##VIDEO ID:7TwFc43h9ek## good evening everyone today is Tuesday November the 19th 2024 thank you for coming out can you please stand for the flag Sal ands stand One Nation IND thank you the record was unable [Music] [Music] [Music] call Mr J [Music] Miss mow Miss Morgan can we have someone fix the sound please [Music] M pres next public comments um agenda items only we ask you to come state your name please be courteous and respectful um first we have Miss Kathy Kathy Watson from the good evening nice to see you all again even um I'm curious about the the policy 2200 we talked about it last time we asked for clarification and still would like some clarification on it um it's the one talking about curriculum content where has been stricken out approval the curriculum will be reviewed by the superintendent and then stricken out approved annually by the board in accordance with the law and then also was stricken out that the board again was stricken out um directs curriculum and then also the teaching staff being involved was also stricken out we talked about it the last time and said you're going to um get clarification on it hello is this the made um policy okay can you right please and so the proposed um amendments are at the request um and and suggestion of stra Esme um so obviously they're going to board is going to try and uh follow the dictates obviously of the law but if there are suggestions related to changes in how this should U appear pursuant to the advice if you will or the directive or the suggestions of stra s that that's what the board is considering does the board realize that they're going to be pulled out of the the process because it seems to me that the board and the teachers are being taken out of the process of uh curriculum no I I don't think there's any circumstance where the board would not be a part of it even if the board has to ultimately approve it it it would be it says the curriculum will be reviewed and by the superintendent and approved annually by the board that was strien out approved annually by the board okay but there was still if there's changes they would need to come before the board it's not just the superintendent the way it reads something excuse me um this is Mrs um um the business analy Mrs White uh sent an email to uh St about your question and what they indicated is that there is no State Statute or code that requires the board to to an approve a cul so uh deleted that because there is no code for but the board an does approve the cor and we approve it every month you know as well next m is that me talking cuz there was back and forth go ahead cuz I understand Miss King you're saying that you approved it but it says here that it's going to be taken you're not going to be approving of it anymore and then it also takes out the teaching staff being involved so that's that's another problem I think because I don't know where the curriculum is going to come from because like I wrote physics curriculum last summer who else is going to write these other than the staff that knows what's being T okay this is Watson we have to um your time is up we gave you a couple more minutes um um so have to move on to the next person thanks thank you I'm a next we have Mrs no good evening good evening uh the first item that I want to speak about is uh six .3 and the retirement of the teacher at the high school level who was in charge of business education are we actively seeking to replace that staff member so that the children don't have a deficit in availability of teachers and also for 6.4 uh I see that a maintenance worker is resigning are we actively trying to recruit to replace them and maybe also possibly increase our staff for maintenance because for a long time as you all most of you know our district buildings have been in dis repair and in not to you and it's long overdue that there is accountability the person in charge of facilities had allegedly had a separation from in the past and he's back and I just want to make sure there's accountability that he's being hold to a higher standard than was previously done in this District uh I've seen that there is still some issues with the roof between the on the high in the high school between the swimming pool and the weight room there's some drop ceiling and that's missing and it seems to be leaking in addition to that um I hope that there will be a system or electronic system put in place so that when work orders are done they can be tagged and dated in time so that we know the time frame that has passed since that request was made so that we can have timely repairs because anything that we have new it has to be maintained it can't be oh we got it new so we don't have to do so regular checks checklist monthly or buy quarterly that should happen and as far as the 3.15 turf tank that has set I have the privilege of knowing how to operate that machine not in this District but somewhere else that machine is wonderful but it has to be maintained and cleaned and if there are employees who aren willing to do the work to keep up keep our facilities to the next level then they need to go I want to commend the board for voting for the replacement of all of our outdoor facilities for the sports and I hope in this off seon that the Trap and everything can be ready and prepared for outdoor one thing I want to note that I hope happens immediately because basketball season is coming up I hope that the scoreboards will be repaired or replaced in time so that we don't have the embarrassment of not having a working scoreboard thank you thank you Mrs Noah yes um our board attorney is going to elaborate on the policy Mrs Watson for you so there there's some concern that the board um the board's responsibility is being usurped or removed from purposes of the proposed policy um that which is stricken out may be deemed redundant but the policy says first sentence the board will provide the instruction and services mandated by law as rules as necessary for the implementation of a thorough and efficient system of free public education and such other instruction and services as the board deems appropriate for the thorough and efficient education of the students of the district the board shall annually approve a list of all programs and courses that comprise the district's curriculum and shall approve any sub changes in curriculum in accordance with the policy and it goes on to say uh in pertinent part the curriculum will be reviewed by the superintendent and this is where it's said I guess it's deemed redundant approved annually by the board and accordance with law curriculum but it already says that the board is responsible for uh annual Improvement so the new language says the curriculum will be reviewed by the superintendent and shall at a minimum include the curriculum mandates of njsa at sa really um then it goes on to say the superintendent is responsible for implementing the curriculum approved by the board and then it continues the curriculum shall be consistent with the educational goals and objectives of the district and the New Jersey learning standards and be responsive to the identified student needs the superintendent shall in consultation with struck out the teaching but it keeps in in consultation with staff members assure the effective articulation of curriculum across all grade levels so the concern that the board is not involved in this or somehow removed is inconsistent with how it's written in the proposed policy and those strikeouts are really presumably deemed as redundant in terms of what the policy um says and what the board's responsibility is in the earlier paragraph and by removing the word teaching but keeping the word staff it probably is inclusive of all staff not just those who potentially are certificated that could potentially um participate but in any event it it it still is consistent with the home whether there's AIC or not thank you next is superintendent's report [Music] Dr for technology is new when it works good evening [Music] everyone happy to be here this evening resenting the superintendent's [Music] report you Mr not thank you all right thank you Mr for technological support once again welcome everyone uh board members the audience and to those that are joining us online there we go okay let's move on quickly welcome again so I'd like to begin today's or tonight's um Report with a wonderful event vpir was our Cent Academy workshops it was actually last Saturday and we focused on providing parents and students with free literacy material books uh very diverse books bilingual books in Spanish and English that were free to our students and parents we had workshops for parents um including bie you see there with brown and they were on topics such as harassment intimidation buing all those ways that we need to prevent and address them we had workshops that were really important to parents um around the advocacy of becoming aware of parental rights particularly for um our specialized services and topics such as you know how to how to really become aware of those things that um folks that deal with immigration and the resources that they need well those things were provided so I want to thank the cor board members that attended I believe there were Miss King Miss Mellow Miss silver and Miss Ro that can I get everybody wait a minute I stopped by I was the first one in there yes you were and I signed the list yes you [Music] did I took see listen but thank you so much for uh for your participation was a a great opportunity for parents and for um children or you and then we had a wonderful celebration of the Hispanic Heritage Month I am so uh just excited about the diversity of our district uh not just an ethnicity and Heritage but also language and the diversity in many ways but here's Washington Avenue Elementary School and staff and parents and students participated at leads at Le there was also celebration um you can see that they're having a fantastic time um staff came in um shared the oay of food that uh represents Hispanic heritage and you see kids and um their different dress wear representing the different Hispanic culture and um backgrounds at North Main we had um that's School celebrated a local community and staff members at their school and you can see the different uh you can look closely they're represented by posters and flags and kids really did a good job there at the high school though it was amazing you take a look at our young women and dressed up there as a young man they did some phenomenal dances uh they they really did a great show during the day and the evening I celebrate the students and the staff that put that show together it was fantastic thank you so much those kids are Wonder and next we had a a fantastic celebration it was a soft opening of our brand new cafeteria uh furniture at our Pleasantville High School and it's a soft opening because we are that was phase one was wrong we have phase two coming very very soon and once we complete phase two we are going to have a grand opening of our fantastic High School cafeteria so phase two coming soon and so is our brand opening and I wanted to share that uh there was uh we had the two schools leads in South Maine um they were the two schools where um the pleasant will res went to vote one of the locations to vote but in our schools at lead at Le's Avenue we had our very own election and we had our students um you see them there they they were candidates for the president of their class and vice president and they campaign I just love how our students are learning so much about the Democratic process and and how to become leaders and that's where presentation there we actually have it going on at the Middle School uh right now and it is amazing to see how our young people are learning about this very important process and and Leadership so um I'm really proud of them and we have um amazing uh young young young leaders we have amazing children and we have amazing uh Youth and here what you see is a representation of our awesome girls led by the one and only miss Henderson it's at the lead school and I had the the honor of meeting with these young women who are in elementary school but they are really Ste on learning about leadership they ask some very um important questions about leadership and they're really talking about um their future and learning about different careers and how to prepare themselves for middle and high school so cool to the girls club and then I had the privilege of joining uh most of the members of our school board at the very first time where Pleasantville um hosted the New Jersey school boards association meeting on the 14th of November I want to thank this board and president Noel for uh such a great representation of our district and um and for the opportunity of sharing that we are changing the narrative um of our district with high expectations and outcomes for our district with excellence in education and services and lastly I want to sh although really tiny in print this is such a an important announcement our high school students our Greyhound students have been on the move the class of 20202 attended the Morgan State University Explore More Morgan for the day on Friday November the 1st of this year Morgan State University has a lot to offer from worldclass academics supportive student services world renowned Arts and Music and of course HBCU pride and spirit on Monday the 18th the class of 2025 attended the Malcolm Bernard hvcu college fair an actors Fair which is the largest HBCU college fair on the East Coast um and it Pioneers in bringing uh to the campus and the community many uh other universities and our students receive on the spot Admissions and scholarships that's right you really yes so I'm going please be beg or be patient because I do think that these young people need to be recognized so the again these students receive on the spot Admissions and scholarships the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Melvin Lewis Dan Stewart Jeremiah dervo T Macy Juan Castillo Magda Tor Alma Anthony Gonzalez latata Cooper Anna Hill annia Jones at Morgan State University Lata Cooper Claudine D Al Na Hill at Delaware state University Melvin Lewis Nidia delos jasna Henry an Hill latata Cooper annia Jones at fville State University Julian FIS at Shaw University niia Del maros Julian peris at Johnson C Smith University Julian peris getting $6,000 scholarships yearly Cline diesel getting $10,000 yearly n the BIOS at Virginia State University Kaya sheperson Melvin Lewis n the BOS Christopher Lopez Anthony Gonzalez Selena Moro escovar janah Johnson next page that's right we had another page Elizabeth State University Juan Castillo Anthony Gonzalez mag Toria Alba at Benedict College on a full ride called d uh you can clap that's a media rele valos $5,000 yearly uh j j j j Henry I apologize for that name speak saying that name gr Kenneth tozel at Miles College Kiana Costco at copen State University Melvin Lewis lanya Cooper Anna Hill anniah Jones at St Simmons College of Kentucky uh receiving $2,000 of scholarship Daniel Stewart kamani Rickards $2,000 Jaden Dion $2,000 Jeremiah derville $2,000 Tay Massie $5,000 and lastly at LOL University Lan Cooper an Hill and niia Jones congratulations to our seniors in class 25 and indeed I thank counselors teachers and everyone at the high school and parents who are really supporting our students and talking about postsecondary education I went to the high school uh today actually and saw throughout the hallways um invitations to students to meet with counselors and have discussions about their schooling so pleasant well deed we are about changing the narrative and we're about improving student achievement for our students thank you [Applause] any questions board questions motion to approve the superintend report motion by Mrs Alberto second by Mrs questions question Mr Jones M Alberto yes M King yes Miss mow Miss silver Miss gray M roell yes I have a motion to approve the fire Dr report motion by Mrs Alberto have a second second by Mrs silver any questions board no questions prop Mr Jones K yes mow silver great yes car next Bo minutes 2 point one M motion for the retreat minutes from October the 5th I'll take them separately I have a motion motion by Mrs mow m a second second by Miss King any questions no questions roll call Mr Jones Miss King yes Miss M silver yes Mo carries next M motion for 2.2 board minutes from the regular meeting October the 8 2024 motion by Mrs King second by Mrs Alberto any questions no questions roll call Mr Jones yes yes silver it's gr yes motion Carri next 2.3 board retreat minutes November 2nd may I have a motion motion by Miss King I have a second second by Miss me any questions for no questions wel call Mr Jones Al Miss King yes Miss Mello silver M gr Mr R yes motion carries next we are need to go into executive session on um to discuss some sensitive matters um Personnel matters the reason why we're switching it up is because these lawyers that are here they're paid so we want to get this out of the way so they can go home and get off the clock I have a motion to go into executive session motion by Mrs Alberto I have a second second by Miss King any questions roll call Mr Jones Al Berto yes Miss King yes Miss mow yes Miss silver m greay m roell yes motion carries sorry it is here by resolve that the pual Board of Education may go into Clos private sessions for which public shall be excluded in ordance of the provisions and set forth njsa 104-112 and 104-113 the following subject shall be discussed in the day session before closed to the public Personnel personel pupil matters pending and anticipated litigations be it further resolved that the decision is closed sessions may be disclosed to the public at the time or at a future meeting of the board when is no longer necessary to main the confidentiality the nature of item we discussed [Music] [Music] [Music] trust me trust me spe [Music] [Music] testing may I have a motion to come out of executive session motion by Mrs Alberto second second by Miss King roll call Mr Jones Miss Alberto yes Miss King yes Miss Melo Miss silver Miss Greg yes Miss roell yes pass next may I have a motion for finance 3.2 to 3.20 we wait to run through the agenda okay um but just have it together okay um may have a motion for 3.2 to 3.20 motion by Mrs Alberto Comm a second second by Miss any questions no questions roll call Mr Jones Miss Alberto yes Miss King yes Miss melow Miss silver Miss GRE okay forw yes pass I have I need to listen to his report need ation motion to appear to approve the H report from 10924 through 11824 can I get a motion may have a motion motion by Mrs silver may have a second second second by Mrs Alberto questions no questions Mr Jones is that yes Miss King yes Miss mow Miss silver Miss great yes Mr sure well yes pass next Transportation M motion for 4.2 to 4.9 motion by Mrs King second by Mrs Mala any questions no questions V for Mr John Miss Alberto yes Miss King yes Miss silver Miss Greg yes sir yes passes uh next going to be I'm sorry correction Miss melow motion passes next is facilities I have a motion for 5.1 motion uh motion by Mrs Alberto May the second second second by Miss king um I'm asking the board for the facility usage we have a couple here to see if the board wants to wave the fees uh for the student programs the first one is the Atlantic City Alpha Kappa Delta zga um and uh as's a mentor program and the fee would [Music] be uh $50 so I'm asking the board um $50 and $120 weekly it's a mentoring program yes it's from September 24th which is retroactive to the end of June 25th they meet weekly and it is with students okay and the next one we have a couple of them uh the same thing um and that's the uh the tiny tops tiny tops Canan I'm sorry and the waiver of that is $50 application and $120 weekly it's another student programs for the year then we have the Joker's pizza party um that's a one time event one time event and then we have the Pleasantville fire department flag football bowl and they usually do donations to kids during the holiday okay so okay so I'm asking the board to wave these Fe okay uh R call Mr Jones Berto yes Miss King yes Miss Mello yes Miss silver yes Miss great yes Mr will yes motion carries next Human Resources may have a motion from 6.2 to 6 1 motion by Mrs Alberto may have a second second second by Miss King any questions for IT no questions call Mr Jones M Alberto yes Miss King yes Miss mow Miss silver Miss great M Ro yes motion carried next policy 7.1 M motion motion by Mrs King mam second second second by Mrs Alberto questions no questions Mo for Mr johnes Miss Alberto yes Miss K yes Miss Melo Miss silver yes M Greg yes M roell yes motion carries next curriculum and instruction M have a motion for 8.2 to 8.4 oh I'm sorry um with the board there's a correction on page 33 out of 45 um activities it's um letter c number four the Winter Dance is actually on 1213 2024 that's a correction from 10 did we get a motion for that Mr J no I didn't okay um may have a motion for cc an instruction 8.2 to 8.4 with the amenda corrections from don't all speak at once may have motion Mo motion by Mrs Alberto second by Miss Greg any questions [Music] any more questions no questions call Mr Jones Miss Alberto yes Miss Ken yes Miss Melo yes Miss silver M gr yes Mr yes motion carries okay comments anybody for public comments nobody for public comments anybody sign for public comments out okay great um go ahead this is a resolution to approve a settlement um handled by the insurance carrier case of Beville to Tyson versus Pleasantville Board of Education settlement amount is $85,000 the case was F in Superior Court in Atlanta County um there will be a release and um stipulation of dismissal that will be executed consistent with the resolution I have a motion motion by Mrs Gray M second second second by Miss K questions no questions roll call Mr J Alberto yes Miss K yes M Mela silver spray yes Mr Orwell yes motion Carri next Mr car yes there were several matters discussed in executive session pertaining to uh technical amendments to the teamsters contract when the contract was negotiated there were a couple of matters that have been agreed to that were not reflected in the final draft of the contract they apparently were on an addendum that U when the contract was signed was not included there with uh but the negotiating committee was aware of it had agreed to it and the union of course had agreed to it as well uh one would be a uh increase um sorry for Mr uh we have a position a lead position uh it was an additional $2.50 per hour for the lead position in the teamsters uh this person does a lot of scheduling and other assignments that they would pay uh paid an additional 250 an hour up to a maximum of 7 hours per day if there's any overtime as a driver it would not include the additional increase so the uh one section would be at $2.50 increase for the person who performs the duties of the lead uh that's one the other is with regard to the bus AIDS uh when we had negotiated the increases for the full-time bus drivers part-time bus drivers uh the bus AIDS unfortunately were left out with those negotiations um and uh what the uh board would like to do is uh give the board uh the bus a an additional 1 hour per uh dollar per hour increase uh which would start uh regret now as to November 1st of this year uh and there would also be one year increases each of the following years of the contract so what I'm asking the board to approve at least with regard to the teamers is the payment to the lead position and then the additional $1 an hour for the bus AIDS uh I ask for a resolution first with that matter and then have a couple other matters I have a motion motion motion by Mrs Alberto second second second by Mr Gray questions no questions Ro Mr Jones M Alberto yes Miss K yes Miss melow yes Miss silver M Greg yes Mr roell yes motion carries the next matter was a matter of scheduled for arbitration uh I did speak to the njaa representative uh we agreed to try to resolve it quite Frank the cost of arbitration are so expensive these days particularly when they're scheduled during the school day and we have to take Witnesses we have to pull them out of class then we have to have uh sub Suits come in and cover the bottom line is uh I had recommended and we did a straw pole in the back that the board had agreed tentatively to a settlement the matter Gonzalez the Pleasantville Board of Education the amount of $787 by the way any of these settlements include full releases in the past um particularly when we had a certain insurance company the releases were not full releases and we had circumstances where people were selling cases getting money and then going on the Su board just to make it clear uh I know Ray covered this with the insurance uh with the attorney from the insurance on be of the insurance company any of these releases if you're asked to pay money that's it once and for all if you have any matters pending any disputes about any of your conditions of employment when you sign a release and you get a check that's it you can't then come back and sue one out of that so in this case with this particular settlement it would be a full General release in fact in this case the uh person involved is already signed a release so it's a full gen release No lawsuit after the fact this will uh resolve the matter once and for all we have a motion motion by Mrs King second second by Miss Sil far questions no questions roll call Mr John is Alberto yes K yes Mello silver M Greg yes M forell yes motion carries uh the next matter is a matter of involving a one of the employees um involving an increment that they did not receive uh their job had been changed however it hadn't been changed um their title had been changed but they were still performing the same job that you're performing before and it resulted in the person being denied their increment uh so this is a motion to approve the uh increment pay which the board has determined is due to Chris Becker the amount will be determined uh it will be again a full General release uh Mr Beck will have time to review it it's conditioned upon Him agreeing to the further terms as outlined in release but we recommend the settlement in the matter of Chris Becker potentially against the Board of Education have a motion motion by Mrs Alberto in second second second by Miss SC any questions no questions M Mr Jones Miss Alberto yes Miss K yes Miss Melo Miss silver M greay yes M roell yes motion carries and the last matter that I have with regard to retention um generally uh my contract is all the attorney contracts allow us to uh retain investigators again working on certain matters uh there's been an issue with certain people have been deeming members of the board they've been defaming Dr Martinez and more recently they've been defaming the employees of Pleasantville so it's no longer case of anybody slandering an individual but now they're trying to interfere quite frankly in the operations of the district um I received a call from an attorney where someone had been uh defamed alleged that they were defamed on the site uh it is incumbent upon the board to find out who is behind this uh and uh I wanted in the open that the board has approved an investigator to determine uh who is involved in this um and the uh company would be inest Tech and that I recommend the retention of investech uh the gentleman who's doing it it's a local gentleman uh the prices for this type of work are usually very very high uh he's a local guy he's agreed to do it at a discounted rate of $50 an hour he has for $2,000 retainer $5,000 cap if it does exceed that we'll come back to board for further approval of the bill uh but I'd ask for a motion to approve the retention of investtech to conduct the necessary investigation to determine who are the a party or party is behind certain defamatory statements that have been made against board employees superintendent and the board I have a motion motion by Mrs Gray I have a second second by Mrs N any questions no questions vote for Mr Jones is Alberto yes is K yes mow silver Mr gr yes Mr yes motion carries next okay uh next four comments Miss King well good evening everyone I just want to wish everyone a happy holiday Miss Sila I just want to thank everyone for coming out have a happy thanks Miss Alberto I want to say Happy Thanksgiving everybody thank you this okay just want to like to thank everyone for coming out I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and I also want to thank everyone who voted um and I want to thank everyone who voted for me and who didn't vote for me I want to thank you as well I'm excited about having another 3 years I'm excited about the next 3 years with this board and the district about how and what we're going to do to continue to move this District forward and with that I hope everyone gets home safe and have a blessed and happy week you have anything Dr us thank you to the board to the staff students and families uh and remaining focus on what really matters which is student achievement and supporting students and doing making decisions in the best interest of those who we serve thank you and I also want to thank Mr Jones for filling in for Miss White you did a great job I want to also say one thing I want to thank Mr Jones and Dr Martinez um we attended um the parent conference on Saturday and it was was very well put together excellent job should have been attendance a little bit better but next time but you did an excellent job Mr Jones thank you Miss Silva yes may I have a motion to adjourn the meeting motion motion by Mrs Alberto second by m silver all in favor I good night thank you thank you yes [Music]