Go ahead. >> Thank you. >> I call to order a regular meeting of the Wong Burough School District Board of Education. It is September 18th, 2025 at 7 p.m. Everyone, please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. No, I love made me laugh. Good way.
Welcome to a meeting of the board of education of the burrow of Waang. Please be advised that this and all meetings of the board are open to the public and media consistent with the open public's meeting open public meetings act chapter 231 laws of 1975 and that the advanced
notice required therein has been provided. This is a regular meeting of the board of education of the bureau of Wong at which formal action may be taken. This meeting is being livereamed on the district website where a recording of the meeting will also be posted. The public will have an
opportunity to be heard as shown on the agenda at points in the meeting provided for the public to address the board. Recording or photographing other than for private personal use requires the consent of parents or guardians whose children may be included in the image.
Have a roll call, please. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Amado >> here. >> Mr. Frra. >> Mrs. Stuette >> here. >> Mrs. Maddox >> here. >> Mrs. Aglaro >> here.
>> Okay. Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Craft, and Mrs. Santos are absent. >> Thank you. Okay. So, moving on to presentations. Uh, we'll start with a referendum update from Connor O'Brien of Legacy
Construction Management. [Music] [Music] Good evening. Um, tonight, keep it short and sweet to the couple projects we still have open and ones that we um just issued purchase orders for. So, with the
outdoor learning commons here at Valley View, um that project, the concrete was sealed this past weekend off hours to avoid any um disturbance with the classroom with the uh vapors and the smells. That was completed this past weekend.
Um the concrete the next step for that area is going to be the railing along the seating in the back. That's supposed to be done the first week of October. Once that's complete, we'll have the engineers, the architects, as well as the township do a partial inspection. And then once that is completed and
signed off on, the space can be utilized at that point. Um the actual shade structure won't be uh received until early November. And then they'll have to do the installation. Um we're anticipating complete completion of that project before Thanksgiving. So that project would be fully completed before
Thanksgiving. Um so once we have those inspections, we'll communicate with the administration if they choose to use the space. That'll be up to them and we'll coordinate um the shade structure installation um in accordance with the school uh schedule. Um the HVAC project
that has been ongoing, we've been in closeout. We're still working through some final paperwork and discussions regarding some credits and some change orders. So, that's still ongoing. Um we hope to have that completed before the next board meeting. Everything closed out, but that's a process. Um we're not
necessarily in agreement on everything at this moment, but we're still working through those items. Um the fields here at um Valley View, the purchase order was issued. um the contractor alongside with the architect and legacy have been
working with the administration as well as the principal for signoffs on the designs as well as the color selections. Um that also that project is slated to be completed right now depending on approvals from the township as well as the soils commission um possibly as
early as Thanksgiving. if we need soils permits um from the county that could delay at least 30 days. So that we'll find out early next week if we're going to be required to get that. Um we're right at that fringe point on the disturbance. So we're going to see if um we're going to be required to do that.
We'll know next week. So um that's the plan. The work can happen. I mean I guess November and December gets cold, winter can get here soon. Um we'll see what happens and we'll adjust and make the schedule adjustment as needed. Um, that's the projects that we currently
have going on. I don't know if there's any other general questions for those couple items. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thanks, Connor, for being here. >> Okay. Now, we have Gwen Thornton from the New Jersey School Boards Association
to give us a presentation on the board of education board member roles and responsibilities. He's very tall. I can down. I'm not that tall. We're going to be >> yourself. >> You're not blocking me. Um I brought with me this evening um our new field
service representative for Somerset and Hunter County. This is Kathy Porier. Um she's a former member of the Delaware Township Board of Education where she served for nine years. She was board president and vice president. She was also uh the president of the Hunter County School Board Association for the
past two years as well. I've had the pleasure of working in Hunter County, so I obviously know Kathy pretty well. Um and I brought her along with me tonight to introduce her to you um because I know that she will be helping all of you moving forward. So I wanted to bring her
with me um and she will be tossing in comments as necessary through this presentation. So um I glad to see all of you and the amphitheater looks wonderful. It's really come along. It looks great and so exciting. So this is
really an overview of the role of the board of education. This should be pretty familiar material for all of you um at this point in time. Obviously you know that you are elected by your community but you are elected by your community. Um your power is derived from
the state of New Jersey. you are elected officials and as such you're elected officials of the state of New Jersey. Um, and that's a really important piece um just to remember because the state grants you the authority but you then have the obligation to ensure that your
district is following all state laws and regulations. It's not optional. It's a part that goes with it as well as um any kind of local mandates as you talk about soiled locally looking at those. You have to comply with all of those things as well. So, it's just important to know
that you were elected by the community um to represent this every child in the community of Waong Burough. And that's a really critical important piece when you consider your school district and understand when you think about it. Every group within your school district
has an opportunity to participate fully such that um parents can come and comment at the board meetings. They can vote and have their voices heard that way. Your teachers have an association by which they can be heard as well. Um, but the only people without a voice
truly are your students. So, you are their voice. You represent every child. You are the children's voices. And that's a really important piece to remember about your role. Okay. Um, again, one of the important piece of
course is that as publicly elected officials, you want to make sure that you're maintaining the confidence and respect of your community by acting in an ethical way. Um, one of the things I was always most proud proud of as a board of education member is you are the
largest group of unpaid public officials in the state of New Jersey that agree to live by a code of ethics. And I think that speaks volumes about board of education members because it's something that we live by um and something we agree to do on a regular basis is to
look at that and say what do we need to do to stay within the constraints of our roles and responsibilities. So um in terms of the board of education is sort of the division of labor between your administration and their function and the board of education and your
function. Um you have that um responsibility that is to look at the district from a 20,000 ft level. Um a a telescope if you would not a microscope. You are responsible for saying what you
want to see happen but making it happen and how that happens is the responsibility of the administration. You are the what people. Your administration are the how people. So your responsibility is to provide oversight but not to engage in the day-to-day operations of the school
district. That is why you have educational leaders who provide that function for you. Okay. So you say what, but the how is the responsibility of your administration. What and how. And I think that's a
really simple way to always remember. Um if you are thinking about operating beyond what you're supposed to do, if there's someone in the district that's paid to do it, you it's probably not your responsibility to be doing it because that's why you have
administrators and teachers. Okay. This is one of my favorite things. Whoops. Sorry. It's overly sensitive again that you're up in the balcony. You're not down dancing on the floor, right? You're
up there looking down at all of the folks dancing. But the people who are dancing, and believe me, sometimes they really do believe they're dancing are your school leaders and teachers and administrators because they make the district run and to run very well. Um, we often say to boards, your
responsibility is to ensure through that oversight role that the district is wellrun, but you don't run the day-to-day operations of the school district. Okay, so in thinking about this, this is one of my favorite things, and I don't think I've ever shown you this slide before. How many board of
education members does it take to change a light bulb? I would say >> how many >> I I make them. They have to think about this. >> Five. >> Five. A majority of the board. That's a rational guess. Thank you very much for
that. Anybody else? Look at going just don't call on me. I know I won't die. Okay, here we go. Okay. None. >> It is not your job to change the light
bulb. It is your job to say you want to have light, but it is the administration's decision as to what kind of light. Is it solar? Is it incandescent? Is it fluorescent? It is not your job to change a light
bulb. Um, and I think it's a good easy way to think of it, right? You're not changing the light bulb, but you can ask that the light bulb be changed. Okay. Amazing. Okay. You've heard me say this
for all the times I've ever been here. Your job is not to see that this you run the schools, but to see that they are well-run. And that is the easiest, simplest way. You have four major functions. By definition, you are a policymaking body. You're responsible
for ensuring that there is a um welldesigned curricular program that meets the needs and provides equitable access to all students as well as a co-curricular program to meet students where they are to take them to where they need to be.
Your third responsibility is to provide oversight through the budget and through the evaluation of the superintendent. Your superintendent is the one employee in the school district. You hold the superintendent accountable for all staff's performance. And then through the selfie value, you hold yourselves
accountable for your performance. And your fourth responsibility is around communication, ensuring that you are transparent and you are providing accurate complete information as much as you're able to do to your community as well as listening to the input of your
community and what their vision of what education in Wong should look like. and those are your primary responsibilities. Things that don't fall within those categories are not within your responsibilities to address.
So your administration has that operational focus. You have that strategic focus. we just completed not too long ago and presented your completed strategic plan where you've invited your community and your staff to be involved to talk about what is our
vision for the future what does education need to look like in Wong and then over time how do we get from where we are today to where we want to be and so that is an important role for the board to keep that long-term strategic plan strategic vision in place about
where we want the district to But getting there that administrative perspective in administering that is the responsibility of your um operational focus. So there they are policy planning
oversight and appraisal and two-way communication. So at every one of your board of education meetings you have public input when you have um various kinds of activities where parents are involved. Again there are lots of ways to gather that input. It is important to
have those two-way communications. Um, but it's also very important for you to recognize um that sometimes you have to make hard decisions based on the information that you have. Okay. Individual board members authority and
this goes back to the five whoever who said five that was a really good guess because on a nine member board as you know it takes a majority of the board to direct the superintendent. It takes a majority of the board to approve almost everything. Although some items you need
more than a majority. You need a 2/3 or 3/4 um vote of the board. But by and large a majority vote carries the day. And so only the majority of the board has the authority to de require the superintendent to take action or to
approve something that moves your district forward. You operate by committees. Committees can only recommend to the board of education actions. They cannot bind the board to any decision. It's the full board of education by virtue of a majority. So,
you know, one member of the board cannot make decisions on behalf of the board. All nine of you, including your officers, only have one vote. So, in that sense, you are all absolutely equals um in making decisions for moving
the district forward. Okay. So, one truly is the loneliest number. If you wish to make change in your district, you have to get at least four other colleagues on your board to agree with you. And optimally, coming to consensus
or working together to come to know shared decisions is even better. I'm not suggesting that everything should be determined by a five only vote. What I am suggesting is that's at the minimum that you need to make change. And in on
a lot of items, it's really very helpful to have general consensus around the board. So it goes so fast. So you know it there comes to a point where there's a fork in the road. You've gone past that fork. I am delighted to say through the years,
through the training, through working together um to understand that you need to be an effective team. There needs to be a collaborative relationship between your school leaders and the board of education so that you can work
toward progress in the district in a positive way. Right? Um, and sometimes that's difficult, but it is really worth cultivating that relationship to ensure that um, all voices are heard and that means all board members, but that you
also seriously and thoughtfully consider all of the recommendations of your administration of your superintendent of your school principles as articulated by the superintendent. Okay, we've talked a little bit about this, but I you know the one piece and
you set your board goals, you've done your self-evaluation, you really have become a model board. Um, we talked a lot about communications. I think it's you can't overcommunicate. I think that's an ongoing thing that you have to really focus on and that's an appropriate role for the board of
education. you should be able to celebrate um all of the successes of your district as well as look at those areas where perhaps it needs additional attention um and make sure that you're focusing on those things so that students are moving forward to reach
their individual potentials. Okay. So, what's the superintendent's role? They're the chief adviser to the board. They provide you all of the background information um and knowledge that you need to have to make informed decisions. Um, additionally, they are chief
executive officer and responsible for the oversight of all staff within the school district in terms of personnel decisions in terms of um working toward the creation with the business administrator of a budget that will support all of the initiatives and focus
items that you wish to pursue. um and the educational leader staying up to date um with the latest kinds of changes in the educational space um with the changes at the federal level even the changes for example in the state of New Jersey for example they
changed the uh New Jersey student learning assessments this year staying up to date on all of those changes and making sure that your students and your staff are prepared for those changes as you move forward all of those things are the responsibility of your
administration Um this is just another way of looking at it. Um and what is that division of labor? So again, you know, the superintendent keeps the board informed at all times. Um one of the things I often say to boards as the most
fundamental rule of effective governance, the board does not surprise the superintendent. The superintendent does not surprise the board of education. You want to make sure that you are communicating effectively. Um that you have um committee minutes that
are ready and can be reviewed by your full board of education so that when you get to the board table and need to make decisions, you can have informed discussions and you can have enough information to make the very best decisions for the school district. Okay.
So again, you know, your superintendent is your partner in this process. Um and you always want to make sure again that you are taking under advisement all of the recommendations and best thinking of your administration. Again obviously you are the decision makers but it is really
helpful to have that partnership that is a positive one so that you can continue to move forward. Um some tips for brand new board members. oftentimes um people who come to boards of education if they're coming from the private sector um and some of
you um may have come from that space um sometimes find that change in education doesn't go as quickly as one might hope that there are all kinds of constraints um that you have to operate under the negotiated agreement has very specific
guidelines around what you can do with teachers and what you can't um there are all kinds of different ways um that Um you need to understand that education while it is there is a business side to it, it is not a profit model. Um and so
it is dramatically different than most things in the private sector. Um so again, you know, no surprises at the board table. You should not blindside each other. You should not blindlyside the administration. That doesn't mean you can't ask questions, right? You
obviously absolutely should always ask questions so that you have enough information to make good decisions, but you should give a heads up to your administration if you have questions or concerns about items on the agenda so you can get your questions answered
ahead of time. It's likely if you have a question, other members of the board might have that same question and that way that information can be disseminated to you so that you all have that information ahead of time. And that is a very helpful practice. Okay.
Um why is it not going? Um following the chain of command. Um we've talked about this before. Um board members often times are asked by members of the community perhaps. Um I always found that they waited until you got to the
frozen food section of the Shopright or the Acme or whatever store, Kings, which is no longer here. Makes me sad. um in Warren um to ask you about something best thing that you can do because you can't solve their problems for them is
to give them access. So helping them to understand who they need to speak to first and following that chain of command that you are the court of last resort and if you involve yourself in a trying to address a parent's concern um
way down here don't guide them appropriately when it would get to the board table you would have to recuse yourself. So helping parents to understand that they need to talk to the person closest to the problem or the concern which would be with the child's
teacher and then to the principal and then to the superintendent so that they're not thinking that you can solve their problem. Most board of education members would like to be able to solve people's problems. I know I would love to solve everybody's problems. Nobody
asked me, but I I really would. Um nonetheless, that's not your role, right? You don't have that authority. You can't move them from one classroom to another classroom. You can't make sure that, you know, they get an extra day off in a in a week. There's nothing
you can do to solve those problems. What you can do is to guide them to the appropriate person to get help. Um, also really important is for you all to follow that same chain of command um when talking about board business. So
talking to the committee chair first if you have a question and then talking to the administrative liaison if there is one to a particular committee and then talking to the superintendent. So the board following that same chain of command that you expect parents to
follow is very helpful um in terms of how you operate. Okay. >> Please struggle with and community a lot to help and it can kind of feel awkward
to have to tell parents you know I can help you with that but I can refer to the person that can help you with that actually is the best and kindest thing you can do because it will help constructively solve their Thank you.
>> So, um, just a couple of reminders. Um, you know, as a publicly elected official, what you may have been able to say the day before you were elected to the board of education, you can no longer say. Um, sometimes people really struggle with that. I've had board members say to me, I it was easier to be
a member of the public and get up here and comment. Well, yeah, sort of it is in some ways, but you can make affect change from where you sit. And that is a very powerful thing, but you have to be mindful that your words carry a
different weight um once you become a board of education member. And that's important to to remember. sharing confidential information um exposes the district to liability and that's not in a pos a position that any of you want to put the district in. So making sure you
maintain the confidentiality of executive session, you know, personnel and students have certain um rights to maintain their privacy and their confidential nature of what it is that their right to have. Um, and you want to
make sure that you are always protecting it, which is why you read, you can't take pictures of someone without the permission of their parents. It's that point. It's around privacy for students and staff. That's important to maintain. Um, again, you want to make sure that
you're modeling the behavior that we would like to see in our children. Um, you you are models as a as a board of education. Trust me when I tell you you can go on to the internet and watch boards of education where that is not the case
and you need to be mindful that you are modeling the behavior you would like to see um with children and maintaining civility and decorum is a really important piece especially today. So um working together just in summary
um is a critically important um and I think you all know that and have recognized that. Um so I I know that this is information you have heard before but I think it's important for your public to hear it again. Um and I think it's important for your public to know that they're very fortunate to have
a very committed board of education like yourselves who give of your time freely. Thank you for that. Um, it's not board recognition month, but I won't be back here on board recognition month to tell you that we truly do appreciate the work that you do for all the children in your
school community. Um, I think from my perspective, it's almost the purest form of democracy. You live and represent every child in your community. Um, and you do that well. So, thank you for that. Um, I of course can't leave
without an advertisement. uh and that is that I hope to see you in Atlantic City or at least some of you in October. It's a wonderful opportunity um to do additional professional development. Um there are 255
different course offerings. Um I know because I had to approve every one of those 255 courses. Um so I Oh yeah. I mean it runs for three solid days. You can go from morning until nighttime. Um
and and there's some fun I I will grant you in that. But it's a wonderful opportunity to network with board members from all across the state. Um and so you can do your mandatory training in person while you're there as well as go to all kinds of professional development on every possible topic you
can imagine from special education to gifted and talented um to AI to um assessments, testing um personalized instruction. picks a topic in education, we have courses available for you on
that with leaders from all across the state who volunteer their time to come down and and do that work with you. So, please if you can um come, we would love to see you and I thank you for your time and attention and I hope to see you also at the county
meeting too which is 20 whatever it is 8th 20th. Is it really >> October? It's octo. It's October. See, I lose track of time. Okay. >> Celebrate your day. >> And we're here to help you be an
effective school and your students. >> Microphone. >> The microphone. Yeah, you may do that. >> Let's say we're here to help you support your school, support your school and your students and your administration. So you can call me. I'll leave some
business cards with your business administrator and I'm happy to help you. If you have your board goals done, you've done your self-evaluation. That's great. And you're engaging in training. So you're already doing really well as a board and I thank you for what you do and look forward to working with you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you for being here. >> Thank you very much. Uh, moving on to a presentation on summer pursuit of excellence from Valley View. >> Me or you? >> Me or you? That's what I'm asking you.
The PowerPoint we have. >> No, I can I can too. But you're here and you do you have so much energy for it. >> Energy one week. >> Energy for the projects that >> I can't even see it. Erin, I'm moving
your thing. Okay. Are you going to put the slideshow? >> There's no slideshow. >> There is. I sent it to you Tuesday. Pursuit of Excellence Summer. I asked you this morning at Mayberry, too. >> Do you want me to read the principal's
report while we're waiting for the slideshow? >> I'll get it. Go ahead. Po. >> I'm gonna send it to him again, too. All right. Okay, principal's report September 2025. Come on, Denise. We're sharing a piece
of >> Come on up. >> We are off to a very strong strong start this year with both schools engaging students in a variety of academic and social emotional learning experiences. At Bayberry Elementary, we held our first all school meeting on September
8th. Our schoolwide theme this year is focusing on building connections through kind words and actions. During the meeting, students practiced the school cheer and enjoyed a fun and spirited staff versus student competition that reinforced our sense of community.
>> That's both of us. >> At Valley View, Title One and multilingual learner parent meeting was also held on September 8th. Families received an overview of both programs through a slideshow presentation and had the opportunity to ask questions and learn
more about the supports available to their children. Valley View also hosted picture day. Oh, I'm sorry. How did I go? >> I'm going to go halfway. >> You can go the whole thing. >> Valley View also hosted picture day on September 12th. And on September 15th, we launched our first mountaineer Monday
of the year. Students met in their team color groups for introductory lessons, established group norms, and took part in community building activities to strengthen peer connections. >> In addition, >> Okay. In addition, Valley View students who
were recently introduced to the wide range of clubs and athletic opportunities available to them this year. Signups closed yesterday and we are excited to share that participation is an all-time high. We would also like to thank our PTO for the new blue benches in front of Valley View.
Students will soon receive new Chromebook cases during our next Mountaineer Monday along with a lesson on how to best utilize them to improve overall organization. And thank you again to the PTO for helping fund this. Additionally, we we Bayberry and Valley
View extend our gratitude to CPAG for providing academic planners which will also support our students in staying organized and managing their learning effectively. This past week, why I'm so tired, we welcomed families back for Valley Views back to school nights. It was wonderful to see so many parents
attend. The evening began with a brief welcome presentation including an overview of HIV procedures and the code of conduct followed by classroom visits where parents had the opportunity to meet teachers and learn about more about grade level expectations.
You do the rest. Looking ahead, Bayy's back to school nights will be held on September 25th for grades 2 through 4 and September 30th for preschool through first grade. Finally, across both schools, students in grades K to 8 are completing the I Ready diagnostic
assessments. Once finished, students will be provided with individualized learning paths and teachers will use the data to guide instruction and target student needs. Overall, it has been a positive, energetic start to the year, and we look forward to continuing the
momentum in the weeks ahead. >> Yeah, ladies. >> All right, you got your >> Erin, do you have the slideshow? There he is. >> So, our summer pursuit of excellence program was another big hit. Um,
students in addition to do reinforcing skills for language arts and math, they also took those skills and applied them to creating ancient civilizations. Um, I wish we could show you the projects in person, but the kids wanted to take them home. They were so proud of them. So,
instead you get a slideshow. Um one thing that we added to the program was having the students do a type of uh interactive museum where um parents and administration came and teachers also and the students presented. So they had to write a presentation as well as
create and do the research and we were fortunate enough to go around and see them. So that's what the slideshow is. Erin, you can run it. I'm not going to read it. Keep going. So this the these slides just tell you about the skills that were used at each
grade level. Um our grade four students incoming fifth fifth grade skills. Keep going Aaron. Sixth grade. We want to see the pictures. Seven. Thank you. Um it like I said it was related arts as well for ancient civilizations.
And here you go. We have a couple Mesopotamia, some ancient India, ancient Greece, ancient Egypt. [Music] They did a a great job. Is that it? Yep, there's some more.
Ancient China, African kingdoms. And then these are some of the parents, administrators, and peers were going around as they were presenting here in the APR, which to me is the most fun part for them to brag and share all their accomplishments. And that's it.
>> I know it was hard to read, but I think it's really important that people understand it was problem based learning, right? So that the students used >> all of that research, their scale drawings, everything you saw there. Um,
but it is, even though it's fun, an academic program and it is geared towards um the English language arts and math topics by grade level. Again, they're there and we'll post the um
presentation, but I for me it is powerful that they love doing it. They have so much fun being able to build and present their projects and at the same time, right, they're analyzing those key
ideas and their point of view. And >> right, the the way it was structured, it was a rotation. They would go to a math workshop in one room, then they would go to a language arts one in the other. So, they'd be working on those skills separately, and then they would actually do the building here. So seeing them learn how to do things like use a ruler,
how to measure things, how to do in scale. Um they were doing skills like that in addition to the reading and the research, in addition to the mathematics that they were working on. Um my favorite part of the feedback was I had parents who said there's no way I'm going to try to get my child there, but
then once they came the first couple days, they didn't want to miss a day. So those are the types of reactions. It's very hard to get students who struggle in any academic area to do more of it, especially on their summer break. The kids really enjoyed it. They got a lot out of it. So, >> and I and for me, the interdisciplinary
piece was just they loved they just loved it. >> Yeah. Oh, no. They they they Yes. Yes. Having the the um project be the end goal always helps them. Um so, thank you to the board for helping fund that. I appreciate it.
>> Thank you. Okay. Uh, presentation for district student safety data system submission for period 2, January through June 2025. >> Yep, [Music] that's me. Um, and I will remind you
that we do these presentations twice a year. We did one already for period 1 uh that ended December 31st and this is, as Jen just said, January through June. So, it's always a backwards look. And I also
want to remind people that you're looking at these numbers, right? Violence, vandalism, HIV, other incidents. I am going to go through what each of those are and what they mean. Again, just so so everybody is aware um
districtwide. And I think that it's important um to to understand this. We had one alleged hib at Bayberry, one alleged HIB at Valley View. Different
reporting. I'll I'll keep moving on with that. But we had no restraints and seclusions. We had no incidents. Hold on, I have to go to a different sheet to tell you this. But also no incidents
of at Bayberry. I'll do it that way. no incidents of violence, vandalism, substance abuse, weapons at Bayberry um and uh one alleged HIP in this um
period. There were seven other incidents from things outside of this. I'll talk about that separately. at Valley View. Um for the period 2, we had the
out of order. We had um no we had one incident of violence. Again, I will explain what that means. Um, we had no incidents of vandalism as reported during the period, but it does come up
as another an other incident leading to removal. No substances, one alleged and one confirmed HIV. when we're talking about um harassment, intimidation, and bullying. When we're
talking about, you know, violence is assault and fighting and robbery and sexual assault, threats, vandalism is um can be arson, computer trespass, uh damage to property,
um again theft, substance use. Um we do have again an example of that under other incidents. Um but we as far as the reporting goes right as a district the fact that
we are on a daily basis and I will credit the principles, our counseling staff, our teaching staff, the work we do again bringing in assemblies. This is um
amazing. These numbers are really good. When I talk about the incidents leading to removal though and when we're talking about behaviors, those are the things you hear us talk about over and over again. And I do want to make sure it's clear that they're
they are two separate topics. So um at Bayberry like I said we show in period 2 seven incidents other incidents leading to removal from school and um what those
incidents are they are things that don't meet the criteria for reporting in violence in vandalism in substance abuse or weapons or HIP whether it's an alleged or confirmed. Sometimes it's a code of conduct or um a different
category. But um these things do lead to students being removed from school. And if a student is removed from school for a half a day or more, it gets reported under this other
incidents leading to removal. And I want to give you an example. So for Bayberry um you have six seven incidents and one alleged HIV. So examples of those other
incidents leading to removal. It may vary um they are almost all inappropriate physical contact towards staff or another student. again um tied to regulation behaviors, right?
Not an assault, not a an act of violence. The alleged HIV, the unfounded HIV, remember to be um founded to be a confirmed HIV, it has to be due to a
protected characteristic. So um an alleged HIV let me try and think of examples um because we do have to investigate them even if they don't rise to that
level. So um a student a student may be um left out of something a game for a perceived protected characteristic. So we have that is an example of the other not the
confirmed. And again if we look at um our chart on the agenda you can see Bayberry um and Valley View each have an alleged example and then again these incidents leading to removal. I gave you the
examples for Bayberry at Valley View. Those examples um also include um that negative physical contact. However, we had an example of um someone with a
vape in school, right? That is a violation. We have an example of vandalizing a bathroom, right? That's an example. Our confirmed HI meaning um based on a protected characteristic
was um uh tied to intimidation based on that protected characteristic. Another HI right social media and we've had those conversations before. Um I think that we are looking forward to inviting
Sergeant Rich back. He was with us the year before last doing uh social media and um HIB workshop for students and for parents. The um alleged offenses again
go back to code of conduct violation or one of these other reasons um offensive language or um if it offended me. Do you want >> correct? >> That's
>> and that's where >> no but that's where I'm saying behavior or code of conduct versus um a protected characteristic. >> Right. Sometimes it's just a false and we do have to investigate each of those.
So thank you. Um the other things on that come on this report nothing else for us here the trainings and the programs last year um and many years right we start the year with our staff
trainings our par trainings you had a board right HIV training at the beginning um and as the year goes on we do a repeat for new staff for new paras last year um at Valley View we had Mikey
Fallon. You might remember um in January the parent evening and then at the end of the year in May we had the parent HIV session tied to our fifth grade orientation. So those are the kinds of things you're be that's reported under
the trainings and programs. this year. Um, like I said, we are already starting with our staff training at the back to school nights. We had um parent training at HIV here at Valley View. Already we
are um looking to expand on um what we did with Mikey Fallon during the year with a series, right? Bringing Officer Rich back, doing other HIV. I would like to see us do other student and parent workshops and maybe combined students
with their parents on topics not just of HIV but along those lines of regulation expectations, right? Um we've talked about that and I'm really excited honestly um that I think we're going to
be able to get those scheduled and move forward with that. And I know that um we've talked to the PTO already. We I'll get into our year schedule and events, but um they have been willing to bring
Detective Rich back this year and then we can schedule around that as part of a series. So for us here in um Wong Burough, our reporting again is
one that one confirmed oops HIV and then these other reasons right for removal from school. So, as much as we talk about some of the behaviors, those those things are addressed
separately from this report. And you might remember that we'll also have a different HIV report specific to HIV, not specific to these topics. >> Thank you. >> No question.
>> Any questions? Okay. You want to go through the enrollment or >> Sure, you can do enrollment. >> I can do it. >> My glasses. No, it's really the kindergartens that uh is the big topic and we can talk about that. So, um this
is our enrollment on the same day 24 and 25 September 13th and 12th. The comparison preschool pretty similar. You will notice right away kindergarten enrollment way down this year from last
year. We did um eliminate a section of kindergarten. However, first grade way up added section at first grade and um we've been able to maintain at the other
grades. Remember that the first day right numbers you can see that at Bayberry um it looks significantly down and that is due to predominantly kindergarten. When you look at Valley
View pretty stable within um five students we do have five students out of district. our total enrollment currently as of September 12th down. But again, I know even being in the buildings today, I have three new registrations
um at the schools. So these numbers again, we talk about them being fluid. >> Thank you. >> Questions about because it is difference >> the enrollment. Oh. Um, great. And we had the principal's reports already. Uh, so Mrs.
Bishop Johnson, do you have a business administrator's report? A very short um regular business office operations. Um, getting ready for our audit. That's our big right now. We're collecting all our reports, putting them. They have a set
up a dropbox for us. So, we've been doing that. They'll be here the week after next for about 3 to four days. um facilities that side of the business office is running well. Um everything's going you know nice and smooth. Ricky's handling the referendum and you know the
regular work and uh technology has been very busy um installing our new smartboards and working on the Chromebooks and getting everybody up to speed and sending out tech notes to the staff so they can see what's new and
keep up with all the cool stuff that we um installing. So that's really it. >> Thank you. You want to have questions? >> District update. >> Yes. Well, first and foremost, I am very excited. She's with us tonight. Um to
introduce Marie Marmelo. She is on the agenda tonight to be named as our interim director of special services. She is going to be um filling the role of our retired Nicole
Dakota. um as we um transition into a new year and look for a permanent director down the road. She has hit the ground learning. Gosh knows it has been um roller skates on and we appreciate um
your willingness to do that to be here with us tonight to be able to meet um the parents that are with us. Oh, I do see and our CPAG um president tonight um Marie was with us um back to school
nights. You'll have lots of opportunities. I think parents, families, staff has already had the pleasure to um be able to meet her and be able to um share are truly grateful
to have found somebody so experienced with such a large number of years of experience, not just in special education, also general education intervention. Um, we're looking forward to to having you with us
on our team. Welcome. you're streaming live >> and that way they'll be able to see your little face too. >> Um, hi, thank you Dr. Glazier and to the board. I thank you and I look forward to working within your school community. I
look forward to working with our special populations and meeting more of them and our parents of our special populations. I certainly look forward to working with you and getting to know you as well a little better at our CPAG meeting. So
again, I want to thank you and um I am looking forward to working with all of you. >> We're thrilled to have you. >> Welcome. >> Um so we are It's hard for me to believe how fast we are completing our second
full week of school. Transportation's in place. I have no wood except my head. Um and our third start with um the Durham Bus Company. As um Miss Kid said, we have had our title one and multilanguage learner parent meeting. We have had our
two Valley View back to school nights this week. We have our Bayberry back to school nights upcoming. Um it it's a strong start and thank you to everybody who has helped us make sure that we were
able to um all transition into a new school year. Now that we um have that all in place and prioritized, we're going to return to our work on finalizing the strategic plan, district, and board goal action plans based on the
approved goals and revisiting our district vision statement. We'll be asking for your feedback again with that. And um I think we expect to see some if not all of those plans um on the agenda for approval October 16th. Um you
did hear Connor tonight talk about the outdoor learning comments at Valley View. That work well underway and we are somebody people I know like sneak in and look and back to school night. People looked out the window. I promise, I promise we will be showing off the space
and all of the upcoming field work later this year as it's been completed. Um, as our work in the schools has been completed, we've also completed most of our security upgrades thanks to Aaron back there in our booth. Um, and if
you've been in the buildings for any of the events we've talked about already, you've begun to see some of the changes. Um, additionally, we will be getting uh our Raptor system at the secure entrances in place requiring visitors to
present a photo ID, driver's license, passport. As an extension of that system, a hall pass type program for our students is being piloted um here at Valley View. We'll be extending our staff swipes um to be in both schools.
It is um been a huge lift for the district even before I joined as part of the referendum and in the past two years to keep all of our staff, our students, community members who are with us safe,
secure, to know who's in the building, to know when our staff who shared between the buildings, right, where everybody is. Um, we did implement last year a share 911 alert system. That coupled with some of the things I talked
about are some of the final pieces of the security portion of the referendum. With that, um, we have another new security update. The county has not been able to identify
alternative polling places for Bayberry School. by law, we have to comply with maintaining the school as a polling place because it has the parking, the accessibility, all of those things. Um, election legislation states that we
cannot have police on site at a polling place. That includes our school resource officer. So, we're adjusting the school calendar, as you have heard, accordingly to continue to prioritize that safety
and security for our students and staff. We um have now adjusted the district calendar. You'll be getting that with some of this other information. Columbus Day, Monday, October 13th, a full day of
school for students and staff. Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th, will be closed for students, but all of our staff will be here at Valley View participating in um collaborative professional learning. The Friday before
Memorial Day, unfortunately, right now, we have to make a half day of school, not a full day off. However, if we have a snow day available, we'll take it back again um and return that. And finally,
Tuesday, June 2nd, which is the day of the primary elections, schools will also be closed. Um, with that calendar adjusting over the summer and over the last few weeks, our principles, the PTO,
WE have collaborated to develop an event calendar for the whole year. the dates, the times of concerts and art shows and the science night and tricker trunk and the holiday boutique and everything, all everything. We were at the PTO on
Tuesday and we revisited some of those have now been coordinated and scheduled for the year within the district calendar, within the holiday calendar. Um, that was a request that grew out of our strategic planning process. So, I
thank you all. PTO is still here. CPAG principles for all of the time and effort you put into that so it was ready for the beginning of this year so everybody knows what's coming. No surprises. Um and as we send this
information also home, we'll be sending um this year's homework free and assessment free dates home. Those um homework free zones happen um during school recesses and the holidays listed.
There are also maybe other days where we say it's not appropriate for homework. Assessment free zones happen on the first day after a school recess and on each holiday and the first day back from
a holiday. Um so that we're making sure that families have the opportunity to celebrate, that we have um opportunities for everybody to um really have the chance to understand that it's not just a day off, that we are actually
honoring, celebrating, doing something those days that's um more important than homework and assessments. So many things, right? Even in these first two weeks, I can't tell you despite, you know, construction,
hiccups, whatever, how proud of what has been accomplished. I know that that construction work has been an inconvenience, not just for our staff, um, but for the community members who are used to using those spaces. I am
being kind when I say that inconvenience, but the end is in sight. I think the light at the end of the tunnel is finally not a train. So, yay. Um, we have started implementing our new curriculum, ELA and math and our new
curriculum resources. I know at both Valley View back to school nights, they spent a lot of time talking about um the new math resources. We have that to look forward to at Bayberry. We've been able to schedule professional learning for
math and language arts and around some of our upcoming goals that you'll see in those action plans. The work that's gone into all of this, our staff have piloted resources. They've done changes to scope
and sequence. They've researched professional learning. It's significant. And I truly believe that we will also see tremendous progress from all of this work. I love the excitement when I'm in the buildings. Not even just from staff.
The kids are excited. They see right some new and exciting changes. Um, and I'm just thrilled that we're able to start to implement some of the things that have been identified as necessary
to enhance our highquality instruction and to um, continue to move forward. Um, with that and with the new year, Tuesday, September 23rd, the district is closed for Russia Shana. For those
celebrating, we wish you a good and sweet new year. We are also closed on Thursday, October 2nd for Yom Kapoor. For those who are celebrating, I hope it for all of us, it is a day of renewal. Sha Tova. Thanks.
Thank you. Moving on to committee reports. Uh Mrs. Duet, do you have a report for the curriculum committee? >> Okay. All right. We met on Thursday, September the 11th from 4 to 5. Attendees were Dr.
Glazer, Jennifer Aguilerro, Jessica Maddox, Fatima Santos, and myself. The after and before school program, right at school, was presented to the committee by Julie Lion. Julie's a former kindergarten teacher and its
owner. The company is fully licensed in the state of New Jersey. This is an outsourced after and before care program that is presently provided to students in many school districts in New Jersey, one being as close as Scotch Plains. The
committee finds this program provides time for students to go outside and play and a place for children to complete their homework before going home with teachers the children are familiar with. The administrative work will be taken care of by the company which will reduce
the workload on our school secretaries. This program is self-supporting with 10% of profits coming to the district. There is much room for growth with this program. Summer camps and special programs can also be offered. The pro uh
the program will begin I think in early November. >> They have to get licensed. You have to approve them. >> Yes. >> Okay. I think we liked it. >> Thank you. Uh, Mr. Frra, administration
finance committee report. >> Sure. Uh, we met on September 9th at 5:00 p.m. in attendance for myself, Jen, Manny, uh, Dory, Ricky, Dr. Glazer, and Karen Bishop Johnson. Uh, we discussed the referendum, which thankfully Connor already gave an update on. We also
discussed the new maintenance tire was on the agenda for tonight. Uh we discussed the transportation guidelines that would improve clarity and communication for parents. Um we discussed the resolution on the agenda to um renew the resource officer.
Um we also discussed the before and afterare services of both schools which frankly um muet gave an update about. Uh we discussed the acceptance of grants and we also spoke about um allocating
some of the extra funds into our maintenance reserve. Um and then we discussed the demographic study through the regionalization and how it's a little bit inaccurate just because it didn't account for the new developments and then the standard payment of bills.
>> You Mr. Fridge. Uh Mrs. Amado, do you have report for our policy committee? Yes, policy met uh on Wednesday, September 10th at 5:30 p.m. virtually. Uh I was present. Phyllis Duet, Adam Craft, um Jennifer Aguillelaro
um and Dr. Julie Glazer and Miss Pinky Nielson. Um follow up the uh AI content that we've been talking about for months. That's policy 2365 and policy 5701. Um the teachers will present their
learnings on this topic next month to us in the meeting. We're excited to hear that and we're hoping they will also provide some guiding documents on what they think should go into the this material so that we can um write the policy appropriately. Um dismissal
policy regulation 8601 the dismissal form has been revised one final time with some legal assistance um but the policy has not been changed. um CQAC, we discussed um that that uh the state will be coming in in January um for that
review and we'll get notification soon on what's being reviewed. Uh and then just a Strauss Esme update that the roll out will be slow unfortunately because we have to put paper online and it just takes time. Um nothing up for first
reading. Second reading bylaw 0143 uh paragraphs 2 and three were changed. No feedback was provided from the board on that reading. Um, new business. The committee discussed reviewing a list next month of all policies adopted more than 5 years ago to see what might be relevant for review. Um, and uh
connected to our strategic plan so that we can update the most important policy related to that. Um, and we'll also be looking at updates from stress estimate more regularly. And finally, policy has been asked to handle the board of ed goal action plan. So, we'll be doing
that in our next policy meeting. That's it for us. >> Thank you. Uh, Mrs. Maddox, can you give the report for the personnel committee, please? >> Yes. So, we met on Wednesday, September 10th. We met from 4:15 to 5:30. Uh,
myself, Danielle, Dory, Jennifer, and Dr. Glazier were all in attendance. Uh, with an introduction of special services director um interim Marie um which we all met over here. And since
um I'm going to give the little highlight over on her um just to kind of give everybody an idea of of the fantastic candidate that we have. Uh she's highly experienced in special education intervention um ESL primary
primarily in Roselle Park. Uh she was screened by Dr. Glazier interviewed by Karen Denise Mary Beth and Lisa Ma Mayan >> Mayhan did I say that right? >> May >> man and sorry that I messed that up.
Holy cow. Provided strong references and demonstrated deep understanding of the district's needs. She's got 38 years of experience in education. She began as a special ed education teacher, moved into general education intervention roles and
served as director of language arts and ESL and later director of special services and she retired in 2021 and is and returned as interim in 2023. um role expectations to serve as interim
through at least Thanksgiving, possibly within up until winter break and supporting the transition until a permanent director is hired. Let's see. Move down to uh p um professional
philosophy emphasizes building rapport, trust with staff, parents, and the community. advocates for collaborative teamwork to address the growing needs of special education students, values inclusivity, appropriate placements, and
maintaining students within community when possible. Uh community engagement is organized. She likes she's organized parent student events such as fall fest to foster welcoming environments and strong relationships with CPEG.
Transition plan is ready to start immediately. She's familiar with the district challenges and committed to supporting our staff and families during the interim period. >> The only thing we are on the agenda tonight contracting up until winter break. We made that decision since the
committee. >> Thank you. >> Since the committee. >> Yes. Uh the action taken in intensive efforts by Denise and Dr. Glazier to stabilize the program. uh consult Mary Beth providing support with system and
student needs opening of sensory room at Bayberry to better support students and increased in-class room or in-class support from behavioralist to specialist um and this was under special education program challenges um progress was recent meetings show significant
improvement indicating positive momentum board operations and protocols merit compensation discussed clarification on timelines and requirements ments for merit goals, acknowledgement that the September 30th deadline was too tight for thoughtful implementation this year,
but planning to pursue goals for next year. And then we discussed job descriptions and stipens, ongoing review and development of job descriptions and stipen positions with input from association leadership and supervisor instruction position
position to be finalized and postponed by October to support grant management and relieve the business office. posted. We don't want to postpone anymore. >> Thank you.
>> Definitely have to emphasize that. >> Yes. >> Committee protocols and document access, discussion about confusion over committee roles, information flow, and access to shared documents. Um so we're we're working on refining um how what
our protocols look like within uh the board of um the board the committee members uh possibly utilizing new tools like board docs to streamline board operations that support confidentiality and uh also an agreement to to look at
you know if once we come up with these board norms uh looking at the future and working with different boards and each year reviewing doing the process to see what works within uh that new board group. And uh we had Danielle just spoke about
CUAC reviewing first deep um dive meeting held and then as she had mentioned January the upcoming advance back to school nights as we had previously talked about and then see and then the rest of this is just pretty much redundant of what uh was previously
discussed. That's it. >> Thank you. Uh from the negotiations committee, the only update I have is that the memorandum of agreement and salary guides are on the agenda this month for approval. >> Not this month. Um board leaison
reports. Do we have a legislative report, Mr. Fras? >> Okay. Um Somerset County Educational Services Commission. Is there a report, Mrs. Maddox? >> There's no updates. >> Thank you. Um, is there an update, Mrs. Amado, for the Somerset County School
Boards Association? >> I sent an email I sent an email out uh this week um asking if people might be available for the October 9th and or the November 17th trainings uh so that we could put that towards our board
certification. Um hoping everyone can join. Please email me and let me know. >> Thank you. Um, no update for the school boards association other than the upcoming workshop in October. Um, nothing for the regionalization committee and we have anything for
Morris Union joint chair commission. >> We did have our um board meeting last Thursday. Um, there are new buses. It was we got to take a tour of buses. Um, they have with the new legislation some of the energy efficient and diesel
buses, wheelchair um, buses. So that was interesting. And they also um allowed us to tour the DLC in Warren and Scotch Plains. So it was it was nice, right? You're on the board, but you don't always get to have that opportunity to
interact. So it was a lovely lovely meeting. >> Thank you. Uh moving on to community engagement. Do we have anyone here from the PTO? >> PTO here just to have fun. Um, I'm here. Rich says piano. My wife's the recording secretary, Michelle. And, um, Victoria
couldn't make it. She tried to make it today, but the piano lessons changed. So, I have an update from Victoria. >> Thanks for being here. >> Um, uh, the PTO is planning a casino night, gala, gala, whatever, which is going to be on February 7th at Wong Valley Golf Club. Please save the date
for that. More info to come. We also have a sweatshirt fundraiser going on now that celebrates WAN's 100th year, so don't miss out on that. Food sales are underway, though there were some issues this first week. Uh the the the group that's working on it uh is trying to
smooth all that out. Um class parent uh nom whatever it's called nominations were uh opened up this past week. Announcements will be coming out next week and picture day at Blake Bay is uh September 25th and 26th. This past
weekend there was a camp out Phillips Field which is a huge success both financially and funwise. Um all right, >> you're doing great. >> Uh and that's it. >> Thank you, Rich. Uh
>> do we have anyone from W Hi everybody. I'm uh Mel Maldonado with WE. Um I have a couple of W events that I wanted to let you guys know about. Uh WE's signature exciting annual trunk or treat fundraising event is Saturday, October 25th at 3 p.m. at the Bayberry
School parking lot. Um and the rain is on Sunday, October 26th. We welcome any board members who want to host a trunk. WE is also sponsoring its annual Friendsgiving event on Friday, November 21st at Valley View at which we provides free pizza at lunch to students,
teachers, and administrators. All baby students are treated to Philly pretzels on the same day. Um, that's about it. Thank you all and we look forward to another school year. >> Thanks for being here. >> Thanks, Michael.
>> Is there an update for CPEG? the donation of the planners. So, it doesn't look like um CPAC was able to stay, but you'll see on the agenda tonight a donation of our planners at Bayberry and Valley. Thank you. We are very very grateful, CPAC.
Thank you. Moving on to comments from the public on agenda items. We welcome input from the public. There are two times during the meeting when the public is invited to speak. The first opportunity to comment on agenda items only is now. The second opportunity for
public comment is towards the end of the meeting. All comments are limited to 5 minutes. The total time allotted for public comment is 30 minutes. Before you make your comment, please state your name and municipality of residents. In the event it appears the public comment
portion of the meeting may exceed 30 minutes, the presiding officer may limit each statement made by a participant to 3 minutes duration. Our public forums are not structured as a question and answer session, but rather are offered as opportunities to share input with the
board. In instances where the board feels a response is needed, the presiding officer or superintendent will address the comment. New Jersey statutes do not permit the board to discuss personnel or hiring in public session. Names of students should not be used.
Members of the public should consider their comments in light of legal rights of those affected and identified in their comments and be aware that they are personally legally responsible with potential liability for comments that they make to the board. The board shall not be held liable for comments made by
members of the public. Okay, we have no comments. Uh we have no need for an executive session tonight. So we can move straight into our action items. Um Mr. Frra, could you read
administrative items? Sure. >> I make a motion to move administrative items. One, approve minutes of previous meetings. Two, approve memorandum of agreement and salary guides between Wong Burough Education Association and the Wong Burough Board of Education. Three, accept Bayar and Valley View Security
drill reports. Four, approve extension of shared service agreement with Wong Burough for a school resource officer for the 202526 school year. Five, approve the submission of statements of assurance for the 2526
district mentoring plan and district professional development plan. Six, um, and six, accept bus safety guidelines. >> Do I have a second? >> Yes. So moved. Okay. So moved. >> He moved. I need a second.
>> Second. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Okay, we do a roll call, please. >> Okay. Mrs. Amado, >> yes. >> Mrs. Duet, >> yes. >> Mrs. Maddox, >> yes.
>> Mr. Fra, >> yes. >> Mrs. Aglaro, >> yes. >> Okay. Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Craft, and Mrs. Santos are absent. The motion passes. Thank you. Uh, Mrs. Maddox, would you please move
the items under personnel? >> Yes. Um, >> sorry. >> Do you want my >> Thank you. >> Items one, appoint interim special
services u director. >> Thanks, Danielle. Holy cow, I must be off tonight. Approve appointment of non um certificated Holy cow. >> Got it. >> staff. Approve student teacher. Well, that was
three. Approve student teacher. Four, approve uh leave of absences. Five, approve Valley View School volunteers. Six, authorize final payment of accumulated benefits. Seven, appoint district substitutes for the 2526 school
year. Eight, approve Bayerry extracurricular positions for 20 2526. Nine, approve extracurricular positions for 2526. 10, approve before school supervision duty.
>> Second. >> Thanks. Any discussion? >> Okay, when you're ready, Mrs. Bishop Johnson, do a roll call. >> Got it. Mrs. Duet >> operations and finance. All right. Voting second. Voting.
>> Personnel. >> Personnel. >> Voting on personnel. >> Okay. >> Got the wrong page. >> Yeah. >> The items. Voting. Yes, sir. >> I threw us off. I'm sorry. >> I know you did.
>> Are you okay? Yes. Okay. >> Yes. Yes. >> Mrs. Maddox. >> Yes. Mr. Fra, >> yes. >> Mrs. Amado, >> yes. >> Mrs. Agliero, >> yes. >> Okay. Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Craft, and Mrs. Santos are absent. The
motion passes. >> Mrs. Juet, would you like to read operations finance? Could you please move those items? >> All right, that's a lot. >> I move. Number one, approve payment of bills as follows and approve transfer of funds 2025 to 2026.
accept financial reports. Let's see. Oh, approve payment application number one for Valley View Outdoor Learning Commons. We got five, approve payment application number two for Valley View Outdoor Learning
Commons. Number six, accept revised 2025 2026 extraordinary aid. Number seven, approve use of maintenance reserve. I think that's it.
>> Nope, there's still a couple more. >> I've had the title three fund. Is that next? >> That's eight. Keep going. >> Yeah. Number eight, approved the title three fund consortium with Greenbrook, Branchburg, and Southbound Brook school
districts. How does that work? >> Well, keep reading them and we'll disc tell you. >> Okay, good. Number nine, authorize the application submission acceptance of allocations for elementary and secondary education act title three immigrant. Number 10,
approve acceptance of grant from the school's health insurance fund. [Music] The is that part of the mine? Let me make sure I have this here. Where's 11? I only have I have 10.
Nine. 10. >> You want me to jump in? >> You got it. >> Okay. Because it's not there. Okay. Agreement to a contract between Wong uh Burough Board of Education and Right at School LLC for the before and afterare
services at Bayberry School. Number 12. approved professional development school business and related expenses and number 13 accept donation of student planners. >> Thank you. >> And that's it. >> Do I have a second? >> Second
>> discussion. Um I regarding item 11 um contract between watching Burough Board of Ed and Right at School. This is the before and afterare services. Um, I think they're a great program and I know that should we
vote yes for them, our children will be very happy there. Um, so that's really really great to know. Um, I just wanted to ask um a question about payment for AIDS and how that works. We had emailed
briefly about it and I just wasn't totally I didn't totally understand. So right now right now we are paying for AIDS. Is that correct? It's part of Yes. part of our general program. We don't charge families or anybody. If a child has an IEP
>> that requires an aid, it's part of their program >> and that may change and I >> well that so we've had lots and lots of conversations right about what the in-house program and out program would
look like. And currently, I don't know if everybody understands this, but as somebody read, um, the program, Phyllis, I think you read that that it's a self- sustaining program, meaning all of the fees, the tuition that is paid,
self- sustains that program. It goes into a proprietary enterprise fund and the money in that fund can be used for that program and related program services. If the board approves an outside vendor,
we don't lose that money. It's still in that proprietary fund that is earmarked for child care. So, in the event, right, that um somebody has an IEP, needs an aid, that might be a pool of money that
could be used to pay for that. Those funds will be depleted, right? Eventually, if we are um approving or contracting with um a vendor because a vendor money comes right to the general budget.
>> Is that the current plan? Should we vote >> it that it I don't know that it is the money is there to be used for those things. >> I don't know that it has been determined even um resolving right to recommend a contract. You don't
>> haven't developed that contract yet. So you have that opportunity. >> Okay. I just think it's Is it Is it typical for families to be responsible for aid? I think it depends on the
program, right? Like um when my kids went to the Y program, like the afterchool Y program, even though it was in the school, it was my responsibility, but when we went to, you know, um like
the summer program, like a enrichment program, it wasn't. So I think it I think it has to be determined by need and the number of students the cost right there there's a lot to determine
it was the the only if you um I know you asked and I answered that was a response somebody asked us right if parents were willing to have an aid could they pay for it right now we don't have a
facility right we don't have a way to do that if that's what we were going to do, we would have to develop that with more information. >> Okay. I just want to make sure that should we vote yes on this that that that is a
there's a plan for that that >> we said we said that if a child needed an aid that would still be our responsibility for now and again the question was could we look at other models? Yes. >> Okay. Okay.
I know it's kind of a amorphous question. We want if somebody has an IEP surprise >> we get an IEP right now again nobody pays for it and in this first year we've committed. Right. >> Right. But it sounds like
>> wouldn't go up. I don't know the answer because I don't again until you know what's left in that fund until you know how many students have that need. Is it a onetoone? Is it a shared? Are they there five days a week before and after
care or are they just there one day? Right? You there's not a way to hypothesize until you have an actual case almost. >> That's the hardest part. But there is >> Go ahead. But we're responsible if the
child IEP says they need an aid. >> What I'm saying is if they need an aid, they have to have an aid. Right. >> Right. And it that's what I think Danielle is asking right now it's provided >> right through the program. And the
question is if we contract is it still provided or is it a fee for service? And I'm saying I don't know the answer to that. Right? We have those funds that are still only available for use in child care until those funds are
depleted. So when the board and Karen develops a contract, you would have to lay out that plan. We would also um just if you approve just as an aside for everybody, the community, parents,
everybody um we um would have right at school do a town hall type thing, a public meeting, answer those questions with parents. I think by then we would have sat down. Karen would have sat down
um with them to to do a contract to look at what we're doing currently, >> try and get an idea, >> but we don't have a sense at this point of how many kids that might affect. >> We don't because it's again, >> yeah, >> we don't have a way to know how many
days, how many kids because an IEP is a legal document we don't have access to. >> Right. Okay. But you're com but you're comfortable with that change. >> The way we're starting we that has been known from the beginning when every
vendor that we spoke to I think none of the three were providing the aids. Correct. Uh no, they would not provide. >> I don't think any of the three were and you know I don't I just don't want to surprise >> I think um I was able to speak to the um
with Denise and um Camila Bay about the old you know program that we had. They've spoken to the program provider. um they did not also provide the it was new when it was brought back in
house that we did that as part of our school program. >> Okay. So that 10% goes into the general fund. >> Yes. >> Okay. In that general fund if they do need an aid, can it be taken from there? >> I don't know the answer.
>> We don't know that, do we? >> We I mean we can in the budget, right? So we would if that were going to be something we would think would be happening, we would budget for it out of the general fund if we needed to >> but it's permitted. That's what >> it's permitted.
>> The general fund is is unrestricted. >> Okay. >> Unrestricted funds in the general >> options perhaps. Okay. >> And then the consor consortial. >> Tell me about that. How's that working? >> Do you want you want >> Sounds like a good idea. >> No, it's this is our second third year I
think. >> Um >> could be the third. It's definitely my second it's it's >> because we don't get enough money, >> right? We basically in in that for that grant, we don't get enough money to operate on our own. So, if it's anything less than $10,000, you have to join with
a group and they call that a consortium. >> So, schools will get together, small schools join together. one business administrator will administer the the funds and then we basically it would be just the same like we she that that
business administrator would do the purchase order for whatever the need you know whatever the desire is and it's it's you know as you can see it's a grant that's specific toward certain um certain things usually last year it was Nicole who you know said this is what
she would like and then I do the paperwork with the other business administrator and >> and and it was Nicole Not because of special services. She also had the responsibility for multilanguage learning. >> That's true. That's true. >> Okay. >> Whoever has that, >> right? Whoever >> whoever is going to be doing that this
year, right? That that is true. Yes. >> And the immigrant funds are limited. They those get allocated to the district. Um not the consortium, the other accepted grant. Um those funds come um as an allocation through the
state based on an increase in the number of immigrant students in the district, based on the number of years that they have um been in the district. And it's a very small amount, but we aren't we don't want to give it back.
>> Okay. You all good? >> Anyone else? >> Roll call, please. Okay, got it. One second. I'm sorry. Okay, didn't want to miss that. Um, okay. Mrs. Amado,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Duet, >> yes. >> Mrs. Maddox, >> yes. >> Mr. Fridge, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Agliero, >> yes. >> Okay. Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Craft, and Mr. Mrs. Santos are absent. The motion passes.
>> Thank you. We have no items under curriculum. Uh so Mrs. Amado, could you please move the items under policy? >> I move a single item second reading bylaw 0143 board member election and appointment.
>> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Okay. When you're ready, let's just one second. >> Take your time. It's fine. >> Okay. Got it. No, I think I am good. Okay. Um, Mrs. Amado, >> yes. >> Mr. Fra,
>> yes. >> Mrs. Maddox, >> yes. >> Mrs. Duet, >> yes. >> Mrs. Agliero, >> yes. >> Okay. Mr. Gonzalez, Mrs. Harvey, Mr. Craft, and Mrs. Santos are absent. The motion passes. >> Thank you. Does anyone have any board
business? I can think of. >> Okay. Moving on to our second uh session for comments from the public. Do we have any comments? Okay, >> I make a motion to adjurnn.
>> So moved. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I. >> You don't even get a vote. I say I. >> You don't get You don't get