001Okay. All right. Good evening everybody. Uh I want to call to order for the committee of a whole uh meeting of the board of education October 7th 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the administration building at 70 Connor Road Colneck New Jersey. Uh if I could have a roll call. Mr. Morasco. >> Yes, you may. >> Mrs. Cameron >> here. >> Mrs. Harowitz >> here. >> Mr. Rico >> here. >> Mrs. Ramirez >> here. >> She is participating remotely. Thank you. Mr. Reignetta >> uh here. >> Mr. Scales >> here. >> Mr. Scarpa >> here. >> Mrs. Vulpi >> here. >> Mr. Walsh >> here. >> Thank you. You have a quorum. >> Great. Thank you. Uh, pursuant to the Open Public Meetings Act, chapter 231, this meeting has been duly advertised in
002the Asbury Park Press in a schedule of meetings dated January 16, 2025 and March 4th, 2025. Notice of which has been filed with the deputy clerk for Colts Township and the requirements of posting of notices have been met. Uh, if we could now rise uh for the flag salute. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All right. All right. Let's get started. Uh, would anybody like to volunteer to read uh, our mission statement? >> I'll read it. >> All right, Mr. Scarp. >> All right. The mission of Colts Township Schools is to empower and inspire students to be confident, creative, self-sufficient learners who maximize their strengths and talents and contribute as responsible participants
003in their ever changing their everexpanding world. >> Uh, great. Thank you, Mrs. Scarper. All right, moving on tonight. Uh, we I'd like to take note of the one information item there. If everybody could uh briefly take a look at that. Okay, moving right into uh comments from the public. Uh if anybody would like to get up tonight to uh make a comment, you could do so now. Please state your name and address for the record. Sorry. Gotcha. Got you. >> I'm an old person that's technically challenged. Alan Ryan, 24 Street, uh, Culteneck. Uh, I had the pleasure today with uh four of my brother firefighters to go over to uh the Kover Road Primary School and the kindergarteners and uh the preschool were there and we had a great time. The questions out of them,
004the looks on their faces, it was well worth it. And I want to personally thank Tyler Barako from Coltneck number one and Tommy Orgo Jr. who visited an old teacher which I'm not even going to say who that is or whatever. and Brian Lakefield and Nick Sakudis and it was really a great time and the kids parents you should be proud or whatever these kids are really nice kids and just uh really a great day a really good day and on the uh 911 ceremony I wasn't there for the last meeting but what a tremendous job tremendous job over there at Cedar Drive and I really appreciate the fact that this um uh board has taken the um um the course of never forgetting and always remembering and I thank you and I think that's
005a great job by you guys and I think you guys are doing a good job. So, God bless you and you don't realize how important it is or whatever until you start hearing things and all that and this is probably the most important job next to being a mom or dad because you're rearing these kids to go forward. So, God bless and uh hope everything uh turns out the way it should. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you, Mr. Ryan. Anybody else like to get up? Um, all righty. We're going to move right into the We're going to close public comment at this time. Uh, we are going to move uh into our action items this evening. I'm going to need a motion uh to move actions items one through seven. One through
006seven. If everybody wants to take a look at that, if I could get a motion to move those. >> Anybody have any uh questions or comments on any of that? All right, I'll take a roll call at this time. >> Uh, action items 1 through seven. Mrs. Cameron, >> yes. >> Mrs. Horowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Or, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ramirez, >> yes. >> Mr. Retta, >> yes. >> Mr. Scales, >> yes. >> Mr. Scarpa, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vulpi, >> yes. >> Mr. Walsh. >> Yes. >> Motion passed unanimously. >> Great. Uh thank you, Mr. Rasco. Uh okay, moving on. Um we have a few uh communications listed there. Um I'd like to uh take note of one of them uh this evening. Um first I want to thank Mr. scales uh for
007leading um us on this initiative to contact the White House along with um our local and state government officials on um the fact that we do not support um males participating in female sports. So um under Mr. Scale's direction, we had asked Dr. Gave to um put out our position um to our uh president uh and they responded. So we recently received this letter from um President Trump and uh I'd like to give you the honor if you could read that for the public. >> Oh boy. >> Sorry to put you on the spot. >> It's all good. All good. So, from the White House, September 22nd, 2025, they said Miz, but Dr. Mary Jane Garave. I'll correct the president if he doesn't mind. Coltneck, New Jersey. Dear Dr. Garvey, thank you for taking the
008time to share your views on women's athletics. For years, the previous administration and progressive movement actively advanced policies that allowed men to compete in women's sports, undermining fairness, safety, and opportunity for female athletes. That injustice against women and girls ended the moment I took office. I being the president of the United States. One of my first actions as president was signing an executive order to ensure that only biological females can compete in women's sports. My administration is fully enforcing Title 9 as it was originally written to protect equal opportunity for women and girls. Any school, college, or athletic association that fails to comply will lose access to federal funding. In July, I also proudly signed an executive order to ensure that colleges preserve and where possible expand scholarship and roster opportunities for student athletes in
009all sports, including in Olympic and non-revenue programs, so that college athletics remain a uniquely American institution. Under my leadership, women can once again compete in fair and safe sports, earn scholarships based on merit, break records without fear of eraser, and pursue excellence with the confidence that their achievements will be honored and protected. I will continue to defend the integrity of women's sports, restore common sense to our government and public square, and protect opportunities for women and girls to achieve the American dream. Thank you again for writing. May God bless you and may he continue to bless the United States of America. Sincerely, Donald Trump. >> Pretty cool. >> Uh thank you, Mr. Scales. Once again, I want to thank all the board members. Uh um we were basically unanimous in our support uh for this.
010So, I want to thank each and every every one of you for supporting our young ladies here in this district. and uh we will continue to do so as long as we're on this board. So, thank you. Um okay, moving on. Uh we are going to start with the board liaison reports. I'd like to start with Mrs. Harwitz if she can do her parent advisory committee report at this time. >> Yes, thank you. Um so, Dr. Garabay sent out the invitations earlier this week or was it last week? Last week was close. Um, meetings will be held Mondays at 10:00 a.m. and 7 pm starting on the as noted in her format slightly different moving forward with each session focusing on a specific topic. Um, our first our first uh session we haven't decided yet
011on the topic but >> great. Uh, thank you Mrs. Harwitz. Um, if you want to just roll right into the PTO, >> their spiritware store remains open until tomorrow. Walk and talk is being held on Friday, October 17th at 9:30. Um, and their trunk or treat event will take place October 25th from 1 to 3. Uh, they're still looking for people to volunteer to decorate their trunks, so if you're interested, please reach out to them. That's it. >> Uh, great. Thank you very much, uh, Mrs. Arwitz. Moving on to the Cold Township Schools newsletter. Mrs. Camera. >> Okay. On September 26, the back to school/summerbridge newsletter was emailed to the school community and distributed at the senior meeting. Um, the feedback from families and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. uh with many appreciating the highlights,
012the student features, and the helpful information provided. Um just for all the residents, the newsletters are posted on the board of education website. They're also posted on the school's um Facebook page. We also posted on X on Twitter. >> Yes. Okay, great. Um, I also was interested in knowing if we can bring maybe some printed editions to the PTO meetings and um I am planning on displaying some copies at the public library, the municipal buildings just to get it out to more of um more of our residents. And I did notice that the township committee on their web page has a link to the school as well. So, I figured I would reach out to them too to see if they can post it as well. Um, >> we also So members and so anyone
013who's parented email should also receive it too. >> Oh great. >> Absolutely. That's great to know. So um just overall I think I'm speaking for the board but I'll speak to say I um thrilled that the newsletter um has just been so wellreceived and I look forward to continuing it. So >> great. Uh just to let you know it has been well received folks. Thank you very much. Um, and you can speak for the board on that. Um, okay. Moving on, uh, to the Colts Township School, Arts, Sports, and Extracurricular Activities. Mr. Ragnetta. >> Thank you. Uh, the Coulseneck Sports Foundation, uh, is accepting a new board of directors nominations. Um, if you'd like to be, uh, uh, join the nominations. Uh, you can, uh, send an email to, uh, [email protected] by November 18th. Uh
014please include a brief bio and a statement of intent. The elections will be held on November 19th uh at the Coulseneck Library from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. And everyone who's uh involved who is uh involved in this uh Coul Sports Foundation, if you have a child in sports, you're allowed to um to uh to vote in that. Uh so uh go ahead if you if you're willing to do that, please do so. Um the mother and son dance uh is at capacity, so they're no longer taking um you can no longer buy tickets to that. So, if you if you bought tickets, you're in luck. If you didn't, you're out of luck. Sorry. Um, but they are accepting still accepting sponsors. So, if you'd like to be a sponsor of the event, uh, please
015email [email protected]. And that'll be it. Thank you. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Canetta. Um, moving into the CNC Township uh committee, u Mr. Scarpa and Mrs. Camera. Right. Um just to start, the next meeting is actually tomorrow, October 8th. Um the last meeting started with Mayor Bus um issuing a township proclamation called Knockout Opioid Abuse Day um designated October 6. It was to promote awareness, reduce stigma around addiction and to encourage prevention strategies. So again, the day is intended to raise public awareness about the risks of prescription opioid misuse, the connection to illegal drugs such as fentanyl, and strategies to prevent ex um addiction. Having trouble speaking tonight. Um the historical committee will be hosting an event at our schools where Betsy Ross will be visiting. Do we know you want to share a little
016bit more about that? >> I don't have the date in front of me, but it's been something that they do. They bring living history and they'll bring in um someone from the historical society. >> Yeah, >> I'm the one who's doing this. >> So, no, no, I myself do not play dancing roles. So, um it's been a long-standing thing that uh you know we've done where we have like a living history that comes in and then they do an assembly and in character and talks about it for the first person and it's a it's a it's a really nice experience for the students. Yeah, >> absolutely. I was happy to hear about it through the committee. Um the Colts neck police off just recently had um coffee with a cop on Wednesday, October 1st. And
017the mission of coffee with a cop is to break down the barriers between police officers and the citizens they serve by removing agendas and allowing opportunities to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers in your neighborhood. So, um you know, I will keep the keep everyone um aware when the next one is. Um I thought this was very exciting. The township received a $200,000 recreation grant to enhance the local facilities. So, I encourage parents to and all residents, but parents especially to reach out to the township with ideas and feedback. Um maybe regarding sports facilities we have in town. Um there's a lot of discussion about the lighting improvements at Five Points. So, let the committee know how you would like the money spent. And um last, this kind of piggybacks off
018what Sarah was saying with trunk or treat. Um in addition to trunk or treat again the um historical preservation committee also on October 25th is having haunted hay rides at Colts Neck Firehouse 1. So that's everything. Mr. Scarper, would you like to add anything? No. Okay. All right. Uh okay. Moving on to the Colts Township Planning Board um subcommittees. Mr. Scale and Mr. Walsh. We'll do um I'll do a lengthy update during um during our section here coming up. But I can announce that there were two meetings. The um town planning board had prepped um members of the school board on 9:23 uh prior to the presentation to um constituents on 9:24. So during um our CL here, I will report out that report in length. So, >> okay. Not too lengthy. >> Yes. >>
019All right. U moving on to the Colts neck township senior citizens. Mr. Walsh. >> Uh nothing really reports since the last meeting. I do want to thank the president attending the senior citizen meeting. Mr. Al Ryan, you were present. Our president had the invitation of their president to speak about our highlights of our district, our successes. I may want to maybe add on one or two. >> Yes, I would like to add to that. that uh first off I want to uh thank u Mr. Shabelle uh for the invitation. Um I was so um wellreceived there and uh I think I spoke a little bit too long but I just wanted to I just wanted to let the board know that um I wanted to highlight each and every one of you and what your
020position is on the board and all the work you do in your specific uh committees. So it took time for me to go through each of you and what you all do. Uh, I wanted to highlight our zero tax increase this year uh to the senior community along with all the wonderful things basically putting the 911 program uh in place. Also the Holocaust program we did today at Cedar Drive Middle School along with Mrs. Cameron's newsletter. I distributed quite a few thanks to Dr. Garay for having those ready for me. So uh those went out. Um I also actually did a a shout out to Mr. Ryan uh for all the um dedication and time he spends supporting our board and what we do here uh along with uh Mr. John Rico. He was there.
021And also um I had a lady named I got to just look really quick. Um Mrs. Mary Copco. I I don't know her personally, but she came up to me um during the meeting and said her husband had passed away and she wanted to donate some music um books or uh some type of music uh memorabilia or something like that. I don't know exactly what. I spoke to Dr. Garay and we're going to kindly receive that. She was supposed to come today. Oh, she did come. Oh, great. Well, I just want to give a shout out to Mary. if you could relay that to your seniors club. We we certainly appreciate her thoughts um remembering our kids to donate something like that and we really do appreciate it. So, if you could extend that to
022her. I don't think she watches our meetings, but um I did also uh speak to uh the old um principal from um the elementary school, Mrs. Anderson. Uh she was a delight to speak to. I got so many positive uh feedback from uh people that approached me on what we're doing here. So, I just want to thank all of you for a great job and it was great to highlight you at the senior's meeting and thank you Mr. Walsh for setting that up for me. >> Well, I just conveyed to the seniors that the pleaser we extend invitation to our events in the schools, the plays and musicals and all and everything will obviously go through the superintendent's office. And you guys are smart doing this because the seniors are big voters and anything that
023you can tell them and relay to them as far as the budgets or anything like that is very important. >> Well, once again, I wanted >> good group there because these are people that are going to go out and they're going to vote. It's that simple. And they they're watching. >> Yeah. Well, I if you recall, I did u mention a few things at the meeting. Um I certainly am uh happy uh that we do have a lot of support from our seniors. Um I did mention that um the tax uh zero tax increase was uh just from the K through8 district that our high school and our township committee um did not fare so well in um in their goals there. And I I did ask for maybe people to volunteer to vote uh
024to run for our uh high school board of education. Uh they're in desperate need of financial help over there. Um, so if you could relay that. Um, but I certainly wasn't there to make an election pitch. I just wanted to make sure that everybody was on the same page of all our fantastic achievements. So, uh, thank you for welcoming me. I appreciate it. >> It was fun that you did that. >> Yeah. >> And also, Mary Cop, just the husband. >> Yeah. Was a first in town life member. >> Oh, okay. Also a teacher. >> Oh, wow. I did not know that. >> She didn't even mention that. So, >> yeah, she was she was absolutely a delight to speak with, very kindhearted. So, just reiterate our thanks to her. >> Um, okay. Moving on
025to uh Naval Weapons Station Earl, Mr. Scarpa and Mrs. Ramirez. >> Yeah. So, uh later this month, members of the board will be visiting the the um um Earl. We are excited about this and and this is for several reasons. is one, we're trying to lay the groundwork for a future field trip to the to the base, and this will be a great opportunity for the board to physically see it and appreciate what we can do on on that field trip. Number two is to uh greater appreciate uh the lives there and then bring it back into the school district and continue that story. You know, just because they're here for a period of time doesn't mean they don't have a permanent presence in our schools. So, we are making this trip over to the
026base. I am personally very excited about that. to appreciate more about the base, its history, but to bring it back to the schools as well. So, we want to continue that relationship and I believe we're we're we're wrapped up now on the applications with those. So, we're all set to go within two weeks. So, excited about that. >> Thank you. >> Um I just have a question. I I submitted mine um much later than you did. Do did I get clearance yet for that or >> Oh, Mrs. Jones, I'm not sure if I could ask you directly. I'm sorry. >> Okay. Oh, that's right. >> Oh, okay. No. >> Okay. >> All right. Great. Like I said, I you know, no rush if I don't meet the cut off. I just, you know, it was
027my fault that I submitted it so late, but >> Okay. Um, great. Thank you. I'm looking forward to the touring with you guys, too. And Mrs. Ramirez as well. Um, Miss Ramirez, would you like to add to that? No. Okay. All right. >> I have a question. Yeah. >> Um Brian had mentioned a while ago about some kind of memorial for for our naval students for our military students so we can remember them like a plaque. Have we moved forward with that? Is there any developments with that? >> So Dr. G was speaking about this. >> I think we're still talking about it from an administrative point of view like where is it appropriate? Because some students based on their time of service here are only in one school. So do we want it in
028one school? Do we want it? So, we're looking at opportunities maybe to embrace the concept of purple up where it's uh, you know, something that's also able and not burdensome. That was something that we also talked about. Sometimes, you know, we may want something a little bit in our vision, we want it to be intentional and purposeful. So, even if it's as simple as, you know, a wall that's maybe a purple with like a handprint or something someone can put their names in or something that is um meaningful and serves the purpose that we want, you know, which is if it's about remembrance and them being here, you know, we want it to be intentional. So, that's where we're still kind of playing around with ideas with our facilities manager, what we feel is going
029to be a good fit for us and location-wise, too, where we want it to be and meaningful for the kids because if it's in their spot, having students there, too. So, it's still a work in process, still on the part of the conversation, >> right? It might be something we want if we're doing a wall, maybe we want that wall in all three schools. >> That's exactly what we're thinking about. Something that would be like able to do. Yeah. Something that would be able to transcend the >> Right. Great. >> Yeah. It'll have a consistent theme throughout all three schools. >> Okay. Moving right into my uh state and county school board's report. Um there's not much, but uh tonight was the first uh New Jersey school board meeting. Unfortunately, I'm here so I wasn't
030able to attend. It's going on right now at the Renaissance in Ocean Township. Uh that meeting will was including um the AI in the K through 12 uh districts. Um and it basically is how school districts are implementing and leveraging the technology for learning. Um there is a virtual option that uh started 15 minutes ago. I'm not sure if uh that'll still be going on um when we when we leave, but if anybody wants to try to catch the end of that, um the statewide training uh for 20 uh 2023, uh the annual school uh law forum will be October 23rd. That will be $299. Uh registration is still open for that. Um and tomorrow, October 8th, there is a webinar. Um uh it's called candidates briefing and this is designed to educate individuals running
031for local school boards. Uh it helps candidates understand the responsibilities and legal requirements of board membership. So if anybody um wants to catch that, that will be tomorrow. And uh if you guys want to check your emails, uh I believe everybody's up to date with their mandatory training. But um in our emails we had all the dates for the uh mandated training for governance uh 2, three and four. So if anybody's interested uh you could do so. Um that concludes my state and county school boards uh report. We are now going to move right into the committee of the whole work session. Um we're going to start with uh the ad hoc on affordable housing. Uh Rob said he's got a short report tonight. >> Nice and short. if you want to start. >> Yeah.
032So, um as I mentioned, the um the township committee wanted to give us a briefing um before they had presented to the town um because it was essentially it's some good news for um the school board as far as the future. Um so, everything I'm going to mention is pertains to round four of the affordable housing. So, as you will recall, round four, we have a 10-year uh window to meet these obligations. So I'll just read some of the notes that I had. So round four, it granted us an extension of affordability controls on the current units that we have. So we can maintain units based on negotiations with owners of the current properties. And so what they're talking about is the owners that have the properties over um in the grand in Colts Snack.
033So right now there's controls over 66 owner operated units and 22 rental units. 14 of the rental units at the grant um have negotiated to remain affordable housing. So we will maintain now 21 credits from those 14 rental units. Eight units will migrate to market rate after year 1. So essentially what's happening is we have we're remaining control over 14 units. So towards round four that gives us now some of the units get subtracted from our obligation. So 21 total credits that will keep 115 units out of town because of that times five rule. So what that means is because we're getting credit for those you those units. It's not going to be like another Lavana Square, right? Where Lavana whereas you build one unit for affordable, they get the right to build another five
034regular units, right? So, what we're doing is we're removing 115 from that complete total. It's a lump sum of $470,000 from the town to buy down these units over time. These funds came from a 2009 bond ordinance from the town. In order now, in order to do this, everyone loves a good negotiation. We had to extend what's called a pilot program now to the owner of those properties in the grand. So what that would typically mean is reduced revenue for entities like ourselves because a pilot program grants an extension and grants sort of just different controls over tax revenue. In layman's terms, they don't have to pay full tax. So out of that pilot program, there's going to be an increase. What we would typically see, what we have seen in the past is $12,000
035from those units. It's going to increase because of property values and things like that of $15,000 be the tax revenue that comes from those units. It's not a lot of money, but what the town has agreed to do is give all 15,000 of those dollars to us. So, typically it would have been 12,000. We're going to get a $3,000 increase. So, we're going to get all 15,000 per year from that. So this is this is separate from Lavana Square. All right. So the second part of this conversation was we had some questions around well we've seen the sighting go up. We've seen the roofing go on the gutters all that. When is Lavana going to be opened? Right. So Lavana Square again the 330 units. So little little bit of a different tune. So we
036had a win with the affordability controls but this is not necessarily as successful. So, residential placements are going to begin January 2026. That's earlier than I had originally anticipated. I'm told it's behind schedule. I've looked at my notes and I believe it is ahead of schedule. The way it's going to be, it's going to be staggered placement. There's going to be some units that will be open. About three of those units will be open by then and then the remaining units would be staggered for the remainder of the year. So, what does that essentially mean for us as the school? Taxes, as you know, are only assessed once a year. So, right now, that entire property, you've seen 15 units being built on that. That property owner is still only paying $40,000 a year in
037taxes even though everything's been is being built. They won't assess those properties until October of 2026. Right? So, what that means essentially is we're only going to get tax revenue on those open properties so far that they've opened and it's going to be prrated until October 2026. The bad news is is that the rest of those units will then be open and more of the more of the people will move in for the remainder of that 2026 and then calendar year 2027. There won't be another assessment on the taxes until October of 2027. So us as a board will not realize full tax revenue from Lavana Square until October 2027. So everything that all the work that we've done, we knew this, right? This is probably something that we probably always had that's sort of
038the dark cloud over us is there might be a shortfall as far as tax revenue is concerned. There will be there will be a a shortfall. So what we'll need to do essentially is just monitor how many children and how many residents apply to come to the school. This way we know because I'll divert everyone back to again we have it on our website. It's called the Coulseneck Board of Education housing impact. It's a link on our website that'll show you what we think the revenue will be. Now we meaning Rob Scales does not have a license does not have an education on tax revenue. I am simply using these ratios and I'm using equations that we would typically use and that are available public right it's available to the public to see what do
039we think Lavana Square would pay in taxes so if we follow the rules right now the current colts neck tax property rate is 1.49%. So if we follow that rule and you'll see this is again this has been available for about six to seven months now the estimated future tax revenue is 2.6 million the estimated tax revenue for us as a district we are expecting 1.6 million and I say we're expecting because that is the equations that are used on other properties other commercial properties other residential properties of Colts neck. I expect the town to respond and the county to respond by November 2027 and have that exact tax rate and have that amount of revenue. So, we're going to be at a shortfall for revenue. So, we have to be very diligent. And now
040essentially everything that we've talked about up until this point, I guess you could we can now say we are live. We are now live. We need to monitor the situation because if pe if children come in, Mrs. camera you had mentioned right you've had a couple new students enter your class right because manalapin is is facing that there is a disruption that is involved with new students being staggered as they come in so obviously you'll know you'll be ahead of that we have to be diligent of that as well make sure there's no disruption to the education of our children as well so that's all I've got if you have any questions I'm here for open for that >> I don't know if at this point the board wants to revisit the conversation we had
041said about the demographic study of having it getting it updated. I know um back then uh we had talked about it what a cost could be looking at other other companies if we wanted to do that. We were waiting until June till that the new p the resolutions were passed and we knew what round four was going to look at. So I guess we present that to the board at this time. >> I think we shouldn't wait for the township. I think we should be ahead of them on this demographic study. We've been waiting for them to pay >> or give some word to us as a board that they're going to be performing this. Uh, nothing. >> We haven't heard anything about that, right? >> I think it'd be smart and our as a
042board to have a study done >> to update our study. >> Sundance, we had an I guess there was a fee >> associated with that. >> Yep. I believe. >> Yep. Absolutely. That's exactly what it was. >> As board chair for the building and grounds, I strongly recommend to the board that we have a study done. >> Yep. >> Mr. Well, we we discussed the study and I agree we should have a study but we should keep in mind the scope of the study the one that they have presented uh was well in a rear it's like two and a half years but numbers in a rear so even if they come back with a number it wouldn't be relevant to to today so before we sign on it they make sure it's it's very
043close to real data is possible because otherwise it's it's it's non actionable information. >> Sure. And I think when we went back and forth through communication, they recognized that that there was more solid information that was now available to them than when we first did that. So I think everything would be brought up to date based on correct. Exactly. >> Okay. So then we'll move forward with communicating that to Sundance and move forward. >> Does a vote need to be formally taken on that doc or >> I want to quote first before I just want to know what it's going to cost us. >> Sure. I think we have that in the I'll go back to and share it again. Yep. >> Yep. that provide the serviceographers. So, >> can we get like a couple
044of uh estimates if it's not too much? >> Maybe three do three and then we'll maybe go with the average and the recommendations on >> Yeah. And then we get a total and then we could go to the town and present this is what we and if they want to go have these >> okay we could we could propose that. I think that's fair. I think we should because we're so the the other part of it, the last part is that again Lavana stuff is is set in stone. But if this demographic study is going to be accurate, what's happening now is when the the round four resolution that we passed that we presented, we're now being sued by four developers. So what happens in the state of New Jersey is they have the right
045to sue us. >> Builders remedy. >> Correct. Right. So now the builders are going to go through the motions and keep suing us and suing us. The town's going to fight it. And again, it's all just political theater, things of that nature. But something could happen where if we lose one of those and something comes in, there could be another Lavana in town. So, I think it's smart, like you said, get ahead of the town. Let's get it and then present it and say if, let's just say if it's only 11,000, we'll present that and see if they'll split it with us and then we'll go from there because it's not it's an infrastructure issue clearly. um regardless if they're, let's just say, if it's a different population that starts to take over the units
046and rent the units and they don't actually participate um in our schools, I think there still is a transportation element of that as well, right? So, we would still have to figure out again if they're not going to be um students in our schools but students elsewhere or students in a different group in town, we still need to be aware of what that impact would be to our transportation. So, I think it's within our best interest. Like I said, we're live. So now puts on the gas. So >> will the demographic study cover that? Like transportation is a big piece. Will the demographic study cover the impact of this facility and a potential transportation factor because 360 talking about at least maybe at least three or four new buses if you have max volume whether
047in our schools or outside of our schools. How does that work? >> Sure. They'll f I don't Yeah, they'll focus in on the number of students and then we make estimates and we you know based on the premise that every student is granted a seat you know if you look at those things and if they're school age we're making assumptions that their school age and all of those things that go into the demographic study part of it then I mean currently we don't have bus routes that go there. So we would have to analyze that and that would be something that we would have to deal with as they start to phase in and looking at and how that's reworked. Correct. Yeah. >> But it will be captured in the demographic study. We would capture
048it from the information based upon it. So they they give us the number because they won't actually doubt do bus routing or that type of thing. But we would make anticipated guess based on how what they are perceiving. Okay. >> For that. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Rob, correct me if I'm wrong. Each building is going to be separately cooed. Correct. >> I'm pretty sure that's what I >> That's above my pay grade. >> Okay. I'm I'm pretty sure um when I spoke with the zoning officer at Colts Township that is what the plan was going to be. Uh if that is the case, the first building that's cooed and that's completely filled, we're gonna we would know about it obviously and then we can get a gauge of how many
049kids with that one building come to the school from that one building >> and then times 13 >> and then we can times it by 13 or 14 >> or 15. >> 15 is 15. So, if we get eight kids >> in one building and we multiply that by 15, right now we've got 120 children. And I think that would be a way I think that would be a better gauge than possibly doing a study. And it's not like if we have 15 kids coming to the school system in a matter of a month, >> that's not going to overwhelm us or, you know, we're not going to have to build another school or anything like that. But then we can get a future proposal. And if it's and if it's going to start January
050and end sometime in the spring of 2027, which I think is what's going to happen, >> then we will have a very accurate pr-rated study of our own. >> For the next 15 16 months after January. >> Cool. >> So it just I want to clarify. So you're saying wait till January for the one building to fill up. gauge how many students are there instead of doing um the Sundance study, but then uh is that what you mean? Is that what you >> Yes. Yeah. I mean, we're only a few months away. I think that's a good idea. >> Yeah. I mean, we're three we're we're >> so we can get the we can get the quotes in the meantime, >> right? And just figure it out and then if we could save some money
051by not having to do a study, that's great. >> Correct. Let's see. Let's see what the quotes are and see what the average is, >> guys. Everybody Well, Mr. Mr. Walsh seems to want to do the study. >> Yeah. >> Oh, put your put your mic on. as our superintendent in our district to really have some anticipated numbers of the long term waiting until January. That's just my view, but certainly okay with that >> because it'll come in lower. I mean, that's what the the first one it said 15. We're estimating 220. >> So then let's just say we're in the middle. >> A lot of kids. >> Yeah. Still a lot of kids if Yeah. >> Okay. Just um I just want to recognize Mrs. Ramirez. She's waiting to put uh some input. Go
052ahead. Uh, Mrs. Ramirez, >> I mean, I think there's pros and cons for both the study and doing, uh, what Mr. Skele was suggesting. I, you know, um, but my concern would be what if the building gets put off? What if there's a delay in that? I think the study could still be beneficial to give us, you know, some some numbers and, you know, we could also have a number that's kind of in between. It could, you know, not necessarily be the could also, >> sorry, it could also not necessarily be um what we're estimating based off of those numbers. So, I think that having uh possibly both having the study and having um those numbers might be helpful. >> Uh >> okay, go ahead. Um >> if there's a delay, that's going to be
053even better for us. I mean, it's just going to take more time for then the children to come into the school systems and we can sit back and we can wait and see how it plays out. uh you know if we do a study right away and let's just say we spend 1516,000 dollars on a study and now all of a sudden like you said it was delayed until February, March, April. Now we have this study and like there's nothing to do with it at that point. >> Um do we agree that we could still work just to get the three proposals going just to see? I mean I think that's fair. >> Two things at once. Yes. >> Yeah. Let's let's do that if that works for you guys. We'll start there and then
054um our next meeting is only a week away. We could revisit this. >> Um I think both ideas are good. Uh I understand both of your positions, but let's start with the uh proposals. >> Fair. >> Okay. >> All right. Um anything else on uh on the affordable housing issue? >> It it for my end. Okay. Um, Mr. Walsh, >> that's it. That's it. >> Okay. Um, all right. We are going to move right into the buildings and ground safety and security. U Mr. Walsh, if you want to start. >> Sure. I think um our fee schedules for facility uses needs to be updated for everything from custodian fee per hour, what we going to, you know, for our labor that's involved in facility use. gym use, cafeteria use, classroom use. Um, I don't know
055if anybody's had a chance to study the our facility by our bylaws. Uh, we have a group A to group E. And from what I see from Thank you for providing that information, doctor. Um, a lot of there's no fees for class A, B, C, and D. I see fees for class. I think we really need to just for a little um background, class A and B really pertains to our kids and we're not going to charge our own kids in our district for using facilities. B and C usually apply to our sports groups coming in. And Vince, please correct me if I'm wrong. C is usually for adults that would use the facilities. D is for more political committees, action committees. Um like township committees and e at the discretion. So, we invested a
056lot of money in our district to upgrade all our roofs, our lighting systems, our everything. I think >> Can I just comment? I'm sorry. >> I I didn't mean to be rude. So, D, there's no charge for anything any any facility use. >> I may be reading this wrong, but I don't see any fees. >> No, you're right. >> Okay. Well, >> right. >> I don't know why we wouldn't be charging any political township. They should be paying. They're collecting taxes, >> custodial fees. >> Okay. Whatever it is, I don't see why anybody should be getting a free. >> If you look at the R Well, this is this is why we're discussing, right, as a board. >> Um, I think there's definitely an opportunity for revenue to come in and start paying for all
057the upgrades we've invested in our district. I certainly don't want to charge our kids our school. >> No, >> definitely not. >> But groups B, C, and D, and E, we need to look at that. Seriously, there's a comparison of different fees from different districts. I like Marboro. They have uh broken down into profit and nonprofit. Their fees reflect actual usage. I think we may want to take a good look at that. Nick is going to come up with suggested fees to our district being our facility manager and I'm certainly going to have to pay a heavy weight to deference to his his suggested fees. But if you look at it, we need to really look at the fee schedule. Our custodian is only making $35 an hour. Most of the districts are 53 and
05880 on a weekend. So, as a board, we need to change our fee schedule and um start making some money for our district. >> Yeah, I I think that's going to be a great addition to a revenue stream for the Coulson school districts. Uh I did look at Marble's uh fee structure and I think that was one one of the best uh fee structures and they're obviously a neighboring town. Um, I think our facilities are just as nice as Marborals and I think our fee structure should reflect that, >> right? >> I see the nonprofit, the forprofit and I forget what the third um, one was on there. >> That's certain. I don't think our custodians were even covering their labor. >> We we what we do is we can we have analysis. So we
059what what we're referring to is I we created a folder that has for just our investigation inquiry some samples from other districts of what other how they've restructured their fee schedules and whatnot. And so we'll embed that into this week's update so everyone can kind of see what it's there now as part of the conversation. And then we also u provide an analysis because um the hourly rates of our you know or our custodians maintenance whatever is required you want it to be you know not just revenue but also covering those costs. So, if it's time and a half on a weekend or on a holiday where it's double time, you we definitely certainly want to make sure that we're adjusting it to make sure we're covering it. And there's a a cost to the,
060you know, everything. And I think it was uh Freehold does a nice job of breaking it down even further. You know, there's a couple. So, Marble has a nice breakdown. We would be essentially redesigning, which we can do. >> Well, I like I like Marble. I like the prices and I also like the way they broke it down into those different sections. And just as an aside, years ago they also did an ESIP project. So they're an ESIP based project. I want to see what obviously our costs are, but they also went through an ESP project and you know have been updated accordingly. So I think it's a great model and it's a partner regional district that we can certainly reach into to >> be fair to our district to our sports clubs. I mean
061>> take advantage of them and charge in order amount of money. >> Yeah. than making sure at least we're covering our basic costs, our labor cost, our lighting cost, >> right? >> So, >> right. And especially to that to that point when we received the information from DCO about what our potential savings could be. It was based on basic usage, you know. So, we are certainly it's not based upon the energy we would spend in addition to having things and air conditioning running all summer long, you know, on a Sunday or a Saturday. Correct. Exactly. >> Um I know Mr. Mr. Retta, I don't know who was first. Was Jessica first? >> I think it was Jessica and then >> Mr. Ramirez, we'll take you first and then we'll go to Mr. Ragnetta. I'm sorry.
062Go ahead. >> I just wanted to ask if she could get us a list of um how many of these and maybe a breakdown, you know, how many how many times does class A use our facilities, class B and all of that so we can see. Uh and something else worth noting is class D, we're paying for it one way or another, right? Because we all pay uh local and state and and federal taxes. So, um, you know, just something worth noting there. Again, no matter what it's coming out of our our pockets as taxpayers, uh, one way or another, but yeah, if we could have a breakdown to see really what classes and and how often, you know, maybe in the last, I don't know, maybe three years is probably a good way to
063estimate it, I'd say CO was probably a weird time. So, I probably won't have accurate information from that, but the last three years maybe seeing um, what the trend is so we can see, too. Uh, that might help guide our fee schedule, too. other towns might have more usage than what we typically do being a smaller town or maybe our our high school or freehold regional might maybe those facilities are used more often being a larger building perhaps. So um that might help guide us as well. So if you could get that information for the board I think that might be helpful. >> Sure. Absolutely. We keep those records absolutely in the business office. Yep. >> Mr. >> Thank you. I just wanted to piggyback on what Mr. Walsh said. I don't want us to
064uh I want us to be make sure we watch what we're going to charge the CNC sports foundation to um and be conservative about that because I don't want those costs to be pushed on to Coleneck families because they'll have to make it up somewhere because they're like we're like many organizations they always they're always you know trying to make raise money and we don't want to you know push them out or anything like that. So we want to make sure we're conservative as far as the Colts sports foundation is concerned I think. Going with the sports foundation again, um, piggybacking off Benny, they're constantly putting money back into our town. So, we we don't want to really eat away at their profits either because they're helping the entire town as well. So, >> all
065right. So, we agree um time, you know, um, take Marbor's lead, see what they're charging, and then Mr. Walsh, will you put that out? >> Rely on our own facilities director, Nick. I trust what he's going to bring to our board and what price what fees he thinks should be >> we should start institute here. So I'm going to wait await his uh >> his fee schedule for a board discussion and vote. >> Okay. So where do we go from here? We wait for all of this um to come in and then once we agree we do have a vote on this. >> I'll share the the folder that's already there right we c I think we created with with uh Mr. Walsh and Mr. Rico, we shared it with with regards to just from
066the the overlap of buildings and grounds and finance and then we can we'll I'll share it with the full board and then you can see what's there in comparison and really just take a look at the class schedule to your point of saying making sure we it's it's you know are we still grouping people accordingly? Are we all still in agreement with that? And then because that grouping is really also identification for priority so our PTO our students bump an outside organization if they need the space. So, it's kind of like one of those things. It's really a prioritization of the classes and then secondary are the charges for those. So, it's looked at in two two essentially two different ways um that are linked together. So, yes. So, we'll we'll do the resources. Um
067Mr. Murder has also has uh is working with Mr. Morasco currently putting some draft numbers together that have come directly from DCO and looking at them some things. We had some questions on ones on some so they were sent back. So it's it's all moving on the utility piece of it as >> Yeah. >> Right. So we could look at the utility fees, we could look at the spaces themselves, you know, whatever the case may be. So and then, you know, as you said, the custodial maintenance fees. Yeah. And then we also keep track of, you know, the overtime, the things like that we've paid out. So >> if it helps, do you want to just kind of highlight a little what fees we we've taken in? >> Yeah, please. >> So this might just
068just add a little context to the discussion. So the last um Uh these are estimates by the way. 2122 we took in about $15,000 in facility use fees. 2223 was 138. 2324 dropped down to about 8300. Um and then in 2425 we don't have well the final number is still getting audited but it's somewhere between 8 and 12,000 and 2526 we dropped the budget down to about 8,200. >> So it's going down >> going down >> and I think that's that that uh leads value to the next point. So while we're going re revisiting this fee schedule, we should think about communications, the marketing strategy to get the word out there about the facilities. So you you you update the fee schedule and to reflect our facilities, but what are we doing to advertise it,
069you know, so that we can start turning that curve around and getting more eyeballs in there and renting capacity because they are good facilities and where we want to improve and we want to improve and to support a growing sense of demand. So we want to increase demand and we can do that through effective marketing. So while we're going through fees scheduling let's think about strategies for marketing think about updating the websites reflect it uh just more broadband communication strategies about the facilities and getting out to the general public so that they can rent it. >> Yeah I like it >> where possible. Yeah, where and in agreement with that is also the sometime most of the time most important thing especially once we start running the boilers is there has to be a custodian
070with a boilers license on there. So I think that that's also the a resource that has to be in place and we have to be able to secure to be able to average. So I we ob obviously want to find that balance too of being able to staff something as a request as opposed to the great facilities we have. Obviously we put a lot of time and energy and proud of but we also want to make sure from we can promise the staffing that's required for the operations of that as well. Yeah. >> Do always do we have a right to refuse as well? >> Always. >> Okay. Anything uh else for buildings and ground safety, security? >> That's it. >> Nothing. >> All right. Uh moving right into uh communications. Uh Mr. Scarpa, >>
071I um so thank you. I I do believe Do we have an Has the website been updated to reflect the uh new additions to the ESA program? >> Not yet. That's what we were waiting on the on the visuals of it to do at the end. >> That's in Q. Okay. So, pend pending that update. Uh it's going to put a wrap essentially on the ESIP program. We will be advertising it. We'll come up with a creative solution within our newsletter as well to put a capstone on that entire program and continue to advertise that. But that's be the backbone of our facilities marketing as well because it does show that we are giving back to the to the community and our environment in this space. So, we're gonna we're gonna celebrate that achievement in
072the newsletter as well as the updated website. That's all. >> All right. Uh, great. Thank you, Mr. Scarpa. Um, moving into, uh, curriculum, u, Mrs. Camera. >> Okay. Um, number one, 25 2025 26 dibbles. So, Dibbles stands for the dynamic indicators of basic early literacy skills. So pretty much it's a researchbased assessment. It measures foundational reading skills, uh, phenemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. So it's designed for benchmarking and progress monitoring. So I talked about this before. It's a data point. It's a data point our district uses what to put students into tier interventions more or less. Um, so it's screening data. So this is just some feedback. Um, all students in kindergarten through GA grade grade three participate in Dibbles assessments three times this year in the fall, winter, and spring. After each
073assessment window, scores will be uploaded to the Genesis document tab and a summary letter will be sent home to families. Um, this does represent a change from previous years. While the district has consistently used the Dibbles assessment as part of our dyslexia screener, the 2526 school year introduces one key update. Kindergarten students will now be assessed in the fall and all results again will be shared with families. So um for our families, please look for follow-up communication from Dr. Reynolds in the coming days with additional details. Okay, anything on number one? Okay, moving on. Two, um the update for the parent access to classroom libraries. So both Crest and Cedar Drive Middle School are ready to go. And I don't have the exact date. Do we have the exact date? They're ready to go. >>
074They're ready to go out this week probably. If not the first beginning of next week, they're ready that they're all done. And the instructions for everything are going to be linked through the Google classrooms and be out there and parents will be able to have their access through the library. Everything >> great. And for Cedar and Elementary School. >> Yeah. So, this is something that was really important to um all of us who are on the board now. We wanted more transparency and we are giving it to our constituents. Okay, moving on to number Oh, any other comments on two? I see two is a tremendous success. It's our digital library. Okay, we called it different names, but I'm I'm really excited about number two. Okay, number three is um the 2025 2026 state assessments
075and the field test date. So, Cedar Drive Middle School, grades six, seven, and eight will be testing October 29th to 30th. It is the NJSLA pilot testing. Um, Crest Elementary School, grades only four and five. Grade three is not testing. We'll test on November 12th and 13th. Um, I was surprised because originally we were told it was just to get like some field information, but these are full-blown um assessments. Students will test day one writing 120 minutes. Day two it will be two units. Um ELA reading 60 minutes and math 60 minutes. So again for another total of 120 minutes. Um so I I thought that was quite a lot for just gathering data. That was my personal reflection. I don't know if you felt that way as well. >> We do feel that way
076and as we are it is a ter it's a it's almost the same as preparing. I was working with Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Capaso who do a lot of the uploading of all the data and making sure that all the >> the scheduling the enrollment getting every there's actually some been some um technical difficulties. So we've had been troubleshooting as we're uploading information as there so um yeah there's there's a lot involved in this as we too thought it was a sample hey we're going to try this out for the spring and no it is a full-blown assessment window so um >> saw it the same way >> we see it we we see it the same way Mrs. Camera without a doubt. Okay. Um any other comments on that was number four. Okay. Moving
077on. Um this one's very exciting. Um the board of education uh we are going to recognize students who received a perfect NJSLA score in 2025. Um that will be done at our November 19th meeting. Um the this this is coming from the administration. So, thank you because just I it's unbelievable that we have >> students who receive perfect scores. >> So, I believe that we wound up with um let me just see from I think there were a total of 12 perfect scores >> 12 which is an 850 is the perfect score from 3 to 8 is that you can have a perfect score and we had 12 perfect scores with a couple of the students achieving it both in ELA and mathematics. There might not be 12 students because it might be 10 because
078or 10 or eight because a a few of our students achieved perfect in both. So we felt that that was definitely worthy of celebration and a remarkable accomplishment for our our students. So I think that um just stay tuned because of that we may move the location you know to a primary school to allow for a little bit bigger space to recognize that major accomplishment. >> How that competes trash >> the perfect score. I too enjoy a good confidence booster to our district. Um >> get those >> uh we don't in terms of perfect scores. We don't get that. They they you know they we use that data and stuff. And the sad part is is moving forward because of the new system of the test. We don't know what the comparability is going to
079be from last year to this this year moving forward. And nobody knows that information yet. It's we we have this testing window. We don't even have the dates for the spring yet. So we're kind of still in that dark, but we're very proud of that and we certainly want to highlight perfect score achievements is not an easy thing. So >> definitely it's not at all. So >> it was wonderful. It was the administration's idea and it supports our board goal on student achievement uh where we're you know recognizing and celebrating all diverse forms of achievement and and this is just so um you know something to be in awe of because I don't know if if we if took these tests could could achieve a perfect score. So Um, so there are a few um
080additional comments I just want want to make too um that are not part of the one through five. The Stokes outdoor education trip for our seventh graders is coming up October 15th to 17th. It's three days twoight experience. Um our students get to engage in hands-on learning, team building activities, outdoor exploration that reinforce key concepts in both science, environmental awareness, and collaboration. And again, the board would like to extend our thanks to the many parents who are volunteering, parents and guardians who are volunteering. Um I we a bunch of us here have gone. We know how difficult it is to rearrange your personal and professional schedules. So so thank you. Um it's also the week of respect. I I hope people have seen online um all our schools are participating in um spirit agendas. So,
081um, the New Jersey Department of Education established a week of respect to promote safe and supportive school environments for all students. Um, so again, a special thank you to the PTO, the school counselors, and all the committees for creating these spirit agendas for each school. And obviously today, as Mr. Ryan spoke about having the firefighters come, um, just again, what a wonderful experience. So, it takes a lot of people to make these things happen. And, um, Two more things. I'm almost there. Uh, parent teacher conferences October 20 to 23rd. Look out for the sign up information soon. Um, it's going to be going through Genesis, the parent portal. Parents will be able to choose a virtual or inerson conference with your child's uh, teacher and the district will be operating on a short session schedule
082from October 20th to 24th. And then the last thing, um, there was a 3GN assembly today. I was hoping maybe um somebody can share a little bit with our with our um residents about what happened today. I was not able to attend. I was teaching, but um the Cedar Drive Middle School um eighth grade students, it was a continuation of their seventh grade Holocaust studies. So, is anyone able to tell us a little bit about it? >> I think Mrs. Horowitz uh should take the floor on that. >> Yeah. So, um today a representative from uh 3G came to speak with our eighth graders and um it it was really moving and um definitely emotional and um honestly it was it was uh I'm trying to think of the words. I mean, as as a
083granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor myself, it's always interesting to hear stories from from others, but um even just the way that the kids were engaged was was really amazing to watch. And I think that's a testament to um what they're already learning. Our teachers, our staff um they had great questions and it was it was really really a great um a great um presentation and hopefully something we can continue to do >> and thank you thank you for organizing it and this was completely free too just so everyone knows this is a free program we were able to bring into our schools um because of Sarah Harowit. I'm going to add to that, you know, like wow, wow, wow. It was an awesome event. There was over 100 students, I think, uh, for the middle
084school. Very well attended, very well organized, was in a nice community environment. Uh, the administrative staff did a fantastic job getting it up and running. Uh, it was timely. Uh, but, you know, you're left with feeling like kindness. If you if you do kind if you are kind to some people and that should should translate towards, you know, later on in your life, why not? It was a beautiful, beautiful message. I'm so glad I attended with my daughter. Uh, it was just all in just very well done. It's exactly what this school needed and I think to to echo kindness and reflect upon a a generation that has uh that has really experienced a lot of trauma and it was just very well done. And her her the experience of this particular grandfather and her
085granddaughter his granddaughter was nothing short of remarkable. But it was really really special. Thank you for supporting it. >> I just have a question. Um when we recognize the uh perfect scores on the NJSLA, can we incorporate it in the um meeting where we recognize the high honor roll and the special achievements which we put together for last year. Can we continue that for this year or is that too much and we're meeting? Um, we can I don't think it coincides. We can delay the perfect score. We thought it was a little separate, but if we wanted to delay it, we couldn't coincide our first mark and carry it. >> It's up to you. >> I think students, right? >> Yeah. So, whatever if you want to do it at a separate meeting, I don't
086know whatever works, but keep that in mind that we want to continue recognizing uh the great achievements um from our from our kids. >> Yep. >> Um Okay. Uh that was it. That concluded your report. Okay. Um, moving on uh to finance. Um, Mr. Oro. >> Yes. So, the recommendation to raise substitute bus driver rate from 25 an hour to 27 an hour. Uh, I'm all for it. It's 27 in an hour. We're still below the average. So, and hopefully we'll attract some new bus drivers along with that. So, that's all. Um, I'd like to make a comment on on this. I know I spoke to Dr. Garay and she was trying to explain the breakdown of everything and you know I understand raising this but sometimes I still look back at our lunch aids
087we discussed um you know they're barely making a a living wage here. Um it upsets me that you know they don't they're not even up to this amount at all. Um, I mean, and I feel like we we don't really fight for for the lunch aids. Um, and maybe the the bus aids as well. I think they're getting the same amount of money. Um, you know, and I I always wonder why, you know, and you said it was union related. Um, you know, and like I said, I'm not stepping on the union's toes, but I just feel that, you know, where where you're supposed to fight for, they don't, you know. So, I don't know what we could do. I I find it hard. Not that I don't want to give the 27 here. I
088take your recommendation um wholeheartedly, but you know, like I said, you know, to give $27 when our lunch aids are barely making a living wage is really really upsetting to me. I I think >> it's unfortunately the you know the demand >> for bus drivers is through the roof right now >> and staffing is extremely difficult >> and the fact that the average is above 27 an hour and we were at 25 >> was making it even more difficult for us. >> So we're still increasing $2 an hour but we're still below the average. I I listen I'm take your recommendation. I you know I certainly feel the board will definitely support it. I just wanted to make note of uh you know the discrepancy and u my my opinion on the the lunches. >>
089Okay. >> Dr. Care to put into perspective on average how many hours a day are the bus drivers working? >> Four or five >> depends on their route. >> Yeah. That $25 $27 an hour is more than I think acceptable. >> All right. Anybody else have comments on >> are we short bus drivers? >> Yeah, >> the answer is yes. However, I have an uh a scheduled interview tomorrow morning with with someone who might be filling our last position. So, um to be continued, which which would bring us whole. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I mean, the subs is another story, but I think this may help. So, >> all right. Um Okay, that's it for finance. Uh, we have a considerable amount under policy. >> It won't be long. >> That's okay. That's right. We
090got to do our business. So, um, yeah, Mr. Scales, you can take >> That's what you said the last time. >> Hey, that was your guys fault. You guys have questions. I mean, come on. No, parental uh bill of rights. Uh, another I guess another We are live, right? This is essentially we have gone to I would say every every corner of the district, right? First, we started with the the parental advisory committee, right? We had uh been this has been on I would say what five or six different agendas right now before we've even gone into a first second read. And then we received well we asked for feedback from administrative staff and um the schools and we've made three versions based off of that feedback. Right. Right. So, typically when you we're not
091legislating, but typically when you legislate or when you create a policy and things like that, it's just done by the board. But, um, just wanted to thank Dr. Garvey for your work. I mean, you've created something great. I think this is just shows like this is a true democracy, right? when we can go to other angles and ask for other opinions and ask for feedback of something that is geared towards the parents of the district and everyone with open arms provided that feedback. So, we're here. Um, my recommendations is again, this is sort of the last board review before we go into how we're going to institute this. And so, just, you know, asking with a lot of, you know, colleagues of mine and then asking and doing some research of figuring out how to
092best institute this into the district. Because we call it a bill of rights, it would still go through a first and second read, right? So, we wouldn't be able to do like a declaration or a resolution or a proclamation or anything like that. It would still go because we're calling it this uh parental bill of rights. So, the my recommendations would be again first read, second read, and then adoption. Um, and then we list it on the policies. And then we've gone through literally every section and we've inserted all of the policies that that particular section covers. So we have covered almost every single policy. I think it was great timing because as we were going through sort of the uh you know the changing of the guard of who our policy holder is, it
093allowed you to go in and look at all those I mean you did a lot of work on this. So thank you. I really appreciate it. So any open to any questions any comments? >> Yes, Mrs. Ramirez is waiting uh to be addressed. So uh go ahead Ramirez. >> So I have two two uh questions. Well, I guess really one question and then um one um so sorry and then one um clarification point. So the first uh question would be has legal looked at this exact version of of the of the writing >> I believe these based off recommendations from >> Yes. >> Okay. So they haven't looked at this exact version. >> Yeah. she reviewed uh several times and um basically spoke to us about revising it to this final version. So yes. >>
094Okay. But this exact version has not been reviewed by legal. >> Well, it it's the version based off of those comments, but like do like is there need to be a final read through from the attorney? >> So we'll we'll give her a final draft. I I I really don't want to waste any more funds on this. Uh we try to cap it. um very conservatively. So, I'm going to try to um have her briefly look at everything and then um >> it would just be a final read through because it's everything that she >> Yeah, it's everything that she recommend uh recommended to just change to be in compliance with everything. So, >> okay. And then so the other uh my other concern really my one of my main concerns is one of the
095feedback points that she did give us that I don't see changed is that it does start with we the parents and I think that this does suggest that it was jointly authored by when with our parents which it was not. One of our main jobs as a board is to reach out to our stakeholders when we're talking about policy and whatnot. And so if we're not able to do that and if we have not done that I don't think that we should be starting it as we the parents. I think it should be starting with we the Col board of education, so on and so forth. Um, yes, we're we're all parents in the district, but there could be I think this just opens up a can of warnings. There could be a time when
096a board does they could change all this language. And I don't want the board to be speaking for me as a parent. So, while I agree with 99.9% of what's in this bill of rights and I support it, I don't ever want a board of education to be speaking for me as a parent. And I didn't write this as a parent. And so, I didn't contribute to it as a parent. I we didn't have the parents all come in here. They didn't sign off on any everything. And uh we didn't send out a version to all the parents and poll them and say, "Hey, all parents in our district, what do you think of this?" So, I just don't feel comfortable starting it out as we the parents. I know that was a legal concern.
097u by our our legal team that it doesn't seem like it's reflected in this version. >> Yep. Because it's not. So again, this isn't it's it's written by the parents. That's why it's called a parental >> not written by all the parents. >> The only parents of the district that have anything to do with this are the ones that are sitting at the table. No other parents of the district have anything to do with this. >> They do, >> but we we we um covered it in the PAC. Yep. We had o open communications um through the board of ed. We responded to all those. I responded to them personally. Um I mean I'm not going to sit here and wait for um 12,000 parents to contact me on this. So >> no, I'm not
098suggesting that. What I'm saying is I don't think that it takes anything away from this if we don't start it out as we the parents and we simply start it out as we the board of ed uh we the board of education of Colts neck do solemnly vow or you know I think that that first line you just take out we the parents I think it holds the same weight behind it I think it has the same meaning we're just not speaking for the parents because I think that's what we're doing here and as a a conservative I don't want to be speaking for any parent and again we're writing these policies and we're writing these bill of rights or you know, however this is going to end up getting formatted into our district for
099future boards as well. And what says that a future board can't come in and change some of the language in here and then still have it say we the parents and as a parent I don't ever want the board of education to speak for me as a parent. they can definitely say that they support and they can encourage my my rights and my beliefs which is I think what we're saying here but starting it out as we the parents when I and again I'm saying that I as me as Jessica Ramirez as a civilian in town not as a board of ed member I didn't write this as a parent I had no stake in this I I don't feel comfortable doing that I don't want to ever speak for any individual parent that sits
100in our district even if they agree with some of this part of it all of it doesn't matter I don't feel comfortable speaking for anyone parent. And I think if we just take that out, I think we have the same weight. I think it holds the same meaning. Um, you know, it still is saying that the board of education believes that the parents have that utmost authority. It doesn't take anything away from the meaning. It's just not suggesting that parents have jointly authored this document because they have not. >> Uh, so so Jessica, this is Brian. I'm going to challenge that a little bit. You know, uh, this is the parental bill of rights. This is not the board of education's bill of rights. Now, we're while we are an elected uh body of the
101constituents of parents and non-parents in this town, some of us are parents and some of us may not necessarily be, but we are an elected body that is representative of the town. So, to to say that they didn't have a voice, I would challenge that because one of the reasons why I'm sitting here is because they did have a voice. That being said, a parental bill of rights, it should direct it towards the parent. So if you're putting forth parental bill of rights indicating what their rights are as parents and their in their role here with schools saying we the board of ed is actually going to trump the parents in that situation. So I would challenge that and say that it's currently written as defined. Uh same thing like the constitution we the people.
102It's written it's not we the we the congress, we the senate or we the house of representatives or we the president. It's we the people. So it's along those same lines. So that's I stand behind that decision. >> Yeah. >> And Brian, I agree with I agree with that and I think that the this document is directed towards parents. Absolutely. Towards parents from the board of education. We can't take away that board of education is who wrote this. The board of education is uh the one who authored it. The board of education is the one who's actually saying that these rights exist. The board of education is the one who's acknowledging that. The parents are not the ones that are acknowledging it. We are as the board of education. So I I agree with you
103in all of that except for the fact that it is being directed from the board of education to parents. It is the parental bill of rights. It's the the rights that this board of education believes that parents have. Um again, I believe with the rights I believe in the rights that are in it. I I support the rights that are in it. It's just not coming from the parents. It's coming from us as a board of education, which I think it takes away from that. I I think it's taking away from our mission as the board of education to be drafting this. It's taking away from from our what our goal was and what our mission is. Our I believe what the the background of all of this and hearing Mr. Scales talk about this
104for now, you know, 10 months is that he believes and and as a board of education, I think we rallied around that belief is that our board of education believes that parents have these rights. Um and and we go through it and we outline it here. It's the board of education that believes that. It's not the parents that believe it. I mean, yes, obviously they do believe it in the fact that we're directing it towards them and they are legal rights. Um, and and so it, you know, it's not to say that, but the board of education is the one that's passing this. The parents aren't up here voting on this. The parents aren't the ones that that authored it. The parents aren't the ones that brought it to us. the parents brought this to
105us and said, "Hey, we want the board of education to acknowledge this bill of rights that us as parents have put together and we're going to bring it to the board and then we want the board to, you know, adopt it as a resolution or or or, you know, put it on their agenda and and and speak to it." Fine. But that's not what how this happened. This transpired because our board of education believes that these parents have this right. And in and in believing that, we drafted this document to put forward to the parents to acknowledge those rights that we had. We are doing it as the board of education. We're not doing it as parents. We're doing it as the board of education. And that's important. I I don't think that it's a
106bad thing. I think that's very very important to make that distinction that we as the board of education are doing this. >> Again, it's just my concern, my thoughts. You don't have to agree with it, but it's where I'm where I'm at. >> No, you're so at this >> Mr. Scala. >> Um, okay. M Ramirez, I I absolutely respect your comments. Um, I think the board does as well. Um, at this time, um, the majority of the board is in an agreement of, um, moving forward and passing this. I will send it out to, uh, our attorney for a final, uh, final approval. Um, and I will, um, expect this to be on the RAM meeting for a first read. And that's, uh, the final uh, thing I'm going to um, discuss on this matter.
107Angelie, when you send it off for the to the attorney for the final approval, could you just ask her if we'd have a a um a legal problem with that one? >> Yeah, I I will ask her, but um once again, we are elected by this town. The people who voted for us instill a security in our decisions, they they feel secure in us as board members on what we pass here. And I'm I'm 100% confident that that's what the community voted us in to do. There's, you know, they're confident in how we run the board or else we won't be sitting here. Um, you know, I'm not going to keep entertaining this. This is going on for 10 months now. I don't want to continue any more legal costs to this. And like I
108said, the majority of the board is uh ready to move for a first read. So that's what we're going to do. >> All right. Um, can we move on, Mr. Scales? >> We can. Um, number two, this um this is something that's been brought over by um some fellow board members here. I don't know if anyone wants to to bring and discuss this. Dr. Gay, do you want to kind of walk through this? This has to do with um our good old $50 for the Chromebooks and how using things. >> Sure. Just bringing to the discussion there was a recommendation for us to look at um you know the fees that we're incurring as and I think that part of it we were able to Mrs. Bulpie and Mrs. Scarpa were able to engage in
109a conversation with our student representatives um last week or a week two weeks ago and we were talking about that. So I think it was timely to bring this forward as part of the cow agenda to say you know we should be looking these over. There's a request on the board for us to be examining that. Um you know based on current right now we have a trend of bringing in uh about $30,000 in uh use of use of technology fees. That's what we do on an annual basis. It's $50. Um it's trending >> 50 essentially. >> Correct. Correct. For from third grade through 8ighth grade. That's the fees. And then what we're doing in the process right now, which we will also share with the board, is what our external repairs are because that
110is something that was part of a conversation. You know, that um from internal conversation based on an increase in um you know, student damage to the Chromebooks that have to be sent out. not troubleshooting that our internal staff does with the infrastructures and things like that, but it's, you know, ripping the keys off. Yeah. It's all those things and there's also a disciplinary part of that too as the administration will talk through. If it's accidents happen, kids drop their Chromebooks, things are act so there becomes a process involved in that um that we have to look at. So I I think that we'll just continue this. This is where we this is the information that's there. We'll provide the financial information and then we can have good conversations about what we want to do because
111but it is timely because there are budgetary implications to it. Right? If we look on average on the amount of students that we're bringing in the technology fee and the average is a little bit less, a little less probably about 29 28,000 that we're bringing out. I'm rolling up in terms of that that would be a cost because we would want to look at what we're spending out in repairs, you know, and making seeing how the board wants to address that on both ends. >> Yeah. I look at it as I mean essentially the way that we're doing it now not calling us socialists but it's socializing damage to all of the crows essentially right so if there's damage everyone's everyone has to pay the 50 bucks or you don't get it right and then
112if you have some money that's due at lunch right you can't get your Chromebook until like that's paid off and then you pay the $50 >> no we don't we haven't done that no >> hey but that's you know no >> but I'm what I'm saying is essential exactly to your point like the the $50 becomes you know other other people and other students who take care of their Chromebooks and it's for steam they still have to pay that 50 every year. So when we originally purchase them how do we purchase them from school funds they're not granted to us by Google or the state or anything like >> the Chromebooks? Yeah. >> No, they're on a lease cycle. Okay. >> So they're on a three to four year lease cycle. I think it's three
113years and they go back in terms of that. So just like a car, if there's damage to it, there's money owed at the end of the leases. So, and the reason why we lease is because for a Chromebook and infrastructure purposes, you know, the a rapid rate of of updating information and all things like that, right? And having one, yeah, we pay substantial fees. That's another thing we're going to share is upon the return of the lease that they are, you know, we give them, they are being used without a doubt because it's useless, it's wear and tear. So those are, you know, that that's all part of the financial investment that's made in that on an annual basis. So we can >> look into any opportunity where we charge them $50 but if they
114return it in great shape maybe they get $25 back you know as an incentive incentive incentive for doing being a good student and then charging them up the wazoo if it's if it's damaged you know like I know we do do that damage but u you know there should be some not a reward but hey a sense of responsibility or a rebate associated with the job you did what you're supposed to do have them sign a contract too. These students should be aware that this is not their property. It is on loan >> and it's a nice it's a nice lesson to be learned going forward. >> Right. Right. >> Can we look into that? >> We can absolutely look at a different Absolutely. We can look at different that >> so we'll we'll be
115forwarding with all of that that information about what that those repairs are and stuff. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> No parents would love not having to pay the 50 bucks. you know, you have that conversation where you're like, I don't pay >> Chromebook that the school bought, but cost money. Like, so that lease, >> there's essentially we're we're ordering, like you said, we're ordering, you know, a thousand of them, right? And they're giving us a three-year lease agreement on a,000, they expect a,000 back. And if there's any damages, we take it from that pool of money and send it. >> It's exactly how it's exactly what happens >> in the high school. It's one fee for all four years. >> Oh, okay. >> So, I believe it was $80. I feel like it was $80.
116Don't quote me, but I'm pretty sure it was $80 for all four years. So, you do you pay it once? >> Do they get them at the end or No, I know some districts give them. Some districts do. >> I don't know. I don't I don't think so. >> Yeah, some districts. >> Budget so high would be some have a I'm not sure. I wasn't sure if the regional kind of thing, but I don't want to >> in four three years they're just obsolete. They're break is the term for it. But yeah, I wanted to thank you guys for bringing that up because, you know, It's something you think about all the time like we're cold sack. We have we have money. So cool. >> Excellent. >> All right. >> Anything else? >> The internet
117and just again we wanted to bring to the attention the internet as we're still talking about there's a lot of conversations especially in the different political races that are going on right now. Emphasis on the cell phone uses and as we've been doing we've been piling. Yeah. Did I skip over too? I'm sorry. Okay. So um so the number three going into the internet enabled devices. We're still part of the conversation. We're still piloting. We're having success. I know Mrs. Bulp and Mr. Scarper saw the actual pockets that were in the classroom, saw them, you know, how they're being used. Not and not a lot of push back. There's still conversations as we're to your point transitioning to our new policies, how we want to look at those. We have existing. But then in the
118correct, but then also recently the DOE put out guidance for student use of internet enabled devices. And the reason why we put it this way is because some of the feedback as the narratives and the concerns are being brought forward does also center not just about cell phones but about smart watches. So that is something that is becoming an increasing uh distraction within the classrooms because we're not handling them in the same way that cell phones are being handled and younger students. It's a bigger component of them at at primary and elementary school. So I think our staff is looking to partner with us to give some suggestions and recommendations about maybe looking at it in the same way and really discouraging that type. We know why parents, you know, we we we respect everyone's
119decision. We're really looking at it in the same way because it is technically an internet activated device in the same way from a communication point of view. So just something again to be putting out there the guidance and then as we're informing to keep ourselves informed as we uh draft policy for that. Okay. >> Yeah. Because the bills that the the the verbiage that comes by and this is where people need to understand essentially like the the differences. These devices are ours as parents, right? We're giving them to our children to use. So the state of New Jersey wants to prevent you as a parent from giving a phone to your child. >> So we have to think about that in essence. Like all this other rigomearroll makes sense like when it comes to like
120cheating. You don't want you know the phones out. you don't want the watches, all that makes sense. But it's a teaching moment as well, just like you brought up, Mr. Scarpa, about learning how to use the Chromebooks and understanding. It's a teaching moment where the teacher has rules in the classroom and if you bring that cell phone out and you're using it, like there will be accountability and there will be a penalty for it. the state is it's a complete overreach where they want to block your ability to give something to your child which is not again if you go back to the parental bill of rights that we spoke about again that's a breach of a right that's been granted right so my whole thing is that if the state's going to give us
121guidance it needs to be the correct guidance and not just something again schools are nonpartisan right it can't just be something where they want to remove it completely just because they think it's a good idea and they don't have children in school to understand the impact if you have a cell phone and you need to pick someone up at 3:30 because soccer practice is over, right? There's difference. They there's not access to the school building to run in and call your mom in the office to say come pick me up. There's no pay phones on the property. So, these are the things they're not thinking of. So, that's the only thing that I'll say on the matter is that it's going to the election's going to determine this policy that's been given to us. So,
122And last one, number four. This is a reminder. This is what we uh had agreed to for already passed on a first read of medication going to second read during the next round. >> That's it. Done. >> All right. Not bad. Um Okay. Uh nothing under negotiations, transportation, personnel. We have one uh small thing. I don't know if you want to speak to that. Uh Dr. Garvey. >> Oh, for >> Yeah. Uh, anything >> the clubs are coming up. I'm just pointing out that some of the students who participate require a one-on-one aid part of their IEP. So, you'll see some of those maybe retroactively based upon our schedules because the club started this week, some of them started and so there may be uh retroactive appointments of some instructional. >> I didn't realize they
123started this. >> Yeah. So, some of them and and and based on on the hour. So, that's what I just wanted to give in in addition to the regular like FMLA leaves and things that you'll see on an appointment level. That might just be that point of it. I just want to point that out. >> Okay. No worries. Thanks for the heads up on that. Um, okay. So, that uh pretty much uh concludes that. We're going to open the floor to comments again from the public at this time. Uh, you're welcome to come up, state your name and address for the record and then we'll go on from that. >> Hi, uh, Mallerie Rean, 165 Blair Road. Um I wanted to share that the Betsy Ross event is this Thursday morning. I know you were
124not certain about the date of that. Um and then um I had a thought when you guys were talking about the fees for facility usage. So, um I actually this past weekend, my kids were playing soccer and one of the families on my son's team, they are a military family and they were talking about how playing the wreck soccer is a big deal, like paying the fee for that is a big deal for their family. Um, so that was just something that crossed my mind that I I don't want to accidentally, you know, charge rates for things that could make it even harder for the military families to participate in the sports. And then um my >> just just to comment on that, I I'm glad you brought that up and I'm sure this board
125would definitely take any of our military personnel into consideration where we would I'm certain I could speak for everybody here, not apply that to those families. So >> yeah. Yeah. Well, that's great to hear. It just it was like uh >> on my mind while you were discussing it. Um, >> foundation usually to all our military families. So, I I hope they know that. Maybe you could make sure they >> Yeah, definitely. I I see them every Saturday, so I'll I'll mention it. >> And um the the discussion about the Chromebooks. So, I was wondering if it would be possible to see which age groups are or which grades are causing the most um damage. >> Sounds like the older grades I could vouch for. >> Oh, really? Okay. >> By the the I'm going
126to I'm going to call I'm going to call it out where truth needs to be told. It's definitely the older grades. I think the younger grades probably have mishaps with dropping them and stuff. Yeah. You know, um >> uh indirectly doing it. But I I definitely just from word of mouth and from what I hear it's the older grades. >> Oh, okay. I would honestly I was thinking it was the younger grades and I know a lot of the parents >> in the um >> I don't know Dr. Garay will have to you know research that but >> yeah maybe [Laughter] >> I mean I just entered that realm. My third grader he does not bring his Chromebook home at night. We just log into his Google classroom on my computer and that's how we
127get his homework done. But I was just thinking that a lot of the um I won't say a lot, but I know some parents on the parent advisory committees had already expressed like reservations about Chromebook usage. So I was just thinking if those are the the young kids are the ones that are um creating the most damage, maybe it would be better to encourage more of them to just leave the device at school instead of bringing it on the bus. >> Required, not to interrupt your comments, but is is it required um in the younger grades that they take at home? I know my daughter being in eighth grade, it's definitely a requirement. or work is done on that. >> So the way our programs are and we it's not is it required? I don't
128think there's anything that says but what we do is we tell them to our programs or systems are all linked up through their their homework their Google class is. It's almost bring like bringing your homework home with you electronically. You do have access to it through anywhere you can log in through the schools. Um but it is monitored through our systems on the Chromebook. So the little the younger students who have a little bit more parental I don't want to say I don't want to likely I don't want to be you know I sit right next to them right have a little bit more of the sitting next to you know who have that capability of doing that if we wanted to however you know middle school where they are so we do it as
129an equitable access to everyone so it's encouraged to be teaching that responsible bring them home charge them have them ready and so on so um do we do do things happen absolutely does a peanut butter and jelly sandwich get squished into a screen absolutely Absolutely it does. Does something accidentally get spilled? Absolutely. These are more of the malicious, you know, and and weaning through that a chrome dropped getting off the bus or something like that. So, um those you know that happens. Yeah. But, um yeah, so we look we look at that. So, I will we will be doing the data. We do keep track of where it comes about and so on and so forth. We even I know that uh sometimes too I don't know it's happened I think in the spring sometimes
130our uh technology uh person at the middle school support person runs an after school like fix it club >> you know where there'll been times where he's offered to facilitate you know a club where he brings in the kids who might have an interest in tech repair and walks them through you know looking at it and building upon things that they've learned. So it's just a little piece of interest that we do. Yeah. Um yeah but some we can't do though. some we do have to farm out and we also keep extras. So because we don't want to have that interruption. >> So when one comes in, we'll bring it in, we'll give you, you know, an automatic replacement and then we watch to see if we can fix it ourselves, troubleshoot it, and or
131have to send it out. So um but yeah, all part of the larger conversation that's been tied back into the pack as well. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Of course. >> All right. Uh great. Uh thank you, Mrs. Rearen, for your participation. Um Mr. Ryan, you want to come up? I think I got it on. Yeah. >> Wow. Look at that. Huh? >> Holy cow. I'm in school and I learned uh you were talking about the 12 perfect scores and the kids with this honor roll stuff and all that. Bring it to the town. It should be celebrated in the town. >> The only thing is our high honor roll is like uh I don't know. It was like a hundred students or something. >> The perfect story. >> The perfect sto >> high honor
132roll. Bring it in. >> Yeah. Why? Why are you not bringing Why Why would you not bring it in? It's a good thing. >> We We can I I >> They celebrate a a championship of a high school basketball team. >> I mean, you know, 12 kids getting the perfect mark is definitely a celebration. >> You know, but there's quite a few uh children that are recognized. If they're willing to take it on, we certainly could >> propose it to them. >> Put it right on. Definitely. >> Okay. >> That's the only way you're going to get it out there. And the people know >> and really these kids, but you know what? Put the good stuff out. All the other stuff there is all malarkey. >> Okay? >> When there's something good, put it
133out there >> because we need it. >> Okay. >> And these kids should be celebrated. >> That's we try to do that here as much as possible. But >> I know I know you do and I and I applaud that because I remember when I was a kid, the only trophy I got for sports was a championship trophy. I never got a second place. Nothing like that or anything like that. Everything is like second place. When you're getting a perfect score, celebrate. When you're getting something like that, definitely celebrate and bring it out because the world needs it and these kids can go and say, you know, I worked hard for this and now I'm being recognized. Not that they got a a 10 or what, you know, a 1000 or whatever. >> We decided
134that I remember when when I proposed this idea of recognizing them, you know, there's honor roll and then there's high honor roll. So, if we did honor roll, it would it would have been like a lot of kids. So, we limited we >> Well, I'm gonna leave it up to your call on that one because you guys know and all that, but definitely there should be a celebration out there because with everything going on or whatever, I think it's a great idea and I think these kids would appreciate it and the parents would appreciate it. >> I think mayor should take all 12 of those and they each of those children get to be mayor for a day. That's what I propose. >> Now, that would be interesting. That's what I propose. >> Absolutely, >>
135Mrs. Boss. Thank you. Thank you very much for your time. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Ryan. >> Um, any anybody else? Um, Mrs. Jones, would you like to say anything? >> All right. All right. Everybody's done. We're going to close public comment. Um, thank you all for your participation. Moving on uh to new business. I'd like to open the floor briefly to anybody with new business this evening. Oh, recognizing Mrs. Ramirez for new business. >> I believe it was two years ago. The beginning of 2024, we also brought it up for the board to consider um and I'm not really sure what ever uh happened with it, but I know we were talking about considering um doing advertising on our school buses in order to bring some extra revenue to the district. So, um I
136just wanted to kind of circle back to that and see if if there was any further looking into that and if there wasn't um if we could um maybe take a look at um looking into that again. Um I believe it was during our governance 2 training. We were talking about it and um some districts in New Jersey do this where they do advertising on the school buses and it brings in a pretty good uh revenue source for the districts. Um, so >> yeah, I think um actually Mr. Romero, I think this year, didn't I hear somebody say that recently about bus advertisement because I I don't know. Or maybe it was back in 2024. I mean, the time is flying. I don't know, but I could have >> the beginning of 2024. It was
137on um I I relisted to one of our meetings and it was um for sure I brought it up then and then um I believe it was in February. Um but I believe it was also brought up in 2023 as well um during my time on the boards. Um I just think that it was something that wasn't maybe at the top of our priority list then. But um in speaking earlier about getting some extra revenue into the district uh with the different fees um I think it could be something that's worth our while to look into to uh see if again we can get some extra revenue to the district with some advertising on our buses since we own our own bus fleet. Uh we can certainly do that. So um I don't know if
138there was any push back or if there was any barriers to it or or rationale for why we wouldn't be doing it. >> It just goes into policy. So there's a separate policy that allows for it for private school advertising and there's also a way that you can actually look into it from regards to policy to also um you can actually even sell uh space on your website if you wanted to. I think that was the last part we had a conversation about it. I think that that I think it actually started coming up in like 2024 and then it went through that way a little bit or or that type of thing. So there's there's opportunities for that. But we it just has to be regulated because school districts do have to regulate it
139in a way where we have final say about the type of content that's advertised and so on and so forth, you know, down the line. So there's that's why it's heavily regulated by policy. Um some also do signage on their fields, you know, on signs and things like that. That's also something that that can be in terms of that and sponsorship. So it's all something that we can look at. I can actually go back and I think I can go back and look at information that we had shared. So, I think we can because I know that we did share some stuff, so we can put that back out to everybody. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um, anybody else want to add anything for new business this evening? Just a reminder, our next meeting
140is actually next Wednesday. We have backto-back meetings um due to the conference at the end of the month along with not coinciding with the township committee. So, just a reminder, next Wednesday will be our uh our meeting at 6:30. Um, okay. If there's no other new business, I'd like to um make a motion uh to move into executive session at this time uh for confidential legal matters. This will only take about 15 minutes. Uh, no action will be taken. Uh, so if I could get a motion to move in second. >> All right. Great. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? >> Motion. >> Great. Thank you for uh everybody for attending. Thank you very much.