We ready? >> I know we have Good evening. I would like to call this meeting to order. May I have a roll call, please? Miss Capiello. >> Miss Carbonel, >> present. >> Mr. Cohan >> here.
>> Mrs. Conte Macki >> here. >> Mrs. Faria. >> Mr. McDow >> present. >> Mrs. Beni >> here. >> Mr. Mr. Nasta >> here. >> Miss Santana >> here. >> Mrs. >> here.
>> Not sure who's doing >> Oh, I apologize. >> The flag salute, please. >> Thank you. >> I pledge algiance 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. >> Thank you, Madam President. Empower and inspire every student every day. >> Thank you, Miss Will you read the Open Public Meetings Act statement,
please? >> Yes. The Open Public's Meeting Act notice. In accordance with the provision of the New Jersey Open Public Meeting Act, the Township of Union Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published by having the date, time, and place thereof, published
in the Star Ledger and Union County local sources, posted in the administrative building of 2369 Mars Avenue, Union, New Jersey, filed with the township clerk, and mailed to all persons, if any, who had requested said notice. The board of education offers
members of the public an opportunity to address issues regarding items on the agenda or on any issue. Individuals need to identify themselves by name and address. Public comments are limited to three minutes. Issues raised by members of the public may or may not be
responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. board ask all members of the public to be courteous and mindful of the rights of other individuals when speaking. Comments regarding students and employees of the board will not be
responded to by the board. Madam President, >> thank you so much, Miss The board will go into executive session to discuss personnel and legal issues and action will be taken. May I have a motion to move into executive session? >> So moved. >> Second.
The motion has been properly moved by Chassis Santana and second by Ronnie McDow. May I have a a roll call vote? Miss Capiello. >> Miss Carbonel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey.
>> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Beni? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden? >> Yes. May I have a motion to move back into our public regular meeting?
>> So moved. Second. >> Moved by I believe Nancy Mani and second by Chasse Santana. Miss Capiello, can I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Carbonel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. Mrs. Conson, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Faria, >> yes. >> Mr. McDow, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bissi, >> yes. >> Mr. Nasta, >> yes. >> Miss Santana, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden, >> yes. >> Next, we have the approval of the minutes. May I have a motion to approve
the following minutes for the December work sessions and executive sessions and regular meetings, please? >> So moved. >> Second. It's been moved by Nancy Mani and seconded by Chances Santana. Miss Capiello, can I have a roll call, please? >> Miss Carbonel,
>> yes. >> Mr. Cohan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Conte Macki, >> yes. >> Mrs. Faria, >> yes. >> Mr. McDow, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mani, >> yes. >> Mr. Nasta, >> yes. >> Miss Santana, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden, >> yes.
>> Next, we have our communications that are reflected on operations and personnel agendas. Next, we will have public comments on resolutions only at this time.
So, seeing that we have no one wishing to speak on resolutions, I will begin by saying good evening everyone, I would like to take a moment to thank you for being here today. As we begin the public comment portion of this meeting, I want to remind everyone that we 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 pro productive dialogue that benefits our community and the work we are here to do, each speaker will be
given three minutes to address the board when it's time to speak. Please remember that while we're eager to hear from your perspectives, we are unable to engage in discussions during this portion of the meeting. However, your comments will be carefully considered by the board and if necessary, followed up upon. Seeing that
we had no one for resolutions to speak to the resolutions, we'll move on to um I'll give a minute to my vice president, Michael Cohen, to do a short presentation. So, we have uh from time to time
recognized former staff when they pass away and leave us. And tonight, it's it's my privilege to actually acknowledge a former colleague and a in my opinion a giant of the school district of the
second half of the 20th century. Jim Jesy dedicated 52 years of his life to Union High School where he taught health and physical education. He coached soccer, baseball, golf, and bowling. He was the head coach of the Union High
School varsity boys soccer team for 47 years and led his teams to 500 wins and four county championships. In 2008, the Union High School varsity soccer field was officially named the Jim Jesy Field.
Jim was also the assistant coach for Union High School varsity baseball for 50 years, supporting head coach and longtime friend Gordon Lamatti, who also we also lost uh in the last year.
Jim played baseball and basketball well into his 60s and 70s. He ran every day. And I was reminded the other day that his obituary noted that he ran 49 and a half marathons.
>> He would never say 50 because he was honest to a fault. I wouldn't say that I was Jim and I were friends, but Jim was everybody's friend. And I just I believe that he will be
remembered for a long time by his former students and colleagues. And I ask that we take a moment of silence in his memory. Thank you. Thank you, Vice President Cohen, for that beautiful contribution um presentation for Jim Jesy. Um we'll move
back to the superintendent report. >> So, we'll start off. Uh Miss do you want to introduce our uh auditors since you work so closely with them? >> Yes. Good evening. Um, by statute, every district in the state of New Jersey has to have their um financial statements
reviewed by independent auditors. Uh, the township of union's auditors is Subluni. And tonight we have uh Mr. Cari and lead auditor um Eric Zimmerman to
report out on the fiscal 25 school year. Oh, okay. Okay. Good evening. Thank you, Yolanda. Uh, yeah, this is the presentation of the 2425 school year audit. Um, you should have received two
reports. One's an auditor management report and one's the actual CAFRA with the financial statements in it. Uh both reports are required by the uh state department of education and these reports were filed with the uh state of New Jersey, the county superintendent of schools and also with the district.
Okay. Uh and what is required is um that any recommendations in the report be read or discussed at a public meeting. And what this report the small report like to I like to go over the small report first. It's called the auditor's management report. Even though this report's around 20 pages long, it it it
does have most of the auditing from it because this is backed up by uh the administrative code an audit manual is about 300 pages long and there's a lot of compliance because it's not just a financial audit. It's also a compliance audit. A lot of rules and regulations that you have to follow. So in this
report, we do have uh four recommendations this year. So on page 15 of the small report uh they have to be read into the record. So I'll just go over the recommendations. I'll make a brief comment. The first two uh recommendations are under financial planning, accounting and reporting and
these relate directly to the uh what's the name of the school? >> Hannah Hannah Cordwell School with the remediation of the mold and everything. So it was quite a big project they had to get done. So there was just a few things we mentioned and the first recommendation that detailed invoices be received prior to the dispersement of
funds in accordance with board policy. I mean you did get invoices but they weren't very detailed. Well, it just said remediation work. Okay. It wasn't at least what we saw. There might have been support documentation that was submitted to the superintendent, but we did not get a handle at time of the audit. Uh the second order that
purchasing laws be followed with respect to contracts with vendors using board approval not to exceed amounts and encumbering the funds receipts of good and services. what we're trying to say there. In other words, we're trying to get a handle on what's got to be recorded in the books at any one point
in time for June 30th uh 2025. In other words, you have to encumber it. There should have been an official contract that listed what we were supposed to be doing and then uh it should have been approved by the board even though it was an emergency contract which was okay. There's a lot of accounting that goes on
that should be reflected into the records. All right. And then we have two recommendations of study bing activities. Now these records are not necessarily kept here at the business office. They're kept you know at the schools but they're still required to be reported on. Okay. So that all expenditures from the student funds be
directly related to student activities and these were both at the uh Burell Middle School Bernett's middle school. Okay. And uh they were just uh we couldn't tell what they were related to the activities. When you collect money should be for a certain club or activity or something like that. We really
couldn't tell what they were for. All right. And the next one is internal controls be implemented to provide for the safeguarding of physical checks. There was one check that was pre-signed and it was given out to be used for a purchase. So we just say look you shouldn't be having any pre-signed checks. So you know just stop ceased to
assist with that practice. So those were the four recommendations we had this year and uh this is this report which is still pretty good. It was in the activity accounts the other ones with the with the remediation work which was quite extensive and you had to get it done. Are there any questions on the small report?
>> Any questions from the board? >> Madam President. >> Okay. >> Mr. Cari, isn't it true though that the relative to the remediation work at Hannah Caldwell School that the administration uh was in consultation with the county
super executive superintendent's office and business manager and yes >> and acted in accordance with their recommendations. Yes, they acted in accordance with the recommendations, but there's still some I mean, you still have incumbrant, you know, when the contract is issued, so we know what's being recorded against the books. We had a little bit of hard time trying to figure that out. That's all.
>> Okay. Now, I'm going to hand the microphone over to Eric. He was the audit manager on the job and he did today. I'm sorry. >> Question. >> Um, >> as it pertains to the findings though, so I'm not sure. Um, the first two you said were from um um Hannah.
>> Yes. So these are at the at the school level that these things are occurring. >> No, that's at the business office. It related to that that work that was being done at the school >> for those um that school line items. Okay. >> So business office, how about um three
and four? You said that those are related to business office. >> That's at the school. No, that's at the school level. >> Is this uh I guess my question is to the superintendent. um what are we doing like to me this is
standard practice that this is nothing new what are we doing to ensure that this doesn't happen again just >> there's been actions or things in place after the findings that >> of course >> all right I just want to make sure
because >> executive session >> I can inform you of exactly >> yeah there should there's a corrective action plan that will be adopted by the board that lists the recommendation and what remediation. >> The remedy will be that'll be a formal uh corrective action plan filed by
Yolanda. >> Thank you so much. If I might add, all of that was discussed in committee. >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay. Now, Eric's going to go over the actual CAFRA the AFA report has all the financial information in it and it's quite extensive. So, go ahead. >> Yeah. So again, this is the bigger
booklet of the two and I want to draw your attention to the most important schedule for for you all as a board members. Here's it's exhibit C1 and it starts on page 87 of the report and it goes into page 97 I believe and and
basically what that is is is a summary of the financials for the year. All right. So where where you started, your revenues, expenditures out of your actual budget and where you ended financially speaking at year end. So this is the fiscal year 25 audit. Excuse
me. This would be as of June 30th, 2025. All right. So overall, this was a better year financially than we've had in union for the past few years. Uh but with that said, I want to draw attention to the the capital
reserve funds. Okay. And you're allowed as a district to put money away at the at the end of the year into some certain restricted reserves that don't go into this excess surplus calculation and not to belabor the whole thing but monies
that are used in budgets of future years. Okay. And in union at as of the audit date your capital reserve funds sits at just about $5 million. Okay. And as I said, you know, even though the
financially speaking it was a better year for Union, $5 million in our professional opinion for a district this size is lacking. >> Yeah. You have you have 11 11 school buildings, right? Um it's not sufficient. And you know, to point to to
make a couple points to elaborate on that, you have a a long range facility plan which your architects help build. And this has all future projects planned that uh the board wants to or anticipates having to improve upon in
future years. And the most recent long-range facility plan has a balance of about $360 million. So to put that into perspective, you know, where do you go with $5 million when you have a long range facility plan balance of $360
million? All right. Of the $5 million that you have in capital reserve, two million is going to be used in this year budget that you're in right now. And that is to make the final payments for the action that was done at Hannah Caldwell. So you're
already down to now $3 million. All right, just to make it look a little bit more bleeer, but that that's where you're at, unfortunately. Um, and again, you know, as as we sit in finance committee and
talk to Yolanda and the superintendent about, you know, how do you go about building this balance and getting it up in the future so that you can save money and protect and uh do the improvements that you need to do to your plant? The biggest and easiest way, as we know,
there's there's a lack of revenues out there that you can anticipate, right? It's it's the other side of it. It's what are you lapsing out of your budget each year. Okay? So, it's it's the unexpended appropriations.
Uh and our in our industry of what our jobs, our clients of what we see, the standard of of healthier budgets is anywhere from 3 to 5% being lapsed. Okay. You're you're at in
fiscal year 25, I think it was under uh hold on, I have the number. I'm sorry. >> Yeah. One 1.6. six. Okay, which correlated to 2 $2.8 million.
Okay, 3 to 5% would be $5.2 million to $8.7 million. All right. So, there's a difference right there of two to $5 million extra that if you were in that range of 3 to 5%, you would you would
had three to five million extra that you could have put away into your cap reserve. Uh, and it goes a long way because you don't know the unforeseen events that are going to come like you you experienced with Hannah Caldwell uh and what's going to happen in the future, right? So to have these reserve
funds available, they're available to your budget of future years when when these needs arise. Um, you know, and the last thing that I'll say about the the long-range facility plan, you know, we we tell our districts to to you have to have the cap
reserve funds in the audit to be able to take advantage of these SDA grants that come out. Uh, and that's state money that will go to capital projects. Uh but you have to have the matching funds available to be able to take advantage
of that funding. And if you if you don't then that that goes by the wayside, right? And you're left stuck with trying to manage and come up with a plan on how you're going to tackle these capital projects. Um so I just I thought it was important, you know, this year to just
bring that up. Again, even though the the financials improved overall, we're we're still at a point where, you know, improvement can be can be made. And, you know, there should be a goal in hand on, you know, what we can do to build a
little bit more uh um slack in the budget. uh so that we could lapse a little bit more each year and have a discussion about building these these reserves to to better be able to take care of your plant in in the future.
>> How much was the Cordwell project? >> Uh I don't know, but but I'll tell you >> 11. Yeah. So So you don't even have enough right now. >> One project alone was $1 million and you only have two and a half now $3 million to do anything with a bunch of other schools. So it's it's quite low. I think
what Eric's trying to say is you have to try to build it up a little bit. Oh, >> no. Okay, that's >> I just said there's the one project was $11 million and you only have $2 and a.5 million for capital reserve. The only
other way to fund capital projects is through a referendum and to do the project you just did for the remediation. There was no time for a referendum. You had to do with the cash you had on hand and you did have some infusion of state aid, but if you don't have it, you're not going to be able to use it. >> Thank you. >> Right. which just goes to the importance
of having it for things like this. >> So, >> any questions on that? >> I just have a com I I I do want to say thank you to both of you. Year after year, you come here and you give us a very thorough um explanation about where
we are fiscally. Um and thank you for the recommendations. um in I really really appreciated the explanation about our capital reserves particularly at a time where we're reading how healthc care costs are going
up and um in the past few weeks we've seen a couple of articles of school districts who have misma managed and lack of planning has have led to deficits in their budgets um leading to them having to
you know pink what is it pink slip lay off staff so thank you so much because it's an area that I know as a holistic board we are very very concerned about and that delicate balance >> madam president >> yes >> um one thing that came out of um
committee that we wanted to emphasize is the fact that a lot as lay men right not everybody h has all the fancy knowledge that these young gentlemen have in front of us. Sometimes we see these big numbers, 5 million, 7 million, 11 million, and we think that there's
extra, right? And I just wanted it to to be said from those that are doing our audits that the the number it's an a number. We need to be we should be in a better place, but because we try to be as I know everybody hates
this word, transparent, but show this is what happened with Hannah. This is where we're at right now. I just don't want anybody leaving here and thinking that $5 million in our in that bank account is a lot of money. It is not. And we need to to like my colleague said um uh
Matt uh Miss Carbonel, we need to be fiscally responsible for this district in so many ways and and and think of ways of what's to come to make this district all that it can be. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> President.
>> Yes. Just to to uh emphasize part of what Mr. uh Miss Santana just said, we don't have $5 million, right? We had $5 million on paper on June 30th. We, this board took action just a couple of months ago to move some of that money
into capital so that we could pay the remaining bills for Hannah Coldwell School. So, our balance as of today, >> which won't show up until the audit on June 30th of 26, that's right. And a year from now, we'll be receiving that report from the auditors is going to
show significantly less dependent upon the performance of this year's budget. That's right. >> Seeing no other comments or questions, >> I I would just like to thank the superintendent and the business administrator for all the courtesies that they extended to us for the audit. We do bother a lot of people asking for
a lot of records and stuff. And I also like to thank the board for the appointment of the business because we do appreciate the business. So, thank you >> and thank you for our thorough short explanation. >> And we offered an office all year, but they don't want to assign anyone to us. >> Thank you guys.
>> Thank you. >> So, um uh with that, just real quick on a glimpse of our enrollment. It's it's as it does yearly. It goes up after it drops early in the year. And uh you know, we're up to 7739.
And that's all students in district and out of district. Um, next I would like to January um New Jersey School Boards has um made it a month to recognize our our boards, boards of education throughout the
state. Um, with that um, Governor Murphy signed and and the state signed a a proclamation. Um, and I just want to say as as we just talked about our audit and trending better, I have to say years ago, we were
overspending. So, we were pulling from different accounts or or monies to then balance that current year's budget. At least we are trending. And and I say that because not just Miss but my leadership team and and and really everyone involved. I I thank you guys
because um you guys do question a lot. We we have a lot of discussions. Uh we we are aware of what's going on uh fiscally and and some of the other things. And um I I I just thank you because without having
that collaborative um those collaborative moments conversations to constantly try to do better and figure out other ways and again we mentioned it years ago without bringing in an additional almost I think we're at between seven and 8 million Miss Kakosza
you know that's seven or eight million we wouldn't have had we wouldn't be able to do things that we're doing today. So, we're really trying to get a lot accomplished and again, every April it's scary. We don't know our state aid coming. So, we're already ready for a couple different plans, but um you know,
Mi Miss uh I thank her for for making sure she always keeps an eye on it. But I I want to recognize every one of you. Uh everyone has a little gift uh in front. Miss Watson, uh, as creative as she is, made sure you guys got some
some treats. As well as, uh, New Jersey, as I said, January is the state, uh, school board recognition, designated time to honor the vital unpaid unpaid, uh, service of our local schoolboard members and for overseeing public education, setting policy, and
guiding districts through challenges, which we did. Every year we seem to have something. Uh, so I just wanted to share that with you and and uh from again what was shared with me through Governor Murphy um as well as uh just a um a
little glimpse of uh some of the things and anyone that wants a look at all those nice pictures. But thank you um and if you don't mind a quick picture um everyone coming up. Thank you very much. >> Today is Yes. And it is also is Miss
Watson's birthday today. She's not with us, but she made sure as she does always taking care of everyone. >> Yes. >> Hopefully she's watching. >> Do you want to just on the table or you want to hang up?
>> Yeah, you can uh put them down. Thank you. >> Thank you again everyone. >> And Dr. Rodriguez is uh just giving you a a thank you certificate as well as the proclamation. >> Thank you so much. So, as we do monthly, uh, I am lucky
enough to introduce Jacqueline, uh, Cassandra. Um, she's also in my presentation later, but I might as well get it out now before Jacqueline starts. As you see, um, she was accepted and is
attending, right? Attending Harvard University. So a as you may hear you know sometimes the union doesn't have students that we go to everywhere our kids go go uh they're amazing and and they go everywhere uh all this university as
well as amazing other uh fields as well. So I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations as well and I'm going to pass it on to you. >> So that's your first slide. >> Hello everyone. Uh thank you. My name is Jacqueline Cassandra. I'm a senior at
Union High School. I am this month's student liaison. A little bit about me, I'm uh the stage manager at UHS PAC stage crew. I'm a part of National Honor Society. I'm the treasurer of National Spanish Honor Society and I'm also
involved in Future Doctors of America. >> So, a little bit about our school. So this um this year's uh boys basketball team currently holds a strong record uh 12 to1 and is ranked 20th in the state on NJ.com.
The girls basketball team has also had a successful season so far with a 6-3 record. Our bowling team is also performing well this season with a current record of 5-3. Our wrestling team is having an outstanding
season with a 10-1 record. This past weekend, our school proudly hosted the Union County's wrestling tournament place placing with 10 of our wrestlers in sixth place in top three. Coach Antonio De Bolognia was voted Union County Coach of the Year. And in
addition, Ariel Azeredo reached the major milestone by earning his 100th high school career win. And lastly, um, our uhs pack is hosting our spring musical this year, uh, which will be Frozen, the Broadway musical.
Thank you everybody. That's all. And Jacqueline, after you, uh, have your first year at Harvard, you're definitely going to come back and share with our students. >> Yeah, we we like our students coming back, but thank you so much. >> And, uh, Miss Nudes, you want to get a
picture with of Jacqueline? I think we got the other liaison. So, we want to get that. Just go stand in front and the board members will stand behind you >> here. Right. Right here. >> Are you coming around? Are you standing
there? >> Just push this chair. Put her right. >> Put her in the middle of you. Right in the middle. >> Right there. Thank you again. >> So next I just want to share with everyone these are in our schools or in
a couple of our schools right now. I I believe uh Hannah Calwell and Livingston. Um it's a book vending machine. It's used for uh PBS. >> Dr. Benquista, before you continue. >> Yes. Any question? Do you have parents here or maybe they want to take a picture with you? And
>> no parents. >> Oh, okay. All right. Good. >> Here. Here. Yes. Currently right here. >> So, um so this is Miss Kakosa uh brought this initiative through uh again grant
money um where the the the kids get for many different reasons a coin and then they could go pick out a book they want. And uh this is our first student that got to try this out. So I thought it was another great initiative that we're doing encouraging uh reading. Um so I'm
excited to for the other schools to get it and they also created the uh cover for the machine. So it it's awesome. Um as you guys may know, the community may know, but News12 did recognize us and wanted to speak to us about what we're doing different with our
attendance for students. Um you know, it's a lot of hard work that goes into it. It's a lot of people involved, but we're going to make a difference because when the students are in school, we know when they're with their teachers, they learn and they if they're at home, they're not learning. So, I just wanted to uh share with everyone. Uh I thought
that was great and thank you, Dr. Rodriguez, for all the work you're doing. We have to at this point in the year um review our bianual report. It's uh uh for September 25 to December 26.
And I just wanted to highlight there's our numbers. We we go over them month monthly, but there they are again. And it breaks it down by um the protected categories. Um you know, race, color, religion,
um what type of hibs are, uh nature of it, uh that are are going on, but also the support that the kids are getting, whether it's not just always I like to see that high counseling services um and that is the highest number. um out of
all of them. Uh so it's nice to see because even if I believe if your your student needs to receive discipline, you know, the counseling is so important. So you could see that you could um you could see all our uh HIP coordinators, anti-bullying specialists in our in our
schools. Um and then it goes into the programs that each school is doing. And again, I'm not going to read through all of them, but there's so much. Um, that's just a glimpse of some of the things that are going on uh throughout our district, whether it be assembly, small
group, uh, one-on-one stuff. Um, but it's so important because we want to make this a an education in a sense for the children to learn that the behaviors that that are going on are, you know, need to be improved. So, again, through
the counseling department, uh, that's where a lot of it is, uh, is done. Um we do a lot of trainings too to support that. Um and we have to upload our data to the state annually. Uh that you know also um so the state knows how we're
doing with that. Um but you could go through this anyone that's interested and read more detail. But I could tell you throughout our district our counseling service uh services uh every year uh do more and more. So, Connecticut Farms, I think it was first grade that got recognized a couple
months ago, now the third grade for the highest attendance for student attendance. Uh, third graders at Connecticut Farms. Congratulation. So, it seems to be a a competition between right now Kami and Connecticut Farms fighting it out for to at the end
of the year uh as the best. And one of our staff members did do um I'm not going to play it now just again uh to make sure we're reaching uh many people. There's a couple different translation videos in in this that'll be shared within my report that that you know so
other people could also we know that they're understanding what we're what we're saying. um as we have to do monthly. This is our uh period from for January 14th to January 20th that we're reporting HIPS. We had four, two at Kwami uh met the
criteria, one at Bernett and one at Jefferson. And then we had five unfounded, three at the high school, one at Jefferson, one at Hannah Caldwell. We had of affirm the cases from the 17th to January 13th. Um four met the criteria, two at Jefferson, one at
Bernett. Uh five unfounded. uh that number needs to be updated because one at Jefferson is not it. So I'll make sure on the final report so that's uploaded it is uh recognized what schools uh are identified and as you know this is one of our the
main ways we communicate with the community uh through parent square. It's nice to again highlight 100% of our students uh we have contact contactability. So one of the guardians has the app and are getting the the
information um and we have 45% downloaded the app. Now, why I highlight that is the app does offer some different features and we want to keep pushing uh Parent Square as um you know the way we're communicating with with our community. And again, uh there's a Parent Square uh translation in
Portuguese. And Madame President, that uh concludes my report for this month. So, thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Great. Seeing any no questions. Next, we will have the education student discipline committee chair, Miss Mani and Miss Carbonell, to present the
resolutions that will be voted upon tonight. >> Thank you, Madame President. So, it it's very nice to see um our school district at the forefront of critical issues and opportunities in
today's districts. Number one, congratulations once again to Dr. Rodriguez um in that nice article addressing absenteeism in our district which is something that the state recognizes as a state level issue. Um
but we are at the forefront of that. Um, number two, one of the things that Miss Mania and I discussed in committee and the education committee were a lot of the different things that are happening in our district for for example um, and I want
to give a shout out and please excuse me if I mispronounce her name is Hack from Bernett, the librarian at Bernett Middle School. um she took the initiative to go and get a grant and receive a number of books for the library there. So, thank
you so much, Miss Hack, for assisting us in providing um resources to the schools. Um and the Lyft grant, the Lyft grant is a grant that is um a targeting um reading comprehension and English
language arts and it will be targeted to our younger population. So that way we have a strong foundation set for the later years. Did I get that right, Dr. Rodriguez? And um we're also um
supporting the pre-ervice educators um at Kane University who will uh we have partnered with Kain so that they can come and do their clinicals in our district and hopefully stay here. And um in addition to that, we are also
targeting health and wellness through the run um program at Franklin um elementary um girls on the run. Um so we're very excited about that and safety. Many of our kids at the high school level do take public
transportation not only within the town but outside. I know that when I was their age, I was going to the city in the path and taking public transportation. Um, we've also partnered um with the New Jersey Transit Safety
um education program to make sure that our kids learn the tools and resources to make sure that they get from point A to point B very safely. So, thank you Dr. Benquista to you and your team um for making that happen. And of course, I
would be remiss if I didn't say that pre-ervice program was an effort with Ruckers University partnership. Please excuse me. Thank you. Oh, and it was beautiful to see the book vending machine. >> Um, and seeing that young student of
ours um, select and that book dropping down better than candy or chocolate. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Okay, we're good. Yes. >> Okay. So upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the education student discipline committee presents
the following resolutions for the board's consideration. E1 and E1A were approved at the work session. So Madame President, may I pass these as a group? >> Yes. >> Okay. So E1 uh 1A
through E1. Um I'd like to pass those as a group. Do we have a second? >> Second. I'm still getting used to that. >> Any discussions? >> I have some discussion. So, I'd just like to say and um for E8, the Girls on
the Run program, my children were were a part of this. And if I and if I'm misspeaking, um, one of the great things that I loved about it is this is a push to always do the um, free uh, to do the application for free and
reduced lunch because I believe if you do have either free or reduced, that $25 is waved for the students. And it's an excellent program for the kids. I I love love love that it's on here and I wish it would be in all the schools. And then the the next thing that I'd like to talk about is E10 and E11. I just want to
thank um uh I believe it was Miss McKenzie that did a lot of work on you look as board members we always people come up why did you vote for Monday off and not Tuesday and then Wednesday and my my the teacher the student we always get and and we try trust me I I tr I
always kind of look at it and I'm like I hear you and we ask a lot of questions when this was presented. So Miss McKenzie every time we asked a question came up with data data backed research as to why and yes and no. So thank you for that and those were the comments.
Thank you so much Madam President. >> Any more discussion? Yes. >> I just wanted to clarify too um E3 acceptance of the um NJOE the phone free schools grant and what that covers it's it's for um storage uh finding storage
solutions for the phones and staff training. Okay. that that will be provided through that grant. >> Thank you. Any more discussion? Seeing none, this motion has been properly moved by Miss Peni and second by Miss Carbonel. Can I have a roll call, please?
>> Miss Carbonel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mani? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hanan.
>> 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 Chair. U so the fiscal agenda is um has the standard
resolutions that we see virtually every month. I'd like to call the board's attention to two resolutions in particular. Uh the F11, the increased for the neurological evaluations. It does look like a significant increase, but that's because we've seen at this
point in the school year a greater need for the number of evaluations. They they see tend to ramp up in the middle of the year and we needed to increase that not to exceed amount to cover the the costs that will be built. And regarding the corrective action plan on the audit, I
wanted to make sure I reported to the board as Miss Miss Santana mentioned earlier and to the public that the fiscal committee had a lengthy conversation with the auditors over both the audit and the corrective action plan
and their recommendations. Uh we were satisfied with the responses we got from Miss regarding how the the district administr and Dr. Benquista um how the district will be responding to those specific instances. We had several
specific questions about uh the incidents that occurred. Uh but I also think it's important to note and you know frankly I guess this is not within the auditor's purview regarding their their first recommendation on the
detailed invoices. Uh Dr. Betterista reported that he got a weekly report from the uh vendors that were doing the work at Hannah Caldwell that detailed with great specificity every item of work that they completed on a weekly basis. So it wasn't like we were play
paying any blind invoices. Uh we did know what work was being done. It's just going to be incumbent upon us moving forward to ensure that uh when we receive invoices from a vendor, if they're not satisfactory, we need to communicate back with them and get the kind of invoice we need for our records.
And with that, I'll defer to Miss Santana to uh move the resolutions. >> Thank you so much. And I'd like to make a side comment that um while um Mr. vice chair uh Michael Cohan was gonna hand
this off to me. I forgot what to call him because for so long this has been female leadership >> and I'm proud of that. >> So >> you should be. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. And thank you for coming aboard. Uh thank you Mr. Vice Chair.
Thank you. I just wanted to say that when you have a mic, why not? Upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the fiscal and planning committee presents the following resolutions for the board's consideration. Madame President, may I please pass this in a block? >> Yes, you may.
>> Thank you. So, I have F1. >> Hold on to F6 and then F7 was previously approved at the work session. F8
till F15 FATY is just for in forformational purposes only. >> Thank you Mr. Vice Chair >> or Mr. Miss Madam Madam President >> it's fine. >> Okay she is there a second
>> second. >> Okay. So, it's been properly moved and second by first uh moved by Miss Santana and second by Mr. McDow. Is there any discussions on the U resolutions? Any discussions on resolutions? >> No.
>> Okay. Just making sure. Okay. Seeing none, the motion has been properly moved and second. Miss Caprio can have a roll call. >> Miss Carbonel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey? Yes. Mrs. Faria.
>> Yes. >> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mani. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta. >> Yes. >> Miss Santana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Heden. >> Yes.
>> We have no grievance and settlement negotiations at this time. Next, we will have the operations technology committee here, Mr. NASA and Mr. Miss Faria to represent present the resolutions that will be voted upon tonight.
>> Thank you, Madam President. Uh the operations and technology committee uh upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the operations and technology committee presents the following resolutions for the board's consideration. 01 approved
security drill bus evacuation reports. 02 approve request from Central Jersey Allstars to use uh Gymnasium. 03 approve use of the Union High School library for Special Olympics of New
Jersey Youth Summit Leaders in Action. And 04 approved partnership with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. >> Second. Seeing that's been properly moved in second. Is there any discussion?
Seeing none, I'm I have something I want to say. I just want ask Miss McKenzie to please just speak to her uh the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Um very great program, but I want her to share with the community uh a little bit about what this program really is for our students and what it brings to the
table. So, I used Dr. Rodriguez's mic. So, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women is an organization. Um, it's a national organization. Obviously, the Central New Jersey chapter is excited to partner with the district to provide mentoring and educational opportunities for our
high school uh girls and hopefully breaking down to our middle school girls and also the parents and families of our girls in areas of education, um economic empowerment, health and advocacy. And um
I am a member of this organization. I'm proud to say that. and I'm happy that we will be able to come in and work with some of our girls because as you can see they really need our help and hopefully we'll be able to expand this to our young boys as well. >> Thank you so much.
>> And I just wanted to just reiterate >> I just wanted to reiterate because sometimes the the title is misleading. This is for all girls. >> It's for all girls. anyone who wants to to partake. And I'm happy to say that one of the most upcoming seminars that we'll be giving will be on prom and
dating violence. As we move into this spring season and prom season is upon us, it's important for our girls to hear about things that can prevent the dating violence that happens um all too often to our girls. >> Yes. Well, thank you so much for sharing that with the community. Um it has been
properly moved and second. Um Miss Capiello, can I have a roll call, please? Ms. Carbonel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Furia. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes.
>> Mr. Naz. >> Yes. >> Miss Santana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden. >> Yes. >> Next, we will have the personnel committee chair, Miss Ky Mackey, and myself to present the following resolutions that will be voted upon tonight. >> Thank you, Madam President. Um, madam
president, before we start, I would like to have um Dr. Benquista speak to P7, P8, and P9. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> I think we should vote first and then you could speak to that and have a discussion on.
>> Yes, we have to vote first to six. >> I have to just >> Yes. So, uh, Miss Mackey, I'm I'm happy to share, uh, with the the entire board and the community. Uh, P7 is to approve a
vice principal for Union High School. And that, um, I am recommending approved Jerome Star as the vice principal of Union High School at a contractual salary of 111,42 start date to be determined. And then P8, I would like to recommend they
approve a 10-month supervisor mathematics and computer science. Robert Dolly as a 10-month supervisor of mathematics and computer science at a contractual salary of 110 uh $23. And then um uh P9 recommend a 10-month
supervisor humanities. Um, Miss approved Dana Boowbert's recommend Dana Boowbert's as the 10-month supervisor humanities which includes um social studies business ELA at a contract contractual salary of 114 and 23.
>> So we're going to vote on P six B 7 8 and nine first and then we'll come back to the rest of the um resolutions. Thank you. And I second that. So, it's been properly moved by Miss Elsie Ki Macki, second by myself, Miss Capella, can I
have a roll call vote for those three items? >> Miss Carbonel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Macki? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta?
>> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ceden? >> Yes. And can I just ask uh Jerome, Robert, and Dana just come up so everyone recognizes who you are. Congratulations. Now it's officially approved because the
board voted. And if we could get a picture, Miss Nunes, >> she's coming. And I'm really excited to just uh see what these new administrators are going to bring to our district. Even though they're not new, they're all from wi with within. So, which is awesome.
Congratulations again. And they'll be here. So, anyone that wants to talk to them afterwards a little more, feel free. >> Congratulations. Welcome to Union. Well, not welcome in your new role. You're already part of Union. uh can't wait to see the great things that you're going to do. Um does any of my other
colleagues have anything they wish to say before we move back to the resolutions? >> Madam President, >> yes. >> I'd just like to share with with our new the new members of our supervisory team that something that I shared with the leadership of your association when we
concluded the last round of bargaining and that is for the overall success of our district. leadership is a critical element of what it is that we all do together. So, we're going to be looking to you to lead your
respective departments and for the you s are adding to the team, the leadership team at at Union High School. And let's keep moving moving forward and doing the things that we've set out to do so that we can become the best school district
in the state. Thank you. I just want to say it was a pleasure meeting you and um congratulations. We wish you a lot of success. Um and don't forget at the end of the day our the biggest um contribution we can
make in education particularly at the leadership level is to continuing to learn. Um, one of the saddest things that I see in education is when individuals stop learning because we think that we're the experts. When in fact, that is what sets school districts
apart and student outcomes apart from other districts is that we are all in a journey continuum of learning. So, don't forget that and enjoy that part of your responsibilities. Congratulations,
>> Madam Madam President. I just want to tell you each congratulations on your new vot. Um you've been a part of our union community and with this board you are supported and the bigger picture is the greater good of our community, our
children, um our educators and you will be partnering with each of them and partnering with us and as well as the community, the parents. Um, you guys went through a rigorous vetting period and a selection process and the three of you made it to be nominated to be
representatives of our district. So, we wish you well. We support you. Um, and remember, we're all about the you um and and blessings to all of you and good luck on your next journey. Let's get back to the resolutions that
we still have to pass. >> Thank you, Madam President. Upon recommendation, sorry about that. Upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the personnel committee presents the following resolutions for consideration. Madam
President, can I read the resolutions as a block? >> Yes, ma'am. >> Thank you. P1A through P6 with P7 and 8 and 9 previously approved by the board. Second. Second.
>> Thank you. This motion has been properly moved by Miss Elsie Ki Mackey and second by Greg Nasta. Miss Capriella, can I have a roll call vote, please? >> Oh, there. >> Yes. >> Hold on. They want to discuss. >> So, I just had a comment. I apologize. So, uh, for P6, I just kind of wanted
to, um, uh, talk a little bit about the the pride that I have that our superintendent, um, was, uh, nom when I saw this coming through, um, Dr. Benquista Jerry I want to say that our paths
crashed into each other I don't know I'm going to say 2014 and it has been a roller coaster ride with ups and downs and it is and and I'm not saying that there isn't a long long more roller coaster rides to go of improvement but I
am so proud that um they have been you have been picked to go and speak about your experience in our township. Thank you so much for representing us and congratulations on this. I think it's a great honor. Thank you. >> Thank you for that, Miss Santana. Anyone
else? >> All right, seeing none, Miss Capella, can I have a roll call vote, please? >> Miss Carbonel, >> yes. >> Mr. Cohan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mack, >> yes. >> Mrs. Faria, >> yes.
>> Mr. McDow, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mani, >> yes. >> Mr. Mr. Nasta. >> Yes. >> Ms. Santana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden. >> Yes. >> We have no policies to present at this time. So, moving along, we have the
residency committee chair, Miss Vani and Mr. McDow, to present the following non- voting resolutions. >> Thank you, Madame President. Um, so just again to reiterate, I like to say this every month when we do this, um, that we have, uh, students who voluntarily transfer to the district of their
residents. So um with a an investigation and notification to the families um these uh students were voluntarily they moved out to go to their uh district of residents. Um if we have find that there are some that
um refused and that's we have an investigation and hearings but um so we have these uh three that it's non voting but they um decided to transfer out to their district of residence and we do this every month. So, we're moving
moving along. >> Thank you so much, Miss Mani. May I have a motion to approve the bills list? >> So, move. >> Second. >> Okay. Thank you. It's been moved by Miss Mr. Cohen and second by Mrs. Santana. Is there any discussions?
>> Seeing none, I guess we should pay the bills. >> This motion has been properly moved and second. Can I have a roll call, please? Mrs. Capello, >> Miss Carbonel, >> yes. >> Mr. Cohan, >> yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Faria, >> yes. >> Mr. McDow, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Beny, >> yes. >> Mr. Nasta, >> yes. >> Miss Santana, >> yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden, >> yes. >> Now we move into unfinished business. Is there any unfinished business? >> Uh, yes, Madam Chair. I'd like to just
uh We heard during >> turn your cassandro >> Jessica. >> Yes, >> Jacqueline report >> about the success of our athletic teams. Uh but I just wanted to share that I attended the county wrestling tournament
on Saturday and was really impressed with the performance of our our wrestlers. Um you know wrestling is is an exciting sport. it was my sport in high school and freshman year of college. Uh but and the the the sport has changed a little bit. The the rules
have changed, the point totals have changed, but u some of our wrestlers had some very exciting contests. We had one one young man who was behind in his match. Uh he was absolutely about to
lose and with one second left to go, he pinned his opponent. >> It was awesome. Uh we had other wrestlers who who did the same. They were behind. They got l late minute p uh late period pins and uh it was just a pleasure to watch them perform. They
finished third overall as a team and uh they just had they had had an outstanding day. >> Nice. Thank you. Anyone else? >> Okay. Maybe I just wanted to just um comment on the little um
this one little presentation that Mr. Cohan did on Mr. Jessie. Um I knew Mr. Jessie. Both of my boys um played soccer. My youngest son um played golf and Mr. Jessie was the coach. Um
couldn't ask for a finer man. Um a gentleman. And that running he ran with those soccer players every morning two miles. I maybe 7 o'clock in the morning, you know, um before during the summer. Um he was he was a great man and and um
we were lucky to have him all those years. >> Thank you so much, Miss Beni. Anyone else? >> Seeing none, we're on to new business. Any new business? Yes.
the vice president. >> So, as uh as I've commented at previous meetings, there are so many activities that take place in this theater that I want to make sure that I I call the public's attention to it uh so that there's as broad an awareness as
possible. My wife and I attended a program last Friday night which was an operetta uh focused on the life of Paul Robson and it was fantastic. Uh wasn't sold out but it was a really great show. There is there are some other programs
coming up uh in February on the weekend of February 12th, 13th, and 14th, and you may have seen it on the marquee coming in. For those of you that are present, there's a show being produced called I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change.
>> Uh tickets are available. There's actually, I believe, flyers out on the table. You can shoot the QR code to get information. Uh my understanding it's being directed by one of our own uh the vice principal atwami middle school Ivon Lorenzo uh previously of the Union High
School Performing Arts Company. So uh like to put in a plug for that and there is also a show coming up in April uh though I don't know the details on that might be some information on the table outside. My Fair Lady is going to be uh presented here in the theater. And then
there's a show that's already sold out, so no reason to plug it, but The Color Purple is going to be presented here. And I believe they've sold out four shows. >> Wow. >> So, uh we've got a vibrant theater scene going on here in the uh in the DMK Theater. Glad we're able to be able to
squeeze our meetings in here because it's being it's being used quite often. Thank you, Madam President. >> Thank you. Madam President, I just wanted to uh let the community know that um the Union CPAG is having their parent meeting on
Tuesday, Janu um January 27th. It'll be in the high school uh cafeteria and um it's from 7 to 8:30 in cafeteria A and it's um the special education parents advisory group invites you to the next
parent meeting will take place to share your experience and discuss topics that matter most to your uh special ed community. Help identify system level challenges. Your feedback is important to the community. uh learn about CPAC activities and their mission and to connect with other families to obtain
obtain resources. So, this is next Tuesday um the 27th in the high school cafeteria. >> Thank you. Anyone else from the new business? >> Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to
comments from the public. Um the first person is Miss Ann Margaret Shannon. and Margaret Channon, 2591 Spruce Street and UTA president. I want to first comment on all the
comments uh on Mr. Jessie, a dear dear man. Uh my siblings and I all were students at Union High School. We knew him well, especially my brother being a an athlete, just a truly great man. And I I do uh I do thank him. Um UTA is
looking forward to as I mentioned at the reorg working with the new leadership. Even though we do have dates coming up for the factf finding the UTA team has been working behind the scenes to um you know try to refine some of the proposals and we hope your side is doing the same
and hopefully we'll get together before that date in February. Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Ann Marcus Shannon. Next we have Jill Hall. Well, okay. Uh, Jill Hall, 509 Whitewood Road.
Um, I wanted to just give a shout out to Mrs. Cakosa. Um, to coin Mrs. Bowenberg's phrase, she's kind of the the the grant wizard um her and I asked her, right? Um, she really is amazing. Um I I approached her uh back in
September about a program that I wanted to bring in for the sophomores and she found the money and we had the program last week for our sophomores called Teen Truth. Um there was an article and tap into that did a really good job in kind of encapsulating what that program was about. Um the speaker came in and spoke
to our sophomore class about um a lot about school climate, about the pressures of being a high school kid these days and what that kind of look and sounds like. Uh and then he conducted a leadership summit with 45 of our students from grades 9 through 12 um
in part of the afternoon. And at the end of it um he had those kids just authentically sharing some of the most difficult things in that group. And it was so powerful um for those kids to just get up there and say, you know, I'm
really struggling. I don't know if I'm ever going to be enough, you know, for my parents. Um you know, it's really hard. I come to school every day and I feel like I'm invisible and nobody sees me. And we were able to take that and then he also did a presentation for um the staff and they have asked if we
could maybe bring him back for one of those twoour PDs that we have. So I'm going to be speaking to Mrs. Kakose about finding me some money for that uh maybe for next year. Um but as a followup to that um that group of leadership that leadership summit is going to meet with me regularly meeting
Thursday to kind of debrief that program and talk about okay so now what right so now we ripped the band-aid off all of these things and it's kind of out there and we have people talking and so it was really important to those kids and to the counseling department and the staff to kind of bring that to the next level.
So um that will be continuing and moving forward but we couldn't have done it u Mrs. Ahern, who was always so supportive of the programs and and the staff at the high school who always tolerate me messing with the schedule and pulling kids out of class and, you know, doing these things, but it was so worth it.
Um, so thank you, Miss Kakosza, and uh, if you're listening, I'm I'm coming for more money. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Hall. Next, we have Kathleen Bruns Meyers. medium.
Good evening. Kathleen Brunmeers. Um during the day Livingston Elementary School at night, Cranford, New Jersey. Um just wanted to say first congratulations to our new supervisors and our new high school VP. Um I know the high school VP, you're going to have big shoes to fill. um because we have
those shoes now in Livingston and we're very happy to have those shoes that last year coming to us. Um so I wanted to say last week I was fortunate to attend the varsity girls senior night for
basketball. Um and that was exciting to get to be there. And I also got to spend the day at the wrestling tournament because I am a huge sports fan. Definitely wrestling. Um, tomorrow night is senior wrestling night for the boys varsity. So, I would ask anybody who
would like to come and support the boys. They've done an amazing job, some of these kids over their four years here. Um, they were really close in getting up there into second and almost first on Saturday. So, um, I think anybody who would like to come out and support them,
it's going to be a really great night. Um, I've been receiving a lot of questions because some people know that I come to the meetings. um and asking about the redistricting that we had all these meetings last year. People were really excited to be a part
of committees and a part of teams and they know and they felt leaving there that we had big plans for the future. I think we do. Um I feel like there are plans moving forward but I feel like we've dropped and communicating to the people what's going on. So, if maybe
this year now moving forward, we could communicate because by this time last year, we were all really excited about going to the meetings and having our voices heard. Um, so if we could continue and let people know what's going on, I think that would be great for an open line of communications. Um,
cancel. >> So, thank thank you real are you >> Oh, yeah. I'm done. Thank you everybody. >> So, >> it's still January, so I will still say happy new year to everyone. >> Happy New Year. >> Happy New Year, >> Kathleen. Thank you for bringing that up because um as we left it at the end uh
last year um what we really heard from the community and and staff that a lot of staff were involved too is the disruption the fifth grade causes a a hurdle of kids going to fifth grade back to their elementary school. So, we're
really trying to align it with um the um referendum that we're looking to finalize and obviously submit to the state. So, I think is thank you for bringing it up because I think in the near next few months, we'll be able to then once we finish those
>> things a little bit, then put out more where we're going with uh the realignment. >> I think that >> it's definitely still >> right. I think that most people who were involved in the committees realized this is not an easy like we were gonna like hey tomorrow hey next month next year. >> I think everybody realized it was I
think they just are looking for some information about okay we're having a referend or we're looking to do a referendum this is what we're looking to do. So >> so the the the voices were heard and that's why we pivoted. So we'll come back to it. I'll put out something. >> People have come up and >> absolutely ask and I I'll have something put out in the next month.
>> Awesome. Thank you. >> Thank you Miss Baron Meyers. Next we have Peter Leone. >> I'm sorry, Madam President. I'm so sorry. I just wanted to um uh say something in reference to the boys varsity senior night is Yeah, boys. What
did they say? Boys varsity wrestling senior night. You could tell I'm a baseball mom. Uh I do want to say that uh uh Dr. Benquista is sponsoring some of the nights. Uh what was it, Jerry? I'm sorry. The banners or or
>> Oh, I'm sorry. The one that helps Yes. >> Yes. Yes. Not just so so tomorrow night for those of you that come out. Um if you come out, as you know, I have a baby on there. Uh I'm I'm excited to see uh uh great things on that.
>> Thank you. Now we have Mr. Peter Leone. >> Hi, good evening. Uh Peter Leone, 13 Arcade Lane, Oldbridge. Um where to begin? So tonight's a night of congratulations. Jackie. Hi. >> Jackie was in my class I'm gonna say not too long ago, but I can't believe you're
off to college. Harvard, congratulations. You're going to do great things. >> Um, if I need a doctor, I'll call you. Um, also congratulations to Kim Scott as the new president of the board of our
board. Congratulations to Michael Cohan. We taught way back when in Kowami back in something. I'm not going to age both of us. Um, I would also like to second >> I don't know the hair is saying something else. Um, I would like to
second and Margaret's uh comments about our new leadership uh team. I too am looking forward to this contract getting settled. Uh hopefully we can come to a quick decision and get this done and we could all move on with our lives. That would be great. Um congrats to the new
administrators. Um, congrats. You know, uh, Dana, I look forward to you being my super new supervisor. It'll be great. Um, and that's all I have to say. So, thank you.
>> Thank you so much, Mr. Leone. Next, we have David Armeno. >> Good evening, David Armeno. 1032 Woodland Avenue. Uh Mr. Cohan and Miss Mii, thank you very much for talking about Jim Jesy uh many many years ago. I
coached with him on the boys soccer team. I was below him, but uh he's a wonderful he was a wonderful wonderful man and uh we'll miss him. Uh I also want to point out I'm so happy that the
law was passed today about cursive writing back in the school district. Uh, and M. Mr. Coen talked about things going on in this building. Uh, February 11th from 9 to 1, this blood drive. So, come out, give some blood for those who
need it. Uh, and finally, as I have been doing since last year, the semiquincentennial is here. Uh we are now uh if you haven't seen it, the town has put out a flyer
with uh quite a few events that are going on in the district and uh there are more coming. So besides the ones that are on this that you can get I think on the town uh website, there are a couple others that will be coming. And just to point out a few that
are coming up soon, open house at the Cwell parsonage on uh January 25th. In February, uh there's another open house at the Cwell Parsonage uh in March also. But then in April, there's a Lego building block workshop right here in
Union High School in the gym. Uh it's going to be fantastic. Uh you could go online and see some of the other places that have done this. Uh the person who's running it brings in 100,000
Legos and there are 25 teams of three or four individuals, kids with one adult who uh we went around and took pictures of 60 uh different places in Union and they're going to be and kids take it and
they have to that's what they have to build and there's going to be a map on the whole floor of the main gym and they take their thing that they built and they put it right where it belongs on the map of Union. That's coming up in uh April. And uh at Liberty Hall, there's
an Oval Office, George Washington tent, the first White House uh that George Washington used. Uh and I'll just go to May, the last thing. There's an encampment at town hall and our Memorial Day parade, which will focus on the
250th. And there's a big fundraiser coming up in May. uh the anniversary gala fundraiser. It's going to be at Liberty Hall. Uh it's going to be a huge event. So, those are some of the
very nice. Miss Armeno, if you can uh I don't know if you want to part with your flyer, but can you make sure that we get a copy of that? I just asked the superintendent if we can put that on our website. Miss, >> thank you so much for that. Um, so now the board will move into
>> Madam President. I'm so sorry. I I know that I'm I didn't remember until just now. So, >> Hannah, >> yes, >> we'll talk in executive session if we kill you. >> Oh, all right. So, I'll be very quick. I just wanted to make I guess new business. I in the schools we do we
partner with what's called EF educational tours and a lot of times we as parents and I want to say for everybody sitting there out there we think that we can't give our kids things um but I this is going to be a big push of mine um because my baby just turned
16 on January 16th and I was sharing with a parent that I'm sending her to Paris and London with Miss Bridges uh in 2027 and the parent is like, "Well, how do I do that?" And I'm like, "What are you talking about? You just go to the school, ask them questions." And then I
said, "I I need to push this a little bit more. I know Miss Hall. Is it Iceland? Is it Japan? I know she does one." Ex. Exactly. So, on Parent Square, I'm going to I have a little friend named Miss Nunes. I'm going to consistently push that QR code if you're
out there. And I swear as a parent, you can do it. It's It's a year ahead of time. It's like a cruise. Instead of a sweet 16, she's going to Paris and London. I think that's a win on my side. So, as parents, I'm I'm going to consistently make this push. I'm sorry, Madam President. I will put this in new
business or old business next time. But I'm going to consistently push it. If you have any questions, find me. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you so much, Miss Santana. Now, the board will move into executive session. Uh, can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Can I get a second?
>> Yes. Moved by Miss Carbonel, second Miss Mani, and second by Miss Elsie Ki Macki. May I get a roll call vote, please? >> M. Carbonel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey? >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Faria? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Beni? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott Hayden? No, she's going to be part of the United Let's get it together.
Madame Chair, I move we go back into public session. >> Second. Second. >> Second. >> The the motion has been properly moved by Michael Cohen and second by Miss Scott Hayden. Miss Cabella, can I have a roll call vote, please?
>> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Mackey? Yes, >> Mrs. Faria. >> Uh, Mr. McDow. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Beni. >> Yes, >> Mr. Nasta. >> Yes, >> Miss Santana. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Scott Hayden.
>> Yes, me. Now that we're back in uh public session, I'll ask uh board attorney if he'll read the resolution under personnel that was uh just discussed. >> Sure. Uh
>> thank you, Madam President. Uh this is a personnel uh resolution. Uh upon recommendation of the superintendent of schools, a motion to reinstate employee ID number 10709 as teacher at Bernett Middle School
effective January 28th, 2026, subject to the conditions discussed during executive session. >> Second. We don't need a second. We need a u a motion >> to move. >> Second. >> Thank you. We have It's been properly
moved by Elsie Ki Macki and second by Gita Feria. And I'm asking for a roll call vote. Miss Capiello, please. >> Ms. Carbonel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Abstain. >> Mrs. Conte Macki? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow?
>> Yes. >> Many? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? No. >> Mrs. Scott Heath. >> Yes. >> Motion carries. >> Motion carries. Now I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move.
>> Second. >> Been properly moved by Miss Beni and second by Miss Santana. Can I get a roll call vote, please? >> Miss Carbonel? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Conte Macki? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria? >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Mani? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Nasta? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? Yes, >> Mrs. Scott. >> Yes. >> Have a good evening everyone. Drive safely. Stay warm. See you soon.