Hey, welcome back. Sorry, I believe the board received a letter from a community member just in regard to the recent activity in the area. So I just have some nice announcements to share. Actually, there are a couple things in your board folder I do want to bring your attention to. 1 is the invitation to the Chinese New Year performance on February 7th last Saturday, February 7th, 12:30 and 3:30 right here in our South
Vic. The school on Saturdays or their Chinese school is a wonderful performance and celebration every year and they always invite all of us to attend. You also have an invitation to the Somerset County Heroes Recognition Ceremony. This session clicked on by the Somerset County School Boards Association. So we nominate a student. We always have a representative that goes to present the are certainly more than welcome to attend. It is at the most vocational technical high school in Bridgewater and that's our
group 2nd at 6:30. We also have the event so many years in a row. This is that we have been recognized by the College Board for making BP school for 2025 at the silver level. That recognition is meaningful because it's about participation and performance. So you have to make make in order to get recognized and our staff is not a tremendous job of increasing the number of students. And and that is given that our role has been decreasing,
we are still increasing not just the percentage of students of the number of students and the number of tests taken as well as their performance on the. So that, you know, that's just a really nice indicator that we're moving in the right direction and that more students are also having its own potential to do well. We had a staff member received some recent recognition very soft a member of our social studies department won the social justice award from the Middle State Council for Social Studies. She this I can share a little bit more about this award,
but she is a true champion of this that is such a well deserved award for her notes written by our supervisor. Her class incorporate these themes as she continuously promotes and accuses ideas of social justice, helping students to appreciate other cultures as well as their peers and people they encounter in their own lives. In addition, she's been such a huge influence and leader in helping all of us with ideas and she terribly works to make this world a more accepting place and truly the power of 1.
And so she will. Thank you, appreciate it. Returning more members of the ad hoc committees have receiving the best
bringing them back to ad hoc committees that I eliminate each plan and this year's service and I discussed it and we felt that the purpose of those committees were the process of getting the board ruling was just saying and everything in motion. There's no need for those projects.
As far as as your service visualization again that has move forward the process is done with respect to getting the report. The report has been prepared has been presented. The team will talk about the briefly come back, which is what the board see what the next step is. But as far as those committees, they're really feeling negotiations still
exist and we don't formally our current times are just expired 2028, so the year before July 27th start the process kept the committee because every once in a while there's some issues that the next year or so. So it's there just in case we have done as far as the representative assignments,
there were fewer points like the interest of school horse association and delegate interest of the horse association. I'm not exactly sure what the difference is now that I apologize, but if somebody wants to, you're interested, hopefully you're more satisfied.
But again, it's just with respect to the operations and finance, there is some overlap in those areas. So when I have many of the people on that committee with respect to communities, they should say. But it doesn't include more or anyone else. The committee reports are folders and discuss the matters.
So if you're not the Education Committee. None high school financially set over some of the best educational opportunities that are public. However, I will not ignore some workers whether it be our financial stability or the quality and diversity of our educational programs. I can state with certainty that we have a balanced budget and we are a target to operate within budget in 202526 school year. Many of you heard that Montclair is almost 20 million in the whole and
confident that that will not be as we and support work diligently to ensure we have many challenges that will face us in the upcoming budget such as our budgets approximately $54,000,000. The big items in the budget are teachers salaries and benefits which represent over $22 million. Our administrative employees represent another 3,000,003 + 1,000,000. Support services including operations and maintenance represent approximately 5. 2 million special education to ensuing services 5.5 million.
Most students will typically fund special education about 40,000 per student or 50, 055 thousand. This past year, the state providers with about 3 million an age. So we can see that the state does not fund any of the transportation costs associated with special education. We get about being repetitive because our audience changes all the time and these are the science system must be drilled in so the public for that effect.
Our overall transportation costs are about $3. 7 million was most was most that be mandated by the state it's in. This is our students lifers not a significant expense which is not mandated, but it's purely in our disturbation. It's our small programs in extra curricular activities which are probably 2 million. Many of you are feeling that like the rise in health was I can assuring that watching bills is no different. As our expenses are increasing at the renewal, the $1,000, 000 yearly annually will continue to rise in double digit rings.
The country with the Teachers Association and our staff members are all due to expire June 30th, 2028. Although we have a little over a year before we begin negotiations, it's never too early to start thinking about it as in the past negotiations have been a challenge. We certainly appreciate respect for teachers and staff and what our staff does for us, but I feel in a really great relationship. A few review of our course offerings demonstrate that the first comprehensive range of opportunities our students are able to challenge their minds and
development intelligent and mature adults who are ready for what the world might have in store. We're focused on providing all sorts of opportunities in United District, which is focused on one-size-fits-all across and it means we will have our collaborations with local university and the creative opportunities for which our students will be able to accept. In the past month, shared services and regionalization study
were receiving these developments. I'm aware that this quite confrontational, quite controversial. Whether we regionalize or not, that is whether we regionalize or not, that is not really the issue. The issue is to happen. We perform and operate it as a concern collaboration with the K8. My motto has always been students first. One of the biggest concerns I have is curriculum coordinates. I'm tired of hearing that we need coming fresh when the coming freshers are not on
an equal fighting and that our 9th grade teachers have to work the next to work the balance of education needs of all states. This should not be the case as the facility improvement. We have a long term plan and we interest lands each year. We have done a great job over the years, whether it's the Performing Arts Center or sports builds, the brand new design lab, ceramic lab as well as classes for science, etcetera, students, not only the best teachers but also the best designs we can provide. As for education and I mentioned, I mentioned the numerous that is being
focused on legacy, but fortunately we do not have to focus on legacy. We do not have our part with legacy, but I may have one, but the district doesn't have one. As I stated, we were the highest performing district and we will continue to provide high performance, all sorts of education and all sorts of other education opportunities for our students.
Governor Mikey Cheryl, who was just born in today has announced that Lily could be pronounced LAUX. We'll just go with Lao. Its recent tenure is from Texas, the middle of the road state edge, middle of the road state education. While New Jersey historically is ranked in the top five. Miss Lao will focus on improving literacy outcomes and spend the access to pre-K, increase mental health resources, modernize and stabilize the school funding formula and invest in a highly high impacted range so every child has
the opportunity to succeed. This is what the Governor Charles office has stated. The fact that we are still focusing on literacy is going up. Although it sounds great, this has been an issue for more years than I can get. I can completely state and that watching House does not have a literacy issue. I invite the new Commissioner to visitors and see how well performing district offerings as noted by Miss assisted by Doctor John with our must listen APA for
it. Perhaps we should I have any comments? OK great. First time concerning for public comment. First public comment period we limit to agenda items for the media. The second public comment period will be open to anytime. All comments are limited to 5 minutes. We have any comments? OK, then I will close the first opportunity for public comment to remind everyone there isn't opportunity for second of the
public comments. OK, let's move into board discussion. We have two items tables with the board's discussion. One is policies discussion. We have several policies discussed and then as think I noted earlier, the shared service specialization. So in your link to the e-mail that I sent last week, I tried to organize it in a way that is hopefully user friendly. Because the policies coming up, there's a lot of information that comes with them, whether we currently have a policy,
do not have a policy policy. What is the background on any policy changes so we can look at the document? I. So the first one, a couple board members to review the version that we had done with the board attorney, I apologize. So I have that up here. There were three areas that policy and so the first one was this particular statement. From the attorney, what other districts have done is they
just promote that statement they have not put in. You know there is an affirmative responsibility over there because that's actually what there's a mitigation about because but it just takes the statement. So it takes over and out what that statement is accurate. But since it is caused and caused disagreement, that was the recommendation was to just what that statement, that statement is actually true. And then the next part just had to do with the the students file as they have,
you know, they did go through and they're called by the mothers of the birthday permanent student records with their birth name and didn't specify the policy that the parent had access to that former file. It was kind of just a given, but it wasn't the policy. So that's just when it got the end. The meeting behind that was of a student goes by a different name. You know, the case of a transgender student,
let's say they come to our districts and from, you know, the elementary school. There's no need for the teachers here to know their history and to see that their parents. So that's why it wasn't indicating that the parents have worked up, you know, who are talking about access to their birth name. The parents wanted to know that. But we just added that in here so it makes that more clear. And then the one SPS just says we are a member of the NSA, we follow their guidelines.
There is a statement here about gender segregated classes or athletic activities and the manner consistent with their gender identity, which is what the interest I allows. There is no keel process in the interest I what a board member brought up. So just a particular piece we added in that for interest, I support the district and participation, which obviously The thing is that five board members for discussion and and provision and this is what the attorney
had recommended. My understanding is that OK, I'm very rarely accused of being to clients, so I feel I can rise to the occasion. So my understanding is that if a student comes out to the school as transgender
and indicates to the school that they wish that, that they wish that to be confidential from their parents, that confidentiality will be respected. Is that still your understanding under the rating of this policy? And where is So that's part of the law. The policy doesn't even that's the only place that it addresses that is that particular line that says there is no affirmative duty for any school district staff members to notify students, parents of the students gender identity
or expression. It doesn't talk about that. I don't believe anywhere else in the policy because it's just well, there's a section called on page 5. Since confidentiality and privacy staff member school staff members may not disclose information that may reveal the students transgender status, except if that's allowed by law. The principal or doesn't need is advised to work with the student to create an appropriate confidentiality plan regarding the students transgender or transistor status. So is is that where that would come in as part of the confidentiality plan would
include confidentiality with respect to parents. You know, it's a little bit it's a little contradictory, but when I say that I know that's the correct or what because one student we haven't had that particular issue because our students, I think probably because we're in high school. So the students families are part of what we're usually working with the student and their family to help them with their, their, with any support that they need.
Thankfully, I know it's not like good in every community, but in our community, you know, we haven't had that issue of the, of needing to keep that information from parents. The other pieces that our students change their name and it's in Genesis. So I, I can't say 100% for sure that we haven't had the issue where we need to keep the confidence from the parents. I don't believe that because the students, when they change it in Genesis, which their parents have access to. Now, obviously if it was a situation where there was some, you know, some confidentiality to keep the need to
figure out a workaround for that. But we haven't had issue because generally what happens here is the parents are actually the ones reaching out to us saying we just want to make sure that there are supports in place to design for students. And then the other piece this is going to play, I remember years ago transgender policy came out and we also have HIV policy, which is going through some revisions. Our question is administrator says, OK, so we're supposed to keep that confidential. However, what if there is a HIV because we stick
to transgender status? How do we talk to the parent about that if the transgender status is confidential? They didn't have great answers for that. But again, in our district, that has not been an issue. And I do think that's important to consider in the context of all of this. And, you know, we're not looking to keep secrets from parents. If there is an issue where it's confidential, we're looking to work with the student to help them. But we haven't had that situation where it's usually the parents reaching out to us to get support for their student. I had another question on the on these the NJS.
So I understand that the idea is to include the reference to the NJSA guidelines in order to make it clear that the appeals process is available. I am concerned, however, if the NJSA changes their policy and facts about that policy, which doesn't seem to be any current indication that they will. But one can't predict to the extent the New Jersey law remains unchanged.
Should we have a provision in here that says that we will follow their guidelines to the extent that they comply with New Jersey law? So my my answer to that would be that if that happened, we would be updating our policy because of the law change regarding that exercise guidelines would change regarding that. That would be something we would actually do and update the policy if it wasn't compliant with the law. So I think there's different ways we could go about that, but that's happened before. That's why we get a lot of policy updates because the law changes. And so we do want to change our policy, but to get that to see how suddenly a
board decision, I would propose that we put in a permission because if the rules, if the sports rules change and the law does not change, our duty is to complete the court. I think to clarify, the idea is, I think what you're saying is if for some reason that JSIA changes their policy and is no longer complying with the law, just because we're following their policy, we're not going to follow their policy if
the policy goes against the law. Although I don't see that necessarily happening because that would accept so many schools. But I think that's what your question I have. I understand that it's unlikely, but in the interest of protecting the students, I wouldn't. I wouldn't urge just to put a provision in there that will continue to comply with New Jersey law at the event that the guidelines are changed in a way that doesn't, as opposed to a blanket commitment to public guidelines when we have no control over those guidelines.
None. Rescinded, not abolished. It was rescinded. It was each part of this policy is already in. So I just want to make that statement that doesn't. And again, second, next part is HISSI has a process that was
confidential. So we really don't know. The other one is the definitions of the terms with these policies are not very well defined. So specifically what is a woman needs to be defined very clearly. I would define that as some of the I would absolutely absolutely against it's
why problems on personal protective signs here within the play within ** spring summer, which is that is dangerous, dangerous and quite frankly the arguments of spring corn last week were heard clear where that's going. So most likely the federal laws make the decision are assumed that it might is
dictate other words, and I would not be in support of why individuals that be in X mix locker rooms in their sports and in their whistling where they're undressing or supposed to 100 in a decent matter which might actually come under. But that means by definition, you can't do it.
And that's not appealed. They allow what they go against. If I'm not afraid of if you remember, I said. With all due respect, your definition of what a woman is is entirely irrelevant in the New Jersey law. The law against discrimination provides that we as a school have to provide access irrespective of gender identity or expression. So your definition of a woman doesn't matter under New Jersey law. This policy isn't about women. It's about transgender children and their gender identity and how they identify is
determinate math. Whether they are a girl or a boy. For purposes not only of this policy, but for purposes of New Jersey law. And for purposes of it is absolutely irrelevant what my definition of a woman is or what your definition of a woman is, because the state of New Jersey by law, which we have taken an oath collectively to uphold, stated that we may not discriminate with respect to access to sports and changing
facilities and bathrooms based on gender identity or gender expression. That ends the inquiry. You don't need to define what a woman is. I don't care how I would define it or you would define it, and neither does New Jersey. You took an oath to uphold New Jersey law as it pertains to education. New Jersey law speaks specifically to this issue and says that we cannot discriminate based on gender identity.
You did. Don't need the policy. There's a lot of mandated policies. I just reiterate one of the things I've observed that when they have overlapping policies, they have a tendency to make them redundant and completing at exactly the same time.
Now that's a mystery in my mind, but it happens. It happens over and over again. This is an example in this particular policy and it's what folks gave and spoke to us and I understand their concerns that if we tell parents about minor children and their decisions, these children might be there the danger of going on with being abused. Now I'm sort of sympathetic with that but exactly at the same time it is the law in
state of New Jersey and our our attorney confirm this with us that if a teacher or counselor school in this state is in danger of being abused. They must have like this so it seems to be easy such a very conflicting thoughts. You can't withhold from the parents because you think the child's going to be abused and at the same time you think the child's going to abuse. You want to get in touch with the parents.
To me, this policy, at the point when you get not not required policies, the inevitability is that these background, as I say, redundant and conflicting simultaneously and I would just rather not be involved in that. State law dictates and I think we all stay and the next question is policies.
For whatever reason, state requires us. Even if those state policies just reiterate what the law is. I imagine the reason why they do that is so that individuals have an easy sense location to look at what's going on with the laws that have the code. And that's not as easy to do versus just going to our example corporate sponsors, what we're going to do in the state law box.
But again, if there's a state law, so most a lot of our policies just put a cut and paste, just take the law, put a policy this way, everyone is essential and we serve policies that just help them. That talks about, say, Navy rights. Again, we get policies that we're talking about
right now. There's not a required policy. There is a law. So we can state this. We have not changed our view with regard to the law. That's what I discussed somebody with regards to the interpretation I mentioned.
They have their own view, that's fine. But we have to adopt their view within their view. That's where I see the issues and I think I don't think anyones necessarily with
what they're saying just just reinforces it. We're just states that's how I see the issue and verification of what's going on and that's that's the issue. NJLAD New Jersey law against discrimination. That's the law we're talking about. That is in New Jersey, no person and we discriminate against no
matter who you are, what you are. I think Mr. Kaylan's comments are what his abuse or are discriminatory against transgender students. I think for that reason we should have the policy in place so that people understand that you cannot discriminate when there are laws in statement, New Jersey saying. So for that reason alone, I think you should have the policy in
place so that people understand what is considered the state of New Jersey 's. So where am I wrong? And I'm saying and, and for that alone, I have a personal opinion from a board member that's discriminated or mandated in the policy. And this was mandated. At least it's not a story. Just too harm to have the policy in place. That's the way it works, that's the law and people make the call as long as we don't like my call.
So whether someone believes a woman is what the definition of, I don't really think that's necessarily the issue. And she was the law issues living with. I'd like to return to your point about the message. Respectfully, you're wrong about whether the students
heard the message. We heard from Mary Sock, the advisor for the GSA, that she repeatedly gets asked by the students in the Gender and Sexuality Association, kids in the LGBTQIA community, that this is supposed to be covering. She gets repeatedly asked why the board of their heats them now. How do you reconcile that with your idea that no one has taken a connective message from the rescission of this policy?
She spoke at the last meeting where there was public comment on that. You said you hadn't or I understood you to be saying that you had not heard from any individual students, that they weren't taking a negative message from this being resented. Perhaps I miss, perhaps I misunderstood you. Well, let's talk about the message, right? But the message that we're sending this policy sent to the members of this protective community is that their rights don't matter. The things that were said about that community during the debate about this
policy were horrifically offensible and discriminatory. I'm not saying they were. They weren't. I'm sorry, right? And the message was heard loud and clear. The members of the LGBTQIA community at this school, irrespective of the fact that the law is out there, feel unprotected, unwelcome and at risk because of the board's actions for sending the policy. So you can't put the GD back in the right.
They can't on hear the horrific things that were said about them, the demeaning things that were said about them. But we can put the policy back in place. I don't think anyone on the board said anything demeaning or anything. As a member of the Clear Community, I can tell you a lot of what was said was offensive. I sat here during three board meetings and I listened to the comments and I also listened to the recording of the meeting that I missed. And as a member of the community, I tell you it was hurtful and defensive.
Not everything that was said, but a lot of what was said. Look, we're all missing the point of this discussion right? This discussion was supposed to be that when it was rescinded, it was put out there that let let's release it and let's amend it and then reintroduce it, OK? So I think what we should do right now is either someone make a motion to either they want to reinstate the policy, they want to and then the policy as per these suggestions or nothing.
Because we can go back and forth all day long with the debate. I don't think that's really getting anywhere. So that that's where I see us going right now with that, with this whole thing. We can't make a motion before one second. I just so someone there was a point where black people were enslaved. I would have been an abolitionist. There was a point where black people were under severe discrimination,
but I wanted one marched in the civil rights and was correct. Not necessarily what the law was mostly by the way. And by the way that we have discrepancy between federal law and state law. And then which law do you lose? That's what the slave owners a couple of things I wanted to respond to a very eloquent woman from the LBE of the source account and by the LPG community Laman
and spoke to us and she was as I said, she was very eloquent about the issues and are being concerned about. But she finished her very my final statement to us was she was very sympathetic and she understood that this particular policy is problematic. I think those words and words. This is a this is a problematic interpretation of the law. So because I've already said the second thing is Kenny,
I appreciate what you're saying. Maybe before we get any further in the weeds, because several of you did not hear were not able to be part of the conversation that we had with our attorney. We invite our attorney back in it and we start going through the the specifics of the policy which we had a chance to do. I think four people were not here at that time and able to go through because he was not supportive of this policy and there were reasons for that.
If everyone heard that again and I'd like to continue that that off my chest. The other two policies to life help that are being suggested. I would sure love to drop the mark about them before they end. Can I just see what the ability I don't think we anybody can make a motion to bring out the proxy tonight. It is out appropriately on the and the idea of moving on something or taking action on something is important.
Without providing a public opportunity for comments, I'm just responding to Jimmy's suggestion. Yeah, just because there's any perception and I get and again, that was one of my. I don't know if that's what they say, but that doesn't mean it's just because
someone feels a certain way. It's not always the case. The next step is what what, what were you saying is that were you
saying these college changes do nothing? Remark it for some further discussion with some further analysis. See where the law is. See what what's happening, you know, within the state, so to speak. Maybe the new Commissioner of Education is going to do something. I don't know.
Then we have more information, but I feel like it was.
Why just select one? Because it addresses issues that only address the transition to your personal. But that aside and having to speak to the attorney, but also with you, the student first in the fiscal, having this policy is helping to address the marginalized section of the student body grade. So if we're really here for students first, it should be both students. So those students also deserve respect. They deserve to have this policy written in place so that everybody knows most of
that health is getting handled in response to detention issues. So again, if we're really looking to take care of the students, these students matter just as much as everyone else. Maybe there's a confusion about what was discussed. None. None. I'm not saying we're collecting. I don't want to look at the person who says let's just keep a lot has perhaps to
have in the last five to six months a lot of discussion. What a sentiment from the public and then they can lose us downside by our attorney. Please. You may know to some extent our customers. This is not the first time again the the Board supports.
So the next three policies and regulations are all centered around the freedom to read. So that is new. The the new policy that came out of this, they created a policy purely focused on library materials because they wanted to separate that from regular resources.
And so this has it governs library materials a little bit differently and it gives very specific guidelines on or may not request a library material to be removed from the library. And that's really kind of the part of this. And so the the key piece in this, so this is a brand new mandated policy that we do not have, but it talks about the fact that an individual with a vested interest is the only person that can request a library material be removed.
And they define an individual with a vested interest as any teaching steps ever employed by the Board of Education. And apparently student enrolled in the school district at the time of removal, not in any student enrolled in a school district at the time of the report, but at the time of the report at the time. So this just governs this differently. There's a different process for review of curricular materials, but this is it's just basically outlining the process for requesting a library
material. As a result of this new policy and regulation, they have to update, they actually don't have the policy for resource materials. So they have to update the resource materials because now like our materials are considered separate from resource materials. So they just updated that policy. So that's separate and then public complaints as well. We have that policy as well. But again, they just send an update that one because
20 530 is mandated. I think, I believe they changed it to mandate. It's it's, I looked it up, it might say on the policy we have to see it's mandated. This one is mandated, just say recommended on there because there was a I'll have to check that. I'm glad you said that because I went, but oh, that one is recommended. OK, I'm glad you just clarified that. Yes, thank you. Thank you for clarifying that. I have to correct that. Other thing for that correction, I was curious how this is effects things
like current events, current events, articles and when you go through and how it has to everything has to be, you know, it's a process for approval, which makes sense for books and things like that. But when you have current events, how does that end? You're talking about current events in a class. Yeah. So if you put my note down on the resource materials, which one textbooks and that each had have a written request from that. So resource textbooks are different from they're, they're very specific.
The other types of materials they those don't need more approval. What we try to do, though, is in our curriculum, be as transparent as possible in terms of the resources that the teachers are using. If there's something new that they're going to use, they should really run by the supervisor for that reason. But it doesn't actually. Those are the only thing. I don't even know if they technically require more approval, but those are the only resources that really require more. The rest of them, I just wanted to clarify.
When there was a discussion about the summer reading list, somehow it got misinterpreted again. We were trying to ban some books, which we never were. My opinion was to look at my my Kindle and then my light started up. Every day it tells me that it has 10 million books available to base my electronic reader. And yet what we were doing that day was trying to select we were not banning or
burning or whatever else the other 9,995, 000 books we were. So I just wanted to clarify that that we miss this. This board has never talked about banning books. They're on a library show that somebody chooses to read them and it's not to read them. That is not what that discussion was about. Was about selecting 10 books for the summer. The library so and so for resource materials, we don't currently have that one pointed out because I'm just double checking it
must have been right mandated somewhere, but so we don't have to adopt that one, but we can public complaints we do have and we just need to make some slight revisions. That was not mandated, but we have because we have to adjust the part so that it clarifies that it's not for library materials.
OK, well if you want to send me your questions I can see what answers I can get. I keep I keep hearing, you know, that's we updated and our policy that policies that are not we updated.
Is that our job right to help the administration understand it, the public understand our policies owners that are on the website. So we should have policies on quality. None. We have to create policies that are within the guidance of the laws. And I'm more concerned about the communication so people can see them, so people can understand, so that our administrators of course,
specifically you said it's more policy and it's actually not our policy and it's also. I never said that they were to go further, but we're here to help run the schools
better and we do that. But I think we're miss focusing on service semantics with respect to this session are favorites to some extent. And let's please with certain types.
Just so you know, there are certain mandated policies that have options within the policies of the policies mandated still up to the board to make certain decisions within the policy. And they say that that person something like that. And so with respect to these policies that move forward and to lock down an
interpretation of something unrelated when we're just wasting time and it's great to hear everyone with each other, but I think that's the feeding the person. Again, my interpretation I'm speaking with that is the Lord's part of the issue such again there's a situation where two of
those forces in the business, which is when it appeared that was born versus individual. Let's stick with what the policy says which,
which version of the policy are we actually? So this is a new question, Strauss versus Randolph. I just looked. So our court attorney had shared with us another district's version of it, which is very close to Strauss, says my version, Strauss, is our policy, right? Our policy. It's a lot. Charging and go through with the ethics, it's very narrow in in scope. So, you know, just making a defamatory comments about
other board members, school just or anything like that that's actually an ethics violation. But that's something that's board members we should be upholding ourselves to and just as kind of how we sign the ethics every year. So yeah, we're going to abide by this. This is a policy and we're saying we're going to abide by that. And I think, you know, I've looked at Randolph and I looked to see community members kind of listed there. You don't want to just start to say meet somebody.
And even though you're on the point, you're saying I, this is my personal opinion, we should be holding ourselves to a higher standard if some schools go further and include emails and text messages, But that's more of a private conversation versus a public conversation. But that's what stress has been suggested. Their definition includes emails and texts, and one of their prohibitions would prohibit any board member from responding to any e-mail or issues that they receive about school business. Even to say you should talk to the Superintendent about that.
The one that stresses me, right? It's really hard to know. That New Jersey statement is boring. There's a policy for that statement. I mean, I think going to text some emails and stuff like that is going to, I think this, I would like the spirit of this to be
something like, let's say we had a heated debate over whatever it was here that one of the board members should not be going on Facebook or whatever their social media is and talking about the events that would happen and their personal opinion. I feel like that's like holding ourselves to a higher standard. Like to me, that wouldn't be appropriate. You are right.
But if but if you're talking about a specific thing that you were, you know, you're you're on the board that's discussing these things. And just like we have our Roberts conduct, that's just my opinion. I'm not saying we should police each other. And I'm just saying, like Heather said, holding ourselves to a spirit, like, I don't know if you can, if there's a way to word anything that could get that spirit across, But that's just. I don't think that's what the policy is.
Can I ask you some question? Are there any rules and regulations, laws and how it pertains to what can go on social media for board members as a whole? The difficult ethics that we abide by, like what right now is not like I would be in favor of a policy that stipulates what's allowed, what's not allowed, so that it helps insulate us from violations, right? Or for some. So right now, what is in place to make sure that
everyone doesn't violate by the laws, right? So is the policy just reinstating that again? Would the policy be upholding what our responsibilities are as board members of what we can and cannot discuss, or how things can be discussed on social media? This. It's the cost of things on our website that is, is is our code of acting available. I mean, that's what this is about. We have to, we have to uphold our code of social
media. You know what we're talking about. But I mean, that's essentially what it is. It might be helpful for the public to know our code of ethics. It's one paragraph. We should put it on the website so that we can be held accountable to that code. I just want to clarify what I said. It was the third one I didn't like. Was this policy? I'll see it again. It's just my subjective. You say what you mean. You mean what you say. A quick question, answer a quick question.
I know if we were camping. Yeah. No, that's OK. No, I just had a, when we were AQ and a portion, I guess of what the questions were and what they're asking us to do was to be more transparent to the public, right. I think that's also where you're getting at, Michael. So I think with a lot of this discussion on policy, whether it's mandated or not mandated, I think part of having policies that possibly are mandated or to have one place where the public can go to say, you know, these are the laws, these are the rules on our website.
It's better communication to the public so that they know what's going on before. But we have help to rather than having to go ahead and take all the different websites or maybe the state of New Jersey, at least it it helps put together in one place with these different policies. So I think that's what Michaels trying to get a experiment what policies really are for so that they say are they guidelines of what they're doing or not. I said there's been a lot of discussion about mandated and non mandated policies.
So, you know, so you know, I think like I said, the general public and a lot of the questioning when we were campaigning was where can people find out information about what's going on with the board, better communication with the public. And I think having maybe possibly non mandated policies also on the website, some place like a one stop shop where the public can look up and say, OK, like here's everything that the board is doing that it's encompassing what the policies are, what the laws that we have to follow so
that they don't have to end kick different websites to try and figure it out because it's difficult to do as a general public. We should be making things easier for the public to look at. All this on the website. I don't know exactly. You know, we're talking about whether or not to have policies that are mandated or not mandated. So if you have not mandated mandated anymore, But if we're talking about having a policy and putting a policy into place that's not mandated, do we do that or not? Do we do that or not? Social media, do they do that or not? The transgender policy, that's what I'm just talking about,
is we can opt to have policies that are not mandated to help clarify for the general public and for ourselves about certain topics. I get frustrated with some of the policies as well. However, it's very helpful to have the policy to point to when we're talking to parents, we're talking to community members just because for them, they're not going to go through the New Jersey Administrative Code or they're very unlikely to do that. But we have a policy that points to it as well as regulation that companies speaks
to the context of our district. I think that's why we have the policies when we know it already says in the law. That's why we have, you know, a lot of the policies that we purchase in the law. It's just a more user friendly format for the community, the policies because whether we used to have this conversation, you know, with Peter all the time about the policies and why we're going to do
something here. And so we have to have mandated policies. But why if literally some of the policies you read the law, you read the policy. It's almost to be a verbatim, but the fact that it's in our policy manual easily accessible on our website, but in our a lot of them are referenced in our handbook isn't having to go and search through New Jersey statute or administrative code. It makes a big difference, including the district. I don't think that's what you were just saying. That's why it's. None. Just look at this model policy numerous occasions,
since this policy prevents a more education member from social network, while this policy respects the right of foreign members to use such social network or members to a higher standard than the general public. If we want to.
That's some reason this is the moment. If the two people say that, some majority say we should have some sort of office like that, but it's worth the craft. That's the point of this discussion. Again, this is more discussion. No actions being taken since they began to.
That's the purpose of this. It's again a sense. That was the reason why I created so we can have a sense versus where four or five people say like a waste of time. So I just felt it was better. And a lot of the conversation, I respect the conversation. I respect there much more than we only think it's very healthy discussion. And again, at no point I think anyone's right or anyone's that's right or necessary.
I respect the and they're all very good and they're all very valid, and it's just how you come to. So you know, obviously we're all upholding the ethics, but the big thing is a different series just more than person standards and defamatory comments. So right now if I was to go on one of the community forums and start talking about Michael and his bow ties and how he talks and does all of this and I start being
saving him, not so. Yeah. And I start and I just it's relentless and people are defending him and I just keep going after and making comments about that. What is there as I'm criticizing him or anybody else in the community or students I didn't wait to play and how horrible it was going on and on and on. What is the policy right now against or that is basically disparaging school students or anything like that? So what if it's if it's just regular?
What if it's regular citizens? Like let's say it's it's someone that can't no, let's say it's well, this applies to and their families or their families. So I right. So if I start going after someone that's that's potential important and I start kind of. So let's say I did that. So let's say I did that normally, then it would be basically what's here
stop and anybody really that's this is just reinforcing already. Well, actually it lists 8 unlucky 3 and 1. And it says when you see social networks, board members are advised to. And then it lists about 8 things that you're not supposed to do. And then it says board members shall comply with all the board policies regarding acceptable use of computers. And then if the board or Superintendent believes a board member's activity on any
social network may violate the board's policies or the New Jersey School Ethics Act, the board or Superintendent may request the board members see such activity. That's so if the board votes that what you're doing violates the rules. Right, So she may request that you see that's I don't see it right now. I would call the board president and say this might be a problem, you know,
because I don't, I don't usually govern. If I see something that might be an issue, that's where I go to the board president so that he can address. I. Yeah. I do think everyone's preference is. I mean even the. The next item of reporting session, as they mentioned that they have expanded an ad hoc committee with all ruling not to do what was necessary to get us to a
point or a final. The final document was presented to us, presented to the public. I believe that it has been done. At this point, it's with the report, It was discussion with respect to the report, but everyone said to discuss the report,
the writers of other report correctly. None. I guess some of us were more about some of us, but as well, that's the 1st order of business.
Whether or not a couple of people would it be better for us to be any specific question, you know, give them a list of specific questions instead of just asking random questions. You know, they've already kind of gone over and it seems like we should make it more purposeful, like because of the whole purpose of this, are we going to act on any of these
suggestions or, you know, do we want further information if we're going to act on any of these? None thorough it's video tapes suggestion that we have. As already said, you guys have already taken some of that feedback and are looking at it. So it's a question or a discussion of our levels to like what what areas do we want
us to look at and then how how do we work with key gates as to where we success. Kathy's point out like ridiculously, we have a well coming and levels and what do we need to do? I think it needs to be. I like that. So we we actually did have a discussion about this at our regional route will be
on Friday. That's where the five super times of the districts meet once a month. And the articulation piece was a key piece of it. What I've been doing is it doesn't seem like anyone does it really well in the state. I've been reaching out to different regional some of them were kind of well within his personnel changes in the different districts that he wants of a priority. So nobody seems to have. I was hoping somebody would tell me do it this way this this works really well. But the five of us had a really good conversation about, you know,
we have some stronger articulation and the coordination, the vertical coordination is one thing, but it's really the coordination across the floor that would help destroy this thing. Because if all the students are coming in at the same point, even if you know, there's going, there's always going to be. And they're going to be different here based on, you know, the context of each year and the different strengths of the students. But at least if they were all on a level playing field coming in and we knew what that was across the four districts, you know,
that would be a lot easier for them transitioning to the high school. So I had a very good conversation about we were actually shared some resources from some of the regional districts that being consulted for our strategic plan for other islands. When you start connecting with other people, plan purposes, we actually want to visit and look at their academic program last week. And there's also about their articulation. He shared with me some of the documents that they're starting to develop for six
through 12 articulation. So I shared those with four Zooms, and we're going to look at that and see, you know what, we can come up with something that is something that absolutely we really need strength. Yep. So that is, you know, so that's one of the things we're certainly looking at. We also talked about our special directors, actually a really nice job of articulating superintendents meeting, actually having special directors so we can talk about some. So we've been taking things from the report to say, look at, you know,
the realization piece is just a whole. I just don't think that's, it's very obvious for the communities that that's not a vote that they have support. So that's why I want to focus on what can we do for better coordination rather than, you know, yeah, the visualization piece has more into sharing services. So, you know, other ways that we can help make it structure better and also ways that we can perhaps which we know we have, which registrants out of the state Mr. Scientific range over like 3 years of really trying to find opportunities for
that, you know, so that's what we've been. We can certainly have more discussions around that as well. We started discussing about five years ago point plus the spell that was the smell and we kept using that term. That's going to turn off a lot of people. So we really have to focus as well on shared services. We better bring everyone together and see where we can benefit.
So as far as the record is concerned and that it's worthwhile academic exercise without great information as far as. None. It's not about us, it's not about them, but almost about the students. What's going on? That's not really what this is about.
So as far as the next steps are concerned, I would just like to discuss whether or not I think we benefited and we got a free report. I learned a great deal that we just move forward.
I mean, I don't have a problem with just moving forward as much as I look forward. This is maybe go against it. I think I just don't see it as the corner or realize that. But the new governor coming in is very poor regionalization. And they really want excitement of this article here because I sent you to our mayor maybe 70 or 80. So even though I know most of our towns do not want to regionalize,
I still think that we have to in some ways kind of we talked about it before. We just forced him to invite friends and telling us you have employees if we don't somehow, you know, get ahead of him. I mean, in Florida, I think it's county districts, just however, in our counties, counties, the district and I think certainly in New Jersey, again, that's been a discussion. I know that New Jersey, the number of years whether it's
municipalities or school districts or that. And again, if you're looking back from down 700 to 70, but it's only 21 counts theoretically going to 21 school districts and then is that going to happen?
Again, if you look at the financial benefits there are some are not saying there aren't any money. At the end of the day, the number of students divide it all meet those teachers. So save money, simple, get rid of the students, but don't just keep we're going to save money, but administrative box savings.
My personal duties are French ideas. I don't think we want to have the information. So if we have to try to get ahead of it, we have the information to go. So I think the best way to get ahead of the best way is to get. It's that point we have maybe incorporate, I don't know,
on a quarterly basis or something, something that gives us a sense that where it's going, it gives the public a sense of what we actually took out of that report and that works if we want. What I do too is that they have a separate document that was recommendations. We can go through those and perhaps highlight the ones that were looking at right now prioritizing so that way that we can revisit those and some of them
might be financial, some of them educational. But then what I'll say with all of this, we are in a good spot because part of the reason I would always push you to regionalize is all 5 districts are very big districts. It's not that, you know, somebody's in a failing district and they're like, oh, we can combine and go to this great high school or go to the all 5 districts are very good. The issues that were five different districts and so we have 5 different administrations and five different parts of education. We are working to look different.
So if we can get on the same page with that, that will help us a lot. But you know, again, we are we're in a better position at most because even there are five different districts or all 5 very good districts are very high performing districts. So that's much easier to work with other situations you can have of all those other. The. Yes. Yes. Mr. Second, I'm sorry, I apologize for this question. Mr. Decker Mr. Gallagher Mr. Any other business?
It's a surprise. So what happens is we'll reach out to the chair of the committee to schedule a time and then you'll get you'll get e-mail invitation to go up absolutely with what we try to do. And then usually at the first committee meeting, we kind of check with everyone on the committee what works best. Some committees before the morning, some early afternoons, but we do it based on the.