Good evening everyone. I would like you to welcome you to our February 26, 2026 board of education meeting. We are calling the meeting to order and it is 7:07 p.m. And if everyone could please rise for the pledge of allegiance. A reading of 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 the 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 online and posted with the Township of Verona and the Verona Education Association. Postings of this meeting setting forth the time, location, and agenda were
posted at the Verona Board of Education office and on the Verona Public School District website. Copies of tonight's agenda and resolutions have been made available to the public via the board of education website. Dr. Widley, if you could please call attendance.
>> Mr. Walker. >> Mr. Fur >> here. Miss Kenote >> here. >> Mrs. Krisco, >> I'm here. >> Mr. Bo here. Have a qu. >> Thank you. Moving on to our routine matters. Please, I need a motion to
approve our minutes from our February 10th, 2026 meeting. Motion by >> moved >> Mr. Pera, seconded by >> second. >> Seconded by Mr. Waka. Are there any discussions?
Seeing none, Dr. Riley. >> Mr. Waka. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ker, >> yes. >> Miss Kenote, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brisco, >> yes. >> Mr. Boom, >> yes. >> Thank you. Moving on to our superintendent report. This by Miss
Diane DJ Jeppi. >> Good evening. I am pleased to share several district updates uh of upcoming events of note. Uh first of all, um this is not an event. This is uh an unfortunate happening
uh title. Uh the district was recently notified based on preliminary uh 2024 US census data that Verona schools will not are projected to be ineligible to receive title one part a funding uh for the 2627 school year and that equates to
somewhere in the neighborhood of $60,000. Um while the district meets the first eligibility requirement having more than 10 students identified as economically disadvantaged the second requirement which ma uh which uh mandates the percentage of economically disadvantaged
students exceed 2% of the total population uh was not met in the census data. The census reflects a total student population of 2546 resulting in a calculated rate of 19 1.92 uh%. Um however the district's verified
enrollment for that period was 2120 students not 2546 students. Um as a matter of fact in the past uh since 2020 we have not um had above
20 this year is the first year we had above 2200. So um that's what that's fairly off. Um, using the correct enrollment figure would place Verona above the 2% threshold meeting the eligibility criterion. A former challenge option is
available. I intend to pursue this process within the established window um to request a review of that correction of data. In addition, >> real quick, >> yeah. >> So, like even with the lowincome housing that we have,
we're still not meeting the 2% threshold. They're using 2024 census data >> and the the lowinccome housing occurred in 2025 is what you're saying. >> So that we can't there's no appealing process. >> There is yeah there is >> but technically too the income for the
that housing isn't necessarily low income to the point where it would qualify necessarily. Right. >> Um >> because that's not that's not section eight, >> right? So that >> right >> I mean in other words you can make above
that limit and live in >> Yeah, Mr. I I I see what you're saying and you could very well be right. I just I just don't have a frame of reference even though >> Yeah. Well um the ESA calculation for socioecon um for um
I just lost my train. Let me get it back. The every student succeeds act calculation for economically disadvantaged may or may not be the same as New Jersey calculates um for um free well what used to be free and reduced
lunchion is now you know >> sub is the same metric as free and reduced lunch different metric >> I don't know in the appeals process that's what I have to investigate but um in addition councilwoman McGrath has facilitated communications between me and Congresswoman
L Monica Mccyver to advocate for the reinstatement of this funding. Um we are grateful for the support and continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that that is accurately determined and that our district enrollment and student needs are met with title one funding. If title
one funding goes away, our summer uh remediation program for math and science of math and ELA goes away. >> Next question I have is is this a yearby-year thing? that like when the 2025 numbers come out then with the new
developments we have where you receive zero pilot funds but we have a lot more people that are at a certain income level. Would that likely change or is it like is there like a every three years you get reevaluated by your >> I'm not sure when what census data they will use. I don't know. I know do the
census every 10 years. So are we stuck with 2024 for 10 years? I don't know. >> That'd be terrible. Okay. >> That would be terrible. >> Yeah. Um okay, next update is an assessment update. Uh MAP MA map growth testing for students in grades K8 has now been completed. Uh as a result, the
mid-year update on district goals and student performance will be presented at the March 10th meeting allowing this allow us uh the administration to analyze and synthesize the winter assessment data for the board. Um New Jersey School Board's Association Unsung
Hero Awards will be um hosted by Veron High School this year and um We are proud to showcase our students and programs during the statewide event. Student ambassadors will serve as ushers and assistants and the BHS jazz band
will perform as well as Eva Land uh who will sing the national an anthem alongside members of the Veron Verona High School choir. And I don't know why I didn't write down the date of that. The 12th March 12th at 5:30. Um
the Verona High School spring musical is next week. The spotlight players will present Mamma Mia from March 5th through the 7th. There'll be four performances um each night at 7 o'clock and Saturday at two. Uh the stage will be transformed into a Greek
island paradise for this high energy production featuring the music of Aba and the story of a young woman's quest to find her birth father. Performances begin at 7 um except for the matinea on Saturday which begins at two. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.
Seniors uh stu students and seniors and may be purchased either online or at the door. Uh an open special education parent advisory committee or CPAC will be held on March 10th. It's scheduled for this room, but we're in here on this um on March 10th. So, I'll let um the
leadership of of uh CPAC know um that we have to find either an alternative date or an alternative room. um environmental uh I I attended uh the combined HBW VHS environmental club meeting today where students presented a
proposal to install close bin which uh near HBW and VHS. Clothes bin's mission is to support environmentally sustainable sustainability by providing a convenient way for communities to recycle unwanted clothes, shoes, and textiles, items not typically accepted
through mun uh recycling programs. Uh the program partners with local organizations to collect, manage, and redistribute textiles, keeping them out of landfills. I didn't realize that 85% of all landfill material are textiles. So um what they do is they they collect
what they can, they sell what they can, they donate what they can't sell. Anything that can't be sold or s sold or is not um good enough to be donated gets made into rags and provided to hotels and restaurants and anything uh any
shoes that can't be worn are used to make playground fill and carpeting. I mean it's really it it really supports the mission of the environmental club and um they get 10 cents a pound for everything collected. So, um we are um
hoping that they'll be able to um support the environmental club allowing the students to expand their environmental initiatives. Uh World Down Syndrome Day is in March and again this year um parent Verona parent and Clifton school teacher Kelly
McCannernney is partnering partnering with several Verona uh school teachers and administrators to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day with a districtwide rock your socks uh campaign. observed annually in March. World Down Syndrome Day raises awareness and celebrates inclusion. Um, generally it's on March
21st. It is March 20th this year, but the 21st is symbolic as it represents the three copies of the 21st chromosome associated with Down syndrome. Mismatched socks are chosen because the chromosomes carype resemble mismatched socks. All proceeds from the campaign
will benefit Ruby's Rainbow, an organization that provides scholarships to individuals down syndrome in support of higher education. And uh we have a professional learning day on March March 3rd. This is our annual ed camp style professional uh
development for staff. Each staff member will pick two sessions from the following offerings. And I'll go quickly through this. Anxiety in and out of the classroom. Emergency medication administration for everyone. exploring the challenges of AI, peer strategies
for improving writing, planning with purpose, making HM work into reading work at grades K2, and then a second um session for grades three and four, purchasing with purpose, compliance, efficiency, and value. I wonder who's doing that one.
>> Yeah. Um teaching every child to differentiated instruction in the elementary classroom using Gemini to work smarter, not harder. uh uh helping students and teachers use AI the right way. Map it out. Turning NEA data into student goals. Partnering with
parents while promoting student advocacy. Um the anxious generation how the great re rewiring of the child of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness. Two heads are better than one. co-eing, unlocking the power of Google Vids in
the classroom, using um excuse me, using the Cami Chrome app to digitize your classroom, managing student challenging student behaviors in the classroom, communication and practice, clinical approaches to oral motor language literacy and student support, organizing your gradebook for accuracy, fairness,
and clarity, supporting newcomer, multilingual learners, and cooperative classroom management. So, quite a quite a selection for the teachers um to do on that day. And that's my report for tonight. >> Um qu um quick question just because it triggered a thought um talking about the
ed camp offerings is particularly around AI. >> I attended when I um first got on the board I attended an NJSBA meeting where Livingston was being awarded um uh an award for um a very innovative AI
literacy program that they had launched at their school. And it was just really fascinating to hear about, you know, a school that was actively looking at ways to um create guard rails around AI usage
and to leverage it in a way that was um where the students could really appreciate kind of like the benefits and also the risks of AI. >> Yeah, Livison did a great job with that. We actually did it much more quietly, but we have a similar policy. We were actually the first district in the state
to have an AI policy. um >> um uh Peter Hughes, a colleague of mine from um uh >> he was not he was Hallworth at the time, wrote it together and we used AI. So do do we have any similar um classes
like or do we have anything similar to what Livingston did in terms of >> not that for not that formal >> but we are um the one of the um uh intended goals of our English and
social studies uh professional learning community at the high school is to develop something that >> that would be great. >> It's not going anywhere. I mean it's right now for me in my day job we are required to use it. It's not even just like oh you can't. It's like you you
will >> in everything you do. So it's it's definitely it's well they there was a report in education uh uh ed week that said about 85% of students are using some form of chatbot to do their
studies. >> I I'll start with the AI thing. you know, and I I I believe that there could be a really, you know, golden line road for it. Um, but I and I I get I voted
yes on the AI policy and I think you are proactive to a great extent, but I just haven't seen the data yet to show me that AI equates to higher assessment scores, SAT or the PSAT or whatever. So,
I'm I'm, you know, I know we're just in the discussion phase, which is, you know, with it, but it's it's that data that I would need to see kind of want to cast a vote towards spending towards that. >> Yeah. >> Um but again, we're just in discussion phase. The other part of your report
that I loved is uh you know, my buddy Colin happens to live on the best street in the world, which is Lynwood Road. And uh our street's awesome because of Colin. So I'm really happy with the Down Syndrome movement. Um and I I totally want to get behind that. I think that's
Fantastic. And uh I I think I asked this when just me and Pam were on the board. There was three other three other board members, but I really like that the concept behind that u the PD what we call the >> the ed camp. >> The ed camp. Can you kind of explain to the you any of the public at home like
it seems like a really neat way of doing individual staff develop PD? >> Well, it's the real definition of an ed camp is people come together and they and they teach stuff off the cuff. That's not quite what this is. Our teachers um submit ahead, several about
a month ahead of of the date uh proposals to the curriculum department and we go through them and see, you know, um these are valuable for for our strategic plan and our goals and then we put them out there and teachers um can
register for what they want. >> Yeah. Yes. So, every principal I'm doing one um Dr. Riley is doing one. All of the um supervisors, curriculum director, um uh Tanya Simmons. Yeah.
>> You know, you know what? We we're gonna have Kyle. Not this time because we didn't have enough time. >> Yeah. Everybody's involved with this. So, um we the principles are involved. Um a lot of our teachers just a lot of what I what you heard me read are are
obviously we don't have that many administrators. So, they have teachers. Yeah. It's a great day. It's a nice day because people get choice too. They get to choose what they want, what they Yeah. Yeah. And um as far as AI goes, I think what we do, I'm not looking to use
a I mean, if it improves our student learning, that's great. I think we need to teach students how to use it productively for their own growth versus to replace their their thought process, right? Because you can use it for
um to replace your own thought or you can use it think better and I think we need to show them how to use the ladder they're using it right so it's like they're >> ubiquitous >> for them to be using it really irresponsibly right now because they
just don't have the education around you know the pitfalls relative to that and how to how to effectively use it in a positive way they just don't know >> and it's growing so quickly I mean I was at a workshop today this morning um
where a colleague was using and I don't I have never used this one so it's um Google notebook uh LM don't know that one she used that one in a really unique way um to actually um build her at her superintendent evaluation folders so it
was it was kind of unique and we asked her can this she only had one section of a of a larger presentation we said can you come back and like do a larger presentation on that because that's really unique way to use that particular I'm going to turn it over if there's no more questions to Dr. Riley.
>> Thank you. So, tonight we're going to present uh a very preliminary budget conversation uh highlighting at the 30,000 foot view where we stand uh at this point in time. To start, we're going to review the timeline of the
budget in December. Um the budget projection was completed by our budget managers and administrators in January. Uh Dr. DJeppy and I met with all the administrators and budget managers to
review their requests um and highlight the what you know their needs and wants are for the fiscal year 27. From this point moving forward, uh we'll meet regularly with finance committee of the board to uh continue to refine the
budget and uh and refine both our revenues and appropriations. On March 10th, um the governor's governor will uh present her budget address and on March 24th um we'll be
bringing the tenative budget for uh your adoption and then submission to the county superintendent. And on the 28th, we'll hold the statutory public hearing for the final and and taking the final vote to adopt the budget.
Of course, everything comes from and stems from our mission statement, right? We want to empower our students to cultivate their intellectual curiosity and social responsibility. Everything we do focuses on and centers on the instruction um and everything
that goes on from our mission. In terms of our goals tonight, we're going to identify the sources of revenue and our estimated projection of what those revenues will be. We'll examine the projected expenditure increases. We'll consider the budget variables and
define our budget goals. And we'll highlight next steps uh as uh for moving forward in terms of the sources of revenue. And for the purposes of this meeting and a preliminary basis, we'll really only focus on our general fund revenue um
because that that is really uh the the the most thing to be focused on. That's the thing that we can articulate about. Now, we won't have the the figures for special revenue. So, in terms of the the sources of our revenue, it's important to remember that in terms of the general
fund, um the majority of that comes from the general the advalorum tax levy. We also received some tuition. We've got miscellaneous revenues and other from uh use of the building uh state aid
fund balance and our reserve accounts. Of course, other sources include federal funding through our special revenue and our debt service. Okay. So, in terms of the projected revenue, um, at this point, we're ident we're able to identify the headwinds
that we're going to experience. In terms of the tax levy, we have got the statutory 2% maximum for Verona. That statutory 2% maximum equates to uh just under $800,000.
In terms of the interest, um, one of the headwinds that we're going to experience is a declining rate environment. As you know, the Fed has cut interest rates a couple of times already this year, slated to cut at least once more. So, one of the challenges that we'll have year-over-year is that we will not be
able to identify or or enjoy the same amount of interest revenue as we've had over the past couple of years. In terms of miscellaneous revenue, the use of our building um our buildings are used quite a lot and we do generate uh a nice uh a
nice revenue source in terms of in terms of that. Um we will look to uh increase that usage as per as possible based on availability, but again we're going to budget a flat number year-over-year. In terms of our budgeted fund balance,
um that's the statutory surplus from year to year that the the district is able to uh enjoy and then the board designates to put back in as a revenue source. Over the past couple of years, that number has been declining. So, one
of our headwinds will be um a smaller budgeted fund balance that that the board can decide to use and contribute ultimately to balance the budget. And then the last two qu big question marks at this point will be the state aid. Um
we're budgeting at at a flat rate. We're hoping that there are no surprises there. Um and we're hopeful that you know the bud the governor is able to fully fund um the funding formula whereby we should in we would then uh
enjoy an increased revenue source. We're not banking on that however. And then in terms of extraordinary aid, that is also an unknown. Um that is a particular headwind for us this year in that the percentage of extraordinary aid based on
what was applied for was decreased from from the state. Now that's a number that doesn't come out until August. So um we can budget for that. We don't like to lean in and and budget on that too much. um it's not something that we want to uh
you know hang our hat on in terms of a budget number. So we want to be very conservative there. We did have uh a situation this year where uh the number that was budgeted for this year unfortunately was consistent with previous years. However, the funding the
funding um percentage from the state was cut. Um, usually they fund your your extraordinary aid somewhere between 60 and 80%. This year the funding came in at 53%. So that presents a challenge. We
we may not we don't know what that number is going to be in August. So we want to budget conservatively now. And then I will say we we have no idea we'll have nothing on on federal but on the federal side. Um you've heard a little bit that you know we're going to
we're not right now potentially not qualifying for title title one funding and we've been told and suggested that we budget a up to 20 to 25% cut in other um ESA funds other title fund.
So that's certainly not good news. On the expenditure side, um there are several challenges, many of which have been in the news around the state and around the country, um that are uh that we will not escape. Um
first and foremost though, our salaries um the collective bargaining agreement um where we will land in terms of the attrition of salaries is at a 3 3.5% increase. Uh for us, um that's roughly a million dollars in terms of an increase.
Um, in the news lately has been the increases in health benefits, particularly the state health benefit fund. We are not a member of the state health benefit fund. As you've heard in the news, that fund is increasing 32%.
Um, ours uh in the trust in which we uh participate in that trust is going up 20%. So um not a number that we want to hear in terms of in terms of an increase. However, comparatively to what
some other places are experiencing, 32% there's a obviously a big difference there. Um, for us, even at the 20%, um, that is $1.7 million. Now, it's important to keep in mind that as we build the budget between salaries and
benefits, uh, that represents 81.5% of our total budget. Other headwinds and other challenges include out of district special education costs forecast to increase at 18%. So that's tuitions that were
already uh experiencing from approved private schools for special education as well as some projections that we're making for additional students who are who may be going out of district. Uh transportation increases at CPI. CPI um
is going to be uh between three and a half and 4%. Um however, our total projected increase in transportation um is 14%. We're experiencing uh an increased reliance on contracted services particularly for our our
athletic events and for our out of district placements as well. So we're forecasting 14% increase there. In terms of curriculum, instruction and assessment, this is where we want to see expenditures. This is where we want to see um where we want to spend our money.
We want to spend our money on what's going on inside the classrooms. We want to spend the money our money on uh increasing and and supporting our teachers professional development. um as of now in terms of um consumables,
textbooks, other other instructional items that's slated at an 8.7% increase. it. These are um inflationary costs in that include our subscriptionbased
services forecasted at 8% as well. As everyone knows from looking at your own utility bills, um they have increased 20% this year and we're we're forecasting another 5% increase for next year. And and again, those are
inflationary costs. We're all bearing the brunt of those. Um and certainly I will note that um Verona, we are in a very good place in terms of controlling our utilities. Uh, our utilities did not go up full 20% this year, and that's in
large part because previous boards um have decided to participate in an EIP. Um, and through that EIP, we are now as a district enjoying significant savings on our um on our utilities bills. So, good decisions that were made in the
past are now uh bearing bearing fruit. So, some of the variables that go into building the budget, um the aforementioned aid numbers, um we're hoping that the state, you know, as I said, fully funds the funding formula. Say that three times fast. And um you
know, if they do, then that should that should bode well for us in Verona. Um we'll have a better sense of what our federal numbers become. we do not receive much in terms of ESA and grant funding. Um so so that really it's not
significant in terms of its impact on the budget. Um but our special education and extraordinary aid potentially is. Um and and we're hopeful there that the state fully funds or more adequately funds costs for special education.
Um the other variables are are personnel. Um we have an opportunity I think to um through attrition and retirements and resignations. Uh that makes you know our our planning and
budgeting uh more of a challenge. Um but through some retirements and resignations um hopefully that will help us in terms of some of the headwinds that we mentioned earlier. And then enrollment. Um we're in an environment now where we have increasing enrollment
which will yield um some benefits in the future. But again making those budgetary decisions now present some difficulties in terms of building the fiscal 27 budget. So in terms of in terms of numbers this slide represents the imbalance right
now. Again, it's important to real it's important to articulate that the numbers will absolutely change from now through the tenative and to the final budget. Um, but these are the estimated revenue and appropriations numbers as they stand
now. It's not uncommon that those the numbers between revenue and appropriations will be off um one way or the other. currently is a little bit more than we we would like. Um, and one of the things
that we will work on um is finding those uh strategies, those levers that we can pull, the opportunities that we can capitalize on to bring those overages uh more in line and ultimately help us to balance our
budget. Those include the healthc care waiver of which we will qualify for this year. We're going to work to minimize any staffing cuts, um, capitalize on any attrition that we can, and then ultimately, you know, utilize some fund balance to offset and perhaps even
maintenance reserve to offset and ultimately balance this budget. In terms of articulating those goals, um, as we work to close the gap between the revenue and appropriations, we're going to be thoughtful. We're going to be
strategic. We're going to be conspicuous about prioritizing our fiscal responsibility and minimizing the impact to the instructional staff and the students that they serve. We will work to take advantage of all waiverss to offset the increased costs of health benefits and close that gap between the
revenues and expenditures and help us to balance the budget. So, in terms of our next steps, um when the budget when the governor does release the budget and and um uh has the address on the 10th, on the 24th, uh
we'll have a meeting to approve the tenative budget on the 27th. The 27th is the final date for districts in the state now um through the revised budget calendar to submit their tenative budgets for approval and submissions to the county superintendent. And then on
April 28th, we will hold our board of ed meeting and the statutory public hearing on the budget. And with that, I'm happy to take any questions. Dr. Riley, u excellent presentation. Um
really appreciate it. I just have um two very high level questions. Uh well, one is somewhat logistical. I the governor uh her presentation is you said March 10th that's a little later than usual. Do we get any kind of leeway from the
state um due to her being what a week or so later than usual? >> So two weeks excuse me. So we actually we actually in uh very recently as a matter of fact I will say in the meeting of in the middle of our finance committee meeting uh we did get an email
from the state. So initially that answer would have been no but actually now we are going to enjoy uh a little bit more of reprieve. The budgets were due. So so normally the governor's budget address is uh this week the the final week of
February and then after the governor's budget address the state has 48 hours from statutory standpoint to release state aid numbers. We generally then have about two weeks before the submission of the final budget. That's usually right around March 20th. Um, in
in this case, um, with new governors coming in, it's not uncommon for the the legislature to pass a bill to allow a little extra time for a new governor to get their feet under them, uh, a new commissioner to to acclimate and and
and, you know, put their put their cabinet together. So in this case now the budget address has been pushed back to the 10th and then the final submission to the 24th. >> Okay. >> Yes. Um question about the um out of special education
by 18% this year. Um just curious in terms of the overall amount of three million that is we know that the majority of that is represented by the cost me like 1.7 million. >> Yes. >> What is how does that 18% what is sort
of the dollar value associated with that 18% in terms of >> That's a great question. So it's it's roughly $200,000. Our total spend really in special education is just under $4 million when you include uh
transportation as well. So um you know the 18% um 18% being a big number when it when it in the terms in the context rather of a $50 million budget um the
actual numbers of uh $200,000 or so. >> Yeah, that that's extremely helpful contextualize those percentages in the debt. So other than the health care cost, what would you say is the next biggest ticket item from your list in terms of how we get to that?
>> So uh transportation would be the next largest. Um we've we've unfortunately underbudgeted a little bit in terms of our transportation and then because we have a small fleet, we rely heavily on our contracted services and um those
those costs go up at CPI. However, what was not budgeted is the amount of services that we needed to use. Um, as I mentioned earlier, we're experiencing now our athletics relying a little bit more on our contracted services. Um, and that number unfortunately even to get us
out of fiscal 26 where was was, you know, underbudgeted from what it will realistically um, you know, be in terms of the bottom line. So, we need to rightsize that number. And that transportation number of 14% represents
right sizing our budget so we're not quote unquote short um and under budget. >> Thank you, Dr. Riley. Does anyone else have any questions? >> Thank you for the presentation. It was wonderful. On
>> to our student report from Ryan. Good evening. Uh, so last Thursday, the Verona High School Chamber Choir had the honor of performing at Atlantic City for the New Jersey Music Educators Association state conference as uh, VHS was one of four sub schools to represent
the state of New Jersey at the conference. Uh, the girls basketball team had hosted a hoops for hope last week raising awareness for breast cancer resources in our community here in Verona. And the event was a great success, raising several hundred dollars for Manet's Angels while uniting our
students, families, and community members around an important cause. And the team also delivered a strong performance on the court with a decisive victory against Cedar Grove. And both the girls and boys basketball teams will be participating in the NJSIAA
group playoffs this Friday afternoon with the girls facing beloved charter and the boys playing West Coldwell Tech. And this um upcoming Saturday morning, both the boys and girls winter track teams will be competing in the group
championships, which is um exciting milestone as the winter sports season winds down. And at the same time, our wrestling team will also be competing uh at the district tournament. And next week from the 3rd of from the 3rd to the
5th of March, uh the DECA team will compete at the New Jersey DECA state conference in Atlantic City. And this conference brings together students from across the state to compete in a variety of business, marketing, finance, and entrepreneurship events. And our students have been spending months
preparing um written reports, case studies, and presentations. Uh the French club was organizing a donation drive for the Coopermanman Barnabus Medical Center and they're collecting games, books, toys alongside hygiene items such as hair brushes, hair ties,
deodorants, and toothbrushes with the goal being to offer support uh to children and their families during hospital stays. And the drive will run until Sunday, March 15th, with donations being collected at the Verona Public Library. Uh, the Mandarin Club is
participating in the township's Lunar New Year celebration next next Tuesday, March 3rd, which will be starting at 6 PM at the Verona Community Center. And uh, children can partake in special activities and programs organized by the high school's Mandarin Program. And
recently, the National Honor Society had expanded its peer tutoring program to offer SAT and ACT preparation uh, led by qualified VHS students. And we hope to provide accessible and supportive academic assistance to help peers feel more com confident and prepared for
standardized testing. And at last, Mamma Mia is showing at VHS starting next Thursday with additional shows Friday and Saturday. And that's my report. Thank you. >> Question, right? If you don't want to reveal your sources, it's fine. Um, but
like you know so much your reports are so detailed. It's like a principal level. You everything that's going on. So, how do you gather all this great information? >> He He's got people, Mr. >> I He He does like What's your process, man? >> I just like staying on top of what people are talking about, especially
there's also I think social media is very helpful and just being able to connect with different organizations because there's clubs are always talking about stuff, different organizations, different sports teams. So, it's word gets around. >> He uses a you do a great job.
>> Thank you. And uh just to pile on a little bit, uh the the Lunar New Year uh celebration, I appreciate you calling that out. It's uh for anybody who hasn't been. It's one of my favorite things that uh we as a community do, combining uh Verona schools with an effort from
the town, it is absolutely fantastic. And if you haven't been there, uh it's really a must see, must attend. So thank you for calling that out. >> Thank you, Ryan. Moving on to committee reports, there are none. So, going on to
our public comments on action items. Anyone from the public? Please come to the podium and state your name. Seeing none, moving on to discussion items, new business and old business. Anyone have anything to discuss?
Seeing none, correspondent. Moving on to our agenda items. I need a motion, please, to approve resolutions A1 through A10. >> Personnel resolutions A1 through A10
moved by Mr. Waka, seconded by Second, Mrs. Kotic. Any discussion? Uh, I just want to congratulate um two teachers, Mrs. Bartell and uh my neighbor, Miss Joan Weiss.
for Miss Jones Weiss on her retirement and I wish them the vote the best. Any other discussions? Dr. Riley, if you could please call roll. >> Mr. Walker, >> yes. >> Mr. Per, >> yes. >> Miss Kenot, >> yes.
>> Mrs. Prrisco, >> yes. >> Mr. B, >> yes. >> Thank you. Moving on to our education resolutions. I need a motion to approve resolutions B1 through B3. So >> motion by Mr. Boom, seconded by second
noted. Any discussions? Seeing none. Dr. Riley, if you would, please call. >> Mr. Waka? >> Yes. >> Mr. Per. >> Miss Kotic. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Prisc. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes.
>> Thank you. Moving on to our athletics and co-curricular. I need a motion to approve resolutions C1 through C6. motion I'm sorry seconded by um
motion by Mr. Fern seconded by Modic. Any discussions? >> Didn't Didn't we This is Did we Didn't we vote on C6 last time? >> The DECA thing or is that a new thing? >> A different DECA program. Okay, very good. >> I'm I'm just curious about uh and not
complaining at all. I'm just like to know more about what C1 is. What's behind that? Looks interesting. So um Mrs. Shakatano is taking a group of uh eight students uh to Florida. So
um give the kids the world is a community service organization very very similar uh to um Make a Wish. So they're working with students that are suffering with illness and yeah it's beautiful. It's in place of capstone.
Capstone is becoming more more and more difficult each year because um >> there's some changes in in legislation that makes internships required to be paid. So people that would normally take our students and interns are no longer taking them. So we're slowly
transitioning over to a more service learn which I think is a good thing to do a more service learning uh approach. Uh, and this is the first one uh that kind of came out of that discussion about what our kids could be doing. >> I I I just think that's awesome. I mean, do you do you see this do you see more
of this happening? And um I guess the question is is how did we come down to that? You said seven, eight students. How do we settle on that number? >> You know, that's a good question. I I can't answer that right now. I can find out for you. I know it's a group of uh of students that um
>> that whether they're in a club that do do you know Ryan how that was I'm going going to the man. >> He he'll have his people let you know. >> Um I think it was um like just limited to begin with about like how many people
they could actually accept to like volunteer. I think it was just very limited from the start. So only a limited amount of students could actually >> okay >> be a part of it. Also >> Yeah. Thank you. I'll find out exactly how it came about. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> If you could please call roll. >> Mr. Waka. >> Yes. >> Mr. Per. >> Yes. >> Miss Kenote. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Prisc. >> Yes. >> And Mr. >> Yes. >> Thank you. There are no resolutions for facilities. So, moving on to finance. I
need a motion to approve resolution E1 through E7. >> Some moved. Motion by Mr. Waka, seconded by >> Seconded by Mr. Boone. Are there any discussions? >> Dr. Riley, if you could please call.
>> Mr. Waka, >> yes. >> Mr. Carter, >> yes. >> Miss, >> yes. >> Mrs. Frisco, >> yes. >> Mr. Boom. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Moving on to governance and policy. We need to table
F1. Okay, we will table um F1. it. Do I need to do a motion? A motion to table F1. >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Pera. Seconded by M. Kenotic. Any discussion?
Dr. Riley, if you could please call. >> Mr. W. >> Yes. >> Mr. Per. >> Yes. >> Miss Kenote. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Frisco. >> Yes. >> Mr. Boom. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Moving on to public comment. Seeing none,
we are ready to our next scheduled public meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026, beginning with confidential session at 6 p.m. and public session at 7 p.m. in the Verona High School Learning Commons. Um, I need a motion to adjourn.
>> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Boon, seconded by Mr. Waka. All in favor? All in favor? >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. All in favor?