Are we good? Good evening. Good evening everyone. Today is March the 3rd, 2024. We will start our meeting off with a moment of silence and um the flag salute.
This is to advise those present at this March 3rd, 2026 regular board workshop action meeting of the board of education of the city of Pleasantville and the county of Atlantic that notice was given on February 28th, 2026 as required by the provisions of chapter 23
of the laws of 1975. Notice thereof has been distributed for publication in the press, posted in the administration building, and forward to the city clerk of the city of Pleasantville within the time required by set. Miss Akins >> here,
Mr. Gibson, Miss Harris >> present. Morgan, Mr. Rodriguez, >> Miss Sanchez, Miss Waters, Miss Silver,
>> Miss Rooney. She's our legal. Uh, next is 1.5 public comments agenda items only. Anybody have the list? Have this
problem. We askens to become respectful to the group. Good evening, President Roel, Vice President Silver, >> ladies and gentlemen of the board, and
Superintendent Martinez. um referring to I believe it's subject three regarding vacancies or reported vacancy. I've been very intimately aware and
involved with um what well I was short regarding uh what's been leading up to this point. I think everybody here understands that on December 16th, uh,
member of the school board, Urban Mareno Rodriguez, was duly appointed, sworn in, and was taken a seat and served with this in a distinguished way for the past few months. And I do understand that there's
some members of this board that uh believe that it's necessary to review and reinter individuals. I would respectfully submit that right now there's open litigation regarding this issue.
There's open litigation dealing specifically with this issue with the assignment judge in Atlantic City and there's going to be a full hearing regarding this allegation on or about April 16th.
I don't believe that this body has statutory authority or authority under case law or any rules or regulations or administrative code sections that would allow it
to remove a duly appointed member of this board. Now, if we want to wait till April 16th and see what the assignment judge does or does not do once all the applicable laws are reviewed, once the
applicable facts are reviewed, then we can have a decision made by a judge based upon the rules of law and the facts and the totality of the circumstances, not based upon anything else. And I'd also respectfully submit
that If the judge does not decide in a way that people are satisfied with the appropriate and correct venue would be with commissioner of education not with this. Thank you.
Good afternoon to the board of education. My name is Alexander Mendoza. I've known Urban quite some time, not only as a student, but as a community organizer from Neido, and I've seen the positive uh effect he has had on students. Um,
right behind me are a group of students from all different walks of life. Even some students including from Pleasantville. These are uh students who are organized who are part in different clubs like Mexa, Guasa, all walks of life. Urban has impacted positively.
He's always been there as a mentor, as someone students can talk to to relate. And there's even a few Pleasantville students. I'm not going to name them because I don't want to put them in a spot, but he has seen these kids and he has taken them in and mentored them and showed them um higher education. As
someone who's a Latino, as you see behind us, as minorities, it's tough for us to fit in college. And Irvin has taken all of us under his wing. And he has taught us to be respectful, to appreciate education, and to keep fighting. And that's why we're here to support him to show that Irvin has an
impact in every walks of life from his community organizing from Atlantic City to Pleasantville to his work at Stockton University and even as just being a friend and family member. That's why it's important that Irvin stays in the board of education to represent not just
Latinos, but students who sometimes uh feel left out. That's why Irvin is very important to us and that's why we're here to support him because he would do the same for everyone. He he's always someone who would uh let us walk into his office when we need anything, financial aid, uh whatever it be,
Urban's there for us. So, we as students want to be here for him. And we want to show that Urban has a real impact on all of us. And that that's why not just because of his qualifications, but him as a person, as an educator, and as a human being has affected all of us
positively. And that's what I I just wanted to say. Thank you. >> Thank you. Next we have Mr. Johnson. >> Next we have Allison. >> Okay. Uh next we have Mr. David Callaway.
>> Is this just for agenda items? >> Yes. >> Okay. I'll wait. How long is this going to be before she gets back? She coming right back. I'll make you have to move on, but I'll make one
towards the Next we have um 1.6 Um, >> Madame President, before we get started, um, the the board took action last meeting, you know, when everybody decided not to show up, and I'm trying
to find out why none of that action is in this agenda today that we took. With that being said, I make a motion that Mr. Morano be removed and we do the process like we were supposed to do today with the interviews with all the candidates. Um, Miss Sanchez, we were going to
discuss that. >> It's a motion on the floor. >> It's a motion on the floor. >> No, we're going to discuss that. I'm sorry. And we're going to tell you why >> you The board took action last meeting,
>> right? But the board took action. >> Second. >> It's a motion on the floor and it's been second. >> The board took action last meeting. I've believe the people are hearing the crowd for the interviews because that's what was said was going to be done. Okay,
>> we're going to let the uh legal weigh in on this. >> I'm confused. It's a motion on the floor and it's been second. It should be a roll call. It's a motion on the floor and it's been second. It should be a roll call no matter who weighs in.
>> It's a motion on the floor and it's been second. Ma'am, if I may, my name is Jenna Cook. I'm here for Mr. In Mr. Hamlin'sstead, who is your normal board? >> You speak into the mic because I can hear. >> Yes. I'm sorry. My name is Jenna Cook. I am here in place of Mr. Hamlin this
evening who is unable to appear as the board solicitor. I have worked as the labor council for the board for the past year. I am familiar with the issues relating to the um election and appointment of Mr. Mareno as well as the pending litigation and all of the recent
action of various members of the board. Um you're voting or you're requesting a motion and seconding a motion to remove Mr. Marino and I um understand there are a lot of positions here potentially
competing interests. However, uh removal of a sitting board member is governed by New Jersey law and New Jersey statute. And there are seven specific instances which permit removal of a board member. Um, those include if they're not a
bonafide resident, a member becomes a member of a public body, they're disqualified from voting, a false declaration or conviction of a crime, removal by the commissioner of education, a recall under the uniform recall election act, or a member fails to attend three consecutive meetings
with notice and a proposed uh removal of the meeting. None of those circumstances exist here. I understand >> with all due respect, I don't to be correct. I think you're incorrect. But in that manner, um the board
and I have a question. I'm sorry. >> If the process was done correctly when >> you actually violated >> when appointing someone to the board. >> Well, I understand that there was a meeting and an assertion that the
process under the open public meetings act was not followed. However, that um no reason was given how that occurred and therefore um that is not part that is not a reason for removal of a board member. The judge sitting in this
matter, Judge Shepard did issue an order um refusing to allow stay of the litigation in the midst of the um action that you are all going to take a week or so ago before the snowstorm. And she did mention in there that there could be a
corrective action under a violation of the Open Public Meetings Act, but there has to be a violation and that violation has I won't interrupt you. I promise that violation has to be demonstrated for action to be taken to correct that measure. What I believe the process that
is being argued right now is that there was someone that was not interviewed and that as a result of that there's expectation that there would be a redo or a corrective action for that person who was not interviewed. That is not a
violation of the open public meetings act. That is what you would all argue I believe as a procedural issue. That very issue is pending before the superior court and the um uh the judge that governs all of the matters in the law
division in Atlantic County. When that judge makes a decision, if that judge should decide that a procedural regularity occurred, then that judge can enter an order which would make that determination. There is a process that's being engaged right now. It's called
discovery. And in that process, both parties or all the parties are engaging in an exchange of information so that at some point the court can make a determination based on all the facts before it whether there was a procedural
violation or an open public meetings act violation. If you were to act now while that is pending before the superior court, any action that you take, my legal opinion is it is a violation of New Jersey law. And also you risk first
that any action you take could be undone. Meaning if the board with a new member or you you voted to I can't stop you from doing it obviously, but if someone else was put in place, any voting you did could be undone. any action you took could be undone. And if
if you want that process to be reviewed, there's a judicial venue for that. And you may get exactly what you want, but you may not. And at this point, those facts have to be developed through an exchange of information for the judicial
body so that someone can make a determination of whether there was a violation of your own policy or a violation of some other law, rule, or regulation. And then if there is the judge will give a disposition and a remedy for that. But doing that now
subjects you to having everything undone. It also subjects you to potential litigation which is an expense that you don't my belief is that you would want to avoid that there is a process in place for
this type of problem and that if you go outside of that process anything you do is likely to be void and also very likely to be undone. Can I well one second. I appreciate how long-winded you were and your explanation and your I
respect your expertise as a lawyer who passed the bar, but I sat in on that hearing and the judge also said if the board felt that we did something wrong, we wanted to correct it on our own, we could. >> I read that in the order, ma'am, and it did specifically >> it said we could correct it. It
specifically related to an open public meetings act viol >> and we violated it and we admitted to it and we voted on it and it's a motion on the floor and it's been second. >> Are you with the Bray Hammond law firm? >> Am I with who? >> The law firm that you're sitting in for.
>> I am not. >> What law firm are you with? >> I have an office law offices of Jenna Cook. >> Okay. No, your name sound familiar when someone comes up and say that people don't appear for the hearings and stuff. I just wanted to make sure I was with the right person.
>> Can I ask a question? >> Sure. >> Pertaining to what we're talking about. So, if the if the judge is allowing us to re to fix it, why can't we just fix it? Why are we want to keep going into into the court and we just we just trying to fix something ethically and
right? Why why do we why wouldn't our board attorney as you sitting in the spot just agree that let's just fix it? We're not Nobody is saying that we just want to fix the situation. We want to always look right in front of our people. We in front of everyone. You
want to look right. We want to We don't want to look like we just do stuff just to do it pleasable. You understand what I'm saying? I'm just saying like why can't we just ethically in our spirit fix it? Why do we want to go in front of a judge
consistently and then >> when we're trying to fix it? I don't understand. >> Because the judge said in the hearing that we were able to fix it. >> I didn't >> I didn't hear you. Say it again. >> The judge stated in the hearing that if we were at liberty to fix it, she would advise for us to fix it if we could
instead of instead of creating more litigations. >> So the judge said that if we can fix it, >> if the board voted to fix it, let them fix it. Okay, Miss Sanchez, I have a question for you. >> I understand what you're saying. So, how do you unseat a board member that's
already seated? >> See, this is the thing. And he he may I just met him when he got here, >> right? I mean, >> so, of course, I did my own research on him. >> He may be the best fit. From what I heard last time, he probably is. All I'm asking, and I I'm going to speak for myself, not everyone else.
>> Has it been done the correct way? We had a gentleman come up here who was the first applicant. We had another gentleman who's sitting right there, Mr. page who wasn't even told to come. He just show happened to show up that day. He didn't even know it was interviews that day. So, we're just asking for the process to be done over incorrectly cuz
you know it was flawed. You know, it was done incorrectly. >> My but my question to you, Miss Sanchez, is how do you unseat? >> How do you not if the a sitting judge told us that we can >> take a few steps back and redo the process? How do you not?
>> But I'm asking you a question, Miss Sanchez. Did the judge say to unseat him? That's what I'm asking. >> How how else would we do the process again? It would start from scratch. Correct. >> But how do you unseat a board member? >> You vote on it. >> You can't. >> The motion's on the floor. It's been second. You vote on it.
>> Just like you guys do whatever you want, whenever you want, whether it's in the best interest of the district or not. >> Right. But >> we're just trying to fix a wrong. We're just trying to write a wrong and do a process correctly. That's it. Listen, I'm just I just want to know how do you unseat a motion >> that's been seated and you do roll call
and you see >> that's that's all I'm saying because if you do that then we're looking at legal a whole bunch of legal stuff. >> If we just do things right the first time, we wouldn't have these issues. But we did do it right the first time. We didn't always open public.
>> White also admitted on record that it was two other people that applied that not even got a phone call. >> Okay. >> To come. >> Well, are we taking >> You said we violated the Open Public Meeting Act, but we didn't violate the Open Public Meeting Act. We I believe we
advertised and did everything correctly. So, I'm just trying to figure out how skipped over everybody. >> No. No. Yes. >> In regards to not on purpose, Miss >> the proof. We have the proof. It's imprinted. The emails have been imprinted. The dates are on the emails. It's We can't dispute that something was
done flawed. So why not as a board and as a collective whole, do we not just fix it? >> Madam Chair, I have a I have a point of order. Why are we discussing this? >> Why don't we unseat him? That's >> why are we discussing this, Madam Chair, when this is open litigation, >> right? Open in open litigation. The
judge stated if the court was at liberty to correct it, they could correct it. That's why >> open litigation is open litigation. >> It's not closed. >> For the record, um, regarding the applications I received, I did receive the application for Mr. K Johnson.
>> Can I just pause for a second? I I'm going to caution everyone, >> okay, >> that this you do not want to argue facts that are uh in dispute or that are relative to the litigation. What I was providing in overview was the law
itself, not facts as I know them to be or not to be. My recommendation and I believe that because there is pending litigation, any conversation has to be conducted in executive session. >> Well, let's go in executive session
>> and that no fact factual testimony type information should be set forth here. This is a recorded proceeding and that's for all of your benefit. Okay. So, >> so will she need to pull her motion back >> and go to executive session pull yours
back and make a motion to go in executive session and have this discussion. >> I I'll pull my motion. >> I'll pull the second back >> and I'll make a motion we go to executive session >> and I'll second it. >> Okay. Questions about that? Bro, Miss White.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Miss Harris. >> Yes. Miss Morgan, >> yes. What happened to the heat? Last week was burning. >> Mr. Rodriguez, back to again. >> Miss Sanchez, >> yes. >> Miss Waters,
>> yes. >> Miss Silver, >> yes. >> Miss Roell, >> yes. Motion carries. Okay. >> What happened to the heat? >> Last week we was burning up. No way. Yes,
>> absolutely. >> Mhm. Yes, I got it. I got it right there. I'm a job. >> Where is it? One more person. So we just had a whole discussion and you said
we testing. May I have a motion to come out of executive session? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Morgan. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Mrs. Silver. Any questions? No questions. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Akins. Yes, Miss Harris. >> Yes, >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes, >> Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes, >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes, >> Miss Waters. >> Yes,
>> Miss Silver. >> Yes, >> Miss Rowell. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Next is 1.6. Um, oh, I just wanted to put on the record we had discussed legal matters and personnel on the back. Okay. Next is 1.6
the Okay. I'm sorry. Yeah. Do the resolution. Be it resolved that the Pleasantville Public School District hereby agrees to reinstate Mr. Wayne Leot with a 45day suspension without pay.
What is it? Roll call, miss. Roll call. Oh, may I have a motion? Sorry. For what? What's the motion for? for the resolution. Read it again, Miss White, please. Okay. >> Be it resolved that the Pleasant Board
of Education hereby agrees to reinstate Mr. Wayne Leget with a 45day suspension without pay. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I have a >> second? >> Second by Mrs. Harris. Any questions?
>> No questions. Roll call. Miss White. >> Miss Aikens. Yes, >> Miss Harris. >> Yes, >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes, >> Mr. Rodriguez. >> No, >> Miss Sanchez.
>> Yes. >> Miss Waters? >> Yes. >> Miss Silver? >> No. >> Miss Rouel? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. Resolved that the Pleasantville Board of Education hereby agre approves the terms
of the stipulation of settlement between the Pleasantville board of education and former district employee Christina Atua and authorized the president of the Pleasantville board of education to execute the said stipulation of settlement on behalf of the Pleasantville board of education. A copy
of said stipulation of settlement as approved by the plasma board of education at this meeting will be on file in the office of the board of education's business administrator office. have a motion. May >> I have a motion?
>> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Mrs. >> Before you do roll call, can I make a statement? >> Yes. >> Can I >> Oh, wait. Let me get the first and second and then you can make
>> Oh, you did. Okay. Go ahead. >> Um Roll call. Miss White, >> can I make a statement first? >> Oh, yes. Go ahead. I just want to put on record that this board went with the recommendations of the attorneys um
kind of had no choice in this matter. It would have cost us probably four times this amount. We were kind of binded by previous actions by previous people sitting on the board. That's all I want to say.
>> Okay. Thank you, Mr. Sanchez. >> Roll call. Miss Aikens, >> yes. >> Miss Harris, >> yes. >> Miss Morgan, >> abstain.
>> Mr. Rodriguez, >> yes. >> Miss Sanchez, >> yes. >> Miss Waters, >> yes. Miss Silver. >> Yes.
>> Miss Roel. I'm only doing it for the good of the school and the district. Yes. Motion carries. Uh, any more motions? >> No. >> Okay, great. Um, I have one motion. Um,
I need a motion um for the board to take no actions to remove Mr. Vero or take any anything regarding which his appointment as a board member into the
court decides to see fit in this matter. >> May I have a motion? >> Can you say >> Could you say that for me one more time? >> You heard her. >> Until April. >> No. Can you repeat what you said? We couldn't understand it.
Motion for the board to take no action to remove Mr. Moreno or take any actions regarding his appointment as a board member until the court decides to take action on in April the 16th.
>> Should be Rodriguez. >> Rodriguez, I'm sorry. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Morgan. May I have a second? Second. >> Second by Miss Silver. Questions? Where
did that just come from? >> The lawyer. Why didn't we just What? We couldn't just leave it up alone. It was never discussed. Why? We can't just leave unlone. >> Wait a minute. Why did we just discussing this problem >> in the back? >> Sneaky stuff.
>> And we're bringing it out here without discussing it. >> Okay. We're going to retract that. >> I'll pull my motion back. Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. Who second it? >> Okay. Pull it back. Okay. Great. So,
we're done with that. >> Okay. Next we have 1.6 uh board comments, president's comments. Um I just want to um tell the board if
you should have received a progress report from Dr. Marilyn Martinez um from her progress of what she's done in the district for two and a half years. So if you get a chance um you should read it.
is very interesting and very lengthy. Yeah. Next, we have board presentations 1.7. >> All right, we're going to start. >> Okay. Uh, you want it red? >> You want it red?
>> Red. We want to um Can we um make sure this is submitted into the minutes as well? >> Oh, the super this report. Okay. you want to put into the minutes for this meeting? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Okay. Thanks.
>> Okay. Um, next we have our board attorney's presentations. Okay. We're going to start with >> Okay, we're going to start with uh Okay. We have three uh three board uh
attorneys and five for labor. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, we'll start with um presentations for board attorney. We'll start with And Adams, Laborte, Crroo, and Herman LLC. Uh, is Mr. Brown here from Adams Laborte
Crruit and Herman LLC? >> Okay, the next would be Bush Law Group. Good evening. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> Hi. Good evening. Um, President Roel, Vice President Silver, ladies and gentlemen of the board of Pleasantville
and Superintendent Martinez. I'm Danielle Pantileo. I'm council at the Bush Law Group. Uh, with me is Megan Oda. She is an associate at Bush Law Group. Um Megan and I are here to represent the firm. We do um special
education uh work and general education work um as well as all student matters including institutional investigations, public contracting um inservice training presentations. I will tell you a little bit about
myself. I've been practicing um general uh education and special education for approximately 15 years. Uh my specialty is in special education. I give advice to directors of special education. I do
all uh HIV matters, student discipline. I conduct disciplinary board hearings. Um I also cover board meetings, but that's Megan's uh specialty. And um I really take uh pride in uh when we're in
litigation. and I I've done a lot of litigations in due process and mediation. Um, and I take pride in the taxpayer money that uh we have. I don't settle cases easily uh without being a hard fought and I treat the taxpayer
money as if it were my own. So, we're really cognizant of your budget, of the time and expense. Um, the Bush Law Group has 16 attorneys. We practice in all areas. You'll see we also applied for
the labor and employment. Um we um have expertise. We have greatwide experience and we're responsive. Um you know we have a personal relationship with the board and um with the members of the administration. Uh in this day and age
when it comes to cell phones, texting, emails, uh you can always get us, you could always reach us and we're responsive. Um, I'll let Megan speak a little bit about uh the GC stuff and then take any questions you may have. >> Good evening board members and
superintendent. How are you? Um, my name is Megan Odella and I have a background in public contracting. So, I used to do public contracting with the city of Newark. So, I did that for some time and now I'm here with the Bush Law Group. Um, I'm sorry, there was something that I
want to say and I can't remember. Um, so with my public contracting background, I am very careful about what bids go out, how they're responded to. I make sure that the boards are doing everything based on the law and make sure that what
is happening is um legal and is not does not go against uh the local public the school board uh public contracting law. Um, and do you have any questions for me? >> Board member. Oh, thank you guys.
>> I am a former board member. Um, I sat on the board for about 20 months and you know, I went through a litany of different issues with the board. Um, I have been representing a few different boards. We have over a hundred boards at the firm. So, we we are very efficient.
We are very responsive. We make sure and we are experienced. We do everything when it comes to special education. That is all the firm does. So if you have any questions for us, we would be happy to answer them. >> No, I like it.
>> Okay. >> Beautiful. >> Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your consideration. Appreciate it. >> Thank you. Parker McKay. Good evening everyone. My name is Jeff Catalano from the law firm of Parker
McKay. We are a multi-disiplinary firm with 50 attorneys. I have nine attorneys in my school law department and five attorneys in my labor and employment department. We have been serving public entities in New Jersey for over a hundred years and we continue to provide great service to
those public entities because we know how important they are. I want to thank you for volunteering to being board members because it is not an easy job. You guys face criticisms constantly from everywhere where whether it be the taxpayers or any of the other
stakeholders of the school district and you guys have a thankless job a lot of the time. And as solicitor and board attorney, it is my job to help you perform that job to the best of your abilities and with all of the ethical duties and cannons that are provided by
New Jersey law. Now, I have a little bit about me. I attended Cornell University at the Industrial School of Labor Relations studying the world of work and how to get to consensus and how to negotiate and mediate disputes. I went to Cornell Law School spending time in
the labor law clinic again focusing on resolving disputes, mediating and getting people to consensus and to say yes. Afterwards, a lot of my colleagues went to work in judgeships and clerkships across the state. I worked with the National Football League and
negotiated the player lockout collective bargaining agreement in 2011. After that, I decided to come back to my hometown of South Harrison Township right around Mullika Hill, New Jersey, and decided that my services were best needed back at home servicing public
entities across the state of New Jersey. I've given the honor to represent the Pleasantville public schools. As your board attorney, I will make sure that my duty is to ensure that our students here have the best education that the board educa of education can provide. That
your administrators are properly counseledled to make sure that everything is taken care of that when there is a dispute between board members or amongst board members and the administration that we handle that with a proper decorum that is necessary.
Now I'm of I try to believe that brevity is the most important thing and I try and explain everything I do with a practical sense of language. I try to make do that because I understand that my time is valuable and any dollar that comes my way is paid by
the taxpayer and that is a duty that I take gravely seriously. So if you have any questions for me, I would love to answer them and provide you any more insight that I can. >> Does anybody have any questions? How many um school districts do you um service?
>> We serve service service dozens of school districts across South Jersey from Burlington all the way down to Cape May. I want to say we service close to 40 or 50 school districts. I will tell you though that if I am your board attorney that I will be at your meetings
pending any sort of emergency situation. I am the father of two under two. So obviously sometimes children you know get sick but other than that I will be here. >> Okay. >> No no no one no one has any other questions.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> Well thank you for your time and consideration. >> You're welcome. Next. What are we doing next? Labor. Now we can move to labor because Mr. Hamlin's not here today, but he's still listed.
Okay. So, for labor specialist, the Bush Law Group, are you coming back up or you you want to come back up? Okay. It's freaking cool. >> Uh, thank you for giving us more of your
time. Um, so in labor and employment, um, yeah, I do work on this as well. Um, I'll do ti title nine, title six compliance. Um, I've done, you know, administrative leave, um, tenure
charges. Um, the some of the focus of personnel matters, employee disciplinary matters. Um, we also do professional development training. Um uh you know in this regard uh our firm has an excellent
uh collective bargaining negotiations. Ari Schneider um he's really one of the best in New Jersey. Um Megan, do you have any anything to add to the labor? >> Yes, I've worked with Mr. Schneider and I've um helped him with some collective bargaining agreements making sure that
we from the beginning to the end without it having to go to arbitration or mediation making sure that all parties are respected accounted for and all of their needs are heard. So, we make sure that we get from the table to the to the
paper to to make sure that it's, you know, without having to um spend extra district resources. >> Any questions? >> Any questions? >> No questions. >> Okay. Thank you so much.
>> Thank you. >> Okay. Now, uh, law offices of Jenna clerk, Jenna Cook. >> Yes. >> My name is Jenna Cook. Some of you met me for the first time this evening. Uh I have been a practicing lawyer since
2001. All of my legal um expertise and experience has come from Atlantic County, New Jersey and Kate May County, New Jersey. Um I have represented municipal governments, school boards, both private and um public in all
aspects of labor and personnel issues, including uh litigation appearances before various administrative boards. I've negotiated contracts for p uh private and public entities including
the Atlantic City Convention Center. um in terms of multi-million dollar contracts for services and purveyors of goods. I have um successfully resolved multiple litigations uh for persons
against school districts and also resolved matters of pending litigation on behalf of school districts with those persons. Um I am a sole practitioner. I get to decide what cases I take and don't take. And I get to decide what
clients I take and I don't take. Um that makes me, I think, uniquely qualified. I live here. I work here. Um you will see me around here. I can come when needed. I can answer the telephone when needed. For those of you who have had experience
with me over the last year as um appearing for the Carol Law Firm as labor counsel, um I believe you would understand that I have uh been completely responsive to all phone calls, questions, emails from all both the administration, uh the board
president, and various board members when I've appeared here. Um as I said, you get me. I'm a hometown girl. I grew up most of my life in Atlanta County um in Egg Harbor City and Egg Harbor Township. Uh I was a prosecutor in Pleasantville for many years. So
although most people don't find a prosecutor to be the person uh that understands a community very well, um I developed programs here um for persons that needed resources. Um and I am very familiar with the
nuances of this community and the needs of the community. Um, I think I think that's probably it. For those of you who have any questions, please ask. >> I have a question. >> Go ahead. >> For the um >> I have a question for the VA.
>> You sent us a letter February 20th. You said she rescended. >> What? >> Yeah, Miss Jenna Cook originally sent me a letter. >> I know, but we don't just change our mind and then you tell us the day of like you got emails. Yeah, she rescended, but then she because she submitted her proposal by
that date, but then she said she didn't want to resend. So, >> I have a um a couple questions pertaining to um maybe this might not be the right form
for it. I know we've been hearing that she was representing um supposed to be doing the arbitrations and wasn't showing up for the arbitrations was cancelling or not showing up for the arbitrations for the things that we have.
So can you explain what was going on pertaining to that? >> Can you give me a specific arbitration? I'm going by um every time we have a meeting our teachers union >> Miss Watson >> president comes up and asks us why haven't someone came for the arbitration
for >> the staff and they wanted to come back to work and um it was stated that you didn't know that you were still employed or not employed like can you give us >> Sure. >> Okay. >> I think I know where that came from. I'm
assuming that came from Miss Watson's matter with it, which was an unfair labor practice matter. Uh there was not an arbitration scheduled. It was a procedural meeting in advance of a hearing before Perk. I have been here.
Mr. Carol had the contract with uh the school district. I have been in hisstead as he is not regularly in Atlantic County. At the time that unfair labor practice hearing was a procedural meeting was scheduled. I was out of the
country in Colombia. I had no access to or very limited access to email or text or phone. I did have that on my responsiveness uh my responsive automated response to my emails. And in fact, when I had good service prior to
that procedural meeting, I did email the um gentleman from Perk and advised him that I was out of the country, did not have access to anything, and that the board had not yet reappointed or made its appointment of labor counsel at that
time. It was scheduled for January. Right. >> So, um the perk representative apparently emailed Mr. Carol directly, not me or if she did or if he did email me, it was sent um I was out of the
country, which I had said. And when I came back, um I got a phone call from Miss Jenkins asking if I was appearing. I advised them that it is never been my practice to not appear for something ever in my entire years of practicing
law. and that um although I was not at that moment prepared because it was not on my calendar as it should have been um and was not handled by me personally that I would immediately seek to address the matter on its substance with the
district and respond to them. And in fact, I hung up the phone. I reached out uh discussed the matters of the unfair labor practice. I spoke to the attorney for Ms. Watson separately for about 10 minutes. We came to a resolution and I
proposed it to the board which was accepted. I negotiated that without further need for appearance before the perk board. Um that is the singular time I can tell you in my entire legal practice that I have ever not been
somewhere where someone expected me to be. And I did explain to the perk uh representative that I had been out of the country, that I did not receive his email rescheduling it for that date and time. I apologize that that is not my
practice. Um and that anyone in this community that knows me knows I am an absolute rule follower. I don't take my responsibilities lightly. Um I do have things that I have to attend to every single week. I appear in court weekly. Um I do not submit things late. I do not
fail to attend to things. My phone rings, I answer it. Um, and this was an isolated situation, which I can understand is concerning for you, >> right? >> Um, but it was isolated and I attribute it to the fact that I was working to
fulfill Mr. Carol's obligations and that email came to him or it was in the middle of nowhere land while I was in Colombia on the side of a mountain with no access to sell and it was not on my calendar. Additionally, there have been
matters that have been pending arbitration. One of those, for example, is a tuition reimbursement matter. That matter has been scheduled and adjourned because there are what became apparent is there
are over I believe 50 separate claims or issues that need to be addressed. And if I began the work to prepare for an arbitration and in January this board appointed a different labor council, all
of the work I did would have to be duplicated by the new council with their point of view. They would have to speak to all the administration again, review documents all all over again to prepare for that. And from my point of view, as
has been said by many, this is a district, like every district whose dollars count. I was not going to bill for the sake of billing to get time in for something I was not certain I would appear to um process on behalf of the
board. And to me, that significant cost savings, which I can tell you is several thousand dollar minimally to address every single one of those claims, a placement on the salary guide, what retroactive money is due or not due. What started as what we
understood were two claims became 50 almost overnight. And for that reason, I adjourned that arbitration as a cost-savings measure. I would have loved to do the work and I started digging into it but when it came time and the date for reappoint became clear and then
it got moved again fiscally it didn't make sense for me to start that endeavor and hope that the work I did would benefit another attorney who either might see it a different way or was going to redo the work on their own. >> Thank you for um explaining it because we just kept hearing that you wasn't
showing up so now you had the opportunity to explain to us why and I understand. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you. Anyone else? Well, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you all. If if I'm not brought back, it's been a pleasure. I really have enjoyed working with the district
and it is a place where I have spent many many many years of my uh law degree or my legal practice with members of this community, some of whom are even here tonight. So, it's uh been my pleasure and I thank you all.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Parker McKay. >> Hello again and thank you for your time. I I will be brief again. Uh the key here is I have litigated everything from the small grievance arbitration in our boardrooms all the way up to the New Jersey and United States Supreme Court
when it comes to labor unemployment matters. I've negotiated agreements for all from our public work workers all the way up to our teachers and administrators. I an expert in labor and employment matters having you know studied this not only in college but at
Cornell University's labor law school. But the key aspect that I bring is not only being able to litigate and fight voraciously when it comes to labor and employment matters but to be proactive before they even happen. A 10-minute phone call from an administrator to
prevent a mistake from happening will save you thousands in the long run. A after all, dollars count. And the key here is I would much rather have that administrator give me the question about the FMLA or NJFLA. Give me that question about the interactive process. Tell me
how do you see this contract language? Can I pick your brain about how I'm going to adjudicate that contract language? And just having that open door, being able to solve that problem 10, 15 minutes at a time saves us from having to go through the grievance arbitration process, saves us from
having to have that complaint and go through nasty and expensive litigation. I look forward to working with you if you choose me to be your labor unemployment specialist, and I'll answer any questions you might have. >> I have none.
>> No. again. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> We can now hear from Scarinsky and Hollandbeck. Who's that? Not here. Taylor Lawren,
>> it is freezing. >> Feel like I'm at the North Pole. Good evening, madame president, uh board members, madam superintendent and administration. I am Lester Taylor of the Taylor Law Group. Um by way of background, uh I started Taylor Law
Group on October 1st, 2023, about 2 and a half years ago. Uh we say we are a new firm with decades of experience. Um by way of background, I've been practicing law for about 25 years. Um before starting my firm, uh I was with a firm founded by a former governor for about
16 years where I was an owner and equity partner uh at that law firm. Um I decided to venture out on my own. We started with four lawyers about two years ago again and we're up to 15 lawyers now. We represent several school districts across the state of New Jersey
from Bergen County all the way down to Camden County and everywhere in between um as general counsel, special education council, labor and employment, litigation, uh etc. So, we are a full service law firm. Um if I may step back for a moment, I'd be remiss if I didn't say thank you for the honor and
opportunity to present to you here this evening. Um, I had the opportunity to represent Pleasantville public schools on various occasions in the past. So, it's good to see various members of the community, uh, board members, familiar faces, etc. in the room. Um, so again, uh, with respect to our, uh, capacity,
uh, we have approximately 15 lawyers that are capable of servicing your legal needs. Um, we have an expertise in education law in particular. Um, again, serving in various capacities with various school districts. um I'll say of of pertinent relevance um from my
experience um was a recent uh case that I handled up to and before the New Jersey Supreme Court. It was a mod of San Juan versus the West New York Board of Education. It was a case that set new precedent in new law in the state of New Jersey uh establishing and codifying an
arbitrator's authority when fashioning a remedy in a labor arbitration dispute. Um, another labor matter, um, which was also a pretty novel issue at the time was about a decade or so ago where I represented the Jersey City School District, um, when their union, we were
in negotiations with their teachers union, uh, they actually went on strike. Um, at that time it was the first strike in the state of New Jersey in over 25 years. um based upon our representation, our preparation uh with respect to the entire process that was months in the making. Um because we kind of
anticipated that this labor action uh may occur. Um we were prepared with the advice and authority of our client to prepare and order to show cause before they even went on strike. So that when they did, coincidentally, on payday, once their direct deposit hit, they went
on strike. We filed our order to show cause at 9:00 am. We were in court by 2 pm with an order directing the teachers back to work. So, those are just some of the experiences um that we have with respect to zealous advocacy, being very proactive, uh being aggressive um but
also being cognizant of your role as elected officials uh in your community um and representatives of the taxpayer dollars. Um I can't say that I was a school board member, but I'm married to a former schoolboard member. Um, and I also had the pleasure of serving as mayor of the city live in
East Orange, New Jersey. So, I kind of understand, uh, from a firsthand account, uh, the passion, the commitment, uh, the time, uh, that it takes to serve your community, serve the public. Um, in many respects, it's a thankless job, as I'm sure you all know. Um, people publicly shame you and
privately praise you. Um, and so it's something that, you know, I have a better sense of how to, uh, empathize with you when you're making tough decisions sometimes at each other's necks. Um, but also try to help you, uh, with a sense of clarity and experience,
be able to get through those moments so that you can vote your conscience. Um, but also do so with information in advance. um information that is objective and accurate so that you can again make the decisions that are in the best interest of your taxpayer dollars and the students and community uh that
you serve. Uh I'd be happy uh to answer any questions, but I'll also say not only is our firm a minority owned firm obviously. Um but we also are a very diverse firm um with women and minorities in partnership as well as leadership positions in our firm. Uh we are proud to say we reflect the
communities that we serve and without communities like Pleasantville, we wouldn't be in business. So we look forward to the opportunity to be of service. Thank you. >> Great. >> I have a question. >> Um I sit here and I listen to the things you say how your firm has grown over two
years. Um why didn't you apply for board attorney? >> Um to be quite honest with you, I wasn't sure if you were satisfied with the current council you had. Um, but we did take great measures in our, uh, package. We do cover all of our facets, uh, general counsel, labor, employment, etc.
Um, we're happy to be considered for any position, uh, that you offered. I mean, obviously, this is an RFP process, so it's kind of, you have a lot of discretion with what you do. Um, but I've, you know, I'm looking at Mr. Paige right here, quite frankly, and I saw another board member out there. I represented this board before, and I
know that sometimes you might have been happy with who you had, so I figured I would just go in where the opening was with labor council. But if you're looking for other things, I'm happy to consider that. >> Appreciate it. Thank you. >> And I said that name at my own risk, quite frankly, because I know some of y'all might not like it, but understand
that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you so much. >> I'm cold. >> Any other questions? >> No. Thank you. >> Thank you all for opportunity. >> You're welcome. >> That's it. That's the last for labor. >> Okay.
>> Is that it? >> Can I get a motion for um to for board attorneys >> for what? >> I'm sorry. Please, please elaborate. A motion for you may >> uh who do you guys >> So do we go >> who do you want to appoint? Do you have
an idea or >> do you want to we do it in public or do we just go off the chart? >> We're not scoring off the chart. >> How do you want to proceed? >> Well, the board everyone reviewed their proposals. This was just for the
presentation. So, do you know who you want as a board solicitor? >> Can we go executive session? >> No, we can't discuss it in executive session. >> Well, that's what you're supposed to select it based on who you want for your board solicitor and your labor attorney.
>> We're under the assumption that we fill out the sheets. You tally them up. >> Okay. >> You say who won. >> Tally them up. Okay. But also because you rescended, we don't have a sheet for you at all. >> Do you have one for Jenna?
>> I don't have a sheet for her. >> Yeah, Miss >> Yeah, Jenna rescended her. So, I didn't have >> Can you get her a sheet? >> Well, we can get a copy. Try to get a copy. >> Sheet. We don't have a sheet for
>> Okay. >> I don't know. I don't know what else. tally the sheets. Don't do it right now. Don't rush it. >> Um, Miss White is going to take our sheets and tally them and then she will get back to the one we chose. Okay? So,
we don't take up too much time. We have um public comments. Um we ask you come to speak. We can't speak on personnel matters. Um we ask you to come speak courtesy and respectful. Uh
we have Jonathan Diego. The only thing I wanted to uh address and inquire from the board and again thank you for the opportunity to speak again address this body. Uh I had brought up on a previous board uh
meeting the possibility of the school district recognizing Three Kings Day as uh a day where students should have that day off uh in order to spend time with family,
friends, and recognize the importance of the day and the the cultural I I guess what I'm asking is the board to be concerned about the the cultural backgrounds of our school district which is over 70% Latino
and the reality that many of our students in the school district um and their families would like to have time together during that time of year. the school district does provide days off for other groups or or individuals with
other backgrounds and I think it would be prudent and proper that the school district actually put it up for a vote. So, not only in the hopes of passing a resolution calling for that day off each year, but also so the
public knows where the board members stand >> uh regarding the the people that they serve, the vast majority of which are Latino students. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Diego. Next, we have Miss
Kathy Watson from the PEA. Before Miss Watson gets started, I think this is easy fix. I make a motion that we acknowledge three kings day. >> Okay, I second it. >> Okay. Uh, any questions?
>> I second. >> Roll call. Miss White. >> Miss Silver. >> Second. >> Miss Silver. What date does that fall on? >> January 6. >> January 6. >> Okay.
>> Got to include that on the calendar. >> Yes. Make sure you put it on the calendar. >> Roll call. Miss White. Miss Akins. Miss Aikens. Three Kings Day. They did a motion to uh celebrate Three King Day. Three Kings
Day on January the 6th. >> Okay. I mean, yes. I'm sorry. Miss Harris, >> do you have the calendar? I'm just trying to see. No, I don't have the calendar, but it's January.
>> It's still yes, but I just wanted to see something. But go ahead. >> You said yes. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Miss Morgan. >> Mr. Rodriguez. >> Yes. >> Miss Sanchez? >> Yes.
>> Miss Waters? >> Yes. >> Miss Silver? >> Yes. >> Miss Roel? >> Yes. Motion carries. >> Thank you. >> Go ahead, Miss Watson.
>> Good evening. >> Good evening. >> Um I'm the president of the union for so I represent the uh the teachers, the custodians, security, uh maintenance, nurses, child study,
secretaries, all them. everybody most most almost everybody except for um the kitchen help and the um transportation. So, uh there's been a um recently there's been a lot of uh part-time people being hired and in order for me
to um you know help our people, we need to hire a lot more security guards, especially security guards full-time and full-time custodians. There's been a lot of uh part-time custodians being hired recently and we need full-time people
because then we get health care. Our our ESPs, educational support professionals are people who usually live in Pleasantville and they are members of our community. So, we want to make sure that they have health care and full benefits and and
full-time work. And then I'm sure that they will do a much better job and clean better and show up on time and they'll just be more responsible because it's not just going to be like their part-time gig. It's going to be like their actual job and people want an actual job especially nowadays. Um and
then like right now we have like hardly any any um security in the um high school and the middle school. We need we need more. And we have this new system in place that checks the students passes and they have to so the the the security
guards are now like um um bathroom monitors. So they just sit there. Some of them have to sit there and check the kids passes. So when there's a fight, when there's a fight in the high school, if you have four or five people in the building of a
thousand children and a couple of them are sitting at standing there checking the kids' passes, who's going to go down and break up the fight? So we need to hire some more security guards. It's it's definitely important. There's thousand kids in this
building, almost thousand in the in the middle school, and there's like four or five security guards, and several of them are sitting there looking at um passes all day. So, it's it's not something that, you know, it's it's significant. It's it's it's important. Um and then the other question that I
had was I've been told by a couple of people that um Mr. Gibson is now on the city council. So, how I don't understand how that works. if he's on the city council and he was sworn in last night, is he is he going to be on the board?
Like did he he can't do both? Like is he going to give his um resignation? Like I don't I don't know how that works. I was just told that by a couple of people. >> Thank you, Miss Watson. >> Thank you. >> What are we going to do with him?
>> Thank you, Mrs. Watson. to the board of education and to the community. Um, I'd like to just share that first we have an amazing student population.
Our high school students are amazing. our middle school students, right? Equally amazing. We have four elementary schools, amazing kids. As a matter of fact, you know, since the word fighting
came up, it it was recently won in a span of probably over 60 days. And so, I'd like to commend our students for adhering to the code of conduct. This
administration has worked diligently to address um our code of conduct particularly for six through 12th grade very much focus on restorative practices. Um and so
in the last 2 and 1/2 years, what we do know is that incidents involving any type of aggression or fight has deescalated. It has decreased.
and this administration and teachers and school leaders are focused on making sure that our students are engaged in the classroom and that they are not sent out of schools for unnecessary reasons.
I'd like to also state that one of the things that ensures that our students are thriving is that they stay engaged. So the fact of the matter is that the high school
has an allocation of 11 security officers. The middle school has an allocation of nine security officers. I am not a proponent of building a pipeline to jail. I'm a proponent of having students
have the opportunity to have access to highquality education with teachers. Our teachers who for the most part are amazing teachers are engaging students. And so I'd like to just make sure that the facts are understood. Our students
are indeed great kids. The data shows that misconduct particularly uh fighting has decreased in the Pleasantville public schools and we have kids that are adhering to the code of conduct. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Martinez. Next we have Mr. Johnson. >> All right. Uh, next we have uh David Callaway. >> Good evening. >> Good evening. Um, what I came to discuss
this evening, I have decided to leave it alone. But I just want you to know I will be back and it's not going to be nice. I can tell you that. Thank you. >> You're welcome.
Um, board comments. Mr. Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez, do you have anything to say? >> Just want to thank everyone for showing up. Um, please co keep showing up, offering your comments, uh, your
questions. It is not only um, a duty, it is it is a right to keep pushing, to keep asking questions. It's going to make this this school district better for all. So, thank you for showing up, for taking the time. Um, please keep
showing up. Ple please keep supporting our students. Um, and we will see you at the next board meeting. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Um, >> Marino, Miss Waters, Miss Sanchez.
>> I just want to say thank you for everyone coming out, showing up. Keep showing up. Bring numbers out. Hold us accountable. Whether you personally know us or you know us strictly from here, no matter what we do, hold us accountable. Thank
you. >> Yes, Miss Miss Akins. Thank you everyone for coming out. Um please continue to come show your support, bring your comments. Um and you
guys be safe. Thanks. Miss Miss Harris, >> no comment. >> Miss Morgan, >> I want to thank everyone for coming out with those who came to the microphone and spoke. We appreciate your comments,
your concerns. Just ask, you know, for people just to be a little bit respectful. We don't get paid to be here. We're here for our passion and trying to do better this board, make this board a better board than previous
boards and try to get along and do things collectively together and making decisions. We agree to disagree, but at the end of the day, we're going to try to do the right thing that's going to be for our staff and our students.
>> Thank you, Miss Morgan. Miss Silva, >> thank everyone for coming out. Our job is not an easy one. We have tough choices, tough decisions to make. But if we could only keep in mind that we do it
on behalf of our children, we will make the right decision. Thank everyone for coming out and we appreciate you. We are hearing you. We are listening. Please continue to voice your opinion and we will take it into consideration. Have a great night.
So you can >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes. I forgot I mentioned I wasn't I was still trying to do my paperwork and think at the same time. I want to personally thank Dr. Martinez on the behalf of our Muslim community
for observing our Ramadan month. We all appreciate you for um allowing everyone especially the students to participate. I hear from a lot of students they text me be like I'm about to go pray. I'm about to go pray. So that means a lot
and our board has turned around a lot you know to do that. So I wanted to personally thank you for that as well as the board for approving it as well. So, a lot of that goes with the board because we all work together for the right reasons and allowing them to take
the food home, you know, with that parade. So, that means a lot to us. So, I just wanted to speak on a behalf of the Muslim community that we strongly appreciate you for allowing this to happen and thank you and may Allah, which means God, reward you abundantly
with good in your endeavors and me. >> Thank you, Miss Morgan. Thank you, Mrs. Morgan. >> And just um to the board of education, just want to emphasize that uh in my administration, it is about all students. Regardless of who they are,
they all matter. And I hope that it continues to be a district where students are made first. I would just like to thank everyone for coming out. Um my colleagues had said it all. Um,
um, just just want to um, they said it all. I just have no comment right now. Sometimes you don't have words to say, so I don't like to make up things that I don't have anything to say, but I believe my colleagues up here have said
it all and they've taken a little bit of everything and said it for me. So, we will see you again. Um, April, I mean March the 17th is our next meeting. Until then, stay safe, healthy, and keep warm.
>> She's ready. >> Oh, she's ready. Okay. Okay. One one moment. I think we're ready for the um who we're going to who we'll do the motion for the two who had the majority.
>> Okay. So for labor it uh Taylor Law Firm. So you can do a motion for Taylor Law Firm and then do your votes. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Wait. Oh, sorry. I ain't hear nobody say second. Who said second?
>> Motion at the same time. So it don't matter. Motion. Second. >> Second. >> Miss Akins. Yes. Miss Harris, >> yes. >> Miss Morgan, >> yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez,
>> yes. >> Miss Sanchez, >> yes. >> Miss Waters, >> yes. >> Miss Silver, >> no. >> Miss Roelle? >> No. Motion carries.
>> Congratulations. >> Congratulations. We look forward to working with you next. Okay. For board attorney Bush Law Firm. Motion. Second.
>> Questions? Broke on Miss White. >> Miss Aikens? >> Yes. >> Miss Harris? >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez? No. >> I'm sorry.
>> I'm sorry I didn't hear you. No. Okay. >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Miss Waters. >> No. >> Miss Silver. >> No. >> Miss Roel. >> No.
>> So we'll go to the next which was >> Hunt. May I have a motion for Hunt and Reality? I'm sorry. >> We need another motion for that. >> Yes. >> Okay. May I have a motion for um Huntham
and Willy for our board attorneys? >> No. >> Border labor. >> This is for board attorney. >> Oh, for board attorneys. I'm sorry. May I have a motion? >> For Hunt and Rley. I can't even come. >> Sorry.
Okay. May I have a motion? Motion >> motion by Mr. Rodriguez. May I have a second? >> Second by Miss Silver. Questions? >> Yes, I have a question. How are we voting and he didn't he wasn't here to
apply? Shouldn't it be the second runner up? >> He wasn't able to be here. >> I understand that, but we have people that's here. So, shouldn't it be if we didn't agree on the first whoever the first runner up was, shouldn't we pick
on the second? How are we going to vote for someone who wasn't here who didn't do a presentation, >> right? How we doing that? >> That makes sense. >> What was your question, Mrs. Akens? >> Whoever is the runner up should be the
next person. >> He been here for three meetings. >> Board attorney, it was Mr. Uh Hammer wasn't here. It was Bush. >> Whoever we just voted on, >> it didn't it was split. >> He wasn't here. >> So the next runner up >> should be the next person
>> cuz how are we going to vote on something? >> Well, Jenna Cook Jenna didn't apply for >> No, no, no. Labor. >> We just tallied up numbers, right? >> Mhm. >> It it was even. So whoever's the second runner up with the second score, highest
score, should be the next person. How are we voting for someone who's not here? Who didn't >> give us a presentation? >> Give us a presentation. >> Well, he didn't give us a presentation. He submitted a proposal. But it's the board's decision. >> I understand that. But we should a job interview. >> Yeah, we should.
>> He wasn't able to be here, but he did present his presentation. >> It doesn't matter. Whoever's here should be. >> He did present his presentation when you came in to read them. >> What did he >> Because the majority was Bush and Hunt. So the other for Parker Mccay. Well, how are we voting for Hunt and he's not
here? That's why I'm understanding. >> They they scored him high on their actual evaluation even though he wasn't here. There was scores for Hunt even though he was not here. >> So, we're scoring based off of what? >> We're scoring based off of you um
looking at the coming in and looking at the RFPs. when you come in before we get here, you what you do is you go and you look at the RFPs and you review the RFPs and then you um determine which one you would like. So, we just did a courtesy
by having them come out >> um to interview. But when you actually review the RFPs, when you're going to Miss White's office, that's how you look through them and see that you what you're looking and that's how you basically score. Okay,
>> this should have really been scored before we got here. But >> I mean, >> but we did. >> Well, we should have had an explanation because I think told you when you looked at those RFPs, when you went into her office that you were supposed to uh score each one, each category when you
looked at >> who you voted for, you have to >> on your scoring sheet, you needed to vote for that person when you did >> the voting when we called the roll call vote. Mhm. Ain't that what we doing now?
>> Because Bush had more votes, but everyone didn't vote for him when they went around for roll call. >> Okay. So, now what's the second go round? >> I don't understand. You said you want to do another vote for Bush because some people voted for Bush but did not
>> on their scoring sheet, but they did not vote for Bush. >> That's not making no sense. Whoever you voted for, you should have voted for them and made sure on roll call you voted for them only and not someone else. They said no. So then
>> on paper they said yes. >> So on paper they said >> on the paper you said when it came time for vote you said no orain. >> Yeah. >> Moving on to the next person. >> Yeah. So it should be a match. So you want to do another roll call to make sure everybody understand >> right. So if you voted for Bush scored,
if that's who you wanted for your board solicitor, you needed to vote for him when we did roll call for Bush. And if that if you wanted Hunt Hamlin for your board solicitor, you should have voted for him when we did roll call for for Hunt. We I mean if you want to do it again,
whatever you documented, you have to vote for. >> So she said whoever you document is who you have to vote for. So everybody understood that. >> Or if you want to vote for go through the solicitor list and just vote, >> we'll redo it. Sounds good to everyone.
>> Trying to figure out now. >> If you want to just go revote for Bush and re vote for Hamlin or re revote for all four solicitors. >> I think we do the top two. >> The top two. >> Okay. Top top two was Bush was number one and Hunt Hamlin was number two.
Okay. We could go about it that way. >> Whatever we you vote, you need to select, but we need five votes to select the solicitor. >> Gotcha. Okay. So, go ahead and do the motion again, Miss White. >> Okay. This is board attorney and this is
for the company, the Bush Law Group. >> Okay. >> May I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Morgan. May have a second. Second by Miss Silver. >> Questions? >> No questions. Roll call. Miss White.
>> Miss Aikens. >> Yes. >> Miss Harris. >> Mrs. Bush. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez.
>> Yes. >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Miss Waters. >> Yes. Miss Silver, >> no. >> Miss Roell, >> no.
>> Motion carries. >> Congratulations. >> We're good. >> That's for >> This is for board general counsel. >> Congratulations. Who is this? >> Bush. >> Bush. >> Bush. Congratulations. Bush was for
board attorney and Taylor Law Group is for labor attorney. >> Okay. Congratulations um to Bush and the Taylor Law Firm. We have one more thing. Dear board members, I'm writing to
formally resign from my position as a member of the Pleasantville School Board effective immediately. Serving on the board has been an invaluable experience and I deeply appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the education and well-being of student community. I am proud of the progress we have made
together. I want to express my gratitude to my fellow board members, the school staff and the community for their support and collaboration during my tenure. Thank you for your understanding. Sincerely, Martin Gibson. >> Motion. May I have a motion to accept
the resation? >> Who? Which one? >> You motion? Motion by Mrs. Morgan, second by uh Mrs. Sanchez. >> All roll call. All in favor? >> No, we should be. We should do a roll
call. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. I take that back. >> Roll call. Miss White. Miss >> Aens. >> Yes. >> Miss Harris, >> yes. >> Miss Morgan, >> yes. Mr. Rodriguez, >> yes.
>> Miss Sanchez, >> how do I sign up? >> Miss Sanchez, >> Miss Waters, >> Miss Silver, >> yes. >> Miss Roell, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> And one more motion. I'm sorry. May I
have put a motion on the floor to advertise for the vacant seat? >> Motion >> to advertise for the vacancy seat. Remember? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Morgan, second by Miss Sanchez. Any questions? >> Yes. When for when are we advertising
for tomorrow? >> Okay. >> Effective immediately. >> Yeah. >> Can we appoint >> tomorrow and we will do the um interviews on March 17th.
>> Huh? >> The next the next board meeting is March. We would have to have a meeting. >> That's not a meeting. Yeah. So, we'll do it um March 17th. >> Okay. Miss Akins. >> Yes.
>> Miss Harris? >> Yes. >> Miss Morgan? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rodriguez? >> Yes. >> Miss Sanchez. >> Miss Sanchez. >> Yes. >> Miss Waters.
Miss Silver. >> Yes. >> Miss Roell. >> Yes. Motion carries. Okay. May I have a motion to adjourn this meeting? >> Motion. >> Motion by Mrs. Sanchez. May I have a second? >> Second by >> anybody. Everybody.
>> Everybody. >> Everybody. >> Everybody. >> Um, all in favor? >> I >> oppose. >> No. >> Good night. Don't forget to tell your uncle. >> I will. >> I'll take my water. My mouth is dry.