Good. Yeah. [Music] up. Good evening. Call the meeting of trade and board education uh to order. August 25th, 2025, 5:30 p.m. Stand for the
pledge of allegiance. I >> pledge allegiance to the flag of Roll call, please. >> Gerald Truhart, >> present. >> Denise Johnson, >> present. >> Jean Buoie, >> present. >> Addy Daniels Lane,
>> absent. Austin Edwards, >> present. >> Yolanda Lopez, >> present. >> Larry Trailer, >> present. >> Jeannie Weekland, absent. We have a quarum. >> New Jersey Sunsign Law. The New Jersey public meetings law was enacted to ensure the rights to the public to have
advanced notice of and to attend meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is discussed or acted on. On the rules of this act, the Triton Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting by publicizing the date, time and place. Therefore, posted on the website, the
times and the star ledger. Formal action will take place at this meeting. Mission statement all students will graduate with the vision for the future. motivates one continually prepared to succeed in their choice of college or career. >> Motion to adopt the agenda.
>> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved and seconded. Roll call. >> Gerald Truhart. >> Yes. >> Denise Johnson. >> Yes. >> Jean Buouie. >> Yes. >> Addie Daniels Lane absent. Austin Edwards. >> Yes. >> Yolanda Lopez. >> Yes.
>> Larry Trailer. >> Yes. >> Jeannie Week absent. Motion passed. move right into superintendent remarks followed by board committee chair reports. Thank you in that order. >> Good evening and welcome everyone on this beautiful fall evening. We're at
fall now. It's not blazing hot anymore. Even though the air went out early this morning, I thought, well, it's cooler. I didn't get but one call and that was Mr. Mosley. So, we survived, but they were able to get it working again. Uh
just want to thank everyone for joining us. Uh and just want to take a minute to congratulate and celebrate with our county teacher of the year. Uh Miss Shakita Fenel. Uh she is the Miss Fenel is the uh Mercer County
Teacher of the Year and Trenton has the second consecutive teacher county teacher of the year. So we're so proud. I had an opportunity to go to uh TCJ College of New Jersey and join um Miss
Fel uh Miss uh Mrs. Bethea her principal and the county teachers of the year and spend some time celebrating with them on August 12th of 2025. So, we're really excited. Miss Fenil will join us at next
month's board meeting uh so that we can rec recognize her and celebrate with her. So, just wanted to share that information. Moving moving forward to um cell phone use in school. I understand there was a
hefty debate on social media regarding the use of yonder pouches and so we appreciate the input uh that many of our community members and students and parents may have shared. We're really excited about the direction we're taking
regarding cell phones and cell phone use and the direct disruption that it can cause for student learning in buildings. And so we're taking this step. Uh we don't have any intent to pivot. Uh we believe it's important. We did not ban
cell phones. We thought it was important for young people to hold on to them. And the yonder pouch structure or strategy gives us an opportunity for them to hold on to their cell phone, however, not be disrupted during a learning process. So
we're very excited that we have now uh purchased all of, if I'm not correct, the yonder pouches. they should be in. We're meeting with principles and we will have an immediate roll out in some buildings and a slower roll out giving
some schools some time to reach out to students those where it may not have been um done before. Uh just just so that the public and anyone listening is aware, the 9inth grade academy has been using yonder pouches and has had this
cell phone practice in place for now two years. One of our other schools, Capitol City High School, which used to be Daylight Twilight, has also used uh this process. It turns out that we see less issues regarding the cell phone when
they're not in possession of them and have access during the school day. So, we're excited about that process and look forward to continuing uh throughout the district. Um, and we as it stands, we're planning to um implement this
structure through uh grades 4 through 12. Uh, and I know that some of our elementary principles have reached out kind of early to say when when do we get to do it, but we think we can manage it at first to second grade, first, second,
and third grade levels, but who knows? Cell phones are used early nowadays. So, uh, the only other announcement is central registration is open. We announce each time um, uh, Monday through Friday 8 to 4. uh we've had a
steady stream of students and families coming in the building to register. We will continue that uh through um through registration and for the foreseeable future registration is held at this building. Any transfers and things like
that depending on if you're transferring from charter to charter, you have to do it here, but you can transfer at your school if needed. Uh we do have several night events taking place and a Saturday event for registration coming up on uh
August 26th and 27th which is tomorrow and Wednesday. We will have late registration from 4:30 to 7:30 in this building for uh families who need that time of day to come in. Uh and also we
have a Saturday registration coming up on uh September 6 for anything we missed and any late early registration. But remember registration is still open uh from 8 to 4 every day. And we have registration uh staff available to
support you along with administrative staff if necessary. We wish you all uh families, our students, our staff and our teachers, new staff as they join us. uh a healthy and happy start to the school year. Thank you.
>> So, move right into our committee reports. I'll start with the board president's reports. I just wanted to share with the board uh last board meeting, our retreat, which took the place of our governance committee meeting. We did discuss our next
five-year strategic plan for 2631 of those years. Um we will be working together to decide. Maryann Freeman was here, our New Jersey School Board Association field rep. We'll work with her to decide as we deliberate together, decide which plan we want to go with. It
looks like it's going to be a hybrid of the two uh different scenarios and plans and strategies that she shared with us at the last at our board retreat. Uh so we hope to have that accomplished and decided on by our September board meeting. Um we also discussed our
district goals as well as our superintendent goals and our board goals. So, we'll have that crystallized um looking to have that crystallized by by our next board meeting. >> Yes. >> Um and then also just wanted to share one thing just look really looking forward to uh September the start of the
school year. Uh we have some great some great work happening over the summer and teachers and staff and faculty working together in professional development activities and students involved in summer programs doing great work across
the district preparing for I saw the pictures on Instagram and Facebook and the website. So, I've seen the evidence of the work that's being taken place over the summer and we're looking forward to a prosperous and productive school year coming up in September and superintendent under superintendent's
leadership. I'm sure that's going to happen smoothly. Heard about registration just now. Great work on registration in terms of giving um our parents the opportunities different opportunities to come and to register with our district. And so, we're I think we're in a good place for the start of
the school year. So, thank you so much. We'll now go on to teaching and learning. Yolanda, thank you. >> So, the teaching and learning committee met on August 19th. Uh we had two presentations on pilot programs that
will will be um initiated this September. One of the programs was presented by Mr. Velasquez uh and it is called Senage. It I'm sorry, it's for seventh and eighth graders. It works around uh it is all
about English language development for multilingual learners. The program um is a differentiated program and it is aligned to the widup standards and researchbased. It targets two schools Martin Luther King Jr. and the Holland
Middle School. Um it also includes phonics instruction. The test results for access will determine if the program has been
uh sufficiently progressive for our students. The second presentation was by Miss Coons and the focus on this pilot program is on integrating literacy and social studies and how we use the core resource through schoolwide content and
literacy units. In other words, combining reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through social studies content. It will also be standardsbased. Both English and social studies standards are addressed together. And
the initial target is for fourth grade at the Joyce Kilmer Intermediate Foundation will be um had from September through January. Then the pilot will begin during the third marking period.
Fourth marking period will be the assessment on the program. Uh special education updates at C has been concluded with a they had a celebratory program. The summer child study work
has for the month of July was concluded and out of 253 cases 139 were found to be eligible. Although there have been more cases that have been referred since July, there were some parents reaching out
with concerns about transition um about two families and they were satisfied with the answers given and placement letters have gone out for the upcoming school year. Also, middle schools have created hubs for special
education students and what they have done now is concentrate resources. So, we will have all students for autism meeting at Keen, the multiple disabilities at Dunn and the intellectual disabilities at Holland.
Uh, finally, we uh reviewed the resolutions and amendments. We spoke about the um goal of number the I'm sorry I cannot read this here now.
>> Wow. One word just threw me off and I can't read it. >> Which one is it? Let me see. >> Ladder gold number goal numbers something will be indicated. We will talk about how to
integrate trans um tr integrate and transform skills into reality or some type of project or presentation. This is for the education equity advisors and the upcoming stuff that deals with travel was also highlighted. That was
basically it for the teaching and learning committee meeting. >> Thank you Yolanda Jim Buie. Uh yes, we uh the finance and operations committee also met on the 19th. Uh we reviewed transfers, the secretar's
report, uh the treasur's report, staff travel, and the bill list. Uh and uh we paid $ 36,376,594 um for bills from July 31st through uh August 15th. Uh, additionally, we
reviewed uh requests for proposals and grants and uh this is probably the real highlight for me every time I give an update um the donations that people give to our children. And so the first one is
Mercer Street Friends uh via send hunger packet packing program $100,000 donation to Trenton Board of Education. Uh donations will supply weekend food packages to be provided to various
Trenton public school students selected for a send hunger packing program at all elementary and middle schools for the 20252026 school year. Um Costco's uh donation of
$500 to Dun. Costco's a donation of $3,750 to Dunn. And the donations uh for that uh $3,750 is for 250 book bags to students at
Dunn. Uh Catholic Charities, a,000 books valued at $7,500 for family and community engagement. Johnson and Johnson school supplies and backpacks valued at $2500 for family and
community engagement. Um, Baromeo Church school supplies, $750 to family and community engagement. Girl Scouts, 500 books valued at $1,500 for family and community engagement. MSF
diapers, wipes, maxi pads valued at $500 to family and community engagement. And last, Shine and Inspire self-care products valued at $500 to Kilmer. And we thank all of the generous
contributions to our children. >> Thank you, Mr. Buouie. Mr. Trailer, facilities. >> Yes, thank you. Um the facilities committee met on August 19th, 2025 and we went over discussed some capital maintenance projects including the
Ziggler warehouse building. The building has been fully abated and all utilities from PSEG and Trenton Water has been disconnected. Um the permits for the demolition has been picked up and the contractor should be scheduled to start at the end of August and the project
completion should be scheduled for August October of 2025. Um in addition um we're getting a new elevator um added in Harrison School. The permit was submitted and is awaiting DOE release and the Department of Education is reviewing comments and
hopefully the work will be completed um well the work in the classrooms will be completed and operational prior to the start of the 2025 2026 school year and the work in the common areas public spaces will run concurrently with the stair elevator edition of the project.
Um there's continued um work around the renovation alternation alteration at the 9th grade academy. Uh there was a kickoff meeting held on 7:29. Um work has not started yet. Still waiting on the DOE. Um but we're you
know waiting for uh you know um to mobilize ASAP and the construction will occur um hopefully um phase one will begin at the end of this month and construction will occur while the school is in session with phase one beginning in the basement. Um there's a barrier
that's going to be set up to keep dust and debris out of the hallways and classrooms um to ensure student health is maintained. And the project will be estimated to take one one and a half years, a year and a half. Um in addition, Monument and McNight has some
wall installations done. All the frames and drywalls are 100%. There's some work continuing um to wrap up around flooring and painting and ceilings. But uh um in addition uh new playgrounds have been completed in five schools. A concess a
concession stand at Trenton Central High School has been completed and the tent extension at Trenton Central High School has been completed as well. So they just wait for furniture to arrive. That's the end of the facility support. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Trailer. Mr. Austin, human resources.
>> All right. Human resources. >> Edwards. He calls you Mr. Austin. Mr. Edwards. >> All good. I'll forgive you, brother. So, um we with the human resource committee have been meeting and meeting again.
Uh literally week after week, we've been uh going over and just checking uh uh those who are coming into the district and uh uh especially want to highlight the section that I uh both love and hate at the same time, right? The new hires that are coming in, right? I love it
because uh as you can see there are about two or three pages of people that are coming into the district and really giving back uh to our children in various capacities. I hate it because I sit back and I'm just like I don't know why I didn't become a science teacher because listen people are clearing
figures out here. Clearing really high figures. But uh the the point is that we're making it a point to attract really great talent into the district so they can be uh beneficial not just for our families, our community, but specifically for our children. Um so I'm
very excited uh to have uh so many people coming in uh starting up this fall. Uh additionally um uh my second favorite um to an extent section is the uh retirements. Not because, you know, um, uh, glad to see anybody go, but just
to see the amount of people who've been with the district for such a long time. As you can see in our retirement section, granted, it's only one person, but 34 years of service with the district, which really highlights that we're doing something great here that people want to be a part of um, year
after year after year. And so that's uh, the primary highlights for this specific section. um looking forward to beginning the school year strong and uh welcoming more people in as the school year goes on. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Edwards. That concludes our comments on board committee chair
reports. We'll move on. No public participation uh tonight. Uh board members will move on to board discussion action on consent agenda. Uh first I'll like us to um to move to approve and then we'll move to questions once we have the first and the second.
So move second. >> Probably moved and seconded. Any questions or discussion on the consent agenda? >> Seeing none, roll call. >> Jill Truhart, >> yes. >> Denise Johnson, >> yes. >> Jean Buouie, >> yes. >> Addie Daniels Lane, absent. Austin
Edwards, >> yes. >> Yolanda Lopez, >> Larry Trailer, >> yes. >> Jeannie Weakland, absent. Motion passed. >> Any board member comments for tonight, Mr. Buy? >> Uh, yeah, I have two. So, um, just kind
of piggybacking off of what, um, Brother Austin said about the number of people coming to work in the district. Um, I think what really makes I think the new hires, I think there were 60 people in attendance to the new hires training,
right? And out of that 60 people, 27 were experienced teachers, which means that our brand has improved. so that people are attracted to the offering and working for the school district. So kudos to the superintendent and his team
because that's a big deal. I remember when Gerald and I go back a long time, people weren't coming to this school district. So it speaks volumes of the progress. Um, and I would say that the the next thing that is really cool, and I didn't mention it during the
operations update, but um, our transportation has improved at to such a level and we've been able to fund um, buses so that we can now actually rent our
services out to other places for the use of our buses, which generates revenue. and and and and so for those who have no let me give some context to this content. Um when I got here nine years
ago in October um we had three rickety buses in the parking lot that didn't run. We were at the mercy of transportation vendors, right? So some folks remember those days, right? And so, um, um, Jane, who was the BA at the
time, and and Fred McDow, who was the, uh, superintendent said that the only way that we could provide our own transportation was by tear opening the schools. So, if any of you were around, you remember the board meetings where we caught a lot of heck um, because we had
to open high schools at 7:30, middle schools at 8, and elementary at 8:30, right? Well, well, it allowed us to buy 10 buses. We have over 90 state-of-the-art buses right now transporting our children everywhere. And and and what's really cool about
this is the money that was saved helped to buy the 9th grade academy for $20 million cash, not accessing the taxpayers for a dime. So, so when I heard at the operations meeting that we're now renting out buses, that's
something to get really excited about. So, so those are those are those are two points. And then and then I have one more point. I sit on the I also sit on the uh teaching and learning committee. And when I listen um to the progress
that our children are making, that's real progress because it's all about growth. And so, so just again, superintendent, I really commend you and your team for the work. Um because I've been a witness of the transformation, right? And that's a big deal. So that's
some of my comments right there. Thanks, M. Thank you, Mr. Billy. Mr. Austin. >> Yeah, just uh Edwards, but only because you wanted to correct yourself. Um, but yeah, I just want to say I'm
very excited uh for this Friday. Uh for those who are unaware, this is the back to school extravaganza that we're going to have uh right here at uh central office uh from 10 to 2. Uh I know I'm going to be there uh making sure that there's table available uh for any
resources, anyone that's uh willing to register to vote going to have that there. Um but uh really excited because it allows the community to come together. I know um everybody and they mama and a great uncle and they, you know, everybody they know is having a
back to school backpack drive, but like this is the event where everyone can come and get all of the resources you need in a one-stop shop. So, really looking forward to this Friday and uh tell everybody that you know, tell your mama and tell your uncle, tell everybody. All right, come on out this
Friday and uh uh get what you need. >> Yolanda or Larry or Denise? Any any comments? No. M Miss >> just just want to thank the board. On the agenda this evening were two uh curriculum office or teaching and
learning supervisors. They joined us this evening. I just wanted to recognize them. They brought their families. This is really exciting. It goes along with what we uh are talking about building that culture of high expectations here
for students and staff. Um but our two new supervisors, Rachel Rachel Gagliardo, uh is intermediate humanities world language and gifted and talented. Please stand. And Mr. Robert Keys is our visual and
performing arts supervisor. So, we're excited to have you with us. Congratulations. >> Amen. That's wonderful. Congratulations once again. Yes. Um I wanted to echo Austin. I want you board members, you know, like this is the 10th anniversary
of our extravaganza. This is been 10 years we've been doing the extravaganza. So kudos to the school support and community engagement area, Denise Crease and her team and of course uh M our superintendent. But 10 years that's that's a testimony to the work that's
been going on in the city of Trenton. As Mr. Buouie said, we do great things in the city and we're attracting great people and so we welcome you to our district and look forward to the work that you're going to be doing under our superintendent and his leadership team. So, thank you so much and we our I'm sure our students are going to be
engaged with you and our teachers and our teaching and learning uh assistant superintendent. We'll keep you very very busy. So, so God bless you. We're going to move into executive session. No new business, guys. Well, you went through that already.
That's done. executive session. Whereas open public's meeting act codified as NJSA 104- col4-6 permits the exclusion of the public from a meeting under certain circumstances and whereas the Trenton Board of Education is of the opinion that such
circumstances present exist indicate as follows. Any material considered confidential by federal law, state statute or court rule, any pending or anticipate litigation or contract negotiations to which the board or or is or may become a party to and any matter
falling within the attorney client privilege to the extent that the confidentiality is required to preserve the attorney client relationship and allow the attorney to exercise his or her ethical duties as a lawyer. Matters captioned approval of 2526
administrative contract. Julius Clark, Assistant Superintendent for School Support, disposition of property, settlement in a matter of N verse TBOE. Settlement in a matter of MM vers TBOE. Now therefore, be it resolved by the
Trenton Board of Education, County of Mercer, State of New Jersey, that executive session be held on August 25th, 2025 for the statuto truly permissible purposes indicated in this resolution. Be it therefore resolved that action may be taken by the board when it reconvenes in open session. Be
it finally resolved that the minutes of the executive session with regard to the above subject 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 no longer adverse to the public interest or does not endanger any individual
rights to privacy. Motion to move into executive session. >> So moved. >> Roll call. >> Joel Truhart. >> Yes. Denise Johnson, >> yes. >> Jean Buouie, >> yes. >> Daniels Lane, absent. Austin Edwards, >> yes. >> Yolanda Lopez,
>> yes. >> Larry Trailer, >> yes. >> Jeannie Weak, absent. Move to executive session. >> Executive session. I hope I'll come to We're back in open public session. We'll start with number one, approve of
2025 26 administrative contract. >> I make the motion to approve the assistant superintendent contract. >> A second. Gerald Truhart, >> yes. >> Denise Johnson, >> yes. >> Jean Buoie, >> yes. >> Addie Daniels Lane, absent. Austin
Edwards, >> yes. >> Yolanda Lopez, >> yes. >> Larry Trailer, >> yes. >> Jeannie Wel, absent. Motion passed. >> Our second matter caption, disposition of property. >> I motion that we approve the disposition of property.
>> Is there a second? >> I second. >> Properly moved and seconded. Roll call. >> Joe Truhart. >> Yes. >> Denise Johnson. Yes. >> Jean Buoie. >> Yes. >> Addy Daniels Lane. Absent. Austin Edwards. >> Yes. >> Yolanda Lopez. >> Yes. >> Larry Trailer. >> Yes.
>> Jeannie Week. Absent. Motion. Motion passed. >> Item number four, settlement of matter of MN verse TBOE. >> I move to um settle the I'm sorry, what's the language again? Sorry.
>> Settlement of a matter of MM verse TBOE. >> I'm sorry. >> I move the settle. Thank you. I move the settlement in the matter of MM versus Trenton Board of Education. >> I will second. >> Move and second and roll call. >> Gerald Truhart, >> yes. >> Denise Johnson,
>> yes. >> Jean Buouie, >> yes. >> Addie Daniels Lane, absent. Austin Edwards, >> yes. >> Yolanda Lopez, >> yes. >> Larry Trailer, >> yes. >> Jeannie Wam, absent. Motion passed. Uh item number five, need a motion to amend the agenda to to include the acceptance
of 130,000 donation from Douglas Palmer for Trenton Literacy Movement. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Properly moved and seconded. Roll call. >> Gerald Truhart? >> Yes. >> Denise Johnson? >> Yes. >> Jean Buouie? >> Yes. >> Addie Daniels Lane absent. Austin Edwards. >> Absolutely. Yes.
>> Yolanda Lopez. >> Yes. >> Larry Trailer. >> Yes. >> Jeannie Week absent. Motion passed. >> Motion to adjurnn. So moved >> second >> prop move and second it. All in favor I >> all opposed. Seeing none meeting
>> Janning was supposed to do the resolution. >> He didn't I know and remember we had said it that day. >> I told him I told him what to write. >> He never got I never got it. [Music]
[Applause] the ball. Yes.