All righty. Good evening. Okay. Good evening and welcome to the Township of Union Board of Education organization meeting. I will be facilitating the meeting until such board president is selected.
At that time, the board president will proceed with facilitating the rest of the meeting. So at this time I would like to call this meeting to order. And now let us please all stand for the pledge of allegiance and to salute the
flag. >> Our pledge of aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation indivisible with liberty and justice for
all. At this time, we will be administering the oath of office to our elected board members in no particular order. Excuse me. As I call your name, please come forward
and meet me at the podium. First up is Miss Dixanna Carbonel. Okay, I've just been informed that we're going to pause for a minute or to we're expecting um Senator Cryan to um appear.
So stay tuned. Thanks for the uh patience. At this time, we will administer the oath of office. Um I will call your name. Please meet us
at the podium as Senator Cryan will be administering the oath. First up, we have Miss Dixanna Carbonel. >> Thank you. side. >> You can be on this side. >> Okay. Dix on the side. Okay. There you
are. >> Hi. >> Hello. >> Sorry. I should have told you that location. >> No, no, no. I knew the location. I just have it. >> Thank you. >> This one. >> Raise your right hand. Your hands high.
I say I you say your name. >> Okay. >> I >> I Dix Carbonel >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution
>> in the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey. and that I will bear true faith >> and that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the governments >> and to the government >> established >> established >> in the United States
>> in the United States >> and in this state >> and in this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people >> so help me God >> so help me God >> I >> I Dix Carbonel >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I possess
>> that I possess >> the qualifications >> the qualifications ations >> prescribed by law >> prescribed by law >> for the office >> for the office >> of member of >> of member of >> a board of education >> of board of education >> and that I am not >> and that I am not >> disqualified as a voter
>> disqualified as a voter >> pursuant >> pursuant >> to >> RS >> RS >> 19 >> 19 >> colon >> colon >> 4-1 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualified >> nor disqualified
>> due to conviction of a crime crime >> due to conviction of a crime >> or offense >> or offense >> listed in >> listed in >> NJSA >> NJSA >> 18A >> 18A colon that one I know >> 12-1 >> 12-1
>> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties >> all the duties >> of that office >> of that office >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my abilities. So help me guide.
>> So help me guide. Amen. >> Congratulations class, >> Miss Carbonel. We have a certification from New Jersey school boards and certificate. >> Ah, thank you so much.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Congratulations. >> Next up, we have Miss Mrs. Gita Faria. You have anyone want to hold an article? >> You all set? >> Yes, we are. >> We are.
>> We are ready. >> Okay. I >> I Gita Faria >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey
>> of the state of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith >> and that I will bear true faith >> and allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the government >> and to the government >> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and this state >> and this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people.
>> So help me God. >> So help me God. I >> I Gita Faria >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I possess >> that I possess >> the qualifications prescribed >> the qualifications prescribed >> by law >> by law >> for the office >> for the office >> of member of a board of education
>> of member of a board of education >> and that I am not disqualified >> and that I am not disqualified >> as a voter >> as a voter >> pursuant to >> pursuant to >> RS >> RS >> 19 colon >> 19 colon >> 4-1 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualified or disqualified
>> due to conviction of a crime >> due to conviction of a crime >> or offense >> or offense >> listed in >> listed in >> NJSA >> NJSA >> 18A >> 18A >> colon >> colon >> 12-1 >> 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully
>> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly perform >> and justly perform >> all the duties of that office >> all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. So help me God. >> Congratulations.
>> Stay here. You get gifts parting gifts. >> Yeah. Excellent. And here is your certificate from Jersey State. Congratulations. You may take your seat. >> Congratulations. >> And last and but not least, Mrs. Nancy
Mani. And we have Mr. Mi here. >> Yes. >> All yours. Yes. Always a pleasure. You know that. I >> I Nancy Mani >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I will support >> that I will support
>> the Constitution of the United States >> the Constitution of the United States >> and the Constitution >> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> of the state of New Jersey >> and that I will bear true faith >> and I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> and allegiance >> to the same >> to the same >> and to the government >> and to the government
>> established in the United States >> established in the United States >> and this state >> and this state >> under the authority of the people >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. I >> I Nancy Mani >> solemnly swear >> solemnly swear >> that I possess >> that I possess
>> the qualifications prescribed by law >> the qualifications prescribed by law >> for the office of >> for the office of >> member of >> member of >> a board of education >> a board of education >> and that I am not disqualified >> and I am not disqualified >> as a voter >> as a voter >> pursuant to >> pursuant to
>> RS >> RS >> 19 >> 19 >> colon >> 4-1 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualified >> nor disqualified >> due to conviction of a crime >> due to conviction of a crime >> or offense >> or offense >> listed in >> listed in >> NJSA
>> NJSA >> 18A >> 18A colon >> colon >> 12-1 >> 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> impartially >> and justly >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> perform all the duties >> of that office >> of that office
>> according to the best of your ability >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> So help me God. >> Congratulations. Thank you. >> Thanks for the honor. >> Thank you. >> Always a pleasure. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
>> Congratulations. >> Thank you. Thanks. And I'm sorry I've helped you. At this time we can take two to three minutes for any photos that may um anyone wish to take. Do we have anybody wishing to take any
photos at this point in time? If family Okay, we have the senator and the mayor. >> Exactly. Okay.
Mrs. Capella, roll call, please. >> Mr. Cohan, >> here. >> Mrs. Maria, >> here. >> Mr. McDow, >> present. >> Mr. here. >> Mrs. >> Here
>> Mrs. Capiella, please read the mission statement. Empower and inspire every student every day. >> Thank you. 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 in 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 have 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 asks 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. Okay. At this time, we will have our
attorney to provide the procedures for nomination of the office of presidency and vice presidency. Mr. Okay. So, the f the following is taken from board policy 152.
Any board member may place a board member's name and nomination for board president and vice president. A second on the nomination is not required. Election for each office will be conducted by a vote when the nominations for that office are closed. Voting shall
take place by verbal roll call vote after nominations are closed. When more than one person has been nominated for a single position, the board will vote on candidates in the order in which they were nominated. The person with the majority vote of all the members of the board shall be
elected. In the event no candidate receives a majority vote of all the members of the board, the procedure shall be repeated until someone receives a majority vote of all of the members of the board. If the board shall fail to to elect
board officers in this manner, the executive county superintendent shall point from among the members of the board a president andor vice president. So if that is the case, then the meeting will end. We'll have to contact the executive county superintendent and we'll have to have another
reorganization meeting. >> Thank you. Now, with that said, the floor is open for nomination for office of president presidency. >> Madam Secretary, I'd like to nominate Kim Scott Hayden uh for president of
this board. Oh, oh, there is it. Okay. >> Hearing and seeing no others, the nomination for office of presidency is now closed. >> Miss Capella, roll call, please.
>> Very much. Yes. >> Yes. >> Absolutely. Yes. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
>> Yes. >> Congratulations. Please take your seat. Can the gavl there? >> Okay. >> All yours, Madam President. Good evening,
parents, family, community, elected officials, students at home, uh all of the public. Um I'm humbled by the nomination of my colleagues to serve in a capacity of president. It is not lost upon me to remember those who have paved
the way and pushed me towards excellence in service, education, and making certain to create opportunities for others that are coming behind me. With that, I thank my mother who has a servant's heart, the late honorable
Sheila Oliver, who laid a path for women like me and also served as one of my former district's board's presidents. And I also thank Terry Swanson Tucker who also served the district in the same capacity but also was the chief of staff
to Sheila Oliver. She was a district leader, a state leader. And under her mentorship and friendship, I have grown. I get to serve this year with a fellow educator friend and the first Latina mayor of the great township of Union,
Miss Patricia Guerrera Frasier. Let's go, baby. I thank my husband and my family for sharing me in so many ways and allowing me to do what it is that I love to do and that is to serve my community, stand
with public sector labor and public education. to my board colleagues, each and every one of you. We as a board, we have strived to be transparent, collaborative, and build trust within our community as we work lock step with
our township, our district administration under MA and under Madame Pettison Carbonel's leadership, I know, and I'm going restate that again, I know that we have grown tremendously. We are still a ship at sail, surviving
the storms that come, basking in the victories that we collectively achieve, acknowledging that we have more work to do. And yet, we are ready, willing, and able to continue the path of educational excellence for every student that enters
the doors of our schools. When we work together, we build strong, sustainable schools where every student sees themselves as an intricral part of what makes our school stand out and thrive amongst the best of them. If you have
emborted the vessel of learning, leadership, and love, I urge you to come on, come out, get on board, be a part of a team that is engaged in the work that puts the you and I in union.
God bless you. I humbly thank you and I look forward to this year as my term as president. Thank you. Now I would like to open the floor for nominations for vice president. Are there any nominations?
>> Madame President, I would like to nominate Michael Cohan for the position of vice president. >> I'd like to second. Oh, no second. >> Great. >> Hearing and seeing no other nominations
for the office of vice presidency. It is now closed. Miss Capria, roll call, please. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Mr. Cohan, >> abstain. >> Mrs. Conte Macki. >> Absolutely. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria. >> Yes.
>> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Beni. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes, >> Miss Santana. >> Yes, >> I would like to allow a few minutes for my partner, newly elected partner, uh, Mr. Cohan to say a few words.
>> Well, I'll keep my remarks brief. I Thank you, Madam President. I'm honored to accept this responsibility to support the president and to engage in the important work that we have ahead of us. I
I'm going to be acting in concert with my colleagues throughout the year to guide the policies that are that will support the educators of this district under the leadership of the superintendent and his executive leadership team.
We've got important work ahead. And I want to ensure that we remain as cohesive as we've been in the past and um come to a successful conclusion and achieve all of the goals that we will be
setting out for ourselves. Thank you. Before we move on to comments from the public, I would uh be remiss if I didn't ask um the honorable Senator Cryan to come say a few words or madame mayor. Do you when you want to go first, please? Whoever
wants to go. Ladies first. Ladies first. Thank you. Is this on? Oh, hi. Good evening, everyone. Um I want to congratulate you both. Um thank you for your service to our community. This is a thankless job,
but it is a labor of love. Um, God bless you for all the work that you do and that you are about to do. I look forward to a collaborative year to a wonderful and successful year. So, congratulations and thank you so much for everything. >> Good evening everybody. >> Good evening
>> and happy new year if I haven't had the chance to say so. I don't know when new year actually that time is when you're not allowed to say it anymore, but I hope the first reorgs are okay. want to say congratulations to Kim for being nominated and accepting uh the chairmanship the presidency of the board
Michael despite your abstension I see you were able to get elected anyway so big moment for you uh congratulations I do want to take a moment and thank you said ma at the time madam president Carbonal I do want to take a moment and really thank Dix for leading what was a
turbulent year and congratulations to you and the steady of leadership that you've shown I think really brings up the boat of all nine members of the board of education. You did a fabulous job, Dick. You really did. Congratulations. And as it is in education, every year
there'll be significant challenges and goals ahead, right? In 2026, we'll obviously in our community potentially have numerous different challenges as the year comes by. We'll see where that ends up and hopefully I know will be a collaborative effort as we're here
together between legislators, mayors, and members of the board all in the same room working together to ensure what we can do to make sure that the students of the township of union have the highest quality education that they can be. It's a year of new promise, a year with a new
governor. I assure you in Trenton it will be a year of challenges for education. As we know there you all have seen different legislation that's out there. Be be comfortable and I think I can say that for both of us. Be comfortable in the fact that we will represent the communities that we have
the honor to serve to the very best of our ability and be as vocal as we can be to ensure that we get what we deserve for our tax dollars out of Trenton and brought back here to the Township of Union in the 20th district. As we move together, we move as we move forward. We
move together. And the excitement of tonight is really just absolutely wonderful. Kim, congratulations. All right. Your welcoming speech was amazing. I teased Kim, but Sheila and Sheila Oliver Sheila was the speaker and I was the majority leader in the assembly and
certainly had the opportunity to I had firsthand to see and to understand when you talk about mentorship, leadership and somebody who could show you the path. No one could do that better than Sheila Oliver. So, it was so nice to hear that tonight. I got a feeling in your own time, in your own way, the road and the
path that you have that there'll be folks mentioning you in future speeches. Congratulations for tonight. Congratulations everybody. Thank you. >> Thank you. How you doing? I have to do it. Thank you for your patience. And now
we're going to move on to comments from the public. So the first person is Virginia Jeff. You're special. You're a celebrity at this point. Just Virginia Jeff, 236 Brighton Avenue, East Orange, New Jersey. Board President
Scott Hayden. Congratulations on your election. Vice President Michael Cohen, congratulations on your election. And former President Carbonel. This past year, there were many
challenges, tough decisions, but so rewarding in so many ways to so many. So I have a question on the agenda and that's the approval of meeting nights and this is this is about the committee
meetings. So, which committee meetings will be open to the public? Where are the committee meetings to be held? And will these be posted on the Township of Union Board of Education page?
And how can the public attend a committee meeting as allowed under the open public meetings act? And the committees that I'm referring to are the governance, instruction, and programs, physical committee, operation,
technology committee, and policy committee. Those are the ones I'm referring to. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Jeff. Next up, we have UTA president and Margaret Shannon.
and Margaret Shannon, 2591 Spruce Street Union. Happy new year to all the members of the board of education and to all the members of the public. Congratulations to uh President Scott Hayden and Vice President Cohan. And uh I look forward to a successful 2026. Thank you.
>> Thank you so much and happy new year to you as well. >> And last but not least, we have Kathleen Bronze Meyers. Good evening everybody. Happy New Year. We're still within the first few weeks. So, uh, oh, sorry. Um, 287 Bloomingdale Avenue, Cranford, New
Jersey at night and Livingston Elementary School during the day. Um, I wanted to say happy new year, which I just did. I wanted to say congrats to our newly well again reelected and to our new president and our new vice president. But I also would like to say
congratulations to all of you having been a volunteer and still a volunteer and working in the public. I know how many hours and things don't always go great and we've had a turbulent time, but you guys are always there doing what everybody is doing. And I just wanted to
say thank you and congratulations to all of you for choosing to volunteer for the community and for the kids. The kids were so excited to come back to school yesterday, I have to tell you. Um, we had some crying, but not a lot. Um, but they were just so excited. It was a
great day. Um, so I wanted to give a shout out and a thank you starting off the year with the maintenance department. We've had some challenges with snow. We've had some challenges with cold weather. We've had some challenges, I know, in different
buildings with different things and they've been there. The lots are being cleared out. The I know they're doing their best. They're coming in when they're not supposed, you know, when days off. So, I want to say thank you to them for all they're doing for the whole district and for everyone. And that goes
out to the town as well for getting the areas for the bus stops cleared out. I was a bus mom in town for years. I know how important it is for the kids to be able to be safe to get on the buses and have the areas cleared. So, thank you to the town. I know if you could pass that
on to the town to tell them. Um, and I just wanted to say that I am looking forward to a really happy, which you know, very successful 2026 with positive experiences and I can't wait to see some of you in all the different schools coming in to read to the children.
Thanks. Congratulations. >> Thank you so much, Mr. Burmeer. >> Next, we have the reorganization resolutions. May I have a motion to adopt and approve as a consent agenda the following resolutions? board. Uh, Secretary can you
please read them? >> Yes. >> That is the adoption of New Jersey School Boards Association code of ethics, adoption of Robert Rules to order, approval uh, meeting midnights, approval policy
manual, approve designation of official newspaper, approved designation of internet website for official notification. Approval designation of depositories for funds of the township of union board of education. Our student
uh activity funds. Approval authorization of depository banks to honor and charge accounts of township of union board of education. Approve authorization to the business administrator to approve payment bills between meetings. Approve list of
financial vendors. Approve general counsel and special education council. The Taylor Law Group. Approve special labor council. Approve C. McDermott and Mastro and Murphy. Approve bond council
Wins Goldman and Spitzer. Approve architects, engineers. Approve auditors. Approve financial advisors. The are approval of insurance brokers which is Fair View Insurance. Approve 504
committee coordinator Tino. Approve public agency compliance officer Approve affirmative action officer awarding contracts. approve custodian of records. Approve
qualified purchasing agent. Approve affirmative action officers. Approve designated person. ADA facility coordinator. IPM which is integrated pest management coordinator and a hera
and finally approved the treasurers of school money ted. >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Been properly moved. I believe it was >> Miss Santana.
>> Miss Santana and second by Miss Maria. Um Miss Caprio, can I get a roll call, please? Miss Carbonel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Pon Macki. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Faria. >> Yes.
>> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Beni? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta? >> Yes. >> Miss Santana? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott? >> Yes. >> With that being said, we're moving on to unfinished business. Is there any
unfinished business? I do want to say something, Madame President, if I may. >> Absolutely. >> It has definitely been a pleasure to get to know everyone on this board and work with you to make sure that our district moves forward and I just want to say
congratulations to you, my sister. you know that I am so proud of you and I just want you to have a lot of blessings and support and you can count on us. Um you know I love you much. Um
and Michael um congratulations, many blessings and um we're here to support you both in your leadership. So thank you so much for serving. Thank you. >> Thank you so much my friend. Appreciate it, >> Madame President. May I?
>> Yes, you may. >> Okay. So, again, um I would like to congratulate you as becoming our president. Um I know the work you have ahead of you and I know you're you're going to do well. You're just such a great person, knowledgeable. Um I look
forward to working under you. Same thing with you, Mr. Cohan. Thank you. Congratulations. And um for myself, I just wanted to thank everyone for supporting me in my re-election. Um I look forward to serving another three years. Um I want
to thank my husband who's not here now, but for for the time that I spend, you know, I don't think people realize if you're not on the board how much time we do dedicate, you know, on the meeting agendas. We have two meetings, you know, two Tuesdays a month, but there's so so
much more time that we spend um at night, during the day, um constant phone calls, meetings. Um so I thank him for allowing me or I don't say allowing me because I'm the boss for tolerating all the hours that I
spend away. >> Um but um it's truly been a pleasure and I look forward to the next three years. Um it started in 2016. Um, and it's been an honor and I just
I'm thrilled that I could continue my work as a in as an educator. Um, for the town that I've lived in um 40 it's going to be 43 years. So, thank you >> and congratulations. Congratulations on your re-election both
of you, Vixiana and Nancy. Anybody else have any words on the >> I just want to say thank you to everyone. Um I've been a it's been a short time on the board, but it's been a great learning experience. I thank
everybody for being so welcoming and really embracing me into this new community and I look forward to serving this community. I'm a proud member. Um and I look for look forward to great work done ahead. So thank you to everyone. I would like to start by being so
excited that we have uh Miss Dixie Carbonel, Miss Nancy Mani, and Miss Gita Faria on the board for another three years um to do all the work that we do. I'm so excited uh to start this
leadership under Miss Scott Hayden and Mr. Cohan. and thanking Dixie Carbonel for wearing such a heavy hat for that year. Um, and and guiding us through uh I'm I'm just so excited, like I said, uh
for what's to come, big things. And with that, I also want to say there are times um that I hear the street crowd reaction that they say that all nine of us kind of just go go with the fold. There's
there's never any words. It's very very calm and I'd like to share that uh I'm excited to consistently be challenged by everyone on this board by the admins and doing the work together by seeing
different views consistently. Sometimes one person says black, another person says white, and then we go in the middle and see where the gray is. But that gray is gonna always always give the children of Union what they need. So
congratulations. Thank you for what's to come. And I just can't wait. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> So, uh, Madam President, I'd just like to kind of echo something that Miss Santana just spoke about and and I mentioned it earlier in my earlier
remarks. One of the things that I think is most advantageous for the school district and for our families and students is the fact that while we may be nine individuals on this board, we recognize our responsibility to the
community to be one board and to speak with one voice. We don't have drama when we have disagreements. They are honest and and over differences of perspective and opinion. But when a decision is
made, we are together. And I think that we we bring a stability to to the district to the board and on behalf of the community to ensure that our district leadership can provide the guidance to our uh educators throughout
the district in every building in every office in in the maintenance department and transportation department. there is leadership to make certain that we are moving in one direction in accordance with our our mission and goals and as
Miss Santana has said previously it's for one reason and one reason only and that's the benefit of the students. Uh I'd also like to uh congratulate Madame President once again and acknowledge that this isn't the first time we've worked together.
We we have had opportunities in our previous professional lives to work together in uh on various projects and um it'll make our responsibilities a little bit easier because we have an established relationship. We we know how to uh
communicate with one another, perhaps how to disagree with one another as well, but uh once again always for the same positive outcome. And finally, I'd like to just it it hasn't actually been specifically acknowledged yet tonight,
but something extraordinary happened right next door last Thursday, and that was an employee of this school district, >> a longtime employee of this school district, was selected to be the mayor of the township of Union. and we heard
from her earlier, but Miss Patricia Gre Frasier is going to lead our community as the mayor over the next year. And I think it's a it's a great honor for the school district to have one of our employees selected for such an important office >> and I congratulate her.
>> You're here. >> Uh Madame President, I would uh just like to say a few words. Uh I certainly appreciate what uh Mr. Cohen has said. Mrs. uh Santana has said and I just
wanted to say that this board is really outstanding. >> Um Mrs. Mani and I have been on the board when it was really turbulent times. Uh that uh and it was obvious to so many that there was a split among the
board uh and it it it really distracted from any good work that we were trying to do. But now, and I I think I I I would hope Nancy would concur with me that this board is outstanding. Uh, everybody that's on here fits well into
this puzzle. Uh, everybody brings something to the table. Uh, I look down, Mr. Nasta, uh, Conte Mackey, Mrs. Mani, Mrs. Faria, and who else? Oh, Dixie, uh, who am I missing someone? Who's in
the middle? That's the attorney. I'm sorry. Uh uh but uh Mr. Scott Hayden, Mr. Gohead, Mrs. Santana, and myself. Uh the township has really been blessed with an
outstanding board. Uh and now we have uh a a a great leader in our new mayor, Mrs. Guerrera Frasier. uh and our uh senator, Senator Cryan, he's been with us, behind us all the way, and doing
great things for us. And uh uh I do appreciate him and everybody that's pulling together because there's there's a lot of work to be done. Uh and I don't want to omit our superintendent. I think uh uh I like Mr. Benquista. I think he's
really dedicated and working hard for our district. So, uh, I just wanted to say that and say to all of us, our administrators, Mrs. uh, Mrs. Capiello, Mrs. McKenzie, Dr. uh, Rodriguez, uh,
let's get this district or let's keep this district going in the right direction because I think that's where we're going right now. Thank you. >> Anyone else? >> Yes. Yes. >> Um, >> my partner is like, make quick. Um,
>> tell me leave you alone. >> You know, I'm totally unbothered and ignoring him right now. I would like to really say that congratulations, Kim Scott Hayden. I'm super proud of you. Congratulations, Mike Cohen. You know, you're my person. Um, and to this
board, um, our deep commitment to the community. We come from so many different backgrounds and we bring a lot of history collectively together and different experiences that shape our community and our education and our
students and we represent all walks of life. Um I am so honored to be a part of this team. I look forward. I want to give a special thank you to Madame well Dixie Carbonel um for bringing back the the >> retiree
>> retiree scratch that um for bringing back bringing us all collectively together and and making the experience really worthwhile. Um so I look forward to what we can accomplish together. Um a running
joke with my sisters are Elsie Leaf Dr. Benquista alone. Um, but I do want to give Dr. Benquista a shout out because of the commitment that you have. Um, Miss McKenzie, um, Dr. Rodriguez, and the whole township of union school, our
team members, our students, this board is all in. And with you at the helm, Miss Scott Hayden, President Scott Hayden, um, and with Mr. call him by your side. I mean all of us, we will make things happen and move collectively through whatever challenge comes our way
as we showed last year. This year only sets us up to move. It sky's the limits for us. So thank you. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Nast. >> Um Madame President, uh first off, I
would like to congratulate you. Uh you and I ran together Chastity last year. Uh I really got to know you good. Uh I think you're going to do great things for us at uh at the helm of this board.
Uh the vice president, uh Mr. Cohan, Michael Cohan, uh I've known him for most of my life. He was actually my teacher 35 36 years ago. >> Uh well, the I'm telling both are
outrageous. But the fact is to this day he's still a teacher and he's he teaches me a lot of things and uh I'll be forever grateful for to that for him. Uh as far as his board
goes, I mean for the first time in probably forever, I've been in this town 51 years. All our ships are sailing in the same direction. uh not for the direction of ourselves but for the direction of the children of the district which is first
and foremost the most important. Uh so I really I really look forward to this year and in the years to come with all the great things that I really think we're going to do. Thank each and every one of you for your kind words um your expressions. I
definitely look forward to working with each and every one of you um in this up this year. Um to the leadership team here. Um thank you for what you do every day on behalf of our students and our school community and to the educators and our students who show up every day um in their true form and their um
authentic selves uh making a way striving um just to be present. Um it's very hard. A lot of challenges are um amongst us, but um our educators and our students still show up every day um engaged and ready to learn and taking on new tasks. So with that, I say happy new
year to each and every one of you. I look forward to serving you. I wish you well. Have a safe trip home and I hope to see you next week at the next board meeting. Do we have any new business? >> Madame President. >> Yes, Miss Santana.
>> I would just like to wish everybody a happy Three Kings Day. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Yes. >> Anyone else? Madam President, one of the things that I wanted to mention earlier during unfinished business, but I'll raise it
now, is to acknowledge that the first resolution that we adopted tonight under the reorganization process was to adopt our code of ethics. And I believe personally and I believe that
my colleagues agree that this is probably the most important action we take every year because it makes a statement to the community as to what values will guide us and what is most important in our service to the
community. And I know that we get we are criticized by our some of our neighbors from time to time during the year. They may disagree with our our thinking, our decisions, but the fact is we we take every action
that we take in accordance with this code of ethics. And it is specified in the code, but it is so important that each one of us signs this document each and every year acknowledging that we have adopted it
and that we will comply with it. Thank you. >> Thank you so much, Vice President Cohen. Anybody else under new business? Seeing none, I will move to adjurnn. I'll take a motion.
So moved. >> Second. >> Second. >> Moved by I believe that was Nancy Beni and second by Greg Nassa. Can I have a roll call? Miss Capiello, please. >> Miss Carbonel. >> Yes. >> Mr. Cohan. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ponte Maki. >> Yes.
>> Mrs. Faria. >> Yes. >> Mr. McDow. >> Yes. >> Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nasta. >> Yes. >> Miss Santana. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Scott. >> Yes.