Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Great. It's been probably moved by Miss Santana and second by Vice President Cohen. Any discussions? >> No. >> Great. Can I have a roll call? Miss Capiello. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Conte Mackey? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden? >> Yes. session. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. The motion has been properly
moved and second. Moved by Vice President Cohen and second by Chassis Santana. Miss Capriella, can I have a roll call? >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana?
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden? >> Yes. Now we move on to the approval of minutes. May I have a motion to approve the following minutes from January 6, January 13th, both work session and executive session. January 20th regular
meeting and also January 20th exe executive session number one and number two. Need a motion. >> So moved. >> Thank you. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. This motion has been properly moved by Chassis Santana and second by Elsie Ki Mackey. Miss Capiello can have
a roll call. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. On January 6th and January 20th, abstain on January 13th. >> 15th or 13th. >> Uh, Mrs. Conte Macki. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow.
>> Yes. >> Miss Santana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden. >> Yes. Next, we have our communications that are reflected on the operation and personnel agendas. You can read that. And now, before we
move into public comments, I would like to say good evening to everyone. I would like to take a moment to thank you for being here today. We have all survived the snowageddon that we just had. And as we begin the public comment portion of this meeting, I want to remind you that
we do value your input and appreciate your time and effort in sharing your thoughts and concerns. We ask that all comments be respectful and constructive as we aim to foster a productive dialogue that benefits our community and
the work that we are here to do. Each speaker will be given three minutes to address the board. Please, please remember that while we are eager to hear from you and your perspectives, we are unable to engage in the discussion during this portion of the meeting.
However, your comments will be carefully considered by the board and if necessary followed up upon. With that being said, I invite the first speaker to approach. Do we have anybody signed up to speak? We are addressing um resolutions
only at this time. So if you're speaking for on a resolution, >> no. Okay, great. Okay. Seeing that we have no one signed up to speak on resolutions, we will now move to the superintendent's report. >> Thank you, Madame President.
>> Thank you, everyone. And uh we're going to jump right into uh Ethan Bumont, our student liaison, is going to join us tonight. I'm excited to see his presentation. As I was going through it, there's some things and maybe if we
>> collaborate, we could even hit a higher mark on those. I think it's likes or something, right? Yeah. And and I'm going to have Ethan go first because um thank you for joining us, but it's mom's birthday tonight. Uh so, happy birthday to mom, too. And uh you guys could enjoy
the family. So, >> here's the clicker for the arrow. You're up and u have some fun. >> All right. Good evening, everyone. My name is Ethan Bowmont. I am a senior at Union High School. I am also a student athlete. I play soccer and baseball both
varsity uh some clubs. I am a winter student athletic trainer. I help with the trainers. I'm also a national honor society and I help out with farmer fam. I was also, as Dr. Benista said, I was featured in Tik Tok. We had the most views until he danced with Olaf and took
the show. Uh, special shout out again to my mom and my dad who are here tonight. Mom's birthday. Uh, she's a paraprofessional at Hannah Cowwell. I am the middle child. Sometimes I give it off. Uh, sister graduated from UHS. She goes to Ruckers now. And my brother is a junior at UHS.
Oh, it's going to play the video. >> That is Sid, our trainer. Here's some of the baseball boys showing the Union spirit. Uh, so our football team, the New York Giants, made a donation of $10,000 to the Union High School football program
last week during a visit by several members of the organization. The New York Giants have been awarding the Latino High School football coach of the week award since 1996. Named in memory of the former Union High School coach to promote youth football, the award
recognizes tri-state area coaches for their commitment to the game, community, and athletes. Uh right here on the left we have the UHS girls are the north two group four state track champions. Congratulations to them. Uh special shout out to Alli
Sylvestri who uh represented Union High School at the >> All right. Hello. Oh that's all right. Uh so again, Ali Sylvestri represented Union High School at the National Girls and Women
in Sports Day at Ruckers University. New Jersey female athletes were acknowledged at the Ruckers women's basketball game. And here on the right, we have the athletes of the month for January, Kaziah, Julia, Jaden, and Javi. Uh UHS wrestling senior Aiden Cross
earned his 100th career win this month. Congratulations to him. UHS wrestling and coach Debalonia brought the Jack debar uh memorial cup back to Union. Jack de Barbberry coached football and wrestling in Union for over 30 years. So bringing
this trophy home in his honor makes it even more special. The team finished the dual me season with an impressive 22 and5 record. We wish them good luck this Saturday at Districts which will be hosting the boys regionals March 6th and 7th and the girls regionals on March
8th. Also on the right on the bottom picture, that is my brother. Uh here we got the boys basketball. The Union High School boys basketball team has put together an impressive 202526 season highlighted by an 18 and4 overall record heading into the heart of
February and a convincing 60 63 to 41 win over Dayton in the Union County tournament preliminary round. And then the girls basketball team. The Union High School girls basketball team has also put together a winning 202526
season, posting a 12-9 overall record behind a core that defends, rebounds, and shares the ball. And here we have some pictures for the UHS swimming and bowling senior nights. So, congratulations to those seniors. And here we have the UHS pack. Our spring
musical this year will be Frozen, the Broadway musical. We are excited to bring this production to the stage. uh in March 19th to 22nd. And you never know, Dr. Benquist might dance with Olaf on stage. >> And yeah, that is me.
>> Thank you. >> Any comments, questions from the board? >> I would just like to say thank you, Ethan, for coming this evening. I know, you know, the weather wasn't the best um and you had a day off from school. So, the fact that you showed up and it being your mom's birthday, um we do appreciate
you taking the time. I'm excited to see what you're going to do in the future. Um yes, I will definitely be following you. I hope you and Dr. Benquista do get together and do something for uh Tik Tok or Facebook. I'm glad to see I mean you guys are just practically alike. I don't know, you know, you got a memo or something, but I thought that was really
cute. >> We were talking about it. Um, but yeah, I'm just excited for you and again, thank you for taking the time and um, thank you for being a great Union High School student. >> Thank you. Thank you for having me, by the way. >> Thank you. We want to get pictures, right? Any other board members
>> before we go pictures? >> Yeah. >> We're going to go picture with Ethan and then the family. Check one. Two. He even has love. Happy birthday. >> Thank you.
Thank you again, Ethan. Great job. So, as we um talked about this year, we were uh kind of keeping an eye on our enrollment and as you see, we said that uh the trend is over the year, it comes back and you see we're approaching where we started uh June 30th of last year.
>> Um so, as the year goes on, year after year, we lose students over the summer and then they make their way back to us uh uh over the course of a school year. Um we are still going on with doorman um uh
as far as we did around the U with uh E uh at the township and the videos there if anyone wants to watch it but again we we're piloting it um you know at Bernett right now. Same thing with uh Dr. Rodriguez around
the U um came in and and did a did did a segment of where we were at with our our care teams uh which again we have a lot of data um that the connecting with community connecting with the parents is making a difference uh awareness uh that
being in school is it does matter and it it definitely makes a difference. So, uh, you know, we're continuing with that and I can't wait to report at the end of the year how much increase we had in attendance. So, uh, uh, as uh, it was mentioned, I
believe at some point, um, we started a hall of fame. I know it was started with a conversation at the board table and then grew into uh putting together a committee and now uh these are our first inductions into the since we brought
back the hall of fame. Um and it's not I know there's an athletic hall of fame in the future. We may look to combine the two, but right now this is a union uh uh community union high school or union school system hall of fame. Um, so it
there's there's names up on there uh people that uh worked for us that that laid that uh ongoing um uh you know, they they meant so much to us that they're still impacting our district uh
even though they've stepped away. Um as well as some uh people that graduated from Union that did uh amazing things. And it's so exciting going through this process and and hearing about all the great things our students do. Um so I'm excited for May 7th um you know when we
host this. It's going to be an amazing night. Uh uh you know it's a great thing that this board uh again approved for us to bring back. Um we highlighted national count uh school counselors week. uh without our
school counselors, you know, that's an important entity uh for student success. Um and um I just want to say thank you to all our school uh counselors. Uh the theme this year was school counselors amplify student success.
Uh transportation day was February 11th. Uh I believe Miss McKenzie all the they all got um yeah a pin and a card just to show a little bit of appreciation. First time that was done. Uh thank you Miss
McKenzie. Um and uh I we got a lot of positive and thank yous from that. That little bit of thank you goes a long way and another uh entity of our district that without all these pe these parts and these entities working together uh we wouldn't be as successful and and we
would be dealing with a lot of issues. So thank you to all our transportation department. Uh multilingual parent advisory committee uh needs to be rescheduled. Um I really like the the brochures they put together. They were going to uh uh have
it here in the library. Uh but it's going to be rescheduled. I'm excited for that coming up. Um you know, stay tuned for when that is going to be rescheduled for. Um as we have to do uh just report on and affirm. So we're affirming January
21st to February 10th. Uh met the criteria of HIB 8 unfounded two and inclusive one. And then we're reporting that we'll affirm next month these numbers uh met the criteria from February 11th to the 24th three
unfounded one inconclusive three. And twice a year we have to kind of highlight where we're at with our student safety data system and and that information. And I'm not going to read through all these but again it it it ties together all our different
incidents. Um that other group is any other suspensions. Um so and you could see which ones uh the hibs we went through uh uh couple months ago on all the things we do like where those trainings are highlighted in
the system as well uh the programs as as well and the incidents. So um you know take a dive and look into those numbers. That's the halfway point September 1st to se December 31st for the state on reporting period one. Um, and we, you
know, we keep increasing the trainings and hip programs to make sure we're we're doing what's needed based on the information that's coming through on the investigations. So, this swung back to Kowami, right, uh, Dr. Rodriguez, for uh, attendance
award. It's a battle between Connecticut Farms and Kami, but the seventh graders won 97.24% 24% uh of attendance uh for um the month of January. So that's great to Kami seventh graders. Uh keep
fighting it out. I think I'm curious at the end who's going to win. Seems like Connecticut Farms and uh and um um Miss Miss Magda translated in uh Creel. You can see it online. There's no volume here obviously. So, uh, thank you to our
our our people that help us translate. But some things coming up. Um, you know, uh, the preschool lottery. I wanted to highlight that. So, anyone that knows anyone, a neighbor, uh, somebody moving into union that has a, uh, child that might be entering the preschool age
there. You got to put in um, your information that you're interested. And we're going to change up the process a little bit this year. We're doing a true lottery uh, where we're picking. So, there's going to be a day where maybe even we go live on pick in the order to
really make it uh as far as access equal to everyone where the the last few years we've been doing it where you got to get on at 7 o'clock in the morning and and make sure you're the first one in and everyone's internet service is different. We felt like we could improve there. So, this is the way we're going
to improve it and really do a true lottery and pick out of uh everyone that puts in. So for at least three weeks it was right or a month we're going to have people register. So there's time if you know any friends that are realators and have people moving in this is something that for the anyone that lives in Union
to have access to. So we want to make sure we put the information out there. We're going to put it on our board sign or digital boards as well as ask the township to send it out social media and stuff like that. But um the other thing is math matters again here in the
library. Uh, Miss Latoya Nelson does an amazing job, is putting on some programs, so check that out. Uh, she does phenomenal with our students. And Spirit of Union, which was around for a while, is now highlighting some of our,
uh, great things going on. So, check that out as well. Obviously, all about you newsletter, uh, which goes out monthly. Parent Square, we keep, uh, doing more and more with that. That is our communication system. So, make sure we want to keep getting as close to 100% to
make sure everyone gets everything we're sending out. And again, uh we had it translated in uh Spanish by Miss Kavavez. And up and coming at a future board meeting, we're going to bring in Jacqueline Cassandra and Ava Sores. But
those are our valves for this upcoming year. Congratulations. And again, we're going to invite them in so the whole board could meet them and uh you know, just highlight their success and how hard they worked. I want a big uh a big thank you. Um
Miss McKenzie and I were driving through Union uh yesterday and um it was a lot. It was a lot. There was some streets, some sidewalks, some curbs. Our schools were about halfway done. Um, and you're
talking, I don't know, it seems like it must be like 24 hours in a short period of time where our our employees are working. So, I really want to give a shout out to our building and grounds uh department, our transportation department, and anyone that happen to be
driving through and seeing Anthony, our heads of building and grounds, he's right there with them. He's picking up snow, moving it over fences, and doing what he can to make make sure our district gets open. But I'm excited um to highlight them because you know they come in, they work so hard. It's
something that maybe some people don't even realize how much work it is for snow removal. And on top of it, the amount of snow that we had existing and how much we got like close to two feet if if not two feet is not an easy task.
Um but then also the partnership with the town because we wouldn't be able to open if our town didn't make sure they again what 36 hours probably straight more 58 hours where they had people just keep
going again for the community but that community is us too. They ask what else do we need to get? So I had about two o'clock today I got a picture of an area that wasn't done and that when I drove past it today before this meeting it was done. So thinking about every sidewalk, crosswalk.
Now with that, I did send out a letter. Uh unfortunately, they are calling for hopefully what what I read is a dusting tonight, but I still ask community to spend make sure that they give ample time in the morning uh because there could be uh some snow, some slick areas
on the ground. Again, we never know. Uh but hopefully it won't be much. But our crew will be out there early tomorrow making sure they're salting whatever they need to. But uh you can't thank them enough. It it it doesn't go unnoticed and it's it's not easy work.
Um what they do and transportation making sure our bus fleet is ready to go is not with the amount of buses and and everything we have is it's not an easy thing to do. So thank you. And Madame President, that concludes my uh presentation for tonight.
>> Thank you so much. Um, any comments or questions from the board? >> Madam President, Dr. Benquista mentioned this, but I just like to acknowledge our colleague, uh, Greg Nasta, who worked for DPW. >> I communicated with him late this afternoon. He said he'd been at it since
8:00 a.m. on Sunday, >> Monday, excuse me. No, Sunday. >> And they worked straight through the day and evening, Sunday night, last night. And he thought they were going to be getting off at 4:30 p.m. today. So that's 56 hours. Um, you know, the the
amount of snow is such that no matter how great a job they do, there's going to be some left. >> But, uh, I just think that our staff and and the the folks at DPW do an amazing job for for everybody. Very pleased that we have our colleague
doing that work. >> I echo that and I have Miss Santana next. >> Yes. Thank you. So, because Dixie Carbonel is not here, the next words that come out of my mouth echo her. I would be remiss to say
that um uh uh I'm going to start with you, Dr. Benquista. I a lot of times I I don't like speaking for the entire board because I think that sometimes maybe my views aren't all of our views. But what I can say and and I'll stand 10 toes down on this. This entire board is
always excited, ecstatic, and so proud that uh we have the people in place that love our our district, love our township. And just when you said, "Oh, uh Marissa and I were riding through the town yesterday seeing what looking at everything." I pictured it. I literally
did just driving through and going from Bernett to Connecticut Farms to to Hannah to Franklin to W to all of our 10 schools to to see the safety. And you know, it's funny. I was out and driving and the first thing I did I looked at Bernett. I I I was looking at
Washington. I was looking at all the schools just to make sure are we going to be able to open? Is it going to be safe? Because we care so much. So, I I want to say thank you over and over and not just to you guys because we do see the unseen heroes, Anthony, his
people out there shoveling, making sure consistently that everything not only is safe and but looks good, right? Because it also is about appearances. When you were talking about the lottery, um it's so funny once again being on the board, people always come up to us like if we know things unequivocally about this
lottery. Uh, I'm excited that we we're kind of putting a twist to it, but I I would like to just give everybody the thought process that right now the children that are going to be going into that prek, right, it's going to be about
12, 13, 14 years that they uh before they're in graduating from high school. And I'm proud to say that the work that we are currently doing, those children are going to reap the benefit of it. And I'm so excited to see like we're talking
about the lottery right now and when they're in high school, we're we're going to see so much great change in this district. So, I kind of wanted to put that into perspective right now. Yeah. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? No. All right. Seeing none, we'll keep
it moving. Next, we have the Education Student Discipline Committee. The chairs are not here tonight. So I'm asking Vice President Michael Cohen to present the resolutions that will be voted upon tonight. >> Thank you, Madam President. Upon recommendation of Superintendent Schools, the Education Student
Discipline Committee presents the following resolutions for the board's consideration. Resolutions E1 and E1A were adopted at the work session on March uh February 10th. Resolution E11
is to affirm the superintendent's determination of HIV. Resolution E11A is for reporting purposes only and no vote is required. Resolution E2 is to approve the Girls on the Run program for Jefferson School.
Resolution E3 is to approve the partnership with the New Jersey Dental Foundation and New Jersey Dental Association. E4 approve acceptance of funds from the 2026 heart grant from the Union County Board of Commissioners. E5 approved the
Tajibate Union Public Schools to apply for high impact tutoring competitive grant award. Resolution E6 was adopted at the at the February 10th work session. Resolution E7 approved student safety data system report that was
mentioned in Dr. Benquista's report. And resolution E8 is to approve the suspension of student 266593 from the general education program. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> This motion has been properly moved by
Vice President Cohen and second by Chassie Santana. Can I have a roll call, please? Miss Capiello. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Miss Santana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Henan.
>> Yes. >> Next, we have the fiscal and planning committee chair, Mr. Cohen and Miss Santana, to present the resolutions that will be voted upon tonight. >> Thank you, Madam President. I'd just like to call the board and the uh public's attention to two resolutions
that have been added to the agenda tonight. F-15 is to approve a short-term partnership with the friends of union with the friends of union public library for the hall of fame that Dr. Benquista mentioned in his report. Uh we don't
have the mechanisms in place to be able to engage in fundraising at at the moment, but we will be establishing our own 501c3 organization for that purpose for 2027. So, this is a short-term partnership to help us uh produce this year's awards
presentation. And resolution F17 is to approve an agreement with Red Rover for a new absence and hiring management system. The existing system is becoming archaic and we'll be able to save $25,000
with the acquisition of the new system. And at that I'll defer to Miss uh Chantana. >> Thank you so much. Uh Madame President, may I uh defer to my colleague Mr. McDall that's on the committee being
that I I'm reading some other parts to it so we can all get a chance. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Santana. And Madam President, upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the fiscal and planning committee presents the following resolutions for the board's consideration. F1 is the treasur
report. F2 is the secretary's report. F3 is is to certify the treasurers and secretar's report. F4 is to approve uh appropriations transfers. Uh F5 is to approve the list of contracts and purchase orders. F6 is to
approve district-wide travel and related expenses. Uh F7 was approved at the last work work session on February the 10th. Uh F7A is to approve districtwide student field trips. Uh F8 is to approve
the list of 2025 2026 state contracts and approved vendors. Uh F9 is to approve a list of contracts and purchases for student activities. And F9B is to approve the fundraisers and
they're all listed here uh in under F9B. I'm sorry. Uh F9 C is to accept donations and we there are four donations listed there with uh uh thanks will be sent to those uh individual organizations and
individuals. Um F10 to approve 2025 2026 out of district student placement list. Uh F11 is to prove participation in the cooperative pricing system. Uh F12 is to approve increase approving an increase
to the kids kid clan services. Uh F13 is to prove nonpublic school security and technology initiative programs uh spending plan and that's for I think the schools that are listed there the United Academy of Union uh the United
Academy of Union. This is from the the the UCEC. F14 is to approve resolution and agreement coordinated transport transportation services uh with the Union County Educational Services Commission. Uh F-16 is to
approve short-term partnership with the friends of Union Public Library for our hall of fame and uh Mr. Cohen went into that little detail in that earlier. Uh F-16 is approve uh Kavita Sinha uh evaluations and those those are for
neurolog neurosych neuro psychiatric and neurodedevelopmental evaluations and uh F17 is approved with red rover absence and management hiring systems and again as Mr. Cohan already mentioned uh the old system is obsolete becoming obsolete
and the new system will um uh provide us with a cost savings of $25,000. Uh and lastly, FATY is just forformational purposes only. There's no vote uh required for that. And those are the um resolutions for the fiscal and planning committee. Madam President,
>> thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Great. It's been properly moved by Mr. Cohen and second by Chassis Santana. Is there any discussion, >> Madam President? >> Yes. >> Uh I neglected to highlight resolution F12 just for the public's benefit. It
looks like there's an orordinate increase >> from 3600 to $65,000. >> It is not actually an increase in net outlay. Uh that that amount of money was budgeted, but it was intended to be distributed among several different vendors and the special services
department has discovered that the there aren't other vendors available. So, we're expanding our work with the the kid plant services. >> Thank you for that explanation. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else under discussion? >> All right. Seeing none, Miss Capiella
can have a roll call. >> Mr. Cohan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey, >> yes. >> Mr. McDow, >> yes. >> Miss Santana, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden, >> yes. >> We have no grievance, settlements, etc. to present at this time. So, we move on
to the operations and technology committee. And being that neither chair is here, I'm asking Miss Santana would present the resolutions that will be voted upon tonight. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the operations technology committee presents the following resolutions for the board's
consideration. I have 01, approve security drill bus evacuation reports. O2, approve request for the use of the UHS facility site. 03, approve request from National Coalition of 100 Black Women for use of Franklin Elementary
School. And 04, approve requests for use of Hannah Caldwell parking lots and access to Henrik's Drive. I defer back to you, Madam President. >> Thank you so much, Miss Antenna. Is there a second? >> I'm so sorry. I also have T1 approve
recycling of equipment. >> I defer back to you, Madam President. >> Thank you so much, Miss Santana. Is there a second? >> Thank you. It's been properly moved by Miss Santana and second by Vice President Cohen. Is there any discussion?
>> Okay, seeing none, Miss Cabriella, can I have a roll call? Mr. Cohan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey, >> yes. >> Mr. McDow, >> yes. >> Miss Santana, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden, >> yes. >> Next, we have the personnel committee
chair, Miss Ki Mackey, to present the following resolutions that will be voted upon tonight. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, Madam President, some of these I'm going to >> Absolutely. >> Okay. Thank you. Upon recommendation, the superintendent of schools, the personnel committee
presents the following resolutions for the board's consideration. P1A was an approved item at the February 10, 2026 work session. uh P1A-1 through P P3B
P4 agenda item was approved at the February 10th, 2026 work session. P5 through P P8 and adding a a walk on agend um
resolution resolution P9 um terminate employee 13348 effective immediately within 30 days in lie of notice and procurement to contractual obligations and that's all I have. >> Is there a second? >> Second.
>> Thank you. It's been probably moved by Miss Elsie Ki Mackey and second by Vice President Cohen. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, Miss Capiello, I call ask for a roll call vote. >> Mr. Cohan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey, >> yes. >> Mr. McDow,
>> yes. I I abstain from P9. >> Miss Santana, >> yes. Mrs. Scott Hayden, >> yes. We have no policies to present at this time. So, moving along, we will have the residency committee chair, Mr. McDow, to present the following non- voting
resolutions. >> Upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the res the residency committee presents the following resolutions for the board's information. R1, a report of students transferred uh to district of residence
following residency investigation. And this there are uh six students listed here that are that have voluntarily uh moved to their uh district of residency after investigations. Um so that that brings the total number
of students removed. Um uh none have been removed but voluntarily there have been looks like 12 uh students that have voluntarily moved from our district uh during this year so far.
>> Thank you so much Mr. McDow. Um Madame President, um I spoke with the board business administrator as well as Mr. McDow regarding agenda item P9 and there was a mistake in Mr. McDow's vote um wherein he abstained uh but intended
to vote yes. Since we're still in the meeting, I just wanted to correct the record and Mr. McDall, is that in fact correct that for P9 your intention was to vote yes? >> That is correct. My intention was to vote yes. I misunderstood who the person was, but I uh once I understood uh I I'd
like to change my vote to yes. >> Okay. So, since we're still here in the meeting, we haven't adjourned yet and to in lie of the more formal process, as long as there's no um opposition to that modification, the minutes will be changed accordingly. Thank you. Uh that vote P9 now has five affirmative votes.
Thank you. Thank you so much for that. Uh, moving along, may I have a motion to approve the bills list? >> So move. >> Is there a second? >> I can second. >> Great. It's been properly moved by Vice President Cohen and second by Chassis Santana. Can I have a roll call vote,
please? Miss Capio. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Heden? >> Yes. Do we have any unfinished business?
Any unfinished business? Going once. All right, seeing none, let's go on to new business. Well, this is great. No new business either. Now, we're going to move into comments from the public.
Our first person is going to be Christine Zirka. Good evening. >> Check. >> We already Oh, it's not working. Good evening. Christine Circa Twain place in Union.
It's very hard. My first job with the district 20 years ago was to help teach preschoolers how to write. I sat behind them and helped teach them how to hold a pencil and
write the alphabet. I loved teaching that. Now 20 years later, I sit between two fourth graders. One tells me I don't need your help
and the other tells me she can't do the work when I fully know she can. What a difference 20 years makes. The last seven years have been a battle.
I had to fight for the money that the powers deserved. I had to fight for the supplies that I needed to properly take care of my student. This should not be a battle.
I kept working through these seven years because of the children. Throughout the years, I have worked with some of the most talented, amazing, and patient teachers who have
made me feel as an equal, and I thank them for that. I know the children won't remember me, but I will remember all of them. Hopefully, one of them will have learned
something I taught them. When I love what I do quietly turns into, I just need to survive this. You still show up. You still smile. You still say, "I'm okay."
But deep down, you know something's changed. It's not that you stopped loving the work. You just got tired of doing it in today's environment. Farewell.
Thank you for those heartfelt words, Miss Circa. Next, we have Adakoi Brown. Adakoya, sorry. >> I apologize. I don't know if there's a certain formality. I announced my name, my address, or something.
>> At a Brown High Street Union. Um, forgive me. I'm terribly exhausted. As exhausted as you guys are. Um, I got two kids in district, uh, Connecticut Farms and, um, Union High School. And I'm just here to just also a member of the PTA. I'm just here to
speak on, um, behalf of my experience, um, in support of the teachers. Um, and I had a question or, um, was asking for any update as to when u any contract would be offered uh, for them or to them. So, that's pretty much it. >> Okay.
>> I waited all that time just for one question. There we go. Good evening, sir. Uh uh on behalf of the board administration, um just want to note that a a the parties have been in negotiations, the parties being the Union Township Board of Education and the Union Township
Education Association, which represents and includes the teachers in that particular union. Um the parties have been in negotiations for the better part of 18 months if not more. Uh several uh offers have been exchanged and the parties have recently uh reached what's
called a tenative agreement and a memorandum of of understanding or agreement MOA. um that had that document um will be ratified or is expected to be ratified I should say by the union uh in
early March. Um if and when if and when the union ratifies it will be presented to the board of education uh for a vote to ratify after that time. Um so let's just say if things are approved uh late
March to early April um the parties will have a successor agreement. >> Thank you. Uh seeing no more cards for the comments from the public. Sorry, Miss Jeff. I do have three cards.
Sorry Miss Jeff. Okay. Uh, Virginia Jeff, 236 Brighton Avenue, East Arms, New Jersey. Board President Scott Hayes. >> Good evening, board members, staff, and members of the public in attendance
physically and virtually. concerns are the agenda and the executive work session meetings and there's uh on the agenda on the physical and planning F17 the red rover agreement
what is the cost of this agreement and did this agreement need an RFP under item 14 personnel committee the P9 the P9 has not been published to the public on tonight's agenda
So I do not understand how you can vote on something that the public does not have information about nor the person that is going to be dismissed. Also um there are concerns about
accommodations at the executive work session meetings at the board administrative building on Mars Avenue. These executive work session meetings open to the public is held in a small conference room that has no posted occupancy limit. The public is made to leave the small conference room whenever
the board goes into executive session. There is not a room set aside designated to accommodate the public during the executive session. At the February 10th executive work work session meeting, the public had to wait in the lobby area while a room was opened up to
accommodate the public. At the conclusion of the executive session, the public was not immediately allowed back into the conference room until well after the roll call to return back to the public session. Immediate a immediately after the public was allowed
back into the meeting was adjourned. The open public meetings act is a law which stipulates how public meetings are to be conducted. Generally, executive sessions are closed to the public. However, all other business has to be done publicly,
including returning from executive session. In the future, the board should abide by the rules set up by the open public meetings act. Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Seeing no more comments, we do not have to return to executive session this evening. So, I'm asking for a motion to move. >> The motion has been moved by Miss Santana. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. It's been probably moved a second. Miss Caviello, can I have a roll
call? >> Yes. >> Mackey? >> Yes. Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Miss Santi? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden? >> Yes. >> Safe travels everyone. Let's pray we don't get any more snow and I'll talk to
you guys soon. Stay safe.