Good evening and welcome to the West Orange Board of Education Capital 4 meeting on July 21st, 2026. I would like to thank all of you here in person and those watching from home for joining us
tonight. I would like to welcome my fellow board members as well as Mr. W and Miss Lin. Mr. Lin, please stay level. >> Here >> in consideration of the close and public
meetings of June 16, 2026. Do I have a motion to accept these minutes? >> So move. >> Second. >> Second. >> Any comments? Miss Lin, please state the role. >> Dr. Brian,
>> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson. >> Uh, yes, Miss Lamp. One stipulation. Just want to comment on the minutes from the last meeting and just congratulate again those staff people, both the teachers and the supporting staff members who were
recognized for their contributions to our school district in the past year. Vice President. >> Yes, Mr. Moore. It's time for you for your report. share the superintendent.
At this time, please stand up and for the pledge of >> I to the stands one nation andice for all. Thank you. >> Yes. >> The New Jersey open public meetings law
was enacted to ensure the right of the public to have advanced notice and to attend the meetings of public bodies at which any business affecting their interests are discussed or acted upon. In accordance with new legislation designed to modernize public communication, notice is hereby given
pursuant to NJSA 353-5 that the complete text of each legal notice issued on behalf of the West Orange Board of Education may be obtained or viewed on the district website. Visitors can also view the New Jersey Secretary of State's legal notices website. Once the required
display period expires, notices will be transferred to the legal notices archive. Archive notices will be available for a period of one year. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and may be broadcasted may be broadcasted on a local TV in the
district's website at a future date. >> Mr. Thank you, Vice President. Thank you, Vice President. >> Thank you. I want to publicly thank our staff who managed our summer programs. I know that
the students have enjoyed themselves. the summer enrichment program which is led by Miss Allison Soio Williamson, our director of fine arts and our extended school year program is headed by Dr. Derek Resa, our director of special
services. They both have done an outstanding job alongside our high school administration, principal Oscar Guerrero and his team who work with our student our students in the step up program and of course our summer school
program. I also want to mention the outstanding achievements of our students um who have taken the AP courses and AP exams. 93% of our students scored three or greater out of five. We had 32
students take the Cal C calculus BC exam and all 32 students scored a five which is the highest score possible. Special shout out to Jeremy Cerudo who achieved a perfect score of five on all
his AP exams. He took the AP Calculus BC, AP Physics, AP English composition, AP History, and AP Psych Psychology. And that concludes my report for this evening. Thank you, >> Doug. Thank you,
>> Miss Do we have any committee reports? >> Okay, >> thank you. Um, not no committee reports at this time. Next we will have questions from the
public on public on agenda item only. Any community member who would like to make comments or ask question please come to the podium at this time. Please state your name and comment for
the greater begin your comments. >> Dean I live in Madison but I'm a 26 year veteran of the west school. Just a quick question. Um, under personnel number six, there's a new job description for
board treasure, treasure school monies. Do we need another person in the business office? Just curious what that's about. Sorry. Um, uh, just had a couple of agenda item questions. I noticed that there's
$60,000 more for one legal firm and another $23,000 for attorney. That's that's a whole feature. Um so I'm curious what what led to to those. Uh,
and then I was also interested, um, I saw the amount of money for the edge of staff professionals contract and I'm interested in is that what we are we getting exactly the savings that we expected and the rule has passed for
the current employees to the the outsourcing company that they just had. I'm curious what kind of Thank you. Good evening. Only one person knows me up here. So, I'll introduce myself. I'm Jay Gator, formerly of 41 Woodland
Avenue, West Orange. graduate of Redwood Making and Mountain 30-year music educator here in West Orange, former New Jersey music educator of the year. I just want to let you know that just because many of us are gone in different places and stuff that we don't still
think about Western schools and would like everybody to know that the decisions made and things going on are noticed not just by people right here, but they're noticed all over. Just want to let you know that I'm very proud to be a West Orange person. my entire life
and stuff and I just want to let you know that we are watching. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Do we have any members of the public here in the audience tonight who wish to make a public comment? Good evening everybody. Jackie Hendy,
Beverly Road. Um, I actually wrote an email. It's relatively recent and I just wanted to make public comment. I know it's summer. Maybe people aren't checking their emails as aggressively as before, but um, I'm here tonight about the fall play. I understand it was canceled this year because of budget pressures and I know that the decision
wasn't made lightly um, given everything the district is struggling right now. But I don't think our students should lose out on this experience just because money isn't here this year. So, I'd like to propose a solution. Let me raise the money. Um, I'm prepared to organize and
run a community crowdfunding campaign for the production myself, including outreach, fundraising, logistics, all of it. I'm not asking for the district for any money. I'm asking for two things. Approval to move forward and use of the high school auditorium. I've already identified a strong option for the
production. It's called a play, a play called Puffs. It's a Harry Potter adjacent comedy. It's a smart choice for a few practical reasons. It has a large ensemble cast, so a lot of students can be involved. It requires a minimal set, which keeps cost down, and the Harry Potter connection tends to draw strong
ticket sales, which matters if we want this to be sustainable. I have a personal connection to the show's original producer, who handles licensing directly. I've already reached out to him about bringing it here. I'm targeting performance dates of November 20th and the 21st, which is the week
before Thanksgiving, which should give us enough time for casting, rehearsals, and promotion if I can get the green light soon. I've also emailed uh Superintendent Moore and Principal Guerrero directly with this proposal, and I wanted to raise it tonight here as well in case the board can help move it
forward as a contingency measure in case my emails get lost in the inbox. Be glad to answer any questions. I'm happy to work with whoever on staff needs me LinkedIn. Thank you guys for your time. Uh hello William Dano Kobe and Terrace. Uh I'm speaking tonight on behalf of
West Orange Parents for Education. Um this summer has hosted two meet and greet sessions with over 30 caregivers from across our town. Their concerns are loud and clear. We must work together to find a path forward that preserves the renowned quality of our schools. Navigating this successfully will require much clearer communication and
far more coordinated efforts among parents, the board, the district, and the public than we have seen over the past two years. Let's work together towards that coordinated effort. And while negotiations may be on pause, we continue implore the teachers union and the board to finalize a contract. As a largest portion of the budget, it's
imperative we find a sustainable path forward. And that starts with knowing what the next five years of our largest budget allocation will look like, the salary and benefits of our teachers. We bring two primary questions to the board this evening. Where does the creation of the community community budget advisory committee stand? And have we heard back
from the state regarding meeting with the DOE and state officials? The last few review meetings, the board has expressed some receptiveness to the budget committee, but we uh we've met with multiple stakeholders in this process and have emailed the superintendent's office and would like to schedule a meeting as soon as
possible to discuss how to make this initiative successful. This work cannot wait until next spring. We want to know the committee's formal goals, how it will establish membership, and its start date before the upcoming year school year begins. and to help state leadership understand our unique local
challenges firsthand as we continue to fight all fight for legislative action. We once again urged the board to formally invite Commissioner Laauo and Governor Cheryl to West Orange. Finally, I appreciate the district's response last month regarding I Ready. It demonstrated that our edtech working
group brought thoughtful inquiries and constructive solutions and can serve as a model for uncovering productive ideas in the future. Moving forward, we continue to call for comprehensive review of technology spending and educational outcomes, and our working group stands ready to collaborate and assist in those efforts. This work is
proof that finding budgetary savings while working to improve educational outcomes can go hand in hand. While little feels in our control right now, we all need to work more closely together going forward as we work towards brighter days for our district. Thank you. I think
um he's working with the state to really improve equipment and to and to get those at the state to understand that the amount of money that's available does not is is not congruent with the services that we
need to provide across the state. Um we've met with state legislators. I've worked on a model for the state funding formula and recently I've met with an education campaign that's going on with a number
of school boards south of the New Jersey. I wanted to share that with the board that there are boards across the state that are working hard to put together
education campaigns both for the public and for the legislature to move this forward. And it's not I think we all know this is not an easy way to get the state to actually decide
what they want to do in order to fix the funding. Um but we're in need of something. The status quo cannot continue. And so I want to make sure that West Orange is on board with that effort and that everyone on the board,
our administration, our public are working together to do that. So I I did want to share that with everyone and uh I appreciate taking this. Thank you. any comments?
>> Yes, I'd like to just help out a little bit. Um, the treasurer is uh not a new thing. Uh, the treasur is an outside person that oversees our budget. We're moving away from our old treasurer and
looking for someone uh to adopt that job differently. Um but we are which will let me go to the community budget committee which I wrote an email to let people know we're still working through things. We have some internal things that we need to understand as we've made
changes in the business office that we're trying to get a grasp on and we'll move on that until we get a full understanding. And once we get an understanding where we're at, we're more than happy to uh include community partners as this is our job. This is
what we do for a living. This is what we have to pay attention to. So, we take it seriously. We're also working with um auditors and other uh professional CPAs and so forth that are consulting and we're working through things in terms of
understanding. Um, as you know, this is my third year. So, we haven't been in this section. We haven't we have we've encountered this and we haven't dealt with it for so long. So, we need a grasp on what we're looking at as we are uh in the midst of working and we're going to
be careful and smart about that and move in that way. We're more than happy to have everyone diversely in the community as a part of it, but we need an understanding of where we're at and we're taking that time to do that. Um, in terms of the play, uh, Mr. Guerrero
and I just spoke about it today. We're more than happy to, uh, but we will talk to you offline about how that can be done because there's a process and we just can't say that anyone can come up and decide to do things and open up and go. There's a process. We want to take a
look at it. We want to take a look at the cost. We also want to make sure that we include people that do our place so they understand what you want to do, too, as well. So that there's some collaboration and it's not just us okaying right off the bat and saying
yeah why don't we just go ahead and do that because we want to encourage the collaboration to take place in a amicable manner where there's a process involved listen whether people understand or not like I said this budget was a math problem do we choose
not to have a play of course not we want that of course we do so would we welcome you helping us and donating of course Yes, we will, but we want to make sure we do everything in a structured manner. And in case we get any other people donating or doing something, we want to make sure we have a system that we can
understand and how we do it and we're organized about such things and we vet the pro the um the proceed the uh process. So, I'm going to say that Mr. Guerrero will reach out to you because we talked about it today. uh as I just got back today. We talked about it today
and uh we'll we'll be happy to get back to you and I'm going to let his uh team lead it as they're the ones that do the foreplay. So, we're not opposed at all. So, we do appreciate it and I also appreciate you uh willing to help us. Actually moves me a little bit. I'm
happy about it. Thank you very much. But let's talk offline. Okay. Thank you. Um, let me see if I can uh just let me finish this up real quick. Um to answer the questions about the law
firms, we've went over um and the billing from the law firm has to also do with the fact that this year we had parents and some other general law things, employees, parents, and so forth, which needed a little more care because we do take care of our special
education community. But it is incredibly expensive and sometimes you have to litigate some of those things. And that's not something that's budgeted. It's something that is not budgeted and sometimes is it's it becomes a burden on a budget because
it's unexpected. But we do have to make sure that we do our due process. We do make sure that fiscally and we've been smart about it too is that we make sure that unfortunately we have to use litigation sometimes to vet on how much
money we have to put out or how much money we don't or do we have the right program or do we not have the right program. And sometimes um what I've discovered is um parents may not be always in agreement or I let's not blame
parents let's say people in general uh whether it's employees, parents or so forth which requires litigation to take place which isn't budgeted. So sometimes it runs over the retainer. So therefore you see costs that have ran us over. And
yet again, all of these things we're balancing in a budget that's not um planned, but they come but they're by but we have to take care of them by law and we and we do definitely do that. Okay. All right. So, I think I covered
as much uh as I possibly could there. Um trigger. Okay. Thank you. I just would um just so that you're not left out of the conversation. So, you know, the board works in the background. We talked about a way to
figure out how to use donations, which where do we go through? We want to make sure we have a 503C. We want to make sure that we have all the legal galleys as we accept donations because but we'll talk about that a little bit more to see how we can have parents partner up with
us to cover some stuff with the uh district. Again, that's another place where the community budget can come into play too and help with that kind of stuff. But again, we embarked on a quite a big challenge. We're working through
that challenge. I know that things feel like oh it's so slow moving so trotting not enough but it does take one information takes its time it's a process and working with you know uh these uh business people auditors
accountants our new BA is going to take a little bit of a process as they are becoming familiar with our books and what we have and how they can benefit us. So, I hope I was a little more clarifying for you that you can at least understand that, you know, it's not just
a a delay or a a stubbornness. It's it's really a process of really trying to vet this, make sure this is correct, and that we can move on in a positive way with sustainability. Go ahead, Robert.
>> Okay. Uh, thank you. I just wanted to say uh um you know a lot of times people contact us say can we meet with you can we talk with you uh I'm turning it around now because I can see Mr. Winra out there uh you know we I've heard for
a while now that you're meeting with people in Trenton and I know the people you're meeting with and I think that's great. Um and I think it's time that maybe I'd like to hear more the specifics about it. maybe I maybe we can be of help. I will tell you that if
you're meeting with them to find some uh way that we can get more money from Trenton, I'm love to attach my name to that. If on the other hand, it's something where you're meeting with them to see if we can go over our cap to tax higher, then I would not be a part of
that. But so just so we're clear with each other, but other than that, I would love to meet with you and talk with you and see if we can help in any way. Thank you. Moving to our resolution. May I have a motion
to approve the personal items 81 to 86. >> So move >> second. >> Thank you Dr. I want to congratulate the following retirees.
Katherine Solino, a music teacher at Liberty and Roosevelt Middle School for her 28 years of service. Bonnie Goodman, a par profofessional at Washington Elementary School for her 25 years of service.
Isabelle Gera Noa, a paraprofessional at Kelly Elementary School for her 25 years of service. and Juan Miller, a paraprofessional at Kelly Elementary School for her 28 years of service.
Clauddio Raich, a custodian at Kelly Elementary School for his 27 years of service. Jes professional at West Orange High School for her 16 years of service.
Angela Tolton, a paraprofessional at Redgood Elementary School for her 25 years of service and Karen Winston a professional B Malina Early Learning Center for her 25 years of service.
Thank you all for your service to the West Orange students and our school community. Best wishes to all of you on behalf of the board of education. Any discussion? Please, Miss Lin, take the
>> Dr. Bryant. >> Yes. Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Vice President. >> Yes. >> May I have a motion to approve the curriculum and instructions items B1 to B4?
>> So move. Thank you. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Any discussion. Miss Lin, please state the role. >> Dr. Bryant. >> Um, it's a yes, but I do want to commend the team for the partnership with Keen
University School of Psychology. That is notable um and personal. My daughter was one of the 97% to pass the AP psychology exam this summer. So, I appreciate this partnership and look forward to what this does for our kids. This is super
exciting. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Any discussion? May I have uh a motion to approve report items B1 through four? >> So move.
>> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Any discussion. Lining, please take the role. >> Dr. Bryant, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Mr. Stevenson. >> Yes.
>> Vice President Bar. >> Yes. >> Thank you very much to all my board colleagues. Next up, we have petitions and hearings of citizens for any agenda or no agenda item that that you wish to
discuss. You you will have three minutes to speak. Please approach to the podium at this time and state your name and address for the record. Hello everybody. Josh Kar with West Orange, president of the West Orange
Education Association. Um I apologize. This actually is an agenda question. I understand that is voted on. Just a question um regarding um the local education assoc agency guidance for virtual and remote instruction plan
to be submitted. I was looking through that and I noticed um just something that kind of stuck out. Just if I can get a little bit of clarification, that'd be great. I noticed that K to5 schools in that plan would be getting a 45minute lunch. Um, understand makes sense. Nice long lunch for the kids. Um,
my question really is there's a slight discrepancy between the middle and the high school schedules in that plan. Uh, the middle school uh would be starting would be class would be in session from 800 a.m. until 3 p.m. with a 30 minute lunch break. Uh the high school would be
in session from 8:05 until 2:50. So 15 minutes less um yet they would have a full 1 hour lunch. So my question is just what's you know what's with the discrepancy and that difference. That's it. Thank you very much. Make a motion to approve the finance
items C, the special services items A 1 through A and business office item to B 1 to 22. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr.
Any discussion. >> Miss Lin, please state the roll. >> Dr. Brian, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Vice President. >> Yes. May I have a motion to approve reports
D1 through four? >> So moved. >> Thank you, Mr. Stevenson. Second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Any discussion. >> No. >> Thank you, Mr.
Min. Please state the welcome. >> Dr. Bryant. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Stevenson. >> Yes. >> Vice President. >> Yes. M thank you very much to all my board colleagues. Next up we have petitions
and hearings of citizens for any agenda or one agenda item that you wish to discuss. You will have three minutes to speak. Please approach to the podium at this time and state your name and address for the record.
>> Uh Jeff Harris, Nardo Road, West Orange um with West Orange Parents for Education. Uh just to in the interest of keeping the conversation going and the back and forth we've had uh just to answer some of what Mr. Ifker asked uh
no we're not going to the state to ask for a special exemption to raise taxes for West Orange. Um our ideal ask is for the state to find $2 billion to better fund all schools across New Jersey. That being not possible. Um, our realistic
ask is for a more fair funding formula that would, yes, it would help West Orange, but it would be fair for all districts across the state because we we know we can't just go to Trenton and say, "Hey, Western Orange needs more money." Everybody, everybody wants more money. Everybody needs more money. So,
happy to have Mr. Ifer, Mr. Moore, we're the board on board with us. Um, we continue the conversations with all of our representatives and are looking forward to partnering with you. Thank you. >> Thank you very much.
Our next board meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 24, 2026. This meeting will be held in West Orange High School auditorium. We will not be going into executive session after the close of this meeting.
There will be no further business discussed and no additional action will be taken. I have a May I have a motion to adj. >> Thank you Dr. Brian. Second. >> Second.
>> Thank you Dr. Victor. All in favor? >> Thank you all for joining us tonight. Our meeting is now that joined. We wish you a good night. Thank you.