Good. Good evening everyone. Today is Tuesday, April the 28th, 2026 special board meeting. May we please stand for the flag salute and a moment of silence. 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. This is to advise those present at this April 28th, 2026 special board meeting
of the board of education of the city of Pleasantville and the county of Atlantic That notice was given on April 22nd, 2026 of this special board meeting as required by the provisions of chapter 231 of the laws of 1975.
Notice thereof has been posted on the district's website under the legal notices section, posted in the administration building, and forwarded to the city clerk of the city of Pleasantville within the time required by said at roll call. Miss >> roll call. Miss White,
>> Miss Akins >> here, >> Miss Harris >> here. >> Miss Morgan, >> Mr. Rodriguez, >> present. >> Miss Sanchez, >> present.
>> Miss Waters, Miss Silver >> here. >> Miss Realel, >> present. >> Yes. Okay. I just want to um let you know the etern uh the attorney is on their way. They got stuck up into traffic, so they should be here
momentarily. Next 1.5 uh public comments agenda items only. First, we have Mrs. Joanne Vamaro. Good evening. >> Good evening here. >> Good evening.
um like to speak to you about the budget because there were a couple things I was uncertain about and this is to the superintendent. First of all, did you just get handed a budget handout tonight or did you have it before you came to this meeting
tonight? >> We got it last night. >> We got it last night. >> You got it last night. Yes, >> Miss Spamaro, if you can direct it to me, I can answer that, please. >> Did you just get a budget handout? >> We just last week we had got a handout that was sent >> during the meeting.
>> Yeah. >> Right. Well, I don't think I'm the most brilliant person, but I can read and comprehend, but I cannot read and comprehend during a meeting and be expected to vote
properly and intelligently when something is handed out minutes before you're supposed to vote on it. So, that was the first bad step. The second thing I want to ask is you mentioned about 40 people
losing their jobs either through attrition or just getting rid of. Is that are those 40 people inclusive
of the $3 million deficit that you have? This is for the superintendent, but she's writing something. >> Did you hear what I asked? >> Do you want to answer, Dr. Martinez? >> Well, we don't have a deficit.
>> Well, you're $3 million short, correct? What would you like to call it? >> Well, no, we're not $3 million short. The budget is balanced. Is it an in going to be an increase to the Pleasantville residents taxes, >> right? Through the healthc care tax
adjustment. >> Why? Because you don't have enough money, >> right? >> That's called a deficit. >> No matter what that you would like to say, that's a deficit. >> When you go to buy something for $20 and you only have 15, you have a deficit of
$5. So you can spin that all you want, but you have a deficit. What I am asking is the are the 40 people that are either looking to retire or be rifted
the are they taking when that happens is that going to take the place of the deficit that you have or are those both going to happen together? You're going to have 40 people rift or retired and a deficit.
>> Well, it's not a deficit because the budget's balanced, but we need the $40 million which not the 40. We need the $3 million which we are permitted to utilize if we do not have enough revenue. >> Okay, let me say this again.
You have 40 people that you need to either retire. We'll just say 40, you need 40 people to retire, but you also need more money in your budget, >> right? >> So, by those 40 people retiring,
does that alleviate the need for more money in your budget? >> Well, no. Those people >> Okay. You said no, right? Okay. >> Yes. >> So, >> thank you, Miss Falo. >> Do you have you spoken to the city? >> Thank you, Miss Thank you, Miss Famo. No, I have more time because
>> No, you took it up and I had to repeat my question because the superintendent >> I'm wait a minute. >> I'm going to give you a minute. >> People do you have out here asking real live question? >> The reason why is because people may be listening. And if they're listening, they decide to come. They're going to
say, "Well, you did this and you did that. You didn't fairly I can give you a minute." >> Three board members on and you never ask them a question of, "Do you have a financial background?" Miss, >> do you know anything about budgeting? >> No. They were all like Gandhi. No, we're
all going to sit around and get along. The most important thing you have is a budget. And if you can't read it and understand it and not and that the superintendent and the BA don't even acknowledge you, then you got nothing.
And that's why we have a school district that is in the bottom 10%. >> Chair, point of order. I will not have a bo an audience member belittle board members up here and tell us we don't understand >> coming from you who doesn't even live here.
>> I live here Joanne. Thank you. >> Don't spread rumors. >> Next we have Pastor Jerome. >> Don't spread rumors. >> Not today. Not today. Next we have Pastor Jerome Page. Good evening.
>> 213 Pleasant Avenue. I would just like to add something to this board meeting. Yes, my name is Jerome Paige. Yes, I am a pastor, but I'm also a taxpayer.
I own the home for over 42 years. What you're proposing tonight is an increase in our tax levy. And as a board, as a taxpayer, who Joanne is a taxpayer also
um to the new board member, we have a right to say whatever we want to say. As board members, you take an oath. And the oath is to follow all rules and
regulations in the law of New Jersey. Board members, there is board uh policy right now at your hand at your fingertips.
It explains the pro. It explains the routine of what putting together a budget. You know, how that happens. I didn't hear anything about the building principles, the the teachers union, all them play a role in putting
together the budget. All of you board members don't have to set up a meeting to see the superintendent to talk about the budget. No, the president sets up a meeting that all board members are present and the
superintendent gives out whatever she wants to give out, which she did last week. It's just too late. You got time to put this together. And what Joanne is saying from $10 million
every year for the the tax levy, now it's $13 million. So she's saying last year your budget was 120 126 million. This year it's 123 million. So we got to decline. You want to get rid of 40 positions.
Why? If you if your budget is balanced, then why are you getting rid of people? We need every staff that you have. Why? Because we are part of a team that educate our kids. The kids are not just
educated in the classroom. It's in the whole building. It's in the outside in the playroom, playgrounds. It's everywhere. Board members, please look at your policy. Your policy
dictates how everything is run. If there's no policy to a problem, you got to create one. God bless. >> Thank you, Mr. Paige. >> Okay.
Yeah. Next 1.6 um president's um comments. I just wanted to remind the board that um this Saturday the JR JOTC they'll be having their banquet. The
JOTC will be having their banquet this Saturday. um from 5 to what is it? >> 9:00. >> It's from 5 to 9:00. So, if you're not doing anything, it would um we would really love that you support them. Okay.
Next. Next. Uh 3.1 may I have? Um 3.1 to 3.4. I guess this is part of the budget, correct? >> You do personel.
Is this part of the budget or >> Oh, this is I'm sorry. Say what? >> Two person. >> Madame President, >> can we go into the executive session and then come out and do everything afterwards? >> Uh, yeah. Okay. Um, what are we what are
we talking about in executive session? >> What are we talking about? >> This the budget. >> Oh, we can't talk about it in executive session. >> Oh, we can't. >> No, you got to talk about it out here. Yeah, you got to speak up. >> You have to talk about it. I have a question session.
>> Um, we received the email from the Mr. Bumpus about the preliminary budget and it stated in the email that if we approve this tonight, we could still make changes. >> Correct. >> I just want to make sure that's correct. >> Correct. It's only a preliminary. >> Dr. Martinez, can you please weigh in
here? Yes, it's a preliminary submission. And if I may, uh, President Roel, if I um, can you click start clicking? If I may. >> Yes. >> Okay. There's a flag up there. I'm
sorry, Mr. Um, can you please respectfully move that flag? No. >> Something is wrong. We sound muffled. >> Click. So um at the last meeting we went over some of slides. So let's go over them
quickly. I'll tell you when to stop. Right. Numbers students budget. Keep going. Appropriations budget. Yeah. Keep going. And these we talked about major cost drivers. Hold it right there. Go back. Yes. And we talked about the the budget
impact. And what you'll notice first is that we've been able to reduce the approximately uh 40 staff members to now 32. Keep going. and the response to
um the budget impact of the fiscal cliff. Uh in the most recent days, including today, um the administration was able to do even more work um to really help um
improve the balance of this budget. And so in the budget, we know that uh there is a preschool reduction that is directed by the New Jersey State Department of Education. And therefore uh in response
to this reduction, it was a great opportunity to restructure the school program. Thus, the district will no longer um require a need to have the three classrooms at the high school for preschool. So,
uh, this allows for a restructuring of preschool programs in the elementary schools, but it also allows us to, um, in working with the county special education department, uh, most recently
today as well. we were able to take of the three classes in the high school and work to return at least 18 out of district high school students with special education needs. Now what along
with um looking at the transportation and the tuition costs, these changes bringing back 18 students out of district helped to really offset the budget because we were able to save
approximately $1,315,000 in tuition and transportation services by the return of 18 out of district high school students. But in included in that 1 million, approximately 1 million, um is the previous recommendation that uh
courtesy busing for preschool um be reduced, if you would, or eliminated. and that the the eight drivers and the eight aids that are um
they'll be rerouted to out of district routes for displaced students. Now what you need to know is that a cost of a displaced students can be anywhere between 60 to 70,000. So if you add up uh the number of routes
which are eight eight routes right >> school >> for preschool and everything that comes with those routes plus the return of 18 out of district
high school students. we were able to offset the budget with the recovered $1,15,000 in tuition and transportation services. Thus, the 40 reduction turned into 32. And so, I also include Well, I'm sorry.
Would you please go on? Um, in your packet, you also have um a response to the Pleasantville district K to2 grades curriculum. There was a question about There was a question about the
curriculum and programs and so uh we've put together a timeline of the year that the curriculum material was purchased and whether it's present or not. And so you'll see that in yellow, blue, purple, and green. Um the programs that are
listed are those that have been board approved and are used uh currently in the district and are um supported by this budget. If you go on Chris the next page, um,
keeping in mind that this budget was student centered and is student centered, what you'll see is that the middle school courses that are identified are required by the state for all of the core subjects including English, math, science, social studies,
and world language. And what you'll see is that uh what the administration has done is to ensure that world languages um not only addresses the large percent of the Spanish-sp speakaking students
that are uh that attend Pleasantville with Spanish one, two, three for non- Spanish speakers in the middle grades. But it also provides Spanish heritage for one, two, and three, preparing students to go to the high school and
begin uh world languages at a um higher level. But one of the things that is new and I'm very proud of in this budget is that for the very first time in the middle school, we've added world language French one uh for uh students
that are interested in taking French at the middle school. And we've also added French one heritage uh for the 2% and growing Creole Haitian students that uh attend the district and the middle school. Uh in addition, the dual
language Spanish program that is an instructional program is absorbed in the budget. Uh Mr. um Becker, if you go on, you have the high school course programs, all of which are required by the New Jersey Department of Education. you'll see that the required courses are
listed and in world language where there was a deficit before in terms of of um opportunities for students to learn French, we've included uh Spanish one and two for non- Spanish speakers, but for students that um enter the high
school with a higher level of proficiency speaking Spanish, uh the district now can offer Spanish uh advanced placement, Spanish heritage two, three, and for which really supports the biiteracy seal that has been um really increased in the district
in the last three years. And we're very proud to say that in world languages in the high school, we've also added French one and two uh for students uh who are interested in expanding learning French in addition to French one heritage for
students that enter the high school already speaking French and benefit from French heritage courses. Go on, Mr. Becker. We've also added uh ensured that the following courses
uh in the curriculum programs are offered in math, science, English, social studies and you'll note that for financial literacy which falls under math, we know that a math teacher uh is needed and that is also in the budget. Um if you go on Mr. beggar. In the
middle school, we have uh assured that the visual performing arts curriculum program is offered in the middle school. Those are the uh courses that will be offered and those courses support and scaffold right into the high school
program. Uh these are the programs that will be offered at the high school. The yellow, blue, green, and purple colors uh mean that those are career tech education state approved programs which we increase from two to four um and will
be are scheduled to be offered next year. And lastly, uh answered uh an answer to uh a question about the athletic programs. The following athletic programs are uh supported by this budget. all uh sports programs in
the high school and middle school for the fall, winter, and sports uh are supported with uh this budget. So, these were some of the uh answers that um or responses to some of the questions that at least I heard at the last meeting.
Um, also for the board, if you look in your uh folders, you'll have uh a bit of history of funding and lists of personnel and um the allocations of
those personnel. Uh, additionally, um, you'll have another, uh, piece of paper that will list the, uh, additional personnel and the history of the allocations of those personnel,
um, along with the type of funding that was used for, um, the allocation of personnel. What you'll notice is that the ESSER funds supported uh
various high number of staff positions that after three years years 2021, 2022 and 2023 um were absorbed in the operating budget and at this time because those positions
were allocated through the ESSER funds. However, um they uh may not be supported by the operating funds as you'll notice. Additionally, you'll see that what I've added for the
board is some documents from the New Jersey School Boards Association of the settlement contracts covering the 2526 school year, list of districts and positions for certificated and non-certificated
uh staff members. giving the board members an idea of the cost of of um personnel allocations in terms of contractual obligations. Lastly, you'll see a document that provides the board
um the student enrollment which I shared before um from 2017 to current which shows a decrease in student enrollment. And so with that type of information, I hope um
there is more clarity in how decisions, excuse me, decisions uh in the best interest of providing a good uh education program for students in Pleasantville were made uh for this budget.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. >> I just Does anybody have anybody have any questions? Miss Harris. Um Lord,
my question is to um to Miss White. I emailed you yesterday and I asked you for a list specifically because when you throwing a bunch of numbers and like this I just want to I want to see exactly what we cutting
exactly it not not this is covered under operating this is covered this is just too much for you to say okay I need you to approve me a budget because then we going back at square and I get it superintendent you're a little upset I seen you take a deep breath I understand it's numbers it's tricky
>> oh I'm not upset, Miss Harris. Okay. I'm sorry. I think you're misreading my face. >> Okay. So, what I asked for was specific itemized the 40 positions down 32 and then itemize of the sports, not what's covered. I want to see what's being
taken away from our district. So, if I may, before Miss White uh responds, I forgot to mention that the list of positions by department and names that are impacted by the
reductions will be forthcoming to the board of education as per the New Jersey Department of Education timeline. So, you will have that information. However, due to um employees needing to
be riceed, uh we are unable to have conversations about do uh positions particularly because some of them are singular, therefore uh could be um identifiable. But so that's all I wanted to say. So,
so I I can't know because they could be identifiable or I have to wait until they I I'm just saying on the record, I can't you can't expect someone to just
vote on what you give them. Like this is this is how can I say it without I don't know. >> Take a deep breath. This is like you giving me a bunch of papers. They
all look the same. So eventually your brain is going to be on overload. >> I just want basic >> itemized >> itemized material on what it is so that I can see what our district and our children are going to lose worth what they still have. And I don't think it
should have to wait until Monday or Friday or next month because I know you have it. >> So if you already wrote down a number, you have the itemized. >> With that being said, um, Miss Harris, you are you done? I want to cut you off. >> So with that being said, have these
people been riced already? >> So what? >> But that's an error then. So if you know they need to be riceed, why weren't they riceed? So we can discuss it tonight. >> I don't know. But so let me for clarity sake um what we've
done is identify the number in departments. It is a department of what we call talent and development or HR that determines the person and so the person then is notified through the department of HR through the
correct process and that process continues that way. I will report to the board the department names and names of employee prior to that as regulation. >> I couldn't barely hear >> I understand but I'm confused because I
actually do do budgets for a living. I've been doing them for 17 years. So if you know what needs to be cut, you know the need of what needs to be cut, why are we waiting for HR to say what needs to be cut if you guys are balancing the budget? >> It's not that they say what needs to be
cut. They determine uh because of contractual obligations and um the uh order of in terms of who is who in by contract needs to be reduced
by order of seniority. So that is determined that's not determined by me. That's determined by HR. Okay. >> I couldn't barely hear your answer. It might >> it might be my answer to the question that I'm about to ask. Can you repeat?
>> The determination of reduction numerically happens in the budget. But the determination of who right is reduced is determined by contractual responsibilities that
include possible um um what it order of seniority and so that happens in the department of town development or HR that doesn't happen in my office.
>> Okay. My question is did we ever did we ever hire someone for HR? I know someone's work work and working in that capacity, but are they um certified to work in HR that can actually um
>> do what you're saying that they should be doing? Okay. Am I I know Elise asked something pertaining to the rice and I didn't hear it too much but my question was my question is
when it comes to the reduction and you said that we didn't get the names of them of the positions because the people have to be raced. So, I kind of agree with Elise when y'all made this budget up. Well, when y'all presented the budget to
us the first time last week, that should have been enough time to have the positions and the people riceed is in May. Is that the time frame that they supposed to be notified if they
going to be still have any positions? So, that's like Thursday's the 1st. So that was more than enough time for us to have that information and we went from 40 people or positions to 32. So it
saved eight is no more that can be saved besides eight people. Eight positions. >> She said >> okay. >> She said HR does. >> Okay. So that's that's moving along. That's moving along. It's getting somewhere a little bit. And my next
question is um even though I'm in transportation for our prek, y'all taking out of the budget for the tiny children to have transportation back and forth to school?
For our prek, our tiny children, y'all are removing their transportation for them to get to school. It's courtesy busing. >> So, transportation for the prek students is courtesy busing. And what's important
to understand is that with the elimination of the three classrooms, preschool classrooms at the high school. >> It returns the students back to their neighborhood schools. And so in Pleasantville, elementary
students, most of them walk to school. So that's why keeping in mind the practice and what happens then it it could be would be a reasonable deduction. Okay. It sounds okay until
the weather changes for those that's walking to school especially our little tiny people with parents. So that was just a little concern but a question. Thank you for answering it. Um I just would like
um Miss White and I guess if Dr. Martinez because we have a couple of taxpayers here. I believe um Joanne came and stood up as a taxpayer and uh Mr. Paige stood up as a taxpayer and he was saying how the taxes would be raised.
Can you please um let them know the reason why you had to go into the healthc care part once again so they can understand please? The district has never used the healthc care adjustment because we didn't need to use the healthcare adjustment but
because we needed additional funding to balance the budget because if not it would have been additional cuts. We had to go into the healthc care adjustment which is allowable by law. We're permitted to raise the tax levy 2% minimum and then the healthc care
adjustment as well which was 2.4 million and the total of the tax increase is 2.6 million total to come to the 13 million. >> Also explain to them why you had to go
into that so that the taxes are raised. Just explain it to them why you had to go into that. explain to them why you had to go into that so they'll get an understanding of why we we're not doing it because we want to just explain. >> Yeah. The rising cost, the health care
costs increased $5 million. Our charter school costs are increasing. Our utilities, our our salaries, we've been raising the tax minimum 2%. Our salaries is 3% 4%. So,
we're not keeping up with the salaries. We can't sustain it unless we increase the taxes. That's our only, you know, option because our revenue in state aid is 97 million. 13 million of that come, well, 97 million of state aid, 13 million now will be the tax levy and
then 4.6 million comes from federal grants and then we have 7.4 million remaining from surplus from last year. But, you know, as that surplus decreases, we'll have less, you know, funding and revenue unless, you know, we
continue to get increases in state aid. This year, we got three million in state aid, but, you know, some districts don't get state aid. But we're fortunate that we're getting the increases in state aid, but as the costs rise, we're constantly are in the I mean the budget is
constantly going to be in the rears because as the state I'm sorry, the state, you know, increases state aid only but so much. So the difference has to be made up some way. Okay, you brought up the most important
words is you have contractual obligations that are increasing the budget every year. >> Have you sat down with the members and I don't see any people from the pea here. You would think that if we had 40 people
that were going to get rifted at some point that there would be some kind of representation from the union. And I I know there's a vice president, but she's got other people on top of her that should be able to speak to this. Have
you reached out to them? Because I live here. I pay property taxes in two places. Mr. Paige pays property taxes. A lot of you pay property taxes. And a lot of people watching this pay property taxes. This
is going to be an ongoing concern every year until you nip this in the bud. We cannot afford increases of 2 and 1/2, three, three and a half, and 4% increases. Because as it is now, the
people of Pleasantville contribute 11% of the 126 to the budget. The majority comes from the state at 78% and the other 11 or 12 if you want to
comes from the county and the federal government. We're not used to paying a lot nor can we afford a lot because we are the second highest taxed municipality in Atlantic County. And
with this budget will probably be yay number one. Now, my question is, if you were able to go from 39 to 32, you have a big empty lot over on Decada Avenue that you're planning a brand new
school that's going to, and I read it online, accommodate 650 students. That is basically 55 more employees. What is that going to do to next year's
tax increase? Do we look down the line to see what happens year the next year? Because you guys took COVID money every year until this year and are now surprised that you're no longer getting COVID money after CO has been done for
three years. Yet you continued and I think the superintendent spoke on it that you continued to employ people based on getting COVID money. If you guys were in business, you would be closed up within a week because
you don't know how to actually look five minutes down the road and you're always got your hand out. Maybe we should come here next week with cakes and cookies and cupcakes because what you guys need is a bake sale because we cannot afford
to do business with the Pleasantville School District when you can't even graduate 75% of your students because you graduate 74%. And you're coming to the city of
Pleasantville with your hand out. How about when we start demanding that you educate our kids and that you give us something to work with so our kids have a reason to stay in Pleasantville and not to flee Pleasantville
because you're not doing your job if you only because the state average is over 90%. We're 20% below the the state average in graduation. We're 20% below the average. Excuse me,
I'm speaking. When I went to school, you were given the full attention. I expect the same courtesy. You put in your resignation. You said that you were going to eliminate some of these jobs
by attrition. We have a county superintendent. We could save $200,000 plus benefits by not hiring a superintendent. That would go towards helping the
budget. What are we going to do in the future? Because you guys com, you know, the business administrator and the superintendent always look kind of like a deer in a headlight when you talk about deficits. That's just because you've been given
money hand over fist with no parameters put on it. And now when you're losing money, >> you're shocked. You're amazed. You might not have to give out names of people who were losing their jobs,
but if you still are down to 32 and you've done some attrition, why don't we know that there's 10 teachers that we're going to lose and six bus drivers? You don't have to give us names. Give us positions because you
already know the positions. If you've given us a budget, you know the positions. >> 32. So tell everybody, don't hold it back. Don't make it a surprise. And why is Mr. Bumpus saying, "Vote on it and
you can still make changes." What is that about? >> Because you can't do anything. You can't vote and make changes and then say, "Here's the budget." And go to Pleasantville City Hall and say, "Here's the budget, but we're still working on it."
That doesn't work. So, you better be a little bit more forthcoming with your answers and not think that everybody is just going to say, "Yeah, go ahead. Go for it." >> Thank you, Miss um Amalo. >> Before you begin, Mr. Paige, let me
respond a couple ways, President Rulo. >> Number one, um professionally, we are listening to you. We um and respond accordingly. Let me make some corrections. The Pleasantville High School has 87.6% 6% I believe of the uh
graduation rate. Uh so while there is much to do uh there certainly has been improvement and I I simply want to correct the record. The other thing is that in the last three years, the board has in hand the positions that uh
historically were funded. And I will say that um we have worked very diligently in the last three years to not inflate this budget, but in fact to make sure that we flatten it as much as we could. Um in
spite of this fiscal cliff uh we have responded and we will respond to the board uh providing the uh appropriate information that is required regarding any kind of personnel reduction as per
regulations. >> Mr. Page Mr. Page >> Destiny one two miss white. >> Yes. >> Just want to go back to you said about the health care or the healthcare uh contributions you're
saying? >> Yes. >> Um is this the first time you've done that for the uh tax levy? >> Yes, this is the first time we actually used the healthc care adjustment. >> Okay. So, when you hired the new superintendent, she came in, the super new superintendent came in, she started
getting rid of some positions, very top positions. And the problem is if you're going to get rid of positions, you get rid of them. But when you keep them because you can't prove why you download them, you know, you can't prove that you
then have to add some other people in. You change principles but kept principles outside of being principles. Now Morgan can say this and even Elise. We've done that before and the state
says that classification is not legal. It's not there. >> That's right. >> But we keep doing it. So there's a lot of money. If you examine the budget this year that was done and see where all the money, you know, you're you're you're
not hiring custodians full-time. You're hiring them part-time. Why? because you're going to save on the >> health insurance. >> Health insurance. >> Okay, and we understand that. But you have a contract and in the contract it allows a certain amount of full-time
custodians. Okay? When you get ready to negotiate now, and I said this before, Miss White, when you get ready to negotiate, negotiate with your nonUN personnel first
because you then establish what that wage scale is going to be. If you start with the men with the union, they negotiate hard and they going to kick you up to two, three, 4%. But if you come down and you negotiate to the
non-union personnel, you don't have to even negotiate with me to say, "Listen, 1% here, one one and a half% there, one and 2% there." Now, when you go to negotiations, I'm a union guy, but the union has to understand that >> that weight scale stuff is going to have
to change. All right. So, Miss White, this is the first time you're using the tax levy for this enormous bill. Could you not balance the budget by doing something else to make sure
that that that line item doesn't come over to the tax levy >> if we've been doing it for our tax levy has been 9 million >> the the highest been is 10 million >> in one >> Mr. Paige, I want her to answer that
question for you. I know this is not the regular typical how we have meetings, but Miss Famil came up and she was concerned as a residents paying taxes about it going up. So, I would rob it you too also. So, I would think it not robbery, you know, to guys to have a
couple little input out of the ordinary, but this is not how we do it. But, can you please answer Mr. Paige's question that he just said about >> can we find some other >> No, no, no. you said about what would you do if you
um didn't have to use the tax levy. >> Yes. >> Well, then we would have had to do more reductions because 70% of the budget is salary. So that's where the bulk of the money is at the salaries. I mean taking instructional supplies and you know
facilities and things like that that's not a lot of funding. Like most of the funding is in salaries and benefits. So that's why it winds up being staffing. >> But like I said, if you downgrade uh assistant assistance uh superintendent,
uh the uh curriculum director, um you downgraded all these people, got rid of some of them, but um it's like that's money. That's money you still got to pay, you know. So I I would say for the
superintendent of the county, Mr. Bumpers. He should be here today. He sits on the ACIT board. He goes to their meetings. He should come here >> and you need to address him. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mr. Paige. Okay. Next. Uh Elise, did you still want to >> to executive session? >> Okay. Yeah. Uh may I have a motion to go into executive session? >> Motion. >> Motion by Miss Akens. May I have a second?
Second. >> Second by Mrs. Harris. Any questions? Questions. Roll call. Miss White. >> Miss Akens. >> Yes. >> Miss Harris. >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes. >> Miss Sanchez? >> Yes. >> Miss Waters? >> Yes. >> Miss Silver? >> Yes. >> Miss Rowell? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. I'm asking Hello. Testing. Oh, may I have a motion
to come out of executive session, please? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Mrs. Morgan. Questions? Questions? Roll call. Miss White. Miss Aikens. Yes,
>> Miss Harris. >> Yes, >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes, >> Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes, >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes, >> Miss Waters. >> Miss Silver? >> Yes.
>> Miss Realel? >> Yes. Motion carries. Next. May I have a motion for uh 3.1 to 3.4? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. I have a second. >> Second.
>> Second by Mr. Marino. Any questions? No questions. Roll call. Miss White. >> Miss Aikens. Miss Harris. >> No. >> Miss Morgan. >> No. >> Mr. Rodriguez?
>> Yes. >> Miss Sanchez? No, >> Miss Silver. >> Yes, >> Miss Rowell. >> Yes. >> Motion fails. >> Okay. Next. Um
4.4 public comments. Miss Joanne Vanero. >> Oh, I'm sorry, Miss Joanne Vanero. We couldn't really hear what the vote was back there and we couldn't hear if it passed or failed. >> It failed. >> Okay. Um so the budget did not go
through. >> No. >> Correct. Um, so the one thing that the BA did bring up was um the cost of healthare and we know the cost of healthcare is skyrocketing all over.
But where's the superintendent? >> She went home. >> Huh? >> She went home. >> She went home. >> Okay. Go ahead, Miss. So, did anybody speak to the union? Did you bring in any of the union
representatives in when you were making this preliminary budget when you knew that healthc care was a huge part of the increase? Did you bring them to the table? >> No, we did not. >> Okay. So, you never asked them to make a concession.
You never ask them to be more conscious in next year's raises because we're going to be right back here. And I can tell you, I will be right here at this microphone next year. You can rest assure of that. That won't be a deficit.
I will be here. Unfortunately, we have 21,000 people in the city of Pleasantville, and I'm the only one out here. Mr. Paige left. He stayed. He tried to do what he could do. But we have to make the school district
now accountable for their actions. And by saying to us 39 people we're going to try to do through attrition without giving any we don't want names. I've been down this road. I've forgotten more than what most people on this board
will ever know about school boards. I don't want names. I want to know positions. If you're getting rid of 10 teachers, tell us we're getting rid of 10 teachers or 20 support staff. Tell us something. We don't need names. We need positions.
They just they have done it in almost every school district in the county so far because we know Northville did theirs last night. They had four teachers that are going to be rifted. We don't know how many. is a very very
important question that needs to be asked and nobody has given me an answer to what you're going to do in the next year because you always have to be looking down the road. You can't just look at the immediate future. What are
you going to do with this new school that's coming online? You're you're getting rid of courtesy busing for the for the preschool, but you have three schools now within seven blocks of each other. You're going to close down North Main Street, and the
only school that's going to be open from California Avenue to Washington Avenue is going to be Leeds Avenue, and you're going to need more employees. So, we're going to be right back here next year. >> Thank you, M. Somebody gives us an
answer. >> Thank you, Miss Van Malaro. >> I guess and also >> for $19,000 in property taxes, I get three minutes. >> Thank you, Miss Maro. >> Okay. >> May I have a motion? Oh, I don't need to
close public comments, right? >> Okay. Uh, next 4.5 board comments. Mr. Marino, >> thank you for your comments today. Um, we're going to keep working for this school district, for the students, for the faculty, for the staff, for the
educators. You are f for foremost in my mind and the board's mind. So, thank you, >> Miss Waters, >> Miss Sanchez. >> Thanks to everyone who comes out and continued support. Thanks to Miss Fablau
who continuously comes out and holds us accountable and make sure we're on our P's and Q's and doing things or attempting to do things the correct way. Um we hear your cries. We're trying to fix it. We're trying to come together and be one and do what's right for this
district. Um it's an uphill battle, but we'll kill we'll keep fighting. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Sanchez. Miss Aikens, >> I want to thank everyone for coming out. I want to thank everyone for watching. Thank everyone for voicing your concerns. Please continue to voice your
concerns. We are listening and we're trying to move forward. Um, and you know, if you guys have suggestions, please feel free because at this point we need suggestions to help
uh, you know, move forward. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Akens. Miss Harris. Miss Harris. >> Madam President. Miss Harris, before you go, can I say something? >> Can I go first? >> Go ahead. >> You let her go first. Go ahead, Miss Harris. >> So, my board comment tonight be I want to make a motion to put the
superintendent on administrative relief >> and effective immediately and that all contact with the district will go through the board solicitor. >> Second. >> Y'all have to run it because I can't. All right, Miss Silver,
>> you made Dale. Roll call. >> Miss Waters, you second it. >> Miss Akins? >> Yes. >> Miss Harris? >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez?
>> No. >> Miss Sanchez? >> Yes. >> Miss Waters? >> Yes. >> Miss Silver? >> No. Miss Rowell abstain.
Motion carries. Next, Miss um you had something. Yes, Miss Sanchez. >> Okay. With with with the enlightenment of um the superintendent continuously disrespecting us and getting up and just walking out of the meeting. Um I make a
motion that we do an intern superintendent Felicia Medley. >> Second. effective immediately. >> Is this immediately? >> Immediately. >> Okay. All right. Go ahead. Um, >> roll call down.
>> You motion waters. >> Miss Akens. >> Yes. Miss Harris. >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Rodriguez. Abstain. >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Miss Waters. >> Yes. >> Miss Silver. >> Miss Roell. >> Abstain. Motion carries.
>> Congratulations Dr. Felicia. Medley if you're here. Miss Morgan. Good evening. I want to thank everyone that's online watching as well as in the audience watching.
We're trying so hard with this budget. As y'all notice that we keep voting the budget down because we feel as though that is some areas that can be looked at and save some of these positions that's put up here. I know everyone
may not be able to keep their jobs, but we're hoping that no one lose their jobs. I'm g say that. As well as when it comes to the transportation for our children to just think about our little children, our babies not having transportation to
catch the school bus. A lot of our little prek children, they look forward to getting on the school bus. That's one of their things. Sometimes some of them don't want to ride with mom. Some of them want to get on the school bus with everybody else. So to pull that experience from them as well as the
distance for those little legs and feet to walk to school for those parents that don't have vehicles, I feel as though is a problem. I could see if it came down to if we had to pull and it turned out to be maybe the high school children, some of them may have to walk that live
closer however go, but not for our little tiny babies. So, I'm really not happy with that decision. And I am on um the chairperson of transportation. So, I'm really not happy when it comes to that with the little children as well as
a couple other things in our budget which um I see that some things was added for the French and Spanish for the non-speaking Spanish um students, which that's what I always wanted for our children to learn
Spanish. So therefore, when they go out in our work world that they can be considered bilingual and be able to get the same type of jobs that some of our other people that knows both languages. I just feel as though if we have other
ethnicities that come in and have to learn English in order to op to live around and you know correspond back and forth. I feel as though that our students should be able to have another language as well. And I don't I
personally don't think it should be optional. I think it should be um demanding like it is demanding on them to learn English. I think it's supposed to be fair and even all around the board, especially when sending them out in the workforce and sending them to schools for them to be bilingual.
So, I'm happy that that's on there, but I still haven't seen anything pertaining to the act um the activities that was on the previous budget that was supposed to be taken away and some of the sports that was supposed to be taken away. So,
I didn't see anything any change in that area. I might have missed something because there's a whole bunch of papers up here and I don't even know what they go to. So, um, moving forward, it's a lot that has been going on behind the scenes that have us making decisions
that we're making. And some of us don't want to really make those decisions. But one thing I can assure everyone, nothing that's been, excuse me, my watch is going off. Nothing that's being no decision that was made
this evening is personal. None of it's personal. All of it is for our district and our staff and our children and to move forward instead of us being at a standstill fighting over this budget or
going backwards and their future. So, I just wanted to make it known that nothing was made personal. I don't know why I think that this is a personal matter. It's not. is just that we kept trying and kept trying and kept trying and to see that we still have people
that may lose their jobs and some people that may be in positions that shouldn't be in positions that we couldn't sit back no longer. So um thank you Miss Joanne Familero for coming out and always speaking on the microphone
questioning us and bringing your data with you and Mr. Paige they always come and give us lectures. So um please everyone come to the microphone whether it's three minutes, two minutes, one minute, come speak because a lot of things we
don't know until sometimes we hear at the microphone. Thank y'all and y'all have a good evening. Miss Silver, thank you uh Miss >> Thank everyone for coming out tonight. Let's continue to move the district forward. Thank you and have a good night. >> Thank you Miss Silver. I just want to
thank everyone for coming out. Um just wanted to remind the board members again the JROTC is having their um banquet on this Saturday in the cafeteria. It's going to be from 5 to 9. So if the board members can make it um give uh Miss
White a call so they can uh put you on um make sure that you're coming to make room for you guys. So with that um we're going to adjourn this meeting. >> Board President, one last thing. And I want to make a motion to do committee as a whole and that we can hold meetings on
Tuesdays before the board meeting. >> Tell Dale Trying to get some clarity on that here because it's a motion. >> Yeah. Well, I'm trying to get some clarity first. Okay. >> We're getting clarity to see if we can um do a board as a whole.
>> Yes. Mhm. >> Wouldn't that be on the board though? >> Wouldn't the board make that decision or is it a legal thing? >> Board president picks the committees for the board members and then they normally she normally supposed to pick. But I
don't think that comes to a vote because that's in our policy. I don't think you can put a motion on the floor for that. >> Okay. >> Because that's already in our policies like either that's I set it up. I said I don't think that that's in it's in our policies. The president normally picks
the committees or if I'm going to do it as a whole. So I don't think he can put a motion on the floor to do that. >> We we can discuss it but not today. We can get together and discuss it but not tonight. >> But we can get together and discuss it.
Okay. >> She's finding out the lawyers trying to find out if we can put the motion on the floor. >> All right. >> So we just want to hold out. Yes. What's the policy? What can you bring the policy up for that? >> And if that's our policy, we have the
ability to revise our policy. I'm >> policy to rep revise it through the committee, right? >> Yeah. Just go through your commit through the uh policy committee and you have your three readings, >> right? And >> y >> Silva is the chairperson of policy.
>> Yeah. >> Okay. So >> you are you pulling back your motion until Tuesday? already. >> Yeah. >> Are you
>> right? I And I can have Miss White send you guys a copy of the policy and then if need be you want to revise it, then you can revise it through comm um through policy since we're doing everything right. And >> can I ask her what made her want to do um board as a whole? >> Go ahead.
>> What made you want to do board as a whole instead of us having committees? So this way all board gets the information and it's not little bit here, a little bit there. Everyone is in the same room. We all get the same information. So there's no miscommunication or misunderstanding.
>> But see, as more as um she was saying that if the person that's the chairperson of the committee is there taking their notes and they're saying, >> "Yeah, but it doesn't get done." I hear what you're saying, but it don't get done. I didn't send the last note because I didn't have my um iPad
working, but I asked Dr. Martinez to send the notes for me. But I send my notes and I give people a time frame to get back to me. So therefore, if there's something in the notes that happen in the committee that they want to add on
to or ask me any questions before it hit the agenda, I give everybody a time frame to call me, email me, so therefore I can address their concerns because sometimes they may know something or have an opinion that passes the committee. So I give everybody the
opportunity to contact me so therefore I can either bring it back to committee or answer the questions. So I do send my committee notes. that we come back and revisit this. I mean, >> well, we already did the we already did the motion, right? >> Rescend it.
>> Why do we have to come back if he said we can do it? >> Because our policy states something else. Is there an emergency that you know that just happen? >> Just call the roll. Just do the roll call. >> Okay. >> It's already on the floor. >> No problem. >> Okay. Miss Akens.
>> Yes. >> Miss Akens, you did the motion. Who? Second. >> Okay. Miss Akins. >> Yes. >> Miss Harris. >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan. >> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Abstain. You said abstain. >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Miss Waters. >> Miss Silver. >> I would say yes. >> Miss Roel. >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> So, we just have to work out the policy and um also when we want to do it. I know some people are on Tuesday. You know what I'm saying? So, we just have to work out to make
sure our policies line up so we're in compliance because we just don't want to throw motions on the floor because we feel we can. So, we want to make sure we're in order so we don't get in no trouble. >> Okay. >> Okay. And then we can work out the logistics of how we want to come together to make the commit the
committee as a whole if that is the way everything turns out. So if it turns out to be a committee as a whole then that would be like an additional board meeting. >> Correct. >> And then with the additional board meeting the public would get a chance to hear what's going on inside the um
committees. >> Yeah. >> So it's no different than us keep having special board meetings so to do it. But that's what's going to happen if we >> right. Okay. And that also makes it longer. So just be ready to >> just be ready to stay. is
>> May I have a motion to adjourn? >> Motion by Mrs. um Sanchez, second by Mrs. Morgan. Any questions? No questions. All in favor? Opposed? No. >> Good night.