001said he's away. >> All right. >> Okay. Good evening everybody. I'd like to call to order uh for the regular action meeting of the board of education July 23rd, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the administration building at 70 Conover Road, Colts, New Jersey. If I could please have a roll call. >> Yes, you may. Mrs. Cameron, >> present. Mrs. Harowitz >> here. >> Mr. Ro >> here. >> Mrs. Ramirez >> here. >> Participating remotely. Thank you. Mr. Regetta >> here. >> Mr. Scales. Mr. Scarpa. >> Mrs. Vulpi. >> Here. >> Mr. Walsh. >> Here. >> You have a quorum. >> Great. Thank you. Pursuant to the open public meetings act Act chapter 231, this meeting has been duly advertised in the Asbury Park Press in a schedule of meetings dated January 16,
0022025 and March 4th, 2025, notice of which has been filed with the deputy clerk for Coleneck Township and the requirements of posting of notices have been met. If everybody can kindly rise for the flag salute. I alian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. [Music] Great. Thank you. Okay. I'd like everybody uh to take notice. Um I'm going to call for a motion to move the approval of the minutes. I just had a question uh for Mr. Morasco on the minutes. Um, does everything um, we say any comments that all gets documented on here? I mean, I saw I saw some of my comments weren't weren't missing. I'm not sure if it's verbatim or
003so. This when it comes to minutes, the standard according to statute is that minutes are summarized in a reasonably comprehensive manner of what was discussed at the meeting. >> Okay? >> Including the roll call votes. Um, so it's not a verbatim, >> okay, >> word for word transcription. >> Okay. If I wanted to request like certain comments that I made to be added to that, is that something that's allowable or it's just like you said, >> you can make a request, but most likely it could be summarized. >> Yeah, that's what I mean. The sum summarization. Okay. Um, all right. That's fine. I'm going to make a mo um uh ask for a motion to move these and then uh I'll probably ask for um some of my comments to be added at a later
004date if that's all right. >> And then reapprove them. I don't want to hold this up from being um issued on the on the website. >> You are suggesting you're revising your motion to only include certain minutes. I >> um No, that's right. I'll vote on it and then I'll, you know, like I said, it's only one or two things. I don't want to hold up the whole all these minutes for that. I don't feel it necessary. Okay. Is that all right? Um all right. Can I have a motion to move uh the approval of minutes uh June 4th, June 16th, the executive sess session on June 16th, the regular June 25th, and the June 25th executive session? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Okay. And I have a vote for >> Mrs. Tam. >> Yes.
005>> Mrs. Harowitz. >> Mr. Ro. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ramirez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Ruggetta. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Vulpi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Walsh. >> Yes. >> Thank you. The motion carried. >> Great. Thank you. Alrighty. Uh, moving forward. We have nothing under the presentations. uh no communications uh for this uh meeting and it'll bring me right into my president's report. Okay, I'm going to do half uh written and half off the cuff uh here tonight. Um I just want to remind uh everybody, I know that our board members uh you all work very hard uh over the past few months with uh the budget, so on and so forth. And I know that during the summer it's very difficult for us all to take times away from our family to come to meetings.
006So I have requested uh that Dr. Gabay cancel uh the August 6th cow and the August 20th RAM meeting. Um you know just to give you and your families time uninterrupted um to have to come out to the meetings. Uh I know that we do you know work behind the scenes. Certain things come up. So just because we are not having these two meetings does not mean the board isn't working in its full capacity. So I just want to remind everybody and thank you all for your uh dedication. Um the meetings will resume August 26th at 6:30. I'm sorry, 27th. I have it. I don't know why I said that. It's right here. Um 27th. Uh so take note of that. Moving on, we received I'm I'm proud to uh uh inform everybody. We received
007a focus grant award on July 14th in the amount of $4,150. Um Dr. Garay will be happy to speak further on this. Um I'm going to defer to her. Uh I'm sure we could all benefit from hearing the details. So I I'll set, you know, I'll leave that uh for you. Um, a couple of things happened over the course between now and the last meeting and that was our uh reassess tax bills were sent out and uh I want to let this community know that everybody here on the board of education uh worked diligently to make sure that we produced a zero tax increase with the help uh and the guidance of Dr. Garbe and Mr. Morasco. Um, I'm proud that we achieved that goal. What I'm not proud of is the conduct of the
008township committee and the the Mammoth County um GOP that have constantly raised our taxes over the past several years. Um, if you run for office and you claim you're going to preserve tax dollars, then do your job. Do your job. That's what you were voted in to do. So, I'm calling out all the politicians in the Coulseneck and Mammoth County area to think about why you ran and what you're doing in office. And uh I'd like to ask Jason and I know Brian's running a little bit late. You know, you dealt on the finance committee and I'm sure you're very disappointed as well to see um our taxes, you know, being raised in the manner it was. Uh I don't know if you'd like to add to my comments, but you're certainly welcome to do
009so. >> Yes, I am. And the fact that the budget for the Coulseneck Township was >> Yeah. was was I believe close to a I don't know the exact numbers, but it was a couple million dollars less last year than this year. Basically, what happens is yes, the tax rate was lowered by Coleneck Township. However, the amount that the assessments were raised offset that tax rate that was lowered and I believe um the numbers were close to a couple million dollars more that the township did take in, but what they did was they raised the budget accordingly to that amount. So, you know, and they're they're they're taking more money from taxpayers, raising the budget that amount to the point where the taxes that come in versus their budget is basically equal. Okay. But that
010really is unfortunately, you know, not really a great thing to do for the taxpayers. I mean, if you ran this township on, I'm just saying for example here, I'm just throwing out a random number, $12 million last year, and you take in, again, another approximation, $2 million extra from raising the assessments, and then you make your budget last year was 12 million, and now you make the budget this year 14 million. Where where like where does that extra $2 million come in? Like why are you raising the budget an extra $2 million? >> Um is it because they're padding their spending? >> They're p they're there they're that's exactly what's going on. That's exactly what's happening. Last year >> last year they I don't know the exact numbers. I'm just using I'm just using approximation
011and examples here. But it's easy to say as a township, oh well, we brought in our tax revenue this year was 14 million. Okay. Well, last year was 12 million. >> Doesn't mean you you >> but you but but they raised the budget an extra 2 million and I'm just spitballing numbers here. And it's like, oh well, we you know, we didn't realize a tax increase to the taxpayers. Well, you know, that's garbage. That's complete and utter garbage. You can you can call it whatever you want. You can call it whatever you want. We could have increased we could have increased our um we could have said, "Hey, we want 3% of of what uh we we want 3% of whatever the uh whatever the total taxes are increase that you that you brought in,
012right? We we could have asked for that money and we could have received it from the we could have received extra money from the taxpayers, but we obviously chose not to do that because we have been cutting expenses and raising revenues. And I believe that is absolutely something that the Coleneck Township should be able to do. If the if the Colts neck school systems can do that, I believe the Colts neck township would be able to do that as well. Why not? >> I I agree with you. Um I just want I'm bringing this up because I want the public to to see, you know, what's going on here. I wanted to see very clearly um what's going on for with people who hold um political titles in this town. >> Um I want to
013recognize Mr. Scarpa. He just came in. I'd like to give him the opportunity to comment as well. I feel bad. I don't want to put you on the spot. I was just reiterating to the public during my president's report that I was disgusted to see our tax bills um you know come through the mail the other day. Uh despite the fact that we worked diligently with the administration here to make sure that our district is not suffering in any way yet we cut useless spending and uh we're still giving the kids top-notch of everything. Um, and I want to thank the administration for working with us. If we did it here, certainly the township can do it and certainly the the Mammoth County leaders at the the next level can do it. I'm very very
014disappointed and uh they should be ashamed of themselves. If you want to make a comment, you certainly can. >> Yeah. And I appreciate that and my apologies for running late. >> That's okay. Uh but yes, know it just goes to show you that that if you put pen to paper and take time and carve through both expenses and revenue opportunities, you can you can appreciate a balanced budget. You know, everyone was in for a bit of a shell shock when we saw those statements largely driven by increase of assessments coming through the door. That said, there could have been a curtailment associated with it. Yes, assessments could have indeed gone up, but they could have approached the rate assessment say, you know what, because assessments are going up, we can decrease the rate and keep
015it more of a budget-minded approach. So, and that didn't happen. We did our piece and we saw our slice of the pie there that was associated with the schools and we kept it consistent to last year. We did not have a rate increase, but because the assessed values went up, obviously the the with the same rate, you're going to be paying more dollars due to those assessed values. They should have trimmed that down. I was I was I was saddened to see that, but I uh we did our job. We did our job and I stand behind it. We stand behind. We put a lot of time and effort into appreciating a line by line approach. And thank you to the administrative staff for supporting it and for getting on board and say what can
016we do with the a lotments that have been provided to us where the same token of gratitude and appreciation was not appreciated from the township. That's been my concern as well. >> Okay. >> Go ahead Jason. Last last comment. >> Yes. And the other thing that I wanted to address was we are responsible for K through 8. When people speak about Colts Neck High School, that is a freehole district school. when they raise the taxes for the Colts neck high school that does not encompass K through eight or this board at all and I think that's a very big issue that people really don't understand. So I think the three reasons why tax well I know the three reasons why the taxes are going up in this town for for every taxpayer is a because
017of the state of New Jersey, B because of the Mammoth County, C because of uh Coulseneck Township and D because they raise taxes for uh for the Freehold School District which then gets raised to the Coulseneck taxpayers because the Couls taxpayers whether they like it or not are part of the freehold school district when it comes to colon high school. Some >> school >> make sure your mic is on Mr. Walsh. >> I think we were should be proud of how um zealous we were in financial oversight for taxpayers. Um you may see in your tax bill I believe it says 60% maybe the school you see in county >> so people don't understand they see that oh my god the schools are raising our taxes this is why it's not because of our school
018board decision making we kept that zero tax increase to two years in a row so again I'm glad you brought that up to your your point to the public that we did our job as a school board and preserving a great education for our kids and and and enabling our taxpayers to stay in this town because at a certain point it's going to be unaffordable to live in this town for struggling families and particularly the senior citizens I represent. It's got to stop. >> I just want to be fair. If anybody else would like to comment, please do so. I have no problem. I I just want to commend President Vulpi for actually calling out the politicians. Rarely do you see that to have someone who to have the um to have the guts to
019do that. So, thank you. And um and thank you um uh Mr. Rico for explaining it to everyone who is hopefully watching uh today and watching in the future. And um and I want to say that I'm proud of this board for the last two years. And thank you to Garve, Dr. Garve and Mr. Rasco for helping us uh keep our promises that we ran on uh in doing the no tax increase on our end. Rarely do is there politicians if we can call ourselves politicians keep their promises like we have. Uh I haven't seen it most of my life. So I want to commend this board for me being able to do that and do right by this town. Thank you. >> Um I'd like to just add on to what Jason was saying
020and thank you Vinnie for that. Um, I just looked it up quickly and it um on Google just says the Freehold Regional School District raised its tax levy by 8.7%. So, while we gave our taxpayers a 0% tax increase, um, that is significant, 8.7%. So, that way they just have a number in mind. >> Um, just to um, respond to your comment, Mr. Ragnad, you're right. We are certainly not politicians. Uh, if I wanted to be a politician, I wouldn't be saying the things I say. Uh my allegiance, I said in the past, is not to anybody but the students here and the taxpayers uh and their dollar. Um and like I said, I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to do the right thing. So, we're going to move on from that. Uh
021at this time, um I think that will conclude my president's report. Um uh we are going to move right into the board liaison reports. Uh Mrs. Harwitz, if you will start us off with the parent advisory committee. See, Mary, it wasn't just me. Um, I have nothing for today. >> That's fine. Just just to let everybody know, don't feel pressured. It's midsummer. Things have been quiet. I know the district has been very busy starting the new financial year. So, I'm not want I don't want to discredit you guys in any way. You guys are working your butts off and we want to recognize that it is slow for us as board members because the school's out for summer. So, please don't feel pressured. I'm sure the PTO has not met either either. Um, but we
022always thank we always thank our PTO ladies for um for always uh working around the school year. Um, moving right into the Colts Township newsletter. Mrs. Cameron, >> also no updates. >> Okay, that's fine. Um, Colts neck uh township school arts, sports, and extracurricular. Mr. Rnetta, >> uh, just one uh, flag football. Uh, you can still register for flag football for the fall for K through eight. Um, registrations are are going fast right now. So, Uh did you ask if you are going to sign up please make sure that you could commit to the games. Lots of kids do multiple sports. Uh my son uh does hockey so we can't do it in the fall and we don't want to not we don't want to miss a game and we want to make sure every
023kid who wants to play gets to play. So please if you have other sports and you don't think you can make every game, please uh please do not sign up. Um opening day will be September 6th. Uh and uh games will be um Well, the registration versus the registration right now is $195 uh uh until August 2nd and then uh late registration will go up to $225 from August 3rd to August 15th and then uh registrations will close but they will have a wait list and if you if you're able to sign up on the wait list uh that registration fee goes up to 275. Um the games will be on Saturdays and uh playoffs will begin uh the week of October 25th and uh November 1st with the Super Bowl being on November 15th.
024Uh again uh opening day will be September 6th. Thank you. Great. Uh thank you for those updates. Moving on to the Cold Township Committee. Um Mr. Scarpa and Mrs. Camera. >> Okay. The last meeting was July 9th. Um, I watched it via live stream because we had our um, cow meeting that night. It began with Megan Radic who served as a records clerk for the Colts Neck Township Police Department. She was sworn in as a probationary police officer. So, congratulations. Um, many ordinances were passed. So, I just encourage residents to visit the Colts Township website for details, the community website for details. Um, the senior club, Kevin, is now up to 278 members. And I found this really interesting. A Coltsneck high school senior wrote to Mayor Bus expressing interest in something similar to our
025liaison program but a focus on high school students almost um like a youth advisory committee to the township committee where they would provide feedback and ideas to the township. So I personally think it's worth exploring and I hope the township committee um you know implements this program. Um, I think it's a wonderful idea any anything to get our youth involved in politics and the community. And the next meeting is August 13th. >> Okay. Terrific. Um, moving on. Oh, Mr. Scarper, do you want to add anything? I apologize. She got Okay, great. Um, uh, the Cold Towning, uh, Township Planning Board, um, Mr. Scales is, uh, unavailable. I don't know, Mr. Walsh, if there's still anything going on at this time. No, not really. But we're my hopes are that the ad hoc committee school board
026members are permanent representatives of the planning board and all future affordable housing decisions and I think that they were very receptive to our our input and u we work together with well with all committee members including the tent committee. >> Great. Um, I'm very appreciative that you guys are on that committee and it would be in the township's best interest to keep the both of you there. Um, moving on to uh Naval Weapons Station Earl. Oh, I'm sorry. I skipped over the seniors. I apologize. I'm so sorry. You might as well just leave. >> 278 members. >> I apologize. Just keep your mic on. >> No report. Okay. Um, moving on. Naval Weapons Station Earl. U Mrs. Ramirez and uh Mr. Scarpa. >> Okay, Mrs. Ramirez, thank you. Uh, anything? Same. Okay. Yep. No problem.
027Um, okay. And we got the school board uh representative. I do have a a few things. I'll try to be brief with the New Jersey school board's uh report. Uh, we have the Capitol Watch. Uh it's the quarterly newsletter of the New Jersey School Board Association uh government relations department. Uh it updates board members, admins, school leaders on legisl legislation that could impact school districts in New Jersey. Uh so that summer issue is now available. Um and it can be found via your email. Uh we have a few webinars. I did mention a few of these last time. Uh July 30th, just a reminder, the state budget recap and legislative updates. that will be at 10:00 a.m. Um, we also have August 6th, are you ready for the opening of school? That's also 10 a.m.
028And lastly, um, and those you could still register online. Just go to your email if anybody's interested. Uh, lastly, the New Jersey School Board's meeting dates were released and they are as follows. Uh, Tuesday, October 7th, December 2nd. Uh, February 3rd will be virtual. Uh, March 10th, uh, is the 8th grade dialogue. Um, looking forward to that next year. That was an awesome event. Um, and May 5th. So, I'll be I'll try to attend as many of those as I can. All right. At this time, we're concluding all committee reports. Uh, we're going to move right into uh the superintendent's report. I'm going to pass it off to Dr. Garvey. >> Okay. Thank you. So, yes, I'll start with uh thanking uh you know, Dr. Reynolds and Dr. back and for all their efforts in
029putting together our successful focus grant in $4,150. This is uh funding for optimal comprehensive universal screener uh grant which aims to support local school districts in adopting and implementing highquality universal screeners as well as programs to help address uh student reading uh comprehension uh all things associated with student reading. So we are looking to have someone certified in uh Orton Gillingham Wilson program those types of things to help support all the different interventions and programs that we the tiered levels of programming that we have here in the district. So we are very excited and and grateful for the opportunity and we will continue to pursue grants like that where we're eligible and can go for it. So I think that it was great. Every little dollar helps um and is value. So enjoy I hope
030everyone is enjoying their summer. Um I know you haven't really thought about summer work. Maybe you have. Maybe you haven't. Uh there was a small little snafu on the website. It's all rectified now where the links are now live and everything when we did the transition for the website. So everything is there. There will be an email reminder that goes out to families tomorrow about the links and the summer assignments a summer work that is available uh for any upcoming pending rainy days and or for the required reading assignments that are due. Um the additionally I wanted to thank uh Mrs. uh President Vulpi for uh mentioning the work in the summer. Summer is a busy place here. uh and and quiet in the schools. Uh but there's still a lot of work to be
031done. We have a lot of our for example our 24 25 school register summary data, our staff course rosters, our NJ smart uh attendance submissions, all of those things that are all data reflective of next of last year uploading into everything accounting count lots of counting counting counting. And that doesn't account for um the we leave one foot in the 2425 school year when it comes to closing out all the fiscal management responsibilities that purchase orders all of those things, finances uh of the 2425 school year so that we can start to commence our audit, the bo the board's annual audit that it goes through. And then that's all takes place simultaneously while we were opening up all of the accounts, purchasing and ordering for September. All of that transition takes place in two months.
032So, it is a lot. It's a big lift, but it's something we've become uh you know, we work towards to make sure everything's up ready and shiny and ready to go. Speaking of shiny and ready to go, Mr. Moretta and crew are actively cleaning and stripping the floors and doing all the things to make sure everything is good for the opening of schools. Uh Mr. Morasco often to we tour with Mr. Moretta and the school building principles as the summer goes through. If you go through now, uh, you know, everything is pulled out of the classrooms and cleaned and and getting organized in that sense. Uh, materials are being purchased, starting to arrive. All of those things that we talk about in budget, those things start to become alive for the 24 for the 2526
033school year. And that's exciting as we're closing things out and moving on. So, those are all great things. Um, registrations, student registrations, please, we always I always do a shout out every summer. Please don't wait until August 30th to register a child if that's if you can. But if you know someone who's ready for school, new to the district, we want to welcome them, get them set up and get them all set up in Genesis if you know anyone. Just registration is open all summer long. Um so please just do not hesitate to contact uh Mrs. Gil who uh is our initial point of contact for the district. Um we also uh on from excuse me August 4th through the 7th is our administrative retreat. That's where we do a lot of our annual required
034administrative trainings discussions and also strategic planning and how we're going to be scaling out the year and planning out the year with regards to professional development um due dates submissions and that includes the opening the annual opening of the long- aaited date for the parent portal for the 2526 school year. That date will be sent out after uh the once we make all the determinations of when everything is set and ready to go. um our summer programs. It's hard to believe, but tomorrow is the last day of our summer bridge program. Uh yep, the summer showcase is tomorrow, if you're around it, we have our third through eighth grade band performance. I also just want to note for a second, we had several of our Cedar Drive band alumni come to help out as volunteers
035in summer in the summer band program, which I thought was just a lot of fun. It was fun to see them on the first day showing up and they look so much older but I'm so you know warm place in our heart that they are willing to come back and volunteer uh for to support the work of the students you know who are coming through the program and that they take took a lot lot of pride in being a part of um and then the summer uh performing arts is also going to be uh doing an abbreviated Moana play and musical so that's that should be fun as well so that's 10:15 tomorrow at the elementary school um Then extended school year goes until August 7th. Uh and then looking just looking ahead. We are
036also in the process this summer we start looking and being reflective but also planning ahead. I'll be looking for a September date uh most likely for the approval of the district goals, the 25 26 district goals, looking at achievement and those kinds of things that we look at to put together. So that will likely be in September. Um and I want to just say that I it's very excited just to uh share the representation of the district which is that this year for the 2526 school year I'll be serving as the vice president of the Mammoth County Superintendent Round Table. So that gives a nice voice to the district and presence at the state and county level for the district and I'm honored to uh be serving in that role for the district and for
037our county. >> And that concludes my super. Would >> you like any help representing us? I could come with you. >> Um sure. I'm just kidding. Always welcome. >> Maybe I'll leave that to you, Dr. Gar. >> Always welcome. >> Um, okay. >> Thank you. >> Great. Um, all right. We're going to move right into the information items if everybody wants to um take note to that uh one information uh item and then we're going to open the floor uh to the public for any comments, questions or comments. If anybody would like to get up, you could use the podium, state your name and address for the record. Okay, seeing none, we're going to close public comment and we're going to move right into the action items. Okay, I need a motion uh to move
038action items uh number one. >> Uh uh >> one, just one motion. I know. I had to look at that myself. All right. Anybody second? >> Second. >> Okay, great. Uh, can I get a roll call for that one action item number one? >> Yeah, I'm sorry. Yes. No, my apologies. Yes. >> Thank you, Mrs. Har. >> Yes, Mr. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Thank you, Mr. Reign. >> Yes, >> Mr. Scarpa. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Vby. >> Yes, >> Mr. Walsh. >> Yes. >> Thank you. The motion carried. >> Great. Thank you. Uh, we're going to move on to the action items under buildings and ground safety and security. I need a motion to move those two items. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Uh, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Cameron. >> Yes. >> Mrs.
039Harowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Rico. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Ramirez. >> Yes. >> Mr. Reignetta. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scales. >> I'm sorry. Mrs. Vulpi. >> Yes. >> Mr. Scarpa. >> Yes. >> And Mr. Walsh. >> Yes. >> Pardon me. >> The motion carried. >> Okay. Great. Thank you very much. Moving on to uh the curriculum portion. I need a motion to move items one through two. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Any questions or comments on this particular item? >> All right. Can I get a roll call? >> Yes. Curriculum and instruction items one through two. Mrs. Cameron, >> no for item number one. Yes for item number two. >> Thank you, Mrs. Harowitz. >> No for one. Um, yes for two, >> Mr. Orico. >> No for one. Yes for two. >> Mrs. Ramirez.
040>> Yeah, >> Mr. Retta. >> No for one. Yes for two. >> Um, Mr. Scarpa. >> Uh, no for one. Yes for two. >> Mrs. Vulpi. >> Uh, no for number one. Yes for number two, >> Mr. Walsh. >> No for number one. No, yes for number two. >> Thank you. Um, item number one did not carry. Uh, item number two did carry. >> Okay, moving on to finance. Uh, if I can get a motion to move items one through seven. One through seven. If everybody wants to take a quick look at that. if you missed anything. Um, and yep, if I could get a motion to move those >> motion. Take it. >> Anybody have any questions, comments on any of those seven items? >> Um, yeah, I have a few questions on number
041four. Um, I was just curious um what specific tasks um I think it was Ms. Ms. Condrron, is that correct? Condrone um will be responsible for during this 30-day period. >> Sure. This is 30 to 30 days. >> Right. Right. >> It's like two days a week. >> So that was in the proposal that was sent. I shared that with Mr. Vulpi and it was in the update this week. So it was it was it was listed out. It's various bookkeeping with the elimination of the business office analyst position. there's needed support especially when we're talking about all the financial matters that are going on specifically with bookkeeping because that was an area where we reallocated things. There's also tasks that have been absorbed back by the school business administrator in the elimination of that
042role. So the board in order to operate and provide timely responses to the needs of the auditors during that time. there's a significant need for additional bookkeeping uh in the in this transition time with that as we're transitioning out absorbing tasks back from the business administrator as well as preparing for the board's annual audit. Um and it's 30 days per total between now and uh October 20th. >> Okay. And are we going to be like training other like existing staff for following years to do that? >> Correct. Correct. That's what that's part of the process as well is that's and uh that's great. >> Yeah. and and a follow on question. Um the 105 is that's being sure from what what line item in the budget. >> I don't recall. >> So with regard to
043that, it's it's um being breakage of salaries. It's really in the salary line item account. So in the general item of salaries and and there's no benefits. It's a because it's not a a position. It's a contracted service, but it is being pulled from the salaries of breakage that we've had in hiring lower than what we've been replacing people. People who have been retiring, there's it's called breakage. Okay. >> So, when you have that breakage, you're acrewing that type of >> availability of funds to reallocate. >> Okay. And one more thing, um, in the future when we need, um, maybe like extra summer assistance, have we ever reached out to, we have like Brookdale Community College, we have Ruckers nearby, getting some like college interns maybe to do some some, you know, work at Obviously,
044they would be a lot less than $350 an hour, although I I understand we're paying her for her knowledge. >> Yeah, we also reached out to MOS and they're $150 an hour. So there's the not in terms of a a day a day I should say. So in terms of that there's like a lot of different options that we're looking at but her knowledge is going to be to your point but we can we can always explore those things um with interns and accounting firms and things like that who are looking we'd always post we post for summer seasonal work for custodians and things like that. So we can certainly explore that >> finance department maybe even year round having some college interns they might want to do it one or two days a week
045is such a great learning experience for them great on their resume and trained train someone you know in the future. >> Sure. I was always always we welcome the help. >> We have no shortage of work. We welcome the help and exploring those options to do so. >> All right. Anybody else uh like to add to that? Okay. Uh if not, we'll uh go into our roll call items 1 through seven. >> Finance items 1 through seven. Mrs. Cameron, >> yes. >> Mrs. Harowitz, >> yes. >> Mr. Rico, >> yes. >> Mrs. Ramirez, >> Mr. Retta, >> yes. >> Mr. Scarpa, >> yes. >> Mr. Walsh. >> Yes. >> Thank you. The motion carries. >> Okay. Moving uh into policy. Uh we have only one item uh under there the attachment uh P1. If I
046could get a motion to move that one item >> motion second. >> Anybody want to comment on that? Any question or comment? >> I'm sorry. Is this number five? >> This is uh the policy uh the one item under policy uh which is the bylaw community liaison roles and responsibilities. page eight. The top of page eight. >> It's number eight. >> The top of page eight. >> Oh, okay. >> There's only one. >> Oh, okay. Very good. My apologies. Thank you. >> Yeah, it's kind of snuck in the back there. Um, all right. If there's no comments, we'll take a roll call on that item. >> Sure. Policy the one item. Uh, Mrs. Cameron. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Horowitz. >> Yes. >> Mr. Or, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Ramirez, >> yes. >> Mr. Retta,
047>> yes. >> Mr. Scarpa, >> yes. >> Mrs. Vali, >> yes. >> Mr. Walsh, >> yes. >> Thank you. The motion passed. >> Great. Thank you. Uh, nothing under negotiations. Nothing under transportation. Moving into personnel. Um, I'd like to get a motion to move items. Uh, it's pretty lengthy here, so give me a second here. One through, uh, 10. 1 through 10. Everybody wants to take a minute to make sure they didn't miss anything in reviewing this. >> Any questions or comments on those >> particular uh items? Yes. >> Yes, I have um a comment. So, um item number one I'm discussing, I fully support the appointment of um Caroline Detinger as a teacher of Cedar Drive Middle School, and I want to welcome her to the district. But I do believe it's um important
048an important moment to raise a broader concern about hiring practices um especially where new staff are placed on the salary guide. So as you can see she's being um slated to begin at step seven eight on u the master's guide earning um a little over 77,000 a year. So I just respectfully urge the administration and the board um to consider the practice of placing new hirees at step one. I mean that that's a reason why we have the guide. It's the way it's broken up is step one and bachelor's, step one bachelor's plus 30, step one masters, step one masters plus 30, step one masters plus 60. So colts we offer small class sizes. We have strong community support. We have a tradition of excellence. And I've said it before, I really believe it's a
049privilege to work here. new hirees um should earn their way up the salary guide by demonstrating you know both commitment instructional impact um alignment with the district's goals and values. So we do ask a lot of our taxpayers we were just discussing you know these these in inflation of of our taxes. So this is one area um I think we should be a little bit more frugal with and you you quickly every year you move up the guide the way it works or you move down the guide. I don't know the correct lingo here but she'll be on year step two next year. So I I just don't um agree with until you have a proven performance starting someone in the middle of the guide. >> May I ask Dr. Garay why step seven and
050eight? Can you give an explanation for that? >> I absolutely can. So we've taken in the practice we give people This is not a brand new teacher out of school. So this is not a random placement. This is someone who has who has the years in equivalency where we look for people with a similar experience. This is to your point, Mrs. Cameron, one of the attractions of our district that we're able to attract talent away from other districts who do lose something when they are losing their district. They're losing their tenure. They start over with the benefits. They start over with all of their sick days don't transfer over. So the fact that we are able to consistently open with full staff even during the pandemic is an absolute credit. But it's we have to
051be able to be marketable and comparatable when we need those those positions like this. We h we did hire staff at step ones prior in like in June. We did hire at step one because they were brand new teachers. We welcomed them into the profession here in Coloulsek. They are step one and you are absolutely correct. They are going to earn their way up. I don't know if we would have as much success in attracting the talent that's needed for specific certifications like a special education highly qualified in mathematics to teach up through grade eight in mathematics which was a higher desirable you know position had we had a step one offer for that person and we would risk the we would risk starting the year without a teacher. So we have to be able
052to provide competitive salaries that are fair that teachers are willing to to leave their current roles and move into. And I know that there's different philosophies, but I hear you. It is something that we go through and we're budgeting for and that's where we're getting breakage from where we'll say, I know we can I know that we're going to be replacing this with this and so on and so forth for more common type of um you know endorsements for if it's if it's an elementary or generic special gener general special education for the roles, but we also want to make sure we're setting ourselves up. So if we have a special ed teacher, this particular one called for a resource room pull out mathematics. So they have to provide that that which is a very
053specific type of tra of you know the highly qualified certification. So in areas where we do think we are going to have a problem it is even though there is breakage this is a replacement at a lower rate than the exiting teacher was. So that was it's also uh creating breakage should we look at that as well. But I do hear you and I absolutely respect that position and it is often our practice to replace at a lower rate. >> Right. And I appreciate everything you said. Um it does make a lot of sense in general. everyone now who though just to be fair too you have to be highly qualified now you would never hire someone who doesn't have the highly qualified certificate for mathematics or for any for any you know like I'm
054highly qualified for the grades that I teach >> highly as you know right >> as you know >> if any certification above six sixth grade that is in a um a content specific area you're not allowed to lead that instruction mathematics in a pullout environment unless you have a certification. So a special education teacher who is an in-class support that doesn't provide the primary instruction but is there for the sole designation of the special education students does not need to be highly qualified that's right but if you're in it but you're if you're in a resource room pull up and you're prime and you are responsible for the primary instruction of that content area you absolutely need highly qualified and where we're seeing in the role um and the grateful uh time and service of
055retirees that was they were grandfathered they they were house matrix remember that language where they were house matrix based on how many years of service. Now they have to be certified. They have to take a practice in the middle school endorsement up to 8th grade or the high school endorsement. So it is a separate test and it's like yes of course the highly qualified you have to be certified. We have to follow the rules of of endorsement whether it's the K to6 endorsement elementary or something like that. We're also looking for dual endorsement. Many times that somehow why we don't some in some ways why we don't have to hire additional teachers because we had a general ed teacher. We're downsizing. we're going to make that a special education teacher. All those are the things
056that that we look for are many times, but for this specific teacher, this was a specific endorsement that we needed we needed um for this and we knew it was going we would likely have to go above a step one, someone who was highly qualified. And yes, everyone has to be certified, but that is a different status of highly qualified. >> Right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for that explanation. That was excellent. >> Thank you for that. I appreciate it. Um yeah, can we update the the minutes to reflect that because that's that's critical to books and records as we look back for especially for our hiring guides. You know, that that's um that absolutely makes sense, but if we can provide a little bit of context why it's at that point or just uh
057to carve out why it may not necessarily be at a one and a two will be helpful as we as we keep on on going forward. >> That' be awesome. Thank you. >> Great. I appreciate every everybody's uh feedback on that item. Now, if we could get a roll call uh to move um a roll call for those items 1 through 10. >> I'm not sure. I had >> Oh, did I have a motion? I'm sorry. >> Did we do a second? I can't remember. >> Oh, we did. >> Second. >> Okay. >> Oh, motion. Sure. >> Motion. >> Okay. Uh personnel items through 10. Mrs. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Yes, >> Mr. >> Yes, >> Mrs. Ramirez. >> Yes, >> Mr. Ricetta. >> Uh, due to my employment with the New Jersey Department of
058Labor, uh, New Jersey Department of Labor, State Disability, I'm going to have to recuse from numbers three and four. And yes to the rest, though. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Scarpa. >> Yes, >> Mrs. >> Yes, >> Mr. Walsh. >> Yes. Motion carried. Okay, great. Um, we're going to open up public comment for the second uh portion of our meeting. Uh, if anybody wants to get up again, uh, please state your name and address for the record. Okay, seeing none at this time, closing public comment. Um, at this time, I'd like to open up the floor uh for new business. Uh, keep in mind we will not be back here until August 27th. Um, so if anybody wants to add new business at this time, please feel free to do so. May >> May I
059after the board? >> You certainly can. >> I promise I won't be long. >> No, you can. >> Um, we've we are working with um uh Kevin Walsh and Mr. Masco and Mr. Ma for a potential buildings and grounds, but there's a lot of moving pieces right now with some security things going on that we're looking into. the grants or that so we may have a need, you know, to be reaching out to have a supplemental meeting in between that 27th buildings and grounds meeting as well. So, so with with the work, >> thank you. And then just as a follow-up to the to the cow meeting conversation with regard to the parental bill of rights, um I've already uh I shared with you and Mr. um scales the other day that I've already started
060the process of linking the current Strauss as E as policies into them. So that there are policy links that are in there. It is extensive and I wanted to make sure there was a format. So I've gotten through the section 4,000s of the different eight articles that are in there. So that's what I'm working on right now and I'll be moving. I'm hoping to have that drafted completed um potentially by the end of next week before we go into August so the board can look at it the live links and all what we're doing and taking that feedback is looking at it um that has put on pause a little bit of the cross referencing of the stress and school boards um we are in contact with that but we're also you know I'm trying
061we're trying to prioritize our time with regard to looking back and forth of that review so just know that we're still we're going to be going through during our administrative treat some retreat, excuse me, the newer policies and the languages that we want to make sure that in the new policies for school boards, we're recommending to the board prior to adoption for their consideration. And most of it is all language that did not carry over that was specific to our um you know, current policies that we'll be putting forth through the board. Okay. So, that that's all the new business that I have. Excuse me. >> Thank you very much for all that uh update. Uh anybody else want to add something? >> Uh yeah, just a follow on. 625 in our meeting. Uh Mr.
062Scales questioned about the Americanmade products for HVAC units and other housing grounds. Um do we have any update on on that? >> That's my my error. I'll find that out from Mr. M. I know he's not he's not in this week and I can find that out from Okay. >> And then do we have an update on the paving project for the potential lighting? >> Put your mic on, please. >> That's separate. Uh, Mr. Mores had determined that the paving can be done and still have the ability to somehow or another. I'm not technical with the construction end of things, but to uh enhance our lighting systems, but to your point, if it can do it before they pave or not. Um, we I suggested a meeting for August to go over a few items
063we need to address the switch gear room uh the roofing proposals but uh I think believe Nick you can speak to Nick's issue and doctor on >> to man >> I think it came up a few discussions with >> so it was determined by facilities manager that we don't need to do anything beforehand in other words for any potential lighting underground carveouts. The grass areas evidently can be used and secondly the paving is due to start or be scheduled sometime after I think August 11th. >> So in looking at the channels he said with regard to having that it was too that all the current like that it would be coming from the side not necessarily through the through the >> straight through. >> Correct. And if that's a configuration that we want to go
064with like depending on we don't want to run necessarily run channels that are permanent right there if that's not an something we would want to be doing. That's >> and Mr. Murder did provide us a proposal for that lighting project that we can discuss uh as a ad hoc building and grounds and see where you want to take it from there. >> Great. Any anybody else want to add anything? >> All right. All right, I just want to wish everybody um a last great month of summer. We won't be seeing everybody uh till August 27th. So, please enjoy time with your families. It's so very precious. It's fleeting and it's over so quickly. So, really, I I wish I could say the same. I know you're working, but um try to fit in as much
065family time as you can. Our families are the most important thing. So, uh enjoy the rest of the summer. I'll take a motion to adjurnn. Motion. >> All in favor? opposed. >> Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. >> All right. Yeah.