Somerset Hills School District. Please be advised that this and all meetings of the board are open to the public and media consistent with the open public meetings act. Formal action may be taken and 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 interests 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 the agenda of this meeting was distributed at 3:00 p.m. on July 6th of this year in the following manner. Posted on the bulletin board reserved
for announcements in the board office at 25 Allcott Ave in Bernardsville, posted in the main office of Bedwell, Bernardsville Middle School, and Bernards High School, filed with the clerk of the Borough of Bernardsville, Far Hills, Peapack, and Gladstone, and Bedminster.
Beginning in March, Sorry, beginning March 1st, 2026, all future board meetings notices published on the Somerset Hills School District website have been made available through the New Jersey Secretary of State's official website in lieu of publication
in a with PL 2025 and delivered to uh notification was delivered to the 10 duly elected board members. Okay, Mr. LaGrassa, if I could please have roll call. >> Sure. Ms. Ballard? >> Here. >> Ms. Clark-Emery?
Ms. Cooper? >> Here. >> Mrs. Gomez? >> Here. >> Mrs. Hoppy? >> Here. >> Mrs. Hunt? >> Here. >> Mrs. LaBrera? >> Here. >> Mrs. Santoro? >> Here. >> Mrs. Rye? We have a quorum. >> Okay, if we could stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance
>> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, so we will move right into public
comments. Um Mr. LaGory, shall I read this seeing that there is no public here? >> That's your call. >> Okay. Um we'll just do a condensed version um since there is no there are currently no
members of the public here. Um however, we do always welcome input from the public. Um so if anybody comes in, they may speak during this time and there is another public forum on any topic at the
end of the meeting. So seeing that there are no publics, can I get a motion to close public comments, Mindy and Allison? Okay. Thank you. Um now we are going to move into
curriculum. But we do not have a report this evening. >> Yes. >> No report. There is a an item on the agenda for approval. It is the Chapter 27 emergency virtual or remote instruction plan. It's an annual
approval. Uh it is based in statute that uh the board is required by July 31st of every school year to approve a plan in the event uh that there is a global pandemic or that uh we have to uh
transition to a fully remote uh or virtual instructional platform. Um we in the event that you have to, believe it or not, you only need um to have a significant event in your community that uh precludes the school
from opening for uh for more than 3 days in order to transition into this. Uh so you hope that you don't need it, but uh seeing as how hope is not a strategy, we do approve the basic tenants for this every year. So, what happens is
this is basically the the rules of the road as far as how we would facilitate an online community for whether it's for the health related closure or an operational related closure and then um
it gets moved forward to the Department of Education. >> All right. Can I have a motion to approve agenda item number one? >> I'll make a motion. >> Okay. Nicole, Mindy second. Is there any
discussion on this? Okay. Seeing no discussion, can we have roll call? >> Ms. Clark-Emery? >> Yes. >> Ms. Cooper? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gomez? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hoppy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hunt? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Labrera? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Santoro? >> Yes. >> Ms. Ballard? >> Yes.
>> Motion carries. >> Okay. Any old business or future business for curriculum this evening? No? Okay. We will move on to policy then, which is really the meat of our meeting this evening.
>> Yes. Thank you. If I could interject on Ms. Ballard's behalf. Um Yeah. We have a few items that are on the agenda for tonight. The first and predominantly
connected to um technology inside of our schools. And so, we're going to talk about the student use of internet enabled devices. So, that is uh big policy that we're going to be talking about tonight and we
are at the first reading level of that policy. We do have uh a policy that was that was um recommended to us from our policy advisers. Uh the policy itself is fairly straightforward. I would like to point out uh that the policy is titled student
use of internet enabled devices. Uh so, I think that in the vernacular of this discussion, um people equate uh the law that was passed to cell phones. And uh the reach is farther than cell phones. Um so, if you
think about internet enabled devices, um it's not many more things, but it is more than just a cell phone. So, anything literally that could be connected to uh the internet, you know, whether it's um uh an iPad or a smart watch or telephone or
even or even uh AirPods. So, uh there are um some things that I want to talk about uh particularly on the regulation side of the internet enabled uh device policy that are important. So,
um on the regulation side and what regulations are, that's your administrative rules of the road. Uh that's uh what the administration refers to when we uh set forth our student handbooks, etc. So, inside of the internet enabled device uh policy, uh
there are a host of areas uh for each of the schools that we um made determinations on. Um so, one of the areas, one of the major areas uh inside of the regulation was how the items will be stored uh once
the students are in school. Uh so, there's a progression. It's important that the board understands uh that um Um, there are times um where all three schools will not be doing the same thing based upon the age of the students. Um,
it sometimes it's, um, you know, there's just a difference. Uh, so, in Bedwell, there's a storage system where, uh, students will, um, if they have an a an item, um, that's, uh, internet enabled, they will store it in
their backpack and store it in their cubicle. Uh, the middle school will store it in their locker, uh, and the high school will store it in their locker or a backpack or any other bag. Um, as far as our school buses are concerned, uh, Bedwell students are
prohibited from using them on the school buses. Um, middle and high school students are permitted, uh, to use them on the school buses. It's important that the board understands that the that the law discusses bell to bell. Okay, so, um, uh, we, um, don't feel
like it's necessary to, um, preclude a middle or high school student in the regulations to utilize it. Um, and it also fairly unenforceable, um, if you did prohibit it from being able to kind of track that. So, uh, we feel like there's an age-appropriate
progression, you know, with that. Uh, before and after uh, a regular school day, um, as far as being able to use them on school grounds, uh, we're prohibiting that use, uh, with Bedwell students. Uh, at the middle school,
we're permitting that outside of the school building and at the high school, we're permitting it. Um, uh, the high school's, uh, just the size itself of the physical plant at the high school, uh, does make it difficult, uh, to to monitor, you know, after the bell.
Um, and, you know, the law does provide for it. Uh, the middle school does have a already established norm, um, that it has become practice there, um, for, uh, you Um
There's also the school-sponsored events that are off school grounds that take place during the school day. So, like that's a field trip. Uh that is a um uh an- another type of educational experience.
Um maybe like a co-op uh that um students would participate in. Uh so, Bedwell students are prohibited from use. Uh students um are only permitted with principal approval. Otherwise, uh they the phones will be
collected. Uh high school students are permitted with principal approval. Um there are certain field trips [clears throat] that would lend itself to providing access to phones uh particularly when uh you're offsite um
in larger spaces that uh frankly um are less uh structured. Um and uh we have several field trips that go out to very large spaces where having a phone um you know, would be permissible in the regulation um provided that it's approved by the
principal. Uh school-sponsored events outside of the school day. Uh so, a Bedwell we're prohibiting that, but in the rare rare circumstance um that staff needs to have flexibility uh the principal can provide that to
them. Um but um we're following the same format at the middle school and then we are permitting school-sponsored events outside of the school day at the high school. Um remembering that it's bell-to-bell. Uh we do feel like um that in the
regulation reflects an age-appropriate progression. Um I have spoken uh with a few board members regarding discipline um and consequences. We did not do anything new to our consequences from
last year to next year. Uh, so we essentially rolled our consequences over as is. Um, certainly we have the ability to monitor that and to adjust to it. Um, but we felt like um
at present moment like as far as like examining our last school year that students were typically and and this is I think a great thing about this community. They they respond to the rules of the road. They respond to direction and they're very good about
that. Um, and you know, we felt like we felt comfortable moving forward with the same consequences that we had current year past year into the coming year. Um, so there were not any changes. I did hear
some some thoughts about particularly at the high school with the progression up at the high school level. Um, and it's important to note that there is some discretion in the area of bringing moving kids
along into kind of this this new paradigm that they're that they're living in. Um, and you know, we we certainly don't want to to kind of have a draconian um, perspective on things. We want to be able to um,
offer kids a soft landing spot into a new norm. We do recognize that the high school students are living in a new norm, whereas the K to 8 have lived this experience for the entirety of their career here. So So the high school does have as its
first consequence um, official consequence where like a warning may not be applied as 10 points on the discipline paradigm and confiscation. Second instance has 10 points in
confiscation in in addition to parent retrieval and in school suspension. And then the third and the fourth instances do do mirror the second. So the high school um
regulation doesn't increase over time in a significant way. I'll just say we aren't really expecting this to be significant um challenge for the administration in my
discussions with them over there. But we also do reserve the right to come back to the board and to the policy committee and say, "Hey guys, this is what we're seeing. These are some things that we tried and this is what we're recommending." So um So time will tell if we are reading the
room right or not. >> Would the length of the in school suspension be the same for the second >> Uh that's the way it's written currently that the it's regardless of instance that it's the same. And I think that if you think about your
student population, you know, you have one or two out of 800, I think we can we can also look at this as like a floor not necessarily a ceiling if if if we feel like there's instances where
kids are taking advantage of the regulation, you know, we'll certainly adjust it. Um my recent very recent discussions with the high school about it today just essentially reflected that the student body typically responds
really well to shifts and changes and they wouldn't necessarily expect it to expect situations where, you know, they would have kids that were, you know, pushing the envelope three and four times. >> So, Brian, just quick question. Sorry.
Second offense is an in-school suspension? >> The second offense is 10 points, uh confiscation of the device, parent retrieval, and in and one day of in-school suspension. >> A full day or >> day. >> Okay. >> Yep. And then the third and the fourth
instances mirror the second. So, the over time there wasn't an increase. >> Okay. >> But if we're seeing that we need to reassess things, certainly, you know, we'll come back to the committee um to talk about that, what we're seeing.
>> Right. Sorry. >> Mhm. >> I guess school day suspension what is that? >> So, they are assigned to an alternative placement inside of the school and they work through um coursework from the day.
>> It looks like in the policy we, unless I'm misunderstanding this, it's saying a lunch detention. >> For high school? >> Am I not in the right Is that middle school? >> be in middle. >> Okay. Okay. Sorry. >> Yeah. >> All right.
So, just to clarify, is during lunch they cannot use it, right? >> I'm sorry? >> You didn't lunch, for example, they cannot use it? >> No, they can't use it from bell to bell, exactly, which includes lunch. >> Thank you. I like that. >> Yep.
>> So, I have a question about that rule. So, they can't use their phone in school. They can't use it on the bus, um which is impossible for the bus driver to manage, I would say, just given written on those buses. >> Yes. >> So, from the point of view of a parent,
there seems to be no reason to send a phone with your child to school. Could the rule just no cell phones. >> It's just >> just too overarching like >> Um so essentially I I would agree with the perspective uh particularly as a
parent of a child that is of Bedwell age that there's no purpose for him to even have access to one. Um so as far as like bringing it out of the house is uh is not something that I would that I would recommend. Uh
essentially there is no reason for a Bedwell child to have it in the and I I feel like the regulation reflects that. Um but we wanted to offer a certain level of consistency in how the regulation read. Um from a sectioning perspective. Um
>> I also think that children that walk to school maybe >> Possibly. >> be a reason why. >> Are we seeing a lot of cell phones at Bedwell now? >> Uh no. >> No. >> No. Uh we're not seeing cell phones at Bedwell. Uh from time to time you do see
um some wristwatches that do have communication pieces uh that a few of them maybe like Verizon's pushed out a couple of products but uh you're not really seeing that at like at all. >> to kind of be fourth like I feel like fifth grade was when everybody got their
cell phones. I hope it's later and later now but um I never I I honestly didn't think I would that kids at Bedwell would have cell phones but >> Not typically that's not um anything that's really ever come to my attention.
Um a few watches um but >> I do think that quite evident that the community knows this is happening. >> Mhm. >> I do think our students are well aware
that the policy will be implemented. I I mean that there will be any issues moving forward. And my message is beginning, you know, as a mother I want to know some people will give their child a cell
phone and and just stick it in your backpack and leave it there and don't see it all. And what God knows what because you know some people are a little neurotic. I can be neurotic, you know. Um this is a crazy world, you know, so
I don't know who would ever just do that over age you know, cell phone, but do I believe um elementary school cell phones that I would just say no, but you know I I just say I think this is a great way
to move forward. I think children have so many um pressures put upon them with technology what they're being exposed to in the internet and
you know, Tik Tok and what not. It's just everything is so available to them in an instant and it's just messing with them. And it's messing with how they think and how you analyze and you know, how you critically
think about a situation. You know, instead of just reaching for the phone and asking Mr. Google. Yeah, my phone did. But I'm just saying I really think kids are ready for it and I think they're welcoming it. I think parents will welcome this
change because everybody sees a need to help the children learn how to effectively use technology. >> So do I believe that you said no? >> Oh, that's okay. Um just putting a ban totally saying you
can't bring your phone to school. You know, even though and well can't use it at all on the bus and whatever, you know, if the mother wants to just stick it in her backpack If you take that out during the
You know, put the fear of God But I certainly understand different parents parent differently and we try to be respectful of the parents and the students. Um I have one other comment about um the Individuals with Disabilities Act and about the people who might be
benefiting from it. Um and I really appreciate the part where it says staff will treat students with sensitivity and dignity and eventual training and I certainly would be in favor of training because I don't know exactly how you manage that. Like It's a It's a It could potentially be an
uncomfortable situation for the kid that is allowed >> That is allowed to use an ice switch or something. >> Correct. There's uh language in the policy that that is supportive of students uh that have uh particular reasons uh to use it. And uh certainly
uh those will be uh addressed with sensitivity with the staff as far as you know, what the what the story is and also education um for the student body as well is important. Uh that there are There are some students and people in our
community that rely on an internet-enabled device as a uh life-saving measure, as a uh as a health monitor, etc. Um and so in in in those circumstances, there's uh flexibility in the language to support that.
>> Is there any concern about children that um were using it for medical reasons that now everybody around you knows they're using it for a medical reason? >> Um well, certainly, I I think that that's something that we need to, you know, be able to address early. Um
So, I I I would I would say that there's there's always that period of disclosure that's important. Um I've always found the students and the staff in the in this these communities to be really responsive uh and supportive of of
those situations and um and I'm expecting, you know, much of the same here, but I think that um conversations need to take place with uh students in that situation uh regarding uh their comfort level.
Yeah and and how would you like us, you know, to pursue. Um and and so that's a that's a coordinated effort. Yes. Mhm. >> I appreciated. I think that's a good point, Allison, because I did appreciate all the um language in there about kids
that might have, you know, special needs or reasons to have the phone, but I didn't actually think about it from that perspective of it kind of makes puts a little bit of a spotlight. So I I imagine there will be some wrinkles and those are things that the staff will work through of how to support a kid
that needs it, but now might feel different because they have the ability to have that cell phone. So yeah, I that was that's a good point. But I did appreciate the fact that we are recognizing that there may be some instances where
a child may need to have access to their internet-enabled device to you know, for an academic reason or um beyond what can be um provided in a classroom setting. >> So the policy is fairly straightforward.
The regulation um you know, just kind of codifies what our practices are. Um this is on the agenda for first reading. Um the reason we're meeting tonight is I wanted to have a fully approved policy prior to the beginning of the school
year, so I appreciate the board coming out. Um, also on the agenda tonight is the abolishment of essentially a former policy that is not at all connected to the new law um, as far as language goes. And that would be policy 2363, student
use of privately owned technology. That entire policy is being abolished as well. Okay. Um, >> [clears throat] >> and then there are two transportation related policies uh, that are required
to be um, uh, updated and um, in in in full force by the board uh, for the beginning of the school year. Uh, the first is policy 8660. That is transportation by private vehicles to
and from uh, school related activities. Um, so this addresses uh, a requirement in administrative code that was recently uh, adopted that a school district develop a policy uh, which outlines the procedures for safe transportation of
students in private vehicles to and from school related activities. Um, so it covers uh, transportation to and from an activity in a private vehicle uh, without the driver possessing a CDL. Um, so currently there
are no provisions in the statute or administrative code that allows a district to transport students to and from uh, in a district owned vehicle without the staff member driving the vehicle possessing a uh, CDL license. So, um,
so we have that policy and um, transportation by private or district owned vehicles to and from school. Uh, so this is a new policy um, where um, the DOE released its guidance
on designating CDL exempt drivers um, and it was um now codified in this in policy 8662. Um >> I have a question. >> Yep. Mhm.
>> So, when I was reading that anyone can take a child in their car and it's gone to the bit. I mean, I know that the driver would have insurance, but then cut like how that that part just blew my mind.
And then like I understand that you can have your CDL and like you have to like drive a little bus or any sports things whatever or going over to a different field to practice. But
like that that was the one that's like you can explain >> Yes. Yes. Yeah, this policy is mandated for district that transports its students to and from school in district owned vehicles
in accordance with the code. Uh so, in the event that we are in that we're transporting students that way, this policy would be level protection. Correct.
Mhm. >> I had I had a question on the first one. >> Mhm. >> Um why did they do away with legal guardian? >> Um I can look into that specifically in the language. I can check that out.
And get back to you on that. >> Yeah, because it was very restrictive in the one that this is replacing. Yeah. In that same one where it says no person shall be permitted to transport student has an convicted moving violation. I'm assuming they're talking about staff. >> Mhm.
>> Okay, that's not talking about. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Correct. >> [laughter] >> That's where our reach ends. But I'll get back to you on the removal of legal guardian. For second reading. Uh it's
So, I I would not recommend it. Yeah. Um so. Yes. >> Do you want me to um make a motion and then if there's any Are you done with your >> I'm finished, yeah. >> I know we kind of jumped around a little
bit cuz you did the presentation. Um so, if you're done, then we'll make a Can I have a motion to move um agenda items one and two under policy? Okay. Um Kelly and Nicole. Now, is there any
further discussion that we'd like to have about We jumped out a little bit, but that's okay. We'll make it official now. >> Well, I have a I have a question, but it's not policy related. It's regarding but it's
just We're It's related to the the process of this of um the technology. Can I ask I mean, I I know we're not talking about policy. >> Yeah. >> I think you can ask. >> I I
Are you interested I know that now parents are will need to contact the front office to you know, communicate with if they need to communicate with their child during the Do you anticipate that there'll be a large increase in the volume of of calls.
>> So, the high school will definitely see an increase in volume. >> like >> Yeah. Yes, we'll have dedicated phones for children's use in particularly main office and AP office. That model has
worked well at the middle school. It's not unusual to go into the main office and to see a kid talking to their parent on a landline. So, that has kind of a norm that that the K-8 students have experienced here.
So, yes, there's definitely going to be more at the high school, but we will be prepared with for that process. >> Kids are going to have to learn their parents phone numbers. >> I know, right? >> [laughter] >> Or write them down. Question, are there phones in the
classrooms? >> There are. They're not intended to be used as like for for a child to call out. So, Well, procedurally, yes. Like yeah, so but procedurally, if a child needs to
talk to their parent, they will be directed specifically how to do that and where to do that at the high school. Yep. We used to have a payphone around the corner. Yeah. Yeah. Carry your quarters.
>> Collect call and then, >> [laughter] >> you know, Pick me up, Mom. Hang on quick. >> Yeah, maybe some will have beepers and everything will just come full circle. >> [laughter] >> Yeah, fax machines, people will mail letters. >> [laughter] >> Bringing the
old days back. Um Okay, so we Anybody have anything else? Why don't we go ahead and a roll call? >> Thank you. Ms. Cooper? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gomez? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hoppy? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Hunt? Mrs. Labrara? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Santoro? >> Yes. >> Ms. Ballard? >> Yes. >> Ms. Clark-Emery?
>> Yes. >> The motion is passed. >> Okay. Um so any old business or future business for policy? No? Okay. Then we'll move into public comments. Nobody has come. Um I will
just state we always welcome uh public comment here at our meetings or by email. Um so having said that, if I can have a motion to close public comments Mindy and Allison. Um we didn't do any board announcements.
Do you want anybody have any board announcements for this evening? Yes. >> I'd like to just to say that I really appreciate the condensed um versions of the disclaimers that you >> Okay.
>> before and after and before public comment, so thank you. >> I do have to say it's easy when there's nobody No uh public here. Made my job very easy this evening. Um anybody else? Okay. Well, and um you know, I know that
students are not in the buildings, but our administrators and staff are always here working very hard over the summer, so we certainly appreciate that and >> Did you >> Oh, um yeah. And so I just wanted to say that because it it seems quiet, but
there's a lot happening within these walls during the summer, so Yes. >> the ceilings. >> And in >> [laughter] >> Very true. >> So my question is, during public comments, do we ever Do you guys ever see any comments that come through email? I mean, I know you read them or questions, things of that that you guys
always encourage. It's wonderful they don't want to come in or you know, they have busy lives as well. Do you see that? Because that's something I know you guys have encouraged >> Yeah, we get comments. We do. And uh typically, Mrs. Brenda, as the
president, will respond if if it comes to all of us, or individually, she'll get comments. But, yeah. Mhm. >> But, okay, so then it's not something that when you when I say public, that you guys would read saying, "Oh, we got a comment." Like that type of thing. So. >> No. Mhm.
>> Okay. But, if they were to >> Because they may not choose to have that comment. Yeah. Okay. Anybody else? Can I get a motion to adjourn the meeting? Okay. Nicole and Allison.
Thank you. >> I think you're good.