Good evening everyone. Um, I'd like to call the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Notice is hereby given that in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, the laws of 1975, notice of this meeting has been sent to all school offices, officially
designated newspapers filed with the township clerk and posted in the board of education 48 hours in advance of this meeting. Roll call, please. Certainly. Mrs. Sor here. Mrs. Austin here. Mrs. Burkowitz here. Mrs. Sande here. Mr.
White here. Mrs. Pinterelli here. Uh, please stand for the flag salute. As you can see, I'm not Mr. Rosini, but um so I will give the board president's report. Um Beetleju, Beetleju, Beetlejuice. I heard
um that I'd like to offer a huge congratulations to Mr. Arggera and all of our students and staff for the incredible success of this year's play production of Beetlejuice. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but I asked around and I heard it was an
amazing um evening, a lot of hard work, creativity and dedication and um by everyone and um the play was the stage was brought to life. So, congratulations to everyone and if there is a video of
it out, I would love to see it. So, I don't know if that's out. Um this week we also take the time to recognize and celebrate some very important people in our school community. On May 1st um we celebrate National Principal Day. Um
thank you to our school principles for their leadership and support. Um tomorrow is National Nurses Day. Thank you to all our school nurses for their compassionate care, their patience, and their calm presence. Whether it's an offer of a band-aid or
an ice pack or reassured comment or coming to the aid of a serious matter, anything in between, you are appreciated and valued. Um, and this week we also celebrate National Teacher Appreciation Week. Our heartfelt gratitude to all
educators for all you do on a daily basis. It does not go unnoticed by any of us on the board. and I came across a poem that I'd like to read. It's to the wonderful teacher with a special
gift for learning and with a heart that deeply cares. You add a lot of love to everything you share. And even though you mean a lot, you never know how much for you helped to change the world through every life you touched. You
sparked the creativity in the students whom you taught and helped them strive for goals that could not be bought. You are a special teacher that no words can truly tell, however much you're valued for the work you do so well. So, thank
you for all that you do from the board. Um, and I think that's it from my report tonight. Um, okay. So, we're going to go on to committee reports. Uh, buildings and grounds. Mr. White, nothing to report
this evening. Uh, communications and policy. Mrs. Burkowitz, nothing to report. Thank you. Curriculum and technology, Mrs. Sande. Nothing to report tonight. Um, finance, Mrs. Pinterell, that's me. Nothing to
report tonight. Um, negotiations, Mr. Osini, I don't think anything. Yeah. No. um and personnel. Miss Assor. Yes. Hi. Uh we had our meeting tonight. It is hiring season right now and things are
going well. You'll see on the agenda that we're approving several people for next school year. Um and we want to welcome Miss Victoria Rosima. There we go. As the new guidance counselor at Holdrum. And tonight we're also sadly
accepting the resignation of Mr. Jasper as the principal over at Woodside. So, we'll begin that search as well. Thank you. Um, please take note of the committee meeting schedule. Um,
below. Okay. Public comments. The uh agenda items only. The Riverale Board of Education is committed to encouraging the citizens of Rivervale and employees of the Riverale School District to speak speak directly to board trustees. In order to facilitate this communication,
residents and employees are requested to one sign in before speaking, two to maintain an appropriate sense of decorum, and three to limit their remarks to no more than 5 minutes. The board will also take under advisement the written comments and opinions of
non-residents that are submitted to the board secretary. Being mindful of its responsibility to maintain the orderly conduct of meetings, the board retains the right to rule in such matters as the speaker's right to address the board as well as the appropriateness of the
subject being presented. The board's decision in matters is final. The board also reminds all members of the public that while it subscribes without reservation to the principle of keeping the community informed by policy and law, it cannot allow the public public
discussion of personnel matters, nor can trustees comment on any current or pending litigation. If a matter concerning an employee of the Rivervvil Public Schools is of interest or concern to a resident, the matter should be referred to the responsible building principal or the superintendent of
schools by telephone, letter, or mail. Um, I will open the meeting to public comments at 7:06. Okay, seeing there are none, I will um close public comments at 707.
and superintendent report. Thank you. Good evening. I definitely will not be able to top our madam president over here, but I will say thank you very much for your kind words and and thoughtfulness in recognizing our teachers, principles, nurses. It is appreciated. Um so I'd also like to just
add my deep appreciation to our teachers and our nurses and our principles um for the impact that they have on our students every single day. Um whether you're in the classroom, behind the scenes, or in a supportive role, really all of our staff is wonderful and they
work together to create an environment where our students feel safe and supported and inspired to grow every single day. We really are lucky to have such a dedicated team in this district. I feel very happy and very lucky to be here. I also want to take a moment as
well to recognize the incredible Halddram Middle School production of Beetlejuice this past weekend. I had the pleasure of attending on to Friday night's performance and it truly was a standout event. The talent on stage was matched by the creativity behind the scenes from set design to costumes to
lighting and definitely a special thank you to the director Rich Ogara and the entire team of staff and students and volunteers who really brought this production to life. It was a wonderful example of what happens when passion and teamwork comes together and it made me incredibly proud to be the
superintendent as I was watching that musical. So, thank you. The board secretaries report. Okay. Thank you and good evening. Just a few reminders for the board that this past
um the Monday we had a walkth through for our asbestous abatement bid and I was very pleased and very surprised that we actually had four contractors come which is a lot in terms of asbestous abatement companies. So,
also as a reminder, thank you. There may be I think everybody handed in the self-paced ethics training forms. Another reminder is that in October, the New Jersey school board's workshop
is going to be occurring. So, I'll get you information out um later on. And then also in your packet, please keep in mind that the Holder Middle School 8th grade Awards recognition night is being
held Monday, June 16th, and the Holder Middle School graduation is on Wednesday, June 18th. Please, if you would send in your RSVP so that I can contact the middle school so that they can make sure that they are aware that
you're coming. Um, other than that, the only other exciting, and I know that's why you're all here, presentation is of our final budget. Mic check. Mic
check. Better. Can you hear me? Okay. I apologize for my back here. Um, so here we are. I'm actually going to stand over here so I can swipe. We're gonna play musical
chairs. So, thank you to the board, the finance committee in particular for all the work that you've done in terms of putting together this budget, the administrative team as well. It's a concerted effort and as we go through this agenda, what you're going to see is
that we have already laid out our budgetary developmental calendar for next year. So we start this process in October and thanks to the board and administration, these are the people
that are most closely involved with crafting this budget. Can you see? Okay. So what do we value? Um by the way, this presentation will be up on the website tomorrow. So
if you want to memorize that, you can. Otherwise, you can feel free to read it tomorrow. Um, and this is a little awkward to see. Obviously, I'm not going to read every last bit of this, but it's providing an
indiv individualized education for students, empowering students, creating strong partnerships, utilizing technology, and continued focus on school improvement. There's a lot that we take into consideration when we craft
our budget. So what steps do we take? Well, every single year and in between the months, we regularly assess and we evaluate the effectiveness of our educational programs and we make
adjustments to improve the outcome for students. And that's a constant. So between the superintendent's office, curriculum and instruction, technology, and my office, that's something that goes on on a regular basis. I know, and you've seen the presentations by Miss
Dowling and Miss Ignory, that they really take a lot of time and energy to put a focus on the data analysis, which is their fun time. So, we all have our little tweaks in our things.
We're continually recruiting, nurturing, and enhancing exceptional personnel. And we do have exceptional personnel. A focus on supporting students social and emotional well-being to achieve the and um increased student success and caring on the environments. And that's one of
those examples is our partnership with Westber in mental health. So, we're one of the few districts that started a um relationship and we have a full-time clinician on our staff, which has been invaluable. Provide the necessary
facilities, technology, and support to maintain them. And if you have not if you're not aware, so this is my office back here because we've started construction of this building. We've put a lot of time and effort. We're in our fourth year of construction and our
renovation and the schools will be finished this year, but we start this project. So, what are our goals? Obviously, create a budget that's reflective of the district's value and continual commitment to excellence. Create a budget that's respectful to the
community. This board has always lived a very um conservative financial um budget. They are very respectful to the community and to everyone that this
budget touches. They create a budget that maintains a rigorous cycle of curriculum review and renewal. There we go. So the budget supports all of our current educational programming and staffing levels, small class sizes, full
day kindergarten, K8 technology initiative which is onetoone digital resources and again I happen to have been at a also a regional board retreat that I even I know that we're so
fortunate to have canvas because I know that going up to the high school it makes life a lot easier. easier. But we also have linkit big ideas um math etc. We have a commitment to a rigorous cycle of curriculum review and renewal and we
do have quite a few um quite a few specialists that come in and um consultants for PD and we do send if you read our agendas we do send and support quite a few teachers and staff members
for professional development. Oh goodness. Now I'm getting into the red zone. There we go. This is the eye check. So, can you read what's the smallest line that you can
read? Again, this is going to be up on the website. These are the goals that the board crafts starting now for the following year. So during the board's retreat May 27th,
they will be creating goals that will again be for the following year. These are the goals that they crafted last year. And again, I'm just going to spin through these because they're up on the website of operations,
technology, instruction. And again, just to share the timeline, the budget really does start being collected in October. And all of the departments, we
talk about it and we put together a a budget. the finance committee gets their first draft budget, the first board meeting in January so that we have time to see where we stand. That's absent of our state aid, but at least we know what
to expect as we see our budget being crafted. February, state aid figures are released. Tenative budget is always due to the county on the 20th. This year it was due on the 18th. Actually, next year
it's due on the 18th and then we have a formal board hearing, public presentation, and that's tonight is on the agenda for the board to adopt the final budget. Okay. We're highly efficient. We participate in many different shared
services, gas co-ops. We have a lease purchase, um, excuse me, a lease with the township. They will help to maintain our vehicles. We also purchase gas through them at a cheaper rate. We also have a relationship with Ultan Burough.
We are we participate in the Nesbig which is a joint insurance fund. There's 42 districts in there. Our property, our um environmental, our cyber insurance, all of that goes through and um the 42 of us were able to get a better rate
than if we were out on our own. [Music] Um, the big last but not least, we are partners with the PTA and the River Education Fund. The PTA has always been very generous and so has the Rivervale
Educational Fund. Okay, that's not that we don't craft this budget without challenges. We continuously have state imposed mandates and no assistance from the state in that regard.
We some of these um achieve NJ. You've got your testing standards. You have your special ed. You have your health benefits which have seen some ex significant increases in
the past few years. And um out of a you'll see out of a $25 million budget, you receive $1.4 million in state aid. The rest is on the backs of the taxpayers. Okay. So
again, discretionary funding was kept flat. Our staffing levels have been maintained. There were no cuts, but there were no increases. This year, for the first time in about 15 years, we are seeing an
increase in enrollment. so much that the state in their budget program allowed the district to take an enrollment adjustment, which means that they were able to raise the tax levy in
addition to the 2% cap for the reason and the purpose to contribute and fund the additional enrollment. They gave they they calculate a formula. It was 39 additional kids, 25,000 and change in the allotment per
child, which ended up being an additional $475,000 roughly in an enrollment adjustment that the board, you'll see in the in the um the recap, they're using so that they can increase the capacity
and appropriately budget for these additional kits. The board has had banked cap and what that is, it's think of it as the
um you're allowed to increase your budget on paper. You're not touching any money, but you have the authority to raise taxes if you so desire. If you have what's called bank cap. The board had
bank cap. The board very consciously decided that because they're using the enrollment adjustment and all of their financial and their educational needs are being met, they do not need to use additional
funding. But that additional authority sits in a side silo, so to speak, for another two years. So in the next budget or the budget thereafter, if the board decides to use that money, excuse me, that authority, they are able to raise
taxes with that. But the board said, "No, we're not going to do that." In the budget, we did use some of our maintenance reserve and some of our emergency reserve to help offset the health benefit
increase. And now for the really fun stuff. is as I was saying it's a revenue cap. So the budgeted fund balance that's being utilized
is funds that were not spent in the 2425 year. So the board is saying we're going to use that money to offset the following year. So that money is moving forward. the emergency reserve
withdrawal. We the board has had $232,000 in that emergency reserve which is specifically for increases in health benefits that's over 4% and for security equipment. The board is choosing to use $100,000 to
offset the health benefits maintenance reserve. The maintenance reserve is $759,000 and the board can use the maintenance reserve for items that are to keep the district running. For
instance, windows. It's not for custodial supplies. It's for HVAC. It's for roofs. It's for real required maintenance type items. So, the board is use is using $198,000 and change. the general local
tax levy. That's the taxes that are going to be raised in the town. So, that's where the bulk of the money comes from. Tuition, the $60,000. We do have an integrated prek
program. We did increase the tuition that we charge and so we are expecting the um an increase in students that are going to be attending that program. We have had an increase that
$24,000. We're over it this year and that's why I adjusted it for next year to more accurately predict what we're going to be expecting. miscellaneous and interest for uh capital reserve that is
um rental of the buildings. We rent our buildings now to the ed fund. We also have seen an increase in the interest rates. So I've more accurately depicted that as you can see our state aid, it actually went up 6%.
The most that we've seen ever. So this is a this is a big win. Federal grants, they are restricted. We receive IDA grants which are for special education and we receive $23,000 for a
combination of title 2 and title 4 funds which we typically use for the regional curriculum office that we work with um Pasc Valley debt service. That is the principal and interest payments that we
are raising to pay off the referendum. If you recall, we had a 25-y year bond sale. So, that's what we're paying off. And debt service aid is actually the 38% that we get back from the principal and interest payments from the state. So,
years ago, they had um grants if you were to do a referendum. Now the only available money you get is through debt service aid. So that changes yearbyear. And then on the appropriation side or which are your expenditures, you can see the categories that we have
instruction co-curricular special education. This particular special education tuition is for out of outofd district students. It's not for the students that retained in in district support services, administration,
operations, transportation, capital outlay, special revenue are the entitlement grants. Those are restricted for those specific purposes with um the idea and the title 2 and title 4. And then as I said, debt
service, that's for your referendum principal and interest payments. I'm flying through this. Does anybody have any questions? Okay. So, at the end of the day, the general fund budget is going to
be an increase of 3.9%. However, because there is a large development that is being built and new assessments are coming onto the books, the actual tax impact for our budget is
going to be a reduction of the 42, the $12.78, and $153 a year. again. Any questions? Yeah, I'm going to I'm will double check that questions. You're awfully quiet.
Okay, thank you. Thank you Miss Epilo for your presentation on the budget. Um now we will move to public comments on budget presentation items only. the statement that I read earlier about um
regarding public comments on agenda items uh will apply to the budget presentation items and later on general um items. So I will open to public comments at
uh 7:26 if there are any comments. Okay. And I will close at 7:26. Okay. Um, do I have a motion to move general resolutions G1 through G19?
I'll motion and a second. Thank you. Any questions? Roll call, please. Certainly. Mrs. Assur, yes. Mrs. Austin, yes. Mrs. Burkowitz, yes. Mrs. Sande, yes. Mr.
White, yes. Mrs. Pinterelli, yes. Um, do I have a motion to move business resolutions B1 through B43? I'll move B1 through B43. In a second. I'll second.
Any questions or comments? A roll call, please. I just have a question quickly. I see Mr. Jasper on here for um September of 2025, so I'm assuming. Yeah. Yeah, it's okay. I mean,
right. Okay. Yeah, I figured that. Thanks. Any other comments, questions? Vocal, please. Okay. Mrs. Assur, yes. Mrs. Austin, yes. Mrs. Burkowitz, yes. Mrs. Sande, yes. But I'll abstain from
B26. Certainly. Mr. White, yes. Mrs. Pinterelli, yes. Uh, may I have a motion to move personnel resolutions P1 through P27?
I'll move it. Second. I'll second. Um, I would just like to point out P1. Um, I wish well the board wishes, uh, Mr. Jasper
um best of luck in his new journey and um thank you for his years of service to wet to Riverville whether at Hulldrum or at Woodside. Um one thing I always remember about I'll always remember Mr.
Jasper is um how he always wanted to get to know each kid's name and welcome them and make them feel I think one time make them feel seen all the time. So, um, that was always touching to me. So, I wish him good good luck and the best of
luck. And that's it. Roll call, please. Or any comments? Roll call, please. Certainly. Mr. White, yes. Mrs. Hande, yes. Mrs. Burkowitz, yes. Mrs. Austin, yes. Mrs. Assur, yes. Mrs. Pinterelli.
Yes. Okay. We we are up to public comments on general items. Um if anyone has any public comments, I'll open the meeting at 7:32. Okay. I will close the meeting at 7:32.
Do we have any old business? Any new business? Okay. Are we going into close session? No. Okay. We are not going into close session. Um motion to adjurnn. Love that.
Okay. I'll second. Roll call, please. All in favor? I I Okay, I think so closes our meeting. Thank you very much for coming and uh happy teacher appreciation week. Hope
you enjoy your week and thank you for all that you do. Again, good night. Safe travels home.