So right now although we're in the well I'll say the end of April we're actually presenting the the prior month. So today the the look at the financials today is a little bit different than what we're seeing. This is more of a historical view. Um the the 2% that Angela pointed out these financials uh show us at a 2.6% 6% of of budget, meaning there's 2.6 uh 2.06% of the budget remaining. That's kind of the the target, right? And that's where the legislation surrounds uh we call it the 2% account. We'll talk a little bit more about that later, but once we hit that 2% account, which is uh just under um just about $2 million, they the sites are still going to enter their supplies. um it just goes under a higher level of uh scrutiny before it gets purchased uh before we actually push those through.
So you're you really have to let yourself just do it and I feel like if you want to and it's something that you see in your future 100% try it because there's nothing wrong with trying something and if you don't like it you don't have to do it but if you don't then you'll miss out. Are you planning to continue doing art things in the future? Yes, I believe that I'm going to continue doing art um hopefully all of my life. I'm not sure if I'll go into anything specifically job wise for my art but I do want to share my work with people and I write a lot of music and sing a lot like make my own music but I I believe that when I get old enough to actually show it off it will be worth it so hopefully. Is there any way people now can see whatever you've done if you're willing to show it?
So, May 22nd, that's the day before, um, it's that Friday before Memorial Day. We, in the past, have had off on that day. That's actually going to be an early dismissal day for the staff and the students. Monday, May the 25th, is Memorial Day, so the building in the district will be closed. Um, we'll have a half day on June 2nd due to the primary elections. So, that will be for students only. Staff will be doing professional development and an in-service on that day. And the last week of school, as we have done in the past, from June 15th to June 19th, will be a half-day session for all students, and staff will begin their prep work for September of the following year. And our graduation days are going to be June 19th for the middle school and the high school students. And at this time, if you could turn to page 12, I would like to turn it over to Dr.
So, let me share with you uh my favorite quote about about the environment. It says this, "A society grows great when one plants more trees under the shade which they will never have the ability to sit." So, have a good day and congratulations to the school for this great accomplishment. And now, we will be doing the ribbon cutting. So, if we can have students, I think that are going to be holding the ribbon. And if we could have our honorary guest, Sally Fuller, who is the daughter of Dent. She is here today to do the ribbon cutting ceremony. And Woodward and Sue Woodward who were a huge part of the original greenhouse and were a huge part of getting this greenhouse all put back together. There's a golden one. Golden scissors. There's golden scissors. Ready? 1 2 3 1 2 3 READY? ALL RIGHT. We are super super excited and like Mrs.
Um also attended the Copper State Educational Alliance EdTech Summit. So that was a a local-based um uh panel discussion um seeing how uh our our schools can integrate technology to make our our students more prepared for the workforce. Um so that was that was nice also interacting with other board members, superintendents, and folks within our local community here. And um our uh family resource center had their community closet grand opening ribbon cutting last week. So that was cool to to see to go help our volunteers. We got to set up our community closet. Um and a big thank you to the Legacy Foundation for for providing those those racks and bringing us a whole bunch of clothes and stuff for for kids and our families in our community. And seeing what a great um group of volunteers we have helping out at our family resource center.
Dr. Smith, will you please do us the honor and present Officer Gosche with her plaque? I know Jamie belongs to the district, but she lives at our school and she has been such an amazing presence in our school for all these years. Coming off of a really tough time with COVID, she was this amazing positive presence in our building and welcoming kids back and built that bridge that we continue to build with the Batavia Police Department and our students and seeing them as a positive force in our community. So, thank you, Jamie. I don't know if you want to say Yes, I have a few words. Um, even though I may look nervous, it's totally fine. Um, so serving as the school resource officer for BPS 101 has been an honor and a privilege and I know it will remain a highlight of my career.
Wow. >> Kids love it. Um I just think the coach it's great for the coaches, the the students, everything. It'd be great if we can pick a game that we all can go to and wear our shirts. Our baseball shirts. Yeah. Think about it, okay? Before these seasons come and go real fast. >> Real fast. Especially with weather, too. Yes. So, I'll like a nice warm May day, okay? Dr. Calvin means are you >> No, May is unpredictable. Yes, and we do have a ribbon cutting ceremony that's going to be coming up. So, I >> May? Is there a game that day? Yes, there is, and it's called >> That might be the opportunity. >> I I think it's the 7th. I don't have it in front of me. I sent that out in my newsletter for you, just so you can target that, and I'll send that out again just to remind everybody for >> it's Friday.
Uh second is our next item on the agenda is first reading of update three, April batch. Yes, and so the April batch, again, these are all policies that we currently have and we're just converting them over. I provided you with some of my notes and questions that I had given to the attorney just for some clarifying questions to make sure that I understood them correctly. Some parts of the policies do apply to us, some parts don't. Um and so, some of the language I asked if it was legally required to have it or if we could have that taken out. Again, she responded that we could, so you have all of those notes in there.
This is the most prized field trip that we have at the intermediate school. Um, our kids love this trip. So, we just thought we wanted to present just a little bit of gratitude for our third trip. Uh, show you a couple pictures. Mr. Tiner is going to talk about how it correlates to the curriculum, especially in eighth grade. Uh, as we have civics that we have to involve in eighth grade. Um, and again, just the the so many of our kids don't even have opportunity to leave Nighttown, let alone the state, but but to be able to go on this, we're taking our largest group of 94 participants. Um, >> yes. Well, um, the cool thing about being the principal is that you have when you have an assistant principal is that you can say, "Hey, you're why don't you take this trip?" And so, uh, he is he's which means if he's not here, his team just won.
They moved from looking at a map to engineering a path through it. >> [snorts] >> Up on the screen, you can see what Indiana road trip project I did in fourth grade. My Ozobot started in Auburn, then went to Fort Wayne and got chased by a police car because it was speeding. Then it went to Indianapolis, and it was at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Next, it went to the Ohio River for a nice, relaxing day at the water. Then it headed back towards Auburn to end the end of its exciting road trip. >> [snorts] >> In um also in fourth grade, students used the Makey Makeys to bring their life science standards to life about animal adaptations. Instead of just reading about Indiana wildlife, students engineered interactive models to explain how an animal's internal and external structures, like heart, lungs, and or fur, function together to help them survive in their environment.
Um and Angel, that's what you're talking about. I'll be sending a letter out to all of our administrators that >> may have some one-time expenses. Typically, um our educators will wait until the end of the year to try to pre purchase supplies for the following year. Um so I'm going to send that email out shortly and just let them know just get your final orders in. But as of uh right now, we're just keeping a very close eye on a on a daily basis of what that uh balance is. But um all looks very healthy right now. >> We also purchased some instructional improvements for the schools which is also one-time expenses. Um and they include like furniture and supplies, whiteboards, laser projectors. Okay. Okay. So here we're in the summary we're showing that salary and benefits are favorable. um for salaries we had budgeted uh in the general fund for the ARPA staff but the true um charges are going into the grant.
Well I am in Bel Canto. So, um you can see me sing at any of our competitions type things, concerts. Um a lot of my art is displayed in the art room. And I mean, you can come up and talk to me and I'll show you my stuff cuz I love showing off my work. She will throw her art at you. I will. It will just full on throw it. Absolutely. >> So, beware anytime you enter that room. Um I suppose that ends it. Thank you for coming in. Thank you for having me. Yeah. Goodbye.
to talk about one of our final policies for the evening. So, this resolution of the Cliffside Park Board of Education honoring Amber Vargas as the 2026 Bergen County Unsung Hero. Whereas the Bergen County School Board Association, in collaboration with the New Jersey School Board Association, recognizes unsung heroes from each high school of Bergen County to celebrate those whose character and impact find the heart of our schools. And whereas the Unsung Hero Award honors students who make outstanding contributions to their schools and communities, but are often overlooked by traditional recognition programs. Students who have modeled good citizenship, a spirit of quiet strength, and a profile in purpose that inspire others. And whereas these unsung heroes may have organized community programs, selflessly supported their peers, or achieved significant academic success while overcoming difficult personal challenges, disabilities, or language barriers. Whereas Amber Vargas has overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to reach her full potential, serving both the community and the community at large as a beacon of resilience and integrity.
Wood has said, this This a dream of ours um, to get this greenhouse up and running. I did not have a greenhouse growing up and we're going to be learning alongside all of you because a lot of you know more than we do. So, we know that you are all leaders and we're all going to be leading the charge for our greenhouse efforts. You're all amazing. Thank you so much for all of our donors, for the Nathans, for all the sweat equity in rebuilding this greenhouse, for Weber, Mr. Schubert, for all of the planning to get this going. Now, the hard part is the real hard part is up to all of us, the exciting part to keep it going, to keep it alive, to use it, and we will be extremely creative in what we grow and what we use what what we are, um, growing for our school and for each other.
And really at all of our schools. So with the PTO, with the family resource center, there's just so many um great people who are out there wanting to support our kids and our and our district. So huge shout-out to all of our our district volunteers. And um yeah, looking forward to eighth grade uh promotions and our little kindergarten graduations coming up here in the next few weeks. And I'm looking forward to shaking hands and handing out the little diplomas to our eighth graders. It's always heartwarming and does bring a little tear to my eye, especially the TCA one. So um yeah, so so that's about it. Thank you so much, Ms. Marquez. Mr. Jones. Hi, everyone. Yes, I also attended the NSBA conference in San Antonio for the first time. First time in any national conference outside the state. And uh it was a very edifying experience as a board member.
I want to thank the district from everyone here at RJ Ack, all of the staff at BHS, all of the staff at all BPS 101 schools, the parents and the students. Thank you for the opportunity for serving the community in this way and thank you for trusting me with something so precious, your students. Over the past few years, whenever I've been asked if I have any children, I joke that I have about 5,100 children. And that's really how seriously I took this role. I I knew I was responsible for all of your children's safety and I took that very seriously. Whether I was sharing a daily joke with a student, talking life with a teacher, or helping solve school issues, working with the district safety team to continue to maintain our security, improve our security of our buildings, I knew this role would have an impact.
Yeah, it's that Friday. >> Yes, that Friday. Uh-huh. And we're also, I think, if I'm not mistaken, we're hosting uh a track invitational. I thought that was on the docket, too. So, find out >> a track like a a regional or or or sectional? I mean sectional? Our first high school event because the other track and none of it was >> We couldn't do it. Correct. So, that's coming up. That'd be great. >> Yeah. I need to get up on things on these games here. All right. So, and that's coach G. Mhm. Honor. Okay. Great. Any other board updates? Tom. One last one, Mr. Okrzynski sent out pictures. If we when Miss Heinlein and Miss Hageman put that together, well, you know, with the board updates and whatnot. And if you notice the pictures in there, Mhm. Bare Construction allowed our kids to put hard hats on and vests.
So, I'm happy to entertain any questions, but again, you guys have another month to look at these, so we can always get those questions answered, too. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. You got that, Alex? Yeah. Uh item three, approval of Antioch Bible Church soccer and transportation facility use agreements, which I think they're At this time, we're going to go ahead and table that. We are still working on working out some of the details on those agreements. I went ahead and put it on just in case we did have it done, that way we have transparency on our agenda of what we would be talking about tonight, but we're not quite ready for that one. So, we're going to go ahead and table that one tonight. And then, approval of the HEA 1003 flexibility or waiver resolution. Yes, so this has been in place for many years.
So, he's in the championship right now. Um, so, uh, I will speak on his behalf, but he he wanted to thank you guys as well because he has put a ton of effort into, uh, fundraising to help, uh, uh, students to be able to afford this. So, it's been super successful. A lot of kids raised a lot of money to really cut their cost down. Um so uh this this is actually uh all these pictures are from kids. U Mr. Tiner had a class project when they got back they were to share with uh the class as Martin Jr. Washington Monument Treasury the Capitol building Lincoln memorial Jefferson um and then someone's grave that you can read but I can't Martin David Ginsburg. I did not know that was. And >> yeah, and then we have um cemetery outside of the Jefferson Memorial of Chief of the Guard and several other pictures.
By coding touch-sensitive sensors, students created a living research project that required them to apply computer science logic, specifically inputs and outputs, to prove they mastered the science content. My Makey Makey project was about the white-tailed deer. At this time, we will be bringing around some Makey Makeys for you to look at. I learned that the white-tailed deer have super strong noses that help them smell food under the snow. They also have amazing eyesight and can see uh 310° around them. To make my project, we used circuits and coding in Scratch. I connected my Makey Makey to create an interactive project. Second graders were able to use it and learn about the white-tailed deer and all the cool facts I discovered during my research. The hard things about this project was making sure that we were loud enough during our recordings. I studied garden snakes, and I pretty much did the same things as Travis, except I solved this problem.