to express themselves on
school matters of community interest. This is the first of two public comments we will have tonight. The first public hearing is on agenda items only. This is a public comment, not a dialogue between the board and the public. We will be have three minutes to speak and it is your opportunity to comment or ask questions in accordance with board policy number 0167. We ask that you
state your name, municipality of residence and group affiliation if applicable. To be recognized to speak, please come stand to my left near Mrs. Ferrell and speak clearly so that the folks at home can hear you. See no one. Mr. Dress, do we have any correspondents? No. I will now move to
accept a motion for the minutes of the Pitman Board of Education as held on the dates listed below are approved as printed and reading dispensed with. May I have a second? >> Second. Papalardo. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any objections? Any abstensions?
>> Okay. I think if you get your list real quick. >> I want to make sure we don't overlap. >> Yep. >> Okay. I'm going to leave. I'm just going to do this one, but I won't. >> Okay. Sometimes we have the same material. So >> I'll save it for >> Dr. L.
>> Um okay. So we had our countywide NJSBA meeting for Gloucester and Camden County two weeks ago. Um Mrs. Frell was able to attend. Mrs. Higgby Iona was able to attend. She's now the Glouester County VP of legislative relations. Dr. Preston was able to attend.
>> She sucked in today. >> Papalardo. Oh, you were able to attend virtually, right? Did I miss anybody else? Anybody else? We had uh a legislative panel with um Assemblyman Cody Miller who's from legislative district 4 and we discussed some of the
current items that um are pending regarding education in the legislation and being discussed at the legislation such as cell phone bill or the cell phone bill and policies. Of course, we talked about school funding. Um what else do we talk about?
>> I don't remember. >> I know me either. Definitely school funding was the primary focus. I think every question was just somehow a way to indirectly bring up school funding pretty much even if it wasn't the topic at hand. >> If we had time you share the formula >> we talked about.
>> Yeah. Would you like me to I can whip out that presentation right now. >> Selfies policies. >> Yeah. What else? >> I think programs too. Didn't we talk about some programs? >> Yeah. Oh yeah. And we talked Right. So we tried to create a process. Um so the
county leadership has changed and the intention is to create a different process that encourages increased participation um with the various tables and collaboration amongst all the board members. So they were sharing out different things that are either challenges or highlights from their
district or thoughts that they had on policies and whether it should still be something that needs local control or kind of all those various factors. So, as we're continuing to move forward with kind of pushing that um that format into those meetings, if you have any
feedback, please share that. So, if you hear anything, I know we have lots of teachers on the board in your various districts from your respective board members about what we can do to modify it or make it more interactive so we can increase attendance. Um, next week we'll be at the NJSBA workshop. I just want to
remind everyone that there is a shared Google Drive that Mrs. Adio made in 2023. Um, it's in your general BOE folder and it's in training. There's two different subfolders. One of them is training. I would encourage all of the board members if you attend a
presentation at workshop um or you have notes that you would like to share out or that you'd like any of us to read so that we could also hear a presentation that you thought was really impactful, please upload them into there. There is an opportunity if you download the workshop app. Um, and for whatever reason, I feel like I have to create a
new login every year for that, and I don't know why. But when you download that app and you create your agenda, it will actually share those notes back to you. So, it should be really easy to kind of just download them to your phone and drop them right into the shared drive. You can attach, like I said, any notes. And then I would tell you to just
email out a little blurb and let folks know that it's in there so that they can find it. And then if it if you want to refer, it's like, you know, you go to something that's talking about facility upgrades and what that process looks like and you think it would be pertinent for the facility committee, direct it to those members in particular or the
chairperson so they can perhaps put it on the agenda. Sometimes there's really exciting stuff that we hear about it and you know, sometimes you go to a session and it's a sales pitch. So whatever you whatever you have. Um I do just want to mention the pep rally. I know that Dr. Preston is going to cover this as well that we have coming up on the 24th. Um,
we do encourage all members of the public to come and to reach out if they have any questions. There should be information being pushed out to all the various organizations. Um, as well as some graphics for them to share out, but we're hoping that, you know, it'll be well attended and we'll have lots of folks from the community there. And then
I did want to discuss as a board um, ethics training. We had talked about doing ethics training and we had kind of tentatively talked about some dates. One of the options that we had discussed was um the January reorg meeting since we're already here and it's a scheduled board meeting. So, um things are already
covered. It would be similar to how we've done it in the past where uh we would cover a presentation. Are we comfortable doing that in house ourselves? Is that something that we want to reach out to our new field service rep, uh Lori, and see if she would like to come? What's the board's
thoughts on that? if we can do it ourselves. >> Usually do. >> We did. We've always done it ourselves. >> Yeah, we had we had our former field service rep come out one or two years, but yeah, we've since transitioned to doing it ourselves. So, I feel like sometimes it allows us to like deep dive
on the ethics things that are most pertinent to our district. But what are your thoughts? Does anybody have any preferences? Would you like me to invite Lori? Like to do it ourselves? Nothing. You all are really good at avoiding eye contact. She'll find I need a job if I
make eye contact. >> All right, we'll do it ourselves. >> I think ourselves is appropriate. >> All right, sounds good. All right, I'll turn it over to Dr. P. >> It's the night of reorg beginning of January first week. >> Is it the first Wednesday 7th? >> Six. >> That sounds right.
>> First Wednesday. >> What? >> First Wednesday. >> There's been continuity is a regular one. >> That's a good move. >> Okay, great. >> All right. Uh thank you, Miss Miller. Um it's always great to start a a superintendent report to report no HIPS throughout the district, no
investigations and um no confirmed HIPS. Uh so that's uh always a positive way to start the year. Uh but as the teachers on the board know, the honeymoon phase is slowly fading away. Um and so um obviously we'll we'll revisit that in um
in November. Um, I do want to briefly touch and and kind of update the board on our October 10th uh, staff in service. Uh, really give props and kudos to Mr. Calabiano. I don't know if you want to talk about that briefly about the various Sure. >> you know, inner workings of that and what was going on, but it was some really good stuff. >> Yeah. So, we had some what I call
priority trainings, meaning things that um, for example, in the high school, we had teachers learning a new math program in visions, which was adopted this year. So that was a priority training meaning that those teachers had to be in that training which was specific to them. K
to3 we had a new universal screener. They're taking the MAP assessment. So that was a priority for them to take that training and and have that for the MAP testing that's coming up or that just passed but they read the reports um and they'll they'll give it again in the spring. And then we have what I call a
select or an option for the remainder of the teachers. Um, what I do is poll the teachers. I actually pulled them last year in the spring. I gave them a bunch of topics. I asked them to pick the topics they were most interested in. And then from there, I I select different
topics to give them an option to take. So that way it's not something that they don't feel that applies to them. It's something they feel they need or could use. Um, and and they select that option and go to that training. Um, so that was the majority of what took place. PreK had their own different thing for the
recommendations requirements in the pre-K program. >> Um CST did something a little different. Counselors on the shortened day, we we end up with about >> just under two hours of training with the teachers. So there's not a whole lot you could do. Um but we do try and maximize the time and and get a lot done
in that time frame. >> And kind of want to stress too that our our strategic plan internal strategic plan light really is with PD is our f our primary areas of focus which is character and engagement too. And that that thread kind of runs through all the in services throughout the year. >> Yeah, that's correct.
>> Yeah. Good. >> And if February is full day in service, it would be completely focused on the engagement portion of that. So, >> yeah. Great. Awesome. Thank you. >> Um to the point about character, um we had our first district-wide character council meeting October 8th, a week ago
today. That's right. Um uh we've we kicked off with Citrus at the beginning of the year, which is a our a partner firm that really kind of helps us build internal systems of of character. Um this particular firm that we we work with are actually a local outfit based
in Pitman. Um and uh they they've worked with schools globally really, but um they're they're kind of working with us uh uh out of the kindness of their hearts, and we're really excited about that. But um they uh they came in, they they assist us. We we really they kind of give us a framework. We we talked
about some initial structure work pushing that out at the schools. You can see as you walk the building even here you can see different different virtues that come up. We're identifying our core values at this point. That's with the survey that went out about two weeks ago. It just closed. We're kind of going
through that data now. Um just so the board's aware too. One of the processes of schools that achieve and and not that the goal is to achieve national schools of character status. the goal is to achieve a school district of high character and where you see that in the students. Um the goal is uh so that's
that's the clear goal but one of the processes to do that is to really bring the board support in that it's part of the fabric of the community which I believe it already is in Pitman actually but it's really part of the board. The board has continuity in that can can be
cooperative in those things. And so as we move on with the character council I'll probably actually invite uh Mr. Miller and Mr. Peterson in to present to you on how we're how we're kind of undertaking this work. We'll eventually bring probably Emily and Abby on as
well. We talked about that last October really to kind of what do we do here? What what do character lessons look like? What do um what what does our mission do we need to revisit our mission statement or or maybe make it a jingle that we can remember? Um because I think the mission statement is actually already pretty good. Um, and so
we're this is all the kind of work that's taking place. And I just wanted you to know to know that because we we told that the character council and often you get new administrations come into school districts and uh it's just another thing on the plate. A new initiative, a new program, somebody wants to make a splash and make a mark.
Um, one of the slides we had up there was a plate and the character really is the plate. You can't move forward with achievement. you can't move forward with um you know all those the meas you know the measures we talk about academic progress unless you have a baseline a
really strong uh character character program and and really a really strong district of character. So um we're excited about that work um and and it will continue. So the the district meets as a character council and then separately the schools have what's called character champions teams which are a little larger and they meet and
and and talk about doing all kinds of stuff as well. Um it's a long process. uh schools that achieve national schools of character usually takes three four years to do that and so we're just starting right now. This is the inception. Um thank you for your support on that by the way too. >> That's great.
>> Um I I should have start I should have led with this but the girls tennis team won the South Jersey uh uh uh championship for the second year in a row. >> Congratulations and to the whole team as well. That was awesome to see. I saw a lot of board members out there. It was it was super exciting and it was
>> it's kind of a gritty gritty win too. So, tomorrow I asked you if you were a couple. >> Um, tomorrow though, we can't watch that, right? That's >> Yeah, it's at Mercer County Parker. >> Mercer County Park. That's where it is. Yeah. Well, good luck to the the tennis team as well. Um, so yeah,
congratulations on that repeat, though. It was excellent. >> Um, just as a as a note, I'll put this all in my monthly memo as well. We've moved our offices at walls uh from the upstairs to the downstairs. This is now making room making way for that building
to be uh rented out. U Mr. Cababiano, Mr. Draatus actually took some made some tours on Friday um of some potential tenants and there's uh some interest already. It is public. It's it's listed by Hedinberg um real estate company. Um but we're having we're also entertaining
some kind of intra district school district uh interest as well. Um so we're excited about that. um governor's educator of the year. You might have seen that on social media. I'll put it in my letter as well. We always have a a difficult time. It's a weird time of
year to nominate teacher of the year. It's really from last year who what teacher made an impact. Usually, you know, students have a new teacher this year, so they're not thinking about last year. You're only as good as tomorrow, right? Um but we really want to um encourage you to to fill that out. So,
I'll I'll put that in my letter, remind you about that. Um, so you know, just encourage you to to to really kind of uh, you know, highlight, you know, if you had a great experience with the teacher. It's it's uh, you know, we have teachers in our midst. Um, it's such a noble profession and uh, we we really
like that program. Um, QAC results, I don't want to steal Miss Bolton's thunder, but we did receive those results. Um, there were two areas, and I'll let her speak to that, that we did not pass. One was instruction and program, and the other was governance.
Um, we missed very narrowly one by one point and four points. Um, I'll just put out out there that we did fill out and I did just get confirmation right before this board meeting. We did fill out uh it's it's not called a rebuttal. It's called a um appeal. >> It's a we we appealed those scores on a
on certain pieces of evidence that we thought that the county review or the state review might have missed. They did acknowledge receipt of that and they asked for more time for for them to review on their end. So, I don't think we really should motion to accept those results yet. >> Okay. >> That would probably be November.
>> It's a 23. >> So, that's not on there, right? >> It's the 2324 look back, too. >> It's the 2324 look back, correct? But we don't have that on this agenda to to to approve anyway. Correct. >> Uh, no. >> Okay, good. Um, I know we had it. We took it off.
>> Okay. Thank you. Uh, pep rally October 24th. Um, that's super exciting. uh next Friday. Uh certainly want to thank the Pitman Alumni Association for putting together the uh the time capsule. I know people are still looking for the the other capsule at at the Manor. I heard
from a couple people this week that think they know its whereabouts. >> We should make it like a monthly update. >> We have Yeah, we have we have eight days. So or nine days. So if you find it, let me know. >> We'll find it after we bury this next one. >> Yeah, exactly. >> Um so we'll we'll we'll get that all out there. Um, and then lastly, I I did just
want to kind of put on on just in the public ether, we'll have our open house and and just so the board knows at the junior senior high, uh, on November 13th. That is on the calendar. Um, and so, um, I I told Miss Stewart, I said the in the past the board has been super
excited to help out on that. And so, I I I said maybe if we can have have an opportunity to set up set up a table or something like that if you're interested, it'd be great. >> Anything we can do? Um, >> panther tattoos, you know. >> Pardon? >> Panther tattoos. >> We're getting real experts on >> swag.
>> Yeah, that's >> Yeah, I was going to say does. >> Yeah, we have some volunteer assistants that are children that always get assigned jobs. >> Again, on that particular topic, I don't want to steal Emily and Aby's Thunder. They got some good stuff working on for that openhouse as well.
Homecoming/openhouse stuff, too. So, I'll let you speak to that. But, um, >> that concludes my report. Thank you. All right, I'll turn it over to you, Lee. >> Okay, I'll start with the elementary school. The HSA kicked off the school store fundraiser and wrapped up the fall book fair. The fourth graders had a
visit from Rowan's Engineers on Wheels and they focused on engaging in STEM experiences and activities. Week of Respect was celebrated earlier this month where each day was a new activity or theme. Currently, the students have been able to enjoy and earn prizes through the character
champions program. After school activities have been kicked off and the students have opportunities to join art club, yearbook club, game club, and Miss Chance is working on a cursive club. >> Students who are in the master drama
program attended >> cursive. You said >> cursive. Yes, cursive club. >> I love cursive. So I every every chance I have, I'm like, let's let's learn. Um, the maskers program, they attended their first interest meeting and they
revealed that their play will be Peter Pan Jr. >> The women's club is hosting their annual spelling bean competition. And at the end of the month, the Halloween parade will be hosted on Davis Field. For Memorial School, the students
learned about their new classrooms, new and new classmates. Parents and guardians visited for back to school night and learned all about a typical school day. They also collected caterpillars and milkeed which kicked off their study of butterflies. One classroom released eight
butterflies. They also focused on wisdom and integrity as character strengths. They will they kicked off their week of respect and they will also be celebrating Halloween for their school parade.
>> Okay. Um, for the high school, I know Emily talked about the week of respect. We also did that in our school. I had to read um quotes each day regarding different um >> uh like >> virtual characters. Those are those are new based on the character stuff. You'll
start seeing that stuff filter in. >> It was uh the 6th to the 10th and then um all the clubs started um and now they're just all going. Um, we have FCA, SAD club, uh, environmental club, mock trial, grandpapella,
which is an a capella group, uh, drama club, FBLA, and a bunch of other clubs. Uh, NHS started meeting on Thursday mornings. Um, and I believe that the new applicants are filling out their forms right now. I'm not sure if they had to
have your resume or whatever. Um, and >> they got turned in, right? >> The >> I think they did get turned in. I hope they got turned in. >> Well, I don't know when the date was for them. >> They better. >> Yeah. Um, and then for the um new and
returning members, the um induction night is going to be December 4th. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um, the Panther Performing Arts Club started rehearsing on October 2nd for the fall show, which they're looking at to be uh November 20th and the 21st
at 7:00 p.m. each day. Uh, spirit week starts on Friday, which we do, which will be doing pajama day, and it's also homecoming. Uh, and then we also start the food drive, which we are hoping to get 1,200 cans this year because we
exceeded the amount last year by over a thousand. So, um and then Monday, uh we have um mon monochromatic, so all one color. And then, uh hallway decorating, which is 3:00 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 9:00.
And junior high will also be doing that, but they only have one shift, 3 to 5. >> Um and then >> lots going on. >> Yeah, there's a lot going on. Uh the 21st is the Powder Puff game at 6 p.m. I better see you all there. Um, that's
also Jersey versus Jersey Shore. Um, Wednesday the 22nd is dynamic duo day and that's the only day that we don't have anything going on cuz there's a lot of sports and stuff. And then um the 23rd we have Quizo at 7:00 p.m. I know
um Dr. Preston can't make it and >> he's cheating anyway. >> It's cheating anyway. And that's also country verse country club. And then um Friday, October 24th is the pep rally for both in school and the um
>> after school. >> Yeah, the community. Yeah. Um and then we'll be wearing black and orange and doing a lot of fun stuff. And then obviously the homecoming game that day >> and senior night. It's senior night for the football and cheers. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So yeah, a lot going on that day. >> Yeah.
>> Um >> Yeah. And then obviously Pman girls tennis. We're going to states tomorrow. Um, and then lastly, the Puma Music is hosting the fifth annual trunk or treat event on Thursday, October 30th from 4:00 to 6:00 in the faculty parking lot.
>> Yeah, that's great. >> What spirit day are you most excited for? >> Um, I think Jersey versus Jersey, cuz I can wear my powder puff jersey. >> Yeah, we got like like actual jersey. They're like practice jerseys, but like they say like they're like pink and they
say like class of 26 on them and then they have like the last name. >> What did you guys get? >> The quarter press. >> Oh wow. He did it up this year. Huh. >> That's fancy. I'm not sure if any of you know about the pin and pitch, but we're rebooting that on Friday. >> And our spirit week video will be going in it, which is basically like telling
people like dress up or you're not very fun. So >> you don't have a spirit day that you're most looking forward to? >> Probably just Friday cuz homecoming. Yeah, that's fair. >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. That's cool. >> Did you guys Did you guys catch the video? Was the video out? I don't want to spoil anything, but for for the point
of view from the chief happiness officer. >> I didn't see it. >> Oh, no. I saw it. It's not from the I I saw like parts of it, but I'm pretty sure it's just them videoing like the people like petting the dog. Like it's not like a GoPro on her. >> Oh, it was though. The thing I saw I guess they edited it. >> Yeah, they I might not have like worked
because she moves around too much. Yes, >> I do want to go on record again indicating that I think the chief happiness officer I know Mrs. Poe is in full agreeance like it should she should be the staff spotlight. >> That's right. >> Yes. Yes. >> And here for the whole meeting and I just want to I know that's not her call.
Reiterate that one more time. >> No problem. This is I'll sit over there. >> Yeah, she can sit right here. >> Yeah, it'll be great. I think I skipped around and prematurely cut off your >> No, I skipped around. Yeah. So, I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Calabiana to present our um NJSLA state assessment
data. This is statutory. Um but it is good also to to bring this to the board's attention. >> It's everyone's favorite presentation. So much fun. The board loves to challenge me which I always like a good challenge and they like to have me work in different words throughout.
>> You're right. Typically I shouldn't say it but seared sea bass. There's just no way to work that presentation. So let me just work it in right there. That's a half point. >> Half point. >> All right. Um, on to the data. >> It was 16.
>> Um, so I emailed this to the board. So the board does have this in their email. Uh, so that way they can get a better look at it. The numbers end up being a little small in the presentation. Um, the NJSA is taken in the spring. It's taken in language arts and math. And it's taken in grades three through nine.
Uh this is our language arts data which it could be very overwhelming and a lot to look at. Um but I'll just point out and explain a few things. Um we're scored on five levels. So levels one through five where one is not yet meeting expectations all the way up to five exceeding expectations. And I'll
just walk back to level four which is meeting expectations. So four and five is considered grade level and then one through three is considered just below grade level. Um here we have a comparison of the 24 and 25. So this
past May is when these scores were taken or or that the assessment was taken and scores were generated and then compared to the previous year. We do that for level one, level two, level three, level four and level five. But I'd like to just draw your attention to the end where there's actually a comparison of
the level four and up which be would be theoretically on grade level. Um, so we compare the 2024 scores to the 2025 scores. Now, I say this every year and I only said it to you guys last year, but um, you can gleam a lot from data. You
can make draw a lot of accusations. Um, you could say a lot of different things. So, um, I have those conversations with teachers. Matter of fact, we met today, grades three to six, and we had a big conversation about different things and looked at all different kinds of data, not just grade level data, but individual teacher data. We looked at
student data. We looked at standards data. So, um, we try to continue to have those conversations to just continue to educate teachers so they can improve their practice. Um, this would be the same, uh, look, but for math. In math, we're
assessed grades 3 to 8. Eighth graders who are in algebra 1 also will take the algebra 1 assessment, not the eighth grade assessment. And then ninth graders will either take algebra 1 or geometry. And um and then algebra 2 is taken in certain rare situations, but it can be
taken 10th grade for a kid that comes out of state and registers in New Jersey for the first time, they might take algebra 2. This is what I think the best look at some of this broad data. Um and what this is, I have from 2022 to 2025. All
right? And it's a comparison to the state. So it's levels four and five theoretically on grade level compared to the states on grade level. So if we take a look at grade three from 2022, we can see here's Pitman's proficiency rate.
That means 68.2% of students in grade three in 2022 scored a four or five. So they're theoretically on grade level where the state average was 42.4 showing an increase of or an amount over the state by 25.8. And I have that
highlighted in green. All right. So, whenever it's above the state average, it's in green and then red is below the state average. So, that immediately starts to give you a quick look at the years um longitudinally as we can see
how we performed. Um couple things I want to point out. I don't like to compare data vertically on this chart. So I won't compare necessarily how third grade performed against fourth grade performed against
fifth grade because it's a different group of students >> and in a hundred students you could have very different ability levels right from year to year and our teachers in the room know you can have students really high one year and the next year they could be not as high. Uh particularly in
a small group which Pitman averages about 100 probably 80 to 100 students a class. um if we had 5,000 kids then maybe we'd be having a different conversation but for 100 it could vary very different uh significantly. What I like to do instead is watch the
cohort travel across the year. So how do we compare to the state for this cohort to that same cohort in fourth grade and I look at 25.8 8 and then 17 17.5 the next year and then the following year in
fifth grade how do we compare against the state and then the following year in sixth grade how do we compare against the state so now I can kind of get a a sense of how that particular cohort is is doing in comparison to the state and some trends that I can might see now
those teachers have to stay consistent year-over-year meaning we can't be shuffling teachers fifth down to sixth over fourth down to kindergarten or else that breaks the data up a little bit and That is true of this data. That's not the same teachers every year because of shifts in in in the uh grade levels. Um
I would have drew that out for each grade, but you could do that from fourth to fifth to sixth to 7th and so on and so forth where that pattern continues. Um so that's the scores for ELA compared to the state. And I'll just give you a minute to check out math. You can see some real bright
spots. Certainly you can see some spots that are in need. Um and we address those um in different ways. Meetings, conversations, improvements in curriculum, improvement in practice, observations, evaluations at the end of the year. Um and then there's always a meeting between the principal and any
MSGP teacher, which is grades four to eight. Uh that happens sometime in November. Here's our science scores. So again, this just like we had for math and language arts levels one through four. So there is no one through five in science. They cut out five and it's just
one through four. Um don't ask me why, but three and four are still considered on grade level. Science scores have historically been low for the state average. You can see that they are Oh, this is not the state. It's not the state. So let me let me go to state
average. So same exact graph for science. Here's the state averages. So you can see how low they are. And that's been I mean that's been since they started giving the science assessment. The people in my position all across the state complain about it about Preston shaking his head. Does he remember being
in my shoes? You know, we cry we cry to the people at the state level and we try and get them to see that it doesn't make sense if you only have a state average of 12.9%. Something's wrong, right? So, um but we can see how Pitman against
that. Um, and we can see that one thing I want to show, you can't compare the cohorts this way because it's an assessment that's given to fifth, 8th, and 11th. So, if I want to compare the same cohort, I have to jump three years. So, this is the same cohort in fifth grade as this cohort in eighth grade.
Same group of students. >> Um, I've covered most of this already. Um, one thing I do want to mention is the state has decided to move away from the current NJSLA and now they're adopting the NJSLA A, which stands for adaptive. So, it's New Jersey student
learning assessment adaptive. And adaptive assessment, when a kid takes the the assessment and gets a problem wrong, the the assessment actually gets easier. If they get it right, it gets a little bit harder, right? And over time as qu kids answer more and more question
it starts to really hone in and find that level. Um so that's why an adaptive assessment the state feels it's more appropriate. Also they feel like a kid's not going to check out on the assessment because it's too hard. Right? If they answer the first one wrong and immediately gives them something more capable. They get that one wrong, it
goes down again and it increases the likelihood the student doesn't just check out and go, "Well, I'm not answering any." So that's a couple of reasons why the state's going that direction. >> Correct me if I'm wrong too, Mr. Calibana. that that's been something that that that was from you know key key
stakeholder uh you know sessions and feedback um it's been probably eight nine years that people have been saying we need an adaptive test like MAP or like uh what I Ready all those tests yeah >> are the three big ones >> right
>> so we'll see I mean uh we don't have a ton of information about it yet we're still they're still kind of rolling things out in the way the state does a little bit at a time but there's a field test coming up. Everyone pretty much grades 3 to 11 will take that field test. Um we're eyeing up sometime in November to get that
>> 13th and 14th. >> Yeah, 13th and 14th. That's right. >> And everyone in the district or everyone in the state has to take the field test. So it's a requirement that we take it. >> Um and then the actual NJSLA a will be given in same time frame April May.
Any questions? >> All right, that concludes my presentation. I do have one quick question. >> So when we talk about the science scores >> and not specific to our district, but is it that the standards are not laid out in a way from the state BOE perspective
that aligns to the test do you think? >> Is it that I like that's one of the pieces of feedback I've heard. Is that an accurate statement? Well, it's got to do partly with that and partly with the the the assessment
items that are given are much different than what are given throughout the state of New Jersey. Typically, teachers are just now starting to shift to the type of science assessment questions that they want us to give. The only thing is
we only have a small sample of those and we embed those throughout our benchmark assessments, our our tests and year tests. uh we use them wherever we can, but there's only a handful of them. >> They don't release items like math, yes, but not to the same degree as math and not the same amount. Right.
>> The other reason why I think it's probably likely that they're they're performing poorly is because it's a banded subject. So, in math, you only teach grade seven standards. You're assessed on grade seven standards. In science, you teach grades six to eight standards and then you give an eighth
grade assessment. Well, a lot of the students that the learning that they did in sixth and seventh grade, they don't recall that, right? And the teacher has to attempt to try and give that uh review that material with them, but they have to cover a whole year's worth of material in eighth grade, >> let alone cover seventh and sixth grade again,
>> right? So, >> okay, >> that's >> it's like a multi-year lens to the information. >> Yeah, it's a banded subject area. That's why they give it in fifth which is 3 to five standards 8th 6 to 8 and then 11th covers uh 9 to 11. >> Okay. I think that there's always an
opportunity at workshop the state BOE does a panel. >> Yeah. >> And they allow some level of interaction to kind of share that county level. that were supposed to have come out the science coordinator and we were supposed to get to have an opportunity to have a conversation with him and that didn't happen because I I had a lot of
questions around released items and putting more of those out giving us more a sense of what was going to be on the thing. >> Okay. >> So we can more accurately teach to that. >> Um >> Okay. It just always Yeah, I think it's Wednesday afternoon. I usually go to that session. >> Oh, you're saying that exists for for this upcoming Wednesday?
>> Yes. Okay. Yeah, it it'll be Wednesday afternoon and it it's a panel of BOE members and those are kind of some of the items that they seem to entertain the feedback on at greater length compared to >> you're making >> I mean I'm should I warn the panelists
that you're coming >> people like feedback um all right so that's what I just wanted to clarify so I understood the nuance of it >> I know no one more enthusiastic on released items than Mr. to be honest. >> It's true. >> Which is I mean I I I do think long term
the adaptive assessment will be good but in the short term there's been a plethora of information released meaning actual when I say a released item I'm saying a question that was on the test at one point right so now we could take that question and we can embed it into our assessments and then use you know we
could work backwards through backwards design to make sure our curriculum aligned right head on with that. Um, >> we have we're still waiting to see if those items are still relevant. Uh, meaning will they still matter, you know, but I think they will. I think that the state's aware of that. Um, but
we won't know until more information released. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> That's great, >> Mr. CB. >> All right, let's take us to finance and facilities and I will turn it over to our chairman, Mr. Gman. >> Give me a second to reboot.
Can't make a transition that quick. >> Thank you. Good evening all. Uh the finance and facilities committee met on Wednesday 10:8 at 3:30 p.m. via s via zoom and lasted approximately 50 minutes. In attendance along with myself were superintendent Dr. Robert Preston,
board secretary and business administrator Christopher Dstratus, board president April Miller, and my distinguished colleague Rebecca Hayiona. I'm disting I'm not esteemed anymore. >> You're distinguished this month. Distinguished. >> Topics of discussion included our
district enrollment numbers to GCIT. Presently, we stand at 57 students, which is down from 10 a year prior. We're looking to sell and or donate three pianos out of the district. They will be listed on Gov deals and or donated to a district group for
repurposing. April Miller has some idea of Christmas ornaments out of a piano. If we can make a box. Stop it. >> We can make a box. >> Yeah. They're really cute. Right home district. Yeah. And then the music boosters could tell. >> Wow. >> If there's a way to turn a buck and put
it back in. >> I know guys. >> Sounds like a job for the student reps. >> I know it does. >> There you go, guys. >> Great. >> Christmas ornaments out of piano keys. >> Whatever it takes. >> We discussed our QAC results. Uh, more
from my esteemed colleague Sarah Bolton on that later. >> And well, I guess uh we're not going to submit a district improvement plan. We're going to wait until the results of the appeal. Yes. Okay. >> On Friday 10:10, Washington Township School District did
a walkth through on Wall School for possible rental. Same. We're also considering oh I put exploiting exploring the option of using a portion of the building uh for an alternate needs program called CESI specialized education services inc.
It is an option we are looking into. And lastly our track revision plans were discussed and approved all the while keeping us under the referendum budgeted aotment of $283,000. It looks like it's going to come in at around $255,000.
Many thanks to our project management team for keeping an assertive eye on expenditures and contractor fees for keeping this project on track and under budget and providing our students with what is sure to be a fabulous track and field event venue that is sure to be first class and a source of pride for
our district and town. With this, I will move items one through eight for approval. Any discussion? Um, may I have a second? >> Second. Okay. Any discussion?
>> Sorry, I'm sneaking in there. >> Just wanted to thank Miss Hess, um, M Mr. Datizio, Miss Mini that they we had them at the table some input on the track, too. So, I wanted to thank short order for Miss House. She just started. I know we put a lot of pressure on her to to make sure everything was good for
our events and she did a really nice job on that. So, >> it's great. Put >> that in there. >> And the final color was red, right? >> Mhm. >> Yeah. >> It's not red. It's >> track red. >> Red. >> Yeah. Red. >> Feel like when people say red, I'm like, it's not. I think bright red.
>> It shouldn't be red. >> You think of bright red. >> It's like an adobe red. >> See, I can mix in some words, too. Not sauteed sea bass, right? But something's gone. Really? >> All right. Seeing no further discussion, Mr. Stratus, please call a vote.
>> Mrs. Bolton? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Frell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Gman, >> I must abstain from item number seven on the agenda, but yes to the rest. >> Okay. Mrs. Higgbyono, >> yes. >> Mrs. Papalardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Pope, >> yes. >> Mrs. Miller, >> yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Okay. Thank you. That's going to bring us to curriculum instruction. I'll turn it over to our committee chairwoman, Mrs. Bolton. >> All right. The curriculum and instruction committee met virtually on October 8th, 2025 at 4:30, and the meeting lasted about an hour. In
attendance were Dr. Preston, Mr. Calaviano, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Pope, and myself. Um, items discussed from the agenda were number nine, Eric Milo, I want to always say his name wrong. um will be coming into our district to lead
the teachers in our new mathematics curriculum. Um it'll be a great opportunity to observe him. He's going to come in and actually teach a lesson first. Um so that'll be nice that the teachers will get to watch him actually teach it first and then kind of
transition into let the teachers uh do a lesson and then he can observe them and give them some feedback on that. Uh number 14 is the approval of our replacement science teacher for sixth grade. Mrs. Della has an impressive resume and we are very excited to
welcome her to Pitman. Um we also continued the discussion of our business academy and the schedules that uh students can take to earn their associates by the time they graduate from Pitman High School. Uh so I guess this will start next year. Ryan, we're
hoping to get this in place, right? Um, current freshmen >> are already started on it. >> Have that opportunity. They will have that opportunity. Yeah. >> Okay. So, current freshmen are already started. It will require a little bit of summer uh summer work, but in the end, you know, still getting their associates
out of Pitman High School. I'm impressed >> if they if they choose that route. >> Yes. Yes. It's an option. >> It's an option for them. We got a lot of options for kids around here. Um we also received our QAC scores as we talked about a few little hints earlier um from
the state um so it's quality single accountability continuum and we narrowly missed in two of the five indicators which were instruction and program and governance and um I
think like we said earlier we've already sent an appeal to the QAC asking for further clarification Yeah, thanks for catching that by the way. >> Um the date. Yeah, >> the date. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um because we wanted to make sure we got our we there's a certain time
period that you can appeal. So we had a certain amount of dates and we had to get that in right away. So Dr. Preston made sure that you know after we brought that to his attention to get that in. This way we can just get some clarification on why certain numbers
where where they were. Um, our next step will be to approve a district improvement plan should we need to. And that will outline how we plan to improve the specific indicators uh where we actually lost some points. So
>> yeah, >> should be good. All right. So with that, I think that was it. Um, I will make a motion to approve items 1 through 22 as written. Have a second.
>> Second post. Turn hand over to Dr. Justin. Would you like to go at the >> Oh, no. I can do it now. Yeah. So, speaking of Miss Debella, she's here with us. Uh, thank you for coming, Miss Debella. Um, I just asked her to write a little bio. She left out all some of the the really good things. It speaks to your humility. But, um, I'll read what
you wrote and then I just want to speak to your experience with REU. Uh, Hannah Deella is the long-term substitute for sixth grade science at Pitman Elementary School. She earned her BS in molecular and cellular biology from Rowan and is currently pursuing the alternate route to teacher certification most recently. Um, sorry I left that out. With a strong
background in science and research, Hannah is passionate about inspiring curiosity and helping students explore the excitement of science. Um, and as I mentioned, she is uh currently working uh or was currently working at uh TU's REU program. Um, I that kind of stuck
out to me in the resume. My wife was actually an REU student which uh only a handful of applicants uh candidates get selected for uh out of thousands of applications. So, um super um super glad to see you know some people in the STEM fields wanting to come into education
and uh starting to see more of that. And so and and that was kind of what she related in our interview process that she really wants to come and work with kids and and develop a love of science and somebody from the lab setting to the to the um classroom is is super exciting. So, welcome Hannah.
Thank you. [Applause] >> All right. Um All right. Mr. Dress, can you please vote? >> All right. >> We got a second. >> We did before we had the discussion. >> Got that. >> Mrs. Quiet. >> Mrs. Bolton. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Pharaoh. >> Yes. >> Mr. Gman, >> I will abstain from item 15 and yes to the rest. Okay. >> Mrs. Missiono, >> I I need to abstain from 21, but yes to the caller.
>> All right, Mrs. Papalardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Pope, >> yes. >> Mrs. Miller, >> I abstain from number two. Yes to the rest. >> And motion carries. >> Thank you. All right. Communication and policy this evening. We're going to turn it over to our committee member, Mrs. Communication and Policy Committee met
on October 7th, 20th of 2025 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom. In attendance were myself, Melissa Frell, Dr. Preston, Mr. Calabiano, and Mrs. Higgbyiono. Our action items for the month are the second reading of the policy updates
issued by Strauss Esme last month and the first reading of our revised policy clarifying the function of booster clubs that we've discussed in some of our previous meetings. The committee also discussed the New Jersey Freedom to Read Act that requires school districts and governing bodies of
public libraries to develop policies and procedures for reviewing requests that certain books or other material materials there you go be removed from a library. We're still waiting for guidance and a proposed policy from Strauss Esme. As a point of information,
the act bars boards of education and public libraries from excluding library materials because of views expressed in the material or by its author or from banning materials based on the board's disagreement with a viewpoint, idea, or concept. Likewise, material cannot be
banned solely because an individual objector finds certain content offensive, but boards do retain the right to limit access of materials for certain groups based on what is age appropriate. Um, and with that, I move to adopt items
one and two as written. >> I have a second. >> Second, any discussion? >> Okay, seeing none, Mr. Stratus, please call the vote. >> Mrs. Bolton, >> yes. Mrs. Ferrell. Mr. Gman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Higgby, Iono, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Papalardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Pope, >> yes. >> Mrs. Miller, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Okay, that's going to take us to our second public hearing. This is a second public comment. Please state your name, municipality of residence, and group affiliation if applicable and limit your comments to three minutes.
Okay, seeing none, is there any old business? Any new business? Okay, I will entertain a motion to adjourn. >> So moved to Papa Lord. >> May I have a second? >> Second. Gman. >> All in favor? >> I. The next board of education meeting
is scheduled for November 19th.