Oh, that's going to be the first thing that's on the messes. Good evening everyone. I would like to welcome you to the May 13th board of education meeting. We are calling calling the meeting to order. The time is 7:06 p.m. If everyone could please
rise for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisibley for all.
Okay. A reading of the meeting notice. The New Jersey open public meetings law was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice of and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interest is
discussed or acted upon. In accordance with the provision of the act, the Verona Board of Education has caused notice of this meeting to be published in the Star Ledger posted with the Township of Verona and the Verona Education Association. Postings of the meeting setting forth the time,
location, and agenda were posted at the Verona Board of Education office and on the Verona Public Schools District website. Copies of today, tonight's agenda and resolutions have been made available to the public via the Board of Education website.
Mr. Cruz, could you please call attendance? Mr. Walker, present. Mrs. Ferrar, here. Mrs. Prriscoll here. Mrs. Rosella here. Mr. Boon here. We have corn. Thank you. Um, can I please get a
motion to approve the minutes of the last meeting? So move. Moved by Mr. Boon. Second. Second by Mr. Walka. Any discussion? Okay. Can we please have roll call? Waka. Yes, Mr. Spar. Yes,
Mrs. Priscoll. Yes, Mrs. Fzella. Yes, Mr. Boom. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Um, can we start with the superintendent report, please, Miss DJI? Uh, so last meeting I mentioned that the uh school performance I don't think
you're the mic. Yeah, I think your mic is off. Better. Okay. Sorry about that. Uh at la during last meeting I mentioned that the school performance reports uh were had been released and um I would review some of the highlights with the board at this
meeting. Um the good news is that um as of last year's accountability summary um there were nine indicators that we did not meet. This year however uh we have met all of district-wide we met all of
our standards our goals and our targets and and basically the way the state organizes that standards are the foundational benchmark against which a schools or school district's performance is measured. Uh for example the school's uh median school um growth point may be
compared compared to a state standard. Goals represent long-term aspirations for all students or student groups. For example, New Jersey's long-term goal for um graduation rate is 95% of the students to graduate within four years and 96 to graduate within five years.
And targets are specific measurable annual milestones. So um the fact that we in all of the categories with the exception of one subgroup um that did not meet math math growth we have met uh in every other category. So that's a
huge uh jump for one year. And uh we also saw our um our summitive rating. So each school gets a summitive rating except for Brookdale's too small. So um our average sum uh summitive rating uh which is
based on um math and language growth, math and language um proficiency and chronic absenteeism. Uh we saw an increase of 10 percentile points across one year. Um and it's notable that both uh FN Brown
and Lanning have shown commendable uh improvement. Um FM Brown increased in one year by 27 percentile uh points and um uh landing by six percentile points. Chronic absenteeism is also down by 1.5%
this year. our enrollment went up uh uh across this year by 30 students and over the two-year period uh by 53 students. This Friday night, May 16th, uh Vify Inspiring Excellent uh formerly
known as the Teacher Toast uh will be held at the Verona Community Center at 7:30 to 10:30. You can still get tickets if you'd like to go. Um, catering will be by American Grill, Verona American Grill, and music by um, Mr. Morton, Max Mortyn and Friends. There will be a
raffle to raise money uh, for Bey. Uh the teachers that are being honored this year are Megan Lavoy from Brookdale, Jeannie Sapienza from FM Brown, Kaylee Stella from Forest A, Sage Nardy from Landing A, Brian Mlowski from HB White
Horn Middle School who is down in the down in the auditorium um tonight with um band and and choir and uh at the high school Paula Ramos. And we are uh also having um one of our par profofessionals
um at Kim Ratzenburgger at HBW Middle School honored. The endofear festilities are being planned or have begun uh field days uh fun nights, clapouts, uh and uh National Honor Society inductions at the high school, end of the year field
trips, and move up day, including a new move up day or hillbilly day here at the high school for our eighth graders. Uh more to come on that. I'm waiting for the overview from Mr. Cogville as to what that's going to look like. Um a staffing update. We have um
one elementary teacher. Uh the location is FN Brown, grade 1. That's a bubble section. Middle school math teacher, grade six. Um we are um actually the elementary position. Uh Dr. Lanzo is uh just finished round one uh
interviews. At the middle school, we have a math grade math teacher grade six. Um, a final candidate has been selected and I'll be uh meeting with that person um next week. We have a special education opening at HBW as well. We're accepting applications
currently. At the high school, we have uh an English uh we have an opening for an English teacher. We are currently interviewing for uh we have a need for special education teacher at the high school we are accepting applications for and social studies business education.
Um it's it can be either we're looking for a business teacher, but if we wanted to do financial literac literacy as a combination with social studies, you can teach financial literacy with a math, business or social studies uh
certification. And that is my report for this evening. I have a I have a question. Sure. Um so I love seeing visitors here. We haven't had that in a while. Um, and I imagine based on my review of of my emails, it
we're going to be talking a lot about uh grade two in Lanning. Um, I know what it's like to be someone that's waiting to speak before the board. So, I'm I'm definitely looking forward to hearing all all the voices that come out tonight. Uh, what does this board need
to know before we get dive into this issue as being statements of fact? Um, in what way? I mean with that we have um one two three four five six seven seven classes at 24
25 or 26 across the district already. Um uh two of the kindergarten classes at Landing are at 25 currently. Well, one's 25, the other's 24 and then we have a 25 and a 24 at um at uh at FN Brown as well. Um the the issue
is when you have kindergarten at u administrative code says that you can't have more than 25 in a kindergarten without splitting the class putting an instructional aid in that class or you know um putting some
other adult in there. Um so what happens in places like Verona that has have four smaller schools we get what we refer to as bubble sections. um once they come out of kindergarten though. U I'll give you an example from 2023. When I got
here in 2022, one of the first things I did was add a bubble section to Brookdale because Mrs. uh Studo had indicated that she had 27 students registered for kindergarten. So um putting a PAR professional in a classroom doesn't I mean it would help
but we can't get Paris for our IEPs. So we have trouble finding Paris. So we split the class. two students moved. The following year, we're back down to 25. Now we're down to 24. We collapsed that section. We needed because of the
enrollment in the current first grade at landing, we needed to uh split a landing um at a bubble section in kindergarten at landing and at Forest. So maintaining the Brookdale section was impossible given our budget. So what's happening now is because of
some shifting we still have um uh 56 at FN I mean at um Forest Avenue and 51 it's well 53 but the there are students that are not in the gened classroom at Lanning. So, um, when you
look at across the district and trying, this board knows that this budget was almost impossible to balance, um, and we're still kind of struggling to come up with uh, you know, money for next year because of, um, just the difficulty that we have.
Um, and I commend and we've all commended Mr. Mr. Cruz on the work that he did to get us to a point where we can feel comfortable that we're not going to run out of salary money next year. So, that's where we are. We are at um class sizes that are going to at landing grade
two next year that will mimic what we have across the district and many other spots. And I I think I can speak for the board. I've said this in almost every email. Nobody wants to see class sizes at 24 and 25. But that is what's happening in public education as school districts are not adequately funded from
the state of New Jersey. Um we recently also had to uh we were funding two of our the only two interventionists that we have in this district um reading interventionists we were funding with title one funds. Title one has been cut every year for uh the past four or five
years and so we could not sustain paying their salaries. So their salaries went into the general budget further compounding a lack of funds um in to add or to keep class sizes below 25.
So, I know that we've we all all of us voted yes to the maximum tax increase we were legally allowed to to impose. Um, and and I know that the budgets passed. Um, I guess my question is and it seems
like the the numbers of landing are going to be high in that particular grade level, but not like comparatively. It doesn't look like it's like a crazy outlier. Um, but we three people could sell their house that have no kids and now we have, you know, families of four moving in, right? Uh, with twins all in
that that grade level. Uh, if we saw a disparity, and I'm not saying that, you know, if I was a parent, I would even say yes to this option, but everyone's situation's different, their priorities are different. um if if we saw that either Brookdale or FN or um what's the
other one? Forest were particularly low or had people move out of district. Would we consider giving the option for parents that said I class size is important to me and that's what I that's what I coveret most? Actually, we've done that. Um two years ago we rewrote a policy that allows me to place uh
students if the class is too large uh at an at an alternate um non-jurisdictional uh school um if they if they register after the budget's been set. But last year um in FM Brown uh it was getting tight. We had already split. We had
already had a bubble section at Brookdale. And so we had two classes over there of uh 13 and 14. And as as FN Brown's enrollment went up above 25, we offered those parents to go to Brookdale. And we had uh I don't know,
seven or eight takers. And so they filled those sections at Brookdale. And um it satisfied not having to split a bubble section at Brown. So yes, that's absolutely always an option as as long as there's room. Thank you. Thank you, Superintendent.
Thank you, Mr. Moving on. Ryan, do you want to give the student report, please? Right. Good evening. So, uh, these two past weeks have been AP testing at VHS. And as we wrap up the second week, I just like to uh take the time to
recognize the efforts of our AP students at the high school. Uh these rigorous college level courses are definitely not a small undertaking, and I firmly believe that we have a very uh strong and accessible AP program here at BHS. A lot of people I know take AP classes.
The rosters are all always like filled to the brim. So, I'd just like to congratulate uh our dedicated uh students and hardworking AP teachers for their efforts to to make VHS the school that it is basically. So, uh in terms of
uh testing as well, VHS will also be administering uh NJSA testing next week. And in sports, we continue to celebrate our wonderful seniors with uh senior nights for tennis, baseball, softball, and girls lacrosse. And uh
speaking of seniors, uh capstone programs will be starting next week where our seniors are given the liberty to pursue um real world experience in their field of study for the rest of the school year. And also next week, there will be induction ceremonies for various honor societies um here at VHS. And May
22nd will be chamber night in the band room and will spotlight chamber and classical music performances by VHS students. And the annual creative arts night will be held in the VHS gym on May 28th. And it will feature galleries of various art pieces and videos produced
by students uh as well as live music performed by students. What day is that? Uh the 28th. And that is my report for the evening. Thank you. Thank you. Can I ask a question on that? Sure. Ryan mentioned
the um the capstone program and um Mrs. D. Jeppi, I'm not sure if you can answer this. Do we have numbers on uh participation rates in the capstone and how they have grown or not over the last couple years? Not at my fingertips, but I can get that for for next meeting.
Just be curious. I I know um I I I saw it firsthand uh when it was rolled rolled out a couple years ago and uh I saw a market improvement over it over the last uh year or two on that. So I'm just curious um to how that is how the
popularity is growing that for you by next week, next month. No, the end of the month. End of 28th. Yeah. Okay. Um, moving on. We have no presentations. There's no committee reports. U, we're going to open the
floor up for public comments on agenda action items only. Uh, please note that the public portion of this the public participation portion of the meeting affords the opportunity to the public to speak and share comments about school
related topics. Um we may while we may not respond to to comments during the meeting all input is shared with that is I'm sorry all input that is shared with the board of education is taken very seriously and helps inform future
deliberations and work by the board. Um, answers appear in many forms including but not limited to email, superintendent committee reports, board statements, uh, frequently asked questions on the website or after public comment is closed. Um, comments will be limited to
three minutes per person and they are limited to only items that we are voting on on this agenda. Um, if you do come up, you must state your name and if there is something to be answered, it will be
answered only by the superintendent or board president. Thank you. And just to make it clear, because I'm sure if there's at least one person, it's their first time at a board meeting. Um, if if you want to talk about something that's not on the agenda, we're going to have that opportunity towards the end of the
meeting. Seeing no one come up and we're moving on to you can is is it on an agenda action item? Okay. Can you just tell us which item number Thank you. Good evening. Uh my name is
Sarah Oconor. I'm on Floyd Road. Um I have two perspectives tonight. One as the parent of a current first grader at Lanning who will be directly affected by um Miss McHugh's move. Um as well as a former teacher of the district for 11
years. I spent one year at FM Brown and 10 years at HBW. Concerning the first grade class, both Lanning and Forest have had large classes for two consecutive years, not just kindergarten. These classes warranted three sections. Rather than maintain the
three sections of both groups, Lanning is losing our third section. Not because Landing's numbers are decreasing, but because the section is being removed. What was once six teachers between the two schools is now five. Plain and simple, that is a loss to
Lanning and our children. Concerning enrollment, Lanning's numbers are not anticipated to go down at any significant rate anytime soon as 29 active listings as of today in Verona. Out of 29, 20 of them are zoned at
landing F. The district is also renaming Mrs. Laura Kohler um her current role as supervisor of special services to assistant principal of special services. And as Miss DJeppy, you had described in our email correspondence on May 8th,
quote, the title change will allow Mrs. Kohler to work more closely with the two elementary schools that have the highest number of students with IEPs. I'm having a very hard time rationalizing that Lanning being one of these schools with
the most needs requires an additional administrator. And at the very same time, you're removing the greatest asset to our students, which is a classroom teacher and manageable class sizes. This is
counterproductive. And put simply, who will have a greater benefit to the students and another administrator or a classroom teacher? I would also like to know what other budgetary cuts were deemed more important to maintain than the third
section of this second grade that's starting in September. When and why did this third section become expendable? I would also like to know has there been any consideration in consulting the three first grade teachers at landing right now. I
received several responses to this question comparing current numbers of classes across the district. But our main concern is this class specifically. And this is where we need to consider our resources from the bottom up and not the top down.
Having been in the classroom for 11 years in Verona and having taught a variety of class sizes, there is not a single part of me that can say this is not a big deal because it is. And it's going to directly impact our kids who
have had three sections justifiably since kindergarten. Our kids will feel the effects and their teachers will as well, their second grade teachers next year. and we value that more than anything. So we are asking not for more
but to maintain we already have Excuse me. Your time is up. Thank you. Hi. I also have on the agenda in regards to Miss McHugh moving from Lanning to Forest. Um good evening members of the
board. I thank you for the Oh, sure. Cassidy Pererna. I thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight. My name is Cassidy Pererna, and I'm here to express my concerns over the plan to combine the incoming second grade class at Lanning Elementary School from its current three
sections into two. As a thirdgeneration Verona resident, VHS graduate, and mother to four small children, it goes without saying that I am very invested in the success of our public school system. When my husband, also a VHS
graduate, and I decided to buy a home, I said, "Find me something better than Verona, and I will consider moving there." The fact is, it doesn't exist. As I'm sure you are aware, stories like mine are what make Verona special. While there are many reasons families flock to
our town and generations continue to raise their children here, I can be sure that one of, if not the most important reasons are our neighborhood schools and our fantastic public school system. I will be the first to admit I was uneducated as to the how constrained the
board's budget was for the upcoming school year until I discovered the board's plan was to consolidate my son's class. I would like to thank Miss Verzella for referring me to the joint board of ed town council meeting. And while I appreciate the board's efforts
to make cuts that would have the least amount of impact, as far as my son, his grade, and the teachers are concerned, this leaves them with the bleeding. I wouldn't be doing my job advocating for my child if I wasn't standing here before you tonight asking you to
reconsider. We are not asking for more. We are asking for what has been. We are asking for the precedent that was set by the district for the past two years. We are asking for these children and teachers to receive the same support that has led this class to thrive. In the emails I have sent to the board, I
stated that these children are more than just a number on a piece of paper and should be treated as such. This class, as Mr. Finne likes to say, is an energetic bunch of kids to say the least. Clearly having a smaller number of children in each classroom allows the staff to be able to best support every
child. In a world where inclusion is of the utmost importance, it is imperative that we give the support needed to ensure that everyone succeeds. My concern is with such a large group of students in the classroom, the same success is not feasible. I am equally
sympathetic and concerned that these class sizes are becoming the new norm within our district. I understand no one was happy with the cuts that needed to take place. That being said, my ask for tonight is not to solve the district's bigger problem. That battle is for
another day. My ask and frankly my plea is for the board to reconsider this decision and explore other alternatives. Whether that means adjusting other plan changes or utilizing surplus on the revenue side of the budget, I implore you to take a hard look at the decision
to consolidate this class. I thank you for your time and consideration. Thank you. Good evening, Veronica Ericson, Claremont Avenue. Good evening, members of the board, district administration, and our landing community. Thank you for your
detailed email correspondence ahead of this meeting. I appreciate the transparency and thoughtfulness in addressing district-wide staffing and class- size challenges. That said, while I recognize the need for difficult decisions, it's critical to remember
these are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. These decisions directly impact our children's classrooms and our teachers ability to meet their needs. Despite the communication we've received, one key question remains unanswered. What is the specific
threshold for determining when three sections are required? This is especially relevant for Lanning's current second grade class, a class that qualified for three sections since the start of
kindergarten. Second grade is a pivotal year. It's when students transition from learning to read to reading to learn. Larger class sizes at this stage aren't just a logistical concern. They carry real ac academic and emotional
consequences. Teachers are being asked to do more with less. Morale is understandably strained and low at planning. Every additional student needs less individual attention, more behavioral challenges, and greater difficulty delivering differential
instruction. From the special education standpoint, this issue is even more urgent. As it stands, 20% of students have an IEP or a speech IEP, as you noted in your email tonight. That number does not include 504
plans. Second grade is a common year for initial classifications, which means multiple students with significant needs will be clustered together. When class sizes increase under these conditions, it doesn't just impact instruction. It raises serious concerns about compliance
and student outcomes. So, I urge the board to consider these decisions, not just in the context of a budget, but through the lens of what it means for our students, our teachers, and our commitment to equitable and high equality education. Thank you.
Thank you. Sorry. Hi, my name is Stephanie Povarellic. I have two children currently enrolled at Lanning. My oldest is an incoming second grader. I'm here to speak on behalf of my child, the other children going into second grade and are wonderful teachers who will all
be negatively impacted by the decision this board has to make today. From my perspective, the board has been reactive in their approach to quickly settle settling a budget issue. After meeting with Mr. Fryins, two things have become apparent to me. Number one, the teachers were not consulted when this change was
made, nor did the superintendent or anyone voting on this decision take the time to assess in person or otherwise the needs of this landing grade. You are making decisions based on the treating our children as if they are numbers rather than the multiaceted human beings that they are.
Number two, Mr. For Freud reassured me that if this change was not working because this is an energetic class, he's used that for multiple parents. He would take immediate action to hire a resource to provide additional support. My response to him at the time and my
question to the board now is why do we have to wait for our children to fail in order to provide them with the resource they need to have a successful academic year? My additional concern is I understand that you've gone through budgeting issues and that's been discussed during
board of ed meetings. When we reached out to Diane, she had suggested that we proactively reach out to our representatives. Why were we not told there were budgeting issues? Like I don't understand why emails weren't sent out. We get the Verona folder on a weekly basis. I had no idea that we should be reaching out to our
representatives. I don't understand like why we can't be more proactive with this information. As soon as I found out about the teacher, I emailed all of the parents that were going to be impacted. I told them to email you guys. I asked them to show up to these meetings. Why can't we be more proactive with our
constituents? Furthermore, I urged the board to review the optics that this decision will have using greater schools.org. Landing Elementary has the lowest state test scores, the most IEPs and 504s, and the highest minority population with within Verona's elementary schools. Lanning also holds
hosts the LSS, the language sensorary program. This change would put 26 kids in each second grade classroom at Lanning, the highest number of the second grade students across Verona. This is inequitable and it feels almost discriminatory to remove a
resource from a student population that so very obviously has a documented need for the additional teaching resource and average class size. Finally, I asked the board to reassess the budget and the need for any like additional administr administrative positions that they
currently have filled. Most for Fortune 500 companies are running as lean as possible, putting scheduling meetings and running calendars back onto their VPs and executives. Is there a need to have executive assistance within the board Verona Board of Education? I would urge the board to remove a back office resource in favor for a very much needed
frontline teacher. Thank you. Melissa Vearelli, Claremont Avenue. Um, I'm here as a parent of a Landing Avenue student and I want to express some concerns regarding the move of Carrie McHugh to Forest Avenue School, which directly results in the collapse of the incoming second grade class at Landing
Avenue. Reducing three classes to two significantly increases studenttoteer ratio. Second graders who are still developing basic skills benefit greatly from small groupoup instruction and one-on-one attention. Overcrowded classrooms make it harder for teachers to identify and support struggling
students early, potentially widening achievement gaps. I've seen firsthand how the addition of just one student in a fourth grade classroom has had negative impacts already on the other students in the classroom. At this developmental stage, seven and eight years old, students require clear
routines and structures. Teachers now will be spending more time managing behaviors than delivering instruction, resulting in lost learning time for all students. Teachers will be on behavior management for most if not all of the day. Um, in email correspondence there, it was noted that there will not be
additional support provided to manage these larger groups. So, how do we plan to ensure individualized attention with larger class sizes? We know that the teachers were not consulted before this decision was made and we know that the parents probably wouldn't have found out about it until the move already
happened. Did the board at all consider the needs of the students in each group with three sections landing and forest to make the decision based on behalf of the students or was this solitary solely a budgetary based decision with no concern for how it will affect the students? It feels as though the
students were not considered at all and this was all budgetary. Will the teachers have enough time to assess each student's progress and adjust instruction accordingly? How will struggling students receive additional support they need to stay on track? How will the district monitor academic
performance to asssure that no student falls behind during or after this transition? In a larger group, it is much easier for the kids struggling to fall in the cracks. Are there plans to monitor and support student and teacher well-being during this transition? This
is a huge mental load we are placing on our second grade teachers. What is the plan when students begin to suffer because of larger class sizes and lack of support? again, why are we waiting for our kids to fail and our teachers to burn out before we do something about it? Mr. Foreign had said that if
additional support is needed, he will then hire someone. But why are we waiting for that point? Please reconsider a decision that will have nothing but devastating effects on our children and our teachers. Thank you. Anyone else? Uh, good evening. My name is Aong Gal at
49 Woodland Avenue. Um, I'm here to speak because what I just heard is that we're putting money before our children. Um, I'm a lawyer by practice and I've done my fair share of family law and in every aspect of the law when it comes to
children, it's the best interest of the child. What is best for the child? And when the board consolidated these classes, I don't believe the board fully consider that would be in the best interest of our children to consolidate um these classes. Um I've done my re
research on on on these cases and they always say that children do better in small smaller classrooms. Um you know a professor at seen hall said it very best. You may have some good students and you may not have some
you may have not so bright students in the classroom but he said but students in small classrooms always did better. That's just a fact of it. There was a study done by uh by uh Harvard 7,000 children were studied and they all found that children in small smaller
classrooms did better and when we talk about money um you know our own professor at Cen Hall said that when you have smaller classrooms you will find that almost no kids are in special education but when you don't you find too many children too many students in
the early years get put in special uh special education and they never get out and that becomes very expensive. Um, I've done other research here and I'm going to leave you here for the board. I also looked into the case where it's the Abbott district, right? Abbott district
tells you that in certain uh cities you you can't have too many children. They have champions of justice fighting for these children in Abbott district. Who is fighting for our children in Verona? Um, children of middle class, working parents, blue collar who are fighting
for them. Our children are asking that you guys fight for them, not put them in a larger classrooms where they're going to fail and they're going to impede in the future. Smaller classrooms do better for our children. And that is that should be
the standard for the board, not some budgetary constraint. What is best for our children? They were asking you guys to fight for them. Are you going to stand up to fight for them? They were asking you guys to put their future ahead of some some budgetary constraint. And that is why we are here. That's why
we moved to Verona. Verona is such a great place to live. I can't even find a I can't even move out of Verona. Um because my children don't want to move out of Verona. And that's why we are here. We are asking you guys to help them to put their best interest first
before some dollar amount. Thank you. Hello, losing my voice. My name is Joy Lorenzo. I live at 44 out Sego Road. Um, this is regarding Mrs. McHugh moving to um, Forest Avenue. Um, I can tell you right now I'm
a second grade teacher. Here I am with my horse voice from teaching all the time. I've been teaching I've been teaching for um over 20 years mostly in second and third grade.
Um I have a second grader and a first grader at landing um that is directly impacted by this. I'm speaking because um I know as a teacher you feel very helpless in these situations and you
need the parents to kind of do like everything that you wish you can you know as a teacher where you can't say everything that you can say. Um I'm a concerned parent and community member regarding the upcoming second grade class size. Um, this is a significant
increase from the 17 students our children had in their classrooms this year. While I understand that budgets and the budget and logistics often drive these decisions, I respectfully ask you to reconsider this increase in light of its potential impact on student
outcomes, teacher well-being, and the quality of instruction. We are fortunate that Verona has made meaningful um investments in evidence-based instruction such as the science of reading and other components of a structured literacy approach. These
programs are not simply curricula. They are methods of teaching that demand a high degree of indiv individualization, ongoing assessment, and personal connection between teacher and student. With class sizes of 25,
which honestly I've never gone beyond in all my years of teaching. The ability for teacher to implement these programs with fidelity becomes increasingly strained. Structured literacy is most effective when teachers can monitor students closely and intervene early. In
a room with 25 second graders, many of whom may be at very different stages in their reading development, it becomes extremely difficult for even the most experienced, which we have very experienced and love teachers at Laming, um to provide that differentiated
instruction that is essential for all students to succeed. The larger the class, the more students who are slipping through the cracks. Beyond academics, connection matters. In second grade, children are still developing their sense of self, their confidence in
learning and their emotional regulation skills. They love to come to a carpet and tell their teachers everything that's going on in their life. All week, all month, I'm hearing about their communions. They're sharing pictures. When you have up to 30 kids in a classroom, what are you giving them like
30 seconds to share on that carpet? They're not even going to fit on the carpet. Let's be honest. The carpet might not even be in the room. Um, the small table will be moved out where you're supposed to be doing your small group instruction, where you're supposed to be working on all the things
that you as a teacher know that they need. Teachers run out of time when you put that many kids in a class. The time is getting smaller and smart smaller for each student. Um, I respectfully urge the board to
reconsider the staffing for the upcoming second grade class and get creative with who you have here. Thank you so much. Good evening. My name is Janette Cichlano and my daughter Alexandra Cichlano will be going into second grade. Um, I would like to start off
with class size really should matter. All kids deserve the opportunity to learn and grow and how can students sui succeed and thrive in a classroom setting where a teacher doesn't have the adequate class support. How do the students get the attention to succeed?
Educating young people as well who are culturally different are potentially the same sometimes requires individual attention which is difficult in an overcrowded classroom. A reduction in class side is also a reduction in the achievement gap. With having fewer kids
in a classroom, it gives the teacher to have the opportunity to aid and help any child that's in need. Academic and behavioral issues can be addressed adequately. Putting myself in the second grade mindset, if I am not getting the proper one-on-one attention, I would say
to myself, why am I here? I can't get one-on-one time and I can't get help. More than likely, I myself would act out and I can't imagine other kids not doing the same or being per being perplexed or possibly upset on what to do causing these students to have unnecessary
stress. This could cause a negative impact on their daily routine. In smaller classes, students spend less time off task or disengage from the work of the class. Small class sizes make it easier to manage the learning environment and give educators a sense
of pride in the classroom. Teachers would be happier and feel more fulfilled when they could provide quality instruction. For a student, individual attention can make the difference between effectively developing skills and just coasting along. Generally, in smaller classes, students can also
establish stronger relationships with their instructions with their instructors. Those relationships, I think, should be very important to students and teachers and can definitely lead to better outcomes for both. I acknowledge the district's financial challenges, but urge the board of
education to explore alternative solutions that protect second grade education. Reducing resources will significantly affect students and educators, and viable options exist to address financial concerns without compromising classroom quality with
potential with potential enrollment increases. What contingency what contingency plans are in place to ensure adequate support? We encou encourage the board to consider staffing adjustments, securing funding, and engaging parents and teachers in developing sustainable
solutions. I trust that you will thoughtfully prioritize classroom quality and a supportive learning environment for all students. Your leadership in this matter is appreciated and I look forward to a well-considered resolution. Thank you.
Hi. Um, I don't have any prepared notes. Um, I'll just start with who I am and my background in education. But my name is Aaron Moran Foley. Um, I grew up in this town. Um, I moved back to this town because of how it served me so well. And
I'm very often um, complimented by everyone I meet. Oh, you live in Verona. That's so great. Such a great town. And it is. And I've been so proud that in like just in recent years, you know, we've been able to change some things. We got full day Kay, right? We we can make change. We can talk about things.
But um to my background in education, so I'm also um a 25 year plus educator. Um I have worked in a lot of different types of environments and many of those have been where I have had to serve children in a 35 person classroom. Okay?
And I'm telling you that um well, it's made me a better parent, right? There's a lot of things I can do because I was put in that situation. But I did not thrive. I barely survived and I did it because I cared. But it was so hard. And
I just want to say like why work hard when we can work smart. I just know that we can find a better solution to this. And I think what happens is that parents like these right here, we're all here because it's us right now. But we know in Verona that if it was your kid,
right, you would be here right now trying to figure out what's best for your child. And at every age level, if this becomes a concern, I'm not going to get those compliments that I get all the time. Oh, you live in Verona with such a great school system, right? Who listens to the people, who makes the right
changes for the child. And I'm just shocked. You know, it's really hard. You get fired up. You're like, why? I don't understand the why. So, I think whatever happens, we need you to help us understand the why. And it can't just be it's finances. It can't that can't be the
answer because it's always going to be finances. People are dying to live into this town. Every ounce of land is being fixed up to get more in here. We're going to run across this issue all the time. So, all I ask is that if this is
the issue now, how are we learning for it? How are we preparing for the future? And how are we making sure that we put our kids in classrooms that have no more than 25? I mean, 25 max. It just is not sustainable for the teacher. I'm
speaking from experience. Um, it doesn't work. It just plain doesn't work. And I'm just imploring you to think about those um things when you're when you're making the next decision. Um, also, it kind of pits us against one another,
right? There's a lot of like, oh, this school is the better elementary. Oh, no, I'm from over here. Every single school in Verona is a great school. And we have to keep that equality across all four of them because there are things that happen. I hear the kids talk, oh, this
is what happens over here. Oh, this is where all the special ed students are, right? That makes this is a less smart school. It's ridiculous. We have to give equity across the system. Sorry, you Thank you. Hi, my name is Shannon Stanley. I'm also
um I live on 32 Malvin. I'm also a parent of a current first grader. Um in addition, I work as an inclusion specialist. I'm work on a grant with the Department of Education. So, this is language I'm accustomed to hearing. I work with many school districts
throughout the state um that have encountered similar problems and they have um they have merged funding between special education and general education to make things work for their students. Um the principles of inclusion are
access, participation, and support. And what's really lacking here is is the support. the support for the students, the support for the families, and most importantly, the support for the teachers who are at the front line. Without this support, this is an impossible job. Um, as many parents have
said already, the profile of our uh grade is very unique. There are many students that have IEPs already. Um, and I know that the recommendation is no more than three students with an IEP in a general education classroom. We're
exceeding that and it is um it is going to get even higher with with fewer classes next year. And um you know this is there there are ways that we could access state grants. There are inclusion grants. There are different um different
ways that we can get more support in place. But taking away a class from an already struggling school with um with a lacking support system already um teach I was a volunteer in the school on Friday and the teachers morale is not
good. They were yelling at the students. They have very poor morale right now and they are really unsupported and it's only going to get worse. We are going to lose our very um qualified uh teachers. They could go to other districts where
they're going to get more support and that is going to be a huge detriment to our district. Thank you. Yes. Hello. Good evening everyone. Thank you for the eye contact and the acknowledgement that I'm standing before
you. I do appreciate it. My name is Carrie Mets Cannon and I am a third generation alumni of Landing Avenue School. I live on Landing Road, so I get to see everything that goes on across the street, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Um, I also want to share with you
that my dad served all 12 years of my education in Verona on the Verona Board of Education and was president for two terms. So I do as a child growing up understand the struggle that you have to effectively pass a budget to effectively
monitor the schools to be effective in any way. It takes a lot of camaraderie. It takes a lot of muscle takes a lot of brain work. And I do understand that as a child growing up watching my dad go to his meetings proud to serve this school
as I am a disabled adult. He made sure that I had um my rights recognized and my education preserved for me as there really was no special ed back in the late 70s. There was no availability for anything for me. So now that being said,
my son is in first grade going into second grade. He has an IEP. He's one of the children that they're speaking of. So, I just want to say that I'm thankful how much he has thrived this year with the three classes with his teacher, Mrs.
Majestic. He has thrived with support in the classroom. He gets one-on-one time with her. She spends time with him. She gets to sit with him and all the other students. Now, dump him in a class with 10 plus more children. I'm really
worried that he's not going to get what he needs. Yes, he has an IEP. Yes, he has a shared aid, but he's not going to get from the teacher what he should. So, I am very passionate, as are all the men and women behind me. We're all here
representing our children. But I do, like I say said, want to say that I do recognize how tough it must be to pass this budget. But what is true is what we've all said. The bottom line is it can't just be the budget. I did get some
emails back from some of the board members and I have to say there was no acknowledgement of the children per se as the top priority. It was the budget first and then a listing, a breakdown of all the numbers. I understand numbers
come down to it, but we have to try to put the children on the top first and then figure out the numbers. It it just can't be the budget. There has to be some way. And maybe if you come to us as the parents in the community, maybe there's a way that we can pull all of
our resources, lawyers, doctors, other teachers, there's got to be a way we can pull our our skills, our resources into helping overcome just the budget issue if that's all it comes to. So again, thank you very much for your
time. Anyone else? Seeing no one approaching, we will move on to um discussion items. Any old or new business that
No, we don't. No, we had one last time. Um I just want to I guess this is kind of new and old and current business. Um I just I do want to um just thank everyone for coming because as as Chris or Mr. Walka said
earlier, we've all been I think the reason that we're sitting I've said this before, but the reason that we're sitting here is because we sat there, right? So So really um it's I I I understand where where you're coming from. Um I do want to just address some of the um you know the work
that we have done and the what I what I do feel has been very transparent when it comes to the budget and some of the things that we have advocated for as a as a board um and we've discussed these things publicly obviously um but you
know we have aside from the joint council committee you know we went to the delegate we went to a delegate assembly we put forth a resolution to try to urge um a resolution from the boards to go to the state to get our fair share of money from pilot funding.
This is a major issue in Verona right now for the schools. Um it's something that we have been discussing at every meeting. If you do go back and listen to the meetings, which I understand they're very boring and it it does take a lot of time, but it is something that we have
been discussing at I would I would say 90% to 100% of the meetings. So, we did bring that forth. It passed at 95%. So, hopefully that resolution that our board did bring forth now goes to Trenton and hopefully that is one step forward. We have written letters to our local
assemblymen to a state senators. We have done those things. So, you know, I share that because yes, we've we've discussed that publicly, but I wouldn't expect anyone to find those seconds and minutes in meetings. But I do want you to know that we have been advocating for this
budget. We have been advocating for money. We have been trying to say these are the issues that we're facing. We are going to continue facing these issues. They're not going anywhere. We need the support. Right? So this is this is an issue right now. We understand this
issue right now. This issue is facing is is I guess one grade level in one school, but it's not right. It's it's a much bigger issue. Um, so I do think that I wanted to just as old business kind of reinforce the fact that we have been advocating as a board to the state
and to everyone that we can. Um, and I think that that's it. I wanted to add Mrs. Ferrara's point particularly about the pilot funding as everybody who goes to these meetings knows I despise pilot funding as it is designed to take money away from the
schools. Well, it's not designed for that, but that's the uh impact. Yeah, excuse me. And uh uh Mrs. Barara and Mrs. Verzella have been working tirelessly um to try to find solutions on that area. And in fact um a little
better than a month ago, we had a joint meeting with our colleague or our uh fellow Verona residents um on the town council describing to them in great detail the risks that we need to come tax money to come to the schools. And
this is a very I just want to say a point of clarity. It it's not that pilot funds don't aren't allowed to come to school districts. The town council has chosen not to share those funds with the school district. So those are the two distinctions and the resolution that was
passed was to to have something in law stating that it they must be shared that the schools must get their fair share. Right. And if you look and I'm I don't want to I I'm sorry I do keep interrupting. If you do
look at the um the joint meeting we had, I do pull out the numbers that we do not receive from the township and um I would encourage people to look at the township's budget to see where those
funds are being spent. Yeah. No, thank you. you just took you just said exactly what I was going to say. Um and I was commending your effort. Uh somebody implored us to be creative. Um and it it it literally takes a village on this and these are part of the conversations that we do
open to the public. Um and it is something that again uh with children at the top of our minds. This is why we are having those discussions every single one of us. So people understand who is on your board. We have a superintendent and
principal. We have a a literacy specialist. We have Pam who has been in Verona her entire No, you're not your entire life. You tell me from high school. From high school. Um I'm a special ed attorney. Um Mike's children all went through Verona schools. Um from
K through from Lanning from Lanning all the way up. Um so people here are dialed into the needs of the education community. Um, if if you know someone asked for the why, I
I'll tell you the why. In 2008, Governor Christie passed a law that said the local school boards could raise a 2% property tax increase levy. That's that's the max. And the idea of it was to kind of curb some of the contentious
negotiation between local school boards and locals associations when they're trying to come to a contract. Um the issue that Verona had is that in 2030 years ago we we were really at the
bottom of our district factory groups which means kids that are of the same social economic backgrounds in comparable schools. How much does the taxpayer pay for their their kids education? Verona was one at the bottom. Then you could you know look at the the budgets that Jorge or sent the last five
or six years are probably on the website. You'll see like we're we're last. So when you're last, your 2% is worth less than than you know, the maple or the South Orange who's at the top. Their 2% is going to get more value. Um,
you know, we we heard the idea of like we we the talk to the teachers, talk to the teachers. And listen, I'm I'm pro teacher. I was a teacher. I had 30 kids in my class. Um, but you got to understand like when we love our teachers in Verona, we're not when we
negotiate their contract, we're not negotiating with the Verona Education Association. We're vote negotiating against them. If we negotiated with them, they'd get a 10% salary increase and we'd have to cut a whole lot more people. Um, so it it's it's it is a
complicated issue. I believe that as someone who has taught class of 31 and 32, I I think that I I I totally understand the the sentiment and the attitude of of of the audience. Um but I I I think we should have a
token of faith in really good teaching. Um because a really good teacher is going to plan for, you know, what they have in front of them. Um and and I get that it's it's it's not good news, but but the budget's already already been passed. Um, so this is where we're at
that if you know the I guess the I guess what I'm gathering from the sentiment of the crowd is that they're asking the superintendent to consider, you know, possible allocate reallocation of staff. But as far as the budget, like that's been approved by us and it's been approved by the county, that that
thing's that thing's locked in. Um, and that's the situation we're at. But I there's one thing I I I can't I didn't want to say this, but I'm going to say this, too. The the one comment that just rubbed me the wrong way was the idea
that if there is smaller class sizes, special ed students, the special ed population go down. If a student has a special education IEP, that means that they have a learning disability. Like that's that's something that that's a disability that they have. Um I I I that's the one point that I want to make
clear that I I don't think there's a correlation at all uh between A and B. That's my point. And just to um and that's just to throw out some some more information. You know when we talk about budgets um our
healthc care increases were 11% 12% this year um with a 2% max. Our teacher salaries went up 3.25 3.25 3.2 Tomorrow is three and a half. I mean, next year's three and a half. And that's on the low end of the
most recent teacher contracts by if you look at the other teacher and you look at the other teacher contracts that were signed around the same time as us, they're at that or probably a little bit above because we kind of got in there early. Um, you know, so and we when we
look at staffing and we look at, you know, back office staff, u Mist Jeppi, Mr. D Cruz, and I believe Mr. Paulizi, you guys share an admin. Um, not Mrs. Pali, no, she shares an admin with with Dr. Miller and the facilities
department. I mean, we're already sharing staff um on the back on the back end and you can't, you know, and everyone you you would like people, you know, not to maybe have admin to get her job done. She needs to
have an admin. I it's just a fact of life. You your CEO needs an admin. She is our CEO, he is our CFO, they share. Um, you know, so when we're talking about cutting things, we cut it.
We cut um the we we found a new web host that's cheaper. We found Parent Square, a new version of that that is cheaper. We I I can't even think phone lines that are cheaper. like we wanted to do increases in terms of additional um
video uh cameras, additional security measures. Those all went to the wayside. Stipens stipens had thousands of dollars in stipens to administrative and staff and and teachers. Um not teachers not teach not sorry admin. Sorry, I I
apologize. Um not teachers. Um, so these are all cuts that we have made before we even thought about making this this joining of classes. Now, and I am a
I'm a mom. I have two daughters um 10th grade. Uh they went through FN Brown with classes of 25 26. They went through one is an AP student and one has an IEP with a significant learning disability.
and you know it it it worked. Um is it ideal? Do we want 25 students in the class? I don't think anyone does. But then we're also looking look at New Jersey. West Ars just cut 98 teachers. 98 teachers next door. Wayne
cut. Wayne cut 110. Tom's River I was over 100. And they were talking about classes of 40. Like it was like it was like kind of crazy what they were talking about. Um Patterson is also East Orange had to cut teachers in the middle
of the school year. So did Nutley. So did Nutley. Um so this is when we talk about how this happened. This happened because we have a low tax base. We have a low ability to
raise our tax levy and we're underfunded. And we're underfunded by $800,000 on adequacy from the state of New Jersey. If you let me raise taxes 10% to fix the problem, of course I'm going to vote yes. Like we we we asked Mor what's the max we could raise and and that's he told us the
number and we voted yes 50 like that we're we're not not fighting for kids. I think too we we you know even in this you know when thinking about like students first right we're here because students are first right you know we're volunteering our time and putting in the
work outside of this to advocate for all students K12 right my my kids now are middle school but I I you know chose made this choice because I wanted to advocate for the children of Rona because I believe in our schools um so you know while we're cutting and doing
these things we did find funds that I and and I recognize that I might be a little biased here, but that I am proud of in the fact that we are bringing in a a new literacy program, right? We are bringing in that structured literacy. We are providing that support and we did find money to increase pay for our PAR
professionals so that we can compete with neighboring districts and offer our paras, right? What they what they deserve. Um and because we need them, right? Because we don't want to have to pull from agencies. So we while we were cutting we did you know
really have targets and have goals what is what is important what do we need where can't we cut and we did make those those choices as well and Mrs. Ferrara everything you described is part and parcel of every single board meeting
that we have every discussion that we have in the public since the beginning of time is about these issues. What can we best do financially for our children? And everything everything that we do has that top of mind.
There'll be another opportunity at the end of the meeting if you want to come back up. Thank you. So I just wanted to add um so uh in my work in the last three year with uh Mrs. they just one of the things that we've seen um I believe we're aligned when it
comes to supporting schools um with the fiscal uh resources that our district has. Uh one of the things that we always look at is how can we uh impact the classroom the least and I believe this
current budget is a reflection of that. Um just uh as we see the impact in the surrounding school districts on uh reduction in teachers we we actually avoided uh doing that in this uh budget and as much as possible when whenever possible that's always the route that we
will always take. Uh the other piece that I I just wanted to uh share is that uh this district is as lean as it can get right now. Um uh as uh we shared um uh President um uh Brazella shared that
uh we share an AMID assistant and in addition my the business office that I oversee it just has one accounts payable person, one payroll person. That's it. Uh I don't have an accountant. I don't have an assistant. Um basically I'm
doing my own bookkeeping. Uh it's it's basically uh I would love to have an assistant that's able to do the accounting for me, but it's something that what it is is like and if it's going to reduce the overhead um component where we could actually hire
more teachers, I'm all for it. Um any anywhere that we could find efficiencies um that's something that we always look at where how how can we be more efficient and or we're always looking with a lens of where can we reduce costs. Uh, so for the last four years,
we've been reducing costs on copier leases. I think that was that was a huge uh uh savings for the district with $60,000 in the contract. Uh we we always look at um we did an audit on our telephone lines. We did a replacement of of the providers. Uh and there's always
areas of of improvement um with healthcare costs, utility costs, etc. But the other challenge um in addition to the 11% increase on healthc care benefits, we're also seeing utility um they're anticipating a 17% increase uh
this come coming June. So that's another area where we're seeing okay now we have to brace ourselves for operating costes to go up. Uh transportation transportation is always a big one too. Yeah. and the it's going to keep going up like it's it's you know someone in
the audience said you know use this as a re I'm paraphrasing but like use this as a resource or let us help you but like 90% of the stuff we're going to buy ain't being made in America because 90% of the things everyone buys is usually made overseas like if if it's it's
likely the things might only go up in price. We have a fixed rate of what the the the salaries are our biggest expenditure. We have a fixed rate that shows in the next three two or three years, whatever it is left, this is what the the the staffing costs are going to be. Um insurance just told us we're up
10%. Now you're telling us PSG is saying you're going to go up. Um like yeah, we're going to need help. I guess it the $800,000 um in the room too is that the money we get from federal funding that
goes toward our special education budget. If that goes away, Yeah. Yeah. If that goes away by the state of New Jersey, we're obliged to find that money. I think it's just if if IDA funds do go away under uh no matter what the
IDA changes to, if it changes under New Jersey regulation, we have to provide the same services. It's not only a legal requirement, it's also a moral requirement um that we educate every child that comes through our schools. um
in the best way that we can. So even if IDEIDA goes away and they and the federal government says you we no longer have to provide special education services, New Jersey says we do and we follow those. I I also think that something else that we've done over um
we've done a lot of cost savings but in an effort to add to this budget where we needed to add in 2022 when I started here we did not have inclusion at the elementary we did not have inclusion for special education students in any of our
elementary schools. So, we found the money to hire the staff to provide the least restrictive environment for our special education students in K4. That's a legal requirement, but we didn't do it because it's a legal requirement because no one in Ronin did it for years and
it's always been a legal requirement. Um, we did it because it's was I remember asking Dr. Morello which which which elementary school had the inclusion classes because I wanted my daughter in that and he told me there are no inclusion classes in K through four in Verona. And this was when she
was in kindergarten. But those positions that we added do take down what we can allocate for other positions. But that was a decision we made because that's in the best interest of kids. So this board and Mr. Cruz and
I have been trying to balance a very difficult budget. That's not going to get easier. I'm this is my 13th year as a superintendent. So, I was working as a superintendent when uh actually I was director of curriculum when Governor
Christie made the 2% budget cap. We all looked at each other then and said this is going to get harder every year. Other thing that I think and and Mr. Cruz um correct me if I'm wrong because I'm really speaking up off the cuff right now just kind of by memory. Um, but I
believe that there was an October 13th. Um, is that was that the deadline that we needed to share the numbers for free and reduced lunch and for any additional funding? Right. We didn't have any numbers of new students that were coming into the district who would
qualify for free and reduced lunch at that time. So, we were not able to apply for any grant for any federal funding to support those students because we didn't have the numbers. So now that puts us in a school year of 2526 without any additional funding to support students
with free and reduced lunch. We currently pay for um you know any free and reduced students out of our budget. So that's been the you know the the custom of Rona for years and we have been able to do that.
However, when there's an increase of students, right, there's an increase of funds that are needed and we didn't have the information to apply for any of this this funding beforehand. So, for this 2526 budget, it's another area where we
are kind of using what we have and waiting to see how many additional students we have and what we can apply for for the 2627 budget. Right. Right. And we did request information um from the township and the management company as to how many school age children would
be moving in um and we were from the flats and we were not provided any information. Um we had encouraged them to have them register early so that we can count them on our roll and we were not provided any information or any they
were not provided any um packets to enroll early. It's it's hard. It's really difficult as you can imagine to make decisions when you literally don't have the information to make the decisions or it's hard to apply for grants when you don't have the numbers.
You you literally can't apply for it. Right? So, we have found ourselves unfortunately in this situation even after advocating and writing letters and requesting we don't have the information. I think the other piece too that u Mr. started to talk about is that
we're lean. Um other districts that are um have things like literacy coaches like West Orange does um they can reduce staff uh and reduce uh the the heavy lift on the budget without affecting classroom. We don't have that here. We
don't have the extras. We have two interventionists uh reading interventionists across the district. That's it. When did Verona get full day cake? Uh, they got full day cake in the 2019 referendum. All right.
Yeah. So, want to keep it. I'm not saying we shouldn't get rid. No. No. Of course not. Well, we can't because it was a referendum. No, but there's we talked about a lot of different ways um you know, the the surplus um came up. Those are not things that we can do long-term. They're
one-offs, right? That's if you have a furnace that that goes down and it's $500,000 to replace a furnace at HBW or the high school. Um, we we looked at going out with a second question and raising taxes with a second question. Here's the problem with that. If the second question
fails, we can't use district money to hire teachers. So, we looked at a a whole host of options to not cut this one classroom position. And and frankly, I went into this budget
at $1.3 million gap in where we were and where we had to get to and I thought it was going to be more than one teacher. The fact that we got it to only one. We're going to need at some point that referendum though. We are. And you know,
we're going to need people to support it to to fix these kind of problems. Yep. do have to be careful with sacrificing the long-term health of the school
district for a short-term change. Um, what I can think about is the referendum that we did for all the facilities work that was the result. It was that big and we needed that much because for
decades maintenance was not done. there was stuff just was let to sit and to not be fixed and to not be replaced and to not be updated um painted. I I mean I remember doing the tour of the high
school and there was like holes in the lockers in the gym because there was just it was just left to rot. Um, so we don't want to a decade, two decades from now people to say, well, why do we need
another referendum? We, you know, why why can't Verona schools keep be maintained? So, we have to balance long-term health of the school district um not just the facilities but in general though, you know, the the way I
see it trending, right? It's going to be a slow bleed for a while until a board finally says, "Listen, we're going to put it to a ballot and, you know, we're going to this is going to be our our marquee accomplishment."
Um, I think the sentiment that I agree 100% with from the audience is that we all love living in Verona. It's like a weird cult kind of place. Um, and you know, I I I do believe, you know, there's going to be some one issue voters are going to vote no matter what.
But that's how it works. If we if we word it a certain way, saying we're doing this to to lower class size or to increase staff size um and the and the town votes no, then it's a no forever. Is that that's how the law works? That's what the county BA informed us. We
actually started the conversation um when there was some pressure to hire security personnel for your school. And um if we put personnel on a referendum or on a second question and it goes down, we cannot use am I saying this
correctly? Yeah, I'm checking with Mr. Cruz because he's the one actually that spoke with um Mr. Ferrara at the county office that we can't because we could twist his arm. That's a whole other story. I I think also um you know, we this has come up at
meetings. We've had this these discussions. Um, but I think that we do have to continue the discussions about the gradeband schools. Um, I know it's not a popular conversation and I know that we um love our community schools, myself
included, value them, want them, but I think that at some point as a community, we have to decide like what what is the priority? What do we really want? Do we want the community schools or do we want to look at options to do gradeband schools and take a look at the benefits
of that? Right? And and truthfully, when I when I say that out loud, instruction is the first thing that comes to mind for me, right? So yes, we're talking about budget now, but when I think about gradeband schools and I think about the fact that we can really hone in on a K2 school for structured literacy or I
don't know if that would be the ban, but right and we can hone in on PD for for an upper elementary school like an odd number of upgrades in our in our elementary school. So that just came but but my point is like instructionally I I think that it could be good. Um, but I do think that this is something that we
have to really consider, discuss and and have the numbers for because, you know, obviously it would be too late now, but for 26 27 like is this something that we want to do? And I think that it would be really important to have the community input to have these discussions and to
make sure that we're all part of the discussions, right? That it's not just us at the table having it, that everyone is a part of them to to make this decision because it would be a tremendous shift. It's something that could be very beneficial, particularly because we know what's coming down the
pike when it comes to the budget. Um, but I I really do implore us all to to to have some serious conversations about this and um bring the community in on it, whether it be committee meetings or, you know, how we would do a strategic
plan um and really and really flush it out so that if we do decide to go that route, we do have community support because I think that would be really important and also that we do we make those transitions in the best way uh possible. At a certain point, it's probably going to have to be one or the
other or both, right? So, I I I I would if if we can get Kyle to the next meeting just to kind of give us like the whole, you know, soups and nuts of how how this referendum works. But, you know, because it's going to be the same thing probably every year for the next
couple years if we don't have, you know, eventually we're going have to take action. So, the more information we can get, I think it'll be better. Okay. So, moving on to action items. Can I get a
motion to pass um action items personnel A1 through A 14? 14. I'll move it. Unless you want to talk about Yeah, I have a Well, we have to make a motion first and then we talk.
Yeah, you move it. Moved by Mr. Wat. Second. Second by Mr. Boon. Any discussion? Uh, no. You go. Sorry. Um, can you talk me through a little bit? Um, Mrs. Dppy on on I believe I'm looking at the right one. A8. What um
what's the goal u of the extended school year program? Yes. Uh well for it's a legally mandated special education uh summer enrichment program. Yes. It's legally mandated. It's um not
for all special education students but students that are at risk for backslide educational backl. Okay. That's the part I didn't understand. Thank you. Um one quick thing for A4. Um, and I'm sorry if we did discuss this, but can we just kind of talk through very quickly the
justification of the of the change in title? This we've been talking about this change for over a year. So, this actually because it's on the on the uh agenda with this, it looks like it's linked to the change in landing. It's not. Um,
um, Mrs. caller currently is the supervisor of special ed. So she goes across all six schools and she supports the special ed teachers. The bulk of the special ed teachers in the elementary world are FM Brown because that's where we house our learning uh language
disabilities program and our um our LSS program um sensory and um I don't know the acronym because it's not no one else calls it that except for Verona. Um thank you. Um,
so in in putting that's where she spends the bulk of her time and the preschool program as well. The preschool program and the preschool program and and the preschool program at Lanning and the multiple uh the ESL program at FM Brown. So, by changing her title and having her
work more directly with the principles there to better support the teachers at that level, she still will be um supporting teachers at the middle school and high school, but there are fewer um let me think there's one special education teacher at Brookdale. I mean,
there's a it's a a much lower amount. Um, so it was just it was in my mind to put her there and give her that title, house her there, and let her work directly with the two principles that have the largest population of special needs. Um, it through that
role. I know that I don't know if it was on here that is the the code of conduct on the first review. Okay. So, um, I know in the code of conduct the the idea of restorative practices was on there to try to bring that into the elementary school. Okay. So then is that also
something that she would be able to is she already trained in restorative practices? Is that something that Well, she I don't know that she's been formally trained, but she is a believer in it and has self, you know, because I'm not trained in it either, but I I've been reading about it for many years. Yeah. Okay. So then, so that's something that too she would be able to bring to
elementary school and kind of support in that way when it comes to behaviors and things of that nature. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Anything else? Okay, Mr. Cruz, can we please have roll call? Mr. Walker, yes. Mrs. Ferrara, yes. Mrs.
Briscoll, yes. Mrs. Pella, yes. Mr. B, yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, moving on to education. Can I get a motion for B1 through B8, please? So moved. Moved by Mr. Walker. I'll second.
Second by Miss Ferrer. Any discussion? I think just really quickly again just kind of I didn't realize that the code of conduct was right there but speaking to that um so with that new code would that be something that principles turn key to teachers or that teachers will get uh yes that's already started
actually well there were teachers that were on the committee um to create this uh from each school and also u Mr. um Monaceeli and Dr. Lanzo ran it in terms of the two administrators that were um kind of took the lead on on reforming
the elementary code of conduct. Um and they they've already begun to uh at the last um faculty meeting um enrollments. Don't the I imagine that the administrators would administrate discipline. Correct. Yes. Okay. Very good. But there is there are components
here that take Yeah. Yeah. Ask and this might be more for Mr. Cruz B2, is there a reason why we're getting the tuition payment so late in the year from Cedar Grove? Uh, so we realize that there was no board uh resolution back in
August. So the the um the contract was done, but the there wasn't a board resolution. Okay. Thank you. Anything else? Can we please have roll call? Welcome. Yes, Mrs. Ferrar. Yes, Mrs.
Frisco. Yes, Mrs. Rosella. Yes, Mr. Boom. Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Um, moving forward to athletics and co-curricular. Can I get a um motion for C1, please? Moved by Mr. Boon, second by Miss
Prrisco. Any questions? Any discussion? Seeing none, can we please have roll call? Mr. Walker, one question because the volunteer football coaches and it's awesome that they volunteer. It's awesome. Do they get any sort of like do
the booster clubs give the Oh, so they get a little depends on the It depends on the sport, but yeah, they That's up to the boosters. Then that's why and sometimes the the assistant coaches will split their stipen with them as well. Cool. All right. Then I vote yes.
Mrs. Fra, yes. Mrs. Priscoll, yes. Mrs. Brazelle, yes. Mr. Boone. Motion carries. Thank you. We have nothing on facilities. Moving forward to educ Oh, sorry. Finance. Okay. Moving forward to
finance. Can I get a motion for E1 through E5? I'll second. Moved by Mr. Waka, second by Mr. Boon. Um, any Well, first I just want to thank the New Jersey State Bar
Foundation for their $600,000 donation. And I want to commend the BHS environmental club um for their uh fundraising and donations to various charities that they have chosen. Um is
there any other comments or questions? No. Seeing none, can we have roll call, please? Mr. Walker, yes. Mrs. Ferrar, yes. Mrs. Friscoll, yes. Mrs. Fal, yes. Mr. Bone,
yes. Motion carries. Moving forward to governance and policy. Can I get a motion for F1? I'll move that. I'll second. Moved by Miss Prrisco. Second by Mr. Pereira. Any discussion? Seeing none, can we please
have roll call? Mr. Walker? Yes. Mrs. Barer? Yes. Mrs. Prriscoll? Yes. Mrs. Brazelle? Yes. Mr. Boon? Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Moving forward to public comments. Anyone from the public wishing to speak on any
matter, please approach the podium. Once recognized, clearly state your first and last name for the record. You will have three minutes to address the board. There will be no cross dialogue during this public portion. If there's a question that can be answered, only the superintendent or board president can respond, and we'll do so at the end of
all comments. You may be granted one time to speak, and there will be a total time limit of one hour for public participation. Again, we know there will be no back and forth and we request that you remain respectful. Thank you. Hi, Kathy Pa. Um I just had a couple
comments based upon the information that you all had provided in the middle of the meeting. I did watch the entirety of that joint board of ed um town council meeting and it definitely was enlightening in regards to the pilot programs. Um, I know this is not an open
conversation, but I do have some comments and questions regarding that as to I know that um, Miss Ferzella had requested that seat at the table and I do think that that is very important. I do plan on speaking to the town council
in regards to that to help support the board. I think that that is very important moving forward. Um, so I do think that it's important that everyone pays attention to those meetings and speaks to the board on behalf on how to better support our board of ed with the
constraint that they are feeling in the upcoming school district years. Um, also in regards to what we have going forward, right? because we kind of got lost in the what we're here for now is advocating for this particular class
at landing and um while I am sympathetic to everything and I understand the cuts and the decisions that had been made I don't want to be in your position right I'm I I'm not envious of the decisions that you had to make I want to just
reflect upon we are just asking for this one specific class at this meeting that it's just this class at landing and there is a much bigger problem that needs to be addressed to Mr. Laka's point I think just a little bit of
Verona history here that when the town is given the appropriate information in the appropriate amount of time um Miss DJeppy this is something that maybe you haven't experienced yet because you've only been here for a couple years. The
town of Verona is special in that we get it done. If you bring us a problem and you say this is the solution, we get it done every time. We get it done. It was the referendum for the full day kindergarten. We got it done. It was the
referendum for millions of dollars for the updates to the school. We get it done, but we need the transparency. We need the people, the outliers, the the the pickers in front of the town. I mean, 30 years ago, they tried to move
away from our neighborhood schools. They tried to close Brookdale, and it was all because of the budget. And when I tell you, the town rallied, rallied, and it didn't happen. And thank God it didn't happen because look, 30 years later, we'd be dying if we didn't have
Brookdale. So, I think that to Mr. Waff's point, in the long term, we need to think of the solution. Right now, I'm hearing a lot of problems. I'm hearing a lot of my hands are tied and I really
beg of you to look more for solution. I thank you. Thank you, Kim. Hi, my name is Nathaniel Johnson. I live uh on land. I wanted to thank all of my neighbors for coming up to speak. Um and thank you all as well. Uh I couldn't
have said it much, but I was basically going to say that like unleash obviously we're not going anywhere. like, you know, unleash the talent in this town. I am an occupational therapist. I work for the West Orange board of ed. Uh they did a full-time reassessment that came into
effect this year. We're doing one in Verona. This will come next year. State aid cuts are probably further going to happen. We're going to need to get creative and pretty intense. So, let us know what we can do and where to look
for the extra money within the town maybe. Um, and you know, we'll help you guys find it, right? Thank you. Hi, Sarah O' Conor again. Um, just a couple of of questions. I know I know reszoning the the elementary schools has
has been in talks and been on the table. Um, one of the things that was brought up that, um, I do have a direct question about is the the literacy program that is being implemented at the K through five level. I believe um, from what I understand, and please correct me if I'm wrong, but the pilot for this program
only began within the last couple of months. If reconfiguring elementary schools is on the table, is it of any consideration to hold off on that and do a true fullyear pilot before fully buying in? Um, and really utilizing the
resources at the elementary level, particularly in K to2. So many of our teachers have Orton training, letters training. Um, I was here when readers and writers workshop came and I mean I wish I had a lens until 10 years later.
We know it's it's not a conducive program and we know we we're phasing away from it which is I in my opinion a good thing. Um, but I do implore you to really utilize the resources of the teachers in
the buildings that already have so much background and so much training. get creative in those as as Joy Lorenzo had said, we have to get creative and I think if we really look at the already I mean high rate assets of our staff, we
can make some some changes to preserve this third section which again I know kindergarten has a different threshold but this third section was warranted in first grade as well. And I just I'm having a really hard time
still thinking about an an a supportive administrative position that's going to work to and believe me I am all for supporting Mr. Fry. Um I work directly. He was my my vice principal when I was a teacher at at HBW. I have a great rapport with him and I am all about
supporting him. He's got a case load over there with the preschool. But I I'm still just having a really difficult time rationalizing. We need this another we need administrative help, but we are literally taking away the classroom
teacher at the same time. I think the needs are still there. The numbers haven't changed. Boris had three. We had three, now we have two, and they still have three. And I know the numbers. We're splitting hairs. Um so I'm asking I if if if that's been considered, particularly with the literacy program
that's being implemented. Um true pilot for a full year. And again, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that there's a lot of resources at the and I hate saying lower level. I hate saying bottom up because to think of our teachers at the bottom is really hard to
do. They are our greatest asset and I I just think that there there are creative ways that maybe we haven't explored yet. So, I just wanted to to bring that to light. Thank you. Thank you. I just have a few quick questions. I'm
sorry. My name is Stephanie Pogarellic. Um, Miss Berzella, you mentioned the IDA. If that got cut and the funds were removed, you said you'd be legally required to continue funding special education. How would you do that? It's a good question because about $600,000 of
IDEIDA funds. They're not being cut for next year. Okay. But we're not sure with um what is happening um with the Trump administration and their changes in dissolving the Department of Education. Uh are we going to see we were told to
expect a 70% um allocation in title funding? Now the district doesn't receive a lot of title funding and as I mentioned before it has been cut over the past several years um kind of whittleled away at. Um, but that is also affecting our budget because two staff members that were paid for with
title one funds are no longer being paid for with title one funds. So, they're back in our general budget. So, all of these things make this year's budget so much more difficult. Okay. And can we do anything in that instance to help with like title one funding? Like what do we
that's just federally regulated. Yeah, it's federal. It's the Every Student Succeeds Act um non-competitive grants. So every school district gets some funding. Not every school district. Um obviously those that are in district vector grouping J get a lot less federal
funding than we do. But it's it's worth noting that um school districts like Verona because we don't get a lot of spa state aid and because we don't get a lot of federal funding, our 2% is really 2%. It's about 88% of our budget is on the
tax levy. So when they limit what we can raise taxes, they limit what we can put into the schools. So what's really hard in Verona is that we have a um we have we struggle to maintain program every year because we can only add about
what's the 800,000 about $800,000 a year. Now if you take that 800 that we're allowed to add salaries goes up every year. Health benefits go up every year. This year we were allowed to add in 1.53% to offset health benefits. That
still left us in a $60,000 deficit on health benefits because they went up more than we were allowed to wave to do the waiver for. So um these are things that are are going to continue to impact not just Verona but districts like
Verona that are more adversely impacted by tax levy caps than school districts that get a lot of federal and state funding. Uh we did get a slight increase in our um in our state aid. What was the increase?
About 100,000. Yeah. Uh because we're under and we got that 6% because the state's recognizing we owe you 800,000. So we'll let you raise your taxes. No, I'm sorry. That was the waiver. Um we'll give you the you know 6% increase on your state aid even
though we are underfunding you by 800,000. So, um the it's not it's not um as a matter of fact what we were told uh I went to a meeting in uh Newark with Senator Ruiz and the Department of Education and they
said we have the state funding formula that we would love to use and we calculate it and then we look at what's in the line item and they never they never budget enough to adequately fund all the schools in New Jersey. So those school districts uh that are not as
lucky as we are with getting a 6% increase actually got significant cuts to their state aid. That's one of the uh problems that West Orange had. So um it it's it's it's a complicated and I I I
appreciate everyone wanting to help. um having parents sit on a budget committee is hard because there's conf there's confidential stuff in I mean there's um you know whatever I I I I appreciate the offer it's I'm just not sure how
feasible it is I think we know we're going to help is both if we keep if you're going to guarantee me every year moving forward the state's going to give us a 6% you know cushion from the previous year on on state aid that that that's that's a great guarantee we'll take And then you know then the level of
advocacy that we might need or the actions we have to take might be you know bit truncated. Um but it it even if it remains flat right if it remains flat you know the the next step is we're going to have to make a decision is how we're going to you
know all of us want class sizes to be manageable and all of us want the kids to have as many nice things and yeah you know for for many parents come here we also get the emails from people saying hey I'm on I'm on fixed income when you're raising my taxes too high it's it's affecting myself and we we listen to them too u but you know I'm always
going to be on team on the side of team let's let's do as as much as we can for the kids. So, I I just feel like it's it's within the next two years, there's going to have to be a you know, something's got to break and then something's got to, you know, an action's got to be taken by this board and we just have to diligently choose
the right one. And and you know, in terms of what, you know, what I've done as the president of the board this year, I've reached out to every single elected official that represents us as well as some that represent our neighboring townships. Um, I've met with
Congresswoman Magcguire personally. I've written to Senator Kim. I've called Senator Kim's office. I've called Senator Murphy's I'm sorry, Booker's office. I've called Murphy's office. Um, uh, Curado. All All the Anybody pick up
the phone? No. No. Um, I've even called the Commissioner of Education's office to try to speak with someone there. Um I think I think too and I commend you and right I think we're all doing this. I think though
that across the state right they're getting flooded with these same requests and these same issues and the same problems. So I think going back to you know what we were discussing earlier and really touching upon what came up several meetings ago was kind of like a punch list almost when we were talking
about our facility. I believe it was our our maintenance or facilities like the things that are coming down the pike in the next five to 10 years. So we started to say okay what big ticket items are coming that we need to be prepared for like turf field like the turf field like major major um budgetary issues. So we
had like a little bit of a punch list and I think that we really do like next meeting or the following have to look at space facilities. what will those costs be? Even if it is just, you know, I'm not I'm not asking for a full proposal
of, you know, uh gradeband schools and a full proposal with um necessarily uh I'm drawing a blank uh like costs related to it, but really like what is the plan? How are we going to use the next six months or four months or
whatever it is to look at these really big decisions? And then I think at that point we may be able to say to the community, hey, this is right. This is what we're seeing. This is what we're thinking. These are some these are some opportunities to support. But we need
like real tangible things to say this is what we need. So I feel like if as a board we can have a goal set whether it be four months, six months to say in that time frame we want to really have an idea to see you know where are we going with this and where do we need this support and can we even do it and
can is it feasible is it feasible right but without the conversations then we're just you know golden circles so I think we have to really set we've set we've set goals as a board and we have so far hit all those goals um so I think that we can we can do this one too just One
more thing. Um, in the budget presentation that we did, uh, Mr. Cruz and I gave three times this year. Um, there's a slide that you might want to take a look at just because it kind of tells the story about where we are in Verona with what we spend on kids. We
have the lowest per pupil cost of the schools and that's um, we've said it many times, that's nothing to be proud of. Yeah, I agree. Right. Um, but you mentioned earlier something about like the town not giving you access to well, not only information because you didn't
have access to figure out how many kids we're going to need like free lunches. I mean, who's holding the town accountable like for those things? Well, we asked for it. Who's holding the town accountable? Your your fellow citizens. And we didn't even know that this was like an issue. And then you would ask
requested that information. But we we speak about it at every single meeting. October I think I read about it. Please I know you guys are doing what you have to do but I'm saying like can we more proactively get the information out to us like just like after this meeting like what's an
immediate next step that like any of these parents can take share the meeting like they're public meetings so that everyone has access to everything that we're discussing. So I think and the next township meeting is so would that be beneficial for us to show up to the township meeting and then what do you
want us to share like is it not only because I'll talk about like what's happening at landing and the fact that we're losing this teacher but I don't think this board's in a position to make a recommendation to any parent about how they should advocate right now right because we'd still have to make a plan. Um, but that said, I you know, your
group clearly has organized and advocated. So, you know, there's there I think that you you'll probably see the the same arguments that we've made and and things that we've discussed, but I I think the board needs to choose a direction first and then ask for advocacy second. I I think it's the
wisest move. I don't think we're prepared to even ask right now. Yeah. I'm just concerned that we're going to wait too long cuz like I didn't even know this was an issue until it came to our attention last week. I never thought that we'd be losing an additional teacher at landing. And so that's what I'm saying like how long before we take action. Like I don't want to wait too
long. Um so I'm going to go to the meeting myself. I've obviously I think most of us here will probably attend as you can see like we're very passionate about our kids. Um but what could we ask from the town? Like I mean one that they be transparent with information. and it
was obvious that they didn't do a very good job with the management company and communicating to you guys, but what else are we able to ask from the town? Oh, as so as far as um the information that was came from the township from the
developer that developed the pro the the property across the street from the community center. The information from them to the township was not good at all. they we've we asked continuously for information on the number of students
that would be coming from that building and Misty Jeppi and um Mr. Cruz asked numerous times um for numbers so we could have a a benchmark of what we would be looking
at. We still can be getting students from that development. There are 21 more 21 more attending in well um they are either at or um just under school age. So um we do know that there are people
that moved into Bron Flats that are ending their school year and their current school for obvious reasons. It's May. They don't want to change their students. So we'll be getting those students into our elementary, middle school, and high school um that are already living in Verona Flats but are not attending our schools yet. We're
seeing that's one of the reasons we're shifting a section to FN Brown because we're looking at the sever the last three or four that registered for September are um potentially uh multilingual learners. So they will need the ESL component that's offered at
Brown at the elementary level. Um and uh we know that there are 21 more students that uh could potentially over the next two three years uh enter our schools, but we're not sure where they're going to go. Um I would I make that selection.
So no, I just mean like we're not sure if they're elementary age or we don't know and they didn't offer us that information. And why are they not like why are they allowed to not be transparent? Like I'm so confused. So are we? Well, okay. Right now we get 0%. So if you're asking for an ask like
that's the floor because right now we get you can't go beneath it, right? So anything we can get above 1%. Um and it's ne but but also you know I appreciate you know and all points you know I have a lot of respect for Mayor
Tambbor and and Alex and John and all the other councilmen. I I did think that um you know what was written on uh Councilman McGrath's blog was was was unfair and it was a poor representation and of what actually happened at the meeting. I thought it was blameshifting
and I I I don't think there's anything wrong with putting pressure on a town who's prosperous because of the perception of its school system to to to support its school system. and and and we've heard a whole lot of well the school should have been planning this 10
years ago when the c every councilman knows we vote on a budget every single year based on the state aid and federal aid which are things that we can't predict and and we're and we're locked into the maximum amount we could raise in taxes. So they they they know that's not that any other councilman said that but one did right or implied it I should
say. Um and and and and that's wrong. Um so you know I I do think you should advocate strongly for it. I think that could only help our cause. And then quick question on Miss Teppy, you mentioned that there were three or four incoming to Eff &
Brown that you thought needed ESL services, but you're not sure they are um being screened now, but they came from a country that doesn't speak. I'm pretty sure they're going to need ESL services. Okay. Because I was wondering if like for whatever reason if they were
screened and then you know it they didn't need that like would we consider like moving resources around? that it doesn't sound like that's the case. Uh yeah, and you know the other hard thing and I know no one wants to hear this. I have a class at barest that's got 26 students in it now. But what grade is
it? Because like I'm just third third. But I'm just sharing like the second grade class is quite unique. Um I mean you heard us speak about it a lot of IEPs, a lot of 504s and landing. I again I'm not going to reiterate but I know it is a there are behavioral issues already
with the three classes. Like I hear from parents and like their kids are sharing that there's constant yelling and I know you don't deal with the behavioral issues and that's Mr. Fryin's job. Um but like these kids do need the additional resource. Um so I think what
we can do now is go to the town meeting and advocate for our children there. Um act for ask for transparency. Um and then to share the pilot funding. Is that what I'm hearing? Is there anything else we can do? The one thing is important um
and to be fair to to the council and I just want to make sure that like we're referring specifically to those pilot funds not any general council funds or any general school fund. We are speaking specifically to pilot funds which is payment in lie of taxes. So it basically
it is a it is a page on their budget. It tells you exactly how much they get in pilot funds and it ex So so basically what a pilot fund is is where the developer pays the taxes directly to the council I mean to the I'm sorry to the municipality not to the council to the
to the town and then the town decides how it's distributed. Whereas if it were not a pilot funded um building the like everything else, the taxes would be paid to the state and then the state would distribute in the same formula and then
in that way we would get the fair share per per pupil. Um but we're getting zero. I understand and that doesn't seem fair because like you said earlier if people are moving into Verona because of the great schools then that funding should be allocated to the board as well as to our schools. So thank you for that
information. Thank you. Anyone else? Lorenzo, again, 44. This is past my bedtime for a teacher, but I did want to just respond to um the 26 um students in the third grade class. Um I know a lot
of people in this town. I I've lived here for 10 years. I'm very involved. I did hear about that class and I did hear when that teacher excitedly told the class, "We're getting a new student." Usually, they're excited. They fight
over who's going to sit next to that student. They're moving the desk right by them. And their response was, "Another student. Where are we going to put them?" And then I did hear that that teacher um had to move her desk out then
moved her back then moved her desk back in to get her computer. Um I don't think it was Mr. Fine. No, he's not the principal. I'm sorry. Oh, Mr. Monoselli. So um again, I taught third grade. That's a lot of students,
especially a testing year. But we're talking about second graders. And I want to mention it's there's a lot of young second graders. Um there's summer birthdays. There's kids that are going to start second grade as a six-year-old. So please try to think of a six-year-old
starting second grade with that many students. And not to be disrespectful, but I'm very curious of when you said you me you mentioned um Mr. Waka about having 30 students. What grade was that? If you don't mind me asking. I was an
excellent high school English teacher. Okay, so I knew it. I I have a good sense for this. It's not a bad thing. We need to, but we are everything. I'm sorry. Like we are elementary teachers. We are everything to these children. And
not that you're not, but we like put everything out there for these kids. We're at their games. We're at their events. I mean, I'm going to give a shout out. Miss Stuffy was at um my daughter's I mean I'm gonna get emotional. I love our teachers in
Verona. I I want to be a teacher in Verona, but I'm already somewhere else. Um but Miss Stuffy was at that softball game for my daughter. My daughter like actually hit the ball at that game because Miss Stuffy was there. Last year I actually wrote an email and I'm sad to
say I didn't get a response back, but I did write an email about Mrs. Nakamson. Both my children had her. Everybody loves Mrs. Nonkomson obviously, but I did write um you know a letter with a picture of you know Mrs. Nonkomson and
Miss Stuffy was also there at that time with my kids um you know just saying that this is what this is what us elementary teachers do and we are very important to our kids and this is this
is like our point here. These are not high school kids that can work independently. These are kids that need help with a lot of things. They need their teachers. They need that attention. And on an ending note, we thought kids were more resilient before CO. We were
like, they're so resilient. They're so resilient. Co proved to us kids are not that resilient. And we are still with those effects. We don't want to see those 50 kids like not that resilient after what they've been through. They're
used to being in a small class. It's not like the other classes that they've always been in big class. They are used to those small classes. They're used to those groups. Um and they're used to that noise level. And yes, we have to adjust as we get older. But just had to
say one more. The teacher, Mrs. uh Mrs. Verala, can I I I just wanted to follow on a point um when we're talking about uh the town and and pilot funds and and just an element of fairness. While I agree with the board's
view uh on this, um one of the things we need to be mindful of is the pilot funding is an extremely sensitive issue and it is something that we as a board need to speak um at much more length with our
colleagues on the town council and have discussions. It's um it's very important that the town residents speak up about it, but also need to understand that there is a uh complex discussion points that the town is going to bring to the
table and we need to have a thoughtful and meaningful discussion on it. It's um going forward if we have continuing discussions, it's not going to be as simple as saying we need X and therefore we we want it. We need to um have that
dialogue open. Uh the second point, um people are asking what they can do. Just remember this is an election year. It's an off year, but uh we have a governor's race. We have other legislative races going on. Um your voice matters and please be active and please vote.
The only other thing I want to point out is that um at the end of the budget period after our budget was already submitted for this year, the governor did sign into law um something called the um I'm sorry I have it right here. Yeah, we did. It's brand
new. Brand spanking new. Um tax levy incentive aid. So for next year we can go above the cap above the 2% cap uh for adequacy reasons. So um
that's a good news and bad news, right? Because that means your taxes are going up more than you would want them to go up. But it will give us the opportunity to raise our tax levy higher to try to um help our budget. Um and we can go up
a certain amount. What's the amount? Up to your nine. Okay. Yeah. Up. That's going to be a big percentage, but okay. Um, is that is that still No, next year next year's budget. 2627. Yes.
Okay. Yeah. And there's nothing a uh the new governor can do one way or the other on that. Uh depending on who we elect, they can make it go away. But but I think that's even more of a reason that we have to be prepared to see if we're going to put a line on the on the ballot because I think we have to be even
though we're all for the students who want to make sure that we have everything that we can give. We have to also be mindful to not have a line on the budget plus a 2% cap after a 3% cap at some point. So I think that's even more of a reason that we have to go into next budget season with a really clear
plan um of what we're doing. Good news is that we'll know who the next governor is before Mr. Cruz has to put together his his budget. Um, unfortunately, you know, this this this didn't come out until after the bud and
I don't know if that was purposeful or not. Um, but it didn't become a possibility until after the budget was done. Um, but we'll know in November. And you know, in addition to the governor and legislative, there's also town council positions up this year.
Believe that there's there's more building. This is only phase one of the right or phase two of I think six. Is that right? I'm I'm not sure if that's building in this. There is another area. Um we're not stalled. That's stalled
right now. Um yeah, by the sunset. Okay. Yeah, that's stalled right now. And there's more, from what we've been told, there is more housing that has to come from somewhere um that's been identified. Yeah. More than 100 units of
low-income housing affordable housing, affordable housing, affordable housing, but it it can be um depending on how the township um looks at it. I believe they could do senior housing. It doesn't have to have school age children. Um but I am
not an expert. No, they can also have where they get a credit like to right when we right so when we did put that resolution together and we talked about a seat at the table that would make obviously a big difference right so if we're not absorb students which we're happy to absorb students but that makes
a very big difference in decision-m correct but you know anytime you remove a ratable which is a h a parcel of land that can be taxed anytime you remove a ratable um one it it actually increases everyone else's taxes
um because we still have the same 2% that we can raise on our budget. It's 2% of the budget. It's not 2% of each individual tax owners uh house owners taxes. So that additional fund so like when they removed Annen from our
ratables what we what Ann used to pay us now got distributed among all the taxpayers in Verona as additional taxes. No, it wouldn't add a ratable because we don't it it would remove the ratable but
it would like proportionately. So say Annin was $100,000 they gave us. It would be you know what $10. I have to do my math and it's too late for me to do math versus you know. No, because it not if it comes as
a pilot. We wouldn't the school district but strategy funding that we need funds not like the transparency would be nice, right? But like we need
dollars and cents. That's what we we need them to pay out of your budget for if we had been that in in the grand scheme of things. It's such a low ticket item. But yes, I I am a proponent of
federal school lunches. Yes. It's a mystery. Yeah. Mhm. What else? Sure. Why don't you go up just so that the people who who are at home can No, no, it's okay. Again, I just had a question in regard
to the pilot program. So, these pilots that have already been established, it and I know you said you went to the state to, you know, petition, sorry, the delegate. Yes. um to to ask for our portion. So would that be in effect for
the pilot programs that have already taken place in this town? So or is that dead in the in the So I just want to I just want to explain what we did because I want to make sure that there's not any misunderstanding of it. So what we we have as board members, we have an opportunity to um like I'm the delegate
member, right? And Denise, right, to advocate on behalf of boards. So the way that the process works is you go to the delegate assembly as board member, the New Jersey school board assembly. You put forth districts put forth resolutions. Other delegates vote on those
resolutions. The resolutions that are passed then have an opportunity to go on to Trenton to then go on the floor for votes to be passed. They It's not so much that they get passed on the floor in Trenton. What happens is our the NJSBA, which is the New Jersey School
Boards Association, our association like the BEA for teachers, um then goes and advocates on behalf of the boards to pass with the hope that they would then bring. So it's it's the first step in
hoping that a resolution hits the the state assemb assembly which then can become passed. So it's like it's baby step one. basically. So when you put forth that resolution, right, for pilot funding to be equally shared and then we had a couple different points. It's you
can find it. It's on it must be listed before agenda, right? I think Yeah, I think we voted on it. Yeah. Yeah, we did. Yeah, we voted on it. Yeah. Um that passed. Okay. So then that that's step one, right? But hopefully my personal hope and I think I
could speak on behalf of the board here or maybe not. But you know because so many districts across the state are feeling the same pain when they're there there are so many there's so many new buildings that are coming in and we're getting new students. Again, it's wonderful but we need the funds to fund the students that are coming in and to support the needs of the students
because I think districts across the state are feeling this. Our hope is that it does get some traction and that it does make it to the floor that we do see a change in the way in which these pilot funds are allocated. I do know that in my little research that I did
surrounding towns do give lumpsum payments to the school board or percentage neighboring towns. Yes, Cedar Grove I will name them. And um so that the school board receives funding. And so I guess my question is is that these
pilot projects that have happened already and the second wave that is coming through, is it feasible to go to the town and say, "Hey, can we relook at this and maybe give a percentage back to the school board or is that not something that is even an option?" They
get a lump sum payment every year for from them from the from the developer for 30 years. Right. The oldest the oldest uh pilot active pilot site that I'm aware of is the apartments up at Hilltop Hill. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Um and
they no they get a lot of money for those. Um so they get a lump sum for 30 years from whenever that was developed. Um and then Annen and there's one more apartment or something. Yeah, there's one other small one. Park Avenue.
That might be it. Yeah. So, but they're all listed out in on a nice page on the uh user friendly budget that the township council puts out. Um and it tells you exactly how much they receive. If you look back, you could probably
Google and find out exactly what the um payment is for each of the 30 years. Um that's also information that can be that's public information that can be shared. Um I just don't know the numbers off the top of my head. Yeah. Yeah. I just didn't know if it was an argument
even to bring to the the town council in saying like those those lump sums have already been determined. Is there a way to shivy some to the board because our our our education system is bleeding right now. when when we asked at that meeting um on
whatever that was March end of March um we were told that they cannot shift those funds that they they've already been allocated to yeah for that particular budget year they but they've said those funds have been allocated okay project had one more question and
it was um or maybe a suggestion that maybe going forward I think it was great that the town and the board met together for the first time. I think you said it was almost a decade. I think that that is maybe something to look at to happen
more frequently and that um probably not at the end of the fiscal year when everyone's already done their budget, maybe earlier in the year to try and see if one can help the other. Um it would
just be a suggestion of mine. No problem. We tried several times. I do want to point out though that um the the township does provide a lot for the school district. That's unusual. So, and we also provide the host, but we also host every recreation basketball game,
every recreation wrestling thing that we like the school does that too. So, I I know that we we kind of feel that we're we're equal, but I Right. Not that I ever want a civil war. I'm not advocating for that. But like imagine if you if if the wreck didn't have a basketball for their fourth grade and
fifth grade basketball league. That that's going to be a really big deal. And then of course this board's going to want to provide that, right? Um and and it's nice they mow the lawn and do some of the groundkeeping, right? Um, but I I I don't think that we owe them a thank you necessarily considering that they've
they've kind of hoarded this this pilot fund and and and said nice things and said thank you and said well thank you for having these meetings but then said is every single time you get zero and I do know that my predecessor um was asking for pilot funds at least
six years four years before you were here at least for me like Mrs. rescue. Sure. But I like everyone in your positions, your hands are tied at a certain point. Um that at the end of that meeting, it was
said that we would continue. Listen, it was said, right? But yeah, I think end of course has been helpful, but it was said um and that I just I do want to say to Mr. Waka's point in regards to the recreation
department. I think that, you know, Verona loves their sports and I think that if at the end of the day when push comes to shove, what's going to go first? It's not going to be the schools,
it's going to be the sports. And you know, that's something that Oh, this room would get filled up. Yeah. more than you guys. You know, besides teaching classes, you know, I I could be the one to spread that dirty. But besides besides teaching classes of over
30 kids, I've coached every Rick Rick sport in this town. Um, but you you and I understand the values of this town the same way. 100% locked up. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's a reason that I didn't move out of the town. So, but I I think I thank you for your time tonight
because I know it was a long meeting and um I appreciate your your how candid you were and your transparency. It really is appreciated and like I said prior to I am not envious of anybody sitting at this table and I do sympathize with the
decisions that you had to make, you know, with this this school budget. Um, but I would be remiss if I didn't stand up here and speak for my little seven and a halfyear-old who loves Charlie Waka because he plays lacrosse with him
every Saturday, you know. So, it's just like um, you know, I really I'm sure you've wrapped your heads, but I just implore all of you to maybe think a little bit more outside the box if possible to see if we can save this
third section at landing. Um, so thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank everyone for coming. Um, if I can now get a motion to adjourn our meeting. So moved. Moved by
Mr. Boon. Second. Second by Miss Prrisco. All those in favor? I. Uh, meeting is now adjourned. Our next meeting will be on May 28th. Confidential starting I'm May 28th. 27th. tonight. It's a different
night. It is a Wednesday. Wednesday. It's a Wednesday. Yes. That's why I was confused. May 28th, which is a Wednesday. Um confidential at 6 and uh the public meeting at 7 in the Verona Learning Commons. Have a good night.