session >> and then we do it there. >> Yeah. Yeah. When we come out at executive >> one obviously here. Okay. All right. I will call this meeting to order. It's 6:52. Um can I have a roll call, please?
>> Miss Brown. >> Miss Allesandro >> here. Mr. Frius >> here, >> Mr. Cohen, >> Mr. Sims >> here, >> and President Langley >> here. >> We have a quorum.
>> Thank you. Uh, we'll now move on to the swearing in of our new board member. >> So, what I'll do, I'll bring you up to stand up right here. >> Right in the middle. You >> go. You want to stand in front?
The camera's facing that way. So camera. Oh my gosh. >> So just hold up your right hand and then repeat after me. >> I and then state your name. I, Patricia Bryan, >> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> or affirm >> or affirm >> that I will support the Constitution of
the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear >> and that I will bear >> true faith >> true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same
>> and to the governments established >> and to the governments established >> in the United States >> in the United States >> and this state >> and this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> I and then state your name. >> I Patricia Bryan
>> do solemnly swear >> do solemnly swear >> or affirm >> or affirm >> that I possess the qualifications >> that I possess the qualifications >> prescribe by law >> prescribe by law >> for the office of member of a board of education >> for the office of member of a board of
education. and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of that office >> of that office >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability >> so help me God >> so help me God
>> congratulations welcome to the board >> thank you so muchelcome >> and now you could assume this yeah got All righty. Uh, can I We're going to move into close session. Uh, no action will be taken. Can I have a motion to
move into close? So moved. >> Second. Second. Uh, all in favor? I >> All right. We'll be back at 7:30. I'm going to bang my gavvel. All righty. It's 7:30. Uh we are reconvening this meeting. Uh
can I have roll call, please? >> Miss Brian. here, >> Miss D. Allesandro >> here, >> Mr. Frius >> here, >> Mr. Sim >> here, >> and President Langley >> here. >> We have a qu. >> Thank you. Uh, let's all rise for the
flag salute. >> I pledge allegiance to the to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Uh, Miss D. Allesandro, would you read
the mission statement, please? The >> River Edge School District is a partnership of students, parents, staff, and community members. We are dedicated to providing a supportive environment in which all students can reach their maximum academic potential while developing a responsible citizens as
responsible citizens who respect individuality. Our goals will be achieved because curriculum and instruction are aligned with the New Jersey student learning standards. All decisions reflect the academic, social, emotional, and physical needs of preK to sixth grade students. Cooperation and
ongoing communication exists between the school district and the community. School administrators and the board of education work together to assess and adjust procedures in response to new mandates and the changing needs of the community. >> Thank you. Uh open public meetings
notice. Pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, notice of this meeting, its date, time, and place have been delivered to the post office, municipal building, and the record, and posted on the district's website at least 48 hours prior to the time of this meeting. >> Thank you. You're welcome. Uh we'll move
on to public comments on agenda items. If anybody is not here for the spelling awards and wants to talk about something on the agenda, uh now is the time to do that. Seeing as no one's leaping to their feet, uh, we'll move on to the spelling be student recognition,
Mr. Grimshaw's making his way up. >> Good evening everybody for the first time. >> Hey everybody, for the first time uh, in in I I guess Riverridge history, I'm not quite sure. Uh the district this year uh participated in the script spelling bee.
Um the uh each building had their um own competitions. We have uh representative we have uh the winners from each class here tonight or we certificates for them tonight. Um and uh and then the building winner uh from each uh each school. So Mr. Grimshaw is going to help me out
tonight. Um and read the names and then you hand the certificate to me and I'll pay it for the students. >> Perfect. That's how it should work. >> So, we'll start with the building winners. >> They're on top here. So, uh
>> Okay. Uh so, congratulations to uh Susan Pansari. All right. Picture. Here we go. Ready? Do I'll do all the cherry hills first. >> And apologies to my Cherry Hill friends. I do my best to pronounce the names
correctly. Okay. >> Okay. Asher Chang, >> Annabelle Filin. Elizabeth Lee. >> Congrats, Elizabeth. >> Uh, Vana Shamadia. I forgot to do that hand over here.
>> Uh Evelyn CHUNG HERE. CONGRATULATIONS. Myra Bala. Congrats, Myra. Mdalia Valdez, ALEXUDUS. There you go. Uh, Kelsey Crowac. >> Congratulations,
Jace Desolinus. You want us to move over a little better? All right. Here we go, buddy. All right. Camera. >> Excellent. >> CONGRATULATIONS. AGRAMA. No more.
>> Uh, Mari U. >> Congratulations, Vana Matri. It's a busy night. Avery Angaro. THERE WE GO. OKAY. HELLO.
Camera Jaden Ma. >> ALL RIGHT. HALEY PARK. >> EXCELLENT. Swathy Manchu or Manchu. Okay. Dominic Soong. Congrats. Okay. And Vivian Gow. VIVIAN.
Just make sure here >> anyone from Cherry Hill would call. >> Okay. >> Okay. Well, that concludes our Cherry Hill contestants and winners. >> Okay. So, uh, representing Roosevelt, uh, congratulations to Kitten Dennis
Sacchar. >> Okay. Uh, also from Roosevelt School, uh, Eden Lee. EXCELLENT. >> Congrats to Ian Kim. Noan. All right. Next time. Joel Vasquez. Hey Joel.
Jaden Kim, Advoc Krishnan. There you go. >> There it is. That's That's >> okay. Thank you. >> Amelana Lloyd. NICE. Nikita Mitra.
There you go. >> Sebastian Gonzalez. Oh, hold on. >> No, you're okay. Let me get your way. >> Ready? There we go. >> Thank you. >> CONGRATULATIONS, >> LOA. Giana
here tonight. No Loa. All right. Gerard Shupner. Gerard. Okay. Ada Gunnhan. >> And rounding out our Roosevelt winners, uh, LUCA ALV We'll use the flag. We'll make it
pretty. Standard. I think tall people. >> Everybody say cheese. Eric, >> this good? SO, UH, everybody's more than welcome to stay if they want, but I think what we'll do is we'll take 5 minutes and you
guys can can head out for the evening and enjoy what else you're whatever else you're going to do, and then we'll we'll reconvene in about 5 minutes. Yes. You got to do your best. >> Oh yeah. So we kind of All right,
>> we're okay. All right. All right. Uh, moving on to superintendent report. >> Good evening everybody. Uh, congratulations to our spelling be recipient uh, winner winners. That was a a very good showing of um recipients. If um anyone is watching uh and they didn't
get a certificate, we will get them uh to the students at home room. Um okay, I am required to report twice a year on the uh um the SSDS report. I have to certify that. Um there's certain due dates. Um this is about uh HIV
incidents, HIV training completed and then HIV programs. So for the Cherry Hill School, um this is from September 1 through December 31st of 2025. So the first essentially the first half of this year uh there were two incidents um
and then uh 11 programs completed for the Roosevelt School. There were two incidents and nine programs completed uh three training programs for the staff districtwide. So that is the uh that is the SSDS report. Um
and that has been certified on time. So, we should get those points, but I also have to report it to you within 60 days of doing so, which is uh this complies with that regulation. Um, one of the things that I I typically uh there's lots of um uh gems that make up the
River Edge Public Schools, and I think that one of them are our academic events night, event nights. Um, last night was the preK to 2 family literacy night. It was a great success with over 90 people coming back to school uh in the uh even though it was cold and kind of still
recovering from from a delayed opening. Um and I'd like to thank the the Riverdale Future Teachers Club for attending, greeting our families at the door and then assisting in running the night's activities. The staff greatly appreciates their assistance and uh what a wonderful uh service that is to our
students here. Uh grades three to six is in March for family literacy night. We have family math and steam nights also uh coming up in both March and April. And this year for the first time ever uh we will be working on a social studies night. Um so uh that's celebrating the
250th anniversary of our country. This will focus on a USA 250 theme and we're working with community members on on that as well. Uh and that is the uh Mr. Grimshaw is heading up that project. He's uh there's he's one of two
certified social studies teachers in the uh district. So, I gave that to the social studies teachers to to uh figure out. Um, next month there's Read Across America. I know there are some board members coming back to REU. Thank you so much for doing that. A number of staff and community members are also coming
back to read uh uh to our students. That's um very cool. Uh and there's a number of activities uh that are scheduled around read across America as well. Uh on the agenda, um next year's calendar is on the agenda. um the
academic year 2627. Uh I did my best um with in collaboration with uh Riverdale and Oriel to make sure that our calendars are aligned. We do River Edge does have a challenge that the other two districts do not have with voting in the in uh in
the schools. I have to take the two election days off. Um uh so those are essentially awarded as days off. Um, so they're not academic days where I can't bring the students in. Um, so, uh, we we end two days later than, uh, Riverdale
does if we use all of the snow days. Um, that's the that's the major difference and the reason why Riverdale next year would end, I believe, on um, June 18th if they use all their snow days. And uh next year we we would end on June 22nd if we use all of our snow days because
of uh the the need to take off November 3rd and uh next year it looks like June uh Tuesday June 1st. So um that's that's the biggest difference in the calendars. I made sure that the uh there was alignment for snow day givebacks just in
case we have to give back snow days um on the Friday in May and then at the end of the school year as well. um the balance of the days are um the are the same. I'd also like to thank uh I sent the board um the survey from the staff.
The staff agreed to um uh make a one-year we're going to run this as a um well a 75% of the the staff responding said that was a good idea. Um make an August day August professional day where the staff can come back for classroom preparation. there are four
professional days in the contract. Um, including that somewhere in the calendar just pushes the school year further into June. So, by having them come back and and have this unscheduled day where they can come back and and prep the room for their uh for their uh for the school
year essentially. It's a paid day. Um, and I think that uh the respondents thought it was a good idea. If someone doesn't want to come in, then there's uh we can accommodate that in in a number of different ways. But um we're going to try it this year and if it's successful, we'll um try it again next year. But for
now, it's a one-year thing. And that that helps the calendar out tremendously. Um and that's that's it for next year. So that calendar once it's voted on tonight, we can go ahead and publish it on the website for community consumption. I did get um I did get an email asking when when the
first day of school was. So it's time. Yeah. Yeah. >> Um so that's next year's calendar. So this year's calendar, this year's calendar is under duress as we are um experiencing these uh snow snow emergencies. Um we've already used two
days for snow emergency. There are three emergency days built into this year's calendar. Um but because uh June 2nd wasn't taken off. We've actually exhausted all of our snow days. So um I'll send a letter to the community probably tomorrow. It's actually prepped. I wanted to um talk to you
folks tonight here at the meeting, but I I'll tell everyone that June 2nd is going to be a day off um and that we have had two days off. I'll do my best to um use delays as as necessary, but I'm also not going to compromise the safety of everyone. If we need a day off, we're going to take that day off.
And the way the calendar is written, the first day off, uh now we have to dip into the uh spring break. So, it starts with um Good Friday and then if I need two more snow days, it backs off to the next Friday and then Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, Monday. Hopefully,
we're not going to need six more snow days. Goodness gracious, that would be horrific on many levels. But, um there's no place to put the snow anymore. Uh so, that's that's this year's calendar under duress. Uh >> the current last day of school then for
this school year would be >> 22, Monday the 27th. >> Monday, correct? And that's already that's already happening, right? Monday the 22nd is already happening. Um we'll be in school till Monday. Uh if we need more days, it'll be we we go to April,
it looks like 3rd and then 10th and then 9th and then eth and then seventh and sixth. I'll I'll lay it out in the letter to the community. >> So then this might be jumping ahead too far, but summer academy esy that >> that's one of the reasons why we can't just keep pushing back. Eventually we run out of time. So that'll start
>> almost immediately. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So that starts on the 23rd. >> Yes. >> Wow. >> It was anticipating starting Monday, correct? >> Right. >> Oh, I see. We didn't >> And we didn't we haven't announced when that's going to start yet because we didn't know. So now we can go ahead and
announce when it's going to start and and those those uh that information will be forthcoming. >> Um this year's uh if you haven't noticed this the snow is I mean there's an 8 foot pile of snow outside. So um the the staff has done their best. We we had a
number of equipment casualties over the last few days. Uh all the snowblowers ended up breaking. We had like a tractor blade that that had a repair in the middle of the the uh snowfall. They our guys are doing a great job. Um I I have to commend the
the River Edge DPW as well. They they are helpful. Um these roads were clear in almost no time and they have plowed to the curb right here in front of Cherry Hill and it looks like they did the same for us um over at Roosevelt. So that's critically important. If we don't have their cooperation, it would be a
genuine It's bad out there to begin with, but it would be even worse if we didn't have our partners at the BPW helping us out. So where our guys do the campus, uh it's not just the campus, it takes a village. Um and and I appreciate their partnership and uh cooperation.
The uh police chief and I had had a number of exchanges. I I reached out to him first because his guys are on the road and and they can give us road conditions. So, I appreciate that partnership as well. Uh, and without any other questions from the board members, that concludes my report. >> Thank you. >> Questions?
>> Thank you. >> Uh, board secretary report. >> Thank you, President Langley. Um, I have five key items to discuss to kind of go over to the board and to the public. Uh, first item is just, uh, relating to public highlight. Just as a reminder uh
relating to the new law, uh the district is moving towards advertising all open public meeting notices as well as other notifications directly on our website. So there will not be like a formal advertisement in the newspaper. Um that will take an effect March 1st. Uh to
ensure transparency, the district will have a direct link for these notices right on our our um our homepage. Uh the second item for board all board member reminders, financial disclosure statements have been emailed to all members. Uh you should have received an
email from my assistant Cindy Riley. Uh these must be completed as a reminder no later than April 30th for the ones you know that still have to uh complete it uh for Miss Brian as a new board member. Uh you'll get an email um from Cindy probably tomorrow by the end of the
week. Uh yours as a new board member has to be completed within 30 days. So she'll give you that information how to complete it, what needs to be uploaded um on the site. Additionally, all board members are now registered uh for their required self-paced governance training.
Um if there's any issues, any changes, if you wanted to do live virtual, just reach out to my assistant and she can make that change for you guys. Um relating to Miss Brian, you'll also receive a confirmation about the training for governance one from from my
assistant. Uh lastly, uh the annual meeting for the New Jersey SPA delegates, just as a reminder, is Saturday, May 16th at 9:00 am. Uh this meeting is a critical as it involves adopting policies that affect all New Jersey public schools. Um and I believe
as our delegate, Mr. Sim, um you're more than welcome to attend as well as our alternate U Miss Brown. >> Yep. I believe that's So, it's either or the delegate or Mr. Sim can't can't make it. Uh, thirdly, u
an update on the tuition rates. Uh, the district has received the certified uh tuition rates for 2425 after verifying these against our original estimates. We have identified additional billings that the district can bring in um which is a form of
revenue uh roughly about $186,000 uh that will that's included in our 2627 budget and in in line with uh state compliance. So, uh, the district basically, uh, all districts have to certify their rate the following year
and then they have to either pay, um, if they overcharge other LEAs or undercharge, they have to bring that in or pay it back in the second year. This way, you can include it in your budget if you don't have the funds available. Uh, in addition, uh, we utilize that
certified rate 2425 as a conservative approach to, uh, set the estimated tuition rates for 2627. those estimated rates are incorporated in our budget for incoming uh for students we're receiving from elder
eleas and that's item G13 on on in the finance section. Uh fourth item relates to our strategic goal number five as far as grant opportunities and and uh funding opportunities. Uh just as a
confirmation, we submitted a competitive local recreations improvement grant that will uh that's focused on improving the the second playground at Cherry Hill. Uh overall project is budgeted for 150,000. The grant is 75,000 and the local
contribution from the district is the other 75,000. Uh as of right now, there is no date uh established for when the awards will be made, but it is competitive. So, not everyone that applies is granted that that uh grant funding. Uh the second grant that we
submitted for um is the climate literacy innovation grant. Uh that's in in an amount of 45,000, a little over 45,000 and that's to support climate change education. Uh that is a resolution on this agenda for compliance that needs to
be approved by the board uh to to final finalize the submission. And then lastly, uh relating to the 2627 budget highlights, uh the governor's budget address has been moved. It was supposed to be this Tuesday. Um but because of uh
new, uh governor coming on board, it has been moved to March 10th, which is consistent with previous administrations. Uh because of this delay, our notification of state aid figures have been delayed, which is a key part of the revenue to balance the budget.
Uh so we were tenatively uh scheduled to present the preliminary budget to the full board on March 11th. As a result uh we are looking to move that that board meeting date to March 25th which is in line with the new revised calendar. Um
all districts have to approve a tenative budget by March 27th. So that pushes it out two weeks which is in line with the governor's uh two week delay in in releasing the budget. And just just a kind of a a quick snapshot of where we're currently looking. Um and
obviously from now and over the two weeks depending on state aid, you know, these numbers can change. Uh our tenative budget is currently built on a flat state aid projection. Uh so depending on if the state aid, you know, will decrease or increase or stay flat,
that will adjust, you know, the overall budget. Um and this is also based on 2025 tax data. The 2026 tax data hasn't been uploaded yet on the on the county's website for Bergen County. Um, so we're
looking at overall average home uh valued in River Edge at about 675,000. It would uh as of right now it's an annual increase of about $437,000 on that average valued home. The primary driver of this increase is health
benefit cost uh which we you know get that information from our broker Brown and Brown. So they're currently projecting as of right now based on the data they haven't received any updates from the state yet uh which the state is not required to release that data until September, end of August, September. Um
but they're projecting another large uh increase another large percentage which is in line with what happened this current year at roughly about 38% is what he he provided to me. So we utilize that percentage to um you know balance
the budget and increase the cost for health benefits. Uh to mit to mitigate this we aggressively this year we marketed the district uh to several private carriers including Etna Mara Health Horizon as well as others some
others uh to see if we could possibly uh move away from the state health benefit plan and privatize. Uh unfortunately all riskbears declined to provide proposal based on our current claim loss ratio and future projections based on current data. Um but we'll continue to monitor
these figures and present the final changes at the March 25th meeting um or in the future really if anything is you know down the road that there's potential for a savings and that concludes my report. So question uh about the new board
member training whereby the schoolboard uh association are they still doing the uh like weekend uh uh retreat? >> They are still um I believe it's I want to say it might be three days. It's either two or three days live in person. >> So can you relate the information to
>> Yeah, we'll provide her the option. So you could do live training. I think there's also live virtual training. Um, as well as I think there is an option self-paced depending on your schedule, but we'll give you the options. Um, they do recommend to do some type of live training whether it's virtual or in
person. This way if you have questions, you'll get feedback. >> I I liked being in person. That's the way I did it. It was fun like as a new board member. It was good to >> And uh the other thing the state is that usually based on the enrollment uh >> state aid.
>> Yeah, >> correct. So how's our enrollment uh status compared to last year previous years? >> So the current enrollment has decreased um and based on trend it is looking it's projected to decrease decrease based on
33 more students. So it it went so our current enrollment as of October 15th decreased which they take that data and they include it in the state aid. Then what they do is they do a a six-year trend and they see, okay, have you, you know, is this an outlier? Like you've
been increasing it, but this year it kind of fell off. Um, our our last three years have decreased. So historically, you know, the state has been utilizing that data to drive overall state aid numbers of what districts need to balance their budget. So roughly if you
see you know the estimated tuition rates and and the certified rates uh one student generally based on our board sum data our financials is anywhere from 13 to 14,000 one student. So if it you know if it decreases 33 students they're going to basically identify okay you
know there's going to be a loss in in revenue that's needed to support you know the instruction. However, 33 students is spread across two schools, you know, um, seven seven grades. So, it's hard to kind of, you know, it might be 33, but it's not one class. So, it's
not like we could eliminate a teacher or, you know, it's spread, you know, kind of multiple grades and stuff like that. Um, but our larger grades right now are fourth, fifth, and sixth. So, as these grades come off, the incoming grades, you know, could
potentially, you know, reshuffle staff and depending on on um lower grades as they as they keep um I guess the new kindergarteners, you know, might depending on that enrollment could be uh an additional teacher. Um but there is other factors.
uh special ed. If you have higher special ed population, state will give you um higher funds if there's transportation need security, but enrollment is the big factor. >> Then uh previous years we use a bank cap
in order to compensate or balance the uh whatever that show of the budget. Do we have any room? >> We don't. So this budget um which you know um miss Npalitano she probably you know kind of mentioned this in previously but what happens with bank
cap it's tax rate that the board didn't go up to the max right um so you they allow you to utilize that and increase the taxes in the following year the following year you have three years but what happens is once that comes off in essence you're kind of increasing your your base taxes but once it comes off
you don't have that safety net to kind of pull back. So, all the bank cap has been used. Um, in the current year, you do get additional exclusions. One of it is health benefits. So, if you're experiencing health benefit cost increases over 2%, they allow you to go
over over the 2%. Um, if you have enrollment increases, they allow you to uh increase your tax rate because of those additional students, which we don't have. Those are the two big FA factors you could um adjust your budget. Um, so I mean which I'll present the
detail at the March 25th meeting. The other thing is we um there's a capital project for the for the gym floor and bleachers in in Cherry Hill. We're utilizing uh local capital reserve. So that's not an impact for taxes. We we are trying to maintain uh maintenance
projects, flooring. We're removing old flooring, replacing it with new flooring, and we're trying to do it, you know, district-wide um prior to, you know, deciding what what you know, the future capital project needs are being utilized by maintenance reserve. So, we
are you able to utilize some of the reserves to kind of offset the budget. Um in addition, we are maximizing tuition, tuition revenue, all the revenue sources that we can. um based on projections. Obviously, we want to make sure that we could hit those revenue
numbers so we don't have shortfalls where we're projecting too high either uh um revenues or we're projecting too low in expend expenditures. So, if anything changes with this increase, if you know the broker says, "Hey, um we received updated information, we're
looking at 25% increase, we'll revise those projections." Um same thing with utilities. Um, you know, that's all based on our ACES uh partner, which we're part of. It's it's kind of a a consortium to kind of um shop rates and get districts to lowest rate. So, she's
trying to give me the final rate increases of what it looks like next year. So, that could change. Um, but a lot of a lot of the budget is based on salaries, which is based on the bargaining agreements, which is based on approved contracts. Um, so there is
limited things that we can do to kind of say, okay, we're going to reduce here. We we can't because they're all kind of set. >> So, >> and just remind you the 25th we present it and then there's a a finalized
version, right? >> Correct. April, April, right? >> Correct. So, so the calendar will work is March 25th we present it to the full board. Uh, the full board basically has to approve submitting it to the county. Once we submit it to the county, the county reviews it. They make sure it's
in compliance with all the budgeting codes and we didn't exceed any any issue any um um identify any errors, fatal errors. Uh once they sign off on it, then they give us go ahead to have the public hearing and we're set to have the public hearing on April 29th.
>> Okay. And that's where the the public can come out and um ask questions and but from from basically when we presented on March 25th to the public hearing, we can still make changes, >> right? >> So if anything comes to light, uh you know, let's say we get two additional
incoming students from other districts, I could bring in that revenue to kind of offset taxes, you know, any any changes um that occur. >> Okay. Any other questions?
>> If I if I could. >> Yeah, sure. >> The the the budget that you'll see presented pre preliminarily next month is maintains programming, right? There's no change to
programming for any student in the district with this budget. If the revenues sharply fall off with state aid numbers, um we might be forced to um take some measures to go ahead and um
reduce expenditure so that we we have enough money to to to make it through next year, the the when you have a 38% increase in in state health in benefits, um it's suffocating. and Eric has done an incredible job in getting this budget
to be balanced. Um, and he has been able to do it. It's relying on the fact that the state aid is flat. Last year, they had a governor um, well, the governor had a governor, I guess, uh, on that. So, that it limited our losses um, to 3%. But, um, there's no guarantee
they're going to grant us that again. So, last year, I think it was n just over $90,000 that we lost in state aid. That's significant, but it's not nearly as significant as it can be if they take all the state aid for all 33 students that we don't have. So, um they're
trying to kind of limit the the losses to this to small districts like ours where if you lose that much money in one year, it would be it would be pretty pretty um difficult. The year before, uh two years ago, two budgets ago, there were significant there were fairly
significant cuts that the board had to take to the staff, right? was an administrator. There was a custodian. There were two staff members. There is no room anymore to to reduce staff here where there will not be some impact on student programming. There's already
only one STEM teacher in the district. Um that program was cut in half. It's wildly successful. I mean, you could see it at the STEM nights and it's probably why our science scores are are as high as they are. Um you know, that's that's an imperative. I'd like to expand that, not cut it. um we only have one world
language teacher in the district. I'd like to expand that, not not reduce it. So, these are things that this budget that you'll see at $437 per household um for next year is maintaining programming
uh and having us still within the confines of an annual budget and our own operating revenue and reserves do significant in uh projects like the Cherry Hill Gymnasium, which needs to be done because that floor is shot. Um the uh
the bleachers are I mean we have injuries occurring on the bleach but we these things must be done and we cannot wait for referendum to get them done because they're s they are presenting safety issues now right so so before they become a hazard we need to go ahead and spend the money to do this that is
included in Eric's budget for next year >> so um the uh the board is doing everything they can to maintain programming um make advancements in our 40 what we know now is $42 million dollars in uh facilities projects that
have to be done over the next 20 years or so. Um chip away at that uh while also understanding that it's still um there's still so much more to do. Uh and uh we want to maintain the high performance that our uh community is
used to with our students and we want to be able to maintain things like class size and and the kind of programming that River Edge is used to and that this budget does that. So, um, with any hope these these numbers will hold and, uh, we'll be able to go ahead and present a
nice clean bal balance budget that looks exactly the same as this year with some nice things like the gym and uh, some other a new floor in some some classrooms. So, there's no additions to staff. You're not looking at we're not adding programs, but we're also hopefully not taking any away. So, um,
more to follow over. >> Thank you. Uh, president report. I don't think I have anything. Um, committees. Let me just see if there's anything on finance and facilities that we didn't cover already.
I think we covered it. Uh, health benefits, budget, tuition rates. No, everything. I think we covered all. Yeah. Um so uh personnel and management want to go through that.
>> Yeah. Uh personal and management met at 5:30 on 17th. Um Mr. Coen Mr. Langley sorry too must speak Mr. Dr. Dr. Von and
myself present virtually. Um the discussion was on the um personal matter that the bookkeeper. Um so that um was
there's a issue with the communication lapses occurred. So this will be addressed the next meeting uh by the uh superintendent and then uh uh other personnel um
the custodian the part-time custodian uh didn't follow the uh background check. So there uh there will be a One second. Uh that matter was discussed. Um
and also briefly about the building and u uh the upcoming uh union bargaining and the legislative timing was discussed. Any other you can you want to add it to? >> I can't I don't think I have those notes
but there's nothing else that I can remember that we discussed. >> Yes. So uh yes and also other things uh I cannot say publicly. All right. Uh, thank you. >> Curriculum and instruction committee met on February 17th virtually at 4:30 with
Mr. Langley, myself, and Dr. Bernice. Um, we discussed upcoming PD sessions, the continuing professional development for our math program. Uh we discussed the STEM nights and the possible social
studies nights which we've already um talked about here tonight. Literacy night, one of them happened already. Um thank you to Miss Geller, Miss Moran for putting those together. Um I feel like it's such an asset for our district. Those nights and our families really um
get a nice insight on what our wonderful staff do here. Um we also discussed in special projects um upcoming assessments a climate change grant uh summer academy notes and uh we did
discuss the schedule for NJ SLA which I think um came out last week. >> Yes. Um so that will take place in May and we discuss preliminary budget items as far as uh amplify what um what we
received for the next few years and that's it. >> Yes. If uh in that committee we looked at the growth scores uh overall from uh form uh
link it form A to link it form B. The uh teachers um that saw growth advancements will be getting a letter from me probably by Monday and working out tomorrow. But on an average we saw 11 points of growth uh between form form A and for form B which is basically the
the benchmarking uh in language arts and mathematics that we use. We uh we benchmark in September. who just benchmarked uh in in January around the halfway point we'll we'll do form C again in the spring um and one of the after NJLA actually and uh in the lower
grades we had some giant leaps in math uh 14 15 um uh points um in second grade same even bigger in mathematics uh ELA around the same uh as we move forward into the other grades there were still
some major leaps all around 10 points So whatever we're whatever we are by our own benchmarking which is not ours by the way it's a it's it's linkit right they have a system that we've and uh river edge has been a customer for many many years of linkit and uh it's very
much embedded in the data culture that exists here in river edge and it's very very impressive I I haven't seen an MTSS uh approach um like this and it really is a model uh for many other districts to emulate and it's um both linkit in
the county office uh regail this model and I also think it's another gem of of river edge why we continue to see the performance that we do in our students but um these these data kind of speak for themselves and uh we are seeing growth in math and I was typically when
we you deploy a new math program the superintendent has to explain why you're not seeing growth the children are getting used to the new formatting the teachers are getting used but we very uh here uh in the last two years we very carefully frontloaded a lot of PD um and
continued giving um professional development throughout the the year at at great expense. Right? These programs are $50,000 to make sure that money is well spent. We're seeing it now in actual performance and in uh classroom performance with the students, which is
exactly where you want to want to see that um see this money go and see the kind of performance that we're uh yielding. So um special very special thanks to our professional developers both in language arts P McGee and in mathematics from Amplify um and uh I
applaud the work of the faculty in um getting on board adopting the programs as quickly as possible learning to adapt to a new program in record time deploying a program that's wildly effective and uh and then making sure that the testing is done with fidelity
so that we can see these numbers. So, uh, cur instruction. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> What's the date of that literacy night? Anybody happen to know the next one? That's 3 through six, right? >> 3 through six. I will get that for you.
>> Okay. No rush. Only because I'm probably >> sometime in March because it's part of the March Madness, I think. >> Oh, got it. Okay. Uh, all right. That's it for committees. Okay. Moving on to items to be acted upon. Um, can I
have a motion for item D3, please? >> Move it. >> Any discussion? No. Roll call, please. >> Miss Bryant. >> Here. >> I'll just say, you know what? You can Well, you could abstain because you
weren't here for the >> Oh, that's right. >> For this is the approval of the last meeting's minutes. So if you can abstain >> yes >> Mr. Alesandro >> yes >> Mus >> yes >> Mr. Sim >> yes >> and President Langley
>> yes >> motion carries. >> Thank you. Uh can I have a motion for E1 please? >> Yes. Okay. >> Okay. So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please.
>> Miss Brian, >> yes. >> Miss D. Allesandre. >> Yes. >> Mr. Frius. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> President Langley. >> Yes. >> Motion carries on E4. >> Oh, wait. What did I say? Eh, I did E1.
>> Oh, just E1. >> Yeah, because I want to separate out the apologize these ones. That's okay. >> Motion carries on E1. >> Okay. Uh, can I get a motion for item E2, please? Move to approve E2 as stated. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please.
>> Miss Brian. >> Yes. >> Mr. Alisandro. >> Yes. >> Mr. Frius. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sim. >> Yes. >> And President Langley. >> Yes. >> Motion carries on E2. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion for E3, please?
>> So move. Second. Any discussion? No. Roll call, please. >> Miss Brian, >> yes. >> Mr. Allesandre, >> yes. >> Mr. Frius, >> yes. >> Mr. Sim, >> yes. >> And President Langley, >> yes.
>> Motion carries on E3. >> Thank you. Uh, can I get a motion for F1, please? >> So, second forget. That's okay. You moved it, right? >> Yeah. Okay. Uh oh. Any discussion? No.
Roll call, please. >> Just to clarify, the motion was >> so moved. >> And second was >> Miss Brian. >> Miss Brian. Okay. >> Uh Miss Brian. >> No, this is F1.
>> Sorry. It's okay. >> That's okay. >> Were we E2? >> F. We moved on to F1. Yeah, that's okay. >> F1, that's the >> conferences. >> F1 conferences. >> Okay. Yes.
>> M. Alessandro. >> Yes. >> Mr. Frius. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sim. >> Yes. >> And President Langley. >> Yes. >> Motion carries on F1. >> Thank you. Can I get a motion for G17, please?
Okay. So move second. >> Any discussion on these? No. Roll call, please. >> Miss Brian, >> yes. >> Miss Allesandro, >> yes. >> Mr. Frius, >> yes. >> Mr. Sim, >> yes. >> And President Langley, >> yes. >> Motion carries on G17.
>> Thank you. Can I have a motion for H7, please? >> H7. Move to approve H7 as stated. >> H7. >> Just you're break. Are you breaking out? >> Oh, >> eight. >> I'm sorry. I'm not looking. >> Where am I breaking out?
>> H8 is um for H1 to H7. >> Why do I am I looking at a different agenda than you? I see H7 as H is personnel, right? >> H personnel. >> H is personnel. H8 is all the items 1 through 7. >> Am I looking at an old agenda?
>> It's H8. >> It's H8. >> I believe you. But look, isn't that seven? >> This is wild. This is a different agenda. >> Oh, >> well, no. This is I mean, this is the right
Mine ends at age seven. >> I guess verify that I'm not having a stroke or something. That says 87. All right. Can I get a motion for item H8, please? Did I not refresh the page? Is that an old version? >> I'll figure it out for you, sir.
>> Okay. Thank moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> No. Roll call, please. >> Miss Brian, >> yes. >> M. Alessandro? >> Yes. >> Mr. Fraus? >> Yes. >> Mr. Sim? >> Yes. >> President Langley? >> Yes.
>> Motion carries on H8. >> Thanks. Can I have a motion for item I4? Please >> move to approve I4 as stated. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? No. Roll call, please. >> Miss Brian,
>> yes. >> Mr. Allesandro, >> yes. >> Mr. Frius, >> yes. >> Mr. Sim, >> yes. >> And President Langley? >> Yes. >> Motion carries on I4. >> Thank you. I make a motion for J14, please.
>> Move to approve J14 as stated. >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Miss Brian, >> yes. >> Mr. Allesandro, >> yes. >> Mr. Frius, >> yes. >> Mr. Sim, >> yes. >> And President Langley,
>> yes. >> Motion carries on J14. >> Thank you. Does anyone have any new or old business they wish to discuss? just uh comment about uh uh report from your principles and also
uh report from the region five uh director. Um uh I haven't seen uh for a while. So is that something we are not doing it anymore or that's something uh incorporated in uh your report to the board?
>> I I usually put that in my report. Um those folks report to me so anything they need they need to report I would report to you. >> Yeah we did used to we used to I we stopped doing that I think at some point. >> I don't think I ever did that. >> No I don't think that was
>> uh one of the reason is that uh from the uh uh the Rosebot principal um just presenting the school board he want to get paid. So that was a little bit bothersome. I mean uh that's part of
their I mean we we uh uh both used to have a meeting here at Cherry Hill one months next month at Rosaba back and forth so that we have holding the uh board uh board meeting the principal has a report to the board
>> what's going on in the schools so we know even though you know like me I don't have a kids in the school so I don't know what's going on in the school what not but uh that I can be you know informed and also So that you know other uh uh constituents who are not who
doesn't have kids in the school also get informed by the super I mean the the principles when they uh giving us a report. Um so there was a good thing going on but it kind as I said you know kind of faded out once we set up the meeting at
the Cherry Hill here. uh because of virtual meeting uh we had a technical issue you know moving back and forth on the uh uh doing the broadcasting our meetings so kind of faded around so I'm just asking you whether you will
consider bring it back to the meeting or not and also reason five director uh when we uh hire Lisa one of the condition was make sure we are informed bord is well informed about what's going
on the region five there was very uh particular uh something that we requested. So you know she uh made some reports what not but it also happened you know kind of faded out as well and
uh uh last time when the uh bylaw was changed uh I was not happy with the bot but uh uh that by was uh similar to what was uh like two
changes before that uh set up the uh uh um how I mean some ground that the whole uh the region five is not functioning right. We had no oversight at all. That was very bothersome. We are the board uh
of region five. Whatever goes wrong with it, we are responsible. We are liable. All the member here who has no clue what's going on with the region five, we are responsible for that. So we want to know at least we are informed. So what's going on with it? Something good good
things is going on that's fine. We can celebrate it. Something not good is going on we have to be aware of. So I uh asked you you are the the superintendent uh of the region five uh uh um
superintendent um uh what's the group's name? Board or superintendent >> servicing board. Yes. >> Yes. >> So that make sure everything is under your control. you assured me that you know yes it is under control. I I I mean
we know I trust you but >> but at least you know there got to be some report to us uh because uh Lisa in the hierarchy of this uh this school district she's number three
uh so I I mean I think we uh it's good to have a report from her about the reason at least once in a while. So, uh, I'll talk to President Langley about how we can we can structure that. I I mean, the board does get a monthly report from
region five, from Hopstone Academy and region five in in the Friday updates. So, um, I will talk to Mr. Langley about how we can best um uh structure that. So I have to uh uh share with our board member the body
making the decision but uh uh they are not elected offic uh uh position we are so we are oversight what's going on with the division five so uh there was a concern that we are uh rubber stamping whatever uh
superintendent council is making a decision especially driven by driven by I mean uh uh the director of the uh region five that created a big uh uh issue years ago. I don't want to see that happen again. Obviously, it
wouldn't happen again under you know Dr. Bon's uh supervision. But we have to aware we have we have to know you know we are responsible for the uh uh uh oversighting the region five not the you know we cannot let the uh superintendent
council uh make the decision and do the we are just s stamping that if that's the case then by suggestion that we can give up the uh uh uh uh leading uh uh um whatever whatever
>> the district yeah to give it to other board. It used to be rotating the member district they they are oversighting the uh uh region five there was a rotating but uh somehow we
are stuck with it and then uh so all the region five employee is our employee on the river school board and so some of some part there's a good thing good features you know we are benefiting uh from the manpowers and other
administrative uh issues issues but if that doesn't go good way everything is on us so before that happened we want to know I mean at least we have to be informed so that's that's the >> currently there's no issue though right
you just bring it up just in case because of what happened before >> you remember what we had the discussion at the closed meeting >> uh so we are informed so we cannot just say everything is going well you know everything is good So I mean we have to
be aware of it and we have to know what's going on and then you know so that if there is anything we have to make the decision we have to know what we are making a decision based on. >> So would you like some type of like the the documents that we get in our prior report like the a team that has the very
detailed administrative meetings something similar to that so >> from region five >> exactly same as whatever going on in the these uh two buildings. So Dr. Bon is that letting uh uh our president know what's going on every every day. I mean
the if anything you know he's letting us know and then he president shares with us if there's anything he wants to share with other board members that that's what's going on but the reason five is different uh uh different even though we
are as I said you know leading uh board uh I I forgot the exact terminology but >> yeah yeah >> we can look at >> so that's that's concern I want to bring >> but just so we know what that looks like it would be something then like a communication between Miss Bernardo and
Dr. Bernice reporting to you their communication is that >> so that we kind of know what it was. >> There was a the promise was she comes to the board and making a a report. Uh >> however there is a structural conflict
with that. The principles do not report to the board. The superintendent does the director of region 5 does not report to the board. the superintendent does. These people work in the in the organization chart. It's it's very clear
where they work. And um I'm I'm the only employee of the board. Everyone else is an employee of the district. So, but I understand what you're I I understand your concerns, Mr. him and um as you know I take great pride in being the superintendent at region 5 and I work very well with uh Lisa Bernardo and I
and we speak multiple times a week um on all on all kinds of uh um matters um and uh Hopstone Academy is a something that this board can be very proud of and and and and that um we're filling a uh a
need in this part of the county um for those services for um children who need the Holstone Academy. So, um I will uh I will find a better a way to get you more robust information um uh in there and
and I'm not sure what that looks like yet, but we'll we'll talk about it. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Nothing else. All right. Any uh seeing as there's no public comments, uh can I get a motion to move back into close session, please? >> So move.
>> Second. All in favor? >> I. >> All right. >> Thanks very much. The next uh public board meeting is on Well, we don't It'll be on the 25th of March, we said earlier. Right. >> Then just real quick, uh President Langley. Yeah. >> Um are we adjoining from executive session? >> Yes. Yes. >> Because there will be no action taken.
>> Correct. No action taken. So yeah. >> So we'll adjourn. >> Yeah, we can do that. Perfect. Okay. Thanks everybody.