Please be advised that this and all meetings of the board are open to the public and media consistent with the open public meeting and that advanced notice required has been provided. This is a meeting of the board of education of some hills at which formal action may be taken. The public will have an
opportunity to be heard as shown on the agenda. 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 meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the Open
Public Meetings Act, the public notice of this meeting which included the time, date, location, and to the extent known of the agenda of this meeting was distributed at 3 p.m. on December 18th, 2024, and 3 p.m. on March 24th, 2025 in the following matter, posted on
the board reserve for announcements in the office of 25 posted in the mail office to the career news and posted on the SHSC website. The clerk of the burrowville and gladstone and master
township have delivered to the 10 newly elected board members. Mater. Excellent. Thank you. And now I'm going to introduce who is our new year representative in a new position and
we're very happy to have you for is still with the association. She is now the direct senior director of contact. So when she moved up, I got to come into county which I love because I actually live in county and I serve on
my board in Heat. Heat. train but for your benefit training every year. So the most recent cases from the prior cases are those who commission all the
time. And if you want more information for more resource, please know where the decision background. Okay. So you have a copy of the presentation here. The first thing we
want to talk about is that disclaimer. This presentation does not represent legal advice. It's forformational purposes only. If you need anything, please contacted in
1991. It is essential that the high members of local boards of education and local administrators respect and confidence of the people. These members and administrators must conduct which is in
violation of their public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that that the trust has been violated. So this um came out in
1991. Uh and the intent is to make sure that um members um conduct themselves ethically and that they maintain trust and confidence that they will be making decisions in the best interests of their
students done in an ethical way. And I know that's why you're all here. You're able to help your students achievement as well as help you identify what
your range you should stay in. But in the act does have a list of standards that they expect and they also identify disciplinary mechanism should board members and administrators not
necessarily stray from as I said it also helps identify the rules and ways that board members need to stay. There are two parts of two provisions of the school act. The first part which
is training requirements only apply to schoolboard members and training. the um list of probative acts that is in this bill code ethics and the
disclosure statements are are um all school officials need to do that members trustees some administrators and we also need to abide by that and submit our disclosure
statements every for commission to enforce the act. The school of this commission comprise um of nine members that are appointed by the governor of those nine two are school board members
five are not school officials and two are school administrators leaders they're all seas and how that may impact a decision is they need a form they need a form of six uh before any of the decisions
before they can formalize the decision and made that decision public. So it may affect the timeline. The first part of the act that applies to all schools is the financial disclosure as well as your disclosure statements.
If you're in your school board member and if you are time has already passed but you have 30 days the school board member or administer 30 days from when you were sworn in for 30 days from when you started your admin administrator to
submit to the department of education your school your disclosure form thereafter you have until April 30th of every year to supply them. That's the line. Um, but usually you get information from your BA or something
from the Department of Education. Um, since most of us just fill out the form, the question about who controls the format of the form and the
form. I mean, is it is it the state of New Jersey? Yeah. So if I were to make a suggestion, I should send it to the most self. And I have to say when I first started
doing this years ago um cuz I've been at the association for almost 10 years when I started at so I don't know when why that changed but I don't remember it ever being so
used to be my just pass some people you know wonderful elections through through the elections like whatever and that's popular education issue executive is very active.
So um if we are reelected we still are working on the April 30th and every year every year that memorial school administrator by April 30 other than the first year every year
by April 30th the school act also identified what mandatory training is required of board members uh and they also identified New Jersey School Board Association is the entity that will provide that training.
The biggest change that's happened in the last 2 years is your governance one or your new board member orientation. It used to be that you have a full year to complete that. Uh and people may argue that you need some of that information
uh before you know more more um closer to when you will actually sit. So you have 90 days from when you were sworn in to um complete that mandatory training. And if a board member is appointed mid year, somebody resigns over whatever
reason, they still have 90 days. Um thereafter in year two and three, um you have the full year to do your governance training. And then um governance 4 happens the first year every term you're reelected. And you have the full year to
do that. And if you're using Jersey schoolourse, um we provide the we training in multiple fashions in person, we have live or we have a hybrid where it's in person and virtual and then we have a self-paced online course um that
you can that you have to take part. One of the um avenues that this the school commission can is um issuing advisory opinions. An advisory opinion is something that a
board member in anticipation of an action they're taking. If they're concerned that it may be um you know violating the code of ethics in any matter, a board member can ask for commission for an
advisor. Uh and again you have to ask for that before you take the action. Uh and for your reference that information if there are six members of the um commission present they can make those advisory opinions.
If they do, they scrub it all personal information such as the board member's name, the district, um, anything that can identify down to the board. But if you're seeking an advisory opinion, they strongly recommend you read through the the past
advisory opinions to see if your issue has been addressed in that manner. And as I said, advisory needs to be asked for ahead of time. Um, and um, don't be misled by the word advisory
because advisory opinion. If you ask for the advisory opinion, they expect that you will abide by their advisory opinion. Um, if you don't, uh, then if somebody files an ethics complaint, your discipline will likely be harsher than
it would have otherwise. And we like to say if you look at the picture of a police officer that if a police officer tells you something's illegal and there will be something whether it's a ticket or you will be arrested and you go ahead and do that um activity and you're
arrested, you really shouldn't be surprised that that you ask for your opinion uh and they give it and then you um ignore it. So advisory is not really as you now there's a bunch of
advisory pins and cases. I'm not going to go through everyone in the effort of time. I'll point out a few uh that might be um interesting and I encourage you to read them in your own uh time if you want to virtual if you want to send out
PowerPoint tomorrow. They're all linked. So if you click on it um you will be able to bring your right to the case. Um so there is that opportunity for that. Yeah. You'll be able to find it in the uh for confidential that's already loaded in there for you guys. Yeah.
Thank you. We try to make it as easy as possible which is why I appreciate uh the printing of the power but generally we send it after we have it and it's in your folder. So, um please feel free to read through some of that. But, uh going
through these um the first part is what the board member asked for the question they asked and the second column is what their you know summary what their school commission decided. I just want to point out the one that's on the bottom 724 and
what the numbers mean actually a old seven is that was the seven opinion as for in in 2024. So, so that's really how those come out. But but that one talks about the board member who owns a business in
town and they do fundraising of the request of the PTO and different clubs throughout the district and they ask could they u then participate in the conversation or the discussion about that. um and would uh just the very
nature of having those um fundraisers be a violation of the code of ethics. And what the decision of the opinion says is if you're only limiting limiting it to um the industry PTO indistinger
through then that is potentially a violation. But if you if the fundraising event is open to the general public and you advertise it in the paper or you know as as you know you go to different places and they put a sign in the window
then that will not be violation of the code ethics on on this page I just want to point out 24 page one this board member has children adult children who are
voting members of a nonprofit board that has ties to the school district. And so the board member is asking can they participate in either discussions or voting on that and the schools commission said um that the um voting on
issues serve as trustees. It's somewhat true that they know their employer actually and so that the the um involvement public ethics complaints. No complaints
can be filed by any member of public or otherwise anywhere. Um so as your names are streamed they don't have to live in your town. They don't have to live in your state. They don't even have to you know they watch your name. Just you know
some good information to have. However, there's a very specific um application that you must submit and with that um it has to be filed your complaint needs to be filed within 180 days of the um when
they uh contend that the action took place. Now there is some discussion that of relaxing 180 days. However, right now it's 180 days. And when you submit your your complaint application,
you have to list the specific section of the act that you feel they violate. And your um 10 of the code ethics presentation and then you as list the evidence that you want the
school ethics commission to consider. The survey commission does not go out and do research. They don't have power. They go out and they only act and consider the information that you provide. You as a complainant provide to
them. Now, if if there's a complaint against you, your member has the opportunity to reply. So, there is a formal process to not somebody complains and you're done. That's not how it works. But the complaining, the person
who's complaining must provide evidence that they want the um the toics commission to consider. And one of the ways they they one of the methods they use in determining whether an ethics violation has occurred is something
called the reasonable person standard. So if they think a reason a reasonable person would think that the board member violated the code of violated public trust then they violations and sometimes it's it's
hard the reasonable person standard is sometimes hard but essentially if it looks like a violation it is a violation that's how they generally rule I just want to say like The reasonable person portion I like the
reasonable person portion red yes it is you know crucial to point that out because it's not it's like there's a reasonable person the
school also risks penalties disciplinary actions that they can recommend. Uh the first level is a recommend which is just simply a review by by the commission of education that a violation has occurred. Uh the next
level is essential which is a review followed up with a resolution in your local meeting that such and such extension has violated the code of ethics. Um the next level is a
suspension and they can recommend for any period of time and the important thing to know that if they recommend that is upheld um to have a suspension as a board member you are suspended completely from the board. You don't sit
at the board table. You can't go to executive session. You can't have access to any information that the general public doesn't already have. You can't. So essentially you're just for that time you're not aware of it. If I may ask
what if I mean not that it would be here but would how if that affected a quarter would that be in jury support as a whole? um they they don't necessarily
um it affects the harm. Um I would think that if it does affect the you might have to look towards doing the doctor necessity during that period of time. It's not too often that I've seen women
recommend them. um they usually go for but as we go um more years into this and um there you're seeing some here there are some um centers recommended
and then there's a process right let me recommen the process goes to school condition and then there's you know the process the complainant does submit
their information, the uh member has the opportunity to respond. There's discussion back and forth. Um and you can have legal counsel. You just can't have the school board attorney do it. Um because you know that that's that would
be a violation as well because school board attorney represents the whole group not the individual members. Um and then once the school commission makes um a decision um or recommended decision, it goes to the commissioner of education
for a final decision. The commissioner of education can either agree with the um school commission will change what it is that they what it is that they're recommending and then at that point um it becomes a final decision. But there
is also an appeals process to improve the whole system. So it it can that's why you see some of these cases that may have started in 2023 or 2022 were decided 2 years later
because there is that process we have the code ethics there these are the 10 tenants of the code ethics and we really identify um what it is that can do but just to fall down a
little bit In this first one, you have to you have to abide by and uphold and enforce all the laws of the state of New Jersey, anything from the Department of Education, um any decisions that come
out of that. Underneath each card, you'll see the standards. What's listed as a standard is the the kinds of evidence that a person must submit to the school commission recommendations on what it is
that you should you should apply. Um but what is being social but um there to make the decisions in terms of education of where
your best decisions for your shoes not just some not just the kids of the constituency that elected you once you're elected no matter what constituency or town has you now represent every
school district. So your decisions have to reflect. You are policy making board by statute but identifies that you only make action policy and that's that's where it
ends. Indeed you indeed even goes further you don't administer the schools. You make sure that they're all you have one employee and that is your superintendent and they're charge management dayto-day management
operations of the district and then you hold the superintendent accountable by way of the school evaluation process. So you know you don't manage the schools they manage schools you set a policy
that helps them manage the schools and this one is one that I see in a lot of people in your place that the requests for meeting with a foreign present if
you're not a meeting with a foreign president you don't have any more authority than any member of the general public so you can't go and talk to staff directly. Um then you you just have to um you know this is this a lot of people
you can't take can't take any uh private action um because it could compromise the um the ability of the board to do what it is that they need to do and and you're not surrendering um your independent judgment to special
interest or partisan groups. Essentially um you can't use your warrant position to secure benefits for you or your family. That would be definitely seen as a violation and you can't let special interest rules or special institutions
influence your decisions. You need to hold all information confidential until such time that it's no longer needs to be confidential. And at times when you have committee meetings until the the results of the committee or the anything from
the committee reaches the board agenda as um the discussion item is is considered confidential. um simply because you could undermine the ability of the board to make a decision if the information gets out there and people
start weighing it um before you pointing the best qualified people at the recommendation of the superintendent. You can't um make any recommendation. You can make a recommendation, but you can only act on a recommendation of the superintendent.
If they're not recommending a a staff member or hire for any reason, you can't overrule that. You can only vote yes or no on the recommendation that they make and doing so. And this movie talks about
um protecting school personnel and the problem performance of their of their duties. What this mean is if people come up to you in the grocery store the sidelines of the game and they start complaining about a teacher or staff
member for whatever reason. um you can't participate in that discussion just because you're in charge of you know protecting your and supporting and protecting your personal as long as they're doing the job that they're supposed to do the job description
they're just simply not happy with the coach because the team is losing or they're not playing their child that's not really you can't enter into that discussion we call the chain of command and you need to refer or any more complaints to your superintendent. Uh
and with a recognition that um if you get involved along the way, there's a potential that that um issue could come before the board if there's a failure um of an administrative solution or the
person simply doesn't like the administrative solution. So when it comes to war, when it comes to war, you just need to have your mind and not need cases. You'll see um when you look
at the case the case number as I said underneath is um is also is the statics recommended if it's either it says that means that's the final decision. Um if it's recommended it'll
say recommended decision. Some of these decisions are being appealed. So what the um the commission is change based on whatever the appeal process is. Um but I just want to draw your attention to the
second one on this page where members family was involved HIV complaint and they became involved in an effort to try or reverse the decision. Uh they called the superintendent, they called the
um individual members to clean their side of the case. I am very fors essentially saying that the non would not have access to have that level of discussion with the superintendent.
So that was um they represent I think you touched it, but how did they go ahead and assigning that punishment? I'm sorry. How do they go ahead and decide that cuz that seems
pretty bad, right? And a rubber band is like the lowest level of consequence, right? I I don't know if there's a rumor for how well I think it is. is
potentially saying potentially because I simply don't know whether it is um how severe they think it is how the level of um of violation or thing it all depends
um how I will say that our name Um she's been with us for 2 years attorney for this commission before she came into
that kind of just about session or reaching That's why I like to point out because it shows that members have children. This one involves 15
year for over 15 years. uh and uh did some choice actions uh that um they felt were significant. Uh you'll see that the um to the disciplinary discipline
amended uh is a suspension of 60 days. But what the program did um is they said they superintendent who makes disciplinary recommendations. The staff member
petition was for discussion in executive session. went contacted the teacher and got a letter on the teacher side of the story. I presented to the world. She gave to
the business administrator to to the business administrator to distribute to the world told them not to distribute to the superintendent and then session advocate on behalf of the
staff. Now what's really key is that the school commission felt that this member violated six of the 10 tenants of the school commission and we got a 60 days suspension this person was for over 15
years I believe this case but um I also believe that since this happens this case. So if someone or whatever the discipline is, if you choose to go back, they can come
back and say that that is what's going to happen. when when you pull the cases up, there's a lot of detail, especially in the the comics cases. And this one, as I said, this is
this one is is interesting as well. Um it is a board me endorsing three candidates while identifying their board member and wearing a ID in the video and you know
talking about that um if you let these people will have a majority and we will make things happen and you can't do it. You can't you're you're using your position for your game and the game of
yourself. Um and so it is um it is interesting and yeah these are these are season not only have you know season do as
well there's two ways you can resolution right you have a refusal or a refusal really is a refusal to be able to
feel for reason how affects itffects how right if you're doing a 9 five vote yes vote
no recuses how that will come out is 5 There's somebody saying and that really is to show the public that that person felt that that person that they have a legal conflict.
If you're not sure if you have a legal conflict, reach out to your that's the best way to do that to help you make that decision. I talked to them for actions of members and school
officials and really if you have any of these listed here you need to recuse yourself from the discussion. So when the difference between another difference between discussion is you you
don't even take part in the conversation discussion you some less important but you don't take part in discussion you don't take part in the in the
discussion that's the final but if If there's anything on this list that you think applies to you, uh then you should take discussion about business interest. Um
such as that person it's a violation. If they only have school, but if they ever if it's not if your child's class
is going on trip and the field trip is coming up, as long as it's Your child running on Metro is that fast or new cuz your child's not getting anything different than anybody else.
This defines what we consider to be a benefit of the purp and what they define as a benefit is a direct or indirect profit advantage
um gain whether personal financial or otherwise. Um again they use a reasonable man reasonable member of the public stand. If a reasonable member of the public thinks that you're not objective then they will violation and I
have to point out the case underneath that because that is not me. of the acting superintendent on the list of substitutes that came up from that was the acting
superintendent's first first meeting as an acting superintendent. It was a large district and there were 160 people on the substitute list that you can't hire family member and she should remove his name from the
list from the discussion because financial gain from it's not only group members that get these decisions. It is also school
officials and we talk about there are several cases that are identified here um that they they talk about the conflict regarding a benefit to a board member. Um and as I said I'm just going
to point out the second one on this page. It's a woman on naming school building after her her professional life supervisor. Uh he was a um she was chased after a politician and they
wanted her name after her. uh and they felt that um that by she herself and by participating in that she could have gained her professional career for
her. Uh so they did recommend essential in that case and they they tend to buy the teacher appreciation. Do you buy gift cards as an individual board member? No. No. as a
parent to contribute to the teacher appreciation day for your child your children's teachers or just whomever it goes I would it is questionable I would I would certainly ask the attorney but
it is questionable you're entitled you can give a gift to your child's teacher I mean my kids were in school when I I got there teach. It's a collection. So you're
not I'm not the one getting it and you're not the one holding the money. No. Um they were just asking for donations. Okay. So I volunteered for free. She gave money that went to a large
fund. That's just really don't um don't organize it. Uh don't do any of it. But if there's a donation that you're asking for from parents in general, that's that's true. And like they have pool parties at the end of the
year and I volunteer to help out in that. Okay. Yes. volunteering in a couple songs. Um but yeah, you always have the right to be your parents, your child. You always have the right to
participate in the holiday. Um it just gets questionable. The perception gets questionable if you're the one collecting money and organizing. kind of along those lines. Not financially related or anything to that
end, but it's one of the it's one of the um tenants of the ethics act of ethics that sign. I just wanted to go back to, you know, the superintendent being our only employee and that um so unless we should not be talking like we should not
be engaging in matters related to the schools at all with staff like other administrators, teachers unless it pertains directly to our child if we have a child in school. Other than that, even if you know the teacher, you know the administrator, everything goes
through the superintendent. If you have something of concern or you know you know something that like you do not go to that building principal you bring that matter to the superintendent of general concern if it's a matter of concern of your child.
Yes you can follow the chain of command whether that's the teacher and then the principal and all of that. Um but you can go directly to the top of the line. So, so you you can go there, but um you you
don't you know if it's somebody else's child that goes to super just a general matter related to the administering of the school, there's an issue at the middle school and let's just say you bring that controversial but we should not cuz I think sometimes things get a
little wonky and even if you're doing it as a parent um all of those people perceive you as a board member when it's not believe it is that in district people somehow they know who the board members are and especially the staff know who the board members are.
So, um, you need to not be, and that's one of the times, right? The superintendent administers your school. You make sure the schools are well run, but you're not in the day-to-day operations of the school. You hire somebody who has the credentials and the experience um to do. And so yes, you
don't get involved in anything other than I understand just want to point out the relationship definitions last years commission has further defined
what is considered a family member and uh originally she established how you know people directly related. Now you look at they have a list of relatives and these these are this is a list from exact comes to
revis those are considered relatives um and primarily form working in the district right you can't hire a relative um that can't hire a relative to
Remember superintendent. However, if you or you position the superintendent and your already here, then you you have to just
um do as a board member. or administrator they the administrator they can't have um any direct indirect authority over their
relative member can't take part in the employer matters of the superintendent or get supervisors in the chain of command between their relative and the go all the way to a superintendent. So
your relative is only here as a teacher. Um you you can't take part in any employment the supervisor the principal and the superintendent that works comes down to
um and if you have a relative you can't take part in you can't take part in superintendent evaluation or if by chance you are looking for superend for during the search they have four of their nine members who work or have
family members in the district. So um the only five members who go through the superintendent search process and hire superend does affect your authority what you can do can do. This chart talks
about family members of what consider what we can and can't do. um that we're on the city with collective learning. Just if you happen, look at this chart um that works
in the district. Um if they're in the district uh a teacher, you can't be part of the negotiations team. You can't be um take part in the vote to ratify or any of that. But um there's different
levels. So they don't um if they're not in the district or they work in the same in the area in the school. It's just about different things, different ways that you can participate or not participate. I'm just
talking. Um anyway so there there have been a few cases going on where um the union endorse the candidate for sure in the hopes that sometimes they
endorse the candidate that they did not want to take part in negotiations. Yes, this has happened. But what the police commission has said is that um the endorsement
per doesn't preclude you from being part of part of the negotiations unless they give you your money contribution to your campaign with the intent of um whatever way they want you. If that's not going to happen, then
the recommendation is just sit down for your negotiations. But Japan, you know, just the other thing that impacts your family member district is
um in these two cases. Um child is an instructional president is an instructional assistant in the district. So in general president assigns committees and assigns to the
chair. So what this what they determined they rule is that um if your child the district president cannot choose the chair or any committee um committee members beyond the committee of any of
any committee that touches or directly relates to their family and so that really kind of hamstrings the president on what they can and can't do. Um and these cases are just a few but
but they come out of Ocean County. This is in recent years how specific the cases have another thing that happens is that reach out to an attorney and
they said I couldn't do this or that this wasn't a violation. So they now have a a process for if you're going to use um an advice of council defense. And if you're going to do that, then these
four things must happen. You have to get the advice before you take take action. Um and that the person you ask the advice from is authorized or charged um with being able to give you that. I use
an example of um somebody who's education law has absolutely no concept of what education law is. Um so they have to be authorized and to be able to give you
that advice. Uh you have to have disclosed everything that's important to the kids um to the decision and that whatever advice they gave you you apply with. Now you can use the only applied to use the advice successfully use the
advice of council defense. It doesn't mean that you won't be charge or won't be found in violation of the code. It's just that the penalty there likely won't be a penalty but there will be that. The next slide talks about
volunteering in schools as I said don't remember when you came very in school. So please do that just be mindful of the level of involvement. Um meaning how many times a
week you're in the district you really should be in school every day or several days a week. Um you should exercise absolutely no authority over staff students um regarding that um and um you
shouldn't as we should if you're doesn't mean you can't work in Snapchat or or be at the gate to get people in. just don't hold up cuz you manage the money
of the district so it um just be mindful of um not authority over any students or staff
and don't um and if you're mindful of how frequently you're building if you're there several days a They couldn't find that you're actually in your mind getting involved in the dayto-day operations of the district and that's
not something that you should do and then ultimately don't discuss any more This is going to next thing is social scand. So they give you as they give you
additional authority whether you have it or not. So you really have to be mindful of that information on social media. It is highly recommended that you use a disclaimer that not only just the content substance and the
context of the social media and if a reasonable person would think that we're exercising your authority influence that may undermine that may underline
Mario and she always social media but just if there's anything that you standing as a private citizen you
don't represent and you're likely not saying um use that is not get out of jail free. uh you can still be found in violation if they determine that a
reasonable member of the public speaking on the just on social media don't have a social media account that identifies you as a you can still
be have your social media you can still that. So, uh be mindful of what you post. Uh if you're um if you want to post on your official sites any data or information that's related, then don't
post anything. If you like or share something from your personal account, um the last advice that we have is um don't be the administrator of social media page
or private page especially this potential several members are on that and you enter people are asking questions and they're just simply answering questions but they could be seen as certain public meetings act if you have a formal
format you may not be able to help in the discussion but they're part of that page so it's just wise do not administer um being the administrator of any social media but you also get to choose what comments stay you just don't want to
come back you want to make sure that there's no misconception misconception of the that you're acting I will say now at the end thank you for listening and for your
questions. I want to thank you all for all that you do for your students and we spent the last hour talking about what you can or shouldn't do. But I think especially this time of year, remember why you're here. You're here to help
your students. You're here to help your community. And this time of year is found to be the best cuz you get to a graduation award ceremonies. You get to do all the fun stuff that you see for some of your hours sitting at the war table. Your discussions and
disagreements. So thank you for doing that. I know it's become at times a job. It's always been a job. Social media is 24/7 sometimes. So thank you for that. And if you have any questions, feel
free. Feel free to reach out. This last page has different questions. Feel free to reach out to me. I do believe in anyone needs it. Um, okay. We are going to go into
executive session. Executive session. The open public meetings act authorizes the public body to exclude the public from that portion of the meeting. Specified topics are to be discussed under the circumstances where the public consideration of such topics will clearly endanger the public or where the
personal privacy or guaranteed rights of individuals whose activities or affairs are to be discussed clearly in danger of unwarranted invasions and the matters about to be presented for discussion clearly meet the circumstances test of such acts. The board of education of
Somerset Hills now adjourns it public session to reconvene an executive session for the purpose of discussing the following personnel, student matters, contracts, negotiations, and potential litigation. the discussion in executive session to disclose when the board's consideration of the subject
matter has been closed or that such matter does not adversely affect the rights of respective current or past public officers or personnel of the board unless such individuals have in writing requested the disclosure of such discussion in public meeting and provided such public disclo disclosure will no longer clearly endanger the
public interest um can I ask for a motion to go into executive session please um Miss Ballard and Miss Cooper thank Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. as a team based on our performances in the January, February and March which will be announced next week. We have
23 music now exciting for most seasonally. After that testing continually season Hi, my name is team and I'm the eighth grader at BMS. I'm here today not
just as a student but as a proud member of our middle school softball team. I wanted to take a few minutes to share what this program has meant for me and to many others like my teammates Abby RS Joyce Morrison
Jish Kowski Presley Darcy Hamburg S and Sunny Foster is more than just a sport to me it's where I learn how to be a leader how to work with others how to believe in myself even
hard responsibility I use my time to score and practice and I'll keep going when I make a mistake. These are lessons I use for the rest of my life. Our coaches, coach Mach as people, not just players. We cheer each other on. We support each
other and we celebrate every students get the same as I have. I also wanted to take a moment to talk about something else really trips. These trips are a big part of our school experience and give us the chance to learn outside the classroom in
fun memorable ways. On May 21st, fifth graders will have a happy field trip to the bird house in Basking Ridge. Then on June 2nd, fifth graders will additionally for field trip to Lake Hacker. The sixth graders are going on the
initute in Philadelphia. At 8 years, we'll be heading to New York City for the day, which is one of the most exciting trips. This will be our last year of middle school. These experiences are so valuable to us, not just because they're fun, but because it help us to grow, learn, and run with their
classmates and new ways. Another really special opportunity for students in Orchestra is coming up as well. This seventh and eighth grade music students will be on the trip for the year to perform. After the performance, we get to spend the day at heart which is a super fun reward after all our hard
work. It's an experience that combines music friendship and fun and it really means a lot to those of all involved in the music program. Thank you for making these shows possible. The memories that for a long time, thank you for listening
to me and everything you do for us. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. change the senior fashion show was a major success. Everybody was super excited with their friends, you know. local businesses came together. It was
just a really wonderful thing to see graduation. Uh earlier this month, a health and wellness fair was hosted in his office. They also partnered with local and community organizations including community races to help American Heart
Association preserve fire in New Orleans. Um senior spirit week was also this week and it's been really great seeing all the seniors participate. My name is Tuesday. So everybody match with their friends. Uh today was and tomorrow
is of course decision day. So everybody will be wearing you know shirt decisions military or otherwise. And so we're also encouraged to participate showing where they went. Um and then Friday is future plans and so
people will be dressing how they see themselves in the future. This week we are also looking forward to the 14th annual intergenerational prom. It is this Friday being hosted here at B High School in the cafeteria. The theme is 20 interested and if there's anything last year it will be
fabulous. As far as sports go softball currently stands 29. Boys lacrosse is 47. Golf is 62. Girls lacrosse is 73. And they are currently 4 in division. Baseball is 58
and track finish number two in the nation break. for sure. We do have some recognition as well. We had a
wildly successful members. So I am going to recognition here. She is such as here. We do have a recognition award
to honor you for all the work. Heat. Heat. Oh my, heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. resolution. But it sounds very very
last year and we learned from that you learn. So here in we Um I
really here so we have some folks that first Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat.
Oh, heat, heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Congratulations again to all the on such a great moment uh not only um for the
folks that benefit from the funds that you raise but also from just so you guys Yeah. Heat. Would you like me to?
So tonight we're recognizing a retiree whereas William has been employed from July 2011 through June 2025 as a school bus driver and whereas she exemplify commitment and professionalism
in her duties and now therefore be resolved that the summer hill district of education recogniz retirement effective July 1st 2025 and extend her congratulations and Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and
enjoyable retirement. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. So you
know Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Okay. So, Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Don't judge. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
We just recently congratulations. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Oh my teachers. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Yeah. Heat. Try and release Heat. Heat. This Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Tennessee is 14.3%. So that's the target. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. 9%
increase 24.6% 223% Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat.
distribution process. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. services and social services team.
So we are going forward now to Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. this year. So um just be able to um make my way through this
process. Heat. Heat. And that budget is going to be Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. also we have to maintain our
programation services inclusive we could continue to invest in our facilities. This does all we serve at
level the communities that we support and the communities that we serve. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. 7300 projects on October 15, 20 hour.
Heat. Heat. population over the next significant significant exactly influence you know from a perspective from a programming
perspective. Heat. Heat. building contract services $322,500 $64,50 is due in a require in
that process. We have Yeah. Heat. conditions here. We also serve three and five which is a discrepancy between their achievement and their ability and
we also service kids that are eligible for speech language services to assist with disorder and articulation fluency um you see here. That's as of
last resource. Social program specialized services technology. Science and 572. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Social workers spread assessments around what those crisis assessments. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. I
believe everything respons I see you from perspective. Heat. Heat. of you know this was my desire to do that to maintain what
we possible to maintain the integrity of so we are maintaining what we call roster Next year professional force in this Heat.
Heat. by machine and also speaks to installation. that process as you know um went through the plum and we're ready
to project and I expect that by early September this point that will be a significant desire that Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. about expect to be able to form next 26. Heat. Heat. as
$397,000 additional 2%. So this is a heat. Heat. Heat. reserve that heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Now46,7 Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat.
80% transportation% increase. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. That means heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah.
Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat.
Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat.
Yeah. Heat. Excellent. Thank you very much. Um and shortly we are going to have public hearing based on our presented prior to that we are going to move into public comments for actionable agenda
items in the public. Public comments are welcome at this time on any actionable item. Towards the end of the meeting, there is a second public forum on any topic. Please state your name and address. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. At 3 minutes, you'll be interrupted and asked to pause, 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 your
thoughts with the board. In instances where the board feels there is 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. Comments will be limited to
30 minutes for this session. A reminder for all parties in attendance to remain respectful and there should be no interaction between the speaker and the audience. No members of the audience should interfere with our interrupted speakers comments. We thank you in advance for your input and um for anyone that comes to the podium there is a
timer set. I just ask you to be mindful as it will count down where you are in your 3 minute. So if there's anyone who has comment on actionable agenda item would like to take at this
time. No. Can I get a motion to close public comment? Cooper second. Thank you. Okay. Next item is the approval of the minutes. So I'm going to ask the board for a motion to approve the public in
action and executive meeting minutes for March 15, 2025, March 19, 2020 25, March 23rd, 2025, March 31st, 2025, and April 15, 2025. Clearly we have been busy. Can
I can I get a motion please? Miss Ry have a second. Thank you. And is there any discussion regarding all those minutes? Mr. Baker. Yes. Miss Ballard. Yes. Mrs. Clark Emmery. Yes. Miss Cooper. Yes.
Miss Gills. Yes. Mrs. Storo. Yes. Mrs. Ry. Yes, Mrs. Friend. Yes. Okay. Thank you. And as referenced just prior, um I am going to now open the budget hearing for the 2526 budget. The board is required to conduct a public
hearing for the 2526 budget. And on March 15, 2025, the board of education adopted a preliminary budget for the operation of the Somerset Hills Public Schools during the 2526 school year and submitted it to the county superintendent of schools for approval. the approved budget and notice of a
public hearing were advertised on the Burnersville News and Courier News. It resolved that the board hereby opens the public hearing on the 2526 budget and we will start with board discussion if there is any related to the proposed budget. Um I just wanted to um you know
I've just been seeing so many widespread reports of so many districts having delay significant numbers of staff. So I just wanted to um commend our administration for for putting together such you know a robust budget that
enables us to make significant progress on our you know curriculum and facility and personnel goals and um while maintaining our staffing. Um I think thanks again and especially in light of of the decrease in tuition from bedster and and uh so I just wanted to commend
the administration on that. We appreciate that. Um the development of a budget as you know and the board knows is uh something that multiple committees also. Yeah. I didn't want to say the finance committee has a big part of that but you all been part of this as
well. Yeah. I would say that as a war since I've come on um I've really been impressed with the level of desire to learn um that you body have and um you know from my seat and you know soon Mr.
Lori will know and Dr. Butler certainly knows that that's that's really important for relationship development and really understanding um how to move forward in concert. So I appreciate the relationship I
think speaking as the institutional memory and I've seen our board for 18 years being very well run financially other school boards and they're spending money not in places
that I would have done. So I think we we we've been under good um leadership between various superintendents various BAS doing the right things. We're not we're not that dependent on state as you look at these other districts. Um the
one in the same million 2 million that's a huge number that we should be. So we are very fortunate we're able to fund everything through our tax base and
and our taxpayers are willing to pay them. It's it's not easy. Other school districts have a severe problem getting or finding any of things turned down all the time. So, um, you know, I think we've done a good job over the last 25 years trying to keep things going the
right direction. I would just also like to add to that that um, you know, Dr. and Dr. brother and Miss Kansky and our um ine everyone gave a very robust um retreat
presentation. We've seen this presentation a number of times. Um I just really also wanted to comment on how responsive this budget is to the specific needs of our community, uh the needs of our students, the needs of our
staff. And um it is in direct response to um community input. It is in direct response to the things that our data um is eliminating. Uh there there's nothing frivolous. There's
there's nothing, you know, that isn't justifiable that isn't based on um data and what is in the best interest of our particular student and staff community. So, um I just, you know, again, I I really appreciate that because it is an
extraordinarily responsive budget. Um and I'm I'm very grateful. Well, I was going to say that too, but you know, coming from the other side of the desk, um, as a former teacher, you
know, I know that teachers were listened to in this budget in terms of what they needed in the classroom and for support for learning excellence in this district. And make no mistake about it, um there is a lot of learning excellence
that goes on in this district, which is not to say it's not happening in other districts. Um also, I think the district's willingness to look at what the 5-year plan is and look at what the
people of this community said they wanted us to pursue in terms of a long-term plan for our students. I mean, there's a very trit uh saying that if you think education is expensive, try
ignorance. And I've led my life on that one. And I suppose everybody on this board agrees very much with that. We have a responsibility um not only to ourselves but to our community as a at large to make sure
that the students who are leaving us after 12 years are going to be productive members of society who are going to be able to go out into the world and to succeed at whatever level
they choose to succeed. And as a mother, you know, with a child who went through 12 years in this district, I can say um unequally he was absolutely prepared to move in and to become a productive member of society. And I think that's
what all of the parents in this district want for our children. Anything else? No. Then we will move to public comments for regarding the budget. If there is anybody that would like to make a public comment specifically as it
relates to the budget and I would like a motion to close the public hearing a second. Thank you. And then as it pertains to the budget, I would like to ask for a motion to approve action items number one and
two on the agenda. second. M is there any further discussion? Okay, please. Yes. M. Yes. M. Cooper. Yes. Miss. Yes.
M. Yes. Mrs. Ry. Yes. Mr. Baker. Yes. Mrs. Yes. on for about 2 hours and discuss it. agenda platform and there's a number eight we're going to be voting on this
evening. What that is is the payback where we keep the majority of our money um for paying our bills. They're offering this positive pay platform where you give them a list of who you
pay on a continual basis. And when a check shows up that you know $5,000 check for somebody that you've never seen before, you will be flagged and you've got 24 hours to to stop it. Um, and so the sound like a good uh plan to
to enroll in that and that's what we're going to be doing. We also talk about the right way to connect
and it's really from right here to there but um and and concerned And if you drive through here and closing, it's it's kind of chaotic out there. Um it's somewhat
dangerous for pedestrians crossing back and forth. Um so one is is one way in one direction um either during all school hours, part of school hours, all day long. We don't know what the best
option is. So, we're we going to vote tonight to allow our engineering company to spend $5,000 max and road. So, neighborhood. So we have to be
conscious of that. So I'm sure I can resolve this next month. Next item we talk about including the food service I should say. I think does a good job providing
food every day making sure it's on time. It's just recommendations to make the food what the schools think is appropriate for healthwise for tastewise and I
think some recommendations I think personally as I remember when I first came here was pretty much back But um gave us a a
demographic and he mentioned that in our budget report tonight and we use their numbers for it doesn't all the housing that is planned
town last these plans but it's going super slow. So we don't know who's going to be done fast right now, but so um because I don't think the impact is going to be
um each year. So it's underru. It was accidental. Um we had to notify authority as our policy calls were and recurrence.
Um donating money for water dispensers throughout the building in in the middle school and um and Dr. advising that as a capital expense, it's better for us to put that into our budget and we do that
the focus on educational programs and how we fund those. So um and the committee agree with that strategy. Next item we discuss was talking about the high school start
as you know um the train schedule for high school train is very close to this when the train arrives they have to run to get here on time train. So we've been looking for various ways to push school five for 5
or 10 minutes later but that's not an easy task because of the school buses for for all three schools you have to rearrange everything impact. So um controversial goal is to
try to get a a possible change for the 2026 2027 school year. So we got we got some time to talk about financial disclosure for tonight. day. So, we're going to
back school day on May 23rd, which is on Friday. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. So I would like to ask for a motion to approve action items number one through 12 on the agenda
question Mr. M. Okay. And now number 10. Um you're talking about Wesley. Why would that be um the boards? Why would that be
under town? That that road that starts right now and then and then goes to doors. Oh, we just wanted to make the I'm just excited about the potential to move the
start time just a little bit later to accommodate our PG and kids. We've been asking this for a very long time. And so I would really love to see this done by the 20 next year like the 2026 2027 year as we as we discussed because you know
this is this is something that would really matter a lot of kids. Yeah, I appreciate that. Just to kind of provide some context there we years ago or whenever it was we looked at it so much that school district had
subcontracted out their transportation and so there were a lot of logistics there. We brought transportation in house. Things were things were in order shape. Uh we have a partner in Bminster. Uh and they still contracted um and they
gone they actually went through a midyear um vendor shift. Um which I wouldn't wish on any school district. Um and frankly they did beautifully with that transition. Um so I have met with their
provider. Um I have met with VM is aware that we would like to take advantage of like that train that's that arrives here um about 10 or 15 minutes you know prior to opening rather than an
hour. So, um, we're we're we're optimistic. Um, the timing wasn't right at this point in the year. At that point, to be fair to them, their their budget was already at the county. And, you know, certainly as
the setting district, they could have made modifications in their budget, but I just didn't feel I didn't feel right the line there. So um they very receptive, very open to it um and
understanding too. So I'll certainly keep everybody closer to say um regard that point. Um I would love it if we can also just proactively for the delayed opening days and just to have you know a the
drug plan like we've been doing this, you know, towards the end of the year this year for a way to get the kids to school. So that you know the train Yeah. What we'll do and I apologize that was on me um for the one delay this
delay opening this year. Uh we will have a pick up spot for kids to get picked up PJ get to us. Um I think they were at the train station. Yeah. And that's um you know 74 a.m. 4
a.m. else? Yes. M. Yes. Yes. M. Yes. M. Yes. Mr. Yes. Yes. Mr.
Anybody anything from new or old business for 2 and 1 half hours members attending Manda and me were joined by Santoro, Dr. Roel, Dr. Ma, and Mr. Kelly. We began
the meeting with discussion of the new 20th year application for multilanguage learners with Mr. Kelly. We briefly discussed this last month, but this is a new policy and set of procedures designed for multi- language learners who may need additional time to complete
their graduation requirements due to the age at which they enrolled. Under current New Jersey statute, New York students are entitled to remain enrolled in public schools until age 20. At the high school, students have a permitted to complete the school year during which
they turn 20 if they are on track to graduate. But not all ML students are able to complete graduation requirements before turning 21 because they may have started high school when they were older. The proposed policy will ensure that MLS who will turn 21 school year
and need additional time to complete the graduation requirements will have an opportunity to earn. The proposed policy update and will create an application process for NLS and former NLS to complete the school year during which they turn 21 if they are able to
graduate that year. Families will be able will be provided information about this option during the course scheduling process. Eligible students include those who are currently identified as an ML student or a former ML student, have been consecutively enrolled for at least
one year in one semester, have no record of significant disciplinary infractions, and complete graduation requirements in the petition school year. There must also be available space in the required program. The committee fully supported the proposed policy and was excited
about this opportunity for our students. Thanks to Mr. Italian administration for developing and supporting this pathway. Next, Miss Bara joined us to provide an update about ELA instruction throughout the district. She began by discussing the key roles and challen key roles and
challenges in ELA instruction grades K through 5. Overall, teachers have shifted instructional practices to be more effective and responsive to individual student needs. In 2023, NJSLA standards prioritize the language domain to underscore the critical importance of developing foundational reading and
writing skills. And she also presented the rationale underlying the reading growth which represents how language comprehension and word recognition form the foundation for the development of skilled reading and serve as the basis for ELA instructional decisions ahead. Recent reading research also
emphasized the importance of ensuring that the five pillars of reading instruction which include from eic awareness Phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension are thoroughly incorporated into the LA curriculum at For example, in grades K through two, the foundation's program has been
implemented to assist in awareness, phonics, and fluency. And the team systematically uses decoding assessments and data tracking systems to target classroom instruction and intervention. Ongoing professional development on science and reading practices on oral language development, fluency, and
vocabulary is also underway. Recent recent changes in ELA instruction were designed to promote mastery in both language comprehension and word recognition. Engurular supplements have been reviewed for word analysis and grammar instruction and teachers have undergone
focused professional development on aligning instructional practices with the science of reading. The middle school grading practices have been aligned to clearly communicate progress and teachers have participated in an intensive year-long grammar professional development program and are working to
ensure that their instructional activities align with researchbacked methodologies at high school. Professional development is focused on centering interpretation and analysis. Teachers have also revamped the use of no ready, implementing common benchmark assessments, increase the number of text
read by incorporating um book clubs into class time and aligned creating practices to clearly communicate proficiency. So next we discuss ways of trying absenteeism at bedwell and the need for a corrective action plan to address his ongoing concern which Dr.
Roel just reviewed his report. plan given the adverse consequences of chronic acute season. Finally, we review projected class size class sizes at the 2025 and 2026 school year. The committee fully supported the administration's
recommendations. We ran out of time before we had a chance to address all the items in the agenda, but no concerns were raised regarding professional development requests on the agenda for approval. And Dr. I mentioned that the administration was still in the process of gathering and analyzing data for the
comprehensive equity plan and development. The school performance report for 2023 to 2024 is now available which provides a very useful snapshot of district's academic progress. And that work. Okay. Thank you very
much. I'd like to ask for a motion to approve action items number one. And is there any discussion question? Um I think one of the data points we presented with that 87% disagree with the
statement that it's okay for students to do they did 87% of of people that's okay for students to school on vacation or was it just the slide here I like was it was it the majority
agreed to this statement or the majority agreed disagreement they agreed that it was okay to miss a few days to go on vacation. The way the statement was written was um it is okay for students to miss school for family events and
um so only a very small portion of parents disagreed with that. Therefore, they felt it was okay. All right. Thanks. Um, I was happy to sit in on the curriculum and as always uh two
excellent presentations and discussions from two of our administrators. So, I appreciate that and I just wanted to kind of touch on um Mr.'s work and um this on developing the
option for that excuse me for the program for 18 to 21 year old I think so well out um it's obvious that the whole team Dr. and the administration at high school really put a lot of thought into
how to you know effectively implement that. So, I I appreciate that. And then also, I know I'm so thrilled to see that um we have a group of kids going to the Tet Museum in New York City. I notic that it is such a fabulous experience
and um I I'm just thrilled to see that we're taking advantage of that very close. So, is there anybody else in the park? I'd just like to join in with Mrs. Santoro on
upl because I think that's very important. Um, and she said it well. Um, and also I'm very pleased to see the work done on reading because that's such an important issue. Um, it's a hot topic across education and it's great to see
our school really being out ahead to try to make things better for our students. Presentations were both wonderful. Is there anybody else? M yes. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mrs. Right. Yes. Mr.
Baker. Yes. Mer. Yes. Mry. Yes. Mrs. or new businessel. All right. So, the personnel policy personnel committee met on April 10th for about an hour and 15 minutes for myself, Mrs. Clark, Mrs.
Brenda, Mr. Baker, and Dr. Rochel. Um, as usual, not that much, but I will uh share that Dr. Rochel presented a proposed new custodial and maintenance of organization chart uh which is designed to increase the efficiency of
this department. Um, Dr. Bel also spoke to the increase in the average class size for grade four as five third grade sections become four fourth grade sections next year and both parents and teachers about this upcoming change. And that is the end of the
person. Okay. Thank you very much. like this time for motion to approve action items number one through 15 on the agenda and any special personel miss yes Mrs. Mrs. Ry yes Mr.
Yes. Mer. Yes. Missy. Yes. Miss Cooper. Yes. M. Yes. Okay. Does anyone have anything for you or old business for talking about policy? So, um, one of the policies
we've been talking about is P0164 conduct of board meeting. Um we had a brief discussion on this for the reasoning for the timing of public comments. Uh one of the things that was notable was that uh the meeting format we utilize is recommended by uh NGSBA.
Um but we want time to discuss it. We're missing two key members of our committee and so we will revisit this next month. Um, a committee member also raised uh a concern around uh
PS5511 dress and grooming um for review and discussion. Uh a note was the distinction in the dress codes between various schools with the be school dress code being the most in depth. A discussion as to the possibilities of change to the dress
code, enforcement of the dress code and impact of the dress code. The general consensus that was that the dress code didn't seem to be problematic, but Dr. Virtual agreed to contact the principles of each school and see what might be needed from the board in terms of support for or change in dress code and
uh PS5516. This is also a continuing saga the use of electronic communication recording device. Uh Dr. has spoken to superintendents in other school districts to see what their policies entail and how they are working as
previously a task force uh headed by Dr. Butler and Cooper will address this issue going forward. So we certainly will hear more about this and that's my report. Thank you very much. We do not have any items to move for this month.
So is there any discussion that appar they may wear certain brands and other kids and wearing a uniform kind of gets rid of that pressure. I think forget, you know, we don't need a dress
code, we have uniform. Um, everyone is dressed the same. Nobody is showing off with their parents for it. I just thought that might be a nice idea. I think that that is
something for the committee. So yeah, thank you that towards new or old business. Um and is there uh anything else that anybody would like to No. Okay. Student services.
So I don't have anything to report because uh we didn't need this month. We our meeting will be meeting shortly next week. Um so we just have to thank you so is there any discussion for student
services? No, we do this information. These are things that we heard last month on the agenda that this Mrs. Yes. Mrs. Ry, yes. Mr. Baker, yes. Miss, yes. Mrs. Clarkry, yes. Miss
Cooper, yes. Miss Gills, and Mrs. Yes. Motion carries. Okay. Um I know it for anybody else for policy
services that are expressed by individual members of the sub board of education during board announcements of the individual board members and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, regulations, and or positions of the summer board of education and or any
other individual members of anybody before announcements. I have to thank the board for their patience, for the patience you have shown me, and I hope to regain my body. Special thank you to Dr.
who was my first point of contact and I began to recognize that I temporarily needed to disconnect from everyone and everything. Dr. Roachel, thank you for accommodating being so accommodating to Heather again. Dr.
Roachel, Dr. Thank you for your call, email and your concern. Each time you reached out to me, it felt as if you were giving me a piece of your heart to fill the holes
that I formed in mine. Holly, I never adequately express how grateful I am for your hope and love. You threw me a lifeline which I continue to hold. To those who praised me on this
court, I must thank you as well for my need to not let down the individuals who trusted me with their hope, kept me fighting to get better. Finally, to my children and my spouse, who had the unfortunate
experience of watching me struggle without them, and I would have had to step down from my position on this board. As some of you may know, I fight hard. I love harder. To those I have thanked, I
will love you forever. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mission. We're very happy to have you here this evening. Is there anybody else that has anything
to I um I did actually want to just touch on something. Um, Miss Ry and I on April 11th attended the first annual equity expo for the New Jersey School Boards Association, which is a training that was offered to all um school
boards, superintendent um in in the state of New Jersey. And um it was a robust and fantastic day. Um and I thought it was particularly important just to give a little insight to the community regarding um this
particular training because there's there's so much discussion surrounding equity and what equity is in the context of the educational landscape and I wanted to give a little bit of a view into what it actually looks like. So um
we started the day with um a keynote address from a gentleman named legic. Um I saw that on our agenda this evening we were approving professional development for one more is actually going to be going to inclusive education
training which um is a gentleman's organization. He is also co-author of a book empowering students with disabilities. Um and basically this whole presentation was about empowering students with disabilities or special needs. Um specifically students with
IEPs or vital force and students in the process of and parents in the process of attaining those things. Um he he gave an extensive presentation but he really um drove down on the idea that stu that students that fall into this
category really need to have a very deep understanding of their program of what their needs are and um equally as importantly not more so what their strengths are um and that this creates a growth mindset that can help them figure
out how to learn and what they need to know. um some of the suggestions that he gave were students that should be involved in their IE process. I know that's something we do in high school. He actually suggested this in a developmentally appropriate way. Um and
so that students initiate the initiation of this process come to understand what their program is and how to be in the process of self advocacy. He also said that there should be avenues for leadership built into self
advocacy programs and emphasize the value of connecting to one another and the special needs community spaces to share their experiences. He shared some ideas of things that have been successful like creating transition self advocacy clubs
for special need students, inviting college students who have um special needs to speak for high school students, bringing high school students with special needs to elementary and middle school students and how this contributes to building bridges of hope. It should also include celebrating districtwide
accomplishments of our special needs students. Um so that was a great deal focusing on um special education and special needs. There was also a training which I mentioned that I thought was I mean I not person anyone who operational
finances knows that is not my area of expertise. However, I went to this man and it was so I think it's what so much of us talk about and think isn't happening. But this was what this was all about where the focus here was on teaching math in a way that emphasizes justifying
reasoning, representing student thought processes and explaining their why and problem solving that there should be shift from getting answers to focusing on the thinking process in a classroom. Using this approach, the teacher gives everyone the same problem and elicits multiple strategies which follow which
allows for student discourse for problem solving. It focuses on choosing a strategy instead of mindlessly solving or doing problems. There are various ways to solve problems strategy natural outcome. Um for the educator that includes asking, not telling a great
deal, listening to students and elevating student voice and explanation. There's a heavy emphasis on teacher modeling, asking questions and using abilities. And this process was to create students who are analyical thinkers and innovators who use active learning and complex problem solving and who become individuals who value
participating creativity, originality and taking initiative. All of these skills support and teacher success in all academic areas and career endeavors. And the final presentation that I want to do is um navigate is a K2 food services company
that offers a workbased learning program offering real world hands-on education for career careers in hospitality. Um this particular training highlighted something going on at Union City High School which is a huge high school very very interesting. Um, and their
mission is to create the Nate Foundation through this company that helps knock down barriers for students. The program teaches students how to run a business, not just how to cook. Um, the skills developed into financial literacy, public speaking, and interpersonal
professional schools. The skills students in the program work for 12 to 16 weeks a full-time employment through Compass Company. students gradual verification certifications allowing them to leave high school
highly qualified in the hospitality and services. So these are just some of the things that were involved in an equity conference that I think they are very some of the things associated when he discusses how we can benefit how this
benefit all kids and provides opportunities for every kid whether they um they are comfortable and the traditional classroom environment or perhaps leave roots and learning
experiences. So, I just really wanted to share that before I public. Um, I hope and I just wanted to piggyback on one of the things that I really heard that stuck with me was, you know, that he talked about the the keynote speaker
talked about three levels um of advocacy. And first of all, knowledge of yourself, know who you are, then understand what you deserve, right? And it's not, you know, it's not like, oh, I'm not smart, so I don't deserve
this. I deserve the same as everyone else deserves. And how do you speak to that, which is self your your rights, your self advocacy there. So, um, it's so important that children not think of
themselves as other, right? and Leric really spoke very well to that as someone who had gone through the process and come out on the other side. And he talked about
building community connections, which I know we're trying to do at this point. We're trying to build, you know, connections with uh putting in the kitchens that hopefully we'll be able to put in at the high school and and the
different connections we can make within our community and um show kids that they can because others have, which speaks to Mrs. friend's idea of college students
talking to high school students and high school students talking to uh junior high students about I got through this, you can get through this and I can help you do that.
I'm going to touch on one other opportunity that we had outside of the war table which is the runners collaborative um that this was the second year um that we were able to attend that um and that's the work we're
doing with our administration and Shay and as a board and again it was a wonderful day very fruitful very inspiring Um, you know, and I'm glad to see all the various parties really coming into this process because
watching the schools that have implemented the this program, it's really inspiring to see what they are able to do and how every school district does it differently. And I know Dr. Roa, you're working on a lot of work with
your team to figure out how that is going to unfold and look here. But I'm so excited to see that because I think that it will just help our district as a whole work together and really um be
able to take our um our students experience to a new level. So just one more. if I could just kind of build on that. Um the day after you were there or or
the week after the um reps from the teacher side of the association uh join the administration again for a full day. Uh equally as productive uh we'll be back at later in the month. Um and we're just kind of firming up logistics there.
There are real life processes taking place in this district literally as we speak where we're able to work with the education association around very complicated problems
um and really join together and you know discuss them number one and come up with positive productive solutions and um candidly that philosophy wasn't here 2 years ago, but
everybody in the district has been really open to looking at problems through a different lens. And um there's a day that goes by that I take a preconception
about an item or an issue and I'm able to have that illuminated by a member of this school administration a member of the teachers association class say oh
no this is what we're talking about okay so like just being able to structure um opportunities and dialogue is a big takeaway and like I said more to come but there is there are real life things
happening like in real time in this district as we speak that are public necessarily, but from a relationship perspective um everybody um from all the various parties are in alignment and moving in
the right direction. Absolutely. I mean there is an absolute commitment by all parties to really working this process together as a team and seeing where we can go. really great work. It's not just something
enthusiastic participation and the warning that goes on is so public and addressed to 3 minutes. At 3 minutes, you will be interrupted and ask 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. Please understand that our public forms are not structured as question and answer sessions but are offered as opportunities to share your vote with the board. In instances where the board feels there's a misunderstanding or
accuracy, the board president or superintendent may address the comment statute. will not discuss matters personel parties in attendance to remain respectful and that there should be no interaction between the speaker and the audience of the
audience comments. We thank you again so aware of the time. Is there anybody that would like me? Um, you mentioned uh the water the water bottle donation from the HSA and
that you were not going to accept it. um for middle school. I know that they only have one um water bottle bottle of filler and that is frequently broken. So I just ask that um you do consider then if you're not donation um thinking about
installing them yourself but you um I hear a lot about and I love you all. So I do that is the intention. Thank you.
Thank you. Is there anybody else that would like to comment? No. Can I ask for a motion please and a second? Um and the only thing left is a
motion to make a motion to Okay, Mr.