001Good evening everyone and welcome to the Camden City Whoops. The Camden City School District Advisory Board of Education's annual reorganization meeting. It is now 5:40 p.m. and the meeting is now called to order. Please join me in a pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and suic the official results of the annual school board election held on November 4th, 2025 as provided by the county clerk are as follows. Um for the unexpired term, Gabriel Kamacho, 7,772 votes for three-year terms. Wanda Garcia, 7,455 votes. Danielle Jackson 7,359 votes and Derek Galashaw 7,76 votes. And so now we say congratulations to all of our elected officials. And [applause] we will now have the administration of the oath of office. If we could please first have uh Gabriel Kamacho. and being sworn in
002by Vance Bowman over here. Down here smoke, sir. Thank you, sir. >> All right. I >> I Gabriel Kamacho >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support Constitution of the United States >> that I will support the Constitution of the United States >> constitution of the state of New Jersey >> that I would bear true faith and allegiance to the same >> I will bear true face true faith and and allegiance to the same >> and and government established >> and to the government established >> to the United States >> in the United States >> in this state >> under the authority >> of the people. >> So help me God. I >> I Gabriel Kamacho >> disarmly swear >> do soundly swear >> I will possess >> that I will possess >> qualifications
003>> the qualifications >> prescribed by the law >> office of the members >> for the office as a member >> of the board of education >> the board of education >> and that I excuse me and that I am not disqualified >> and I am not disqualified >> voter >> as a voter >> pursuant to >> RS 19 >> RS19 >> 4-1 1 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualify >> to a conviction >> due to a conviction >> crime >> of a crime >> offense >> listed in listed in >> listed in >> NJ >> S >> 18A >> 12-1 >> that I will faithfully >> and that I will faithfully >> and partially >> just justly >> and justly >> perform all duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability So
004help me God. >> So help me God >> before me >> this before me this fifth day of January 2026. Congratulations sir. >> Thank you. >> Appreciate [applause] you. Thank you. Next, if we could please have Wanda Garcia being sworn in by Father Adams. Adam. Father Adam. Turn around this way, I guess. >> Right. >> Ready. >> You want us to raise our hand? >> I won the Garcia. I, Juan Garcia, >> do solemnly swear >> that I will support >> the Constitution of the >> Constitutions of the United States >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and the Constitution of the State of New Jersey >> and that I will bear >> true faith >> and allegiance >> to the same >> and to the government >> established in the
005United States >> and this state >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. I, Wanda Garcia, >> I, Wanda Garcia, >> do solemnly swear >> that I possess the qualifications >> prescribed by law >> for the office >> of member of a board of education >> and that I am not disqualified >> as a voter >> pursuant to >> RS >> 19 19 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualified >> due to conviction >> of a crime or offense >> listed in NJS >> 18A >> 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully >> impartially >> and justly >> perform all the duties of that office >> according to to the best of my ability. >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. >> Sworn sworn and subscribed to
006>> sworn sworn and subscribe to >> for me >> this fifth day of January >> the fifth day of January >> 2026. [applause] Okay, >> congratulations. And now, if we could please have um Danielle Jackson and Derek Galashaw go to the podium to be sworn in by President Nam D. Nelson. Oh, no. Yeah. >> You're first. Hey, D first. Go first. Gary, don't do I >> I Danielle Jackson >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support the Constitution >> United States >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> of the State of New Jersey >> and that I and that I will bear true faith >> and that I will bear true faith >> and al allegiance to the same >> and allegiance to the same >> and to the governments established
007>> in the United States >> and this state >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. I >> I Danielle Jackson >> do solemnly affirm >> that I possess the qualifications >> prescribed by law for the office >> of member of a board of education >> and that I am not disqualified >> as a voter pursuant to >> RS >> 19 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualified >> due to conviction of a crime >> or offense listed. >> M NJ >> S >> 18A >> 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully >> and partially >> impartially >> and justly >> perform all the duties >> of that office >> according to the best of my ability. >> So help me God. sworneth, subscribed to >> sworn and subscribed to >> before me
008this fifth day >> on January 2026 >> of January 2026. >> Congratulations. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. I >> I Derek Galileo solemnly affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I will support >> the Constitution >> of the United States >> and the Constitution >> of the state of New Jersey. And I will bear true faith. >> And I will bear true faith >> and allegiance >> to the same >> and the governments established >> in the United States >> in this state >> and this state >> under the authority of the people. >> So help me God. I >> I Darren Galashaw >> solemnly affirm >> do solemnly affirm >> that I possess the qualifications >> prescribed by law >> for the office of member >> a board of education >> and
009that I am not disqualified >> as a voter pursuant to >> RS >> 19 >> 4-1 >> nor disqualified >> due to conviction of a crime or offense listed >> or offense listed >> in NJ S >> 18A >> 12-1 >> and that I will faithfully >> and I will faithfully >> and partially >> impartially >> and justly perform >> all the duties of that office >> according to the best of my ability >> according to the best of my abilities. >> So help me God. sworn and sub subscribed to >> sworn and subscribed to >> before me this fifth day >> of 2026 >> of January 2026. >> Congratulations [applause] I love. >> We will now have roll call. Janette Alvarez, >> present. Gab Gabriel Kamacho >> present. >> Derek Galashaw >> present. >>
010Wanda Garcia >> present. >> Cameron Hudson >> present. >> Danielle Jackson >> present. >> Karen Merrick >> Namand Nelson >> present. >> Maria Perez >> present. We do have a >> at this time. I will invite the board members and superintendent to share any congratulate congratulatory remarks. I'd like to congratulate all the board members for the amazing work that you're doing for the city of Camden and our and our school district. and a special congratulations to all of our members who've just been sworn in. >> Thank you, superintendent. Any board members have any remarks? >> Um, I would like to congratulate everyone who were was sworn in today and just say thank you. Thank you for all that you do for the families of the city of Camden and for our children. >> Member Garcia
011Good evening everyone. Full of push is here tonight. Happy new year everyone. First and foremost, I would like to thank God for all his blessings and goodness for being for me being here today. I would like to thank my fellow board members for your support and working together as a team for our schools and our students. Our students are the future. Thank you and believing in me. Now our work begins. It's team effort. I am ready for the new year. My sincere congratulations to the board members Gabe Kamacho, Danielle Jackson, Derek Galashaw as we took our oath for breakfast today to our superintendent Dr. Backington and her staff teachers. Thank you for your support in making our students a brighter f a brighter future. Thank you to the families and friends by Godson Thomas here
012tonight for rel support as always. I love you all. In closing, a very special person. I can call him my friend as well as my priest, my spiritual mentor, Father Adam for always being there for me no matter what the situation may be. Our firm calls our conversations be shared, your guidance whenever I needed to talk. Father, you are special to me. Thank you, Father Adam, for your support as always. Love you, father. God bless you, Elise. And thank you. [applause] >> Board member Merricks, >> I just wanted to tell everyone, you know, congratulations. I enjoy working with you and I'm ready for the new ride in 2026. And you guys reached 7,000 residents of um Camden and we could reach 7,000 more. So, we're on the move and I want to congratulate all of
013you guys. >> Any other board members comments? Board member Kamatra. >> Oh, I was just going to say congratulations as well. Um, really enjoy just working with you guys. We have uh an amazing team and just look forward to to the year. >> Thank you, board member Kamacho. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to serve our community along with my fellow advisory board members. Uh I step into this role with humility, purpose, and a deep commitment to our children and their future. I believe that when we listened, collaborate, and keep students in the center of every decision, real progress follows. I look forward to being a strong voice for our students, a trusted advocate for our parents, a collaborative partner with our fellow board members, educators, and the community as we work together to move
014our district forward. Our children deserve stability, opportunity, and leadership that believes in them, and I'm honored to help to serve them. Thank you. >> Any other board members? board member Galashaw. You know, he act like I don't like to talk. Remember Galashaw? I just like to thank everybody who came out today to support anybody on this stage. Um, I'm pretty sure we all appreciate it. and to say congratulations to everybody on the stage who was um sworn in today as well as everybody who's already served. Thank you. [applause] >> So, I would like to say thank you. Thank you to all those that were elected. Um board member Merrick's uh stated that it was over 7,000 votes. Um I think we can give that another round of applause. Over 7,000 votes. [applause] on average we
015have about 3 to 4,000 votes. So, you know, somebody did a little extra work. Um, so thank you uh for coming back to um continue to serve um in a role that's volunteer um you know, showing up day um after day. Um you know, providing the support that's needed for our students and our staff members. Um you are appreciated. Um you often don't hear it enough. you know, a lot of times we um hear the things that aren't right. Um so today, I want you guys to understand that, you know, you are appreciated and everything that you do, even those those things that go unnoticed, um you know, is recognized. So, thank you. >> At this time, I turn it back over to our board secretary. We will now conduct elections for president and vice
016president of the advisory board. The Camden City School District Advisory Board of Education organizes by electing one of its members as president and another as vice president. Officers shall serve for one year or until their respective successors are elected. Any member may place a member's name in nomination. A second is not required but will be requested. Election for the office of president will be conducted by roll call vote when the nominations for that office are closed. The candidate receiving the votes of a majority vote of the full vote of the full membership of the board. A vote of the full membership of the board will be elected to the office. The term majority vote of the full membership of the board means a majority of all seats on the board, not just members present or
017currently filled. The duties of the president are outlined in district policy 9121. The floor is now open for nominations for the office of president. I would like to nominate Nambdi Nelson. Okay. If there's no further nominations, we'll we'll um take a vote. Uh all in favor of Nam D. Nelson as president. Uh Janette Alvarez, yes. Gabriel Kamacho, >> yes. >> Derek Galashaw, >> yes. >> Wanda Garcia, >> yes. >> Cameron Hudson, >> yes. >> Danielle Jackson, >> yes. Karen Merrick, >> yes. >> Namdi Nelson, >> yes. >> And Maria Perez, >> yes. Congrat Thank you. [applause] >> I will now turn the meeting over to our advisory board president to preside over the remainder of the reorganization meeting. >> Thank you. The floor is now open for nominations for the office of vice president. Do
018I have any nominations? >> I'd like to nominate uh Janette Alvarez for vice president. I second. Are there any other nominations for the office of vice president? Hearing none, I will now close the nomination for the office of the vice president. Congratulations, Vice President Janette Alvarez. We we could give her a round of appla. Apologize. >> Roll call. Janette Alvarez. >> Yes. >> Gabriel Kamacho. >> Yes. >> Derek Galashaw. >> Yes. >> Wanda Garcia. >> Yes. >> Cameron Hudson. >> Yes. >> Danielle Jackson. >> Yes. >> Karen Merrick. >> Yes. >> Myself. Yes. Maria Perez. >> Yes. >> Congratulations. At this time, I'll go over the board's established um committees and delegates for the 2026 calendar year with the following members. Finance and operation chairperson NAMD Nelson. Members Maria Perez and Danielle Jackson. Teaching, Learning,
019and Student Supports. Chairperson Karen Merrick, members Wanda Garcia and Derek Galashaw, Committee Policy and Governance, Chairperson Cameron Hudson, members Danielle Jackson and Gabriel Kamacho, Committee Communications and Parent Engagement, Chairperson Janette Alvarez, members Wanda Garcia and Cameron Hudson at This time I'll go over the delegates and alternates as follows. New Jersey School Boards Association Delegate Nam D. Nelson, Alternate Janette Alvarez, Urban School Boards Delegate Janette Alvarez, Alternate Danielle Jackson, Camden County School Board Association Delegate Wanda Perez, Alternate Karen Merricks. I will now turn the meeting over to our interim general counsel to administer the code of ethics. Uh good evening everyone. Uh New Jersey Administrative Code 6A 32-3.2 sets forth the requirements uh for the code of ethics for district board of education members and charter school board of trustees members. Subsection A of that um
020of that code uh provides that each district board of education and charter school board of educ or board of trustees shall discuss annually the ethics act and the code of ethics for school board members pursuant to uh NJSA18A col2-21 uh at a regularly scheduled public meeting subsection 2 provides that adopt that the that the board shall adopt policies and procedures regarding the training of district board of education and chart charter school board of trustees members in understanding the code of ethics and subsection 3 shall provide documentations pursuant to subsection B below that each member of the district board of education or charter school board of trustees has received and reviewed the code of ethics. Uh each member of the district board of education or charter school board of trustees shall sign an acknowledgement of receipt
021of the NJSA18A 12-21. The acknowledgement of receipt requires each district board of education member and charter school board of trustees member to read and become familiar with the code of ethics. We will now have the board members uh each read a section of the code of ethics starting with board president Nami Nelson and simply moving to the next person to read the next section. >> Thank you. Um before we move forward there was actually uh a small error with the delegates and alternates Camden County School Boards Association. It was said Wanda Perez, but it is actually Wanda Garcia as the delegate. So, we do apologize. I will uphold and enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of the state board of education and court orders pertaining to schools. Desired changes shall be brought about only through
022legal and ethical procedures. I will make decisions in terms of the educational welfare of children and will seek to develop and maintain public schools that meet the individual needs of all the children regardless of their ability, race, creed, sex or social standing. >> I will confine confine my board actions to making policy, planning and appraisal. I will help to frame policies and plans only after the board has consulted those who will be affected by them. >> I will carry out my responsibility not to administer the schools but together with my fellow board members to see that they they are run well. and recognize that authority rests with the board of education and will make no personal promises nor take any private action that may compromise the board. >> I will refuse to surrender my independent
023judgment to special interests or partisan political groups or to use the schools for personal gain or for the gain of friends. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which if disclosed would needlessly end in injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters I will provide accurate information and in concert with my fellow board members interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school. I will I will vote to appoint the best qualified personnel available after consideration of the recommendation of the of the chief administrative officer. >> I will support and protect school personnel and proper performance of their duties. I will refer all complaints to the chief administrative officer and will act on the complaints at public meetings only after failure of an administrative solution. Okay, it's now
024time for our public comment section of our meeting. The Camden Camden City School Districts welcomes the attendance and comments from all members of the public at its meetings. The [clears throat] public comment period is your time to present your comments to the uh to the board and the acting state district superintendent. Each person who signed up to comment will have three minutes. You will be Please disregard everything I just said. Nobody signed up for public comment. Mr. President, I'll turn it back over to you. >> At this time, want to open it up for board member comments. Are there any comments from any of our board members? Any comments from any board members? A sincere thank you to all of our family and friends who came out in support of us on tonight. Not just
025the ones who were voted in, but also reorgself. Um we are excited to continue to work in 2026 and we're excited to see how we can collaborate both together with the family and ourselves. >> [applause] >> Once again, I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight and thank you and my fellow board work board members. Congratulations to everyone and let's get started new year 2026. Ready to rock and roll. Thank you. >> Thank you, Board Press. Um, I just want to thank the board for your support. Um, and just really thank you for all that you do, the time that you put in. Um, I'm fortunate to sit on this board. >> I just want to add the policy committee uh stay after for a couple minutes if you don't mind. >> Any
026other board members? So, thank you board members for your support as well. Um, it's my pleasure to work with this team and I look forward to a very prosperous 2026 with a lot of work to do and we also thank all those that have come out today. At this time, I'll turn it over back over to our board secretary. Um this evening's agenda also includes approval of some board reorganization board actions which include um setting up meeting dates for 2026, identifying official publications, um the adherence to parliamentary procedures, uh approval of board membership in the New Jersey School Board Association as well as National School Board Association to um approve all current policy and regulations as well as the chart of accounts and purchasing agreements and appointments of various um positions such as the purchasing
027agent, board secretary, treasurer, attorneys, physician, architect, auditors, risk managers, compliance officers, identifying back bank deposiitories and check signatorries. I will turn it over to the superintendent for her approval. In accordance with P with powers vested in me as the acting state district superintendent according to NJSA 18A 7A through35. I hereby approve the reorganization board agenda resolutions. If nothing more, interum board secretary, please call for a motion to adjurnn. Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Well, I can say something real fast. I apologize. So, I also want to thank our superintendent um for being supportive of the board in this short period of time. Um making sure that uh the communication lines of communication remain open. Um keeping us informed of all things um as we deal with a challenging time and just your leadership.
028So we appreciate you. Thank you. >> Is there a motion to adjurnn? >> Motion. >> Second. Okay. All in favor? >> I opposed. This meeting is adjourned.