e e e e i' like to call this meeting to order thank you for coming can I get a roll call please Mr Chini here Mr dieo here Mrs belly is not here Mrs Simmons is not here Mrs SP here Mrs alone here Mrs witty is not here Mrs elar here Mrs tordella here we have a quum thank you can everyone please join me in the flag salute I pledge allei to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible and Justice the New Jersey open public meetings law with an eff to ensure the right of the public to have to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of the public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted upon in accordance with the provisions of the act the Sussex wage Regional School District board board of education has caused notice of this meeting to be published and having the date time and place thereof posted in the school building and notice of said meeting sent to the New Jersey Herald and the Star Ledger the Sussex wage School District mission statement the susex swage Regional School District is a responsive caring child centered Community our our mission is to educate each individual to become a confident competent lifelong learner and productive responsible citizen by by providing challenging opportunities in a safe environment through a partnership of families schools and communities at this time I would like to move on to the report of the superintendent of schools thank you uh one of the goals of the community outreach committee was to engage our student council up at Sussex Middle School uh to a greater degree so we have some Representatives here in this evening kind of do a concise little report out on what's what's been happening in student council good evening Mr go members of the Board of Education Mr Schwarz and community members my name is Trevor Unix and I'm president of the student council I'm cor pres the vice president and we are here to tell you about what has been happening at the Tex Middle School the month of April we were taking from sesex middle school on a Magic Carpet Ride to abraa and Disney's Aladdin Jr this past month the cast and crew of Aladdin Jr performed three spectacular performances and we sad to see it come to an end at the beginning of each play Bor club sold water proceeds from the sale are being donated to the round McDonald's house track has begun as well with over 70 students participating and has had three successful meetings the National Junior Honor Society hosted the fifth graders and took them on tours around the middle school and Tor students at wanted school this past month student council hosted a spirit week this week with students dressed like teachers and teachers dress like students R colors dress Al like day hat day and tomorrow is superhero day we are ending the month of April with State Testing next week thank you for allowing us to share with you this evening some of the activities that we have been working on here at C Middle School thanks you I [Applause] mean now I'd like to invite Mr SCH up to present this month's students of the month good evening Mr GA M torella members of the board and members in our audience Tonight Tonight our students of the month have come highly recommended by their teachers and demonstrate many of the values we hold in high regard within our school these values include respect responsibility effort and empathy as I present each student with their certificate this evening you will clearly see how they demonstrate these values and all that they do to add to our school Community the sixth grade student of the month is Ethan Sparta Ethan stated that his favorite subject area is mathematics Ethan indicated that he has always had a good understanding of this content area and he knows that it will certainly help him when he gets older Ethan is very interested in becoming an architectural engineer someday where he will certainly put those math skills to test outside of school Ethan is an active young man participating in baseball football and enjoying fishing in his free time Ethan's teacher stated the following Ethan is a responsible and conscientious student who goes above and beyond with the schoolwork he has a great sense of humor and is such a realist he continues to keep his peers on track and is a great leader Ethan is respectful to staff himself and his peers and exemplifies the four pillars of SMS he's going to go far here at SMS and we cannot wait to see where his life takes him it is with great pride that I introduce Ethan as the sixth grade [Applause] student the seventh grade student of the month is Allison Ross Allison is an active young lady who enjoys playing volleyball and cheerlead in addition to these activities Allison is involved in C club etra and Builder Club here at SMS and is looking to pursue her dream of becoming an oncology nurse Som Allison's teacher stated the following we nominated Allison exemplifies the four pillars of Sussex Middle School in all of her classes she is respectful to her teachers peers and other adults within the building Allison completes her work work on time and seeks out feedback on how to improve especially with her writing pieces Allison encourages her peers to do their best and demonstrates empathy to all regardless of whether the student is a friend or not Allison advocates for herself recognizes areas where she needs assistance and responds accordingly we are all looking forward to seeing all of the great things that Allison will continue to bring to SMS in the future it is with great pride that I introduced Allison [Applause] in eth grade our student of the month recipient is EV Fisher Evan is an active young man who can be found on a basketball court or a baseball field on any given day he looks to continue to find success in both of these Sports as he moves on to high school and ultimately follow a career path Sports Science his teacher stated the following Evan is a very capable conscientious student he always completes his work and is a good example to his friends and peers around him Evan has quite the sense of humor that enhances the classroom environment and he is a pleasure to work with we are all looking forward to his success in high school and he will certainly be missed as we say goodbye to Evan at the end of the year I can say that he has a skill set and attitude that will continue to lead him to success we all look forward to seeing his achievements along the way and thank him for the positive impact he has made on the SMS Community it is with great pride that I introduce Evan as the eth grade student conratulations [Applause] thank you Mr Schwarz and congratulations again to all of our recipients while we always encourage everyone to stay for the duration of meeting uh if you did not want to now it would be an opportune time to to take off we take a little intermission I'm going to invite Mrs breker up to do this year's budget presentation thank you good evening we have a short um presentation on our proposed uh 2024 2025 um budget just a um a few of the slides that we'll be going over our curriculum initiatives for the upcoming year Staffing additions capital projects other Capital money being spent and the estimated tax levy uh under curriculum initiatives um we are maintaining District average class sizes across the board in all grade levels um we are um through K to five digital and print copies the into reading textbooks I science materials for grades 6 to8 and Discovery Education science and social studies textbooks K to8 additional Staffing that is in addition to um the existing staff that we um currently have we're going to be adding a a district tier three math instructor um and a general education teacher at wage um because we have a blip of uh enrollment in one of the grade levels so we need to add a teacher to um keep our class sizes uh consistent with this year [Music] so included in this year's budget um that is either facility repairs and maintenance or a capital project um and all of these projects are being funded by monies that we put into our capital and maintenance reserves so at Lawrence we're going to be installing um sinks in some restrooms new sinks in some restrooms we're going to finish the prek um fence and do some site work crack sealing in the parking lots and we're going to be adding addition additional parking um this is due to the um us having prek starting this year um there's just a need for additional parking there then just to add when we did our walk through with facility members you know there was a lot of debate about where do we invest those monies so one idea has been parking which we talked about some folks who have that experience it gets a little tight at laen school also continuing to expand uh brainstorm and wait for some more figures to come back on there's a there's a storage space that potentially be converted to a classroom space it's coming back exceedingly High I don't know if we'll be able to do that um and we're looking the potential for modular classrooms we haven't got figures on that yet so we're continuing to to kind kind to keep the door open to a variety of things at wage uh we will be doing um steam traps um epoxying the restroom floor in the otpt room installing a drop ceiling in room 31 crack theiling of the parking lot and uh replacing the mini split in the media center uh at the Middle School uh we're going to be replacing a classroom door in room 105 uh replacing the sidewalk behind the solar lot uh which is this sidewalk out here um in District and Technology we're going to be adding a small backup generator for the board uh service room um where most of our computer equipment for the entire district is uh kept and we're just looking to um protect that the best way we can um and as we do every year we're going to be adding additional security cameras um to our existing uh inventory of those the estimated School t uh school year tax levy um we are coming in at a 4.42 increase over last year's tax tax levy for wage Township the average home is assessed at 263,000 overall increase in tax $12.13 estimated per month or 14560 estimated school year for susic burough on the average home assessed at 184 346 there's a 5.81 overall increase in tax percent overall increase in tax $117 estimated increase per month and 13410 estimated school year that is our presentation I just want to thank the board Mrs rker you know I've said it before at the podium but when I originally started as superintendent um we we kind of got notified that a lot of districts in Sussex County you were going to experience significant cuts and we were having a very real conversations about brainstorming which school to close and where we were going to put all those kids uh and through a multi-year plan different board members collaboration with suia uh stakeholders we were able to avoid a lot of things that are districts you may have read about in news mathd layoffs and reductions of Staff um you know some closing facilities selling facilities things like that it started with the consolidation of Administrators way back when and now it's progressed that this would be the final year projected of those potential cuts and $3.5 million anticipated so just you know note accommodation to everybody who helped with that I know it's not an easy job it's a volunteer job and you're T you're charged with making very difficult decisions about you know balance Bing taxpayers needs with student needs and no matter who's been on the board you know I want to commend you and the job You' done with that because it's been great very thoughtful conscientious thank I don't stole my phone looking forward to all right thank you all right so at this time we'll move on to the audience remarks members of the audience are invited to make brief comments about items on this agenda and matters of interest to the [Laughter] [Music] unlock it all right you listening sorry about that y'all I will repeat what I just said okay audience froms U members of the audience are invited to make brief comments about items on this agenda and matters of interest to the district are there any I just have a question of what we just talked about how much how many parking spots are going to be added do we know and how much is how much is it going to yeah so for consideration on the agenda um is a is a possib ility of um Architects getting more significantly involved like planning it out so if the board approves that then they'll be able to design it the initial assessment you know just walking through that portion of the property we're talking about uh if I'm coming up Ryan Road where Tractor Supply is on my right you look to your left there's an exit coming out of Lauren school so right to the left of that exit is a patch of grass right in front of the new PRK playground is what we're talking about when they originally walked it you know they're going to all park it at probably 20 to 30 spaces somewhere in there probably leaning more towards 20 um and then they pulled to give us an idea of what we might anticipate they pulled a district that was the closest to a job that they had which I think was in Randol um and do you remember what that came in this is right there four think 350 350 a little north of 350 maybe um and you know when you do projects in schools like the initial planning and design portion of it's now by the time you get to bid there's a lot of things that can can impact that asphalt you know is U directly correlated with the price of oil so as those things fluctuate but that's a general idea right for the just to knowe for the board's consideration too we've talked about how to expand the back parking lot because I'll drive through there I make an estimate probably on a daily basis you could probably get 10 to 12 more people back there so we're looking at some different access points to the building where somebody could enter through the rear uh so that's on the board's agenda for consider consideration tonight too any other public comments seeing none at this time we'll move on to the uh board secretary certification compl pursuing to njac 6A 23A d16.1 C3 I certify that as of March 31st 2024 no line item account has expenditures has encumbrances and expenditures which in total exceed the line it of appropriation and VI ation of njac 6A 23-1 16.10 thank you Mrs rker at this time we'll move on to the approval of board minutes for February 29th 2024 regular and executive session as well as March 14th 2024 regular and executive session motion thank you Paul second thank you R call please Mr die dino yes Mrs Chini yes Mrs Stace yes Mrs bone yes Mrs AAR yes Mrs torella yes minutes are approved thank you we do not need to go into executive session at this time so we'll move on to the presentation of agenda items please thank you under Personnel I move items 1 through 22 can I get a motion thank you can I a second second any discussion roll call please this alone yes Mrs B yes Mrs Chini yes Mr dieo yes Mrs lar yes Mrs toell yes motion Carri under policy I'd like to move items one through four with a note by Mr I need to read um resolution number four into the public record so um it is lengthy uh it's a matter before the school ethics commission agency docket number 361-1222 SEC docket number t22 23 resolution of removal Sussex Wantage Regional School District Board of Education Sussex County whereas Courtney malif is a school official as defined in the school ethics act serving as member in the Sussex wage Regional School School District Board of Board of Education located in Sussex County at all times relevant to the matter at issue and the above caption matter and whereas by decision dated December 19 2023 the school ethics commission found that the respondent failed to comply with the annual training training mandate the deadline was December 31st 2022 in violation of njsa 18a 12-33 and njac 6A 28-41 and whereas the commission recommended that the commissioner of Education impose a penalty of removal with such removal to become effective immediately upon adoption by the commissioner of education however however if responding completed training before the Comm Commissioner of Education adopted a final decision which was 45 days after the mailing date of the commissioner's decision and the commission recommended that the commissioner of education in Le of removal and closed a 30-day suspension with such such suspension to become effective immediately upon adoption by the commissioner of Education provided respondent provided written notice of successful completion of the training requirement and whereas respondent did not complete training following the issue of the commission's December 19 2023 decision and whereas by decision dated January 23 24 and because respondent did not complete training following the issuance of the commissioner's decision the commissioner of Education concurred with the penalty recommended by the commission and ordered respondents removal from the board and whereas njac 6A 28- 911d provides that for a penalty of censure suspension or removal a resolution shall be adopted at the commission's next meeting following the commission commissioner's imposition of the sanction and the resolution shall be read at the board's next public meeting following adoption by the commission shall be posted in such places as the board posts its Public Notices for no less than 30 days shall be published online on the district's website if available for no less than 30 days and the reading of the resolution shall be memorialized in the board's meeting minutes and once approved a copy of the minutes shall be forwarded to the commission and now therefore be it resolved the commission adopts this resolution stating that the respondent is hereby removed as a school official for having been found to have violated njsa 18a 12-33 and njac 6A 28-41 and be it further resolved that the board is ordered to read this resolution at its next regularly scheduled public meeting following the commissioner's adopt commission's adoption to post it in such places as the board posts its Public Notices for a period of 30 days and to publish it online on the district's website if available for no less than 30 days and be it further resolved that the board shall provide the commission with the minutes once adopted from the meeting at which it reads the within resolution thank you m rer can I get a motion motion can I a second second discussion yeah I have discussion on uh number four um so the resolution that Mrs R just read we got I think it said December 19th notice that M didn't do her training which was like six what five days before the last meeting of her uh three-year term um it's she had thought she did it uh and didn't find out 11 months later that she didn't uh and at that point she had one meeting left which she didn't attend so uh felt like what's the point of resp now I'm on the board um son and I just think this is uh crazy uh that removing someone that's not even on the board of education but um that's all Mrs alberry yes m vone yes Mrs Chini yes Mr dieo no on number four yes or El this face yes this Cella yes motion cares under Finance I items through 18 I get a motion motion second thank you any discussion call please Mrs yes yes Chini yes this St yes thisone yes Mella yes motion carries under special services i' like to move 12 can I get a motion a motion thank you can I get a second thank you any discussion roll call please Mrs space yes Mrs bone yes Mrs Chini yes Mr gtino yes Mrs yes Mrs to yes motion carries number one ation any discuss Please Mr yes this yes Mr Chini yes this face Mrs bone yes Mella yes motion carries to theim under Personnel I like move through I get a motion second thank you any uh any discussion please M yes Mr jino yes M Chini yes Mrs yes Mone yes M tordella yes motion Carri under Finance I'd like to move items 1 through S just noting because I know there was discussion about it that number six does authorize the architect to initiate that parking lot process designed thank you can I get a motion second I just want sorry I just want to thank um Mrs rer looks like the student council St Mr do Mr do uh the bo Thunder but um just thank you to the budget committee which um uh was you know always hard work and and they work diligently to make sure that uh the children are well taken care of and the taxpayers are well represented um but Mrs rer I know it's her favorite time of year so just want to thank Mrs rer mainly and and just to highlight number five when we did our walk through that's to include Mrs raker was on the phone with the uh legal team this afternoon making sure we can do both sets of steps at one in school the front steps when you arrive the main entrance and then those steps comeing off the auditorium roll call please isone yes Mr dieo yes M Chini yes Mrs SP yes Mrs yes Stella yes motion carries and under special services i' like move item 1 through four can I get a motion I'll motion thank you can I get a second I'll second thank you any discussion roll call please Mrs lar yes Mrs SP yes Mrs Chini yes Mr gustino yes Mrs bone yes Mrs Trella yes Mo and under curriculum Like to Move It number one a motion please any discussion Mone yes Mr space yes M Chini yes Mr Deo yes this is alar yes Mrs torella yes motion carries so now at this time we'll move on to unfinished business anybody have any unfinished like to discuss seeing n does anybody have any new business that they would like to discuss yeah I just um wanted to bring up I get a call from a parent regarding potentially bringing back the Washington DC trip for um eth grade um I know we got rid of it several years ago um just wanted to bring that up to the board because I said I would um you know the parent felt which I kind of agree with that a lot of kids will never get to Washington DC and um learn American history if they don't have a field trip whether it's here or school um I know there's a lot of that goes into planning that trip um you know so I know if that's something the board wanted to do we would have to start soon for next year but just wanted to uh bring that up thank you Mr I you know we'll definitely take a looking with Administration on the other board members perceptions are uh I can tell you she wouldn't mind that I got an email uh from a from a community parent activist Jackie Shepard uh how you do Mr Shepard I'm sure she's watching uh who also like to advocate for that um and I don't know enough about why it was not um continued I know definitely Co probably operation that but prior to that I think it it um was discontinued and I don't know we had to do a research on like Mrs reer maybe you would remember was there any just because it's budget the budget uh was is there additional funding that the board put for Beyond like generally like every students allocated $20 for a class trip in the district do you remember like was in addition to fundraising was there more did we pay for buses or anything like that or that was just fundraising $20 I think for those that were okay yeah so then the other challenge is that was probably like a multi-year fundraiser so you're in you know you're about a year out that you have to start kind of you know getting involved with that anybody else business right at this time we'll move on to audience remarks members of the audience are invited to make brief comments about items on this agenda and matters of interest to the district are there any comments all right seeing none we do need to go into executive session uh approximately 30 minutes no action will be taken um Mrs rer if I can get a resolution first whereas pursuant to njsa 104-112 B the Su Wantage Regional Board of Education May exclude the public from that portion of a public meeting at which the board discusses any of the matters described at njsa 104-112 b19 now therefore it be resolved that the Regional Board of Education shall enter into Clos session to discuss legal matters now therefore be further resolve by the Sussex wage Regional Board of Education that pursu to njsa 104-113 B the time when the circumstances under which the discussion conducted in Clos session can be disclosed to the public is when the need for confidentiality no longer exists thank you I got a motion to go into executive session thank you second all in favor say I hi he knows we'll see you guys in about 30 minutes thank you e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e we are back in public session can I get a motion for adjournment a motion all in favor say hi hi any nose no are