All right, it's 7 pm. We're going to uh begin this regular meeting of the Rutherford Board of Education, April 6, 2026. Uh we'll ask everyone who can to please stand, face the flag for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the republic for it stands one indivisible and justice for all. >> I'll ask Mr. Whitford to please take role. >> Mr. Bgoan >> present. >> Miss Kates
>> here. >> Miss Cole >> here. >> Mr. Ki. >> Mr. Healey >> here. >> Mrs. Jones >> present. >> Dr. Mr. Rine >> here. >> Mr. Spayberry >> present. >> Dr. Lahi >> here. >> Missurio >> here. >> Do you have a quorum?
>> The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meeting of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provisions of this act, the Rutherford Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be
published by having the date, time, and place posted on the bulletin board outside the burough clerk's office, mailed to the Herald, South Bergenite, in the record newspapers, and filed with the burough clerk. Hard copies of the agenda are available in the meeting room, and the agenda is posted electronically on Friday before the
meeting date on the district's website at www.rotherfordschools.org. Subsequent to the meeting, a video of the meeting will be uploaded to the district's website, www.rotherfordschools.org. The video link can be found by opening the board of education link and clicking
on public meetings and then videos. Uh so board members, in your packets, there are minutes to approve from the regular meeting and executive session for March 16th. Are there any questions or comments on those? Seeing none, I'll ask Mr. Whitford to
please enter those. And I will turn it over to Miss Aorio for the report of the student representative. >> Good evening. Quarter 4 officially started today. It's hard to believe how fast this school year has gone by. We are we celebrated the sp the start of
spring sports with our spring pep rally last week. Spirit week was very successful. The seniors ended up winning by just two points and it was very close throughout the whole week. The freshman and juniors tied for second place. The distinguished graduate presentation was also very successful. The speaker
really captivated the audience and did a great job at answering any questions the students had in both the small group discussion and the main presentation. The RHS concert choir had the opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall recently. This is a huge honor and definitely something to celebrate.
Members of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America Club recently attended the spring conference. The students who attended received awards for the projects they completed and had the chance to participate in different leadership workshops. The junior dinner dance is coming up this
Friday, which the junior class is really looking forward to. The annual pops at RHS is coming up next week. This is always such a fun event and a great chance for students to showcase their musical talent for family and friends. Students are also looking forward to
spring break to recharge for the rest of the school year. And some news from the other schools. Um, the kindergarten center has enjoyed hosting thems had the chance to play with the older students. This allows the younger kids to learn through modeling, observing
appropriate play skills, and communicating properly. The older students also learn by practicing patience and teamwork. Lincoln School recently hatched 12 chicks and the entire school also read The World According to Humphrey. Lincoln and Washington School third
graders also had their first cross town visit during ReadAcross America week. Two classes visited Lincoln while two visited Washington School to share their favorite books and enjoy a snack together. Peron school is looking forward to their spring choir and band
concerts as well as preparing for the NJSLA in May. At Union School, accelerated pre-alggebra students recently learned about probability through engaging station activities. They used hands-on trials and data collection to see how math predictions
play out in real life. And additionally, the several music students were recognized for their outstanding performance as members of the 2026 NJSMA Region One Intermediate Treble Choir. They recently performed at Clifton High
School and sang a very challenging and diverse program which included Canadian folk, jazz, and pop music. And that's all I have for tonight. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. I always appreciate your well-rounded reports on all of the schools. Any questions or
comments from board members? >> Good job. Thank you. >> Excellent. Popsert was like one of my favorite events when my kids went there, but of course I had a singer, so it helps. Um, all right. Well, thank you. Appreciate your report, Sarah. And, uh,
you're welcome to stay if you'd like to. And if you have other commitments, we understand as well. So, thank you for being here. >> Thank you. >> Sarah, do you know when the pop sort is? >> Um, I'm not sure. I know it's next week. I think it's either Wednesday or Thursday. >> Give me one second.
This is uh it's um April 16th. >> Oh, so it's in >> Thursday. >> Yeah, next Thursday. Next Thursday. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. >> All right. So, we are going to move on now to the report of the superintendent.
>> Uh just a couple of items tonight. Uh tonight is u Mr. Whiter's last official duty um here as business administrator, board secretary. So again, we thank him and I think we've been thanking you every meeting for last. >> Oh yeah, I made stages.
>> And uh we wish you well and u Mr. Joe Kelly who's seated in the audience uh is uh going to be the interim BA board secretary u till the end of the academic year. So we welcome Joe back and we thank him for uh coming back and joining
us. Um couple of other quick items. um you know the the comments that Sarah was talking about uh some of the programs and you know we talk about the profile of the graduate and you know the collaboration when you have the kids from different schools getting together
the older students with the younger students uh you know citizenship um you know the critical thinking the creative thinking you know these are things that you know have always existed but I think the profile kind of makes us
recognize it more. you know that the uh the foundational pieces we're we're trying to um trying to build and um you know the term executive functioning you know sounds like a very challenging word but you know what she was talking
about with the kindergarten kids you know that's executive functioning you know learning how to play how to how to organize and following models of older kids so again I congratulate the students um for their initiative most of what Sarah talks about uh is also a
class assignment. It's either a volunteer club or a co-curricular that the students are involved in. Um I I will be sending something out to the school community uh most likely this week that our snow days, you know, we use them all and I I did let the board
know this. So Friday May 22nd and Tuesday uh May whatever that would be 25th 24th whatever the Tuesday after Memorial Day uh those days are full you know regular days of school but we will uh go with a one session day on the Friday before Memorial Day. So uh that
will go out so you know to elongate the weekend a little bit and still get the full day in. Um, spring break is the week of April 20th. Uh, as far as the board packet that will go out ahead of the April 27th meeting,
I'll um get back to you on whether we'll do that as we normally do the Thursday before the meeting or whether we'll do it um the week before. Um, our the office staff, you know, is open, but some people do use a vacation time when school is not in session. So, I just
want to see what kind of staffing we'll have before I'll let you know whether it comes out the week before or this or the couple of days before. Um, and remember the 27th is um number of things. Uh, Joe's first meeting will be
the budget hearing. So, we'll see if he remembers how to do that. Um, and uh that that will be an important meeting. The personnel committee, I I know we talked about May 4th. I think Dr. Dr. A lot, you were talking about a time that night. You You could check and let me
know. Uh we want to meet personnel, but I think when we met last, you said there might be a time problem you have at work. So, let let check your calendar. Let me know. >> Yeah, but let me know. That committee will meet on on um May 4th. Right now, I don't think there's going to be a need for other committees to meet, but I will
uh let you know that, you know, as the next couple of weeks weeks go by. And um that's it for now. Like I said, a relatively short report um tonight. Okay. Thank you. All right.
Thank you, Mr. Early. Uh questions or comments from board members. All right. Hearing none, we'll move on to the report of the president. Uh want to echo what Mr. Hurley said about thanking Matt Witford um for your service as business administrator.
Remember with Dr. sitting on the finalist panel and I think you were the final candidate and we're like that's our person. Um so you've really done great work in the time you've been here and we've been really appreciative of your innovation and your creativity and
your fiscal prudence and the way you've continued to educate us about aspects of governance that are really important. So thank you. Really appreciate everything you've done and wish you the best >> uh in your next chapter. And uh when I walked in today seeing Mr. Cali, I said,
"You look relaxed." And he said, "Well, I was." Um, but uh, no, to have former BA come back and and step in, you don't know the the uh comfort it brought this group at, you know, the last couple meetings when we heard that. So, everyone's uh, really
pleased and appreciative. So, thank you in advance. Um, wanted to share that. Uh, yeah. So in New Jersey, in Bergen
County, there are 24 uh master board members who have received their certification and two of them are on our board of education. Out of those 24, it was Mr. Dennis Healey. Um and as of I believe
last week, Mr. Begoian joined those ranks. So I just want to congratulate Mr. Begoian. >> Thank you. Uh I think I I think you have to do at least 40 credits worth of online classes and um so um great work, great
commitment. Uh after the next meeting, probably end of April, beginning of May, just as a heads up, that's when I'll send out the CSA evaluation um to start to look at that um as we get toward the final weeks of the school year. Uh so
that is it for my board report. Any questions or comments? >> Can I add one comment? >> Um school boards association uh fall workshop. Uh we've already received information about that. So um we'll be sending out or Mr. Kelly's will be
sending out uh shortly information if you think you want to go or you can go or plan to go, you know, you let us know. Um, you know, there is the opportunity going late into it to always add or delete some people, but you know, if we we want to see if anybody's thinks
they're going, we could get that going early on. So, that will come out, you know, probably before our spring break. Okay. >> All right. Any other questions or comments? Uh, hearing none. Uh, it's 7:12 p.m.
We're going to open the meeting to the public. So we have two uh moments where we open the meeting to the public. First is typically for things only related to the agenda and the second is for things related or not related to the agenda. Um because we have a couple of people here this evening. Uh happy to open it up to
the public for anything related to or not related to the agenda this evening. All right. So, we'll just ask if you can uh just share your name and your address. Um, we ask if you could try to keep comments to about three minutes or so. Um, and just so you know, it's not
always a back and forth between the board or superintendent unless one of us wants to say something, but please know that we're taking notes. Everything you say is really important. Um, we do a lot of our work in committees in the six different committees um that we're on outside of here, but just wanted to kind of share that and
>> Okay. >> give the floor over to you. >> Thank you. Um, good evening. My name is Rachel Edmmonds and my address is 8 East Park Place here in Rutherford, New Jersey. I have a second grade student at Lincoln School and I have a seventh
grade student who is currently out of district. Um, forgive me because I didn't prepare notes, but I am coming to express concerns that I have alongside many parents in our district about the amount of computer-based learning we
have going on uh here in Rutherford, particularly in grades K through five. Um, we're here to start the conversation of how we can get back to more pento paper learning so that students have a
deeper retention of material. I've noticed with my seventh grade son um who had a beautiful experience here in Rutherford um that the more computer-based learning that was happening although he was able to excel
on all of the testing he wasn't retaining the information and getting very burnt out by the end of the day. So by the time he would get home from the school day starting in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade, and it was time for him to sit down and work on his homework,
also on the computer, he was unable to focus. He had straight A's in all of his subjects, so it wasn't a matter of not excelling, but when we were looking at the information with him, he wasn't retaining it. So, we've read a lot of
the research that is out there and know what is developmentally appropriate for different aged students of how much time they're on the computer. So what we want to advocate for, I want to advocate for is making sure there's stronger
guidelines in place for our students so that they are retaining information in the most optimal learning environment. And particularly when it comes to extracurriculars, that time during the day for a brain break so that they can
excel and be well-rounded students that we're not relying on the computer for art or for music or for gym and they're allowed more time to move their bodies and expand their knowledge in different ways instead of in front of a screen.
So, I'm just going to leave it there for now because there's some other parents here that would like to express similar concerns. Thank you for all that you do to help encourage an optimal learning envir environment for our students and allowing us to express concerns.
Thank you. >> All right. Thank you. Anyone else who would like to speak? Good evening everyone. Uh Aiden Booths. I live at 256 Woodward. Um I have a child in second grade and another one
going to be in kindergarten next uh in the upcoming year. Kind of on a similar vein to Rachel. Um but it's more focused on you know in terms of the the security and the policy and the governance side
when it comes to information security privacy. Uh when the kids are on the using the technology obviously you know we we want them to ensure that they they have the skill set and they they do it in a in a secure way and they build the
the skill set that they need that's going to set them up for success. Um but at the same time just understanding what that looks like in terms of how their privacy is handled. Um not just kind of in Rutherford but in terms of
you know third parties and things like that. What privacy and security controls are put in place for the for the Chromebooks and everything else. And it's like Rachel said, this is more just uh come to to learn about this process
and learn hopefully in the future engaging to understand how we can all build a a better approach in the in the future. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else from the public who would
like to speak? >> All right. Uh then at 7:18 p.m. we're going to close the meeting to the public. >> Yeah. I I would just like to, you know, make some general comments. I can't really be too specific on anything, but your folks are here. And um first of
all, you know, we don't I don't disagree and we don't disagree with anything you're saying. Um you know, we have been kind of in front of this um long before that article came out a couple weeks ago in the New York Times. Um and we've been in front of it before um some of the books have come out. Um, and you know, I
I I I think again I'm not disputing what you're hearing or feeling or seeing, but I can tell you that um just a couple of things. Um, first of all, cursive writing is back, right? It's being taught. Um, if you walk through Washington or Lincoln schools, you will
see uh a lot of really cool things up on the hallways, and they're all handwritten, and they're all printed or handwritten. Uh, I like the ones, um, I just saw in Washington about, you know, uh, what I want to be at when I'm 100 years old, which I thought was, you
know, I feel like I'm 100 years old, but I'm not yet. But it was, you know, was some really cool things that they wrote. Um, phonics is still being taught with the new program with tapping out syllables and tapping out sounds. Um, our math
program is a a computer-based textbook, but the kids work in workbooks. And hopefully you've been seeing that. Uh, this the vocabulary and the grammar books that we brought in are the sadier workbooks that I used when I taught
35 years ago. They're still books. Um, we have done things in union school where we tried like no tech Tuesday, things like that with the middle school. Um, a lot of our programs especially in uh elementary level are things like uh the
word of the week and the state of the week of the state of the week and uh meaning the the actual state where they learn about um PBSIS which is a positive behavioral program out of Ruckers. Uh none of those involve technology. Um
I observe um classes you know I observe all second or third year teachers in the last um say six or eight weeks uh again anecdotally I you know I've been to I think 17 uh K to4 classes uh all
unannounced. I saw a Chromebook used in one class for about six minutes and that was the only time I saw it. Um, the interactive board is really being used like a a chalkboard where they're writing the objective of the day up there. Um, I think the thing that we try
to stress and we try to watch is that technology is a tool, right? It doesn't drive the curriculum. It's part of the curriculum. So, when I first started teaching, uh, there were some teachers who showed film strips every day. You may have had some of those teachers. Uh, there were some teachers who showed
videos every day. Uh actually when I started was realtoreal um film um you know those were not the kind of teachers we wanted teaching and the same way we don't want teachers who are constantly it's a tool right it's
used to enhance learning uh to the gentleman's point that just spoke yeah we can't close our eyes to technology I mean grade three comes along every child has to start taking state test on the computer they have to write essays on the computer uh they have to take those up through grade 11. Uh they have to
take HS uh you know SAT test, ACT test, AP tests, they're all computerized. Uh most jobs in most professions, most colleges, that's what you you know, we have to teach those skills, but they shouldn't dominate, especially at the early grade level. And quite frankly, I
don't think it does, but we're working on that. We have a committee together uh in fact the committee has provided guidelines um which are in our handbooks and whatever on AI and um for appropriate teaching of AI, appropriate use of AI and the fact that really AI is
intended from about grades six or seven and up. Okay. Um, again being around for a long time, I sat in this building as a supervisor when we had a discussion that we should never allow the internet into our
schools. Okay? And we talked about that. Then we talked about how are we going to teach the internet. So for example, I was an English teacher. We had to teach how to how to make a judgment on a source. How
do you look at where the source is from? You know, so theedu versus a.org um versus a dot com. Um how do you site those sources? How do you verify those sources? We're doing the same things now. We're learning to do those same
things now with the new technology that's coming in because it's a tool that's not going away. Our job is to learn how to use it appropriately to then model and teach the kids how to use it appropriately. Um, so you know that's and and by the way
we're going to have a survey coming out at the end of the year. Uh we did one at the beginning of the year for parents. We're doing one again where we're going to kind of try to capture four or five topics to get response to and one of them will be technology both the use in
the educational but also our uh way of communicating with parents. you know, what's the best platform to reach parents? Um, so we're not in disagreement at all. We're 100% in agreement. I think we're I
think we're in a much better place than maybe the perception is because I see it every I mean, you could shake your head no, but I see it every day. I read every lesson plan. The principles are in the building. Um, and you know, I think but you're right, when the kids get a little
older, it becomes a a much more necessary tool. So, we're working on it. Um, we'll continue to work on it. We look forward to uh hearing your thoughts. Um, and again, that's kind of, you know,
what I have now. And I haven't I don't have I didn't bring a ton of stuff with me in anticipation of of discussing this. Okay. >> And I know uh Mr. I believe you have a meeting with a couple of parents on Friday. >> Yeah. I am a couple parents on Friday. I think that'll be a good opportunity. And
I, you know, always always like to stress and and just appreciate that, um, you know, if families have, you know, concerns about things happening in the classroom, first person to go to is the teacher for sure. If you feel like the teacher hasn't quite solved the concern that you have, then it would be going to
the principal and then from there going to the superintendent. Um, so just, you know, the fact that you're going to be meeting with the superintendent, I think it's a good a good step. Um, because they are really, uh, Mr. And the principles are the operational leaders of the school. So they're really the
ones who are kind of giving oversight to what's happening in the classrooms on the day-to-day. And as a board, we're kind of a strategic board that's making sure that we're resourcing the district. Um we're looking at what the district's priority are. You know, more of a kind of 5,000 foot uh level. Um but it is
important also to be able to hear from the community. So uh we appreciate that. >> I can share one more thing. At that meeting, I'm also going to have Mr. Ryan who's our uh director of curriculum with me because he's he's actually been leading more of the dive into this um
and um we've spoken about this at our administrative council monthly I meet with all the principles and the directors um and um you know formal meeting I mean obviously I meet with them and talk to them daily but a formal meeting and this has been something on our agenda probably the last three
months or so. So again to Dr. A lot's point, if you have a particular issue in a classroom, it's not it's not it's not a confrontational or argumentative thing. You know, have a conversation with the teacher. The principles I know are certainly on board with the need to
teach students how to use technology, but they're also on board with the appropriate use of it as a tool. So, you know, no one minds the conversation, and I think, you know, and I encourage you to do that. >> All right. Uh, thank you, Mr. Hurley. Um
there is a second uh meeting open to the public if anyone wants to speak during that second time. But we're going to move on now to new business uh where there is action to be taken. Uh and we move by consent agenda. Uh so we tend to move pretty quickly through this. Um so
we'll start with personnel. Miss Cole. >> Uh good evening. Personnel did not meet this month and we have 22 motions to be put forward tonight. The recommendation of the superintendent. I'd like to move motions one through 22 under personnel.
>> All right. Do we have a second? Mr. Sprayberry. Uh, and everyone sees the the add-on the addendum that came this evening. Uh, questions or comments about personnel? >> Uh, just one comment. The um item for the county submission, just to remind
everyone, we had to do that for the interim of the contract. That's something we have to do ahead of having a candidate to submit the contract. the board when I send that contract to the county for approval, the the um county will see that the board approved the
submission of a contract. So this way, you know, if and when we settle on a permanent uh business administrator, we can then get that contract out because we have this approved. >> Questions or comments? Hearing none, Mr. Woodford, please take role.
>> Mr. Po, >> yes. >> Miss Keats, >> yes. >> Miss Cole, >> yes. Mr. Healey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Dr. Rine, >> yes. >> Mr. Spayberry, >> yes. >> Dr. Lahy, >> yes. >> Motion's carried. >> All right. Thank you. We'll move on to
curriculum and instruction. Mr. Jones, >> thank you. We did not have a CNI meeting and tonight there are six motions that have been put forth upon the recommendation of the superintendent. >> All right. Thank you. Do we have a second on that, Mr. Migosian?
Questions or comments about curriculum and instruction? Hearing none. Mr. Witford, please take role. >> Mr. McGroian, >> yes. >> Miss Kates, >> yes. >> Miss Cole, >> yes. >> Mr. Healey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Dr. Rine, >> yes.
>> Mr. Spayberry, >> yes. >> Dr. Lah, >> yes. >> Motion is Gary. >> All right. Thank you. We're going to move on now to finance. Mr. Begoian. >> Uh, good evening. Tonight, uh, on the agenda, we have three motions to consider under finance, and we did not have a finance committee meeting since our last full board meeting. Uh, I'd
like to move motions one through three under finance. >> All right, we have a second on those. Dr. Rine, questions or comments about finance hearing? None. Mr. Woodford, please take role. >> Miss Posan, >> yes.
>> Miss Kates, >> yes. >> Miss Cole, >> yes. >> Mr. Healey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Dr. Mr. Rine. >> Yes. >> Mr. Spayberry. >> Yes. >> Dr. Lahi. >> Yes. >> Motions carry. >> All right. Uh we're going to move on now to policy. Mr. Healey.
>> Yes. Uh we did not have a policy committee meeting since our last board meeting. And uh there is one resolution as listed being put forth as a second reading. Yep. Putting that forth. >> All right. Do we have a second for
policy, Miss Cole? Uh so this is on the second reading of those new policies. Questions or comments from board members? All right. Hearing none, Mr. Woodford, please take role. >> Mr. Posian, >> yes. >> Miss Kates, >> yes. >> Miss Cole, >> yes.
>> Mr. Healey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Jones, >> yes. >> Dr. Rine, >> yes. >> Mr. Spayberry, >> yes. >> Dr. Lahi, >> yes. >> Motion's carry. >> All right. Thank you. Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Spayberry. >> Good evening. We did not have a build ground this meeting and we have no
>> All right. Thank you. Uh, we will move on now to old business. Is there any old business, Mr. Jones? >> I just want to say that I really enjoyed the brochure that we got in the mail last week. It's got great pictures of our kids. Uh, and I I just think this is
a great thing that you've done, Mr. Hurley. I I gets better and better. And the other thing I would just like to share with you is that I go to the Kip Center for exercise classes, but occasionally I see the school bus in front of them, which means a teacher is
come forth and and brought students in. And they the seventh or eighth grade students at Union School under Jacqueline Herbeck um were making crafts with the seniors, flower pots and um pot
holders uh flowers uh they were just having a good time. The interaction is always wonderful and the kids are always polite. So, I thought that would be I said that I would share what you know at the board meeting and
the kids all like that. >> Nice. Any other old business? >> Um I mentioned the profile the graduate before and again that's another example what you just brought up. Um just a look
ahead to um the May 11th or 12th again I don't have the calendar in front of me u meeting um we're going to have the advisory board from the profile uh the teachers from each building uh come and present uh to the board um you know in
the community what the uh projects will be um in for next year so that we could hear them and um you know I'm going to let them do the presentation because they worked with their colleagues to develop them. So that'll be the first meeting.
>> First meeting. >> All right. Uh we are going to move on to legislative update. Anything for us, Miss M. Jones? >> Thank you. Uh Senate Bill 3910. Uh it was introduced on March 12th of this year and the uh
the agent the senators Angela V. Um, Mcnite, I'm sorry, from district 31, which is Hudson. Requires the parent or guardian to annually notify the school district in writing of the intention to homeschool their child. Requires the
school district to compile and post on the district website the number of homeschooled children. uh a parent or guardian of the school of the child that's going to be homeschooled must notify the superintendent uh by August 1st of their
intention to have their child school. >> Well, again, like I tell you, you know, there's a lot of laws that get moved forward and they they don't go beyond being introduced. Um I haven't seen or heard anything. I think it's just been introduced, right? >> Yeah. Two weeks ago.
>> We'll see. It's 25% move. So, >> that's it for me. All right. Thank you, M. Jones. 7:33 p.m. we are going to open the meeting to the public for anything related to or not related to the agenda.
Anything else? All right. Seeing none, we're going to close the meeting at 7:33 p.m. We do have a need for an executive session to discuss uh personnel matter. Uh no action to be taken. Probably about 15
minutes. I'm gonna be you're gonna be >> uh so we need a motion to go into executive session. Mr. Spayberry, seconded by Mr. Bezosian. All in favor? I >> All right. We are going to go into executive session. Thank you.