001Good evening. Welcome to the Camden City School District Board of Education's March 30th, 2026 Advisory Board meeting. It is 5:39 p.m. The meeting is now called to order. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. The New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act was enacted to ensure the public's right to receive advanced notice of and to attend meetings of public bodies where any business affecting their interests is discussed or act upon in accordance with the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act. Adequate notice of this meeting has been published in the courier posted on the district's website at www.camden cityschools.org displayed at the administrative offices filed with the city of Camden clerk and mailed to all individuals who requested notice in accordance with the law. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and will be
002broadcast on the district's YouTube channel at a future date. Roll call, please. Janette Alvarez, present. >> Gabriel Kamacho, >> present. >> Derek Galashaw, >> present. >> Wanda Garcia, Cameron Hudson, Danielle Jackson, Karen Merrick, Nam D. Nelson, present. >> Maria Perez, >> present. We do have a quorum. We will now have our student representative roll call. >> Lanni Hicks. >> Sai Hicks. >> Hamas Thomas. >> Okay. And Elijah Vargas. Okay. And now, hold on a second. So, we will now uh go into Hold on a second. We will do the public comment, right? Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. Um, be it resolved that the Camden City Advisory Board of Education upon the recommendation of the state hold on Um, be it resolved that the Camden City Advisory Board of Education upon the recommendation of the State District
003Superintendent enter into close session to consider the following matters. Investigations, a HIP report, attorney client privilege topics and personnel. Um, is there a motion to go into close session for approximately 45 minutes following the student representative share out and public comment? Yes. Um, is there a motion to go into close session? >> Motion. >> And is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Thank you. All in favor? I >> Okay. Any opposed? Motion carries. And so first we will have uh shareouts from our student representatives. And how about I >> Okay. >> Do you have a a mic? Here it is. >> Okay. Okay, guys. Can you hear me? Yeah. Okay. Sorry, I'm a little out of practice. Right. Okay. So, how's everyone doing? Um, I'm Taii Hicks. I am a senior this year at
004Kevin and I'm our board rep. So, I don't have much to say today that I haven't already spoken of your superintendent. However, what I do have to say, this is speaking more so for our athletics department. Um, I just wanted to say first that the dugout for our baseball field is for home and away does not has a roof. So, what that means is for baseball, as I'm sure all aware, they had the people on the pitch and then they had the players who are not currently on the field and Yes. Okay. And so the people that are not currently on the field, they're essentially on the bench. And the bench is supposed to have like a cover in order to protect them from any stray balls. And we're currently missing that. And I just
005want to point out that that is a danger to the students in the dugout because they could potentially be hit and we don't want that on us, right? And so we also need new pads for track. And so they need to be replaced because they're covered in dirt and they were left out over the course of winter. And so they're no longer usable. And then the batting cage for softball is overgrown and needs maintenance. Now I took a couple pictures, but I doubt you need them. But if anything, I can show you guys. And essentially what that is is it just needs to be fixed up a little. Like there's also a hole in the gate. And I know that the coaches have me that that's proven to be a problem for them because they
006tend to lose balls because they go through the hole. The bleachers for softball and baseball, they're terrible if I'm being honest. Like they really are terrible. Now I know that baseball and softball aren't as popular as some of our main sports like football and basketball. However, I don't think that they require or they deserve any less than what we give our other sports. And so, with that being said, I think that we should prioritize the maintenance of our field and our sports because we want our athletes to know we care regardless of what sport they play and how much is valued or appreciated. And so, I think that's all for me. Oh, and I wanted to give a shout out to our catering service. So last time I was up here, I spoke about some
007things that were going wrong, but I also want to point out the good. And so they did bring back the salad bar, which we the whole student body greatly appreciates. Like I haven't seen anybody not eating a salad and they use all the ranch. It's really rather nasty, but we really appreciate it. Okay, so there's that and yes. Okay, thank you. Okay, bye. Hamas. >> Um, hello. I'm Hunza Thomas. Um, I'm her alternate uh for Cam High and we did have a meeting with the superintendent. Um, was it last month? I think it was like earlier this month or last month. And, um, I want to just go over some things. Uh, but first, we do have some glows. Uh we had a successful pep rally last Friday and I do feel like the campus
008does really well with uh pep rallies and raising school spirit and campus spirit through all the schools whether it's Brim, BPLA, Ken High or Creative Arts. Um and I also want to congratulate the juniors on finishing their state testing. So congratulations. Um, some of the grows, um, that I feel like we could grow on as a campus is replacing the unused kindergarten section in Cam High with something more useful. Um, since it's being unused right now. Um, second thing is the implementation of a library on campus or in the Camden High. Um I feel like a library is very essential to the growth of our students and the growth of our just children in general and family. Um and more cooperation and collaboration between schools. Now I do feel like over the past year uh
009the campus has done better with that. But I also feel like there's some things that we could grow on as well. um collaborating between Brim and BPLA and came the high and not just sports but also different activities like clubs or um just fun activities that they can do throughout the year. Thank you >> Elijah. >> Good afternoon everyone. Um, my name is Elijah Burgess. I'm a senior at East High School and I still some things. So, I don't really got much to say. And I also want to give a shout out to Miss Streer, um, Miss Christian for having that uh, March Madness event successful. Um, I also want to bring up the uh the air conditioning. You know, some air conditioners don't wor in the classroom, and I know it's going to get
010pretty hot pretty soon, so need to fix that. Uh, also want to bring up the, uh, weight room if we could get like any, you know, dumbbell uh, more dumbbells, more weights and all that in the weight room, donate it to us. And I also want to say that the our lunch our lunch like if we could upgrade not upgrade it but like you know have something new for school and that's it pretty much. And um now we will have uh public comment prior to our executive session. Just real quick want to say thank you to our student reps for being here this evening. We had an opportunity to speak prior to this event and I know many of the topics that you brought up in that session. We sent out notes to all our
011team members. some were here this evening and they took quick action but there's definitely a few items here that we'll be looking at sending the facility questions that you brought up about the bleachers and the bad age and I do appreciate the glows you know the pep rally I heard was excellent so super excited about what's happening at the high school at all of our high schools uh and um Mr. But they I'll be talking to him about the condition of the air conditioners at East Side as well. Just something to look into. Maybe it's a simple fix because we know it's going to get warm soon. But again, thank you for your participation this evening. >> Uh thank you. Kind of loud. Thank you. Um thank you for sharing. Uh again, as always here,
012good to hear about the glues. um that means something um that you're saying is being listened to um and that the staff administration is working on it. Thank you for um you know representing um your school and your classmates. Um please continue to share um whether it be positive, negative, something to improve on is what helps us. Um any other board members have anything for our student reps? >> Thank you board prize. I just want to echo what the board president said. Thank you for being leaders and for being a voice. It it takes it takes a lot to do that and we appreciate what everything for sharing your glows and your growth. Congratulations. >> Bo member Merricks, >> you have to push the button. >> Yeah. >> Okay. I I just want to um
013piggy bank off of um the others. Um, I'm glad to see that you're here being a voice for the voiceless and I'm just looking so forward into working with you guys. Thanks for your opportunity and your time. >> Thank you. Um, so at this time um we know that uh our board meeting was uh cancelled or rescheduled for today. Uh we thank everybody for um their consideration and understanding. Um as we have a uh a budget update and our board meeting today, we wanted to also take in consideration a request. Um this is a one-time thing, so it doesn't mean that it's something that'll change um every time. Um, but we do want to start off today with public comment. Um, as it was something that was mentioned, um, and we want to honor that,
014um, because, you know, you guys have been, um, understanding with the change in schedule. So, thank you. At this time, I'll I'll turn it back over. This this is the Are you a Everybody hear me? This is the board solicitor, Robert Deainy. We're looking for the list of uh public participation. Just one second. I think the signup sheets in the hallway. All right. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The Camden City School District welcomes the attendance and comments from all public uh all members of the public at its meetings. The public comment period is your time to present your comments to the board and the state district superintendent. Each person who signed up to comment will have three minutes. You'll be notified when your three minutes is up and you cannot yield your time to another
015person. And when it's your time to speak, please state your name and address for the record. Please address your comments to the state district superintendent or interim board solicitor. Please be courteous of your fellow community members and keep your comments within the time allotted so that everyone has the opportunity to speak. At the end of your three minutes, the microphone will be silenced and your comments will have concluded. Please also conduct yourself in a respectful manner. The first been uh amendment is not absolute and the board can prohibit language that is inappropriate in accordance with board policy 1121. We may interrupt, warn, terminate your statement, question or inquiry when it is too lengthy. If a member of the public speaks about a staff member, interruption may be necessary to caution the speaker of the danger
016of slander. For anyone whose comments or actions harass, intimidate, or threaten the safety of any person, we will provide you with a warning or immediately end your comment time. We may address any person to leave the meeting when that person does not observe reasonable decorum. We may request the assistance of law enforcement officers in the removal of a disorderly person when that person prevents or disrupts a meeting with an act that obstructs or interferes with the meeting. Uh we may call for a recess or an adjournment to another time when the lack of public decorum interferes with the orderly conduct of the meeting. Finally, we may wave any of the rules when necessary for the protection of the privacy or to maintain an orderly operation of the board meeting. After the public comments period is
017closed, the state district superintendent or her designate may address your questions to the exent uh extent permitted by law. All right. So, now I'm going to call the names for the folks who have signed up to speak during the the the public comment section. when I call your name, please um come up and make your statement. First is uh Mr. Kevin Waters. testing one, two. All right. So, good afternoon everyone. Uh, just want to say welcome Mr. Jonno um to the Kansas City Board of Education. Uh, let's get to it. Um, as the new superintendent, I see you have made the customary school visits to introduce yourself to staff and students. That's wonderful. What you have observed should help you rethink any notion you need to make wholesale changes. Students are receiving a thorough and
018efficient education from education professionals who are preparing them for college, the trades, military or any other career a student wants to pursue. You sent a nice or someone sent a nice message to parents and staff that school closures are not a consideration at this time. What could have been said is you feel the schools are doing well, not perfect if any school is. You will work to keep all schools open to continue the great work currently being done. That's a clear message. You are aware of the great education professionals guiding students forward. Closing a school would be a disservice. As the leadership intended, it should not be lost on you to understand the need to distance the district from one Camden enrollment. They have structurally redirected parents towards charter and renaissance school. Your role as
019the superintendent of the Camden City School District should be to promote traditional public education. I say that because you accepted the assignment to be here. Many parents, more importantly, your appointment from the state need not cause you to be an an unauthentic and a puppet to the state's agenda. I get that they hired you. However, what are your goals as superintendent of this district? Also look, many parents have already experienced their students receiving a thorough and efficient education in our traditional public school classrooms. That traditional public school education allows CCSD graduates to have successful careers after graduating from a traditional public school into college and onto their chosen trade, entrepreneurial or military experience. I close with this. What those who know, those who know believe about our traditional public school student leans not in how
020many are said to fail, but why those in traditional public school environments chose to succeed. I hope you have come here with that same mindset. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Next, we're going to have Karen Belli. Uh, I apologize if I mispronounc her name. Karen Belli like >> Luke I'm sorry Karen Bell Luke. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Good evening. Karen Belli Luke Brim Medical Arts High School on the board minutes stipens. Some of them are being amended and it's nice that we're doing that but we need to look at those follow the money and assure that it's adhering to our contract. Communication and accountability. sports. Whose responsibility is it to send the students names and time to leave for the game days? For east side, I've been getting things from um Ad Hixon. But
021for the Camden High side, I like today I noticed the baseball team was leaving early and as early as 12:45, but I didn't get any communication. I went to um Miss Jaqu. She did some research and we got these emails and some of the emails didn't even have a time. I talked to some of my seniors and they said, "Oh, we don't have to leave early cuz it's home and then all of a sudden a ninth grader in the same sport wasn't in my fourth block. She came and she said she had to leave." And so there's miscommunication and we have kids that, you know, are just missing classes. Um, so we need to get that straightened out. Um, which brings me uh to the fact that the baseball team ended up so early because
022of busing at 12:45. They missed part of third and fourth, which means that maybe we need to like look at the starting and ending time of our high school. It's a little bit like late. Kids are missing a lot of class time um just because they have to get to the other schools um in time for their sports starting at 9:00 and ending at 3:20. Kids are missing out on opportunities for um job opportunities and sports. And we need to look at that. Um we also need to look at the 45minute classes. As a curriculum writer and instructor, I did the math seeing the students every day for 45 minutes versus block seeing every other day. sometimes not seeing the students for five days depending on Friday A or B day. I covered more of
023the curriculum with 45 minutes. It's as if and the students have better um comprehension. It's like if I'm going to teach a kid how to ride a bike, if I see him for a little bit every day, he's going to learn a lot quicker than if I had to put it off every couple of days to do it. Even 60 minutes is better than 90 minutes. Students shut down. My last I want to say is communication. We need to have seats at the table. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The truths need to be heard and addressed. Disagreeing is not attacking. We need to resolve with different perspectives, not selective and exclusive clicks. We need to do better and we can do better. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. Next is Mr. Jose
024Delgado. >> Good evening everyone. Dr. Yano, welcome to the first meeting. Uh when my remarks, please consider them like an open letter to you. Dr. Yano, the New Jersey Department of Education has hired you to run a public school district that is no longer fully owned by the people it serves, but is instead controlled by local and state politicians. Years ago, a coalition of municipal, county, and state officials asserted arrogantly that they possessed solutions to problems that they themselves help create. In so doing, they displaced local voices and eroded community trusts. The residents of Camden were declared incapable of educating their own children. Such a judgment historically exclusively applied to only black and brown communities declared that we were in some way deficient. The message was clear. Children needed protection from those who look like
025them. In Camden, unlike all previous state control districts, the intervention was not meant to be temporary. It is by design deep and pervasive. Schools, historically centers of neighborhood life and culture were closed. Excuse me. >> Joan, sit down. Sorry. >> You want me to call you? >> You okay? Take a deep breath. You can breathe. >> Yeah, I'm okay. You okay? We're going to take a five minute recess while we uh support Mr. Delgado. So, just give us a moment. Thank you. >> What do you feel right now? Must have got a light hit or just can't breathe. >> Just can't breathe. >> Pain in your chest. We have to call the universe. She's not. We said the same thing, but we have we have to call week old already. >> Okay. Go ahead. Talk
026to your daughter. >> Hey, I don't know. >> Don't give her a choice. >> No, nobody. I'm >> Yes, you are. >> They're going to evaluate her. >> No. Yeah, let me talk. >> We're not giving her a choice. All right. So, Are you coming here first at >> Had to make a scene >> one way or the other? You know what I'm talking about? >> So, she's on her way. She's right here in this water. I'm just getting short. >> No, I appreciate it. >> Open it up with the >> Oh my gosh. This is what she talking for today. Water. I'm going to say >> he seems to be good. I hope your students were here. >> They could at this point you want to train Thank you. >> Smells good. >> You
027got something for me to smell? Don't respond. >> Don't say no. >> I'm going to get up. >> You didn't know you had all these moms here, huh? >> I know. They're waiting on >> No, I mean they should be >> Oh. Oh, this Evelyn She didn't know. She knows everything. >> She know. Absolutely. >> I know. Very dangerous. >> I don't know about dangerous. >> I got to get up eventually. >> I feel better now. >> I don't want to walk. I'm not going to be >> No, we're not refusing it. No, no, no. >> I don't want to be carded out. >> Let me get a test. >> Why? I'm all right. >> Okay. >> Is that how you turn? >> Like you're full of patience. That's very loud. We're just waiting for
028a little support. Give us a few minutes. Read it. >> You don't want to read it. >> I'll read it. >> No, you're not going to read it. >> I'm okay. >> You ready to finish? Yeah. Okay, you can finish. >> I'm gonna finish it. >> No, I can read it standing up. >> I'm all right. He said that he I'll stay. >> Okay. >> Well, that's one way to get your attention. >> Are you sure, sir? >> Yeah. Yeah. >> I want to finish this. Maybe my last one. Okay. Oh. Can I have some more time? >> Mr. Dealdo wants to finish his statement. So, he's a warrior out there. >> Just please be careful. And uh EMTs will be here soon, so they're going to check you out. Okay. >> I apologize to
029everyone. I assure you I didn't do this to get attention, but I want you to listen. Um, schools, historically, centers of neighborhood life and culture were closed. Corporations were recruited and given authority over our children. We were not consulted. As a result, we have a public school district system purposely diminished in size, capacity, and fiscally untable. We welcome you and respect your community to Camden's children. I'm speaking to you, doctor. At the same time, we recognize the limitations placed on your leadership. As I noted during our meeting, meaningful success, particularly any success in increasing district enrollment, will likely provoke significant repercussions from those who are benefiting for the from the status quo. Your challenge is fundamentally about restoring trust, dignity, and responsibility to a community that has been denied all three. Effective leadership is not
030about command and control. It is about creating the right climate. again the powers that that do not want a unified community seeking control of its school district. Thus, we must find a way to forge a working relationship between you and this educational family safety and numbers. Only together can we forge an effort to restore a public school district. Granted, there are specific things that we must do immediately. The bleeding to stop the bleeding to protect our children and teachers. But we must not shy away from the long-term effort to heal this district in a way that returns to the community the responsibility of educating all of its children. Thank you. >> I mean, can you make it up a third? >> Thank you very much, Mr. Delgado. The Next we have Mr. Rick Short. Uh,
031good afternoon. Um, uh, new superintendent and Camden board. Um, I think what we just witnessed here, um, my, by the way, my name is Rick Short. I'm from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. I'm an advocate. Um, actually I know the famous Vita Neil, probably the one that loves children more in Camden than, you know, most others. But I think what you just witnessed here, board, um, it's I'm an advocate. provided as an advocate and to watch the people that come up and speak and and care for the children. I maybe you guys can start like a separate little pow-wow where community just talks to the board. It it's not all official. But today what I what what I want to speak to you about is uh superintendent is how do you become the goat the greatest
032of all time in Camden schools? What can you do if I were Bill Gates right now and I could write a check for $500 million? If I wrote a check to you, sir, for $500 million, would you be able to turn this district into academic excellence? That is the question. Is it just money or is it the people within Camden that are going to improve the education system? Because you're all here for what? You're here for education. You're here to make not gez I hate to say this word equity. You want equality in each student. You want each student to reach their maximum potential. So the question is, you know, how do you do it? Well, the first thing, and I have a little pet peeve, is to take the screens off all the elementary
033schools. Um, it's a little subliminal for me, but get rid of the screens around around the other thing. And the other thing you need to do is make school fun and just focus on first grade, second grade, and third graders. Make school fun. And the final thing you do, superintendent, to be the greatest of all time is to implement volunteer educators. Get the people from Subaru. They want to help. Get the uh Camden County commissioners that want to help. You have all these people that could help because you know, you know, the only way to improve academic excellence in cherry, not cherry, in Camden schools is to get more teachers, make a school fun, and educate them. Educate them to the maximum capacity. Like I say, you're you're you're you the driver of the bus,
034the superintendent. It's very easy to do. I think it I don't think it's many. I think it's volunteers. I think there's thousands of people that would want to see this school district successful. Thank you. >> Thank you, sir. And finally, we have Miss Bea. I apologize. >> First, I'd like to say good evening board members. Uh, superintendent. I'd like to start off by saying Mr. Delgado has been fighting a long time. When I was a teenager, I was watching Mr. Delgado, young and vibrant, fighting. But the words he said tonight, it just hit down here because the the things that our communities go through as black and brown people, they don't have in the suburbs. They don't have to fight. They haven't been under the state rule. Every superintendent for the last god knows how
035many years has been appointed by the state. We have not had control of this school district for the last 25 years. Superintendent, I want to say one thing to you. I like what you've been doing so far. I researched you. I LinkedIn, Instagram, everything. I was researching you. And I say when you made the statement, no more schools will close. That's what we all wanted to hear. We had 33 schools and now we're down to what, 19? And to lose four more would be devastating for our public schools. Cuz right now, these corporate schools for profits that we have in Camden ain't charging. But let the public schools dry up. Then they will charge. Won't be free no more. So I want to say to you, keep working alongside of the community. The let's not
036none of us forget the reason why we're here is our children. Our children that's what's first the children. We have to take time out love on our children educate our children and welcome to Camden. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you very much. And that that uh concludes the list of those who signed up for the public comment section of this uh evening's board meeting. >> And now, as previously um resolved, uh the board will go into executive session for approximately 45 minutes to um address the issues mentioned. Be it resolved that the cabinet city advisory board of education upon the recommendation of the state district superintendent of schools returns from close session to the public session. Is there a motion to reconvene into public session? Motion made by board member Merrick. Is there a
037second? >> Second by board member Kamacho. All in favor? >> Uh. >> Any opposed? Any abstensions? Motion carried. I turn it over to the superintendent. At this time, I'd like to ask all of our board members to transition to the floor for the board presentations. Evening everyone. >> For our presentation this evening, we're going to focus on a few different items. First, we're going to report the student safety data system information. Then, we'll go into the New Jersey student learning assessment information that we need to provide. And then the third topic will be our budget presentation for the proposed budget for 2627. So at this time I'd like to ask Dr. Dali to come on up and take the podium. >> Good evening everyone. Um the first presentation tonight will be the SSDS the student
038safety and data system report. Um next slide please. Um so each year New Jersey requires um all school districts to report on incidents of violence, vandalism, weapons, substance abuse, and HIV incidents that occur in their schools. Um the SSDs replaced uh the old Evers reporting. Um and also it will um it includes uh confirmed HIV information. Next slide. Um these are some examples of the different terms. So vandalism includes arson, computer, trespass, damage to property, false public alarm, theft, trespass. You can see the violence uh incidents and what that includes and those are the five categories that we collect the data for. Next slide please. So in the first reporting time which runs from September 1st to December 31st of 25, we had a total of 82 incidents reported in the above categories. 31 were
039for primary or family schools and 51 for the high schools. So you can see each of the schools and then their uh count. And then you'll see the two large blue um bars. One is the total for high schools and the other is the total for primary or family schools. Next slide. Here are the breakdown for the primary schools SSDs incidents by type um by each school and the count that they had for each of those um required areas. Next slide. This is that same information but for our high schools. And you can again see each school and the count for each of those items. Next slide. This is our out of school suspension um data. We compare the previous year to the current year. So for the 2526 school year, we had a total
040of 315 out of school suspensions that occurred during the first reporting period. Um for the that same reporting period time for the 2425 school year, there were 206 out of school suspensions. Next slide, please. These are our inschool suspension data. Um, in the first reporting period of the 2526 school year, there were a total of 18 inschool suspensions. Uh, during the 2425 school year, in the first reporting period, there were a total of 76. So, we are down. Next slide, please. The next few slides are going to be the HIV investigations and then confirmed cases. So districtwide between September 1 and December 31st we had a total of 34 HIV investigations that were conducted 23 at the primary schools and 11 at the high schools. Of these 34 investigations six or 17% were confirmed as
041incident of HIV. In comparison to the same reporting period during the 2425 school year there were 27 investigations with six confirmed or 22% of those being HIV incidents. Next slide. Now, this breaks it down specifically for the high schools. So, in that same um reporting period, there are 11 HIV investigations with three confirmed cases, which would be 28% in comparison with the um same period from last year. There were six investigations and two were confirmed and that would be 33% of the HIVs reported. Next slide, please. same information but for our primary family schools. Um so for the 2526 there were 23 HIV investigations with three confirmed cases which would be 13%. In comparison with the same period during the 2425 school year there were 38 investigations with 10 confirmed as HIV which would be
042a 26%. Next slide please. And then here are confirmed cases for the 25 um first reporting period. So we had um 34 investigations. Um six of those 34 were confirmed. Two confirmed cases at Yorkship, one at Cream, one at Brim, one at East Side, and one at Creative Arts. Next slide, please. I know this is a little small, but these are the confirmed uh six cases. And you'll see the school um what the allegations that were founded, uh what kind of remediation and discipline that was done, and who the investigator was for each of these. So these are the first four found it and then you can go to the next slide for the last two. I'm going to boot the last two for this uh reporting period. Um next slide please. So these are
043our district training and programs. We have hipster in district. That's where um families can fill out 338 forms for any HI uh related thing that they would like investigated and that is all found on our website. Uh we also have glo global compliance training which is done for all of our staff and we also do restorative justice. Our school administrators focus on a lot of school climate and safety, social emotional learning, um peer relationships and social norms and restorative practices. And we've also been implementing a lot of traumainformed practices into our um learning for the school admin uh our students, staff and family programs. You could see all the different programs that we offer to counter any HIVs that may occur in the district. Next slide, please. And this just goes a little more into
044detail for the trauma-informed practices that we're using to decrease um all SSDS incidents. Move that there for a sec. Okay. And next slide. So, oh, you can go back one for me. So that our next uh reporting period for SSDs will cover January 1 to June 30th. Um and that report will be due in July and then a board report would be um given again for the same information uh at that time. Um I want to thank Mr. uh Myron Cox and the uh security team for putting a lot of that information together under uh the SSDS information. Uh now we're going to just review quickly the NJGPA results from the fall testing. This is the original NJGPA, not the adaptive that we just took. So this was the last group. Um our seniors took
045this uh in the fall. So you can go ahead to the next slide. As you can see, it's um supposed to be for all 11th and 12th grade students that have not previously tested. It measures um if they're graduation ready in ELA and math. Um different scores are reported for each readiness component. ELA is aligned to 10th grade standards and math is aligned to algebra 1 and geometry standards. Next slide. So for the students that do not make the cut score of a 725, they are allowed to retake uh the NJGPA. So this group of seniors first took the NJGPA spring of their junior year. We then offered it again in the summer and then this last time in the fall. So they have three chances. If they do not uh get the cut score
046of a 725, there's also the second and third pathways. Second pathway includes things like SAT, ACUPPLACER and their scores uh connected to that for them to be eligible. And if they are unsuccessful in that, then we offer the portfolio appeals and you'll see the seniors, they complete um a series of critical response task and then we have to have those scored and then we submit them up to the DOE uh to make them eligible to graduate. Next slide. So for our fall of 25, we had 83 students in 12th grade take the ELA. We had 163 students take mathematics. Uh so we had 100% of both of those groups sit for the test in the fall. Next slide. So we're comparing the fall of 24 and the fall of 25 for our scores. So in
047that first column you'll see the either ELA or math. Then graduation ready for the district in 2024. And that was our percentages graduation in 2025. You can see that we made some gains. We definitely made a significant jump in mathematics. Uh slightly over 20%. Um two slightly over two and a half um for ELA. For graduation ready for the state, the average was 27.8 um not ready uh for the district is 75% and the state not uh ready for ELA is 72. For math, the state not ready for graduation is 68% and our district for not ready for graduation is 82. But we did make uh what you'll see is where it says data suppressed. Anytime there is 10 or less students that sit that section of the assessment, the state automatically uh suppresses the
048data. So that way the information um can't be identified to any one student. So that's done intentionally by the DOE. Um but you will see each school the number of valid scores that they had um if it was uh suppressed or what the average uh score was and then the district average of those scores. So you can see our district average is a 696 um with ELA. Camon High had 50 valid scores with a 7 um08 average. uh data suppressed for BPLA, Creative and BRIM, and East Side uh with 16 valid scores um had six uh 671 is the average scaled score. Next, so now this is that same information but with math. And this is where we're seeing our really big jumps. Um so you could see the valid score counts and then you
049see our um average school scores and then the district average scores. So, our district average for math is a 714, which is still under the 725, which is the cut score um for our schools. But, as you can see, we're making some serious gains. Uh Creative had a 731 as a scaled score and Brim had a 744 for a scaled score for the fall testing, which is um right now the highest that we've seen um since GPA has been around. So, well done. Uh, shout out to those math teachers. Um, you know, those math teachers are obviously doing some work over there at Creative and Brim. Congratulations, Mr. Quiquay. Dr. P. Well done. Um, next here are our subgroup information. Next slide. So, this just breaks down the gender. Um, this is our ethnic groups
050for this specific slide. And then it'll show you um not graduation ready number and your graduation ready numbers. You have the state up at the top and then district and then it breaks it down uh for each of our ethnicity areas for ELA. Next slide. This is ELA again um but for socioeconomic status, learning differences and our multilingual learners. Um, so you can see again the valid scores, the average, and then our count of not graduation ready versus graduation ready. Next slide, please. Here is the ELA for gender. So, you can see our counts and our averages. Our males are actually coming up a little bit higher on uh scaled scores, just by a little bit, but they're also um a larger uh population that is sitting the fall NGPA. next and go to the
051next one. Same information, but this is for math. And this is the ethnicity uh slide again. So you'll see the scale scores, valid scores, graduation ready, not graduation ready. So all that information is there. Next. And here's the socioeconomic status, learning differences, and multilingual learners for math. Next. And then gender. So the the scale scores are coming in the same um but also as you can see uh pretty equal number of valid scores. Next so overall for this presentation significant growth in math proficiency of 20.7%. Um so that means we increased from 11.2% to 31.9. Um so that's exceptional uh increase in one year. Uh our performance in math surpassed the state's 2025 average uh demonstrating instructional impact. Um continued improvement in ELA up 2.6%. So it increased from 21.5 to 21 uh 24.1 excuse
052me. And then we have strong math performance in multiple schools. So there is BRIM and Creative. And then our um district-wide math scale score outperforms the state. So we are above them for the fall admission. And then for this next um slide, we're just shifting from the fall um NJGPA which was the original and then um I know I presented and we talked about our adaptive testing that we did in the fall as a practice and then the students just um are completing now um most schools are done actually uh doing the NJGPA adaptive. Um, Miss Butler, our district's test coordinator, um, uh, had to leave tonight, but that, uh, information was interesting because a lot of the things that we did, um, were different than what we did in the fall. So, it was
053kind of, uh, interesting. But the adaptive assessment, uh, just so people understand, um, it's based on a student's response to a group of questions. It begins with an item of medium difficulty and becomes more or less challenging depending on how the student answers each set. The assessment does not adjust after a single item. So, it's not like you answer one and then it automatically jumps or lowers. You have to answer so many before it will move you along. Um, this grouping allows for more precise estimate of student performance while still measure measuring grade level standards. um all the students, no matter what level of question they're being um asked based on their answers and their responses, they all still have the same number of questions. Okay. And the students taking uh the spring 2026, uh
054we're hearing from the DOE that we will not receive their scores until late summer or early fall of 26. This is a bit of a a shift for us because we're used to getting those by May, uh early June at the latest. So, this is going to be interesting. This also then removes the summer option of testing off the table. So, um we're waiting to hear anything back. Um but right now we they have to figure out how they are going to set and approve the score ranges for the new adaptive assessment from the state board. Next, um there were some test irregularities with this um test. So many districts across the state experience confusion regarding the testing sessions. So for example, let's say reading is 150 minutes in total and it's divided into two
055sessions of 75 minutes. If the reading unit contains 50 questions, students have the full 150 minutes to complete all 50 questions. However, um some students and test administrators mistakenly believe that the students only had 75 minutes to complete the 50 questions. um and that the second 75minut session would include a new set of questions. Um this happened across the state. I have three children that are juniors in high school and each one of them experienced this. Um my one son didn't seem to mind. He had already, you know, blown through most of his questions pretty quickly. Um but my girls panicked and began trying to answer anything because they thought an answer would be better than nothing. our students here also experienced that same panic. So we saw that happen. Um so on March 25th
056last week at 5:00 p.m. the DOE sent out an email to all district test coordinators um letting them know that they expanded the guidance for our void and reset option. The void and reset will only be allowed for this situation um during the spring NJGPA. So pretty much what happened is if any student said that they were confused by the directions or a test administrator um gave the wrong information uh we are allowed to void that students test and let them retake. So we've already been in touch with the students um and staff to identify and contacted their families and those students have already retaken at this point. Um but that's important to know because anytime anything new rolls out there's always a lot of confusion. I know there was some misprints in the script
057that the test administrators read, so that caused some confusion as well. Um, but this is kind of reminiscent of when park came out and we went from paper pencil to online and it was crazy. So, this is very reminiscent of that. So, I'm not surprised that there were some issues, but we were able to handle them accordingly and our students were able to um be able to retest if needed. Next, and that's it for me. Thank you very much. Thank you, Dr. Dali. Next, we're going to go into the 2627 district proposed budget. Uh, an overview will be provided. Next slide. Budget processes will be discussed. The historical summaries will be provided. We're going to look at proposed revenues, the proposed tax levy, proposed appropriations, and some budget highlights. But how do we get there?
058Next slide. We conducted many administrative budget planning sessions. Some of those which took place before I arrived into the district officially on March 1st. We facilitated meetings between supervisors, department heads, all of our team players and stakeholders in the business office. We presented and reviewed the preliminary budget including those increases, reductions, strategic initiatives, you know, with our key stakeholders listed here uh that we started the process with with our board president, advisory board members, uh the commissioner, and uh also the mayor's office. So, that's how we started the process as we developed our proposed budget. At this point, we have not received uh approval from the county, so we cannot speak to it as a public hearing, but this is our proposed budget that we're working with at the moment as we update some of
059the items that are in that budget. So, at this time, I'm going to ask uh Peg McDonald to come on up here and uh walk us through our budget. >> Okay. Um, good evening. Do I have to hold this? Good evening everyone. Um, as Superintendent Lai has mentioned, the budget Do I have to push the Do I have to push? >> That's on. >> There you go. >> As um, Superintendent Yano has mentioned, um, the budget process had been going on for quite a while. The process started actually back in September with setting up a calendar for the budget process and then in before Columbus Day uh indicating to principles and department heads uh a timeline for when their budget requests were due to the due to be submitted. And so, um, a lot of
060the suspense up until the past few weeks was just how much funding the district would have to to support the budget. So, once we'd had all department figures in as well as our personnel um budget, we have a certain number of appropriations in the budget, but the big mystery was how much state aid we would be getting. So, the new governor had until March 10th to present her budget for the state of New Jersey, which included the budget for all of the um education in the state. And the district and other districts did not receive notification of how much they would have to fund their budgets until Thursday, March 12th. And the Camden City School District um is one of the first districts that has to submit a budget. We were required to have a
061budget submitted by Wednesday, March 18th, which gave us 4 days after the suspenseful um revenue number from the state to compile a budget. And the budget we submitted totals the $476 million you see ahead. And in next um let's see. So on March 18th, the school district submitted a tenative budget for um to the to the New Jersey Department of Education for review and approval. And uh let's see. This budget is comprised of a general fund or operating fund um which is primarily supported by state aid and local taxes and then also a special revenue fund for programs supported by grants and other contributions. Okay. Uh the district general fund, let's see. Okay, the district general fund alone uh totals $427.9 million and that includes all district general fund expenditures which total 192 million if
062you look in the middle of the SK of the schedule for the basic district. And then if you look at the next couple rows, you see charter and renaissance, which together total 235.8 million of the budget, which is 55% of the school district budget, giving you a total general fund of 427.9. So the district is not the one consuming all of all of these funds. Okay. And next, uh, we've pointed out that the charter and renaissance schools account for more than half of the district general fund budget of about 236 million. And we see that the trend has been uh for funding to charter and renaissance to increase significantly each year as more and more of the public school students of the city of Camden are enrolling in charters and renaissance. We know that over
063the past two decades, enrollment in charters and renaissance has greatly increased while district enrollment is greatly decreased. In this chart, we see how enrollment has decreased just over the past 13 years or so from 2014 to 2027 from 11,6 students to 5,515 with the difference going to charter and renaissance. And this decline puts significant stress on the indist funding. And next um of the indistrict funding of the IND district fund expenditures 81.8 million goes directly to support the district's 16 school-based budgets and that 81.8 in total for the budgets uh a contribution towards that is made from uh title one funds 4.8 million. So the basic general fund contribution ends up being 76 million.9. And next, okay, within the general fund as well, the district has budgeted capital projects in the amount of 1,667,000. Um
064it of course if you've been around the district you know that there's a lot of facility needs capital needs in the district. The um but we're limited to how much funds are available. We did happen to have some capital reserve funds that are able to help support this. However, these capital projects are all technology related and our facility department unfortunately had to give up um their wish list of capital projects for 2027. However, also um let's see beside whatever the district is um budgeting, we do have SDA continuing its work on the east side high school project which is anticipated to be closed opened in fall of 2029 and next. Okay. And anyway, the district is pleased to receive significant grant funding. The budget includes 50.8 million in special revenue grant funding. State projects include
065the preschool education program at 32 million as well as um an SDA emergent project grant of a million dollars and then uh additional state aid for primarily for um non-public schools within the district. Federal grant funding includes various ESSA grants, the title one, two, three, and four as well as IDEA grant funding which um supports the special ed population. Also in uh the federal funded programs is um the Perkins grant for vocational education support and that's 148,000. Included also are smaller amounts for student activity funds as well as local donations and contributions. And let's see, and the general fund also makes a contribution to the preschool program for inclusion students. So, um, that totals our 50.8 million of special revenue funding. And next, and The local tax levy helps support the general fund budget. The
0662027 budget proposes a tax levy of 17.7 million, which is an 8% increase over the 2027 levy. In two 2026, um the state health benefits increased 32.1%. Um and this increase uh caused the state to authorize um an adjustment for healthc care cost increases. The district eligibility was to increase taxes up to 5.8 million. However, the district used 1 million of that. And so with the tax rate we have based on the tax valuation of the city of Camden and the average assessed home currently in 2526 the average home was like $539 and the increase makes it $570 or $29 a year which is $245 a month. Um so and next so so then here we do have just a quick overview of the 27 budget and how it is funded overall of the 4769
067million. 431 million is from state aid, 14 million from federal aid, 17.7 from local taxes, and 12.5 from fund balance, which is funds available that were left over from the prior year. And any questions that so that's it. Okay. All right. >> Well done. >> So, we want to provide you with a proposed budget update. It's a lot of information. This uh slideshow will be on our website uh probably by tonight or maybe tomorrow morning. So, you can review it for community members. Our board we've been engaging on this topic quite often about what the implications are for a budget that is uh challenged as it is. As you saw on our slideshow here this evening, uh this isn't the end of the process. We're going to come back at our next board meeting to
068provide additional context and updates about the next steps that we're taking to make sure we are ready to open the 2627 school year in a positive fashion. Uh we're waiting to hear from the county. As soon as the county gives us the green light, then we'll have to announce a public hearing. So, I'll come back, but we'll work with our board president to select a date so we can all do it within the timeline. So, yes, we're waiting for the county and then we'll announce a public hearing. It depends on the timing and the budget timeline that was sent to us. So, if it works like that, that would be great. We could do both in one night, but it might be earlier than that. So, I just don't want to speak to that definitively
069because I'm not sure exactly in a timeline. Next, I just want to provide some district highlights, some very positive news. Uh this is going to be the favorite part of the presentations because it's about great things that are happening in our school district. So first I want to congratulate uh the business department and our central office team from working on the books and how we uh you know document all of our expenditures and revenues and the business office functions. You can see back in 2015 there were 21 audit findings. Uh and then after that 25 27 25 these are large numbers things that had to be uh you know checked in how we process our documentation in the business office. This year 2025 there was zero audit findings. So we appreciate it took a lot
070of hard work. We're also going to be asking our audit firm to come back to us at a future board meeting to present their findings and in depth for the community to hear directly from them. They produce this information for us, but again, zero findings is a is a good beginning uh for our team. Next slide. All right. We had a great time at Eastside looking at uh the plans for the new high school. uh we were able to engage with our student leaders and our principal and then later on with our staff around the potential designs for the new high school. There's two competing designs. The kids got to provide some feedback about what they liked, what they didn't like. Staff also had an opportunity to engage with the plans and the next step
071is those plans will be shared out with the rest of the community so that you could also see what is out there and get your feedback through a selection process. So, we're looking to engage first the students, then the staff and community and alumni uh to help us pick the next design for uh east side. Next slide. There was a wonderful event stomp and shake at Camden High. Uh recently hosted Lincoln University Stomp and Shake competition under leadership of uh Mr. Ray Perry. There were 14 teams in attendance that day. Full of energy, full of school pride, lots of uh activity, and lots of great music. Um, I'm proud how Camden City School District was was represented by both Camden High and East Side. Both teams delivered strong performances and Camden High earned first place
072overall in the cheer competition and also took first place in the dance battle while East East Side. Congratulations, Camden High. And East Side High School also placed third overall. So, thank you coaches, custodial staff, and security team for their work and making that event a great success. I look forward to being able to participate next year. Next slide. We had a great partnership with Bookmates and uh CCPD. I had the opportunity to join Mayor Karfin, Commissioner Dyer, Commissioner Fleer, the advisory board member of President Nelson, uh CEA President Clark, Principal Dyer, and the Camden County Police Department to kick off the Bookmates Reading Program in RT Cream Early Childhood Center. This year marks the 27th year of this partnership with Bookmates and 11 years of partnership and collaboration with CCPD. That kind of consistency matters.
073It means a lot to our students when they see adults coming into their schools and sharing literature with them and reading, building that strong literacy foundation. Uh moments like this are a reminder when we work together, great things can happen. When we're looking in the same direction and all in the same direction, nothing can stop us. Next slide. Uh I was able to participate in the Camden City STEM showcase. Uh it was the second annual uh Camden Education Fund citywide STEM showcase where our students really uh had an opportunity to show their science, their technology, their engineering, their mathematics skills from hands-on projects to real problem solving. I saw firsthand the innovation and the collaboration, the creativity, the high level learning that our students displayed with their teachers, with their administrators, with our community partners.
074Uh special congratulations to Dr. Charles E. Brim medical arts students for earning first place in the high school division. I'm very proud of all of our students who participated. And on the next slide, I want to say thank you to our CEA partners who I believe are here this evening as well. There we are. Uh we April 1st is going to be our enrollment fair. We're asking uh we're sharing flyers with the community members asking people to come on out to our schools to see what CCSD has to offer. Uh our traditional schools are an amazing option for all our students. We want them all to stay and continue and be to be enrolled in our buildings. And we also want to welcome new kids back from Renaissance and charter schools who may be interested
075in our programs to come out and see what we have to offer. So on April 1st, it's going to be a team effort with CA. our central office leadership team, our board members are invited and also our city officials to come in and show off and show out for our schools because we know that our public schools are the best to offer. And at this time, we're going to transition back over to the stage so we can conclude our presentation. I'll put it up. Yep. At this time, I'll turn it over to board member Perez to go over our retirees. Congratulations on the retirement of John Cosby, 25 years and 9 months. Stephen Green, 20 years and six months. Kevin Harris, one year. Diane Haywood, 28 years and 8 months. Melanie Menddees 30 years and
07610 months. Danielle Montes, 53 years. Wow. George Rogers 25 years and 9 months. Lorna Sanchez 36 years and 11 months. And Karen Santasero 25 years. I'm so very sorry. Marita Ateo, 32 years and 10 months. Tracy Allen, 10 years and 6 months. Eddie Austin, 26 years and 7 months. Amber Bazulius, 26 years. Tanya Beamman's 32 years and 10 months. Michael Benjamin, 28 years and two months. Gerald Bralo, 25 years. Linda Brown Bartlett, 26 years and six months. Pauline Cameron 32 years and Daryl Corley 24 years and four months. Thank you. Congratulations. We want to add one more to that list. Dr. Cassella has announced her retirement. Stand up, Dr. Cassella. Let's Congratulations again to all our retirees. You've done amazing work for our school district and we wish you great success. and maybe you can
077come back and work with us in the future as a volunteer or as a helper to help keep us moving forward. So, thank you. At this time, I now I will now return uh turn the meeting over to President Nelson for comments from the advisory board. >> Any board members that has comments at this time? >> All right. Uh couple things. I know uh last month's meeting was uh cancelled, so we want to just give a shout out and a thank you to um Dr. Brochinson who stepped in um and her leadership um as a acting superintendent. Um we appreciate your commitment and your dedication. We also want to officially welcome our superintendent uh Dr. Yano. This is his first meeting. >> Pleas president here from Bland. Give him a shout out. >> Okay. and
078we look forward to uh working with him to uh just support our district and uh do some things to uh make sure that we stay alive. Uh also a shout out to the board president and vice president from Vinland. Just give him a round of a round of applause. Thank you for being here. >> Uh just a couple um responses and quick updates. a couple of the board members uh had a meeting just inquiring about um the school grading system report um that was out there for anybody who seen it was aware of it. Um but we one we just want to let you know that um the ratings that we seen for our schools um weren't satisfying. um we inquired, you know, kind of where we where where those um stars and and and
079the grading came from um and and how we got to uh you know, how we got to that. Um I know a lot of people have reached out to board members just inquiring. So hopefully in the in the near future we can have them come out and do a presentation to share um where that came from um and how they came up with those rankings. Um, so we just want you to know that uh, you know, we seen it and it wasn't something that was satisfying to us either. As we know, our staff and and and our schools thrive and and our staff members work hard on a daily basis. So, thank you. Um, thank you, uh, superintendent for, uh, the superintendent's report. Um just quickly sharing you know we went over the budget report
080um and you know was is unfortunate and it's sad to see uh the amount of funding that you know our traditional public schools receive and we know it didn't happen overnight. Um, but we have had conversations and it's going to take a collective effort um, and we want to do everything that we can um, to increase enrollment and do what we can to um, make sure our schools um, stay in existence. But I but I'm going to say, you know, it's it's going to take a collective effort and uh, you know, some thinking outside the box um to really figure out what we can do um, to help make sure that we can continue to fund our schools. You know, I do think it's something that's possible, but I think it's only possible if we're
081working together and if everybody is sharing different ideals and, you know, I know board members have and will commit to getting out there and knocking on doors with um administration staff and, you know, whoever can take place in that process. I know it'll be great as our superintendent gives us some direction and guidance um on next steps. Lastly, I just want to say we we have to really take time to highlight the things that's going on in our district schools. I know we showed some highlights today. Um I was very impressed as we went to uh see our CTE programs um and all the things that's going on in our schools. A lot of things that I know I was unaware of. I'm sure many people have been unaware of. And um we have to
082take those opportunities, one to congratulate our students and our staff, but then also to let our community know what's being done in our traditional public schools. Um and I think if more people knew what was going on, it would be more people that would have interest in partaking in our school system. So, I know Sheena's working on some things, the superintendent's working on things to continue to highlight those things um outside of our our board meetings, our social media, but it's really going to take a collective effort to make sure we get that information out. Um that's all I have at this time. Um thank you all for coming out and uh continue to support the district. Thank you. At this time, we have uh we will have our board secretary highlight the March agenda
083board agenda items. >> Uh this evening's um board agenda includes financial actions. Um one, a resolution to approve uh a budget for submission to the Department of Education. Uh another resolution to accept the 2025 audit with no findings and therefore no correction of action needed. Uh also on the agenda in financial actions, the financial reports for the month of February 26, bill list for um the list of bills for payment in the month of March and transfer to from the general fund to food services. Uh also on the agenda are a number of contracts uh particularly tuition and facilities related contracts um grant acceptance and personnel actions as well as field trip approvals and um other actions >> in accordance with the powers vested in me as the state district superintendent according to NJSA 18A735.
084I hereby approve the March 2026 board agenda items. If nothing more, board secretary, please call for a motion to adjurnn the meeting. >> Is there a motion to adjurnn? Motion. Is there a second? All in favor?