On favor? Any nays or abstention? Hearing none, hearing none, motion passes. >> All right. Thank you. Um we're moving [clears throat] to reports. Um I have a Pete um absent today, so he sent me the information for his report.
So, I'll read that. >> [clears throat] >> Uh good evening, everyone, and welcome to June 2026 meeting of the Robbinsville Board of Education. As we gather this evening, we are also marking the conclusion of an another successful school year. June is a time of celebration,
reflection, and gratitude as we recognize the accomplishments of our students, staff, and families. Over the past several weeks, our district has proudly hosted a variety of end-of-the-year celebrations and moving-up ceremonies. These events
provide meaningful opportunities to recognize student achievement and growth while celebrating important milestones in each student's educational journey. From our youngest learners advancing to the next grade level to our graduating seniors preparing for their future
endeavors, each ceremony reflects the hard work, perseverance, and dedication of our students and the unwavering support of their families and educators. So, on behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to congratulate all of our
students on their accomplishments this year. We are incredibly proud of their [clears throat] academic achievements, artistic talents, athletic successes, and personal growth. I would also like to thank our teachers, support staff, administrators, >> [clears throat]
>> and parents for their partnership and commitment to helping our students succeed. Finally, as the school year draws to a close, summer offers an opportunity for everyone to recharge and spend time with family and friends. We hope our students continue to explore
their interests, read often, and enjoy new experiences during the break. We also hope that our staff members have an opportunity to relax and reflect on another year of making a positive difference in the lives of children. So, on behalf of the Board of Education,
I wish everyone a safe, healthy, and enjoyable summer. We look forward to welcoming our students and staff back in the fall, refreshed and ready for another exciting year of learning and growth. Thank you and congratulations once again to all our students, families, and staff
on a successful year. And I'll also, um, being that this is Nick's, uh, final meeting, I just wanted to say something for him. Thought it would be appropriate. So, before we move on this evening, I would just like to take a moment to recognize someone whose contributions to this district have been truly
extraordinary. So, tonight marks the final board meeting for our assistant superintendent school business administrator, board secretary, Nick Makris. So, over the years, Nick has been much more than a business administrator. In
my 30 years of education, I can honestly say that I've never seen a school business administrator so actively engaged and integrated into the fabric of a school district. So, Nick has never been content to simply manage budgets and oversee
operations. He's consistently been a thought partner, a problem-solver, an innovator, and a leader who has always kept the best interests of our students, staff, and community in the forefront of his work. His creativity, willingness to think outside the box, and ability to find
solutions where others saw obstacles have helped guide this district through some very challenging financial times. Like, there were moments when it felt like we were trying to keep a boat afloat with holes in the bottom, but somehow Nick always found a way to steady the ship and keep us moving
forward. So, So, possesses like a rare combination of technical expertise, visionary thinking, and he's quite frankly just a wizard with numbers. So, his greatest strength has always been his ability to connect those numbers to the people and the programs
that make this district special. Replacing someone like Nick, um, dedication and institutional knowledge won't be easy. While we're excited for the opportunities that lie ahead of him, his presence here will certainly be missed. So, on behalf of myself and I can say
for the other members of the board, uh, we thank you for your years of service, your leadership, your friendship, and your unwavering commitment to this district. We wish you nothing but continued success, happiness, and prosperity in all that you do. So, good luck, my friend, and thank you for everything.
>> Thank you. Thank you for the kind words, and I I truly appreciate it. Thank you. >> No problem. All right, so we'll move on to the Superintendent's report. >> Okay, thank you, Mr. Howard. Uh, first
I'd like to ask, uh, Dr. Boutier to, uh, come up to the microphone. We have a very special recognition. >> Excellent. Thank you. Uh, good evening, Dr. Pizzo, Mr. Howard, members of the board. Very excited to be here tonight
to represent Sharon School. We are here to celebrate the academic achievement and success of a student, and we're also here to celebrate and honor, um, a beloved member of our Sharon School community. So, first we're going to start with our student, and at this time I would like to ask Mrs. Renee Kuchnani
to come on up and join me. Mrs. Kuchnani is our advanced academic and enrichment teacher. >> Thank you, Dr. Boutier. Hello, everyone. Thank you for having us. I'd like to take a minute and recognize one of my students whom I've had the luxury of working with since he first entered
Sharon School, but more specifically for the last 2 years in our advanced academic enrichment program. Um this student, Dave Subramanian, has left a lasting impression on me since the initial meeting. He has um
unbelievable ability to be a critical thinker, problem solver, and just has a passion for learning. He is exactly what you would think of when you think of students for this program. So without further ado, I'd like to welcome Dave up
to celebrate the learning that he has done and the passion that he has in world geography. Come on up, Dave. >> Good evening, everyone. I am very happy and honored to receive this recognition from my school. I recently participated
in the National Geography Championship where students from different schools competed by answering questions about countries, capitals, landmarks, maps, and world geography. It was a challenging and exciting experience that helped me learn many new things about
our world. I am proud to have won the third prize and bronze medal, and I would like to thank my teachers, parents, and friends for their encouragement and support. This achievement motivates me to keep
learning and doing my best in future competitions. Thank you. >> On behalf of the board and Sharon School, we'd like to give you this certificate of achievement. We are so proud of you. Congratulations again. >> Thank you. >> Why don't um why don't we do a photo? That'd be a
>> Oh, sure. Absolutely. >> If the board could please join me along with the Mr. McCreesh. Okay, we have one more recognition. So, if you could please uh continue. >> Um so, next I would like to we have some representatives of our Sharon School
Student Council. I'd like to invite those student council members come on up to the podium. Tonight, we are honoring Officer Shane Heisler. As many of you know, our Sharon School families, Officer Shane Heisler has been uh promoted to detective. So,
um his last day will actually be our last day on Thursday. So, we just want to honor Officer Shane for his last 6 years of service and dedication to Sharon School. Oh, hold on. Come on up, Officer Shane. >> Officer Shane, we wanted to say thank you for keeping us safe every day.
>> Um you are a friend. >> At Sharon School, you've been a friend, someone we could count on again and again. >> You greeted students in the halls each day with a smile, a wave, or a kind word to say. >> You visited classrooms and checked on
us, always making time without any fuss. >> Whether we were learning, working, or at play, you helped make school a great place every day. >> If we had a problem or needed a hand, you were there to listen and understand.
>> From recess, hallways, and cafeterias, too, we always knew you could count on you. >> Your kindness, patience, and caring heart have made Sharon School a special place from the start. >> Now it's time for you to move on, and
even though you'll soon be gone, >> we'll miss your smile and helping hand, and the way you always understand. >> We wish you luck on your next adventure, too. We know great things are waiting for you.
>> From all of Sharon School, we'll miss you, and we'll always be glad that you were the officer our school had. >> So, I know I speak for the students, the staff, and um families of Robinson. Officer Shane, we thank you for your service. We appreciate everything you've
done for us for the past 6 years, and you will certainly be missed. >> Thank you. >> I think we should do uh another photo. We need another photo with uh Officer Shane. >> Can I just say thank you real fast? Sorry. >> Oh, please. >> [laughter]
>> Uh guys, this is my uh turn to thank you. Um the last 6 years uh you've really made me feel like a superhero. And I never knew I needed that until you guys gave it to me. So, I appreciate that. Thank you. >> And next we have a very special
retirement that we we want to acknowledge. Um if Mr. Gizzo could please come up to the microphone. >> Paul Gizzo, 150 Pond Road. Um Thank you Dr. Pizzo, Mr. McCreesh and
the board for allowing us to come here tonight and especially for allowing me to speak about Ms. Avery as she retires. I do have a little history of Molly first and then we'll go into the speech and honoring her. Molly Avery graduated from George Mason University and began her career in
education with the Fairfax County Public Schools where she worked as a teacher, coach and athletic trainer. In 1993, I was in college by the way, she returned to New Jersey and joined the Pemberton Township School District in her hometown serving as teacher, coach, school reform
facilitator and then an assistant principal. In 2007, she became the principal of RHS, a position she has held for the past 19 years. I've known Molly for all of her 19 years in Robbinsville. One thing that I really wish Molly would have done during her time here is speak
her mind. You never know how she felt about any topic and she was always so soft-spoken and demure. In all seriousness, I've had the pleasure of fighting side by side with Molly involving a number of issues. And a distinct displeasure of fighting
against Molly on other issues. One common thread to Molly's passion was that she was always fighting for her students, fighting for her staff or fighting what she believed was the right thing to do. As a principal, one does many things in the course of your job that people in other professions would frankly not
believe. Molly has cleaned classrooms, barbecued for her students and staff, made breakfast for her staff. She drove the cleaning Zamboni through the hallways. She donned an inflatable suit and sumo wrestled her assistant principal. Big surprise, she won the wrestling
match. She unplugged the stoppage which was causing flooding on the turf and took old school JC Penny pictures with her assistant principals, just to name some. What all these things have in common is that Molly would do anything to generate student excitement and buy-in. She would do anything to honor her staff and do
anything to make her school operate at expected efficiency. I could go on forever about her vest and khakis, her snap-off glasses, the one dress she has hanging in her bathroom for graduation. Um she does remove the dead flower from the previous year every single year.
Or I could go on forever about her rolling desk which makes me seriously question her driving abilities. However, I will end on this. Molly Avery has been an unstoppable force at Robbinsville High School for for the past 19 years. The pillars of her career have been an unbridled passion for her
students and staff, a determination to make sure those around her improve, and a willingness to do whatever it takes for the betterment of her betterment of her school and our district. It was a distinct pleasure to work with her for the majority of my career and I and all of us are better because Molly
was in our lives. We wish you the best in your retirement. You certainly have earned it. >> Thank you everyone. Paul, I really appreciate all that. I'm glad you only got like the rated PG stuff. But anyway, um I also would like to take an opportunity to to thank the Board of
Education. I know it is not an easy position that you're in to make the decisions you have to make each and every month of every year for the betterment of our school district. And I do appreciate that dedication. Um I also want to take a moment to thank Nick. Uh I I like over the years Nick and I have
grown a lot together and been able to do a lot of things to help help and uh I'll say the one thing for for Nick, he he wanted that solar done, but I was the one in the parking lot every day. But again, thank Nick thank you Nick for everything and thank you
to the board for everything. >> Okay. Tonight, we recognize and thank Nick McCreesh for his service to Robbinsville Public Schools. Since joining the district in 2020, Nick has played an important role in helping to guide our organization through both
opportunities and challenges. As a dis- as a business administrator and assistant superintendent, he brought a thoughtful, steady approach to every aspect of his work. Always focused on supporting students while being a responsible steward
of taxpayer resources. Nick has helped strengthen our district's operations, improve efficiency, and better position Robbinsville to address future challenges. Whether working on budgets, facilities, transportation, or long-term planning,
he consistently approached complex issues with professionalism, integrity, and a solutions-oriented mindset. Throughout his time in Robbinsville, Nick focused on finding ways to improve efficiency and maximize the value of every taxpayer dollar.
His leadership helped identify cost-savings opportunities across district operations, including energy efficient initiatives, health care expenditures, cost operational processes, while maintaining a focus on preserving programs and
services for students. He understood that strong financial management is not simply about reducing cost. It is about making strategic decisions that allow a school district to invest its resources where they have the greatest impact on teaching and learning.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Nick has been a valued colleague and a trusted member of our leadership team. His willingness to collaborate, listen, and to support others has earned the respect of staff, administrators, board members, and community members alike.
Many people may not realize that while serving Robbinsville, Nick also continued his distinguished career in the United States Marine Corps Reserves, where he demonstrated the same leadership, commitment, discipline, and sense of responsibility that he brought
to his work every day here. Nick, thank you for your dedication to Robbinsville Public Schools and for your contributions you have made to our district and community. We wish you continued success in your next position and look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the future.
Congratulations and best wishes, and if you could please come up. We have a plaque for you. >> I can't pass up an opportunity to to speak. So, I'll take it. Thank you very much. Very kind words for many of you. Um
you know, time has flown by. Uh this is the longest I've been anywhere. 6 years. Uh military, every 2 years rotating, maybe 3. Um and that's always been a part of me. Um and this has been 6 years and it's flown so fast. So many memories is
coming to me from COVID being I think the first high school to open, if not the second, when Ms. Avery I think called me at 11:30 at night. Nick, I figured it out, right? Um and and and you know, I had thrown her the challenge. We got to figure this out. Uh
to the solar, I think that was the third time. Half a million dollars a year. It's it's amazing and everyone wants to park under there. And then in the summertime, everyone's like running under it, too, cuz it's in the shade. Uh but poor Ms. Avery had to direct all the students every day. Uh um she's like, "Who's going to do that?" I'm like,
"You're going to do it. I'm not doing it." Yeah. Um you know, fixing uh Sharon. Fixing the the parking. You know, it was ev- first week of school, everyone's jammed up all the way to the to uh the airport, you know. You're
like, "Well, like, where's the airport? This town has an airport?" Like, so I'm going through it. Uh and it was amazing just moving things around and the boards, numerous boards, uh you give the idea, you give the opportunity. Uh and I know things takes time. But that's who we are.
Right? This is we are stewards of public money and every decision we make has a huge impact to everybody. Um thinking of some of the things we've done, plenty of projects, plenty of money we've saved, plenty of money we've reinvested. Um you know, uh for me, one of my favorite
ones was uh the flagpole. Right? The flagpole. You I I when when we salute the flag, I want to look up, not down the field. Um and tomorrow we'll be looking at the flagpole. And think of that. And it was all
tax-free. We used the We used facilities rental's money for that. Fixing the auditorium, fixing so many things. Um starting preschool. Huge initiative that is going to pay dividends in this town for decades. Congratulations on that and the
wonderful program that you have. Two retirements of people. Um I I know Miss Martin's probably going to say something later on. She said that. To an amazing accomplishment and I don't want to steal her thunder. Uh what we've come in just in a couple
of years, actually in like 9 months and done that. It's amazing. Um but the most I miss is obviously the people. The friends I've made, the lasting friendships. And um when when when I announced my retire my retirement my
my departure, I mean I've I never thought my employees were just hugging me and crying and I'm like, "You're not supposed to touch me. Don't touch me, right?" You know. Uh where's HR? Wait, that is HR, right? So, it was so thoughtful, so thankful. Uh definitely dear near and dear in my
heart. Thank you to all of you. Thank you for being a part of my life. And I'll be going down the street. Uh and my new building will be right next to Killarney's, so you can find me there. So, appreciate it. Thank you very much for this. I really appreciate it. Thank you. >> All right. So, congratulations and good
luck to all of our honorees. There's definitely some uh some pieces will be missing next year in regards to their their contributions. We'll have to do everything we can to uh to honor their memory and do the best we can to continue the legacies that um
we're so proud of them for their time here. Um next we have our executive council, uh Karthik and uh Isabella. If you can introduce yourselves and do your reports. >> Uh good evening, everyone. My name is
Karthik Dandibhotla. >> I'm Isabella Canulli. >> Um so starting off with the high school, uh students started taking their final exams last Thursday on June 16th, and they will have their last day of finals tomorrow. And due to the exams, we have been
having half days on each exam day. >> Graduation will be held held tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. on the turf, and seniors started their graduation rehearsals today, and we'll have another one tomorrow so everyone goes out confident and everything runs smoothly. >> Uh seniors also had their clap out and
barbecue June 12th and finished off the day with the senior sunset. These traditions have made our senior year super memorable and feel very special. >> Moving on to Pond Road Middle School, they had their eighth grade trip to Hershey Park, which was a huge success. The students had a great time and it was
a lot of fun. It of course was one of the hottest days of the year. Although we had a couple kids visit the medical tent for some water, ice, and shade, everyone reported back that the a good time was had by all. >> Um Pond Road also had their eighth grade
fun day, and basically um in Mr. Gizzo's words, it is a field day on steroids for eighth graders. And after students returned from promotion practice, they are treated to a catered barbecue lunch. Then they get to enjoy inflatable mazes,
a dunk tank, games, signing yearbooks, etc. It is always a memorable day. >> Earlier this month, our new SRO Officer Nick Mecca, with the help of Officer Vincent, ran their fifth grade LEAD party. This is a day where fifth graders
celebrate the lessons they learned from our SROs. It is also a great way to showcase the wonderful relationships that our Robbinsville Police Department makes with our students. >> Tomorrow is field day for the entire school. The students enjoy activities and games
throughout the school in spirit of friendly competition. In addition, tomorrow is the eighth grade promotion. We look forward to celebrating the eighth graders as they move on from Pond. As they move on from Pond, sorry. >> Now on to Sharon School, they would like to thank the Sharon
School families for a wonderful school year. They appreciate your partnership and support throughout the year and wish everyone a safe, relaxable, relaxing, and enjoyable summer. >> Sharon School encourages all families to complete the family input form to assist with student placement for the 2026-2027
school year. The form was shared in the June family newsletter. And family input is valued as we begin the placement process. >> Last week, they proudly celebrated their fourth grade students during their annual Sharon School send-off and Boomers Bash. These special events
recognize their accomplishments and the positive impact they had on their school community. >> We extend our best wishes to all our fourth graders as they transition to Pond Road Middle School. We are proud of all they have accomplished and look forward to hearing about their continued success in the
years ahead. >> Sharon School would like to express their sincere gratitude to Mr. Nick Macret Macras, Ms. Molly Avery, and Officer Shane Heisler for their dedication to Robbinsville Public Schools. Each of them has made Robbinsville a better place for their students, staff, and families. Best
wishes on your next adventure. You will be missed. >> Thank you to the students, families, staff, and our partners at the Mercer County Library for making our summer reading kick-off a fantastic success. Please note that the K-4 summer assignments will be available on our
school school our district website in the coming weeks. These activities, which include task boards, practice packets, are completely optional and designed to keep students engaged over for break. This concludes our final monthly announcement. We would like to thank all the board
members, Ms. Avery, Mr. Gizzo, and Ms. Boutier for helping us with our monthly meetings. >> And also a special thank you to Superintendent Mr. Pizzo for being a great role model for us. It has been an incredible year and we appreciate everything you guys have done for us. >> Thank you.
>> All right, thank you. Great job as always. Next up, I believe we have uh our REA president, Ms. Ms. Marta, are you going to you uh able to join us? Thank you. >> If we would like to thank the Board of
Education and Administration for their professionalism and collaboration throughout this round of negotiations. We appreciate the respectful dialogue and shared commitment to reaching an agreement that supports both our staff and students. This is the first time in several years that we have had a new contract going
into the new school year and we thank you for helping make this process smooth and productive. >> Uh we also want to thank Nick for your service to the district. We appreciate your dedication to our schools, students, and staff and we're grateful for the positive working relationship
that we've shared over the past year and a half. You've always impressed us with your knowledge and your expertise. Although to be honest, there were times when you were so smart that the rest of us had no idea what language you were even speaking. So hope- thankfully, you were always willing to explain it once or twice or
three times even sometimes so we understood what exactly you were talking about. Thank you for your patience and flexibility in settling this contract before you leave. We as a collective team worked hard and are grateful for your support. We wish you the best in your next chapter. Congratulations and
good luck. You will be missed. >> Thank you very much and I I just like to express our thanks to the REA in regards to the the process and um I'd like to thank you for what you do every day for our students and our being able to have a an
outstanding you know relationship for the benefit of our students. It means a great deal. Um can only succeed as a school district with with great teachers and that's what we have here in Robbinsville. All right, there goes my report. Look at that.
All right. Thank you. I can clear that room. All right. Okay, I want to begin by extending my congratulations and best wishes to all of our students who are moving on to the next level in their education educational journey as well as our
graduating seniors. We are proud of your accomplishments and confident in the path that you are choosing. Um we wish you continued success as you take your next steps. As we close out another school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on our
collective work of our school district community and to express some sincere appreciation to all who contribute to Robbinsville Public Schools. The commitment, professionalism, and care shown each day across our classrooms, offices, hallways,
cafeterias, fields, and support spaces are what makes Robbinsville a strong and caring learning community. This year has required steady focus and flexibilities as we have worked through complex and evolving circumstances. Across the district, we have made thoughtful decisions that have
inevitably affected programs, staffing, and services that are important to our community. I recognize these shifts have created uncertainty and at times frustration for students, staff, and families. At the same time, what has remained constant consistent is a shared
commitment to our students above all else and a steady focus on what matters most. Learning, enrichment, safety, and opportunity for every child who walks through our doors. We are not defined by the challenges we face but by how we respond to them as a community. As we move forward, our work
will continue to focus on the needs of our students and on preserving the strong sense uh the the strong history of meeting those needs in a meaningful and effective way. This includes sustaining strong partnerships and continuing advocacy to support pathways that allow all students
to reach their goals. We will continue to strengthen communication, trust within our schools, across departments, and throughout our broader community. In times of complexity, clarity, and collaboration matter even more and transparent communication will remain a
priority as we move forward together. As summer approaches, I hope all members of our school community are able to find time to rest, recharge, and reconnect with the people and activities that bring them energy and balance. That time is well deserved. As we look ahead to the new school year,
we do so with continued challenges but also with a shared commitment to meet them together with honesty, professionalism, and an unwavering focus on students. Thank you for your continued support of Robbinsville Public Schools and for all you do to make our district a special place where students can learn, grow,
and succeed. Thank you. I don't think there was I just wanted to I there I don't see there any students that need a photo taken. That was I'm sorry, I should have mentioned that earlier. So, I hope uh they didn't miss out. >> All right. Thank you, Dr. Pizzo. Uh we have the assistant superintendent board
secretary report. >> Good evening. Uh not much, just wanted to say that uh you know, we've worked on a couple of items on personnel since the union have contract has been settled, negotiations went very well.
Uh more work done than many other districts combined. That was a huge lift on both sides. Um this is very early to to accomplish, which is good news cuz there will be no retro payments. So right now we will be uh H5 is adjusting all the salaries to the new
contract. And H11 is for extended school year payments for the summer. Uh for those of you don't know, um when you're going into contract negotiations, you base you freeze everybody on the guide. So nobody gets an increase until there is a settlement. So now that we finished at this point,
we correct all the the items, um and that's going to be that's worked on. It's H5 and H11. So when you come to personnel personnel, when you accept all motions for everything, it'll include those as well. Um that's all I have. Thank you very much. All right, thank you. Move on to uh committee reports.
Uh education development policy, Dr. Gould. >> At the June 16th Education Policy Committee meeting, the committee reviewed several policy updates and district initiatives. Members in attendance included board members myself, uh Ms. Lehman, Mr. Ray,
along with Superintendent Patrick Pizzo, Assistant Superintendent Ms. DeFazio, and Director of Student Services Ms. Johnson. The community the committee reviewed the district's uh 2026-2027 virtual or remote instruction plan,
which was recommended by board approval. The plan reflects current New Jersey Department of Education requirements and outlines procedures for maintaining continuity of instruction during emergency closings. The board also completed second readings
of several policies related to student services, health and safety, student discipline, residency, equitable education opportunities, school security, and cooperation with law enforcement. All policies are listed on the board agenda for approval tonight.
The committee requested additional information on current student discipline practices, specifically regarding participation in field field trips, to support future discussion and potential policy considerations at the next meeting. The next education policy committee
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21st. >> Thank you, personnel. >> Good evening. The personnel committee met on June 16th at 5:00 p.m. in the CSA office with a Zoom option available for remote participation. Myself as committee chair called the meeting to
order with those in attendance being Peter Olberg, Barb Gold, Jeffrey Pierro was not in attendance. Also present was Superintendent Dr. Pizzo, Human Resources Manager Lisa Tremor, Assistant Superintendent Christie DeFazio,
Assistant Superintendent Nick McCrise, and guest Michael Gorsky. Uh Dr. Pizzo provided an update regarding the interim business administrator position, emphasis on interim, and introduced Michael Gorsky, CPA, as a candidate for
this potential role. Committee members had an opportunity to meet Mr. Gorsky and discuss his qualifications, experience, potential service, and asked a number of questions regarding all those things as well as community input
for the success of that role in starting his term as 26-27 school year. For the next committee meeting, the board requested the athletic director to participate and speak to issues related for sixth grade students participation in sports. Miss Tremor reviewed personal
matter matters reflected in the June 2026 staffing report and provided updates regarding staffing needs, vacancies, and personnel actions. The committee also discussed requests from from employees seeking unpaid leave days during 26-27 school year and the
administrative considerations associated with those requests to create a proper governance. Mr. McCreesh provided an update on uh ongoing negotiations. Um, the committee discussed the status of current negotiations which have now um
reached fruition. Um, and then of course went over developments and next steps in that process. The committee reviewed blanket personnel approvals and agreed to move the recommendations forward for approval for the full board. Um
there being no further business, the meeting concluded. The next personnel committee meeting is scheduled for July 21st. >> Thank you. Uh, business. Thank you, Mr. President. Good evening. The business committee met on June 18th to review facilities, finance, transportation, and summer project
updates as we prepare for the upcoming school year. On facilities, the high school LED lighting project has been approved and is moving forward. Thank you to Mayor Todd for assistance in gaining the approval. At Pond Pond Road Middle School, repairs to the gym floor damaged by HVAC leak have been approved by
insurance and will be completed over the summer. The district HVAC replacement project at PRMS is progressing with several rooftop units scheduled for installation this summer and remainder during winter break due to delivery timelines. We also noted the completion of high school stadium turf repairs and press
box window replacements. Summer projects are beginning including PRMS pre-K bathroom renovation which starts construction on June 29th. Additional maintenance reserve projects remain under review including fire alarm HVAC and building management system upgrades across the district. Under
rental funded initiatives, EV charger installation is expected to take place this summer. On finance side, the committee reviewed end-of-year budget planning and approved adjustment to legal service rates, student activity fees, food service pricing, and reserve funding levels. We
also discussed ongoing budget management as the fiscal year comes to close. Transportation remains a major focus. Subscription busing enrollment has exceeded 230 students and district is currently developing routes to do routes and preparing transportation bids. We
also reviewed plans for transportation waiver program and new website to help families determine transportation eligibility and purchase of an additional 29 passenger school bus to maintain an adequate spare fleet. In grants and donations, the rocketry club received access to approximately
$4,000 in NASA grant funding through Rutgers University for student projects and equipment. Security improvement continue with installation of strobe lights at the key building entrances to enhance emergency awareness and response capabilities. Finally, in technology, we reviewed
significant increase in Chromebook and software costs. Fortunately, the device orders were placed in time for the start of the school year and the district continues to seek cost-saving opportunities through competitive pricing and vendor reviews. The next business committee meeting will be held on July 23rd at 5:00 p.m. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Can I ask a follow-up question or do I need to wait? Okay. Um talking about the transportation subscription busing enrollment, that's great. Like to hear that exceeded 230.
What percentage or how does that compare to the number of students that were impacted by the busing? >> About 1/6. Maybe 1/5. And
people are slowly adding more to it, but there is a deadline and we're going to try to fill it out the bus as they're making the routes. So, we'll see how those go. Um but they're they're all closed out and we'll take a look at that. Uh we're also looking at transportation waivers in the future and some other
items. Um but it was uh I don't have the exact count how many buses per school. Uh but it was more at the middle school than the other schools as you can expect.
>> I have just one more question. You had mentioned um like thanking Mayor Todd for some support on the LEDs. Can you just describe what that partnership was or what I guess what the um recognition is for the thanks. >> There was a delay
on getting approvals from our energy company our electrical company and he has some contacts. I reached out to him and within 2 days it was approved. So, he put us in contact with the correct person. Uh and and that
was there was a big issue because we're trying to change the LED lights before school starts up again um and that project should have been approved months ago. So. Yes. >> Right. Thank you. Community Relations? The Community Relations did not meet. Thank you.
>> So, I'm assuming there's nothing for bond or Is there a bond report? Oh, sorry. >> I'll give an update since uh Mr. Olberg is not here. So, the Robbinsville bonds committee, consisting of Dr. Piso, Mr. Macris, Mr. Olberg, Mr. Nandan,
uh Mr. Ray, and myself have met twice to begin planning for a future potential bond referendum. As part of the process, the district has contracted with a demographer to conduct the state-mandated demographic study. In addition, the feasibility study that was
completed in the fall of 2025 is being reviewed as we work to prioritize the recommendations and identify the district's most pressing facility needs and issues at this time. Our next uh steps include securing both
a bond advisor and a bond council to help guide the district through the referendum planning process. The committee will reconvene in July to continue discussions, review the priorities of the feasibility study, and determine the appropriate path forward.
We are committed to a thoughtful process that ensures that the community is informed and engaged as decisions are made. >> Just a follow-up question on that. Um does the bond advisor or council support on communications, effective communications, marketing, that kind of
engagement, or that's not >> That's beyond, I think, the scope of their roles. Um but there we have start started preliminary conversations around that as well. >> Thank you. So, any liaison reports?
No. All right. So, we'll move on to public comment on agenda items only. Uh time will be allocated for public comment at this meeting. Members of the public wishing to address the Board of Education on agenda items must state their name, municipality, and the group,
if any, they represent, a member of the public shall not be permitted to speak until he or she is recognized by the presiding officer. In accordance with district policy 0167, each comment shall be limited to 3 minutes. No participant may speak more
than once. No dialogue between the speaker and the board and or superintendent shall exceed the 3 minutes time limit provided herein. Live streaming of the meeting shall be for viewing only. The public will not have the ability to participate in
public session comments unless they are physically present at the meeting. Although the board encourages public comment, the presiding officer can interrupt, warn, and or terminate a participant's statement, question, or inquiry when it is too lengthy, and may also interrupt and warn a participant
when the statement, question, or inquiry is abusive, obscene, or may be defamatory. Moreover, the presiding officer can request any person to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum. So, in the hearing of the protocol established by the New Jersey School
Boards Association, the board will use this public comment period as an opportunity to listen to resident concerns, but not to debate issues or to enter into question and answer session. Issues raised by members of the public may require review and investigation,
and may or may not be responded by the board or superintendent during the meeting. All comments will be considered, and a response will be forthcoming and if and when appropriate. So, uh motion to open for public comment
on agenda items only. >> Vote. >> All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any abstention? Hearing none, motion passes. Thank you. >> All right, so we're open on agenda items only.
Okay. Anyone else? Nope, seeing none. I'll make a motion to close public comment on agenda items. >> Vote. All in favor? >> Aye. >> Any abstention? Hearing none, motion passes.
>> Okay. Uh monthly resolutions, so make a a motion to uh approve monthly resolutions and consent items. Uh
So, the superintendent recommends that the Board of Education approve the following personnel, education policy, and business action items. Personnel appointments pending criminal background clearance where applicable and any salary or stipend less than a full term
will be prorated to the start date. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any discussions? Take a roll call then. Ms. Vanductor. >> Yes. >> Dr. Gold. >> Yes. >> Ms. Hill DeAngelo. Absent.
Mr. Howard. >> Yes. >> Ms. Lehman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nandan. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ray. >> Yes. >> Dr. Piro. Absent. Mr. Olberg. Absent. Motion passes unanimously. Thank you.
>> All right, so personnel approval of personnel items, June 2026. Uh be it resolved that the Robbinsville Board of Education upon recommendation of the superintendent approves the following personnel resolutions.
Personnel appointments pending >> Point of order. We just approved >> Oh, we just voted on that. Okay. >> It was a whole blanket slate. So, we're at new business or old business? Catch-22. Any old business?
>> So, I'm making a motion for old business. Oh. Is there any old business? Okay. Uh seeing none, is there any new business? >> I have two, actually. One I wanted to actually just thank Mr.
Nick Makris for his service and dedication to this particular community. Um Nick, I don't know if I've ever told you, and I think when I actually first saw you, I felt like you're very, very strong and very, very hard to actually talk to. But as I actually start to
start to unravel and have many discussions, you know, one thing that I noticed is a very warm-hearted person behind and very nice person to actually talk to, very knowledgeable. And, you know, it goes without saying your
dedication and your work for this particular community is tremendous. And just to put some numbers, hope I remember from the top of my head here. I think anything that you've done to actually save us, at least in my tenure, you've done a wonderful job of saving
over $5 million across. And that's taxpayers' money back to taxpayers. And maintaining all the maintenance dollars and also the capital dollars intact or trying to make sure that we
are saving something there. In turn, in my calculation, we have saved community upwards of at least 15 to 20 million dollars. So, for the investment that we have made, I believe it's very much a good investment from that angle. But keeping that aside,
I think, you know, we will certainly miss you as a board secretary and I also I'll miss you as our business administrator and also as a friend. So, thank you for all of for all your service. Thank you. >> So, do I hear a motion for a 10% bonus? I don't know. No? >> Motion to keep [laughter]
him from resigning. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate it. >> I echo that. >> Another uh business that I have um I'd like to I'd like to take a moment to recognize the tremendous contribution that Robbinsdale Cricket Tournament has made to our
community. Beyond the excitement of competition, RPL, which it stands for, has become a platform that brings together families, friends, and residents from diverse backgrounds through the shared values of teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship, and
community spirit. The league promotes active and healthy lifestyles, provides positive role models for our youth, and creates opportunities for children to engage with sport of cricket while developing important life skills such as leadership, perseverance, and collaboration.
Through its dedication and volunteer-driven efforts, RPL has helped strengthen community bonds and enrich the quality of life in Robbinsdale. It was an honor for me and also Anthony Ray who attended to receive a momento for them. So, it is also my honor to now
present this momento back to Robbinsdale to our school district from Robbinsdale Premier League as a symbol of strong partnership between our community organizations and our school. This gesture reflects a shared commitment to supporting our children, encouraging healthy activities, and fostering a sense of belonging and pride
within Robbinsville. Dr. Pezzello, Superintendent, on behalf of Robbinsville Premier League and its organizers, players, volunteers, and supporters, I'm pleased to present this moment to you and the district with gratitude for your continued dedication to the students' families of our
community. May serve as a reminder of what can be accomplished when schools and community organizations work together for the benefits of the future generations. Organizations like RPL reminds us that education does not happen only within the walls of the classroom. It happens on our playing fields, in our neighborhoods, and through countless
volunteers who invest their time to build stronger community for our children. So, we thank the RPL for being one of those organizations. >> Uh thank you. This will, of course, be uh exhibited in the in the office. I want to make sure that uh I I agree with
the uh with the sentiments about the importance of of this and and all of our community organizations that that partner with us every day. So, so, thank you. This is uh This is beautiful. Much appreciated. All right. Any other new business?
>> Yeah, I just have to say one thing really quickly. Mr. McCreesh, I'm going to echo what everybody has said. I'm going to add to that and just say huge loss for the Robbinsville School District, huge gain for the Hamilton School District. Um I wish you the best. I know that you're going to be successful
anywhere you go. Thank you for everything that you've done. Thank you for your advice, and thank you for your friendship, and good luck to you. >> Thank you. Any Any other new business? All right. Well, we'll move on to uh public comment on school related matters. I'm assuming I don't have to read that
book again that I Okay, good. Um make a motion to open for public comment on school related matters. >> Second. >> Hi everyone. Amy Jablonski, 44 Devon Court.
Um and I'll follow up with Dr. Pizzo about my daughter's specific situation, but I wanted to bring my concern with regard to the high school grading system to the attention of the board and share with you the course of action that I'd like to see moving forward. So, as you know, grading systems for high school
courses were changed and now assessments constitute 70 to 80% of the grade in each marking period. So, this year I sat with the policy and while I disagree with it, I was pleased to see that in humanities courses uh the assessments were varied and so
why they're while they're a big portion of the grade, there's lots of different types of assessments, but the experience that my children have had in math classes has been very different. My concern is largely with how this has played out in college prep level math classes. So, 80% of the grade is based
on assessment, but there's only one form of assessment that's given to kids and that's a test. Students are not provided with any other meaningful way to show their learning. On top of this, students are only allowed opportunities for second chance learning on quizzes and even if they
score 100% on the retest, their grade is capped at 70%. When I asked about having copies of my children's quizzes so they could use them to work with their tutors to improve their scores in between quizzes and tests, I was told that that was not part of the policy. We couldn't have
copies of their assessments because academic integrity concerns were paramount to their learning in this situation. As an educator and as a high school principal myself, I can't think of a reason based on research or best practice for these policies as they
relate to the college prep learner. These are in many cases struggling math students. These are students that we want to have a commitment towards growth and that's being denied to them. It doesn't matter whether you turn in every single homework assignment or meet with
the teacher every single opportunity you get, those behaviors aren't valued under this policy. In fact, I would argue that this policy devalues the learning of executive functioning strategies and metacognition that we want struggling learners to have in favor of purposeful
purposeless rigidity and high-stakes assessment. The over emphasis on assessment is not healthy for many students, like my daughter who already struggle with test-related anxiety. It only exacerbates those symptoms. As it currently stands, the policy
values grades over learning, freezes a student's achievement in the moment, and discourages students from taking the time to reflect and relearn materials given the weekend impact of the retake. Students in AP and honors classes opt in
to a more rigorous environment, and it's not unreasonable for assessment to be a large portion of their grade. However, college prep students are not there by choice. They need greater differentiation, greater flexibility, a balanced approach to assessment, and integration of skills that make for a
successful student in that content area. Can I That is unnerving. Um I would just like the board to consider um looking at the policy over the summer so that we can go into the next school year with a policy that reflects the variation in course levels that exists
in Robbinsville and isn't one-size-fits-all for the college prep learner. Um that is part of board policy 2624, which says that there'll be input taken from parents and students prior to a grading policy decision change, and that didn't happen when this policy was
enacted. And second, I'd like the board to consider um a policy of requiring that if students and parents request it, they're entitled to a copy of their child's assessments, uh classroom assessments, so they can be used for learning purposes. Thank you.
>> Good evening, everyone. Mahesh Chavda, Robbinsville resident. I would like to start by extending my heartfelt thanks to Mr. McCreesh for your service, and wishing you continued success in your next chapter as well.
Uh I would like to resurface an important issue regarding our school district schedule, and that is lunch time. In the past meetings, multiple board members and school leaders have passionately brought up equity concerns on several matters.
Tonight, I am asking you to look at lunch through the same exact equity lens. Right now, lunch time is completely non-uniform across our school district. Some of the schools are getting 20 minutes, while others are getting 30
minutes. Even within the exact same grade level, some students are given transition periods to get to the cafeteria, while others are forced to rush without one. How can we claim to value equity when a
student's school building dictates how how much time they have to eat? Can we promise to establish true equity in the new schedule? During multiple conversations on this topic, Dr. Pizzo has claimed that 20 minutes of
lunch time is perfectly sufficient and that there is no need to increase it. So, if 20 minutes is gold standard for efficiency, let's operationalize it fairly. I have a proposal. Let's set the lunch time lunch period
to exactly minutes for everyone. Regardless of grade, school, or age, let's make it equal across the board. In fact, let's apply this rule to our teachers and administrators as well. Why are adults getting 30 minutes of lunch time while growing children are
getting less? If 20 minutes is enough for a child, it is surely enough for an adult as well. In the past, the advocates of advocates for equity on this board have always been vocal when decisions lead to inequality.
I deeply respect that. Tonight, I am calling on those same advocates to raise the same exact concern for our for this unequal lunch time as well. If we are going to preach equity, let's practice it in the cafeteria. Let's
standardize this schedule, make it equal for everyone, or let's admit that 20 minutes isn't enough for anyone. Thank you so much. >> Anyone else for public comment? I'll make a motion to close public comment. Vote.
Any nays or abstentions? Hearing none, hearing none, motion passes. All right, so this is where we go into our second Yes. So, do you want to I can talk about that. Okay, at this moment and I'm assuming no action. No action. So, we're going to be going
to a second executive session. This is going to be for matters involving employee in terms of their employment and contract. It is the CSA evaluation as mandated by state law. There will be no action taken, which means nothing can be done no board
action will be done after this. So, to save some more money for you, we're going to end the meeting tonight with the live streaming. I'm going to send everybody home. Um you're more than welcome to stay for the public, um but everything will be shut down and you're all going to go into exec.
Come back out. Gavel it and close the meeting. And Mr. Carrick will take the the remainder of the minutes and items of of necessity. So, at this mo- at this point, um may we have a motion? >> Motion.
>> Ms. Lehman heard you first. And Mr. London. All in favor? Any nays or abstentions? Seeing none, hearing none, Mr. President Pro Tem, you have a motion you have a time to go back.
Have a good night, everybody, and thank you very much.