Our junior and our senior class are more like 55. Right now it's looking like 90 students coming in on IEPs, which is high >> until you find something differently. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Uh thank you for your presentation. Uh we appreciate it. Um and the background you gave from your department. Um, in terms of the transition transitional support, I know we have workforce development programs, the adult workforce development programs. I'm not sure if that's any in any way tied to this. Um so I'm just looking at more like how we are streamlining the transition services support end in terms of what we have inhouse and also like mass hire when they help the summer youth jobs or the internships uh in the corporate or nonprofit end. >> So this year um with mass hire we only got seven jobs for the summer. So, we are looking at um because they're cutting, you know, the budgets are cut, but so our seven students that we're placing, six of them are on IEPs, one is not.
I feel like that's really disruptive. >> You think it should be the 15th 16th again? >> Yeah. >> Monday Tuesday? >> So one of those PD days should be I'm surprised the staff didn't bring that up. >> Well if it were me >> They changed it. There is there's a reason why. >> Yeah I liked it too but there was a reason why I forgot. >> We had talked about it I don't know if you want to share something Mrs. Blair. >> Not everybody's any teachers are they're not all Connecticut teachers right? They teach in teachers teach in New York and New York has off that week. >> Mhm. >> Right? So a lot of people impacted not just >> Yeah I don't I don't remember discussion really around that. in particular. I don't know. I wasn't at the first meeting I was at the second one.
For the past 13 years at the middle school, Christina has been someone our students and staff can always count on. She is patient, consistent, and always putting students first. She builds real relationships with students and goes above and beyond in ways that don't always get recognized, but absolutely make a difference every single day. On a personal note, I always knew she was destined for greatness from the day she was born, mostly because she happens to share a birthday with me. Christina, thank you for everything you've given to the district. Congratulations on being named power professional of the year. >> [cheering] [applause] >> And Garfield High School, Ms. Damico. >> Good evening, everyone. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you our Garfield High School power professional of the year. At first glance, uh when you meet Ms. Lena Gomez, she appears to be a very quiet, soft-spoken uh power professional, but once you get to know her, you know that she is a truly fierce advocate for her students.
Um it was a really cool event and I also attended the Best Buddies Walk on it was a Saturday. Um which also was really fun. Um I only made one lap so you all can come next time and beat me. >> [laughter] >> Uh and then um Epic is also hosting an event on Wednesday for um dealing with finances and special needs children and what you need to do to prepare. Uh so, if you're interested in joining that, it's online at 6:30 and the information is on their Facebook page. That's all I got. And so, um I've attended a lot of track meets last couple of weeks and I'm really excited about that. The girls track team, they're doing an amazing job right now. So, um they actually have a meet this upcoming Friday, but um they did an incredible job last Friday. Also, um I'm excited this week to attend the National Honor Society and so, I get a chance to celebrate an inductee and I'm excited about that.
And we're setting up those meetings monthly so that they're not just like emails sent to teachers. We're sitting down with teachers, with our instructional coaches face-to-face, eye-to-eye going through that information. And so, we're ideally hoping that it's again a system that's put in place so that it translates to better scores, better instruction, and ultimately better student growth. So, again, it it's certainly not perfect, but at each building you're building in a system to get to look at that data and go through those resources. As as I move through the chat we'll have here about intervention times, I want to highlight something. The the teamwork that happens between the three of us is incredible and that also carries out across all three of our schools. Um it was mentioned earlier that the the years begin to double and I understand I'm on the opposite end of that from our kids earlier.
>> In my job um at at Lincoln, I am a um special ed TA. Um, I work with kids that are struggling in math and I teach math all day, every day. I love what I do because I love hearing the kids get excited about coming to the library. Um, you know, it wasn't always everybody's favorite special whenever I was in elementary school. So, I love that the kids get excited about it. Um, and I love that we fostered a love of reading here. When I see the aha moment in in the kid, I get cold chills. I'm getting cold chills just thinking about it. That is a feeling that I can't even explain. Um, it just makes me uh h it makes me want to cry. >> It makes me feel proud for them and that they were able to accomplish it in whatever method that took for them, right?
So, to make that pivot in anticipation of that >> [cough] >> pivot that saves, I don't see it right now. Down the road, all those things that we do could be done here if somebody wants to push it and do it, but we've had those opportunities. You've had them about time if we were going to really push it and it's not contributing in the way that you know, monetarily, in the way that it needs to. Just talking off the cuff. I don't have any opinions right now one way or the other, to be completely honest. Just The thing that I have issue with is the fact that we needed a referendum to stabilize what we needed. We still need a referendum to treat the people here that we need. I got frustrated that I see like example our band teacher winning awards. So, how do we keep a guy like that here?
Are there any questions or comments before we vote? With there being no questions or comments, we'll move to a vote. Uh all in favor of approval of the consent agenda, say aye. >> Aye. >> Nays? And the vote carries 4-0. Dr. Terrell. >> Thank you. At this time we want to pause and welcome Melanie Poltek. She will be the principal at Solon Elementary School. And Laura Floric will be the principal at MacArthur Elementary School. Both of these candidates have served as assistant principals in their respective schools and look forward to a seamless transition. But again, congratulations to them and welcome uh to the building principalship. >> Thank you, Dr. Terrell. Move on to item five, action items. 5.01 policy conversion second reading approval. Dr. Terrell. >> Thank you. Uh Mr. Akiwa was not able to be here with us this evening, so I am bringing this back that he brought to us last board meeting uh for first reading.
Okay. Can I get a motion to adopt the resolution assigning bids and contracts? So moved. All right. I have a motion. Do I have a second? Second. Motion and a second.
And I'm not You said don't make us don't say too much tonight. That's not you, but I would just tell you your professionalism and expertise are valued at the highest level that I've been involved with in my 4 or 5 years, something like that. And so I appreciate all you've done for the district, and I know everyone else would would agree with that. So thank you. Other things that are on there tonight, I am blessed. We have We've interviewed a little bit lately, and we were amazed at the candidate pool that we had difficult decisions on for the board. And I know I've tried to keep you in the loop, but each of these positions had a committee. Those committees were of directors and or administrators. All of the members that I'm recommending tonight were unanimous within each of the separate committees. All the committees were different.
So we're doing our due diligence. Mr. Kuznic, there's a little history here. The Board of Education is probably wondering, why are we just now presenting a JROTC program when this community was rich with military? At one time, we had a military base here and we did not have JROTC programs. What's the history behind that, Mr. Kuznic? >> bit of the history is they were only allowed to have so many brigades across the county and at one time all the spots were taken. So I know when we looked into it several years ago before my time even here in Lawrence Township, it was not an option for Lawrence Township. >> Right. Right. And I'm quite sure there were some generals and soldiers, which we had during that time, that did not want their kids to participate. So it doesn't mean our kids don't exist enlist. They enlist in large numbers, but this will be an opportunity of a great opportunity for us.
I am monitoring the chat. If anyone wants to uh any shout outs for any of the teams, any your favorite players, just you know, keep it PG. All right, Ashton going left to right. We got Westwood going right to left. At least now I can really see the Westwood jersey. So that is Cassidy McMillan going up against Maggie McInness. key thing over here with game like this is trying to win those faceoffs over here. >> And that is a good job by Ashley Forester over to Alana. So I think Westwood is definitely covering our goalie a little bit. Sometimes they don't cover the goalie. I think Westwood is doing their best to uh defend over there. Now they're doubling Alana. >> Alana looking for teammates >> again. Alana Duffy to me one of the top top goalies in TVL. Just very very active behind the posts or in between the posts I should say.
>> What? You talking about? >> Well, what did you want? >> I wanted a perfect record. >> Oh, okay. I'm sorry then. We're not that excited about >> It's like come on. >> Excited for a win. >> Coming up assuming there, Cam. All right, but anyways, here's Olsen right now. Olsen to Atwood. >> I guess it's the camera the camera [laughter] lady and I are excited about >> Oh, okay. Oh, okay. Nice recovery. Cavalero coming down. Oh, shot hits the in outside part of the net, I think. Atwood now coming in and what a goal. Good stuff there. Striking first and early. >> Yep, and he gets his hat trick now. >> I think he actually got the Was it him or Hartnett that got the first goal of the game? >> Um it was Wyatt. No, no, no. It was Cam Fowler. >> Oh, shocks.
Kylie Marino meeting her in the spot. Beats her in the spot. Kylie Marino gets gets the call. >> Green to Dinkz. Dinkz behind the X. She flicks it in. >> Good job by Burns to disrupt that pass. >> Ball was off the post. >> Empty check on the Spartans and Green with the ball once again. Green looking to run it in. Turns around, throws the ball away. The ball is going all the way back and Sand there to pick it up. S. Good job by Sand. S scooped it away. Northampton came away with the ball. >> Off sides by Northampton. Should have been off sides, but get away with a call. Fink trying to go by Mckne. Nothing there. >> Looks like Northampton's just trying to do a little twoman with green Feninkz. trying to go around the corner. Throws the ball into the middle.
Uh we're looking at students, high need students living in foster care, uh homeless students that really, really need a job over the summer to have that stability is what we've been looking at for that. But we're really looking to partner more with them next year so that we can get more of our students with disabilities out through a yearly program through Mass Hire versus just that summer programming. Um the workforce development is separate than um the transition specialist. her job is really looking at students that are not employable due to their disability. So for instance, one of our students that started today working inhouse um she has autism, she is in calculus, she is brilliant, she does not have the soft skills to be employable. So, it's her really looking at those students and how do we build those soft skills to get them out in the community and be employable and build those connections with um different companies that are going to be willing to employ students with disabilities.
>> You you or somebody told us why. >> Yeah told you >> But I mean I also agree like a Friday you're just kind of like you know I I would rather see them do PD on Tuesday and welcome the kids back on Wednesday right? I mean that's me as a parent. >> Uh all right well I I will say I appreciate the work the calendar committee did and all the hard work that you guys put into it so I thank you for that. Does anybody else have any other discussion questions on the calendar? Aaron would you like to read the motion? Well oh I'm sorry. I think she will. Yes sir. >> I would just say I I don't think the 12th there or the 16th I don't think that is the probably make or break everything. I I don't think it would be but um there were some other things that were really concerning to the calendar committee like the removal of the holidays things like that.
She knows them, and she knows how to get the best support for each one of them both in and out of the classroom. Her smile, her calming presence both bring out the best in her students. She works very well collaborating with her class with her teachers as well as the other power professionals throughout the special ed department. Her care, kindness, compassion, and consistency help her students grow each and every day. For that, we are very thankful to Ms. Lena Gomez, and we're proud to call her our power professional of the year. >> [applause] [applause] >> It is my great pleasure to present Ms. Victoria Dervianic as the 2026 Garfield High School Teacher of the Year. Ms. Dervianic consistently demonstrates an exceptional commitment to her students, her colleagues, and the community at large. Her dedication to education extends well beyond the of an outstanding educator. In the classroom, she creates a dynamic learning environment where she skillfully incorporates technology to enhance academic habits and encourage scientific discovery.
It's a mom. Um I just want to talk, you know, address um our student ambassadors. Thank you so much. Um early on in my leadership, I had um a principal who would open up all of our meetings and would say, "How are the students?" And we could not talk about anything else until we talked about our student needs. And so, it reminds me of that every time I listen to you all talk and share your thoughts, your opinions and how we can be better as adults because really we have to orient our decisions in you. And so, thank you for giving of your time and making sacrifices because I know you can be other places, but you choose to be here and helping us to make informed decisions. So, thank you so much. I don't have any. Um I have to reiterate what everybody said.
And I I understand your your point, Mr. Langford, but one of the things that I've noticed as those years double is that as collaboration and teamwork improves among leaders, so does results among teachers and kids. And that's one of the things that we're in a real sweet spot with that. I've been here 18 years, I think, and this is the best middle school team yet. These guys are incredible. And we work together often to make sure that what's happening in one school is also happening in the other two schools. We truly believe that our our kids deserve more similar than different. And that's what's powerful about what you're seeing here. The intervention time that um we have worked as a team to build differently is necessary because of the data that you saw earlier. We do want a much larger passing percentage than what we saw.
Cuz every child learns differently. It's just it just really makes me happy and it makes me proud for them and seeing the pride that they find in themselves is where that's at for me and knowing that they can do it. I had a lot of really great um teachers coming through BCSSE um and they really inspired me to love reading. My librarian at elementary school at Mount Healthy was Carla Craig um and she really fostered a huge love of reading in me. >> What uh keeps me coming back here every day to Lincoln Elementary is the kids. Um they make me laugh, they make me cry. Um, but watching them grow and succeed, um, is the highlight of my day. >> I was working on putting together a cart of some books, um, and one of my fifth grade classes came in and they held up, um, a bunch of papers that spelled out congratulations, um, and they had my certificate and some flowers for me.