Thanks. Good evening and welcome to this public meeting of the Princeton Board of Education. The board is an elected unpaid group of 10 citizens who set policy and make decisions on educational, financial, and personnel matters for the public Princeton public schools on behalf of all residents. We
are always pleased when members of the community attend our meetings. The board and school district operate under applicable New Jersey laws and under regulations in the New Jersey State Board of Education. Each meeting includes an opportunity for those attending to comment on items on the
published agenda or other matters of interest to them. The board reserves a right to limit the time allotted to public participation. Law limits discussion of individual personnel and confidential matters. We hope our meetings provide useful opportunities for communication between the board and the community. Thank you for attending.
As required under the open public meetings act NJSA 104 4 through6 at sequentia adequate notice was given for this for calling this meeting. It was authorized by the board of education and forward it to the municipal clerk Princeton packet and the times on January 9th 2025 and distribute it to
the schools and others on the standard distribution list. The board reserves the right to enter into executive session during all meetings of the board of education. Board policy 0168, recording devices, requires that we inform those attending this in-person meeting that the proceedings are being recorded. This meeting is being
livereamed. The representative of the sending district is authorized to vote on such matters that affect sending district students or affect the governance of the Princeton public schools as more specifically designated in NJSA 18A 388 through 8.1.
sending district votes pertaining to personnel actions refer to the high school central administrative and districtwide staff only. Other votes otherwise are considered abstensions. In the event that NJSA 18A 388.1 is amended, the law should take precedence
over this bylaw. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris, and welcome uh officially to the district. Uh would you please call the role? >> I will. All right, Dr. Kendall >> here. >> Beth Baron >> here. >> Adam Beerman >> present. >> Debbie Bronfell >> here.
>> Mara Francheski >> here. >> Elanor Hubard >> here. >> Susan Caner >> here. >> Me myself >> here. >> Christopher Santario >> here. >> Katherine Lyra >> here. >> Thank you very much Mr. Harris. Um so welcome everyone uh to this July
meeting. Um Dr. Lusa, I would like to take the opportunity to officially welcome you here to Princeton. Even though you've been here for the past six months, uh we're glad that you're finally official and not setting off any alarms. You have all the codes, so we're good. Uh and Mr. Harris, welcome to you.
Thank you. Great job. Um the first thing on our agenda tonight is a public hearing uh which is required by law for the revised employment agreement for the superintendent of schools. Um, and what we have done here is, um, in January, we
approved a contract for Dr. Dr. Lassusa at $285,000 a year salary. Um, in, um, we didn't realize that, uh, Dr. Luza would be working here basically from uh, taking his own personal time and
vacations from January until June. Um, and so we were really um blown away by your dedication and we um discussed it and we felt that um a $10,000 increase in salary was appropriate um given in
recognition for the tremendous time and effort you dedicated uh during the six months before you formally assumed the role of superintendent. Um so um >> can did I need a motion? We need to just open up public comment to see the same.
>> Okay. Um so I don't know um if anyone else has anything they'd like to say. >> Um I reviewed the contract. I don't remember the $10,000 being added. Are we doing that now? What? >> Yes. So we spoke about it in uh close session in April, I believe. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I but we were going to
discuss it further. I didn't know we were >> Well, so um at the time I I received direction from the board to >> um really >> to uh work with council to see if we could um >> Oh, I think I remember. Oh, but >> yeah, if we and so um it took a while,
but we were able to uh get permission from the executive county superintendent to amend the contract. So that's why we're here today. >> He went along with it, too. I think I Oh, I'm kind of not happy, but anyway. Okay. No, you're great guy and I mean you work
hard but you just started you. >> Okay. Anyone else on the board? >> Eleanor. >> Uh I just want to say I support this recommendation. I think it's a great idea and um I think it appropriately recognizes um the effort that Mike has
put in so far. >> Uh yeah, but did >> Oh, no, no, not back and forth. We're going to go around. >> Um I second what Ellanar said. Um the amount of time and dedication and support that Dr. Lusa has given us since he was um since we awarded him this job
has been beyond I think any of our expectations and I am happy to be able to support this and also to say thank you for already what he's given to our district. >> Yeah. I also would like to express my gratitude on your work uh in creating a
smooth transition given that we also have a new business business administrator and a new head of of student services. We have a lot of transition, but you've come in in a way that's I think uh made everyone feel comfortable and and uh gotten to know people and asked questions and
participated in meetings. And so the the um overlap has been extremely helpful for the district and so I'm very much appreciative and very supportive of this measure. Thank you. I I think we're getting a huge >> Don't go close. Stay back.
>> Okay, now talk. [Music] >> Okay. I think we're getting a huge head start for you. >> Are you like Iron Man and you have like something there?
>> I don't know everything. >> All right. Anyone else? All right. Now we have to open the uh public comment. Um there's only one member of the public. >> I'm seeing nothing from >> You're seeing nothing. Okay. Um and I I
also did want to say that Dr. Lusa has spent a lot of time we did um pass a $90 million almost $90 million referendum in January and he spent a lot of time um getting to know all our buildings, the architects and everything. and that's going to ensure smooth
um well and the projects that are happening this summer. So um I'm so excited you're here and um even with this raise I don't think that you superintendents are appropriately compensated given that you're on call 247. You have 4,000 students and 800
staff members to constant and 10 board members to constantly manage. Um, so just thank you for for taking a shot with us and it's going to be a lot of fun as we've said. >> Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. Um, I also want to
thank you for being here for a lot of the interviews we've done, the highlevel interviews. um you know especially with your cabinet which has been really great and then really some supervisors under that because this is your team and so it's great that you're part of bringing your team in because I agree I mean
smooth smooth transition which is helpful for all of us. So thank you. >> Oh it's transition's over smooth sailing. All right Mr. Harris would you >> can I get a motion? Ari second. Um, Mara.
>> All right. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Uh, no. >> Yes. >> Yes. [Music] >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much. >> Sure. Not that I I like the way things are trending. We picked you. You're being paid the top one third salary um bracket in New Jersey. I just on
principle I wait a year until I look at anything about any type of bonus. Not that you didn't put in the time, but but and that's because you are the person you are. But that's how I feel. Thanks. >> Okay. Thank you. Um now, can I have a motion for the
adoption of the minutes for June 11th, 2025? Chris second. Eleanor. >> Any discussion? >> Any discussion? And also, I said I was going to slow down and I haven't. So, I'm going to put myself in a timeout. >> I don't have a mouse, so I'll definitely
slow you down. >> Okay. >> Uh, all right. We'll start with Jack McKendle. >> Yes. >> Beth Baron. Abstain. >> Anna Beerman. >> Yes. >> Debbie Brown. >> Yes. >> Markes.
>> Abstain. >> Elanor Hubard. >> Yes. >> Susan Caner. >> Yes. >> Ariel. >> Abstain. >> Christopher Centurio. >> Yes. >> Katherine L. >> Yes. >> Motion carries.
>> No. remember it was a Wednesday. >> It's not going to be helpful. >> No. >> We we we moved the meeting and and you had to go to the airport. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Well, so in addition to um you know, I'm
in charge of everyone's calendar, so I'm always happy to oblige. >> Yeah. Okie dokie. Um so now we're moving on to president's comments. I don't have anything. I already welcomed uh Dr. Lusa uh and Mr. Harris to the district and I'm going to turn it over uh and even
though it is summer, there's much much work going on in the district. And I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Lassusa. Welcome. >> Thank you, Miss Kendall. It doesn't look like the light is on, so I just want to make sure this is >> Yeah, mine's dead. Mine's dead.
>> Smooth transition. Um, thank you all very very much um for all of your kind words and um it's been two weeks exactly I think today uh since I began and it has felt much longer than
that in a good way uh because I've had such an incredibly warm embrace uh from so many people including everyone in this room uh and I mean everyone in this room uh and the staff in the schools and the parents. Uh we've done a couple of
meet and greets uh with me. Uh last week we began them and tomorrow morning they'll continue at Lilipis if that's the proper pronunciation. I'm getting there. Um >> so I I've just enjoyed working with everyone so far and meeting everyone and
it's only been two weeks so I don't think two weeks a transition makes. Give a another couple of months before we pat ourselves on the back. Uh but nonetheless, it's been just a wonderful wonderful um experience thus far and I'm looking forward to a lot more
wonderfulness in the coming months and years. Um there also is a lot of construction happening in the district and much of the uh anticipated construction has really been in the planning phase and Mr. Harris and I and members of the uh long-term planning
committee, which they will report about uh shortly, uh have been in meetings and and in discussions and trying to ensure that uh all projects uh come in on time and on budget and in a thoughtful manner that uh benefits everyone in the district. Uh but I'm going to steer it
over to Mr. Harris now just so that he can touch on some of the projects that are underway from uh prior referenda and uh prior planning. uh because we've we've had I think a pretty good summer so far even though we're only a few weeks into it uh with uh hitting the the
targets and the timelines. So Andrew, you want to comment on anything? >> Is there Oh, is there a PowerPoint? >> It's not a power. [Music] >> No, it happens all the time. All right.
All right. So, PHS tennis courts and basin renovation, demolition work is mostly complete. Retaining walls around the basement have started to be rebuilt. Tennis courts have been demolished, and the contractor is grading the area before installing the new courts. On track for substantial completion by
August 29th, which is per the contract. uh high school turf field contractors replacing the nailing nailer boards around the field to be at the right height to keep the turf infill from spilling out. The installation of the turf carpet and shockwave product underneath is ongoing and moving swiftly. Helis expects to be completely
finished by August 8th, which is on schedule. Uh the PHS bleacher replacement demolition is complete. The electrician will install power receptacles the week of 7:21. Nickerson will begin installing the new bleachers the week of 7:28. Nickerson is scheduled to be complete by 8 to 12.
And then finally, uh, middle school perimeter heating upgrades. Contractors making progress on piping and new control valves to serve the new heating zones. Contract will be substantially complete by August 30th, which is on schedule. The system will be finally commissioned at the start of the heating
season. That's all. >> Does that conclude your report? >> Thank you, Andrew. And, uh, that wraps up my report. >> Okay. Thank you. Thank you, um, Andrew. Uh all right, moving on now. Um we have uh our first public forum uh public
comment on any item that is on your mind. >> Can I speak? Please just let us know your name and just tell us like your relationships with district. >> Okay. If you don't know that, we're really in big trouble. Just a minute. Come on. >> Hi, my name is Annie Hopkins or Antinet
Hopkins. Um, I live in Heightstown, but I've worked in this district for 34 years, although it says 33 on the [Laughter] Um, and uh, I came tonight just because I didn't have the opportunity a month ago because we didn't really settle and
anything isn't on the board agenda till tonight and I really have waited until that was really finalized before I had put my paperwork in. Thank you, Angela, so much. So I just wanted to read a brief statement to all of you and say um good evening everyone. I've worked 49
years in education and I have gone to school every single day since I was five. It will I never missed a year and so this September will be very difficult habit for me to break.
When I first arrived in Princeton 34 years ago, I was like going on a trip, but instead of reaching my destination, I arrived in what seemed like a foreign country. I didn't have the right clothes. I didn't speak the right
language, and I didn't understand the culture of Princeton. It took me a while, but I knew that this was my new home. I have raised my family here, shared my happy times and a few very sad times.
All the while, this new home guided me. They were there when I needed a shoulder and smiled when I needed affirmation. All the while, we all had one goal, students first.
It is what I believe the core of this district is. Each and every student and individual here matters. With that in mind, as I leave and enter this new journey, I ask you to embrace
the people here and make room for the new students and staff and invite them to be part of our legacy. Years later, they will be grateful to be part of this special team. I also remind
you to care for those who have given years of service to this district. They are what makes us great. I want to thank each and everyone here, especially the board for helping us
ratify and approve our contract. And of course, Michael, I wish you well. Um, and what and welcome you to your new home. Thank you all. I will miss all of you. >> Thank you, Annie. [Applause]
Do I get my my uh photo album? >> I think you're going to have to come next year. >> I have to come back. >> You have to come back. >> You're the first one on that list. >> And a ton of brownies apparently. A ton of brownies.
>> And I did wear green. >> It's really a gray. And Barbara, you're wearing you're wearing teal. Um I don't know what kind of message you're trying to send, Barbara. It's teal. It's blue. It's green.
>> Like are you in the middle or or that's just a nice summer color. >> Great. >> Well, Annie, uh you know, we're going to get you we're going to get to you on the agenda later, but um you know, we're very grateful that you've been here for 34 years. Uh you're a force. Uh you have
worked as one of our esteemed uh instructional assistants at Princeton High School. Um you are well loved by both your colleagues and your students and you were dedicated every day to those students. Um as a uh co-president
of PRSA, you are formidable negotiator um and you helped us negotiate and navigate the contract that we are approving tonight. Uh we will miss you, Annie. um you've always been an advocate for students and we hope that spirit remains with us as a legacy to PPS and
thank you for joining us tonight. >> Thank you. [Applause] >> All right. Uh moving on. >> Da do I need to read this now? >> Do you want to do it now or >> or is it at the end?
>> We can do it whatever you So we did Why don't we do it now since you mentioned it, but usually we try to do it at the end. Uh, we have a um some an email comment that Mr. Harris is going to read. >> This is from Mary Lungquist. Dear Princeton schoolboard members, my name
is Mary Lungquist and I am the mother of three public school students, a rising sixth grader, third grader, and 3K. I am part of a growing group of parents who are concerned about smartphones in schools. In regards to kids mental mental health and social well-being, I'm advocating for a bell-to-bell policy which has been adopted by many schools
and shows that kids who don't have phones interrupting their time at school are connecting to the teachers, each other, and their schoolwork much more than those who are checking their phones during or in between classes. I am worried about shrinking attention span and growing anxiety in kids who have phones in their bags or pockets. My kids
do not have phones, but during school, they will be surrounded by hundreds of other kids, and the culture of the school affects them as well. There are pouches and lockers that phones can be stored in during the day. They are not expensive, and the cost would be worth it considering the benefits of students who thrive and connect to each other without being distracted by their
phones. Thank you for your time and all that you do. We are so grateful for PPS. Wormly, Mary Lungquist. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. And um I think that's all right now for public comment. Yes. Okay. U moving on. Um item I,
harassment, intimidation, bullying. And then we have uh J board committee reports. We're going to start with long-term planning and it's Beth. >> Um >> and I think it's going to be a long one. >> Well, I'm not going to read the whole thing. Um we met on long-term planning
met on July 10th. Um and we were very happy to have our new leadership team with us. And we do acknowledge the fact that our scope of work is rather broad and wide ranging. So we do appreciate how quickly um our our administrators
are coming up to speed on all the things that are going on. We talked about generally the goals and work of the committee including the committee's role in developing the 2025 referendum projects as a valuesbased solution to a five toyear five to sevenyear capacity challenges with the values remaining key
to guiding the implementation over the next three to five years. So it's important that we understand where we came from and continue to use those values as we make choices going forward in terms of implementation. Um, we also talked about um the importance of of the
administration providing thoughtful and timely input on PPS current and future needs uh to the council's site planning efforts which are ongoing and underway and we appreciate that that's um being given attention um that in in particular the CP South uh project and the
Westminster planning. So we appreciate that that's on our radar. Um, architect George Duthy updated us on next steps on the 2025 project implementation, including submission of materials to the town next week, this week in advance of September 4th planning board
presentations. Um, they uh materials include traffic studies, which is uh important, and we appreciate that that work is being done carefully and look forward to hearing more about that in August. Um we uh in refining plans uh that are going to be ultimately put out
to bid for these projects. The architects informed us that they continue to work with internal stakeholders including food service and the tech department and we talked about the importance of landscape planning there and working with sustainable Princeton on our outdoor spaces. Um and
we were informed that the PH PHS HVAC project which was part of the approved projects in January is on schedule and the 2025 projects in the remainder of the project should be ready for bid in December mid December which we're happy to hear that's moving along. So that was
basically the the brunt of our meeting and kind of acquainting everyone with the the broad work that we're doing. Um, and we will be meeting next month, I believe, but we have yet not yet set the dates. >> Thank you, Beth. Uh, next up is operations with Susan.
>> Um, hi. We met on July 2nd at 8 a.m. via Zoom. We also welcome Dr. Lassusa, Andrew Harris to our meeting formally. They had both attended before. Um, I won't go over what Andrew already went over in terms of the updates we received on all the projects, but we were uh
really happy um that they had already dived in and had such a deep understanding of what was going on with the district. We did discuss um a project we had to delay uh this summer which was on playgrounds and um regrading of land. Uh we discussed when
we would rebid that project so they're working uh with the team. So, in the fall, we'll be ready for a REBR bid and moving that forward. Um, we also discussed some non-referendum work uh that was that's being done in the district during the summer uh around our
fire safety inspections, uh potential LED lighting upgrades and a greenhouse reservation for the high school. Um, we then had a presentation from our solar consultants and we all agreed that the the admin team would bring back suggestions based upon that presentation
uh for the board to consider in the future as we try to figure out how to move forward with solar. Uh, finally, Sustainable Princeton reported on several topics including our pending electric buses which the chargers are hopefully getting installed any week
now. um and an update on a grant for trees that's still pending and our continued work in getting our schools certified as uh green schools. Uh our next meeting is going to be in early August, either uh August 7th at 9:00 a.m. or August 13th at 8 a.m. pending
committee feedback. Thank you. >> Thank you. I have a question and I was um managing so I wasn't listening 100%. But um so I apologize if you discussed this but I had a question about tariffs and um so there was a report today right like inflation's going up because of
tariffs. So are we at that point yet in the project plan? No. Okay. I'm worried about it. >> Okay. >> What we did discuss is what we did what we did discuss is that when RFPs go out, we take a look at what prices things are
bid at. Um, so far yet they didn't seem like they thought it was affecting prices, but when we get closer to doing our bids, how we break down those bids and whether we accept or reject those projects and in what order we accept and reject those projects is how we've done
it in the past. We don't assume we're going to get a bad bid. We just assume, but we're ready for the contingency if we do. And should we need value engineering as we've had to do in the past, it would be something we would discuss as a board, I think, and understand what what it would be that we were prioritizing. >> So, do you anticipate that's going to be
a fall discussion? >> No, I'm not sure when it will be. >> I think it might not be until the RF closer to when we really do the RFP. >> So, November. I'm just trying like that's fall, too. So, I'm just trying to >> Well, I I just don't think anyone can really predict and it's changing so much
that it doesn't make sense to necessarily talk about I mean, I think they'll bring it to us when it's and it becomes a issue with the pricing. >> So, what they're seeing right now is that they pre-bought and they pre-ID a lot. So, we're not yet seeing those effects, but we will start to see those effects. I'm not sure that anybody is
really knows. >> So, it's not going to be discussion until it becomes an issue. Is that right? not an issue, but in how we put together the RFPs, if we're seeing higher prices, then we'd reject certain projects and not go forward as quickly
and we would we kind of have the admin team has discussed where they might see those projects that they might go forward a little slower, but yet we haven't determined that the tariffs are actually going to happen. They've been
delayed again uh till August 1st. and on what products they're on. And so um and a lot of companies pre-bought materials in anticipation of um potential tariffs. So they may already have goods in the United States and not it won't affect
us. So but we're not sure or it could be a you know terrible and and affect us drastically. >> Yeah. The only other thing that the architects also touched on I think and this was in relation to the solar projects and the uh referendum projects
uh was that if we go out for bid or um RFPs in the case of solar and we get something that we like then it's the bidder that's on the hook for whatever risk that then arises. So, if we if we
bid the middle school project as just as an example and the bid a bid came in uh at at a point that we were comfortable with and that fell within the the specs, uh if then tariffs create a problem, we wouldn't be the ones who were at risk
there. And same thing with solar, but the solar discussion I think was lengthier and there were more concerns being shared about the solar projects because of the big beautiful bill in Washington and the impact that will have on on solar.
>> In fact, solar seems the opposite that they've almost incentivized you to potentially do it within a year if other things are hold even. But that's a risk that we are going to have to talk to our consultants about and the admin team of
you know is it something we could try before you know the changes in the that the bill anticipates because that they did pass definitive legislation on. >> Okay. I just heard you know 50% tariff
on copper so I was worried. So >> yeah I know I know but I didn't have a chance to follow up so I appreciate it. All right. Uh, moving on now to personnel. >> Mara, thank you. >> The personnel committee met the morning of Thursday, July 10th. During the meeting, we reviewed the updated job
descriptions, which you'll see on tonight's agenda. Additionally, we discussed a few positions that do remain open for the upcoming school year. However, generally, we're very excited and in a great position visa v um past years regarding filling open um positions for the next school year. Our
next meeting will be on Thursday, August 7th. >> Thank you, Mara. And I'm moving on now to pol policy, but there was no policy this month, right? So now we're moving moving on to student achievement with Elanor. Uh thank you. Um student
achievement met on July 11th at 10:30. And we had just one item on our open agenda, which was a field trip, a new field trip to Spain, which is on the agenda um for approval tonight. And I just also wanted to um note for anyone who's watching that you may see that
none of us have computers uh at this meeting unless we need them. Uh that's not uh a collective memory lapse but an intentional adoption of a new practice um so that we can be more present um at these meetings. Thank you. Oh, and our
next uh student achievement meeting is likely to be on August 7th at 9:00 a.m. Um barring changes >> which could happen. which could happen. >> All right, thank you, Eleanor. Um, and the only reason that I use a
computer is because I can go quicker than leafing through the paper, but I did promise that I would go slow. Uh, so maybe I need to put myself on a digital diet, too. We'll see how that goes. All right. Uh, moving on now to the personnel agenda. K1, central administrator contracts, 2526. K2,
retirement. Uh, Annie, we wish you all the best. Um, K3 resignations, K4 appointments, K5 transfer reassignment, and stop me if you want to talk about anything. K6 personnel item, K7 leave of absence, K8 substitute student
placements. K9 curriculum and instruction. K10 student services. Um, K1 presser reappoints revisions. K12 athletic appointments. Uh, K13 is appointment of the affirmative action team for 2528. Uh K14 is termination,
K15 is job descriptions, and K16 uh I just want to point out is ratification of the agreement of the pressa contract 2025 uh to 2028. Uh moving on now to curriculum instruction. L1 revised preschool private uh provider contracts.
L2 the 2526 bilingual waiver. Do you want to talk about that really briefly, Kim? Sure. >> Um uh am I micro? So every year we have to kind of resertify with the state about our bilingual plan. Um in Princeton we don't have enough students per greyband to have a separate
bilingual class. So we apply for a waiver for the state. They grant it and then every three years we submit like a multilingual plan. So that was um accepted by the state last year. We're being cacked um this year by the the county and the DOE. So, those are some of the things that they just look for to make sure that they're on board agendas
for approval and that we're submitting these waiverss um at the appropriate time. >> Okay. Thank you. Um L3, I believe, is an action item. Can I get a motion, Debbie? Second, Ari. And this is a student overnight trips >> that Eleanor mentioned.
>> Sorry, >> because I told you to change it and then I wasn't at a meeting and changed. >> It's okay. It's my fault. >> That's right. It's true. >> All right, I'm ready. >> You're doing great.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Uh, I need a motion. >> It was Debbie and a second. Eleanor. >> Thank you. >> I'm sorry. Who was the second one? Elanor, wasn't it? >> Yeah. >> Oh, it was Ari. Sorry. >> You look so You look so similar. I'm really sorry.
>> I know you're conserving energy. It must be the parents of young children. >> Thank you. All right. Dr. Kendall, >> yes. >> Beth Fab, >> yes. >> Adam Beerman, >> yes. >> Debbie Brown, >> no. [Music] >> Maria Franchesci,
>> yes. >> Elanar Huffford, >> yes. Susan Caner, >> yes. >> Ari Myel, >> yes. >> Christopher Sanpio, >> yes. >> Catherine Larry, >> yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. Um, L4, TCJ, Professional Development School Network.
And then we have L5, the school calendar 2526. And Dr. Lucas, I know you told me what we're changing, but if you could remind me. There had been a notation on the calendar previously that after three days, three snow days or three days for
inclement weather with schools closing that then the district would move to virtual instruction and that's not permitted. You if you're closed for three consecutive days, you can apply to the um county superintendent, I believe, but you must be closed for three consecutive days and it has to be
something uh very extraordinary for them to approve it. So that we should just remove that. So if we exceeded 3 days, we would have to make up those days at another time. >> Okay. So no change. Parents don't have anything to worry about. It's just a a housekeeping. >> That's right.
>> So I I noticed that we do not have the day off for voting in November or June, which means right now we only have voting at one elementary school to my community in Littlebrook. And just really hoping we can move it out of Littlebrook, which would be great for
our students and staff. Um, we have early voting, we have mail in voting, not many people go physically. Anyway, just my announcement. So, anyway, I noticed there were no vacation, no days off, which I'm fine with that. I just I just
worry that we still have people coming into Little Brook. >> Yep. Thank you, Debbie. And we are grateful to the mayor for his help in moving it out of the three >> the other three elementary school. One more to go. >> Yep. One more. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, moving on now. Uh, student services, special education. M1, school nursing plan. M2, special
education, independent educational evaluations. That's a mouthful. M3, educational placement of pupils, 2526. M4, professional consulting services. M5, uh, NJ Commission for the Blind. And then we're moving on to um, N1,
financial reports. That's an action item. Can I get a motion? Ari second, Chris. [Music] All right. D Kendall >> abstain. >> Beth Bman. >> Yes. >> Beman. >> Yes. >> Debbie Brownfeld. >> Yes.
>> Mara Francheski. >> Yes. >> Alan Hubard. >> Yes. >> Susan Caner. >> Yes. >> Ari Myel. >> Yes. >> Christopher Sanpia. >> Yes. >> Catherine. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. Uh, we have N2, which is fire and evacuation drills. And
then N3 is an action item. Can I get a motion? Mara Debbie. >> All right. Starting with Dr. Kindle. >> Abstain. >> Dr. Baron. >> Yes. >> Hannah Berman. >> Yes. >> Debbie Brownfeld. >> Yes. >> Mara Franceski? >> Yes. >> Ellen Hubard?
>> Yes. >> Susan Caner? >> Yes. >> Ariel? >> Yes. >> Christopher Cintarpio? >> Yes. >> Katherine Larry? >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. Uh moving on. Um and four formal bid transportation award and five phs bleacher
contract that Mr. Harris was talking about and six is the bid and quote threshold authorization and seven is registration travel agenda. Um we have our second public comment uh time now. Anyone? There are no takers. Um so moving on.
Can I get a vote for the consent agenda? A motion. Beth second. Ari. >> All right. Starting with D Kendall. >> Yes. >> Beth Bon. >> Yes. >> Beerman. >> Yes. >> Runfo. >> Yes. >> Mara Francesc. >> Yes. >> Helen Hubard. >> Yes.
>> Susan Caner. >> Yes. >> Ariel. >> Yes. >> Christopher Sanarpio. >> Yes. >> Katherine Lar. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Thank you, Mr. Harris. Um, what a great job you did. We threw in a little twist and turns and you you handled it really well. Uh I'm going to work on slowing
down. Um we wanted to talk really briefly about our um committee meeting schedules. So what did you want to talk about? >> Well um our superintendent put out some new ones and just seeing where people are in their schedules. >> Can you can you
>> Oh, so they are >> I think he wants to have a consistent the Dr. Should he should he let us should he talk about it? >> I just have a list. >> Okay. >> Well, la last week we had our our board
retreat uh which went well and um one of the suggestions that I had was to consider having a consistent uh set of days for meetings and consistent time so that we don't have committee meetings happening on all different days of the week and at different times. Uh so I put
out just a draft agenda and um the one I'd say substantive concern uh shared was by Debbie that maybe we should begin if we're going to make a change we begin in September because people have plans in August. So that was really the I think the the primary discussion and
then of course if anyone wants to add anything else we can. So, basically what you wanted to do is to have the meetings uh on two days of the week at the um I think it was eight o'clock and >> 9:00 am and 1 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. >> I knew you did something n and so um
which is great because now our meetings are all over the place at different times. So, it would allow it would be more consistent and it would also allow members of the board if they wanted to switch committees to have that uh flexibility if we were to move people around. Um
>> I'm I'm indifferent about August. I I was just thinking because it happened so soon and um we had some pre meetings, but I will go with whatever the group I'm fine with changing them all. I just didn't know if August was too soon with summer. >> Uh I'm fine with it. I did notice that
there seemed to be two concurrent meetings. Um >> he's that good. >> No, I I there were one or two mess ups. Um, and I and I'm I'm going to correct I was going to wait until the outcome of this discussion and then I'll send
another sort of final draft and if we pick up any other errors, I'll correct those and then send it back out. And then um we met today as a cabinet and we're going to build uh a shared Google Drive that we plan to have ready on our end uh by August 1st that we will then
populate with some of these key files including the schedule. But I'll send it out to you before then. >> Adam. >> Oh, did you discuss your plan about your game about trying to keep meetings to a certain amount of time? Is that still >> Well, that was just a silly idea. I don't know if that's the subject of
board business this evening, but >> Sorry about that. Sorry. I liked it. I liked it. >> But the the short of it was to try to target uh a certain amount of time or allocate a certain amount of time to committee meetings, either 90 minutes or 60 minutes. uh if we need more of course we can go longer but to try to have a
consistent goal so there's an expectation and people can make plans or arrangements knowing that the meeting should conclude within 90 minutes and not more than that >> and an incentive potentially to try to >> what's the incentive candy
>> well the idea was that the that the committee that exceeds by the greatest amount of time would then have to um >> run laps >> by handy for the for the for the rest of us for the board. >> Reese's peanut butter cups.
>> Anything you want. >> I just had two questions and that was I noticed that December and January you have the um student achievement and operations after the monthly meeting and I just wondered how that would work given that normally in operations we have a lot of items that are on the
subsequent agenda which we then hash through and sometimes we don't even are not even able to get them all in. So just wondered the thinking there. there there wasn't thinking um there was as I went through each month we have a bunch of first of all there are holidays and
things like that that are interfering with having total flexibility and then we do have some pre-planned uh days in there uh whether it's for parent teacher conferences or professional development all day long that Kim has scheduled with
her people. So, I was I was moving through the district approved calendar and then our individual calendars to try to avoid as many conflicts as I could, but I can revisit any months that seem a little awkward. There are also, I think, two months maybe total where there are
committee meetings on the same day as a board meeting, which I tried to avoid as well, but there were a couple of months where I found that difficult to do because of other stuff that had been planned. >> Yeah, I think moving towards a consistent schedule is a great idea. I just given my experience in ops on ops
in particular we often really work through a lot of things that then we we we struggle to even get those things totally worked through so that we can then say we've heard it on because we're doing finance and >> but don't you think it would be fun to approve it and then see what we approve and then go and undo it
>> just reading >> I cannot do that >> just asking the question for me approval >> I had one other question and I thought was interesting that you have in January you would continue to have the sitting board uh do the first meeting of the month and then the reorg at the end of
the month. Um >> no, that's not right. The by law it has to be >> I that was not deliberate. The the reorg should be the has to be the first week of January. Yeah. >> And then I stuck another meeting at the end of the month, I think. >> Maybe that's a retreat.
>> No, we have two meetings in January. >> Okay. Well, I think it's on the and the one we got it says that the reorg is on the 27th and I I'm I didn't realize that. That's an oversight. >> I find that interesting. That's all. >> I suppose anyway. Well, >> yeah. And the all of the the the meetings beyond January 4th or 5th for
what should be labeled as the reorg. All of those I just penciled in based on um because they haven't been established by the board yet, adopted by the board. I just penciled them in as potential meeting dates and I tried to push them toward the end of the month so that the committee meetings could happen before
the board meeting that month. >> Yeah, it's super helpful because in the past we haven't had those meetings scheduled and even sometimes into December and we all have, you know, calendar. So, we appreciate this. Thank you. >> I'll keep chipping away at it and get you a fresh draft within the next day or two.
>> All right. Any other comments? >> No. Um and I'll finish before seven so I get a bonus. >> Um Um, so our next meeting is um August 26th, but um in the meantime, a lot of work will be going on. So we want to wish everyone a good summer, continue to
enjoy the summer, and uh we'll see you on August 26th. Can I get a motion to adjourn? Beth, second, Elellanar. All in favor? I. >> All right, we're journed. Thank you. Got to go party.