And whereas it is imperative for the good of our nation that schools continue to build awareness and understanding of the contributions made by Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. And whereas celebrating AsianAmerican and Pacific Islander Heritage Month provide the students and school community an opportunity to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of and to understand the challenges faced by Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders. And whereas the Clifton Board of Education through its core values and implementation of culturally responsive practices demonstrate our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion within our school district. Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Clifton Board of Education officially recognizes the month of May as Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. May is also Jewish American Heritage Month. Commissioner Santiago, please read that proclamation. Thank you, President Paris. May is Jewish-American Heritage Month, established by the United States Congress to recognize a a more than 360ear history of Jewish contributions to American culture.
Whereas Jewish Americans in the face of unspeakable discrimination and adversity have fought fears tirelessly, sorry, to realize the promise of the nation's freedom and continue to teach us empathy and compassion inspired by their parents and grandparents. And whereas Jewish Americans have helped bring about enduring progress in every aspect of society, shaping our country's character and embodying the values we hold dear. And whereas Jewish communities continue to confront hostility and bigotry. And whereas determined to confront racism, many Jewish Americans found a cause in the civil rights movement in a call for freedom and justice. And whereas we recognize the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, which acknowledges the achievements of American Jews in the fields ranging from sports and arts and entertainment to medicine, business, science, government, and military service. Now, therefore, be a resolve that the Clifton School District Board of Education affirms May as Jewish American Heritage Month.
Thank you, Commissioner Santiago. My pleasure. Um, it's my honor to read the naming of newly acquired Third Middle School as Maple Valley Middle School proclamation. Whereas the Clifton Board of Education has recently acquired a facility to serve as a district's third middle school. And whereas the board established an ad hoc commi naming committee composed of stakeholders to review potential names for the new school facility in accordance with Clifton Board of Education policy 7660 naming of school facilities. And whereas the ad hoc naming committee conducted its work with transparency and community input ultimately recommending the name Maple Valley Middle School. And whereas the naming process adhere to all technical specifications, requirements, and procedural guidelines as set forth in policy 7660. Now therefore, be it resolved that the Clifton Board of Education hereby approves the name Maple Valley Middle School for the district's newly acquired third middle school facility.
And be it further resolved that the superintendent and district administration are authorized to take all necessary actions to implement this resolution, including but not limited to updating all relevant records, signage, and public communications. In addition, we have a resolution to adopt a revised school attendance uh zoning plan. Whereas the Clifton Board of Education is committed to ensuring equitable access to highquality educational opportunities for all students and to responsibly and to responsible planning for future enrollment trends and facility usage. And whereas statistical forecasting LLC was retained by the Clifton Public Schools to conduct a comprehensive demographic study projecting grade bygrade enrollments from the 2025 through 20 202526 through 2029 30 school years. And whereas statistical forecasting completed a thorough review and analysis of multiple data sets and trends including community population trends, age structure, demographic characteristics, historical enrollment patterns districtwide by grade level and by individual school.
Trends related to race and poverty status. Historical birth counts and fertility rates by attendance area. Student yields by housing types, including one to four family homes, town homes, condominiums, apartments. The impact of new housing developments, current and projected school building capacities, student residential patterns based on geocoded address data from the 2019, 2020, and 2024, 2025 school years, and revision of middle school attendance boundaries to accommodate the opening of a new middle school. And whereas the purpose of the study was to ensure balanced enrollment, efficient use of district facilities, and thoughtful planning in light of community growth and the opening of the new middle school. And whereas the board has reviewed the findings of the demographic study and the proposed revisions to the school attendance zones and sending schools. Now therefore be it resolved that the Clifton Board of Education hereby formally adopts the revised school attendance zones and sending school designations as outlined in the demographic study conducted by Statistical Forecasting LLC effective beginning with the 2025 2026 school year and be it further resolved that the superintendent and administration are authorized to take all necessary steps to implement the revised boundaries and to communicate the changes.
to students, families, and staff in a timely and transparent manner. Right. Um the rest of these, uh I'm sure everybody's reviewed. So, I'd be looking for a motion to approve under education items number one through 12. Uh, President Harris, I would like to uh do a um suspend make a motion to suspend our bylaw 0131 for EA9 um just for this vote and then to reinstate the uh policy 0131 our bylaw to have this first and second reading. That's my motion. Oh, okay. So, this would be considered first second reading. Uh anyone second that? Second. Okay. Uh motion to combine first and second reading for the for policy 7510 proposed by Commissioner Bassford seconded by Yes. Commissioner Brunette. Do we do a separate roll call for this line or no or not? No, we're just modifying this particular No, no, it is already first and second reading on the agenda.
Miss Bassford is just suspending the policy because we're supposed to have two separate meetings. Yeah. So, yes, we should. The vote would be yes to agree to suspending the policy. Okay. Yes. Vote just to suspend the policy. So that we can so that we can vote first and second reading. My motion was to suspend the bylaw 131 just for EA9 for this meeting and to reinstate it right away so that future bylaw the amendments will go the right way with two meetings. Suspended for this meeting and this vote. Reinstated immediately following. Um, roll. Anyone discussion?
Any questions? Okay. Roll call. Mr. Shahad. Miss Massford. Yes. Mr. Brunzak. Yes. Mr. Kenova. Yes. Dr. Danny. Yes. Mr. Mia. Yes. Mr. Yes. M. Suarez? Yes. Vice President Santiago? Yes. President Paris? Yes. Motion carries. Um, yes. I'm sorry. Um, Mr. Shahada, I should have abstained from uh B education item number 10, please. Uh, President Paris, we haven't gotten to the formal vote for all of them. This was just Why didn't you get that home? That's next. Okay. I thought we were doing the whole group at this point. No, just the just because you had to do the suspension of the bylaw first. Okay. Yeah, you can do the whole group. Okay, now we're voting on the whole group. I'm sorry. Um, so a motion to approve items 1 through 12 under um I'm sorry. Yeah, under B education administration. Motion. Motion by uh Commissioner Danny, seconded by Commissioner Mahia.
Any discussion? Okay, roll call. Mr. Shock, Miss Passford. Uh, yes to all abstaining on my name only on E10. Mr. Brentiac, yes to everything except EA9. No on EA9. Mr. Kenova, yes. Dr. Danny, yes. Mr. Mia, yes. Mr. Ciano, yes. Miss Suarez, yes. Vice President Santiago, yes. Abstain on EA10. President Paris, uh, yes. Abstain on uh B10. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay, moving on to personnel. I'm looking for a motion to approve items one through 30. 30. Motion. Motion to approve by Commissioner Brenak, seconded by Commissioner Suarez. Discussion.
Hearing none. Roll call. Mr. Shad. Miss Bassford. Uh, yes. I'm abstaining on uh P23. That's an abstension on that. That's uh handled with care. I don't like the program because adversives. It's a whole You know how I feel about that, Danny. And I'm abstaining on my name only of P30. P27. Thank you, Mr. Bruniac. Yes. Abstain on P27, my name only. Mr. Kenova. Yes. Dr. Danny. Yes. Mr. Mahia. Yes. Obstaining on P 27. My name only. Mr. Ciano. Yes. Abstaining on my name only. P27. Miss Suarez. Yes. Abstaining on P27. My name only and P28. Uh, Vice President Santiago. Yes. Abstain on P28, P29. President Paris. Uh, yes. Abstain my name only 27 and also on 28. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Our next group is finance and facilities. Looking for a motion to approve items 1 through 16. Motion. Motion to approve by Commissioner Brunak.
Second. Um I want to make a motion to have um F7 as a separate vote. That's the budget. Second. Yeah. Okay. So we'll remove item seven for a separate vote and discussion. So the motion has been second. Anybody second that? Second. Commissioner Mahia second it. Commissioner Bassford made the motion. We will now be voting on items 1 through 16 excluding items seven for followup. We need a vote on P7. Okay. We vote on Okay. going to ask. We need to vote first. I'm pulling P7 for a separate vote. All right. So, this is just a vote to vote on it separately. Right. Right. Thank you. Yeah. We'll have discussion. Vote on it separately. The budget. Okay. Take a quick roll call on that. Miss Bassford. Yes. To have a separate vote on uh P7. Mr. Bruniac. Yes. Mr. Kenova? Yes. Dr. Danny? Yes. Mr. Mia?
Yes. For a separate vote. Mr. Ciano? Yes. M. Wararez? Yes. And thank you, Commissioner Bassford, cuz I I was pausing before cuz I also wanted to do that. Wasn't sure what the protocol was. So, thank you. Vice President Santiago, yes. President Paris, yes. Motion carries. Okay. So, could we um we're going to vote on the rest of them at this point. Um so, a motion to approve 1 through 16. Uh accepting item seven for now. Motion to move the group except for seven. Commissioner Ratford, seconded by Commissioner Dr.
Danny, any discussion? Roll call. Mr. Shahada. Miss Bassford. Yes. Mr. Brent, yes. Mr. Kenova, yes. Dr. Danny, yes. Mr. Mahia, yes. Mr. Ciano, yes. I'm going to abstain on F3 because my company made a donation an F-16 check 222038. [Music] Miss Suarez. Yes. Vice President Santiago, yes. President Paris, yes. Abstain on 15, item 5431. Motion carries. Thank you, Mr. Shahada. Thank you. Okay, so that brings us to item seven. So, do we want to discuss first or or make a motion first before we start discussion? Motion to um move seven. Motion move seven by Commissioner Bassford. Second. Second by Commissioner Brunak. discussion. Commissioner Suarez as a group um I guess is this the time to bring up the potential uh I'm even going to propose like going up doing the 4% as um CA suggests is this the time to discuss that because this is the once and on potentially once in a lifetime opportunity to take advantage of the um higher tax rate.
So, I just wanted to bring that up as an option. Yeah, you can modify the F7 that Miss Basker did and make it four, five, six, 22. Okay. So, you would need So, your motion would be to I guess I I want the discussion, right? because I mean I'm not going to make a motion for a specific percentage without input from my colleagues. So I guess I I think the discussion this would be the time to discuss. Okay, that's what I thought. Thank you. So would you like the floor? Um well I just I sure I'll have the floor. Um you know I I think it's worth entertaining a 4% increase just because this is the opportunity to do so. We're talking about future generations here. um not just next year but the impact that it can have going forward. Um I I appreciate every educator, student, community member that has spoken about this um from weeks past and until today and I hear them and I really understand their needs and concerns.
Um and just currently right now public education is in jeopardy and if we can have a safe space to say we have an opportunity to increase money for our district right now, I think it's worth taking advantage of. Um, and um, I would just love that's my opinion. So, I just wanted to share that with my colleagues and bring that up for discussion. Okay. Anyone else? I have a question. Yes, commission. Motion it. Bring it up for a motion. Um, um, I did have uh, one more question. U, basically when I was driving here, I was listening to the presentation. Um, the 3% is basically just to get us by, correct? Nothing else basically added on except for what you mentioned before. Correct. That is with the increase in the prescription that I informed you guys about on the 15th. All right. Thank you. Any other discussion?
Yeah. But we did know about the the prescription increase in the last meeting. We knew there was an increase of about $4 million at the March 13th preliminary hearing. Uh I got another email on the 15th of April. So two weeks ago that it increased an additional million dollars because we were running really really bad. We it got worse rather. So they revised their their renewal to us and it was an increase of a million dollars. Any other? Yes, Commissioner Bford. Okay. So I wrote something because uh it's been a rough week in my house. Um, so in order to get to adequacy, you told us it was 38%. Okay. Um, for those that are supporting an increase 2% zero, zero, I mean 0, 1, 2, 3, or four. I sincerely hope that you are organizing fundraisers that are needed to preserve the services for our children and staff that they deserve.
Because whether we support this increase or not, each of us took an oath to to be responsible stewards of the taxpayer dollars. I am not here to assign blame, but I am making observations based on repeated discussions we've had on this day this year for this budget. For clarity, I just want to say that it has been repeatedly said that past boards are to blame for the not raising the tax levy. Let me be clear. You cannot sit here and point to that sole reason we're in the situation. That board, like the current negotiating committee, made decisions based on information and asurances provided at the time. We have always been fiscally responsible with our budgets here in Clifton, making decisions carefully and thoughtfully based on the information we were given. The decision not to raise taxes the tax levy in the previous year uh was not made in a vacuum.
It was made with deliberate consideration with guidance just as you made decisions to u the negotiating committee to approve approximately 4% reason uh raises for various bargaining units in the last year. So um to the negotiation committee I asked this question directly. Were you given solid assurances that the district could sustain those raises through through state and federal aid as well as the tax levy? Did you receive accurate accurate credible information that supported your recommendation to this board? Now in 2025, we are faced with a financial bind due to many factors well beyond our control. But before we continue to blame past boards and before I want to blame any committee for what has been given and some of inexperienced decisions, an overgenerous decision, let's pause. Let's stop uh uh focusing on blame. Let's be cleareyed about what we look for look ahead and what we can give and what we have to cut.
Let's remember before we ask our students to pay to participate in extracurriculars. Often the very things that keep them engaged in schools. Often the very thing that saves their lives in school. Often the very thing that they make them motivated to go to school. We must exhaust every other option. It's time to work together. Take this opportunity to move the district forward and not blame anyone. Blame will not fix the problem. As the author Douglas Adam once wrote, it is a mistake to think that you can solve any major problem just with blame. So I make a motion for 3%. That is already a motion on Can I make a motion for 4%. So it would be a motion to modify the modify that motion to to change three to 4%. Right. But the actual forgive me as the resolution actually says 3%. Okay. So my my motion is to move seven at 3%.
Sorry. Wants to modify F7 to 4%. So it'll be first. This is I got my RA rules chart out. I got my rabbit rules chart out. So the motion would be a motion to modify the motion to say from 3 to 4%. You're just voting on the modification, not whether you're passing the motion. If that makes sense. Okay. Mhm. So, oh, you need a second. A second. Uhuh. So, I motion to modify the 3% to 4%. And so, what we're voting on is for this motion. Correct. Just for the motion. Is there a second, not for passage of the board? Seconded by Commissioner Mahia. Okay. Any more discussion? I have a question. Yes. If the modification passes, then we vote on the 4% the next round. If the modification fails and we don't raise it to um does it stay with 3% that's on the then we if that fails then it goes back to the 2% that we sent to the council.