5:30 p.m. in the Fitman High School Media Center. The president shall entertain any objections with supporting reasons to the cont of this meeting on the grounds that it violates the Open Public Meeting Act. Okay, seeing none, good evening and welcome to tonight'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 allegiance 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.
Thank you. Mr. Stratus, please call roll. >> All right. Mrs. Bolton here. >> Mrs. Pharaoh here. >> Mr. Gman, >> present. >> Mrs. Higgbyono >> here. >> Mrs. Miller >> here. >> Mrs. Papalardo >> here. >> Mrs. Pope >> here. Quum 70. >> Thank you. I'm going to go ahead and um
shuffle around our agenda a little bit this evening so that our student representatives can meet one of their many obligations this evening. So ladies, I will turn it over to you first. >> What? My part. All right. Pivan Elementary School has started new clubs thanks to HSA. Clay cooking and Lego
clubs are just a few. Um they have a Gertude Hawk fundraiser underway as well as a readathon which continues throughout February and they are also sending their top three finishers from the spelling bee to the county be later this month.
The school continues to implement the new district character education program. This month we are focusing they are focusing on the virtue of positive attitude and students are earning tickets for exhibiting this trait and being role models. At Memorial the snow was welcomed and provided a beautiful
backdrop for science activities. Snow became a focus of study from preschool through first grade. From taking the temperature of snow to examining it under a magnifying glass and even playing with it in the preschool water table. They celebrated 100 days of
becoming smarter in February, reviewing everything the students have learned in the first 100 days, making collections of a 100, and dressing up like a hundred years old. Um, first grade had the VIP, very important ground up in for lunch, and they had the chance to show off
their new tables for lunch, the lunch tables. Kindergarten and first grade had a visit from the arts play theater where students wrote the play from the characters to the setting. Preschool registration is off to a great start and there was or will be there was a
preschool preview night on February 17th for the new 26 27 preschool students. Um, Pimman High is an academic spirit week slowly approaching during the week of March 2nd to the 6th. March 2nd at 7 p.m. will be Quizo pop culture trivia.
March 5th is the staff lunchon. March 6th is the academic bowl during 8th and 9th periods. And Mr. Pman is on March 6th as well, and I think it's at 7. Um, student council sold and handed out Valentine's Day candygrams on February
13th, and students dressed up in red to represent the sad club for some Valentine's Day fun. Lastly, the Pops concert is obviously taking place tonight. So, yeah, that's it. >> Thank you. All right. Well, you are excused. I know you have to shuffle down the hall, right? >> I to the You don't just
>> the shirt. No, you're No, I'm just letting you know whenever you have to run away, go first. >> 6:30. >> Okay. No problem. >> Thank you. I appreciate. >> Of course. Of course. Okay, that's going to bring us to our first public comment. The the Pitman Public School District 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 and not a dialogue between the board and the public. You will have three minutes to speak. 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 over here. I believe that works best for the camera. Is that correct? So that me Oh, so I apologize. The podium set up the podium located to my right. >> We're just discussing who's going first. >> Pardon?
>> We're just discussing who's going first. >> Is it on an agenda item? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Over here. >> Hi everyone. My name is Hope Welch. I live in Pitman. Um this is about item number 14 specifically. Um I want to
take a moment and appreciate the fellow parents who have also shown up about the same issue in case they don't feel like speaking. Public speaking is not for everyone. Um so I've been a public educator for more than 10 years. So this issue is very very near and dear to my heart. But more importantly, I'm also a
parent of two children who are currently attending Memorial Elementary School. And there has been a series of changes in my son's classroom that have made a huge impact on multiple children. And as much as we completely respect and
understand that all of the children really do need to be protected, what has been happening has left a lot of parents with more questions than answers and has had a lot of the children really impacted in a way that is very negative to them because they also don't really
understand everything that is happening in their classroom and their whole sense of structure and routine has been completely turned upside down. So, one of the biggest things for preschool children is obviously potty training. Um, so multiple children have had regressions with things like that, and
that's just one example. Um, and I wanted to take a moment to appreciate my son's teacher for how amazing that she is in this moment. I would have run out of time if I try to talk about all the great things about this teacher and all the things that she has done for my son
and other children as well. Um, I have watched this teacher follow every rule in the book. I have seen her check ID at pickup if she doesn't recognize someone. I have seen her make communication about anything and everything to not just me but also to my husband. And I know that
she is a non-tenure teacher. And I also know that she is worth so much. And if something were to change for her and she would no longer be employed in our district, I feel like it would be our loss in a huge huge huge way because I have so much
respect for her. Um, and I also want to say I respect the administration for doing what they have to do, but I also feel like many of the parents feel at a loss for information. And recently a Facebook page post was made. I don't even have Facebook and I got multiple
people who don't even have kids that go to this school asking me what's going on with this. And it really spurred on a lot of negative commentary when most people had no idea what was actually happening. if that makes any sense to you guys. Um, and so it's kind of
snowballed in a really negative way, if that makes sense. Um, so really I'm just here because I want to make sure I'm showing support for my son's teacher and how amazing I think she is. And I know the administration is doing what they have to do, but I think we just want to make sure we're taking some time to express the frustration of the
situation, if that makes any sense at all. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um, I'm Amy Bini. I'm also a Pitman resident. Um, I am a Are we not allowed to use the teacher's name or is it >> You're allowed to use names. Okay, that's fine. >> Um, I'm a parent of Miss Kelly's
classroom. I am I've served for the room parent for that year or so the room parent last year and this year. I'm also the president of Memorial's HSA. Um I take these roles incredibly seriously and because of that I make it a priority to make myself available, approachable and transparent for the staff, for the
families, for everybody. Um I also work professionally as an advocate. So tonight I'm here in that capacity advocating for my child, their classmates, and the staff who show up for them every day. Over the course of this past year, Miss Kelly's classroom has experienced a series of significant changes. The day before winter break, we
were notified that their aid is being swapped with another aid with no no reason, no explanation, nothing. I understand that in the grand scheme of things, we're not necessarily owed anything. My four-year-old is my four-year-old wants to know why the aid that she's had for the past 18 months, those of you who aren't aware, when
you're in preK3, you stay in the same classroom for preK4. So, my four-year-old, well, now 5-year-old, has only ever met known Mrs. Owens and Mrs. Kelly, formerly Mrs. Archbala. Um, then six weeks after that, we get a notice that just says, "Your teacher, your child's teacher is out of the district
indefinitely." It was only also sent to Miss Kelly's classroom, which I found interesting. Why wasn't it shared um with with the whole district? Um, so then two days later, a child is removed from that classroom. And then a couple days later, >> we got to be very careful right here.
I'm not using the child. >> Well, just any circumstances at all. But >> um 2 days after that, some of us received communication asking if our children can be interrogated or interviewed by the child abuse investigation unit. I don't think I have
that full name right, but why? No one is telling us why. I respect confidentiality. I respect that you can't talk about personnel, but you can't ask me to let my four or 5year-old be interrogated and not tell me why, who's going to be there, what's going to be asked, can I be there? There's how am
I supposed to feel comfortable? Just that's all I want to know about that. Um, I'm going to skip over this part because this part doesn't apply. Um, you're asking us to trust the system and that trust does not exist in a vacuum. Hope spoke about the Facebook post. They've had 127 comments about how this
board of education is covering something up. The principal is covering something up. The aid must have been involved in abuse. There must be some sort of sexual allegation. There's all of these things. None of these things are true. I will say one thing. Um the post was anonymous and the district is never mentioned. But
people who recognize the post know where it came from because people talk. Um, in the past 10 days, I've had no less than a dozen parents reach out to me regarding the situation. My response to each one of them has been the same. I know no more than you when the families.
So, and just for the record, I you know, I'm going to skip that part because I don't want to I just want to say I'm going to skip over a bunch of it. Um, I will have more to say once once the public part comes. Is that my three minutes? >> It is. If you can just wrap up this fine. I just want to say how much we all support and love Miss Kelly. We have
former students, parents here. I can't even tell you how many people have written me emails in support of Miss Kelly or asking what can we do for Miss Kelly. So, I just want to be mindful that after all this is said and done, I hope Miss Kelly still chooses to hit me because it would be an incredible loss
if she did it. >> Thank you. >> Would anyone else like to provide public comment? Lauren Eisenhart, Cyrus Avenue Pitman. Um, I'm also here on behalf of Mrs. Kelly. So, I know that I'm also a
teacher myself that this is her tenure year. She is amazing. So, um, this is my child's actually first time attending preschool here in a public school. my other kids went to private public uh private preschool. That being said, she's grown so much. She's learned
so much. Um and yes, she's asking a lot of questions. You know, where's Mrs. Kelly? They said her tummy hurts. Like, when is she coming back? Um I think the concern that I have mostly is, are we following our code of conduct
that we have prek to six? I did look that up because I feel like some of the things that may be happening in certain rooms um you know if they're not handled when they initiate you know when they're started and if this type of behavior or
these you know things are occurring time and time and time again. Um then we're at this point where now things have escalated and now a classroom is without a teacher who
you know is well loved by previous students and current students. So I think that's the thing that I just really wanted to bring to the table was are we making sure we're following that code of conduct and very it's very
>> I'm going to apologize for interrupting you. Are you speaking about a student or a staff member as it pertains to the code of conduct? >> I'm talking about the student code of conduct. >> Okay. So, that we would tell you is not appropriate for public comment and we would ask for all members of the public to refrain from speaking about students in our district as part of public
comment unless it's your own child or your own child's experience. >> Okay. I'm just saying like in general our code of conduct. So, all right. That's that's all I wanted to say. >> Thank you. >> Would anyone else like to participate in public comment?
Uh, I'm Mark Bziki, also resident of Pitman. Um, my daughter is actually a former student of Mrs. Kelly and uh, I know possibly even less than, uh, Amy said about, you know, what's going on. All I've heard is that, uh, Mrs. Kelly
was removed from her classroom. circumstances are obviously not my business to know or at least especially as my daughter's a a previous student of hers. But I do just want to say that uh I want to echo the sentiments that if we
were to lose Mrs. Kelly in this district, it would be a massive loss to the school and to the children. Uh my daughter's experience in her class was amazing. It instilled a love of learning and eagerness to be at school that
frankly I don't think I had when I was her age. Uh and I just like I said want to echo that I think that it would be again a tremendous loss to the district and for the children of the district if anything were to happen that we would lose Mr.
>> Thank you. Hi, I'm Christina Anderson. Um, I also live in Pitman. Um, my son was also in Miss Kelly's class last year and the previous year. Um, the way that he grew throughout preschool was incredible. He loved going to school. He um, just the
care that she showed him. and Miss Owens as well and Miss Kelly. Um the care that they showed him was amazing. They came to his birthday party when he was inviting them. they went, you know, she went out of her way to really show him that, you know, he was special and that
he was, you know, um he he's a very shy kid sometimes and he's hard to open up and once he does he's has a great time and he's and she really brought that out of him and um had a great experience and um my daughter I just registered for
preschool and all he kept saying is, "Oh my goodness, I hope that I get Miss Kelly. I hope that I would get Miss Kelly and I hope that she's in in the class that I was and I also just wanted to echo echo um you know the sentiment that what a great um teacher she was and
what a wonderful person she was and how um big of a loss it would be if we did lose her in a district. >> Thank you. Do we have anyone else wishing to speak the public comment? Okay, seeing none, Mr. Stratus, do we have any correspondence? >> No.
>> Okay, I will now move to accept a motion for the minutes of the fitment board of education as held on the dates listed below are approved as printing and reading dispens with. May I have a second? >> Second, papalo. >> All in favor? >> Any abstensions? Any objections?
Okay, that's going to take us to our president's report. Um, I do have a lengthier update regarding some notes that I took on various calls mostly surrounding the NJSBA and legislative um topics, I'm going to go ahead and put that in an email to for the sake of time
this evening and um I'll send it out to all the board of education and should any members of the public like to see my half-hearted notes from said calls, feel free to shoot me an email and I will include you as well. Um, I do want to thank everyone on the board of education and the public for
moving the time so that we can attend the pop concert and support our students in that department. Um, I want to touch base with Mrs. Pavlardo regarding our self-evaluation. Do you know how many people are completed or can I only see that? >> No, I think anybody can see that. If you click on print it,
>> you can see. >> You can see. >> Okay. Are we >> I feel bad because I did not send a reminder a week before. So, um I figure if we're done by Friday, okay, you are actually the one that has to reach out to um our say our
>> delegate or whatever she's >> um and then she will crunch the data and send it back to you. >> Okay. >> And then we can review it. >> Okay. So, has everyone had an opportunity or will have an opportunity by the end of this week to do our self-evaluation? Is that >> I will. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's Mine's
Mine's not done yet either. So, >> you want us to do >> Yeah. If you don't mind selecting Yeah. soliciting feedback about anything that we can do. Pardon? >> You were first. >> Wow. >> Killing it. >> I would have been if it was working. >> Oh, that's right. Mrs. Pope was our standout board member who alerted us to
the fact was first. >> That's right. >> It was really me now. >> Mrs. Pope. >> Um, so, okay. So, we'll wrap those details up and we'll discuss that further at our next meeting. >> I'd say if you're done by Sunday because of course on the weekends they don't usually check email and won't send information. So, if we can catch up with
her next week. >> Okay. So, I'll >> to get the results, >> I'll email our field service rep Monday. Okay. If I don't write it down, it doesn't exist. Okay. Um, I'll include some notes from the January 30th board
of directors call with the NJSBA um in the email. Like I said, it primarily pertains to the um the kind of finance side of the NJSBA and some details that I thought were interesting for board members and again any interested members of the public. February 3rd, the Mammoth
County Schoolboard Association held their um county association meeting with Senator Delinos Scandlin and Senator Vingo Paul. I know Mr. Gman and I were able to attend as it was virtual. Um and we learned I thought a good amount of information. >> Yeah, I thought it was very good actually.
>> Yeah, planning on being board and >> I thought it was very good. >> Yeah. So there always um Senator Vic Paul was reappointed as the Senate chair of the education committee. So, I'm sure it's someone who, you know, we'll continue to speak to as we get into
legislative advocacy season. February 5th was Glester County School Board Association meeting for our county. Uh, we had over 100 members of the NJSBA register for the meeting, which is really um high. So, we were excited. The topic was my favorite, school funding. I
let it >> because I found new folks that are willing to listen to me talk about school funding. Um, and I appreciated that. Haden Township's Board of Education President Kelly Hinkle and I had come had presented at the Andre SBA workshop regarding school funding. And
so we were able to utilize some of that formula um uh slideshow to to kind of highlight some of those key points. Um so we also had I'm sorry, Mr. Sig Iono and I attended on February 7th the
county leadership association meeting. It's a Saturday morning. Is that ri >> riveting? >> Riveting. We did have the chief of staff of the New Jersey Assembly speaker Craig Coughlin's um aid uh Dan Harris, chief of staff Dan Harris rather join us for
that meeting and present some legislative advocacy tips um that I thought you know were interesting and certainly something that we can use. Mrs. Sigono attended in her capacity as the VP for Gloucester County for legislative relations. The budget address from the governor has been
pushed to March 10th. Um, so our meeting on March 4th that we had kind of tentatively held as a date won't be necessary because we will not have received our numbers from the governor yet. Um, so I do just want to put that on everyone's radar. As of maybe 5:00 p.m. this afternoon, they had not updated the legislative calendar to
reflect when the budget hearings will be, but I anticipate that our board will be providing testimony in both the Assembly and the Senate um, regarding the school funding reform formula. So I would just keep that on everyone's radar. I always welcome folks to attend and um if you ever have any concerns
about where you anticipate the feedback that I'll be providing going certainly reach out and let me know um in advance of that. I'll try to get it'll probably be the same highlights as usual. So just kind of keep that on your radar and I will turn it over to Dr. Preston. >> Great. Thanks. Um, I always meet with
the student reps uh right before our meeting and uh I've been doing a series of uh questions, soliciting feedback from them on what we could be doing better as an administration, as you know, board, as the board, just as the reps. Uh, we talked about some things. I just like I like to brief the board on this really quickly. Financial literacy.
Um, just like really kind of digging down into that curriculum. They had some ideas on that. Actually, I actually still have some of my notes from what we talked about there. So, it was good. and uh Roth IAS and all kinds of they really wanted to get into the weeds. I don't know if we're we're quite ready there, but uh uh eventually we'll get up to
snuff on that. So, I appreciate that feedback. Um they talked about some other things that that are to the benefit of all all of their classmates uh with regards to um being a little stricter about when we start uh uh practices for sports. So, I I turn key a lot of this stuff to the high school
administration and make sure they get that uh to them so so the board's aware. Um, and lastly, they're going to be reading at the ReadAcross America event at Memorial. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, >> Memorial. So, >> that March. >> That was good, too. That was that was a smart move to to read March 2nd through the 6th. So, I think they're going to
send you signups. Miss Miss Miller is going to send you signups to do it. >> Um, so that's exciting. Um, other things, our HIV, we have one reported and one confirmed HIB. Um, that's that's on the superintendent's report. All our super all our security drills were
conducted. Um I believe I just want to highlight the um theou I had run into at a at our county reunification meeting I had run into um a couple local superintendents and I had a concern about just in the
event of a a evacuation needing to be done either at the start of school or the end of school. How do we get buses in? It's easy to do it if it happens conveniently at 9:30 to to 2:30, but what do we do in those off hours? uh Al Lewis, superintendent in Glasbro, was was kind enough to draft anou that
basically says even if it happens at the more in the morning or or the afternoon runs, we'll supply buses to Pitman up to I think 8 8 to 10 buses that they'll send over to us in the event that we need to evac evacuate either locally or in a reunification exercise. So, you know, certainly want to thank them. Want
to thank the board um Miss Miller, I don't know if I want to thank you actually, Miss Miller, Miss Hayiono, Miss Papalardo for showing up. I had to sing last Tuesday. It was embarrassing and don't watch it. It was terrible. Um my my daughter said that you should resign at the next board meeting. Um she
said I I you could I couldn't show my face. And she was all red in the face when she was watching it. But I couldn't find my key. I had to sing the Clayton alma mater last week and I couldn't find the key. I was on a bass evidently and they were trying to get me in like tenor or alto and I couldn't get it. And I found it if you if you like somehow get
everybody else out. I found it in the second and third verse. It was actually pretty good. So, um, thank you for coming. >> It was rough. >> I don't know. I don't know if my notes was like >> I don't know if I had the same notes, but >> that was my dry. >> Did they at first?
>> Yeah. They solo the verse. It was embarrassing. >> They also, but you didn't, >> but I didn't. So, we made good on a bet. I I know Mr. Mayor's here. I know you had a bet with their mayor. >> Uh, so I don't know. >> I took the easy way out and gave him a trophy. >> Okay, that was smart. That was wise. Um,
just a couple more things. February 9th in service that we had. I always like to thank parents. We have some parents in our midst for uh and but they're also teachers, but uh for for being patient with us. It was a really I think great professional development day. I had one one teacher sometimes you you judge the teachers by how critical they are and I
like to go go to the critics and what did you think of it? He said probably the best in my 23 years. I said you're not just telling me that are you? >> And he said uh it was really uh really transformative. We we we it's real practical. It's something I used when I was teaching. It's called total participation techniques. You guys, I
think were some of you came to Yeah. So, Bill and PCA, they're actually retiring, but there the final edition, the third edition of their book. We were the first in the country to receive their book and they came out um presented and we were moving the whole time. Um I think we went through 17 techniques. Um I'm
seeing them all over the the the district every day. I mean, I'm getting I'm getting emails. Hey, look what we did this. We tried this. We tried the list group uh uh list group label. We tried all these different activities and uh just high engagement. Um really next we tackled teacher clarity and we
believe with teacher clarity and high engagement we have we we're going to see some some some serious gains and uh you know not not that test scores are the end all beall but we see that that's kind of the fruits of of the labor and the hard work of our teachers. Um I you know I think we I think Mr. Calabiano
shared at the last meeting. We've had we had over two million uh questions answered on our on our um on our our new math program and and uh you know it's so reflex math which is certainly a sign of really high engagement and really getting kids just interested in the
material. So um you know really trying to be instructionally focused and and and just have some excitement about that. So it's moving now handinhand with that and we talked about it with Bill and and and proced our presenters is uh just kind of you can't have academics
without uh values and so our character council meets once a month. Our character champions teams meet in the schools once a month. Um we've we've decided on an acronym called heart. I mean it actually fits Pitman quite well. I know we're going to we're going to try to change the sign to Pitman. Everybody
loves Pitman maybe at some point. you know, I'll put some together at some point. But, um, really excited about that. What we're working on right now, which is actually particularly challenging, is we have a mission statement that I really like. Actually, I don't know when it was created particular per se, but one of the things
character.org looks for is that it's really punchy and everybody knows it. So, if I ask any if I ask any board member, what's our mission statement? >> It's hard to recite, right? It's like, you know, it's something about tradition. >> Oh, no, we can do it. So, and I actually might bring the board into this. I I
want to bring students into this. Actually, you guys came up as as coming into this >> worked on it >> as part of the prior strategic development like several strategic. >> We wouldn't actually change that. We would make it kind of a motto based on that that's 8 to 10 words. And so, we're
actually struggling with it. And we have like 150 different iterations. And um you know, eventually we want to we want to land on something. So, I'll I'll try maybe probably by the March meeting, we'll we'll we'll present something. I'll have you guys maybe bring student council in and really kind of get our get our eyes on that. But that's
something we want to be lasting that's punchy that really gets at uh the heart of what Pitman is and and that's, you know, high character, you know, you know, high caliber people and um what we do every day. Um and remind really is a reminder to ourselves that that's what we do when all tune out all the other
noise. That's something we want to really focus on. Um, I just want to put a plug out for uh obviously the pops concert and um all the Quizo stuff, but the the the spring musical is coming up too. Three weeks away. Well, three weeks from uh tomorrow uh March 19th. Well,
four weeks March 19th and 21st. Um really excited about that as well. Um so put that on your calendars. With that, I am done. >> Oh, thank you. and the board really appreciated the opportunity to join the administration this summer when CPP came in and that total participation
technique was discussed. I used part of it in our workshop presentation. I thought it was helpful >> because >> nobody Yeah, it's real hard to get participation in school funding conversations kind of as you can see. So I thought it was great to use a workshop to kind of keep folks engaged. So it was really great.
>> We appreciate that opportunity. >> Okay, that's going to take us to finance facilities and I will turn it over to our committee chairman Mrs. Bolton. All right, here we go. The finance and facility committee met on February 11th at 3:30 p.m. in attendance for Dr. Preston, Mr. Stratus, Mrs. Miller, Mrs.
Pote, and myself. Our discussion started with uh number items 1 through six on the agenda, which are monthly bills and the closing of books. Uh Mr. Draatus has done a nice job of getting things closed up in a timely manner, so thank you for
that. I know. He's thrilled that he's up to date too, right? Feels good. >> Very nice. >> Um, number seven is the corrective action plan for our food service, which basically things are going well in that area. So, we have some extra funds that we're not necessarily allowed to carry
over. So, we will be purchasing a new service line for Memorial School with those extra fundings. Uh, number 8 through 12 are all Panther Club related. It's the calendar, registration, handbook, etc. We did have a slight
increase in prices for next year. Um, but is that attachment just on our agenda or is it all those attachments are on the regular agenda, too? Right. >> Available online, right? >> Should be >> because we got the price list and I was like, wait, was that on our meeting notes or on the actual agenda? All those
>> and if not, they're going to be >> the public can always click on them, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. And they'll be posted in the Panther Club page as soon as everything's approved anyway. So all go live there. >> Okay. Um so yes, those are all available to the public. It was very minimal. I want to say it was like little 4% or
something I think were the raises. So we did try to keep them that cost down. Uh number 13 is the disposal of those tables at Memorial. We placed them on Gov deals and we did not have any bid bidders. So now we'll just need to
dispose of those. Um number 14 is a motion to appoint a construction manager to oversee the HVAC project at PEES this summer. So that just basically is that we'll have somebody there to supervise that job. Um since our admin does not
appear to be construction managers. >> Oh no. >> Um all right. So we also >> I think you could do it that way for that. for that price. No. Um, so we still have some things coming
up on our referendum for the summer. Lots of things going on at PES. So we will keep you updated on those as those things progress. Budget season, as we heard, is coming up soon. So there will be a lot on the finance committee, I'm sure, in the coming months. And >> this next
>> a little bit of a come before the >> very heavy this. >> Yeah. This month usually is your heaviest, right? Yeah. So, uh, next next month maybe hopefully we'll have some reporting back by then. Although everything pushed back, I feel like it
always gets Yeah. Well, this year because of the new governor, it'll be March 10th instead of typically the last week of February, even though that often is a date that's missed, but we'll have our usually March 5th or 6th. >> So, we will keep you posted on that and
what our budget looks like for next year and where we, you know, we'll see how things shake out with that. hopefully on the good side for this year. Uh so with that I will make a motion to approve items 1 through 14 as written. >> We have a second
>> second. >> Any discussion? Actually I'm going to turn it over to Mr. Datus just to kind of speak a little more to item number 14. >> Yeah 14. So we we uh have the RFP for construction manager. I have a copy of the proposal if the board wants to take a peek or even the public wants to take
a peek. Just can't take it take it home. Uh, and then just a little info sheet for everybody to uh get a little orientation to what a construction manager does generally. And in for for the referendum, this project was always expected to be uh over $10 million. And
when you're looking at a project of that size, it's going to be uh kind of assumed that a construction manager is needed to run that project. Uh we did well >> required, right? >> Uh it's it's debatable. It is debatable. I wanted to look at that. But um >> but you should definitely you definitely
should. >> Um we we did well and we had the $9 million uh outcome on that contract for PES HVAC. >> However, the project is still extensive as it is. So, uh we was budgeted to include construction manager. So, this
follows the exact plan you already had for the referendum. Uh they're on site every day. They're making sure that the schedule is followed and safety standards are followed. And because that building is undergoing another toilet project at the same time, you want a lot of traffic control, you want advocates
there that are, uh, both communicating with us and communicating with the contractors, potentially communicating with town for any other coordination that's needed. So, uh, really beneficial to us to have somebody there that's going to look out for us and >> protect that investment.
>> Protect the investment. >> Yeah. >> Keep it on time so we can get back to school. Will he be looking over both projects or just the boiler project? >> They did they are offering to to oversee some of the the scheduling for the other one as well. >> Yes.
>> Okay. Um is there any further discussion? Okay. Seeing none, Mr. Datus, please call the vote. >> Mrs. Bolton, >> yes. >> Mrs. Frell, >> yes. >> Mr. Gman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Higgbyono, >> yes. >> Mrs. Pepalardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. P, >> yes. >> Mrs. Miller, >> yes.
>> Motion carries. Okay, this I'm going to take it to curriculum instruction and turn it over to committee chairwoman Mississippi. The curriculum and instruction committee met on February 11th at 4:30 in attendance for Mrs. Miller, Dr. Preston,
Mr. Colbiano, and myself. Uh last week, the district was informed that our New Jersey CUAC score was reviewed and we are now rated as a high performing district. So, that was good news. Um the
committee also discussed a desire that was recently expressed to Dr. Preston by the Pitman Council of Churches to resume holding a balarat service uh like shortly before graduation. They would like to have it in the junior
senior high auditorium now and we'll update families and other interested parties as that discussion continues. Um, as the back lid is a religious service, it's not a school function and participation by students is voluntary,
but it was always a nice event that was well attended. So, it'll be nice to bring that back. Uh, the district is expecting high participation in our golf program this year. Um, so we have some limitations on how many kids can
participate in a match and how many kids Pitman Golf course likes to have there at any given time. So we might have to >> get creative in how to offer something to all the kids so they don't quit and
we continue to be able to build the program. Um, we don't want to go back to where we were several years ago. We're going to combine with Clayton just to have a team. Um, no. So, what else? Uh, we have applications for a new football
coach. They're being reviewed and we hope to hire someone at next month's meeting. And that's all I have. So with that, I move to adopt items one through 24 as written with the caveat that I
have to abstain from number 23. So I'm not am I even allowed to move for that to be >> anybody can move anything on there. It's just when >> through >> two. >> Yeah, this one you always start with two >> one's info. >> You can move it on You just got to obtain when the role is gone.
>> Sorry, since you're on a new committee. >> All right. 2 through 24. Sorry. >> Back up top. >> Okay. May I have a second? >> Second, Gman. >> Okay. Uh, any discussion? >> Only that I think we have a Pitman High
School junior visiting the golf program in Florida this weekend. >> So, we got to keep this golf program going. >> We got to keep the show on the road. I love it. Sam Sam Adams is visiting when it's an open it's a PGM >> His grandparents live there too but it's
PGM open house my niece is in Florida this weekend >> oh it's in Jacksonville though I think >> okay yeah that's really north >> all right seeing any further discussion Mr. Datus please call the vote >> Mrs. Bolton >> uh yes
>> Mrs. Frell >> yes >> Mr. Gman >> yes >> Mrs. See Galliano. >> I have to abstain from 23, but yes to all the others. >> Mrs. Papalardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Coat, >> yes. >> Mrs. Miller, >> I absteain from number three. Yes to the rest.
>> And motion carries. >> Thank you. Communication policy. I'll turn over committee chair one, Mrs. Frell. The communication and policy committee met on February 11th at 5:30. In attendance were Mrs. Papalardo, Dr. Preston, Mr. Katapiano, and myself. On the agenda tonight is the first reading
of the current policies listed there. Um the entire fiscal accountability, efficiency, and budgeting procedures chapter was revised. Um which means we'll be seeing policy and regulation guides that need to be updated due to those revisions. Um the revisions
policies 142.1, 1220, and 5112 all have minor changes which were impacted by the update. I think they were like minor words. >> Um, policy 1552 is a new policy that stands in place of the old sexual harassment policies for teaching staff
and support staff. Uh, which is why the old ones are being abolished. Um, and there's an update to the student handbook regarding athletic and extracurricular activities. Uh, the exact language is taken from the NJSIA
constitution. Um, so the new language provides a pathway for more students to become eligible for athletic competition and extracurricular activities which helps us. Very good. So with that, I move to adopt items one as written. I have a second.
>> Second. Have order. >> Any discussion? Okay. Seeing none, Mr. Stratus, please call the vote. >> Mrs. Bolton, >> yes. >> Mrs. Yes. >> Mr. Gman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sigiono, >> yes. >> Mrs. Pavalardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Pope. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miller, >> yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Thank you. Okay, that's going to take us to our second public hearing. This um second public comment, please state your name, municipality of residence, and group affiliation if applicable and limit your comments to three minutes. Probably around the same time. Anybody want to participate? Do you have
a question? I can >> I would just like to say we met item number 14 on this section. >> No, that's okay. You were totally fine because you're okay because it was on the >> You said item 14. I was like, "Am I an idiot?" >> No, no, no. You were permitted to speak then. You guys said that, right?
>> It was an agenda item that was good to go at the time. >> Out of bounds. We're good. >> No. Their comments would just they Yeah, they're reflected. >> Could have been then, could have been now. All >> together. Yes. Okay. Anyone else? Would anybody else like to participate in public comment?
>> Okay. Seeing none, is there any old business? Any new business? >> Can we just mention the uh fundraiser for the maskers club at >> Sure. Go ahead, Mr. Gman. >> If anyone wants to buy some delicious
popcorn from the Paparia, uh if you use the fundraiser code PESM, Pitman Elementary School Maskers, no Pitman Elementary School Maskers 2026. PESM 2026 at Paparia. They'll even ship it to you to your house if you don't want to
get out and get it get downtown. And uh proceeds they'll donate portions back to the Mascers Club for our Peter Pan Jr. production. >> That's happening right now. >> Yes. >> I know Jess. >> When does the show open? >> It is March 27th and 28th.
>> Okay. Very good. So back toback weekends and shows. >> That's right. >> All right. I love it. Why bingo? >> I'll know all the lyrics. >> What show is doing? Pitman or Peter Pan Jr. >> Jun. >> So wait, bingo Friday the show.
>> Yes. HSA bingo. We would always invite um HSAs and other organizations to share out any events that explicitly um assist our school. Yes. In in fundraising. We're always happy to share those in my president's report. So shoot me an email.
All right. Um any further new business or old business? Anything? Yeah. Okay. Okay, I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move corsman. May >> I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> The tenative meeting discussed for March
4th regarding the budget has been adjourned until the governor's budget address on March 10th and will be rescheduled and the budget dates are provided by the state and county. The next regular board of education meeting will be held on March 25th at 6:30 p.m.