Miss Ballard >> here, >> Miss Clark Emory, Miss Cooper, Mrs. Gomez >> here, >> Mrs. Hoppy, >> Mrs. Hunt >> here, >> Mrs. Labbera here, >> Mrs. Santoro, >> Mrs. Ry here, >> Mrs. friend. Miss Ballard, Miss Clark Emmery, Miss
Cooper, Miss Mrs. Gomez, >> Mrs. Hoppy, Mrs. Hunt, >> yes, >> Mrs. Labbera, yes, >> Mrs. Santoro, >> Mrs. Ry, >> yes. to the flag of the United States of America to the republic for it stands
one nationice. Thank you, Mrs. Frenda. Um, we have our student representatives here tonight. And, uh, representing the middle school, we have Genevie Deg Grand Prey and Harper Watt. So, we're going to bring the ladies up and they're going to represent softball and our track
program. Come on up. Good evening. I'm Genevie Degrre, an eighth grader in Penn State. Currently, I'm playing softball for BMS and have been on the team since sixth grade. During my years on the team, I've played many positions, how however I mostly play catcher. Our coaches are Coach Mack
and Coach D, both of whom have a lot of experience playing softball as they currently play in the league together. During practice, we begin by stretching and warming up our arms. Then we normally do some drills focusing on certain aspects of the game. We end most practices with some form of a scrimmage against each other. At games, our
coaches do their best to include all players and allow them to get equal playing time. I'm also in the BMS newspaper club run by Mrs. McGovern, an eighth grade literacy teacher. So far, we have published two editions and are currently working on a third. Every issue consists of various topics that cover school news, pop culture, and
local and world news. In other news, before spring break, BMS welcomed in an author illustrator named George O'Conor. Each grade had their own assembly where we learned about how he became an author illustrator and were given a quick demonstration of how he draws. On top of that, students who completed the most
community service hours were given the opportunity to eat lunch with him and ask any questions. Some students who are a part of certain clubs such as art club, newspaper club, and the late bell were also invited to a workshop where he where we were able to make our own comic strips based on
prompts given to us. Getting to learn getting to learn from a published author illustrator was an incredible experience. We are always looking forward to these unique opportunities here at BMS. Now I will turn it over to Harper. Thank you, Genevieve. I'm Harper Watt,
an eighth grader in Penn State. I've been running track since fifth grade, specifically the 1600 and the 800. This year, our coaches are Miss O'Haler, Mr. Laspata, and Miss Haney. At practices and meets, athletes have the chance to explore what the sport has to offer. Typically, practices consist of a group
warm-up, splitting off into different specialties such as sprinting, distance, and field events, and group stretching where updates about upcoming meets are shared. In addition to spring sports, students at BMS have recently enjoyed Bark Madness. Bark Madness was a student council hosted event. Participants were
able to send in photos of their dog to be featured in a bracket. All students got to vote for their favorite until there was only one standing. The winner got a prize and even those not entered in the competition loved participating through sharing their votes on which puppy should win. Eighth graders at BMS have a lot to look forward to as we head
toward the end of the school year. Many involved in music programs have their final spring concert in mind. In addition to looking forward, there have been some captivating lessons to reflect on as well. One of these would be Mr. reporter civics class where students had the opportunity to look at fire helmets sent from Australian firefighters after
9/11. We spent the class discussing the encouraging of messages and sharing our ideas to the class. Eighth grade students are now looking forward to their final school events such as at BMS like the pool party, eighth grade trip, Dorny Park, and the eighth grade graduation dance. We are so excited to
see what these last two months of middle school have to offer. Thank you for listening and have a good night. And now we have Sophia and Nolan from the high school. >> Hi everyone. It's good to see you all. It's been a very relaxing month so far.
We just had spring break last week and it was a very much needed break. A lot of students went on vacations, visited schools. Um, I was in Boston for my admitt students day and I actually saw a couple other students from Bernard. So, really a small world. Um, like I said,
it was a very much needed break. We have, especially with AP tests coming up in just a couple weeks. Um, they start on May 4th, so I know a couple students start studying. Um, also our school is very popular with AP, so I'd say a majority of the students take at least
one AP. So, it's usually a busy time for a majority of the students here. So, it's definitely going to be very hectic, but um it'll all be over soon. Um next, we have decision day coming up in just a
few weeks on May 1st. Um decision day is the last day where you can really decide where you want to commit to college. It's really the deadline. Um, and on May 1st, we all all the seniors wear a shirt with their plans for graduation or their college on it and we all meet in the
parking lot in the morning and we take photos and it's a really fun day and it's very bittersweet to see where all of your fellow classmates are going. So, it's very exciting and I'd say a lot of the seniors are already committed, but there are a couple students who are in between schools, so it's definely going
to be exciting to see where they end up. But next, we have junior prom this Friday. Um, it is going to be held at the Basking Ridge Country Club and it is a very popular event. I'd say mostly all the juniors are attending. And what's
really great about it is you can bring anyone from any grade in high school and you can bring students from other schools if they just sign a permission slip. So, it's really a fun night and there are teacher chaprons there the whole evening. You get dinner served and it's just an amazing night and you can
dance with your teachers if you want. So, it's very fun. Um, next we have sports that we're going to talk about, but I'm going to hand it over to Nolan. It really wasn't a busy month so far, especially with spring break. So, thank you for listening.
>> Yep. Senior spring sports are very much underway. Sophia and I were at a track meet today. It's been very fun. We're loving uh Coach Mike us with the throwers. So, him and Coach Malik are the middle school gym teachers and they used to coach baseball together, but
Coach Malik has come up to the high school for baseball and coach Mike has come up for throwers and he both of them are very popular. I mean, coach Mike always brings a big smile on his face and that's not bad. That's not bad. All our throws, you know, he's very encouraging. Uh, also in terms of new
coaches, uh, coach Zakatenko has been very popular with the lacrosse kids, especially they they comment on his shooting ability and he says that whenever he's demonstrating drills, he always rips one right into the top of the net. So, he's a young guy, so very very relatable for them. Um, touch upon
Crimson Cafe, which is coming up, a big band trip. We had our Disney trip last year, and it was very good for the concert, the full concert bands to actually be in in like a concert performance. get all of us in one room and to help prepare us for our upcoming
spring concert. And here having practice sessions with some of the judges there after was very educational as well. Get looking at some new ways at how to balance the sound and how hard to play and stuff. I certainly helped me as a musician. And not this weekend, but next
weekend we have Crimson Cafe, which is an annual event similar to Pops Night and what happened with the musical this year, bringing middle schoolers up to be a part. It's a great event that brings a district together. We have the Bernards Middle School Jazz Band, the Bedminister Township School Jazz Band, Burns High
School Jazz Band, all performing songs individually. At the end, we have one big song with all of us playing together. It's always one of the best events of the year. And as I said, love events that truly bring the district together. Um, also upcoming next week, there is a phone band, much to the sugar of the
students, but we got to get used to it for next year. Thankfully, I won't be here for that. And uh touching more upon college decisions, if you go, we always plug the decisions page. I think we're at we either just eclipse or about to eclipse
a 100 posts. Those will be rolling in. And then typically on decisions day, there'll be a video uploaded to that of each kid on their shirt like showing the name. Lots of colorful shirts. It's a it's a great day. It's a cool video to see. So because you get to see all the faces and put a face the name of the
school. Uh, so that's a lot of fun. And as she said, she was just at admitted students day. I'll be at admitted students day this weekend. Very grateful that we get the college visit attendance exemptions because my attendance is very important to me. So glad I can classified as something other than being
sick. As Dr. Brochial says, I pushed through sickness to get to school. There was a there was a stint in February where there was a lot of ibuprofen consulting. Uh, yeah. And for us seniors, it's the finish line is truly in sight. Graduation day is two months from
Saturday. So, we're just trying to make the best out of our last few months here, last few sports games. The AP tests are what we're really looking forward to getting over because then it's just coming to school to have fun. So, um so I will see you sometime around an
AP test then. >> Thank you, Nolan. And I can personally attest how strongly Nolan feels about the attendance policy. I had to see him uh during that time in February and Dr. Nigel had indicated that he was sick and uh I felt like he really was sick
because he has an outstanding uh record of attendance here. So thank you for the report everybody from uh the middle and high school. Uh we have two groups of students. um the students from two extracurricular
activities that we're going to be recognizing tonight. Um interestingly, uh all girls who have demonstrated outstanding skill um in various sports uh
at our high school here. Uh the first group that we're going to represent and we're going to recognize tonight is uh the varsity girls ski race team. Uh they won the small public school state championship this year. Uh which is a
really awesome event. To be number one in anything is great and um it's just really cool to see. So, we have uh a resolution uh for these folks and I am going to uh recognize a few or all of
them here tonight. Um so, our first resolution um is uh or our first student athlete is um Hannah Venegra and her sister Alicia Venegra. Right. Come on up.
Next honore is Brook Schnebach. Next honore is Maggie O'Donnell. And we have uh Gia Lumera. Oh, okay. Gia couldn't be here. Okay. And we have Marley Foster
and Valentina Christian. >> Not here tonight. Okay. Let's clap for her anyway. Right. So, we have a resolution that we're going to read here for you state champions, right? Which is pretty awesome. Uh, this is a resolution that honors you for your contribution on the
varsity girls ski race team for winning the title of small public school state champion at the February 2026 team state championship races at Mountain Creek Ski Resort. Whereas the Somerset Hills Board of Education gives special commen
special honor and commendation to student athletes who demonstrate exceptional skill, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Whereas you all have displayed grit and determination throughout the ski racing season, competing under very challenging winter weather conditions while racing
against both elite private schools and large public schools. whereas you all are a part of the Bernard's High School varsity girls ski race team and you serve as a powerful inspiration to all of your peers and coaches and this entire community. And it is resolved by
the Somerset Hills Board of Education that all the members here of the ski team uh are are to be commended for their outstanding performance in both the team state championship races um and and throughout. Uh when the Somerset Hills Board of Education adjourns on
this day, it does so in your honor. Um and the Board of Education Secretary is directed to have this resolution reflected in the permanent minutes of the Somerset Hills Board of Education on this day. Congratulations. >> Well done.
Our next honore is Gabrielle Rudy. If we could uh bring Gabby up. So Gabby made history uh literally the first girl uh to ever place um at the NJIA Wrestling Championships and uh we
have a resolution uh for her. But uh she comes with a a team of supporters and a team of coaches and um if there's one thing that I've heard uh in my time here, it's how passionate you are about the of wrestling and how strongly you
have influenced a community of wrestlers. And so, uh, for that reason, the board of education has a resolution honoring you, Gabby. Uh, and I'm going to read that. Uh, so Gabby, uh, has a resolution honoring her for placing
fourth in the NJSIA state wrestling championships on March 14th, 2026 in Atlantic City. Whereas a Somerset Hills Board of Education gives special honor and commendation to student athletes who demonstrate exceptional skill, perseverance, and sportsmanship. Uh
whereas Gabrielle Rudy displayed grit and determination on the mats at Boardwalk Hall, navigating a challenging bracket as a 10 seed. To win as a 10 seed is very difficult. whereas Gabby Rudy is part of the Bernard's High School girls wrestling team and serves
as a powerful inspiration to her peers, her coaches, and the school community. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Somerset Hills Board of Education that the members of the board hereby commend Gabby for placing fourth in the state in the 107 weight class. And a it's a feat
highlighted by a gutsy and dominant performance in the wrestle back bracket to secure her place on the podium. Her showing made history as no other female wrestler has ever accomplished the same in Burner High School history. When the Somerset Hills Board of Education
adjourns on this day, it does so in honor of the achievements earned by Gabrielle Rudy. The board of education secretary is directed to have this resolution reflected in the permanent minutes of the Somerset Hills Board of Education on this 15th day of April, 2026.
Congratulations. I uh I want you to know that before I came here to Somerset Hills, uh I was superintendent of another school district and I worked very closely uh at the state athletic association regarding all sorts of um programs and the whole
um the whole gamut of sports that are offered including skiing And during that time uh I was a part of a smaller group at the association that worked closely with the uh who is still currently or now is the head wrestling coach at
Princeton University um who drove um a a lot of great movement in the area of girls wrestling. Um I was lucky to have known him. and his wife was actually a teacher of mine uh in my school district and she was a wrestler in Indiana uh
when she was growing up. They met, they got married, had kids and moved here and um he came to the NJSIA and talked about how many girls were wrestling uh all the great things that are happening in the youth groups um in the world of
wrestling. And uh we all felt um that it was frankly ridiculous that those opportunities didn't exist for girls. And uh so we pushed hard to um to have it formally recognized by the state and
uh we went a step further and we said they should be wrestling in boardwalk call because in the beginning you weren't. And um it's it's great to see you're now my third state champion. I had two down in Delran and you here are a state finalist and um it's just great
to see uh you are an inspiration to everybody in this community whether you are a wrestler or not and I have a little guy at home he's nine and I tell him don't ever stop believing in yourself and he was watching you on
video during your matches and um he talks about you and um you may never meet him But you have you have influenced him and that goes a long way. And um so I I want you to know when when you walk out and you earn a
diploma here when you graduate um you will have done something really special. And I'm certain you're not done. So congratulations. Uh we going to continue with our report here. Uh we heard a little bit about um
Bark Madness at the uh middle school in uh Miss Watts report. We have uh Oh no, this was um this is March Madness. This is the event at uh Bedwell uh which we did hear about at the last meeting, but this was a uh a project that takes place
in our fourth grade that connects strongly with the HSA that promotes a love of reading uh to build excitement around books um in our second, third, and fourth grade classrooms. They participated in March Madness, which is a book bracket tournament. And this event encouraged students to think
critically, to share their opinions, and to make thoughtful decisions about texts. Um the competition continued over 24 days and we had a victor here in the 2026 bracket and it was called Bittersweet was the victor. Uh so
special thanks out to Jess D who she is known so affectionately around the district who participated um in this project. We had Bark Madness. Uh it's the month of brackets uh with the basketball. So,
we had Bark Madness, which was a a great fundraiser and a great initiative uh over at the middle school, uh paying homage to the middle school mascot, which is a bulldog. And the kids were excited to show their school spirit by participating in this tournament. Um
student council members and the adviser, Miss Gash, uh created this K-9 concept and brainstormed a bracket about each of the the respective fantastic four-legged friends. Uh, so 75% of the kids at the
middle school voted and participated. Um, all dogs were amazing, but Slinky reigned victorious. Uh, so it was a big u it was a big fundraiser there. Uh, $315 was raised and donated to the
middle school 2526 charity crisis response canines. Uh, so this was a um this was something very significant. Student Council has raised $1,845 this year that they are donating to Crisis Response K9. So, that's uh
something very cool to see. Our high school students hosted a STEM competition uh during um during the last month. There are five student leaders from the technology and robotics club that are held at uh they held their third annual STEM competition here at the high
school. Uh I believe Mrs. Labbera was a judge as was Mr. Baker. Um, so we invited or they invited 11 other Northern New Jersey high schools to compete and they uh were charged with planning, designing and creating a car
inspired by Mario Kart using simple direct current motors and circuits. Uh the high school uh had their own team as well compete in this um in this event and they ra they secured a fourth a
fourth place uh showing overall. There are two more STEM events for this school year. Uh tomorrow our high school will be going to Bloomfield High School for their event. Uh so good luck to them and um you know certainly uh best of luck to the kids and they really have come such
a long way in a short period of time. The youth art youth arts showcase at the Hun and Art Museum took place. Uh March was arts in our schools month and the district was excited to celebrate our students creativity at the Ham Young
Artist Showcase. Uh and uh this exhibit was held at the Hunterton Art Museum. That's the Ham out in Clinton. and um our our our very own Miss Chaffy shared that it's such a wonderful opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of our
young artists in our uh professional gallery setting. Uh so great things happening in our art program. We also heard from Miss Watt regarding um a great initiative in Mr. Porter's eighth grade civics class. Uh those
students participated in a meaningful lesson that connected history, civics, civic values, and international goodwill. It centered on a set of firefighter helmets originally donated from a fire department in Australia to American firefighters in the aftermath
of the September 11th attacks. Thanks to the generosity of a particular community member, Mr. Casan Kagnosola who loaned these items to the school and the students had the opportunity to see and discuss these
symbols as symbols of global solidarity up close. Um just a terrific uh opportunity for our kids and special thanks to Mr. Porter for organizing that. um bed wells, book clubs, and dump punch. Uh which sounds like a game my
siblings may have played back, you know, way back when. Um so following their non-fiction unit, our third grade students at Bedwell have been working diligently on a character studies literacy unit where they focused on character development and inferencing
skills. Uh teachers Mrs. McShane and Mrs. Cartelius began by surveying the students about their favorite genres. Uh book clubs were then created and students um had time in class setting goals for their individual titles uh
jotting notes and questions as their stories progressed. Um as is a Bedwell tradition of all third grade classes uh will gather together to recreate this memorable party uh from the end of the book. So, another great
um another great example of practical application of academic concepts at Bedwell. Our high school concert band and orchestra attended the festival Disney once again this year to present their progress on this spring concerts
repertoire selection. They played for conservatory professors who provided sound feedback uh and a clinic for both the teachers and for the students to use in their practice. We had 35 students attend and uh they all had a wonderful time in the parks and cherish the
lessons they learned on musicianship. Brief update on a chef grant Somerset Hills Education Foundation. Um, this is a grant given to Judge Ellis, who is a high school woodworking teacher. Uh, it's a portable CNC routing tool, uh,
called Shaper Origin for advanced design and fabrications. Uh, the Shaper Origin has quickly adopted into the workflow of various woodworking classes that Bernard's High School offers. Uh, students have been able to access an amazing piece of machinery and technology allinone. students have been
able to plan, design, plan and design a digital template for their work uh for their projects. And um the Somerset Hills Education Foundation has awarded $15,646 in classroom mini grants for innovative educational projects across the Somerset
Hills School District and we will continue to provide updates on their projects. Nympha uh Abby Miranda is a senior at the high school and she was recognized by the school as the everyday hero for April. Uh nominees for the monthly everyday hero program are students who
have a positive influence on the student body through their exemplary qualities. Uh Miss Miranda is one of those students who comes into school with respect and positive vibes only every single day. Uh she takes care of the new students and she is uh to be counted on by her
teachers to be dependable and responsible. She's someone you can trust. Uh she has compassion, maturity, and tenacity. She has a strong work ethic, a team spirit, and respect. And uh she is April's everyday hero.
Our spring sports season is uh certainly on the move. Uh we have a host of students at the high school that are participating in a variety of sports. Uh we also have students that um have a um
some new equipment in our fizzed class and they are utilizing um ultimate frisbee um disc golf goals and uh so it's been great to see them out there. Disc golf. Thank you, sir. >> Not ultimate. No, different, right?
Okay. All right. I'm new. Yeah. Um, so disc golf, um, which is very popular. Um, and it's good to see the kids out there doing that now that the weather's breaking. Um,
I've been hitting the uh the pavement uh in various education opportunity fairs. Uh, recently Kathy Mian, who is our our HR specialist, uh, joined me at TCJ uh, last month. uh I was with 114 employers
and uh we have uh interviewed a host of uh prospective candidates uh for positions this coming school year. I'm just going to take a drink. I want to give an update on a program um called I Ready. Um that's a program that
we use uh in our school district and there are three components of I Ready. It's a computerized uh platform here. Um there's the I Ready inform Assessment, the I Ready personalized instruction component, and the I Ready comprehensive
math program. All three of which uh that we utilize in the district. Uh by and large uh we are able to engage in a host of uh diagnostic exercises in order to um further inform student achievement and further inform uh not only their
progress but uh opportunities to modify instruction. Uh we use the I Ready inform assessment in grades K through eight and uh we administered about three times per year in order to measure student progress. there's a high level of connectivity between this platform
and NJSLA which is uh why um years ago we ended up uh moving towards this program and it supports skill development uh with our math students as well. Uh I would say that we implement it minimally in the school district in
comparison to what it offers. Um there are variety of different platforms. Uh we utilize this work in order to support instruction not to supplant it. And um that's been um helpful to us uh throughout our time utilizing this
program. Uh we use I Ready again to uh work in concert with our instructional staff to support high level instruction uh and to support the curriculum that takes place in our schools. Uh we believe strongly in authentic assessment here. We believe strongly in students
ability to or teachers ability to uh implement our work. But we also uh like to have a uh multiple streams of student achievement data that allows us to make um decisions academically as we move forward. Um affording educators that
work at the classroom level and our school administrators the um the ability to understand academic status uh for the students that they work with and modify instruction accordingly is uh really important to us. And uh similarly, it's
also important to be able to provide multiple data streams to parents in order to avail them the most up-to-date um student achievement um perspective and picture um not only uh marrying um I
ready uh benchmark assessment but also assessment information that is born out of authentic uh locally grown assessments at the classroom level. Um so sharing that information uh is important. Uh we've been utilizing I Ready since the spring of 2020. Uh after
a deep pretty deep and broad uh examination of different platforms uh by just looking at the uh the date mark it it does uh coincide with um the onset of um the initial school closure for CO 19.
Um so in the spring of 2020, two elementary math programs were chosen for final review by the teaching staff there uh based upon alignment to the NJ um SLS which was uh important to us to rigor and to just the overall quality. Um
program materials have uh been vetted by a third party uh edreports.org org website and um those materials have earned the highest rating possible uh through that organization. Uh those materials do meet expectations for
alignment to the standards um coherence, rigor and uh practice content connections. So again, there's a heavy alignment um from a predictability perspective on how a student may fare on NJSLA, which uh is
always helpful. I Ready has been in the news regarding student data uh that I just kind of want to speak to the board about. Uh I Ready does collect basic student information uh like their name, their birthday, school. They also collect academic
performance data uh their assessment scores um and um the manner in which they're passing particular lessons that that they're pursuing, you know, through this program. Um and um they also collect limited technical information um
but uh not information linked to a student's identity. Um this data does allow our instructional staff and our and our administrative staff to focus on personalizing instruction at the appropriate level uh to provide teachers
with actionable insights and to ensure that the platform functions uh correctly. Uh I ready does not collect health information, social security numbers, student mailing addresses, phone numbers, emails or anything uh with respect to social media profiles.
Um recently when contacted I Ready uh was clear that they don't sell student uh data uh at any time. Um they don't utilize it for advertising nor do they use it for marketing. Um they don't create commercial profiles of students.
uh and their um data handling practices are consistent with uh important laws that protect children and um those are the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Um so we are following
um a class action lawsuit very closely regarding I Ready and a host of other uh larger um online platforms. Um, and we will certainly keep the board and the community informed. On the agenda tonight is an assistant
principal recommendation uh for Bedwell and I believe she is here in the audience here and she's also up on the screen. There's a photo there. So, photos match. Um, Miss Ariel Rementilia. Got it.
Uh she comes to us uh she's currently an administrator in Mendum Township. Uh prior to uh being in Mendum, she taught in Milbour, Fereralon, Edgewater, and New York City. Uh she is certified in just about every possible uh
certification area that you would want an elementary administrator to be certified in. She's a certified K to6 uh elementary teacher. She's also certified to work with students with disabilities. Uh she also holds an Orton Gillingham certification. She's a reading
specialist and she also holds a required supervisor and principal certificates as well. Uh she also has um some other programs that she has attended uh one of which uh includes leadership in AI uh which was very attractive um you know to
her candidacy. She has a bachelor's degree in childhood education and special education, a master's degree in literacy and teaching English to students of other languages, and a master's degree in educational leadership. Uh she was seen by multiple
levels and multiple groups of folks over at Bedwell and and also uh with me and Dr. Butler. We had some great chats about uh instructional leadership and how to positively um influence um all of
the um the staff members and the and the children at Bedwell. So, she is on the agenda tonight and I could not be more enthusiastic about her candidacy and I'm thrilled uh that she's even here tonight. So, welcome and thank you. Uh we're transitioning to cell phone
free schools as the high school report indicated. Uh currently Bedwell and the middle school are phone free and the high school is becoming cell phone free consistent with legislation in September. Uh they are having a health fair uh next week and a cell phone free
day in concert with that health fair and I believe that all of the high school parents have received uh that information as recently as today perhaps. So, um, looking forward, uh, to implementing that, uh, successfully. And uh just a bit of a reminder to the
board from a school start times perspective uh we sought to uh implement uh what was a yearslong um multiple yearsl long examination of school start times uh in order to avail students uh particularly at the high
school level who live in far hills and gladstone and utilize New Jersey transit to um take advantage of multiple trains um and to arrive um at their to arrive at the high school
using either an early train or a a later train. Um one of the uh challenges that high school students, particularly from those areas of our regional school district, uh encounter is that they uh don't have the same ability to uh get
the same amount of sleep as a student, as an example, that lives in Burnersville. Uh so we wanted to be able to kind of level the playing field there. Uh so we are implementing a um 10-minute delay in when each of the
three schools start and um similarly the schools will uh dismiss 10 minutes later. And I feel strongly about this because uh it's important that um all of the children that were serving here in the district are availed with the same
opportunity to um to certainly gain you know additional sleep. So, um just as a reminder there to the board, uh we are having a uh budget hearing on April 29th here in the community room at 7:30. Uh
we did host a um a public budget retreat earlier in March and at which point we approved a tenative budget and uh we are also um expecting to conduct a bond sale on April 21st and that will that data
will be input into our budget as well. And uh the market is uh certainly starting to stabilize uh after what was um somewhat volatile um due to international events. So uh we are
hopeful that we are under budget for our bond sale. So um looking forward to that. And um Miss Frenda, that does conclude my report. But before I personally um conclude it,
I do have some friends of mine that I've asked to say a few words about the intergenerational prom. And um we're going to have Greg and Miss Lesniak come on up and uh talk about that.
Thank you very much, Dr. Brochel. Uh Stephanie Lesnik is my partner here. We're here to invite you once again uh to our intergenerational prom. The highlight for me, I have to say, is I get to see Dr. Butler again and she's
been with us and she's been a huge supporter of us. So, not to not to slate any of the other members of the board, but Dr. Butler has been a very great supporter of ours and we appreciate we we had several board members with us last year. We appreciate your support.
Some helped. We appreciate that. Um, we don't technically need you to help. We just we'd like you to come. Uh we'd love for you to stay for dinner and and interact with everyone as well. Uh it's a wonderful event that we started back in 2008. We've been doing it. This is
our 15th annual. Missed a few unfortunately for during COVID. Um but it's it's a beautiful event. It's a very touching to watch this the students who basically run the show uh led by Mr.
Kaplan, Dan Kaplan. um he does a wonderful job and uh I I'll let Stephanie talk a little bit more. She's a little more eloquent than I am in terms of uh telling you what goes on. But I I brought this here in 2008 from Marstown High School. Fell in love with
it there uh in 2007. Brought it here the next year. It was uh it was welcomed by the entire district. Uh we're still trying to pick up our numbers a little bit more. uh we before COVID we had about a hundred guests, senior citizen
guests and uh you know we're still trying to get back up to that number. So uh any help you can give us in terms of reaching out to any seniors in the the area that you may know. It's open to seniors citizens from the four sending
districts of Bernance High School and uh alumni of Bernest High School as well. So, with that, I will turn it over to Stephanie. Uh, please, we'd love to see as many of you as possible uh on May 1st. It's Friday evening, always the first Friday in May. Uh, it always
begins at six o'clock and the uh if you get there at 5:00 or 5:30, you're going to be in a little bit of a line because the senior citizens get there early because they're so excited about coming. And uh it's really it's it's probably the most fun to watch the seniors get
there early who really uh just absolutely love the the whole event. But uh thank you for the time. I appreciate it. Dr. Burchchel, thank you for left. >> He's not the first guy chased out of a room. I can tell you that. So, just to build on what Greg said, for
those of you who aren't familiar with the intergenerational prom, the key club hosts a um a dinner dance for the senior citizens that live within the Somerset Hill School District and um senior um BHS the BHS alumni. Um it is one of the
most phenomenal evenings that I have personally ever been to. I started doing this the last one in 2019 I started was my first year. Um the I've never the interaction between the students and the seniors is just remarkable. They have
them up dancing and there's a king and queen of the prom and it's just a wonderful event and we are this year we have students actually coming up from BMS. I've had several parents reach out to me if their kids could help at the event. And so if you know any students that are also looking to volunteer, we
would love to have them as well. And thank you. Hopefully we'll see you all there. Thank you. >> We're gonna do that. Tonight we're recognizing Carrie Landers. Whereas Carrie Landers has been employed
from September 2006 to June 2026 as a par professional and whereas she exemplified expertise, commitment and professionalism in her duties. And now therefore, it resolved that the Somerset Hill School District and Board
of Education recognize Carrie Lander's retirement effective July 1st, 2026, and extend to her congratulations and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and enjoyable speaker to keep track of how much time remains um before we have to be
interrupted. So if there is anyone who has a comment on an actionable agenda item at this time, we invite you to the podium. Seeing none, can I get a motion to close? and Miss Hoppy. Thank you very much. Um the next item we would move into the
approval of the minutes. Um so I would need a motion to approve the public input and action and executive meeting minutes for March 18, 2026 and the budget retreat meeting minutes for March 21st, 2026. Can I please have a motion to approve? Miss Ballard and Miss Hunt.
Thank you very much. Um is there any discussion regarding the minutes? No. Okay. And can we have roll call, please? >> Miss Cooper, Mrs. Gomez, Mrs. Hoppy, Mrs. Hunt, >> Mrs. Liberer, Mrs. Ry, Miss Ballard,
>> Miss Clark Emory, Mrs. Frenda. >> Yes. >> Okay. Thanks so much. Business operations. Uh, the report will be given by Miss Cooper this evening. >> Sorry for and our solutions architecture.
First, Mr. Meno presented an analysis of the roofing sections on each of our buildings and the status. We also discussed how to handle the replacement of the roof roofing sections that currently hold solar panels given that the contract for these panels of
the sections in most need of replacement were included in the reference. They also discussed the possibility of applying for grants to help us fund the replacement of the other sections of the since the team has already conducted a detailed analysis of roofing. They felt that they would be able to relatively easily easily apply for these grants
which are typically awarded on a first come first serve. Dr. then updated us on the tennis court project which will likely begin around May 1st and weather permitting be completed before the tennis preseason begins.
We will keep You'll be able to keep the old fencing which will remain intact during construction. Dr. Brochel and Mr. Lori then provided an update on the referendum bond sale given ongoing global financial. They will provide updates as they are
available. Next, Dr. Brochel alerted us to the fact that we will be making motions related to staffing appointments at our public meeting. We also discussed succession planning in the operations office and business operations office reorganization and
fiscal considerations related to world languages. Then uh Dr. Brochel provided an update related to healthare including the status of the healthcare broker RFP. several uh firms haveed proposals. He outlined then outlined the district's
needs related to healthcare brokerage services goals for the next contract and what he hopes to achieve with the next broker considering skyrocketing. We also discussed priorities for staffing and professional development of funding emergency later on this year.
Mr. Lori then let us know that the business operations office is updating a purchasing manual which will include information on how to capitalize on savings enabled by our participation. Dr. mentioned a few priorities to inform budget planning for fiscal year
including a transportation analysis and analysis of extracurricular programming and the building and envelope energy analysis being conducted by Schneider Electric. He also reviewed a few projections and expectations for school year 28 planning including state aid
estimates and use of healthcare waiver continuation of capturing kids arts programming and staffing. That's the end of my report. >> Hey, thank you so much. I would like to ask for a motion to approve action items
number one through six on the agenda and second miss. Thank you. And is there any discussion related? Okay. I just accidentally said oh >> April 29th. >> April no. >> Um I just wanted to clarify. So we will
be meeting again on April 29th for the budget presentation and hearing and some matters. So um that's that and if we have no discussion um >> Mrs. Gomez,
>> Mrs. Hoppy, Mrs. Hunt, >> yes. >> Lera, >> Mrs. Ry, >> Miss Ballard, >> Miss Clark Emory, Miss Cooper, >> Brenda, >> thank you. Does anybody have anything for new or old? >> Um I just wanted to perhaps at a future
meeting we could discuss uh trans and first of all I want to excited about the 10 minute change. I think it's really great for our but um did want to ask about transportation on delayed that you know you know we've discussed
it and on there's weather related delayed openings but when there's actual you know the later opening for professional development it would be great to have bus a bus to take um PG and Bar Hills kids um because it's the
train schedu Thanks Nicole. Um, with that being said, if we could also discuss um those that go to um um on days off and things that just is there anybody else for new or old business
committee met on April 1st for approximately two hours all committee members were in attendance and were joined by Dr. Dr. Butler and Dr. now no longer Mr. Catelli. Uh we began the meeting by reviewing enrollment in our world language program
at DMS and high school with a focus. Next, Dr. and Dr. Butler presented the district's approach and curricular standards related to Holocaust and genocide education prompted in part by recent presentation reaffirmed that district
curriculum is aligned with New Jersey Holocaust education mandate which requires instruction at all grade levels on the causes and consequences of prejudice the role of moral decision making the responsibility of individuals to confront
then reviewed how this instruction is developmentally structured to be age appropriate across at Bedwell instruction emphasizes foundational concepts such as respect empathy and atms students Students engage more directly with historical content through
survivor testimony, experiential learning opportunities, and connections to more recent genocide. At high school, students particip including its historical complexity and broader societal implications. The
district highlighted that Holocaust education is embedded across all social studies courses and reinforced English language arts classes. Students receive instruction in grades eight with and further study incorporated into
popular high school courses such as history and comparative world religions. Although state um state standards formally emphasize instruction in grades 9 through 12, the district has intentionally introduced the structured a unit to ensure earlier exposure.
Dr. emphasized that instruction on these topics should be ground grounded in the community and in lived experience providing pri prioritizing ethical understanding and emphasizing the other the importance of examining the systems and conditions that lead to anti-semitism and other forms of overall
the committee noted the district that the district's approach not only meets state requirements but reflects a deliberate effort to provide a comprehensive developmentally appropriate program designed to foster critical thinking and a sense of personal responsib in addressing bias and discrimination.
Committee expressed a commitment to identifying opportunities to further strengthen antibbias and discrimination prevention instruction to meet the evolving needs of students while maintaining alignment. Dr. Roch will then discuss the results of the high school quality school review
survey and next steps related to this initiative, praising the quality school review team and their commitment to the process. This summer the team will evaluate multiple data streams to identify challenges and develop strategies to address these challenges. Particular area focus will be on
enhancing instructional leadership. Next, Dr. updated the committee on the status of the search for the next well and explained the structure of the final interview which involved an analysis of achievement data well
and finally we reviewed curricular priorities for school year 208 and we ended the meeting by approving all professional development and field that concludes my report. >> Thank you Miss Cooper at this time I like to ask for a motion to approve
action items number one through three on the agenda. >> Motion, Miss Hunt, a second. Is there any discussion? >> I would just like to take a moment to congratulate Dr. Catelli on um
officially being PhD and um look forward to all the work that he'll continue to do in our district. Um, and else for >> Mrs. Hoppy, >> Mrs. Hunt, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Lera, >> Mrs. Ry, >> Miss Ballard, >> Miss Clark Emory, Miss Cooper, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gomez, >> Mrs. Brenda, >> yes. >> Okay. And does anyone have anything for new or old business for curriculum? >> No. Okay. Then, um, we will move on to
Thank you, Mrs. Brenda. The committee met on March 31st. Everybody was um we reviewed the public meeting agenda as of March 31st. Uh we discussed class sizes at Bedwell and instructional
changes are scheduled in Gen. Um we discussed the Bedwell assistant principal search process. and the process. Okay, thank you very much. We would like to have a motion to approve action items
number one through eight on the agenda, Miss Lber, and a second, Miss Ry. Thank you. Does anybody have any discussion to personel? >> Mrs. Hunt, Mrs. Libera, Mrs. Right. >> Miss Ballard. >> Yes. >> Miss Clark Emery. Miss Cooper. Mrs.
Gomez. >> Mrs. Hoppy. Mrs. Friend. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Um, we have no actionable agenda items this evening for policy, but >> I do. Um, so at our policy uh meeting,
we discussed uh policy 5530. A parent expressed an opinion that our policy should closely mirror criminal code where police have the ability to determine whether someone knowingly possessed a controlled dangerous substance and then tell of the response to the situation using that
determination. Our policy is not consistent with criminal code. Administrators do not have the ability to determine whether such substances are knowingly possessed. Our policy focuses solely on possession. code differentiates knowing unknowing
possession. School code only focuses on possession. There are two parallel processes our process and law enforcement process. These are guided by the memorandum of agreement between local law enforcement and SHSD school officials which delinate rules we follow
in various circumstances. This parent suggested that there is latitude. Both legal counsel and Dr. Bro agree that there is no such latitude and that the policy is Uh we continued our discussion from the March 10th, 2026 meeting on random drug
testing. Um the committee decided to research studies surrounding similar policies and we'll discuss this research policy and what the goal of said policy is at the next meeting on May 12th. We'll determine at that time if there is a committee ask of the administration regarding the policy.
>> Thank you very much. Um there is nothing to motion. However, does anybody have anything for discussion for policy and anything for new or old business for policy? Um, then we will move into student
services. Um, unfortunately, Miss Santoro not be here this evening to give the report. Um, just a few points to highlight. Um, we had a discussion um surrounding extracurricular activity
information. There was ask on behalf of some committee members for um some specific numbers how what percentage and how many of our students at each um building participate in co-curriculars and the data says 562 students paid
their co-curricular or had it prehs that is 81% of our 695 students um the BMS information is fourth Um I mean contractual language and cocurricular um
sorry that's um we discussed the school start times um and obviously communications regarding the shift in times went out um this week last week um and it is going
to be voted on this evening and uh we had a discussion regarding Wisdom Circuits. Dr. Brochial is considering a pilot of a program called Wisdom Circuits and this platform will help identify and provide appropriate supports for individual students
experiencing achievement gaps. Um, so that concludes the information that have for student services this evening. So I would like to ask for a motion to approve action items number one and two on the agenda. Miss Libera and a second,
Miss Cooper. Um, is there any discussion for student services? Roll, please. >> Mrs. Ry, >> Miss Ballard, >> yes. >> Miss Clark Emory. >> Miss Cooper, Mrs. Gomez, >> Mrs. Hoppy, Mrs. Hunt, >> yes. >> Mrs. Lber,
>> Mrs. Frenda, >> yes. >> Okay. Does anybody have anything for new or old business? >> Okay. Um, then we will move on to board announcements. The views and opinions that are may be expressed by individual members of the
Somerset Hills Board of Education during board announcements or solely those of the individual board members and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, regulations, and or positions of the Somerset Hills Board of Education and or any other individual members of the board. Does anybody have anything?
Okay, moving right Anybody else? No. Okay. Then we will move right along to public comments. Um before we go into formal public comments on any um topic, I always like to remind everyone that um
you do not have to be present to correspond with the board or to have your voice heard by the board. We welcome um email correspondents which can be sent directly to us as board members or to Mr. Lori as our board secretary to be disseminated, but we highly encourage um that type of
participation and to communicate concerns and anything else that may arise that you feel we should be aware of. Um, so public comments are welcome at this time on any topic. Please state your name and address. Comments are limited to three minutes. At three minutes, you'll be interrupted and asked to pause to allow any other members of
the public who would like to speak an opportunity to do so. An individual may return to the podium to complete their statement after everyone else has had an opportunity to speak for a total of two times at the podium. Please understand that our public forums are not structured as question and answer sessions, but are offered as
opportunities to share the thoughts with the board. In instances where the board a misunderstanding or inaccuracy. The board president or superintendent may address the comment. In accordance with New Jersey statute, the board will not discuss matters regarding specific personnel. A reminder for all parties in attendance to remain respectful, that
there should be no interaction between the speaker and the audience. No members of the audience should interfere with or interrupt the speaker's comments. Thank you in advance for your input. And again, Mr. Lori will be setting the timer for three minutes to keep track of the speaker's remaining time. Is there anybody who would like to make a public
comment at this time? Hi, Erica Werman, 25 Harvey Drive in Burnernsville. Good evening. I'm here tonight as a parent, but also as the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. I want to start by saying how grateful we are to be part of this district and we've been really happy here. Our
children feel supported and we can see how much care and thought goes into their education. This isn't coming from a place of criticism. It's coming from a place of wanting something important to be stronger. As you all know, we learned about a swastika that was drawn in a bathroom at the middle school recently.
Our son was one of the children who saw it and it was incredibly upsetting. It led to important conversations in our house about what our district students are actually being taught about the Holocaust and the significance of that symbol. I appreciate you addressing the curriculum earlier in the meeting. We
were incredibly proud of our daughter Emmy for writing a letter to the board, Dr. Brochel and Dr. Butler following this incident. She felt strongly that something needed to be said and we commend her for using her voice. I want to personally thank you all for taking her words seriously. We truly look
forward to hearing more about how the district plans to take a deeper look at this. But right now, it does feel like something is missing. My two oldest children in eighth and sixth grade had have had very little exposure to Holocaust education in our district. They had the privilege of knowing and
loving my grandfather, and our family's story is deeply woven into who they are. But most children don't have that personal connection. And for them, school is where that understanding has to begin. When I speak to friends in other districts and states, I hear about full units dedicated to the Holocaust
through both history and literature, and it makes me wonder why that same depth isn't happening here. We've already seen how impactful this kind of education can be. The recent assembly for the seventh and eighth graders was meaningful and important, but it was also in response to previous incidents. And while that
response matters, it shows us that we need to be more proactive, not reactive. One moment isn't enough, and this has to be part of a bigger, more consistent, and more proactive effort within the curriculum. I know our district can do better to teach this history in a way that is meaningful and lasting, not
something students only encounter briefly through a book or a passing mention, but something they truly learn, understand, and carry with them. As a third generation survivor, I feel a responsibility to speak up, not just for my own children, but for the community. I urge you, as you continue these
conversations and decisions to take a meaningful look at how Holocaust education is currently being taught and how it can be strengthened across grade levels in a lasting way. Because when we choose not to teach this history fully, we risk repeating the very ignorance that allows hate to grow. Thank you.
>> Thank you very much. If there's anyone else that has public comment at this time. Hi, Andrew Malia, 20 Columbia Drive in Burnernersville. Uh, first off, thank you all for volunteering to be on the board. We appreciate it. It's a lot of
time. I hope that you hear that from others. Um, I have a student at Bedwall. Um, and I've just been kind of aware of the momentum in the news around just talking about tech in school generally speaking, not just personal cell phones,
but tablets, things like that. that I think there was an article in the New York Times a couple weeks ago and there have been various studies, things like that. Um I um was happy to hear from Dr. Brochial that I read is to supplement the curriculum curriculum, not to
replace it. Um I think the the only thing I'd say is I I think we just need to kind of keep our finger on the pulse and be proactive about ensuring that we have the right balance. And I don't think it's one or the other. I remember when I was in elementary school and we
had computer class where you go to a class and you sit in front of a computer and that was probably the only computer you touch the whole day and that was important um it was important to develop um you know as a student but also just as a person and learn how to use tech but um obviously there's a lot of
importance in actually reading a physical book, touching paper, learning math, reading through those um traditional methods and I think that's what a lot of the momentum and a lot articles have been about recently. Um so I just um commend um us on taking that
approach and hopefully we'll continue to >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much for your comment. Is there anyone else like comments? Hello, my name is Hannah Venegra and I live at 14 Sterling Road and I'm a senior here at Bernard High School. I'm a four-year member of the girls varsity
ski team and today I have letters from parents on the ski team requesting the hiring of a paid assistant coach position for the ski team. I just wanted to talk about the importance of having a second coach for our team. Ski racing is a rigorous sport and we have had racers get injured during our practices before.
Our concern is that if there if there was a racer who would need to go to the hospital, we would have to have a coach accompanying the injured player in the ambulance and a coach to go with the other student athletes on the bus home. At the moment, we only have one paid coach who could do this. And luckily, we've only had minor injuries during the
time I have been at the school. But not to understate this, we did have a racer get injured this past season. And while she was okay, her parents had to come to the mountain and pick her up. Having a second coach is critical for our team safety and management.
We have both a boys and girls varsity team and a girls JV team. There are over 15 racers of all different levels, which can be a lot to manage, especially because varsity and JV races sometimes happen at different times. Having someone to be able to be with the racers at the top or the bottom of the mountain
and someone watching the racers allows us to improve and keep safety and organization going. We as a team are so grateful for our coach Casey Listister and for our volunteer assistant coach Roger Listister. But we do ask for an official paid assistant coach position for the ski team in order to ensure the
safety of our student athletes in the in the future. I am so grateful for getting to be a part of this amazing team for the last four years and to be afforded the opportunity to participate in this sport on a high school team. I just ask that the school board consider our request for a paid assistant coach
so that the ski team program can be the most and successful that it can be. Thank you. >> Thank you for your comments. >> Anybody else? Hi Sylvia Gills 24. I'm going to speak plainly. I sat where
you sit. I served on this board and for a year I was actually more than a year. I was targeted publicly and relentlessly by a smear campaign aimed at me and my family. Not disagreement, defamation.
Entire social media efforts dedicated to it. That matter is now in litigation. And what was my offense? I said parents matter. I said schools should not keep secrets from families. I said policy
5756 needed guard rails. For that I was labeled dangerous. I was called transphobic. I was told I was extreme. You didn't stop it. Some of you amplified it. All of you allowed it. In fact, during the campaign,
the board president's husband sent out texts calling me crazy. And I have those texts. Now, let's deal in facts. Policy 5756 came from New Jersey Department of Education as guidance, not law. So, we
were lied to. That was confirmed in Plankin versus Middleton Township Board of Education. You had discretion. You had the authority to tailor that policy, to add age distinctions, to create
parental notification standards, to put in basic safeguards so that a six-year-old and a 16-year-old were not treated the same. You chose not to. And then you went further. You
staged a vote, an unnecessary vote, to reaffirm the most rigid version of that polic. and to vote, not because you had to, because you wanted to send a message. And the message was clear. Even
though the overwhelming majority of New Jersey parents, roughly 80%, do not support secrecy policies that cut them out of decisions about their children. This board would embrace exactly that
position. You chose the fringe. You called me extreme. Let's about extremes. In Maravella versus Bont, the United States Supreme Court has already stepped in and blocked policies like ours.
Policies that keep parents in the dark. And just in case there's any confusion because I know several of you thought the Supreme Court doesn't apply to the entire country, it does. Literally fought a war over it.
I'm just to pause this moment and see if there's anybody else that would like to make a public comment at this time. In Mira Bont, the United States Supreme Court has already stepped in and blocked policies like ours, policies that keep parents in the dark. The court made
clear that parents are likely to win. Likely to win. That is the Supreme Court telling you your physician is constitutionally vulnerable. And in cases like Heaps v Delaware Valley
Regional School High School Board of Education are now moving forward on exactly this issue. The law is moving. You are not. Now let's talk about what may be the most indefensible part of this. In Mimmud v. Taylor, the Supreme
Court reinforced parental rights again. And what has this board done in response? Nothing. No policy, no alignment, no action. Instead, the board is hiding behind an administrative procedure, something that is not board
policy, was never properly adopted, and does not carry the authority of law. It gets worse. The same law firm advising this district has published legal analysis that undercuts the position you are relying on. Your own council's firm
has publicly taken a more cautious, more legally sound view than what you are doing here. And still you refuse to act. That is not confusion. That is willful disregard. Now let's talk about the risk
because this is where this becomes real. When parents win these cases, they don't get statements, they don't get apologies, they get settlements, they get judgments, they get paid. So, I will ask the questions you have not answered. Are we prepared for a multi-million
dollar exposure? Are we prepared for claims that may not be covered by insurance because they arise from discretionary decisions you knowingly made? Are there other liabilities, other cases where coverage could be denied? Did you disclose any of this while asking taxpayers for more money? Did you
even discuss it? Organizations like the St. Thomas Moore Society are actively recruiting plaintiffs to bring these exact cases to districts in New Jersey. You are not insulated. You are not ahead of this. You are a target for it. And
now we come back to where it started. I warned you. I said this policy needed guard rails. I said this would create legal exposure. I said you were ignoring parents. And what did you say? You said I was dangerous. So I'll ask you again clearly and directly. Who is walking the
dangerous road now? Because it is not the people who asked for balance. It is not the people who asked for parental involvement. It is the people who chose ideology over law. And I know this is accurate because the board president in a public meeting said she doesn't have
to listen to executive orders from Trump. Yes, you do. >> Thank you. >> Thank you for your comment. >> Is there anyone else at this time that would like to make a public comment?
Hi, Mora Mcgrael, 36 Stephven Street. Um, I would just like to thank you all for your time and for serving on the board. Um, and just express what a delight it has been um, this year, just these past few months. It's been really refreshing to see progress and see
agenda items move forward instead of the same topics being rehashed meeting after meeting um and getting back to what's really important to the majority of the parents in this district. So I just want to thank you all. Thank you for your comment
because public comment hadn't closed. Is there anyone else who has a public comment at this time? Okay. Then can I get a motion to close public comments? Miss Happy. Thank you. Um and
we are done. Can we get a motion to and Cooper. Um, all in favor? Wonderful.