That's all. Thank you. So, my name is Alexandra I am only one My address is 152 Sherman Place, Garfield, New Jersey. And I hate reading and standing. So, as we speak, on March 24, 2025, I stood here and raised several questions about the raising expenses related to charter school and school school transportation, Garfield. Unfortunately, I did not receive any response. So, today I'm here again repeating those questions because transparency and accountability are part of your public obligation. Let's start with charter school. The original purpose of charter school was to give a family more choices in education, especially in areas where traditional public school weren't meeting students' needs. But if that is the case, then what does it really mean for Garfield? Are we saying that our own public schools have lower standards? That our teachers are less qualified? Or is there some form of favoritism that divides our school community instead of raising the quality for everyone?
We want to get part of our staff create really like experts in this field that are going back to their campus. Uh we will do it in grade bands. So, what does good direct instruction look like in K2? What does it look like in 3-5 math, 3-5 ELA, 6-8 math, uh 6-8 ELA and at high school. The other component to that is active engagement and what does good active engagement look like because we know students need to be active in their learning. Uh some students don't get as much active engagement as they need to and it's a lot of sit and get. So, we want to make sure we're equipping teachers with putting the cognitive load on the students and having the students do the work with those active engagements. Uh we are limiting capacity because we want it to be really cool and the thing to do in the future.
I mean, I've got one right here. I've got a picture of a teacher that's got bruises all up and down her arms because she was kind of beat up in a classroom. We talk about a teacher shortage. We need to figure out how to make sure our classrooms are safe for the teachers. Just as safe as for the teachers as for the kids. So, if they're hitting teachers, what are they doing to other kids that we may or may not see? So, we need to work on discipline. Also included, and I did not include this in my draft, but it also the law increases the penalty for battery on certain health care employees and school employees. So, I think that's something where we're going to have to also take a look based at that law on our discipline process to ensure that uh kids are not uh hitting a teacher.
um and the language um requiring the agent and the or the commission to be provided in writing with the name and contact information for who's responsible for supervising the work on the project. Um, Jean had suggested that instead of all individuals signing the order, it could be limited to just the site supervisor if that's um acceptable to the applicant. Um, >> that's fine. >> I somebody's got to have read this because otherwise they won't. I've been on enough construction sites to know they take the order and they throw it in a drawer and nobody looks at it. So, we gota This is the only way we could figure out a way to make someone look at it. Well, isn't should there wouldn't be there a deputy or assistant site supervisor or project manager because you don't know what's going to happen that site supervisor they ill or something that there should be at least one or two other people that um are you know have read it completely and understand it completely.
So, >> a terrific job by Ashley Forrester sweeping the ball away so that Peyton Trip could collect it. >> [crying] >> Goes in the books as a draw control for Peyton, but the the play was made there by Ashley when she was in a scrum for it. Peyton's going to scoop that ball up. Pass to Ally Marseglia. Callahan to Hickey. To Maggie McGuinness. Lilly Vitti with the ball. Looking to get the ball around once here and hopefully set something up. They're going to call a play. I heard something called. I don't know what it was, but going to stack one side of the of the field here and get a cutter loose, hopefully. Believe this is an iso play to Peyton, but there ain't no iso there. Not a good spot. Nice Nice, there we go. Lilly Vitti buries the ball. That was the draw and dump you've been talking about.
We do look at it case by case. So, there is a process for doing that. When you ask us, >> my question is, do you prefer to have a teacher that is going through the process or no teacher at all? >> Well, definitely somebody who's going through the process. >> Okay. Well, when you put a moratorum on this program and you're not supporting to extend it for 5 years, what you're saying is that their third year they're done. That's what you're saying. And so now we're going to be left again holding the bag with students having zero teacher, not even a subnow, nothing. As opposed to a teacher that's willing to spend the money, go through the programs, check off all the boxes that they're being told to check off, having to invested and committed all this time, all these resources, all of these of their own money now.
According to financial report, because of charter school tuition, it has surveyed dramatically from 2024, 4 and 1/2 million, to nowadays, 2026 27, almost 13 million. That is a huge amount of local taxpayer money. Money that could and should be supporting Garfield public school. As of October 15, 2025, you have 31 Garfield students attending private schools. And um one second. One year later, the number went up to 38. So, many questions that My question is that why aren't our own school able to provide our own school and not able to provide students with the same level of education that is getting in private school? Why we sending kids to private school and we are paying for this? I don't get it. Mm. Sorry. Another serious issue is special education placement. 35 Garfield students were in 2024 were sending to other districts for special education. In 2025, that number grew grew to 43.
Uh so, we're trying to do a limited number that way we make sure our training's effective, but we also create some excitement around it. Finally, for our students, we have the ever popular summer school. Uh high school summer school will be at Valley Vista. The target audience for summer school are credit deficient students. So, if I failed algebra one, I get the pleasure of paying for it in the summer and taking algebra one again. Uh it's good for the student because they don't have to take it during the year and it opens up their elective. Uh high school iSchool, it actually starts very soon in April. So, we do offer uh high iSchool to our incoming 9th graders if they want to clear PE, algebra honors, geometry honors, or Spanish one two. There are criteria. The kids that take that have to have been in the highest level of the state testing.
Um there's there's no uh there's no good reason why we can't move forward quicker than waiting 3 more months. During that 3 months, how many more teachers are going to get hurt? 2 years ago, we reported that there was a 100 plus I'm I'll be done. I'll be done when I'm done. Thank you. Um there was around 124 instances. Actually, it was 142. Um but the paperwork was incorrect apparently and it was 124. Last school year, there was a significant increase. Significant. Um when we've had our one and only one security discussion this year in October, we were already at around 80 to 85% of the prior year's full year incidents. So, I think that we do need to understand this better. We do need reporting and we do need to be able to keep uh our teachers safe. So, that's why I believe we need to move forward with this.
So if somebody gets sick or they're on vacation that the other, you know, one or two other people have, you know, knowledge of the order conditions know exactly what needs to be done. We're okay with having the site supervisor and >> and his assistant or um uh site super site supervisor on behalf of the applicant and site supervisor on behalf of the site contractor >> maybe want to put their assistance >> that that's a good idea because the contractor is the one who's actually doing it. >> Correct. He's the one that's going to be there on a day-to-day, you know, kind of managing all of the different uh subcontractors doing the site work. >> Yep. >> I think I got that language right. >> I think there's no period though. >> All right. >> I can't even read it. >> Can we leave in [snorts] the um the providing of the name, telephone number, the contact information of the person responsible.
The the defenders got crossed up. Lilly became wide open due to them paying attention to Peyton. Dropped the pass right over back of the Another goal for Ashland. 10 to 5. 10:40 left. Someone keeps playing this goal horn. Doing a great job. I mean, multitasking is hard, but nailing it. Here we go again. Another draw. Let's see if we can come up with it, go to the offensive zone and do some damage. Peyton Trip again. Taking every draw today. Usually that's not the case for Bobble there for Lilly. >> [cheering] >> That might have been the easiest draw control of the game and it just got away, but there's Ashley fighting for the ball again. Ashley just tenacious on her defense today. She's not going to go quietly. Got a little fast break opportunity here. Nope, picked it up. Nice job by Sammy. Smart little play there.
Of their own money. And so now we're telling them the three years that that's it, that's all you get where there are systematic issues that are uh that are out of their control. We're doing everything they're telling them we're telling them to do and then at the end of the 3 years we're saying, "Oh, we're just going to pull the plug where I'm not necessarily sure if you understand the crisis that we're in." And it's very unfair to these teachers that are going through the process to tell them, "Okay, yeah, thanks for everything, but uh nah n we pulling the plug." And so, uh, these teachers that are going to this program, at least in my community, which is very cultural, which is is very close-knit, that if the students grab on to you and they like you, we want to keep you forever. And so I would hate to see any of my teachers that are currently going through the process in my district have to leave because your guys expectations and your guys standards and your guys rules and your guys wish list is not being checked off the box.
And this year is 103 students. How that happened? Are you telling me that it's so many disabled kids who need to be sent outside our district? Because I I kind of it's kind of very strange. That is not just a small change. That is major increase and it raises really question about the cost and complaints. According to New Jersey administrative code, title SA chapter 14, 61A, a district is not required to pay for student special education in a non-public or another district program if the district already provides a free and appropriate public public education here at home. So, why are we paying for services in other districts where sim- similar programs repor- reportedly exist in Garfield? I already asked this question by email to the superintendent. The only response I received was to file an OPRA request, but I'm not asking for individual names or private information of the students.
We don't want to set them up for failure. We want to set them up for success as far as the math goes. Uh they can't take PE and they can't take Spanish one two. Our success rate with the 9th graders taking those classes has not only been good in the class, but we've actually looked at the next level. If they took honors algebra, we've looked at how they've done in honors geo and our results have been good. So, we want to continue that practice. Uh we also allow iSchool for students who are working to get ahead with the core or in need of elective credits. We do not allow iSchool for repeaters. Uh we just don't think it's a good practice. If I failed algebra one face-to-face, the chances of me passing it online, um that data is not very good for us. So, we're not going to do something that we're not having success with.
We can always amend later, but we need to start our work now. I've I've got a couple as well. I I think when we talked about work sessions and we created I think Mr. Nalen, Mr. Stover, and I were on the subcommittee. The intent of a work session was not to delay. It was to give us an opportunity to discuss. And we've had over 30 days since that opportunity. And no one has taken any effort, at least by my emails or my records, to schedule that. And so, I'm concerned of what that looks like when it's a safety issue. I think the other thing is is I talked with a couple teachers coming into this. The documentation online shows that today is the second reading of this policy. It shows it on that policy draft right now on our on our board docs. I think the other thing is is like we talked about with July 1st, just cuz July 1st is the start of the school year doesn't mean we can't start monthly reporting now.
So if there's ever a >> it's it's in 21 I that same exact requirement. >> Okay. Is it >> it is uh Yep. 21 I reads, "Prior to any work being done on the project site, applicant shall inform the conservation commission rather than the agent or the commission in writing of the name, email, and mailing addresses uh in business and mobile phone numbers of both the project supervisor um for ins uh who's responsible for ensuring on-site compliance with this order and their alternates. >> Okay. >> The applicant shall also notify the commission in writing of any changes in this information. >> That's fine. >> Yeah. You understand why we need that? >> Absolutely. >> Things happen. >> We need to know who to get a hold of get them to fix it. >> So through the commission since um it's in the previous condition, the language will be removed from condition 27.
Peyton looking for the outlet to Aaron Hickey. We've seen that a couple of times. The the Ashland players just kind of sweeping the ball into a a place where their teammate can get it. Aaron runs into a wall there. >> [cheering] >> Peyton switch Aaron switch to her left hand there, and which is great, but dropped the ball in a good check. Alyssa Brown. Quick like a bunny. She's fast. Both teams had some opportunities there in scoring, but eventually Ashland comes down with it and again, the clock is in their favor here. Clock for the Clockers. Nice cut by Lilly from Peyton. Oh, and she buries it again. Lilly Vitti. That is twice in a row trip to Vitti opening up a six-goal lead for Ashland. Oh, there's that music again. Another goal horn for Lilly Vitti. I think once you get up by more than six, I think it's time to stop with the goal horn.
Because the fact of the matter is is that we are in a time right now where we have to make adjustments and you guys are the only ones that are not adjusting. The legislature is adjusting. The teachers are adjusting, the parents are adjusting, the students are adjusting, you guys are the only one that is not adjusting. And so I don't know where exactly and and I'm afraid to have you answer this question because I feel that you have been very indirect with my colleagues and on this committee. Uh the fact that you're not here in person shows that you're really not taking this serious. I have people here in the room that are also here in person that have been nominated. you are the chair and you're not even here in person which shows me that it's just not that important to you because what's when it's important you show up and you let everybody in the room know that you are taking this serious.
I'm asking why a taxpayer and as parent, our district keeps spending so much money outside our outside our own schools. And by the way, I have child who has dyslexia who is under this program, also. So, there are matters of policy and responsibility. They They affect our community, our teachers, and especially our students. The people of Garfield deserve clear public answer, not more silence and redirection. Thank you. And this part about charter school is exactly what Mr. Tom Coste about below adequate budget. If we close them and those kids are going to real public school maybe it's going to be like $4 million not $17 million. Thank you. Any other public members care to speak? Nick Discepolo, 136 Mars Ave. I was astounded by this presentation today. Uh $17 million we need to get more tax money from us? Listen. How many people here want to live in Alpine?
The third version of summer school we have is we call it senior completers. So, we might have a senior that's a credit or two shy of graduating and instead of bringing them back the entire next year, we work to help them make up those two credits in a summer school version. New this year uh through federal projects is 7th and 8th grade math at Dysart High. Uh these are it is funded by title. So, 7th and 8th grade math is available to students in title one schools who did not show proficiency on AASA or had very low growth. Uh while we can't make them come, it's highly encouraged. Uh it's at no cost to them. Transportation is provided. And finally, we have a ESY. It's usually called extended school year for students at Kingswood and this is for students in special education that we owe services to or who can benefit from it and that's a team decision.