Thank you so much. >> Thank you so much. All right, next we have the District 230 Foundation update from Miss Waterman. Thank you. Um, it's a busy time for the foundation this time of year, especially as the teacher grants we support come to fruition. And I thought I would bring attention to a couple of the upcoming events um that the foundation supports. Um, tomorrow in uh at Andrew at 8 am uh the Ultima Woods Grant, that's the grant where Wood students work with the Ultima program students, will be hosting a cutting board and bake sale to support their program. Um, on March 11th, uh, the D230 band showcase will take place at 700 p.m. at Wheaten College, and that's where, uh, the bands from all three schools, uh, work in a professional setting. Um this spring the eco engineers at Sandberg will be installing a sustainable water system outside in their garden.
There aren't really many developers like Habitat. It's usually is Habitat, but um that's the kind of thing that can be deeply affordable and all affordable. Um, so there are lots of examples of these kind of municipal land dispositions for creation of those all affordable or deeply affordable. I I'd be interested in in seeing that too, you know, information about communities. >> Um, one question I have too earlier, um, you mentioned that, um, you know, I think it was a strategy for how to increase your affordable housing. One of them was to um any any units that were coming off of affordability make extending that. Do we and maybe this isn't a question that maybe you have the answer to, but do we have units in Ashlin that are coming off affordability? >> Most of our affordable units right now are in perpetuity. >> That's what I thought.
And I know that, you know, some people say, "Well, that's the nature of the beast, and that goes with the job." But, um, Adam and I can definitely attest to him going above and beyond. Unbelievable. >> Um, he really is a a force. >> An amazing amazing job to get us to where we needed to be to do a delayed opening on Tuesday. Um because about 11 o'clock on Monday when I drove up here and I was talking to him outside, I was like, "Yeah, I was like, "Don't rush. There's no way we're opening tomorrow." And then like three hours later, the sun was out and he was still working and and his guys were out there working with him. And um I was like, I think maybe we can do this. In order to do the delayed opening the next day, Chuck still the next morning had to get all the buses cleaned off.
Thank you. >> [applause] [applause] >> Moving right along, this is great Mr. Brontia, I Commissioner Brontia, moving right along. You're happy, right? Okay, so this portion of the uh the program is open to public recognition. Um this um to the citizens of Clifton for the purpose of addressing any subject matter pertinent to and related directly to the operations of the Clifton Public School District. Residents are required to sign the register, which is right here, um and provide provided for purpose to state their name, address, and subject matter. Comments are limited to 5 minutes per person. Uh issues raised by members of the public may or may not be responded to by the board. All comments will be considered and a response um will be forthcoming if and when appropriate. The board asks all members of the public to be courteous, mindful of the rights of others.
Encourage you to take a look at that. Also at Sandberg, Donna Driscoll will be hosting a schoolwide triathlon, another grant that the foundation supports. Um, and at STAG, I urge you to take a look at the completed Ultima program's colorcoded kitchen, which is teaching functional independence and increased employability among its students. And last but not least, of course, Whoop It Up, which will be held March 28th from 4:30 to 10:30. And I encourage you all to attend. >> Thank you so much. Oops. Next, we have public comments. And if you're new to coming to a board meeting, you always read a statement. Per board policy 2230, we ask that you address the board stating your name and the reason for your comment.
>> So, except that the the um Ashlin house, right, that was brought up. >> That's a private entity, >> right? And it says they're expiring in 2027. So that might be something that we would want to look at how we can help them continue to have them as affordable units. >> Exactly. >> They affordable or are they age restricted? >> Affordable. >> The affordable which may be also age restricted. I'm not >> think I think Ashen House also has an age. >> Well, I'm not sure about that. >> Yeah, I'm not sure for sure, but >> yeah. >> And that's they can be affordable and age restricted. >> Yes, >> they can be. >> Yep. And that's something that the affordable housing trust works on to, you know, they identify units that are possibly going off and then we look at strategies to try and maintain them.
And I'm not going to tell you how he's how he does that. Um but but it was uh as they were pulling out of the busy yard, he was cleaning the snow off for them so they could get out and do their high school runs and then the middle school runs and then the elementary like it just he was I don't know where he gets the the energy. But uh he's awesome and did an amazing job. >> He is. So had to shout out to him again and his staff. Um much appreciated. I know sometimes those are thankless type jobs, but um they are a huge part of the success of the district. Um school boards, New Jersey school boards, I haven't say anything. Um ed services commission. Nothing >> nothing. Yes, you do. Okay. >> And you're not on the executive board, right? And you're not on the executive board.
Individuals when speaking, specifically all comments uh regarding students and employees of the board are discouraged and will not be responded to by the board. Students and employees have specific rights, um legal rights afforded by the laws of New Jersey. The board bears no responsibility, nor will it be liable for any comments made by members of Members of the public should consider their comments in light of legal rights of those affected or identified in the comments, and be aware that they are legally responsible and liable for their comments. Would anyone wish to speak? Seeing none, motion? Motioned by Mr. Brontia, second by Commissioner Paris. Uh board member comments, motion to suspend? Motioned by Mrs. Siadis, seconded by Commissioner uh Suarez. All in favor of no comments? Um we're going to go into a brief um brief executive board in 10 minutes. Motion to close the regular public session.
Each person will be allotted no more than three minutes with a maximum of 30 minutes total for public comment. Per board policy 8:30. The school district expects mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among all people on school property or at a school event. Disruptive behavior or use of vulgar or obscene language will not be tolerated. Please be respectful when addressing the board as well as be respectful of the speaker who has the podium. Disruptions will not be tolerated. And while the board greatly appreciates all participation, please understand that the board does not actively engage in dialogue during public comment. We take all matters seriously and if there is a specific question or comment that requires followup, the appropriate board member or administrator will follow up with you. All right. So, I've tried to organize to make sure that there's multiple topics um being asked to speak about that we get a little bit of everything.
And as Joe said, if it's a private if it's a private entity, we have to work with them >> to do that, >> right? And it may be that, you know, the the the the town has has funds like CPA funds to to help uh to help strike a deal. Oftentimes it it it involves refinancing and it involves other fundings. uh not just local funds, but you can be part of that conversation and and help um you know, help that deal go forward. >> Jen and Jen, this Joe Manyani, in years past, we've uh the affordable housing trust has provided uh certain funding to developers to maintain uh affordable units. Uh we just did that a few years ago at 12 Pawn Street >> and uh we subsidized the builder with some of some of our funding to help create that and those units are in perpetuity.
Um it was very long. They're they're they're quite long and I I have to do them from my car while my kids are in sports. So, you know, I had to reconnect three different times. It was a good time. >> Um what I took from that meeting is that they had a clear audit. >> Okay. >> Their audit. >> Um they spoke about the change in name for the Bowman. >> Yes. >> That um there was a settlement that they settled. it was supposed to be way more than what they settled for. So, they settled for a lot less, which was they were crazy about that. Um, and that was honestly pretty much it. They talked about, you know, how they settled for so much less, how great their audit was, and that was really that was honestly it for like the longest time. >> Oh, that's good.
By Mr. Brontia, second by Commissioner Suarez. It was requested by Mr. Al Smith. All in favor? Meeting over. Thank you. Scratch those names. I'm Benjamin Dad. How are you doing? It's a great honor. I just wanted to thank you all very much.
So the first one is Deborah and I am sorry I'm trying to I need new glasses but I'm trying to read the handwriting. >> Yes ma'am. >> Um hias and I have two children that attended Andrew High School. Um my son graduated in 2017 and my daughter 2019. The reason I'm here is because I got two disturbing phone calls. Um, and I'm not sure who they came from, but with regards to Mr. Sar and I didn't appreciate those phone calls and I don't know where they came from and I I don't know if it went through the village or just maybe it known Mr. for a number of years. I was on districts for 10 very respectful and always came to our meetings. open to anything suggestions. He also wrecked soccer. My daughter played soccer in college. My two kids did very well here. But I don't know where those phone calls came from, but I don't think that should be something that's very situation, but I just say it should not be happening, but I had to come tonight.
That that was that was a must. So >> yeah, we've done that already. >> Great. >> Okay, >> good. Um any any other questions for us? >> I have Sorry, I have another one. What do you know? Does the state currently have some programs aside from 40B um to help communities incentivize developers or do they have money that might be available to communities that they themselves want to um pursue this? Yeah, there's certainly a lot of state programs that help to subsidize affordable housing development um you know in the private market and those developers um you know they they benefit from there's a state one-stop application that they fill out and can be paired with different funds that would uh be useful but I'm not sure if that's your question so tell me if I'm not answering it correctly. >> Yeah. No, it's it's helpful, but I' I'd like >> you don't know that there's money for towns to say, "Okay, we're going to build affordable housing, >> right?" >> No, because I think it's >> developers can apply and there's different like, you know, there's different there's different programs, not just 40B, but there's other like there's the 40R um Robert Hill way was built with some state and federal funding for and that's all that that that building is completely affordable.
>> So, and then they just we got sworn in. >> Okay. >> And that was nice. >> And they do all that virtually. >> Yes. There's 50 of us or however many were press button to speak and then unspeak and it's good. >> Yeah, that's kind of took a lot of time too >> to get everybody sworn in. >> Um All right. >> Perfect. Thank you. Um Pine Hill, we don't have um Stacy here with us tonight. Oh, I'm not I'm sure they probably had a meeting before after they did, right? >> We'll touch base with Stacy um next month. Camd County School Board Association. The um eighth grade dialogue is Wednesday, March 4th. I did sign up Lisa and Brian if anyone else wants to still go. I think I can still register, but I registered u Mr. Lee, Mrs. Bright, and then um Lisa and Brian.
>> Thank you. Okay, next. Asthma. Thank you. >> Good evening, members of the board and superintendent. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. As an educator and a consultant working in multilingual program development and school improvement across Illinois and nationally, my comments are grounded in policy alignment, statewide data, and strategic district positioning. I'm here to express support for the adoption of Arabic as a world language and to encourage continued forward movement towards implementation. Arabic is designated by the US Department of State as a critical needs language and is one of the official languages of the United Nations. It plays a vital role in diplomacy, global commerce, cyber security, health care and national security. When districts offer critical languages, they strengthen measurable college and career pathways. Students proficient in Arabic are more competitive for federal internships, national security language initiatives, and global STEM research programs. According to ISBY English learner data, Arabic is consistently among the most commonly spoken languages in Illinois for English learners, second only to Spanish in many statewide reports.
Well, even the project at uh 501 Pond Street um which was approved by the planning board several years ago now, right? >> Is in the process of uh pursuing uh deeper discount housing um that they're doing through different funding mechan you know their choice to do through different funding mechanisms and that's been that has come back to the planning board for as they have pursued that. So, right because they're really looking to do deeper affordability which is nice. >> Yeah, that's what they're looking at. So, Um Jasmine just saw on the agenda I don't know what >> sorry on my calendar so there's um we when we had met initially with JM Goldson we' been we had created a large um sort of itinerary of when we needed to get done timeline in March 12th we had designated as a joint meeting with the planning board and select board to review the draft housing production plan as well is that Jen, did you still have that on your >> Well, okay.
So, they will be attending that at Eastern on March 4th um with our eighth grade um candidate for the eighth grade dialogue. Um, so that's all I had. Did anyone else No one else has new business, right? >> Yeah. But can I ask about that? So what is that? >> So So every year the Camden County School Boards, they um ask every district to nominate an eighth grade student and they the kids will go out on like a big panel, a big forum, and they'll get asked questions. Now, they're given these questions before they go, a list of them. They're not necessarily know which ones are going to be asked. Um, and a lot of it is like, you know, things you can improve in your school or hot topics. You know, last year was a lot of like AI stuff or cell phone use in the schools, you know, like what the kids thoughts were.
Illinois already recognizes multilingualism through the seal of biiteracy, and Arabic is among the languages most frequently earning the distinction. students are already entering Illinois schools with Arabic as a linguistic asset. At the same time, this would be a world language pathway open to all students just as Spanish, French, and Mandarin are. A structured standard aligned program strengthens graduation credentials and aligns with statewide multilingual priorities. Arabic is academically rigorous. It requires mastery of a non-Latin RA writing system, structured grammatical analysis, and advanced pattern recognition, competencies that support mathematics, engineering, and computer science. District 230 would not be acting in isolation. Arabic is successfully implemented in Illinois districts, including Chicago public schools, for example, Lane Tac and Lindloom and Oaklan Community High School. certifica certification pathways and standards already exist. When planning and alignment are in place, leadership requires action. I respectfully urge you to move forward with implementation.
I'm sorry. I might have misunderstood that. I saw that on Flavio's list, but I said that's what we're doing tonight. So, I ended up saying I think this is wrong. Okay. I think that um they can just talk about it in their boards, their regular meetings at this point. Yeah. Rather than trying to have another joint meeting. >> But also, Madam Chair, while I have um Miss Goldson's attention, we did actually have our conservation agent just give a few notes on the map that you had shown. If I may, Madam Chair, it's just two note three notes. >> Yeah, please. >> Um that the south side of or Oregon site one is Briasco soccer field and the purple parcel is the town forest and is part of article 97. Site seven on the map is Beaver Dam Brook which is a conservation area and is 100% wetlands.