All right, we're good. We're good. All right, I'm going to have to be extra loud, huh? All right, good evening everyone. We're going to get started. Thank you all for being here. You please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Balanado >> here. >> Mr. Pico here. >> Mr. Valardo >> here. >> Mr. Yagnum. >> Mrs. Harold >> here. >> Mrs. Shariffstein here. We have a
quorum. >> Thank you. This is to advise the general public and to instruct that it be recorded in the minutes that in compliance with chapter 231 of the public laws of 1975 entitled the open public meetings act the Stanh Hope Board of Education located at 24 Valley Road
Stanh Hope New Jersey has caused this notice to be posted at the office of the Stanh Hope board of education mailed to the New Jersey Herald the municipal clerk of the burrow of Stanh Hope the Stanh Hope Post Office and posted at the Valley Road school and on the Stanho public schools website setting forth the time date and location of the meeting.
The Stan Hope School District in partnership with the community commits to provide equality comprehensive education for all learners with equal emphasis on academic excellence and citizenship through values, respect, and service. Our vision is to inspire and cultivate a community of innovative,
curious, compassionate, and globally minded learners equipped with knowledge, problem solving skills, and the ability to persevere to make a positive impact on society and shape a better future. An executive session will be held this evening for the purpose of personnel and
board member candidate deliberation. Formal action may be taken. We're going to start off with our honoral presentation first. >> Go ahead. >> Good evening everybody. Thank you so much for coming out tonight um for our first honor roll recognition program of
the school year. Uh it's wonderful to see so many uh new sixth grade faces who are new to the honor roll process and just as exciting to see so many older faces of former students coming back to support their siblings. Um so many of of
whom uh sat in these seats to receive their honoral certificate in the past. So just a quick review, we recognize students who uh receive honor role notation in our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. Uh students who receive all A's and B's for the marking period.
Students who receive all A's uh are distinguished as our high honoral recipients. Um, as as hard work as it is for our students and as proud of them as we are, it's also important to recognize the work that you as parents and family
members also put in to make sure that they're on top of everything they need to be on top of. Uh, that they're everywhere where they need to be and sometimes put up with the many homework tantrums that I'm sure we're all at least partially accustomed to. Um, so without any further ado, I'd like to
first uh read the names of our students who achieved honoral. When you hear your name, please come on up. Uh Mrs. Shariffstein will give you your certificate. Pause for a picture. Don't allow your parents to miss that opportunity. Uh I'm going to read all names of our honorable uh recipients,
even if they're not here. Um so just please bear with me. Uh first, I'd like to recognize Grace Anderson. Brooke Campile, Kaylee Campbell, Stephen Frank, Emma Fuhols, Alexa Karadoa,
Sorry, Alexa. I think I butchered your last name tonight. >> Emma Lui. Olivia Louise, Rosemiley Martinez Lopez. Brandon Medina, Annayiah Morales, Camila Morales,
>> Dylan Ortiz, Ber Santos, >> Natalie Ortiz Flores. Gunner Porter, Carla Valdez, Viluerte, Noah Waltman, Mariana Zuniga, Dana Ponitz, Nathan Smp
Sophie Deselinas, Allesandro D. Martino, Malia Fernandez, Gregory Hansen, Jason Hardle, I'm going to repeat the name. Brandon Medina. Levi Hatenbot,
Rosalie Lama, Clark Lac Deon Milanovic, Kamal Nelson, Chase Penza, Vincenzo Rakinady, Madison Shiavo, Jack Stansfield, Jack Bolanini,
Jacob Campbell, Alacia Green, Violet Hanusk, >> Juliet Pines, >> JASMINE MONROY, VASQUEZ, HANNAH SHARPSTEIN. I know it sounds like a lot of names. Our middle school is not easy. So these
students have really worked hard uh to achieve honoral status. Uh so the next names that I'm going to call are our high honoral students. These students achieve straight A's for the marking period. Rose Bolanini Christopher Cologne
Caroline Eli. Oh, Chris, I missed you there, bud. Benjamin Galada, Jackson Light. Gavin Walkerhouser, Amaya Abraham Cruz, Dana Jose Oas, Brooke Bet,
Leah Buck, Julia Iaani, Faith Anderson, >> Kylie Hoffman. Colin Polarmo, take your time, Colin. >> Max Slater Scarlett Stanfield. And last but not least, Olivia Yo.
So, you might have noticed that we moved our refreshments outside today. Uh reason is uh our next order of business is our auditing presentation. For those of you so inclined, you're welcome to stay and listen. Uh but if you are if you'd rather head out, uh I ask that you
please grab cookies outside. Don't leave any. Uh you may socialize in the hallway. Uh but we do need to get back to business in the cafeteria. Thank you all so much for coming. Uh, and have a wonderful night. My only job was spotting the >> course.
>> That was my only job. >> See you, man. Thanks. >> We got another one. >> Great. Congrats. >> I think I can do that. >> Good job. >> You could try the middle. >> That is also true.
She's here. >> She doesn't strike me as liking people. She's probably waiting to leave. Perfectly understand. >> Most auditors don't like I do her, but I usually catch up with her before. I don't know. Still hear your time.
She's still >> Was she here last year presentation? I I thought I recognized Thank you. Thank you. back on. We haven't ever cut. So, >> okay. You good? Yeah. Let me see where are we?
Yeah, it's all you. Go ahead. Thank you, man. All right. So, I want to welcome u Mon Lee uh from Nizavacia uh to do our audit presentation. >> Good evening everybody. Well, happy belated Thanksgiving.
>> So, I just passed out a two-page summary. So, it's front and back of the uh financial highlights for 63025 year end. So if you the page number is kind of in top right hand corner so it's tiny but if we look on the first page on the
top of the first page you have the comparison of the overall fund balance between 63025 and the year before and if at any point in time you have any questions please feel free to stop me. So at 63025 the overall fund balance is
$3.2 $2 million and most of that is restricted in different reserves. You have about $25,000 incumbrances. Those are the goods that you've placed in order for us of 6:30 but have not received the items as of that date. $1.7
million in capital reserve that you can use for any projects in your long range facilities plan. $456,000 in maintenance reserve that you can use for any required maintenance for your school facility.
$300,000 in current year excess surplus that's to be used in your upcoming budget cycle, your 2627 year. The $280,000 of prior year excess surplus plus the 17,000. So that totals
about 297,000 97,000 you're using right now in your 2526 year. And so that leaves you with $395,000 of unassigned fund balance. That's the 2% that the state allows you to keep in unassigned
uh plus, you know, a little bit of allowable adjustments. So the overall fund balance had a $300,000 bump. So, which is a good thing. You you you can see that there's an increase in capital reserve and maintenance recerve. And I'm going to go
over that in detail when we flipped the page in a little bit. The middle section is details uh the overall increase in the fund balance of 300,000. Just want to point out a couple numbers here. You had an excess in state revenue. Excess
meaning above what you anticipate as revenue in your budget of 145,000. That's from extraordinary aid and nonpublic transportation aid. You have unspent budget appropriation about $460,000.
After you factor out the incumbrances, you have about $440,000 not spent, which is about 6% of your budget, which might look like a big number, but it's really not. But it's all of those are good things because it goes towards replenishing the fund
balance you you use during the year. And then the bottom of the page you see that um I always like to show a trend of how much fund balance you're using to support your budget because we always say that you want to be stable, right? You because you want also want to ensure
that the amount that you can generate the amount of surplus you're using every every single year because otherwise you're going to have a budget hole. So, you've been about $300,000, which is good. Then, if you flip to the back of the page,
you have the capital reserve, maintenance reserve. So, during the year, you were able to put back in $74,000 in a capital reserve, ended up with 1.7, but in your 25 26 year, your current year, you did take out se
672,000. So, as of now, uh, you have about a little over a million dollars left. Maintenance reserve, you were able to put in about $97,000. You are left with 456 at 630, but you did
take out $100,000 during your current budget year. So, you're left with 356 as of now. And then I have a comparison of the um food service activities. If you look at the year before, both revenue and
expenses went up about $40,000 even though expense went up, you know, a little bit more than that. But at the end of the year at 63025, you have unrestricted net position, which is equivalent to fund balance of about $127,000 in the account.
Then the bottom portion is your long-term liabilities. The only thing that really affects your budget is your serial bonds payable, which still has 5.6 6 million left at 63025. So you still got a few years left before it's all paid off.
That's it in terms of the financial numbers. I think you you are financially kind of been stable and I think you know just care to keep monitoring your expenses and making sure that you the fund balance you be you've been using is
being replenished every year and keep building up the reserve that you can so you can do more projects if needed. >> Questions? >> Thank you. Questions from anybody? >> Thank you. And I just I there is no I'm
happy to report there is no formal recommendation. There's a um comment in the report regarding student activities receipts and you know talking to your administration they are already aware of it. They've implemented a couple new procedures to make sure that it's being
deposited on time. So therefore there's >> you already taking corrective action plan. There's that's why there's no formal recommendation. Okay. And I just want to take the at this opportunity to thank you know uh your superintendent of special Carissa too. She we are so much a pain in her
during the audit. We ask for so many um things but she comes through every every single year and give us what we need and >> internally Cararissa is our audit. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> But you are al your group is also wonderful to work with. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> All right. Thanks mom. >> Thank you. All right. And I wish everybody a happy holiday so much. >> Okay. That moves us, let's see, to the board of education member candidate Aaron. >> Of course, we're going to go into >> But we're going to go quickly into an executive session first. Uh so, can I
have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Uh, be it resolved that the Stanh Hope Board of Education adopts the following resolution. Whereas the Open Public Meeting Act, chapter 231 of 1975 permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting in certain circumstances and whereas the Stanh Hope Board of
Education is of the opinion that such circumstances presently exist. Now therefore, be it resolved by the Stanho Board of Education, County of Sussex and State of New Jersey, that a closed session of this board of education, where the public shall be excluded, will be held at this time for the purpose of personnel and board member interview and
deliberation. Be it further resolved that the action of the board with regard to the above entitled matter shall be disclosed to the public at a later date and to the extent that the same is not prejuditial to the interest of the parties involved and would not result in a possible invasion of their right to privacy. Can I have a voice vote? All in favor?
>> I nos abstensions. Okay. Good. >> Good. >> All right. Can I have a motion to reenter public session, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Thank you. Voice vote. All in favor? >> Any nos? Extensions? Okay. Uh, so, uh,
thank you for being here. Thank you for submitting your interest in becoming a board member. Um, we just we all been through your cover letter and resume which are great. We have a few questions we're going to run through with you. Um, and I'll I'll just kick it off. So, uh, sure. Why do you want to be a board member?
>> So, it's a great question. I, um, my both my parents are educators. I live in Stanh Hope. I was born and raised I know somebody that's sitting up there also is born and raised in San Hope. Uh, I I was lived in San Hope for 35 years. I graduated from here from Leipe Valley.
Um, I really love the community. I'm blown away by what I've seen the progress for this school has been since when I went here and my dad was actually acting superintendent here in I want to say like 20 2001 and even from then I mean it's leaps and bounds so I give you
guys a lot of credit. Um my son's a kindergartener and like I said when I came to see the school I was um just so amazed by it. Uh but yes I'd like to um share my experience. I I have been on the Lenipe Valley board. uh my father was ill so I took over his um a year of
his term and then I I ran again for two years. So I do have some board experience. Um so I'd love to you know share what I know and also learn from you all and um it's really to be all about community, parents, the school, the faculty, the administration. Um I
think the world of the school and Stanh Hope. So I really would love to be more involved. Great. >> Thank you. Jen, >> what area would you like to see strengthened in our board or our district? >> That's a very good question. I have to be honest, I don't know as much about
maybe what's going on in the board now. I think one of the things I'd like to continue to fight the fight, I would say, is if things haven't changed, I know the state of New Jersey does not give this town quite as much funding as maybe they deserve, and I know that's not anyone's fault here. Um, but if
there's any way, um, I know this what I've been amazed by is all the grants and everything that, um, you all have been able to attain for the school and if there's any way I can help with, which I don't, I know it's a tough tough thing to do, but I'd love to advocate for the for San Hope and, um, with with
with the state of New Jersey as much as possible. >> Thank you. >> Um, I know you mentioned that you are on the Lenipe Valley Regional High School break. Um, why now? >> Yeah, great question. So, um, at the time my I really loved it. Um, but then
I was in a job that I traveled a lot. So, uh, I just knew I couldn't commit the kind of time I wanted to at at that point. So, uh, now that my son's in school, I actually, my mom's in her 80s, so I took a step back from my career. I'm working 30 hours a week. I have more
time again. So, I'm excited to be able to use it, you know, with the school and I've been helping with the HSA and things like that. So, um I was definitely my interest was peaked when I saw it, but then I was like, "Oh, is it the right time?" So, I was kind of glad I got the email again because it was the right uh right time for me anyway um to
do this. So, >> okay. Thank you. >> Yeah, sure. >> Yeah. >> Um what specific skills would you bring to the board? >> Specific skills? Well, uh from working in corporate America, I definitely know how to do a bud how to work on budgets
and um definitely my role actually I do a lot dealing with a lot with confrontation. So, I'm used to that as well. Um, if there's, you know, issues that we need to work through. Um, one thing I'm actually very proud of from the Lenipe Valley Board and I would do the same here is, um, I don't know if if
you guys know Paul Dupo, but at the time they were looking to get a superintendent. There was kind of this outside guy coming in. The board president and another there was a lot of older board members that had been on for a long time and they wanted this new guy and Paul Dupo came up and said, "I want to do it." And I think he is a man that
bled Lenipe Valley. Like he he really uh put so much into that school. So I was a little nervous because I was newer on the board, but I'm like, you know, I'm going to say something. And I did. And I was like, I really think we should go with Mr. Dupo. And actually then a bunch of people started speaking up. And he ended up getting the superintendentship.
So I was very, very happy about that and glad to see, you know, other people sometimes when you speak up. So that's the other thing I would try to do is um you know speak my mind and I'm very respectful of people's and their opinions. But um you know I think sometimes discourse is good right? You can get to a different place and
sometimes somebody else is agreeing with you and you don't even know you know they're they're nodding along and they might not say anything. So I would try to bring that as well. >> Thank you. Um can you describe your previous community or nonprofit experiences?
>> Previous community nonprofit experience. So I so there was the board. I've worked um I got to thank this one. Um I've done a lot in um like the MS space uh with my company, my previous company. Um volunteering for MS events. Um not as
much in Stanh Hope, just the board and the HSA. Uh I'm a a class helper for the kindergarten class and then I help out at HSA events. Trying to think of what else. I'm a big I like to donate. I didn't always have the time to put in, but I I do try to donate and support
causes when I can. >> Thank you. >> I'll just ask a quick administrative question. There's several requirements to become a board member, assuming you were a board member at Lenipe. I'm sure you meet them all. I'll just read them down quickly. Be able to read and write. Hold the US citizenship in one year's
residency in the school district. Be registered to vote in the district. Have no interest in any contract with or claim against the board. not hold office as mayor or member of the municipal governing body, not simultaneously hold two elective offices, and not be
disqualified from membership for the conviction of certain crimes within 30 days of election or appointment to the board. A member must undergo a criminal history background investigation through the state department of education. >> I think I got all those hopefully >> just the technical course. Okay. >> Does anybody have any other questions
they'd like to ask? >> None. Anything else you'd like to share with us? I think that's it. >> That's it. Okay. >> Thank you. Thanks for the opportunity. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. So, at this point, we're going to need a motion to re-enter executive session so we can foriberation. Thank you. >> Second.
>> Uh voice vote. All in favor? >> I. >> Any abstensions recusals? None. Yeah. Good. >> Mic on. >> Thank you. Can I have a motion to reenter public session? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Second.
>> Voice vote. All in favor? >> I. >> No extensions, recusals. None. Okay. Hearing none. Can I have a nomination? >> I'd like to nominate Aaron Monaco to be the next board member. Thank you. And whereas the Stanho Board of
Education has conducted a search process for a board vacancy through advertisement and solicitation of resumes and therefore be it resolved that pursuant to NJAC18A12-15, the Stanh Hope Board of Education hereby appoints Aaron Monaco as a member of the board of education to fill the vacancy
term to commence immediately upon receipt of a criminal history background investigation through the state department of education and upon adoption of this resolution and to continue through December 31st, 2026. Can I have a roll call vote, please? >> Mrs. Bonalado, >> yes. >> Mr. Pico, >> yes.
>> Mr. Valardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Herald, >> yes. >> Mrs. Shariffstein, >> yes. >> Motions carry. >> Welcome to the board. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Um, so before we go any further, either tonight if you're going to stay or or soon tomorrow, uh, we'll touch base
because the first priority is going to be fingerprinting because it's going to be a really quick turnaround with the new year. Um, so we'll talk. >> Okay. Thank you. All right, that brings us to your report. >> Okay. Um, thank you so much. Uh, for me, relatively short tonight. We have zero
HIV investigations since our last meetings uh to report on. Uh, zero suspensions. Also, uh, our winter concert was held last Thursday. Well attended, as is always the case, standing room only. Uh we had pre um uh
performances from our first graders, our second graders, our uh student band, and our student choir. Uh it was uh it was amazing. They did such a wonderful job. A nice mix of holiday music um and some non-h holiday music. Uh they actually
even did some some Aussie Aussie Osborne, which was pretty terrific. They did Crazy Train. Um and uh you know, wanted to thank uh Mr. Barrett, our music teacher, for doing an outstanding job and all of the staff um that attended and and helped out. Uh really
terrific night and I was really excited to be able to to participate and and uh and view. Um I want to uh congratulate our teacher of the year and our ed services professional of the year. Um I've formerly asked for them to attend
our board meeting in January to be recognized by the board. uh for teacher of the year. It's uh Carmen Dudo, who's one of our fizzed teachers. Uh he is uh he's incredible. Um he does so much for our students. Um both our general ed and special ed population. Even before being
a teacher here, he uh he served as a par profofessional, worked with some of our most challenging students. Um and even after he left and took a part-time teaching position in another district, would come back and help us out um chaperoning field trips and and stuff like that. a tremendous individual and
we're very lucky to have him. Um, and everybody sitting at this table at this point knows Grace. Uh, Grace has been in our district for I believe 13 years. She's worked in the child study team office. Uh, she's been our main office secretary for I want to say 11 years
now, possibly 12. Um, and uh she she is the definition of a professional. Uh you'll see later in the agenda that uh I'll be recommending a motion uh to accept her resignation. Um we're not using the Rword. She's not quite
retiring uh as she's offered to kind of assist with the transition and anything else that we might need down the road. Um but uh she's she's recently moved out of Stan Hope and and the commute is a lot. Uh and I think that uh she's ready and she's earned it. Um, want to
congratulate both of them and hopefully we'll be able to see them at the next month's board meeting. Uh, and lastly, I wanted to thank Mr. Valardo. Uh, three years of of service to the board of education. Um, you know, I I think uh I one of the things I tell all of my
colleagues uh who come to meetings and gripe about their board members and I just kind of sit back and listen because this is such a a respectful and functional board. You guys get stuff done and you may not always agree on everything. Um, but you're always very
respectful, Mr. Mr. Valardo. Thank you so much for your service. Uh, I know that you're very involved in the HSA, so you won't be a stranger around here either. Um, but we welcome you back and, uh, again, thank you so much for everything that you've done. >> Thank you. >> Um, I want to also thank Mr. Yagnum, who
couldn't be here tonight. Uh, he's been on the board for two and a half years. Uh, this would have been his final meeting. Um very similarly uh you know he's a champion for children and uh he'll he'll also be missed. Um but we do have uh some new board members that we're excited about welcoming on and
hopefully we can continue that that tradition of of respect and uh dramaree boardsmanship. That's all I have for my report. >> Okay. Uh we have a curriculum update separate from curriculum. >> Yep. So just um wanted to provide an
update. Uh we um we've talked about it a few times uh in public session and and a bunch of times in committee. Uh the adoption hopefully the first reading of our AI policy tonight. Uh the policy speaks to our artificial intelligence
plan uh which um Miss Principal Dataldo and I assembled a group a a an eclectic group of six staff members uh to do some research with us um to identify best practices to review excuse me sample AI
plans from districts throughout the state and then ultimately work together to develop our own AI plan. Um the plan that I'm recommending that we move forward with and approve today uh is just the beginning of a plan that that I
expect to develop for years to come. Um it outlines uh the vision of uh our district's AI readiness. Um there's a component that lists and marks uh version history uh with the
recommendation that this is reviewed at least yearly um by the board of education uh and the updates are dated um and and summarized in that uh in that table. Um one thing that I think is important to to point out are the phases
in which we'd like to implement AI into our district. Um you know I I know it's hard with stuff like this, you know, especially outside of education, you want to jump into it and and go 0 to 60 in seconds, right? Um, but you're only
going to be able to do that meaningfully when you have the majority of your people on board feeling confident and competent in the use of artificial intelligence. So our first phase uh we expect to be about an 18-month roll out with high professional development for
our staff uh not just um teaching staff, administrators um support staff uh allowing them to have opportunities to use artificial intelligence for greater efficiency in their classrooms for their planning. uh starting to develop
lessons. Um starting to incorporate students uh leading into the phase two pilot where we start integrating uh students into their own use, using it to analyze student data. Uh and then finally into phase three, which is our district-wide implementation, which is
the phase where we say we're good. You know, this is how we're using it. We expect that everybody's competent. Um and what I mean by that is we need to build it into our curriculum, right? We need to not just teach the kids how to use it because most of them know it's there and most of them know how to use
it, you know, um on their own, but appropriate ways to incorporate artificial intelligence in a professional way. Uh one of my favorite lines from from principal deaf that she uses all the time is that when the students come here, the expectation is
that they are here to be professionals. It's one of the reasons why with the exception of the days here and there, we don't allow pajama pants, right? We want kids to come to school ready to learn and when um they're ready to learn, they're learning in a professional way.
Uh so that's that's how we're we're approaching the the roll out of artificial intelligence. Uh there's a section of acceptable use for staff, uh acceptable use for students. Um incorporating at least for now a traffic light system once we start using it more
in the classroom where our teachers very clearly and explicitly let the students know if this is a red light assignment, meaning there is no use of artificial intelligence at all. If it's a yellow light assignment, meaning that you may use it, and here are the ways in which
you're allowed to use it, or a green light assignment, which is guys, have go at it, have fun, use it however you think is appropriate, as long as you're using it in the appropriate ways that we've taught you. Um, we have uh a section for prohibited uses of AI for
students, a section on how we will notify parents and achieve consent. Uh, a section for academic integrity, how students can use citations uh in their work and their use of artificial intelligence and consequences for
inappropriate usage. uh a section on student due process should uh a consequence um be distributed and the student andor families um do not agree. And then lastly, a section on data privacy, confidentiality and tool
selection. Um for right now in terms of tool selection, uh we have opened it up for our staff for the use of of Google. Uh Google has several AI tools within its its suite, its ecosystem. Uh most notably Gemini. Um, one thing I'm
looking to avoid right now is high usage of free accounts. Um, you know, that that staff members might jump on using personal uh information that aren't necessarily protected. So, by staying within our our Google ecosystem, we have
a layer of data privacy. We have um a layer of accountability uh that that at least for the initial phase we we want to hold on to. Um, so it's uh the the plan is available for our board. Um, hopefully you've had a chance to take a look at it. I'm happy to answer any
questions that you have about it. Um, and uh once approved, uh, I probably won't after this meeting, but after the January meeting because I'd like for the policy to go through its second reading before I roll this out to the community. Once that is approved, um, we'll share
it with staff, we'll share the plan with the community, we'll get it on our, um, on our website. And what I think will also happen which I'm excited about is I think it's going to spark a lot of conversation and a lot of questions about the u use of AI in education. So
um it's an exciting time um and uh I I want to thank um Miss Piper, Mrs. Far, uh Principal Dataldo, Mrs. Benadetto, uh Miss Bachner. I'm missing two more. Mrs. Featherman.
Who else am I missing here? I don't want to miss anybody. And I think that's it for being on our committee. Um it was a lot of fun. >> Anybody have questions? >> Okay. >> And then here just thank you for the changes you made after our discussion
too. >> Yeah. So this was this was distributed initially to our policy committee. Uh had lots of really great questions. Um you know uh some of the questions uh were were brought to the all of the questions were brought to our committee
who met the day after our policy committee meeting. Uh we incorporated some and then you can notice too that we added the section for for our vision and what AI readiness means uh for our students and for our school. >> It's great. It's a big step forward.
Thank you. Uh all right. So personnel curriculum school climate and culture. Well, I think we just uh went over quite a bit. Um, you know, in regards to the curriculum and the AI plan, I just want to say thank you for all the work that you and your team have put in. It's uh
an exciting but I'm sure nerve-wracking time learning how to implement this and I I think your guys approach and vision is appropriate. Um, so that's on the agenda tonight to get moving and super excited to see how that unfolds. Um, we touched on personnel as well. a big
appreciation and thanks to Grace Schmidthouser >> Schmidhauser close um you know it's it's wonderful but um obviously on the agenda um we'll be utilizing her if approved for um consulting which I think would be
great and necessary for um who's coming in next and then um I know we talked well we didn't talk about about the uh the meeting calendar for 26 that I don't know if that's something each committee would be
discussing, but that is on here as well. Um, so I hope that works out for everybody. And I believe that's all I have. >> Thank you. Questions for Matt? >> Hearing none. That would bring us to business services, facilities, and
technology. Uh, which was just uh myself and Steve uh was not able to join us. Um, so we talked quickly about our uh plans regarding medical and RX benefits. um and what is happening there. I think you sent me a text earlier that you have some more information, but I couldn't I
assumed you were busy. So, yes, it's a busy day. >> We'll go through it. Not enough information to share out publicly with the board. >> Um but we hope that it's coming very soon. >> Yep. Uh we had our audit presentation which we talked about. Uh and let's see, budget, budget prep, budget review, all
of that good thing. The most important uh most exciting thing probably is an actual image of the potential parking lot down at the back of the school, which is in that folder. Anybody can link to it if you'd like to see it. Again, the goal there is to preserve enough of the field to still have regulation sizes fields for practices
and still have enough parking spots to make it worthwhile. I think we're anticipating maybe 50 spots uh which is great. We need the additional parking in the back. >> Yes. So, that's in progress. Um and then, uh like you said, we talked about the uh drafted meeting calendar, which
is also linked there, and we are still waiting on the budget calendar from the state before we move forward with setting that up. any rough ballpark figures on the scope of that project would cost? >> Yes. Uh a cost >> a little bit. >> I mean,
>> as rough as you possibly can. You know, we months ago were given a rough This is what it typically is per space. >> Um I estimate, >> and please don't hold me to this, in in the wide range of of between $6 and
$800,000 for the project all in. Uh but please consider that that's that's without getting any kind of quote uh just rough numbers that we've gotten from our architect >> and rough ideas and how we'll fund that. >> Uh this is likely going to be a capital project. Okay. Um and we actually have a
meeting with our architect and engineer um right after the holidays uh to update our long range facilities plan as you heard um man discuss in her presentation that capital reserve can be used and will be approved for cap uh projects
that are in the long-range facilities plan. Okay. >> And almost all the projects there we've now completed and we've completed them pretty quickly. Uh so we have to to update there. And um you know it's going to it will hit our capital reserve account pretty significantly. Um there's
a couple reasons why I'm not super concerned. Number one, we have a very healthy maintenance reserve uh that can be used should we need it. Um and the other thing is that >> almost everything in this building is new at this point. Um so we don't see foresee any need for extensive repairs.
The boiler is new, the roof is new, the HVAC is new, you know, so we we feel pretty confident about it. And we also understand the significant disruption that our lack of parking is causing not just to our school and our campus, but to everybody, you know, in the
community. So hopefully we can hope we hopefully this project will help change that and uh but we'll see. >> Is the pro Oh, I'm sorry. First, >> that's okay. Also, we're going to look into I believe it's the ROD grant where the state gives us a percentage of the funding to offset the cost. It's worth
looking into the paperwork to see if we can get additional funding from the state. >> Okay. >> Sorry, I had another question. >> Yeah. Does the bidding process work the same as another project as well where goes to the lowest >> bidder? Yep. >> Yeah. >> Steve, did that did that figure include
any upgrades to the existing field and the parking lot as one group? you know, >> again, that was a very, very rough figure, you know, so I I'm hoping that that's like an all-in ballpark. We don't at this point anticipate any real upgrades to the the turf down there.
Okay. Um I'm sure because of some disruption right through the construction process, there'll have to be some regrading and stuff like that. Um, I do anticipate because of the need to possibly have to turn rotate the field 90 degrees so that it's it's uh
the the the goal so to speak will be facing the street where there's homes behind there likely having to put up a net so that those homes aren't impacted by lacrosse balls or soccer balls that are being kicked towards the goals. >> Okay. Do >> we have to get any kind of variance
change from the town because we're turning grass into asphalt? >> I don't think that we will. Um, and we don't necessarily need approval for the project, but we will have to go before the zoning board. Uh, our architect is is uh very well aware of that process. I
have already reached out to the town administrator to give him a heads up uh that this is a project that the board is looking to move forward with. Um, and I've already started drafting um, correspondents to go to any of the our neighbors who might be impacted um, by
this. Uh, I want to be as transparent as possible and welcome anybody who has has an opinion on the matter to come talk to whether it be administration andor the board so that they have a really good idea of what we're doing and why we're doing it. >> Best case scenario, how quick do you
think? Uh, >> I I want this done by the start of next school year. >> Yeah. So given this is far enough away from our school, I do believe that if necessary, it's a project that we can probably start during the school year.
>> Thank you. Other questions? Hearing none. Policy and communications. Hey. >> Um yes. So we are going to have the first reading on several policies and regulations. You'll see them in the uh agenda.
um including the um including the acceptable use of generative AI which Steve talked about Mr. Hayden sorry talked about extensively already. Um we are also going to have a second reading on the uh breakfast and lunch offer
versus serve that we discussed last month. That's it. >> Thank you. Questions hearing none. Ed services. All right. Um, so they continue to move forward
with the process of uh looking to purchase the building next door to expand their space. They were also um their project search initiative was uh recognized was honored at the international project search conference
in 2025 for their 100% employment outcome statistics. And similar to what we did today, they acknowledged their educator of the year, their educational specialist of the year, and their pair professional of the year. >> Thank you. Thank you for going to those meetings. Uh for my board president's
report, uh very brief, only really uh one event in between last meeting and now that I attended, which was a New Jersey School Boards Association meeting, uh where we had new board members welcome in for the three Rs, roles and responsibilities of board members. Um and then we had our county
meeting afterwards where uh Ray Mars who serves on the Vernon board and myself were asked to present on the HIV policy and best practices to groups of new board members and current board members and facilitate a discussion. So we did that. Um and then my only other update is regarding regionalization. There's
been no new information. Everything's in the information gathering stage between all of the different schools and the um Rowan Institute uh which is gathering and assembling all that information. So there's been no other meetings at this time. It's just been information gathering. >> If you don't mind me jumping in and
sharing, Cararissa and I were able to compile most, if not all of the data that they've asked for and we've pro provided it to the group at Rowan University. So I think we've done everything that's been asked of us and we're just in a holding pattern to wait and see what the next steps are.
>> Any questions for me? No. Okay, that brings us to public session number one. We have we have some public here this evening. So would anybody like to be recognized or say anything? No. Okay. Hearing none, we will move on from the public session. Brings us to
travel and workshop reports attached. We have three. Any questions? All right. Hearing none, that brings us to minutes for approval for agenda items one and two. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second, please. Thank you.
Uh this is a voice vote. This is the regular meeting minutes and the executive session meeting minutes from last month. Voice vote. All in favor say yes. >> Yes. >> Any nos, abstensions, or recusals? All right. Hearing none. Move on to administrative action items. One agenda
item. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> This is a roll call vote, please. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Balado? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pico? >> Yes. >> Mr. Valardo? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Herald? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Shariffstein. Motion carry.
>> Policy action items. Agenda items 1 through three. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you. >> These are the uh policies and regulations that Avery spoke about. Uh
any questions or comments on these other than I'm really excited to see how the AI initiative rolls out. One one piece that I didn't mention, part of the professional development that we're hoping to bring to the district starting internally now, but to
bring in for next year, we have we want to add a component for parents and families as well. Uh so we're we're hoping to bring in whether it be a keynote or a group to come and speak to our staff at the opening of next year. Um we'd like to pair that and offer an evening for our parents and community to
come out. Um, I'm not sure exactly what the main goals of that would be, whether it's more of an awareness or a how-to or just kind of sparking the conversation. Uh, but we do feel it's it's very necessary to incorporate um parent and
family awareness into our professional development outside of staff. >> No other questions. Roll call vote, please. >> Mrs. Bodil, >> yes. >> Mr. Pico, >> yes. >> Mr. Valardo, >> yes. Mrs. Herald, yes. >> Mrs. Sharpstein, yes. Motion carries.
>> Uh, education action items, agenda one, agenda items one and two. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you, questions, comments. Okay, hearing none. Roll call vote, please. >> Mrs. Balado, >> yes. >> Mr. Pico, yes.
>> Mr. Valardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Herald, yes. >> Mrs. Sharps, yes. Motions carried. >> Thank you. Okay. Personnel action items one through four. Motion, please. >> Motion. >> A second, please. >> Thank you.
>> Items one through four, item one, delegating authority to Mr. Hegman uh for personnel and contracts. So, we we've done that in the past. That's to be able to hire people as needed. And let's see, there's Miss Schmehauser.
Okay. Any other comments or discussion >> other than I was very sad to see that Miss Grace is is leaving is retiring. >> She's going to be missed. >> Yes. >> And big shoes to fell. >> Okay. No other questions or comment. Roll call vote, please.
>> Mrs. Balado, >> yes. >> Mr. Pico, >> yes. >> Mr. Balardo, >> yes. >> Mrs. Herald, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sharpstein, >> yes. Motion's carried. >> Thank you. Business services agenda items 1 through nine. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. Second, please. Second. Thank
you. There's our audit report number seven. >> Any additional questions? >> Facilities request. If I recall correctly, there was a a bunch of football on there and some of which were on Saturdays in May. Um, if the HSA does
do the 5K again, I think that was on the 31st of this past year, could be on the same date. So, there could be a conflict possibly. I would just recommend >> adjustments if if we need to. And we'll have prior notice. I believe it does outline in our policy that any school or
HSA events uh do do have priority over okay >> um any other events that are taking place. That said, >> you know, football's using the back field. >> Y >> um you know, >> probably park all over. It was just my concern with parking, but nonetheless, >> yeah, >> appreciate it.
>> Hopefully, we'll have better weather this year. >> Yeah. >> And we also asked that, you know, they're putting out for all of these dates. Should we begin anything down on that field with construction? >> We may need we may need to let them know that we have to they have to find
somewhere else if there's going to be construction taking place. We all we didn't want to restrict their approval though because we do recommend that they get it in as early as possible and we do use a first come first- serve basis. So, >> any other discussion?
>> Okay, hearing none. Roll call vote please. >> Mrs. Balato. >> Yes. >> Mr. Pico. >> Yes. >> Mr. Valardo. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Herald? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sharpstein? >> Yes. >> Motions carry. >> All right. Anybody have any new business they'd like to discuss? >> I guess. Okay. Go ahead, Carmen. You
>> I guess, you know me, I always like to put my two cents in, but uh this year has been a a great pleasure for me seeing how much that we've accomplished. Um, and I'd like to thank the board members for helping me along with some
of the issues that I had is, you know, because I'm old school, you know, I'm not this modern age person, but you still need old school to help out. So, I just wanted to thank everybody for all their help and that's all right now. >> Thank you.
>> I just wanted to say thank you. Uh, it really was awesome being here for three years. I've learned a great deal. uh respect um and appreciate all that you guys do. Um and it's just been a a great ride. So, thanks for everything. Appreciate it. And um that's all I got.
>> Thank you. >> Thank you for your time for your time and your service. >> Um I'd just like to add under new business, uh our next meeting will be our annual reorganization meeting. Uh we will have three new board members seated for that annual reorganization meeting.
Um, but for those of you returning, start thinking about committees for next year that you'd like to participate on. Start thinking about uh nominations for president and vice president and where we all want to be. Uh, come the reorganization meeting, which is a little later than usual because of the timing. It has to be held within the
first seven or eight days of January. We're on the seventh day. So, if we just make it, we're in a little we're in a little trouble, but hopefully it won't snow otherwise we will figure out what to do. Uh, but that meeting will be on the 7th. That will be our annual reorganization meeting and Carissa will
open that meeting until we elect >> 7th of January. >> Yes. >> Isn't that the same date the council has theirs? >> Um it probably is. That's the way it it happened last year also. >> Yeah. >> I mean I know that's the date because
>> I might have a problem. Yeah, >> you should honestly Carmen, you should be fine because last year I went from our reorg to the reorg and we start early enough that you can meet both. >> We could even discuss. So that's a good
point because we did put the calendar out for everybody to review because we'll approve approve that soon. Um we can do it even earlier >> to avoid that conflict. We could do I mean if everybody's available we could do a five o'clock meeting so that we can
be done with plenty of time to go for anybody that wants to attend the the c the I'm sorry the town meeting. >> The the only reason I'm going to be appointed as an alternate to the zoning board. >> Congratulations. >> I don't want to have conflict for each
you know each board. So, I can tell you that with I think we started at six this year >> and I we needed to go because I was being sworn in here and my husband was being sworn in as a officer with the fire department and there was no
problem. But if you wanted to start earlier, you could do that. But it's really we made it no problem from one meeting to the other. >> It's a relatively short meeting. The reorg is very short and then we also uh typically do our committee meetings as a public meeting that night. >> A committee of the whole night.
>> Um >> so you you you should be good. >> All right. >> Okay. And then the only other thing that uh you know I'll recommend for consideration is for the um recognitions, honorable recognitions. Maybe we back up those meetings to 6:30.
Um but we can talk about that next year before we publish the calendar. Okay. Anybody else with new business? Any old business? Hearing none, that would bring us to our second public session. Would anybody
like to speak yet? Now, hearing nothing from the public, that would bring us to adjournment. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Second, please. >> Second. >> Thank you. All in favor say yes. >> Yes. No. Abstensions or recusals? None.
We are adjourned. Thank you.